sign in sign up
<<
Home , Day of Resurrection

Link Islamic Center of Athens, 13 Stewart Street, Athens, Ohio 45701 - (740) 594-3890 No. 8...... February 2005 A Monthly Educational Newsletter from an Islamic Perspective

Scratch the surface, you’ll find the differences

Although at the surface, and Christianity may look similar, or even seem almost the same; if we dig a little deeper we will that are not mentioned in the Bible. One of them, also found find significant differences in major points of faith. in the Apocrypha, is mentioned in the previous verse “… and For example, there is a huge difference between the way Islam when you made out of the clay a figure like that of a bird, and Christianity view the idea of monotheism. While Islam is by My Permission, and you breathed into it, and it became a strict in defining monotheism as the absolute Oneness of and bird by My Permission...”; and the other one is “ son of immateriality of God, in Christianity you’ll find that the Trinity is Mary, said: “O God, our Lord! Send us from the heaven considered a form of monotheism. a table spread (with food) that there may be for us - for the first and the last of us - a festival and a sign from Another example would be the way Islam and Christianity view You; and provide us sustenance, for You are the Best of sustainers.” Qur’an 5:114, Qur’an is not talking about one of the miracles performed by Jesus (peace be upon him). , for example, consider the miracle of birth of Jesus to be a sign of Jesus’ miraculous banquets, but it’s talking about a table full being God or son of God, while Qur’an finds it strange that people of food God sent down based on the request of the disciples would reach such a conclusion; even more, the Qur’an considers and many people ate from it. the truth about the Status of Jesus to be simple and clear. For example, the Qur’an compares the birth of Jesus to the origin of Also, the Qur’an doesn’t recognize the we have : “Verily, the likeness of Jesus before God is the likeness today as the original Gospels, but considers the real to of Adam. He created him from dust, then (He) said to him: be a revelation from God to Jesus (peace be upon him), and not a book written by John, Matthew, Mark or Luke, “Be!” - and he was.” Qur’an 3:59 The Qur’an considers Jesus’ miraculous birth to be a sign from “… We sent Jesus son of Mary confirming the God; when Mary asked the how could she have a son while that had come before him, and We gave him the Gospel she never had a relationship with any man: “He said: “So (it will in which was guidance and light and confirmation of be), your Lord said: ‘That is easy for Me (God): And (We the Torah that had come before it, a guidance and an wish) to appoint him as a sign to mankind and a mercy from admonition for the pious” Qur’an 5:46. This must be the Gospel Jesus (peace be up him) was talking about when he sent Us (God), and it is a matter (already) decreed, (by God)” Qur’an 19:21 out his disciples: “And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation””. Mark 16:15, so Qur’an considers the Gospel to be a revelation from God Looking at the miracles Jesus (peace be upon him) performed, the Qur’an emphasizes that his miracles and all the miracles to people through Jesus; which did contain believing in the performed by the other prophets of God are done by the oneness of God, laws, wisdom, etc. While the Gospels of permission of God, “(Remember) when God will say (on the Matthews, John, Luke and Mark are viewed by as Day of ). “O Jesus, son of Mary! Remember My the recording of teachings of Jesus besides his biography, Favor to you and to your mother when I supported you with regardless of their accuracy. so that you spoke to the people in the cradle and in maturity; and when I taught you writing, wisdom, the Torah One major difference between the two faiths is in the way and the Gospel; and when you made out of the clay a figure Islam and Christianity view the prophets of God. If you like that of a bird, by My Permission, and you breathed into look in the Bible, it’s easy to notice that some prophets are it, and it became a bird by My Permission, and you healed accused of committing major sins. For example, Prophet those born blind, and the lepers by My Permission, and is accused of worshiping idols “For Solomon went when you brought forth the dead by My Permission; and after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians and after when I restrained the Children of Israel from you (when they Milcom the detestable idol of the Ammonites. Solomon resolved to kill you) as you came unto them with clear proofs, did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, and did not and the disbelievers among them said: ‘This is nothing but follow the Lord fully, as his father had done. Then Solomon built a high place for Chemosh the detestable evident magic“ Qur’an 5:110, as you can see God kept repeating this phrase “by My Permission”. Interestingly enough, the Qur’an idol of Moab, on the mountain which is east of , and for Molech the detestable idol of the sons of Ammon” mentions all the miracles performed by Jesus (peace be upon him) in this place and other places of the Qur’an, including two miracles 1 King 11:5-7, was accused of committing incest “So they

MSA Link Page 1 made their father drink wine that night, and the firstborn be like saying that God misled people. went in and lay with her father; and he did not know when she lay down or when she arose. On the following Starting from Adam, the Qur’an says: “And indeed We day, the firstborn said to the younger, “Behold, I lay made a covenant with Adam before, but he forgot, and last night with my father; let us make him drink wine We found on his part no firm will-power” 20:115. About tonight also; then you go in and lie with him, that we may it says: “And mention in the Book (the Qur’an) preserve our family through our father.” Genesis 19:33-34. Abraham. Verily he was a man of truth, a Prophet” Also, the story about prevailing over God “He said, 19:41, about it says: “And mention in the Book “Your name shall no longer be Jacob, but Israel; for you (this Qur’an) Moses. Verily he was chosen and he was have striven with God and with men and have prevailed” a Messenger (and) a Prophet” 19:51, about it Genesis 32:28; as well as other examples. says: “And mention in the Book (the Qur’an) Ishmael. Verily he was true to what he promised, and he was a From the Islamic point of view, this doesn’t make any sense. Messenger, (and) a Prophet” 19:54, about it says: It all goes back to the different views about the reason of “And mention in the Book (the Qur’an) Enoch. Verily he creation. Islam doesn’t recognize the idea that this life is a was a man of truth, (and) a Prophet.” 19:56. It continues result of Adam’s ‘sin’, Muslims believe that this life exists to say in the same chapter : “Those were they unto whom because of God’s will regardless of what prophet Adam God bestowed His Grace from among the Prophets, of did. The reason for creation is: “And (remember) when the offspring of Adam, and of those whom We carried your Lord said to the : “Verily, I am going to place (in the ship) with , and of the offspring of Abraham (mankind) generations after generations on earth.” and Israel, and from among those whom We guided Qur’an 2:30. And so, Man was chosen to live on this earth and and chose. When the Verses of the Most Gracious (God) construct it according to God’s will. To do so, Man must were recited unto them, they fell down prostrate and know what God’s will is, and must be guided to what is weeping” 19:58. good and what is not. Definitely God was not to let Man to conceive the truth by himself and so He sent prophets to all About Lot, the Qur’an says: “And (remember) Lot, We nations. Those prophets had two main missions. The first gave him Judgment and (religious) knowledge, and mission is to let people know the One and Only God, as Jesus We saved him from the town (folk) who practiced said: “This is eternal life, that they may know You, the abominations. Verily, they were a people given to only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent” John evil, and were rebellious. And We admitted him to 17:3: they have to believe in the one true God, and believe Our Mercy; truly, he was of the righteous” 21:74-75. in Jesus as a prophet or messenger sent by God. The same About David and Solomon it says: “And indeed We goes for all prophets. Their other mission is to try to change gave knowledge to David and Solomon, and they both any corruption existing in their society, whether it’s social, said: “All the praises and thanks be to God, Who has economical, ethical or in any other aspect, and to guide the preferred us above many of His believing slaves” 27:15. society according to the will of God which would make people’s lives better. Basically, the mission of each prophet One thing should be said at the end: talking about different was to help guide the people of their community through the views is a way to create more understanding among people. daily events of life and back to a relationship with God. It’s also a way of exchanging ideas. It should never be a way of conflict but a way to ease any tension inside of us, For example, the Qur’an says about prophet Shu‘aib : And to otherwise how would people live together in peace? People the people (We sent) their brother Shu‘aib. He said: will always differ, that’s our nature, “And if your Lord “O my people! Worship God, you have no other god but had so willed, He could surely have made mankind one Him, and give not short measure or weight. I see you in nation, but they will not cease to disagree” Qur’an 11:118 prosperity and verily I fear for you the torment of a Day encompassing” Qur’an 11:84, so he had two missions. Also, May God guide us always to the truth. Moses’ mission was not only to guide people to God, but also to save the sons of Israel from the Pharaoh. His mission was both a matter of social justice as well as teaching belief in the Oneness of God. By: Nadim Ayche Edited By: Heather Irwin. And so, prophets represent the form of communication between God and Man through scriptures and through their teachings, which are God’s teachings. This communication has to be preserved from error, otherwise the true message of God would not get to people; and that is why God preserved prophets from doing sins. Otherwise, how would people be sure about the teachings of the prophets if they were known to lie? And how would Moses be an example for his people if he’s a sinner? If somebody believed other than this, then he would be saying that God did send prophets but didn’t preserve them from error in delivering the message. It would

MSA Link Page 2 {We will show them Our Signs in the universe, and in their own selves, until it becomes manifest to them that this Qur’ân is the truth. Is it not sufficient in regard to your Lord that He is a Witness over all things?} Qur’an 41:53 The Meeting of Seas and Rivers Modern Science has discovered that in the places where But when the Qur’an speaks about the divider between fresh two different seas meet, there is a barrier between them. and salt water, it mentions the existence of “a forbidding par- This barrier divides the two seas so that each sea has tition” with the barrier. God has said in the Qur’an: its own temperature, salinity, and density. For example, “He is the one who has set free the two kinds of water, one Mediterranean Sea water is warm, saline, and less dense, sweet and palatable, and the other salty and bitter. And compared to Atlantic Ocean water. When Mediterranean He has made between them a barrier and a forbidding Sea water enters the Atlantic over the Gibraltar sill, it partition.” Qur’an 25:53 moves several hun- dred kilometers into One may ask, why the Atlantic at a depth did the Qur’an men- of about 1000 meters tion the partition with its own warm, when speaking about saline, and less dense the divider between characteristics. The fresh and salt water, Mediterranean water but did not mention stabilizes at this depth it when speaking (Figure 1). about the divider be- tween the two seas? Although there are large waves, strong Modern science currents, and tides in has discovered that these seas, they do in estuaries, where Figure 1: Temperatures are in degrees Celsius (C°). (Marine Geology, fresh (sweet) and not mix or transgress Kuenen, p. 43, with a slight enhancement.) this barrier. The Holy salt water meet, the Qur’an mentioned that situation is some- there is a barrier between two seas that meet and that they what different from what is found in places where two seas do not transgress. God has said: meet. It has been discovered that what distinguishes fresh “He has set free the two seas meeting together. There water from salt water in estuaries is a “pycnocline zone with a marked density discontinuity separating the two layers.” This partition (zone of separation) has a different salinity from the fresh water and from the salt water (Figure 2).

This information has been discovered recently using advanced equipment to measure tem- perature, salinity, density, oxygen dissolubility, etc. The human eye cannot see the difference between the two seas that meet; rather the two seas appear to us as one homogeneous sea. Likewise, the human eye cannot see the divi- Figure 2: Longitudinal section showing salinity (parts per thousand ‰) in sion of water in estuaries into the three kinds: an estuary. (Introductory Oceanography, Thurman, p. 301, with a slight enhancement.) fresh water, salt water, and the partition (zone of separation). is a barrier between them. They do not transgress.” Qur’an 55:19-20 Reference: A Brief Illustrated Guide to Understand Islam

While Prophet (peace be upon him) was talking to his companions, a came to the him and asked about the exact date of the Hour (Judgment Day). The Prophet (peace be upon him) however proceeded with his speech to the audience. Some of the audience thought that he heard what the man said but disliked his question and some others thought that he did not hear it. When the Prophet (peace be upon him) finished his talk, he said: “Where is the one who asked about the date of the Hour?” The man informed him of his existence. He then said: “If the trust is betrayed and neglected, then expect the coming of the Hour”. The man further asked about the trust and how it can be wasted or betrayed. The Prohet (peace be upon him) said: “When the matter is entrusted to those who are unqualified to implement its duties, then wait for the Hour”

MSA Link Page 3 Islam: A Home of Tolerance, not Fanaticism

Media speculation since the horrific terrorist attacks on Amer- or consultative process, you find these dissident factions ica has pointed the finger at Muslims and the Arab world, and creating their own rules, contrary to the spirit of the Qur’an that has meant ordinary citizens of the US and other Western - which demands that those recognized as being in charge of countries becoming easy prey for anti-faith hooligans. Shame. Muslims must consult together regarding society’s affairs. Sadly, the latest horror to hit the US looks to have been caused by people of Middle Eastern origin, bearing Muslim There is a whole chapter in the Qur’an entitled Consultation. names. Again, shame. This fuels more hatred for a religion Communal well being is central to human life, so there is a and a people who have nothing to do with these events. This concept in Islam called Istihsan, which means “to look for the is why I want to explain some basic facts about this noble common good”. Even though the Qur’an may lay down a dik- way we call Islam, before, God forbid, another disaster occurs tat, scholars are also supposed to consider the circumstances - next time probably aimed at Muslims. prevalent at the time. Sometimes that means choosing the lesser of two evils or even suspending legislation if necessary: I came to Islam in my late 20s, during my searching period as for instance, a person who steals bread during a famine is not a wandering pop star. I found a religion that blended scientific treated as a thief. reason with spiritual reality in a unifying faith far removed from the headlines of violence, destruction and terrorism. One Once I wrote in a song, “Where do the children play?” Our of the first interesting things I learned in the Qur’an was that sympathy and thoughts go out to the families of all those the name of the faith comes from the word salam - peace. Far who lost their lives in this tragic act of violence, as well as all from the kind of Turko-Arab-centric message I expected, the those injured. But life must go on. Children still need to play, Qur’an presented a belief in the universal existence of God, and people need to live and learn more about their neighbors one God for all. It does not discriminate against peoples; it so that ignorance doesn’t breed more blind fanaticism. Mod- says we may be different colors and from different tribes, but eration is part of faith, so those who accuse Muslim schools we are all human and “the best of people are the most God- of fostering fanaticism should learn a bit more about Islam. conscious”. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “Ruined are those who Today, as a Muslim, I have been shattered by the horror of insist on hardship in faith,” and, “A believer remains within recent events; the display of death and indiscriminate kill- the scope of his religion as long as he doesn’t kill another ing we’ve all witnessed has dented humanity’s confidence person illegally.” Such knowledge and words of guidance are in itself. Terror on this scale affects everybody on this small desperately needed at this time, to separate fact from false- planet, and no one is free from the fallout. Yet we should hood, and to recognize the Last Prophet’s own definition of remember that such violence is almost an everyday occur- that which makes a person representative, or otherwise, of the rence in some Muslim lands: it should not be exacerbated by faith he lived and the one we try to teach revenge attacks on more innocent families and communities. Along with most Muslims, I feel it a duty to make clear that By: Yusuf Islam (formerly the singer Cat Stevens) such orchestrated acts of incomprehensible carnage have Published by Al-Hewar Magazine nothing to do with the beliefs of most Muslims. The Qur’an specifically declares: “If anyone murders an (innocent) person, it will be as if he has murdered the whole of hu- manity. And if anyone saves a person it will be as if he has saved the whole of humanity.” MSA Link is published by the Muslim Students Association of Ohio University. The Qur’an that our young people learn is full of stories and lessons from the history of humanity as a whole. The Gos- pels and the Torah are referred to; Jesus and Abraham are http://www.ohiou.edu/~muslimst mentioned. In fact there is more mention in the Qur’an of the prophet Moses than of any other. It acknowledges the coexis- Questions or feedback to: [email protected] tence of other faiths, and in doing so acknowledges that other cultures can live together in peace. To be added to our mailing list to receive this “There is no compulsion in religion,” it states, meaning that newsletter, send an e-mail to the above address. people should not be compelled to change their faith. Else- where it states, “To you, your religion; to me mine.” Re- spect for religious values and justice is at the Qur’an’s core. Islamic Center of Athens The Qur’anic history we teach our young provides ample 13 Stewart Street examples of inter-religious and international relationships; of how to live together. But some extremists take elements of the Athens, Ohio 45701 sacred scriptures out of context. They act as individuals, and (740) 594-3890 when they can’t come together as part of a political structure

MSA Link Page 4