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Rashad Khalifa on Quran alone

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FROM DR. RASHAD KHALIFA’S TRANSLATION

Some Muslims compromise: “If a Hadith agrees with the Quran we will accept it, and if it contradicts the Quran, we will reject it!” Such premise proves that these people do not believe God’s assertions that the Quran is “complete, perfect and fully detailed.” The moment they seek guidance from anything besides the Quran, no matter how “right” it seems, they fall into Satan’s trap (see 63:1). For they have rejected God’s word and set up another god besides God (18:57). Appendix 19

The Quran proclaims that the Quran is complete, perfect, and fully detailed (6:19, 38, 114, 115; 50:45), and that religious regulations not specifically instituted in the Quran constitute a religion other than Islam, i.e., Submisssion (42:21, 17:46). The true believers uphold the Quran, the whole Quran, and nothing but the Quran. This principle is confirmed by the Quran’s mathematical code. Verse 46 of Sura 17 proclaims that we shall uphold the Quran ALONE. The word “ALONE” occurs in the Quran 6 times: 7:70, 17:46, 39:45, 40: 12 & 84, and 60:4. All these occurrences refer to God, except 17:46. When we add the numbers of suras and verses which refer to “GOD ALONE,” we get 361, 19×19. This proves that 17:46 refers to “the Quran ALONE.”
Appendix 18

[6:114] Shall I seek other than GOD as a source of law, when He has revealed to you this book fully detailed? Those who received the scripture recognize that it has been revealed from your Lord, truthfully. You shall not harbor any doubt.
[6:115] The word of your Lord is complete, in truth and justice. Nothing shall abrogate His words. He is the Hearer, the Omniscient.
*6:113-115 Upholding any source beside the Quran reflects disbelief in the Quran (Appendix 18)

FROM VIDEOS & AUDIOS

I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their kinsmen, and will put My words into his mouth; he shall tell them all that I command him. If any man will not listen to My words which he speaks in My name, I Myself will make him answer for it. (Deuteronomy 18:18-19)

Even here is Deuteronomy, we see the accuracy of the language. We are not following Muhammad, we are not following Rashad Khalifa, we are not following any human being. And don’t let anybody tell you that. I don’t follow Rashad Khalifa. And you don’t follow Rashad Khalifa. We follow the words of God. We follow God. When people make those statements, they make out of idolatry. They idolize Ali and Muhammad and Hussain and Jesus and Mary and so on. They idolize human beings. We follow the words of God and if Rashad Khalifa says anything on his own, we don’t listen to him. You can listen and use your own discretion. But we cannot follow what Rashad says, we follow what God says, you and I. So, you can see here that God is saying, “If any man will not listen to My word, the words of God, which he speaks in My name, the name of God, I Myself will make him answer for it”. So, the idea of a messenger is not the messenger at all, if the messenger we know never existed, God will find other people to deliver the message. It is the message that is important, the word of God that we follow. You can see the accuracy even in the translation of the older scripture.

The next verse is John 14:16-17, Jesus says:

I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Paraclete – to be with you always: THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH.

Quran is the last message from God. Remember it is the message, not the messenger. The message came and will be with us till the end of the world, this, the Quran. And the Prophet Muhammad was the one who received and delivered it.
–Rashad Khalifa—Introducing the Blue Translation in Quran Study, Tucson, 1989

“We follow God. We follow the word of God alone. The principle is very easy – if it is not in the Quran, we have no consideration for it.
…your criteria is the Quran. If it is not in the Quran don’t believe it, no matter who is talking to you. It is a very simple principle. This is what we follow.
But you must be aware of this principle. It is our principle – if it is not in the Quran, I don’t believe it. It may or may not be correct, but if it is not in the Quran, I am not following it.”- Rashad Khalifa, Friday Sermon, 1989 Conference.

“Principle is – if not in the Quran we do not follow it.” – Rashad Khalifa, 1989 conference speech video.

“In this conference, you’re going to hear lots of views, personal views from many people. Anybody can say anything they want. But your criterion is the Quran. If it is not in the Quran, don’t believe it. No matter who is talking to you. Very simple PRINCIPLE because this is what we follow.” – Rashad Khalifa, 1989 conference.

“God thus teaches us that even contemporary Sahaabah can misunderstand God’s messenger. We must uphold ONLY the Quran” – Rashad Khalifa, SP – July 1989.

“Quran is the final scripture. It is completion of the message.
The Quran is all you need. In fact, God said the Quran is complete, perfect and fully detailed. If you go to any other source you will be disobeying God.
You devote yourself completely to God alone and devote yourself to the word of God alone, the Quran alone.” – Rashad Khalifa, Essentials of Submission Video.

“I believe That the Quran is complete, perfect and fully detailed because God said so in the Quran.
Because God says in the Quran that the Quran is complete, perfect and fully detailed. Question is do you believe God or not? If you believe God, you believe that the Quran is complete, perfect and fully detailed.
…therefore, if you go to anything else, you are rejector of the Quran. You have rejected disbelieved God.
Quran is fully detailed. God says Quran is fully detailed. Therefore, you don’t need anything else.
The important point is that God says the Quran is complete, perfect and fully detailed. This is the important point.” – Rashad Khalifa, The Great Debate

“This (Quran) is the textbook. This is the manual” –  Rashad Khalifa, 1988 Conference

“As stated in 3:81 and 46:9, God’s Messenger of the Covenant does not bring anything new; everything I receive and pass on to you is already in the Quran.” – Rashad Khalifa, Feb 1990 SP.

“Our only source must be His Word – The Quran” – Rashad Khalifa, 1988 Conference

“The criterion of obeying the messenger is that whatever he says must be in the Quran and be backed up by what God is saying. If it is not in the Quran, it is your obligation to disobey him.  Actually, in the same Sura it says that. So, the reason when God says ‘Obey God and His messenger’ is because the messenger conveys the word of God.” – Rashad Khalifa, Dec 28, 1989, Q-study #39

“We are people who follow the Quran, the whole Quran and nothing but the Quran. Therefore, anybody and this means anybody who brings any information must conform to the Quran, the whole Quran and nothing but the Quran.  And if anyone, I will underline anyone, who comes up with information that is not confirmed by the Quran, we tell him forget it, we don’t accept it. The criterion is preaching, confirming existing scripture, the Quran and nothing else.” – Rashad Khalifa, Khutba announcing his messengership, April 1988.

“We follow only God. We follow only the word of God. As you know, I will be the first to tell you, if it is my opinion, if it is Rashad Khalifa, don’t follow him, because you will probably do the wrong thing. You must be sure you are following God and following the word of God and we will go to any extend to make sure we are following God and the word of God. We are not following the words of any human being.” –Rashad Khalifa, Friday Sermon, 1989 Conference.

“You know that if I tell you tell you anything that is not Quranic, you can tell me to get out of here and I will be the first to denounce that.
This is the final message. Everything is here. And we do not do anything that is not here.” – Rashad Khalifa, 1988 conference.

“If you follow Dr. Khalifa, you are not right. Anybody here, and we all know this, we do not follow any person and we emphasize here we are worshippers of God alone. We follow the word of God alone and if I say anything that is not in the Quran, contradicting the Quran, I am the first one to appreciate alerting me to this because then I am wrong. Nobody follows me.” – Rashad Khalifa – Great Debate

“Why are you disobeying the messenger when he tells you that the Quran is complete and fully detailed, and you should uphold the Quran alone. Why do you disobey him and go to something else? You see in the Quran (…. Arabic), so why don’t you listen and obey Allah and the Rasool?
“…So therefore, you are reciting these verses, if you obey the Rasool you will uphold the Quran, the whole Quran and nothing but the Quran. If you go to anything other than the Quran, you are not obeying the messenger.” – Rashad Khalifa, The Great Debate

“Our leader is the Quran. Our imam is the Quran. Our guide is the Quran, the word of God. We are worshippers of God alone.” – Rashad Khalifa, The Great Debate.

FROM QURAN, HADITH, AND ISLAM

One God / One Source

Our Almighty Creator commands that QURAN, specifically QURAN, SHALL BE THE ONLY SOURCE of religious teachings.

Furthermore, we are told that THE ACCEPTANCE OF ANY OTHER SOURCES for religious guidance equals the setting up of OTHER GODS BESIDE GOD:

“Say (O Muhammad), ‘Whose testimony is greater?’ Say, ‘God is the witness between me and you that THIS QURAN was given to me to preach it to you, and to whomever it reaches.’ However, you certainly bear witness that you set up other gods beside God (by upholding other sources beside Quran). Say, ‘I will never do what you are doing; I disown your idol worship.'” (6:19)

This profound verse, which happens to be verse [19] of Sura 6, enjoins the believers from upholding or following ANY OTHER SOURCE BESIDE QURAN, and that doing this is equivalent to the setting up of other gods beside God.

In the strictest possible language, we are commanded to uphold Quran, the whole Quran, and nothing but Quran.

Repeatedly, we are commanded to uphold Quran as the ONLY SOURCE OF RELIGIOUS GUIDANCE.

Again and again, we are reminded that the following of ANY OTHER SOURCE BESIDE QURAN EQUALS THE SETTING UP OF OTHER GODS BESIDE GOD.

Verses 22 through 38 of Sura 17 represent some of the most important commandments in Quran. Immediately following these verses we find the verse shown below:

“This is some of the wisdom revealed to you (in this Quran), and YOU SHALL NOT SET UP ANY OTHER GOD BESIDE GOD (by following any other source beside Quran). Otherwise, you will be thrown into hell, blamed and debased.” (17:39)

QURAN: AN EXTRAORDINARY BOOK

Despite the clear commandments, why do the followers of Hadith & Sunna fail to uphold Quran ALONE?

The answer is provided in the same Sura following the commandment shown on Page 8. Verses 45 and 46 of Sura 17 inform us that those who refuse to believe God and heed His commandment to uphold Quran ALONE are deliberately isolated from Quran. These two crucial verses are shown below:

“When you read the Quran, we place between you and those who do not believe in the Hereafter an invisible barrier. And we place shields on their hearts, to prevent them from understanding Quran, and deafness in their ears. Consequently, when you preach your Lord IN THE QURAN ALONE they run away in aversion.” (17:45-46)

WHAT MORE CAN WE SAY ??

DO YOU BELIEVE GOD OR NOT?

God says that Quran is COMPLETE, PERFECT, & FULLY DETAILED, and that you shall not seek any other source:

“We did not leave anything out of this book, then all will be gathered before their Lord (for judgment). Those who do not believe our verses are deaf and dumb; in total darkness. God sends astray whomever He wills, and directs whomever He wills in the right path.” (6:38-39)

“Shall I seek other than God as a source of law, when He revealed THIS BOOK FULLY DETAILED? (6:114)

“The word of your Lord is COMPLETE in truth & justice.” (6:115)

OBEYING THE MESSENGER IS CONDITIONED

Obeying the messenger is absolute only as far as the Quranic revelations are concerned.

Obeying the messenger is in upholding Quran, the whole Quran, and nothing but Quran.

Obedience is strictly ON CONDITION THAT the source is God through the messenger, and not the messenger who is no more than a human being, subject to errors.

The Quran emphasizes that obedience is absolute when the source is God, while the personal opinion of the messenger may be detrimental to him and/or to those who follow his personal opinions:

“Anything good that happens to you (O Muhammad) is from God. And anything bad that happens to you is from you. We have sent you as a messenger to the people, and God suffices as a witness. Whoever obeys the messenger is obeying God. As for those who turn away, we did not send you as their guardian.” (4:79-80)

Thus, the personal opinion of Muhammad may be bad, or may cause bad things to happen. On the other hand, Muhammad the messenger utters THE WORDS OF GOD, i.e., the Quran, and must be obeyed absolutely. For whoever obeys the messenger is obeying God, and we are to obey the commandments of God, not the commandments of men.

QURAN: THE ONLY LEGITIMATE “HADITH”

“These are God’s verses; we recite them for you truthfully. In which “Hadith”, beside God and His verses, do they believe in? WOE TO EVERY SINFUL FABRICATOR. He hears God’s verses, then insists arrogantly on his way, as if he never heard them; promise him painful retribution. When he learns anything from our verses, he takes it in vain; these have deserved humiliating retribution. Awaiting them is hell; neither their earnings, nor the idols they had set up beside God can help them; they have deserved terrible retribution. THIS IS THE GUIDANCE, and those who do not believe the verses of their Lord will suffer debasement, and painful retribution.” (45:6-11)

Do you believe God’s verses? Do you believe that Quran is complete, perfect, and fully detailed (6:19, 38, & 114)? Or, do you have to have other sources beside Quran?

Quran is the only “Hadith” to be followed; all other Hadiths are blasphemous and misleading fabrications:

“God has revealed the best ‘Hadith’; a book that is consistent, and describes both ways (to heaven and Hell). The skins of those who reverence their Lord shudder therefrom, then their skins and hearts soften up and receive God’s message. Such is God’s guidance; He guides whomever He wills. As for those sent astray by Him, no one can guide them.” (39:23)

“There are those who advocate vain ‘Hadith’ causing diversion from the path of God, without knowledge, and fail to take such actions seriously; these have deserved humiliating retribution. And when our verses are recited to him, he turns away arrogantly, as if he never heard them; as if his ears are deaf; promise him painful retribution.” (31:67)

OBEY GOD AND OBEY THE MESSENGER

Satan succeeded in duping millions of Muslims into believing that obeying God means obeying the Quran, while obeying the messenger means obeying Hadith.

What helped in popularizing this Satanic trick was the general ignorance of Quran among the Muslim masses, and their failure to heed the divine commandments that Quran shall be the ONLY SOURCE of jurisprudence and/or religious guidance.

Only a little thinking leads us to realize that Quran came to us through Muhammad’s mouth, and DID NOT COME TO US FROM GOD DIRECTLY. Hence the commandment that we shall obey the messenger…for he utters the words of God.

When we seek “religious” instructions from Muhammad, or any other source beside God, we support Satan in his claim that God needs a partner. Therefore, those who worship God ALONE follow the instructions and teachings of GOD ALONE. As shown throughout this book, God’s teachings are complete, perfect, and fully detailed in Quran.

FINALLY: MOST IMPORTANT QUESTION

In your mind, can God survive ALONE???

Or, does God need Muhammad, in your mind, in order to be commemorated and worshiped???

In your mind, can GOD ALONE survive?

Or, does God need a partner, in your mind, such as Muhammad, Jesus, Mary, or some saint(s)???

Would you be perfectly happy and content if you knew about GOD ALONE, without Muhammad, Jesus, Mary, or any saint, or anyone, or anything?

Are you annoyed by talking about GOD ALONE?

When I keep talking about GOD ALONE, does this annoy you? Do you have to hear other names along with God? Can GOD ALONE survive in your mind?

When I repeat, and repeat, my talk about GOD ALONE, do you feel any repulsion? Or, are you happy and content with the talk about GOD ALONE??? Based on the Great Quranic criterion, as stated in 39:45, your answers to these questions provide the key to knowing yourself, and your destiny.

PRAISE BE TO GOD, LORD OF THE UNIVERSE

RELATED LINKS

Admission Test Q&A
Idolatry Q&A
Obey God and His Messenger
Reversion to Idolatry
Supporting a point of view by Quran

Quran alone

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Katie Zavadski writes the The Study Quran project is a source of consternation for the Saudi Arabia domination of the majority of English translations of the Quran.

She details in “The American Quran Pissing Off the Saudis” how the Saudis with their Wahhabi branch of Islam have poisoned religious texts across the Arab world, Asia, Europe and North America. They have exported their religious teachers and control mosques worldwide.

The Study Quran  project is similar to the various translations proffered by the Salafis and the Wahhabis.

Both give primary importance to the scholars (dead or alive) words rather than the Words of God in the Quran. The Words of God in the Quran are dismissed in favor of words of their scholars who no doubt provide them with meanings and interpretations to their liking.

Thus the various sects in Islam have no disagreement about the Quran, but will fight and kill each other based on disagreements among their scholars and religious leaders. Thus they fail to worship God alone as commanded in the Quran, but follow religious laws promulgated by their scholars.

Their consequence of not accepting the Quran alone are horrendous  and is reflected in the state of the Islamic world.

[17:46]  We place shields around their minds, to prevent them from understanding it, and deafness in their ears. And when you preach your Lord, using the Quran ALONE, they run away in aversion.

[39:45]  When GOD ALONE is mentioned, the hearts of those who do not believe in the Hereafter shrink with aversion. But when others are mentioned beside Him, they become satisfied.

[40:12]  This is because when GOD ALONE was advocated, you disbelieved, but when others were mentioned beside Him, you believed. Therefore, GOD‘s judgment has been issued; He is the Most High, the Great.

[40:14]  Therefore, you shall devote your worship absolutely to GOD ALONE, even if the disbelievers dislike it.

The Study Quran Translation

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And when God is mentioned alone, the hearts of those who believe not in the Hereafter recoil. But when those apart from him are mentioned, behold, they rejoice. [39:45 – The Study Quran]

The translators of the Quran and the editors of THE STUDY QURAN validate that they do not follow nor observe God’s Words and commandments in the Quran. They demonstrate the condition of the majority of those who call themselves Muslims (the Arabic word Muslim translates in English as Submitter) who have either no knowledge of the Quran or if they do have the knowledge they simply do not obey God’s Words in the Quran.

Their translation (used here) states that the Quran is fully detailed for religious law and the only acceptable Hadith and Sunnah. BELIEF in God dictates that God should be BELIEVED. The editors and translators of this project do not believe nor submit to God’s own Words in the Quran.

QURAN – FULLY DETAILED

Say, “What thing is greatest as testimony?” Say, “God is witness between you and me. And this Quran has been revealed unto me, that thereby I may warn you and whomsoever it may reach. Do you bear witness there are other gods beside God?” say, “I bear no such witness.” Say, “He is only One God, and truly I am quit of that which you ascribe as partners unto him.” [6:19]

. . –We have neglected nothing in the book- . . [6:38]

(Say) “Shall I seek a judge apart from God, when it is He Who has sent down unto you the book, expounded?” Those unto whom We have given the Book know that it has been sent down from thy Lord in truth; so be not among the doubters. [6:114]

The Word of Thy Lord is fulfilled in truth and justice. None alters His Words, and He is the Hearing, the knowing. [6:115]

We have indeed brought them a Book, which We have expounded with knowledge, as a guidance and a mercy for a people who believe. [7:52]

Following a source other than Quran is but idolatry (18:27) as a god other than God is being followed for religious law.

RELIGION OF ABRAHAM

Islam (the Arabic word Islam translates in English as submission) is called the Religion of Abraham in the Quran. We produce the following translated verses from The Study Quran to point out that ours is indeed the Religion (Creed) of Abraham, and to point out that the translators left the Arabic word, a hanif, untranslated. Hanif translates as monotheist.

And who shuns the creed of Abraham, but a foolish soul? We chose him in this world and in the Hereafter he shall be among the righteous. [2:130]

And they say, “Be Jews or Christians and you shall be rightly guided.” Say, “Rather [ours is] the creed of Abraham, a hanif, and he was not of the idolaters,” [2:135]

Say, “Truly my Lord has guided me unto a straight path, an upright religion, the creed of Abraham, a hanif, and he was not of the idolaters.” [6:161]

Then we revealed unto thee, “Follow the creed of Abraham, a hanif, and he was not among the idolaters.” [16:123]

HADITH

Just like the Arabic word Hanif is untranslated above, The Study Quran translators and editors could have left the Arabic Words Hadith and Sunnah untranslated in the following verses. Leaving those two words untranslated would make sense as those words are increasing referred to in the media.

However, had The Study Quran translators and editors left the Arabic Words Hadith and Sunnah untranslated, the bottom would fall out of their entire project. The Quran makes it clear that the only Hadith to be followed is the Quran itself and no Hadith other than the Quran can be followed. We have inserted in the following translated verses the Arabic Word Hadith and the Arabic Word Sunnah.

Certainly in their stories is a lesson for those possessed on intellect. It is not a fabricated account (Hadith); rather, it is a confirmation of that which came before it, and an elaboration of all things, and a guidance and a mercy for a people who believe. [12:111]

So in what discourse (Hadith) after this will they believe? [77:50]

These are the signs of God that we recite unto thee in truth. So in what discourse (Hadith) after God and His signs do they believe? [45:6]

So leave Me with those who deny this discourse (Hadith). We shall lead them on little by little, whence they know not. [68:44]

So in what discourse (Hadith) after this will they believe. [7:185]

And among mankind are those who purchase idle discourse (Hadith) to lead astray from the way of God without knowledge and who take it in mockery; for them there shall be humiliating punishment. [31:6]

God has sent down the most beautiful discourse (Hadith), a Book con-similar, paired, whereat quivers the skin of those who fear their Lord. [39:23]

SUNNAH

Sunnah means system. The Quran only refers to God’s system and never to the Prophet’s system nor the messenger’s system nor to Mohammad’s system.

[That is] the wont (Sunnah) of God that came to pass aforetime; and you will find no alteration in the wont (Sunnah) of God. [48:23]

But their believing benefited them not when they saw Our Might. [That is} the wont (Sunnah) of God which has been passed among His servants; and the disbelievers were then lost. [40:85]

Thou shalt find no alteration in the wont (Sunnah) of God, and thou shalt find no change in the wont (Sunnah) of God. [35:43]

[That is] the wont (Sunnah) of God with those who passed before; and you will find no alteration in the wont (Sunnah) of God. [33:62]

FIRST COMMANDMENT

The first commandment – you shall not worship except God – is central to The Quran, the Torah, the Gospel and the Creed of Abraham.

God bears witness that there is no god but He, as do the angels and the possessors of knowledge, upholding justice. There is no god but He, the Mighty the Wise. [3:18]

Know, then, that there is no god but God, and ask forgiveness for thy sin and for the believing men and believing women. God knows your coming and going, and your abode. [47:19]

Say, “I am only a warner, and there is no god but God, the One, the Paramount. [38:65]

Indeed, when it is said unto them, “There is no god but God,” they waxed arrogant. [38:65]

NO DISTINCTION AMONG MESSENGERS

The Quran forbids us in making any distinction among God’s messengers. The Religion of Submission (In Arabic: Islam) is a Religion of God. It is not a religion about Mohammad, Jesus, Moses, who among others were merely messengers of God.

Say, “We believe in God, and in that which was sent down unto us, and in that which was sent down on Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, and the Tribes, and in what Moses and Jesus were given, and in what the prophets were given from their Lord. We make no distinction among any of them, and unto him we submit. [2:136]

The messenger believes in what was sent down to him from his Lord, as do the believers. Each believes in God, His Angels, His Books, and His messengers. “We make no distinction between any of His messengers.” And they say, “We hear and obey. Thy forgiveness, our Lord! And unto Thee is the journey’s end.” [2:285]

Say, “We believe in God, and in that which was sent down unto us, and in that which was sent down upon Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, and the Tribes, and in what Moses, Jesus and the prophets were given from their Lord. We make no distinction among any of them, and unto him we submit. [3:84]

But those who believe in God and His messengers and make no distinction between them – unto them He will give their rewards. God is forgiving, Merciful. [4:152]

DESERTION OF THE QURAN

And the Messenger will say, “O my Lord! Truly my people have taken this Quran for foolishness.” [24:30]

And so too have the translators and editors of The Study Quran taken the Quran as foolishness.

The translation has 1996 pages, sure to turn off anyone seeking a study of the Quran, even though the translation itself covers 1584 pages. Less than 20% of the words in the translation are the actual translated words of the Quran.

The translators and editors of The Study Quran suppress the Words of God in the Quran to the words of humans. They attribute reverence to those human’s words written centuries after the revelation of the Quran. They call those human words Hadith & Sunnah. As the Quran and their own translation states the only acceptable Hadith and the only acceptable Sunnah are the words of the Quran.

The Sunnis, Shias and the various sects in Islam have no differences about the Quran. Each sect has its own “authentic” Hadith. Each sect draws conclusions about various verses of the Quran through the lenses of their Hadith. So too have the translators and editors of The Study Quran. The simple and clear verses and the words of the Quran are drowned by the words of humans. The Creator’s Words are secondary to the words of God’s human creatures to the translators and editors of The Study Quran.

By giving the words of men in Hadith and Sunnah abrogation authority, over the Word of GOD in the Quran the translators and editors of The Study Quran have committed the very thing GOD commanded not to do in verses 6:114-115.

The Hadith and Sunnah literature may be valuable as sources of history but none of them can be used to derive meanings of the Quran. All interpretation and meaning should be derived in light of the Quran.

IN LIGHT OF THE QURAN

O you who believe! Ask not about things which, if they were disclosed to you, would trouble you. And if you ask them while the Quran is being sent down, they will be disclosed to you. God has pardoned this, and God is Forgiving, Clement. [5:101]

**

Obey God and His Messenger.
Where do we find details about Salat in the Quran?

Obey God and His Messenger

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In the name of God, most Gracious, most, Merciful

When two or more individuals open a joint account at a bank in USA, they have an option of opening an OR account or an AND account. When they open an OR account either party can withdraw funds by one person’s signature. However, when an AND account is opened, both parties must sign before funds can be withdrawn. In other words for the AND account approval of all parties is required for funds withdrawal or to make any changes to the account.

The Quran commands us to obey God AND His messenger. It commands us in 49:1 not to place our opinion above God AND His messenger. The Quran does not give us the luxury of obeying God OR His messenger. In other words we don’t have the choice of obeying God OR obeying His messenger. Thus, obeying God and His messenger boils down to obeying God as it requires God’s endorsement. God’s endorsement is in the words of the Quran. We obey God by following God’s words in the Quran.  We don’t place our opinion above God and His messenger by not placing our opinion outside the confines of the words of the Quran. We cannot obey God and His messenger until and unless what the messenger says coincides with the words of the Quran.

It is:                       obey God and His messenger.
It is not:               obey God or His messenger.

God has given the example of the use of word OR to mean EITHER. The word OR suggests option.

[23:6] Only with their spouses, or those who are rightfully theirs, do they have sexual relations; they are not to be blamed.

[70:30] (They have relations) only with their spouses, or what is legally theirs –
[70:31] anyone who transgresses these limits is a sinner.

God specifies in this category that sexual relations are allowed with EITHER their spouses OR what is legally theirs, but not both.

God has blessed us with all the words we need in the Glorious Quran.

**

As submitters to God alone, our discussions and advocacy on any topic should be based on verses of the Quran.

For those interested here is a mathematical explanation for AND & OR for the mathematically structured book – the Quran

The Difference between And and Or

http://mathforum.org/library/drmath/view/71940.html

Date: 01/23/2008 at 11:59:54

From: Mikki

Subject: and/or

My son had a question that was marked wrong on his paper.  He pointed out to me that by the way it was worded, he felt as though he were correct.  Here is the question:  There are 3 knives, 4 spoons, 4 forks.  What fraction of the utensils are spoons OR forks? He answered 4/11 and was told the teachers edition says 8/11.  I understand the way he read it to be OR meaning one or the other.  If it’s 8/11, shouldn’t it be worded spoons AND forks?  If the answer is 8/11, I want my son to understand why.

Date: 01/23/2008 at 12:24:17

From: Doctor Peterson

Subject: Re: and/or

Hi, Mikki.

The words “and” and “or” can be ambiguous in English, so in math we give them precise meanings.  We have to teach those meanings, but often forget to, which may have happened here.

When we talk about the set of things that are A AND B, we mean that EACH of those things must be BOTH A and B.  Nothing is both a spoon and a fork!  (At least not in this problem.)  So “and” would have been inappropriate.  There are no utensils that are spoons and forks.

When we talk about the set of things that are A OR B, we mean that EACH of them may be EITHER A or B.  That is, we are including in the set BOTH those that are A, AND those that are B.  This is where the confusion and ambiguity come in!  There are 8 utensils that are spoons or forks.

Your son read it in a way that is commonly used in nontechnical English, taking “How many are A or B” to mean two separate questions combined: “How many are A, how many are B”.  I can see how that could be tempting in this case; the two numbers happen to be the same, so he could take the question to mean “How many are A (which is also the same as the number that are B”.  If there had been 3 spoons and 4 forks, that interpretation would not have made as much sense; the best answer he could give would be “3, or 4”.  We don’t combine questions like that in math, to avoid confusion.

So the book was right, but the question is ambiguous if the teacher has not taught (or does not know) the standard mathematical usage. (This usage is important in some later topics, such as probability, so it’s definitely worth teaching.)

If you have any further questions, feel free to write back.

– Doctor Peterson, The Math Forum

http://mathforum.org/dr.math/

 

Date: 01/23/2008 at 12:47:17

From: Doctor Riz

Subject: Re: and/or

Hi Mikki –

I’d like to add one piece to what Dr. Peterson wrote.  While this is a slightly different application of the idea, my students always found this particular example of the logical difference between AND and OR helpful.

In logic, an AND statement is only true if both parts of it are true. If I say, “I am in Vermont AND I am in New Hampshire” the only way that can be true is if I am standing on the border with one foot in each state.

An OR statement is true if either part is true.  If I say, “I am in Vermont OR I am in New Hampshire” that statement is true as long as I am in either state (it’s also true if I’m straddling the border).  The only way an OR statement is not true is if both parts are false, such as if I were standing in Massachusetts when I made my statement about being in Vermont or New Hampshire.

With your question about utensils being spoons OR forks, I count every utensil that is either a spoon or a fork, giving 8 of the 11.  If I were asked what fraction of the utensils were spoons AND forks, there would be zero since the utensil would have to be both things.  There IS a utensil you sometimes see in fast food places which is a spoon shape with teeth on the front edge, and it’s generally referred to as a “spork”, a combination of spoon and fork.  That’s what I’d need for a utensil to be considered a spoon AND a fork.

Does that help?  Write back if you have questions on any of this.

– Doctor Riz, The Math Forum

http://mathforum.org/dr.math/

 

Date: 01/23/2008 at 13:33:11

From: Mikki

Subject: Thank you (and/or)

Thank you both for your prompt responses.  You have taught me something and definitely given me something to think about.

RELATED LINKS

Idolatry Q&A
Obey God and His Messenger
Reversion to Idolatry
Supporting a point of view by Quran
Rashad Khalifa on Quran alone

 

The Study Quran

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Could this Quran curb extremism?

The Study Quran project has a ruinous flaw which is promoted as central to the undertaking – commentary from outside the Quran.

The various sects of Islam have do not attribute their differences to the Quran, but to their own commentary. The commentary is based on sources external to the Quran. These sources known as traditions or Hadith and Sunnah are condemned in the Quran.

The Quran is a fully detailed scripture for religious law. Yes one may comment on the verses, but the comment must be supportable by other verses from the Quran. The source has to be internal rather than external to the Quran. There is a translation which does precisely that.

[Quran 5:101] O you who believe, do not ask about matters which, if revealed to you prematurely, would hurt you. If you ask about them in light of the Quran, they will become obvious to you. GOD has deliberately overlooked them. GOD is Forgiver, Clement.

For any study of a verse, the whole verse should be looked, subsequently verses before and after a particular verse and finally in light of the whole Quran prior to drawing any conclusion.

IN LIGHT OF THE QURAN – FREEDOM OF RELIGION

[2:256] There shall be no compulsion in religion: the right way is now distinct from the wrong way.

IN LIGHT OF THE QURAN – BASIC RULES FOR ALL FIGHTING

[60:8]  GOD does not enjoin you from befriending those who do not fight you because of religion, and do not evict you from your homes. You may befriend them and be equitable towards them. GOD loves the equitable.

[60:9]  GOD enjoins you only from befriending those who fight you because of religion, evict you from your homes, and band together with others to banish you. You shall not befriend them. Those who befriend them are the transgressors.

VERSE 47:4

[4:74] If you encounter (in war) those who disbelieve, you may strike the necks. If you take them as captives you may set them free or ransom them, until the war ends. Had GOD willed, He could have granted you victory, without war. But He thus tests you by one another. As for those who get killed in the cause of GOD, He will never put their sacrifice to waste.

Islamic Reformation

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In “An Open Letter to Moderate Muslims,” Mr. Ali Rizvi ends by saying Islamic reformation needs radicals. We cannot agree more. Here is the radical idea from the Quran.

Quran is the only source of religious law and following any other source for religious law is idolatry (6:114-115; 7:52; 10:37, 6:19; 6:38). Yes this means that we accept the Quran literally, as it is actually written and without any need for metaphorical explanations. This concept within the words of the Quran is alien to ‘Muslim’ scholars, moderate Muslims and Western scholars of Islam.

Almost all contracts have a “The entire agreement clause.” The Quran makes it clear that it is the only source of religious law. No other source including Hadith or Sunnah may be a source of religious law. No outside or parol evidence other than the words of the Quran can be considered for religious law.

Those who call themselves Muslims and indeed the Moderate Muslims have little or no idea what the Quran states. Most who call themselves Muslims have set aside the Quran and go by volumes of Hadith & Sunnah written 250+ years after the revelation of the Quran. The Quran condemns any hadith or Sunnah (system) other than the Quran. The Western Scholars revel at all the nonsense in the books of Hadith/Sunnah and have no hesitation in defining Islam (in English: Submission) based on books other than the Quran.

Absolutely there should be the study of the Quran. Numerous translations are available in the internet for side by side comparisons. Most translators translate (including Western Scholars) through the lens of the books of Hadith/Sunnah. This is a fatal error. The Quran stands on its own and should be studied that way.

Mr. Reza Aslan in his book, “No god but God” narrates that when Abu Bakr was elected as Caliph he proceeded to carry out his duties with the principle, “what would Mohammad do” in a particular situation. The right principle to follow at that time as well as now is “what to do in light of the Quran.”

A study of the Quran and any conclusion should be based on examining the complete verse, looking at preceding/following verses and subsequently in light of the Quran (5:101).

Reading the Quran in Arabic (2:171), ablution before touching the Quran (56:79), prohibiting menstruating women from touching the Quran and carrying out religious duties, Sunni taraweeh in the month of Ramadan, holding the Quran over someone’s head, cutting-off of hand and FGM are not supported in the Quran. All of this, which qualifies as nonsense originates from the man-written and fabricated books of hadith/Sunnah.

[5:38]  The thief, male or female, you shall mark their hands* as a punishment for their crime, and to serve as an example from GOD. GOD is Almighty, Most Wise.

*5:38 The practice of cutting off the thief’s hand, as decreed by the false Muslims, is a satanic practice without Quranic basis. Due to the special importance of this example, God has provided mathematical proof in support of marking the hand of the thief, rather than severing it. Verse 12:31 refers to the women who so admired Joseph that they “cut” their hands. Obviously, they did not “cut off” their hands; nobody can. The sum of sura and verse numbers are the same for 5:38 and 12:31, i.e., 43. It is also the will and mercy of God that this mathematical relationship conforms with the Quran’s 19-based code. Nineteen verses after 12:31, we see the same word (12:50).

[12:31]  When she heard of their gossip, she invited them, prepared for them a comfortable place, and gave each of them a knife. She then said to him, “Enter their room.” When they saw him, they so admired him, that they cut their hands. They said, “Glory be to GOD, this is not a human being; this is an honorable angel.”

IN LIGHT OF THE QURAN – FREEDOM OF RELIGION

[2:256] There shall be no compulsion in religion: the right way is now distinct from the wrong way.

IN LIGHT OF THE QURAN – BASIC RULES FOR ALL FIGHTING

[60:8]  GOD does not enjoin you from befriending those who do not fight you because of religion, and do not evict you from your homes. You may befriend them and be equitable towards them. GOD loves the equitable.

[60:9]  GOD enjoins you only from befriending those who fight you because of religion, evict you from your homes, and band together with others to banish you. You shall not befriend them. Those who befriend them are the transgressors.

VERSES REFERRED BY MR. ALI RIZVI

[4:88-89]  Why should you divide yourselves into two groups regarding hypocrites (among you)? GOD is the one who condemned them because of their own behavior. Do you want to guide those who are sent astray by GOD? Whomever GOD sends astray, you can never find a way to guide them.
They wish that you disbelieve as they have disbelieved, then you become equal. Do not consider them friends, unless they mobilize along with you in the cause of GOD. If they turn against you, you shall fight them, and you may kill them when you encounter them in war. You shall not accept them as friends, or allies.

[4:90-91]  Exempted are those who join people with whom you have signed a peace treaty, and those who come to you wishing not to fight you, nor fight their relatives. Had GOD willed, He could have permitted them to fight against you. Therefore, if they leave you alone, refrain from fighting you, and offer you peace, then GOD gives you no excuse to fight them.
You will find others who wish to make peace with you, and also with their people. However, as soon as war erupts, they fight against you. Unless these people leave you alone, offer you peace, and stop fighting you, you may fight them when you encounter them. Against these, we give you a clear authorization.

Lessons from History

[8:12-13]  Recall that your Lord inspired the angels: “I am with you; so support those who believed. I will throw terror into the hearts of those who disbelieved. You may strike them above the necks, and you may strike even every finger.”
This is what they have justly incurred by fighting GOD and His messenger. For those who fight against GOD and His messenger, GOD’s retribution is severe.

Grossness of Murder

[5:32]  Because of this, we decreed for the Children of Israel that anyone who murders any person who had not committed murder or horrendous crimes, it shall be as if he murdered all the people. And anyone who spares a life, it shall be as if he spared the lives of all the people. Our messengers went to them with clear proofs and revelations, but most of them, after all this, are still transgressing.

Capital Punishment: When is it Justified?

[5:33-34]  The just retribution for those who fight GOD and His messenger, and commit horrendous crimes, is to be killed, or crucified, or to have their hands and feet cut off on alternate sides, or to be banished from the land. This is to humiliate them in this life, then they suffer a far worse retribution in the Hereafter.
Exempted are those who repent before you overcome them. You should know that GOD is Forgiver, Most Merciful.

[47:4]  If you encounter (in war) those who disbelieve, you may strike the necks. If you take them as captives you may set them free or ransom them, until the war ends. Had GOD willed, He could have granted you victory, without war. But He thus tests you by one another. As for those who get killed in the cause of GOD, He will never put their sacrifice to waste.

VERSE REFERRED BY OTHERS

[9:4-7]  If the idol worshipers sign a peace treaty with you, and do not violate it, nor band together with others against you, you shall fulfill your treaty with them until the expiration date. GOD loves the righteous.
Once the Sacred Months are past, (and they refuse to make peace) you may kill the idol worshipers when you encounter them, punish them, and resist every move they make. If they repent and observe the Contact Prayers (Salat) and give the obligatory charity (Zakat), you shall let them go. GOD is Forgiver, Most Merciful.
If one of the idol worshipers sought safe passage with you, you shall grant him safe passage, so that he can hear the word of GOD, then send him back to his place of security. That is because they are people who do not know.
How can the idol worshipers demand any pledge from GOD and from His messenger? Exempted are those who have signed a peace treaty with you at the Sacred Masjid. If they honor and uphold such a treaty, you shall uphold it as well. GOD loves the righteous.

Should we use the word Allah or God

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In as many times as we have been on the internet or in a discussion or a chat group, we almost always run into someone who feels offended that we use the word “God” when we talk about the One and Only God (Allah in Arabic).

It is surprising to notice that most of these Muslim brothers and/or sisters do not know that the word “Allah” is the Arabic word for the word “God”. Many of them believe that “Allah” is the name of the Muslim God. They do not realize that the word “Allah” does not belong exclusively
to the Muslims and that it has always been used before (and after) Islam by the Arabic-speaking Jews and Christians when they speak about God.

Talking to English speaking people about God using the word “Allah” is very much the same like speaking to Arabic speaking people about “Allah” using the word God. It makes all the sense to show respect to the people and their language by speaking to them in the language they use.

Insisting on the use of the word “Allah” which is the Arabic word for God immediately creates the illusion that “Allah” is a whole different deity than God of the whole world. It creates a god that belongs ONLY to the Muslims, and takes the universality of Islam out of it. We found
the comment sent by Abu Iman Robert Squires to be very informative and we re-produced it here.

The word “ALLAH”

A Comment by : Abu Iman Robert Squires

Assalamu Alaikum,

I would like to strongly concur with your observations about the use of the word “Allah” in English and any other language. Both from my conversion experience in America and my experience doing da’wah here in Kuwait, it is definitely 100% – without a shadow of a doubt – better to use the word “God” when making da’wah to English speaking people.

This alone is enough to open many hearts and minds since many people think that Muslims worship a different God. I’ve come across some Arab brothers who insist in using only the word “Allah”. They somehow think that it implies Tawhid while the word “God” implies the Trinity, etc., etc.

You know, the problem with such people is not their knowledge of Arabic, but their ignorance of English. The mushriks (disbelievers) at the time of the Prophet (saws) used the word Allah, and so do Arabic-speaking Christians. The word itself in no way implies tawhid. The reason it implies
tawhid to Muslims is that they’re Muslims. Others use this word in ways that are nothing but shirk.

The word God implies tawhid to me because I have the Islamic concept of Him. It’s all in the concept, but has nothing to do with the word itself. Also, there are statements in some da’wah pamphlets that say “all prophets since Adam used the word Allah” and that “the word Allah is
exactly the same as the Aramaic word Jesus used for God”.

The first statement is baseless and can be proved to be logically incorrect from the Quran. The second statement is incorrect, but the words are only similar, but NOT exactly alike. This whole trend of using “Allah” in English seems to come about rather recently.

Most of the translations and writings done back in the 1940’s and 1950’s used the word “God”, which is a perfectly good translation of the word Allah in Arabic. M.M. Pickthall being the main exception, since he seemed to have used “Allah” in all of the translations that I’ve seen.

The change came, I believe, as a result of Nasserite Arab Nationalism. Many Arabs I know over here still don’t know the difference between Islam and Arab Nationalism! They seem more interesting in defending their pride heritage than really spreading the message. But this is in no way limited to Arabs, I’ve dealt with Pakistanis, Malaysians, Turks and Afghanis that have the same hang-up.

The mentality of some of these brothers almost approaches that of the Bani Isra’il – the “our God vs. your God” mentality! By the way, I’ve never met an English-speaking convert to Islam (or Spanish-speaking, or French-speaking) who disagreed with me on this point. Most them went
through a stage wondering why (some) Muslims insist on using Allah.

I should also add that I know a lot of Muslims that use “God” when speaking English. I find this rather common among most Egyptians that I know. In Morocco, where I visit quite frequently, the also use Dieu when they parlez francais.

Insh’allah, more Muslims will realize this and our da’wah will become more effective. This is a BIG barrier, but many Muslims don’t realize it. Many come up with baseless reasons to justify it (for whatever reason). What do we converts know anyway!!! Ha! Another point before I go…some people like to try to draw exact parallels between English and Arabic words which just don’t fit.

The word “ilah” in Arabic can be used for a false god or for Allah. (Like when God says (paraphrased) the “ilah” of Ibrahim”, and numerous other example.) Anyone who can read the Quran should know this. However, unlike the word “god” in English, which ALWAYS implies a false god. Non- native English speakers sometimes mistakenly believe that “god” and “God” are the same English word, but they are not. They carry completely different meanings. If they doubt this, then they simply don’t know how to speak the English language. And to say that the word “Allah” can only be used for the Supreme Almighty Creator is refuted by the Quran itself.

It clearly says (and I paraphrase here rather liberally) that Christians say that “Allah is Jesus”. There you have it, applying “Allah” to something that isn’t “Allah” right there in the Quran. You see, what people really mean to say is that you SHOULDN’T use “Allah” for anything
except the Almighty Creator, but you still CAN. The same thing goes for the word God.

People can use it in the wrong way, but that doesn’t make it right. The truth is that this word too should only be used for the Almighty Creator. Remember…God has sent prophets to everyone in their OWN LANGUAGE, i.e. a language that they can understand. How many more people
around the world wouldn’t be dying on SHIRK if many Muslims woke up and started making da’wah in a way people can understand? Well, I’ve spoken my peace.

Abu Iman Robert Squires

***

Here is another comment and response by Steven Thomas;

To: BILL H——–

From: STEVEN THOMAS

Sorry Bill, but your sources are dubious at best. Souroush for instance is a evangelical missionary associated with Jimmy Swaggart – great reliability there!

The fact is that Allah does not refer to the moon god or have associates. The linguistic breakdown of Allah is “The/Al God/Lah”. That is why all Christian Arabs (monophysists, Nestorians, Orthodox, Roman, and Protestant (yes, even Mr. Shouroush) use the term Allah to refer to God the Father when they speak Arabic. Lest you wonder where I am coming from, my degrees are Biblical Arch. and Arabic language.

Try again.

Steven.

— The Pitts <c—@centurytel.net> wrote:

The god of the Quran and the God of the bible are completely different. Allah being contrived from AI-Llah the moon god. Please feel free to research it yourself. As your own documentation says,..”don’t mean to offend anyone.”

Peace,

There is no one offended here.

God of the Arabic Bible is called “Allah”. I do not think you believe that there is a god for the English Bible and another god for the Arabic Bible and a third for the Italian bible…etc. It would be too naive.

There is ONLY one God. His name in English is God, in French: un dieu, in Italian: dio, in German: Gott, in Spanish: Dios, in Portuguese: Deus, in Arabic: Allah, and in Aramaic : alaha.

All these are no more than the names of God in different languages To this day the Christian Arabs pray to Allah and talk about Allah. They called Him Allah even before Islam was born and they know they were not worshipping any moon god. Those who still speak Jesus language
(Aramaic/syriac) call God alaha to this day like Jesus did. Jesus did not pray to a moon god but to alaha (Allah), the One and Only God.

The Arabic Bible, use the word Allah for God. If you want any images of the Arabic Bible with the word Allah in it (for God of the Bible), please let me know.

If you want to verify it, call any Arabic church in the USA or any English speaking country and ask them what they call God in their Arabic Bible and whether they still use the word Allah in their Bible or not.

Jewish Arabs also pray to Allah and talk about Allah just like an English person talks about God.

The Origin of the name “Allah”

It seems unlikely that the name Allah comes from al-ilaah “the God”, but rather from the Aramaic/Syriac alaha, meaning ‘God’ or ‘the God’. The final ‘a’ in the name alaha was originally the definite article ‘the’ and is regularly dropped when Syriac words and names are borrowed into Arabic. Middle-eastern Christianity used ‘alah’ and ‘alaha’ frequently, and it would have often been heard.

But in the Aramaic/Syriac language there are two different ‘a’ vowels, one rather like the ‘a’ in English ‘hat’ and the other more like the vowel in ‘ought’. In the case of ‘alah’, the first vowel was like ‘hat’ and the second like ‘ought’. Arabic does not have a vowel like the one in ‘ought’, but it seems to have BORROWED this vowel along with the word ‘alah’. If you know Arabic, then you know that the second vowel in ‘allah’ is unique; it occurs only in that one word in Arabic.

Scholars believe that Jesus spoke mostly Aramaic, although sometimes he spoke Hebrew and he might have spoken Greek on some occasions. If Jesus spoke Aramaic, then he referred to God using basically the same word that is used in Arabic.

From [email protected] (Dr. Christoph Heger)
Newsgroups: soc.religion.islam
Subject: Re: How About That Moon God?
Date: Wed Mar 25 18:59:38 EST 1998
Message-ID: <[email protected]>

Greetings to all,

The theory that Allah had been the name of an old Arabic moon god (or moon goddess?) is not familiar to me and I am not in a position to accept or falsify it. The following remarks only are thought to serve further elucidation of the matter.

The ancient Greek historian Herodotos in the first volume of his historic work “Histories Apodexis”, line 131-132, refers to the religion of the Persians. He writes:

“They sacrifice to the sun and the moon and the earth and the fire and the water and the winds. Only to those they sacrifice of old. In addition they learnt to sacrifice to Urania [=the Celestial one, i.e. Aphrodite; Ch.H.], too. They learnt it from the Assyrians and the Arabs. The
Assyrians call Aphrodite Mylitta [Assyrian: Bilit; Ch.H.], the Arabs Alilat…”

This “Urania”, indeed, in some connections appears as a moon goddess. “Alilat”, of course, is to be related to the Arabic feminine form “al-ilah”, a nomen unitatis which has the meaning of “the (single) deity”.

The etymological derivation of “Allah” as a contraction of “al-ilah”, which was maintained in numerous contributions to sri, too, is “popular” etymology and surely not historic. It would be rather strange that especially the “i” should have been disappeared due to neglect of the
speakers, since the syllable “il” is the most important in “al-ilah”: “il” or “el” is the semitic word for God since times immemorial.

Instead, the word “Allah”, as a lot of other words, especially words of the religious sphere, was imported from the Syriac (Aramaic) language: “alaha” – with three long a-vowels -, is the Aramaic word for the (Christian) unique God. The last (long) “a” characterizes the status absolutus
in the Aramaic language and was duly omitted by the Arabs like case endings in the Arabic vernacular, whereas the understanding of the first syllable of “alaha” as an article was a common misunderstanding like for instance in “al-Iskandar” from Greek “Alexandros” etc. The doubling of the “l” is irrelevant, since the doubling sign is a very late invention of Arabic orthography, centuries after Muhammad.

Kind regards,

Christoph Heger

Even some of the traditional Scholars agree on this one; see this Question and answer from a traditional scholar

The Origin of the Word ‘Allah’…

Question:

What is the derivation of “Allah”? Some scholars say it derives from al+ illah (“the God”), but many Muslim Ulema and translators of the Quran (such as Maulana Muhammad Ali) disagree with this, and say that “Allah” is whole in itself, as a proper name for the Supreme Creator. But is there any philological relationship between Allah and other Semitic terms for “God” such as Eloah (Hebrew) and Alaha (Aramaic/Syriac)?

Thank you.

Peace and blessings of Allah be with you.

Shahid M, USA

Reply

Although a lot has been said about the philology of the word ‘Allah’, however, in my opinion, the former of the two opinions noted by you seems to be closer to the correct one. A detailed discussion compiling the opinions of various scholars of the Arabic language regarding the origin of the word can be seen in “Lisaan al-Arab” under the word “Aliha” (a-l-h). In my opinion, ‘Allah’ is an Arabic word meaning ‘the God’. According to the general principle of making proper nouns from common nouns in the Arabic language, the word “ilah” (common noun) has been converted to “al-ilah”, which became “Allah” due to the turgidity and the slight difficulty of pronunciation of the word “al-ilah”.

The Quran, because its prime and first addressees were the Arabs, used the word “Allah” for the Supreme Being, as that had traditionally been the word used for the Supreme Being in that language. The same had been the case in the older scriptures. Those scriptures, like the Quran, used those words for the Supreme Being, which had already in vogue in those languages, to refer to the Supreme Being.

However, there have been scholars of the Arabic language who ascribe to the opinion that “Allah” is the actual name of the Supreme Being. It is indeed important to the evidence that they have provided into account. Nevertheless, I feel that to give God a name is a requirement of us,
humans. God, being the absolute being is in no need for a name.

May the Almighty guide us all to the path of His liking.

Temple Mount and Al-Aqsa Mosque

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BN-KX693_jsauer_M_20151025105717

The Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem did not exist at the time of Prophet Mohammad. The claims of Muslims of sacred ground where Al-Aqsa Mosque presently sits cannot be substantiated from the Quran.

A Boy’s Discovery Rebuts Temple Mount Revisionism

Palestinians deny Jewish roots at the holy site, but a newly unearthed artifact confirms historical truths.

Al-Masjid Al-Aqsa

The Quran mentions Al-Masjid Al-Aqsa in verse 17:1, which is translated in English as, “the farthest place where there is prostration.”

[17:1]  Most glorified is the One who summoned His servant (Muhammad) during the night, from the Sacred Masjid (of Mecca) to the farthest place of prostration,* whose surroundings we have blessed, in order to show him some of our signs. He is the Hearer, the Seer.

*17:1 “The Aqsa Masjid” means “the farthest place where there is prostration,” many billions of Light Years away. This verse informs us that Muhammad, the soul, was taken to the highest Heaven to be given the Quran (2:185, 44:3, 53:1-18, & 97:1).

The Al-Aqsa Mosque was constructed in 705 AD, seventy years the revelation of the Quran and the death of Prophet Mohammad. As Jerold S. Auerbach writes in the above link, the artifacts confirm the historical truth in the Quran.

REFERENCE TO JERUSALEM IN THE QURAN

The Quran provides the most accurate history and refers to Jerusalem twice in the Quran. The first reference is when the Children of Israel refused to enter the city (2:28-59; 5:21-26). The second reference is when the Qibla (direction of prayer) was temporarily changed for an interim time period by Prophet Mohammad from Kaba (in Mecca) to Jerusalem (2:142-145).

[12:3]  We narrate to you the most accurate history through the revelation of this Quran. Before this, you were totally unaware.

[2:58]  Recall that we said, “Enter this town, where you will find as many provisions as you like. Just enter the gate humbly, and treat the people nicely. We will then forgive your sins, and increase the reward for the pious.”
[2:59]  But the wicked among them carried out commands other than the commands given to them. Consequently, we sent down upon the transgressors condemnation from the sky, due to their wickedness.

[5:21]  “O my people, enter the holy land that GOD has decreed for you, and do not rebel, lest you become losers.”
[5:22]  They said, “O Moses, there are powerful people in it, and we will not enter it, unless they get out of it. If they get out, we are entering.”
[5:23]  Two men who were reverent and blessed by GOD said, “Just enter the gate. If you just enter it, you will surely prevail. You must trust in GOD, if you are believers.”
[5:24]  They said, “O Moses, we will never enter it, so long as they are in it. Therefore, go – you and your Lord – and fight. We are sitting right here.”
[5:25]  He said, “My Lord, I can only control myself and my brother. So, allow us to part company with the wicked people.”
[5:26]  He said, “Henceforth, it is forbidden them for forty years, during which they will roam the earth aimlessly. Do not grieve over such wicked people.”

[2:142]  The fools among the people would say, “Why did they change the direction of their Qiblah?”* Say, “To GOD belongs the east and the west; He guides whoever wills in a straight path.”

*2:142-145 “Qiblah” is the direction one faces during the Contact Prayers (Salat). When Gabriel conveyed to Muhammad the command to face Jerusalem instead of Mecca, the hypocrites were exposed. The Arabs were strongly prejudiced in favor of the Ka`aba as their “Qiblah.” Only the true believers were able to overcome their prejudices; they readily obeyed the messenger.

[2:143]  We thus made you an impartial community, that you may serve as witnesses among the people, and the messenger serves as a witness among you. We changed the direction of your original Qiblah only to distinguish those among you who readily follow the messenger from those who would turn back on their heels. It was a difficult test, but not for those who are guided by GOD. GOD never puts your worship to waste. GOD is Compassionate towards the people, Most Merciful.
[2:144]  We have seen you turning your face about the sky (searching for the right direction). We now assign a Qiblah that is pleasing to you. Henceforth, you shall turn your face towards the Sacred Masjid. Wherever you may be, all of you shall turn your faces towards it. Those who received the previous scripture know that this is the truth from their Lord. GOD is never unaware of anything they do.
[2:145]  Even if you show the followers of the scripture every kind of miracle, they will not follow your Qiblah. Nor shall you follow their Qiblah. They do not even follow each others’ Qiblah. If you acquiesce to their wishes, after the knowledge that has come to you, you will belong with the transgressors.

PROPHET MOHAMMAD’S NIGHT JOURNEY TO THE FARTHEST PLACE OF PROSTRATION

[17:1]  Most glorified is the One who summoned His servant (Muhammad) during the night, from the Sacred Masjid (of Mecca) to the farthest place of prostration, whose surroundings we have blessed, in order to show him some of our signs. He is the Hearer, the Seer.

[53:1]  As the stars fell away.*

*53:1-18 Muhammad was summoned to the highest universe to receive this Quran into his heart. The stars fell away as he traveled through them at millions of times the speed of light. Subsequently, the Quran was gradually released to his memory.

[53:2]  Your friend (Muhammad) was not astray, nor was he deceived.
[53:3]  Nor was he speaking out of a personal desire.
[53:4]  It was divine inspiration.
[53:5]  Dictated by the Most Powerful.
[53:6]  Possessor of all authority. From His highest height.
[53:7]  At the highest horizon.
[53:8]  He drew nearer by moving down.
[53:9]  Until He became as close as possible.
[53:10]  He then revealed to His servant what was to be revealed.
[53:11]  The mind never made up what it saw.
[53:12]  Are you doubting what he saw?
[53:13]  He saw him in another descent.
[53:14]  At the ultimate point.
[53:15]  Where the eternal Paradise is located.
[53:16]  The whole place was overwhelmed.
[53:17]  The eyes did not waver, nor go blind.
[53:18]  He saw great signs of his Lord.

QURAN REVEALED ON THAT BLESSED NIGHT

[97:1]  We revealed it in the Night of Destiny.
[44:3]  We have sent it down in a blessed night, for we are to warn.

MUSLIM CLAIMS BASED ON HADITH

The story tellers and Hadith writers fabricated a story of Prophet Mohammad  riding on a horse and travelling to Al-Aqsa Mosque (in Jerusalem),  praying there and journeying on (“at the speed of light”) to Heaven where he negotiated the number of prayers with God. Needless to say none of this has any truth and none of this story has any support in the Quran.

 

 

Tragedy at Hajj

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Stampede at Hajj

Pilgrimage or Hajj maybe performed anytime during a four month period. Saudi Arabia restricts it to once a year resulting in major tragedies. This is the result of not following God’s law. It is God’s law that if you put your hand in fire, it will burn and hurt immensely.  So too is the result of discarding God’s law that pilgrimage or Hajj may be observed anytime during a four month time frame. By restricting Hajj to once a year the Saudi authorities invite tragedies such as the stampede this year.

Pilgrimage commemorates Abraham’s exemplary submission to God, and must be observed during the four Sacred Months – Zul-Hijjah, Muharram, Safar, & Rabi` I (12th, 1st, 2nd, 3rd months) (2:197; 9:2, 36). The Four Months of Hajj  are Zul-Hijjah, Muharram, Safar, & Rabi I.

[2:197]  Hajj shall be observed in the specified months. Whoever sets out to observe Hajj shall refrain from sexual intercourse, misconduct, and arguments throughout Hajj. Whatever good you do, GOD is fully aware thereof. As you prepare your provisions for the journey, the best provision is righteousness. You shall observe Me, O you who possess intelligence.

*2:197 Hajj can be observed any time during the Sacred Months: Zul-Hijjah, Muharram, Safar, and Rabi I.

[9:36]  The count of months, as far as GOD is concerned, is twelve. This has been GOD’s law, since the day He created the heavens and the earth. Four of them are sacred. This is the perfect religion; you shall not wrong your souls (by fighting) during the Sacred Months. However, you may declare all-out war against the idol worshipers (even during the Sacred Months), when they declare all-out war against you, and know that GOD is on the side of the righteous.

 

Is there any defense for Hadith

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The messenger said (on the Day of Judgement), “My Lord, my people have deserted this Quran.” [25:30]

PROPHET MUHAMMAD FORBIDDEN FROM ISSUING RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION OTHER
THAN THE QURAN

This is the utterance of an honorable messenger.
Not the utterance of a poet; rarely do you believe.
Nor the utterance of a soothsayer; rarely do you take heed.
A revelation from the Lord of the universe.
Had he uttered any other teachings.
We would have punished him.
We would have stopped the revelations to him. [69:40-46]

PROPHET MUHAMMAD FORBIDDEN FROM EXPLAINING THE QURAN

Do not move your tongue to hasten it.
It is we who will collect it into Quran.
Once we recite it, you shall follow such a Quran.
Then it is we who will explain it. [75:16-19]

GOD – TEACHER OF THE QURAN

The Most Gracious.
Teacher of the Quran. [55:1-2]

QURAN – FULLY DETAILED AND ONLY SOURCE OF RELIGIOUS LAW

Shall I seek other than GOD as a source of law, when He has revealed to you this book fully detailed?  Those who received the scripture recognize that it has been revealed from your Lord, truthfully. You shall not harbor any doubt. The word of your Lord is complete, in truth and justice. Nothing shall abrogate His words. He is the Hearer, the Omniscient. [6:114-115]

This Quran could not possibly be authored by other than  GOD. It confirms all previous messages, and provides a fully detailed scripture. It is infallible, for it comes from the Lord of the universe. [10:37]

QURAN – COMPLETE AND FULLY PRESERVED

Absolutely, we have revealed the reminder, and, absolutely, we will preserve it. [15:19]
No falsehood could enter it, in the past or in the future; a revelation from a Most Wise, Praiseworthy. [41:42]

NO SALVATION WITHOUT OBEYING THE MESSENGER

Proclaim: “If you love GOD, you should follow me.” GOD will then love you, and forgive your sins. GOD is Forgiver, Most Merciful.  Proclaim: “You shall obey GOD and the messenger.” If they
turn away, GOD does not love the disbelievers. [3:31-32]

MUHAMMAD REPRESENTED BY QURAN ALONE

Then we revealed to you this scripture, truthfully, confirming previous scriptures, and superseding them. You shall rule among them in accordance with GOD’s revelations, and do not follow their wishes if they differ from the truth that came to you. For each of you, we have decreed laws and different rites. Had GOD willed, He could have made you one congregation. But He thus puts you to the test through the revelations He has given each of you. You shall compete in righteousness. To GOD is your final destiny – all of you – then He will inform you
of everything you had disputed. You shall rule among them in accordance with GOD’s
revelations to you. Do not follow their wishes, and beware lest they divert you from some of GOD’s revelations to you. If they turn away, then know that GOD wills to punish them for some of their sins. Indeed, many people are wicked. Is it the law of the days of ignorance that they seek to uphold? Whose LAW IS BETTER THAN GOD’S for those who have attained certainty? [5:48-49]
They almost diverted you from the revelations we have given you. They wanted you to fabricate something else, in order to consider you a friend. [17:73]

PROPHET MUHAMMAD’S DUTY – DELIVER THE QURAN

If they argue with you, then say, “I have simply submitted myself to GOD; I and those who follow me.” You shall proclaim to those who received the scripture, as well as those who did not, “Would you submit?” If they submit, then they have been guided, but if they turn away, your sole mission is to deliver this message. GOD is Seer of all people. [3:20]

You shall obey GOD, and you shall obey the messenger, and beware. If you turn away, then know that the sole duty of our messenger is to deliver the message efficiently. [5:92]

The sole duty of the messenger is to deliver the message, and GOD knows everything you declare and everything you conceal. [5:99]

DISBELIEVERS – FORBIDDEN FROM UNDERSTANDING THE QURAN

When you read the Quran, we place between you and those who do not believe in the Hereafter an invisible barrier. We place shields around their minds, to prevent them from
understanding it, and deafness in their ears. And when you preach your Lord, using the Quran alone, they run away aversion. [17:45-46]

We have to keep in mind that anyone who is rejecting the above verses from the Quran cannot qualify as a believer.

DURING PROPHET MUHAMMAD’S LIFE – OBEY ONLY RIGHTEOUS ORDERS

O you prophet, when the believing women (who abandoned the disbelievers) to seek asylum with you pledge to you that they will not set up any idols besides GOD, nor steal, nor commit adultery, nor kill their children, nor fabricate any falsehood, nor disobey your RIGHTEOUS
orders, you shall accept their pledge, and pray to GOD to forgive them. GOD is Forgiver, Most Merciful. [60:12]

PROPHET MUHAMMAD WAS HUMAN AND MADE MISTAKES

Recall that you said to the one who was blessed by GOD, and blessed by you, “Keep your wife and reverence GOD,” and you hid inside yourself what GOD wished to proclaim. Thus, you feared the people, when you were supposed to fear only GOD. When Zeid was completely through with his wife, we had you marry her, in order to establish the precedent that a man may marry the divorced wife of his adopted son. GOD’s commands shall be done. [33:37]

He (Muhammad) frowned and turned away. When the blind man came to him. How do you know? He may purify himself. Or he may take heed, and benefit from the message. As for the rich man. You gave him your attention. Even though you could not guarantee his salvation.
The one who came to you eagerly. And is really reverent. You ignored him. Indeed, this is a reminder. [80:1-11]

GOD IS THE ONLY ONE WHO GUIDES

You cannot guide the ones you love. GOD is the only One who guides in accordance with His will, and in accordance with His knowledge of those who deserve the guidance. [28:56]

NO INTERCESSION

They worship beside GOD idols that possess no power to harm them or benefit them, and they say, “These are our intercessors at GOD!” Say, “Are you informing GOD of something He does not know in the heavens or the earth?” Be He glorified. He is the Most High; far above needing
partners. [10:18]

ARABIC LANGUAGE IS NOT NECESSARY TO UNDERSTAND THE QURAN

If we made it a non-Arabic Quran they would have said, “Why did it come down in that language?” Whether it is Arabic or non-Arabic, say, “For those who believe, it is a guide and healing. As for those who disbelieve, they will be deaf and blind to it, as if they are being
addressed from faraway.” [41:44]

There is no support in the Quran that the knowledge of Arabic language will give us understanding or better understanding of the Quran.

HADITH

Shall we treat the Submitters like the criminals?
What is wrong with your logic?
Do you have another book to uphold?
In it, do you find anything you want? [68:35-38]

An example of the above verse is various different Hadith which gives numerous different accounts of certain incidence, thus leaving a person to accept the “most authentic” Hadith or “anything you want”.

ALL RELIGIOUS PRACTICES OF ISLAM CAME THROUGH PROPHET ABRAHAM

All religious practices – salat, zakat, fasting and pilgrimage came to us through prophet Abraham. The reader is invited to look at verse 22:26,27 (pilgrimage), verses 21:72-73 (salat & zakat) and verses 2;127-128 (all religious practices).

HADITH CONDEMNED IN QURAN BY NAME

These are GOD’s revelations that we recite to you truthfully. In which Hadith other than GOD and His revelations do they believe? [45:46]

GOD has revealed herein the best Hadith; a book that is consistent, and points out both ways (to Heaven and Hell). The skins of those who reverence their Lord cringe therefrom, then their skins and their hearts soften up for GOD’s message. Such is GOD’s guidance; He bestows it
upon whoever wills (to be guided). As for those sent astray by GOD, nothing can guide them. [39:23]

Among the people, there are those who uphold baseless Hadith, and thus divert others from the path of GOD without knowledge, and take it in vain. These have incurred a shameful retribution. [31:6]

THREE FAVORITE VERSES OF THOSE WHO ADVOCATE HADITH

FIRST
GOD and His angels help and support the prophet. O you who believe, you shall help and support him, and regard him as he should be regarded. [33:56]

This is one of the most abused verses in the Quran. Millions of muslims based on this verse glorify Muhammad against his will instead of glorifying God. There are two facts we have to keep in mind. First, whenever the word “nabi” is used in the Quran, it refers to Muhammad, when he was alive; not after his death. Second, in the same sura exactly thirteen verses ahead of this verse we find God and His angels do the same honoring for all the believers.

He is the One who helps you, together with His angels, to lead you out of darkness into the light. He is Most Merciful towards the believers. [33:43]

Verse 103 of sura 9 further clarifies the meaning of the words “Ssalloo” and “Yussallee”. In this verse we see that the prophet is commanded to “Yussallee” for the believers, just as they are asked to do for him in verse 33:56.

Take from their money a charity to purify them and sanctify them. And encourage them, for your encouragement reassures them. GOD is Hearer, Omniscient. [9:103]

SECOND

The messenger of GOD has set up a good example for those among you who seek GOD and the Last Day, and constantly think about GOD. [33:21]

This verse is the thirteenth verse of eighteen verses describing the Battle of the Parties and Muhammad’s example of courage. This verse has been taken out of context and a completely different religion has been created by unauthorized and unreasonable regulations called, “Sunnah of the Prophet”.

THIRD

[59:7] Whatever GOD restored to His messenger from the  (defeated) communities shall go to GOD and His messenger (in the form of a charity). You shall give it to the relatives, the orphans, the poor, and the traveling alien. Thus, it will not remain monopolized by the strong among you. You may keep the spoils given to you by the messenger, but do not take what he enjoins you from taking. You shall reverence GOD. GOD is strict in enforcing retribution. This verse deals with the spoils of war, distributed by Muhammad. Muslims have taken this verse as – whatever the messenger gives you take it, and whatever he forbids you abstain from it – and have come up with unreasonable and unauthorized set of Sunnah of the prophet.

Besides the above three verses those who advocate Hadith and Sunnah have a favorite question, “If the Quran is complete and fully detailed, where is the description of how to perform salat?” There is no Hadith or Sunnah which tells us how to perform salat.

CONCLUSION

It is obvious, that prophet Muhammad followed the Quran (75:18) and thus adhered to all the Quranic verses given above. Obeying the prophet and following the prophet is to uphold what he upheld – that the Quran is complete, fully detailed and the only source of religious law.