PANDUAN BISNIS ONLINE BAGI PEMULA

JIKA ANDA :

1. Benar-benar pemula di dalam bisnis internet?
2. Hanya punya waktu kurang dari 3 jam / hari untuk berbisnis online?
3. Belum punya blog + kartu kredit untuk berbisnis online?
4. Bingung ingin memulai dari bisnis online yang mana?
5. Ingin memulai dari bisnis online yang paling mudah?
6. Ingin memulai dari bisnis online yang dapat menghasilkan uang
dengan cepat dan melimpah ?

Jika iya, maka :

GABUNGLAH berbisnis RESELLING produk uangpanas! dan JANGAN FOKUS di bisnis lainnya !

Bisnis ini sangat cocok bagi anda yang baru mengenal dunia maya ataupun anda yang sudah berkecimpung di dunia internet, tetapi masih belum berani untuk mengambil suatu keputusan untuk bergabung dengan kami dalam mengelola Bisnis ONLINE.. 

AYO SEGERA JOIN DISINI   ...

Kinilah saatnya menjadi member. Dan bagi anda yang ingin join ke uangpanas.com dapat mengklik banner di bawah ini atau link yang ada pada halaman ini. Informasikan kepada kami jika anda telah mendaftar. Insya Allah akan segera kami balas dan sebagian uang pendaftaran yang anda bayarkan kepada kami, maka 2,5 % dari uang anda Insya Allah akan kita sedekahkan, sehingga selain anda membeli produk tersebut, secara tidak langsung anda juga telah berinfak.  Menarik Bukan...

Reselling produk uangpanas adalah bisnis yang paling mudah, paling menguntungkan, paling santai, serta paling cepat menghasilkan uang.

Sudah bukan hal yang aneh bila para reseller uangpanas bisa mendapatkan komisi hingga Rp 100 - 500 ribu dalam satu hari !!

Di antara sekian banyak bisnis online (baca : cari uang di internet), bisnis reselling produk ini termasuk yang paling difavoritkan oleh para client (karena paling mudah, paling menguntungkan dan paling cepat menghasilkan).

Jika Anda membeli paket bisnis uangpanas, selain mendapat panduan berbagai bisnis internet, Anda juga mendapat hak untuk menjadi affiliate / reseller uangpanas!


Bisnis lain?

Harus menunggu 10-100 dollar untuk bisa diambil, menunggu cek datang 30-90 hari, menunggu lagi 1-2 minggu untuk mencairkannya, terkena berbagai pajak... lama dan repot...


Ingin meng-affiliasi-kan produk yang mudah dijual + pengelolanya jujur, pernah kecewa dengan reselling produk lain yang sulit dijual karena tampilan situsnya tidak oke, karena harganya mahal, atau karena komisi Anda tidak pernah dibayarkan?

Di sini! tidak lagi..



Daftar segera DISINI agar anda langsung dapat merasakan hasilnya yaitu uang mengalir bertubi-tubi sementara anda hanya duduk manis didepan komputer sambil minum teh atau anda sedang tidak berada didepan komputer sekalipnun. Dan yang penting ada garansinya...jika anda kecewa terhadap paket produk kami!...akan kami kembalikan 100 % uang anda !

Salam sukses insya Allah paling sukses 4ntun_cute

REVIEW UANGPANAS DOT COM

Iseng-iseng liat ke alexa, eh, ternyata uangpanas sedang memimpin nih, padahal uangpanas kan baru berdiri dari bulan Maret 2008 kemarin, coba bandingkan dengan PROGRAM SEJENIS LAINNYA yang pengalamannya sudah bertahun-tahun, wah-wah salut deh buat uangpanas ;).

KLIK DI SINI BAGI YANG INGIN SEGERA BERGABUNG....

;

PENGALAMAN PRIBADI JOIN UANGPANAS

Pada bulan april keuntungan yang saya dapatkan meningkat berlipat-lipat, saya mendapatkan mutasi rupiah ke rekening saya sebesar Rp. 550000, Wow!! luar biasa, saat itu untuk menjadi member uangpanas hanya membutuhkan kocek Rp. 100000 untuk bergabung, malah pada bulan sebelumnya hanya membutuhkan Rp. 80000. Kalau begitu tunggu apa lagi, tidak akan ada yang berani menjamin harga uangpanas tidak akan naik lagi, segera join di sini.

 

 

SUKA CITA GABUNG UANG PANAS

Pengalaman dan kisah nyata seorang member join di awal bulan puasa bersama uangpanas!, bung Haryo dalam hal ini pemilik website uangpanas benar-benar konsekuen dengan bisnisnya. Bagaimana tanggal 2 September cek rekening bank Rp 2,5jt sudah masuk ke rekening. Padahal baru konfirmasi tanggal 1 September malam. Rp 2,5jt itu merupakan hasil ikut kontes bulanan khusus untuk member uangpanas!

Alhamdullilah,.... awal puasa membawa berkah tersendiri ya...

Nah,... kemarin tanggal 3 September mendapat Rp 300.000,- dari uangpanas! namun turun di hari ke 4 bulan September yaitu Rp 240.000,- dan semuanya dalam sehari.

Semua itu benar-benar diperoleh dari uangpanas! dulu sempat ragu untuk join dengan uangpanas! tapi ternyata setelah dipelajari trik pada panduannya sungguh-sungguh sederhana dan mudah diterapkan serta yang pasti menghasilkan.

Nggak usah panjang-panjang postingnya nanti malah tambah bingung. Tunggu apa lagi buruan dapatkan panduan dan trik jitu bisnis online dari uangpanas! dan segera bangun kerajaan bisnis anda sendiri.

Kalo mau langsung gabung dengan uangpanas! klik aja banner di halaman ini,

PASIF INCOME DARI UANG PANAS

Dari Mana Memulainya?

Sebelum kita mencoba mengenal lebih jauh, perlu sebelumnya dimengerti, mengapa kita memerlukan metode dan joint dengan uangpanas. Kita memulai dari karakteristik manusia yang paling mendasar. Sifat dasar manusia adalah mencari kemudahan dan menghindari kesulitan, maka setiap orang selalu mencari pendapatan yang paling aman. Tapi apa kenyataannya???

Pertanyaan yang paling sering muncul, yang aman itu yang mana???

Apakah jika kita bekerja sebagai pegawai negeri adalah pendapatan yang paling aman?
Kenyataannya, pegawai negeri sering mengeluh pendapatannya kecil, bahkan pernah ada satu department dihilangka

Apakah bekerja sebagai karyawan swasta lebih aman?
Ternyata juga hingga saat ini banyak sekali yang dipecat karena perusahaan juga merugi.

Dan saat anda menyentuh dengan internet, apakah mencari uang lewat internet hal itu juga paling aman?
Banyak sekali berita miring tentang internet marketing. Sudah puluhan dan ratusan berita saya baca bahwa itu semua adalah tipuan.

Saya hanya mengambil salah satu hasil riset bagaimana orang menjadi kaya saat saya mengikuti salah satu seminar Tung Desem Waringin yang sangat terkenal itu. Anda pernah dengar ia menyebarkan uang dari pesawat awal July lalu? Ya, ia salah satu motivator kondang di tanah air. Hasil riset para ahli kekayaan mengatakan begini. Hanya ada EMPAT cara orang menjadi kaya dan memiliki passive income yang memadai. SATU, memiliki bisnis yang menguntungkan, DUA, usaha bidang property, TIGA, melalui saham atau valas, EMPAT dengan INTERNET MARKETING.

Apa iya? Pertanyaan itu selalu mengusik saya. Tidak sedikit waktu saya gunakan untuk mencari apa itu internet marketing. Berbagai informasi saya telan sampai saya overloaded (terlalu banyaknya informasi internet marketing sampai akhirnya saya puyeng sendiri... bingung mau dari mana...), terlalu banyak halaman blog dan website yang saya baca, beratus-ratus halaman e-book dan newsletter saya baca. Uang pun tidak sedikit yang saya keluarkan, minimal menurut kemampuan saya. Bukankah hanya sekedar koneksi ke internet pun juga butuh biaya, kan? Sampai akhirnya saya mengenal.....

uangpanas

Apa Yang Saya Dapatkan di uangpanas?

Saya agak sulit menjelaskan satu per satu. Tapi saya coba untuk sedikit memberi penjelasan. Intinya, uangpanas memang menawarkan ke kita semua bagaimana mencari uang via INTERNET. Banyak sekali keuntungan yang saya dapatkan, berikut hanya sebagian kecil...

Pertama, anda akan sangat sulit menentukan langkah mana dulu untuk melakukan internet marketing tanpa metode yang jelas. Kesulitan terbesar jika anda belajar sendiri di internet adalah sedemikian banyak informasi yang diterima, jadi tidak terstruktur. Saya jelas sudah mengalaminya sendiri..... Katakanlah, kita mau tahu gimana caranya jika menjadi engineer, lalu di depan muka kita terdapat perpustakaan dari pelajaran SD hingga perguruan tinggi. Kesan saya, buku mana dulu yang harus dibuka ? Nah, di sini, kita bisa belajar dengan urut.

Kedua, saya baru menyadari bahwa melihat sedemikian besar peluang pasar di internet. Apa saja itu? Ini yang saya tahu...

Saya agak terkejut dengan salah satu data ketika ikut seminar pak Tung, salah satu yang diajarkan adalah begini. Radio mendapatkan 20 juta pendengar dalam kurun waktu berpuluh-puluh tahun. Dalam internet, kita bisa mendapatkan 20 juta dalam hitungan detik, bukan hari, minggu bulan atau tahun.

Is it good to be true? Ah, mosok sih???? Benar...... dengan mengiklankan lewat internet, anda bisa mengiklankan nggak cuman di Indonesia, bahkan seluruh dunia. Asal tahu, di Indonesia, pemakai internet lebih dari 20 juta menurut survey tahun lalu. Namun demikian, saya masih bertanya-tanya, bagaimana semua itu bisa dicapai? Katakanlah, saya mau jualan gelas hias, bagaimana caranya?

Anda mau tahu hasilnya setelah saya joint uangpanas ? Saya kecewa sekali menyadari hal itu. Saya merasa bersalah karena tidak memanfaatkan internet dengan baik. Namun demikian, sungguh dengan uangpanas, semua mata saya terbuka. Ya, ternyata peluang market sedemikian besar, apalagi jika kita punya produk dengan pasar global, seluruh dunia.....

Ya.... saya mengerti itu semua setelah saya ikut UANG PANAS

Ketiga, ternyata peluang bisnis di INTERNET itu BENAR-BENAR BANYAK...... Bagaimana mungkin....? Ya, banyak sekali. Anda tentu belum tahu, hanya klik dapat uang mungkin sudah banyak tahu. Tapi jadi makelar via INTERNET, membuat artikel, memberi komentar artikel, melihat iklan saja selama 30 detik, menjual buku elektronik, menjual informasi, melakukan auction atau lelang pun juga dapat uang.... dan lain-lain, semua itu pun juga dapat uang.

Ya.... saya mengerti itu semua setelah saya ikut UANGPANAS

Keempat, ternyata dengan INTERNET, saat anda tidur sekalipun, seluruh transaksi bisa diproses. Memang saya sudah tahu hal ini, tapi setelah saya bergabung dengan uang panas, baru saya tahu detailnya. Banyak sekali metode-metode yang bisa dikembangkan agar uang anda bekerja untuk anda saat anda tidur.

Ya.... saya mengerti itu semua setelah saya ikut UANGPANAS

Kelima, wawasan sangat terbuka sehingga otak selalu muncul ide-ide baru dan anda bisa melakukannya. Misal, anda punya hobi mengumpulkan mp3, editing mp3 dan semua yang terkait dengan editing musik. Anda bisa buatkan seluruh ide itu menjadi uang. Anda hobi mengumpulkan gitar klasik, anda bisa menjual e-book yang berisi materi gitar klasik. Anda hobi dengan tanaman hias, anda bisa jual tanaman hias tanpa harus membuka toko tanaman hias. Anda bahkan hobi apapun, semua bisa menjadi uang.

Ya.... saya mengerti itu semua setelah saya ikut UANGPANAS

Keenam... uangpanas menawarkan sebuah produk dimana hal ini tidak dimiliki oleh program-program internet marketing lain. Saya jujur pernah mencoba beberapa jenis program sejenis ini, tetapi saya tidak merasa puas. uang panas jauh lebih mudah...... hanya sedikit sekali yang kita lakukan, lalu semua langsung tune dan online... rekening anda akan berubah....

Ketujuh.... dan seterusnya, banyak sekali.... anda bisa memahami bahwa jalan "show me the money" benar-benar sangat banyak dan anda bisa sekreatif apapun di internetyang sedemikian luas dan bebas.

Bonusnya itu lho......... nggak tahann........ percayalah, jika kita baca semua seluruh program uangpanas, jika diprint, akan ratusan bahkan ribuan halaman yang harus anda baca.......... Yang penting, anda mesti fokus dan mengikuti pola uangpanas dengan matang, khususnya tahapan untuk pemula, sisanya tentu anda akan menikmati sembari menerima berita transfer uang anda akan bertambah banyak.....

Dimana semua itu ada??? Hanya Ada di

UANG PANAS

Tujuh Indikator Kebahagiaan Dunia

Ibnu Abbas ra. adalah salah seorang sahabat Nabi SAW yang sangat telaten dalam menjaga dan melayani Rasulullah SAW, dimana ia pernah secara khusus didoakan Rasulullah SAW, selain itu pada usia 9 tahun Ibnu Abbas telah hafal Al-Quran dan telah menjadi imam di mesjid. Suatu hari ia ditanya oleh para Tabi'in (generasi sesudah wafatnya Rasulullah SAW) mengenai apa yang dimaksud dengan kebahagiaan dunia. Jawab Ibnu Abbas ada 7 (tujuh) indikator kebahagiaan dunia, yaitu :

Pertama, Qalbun syakirun atau hati yang selalu bersyukur.

Memiliki jiwa syukur berarti selalu menerima apa adanya (qona’ah), sehingga tidak ada ambisi yang berlebihan, tidak ada stress, inilah nikmat bagi hati yang selalu bersyukur. Seorang yang pandai bersyukur sangatlah cerdas memahami sifat-sifat Allah SWT, sehingga apapun yang diberikan Allah ia malah terpesona dengan pemberian dan keputusan Allah. Bila sedang kesulitan maka ia segera ingat sabda Rasulullah SAW yaitu : "Kalau kita sedang sulit perhatikanlah orang yang lebih sulit dari kita". Bila sedang diberi kemudahan, ia bersyukur dengan memperbanyak amal ibadahnya, kemudian Allah pun akan mengujinya dengan kemudahan yang lebih besar lagi. Bila ia tetap “bandel” dengan terus bersyukur maka Allah akan mengujinya lagi dengan kemudahan yang lebih besar lagi. Maka berbahagialah orang yang pandai bersyukur!

Kedua. Al azwaju shalihah, yaitu pasangan hidup yang sholeh.

Pasangan hidup yang sholeh akan menciptakan suasana rumah dan keluarga yang sholeh pula. Di akhirat kelak seorang suami (sebagai imam keluarga) akan diminta pertanggungjawaban dalam mengajak istri dan anaknya kepada kesholehan. Berbahagialah menjadi seorang istri bila memiliki suami yang sholeh, yang pasti akan bekerja keras untuk mengajak istri dan anaknya menjadi muslim yang sholeh. Demikian pula seorang istri yang sholeh, akan memiliki kesabaran dan keikhlasan yang luar biasa dalam melayani suaminya, walau seberapa buruknya kelakuan suaminya. Maka berbahagialah menjadi seorang suami yang memiliki seorang istri yang sholeh.

Ketiga, al auladun abrar, yaitu anak yang soleh.

Saat Rasulullah SAW lagi thawaf. Rasulullah SAW bertemu dengan seorang anak muda yang pundaknya lecet-lecet. Setelah selesai thawaf Rasulullah SAW bertanya kepada anak muda itu : "Kenapa pundakmu itu ?" Jawab anak muda itu : "Ya Rasulullah, saya dari Yaman, saya mempunyai seorang ibu yang sudah udzur. Saya sangat mencintai dia dan saya tidak pernah melepaskan dia. Saya melepaskan ibu saya hanya ketika buang hajat, ketika sholat, atau ketika istirahat, selain itu sisanya saya selalu menggendongnya". Lalu anak muda itu bertanya: " Ya Rasulullah, apakah aku sudah termasuk kedalam orang yang sudah berbakti kepada orang tua ?" Nabi SAW sambil memeluk anak muda itu dan mengatakan: "Sungguh Allah ridho kepadamu, kamu anak yang soleh, anak yang berbakti, tapi anakku ketahuilah, cinta orangtuamu tidak akan terbalaskan olehmu". Dari hadist tersebut kita mendapat gambaran bahwa amal ibadah kita ternyata tidak cukup untuk membalas cinta dan kebaikan orang tua kita, namun minimal kita bisa memulainya dengan menjadi anak yang soleh, dimana doa anak yang sholeh kepada orang tuanya dijamin dikabulkan Allah. Berbahagialah kita bila memiliki anak yang sholeh.

Keempat, albiatu sholihah, yaitu lingkungan yang kondusif untuk iman kita.

Yang dimaksud dengan lingkungan yang kondusif ialah, kita boleh mengenal siapapun tetapi untuk menjadikannya sebagai sahabat karib kita, haruslah orang-orang yang mempunyai nilai tambah terhadap keimanan kita. Dalam sebuah haditsnya, Rasulullah menganjurkan kita untuk selalu bergaul dengan orang-orang yang sholeh. Orang-orang yang sholeh akan selalu mengajak kepada kebaikan dan mengingatkan kita bila kita berbuat salah. Orang-orang sholeh adalah orang-orang yang bahagia karena nikmat iman dan nikmat Islam yang selalu terpancar pada cahaya wajahnya. Insya Allah cahaya tersebut akan ikut menyinari orang-orang yang ada disekitarnya. Berbahagialah orang-orang yang selalu dikelilingi oleh orang-orang yang sholeh.

Kelima, al malul halal, atau harta yang halal.

Paradigma dalam Islam mengenai harta bukanlah banyaknya harta tetapi halalnya. Ini tidak berarti Islam tidak menyuruh umatnya untuk kaya. Dalam riwayat Imam Muslim di dalam bab sadaqoh, Rasulullah SAW pernah bertemu dengan seorang sahabat yang berdoa mengangkat tangan. "Kamu berdoa sudah bagus", kata Nabi SAW, "Namun sayang makanan, minuman dan pakaian dan tempat tinggalnya didapat secara haram, bagaimana doanya dikabulkan”. Berbahagialah menjadi orang yang hartanya halal karena doanya sangat mudah dikabulkan Allah. Harta yang halal juga akan menjauhkan setan dari hatinya, maka hatinya semakin bersih, suci dan kokoh, sehingga memberi ketenangan dalam hidupnya. Maka berbahagialah orang-orang yang selalu dengan teliti menjaga kehalalan hartanya.

Keenam, Tafakuh fi dien, atau semangat untuk memahami agama.

Semangat memahami agama diwujudkan dalam semangat memahami ilmu-ilmu agama Islam. Semakin ia belajar, maka semakin ia terangsang untuk belajar lebih jauh lagi ilmu mengenai sifat-sifat Allah dan ciptaan-Nya. Allah menjanjikan nikmat bagi umat-Nya yang menuntut ilmu, semakin ia belajar semakin cinta ia kepada agamanya, semakin tinggi cintanya kepada Allah dan rasul-Nya. Cinta inilah yang akan memberi cahaya bagi hatinya. Semangat memahami agama akan meng ”hidup” kan hatinya, hati yang “hidup” adalah hati yang selalu dipenuhi cahaya nikmat Islam dan nikmat iman. Maka berbahagialah orang yang penuh semangat memahami ilmu agama Islam.

Ketujuh, yaitu umur yang baroqah.

Umur yang baroqah itu artinya umur yang semakin tua semakin sholeh, yang setiap detiknya diisi dengan amal ibadah. Seseorang yang mengisi hidupnya untuk kebahagiaan dunia semata, maka hari tuanya akan diisi dengan banyak bernostalgia (berangan-angan) tentang masa mudanya, iapun cenderung kecewa dengan ketuaannya (post-power syndrome). Disamping itu pikirannya terfokus pada bagaimana caranya menikmati sisa hidupnya, maka iapun sibuk berangan-angan terhadap kenikmatan dunia yang belum ia sempat rasakan, hatinya kecewa bila ia tidak mampu menikmati kenikmatan yang diangankannya. Sedangkan orang yang mengisi umurnya dengan banyak mempersiapkan diri untuk akhirat (melalui amal ibadah) maka semakin tua semakin rindu ia untuk bertemu dengan Sang Penciptanya. Hari tuanya diisi dengan bermesraan dengan Sang Maha Pengasih. Tidak ada rasa takutnya untuk meninggalkan dunia ini, bahkan ia penuh harap untuk segera merasakan keindahan alam kehidupan berikutnya seperti yang dijanjikan Allah. Inilah semangat “hidup” orang-orang yang baroqah umurnya, maka berbahagialah orang-orang yang umurnya baroqah.

Demikianlah pesan-pesan dari Ibnu Abbas ra. mengenai 7 indikator kebahagiaan dunia.

Bagaimana caranya agar kita dikaruniakan Allah ke tujuh buah indikator kebahagiaan dunia tersebut ? Selain usaha keras kita untuk memperbaiki diri, maka mohonlah kepada Allah SWT dengan sesering dan se-khusyu’ mungkin membaca doa ‘sapu jagat’ , yaitu doa yang paling sering dibaca oleh Rasulullah SAW. Dimana baris pertama doa tersebut “Rabbanaa aatina fid dun-yaa hasanaw” (yang artinya “Ya Allah karuniakanlah aku kebahagiaan dunia ”), mempunyai makna bahwa kita sedang meminta kepada Allah ke tujuh indikator kebahagiaan dunia yang disebutkan Ibnu Abbas ra, yaitu hati yang selalu syukur, pasangan hidup yang soleh, anak yang soleh, teman-teman atau lingkungan yang soleh, harta yang halal, semangat untuk memahami ajaran agama, dan umur yang baroqah.

Walaupun kita akui sulit mendapatkan ketujuh hal itu ada di dalam genggaman kita, setidak-tidaknya kalau kita mendapat sebagian saja sudah patut kita syukuri.

Sedangkan mengenai kelanjutan doa sapu jagat tersebut yaitu “wa fil aakhirati hasanaw” (yang artinya “dan juga kebahagiaan akhirat”), untuk memperolehnya hanyalah dengan rahmat Allah. Kebahagiaan akhirat itu bukan surga tetapi rahmat Allah, kasih sayang Allah. Surga itu hanyalah sebagian kecil dari rahmat Allah, kita masuk surga bukan karena amal soleh kita, tetapi karena rahmat Allah.

Amal soleh yang kita lakukan sepanjang hidup kita (walau setiap hari puasa dan sholat malam) tidaklah cukup untuk mendapatkan tiket masuk surga. Amal soleh sesempurna apapun yang kita lakukan seumur hidup kita tidaklah sebanding dengan nikmat surga yang dijanjikan Allah.

Kata Nabi SAW, “Amal soleh yang kalian lakukan tidak bisa memasukkan kalian ke surga”. Lalu para sahabat bertanya: “Bagaimana dengan Engkau ya Rasulullah ?”. Jawab Rasulullah SAW : “Amal soleh saya pun juga tidak cukup”. Lalu para sahabat kembali bertanya : “Kalau begitu dengan apa kita masuk surga?”. Nabi SAW kembali menjawab : “Kita dapat masuk surga hanya karena rahmat dan kebaikan Allah semata”.

Jadi sholat kita, puasa kita, taqarub kita kepada Allah sebenarnya bukan untuk surga tetapi untuk mendapatkan rahmat Allah. Dengan rahmat Allah itulah kita mendapatkan surga Allah (Insya Allah, Amiin).


(Sumber tulisan: ceramah Ustad Aam Aminudin, Lc. di Sapporo, Jepang, disarikan secara bebas oleh Sdr. Asep Tata Permana, sedikit diedit oleh Penjaga Kebun Hikmah)

Source : kebunhikmah.com

Sebab-sebab Naik-turunnya Iman dan Cara Meningkatkan Keimanan

CARA MENAIKKAN KADAR IMAN :

1. Pelajarilah berbagai ilmu agama Islam yang bersumber pada Al-Qur’an dan Hadits

a. Perbanyaklah membaca Al-Qur’an dan renungkan maknanya
Ayat-ayat Al-Qur’an memiliki target yang luas dan spesifik sesuai kebutuhan masing-masing orang yang sedang mencari atau memuliakan Tuhannya. Sebagian ayat Al-Qur’an mampu menggetarkan kulit seseorang yang sedang mencari kemuliaan Allah, dilain pihak Al-Qur’an mampu membuat menangis seorang pendosa, atau membuat tenang seorang pencari ketenangan.
“Ini adalah sebuah kitab yang Kami turunkan kepadamu penuh dengan berkah supaya mereka memperhatikan ayat-ayatnya dan supaya mendapat pelajaran orang-orang yang mempunyai pikiran.” (QS, Shaad 38:29)
”Dan Kami turunkan dari Al Qur'an suatu yang menjadi penawar dan rahmat bagi orang-orang yang beriman dan Al Qur'an itu tidaklah menambah kepada orang-orang yang lalim selain kerugian.” (QS, al-Israa’ 17:82)

b. Pelajarilah ilmu mengenai Asma’ul Husna, Sifat-sifat Yang Maha Agung.
Bila seseorang memahami sifat Allah yang Maha Mendengar, Maha Melihat dan Maha Mengetahui, maka ia akan menahan lidahnya, anggota tubuhnya dan gerakan hatinya dari apapun yang tidak disukai Allah.
Bila seseorang memahami sifat Allah yang Maha Indah, Maha Agung dan Maha Perkasa, maka semakin besarlah keinginannya untuk bertemu Allah di hari akhirat sehingga iapun secara cermat memenuhi berbagai persyaratan yang diminta Allah untuk bisa bertemu dengan-Nya (yaitu dengan memperbanyak amal ibadah).
Bila seseorang memahami sifat Allah yang Maha Santun, Maha Halus dan Maha Penyabar, maka iapun merasa malu ketika ia marah, dan hidupnya merasa tenang karena tahu bahwa ia dijaga oleh Tuhannya secara lembut dan sabar.

c. Pelajari dengan cermat sejarah (Siroh) kehidupan Rasulullah SAW.
Dengan memahami perilaku, keagungan dan perjuangan Rasulullah, akan menumbuhkan rasa cinta kita terhadapnya, kemudian berkembang menjadi keinginan untuk mencontoh semua perilaku beliau dan mematuhi pesan-pesan beliau selaku utusan Allah.
Seorang sahabat r.a. mendatangi Rasulullah saw dan bertanya, “Wahai Rasul Allah, kapan tibanya hari akhirat?”. Rasulullah saw balik bertanya : “Apakah yang telah engkau persiapkan untuk menghadapi hari akhirat?”. Si sahabat menjawab , “Wahai Rasulullah, aku telah sholat, puasa dan bersedekah selama ini, tetap saja rasanya semua itu belum cukup. Namun didalam hati, aku sangat mencintai dirimu, ya Rasulullah”. Rasulullah saw menjawab, “Insya Allah, di akhirat kelak engkau akan bersama orang yang engkau cintai”. (HR Muslim) Inilah hadits yang sangat disukai para sahabat Rasulullah SAW. Jelaslah bahwa mencintai Rasulullah adalah salah satu jalan menuju surga, dan membaca riwayat hidupnya (siroh) adalah cara terpenting untuk lebih mudah memahami dan mencintai Rasulullah SAW.

d. Mempelajari Jasa-jasa dan Kualitas Agama Islam
Perenungan terhadap syariat Islam, hukum-hukumnya, akhlak yang diajarkannya, perintah dan larangannya, akan menimbulkan kekaguman terhadap kesempurnaan ajaran agama Islam ini. Tidak ada agama lain yang memiliki aturan dan etiket yang sedemikian rincinya seperti Islam, dimana untuk makan dan ke WC pun ada adabnya, untuk aspek hukum dan ekonomi ada aturannya, bahkan untuk berhubungan suami -istripun ada aturannya.

e. Mempelajari Kehidupan Orang-orang Sholeh (generasi Shalafus Sholihin, para sahabat Rasulullah SAW, murid-murid para sahabat, tabi’in dan tabi’it tabi’in)
Mereka adalah generasi-generasi terbaik dari Islam. Mereka adalah orang-orang yang kadar keimanannya diibaratkan sebesar gunung Uhud sementara manusia zaman kini diibaratkan kadar keimananya tak lebih dari sebutir debu dari gunung Uhud. Umar r.a. pernah memuntahkan makanan yang sudah masuk ke perutnya ketika tahu bahwa makanan yang diberikan padanya kurang halal sumbernya. Sejarah lain menceritakan tentang lumrahnya seorang tabi’in meng-khatamkan Qur’an dalam satu kali sholatnya. Atau cerita tentang seorang sholeh yang lebih dari 40 tahun hidupnya berturut-turut tidak pernah sholat wajib sendiri kecuali berjamaah di mesjid. Atau seorang sholeh yang menangis karena lupa mengucap doa ketika masuk mesjid. Inilah cerita-cerita teladan yang mampu menggetarkan hati seorang yang sedang meningkatkan keimanannnya.

2. Renungkanlah tanda-tanda kebesaran Allah yang ada di alam (ma’rifatullah)
Singkirkan dulu kesombongan akal kita, renungkan secara tulus bagaimana alam ini diciptakan. Sungguh pasti ada kekuatan luar biasa yang mampu menciptakan alam yang sempurna ini, sebuah struktur dan sistem kehidupan yang rapi, mulai dari tata surya, galaksi hingga struktur pohon dan sel-sel atom.
Renungkan pula rahasia dan mukjizat Qur’an. Salah satu keajaiban Al Qur’an adalah struktur matematis Al Qur’an. Walau wahyu Allah diturunkan bertahap namun ketika seluruh wahyu lengkap maka ditemukan bahwa kata tunggal “hari” disebut sebanyak 365 kali, sebanyak jumlah hari pada satu tahun syamsiyyah (masehi). Kata jamak hari disebut sebanyak 30 kali, sama dengan jumlah hari dalam satu bulan. Sedang kata Syahrun (bulan) dalam Al Quran disebut sebanyak 12 kali sama dengan jumlah bulan dalam satu tahun. Kata Saa’ah (jam) disebutkan sebanyak 24 kali sama dengan jumlah jam sehari semalam. Dan semua kata-kata itu tersebar di 114 surat dan 6666 ayat dan ratusan ribu kata yang tersusun indah. Dan masih banyak lagi keajaiban dan mukjizat Al Quran dari sisi pandang lainnya yang membuktikan bahwa itu bukan karya manusia. Masih banyak pula mukjizat lainnya di alam ini yang membuktikan bahwa alam ini memiliki struktur yang sangat sempurna dan tidak mungkin tercipta dengan sendirinya. Adalah lumrah, bahwa sesuatu yang tidak mungkin diciptakan manusia, pastilah diciptakan sesuatu yang Maha Kuasa, Maha Besar. Inilah yang menambah kecilnya diri kita dan menambah kekaguman dan cinta serta iman kita kepada Sang Pencipta alam semesta ini.

3. Berusaha keras melakukan amal perbuatan yang baik secara ikhlas
Amal perbuatan perlu digerakkan. Dimulai dari hati, kemudian terungkap melalui lidah kita dan kemudian anggota tubuh kita. Selain ikhlas, diperlukan usaha dan keseriusan untuk melakukan amalan-amalan ini.
a. Amalan Hati
Dilakukan melalui pembersihan hati kita dari sifat-sifat buruk, selalu menjaga kesucian hati. Ciptakan sifat-sifat sabar dan tawakal, penuh takut dan harap akan Allah. Jauhi sifat tamak, kikir, prasangka buruk dan sebagainya.
b. Amalan Lidah
Perbanyak membaca Al-Qur’an, zikir, bertasbih, tahlil, takbir, istighfar, mengirim salam dan sholawat kepada Rasulullah dan mengajak orang lain kepada kebaikan, melarang kemungkaran.
c. Amalan Anggota Tubuh
Dilakukan melalui kepatuhan dalam sholat, pengorbanan untuk bersedekah, perjuangan untuk berhaji hingga disiplin untuk sholat berjamaah di mesjid (khususnya bagi pria).


SEBAB-SEBAB TURUNNYA KADAR IMAN :

Sebab-sebab dari dalam diri kita sendiri (Internal) :

1. Kebodohan
Kebodohan merupakan pangkal dari berbagai perbuatan buruk. Seseorang berbuat jahat boleh jadi karena ia tak tahu bahwa perbuatan itu dilarang agama, atau ia tidak tahu ancaman dan bahaya yang akan dihadapinya kelak di akhirat, atau ia tidak tahu keperkasaan Sang Maha Kuasa yang mengatur denyut jantungnya, mengatur musibah dan rezekinya.

2. Ketidakpedulian, keengganan dan melupakan
Ketidakpedulian menyebabkan pikiran seseorang diisi dengan hal-hal duniawi yang hanya ia sukai (yang ia pedulikan), sedangkan yang bukan ia sukai tidak diberi tempat dipikirannya. Ini menyebabkan ia tidak ingat (dzikir) pada Allah, sifatnya tidak tulus, tidak punya rasa takut dan malu (kepada Allah), tidak merasa berdosa (tidak perlu tobat), dan bisa jadi ia menjadi sombong karena tidak merasakan pentingnya berbuat rendah hati dan sederhana.
Kengganan seseorang untuk melakukan suatu kebaikan padahal ia tahu hal itu telah diperintahkan Allah, maka ia termasuk orang yang men-zhalimi (melalaikan) dirinya sendiri. Allah akan mengunci hatinya dari jalan yang lurus (al-Kahfi 18:5), dan ia akan menjadi teman syeitan (Thaaha 20:124).
Melupakan kewajiban dan kepatuhan seseorang dalam beribadah berawal dari sifat lalai atau lemah hatinya. Waktu dan energinya harus didorong agar diisi lebih banyak dengan perbuatan amal sholeh, kalau tidak maka kesenangan duniawi akan semakin menguasai dirinya hingga ia semakin jauh dari ingat (dzikir) kepada Allah.

3. Menyepelekan dan melakukan perbuatan dosa
Awal dari perbuatan dosa adalah sikap menyepelekan (tidak patuh terhadap) perintah dan larangan Allah. Perbuatan dosa umumnya dilakukan secara bertahap, misalnya dimulai dari zinah pandangan mata yang dianggap dosa kecil kemudian berkembang menjadi zinah tubuh. Dosa-dosa kecil yang disepelekan merupakan proses pendidikan jahat (pembiasaan) untuk menyepelekan dosa-dosa besar. Karena itu basmilah dosa-dosa kecil selagi belum tumbuh menjadi dosa besar.

4. Jiwa yang selalu memerintahkan berbuat jahat
Ibnul Qayyim Al Jauziyyah mengatakan, Allah menggabungkan dua jiwa, yakni jiwa jahat dan jiwa yang tenang sekaligus dalam diri manusia, dan mereka saling bermusuhan dalam diri seorang manusia. Disaat salah satu melemah, maka yang lain menguat. Perang antar keduanya berlangsung terus hingga si empunya jiwa meninggal dunia. Adalah sungguh merugi orang-orang yang jiwa jahatnya menguasai tubuhnya. Seperti sabda Rasulullah, “..barang siapa yang diberi petunjuk Allah maka tidak ada yang dapat menyesatkannya, dan barang siapa yang disesatkannya maka tidak ada seorangpun yang dapat memberinya petunjuk”. Sifat lalai, tidak mau belajar agama, sombong dan tidak peduli merupakan beberapa cara untuk membiarkan jiwa jahat dalam tubuh kita berkuasa. Sedangkan sifat rendah hati, mau belajar, mau melakukan instropeksi (muhasabah) merupakan cara untuk memperkuat jiwa kebaikan (jiwa tenang) yang ada dalam tubuh kita.


Sebab-sebab dari luar diri kita (External) :

1. Syaitan
Syaitan adalah musuh manusia. Tujuan syaitan adalah untuk merusak keimanan orang. Siapa saja yang tidak membentengi dirinya dengan selalu mengingat Allah maka ia menjadi sarang syaitan, menjerumuskannya dalam kesesatan, ketidak patuhan terhadap Allah, membujuknya melakukan dosa.

2. Bujukan dan rayuan dunia
Allah SWT berfirman : “Ketahuilah, bahwa sesungguhnya kehidupan dunia itu hanyalah permainan dan suatu yang melalaikan, perhiasan dan bermegah-megah antara kamu serta berbangga-bangga tentang banyaknya harta dan anak, seperti hujan yang tanam-tanamannya mengagumkan para petani; kemudian tanaman itu menjadi kering dan kamu lihat warnanya kuning kemudian menjadi hancur. Dan di akhirat (nanti) ada azab yang keras dan ampunan dari Allah serta keridaan-Nya. Dan kehidupan dunia ini tidak lain hanyalah kesenangan yang menipu”. (QS, al-Hadiid 57:20).
Tujuan hidup manusia seluruhnya untuk akhirat. Apapun kegiatan dunia yang kita lakukan, seperti mencari nafkah, menonton TV, bertemu teman dan keluarga, seharusnya semua itu ditujukan untuk meraih pahala akhirat. Tidak secuilpun dari kegiatan duniawi boleh dilepaskan dari aturan main yang diperintahkan atau dilarang Allah. Ibnul Qayyim mengibaratkan hati sebagai suatu wadah bagi tujuan hidup manusia (akhirat dan duniawi) dengan kapasitas (daya tampung) tertentu. Ketika tujuan duniawi tumbuh maka ia akan mengurangi porsi tujuan akhirat. Ketika porsi tujuan akhirat bertambah maka porsi tujuan duniawi berkurang. Dalam situasi dimana tujuan dunia menguasai hati kita maka hanya tersisa sedikit porsi akhirat di hati kita, dan inilah awal dari menurunnya keimanan kita.

3. Pergaulan yang buruk
Rasulullah bersabda : “Seseorang itu terletak pada agama teman dekatnya, sehingga masing-masing kamu sebaiknya melihat kepada siapa dia mengambil teman dekatnya” (HR Tirmidzi, Abu Dawud, al-Hakim, al-Baghawi).
Seorang teman yang sholeh selalu memperhatikan perintah dan larangan Allah, karenanya ia selalu mengajak siapa saja orang disekitarnya untuk menuju kepada kebaikan dan mengingatkan mereka bila mendekati kemungkaran. Teman dan sahabat yang sholeh sangat penting kita miliki di zaman kini dimana pergaulan manusia sudah sangat bebas dan tidak lagi memperhatikan nilai-nilai agama Islam. Berada diantara teman-teman yang sholeh akan membuat seorang wanita tidak merasa asing bila mengenakan jilbab. Demikian pula seorang pria bisa merasa bersalah bila ia membicarakan aurat wanita diantara orang-orang sholeh. Sebaliknya berada diantara orang-orang yang tidak sholeh atau berperilaku buruk menjadikan kita dipandang aneh bila berjilbab atau bahkan ketika hendak melakukan sholat.


Menaikkan kadar iman bukanlah suatu pekerjaan mudah, karena begitu banyak usaha (menuntut ilmu, amalan-amalan) yang harus kita lakukan disamping godaan (syaitan, duniawi) yang akan kita hadapi. Paling tidak kita termasuk orang-orang yang lebih beruntung dibanding orang lain yang belum sempat mengetahui “sebab-sebab naik-turunnya iman” dalam tulisan ini. Mari kita ingatkan teman-teman kita dengan menyebarkan tulisan ini.


Sumber :
1. Sebab-sebab Naik Turunnya Iman, oleh Syaikh Abdur Razzaaq al-Abbaad
2. Asma’ul Husna, Ibnu Qayyim Al-Jauziyah
3. Penawar Hati yang Sakit, Ibnu Qayyim Al-Jauziyah

Source : kebunhikmah.com

Benarkah Orang Baik Belum Tentu Masuk Surga ?

Apakah Bunda Theresa yang sepanjang usia nya dibaktikan untuk umat miskin India harus masuk neraka ? Apakah Paus Paulus II yang pernah menjamu calon pembunuhnya dengan baik hingga si calon pembunuhpun membatalkan rencana pembunuhan tersebut juga tak pantas masuk surga ? Apakah Mahatma Gandi yang secara lembut, sabar dan selalu menggunakan jalan damai untuk membela kemerdekaan rakyat India juga harus masuk neraka ? Bagaimana pula dengan sebagian dari milyaran umat manusia non Islam yang baik hati, apakah mereka harus masuk neraka dibanding sebagian dari milyaran umat Islam tapi buruk perilakunya ?

Apakah Akhlak Menentukan Seseorang Masuk Surga atau Tidak ?

Ada satu jawaban yang singkat, jelas dan tegas untuk pertanyaan tersebut yaitu, “kalau memang akhlak dijadikan patokan oleh Tuhan untuk menentukan pantas tidaknya seseorang masuk surga, maka agama tidak diperlukan lagi di muka bumi ini”
Kalau memang akhlak kriteria utama menentukan masuk surga atau tidaknya seseorang, maka untuk apa lagi agama, karena tanpa agama saja orang bisa berbuat baik. Di negeri atheis seperti di Rusia, China, atau di negeri sekuler seperti Eropa dan Amerika, ditemukan banyak orang yang tak beragama tapi memiliki akhlak yang luar biasa baiknya. Tidak usah jauh-jauh, pasti kita sering menemukan diantara teman atau tetangga kita akhlaknya sangat baik, ia mengaku punya agama tapi tak pernah sholat atau ke gereja, tapi nyatanya akhlaknya lebih baik dari umat Islam yang rajin beribadah.

Sifat baik adalah fitrah yang diberikan Allah sejak kita didalam kandungan. Fitrah (sifat-sifat baik) adalah kecenderungan manusia untuk berbuat kebaikan, seperti halnya binatang buas diberi Allah kecenderungan untuk bersifat buas, mereka akan tetap buas walaupun manusia berusaha menjinakkannya. Hawa nafsu dan pilihan manusia sendiri yang membuat seorang manusia menjadi jahat dan berperilaku buruk.

Dalam sebuah hadits qudsi Allah SWT berfirman : “Sesungguhnya Aku menciptakan hamba-hamba-Ku dalam keadaan hanif (lurus) semuanya. Dan sesungguhnya mereka didatangi oleh setan yang menyebabkan mereka tersesat dari agama mereka” (HR Muslim).
Allah menganugerahi manusia kesempatan untuk memilih yang baik atau yang buruk sesuai firman Allah : “Dan Kami telah menunjukkan kepadanya dua jalan. (QS, Al-Balad 90 : 10). “Sesungguhnya Kami telah menunjukinya jalan yang lurus; ada yang bersyukur dan ada pula yang kafir.” (QS, Al-Insaan 76 : 3).
Kemudian setan berusaha mengaburkan jalan yang benar sehingga jalan yang baik oleh manusia dikira sesat, dan jalan yang sesat dikira benar. Allah SWT berfirman dalam Al-Quran surat Al Baqarah 2 : 216) : “Boleh jadi kamu membenci sesuatu, padahal ia amat baik bagimu, dan boleh jadi (pula) kamu menyukai sesuatu, padahal ia amat buruk bagimu; Allah mengetahui, sedang kamu tidak mengetahui.”

Namun tujuan tulisan ini sama sekali bukan untuk menyatakan bahwa akhlak yang baik tidak penting, atau menjadi muslim yang berperilaku buruk lebih baik daripada non-Islam yang baik hati. Tujuan tulian ini agar kita menyadari bahwa Tuhan tidak menuntut dari manusia sekedar akhlak yang baik, tapi juga ada hal lain yang lebih utama dibanding akhlak.

Bahkan Akhlak Seorang Muslim Yang Baik Sekalipun Tidak Cukup Untuk Membuatnya Masuk Surga.

Saat Rasulullah SAW lagi thawaf. Rasulullah SAW bertemu dengan seorang anak muda yang pundaknya lecet-lecet. Setelah selesai thawaf Rasulullah SAW bertanya kepada anak muda itu : "Kenapa pundakmu itu ?" Jawab anak muda itu : "Ya Rasulullah, saya dari Yaman, saya mempunyai seorang ibu yang sudah udzur. Saya sangat mencintai dia dan saya tidak pernah melepaskan dia. Saya melepaskan ibu saya hanya ketika buang hajat, ketika sholat, atau ketika istirahat, selain itu sisanya saya selalu menggendongnya". Lalu anak muda itu bertanya: " Ya Rasulullah, apakah aku sudah termasuk kedalam orang yang sudah berbakti kepada orang tua?" Nabi SAW sangat terharu mendengarnya, sambil memeluk anak muda itu ia berkata : "Sungguh Allah ridho kepadamu, kamu anak yang soleh, anak yang berbakti, tapi anakku ketahuilah, cinta orangtuamu tidak akan terbalaskan oleh pengorbanan dan kebaikanmu". Dari hadist tersebut kita mendapat gambaran bahwa amal ibadah kita ternyata tidak cukup untuk membalas cinta dan kebaikan orang tua kita terhadap anaknya. Kita merasa sudah cukup, tapi dalam perhitungan Allah nilai jasa kedua orang tua pada anaknya jauh lebih besar nilainya dari yang dibayangkan manusia. Pasti ada sesuatu perbuatan lain yang harus kita lakukan untuk memperbanyak balas budi kita pada kedua orang tua kita. Diantaranya dengan cara menjadi anak yang sholeh dan selalu mendoakan kedua orangtua kita.

Untuk membalas budi kedua orang tua saja kita tidak akan pernah sanggup, apalagi membalas kebaikan Tuhan yang mengkaruniakan kita fitrah kasih sayang pada kedua orang tua kita, yang mengkaruniakan kita mata yang mampu melihat, telinga yang mampu mendengar, lidah yang mampu merasakan kelezatan makanan, yang telah mengkaruniakan kita udara secara gratis.

Ada perspektif yang sama antara hadits tersebut barusan dengan hadits berikut ini. Rasulullah SAW pernah berkata, “Amal soleh yang kalian lakukan tidak bisa memasukkan kalian ke surga”. Lalu para sahabat bertanya: “Bagaimana dengan Engkau ya Rasulullah ?”. Jawab Rasulullah SAW : “Amal soleh sayapun juga tidak cukup”. Lalu para sahabat kembali bertanya : “Kalau begitu dengan apa kita masuk surga?” . Nabi SAW kembali menjawab : “Kita dapat masuk surga hanya karena rahmat dan kebaikan Allah semata”. Jadi sholat kita, puasa kita, taqarub kita kepada Allah sebenarnya bukan untuk surga tetapi untuk mendapatkan rahmat Allah. Dengan rahmat Allah itulah kita mendapatkan surga Allah. Amal soleh yang kita lakukan sepanjang hidup kita (walau setiap hari puasa dan sholat malam) tidaklah cukup untuk mendapatkan tiket masuk surga. Amal soleh sesempurna apapun yang kita lakukan seumur hidup kita tidaklah sebanding dengan nikmat surga yang dijanjikan Allah. Surga itu hanyalah sebagian kecil dari rahmat Allah, kita masuk surga bukan karena amal soleh kita, tetapi karena rahmat Allah.

Apa makna dari kedua hadits tersebut diatas ? Yaitu bahwa perbuatan baik (akhlak) dan ibadah kita ternyata tidak mampu untuk mendapatkan tiket ke surga. Hanya karena rahmat-Nya lah kita bisa ke surga. Akhlak dan amal ibadah juga tidak cukup menjamin kita terbebas dari api neraka, hanya ampunan-Nya lah yang bisa membuat kita terbebas dari api neraka. Karena itu kita diminta banyak memohon rahmat dan ampunan Allah.

Pertanyaan berikutnya (dikaitkan dengan judul tulisan ini) adalah apa syaratnya agar doa kita untuk memohon rahmat dan memohon ampunan Allah bisa diterima ?
Tidak semua orang diberi rahmat surga, dan tidak semua orang diberi ampunan dari ancaman neraka. Karena itu Allah menentukan syarat utamanya adalah beriman kepada-Nya dan rasul-Nya (melalui syahadat). Ia harus memiliki aqidah yang benar, memahami siapa Tuhan yang disembahnya dengan benar, apa yang dimaui-Nya, bagaimana cara mencintai-Nya. Inilah syarat utama agar permohonan rahmat dan ampunan kita bisa diterima.

Apakah Benar Anggapan Bahwa Sifat Allah yang Maha Pengasih dan Penyayang Akan Membuat Allah Tidak Mungkin (Tega) Menghukum Orang Yang Baik Hati ?

Di akhirat kelak orang yang tidak beriman kepada Allah akan membawa amal kebaikannya ke hadapan Allah, tapi kemudian Allah tidak menerimanya, seperti tersebut dalam Al Qur’an surat Al Furqan ayat 23, “Dan Kami hadapi segala amal yang mereka kerjakan, lalu Kami jadikan amal itu (bagaikan) debu yang berterbangan”.

Ibarat seorang pembantu yang bekerja keras pada majikannya, setiap hari ia bangun pagi membersihkan rumah, mencuci pakaian, menyapu halaman, menjaga keselamatan anak majikan selama majikan bekerja diluar. Namun sang pembantu yang rajin ini ternyata tidak sopan dalam kata dan perilaku, Sang pembantu tidak mau berusaha memperbaiki sikapnya ini pada atasannya, karena ia mempunyai pendapat sendiri tak mungkin majikan akan memecatnya karena ia sudah bekerja sangat keras dan merawat anak-anak majikannya dengan baik. Ia tidak juga berusaha mencari tahu apa yang diinginkan sang majikan. Padahal jelas sang majikan sudah menulis tatatertib dan uraian kerja pembantu rumah tangga, diantaranya disebutkan bahwa kesopanan adalah syarat terpenting bekerja di rumah majikan tersebut. Bahkan terkadang ia sombong dan keras hati serta menyimpulkan sendiri bahwa sebagai orang yang berintelektual tinggi seharusnya majikannya bisa menerima kekurangan sang pembantu. Iapun kaget ketika di akhir bulan, sang majikan memecatnya dengan alasan tidak sopan. Ia protes tapi majikannya punya hak.

Analogi sederhana ini, menyiratkan bahwa agar doa, ampunan, amal dan ibadah kita bisa diterima Allah hendaknya kita mengenal Allah secara baik, melalui perenungan dan makrifatullah. Kitapun sebagai hamba Allah perlu mencari tahu apa sebenarnya syarat utama yang diinginkan Allah agar segala amal ibadah dan akhlak baik kita diterima Allah. Tidak susah mengenal Allah karena karya-Nya ada disekeliling kita, yaitu alam semesta ini, bahkan Ia telah memperkenalkan diri-Nya pada manusia melalui kitab-kitab suci dan ajaran nabi-Nya. Dengan mengenal allah secara baik kita akan tahu bahwa Allah sangatlah penyayang, demikian sabar dengan kelemahan manusia, terlalu banyak kesalahan kita yang dimaafkan-Nya, bahkan kita akan tahu bahwa terlalu berlebihan kalau keimanan, amal ibadah dan kebaikan kita dibalas dengan surga yang luar biasa nikmatnya. Dengan hati yang bersih dan ilmu yang cukup juga akan memudahkan kita memahami mengapa Allah mengancam orang-orang tidak beriman dan yang buruk akhlaknya dengan neraka.

Memahami Allah dengan menggunakan kemampuan akal manusia adalah sia-sia, karena hakikat sifat-sifat Allah tidak dicerna oleh akal manusia, tapi oleh hati manusia. Hati manusia akan membantu kita memahami Allah, karena didalam hati bersemayam fitrah manusia yang salah satunya memiliki sifat-sifat cinta kepada Allah. Hatipun perlu dibersihkan terlebih dahulu dari kotoran (sifat sombong, dengki, kikir, dsbnya) agar fitrah manusia bisa diaktifkan untuk memahami sifat-sifat Allah dengan baik.

Tanpa Mengenal Sifat Allah Dengan Baik Maka Sia-sialah Akhlak Baik, Amal dan Ibadah Kita

Melalui pengenalan yang baik terhadap Allah melalui cara-cara yang diatur dalam Qur’an dan hadits, akan kita temukan bahwa Allah mensyaratkan aqidah Islam yang benar sebelum segala amal ibadahnya diterima.

Aqidah adalah hal yang pokok yang membedakan Islam dengan agama lainnya. Aqidah adalah fondasi bangunan seorang umat Muslim, sedang ibadah (syariah) adalah dinding bangunan seorang Muslim, lalu akhlak adalah atapnya. Tanpa fondasi maka ia pun tidak bisa mendirikan bangunan diri seorang Muslim, tanpa aqidah yang benar dan lurus iapun tidak pantas disebut seorang Muslim. Tanpa ibadah yang sesuai syariah Islam, iapun belum sempurna untuk dikatakan sebagai sebuah bangunan yang bernama Muslim. Demikian pula, tanpa Atap yang bernama akhlak, bangunan yang bernama Muslim ini belum utuh dan akan mudah rusak oleh hujan dan panas. Muslim yang baik wajib memiliki ketiga syarat ini (aqidah, ibadah dan akhlak) secara lengkap, tidak kurang satupun, dan harus sempurna. Bila aqidahnya salah, maka kekal lah ia di neraka, bila ibadah dan akhlak buruk maka ia ‘mungkin’ masih berpeluang masuk surga setelah di’cuci’ dulu di neraka. Semoga kita tidak termasuk sebagai orang yang di’cuci’ dulu, apalagi kekal, di neraka. Mumpung kita masih hidup di dunia ini, semoga kita diberi ilmu oleh Allah SWT mengenai kedahsyatan akhirat dan neraka, supaya kita tidak menggampangkan diri untuk menganggap bahwa di’cuci’ di neraka adalah bukan masalah besar. Tidak untuk sedetikpun ! Naudzu billah min dzalik.

Aqidah adalah apa yang diyakini seseorang, bebas dari keraguan. Aqidah adalah iman yang teguh dan pasti, yang tidak ada keraguan sedikitpun bagi orang yang meyakininya. Aqidah merupakan perbuatan hati, yaitu kepercayaan hati dan pembenarannya kepada sesuatu. Aqidah Islam merupakan syarat pokok menjadi seorang mukmin, dan merupakan syarat sahnya semua amal kita. Untuk memperoleh aqidah yang lurus kita perlu mempelajari dan memahami sifat-sifat Allah dan apa-apa yang disukai dan dibenci Allah. Tanpa aqidah yang lurus maka amal ibadah kita tidak diterima-Nya. Salah satu hal yang paling dibenci Allah SWT adalah syirik, yaitu mensejajarkan diri-Nya dengan makhluk atau benda ciptaan-Nya. Allah berfirman, “Jika kamu mempersekutukan (Tuhan), niscaya akan hapuslah amalmu dan tentulah kamu termasuk orang yang merugi” (QS, Az-Zumar: 65).

Aqidah adalah tauqifiyah, artinya tidak bisa ditetapkan kecuali dengan dalil, dan tidak ada medan ijtihad atau berpendapat didalamnya. Sumbernya hanya al-Qur’an dan as-Sunnah, sebab tidak ada yang lebih mengetahui tentang sifat-sifat Allah selain Allah sendiri. Aqidah Islamiyah adalah keimanan yang teguh dan bersifat pasti kepada Allah SWT dengan segala pelaksanaan kewajiban, bertauhid dan ta’at kepada-Nya, beriman kepada Malaikat-Malaikat-Nya, Rasul-Rasul-Nya, Kitab-Kitab-Nya, hari akhir, taqdir baik dan buruk dan mengimani seluruh apa-apa yang sudah shahih tentang Prinsip-Prinsip Agama (Ushuluddin), perkara-perkara yang ghaib, beriman kepada apa yang menjadi ijma’ (konsensus) dari Salafush Shalih, serta seluruh berita-berita qath’i (pasti), baik secara ilmiah maupun secara amaliyah yang telah ditetapkan menurut al-Qur-an dan as-Sunnah yang shahih serta ijma’ Salafush Shalih.

Begitu pentingnya aqidah dalam Islam, sehingga pelurusan aqidah adalah dakwah yang pertama-tama dilakukan para rasul Allah, setelah itu baru mereka mengajarkan perintah agama (syariat) yang lain. Didalam Al Qur’an, surat Al-A’raf ayat 59, 65, 73 dan 85, tertulis beberapa kali ajakan para nabi, “Wahai kaumku, sembahlah Allah, sekali-kali tidak ada Tuhan selain-Nya”. Dengan demikian ilmu Tauhid sebagai ilmu yang menjelaskan aqidah yang lurus, merupakan ilmu pokok yang harus dipahami sebaik mungkin oleh setiap umat Islam yang ingin memperdalam ilmu agamanya. Tanpa aqidah yang benar seseorang akan terbenam dalam keraguan dan berbagai prasangka, yang lama kelamaan akan menutup pandangannya dan menjauhkannya dari jalan hidup kebahagiaan. Tanpa aqidah yang lurus seseorang akan mudah dipengaruhi dan dibuat ragu oleh berbagai informasi yang menyesatkan keimanan kita.

Wallahu a’lam bish shawab.

Source : kebunhikmah.com

Islamnya Napoleon Bonaparte

Siapa yang tidak mengenal Napoleon Bonaparte, seorang Jendral dan Kaisar Prancis yang tenar kelahiran Ajaccio, Corsica 1769. Namanya terdapat dalam urutan ke-34 dari Seratus Tokoh yang paling berpengaruh dalam sejarah yang ditulis oleh Michael H. Hart.

Sebagai seorang yang berkuasa dan berdaulat penuh terhadap negara Prancis sejak Agustus 1793, seharusnya ia merasa puas dengan segala apa yang telah diperolehnya itu.

Tapi rupanya kemegahan dunia belum bisa memuaskan batinnya, agama yang dianutnya waktu itu ternyata tidak bisa membuat Napoleon Bonaparte merasa tenang dan damai.

Akhirnya pada tanggal 02 Juli 1798, 23 tahun sebelum kematiannya ditahun 1821, Napoleon Bonaparte menyatakan ke-Islamannya dihadapan dunia Internasional.

Apa yang membuat Napoleon ini lebih memilih Islam daripada agama lamanya, Kristen ?

Berikut penuturannya sendiri yang pernah dimuat dimajalah Genuine Islam, edisi Oktober 1936 terbitan Singapura.

"I read the Bible; Moses was an able man, the Jews are villains, cowardly and cruel. Is there anything more horrible than the story of Lot and his daughters ?"

"The science which proves to us that the earth is not the centre of the celestial movements has struck a great blow at religion. Joshua stops the sun ! One shall see the stars falling into the sea... I say that of all the suns and planets,..."

"Saya membaca Bible; Musa adalah orang yang cakap, sedang orang Yahudi adalah bangsat, pengecut dan jahat. Adakah sesuatu yang lebih dahsyat daripada kisah Lut beserta kedua puterinya ?" (Lihat Kejadian 19:30-38)

"Sains telah menunjukkan bukti kepada kita, bahwa bumi bukanlah pusat tata surya, dan ini merupakan pukulan hebat terhadap agama Kristen. Yosua menghentikan matahari (Yosua 10: 12-13). Orang akan melihat bintang-bintang berjatuhan kedalam laut.... saya katakan, semua matahari dan planet-planet ...."

Selanjutnya Napoleon Bonaparte berkata :
"Religions are always based on miracles, on such things than nobody listens to like Trinity. Yesus called himself the son of God and he was a descendant of David. I prefer the religion of Muhammad. It has less ridiculous things than ours; the turks also call us idolaters."


"Agama-agama itu selalu didasarkan pada hal-hal yang ajaib, seperti halnya Trinitas yang sulit dipahami. Yesus memanggil dirinya sebagai anak Tuhan, padahal ia keturunan Daud. Saya lebih meyakini agama yang dibawa oleh Muhammad. Islam terhindar jauh dari kelucuan-kelucuan ritual seperti yang terdapat didalam agama kita (Kristen); Bangsa Turki juga menyebut kita sebagai orang-orang penyembah berhala dan dewa."

Selanjutnya :
"Surely, I have told you on different occations and I have intimated to you by various discourses that I am a Unitarian Musselman and I glorify the prophet Muhammad and that I love the Musselmans."


"Dengan penuh kepastian saya telah mengatakan kepada anda semua pada kesempatan yang berbeda, dan saya harus memperjelas lagi kepada anda disetiap ceramah, bahwa saya adalah seorang Muslim, dan saya memuliakan nabi Muhammad serta mencintai orang-orang Islam."

Akhirnya ia berkata :
"In the name of God the Merciful, the Compassionate. There is no god but God, He has no son and He reigns without a partner."


"Dengan nama Allah yang Maha Pengasih dan Maha Penyayang. Tiada Tuhan selain Allah. Ia tidak beranak dan Ia mengatur segala makhlukNya tanpa pendamping."

Napoleon Bonaparte mengagumi AlQuran setelah membandingkan dengan kitab sucinya, Alkitab (Injil). Akhirnya ia menemukan keunggulan-keunggulan Al-Quran daripada Alkitab (Injil), juga semua cerita yang melatar belakanginya.


Referensi :
1. Memoirs of Napoleon Bonaparte by Louis Antoine Fauvelet de Bourrienne edited by R.W. Phipps. Vol. 1 (New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1889) p. 168-169.
http://chnm.gmu.edu/revolution/d/612/
2. 'Napoleon And Islam' by C. Cherfils. ISBN: 967-61-0898-7
http://www.shef.ac.uk/~ics/whatis/articles/napoleon.htm
3. Satanic Voices - Ancient and Modern by David M. Pidcock, (1992 ISBN: 1-81012-03-1), it states on page 61, that the then official French Newspaper, Le Moniteur, carried the accounts of his conversion to Islam, in 1798 C.E

Source : kebunhikmah.com

Tiap Tahun 3600 Warga Prancis Masuk Islam

Kajian yang dilaksanakan Kementrian Dalam Negeri Negara Prancis menyimpulkan, bahwa perkembangan agama Islam di Prancis sangat pesat. Agama Islam menjadi urutan ke dua setelah agama Nashrani.

Lebih lanjut kajian itu menyatakan, bahwa lebih dari 3600 warga Negara Prancis masuk Islam setiap tahunnya. Penganut agama ini paling taat terhadap undang-undang yang ada. Kejahatan yang dilakukan umat muslim sangat minim. Sebagaimana juga umat Islam sangat disiplin terhadap pelaksanaan ajaran Islam, seperti shalat, shaum, dan tidak mengkonsumsi khamer.

Lebih dari 60% umat Islam di Prancis tidak mengkonsumsi khamer selamnya, meskipun hanya sekali dalam hidupnya. 55% dari mereka akan menunaikan ibadah haji tahun depan.

Kajian ini menutup pernyataannya, bahwa mayoritas pemuda muslim di negara yang terkenal dengan menara Eifelnya ini sangat komitmen terhadap agamanya. Faktor inilah yang menjadikan Islam berkembang sangat pesat di Prancis.

Kajian ini sesuai dengan hasil survai yang dirilis oleh Sekolah Tinggi Negeri Program Survai dan Kajian Ekonomi di Prancis tahun 2005, bahwa jumlah anak yang lahir dan diberi nama seperti nama Rasulullah saw. –Muhammad- sebanyak lima puluh tiga ribu tiga ratus tujuh puluh tujuh (53 377) orang.

Sejarah mencatat penamaan Muhammad melonjak tajam selama lima puluh tahun belakangan ini, padahal belum pernah tercatat secara resmi kelahiran orang Prancis sebelum Tahun 1925 dengan nama Muhammad. Pada Tahun 1926 berdiri Masjid Agung Prancis, semenjak itu tertulis secara administrasi formal nama anak pertama yang lahir dan diberi nama Muhammad.

Dalam survai itu juga disebutkan bahwa tersebarnya penamaan Muhammad, juga nama-nama religius atau nama yang ada kaitannya dengan momentum sejarah terhadap anak-anak mereka, sangat erat kaitannya dengan tersebarnya kegiatan-kegiatan keagamaan yang dilihat dan diikuti oleh minoritas muslim di Barat sejak akhir tahun enam puluhan.

Islam Di Italia

Menteri Dalam Negeri Italia telah mengumumkan pada tanggar 8 April lalu, bahwa jumlah penduduk yang menganut agama Islam sampai sekarang ini berjumlah dua juta orang.
Padahal pada tahun 2001 baru berjumlah satu koma enam juta orang. Dalam rentang waktu tujuh tahun itu pertumbuhan umat Islam di sini mencapai empat ratus ribu orang.

Tabloit “The Guardian” bahwa angka terbaru dari jumlah umat Islam membuktikan secara nyata bahwa Islam sangat berpengaruh di Italia. Islam menjadi agama kedua yang di anut penduduk Italia setelah agama Nashrani. Jumlah umat Islam di Italia mencapai tiga koma tiga persen (3,3%) dari total keseluruhan jumlah penduduk Italia.

Masih menurut tabloid ini, bahwa Islam menjadi agama yang paling cepat pertumbuhannya di negara Italia. (it/ut)

Source : kebunhikmah.com

Dahsyatnya Proses Sakaratul Maut

“Demi Allah, seandainya jenazah yang sedang kalian tangisi bisa berbicara sekejab, lalu menceritakan (pengalaman sakaratul mautnya) pada kalian, niscaya kalian akan melupakan jenazah tersebut, dan mulai menangisi diri kalian sendiri”. (Imam Ghozali mengutip atsar Al-Hasan).

Datangnya Kematian Menurut Al Qur’an :

1. Kematian bersifat memaksa dan siap menghampiri manusia walaupun kita berusaha menghindarkan resiko-resiko kematian.
Katakanlah: "Sekiranya kamu berada di rumahmu, niscaya orang-orang yang telah ditakdirkan akan mati terbunuh itu ke luar (juga) ke tempat mereka terbunuh". Dan Allah (berbuat demikian) untuk menguji apa yang ada dalam dadamu dan untuk membersihkan apa yang ada dalam hatimu. Allah Maha Mengetahui isi hati. (QS Ali Imran, 3:154)

2. Kematian akan mengejar siapapun meskipun ia berlindung di balik benteng yang kokoh atau berlindung di balik teknologi kedokteran yang canggih serta ratusan dokter terbaik yang ada di muka bumi ini.
Di mana saja kamu berada, kematian akan mendapatkan kamu, kendati pun kamu di dalam benteng yang tinggi lagi kokoh, dan jika mereka memperoleh kebaikan, mereka mengatakan: "Ini adalah dari sisi Allah", dan kalau mereka ditimpa sesuatu bencana mereka mengatakan: "Ini (datangnya) dari sisi kamu (Muhammad)". Katakanlah: "Semuanya (datang) dari sisi Allah". Maka mengapa orang-orang itu (orang munafik) hampir-hampir tidak memahami pembicaraan sedikit pun? (QS An-Nisa 4:78)

3. Kematian akan mengejar siapapun walaupun ia lari menghindar.
Katakanlah: "Sesungguhnya kematian yang kamu lari daripadanya, maka sesungguhnya kematian itu akan menemui kamu, kemudian kamu akan dikembalikan kepada (Allah), yang mengetahui yang gaib dan yang nyata, lalu Dia beritakan kepadamu apa yang telah kamu kerjakan". (QS al-Jumu’ah, 62:8)

4. Kematian datang secara tiba-tiba.
Sesungguhnya Allah, hanya pada sisi-Nya sajalah pengetahuan tentang Hari Kiamat; dan Dia-lah Yang menurunkan hujan, dan mengetahui apa yang ada dalam rahim. Dan tiada seorang pun yang dapat mengetahui (dengan pasti) apa yang akan diusahakannya besok. Dan tiada seorang pun yang dapat mengetahui di bumi mana dia akan mati. Sesungguhnya Allah Maha Mengetahui lagi Maha Mengenal. (QS, Luqman 31:34)

5. Kematian telah ditentukan waktunya, tidak dapat ditunda atau dipercepat
Dan Allah sekali-kali tidak akan menangguhkan (kematian) seseorang apabila datang waktu kematiannya. Dan Allah Maha Mengetahui apa yang kamu kerjakan. (QS, Al-Munafiqun, 63:11)


Dahsyatnya Rasa Sakit Saat Sakaratul Maut

Sabda Rasulullah SAW : “Sakaratul maut itu sakitnya sama dengan tusukan tiga ratus pedang” (HR Tirmidzi)
Sabda Rasulullah SAW : “Kematian yang paling ringan ibarat sebatang pohon penuh duri yang menancap di selembar kain sutera. Apakah batang pohon duri itu dapat diambil tanpa membawa serta bagian kain sutera yang tersobek ?” (HR Bukhari)

Atsar (pendapat) para sahabat Rasulullah SAW .
Ka’b al-Ahbar berpendapat : “Sakaratul maut ibarat sebatang pohon berduri yang dimasukkan kedalam perut seseorang. Lalu, seorang lelaki menariknya dengan sekuat-kuatnya sehingga ranting itupun membawa semua bagian tubuh yang menyangkut padanya dan meninggalkan yang tersisa”.

Imam Ghozali berpendapat : “Rasa sakit yang dirasakan selama sakaratul maut menghujam jiwa dan menyebar ke seluruh anggota tubuh sehingga bagian orang yang sedang sekarat merasakan dirinya ditarik-tarik dan dicerabut dari setiap urat nadi, urat syaraf, persendian, dari setiap akar rambut dan kulit kepala hingga kaki”.

Imam Ghozali juga mengutip suatu riwayat ketika sekelompok Bani Israil yang sedang melewati sebuah pekuburan berdoa pada Allah SWT agar Ia menghidupkan satu mayat dari pekuburan itu sehingga mereka bisa mengetahui gambaran sakaratul maut. Dengan izin Allah melalui suatu cara tiba-tiba mereka dihadapkan pada seorang pria yang muncul dari salah satu kuburan. “Wahai manusia !”, kata pria tersebut. “Apa yang kalian kehendaki dariku? Limapuluh tahun yang lalu aku mengalami kematian, namun hingga kini rasa perih bekas sakaratul maut itu belum juga hilang dariku.”

Proses sakaratul maut bisa memakan waktu yang berbeda untuk setiap orang, dan tidak dapat dihitung dalam ukuran detik seperti hitungan waktu dunia ketika kita menyaksikan detik-detik terakhir kematian seseorang. Mustafa Kemal Attaturk, bapak modernisasi (sekularisasi) Turki, yang mengganti Turki dari negara bersyariat Islam menjadi negara sekular, dikabarkan mengalami proses sakaratul maut selama 6 bulan (walau tampak dunianya hanya beberapa detik), seperti dilaporkan oleh salah satu keturunannya melalui sebuah mimpi.

Rasa sakit sakaratul maut dialami setiap manusia, dengan berbagai macam tingkat rasa sakit, ini tidak terkait dengan tingkat keimanan atau kezhaliman seseorang selama ia hidup. Sebuah riwayat bahkan mengatakan bahwa rasa sakit sakaratul maut merupakan suatu proses pengurangan kadar siksaan akhirat kita kelak. Demikianlah rencana Allah. Wallahu a’lam bis shawab.


Sakaratul Maut Orang-orang Zhalim

Imam Ghozali mengutip sebuah riwayat yang menceritakan tentang keinginan Ibrahim as untuk melihat wajah Malaikatul Maut ketika mencabut nyawa orang zhalim. Allah SWT pun memperlihatkan gambaran perupaan Malaikatul Maut sebagai seorang pria besar berkulit legam, rambut berdiri, berbau busuk, memiliki dua mata, satu didepan satu dibelakang, mengenakan pakaian serba hitam, sangat menakutkan, dari mulutnya keluar jilatan api, ketika melihatnya Ibrahim as pun pingsan tak sadarkan diri. Setelah sadar Ibrahim as pun berkata bahwa dengan memandang wajah Malaikatul Maut rasanya sudah cukup bagi seorang pelaku kejahatan untuk menerima ganjaran hukuman kejahatannya, padahal hukuman akhirat Allah jauh lebih dahsyat dari itu.

Kisah ini menggambarkan bahwa melihat wajah Malakatul Maut saja sudah menakutkan apalagi ketika sang Malaikat mulai menyentuh tubuh kita, menarik paksa roh dari tubuh kita, kemudian mulai menghentak-hentak tubuh kita agar roh (yang masih cinta dunia dan enggan meninggalkan dunia) lepas dari tubuh kita ibarat melepas akar serabut-serabut baja yang tertanam sangat dalam di tanah yang terbuat dari timah keras.

Itulah wajah Malaikatul Maut yang akan mendatangi kita kelak dan memisahkan roh dari tubuh kita. Itulah wajah yang seandainya kita melihatnya dalam mimpi sekalipun maka kita tidak akan pernah lagi bisa tertawa dan merasakan kegembiraan sepanjang sisa hidup kita.

Alangkah dahsyatnya sekiranya kamu melihat di waktu orang-orang yang zalim (berada) dalam tekanan-tekanan sakratulmaut, sedang para malaikat memukul dengan tangannya, (sambil berkata): "Keluarkanlah nyawamu". Di hari ini kamu dibalas dengan siksaan yang sangat menghinakan, karena kamu selalu mengatakan terhadap Allah (perkataan) yang tidak benar dan (karena) kamu selalu menyombongkan diri terhadap ayat-ayat-Nya. (QS Al-An’am 6:93)
(Yaitu) orang-orang yang dimatikan oleh para malaikat dalam keadaan berbuat lalim kepada diri mereka sendiri, lalu mereka menyerah diri (sambil berkata); "Kami sekali-kali tidak mengerjakan sesuatu kejahatan pun". (Malaikat menjawab): "Ada, sesungguhnya Allah Maha Mengetahui apa yang telah kamu kerjakan". Maka masukilah pintu-pintu neraka Jahanam, kamu kekal di dalamnya. Maka amat buruklah tempat orang-orang yang menyombongkan diri itu. (QS, An-Nahl, 16 : 28-29)

Di akhir sakaratul maut, seorang manusia akan diperlihatkan padanya wajah dua Malaikat Pencatat Amal. Kepada orang zhalim, si malaikat akan berkata, “Semoga Allah tidak memberimu balasan yang baik, engkaulah yang membuat kami terpaksa hadir kami ke tengah-tengah perbuatan kejimu, dan membuat kami hadir menyaksikan perbuatan burukmu, memaksa kami mendengar ucapan-ucapan burukmu. Semoga Allah tidak memberimu balasan yang baik ! “ Ketika itulah orang yang sekarat itu menatap lesu ke arah kedua malaikat itu.

Ketika sakaratul maut hampir selesai, dimana tenaga mereka telah hilang dan roh mulai merayap keluar dari jasad mereka, maka tibalah saatnya Malaikatul Maut mengabarkan padanya rumahnya kelak di akhirat. Rasulullah SAW pernah bersabda, “Tak seorangpun diantara kalian yang akan meninggalkan dunia ini kecuali telah diberikan tempat kembalinya dan diperlihatkan padanya tempatnya di surga atau di neraka”.
Dan inilah ucapan malaikat ketika menunjukkan rumah akhirat seorang zhalim di neraka, “Wahai musuh Allah, itulah rumahmu kelak, bersiaplah engkau merasakan siksa neraka”. Naudzu bila min dzalik!


Sakaratul Maut Orang-orang Yang Bertaqwa

Sebaliknya Imam Ghozali mengatakan bahwa orang beriman akan melihat rupa Malaikatul Maut sebagai pemuda tampan, berpakaian indah dan menyebarkan wangi yang sangat harum.

Dan dikatakan kepada orang-orang yang bertakwa: "Apakah yang telah diturunkan oleh Tuhanmu?" Mereka menjawab: "(Allah telah menurunkan) kebaikan". Orang-orang yang berbuat baik di dunia ini mendapat (pembalasan) yang baik. Dan sesungguhnya kampung akhirat adalah lebih baik dan itulah sebaik-baik tempat bagi orang yang bertakwa, (yaitu) surga Adn yang mereka masuk ke dalamnya, mengalir di bawahnya sungai-sungai, di dalam surga itu mereka mendapat segala apa yang mereka kehendaki. Demikianlah Allah memberi balasan kepada orang-orang yang bertakwa. (yaitu) orang-orang yang diwafatkan dalam keadaan baik oleh para malaikat dengan mengatakan (kepada mereka): "Assalamu alaikum, masuklah kamu ke dalam surga itu disebabkan apa yang telah kamu kerjakan". (QS, An-Nahl, 16 : 30-31-32)

Dan saat terakhir sakaratul mautnya, malaikatpun akan menunjukkan surga yang akan menjadi rumahnya kelak di akhirat, dan berkata padanya, “Bergembiaralah, wahai sahabat Allah, itulah rumahmu kelak, bergembiralah dalam masa-masa menunggumu”.

Wallahu a’lam bish-shawab.

Semoga kita yang masih hidup dapat selalu dikaruniai hidayah-Nya, berada dalam jalan yang benar, selalu istiqomah dalam keimanan, dan termasuk umat yang dimudahkan-Nya, selama hidup di dunia, di akhir hidup, ketika sakaratul maut, di alam barzakh, di Padang Mahsyar, di jembatan jembatan Sirath-al mustaqim, dan seterusnya.
Amin !

Source : kebunhikmah.com

Hakikat Hidup di Dunia

Sebagai seorang muslim yang beriman kepada Allah SWT dan hari akhir, pandangan kita terhadap kehidupan di dunia ini tidak lain hanyalah sekedar tempat mampir sebentar. Sebab masih ada perjalanan panjang seorang anak manusia ke depannya. Dunia ini adalah alam yang berada pada urutan kedua dalam perjalanan manusia, setelah sebelumnya hidup di alam
rahim, selama kurang lebih 9 bulan. Dunia yang sekarang kita tempati ini, paling lama 100 tahun akan kita tempuh. Tapi ukuran ini tidak baku, sebab kapan saja dan dimana saja, Allah SWT akan berkenan memindahkan kita ke alam lainnya lagi.

Bisa saja seorang baru sekali menghirup udara dunia ini, lalu Allah SWT langsung memanggilnya. Ada juga yang sudah tua, tapi tidak sedikit yang masih muda, sehat wal afiat, punya karir bagus, kaya, terhormat dan sedang jaya-jayanya, namun ketentuan Allah SWT tidak bisa ditolak oleh manusia manapun. Kapan saja Allah mau, dicabutlah nyawa kita, dengan sebab tertentu atau pun tanpa sebab tertentu. Segala macam daya dan upaya yang kita lakukan, tidak akan mampu menolak apa yang telah Allah tetapkan.

Setelah melewati alam dunia ini, semua manusia akan mengalami banyak alam lainnya. Pilihannya ada dua, mendapatkan kenikmatan atau kesengsaraan. Tapi memilihnya harus sejak sekarang ini, bukan pada saat kita sudah di alam lain nanti. Sebab alam dunia sekarang ini memang telah ditetapkan oleh Allah untuk dijadikan penentu tempat kita ketika berpindah ke alam lain.

Di alam dunia ini, Allah hanya meminta kita untuk menyatakan pengakuan bahwa tidak ada tuhan kecuali Allah dan bahwa nabi Muhammad SAW adalah utusannya. Lalu kita hidup dengan menggunakan aturan syariah yang telah ditetapkannya. Semua informasi tentang tata cara kehidupan yang dikehendaki-Nya, sudah disampaikan dengan sangat jelas melalui Qur’an dan Hadits. Tidak ada alasan lagi untuk berdalih bahwa seseorang di dunia ini tidak mendapatkan informasi apa-apa tentang agamanya.

Bila seseorang di dunia ini menjalankan apa yang Allah tetapkan, maka ketika masuk ke alam lain nanti, kebahagiaan akan tetap meliputinya. Baik kebahagiaan jasmani maupun rohani. Sebaliknya, bila alam dunia ini dijadikan tempat untuk main-main, melupakan apa yang Allah perintahkan, melanggar apa yang telah dilarangnya, menganggap sepi semua aturan-Nya,
maka begitu masuk ke alam lain, dia harus siap hidup sengsara lahir batin. Di alam kubur akan disiksa dengan azab yang pedih. Di padang mahsyar akan dibuat tersesat dan ketakutan. Di pengadilan akhir zaman akan dijatuhkan vonis berat dan kemudian akhirnya akan dimasukkan ke
dalam gejolak api neraka yang menyakitkan.

Alangkah bahagianya seseorang yang bisa melihat peta perjalanan seorang anak manusia dengan cara seperti ini. Toh, masa hidupnya di alam dunia ini sangat relatif, bisa lama atau bisa juga sebentar. Sedangkan alam-alam lain yang akan kita hadapi nanti begitu besar dan abadi.
Sayang sekali bila kesempatan emas berupa waktu yang disediakan di alam dunia ini kita sia-siakan. Lebih baik sedikit susah, sabar dan bersungguh-sungguh di alam dunia yang hanya sementara, dari pada tersiksa abadi di alam lainnya lagi.

Kita semua akan segera pindah alam, cepat atau lambat. Pastikan bahwa ketika kita pindah ke alam lain, kita membawa bekal iman dan amal shalih. Kalau tidak, kita akan sangat merugi.

Demi masa, sesungguhnya manusia berada dalam kerugian. Kecuali mereka
yang beriman dan beramal shalih, serta saling menasehati dengan kebenaran dan saling menasehati dengan kesabaran (QS Al-'Ashr: 1-4)

Sumber : Ahmad Sarwat, Lc, www.eramuslim.com (kebunhikmah)

Makna Islam Sebagai Rahmat Bagi Alam Semesta

Memahami Rahmat Islam
“Dan tidaklah Kami mengutus kamu, melainkan untuk (menjadi) rahmat bagi semesta alam.” (QS 21: 107). Ayat di atas sering dijadikan hujjah bahwa Islam adalah agama rahmat. Itu benar. Rahmat Islam itu luas, seluas dan seluwes ajaran Islam itu sendiri. Itu pun juga pemahaman yang benar.

Sebagian orang secara sengaja (karena ada maksud buruk) ataupun tidak sengaja (karena pemahaman Islamnya yang tidak dalam), sering memaknai ayat tersebut diatas secara menyimpang. Mereka ini mengartikan rahmat Islam harus tercermin dalam suasana sosial yang sejuk, damai dan toleransi dimana saja Islam berada, apalagi sebagai mayoritas. Sementara dibaliknya sebenarnya ada tujuan lain atau kebodohan lain yang justru bertentangan dengan Islam itu sendiri, misalnya memboleh-bolehkan ucapan natal dari seorang Muslim terhadap umat Nasrani atau bersifat permisive terhadap ajaran sesat yang tetap mengaku Islam.

Islam sebagai rahmat bagi alam semesta adalah tujuan bukan proses. Artinya untuk menjadi rahmat bagi alam semesta bisa jadi umat Islam harus melalui beberapa ujian, kesulitan atau peperangan seperti di zaman Rasulullah. Walau tidak selalu harus melalui langkah sulit apalagi perang, namun sejarah manapun selalu mengatakan kedamaian dan kesejukan selalu didapatkan dengan perjuangan. Misalnya, untuk menjadikan sebuah kota menjadi aman diperlukan kerjakeras polisi dan aparat hukum untuk memberi pelajaran bagi pelanggar hukum. Jadi logikanya, agar tercipta kesejukan, kedamaian dan toleransi yang baik maka hukum Islam harus diupayakan dapat dijalankan secara kaffah. Sebaliknya, jangan dikatakan bahwa umat Islam harus bersifat sejuk, damai dan toleransi kepada pelanggar hukum dengan alasan Islam adalah agama rahmat.

Mencari Rahmat Islam
Allah SWT berfirman, “Hai orang-orang yang beriman, masuklah kamu ke dalam Islam secara keseluruhannya. Dan janganlah kamu turut langkah-langkah syaitan. Sesungguhnya syaitan itu musuh yang nyata bagimu,” (QS al-Baqarah: 208)
Ada banyak dimensi dari universalitas ajaran Islam. Di antaranya adalah, dimensi rahmat. Rahmat Allah yang bernama Islam meliputi seluruh dimensi kehidupan manusia. Allah telah mengutus Rasul-Nya sebagai rahmat bagi seluruh manusia agar mereka mengambil petunjuk Allah. Dan tidak akan mendapatkan petunjuk-Nya, kecuali mereka yang bersungguh-sungguh mencari keridhaan-Nya. “Dan orang-orang yang berjihad untuk (mencari keridhaan) Kami, benar-benar akan Kami tunjukkan kepada mereka jalan-jalan Kami. Dan sesungguhnya Allah benar-benar beserta orang-orang yang berbuat baik,” (QS al-‘Ankabuut: 69).

Bentuk-bentuk Rahmat Islam
Ketika seseorang telah mendapat petunjuk Allah, maka ia benar-benar mendapat rahmat dengan arti yang seluas-luasnya. Dalam tataran praktis, ia mempunyai banyak bentuk.

Pertama, manhaj (ajaran).
Di antara rahmat Allah yang luas adalah manhaj atau ajaran yang dibawa oleh Rasulullah saw berupa manhaj yang menjawab kebahagiaan seluruh umat manusia, jauh dari kesusahan dan menuntunnya ke puncak kesempurnaan yang hakiki. Allah SWT berfirman, “Kami tidak menurunkan al-Qur'an ini kepadamu agar kamu menjadi susah; tetapi sebagai peringatan bagi orang yang takut (kepada Allah),” (QS. Thahaa: 2-3). Di ayat lain, Dia berfirman, “…Pada hari ini telah Kusempurnakan untuk kamu agamamu…,” (QS Al-Maidah: 3).

Kedua, al-Qur'an.
Al-Qur'an telah meletakkan dasar-dasar atau pokok-pokok ajaran yang abadi dan permanen bagi kehidupan manusia yang selalu dinamis. Kitab suci terakhir ini memberikan kesempatan bagi manusia untuk beristimbath (mengambil kesimpulan) terhadap hukum-hukum yang bersifat furu’iyah. Hal tersebut merupakan konsekuensi logis dari tuntutan dinamika kehidupannya. Begitu juga kesempatan untuk menemukan inovasi dalam hal sarana pelaksanaannya sesuai dengan tuntutan zaman dan kondisi kehidupan, yang semuanya itu tidak boleh bertentangan dengan ushul atau pokok-pokok ajaran yang permanen. Dari sini bisa kita pahami bahwa al-Qur'an itu benar-benar sempurna dalam ajarannya. Tidak ada satu pun masalah dalam kehidupan ini kecuali al-Qur'an telah memberikan petunjuk dan solusi. Allah berfirman, “Tiadalah Kami alpakan sesuatu pun di dalam Al-Kitab, kemudian kepada Tuhanlah mereka dihimpunkan,” (QS al-An’aam: 38). Dalam ayat lain berbunyi, “Dan Kami turunkan kepadamu al-Kitab (al-Quran) untuk menjelaskan segala sesuatu dan petunjuk serta rahmat dan kabar gembira bagi orang-orang yang berserah diri,” (QS an-Nahl: 89).

Ketiga, penyempurna kehidupan manusia
Di antara rahmat Islam adalah keberadaannya sebagai penyempurna kebutuhan manusia dalam tugasnya sebagai khalifah di muka bumi ini. Rahmat Islam adalah meningkatkan dan melengkapi kebutuhan manusia agar menjadi lebih sempurna, bukan membatasi potensi manusia. Islam tidak pernah mematikan potensi manusia, Islam juga tidak pernah mengharamkan manusia untuk menikmati hasil karyanya dalam bentuk kebaikan-kebaikan dunia. “Katakanlah: ‘Siapakah yang mengharamkan perhiasan dari Allah yang telah dikeluarkan-Nya untuk hamba-hambaNya dan (siapa pulakah yang mengharamkan) rezki yang baik?” (QS al-A`raf: 32).
Islam memberi petunjuk mana yang baik dan mana yang buruk, sedang manusia sering tidak mengetahuinya. “Boleh jadi kamu membenci sesuatu, padahal ia amat baik bagimu, dan boleh jadi (pula) kamu menyukai sesuatu, padahal ia amat buruk bagimu; Allah mengetahui, sedang kamu tidak mengetahui,” (QS al-Baqarah: 216).

Keempat, jalan untuk kebaikan.
Rahmat dalam Islam juga bisa berupa ajarannya yang berisi jalan / cara mencapai kehidupan yang lebih baik, dunia dan akhirat. Hanya kebanyakan manusia memandang jalan Islam tersebut memiliki beban yang berat, seperti kewajiban sholat dan zakat, kewajiban amar ma’ruf nahi munkar, kewajiban memakai jilbab bagi wanita dewasa, dan sebagainya. Padahal Allah SWT telah berfirman, “Allah tidak membebani seseorang melainkan sesuai dengan kesanggupannya,” (QS al-Baqarah: 286). Pada dasarnya, kewajiban tersebut hanyalah untuk kebaikan manusia itu sendiri. “Jika kamu berbuat baik (berarti) kamu berbuat baik bagi dirimu sendiri,” (QS al-Isra’: 7).


Dari uraian di atas dapat ditarik kesimpulan bahwa ajaran Islam itu adalah rahmat dalam artian yang luas, bukan rahmat yang dipahami oleh sebagian orang menurut seleranya sendiri. Rahmat dalam Islam adalah rahmat yang sesuai dengan kehendak Allah dan ajaran-Nya, baik berupa perintah atau larangan. Memerangi kemaksiatan itu adalah rahmat, sekalipun sebagian orang tidak setuju dengan tindakan tersebut. Jihad melawan orang kafir yang zalim adalah rahmat, meskipun sekelompok manusia tidak suka jihad dan menganggapnya sebagai tindakan kekerasan atau terorisme. Allah berfirman, “Diwajibkan atas kamu berperang, padahal berperang itu adalah sesuatu yang kamu benci. Boleh jadi kamu membenci sesuatu, padahal ia amat baik bagimu, dan boleh jadi (pula) kamu menyukai sesuatu, padahal ia amat buruk bagimu; Allah mengetahui, sedang kamu tidak mengetahui,” (QS al-Baqarah: 216).

Hendaknya kita jujur dalam mengungkapkan sebuah istilah. Jangan sampai kita menggunakan ungkapan seperti sejuk, damai, toleransi, rahmat, dan sebagainya, kemudian dikaitkan dengan kata ‘Islam’. Sementara ada tujuan lain yang justru bertentangan dengan Islam itu sendiri.
Wallahu a’lam bish shawab.

Source : kebunhikmah.com

THE SWORD OF ISLAM

The first few who embraced the "new" religion in Makkah in the Arabian Peninsula at the hands of the Prophet, were his wife Khadijah, his servant Zaid and his eleven-year-old cousin Ali. Among the ones who later joined this faith were the honest merchant, Abu Bakr; the iron man of Arabia, Umar the Great; the shy businessman, Uthman; the Prophet's brave uncle Hamza and a slave of a pagan, Bilal. They simply couldn't resist the MAGIC SWORD of a humble and lonely Prophet! The negligible minority of the believers in this new Faith was soon exiled from Makkah and they arrived in the city called Yathrab which later became known as MADINAH. The Muslim emigrants to Madinah brought their SWORD with them. The SWORD continued to "pull" people towards it until the whole of Arabia joined the Faith. Compared to the population of the rest of the world at that time, the Arabs constituted a tiny minority. A fraction of this minority decided to take the SWORD beyond the boundaries of the Arabian desert to the mighty empires of Rome and Persia, the shores of the Mediterranean, the coast of Malabar and the far away East Indies Islands. People after people continued surrendering to this SWORD and joining the Faith.

So sharp was the edge of the SWORD! It simply conquered the hearts; bodies yielded automatically. It is the SWORD OF TRUTH, whose mere shine eliminates falsehood just like light wipes away darkness.

HAS THE SWORD GONE BLUNT? NO, FAR FROM IT.

It continues to pierce the hearts of countless men and women even today - in spite of the relentless efforts by persons with vested interests who like darkness to prevail, so that they may rob people of their good things.

Read below the impressions of some who were recently conquered by the same SWORD. They are from different countries, speak different languages and have different backgrounds. Their present addresses are also given. Perhaps you may like to ask them how it feels to be struck by the SWORD OF TRUTH.

1. LEOPOLD WEISS (now Mohammad Asad): Austrian statesman, journalist, former foreign correspondent for the Frankfuerter Zeitung; author of ISLAM AT THE CROSSROADS and ROAD TO MECCA and translator of the Qur'an. He embraced Islam in 1926. (1)

"Islam appears to me like a perfect work of Architecture. All its parts are harmoniously conceived to complement and support each other. Nothing is superfluous and nothing lacking, with the result of an absolute balance and solid composure."

2. AHMED HOLT: British Civil Contractor, traveler in search of the Divine truth, spent much of his time in research and comparative study of Judaism, Christianity and Islam. He embraced Islam in 1975. (2)

"The SWORD OF ISLAM is not the sword of steel. I know this by experience, because the sword of Islam struck deep into my own heart. It didn't bring death, but it brought a new life; it brought an awareness and it brought an awakening as to who am I and what am I and for what am I here?"

3. BOGDAN DOPANSKI (now Bogdan Ataullah Kopanski): Originally Polish, now American; Ph.D. in history and politics, had a very interesting journey to Islam and faced severe hardships; was imprisoned twice by the Polish communist regime (1968, 1981-82). He embraced Islam in 1974. (3)

"When I was 12 years old I rejected illogical and contradictory faith of the Church. Two years later in 1962 - I was fascinated by victorious struggle of the Algerian Muslim mujahideen against French colonialism. It was the first ARROW of Islam.... The high school and earliest days of my education in the University, I was a typical example of 'rebel generation' of Reds.... My way to the truth of Al-Qur'an was slow and unpaved.... In 1974 I visited Turkey, I wrote my M.A. dissertation about Sultan and Caliph Suleiman Kanuni's policy towards the Polish Kingdom. There, I was hit by the most beautiful voice of mankind, the ADHAN, the call to prayer. My hair stood up. An unknown powerful force led me to old masjid in Istanbul. There, old smiling Turkish, bearded men taught me WUZU, ablution. I confessed to tears SHAHADAH and I prayed my first SALAH Maghrib.... I swept out the rubbish ideologies.... The first time in my life, my mind was relaxed and I felt pleasure of Allah's love in my heart. I was a Muslim...."

4. VENGATACHALAM ADIYAR (now Abdullah Adiyar): Indian, noted Tamil writer and journalist; worked as a news editor in Dr. M. Karunanidhi's daily MURASOLI for 17 years; assisted 3 former Chief Ministers of Tamil Nadu. Received Kalaimamani Award (Big Gem of Arts) from Tamil Nadu Government in 1982. He embraced Islam in 1987. (4)

"In Islam I found suitable replies to nagging queries arising in my mind with regard to the theory of creation, status of woman, creation of the universe, etc. The life history of the Holy Prophet attracted me very much and made it easy for me to compare with other world leaders and their philosophies."

5. HERBERT HOBOHM (now Aman Hobohm): German diplomat, missionary and social worker. An intellectual who has been serving the German diplomatic missions in various parts of the world. Presently working as Cultural Attache in German Embassy in Riyadh. He embraced Islam in 1941. (5)

"I have lived under different systems of life and have had the opportunity of studying various ideologies, but have come to the conclusion that none is perfect as Islam. None of the systems has got a complete code of a noble life. Only Islam has it; and that is why good men embrace it. Islam is not theoretical; it is practical. It means complete submission to the will of God."

6. CAT STEVENS (now Yousuf Islam): British; formerly a Christian and a world famous pop singer. He embraced Islam in 1973. (6)

"It will be wrong to judge Islam in the light of the behavior of some bad Muslims who are always shown on the media. It is like judging a car as a bad one if the driver of the car is drunk and he bangs it into the wall. Islam guides all human beings in the daily life - in its spiritual, mental and physical dimensions. But we must find the sources of these instructions, the Qur'an and the example of the Prophet. Then we can see the ideal of Islam."

7. MS. MARGARET MARCUS (now Maryam Jamilah): American, formerly a Jewess, essayist and an author of many books. She embraced Islam in 1962. (7)

"The authority of Islamic Morals and Laws proceeds from Almighty God. Pleasure and happiness in Islam are but the natural byproducts of emotional satisfaction in one's duties conscientiously performed for the pleasure of God to achieve salvation. In Islam duties are always stressed above rights. Only in Islam was my quest for absolute values satisfied. Only in Islam did I at last find all that was true, good, beautiful and which gives meaning and direction to human life and death."

8. WILFRIED HOFMAN (now Murad Hofman): Ph.D. in law (Harvard); German social scientist and diplomat; presently German Ambassador in Algeria. He embraced Islam in 1980. (8)

"For some time now, striving for more and more precision and brevity, I have tried to put on paper, in a systematic way, all philosophical truths, which in my view, can be ascertained beyond reasonable doubt. In the course of this effort it dawned on me that the typical attitude of an agnostic is not an intelligent one; that man simply cannot escape a decision to believe; that the createdness of what exists around us is obvious; that Islam undoubtedly finds itself in the greatest harmony with overall reality. Thus I realize, not without shock, that step by step, in spite of myself and almost unconsciously, in feeling and thinking I have grown into a Muslim. Only one last step remained to be taken: to formalize my conversion. As of today I am a Muslim. I have arrived."

9. CASSIUS CLAY (now Muhammad Ali): American; three times World Heavyweight Champion, formerly a Christian. He embraced Islam in 1965. (9)

"I have had many nice moments in my life. But the feelings I had while standing on Mount Arafat on the day of HAJJ (Muslims' pilgrimage), was the most unique. I felt exalted by the indescribable spiritual atmosphere there as over a million and a half pilgrims invoked God to forgive them of their sins and bestow on them His choicest blessings. It was an exhilarating experience to see people belonging to different colors, races and nationalities, kings, heads of states and ordinary men from very poor countries all clad in two simple white sheets praying to God without any sense of either pride or inferiority. It was a practical manifestation of the concept of equality in Islam."

(Speaking to the daily "Al-Madinah," Jeddah, 15 July, 1989.)

These were the impressions of a few persons who had themselves been struck by the SWORD OF TRUTH, that is, the Message of Islam.

AS FOR THE PROPAGANDA THAT IT WAS THE SWORD OF STEEL, THAT IS, FORCE, WHICH WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN THE UNIVERSAL EXPANSION OF ISLAM, WE GIVE BELOW QUOTATIONS FROM THE WRITINGS OF SOME OF THE PROMINENT NON-MUSLIM SCHOLARS AND LEADERS REFUTING THIS BASELESS ACCUSATION.

1. M.K. GANDHI: "....I became more than ever convinced that it was not the sword that won a place for Islam in those days in the scheme of life. It was the rigid simplicity, the utter self-effacement of the prophet, the scrupulous regard for his pledges, his intense devotion to his friends and followers, his intrepidity, his fearlessness, his absolute trust in God and in his own mission. These, and not the sword carried everything before them and surmounted every trouble." YOUNG INDIA, 1924. (10)

2. EDWARD GIBBON: "The greatest success of Mohammad's life was effected by sheer moral force without the stroke of a sword." HISTORY OF THE SARACEN EMPIRE, London, 1870.

3. A.S. TRITTON: "The picture of the Muslim soldier advancing with a sword in one hand and the Qur'an in the other is quite false." ISLAM, London, 1951, page 21. (12)

4. DE LACY O'LEARY: "History makes it clear, however, that the legend of fanatical Muslims, sweeping through the world and forcing Islam at the point of sword upon conquered races is one of the most fantastically absurd myths that historians have ever repeated." ISLAM AT CROSSROADS, London, 1923, page 8.

5. K.S. RAMAKRISHNA RAO: "My problem to write this monograph is easier because we are not generally fed now on that (distorted) kind of history and much time need not be spent on pointing out our misrepresentations of Islam. The theory of Islam and sword, for instance, is not heard now in any quarter worth the name. The principle of Islam, there is no compulsion in religion, is well known." MOHAMMED THE PROPHET OF ISLAM, Riyadh, 1989, page 4.

6. JAMES A MICHENER: "No other religion in history spread so rapidly as Islam... The West has widely believed that this surge of religion was made possible by the sword. But no modern scholar accepts that idea, and the Qur'an is explicit in support of the freedom conscience." ISLAM - THE MISUNDERSTOOD RELIGION, READERS' DIGEST (American Edition) May 1955.

7. LAWRENCE E. BROWNE: "Incidentally these well-established facts dispose of the idea so widely fostered in Christian writings that the Muslims, wherever they went, forced people to accept Islam at the point of the sword." THE PROSPECTS OF ISLAM, London 1944.

IF YOU TOO POSSESS A SOFT, TENDER HEART AND AN OPEN MIND, DO WRITE TO US FOR SOME BASIC INFORMATION ABOUT THE WAY OF LIFE CALLED "ISLAM." DO NOT BELIEVE IN HEARSAY AND LEARN FROM THE DIRECT SOURCES. WE ARE READY TO HELP.

ADDRESSES:

1. Muhammad Asad, Dar Al-Andalus, 3 Library Ramp, Gibraltar. 2. Ahmad Holt, 23 Welland Garden Perivale, Middlesex UB6 8SZ, U.K. 3. Bogdan Ataullah Kopanski, 3013 Harrel Drive, Grand Prairie, TX 75051. 4. Abdullah Adiyar, 1 Ashok Avenue, Rangarajapuram, Kodambakkam, Madras, India. 5. Aman Hobohm, Cultural Attache, P.O. Box 8974, Riyadh 11492, Saudi Arabia. 6. Yousuf Islam, Chairman, Muslim Aid, 3 Furlong Road, London, N7, U.K. 7. Maryam Jamilah, c/o Mohammad Yusuf Khan, Sant Nagar, Lahore, Pakistan. 8. Murad Hofman, Ambassador, Embassy of Federal Republic of Germany, BP 664, Alger-gare, Algeria. 9. Muhammad Ali, c/o Masjid Al-Faatir, 1200 East 49th Street, Chicago, IL 60615.

NOTE: 10. Twentieth century champion of non-violence who lead the Indian movement of freedom from British colonization.

RECOMMENDED INTRODUCTORY PUBLICATIONS:

1. III&E Brochure Series may be obtained from the address given below. 2. WHAT EVERYONE SHOULD KNOW ABOUT ISLAM AND MUSLIMS by Suzanne Haneef, Kazi Publications, Chicago, IL. 3. ISLAM IN FOCUS by H. Abdulati, American Trust Publications, Indianapolis, IN. 4. THE BIBLE, THE QUR'AN AND SCIENCE by Maurice Bucaille, American Trust Publications, Indianapolis, IN. 5. QUR'AN, AN INTRODUCTION by A.R. Doi, Kazi Publications, Chicago, IL. 6. HADITH, AN INTRODUCTION by A.R. Doi, Kazi Publications, Chicago, IL. 7. MUHAMMAD, HIS LIFE BASED ON THE EARLIEST SOURCES by Martin Lings, Inner Traditions International, Rochester, VT. 8. LIFE OF MUHAMMAD by A.H. Siddiqi, Kazi Publications, Chicago, IL. 9. HISTORY OF ISLAM by Masud-ul-Hasan, Islamic Publications, Lahore, Pakistan. 10. THE CULTURAL ATLAS OF ISLAM by I.R. al-Faruqi and Lois L. al-Faruqi, Macmillan Publishing Company, New York, NY.

World Assembly of Muslim Youth (WAMY), P.O. Box 10845, Riyadh 11443, Saudi Arabia

Islam in the United States

It is difficult to generalize about American Muslims. They are converts, immigrants, factory workers, and doctors. This varied community is unified by a common faith, underpinned by a nationwide network of a large number of mosques.


Muslims arrived early in North America. By the eighteenth century, there were many Muslims in North America.

Great numbers of Americans have entered the fold of Islam. They are from different classes: the rich, the poor, the educated, and the illiterate. Today, there are about five and a half million Muslims in the United States.1
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Footnotes:

(1) The World Almanac and Book of Facts 1996, Famighetti, p. 644.

Source : Islam-Guide

What Are the Five Pillars of Islam ?

The Five Pillars of Islam are the framework of the Muslim life. They are the testimony of faith, prayer, giving zakat (support of the needy), fasting during the month of Ramadan, and the pilgrimage to Makkah once in a lifetime for those who are able.
1) The Testimony of Faith:

The testimony of faith is saying with conviction, “La ilaha illa Allah, Muhammadur rasoolu Allah.” This saying means “There is no true god (deity) but God (Allah),1 and Muhammad is the Messenger (Prophet) of God.” The first part, “There is no true god but God,” means that none has the right to be worshipped but God alone, and that God has neither partner nor son. This testimony of faith is called the Shahada, a simple formula which should be said with conviction in order to convert to Islam (as explained previously on this page). The testimony of faith is the most important pillar of Islam.
2) Prayer:

Muslims perform five prayers a day. Each prayer does not take more than a few minutes to perform. Prayer in Islam is a direct link between the worshipper and God. There are no intermediaries between God and the worshipper.

In prayer, a person feels inner happiness, peace, and comfort, and that God is pleased with him or her. The Prophet Muhammad said: {Bilal, call (the people) to prayer, let us be comforted by it.}2 Bilal was one of Muhammad’s companions who was charged to call the people to prayers.

Prayers are performed at dawn, noon, mid-afternoon, sunset, and night. A Muslim may pray almost anywhere, such as in fields, offices, factories, or universities.

(For detailed information on how to perform prayer, please refer to the links at How to Perform Prayer or refer to the book entitled A Guide to Salat (Prayer) by M. A. K. Saqib.3)
3) Giving Zakat (Support of the Needy):

All things belong to God, and wealth is therefore held by human beings in trust. The original meaning of the word zakat is both ‘purification’ and ‘growth.’ Giving zakat means ‘giving a specified percentage on certain properties to certain classes of needy people.’ The percentage which is due on gold, silver, and cash funds that have reached the amount of about 85 grams of gold and held in possession for one lunar year is two and a half percent. Our possessions are purified by setting aside a small portion for those in need, and, like the pruning of plants, this cutting back balances and encourages new growth.

A person may also give as much as he or she pleases as voluntary alms or charity.
4) Fasting the Month of Ramadan:

Every year in the month of Ramadan,4 all Muslims fast from dawn until sundown, abstaining from food, drink, and sexual relations.

Although the fast is beneficial to health, it is regarded principally as a method of spiritual self-purification. By cutting oneself off from worldly comforts, even for a short time, a fasting person gains true sympathy with those who go hungry, as well as growth in his or her spiritual life.
5) The Pilgrimage to Makkah:

The annual pilgrimage (Hajj) to Makkah is an obligation once in a lifetime for those who are physically and financially able to perform it. About two million people go to Makkah each year from every corner of the globe. Although Makkah is always filled with visitors, the annual Hajj is performed in the twelfth month of the Islamic calendar. Male pilgrims wear special simple clothes which strip away distinctions of class and culture so that all stand equal before God.

Pilgrims praying at the Haram mosque in Makkah

Pilgrims praying at the Haram mosque in Makkah. In this mosque is the Kaaba (the black building in the picture) which Muslims turn toward when praying. The Kaaba is the place of worship which God commanded the Prophets Abraham and his son, Ishmael, to build.

The rites of the Hajj include circling the Kaaba seven times and going seven times between the hillocks of Safa and Marwa, as Hagar did during her search for water. Then the pilgrims stand together in Arafa5 and ask God for what they wish and for His forgiveness, in what is often thought of as a preview of the Day of Judgment.

The end of the Hajj is marked by a festival, Eid Al-Adha, which is celebrated with prayers. This, and Eid al-Fitr, a feast-day commemorating the end of Ramadan, are the two annual festivals of the Muslim calendar.

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Footnotes:

(1) For more details on the word Allah, click here. Back from footnote (1)

(2) Narrated in Abu-Dawood, #4985, and Mosnad Ahmad, #22578. Back from footnote (2)

(3) To order this book, click here. Back from footnote (3)

(4) The month of Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar (which is lunar, not solar). Back from footnote (4)

(5) An area about 15 miles from Makkah.

Source : Islam-Guide

How Do Muslims Treat the Elderly ?

In the Islamic world, one rarely finds “old people’s homes.” The strain of caring for one’s parents in this most difficult time of their lives is considered an honor and a blessing and an opportunity for great spiritual growth. In Islam, it is not enough that we only pray for our parents, but we should act with limitless compassion, remembering that when we were helpless children, they preferred us to themselves. Mothers are particularly honored. When Muslim parents reach old age, they are treated mercifully, with kindness and selflessness.

In Islam, serving one’s parents is a duty second to prayer, and it is their right to expect it. It is considered despicable to express any irritation when, through no fault of their own, the old become difficult.

God has said:

Your Lord has commanded that you worship none but Him, and that you be kind to your parents. If one of them or both of them reach old age with you, do not say to them a word of disrespect, or scold them, but say a generous word to them. And act humbly to them in mercy, and say, “My Lord, have mercy on them, since they cared for me when I was small.” (Quran, 17:23-24)

Source : Islam-Guide

The Family in Islam

The family, which is the basic unit of civilization, is now disintegrating. Islam’s family system brings the rights of the husband, wife, children, and relatives into a fine equilibrium. It nourishes unselfish behavior, generosity, and love in the framework of a well-organized family system. The peace and security offered by a stable family unit is greatly valued, and it is seen as essential for the spiritual growth of its members. A harmonious social order is created by the existence of extended families and by treasuring children.

Source : Islam-Guide

What Is the Status of Women in Islam ?

Islam sees a woman, whether single or married, as an individual in her own right, with the right to own and dispose of her property and earnings without any guardianship over her (whether that be her father, husband, or anyone else). She has the right to buy and sell, give gifts and charity, and may spend her money as she pleases. A marriage dowry is given by the groom to the bride for her own personal use, and she keeps her own family name rather than taking her husband’s.

Islam encourages the husband to treat his wife well, as the Prophet Muhammad said: {The best among you are those who are best to their wives.}1

Mothers in Islam are highly honored. Islam recommends treating them in the best way. A man came to the Prophet Muhammad and said, “O Messenger of God! Who among the people is the most worthy of my good companionship?” The Prophet said: {Your mother.} The man said, “Then who?” The Prophet said: {Then your mother.} The man further asked, “Then who?” The Prophet said: {Then your mother.} The man asked again, “Then who?” The Prophet said: {Then your father.}2

(For in-depth articles on women in Islam, please refer to the links at In-Depth Articles on Women in Islam.)
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Footnotes:

(1) Narrated in Ibn Majah, #1978, and Al-Tirmizi, #3895. Back from footnote

(2) Narrated in Saheeh Muslim, #2548, and Saheeh Al-Bukhari, #5971.

Source : Islam-Guide

Human Rights and Justice in Islam

Islam provides many human rights for the individual. The following are some of these human rights that Islam protects.

The life and property of all citizens in an Islamic state are considered sacred, whether a person is Muslim or not. Islam also protects honor. So, in Islam, insulting others or making fun of them is not allowed. The Prophet Muhammad said: {Truly your blood, your property, and your honor are inviolable.}1

Racism is not allowed in Islam, for the Quran speaks of human equality in the following terms:

O mankind, We have created you from a male and a female and have made you into nations and tribes for you to know one another. Truly, the noblest of you with God is the most pious.2 Truly, God is All-Knowing, All-Aware. (Quran, 49:13)

Islam rejects certain individuals or nations being favored because of their wealth, power, or race. God created human beings as equals who are to be distinguished from each other only on the basis of their faith and piety. The Prophet Muhammad said: {O people! Your God is one and your forefather (Adam) is one. An Arab is not better than a non-Arab and a non-Arab is not better than an Arab, and a red (i.e. white tinged with red) person is not better than a black person and a black person is not better than a red person,3 except in piety.}4

One of the major problems facing mankind today is racism. The developed world can send a man to the moon but cannot stop man from hating and fighting his fellow man. Ever since the days of the Prophet Muhammad , Islam has provided a vivid example of how racism can be ended. The annual pilgrimage (Hajj) to Makkah shows the real Islamic brotherhood of all races and nations, when about two million Muslims from all over the world come to Makkah to perform the pilgrimage.

Islam is a religion of justice. God has said:

Truly God commands you to give back trusts to those to whom they are due, and when you judge between people, to judge with justice.... (Quran, 4:58)

And He has said:

...And act justly. Truly, God loves those who are just. (Quran, 49:9)

We should even be just with those who we hate, as God has said:

...And let not the hatred of others make you avoid justice. Be just: that is nearer to piety.... (Quran, 5:8)

The Prophet Muhammad said: {People, beware of injustice,5 for injustice shall be darkness on the Day of Judgment.}6

And those who have not gotten their rights (i.e. what they have a just claim to) in this life will receive them on the Day of Judgment, as the Prophet said: {On the Day of Judgment, rights will be given to those to whom they are due (and wrongs will be redressed)...}7
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Footnotes:

(1) Narrated in Saheeh Al-Bukhari, #1739, and Mosnad Ahmad, #2037. Back from footnote

(2) A pious person is a believer who abstains from all kinds of sins, performs all good deeds that God commands us to do, and fears and loves God. Back from footnote

(3) The colors mentioned in this Prophetic saying are examples. The meaning is that in Islam no one is better than another because of his color, whether it is white, black, red, or any other color. Back from footnote

(4) Narrated in Mosnad Ahmad, #22978. Back from footnote

(5) i.e. oppressing others, acting unjustly, or doing wrong to others. Back from footnote

(6) Narrated in Mosnad Ahmad, #5798, and Saheeh Al-Bukhari, #2447. Back from footnote

(7) Narrated in Saheeh Muslim, #2582, and Mosnad Ahmad, #7163.

Source : Islam-Guide

What Does Islam Say about Terrorism ?

Islam, a religion of mercy, does not permit terrorism. In the Quran, God has said:

God does not forbid you from showing kindness and dealing justly with those who have not fought you about religion and have not driven you out of your homes. God loves just dealers. (Quran, 60:8)

The Prophet Muhammad used to prohibit soldiers from killing women and children,1 and he would advise them: {...Do not betray, do not be excessive, do not kill a newborn child.}2 And he also said: {Whoever has killed a person having a treaty with the Muslims shall not smell the fragrance of Paradise, though its fragrance is found for a span of forty years.}3

Also, the Prophet Muhammad has forbidden punishment with fire.4

He once listed murder as the second of the major sins,5 and he even warned that on the Day of Judgment, {The first cases to be adjudicated between people on the Day of Judgment will be those of bloodshed.6}7

Muslims are even encouraged to be kind to animals and are forbidden to hurt them. Once the Prophet Muhammad said: {A woman was punished because she imprisoned a cat until it died. On account of this, she was doomed to Hell. While she imprisoned it, she did not give the cat food or drink, nor did she free it to eat the insects of the earth.}8

He also said that a man gave a very thirsty dog a drink, so God forgave his sins for this action. The Prophet was asked, “Messenger of God, are we rewarded for kindness towards animals?” He said: {There is a reward for kindness to every living animal or human.}9

Additionally, while taking the life of an animal for food, Muslims are commanded to do so in a manner that causes the least amount of fright and suffering possible. The Prophet Muhammad said: {When you slaughter an animal, do so in the best way. One should sharpen his knife to reduce the suffering of the animal.}10

In light of these and other Islamic texts, the act of inciting terror in the hearts of defenseless civilians, the wholesale destruction of buildings and properties, the bombing and maiming of innocent men, women, and children are all forbidden and detestable acts according to Islam and the Muslims. Muslims follow a religion of peace, mercy, and forgiveness, and the vast majority have nothing to do with the violent events some have associated with Muslims. If an individual Muslim were to commit an act of terrorism, this person would be guilty of violating the laws of Islam.

(For more articles on Islam on terrorism, please refer to the links at More on Islam on Terrorism.)
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Footnotes:

(1) Narrated in Saheeh Muslim, #1744, and Saheeh Al-Bukhari, #3015. Back from footnote

(2) Narrated in Saheeh Muslim, #1731, and Al-Tirmizi, #1408. Back from footnote

(3) Narrated in Saheeh Al-Bukhari, #3166, and Ibn Majah, #2686. Back from footnote

(4) Narrated in Abu-Dawood, #2675. Back from footnote

(5) Narrated in Saheeh Al-Bukhari, #6871, and Saheeh Muslim, #88. Back from footnote

(6) This means killing and injuring. Back from footnote

(7) Narrated in Saheeh Muslim, #1678, and Saheeh Al-Bukhari, #6533. Back from footnote
Source : Islam-Guide

(8) Narrated in Saheeh Muslim, #2422, and Saheeh Al-Bukhari, #2365. Back from footnote

(9) This saying of Muhammad has been mentioned in more detail on this page. Narrated in Saheeh Muslim, #2244, and Saheeh Al-Bukhari, #2466. Back from footnote

(10) Narrated in Saheeh Muslim, #1955, and Al-Tirmizi, #1409.

What Do Muslims Believe about Jesus?

Muslims respect and revere Jesus (peace be upon him). They consider him one of the greatest of God’s messengers to mankind. The Quran confirms his virgin birth, and a chapter of the Quran is entitled ‘Maryam’ (Mary). The Quran describes the birth of Jesus as follows:

(Remember) when the angels said, “O Mary, God gives you good news of a word from Him (God), whose name is the Messiah Jesus, son of Mary, revered in this world and the Hereafter, and one of those brought near (to God). He will speak to the people from his cradle and as a man, and he is of the righteous.” She said, “My Lord, how can I have a child when no mortal has touched me?” He said, “So (it will be). God creates what He wills. If He decrees a thing, He says to it only, ‘Be!’ and it is.” (Quran, 3:45-47)

Jesus was born miraculously by the command of God, the same command that had brought Adam into being with neither a father nor a mother. God has said:

The case of Jesus with God is like the case of Adam. He created him from dust, and then He said to him, “Be!” and he came into being. (Quran, 3:59)

During his prophetic mission, Jesus performed many miracles. God tells us that Jesus said:

“I have come to you with a sign from your Lord. I make for you the shape of a bird out of clay, I breathe into it, and it becomes a bird by God’s permission. I heal the blind from birth and the leper. And I bring the dead to life by God’s permission. And I tell you what you eat and what you store in your houses....” (Quran, 3:49)

Muslims believe that Jesus was not crucified. It was the plan of Jesus’ enemies to crucify him, but God saved him and raised him up to Him. And the likeness of Jesus was put over another man. Jesus’ enemies took this man and crucified him, thinking that he was Jesus. God has said:

...They said, “We killed the Messiah Jesus, son of Mary, the messenger of God.” They did not kill him, nor did they crucify him, but the likeness of him was put on another man (and they killed that man)... (Quran, 4:157)

Neither Muhammad nor Jesus came to change the basic doctrine of the belief in one God, brought by earlier prophets, but rather to confirm and renew it.1


The Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem

The Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem.

(For in-depth articles on Jesus, please refer to the links at In-Depth Articles on Jesus.)
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Footnotes:

(1) Muslims also believe that God revealed a holy book to Jesus called the Injeel, some parts of which may be still available in the teachings of God to Jesus in the New Testament. But this does not mean that Muslims believe in the Bible we have today because it is not the original scriptures that were revealed by God. They underwent alterations, additions, and omissions. This was also said by the Committee charged with revising The Holy Bible (Revised Standard Version). This Committee consisted of thirty-two scholars who served as members of the Committee. They secured the review and counsel of an Advisory Board of fifty representatives of the co-operating denominations. The Committee said in the Preface to The Holy Bible (Revised Standard Version), p. iv, “Sometimes it is evident that the text has suffered in transmission, but none of the versions provides a satisfactory restoration. Here we can only follow the best judgment of competent scholars as to the most probable reconstruction of the original text.” The Committee also said in the Preface, p. vii, “Notes are added which indicate significant variations, additions, or omissions in the ancient authorities (Mt 9.34; Mk 3.16; 7.4; Lk 24.32, 51, etc.).”
For more in-depth articles regarding this subject, please visit the following external web pages: Confessions of the New American Bible and Bible Contradictions.
Source : Islam-Guide

How Did the Spread of Islam Affect the Development of Science ?

Islam instructs man to use his powers of intelligence and observation. Within a few years of the spread of Islam, great civilizations and universities were flourishing. The synthesis of Eastern and Western ideas, and of new thought with old, brought about great advances in medicine, mathematics, physics, astronomy, geography, architecture, art, literature, and history. Many crucial systems, such as algebra, the Arabic numerals, and the concept of zero (vital to the advancement of mathematics), were transmitted to medieval Europe from the Muslim world. Sophisticated instruments which were to make possible the European voyages of discovery, such as the astrolabe, the quadrant, and good navigational maps, were also developed by Muslims.

The Astrolabe: One of the most important scientific instruments developed by Muslims which was also used widely in the West until modern times.

Muslim physicians paid much attention to surgery and developed many surgical instruments as seen in this old manuscript.

Source : Islam-Guide

Who Is the Prophet Muhammad ?

Muhammad was born in Makkah in the year 570. Since his father died before his birth and his mother died shortly thereafter, he was raised by his uncle who was from the respected tribe of Quraysh. He was raised illiterate, unable to read or write, and remained so till his death. His people, before his mission as a prophet, were ignorant of science and most of them were illiterate. As he grew up, he became known to be truthful, honest, trustworthy, generous, and sincere. He was so trustworthy that they called him the Trustworthy.¹ Muhammad was very religious, and he had long detested the decadence and idolatry of his society.

The Prophet Muhammad’s Mosque in Madinah.

At the age of forty, Muhammad received his first revelation from God through the Angel Gabriel. The revelations continued for twenty-three years, and they are collectively known as the Quran.

As soon as he began to recite the Quran and to preach the truth which God had revealed to him, he and his small group of followers suffered persecution from unbelievers. The persecution grew so fierce that in the year 622 God gave them the command to emigrate. This emigration from Makkah to the city of Madinah, some 260 miles to the north, marks the beginning of the Muslim calendar.

After several years, Muhammad and his followers were able to return to Makkah, where they forgave their enemies. Before Muhammad died, at the age of sixty-three, the greater part of the Arabian Peninsula had become Muslim, and within a century of his death, Islam had spread to Spain in the West and as far East as China. Among the reasons for the rapid and peaceful spread of Islam was the truth and clarity of its doctrine. Islam calls for faith in only one God, Who is the only one worthy of worship.

The Prophet Muhammad was a perfect example of an honest, just, merciful, compassionate, truthful, and brave human being. Though he was a man, he was far removed from all evil characteristics and strove solely for the sake of God and His reward in the Hereafter. Moreover, in all his actions and dealings, he was ever mindful and fearful of God.

(For more information on the Prophet Muhammad , please refer to the links at More on the Prophet Muhammad .)

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Footnotes:

(1) Narrated in Mosnad Ahmad, #15078.

What Is the Quran About ?

The Quran, the last revealed word of God, is the primary source of every Muslim’s faith and practice. It deals with all the subjects which concern human beings: wisdom, doctrine, worship, transactions, law, etc., but its basic theme is the relationship between God and His creatures. At the same time, it provides guidelines and detailed teachings for a just society, proper human conduct, and an equitable economic system.

Note that the Quran was revealed to Muhammad in Arabic only. So, any Quranic translation, either in English or any other language, is neither a Quran, nor a version of the Quran, but rather it is only a translation of the meaning of the Quran. The Quran exists only in the Arabic in which it was revealed.

Source : Islam-Guide

How Does Someone Become a Muslim ?

Simply by saying with conviction, “La ilaha illa Allah, Muhammadur rasoolu Allah,” one converts to Islam and becomes a Muslim (to hear it click here). This saying means “There is no true god (deity) but God (Allah),¹ and Muhammad is the Messenger (Prophet) of God.” The first part, “There is no true god but God,” means that none has the right to be worshipped but God alone, and that God has neither partner nor son. To be a Muslim, one should also:

n Believe that the Holy Quran is the literal word of God, revealed by Him.

n Believe that the Day of Judgment (the Day of Resurrection) is true and will come, as God promised in the Quran.

n Accept Islam as his or her religion.

n Not worship anything nor anyone except God.

The Prophet Muhammad said: {God is more joyful at the repentance of someone when he turns to Him in repentance than one of you would be if he were riding his camel in the wilderness, and it runs away from him, carrying his food and drink, so that he loses all hope of getting it back. He comes to a tree and lies down in its shade (awaiting death), for he has lost all hope of finding his camel. Then, while he is in that state (of desperation), suddenly it is there before him! So he seizes its halter and cries out from the depth of his joy, “O God, You are my servant and I am Your Lord!” His mistake comes from the intensity of his joy.}²

An important note: If you are interested in converting to Islam or have a question regarding that, then it is highly recommended that you visit “Live Help” thorough chat that is found near the top of this page, so an advisor over there may help you in pronouncing the testimony right and to provide you with important resources for new Muslims.

The saying, “There is no true god but God, and Muhammad is the Messenger (Prophet) of God,” inscribed over an entrance.

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Footnotes:

(1) As was mentioned previously, the Arabic word Allah means God (the one and only true God who created the whole universe). This word Allah is a name for God, which is used by Arabic speakers, both Arab Muslims and Arab Christians. For more details on the word Allah, click here.

(2) Narrated in Saheeh Muslim, #2747, and Saheeh Al-Bukhari, #6309.

Source : Islam-Guide

What Does Islam Say about the Day of Judgment ?

Like Christians, Muslims believe that the present life is only a trial preparation for the next realm of existence. This life is a test for each individual for the life after death. A day will come when the whole universe will be destroyed and the dead will be resurrected for judgment by God. This day will be the beginning of a life that will never end. This day is the Day of Judgment. On that day, all people will be rewarded by God according to their beliefs and deeds. Those who die while believing that “There is no true god but God, and Muhammad is the Messenger (Prophet) of God” and are Muslim will be rewarded on that day and will be admitted to Paradise forever, as God has said:

And those who believe and do good deeds, they are dwellers of Paradise, they dwell therein forever. (Quran, 2:82)

But those who die while not believing that “There is no true god but God, and Muhammad is the Messenger (Prophet) of God” or are not Muslim will lose Paradise forever and will be sent to Hellfire, as God has said:

And whoever seeks a religion other than Islam, it will not be accepted from him and he will be one of the losers in the Hereafter. (Quran, 3:85)

And as He has said:

Those who have disbelieved and died in disbelief, the earth full of gold would not be accepted from any of them if it were offered as a ransom. They will have a painful punishment, and they will have no helpers. (Quran, 3:91)

One may ask, ‘I think Islam is a good religion, but if I were to convert to Islam, my family, friends, and other people would persecute me and make fun of me. So if I do not convert to Islam, will I enter Paradise and be saved from Hellfire?’

The answer is what God has said in the preceding verse, “And whoever seeks a religion other than Islam, it will not be accepted from him and he will be one of the losers in the Hereafter.”

After having sent the Prophet Muhammad to call people to Islam, God does not accept adherence to any religion other than Islam. God is our Creator and Sustainer. He created for us whatever is in the earth. All the blessings and good things we have are from Him. So after all this, when someone rejects belief in God, His Prophet Muhammad , or His religion of Islam, it is just that he or she be punished in the Hereafter. Actually, the main purpose of our creation is to worship God alone and to obey Him, as God has said in the Holy Quran (51:56).

This life we live today is a very short life. The unbelievers on the Day of Judgment will think that the life they lived on earth was only a day or part of a day, as God has said:

He (God) will say, “How many years did you stay on the earth?” They will say: “We stayed a day or part of a day....” (Quran, 23:112-113)

And He has said:

Did you then think that We had created you in jest (without any purpose), and that you would not be returned to Us (in the Hereafter)? So, God is exalted, the True King. None has the right to be worshipped but Him... (Quran, 23:115-116)

The life in the Hereafter is a very real life. It is not only spiritual, but physical as well. We will live there with our souls and bodies.

In comparing this world with the Hereafter, the Prophet Muhammad said: {The value of this world compared to that of the Hereafter is like what your finger brings from the sea when you put it in and then take it out.}¹ The meaning is that, the value of this world compared to that of the Hereafter is like a few drops of water compared to the sea.

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Footnotes:

(1) Narrated in Saheeh Muslim, #2858, and Mosnad Ahmad, #17560.

Source : Islam-Guide

Examples of the Prophet Muhammad’s Sayings

n {The believers, in their love, mercy, and kindness to one another are like a body: if any part of it is ill, the whole body shares its sleeplessness and fever.}¹

n {The most perfect of the believers in faith are the best of them in morals. And the best among them are those who are best to their wives.}²

n {None of you believes (completely) until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself.}³

n {The merciful are shown mercy by the All-Merciful. Show mercy to those on earth, and God will show mercy to you.}⁴

n {Smiling at your brother is charity...}⁵

n {A good word is charity.}⁶

n {Whoever believes in God and the Last Day (the Day of Judgment) should do good to his neighbor.}⁷

n {God does not judge you according to your appearance and your wealth, but He looks at your hearts and looks into your deeds.}⁸

n {Pay the worker his wage before his sweat dries.}⁹

n {A man walking along a path felt very thirsty. Reaching a well, he descended into it, drank his fill, and came up. Then he saw a dog with its tongue hanging out, trying to lick up mud to quench its thirst. The man said, “This dog is feeling the same thirst that I felt.” So he went down into the well again, filled his shoe with water, and gave the dog a drink. So, God thanked him and forgave his sins.} The Prophet was asked, “Messenger of God, are we rewarded for kindness towards animals?” He said: {There is a reward for kindness to every living animal or human.}¹⁰

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Footnotes:

(1) Narrated in Saheeh Muslim, #2586, and Saheeh Al-Bukhari, #6011.

(2) Narrated in Mosnad Ahmad, #7354, and Al-Tirmizi, #1162.

(3) Narrated in Saheeh Al-Bukhari, #13, and Saheeh Muslim, #45.

(4) Narrated in Al-Tirmizi, #1924, and Abu-Dawood, #4941.

(5) Narrated in Al-Tirmizi, #1956.

(6) Narrated in Saheeh Muslim, #1009, and Saheeh Al-Bukhari, #2989.

(7) Narrated in Saheeh Muslim, #48, and Saheeh Al-Bukhari, #6019.

(8) Narrated in Saheeh Muslim, #2564.

(9) Narrated in Ibn Majah, #2443.

(10) Narrated in Saheeh Muslim, #2244, and Saheeh Al-Bukhari, #2466.

Source : Islam-Guide

Is There Any Sacred Source

Yes. The sunnah (what the Prophet Muhammad said, did, or approved of) is the second source in Islam. The sunnah is comprised of hadeeths, which are reliably transmitted reports by the Prophet Muhammad’s companions of what he said, did, or approved of. Belief in the sunnah is a basic Islamic belief.

GENERAL INFORMATION ON ISLAM - WHAT IS ISLAM ?

The religion of Islam is the acceptance of and obedience to the teachings of God which He revealed to His last prophet, Muhammad .

Some Basic Islamic Beliefs

1) Belief in God:

Muslims believe in one, unique, incomparable God, Who has no son nor partner, and that none has the right to be worshipped but Him alone. He is the true God, and every other deity is false. He has the most magnificent names and sublime perfect attributes. No one shares His divinity, nor His attributes. In the Quran, God describes Himself:

Say, “He is God, the One. God, to Whom the creatures turn for their needs. He begets not, nor was He begotten, and there is none like Him.” (Quran, 112:1-4)

Chapter 112 of the Quran written in Arabic calligraphy.

No one has the right to be invoked, supplicated, prayed to, or shown any act of worship, but God alone.

God alone is the Almighty, the Creator, the Sovereign, and the Sustainer of everything in the whole universe. He manages all affairs. He stands in need of none of His creatures, and all His creatures depend on Him for all that they need. He is the All-Hearing, the All-Seeing, and the All-Knowing. In a perfect manner, His knowledge encompasses all things, the open and the secret, and the public and the private. He knows what has happened, what will happen, and how it will happen. No affair occurs in the whole world except by His will. Whatever He wills is, and whatever He does not will is not and will never be. His will is above the will of all the creatures. He has power over all things, and He is able to do everything. He is the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful, and the Most Beneficent. In one of the sayings of the Prophet Muhammad , we are told that God is more merciful to His creatures than a mother to her child.¹ God is far removed from injustice and tyranny. He is All-Wise in all of His actions and decrees. If someone wants something from God, he or she can ask God directly without asking anyone else to intercede with God for him or her.

God is not Jesus, and Jesus is not God.² Even Jesus himself rejected this. God has said in the Quran:

Indeed, they have disbelieved who have said, “God is the Messiah (Jesus), son of Mary.” The Messiah said, “Children of Israel, worship God, my Lord and your Lord. Whoever associates partners in worship with God, then God has forbidden Paradise for him, and his home is the Fire (Hell). For the wrongdoers,³ there will be no helpers.” (Quran, 5:72)

God is not a trinity. God has said in the Quran:

Indeed, they disbelieve who say, “God is the third of three (in a trinity),” when there is no god but one God. If they desist not from what they say, truly, a painful punishment will befall the disbelievers among them. Would they not rather repent to God and ask His forgiveness? For God is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. The Messiah (Jesus), son of Mary, was no more than a messenger... (Quran, 5:73-75)

Islam rejects that God rested on the seventh day of the creation, that He wrestled with one of His angels, that He is an envious plotter against mankind, or that He is incarnate in any human being. Islam also rejects the attribution of any human form to God. All of these are considered blasphemous. God is the Exalted. He is far removed from every imperfection. He never becomes weary. He does not become drowsy nor does he sleep.

The Arabic word Allah means God (the one and only true God who created the whole universe). This word Allah is a name for God, which is used by Arabic speakers, both Arab Muslims and Arab Christians. This word cannot be used to designate anything other than the one true God. The Arabic word Allah occurs in the Quran about 2700 times. In Aramaic, a language related closely to Arabic and the language that Jesus habitually spoke,⁴ God is also referred to as Allah.

2) Belief in the Angels:

Muslims believe in the existence of the angels and that they are honored creatures. The angels worship God alone, obey Him, and act only by His command. Among the angels is Gabriel, who brought down the Quran to Muhammad .

3) Belief in God’s Revealed Books:

Muslims believe that God revealed books to His messengers as proof for mankind and as guidance for them. Among these books is the Quran, which God revealed to the Prophet Muhammad . God has guaranteed the Quran’s protection from any corruption or distortion. God has said:

Indeed, We have sent down the Quran, and surely We will guard it (from corruption). (Quran, 15:9)

4) Belief in the Prophets and Messengers of God:

Muslims believe in the prophets and messengers of God, starting with Adam, including Noah, Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, and Jesus (peace be upon them). But God’s final message to man, a reconfirmation of the eternal message, was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad . Muslims believe that Muhammad is the last prophet sent by God, as God has said:

Muhammad is not the father of any one of your men, but he is the Messenger of God and the last of the prophets... (Quran, 33:40)

Muslims believe that all the prophets and messengers were created human beings who had none of the divine qualities of God.

5) Belief in the Day of Judgment:

Muslims believe in the Day of Judgment (the Day of Resurrection) when all people will be resurrected for God’s judgment according to their beliefs and deeds.

6) Belief in Al-Qadar:

Muslims believe in Al-Qadar, which is Divine Predestination, but this belief in Divine Predestination does not mean that human beings do not have freewill. Rather, Muslims believe that God has given human beings freewill. This means that they can choose right or wrong and that they are responsible for their choices.

The belief in Divine Predestination includes belief in four things: 1) God knows everything. He knows what has happened and what will happen. 2) God has recorded all that has happened and all that will happen. 3) Whatever God wills to happen happens, and whatever He wills not to happen does not happen. 4) God is the Creator of everything.

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Footnotes:

(1) Narrated in Saheeh Muslim, #2754, and Saheeh Al-Bukhari, #5999.

(2) It was reported by the Associated Press, London, on June 25, 1984, that a majority of the Anglican bishops surveyed by a television program said, “Christians are not obliged to believe that Jesus Christ was God.” The poll was of 31 of England’s 39 bishops. The report further stated that 19 of the 31 bishops said it was sufficient to regard Jesus as “God’s supreme agent.” The poll was conducted by London Weekend Television’s weekly religious program, “Credo.”

(3) The wrongdoers include the polytheists.

(4) NIV Compact Dictionary of the Bible, Douglas, p. 42.

Forgiveness for All Previous Sins

When someone converts to Islam, God forgives all of his previous sins and evil deeds. A man called Amr came to the Prophet Muhammad and said, “Give me your right hand so that I may give you my pledge of loyalty.” The Prophet stretched out his right hand. Amr withdrew his hand. The Prophet said: {What has happened to you, O Amr?} He replied, “I intend to lay down a condition.” The Prophet asked: {What condition do you intend to put forward?} Amr said, “That God forgive my sins.” The Prophet said: {Didn’t you know that converting to Islam erases all previous sins?}¹

After converting to Islam, the person will be rewarded for his or her good and bad deeds according to the following saying of the Prophet Muhammad : {Your Lord, Who is blessed and exalted, is most merciful. If someone intends to do a good deed but does not do it, a good deed will be recorded for him. And if he does do it, (a reward of) ten to seven hundred or many more times (the reward of the good deed), will be recorded for him. And if someone intends to do a bad deed but does not do it, a good deed will be recorded for him. And if he does do it, a bad deed will be recorded against him or God will wipe it out.}²

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Footnotes:

(1) Narrated in Saheeh Muslim, #121, and Mosnad Ahmad, #17357.

(2) Narrated in Mosnad Ahmad, #2515, and Saheeh Muslim, #131.

Source : Islam-Guide

(3) Real Happiness and Inner Peace

Real happiness and peace can be found in submitting to the commands of the Creator and the Sustainer of this world. God has said in the Quran:

Truly, in remembering God do hearts find rest. (Quran, 13:28)

On the other hand, the one who turns away from the Quran will have a life of hardship in this world. God has said:

But whoever turns away from the Quran,¹ he will have a hard life, and We will raise him up blind on the Day of Judgment. (Quran, 20:124)

This may explain why some people commit suicide while they enjoy the material comfort money can buy. For example, look at Cat Stevens (now Yusuf Islam), formerly a famous pop singer who used to earn sometimes more than $150,000 a night. After he converted to Islam, he found true happiness and peace, which he had not found in material success.²

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Footnotes:

(1) i.e. neither believes in the Quran nor acts on its orders.

(2) The present mailing address of Cat Stevens (Yusuf Islam), in case you would like to ask him about his feelings after he converted to Islam, is: 2 Digswell Street, London N7 8JX, United Kingdom.

Source : Islam-Guide

(2) Salvation from Hellfire

God has said in the Quran:

Those who have disbelieved and died in disbelief, the earth full of gold would not be accepted from any of them if one offered it as a ransom. They will have a painful punishment, and they will have no helpers. (Quran, 3:91)

So, this life is our only chance to win Paradise and to escape from Hellfire, because if someone dies in disbelief, he will not have another chance to come back to this world to believe. As God has said in the Quran about what is going to happen for the unbelievers on the Day of Judgment:

If you could but see when they are set before the Fire (Hell) and say, “Would that we might return (to the world)! Then we would not reject the verses of our Lord, but we would be of the believers!” (Quran, 6:27)

But no one will have this second opportunity.

The Prophet Muhammad said: {The happiest man in the world of those doomed to the Fire (Hell) on the Day of Judgment will be dipped in the Fire once. Then he will be asked, “Son of Adam, did you ever see any good? Did you ever experience any blessing?” So he will say, “No, by God, O Lord!”}¹

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Footnotes:

(1) Narrated in Saheeh Muslim, #2807, and Mosnad Ahmad, #12699.

Source : Islam-Guide

SOME BENEFITS OF ISLAM

Islam provides many benefits for the individual and the society. This chapter mentions some of the benefits gained through Islam for the individual.

(1) The Door to Eternal Paradise

God has said in the Quran:

And give good news (O Muhammad) to those who believe and do good deeds, that they will have gardens (Paradise) in which rivers flow.... (Quran, 2:25)

God has also said:

Race one with another for forgiveness from your Lord and for Paradise, whose width is as the width of the heavens and the earth, which has been prepared for those who believe in God and His messengers.... (Quran, 57:21)

The Prophet Muhammad told us that the lowest in rank among the dwellers of Paradise will have ten times the like of this world,¹ and he or she will have whatever he or she desires and ten times like it.² Also, the Prophet Muhammad said: {A space in Paradise equivalent to the size of a foot would be better than the world and what is in it.}³ He also said: {In Paradise there are things which no eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no human mind has thought of.}⁴ He also said: {The most miserable man in the world of those meant for Paradise will be dipped once in Paradise. Then he will be asked, “Son of Adam, did you ever face any misery? Did you ever experience any hardship?” So he will say, “No, by God, O Lord! I never faced any misery, and I never experienced any hardship.”}⁵

If you enter Paradise, you will live a very happy life without sickness, pain, sadness, or death; God will be pleased with you; and you will live there forever. God has said in the Quran:

But those who believe and do good deeds, We will admit them to gardens (Paradise) in which rivers flow, lasting in them forever.... (Quran, 4:57)

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Footnotes:

(1) Narrated in Saheeh Muslim, #186, and Saheeh Al-Bukhari, #6571.

(2) Narrated in Saheeh Muslim, #188, and Mosnad Ahmad, #10832.

(3) Narrated in Saheeh Al-Bukhari, #6568, and Mosnad Ahmad, #13368.

(4) Narrated in Saheeh Muslim, #2825, and Mosnad Ahmad, #8609.

(5) Narrated in Saheeh Muslim, #2807, and Mosnad Ahmad, #12699.

Source : Islam-Guide

The Phenomenal Growth of Islam

At the end of this chapter, it may be appropriate to point out an important indication of the truth of Islam. It is well known that in the USA and the whole world, Islam is the fastest-growing religion. The following are some observations on this phenomenon:

n “Islam is the fastest-growing religion in America, a guide and pillar of stability for many of our people...” (Hillary Rodham Clinton, Los Angeles Times).¹

n “Moslems are the world’s fastest-growing group...” (The Population Reference Bureau, USA Today).²

n “....Islam is the fastest-growing religion in the country.” (Geraldine Baum; Newsday Religion Writer, Newsday).³

n “Islam, the fastest-growing religion in the United States...” (Ari L. Goldman, New York Times).⁴

This phenomenon indicates that Islam is truly a religion from God. It is unreasonable to think that so many Americans and people from different countries have converted to Islam without careful consideration and deep contemplation before concluding that Islam is true. These converts have come from different countries, classes, races, and walks of life. They include scientists, professors, philosophers, journalists, politicians, actors, and athletes. (To read the stories of people who have converted to Islam, please visit the links at Stories of New Muslims.)

The points mentioned in this chapter constitute only some of the evidence supporting the belief that the Quran is the literal word of God, that Muhammad is truly a prophet sent by God, and that Islam is truly a religion from God.

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Footnotes:

(1) Larry B. Stammer, Times Religion Writer, “First Lady Breaks Ground With Muslims,” Los Angeles Times, Home Edition, Metro Section, Part B, May 31, 1996, p. 3.

(2) Timothy Kenny, “Elsewhere in the World,” USA Today, Final Edition, News Section, February 17, 1989, p. 4A.

(3) Geraldine Baum, “For Love of Allah,” Newsday, Nassau and Suffolk Edition, Part II, March 7, 1989, p. 4.

(4) Ari L. Goldman, “Mainstream Islam Rapidly Embraced By Black Americans,” New York Times, Late City Final Edition, February 21, 1989, p. 1.

Source : Islam-Guide

The Simple Life of Muhammad

If we compare the life of Muhammad before his mission as a prophet and his life after he began his mission as a prophet, we will conclude that it is beyond reason to think that Muhammad was a false prophet, who claimed prophethood to attain material gains, greatness, glory, or power.

Before his mission as a prophet, Muhammad had no financial worries. As a successful and reputed merchant, Muhammad drew a satisfactory and comfortable income. After his mission as a prophet and because of it, he became worse off materially. To clarify this more, let us browse the following sayings on his life:

n Aa’isha, Muhammad’s wife, said, “O my nephew, we would sight three new moons in two months without lighting a fire (to cook a meal) in the Prophet’s houses.” Her nephew asked, “O Aunt, what sustained you?” She said, “The two black things, dates and water, but the Prophet had some Ansar neighbors who had milk-giving she-camels and they used to send the Prophet some of its milk.”¹

n Sahl Ibn Sa’ad, one of Muhammad’s companions, said, “The Prophet of God did not see bread made from fine flour from the time God sent him (as a prophet) until he died.”²

n Aa’isha, Muhammad’s wife, said, “The mattress of the Prophet , on which he slept, was made of leather stuffed with the fiber of the date-palm tree.”³

n Amr Ibn Al-Hareth, one of Muhammad’s companions, said that when the Prophet died, he left neither money nor anything else except his white riding mule, his arms, and a piece of land which he left to charity.⁴

Muhammad lived this hard life till he died although the Muslim treasury was at his disposal, the greater part of the Arabian Peninsula was Muslim before he died, and the Muslims were victorious after eighteen years of his mission.

Is it possible that Muhammad might have claimed prophethood in order to attain status, greatness, and power? The desire to enjoy status and power is usually associated with good food, fancy clothing, monumental palaces, colorful guards, and indisputable authority. Do any of these indicators apply to Muhammad ? A few glimpses of his life that may help answer this question follow.

Despite his responsibilities as a prophet, a teacher, a statesman, and a judge, Muhammad used to milk his goat,⁵ mend his clothes, repair his shoes,⁶ help with the household work,⁷ and visit poor people when they got sick.⁸ He also helped his companions in digging a trench by moving sand with them.⁹ His life was an amazing model of simplicity and humbleness.

Muhammad’s followers loved him, respected him, and trusted him to an amazing extent. Yet he continued to emphasize that deification should be directed to God and not to him personally. Anas, one of Muhammad’s companions, said that there was no person whom they loved more than the Prophet Muhammad , yet when he came to them, they did not stand up for him because he hated their standing up for him,¹⁰ as other people do with their great people.

Long before there was any prospect of success for Islam and at the outset of a long and painful era of torture, suffering, and persecution of Muhammad and his followers, he received an interesting offer. An envoy of the pagan leaders, Otba, came to him saying, “...If you want money, we will collect enough money for you so that you will be the richest one of us. If you want leadership, we will take you as our leader and never decide on any matter without your approval. If you want a kingdom, we will crown you king over us...” Only one concession was required from Muhammad in return for that, to give up calling people to Islam and worshipping God alone without any partner. Wouldn’t this offer be tempting to one pursuing worldly benefit? Was Muhammad hesitant when the offer was made? Did he turn it down as a bargaining strategy leaving the door open for a better offer? The following was his answer: {In the Name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful} And he recited to Otba the verses of the Quran 41:1-38.¹¹ The Following are some of these verses:

A revelation from (God), the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful; a Book whereof the verses are explained in detail; a Quran in Arabic, for people who know, giving good news and warning, yet most of them turn away, so they do not listen. (Quran, 41:2-4)

On another occasion and in response to his uncle’s plea to stop calling people to Islam, Muhammad’s answer was as decisive and sincere: {I swear by the name of God, O Uncle!, that if they place the sun in my right-hand and the moon in my left-hand in return for giving up this matter (calling people to Islam), I will never desist until either God makes it triumph or I perish defending it.}¹²

Muhammad and his few followers did not only suffer from persecution for thirteen years but the unbelievers even tried to kill Muhammad several times. On one occasion they attempted to kill him by dropping a large boulder, which could barely be lifted, on his head.¹³ Another time they tried to kill him by poisoning his food.¹⁴ What could justify such a life of suffering and sacrifice even after he was fully triumphant over his adversaries? What could explain the humbleness and nobility which he demonstrated in his most glorious moments when he insisted that success is due only to God’s help and not to his own genius? Are these the characteristics of a power-hungry or a self-centered man?

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Footnotes:

(1) Narrated in Saheeh Muslim, #2972, and Saheeh Al-Bukhari, #2567.

(2) Narrated in Saheeh Al-Bukhari, #5413, and Al-Tirmizi, #2364.

(3) Narrated in Saheeh Muslim, #2082, and Saheeh Al-Bukhari, #6456.

(4) Narrated in Saheeh Al-Bukhari, #2739, and Mosnad Ahmad, #17990.

(5) Narrated in Mosnad Ahmad, #25662.

(6) Narrated in Saheeh Al-Bukhari, #676, and Mosnad Ahmad, #25517.

(7) Narrated in Saheeh Al-Bukhari, #676, and Mosnad Ahmad, #23706.

(8) Narrated in Mowatta’ Malek, #531.

(9) Narrated in Saheeh Al-Bukhari, #3034, and Saheeh Muslim, #1803, and Mosnad Ahmad, #18017.

(10) Narrated in Mosnad Ahmad, #12117, and Al-Tirmizi, #2754.

(11) Al-Serah Al-Nabaweyyah, Ibn Hesham, vol. 1, pp. 293-294.

(12) Al-Serah Al-Nabaweyyah, Ibn Hesham, vol. 1, pp. 265-266.

(13) Al-Serah Al-Nabaweyyah, Ibn Hesham, vol. 1, pp. 298-299.

(14) Narrated in Al-Daremey, #68, and Abu-Dawood, #4510.

Source : Islam-Guide

Miracles Performed by the Prophet Muhammad SAW

Many miracles were performed by the Prophet Muhammad by God’s permission. These miracles were witnessed by many people. For example:

n When the unbelievers in Makkah asked the Prophet Muhammad to show them a miracle, he showed them the splitting of the moon.¹

n Another miracle was the flowing of water through Muhammad’s fingers when his companions got thirsty and had no water except a little in a vessel. They came to him and told him that they had no water to make ablution nor to drink except for what was in the vessel. So, Muhammad put his hand in the vessel, and the water started gushing out between his fingers. So, they drank and made ablution. They were one thousand five hundred companions.²

There were also many other miracles that were performed by him or which happened to him.

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Footnotes:

(1) Narrated in Saheeh Al-Bukhari, #3637, and Saheeh Muslim, #2802.

(2) Narrated in Saheeh Al-Bukhari, #3576, and Saheeh Muslim, #1856.

Source : Islam-Guide

The Verses in the Quran That Mention Future Events Which Later Came to Pass

One example of the events foretold in the Quran is the victory of the Romans over the Persians within three to nine years after the Romans were defeated by the Persians. God has said in the Quran:

The Romans have been defeated in the nearest land (to the Arabian Peninsula), and they, after their defeat, will be victorious within bedd’ (three to nine) years.... (Quran, 30:2-4)

Let us see what history tells us about these wars. A book entitled History of the Byzantine State says that the Roman army was badly defeated at Antioch in 613, and as a result, the Persians swiftly pushed forward on all fronts.¹ At that time, it was hard to imagine that the Romans would defeat the Persians, but the Quran foretold that the Romans would be victorious within three to nine years. In 622, nine years after the Romans’ defeat, the two forces (Romans and Persians) met on Armenian soil, and the result was the decisive victory of the Romans over the Persians, for the first time after the Romans’ defeat in 613.² The prophecy was fulfilled just as God has said in the Quran.

There are also many other verses in the Quran and sayings of the Prophet Muhammad that mention future events which later came to pass.

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Footnotes:

(1) History of the Byzantine State, Ostrogorsky, p. 95.

(2) History of the Byzantine State, Ostrogorsky, pp. 100-101, and History of Persia, Sykes, vol. 1, pp. 483-484. Also see The New Encyclopaedia Britannica, Micropaedia vol. 4, p. 1036.

Biblical Prophecies on the Advent of Muhammad, the Prophet of Islam

The Biblical prophecies on the advent of the Prophet Muhammad are evidence of the truth of Islam for people who believe in the Bible.

In Deuteronomy 18, Moses stated that God told him: “I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers; I will put my words in his mouth, and he will tell them everything I command him. If anyone does not listen to my words that the prophet speaks in my name, I myself will call him to account.” (Deuteronomy 18:18-19).¹

From these verses we conclude that the prophet in this prophecy must have the following three characteristics:

1) That he will be like Moses.

2) That he will come from the brothers of the Israelites, i.e. the Ishmaelites.

3) That God will put His words in to the mouth of this prophet and that he will declare what God commands him.

Let us examine these three characteristics in more depth:

1) A prophet like Moses:

There were hardly any two prophets who were so much alike as Moses and Muhammad . Both were given a comprehensive law and code of life. Both encountered their enemies and were victorious in miraculous ways. Both were accepted as prophets and statesmen. Both migrated following conspiracies to assassinate them. Analogies between Moses and Jesus overlook not only the above similarities but other crucial ones as well. These include the natural birth, the family life, and death of Moses and Muhammad but not of Jesus. Moreover Jesus was regarded by his followers as the Son of God and not exclusively as a prophet of God, as Moses and Muhammad were and as Muslims believe Jesus was. So, this prophecy refers to the Prophet Muhammad and not to Jesus, because Muhammad is more like Moses than Jesus.

Also, one notices from the Gospel of John that the Jews were waiting for the fulfillment of three distinct prophecies. The first was the coming of Christ. The second was the coming of Elijah. The third was the coming of the Prophet. This is obvious from the three questions that were posed to John the Baptist: “Now this was John’s testimony, when the Jews of Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him who he was. He did not fail to confess, but confessed freely, “I am not the Christ.” They asked him, “Then who are you? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” He answered, “No.” (John 1:19-21). If we look in a Bible with cross-references, we will find in the marginal notes where the words “the Prophet” occur in John 1:21, that these words refer to the prophecy of Deuteronomy 18:15 and 18:18.² We conclude from this that Jesus Christ is not the prophet mentioned in Deuteronomy 18:18.

2) From the brothers of the Israelites:

Abraham had two sons, Ishmael and Isaac (Genesis 21). Ishmael became the grandfather of the Arab nation, and Isaac became the grandfather of the Jewish nation. The prophet spoken of was not to come from among the Jews themselves, but from among their brothers, i.e. the Ishmaelites. Muhammad , a descendant of Ishmael, is indeed this prophet.

Also, Isaiah 42:1-13 speaks of the servant of God, His “chosen one” and “messenger” who will bring down a law. “He will not falter or be discouraged till he establishes justice on earth. In his law the islands will put their hope.” (Isaiah 42:4). Verse 11, connects that awaited one with the descendants of Kedar. Who is Kedar? According to Genesis 25:13, Kedar was the second son of Ishmael, the ancestor of the Prophet Muhammad .

3) God will put His words in the mouth of this prophet:

The words of God (the Holy Quran) were truly put into Muhammad’s mouth. God sent the Angel Gabriel to teach Muhammad the exact words of God (the Holy Quran) and asked him to dictate them to the people as he heard them. The words are therefore not his own. They did not come from his own thoughts, but were put into his mouth by the Angel Gabriel. During the life time of Muhammad , and under his supervision, these words were then memorized and written by his companions.

Also, this prophecy in Deuteronomy mentioned that this prophet will speak the words of God in the name of God. If we looked to the Holy Quran, we will find that all its chapters, except Chapter 9, are preceded or begin with the phrase, “In the Name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.”

Another indication (other than the prophecy in Deuteronomy) is that Isaiah ties the messenger connected with Kedar with a new song (a scripture in a new language) to be sung to the Lord (Isaiah 42:10-11). This is mentioned more clearly in the prophecy of Isaiah: “and another tongue, will he speak to this people” (Isaiah 28:11 KJV). Another related point, is that the Quran was revealed in sections over a span of twenty-three years. It is interesting to compare this with Isaiah 28 which speaks of the same thing, “For it is: Do and do, do and do, rule on rule, rule on rule; a little here, a little there.” (Isaiah 28:10).

Note that God has said in the prophecy of Deuteronomy 18, “If anyone does not listen to my words that the prophet speaks in my name, I myself will call him to account.” (Deuteronomy, 18:19). This means that whoever believes in the Bible must believe in what this prophet says, and this prophet is the Prophet Muhammad .

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Footnotes:

(1) All of the verses on this page have been taken from The NIV Study Bible, New International Version, except where noted as being KJV which means King James Version.

(2) See the marginal notes in The NIV Study Bible, New International Version on verse 1:21, p. 1594.

Source : Islam-Guide

The Great Challenge to Produce

God has said in the Quran:

And if you are in doubt about what We have revealed (the Quran) to Our worshiper (Muhammad ), then produce a chapter like it, and call your witnesses (supporters and helpers) besides God if you are truthful. And if you do not do it, and you can never do it, then fear the Fire (Hell) whose fuel is men and stones. It has been prepared for disbelievers. And give good news (O Muhammad) to those who believe and do good deeds, that for them are gardens (Paradise) in which rivers flow.... (Quran, 2:23-25)

Ever since the Quran was revealed, fourteen centuries ago, no one has been able to produce a single chapter like the chapters of the Quran in their beauty, eloquence, splendor, wise legislation, true information, true prophecy, and other perfect attributes. Also, note that the smallest chapter in the Quran (Chapter 108) is only ten words, yet no one has ever been able to meet this challenge, then or today.¹ Some of the disbelieving Arabs who were enemies of the Prophet Muhammad tried to meet this challenge to prove that Muhammad was not a true prophet, but they failed to do so.² This failure was despite the fact that the Quran was revealed in their own language and dialect and that the Arabs at the time of Muhammad were a very eloquent people who used to compose beautiful and excellent poetry, still read and appreciated today.

The smallest chapter in the Holy Quran (Chapter 108) is only ten words, yet no one has ever been able to meet the challenge to produce one chapter like the chapters of the Holy Quran.

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Footnotes:

(1) See Al-Borhan fee Oloom Al-Quran, Al-Zarkashy, vol. 2, p. 224.

(2) See Al-Borhan fee Oloom Al-Quran, Al-Zarkashy, vol. 2, p. 226.

Source : Islam-guide

Scientists’ Comments on the Scientific Miracles in the Holy Quran

The following are some comments of scientists¹ on the scientific miracles in the Holy Quran. All of these comments have been taken from the videotape entitled This is the Truth. In this videotape, you can see and hear the scientists while they are giving the following comments. (To view the RealPlayer video of a comment, click on the link at the end of that comment. For a copy of this videotape, please visit this page.)

1) Dr. T. V. N. Persaud is Professor of Anatomy, Professor of Pediatrics and Child Health, and Professor of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences at the University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. There, he was the Chairman of the Department of Anatomy for 16 years. He is well-known in his field. He is the author or editor of 22 textbooks and has published over 181 scientific papers. In 1991, he received the most distinguished award presented in the field of anatomy in Canada, the J.C.B. Grant Award from the Canadian Association of Anatomists. When he was asked about the scientific miracles in the Quran which he has researched, he stated the following:

“The way it was explained to me is that Muhammad was a very ordinary man. He could not read, didn’t know [how] to write. In fact, he was an illiterate. And we’re talking about twelve [actually about fourteen] hundred years ago. You have someone illiterate making profound pronouncements and statements and that are amazingly accurate about scientific nature. And I personally can’t see how this could be a mere chance. There are too many accuracies and, like Dr. Moore, I have no difficulty in my mind that this is a divine inspiration or revelation which led him to these statements.” (View the RealPlayer video of this comment )

Professor Persaud has included some Quranic verses and sayings of the Prophet Muhammad in some of his books. He has also presented these verses and sayings of the Prophet Muhammad at several conferences.

2) Dr. Joe Leigh Simpson is the Chairman of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology, and Professor of Molecular and Human Genetics at the Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA. Formerly, he was Professor of Ob-Gyn and the Chairman of the Department of Ob-Gyn at the University of Tennessee, Memphis, Tennessee, USA. He was also the President of the American Fertility Society. He has received many awards, including the Association of Professors of Obstetrics and Gynecology Public Recognition Award in 1992. Professor Simpson studied the following two sayings of the Prophet Muhammad :

{In every one of you, all components of your creation are collected together in your mother’s womb by forty days...}²

{If forty-two nights have passed over the embryo, God sends an angel to it, who shapes it and creates its hearing, vision, skin, flesh, and bones....}³

He studied these two sayings of the Prophet Muhammad extensively, noting that the first forty days constitute a clearly distinguishable stage of embryo-genesis. He was particularly impressed by the absolute precision and accuracy of those sayings of the Prophet Muhammad . Then, during one conference, he gave the following opinion:

“So that the two hadeeths (the sayings of the Prophet Muhammad ) that have been noted provide us with a specific time table for the main embryological development before forty days. Again, the point has been made, I think, repeatedly by other speakers this morning: these hadeeths could not have been obtained on the basis of the scientific knowledge that was available [at] the time of their writing . . . . It follows, I think, that not only there is no conflict between genetics and religion but, in fact, religion can guide science by adding revelation to some of the traditional scientific approaches, that there exist statements in the Quran shown centuries later to be valid, which support knowledge in the Quran having been derived from God.” (View the RealPlayer video of this comment )

3) Dr. E. Marshall Johnson is Professor Emeritus of Anatomy and Developmental Biology at Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. There, for 22 years he was Professor of Anatomy, the Chairman of the Department of Anatomy, and the Director of the Daniel Baugh Institute. He was also the President of the Teratology Society. He has authored more than 200 publications. In 1981, during the Seventh Medical Conference in Dammam, Saudi Arabia, Professor Johnson said in the presentation of his research paper:

“Summary: The Quran describes not only the development of external form, but emphasizes also the internal stages, the stages inside the embryo, of its creation and development, emphasizing major events recognized by contemporary science.” (View the RealPlayer video of this comment )

Also he said: “As a scientist, I can only deal with things which I can specifically see. I can understand embryology and developmental biology. I can understand the words that are translated to me from the Quran. As I gave the example before, if I were to transpose myself into that era, knowing what I knew today and describing things, I could not describe the things which were described. I see no evidence for the fact to refute the concept that this individual, Muhammad, had to be developing this information from some place. So I see nothing here in conflict with the concept that divine intervention was involved in what he was able to write.”⁴ (View the RealPlayer video of this comment )

4) Dr. William W. Hay is a well-known marine scientist. He is Professor of Geological Sciences at the University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado, USA. He was formerly the Dean of the Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science at the University of Miami, Miami, Florida, USA. After a discussion with Professor Hay about the Quran’s mention of recently discovered facts on seas, he said:

“I find it very interesting that this sort of information is in the ancient scriptures of the Holy Quran, and I have no way of knowing where they would come from, but I think it is extremely interesting that they are there and that this work is going on to discover it, the meaning of some of the passages.” And when he was asked about the source of the Quran, he replied: “Well, I would think it must be the divine being.” (View the RealPlayer video of this comment
)

5) Dr. Gerald C. Goeringer is Course Director and Associate Professor of Medical Embryology at the Department of Cell Biology, School of Medicine, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA. During the Eighth Saudi Medical Conference in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Professor Goeringer stated the following in the presentation of his research paper:

“In a relatively few aayahs (Quranic verses) is contained a rather comprehensive description of human development from the time of commingling of the gametes through organogenesis. No such distinct and complete record of human development, such as classification, terminology, and description, existed previously. In most, if not all, instances, this description antedates by many centuries the recording of the various stages of human embryonic and fetal development recorded in the traditional scientific literature.” (View the RealPlayer video of this comment )

6) Dr. Yoshihide Kozai is Professor Emeritus at Tokyo University, Hongo, Tokyo, Japan, and was the Director of the National Astronomical Observatory, Mitaka, Tokyo, Japan. He said:

“I am very much impressed by finding true astronomical facts in [the] Quran, and for us the modern astronomers have been studying very small pieces of the universe. We’ve concentrated our efforts for understanding of [a] very small part. Because by using telescopes, we can see only very few parts [of] the sky without thinking [about the] whole universe. So, by reading [the] Quran and by answering to the questions, I think I can find my future way for investigation of the universe.” (View the RealPlayer video of this comment )

7) Professor Tejatat Tejasen is the Chairman of the Department of Anatomy at Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand. Previously, he was the Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at the same university. During the Eighth Saudi Medical Conference in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Professor Tejasen stood up and said:

“During the last three years, I became interested in the Quran . . . . From my study and what I have learned from this conference, I believe that everything that has been recorded in the Quran fourteen hundred years ago must be the truth, that can be proved by the scientific means. Since the Prophet Muhammad could neither read nor write, Muhammad must be a messenger who relayed this truth, which was revealed to him as an enlightenment by the one who is eligible [as the] creator. This creator must be God. Therefore, I think this is the time to say La ilaha illa Allah, there is no god to worship except Allah (God), Muhammadur rasoolu Allah, Muhammad is Messenger (Prophet) of Allah (God). Lastly, I must congratulate for the excellent and highly successful arrangement for this conference . . . . I have gained not only from the scientific point of view and religious point of view but also the great chance of meeting many well-known scientists and making many new friends among the participants. The most precious thing of all that I have gained by coming to this place is La ilaha illa Allah, Muhammadur rasoolu Allah, and to have become a Muslim.” (View the RealPlayer video of this comment )

After all these examples we have seen about the scientific miracles in the Holy Quran and all these scientists’ comments on this, let us ask ourselves these questions:

n Could it be a coincidence that all this recently discovered scientific information from different fields was mentioned in the Quran, which was revealed fourteen centuries ago?

n Could this Quran have been authored by Muhammad or by any other human being?

The only possible answer is that this Quran must be the literal word of God, revealed by Him.

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Footnotes:

(1) Note: The occupations of all the scientists mentioned in this web site were last updated in 1997.

(2) Narrated in Saheeh Muslim, #2643, and Saheeh Al-Bukhari, #3208.
Note: What is between these special brackets {...} in this guide is a translation of what the Prophet Muhammad said. Also note that this symbol # used in the footnotes, indicates the number of the hadeeth. A hadeeth is a reliably transmitted report by the Prophet Muhammad’s companions of what he said, did, or approved of.

(3) Narrated in Saheeh Muslim, #2645.

(4) The Prophet Muhammad was illiterate. He could not read nor write, but he dictated the Quran to his Companions and commanded some of them to write it down.

The Quran on Clouds :

Scientists have studied cloud types and have realized that rain clouds are formed and shaped according to definite systems and certain steps connected with certain types of wind and clouds.

One kind of rain cloud is the cumulonimbus cloud. Meteorologists have studied how cumulonimbus clouds are formed and how they produce rain, hail, and lightning.

They have found that cumulonimbus clouds go through the following steps to produce rain:

1) The clouds are pushed by the wind: Cumulonimbus clouds begin to form when wind pushes some small pieces of clouds (cumulus clouds) to an area where these clouds converge (see figures 17 and 18).

Figure 17: Satellite photo showing the clouds moving towards the convergence areas B, C, and D. The arrows indicate the directions of the wind. (The Use of Satellite Pictures in Weather Analysis and Forecasting, Anderson and others, p. 188.) (Click on the image to enlarge it.)

Figure 18: Small pieces of clouds (cumulus clouds) moving towards a convergence zone near the horizon, where we can see a large cumulonimbus cloud. (Clouds and Storms, Ludlam, plate 7.4.) (Click on the image to enlarge it.)

2) Joining: Then the small clouds join together forming a larger cloud¹ (see figures 18 and 19).

Figure 19: (A) Isolated small pieces of clouds (cumulus clouds). (B) When the small clouds join together, updrafts within the larger cloud increase, so the cloud is stacked up. Water drops are indicated by ·. (The Atmosphere, Anthes and others, p. 269.) (Click on the image to enlarge it.)

3) Stacking: When the small clouds join together, updrafts within the larger cloud increase. The updrafts near the center of the cloud are stronger than those near the edges.² These updrafts cause the cloud body to grow vertically, so the cloud is stacked up (see figures 19 (B), 20, and 21). This vertical growth causes the cloud body to stretch into cooler regions of the atmosphere, where drops of water and hail formulate and begin to grow larger and larger. When these drops of water and hail become too heavy for the updrafts to support them, they begin to fall from the cloud as rain, hail, etc.³

Figure 20: A cumulonimbus cloud. After the cloud is stacked up, rain comes out of it. (Weather and Climate, Bodin, p.123.)

Figure 21: A cumulonimbus cloud. (A Colour Guide to Clouds, Scorer and Wexler, p. 23.)

God has said in the Quran:

Have you not seen how God makes the clouds move gently, then joins them together, then makes them into a stack, and then you see the rain come out of it.... (Quran, 24:43)

Meteorologists have only recently come to know these details of cloud formation, structure, and function by using advanced equipment like planes, satellites, computers, balloons, and other equipment, to study wind and its direction, to measure humidity and its variations, and to determine the levels and variations of atmospheric pressure.⁴

The preceding verse, after mentioning clouds and rain, speaks about hail and lightning:

....And He sends down hail from mountains (clouds) in the sky, and He strikes with it whomever He wills, and turns it from whomever He wills. The vivid flash of its lightning nearly blinds the sight. (Quran, 24:43)

Meteorologists have found that these cumulonimbus clouds, that shower hail, reach a height of 25,000 to 30,000 ft (4.7 to 5.7 miles),⁵ like mountains, as the Quran said, “...And He sends down hail from mountains (clouds) in the sky...” (see figure 21 above).

This verse may raise a question. Why does the verse say “its lightning” in a reference to the hail? Does this mean that hail is the major factor in producing lightning? Let us see what the book entitled Meteorology Today says about this. It says that a cloud becomes electrified as hail falls through a region in the cloud of supercooled droplets and ice crystals. As liquid droplets collide with a hailstone, they freeze on contact and release latent heat. This keeps the surface of the hailstone warmer than that of the surrounding ice crystals. When the hailstone comes in contact with an ice crystal, an important phenomenon occurs: electrons flow from the colder object toward the warmer object. Hence, the hailstone becomes negatively charged. The same effect occurs when supercooled droplets come in contact with a hailstone and tiny splinters of positively charged ice break off. These lighter positively charged particles are then carried to the upper part of the cloud by updrafts. The hail, left with a negative charge, falls towards the bottom of the cloud, thus the lower part of the cloud becomes negatively charged. These negative charges are then discharged as lightning.⁶ We conclude from this that hail is the major factor in producing lightning.

This information on lightning was discovered recently. Until 1600 AD, Aristotle’s ideas on meteorology were dominant. For example, he said that the atmosphere contains two kinds of exhalation, moist and dry. He also said that thunder is the sound of the collision of the dry exhalation with the neighboring clouds, and lightning is the inflaming and burning of the dry exhalation with a thin and faint fire.⁷ These are some of the ideas on meteorology that were dominant at the time of the Quran’s revelation, fourteen centuries ago.

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Footnotes:

(1) See The Atmosphere, Anthes and others, pp. 268-269, and Elements of Meteorology, Miller and Thompson, p. 141.

(2) The updrafts near the center are stronger, because they are protected from the cooling effects by the outer portion of the cloud.

(3) See The Atmosphere, Anthes and others, p. 269, and Elements of Meteorology, Miller and Thompson, pp. 141-142.

(4) See Ee’jaz al-Quran al-Kareem fee Wasf Anwa’ al-Riyah, al-Sohob, al-Matar, Makky and others, p. 55.

(5) Elements of Meteorology, Miller and Thompson, p. 141.

(6) Meteorology Today, Ahrens, p. 437.

(7) The Works of Aristotle Translated into English: Meteorologica, vol. 3, Ross and others, pp. 369a-369b.

Source : Islam-Guide

The Quran on Deep Seas and Internal Waves :

God has said in the Quran:

Or (the unbelievers’ state) is like the darkness in a deep sea. It is covered by waves, above which are waves, above which are clouds. Darknesses, one above another. If a man stretches out his hand, he cannot see it.... (Quran, 24:40)

This verse mentions the darkness found in deep seas and oceans, where if a man stretches out his hand, he cannot see it. The darkness in deep seas and oceans is found around a depth of 200 meters and below. At this depth, there is almost no light (see figure 15). Below a depth of 1000 meters there is no light at all.1 Human beings are not able to dive more than forty meters without the aid of submarines or special equipment. Human beings cannot survive unaided in the deep dark part of the oceans, such as at a depth of 200 meters.

Figure 15

Figure 15: Between 3 and 30 percent of the sunlight is reflected at the sea surface. Then almost all of the seven colors of the light spectrum are absorbed one after another in the first 200 meters, except the blue light. (Oceans, Elder and Pernetta, p. 27.)

Scientists have recently discovered this darkness by means of special equipment and submarines that have enabled them to dive into the depths of the oceans.

We can also understand from the following sentences in the previous verse, “...in a deep sea. It is covered by waves, above which are waves, above which are clouds....”, that the deep waters of seas and oceans are covered by waves, and above these waves are other waves. It is clear that the second set of waves are the surface waves that we see, because the verse mentions that above the second waves there are clouds. But what about the first waves? Scientists have recently discovered that there are internal waves which “occur on density interfaces between layers of different densities.”2 (see figure 16).

Figure 16

Figure 16: Internal waves at interface between two layers of water of different densities. One is dense (the lower one), the other one is less dense (the upper one). (Oceanography, Gross, p. 204.)

The internal waves cover the deep waters of seas and oceans because the deep waters have a higher density than the waters above them. Internal waves act like surface waves. They can also break, just like surface waves. Internal waves cannot be seen by the human eye, but they can be detected by studying temperature or salinity changes at a given location.3
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Footnotes:

(1) Oceans, Elder and Pernetta, p. 27. Back from footnote (1)

(2) Oceanography, Gross, p. 205. Back from footnote (2)

(3) Oceanography, Gross, p. 205. Back from footnote (3)

The Quran on Seas and Rivers :

Modern Science has discovered that in the places where two different seas meet, there is a barrier between them. This barrier divides the two seas so that each sea has its own temperature, salinity, and density.¹ For example, Mediterranean sea water is warm, saline, and less dense, compared to Atlantic ocean water. When Mediterranean sea water enters the Atlantic over the Gibraltar sill, it moves several hundred kilometers into the Atlantic at a depth of about 1000 meters with its own warm, saline, and less dense characteristics. The Mediterranean water stabilizes at this depth² (see figure 13).

Figure 13: The Mediterranean sea water as it enters the Atlantic over the Gibraltar sill with its own warm, saline, and less dense characteristics, because of the barrier that distinguishes between them. Temperatures are in degrees Celsius (C°). (Marine Geology, Kuenen, p. 43, with a slight enhancement.) (Click on the image to enlarge it.)

Although there are large waves, strong currents, and tides in these seas, they do not mix or transgress this barrier.

The Holy Quran mentioned that there is a barrier between two seas that meet and that they do not transgress. God has said:

He has set free the two seas meeting together. There is a barrier between them. They do not transgress. (Quran, 55:19-20)

But when the Quran speaks about the divider between fresh and salt water, it mentions the existence of “a forbidding partition” with the barrier. God has said in the Quran:

He is the one who has set free the two kinds of water, one sweet and palatable, and the other salty and bitter. And He has made between them a barrier and a forbidding partition. (Quran, 25:53)

One may ask, why did the Quran mention the partition when speaking about the divider between fresh and salt water, but did not mention it when speaking about the divider between the two seas?

Modern science has discovered that in estuaries, where fresh (sweet) and salt water meet, the situation is somewhat different from what is found in places where two seas meet. It has been discovered that what distinguishes fresh water from salt water in estuaries is a “pycnocline zone with a marked density discontinuity separating the two layers.”³ This partition (zone of separation) has a different salinity from the fresh water and from the salt water⁴ (see figure 14).

Figure 14: Longitudinal section showing salinity (parts per thousand ‰) in an estuary. We can see here the partition (zone of separation) between the fresh and the salt water. (Introductory Oceanography, Thurman, p. 301, with a slight enhancement.) (Click on the image to enlarge it.)

This information has been discovered only recently, using advanced equipment to measure temperature, salinity, density, oxygen dissolubility, etc. The human eye cannot see the difference between the two seas that meet, rather the two seas appear to us as one homogeneous sea. Likewise, the human eye cannot see the division of water in estuaries into the three kinds: fresh water, salt water, and the partition (zone of separation).

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Footnotes:

(1) Principles of Oceanography, Davis, pp. 92-93.

(2) Principles of Oceanography, Davis, p. 93.

(3) Oceanography, Gross, p. 242. Also see Introductory Oceanography, Thurman, pp. 300-301.

(4) Oceanography, Gross, p. 244, and Introductory Oceanography, Thurman, pp. 300-301.

The Quran on the Cerebrum:

God has said in the Quran about one of the evil unbelievers who forbade the Prophet Muhammad from praying at the Kaaba:

No! If he does not stop, We will take him by the naseyah (front of the head), a lying, sinful naseyah (front of the head)! (Quran, 96:15-16)

Why did the Quran describe the front of the head as being lying and sinful? Why didn’t the Quran say that the person was lying and sinful? What is the relationship between the front of the head and lying and sinfulness?

If we look into the skull at the front of the head, we will find the prefrontal area of the cerebrum (see figure 12). What does physiology tell us about the function of this area? A book entitled Essentials of Anatomy & Physiology says about this area, “The motivation and the foresight to plan and initiate movements occur in the anterior portion of the frontal lobes, the prefrontal area. This is a region of association cortex...”¹ Also the book says, “In relation to its involvement in motivation, the prefrontal area is also thought to be the functional center for aggression....”²

Figure 12: Functional regions of the left hemisphere of the cerebral cortex. The prefrontal area is located at the front of the cerebral cortex. (Essentials of Anatomy & Physiology, Seeley and others, p. 210.) (Click on the image to enlarge it.)

So, this area of the cerebrum is responsible for planning, motivating, and initiating good and sinful behavior and is responsible for the telling of lies and the speaking of truth. Thus, it is proper to describe the front of the head as lying and sinful when someone lies or commits a sin, as the Quran has said, “...A lying, sinful naseyah (front of the head)!”

Scientists have only discovered these functions of the prefrontal area in the last sixty years, according to Professor Keith L. Moore.³

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Footnotes:

(1) Essentials of Anatomy & Physiology, Seeley and others, p. 211. Also see The Human Nervous System, Noback and others, pp. 410-411.

(2) Essentials of Anatomy & Physiology, Seeley and others, p. 211.

(3) Al-E’jaz al-Elmy fee al-Naseyah (The Scientific Miracles in the Front of the Head), Moore and others, p. 41.

The Quran on the Origin of the Universe :

The science of modern cosmology, observational and theoretical, clearly indicates that, at one point in time, the whole universe was nothing but a cloud of ‘smoke’ (i.e. an opaque highly dense and hot gaseous composition).¹ This is one of the undisputed principles of standard modern cosmology. Scientists now can observe new stars forming out of the remnants of that ‘smoke’ (see figures 10 and 11).

Figure 10: A new star forming out of a cloud of gas and dust (nebula), which is one of the remnants of the ‘smoke’ that was the origin of the whole universe. (The Space Atlas, Heather and Henbest, p. 50.)

Figure 11: The Lagoon nebula is a cloud of gas and dust, about 60 light years in diameter. It is excited by the ultraviolet radiation of the hot stars that have recently formed within its bulk. (Horizons, Exploring the Universe, Seeds, plate 9, from Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, Inc.) (Click on the image to enlarge it.)

The illuminating stars we see at night were, just as was the whole universe, in that ‘smoke’ material. God has said in the Quran:

Then He turned to the heaven when it was smoke... (Quran, 41:11)

Because the earth and the heavens above (the sun, the moon, stars, planets, galaxies, etc.) have been formed from this same ‘smoke,’ we conclude that the earth and the heavens were one connected entity. Then out of this homogeneous ‘smoke,’ they formed and separated from each other. God has said in the Quran:

Have not those who disbelieved known that the heavens and the earth were one connected entity, then We separated them?... (Quran, 21:30)

Dr. Alfred Kroner is one of the world’s renowned geologists. He is Professor of Geology and the Chairman of the Department of Geology at the Institute of Geosciences, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany. He said: “Thinking where Muhammad came from . . . I think it is almost impossible that he could have known about things like the common origin of the universe, because scientists have only found out within the last few years, with very complicated and advanced technological methods, that this is the case.”² (To view the RealPlayer video of this comment click here ). Also he said: “Somebody who did not know something about nuclear physics fourteen hundred years ago could not, I think, be in a position to find out from his own mind, for instance, that the earth and the heavens had the same origin.”³ (View the RealPlayer video of this comment ).

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Footnotes:

(1) The First Three Minutes, a Modern View of the Origin of the Universe, Weinberg, pp. 94-105.

(2) The reference for this saying is This is the Truth (videotape). For a copy of this videotape, please visit this page.

(3) This is the Truth (videotape).

The Quran on Mountains:

A book entitled Earth is a basic reference textbook in many universities around the world. One of its two authors is Professor Emeritus Frank Press. He was the Science Advisor to former US President Jimmy Carter, and for 12 years was the President of the National Academy of Sciences, Washington, DC. His book says that mountains have underlying roots.¹ These roots are deeply embedded in the ground, thus, mountains have a shape like a peg (see figures 7, 8, and 9).

Figure 7: Mountains have deep roots under the surface of the ground. (Earth, Press and Siever, p. 413.)

Figure 8: Schematic section. The mountains, like pegs, have deep roots embedded in the ground. (Anatomy of the Earth, Cailleux, p. 220.) (Click on the image to enlarge it.)

Figure 9: Another illustration shows how the mountains are peg-like in shape, due to their deep roots. (Earth Science, Tarbuck and Lutgens, p. 158.) (Click on the image to enlarge it.)

This is how the Quran has described mountains. God has said in the Quran:

Have We not made the earth as a bed, and the mountains as pegs? (Quran, 78:6-7)

Modern earth sciences have proven that mountains have deep roots under the surface of the ground (see figure 9) and that these roots can reach several times their elevations above the surface of the ground.² So the most suitable word to describe mountains on the basis of this information is the word ‘peg,’ since most of a properly set peg is hidden under the surface of the ground. The history of science tells us that the theory of mountains having deep roots was introduced only in the latter half of the nineteenth century.³

Mountains also play an important role in stabilizing the crust of the earth.⁴ They hinder the shaking of the earth. God has said in the Quran:

And He has set firm mountains in the earth so that it would not shake with you... (Quran, 16:15)

Likewise, the modern theory of plate tectonics holds that mountains work as stabilizers for the earth. This knowledge about the role of mountains as stabilizers for the earth has just begun to be understood in the framework of plate tectonics since the late 1960’s.⁵

Could anyone during the time of the Prophet Muhammad have known of the true shape of mountains? Could anyone imagine that the solid massive mountain which he sees before him actually extends deep into the earth and has a root, as scientists assert? A large number of books of geology, when discussing mountains, only describe that part which is above the surface of the earth. This is because these books were not written by specialists in geology. However, modern geology has confirmed the truth of the Quranic verses.

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Footnotes:

(1) Earth, Press and Siever, p. 435. Also see Earth Science, Tarbuck and Lutgens, p. 157.

(2) The Geological Concept of Mountains in the Quran, El-Naggar, p. 5.

(3) The Geological Concept of Mountains in the Quran, p. 5.

(4) The Geological Concept of Mountains in the Quran, pp. 44-45.

(5) The Geological Concept of Mountains in the Quran, p. 5.

Source : Islam-Guide

A) The Quran on Human Embryonic Development:

In the Holy Quran, God speaks about the stages of man’s embryonic development:

We created man from an extract of clay. Then We made him as a drop in a place of settlement, firmly fixed. Then We made the drop into an alaqah (leech, suspended thing, and blood clot), then We made the alaqah into a mudghah (chewed substance)... ¹ (Quran, 23:12-14)

Literally, the Arabic word alaqah has three meanings: (1) leech, (2) suspended thing, and (3) blood clot.

In comparing a leech to an embryo in the alaqah stage, we find similarity between the two² as we can see in figure 1. Also, the embryo at this stage obtains nourishment from the blood of the mother, similar to the leech, which feeds on the blood of others.³

Figure 1: Drawings illustrating the similarities in appearance between a leech and a human embryo at the alaqah stage. (Leech drawing from Human Development as Described in the Quran and Sunnah, Moore and others, p. 37, modified from Integrated Principles of Zoology, Hickman and others. Embryo drawing from The Developing Human, Moore and Persaud, 5th ed., p. 73.)

The second meaning of the word alaqah is “suspended thing.” This is what we can see in figures 2 and 3, the suspension of the embryo, during the alaqah stage, in the womb of the mother.

Figure 2: We can see in this diagram the suspension of an embryo during the alaqah stage in the womb (uterus) of the mother. (The Developing Human, Moore and Persaud, 5th ed., p. 66.) (Click on the image to enlarge it.)
Figure 3: In this photomicrograph, we can see the suspension of an embryo (marked B) during the alaqah stage (about 15 days old) in the womb of the mother. The actual size of the embryo is about 0.6 mm. (The Developing Human, Moore, 3rd ed., p. 66, from Histology, Leeson and Leeson.)

The third meaning of the word alaqah is “blood clot.” We find that the external appearance of the embryo and its sacs during the alaqah stage is similar to that of a blood clot. This is due to the presence of relatively large amounts of blood present in the embryo during this stage⁴ (see figure 4). Also during this stage, the blood in the embryo does not circulate until the end of the third week.⁵ Thus, the embryo at this stage is like a clot of blood.

Figure 4: Diagram of the primitive cardiovascular system in an embryo during the alaqah stage. The external appearance of the embryo and its sacs is similar to that of a blood clot, due to the presence of relatively large amounts of blood present in the embryo. (The Developing Human, Moore, 5th ed., p. 65.) (Click on the image to enlarge it.)

So the three meanings of the word alaqah correspond accurately to the descriptions of the embryo at the alaqah stage.

The next stage mentioned in the verse is the mudghah stage. The Arabic word mudghah means “chewed substance.” If one were to take a piece of gum and chew it in his or her mouth and then compare it with an embryo at the mudghah stage, we would conclude that the embryo at the mudghah stage acquires the appearance of a chewed substance. This is because of the somites at the back of the embryo that “somewhat resemble teethmarks in a chewed substance.”⁶ (see figures 5 and 6).

Figure 5: Photograph of an embryo at the mudghah stage (28 days old). The embryo at this stage acquires the appearance of a chewed substance, because the somites at the back of the embryo somewhat resemble teeth marks in a chewed substance. The actual size of the embryo is 4 mm. (The Developing Human, Moore and Persaud, 5th ed., p. 82, from Professor Hideo Nishimura, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.)
Figure 6: When comparing the appearance of an embryo at the mudghah stage with a piece of gum that has been chewed, we find similarity between the two. A) Drawing of an embryo at the mudghah stage. We can see here the somites at the back of the embryo that look like teeth marks. (The Developing Human, Moore and Persaud, 5th ed., p. 79.) B) Photograph of a piece of gum that has been chewed. (Click on the image to enlarge it.)

How could Muhammad have possibly known all this 1400 years ago, when scientists have only recently discovered this using advanced equipment and powerful microscopes which did not exist at that time? Hamm and Leeuwenhoek were the first scientists to observe human sperm cells (spermatozoa) using an improved microscope in 1677 (more than 1000 years after Muhammad ). They mistakenly thought that the sperm cell contained a miniature preformed human being that grew when it was deposited in the female genital tract.⁷

Professor Emeritus Keith L. Moore⁸ is one of the world’s most prominent scientists in the fields of anatomy and embryology and is the author of the book entitled The Developing Human, which has been translated into eight languages. This book is a scientific reference work and was chosen by a special committee in the United States as the best book authored by one person. Dr. Keith Moore is Professor Emeritus of Anatomy and Cell Biology at the University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada. There, he was Associate Dean of Basic Sciences at the Faculty of Medicine and for 8 years was the Chairman of the Department of Anatomy. In 1984, he received the most distinguished award presented in the field of anatomy in Canada, the J.C.B. Grant Award from the Canadian Association of Anatomists. He has directed many international associations, such as the Canadian and American Association of Anatomists and the Council of the Union of Biological Sciences.

In 1981, during the Seventh Medical Conference in Dammam, Saudi Arabia, Professor Moore said: “It has been a great pleasure for me to help clarify statements in the Quran about human development. It is clear to me that these statements must have come to Muhammad from God, because almost all of this knowledge was not discovered until many centuries later. This proves to me that Muhammad must have been a messenger of God.”⁹ (To view the RealPlayer video of this comment click here ).

Consequently, Professor Moore was asked the following question: “Does this mean that you believe that the Quran is the word of God?” He replied: “I find no difficulty in accepting this.”¹⁰

During one conference, Professor Moore stated: “....Because the staging of human embryos is complex, owing to the continuous process of change during development, it is proposed that a new system of classification could be developed using the terms mentioned in the Quran and Sunnah (what Muhammad said, did, or approved of). The proposed system is simple, comprehensive, and conforms with present embryological knowledge. The intensive studies of the Quran and hadeeth (reliably transmitted reports by the Prophet Muhammad’s companions of what he said, did, or approved of) in the last four years have revealed a system for classifying human embryos that is amazing since it was recorded in the seventh century A.D. Although Aristotle, the founder of the science of embryology, realized that chick embryos developed in stages from his studies of hen’s eggs in the fourth century B.C., he did not give any details about these stages. As far as it is known from the history of embryology, little was known about the staging and classification of human embryos until the twentieth century. For this reason, the descriptions of the human embryo in the Quran cannot be based on scientific knowledge in the seventh century. The only reasonable conclusion is: these descriptions were revealed to Muhammad from God. He could not have known such details because he was an illiterate man with absolutely no scientific training.”¹¹ (View the RealPlayer video of this comment ).

_____________________________

Footnotes:

(1) Please note that what is between these special brackets ... in this web site is only a translation of the meaning of the Quran. It is not the Quran itself, which is in Arabic.

(2) The Developing Human, Moore and Persaud, 5th ed., p. 8.

(3) Human Development as Described in the Quran and Sunnah, Moore and others, p. 36.

(4) Human Development as Described in the Quran and Sunnah, Moore and others, pp. 37-38.

(5) The Developing Human, Moore and Persaud, 5th ed., p. 65.

(6) The Developing Human, Moore and Persaud, 5th ed., p. 8.

(7) The Developing Human, Moore and Persaud, 5th ed., p. 9.

(8) Note: The occupations of all the scientists mentioned in this web site were last updated in 1997.

(9) The reference for this saying is This is the Truth (videotape). For a copy of this videotape, please visit this page.

(10) This is the Truth (videotape).

(11) This is the Truth (videotape). For a copy, see footnote no. 9.

Source : Islam-Giude

Some Evidence For The Truth Of Islam

God supported His last Prophet Muhammad with many miracles and much evidence which proved that he is a true Prophet sent by God. Also, God supported His last revealed book, the Holy Quran, with many miracles that prove that this Quran is the literal word of God, revealed by Him, and that it was not authored by any human being. This chapter discusses some of this evidence.

(1) The Scientific Miracles
in the Holy Quran

The Quran is the literal word of God, which He revealed to His Prophet Muhammad through the Angel Gabriel. It was memorized by Muhammad , who then dictated it to his Companions. They, in turn, memorized it, wrote it down, and reviewed it with the Prophet Muhammad . Moreover, the Prophet Muhammad reviewed the Quran with the Angel Gabriel once each year and twice in the last year of his life. From the time the Quran was revealed, until this day, there has always been a huge number of Muslims who have memorized all of the Quran, letter by letter. Some of them have even been able to memorize all of the Quran by the age of ten. Not one letter of the Quran has been changed over the centuries.

The Quran, which was revealed fourteen centuries ago, mentioned facts only recently discovered or proven by scientists. This proves without doubt that the Quran must be the literal word of God, revealed by Him to the Prophet Muhammad , and that the Quran was not authored by Muhammad or by any other human being. This also proves that Muhammad is truly a prophet sent by God. It is beyond reason that anyone fourteen hundred years ago would have known these facts discovered or proven only recently with advanced equipment and sophisticated scientific methods. Some examples follow.

Source : Islam-Guide

Chicago's Hamas Youth - How the Muslim Youth Leadership Symposium trains a generation of extremists

Chicago's Hamas Youth

By Joe Kaufman
FrontPageMagazine.com

During the 1990s, the Hamas infrastructure within the United States was complete. It consisted of a propagation outlet, the Islamic Association for Palestine (IAP); a financing wing, the Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development (HLF); a command center, the United Association for Studies and Research (UASR); and a defense mechanism, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR). Today, only the latter exists, along with a remnant of the IAP, the Mosque Foundation. Both have a presence in the Chicago area, where group and mosque are working hard to indoctrinate young Muslims into radical Islam.

In 1981, two Muslim Brotherhood entities, which later would be widely regarded as being aligned with the terrorist Hamas, were established within the Chicago area of Illinois. One, the IAP, was created as a collaboratory effort between future Hamas leader Mousa Abu Marzook and future Palestinian Islamic Jihad leader Sami Al-Arian. Soon after the onset of the violent Palestinian Intifada against Israel, which began in 1987 and which gave birth to Hamas, the IAP became a publishing house for the Hamas charter and Hamas terror training videos.

The other entity that was created in '81 was the Mosque Foundation (MF), also known as the Bridgeview Mosque. The center was actually founded 30 years earlier, but in 1981, MF's original leaders were ousted, as the property was taken over by the North American Islamic Trust (NAIT). NAIT, an extremist Muslim Brotherhood offshoot, was recently named by the U.S. government as a co-conspirator for a federal trial dealing with the financing of millions of dollars to Hamas.

Both the IAP and MF were interconnected to each other, as the heads of the IAP were also leaders of the mosque. Two former National Chairmen of the IAP, Rafiq Jaber and Sabri Samirah, were Presidents of MF. Samirah, returning from a trip to Jordan in January of 2003, was refused entry into the United States, deemed a "security risk." Another of the mosque's leaders, a former MF Executive Committee member, Muhammad Salah, was sentenced to 21 months in prison for lying under oath.

Today, of the two entities, only the Mosque Foundation exists. The IAP, shortly after it was found liable for the Hamas murder of American teenager, David Boim, in December of 2004, shut down its operations. However, before it left the scene, it created what is today one of the largest Muslim organizations in the United States, CAIR.

CAIR was established in June of 1994. Its founders include Jaber, former IAP Spokesman Nihad Awad, and former IAP President Omar Ahmad. Itself, it has lost a number of representatives to conviction and deportation. And while MF lost its partner, the IAP, it discovered a new one in CAIR.

In the ‘Multimedia' section of MF's website, there is found a video celebrating the mosque's 25th anniversary. It was produced by CAIR-Chicago, a.k.a. CAIR-Illinois, board member Alif Muhammad. As well, the interviewer in the video is CAIR-Chicago Communications Coordinator Sultan Muhammad. This is not the only project that CAIR and MF have come together for.

In the Spring of 2007, CAIR-Chicago sponsored its first Muslim Youth Leadership Symposium (MYLS) – called the Young Chicago Muslim Leadership Symposium – as a way to educate Muslim teens on how to become community activists. At the venue, kids wore shirts with the MYLS slogan: "Constructive Citizenship for a better America." But for CAIR, "better America" means a United States run by Hamas.

In 2007, MYLS was co-sponsored by the DePaul University Muslim Law Students' Association (MLSA). This year, MYLS is co-sponsored by the Mosque Foundation. Indeed, the MF logo is found on every one of MYLS' 13 web pages, which happen to all be hosted on CAIR-Chicago's website.

According to the MYLS ‘Co-Sponsors' page, "THE MOSQUE FOUNDATION provides a welcoming, worshipful environment where both men and women may pray with peace of mind and a sense of home." Yet, the Chicago Tribune paints an entirely different picture. In its February 2004 piece entitled ‘Hard-liners won battle for Bridgeview mosque,' it states, "Among the leaders at the Bridgeview mosque are men who have condemned Western culture, praised Palestinian suicide bombers and encouraged members to view society in stark terms: Muslims against the world."

One of the coarse individuals the Tribune discusses in its piece is Jamal Said, the imam of MF. Said, named a co-conspirator in the 2007 federal Hamas financing trial, is pictured shoulder to shoulder with the keynote speaker of MYLS' Spring 2008 symposium, U.S. Congressman Keith Ellison. Said also spoke at the event, as well as MF's Associate Director (and former IAP board member) Kifah Mustapha and MF's President Sahloul Mohammed.

MYLS' Summer 2008 symposium featured as speakers teacher and board member of the Zaytuna Institute, Zaid Shakir, and Chicago Sun-Times reporter Rummana Hussain. As well, CAIR-Chicago Executive Director and CAIR's National Strategic Communications Director, Ahmed Rehab, spoke. Rehab, who likes to pawn himself off as a "moderate Muslim" by wearing trendy clothes and flamboyant glasses – he even posed half-nude for photos on his personal website – donned a keffiyeh for the kids. Keffiyes, made popular during the Intifada, are head coverings or scarves which are commonly worn as symbols of Palestinian violence.

The young people that attend CAIR's and MF's MYLS functions may very well be clueless as to how they are being used to spread radical Islam. They wear the colorful shirts that they are given, they joke around with their fellow symposium-goers, and they listen and learn from community elders and spiritual leaders, unaware of the indoctrination process that is taking place all along. Eventually, they will come to know that they are part of a secret society of extremism and destruction. The big question is, at that point, will they be willing to walk away from the hate or have they already been too far gone in the process?

Joe Kaufman is the Chairman of Americans Against Hate, the founder of CAIR Watch, and the spokesman for Terror-Free Oil Initiative. http://www.frontpagemag.com/Articles/Read.aspx?GUID=6ABDF705-585E-4936-9472-732F10134A65

Arab Sources: Shalit Will Die If a Rescue is Attempted

by Nissan Ratzlav-Katz

(IsraelNN.com) Sources in the Palestinian Authority say that any Israeli attempt to rescue kidnapped IDF Corporal Gilad Shalit would lead to his death. According to the sources, cited by Arutz-7's Hagai Huberman, Shalit is being held in a booby-trapped building.

PA sources asserted that senior security officials know where Shalit is held. The PA sources further asserted that senior Fatah and Hamas terrorist leaders, as well as senior security officials from Egypt and Israel, know many details about the location where Shalit is being held. However, the PA sources added, the relevant security forces believe that an attempt to rescue him is likely to lead to his death.

In October 1994, an elite IDF unit attempted to rescue Cpl. Nachshon Waxman from Hamas kidnappers in Bir Naballah, north of Jerusalem. Waxman, who had been held captive for less than a week, was murdered by his captors when the rescue team stormed the building. Another IDF soldier, Captain Nir Poraz, fell in the ensuing gun battle.

PA sources also claimed that Hamas provided misleading information about its Israeli hostage to an Egyptian security delegation. This placed Egypt in an embarrassing situation during talks with Israel regarding efforts to secure Shalit's release, the sources said.

Cpl. Shalit was taken captive on June 25 2006, when PA terrorists infiltrated a military base east of the Gaza Strip, near the Kerem Shalom kibbutz and border crossing. Two soldiers were killed in the attack and four others wounded. Hamas, the multi-faction Popular Resistance Committees (made up of Fatah, Hamas and Islamic Jihad terrorists) and the Army of Islam all claimed responsibility for the attack. In the weeks immediately following Shalit's kidnapping, IDF sources stated that they had information he was being held somewhere in the Gaza Strip.

Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen) claimed that he and Prime Minister Ehud Olmert had reached a formula for Gilad Shalit's release. "It was accomplished through direct dialogue with the Egyptians and it is, in my estimation, acceptable to the kidnappers," Abbas said, adding that the discussions are moving quickly and "I hope that it will lead to a speedy release, as well."

More generally, Abu Mazen estimates that an agreement for the creation of a Palestinian state can be reached with Prime Minister Olmert within one year.

Ahead of a meeting with United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon, on a three-day visit to Israel, sources in the office of Defense Minister Amir Peretz said, "Shalit's release is a precondition for any diplomatic developments."

http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/121940

Hamas reiterates goal of world domination by Islam - annihilation of Israel -establishment of Caliphate in Jerusalem

According to an alert released by Palestinian Media Watch (PMW), which monitors and translates Palestinian Authority media, the main elements of A-Zahar's speech were printed in the PA's Al-Ayyam newspaper on March 25, 2007.
"A-Zahar emphasized that the Islamic Movement's [Hamas's] position concerning the problem of the liberation of Palestine is clear and known," Al-Ayyam reported. A-Zahar is quoted as saying:
"We have two important foundations: one is Koranic and the other is prophetic. The Koranic: the divine promise made in the Al-Israa Sura [Chapter 17] is that we will liberate the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque, 'and we will enter it as we have entered it the first time' [paraphrasing Sura 17 (The Night Journey), verse 7]. And the prophetic foundation is the message of the prophet Muhammad, that Islam will enter every house and will spread over the entire world.


".... Our position is the liberation of Palestine, all of Palestine. This is the final and strategic solution for us. There is a Koranic message for us, that we will enter the Al-Aqsa Mosque, and the entrance to the mosque means the entrance into all of Palestine. This is the message, no one can deny it. Anyone who denies it must check his faith and his Islam."
A-Zahar's statements, as promulgated in the PA media, are restatements of views expressed in the foundational covenant of Hamas, the PA government's ruling faction. Regarding Israel, the 1988 Hamas Covenant preamble says, "Israel will exist and will continue to exist until Islam will obliterate it, just as it obliterated others before it." While Article 28 of the Covenant widens the threat: "...Israel, Judaism and Jews challenge Islam and the Muslim people. 'May the cowards never sleep.'"


The Hamas position on the existence of a sovereign Jewish entity in the Middle East is identical to its position on any lands once conquered by Muslims. As Article 11 of the organization's covenant says: "[Hamas] believes that the land of Palestine is an Islamic Waqf consecrated for future Muslim generations until Judgment Day. It, or any part of it, should not be squandered: it, or any part of it, should not be given up. ...[And] the same goes for any land the Muslims have conquered by force, because during the times of (Islamic) conquests, the Muslims consecrated these lands to Muslim generations till the Day of Judgment."


Functionally, Hamas also sees itself as part of a global movement for Islamic domination. As Article 2 declares, "[Hamas] is one of the wings of the Muslim Brotherhood in Palestine. The Muslim Brotherhood Movement is a universal organization...." More fundamentally, Article 5 says, "[Hamas's] place is anywhere that there are Muslims who embrace Islam as their way of life everywhere on the globe. This being so, it extends to the depth of the earth and reaches out to the heaven."


Echoing his co-religionists in the PA, the leader of the northern branch of the Islamic Movement in Israel, Raad Salah, declared in September of 2006 that a new Caliphate will soon arise with its capital in Jerusalem.

Separate Education

Coeducation is taken for granted as the best educational model by the West. However, segregated education was the international standard before the turn of the century. Coeducation was adopted more widely and rapidly in the United States than in Europe because of tradition. It became a trend in the US with the expansion of public education between 1830 and 1845. The great distance between the schools in the Western region of the United States and the small number of pupils caused the elementary schools to admit girls. After the recognition of public education following the Civil War, coeducation gradually spread to the secondary schools. The schools were at first "common schools" in which boys and girls sat in separate sections of the same classroom. By 1882 coeducation had become virtually universal in the USA. By 1900 the majority of high schools also became coeducational. Common schools became an accepted practice in Britain and Germany in the early 20th century. Since 1960, almost all single-sex colleges in the US have adopted the idea of coeducation. The only institutions which remain single-sex are historic women's schools and men's seminaries.

Men and women are raised separately in Muslim society in order to protect females from abuse and harm. Educational institutions reflect the values of the society as such, in a Muslim state, children will be separated in schools from the age of ten. Prophet Muhammad said, "Teach your children formal prayer at the age of seven and spank them for it at the age of ten. And separate them in their beds. The separation is to prevent sexual abuse as children began to develop a consciousness around the age of ten. Recently, an eleven-year-old girl was put on the list of sex-offenders for abusing some 6 and 7 year old boys, and in Florida, an eleven year old boy was accused of molesting his younger sister, in a much publicized case.

Recent experiments by teachers in Murrita, California, have shown that girls learn better when educated separately from boys. Consequently, a number of Western educators have recently called for the revival of single-sex schools. Julian Souter, senior director (deputy head) at George Dixon school is convinced of the advantages of segregation, listing the benefits observed so far as "better concentration in class, better behavior, higher achievement, improved teacher attention". Since the sixties co-education has been seen as the progressive, enlightened choice. However, in the seventies and eighties, feminist educators began to draw attention to the question of girls' under achievement in areas such as physics and math's, it was noticed that their exam results were much better in single-sex schools. Recent reports, The Gender Divide, states: "Girls' schools are generally found to perform best.'

Not only should the separation be maintained in Islamic institutions of higher learning, but even the courses offered need to be tailored according to the society's needs. Young men and women should be channeled into appropriate streams of education. For example, young men should not be encouraged to specialize in gynecology. That field should be left for women to specialize in. In a society which holds chastity and virtue at a premium, it makes no sense to have a man spend his working day looking at and touching the private parts of naked females. Similarly it would be pointless for a female to specialize in male urinary tract infections in urology which would require her to look at male genitalia.

Inheritance

Women's Inheritance

What the Bible Says

(The daughters of Zeiophehad said to Moses), "Our father died .. and left no sons. Why should our father's name disappear from his clan because he had no son? Give us property among our father's relatives." So Moses brought their case before the Lord and the Lord said to him .. "If a man dies and leaves no son, give his inheritance over to his

daughter, ff he has no daughter, give his inheritance to his brothers. If he has no brothers, give his inheritance to his father's brothers. If his father had no brothers, give his inheritance to the nearest relative in his clan, that he may possess it."... (Numbers 27:1-11)

What the Qur'an Says

There is a share for men and a share for women from what is left by parents and those nearest related, whether, the property be small or large a legal share. (Qur'an, 4:7)

Allah commands you concerning your children's (inheritance): to the male, a portion equal to that of two females. (Qur'an, 4:11)

For parents (father and mother), a sixth share of inheritance to each if the deceased left children. (Qur'an, 4:11)

Commentary

According to the laws of inheritance in the Bible, the woman has no right to inherit, whether she is a mother, a sister, a wife or a daughter except for the daughter who has no brothers. This law was in use until the last century and some high-class families in Europe still give most of their possessions to the first-born son.

The woman in Islam has a share of inheritance. The daughter's portion is half that of the son. This share is very generous given that, in Islam, the man's financial obligations are by far more than those of the woman. The man gives the dowry to his wife. He pays for all the necessities of life such as accommodation, food and clothes. He supports his parents in addition to his wife and children. On the other hand, the wife does not have to support anyone even herself because her husband is responsible for maintaining her, no matter how rich she Is. It is worth noting that in some cases the woman's share of inheritance is equal to that of the man.

Happy Birthday

My dear little one:

You looked like a shining star on your birthday. You were the focus of attention and your face shone with happiness as each one congratulated you. You received lots of gifts as well as prayers and good wishes.

That was your day?

OR was it?

On your birthday, who really did the birth?

Was it you or your mother?!

Who bore the burdens and went through the hurdles before that day materialized?

And who bore the responsibilities of caring and catering for you since

I wish you many happy birthdays but I never forget that your birthday is in reality your mother's birthday.

Reflections by Dr. H. Hathut

Two Witnesses

Women's Testimony

What the Bible Says

If a man takes a wife and, after lying with her, dislikes her and slanders her and gives her a bad name, saying, "I married this woman, but when 1 approached her, I did not find proof of her virginity," then the girl's father and mother shall bring proof that she was a virgin to the town elders at the gate... Then her parents shall display the cloth before the elders of the town ... If, however, the charge is true and no proof of the girl's virginity can be found, she shall be brought to the door of her father's house and there the men of her town shall stone her to death... (Deuteronomy 22:13-21)

What the Qur'an Says

And for those who accuse their wives, but have no witnesses except themselves, let the testimony of one of them be four testimonies (i.e. testifies four times) swearing by Allah that he is one of those who speak the truth. And the fifth (testimony should be) the invoking of the Curse of Allah on him if he is of those who tell a lie. But it shall avert (turn away) the punishment from her, if she bears witness four times by Allah, that he is telling a lie. And the fifth should be that the Wrath of Allah be upon her if he speaks the truth. (Qur'an, 24:6-9)

And those who accuse chaste women, and produce not four witnesses, flog them (the accusers) with eighty stripes and reject their testimony forever. (Qur'an, 24:4)

Verily, those who accuse chaste, believing women, who never even think of anything touching their chastity, are cursed in this life and in the Hereafter, and for them will be great torment. (Qur'an, 24:23)

Commentary

According to the judgment of the Bible, if a man accuses his wife of not being a virgin, the wife's father and mother have to bring proof that she was a virgin, otherwise, the wife will be stoned to death! The wife's testimony carries no weight!

According to the judgment of the Qur'an, if a man accuses his wife of committing adultery, the wife can nullify the accusation as her testimony is accepted, consequently, the wife will not be punished.

However, if the accuser is not her husband, then he has to bring four witnesses. If not, he will receive eighty lashes and his testimony will be rejected forever.

More about Two Witnesses

Most references to testimony (witness) in the Qur'an do not make any reference to gender. Some references fully equate the testimony of males and female.

And for those who launch a charge against their spouses and have (in support) no evidence but their own their solitary evidence (can be received) if they bear witness four times (with an oath) by Allah that they are solemnly telling the truth; And the fifth (oath) (should be) that they solemnly invoke the curse of Allah on themselves if they tell a life. But it would avert the punishment from the wife is she bears witness four times (with an oath) by Allah that (her husband) is telling a lie; And the fifth (oath) should be that she solemnly invokes the wrath of Allah on herself is (her accuser) is telling the truth. (Qur'an 24:69)

One reference in the Qur'an distinguishes between the witness of a male and a female. It is useful to quote this reference and explain it in its own context and in the context of other references to testimony in the Qur'an.

O you who believe! When you deal with each other in transactions involving future obligations in a fixed period of time reduce them to writing. Let a scribe write down faithfully as between the parties: let not the scribe refuse to write as Allah has taught him so let him write. Let him who incurs the liability dictate but let him fear his Lord Allah and not diminish aught of what he owes. If the party liable is mentally deficient or weak or unable himself to dictate let his guardian dictate faithfully. And get two witnesses out of your own men and if there are not two men then a man and two women such as you choose for witnesses so that if one of them errs the other can remind her. The witnesses should not refuse when they are called on (for evidence). Disdain not to reduce to writing (your contract) for a future period whether it be small or big: it is just in the sight of Allah more suitable as evidence and more convenient to prevent doubts among yourselves; but if it be a transaction which you carry out on the spot among yourselves there is no blame on you if you reduce it not to writing. But take witnesses whenever you make a commercial contract; and let neither scribe nor witness suffer harm. If you do (such harm) it would be wickedness in you. So fear Allah; for it is Allah that teaches you. And Allah is well acquainted with all things. (Qur'an 2:282)

A few comments on this text are essential in order to prevent common misinterpretations:

a) It cannot be used as an argument that there is a general rule in the Qur'an that the worth of a female's witness is only half the male's. This presumed "rule" is voided by the earlier reference (24:69) which explicitly equates the testimony of both genders in the issue at hand.

b) The context of this passage (ayah) relates to the testimony on financial transactions which are often complex and laden with business jargon. The passage does not make a blanket generalization which would otherwise contradict 24:69 cited earlier.

c) The reason for variations in the number of male and female witnesses required is given in the same passage. No reference was made to the inferiority or superiority of one gender's witness or the other's. The only reason given is to corroborate the female's witness and prevent unintended errors in the perception of the business deal. The Arabic term used in this passage (tadhilla) means literally "loses the way," "gets confused or errs." But are females the only gender that may err and need corroboration of their testimony. Definitely not, and this is why the general rule of testimony in Islamic law is to have two witnesses even if they are both males. This leaves us with only one reasonable interpretation that in an ideal Islamic society as envisioned by Islamic teachings the female members will give priority to their feminine functions as wives, mothers, and pioneers of charitable works. This emphasis, while making them more experienced in the inner function of the family and social life, may not give them enough exposure and experience to business transactions and terminology, as such a typical Muslim woman in a truly Islamic society will not normally be present when business dealings are negotiated and if may present may not fully understand the dealings. In such a case, corroboration by two women witnesses helps them remind one another and as such give an accurate account of what happened.

d) It is useful to remember that it is the duty of a fair judge, in a particular case, to evaluate the credibility, knowledge and experience of any witness and the specific circumstances of the case at hand.

Black Roots

Recently, Imam Zaid Shakir, one of the most respected American born Islamic scholars, made a rare two-day visit to San Diego for a special public speaking engagement at San Diego State University.

The topic of the forum was Islam and its Influence on Black America and was sponsored by the Logan Islamic Community Center.

Mosque Timbuktu - Africa

Imam Zaid spoke entirely without notes to a large crowd of Muslim and non-Muslim attendees, relating to them with his characteristic earthiness and incomparable insight. He detailed the long and little known history of how the religion of Islam came to America with the very first African slaves and how in subsequent centuries it has shaped the African American identity and their struggle for justice.

The first Hijira to Abyssinia more than 1400 years ago, and the subsequent conversion of the Abyssinian Nagus, was the beginning of the spread of Islam throughout the African continent. By the advent of the Slave Trade, the majority of the West African ports from which slaves were bound, sold and transported to the New World were almost entirely Muslim. It is estimated that 30% of all the slaves who made it to the New World were Muslim, dispelling the persistent myth that African Americans were first introduced to authentic Islam only recently and by immigrants.

"If we traced our roots back, chances are we will find Muslims." said Imam Zaid.

He fired off names that were new to much of the audience, but are documented in Western history books of West African slaves who were Hafiz of Quran, literate, fluent in Arabic and thoroughly trained in traditional Islamic sciences. Ayub Bin Suleiman was one such slave who eventually won his freedom and wrote his life story in a famous 'slave narrative'.

But within 2 or 3 generations of the prohibition of the importation of new African slaves, Islam began to slowly vanish amongst blacks, and a mass conversion to Christianity ensued. It wasn't until a spirit of pan-Africanism came to North America in the late 19th Century did blacks once again experience an interest in ancestry and ancestral religions, bringing Islam back to the fore. Imam Zaid Shakir explains that many blacks "Saw the people who were murdering and oppressing us and that they were always marching under the sign of the cross. Thus Islam seemed a better alternative."

For nearly 3 hours the Imam took audience members down the winding road of black history and faith -- from the earliest pseudo-Islamic movements to the first black and authentically Sunni communities establishing themselves in the 1930's, the same period that saw the rise of perhaps the most famous pseudo-Islamic movement. The Nation of Islam.

Thus, Africans living in America and their descendents have always had a strong Islamic influence. When asked why, Imam Zaid answers quickly, "A big problem here in America for African American has always been identity because the old tribal identity was broken there's no mandinka's, fulani's, no hausa-nothing. In terms of tribal identity there's only the 'African American', and even that is contested. At times it's been 'colored', another time it's 'negro', another time it's "Black", another time it's 'African American'. So identity has always been challenged, lacking cultural identity, lacking national identity in terms of identifying with a particular African nation and not being fully accepted in America in many instances. If anyone disputes this, I guess you didn't listen to Imus. But Islam transcends all of that. So in Islam it doesn't matter if you belong to this tribe or that tribe. None of this is relevant. What's relevant is your humanity and your morality. Who you are is based on your morality. Your national and ethnic identity is to recognize that Allah created all of us from that single pair whether you accept that as Adam and & Eve, or as -couple X'. ...and that gives instant identity so I don't have to worry about that anymore. So for a people struggling with identity, a people struggling with establishing roots, it provides a tremendous source."

Another positive, according to Imam Zaid, is that Islam provides a theological basis that gives a person the motivation to struggle against oppressive institutions. This aspect is a natural extension of the religion, not a part of some conscious theological movement such as Liberation Theology. "A librerationalist strain is embedded within the religion which is why the Muslims made such bad slaves when they were brought here. Similarly, Islam counters the vestiges of racism which exists in society. Who I am is not based on my physical features. 'God doesn't look at your external forms nor wealth.' So immediately the two strongest basis for discrimination between human beings -- race and economic status -- are negated. "

______________________

Imam Zaid Shakir, born in Berkley, California accepted Islam in 1977. He holds a B.A. in International Relations with honors from American University and an MA in Political Science from Rutgers University. He has spent more than 8 years studying traditional Islamic sciences throughout the Muslim world. He is universally regarded as a leading voice on Islam and African-American issues and as a visionary leader in the emergence of an Islamic community and tradition that is indigenous to America. He serves as a scholar-in-residence and lecturer at Zaytuna Institute in Hayward, California where he teaches Arabic, Islamic Law, History and Islamic Spirituality.

San Diego Quest

300 years in America at a Glance

It is almost impossible to generalize about American Muslims: converts, immigrants, factory workers, doctors; all are making their own contribution to America's future. This complex community is unified by a common faith, underpinned by a countrywide network of a thousand mosques.

Muslims were early arrivals in North America. By the eighteenth century there were many thousands of them, working as slaves on plantations. These early communities, cut off from their heritage and families, inevitably lost their Islamic identity as time went by. Today many Afro-American Muslims play an important role in the Islamic community.

The nineteenth century, however, saw the beginnings of an influx of Arab Muslims, most of whom settled in the major industrial centers where they worshipped in hired rooms. The early twentieth century witnessed the arrival of several hundred thousand Muslims from Eastern Europe: the first Albanian mosque was opened in Maine in 1915; others soon followed, and a group of Polish Muslims opened a mosque in Brooklyn in 1928.

In 1947 the Washington Islamic Center was founded during the term of President Truman, and several nationwide organizations were set up in the fifties. The same period saw the establishment of other communities whose lives were in many ways modelled after Islam. More recently, numerous members of these groups have entered the fold of Muslim orthodoxy. Today there are about five million Muslims in America.

Islam - World Religion

"Thus We have appointed you a middle nation, that you may be witnesses upon mankind." (Qur'an: Translation of the meaning, 11:43)

Islam was destined to become a world religion and to create a civilization which stretched from one end of the globe to the other. Already during the early Muslim caliphates, first the Arabs, then the Persians and later the Turks set about to create classical Islamic civilization. Later, in the 13th century, both Africa and India became great centers of Islamic civilization and soon thereafter Muslim kingdoms were established in the Malay-Indonesian world while Chinese Muslims flourished throughout china.

Islam is a religion for all people from whatever race or background they might be. That is why Islamic civilization is based on a unity which stands completely against any racial or ethnic discrimination. Such major racial and ethnic groups as the Arabs, Persians, Turks, Africans, Indians, Chinese and Malays in addition to numerous smaller units embraced Islam and contributed to the building of Islamic civilization. Moreover, Islam was not opposed to learning from the earlier civilizations and incorporating their science, learning, and culture into its own world view, as long as they did not oppose the principles of Islam. Each ethnic and racial group which embraced Islam made its contribution to the one Islamic civilization to which everyone belonged. The sense of brotherhood and sisterhood was so much emphasized that it overcame all local attachments to a particular tribe, race, or language-all of which became subservient to the universal brotherhood and sisterhood of Islam.

The global civilization thus created by Islam permitted people of diverse ethnic backgrounds to work together in cultivating the various arts and sciences. Although the civilization was profoundly Islamic, even non Muslim "people of the book" participated in the intellectual activity whose fruits belonged to everyone. The scientific climate was reminiscent of the present situation in America where scientists and men and women of learning from all over the world are active in the advancement of knowledge which belongs to everyone.

The global civilization created by Islam also succeeded in activating the mind and thought of the people who entered its fold. As a result of Islam, the nomadic Arabs became torch-bearers of science and learning. The Persians who had created a great civilization before the rise of Islam nevertheless produced much more science and learning in the Islamic period than before. The same can be said of the Turks and other peoples who embraced Islam. The religion of Islam was itself responsible not only for the creation of a world civilization in which people of many different ethnic backgrounds participated, but it played a central role in developing intellectual and cultural life on a scale not seen before. For some eight hundred years Arabic remained the major intellectual and scientific language of the world. During the centuries following the rise of Islam, Muslim dynasties ruling in various parts of the Islamic world bore witness to the flowering of Islamic culture and thought. In fact this tradition of intellectual activity was eclipsed only at the beginning of modern times as a result of the weakening of faith.

Thomas Jefferson's Qur'an

Muslim Congressman Took Oath of Office on Thomas Jefferson's Quran.
Keith Ellison finds book symbolic of U.S. founding fathers' religious tolerance

Incoming Minnesota Representative Keith Ellison became the first Muslim member of the U.S. Congress January 4, 2007. swearing his oath of office on a copy of the Quran that belonged to the author of the Declaration of Independence and the third president of the United States, Thomas Jefferson. "Look at that. That's something else," Ellison, D-Minn., said as officials from the Library of Congress showed him the two-volume Quran, which was published in London in 1764.

Ellison took the ceremonial oath with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., at his side. So many of Ellison's family members attended the ceremony that it was done in two takes.

Ellison had already planned to be sworn in using a Quran, rather than a Bible. He learned recently about Jefferson's Quran, with its multicolored cover and brown leather binding, and arranged to borrow it.

In a recent interview, Ellison spokesman Rick Jauert said the choice of Jefferson's Quran was significant because it "dates religious tolerance back to the time of our founding fathers."

"Jefferson was ... one of the more profound thinkers of the time, who recognized even then that there was nothing to fear, and in fact there was strength in recognizing religious tolerance," he said.

Although the Library of Congress is right across the street from the Capitol, library officials took extra precautions in delivering the Quran for the ceremony. To protect it from the elements, they placed the Quran in a rectangular box and handled it with a green felt wrapper once inside the Capitol.

Instead of using surface streets, they walked it over via a series of winding, underground tunnels - a trip that took more than 15 minutes. Guards then ran the book through security machines at the Capitol.

The Quran was acquired in 1815 as part of a more than 6,400-volume collection that Jefferson sold for $24,000 to replace the congressional library that had been burned by British troops the year before, in the War of 1812. Jefferson, the nation's third president, was a collector of books in all topics and languages.

The book's leather binding was added in 1919. Inside, it reads, "The Koran", Jefferson marked his ownership by writing the letter "J" next to the letter "T" that was already at the bottom of pages, according to Mark Dimunation, chief of the Library of Congress' rare book and special collections division.

Ellison, the first black member of Congress from Minnesota, was born in Detroit and converted to Islam in college. He said earlier this week that he chose to use this Quran because it showed that a visionary like Jefferson believed that wisdom could be gleaned from many sources.

Some critics have argued that only a Bible should be used for the swearing-in. Last month, Virginia Rep. Virgil Goode, R-Va., warned that unless immigration is tightened, "many more Muslims" will be elected and follow Ellison's lead.

Ellison approached Goode on the House floor Thursday, introducing himself and offering to meet for coffee. According to Ellison, Goode said he'd be interested in doing that. The subject of Goode's comments didn't come up, Ellison said.

"Look, we're trying to build bridges," Ellison said. "We're trying to help bring about understanding. We don't want issues of misunderstanding and division to exist if they don't have to."

Jefferson's 6,000-volume personal library was the largest in North America at the turn of the 19th century. He obtained his English translation of the Quran in 1765 as he was finishing his law studies at the College of William and Mary. The translation by British historian and solicitor George Sale first was published in 1734. The Quran, along with the rest of Jefferson's books, became the basis of the Library of Congress after British troops burned the U.S. Capitol, destroying the old congressional collection in the War of 1812.

While Jefferson is best known for writing the Declaration of Independence, he also penned the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom, which served as a basis for the religion clauses in the U.S. Constitution's Bill of Rights.

In the Virginia statute, he wrote, "Our civil rights have no dependence on our religious opinions, any more than our opinions in physics or geometry." He went on to say that denying a person the ability to hold an office of trust or declaring him unworthy of public confidence based on his religious beliefs was a violation of natural rights.

The document demanded "that all men shall be free to profess, and by argument to maintain, their opinion in matters of religion, and that the same shall in no wise diminish, enlarge, or affect their civil capacities."

It is believed that Jefferson was inspired by the teaching of the Quran, prohibiting compulsion in religion and forcing religious doctrines. Also the foundation for "all men are created Equal" and "men are born free" are some of the indications for the Quran as a source for guidance "no compulsion in religion" Quran 2:256.

The Qur'an is "definitely an important historical document in our national history and demonstrates that Jefferson was a broad visionary thinker who not only possessed a Qur'an, but read it," Ellison said in an interview with the Free Press. "It would have been something that contributed to his own thinking." Ellison also said that Jefferson's Qur'an "shows that from the earliest times of this republic, the Qur'an was in the consciousness of people who brought about democracy."

The statute was one of Jefferson's proudest achievements. He instructed that his tombstone should not refer to him as president of the United States but should remember him only as the author of the Declaration of Independence and the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom, and the founder of the University of Virginia.

American Muslims & Growth

The Phenomenal Growth of Islam

It is well known that in the USA and the whole world, Islam is the fastest-growing religion. The following are some observations on this phenomenon:

"Islam is the fastest-growing religion in America, a guide and pillar of stability for many of our people..." (Hillary Rodham Clinton, Los Angeles Times).

"Moslems are the world's fastest-growing group..." (The Population Reference Bureau, USA Today).

"....Islam is the fastest-growing religion in the country." (Geraldine Baum; Newsday Religion Writer, Newsday).

"Islam, the fastest-growing religion in the United States..." (Ari L. Goldman, New York Times).

This phenomenon indicates that Islam is truly a religion from God. It is unreasonable to think that so many Americans and people from different countries have converted to Islam without careful consideration and deep contemplation before concluding that Islam is true. These converts have come from different countries, classes, races, and walks of life. They include scientists, professors, philosophers, journalists, politicians, actors, and athletes.

Find Islamic Centers in USA

This list include Islamic Centers in the USA covering States from Alabama to Pennsylvania. We hope to provide you a complete list soon - God willing

Alabama

* Dothan Islamic Center 211 Jeff St "Dothan, AL " 35204

* Birmingham Islamic Society 1128 14th St S "Birmingham, Al " 35205 205-933-2913

* Masjid Muhammad 3424 N 26th St "Birmingham, Al " 35207 205-324-2720

* Islamic Center of Tuscaloosa 832 11th Ave "Tuscaloosa, AL " 35401 205-758-6962

* Tuscaloosa Islamic Center 728 22nd Ave "Tuscaloosa, AL " 35401

* Islamic Center of Dothan 211 Jeff St "Dothan, AL " 36303-4155 205-792-9186

* Mobile Islamic Center 1559 Duval St "Mobile, AL " 36605 205-473-4100 or 36604

* Islamic Society of Mobile Inc 63 East Dr "Mobile, AL " 36608 205-343-4695 205-450-7146

* "Islamic Society of Mobile, Inc." 5463 Moffat Road "Mobile, AL " 36618

* Masjid Muhammad No. 69 3424 26th St N "Birmingam, Al " 36625

* Mobile Islamic Center PO Box 6353 "Mobile, AL " 36660

* Muslim Center 1310 1/2 First Ave "Opelika, AL " 36801 205-749-6997

* MCA - Auburn And Opelika 124 Miller Ave "Auburn, Al " 36830 205-826-1748 205-821- 4748

Alaska

* Ar-Rashid Mosque 1315 Latouche#A "Anchorage, AK" 99501 907-258-2951

Arizona

* Masjid Muhammad #32 1046 W Buckeye Rd "Phoenix , AZ " 85001

* Masjid Jauharatul Islam 102 W S Mountain Ave "Phoenix, AZ " 85001

* Islamic Community Center of Phoenix 5743 N 35th Ave "Phoenix, AZ " 85017 602-433-1377

* Islamic Community Center P.O. Box 944 "Tempe, AZ" 85280-0944 (602) 921-3874

* Islamic Cultural Center 131 E 6th St "Tempe, AZ " 85281 602-894-6070

* Islamic Center 739 E 6th St "Tucson, AZ " 85719

* Islamic Center of Tucson 901 E 1st St "Tucson, AZ " 85719 602-624-3233

* Islamic Center of Flagstaff 504 1/2 S O'Leary "Flagstaff, AZ " 86001 602-773-1714 or 85001

Arkansas

* Muslim Association of Arkansas UAPB Box 111 "Pine Bluff, AR" 71601

* Masjid Ameen Zakariya 1717 Wright Ave "Little Rock, AR " 72202-6053 501-371-0160

* Masjid Hamzha 604 Witham St "Fayetteville, AR " 72702

California

* Masjid Bilal 4016 S Central Ave "Los Angeles, CA" 90000 213-233-7274

* Masjid Ibaadillah 2310 W Jefferson "Los Angeles, CA" 90007 213-734-9940

* Masjid Umar Ibn Alkhattab 1025 Exposition Blvd "Los Angeles, CA" 90007 213-733-9938 213-735-7174

* Masjid Felix Bilal 4016 S. Centralave. "Los Angeles, CA" 90008

* Masjid Asabiqun 4608 S Central Ave "Los Angeles, CA" 90011

* Masjid Felix Bilal 4016 S Central Ave "Los Angeles, CA" 90011 213-233-7274

* Masjid Ibadillah 2310 W Jefferson Blvd "Los Angeles, CA" 90018 213-684-5100

* Masjid Al Mumin 1635 S Andrews Pl "Los Angeles, CA" 90019 213-737-8682

* Masjid Al Rasol 11211 S Central Ave "Los Angeles, CA" 90019

* Islamic Center of Southern California 434 S Vermont Ave "Los Angeles, CA" 90020 213-384-5783 213-747-9086

* Masjid As Salam 2900 W Florence Ave "Los Angeles, CA" 90043 213-758-4033

* Masjid Bilal Ibn Rabah 5450 Crenshaw Blvd "Los Angeles, CA" 90043 213-291-0105

* Masjid Al Rasol 11211 S Central Ave "Los Angeles, CA" 90059 213-563-9009 213-563-2004

* Masjid Bilal Ibn Rabah 5721 Ruthellen St "Los Angeles, CA" 90062

* Muslim Brothers of America 128 S Wetherly Dr "Beverly Hills, CA" 90211

* Masjid Ikhlas 1333 E Compton Ave "Compton, CA" 90221 213-537-3146

* Islamic Society of West Los Angeles 4117 Overland Ave "Culver City, CA" 90230 213-838-7255

* Jamat-e-Masjidul Islam 820 Java St "Inglewood, CA" 90301 213-419-9177 213-419-9177

* Islamic Center of South Bay PO Box 10057 "Torrance, CA" 90505

* Masjid of Allah 7925 Serapis Ave "Pico Rivera, CA" 90660

* Muslim Community of Cerritos 16619 Valleyview "Cerritos, CA" 90701 213-926-1914

* The Islamic Center of The South Bay 25816 Walnut St "Lomita, CA" 90717 213-534-1363 213-534-9210

* Masjid Al Sharif PO Box 267 "Long Beach, CA" 90802

* Masjid Al Shareef 2104 Orange Ave "Long Beach, CA" 90810 213-591-7137

* Muslim Center 3184 N Olive Ave "Altadena, CA" 91001 213-684-6988

* Muslim Community Center 922 E Mendocino St "Altadena, CA" 91001 818-791-7290

* Northridge Islamic Center 8424 Tampa Ave "Northridge, CA" 91324 818-885-9107 213-885-9107

* Islamic Center of Santa Clarita Valley 26477 Golden Valley Rd #D "Saugus, CA" 91350 805-296-8423 805-297-3712

* Hilal Islamic Center 8741 Laurel Canyon Blvd "Sun Valley, CA" 91352 818-954-0208

* Islamic Center San Gabriel Valley 19164 E Walnut Drn "Rowland Hights, CA" 91748 714-595-7800

* Masjid Claremont 3641 N Garey Ave "Pomona, CA" 91767 818-593-1865

* Masjid Gibrael 1301 E Las Tunas Dr "San Gabriel, CA" 91776 818-285-2573

* Masjid Al-Taqwa 2575 Imperial Ave "San Diego, CA" 92102 619-239-6738

* Masjid Al-Noor 3872 50th St "San Diego, CA" 92105 619-584-9725

* Islamic Center of San Diego 7050 Eckstrom Ave "San Diego, CA" 92111 619-275-5240 619-271-1147

* Islamic Society of San Diego 4935 Curry Dr "San Diego, CA" 92115

* Conejo Valley Islamic Center "2639 Lavery, CT #2" "Newbury Park, CA" 92320 805-499-2106

* Islamic Society of Riverside 1038 W Linden "Riverside, CA" 92507 714-683-8631

* The Islamic Society 2530 Thayer St "Riverside, CA" 92570

* Islamic Center of Saddle Back Valley 22622 Lambert St #309 "El Toro, CA" 92630 714-454-2868

* Fullerton Mosque 413 West Ave #A "Fullerton, CA" 92631 714-447-3194

* Islamic Society of Orange County "PO Box 1330 B, 9752 W 13th St" "Garden Grove, CA" 92642 714-531-1722

* Masjid Gibrael 1301 E Las Tunas "San Gabriel, CA" 92642

* Islamic Society of Orange County 9752 W. 13th St. "Garden Grove, CA" 92644 (714) 531-1722 Dr. Muzammil Siddiqui

* Islamic Society of Orange County 5051 Berean Ln "Irvine, CA" 92667

* Islamic Society 9752 13th St "Santa Ana, CA" 92703 714-531-1722

* Dar-ul-Islam Mosque 2822 W James St #A "Visalia, CA" 93277 209-732-6402 209-733-8139

* Bakersfield Mosque 701 Ming Ave "Bakersfield, CA" 93307 805-836-9055

* Islamic Society of San Luis Obispo 108 Mustang Dr #104 "San Luis Obispo, CA" 93405 805-541-6298

* Masjid Fresno 2111 Eshaw Ave "Fresno, CA" 93710 209-222-6686 209-292-8598

* Monterrey Mosque "1131 10 St, Fireside Lodge Conf Rm" "Monterrey, CA" 93940 408-373-4172 408-422-3407

* Fiji Jama'atul Islam of America. PO Box 5730 "S. San Francisco, CA" 94083-5730 415-876-9763

* Masjid Al-Falah PO Box 1424 "San Francisco, CA" 94101

* Yemeni Mosque "145 Turk St, 2nd Flr" "San Fransisco, CA" 94102 415-776-8088

* Masjid Al-Noor 1751 Mission St "San Fransisco, CA" 94103 415-552-8831

* Islamic Center of San Francisco 400 Crescent Ave "San Francisco, CA" 94110 415-282-9039

* Muslim Mosque 850 Davisadero St "San Francisco, CA" 94117 415-563-9397 415-563-9397

* Islamic Community of Northern California PO Box 410186 "San Fransisco, CA" 94141-0186 415-552-8831

* Masjid Al-Falah PO Box 421424 "San Francisco, CA" 94142 415-771-0302

* Stanford Islamic Society Stanford Univ Old UN Club "Palo Alto, CA" 94301 415-857-9761

* Al-Haq Mosque 228 N Ellsworth St "San Mateo, CA" 94401 415-347-8548

* Alameda Mosque 707 Height St "Alameda, CA " 94501 415-523-9886

* Concord Afghani Mosque "1545 Monument Blvd, 2nd Flr" "Concord, CA" 94520 415-689-4917

* Fairfield Mosque 902 Union Ave "Fairfield, CA" 94533 707-426-5768

* Fremont Mosque 39063 State St "Fremont, CA" 94538 415-795-7137

* Masjid Imam Muhammad Abdullah 1540 C Street "Hayward, CA" 94541

* Muhajereen Masjid 27949 Leidig Ct "Hayward, CA" 94544 415-786-0313

* Masjid Muhammad PO Box 1708 "Pittsburg, CA" 94565

* Vallejo Mosque 727 Sonoma Blvd "Vallejo, CA" 94590 707-645-2024

* Masjid Muhammad 1652 47th Ave "Oakland, CA" 94601 415-436-7755 415-436-7755

* Al-Islam Mosque 8210 Macarthur Blvd "Oakland, CA" 94605 415-638-9541

* Abu Baker Mosque 948 62nd St "Oakland, CA" 94609 415-653-8028

* Muhammad Mosque 2014 San Pablo Ave "Oakland, CA" 94612

* Berkeley Mosque 2288 Fulton St #306 "Berkeley, CA" 94704 415-549-9465

* Islamic Society of California 781 Bolinas Rd "Fairfax, CA" 94930

* Islamic Center of Mill Valley 62 Shell Rd "Mill Valley, CA" 94941 415-383-0617

* MCA of San Francisco Bay Area 1755 Catherine St "Santa Clara, CA" 95050 408-246-9822 408-246-9822 or 95051

* Islamic Center of San Jose 126 Viola Ave "San Jose, CA" 95110 408-297-7100

* South Bay Islamic Association 325 N 3rd St "San Jose, CA" 95112 408-947-9389 408-947-9389

* Hussaini Center 4597 Alum Rock Ave "San Jose, CA" 95127

* Islamic Center 514 Lanfair Ar "San Jose, CA" 95136

* Stockton Islamic Center 1130 S Pilgrim St "Stockton, CA" 95205 209-466-9101

* Lodi Mosque 210 Poplar Ave "Lodi, CA" 95240 209-333-9619

* Islamic Center of Merced 2322 Ashby Rd "Merced, CA" 95348 209-725-8167 209-383-2281

* Modesto Mosque 1445 Carpenter Rd "Modesto, CA" 95351 209-576-8149

* Islamic Center of Davis 539 Russell Blvd "Davis, CA" 95616 916-756-5216 916-753-2203

* Woodland Mosque 1023 North St "Woodland, CA" 95695 916-666-4706

* The Islamic Center "3425 Sacramento Blvd, POB 5572" "Sacramento, CA" 95817

* Islamic Center of Greater Sacramento 411 V St "Sacramento, CA" 95818 916-443-5171 916-443-3336

* Masjid An-Noor 7320 14th Ave "Sacramento, CA" 95820 916-457-3233

* Islamic Council of Northern California 7504 Pocket Rd "Sacramento, CA" 95831

* Masjid Al-Noor PO Box 255661 "Sacramento, CA" 95865 916-453-1876

* Islamic Center of Chico 1316 Nord Ave "Chico, CA" 95927 916-342-5889 916-895-995

* Yurba City Mosque 2910 Nuestro Rd "Yurba City, CA" 95991 916-674-8013 916-674-5334

Colorado

* Denver Islamic Society 3501 Easbury Ave "Denver, CO" 80210

* Center Colorado Muslim Society 2071 S Parker Rd "Denver, CO" 80220 303-696-9800

* Center An Nur Masjid 2124 S Birch Po Box 24653 "Denver, CO" 80222

* Center Denver Islamic Society PO Box 24653 "Denver, CO" 80224 003-375-1985 303-759-1985

* Center Dar Makkah 2040 S Oneida St #2A "Denver, CO" 80224-2427 303-691-2201 303-758-8241

* Center Islamic Center of Boulder 1530 Culver Ct "Boulder, CO" 80303 303-444-6345 303-783-1086

* Center Greenley Islamic Center 1600 8th Ave "Greenley, CO" 80631

* Center Pueblo Mosque "32 Martha Ln, Belmont" "Pueblo, CO" 81001 303-545-0290

Connecticut

* Masjid Muhammad "PO Box 20130, 3284 Main St" "Hartford, CT" 06120 203-525-2236

* Muhammad Islamic Center, 870 Dixwell Ave, Hamden, CT 06514 203-562-0594

* Masjid Al-Islam 840 Dixwell Ave "Hamden, CT" 06514 203-772-0417

* New Haven Islamic Center 2 Prudden St "West Haven, CT" 06516 203-933-5799 203-933-4959

* Bridgeport Islamic Society PO Box 5171 "Bridgeport, CT" 06601

* Center Masjid Al-Aziz PO Box 9041 "Bridgeport, CT" 06601

* Center Islamic Community of Fairfield County P.O. Box 106 "Norwalk, CT" 06852 (203) 261-6222 Ahmed Syed (Chairman) 866-5274

* Islamic Community of Fairfield County 2 Tierney St "Norwalk, CT" 06852 203-866-5274 203-866-5692

* Muslim Center 109 Tresser Blvd 3D "Stanford, CT" 06902 302-324-4105

Delaware

* Islamic Society of Delaware "109 Dutton Dr, PO Box 533" "New Castle, DE" 19720

* Muslim Center 301 W 6th St "Wilmington, DE" 19801 302-571-0532

* Masjid uz Zumar Route 1 #500 "Smyrna, DE" 19977

District of Columbia

* Masjid Muhammad 1519 4th St NW "Washington, DC" 20001

* The Ansaru Allah Community 816 Rhode Island Ave NW "Washington, DC" 20001

* Islamic Community Mission PO Box 9344 "Washington, DC" 20005

* Tabligh 2209 Wisconsin Ave NW "Washington, DC" 20007-4101

* Jazal Mosque 2141 Leroy Place NW "Washington, DC" 20008

* Masjid Dush-Shura 3109 Martin Luther King Jr Ave "Washington, DC" 20008

* The Islamic Center 2551 Massachusetts NW "Washington, DC" 20008 202-332-8343

* Hanafi Madhab Center 7700 16th Street NW "Washington, DC" 20011

* Masjid Muhammad 1519 Fourth St NW "Washington, DC" 20011

* Muhammad Mosque #4 1615 Kenilworth Ave NE "Washington, DC" 20019

* Islamic Affairs Programs "1761 NN St W, Middle East Inst." "Washington, DC" 20036-2882 317-785-2710 317-785-0196

Florida

* Islamic Center of Daytona Beach PO Box 1903 "Daytona Beach, FL" 32015 904-767-6347 904-252-5554

* Masjid Al-Salaam 702 W Monroe St "Jacksonville, FL" 32202 904-355-7001

* Jacksonville Masjid 2242 Commonwealth Ave "Jacksonville, FL" 32209 904-387-6910

* Al Ansar Mosque 1020 W Pensacola St "Tallahasse, FL" 32304

* Masjid Muhammad 115 Bragg Dr "Tallahasse, FL" 32304

* The Cultural Society 200 W 19th St "Panama City, FL" 32405

* Gainesville Islamic Center 302 NW 4th Ave "Gainesville, FL" 32601

* Islamic Center of Gainesville 1010 W University Ave "Gainesville, FL" 32601 904-378-9416 904-372-1980

* Islamic Soc. of Central Florida 1005 N Goldenrod Rd "Orlando, FL" 32807 407-273-8363

* Islamic Center of Orlando 7826 Club House Estate Dr "Orlando, FL" 32819 407-876-2502 407-345-8596

* Islamic Society of Brevard County PO Box 1167 "Melbourne, FL" 32901 305-984-4129

* Islamic Center of S. Florida 507 NE 6th St "Pompano Beach, FL" 33060-6225 305-946-2723 305-731-3033

* Masjid Al Ansar 5245 NW 7th Ave "Miami, FL" 33127

* Islamic Society of Tampa Bay Area 7326 E Sligh Ave "Tampa, FL" 33610 813-621-9890 813-621-9890

* Islamic Society of Tampa Bay 11104 61st St "Temple Terrance, FL" 33617

* Muslim Center 6013 N 48th St "Tampa, FL" 33675 813-626-8608

* Islamic Comm. For Palestine PO Box 82009 "Tampa, FL" 33682 813-980-2572 813-985-6022

* Islamic Center of Daytona Beach PO Box 1903 "Daytona Beach, FL" 33701

* Muslim Center 922 9th St S "St Petersburg, FL" 33701 813-866-3314

* Masjid Al-Qaadir Mu'minun 2343 23rd Ave S "St Petersburg, FL" 33712

* Islamic Center of SW Florida PO Box 2979 "Fort Myers, FL" 33902 813-768-1207

* Islamic Center Munich "365 5th Ave S., Ste 222" "Naples, FL" 33940

* Islamic Society of Pinellas County PO Box 494 "Pinellas Park, FL" 34664 813-546-3162

Georgia

* Muslim Center 315 N 3rd St "Griffin, GA" 30223 404-228-7924

* Masjid Atlanta City PO Box 54815 "Atlanta, GA" 30308

* West End Community Masjid 547 Wend Pl "Atlanta, GA" 30310 404-752-7913 404-752-7262

* Masjid Al Muminun 1127 Capitol Ave "Atlanta, GA" 30315 404-586-9562

* Atlanta Masjid of Al-islam 735 Fayetteville Rd SE "Atlanta, GA" 30316 404-378-4219

* Atlanta Mosque 442 14th St NW "Atlanta, GA" 30318

* Iklas 2742 Sylvan Rd "East Pt, GA" 30354 404-766-2808

* Al-Huda Islamic Center Inc 2022 S Milledge Ave "Athens, GA" 30605 404-548-4620

* Al-Huda Islamic Center P.O. Box 962 "Elberton, GA" 30635 (404) 283-7510

* Masjid Muhammad 612 Beaufort Ave "Augusta, GA" 30901 404-766-2808

* Islamic Society 148 Morehead Dr "Martinez, GA" 30907

* Islamic Society of Augusta PO Box 4594 "Martinez, GA" 30907 404-863-5416 404-868-7278

* Muslim Center 117 E 34th St "Savannah, GA" 31401 912-236-7387

* Masjid Muhammad 2742 Spenola St "Columbus, GA" 31906 404-322-5074

Hawaii

• Please let us know the address and contact information for the new Islamic Centers in Hawaii. We will be happy to post it here.

Idaho

* Moscow Islamic Center & Mosque 316 Lilley St "Moscow, ID" 83843 208-882-8312

* Muslim Community of Palouse 920 S Logan "Moscow, ID" 83843 208-882-1149

Illinois

* Islamic Society of Northwest Suburbs 3890 Industrial Dr "Rolling Meadows, IL" 60008 708-253-6400 708-490-1282

* Islamic Association of Des Plaines 480 Potter Rd "Des Plaines, IL" 60016 708-699-9885 312-824-1100

* Islamic Association Des Plaines 9202 Greenwood Opp. Gold Mills "Des Plains, IL" 60016

* Islamic Foundation North 100 Wimbledon Ct "Lake Bluff, IL" 60044 312-295-6795

* Islamic Cultural Center-Greater Chicago 1810 N Pfingsten Rd "Northbrook, IL" 60062 708-272-0319

* Islamic Center of North America PO Box 484 "Bellwood, IL" 60104 312-829-2255

* Islamic Community of Illlnois 8 O'Hare Ct "Bensenville, IL" 60106 312-595-2154 708-595-2154

* "Muslim Society Inc, Bloomingdale" 1523 Bourbon Pkwy "Streamwood, IL" 60107 708-717-7668 708-668-2426

* Islamic Society of Northern Illinois Univ 721 Normal Rd "Dekalb, IL" 60115 815-756-6560

* Islamic Community Center 345 Heine Ave "Elgin, IL" 60123-3213 312-695-3338 312-695-2069

* Elmhurst Islamic Center 844 Geneva Ct "Elmhurst, IL" 60126 312-941-9228

* Islamic Foundation 300 W Highridge Rd "Villa Park, IL" 60181 708-941-8800 708-941-0511

* South Suburban Islamic Ctr of Harvey 15200 S Broadway "Harvey, IL" 60426 312-460-7263 312-331-8871

* Muslim Association of Bollingbrook 420 Seminole Ln "Bolingbrook, IL" 60439 312-739-0127 312-739-5053

* Muslim Center 523 Oak Ave "Lockport, IL" 60441

* American Islamic Association "St Francis Rd & 88th Ave, Box 168 RR #4" "Mokena, IL" 60448 219-922-4519 815-467-5487

* Mosque Foundation of Chicago 7360 W 93rd St "Bridgeview, IL" 60455 708-430-5666 708-430-5667

* Fox Valley Muslim Community Center 107 S Jefferson Ave "Batavia, IL" 60510 312-879-0889 312-892-9250

* Mosque Foundation 9001 Turnberry Dr "Burr Ridge, IL" 60521

* Islamic Foundation of Greater Chicago PO Box 1101 "Oak Brook, IL" 60521

* Islamic Center of Naperville PO Box 428 "Naperville, IL" 60566 708-713-7417 708-713-4833

* Downtown Islamic Center 63 E Adams St #303 "Chicago, IL" 60603 312-961-0705 312-530-4070

* As-Salaam Center 4819 S Ashland Ave "Chicago, IL" 60609 312-247-2666 312-247-2747

* Masjid Al-Fatir 1200 E 47th St "Chicago, IL" 60615 312-268-7248 312-268-7248

* National Islamic Center 734 W 79th St "Chicago, IL" 60620

* Wallen Community Center 1701 W Wallen Ave "Chicago, IL" 60626 312-761-3840 312-338-3492

* Mosque of Umer Inc 11405 S Michigan Ave "Chicago, IL" 60628 312-660-0399 312-821-9260

* Al Takaful PO Box 29090 "Chicago, IL" 60629 312-475-8373

* Masjid Al-Anaak 2506 W 63rd St "Chicago, IL" 60629 312-434-2400 312-778-8200

* Qassam Mosque & Cultural Center 13247 W 63rd St "Chicago, IL" 60629 312-436-8083

* Muslim Community Center 4380 N Elston Ave "Chicago, IL" 60641 312-725-9047 312-489-2050

* Bism Rabik Foundation PO Box 49552 "Chicago, IL" 60649 312-772-0777

* Masjid Elijah Muhammad 7351 S Stony Island Ave "Chicago, IL" 60649

* Muhammad Islamic Foundation 7152 Eastend Bsmt "Chicago, IL" 60649-2319

* The Islamic Community PO Box 53398 "Chicago, IL" 60653

* Westside Muslim Center 24 N Pulaski Rd "Chicago, IL" 60654

* Rosco Masjid 1015 W Rosco St "Chicago, IL" 60657 312-281-9551 312-281-9551

* Islamic Community Center PO Box 4332 "Chicago, IL" 60680

* The Islamic Community Center PO Box 4332 "Chicago, IL" 60680

* As Salaam Masjid 4819 S Ashland Ave "Chicago, IL" 60690

* Islamic Community Center PO Box 4332 "Chicago, IL" 60690

* Central Illinois Mosque & Islamic Center 106 5 Lincoln "Urbana, IL" 61801 217-352-6689 217-356-3444

* Islamic Center PO Box 2262 Stn A "Champaign, IL" 61820

* Muslim Center 255 E Orchard "Decatur, IL" 62521 217-422-0149

* Islamic Society of Greater Springfield 1316 E Bruce St "Springfield, IL" 62703 217-787-1594 217-529-3328

* Islamic Society of Greater Springfield PO Box 92 "Springfield, IL" 62705 217-753-2267

* Islamic Ctr of Greater Centralia 224 S Broadway "Central City, IL" 62801 618-533-3080

* Islamic Center 321 S Cedarview "Carbondale, IL" 62901 618-529-1168

* Islamic Center of Carbondale 512 W College "Carbondale, IL" 62901 618-549-6378

Indiana

* Masjid Al-Fajr 527 Leon St "Indianapolis, IN" 46204 317-226-0505 317-925-0682

* Masjid Muhammad PO Box 629 "Michigan City, IN" 46360

* Muslim Center 302 E 10th St "Michigan City, IN" 46360 219-872-5607

* The Islamic Center PO Box 710 Brown Rd "Michigan City, IN" 46360

* Gary Muslim Center 607 W Sth Ave "Gary, IN" 46401

* Jamaat Masjid Al-Amin 3702 W 11th St "Gary, IN" 46404 219-949-1854 219-949-4123

* Gary Masjid 1473 W I5th Ave "Gary, IN" 46407

* Islamic Society of Michiana PO Box 170 "Notre Dame, IN" 46556 219-291-4236 219-291-4236

* Masjid Mujahideen 431 S Dundee "South Bend, IN" 46619

* South Bend Masjid Muhammad 1125 W Thomas "South Bend, IN" 46625

* Angola Islamic Center PO Box 191 "Angola, IN" 46703 219-665-9225

* Islamic Association of Indiana 409 E Elm St "New Albany, IN" 47150-3320 812-945-4000 502-945-4271

* The Islamic Center 809 E 8th St "Bloomington, IN" 47401 812-332-5130

* Muslim Center 1332 Lincoln Ave "Evansville, IN" 47714 812-682-4632

* Al Masjid 1022 1st St "West Lafayette, IN" 47907

Iowa

* Please let us know the address and contact information for the new Islamic Centers in Iowa. We will be happy to post it here.

Kansas

* Muslim Community Association 619 Sunset Ave "Manhattan, KS" 66502 913-776-8543 913-537-7262 or 66046

* Islamic Society of Wichita PO Box 8009 "Wichita, KS" 67208 316-687-4946 316-682-4594

* Islamic Association of Mid Kansas 3406 W Taft "Wichita, KS" 67213

Kentucky

* Islamic Center 940 Whitney Avenue "Lexington, KY" 10509

* Masjid Muhammad Kentucky State Reformatory "Lagrange, KY" 40032

* Islamic Cultural Association 4005 N Upper River Rd "Louisivlle, KY" 40207 502-893-9466

* Islamic Center of Louisville 1715 S 4th St "Louisville, KY" 40208 502-634-1395 502-634-1395

* Islamic Cultural Association 914 S 34th St "Louisville, KY" 40211

* Muslim Center 1142 S 42nd St "Louisville, KY" 40211 502-772-1143

* Masjid Muhammad 1917 Magazine "Louisville, KY" 40211 502-772-9503

* Masjid Muhammad 940 Whitney Ave "Lexington, KY" 40508

* Muslim Center 572 Georgetown St "Lexington, KY" 40508 606-233-4827

Louisiana

* Masjid Muhammad PO Box 1432 "Des Moines, IA" 50314 515-243-9154

* Islamic Center of Des Moines 6201 Franklin Ave "Des Molnes, IA" 50322 515-266-7591 5l5-255-2l2

* Masjid Al-Noor Islamic Center 728 W 2nd St "Waterloo, IA" 50701 319-233-2671 319-233-6640

* Islamic Society of Iowa City "114 E Prentiss St, PO Box 2611" "Iowa City, IA" 52240 319-353-5238 319-354-6167

* Islamic Association of Cedar Rapids 2999 1 St Ave SW "Cedar Rapids, IA" 52404

* Islamic Centerand Mosque PO Box 1425 "Cedar Rapids, IA" 52404 319-365-2762 319-362-0857

* Islamic Association Center 2999 First Ave. SW "Cedar Rpaids, IA" 52404

* Islamic Council of Iowa PO Box 5813 "Cedar Rapids, IA" 52406 319-396-4719 319-396-8733

* Islamic Service Group PO Box 521 "Cedar Rapids, IA" 52406 319-362-3711 319-362-3711

* Masjid Abu Baker Al-Siddeeq 4425 David Dr "Metairie, LA" 70003 504-887-5365

* Jefferson Muslim Association Inc PO Box 640758 "Kenner, LA" 70064 504-888-9364

* Masjid of Al-Islam 2626 Magnolia St "New Orleans, LA" 70113

* Bilal Ibn Rabah Center 717 Teche St "Algiers, LA" 70114

* Muslim Association of New Orleans 1911 Stclaudeave "New Orleans, LA" 70118

* Masjidur-Rahim 123840 N Johnson St "New Orleans, LA" 70187-1253 504-827-5807

* Masjid Muhammad "Rte. 5, Box 135E" "Slidell, LA" 70458 504-641-0150

* Slidell Masjid of Al-Islam 37482 Browns Village Rd "Slidell, LA" 70460-9361 504-641-3172

* Islamic Center of Lafayette 1117 Johnston St "Lafayette, LA" 70501 318-235-1472

* Muslim Center S6s4 Packard St "Baton Rouge, LA" 70801

* Islamic Center of Baton Rouge 820 W Chimes "Baton Rouge, LA" 70802 504-766-6015 504-387-3617

* Islamic Association of Greater Shreveport 3769 Youree Dr "Shreveport, LA" 71105 318-861-7990

* Masjid Muhammad PO Box 9202 "Shreveport, LA" 71109

* Islamic Association of Greater Shreveport 2950 E Texas #528 "Bossier City, LA" 71111 318-747-8929

* Masjid Muhammad 2414 Oak St "Monroe, LA" 71202

* Islamic Ctr - N. Eastern Louisiana NLU Box 5305 "Monroe, LA" 71212

Maine

* Please let us know the address and contact information for the new Islamic Centers in Maine. We will be happy to post it here.

Maryland

* Imamia Center PO Box 275 "Lanham, MD" 20801

* Islamic Community Center of Laurel 316 Gorman Ave "Laurel, MD" 20810

* Dar-adh-dhirk Masjid 4323 Rosedale Ave "Bethesda, MD" 20814 301-907-0997 301-951-0539

* Muslim Community Center 9229 E Parkhill Dr "Bethesda, MD" 20814

* Iran Freedom Foundation PO Box 422 "Bethesda, MD" 20817

* Islamic Center of Maryland 2 Leatherbark Court "Germantown, MD" 20874 301-869-1011 301-869-1011

* Islamic Society of Maryland 601 E Franklin Ave "Silver Spring, MD" 20901 301-577-2891 301-588-3650

* Muslim Community Center 15200 New Hampshire Ave "Silver Spring, MD" 20904

* Muslim Intercommunity Network PO Box 754 "Gambrills, MD" 21054-0754 301-948-0817 301-933-0024

* Ummat Wasit 500 N Caroline St "Baltimore, MD" 21205 301-276-0306

* Islamic Society of Baltimore "6631 Johnny Cake Rd, PO Box 7647" "Baltimore, MD" 21207 301-247-4869

* Progressive Islamic Community 2701 W Belvedere Ave "Baltimore, MD" 21215

* Baltimore Masjid 514 Wilson St "Baltimore, MD" 21217

* Masjid Saffat 1335 N Myrtle Ave "Baltimore, MD" 21217

* Masjid Muminum 2642 Hartford Rd "Baltimore, MD" 21218 301-467-8798

* Muslim Community Services 1420 Harberson Rd "Baltimore, MD" 21228 301-744-7753

* The Islamic Society of Del Marva PO Box 2053 "Salisbury, MD" 21801 301-957-4956 804-824-3491

Massachusetts

* Islam Society of Greater Worchester 57 Laurel St "Worchester, MA" 01604 508-842-8242 508-752-3437

* Islamic Center of Boston 126 Boston Post Rd "Wayland, MA" 01778 508-358-5885

* Masjid Al-Hamidullah 724 Shawmut Ave "Boston, MA" 02119

* Masjid Al-Quran 35 Intevale St "Boston, MA" 02121 617-265-0954 617-445-8070

Michigan

* The Cultural Association PO Box 628 "Franklin, MI" 48025 313-855-3977

* Islamic Community Center 4215 Middlebelt "W. Bloomfield, MI" 48033

* Islamic Association of Greater Detroit 879 W Auburn St "Rochester, MI" 48063

* Islamic Council Detroit 64 Duncan Dr "Troy, MI" 48098

* Muslim Community Association of Ann Arbor 2301 Plymouth Rd "Ann Arbor, MI" 48105 313-665-1772 313-971-8221

* American Muslim Society 9945 W Vernon Hwy "Dearborn, MI" 48120

* Islamic Center 37311 Phipps Street "Inkster, MI" 48141 313-562-2175 or 27311

* Muslim Community of W Suburbs of Mich PO Box 52668 "Livonia, MI" 48152 313-349-3926 313-459-1750

* American Muslim Society of Dearborn 17514 Woodward Ave "Detroit, MI" 48203

* Masjid Al-Nur 318 Pilgrim "Detroit, MI" 48203

* Masjid Muhammad 11529 Linwood Ave "Detroit, MI" 48206 313-868-2131

* International Muslim House 1741 Berry Park#303 "Detroit, MI" 48208 313-872-6651

* The Islamic Center of Detroit 15571 Joy Rd "Detroit, MI" 48228

* Al-Mumineen Mosque Inc PO Box 32485 "Detroit, MI" 48232 313-537-2234

* Muslim Center 1605 W Davison Ave "Detroit, MI" 48238 313-883-3330

* Federation of Islamic Assoc. 25351 Five Mile Rd "Redford Twp., MI" 48239

* Tawheed Center 31598 Bristol Ln "Farmington Hills, MI" 48339 313-489-1255 313-484-0909

* Masjid Mu'min 64043-A Clio Rd "Flint, MI" 48504 313-785-4001

* Flint Islamic Center 614 W Homes St "Flint, MI" 48505 313-789-7716 313-787-5525

* Flint Masjid of Al Islam 402 E Gillespie "Flint, MI" 48505 313-787-6591

* Dyewood Islamic Society of N. America 5271 N Dyewood Dr "Flint, MI" 48532 313-230-9226

* Masjid Abdur Rahman 1 14 N 4th St "Saginaw, MI" 48601

* Islamic Soc of Greater Lansing 920 S Harrison Rd "East Lansing, MI" 48823 517-351-4309

* The Islamic Center "110 Intnl Ctr, Michigan St." "East Lansing, MI" 48824

* Islamic Center of Mt Pleasant 907 McVey St "Mt Pleasant, MI" 48858 517-772-5206 517-774-6920

* Masjid Wali Mahmoud PO Box 19024 "Lansing, MI" 48901 517-882-1883

* Jamaat Al Muslimeen 3018 W Mighigan Ave "Kalamazoo, MI" 49007

* Islamic Center 1174 Jefferson "Grand Rapids, MI" 49s07

* The Islamic Center 515 Dicksinson SE "Grand Rapids, MI" 49s07

Minnesota

* Masjid Muhammad 3759 4th Ave S "Minneapolis, MN" 55409

* Islamic Center of Minneapolis 1128 6th St SE "Minneapolis, MN" 55414 612-379-8269

* Islamic Center of Minnesota 1401 Gardena Ave NE "Fridley, MN" 55432 612-571-5604 612-420-5767

Mississippi

* Masjid Muhammad 1208 Jones Ave "Jackson, MS" 39204 601-362-1170 PO Box 2705

* Mississippi Muslim Association 2533 Old McDowell Rd "Jackson, MS" 39204 601-373-0825 601-371-2834

* Mississippi Muslim Association PO Box 7713 "Jackson, MS" 39284 601-362-8180 601-373-0825

* Masjid Muhammad 903 Elizabeth Ave "Hattiesburg, MS" 39401 601-544-9828

* Muslim Center 501 1/2 Kelier Ave "Biloxi, MS" 39530 601-323-0910

* Islamic Center of Mississippi 204 Herbert St "Starkville, MS" 39759 601-323-6559 601-325-5332

* Islamic Association of Mississippi "PO Box 701, MSU" "Starkville, MS" 39762 601-323-6559 601-325-6828

Missouri

* Masjid Al Mu'minun 1434 N Grand Ave "St. Louis, MO" 63106

* Islamic Center of St Louis 3834 Westpine St "St Louis, MO" 63108

* Massged Alakhella 5178 Deerfield Circle #2 "St Louis, MO" 63128 314-843-4474 314-487-2642

* Potosi Correctional Ctr "Rte 2, Box 2222 (3a-13)" "Mineral Point, MO" 63660

* Masjid Muhammad No 30 2715 Swope Pkwy "Kansas City, MO" 64130 816-924-5483

* Masjid Omar 2700 E 49th St "Kansas City, MO" 64130

* Masjid Ahmed 5501 Cleveland Ave "Kansas City, MO" 64140

* Islamic Society of Greater Kansas City "PO Box 410891, 8501 E 99th St" "Kansas City, MO" 64141 913-469-8317 816-763-2267

* Islamic Center of Central Missouri 201 S Fifth St "Columbia, MO" 65201 314-875-0578 314-874-6988

* Islamic Center of Central Missouri "PO Box 1241, 201 S 5th St" "Columbia, MO" 65205 314-882-2607 314-875-4633

* UMR Mosque 1300 Elm St "Rolla, MO" 65401 314-341-7360

Montana

* "The Islamic Center of Billings, Montana" PO Box 121 "Billings, MT" 59103-0121 406-656-8832

* Muslim Community of Bozeman 114 H Julia Martin Dr "Bozeman, MT" 59715

Nebraska

* Islamic Center of Omaha PO Box 4093 "Omaha, NE" 68104 402-571-0720 402-496-0787

* Islamic Foundation of Lincoln 2147 R St "Lincoln, NE" 68503 402-477-9237 402-477-4720

Nevada

* Islamic Society of Nevada 3054 Chapala Dr "Las Vegas, NV" 89120-1932

* Alarkam Mosque 1095 N Virginia St #3 "Reno, NV" 89503-3041 702-786-2522

New Hampshire

* Islamic Society of Merrimack Valley 230 Main St "Salem, NH" 03079 603-898-6262

New Jersey

* Muslim Foundation Inc "22 Tomar Ct, PO Box 390" "Bloomfield, NJ" 07003 201-338-7710 201-338-7710

* Islamic Center of East Orange 61 Lincoln St "East orange, NJ" 07017-2304 201-672-6690

* United Islamic Center 408 Knickerbocker St "Paterson, NJ" 07051

* Masjid Muhammad 321 Grant Ave "Plainfield, NJ" 07060

* "Muslim Community Masjid, Newark" PO Box 721 "Lyndhurst, NJ" 07071

* Islamic Cultural Center "PO Box 1064, 24 Branford Pl" "Newark, NJ" 07101 201-748-8153 201-623-2991

* Daar Al-Hadeeth PO Box I 561 "Newark, NJ" 07102

* Masjid Muhammad 257 S Orange Ave "Newark, NJ" 07103

* Denullah Masjid Inc 69 Van Ness Pl "Newark, NJ" 07108

* Baith Quraish 69 Custer Ave "Newark, NJ" 07112

* Masjid Newark I 324 Clinton Place "Newark, NJ" 07112

* Newark Community Masjid 214 Chancellor Ave "Newark, NJ" 07112

* Masjid Al Hadi 9 Broad St "Elizabeth, NJ" 07201

* An Juman-e-Islamia 146 Jewett Ave "Jersey City, NJ" 07302

* Muslim Federation of New Jersey 234 2nd St "Jersey City, NJ" 07302

* Jamaat Ibad Er Rahman 26 Gifford Ave "Jersey City, NJ" 07304

* Islamic Center of Jersey City 17 Park St "Jersey City, NJ" 07306 201-451-8030 201-433-5000

* Islamic Center of New Jersey PO Box 6607 "Jersey City, NJ" 07306

* Masjid Al Salaam 2824 Kennedy Blvd "Jersey City, NJ" 07306

* Masjid Muhammad 297 Martin Luther King Dr "Jersey City, NJ" 07306

* "The Muslim Mosque, Inc." 32 Chestnut St "Paterson, NJ" 07501

* Islamic Educational Society of NJ PO Box 1043 "Patterson, NJ" 07503 201-239-9391 201-239-9391

* Jamaet Ibad El-Rahman Mosque 272 N 8th St "Prospect Park, NJ" 07508 201-956-6969

* Central Haj Council of N. America 286 Liberty Rd "Englewood, NJ" 07631 201-568-9495

* Islamic Teaching Center 90 Cedar St "Ridgefield Park, NJ" 07660

* Dar-ul-Islam Masjid 320 Fabry Terr "Teaneck, NJ" 07666

* Islamic Center of Fairleigh Dicks 1000 River Rd "Teaneck, NJ" 07666 201-836-6382

* Saut ul Islam PO Box 1653 "Burlington, NJ" 08016

* Masjid Al-Muhajireen "Rt 2, Box 118, Cedar Ave" "Hammonton, NJ" 08037 609-561-6759

* Shia Association of N America 144 Jacqueline Ave "Delran, NJ" 08075 609-461-2221

* Masjid Muhammad 1071 S Cole Plaza "Atlantic City, NJ" 08401 609-347-0788

* Masjid Muhammad 107 N Center St "Atlantic City, NJ" 08401

* Masjid Muhammad of Al-Islam 500 Ward Ave "Bordentown, NJ" 08505 609-298-0500

* Masjidul Taqwa 1001 E State St "Trenton, NJ" 08609 609-541-3482 609-541-3482

* Islamic Society of Central Jersey US 1 S & Stouts Ln "Monmouth Junction, NJ" 08852 908-329-8126 908-329-8928

* Muslim Center of Middlesex Count PO Box 306 "Piscataway, NJ" 08854

* Council of Masajid 99 Woodview Dr "Old Bridge, NJ" 08857 908-679-8617

New Mexico

* Masjid As-Sabiqun 1619 Del Monte SW "Albuquerque, NM" 87105

* Islamic Center of New Mexico 1100 Yale Blvd SE "Albuquerque, NM" 87106 505-865-4796 505-256-1450

* Masjid Muhammad 901 Edith SE "Albuquerque, NM" 87106

* Dar-al-Islam PO Box 180 "Albuquerque, NM" 87510 505-685-4515 505-685-4527

* The Tent of Meeting PO Box 447 "Tesuque, NM" 87574-0447 505-988-8084

* Islamic Society of Socorro 907 1/2 Annette St "Socorro, NM" 87801 505-835-3111 505-835-2760

* The Islamic Center of Las Cruces 1065 E Boutz "Las Cruces, NM" 88001 505-522-3363

* Portales Islamic Center PO Box 3823 "Portales, NM" 88130-3823

New York

* International Community Center 145 W 27th St #6E "New York, NY" 10001

* BMOC Muslim Society 199 Chambers St "New York, NY" 10007

* Masjid Manhattan "12 Warren St, 2nd Fl" "New York, NY" 10007 914-471-2978

* Masjid Al Farah 155 Mercer St "New York, NY" 10012

* Masjid Al-Farah 245 W Broadway "New York, NY" 10012

* Islamic Conference "130 E 40th St, 5th Fl" "New York, NY" 10016 212-883-0140

* International Islamic Community UN Secretariat #51767 "New York, NY" 10017

* Islamic Fellowship of Hunter Center 695 Park Ave#121 N 320 "New York, NY" 10021

* Islamic Center of New York 1 Riverside Dr "New York, NY" 10023

* Masjid Malcolm Shabazz 102 W 116th St "New York, NY" 10026

* Mosque of Islamic Brotherhood 55 St Nicholas Ave "New York, NY" 10026

* International Muslim Society 110 W 130 St "New York, NY" 10027

* Jihad Society 2130 1st Ave #812 "New York, NY" 10029

* Al Islam America PO Box 362 "New York, NY" 10039

* Mostazafan Foundation of New York "500 5th Ave, 34th Fl" "New York, NY" 10110

* Staten Island Islamic Masjid 117 Venduzer St "Staten Island, NY" 10301

* Staten Island Masjid 230 Benzigen Ave "Staten Island, NY" 10301

* Muslim Majlis of Staten Island PO Box 209 "Staten Island, NY" 10314 718-816-8866

* Jihad Society of New York 635 River Ave "Bronx, NY" 10451

* Islamic Federation of America 115 E 168th St "Bronx, NY" 10452 212-538-6515

* Islamic Senior Citizen Club 936 Woodycrest Ave "Bronx, NY" 10452 212-585-1564 212-585-1564

* Makkyjamme Masjid I15 E168th St "Bronx, NY" 10452

* Sunna wa Jamaat 2058 Ryer Ave "Bronx, NY" 10452

* CCIM of US & Canada 1953 Sedwick Ave #2 "Bronx, NY" 10453

* Park Chester Jame Masjid 1203 Virginia Ave "Bronx, NY" 10472 212-828-4194

* Islamic Society of Westchester & Rockland 22 Brookefield Rd "Mt Vernon, NY" 10552 914-668-8786 914-591-4969

* Sunnatullah Masjid 354 Hunter St "Ossining, NY" 10562

* Islamic Cultural Center 10 Hutchinson Purchase St "Purchase, NY" 10577

* Islamic Science Foundation PO Box 250 "Purchase, NY" 10580

* Masjidul Jihadul Akbar PO Box 364 "Middletown, NY" 10940 914-342-0663 914-564-9536

* Islamic Congress Inc 21-23 30th Dr "Long Island City, NY" 11102

* Islamic Community Schools & Social Services 100 Smith St "Brooklyn, NY" 11201

* Islamic Mission of America 143 State St "Brooklyn, NY" 11201

* Al-Kalima 191 Atlantic Ave "Brooklyn, NY" 11201

* Makki Masjid 1089 Coney Island Ave "Brooklyn, NY" 11201

* Masjid Nur Al-islam 3324 Church Ave "Brooklyn, NY" 11203

* Masjid An-Nur 1071 New Lots Ave "Brooklyn, NY" 11208

* Masjid Ikhwa 1135 Eastern Pkwy "Brooklyn, NY" 11213

* Ansar of Islam Inc 676 St Mark Ave "Brooklyn, NY" 11216

* Majlis Ashura of NYC and Metro 1221 Atlantic Ave "Brooklyn, NY" 11216 (718) 638-2169 Al-Amin Abdul Latif

* Masjid Abdul Muhsi Khalifah 120 Madison St "Brooklyn, NY" 11216

* Masjid Al-Muminin 1221 Atlantic Ave "Brooklyn, NY" 11216

* Muslim Community Center 651 Banner Ave "Brooklyn, NY" 11216

* Al Masjid Al Jaamina 806 St Johns Pl "Brooklyn, NY" 11216 718-638-4607

* Masjid Al Taqwa 1266 Bedford Ave "Brooklyn, NY" 11216 718-622-0800

* Al-Farouq Masjid 552-4 Atlantic Ave "Brooklyn, NY" 11217 718-624-8912

* Dar Al Quran Association "PO Box 330, Atlantic Ave Station" "Brooklyn, NY" 11217

* Masjid of The Crimean Turks 4509 New Utredcht Ave "Brooklyn, NY" 11219

* United American Muslim 5911 8th Ave "Brooklyn, NY" 11220 718-438-6919

* Ansaaru Allah Community 719 Bushwick Ave "Brooklyn, NY" 11221

* Islamic Hall of Knowledge 548 Hart St "Brooklyn, NY" 11221

* Universal Order of Love 544 Hart St "Brooklyn, NY" 11221

* Albanian American Islamic Community 1325 Albemarie Rd "Brooklyn, NY" 11226

* Masjid Abu Bakr As-Siddiq 115 Foster Ave "Brooklyn, NY" 11230

* Saut ul Islam PO Box 167 "Brooklyn, NY" 11230

* Hadhramaut Community Development Corp 507 Ralph Ave "Brooklyn, NY" 11233

* Community Office Services 1171 Eastern Parkway "New York, NY" 11234

* Hereafter People Inc 2185 Flatbush Ave "Brooklyn, NY" 11234

* Masjid Alarqam 651 Banner Ave "Brooklyn, NY" 11235 718-646-0960

* The Islamic Center 101-03 43rd St "Corona, NY" 11268

* Muslim Center of NY - Flushing 137-63 Kalmia Ave "Flushing, NY" 11355 212-445-2642

* American Muslim Mission Center 105-01 Northern Blvd "Corona, NY" 11368

* The Islamic Center 101-03 43rd St "Corona, NY" 11368 718-478-6653

* Masjid Al-Abidin 104-14 127th St "Richmond Hill, NY" 11419 718-738-5810

* The Islamic Foundation Inc 91-04 182 Pl "Hollis, NY" 11423 718-523-5046 800-992-3049

* Jamaica Islamic Center 85-37 168th St "Jamaica, NY" 11432

* Imam Al-Khui Islamic Center 89-89 Jamaica Van Wyck Expwy "Jamaica, NY" 11435 718-297-6520

* "Islamic Foundation, Inc." "P.O. Box 707, Jamaica" "Queens, NY" 11435 (718) 523-5046

* Muslim Center 105-01 Northern Blvd "Jamaica, NY" 11468 718-779-1060

* Islamic Center Long Island 835 Brush Hollow Rd "Westbury, NY" 11590

* Masjid Daral-Quran 1514 E 3rd Ave "Bay Shore, NY" 11706 516-665-9462

* Islamic Association of Long Island PO Box 0593 "Selden, NY" 11784 516-496-9661 516-732-1235

* Masjid Muhammad PO Box 241 "Wyandanch, NY" 11798

* Muslim Center 1305 Straight Path "Wyandanch, NY" 11798 516-643-8175

* Masjid Muhammad PO Box 200 "Coxsackie, NY" 12051-0200

* Islamic Ctr of Capital District PO Box 81 "Schenectady, NY" 12301 518-370-2664

* Mid-Hudson Islamic Association PO Box 515 "Wappinger Falls, NY" 12590 914-297-0882

* Masjid-ul Muta-Kabbir PO Box 21 "Poughkeepsie, NY" 12601 914-471-4559

* Masjid of Islamic Unity 2503 South Salina St "Syracuse, NY" 13205 315-471-9744 315-428-8966

* Islamic Society of Central NY 925 Comstock Ave "Syracuse, NY" 13210 315-637-3945 315-471-3645

* Muslim Center 843 Salt Springs Rd "Syracuse, NY" 13224 315-445- 0987

* Islamic Center of Northern NY P.O. Box 432 "Watertown, NY" 13601

* Islamic Organization of Southern Tier 37-39 Carroll St "Binghampton, NY" 13901

* Masjid Muhammad 615 Michigan St "Buffalo, NY" 14202

* Masjid Daru-as-Salaam 75 East Parade "Buffalo, NY" 14211 716-896-0725

* Masjid Nu'man 1373 Fillmore Ave "Buffalo, NY" 14211-1245

* Islamic Society of Niagara Frontier 40 Parker St "Buffalo, NY" 14214 716-683-1840 716-836-9789

* Islamic Center of Medina (Shi'a) 414 West Ave "Medina, NY" 14103 716-798-9806

* Lackawanna Islamic Mosque 154 Wilkesbarre Ave "Lackawanna, NY" 14218 716-825-9490

* As Sabiqun Islamic Center 518 Broadway "Elmira, NY" 14504

* Sufi Masjid 1529 Fuller Rd "Waterport, NY" 14571

* Masjid Taqwa 370 North St "Rochester, NY" 14605

* Islamic Center of Rochester "727 Westfall Rd, POB 23266" "Rochester, NY" 14692 716-473-4059 716-442-0117

* Jamestown Islamic Society 99 Hallock St "Jamestown, NY" 14701 716-666-4023 716-664-6446

* Jamestown Islamic Society 112 Whitehill Ave "Jamestown, NY" 14701

* Islamic Association of The Finger Lakes 432 Main Street "Big Flats, NY" 14814 607-562-3869 607-733-7874

North Carolina

* Islamic Society of Charlotte 3313 Chilham Pl "Matthews, NC" 23105 704-542-8314

* Masjid Muhammad 1500 English St "Winston-Salem, NC" 27105 919-724-0258

* The Islamic Group 825 C W Florida "Greensboro, NC" 27415

* Islamic Assoclation of Raleigh 3020 Ligon St "Raleigh, NC" 27607 919-467-0826 919-834-9572

* Masjid Durham 1009 W Chapel Hill St "Durham, NC" 27701

* Jamaat Ibad Ar-Rahman PO Box 1590 "Durham, NC" 27702-1590

* Center Muslim Center 917 Dickerson Ave "Greenville, NC" 27835

* Islamic Society of Gastonia 826 Springdale Ln "Gastonia, NC" 28052 704-867-2489 704-867-2489

* Masjid Muhammad 1230 Beatties Ford Rd "Charlotte, NC" 28216

* Islamic Society of Greater Charlotte PO Box 35063 "Charlotte, NC" 28235 704-532-9008 704-537-3485

* Masjid Muhammad 719 1/2 Castle Street "Wilmington, NC" 28401 919-343-8034

* Masjid Muhammad 711 S 8th St "Wilmington, NC" 28401

* Muslim Center PO Box 7371 "Asheville, NC" 28807 704-253-6428

North Dakota

* Islamic Society of Fargo-Moorehead PO Box 5223 "Fargo, ND" 58105 701-298-3610 701-234-9607

* Minot Islamic Society 1440 32nd Ave SW #10 "Minot, ND" 58701 701-852-8070

Ohio

* Masjid Al Islam 1677 Oak St "Columbus, OH" 43203 614-252-0338

* Islamic Foundation of Central Ohio 325 Crain Ave "Columbus, OH" 43205 614-245-3251 614-253-3251

* Ahl Sunnat wal Jamaat PO Box 151151 "Columbus, OH" 43215

* Muslim Center 431 Evans Rd "Marion, OH" 43302 216-581-4935 216-581-4935

* Islamic Center of Greater Toledo 25877 Scheider Rd "Perrysburg, OH" 43551

* Muslim Center 828 Ewing St "Toledo, OH" 43607 419-241-9522

* Islamic Center of Cleveland 9400 Detroit Ave "Cleveland, OH" 44102 216-281-6007

* Masjid Bilal 7401 Euclid Ave "Cleveland, OH" 44103

* Islamic Revivalist Movement 2690 Martin Luther King Blvd "Cleavland, OH" 44104 216-231-8746

* First Cleveland Mosque 13405 Union Ave "Cleveland, OH" 44120

* Islamic Center of Cleveland 9400 Detroit Ave "Cleveland, OH" 44120

* Masjid Muhammad 431 Evans Rd "Marion, OH" 44120

* Islamic Center of Cleveland PO Box 37135 "Cleveland, OH" 44137

* Islamic Society of Greater Kent "PO Box 307, 3487 Wilson Ave" "Kent, OH" 44240 513-226-9918

* Masjid Kent 1428 E Broad St "Kent, OH" 44240

* Islamic Center of Akron 345 Lookout Ave "Akron, OH" 44310

* Islamic Center PO Box 418 "Youngstown, OH" 44501 216-743-3030

* Masjid Muhammad 131 Woodland Ave "Youngstown, OH" 44501 216-743-3030

* Islamic Society of Greater Youngstown 535 Harmon St "Youngstown, OH" 44502

* Muslim Brotherhood 851 Fairfax Ave "Youngstown, OH" 44505

* Islamic Society of Northeastern Ohio 4848 Higbee Ave NW "Canton, OH" 44718-2528 216-492-7827

* Muslims For Progress 1219 Milan Rd #3 "Sandusky, OH" 44870

* Cincinnati Islamic Center 3809 Woodford Rd "Cincinnati, OH" 45213

* Islamic Association of Cincinnati 2515 Fairview Ave "Cincinnati, OH" 45219

* Islamic Association of Cincinnati 3668 Clifton Ave "Cincinnati, OH" 45220 513-621-6558 513-221-4003

* Islamic Community Center 299 E Market St "Xenia, OH" 45385 513-376-4111

* Muslim Center PO Box 244 "Dayton, OH" 45401 513-423-4031

* Islamic Center of Dayton 26 Josie St "Dayton, OH" 45403 513-879-3951

* Dayton Islamic Center 2170 Malvern Ave "Dayton, OH" 45406

* Masjid of Islam 637 Randolph St "Dayton, OH" 45406

* Miami Valley Islamic Association 1800 S Burnett Rd "Springfield, OH" 45505 513-322-3266 513-322-3266

* Muslim Center 743 W Liberty St "Springfield, OH" 45506 513-323-8781

* Muslim House "13 Stewart St, PO Box 734" "Athens, OH" 45701

* Islamic Center 435 S Collette St "Lima, OH" 45805 419-277-6765

* Masjid Abu-Bakr El-Saddik 332 W Buckeye St "Ada, OH" 45810 419-634-3000

Oklahoma

* Islamic Society of Norman 420 E Lindsey "Norman, OK" 73069 405-364-5341 405-364-6606

* Islamic Society of Edmond "UC Box 4113, 100 N University Dr" "Edmond, OK" 73083 405-340-4160 405-340-4160

* Islamic Society of Greater Oklahoma City 2809 N Indiana "Oklahkoma, OK" 73106 405-524-4341

* Masjid Al-Mu'minun 1322 NE 23rd "Oklahoma City, OK" 73111 405-424-1471

* Muslim Center "PO Box 2134, 2016 Cache Rd" "Lawton, OK" 73245 405-855-5203 or 73520

* Muslim Community of Al-Jihad PO Box 514 "Granite, OK" 73547 405-535-5216

* Islamic Society of Stillwater 616 N Washington St. "Stillwater, OK" 74075 405-744-4034 405-377-5910

* Islamic Society of Tulsa 431 S Birmingham "Tulsa, OK" 74104 918-622-9364 918-584-0597

* MCA Ponca City Chapter 2500 Wildwood "Ponca City, OK" 74604 405-762-7732 405-762-7732

Oregon

* Islamic Society of Greater Portland 9775 SW Pawnee Path "Tualatin, OR" 97062 206-574-5216 503-692-0287

* Masjid As-Sabr 10200 SW Capitol Hwy "Portland, OR" 97219 503-246-9160

* Salman Al-Farsi Islamic Center PO Box 35 "Corvallis, OR" 97339

* The Islamic Society of Eugene 1856 W Broadway "Eugene, OR" 97403

* Quran Foundation 1257 Siskiyou Blvd #224 "Ashland, OR" 97520 503-770-6789

Pennsylvania

* Masjid Pittsburgh 7222 Kelly St "Pittsburgh, PA" 15208

* First Masjid of Islam 1831 Wylie Ave "Pittsburgh, PA" 15219

* Masjid Al Fajr 2009 W 3rd St "Chester, PA" 15334

* Islamic Society of Central Pennsylvania PO Box 10185 Calder Square "State College, PA" 16805 814-238-3017 814-238-2079

* Masjid Muhammad 1725 Market St "Harrisburg, PA" 17103 717-238-2272

* Islamic Center 1725 Martin Luther King Blvd "Harrisburg, PA" 17104 717-238-2272

* Islamic Society of Greater Harrisburg "301 State St, Oberlin Gardens" "Steelton, PA" 17113

* Islamic Center of Lehigh Valley 20 N 9th St "Emmaus, PA" 18049

* IPA of North America Inc 842 Hamilton Mall #33 "Allentown, PA" 18101 215-432-6355

* Stroudsburg Islamic Center "RR 7, Box 7498" "Stroudsburg, PA" 18360 717-421-4108

* Islamic Association of NE Pennsylvania 679 Carey Ave "Wilkes Barre, PA" 18702 717-824-7246 717-675-6453

* Masjid As Sabiqun 19 W 3rd St "Chester, PA" 19013 215-872-1019

* Masjid Al Fajr 2009 W 3rd St "Chester, PA" 19015 215-494-5554

* International Muslim Brotherhood 4637 Lancaster Ave "Philadelphia, PA" 19121

* Masjid Salfia 3116 Ridge Ave "Philadelphia, PA" 19121 215-232-9475 215-232-3318

* Al-Aqsa Islamic Society 1501 German Town Ave "Philadelphia, PA" 19122 215-765-2743

* Makkah Mosque 1319 W Susquehanna Ave "Philadelphia, PA" 19122 215-978-9508 215-978-9508

* Masjid Al Hashar 2832 N 22nd St "Philadelphia, PA" 19122

* Masjid Bawa Muhaiyaddeen 5820 Overbrook Ave "Philadelphia, PA" 19131 215-879-6300

* Philadelphia Masjid 4700 Wyalusing Ave "Philadelphia, PA" 19131 215-877-8600 215-877-9020

* Minaret Muhammadi Ministry 1900 N 54th St "Philadelphia, PA" 19131-3134

* Masjid Al-Hashr 2823 N 22nd St "Philadelphia, PA" 19132 215-225-2084

Washington

* Dar Alrqam (Evergreen Islamic Institute)
Address: 6210 188th St. SW Lynnwood, WA 98037
Phone: 425-774-8852 Fax; 425-778-7069 Email: daralraqm@daralarqm.orgThis email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it

* Masjid Omar Al-Farooq - 5507 235th St. SW
Mountlake Terrace, WA 98076 (425) 776 - 6162

* Idris Mosque (Northgate) 1420 NE Northgate Way
Seattle, WA 98125 (206) 363 – 3013

* Islamic Int. House (U. District)
4625 22nd Ave. N.E. Seattle, WA. 98105

* East Side Masjid 14700 Main St.
Bellevue, WA 98004 (425) 746 - 0398

* Masjid Jamiul Muslimin (Cham Masjid) 5945 39th South (206)723-7677

* Redmond Musala - 9445 Avondale Rd (425) 895 – 9147

* Islamic Center of Seattle - Masjid As Salam
3040 South 150th St. SeaTac, WA 98168

* West Seattle Masjid - Masjid Al-Tawheed (West Seattle)
1022 South West Henderson Seattle, WA 98106 206 763-2239

* Islamic Center of Kent - 20857 108 Ave.
Kent, WA 98031 (253)-850-2260

* Jama'at Al-Ikhlas 1350 East First.
Seattle, WA 98122 (206) 322-6246

* Masjed Abu Bakr - 7713 Rainier Ave. S.
Seattle, WA (206) 726-1609

* Downtown Muslim Association - 811 5th Ave.
Seattle, WA 98104 (206) 781-3537

* Islamic Center of Tacoma - 2010 Bridgeport Ave. SW
University Place, WA 98409 (253) 565-0314

* Mas'alah Muslim Center - 1218 Martin Luther King Way
Tacoma, WA 98405 (253) 779-2443

* Islamic Center of Olymbia, Masjed Al-Nur
4324 20th Lane NE, Olympia, WA 98516 (360) 459-1993

* Lacey Islamic Center 7945 Pacific Ave SE
Olympia, WA, 98513 (360) 438-3570

* Islamic Center of Kitsap County - 1318 Park Ave
Bremerton, WA 98337 (360) 377-0902

* Masjed Al_Farouq NE 155 Stadium Way
Pullman, WA, 99163 (509) 334-9424

* Spokane Islamic Center East 505 Wedgewood
Spokane, WA, 99208 (509) 482-2608

* Islamic Society of South West Washington
7311 NE 43rd - Vancouver, WA, 98661 (360) 694-7799

Islamic Organizations in the US

Top 12

Islamic Society of North America
http://www.isna.net/

Islamic Circle of North America
http://www.icna.org/

Islamic Assembly of North America
http://www.iananet.org/

American Muslim Alliance
http://www.amaweb.org/

American Muslim Council
http://www.amconline.org/

Council on American Islamic Relations
http://www.cair-net.org/

Muslim Public Affairs Council
http://www.mpac.org/

ICNA Relief/Helping Hand
http://www.reliefonline.org/

Islamic Relief
http://www.irw.org/

Life for Relief and Development
http://www.lifeusa.org/

Mercy International
http://www.mercyusa.org/

National Muslim Student Association
http://www.msa-national.org/

Islamic Organizations

CAMP (Council of American Muslim Professionals )
http://www.campnet.net/

Islamic Network Group
http://www.ing.org/

Islamic Society of North America
http://www.isna.net/

Islamic Circle of North America
http://www.icna.org/

Muslim Alliance in North America
http://www.mananet.org/

Muslim American Society
http://www.masnet.org/

Muslim American Society - Bay Area Chapter
http://www.masbayarea.org/

Ar-razzaq Organization- W.D. Muhammad
http://www.ar-razzaq.org/MosqueCares

Islamic Assembly of North America
http://www.iananet.org/

Islamic Training Foundation
http://www.islamist.org/

The Canadian Islamic Congress
http://www.canadianislamiccongress.com/

Young Muslims Brothers
http://www.ymusa.org/

Young Muslims Sisters
http://www.ymonline.org/

Young Muslims Canada
http://www.youngmuslims.ca/

Tanzeem-e-Islami North America
http://www.tanzeem.org/

Arab-American Family Services
http://www.aafamilyservices.com/

Quran by Mail
http://www.quranbymail.com/hq/qindex.cfm

American Muslim Alliance
http://www.amaweb.org/

Council on American Islamic Relations
http://www.cair-net.org/

CCMO 911 Task Force Report
/www.ccmo-911report.net

Indian Muslim Council-USA
imc-usa.org

Muslim Public Affairs Council
http://www.mpac.org/

Guidance Financial Group
http://www.guidancefinancialgroup.com/

Baitul Salaam Network, Inc. - National Domestic Violence Awareness Organization
http://www.baitulsalaamnetwork.freehomepage.com/

Kind Hearts - Charitable Humanitarian Development
http://www.msa-national.org/resources/www.kind-hearts.org

ICNA Relief/Helping Hand
http://www.reliefonline.org/

Islamic African Relief Agency
http://www.iara-usa.org/

Islamic Relief
http://www.irw.org/

Life for Relief and Development
http://www.lifeusa.org/

Mercy International
http://www.mercyusa.org/

Success Foundation
http://www.successfoundation.org/

Islamica Magazine
http://www.islamicamagazine.com/

Islamic Media Foundation
http://www.ibn.net

Latino American Muslims Organization
http://www.latinodawah.org

US Center for Halal Certification
www.ushalalcertification.com

Jesus in Islam

Muslims respect and revere Jesus, and await his Second Coming. We consider him one of the greatest of God's Messengers to mankind. A Muslim never refers to him simply as 'Jesus', but always adds the phrase 'upon him be peace'. The Qur'an confirms his virgin birth (a chapter of the Qur'an is entitled 'Mary'), and Mary is considered the purest woman in all creation. The Qur'an describes the Annunciation as follows:

"Behold!' the Angel said, 'God has chosen you, and purified you, and chosen you above the women of all nations. O Mary, God gives you good news of a word from Him, whose name shall be the Messiah, Jesus son of Mary, honored in this world and the Hereafter, and one of those brought near to God. He shall speak to the people from his cradle and in maturity, and shall be of the righteous.' She said: 'O my Lord! How shall I have a son when no man has touched me?' He said: 'Even so; God creates what He will. When He decrees a thing, He says to it, "Be!" and it is." (Qur'an, 3:42-7)

Jesus was born miraculously through the same power which had brought Adam into being without a father: Truly, the likeness of Jesus with God is as the likeness of Adam. He created him of dust, and then said to him, 'Be!' and he was." (3:59)

During his prophetic mission Jesus performed many miracles. The Qur'an tells us that he said:

"I have come to you with a sign from your Lord: I make for you out of clay, as it were, the figure of a bird, and breathe into it and it becomes a bird by God's leave. And I heal the blind, and the lepers, and I raise the dead by God's leave." (3:49)

Neither Muhammad nor Jesus came to change the basic doctrine of the belief in One God, brought by earlier prophets, but to confirm and renew it. In the Qur'an Jesus is reported as saying that he came:

"To attest the law which was before me. And to make lawful to you part of what was forbiden you; I have come to you with a sign from your Lord, so fear God and obey me." (3:50)

The Prophet Muhammad said:

"Whoever believes there is no god but God, alone without partner, that Muhammad is His messenger, that Jesus is the servant and messenger of God, His word breathed into Mary and a spirit emanating from Him, and that Paradise and Hell are true, shall be received by God into Heaven. "(Hadith from Bukhari)