Tag Archives: sunnah

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 However, when an AND account is opened, both parties must sign before funds can be withdrawn.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.

An Islamic Reformation is the world’s best chance for peace

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An Islamic Reformation is the world’s best chance for peace

John Lloyd writes:

If a young woman, before her marriage or after it, is found to have had sexual relations with another man not her betrothed, she is sentenced to be stoned to death. By contrast, a man who rapes or seduces a young girl usually must pay a fine to her father, and offer to marry her himself.

This punishment, ordained by God, is not confined to the ideologues of Islamic State. It is to be found in the holiest books of Jews and Christians: in a part of the Jewish Torah, known to Christians as Old Testament’s book of Deuteronomy.

This punishment is not found in the only sacrosanct and the only source of religious law for Islam – the Quran. The Quran has none of the drivel as proclaimed above, nor any of the spectacle of Islam reflected by its adherents in their treatment of women, freedom of religion, their dress, etc.

The Muslims consider Hadith and Sunnah (“traditions” of the Prophet) sacrosanct. The Quran condemns any Hadith other than itself. The Quran does not mention the Sunnah (system) of the Prophet. Only God’s Sunnah is acceptable and God’s Sunnah is fully detailed in the Words of the Quran.

The various sects in the Islamic world have no disagreement about the Quran. However, each of them have their own version of Hadith & Sunnah and thus disagree, fight end even kill each other based on their version.

The reformation in Islam is crucial and the pathway to it are the Words of God in the Quran.

John Lloyd writes:

“Man” to a degree meant also “woman” — but far from completely. The idea of male supremacy continues worldwide. Only under the influence of liberal and socialist reformers, emancipatory movements and feminism did (some) cultures recognize real, substantial equality of the sexes — rarely completely.

The Quran 1400 years ago gave the woman the rights of divorce, the right to own property and equality. The Quran gives the example of Sheba, a believer, a woman and a head of a nation. Western women got these right only in the last few centuries. It is the man made fabrications of Hadith and Sunnah which stripped the women of such rights.

John Lloyd writes:

At a talk in London, Morris poured scorn on those Western leaders – As President Obama and UK Prime Minister David Cameron — who argued the attacks on the magazine Charlie Hebdo in January had “nothing to do with the true religion of Islam.”

We can state categorically that the attacks on the magazine Charlie Hebdo in January had “nothing to do with the Quran.”

An Islamic Reformation of following only the Quran and rejecting the man-made fabrications of Hadith & Sunnah will happen and when it does, we agree with John Lloyd when he writes:

An Islamic reformation would be painful, surely internally violent — as reformation’s various phases were in Christianity. It would mean the sharp diminution of the power of the Imams; frontal challenges to the moral framework of millions, and to the power of religiously based dynasties, like the House of Saud. But if reform, and opening a space for free, unafraid debate, is to move from the fringes to the center and allow the majority to encompass both secular citizenship and devout practice, this hard transition is necessary — especially for Muslims themselves, the first and most numerous victims of extremism.

Where do we find details of Salat in the Quran?

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FAVORITE QUESTION

“Where in the Quran do we find details how to perform Salat?”

There are two implications of the Question above:

1. An implication that challenges God’s assertion in the Quran that the Quran is fully detailed.

2. An implication that Hadith contains the details of Salat and therefore Hadith other than the Quran can be used for religious practice and rituals. The fact is that there is NO hadith which gives us details of how to perform Salat. God controls everything. Since God has condemned all Hadith other the Quran  (The Quran is the only acceptable hadith), it is God’s will that any hadith other than the Quran, not contain the any details of Salat.

Those who are knowledgeable of the Quran know that there are two sources for the religion of Submission (Islam).

1. The Quran which fully details all religious LAW.
2. Religious practices given to Prophet Abraham and passed on to us generation to generation since the time of Prophet Abraham.

Salat existed prior to Prophet Muhammad.

The Quran only corrects religious practices corrupted at the time of Muhammad as well as religious practices corrupted now. The following are some specific examples of how Salat has been corrupted now; which is similar to how salat was corrupted at the time of Prophet Muhammad.

CORRUPTION ONE

Ablution: Verse 5:6 give four steps for ablution. However, most Muslims have additional steps.

[5:6] O you who believe, when you observe the Contact Prayers (Salat), you shall: (1) wash your faces, (2) wash your arms to the elbows, (3) wipe your heads, and (4) wash your feet to
the ankles.

CORRUPTION TWO

The overwhelming majority of the mosques of the world do not follow the following crucial commandment. The name of Muhammad is placed next to the name of God in most mosques. The name of Muhammad is called upon together with the name of God in Azaan. The muslims nullify their Salat by adding the name of Muhammad to the shahaada decreed by God “La ellaha ella Allah” [3:18 & other verses]

[72:18] The places of worship to God; do not call on anyone else besides God.

CORRUPTION THREE

[2:37] Adam received from his Lord words, whereby God redeemed him; He is the Redeemer, Most Merciful.

Adam had to utter specific words in order to be redeemed by God. Similarly, God has given us specific words – the words of Sura 1, Al fatihah, in order to establish daily contact (salat) with Him, in order to be redeemed. It is God’s will that muslim masses all over the world know that the 786 stands for Basmallah or verse 1 of Sura Al-fatihah. 786 is the gematrical value of Basmallah which has 19 arabic letters.

Some Muslims when praying in congregation ignore the first numbered verse of the Quran, the first verse of sura Al-fatihah. When they reach the end of Al-fatihah, they shout in unison: “AAAAMEEEN” – a non-arabic, a non-Quranic word!!!!

CORRUPTION FOUR

The Quran commands us to use a moderate tone is Salat. Some Muslims remain silent is certain parts of their Salat.

[17:110] You shall not utter your Contact Prayers (Salat) too loudly, nor secretly; use a MODERATE tone.

CORRUPTION FIVE

After reciting Al-fatihah the potential muslims recite other chapters from the Quran. One of their favorites is Sura 112. What logical sense does it make that when we are performing contact prayers (salat) we tell God, “Say/Proclaim, `He is the One..'”!?

Sura 112:1-4 is reproduced below.

[112:1-4] Proclaim, “He is the One and only GOD.
“The Absolute GOD.
“Never did He beget. Nor was He begotten.
“None equals Him.”

 

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 acme
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?” This
question will be separate article inshallah,  but suffice it is for now, to state this fact; 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.