Muslim extremists think they met Allah when they die, why we don't help them killing all of them???

Question

They hate us cause according them we are sinners, but actually the most sadistic, brutal, insane and intolerant with everybody are themselves.

Answer 1

There is a general misconception that Islam seeks friendly relations with the People of the Book, that is, the Jews and the Christians. In fact, Islam is hostile to the members of these religious groups as it is to idolators such as the Hindus. However, this is another matter that the Jews and the Hindus suffered terribly at the hands of Islam, but the Christians, though initially bore its brunt, eventually succeeded in steming its tide in their lands.

No matter what the adherents of Islam claim about the brotherly outlook that this religion is supposed to have toward the non-Muslims, its basic doctrine, which seeks survival through intense communal strife, cannot be hidden. The Muslim scholars know this truth very well but they deliberately resort to misinterpretation. They do so, though falsely, to demonstrate that Islam is an eternal religion, which adapts itself to all ages and circumstances. Without this stance, Islam, the advocate of ferocious social principles and practices, cannot survive; it must have a humanitarian pretence in our age, dedicated to free speech and human rights. One must remember that it is only the Islamic countries, which amputate human limbs for trivial offenses, and hang people for the most innocent criticism of the Prophet.

I may come straight to the point and demonstrate that Islam gives no real preference to the People of the Book: the said tolerance is just a euphemism without any substance at all. It is because Islam declares itself to be the only true religion, which has the duty to dominate all other faiths, and eventually abolish them. See the truth for yourself:

"And when Allah took Compact with the Prophets: That I have given you of Book and Wisdom: then there shall come to you a Messenger confirming what is with you - you shall believe in him and you shall help him; do you agree? They said, 'We do agree'. Allah said, 'bear witness so, and I shall be with you among the witnesses'. Then whosoever turns his back after that - they are ungodly." (III - The House of Imran: 75)

It is not easy to understand these verses. In a nutshell, they mean that even before people were created, Allah convened the assembly of the Prophets' (soul) and asked them to promise that they would tell the communities of their followers about the coming of Muhammad and instruct them to embrace his religion.

Obviously, Judaism and Christianity ceased to exist in principle, the moment Muhammad declared Islam. The Hadith No. 284, The Muslim, volume one, says that any Jew or Christian, who heard of Muhammad but did not convert to Islam, and died in disbelief, would rot in hell! Thus Islam withdraws from all Jews and Christians the right to believe in their faiths, and pratice them as such.

The Koran goes even as far as to declare about Abraham:

"No: Abraham in truth was not a Jew, neither a Christian; but he was a Muslim and one pure of faith; certainly he was never of the idolators." (III - The House of Imran: 60)

Abraham was the Jewish patriarch; by quoting him as a Muslim i.e. the follower of Islam, Muhammad claims that he observed the Compact that he made with Allah in the Assembly that He had convened before the creation of mankind.

However, there is an ambiguity in the Koranic approach, which gives the impression that Islam is tolerant of the Jews and Christians:

"Dispute not with the People of the Book save in the fairer manner, except for those of them that do wrong; and say, 'We believe in what has been sent down to us, and what has been sent down to you: Our God and your God is One, and to Him we have surrendered'." (XXIX: The Spider: 45)

These verses apparently indicate tolerance with the People of the Book i.e. the Jews and Christians. It is because at that time the Prophet was not militarily strong enough to impose his will on them. In fact, he tried a policy of carrot and stick. When persuasion failed, he told them what he thought of them:

"The unbelievers of the People of the Book and the idolators shall be in the Fire of Hell therein dwelling for ever; those are the worst of creatures. But those who believe, and do righteous deeds, those are the best of creatures..." (XCVIII: The Clear Sign: 5)

Here those Jews and Christians, who spurn Islam, have been lumped together with the idolators such as the Hindus, and classified as 'the worst of creatures'. Therefore the Koran commands:

"O believers, take not as your friends those of them, who were given the Book before you, and the unbelievers, who take your religion in mockery and as a sport..." (V: The Table: 60)

In the same sura, the Koran states the same fact more emphatically:

"O believers, take not Jews and Christians as friends; they are friends of each other. Whoso of you makes them his friends is one of them..." (V: The Tables: 55)

It means that if a Muslim makes friends with a Jew or a Christian, i.e. becomes one of them i.e. a Kafir, that is an unbeliever.

The People of the Book, unless they renounce their faith, are liable to become the victims of Jehad i.e. destruction by force of arms:

"...And he brought down those of the People of the Book who supported them from their fortresses and cast terror in their hearts; some you slew, some you made captive. And He bequeathed upon you their lands, their habitations, and their possessions, and a land you never trod. Allah is powerful over everything." (XXXIII - The Confederates: 25)

The above is the description of what happened to the Jews of Khyber, who were attacked without an ultimatum of war, and this practice was also repeated against the Christian tribes of Arabia.

Of course, the Koran treats Jesus as a Prophet of God and confirms that he had been given the power to perform miracles but it defies the Christian fundamentals. For example, it refutes the doctrine of Crucifixion, which holds that God made His Son the Sacrificial Lamb to carry away the people's burdens of sin:

"...for their saying, We slew the Messiah, Jesus son of Mary, the Messenger of God. Yet they did not slay him, neither crucified him, only a likeness of that was shown them... God raised him up to Him..." (IV - Women: 155)

It means that God did not allow Jesus to suffer crucifixion, which is the kernel of the Christian faith. He raised him from the cross, and replaced him with someone, who looked like Jesus. Thus Islam destroys the very foundation of Christianity.

Not only that, Islam subordinates Jesus to Muhammad. The hadith No. 287 of Sahih Muslim, volume one, states:

"...the son of Mary will soon descend among you as a just judge. He will break crosses, kill swine and abolish Jeziya..."

One must try to understand the sophistication of this hadith: it means that Jesus will come to destroy crosses, that is, he will abolish Christianity; kill all swine, whose flesh Islam forbids, and eliminate Jeziya, the poll tax which the Koran imposes on non-Muslims. It demonstrates that the purpose of Christ's coming is to expunge all faiths including Christianity and Judaism, and enforce Islam for removing the need to impose Jeziya. Thus, Jesus has been allotted a subordinate role, and this in full accord with the Compact that all Prophets had made with Allah in the (imaginary) Assembly, before creation.

To prove the friendly attitude of Islam toward the Jews and Christians, it is claimed that it allows intermarriages between the Muslims and the People of the Book. It is a misrepresentation of the Islamic doctrine of marriage:

a. "Anyone of you, who has not the affluence to be able to marry believing free women in wedlock, let him take believing handmaids that your right hands own...so marry them with their people's leave, and give them their wages honorably as women in wedlock, not as license or taking lovers." (IV - Women: 25)

Here one can see whether a woman is free or a handmaid, a Muslim (man) cannot marry her unless she is a believer, that is a Muslim woman.

b. Also look at the following:

"O, Prophet, We (Allah) have made lawful for thee thy wives whom thou hast given their wages and what the right hand owns, spoil of war that Allah has given thee." (XXXIII - The Confederates: 45)

When women of the defeated foe fall into the hands of the Muslim warriors, they count as the 'Spoils of War' and become property of the conqueror. Thus, morality and respect for the fair sex go out of the window. Such unfortunate women rank as concubines. While the Roman Law during the times of Muhammad prescribed death for the master if he indulged in carnal relationship with his slave-girl, Islam permitted sexual intercourse with her at will, but did not allow marriage with her unless she embraced islam. Being Jewish or Christian counted for nothing. The Muslim jurists who claim that Islam allows marriage between the adherents of Islam and Jewish-Christian people, have no validity in Sunnah, the practice of the Prophet. There are some precedents rooted in Muslim Spain which show that some Muslim men did marry Christian women occasionally, but it can be stated with complete certainty that a Muslim man never gave his daughter to a Christian man. This marital concession was a show of Muslim superiority, and nothing else; necessity could be another factor: Spain was a Christian country and could not be ruled by sheer brute force; some political inducement was necessary.

However, it is against the Sunnah for a Muslim man to enter into a spousal contract with any non-Muslim woman whether she be Jewish or Christian, because these people have been declared by the Koran as "the worst of creatures".

The exact number of the Prophet's concubines is not known, but he had at least two, in addition to his wives; one of them was Marya (Mary), a very pretty Coptic Christian. She bore him a son, Ibrahim, who died in infancy. In fact, they were two sisters: the other being Shirin. They were sent to Muhammad as gifts by the Egyptian governor. The Prophet gave Shirin to his grandson, Hassan, who was a boy of about thirteen at that time. At the death of Ibrahim, the Prophet remarked that, had Ibrahim lived, the Prophethood would have continued after him (Muhammad) and he would have freed his (Ibrahim's) mother and uncles!

Rihana, a Jewish girl of great beauty was another concubine of the Prophet. She belonged to the tribe of Banu Quraizah. Her husband was among those 800 unlucky Jewish men, who were beheaded with Muhammad's consent under his supervision. The Prophet offered to marry her but she would not give up her Jewish faith. So she had no choice but to become his concubine. On the contrary, Juwairya, who belonged to Banu Mustaliq, a Jewish tribe, when fell into the lot of Muhammad as his share of the war booty, he married her because she accepted Islam.

- from ISLAM AND THE PEOPLE OF THE BOOK, by ANWAR SHAIKH, Great Britain [It is difficult to describe effectively in such a short article the Islamic attitude toward the People of the Book and the Kafirs such as Hindus and Sikhs. The writer intends to write a series of essays to explain the true situation.]




The other two great monotheistic religions have been through reformations and produced vibrant if not predominant non-fundamentalist movements. Is Islam a purely fundamentalist religion?

"By militant Islam I mean a complex variety of movements that are often referred to by the Western media as fundamentalist. The term Islamic Fundamentalist, however, represents a profound cultural misunderstanding. In the Christian tradition, fundamentalist applies to those groups that consider the Bible as the literal Word of God. In Islam, the Koran is considered the Word of God (kalam ul-allah) by all Muslims..."
from Islam and the West: Hostage to History? by Majid Tehranian


It is only quite recently that Christianity reinvented itself in non-fundamentalist guise, and Islam has yet to do so.
- Richard Dawkins, [Evolutionary Biologist, author of The Blind Watchmaker or The Selfish Gene] in The Independent (London), December 23, 1998, Wednesday, Page 8


"There is no way that Islam can reform itself and remain Islam, no way it can ever be made compatible with pluralism, free speech, critical thought and democracy. Anyone convinced they already possess the truth have no need for such things. Although Muslims resident in non-Muslim countries clamour for every kind of indulgence for their own beliefs and customs, there can be no doubt that given any kind of power they would impose their own beliefs and eliminate all difference."
"...[the] myth [of Islamic tolerance was] largely invented by Jews and Western freethinkers as a stick with which to beat the Catholic Church. Islam was never a religion of tolerance and it is not tolerant by nature. Despite the way the apologists would like to depict it, Islam was spread by the sword and has been maintained by the sword throughout its history, not to mention the scourge and the cross. In truth it was the Arab empire that was spread by the sword and it is as an Arab empire that Islam is maintained to this day in the form of a religion largely invented to hold that empire together and subdue native populations. An unmitigated cultural disaster parading as God's will. Religious minorities were always second-class citizens in this empire and were only tolerated on sufferance and in abject deference to their Arab/Muslim masters; for polytheists and unbelievers there was no tolerance at all, it was conversion or death."

- Ibn-al-Rawandi, Review of "Why I Am Not a Muslim," from the Freethought Library


Hitler had written his autobiography Mein Kampf many years before he became Germany's Chancellor. His philosophy and plans were clearly spelled out in his book in all seriousness. He did not hide the fact that his mortal enemy was France, that he desired to annihilate the entire Jewish people, that he wanted to expand the Reich or the German state by taking over Eastern Europe, that he considered the communists the scum of the earth. His objectives were not hidden from the public; anyone interested in finding out the true nature and the implications of Hitler's objectives was free to do so from his open book. But most did not even bother to read his book and thus remained ignorant of many facts concerning them. The few who did, were not heeded to. As a result, disaster after disaster followed; millions died before the world woke up. At terrible cost to humanity, Hitler was eventually overthrown. The Koran's exhortations to the believers to annihilate the kafirs [non-believers in Allah], to confiscate their land and property, to enslave their women and children are for anyone who cares to read the book. The 'jihad' or the holy war is supposed to be waged incessantly until all the kafirs are decimated and the whole earth taken over by the followers of Islam. The methods have been amply illustrated throughout history. The Crusades, the annihilation of the Armenians, the Jews and the Bengali Hindus in East Pakistan are well-known. There is no reason to believe that the objectives of Islam have undergone any modification in recent years. Islam denies any means to its followers to purify itself. It is considered to be in a state of purification achieved by the prophet and all the measures of purification are already enunciated in the Koran and the Hadis, Islam's holy books. Thus Islam forbids any reformation of the prophet's religion. Reformers are forbidden in Islam. The injunctions of the Koran are final and will remain valid for ever and the believers must surrender themselves to its dictates as explained by the mullah in power, Khomeini or anyone else. Power is the key word.
It is up to the kafir to make himself aware of the message of the Koran. the Koran has a lot to say about him.

- Anwar Shaikh, from the preface to ISLAM: The Arab Imperialism


Koranic teaching still insists that the sun moves around the earth. How can we advance when they teach things like that?
- Taslima Nasrin, Time, 31/01/1994




Is Islam a religion of tolerance, allowing freedom of speach, thought, faith?

"Any Muslim who hears an insult to the prophet must kill the person who commits the insult. It is better that those closest to that person try to kill him first."
[Morteza Moqtadie, Iranian Chief Prosecutor, 199?]


The mealy-mouthed and apologetic character of so much Western scholarship on Islam springs from the fact that many of these scholars were, and are, believers, in the rival creed of Christianity. While they might be willing to show Muhammad in a poor light compared to Jesus, they were not keen to press the non-historical and non-divine arguments too far, since they realised that such arguments could just as well against their own cherished beliefs. They preferred a complicity of intellectual dishonesty with the Muslims in the face of an increasingly sceptical and secular environment.
Islam is fundamentalist by nature, and not by some peculiar and aberrant recent development. All Muslims, not just the fanatics, believe that every word of the Quran is quite literally the word of God, absolutely and unquestionably true for all times, places, and people, and practically the same goes for the hadith and the sharia.

...the myth of Islamic tolerance, a myth largely invented by Jews and Western freethinkers as a stick with which to beat the Catholic Church. Islam was never a religion of tolerance and is not tolerant by nature. Despite the way the apologists would like to depict it, Islam was spread by the sword and has been maintained by the sword throughout its history, not to mention the scourge and the cross. In truth it was the Arab empire that was spread by the sword and it is as an Arab empire that Islam is maintained to this day in the form a religion largely invented to hold that empire together and subdue native populations. An unmitigated cultural disaster parading as God's will. Religious minorities were always second-class citizens in this empire and were only tolerated under sufferance and in abject deference to their Arab/Muslim masters; for polytheists and unbelievers there was no tolerance at all, it was conversion or death.

These repulsive characteristics are written into the Quran, the hadith and the sharia, and are an ineradicable feature of the religion. There is no way that Islam can reform itself and remain Islam, no way that it can ever be made compatible with pluralism, free speech, critical thought and democracy. Anyone convinced they already possess the truth have no need for such things. Although Muslims resident in non-Muslim countries clamour for every kind of indulgence for their own beliefs and customs, there can be no doubt that given any kind of power they would impose their own beliefs and eliminate all difference. ...Islam is religious fascism, and it is only a feeble-minded political correctness that prevents it from being recognised as such.

- Ibn Al-Rawandi New Humanist, Dec. 1995


"'Uthman Ibn 'Affan ordered 'Abdalla Ibn Sa'd to invade Africa. [He told him] ‘If you conquer it take 1/25 of its booty.' 'Abdalla Ibn Sa'd marched towards it at the head of an army of 20,000 soldiers. He conquered it and killed multitudes of people from among its inhabitants until the remnant were converted to Islam and became subject to the Arabs. 'Abdalla took his portion of the booty as 'Uthman told him, then he divided the rest."

How unfortunate were the African people! They were invaded by the Arabs who killed thousands of them, divided the booty, and forced the remnant to embrace Islam. When they broke the pact, the Muslims attacked them again. But are the black African people the only unfortunate people? Or are all the people of Jordan, Palestine, Syria, Iraq, Iran, Egypt, Libya, all the Arab tribes, Spain, even the people of China and India, Cyprus and the Kurds, all the unfortunate peoples? All of these are unfortunate nations who became the victims of Islamic Law which detests human rights and persistently ignores their freedom.

Ibn Kathir tells us that in the year 28 of the Hajira, the conquest of Cyprus was accomplished after 'Abdulla Ibn al-Zubayr slaughtered a multitude of people - as usual. Ibn Khaldun also tells the story of the Kurds. In page 124 of Vol. II, he says,

"Muslims met a number of Kurds. They called them to embrace Islam or pay the tribute. When they refused to do so they killed them and captured their women and children, then divided the booty."

As we see, Ibn Khaldun along with Ibn Kathir, al-Tabari and other chroniclers, ancient and contemporary such as Dr. Abu Zayd, recorded all the Islamic historical events in detail. Moreover, on every occasion Arab newspapers allude boastfully to these memorial episodes of Islamic history and shed light on these savage, wild offensive wars. For instance, we read in the prestigious Ahram newspaper which is published in Egypt, the following,

"During the era of the Caliph 'Umar Ibn 'Abdul-'Aziz, Ibn Qutayba in the year 88H, he invaded some of the neighboring countries of Iran such as Bukhara, and Samarq and marched close to the Chinese border" (refer to the Ahram, Mary 26, 1986, p. 13).

In his book, "The Beginning and the End" (part 9), Ibn Kathir narrates in detail the history of this belligerent general, Ibn Qutayba. He records the story of his campaigns and refers to his biography.

We would like to conclude this chapter with a brief summary which Taqiy al-Din al-Nabahani presents in his book, "The Islamic State" (pp. 121 and 122). He summarizes the history of Islamic offensive wars against the neighboring peaceful countries by saying,

"Muhammad had begun to send troops and initiate campaigns against the Syrian borders such as the campaign of Mu'ta and Tabuk. Then the rightly guided caliphs ruled after him and the conquest continued. (The Arabs) conquered Iraq, Persia, and Syria whose faith was Christianity and which were inhabited by the Syrians, Armenians, some Jews and some Byzantines. Then Egypt and North Africa were conquered. When the Umayyad took over after the rightly guided caliphs, they conquered the Sind, Khawarizm, and Samarqand. They annexed them to the lands of the Islamic state."

According to all Muslim chroniclers, it is well documented that Armenia and Morocco were conquered during the era of 'Abdul-Malik Ibn Marwan. When his son, al-Walid, assumed the throne, he invaded India and Andalusia.

Also, Dr. 'Afifi Abdul-Fattah, the Muslim scholar, encapsulates the whole principle in a few explicit, straightforward words, as he says (page 382 of his famous book "The Spirit of the Islamic Religion"),

"Islam has acknowledged war in order to exalt the word of God. This is a fight for God's cause."

He also adds in p. 390,

"Before the Islamic state declares war against another state, it should give (the other state) the choice between Islam, tribute or war."

We need not say anything more than that. Maybe this is what Muslims mean when they say, "We believe in human freedom and man's right to choose according to his own will! We present him with three options, and he has the right to chose as he wishes - either to become a Muslim and pay alms to the Caliph of the Muslims, or pay the tribute and submit to Islamic rule, or we kill him."

Let the reader ponder the Muslim contradiction that a man has the right to choose whatever he wants within the Islamic context of individual freedom.

Muhammad and Tolerance of Other Religions
Hadith Sahih Muslim (4363) "You (the Jews) should know that the earth belongs to Allah and His Apostle and I wish to expel you from this land (Arabia)
Qur'an (4366) "I will expel the Jews and Christians from the Arabian Peninsula and will not leave any but Muslims."
(Qur'an 48:29) "Those who follow Muhammad are merciless for the unbelievers but kind to each other."
Qur'an (60:4) "Enmity and hatred will reign between us until ye believe in Allah alone."
Qur'an (8:39) (2:193) "Make war on them until idolatory does not exist any longer and Allah's religion reigns universally."
Qur'an (9:123) "Fight the unbelievers in your surroundings, and let them find harshness in you."
Qur'an (9:5) "Kill the unbelievers wherever you find them, capture and besiege them and prepare for them every kind of ambush."
Qur'an (5:72-73) "For he who believes in the Trinity, "the Fire will be his abode ' a grievous penalty will befall the blasphemer."


Oft-Merciful Allah
(Qur'an 13:13) "He flingeth the thunderbolts and striketh whomsoever He will."
(Qur'an 16:70) "Some are sent back by Us to a feeble age, so that they know nothing after having known much."
Qur'an (21:11) "How many were the populations We utterly destroyed because of their iniquities."
Qur'an (64:11) "No kind of calamity can occur, except by the permission of Allah."
Qur'an (2:10) "In their hearts is a disease; and Allah has increased their disease and grievous is their Penalty."
Qur'an (2:20)" Allah can take away the faculty of hearing and seeing; for Allah hath power over all things."
Qur'an (2:65) "To those who transgressed in the matter of the Sabbath, We said to them: "Be ye apes despised and rejected."
Qur'an (2:213) "Allah guides whom He will to a path that is straight."
Qur'an (2:253) "If Allah had so willed, succeeding generations should not have fought among each other (over religion)."
Qur'an (2:269) "He granteth wisdom to whom He pleaseth."
Qur'an (2:284) "Allah forgiveth whom He pleases and punishes whom He pleases."
Qur'an (3:6) "He it is Who shapes you in the womb as He pleases."
Qur'an (3:47) "Allah createth what He willeth."
Qur'an (4:89) "' if they turn renegades, seize them and slay them wherever ye find them."
Qur'an (5:33) "The punishment of those who wage war against Allah and His Messengers ' is execution or crucifixion or the cutting off of hands and feet from opposite sides."
Qur'an (5:38) "As to the thief, male or female cut off his or her hands."
Qur'an (5:45) "We ordained for them: Life for life, eye for eye, nose for nose, ear for ear, tooth for tooth, wounds equal for equal."
(Qur'an 5:60) "Those who incurred the wrath of Allah ' He transformed into apes and swine."
!Qur'an 6:65) "He hath power to send calamities on you, from above and below."
Qur'an (6:95) "And He is the One to cause the dead to issue forth from the living."
Qur'an (6:137) "If Allah had willed, they would not have done so. (slaughtered their children)."
Qur'an (6:165) "It is He Who hath made you ' inheritors of the earth: He hath raised you on ranks, some above others: that He may try you in the gifts He hath given you."
Qur'an (8:12) "Allah called on the angels to "smite all their finger tips off them. (the unbelievers)"
Qur'an (10:88) "And send hardness to their hearts so they will not believe until they see the grievous Penalty."
Qur'an (10:99) "If it had been the Lord's Will they would have all believed."
Qur'an (13:8) "Allah doth know what every female womb doth bear."
Qur'an (13:26) "Allah doth ' grant ' the sustenance to whom so He pleases."
Qur'an (14:7) "But if ye show ingratitude, Truly My Punishment is terrible indeed."
Qur'an (17:13) "Every man's fate We have fastened on his neck."
Qur'an (17:46) "And We put coverings over their hearts lest they should understand the Qur'an."
Qur'an (17:68) "Do you feel secure ' that He will not send against you a violent tornado."
Qur'an (17:69) or that "He will not send a heavy gale to drown you at sea because of your ingratitude."
Qur'an (19:86) "And We shall drive the sinners to Hell, like thirsty cattle driven to water."
Qur'an (21:15) "And that cry of theirs ceased not, till We made them as a field that is mown, as ashes silent and quenched."
Qur'an (23:41) "Then the earthquake overtook them with justice as We made them as rubbish of dead leaves - so away with the people who do wrong."
Qur'an (24:2) "The woman and the man guilty of zina (fornication) flog each of them with a hundred lashes ' and let a party of the Believers witness their punishment."
Qur'an (28:40) "So We seized him and his hosts and We flung them into the sea."
Qur'an (28:81) "Then We caused the earth to swallow him (Qarun) up and his house '"
Qur'an (30:34) "Then enjoy your brief day, but soon ye will know your folly."
Qur'an (35:45) "If Allah were to punish men according to what they deserve He would not leave on earth a single living creature."
Qur'an (40:5) "It was I that seized them. And how terrible was My Requital."
Qur'an (40:85) "And even thus did the rejecters of Allah perish utterly."
Qur'an (42:49) "He leaves barren (of children) whom He will."
Qur'an (44:16) "One day We shall seize you with a mighty onslaught: We will indeed then exact Retribution."
Qur'an (47:4) "When ye meet the Unbelievers in jihad smite at their necks."
Qur'an (47:23) "Such are the men whom Allah has cursed for He has made them deaf and blinded their sight."
Qur'an (47:34) "Those ' who die rejecting Allah, Allah will not forgive them."
Qur'an (48:17) "And he who turns back (in the jihad) Allah will punish him with a grievous Penalty."
Qur'an (56:55) "Indeed ye shall drink (the Boiling Water) like diseased camels raging with thirst."
Qur'an (82:8) "In whatever form He wills does He put thee together."


The source counted 817 cruel/ ambivalent verses in the Qur'an. Many of them are similar to each other.
Fundamentalists literally believe in the above scripture. Modernists must seriously consider the Reformation of the Qur'an.
We fear that such negative attitudes towards mankind in the Qur'an can affect men who are dispossessed, damaged or perhaps inadequate, to hold life in low esteem and engage in the terrible acts which presently characterize Islam, many in the name of Islam.

Source: Left Shoe News, Reform Islam


Bahais:
Nasiri-Din-Shah was the ruler of Iran in 1850 when the Bab (= gate), who had proclaimed himself the Hidden Imam, was executed after a trial by an Islamic court. An upset follower of the Bab fired a shot at the Shah and the horror was really on.

Babis had their eyes gouged out, were forced to eat their amputated ears, teeth were torn out and skulls crushed by hammer blows. Women had deep holes dug into their breasts and burning wicks were fuelled by the boiling fat. Soles of people's feet were skinned and then placed into boiling oil. Feet were shoed like the hoof of a horse and the victim made to run.

Lucky were the Babis who died quickly: being tied in front of a mortar, strangled, suffocated, stoned, cut down with a sword or blows of hammers and knives.

In 1863, one of the Bab's disciples who had survived the pogroms, Baha 'u' llah, announced that he was the Messenger. For thirty years the Bahai grew, taking a very low profile. The essence of Bahai is theosophical-all prophets and divinities are to be revered. This was heretical to Islam-for one thing Muhammad was the final Prophet, not to be followed by any more Messengers of Allah. Also to profess polytheism (including Hinduism and Buddhism with Aliah) merits a death sentence.

Bahais were not to fight back, however: "It is better to be killed than to kill" (Baha 'u'llah)


Ayatollah Khomeini and the Bahais
At first the revolution was relatively democratic; even the communists were allowed to exist. The ayatollahs used the policy of divide and conquer until they held the full reins of power.

In May 1979 they charged the Bahais with the ridiculous crimes of collaborating with the Shah, being Zionists, U.K. and U.S. agents

(One tenet of the Bahai Faith is NOT to participate in politics.) All assets of the faith were seized: shrines, cemeteries, hospitals and a home for the aged.

In June 1980 three leading ayatollahs declared that the payment of pensions to retired Bahais was to be forbidden by the Shariah (religious law). Anyone paying such pensions would be offending against Islam. Bahais were dragged into mosques where attempts were made to make them "return to Islam"

The execution of Bahai officials and prominent teachers began in the second half of 1980, still on "political grounds". By June 1981, when the fundamentalists triumphed, revolutionary courts were sentencing Bahais to death on purely religious grounds. Ayatollah Sadduqi declared Bahais to be "mahdur ad-damm" (those whose blood may be shed). This led to open slather. An elderly man and his wife were drenched in kerosene and set alight.

Bahai girls were kidnapped and forced to marry Muslims. People were bridled like donkeys and led through the streets. Widows were compelled to pay for the bullets used to kill their husbands and then evicted from their homes with only the clothes they were wearing. Condemned persons were drained of blood for use at the Iraqi front. People were tortured to recant. Marriages were dissolved and Bahai family life called prostitution (punishable by death). Bahai children were deemed illegitimate and parents denied any right to them in civil law.

One Islamic judge, Hujjat-ul Islam Qazai, with many executions to his credit, stated in the Khabar-i-Junub on February 22, 1983:

"The Iranian Nation has risen in accordance with Qur'anic teachings and by the Will of God has determined to establish the Government of God on Earth. Therefore it cannot tolerate the perverted Bahais who are instruments of Satan.... (Iran will) God willing, fulfil the prayer of Noah, mentioned in the Qur'an "and Noah said, Lord leave not one single family of infidels on the earth".

Soon the Islamic courts were sentencing mujahedin, fedeyin, marxists, communists, liberals and democrats as well.




Isn't Islam's conflict with the Jews really only a conflict between Arabs and Zionists? Islam respects Jews, right? They just hate 'Zionists'...

The most recent issue of Anti-Semitism Worldwide, an annual survey published by the Anti-Defamation League, contains two striking but unrecognized patterns. First, it shows that the main locus of anti-Jewish speech and deeds has moved from the Christian countries to the Muslim world. In the former, the survey reports on the activities of fringe groups; in the latter, it quotes heads of state, powerful political parties, mainstream newspapers, and leading intellectuals. For example, the Palestinian group Hamas quotes from the Protocols of the Elders of Zion in its very charter. Anti-Semitism lurks furtively in the world at large; among Muslims it proudly rules.
Second, and perhaps even more ominous: even in the predominantly Christian countries of Europe and the Americas, Muslims today increasingly carry the banner of antisemitism and constitute a physical threat to Jews. That's not to say that antisemitism among Christians has evaporated, but that it has distinctly less punch than does the Muslim variety. According to the survey, while Rightists harassed Jews and vandalized Jewish property in Europe, "violent attacks with the intent of causing bodily harm were perpetrated in most cases by Muslim extremists." For example, the only anti-Semitic terrorist act in Europe during 1995 was carried out not by skinheads but by an Algerian fundamentalist group (the attempted bombing of a Jewish school near Lyons, France). Muslims from South Africa to Argentina to Sweden also outscore the Right in terms of the reach of their anti-Semitic rhetoric and influence.

The same pattern holds in the United States. Here, the Muslim population divides into two main groups, converts (mostly blacks, many at some point connected to the Nation of Islam) and immigrants (mostly from South Asia). Explicit, virulent antisemitism is the norm among both these groups. And while a few brave voices that stand up to the endless attacks on Jews, they can barely be heard among the barrage of bias, calumny, and conspiracy theory.

Immigrants
Like their coreligionists elsewhere, Muslims who emigrate to the United States or American converts espouse a wide range of outlooks. But it is striking to note that, in contrast to countries like Turkey and Egypt, where a lively debate is taking place between the moderates and the fundamentalists, fundamentalists dominate in the United States, to the point that moderates hardly have a voice. They control every major Muslim organization, including the Islamic Association for Palestine, the Islamic Circle of North America, the Islamic Committee for Palestine, the Islamic Society for North America, the Muslim Arab Youth Association, the Muslim Public Affairs Council, and the Muslim Students Association. They also control a growing majority of mosques, weekly newspapers, and communal organizations.

This fundamentalist hegemony results from several factors. One has to do with funding and other support from the Middle East, which goes almost exclusively to fundamentalists. The Iranians, Libyans, and Saudis have for years helped the most aggressive, fundamentalist groups. Another has to do with moderates tending to go out into the world and involve themselves in other, less parochial activities.

Every fundamentalist organization spews forth antisemitism, many in public, some more discreetly. Nearly all of them refer constantly to a battle to the death with Jews. For example, one of the most eminent Islamic theologians, Yusuf al-Qardawi told a huge audience meeting in Kansas City in 1989, "On the hour of judgment, Muslims will fight the Jews and kill them."

American Muslims focus on two main themes. One concerns the need to destroy Israel. Fundamentalist groups align closely with the cause of Hamas and Islamic Jihad, celebrating their achievements and sharing their murderous attitude toward Jews. Speakers at their meetings routinely call on their audience to help eliminate the Jewish presence from what they call Palestine; the announcement of a terrorist operation against Israelis arouses unrestrained cheering at a Muslim convention.

A second theme concerns the need to gain more clout than American Jews. American Muslims repeatedly declare an intent to match and overtake Jews; they view almost every aspect of their political existence in the United States -- population size, fundraising capabilities, clout in Washington -- in terms of this competition. Echoing a common ambition, the intellectual Ali Mazrui holds that "By the next century, Muslims may be as influential as Jews in influencing policy."

Nation of Islam
As for converts, Louis Farrakhan, leader of the Nation of Islam, has established himself as the leading anti-Jewish ideologue. He has danced around but never repudiated his well-known utterances in 1984 about Judaism being a "gutter religion" and Adolf Hitler being a "very great man." In an infamous speech at Kean College in November 1995, Farrakhan's deputy spewed out a mind-boggling series of statements about Jews. The Nation of Islam sells the Protocols of the Elders of Zion at its events. And the organization has even done original "scholarship" of its own, putting together a volume in 1991 called The Secret Relationship between Blacks and Jews that purports to show that Jews were primarily responsible for the enslavement of blacks and their transport to America.

Nation of Islam views count far more than those of right wing groups because this organization has a far greater reach. Unlike the Ku Klux Klan, it has an organized paramilitary force in dozens of cities -- and even has managed to win Federal grants for it. Unlike the Liberty Lobby, it regularly packs thousands of listeners into large arenas. Unlike the militiamen, its leader appears hand-in-hand in public with the mayor of Philadelphia. Unlike the Aryan Nation, it has a foreign patron (Mu`ammar al-Qadhdhafi of Libya) who has offered it $1 billion to organize American Muslims and get them "to cast their votes to the candidate who serves the Arabs."

Implications
Antisemitism, historically a Christian phenomenon, is now primarily a Muslim phenomenon -- and not just in the Middle East, but right here in the United States. Muslims today are the most vibrant and explicit antisemites, and it is they who contribute most to Jew-hatred here. Muslims speak in terms of overt antisemitism hardly found elsewhere in the West. The broadcast of excerpts from Hitler's Mein Kampf on Radio Islam in Sweden led to by Ahmed Arami spending six months in a Swedish jail.

This has several implications for Jews. First, as the population of Muslims in the United States grows, so does antisemitism (not to speak of a related phenomenon, that of anti-Christianism).

Second, American Jewish organizations should devote less of its resources to the Christian right and more to fundamentalist Islam. School prayer is far less the issue than an atmosphere of overt hostility and potential violence toward Jews.

Third, the institutional preponderance of fundamentalists in the United States makes it extremely difficult for American Jewish organizations to build constructive relations with Muslim counterparts, for all of the main Islamic groups are fundamentalist, with the possible exception of W. Deen Mohammed's movement. Faced with a choice of dealing with fundamentalists or no one, the Jewish organizations should choose the latter course. Otherwise, they run the risk of legitimating their own worst enemies.


It would not be difficult to put together the names of a very sizeable number of Jewish subjects or citizens of the Islamic area who have attained to high rank, to power, to great financial influence, to significant and recognized intellectual attainment; and the same could be done for Christians. But it would again not be difficult to compile a lengthy list of persecutions, arbitrary confiscations, attempted forced conversions, or pogroms.
- G.E. von Grunebaum, "Eastern Jewry Under Islam," Viator, (1971)


The attitude of the Muslims toward the Christians and the Jews is that of a master towards slaves, whom he treats with a certain lordly tolerance so long as they keep their place. Any sign of pretension to equality is promptly repressed.
- H.E.W. Young, British Vice Consul in Mosul, 1909


It is instructive to consider the following hadiths, an Arabic term which refers to the oral tradition by means of which sayings or deeds attributed to the Prophet Mohammed have been handed down to Muslims:
"Verily, the word of God teaches us, and we implicitly believe it, that for a Muslim to kill a Jew, or for him to be killed by a Jew, ensures him an immediate entry into Heaven and into the august presence of God Almighty."

"The hour [i.e., salvation] will not come until you fight against the Jews; and the stone would say, `O Muslim! There is a Jew behind me: come and kill him.'"


"Believers, take neither Jews nor Christians for your friends"
[Sura 5:50]
"Allah ... forbids you to make friends with those who have fought against you ... or abetted others to do so"
[Sura 60:9]
"Fight those that believe not in Allah - such men as practice not the religion of truth, being of those who have been given the Book- until they pay tribute out of hand AND HAVE BEEN HUMBLED"
[Koran 9:29]

The Termination of "Israel" A QUR'ANIC FACT
By Sheikh Abu Al-Waleed Al-Ansari
Translated by Abu Al-Waleed Al-Hamawi
It is evident that Allah has Promised to subject upon the corrupted Children of Israel His believing servants who will afflict them with a horrible torment...

Praise be to Allah who grants dominance to whom He wills and deprives it of whom He wills. He is the Enricher and the Preventer. He the Almighty Says: "And so are the days (good and not so good), We give to men by turns, that Allah may test those who believe, and that He may take martyrs from among you. And Allah likes not the Zalimun (poland wrong doe)"[3:140]. Peace and blessings upon His servant and messenger who was sent as a mercy to this world. He (s.a.w.) said: "Verily, this matter (ie. this Religion) will reach what the night and the day has reached (i.e. the whole earth). Allah will not exclude an urban nor a nomad household without which this religion would have entered"[Reported by Ahmad].

During these times when the affliction upon the people of Islam is exacerbated, Islam continues to suffer ruthless attacks by its cunning enemies. These are the times of hardship and agony when the Muslim struggles to convince himself about the reality of the inversed facts. This is expected when polytheism becomes religious monotheism, when adulation of the enemies of Allah is regarded as wisdom and craftiness, when slackening to support and defend the oppressed Muslims is a sign of intelligence and aptitude. In short, when truth becomes falsehood and falsehood becomes truth. Living these critical times, one feels the urgent need of those honest and trustworthy people of knowledge and religion who are sincere to Allah, His Book, His Messenger and to the Imams of the Muslims and their common folk. Unfortunately, we observe that many of those who claim to have knowledge are negligent in declaring the truth and in inviting people to it. Instead they garnish the falsehood and dissolute its identity in order to justify their negligence while accepting the transient adornments of this world. This lead the ignorant blind-followers to regard the statements made by these false men of religion as true evidence to dismiss them from preparing for revival.

One of the consequences of this chronic disease that was caught by the Muslim Ummah is the content and approval of our people when the infidel rulers of today held a permanent accord with the Jews. Those who did not approve this accord were nevertheless influenced by the fabrications made by those rulers and said: "The presence of the Jews on the land of Palestine has become an unavoidable reality that we must accept. The Ummah must now be prepared to deal with it !!". There are also those poor and defeated people who thought that this cursed accord will relieve their difficulties. The best of those people were crying: "Land in exchange for peace" All those people overlooked the fact that this is a matter of Kufr and Iman and that it is a trial from Allah to test His servants and to distinguish the wicked from the good, and to witness those who will give victory to the religion by sincerely fighting for Allah's Cause, as He the Most High said: "Do you think that you shall be left alone while Allah has not yet tested those among you who have striven hard and fought and have not taken Walijah [(helpers, consultants from disbelievers, pagans, etc.) giving openly to them their secrets] besides Allah and His Messenger, and the believers. Allah is Well-Aquatinted with what you do"[9:16], "Or think you that you will enter Paradise without such (trials) as came to those who passed away before you? They were afflicted with severe poverty and ailments and were so shaken that even the Messenger and those who believed along with him said, 'When (will come) the Help of Allah?' Yes! Certainly, the Help of Allah is near!"[2:214]. Indeed it is a trial and an affliction by Allah who promised to give victory, honour and consolidation to the believers. There is no doubt that disbelief and falsehood will be abolished, in particular the state of the Jews who earned Allah's Anger, the murderers of the Prophets and the enemies of the Messengers. The termination of this state is announced in the Book of our Lord and proclaimed by our Prophet (s.a.w.).

Allah (s.w.t.) States: "And we decreed for the Children of Israel in the Scripture, that indeed you would do mischief on the earth twice and you will become tyrants and extremely arrogant! So, when the promise came for the first of the two, We sent against you slaves of Ours given to terrible warfare. They entered the very innermost parts of your homes. And it was a promise (completely) fulfilled. Then We gave you once again, a return of victory over them. And We helped you with wealth and children and made you more numerous in manpower. (And We said): 'If you do good, you do good for your ownselves, and if you do evil (you do it) against yourselves'. Then, when the second promise came to pass, (We permitted your enemies) to make your faces sorrowful and to enter the mosque (of Jerusalem) as they had entered it before, and to destroy with utter destruction all that fell in their hands. [And We Said in the Taurat (Torah)]: 'It may be that your Lord may show mercy unto you, but if you return (to sins), We shall return (to Our Punishment). And We have made Hell a prison for the disbelievers" [17:4-8].

In the previous verses, Allah (s.w.t.) mentions how the Children of Israel rebelled and disobeyed the Command of Allah, and how they became extremely arrogant. The Qur'anic Mufasiroon (commentators) -may Allah have mercy upon them- have lengthily described how the Jews did mischief on this earth twice. Most of them report that the doing of mischief twice had passed when the Jews killed Zachariah (as) and then killed Yahiah (John) son of Zachariah (as). However, the scholar Al-Shinqeety -may Allah have mercy on him- says in his Tafseer (Adwa'ul-Bayaan), that their conclusions were based on Israi'liat (Jewish reports). Al-Shinqeety in commenting on the verse 'But if you return (to sins), We shall return (to Our Punishment)', says: "The Most High explains how he decreed for the Children of Israel in the Scripture, that indeed they will do mischief on the earth twice. When the first promise came, He sent against them slaves of His given to terrible warfare who occupied their homes and tortured them. Then, when the second promise came to pass, He sent to them a tribe that made their faces sorrowful and who entered the mosque (of Jerusalem) as they had entered it before, and who destroyed with utter destruction all that fell in their hands. He (s.w.t.) also explained that if they return to doing mischief for the third time, then He will return to take revenge from them by subjecting their enemies upon them 'but if you return (to sins), We shall return (to Our Punishment)'. Moreover, Allah (s.w.t.) did not explain here whether they have or have not returned to mischief for the third time. However, He did indicate in many other verses that they have returned to mischief by disbelieving in the Messenger [i.e. Muhammad (s.a.w.)], by covering his characteristics that are mentioned in their books, and by breaking their covenant with him and supporting his enemies, and many of their other hideous habits. So Allah (s.w.t.) has retaliated to fulfil 'but if you return (to sins), We shall return (to Our Punishment)' by sending His Prophet (s.a.w.) and the Muslims upon Bani Quraitha and An-Naddeer, Bani Qainuqa' and Khaybar where they were killed, made captives and expelled, and those who remained were forced to pay the Jiziah, so that they were deprived and dishonoured. Among the verses that prove their return to mischief is the Sayings of the Most High: 'And when there came to them (the Jews), a Book (this Qur'an) from Allah confirming what is with them [ Torah and the Gospel], although a foretime they had invoked Allah [for coming of Muhammad (s.a.w.)] in order to gain victory over those who disbelieved, then when there came to them that which they had recognised, they disbelieved in it. So let the Curse of Allah be on the disbelievers. How bad is that for which they have sold their ownselves, that they should disbelieve in that which Allah has revealed (the Qur'an), grudging that Allah should reveal of His Grace unto whom He wills of His slaves. So they have drawn on themselves wrath upon wrath. And for the disbelievers, there is disgracing torment' [2:88-90], and His Saying: 'Is it not (the case) that every time they make a covenant, some party among them throws it aside?' [2:100], and His Saying: 'And you will not cease to discover deceit in them..' [5:13], and His Saying: 'And those of the people of the Scripture backed th(the disbelievers) - Allah brought them down from their forts and cast terror into their hearts, (so that) a group (of them) you killed, and a group (of them) you made captives. And He caused you to inherit their lands, and their houses, and their riches, and a land which you had not trodden (before)' [33:26-27]". [Adwa' ul-Bayaan 3/408]

It is evident that Allah has Promised to subject upon the corrupted Children of Israel His believing servants who will afflict them with a horrible torment. And here they are today, they have became tyrants and extremely arrogant, they have spoiled the tillage and the progeny and caused mischief on earth. We ask the Almighty to hasten His Promise for He has Stated: "And (remember when your Lord declared that He would certainly keep on sending against them (ie. the Jews), till the Day of Resurrection, those who would afflict them with a humiliating torment. Verily, your Lord is Quick in Retribution (for the disobedient, wicked) and certainly He is Oft-Forgiving (for the obedient and those who beg Allah's Forgiveness)" [7:167]. Commenting on this verse, Ibn Katheer reports how Mousa (as) forced the Jews to pay land tax, then they were conquered by the Greeks, the Kashdanies and others, then they were surmounted and degraded by the Christians, then when Muhammad (s.a.w.) came, they were under Islam's subjugation and custody.

The Praiseworthy Said: "The Jews say: 'Allah's Hand is tied up (ie. He does not give or spend of His Bounty)'. Be their hands tied up and be they accursed for what they uttered. Nay, both His Hands are widely outstretched. He spends (of His Bounty) as He wills. Verily, the Revelation that has come to you from Allah increases in most of them their obstinate rebellion and disbelief. We have put enmity and hatred amongst them till the Day of Resurrection. Every time they kindled the fire of war, Allah extinguished it; and they (ever) strive to make mischief on earth. And Allah does not like the Mufsidun (mischief-makers)" [5:64]. In this verse, Allah (s.w.t.) revealed how their Kuffur, extreme envy and departure from the truth, led them to deceive the believers. He (s.w.t.) further revealed that He will defend His believing servants and will repel the conspiracy of the Jews in two ways:

Firstly, He (s.w.t.) has put enmity and hatred amongst them till the Day of Resurrection, they will never agree upon the truth so long as they deny and disbelieve in the Prophet (s.a.w.). "You would think they were united, but their hearts are divided"[59:14].

Secondly, Allah (s.w.t.) has promised to extinguish every fire of war they kindle. Hence, every time they betrayed the Prophet (s.a.w.) and the Muslims or continue to contest the religion of Allah, He the Almighty abolishes their cunning ambitions.

It is important for the Muslim to know the characteristics of the Jews that are mentioned in Allah's Book because it will be these characteristics that will initiate their downfall and humiliation. Some of these distinctive characteristics of the Jews are explained below:

* They like to spread mischief and corruption on earth and strive hard t= o accomplish this, "and they (ever) strive to make mischief on earth. And Allah does not like the Mufsidun (mischief-makers)"[5:64].

* They have incurred the Curse and Wrath of Allah. The consensus opinion of the Imams of Tafseer regarding the people asserted in the verse, "those who earned Your Anger"[1:7] is the Jews. This opinion is supported by the Allah's Saying: "Say [O Muhammad (s.a.w.) to the people of the Scripture]: 'Shall I inform you of something worse than that, regarding the recompense from Allah: those who incurred the Curse of Allah and His Wrath, those of whom (some) He transformed into monkeys and swines, those who worshiped Taghut (false deities); such are worse in rank (on the Day of Resurrection in Hell-fire), and far more astray from the Right Path (in the life of this world)"[5:60].

* They are people of indignity, disobedience and transgression as Stated by Allah (s.w.t.): "Indignity is put over them wherever they may be, except when under a covenant (of protection) from Allah, and from men; they have drawn on themselves the Wrath of Allah, and destruction is put over them. This is because they disbelieved in the Ayats (evidences, verses, revelations, etc.) of Allah and killed the Prophets without right. This is because they disobeyed (Allah) and used to transgress beyond bounds (in Allah's disobedience, crimes and sins)"[3:112].

* They are people of cowardliness, dismay and weakness as described by Allah (s.w.t.): "They fight not against you even together, except in fortified townships, or from behind walls. Their enmity among themselves is very great"[59:14], "and if they fight against you, they will show you their backs, and they will not be helped"[3:111].

* As a result of the above, they tend to adhere strongly to this life even if it was a humiliating villainous life, as Allah Said: "And verily, you will find them (the Jews) the greediest of mankind for life.." [2:96].

* Furthermore, they will always remain divided and disagreed among themselves; and conceal enmity and hatred towards each other as verified by Allah (s.w.t.): "We have put enmity and hatred amongst them till the Day of Resurrection"[5:64]. and "You would think they were united, but their hearts are divided"[59:14]. This is a great advantage for Muslims since during wars and fighting, their ranks will disunite and their assemblies will disintegrate.

If one is to follow the stories of the Jews in Surat Al-Baqarah, Al-A'araf and others, and how they treated their prophets, one would find wonders. Their disbelief and rejection of the Message of Allah with utmost arrogance is the true nature of the Jews. That is why no deviant nation has been Cursed by Allah more than that of the Children of Israel. They truly earned the Wrath and Resentment of Allah, and thus they have lost all the factors of survival and existence.

As for the glad tidings of the Sunnah which were articulated by the trusted and the trustworthy Muhammad (s.a.w.), Ibn Umar (ra) narrates that the Prophet (s.a.w.) said: "The Dajjal (anti-Christ) will appear behind the city, then Allah will exploit the Muslims to kill his followers, so that the Jew would hide under a tree or (behind) a stone, and that tree or stone will say to the Muslim: 'There is a Jew (hiding behind me)! Kill him' " [Reported by Imam Ahmad in his Musnad]. The Prophet's (s.a.w.) saying, 'You will fight the Jews' is addressed to the Companions; however, within the context it intends those who come after them. The above mentioned Ahadeeth and others confirm the occurrence of a battle with the Jews wherein they will be killed. Those Ahadeeth embody great tidings for this Ummah, which are the continuity of the religion of Islam till the time when E'esa bin Maryam (as) descends and the continual existence of the Supported Group (At-Ta'ifah Al-Mansoorah) which will continue to fight till he (as) descends as stated by the Prophet (s.a.w.): "There will always remain a group from among my Ummah who will continue to fight by the truth, they are apparent to those who oppose them, until the last (followers) of them fight the Maseeh Ad-Dajjal"[Reported by Ahmad and Abu Dawood]. The Ahadeeth that describes At-Taai'fah Al-Mansoorah are famous and numerous in both of the Saheehs and other compilations. Many of the Sahabah (ra) narrated the descriptions of this group which include the fact that they establish Allah's Commands, and that they are supported and upheld by Allah (s.w.t.).

The above mentioned sacred verses and narrations indicate that this Ummah has been promised victory and consolidation when it abides by the prerequisite causative means, ie. when it arms itself with steeds of war and prepares itself to fight for the Cause of Allah (s.w.t.). Thereafter, the State of the Jews will perish.

[This article was published in the 20th issue of Nida'ul Islam magazine (http://www.islam.org.au), September-October 1997]




Islam is related to Judaism and Christianity - doesn't it share the same five books of Moses?

"The order in which he [Mohammed] gives the prophets is interesting, for immediately after the patriarchs he places first Jesus, then Job, Jonah, Aaron, Solomon, and last of all David [Sura 4:161]. In another passage [Sura 6:84-86] the order is still more ridiculous, for here we have David, Solomon, Job, Joseph, Moses, Aaron, Zecharia, John, Jesus, Elija, Ishmael, Elisha, Jonah, and Lot! The incorrect spelling of the names of these prophets as well as the parts which [Mohammed] assigns to them in history, proves that he had never even looked into the Hebrew Scriptures".
Abraham Geiger, founder of Reform Judaism
19th century




Is Jihad only a justification for physical violence? Is Jihad only for shedding the blood of non-Muslims?

AL-TAQIYA...
By Professor Walid Phares

In the early years of the Tawheed (Islamic conquest of the Arabian peninsula) and in the Fatah (Arab-Islamic invasion and conquest of the upper Middle East and the outside world), a Muslim concept was devised to achieve success against the enemy, Al-Taqiya..

Al-Taqiya, from the verb Ittaqu, means linguistically dodge the threat. Politically it means simulate whatever status you need in order to win the war against the enemy..

According to Al-Taqiya, Muslims were granted the Shar'iya (legitimacy) to infiltrate the Dar el-Harb (war zone), infiltrate the enemy's cities and forums and plant the seeds of discord and sedition. These agents were acting on behalf of the Muslim authority at war, and therefore were not considered as lying or denouncing the tenants of Islam. THey were "legitimate" mujahedeen, whose mission was to undermine the enemy's resistance and level of mobilization. One of their major objectives was to cause a split among the enemy's camp. In many instances, they convinced their targeted audiences that Jihad is not aimed at them, that indigenous people are not targeted, only Bysantium power. They convinced many Jews that they will be protected from Christians, called pagans), and they convinced many Christians that Jews were the mortal enemies, because they killed Issa (Jesus). They convinced the Aramaics, Copts, and Hebrews that the enemy is Greece, and signed peace agreements with the Bysantines Greeks at the expense of Maronite Aramaics, etc.

This Jihadic agency of subversion was one of the most fascinating and efficient arms of the conquest. In less them four decades the Middle East fell to the Arab-Islamic rule, followed by north Africa and Central Asia. Al-Taqiya was a formidable weapon, used by the first dynasties and strategists. Today, scholars may identify it as deception. But the Jihadic deception was and still is more powerful than the James Bondian methods of Western classical intelligence tactics, for the simple reason that it has a civilizational, global dimension versus the narrow state interest of the regular Western subversive methods.

Al-Taqiya is still in use today but not necessarily state-organized. One can easily detect Taqiya in the two discourses used by Islamist strategists. On the one hand, one comprehensive Islamist theory is attempting to mobilize Middle East, and sometimes Western Christia leaders and intellectuals, against "evil Jews". We see considerable success on that level. And on the other hand, another Islamist comprehensive theory is attemting -with success also- to mobilize the Jews against "evil and pagan Christians". One can easily detect the sophisticated work of Taqiya, for the strategic objective of Islamists is to destroy the foundations of the Judeo-Christian civilization, as a prelude to the defeat of an isolated Israel.

Taqiya is not a unique phenomenon in History, many strategists from all backgrounds implemented subversion. But the uniqueness of today's Taqiya is its success within advanced and sophisticated societies. Taqiya is winning massively because of the immense lack of knowledge among Western elites, both Jewish and Christian.

For interesting examples of Taqiya methods, visit Christian discussion groups and forums and note the discourse of Islamist visitors, aimed at undermining the Christian perception of Jews, and visit Jewish discussion groups and forums and note the subtle anti-Christian discourse of Islamists visitors. It is really informative and fascinating..

Professor Walid Phares
Department of Religion
Florida International University




Aside from having to cover their heads, women under Islam are respected and honored, right?

Please, Allah, leave us alone to cry and weep in peace. From behind the veil, beyond public gaze we want to cry till we cannot cry any more. This is the only right you have left to us Muslim women, throughout the Islamic world, where your laws are meticulously followed. The world beyond is undergoing so many changes, so many evolutions over the ages; year after year, new discoveries are being made both in the sciences and philosophies, in the rest of the world, improving upon old ideas and beliefs. But we are tied forever to the rigid and immutable shackles of your laws, Allah. No one ever came forward for our emancipation. Unique is our society! ...
- Jahanara Begum, "Women in Shariah" P75


"I remember students used to ask the teacher during our Islamic studies in Bethlehem High school, if it was permitted for Muslims to rape the Jewish women after we defeat them, his response was "The women captured in battle have no choice in this matter, they are concubines and they need to obey their masters, having sex with slave captives is not a "matter of choice for slaves.", this in fact was written in the Koran.."
- Walid, a Palestinian Arab defector


"I write against the religion because if women want to live like human beings, they will have to live outside the religion and Islamic law."
- Taslima Nasrin, 21/06/1994




Muslims are motivated to faith and Jihad by the rewards of the afterlife. What does one have to do to end up in 'the other place'? What is it like?

Ecumenism and Prophet Muhammad
Muhammad recited in the Holy Qur'an (Koran) Chapter 98, Verse 6 : "The People of the Book (Jews and Christians) and the Pagans will burn forever in the Fire of Hell. They are the vilest of all creatures".


The Nature of Hell
Qur'an (2:39), "On the Day of Judgement, We shall gather them all together prone on their faces, blind, dumb and deaf: their abode will be Hell and we shall increase for them the fierceness of the Fire."
Qur'an(4:56) "As often as their skins are roasted off, We shall change for them fresh skins."
Qur'an(22:19) "Those who deny Me, for them will be cut out a garment of Fire."
Qur'an(22:21) "In addition there will be maces of iron to punish them."
Qur'an (34:33) "We shall put yokes on their necks."
Qur'an (40:72) "By chains they will be dragged along in boiling, fetid fluid."
Qur'an (9:110) "Their hearts will be cut to pieces."
Qur'an (40:18) "Their hearts will come right up to their throats to choke them."
Qur'an (88:6-7) "No food will be there for them but bitter Dari which will neither nourish nor satisfy hunger."
Qur'an (37:62-66) "The Tree of Zaqqum, at the bottom of Hellfire, the fruit therof will cut their entrails."
Qur'an (18:29) "Water like melted brass that will scald their faces. How dreadful the drink!"
Qur'an (38:57) ... "and a fluid dark, murky, intensely cold ... taste it."
Qur'an (11:106) "Those ' in the Fire will be ' nothing but the heaving of sighs and sobs."
Qur'an (11:119) "I will fill Hell with jinns and men all together."
Qur'an (7:179) "Many are the Jinns and men We have made for Hell."
(Qur'an 97:50) "The Companions of the Fire will call to the Companions of the Garden: "Pour down to us water or anything that Allah doth provide for your sustenance" ' but both things hath Allah forbidden to those who rejected Him."
Qur'an (6:44) "We opened to them the gates of all good things (Paradise) ' on a sudden We called them to account (Hell) and they were plunged in despair."
Qur'an (9:35) "On the Day that heat will be produced out of that (gold and silver) in the Fire of Hell and with it will be branded their foreheads, their flanks and their backs."
Qur'an (44:47-48) "Drag him into the midst of the Blazing Fire" Then pour over his head the Penalty of Boiling Water."
Qur'an (66:6) "Save yourselves and your families from a Fire whose fuel is men and stones, over which are appointed angels stern and severe who flinch not from executing the Commands they receive from Allah."
Qur'an (70:15-16) "The Fire of Hell will pluck out his being right to the skull."
Qur'an (72:23) "For any that disobey Allah and his Messenger - for them Hell: they shall remain therein for ever".




Is Islam just a faith, or are there inherent political and territorial ambitions as well?

"Religion and politics are two sides of the same coin in Islam."
- G.H.Jansen, a Muslim, in "Militant Islam"


"Christianity in its early history did not aim at setting up a state, whereas Islam, from the very beginning was a politico-religious institution."
- Siddiqi


"The other face of Islam is power"
- from "Two Faces of Islam"




Perhaps Islam will moderate if we just give them more land, weapons, respect, money, etc... Can we encourage them to like us?

"No amount of goodwill [on our part] is capable of changing Islamic theology and its inherent political ambition of world conquest".
- K. Elst, "Negationism in India: Concealing the Record of Islam", New Delhi, 1993




The fear of world domination by any one group is the stuff of the paranoid mind. Isn't it?

...although there was a period during which Muslim scholars were the crucial channel through which Greek learning was transmitted to the Christian West, the achievement of these Muslim scholars themselves was for several subsequent centuries lost to the Islamic world by domination by hard-line obscurantist Imams.
For all Muslims are as such fundamentalists since, whereas only a tiny minority of all the sentences in the Bible are there attributed to God in any of those three persons, every sentence in the Qur'an is alleged to have been uttered by Allah. And all too many of these utterances are in fact incitements to behave in the manner of those miscalled fundamentalists ...

Since there are well over a billion professing Muslims in the world today, including formidably growing minorities in many of the Western democracies, and since so many of the still larger number of professing Christians are so much less committed to their nominal religious allegiance, this is a book which should be widely available and widely read. For all of us need to recognize that Islam is not like any of the other great religions, but is one which was from its very beginning committed to and spread by violence rather than by peaceful persuasion, and which remains difficult if not impossible to accommodate within a secular democratic state ...

- Professor Antony Flew, New Humanist, June 1996


With the end of the Cold War, it is Islam that will, in the next few decades, come to fulfil the role of communism as a rival to the ideological power of the West.
- from Reflections on Islam, Fundamentalism and the Rushdie Affair by Daniel Easterman


The question is NOT how evil the Moslems are. They may have bad smell and beat their grandmothers and wives regularly. The question is: Can we keep them from beating OUR grandmothers and wives?
- Anwar Shaikh, from the preface to ISLAM: The Arab Imperialism


"Enmity and hatred will reign between us until ye believe in Allah alone". (60:4)
"Those who follow Muhammad are merciless for the unbelievers but kind to each other". (48:29)
"Make war on them until idolatry does not exist any longer and Allah's religion reigns universally". (8:39) (2:193)
"The Jews and Christians and the Pagans will burn forever in the fire of hell. They are the vilest of all creatures". (98:51)
"Fight the unbelievers in your surroundings, and let them find harshness in you". (9:123)
"Kill the unbelievers wherever ye find them, capture and besiege them and prepare for them every kind of ambush". (9:5)
Holy War (Jihad) means the conquest of non-Muslim territories. It will then be incumbent upon every adult able-bodied man
to volunteer for this war of conquest, whose final goal is the domination of Koranic law from one end of the earth to the other."
Maududi, the well-known Muslim author, proudly proclaimed that "Islam wishes to destroy all States and Governments anywhere on the face of the earth which are opposed to the ideology and program of Islam. Islam requires the earth - not just a portion, but the whole planet".
that God's Law (Shariah) should be enforced in the world by force of arms." Truth cannot be confined within geographical borders.
"The allegiance of a Muslim does not rest on his domicile in the country which is his, but on the faith to which he belongs ... wherever there is the rule of Islam, there is his own country".
Islam divides the whole of humanity into two parties, the Hizbe Allah (Muslims) and the Hizbul Satan (non-Muslims). The former should feel a hatred, a revulsion, an abhorrence of everything un-Islamic. To quote the Ayatollah Khomeini again, "Eleven things are unclean: urine, excrement, sperm, blood, a dog, a pig, bones, a non-Muslim man and woman, wine, beer, and the perspiration of a camel that eats filth".

S.A.A. Maududi "Jihad in Islam", Lahore, 1991
Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, a non-Muslim, quoted in "Understanding Political Islam" P7, P.S.Yog, Lucknow.


"The Governments of the world should know that Islam cannot be defeated. Islam will be victorious in all countries of the world and Islam and the teachings of the Qur'an will prevail all over the world". (Ayatollah Khomeini)
Statements such as this make it hard for Muslims living in Dar-al-Harb ("Territory of War", enemy countries, nations with non-Muslim rulers) for they must try to present Islam favorably replete with tolerance and sweetness, peace and light, faith and charity, equality and brotherhood. The "misunderstood Muslims" must tell themselves that jihad, "striving for Allah", can encompass teaching and proselytizing, bringing up sons (to fight for Allah) or even donating money for Zakat (especially if it goes to buy weapons). Their spokespersons quote the less belligerent verses of the Qur'an e.g. "Dispute with them (the Jews) in the kindest manner" (16:126, translator Rodwell) and "Let there be no compulsion in religion." (2:256) knowing full well that there are other verses in the Qur'an which apply in times of Harb (warfare). Examples abound such as: "Wage war on the people of the Book, who ... do not accept the religion of Islam". (9:29) "Fight against them (the Jews and Christians)! Allah shall punish them, at your hands." (9:14)




Islam is a religion of art and science and peace, right?

There are only a few events in entire human history which produce such a staggering effect on the course of humanity that such events remain embedded in collective human psyche forever. Such an event has been the rise of Islam and its rape, plunder, murder and near annihilation of entire human race which were not Islamic.
- from Rape of a Civilization, by Kuldeep Razdan, Sword of Truth, September 4th, 1999


"The earth is flat. Whoever claims it is round is an atheist deserving of punishment."
[Sheik Abdul-Aziz Ibn Baaz, supreme religious authority of Saudi Arabia, 1993]


"What martyrdom is greater than making yourself a human bomb detonating it among the enemy? What spiritualism is greater than this spiritualism in which a person loses all feeling of his body and life for the sake of his cause and mission?"
[Ayatullah Sayyid Muhammad Husayn Fadallah]


Massacre In Luxor: Islamic Schools to Blame,
Says Egyptian Editor
Normally the Western press, after such massacres as that of Luxor on November 17, 1997 explicitly try to exonerate Islam itself from responsibility for the murders. The argument usually goes something like this: "These barbarians are dishonoring a great religion, they are simply manipulating Islam for their political purposes. The real Islam advocates peace, and has nothing in common with its fundamentalist interpretation. These fanatics have arisen because the corrupt regimes supported by Western powers have forced Western secularization down their throats. Indeed, it is this more subtle, insidious, Western neo-colonialism that is responsible for the barbarous slaughter of 100,000 people in Algeria, Egypt, Afghanistan...."

How refreshing then -- nay, even revolutionary -- to read in the Egyptian daily Al Goumhouriya on the day after the massacre that the real responsibility lies with all Egyptians in general, and the religious schools in particular: "All Egyptians are responsible. It is our society which has incubated these criminals and we are their refuge since they live, hide, kill and come back amongst us. [The religious Islamic University of Al Azhar and its Koranic schools] fill the heads with Islamic teaching, which is but a kind of brain-washing," states Mahfouz al Ansari. Describing the Al Azhar and its religious schools as factories for producing extremists, Ansari also drew a direct parallel with the massacres in Algeria, and criticized the silence of the religious sheikhs.

- Reported by Ibn Warraq


Muslim Chapter 17 The Prophet said: "None of you is a believer till I (Muhammad) am dearer to him than the members of his household (his child, his father) his wealth and the whole of mankind."
Muslim 32 The Prophet said: "When the slave runs away from his master, his prayer is not accepted"; he is an infidel.
Muslim 71 The Prophet said: ". . . The Jew or Christian who hears about me but does not affirm his belief... shall be one of the denizens of Hell-fire."
Muslim 1149 The Prophet said: "When it will be the Day of Resurrection Allah will deliver to every Muslim a Jew or a Christian and say: "". The Muslim may have sins as heavy as a mountain but the wrong beliefs of the non-believers would save space in Paradise."
Muslim 1153 There was a Muslim who used to transcribe for the Prophet but he ran away as a rebel and joined the People of the Book. (Jews or Christians?) Allah caused his death, so the unbelievers dug a grave and buried him. Three times they tried to bury him but each time the earth threw him out on to the surface. In the end they left him unburied.
Muslim 1187 The Prophet said: "When the dead body is placed in the grave, he listens to the sound of the shoes as his friends and relatives walk after burying him". He heard a sound and said "It is the Jews who are being tormented in their graves." "The souls of unbelievers are cursed and have a foul smell. The dead bodies of the unbelievers at Badr were left unburied for three days and then thrown in the well."
(Yuk!) Muslim 1227 The Prophet said: "A group of the Children of Israel was lost. I think that they turned into the shape of rats."
Hadith Malik 511:1588 The last statement that Muhammad made was: "O Lord, perish the Jews and Christians. They made churches of the graves of their prophets. There shall be no two faiths in Arabia". (During the caliphates of the first four Caliphs this edict was fully carried out and all non-believers were removed from Arabia.)
Bukhari 5:59:362 The Prophet killed the men of the Jewish tribe Bani Quraiza (some 600 to 800 of them) and distributed their women, children and property among the Muslims All the other Jews of Medina were exiled.
Bukhari 5:59:365 The Prophet had the date-palms of the Jewish tribe of Bani-Al- Nadir burnt and cut down. "It was with Allah's permission"
Bukhari 5:59:447 The Prophet said to Sa'd, :The Bani Quraiza have agreed to accept your verdict" Sa'd said, "Kill all their men and take their women and children as slaves" The Prophet replied, "You have judged according to God's Judgment"
Abu Dawud 38:4390 Attiyah al -Quran was among the captives of Banu Qurayza "They (the Companions) examined us and those who had begun to grow (pubic) hair were killed and those who had not were not killed. I was among those who had not grown hair."
Bukhari 9:89:271 A man embraced Islam and then reverted back to Judaism Mu'adh said: "I will not sit down unless you kill him as it is the verdict of Allah and His Apostle"
Bukhari 9:84:64 The Prophet said,"There will appear some young foolish people who will say the best words hut their faith will not go beyond their throats So wherever you find them, kill them, for whoever kills them shall have reward on the Day of Resurrection"
Muslim 767 The Prophet said that anyone who tries to disrupt the unity of the Muslims should be killed by the sword.
Hadees-e-Qudsi 22:17 (Hakim) Allah revealed to Muhammad that He had 70 thousand men killed avenging on John the Baptist and that He would get seventy plus seventy thousand killed avenging on his grandson.
Bukhari 4:52:73 The Prophet said," Know that Paradise is under the shades of swords."
Bukhari 4:52:801 The Prophet said, " Allah forgave the murderer who later died in Jihad (holy war)"
Bukhari 4:52:196 Allah's Apostle said, "I have been ordered to fight with the people till they say, "None has the right to be worshipped but Allah."
Bukhari 4:52:260 Ali burnt some people (Zanadiqa, atheists 9:84:57) although the Prophet had said, "Don't punish anybody with Allah's punishment (Fire)" if a Muslim discards his religion, kill him"
Bukhari 4:52:264 AI-Bara bin Azib said," Allah's Apostle sent a group of Ansari men to kill Abu-Rafi (a hundred year-old poet who mocked Muhammad) "I drove my sword into his body and pushed it forcibly till it touched the bone." Muhammad bin Maslama was quick to volunteer.
Bukhari 4:52:283 Ali said that no Muslim should be killed for killing an infidel (unbeliever).
Bukhan 9:89:282 The Prophet said, "Whoever has killed an unbeliever (in the battle of Hunain) and has proof or a witness of it, then his belongings will be for him"
Bukhari 5:59:628 The Prophet sent Khalid to the tribe of Jadhima to "invite them to Islam" They were hesitant so Khalid killed some of them and gave each Muslim soldier a captive.
Abu Dawud (38:4467) The Prophet said, "If they drink wine, flog them Again if they drink it, flog them. Again if they drink it kill them". But in (38:4469) they received three cautionary floggings before being killed on the fourth occasion


"There is something in the religious culture of Islam which inspired, in even the humblest peasant or peddler, a dignity and courtesy toward others never exceeded and rarely equaled in other civilizations... [but] in moments of upheaval and disruption, when the deeper passions are stirred, this dignity and courtesy toward others can give way to an explosive mixture of rage and hatred".
Professor Bernard Lewis




Isn't Islam a universal religion? What then is its relationship with the Arabs?

"Islam began as an Arab religion; it spread as an Arab empire. In Iran, Pakistan, Malaysia Indonesia (the countries of my itinerary) I was traveling, therefore, among people who had been converted to what was an alien faith. I was traveling among people who had to make a double adjustment to the European empires of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries; and an earlier adjustment to the Arab faith. You might almost say that I was among people who had been doubly colonized, doubly removed from themselves."
V. S. Naipaul, New York Review of Books (January 31, 1991)


It is sad and ironic that in Algeria, for instance, all teaching in the French language was discontinued because the French language was considered a symbol of French colonialism, and "illegitimate" imperial presence. It is sad since it cuts a whole generation off from the rich cultural heritage of a modern, rational and progressive civilization, but also ironic since Arabic is itself an imposed language. Arab imperialism not only imposed a new language on a people whose mother tongue was Berber (NOT Arabic) but even convinced the same people that they were ethnically Arabs -which they were not and brainwashed them into accepting a religion that was alien to their own religious traditions. Bowing toward Arabia five times a day might be amongst the ultimate symbol of this cultural imperialism.
- Ibn Warraq




Some African-Americans say they choose Islam because it was the only religion which never participated in the Black African slave trade. What is the record of slavery in Islam?

See Slavery


Why do you quote these so-called experts of Islam when the writings of our most respected leader are available?

Sayings of Ayatollah Khomeini:
A man can have sexual pleasure from a child as young as a baby. However he should not penetrate, sodomising the child is OK. If the man penetrates and damages the child then he should be responsible for her subsistence all her life. This girl, however does not count as one of his four permanent wives. The man will not be eligible to marry the girls sister.
From Khomeini's book, "Tahrirolvasyleh", fourth volume, Darol Elm, Gom,
Iran, 1990

It is better for a girl to marry in such a time when she would begin menstruation at her husband's house rather than her father's home. Any father marrying his daughter so young will have a permanent place in heaven.

From Khomeini's book, "Tahrirolvasyleh", fourth volume, Darol Elm, Gom,
Iran, 1990
Allah Most High made our Prophet – Allah bless and greet him – hear His Speech without intermediary on the Night of Ascension, and of Musa – upon him peace – also He took the Covenant with­out intermediary, but our Prophet – Allah bless and greet him – enjoyed an additional state: in addi­tion to hearing the words addressed to him, an unveiling of vision.

– Al-Qushayri.[1]



An example of the ambiguous verses are the individual letters that open certain suras. Another example is the affir­mation of the vision of Allah Most High with the sight of the eyes in real­ity in the hereafter, according to the explicit text of the Qur’an: (On that day will faces be resplendent, looking towards their Lord) (75:22-23). For He exists with the Attribute of perfection, and the fact that He can be seen both by Himself and others, is among the characteristics of perfection; moreover, the believer is apt to receive such bestowal of the gift of Allah. However, the affirmation of direction is precluded. It fol­lows that the description of the vision is among the ambiguities, ans so it is obliga­tory to acquiesce to it while believ­ing in its reality. – Al-Pazdawi.[2]





Ibn ‘Abd al-Barr in al-Intiqa’ and others relate that Malik and al-Shafi‘i ad­duced as proof of the believers’ vision of Allah Most High in the hereafter the verses: (That day will faces be resplendent, Looking toward their Lord) (75:22-23) and (Nay! Verily, from their Lord, that day, shall they [the transgressors] be veiled) (83:15).[3]



Imam Ibn Khafif stated in his al-‘Aqida al-Sahiha:



30. The believers shall see Allah on the Day of Resurrection just as they see the full moon on the nights when it rises. They will not be unfairly deprived of seeing Him.



31. They will see Him without encompassment (ihâta) nor delimitation (tahdîd) within any given limit (hadd), whether from the front, the back, above, below, right, or left. …



97. Sight in the world is impossible.



The Mu‘tazila and some other groups such as the Shi‘a held that Allah could not be seen at all, even on the Day of Resurrec­tion. They rejected the sound hadiths to the contrary, claiming that such vision necessitated corpo­reality and direc­tion, which were precluded for Him. In contrast, Ahl al-Sunna held that Allah will most certainly be seen by the believers without our specifying how, adducing the verse (That day will faces be resplen­dent, Looking at their Lord) (75:22-23) and the mass-narrated hadiths to the effect that such vision will be real. Al-Ash‘ari authored several refuta­tions of the Mu‘tazili and Shi‘i view, and early Hanbalis considered that the belief that Allah will not be seen on the Day of Resurrection entails kufr.[4] The totality of the scholars of Ahl al-Sunna both excluded modalities of encompassment, delimitation, direction, and other corporeal qua­lities and, at the same time, held that Allah will be seen by the believers in the Hereafter without specifying how. However, they differed whether such unqualified sight was possible in the world as well.



Al-Qari and al-Haytami reported that the agreement of Ahl al-Sunna is that sight of Allah in the world is possible but that it does not take place (except for the Prophet – Allah bless and greet him), while two contrary opinions on the topic are narrated from al-Ash‘ari in al-Qushayri’s Risala.[5] The proof that His sight is possible in the world was adduced from Musa’s – upon him peace – request to Allah Most High: (My Lord! Show me Your Self, that I may gaze upon You) (7:143) as Prophets do not ask for the impossible.[6] Imam al-Qushayri stated in the Risala that sight of Allah in the world does not take place for anyone except the Prophet – Allah bless and greet him – alone, while al-Dhahabi, conceding that sight of Allah in the world is possible, held that it does not take place even for the Prophet – Allah bless and greet him –.[7] The best statement on the issue is that of Shaykh Muhyi al-Din ibn ‘Arabi: “He can be seen with the hearts and the eyes, if He so wills.”[8] Most or all of these views are based on the Prophet’s – Allah bless and greet him – hadith: “Veri­ly, you shall not see Allah until you die.”[9] Ibn Hajar adduced the hadith: “Worship Allah as if you see Him” as further proof that there is no sight of Allah with the eyes of the head in this world but added: “The Prophet’s – Allah bless and greet him – sight of Allah is supported by other evi­dence.”[10]



The Prophet – Allah bless and greet him – saw Allah before death [GH1] as is the doctrine of the major­ity of Ahl al-Sunna thus related from al-Nawawi by al-Qari.[11] The evidence for this is the hadith of Ibn ‘Abbas whereby the Prophet – Allah bless and greet him – said: “I saw my Lord” (ra’aytu rabbî).[12] Ibn Kathir cited it in his commentary on Sura al-Najm and declared its chain sound, but considered it part of the hadith of the dream cited below. Ibn al-Qayyim [see excerpt below] relates that Imam Ahmad considered such sight to be in the Prophet’s – Allah bless and greet him – sleep but remains a true sight – as the dreams of Prophets are true – and that some of the Imam’s companions mis­ta­kenly attributed to him the position that the Prophet – Allah bless and greet him – saw his Lord “with the eyes of his head.”[13]



Al-Bayhaqi also narrated the hadith “I saw my Lord” in al-Asma’ wa al-Sifat with a sound chain but with the addition: “in the form of a curly-haired, beardless young man wearing a green robe,” a condemned, disauthen­ti­cated addition and concatenation with another hadith that refers to Gibrîl u.[14] Hence al-Suyuti interpreted it either as a dream or, quoting his shaykh Ibn al-Humam, as “the veil of form” (hijâb al-sûra).[15]



The latter explanation is echoed in al-Qari’s several commentaries of the similar hadith whereby the Prophet – Allah bless and greet him – said: “My Lord came to me in the best form” – the narrator said: “I think he said: ‘in my sleep’” – “and asked me over what did the Higher Assembly (al-mala’ al-a‘lâ)[16] vie; I said I did not know, so He put His hand between my shoulders, and I felt its coolness in my innermost, and knowledge of all things between the East and the West came to me.”[17]



Al-Mubarakfuri relates from Ibn Kathir and al-Haytami the position that the above vision took place in the Prophet’s – Allah bless and greet him – sleep. This is also the position of Ibn al-Jawzi based on what he termed the best chains of this hadith.[18] Al-Haytami points out that the words “I woke up and saw my Lord” in Ahmad’s narration from Mu‘adh are actually changed from “I dozed off and saw my Lord” due to a copyist’s corruption of “I dozed off” (istathqaltu) – in al-Tirmidhi’s narration from Mu‘adh – into “I woke up” (istayqaztu).[19] On the whole, the scholars’ interpretations of the Prophet’s – Allah bless and greet him – vision show that whether it took place in his dream or in a wakeful state, “with the eyes of the heart” or “with the eyes of the head,” does not change the fact that he saw Him in the real sense, as the Prophet’s – Allah bless and greet him – dream-vision or heart-vision is by far sharper, more accurate, and more real than the visions of ordinary people.



Ahl al-Sunna scholars gave many interpretations of the above hadith. For example, al-Razi and, before him, al-Bayhaqi, interpreted the placing of the Hand of Allah Most High as His extreme consideration and attention to the Prophet – Allah bless and greet him –, or as His immense favor to him, while its specific placing between his shoulders refers to the pouring of divine kindness and mercy into his heart, and the coolness refers to the completion and perfection of his knowledge as shown by his words “I knew all things between the East and the West.”[20] Al-Qari wrote the following in the chapter on the Prophet’s – Allah bless and greet him – turban in his book Jam‘ al-Wasa’il fi Sharh al-Shama’il, a commen­tary on al-Tirmidhi’s Shama’il or “Characteristics of the Prophet”:



Whether the Prophet – Allah bless and greet him – saw his Lord in his sleep or whether Allah the Glorious and Exalted manifested Himself to him with a form (bi al-tajallî al-sûrî), this type of manifestation is known among the masters of spiritual states and stations (arbâb al-hâl wa al-maqâm), and it consists in being reminded of His disposition (hay’atihi) and reflecting upon His vision (ru’yatihi), which is the outcome of the perfection of one’s self-detachment (takhliyatihi) and self-adornment (tahliyatihi). And Allah knows best about the states of His Prophets and Intimate Friends whom He has raised with His most excellent upbringing, and the mirrors of whose hearts He has polished with His most excellent polish, until they witnessed the Station of Divine Presence and Abiding (maqâm al-hudûr wa al-baqâ’), and they rid themselves of the rust of screens and extinction (sada’ al-huzûr wa al-fanâ’). May Allah bestow on us their yearnings, may He make us taste their states and manners, and may He make us die in the condition of loving them and raise us in their group.[21]



Al-Qari goes on to quote Ibn al-Qayyim’s narration from Ibn Taymiy­ya that when the Prophet – Allah bless and greet him – saw that his Lord put His hand between his shoulders, he honored that place with the extremity of the turban.[22] Else­where he states:



Ibn Sadaqa said that Abu Zur‘a said: ‘The hadith of Ibn ‘Abbas [about the Prophet seeing His Lord] is sound (sahîh), and none denies it except a Mu‘tazili’... Ibn al-Humam said: ‘This is but the veil of form (hijâb al-sûra).’ It seems that he meant by this that the entire goal can be visualized if it is interpreted as a figural manifestation (tajallî sûrî), as it is of necessity absurd to interpret it as a real or literal manifestation (tajallî haqiqî). Allah Al­mighty has many forms of manifestations (anwâ‘ min al-tajalliyât) according to His Essence and Attributes. Likewise, He possesses all power and encompassing abil­ity, well beyond the angels and other than them, to fashion forms and appearances. Yet He is Transcendent beyond possessing a body (jism), a form (sûra), and directions (jihât) with regard to His Essence. These considerations help solve many of the purported difficulties in the ambiguous verses and the narrations of the Attributes. Allah knows best the reality of spiritual stations and the minutiae of objectives…. If the hadith is shown to have something in its chain that indicates forgery, then fine; otherwise: the door of figurative interpretation is wide and imposes itself (bâb al-ta’wîl wâsi‘un muhattam).[23]



Elsewhere al-Qari states:



If this vision took place in a dream, then there is no difficulty…. However, if it took place in a wakeful state (fî al-yaqaza), as conveyed by the letter of Ahmad ibn Hanbal’s narration [but see al-Haytami’s comment quoted above], then the Salaf declared belief in the letter of such narrations – provided they were sound – without explaining them as one would explain the attributes of creatures. Rather, they negated modality (al-kayfiyya) and entrusted knowledge of their hidden meaning to Allah. For He shows to His Prophet – Allah bless and greet him – whatever He wishes from behind the curtains of the Unseen, including what our minds have no way of comprehending. However, to leave aside figura­tive interpretation (al-ta’wîl) in our time fosters confusion (fitna) in the beliefs of people, due to the dissemination of the doctrines of misguidance (i‘tiqâdât al-dalâl). Therefore, it is appropriate to inter­pret it in conformity with the Law as a possible intrepretation, not a definitive one. Accordingly, the words ‘in the best form’ could signify ‘I saw my Lord as I was in the best form in the sense of His utmost favor and kindness to me’; or ‘in the Lord’s best form’ in the sense that the form of something is whatever distinguishes it from something else, whether it pertains to the thing itself or to whatever part of it is being characterized. This can be applied to meanings just as it is applied to material bodies. One speaks about ‘picturing a matter or a situation thus.’ The ‘form’ of Allah Most High – and Allah knows best – would then be His specific Essence (dhâtuhu al-makhsûsa) separate from any other representation of the farthest levels of perfection, or the Attribute that is specific to Him, meaning ‘My Lord was more gracious and kinder than at any other time.’ Thus did al-Tibi and al-Turibishti relate it.[24]



The above is reminiscent of al-Nawawi’s and Ibn al-Jawzi’s similar interpretation, respectively in Sharh Sahih Muslim[25] and in the second hadith of Daf‘ Shubah al-Tashbih:



If we say that he – Allah bless and greet him – saw Him while awake, then the form, if we say that it refers to Allah Almighty, would mean: “I saw Him in the best of His Attributes in turning to me and being pleased with me.” If we say that it refers to the Prophet – Allah bless and greet him – himself, then it would mean: “I saw Him as I was in the best form.”[26]



Others considered Ibn ‘Abbas’ narration to refer to a vision with the eyes of the heart, as elucidated by Ibn ‘Abbas’ other narrations in Sahih Muslim and al-Tirmidhi (hasan): “He saw him with his heart.” Another nar­ration from Ibn ‘Abbas in Muslim states: “He saw him with his heart twice,” in commentary of the verses: (The heart lied not (in seeing) what it saw) (53:11), (And verily he saw him, yet another time) (53:13).



Another explanation is that the Prophet – Allah bless and greet him – saw light. This is stated explicitly in the Prophet’s – Allah bless and greet him – reply, when asked by Abu Dharr if he had actually seen his Lord: “I saw light.”[27]



Many sound reports show that the Companions differed sharply whether the Prophet – Allah bless and greet him – saw Allah or not. Ibn ‘Abbas related that he did, while Ibn Mas‘ud, ‘A’isha, Abu Hurayra, and Abu Dharr related reports to the contrary, stating that the verses of Sura al-Najm and other Suras referred to Gibrîl u,[28] and that the Prophet – Allah bless and greet him – said that he saw light.



Al-Bukhari narrated from Masruq that the latter said:



I said to ‘A’isha: “O my mother! Did Muhammad – Allah bless and greet him – see his Lord?” She replied: “My hair stands on end because of what you said. Have you no idea of three things – whoever tells them to you is lying? [First,] whoever tells you that Muhammad – Allah bless and greet him – saw his Lord, is lying.” She then recited: (Vision comprehends Him not, but He comprehends (all) vision. He is the Subtle, the Aware.) (6:103) (And it was not (vouchsafed) to any mortal that Allah should speak to him unless (it be) by revelation or from behind a veil) (42:51). “[Second,] whoever tells you that he knows what shall happen tomorrow, is lying.” She then recited: (No soul knows what it will earn tomorrow) (31:34). “And [third,] whoever tells you that he concealed something, is lying.” She then recited: (O Messenger! Make known that which has been revealed unto you from your Lord, for if you do it not, you will not have conveyed His message. Allah will protect you from mankind. Lo! Allah guides not the disbelieving folk.) (5:67) “However, he did see Gibrîl u in his actual form twice.”



This hadith is also narrated from Masruq by Muslim thus:



I was sitting back in ‘A’isha’s house when she said: “O Abu ‘A’isha [i.e. Masruq], there are three things, whoever says any of which, he is lying about Allah in the most hateful manner.” I asked: “Which things?” She said: “[First,] whoever tells you that Muhammad – Allah bless and greet him – saw his Lord, he is lying about Allah in the most hateful manner.” I was sitting back, so I sat up and said: “O Mother of the Believers! Give me a moment and do not rush me. Did not Allah Al­mighty say: (Surely he beheld him on the clear horizon) (81:23), (And verily he saw him, yet another time) (53:13)?” She replied: “I am the first in this entire Community to have asked the Messenger of Allah – Allah bless and greet him – about this, and he said: ‘It is but Gibrîl, I did not see him in the actual form in which he was created other than these two times. I saw him alighting from the heaven, covering it all. The magnitude of his frame spans what lies between the heaven and the earth.’” Then she said: “Did you not hear Allah say: (Vision comprehends Him not, but He comprehends (all) vision. He is the Subtle, the Aware) (6:103)? Did you not hear Allah say: (And it was not (vouchsafed) to any mortal that Allah should speak to him unless (it be) by revelation or from behind a veil, or (that) He sends a messenger to reveal what He will by His leave. Lo! He is Exalted, Wise) (42:51)?” She continued: “[Second,] whoever claims that the Messenger of Allah – Allah bless and greet him – concealed any part of the book of Allah, he is lying about Allah in the most hateful manner when Allah is saying: (O Messenger! Make known that which has been revealed unto you from your Lord, for if you do it not, you will not have conveyed His message) (5:67).” She continued: “[Third,] whoever claims that he can tell what shall happen tomorrow, he is lying about Allah in the most hateful manner, since Allah is saying: (Say: None in the heavens and the earth knows the Unseen save Allah [and they know not when they will be raised again]) (27:65).”[29]



Muslim mentions another wording which adds the phrase:



She said: “If Muhammad – Allah bless and greet him – had concealed anything of what was revealed to him, he would have concealed this verse: (And when you said unto him on whom Allah has conferred favor and you have conferred favor: Keep your wife to yourself, and fear Allah. And you did hide in your mind that which Allah was to bring to light, and you did fear mankind whereas Allah had a better right that you should fear Him) (33:37).”



A narration by al-Tirmidhi from al-Sha‘bi cites the two positions in context:



Ibn ‘Abbas met Ka‘b [al-Ahbar] in ‘Arafa and asked him about something, whereupon Ka‘b began to shout Allahu Akbar! until the mou­n­tains answered him. Ibn ‘Abbas said: “We are the Banu Hashim!”[30] Ka‘b said: “Allah Most High has apportioned His vision and His speech between Muhammad – Allah bless and greet him – and Musa u. Musa u spoke with Him twice and Muhammad – Allah bless and greet him – saw him twice.” Masruq said: “Later[31] I went to visit ‘A’isha and asked: ‘Did Muhammad see his Lord?’ She replied: ‘You have said something that makes my hair stand on end.’ I said: ‘Do not rush!’ and recited [the verses which conclude with][32] the verse (Verily he saw one of the greater revelations of his Lord) (53:18). She said: ‘Where is this taking you? It was but Gibrîl. Who­ever tells you that Muhammad – Allah bless and greet him – saw his Lord, or concealed something which he was commanded [to reveal], or knew the five things which Allah mentioned (Lo! Allah! With Him is knowledge of the Hour. He sends down the rain [and knows that which is in the wombs. No soul knows what it will earn tomorrow, and no soul knows in what land it will die. Lo! Allah is Knower, Aware]) (31:34) – he has told an enormous lie. Rather, he saw Gibrîl, whom he did not see in his actual form except twice: once at the Lote-Tree of the Farthest Boundary (sidra al-muntaha), and once in Jiyâd [in Mecca], with his six hundred wings, he had filled the firmament.”



Ibn al-Qayyim in Zad al-Ma‘ad said:



The Companions differed whether the Prophet – Allah bless and greet him – actually saw his Lord that night [of isrâ’ and mi‘râj] or not. It is authentically nar­rated from Ibn ‘Abbas that the Prophet – Allah bless and greet him – saw his Lord, and also au­then­tically related that Ibn ‘Abbas said: “He saw Him with his heart.” It is also authentically related from ‘A’isha and Ibn Mas‘ud that they denied such vision, saying that the words of Allah Most High (And verily he saw him, yet another time, at the Lote Tree of the Farthest Boun­dary) (53:13) refer to Gibrîl u.[33] It is also authentically related from Abu Dharr that the latter asked the Prophet – Allah bless and greet him –: “Did you see your Lord?” and he replied: “[There was] a great light, how could I see Him?” (nûrun annâ arâh?). That is: light came in between myself and His sight, as stated in the wording: “I saw light” (ra’aytu nûran).[34] ‘Uthman ibn Sa‘id al-Darimi said that the Companions all agreed that the Prophet – Allah bless and greet him – did not see Him.[35] Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyya – may Allah sanctify his soul! – said:



Ibn ‘Abbas’s statement that “He saw Him” does not con­tradict that claim, nor his statement that “He saw Him with his heart.” For it is also authentically related that the Prophet – Allah bless and greet him – said: “I saw my Lord – glorified and exalted is He!”[36] How­ever, the latter was not during the isrâ’ but in Madina, when the Prophet – Allah bless and greet him – was occupied and could not be with the Companions at the time of the dawn prayer, after which he told them about his vision of Allah during his sleep that night. It is on that evidence that Imam Ahmad based himself when he said: “Yes, he saw him in reality (na‘am ra’âhu haqqan), for the dream-visions of Prophets are real.” This is absolutely true, but Ahmad did not say that he saw Him with the eyes of his head while awake. Whoever said that he did, is mistaken. Ahmad said one time: “He saw Him” and another time: “He saw Him with his heart.” These are the two statements narrated from him on the issue. The third statement whereby “He saw Him with the eyes of his head” comes from the free paraphrase of some of his com­panions. Ahmad’s texts are present with us, and nowhere are such words found in them.[37]



Ibn ‘Abd al-Salam said in his Fatawa:



Concerning the vision of Allah Most High in the hereafter, He shall be seen with the light which He created in the eyes in addition to the light of knowledge. For vision unveils what knowledge does not unveil, and if the exalted Lord wanted to create in the heart a light such as the one He created in the eyes so that it could look at Him by means of it, it would not be difficult for Him at all. Nay – if He wanted to create the light of the heart and that of the eyes in the hands and the feet and the nails it would not be difficult for Him at all![38]



Ibn Hajar analyzed this issue at length in his works[39] and compiled a monograph on the topic titled al-Ghunya fi al-Ru’ya.[40] Al-Qari also gave an authoritative discus­sion of the topic in al-Mirqat.[41]



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NOTES

[1]In Lata’if al-Isharat (5:152).

[2]Al-Pazdawi in ‘Ala’ al-Din al-Bukhari’s commentary on al-Pazdawi’s Usul enti­tled Kashf al-Asrar (1:55-60).

[3]Cf. Ibn ‘Abd al-Barr, al-Intiqa’ (p. 73, 145-136). Both Pickthall’s and Yusuf ‘Ali’s transla­tions parenthetically annul the meaning of Allah’s vision, respectively: (Nay, but surely on that day they will be covered from (the mercy of) their Lord) and (Verily, from (the Light of) their Lord, that Day, will they be veiled).

[4]See Tabaqat al-Hanabila (1:59, 1:161, 1:312).

[5]Al-Qari, al-Mirqat (1892 ed. 5:303); al-Haytami, Fatawa Hadithiyya (p. 147-150). The latter said (p. 150): “If it is authenticated that al-Ash‘ari held that the vision does take place in the world, then that position is ignored as he either did not know of the Consensus to the contrary, or took an anomalous (shâdhdh) stance which cannot be taken into con­si­d­eration.” In his Kitab al-Ru’ya al-Kabir, al-Ash‘ari did not hold that vision does take place, but he held with the jumhûr that it can.

[6]As stated by Imam al-Haramayn in al-Irshad (p. 169).

[7]In the Siyar (8:430-431).

[8]In al-Futuhat al-Makkiyya (1:164 §142).

[9]Narrated from Abu Umama ibn al-Samit al-Bahili as part of a longer hadith by Ahmad with a sound chain, as stated by al-Zayn, in the Musnad (16:415 #22663), Ibn Majah, al-Nasa’i in al-Sunan al-Kubra (4:419 #7764), al-Hakim (4:456) who stated that it is sahîh and al-Dhahabi concurred, Ibn Abi ‘Asim in al-Ahad wa al-Mathani (2:446 #1249) and al-Sunna (p. 186-187 #429) with a sound chain as stated by al-Albani, al-Ajurri in al-Shari‘a, and Ibn Khuzayma in al-Tawhid. It is also narrated without mention of the Companion’s name by Muslim in his Sahih, al-Tirmidhi who de­clared it hasan sahîh, Ahmad with a sound chain (17:72 #23562), and Ibn Abi ‘Asim in al-Sunna (p. 187 #430) with a sound chain.

[10]In Fath al-Bari (1959 ed. 1:125 #50).

[11]In al-Mirqat (1892 ed. 5:308).

[12]Narrated by Ahmad with two chains of which one is sound, and al-Ajurri with a sound chain as stated by the editors of the former’s Musnad (3:165 #2580, 3:184 #2634) and the latter’s al-Shari‘a (p. 495 #1047) as well as al-Haythami (1:78-79). Also narrated by Ibn Abi ‘Asim in al-Sunna (p. 188 #433) with the same chain as the second of Imam Ahmad’s two narrations. Ahmad and Abu Zur‘a considered this hadith authentic, as stated in Tabaqat al-Hanabila (1:312, 1:242), al-Suyuti’s al-La’ali’ (1:29-30), and al-Diya’ al-Maqdisi’s al-Mukhtara (1:79 #66).

[13]Ibn al-Qayyim, Zad al-Ma‘ad (3:34). On the difference between the dreams of Prophets and others, see al-‘Iraqi, Tarh al-Tathrib (4:180-184, 8:204-220).

[14]AS (p. 444-445), ASH (2:363-364 #938). A “condemned” (munkar) narration according to Imam Ahmad as stated in al-Dhahabi’s Tartib al-Mawdu‘at (p. 22 #22), and according to al-Ahdab in Zawa’id Tarikh Baghdad (8:37-40 #1662). Ibn al-Jawzi in Daf‘ Shubah al-Tashbih (1998 al-Kawthari repr. p. 34) states that the hadith is narrated through Hammad ibn Salama ( who presents certain problems) and that his foster-son the zindîq Ibn Abi al-‘Awja’ used to interpolate this kind of baseless narrations into his books. Al-Dhahabi also states that it is munkar in the Siyar (8:430-431), however, he seems to apply this condemnation to the entirety of the narrations in this chapter.

[15]In al-La’ali’ (1:29-30).

[16]I.e. “the angels brought near” according to Ibn al-Athir in al-Nihaya and others.

[17]Narrated by al-Tirmidhi with three chains, all sahîh according to al-Albani: two from Ibn ‘Abbas – in the first of which he said “the knowledge of all things in the heaven and the earth” while he graded the second hasan gharîb – and one chain from Mu‘adh (hasan sahîh) which explicitly mentions that this took place in the Prophet’s – Allah bless and greet him – sleep. Al-Bukhari declared the latter chain sahîh as stated by al-Tirmidhi in his Sunan and in his ‘Ilal, and it towers over all other chains, according to Ibn Hajar in al-Isaba (2:397), in the facts that there is no discrepancy over it among the hadith scholars and its text is undisputed (cf. ASH 2:78). Also narrated by Ahmad with four sound chains according to Shakir and al-Zayn: one from Ibn ‘Abbas with the words “I think he said: ‘in my sleep’” (3:458 #3484); one from Mu‘adh which Ahmad explicitly declared sahîh as narrated by Ibn ‘Adi in al-Kamil (6:2244), with the words: “I woke up and lo! I was with my Lord” (16:200 #22008); and two from unnamed Companions in which no mention is made of the Prophet’s – Allah bless and greet him – sleep or wakefulness (13:93-94 #16574, 16:556 #23103). Al-Haythami declared the latter sound as well as other chains cited by al-Tabarani in al-Kabir (20:109 #216, 20:141 #290) and al-Bazzar in his Musnad, and he declared fair the chain narrated from Abu Umama by al-Tabarani in al-Kabir (8:290 #8117). See Majma‘ al-Zawa’id (7:176-179). Shaykhs ‘Abd al-Qadir and Shu‘ayb al-Arna’ut both declared sahîh the seven narrations of al-Tirmidhi and Ahmad in their edition of Ibn al-Qayyim’s Zad al-Ma‘ad (3:33-34 n. 4). Also narrated from Jabir ibn Samura by Ibn Abi ‘Asim in al-Sunna (p. 203 #465) with a fair chain according to al-Albani. Also narrated from ‘Abd al-Rahman ibn ‘A’ish by al-Darimi in his Musnad (2:170 #2149) and al-Tabarani through two chains in al-Ahad wa al-Mathani (5:48-50 #2585-2586) and another in Musnad al-Shamiyyin (1:339 #597), and from Umm al-Tufayl by al-Tabarani in al-Ahad (6:158 #3385). The latter chain actually states: “I saw my Lord in the best form of a beardless young man” and was rejected by al-Dhahabi in Tahdhib al-Mawdu‘at (p. 22 #22). Also narrated from the Companion Abu Rafi‘ [al-Isaba 7:134 #9875] by al-Tabarani in al-Kabir (1:317 #938). Also narrated from Ibn ‘Abbas by Abu Ya‘la in his Musnad (4:475 #2608). Some fair narrations of this hadith – such as al-Tabarani’s from ‘Abd al-Rahman ibn ‘Ayyash and al-Khatib’s from Abu ‘Ubayda ibn al-Jarrah in Tarikh Baghdad (8:151) – have the words: “I saw my Lord” instead of “My Lord came to me,” hence Ibn Kathir’s conclusion previously cited. Al-Ahdab in Zawa’id Tarikh Baghdad (6:251-253) and al-Haytami also cited Abu ‘Ubayda ibn al-Jarrah, Ibn ‘Umar, Abu Hurayra, Anas, Thawban, and Abu Umama which brings to at least eleven (without Umm al-Tufayl) the number of Companions who narrated this hadith. The various chains and narrations of this hadith were collated and discussed by Ibn Rajab in his monograph Ikhtiyar al-Awla fi Sharh Hadith Ikhtisam al-Mala’ al-A‘la, ed. Jasim al-Dawsari (Kuwait: Dar al-Aqsa, 1406). See also: Ibn Athir, Jami‘ al-Usul (9:548-550). Among those that considered this hadith as falling below the grade of sahîh are al-Bayhaqi in al-Asma’ wa al-Sifat (AS p. 300, ASH 2:72-79), Ibn al-Jawzi in al-‘Ilal al-Mutanahiya (1:34), Ibn Khuzayma in al-Tawhid (p. 214-221) and al-Daraqutni in his ‘Ilal (6:56). Some went too far and suggested that it was forged: see al-Saqqaf, Aqwal al-Huffaz al-Manthura li Bayan Wad‘ Hadith Ra’aytu Rabbi fi Ahsani Sura, appended to his edition of Ibn al-Jawzi’s Daf‘ Shubah al-Tashbih.

[18]In Daf‘ Shubah al-Tashbih (Kawthari ed. p. 32).

[19]In Al-Mubarakfuri Tuhfa al-Ahwadhi (9:74).

[20]Al-Razi, Asas al-Taqdis, as quoted by al-Kawthari in Daf‘ Shubah al-Tashbih (p. 32-33 n.). Cf. al-Bayhaqi, al-Asma’ wa al-Sifat (p. 300-301).

[21]Al-Qari, Jam‘ al-Wasa’il (p. 209).

[22]Ibn ‘Umar said: “The Prophet – Allah bless and greet him – used to wind the turban around his head and tuck it in behind him, letting its extremity hand down between his shoulders.” Narrated by al-Bayhaqi in Shu‘ab al-Iman (5:174) and al-Tabarani in al-Awsat with a sound chain as indicated by al-Haythami (5:120). Cf. al-Tabarani, al-Kabir (12:379 #13405) and al-Awsat (1:227 #344).

[23]Al-Qari, al-Asrar al-Marfu‘a (2nd ed. p. 209-210 #209; 1st ed. p. 126 #478).

[24]Al-Qari, al-Mirqat (1892 ed. 5:303). Al-Mubarakfuri in Tuhfa al-Ahwadhi (9:73-74) rejects al-Qari’s words “to leave aside figurative interpretation in our time fosters confusion due to the dissemination of the doctrines of misguidance” on the grounds that they contravene – in his view – the method of the Salaf, a proof of al-Mubarakfuri’s lean­ing towards unenlightened literalism. Al-Shatibi said in al-Muwa­faqat (2:332): “The Congrega­tion of [Sunni] Muslims follow Imam Malik’s position [in the detestation of kalâm], except if one is obliged to speak. One must not remain silent if his purpose is to refute false­hood and guide people away from it, or if one fears the spread of misguidance or some similar danger.”

[25][On the “form” and vision of Allah I in the same hadith of Abu Hurayra:] “So what is meant by ‘the form’ (al-sûra) here is the attribute, in the sense that Allah I manifests Himself (yatajallâ) to them in the attribute that they know and by which they recognize Him. For they only know Him through His Attribute even if they never saw Him before – Exalted is He! – as they shall see that He does not resemble any of His crea­tures – and they know that He does not resemble any of His creatures – so they will realize that this is their Lord and say: ‘You are our Lord!’ So the word ‘attribute’ was expressed by means of the word ‘form’ out of logical kinship (mushâ­baha) and similarity of speech (mujânasa al-kalâm) since there had already been mention of the form.” Al-Nawawi, Sharh Sahih Muslim (3:20).

[26]Ibn al-Jawzi, Daf‘ Shubah al-Tashbih (Kawthari ed. p. 32).

[27]Narrated by Muslim, al-Tirmidhi (hasan), and Ahmad through four chains.

[28]As stated by Ibn al-Qayyim in Zad al-Ma‘ad (3:34).

[29]Also narrated from Masruq by al-Tirmidhi (hasan sahîh).

[30]Al-Tibi said: “[Ibn ‘Abbas said] this in order to urge him to be quiet, stop his irritation, and reflect upon the answer, meaning: ‘We are people of science and knowledge, we do not ask about things which should be considered so far-fetched.’ Because of this, he reflected and gave him his answer.” In al-Mubarakfuri, Tuhfa al-Ahwadhi (9:118 #3496).

[31]Al-Tibi said: “It appears from this wording that Masruq was present at the time of the exchange that took place between Ka‘b and Ibn ‘Abbas.” In al-Mubarakfuri, Tuhfa al-Ahwadhi (9: 119).

[32]This gloss is by al-Tibi, who said: “It is confirmed by al-Tirmidhi’s other narra­tion stating: ‘O Mother of the Believers! Give me a moment and do not rush me. Did not Allah Al­mighty say: (And verily he saw him, yet another time) (53:13), (Surely he beheld him on the clear horizon) (81:23)?’” Al-Mubarakfuri confir­med al-Tibi’s reading. In Tuhfa al-Ahwadhi (9: 119).

[33]‘A’isha’s stance is narrated by al-Bukhari in four places, Muslim, and al-Tirmidhi; Ibn Mas‘ud’s, by al-Bukhari and Muslim.

[34]Narrated by Muslim.

[35]This is flatly contradicted by the reports of Ibn ‘Abbas, but Ibn al-Qayyim does not reject it out of deference for Ibn Taymiyya, who defends al-Darimi’s claim.

[36]See above, n. 12.

[37]In Ibn al-Qayyim, Zad al-Ma‘ad (3:33-34).

[38]Ibn ‘Abd al-Salam, al-Fatawa al-Mawsiliyya (p. 106).

[39]Cf. Fath al-Bari (1959 ed. 1:125-135 #50, 8:608-610, 11:463-469 #6204) and al-Isaba (2:405-406).

[40]This work is briefly described in ‘Abd al-Mun‘im’s Ibn Hajar (1:267-268).

[41]Al-Mirqat (1892 ed. 5:306f.).


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Praise belongs to Allah alone; peace and blessing on the last Prophet, his family and his Companions.

I was introduced to the valuable and concise treatise on the Muslim's belief prepared by our brother, the great scholar Shaikh Muhammad As-Saleh al-Uthaimin. I listened to it all and found that it covers the creed of the Sunnites and the mainstream majority of the Muslims in the area of the oneness of Allah, His attributes, the belief in the angels, the books and the messengers, the Day of Judgment, and in the belief in fate and the divine decree. He succeeded in collecting what the seeker of knowledge and every Muslim needs for his belief in Allah, His angels, His scriptures, His messengers, the Day of Judgment, and fate. He included in his treatise useful information related to the Muslim's beliefs that are not readily available in many of the books written on these topics. May Allah reward the author, increase him in knowledge and guidance, and make this book and his other books most useful. May Allah, the Hearer and the Close, bless us and him and all our brothers and make us among those who are guiding and rightly guided to call people to Allah with sure knowledge.

Dictated by 'Abd al-Aziz ibn Baz, may Allah forgive him and shower peace and blessing on our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.


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Translator's Foreword

I found this treatise of the Muslim's creed a concise and useful presentation of a very important topic. The need for this treatise, especially among non-Arabic speaking readers, cannot be overestimated. Therefore, I decided to translate it and make it accessible to English readers.

I would like to draw the attention of the readers to the following points:

- I gave the book the title THE MUSLIM'S BELIEF instead of the author's Aqidatu Ahl As Sunnah wa al Jama'ah, which may be translated as The Creed of the People of the Sunnah and Majority. I think my preference is justified by: a) The title I preferred is shorter; b) The two titles have almost the same meaning; c) The original title contains some technical terms that are not only difficult to translate, but also difficult to understand by many readers; and d) The original title may antagonize some readers who are misinformed about the true designations of the words in the original title.

- I provided, in parentheses after every Qur'anic verse, the numbers of chapters and verses quoted by the author without giving their proper reference. This I deemed useful for readers who do not know the Qur'an by heart and who would like to check these verses.

- Because the author, in most cases, quotes or paraphrases some of the prophetic traditions without indicating them to the readers, I tried, whenever I could recognize these traditions, to put them in quotations and to cite in parentheses the prophetic collections in which they are reported. In most cases, I limited myself to the collections of Bukhari and Muslim whenever the saying is quoted from them. If it is not in these two collections, I mention one or two of the other collections that contain the quoted saying.

- I provided the arrangement of the text into chapters and headlines for ease of reading and understanding. I also provided a table of contents for ease of reference.

- In translating the Qur'anic verses quoted in this treatise, I did not follow any specific translation of the Qur'an. I benefited from more than one, but followed my own preference.

It is my sincere desire and hope that this book would be of great help to those who consult it. Please include in your prayer all those who contributed to its present shape.

Dr. Maneh Hammad al-Johani


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Author's Introduction

Praise be to the Lord of the universe who gives the best reward to the God-fearing and the great loss to the transgressor. I bear witness that there is no God but Allah; He has no partner and possesses real sovereignty. I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and messenger; the seal of the prophets and the leader of the God-fearing. May Allah bless him, his family, his Companions, and those who follow them till the Day of Judgment.

Allah has sent His messenger Muhammad, peace be upon him, with the real guidance and the true religion as a mercy to mankind, as a model for those who do good, and as His argument against mankind. Through Muhammad and what was revealed to him (the Qur'an and the Prophetic sayings), Allah showed mankind all means of reforming itself and straightening its religious and mundane affairs in sound beliefs, right conduct, fine morals, and laudable manners. The Prophet, peace be upon him, "left his followers on a clear straight path, only the doomed will deviate from it"(Ibn Majah and Ahmad). His followers, the Companions, their followers, and those who followed them faithfully are the best of mankind. They established his law, upheld his way, and held fast to it as a belief and practice, a moral and manner. Thus "they are considered the party who are victorious, on the straight path, unharmed by those who are against them till the end of the world" (Bukhari and Muslim).

Thanks to Allah, we are following their footsteps and are being guided by their examples, which are supported by the Qur'an and the prophetic traditions. We are saying this only as an announcement of Allah's blessings and as a clarification of what every Muslim should believe. We pray to Allah that He may keep us and our brothers on the straight path in this life and in the hereafter. May He give us mercy, for He is the Giver.

Due to the importance of this topic and the difference of opinions about it, I want to explain briefly our creed-the belief of the Sunnites and the mainstream Muslims (Ahl as-Sunnah wa al-Jama'ah). This creed is the belief in Allah, His angels, His books, His messengers, the Day of Judgment, and fate, whether good or bad. I pray to Allah to make this effort sincere for His sake, in agreement with His wish, and useful for His people.


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Chapter I
OUR CREED
Our creed is to believe in Allah, His Angels, His Books, His Messengers, the Day of Judgment, and Fate whether good or bad.

Belief in Allah's Lordship, Oneness, and Attributes:

We believe in Allah's divinity; that is he is the Lord, the Creator, the Sovereign, and the Manager of all affairs.

We believe in Allah's god ship; that is, He is the true God and every other so-called deity is false.

We believe in His names and attributes, that is He has the most magnificent names and the sublime perfect attributes.

We believe in His oneness in all of this, that is, He has no associate in His divinity, His God ship, His names, or His attributes. Allah says in the Qur'an: "He is the Lord of the heavens and the Earth and all that is in between them, so worship Him and be patient in His worship; do you know any equal to Him?" (19:65).

We believe that He is "Allah there is no God but He, the Living, the Everlasting. Slumber does not seize Him, neither sleep; to Him belongs all that is in the heavens and the Earth. Who is there that shall intercede with Him except by His permission? He knows what is before them and what is behind them, and they do not encompass anything of His knowledge except what He wills. His throne extends over the heavens and the Earth, the preservation of them does not burden Him; He is the High, the Great" (2:255).

We believe that "He is Allah, there is no god but He, the Knower of the Unseen and the Visible. He is the Most Gracious, Most Merciful. He is Allah, there is no God but He, the King, the Holy One, the Source of Peace, the Keeper of Faith, the Guardian, the Almighty, the Subduer, the Sublime. Glory be to Allah above what they associate with Him. He is Allah, the Creator, the Maker, the Shaper. His are the most beautiful Names. All that is in the heavens and the Earth glorifies Him. He is the Almighty, the Wise" (59:22-4). ¥ We believe that to Him belongs the Kingdom of the Heavens and the Earth: "He creates what He pleases. He gives, to whom He wills, females, and He gives, to whom He wills, males, or He couples them, males and females; and He makes whom He wills barren. Surely, He is the Knowing, the Powerful" (42:49-50).

We believe that "there is nothing whatever like unto Him, He is the All-hearing, the All-seeing. To Him belongs the keys of the Heavens and the Earth. He enlarges and restricts provisions to whom He wills. Surely He has knowledge of everything" (42:11-12).

We believe that "there is no creature that moves on the Earth but its provision depends on Allah. He knows its dwelling and its resting place. All is recorded in a clear book" (11:6).

We believe that "with Him are the keys of the unseen; none knows them but He. He knows what is in land and sea; not a leaf falls, but He knows it. Not a grain in the deep darkness of the Earth, not a thing green or dry but it is in a clear Book" (6 :5 9 ).

We believe that "Allah alone has the knowledge of the Hour, sends down rain, and knows what is in the wombs. No soul knows what it shall earn tomorrow, and no soul knows in what land it shall die. Surely, Allah is All-knowing, All-aware" (31:34).

We believe that Allah speaks whatever He pleases whenever He pleases: "And Allah spoke to Moses directly" (4:164); "And when Moses came at Our appointed place, and his Lord spoke to him" (7:143 ); "We called to him from the right side of the Mount (Sinai), and We brought him near in communion" (19:52).

We believe that "if the ocean became ink for the words of my Lord, the ocean would be finished before the words of my Lord came to an end" (18:109); "And if all the trees that are in the earth were pens, and the ocean (were ink), with seven oceans swelling it therefore, the words of Allah would not be exhausted. Surely, Allah is Mighty, Wise" (31 :27).

We believe that Allah's words are the most truthful in conveying information, the most just in ruling, and the fairest in conversation. He said: "The word of your Lord has been fulfilled in truth and justice" (6:115); "And who is more truthful in his word than Allah?" (4:87).

We believe that the Qur'an is Allah's word. He literally spoke it to Gabriel, who conveyed it to the Prophet, peace be upon him: "Say (O Muhammad) 'the Holy Spirit has brought it down from your Lord in truth"' (16:102); "Truly it is the revelation of the Lord of the world brought down upon your heart by the Faithful Spirit so that you may be one of the warners, in a clear Arabic tongue" (26:192-95).

We believe that Allah is well above His creatures in His Person and His Attributes, because He says: "He is the High, the Great" (2:22); "He is Supreme over His servants, and He is the Wise, the All-aware" (6:18 ).

We believe that He "created the Heavens and the Earth in six days, then He settled Himself on the throne; He manages everything" (10:3). His "settling on the throne" means that He is sitting in person on His throne in a way that is becoming to His majesty and greatness. Nobody except He knows exactly how He is sitting.

We believe that He is with His creatures while He is still on His throne. He knows their conditions, hears their sayings, sees their deeds, and manages their affairs. He provides for the poor and the broken.

He gives sovereignty to whom He pleases and takes away sovereignty from whom He pleases; He exalts whom He wills and He abases whom He wills. In His hand is all good and He is powerful over everything. Whoever possesses these qualities is literally with His creatures even if He is literally above them on His throne. "There is nothing whatsoever like unto Him; He is the All-hearing, the All-seeing" (42: 11).

We do not say, as do the Incarnationists among the Jahomites and others, that Allah is living with His creatures on Earth. We consider whoever says this a non-believer or one who has strayed, for he attributed to Allah that which does not become Him of defects.

We believe in what His Messenger told us, that He descends to the near sky before the last third of every night and says: "Who prays to Me and I will answer his prayers? Who asks Me and I will give him? Who asks My forgiveness and I will forgive him?" (Bukhari and Muslim).

We believe that He will come on the Day of Judgment to judge among His people because He said: "No indeed! When the Earth is crushed to powder, and your Lord comes down with the angels in rows after rows, and Hell is brought out that day. On that day man will remember, but what will remembrance avail him?" (89:21-23).

We believe that he is the Doer of what He wills.

Allah's Will: Universal and Legal:

We believe that His will is of two kinds: a) Universal will, through which His intention is carried out. It is not necessary that what is carried out is liked by Him. This type of will means permission, as Allah said: "Had Allah willed, they would not have fought one against the other, but Allah does whatever He desires," (2:253) and "If Allah desires to lead you astray, He is your Lord" (11:34), and b) Legal will, which does not necessarily entail the execution of His desire. His will, in this case, cannot be but what He likes, as He said: "Allah wants to forgive you" (4:27).

We believe that His universal and legal wills are part of His wisdom. Every thing He performs in the universe or requires legally from His creatures is for a good reason and according to His wisdom, whether we grasp it or not: "Is not Allah the best of Judges?" (95:8); "And who is better than Allah in judgment for a people who have firm faith" (5:50).

We believe that Allah loves His select servants and that they love Him: "Say if you love Allah, follow me and Allah will love you" (3:31); "Allah will bring a people whom He will love and who will love Him" (5:54); "Allah loves the steadfast" (3:146); "And act justly, surely, Allah loves the just" (49:9); and "Do good; Allah loves those who do good" (5:93).

We believe that Allah likes what He prescribed of good deeds and sayings and He dislikes what He prohibited of bad deeds and sayings: "If you disbelieve, surely Allah does not need you, yet He does not like disbelief for His servants; if you are thankful, this pleases Him"(39:7); and "But Allah disliked their marching forth. So He kept them back, and it was said to them: 'Stay with the weaklings"(9: 46).

We believe that Allah is pleased with those who believe in Him and do good deeds: "Allah is well pleased with them and they are well pleased with Him. That is for him who fears his Lord" (98:8).

We believe that Allah is angry with those who deserve His anger among the non-believers and others: "And those who think evil thoughts of Allah, against them shall be the evil turn of fortune. Allah is angry with them" (48:6); " But whoever opens his heart to disbelief, on them is Allah's wrath and they shall have a severe punishment" (16:106).

More of Allah's Attributes: We believe that Allah has a glorious and dignified face: "There will remain the face of your Lord, majestic and splendid" (55:27).

We believe that Allah has two generous hands: "No, both His hands are wide open; He spends how He pleases" (5:64); "They do not esteem Allah with the esteem that is due to Him. The whole Earth will be His handful on the Day of Resurrection, and the Heavens will be rolled up in His right hand. Glory be to Him and exalted is He above that which they associate with Him" (39:67).

We believe that Allah possesses two real eyes, because He said: "And build the ark under Our eyes as We reveal" (11:37). The Prophet, peace be upon him, said: "His veil is light. Had He removed it, the sublimity of His countenance would have burnt all that His sight reached" (Muslim and Ibn Majah). The Sunnites unanimously have agreed that He has two eyes. This is supported by the Prophet's saying about the Dajjal (the anti-Christ) that "he is one-eyed and your Lord is not one-eyed" (Bukhari and Muslim).

We believe that "vision cannot perceive Him, but He perceives all vision. He is the Incomprehensible, the All-aware" (6:103).

We believe that the believers will see their Lord on the Day of Resurrection: "Upon that day some faces shall be radiant, gazing upon their Lord" (75:22-3).

We believe that Allah has no equal because His Attributes are perfect: "There is nothing whatsoever like unto Him. He is the All-hearing, the All-seeing" (42:11). ¥ We believe that "no slumber or sleep seizes Him" (2:255), because His life is perfect and eternal.

We believe that He does not do injustice to anybody, because His fairness is perfect.

We believe that He is not unaware of his servants' deeds, because He has perfect supervision and comprehensive knowledge.

We believe that He is capable of doing anything in the Heavens or in the Earth, because of His perfect knowledge and power: "Indeed His command, when He desires a thing, is only to say to it 'Be' and it is" (36: 82).

We believe that He is free from weariness and weakness, because of His infinite power: "Surely, We created the Heavens and the Earth and all that is between them in six days, and no weariness touched Us" (50: 38).

Describing Allah by His Revelation:

We believe in all that He assigned to Himself or what His Messenger described Him with, of names and attributes. However, we reject two concepts: 1) To say or believe that Allah's attributes are similar to those of his creatures; and 2) To say or believe that Allah's attributes are like such and such.

We negate all what He negated about Himself or what His Messenger negated about Him. We believe that negation implies the affirmation of its perfect opposite. We do not discuss what He or His Messenger did not mention about Him.

We believe that following this approach is a must, because what Allah affirmed or negated concerning Himself is a statement He made about Himself. He knows Himself best. His words are most just and trustful, and people cannot know everything about Him. What Allah's Messenger affirmed or negated about Him is a statement that he made about Allah. Besides knowing Allah better than anyone, he is the most truthful, sincere, and eloquent among people. Thus, in what Allah said and what His Prophet said concerning His names and attributes is the truth, knowledge, and clarification. Therefore, we have no excuse to reject or even hesitate in accepting it.


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Chapter II
THE QUR'AN AND THE SUNNAH
Sources of His Attributes:

All that we have mentioned about Allah's attributes, whether briefly or in detail and affirmatively or negatively, is based on the book of our Lord (the Qur'an) and the traditions of our Prophet. It also agrees with the practice of the previous generations of Muslims and the rightly guided scholars who came after them.

We believe it is obligatory to take the texts of the Qur'an and the prophetic traditions conceding Allah's attributes at their face value and to interpret them in a way that is suitable to Almighty Allah. We reject the practice of those who twist the meanings of these texts and understand them in a way that was not intended by Allah and His messenger.

We also reject the practice of those who make them devoid of their meanings as conveyed by Allah and His Messenger. Finally, we reject the approach of those who exaggerate, who gave them a physical interpretation that makes Allah similar to some of His creatures.

Free from Contradictions:

We know for sure that what is revealed in Allah's book and in the traditions of His Messenger is the truth. It does not contain any contradiction: "Do they not ponder over the Qur'an? If it had been from other than Allah, surely they would have found in it a lot of differences" (4: 82).

Contradictions in statements falsify them. It is impossible for there to be a contradiction in any statement revealed by Allah and said by His Messenger, peace be upon him. Whoever claims that there are contradictions in the Qur'an, the prophetic traditions, or between the two must have wicked intentions and a misguided heart. He should repent and quit his sin. If someone imagines that there are some contradictions in the Qur'an, the sayings of the Prophet, or between these two, this must be a result of his little knowledge, inadequate understanding, or lack of deep thinking. Therefore, he should seek knowledge and do his best to reflect upon matters until the truth is clear to him. If, after all of these efforts, the truth is not clear to him, he should leave the whole matter to the One who knows it and should quit his imagination. He should say, as do those who are firmly rooted in knowledge: "We believe in it, all is from our Lord" (3:7). He must know that there are neither contradictions nor differences in the Qur'an, the Sunnah, or between the two.


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Chapter III
ANGELS
Belief in Angels:

We believe in the existence of the angels of Allah and that they are "honored servants. They do not speak before He does, and they act only by His command" (21:26). Allah created them, and they worship and obey Him. Those who are in His presence do not disdain to worship Him, nor do they weary" (21:19).

Angels are concealed from us, so we cannot see them. Allah may show them to some of His servants. The Prophet Muhammad saw Gabriel in his real shape with six hundred wings that covered the horizons (Bukhari and Muslim). Gabriel took the form of a handsome human being who met Mary and engaged in conversation with her. He came to the Prophet while he was among his Companions in the appearance of an unknown man who did not show any trace of long travel, with very white clothes, and very black hair. He sat facing the Prophet, his knees to the Prophet's knees, peace be upon him, and his palms on the Prophet's thighs and talked with the Prophet. The Prophet later told his Companions that the man they saw was Gabriel (Bukhari and Muslim).

Angels' Functions: We believe that the angels are assigned certain functions. Among the angels is Gabriel, who is entrusted with revelation. He brings it down from Allah to whomever He wishes among His prophets and messengers.

Among them is Michael, who is in charge of rain and the growth of plants; Israfil, who is in charge of blowing the horn at the time of thunder-bolting and the resurrection; the Angel of Death, who takes away people's souls at the time of death. Among the angels is the one who is in charge of mountains; and Malik, the keeper of Hell.

Some angels are in charge of embryos in wombs, others are responsible for protecting human beings, and others are busy recording men's deeds: there are two angels for every person, "when the two angels receive (his deeds), one sitting on the right and one on the left, not a word he utters but by him is an observer ready" (50:18). Some other angels are in charge of questioning the dead after he is placed in his last abode. Two angels come to him and ask him about his Lord, his religion, and his prophet. There "Allah confirms those who believe with the firm saying, in the present life and the hereafter, and Allah leads astray the evildoers and Allah does what He wills" (14:27).

Some angels are in charge of the dwellers of Paradise: "The angels enter to them from every gate, saying: 'Peace be upon you for that you were patient. How excellent is your final home"' (13:24).

The Prophet, peace be upon him, told us that "seventy thousand angels enter or pray in the populous house in heaven every day. They never come back to it as long as they live" (because their turn will never come) (Bukhari and Muslim).


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Chapter IV
ALLAH'S BOOKS
Belief in Allah's Books:

We believe that Allah revealed books to His messengers as proof against mankind and a guidance for the righteous workers. They purified and taught them wisdom by these books.

We believe that Allah sent down a book with every messenger, because He says: "Indeed We sent down Our messengers with the clear signs, and We sent down with them the book and the balance, so that people may uphold justice" (57:25).

Books Known:

Among the books that were revealed, we know:

I ) The Torah, which was revealed to Moses, peace be upon him. It is the greatest among the Israelites' books: "Surely, We sent down the Torah, wherein is guidance and light; by its laws the Jews have been judged by the prophets who surrendered themselves to Allah, the rabbis and the doctors of law, because they were entrusted the protection of Allah's book and were witnesses thereto" (5:44).

2) The Gospel, which Allah revealed to Jesus, peace be upon him. It is a confirmation of the Torah and a complement to it: "And we gave him the Gospel, wherein is guidance and light and confirming the Torah before it, as a guidance and an admonition to the God-fearing" (5:46); "And to make lawful to you certain things that, before, were forbidden to you" (3:50).

3) The Psalms, which Allah gave to David, peace be upon him.

4) The Tablets of Abraham and Moses, peace be upon them.

5) The Glorious Qur'an, which was revealed to His Prophet Muhammad, the Seal of the Prophets. It is "a guidance to the people and clear signs of guidance and the criterion between right and wrong" (2:185). The Qur'an Is Protected from Change:

The Qur'an is "confirming the scripture that was before it and stands as a guardian over it." Thus, by means of the Qur'an, Allah abrogated all the previous revealed books. Allah has also guaranteed its protection from any play or mischievous distortion: "Indeed, We sent down the message and We will guard it" (15:9), for the Qur'an is a proof against mankind till the Day of Judgment.

Previous Scriptures Changed:

The previous scriptures were meant for a limited period. Their use ended with the revelation of the Qur'an, which abrogated them and exposed their distortions and changes. That is why they were not protected from corruption. They underwent distortion, addition, and omission: "Some of the Jews pervert words from their meanings" (4:46); "So woe to those who write the Book with their hands, and then say: 'This is from Allah,' that they may sell it for a little price. So woe to them for what their hands have written, and woe to them for their earnings" (2:79); "Say, who sent down the Book that Moses brought as a light and a guidance to people? You put it into sheets of paper showing some of them and concealing much" (6:91); "And there is a group among them who twist their tongues with the Book, that you may think it is a part of the Book but it is not part of the Book. And they say 'It is from Allah,' yet it is not from Allah, and they tell a lie against Allah and they know it. It is not for any human being to whom Allah has given the Book, the Wisdom and the Prophet hood to say to men 'Worship me instead of Allah"' (3:79); "People of the Book! Our Messenger has come to you, making clear to you many things you have been concealing of the Book and forgiving you of much. A light has come to you from Allah and a glorious Book, with which He will guide whoever follows His pleasure in the way of peace, and brings them forth from darkness into the light by His will" (5:15-16).


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Chapter V
MESSENGERS
Belief in Messengers:

We believe that Allah has sent to His people messengers who were "bringing good tidings and warning, so that mankind might have no argument against Allah after the Messengers. Allah is All-mighty, All-wise" (4: 165).

The First and Last Messengers:

We believe that the first among the messengers is Noah and the last is Muhammad, peace be upon them all: "We revealed to you as We revealed to Noah and the prophets after him" (4: 163); and "Muhammad is not the father of any of your men, but the Messenger of Allah and the Seal of the Prophets" (33:40).

The Best Messengers:

We believe that the best among the messengers is Muhammad, then Abraham, Moses, Noah, and Jesus, son of Mary. It is they who are meant by the following Qur'anic verse: "And when We took a compact from the prophets, and from you, and from Noah, and Abraham, then Moses, and Jesus, son of Mary. We took from them a solemn compact" (33:7).

We believe that Muhammad's message, peace be upon him, includes all the merits of the messages of those dignified messengers, because Allah says: "He ordained for you what He enjoined on Noah and what He revealed to you and what He enjoined on Abraham, Moses and Jesus; namely, establish this faith and be united in it" (42:13).

Messengers Are Human Beings:

We believe that all messengers are created human beings who have none of the divine qualities of Allah. Allah, the Exalted, said about Noah, who was the first among them: "I do not say to you, 'I possess the treasures of Allah.' I do not know the unseen, and I do not say 'I am an angel"' (11:31) Allah directed Muhammad, who is the last among them, to say: "I do not say to you I possess the treasures of Allah, nor do I know the unseen, and I do not say to you I am an angel" (6:50); and to say that "I have no power to bring profit or hurt for myself, but only as Allah wills" (7:188); and: "I have no power to hurt or benefit you. Say none can protect me from Allah, nor can I find any refuge besides Him" (72:91-2).

We believe that the messengers are among Allah's servants. He blessed them with the message and described them as servants, in the context of praising and honoring them. He says about Noah, the first among them: "You are the descendants of those whom We carried with Noah, he was a truly thankful servant" (17:3).

Allah said about the last among them, Muhammad, peace be upon him: "Blessed be He who sent down the Qur'an to His servant, that he may warn mankind" (25:1). As for some other messengers, he said: "And mention Our servants Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, men of might and vision" (38:45); "And remember Our servant David, who was a mighty and penitent man" (38: 17); "And to David, We gave Solomon, he was an excellent and penitent servant" (38:30).

Allah said about Jesus, son of Mary: "He is only a servant whom We blessed and We made him an example to the children of Israel" (43: 59).

We believe that Allah concluded all messages with the message of Muhammad, peace be upon him, to all people, because He said: "Say, 'O mankind, I am Allah's Messenger to you all. To him belongs the Kingdom of the Heavens and the Earth; there is no god but He. He ordains life and death. So believe in Allah and His Messenger, the unlettered Prophet who believes in Allah and His words. Follow him so that you may be rightly guided"' (7:158).

Islam: The Universal and Final Message:

We believe that the Shari'ah of the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, is the religion of Islam, which Allah has chosen for His servants. He does not accept any other religion from anyone, for He, the Exalted, said: "Surely, the true religion in Allah's sight is Islam" (3:19), "Today I have perfected your religion for you and I have completed My favor upon you, and I have chosen Islam to be your religion" (5:3), and "Whoever desires a religion other than Islam, it will never be accepted from Him, and in the Hereafter he will be among the losers" (3:85).

It is our opinion that whoever claims that any religion other than Islam is acceptable, such as Judaism, Christianity and so forth, is a non believer. He should be asked to repent.

It is also our opinion that whoever rejects the universal message of Muhammad, peace be upon him, rejects the message of all messengers, even if he claims that he believes and follows His Messenger. Allah, the Exalted, said: "Noah's people rejected the Messengers" (26:105). Thus, Allah considered them as rejecting all of the messengers despite the fact that there was no messenger before Noah. This is also clear from the following verses: "Those who disbelieve in Allah and His Messengers, and wish to make division between Allah and His Messengers, and say: 'We believe in some and disbelieve in others,' wishing to take a midway course. Those indeed are the unbelievers, and We have prepared for the unbelievers a humiliating punishment"(4:150-51).

We believe that there is no prophet after Muhammad, Allah's Messenger, peace be upon him. Whoever claims prophet hood after him, or believes in anyone claiming it, is a disbeliever and one who rejects Allah, His Messenger, and the Muslims' consensus.

The Rightly Guided Caliphs:

We believe that the Prophet, peace be upon him, has rightly guided successors who carried out his Sunnah in spreading knowledge calling to Islam, and managing the Muslims' affairs. We believe that the best among them and the most entitled to the caliphate was Abu Bakr as Siddiq, then 'Umar Ibn al-Khattab, then 'Uthman Ibn Affan and then 'All Ibn Abi Talib, may Allah be pleased with them all. Thus their succession to the caliphate was according to their virtues. Allah, the Exalted, who possesses infinite wisdom, would not appoint a ruler over the best of generations unless he was the most superior among them and had the best claim to caliphate.

We believe that the inferior among those rightly guided companions can be superior in a specific virtue to those who were better than him but that he does not deserve absolute superiority, for the elements constituting superiority are varied and numerous.

We believe that the Muslim Ummah is the best among nations, and Allah, the Dignified and Exalted, has blessed it, because He said: "You are the best nation ever brought forth for mankind, enjoining what is right and forbidding what is wrong, and believing in Allah" The Prophet's Companions:

We believe that the best among the Muslim Ummah are the Prophet's Companions, then their followers, and then those who followed them.

We also believe that a group of this Ummah will always remain victorious on the right path, unharmed by those who let them down or those who oppose them, until the Day of Judgment.

We believe that the disputes that took place among the Prophet's Companions were the result of sincere interpretations that they worked hard to reach. Whoever was right among them will be rewarded twice, and whoever was wrong among them will be rewarded once and his mistake will be forgiven.

It is our opinion that we should stop talking about their mistakes and mention what they deserve of beautiful praise. We should purify our hearts from hatred and malice against any of them, because Allah said about them: "They are not equal: those among you who spent and who fought before the conquest of Makkah. Those are higher in rank than those who spent and fought afterwards. But to all Allah has promised a great reward" (57:10). And Allah said about us: "And those who came after them say: 'Our Lord, forgive us and our brothers who preceded us in faith, and do not put in our hearts any malice against those who have believed. Our Lord, You are the most Kind, Most Merciful"' (59:10).


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Chapter VI
THE DAY OF JUDGMENT
Belief in the Day of Judgment:

We believe in the Final Day, which is the Day of Judgment, when people will be resurrected and then told to remain in the abode of enjoyment or in the abode of severe punishment.

The Resurrection:

We believe in the resurrection, which is Allah's bringing to life all those who have died, and when Israfil shall blow the horn for the second time: "And the trumpet shall be blown, and all who are in the heavens and who are in the Earth shall fall down fainting, except those that Allah shall spare. Then, it shall be blown again and they shall rise gazing around them" (39:68). People will arise from their graves, answering the call of the Lord of the universe. They will be barefooted, naked, and uncircumcised: "As We started the first creation, so We shall bring it back again. This is a promise from Us, so We shall assuredly fulfill it" (21: 104).

The Records and Scales:

We believe in the records of deeds that will be given to people in their right hands or behind their backs, in the left hands: "As for him who is given his book in his right hand, he shall surely receive an easy reckoning and he will return to his family rejoicing. But as for him who is given his book behind his back, he shall call for destruction on himself and will burn in a blazing fire" (84:7-12); "Every man's work We have fastened on his own neck, and on the Day of Judgment We shall bring out for him a book which he will see spread open, saying: 'Read your own book! Enough for you this day that your own soul should call you to account"' (17:13-14).

We believe that scales of deeds will be set up on the Day of Judgment, and that no soul shall be wronged: "Whoever has done an atom's weight of good shall see it" (99:7-8); "Those whose scales are heavy, they are the successful; but those whose scales are light, they are the ones who have lost their souls in Hell dwelling forever. The fire will burn their faces, and there they will be gloomy with lips displaced" (23: 102-4); and "He that does a good deed shall be rewarded ten times the like of it, and he that does evil shall only be rewarded the like of it, and they shall not be wronged" (6:160).

The Prophet's Intercession:

We believe in the special great intercession of the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him. He will plead with Allah, after His permission and on behalf of mankind, to judge among His servants when they suffer from worries and troubles that they cannot bear. They will go to Adam, then to Noah, then to Abraham, then to Moses, then to Jesus, and finally to Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him.

We believe in the intercession that concerns some believers who were to be taken out from the fire. This mediation is granted to the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, and to others among the prophets, the believers, and the angels.

We believe also that Allah will save from hell some of the believers without the intercession of any one, but by His grace and mercy.

The Prophet's Pool:

We believe in the pool of the Prophet, peace be upon him, the water of which is whiter than milk and sweeter than honey and better in fragrance than musk. Each of its length and width is the distance of a month's travel. Its glasses are as stars in beauty and number. The believers among the Prophet's followers come to take from this great cistern a drink after which they will never be thirsty.

The Straight Path:

We believe in the straight path (sirat) set up over hell. People pass over it according to their deeds: the first of them as fast as lighting, then as fast as wind, then as fast as birds, and then as fast as a running man. The Prophet will be standing on the path, saying: "Lord, Save! Save!," as some people's deeds will fall short. Some of them will come crawling. At both sides of the path there are hooks designed to take whom Allah wills: some are saved but bruised; others are thrown into hell. (Bukhari and Muslim).

We believe in all that is mentioned in the Qur'an or the prophetic sayings concerning that day and its horrors, may Allah save us from them.

We believe in the intercession (Shafa'ah) of Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, for the people of paradise to enter therein. This intercession is exclusively limited to the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him.

Paradise and Hell:

We believe in paradise and hell. Paradise is the abode of enjoyment which Allah, the Exalted, prepared for the righteous. No eye has ever seen, no ear has ever heard of, and no human being has ever thought of the blessings that they will enjoy there: "No soul knows what comfort is kept hidden for them, as a reward for their deeds" (32:17). Hell is the abode of punishment that Allah has prepared for the unbelievers and the evildoers. The torture and horror in it cannot be imagined: "Surely, We have prepared for the evildoers a fire, whose pavilion encompasses them. If they call for help, they will be helped with water like molten copper which will scald their faces. How dreadful a drink and how evil a resting place!" (18:29).

Both paradise and hell exist now and will never perish: "Whoever believes in Allah and does righteousness, He will admit him to gardens beneath which rivers flow, to dwell therein for ever. Allah had indeed made for him an excellent provision" (65-11); "Certainly, Allah has cursed the unbelievers and prepared for them a blazing fire to dwell therein forever, they shall find neither protector nor helper. On the day when their faces are turned about in the fire they shall say: 'Would that we had obeyed Allah and obeyed the Messenger!"' (33: 64-6).

We confirm paradise to whom it is confirmed in the Qur'an or the prophetic traditions either by name or description. Among those who are granted paradise and mentioned by name are Abu Bakr, 'Umar, 'Uthman, 'All and others who were specified by the Prophet, peace be upon him (Bukhari and Muslim). Among those whom we confirm to enter paradise because they fit the description are the faithful and the pious.

We likewise confirm hell to whom it is confirmed in the Qur'an and the sayings of the Prophet, whether in name or description. Among those who are mentioned by name to be in hell are Abu Lahab, 'Amr Ibn Luhai al-Khuza'i, and others (Bukhari and Muslim). Confirmation of hell that is based on description includes every unbeliever, polytheist, or hypocrite.

What Happens in the Grave:

We believe in the Trial of the Grave, which involves questioning the deceased person in his grave about his Lord, his religion, and his prophet. There "Allah confirms those who believe with a firm saying, in the present life and the hereafter" (14:27). The believer will say: "Allah is my Lord, Islam is my religion, and Muhammad is my prophet." The unbeliever or the hypocrite will say: "I do not know. I heard the people saying something and I said it."

We believe in the comfort of the grave for the believers: "Those whose lives the angels take in state of purity, saying 'peace be on you; enter paradise for what you were doing' (16:32).

We believe in the punishment of the grave for the transgressing unbelievers: "If you could only see when the evildoers are in the agonies of death and the angels are stretching out their hands, saying, 'Give up your souls! Today you shall be rewarded with the punishment of humiliation for what you used to say untrue about Allah, and for scornfully rejecting His signs"' (6:93). The sayings of the Prophet are numerous and well-known in this area. A Muslim must believe in all that is reported in the Qur'an and the prophetic traditions concerning the unseen matters. He should not contradict it by his worldly experience, because the affairs of the hereafter cannot be measured by the affairs of this life. The difference between them is very great. Allah is the source of help.


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Chapter VII
FATE AND THE DIVINE DECREE
Belief:

We believe in Fate, whether good or bad, which Allah has measured and ordained for all creatures according to His previous knowledge and as deemed suitable by His wisdom.

Levels of Belief:

Belief in Fate has four levels: 1) Knowledge: We believe that Allah, may He be exalted, knows everything. He knows what has happened and what will happen and how it will happen. His knowledge is eternal. He does not acquire a new knowledge nor does he forget what He knows.

2) Recording: We believe that Allah has recorded in the secured tablet (al Lowh al Mahfuz) whatever is going to happen until the Day of Judgment: "Did you not know that Allah knows all that is in heaven and Earth? Surely that is in a book. Surely that for Allah is an easy matter" (22:70).

3) Will: We believe that Allah has willed everything in heaven and Earth. Nothing happens except by His will. Whatever He wills will take place, and whatever He does not will not take place.

4) Creation: We believe that "Allah is the Creator of all things; He is the Guardian over all things, and to Him belong the keys of the heavens and the Earth" (39:62-3). This level includes whatever Allah Himself does and whatever His creatures do. Thus each saying, deed, or omission of the people is known to Allah, Who has recorded, willed, and created them: "To those among you who will to be upright. But you shall not will except as Allah wills, the Lord of the Worlds" (81:2829); "And had Allah willed they would not have fought one against the other; but Allah does whatever He desires" (2:253); "Had Allah willed, they would not have done so, but leave them alone and their false inventions" (6:137); and "And Allah created you and what you do" (37:96). Man's Free Will:

We believe, however, that Allah has granted man a power and a free will by which he performs his actions. That man's deeds are done by his power and free will can be proven by the following points:

1) Allah says: "So approach your fields (wives) when and how you will" (2:223); and "Had they desired to go forth, they would have made some preparation for it" (9:46). In these verses, Allah affirmed for man "a going forth" by his will and "a preparation" by his desire.

2) Directing man to do or not to do. If man has no free will and power, these directions mean that Allah is asking man to do that which he cannot do. This proposition is rejected by Allah's wisdom, mercy and truthful statement: "Allah does not charge a soul beyond its capacity" (2:286).

3) Praising the virtuous for his deeds and blaming the evildoer for his actions and rewarding each of them with what he deserves. If the action is not done by the individual's free will, then praising the virtuous is a joke and punishing the evildoer is an injustice, and Allah is, of course, far from joking and being unjust.

4) Allah has sent messengers who are "bearing good tidings, and warning, so that mankind might have no argument against Allah after the messengers" (4:165). If the individual's action is not performed by his free will, his argument is not invalidated by the sending of messengers.

5) Every doer of actions feels that he does or does not do a thing without any coercion. He stands up and sits, comes in and goes out, travels and stays by his own free will without feeling anybody forcing him to be any of these actions. In fact, he clearly distinguishes between doing something of his own free will and someone else forcing him to do that action. The Islamic law also wisely distinguishes between these states of affairs. It does not punish a wrongdoer for an action done under compulsion.

No Excuse for Sinners:

We believe that the sinner has no excuse in Allah's divine decree, because he commits his sin by his free will, without knowing that Allah has decreed for him, for no one knows Allah's decree before it takes place: "No soul knows what it will earn tomorrow" (31:34). How can it be possible, then, to present an excuse that is not known to the person who is advancing it when he commits his offense? Allah invalidated this type of argument by saying: "The idolaters will say 'Had Allah willed, we would not have been idolaters, neither our fathers, nor would we have forbidden anything.' So did the people before them cry lies until they tasted our might. Say: 'Have you any proofs that you can show us? You follow nothing but assumption, and you are Lying"' (6:148). We say to the sinner who is using divine decree as an excuse: 'Why did you not perform deeds of obedience, assuming that Allah has decreed them upon you, since you did not know the difference between good deeds and sins? That is why, when Prophet Muhammad told his Companions that everyone's position in paradise or hell has been assigned, they said: 'Should not we rely on this and stop working?' He said: 'No, work and everyone will be directed to what he is created for"' (Bukhari and Muslim).

We say to the sinner who is trying to find an excuse in the divine decree: "Suppose you want to travel to Makkah. There are two roads that may take you there. You are told by a truthful person that one of these roads is dangerous and difficult, the other is easy and safe. You will take the second one. You will not take the first road and say it is decreed upon me. If you did, people would consider you crazy."

We may also say to him: "If you are offered two jobs, one of which has a higher salary, you will certainly take the one with the higher salary. Why do you choose what is lower in the hereafter and use the divine decree as an excuse?"

We may further say to him: "We see you when you are afflicted with a disease, you knock at every physician's door looking for treatment and bearing whatever pain that may result from surgical operations and the bitterness of medicine. Why do not you do the same when your heart is spiritually sick with sins?"

Evil Not Attributed to Allah:

We believe that evil should not be attributed to Allah, due to His perfect mercy and wisdom. The Prophet said: "And evil is not attributable to You" (Muslim). Thus Allah's decree by itself has no evil whatsoever, because it is coming from mercy and wisdom. Evil may, however, result from some of His decrees, because the Prophet said in the supplication for gunut which he taught to al-Hasan: "And protect us from the evil of what You decreed" (Tirmidhi and others). Here, the Prophet attributed evil to what He decreed. Despite this, evil in His decree is not pure evil. It is rather evil in one respect and good in another, or it is evil in one case and good in another. Thus corruption in the land resulting from drought, disease, poverty, and fear is evil, but it is good in another respect. Allah, the Exalted said: "Corruption has appeared on the land and sea for what men's hands have earned. Allah has ordained this for men, so that they may taste some of what they have done, in order that they may turn back (from evil)" (30:41). Cutting off the thief's hand or stoning the adulterer is an evil thing for the thief and the adulterer, but it is good for them in one respect, because it is a purification for them so that the punishment of this life and the hereafter are not combined for them. These punishments are good in another respect: their application protects property, honor, and relationships.


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Chapter VIII
BENEFITS
This sublime belief, which includes those great principles, bears numerous and useful types of fruits for whoever believes in it.

Virtues of Belief in Allah:

Belief in Allah, His names, and His attributes instills in the individual the love and glorification of Allah that result in his performing Allah's instructions and avoiding His prohibitions. These are the means of achieving ultimate happiness in this life and the hereafter for both the individual and the society: "Whoever, male or female, does righteous deed, while believing, We shall assuredly grant him a goodly life, and We shall reward them according to the best of their deeds" (16:97).

Virtues of Belief in the Angels:

Appreciating the dignity of Allah, His might, and His sovereignty.

Gratitude toward Allah because He puts some of the angels in charge of His servants, recording their deeds and other things that benefit them. ¥ Love and admiration for the angels because of what they are doing, namely, worshipping Allah in the best possible manner and praying for the believers.

Virtues of Belief in the Books:

Appreciating Allah's mercy and care for His people in that He sent down a book to every nation for its guidance.

Appreciating Allah's wisdom, for He revealed in these books to every nation that which suits them. The glorious Qur'an is the final book and it is suitable to all people at all times until the Day of Judgment.

Showing gratitude for Allah's mercy in revealing these books.

Virtues of Belief in the Messengers:

Appreciating Allah's mercy and care for His people for sending them those great messengers to guide them to the straight path. Thanking Allah for this great favor.

Loving and respecting the prophets and praising them in what they deserve, because they are Allah's messengers and His choice among His people. They worshipped Allah according to the best of their ability, conveyed His message to mankind, gave sincere advice to the people, and bore patiently whatever hurt they received.

Virtues of Belief in the Day of Judgment:

Endeavor to obey Allah to get the reward of that day and to avoid any disobedience to him for fear of His punishment.

A consolation for the believer for whatever he misses of worldly enjoyment by what he hopes to gain of blessings and reward of the hereafter.

Virtues of Belief in Fate and the Divine Decree:

Dependence on Allah when doing any action, because both the cause and effect are the result of Allah's decree.

Ease of mind and comfort, because when the individual knows that everything is by Allah's decree and that mishaps are going to take place anyway, his soul will be at ease and his heart will be satisfied with Allah's decree. No one has a more comfortable life, worry-free soul, and stronger confidence than a believer in fate.

Freedom from arrogance when a goal is achieved, because this is a blessing from Allah through what He decreed of the causes of good and success. The individual should thank Allah for that and free himself from arrogance.

Freedom from worry and boredom in case of failure or mishap, because that is by Allah's decree, the One who possesses the heavens and the Earth. Since that is going to happen anyway, the individual should be patient and hope for the reward from Allah. Allah points to the last two virtues in the following verse: "No misfortune can happen on earth or in yourselves but is recorded in a decree before We bring it into existence, that is really easy for Allah; that you may not grieve for what escapes you, nor rejoice in what has come to you. Allah does not love any vainglorious boaster" (57:22-3).

We pray to Allah, the Exalted, to reward us for this belief, to realize for us its fruits, to increase our blessings, to keep us on the right path to which He has guided us, and to bestow on us a blessing from Him. He is indeed the Giver. Praise and gratitude be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds, and peace and blessings be on Prophet Muhammad, his family, his Companions, and those who rightly follow them
There are only a few events in entire human history which produce such a staggering effect on the course of humanity that such events remain embedded in collective human psyche forever. Such an event has been the rise of Islam and its rape, plunder, murder and near annihilation of entire human race which were not Islamic.
- from Rape of a Civilization, by Kuldeep Razdan, Sword of Truth, September 4th, 1999


"The earth is flat. Whoever claims it is round is an atheist deserving of punishment."
[Sheik Abdul-Aziz Ibn Baaz, supreme religious authority of Saudi Arabia, 1993]


"What martyrdom is greater than making yourself a human bomb detonating it among the enemy? What spiritualism is greater than this spiritualism in which a person loses all feeling of his body and life for the sake of his cause and mission?"
[Ayatullah Sayyid Muhammad Husayn Fadallah]


Massacre In Luxor: Islamic Schools to Blame,
Says Egyptian Editor
Normally the Western press, after such massacres as that of Luxor on November 17, 1997 explicitly try to exonerate Islam itself from responsibility for the murders. The argument usually goes something like this: "These barbarians are dishonoring a great religion, they are simply manipulating Islam for their political purposes. The real Islam advocates peace, and has nothing in common with its fundamentalist interpretation. These fanatics have arisen because the corrupt regimes supported by Western powers have forced Western secularization down their throats. Indeed, it is this more subtle, insidious, Western neo-colonialism that is responsible for the barbarous slaughter of 100,000 people in Algeria, Egypt, Afghanistan...."

How refreshing then -- nay, even revolutionary -- to read in the Egyptian daily Al Goumhouriya on the day after the massacre that the real responsibility lies with all Egyptians in general, and the religious schools in particular: "All Egyptians are responsible. It is our society which has incubated these criminals and we are their refuge since they live, hide, kill and come back amongst us. [The religious Islamic University of Al Azhar and its Koranic schools] fill the heads with Islamic teaching, which is but a kind of brain-washing," states Mahfouz al Ansari. Describing the Al Azhar and its religious schools as factories for producing extremists, Ansari also drew a direct parallel with the massacres in Algeria, and criticized the silence of the religious sheikhs.

- Reported by Ibn Warraq


Muslim Chapter 17 The Prophet said: "None of you is a believer till I (Muhammad) am dearer to him than the members of his household (his child, his father) his wealth and the whole of mankind."
Muslim 32 The Prophet said: "When the slave runs away from his master, his prayer is not accepted"; he is an infidel.
Muslim 71 The Prophet said: ". . . The Jew or Christian who hears about me but does not affirm his belief... shall be one of the denizens of Hell-fire."
Muslim 1149 The Prophet said: "When it will be the Day of Resurrection Allah will deliver to every Muslim a Jew or a Christian and say: "". The Muslim may have sins as heavy as a mountain but the wrong beliefs of the non-believers would save space in Paradise."
Muslim 1153 There was a Muslim who used to transcribe for the Prophet but he ran away as a rebel and joined the People of the Book. (Jews or Christians?) Allah caused his death, so the unbelievers dug a grave and buried him. Three times they tried to bury him but each time the earth threw him out on to the surface. In the end they left him unburied.
Muslim 1187 The Prophet said: "When the dead body is placed in the grave, he listens to the sound of the shoes as his friends and relatives walk after burying him". He heard a sound and said "It is the Jews who are being tormented in their graves." "The souls of unbelievers are cursed and have a foul smell. The dead bodies of the unbelievers at Badr were left unburied for three days and then thrown in the well."
(Yuk!) Muslim 1227 The Prophet said: "A group of the Children of Israel was lost. I think that they turned into the shape of rats."
Hadith Malik 511:1588 The last statement that Muhammad made was: "O Lord, perish the Jews and Christians. They made churches of the graves of their prophets. There shall be no two faiths in Arabia". (During the caliphates of the first four Caliphs this edict was fully carried out and all non-believers were removed from Arabia.)
Bukhari 5:59:362 The Prophet killed the men of the Jewish tribe Bani Quraiza (some 600 to 800 of them) and distributed their women, children and property among the Muslims All the other Jews of Medina were exiled.
Bukhari 5:59:365 The Prophet had the date-palms of the Jewish tribe of Bani-Al- Nadir burnt and cut down. "It was with Allah's permission"
Bukhari 5:59:447 The Prophet said to Sa'd, :The Bani Quraiza have agreed to accept your verdict" Sa'd said, "Kill all their men and take their women and children as slaves" The Prophet replied, "You have judged according to God's Judgment"
Abu Dawud 38:4390 Attiyah al -Quran was among the captives of Banu Qurayza "They (the Companions) examined us and those who had begun to grow (pubic) hair were killed and those who had not were not killed. I was among those who had not grown hair."
Bukhari 9:89:271 A man embraced Islam and then reverted back to Judaism Mu'adh said: "I will not sit down unless you kill him as it is the verdict of Allah and His Apostle"
Bukhari 9:84:64 The Prophet said,"There will appear some young foolish people who will say the best words hut their faith will not go beyond their throats So wherever you find them, kill them, for whoever kills them shall have reward on the Day of Resurrection"
Muslim 767 The Prophet said that anyone who tries to disrupt the unity of the Muslims should be killed by the sword.
Hadees-e-Qudsi 22:17 (Hakim) Allah revealed to Muhammad that He had 70 thousand men killed avenging on John the Baptist and that He would get seventy plus seventy thousand killed avenging on his grandson.
Bukhari 4:52:73 The Prophet said," Know that Paradise is under the shades of swords."
Bukhari 4:52:801 The Prophet said, " Allah forgave the murderer who later died in Jihad (holy war)"
Bukhari 4:52:196 Allah's Apostle said, "I have been ordered to fight with the people till they say, "None has the right to be worshipped but Allah."
Bukhari 4:52:260 Ali burnt some people (Zanadiqa, atheists 9:84:57) although the Prophet had said, "Don't punish anybody with Allah's punishment (Fire)" if a Muslim discards his religion, kill him"
Bukhari 4:52:264 AI-Bara bin Azib said," Allah's Apostle sent a group of Ansari men to kill Abu-Rafi (a hundred year-old poet who mocked Muhammad) "I drove my sword into his body and pushed it forcibly till it touched the bone." Muhammad bin Maslama was quick to volunteer.
Bukhari 4:52:283 Ali said that no Muslim should be killed for killing an infidel (unbeliever).
Bukhan 9:89:282 The Prophet said, "Whoever has killed an unbeliever (in the battle of Hunain) and has proof or a witness of it, then his belongings will be for him"
Bukhari 5:59:628 The Prophet sent Khalid to the tribe of Jadhima to "invite them to Islam" They were hesitant so Khalid killed some of them and gave each Muslim soldier a captive.
Abu Dawud (38:4467) The Prophet said, "If they drink wine, flog them Again if they drink it, flog them. Again if they drink it kill them". But in (38:4469) they received three cautionary floggings before being killed on the fourth occasion


"There is something in the religious culture of Islam which inspired, in even the humblest peasant or peddler, a dignity and courtesy toward others never exceeded and rarely equaled in other civilizations... [but] in moments of upheaval and disruption, when the deeper passions are stirred, this dignity and courtesy toward others can give way to an explosive mixture of rage and hatred".
Professor Bernard Lewis




Isn't Islam a universal religion? What then is its relationship with the Arabs?

"Islam began as an Arab religion; it spread as an Arab empire. In Iran, Pakistan, Malaysia Indonesia (the countries of my itinerary) I was traveling, therefore, among people who had been converted to what was an alien faith. I was traveling among people who had to make a double adjustment to the European empires of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries; and an earlier adjustment to the Arab faith. You might almost say that I was among people who had been doubly colonized, doubly removed from themselves."
V. S. Naipaul, New York Review of Books (January 31, 1991)


It is sad and ironic that in Algeria, for instance, all teaching in the French language was discontinued because the French language was considered a symbol of French colonialism, and "illegitimate" imperial presence. It is sad since it cuts a whole generation off from the rich cultural heritage of a modern, rational and progressive civilization, but also ironic since Arabic is itself an imposed language. Arab imperialism not only imposed a new language on a people whose mother tongue was Berber (NOT Arabic) but even convinced the same people that they were ethnically Arabs -which they were not and brainwashed them into accepting a religion that was alien to their own religious traditions. Bowing toward Arabia five times a day might be amongst the ultimate symbol of this cultural imperialism.
- Ibn Warraq




Some African-Americans say they choose Islam because it was the only religion which never participated in the Black African slave trade. What is the record of slavery in Islam?

See Slavery


Why do you quote these so-called experts of Islam when the writings of our most respected leader are available?

Sayings of Ayatollah Khomeini:
A man can have sexual pleasure from a child as young as a baby. However he should not penetrate, sodomising the child is OK. If the man penetrates and damages the child then he should be responsible for her subsistence all her life. This girl, however does not count as one of his four permanent wives. The man will not be eligible to marry the girls sister.
From Khomeini's book, "Tahrirolvasyleh", fourth volume, Darol Elm, Gom,
Iran, 1990

It is better for a girl to marry in such a time when she would begin menstruation at her husband's house rather than her father's home. Any father marrying his daughter so young will have a permanent place in heaven.

From Khomeini's book, "Tahrirolvasyleh", fourth volume, Darol Elm, Gom,
Iran, 1990

A man can have sex with animals such as sheep¹s, cows, camels and so on. However he should kill the animal after he has his orgasm. He should not sell the meat to the people in his own village, however selling the meat to the next door village should be fine.

From Khomeini's book, "Tahrirolvasyleh", fourth volume, Darol Elm, Gom,
Iran, 1990

"If one commits the act of sodomy with a cow, a ewe, or a camel, their urine and their excrements become impure, and even their milk may no longer be consumed. The animal must then be killed and as quickly as possible and burned."

The little green book, Sayings of Ayatollah Khomeini, Political, Phylosophica, Social and Religious with a special introduction by Clive Irving, ISBN number 0-553-14032-9, page 47

from the Darabi Foundation




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RELATED SECTIONS:
Expansionism, Jihad, Edenism, Slavery, Terrorism, Apostacy, Arabs, Jerusalem, India, Hamas, the Nation of Islam, Dhimma, Jews, Christians, Democracy, Automorphism, The Frog and the Scorpion, The Golden Age, Moral Relativism, Muhammad


WWW RESOURCES:
The Darabi Foundation

Sayings of Ayatollah Khomeini

Rev Keith Roderick, Secretary General of the Coalition for the Defense of Human Rights Under Islamization


BOOKS & PRINTED MATERIAL:

The Politically Incorrect Guide to Islam - and the Crusades, by Robert Spencer [VIEW BOOK HERE]

Islamic Imperialism: A History, by Efraim Karsh [VIEW BOOK HERE]

The Legacy of Jihad: Islamic Holy War and the Fate of Non-Muslims, by Andrew G Bostom [VIEW BOOK HERE]

The Myth of Islamic Tolerance: How Islamic Law Treats Non-Muslims, by Robert Spencer [VIEW BOOK HERE]

Islam and the Jews: The Unfinished Battle, by Mark A. Gabriel [VIEW BOOK HERE]

The Trouble with Islam Today: A Muslim's Call for Reform in Her Faith, by Irshad Manji [VIEW BOOK HERE]

Why I Am Not a Muslim, by Ibn Warraq [VIEW BOOK HERE]

Prophet of Doom: Islam's Terrorist Dogma in Muhammad's Own Words, by Craig Winn [VIEW BOOK HERE]

The Early Development of Mohammedanism, by D. S. camels and so on. However he should kill the animal after he has his orgasm. He should not sell the meat to the people in his own village, however selling the meat to the next door village should be fine.

From Khomeini's book, "Tahrirolvasyleh", fourth volume, Darol Elm, Gom,
Iran, 1990

"If one commits the act of sodomy with a cow, a ewe, or a camel, their urine and their excrements become impure, and even their milk may no longer be consumed. The animal must then be killed and as quickly as possible and burned."

The little green book, Sayings of Ayatollah Khomeini, Political, Phylosophica, Social and Religious with a special introduction by Clive Irving, ISBN number 0-553-14032-9, page 47

from the Darabi Foundation

this is u r non of ur bussiness dear u r not god judge everthing this world who right or wrong god will decide . ok
takerest bcoz u r blood pressure will high. dear idiot

Answer 2

1

Answer 3

Pray to forgive them. My friends and I believe all this has to play out for the return of Jesus in our life time. Get ready is all we can do and Pray for the world and the people lost. It is not to say we do not see the pain and suffering we do and we can not hate or judge. The airport and the news of threats to America has never been so dangerous as it is now. George Washington at one point had a dream or a vision the Birth of America in the process he saw the Ruin of America by a foreign nation. The dream that we are the World's Police. As a nation US we try to come to the rescue of innocent people and take in and never refuse. We are blessed as ONE Nation Under GOD. We have suffered losses during our history. Pray and keep looking up.
I listen to John Lennon Imagine and Give Peace a Chance.
He had a sit in for PEACE IF YOU WANT IT. People called him a dreamer and yet he died a violent death. Everyone who comes in the making of peace has met violence when you look at it.
God has it under control...Don't take vengeance as your cloak.

Answer 4

Marines-Travel Agents to Allah.
It's God's job to judge Bin Ladin, It's the Marine's job to arrange the meeting.

Answer 5

if you went around killing people who you don't like--then aren't you the same as them?? that is a horrible thing to say--killing people...that is a sin you know..

Answer 6

Same goes to you. Don't christians believe they'll meet god when they die. Do you need a hand in getting there?

Stupid christian.

Ever heard of the crusades? Spanish inquisition? Ringing any bells?

Christianity is no more noble than any of the abrahamic religions.

Pathetic.

Answer 7

1st of all it is impossible to kill all extremists, they have bored too deeply. 2nd of all they do not meet Allah after death unless their death was a righteous one. Strapping c4 to yourself and detonating it, killing innocent children, women, and men doesn't qualify!

Answer 8

My guess is that, according to you, they would go to hell if they died. So, you don't want to kill them because you want to give them a chance to repent.

Answer 9

i agree with u, except with the killing part. im against tht. but actually i did a report on this awhile ago. the reason tht they are so violent is because the whole idea was on a violent foundation. the first muslims were either family members of mohhamad, or they were people who barely met him. and to those who think christians were popes and tht stuff,tht was DISTORTED christianity. they werent even christians. they were hypocrits

Answer 10

Yes, you are right...but it's God's place to judge them; not ours.

Besides...God is much better at punishment than I could ever be.

Grace to you and God Bless!

Answer 11

Jesus died for them to so yes they deserve death but Jesus paid that penalty before I rededicated my life I believed the same thing but we still need to love our enemies they do deserve to be captured but we shouldn't kill them because they need to hear His message maybe they might listen