Have YOU ever wondered … - Answers

Have YOU ever wondered … - Answers

…what do Muslims believe in?

1) Belief in God:


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

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

No one has the right to be invoked, supplicated, prayed to, or shown any act of worship, but God alone.
God alone is the Almighty, the Creator, the Sovereign, and the Sustainer of everything in the whole universe. He manages all affairs. He stands in need of none of His creatures, and all His creatures depend on Him for all that they need.  He is the All-Hearing, the All-Seeing, and the All-Knowing.  In a perfect manner, His knowledge encompasses all things, the open and the secret, and the public and the private.  He knows what has happened, what will happen, and how it will happen.  No affair occurs in the whole world except by His will.  Whatever He wills, is, and whatever He does not will, is not, and will never be.  His will is above the will of all the creatures.  He has power over all things, and He is able to do everything.  He is the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful, and the Most Beneficent.  In one of the sayings of the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon Him) , we are told that God is more merciful to His creatures than a mother to her child.¹  God is far removed from injustice and tyranny.  He is All-Wise in all of His actions and decrees.  If someone wants something from God, he or she can ask God directly without asking anyone else to intercede with God for him or her.
God is not Jesus, and Jesus is not God.²  Even Jesus himself rejected this. 

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


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


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


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



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


3) Belief in God’s Revealed Books:


Muslims believe that God revealed books to His messengers as proof for mankind and as guidance for them.  Among these books is the Quran, which God revealed to the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon Him)   God has guaranteed the Quran’s protection from any corruption or distortion.  God has said:
 Indeed, We have sent down the Quran, and surely We will guard it (from corruption).  (Quran, 15:9)


4) Belief in the Prophets and Messengers of God:


Muslims believe in the prophets and messengers of God, starting with Adam, including Noah, Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, and Jesus (peace be upon them).  But God’s final message to man, a reconfirmation of the eternal message, was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon Him) .  Muslims believe that Muhammad (Peace be upon Him)  is the last prophet sent by God, as God has said:
Muhammad (Peace be upon Him) is not the father of any one of your men, but he is the Messenger of God and the last of the prophets...  (Quran, 33:40)
Muslims believe that all the prophets and messengers were created human beings who had none of the divine qualities of God.


5) Belief in the Day of Judgment:


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


6) Belief in Al-Qadar:

Muslims believe in Al-Qadar, which is Divine Predestination, but this belief in Divine Predestination does not mean that human beings do not have freewill.  Rather, Muslims believe that God has given human beings freewill.  This means that they can choose right or wrong and that they are responsible for their choices.
The belief in Divine Predestination includes belief in four things: 
1) God knows everything.  He knows what has happened and what will happen.  
2) God has recorded all that has happened and all that will happen.  
3) Whatever God wills to happen happens, and whatever He wills not to happen does not happen. 
4) God is the Creator of everything. 


1)Narrated in Saheeh Muslim, #2754, and Saheeh Al-Bukhari, #5999.
(2) It was reported by the Associated Press, London, on June 25, 1984, that a majority of the Anglican bishops surveyed by a television program said, “Christians are not obliged to believe that Jesus Christ was God.”  The poll was of 31 of England’s 39 bishops.  The report further stated that 19 of the 31 bishops said it was sufficient to regard Jesus as “God’s supreme agent.”  The poll was conducted by London Weekend Television’s weekly religious program, “Credo.”
(3) The wrongdoers include the polytheists.
(4) NIV Compact Dictionary of the Bible, Douglas, p. 42



Pillars of Islam

There are five pillars of Islam:
1. Shahada (Testify)
2. Salah (Prayer)
3. Seyam (Fasting)
4. Zakat (Charity)
5. Hajj (Pilgrimage)



Shahada (Creed)
The verbal commitment and pledge that there is no deity but Allah, and Muhammad (Peace be upon Him) is the messenger of Allah.

Salah (Mandatory Worship [Prayer])
It is the duty of every Muslim, male and female, after reaching the age of puberty, to perform five Salats (Prayers) at specific times during the day and night. These five specific times are: - Dawn, Noon, Afternoon, Sunset, and Night. A ritual called Wudu (Cleaning several parts of the body with water) is a prerequisite to Salat.

Siyam (Fasting)
Fasting during the month of Ramadan (the ninth month of the lunar calendar) is from sunrise to sunset only and is an obligation on every adult healthy Muslim, male or female. Fasting is total abstinence from eating, drinking, smoking, gum chewing, intimate relations, and taking anything into the body. If a person is ill and needs to take medication, s/he cannot fast. Fasting is also a time to discipline one's self from bad behaviors, such as arguing, and saying mean things. Those who are ill or unable to fast for health or reasons of age are exempt from fasting. However, they should feel the poor one meal for every day they miss of fasting. Women who are pregnant, menstruating, or nursing, or any who are traveling, are also exempt from fasting. However, when their situation changes, they make up for the missed days of fasting.

Zakah (Charity)
Zakat is an annual obligatory charity on every Muslim, male or female, who possesses over the last year money or property that exceeds their minimum needs. The requirement is 2.5% of one's excess wealth.


Hajj (Pilgrimage)
The performance of the pilgrimage to Makkah, Saudi Arabia is required once in a lifetime of every Muslim, if financially able, as well as physically able. Hajj begins every year during the month of Dul Hejja; Dul Hejja is the 12th month of the Islamic (lunar) calendar year. The Hajj is a spiritual journey where a Muslim forgets all worldly things and devotes his\\her attention and time to Allah alone. 


…why is Islam the fastest growing religion in the world?

Some of the reasons attributed by people who convert to Islam are listed below.

• Oneness of God - Islam is the only religion on the face of earth which strongly believes and adheres to the concept of One True God. In Islam, the concept of one God is very clear and its whole foundation is based on Monotheism
• Eloquence of Quran’s language – The uniqueness and beauty of Quran’s text has been marveled by the best of Arab linguists and scholars from the days it was revealed until today. The more knowledgeable people are in the language, the more they appreciate the wonders of the textual fluency of the Quran.
• Overwhelming scientific evidence and proofs – The Quran, revealed more than 1400 years ago has numerous scientific facts that are being validated by science only in this era.
• Divine wisdom behind various social issues – The Quran provides a solution to numerous social issues, a deviation from which has known to cause societal chaos at all levels.
• Divine Text – Quran’s language and prose is very different from the language in the hadith (Prophet’s sayings) thus proving that Quran is not the “imagination” or words of Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon Him), as many doubters have alleged in the past and do so even today.
  

…why do Muslims regard the Qur'aan as a living Miracle?

• The Quran is the only book that has remained in its original form since it was revealed. It has, and continues to be memorised word for word, from cover to cover by millions of Muslims throughout the world, thus ensuring that not even a word can be changed.
• The Quran, revealed more than 1400 years ago has numerous scientific facts that are being validated by science only in this era.
• It cannot be reproduced by a human : God, in the quran challenges people to reproduce something similar to the Quran:  “Do people imagine that this Qur’an is not from Us, and that you, O Prophet are falsely attributing to us? Tell them that if they are speaking truly they should produce ten surahs (chapters) resembling the Qur’an, and that they are free to call on the aid of anyone but God in so doing.” (11:13)     
• “Oh people, if you doubt the heavenly origin of this Book which We have sent down to Our servant, the Prophet, produce one surah (chapter) like it.” (2:23)
  

A yet stronger challenge occurs in another chapter:

“Or do they say: 'He forged it'? Say: 'Bring then a sura (Chapter) like unto it and call [to your aid] anyone you can”. (10:38)

…why some scientists have accepted Islam after studying the Qur'aan?

Click HERE to read testimonies from Scientists who accepted Islam after studying the Qur’aan.


…why Islam is portrayed so negatively in the media?

There are many reason for Islam being portrayed negatively, some of which are:



1) Ignorance regarding Islam and its beliefs.


2) In todays time, nudity, vulgarity, adultery, drinking  and other such social maladies have been the order of the day which has devoured the moral fabric of our society.
 Islaam promotes a wholesome lifestyle enriched with:

• Peace (Assalaamualaikum – a universal greeting used at anytime of the day or night which means “may peace be upon you” a verbal agreement informing the person you are speaking to that they are saved from any harm from yourself
• Modesty (eg of a females dressing hijaab + Virgin Mary as depicted in Nativity plays),
• Honesty (incl Qur’aanic ayah)
• Obedience to parents (Qur’aanic ayah – lower the wings of mercy unto them, have mercy upon them as they had mercy on me when I was small)
• etc
  

The above points are in contradiction to lifestyle promoted by the West who understand that Islam would spread like wildfire if the truth of the religion were to be publicized

3) Islam has a governing system which if implemented will bring an end to most of the problem facing countries today such as crime, immorality, drinking, drugs, poverty, corruption, and inequality.  
This is a threat to those in power who are benefiting from the status quo by oppressing people and making money off them. Therefore, by painting a negative image of Islam, it furthers the interests of the elite and also create a negative view of Islam amongst people.

Scientists on the Qur'aan

Keith L. Moore

Professor Emeritus, Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Toronto. Distinguished embryologist and the author of several medical textbooks, including Clinically Oriented Anatomy (3rd Edition) and The Developing Human (5th Edition, with T.V.N. Persaud).

Dr. Moore was a former President of the Canadian Association of Anatomists, and of the American Association of Clinical Anatomists. He was honoured by the Canadian Association of Anatomists with the prestigious J.C.B. Grant Award and in 1994 he received the Honoured Member Award of the American Association of Clinical Anatomists "for outstanding contributions to the field of clinical anatomy."

"For the past three years, I have worked with the Embryology Committee of King Abdulaziz

University in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, helping them to interpret the many statements in the Qur'an

and Sunnah referring to human reproduction and prenatal development. At first I was astonished by the accuracy of the statements that were recorded in the 7thcentury AD, before the science of embryology was established. Although I was aware of the glorious history of Muslim scientists in the 10th century AD, and some of their contributions to Medicine, I knew nothing about the religious facts and beliefs contained in the Qur'an and Sunnah."[2]

At a conference in Cairo he presented a research paper and stated:

"It has been a great pleasure for me to help clarify statements in the Qur'an about human

development. It is clear to me that these statements must have come to Muhammad from God, or Allah, because most of this knowledge was not discovered until many centuries later. This proves to me that Muhammad must have been a messenger of God, or Allah." [1]

Professor Moore also stated that:

"...Because the staging of human embryos is complex, owing to the continuous process of change during development, it is proposed that a new system of classification could be developed using the terms mentioned in the Qur'an and Sunnah. The proposed system is simple, comprehensive, and conforms with present embryological knowledge.

"The intensive studies of the Qur'an and Hadith in the last four years have revealed a system of

classifying human embryos that is amazing since it was recorded in the seventh century A.D... the descriptions in the Qur'an cannot be based on scientific knowledge in the seventh century..."[1]

E. Marshall Johnson

Professor and Chairman of the Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, and Director of the Daniel Baugh Institute, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. Author of over 200 publications. Former President of the Teratology Society among other

accomplishments. Professor Johnson began to take an interest in the scientific signs in the Qur'an at the 7th Saudi Medical Conference (1982), when a special committee was formed to investigate scientific signs in the Qur'an and Hadith. At first, Professor Johnson refused to accept the existence of such verses in the Qur'an and Hadith. But after a dicussuion with Sheikh Zindani he took an interest and concentrated his research on the internal as well as external development of the fetus.

"...in summary, the Qur'an describes not only the development of external form, but emphasises

also the internal stages, the stages inside the embryo, of its creation and development,

emphasising major events recognised by contemporary science."

"As a scientist, I can only deal with things which I can specifically see. I can understand

embryology and developmental biology. I can understand the words that are translated to me from the Qur'an. As I gave the example before, if I were to transpose myself into that era, knowing what I do today and describing things, I could not describe the things that were described...

I see no evidence to refute the concept that this individual Muhammad had to be developing this information from some place... so I see nothing here in conflict with the concept that divine intervention was involved in what he was able to write..." [1]

T.V.N. Persaud

Professor of Anatomy, and Professor of Paediatrics and Child Health, University of Manitoba,

Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.

Author and editor of over 20 books, and has published over 181 scientific papers. Co-author of

The Developing Human (5th Edition, with Keith L. Moore).He received the J.C.B. Grant Award in 1991. Professor Peraud presented several research papers.

"It seems to me that Muhammad was a very ordinary man, he couldn't read, didn't know how to

write, in fact he was an illiterate... We're talking about 1400 years ago, you have some illiterate person making profound statements that are amazingly accurate, of a scientific nature...

I personally can't see how this could be mere chance, there are too many accuracies and like Dr. Moore, I have no difficulty in my mind reconciling that this is a divine inspiration or revelation

which lead him to these statements." [1]

Joe Leigh Simpson

Professor and Chairman of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Baylor College of

Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA.

He is the President of the American Fertility Society. He has received many awards, including the Association of Professors of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Public Recognition Award in 1992. Like many others, Professor Simpson was taken by surprise when he discovered that the Qur'an and Hadith contain verses related to his specialised field of study. When he met with Sheikh Abdul- Majeed A.Zindani, he insisted on verifying the text presented to him from the Qur'an and Hadith.

"... these Hadiths (sayings of Muhammad) could not have been obtained on the basis of the

scientific knowledge that was available at the time of the 'writer'... It follows that not only is there

no conflict between genetics and religion (Islam) but in fact religion (Islam) may guide science by adding revelation to some of the traditional scientific approaches... There exist statements in the Qur'an shown centuries later to be valid which support knowledge in the Qur'an having been

derived from God." [1]

Gerald C. Goeringer

Professor and Co-ordinator of Medical Embryology in the Department of Cell Biology, School of Medicine, Georgetown University, Washington DC, USA.

Sheikh Abdul-Majeed A.Zindani met with Professor Goeringer and asked him whether in the

history of embryology was there any mention of the different stages of embryonic development, or whether there existed any embryological texts at the time of the Prophet. Sheikh Zindani also

asked his opinion regarding the terms the Qur'an uses to describe the different phases of fetal

development. After several long discussions, he presented a study at the 8th Saudi Medical

Conference:

"...In a relatively few ayahs (Qur'anic verses) is contained a rather comprehensive description of

human development from the time of commingling of the gametes through organogenesis. No

such distinct and complete record of human development such as classification, terminology, and description existed previously. In most, if not all instances, this description antedates by many centuries the recording of the various stages of human embryonic and fetal development recorded in the traditional scientific literature." [1]

Alfred Kroner

Professor of the Department of Geosciences, University of Mainz, Germany.

Professor Kroner is one of the world's most famous geologists, becoming well known among his colleague scientists for his criticisms against the theories of some of the major scientists in his field. Sheikh Abdul-Majeed A. Zindani met with him and presented several Qur'anic verses and Hadith which he studied and commented upon.

"Thinking where Muhammad came from... I think it is almost impossible that he could have known about things like the common origin of the universe, because scientists have only found out within the last few years with very complicated and advanced technological methods that this is the case."

"Somebody who did not know something about nuclear physics 1400 years ago could not, I think, be in a position to find out from his own mind for instance that the earth and the heavens had the same origin, or many others of the questions that we have discussed here...

If you combine all these and you combine all these statements that are being made in the Qur'an in terms that relate to the earth and the formation of the earth and science in general, you can basically say that statements made there in many ways are true, they can now be confirmed by scientific methods, and in a way, you can say that the Qur'an is a simple science text book for the simple man. And that many of the statements made in there at that time could not be proven, but that modern scientific methods are now in a position to prove what Muhammad said 1400 years ago." [1]

Yushidi Kusan

Director of the Tokyo Observatory, Tokyo, Japan.

Sheikh Abdul-Majeed A. Zindani presented a number of Qur'anic verses describing the beginnings of the universe and of the heavens, and the relationship of the earth to the heavens. He expressed his astonishment, saying that the Qur'an describes the universe as seen from the

highest observation point, everything is distinct and clear.

"I say, I am very much impressed by finding true astronomical facts in Qur'an, and for us modern

astronomers have been studying very small piece of the universe. We have concentrated our

efforts for understanding of very small part. Because by using telescopes, we can see only very

few parts of the sky without thinking about the whole universe. So by reading Qur'an and by

answering to the questions, I think I can find my future way for investigation of the universe." [1]

Professor Armstrong

Professor Armstrong works for NASA and is also Professor of Astronomy, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas, USA.

Prof. Armstrong was asked a number of questions about Qur'anic verses dealing with his field of specialisation. He was eventually asked, "You have seen and discovered for yourself the true

nature of modern Astronomy by means of modern equipment, rockets, and satellites developed by man. You have also seen how the same facts were mentioned by the Qur'an fourteen centuries ago. So what is your opinion?"

"That is a difficult question which I have been thinking about since our discussion here. I am

impressed at how remarkably some of the ancient writings seem to correspond to modern and

recent Astronomy. I am not a sufficient scholar of human history to project myself completely and reliably into the circumstances that 1400 years ago would have prevailed.
 

Certainly, I would like to leave it at that, that what we have seen is remarkable, it may or may not

admit of scientific explanation, there may well have to be something beyond what we understand as ordinary human experience to account for the writings that we have seen." [1]

William Hay

Professor of Oceanogprahy, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado, USA.

Professor Hay is one of the best known marine scientist in the USA. Sheikh Abdul-Majeed A.

Zindani met with him and asked him many questions about the marine surface, the divider

between upper and lower sea, and about the ocean floor and marine geology.

"I find it very interesting that this sort of information is in the ancient scriptures of the Holy Qur'an, and I have no way of knowing where they would have come from. But I think it is extremely interesting that they are there and this work is going on to discover it, the meaning of some of the passages."

And when he was asked about the source of the Qur'an, he replied, "Well, I would think it must be the divine being." [1]

Durja Rao

Professor of Marine Geology teaching at King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Sheikh Zindani presented to Prof. Rao many verses dealing with his area of specialisation, and

asked: "What do you think of the existence of the scientific information in the Qur'an? How could Prophet Muhammad(Peace be upon him) have known about these facts fourteen centuries ago?"

"It is difficult to imagine that this type of knowledge was existing at that time, around 1400 years

back. May be some of the things they have simple idea about, but to describe those things in

great detail is very difficult. So this is definitely not simple human knowledge. A normal human

being cannot explain this phenomenon in that much detail. So, I thought the information must

have come from a supernatural source." [1]

Tejatat Tejasen

Chairman of the Department of Anatomy and is the former Dean of the faculty of Medicine,

University of Chiang Mai, Chiang Mai, Thailand

Professor Tejasen studied various articles concerning the Qur'an and modern embryology. He

spent four days with several scholars, Muslims and non-Muslims, discussing this phenomenon in the Qur'an and Hadith. During the 8th Saudi Medical Conference in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia he stood up and said:

"In the last three years, I became interested in the Qur'an... From my studies and what I have

learned throughout this conference, I believe that everything that has been recorded in the Qur'an fourteen hundred years ago must be the truth, that can be proved by the scientific means.

Since the Prophet Muhammad could neither read nor write, Muhammad must be a messenger

who relayed this truth which was revealed to him as an enlightenment by the one who is eligible

creator. This creator must be God, or Allah.

I think this is the time to say La ilaha illa Allah, there is no god to worship except Allah (God),

Muhammad rasoolu Allah, Muhammad is Messenger of Allah...

The most precious thing I have gained from coming to this conference is La ilaha illa Allah, and to have become Muslim." [1]

Dr. Maurice Bucaille

Born in 1920, former chief of the Surgical Clinic, University of Paris, has for a long time deeply

interested in the correspondences between the teachings of the Holy Scriptures and modern

secular knowledge.

He is the author of a best-seller, "The Bible, The Qur'an and Science" (1976). His classical studies of the scriptural languages, including Arabic, in association with his knowledge of hieroglyphics, have allowed him to hold a multidisciplinary inquiry, in which his personal contribution as a medical doctor has produced conclusive arguments. His work, "Mummies of the Pharaohs - Modern Medical Investigations" (St. Martins Press, 1990), won a History Prize from the Académie Française and another prize from the French National Academy of Medicine. His other works include: "What is the Origin of Man" (Seghers, 1988), "Moses and Pharaoh, the Hebrews in Egypt", (NTT Mediascope Inc, 1994); and "Réflexions sur le Coran" (Mohamed Talbi & Maurice Bucaille, Seghers, 1989)

After a study which lasted ten years, Dr. Maurice Bucaille addressed the French Academy of

Medicine in 1976 concerning the existence in the Qur'an of certain statements concerning

physiology and reproduction. His reason for doing that was that :

"...our knowledge of these disciplines is such, that it is impossible to explain how a text produced at the time of the Qur'an could have contained ideas that have only been discovered in modern times."

"The above observation makes the hypothesis advanced by those who see Muhammad as the

author of the Qur'an untenable. How could a man, from being illiterate, become the most

important author, in terms of literary merits, in the whole of Arabic literature?

How could he then pronounce truths of a scientific nature that no other human-being could

possibly have developed at that time, and all this without once making the slightest error in his

pronouncement on the subject?"