Guest guest Posted August 25, 2009 Report Share Posted August 25, 2009 > (p.21) AFTERWARDS HE FOUND IT almost impossible to describe the > experience that sent him running in anguish down the rocky hillside > to his wife. It seemed to him that a devastating presence had burst > into the cave where he was sleeping and gripped him in an > overpowering embrace,... > He had this vision during the month of Ramadan, 610 CE. Later > Muhammad would call it 'layla al-qadr' (the " Night of Destiny " ) > because it had made him the messenger of Allah, the high god of > Arabia. > > Muhammad (Prophet For Our Time) > Chapter 1, 'Mecca', p. 21-29 > Karen Armstrong > Dear Believers of the Resurrection, Namaste - i bow to His Ruh (Holy Spirit/Adi Shakti) who resides in you! Three crucial corrections are necessary here: i) Prophet Muhammad was meditating, not sleeping in the cave. This fact must be established as daily meditation is absolutely required for those wishing to take part in the present Al-Qiyamah. Meditation, the innermost intimacy with God Almighty (Silence on Self), must now blossom into the future model for both Muslims and non-Muslims alike: " In the historical context, it is well known that the Prophet Muhammad received his initial revelation in a cave on Mt. Hira where he used to retire for meditation. It was in the solitude of this place that he was blessed with the first auditions which forced him to go into the world and preach what he had learned: the constant change between the khalwa, the lonely place of meditation in the dark cave, undisturbed in his concentration upon God, and the jilwa, the need and duty to promulgate the Divine word that he had heard, was to remain the model for the Muslims—a spiritual movement of whose necessity Iqbal reminds the believers of our time… The Prophet's example of retiring into the cave was imitated by a number of mystics who lived for long periods in caves. The extremely narrow cave in which Sharafuddin Maneri of Bihar (d. 1381) spent several decades of his life is only one of the numerous examples of this pious custom; Muhammad Ghawth Gwaliorf (d. 1562) also belongs to the Sufis who, year after year, performed their meditation in a cave, to emerge in the end filled with an overwhelming spiritual energy. The experience of the arba'in, chilla, khalwat, forty days' meditation in a narrow, dark room or a subterranean place, belongs here as well. The intimacy of the experience of God's proximity in such a khalwa could lead the pious to address Him in prayer as `On Cave of them that seek refuge!' " (Deciphering the signs of God: a phenomenological approach to Islam, Annemarie Schimmel, pages 48-9) Note: i consider this correction crucial for Muslims understanding that the present Al Qadr (Night of Power Destiny) is rooted in meditation. Only in meditation can one feel the Winds of Qiyamah issuing from within themselves, and know for a surety that the body is daily undergoing a very subtle resurrection. Those surrendering to His Call are empowered to resurrect themselves, and that is why the Night of Power is better than a thousand months wherein come down the angels and the Spirit by Allah's permission, on every errand. ii) there was no month of Ramadan in 610 CE as the Quran was still to be revealed and Islam established; O ye who believe! Fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you, that ye may (learn) self-restraint,- (Fasting) for a fixed number of days; but if any of you is ill, or on a journey, the prescribed number (Should be made up) from days later. For those who can do it (With hardship), is a ransom, the feeding of one that is indigent. But he that will give more, of his own free will,- it is better for him. And it is better for you that ye fast, if ye only knew. Ramadhan is the (month) in which was sent down the Qur'an, as a guide to mankind, also clear (Signs) for guidance and judgment (Between right and wrong). So every one of you who is present (at his home) during that month should spend it in fasting, but if any one is ill, or on a journey, the prescribed period (Should be made up) by days later. Allah intends every facility for you; He does not want to put to difficulties. (He wants you) to complete the prescribed period, and to glorify Him in that He has guided you; and perchance ye shall be grateful. Quran 2:183-185 Why then do the ulema on one hand claim that Ramadan was practiced, and with the other condemn and contradict it as jahiliyyah (The Time of Ignorance)? And who were the inhabitants that these ulema (Muslim scholars) claim were enlightened enough to fast for not two, not ten days, but a full month? .............. but, alas, just not enough to restrain them from fornicating with their own mothers!!!? " The desert Arabs loved fighting and plunder, and understood such motives for war. The higher motives seemed to be beyond them. Like ignorant men they attributed petty motives or motives of jealousy if they were kept out of the vulgar circle of fighting for plunder. " Abdullah Yusuf Ali, The Holy Qur'an, Amana Corporation, 1989, p. 1332. " Before Islam, the tribes of Arabia were notorious for their corruption and depravity: they buried female infants for the fear of false shame; they fought with each other over small things; after the death of their fathers, they took their mothers as their property and made them their own wives; they kicked the women out of their homes, when they did not need them, without even a formal divorce; they dishonored and oppressed women; and no crime was too small for them. In that society that we call Jahiliya, or society of ignorance, Islam came as a beacon to lead them out of the darkness to a new future. " Dr. Shahid Athar, Millennium - An Islamic Perspective (Presented Nov 20, 1995 at the Millennium & Religions Conference in Chicago by Parliament of Worlds Religion.) iii) Prophet Muhammad never called Ramadan as 'layla al-qadr' (the " Night of Destiny " ); i have no idea where Karen Armstrong got that information from, as even Muslim scholars have never mentioned that. In fact this is the first time i am hearing that Prophet Muhammad said so, as over the years i have never come across any evidence of that. The Ummah has been falsely led to believe that Laylatul Qadr (The Night of Power) is the night that God first sent down the first verses of the Qur'an via the Spirit of Revelation Gabriel, to Muhammad when he was forty years old. This is a centuries-old false concept that has entered and firmly entrenched itself in the Muslim mindset. Even Allah's (SWT) confirmation that Ramadan was the month the Quran was first sent down is conveniently forgotten! There is absolutely no mention of Al Qadr, the Night of Power and Destiny! Muslim scholars are unable to explain the relationship between the commencement of revelation during Ramadan to the Night of Power i.e., how does it actually empower humans? Till today it still remains a mysterious, unspecific day during Ramadan. They have just assumed the month of Ramadan and Al Qadr is one and the same, even though logic and revelation dictates otherwise. You may read the full text at: http://www.al-qiyamah.org/al_qadr_night_of_power.htm In conclusion i quote Tor Andrae, Swedish Lutheran bishop and Islamicist, to awaken the Ummah to realize the satanic nature of the corruption, both pro-(ulema) and anti-(Western), that Islam has undergone: “Like any movement in the realm of ideas, a religious faith has the same right to be judged according to its real and veritable intentions and not according to the way in which human weaknesses and meanness may have falsified and maimed its ideals.” “(Satan) said: ‘O my Lord! Give me then respite till the Day they (the dead) will be resurrected.’ Allah said: ‘Then verily, you are of those reprieved, till the Day of the time appointed.’” “(Satan) said: ‘O my Lord! Because You misled me, I shall indeed adorn the path of error for them (mankind) on the earth, and I shall mislead them all. Except Your chosen, (guided) slaves among them.’” (al-Hijr: 36-40) Most Muslims will still not realize why they are only now suddenly being informed of their Jahannam-bound errors by his Ruh (Spirit), 14 centuries later. It is because 14 centuries ago Allah said to Satan: " ‘Then verily, you are of those reprieved, till the Day of the time appointed.’” i know most Muslims will still not realize why. It is because 14 centuries ago “(Satan) said: ‘O my Lord! Give me then respite till the Day they (the dead) will be resurrected.’ " The 14 centuries are up for Satan! regards to all, jagbir Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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