| Living \r\n the Quran |
Al-Rad \r\n (The Thunder)
The textual term \"taraf\" has several connotations: sides, extremities, \r\n borders or outlying areas and there have been several interpretations \r\n of this verse. \r\n1. Since the original word \"taraf\" is also used for \"the \r\n best (of everything)\", the meaning of the verse is that \r\n Allah is gradually taking away good men from among the unbelievers \r\n and transferring them to the rank of Muslims. \r\n2. Muhammad Asad gives the word \"taraf\" a wider meaning, translating \r\n the latter half of the verse as, \"We visit the earth [with Our punishment], \r\n gradually depriving it of all that is best thereon\". Thus the verse \r\n may be taken to relate not merely to physical and social catastrophes \r\n but also to the loss of all ethical vaues, \r\n thinkers, scholars, and great leaders. \r\n3. The popular opinion is that with the ever continuing conversion to \r\n Islam, the unbelievers have constantly \r\n been losing ground to Muslims. A rough calculation tells \r\n us that after his migration to Madinah, the Prophet was wrestling control \r\n of the lands that were formally ruled by the Pagans, at the rate of about \r\n 500 sq. km. a day. \r\n4. Another plausible allusion could be the massive exploitation of the \r\n earth's natural resources at a maddening pace, despite the warnings issues \r\n by the scientists of the consequence resulting in loss of \"its best \r\n part.\" Very soon the world is out to \r\n exhaust its valuable, non-replaceable resources to human greed. \r\n5. Another interpretation is that the allusion is to the \r\n physical reduction in the land mass on this planet. The \r\n land surface of the earth has been decreasing due to rise in sea levels. \r\n One of the reasons is the infamous Green House effect. Another reason \r\n for the rise in sea levels is extraterrestrial materials falling in the \r\n sea in the form of meteorites. Erosion of land by the river waters is \r\n also causing the reduction of land mass. \r\nAll the possible interpretations are close to the text, without the need \r\n to stretch the meaning, and reconcilable to each other. This is the meaning \r\n of the Prophetic statement that the Quran \r\n will never run dry of meaning. \r\n \r\n Source: |
| \r\n Understanding the Prophet's Life |
| \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n Advice to be True \r\nAllah has created this whole universe on the basis of love, and \r\n has demanded of the people that they should build up their life \r\n on the foundation of truth, to make truth and straight dealing \r\n a practice of their life, and should give place to truth only \r\n in their talks and dealings. \r\nWhen this clear sense is lost sight of by people, and false stories, \r\n superstitions and absurd beliefs rule their self, ideas and thoughts, \r\n then hardness and harshness are generated in them they move away \r\n from the right path, and they totally give up those realities \r\n the adoption of which was necessary. \r\nFor this reason the strong and firm pillar of a Muslim's character \r\n is straight dealing. It is his duty to be attached to truth in \r\n every matter and to see every problem and affair through the glasses \r\n of truth, To keep it before him in every decision is the clearest \r\n manifestation of his dealing and treatment. Similarly the construction \r\n of the society in Islam is made on this foundation that mere conjectures \r\n and superstitions should be opposed, baseless things and imaginary \r\n stories should be thrown out, doubts and misgivings should not \r\n be encouraged, because strong and firm realities only deserve \r\n to be manifested; they should have their imprint on the society \r\n and their help should be taken in strengthening various relations. \r\nAllah's Messenger has said: \r\n“Keep away from ill-thinking, \r\n because ill-thinking is the greatest falsehood.” \r\n (Bukhari) \r\nAnother hadith says: \r\n“Leave alone doubtful things, \r\n follow those matters in which there is no doubts for truth is \r\n a means of satisfaction and falsehood is the cause of doubts and \r\n misgivings.” (Tirmizi) \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n Source: |
| Blindspot! |
\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n Kufr or Infidels \r\nIf you look at the English dictionary meaning of infidel, you \r\n would find that it means someone who does not have a faith or \r\n does not believe in Allah. Does the Quran say that the Jews \r\n and Christians do not believe in Allah? No. In Surat Al-Ankabut \r\n (29:46), Allah says that the God of Christians, Jews, and Muslims \r\n is one and the same. The word infidel is an inaccurate translation \r\n of the word kafir in this case. \r\nThe term kafir, referring to a person, or kufr, \r\n referring to an act, is used in the Quran in a variety of contextual \r\n meanings. It is not clear from the English terms non-believer \r\n or disbeliever what is the object of unbelief or disbelief, \r\n is it God, a particular prophet, or others? \r\nIt is prefered to use the term non-Muslim, as it applies to \r\n various categories of kufr, whether it refers to knowingly rejecting \r\n the message of Islam (disbelief) or being a non-Muslim due to \r\n the lack of awareness of the authentic message of Islam (unbelief). \r\n Following are examples of the varied contextual uses of the \r\n term kufr in the Quran as follows: \r\n
\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n Nonetheless, we cannot clearly assess this situation. The Prophet \r\n (peace and blessings be upon him) gave Muslims very clear instructions \r\n after one incident when people assumed to know why someone had \r\n professed belief in Islam. He asked them whether they had opened \r\n up his heart, and if they knew whether what was in his heart \r\n was sincere or not. The bottom line is that we \r\n have to leave judging people's faith to Allah; \r\n only Allah knows the sincerity of a particular person's acceptance. \r\n Allah is All-Knowing, and He is the only Judge of all of us. \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n Source: |
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