Tuesday, December 31, 2013

Islamic Ark of Peace

Prophesied in Hadith this year 2014 is the year of peace when rifts between Muslims and non-Muslims would be dissolved.— Al-Qaida, Taliban and Muslim Brotherhood would be extinct.— Muslim sects within sects also would come to an understanding that in essence they are one and the same.— Scholars from all over the world would pool in their talents to dispel the vices of hatred, violence and intolerance.— A subtle sense of goodwill and camaraderie would descend upon earth to guide the ones gone astray.— Theologians from different faiths would reach out with a profound mission of spirituality to extinguish the firebrands of zeal, enmity and malice.— The veils of ignorance would be ripped apart to reveal the cankers of bigotry, hypocrisy and vengeance.— A year of peace and enlightenment, profoundly affected by forces invisible would infuse this world with the light of love and harmony.— This planet earth miraculously would be transformed from one of shattering conflicts to the virtues of global unity.— The whaling absurdity of wars would be viewed as universal cancer to be treated with the balm of compassion.— A world of magic and mystery for one whole year if it can be captured and trapped in the bubble of time till eternity.— ‘For God most high has promised to revive His religion of peace at the beginning of each century.’ Al-Ghazali— A miracle year, this Year 2014, as miraculous, hopefully and astonishingly, as this Arabic tale below translated by Tim Mackintosh-Smith.— From SAUDI ARAMCO WORLD A Turk and an Iranian met in a cafĂ©.— The Iranian said: ‘Our Shah has built a palace so tall that no one knows how tall it is.’— ‘How many floors does it have?’ The Turk asked.— ‘Oh, far too many to count.’ The Iranian answered. ‘But a builder dropped a hammer from the top of it two months ago, and it still hasn’t reached the ground.’— ‘Well.’ Said the Turk. ‘Our Sultan ordered some cucumber seeds from America and sowed them in his vegetable garden.—When the cucumbers appeared, one of them started growing at the rate of ten meters a day.—The Sultan gave orders that no one should interfere with it until they knew how long it would get.—Anyway it grew out of the garden and through the streets of Istanbul and eventually reached Lake Van—the Sultan had sent ten policemen to keep track of it, you see.—The cucumber went down from Lake Van, along the mountains of Kurdistan and across the Great Zab and then arrived at the River Tigris.—It then grew all the way down to Shatt-al-Arab, entered al-Muhammarah on the Iranian shore—’— ‘Hey, you can’t expect me to believe this.’ The Iranian interrupted.— ‘Okay then.’ Said the Turk. ‘You bring your hammer down to earth.—And if you don’t—’— Happy New Year!—Peace to the World!

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

Islam 2 4 Dummies

‘In whatever way may suicide be explained afterwards, it cannot be doubted that it is an act of folly resulting from weakness of mind.’ Mirza Ghulam Ahmad— —In this age and time we have a new God named GOOGLE and cyberspace is the sharia of all religions if we can explore its depths and disseminate its boundless treasures of knowledge. Seeking the gift of Reason from God’s glorious guidance. G— Gracious— O— Omnipresent— O— Omniscient— G— God— L— Loving— E— Eternally— —The title of this article is deceptive since it is written for young students of great intellect and inspiration who could master these few precepts of Islam on their fingertips to educate the would-be-suicide-bombers the true meaning of Islam which is peace and reconciliation.— These children of tragic times, either orphaned at early age or born into poor families are being recruited since decades by bigots and zealots as murderers, cutthroats and terrorists.— Once time-bombs are strapped to their bodies, they are left with no choice to save their lives, for if they tried to take it off they would be blown to pieces, so they in utter desperation of bravado and confusion hurl themselves into crowds for the satisfaction of countless others joining them in their sinful journey to death.— As for the pious ignoramuses who have nothing left in their hearts but the fire of hatred continue to burn with the need to pour hatred into the hearts of the young and innocent Muslims so they too could be consumed by this fire for the sheer ecstasy of witnessing and gloating over their masterpieces of cruelty, violence and bloodshed.— Such fanatics wielding the weapon of hatred know how to feed their fledgling prey with the pseudo-reward of paradise, while creating hell on earth, and watching their young wards bribing God for the gift of houris in heaven.— These nascent Violators of sanctity of life are the same puppets of demonic fanaticism who hijacked the Grand Mosque in Mecca in Year 1979 where thousands of worshippers were killed in the name of Islam.— Nothing is sacred to these bearded hatemongers.— They are the same camel-riding, hate intoxicated zealots who had laid siege on the The House of God in Mecca, denouncing electronics, radio, television and forbidding such tools of progress, and labelling them unIslamic.— Now these camel-riding demons, turned fanatic robots are making full use of the evil devices such as cell phones, and electronically timed bombs to let the evil flow in rivulets of blood without any feeling of shame, remorse or even a thought of doing penance.— For the sake of countering their streaks of evil, here are a few morsels of love, peace and harmony for the young generation of Muslims to offer to their less fortunate brethren whose pure minds are corrupted by the hatred of the few fanatics who fear neither God, nor care for the sanctity of any place or religion under the shadow of God’s Creation.— Announce O Muhammad, unto My slaves that verily I am Forgiving, the Merciful. (15:49 Quran)— And lo, there is a party of them who distort the Scripture with their tongues, that ye may think that what they say is from the Scripture, when it is not from the Scripture.— And they say: it is from Allah, when it is not from Allah, and they speak a lie concerning Allah knowingly. (3:78 Quran)— Confound not truth with falsehood, nor knowingly conceal the truth. ( 2:42 Quran)— Beautified for mankind is love of the joys that come from women and offspring, and stored-up heaps of gold and silver, and horses and cattle and land.— That is comfort of the life of the world. Allah, with Him is a more excellent abode. ( 3:14 Quran)— It is not for believer to kill a believer unless it be by mistake. ( 4:92 Quran)— Whoso slayeth a believer of set purpose, his reward is hell forever.— Allah is wrath against him and He hath cursed him and prepared for him an awful doom. (4:93 Quran)— O ye who believe, squander not your wealth among yourselves in vanity, except it be a trade by mutual consent, and Kill Not one Another.— Lo, Allah is ever merciful unto you. (4:29 Quran)— Whoso doeth that through aggression and injustice, We shall cast him into Fire, and that is very easy for Allah. (4:30 Quran)— Say: O My slaves who have been prodigal to their own hurt!— Despair not of the mercy of Allah, Who forgiveth all sins.— Lo, He is the forgiving, the merciful. ( 39:53 Quran)— The good deed and the evil deed are not alike.— Repel the evil deed with one which is better, then lo, he, between whom and thee there was enmity will become as though he was a bosom friend. (41:34 Quran)— And when we made with you a covenant saying: shed not the blood of your people nor turn a party of your people out of your dwellings.— Then you ratified our covenant and you were witnesses thereto. (2:84 Quran)— Wrong not mankind in their goods, and do not evil, making mischief in the earth. (26:183 Quran)— And each one hath a goal toward which he turneth; so vie with one another in good works.— Wheresoever you may be, Allah will bring you all together.— Lo, Allah is able to do all things. (2:148 Quran)— Keep to forgiveness, O Muhammad, and enjoin kindness, and turn away from the ignorant. (7:199 Quran)— And when it is said unto them: make not mischief in the earth, they say: We are peacemakers only. ( 2:11 Quran)— Those who spend of which Allah hath given them in ease and in adversity, those who control their wrath and are forgiving toward mankind.— Allah loveth the good. (3:134 Quran)— O mankind, call upon your Lord humbly and in secret.— Lo, he loveth not aggressors. (7:55 Quran)— And if they incline to peace, incline thou also to it, and trust in Allah.— Lo, He is the Hearer, the Knower. (8:61 Quran)— Whoso doeth right, whether male or female, and is a believer, all such will enter the Garden, where they will be nourished without stint. (40:40 Quran)— There is no compulsion in religion. (Quran 2:257)— Permission to fight is given to those who fight against you, but be not aggressive. (Quran 22:39)— Those who have been driven from their homes unjustly only because they said: our Lord is Allah.— For had it not been for Allah’s repelling some men by means of others, cloisters and churches and oratories and mosques, wherein the name of Allah is oft mentioned, would assuredly have been pulled down.— Verily Allah helpeth one who helpeth Him.— Lo! Allah is Strong, Almighty. (Quran 22:40)— And they have broken their religion (into fragments) among them, (yet) all are returning to Us. (Quran 21:93)— Before long, Allah will bring friendly relations between you and those whom you regard as your enemies.— And Allah is Powerful, and Allah is Forgiving, Merciful. (Quran 60:7)— And for every nation have We appointed a ritual, that they may mention the name of Allah on the beast of cattle; and your God is one God, therefore surrender unto Him.— And give good tidings (O Muhammad) to the humble. (Quran 22:34)— Revile not those unto whom they pray beside Allah lest they wrongfully revile Allah through ignorance.— Thus unto every nation have We made their deed seem fair.— Then unto their Lord is their return, and He will tell them what they used to do! (Quran 6:109)— And whoso doeth good works, whether male or female, and he or she is a believer, such will enter Paradise and they will not be wronged the dint in a date-stone. (Quran 4:124)— Create not disorder on earth. (Quran 1:12)— They ask thee concerning wine and the game of hazard. Say: In both there is great sin and also some advantages for men, but their sin is greater than their advantage.— And they ask thee what they should spend.— Say: What you can spare. Thus does Allah make His commandments clear to you that you may reflect— (2:220 Quran)— Say unto the people of the Scripture: dispute ye with us concerning Allah when He is our Lord and your Lord?— Ours are our works and yours your works. We look to Him alone— (2:139 Quran)— And if anyone of the idolaters seeketh thy protection O Muhammad, then protect him so that he may hear the word of Allah, and afterward convey him to his place of safety.— That is because they are a folk who know not— (9:6 Quran)— And speak not, concerning that which your own tongues qualify as clean or unclean, the falsehood: ‘This is lawful and this is forbidden.’— So that ye invent a lie against Allah.— Lo, those who invent a lie against Allah will not succeed— (16:116 Quran)— O ye who believe!— Let not a folk deride a folk who may be better than they are, nor let women deride who may be better than they are; neither defame one another, nor insult one another by nicknames.— Bad is the name of lewdness after faith.— And whoso turneth not in repentance, such are evil-doers— (49:9 Quran)— Salman Pak Farsi referring to a Hadith: The Prophet said that on the day of resurrection, God will manifest Himself to the creatures in the forms that they themselves refuted, announcing ‘I am your Lord’.— In the face of this unfamiliar apparition, they will seek refuge in their own representation of God.— Then God will appear in that representation, and then they will believe that indeed it is Him.— Bilal: if a Muslim forces a conversion, he doesn’t risk hell, he is certain of hell.— If you love God, sanctify your love by loving God’s creatures first. Prophet Muhammad— God sent to the world since its creation two hundred thousand prophets, twenty-five of them are referred in the Quran.— The greatest of those are Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus and Muhammad.— Prophets are to be regarded as free from sin, the most sinless of all being Jesus.— Muhammad speaks of him as the Word of God, the Spirit of God, born of the Virgin Mary, and Worker of Miracles— May Mullahs break their silence by denouncing the holy warriors at Beirut.

Wednesday, November 6, 2013

Wahhabi Islam

An excerpt from my next book.—First, one of Prophet Muhammad’s saying from his Last Sermon on the Mount of Mercy.—‘Know that we are equal in the sight of Allah and journey together in this world as a family of sisterhood and brotherhood.’—A snippet about Wahhabism.—Saudi Arabia is the only country even in this millennium which has created such an aura of power with its wealth that no power on earth dare challenge its oppression of women.—Muslims and non-Muslims turn a blind eye to the Wahhabi edicts where women have to don death shrouds of black while still living.— Paradoxically the color of mourning in Saudi Arabia is white.— Islam is no more in the land of the Prophet where his injunctions of justice and equality for women are tortured inside the graves of man-made laws. Women can’t walk on the streets without a male chaperon.—The face of freedom in Islam is mutilated by Wahhabi ideology.—Even the powerful nations who claim to fight for human rights and rights of women fail to acknowledge the blatant oppression of Saudi women who are literally stripped naked of all Islamic rights which Prophet Muhammad granted them while living— in equality, education, freedom to voice their ideas and grievances.—Money the God of Power in Saudi Arabia has purchased silence from the entire world.— No one dares question their distorted version of Islam, while the holy cities of Mecca and Medina have become prisons and Prophet Muhammad’s message of reason, justice and equality amongst male and female is forgotten.—Wahhabi Patrimony.— — Fourteenth century Islam saw the emergence of a Sunni leader out of the Hanabali tradition by the name of Ibn Taymiyyah.— During the Mongol invasion he fled from Persia to Damascus and began redefining the law of Islam, declaring that he was qualified to interpret the teachings of Quran and Hadith.— His most orthodox innovation of Islamic precepts was the misuse of the word jihad, which he succeeded in transforming from inner moral struggle to that of outward war until the whole world must fall under the sway of the Islamic authority.— Jihad in his thought interpretation of violence and hate-mongering was the finest act any Muslim could perform.— He challenged the authority of the caliphate, proclaiming that a true caliphate had ceased to exist after the death of four rightly guided caliphs.—Boldly and histrionically he argued that imam—the religious leader should guide the emir—the temporal leader in all matters of jurisprudence with the support of the mullahs and ulemas.— For his unIslamic, incendiary preaching of jihad he was persecuted by the rulers of Syria and Egypt.— —Four hundred years later, around eighteenth century another leader gained popularity out of Hanabali legal tradition by the name of Abd al-Wahhab born in Nejd in Central Arabia.— He was from the impoverished tribe of Beni Temin and had very shallow knowledge of Islam.— For Arabs Nejd had negative connotation based on a popular saying that nothing ever good came out of Nejd.— Hadith also favored their opinion of Nejd where it is related that Prophet Muhammad asked God to bless Nejd three times, but was refused, followed by an injunction:— Dissentions and earthquakes are there, and there shall arise the horns of Satan.— Abd al-Wahhab gained the support of local power-brokers such as Saudi and Rashidi emirs of Central Arabia.— Politically and religiously ambitious his orthodox teachings were crushed by the military power of the new Egyptian kingdom of Muhammad Ali whose son Ibrahim Pasha conquered Mecca and Medina in year eighteen hundred and thirteen.— —One hundred years later Wahhabi voice was heard again when a Saudi emir conquered Mecca and Medina.— Simultaneously a Muslim Brotherhood was founded in Egypt by a school teacher by the name of Hasan al-Banna in year nineteen hundred and twenty-eight.— He was an active critic of all Arabs, proclaiming that he was striving toward leading Muslims on a straight path as commanded by God in a revelation at the beginning of the Quran.— ‘Show us the straight path— The path of those whom Thou hast favored— Not the path of those who earn Thine anger— Nor of those who go astray.’ (Quran 1:1)— Contrary to this revelation and neglecting the message of peace and reconciliation in Islam, he promoted rifts and violence.— A passionate critic of the west, Hasan al-Banna, didn’t shy away from adopting the successful techniques of the Fascist and Communist parties to establish his own Brotherhood in year nineteen hundred and thirty in self-contained cells called Usar—families.— He developed his own form of Islamic Boy Scouts Hitler youth-style to inculcate hatred in their young minds for anything unIslamic in his estimation.— Hasan al-Banna was assassinated in year nineteen forty, allegedly by King Farouq’s secret police.— His devoted disciple Sayyid Qutub began preaching the distorted version of Jihad by saying that those who deny Jihad’s active and aggressive character diminish the greatness of Islam.— His great lies and distortion of the Islamic precepts landed him in jail and in year nineteen hundred sixty-six he was hanged by the orders of Abdul Nasser of Egypt.— —Starting with the reign of pro-Soviet President Abdul Nasser, Saudi government had begun giving refuge to the Muslim Brotherhood—the underground soldiers of Allah.— It was a matter of policy, part of King Faisal’s strategy of combating so-called godlessness at home and abroad.— The exiled members of the Muslim Brotherhood entered the kingdom to train teachers, who in turn would inculcate strict doctrines of their own making into the heads of the young Muslim students.— Many female members of the Muslim Brotherhood recruited from Syria were successful in training teenage girls to wear full veil and niqab.— Saudi universities were geared toward imbibing the canon of received knowledge without question.— The students were not to learn how to think, critically or otherwise, or how to change the world.— The most radical of ideas were promoted amongst staff and students.— Many sects of Brotherhood with their man-made, rigid orthodoxy were crushed time and time again in Syria, Egypt and Algeria, but they stayed resilient and to this day in century twenty-one remain active, violently and belligerently.— 'Women shall have the same rights over men as men have over them.' (Quran 2:228)— 'And the women have rights similar to those of men in equity. I God will allow not the work of any worker from among you, male or female, to be lost.' (Quran 3:196)— 'And whoso doeth good works, whether male or female, and he or she is a believer, such will enter Paradise and they will not be wronged the dint in a date-stone.' (Quran 4:124)— ‘Whoso doeth right, whether male or female, and is a believer, all such will enter the Garden, where they will be nourished without stint.’ (Quran 40:40)— ‘God enjoins you to treat women well, for they are your aunts, wives, mothers and daughters— The rights of the women are sacred, see that women are maintained in the rights assigned to them.’ Prophet Muhammad— Prophet Muhammad on Women’s Behalf— Only a man of noble character can honor women and only a man of base intention will dishonor women.— The most perfect man of religion who excels in character is the one who gives best treatment to his womenfolk.— Women are the other half of men.— Fear God in respect of women.— Paradise lies under the feet of mother.— One who brings up three daughters, provides them with good education and arranges their marriages and treats them with fairness, deserves to be ushered into Paradise.— Men and women are members of one another and must live on a footing of equity and kindness and practice equality.— Women Scholars and Healers.— Many Muslim women during the lifetime of Prophet Muhammad learned to read and write and to study and practice medicine.— One of them was a woman by the name of Rufaidah.— She was proficient in reading and writing and had studied the science of healing.— She became the tutor of Prophet Muhammad’s wife Hafsa to teach her reading and writing.— One day Prophet Muhammad requested her to teach Hafsah the science of healing, especially, the cure for skin rash which was becoming common in Medina.— Rufaidah also served as a nurse to the Medinese community and when Prophet Muhammad pitched a tent for her in the courtyard of the mosque, it became her private hospital to treat all sorts of ailments.— Besides being healers and scholars, Muslim women accompanied men on the battlefield, some serving in defense and others nursing the wounded.— There were fourteen women in the battle of Uhud, bringing food, water and medicine to the soldiers.— Amongst them was Prophet Muhammad’s own daughter, Fatima.— Prophet Muhammad made women integral to his plan for Muslim education and learning when he proclaimed: Acquisition of knowledge is obligatory for every Muslim, male and female.

Thursday, October 24, 2013

Islam Recalculated/Free Download

Free download, By Wolves Devoured, October 31 All Day/No Limits on Downloads! First Happy Halloween— e-horror— http://www.amazon.com/By-Wolves-Devoured-ebook/dp/B00FI66XFW/ref=sr_1_7?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1380481334&sr=1-7&keywords=%22all+things+that+matter+press%22 — Diversity in Islam as in any other religion is but a name, voicing the alienation of the spirits within a spirit, where dwells the cosmic Whole.—It is not barred by any barriers or boundaries, but by the illusion of ‘I’.— I, Me and My, these stars of tyranny, whirling the flames of ego, self, I-ness to such a wild conflagration that all turn to ashes with the exception of self-created canker of selfishness.— Religious texts, centuries ago, had set a stage for fear, hope, Reason for all generations.— Talmud, Mahabharata, Bible, Quran, all steeped in myth, fantasy, reality, demanding the attention of the Faithful.— Overwhelming the believers with contradictions, strewing the tree of knowledge with the beads of morals, its roots besmirched with the mud of incest, murder, violence?— Damnation all, Truth tossing and turning in the grave of penance to reveal itself with the pulse of time?— Wars, betrayals, punishments, glad tidings, promise of peace, love!— —‘Take our salutations, Lord, from any quarter Infinite of might and boundless in Your Glory. You are all that is, since everywhere we find You.” Bhagavad Gita— —‘You have made us for Yourself and our heart is restless until it rests in You.’ St. Augustine.— —Blasphemy is a term invented by the pious fools, who fear that the foundations of religion are in danger of crumbling even against the slightest whiff of fury or imagination, which their costive brains can neither fathom, nor fashion.— — There is a world of Islam all pure and shimmering somewhere outside the jungles of history blackened with the soot of bigotry, violence, bloodshed.— A world of love out of the soiled pages of time, where Islam has claimed only a fraction of space in the phantasmagoric genius of Thought and Timelessness.— Imagine a world of beauty where tyranny of ignorance has been slain by the word of love.— Who would dare look into the eyes of such a world?— Only the Seekers of Knowledge?— —Prophet Muhammad’s sayings:— To bring joy to a single heart is better than to build many shrines.— Allah has treasures beneath the Throne, the keys whereof are the tongues of the poets.— He who wrongs a Jew or a Christian, will have me as his accuser.— God has no mercy on those who do not have mercy.— Judaism:— Whosoever killeth a human being, it shall be as if he has killed all mankind, and whoso saveth the life of one, it shall be as if he has saved the life of mankind. Judaic Law— Sayings of Jesus:— Be you perfect as your Father in Heaven is Perfect.— Seek ye first the kingdom of heaven, and all those things will be added unto you.— Old sayings:— Everything is meant to be, including the effort to change everything.— If you tell the truth, you don’t have to remember what you said.— Giving is the spark that ignites the fire of love. You have the power to start a blazing fury of selfless love.— ‘The outward Kaaba Abraham did built— The inward Kaaba was as the Lord Almighty willed.’ Ansari— ‘My heart has become capable of every form— It is a pasture of gazelles— And a convent for Christian monks— And a temple for idols and the pilgrim’s Kaaba— The tablets of the Torah and the book of the Quran— I follow the religion of Love— Whatever way lover’s camels take— That is my religion and my faith.’ Ibn-Al-Arabi— Silence and solitude are great books, more enlightening than any books ever written.— For, the books in print fail to teach or edify us spiritually, while spiritual knowledge can only be learnt from inner experience.— We have forgotten to read the unwritten books within us, though they remain crisp and fresh, not moth-eaten by time, and longing to reveal their secrets if we could take the time to riffle through those pages of wisdom and knowledge from within.—Blissfully and astonishingly we would learn that one is no less or better than anyone else on the face of this earth.— That love is the only key to unlock the portals of peace and harmony.

Wednesday, October 9, 2013

Shutdown/Showdown

Ballooned with egos Republicans conspire_ _Battling on the field of Obamacare_ _Today, could this shutdown magically expire_ _Even then damage by IT would need major repair_ _It is height of absurdity that the greatest nation on earth can be manipulated by a few high officials of weak reason and strong ego who are proud of their power to shut down the government of United States of America. _Republicans have the audacity to talk about the interests of people when they don’t give a hoot about the plight of average American but of their own Tea Party, its coffers bulging with wealth and greedy for evermore. _Their actions validate this fact as they continue to throw hurdles on the path of the President, still claiming to help the people whom President Barack Obama is trying to lift out of the dungeons of poverty so that they could have easy access to healthcare, can have the opportunity to afford good education and to be proud citizens of America by improving economy while able to find work and contribute healthfully toward the wellbeing of the whole world. _If people wanted a Republican president to hurl them further down the marshland of poverty, of no healthcare, of no opportunities for jobs or of no inexpensive education they would have voted for a Republican candidate. _Instead they chose a democratic president and he is struggling very hard not to let down his supporters.______ _A humble request to House Speaker (my hometown) John Boehner to end this drama of shutdown, and to let the President do his job, for which he was elected—chosen by People of America. _May the gifts of peace and reason be shared and nurtured in the world!

Tuesday, September 10, 2013

Muslim Brotherhood/Terror of Islam

Al-Qaida hiding under the cloak of Muslim Brotherhood has been funded since decades and still is by the nations of power and wealth, including Saudi Arabia, to exert control over land and sea at the expense of religious fanaticism.—Specifically, Saudi Arabia, the kings of Saudi Arabia who have turned the holy cities of Mecca and Medina into the den of a prison and a jungle of oppression for the women.—Why are Saudi women covered from head to toe when they are not allowed to veil themselves during Hajj as proclaimed by Prophet Muhammad who was a great champion of women’s rights, trying to instill the virtues of justice and equality amongst men and women?—Why is the beauty of arts in music and painting shunned by Saudi Regime while the royal princes inside their own grand palaces indulge in such luxuries and many more which are considered as vices for their citizens?—Why are girls schools in Afghanistan demolished and why was Malala shot in the head contrary to Prophet Muhammad’s injunction to seek knowledge from cradle to grave, incumbent upon Muslims both male and female?—Why were women in Afghanistan banned from going to work when Prophet Muhammad’s own wife Khadija was a business woman and he remained her employee during their twenty-five years of happy marriage till she died?—Why are Muslims killing Muslims when Prophet Muhammad’s great mission toward peace included the protection of orphans and widows?—And why now Muslims in stark defiance to Prophet Muhammad’s teachings are pressed by their hate-mongering need to create a flood of countless millions in orphans and widows?—The orphans who are brainwashed into hating and trained to be terrorists and suicide-bombers—suicide, which is forbidden in Islam?—And widows who are not allowed to work even to fulfill their need to feed their children, becoming the victims of rape, tyranny and oppression.—In appearance Muslims are the ones blackening the face of Islam, yet paradoxically those horde of rebels, terrorists, suicide-bombers and the merchants of Muslim Brotherhood are not Muslims, they too are the tragic victims of their own ignorance, and mendicants at the palace gates of power hungry zealots who keep feeding them the rich morsels of hate, bigotry and intolerance.—All such appetizing feasts were forbidden by Prophet Muhammad as is apparent from his sayings and from the pearls of Quranic revelations.— ‘Keep to forgiveness, O Muhammad, and enjoin kindness, and turn away from the ignorant.’ (Quran 7:199)— ‘If you love God, love God’s creatures first.’ Prophet Muhammad— Women shall have same rights over men as men have over them. (2:228 Quran)— _‘The rights of women are sacred. See that women are maintained in the rights assigned to them.’ Prophet Muhammad— _‘When you speak, speak the truth. Commit not rape; be chaste; have no impure desires; withhold your hands from striking, and from taking that which is bad and unlawful. The best of God’s servants are those who, when seen, remind of God; and the worst of God’s servants are those who carry tales about, to do mischief and separate friends, and seek for the defects of the good.’ Prophet Muhammad— _‘What a Muslim must never do is to raise his hand against woman. Treat each woman with respect and kindness. God enjoins you to treat women well, for they are your aunts, wives, mothers and daughters.’ Prophet Muhammad— _‘The greatest crimes are: to tell lies, to assault women, to murder your own species, to commit suicide.’ Prophet Muhammad.— _‘May I inform you of the people of hellfire? They are all those violent, arrogant and stubborn people (oppressor of women).’ Prophet Muhammad/Al Bukhari [6:440-O.B]— ‘He who wrongs a Jew or a Christian, will have me as his accuser.’ Prophet Muhammad— Hadith 16 Non-combatants were not to be killed in battle, there being a prohibition against the killing of women and children. Fighting was to cease if the enemy offered peace, even if his intention might be to deceive.— _‘Whosoever slayeth a believer of set purpose, his reward is hell forever. Allah is wroth against him and He hath cursed him and prepared for him an awful doom.’ ( Quran 4:93)— _‘And when We made you a covenant, saying, shed not blood of your people, nor turn a party of your people out of your dwellings. Then you ratified Our covenant and ye were witnesses thereto.’ (Quran 2:84)— _‘Fight in the way of Allah against those who fight against you, but begin not hostilities. Lo, Allah loveth not aggressors.’ ( Quran 2:193)— _‘Call upon your Lord humbly and in secret. Lo, He loveth not aggressors.’ (Quran 7:55) _‘And if they incline to peace, incline thou also to it.’ (Quran 8:61) _‘It can happen that a man will seem to have the behavior of the elect while instead he would be amongst the damned. It can happen that man will seem to be among the damned while instead he will be one of the elect.’ Prophet Muhammad Al Bukhari LV1:77 _‘War is a deceptive error.’ Prophet Muhammad Al Bukhari LV1:157(3) _‘The energetic man is not one who uses force, but one who keeps control of himself in a moment of anger.’ Prophet Muhammad Al Bukhari LXV111:76(1)— Quote of the Day: Love is not a choice, but a necessity in the realm of Now and Always.—Peace to the World!

Friday, August 9, 2013

Al-Qaida/Anti-Islam

Islam is love, peace and reconciliation. _ Al-Qaida is hate, violence and destruction. _ The clear proof of peaceful message in Islam is embedded in the sayings of Prophet Muhammad and in Quranic revelations. _But eyes of Al-Qaida are hermetically shut against the traditions of the Prophet recorded in Hadiths._ Imprisoned inside the inferno of their own ignorance they are unable even to acknowledge the Islamic virtues of kindness and compassion, save alone to accept the universal message of unity, harmony and tolerance. _Below are the repetitions of the revelations and Prophet’s sayings which I have quoted often to counter countless distortions of everything Islamic repeated throughout centuries, attaining the life of its own, bloated with lies and unleashing terrible trouncing of terror and tyranny._ May the light of peace blot out the soot of ignorance and cure the blindness of the terrorists and fundamentalists. _‘There are three things of which God disapproves, cunning plans, waste of goods and excessive requests. And three are the enemies of my religion. The fundamentalists, the fundamentalists, the fundamentalists.’ Prophet Muhammad Al Bukhari XX1V:53(2) ¬_‘War is a deceptive error.’ Prophet Muhammad Al Bukhari LV1:157(3) _‘The energetic man is not one who uses force, but one who keeps control of himself in a moment of anger.’ Prophet Muhammad Al Bukhari LXV111:76(1) _‘Permission to fight is given to those who fight against you, but be not aggressive.’ Quran 22:39 _‘And if they (enemy) incline to peace, incline thou also to it.’ Quran 8:61 _‘Wrong not mankind in their goods, and do not evil, making mischief in the earth.’ 26:183 Quran _‘Work not confusion in the earth after the fair ordering thereof, and call on Him in fear and hope’ 7:56 Quran _‘Yet whoso doeth evil or wrongeth his own soul, then seeketh pardon of Allah, will find Allah Forgiving, Merciful.’ 4:110 Quran _‘And if they incline to peace, incline thou also to it, and trust in Allah. Lo, He is the Hearer, the Knower.’ 8:61 Quran _Prophet Muhammad’s sayings: _‘Shall I inform you of a better act than alms, prayers and fasting? Making peace between one another. Enmity and malice tear up the heavenly rewards by the roots— _God has not created anything better than Reason, or anything more perfect, or more beautiful than Reason; the benefits which God gives are on its account; and understanding is by it, and God’s wrath is caused by disregard of it— _Nine things that my Lord has commanded me: to reverence Him; to speak the truth with propriety, in adversity and prosperity; moderation in poverty and affluence; benefit my relations and kindred, who do not benefit me; to give alms to him who refuses me; to forgive him who injures me; to attain the knowledge of God through silence; to mention God in my heart and speech; I should be an example to God’s creatures in love and kindness-- _Verily those who are patient in adversity and forgive wrongs, are the doers of excellence— _That person is nearest to God, who pardons, when he has in his power who would have injured him— _Whoever is kind to His creatures, God is kind to him, therefore be kind to everyone on earth, whether good or bad— _Kindness is a mark of faith, and whoever has no kindness, has no faith— _He dies not who gives life to learning— _An hour of contemplation is better than a year’s adoration; go in quest of knowledge even unto China— _Seek knowledge from cradle to grave—what weakens the foundations of Islam: the errors of the learned destroy it, the disputations of the hypocrites, and the orders of the kings who have lost the road— _To spend more time in learning is better than spending more time in praying. It is better to teach knowledge one hour in the night than to pray the whole night—the pursuit of knowledge is a divine commandment for every Muslim, male or female— _God hath treasuries beneath the Throne, the keys whereof are the tongues of poets; he who knows his own self knows God— _Acquire knowledge. It enables its possessor to distinguish from right and wrong; it lights the way to Heaven; it is our friend in the desert; our society in solitude; our companion when friendless; it guides us to happiness; it sustains us in misery; it is an ornament amongst friends and an armor against enemies. _If you can keep your heart from morning till night and from night till morning free from malice toward anyone, you are following my path and he who loveth my path verily loveth me. _God is one and liketh unity. _Do you love your creator? Love your fellow beings first.

Wednesday, July 31, 2013

Violent Ramadan

Now that it is almost the end of Ramadan, here are a few points of interest for Muslims to ponder and disseminate. _RAMADAN DURING THE LIFETIME OF PROPHET MUHAMMAD_ Prophet Muhammad observed the fast from sunrise to sunset as clearly stated in Quran and then in Hadith. _The times of sunset are pretty obvious, so never controversial, but scholars of Islam—to be precise the Mullahs throughout the ages, slowly and gradually have changed the times of Fajr (the light of morning) two and a half or three hours before sunrise, dictating new standards of fasting not practiced by Prophet Muhammad. _Could the Muslims heeding the dictates of the Mullahs by strictly observing fasts two or three hours before sunrise snatch a moment of contemplation by truly understanding the message of the Quran where fighting is forbidden during the Holy Month of Ramadan. _ Are the Mullahs willing to convince Muslims as they have succeeded in convincing them in the mundane rituals of when to eat and what to eat, that they should avoid the curse of hating, fighting, and taking vengeance. _Could they spare some time from reciting the Quran and urge their violent brood to follow in the footsteps of their beloved Prophet who abhorred fighting, and nurtured the kernels of love, peace and forgiveness. _Hoping and requesting if Mullahs would kindly consider next Ramadan adding one line above the Ramadan schedule, stating: KILLING IS FORBIDDEN IN THE HOLY MONTH OF RAMADAN. _May peace of the Prophet purify the hearts of all Muslims so that they can walk in his footsteps, learning from the example of his life of love, compassion, unity and harmony. _‘War is a great transgression in the sacred month of Ramadan.’ 2:217 Quran _‘And eat and drink until the white thread becometh distinct to you from the black thread of the dawn. These are the bounds set by God. Do not then offend against them. It is thus that God makes clear His messages unto mankind, so that they might remain conscious of Him.’ 2:187 Quran _‘Eat and drink and do not be misled by the ascending white light. Eat and drink until the redness of dawn appears.’ Prophet Muhammad _‘During fasting a person should not behave foolishly or impudently. Or if somebody fights with him or abuses him, he should just say to him twice, I am observing fast.’ Prophet Muhammad Al Bukhari [3:118-O.B] _‘It can happen that a man will seem to have the behavior of the elect while instead he would be amongst the damned. It can happen that man will seem to be among the damned while instead he will be one of the elect.’ Prophet Muhammad Al Bukhari LV1:77 _‘War is a deceptive error.’ Prophet Muhammad Al Bukhari LV1:157(3) _‘The energetic man is not one who uses force, but one who keeps control of himself in a moment of anger.’ Prophet Muhammad Al Bukhari LXV111:76(1) _‘Aisha narrated: Prophet said the most hated person to Allah is the most quarrelsome person of the opponents.’ Al Bukhari [3:637-O.B] _‘I heard Allah’s Messenger saying. Allah has divided mercy into one hundred parts. He kept ninety-nine parts with Him and sent down one part on the earth. And because of that, one single part, His creatures are merciful to each other, so that even the mare lifts up its hoof away from its baby animal lest it should trample on it.’ Al Bukhari [8:29-O.B] Free Download from Amazon, Son of God by farzana moon, August 9 All Day/No Limit on the number of downloads. http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00DG90GO2 One Act Play/Son of God

Monday, July 29, 2013

Fundamentalists/Yet Ghazi's Courage for Peace

‘There are three things of which God disapproves, cunning plans, waste of goods and excessive requests. And three are the enemies of my religion. The fundamentalists, the fundamentalists, the fundamentalists.’ Prophet Muhammad Al Bukhari XX1V:53(2)_____ _This article below was published in Pakistan in ‘The Express Tribune with the International Herald Tribune’ _Peace-building: Training youth to be good sports By Sarah Munir / Photo: Farahnaz Zahidi Published: July 27, 2013 _.KARACHI: From the tender age of eight to ten years, these children, seeing anger and violence all around, think violence is the only way to survive. On grounds of gang allegiance, language, ethnicity or religion, what they do best is fight! _From the rolling mountain ranges of Swat to the narrow crevices of Lyari, youth in Pakistan is at risk everywhere. Lack of resources and opportunities coupled with problems like extremism and ethnic clashes, exposes the young people in the country to a wide range of problems. As a consequence, they often become disillusioned, indulge in drug usage and even resort to criminal activities in certain instances. _In one such neighbourhood, the infamous Lyari, a man born and bred there, understanding the sensibilities of his people, started an initiative for conflict-resolution among youth and children, especially boys. Small activities at school like sharing lunch boxes and writing welcoming messages in each other’s languages to build empathy has helped change the mindset of many a youth in Pakistan through his efforts. _“The biggest problem is that we don’t engage our youth or provide them with platforms to express themselves. The failure to teach them to deal with basic things like conflict at a young age, manifests itself in full-blown violence once they grow up,” states Nadeem Ghazi, President of Peace Education Welfare Organisation (PEWO), an organisation working actively towards promoting peace and tolerance within the youth of Pakistan for the past seven years. Ghazi spearheaded his project with a single school in the area when he witnessed problems like rampant bullying, abusing and intolerance within his students. Seated in his tiny office, tucked away in a narrow lane in Kharadar, Karachi, he candidly admits that he had nothing but resources like Google at his disposal at the time. _It was during this online research that Ghazi stumbled across Peaceful Schools International – a Canadian organisation that supported schools with similar objectives across the globe. With support from PSI, Ghazi soon expanded his operation and emulated similar practices across various schools in Karachi. The organization also partnered with various schools in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P), including the one where teen-activist Malala Yousafzai studied. _“Young people in areas like Swat are more vocal, and more aggressive in comparison to the youth of Karachi. It takes a lot more time for children in Karachi to open up and express themselves,” explained Ghazi. He elaborated that while the nature of the problems facing children in K-P were different from those that plague the youth in Karachi, the solution was similar-engagement and harnessing their energy for positive change. Ghazi hopes to venture into the troubled province of Balochistan in the near future as well.

Tuesday, July 23, 2013

Islamic Prophecy/Profound Contemplations

Prophecy of the Prophet ‘The time will come in which nothing will remain of Islam but its name, and of the Quran but its mere appearance, and the mosques of the Muslims would be destitute of knowledge.’ Prophet Muhammad ¬_‘The learned men will be the worst people under the heavens and strife and contention would issue from them and it will return upon themselves.’ Prophet Muhammad _‘O followers of Islam, I swear by Lord, if ye did but know what I know of the future state, verily you would laugh little and cry much.’ Prophet Muhammad _Living Quran _‘Announce O Muhammad, unto My slaves that verily I am Forgiving, the Merciful.’ 15:49 Quran ¬_And lo, there is a party of them who distort the Scripture with their tongues, that ye may think that what they say is from the Scripture, when it is not from the Scripture. And they say: it is from Allah, when it is not from Allah, and they speak a lie concerning Allah knowingly. 3:78 Quran _Confound not truth with falsehood, nor knowingly conceal the truth. 2:42 Quran _Beautified for mankind is love of the joys that come from women and offspring, and stored-up heaps of gold and silver, and horses and cattle and land. That is comfort of the life of the world. Allah, with Him is a more excellent abode. 3:14 Quran _It is not for believer to kill a believer unless it be by mistake… 4:92 Quran _Whoso slayeth a believer of set purpose, his reward is hell forever. Allah is wrath against him and He hath cursed him and prepared for him an awful doom. 4:93 Quran _O ye who believe, squander not your wealth among yourselves in vanity, except it be a trade by mutual consent, and Kill Not one Another. Lo, Allah is ever merciful unto you. 4:29 Quran _Whoso doeth that through aggression and injustice, We shall cast him into Fire, and that is very easy for Allah. 4:30 Quran _Say: O My slaves who have been prodigal to their own hurt! Despair not of the mercy of Allah, Who forgiveth all sins. Lo, He is the forgiving, the merciful. 39:53 Quran _The good deed and the evil deed are not alike. Repel the evil deed with one which is better, then lo, he, between whom and thee there was enmity will become as though he was a bosom friend. 41:34 Quran _And when we made with you a covenant saying: shed not the blood of your people nor turn a party of your people out of your dwellings. Then you ratified our covenant and you were witnesses thereto. 2:84 Quran _Wrong not mankind in their goods, and do not evil, making mischief in the earth. 26:183 Quran _O mankind! Lo, We have created you male and female, and have made you nations and tribes that ye may know one another. Lo, the noblest of you in the sight of Allah is the best in conduct. Lo, Allah is Knower, Aware. 49:13 Quran _And each one hath a goal toward which he turneth; so vie with one another in good works. Wheresoever you may be, Allah will bring you all together. Lo, Allah is able to do all things. 2:148 Quran _Keep to forgiveness, O Muhammad, and enjoin kindness, and turn away from the ignorant. 7:199 Quran _And for such it may be that Allah will pardon them. Allah is ever Clement, Forgiving. 4:99 Quran _Whereby Allah guideth him who seeketh His good pleasure unto paths of peace. He bringeth them out of darkness unto light by His decree, and guideth them unto a straight path. 5:16 Quran _And when it is said unto them: make not mischief in the earth, they say: We are peacemakers only. 2:11 Quran _Those who spend of which Allah hath given them in ease and in adversity, those who control their wrath and are forgiving toward mankind. Allah loveth the good. 3:134 Quran _O mankind, call upon your Lord humbly and in secret. Lo, he loveth not aggressors. 7:55 Quran _Work not confusion in the earth after the fair ordering thereof, and call on Him in fear and hope. Lo, the mercy of Allah is nigh unto good. 7:56 Quran _Yet whoso doeth evil or wrongeth his own soul, then seeketh pardon of Allah, will find Allah Forgiving, Merciful. 4:110 Quran _And if they incline to peace, incline thou also to it, and trust in Allah. Lo, He is the Hearer, the Knower. 8:61 Quran _And O Muhammad say: My Lord, forgive and have mercy, for Thou art best of all who show mercy. 23:118 Quran _It may be that Allah will ordain love between you and those of them with whom you are at enmity. Allah is mighty, and Allah is Forgiving, Merciful. 60:7 Quran _Whoso doeth right, whether male or female, and is a believer, all such will enter the Garden, where they will be nourished without stint. 40:40 Quran _Ask pardon of your Lord and then turn unto Him repentant. Lo, my Lord is Loving, Merciful. 11:90 Quran _Abuse not those whom they call upon beside Allah. Quran 6:108 _There is no compulsion in religion. Quran 2:257 _Say: Each one doth according to his rule of conduct, and thy Lord is best aware of him whose way is right. Quran 17:84 _My lord! Lo! They have led many of mankind astray. But whoso followeth me, he verily is of me. And whoso disobeyeth me—still Thou art Forgiving, Merciful. Quran 14:36 _And for every nation there is a messenger. And when their messenger cometh (on the Day of Judgment) it will be judged between them fairly, and they will not be wronged. Quran 10:48 _And this Quran is not such as could be intended in despite of Allah; but it is a confirmation of that which was before it and an exposition of that which is decreed for mankind—Therein is no doubt—from the Lord of the Worlds. Quran 10:38 _Say (unto mankind): cry unto Allah, or cry unto Beneficent, unto Whichever you cry (it is the same). His are the most beautiful names. And thou (Muhammad), be not loud voiced in thy worship, not yet silent therein, but follow a way between. Quran 17:110 _If you do good, you do good for your own souls. And if you do evil, it is for them (your own souls). Quran 17:7 _Indeed there have come to you clear proofs from your Lord: so whoever sees, it is for his own good, and whoever is blind, it is to his own harm. Quran 6:104 _Permission to fight is given to those who fight against you, but be not aggressive. Quran 22:39 _Fight in the way of Allah against those who fight against you, but begin not hostilities. Lo! Allah loveth not aggressors. Quran 2:190 _Those who have been driven from their homes unjustly only because they said: our Lord is Allah. For had it not been for Allah’s repelling some men by means of others, cloisters and churches and oratories and mosques, wherein the name of Allah is oft mentioned, would assuredly have been pulled down. Verily Allah helpeth one who helpeth Him. Lo! Allah is Strong, Almighty. Quran 22:40 _And they have broken their religion (into fragments) among them, (yet) all are returning to Us. Quran 21:93 _Lo! This, your religion, is One religion, and I am your Lord, so worship Me. Quran 21:92 _Lo! Allah defendeth those who are true. Lo! Allah loveth not any treacherous ingrate. Quran 22:38 _The truth is from thy Lord, so let him who please believe, and let him who please disbelieve. Quran 18:29 _Then whoso doeth good works and is a believer, there will be no rejection of his effort. Lo! We record (it) for him. Quran 21:94 _Unto Allah belong the East and the West, and withersoever you turn, there is Allah’s countenance. Lo! Allah is All-Embracing. All-Knowing. Quran 2:115 _Work not confusion in the earth after the fair ordering (thereof) and call on Him in fear and hope. Lo! The mercy of Allah is nigh unto good. Quran 7:56 _Say (unto the People of the Scripture): Dispute ye with us concerning Allah when He is our Lord and your Lord? Ours are our works and yours your works. We look to Him alone. Quran 2:139 _Say (O Muslims): We believe in Allah and that which is revealed unto us and that which was revealed unto Abraham, and Ishmael, and Isaac, and Jacob, and the tribes, and that which Moses and Jesus received from their Lord. We make no distinction between any of them, and unto Him we have surrendered. Quran 2:136 _Lo, those who believe (in that which is revealed unto thee Muhammad) and those who are Jews, and Christians, and Sabaeans—whoever believeth in Allah and the Last Day and doth right—surely their reward is with their Lord, and there shall no fear come upon them, neither shall they grieve. Quran 2:62 _And for every nation have We appointed a ritual, that they may mention the name of Allah on the beast of cattle; and your God is one God, therefore surrender unto Him. And give good tidings (O Muhammad) to the humble. Quran 22:34 _Lo! We have sent thee with the truth, a bearer of glad tidings and a warner; and there is not a nation but a warner hath passed among them. Quran 35:24 _It is not righteousness that you turn your faces to the East and West: but righteous is he who believeth in Allah and the Last Day and the angels and the Scripture and prophets; and giveth his wealth, for the love of Him, to kinsfolk and to orphans and the needy and the wayfarer and to those who ask, and to set slaves free, and observeth proper worship and payeth the poor-due. And those who keep their treaty when they make one, and the patient in tribulation and adversity and time of stress. Such are they who are sincere. Such are the God-fearing. Quran 2:177 _The Messenger believeth in that which has been revealed unto him from his Lord and (so do) the believers. Each one believeth in Allah and His angels and His Scriptures and His messengers. We make no distinction between any of His messengers—and they say: we hear and we obey. (Grant us Thy forgiveness, our Lord). Unto Thee is the journeying. Quran 2:285 _He hath revealed unto thee (Muhammad) the Scripture with truth, confirming that which was (revealed) before it, even as He revealed the Torah and the Gospel. Quran 3:3 _And covet not the thing in which Allah hath made some of you excel others. Unto men a fortune from that which they have earned, and unto women a fortune from that which they have earned. (Envy not one another), but ask Allah of His bounty. Lo! Allah is ever Knower of all things. Quran 4:32 _For that cause We decreed for the children of Israel that whosoever killeth a human being for other than manslaughter or corruption on earth, it shall be as if he has killed all mankind, and whoso saveth the life of one, it shall be as if he has saved the life of mankind. Our messengers came unto them of old with clear proofs (of Allah’s sovereignty), but afterwards lo! Many of them became prodigals in the earth. Quran 5:32 _Say: O People of the Scripture! Stress not in your religion other than the truth, and follow not the vain desires of folk who erred of old and led many astray, and erred from a plain road. Quran 5:77 _Repel not those who call upon their Lord at morn and evening, seeking His countenance. Thou art not accountable for them in aught, nor are they accountable for thee in aught, that thou shouldst repel them and be of wrong-doers. Quran 6:52 _Revile not those unto whom they pray beside Allah lest they wrongfully revile Allah through ignorance. Thus unto every nation have We made their deed seem fair. Then unto their Lord is their return, and He will tell them what they used to do! Quran 6:109 _Unto each nation have We given sacred rites which they are to perform, so let them not dispute with thee of the matter, but summon thou unto thy Lord. Lo! thou indeed followest the right guidance. Quran 22:67 _And strive for Allah with the endeavor which is His right. He hath chosen you and hath not laid upon you in religion any hardship; the faith of your father Abraham (is yours). He hath named you Muslims of old times and in this (Scripture), that the messenger may be a witness against you, and that you may be witness against mankind, so establish worship, pay the poor-due, and hold fast to Allah. He is your Protecting Friend. A blessed Patron and a blessed Helper. Quran 22:78 _Say: o mankind! I am only a plain warner unto you. Quran 22:49 _Those who believe and do good works, for them is pardon and rich provision. Quran 22:50 _Women shall have same rights over men as men have over them. Quran 2:228 _And they (the women) have rights similar to those (of men) over them in equity. I (God) will allow not the work of any worker from among you, whether male or female, to be lost. Quran 3:196 _And whoso doeth good works, whether male or female, and he or she is a believer, such will enter Paradise and they will not be wronged the dint in a date-stone. Quran 4:124 _Create not disorder on earth. Quran 1:12 _We have not sent thee but as a Mercy to the nations. And We have sent thee but as a bearer of good news and as a warner to all mankind. Quran 25:1 _I cast the garment of love over thee from Me. And this in order that thou mayest be reared under Mine Eye. 20:39 Quran _O thou soul, in complete rest and satisfaction, come back thou to thy Lord. Well pleased and well-pleasing unto Him. Enter thou then among My devotees, enter thou My Paradise…89:27-30 Quran _They ask thee concerning wine and the game of hazard. Say: In both there is great sin and also some advantages for men, but their sin is greater than their advantage. And they ask thee what they should spend. Say: What you can spare. Thus does Allah make His commandments clear to you that you may reflect…2:220 Quran _Say unto the people of the Scripture: dispute ye with us concerning Allah when He is our Lord and your Lord? Ours are our works and yours your works. We look to Him alone—2:139 Quran _Lo, the mountains As-Safa and Al-Marwah are among the indication of Allah. It is therefore no sin for him who is on pilgrimage to the House of God, or visiteth it, to go around them, as the pagan custom is. And he who doeth good of his own accord, for him, lo, Allah is Responsive, Aware…2:158 Quran _And we prescribed for them therein: The life for the life, and the eye for the eye, and the nose for the nose, and the ear for the ear, and the tooth for the tooth, and for wounds retaliation. But whoso forgoeth it in the way of charity, it shall be expiation for him. Whoso judgeth not by that which Allah hath revealed: such are wrong-doers…5:45 Quran _And do thou O Muhammad remember thy Lord within thyself humbly and with awe, below thy breath, at morn and evening. And be not thou of neglectful…7:205 Quran _And if anyone of the idolaters seeketh thy protection O Muhammad, then protect him so that he may hear the word of Allah, and afterward convey him to his place of safety. That is because they are a folk who know not…9:6 Quran _And if they deny thee, say: unto me my work, and unto you your work. Ye are innocent of what I do, and I am innocent of what ye do…10:42 Quran _Establish worship at the two ends of the day and in some watches of the night. Lo, good deeds annul ill deeds. This is a reminder for the mindful…11:114 Quran _And speak not, concerning that which your own tongues qualify as clean or unclean, the falsehood: ‘This is lawful and this is forbidden.’ So that ye invent a lie against Allah. Lo, those who invent a lie against Allah will not succeed…16:116 Quran _Lo, those who believe this Revelation and those who are Jews, and the Sabaeans and the Christians and the Magians and the idolaters—lo, Allah will decide between them on the Day of Resurrection. Lo, Allah is witness over all things…22:17 Quran _And O Muhammad say: My Lord, Forgive and have mercy, for Thou art best of all who show mercy…23:118 Quran _The faithful slaves of the Beneficent are they who walk upon the earth modestly, and when the foolish ones address them, answer: Peace…25:63 Quran _And argue not with the People of the Scripture unless it be in a way that is better, save with such of them as do wrong; and say: We believe in that which hath been revealed unto us and revealed unto you; our God and your God is One, and unto Him we surrender…29:46 Quran _Lo, We have sent thee with the Truth, a bearer of glad tidings and a warner; and there is not a nation but a warner hath passed among them…35:24 Quran _O ye who believe! Let not a folk deride a folk who may be better than they are, nor let women deride who may be better than they are; neither defame one another, nor insult one another by nicknames. Bad is the name of lewdness after faith. And whoso turneth not in repentance, such are evil-doers…49:9 Quran _And when Jesus son of Mary said: O Children of Israel. Lo! I am the messenger of Allah unto you, confirming that which was revealed before me in the Torah, and bringing good tidings of a messenger who cometh after me, whose name is the Praised One. Yet when he hath come unto them with clear proofs, they say: This is mere magic…61:6 Quran _Wherever you turn is the face of God…2:115 Quran _He revealed to His servant what He revealed…55:10 Quran _There is no thing whose treasuries are not with us…15:21 Quran _Salman Pak Farsi referring to a Hadith _The Prophet said that on the day of resurrection, God will manifest Himself to the creatures in the forms that they themselves refuted, announcing ‘I am your Lord’. In the face of this unfamiliar apparition, they will seek refuge in their own representation of God. Then God will appear in that representation, and then they will believe that indeed it is Him. _Bilal quoting Prophet Muhammad: if a Muslim forces a conversion, he doesn’t risk hell, he is certain of hell. _God sent to the world since its creation 200,000 prophets, twenty-five of them are referred in the Quran. The greatest of those are Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus and Muhammad. Prophets are to be regarded as free from sin, the most sinless of all being Jesus. Muhammad speaks of him as the Word of God, the Spirit of God, born of the Virgin Mary, and Worker of Miracles… _Wrong not mankind in their goods, and do not evil, making mischief in the earth. 26:183 Quran _Those who spend of which Allah hath given them in ease and in adversity, those who control their wrath and are forgiving toward mankind. Allah loveth the good. 3:134 Quran

Saturday, July 20, 2013

Trayvon Martin The Victim of Injustice by Justice

'And if you must be damned at least be damned by pleasant sins.' Voltaire _Actions speak louder than words. How could American ideology which proclaims to work toward peace and justice all over the world endure the sting of deep-rooted malice, prejudice and hypocrisy is beyond imagination in this twenty-first century. _Trayvon Martin has been murdered this second time around by the arbiters of justice without shame, guilt or regret. _Courts, judges and lawgivers are the Conscience of nations, and if they fail to protect their citizens they certainly have joined hands with global advocates of injustice, who, even now as I write, keep fighting with a sense of self righteousness in the name of honor, religion and/or ethnic and political affiliations, disregarding most blatantly the Quranic injunctions of 'no fighting' in the Holy month of Ramadan. _If Reason fails to distinguish between right and wrong and Ignorance strikes people blind, then human dignity crumbles into the hands of this universe robbed clean of virtue, conscience, compassion. _After all these centuries we as human beings have failed the moral obligation of protecting and defending innocent victims. -Alas, such is the state of our so-called civilized societies, struggling constantly to become worthy of the name, human being! _Hoping that peace and justice would prevail in America and in the whole wide world. Amen!

Wednesday, July 10, 2013

Rape in Cairo/Ramadan

More than ninety-one women have been raped in Cairo while the pious Mullas, most probably, sit in their mosques reciting ninety-nine beautiful names of Allah. Would they ever think of coming out on the streets to denounce the heinous crimes of Muslim brutes who can’t control their lustful passions, so utterly vile and sickening? Prophecy of the Prophet -‘A time will come in which nothing will remain of Islam but its name, and of the Quran but its mere appearance, and the mosques of Muslims would be destitute of knowledge; and the learned men will be the worst people under the heavens, and strife and contention will issue from them, and it will return upon themselves.’ Prophet Muhammad Rape in Cairo mirrors the rape of Islamic truths which has been going on since centuries and bestial, cowardly men never tire of oppressing women in all arenas of life. _Pierre Crabites, an American judge in the Cairo mixed tribunals, after a long experience of Muslim law as administered in Egyptian capital said: ‘Prophet Muhammad was the greatest champion of women’s rights in view of what the Prophet said when women were treated as chattels in Arabia. Quoting Prophet: A woman must not be a despised creature to be ashamed of or to be ill-treated any more, but a person to love and cherish and respect—at her feet are the gates of paradise.’ Sayings of Muhammad by Sir Abdullah Suhrawardy. _Would the pious brothers of Islam rise in defense of the defenseless women? _‘The rights of women are sacred. See that women are maintained in the rights assigned to them.’ Prophet Muhammad _‘When you speak, speak the truth. Commit not rape; be chaste; have no impure desires; withhold your hands from striking, and from taking that which is bad and unlawful. The best of God’s servants are those who, when seen, remind of God; and the worst of God’s servants are those who carry tales about, to do mischief and separate friends, and seek for the defects of the good.’ Prophet Muhammad _‘What a Muslim must never do is to raise his hand against woman. Treat each woman with respect and kindness. God enjoins you to treat women well, for they are your aunts, wives, mothers and daughters.’ Prophet Muhammad _‘The greatest crimes are: to tell lies, to assault women, to murder your own species, to commit suicide.’ Prophet Muhammad. _‘May I inform you of the people of hellfire? They are all those violent, arrogant and stubborn people (oppressor of women).’ Prophet Muhammad/Al Bukhari [6:440-O.B] And now to Ramadan _War is not permitted during the month of Ramadan. _‘War is a great transgression in the sacred month of Ramadan.’ 2:217 Quran Fasting is not only abstaining from food, but purging oneself clean by shunning forces of evil, draining out hatred, malice, enmity and the lust to kill and abstaining from defiling the sanctity of any woman’s body or soul. _‘Allah is not in need of leaving his food and drink, and He will not accept the fast of the one who tells lies, acts on lies and refrains not from evil actions.’ Prophet Muhammad/Al Bukhari [3:127-O.B] _‘Shall I inform you of a better act than alms, prayer and fasting? Making peace between one another. Enmity and malice tear up heavenly rewards by the roots.’ Prophet Muhammad

Monday, July 1, 2013

Violence UnIslamic

Violence against anyone is unIslamic, especially against women and children. This article is in view of the recent suicide madness in the city of Quetta in Pakistan, nine women and several children, many countless times over since decades and no reprieve? Any Muslim perpetrating such shameless acts is not worthy of the privilege to be called a Muslim as clearly stated in Hadith and Quran. _‘Do not become infidels after me by killing each other.’ Prophet Muhammad/Hadith Al-Bukhari [1:22-OB] _‘Non-combatants were not killed even in a battle, there being a prohibition against the killing of women and children.’ Hadith 16 Prophet Muhammad’s sayings: _That person is not one of us who inviteth others to aid him in violence. And he is not one of us who fighteth for his tribe in injustice. And he is not one of us who dieth in assisting his tribe in tyranny. _The creation is God’s family; for its sustenance is from Him. Therefore the most beloved unto God is the person who doeth good to God’s family. _Kindness is a mark of faith. And whoever does not kindness hath no faith. _‘The way of blame is only against those who oppress mankind, and wrongfully rebel in the earth. For such there is a painful doom.’ 42:42 Quran _‘O ye messengers! Eat of good things and do right. Lo I am aware of what you do. And lo, this your religion is one religion and I am your Lord, so keep your duty unto Me. But the mankind have broken their religion amongst them into sects, each sect rejoicing it its tenants.’ 23:51-53 Quran _‘Establish worship, pay the poor due, and bow your heads with those who bow in worship. Enjoin ye righteousness upon mankind while ye yourselves forget to practice it??? And ye are readers of the Scriptures! Have you no sense???’ 2:43-44 Quran _Violence is neither permitted to Muslims, nor sanctioned under any circumstance, yet Islamic world today is engaged in violence amongst Muslims in the name of what? Ethnic cleansing? Territorial rights? Right to kill? Right to oppress women? Right to fundamentalism? Where are the religious leaders with sound knowledge who should be denouncing these acts of violence all over the world? All gone, is it possible, as stated in Hadith??? _‘Allah does not take away the knowledge, by taking it away from the hearts of the people, but takes it away by the death of the religious learned men till when none of the religious learned men remains. People will take as their leaders ignorant persons who when consulted with give their verdict without knowledge. So they will go astray and will lead the people astray.’ Prophet Muhammad/ Hadith Al-Bukhari [1:100-OB] _‘Religion is very easy and whoever overburdens himself in his religion will not be able to continue in that way. So you should not be extremists, but try to be near to perfection.’ Prophet Muhammad/ Hadith Al-Bukhari [1:38-OB] _‘God hath not created anything better than Reason. The benefit of which God gives are on its account, and understanding is by it, and God’s wrath is caused by disregard of it.’ Prophet Muhammad _‘Announce O Muhammad, unto My slaves that verily I am Forgiving, the Merciful.’ 15:49 Quran _Willing to be touched by Grace, may God’s Guidance come to the misguided horde of suicide-bombers, so that all could work together for love, peace and harmony in the world.

Sunday, June 23, 2013

Hate in Islam Inculcated/Distortions Countless

Muhammad The Richest Prophet in Arabia Prophet Muhammad, though living in extreme poverty, was richest in love. His love so boundless and unconditional that even his enemies couldn’t doubt it against the shimmering ocean of light in his eyes straight from the purity of his heart, offered to all for sharing and nurturing. That kind of love is the nectar of Islam for all time, but Muslims in this age and time refuse to taste the nectar from that ocean sweet and everlasting. Earning the notoriety of being hateful, violent and vengeful. Branded with countless epithets and tag-lined with slogans so very true and heartrending. One of those: ‘Not all Muslims are terrorists, but all terrorists are Muslims.’ Unveiling of Islam _‘Muslim is the one who is a man of peace and from whose tongue and hand people are safe.’ Ibn Haban quoting Prophet Muhammad in Hadith _‘Prophet is the greatest benefactor of humanity and of his Ummah in particular. Every Muslim is required to have greater love for him than for any other human being. Highest love for the Holy Prophet is made a test of faith, because the stronger the ties which bind a man to him the greater the strength with which he will be able to walk in his footsteps and the larger his capacity to do good to humanity. Practically, the Muslim world today has proved an entire failure under this test. The Holy Prophet and his teachings are misrepresented by (so-called) Muslims throughout the world and he is abused as no other religious leader has been abused, but Muslims do not stir a little finger to remove the misrepresentations and carry the true teachings of Islam to a world which is groping in the dark.’ Maulana Muhammad Ali _‘Ibn Umar reported: He heard the Messenger of Allah forbidding women in a state of ihram wearing gloves and veil and garments dyed with wars and saying that they might wear besides this what they liked of garments colored with safflower or made of silk or wool, or ornaments or trousers or shirt.’ Hadith Al-Bukhari (AD 11:29) Hijab and veiling is not Islamic, though many believe it to be so, including Muslim men and Muslim women who question not the veracity of such customs imposed by so-called men of learning since centuries. Such customs have become solid beliefs, repeated so often by so many with such passion and persistency that they have assumed the aura of truth. Yet it is possible to shatter this false aura of truth by chiseling away layers upon layers of lies where the purity of expression still breathes love and radiance within the pages of Quran and Hadith. There is not a single verse in the Quran with any injunction of veil or hijab. Below are two verses from the Quran prone to misinterpretation by the arbiters of Islam. _And tell the believing women to lower their gaze and be modest, and to display their adornments only that which is apparent, and to draw their scarves over their bosoms. Quran 24:31 _O ye who believe! Enter not the dwellings of the Prophet for a meal without waiting for the proper time, unless permission is granted you. But if you are invited, enter, and when your meal is ended, then disperse. Lingering not for conversation. Lo, that would cause annoyance to the Prophet and he would be shy of asking you to go, but Allah is not shy of the truth. And when ye ask of the wives of the Prophet anything, ask it from them from behind a curtain. Quran 33:53 Pagan women as well as women from Judeo-Christian background wore veil and hijab as a mark of wealth, status and distinction. To instill the virtue of equality amongst Muslims Prophet Muhammad forbade Muslim women to wear veils. The pearls of Hadith below attest to this fact. _Abu Dawud 11:29 The veil was worn in Arabia as a mark of rank: and it was therefore disallowed, as pilgrimage required obliteration of all differences of rank. Forbidding a veil in a pilgrimage is a further conclusive proof that Holy Quran did not enjoin the wearing of veil, as in that case the prohibition here stated would be a contradiction of the Holy Quran. Gloves are not allowed because like the veil they are a mark of rank. Ornaments are allowed because they are not a mark of rank, and are worn by even ordinary people and laboring classes. As for fighting--only in self-defense... Hadith 16 _Non-combatants were not killed in the battle, there being a prohibition against the killing of women and children. Fighting was to cease if the enemy offered peace, even though his intention might be to deceive. In essence our body is a musical instrument—a gift from God to be tuned with love. If we tune it with hatred, violence, bigotry, it makes discordant sounds to disrupt the sanctity of this holy earth, God’s creation. If we tune it with love, harmony, compassion, it evokes symphony of synchronicity from the very heavens even angels long to cherish and carry to the throne of God as a gift of joy and gratitude from mankind. _‘Life is a choice, a struggle and a constant becoming.’ Prophet Muhammad

Thursday, June 6, 2013

Killing is Forbidden in Islam

Could the pious warriors of Islam kindly take some time off from the spree of slitting the throats of their brethren and contemplate this paradox of Muslims killing Muslims? __Also could the devotees of Prophet Muhammad awaken from their Allah-intoxicated bliss of reciting the Quran and denounce these apostles of zeal turned heathens, all murderers and cutthroats. _There were no Shias or Sunnis during the lifetime of Prophet Muhammad and he could never tire of telling Muslims that Islam does not allow killing any Muslim or non-Muslim, only in self-defense. Currently, this sectarian violence has nothing to do with self-defense, but with the deep-rooted vice of malice, hatred, bigotry and intolerance. _Waves upon waves of violence have spread like wildfire of global enmity and ignorance from Syria to Turkey to Pakistan, just to name a few of the Shia-Sunni factions on this arena of a battleground. _‘Whosoever slayeth a believer of set purpose, his reward is hell forever. Allah is wroth against him and He hath cursed him and prepared for him an awful doom.’ Quran 4:93 _‘And when We made you a covenant, saying, shed not blood of your people, nor turn a party of your people out of your dwellings. Then you ratified Our covenant and ye were witnesses thereto.’ Quran 2:84 _‘Fight in the way of Allah against those who fight against you, but begin not hostilities. Lo, Allah loveth not aggressors.’ Quran 2:193 _‘Call upon your Lord humbly and in secret. Lo, He loveth not aggressors.’ Quran 7:55 _‘And if they incline to peace, incline thou also to it.’ Quran 8:61 _Prophet Muhammad forever was a gentle guide to his followers since the inception of Islam. Shortly after the Hijra to Medina, Prophet Muhammad had secured peace between the tribes of Aus and Khazraj. One day as these tribes were making merry, one man by the name of Shas ibn Qays reminded them about the battle of Baath, taunting, that how they could make merry together after what happened at Baath when so many men were slaughtered from both sides. Soon, the men from both tribes began challenging each other to fair fights. Fortunately, Prophet Muhammad was informed swiftly before the fight could break out, and he reached the scene, appealing. _‘O Muslims, why you are behaving like you used to in the days of ignorance, even though I am with you and Allah has guided you to Islam? He has honored you with the light of wisdom and He has helped you abandon that spirit of enmity and vengeance, so that you can be united together as friends and brothers. Sheathe your swords and weep for your folly for even thinking that you could shed the blood of any man who is bound to you by the holy oath of brotherhood.’ The men had stood there shamed, humbled and repentant. _The political upheaval only twenty-four years after the death of Prophet Muhammad which split the silken fabric of Islam into the rags of Sunni and Shia, still carried the breath of Prophet through the virtue of at least of one Chieftain from the clan of Beni Saad. Even before the armies of Ali and Aisha confronted each other near Basra, the Chieftain of Beni Saad in the true spirit of Islam lead six thousand of his warriors back into the neutrality of the desert, declaring: ‘I would neither fight against the Mother of the Faithful, nor against the cousin of the Prophet.’ _After the army of Aisha was defeated, Ali forgave Aisha unconditionally, giving orders that she be escorted safely by her young half-brother to a house in Basra. Ali’s heralds proclaiming: ‘No one turning his back shall be pursued. No one wounded shall be killed. Whoever throws away his arms is safe.’ _‘O ye who believe! Be steadfast witness for Allah in equity and let not hatred of any people seduce you that you deal not justly. Deal justly, that is nearer to your duty. Observe your duty of Allah. Lo Allah is informed of what you do.’ Quran 5:8 _‘For that cause we decreed for the children of Israel that whosoever killeth a human being for other than manslaughter or corruption on earth, it shall be as if he has killed all mankind, and whoso saveth the life of one, it shall be as if he has saved the life of mankind. Our messengers came to them of old with clear proofs of Allah’s sovereignty, but afterwards, lo, many of them became prodigals in the earth.’ Quran 5:32 __‘Yet whoso doeth evil, or wrongeth his own soul, then seeketh pardon of Allah, will find Allah forgiving, merciful.’ Quran 4:110 ‘Keep to forgiveness, O Muhammad, and enjoin kindness, and turn away from the ignorant.’ Quran 7:199

Tuesday, May 14, 2013

Prophet Muhammad's Last Sermon on Mount of Mercy

‘O Lord, guide my people, for they do not know.’ Prophet Muhammad Prophet Muhammad—the great physician of the heart is back in this book with a link to the right to cure the disease of violence inside the hearts of the Muslims. As the revered theologian of almost nine centuries ago, Al-Ghazali, who said: ‘For God most high has promised to revive his religion of peace at the beginning of each century.’ Prophet’s sermon on Mount Arafat after hajj: “My beloved friends, listen to my words, because I don’t know if I will ever be with you here again after this year. Therefore listen to what I am saying, carefully, and take these words to those who could not be here today. My friends and family, your lives, property and honor are sacred for you until you appear before your Lord, just as you consider this month, this day and this city sacred. Return the things that are entrusted to you to their rightful owners. You will meet your Lord, and He will hold you answerable for your actions. You have rights over your wives, and your wives have rights over you. Treat your wives with love and kindness. Verily, you have taken them on the security of God, and their persons are made lawful unto you by the words of God. Free your slaves, following my example, and tell others to do the same. But if they wish to stay with you, see that you feed them with such food as you eat yourselves, and clothe them with the stuff you wear. And if they commit a fault which you are not inclined to forgive, then part from them, for they are the servants of God as you and me, and are not to be treated harshly. Know that we are all equal in the sight of Allah, and journey together in this world as a family of brotherhood and sisterhood. All of us belong to the line of Adam, and Adam was created from dust. This is a gift of knowledge for all who cultivate wisdom and humility. An Arab is no better than a non-Arab, nor is a white better than a black, or a black better than a white, except in piety. Nothing is allowed to a Muslim if it belongs to another, unless it is given freely and willingly, so do not oppress each other. I am leaving behind me two things, the Book of God and my example, if you follow these two, you will never go astray. Spend freely of what is given to you, whether in prosperity or in adversity. Restrain you anger and pardon all, for Allah loves those who do good, as it has been revealed. This Hajj is acceptable to Allah, only if we have love in our hearts for each and every one of God’s creatures. Kill not your children. For fear of want. We shall provide sustenance for them. As well as for you. Verily, the killing of them is a great sin. Quran 17: 31. This day have I perfected your religion for you and completed My favor unto you, and have chosen for you as religion Al-Islam. Whoso is forced by hunger, not by will, to sin; for him, lo! Allah is Forgiving, Merciful. Quran 5: 3.” Prophet Muhammad recited, his eyes shining with mirth. “Know you that what month is this? What territory this is? What day?” “The sacred month! The sacred territory! The great day of pilgrimage—” Several voices spluttered forth, filling the Mount of Mercy with the music of joy. “Even thus sacred and inviolable God made His life and the property of each of you unto the other, until you meet your Lord.” Prophet Muhammad’s voice rippled above all, his arms held out. “O Lord! I have delivered my message and accomplished my work!” “Yes, you have, Prophet. Yes, you have—” The pilgrims cheered. “O God, I beseech Thee, bear Thou witness unto it.” Prophet Muhammad prayed. “This is the day of true brotherhood and sisterhood, of devotion and repentance. This is the day when Allah is revealed to His servants, extending His Hands with generosity and immense blessing! We are promised that during these hours by Arafat, Allah will send down His mercy and forgiveness to those, who are deserving and they will feel His presence!” ‘The heart of the believer is between two fingers of the Infinitely Merciful.’ Prophet Muhammad

Saturday, May 4, 2013

Prophet Muhammad/Sharia/Islam

Islamic Sharia And we have not sent thee but as a mercy to the nations. Quran 21:107 Since Muslims have distorted the message of Prophet Muhammad so magnanimously, historians and theologians need to scrape clean the windows of unIslamic Sharia to have a glimpse of Prophet’s Sharia. The publication of Prophet’s book with a link to the right is an attempt to do just that. All windows scrubbed clean of countless distortions and misconceptions. Reflecting the original portrait of Islam as painted by the Prophet in synchronicity with his character as a loving, forgiving, compassionate Prophet of Peace. No valid definition of Sharia exists even to this age and day and a potpourri of those which are being tossed around are countless, concocted by clerics, historians and theologians. Such definitions written and rewritten by so-called scholars several years after the death of Prophet Muhammad with interpretations to suit their own ways of thinking, permitting no room for the proof of validity, criticism or discussion. Origin of Sharia, even the most orthodox of theologians would agree is based on traditions gathered from the sayings and lifestyle of the Prophet and from the wealth of revelations compiled as the holy book of Quran,. Starting with Sunna—exemplary life of Prophet Muhammad, if Muslims were to follow in his footsteps, there would be left not even a trace of cruelty, hatred, bigotry or violence in Islam. Hoping that reason as Prophet Muhammad claimed reason the most precious of God-given gifts would tempt theologians to open a dialogue with a string of discussions in the very ether of cyberspace, if not in the arena of global syllogisms. Prophet’s Sharia, before it was hijacked by scholars turned bigots and zealots was in all its purity the law of love, peace and harmony. He lived this law by the example of his life as a loving, compassionate and forgiving man of words and deeds. By interpreting revelations in such a profound manner so as to polish the precepts of Islam with the gold of love, tolerance and harmony. As it is stated in this revelation below. He it is who hath revealed unto thee Muhammad the Scripture wherein are clear revelations. They are the substance of the Book—and others which are allegorical. But those in whose hearts is doubt pursue, forsooth, that which is allegorical, seeking to cause dissention by seeking to explain it. None knoweth its explanation save Allah. And those who are of sound instruction say: we believe therein, the whole is from our Lord, but only men of understanding really heed. Quran 3:7 And Prophet of course had to deal with the zeal of his followers at the very inception of Islam. One day Prophet was sitting in the mosque in Medina when Abdullah the son of Abdallah ibn Ubbay came suddenly to share the news of his father’s death and his last request before he died that Prophet give his shirt as a burial shroud and to come and pray at his funeral. The Prophet got to his feet to fulfil the last wishes of Abdallah ibn Ubbay, but his followers started protesting, knowing the deceased to be marked as hypocrite during his lifetime. Saying, how could he—the Prophet agree to grant the last requests of Abdullah’s father against the weight of the recent revelation? Ask forgiveness for them O Muhammad or ask not forgiveness for them. Though thou ask forgiveness for them seventy times, Allah will not forgive them. That is because they disbelieved in Allah and His Messenger, and Allah guideth not wrongdoing folk. Quran 9:80 The Prophet turned to his heels, commenting over his shoulders. “I have to pray more than seventy times then, don’t I?” One revelation which was dear to his heart: Keep to forgiveness O Muhammad and enjoin kindness, and turn away from the ignorant. Quran 7:199 Prophet’s forgiveness was unconditional and his love boundless. After the conquest of Mecca he forgave everyone, even Hind the wife of Abu Sofyan who had chewed on the heart of his slain uncle Hamza. When Abu Sofyan wished to accept Islam, Prophet said that if he was willing to accept if for fear that he would be punished if he did not, then he should not be willing. For no punishment was forthcoming and that he should wait till he could accept it without fear and with all his heart. Prophet’s own love extended to all God’s creatures. Once during a sermon a cat took the liberty of sitting over the edge of his robe and he wouldn’t get up lest he disturb the cat. At the time of his final pilgrimage to Mecca, he noticed a bitch on the road with a litter of pups and commanded his men to change their route so as not to frighten the young pups. He abhorred war and succumbed to its dictates only as a last resort after all efforts at peace were exhausted. The Peace Treaty which the Prophet signed under the Lote Tree lent so much advantage to the pagans that his own followers were angry and resentful. But he stayed firm, guided by his wisdom and by the wealth of revelations. His favorite expression: ‘No person has drunk a better draught than that of anger which he has swallowed for God’s sake.’ And if they incline to peace, incline thou also to it, and trust in Allah. Lo, He is the Hearer, the Knower. Quran 8:61 Again and again the Prophet had to guide even his loved ones on the path to compassion and tolerance. Once Omar dragged a man away from the precincts of the mosque when he saw him urinating by the wall. Later, Omar told the Prophet that the man had defiled the mosque so he had thrown him out. The Prophet reprimanded Omar, saying that since he treated the man roughly he must find him and apologize, adding that a pail of water would have purified the spot. Living amidst countless tides of zeal and intolerance, the Prophet was heard exclaiming: ‘By these pious fools my back hath been broken.’ To the very end of his life the Prophet strove toward cultivating the seeds of love, peace and harmony. He had forbidden the use of weapons before journeying from Medina to Mecca, he and his followers going there as pilgrims, not as warriors. As he and his cavalcade approached closer to Mecca, Saeed bin Udabah began brandishing his sword and exclaiming: ‘Today is the day of fighting.’ Prophet was quick to snatch the sword from him and hand it over to his son, Abu Qays. Reproof spilling down from his lips: ‘This is how you distort the message of the Prophet, O Saeed?’ Lo who distort our revelations are not hid from us. It is he who is hurled into the fire better or he who cometh secure on the Day of Resurrection? Do what you will. Lo, He is seer of what you do. Quran 41:40 After the conquest of Mecca, quite a few reprimands landed on Ali since he was the closest and most beloved. The Prophet was talking to Othman ibn Talha when Ali snatched keys of Kaaba from him, saying: ‘These keys now belong to the Prophet of Islam.’ ‘Ali, be kind and loving and return those keys to Othman.’ Prophet Muhammad commanded swiftly and sadly. ‘Have I failed in my message of equal love and equal respect for all? He is not one of us who incites bigotry, or fights for bigotry or dies in its pursuit.’ Another scene of discord ensued soon after when Prophet’s wives were urging Ali’s sister Umm Hani not to seek protection for her husband Hudayfah who was an idolater. Ali was amongst them, threatening to kill his sister and her husband when Prophet appeared on this scene of contention. ‘I seek protection for my husband.’ Umm Hani flung her cloak over the shoulders of her husband and ran to the Prophet, and was received into his loving arms, sobbing uncontrollably. ‘Whom you make safe, dear Umm Hani, him we make safe. Whom you protect, we protect.’ Prophet Muhammad turned to Ali. ‘Have you not been reprimanded for your zeal already?’ Another revelation close to Prophet’s heart: O ye who believe! Be steadfast witness for Allah in equity, and let not the hatred of any people seduce you that you deal not justly. Deal justly that is nearer to your duty. Observe your duty to Allah. Lo, Allah is informed of what you do. Quran 5:8 In polygamous society when Arab men had several wives and concubines, Prophet Muhammad remained faithful to Khadija alone for almost twenty-five years of blissful marriage. After her death he contracted more marriages with women who were widows and needed protection, with the exception of only one, Aisha. The description of Prophet’s character by Aisha in one of the Hadiths: ‘He laughed a lot and never held a grudge against anyone.’ And if you fear you will not deal fairly by the orphans, marry of the women who seem good to you, two, three or four. And if you fear you cannot do justice to so many, then one only or the captives that your right hand possesses. Thus it is more likely that you will not do injustice. Quran 4:3 After the conquest of Mecca: He said: Have no fear this day! May Allah forgive you and He is the most merciful of those who show mercy. Quran 12:92 to be continued—

Thursday, April 25, 2013

Happy Birthday Shakespeare 2013

Shakespeare Revisited Cast of Characters: Shakespeare In his fifties Genius The double of Shakespeare, young and dreamy An unkempt room with one chair and a desk. A few pages on the wall, displaying sonnets. Uneven stacks of papers scattered here and there. The play begins with Shakespeare seated at his desk, dipping his pen furiously in the ink-pot. Genius is standing opposite him, smiling to himself. The reed pen glows all of a sudden, as if on fire, and Shakespeare blinks, stunned. Genius bursts out laughing, seeking the attention of Shakespeare. GENIUS Why are you afraid, O Bard of London? You know me, I am sure. SHAKESPEARE (aghast and shrinking) I do not know you. Who are you? GENIUS (edging closer) Bloody sad that you don’t know me! But I know you too well. You are Sheikh Pir. The Poet of the East. Dead and forgotten. SHAKESPEARE (his knuckles white as he clenches a sheaf of papers before him) Dead? GENIUS (laughing contemptuously) More alive than most, who are living in the slums of London, Sheikh Pir. SHAKESPEARE (planting his elbows on the table with a sudden violence) Who are you? Why are you here? GENIUS (his gaze bright and intense) If you don’t recognize your own genius, my friend, then you are doomed. I am here to goad you into writing a Tragedy, which would live forever inside the hourglass of Time. SHAKESPEARE (one snort of a mirth escaping his lips) If I were a genius, I would not be scraping pennies out of the filthy palms of the droolers? Or living in a garret, staging farcical scenes in my head? Besides, I am writing a comedy, not a tragedy. GENIUS (smiling to himself and beginning to pace) Juliet is not the kind of heroine you think her to be. And Romeo is not the prince embroiled in wars, as you perceive him to be. SHAKESPEARE (cupping his chin into his hands) Stratford-upon-Avon is not the place for magicians, young man. Go home, and suckle your brains on goat’s milk. How do you know the characters in my head, if you are that bloody talented? GENIUS (pacing and thinking aloud) Let it suffice for the moment that I know. Your Juliet is Hir, a princess from Jhang. And Romeo is no other than Ranjha, the prince from Hazara. You met them both. They were condemned by the virtue of love, and fated to die together. SHAKESPEARE (his eyes drooping shut) Such alien names. Alien places. If I had been there, had met such people, I would remember. My memory is flawless. GENIUS (halts in his pacing, watching Shakespeare) Genius is a mystery! Remembering, while claiming not to remember? Now you see Hir in the guise of Juliet. Though Juliet herself is a stranger to you. You don’t know how she looks like? SHAKESPEARE (his eyes fluttering open) Juliet is beautiful! Her beauty is engraved inside the mirror of my heart. Hir? I don’t know anything about her, or how she looks like? GENIUS (resuming his pacing) Hir is beautiful. She is the daughter of a king, and a victim of tragic love. Hir’s Romeo is Ranjha, a prince indeed! Hir falls in love with Ranjha, and in return, is consumed by her own love for him. SHAKESPEARE (his gaze following Genius, dreamy and distant) Something inside me is stirring. They get married, and live happily ever-after, don’t they? GENIUS (flashing Shakespeare an enigmatic smile) Truth, even veiled in falsehood, dares not kiss the lips of lies. Hir was forced to get married to a rich curmudgeon by the name of Saida, exiled into the valley of Rangpur. SHAKESPEARE (snatching his reed pen from the ink pot, and writing while murmuring) And she falls in love with her husband. A marvelous ending. GENIUS (mirth spilling from his lips and eyes) Love, a folly most grievous! No woman, if she was wise, would commit such a folly, even if she was marrying for the very first time. And Hir was wise, accepting not her farce of a marriage, and longing for Ranjha. Her longing itself brings Ranjha to her door in the guise of a jogi. SHAKESPEARE (writing with utmost absorption) Would you please leave whoever you are? I am in a bloody rush to finish this Comedy in order to pay my rent, or my landlord would throw me out into the gutters. GENIUS (Standing opposite Shakespeare, his gaze intense and impelling) That means you don’t want to hear the story of Hir and Ranjha? Are your sure? SHAKESPEARE (without lifting his eyes, still writing) Tell me bloody quick then. I want peace and quiet. GENIUS (pacing again) Hir and Ranjha elope. Hir’s parents urge them to return home. Promising them the bliss of home and marriage. Death and doom are lurking behind this promise of wedlock, not the wedding celebrations. Hir’s mother poisons the milk, which her daughter is to drink as a part of the ritual during the wedding ceremony. SHAKESPEARE (dipping his pen into the ink pot) Such tales told by the fools, and sung by the troubadours! Dull and predictable. GENIUS (waving his arms imperiously) Not dull, but tragic! Terrible and inviolate! You don’t want to hear the end, I gather? SHAKESPEARE (jabbing the paper with his reed pen) I am dying to—this second time around, striving toward becoming a rich playwright! If indeed, this is the second time around? What was I before this? A poet? No, don’t bother to answer. Just tell me the ending of this story, and leave. The dawn is nigh and I must finish my play. GENIUS (laughter trilling on his lips) Hir’s maid succeeds in revealing the murderous designs of her mother, but alas, too late! Hir has already taken a few sips from the cup of death. She collapses, but not before Ranjha has snatched the glass of milk, draining it passionately. Ranjha falls at the feet of his Beloved, both joined in Hereafter. SHAKESPEARE (lifting his eyes wearily and watching the Genius dreamily) Romeo and Juliet! It is a Comedy, and it is going to stay this way, since the characters profess to live, not die. You may leave now. I want Juliet to live. She is so very beautiful. GENIUS (vehemently) This play would be a Tragedy! Fates can’t be averted. Juliet is not permitted to disappoint the drooling patrons, who love conflict and the pincers loss and grief. Hir too was barred from disappointing her audience, welcoming death, and tasting the hemlock of immortality. Romeo would die too, by the law and virtue of his own madness, much like Ranjha, earning the title of Sufi and the Lover. SHAKESPEARE (abandoning his reed pen into the ink pot) Hir, this name sounds sweet upon my tongue. And Ranjha, wafting the Scent of Mystery. Did they live? Are they dead now? The Lover and the Beloved—I mean? GENIUS (standing in the middle of the stage, his look opiate) Living forever inside the rosary of songs, sweet and tragic. Worshipped by the young lovers, who still flock to their tombs, dreaming of love sublime and love unattainable. SHAKESPEARE (his gaze fixed to the Genius) Where are they buried? {One fake moon hovers over the stage.} GENIUS Look at that moon yonder. Waxing and waning. Livid and dying. The scarlet lips of fate, sinful as death. A Tragedy most beautiful. SHAKESPEARE (his head drooping over the table) The lily-livered heart of dawn is compelling me to nurture the Children of Tragedy. Hir and Ranjha are singing, holding the Torch of Love. Romeo and Juliet must taste the Soma of Pain. They must divorce Love and Hope. A Tragedy! Yes! A Tragedy most Sublime. A Truth most Supreme! The symphony of Love, Grief, Union. THE END