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Salam,

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Christian reasoning Allah is the father of Jesus

Salam,

Surah 2:116 - They say: "Allah hath begotten a son": Glory be to Him. Nay, to Him belongs all that is in the heavens and on earth: everything renders worship to Him.

The question to be asked is Jesus the son of Allah? The Qur'an emphatically says no. Yet as Christians we claimed that it is also entirely consistent with the Qur'an to consider Allah is the Father of Jesus for the following reasons: 1) Allah caused Mary to become pregnant with Jesus 2) Allah determined some of the physical characteristics of Jesus 3) All of the genetic characteristics of Jesus were determined by just two parties: Allah and Mary.

A Muslim might argue "Being a father implies having sex", and therefore Allah cannot be the father. This is however not necessarily so. Modern science has brought us "test tube babies", which are conceived without any sex. There is nothing to support the idea that if Allah wants a baby, he must resort to normal human means to have one. And the Quran says “Surely they lie when they declare: "Allah has begotten children". (S 37:151) but the question ask is where is the "lie" in the Christians reasoning above?

The Quran also stated in S2:116 They say: "Allah has begotten a Son". Glory be to Him! His is what the heavens and the earth contain; all things are obedient to Him. Creator of the heavens and the earth! When he decrees a thing, He need only say "Be", and it is.

The belief here is Allah made Mary pregnant. What more would Allah have to do if he wanted a legitimate son? Allah forbids that He Himself should beget a son! When He decrees a thing He need only say "Be," and it is! (S19:35). So is Allah unable to beget a son by saying "Be"? Say: "If the Lord of Mercy had a son, I would be the first to worship him". (S 43:81). So all these argument will not limit Allah to have a son!

The one thing that the Christians failed to understand is Allah does not need a son! They can use the verse S43:81 and stop there but the message continues and you will not be worshipping any son of God as this is the false attribute which they gave Him as the next verse S43:82 says “Glory to the Lord of the heavens and the earth, the Lord of the Throne (of Authority)! (He is free) from the things they attribute (to him)!”

There is therefore no contradiction in the Quran when Allah said He did not beget any son. This is the principle of unity that God do not need a partner whether from any sibling or with anybody. As it is stated in the whole of Surah 112: Say: He is Allah, the One and Only; Allah, the Eternal, Absolute; He beget not, nor is He begotten; And there is none like unto Him.

Even to be a believer in the Quran one has first to declare Allah beget no son as to acknowledge the All Mighty He is One and Only One as in S17:111 we are commanded to:- Say: "Praise be to Allah, who begets no son, and has no partner in (His) dominion: Nor (needs) He any to protect Him from humiliation: yea, magnify Him for His greatness and glory!" And in S18:4-5 it is stated “Further, that He may warn those (also) who say, "Allah hath begotten a son": No knowledge have they of such a thing, nor had their fathers. It is a grievous thing that issues from their mouths as a saying what they say is nothing but falsehood! Again in S10:68 as recorded in the Quran They say: "Allah hath begotten a son!" - Glory be to Him! He is self-sufficient! His are all things in the heavens and on earth! No warrants have you for this! Say you about Allah what you know not? In the Quran it has been explained and warning given when He said in S23:90-91 “We have sent them the Truth: but they indeed practice falsehood! No son did Allah beget, nor is there any god along with Him: (if there were many gods), behold, each god would have taken away what he had created, and some would have lorded it over others! Glory to Allah! (He is free) from the (sort of) things they attribute to Him!

 

There is nothing in the Quran that clarify or insinuating that Allah would want a son this is blasphemy as Jesus is not the son of Allah he is just a messenger as stated in S4:171:- O People of the Book! Commit no excesses in your religion: or say of Allah aught but the truth. Christ Jesus the son of Mary was (no more than) a messenger of Allah, and His Word, which He bestowed on Mary, and a spirit proceeding from Him: so believe in Allah and His messengers. Say not "Trinity": desist: it will be better for you: for Allah is one Allah: Glory be to Him: (far exalted is He) above having a son. To Him belong all things in the heavens and on earth. And enough is Allah as a Disposer of affairs.

Asar

 

Claimed of historical error Mary being the sister of Aaron by Rahul Balakrishnan

Salam,

 

Below is the rebuttal from the Quran exposing Rahul misunderstanding the situation of Mary based on his fallacies:-

  

He said  the Quran makes an embarrassing historical error when it borrows stories from the Bible. The error we have in spotlight here is that the Quran mentions Mary (Maryam), the mother of Jesus as the same Miriam (Maryam) who was supposedly the sister of Moses and Aaron according to the Bible. This is totally absurd since Moses (if at all he existed) lived more than 600-1000 years before Jesus. The evidence for this is so strong that the Quran repeats this mistake in two different ways. 1) By addressing Maryam, the mother of Jesus as "Sister of Harun (Aaron)" (Quran 19:28).  2) By mistaking Imran (Amram), the father of Moses and Aaron as the Grandfather of Jesus (Quran 3:35 - 36, 3:45).  Before I describe the evidence, let us show some generosity to the Quran by considering the possibility that the verse 19:28 is not referring to a biological sister. Is it then a mere coincidence that Aaron actually had a sister with the same name Maryam? Think over it. If the Quran is from God, then we have to accept that God was deliberately misleading humans into believing that Mary, the mother of Jesus was Aaron's sister. Or is God so careless that he didn't realize this and ended up using the word "sister"?

 

The Quran made no mistake when Allah referred “Mary as sister of Aaron” in the Arabic text. This guy Rahul is no different than any other disbelievers who made the same mistake taking the literal meaning of sister as “A female having the same parents as another or one parent in common with another.” He is making himself ridiculous accusing the Quran making Mary the mother of Jesus, Aaron and Moses as brothers and sister. However the Quran define “sister” of Aaron in a different perspective.

 

The Quran uses the word “sister” to mean a “woman who shares a common ancestry” which means in this case Mary is the descendent of Aaron. While highlighting Mary is the descendent from Aaron the Quran exposed the falsehood of the Bible that Aaron and Moses were brothers but they were only step brothers as they both have the same mother but a different father. There are evidences from the Quran that provide this fact that when Moses and Aaron were disputing after the Jews worship the golden calf Moses grabbed Aaron and this is what Aaron says:-

 

(Aaron) replied: "O son of my mother! Seize (me) not by my beard nor by (the hair of) my head! (Surah 20:94). This shows that they have different father and that is why Aaron refer Moses by the mother side and not the father’s side. And the Quran also provide the evidence that Mary as “sister” of Aaron is descendent of Aaron and not Moses as they have different family lineage as stated:-

 

And (further) their Prophet said to them: "A Sign of his authority is that there shall come to you the Ark of the Covenant with (an assurance) therein of security from your Lord, and the relics left by the family of Moses and the family of Aaron, carried by angels. In this is a symbol for you if ye indeed have faith." (Surah 2:248)

 

So these verses of the Quran proved that there is no error Mary the mother of Jesus, Aaron and Moses are not brothers and sister but to establish the fact that Mary is the descendent of Aaron and not that of Moses and that Aaron and Moses were actually step brothers with the same mother but different father.

 

Further Rahul Balakrishnan said let us be even more generous by forgiving this. Now Muslims want to tell us that somehow, by sheer coincidence, the father of Mary (the mother of Jesus) had the same name as Amram (Imran in Arabic/Aramaic), the father of Miriam and Moses? Get over it folks... The author of Quran was actually mistaking Amram, the father of Miriam as the father of Mary. In other words, the author of the Quran was mistaking Mary, the mother of Jesus as Miriam, the sister of Moses and Aaron.

 

Here are the verses 19:27 - 19:34 from the Quran which show that the author of Quran mistook Mary, the mother of Jesus as the sister of Aaron: S19:27-32 - Then she brought him to her own folk, carrying him. They said: O Mary! Thou hast come with an amazing thing. O sister of Aaron! Thy father was not a wicked man nor was thy mother a harlot. Then she pointed to him. They said: How can we talk to one who is in the cradle, a young boy? He spake: Lo! I am the slave of Allah. He hath given me the Scripture and hath appointed me a Prophet, and hath made me blessed wheresoever I may be, and hath enjoined upon me prayer and almsgiving so long as I remain alive,  And (hath made me) dutiful toward her who bore me, and hath not made me arrogant, unblest. Peace on me the day I was born, and the day I die, and the day I shall be raised alive! Such was Jesus, son of Mary: (this is) a statement of the truth concerning which they doubt.

 

Here are the verses 3:35-36 and 3:45 which show that the author of Quran further affirms his previous error by mistaking Amran, the father of Moses, Aaron and Miriam as the grandfather of Jesus:- S3:35-36 - (Remember) when the wife of 'Imran said: My Lord! I have vowed unto Thee that which is in my belly as a consecrated (offering). Accept it from me. Lo! Thou, only Thou, art the Hearer, the Knower!  And when she was delivered she said: My Lord! Lo! I am delivered of a female - Allah knew best of what she was delivered - the male is not as the female; and lo! I have named her Mary, and lo! I crave Thy protection for her and for her offspring from Satan the outcast.

 

S3:45 - (And remember) when the angels said: O Mary! Lo! Allah giveth thee glad tidings of a word from him, whose name is the Messiah, Jesus, son of Mary, illustrious in the world and the Hereafter, and one of those brought near (unto Allah).

 

Here again Rahul made the same mistake by saying Imran in the Quran is mistaken as the father of Mary, Aaron and Moses and as the grandfather of Jesus. It has been proven that “Sister” of Aaron means in the Quran “descendent of Aaron” while Aaron and Moses do not share the same father but same mother and thus they have different family lineage. So this exposed the fabrication of the Bible on the family of Aaron and Moses by Allah addressing Mary as the “sister” of Aaron.

 

Another flaw that Rahul is using on the Quran is the meaning of “imra’atu” at Surah 3:35 which states “Behold! A woman of 'Imran said: "O my Lord! I do dedicate unto Thee what is in my womb for Thy special service.” Here he uses the translation of the Arabic word “imra’atu” to mean wife of Imran and that is how he incurred the error that Imran is the father of Mary and the grandfather of Jesus. On the contrary if the meaning is taken as “a woman of Imran” then the meaning is not the wife of Imran but a family member of Imran as the following verse define the other meaning than a “wife” as stated:-

 

"I found (there) a woman (imra’atu) ruling over them and provided with every requisite; and she has a magnificent throne. (Surah 27:23). This verse does not carry the meaning of “a wife” and similarly at Surah 3:35 the mother of Mary is not the wife of Imran and thus he is not the grandfather of Jesus as Rahul claimed.

 

Thus when Allah refer Mary as the “sister” of Aaron and Mary’s mother as “a woman” of Imran He is referring to “sister” as descendent of Aaron and Imran as patriarch of the family of Imran not the husband of Mary’s mother. Therefore there is no error in the Quran and it should not be understood by the falsehood of the Bible!

 

 

Rahul Balakrishnan said later Muslim writers were so embarrassed with this error. Ibn Kathir in the 14th century writes that the Quran actually did not mean "biological sister" when it said "O sister of Harun" and meant that Mary was actually resembling Harun in worship, thus completely overturning the explanation that Muhammad gave.

 

 Is it still possible that Mary's father was actually named Imran and that she had a brother named Harun? If you are thinking that way, you need to think why no other book ever mentioned this for more than 600 years since Mary's era until the Quran mentioned it? The obvious answer is that Quran borrowed it from Bible while making a fatal error.

There is no way to reconcile this embarrassing historical error. This only affirms that the author of Quran was actually borrowing second hand knowledge from books such as the Bible.

 

The Prophet (Pbuh) never copy anything from the Bible but the Quran is sent down to expose the falsehood of the Bible and to confirm whatever truth left of the Bible because it is the “muhaiminan” or guardian over previous scriptures as stated in Surah 5:15 and Surah 5:48:-

 

O people of the Book! There hath come to you our Messenger, revealing to you much that ye used to hide in the Book, and passing over much (that is now unnecessary): There hath come to you from Allah a (new) light and a perspicuous Book,  (Surah 5:15)

 

To thee We sent the Scripture in truth, confirming the scripture that came before it, and guarding it in safety: so judge between them by what Allah hath revealed, and follow not their vain desires, diverging from the Truth that hath come to thee. (5:48)

 

(It is) a Qur'an in Arabic, without any crookedness (therein): in order that they may guard against Evil. (Surah 39:28)

 

 

Asar

 

 

 

 

 



Claimed of Inconsistence in waiting period (Iddah) rulings for divorced and widowed Women

 

Salam,

Surah 2:228 - Divorced women shall wait concerning themselves for three monthly periods. Nor is it lawful for them to hide what Allah Hath created in their wombs, if they have faith in Allah and the Last Day. And their husbands have the better right to take them back in that period, if they wish for reconciliation. And women shall have rights similar to the rights against them, according to what is equitable; but men have a degree (of advantage) over them. And Allah is Exalted in Power, Wise.

 

The perceived problem is the waiting period (iddah) rules for divorced and widowed women appear to be arbitrary and inconsistent according to the Quran. As a general rule when a marriage ends whether by a divorce or by the death of the husband, Islam prescribes a waiting period ('iddah) for the woman before she can marry again. S2:228 above is being prescribed is for divorced woman a waiting period of three month but in S65:4 is for those pregnant it says “for those who carry (life within their wombs), their period is until they deliver their burdens.” However in S2:234 it says “If any of you die and leave widows behind, they shall wait concerning themselves four months and ten days: When they have fulfilled their term, there is no blame on you if they dispose of themselves in a just and reasonable manner. And Allah is well acquainted with what ye do.

 

The discrepancy is a woman who was divorced by her husband has to wait (at least) three monthly periods and a woman whose husband died has to wait (at least) four months and ten days before they can marry again. The main objective appears to be that there should be no doubts as to the identity of the father if the woman gives birth to a child later on. Within this period it should become obvious whether or not a woman is pregnant. If she turns out to be pregnant, then her waiting period lasts until the birth of the child, otherwise she is free to remarry after the three months are over. One could certainly wonder why a widow has to wait longer than a divorced woman, and view this as an inconsistency or injustice, but this issue shall not be the disputant concern in the present paper.

 

More interesting is the observation that the Qur'an makes an explicit exception to the above mentioned rule for divorced women:

 

O you who believe: When you marry believing women and then divorce them before you have touched them, no period of waiting (iddah) have you to count in respect of them: so give them a present and set them free in a graceful manner. (S. 33:49)

 

This ayah also by interpretation contains a command from Allah that requires the wives whose husbands die, that they should observe a period of `Iddah of four months and ten nights, including the cases where the marriage was consummated or otherwise, according to the consensus (of the scholars).

 

Here, however, is the inconsistency: The Qur'an does not grant the widow the same exception as the divorcee. If the marriage is terminated before it was consummated — whether by divorce or by the death of the husband — why does the widow have to undergo a waiting period of four months and ten days, but the divorcee is free to marry as soon as she likes? Why are these two women not treated equally?

 

Furthermore the Qur'an states explicitly that divorced and widowed women have to observe a waiting period of three months or four months and ten days respectively, see S. 2:228, 65:4 and 2:234 quoted above. There are no exceptions stated for widowed women. There are two exceptions stated for divorced women: (a) If the woman is pregnant then her waiting period ends with the delivery of the child (S. 65:4), (b) if the couple has not consummated their marriage, then there is no waiting period at all (S. 33:49).

 

This reveals the second inconsistency. Both exceptions are stated for the divorced woman only but the commentators apply exception (a) also to widowed women, while they do not accept that exception (b) is also applied to them.

 

To summarize again the inconsistency: There are two inconsistencies. (1) When a marriage is terminated before it is consummated, the women are treated vastly differently. The divorcee can marry again immediately, but the widow has to wait at least four months and ten days. (2) In the Qur'an, there are two exceptions to the normal waiting period for a divorced woman. There are no exceptions mentioned for the widowed woman. The Muslim commentators and jurists apply one of the exceptions that is given for the case of a divorce also to the case of the widow, i.e. they extend the application of the law based on analogy, but they refuse the application of the second exception even though the same kind of analogy could be used.

 

(Excursus: For illustration, imagine the following two cases: Couple A and couple B just married. As is still common in many parts of the Islamic world, it may even be a marriage arranged by relatives, i.e. husband and wife may hardly have known each other before the wedding ceremony. Shortly after the wedding something happens which greatly upsets the husband and he becomes very angry at his wife. Husband A pronounces a divorce against his new wife. Husband B has a weak heart, and before he can divorce his wife, he dies of a heart attack. The situation is very similar in both cases, but the Quran ruling is very different. None of the couples ever consummated their marriage. Both women find themselves without husband shortly after their wedding. Yet, the first one is free to marry immediately, while the second one has to observe a waiting period of four months and ten days.)

 

The above misunderstanding by any disputant or doubter can be put to order if one puts the different situation in it right perspective. There is a different in situation the reason the Quran allows the divorcee can remarry immediately but the widow could not do the same. In the former the divorced couple is still living and both can stand witnesses that no consummation took place and there is therefore guaranty by each of them that no pregnancy will take place. In addition the Quran specify that the divorced husbands are given priority to mend and take their wife back in which S2:228 stated “And their husbands have the better right to take them back in that period, if they wish for reconciliation.” They can reconcile their differences and immediately remarry. However in the case of the widow there in none to bear witness except herself and therefore the ruling is making surety that the four months period will clear any doubt on pregnancy is therefore fair to be observed.

 

Furthermore the amount of dowry is also a factor to the different of waiting period in the above when a divorced case happen without consummation the divorcee is allowed to retain half for herself and return the other half to the former husband as stated in S2:237 “ And if ye divorce them before consummation, but after the fixation of a dower for them, then the half of the dower (Is due to them), unless they remit it or (the man's half) is remitted by him in whose hands is the marriage tie; and the remission (of the man's half) is the nearest to righteousness. And do not forget Liberality between yourselves. For Allah sees well all that ye do.” Whereas in the case of the widow the full sum of the dowry can be kept for her own self and naturally that will commensurate with the period of waiting.

 

Nevertheless the waiting period for the widow of four month and ten days compared to none for the divorcee is more to express a period of mourning an expression of one who has suffered a time of bereavement and also showing respect during that period to the family of her late husband. It is not proper or decent for a widow to immediately remarry when the family members are in period of bereavement and thus the period of waiting is morally acceptable in any community.

 

Asar

 

 



Refutation of a Christian claimed that Prophet Muhammad is now in hell

 

Salam,

 

The allegation he said the truth about Islam has been one of the world’s best-kept secrets. But things have changed. With the advent of the Internet, it is now impossible for Muslims to keep the dark teachings of Islam a secret. People are now becoming aware of the true nature of Islam and Muslims are unable to silence everyone. The entire structure of Islam is built upon the belief that Muhammad was mankind’s greatest prophet. As such, we would expect Allah to reward him with heavenly bliss immediately upon his death. Yet, Islam itself teaches that following his death, Allah’s greatest prophet descended into Hell. Consider now the evidences provided by Islam. The Qur'an teaches that all Muslims, including Muhammad, will go into Hell?

 

Sahih Bukhari, Volume 1, Book 12, Number 770:

“He will order the angels to take out of Hell those who worshipped none but Him alone. The angels will take them out by recognizing them from the traces of prostrations, for Allah has forbidden the (Hell) fire to eat away those traces. So they will come out of the Fire, it will eat away from the whole of the human body except the marks of the prostrations. At that time they will come out of the Fire as mere skeletons. The Water of Life will be poured on them and as a result they will grow like the seeds growing on the bank of flowing water...”

 

Muslims may find the above narration incredible. Again, this shows the ignorance of Muslims regarding their religion. There is no ambiguity in this Hadith. It clearly states that Muhammad and his followers are in “Hell.” According to this Hadith, Muhammad is not in heaven but in “Hell,” awaiting for the arrival of the “Day of Judgment” to get into heaven. And he will be the first to cross the bridge with his followers to go to heaven. Please note, this bridge (As-Sirat) is “laid across Hell” and serves as an exit to heaven. Since the bridge is “laid across Hell,” Muhammad has to be in “Hell” for the Hadith to speak of him as being among the first to use it to come out from there.

 

This is a clear case of Christian ignorance of the religion of Islam and the message of the Quran. Heaven and hell is only set in motion after mankind has been judged for their deeds as stated:-

 

When the scrolls are laid open; when the world on High is unveiled; When the Blazing Fire is kindled to fierce heat; and when the Garden is brought near; (Then) shall each soul know what it has put forward. (Surah 81:10-14).

 

When a Christian uses a hadith to support his argument Muslims can be reassured himself that the person is bankrupt of idea as those kinds of narrations would normally contradict the message of the Quran. Here is the evidences when a man dies he is not thrown in hell yet that will happen after he in being judged on the Day of Judgment his soul is now actually with Allah and he is in a state like sleeping as this verses illustrate:-

 

It is Allah that takes the souls (of men) at death; and those that dies not (He takes) during their sleep: those on whom He has passed the decree of death, He keeps back (from returning to life), but the rest He sends (to their bodies) for a term appointed verily in this are Signs for those who reflect. (Surah 39:42).

 

It is only on the Day of Judgment the dead will be awakened as if they had just slept over the night as this verses show:-

 

The trumpet shall be sounded, when behold! From their graves men will rush forth to their Lord! They will say: "Ah! Woe unto us! Who hath raised us up from our beds of repose?"... (A voice will say) "This is what ((Allah)) Most Gracious had promised. And true was the word of the apostles!" It will be no more than a single Blast, when lo! They will all be brought up before Us! Then, on that Day, not a soul will be wronged in the least, and ye shall but be repaid according of your past deeds. (Surah 36:51-54)

 

Or (take) the similitude of one who passed by a hamlet, all in ruins to its roofs. He said: "Oh! How shall Allah bring it (ever) to life, after (this) its death?" but Allah caused him to die for a hundred years then raised him up (again). He said: "How long didst thou tarry (thus)?" He said: (Perhaps) a day or part of a day." He said: "Nay, thou hast tarried thus a hundred years; (Surah 2:259)

 

Thus when one is awaken on the Day of Judgment one will feel as if one had only a night sleep even if he was dead a thousand years. So the Prophet Muhammad (Pbuh) is sleeping while his soul is with Allah so is the situation with the other souls. No one is yet in hell!

 

And this Christian claimed the “Day of Resurrection” or “Qiyamah” refers to the time of the end. This means as he claimed, even as you are reading this article, Muhammad is in “Hell” awaiting to be rescued. This fact he claimed is further substantiated by the admission that even pious Muslims who pray regularly will be consumed by fire, leaving only the “marks of their prostration” untouched. According to the above Hadith, the bodies of those in “Hell” will be consumed by fire. “At that time – the Day of Resurrection – they will come out of the Fire as mere skeletons.” In corroboration with the above Hadith, the Qur'an says that all Muslims – every single one of them – will be taken to Hell. The verse states:-

 

Not one of you but will pass over it: this is, with thy Lord, a Decree which must be accomplished. But then We shall save those who guarded against evil, and We shall leave the wrong-doers therein, (humbled) to their knees. (Surah 19:71-72)

 

He explained the word “Then” (Thumma) used in this verse exemplify that there is a chronological order of events. First the entry into Hell, “Then” they being saved from it. Note the wordings of Surah 19:72: “We shall rescue those who kept from evil, and leave the evil-doers crouching there.” You only “rescue” someone who is in some kind of danger. However, this rescue operation will only take place on “Judgment Day.” Until then – for centuries – pious Muslims will be consumed by fire. Only the dark spots on the skin of their foreheads caused by years of prostration to Allah will escape the effects of the fire. This is Allah’s reward for their faithful prayers to him.

 

However the truth of the chronological order of events is nobody is in hell yet until they woke up to be tried on the Day of Judgment as the following verses verifies:-

 

Then it will be a single (compelling) cry; and behold, they will begin to see! They will say, "Ah! Woe to us! This is the Day of Judgment!"  (A voice will say,) "This is the Day of Sorting Out, whose truth ye (once) denied!" "Bring ye up", it shall be said, "The wrong-doers and their wives, and the things they worshipped- "Besides Allah, and lead them to the Way to the Fire! (Surah 37:19-23).

 

And the trial will be over the fire and those who fail will be dragged into the fire but those who believe and do righteous will be saved by Allah as reflected in these sequences:-

 

They ask, "When will be the Day of Judgment and Justice?" (It will be) a Day when they will be tried over the Fire! (Surah 51:12-13)

 

Only those who failed will meet the penalty:-

 

The Day they will be dragged through the Fire on their faces, (they will hear) "Taste ye the touch of Hell!" (54:48)

 

However Allah will save those who guarded themselves against evil which mean instead of being dragged to the fire they are taken to the gardens which was promised to them:-

  

 

Not one of you but will pass over it: this is, with thy Lord, a Decree which must be accomplished. But then We shall save those who guarded against evil, and We shall leave the wrong-doers therein, (humbled) to their knees. (Surah 19:71-72)

 

As to the Righteous, they will be in the midst of Gardens and Springs, taking joy in the things which their Lord gives them, because, before then, they lived a good life. (Surah 51:15-16)

 

Those Christians who fabricated that Prophet Muhammad (Pbuh) will be in hell will be disappointed as the Quran confirmed on his status as follows:-  

 

Nay, verily for thee is a Reward unfailing: And thou (standest) on an exalted standard of character. (Surah 68:3-4)

 

Muhammad is the messenger of Allah; and those who are with him are strong against Unbelievers, (but) compassionate amongst each other. Thou wilt see them bow and prostrate themselves (in prayer), seeking Grace from Allah and (His) Good Pleasure. On their faces are their marks, (being) the traces of their prostration. This is their similitude in the Taurat; and their similitude in the Gospel is: like a seed which sends forth its blade, then makes it strong; it then becomes thick, and it stands on its own stem, (filling) the sowers with wonder and delight. As a result, it fills the Unbelievers with rage at them. Allah has promised those among them who believe and do righteous deeds forgiveness, and a great Reward. (Surah 48:29)

 

On the other hand the Christians who put partner to Allah will never taste the pleasure of the garden  but land themselves here:-

 

They do blaspheme who say: "Allah is Christ the son of Mary." But said Christ: "O Children of Israel worship Allah my Lord and your Lord." Whoever joins other gods with Allah, Allah will forbid him the garden, and the Fire will be his abode. There will for the wrong-doers be no one to help. They do blaspheme who say: Allah is one of three in a Trinity: for there is no god except One Allah. If they desist not from their word of blasphemy, verily a grievous penalty will befall the blasphemers among them.

(Surah 5:72-73)

 

Asar

 



Is Bakkata the same as Makkata?

Salam,

 

Most of the Muslim scholars claimed that the place Bakkata in the Quran at Surah 3:96-97 is referring to the presence Mekah or  Makkata  which is being quoted in the Quran at Surah 48:24 as stated below:-----

 

The first House (of worship) appointed for men was that at Bakkata: Full of blessing and of guidance for all kinds of beings: In it are Signs Manifest; (for example), the Station of Abraham; whoever enters it attains security; Pilgrimage thereto is a duty men owe to Allah, those who can afford the journey; but if any deny faith, Allah stands not in need of any of His creatures.” (3:96-97).

 

And it is He Who has restrained their hands from you and your hands from them in the midst of Makkata, after that He gave you the victory over them. And Allah sees well all that ye do. (48:24)

 

However nowadays many skeptics cast their doubt on the above being so as there is no evidence in the Quran or any other sources of Muslims authentic hadiths showing a recording of a change of name from the original Bakkata to Makkata. Bakkata is Makkata to them is mere speculation to justify the place as the original place of pilgrimage to date back to the story of Abraham (Pbuh).

 

Actually if we study the Quran in earnest we will come to the conclusion that Makkata is Bakkata but Bakkata is not equal to Makkata. This is because Makkata or Mekah as a city is ever growing and expanding its size areas as new development set in motion to an expanding economy and infrastructure of a modern city.

 

On the contrary the area of Bakkata remained intact with it boundary well defined as a blessed precinct for pilgrimage to be traced back to the time of Abraham (Pbuh) until present time. The Blessed Precinct is clearly stated in the Quran as the area between two mosques and the description fit well to be in similarity to that of the Blessed area of Bakkata The Blessed Precinct as stated:-----

 

Glory to (Allah) Who did take His servant for a Journey by night from the Sacred Mosque to the Farthest Mosque, whose precincts We did bless, in order that We might show him some of Our Signs: for He is the One Who heareth and seeth (all things). (Surah 17:1)

 

In the above verse many Muslim exegesis claimed that the Furthest Mosque refer to the site of the Temple of Solomon in Jerusalem on the hill of Moriah at or near which stands the Dome of the Rock. But this is just not possible as the mosque was never built during the time the Prophet (Pbuh) but was built and completed by the Amir “Abd al Malik in A.H. 68 which is about A.D. 691 in the Gregorian calendar. And the other technical error those who take the Furthest Mosque to be in Jerusalem is the distance between Makkata and Jerusalem a night journey cannot be done in those days.  Makkah is located around 1239 KM away from Jerusalem so if you travel at the constant speed of 50 KM per hour you can reach Jerusalem in 24.79 hours. Your Jerusalem travel time may vary due to your bus speed, train speed or depending upon the vehicle you use. Thus if one is to take a night journey in those time when the Quran was revealed as stated in Surah 17:1 to reach one another of the two mosques then the likelihood is that the Furthest Mosque was not in Jerusalem but located within the boundary of the Blessed Precinct in Makkata itself.

 

The evidences shown in the Quran the pilgrimage is done in Bakkata the Blessed Precinct (Surah 17:1) is an area flanked by two mosques the Sacred Mosque on one side and the other by the Furthest Mosque. The Sacred Mosque is where the Station of Abraham (Pbuh) is located as stated in 3:97 and substantiated by the verse which says “Remember We made the House a place of assembly for men and a place of safety; and take ye the station of Abraham as a place of prayer;” (Surah 2:125). So this is the Sacred Mosque.

 

The other end of the Blessed Precinct of Surah 17:1 is mentioned the area of Arafat where the pilgrims were also to fulfill their rituals during pilgrimage season as the verse says “It is no crime in you if ye seek of the bounty of your Lord (during pilgrimage). Then when ye pour down from (Mount) Arafat, celebrate the praises of Allah at the Sacred Monument, and celebrate His praises as He has directed you, even though, before this, ye went astray.” (Surah 2:198). The Sacred Monument at Arafat is where the pilgrims do their prayer and this is the Furthest Mosque mentioned in Surah 17:1. The distance between the Sacred Mosque at the Station of Abraham to the Furthest Mosque at the Sacred Monument in Arafat is 21 KM and it is about 30 minutes cruise by car but a ride on a camel will take about 4 hours thus the Prophet’s night journey was between these two places mentioned above.

 

 

There is however a claim that the servant of Allah mentioned in the Surah 17:1 does not refers to Prophet Muhammad (Pbuh) but it refers to Prophet Moses (Pbuh) as the immediate verse after it is tied with the conjunction “wa or and” which make it looks like The Quran is talking about Moses (Pbuh) rather than Muhammad (Pbuh). However the argument can be discarded as it was during the Prophet Muhammad’s time that there is command to face the Sacred Mosque as stated:- “Turn then Thy face in the direction of the sacred Mosque: Wherever ye are, turn your faces in that direction.” (Surah 2:144) Whereas Prophet Moses was commanded to face a different kind of Qiblah as stated:- We inspired Moses and his brother with this Message: "Provide dwellings for your people in Egypt, make your dwellings into Qiblah and establish regular prayers: and give glad tidings to those who believe!" (Surah 10:87)

 

 

It is therefore crystal clear the two mosques known as the Sacred Mosque and the Furthest Mosque are within the boundary of the Blessed Precinct in Bakkata and this boundary for pilgrimage has not changed since the time of Abraham (Pbuh) but Makkata as a city is ever progressing and expanding its boundary. Thus there is no necessity of a change of name from Bakkata to Makkata because Bakkata is an area in Makkata and is known as the Blessed Precinct.

 

Asar   

 

What and where is the location of the Sacred Mosque (Masjidil Haram)

 

A mosque is a place of worship for Allah alone and it is based on piety.

"And the places of worship are for Allah (alone): So invoke not any one along with Allah; (72:18) and the preferable mosque is where one is supposed to worship Allah by remembering Him, praising, magnified and glorying Him with a firm commitment to obey all His command regarding the salat  or the prayer in the Quran.

 

To congregate in a mosque one must be aware of the following.

And there are those who put up a mosque by way of mischief and infidelity - to disunite the Believers - and in preparation for one who warred against Allah and His Messenger aforetime. They will indeed swear that their intention is nothing but good; But Allah doth declare that they are certainly liars. Never stand thou forth therein. There is a mosque whose foundation was laid from the first day on piety; it is more worthy of the standing forth (for prayer) therein. In it are men who love to be purified; and Allah loveth those who make themselves pure. (9:107-108)

 

Earlier place of worship by Abraham and Ishmael during their pilgrimage.

Abraham and Ismael were commanded to make the surroundings of God’s House a place of worship (musalla) by offering the salat or prayer as stated:-----

 

Remember We made the House a place of assembly for men and a place of safety; and take ye the station of Abraham as a place of prayer (musalla); and We covenanted with Abraham and Ishmael that they should sanctify My House for those who compass it round, or use it as a retreat and bow to prostrate themselves (therein in prayer). (2:125)

 

And in another verse Allah commanded those who believe to bow and prostrate and to circumambulate around His House:-

 

Behold! We gave the site, to Abraham, of the House, (saying): "Associate not anything (in worship) with Me and sanctify My House for those who compass it round, and stand up and bow to prostrate themselves (therein in prayer). (22:26)

 

Kaabah the Sacred House

And Allah made His House (2:125 My House) sacred and He called it The Sacred House and named it as the Kaabah where Muslims do their circumambulating, do salat and as a place of pilgrimage as stated:- Allah made the Kaabah, the Sacred House, an asylum of security for men (5:97).

 

The Kaabah as the Sacred House is the first House appointed for men

The Kaabah as the Sacred House being the first House is also known as the Ancient House where the circumambulating takes place for the pilgrimage season as stated:-

 

"Then let them complete the rites prescribed for them, perform their vows, and (again) circumambulate the Ancient House." (22:29) and the Ancient House being the Sacred House is located in Bakkata in an area in Makkah as confirmed by the Quran in the following verses:-

 

The first House (of worship) appointed for men was that at Bakkata: Full of blessing and of guidance for all kinds of beings: In it (Bakkata) are Signs Manifest; (for example), the Station of Abraham; whoever enters it attains security; Pilgrimage thereto is a duty men owe to Allah, those who can afford the journey; but if any deny faith, Allah stands not in need of any of His creatures. (3:96-97)

 

And this place of prayer or “musalla” (2:125) which is surrounding the Sacred House the Kaabah (5:97) was declared as the Sacred Mosque when Allah commanded the Prophet Muhammad (Pbuh) to turn his face towards it in the following verse of the Quran as stated:-

 

We see the turning of thy face (for guidance) to the heavens: now shall We turn thee to a Qiblah that shall please thee. Turn then Thy face in the direction of the Sacred Mosque: Wherever ye are, turn your faces in that direction. The people of the Book know well that that is the truth from their Lord. Nor is Allah unmindful of what they do. (2:144)

The location of the Sacred Mosque or earlier known as the “musalla” (2:125) during Prophet Abraham (Pbuh) time is supported by the following verse to show that it is an area located in presence day Makkah where Muslims make their pilgrimage:-

 

And it is He Who has restrained their hands from you and your hands from them in the midst of Makkah, after that He gave you the victory over them. And Allah sees well all that ye do. They are the ones who denied Revelation and hindered you from the Sacred Mosque and the sacrificial animals, detained from reaching their place of sacrifice. (48:24-25)

 

Since Makkah is a city and still growing the original area of Bakkata reminds unchanged

and this blessed area is where the Sacred Mosque is located the qiblah for Muslims to turn to as a common direction. In the Quran Makkah is known as the Mother of Cities and the Quraish Arab have a covenant to fulfill with Allah as stated in the following verses:-

 

And call in remembrance the favor of Allah unto you, and His covenant, which He ratified with you, when ye said: "We hear and we obey": And fear Allah, for Allah knoweth well the secrets of your hearts. (5:7)

 

And this is a Book which We have sent down, bringing blessings, and confirming (the revelations) which came before it: that thou mayest warn the mother of cities and all around her. Those who believe in the Hereafter believe in this (Book), and they are constant in guarding their prayers. (6:92)

 

For the covenants (of security and safeguard enjoyed) by the Quraish, Their covenants (covering) journeys by winter and summer, Let them worship the Lord of this House, Who provides them with food against hunger, and with security against fear (of danger). (Surah Quraish)

 

Asar



Salatil Fajri and Salatil Ishaa are not names of obligatory salat in the Quran

 

Obligatory prayers is commanded at specific times

 

In the Quran it is stated that the command to establish obligatory prayers or “As Salat” Is based on the timing and the timing is be done at specific  and not a span of time as most scholar claimed as seen by this verse will verify as stated:----- “but when you are free from danger set up regular prayers: For such prayers are enjoined on believers at stated times.(Surah 4:103).

 

The following verses are the specific times being mentioned in the Quran:-

And establish regular prayers at the two ends of the day and at the approaches of the night: For those things, that are good remove those that are evil: Be that the word of remembrance to those who remember (their Lord): (Surah 11:114).

 

In the above verse since it is mentioned the day at its two ends will give the meaning that it qualifies the time at sunrise and the time of sunset as both timings are in the daytime with sunrise being just turning bright at the early morning part of the day while the other end at sunset still has its brightness but moving towards darkness during the late part of the day. The time of early night has no problem to be defined it is the situation when there is no sun can be seen and total darkness had prevailed. Thus from Surah 11:114 alone the prayers that is to be established are at sunrise, sunset and at early night.

 

The next clear verse mentioning a specific time is as follows:-

Establish regular prayers at the sun's decline towards (ila) the darkness of the night (Surah 17:78) this is the time of the sun’s decline at noon from its zenith. Although some translators uses the Arabic “ila” to mean “until the darkness of the night” it is inaccurate as no one can establish the prayer continuously until night time so it is more prudent to describe it is the sun which is turning towards the darkness of the night to indicate a specific time to establish the prayer. And there are others who claimed that this time “dulukish shamsi” at Surah 17:78 is not noon but sun set then again the argument can be dispelled as there is the Arabic “maghribas shamsi” at Surah 18:86 to mean sunset. The Surah 17:78 cannot be other than a specific time at noon.

 

Thus so far the specific times extracted are sunrise (11:114), noon (17:78), sunset (11:114) and early night (11:114) and the next specific time can be deduced from the verse mentioning a specific time to be in the middle of the above four timings in the following verse of the Quran as stated:-

 

O ye who believe! When the call is proclaimed to prayer on Friday (the Day of Assembly), hasten earnestly to the remembrance of Allah, and leave off business (and traffic): That is best for you if ye but knew! (Surah 62:9)

 

The above prayer is also to be done at a specific time which is clearly defined in the Quran as the time when the sun settled at the middle point between the time of the sun’s decline at noon and sunset. This specific time in the Quran is known as “business or trading time” and this specific timing is at late noon but before sunset and is also known as the Middle Prayer. This time is the only specific time that can be done in congregation prayer as the other four times are not suitable as it fall under the category of privacy time as stated:-

 

O ye who believe! let those whom your right hands possess, and the (children) among you who have not come of age ask your permission (before they come to your presence), on three occasions: before morning prayer; the while ye doff your clothes for the noonday heat; and after the late-night prayer: these are your three times of privacy: outside those times it is not wrong for you or for them to move about attending to each other: Thus does Allah make clear the Signs to you: for Allah is full of knowledge and wisdom. (Surah 24:58)

 

It can be seen that morning, noon, and early night are privacy times and that of sunset is also near to privacy time at night or Ishaa as the Surah 62:10 mentioned after prayer there is command to seek bounty but it can only be done during late noon but not after sunset when everybody will be at home with the family.

 

Although this prayer is mentioned to be establish on a weekly basis at Surah 62:9 but in another verse Allah commanded this specific time to be observed as a daily prayer will all the other four prayers as obligatory as the following verse indicated:-

 

Guard strictly your (habit of) prayers, and the Middle Prayer; and stand before Allah in a devout (frame of mind). (Surah 2:238).

 

From the above verses it is clearly defined in the Quran that Allah ordained five times of salat prayers daily for Muslims to obey as follows:----------

 

Sunrise (11:114), noon (17:78), Middle Salat (2:238 and 62:9), sunset (11:114) and early night (11:114) are the timings for the obligatory prayer.

 

 

 

The names of prayers mentioned in the Quran

There is only one prayer name being mentioned in the Quran not three names as many now claimed. Although there are those who establish three times of prayer because they claimed there are three names mentioned in the Quran this is however a false belief as there is only one salat or prayer name being mentioned in the Quran which is “The Middle Prayer” stated in the Surah 2:238.

 

The claimed that the Surah 24:58 mentioned the other two specific names of daily obligatory salat is misinterpreted:-

 

O ye who believe! let those whom your right hands possess, and the (children) among you who have not come of age ask your permission (before they come to your presence), on three occasions: before morning prayer (salaawatil Fajri); the while ye doff your clothes for the noonday heat; and after the late-night prayer (salaawatil Ishaa): these are your three times of undress: outside those times it is not wrong for you or for them to move about attending to each other: Thus does Allah make clear the Signs to you: for Allah is full of knowledge and wisdom. (Surah 24:58).

 

The “Salaawatil Fajri” and the “Salaawatil Ishaa” are not specific names of the daily obligatory prayers as the Arabic word “Salaawatun” in the above verse indicate that the word is not singular in meaning but to be plural in activities. There are other verses in the Quran showing similar words with the same spelling and it does not mean the obligatory daily prayer or salat as stated:-

 

They are those on whom descend blessings (salaawatun) from Allah, and Mercy, and they are the ones that receive guidance. (Surah 2:157).

 

But some of the desert Arabs believe in Allah and the Last Day, and look on their payments as pious gifts bringing them nearer to Allah and obtaining the prayers (salaawati) of the Messenger. Aye, indeed they bring them nearer (to Him): soon will Allah admit them to His Mercy: for Allah is Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful. (Surah 9:99).

 

(They are) those who have been expelled from their homes in defiance of right,- (for no cause) except that they say, "our Lord is Allah". Did not Allah check one set of people by means of another, there would surely have been pulled down monasteries, churches, synagogues (salaawatun), and mosques, in which the name of Allah is commemorated in abundant measure. (Surah 22:40)

 

So the word “salaawatun” do not take the meaning of daily obligatory prayer but of other meanings and it is therefore wrong to base on the argument on names of salat mentioned in the Quran. Also to be noted in the Quran all the words indicating to mean the daily obligatory prayer, the Arabic word “salat” must carry the prefix definite article “Al” or “The” in English to denote it is referring to that specific word. This can be shown by several examples in the Quran as follows:-

 

And be steadfast in prayer (Assalat); practice regular charity; and bow down your heads with those who bow down (in worship). (Surah 2:43)

 

O ye who believe! When ye prepare for prayer (Assalat), wash your faces, and your hands (and arms) to the elbows; Rub your heads (with water); and (wash) your feet to the ankles. (Surah 5:6)

 

And establish regular prayers (Assalat) at the two ends of the day and at the approaches of the night: (Surah 11:114)

 

Thus the word “salat or prayer” without the definite article “Al” or “The” before the word does not carry the meaning of the daily obligatory salat or prayer it means something else as the various verses above indicated. So the only word salat or prayer to indicate by name is the “AssalatulWusta” or “The Middle Prayer” but the name carry the definite article “Al” or “The” before the word “Salat” to indicate that it refers to the obligatory prayer and it also indicate the specific timing linked to its name “middle”.

 

Asar