Jump to content
IndiaDivine.org

Muslim writer challenges her faith

Rate this topic


Guest guest

Recommended Posts

'Wake-up call' brings death threats

 

PAT DONNELLY

The Gazette

 

Thursday, October 02, 2003

 

No, Irshad Manji is not afraid.

 

She may have installed some bulletproof windows in her Toronto home.

And, as she makes her way across the country to promote her book,

The Trouble With Islam: A Wake-up Call for Honesty and Change, she

is accompanied by a bodyguard. But these are just " precautionary

measures, " she told The Gazette late Tuesday evening in an interview

at a private Montreal home.

 

" I have had concrete threats on my life, via e-mail, " she said. " The

Metro Toronto Police are on top of it. But I have to tell you that I

have an enormous peace of mind. "

 

" I don't lose a wink of sleep over any of this, " Manji says. " I'm

very resolute in the integrity of what I've done and why I'm doing

it. So the threats may continue to pile up, or they may stop. It

simply doesn't affect me. "

 

Anyone who has read the book, however, may be forgiven for wondering

if 34-year-old Manji is just a bit too naïve for her own good. Her

book is a devastating critique of Islamic fundamentalism tackling

thorny issues like the inferior status of women, anti-Semitism and

the second-class status of non-Arab Muslims in Islamic countries -

and the continued existence of slavery in places like Mali. Plus she

dares to point out that Israel, whatever its faults, is a

functioning multi-ethnic, pluralistic democracy.

 

No wonder, then, that her publisher, Random House, approached

Canadian Solicitor General Wayne Easter in July, asking that Manji

be granted International Protected Person Status. The request was

denied. The cost of her private security, covering person and

property at home and on tour, is shared by her and Random House.

 

 

--------------------------------

 

 

This was yesterday's front page news of The Gazette, Montreal's

premier and oldest daily.

 

But despite all the devatating demolition and severe criticism of

the official interpretation of the Koran and Islam at www.al-

qiyamah.org till date not a single Muslim has dared utter even a

single sentence of disagreement against it. The fact that it

comprises of a few hundred pages, none of which can be touched by a

single dissenter, is testimony of the Truth as announced by the Ruh

of Allah, Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi sent to announce and promulgate

the Resurrection.

 

Jai Shri Mataji

Link to comment
Share on other sites

shriadishakti , " jagbir singh "

<adishakti_org> wrote:

>

>

> 'Wake-up call' brings death threats

>

> PAT DONNELLY

> The Gazette

>

> Thursday, October 02, 2003

>

> No, Irshad Manji is not afraid.

>

> She may have installed some bulletproof windows in her Toronto

home.

> And, as she makes her way across the country to promote her book,

> The Trouble With Islam: A Wake-up Call for Honesty and Change, she

> is accompanied by a bodyguard. But these are just " precautionary

> measures, " she told The Gazette late Tuesday evening in an

interview at a private Montreal home.

>

> " I have had concrete threats on my life, via e-mail, " she

said. " The Metro Toronto Police are on top of it. But I have to tell

you that I have an enormous peace of mind. "

>

> " I don't lose a wink of sleep over any of this, " Manji says. " I'm

> very resolute in the integrity of what I've done and why I'm doing

> it. So the threats may continue to pile up, or they may stop. It

> simply doesn't affect me. "

>

> Anyone who has read the book, however, may be forgiven for

wondering if 34-year-old Manji is just a bit too naïve for her own

good. Her book is a devastating critique of Islamic fundamentalism

tackling thorny issues like the inferior status of women, anti-

Semitism and the second-class status of non-Arab Muslims in Islamic

countries - and the continued existence of slavery in places like

Mali. Plus she dares to point out that Israel, whatever its faults,

is a functioning multi-ethnic, pluralistic democracy.

>

> No wonder, then, that her publisher, Random House, approached

> Canadian Solicitor General Wayne Easter in July, asking that Manji

> be granted International Protected Person Status. The request was

> denied. The cost of her private security, covering person and

> property at home and on tour, is shared by her and Random House.

>

>

> --------------------------------

>

>

> This was yesterday's front page news of The Gazette, Montreal's

> premier and oldest daily.

>

> But despite all the devatating demolition and severe criticism of

> the official interpretation of the Koran and Islam at www.al-

> qiyamah.org till date not a single Muslim has dared utter even a

> single sentence of disagreement against it. The fact that it

> comprises of a few hundred pages, none of which can be touched by

a single dissenter, is testimony of the Truth as announced by the

Ruh of Allah, Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi sent to announce and

promulgate the Resurrection.

>

> Jai Shri Mataji

 

I do call to witness the Resurrection Day;

And I do call to witness the self-reproaching Spirit.

Does man think that We cannot assemble his bones?

Nay, We are able to put together in perfect order, the very tip of

his fingers.

But man wishes to do wrong (even) in the time in front of him.

He questions: " When is the Day of Resurrection? "

At length, when the sight is dazed

And the moon is buried in darkness

And the sun and moon are joined together that Day will Man say;

" Where is the refuge? "

By no means! No place of safety! "

Before the Lord (alone), that Day will be the place of rest.

That Day will Man be told (all) that he put forward, and all that he

put back.

Nay, man will be evidence against himself,

Even though he were to make excuses.

Move not thy tongue concerning the (Qur'an), to make haste therewith.

It is for Us to collect it and to promulgate it:

But when We have promulgated it, follow thou its recital:

Nay more, it is for Us to explain it:

Nay, (ye men!) but ye love the fleeting life,

And leave alone the Hereafter.

Some faces, that Day, will beam (in brightness and beauty) —

Looking towards their Lord;

And some faces, that Day, will be sad and dismal,

In the thought that some backbreaking calamity,

Was about to be inflicted on them;

Yea, when (the soul) reaches to the collarbone (in its exit),

And there will be a cry, " Who is a magician (to restore him)? "

And he will conclude that it was (the Time) of Parting;

And one leg will be joined with another:

The Day the Drive will be (all) to thy Lord!

So he gave nothing in charity, nor did he pray! —

But on the contrary, he rejected Truth and turned away!

Then did he stalk to his family in full conceit!

Woe to thee, (O man!), yea, woe!

Again, woe to thee, (O man!), yea, woe!

Does Man think that he will be left uncontrolled, (without purpose)?

Was he not a drop of sperm emitted (in lowly form)?

Then did he become a clinging clot;

Then did (Allah) make and fashion (him) in due proportion.

And of him He made two sexes, male and female.

Has not he, (the same), the power to give life to the dead?

 

surah 75:1-40 Al-Qiyamah (The Resurrection)

(Abdullah Yusuf Ali, The Holy Qur'an, 1989.)

 

 

Assalamu Alaikum,

 

Except for the theme of monotheism, the Qur'an speaks more of the

coming Qiyamah — also known as the Resurrection, the Day of

Judgment, Day of Gathering, and the Great Announcement — than of

any other topic. This major theme and promise is upheld not only in

the Qur'an, but also in other religious scriptures. Though

opinions may differ on precise details it is generally believed that

it is connected to a time of momentous upheaval, calamity and the

end of Earth.

 

The Islam, Qur'an And Al-Qiyamah website is an attempt to examine in

detail what different verses in the Qur'an tell us about Qiyamah

and to reconcile what might appear as differing, even contradictory

descriptions of the event. It contains hundreds of punishing pages

demanding answers pertaining to this central theme of Islam, and is

the result of a five-year research. This study compels Muslims not

to allow themselves to pick and choose verses that suit their

doomsday notion of Al-Qiyamah. Rather we must take the Qur'an in

its entirety and examine those resurrection-related surahs that have

intellectually challenged our scholars over the centuries and, as a

result, have been disfigured beyond recognition by mistranslations

that reflect their views.

 

The Sure Signs and descriptions of the Day of Judgment in the Qur'an

are generally agreeable as follows:

 

1) There is a set time for it;

 

He questions: " When is the Day of Resurrection? " At length, when the

sight is dazed and the moon is buried in darkness, and the sun and

moon are joined together that Day will Man say; " Where is the

refuge? " Qur'an 75.6-10

 

 

2) That this event is inevitable;

 

In that is a Sign for those who fear the penalty of the Hereafter:

that is a Day for which mankind will be gathered together: that will

be a Day of Testimony. Nor shall We delay it but for a term

appointed. Qur'an 11.102-7

 

 

3) Prophesied Sure Signs of Allah (SWT) will confirm Al-Qiyamah;

 

We will show them Our signs in all the regions of the earth and in

their own souls until they clearly see that this is the truth.

Qur'an 41.53

 

 

4) Qur'an to be used as Allah's (SWT) Warning to humankind;

 

We know best what they say; And thou are not one to overawe them by

force. So admonish with the Qur'an such as fear My Warning!

Qur'an 50.45

 

5) Humans will be unaware that Al-Qiyamah is taking place;

 

And on the day when the Hour riseth the guilty will vow that they

did tarry, but an hour — Thus were they ever deceived. But those

to whom knowledge and faith are given will say: " The truth is, ye

have tarried, by Allah's decree, until the Day of Resurrection. This

is the Day of Resurrection, but ye used not to know. " Qur'an 30.55-

57

 

 

6) The messengers of Allah (SWT) on Earth will deliver Good News of

Al-Qiyamah, and they must prevail;

 

Allah has decreed: " It is I and My messengers who must prevail " : For

Allah is One full of strength, able to enforce His Will. Thou will

not find any people who believe in Allah and the Last Day, loving

those who resist Allah and His Messenger, even though they were

their fathers or their sons, or their brothers or their kindred. For

such He has written Faith in their hearts, and strengthened them

with a Spirit from Himself. And he will admit them to Gardens,

beneath which Rivers flow, to dwell therein (forever.) Allah will be

well pleased with them, and they with Him. They are the Party of

Allah. Truly it is the Party of Allah that will achieve Felicity.

Qur'an 58.21

 

 

7) Families will be bitterly divided over the Good News;

 

Concerning what are they disputing? Concerning the Great News about

which they cannot agree. Verily, they shall soon (come to) know!

Verily, verily they shall soon (come to) know! Qur'an 78.1-5

 

So he gave nothing in charity, nor did he pray! — But on the

contrary, he rejected Truth and turned away! Then did he stalk to

his family in full conceit! Woe to thee, (O man!), yea, woe! Again,

woe to thee, (O man!), yea, woe! Qur'an 75.31-35

 

 

8) Jesus (pbuh) would be one of the Signs of the Hour;

 

And (Jesus) shall be a Sign (for the coming of) the Hour (of

Judgment: therefore have no doubt about the (Hour), but follow ye

Me: this is a Straight Way. Qur'an 43.61

 

 

9) Qur'an to be used as proof of authenticity to humankind regarding

the Message of Al-Qiyamah;

 

Verily in this (Qur'an) is a Message for people who would (truly)

worship Allah. We sent thee not, but as a Mercy for all creatures.

Qur'an 21.106-7

 

Verily in this is a Message for any that has a heart and

understanding, or who gives ear and earnestly witnesses (the Truth).

Qur'an 50.37

 

 

10) There will be a Caller from a place quite near who will declare

and commence the Resurrection;

 

Verily in this is a Message for any that has a heart and

understanding, or who gives ear and earnestly witnesses (the

Truth). . . And listen for the Day when the Caller will call out

from a place quite near. The Day when they will hear a (mighty)

Blast in Truth: That will be the Day of Resurrection. Qur'an 50.37-42

 

O you who are clothed! Arise and warn, and your Lord do magnify, and

your garments do purify, and uncleanness do shun, and bestow not

favors that you may receive again with increase, and for the sake of

your Lord, be patient. For when the trumpet is sounded, that, at

that time, shall be a difficult day, for the unbelievers, anything

but easy. Qur'an 74.1-10

 

 

11) During Al-Qiyamah Allah (SWT) will not address those who veil

His Revelations by distorting the Qur'an;

 

Those who conceal Allah's revelations in the Book, and purchase

for them a miserable profit — They swallow into themselves naught

but Fire: Allah will not address them on the Day of Resurrection,

nor purify them: Grievous will be their Penalty. They are the ones

who buy error in place of Guidance, and torment in place of

Forgiveness. Ah! What boldness (they show) for the Fire!

Qur'an2.174-6

 

He will return you (on the Day of Judgment) reverted back to when

you were first created. A section guided, and a section will go

astray. Qur'an 7.30

 

 

12) During Al-Qiyamah Allah (SWT) will not purify those who hide His

Revelations by misinterpreting the Qur'an;

 

Those who conceal Allah's revelations in the Book, and purchase

for them a miserable profit — They swallow into themselves naught

but Fire: Allah will not address them on the Day of Resurrection,

nor purify them: Grievous will be their Penalty. They are the ones

who buy error in place of Guidance, and torment in place of

Forgiveness. Ah! What boldness (they show) for the Fire! Qur'an2.174-

6

 

 

13) All humans brought back to life through rebirth to face Al-

Qiyamah;

 

O How can ye reject the faith in Allah - Seeing that ye were without

life, and He gave you life; Then will He cause you to die, and will

again bring you to life; and again to Him will ye return. Qur'an

2.28

 

We have decreed Death to be your common lot, and We are not to be

frustrated from changing your forms, and creating you (again) in

(forms) that ye know not. Qur'an 56:60-61

 

Does man think that We cannot assemble his bones? Nay, We are able

to put together in perfect order, the very tip of his fingers.

Qur'an 75.3-4

 

 

14) The verses revealing Al-Qiyamah will be collected from all over

the Qur'an, promulgated, recited and explained;

 

Move not thy tongue concerning the (Revelation of Al-Qiyamah), to

make haste therewith. It is for Us to collect it and to promulgate

it: But when We have promulgated it, follow thou its recital: Nay

more, it is for Us to explain it. Qur'an 75.16-19

 

 

15) Believers faces will be nadirah (shining and radiant), while

those of the disbelievers basirah (dark, gloomy, sad and frowning);

 

Some faces, that Day, will beam (in brightness and beauty) —

Looking towards their Lord; And some faces, that Day, will be sad

and dismal. Qur'an 75.22-24

 

 

Despite all the above the Qur'an warns many will not be aware of,

or believe this Great Event, even after being warned!:

 

Warn them of the Day of Pining (distress) when all matters have been

judged, though they would still be unaware of it, and unbelievers.

Qur'an 19.39

 

On the Day that the Hour (of Reckoning) will be established, the

transgressors will swear that they tarried not but an hour: thus

were they used to being deluded! But those endued with knowledge and

faith will say: " Indeed ye did tarry, within Allah's Decree, to the

Day of Resurrection, and this is the Day of Resurrection: but ye

— ye were not aware! " Qur'an 30.55-6

 

Since many verses in the Qur'an are Qiyamah specific it is

important to learn as much possible about them. Consider this point

of dispute with the unbelievers at the time of the Prophet:

 

They say: " What! when we are reduced to bones and dust, should we

really be raised up (to be) a new creation? " Say: " (Nay!) be ye

stones or iron, " Or created matter which, in your minds, is hardest

(to be raised up), — (Yet shall ye be raised up)! " then will they

say: " Who will cause us to return? " Say: " He who created you first! "

Then will they wag their heads towards thee, and say, " When will

that be? " Say, " May be it will be quite soon! Qur'an 17.49-51

 

We have not sent thee (Muhammad) but to the whole of mankind, as a

giver of glad tidings and as a warner, but most of mankind still do

not know. And they say: " When is this promise (i.e. the Day of

Resurrection will be fulfilled) if you are truthful? " Say (O

Muhammad SAW): " The appointment to you is for a Day, which you

cannot put back for an hour (or a moment) nor put forward. " Qur'an

34.28-30

 

Increasing number of Muslims now express their belief, as do the

Believers of other traditions, that these events are imminent. Some

are beginning to discern, and correctly so, that they are already

upon us. The verses in the Qur'an also reflect the same

expectations:

 

It is Allah Who has sent down the Book in Truth, and the Balance.

And what will make thee realize that perhaps the Hour is close at

hand? Qur'an 42.17

 

Of what do they ask one another? About the Great Event, about which

they differ? Nay! they shall soon come to know Nay! Nay! they shall

soon know. Qur'an 78.1-5

 

In fact 1,400 years ago there was widespread resistance against

Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) and the following verse questions the

probability of believe in the future, when the Resurrection actually

comes upon them:

 

Await they aught save the Hour, that it should come upon them

unawares? But some of its portents (indications and signs) have

already come, and when it (actually) is on them, how can they

benefit then by their reminder? Qur'an 47.18

 

Another Quranic prophecy clearly confirms that, upon the return of

the exiled Jews to the Holy Land, the Day of Judgment commences:

 

And We said unto the Children of Israel after him: Dwell in the

land; but when the promise of the Hereafter (wa'dul akhirati)

cometh to pass We shall bring you as a crowd gathered out of various

nations. Qur'an 17.104

 

In addition to verses of the Holy Qur'an there are many

traditions, hadiths, sayings of Imams and Muslim scholars

contributing to a common consensus of the signs of the " Hour " which,

if taking the religious pulse of modern times, raises the question

of whether these things are already upon us:

 

" The Apostle of God said: `There will come a time for my people when

there will remain nothing of the Qur'an except its outward form and

nothing of Islam except its name and they will call themselves by

this name even though they are the people furthest from it. The

mosques will be full of people but they will be empty of right

guidance. The religious leaders (Fuqaha) of that day will be the

most evil religious leaders under the heavens; sedition and

dissension will go out from them and to them will it return.' " -ibn

Babuya, Thawab ul-A'mal

 

All these momentous events are to be preceded by warnings and

announcements attempting to bring people back to the religion of

Allah (SWT) and the Straight Path, after they have divided

themselves into factions and sects which, " disown each other and

curse each other " (surah 29:25). A warning to precede the penalty,

which must be delivered before any punishment is meted to the

transgressors, is a cardinal sign of Allah's (SWT) mercy and

justice. Any religious scholar preaching that Allah's (SWT) Wrath of

Doomsday will erupt suddenly on this unsuspecting world is surely

deceived by Iblis. The following verses assure the arrival of

messengers or apostles before any chastisement:

 

Whoever goes aright, for his own soul does he go aright; and whoever

goes astray, to its detriment only does he go astray: nor can the

bearer of a burden bear the burden of another, nor do We chastise

until We raise an apostle. Qur'an 17.15

 

And if We had inflicted on them a penalty before this, they would

have said: " Our Lord! If only Thou hadst sent us a messenger, we

should certainly have followed Thy Signs before we were humbled and

put to shame. Qur'an 20.134

 

Nor was thy Lord the one to destroy a population until He had sent

to its center a messenger, rehearsing to them Our Signs; nor are We

going to destroy a population except when its members practice

iniquity. Qur'an 28.59

 

But there is scant information on Al-Qiyamah (The Resurrection), the

very heart and soul of Islam. Abdullah Yusuf Ali's The Holy Qur'an:

Text, Translation and Commentary — by far the most known, studied

and respected English translation of the Qur'an — devotes only

five pages (inclusive of the entire text in Arabic and its English

translation) to this central theme of Islam. And other Muslim

scholars have done no better, although they have produced countless

thesis after thesis on far pettier topics and hadiths.

 

According to Professor Mahmoud M. Ayoub " theology has confused the

rank and file of Muslims. It has discouraged any kind of innovative

thinking. It has paralyzed the intellectuals, preoccupying them with

unsolvable questions. "

 

Of all the chapters in the Qur'an, surah 75 Al-Qiyamah (The

Resurrection) must have clearly confronted them with so frightening

a prophecy and promise of Divine intervention to collect,

promulgate, recite and explain in detail the only Surah entirely

devoted to Al-Qiyamah, that it could only be explained away by

vagueness, briefness, distortion, misinformation, untruth and

outright deceit. But Allah (SWT) warned humans not to move " thy

tongue concerning the (Resurrection), to make haste therewith "

since " it is for Us to collect it and to promulgate it. " Then, after

having announced it they were to follow " its recital " And last, but

not the least, the Resurrection is " for Us to explain " — leaving

absolutely no ambiguity as to Allah's (SWT) Intention. This is

referred as the Great News or Great Event in the Qur'an and was to

coincide with specific Sure Signs absolutely beyond human

manipulation or duplication Thus it is obvious that the announcement

and detailed narration of the Resurrection to the entire human race

was Allah's (SWT) sole and explicit prerogative.

 

But mere mortals with puny minds and huge egos have blabbed their

tongues about this Surah for the last 1400 years. They collectively

erased the mercy of the blessed Resurrection (Al Qadr or the Night

of Power) for all humankind, substituting it with the nightmare of a

Doomsday End (Al Qariah or the Day of Noise and Clamor) for sinners

and disbelievers!

 

Now the question of making such serious allegations against so

established a faith arises. How is it possible that so obvious and

fundamental Truths be hidden from so many by so few for so long?

Perhaps it must be asked: " How was the Ummah deceived into

speculating about Al-Qiyamah, despite Allah's (SWT) explicit, simple

and clear Warning not to do so? " This Islam, Qur'an and Al-Qiyamah

website exposes the depth of deception that the Ummah has been

indoctrinated over the centuries by their ulama, imams, ayatollahs,

amirs, caliphs, mu'attilah, aalims, mujtahids, mullahs and muftis.

 

" The Holy Quran is the final and highest authority for Muslims on

all matters. It is the fundamental source of the teachings of Islam.

When determining whether a certain belief or practice is a part of

Islam or not, the verdict of the Quran has the highest priority and

must be accepted even if it goes against common practice or one's

own wishes. If a Muslim differs with us regarding the meaning of a

verse of the Quran, we must still respect his views if he gives

arguments from the Holy Book in his support. "

 

www.tariq.bitshop.com

 

 

Thus, before we proceed, it will be fitting to introduce the

sages' definition of the term truth. It has been earlier

demonstrated that without such a definition men wander in a dry

wilderness of hollow fancies, unfounded opinions, worthless theories

and hypostatized words. This definition may sound quite simple, but

it implications are most profound. It should be graven deeply on the

heart. Here it is: " Truth is that which is beyond all contradiction

and free from all doubt; which is indeed beyond the very possibility

of both contradiction and doubt; beyond the changes and alternations

of time and vicissitude; forever one and the same, unalterable and

unaltering; universal and therefore independent of all human

ideation. "

 

The first reason for the Ummah's inability to comprehend Al-Qiyamah

beyond their doomsday mindset lies in the fact that 90% of Muslims

are unable to understand the Arabic Qur'an. For example, it is

common knowledge that " many Pakistani and Indian Muslims are forced

as children to read the Quran in Arabic and still as adults read the

Quran in Arabic but they do not understand a single word of what

they read. " This leaves them at the mercy of religious zealots who

exploit their illiteracy but, ironically, are themselves like the

blind describing the elephant. Thus their mindset of a doomsday Al-

Qiyamah predetermines the Ummah's responses to its interpretations.

This classic case of collective scriptural illiteracy is the general

malaise that plagues the Islamic nations.

 

" Friday prayer leaders affirm from mosque pulpits around the

world belief in divine decree, be it good or evil. They warn their

faithful listeners with this hadith: `The most evil of things are

novelties; for every novelty is an innovation. Every innovation is

an error, and every error leads to the Fire.'

 

While Christians considered theology `the queen of the

sciences', Muslims came to consider it the work of Satan. This is

because theology has confused the rank and file of Muslims. It has

discouraged any kind of innovative thinking. It has paralyzed the

intellectuals, preoccupying them with unsolvable questions. "

 

Mahmoud M. Ayoub

World Religions: The Islamic Tradition

 

 

The second lies in the serious and sometimes fatal consequences for

those who dare challenge the established Islamic dogma. Many do at

their peril as the fatwa of blasphemy may bring about dire

consequences. Sometimes even the slightest deviation or just plain

honest interpretation of the Qur'an can bring the wrath of

collective rage and mob violence to bear on the conscientious

victim. In so volatile an atmosphere pervading the Islamic nations,

who will dare voice his or her disagreement with religious bodies

over entrenched dogma and officially endorsed interpretation of the

Qur'an?

 

" Pakistani sentenced to death for blasphemy

 

A court in Pakistan has sentenced a medical lecturer, Dr Younus

Shaikh, to death for blasphemy.

 

He had been accused of making derogatory remarks about the Prophet

Mohammad by suggesting he did not become a Muslim until he was 40

years old and that his parents were not Muslims either.

 

The case was registered by a local Mullah, after a complaint by some

students. . . .

 

The doctor had maintained his words were twisted and he could not

conceive of saying anything blasphemous. . . .

 

According to human rights groups, Dr Younus is the third Muslim to

be sentenced to death for blasphemy. "

 

BBC 18 August, 2001

 

 

" The Islamic movement risks ceasing to form an authentic summons to

cultural and spiritual renewal, and existing as little more than a

splintered array of maniacal factions. The prospect of such an

appalling and humiliating end to the story of a religion which once

surpassed all others in its capacity for tolerating debate and

dissent is now a real possibility. "

 

British convert to Islam, Abdal-Hakim Murad

www.islamfortoday.com (September 30, 2001)

 

 

The third answer is the hundreds and thousands of hadiths that shape

and mould Islamic thinking, obscuring the mind from getting a true

message of the living Al-Qur'an. The Hadith, which are collections

of the sayings of Muhammad (pbuh), are regarded as an excellent

guide to base one's life on. But Muslims are now unable to see the

Divine Forest of the Qur'an because thousands of these hadith trees

are being examined and admired in the pettiest of detail. Alas, if

only they had inspected the priceless mystical parables of the

Qur'an with such meticulous admiration and faith.

 

" 7. The rise and fall of Islam and its followers in history have

close connections with the religion they practised. But why was it

that when the ignorant Arabs adopted Islam they became such a

dynamic group of followers? But in the later years, a lot of

teachings deviating from Islam's true path were spread and more

Muslims became involved in a power struggle while declaring that

they were doing so in the name of Islam.

 

8. That is why three out of four Caliphs died through killings. Only

the first Caliph, Saidina Abu Bakar, was not killed. Saidina Abu

Bakar was known to be humble. When he was appointed Caliph, he told

everyone that they could criticise him because he said he was a mere

mortal and not a prophet. The killing of Saidina Omar and Osman was

surely because there were followers of Islam who did not agree with

their leadership.

 

9. But when Saidina Ali was appointed Caliph, the opposition to him

was very strong. War ensued between Saidina Ali and the Muawiyah

which eventually ended with the murder of Saidina Ali, resulting in

a split among the Muslims - the Sunni and Shiite. The difference

between the Sunnis and Shiites were great but both argued that their

religion was Islam. How is it that the one religion brought by

Prophet Muhammad SAW could become two with wide differences? Surely

one of them is not Islamic, or probably each of them have different

interpretations of the religion which are both correct and

incorrect. What was clear was the fact that the different

interpretations and teachings was a result of a political struggle,

that is to become a Caliph by certain leaders.

 

10. But different interpretations on Islam continued to be made.

Whether these were the results of problems brought by changing eras

or the political leaderships in these two sides, scholars continued

to make rulings (fatwas) all the time. At the same time, some

scholars introduced their own ruling and formed groups or tariqat

and others. To support them, many of them created hadiths which had

no real basis.

 

11. Two hundred years after hijra, Bukhari collected a total of

600,000 hadiths. Out of these, he only verified 7,000 and rejected

about 593,000 which he believed were false and not genuine.

 

12. Other hadith scholars such as Muslim and Tarmizi accepted even

less than the 7,000. There were hadiths accepted by Bukhari but

rejected by other scholars who also studied them, and vice versa.

 

13. This happened only 200 years after hijra. After this, a lot of

hadiths were created by other people. There were many opinions,

interpretations and fatwas made and supported by various means. Some

of them were rejected by scholars who came much later but this did

not deter anyone to continue to make fatwas without proper

procedures approved by Islam. Hence, the different interpretations.

 

14. The truth is that in Islam's 1,400 years, they were exposed to a

variety of teachings each claiming to be Islamic but were opposites

of each other. There were 1,001 beliefs ranging from narrow

interpretations which rejected the present world outright and a

desire to bring Islam back 1,400 years before, to one that alienated

Islam and accepted secularism. As a result, the followers became

very confused. . . .

 

Going by history, we can see that the progress and achievements of

the Islamic Empire in its early days were due to the fact that there

were not many differing interpretations of Islam, not many false

hadiths, and not many shallow fatwas which could have confused the

followers. "

 

www.ikim.gov.my/

 

 

The fourth is that the Qur'an is not chronologically written, and is

arranged with the longest surahs (chapters) in the beginning and the

least at the end. The longer surahs have many diverse topics

unrelated to each other, topics also to be found in numerous other

surahs — one has to go back and forth in order to pick and join

them together under appropriate topics. Since is impossible to

ascertain the flow of Divine Revelation that was received by Prophet

Muhammad (pbuh), it is just as difficult to link seemingly unrelated

verses of Al-Qiyamah. Only by careful study and piecing together

different ayats of scattered surahs is it possible to breathe life

and vitality to this central theme of Islam, and transform the

Qur'an into a living, life-sustaining divine guide for all

humankind.

 

" Quran literally means reading or recitation. While dictating this

to his disciples, the Prophet Mohammad (pbuh) assured them that it

was the Divine revelation that had come to him. He did not dictate

the whole at one stretch: the revelations came to him in fragments

from time to time. As soon as he received one, he used to

communicate it to his disciples and ask them not only to learn it by

heart. in order to recite it during the service of worship, but also

to write it down and to multiply the copies. On each such occasion,

he indicated the precise place of the new revelation in the text of

till-then-revealed Quran; his was not a chronological compilation.

One cannot admire too much this precaution and care taken for

accuracy, when one takes into consideration the standard of the

culture of the Arabs of the time.

 

It is reasonable to believe that the earliest revelations received

by the Prophet (pbuh) were not committed to writing immediately, for

the simple reason that there were then no disciples or adherents.

These early portions were neither long nor numerous. There was no

risk that the Prophet (pbuh) would forget them, since he recited

them often in his prayers and proselytizing talks. . . .

 

The Prophet (pbuh) received the revelations in fragments, it is but

natural that the revealed text should have referred to the problems

of the day. It may be that one of his companion died; the revelation

would have promulgate the law of inheritance; it could not be that

penal law regarding theft, murder, or wine drinking for instance,

should have been revealed at that moment. The revelation continued

during the whole missionary life of Mohammad (pbuh), 13 years in

Mecca and 10 years in Madina. A revelation consisted sometimes of a

whole chapter, short or long and sometimes of only a few verses. "

 

www.angelfire.com/

 

 

The fifth answer may lie in Friedrich Nietzsche's scathing

condemnation of theologians blindly defending their religious

regimes, leaving little doubt as to how they condition and mould the

masses into religious retards incapable of exercising their own

mental faculties to ascertain Truth for themselves. This severe

censure applies to theologians of all traditions and, as in the case

of Al-Qiyamah, is more than justified.

 

 

" I make war on this theologian instinct: I have found traces of

it everywhere. Whoever has theologian blood in his veins has a wrong

and dishonest attitude towards all things from the very first. The

pathos that develop out of this is called faith: closing one's eyes

with respect to oneself for good and all so as not to suffer from

the sight of incurable falsity. Out of this erroneous perspective on

all things one makes a morality, a virtue, a holiness for one self,

one unites the good conscience with seeing falsely — one demands

that no other kind of perspective shall be accorded any value after

one has rendered one's sacrosanct with the names 'God', 'redemption',

'eternity.' I have dug out the theologian instinct everywhere: it is

most widespread, peculiarly subterranean form of falsity that exists

on earth. What a theologian feels to be true must be false: this

provides almost a criterion of truth. It is his deepest instinct of

self-preservation which forbids any part of reality whatever to be

held in esteem or even spoken of. Wherever the influence of the

theologian extends value judgment is stood on its head, the

concepts 'true' and 'false' are necessary reversed: that which is

most harmful to life is here called 'true,' that which enhances,

intensifies, affirms, justifies it and causes it to triumph is

called 'false.' "

 

F. Nietzsche, Twilight of the Idols

 

 

The sixth, and perhaps the most important reason, is that 1400 years

ago the chapter of Al-Qiyamah foretold a Day of Judgment for all

human beings. Embedded firmly in this particular surah, and

safeguarded by a phalanx of parables and prophecies, were the Sure

Signs of Allah that would trigger Al-Qiyamah. These preordained

manifestations were to be absolutely beyond human manipulation. That

was the time the Holy Qur'an was to burst into life and compel

universal submission to its authority, barring none.

 

But, alas, over the centuries the Thieves of Truth numbering in the

hundreds and thousands first molested, then raped, and finally

mutilated the revelation of Al-Qiyamah beyond recognition before

leaving it pregnant with distortion, delusion and deceit. Till today

the Ummah still recoils at it in fear and terror. From the wanton

seed of their unforgivable collective orgy was born the satanic lie

that the wrath of Allah (SWT) will descend suddenly on humankind

without warning, and punish the sinners in a murderous rage of death

and destruction — thus fulfilling Iblis' promise to Allah that he

will mislead Adam's descendents till the Day of Resurrection.

 

 

(Allah) said: " O Iblis! what is your reason for not being among

those who prostrated themselves? " (Iblis) said: " I am not one to

prostrate myself to man, whom Thou didst create from sounding clay,

from mud moulded into shape. " (Allah) said: " Then get thee out from

here; for thou art rejected, accursed. " And the curse shall be on

thee till the day of Judgment. " (Iblis) said: " O my Lord! give me

then respite till the Day the (dead) are raised. " (Allah)

said: " Respite is granted thee till the Day of the Time appointed. "

(Iblis) said: " O my Lord! because Thou hast put me in the wrong, I

will make (wrong) fair-seeming to them on the earth, and I will put

them all in the wrong. Qur'an 15.32-39

 

 

(Allah) said: " Get thee down from this: it is not for thee to be

arrogant here: get out, for thou art of the meanest (of creatures). "

He said: " Give me respite till the day they are raised up. " (Allah)

said: " Be thou among those who have respite. " He said: " Because thou

hast thrown me out of the way, lo! I will lie in wait for them on

thy straight way: " Then will I assault them from before them and

behind them, from their right and their left: Nor wilt thou find, in

most of them, gratitude (for thy mercies). " (Allah) said: " Get out

from this, disgraced and expelled. If any of them follow thee,—

Hell will I fill with you all. Qur'an 7.13-18

 

 

Allah (SWT) is Ar-Raheem, the Bestower of Mercy to disbelievers and

believers alike, and to the more pious and the less pious among the

believers. Moreover — and it is extremely important to understand

this easily overlooked fact — Iblis was only granted respite to

mislead till, not after, the commencement of the Resurrection. Al-

Qiyamah is now revealed as not the fiery End that those deceived by

Iblis have the faithful believe, but as the most glorious era of

inner peace, spiritual cleansing and priceless participation in the

promised Resurrection for all humankind. Only the Thieves of Truth

are able to twist the words of Allah (SWT) regarding Al-Qiyamah,

though they have no answers to the following clear questions and

facts pertaining to that fateful Day:

 

Do they really believe that an all-encompassing punishment by God

will not come upon them, or the Hour overtake them suddenly while

they remain unaware of it? Qur'an 12.107

 

We have not sent thee (Muhammed) but to the whole of mankind, as a

giver of glad tidings and as a warner, but most of mankind still do

not know. Qur'an 34.28

 

On the Day that the Hour (of Reckoning) will be established, the

transgressors will swear that they tarried not but an hour: thus

were they used to being deluded! But those endued with knowledge and

faith will say: " Indeed ye did tarry, within Allah's Decree, to the

Day of Resurrection, and this is the Day of Resurrection: but ye

ye were not aware! " Qur'an 30.55-6

 

This non-profit Islam, Qur'an And Al-Qiyamah website not only

answers the above quotes beyond any doubt, but also declares the

Good News of the Qur'an and calls on every Believer (Muslim and non-

Muslim) to bear witness to Al-Qiyamah. It is a no-holds-barred open

book and challenge to all Islamic scholars — ulama, imams,

ayatollahs, amirs, caliphs, mu'attilah, aalims, mujtahids, mullahs

and muftis — to rebut and prove it false. Should they fail to do

so, a forgone conclusion of which we are absolutely assured, they

must submit to the Truth of the Qur'an. They can either accept or

deny the Good News of Al-Qiyamah. In the Hereafter they will bear

the consequences of their acts regarding the announcement of this

Great Event and the universal declaration to bear witness to the

Resurrection.

 

But with so many Thieves of Truth preaching their version of Islam,

often in constant conflict with the rest, what are the chances of

them humbling to the Good News?

 

" For example, as you well know, there are many competing groups of

Muslims today in the ideological wars. There are the Saudi-funded

Salafies, the Iranian funded Mullahs, the Egyptian/Syrian

Brotherhood groups, the Tablighi Jamaati people, the mysterious Hizb

at Tahreer, the Jamati Islami groups, the African American Muslim

groups, the secularist Indo-Pak groups and about twenty others. Each

group has its own scholars who " prove " to the faithful that the

other groups are inferior. These same " scholars " often

issue " Fatwas " or religious verdicts about items of concern for

individual members and life goes on in the happy dreamland of

exclusive truth.

 

These groups often issue contradictory Fatwas and rarely ever work

together on anything. How many of you have been to a gathering of

one of these or other groups where the " big scholar " is treated like

a celebrity? Well-wishers and sycophants fawning all over him. (It's

always a " him. " ) What's the average, concerned Muslim supposed to

think when the " scholars " are often so full of pride and arrogance

that they are repulsive? The hierarchy involved in the " scholar "

system in amazing! The big Maulanas are usually the fattest. The

medium Maulanas have shorter beards and smaller bellies, while the

Maulana wanna-bees are thin and stand off in the fringes of the

great procession. (Don't get angry at me for pointing out what

everyone knows.) "

 

www.islamfortoday.com/

 

 

These major disbeliefs listed below excludes one completely from the

fold of Islam. There are five types of Major Disbelief.

 

(a) " Al-Kufr-al-Takdhieb " . This implies disbelieving the Divine

Truth or denial of any of the Articles of Faith.

 

Almighty Allah says:

 

" Then who does more wrong than one who utters a lie against Allah

and denies the Truth (the Qur'an) when it comes to him. Is there not

in Hell an abode for the disbelievers? " Holy Qur'an (39:32)

 

(b) " Al-Kufr-al-Aba was-Stakbara ma'at-Tasdeeq " . This implies

rejection and pride to bow to Allah's Commandments after conviction

of their truth.

 

Almighty Allah says:

 

" And (remember) when We said to the angels: Prostrate yourself

before Adam, and they prostrated save Iblis; he refused and was

proud and was one to the disbelievers, (disobedient to Allah). "

(Holy Quran 2:34)

 

© " Al-Kufr-ash-Shak wa Az-Zan " . This implies doubting or

lacking of conviction in the six Articles of Faith.

 

Almighty Allah says:

 

" And he went into his garden while in a state, unjust to himself. He

said: I think not that this will ever perish and I think not that

the Hour will ever come, and if indeed I am brought back to my Lord

(on the Day of Resurrection) I surely shall find better than these

two (gardens) when I return to Him. His companion said to him during

the talk with him: Do you disbelieve Him Who created you out of dust

(i.e., your father Adam), then out of a drop of semen, then

fashioned you into a man? But as for my part (I believe) that He is

Allah, my Lord, and none shall I associate as partners with my

Lord. " (Holy Qur'an 18:35-38)

 

(d) " Al-Kufr-al-Irad " . This implies turning away from the Truth

knowingly or deviating from the obvious Signs which Allah has

revealed.

 

Almighty Allah says:

 

" We created not the heavens and the earth and all that is between

them except with Truth and for an appointed term. But those who

disbelieve turn away from that whereof they are warned. " Holy Quran

(46:3)

 

(e) " Al-Kufr-an-Nifaq " . This implies hypocritical disbelief.

 

Almighty Allah says:

 

" They have made their oaths a screen (for their hypocrisy) thus they

hinder (men) from the Path of Allah. Verily, evil is what they used

to do. That is because they believed, then disbelieved, so a seal

was set on their hearts, therefore they understand not. " Holy Quran

(63:2-3)

 

Thus will these major disbeliefs fulfill the prophetic irony of Al-

Qiyamah. Those who hear this Truth for the very first time ever

will, on the contrary, reject it and return to their families in

full conceit, i.e. brimming with their own ideas, thought, concepts,

and personal opinions. And we challenge the Ummah to bear witness to

their own disbelief, one that is clearly predicted for them in no

uncertain terms:

 

 

But on the contrary, he rejected Truth and turned away! Then did he

stalk to his family in full conceit! Woe to thee, (O man!), yea,

woe! Again, woe to thee, (O man!), yea, woe!.

 

Qur'an 75.32-35

 

And then one by one the phalanx of prophecies will rise to defend

the Sure Signs of Al-Qiyamah from the enemies of Allah (SWT), who

will be asked in the Afterlife:

 

 

" O ye assembly of Jinns and men! Came there not unto you messengers

from amongst you, setting forth unto you My Signs, and warning you

of the meeting of this day of yours? " They will say: " We bear

witness against ourselves. " It was the life of this world that

deceived them. So against themselves will they bear witness that

they rejected Faith. (The messengers were sent) thus, for thy Lord

would not destroy, for their wrongdoing men's inhabitants, whilst

their occupants were unwarned.

 

Qur'an 6.130-131

 

Both Muslim and non-Muslim messengers from amongst us are now

upholding the Qur'an and setting forth Allah's Signs, explicitly

warning humankind of Al-Qiyamah. It is imperative that the Ummah in

particular, and non-Muslims in general, now meticulously examine

these pages with their hearts, minds and souls so that they may make

an informed individual judgment. May Allah (SWT) be their

indispensable Guide.

 

" The Qur'an's Addressees:

 

Another point that has to be inferred from the Qur'anic text during

its analytical study, is to determine the identity of those who are

addressed by it. There are certain expressions like " guidance for

the God fearing, " " guidance and good tiding for the believers, " " to

admonish and caution him who is alive, " which often recur in the

Qur'an. Here the question may arise: Of what need is guidance for

those who are already guided, the pious and the righteous? Moreover,

we see that the Qur'an describes itself in these words:

 

It is but a reminder unto all beings, and you shall surely know its

tiding, after a while. (38:87-88)

 

Then, is this book meant for all the people of the world, or is it

for the believers alone? In another verse addressing the Prophet,

God the Most Exalted, says:

 

We have not sent thee, save as a mercy unto all beings. (21:107)

 

A more detailed explanation of this matter would be undertaken

during the course of later discussion regarding the historical

aspect of the Qur'an. Here it is just sufficient to mention that the

Qur'an is addressed to all the people of the world. It does not

single out any particular nation or group. Everyone who accepts the

invitation of the Qur'an is assured of spiritual salvation. However,

the verses which mention the Qur'an as the book of guidance for the

believers and the God-fearing (mu'minun and muttaqun), clearly

specify the kind of people who will be attracted towards it and

others who will turn away from it. The Qur'an never names any

particular nation or tribe as being its devotees. It does not take

sides with a specially chosen people. "

 

www.al-islam.org

 

A common ground must be found for non-Muslims to confirm the central

message of the Quran by presenting them with irrefutable evidence

which they can cross-examine and, most important of all, not able to

refute. The Islam, Qur'an And Al-Qiyamah website does exactly that,

no matter how controversial some of the contents may be. Since this

initial explosion of prophetic Truth is being heard for the very

first time it is bound to cause adverse reactions but, just as

Qur'an predicts, commences Al-Qiyamah: " The Day when they will hear

a (mighty) Blast in Truth: That will be the Day of Resurrection. "

(Qaf)

 

Again it must be repeated, and one that the Ummah must understand

with foresight, is that the Resurrection is for all humankind. Until

and unless the traditions and scriptures of non-Muslims — who

represent about 80% of the non-Ummah population — are related to

this central theme of Islam they will not be interested. Thus

another website upholding their religious traditions and

eschatological expectations, anchored by the entire contents and

central theme of this site, has been set up. It is called

www.adishakti.org/ and titled SHRI ADI SHAKTI: THE KINGDOM OF GOD,

and caters to Hindus, Christians, Jews, Buddhist and other

traditions.

 

Muslims should understand that the Christian Last Judgment and the

Islamic Al-Qiyamah or Resurrection are one and the same, and run

parallel to each other. The Qur'an declares that Jesus (PBUH) is the

Sign of the Hour of the Resurrection. The central theme of the non-

Muslim site is Shri Adi Shakti (Hindus and Buddhists) and Kingdom of

God (Jews and Christians).

 

For non-Muslims to accept the Qur'an and surrender to the Call of Al-

Qiyamah, that message must also be delivered by a non-Muslim. It

will absolutely not work otherwise, and is a non-issue. The Ummah

cannot and must not challenge this simple solution to the graceful

submission to His Will. Thus in order to collect, promulgate and

explain Surah 75 Al-Qiyamah (The Resurrection) to the Christians,

Jews, Hindus, Buddhists, Sikhs and Muslims Allah (SWT) has sent His

Ruh or Spirit Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi, a Sure Sign backed by surah

97:1-5 Al Qadr (The Night of Power and Honour). His Ruh was born a

Christian and later became a Hindu in order that all traditions are

represented. A Muslim will without question never ever accomplish

this task. The upholding of the Qur'an by a non-Muslim is absolutely

indispensable for the success of a universal surrender to the Call

of Al-Qiyamah. Only the Believers will not question the Wisdom of

Jaami' un Naas, the Gatherer of Humankind.

 

14 centuries have passed. Surely Allah (SWT) has a Plan for all

humankind which lies hidden deep in the parables of the Holy Qur'an,

camouflaged and safeguarded until the Sure Signs of Al-Qiyamah

blasts them into submission!

 

 

" The importance of the ummah comes from the Koran, the collected

writings that Muslim tradition says were revealed by Allah — God

— to the Prophet Muhammad in seventh-century Arabia. For

believing

Muslims, the Koran is far more than a book written by divinely

inspired humans, as orthodox Christians and Jews claim for the

Bible. Rather, it is the literal word of God in God's own voice.

There is no room for error or academic historical revisionism. You

either accept the Koran on its face or you don't. If you do, all

it says becomes religious obligation. Chapter two, verse 143 of the

Koran makes clear that the ummah is God's holy plan so " that

ye might be witnesses over the nations.. " "

 

But the centuries-old distortion of the Holy Qur'an by scholars and

theologians alike will deceive many who will still wait for doomsday

(Al Qariah or the Day of Noise and Clamour). Thus even after hearing

this Good News of the living, breathing Qur'an to witness and

participate in the Resurrection (Al Qadr or the Night of Power),

they will reject and ridicule it! So it was prophesied in the Qur'an

that Allah's (SWT) Holy Plan for humanity will be rejected and

ridiculed, and so shall it begin to manifest in the hearts of the

disbelievers!

 

And in the Hereafter they will be asked:

 

" O ye assembly of Jinns and men! Came there not unto you messengers

from amongst you, setting forth unto you My Signs, and warning you

of the meeting of this day of yours? "

 

Qur'an 6.130-13

 

May none deny in the Hereafter that they were not aware of

messengers on Earth setting forth Allah's (SWT) Signs of Al-Qiyamah

and warning all to surrender to His Call that the Resurrection has

begun!

 

Wa maa alainaa illa al-balaagh — there is nothing upon us except

to convey (the truth).

 

 

Wasalam

 

 

 

 

LAA UQSIM BI-YAWM AL-QIYAMAH;

WA-LAA UQSIM BI-AN-NAFSAL-LAWWAAMAH

 

I do call to witness the Resurrection Day;

And I do call to witness the self-reproaching Spirit.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...
×
×
  • Create New...