Islâmic Civilization in History and its Significance

My Sustaining-Lord! Increase me in knowledge

Tâ-Hâ (20):114

Where we live in a world in which every civilization is indebted to one another at some level, there seems to be a sort of western fear of accepting the contributions of the Islâmic civilization and its proper place in history. As a former diplomat, journalist Michael Hamilton Morgan writes in the introduction of his National Geographic publication:

… A Muslim history that was about invention, creativity, big ideas, tolerance, and coexistence. It is a Muslim history that had been more intellectually accomplished than Christian Europe of the day, and a Muslim past where Christians, Jews, Hindus, and Buddhists had flourished and worked together. It is a culture that had seeded the European Renaissance and enabled many aspects of the modern West and global civilization. It is a history that by the beginning of the 21st century had been forgotten, ignored, misunderstood, suppressed, or even rewritten.[1]

Howard R. Turner writes: “Muslim artists and scientists, princes and laborers together created a unique culture that has directly and indirectly influenced societies on every continent.”

When Europe went into its dark ages, 5th through 14th century, where an enormous lack of literature, history, architecture, backwardness, a collapse of civilization was prevailing, Islâmic Civilization was rising and eager to share all that it had gained with the inhabitants of the world.[2]

This topic is so vast that I will only mention very few examples of Islâm’s contribution to civilization; as occidental literature is vastly biased in the perception of history, not mentioning facts such as the number of important and original Arabic works written on the mathematical sciences being much larger than the combined total of Latin and Greek works on the mathematical sciences, or that Muslim scientists placed a greater emphasis on experimentation than previous ancient civilizations (for example, Greek philosophy placed a greater emphasis on rationality rather than empiricism), which was due to the emphasis on empirical observation found in the Qur’ân and Sunnah, and the rigorous historical methods established in the science of hadith, or that the translation, study, introduction, advancement of the ancient wisdoms such as Persian, Indian and Greek – Aristotle, Plato, Hippocrates, Euclid, Pythagoras and others would not be possible without Muslim translation and polymaths. Yet Islam was not a simple retransmitter of knowledge from antiquity. It also developed its own sciences, such as algebra, chemistry, geology, spherical trigonometry, etc. which were later transmitted to the West.

Institutions previously unknown in the ancient world have their origins in the medieval Islamic world, with the most notable examples being: the public hospital (which replaced healing temples and sleep temples) and psychiatric hospital, the public library and lending library, the academic degree-granting university, the astronomical observatory as a research institute (as opposed to a private observation post as was the case in ancient times), and the trust and charitable trust.

The first universities which issued diplomas were the Bimaristan medical university-hospitals of the medieval Islamic world, where medical diplomas were issued to students of Islamic medicine who were qualified to be practicing doctors of medicine from the 9th century.

The Guinness Book of World Records recognizes the University of Al-Karaouine in Fez, Morocco as the oldest university in the world with its founding in 859. Al-Azhar University, founded in Cairo, Egypt in the 10th century, offered a variety of academic degrees, including postgraduate degrees, and is often considered the first full-fledged university.

Ibn Hayyān (Geber, 721), is considered by many to be the father of chemistry. He is credited with the introduction of the experimental method in alchemy, and with the invention of numerous important processes still used in modern chemistry today, such as the syntheses of hydrochloric and nitric acids, distillation, and crystallization that have become the foundation of today’s chemistry and chemical engineering. He has invented sulfuric acid, hydrochloric acid, nitric acid, citric acid, acetic acid, tartaric acid and many other contributions in chemistry, medicine, astronomy and astrology.

al-Khwarizmi (780), is considered to be the father of algebra (al-jabr), systematic solution of linear and quadratic equations. His Latin translations of Diophantus’s Arithmetic, on the Indian numerals, introduced the decimal positional number system to the Western world in the 12th century. He revised and updated Ptolemy’s Geography as well as writing several works on astronomy and astrology.

Al-Kindi (801), is a pioneer in chemistry, cryptography, medicine, music theory, physics, psychology, and the philosophy of science, introducing Indian numerals to the Islamic and Christian world. He was a pioneer in cryptanalysis and cryptology, and devised several new methods of breaking ciphers, including the frequency analysis method. Using his mathematical and medical expertise, he was able to develop a scale that would allow doctors to quantify the potency of their medication. He also first experimented with music therapy

Muhammad ibn Jābir al-Harrānī al-Battānī (Albatenius) (853-929) discovered that the direction of the Sun’s eccentric was changing, which in modern astronomy is equivalent to the Earth moving in an elliptical orbit around the Sun. His times for the new moon, lengths for the solar year and sidereal year, prediction of eclipses, and work on the phenomenon of parallax, carried astronomers “to the verge of relativity and the space age.”

Al-Farâbi (872), made notable contributions to the fields of logic, mathematics, medicine, music, philosophy, psychology and sociology. He was also the first Muslim logician to develop a non-Aristotelian logic. He discussed the topics of future contingents, the number and relation of the categories, the relation between logic and grammar, and non-Aristotelian forms of inference. He is also credited for categorizing logic into two separate groups, the first being “idea” and the second being “proof.” He wrote a rich commentary on Aristotle’s work, He was widely regarded to be second only to Aristotle in knowledge.

Ibn al-Haytham (965), Muslim polymath, who is known as the father of optics, as well as to anatomy, astronomy, engineering, mathematics, medicine, ophthalmology, philosophy, physics, psychology, Ash’ari theology, visual perception. He is considered the pioneer of the modern scientific method and the originator of experimental science and experimental physics, and some have described him as the “first scientist” for these reasons.

al-Bīrūnī (973), has been described as the father of Indology, the father of geodesy, and “the first anthropologist”. He was also one of the earliest leading exponents of the experimental scientific method, and was responsible for introducing the experimental method into mechanics, the first to conduct elaborate experiments related to astronomical phenomena, and a pioneer of experimental psychology.

Ibn Sinâ (Avicenna, 980), is regarded as a father of early modern medicine (The Canon of Medicine), particularly for his introduction of systematic experimentation and quantification into the study of physiology, his discovery of the contagious nature of infectious diseases, the introduction of quarantine to limit the spread of contagious diseases, the introduction of experimental medicine, evidence-based medicine, clinical trials, randomized controlled trials, efficacy tests, clinical pharmacology, neuropsychiatry, risk factor analysis, and the idea of a syndrome, and the importance of dietetics and the influence of climate and environment on health. He is also considered the father of the fundamental concept of momentum in physics, and regarded as a pioneer of aromatherapy.

Ibn Zuhr (1091), is considered as the father of experimental surgery, for introducing the experimental method into surgery, introducing the methods of human dissection and autopsy, inventing the surgical procedure of tracheotomy, performing the first parenteral nutrition of humans with a silver needle, animal testing, discovering the cause of scabies and inflammation, and refuting of the theory of four humours.

Ibn-Rushd (Averros, 1126), was the first to define and measure force as “the rate at which work is done in changing the kinetic condition of a material body” and the first to correctly argue “that the effect and measure of force is change in the kinetic condition of a materially resistant mass.” Hebrew translations of his work also had a lasting impact on Jewish philosophy. His ideas were assimilated by Siger of Brabant and Thomas Aquinas and others (especially in the University of Paris) within the Christian scholastic tradition which valued Aristotelian logic. Famous scholastics such as Aquinas believed him to be so important they did not refer to him by name, simply calling him “The Commentator” and calling Aristotle “The Philosopher.” Averroes’s treatise on Plato’s Republic has played a major role in both the transmission and the adaptation of the Platonic tradition in the West. It has been a primary source in medieval political philosophy

Ibn Khaldūn (1332), is considered the forerunner of several social scientific disciplines: demography, cultural history, historiography, the philosophy of history, sociology, and modern economics. He is sometimes considered to be a “father” of these disciplines, or even the social sciences in general, for anticipating many elements of these disciplines centuries before they were founded

Fielding H. Garrison wrote in the History of Medicine: “The Saracens (those who professed the religion of Islam) themselves were the originators not only of algebra, chemistry, and geology, but of many of the so-called improvements or refinements of civilization, such as street lamps, window-panes, firework, stringed instruments, cultivated fruits, perfumes, spices, etc…”

Some of the other notable inventions that are attributed to Muslims include, analog computers, oldest surviving complete mechanical geared machine, mechanical astrolabe, spherical astrolabe, seamless celestial globe, first parachute, hang glider, flight controls and artificial wings, first artificially-powered manned rocket, first pinhole camera and camera obscura, invention of over 2000 chemical substances, invention of thermometer, preparation of drugs, petrol, medicinal alcohol, coffee, sherbet (first juiced carbonated soft drinks), introduction of many fruits, spices, and other food items and methods, introduction of glass to the west from China, invention of stained glass, quartz glass, clear, colorless glass and mirror, invention of soap, perfumes and fragrances, the first diversion dam, 16th century sky scrapers (Sears Tower and John Hancock buildings are also designed by a Muslim Arc.), first street lamps and facilities and waste containers for litter collection. First geared mechanical clock, rocket driven torpedoes, watch like devices in 9th century, mills, dams, first sugar refinery, first windmills, programmable humanoid robot, first steam turbine, over 200 surgical instruments, use of medical cotton, invention of surgical needle , forceps, concept of modern cheque, spaghetti, are of the many contributions of Muslims to the world, that go largely unnoticed or appreciated by the general public.

Even though we have barely scratched the surface, the tip of the iceberg this should suffice.

Because of that,
We decreed to the Children of Israel the Eternal Moral Ordinance for all humanity
that whoever kills a human being,
unless it is in the course of justice for murder or bloody crimes on the earth,
it shall be as if he killed all humankind.
And whoever saves one life it would be as if he saved the life of all mankind.
Our Messengers came to people with clear Truth,
yet many of them continue to transgress in the earth

Al-Mâ’idah (5):32

…And act justly. Truly, God loves those who are just.

Al-Hujurat (49):9

Truly Allâh commands you to give back trusts to those to whom they are due,
and when you judge between people, to judge with justice…

An-Nisâ’ (4):58

And let not the hatred of others make you avoid justice.
Be just: that is nearer to piety….

Al-Mâ’idah (5):8

Considering The Renaissance was so called because it was a “rebirth” of certain classical ideas that had long been lost to Western Europe. It has been argued that the fuel for this rebirth was the rediscovery of ancient texts that had been forgotten by Western civilization, but were preserved in the Eastern Roman Empire; some monastic libraries and in the Islamic world; and the translations of Greek and Arabic texts into Latin. Renaissance scholars such as Niccolò de’ Niccoli and Poggio Bracciolini scoured the libraries of Europe in search of works by such classical authors as Plato, Cicero, Pliny the Elder and Vitruvius. Additionally, as the reconquest of the Iberian peninsula from Islamic Moors progressed, numerous Greek and Arabic works were captured from educational institutions such as the library at Córdoba, which claimed to have 400,000 books. The works of ancient Greek and Hellenistic writers (such as Plato, Aristotle, Euclid, Ptolemy, and Plotinus) and Muslim scientists and philosophers (such as Geber, Abulcasis, Alhacen, Avicenna, Avempace, and Averroes), were reintroduced into the Western world, providing new intellectual material for European scholars.

Even the likes of St. Thomas Aquinas who is considered Catholic Church’s greatest theologian and philosopher was heavily influenced by his reading of earlier and contemporary Arabic philosophers, especially the works of Avicenna (Ibn Sinâ), Al-Ghazâli, and Averroes (Ibn-Rushd). The affect of Islâmic thought and thinkers on French revolution is well known such as concept of “inalienable rights” which was found in early Islamic law and jurisprudence, which denied a ruler “the right to take away from his subjects certain rights which inhere in his or her person as a human being.” Islamic rulers could not take away certain rights from their subjects on the basis that “they become rights by reason of the fact that they are given to a subject by a law and from a source which no ruler can question or alter.” These ideas may have influenced John Locke’s concept of inalienable rights through his attendance of lectures given by Edward Pococke, a professor of Arabic studies.

Thus, in the field of human rights, Islâm is a beacon that we should all be thankful for there is not a statement in recorded history such as the statements of Muĥammad ﷺ in his final sermon;

“Remember, no black is superior to a white,
and no white person is superior to a black person,
and no Arab is better than a non-Arab and no non-Arab is better than an Arab.
The best among you will be the one who is best in conduct.”

…

“Be fearful of God in matters concerning your wives.
Do treat your women well. Be kind to them.
They are your companions, partners, and helpers.”

…

“If a non-Muslim is wronged in our state I would personally plead on his or her behalf.
Avoid extremes in religion. Peace, remember peace, O’ Mankind!”

He said:

“Whoever kills a person who has a truce with the Muslims will never smell the fragrance of Paradise”

Women’s dignity and position has been raised to the highest level and equity, in a society and world in general while women were considered soulless items of trade, let alone rights of inheriting or marriage rights; Islâm placed the door to paradise under their feet; as The Prophet ﷺ said: “Paradise lies at the feet of thy mother” and “Allâh has forbidden for you to be undutiful to your mothers” and It is reported that; a man once asked the Prophet ﷺ to whom he should show the most kindness. The Prophet replied: “Your mother” next? “your mother”, next? “your mother”, and then? “your father.” and He ﷺ said: “If a man has daughters and he takes good care of their upbringing, the fire of hell will not touch him” also said: “The most perfect in faith amongst believers is he who is best in manner and kindest to his wife.” He described women as “the twin halves of men,” which emphasized the idea that their role in society is complementary to that of men. He declared that “the most valuable thing in the world is a virtuous woman.” He taught his followers that it is God’s commandment to treat women with gentleness and affection because, he said, “they are your mothers, daughters, aunts.”

And the believers, both men and women,
are colleagues/allies/friends/guides of one another.
They enjoin the doing of Right (Just) and forbid the doing of Wrong (Evil)
and are constant in prayer, and render the purifying dues (charity),
and pay heed unto God and His Apostle.
It is they upon whom God will bestow His grace: verily, God is almighty, wise!

At-Tawbah (9):71

O You who have attained to faith!
It is not lawful for you to (try to) become heirs to your wives
(by holding onto them) against their will;
and neither shall you keep them under constraint
with a view to taking away anything of what you may have given them,
unless it be that they have become guilty, in an obvious manner, of immoral conduct.
And consort with your wives in a goodly manner; for if you dislike them,
it may well be that you dislike something
which God might yet make a source of abundant good.

An-Nisâ’ (4):19

In Islâm, woman (nisâ’ vs. rijâl not fe-male or wo-man) is a separate and distinct entity who has the same divine rights with their Lord (not cursed, inhuman or inferior as in some other religious traditions and cultures5) and has distinct roles in this world. Islâm gave the women much deserved and needed identity, right to live, right to own property (where even her husband can not touch), inherit, right to choose her husband, and divorce (last resort). Islâm, being the natural religion recognizing differences in specific genders, places responsibility of sustenance and protection of the family (not dominance) to the male, and raising the children, loyalty, chastity, modesty over the female, and allowed the female to pursue lawful studies or occupation from the inception of the religion. In fact the first teacher and scholar of the religion after the Prophet ﷺ was his wife A’isha رضand throughout Islâmic history, we find countless women as ‘âlim (scholars), hâfiz (memorizer of Qur’ân) muhaddith (memorizer of hadith) and teachers. In Islâm women aren’t to be objectified in the society, they are to be respected and honored. Modesty in Islâm is ordered both and the male and the female as a part of the religion.

Tell the believing men to lower their gaze and to be mindful of their chastity,
this will be most conducive to their purity
Verily, God is aware of all that they do
And tell the believing women to lower their gaze and to be mindful of their chastity,
and not to display their charms (in public)
beyond what may (decently) be apparent thereof…

An-Nûr (24):30-31

As a matter of fact, Muslim women were highly admired by English men during the Renaissance. They especially caught the attention of English writers at the time and were often idealized by them. What the English writers saw in Muslim women greatly differed from libertinism (disregard of authority or convention in sexual or religious matters), which the writers feared among English women. Muslim women at the time were thought to be the perfect representation on how an Englishwoman should act, and they were presented as the foil for English women as well. Muslim women were constantly compared to European women and idealized by English authors as a perfect image of female docility.

All of these values and more were embodied in the Islâmic history, disease of racism did not exist, slavery abolished due to the genius of the Qur’ânic model, non-Muslims were treated well, status of women was raised to the highest levels, order, intelligence, honesty and good conduct became norm while evils such as alcohol, loose gender relations, cheating, lying, indiscriminate violence were eradicated. Even though Muslims were victims of many genocides, they by and large obeyed Qur’ânic command and regulations of war and did not kill innocence, seeked peace treaties, and didn’t transgress limits.

You are the best of the nations (community) raised up for (the benefit of) humankind;
you enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong and believe in Allâh;
and if the followers of earlier revelation had attained to (this kind of) belief,
it would have been for their own good; (Followers of Moses 2:47, Jesus 3:55)
of them (some) are believers and most of them are transgressors (iniquitous)

Al-‘Imrân (3):110

NOTES:

1 Lost History by Michael H. Morgan (National Geographic)

2 What Islam Did for Us by Tim Wallace-Murphy

3 Islam and Destiny of Man by Charles La Gai Eaton

4 Advocate of Dialogue by Fethullah Gülen

5 Romans and Greeks regarded women as slaves. Early Christianity regarded women as temptresses. 578, France conference on whether women are human. England, Henry VII forbade reading of the Bible to women. Catholic Church, regarded women 2nd class citizens. 1850, England, women not British citizens. India until recently, Hindus considered women, worse than death, pests, serpents, or even Hell. US gave women rights to vote less than a 100 years ago.

http://www.muslimheritage.com/
http://www.ucalgary.ca/applied_history/tutor/islam
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muslim_science
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7810846.stm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamic_medicine
http://www.jannah.org/sisters/famous.html
http://www.cmaj.ca/cgi/content/full/176/10/1467
http://www.islamicmedicine.org
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inventions_in_the_Muslim_world
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamic_contributions_to_Medieval_Europe
http://everything2.com/title/arabic
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Early_reforms_under_Islam
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomistic
http://www.witness-pioneer.org/vil/Books/M_hri/index.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inalienable_rights
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamic_Civilization_during_the_European_Renaissance
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Renaissance

Back to Heart To Heart Part 1

Heart To Heart Part 16 – Conclusion

Taraweeh 1 | Download
(Al-Fâtiha(1), Yunus(10):37-48, Yunus(10):49-51)

Taraweeh 2 | Download
(Al-Fâtiha(1), Al-Ikhlâs(112), Al-Falaq(113), An-Nâs(114), Witr Dua)

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Religious Plurality vs. Social Plurality

Let there be no compulsion (force) in religion (way of life),
Truth stands clear from error/falsehood

Al-Baqara (2):256

Compulsion is contrary to the meaning and purpose of religion, which essentially is an appeal to beings endowed with free choice to affirm and worship their Creator. Intention and volition are necessary bases of all actions, attitudes, and thoughts for which the individual is religiously accountable. Without that basis, accountability has no meaning. According to Islâm, actions are not considered religiously acceptable or valid unless they are done with the appropriate intentions. Compulsion also contradicts the religious-legal principle that actions are to be judged only by intentions. Prophet ﷺ communicated as revealed to him by Allâh:

O My servants, I have forbidden oppression for Myself
and have made it forbidden amongst you,
so do not oppress one another.

Hadith Qudsi, 17

Islâm does not allow Muslims to be coerced into fulfilling its rites and obligations, or non-Muslims to be forced into accepting Islâm. Belief is a matter of heart and conscience, both of which are beyond force, therefore compulsion, in absolute sense, is impossible. It is also the duty of the Muslim to keep this state of freedom, and restore it when it is taken away. When tolerance and letting-be is replaced with persecution and coercion, Muslim is called upon to apply means necessary to restore the balance of freedom until and up till the time that the persecution, coercion is removed and free choice of the people are restored. [2] Islamic Law ensures equality for all citizens, regardless of language, color, class, race, religion or sex. [3]

O humankind, We have created you from a male and a female
and have made you into nations and tribes for you to know one another.
Truly, the noblest of you with God is the most pious.
Truly, God is All-Knowing, All-Aware

Al-Hujurat (49):13

The Prophet ﷺ sent a message to the monks of Saint Catherine in Mount Sinai:

“This is a message written by Muhammad ibn Abdullah, as a covenant to those who adopt Christianity, far and near, we are behind them. Verily, I defend them by myself, the servants, the helpers, and my followers, because Christians are my citizens; and by Allah! I hold out against anything that displeases them. No compulsion is to be on them. Neither are their judges to be changed from their jobs, nor their monks from their monasteries. No one is to destroy a house of their religion, to damage it, or to carry anything from it to the Muslims’ houses. Should anyone take any of these, he would spoil God’s covenant and disobey His Prophet. Verily, they (Christians) are my allies and have my secure charter against all that they hate. No one is to force them to travel or to oblige them to fight. The Muslims are to fight for them. If a female Christian is married to a Muslim, this is not to take place without her own wish. She is not to be prevented from going to her church to pray. Their churches are to be respected. They are neither to be prevented from repairing them nor the sacredness of their covenants. No one of the nation is to disobey this covenant till the Day of Judgment and the end of the world.”

Thus, social pluralism is the bedrock of Islâm, in fact the most tolerant and functional system up until its day and even beyond. Where minorities not only were free to practice their religions, customs, and cultures, protected by the Muslims, they also had their very own court systems, unless the cases included a Muslim, in which case the Islâmic law didn’t care about ones religion, race or rank but it cared solely for the deliverance of justice, and history bares witness to such cases. Though “religious pluralism”, as some define it, “validity of all religions” does not exists in the understanding of Islâm;

And unto thee (O Messenger) have We vouchsafed this Divine writ,
(Qur’ân) setting forth the truth,
confirming the truth of whatever there still remains of earlier revelations
and determining what is true therein (guarding it).
Judge, then, between them with what Allâh has bestowed from on high,
and do not follow their errant views, forsaking the truth that has come unto thee.
Unto every one of you (communities via their messengers)
have We appointed a law and way of life.
And if Allâh had so willed,
He could surely have made you all one single community:
but (He willed it otherwise) in order to test you
by means of what He has vouchsafed unto you.
Strive, then, with one another in doing good works.
Unto God you all must return;
and then He will make you truly understand
(the truth) about what you have differed on

Al-Mâ’idah (5):48

Allâh ﷻ sent His prophetic messengers عليه سلم, who were trustworthy, intelligent, truthful, and fully conveyed their messages. He protected them from sin, and from every physical trait unbecoming to them, though as human beings, they ate, drank, slept, and married. They were the best of all created beings and were sent for specific peoples at specific times; and the highest of them was him whom Allâh ﷻ chose to be the final seal of prophet hood, Prophet Muĥammad ﷺ and vouchsafed his message and completed His ﷻ favor for all and until the day of judgment.[1]

This day I have perfected for you your religion,
completed My favor upon you and I have chosen Islâm
(Submission to God’s will, rules, commandments, universality)
as your Deen (religion/way of life)

Al-Mâ’idah (5):3

Though the Sacred Law of the Prophet ﷺ superseded all previously valid religious laws, it was identical with them in beliefs, such as tawhîd or “oneness of God”, and so on, a fact that the Prophet ﷺ emphasized by saying, “Let none of you say I am superior to Jonah” (Bukhari, 4.193: 3412), for the illumination of Jonah’s tawhîd عليه سلم , under the darkness of the storm, the darkness of the sea, and the darkness of the belly of the fish, was not less than the illumination of the Prophet’s tawhîd at the zenith of his success as the spiritual leader of all Arabia ﷺ. Allâh ﷻ in the Holy Qur’ân says,

We do not differentiate between any of His messengers

Al-Baqara (2):285

Showing that previous religions originally were the same in beliefs, valid for their locality. Now, only Islâm is valid and acceptable now that Allâh ﷻ has sent it to all men, for the Prophet ﷺ has said, “By Him in whose hand is the soul of Muĥammad, any person of this Community, any Jew, or any Christian who hears of me and dies without believing in what I have been sent with will be an inhabitant of hell”

Whoever seeks a religion other than Surrender (to God’s Will, Islâm)
will never have it accepted from him, (as in Luke 22:42)
and shall be of those who have truly failed in the next life

Al-‘Imrân (3):85

Thus, Islâm is the only remaining valid or acceptable religion is necessarily known as part of our religion, and to believe anything other than this is unbelief (kufr) that places a person outside of Islâm, as Imam Nawawi notes: “Someone who does not believe that whoever follows another religion besides Islâm is an unbeliever (like Christians), or doubts that such a person is an unbeliever, or considers their sect to be valid, is himself an unbeliever (kâfir) even if he manifests Islâm and believes in it” (Rawda al-talibin, 10.70)

Those who believe, those who are Jews, Christians, and Sabaeans,
all who believe in God and the Last Day
and act rightly will have their reward with their Lord.
They will feel no fear and will know no sorrow

Al-Baqara (2):62

The Prophet ﷺ also said: I am the adversary of those who wrong the dhimmis (protected subjects with guaranteed rights) or burden them with a load they cannot carry.

Prophet Muhammad ﷺ allowed the Jews to become a party to the Constitution of Madinah signed with the Aws and Khazraj clans, which permitted them to continue living as a separate religious community. He said: “The Jews of Banu Awf (non-Muslim minorities) are a community along with the believers. To the Jews their religion, and to the Muslim their religion.”

Unto you be your Deen (way, moral law, system, path, religion) , and unto me mine

Al-Kâfirûn (109):6

Beginning at the time of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, there has always been freedom of religion in Muslim-ruled lands. Articles guaranteeing the protection of monasteries and churches have been important parts of all agreements signed between Muslims and the People of the Book. Historical documents reveal that many Muslims visited monasteries to rest for the night, to enjoy a meal, or even to have a civilized conversation during their travels or campaigns. Under Islamic rule, the People of the Book have always celebrated their religious festivities as they pleased. From time to time, the Muslim leadership even attended them. A letter by the Nestorian Patriarch Isho’yab III (650-60) reveals the Muslim leaders’ compassion and acceptance toward the People of the Book: “They [Abbasids] have not attacked the Christian religion, but rather they have commended our faith, honored our priests… and conferred benefits on churches and monasteries.”

These historical facts reveal that, contrary to much of what we read today, Islam is a religion of peace and acceptance. Christians and Jews lived freely under Muslim rule and enjoyed the freedoms of religious belief and thought. During the first few centuries of the Christian era, Jews oppressed Christians; as the latter became more powerful, they began to oppress Jews and even fellow Christians belonging to other sects. The Middle Ages were dominated by the Catholic church’s oppression of all Jews and Christians who did not agree with its teachings. Some non-Catholics sought refuge with the Muslims. The oppression and violence directed by Byzantium against the Egyptian Monophysite and the Jacobean Christians, the horrors endured by those Jews and Orthodox Christians who found themselves in the path of the Catholic Crusaders, and the persecution endured by the Jews of Europe, as well as by the Muslims and Jews in Spain after the reconquista, have never occurred on Muslim soil. Jews escaping Spanish tyranny found the peace and security they sought on Ottoman soil. Driven out of Spain and faced with more hardship in other countries where they sought refuge, many died of hunger and thirst at the gates of towns and cities they were not permitted to enter. Jews who boarded Genoese ships were either exploited or sold to pirates. Sultan Bayazid welcomed the Jews into his empire and demanded that the people show them the respect and acceptance to which they were entitled. The order proclaimed not to refuse the Jews entry or cause them difficulties, but to receive them cordially. 4 Sultan Bayazid is known to history as a religious man, and his hospitality and acceptance were based on the Qur’an’s morality.

Under Ottoman government who took over the lands of Byzantium, the Church was not extinguished nor was its canonical and hierarchical organization significantly disrupted. Its administration continued to function. One of the first things that Mehmet the Conqueror did was to allow the Church to elect a new patriarch, Gennadius Scholarius.

Living under the Islamic rule, the People of the Book took part in the bustling cultural life. Muslim leaders extended their cultural patronage to the lands they conquered and imported them to Baghdad, capital of the empire, where they would be studied by Muslim, Christian, and Jewish scientists. Each of them in turn, could teach their works based on these studies alongside their own religious beliefs. At a time when Muslims supported science and freedom of thought, Europe, the center of Christianity, had Inquisition courts that burned people at the stake for their heretical, meaning non-Catholic, thoughts or religious beliefs.

The Muslim leaders’ sense of justice led many Christians and Jews to bring their cases to Islamic courts, even though they had their own courts with their own laws. At one time, the Nestorian patriarch Mar Timothee I (780-825) even circulated a decree to counteract the ever-increasing number of Christians taking their cases to Islamic courts.

This is the very essence of the recently much misunderstood and abused concept of jihâd, literally meaning “struggle” or “exertion” which is all-encompassing concept to fulfill the Adamic duty of vicegerancy to reach the maximum human potential in all levels. Whether it be personal or social, spiritual or material, Muslims are commanded to purify their souls and establish and guard justice in the world and to allow all people to enjoy this justice as individuals, as members of society, as citizens of a nation, and as members of the international community which is the only way Islâm can thrive. Jihâd al-nafs (aka, struggles against the carnal, lower self, greatest jihâd etc.) is training the self, heart, eyes, ears, tongue, stomach and the organs, against the ego, unbridled passions, the devil, being worldly, evil ideas, desires and powers of lust, anger, and insatiable imagination placing all of them under the dictates of reason and faith in obedience to Allâh’s commands, and finally, purging all satanic ideas and influences from one’s soul. Jihâd is doing the good for the sake of Allâh, in spite of the ability of doing wrong incited by inner promptings and is by far the most difficult and important of the struggles as Prophet ﷺ said: The best jihad is by the one who strives against his own self for Allâh. Islamic ethical teachings indicate that the one who succeeds in this struggle can rise above and beyond the level of angels, and one who fails in this struggle will descend to a level lower than the level of animals, and may even be grouped among the legions of the devil. Just as without gravity, our muscle structure would disintegrate and working-out enhances our physical structure, without going through struggle, our souls would not grow into their full and impressive potential bestowed upon humankind by Allâh.

Jihâd of the material effort and means include learning, teaching, thinking, articulating, discussing, writing using the tools provided by Allâh to keep the Islamic knowledge alive, accurate and well within the society, and make it accessible for all. (with the Qur’ân, Al-Furqân(25):52; with your provisions, Al-Anfal(8):72, Al-‘Imrân(3):134) as well as working for the betterment of society, paying charity, in general doing good for the sake of Allâh.

The cultivation of patience or patient forbearance (sabr) is also an important aspect of jihâd, (Al-Baqara(2):45,153; Al-‘Imrân(3):186,200; Hûd(11):115) as clearly evident from the Qur’ân and the early period (aka. Meccan period, 610-622 CE) while Muslims were not given permission by the Qur’ân to physically retaliate against the pagan Meccans who persecuted them heavily for their beliefs.

Believers, be upholders and standard-bearers of justice,
bearing witness to the truth for Allâh’s sake,
even though it be against your own selves, or parents or kindred.
Whether the person concerned be rich or poor, Allâh is nearer and worthier.
So do not follow your own desires lest you swerve from justice.
If you pervert it or neglect it then know that Allâh is fully aware of all that you do.

An-Nisâ’ (4): 135
(also see An-Nisâ’(4):58, An-Nahl (16):90)

Islâm, being a complete, sensible and applicable way of life, also recognizes the inevitability of conflict that arise in human societies and prescribes the most complete way of restoring and maintaining justice and peace by rejecting and condemning incorrect motives such as conquest, plunder, quench of lust for revenge, material advantage or racists persuasions and setting limits of conduct of relations before, during and after conflict such as, do not betray any agreements you have entered into, do not plunder, do not commit injustices or use torture, do not touch the children, the womenfolk, the elderly, or other non-combatants of the enemy, do not destroy orchards or tilled lands, do not kill livestock, treat with respect the religious persons who live in hermitages or convents and spare their edifices, always be ready and open to peace treaties etc. (also see: Al-Mâida(5):2, 8, 32; Al-Furqân(25):68-69; An-Nisâ’(4):112,135; An-Nahl(16):90; At-Taĥreem(76):7-9; Al-Anfal(8):70-71 and Hadith Bukhari v59 b59 #628, v4 b52 #257,258; Muslim b19 #4319, #4320; Dawud b8 #2663…)

Prophet ﷺ said:

I advise you ten things Do not kill women or children or an aged, infirm person.
Do not cut down fruit-bearing trees. Do not destroy an inhabited place.
Do not slaughter sheep or camels except for food.
Do not burn bees and do not scatter them.
Do not steal from the booty, and do not be cowardly

The Qur’an clarifies the position of Islam;

And in it (The Torah) We prescribed for them (The Jews):
“Life for life, eye for eye, nose or nose, ear for ear,
tooth for tooth, and wounds equal for equal.”
But if any one remits the retaliation by way of charity,
that is an expiation/atonement for him.
And if any who do not judge by what Allâh has revealed,
they are the unjust/evildoers.

Al-Mâ’idah (5):45

Thus, even though just retaliation is a right it is not a must, and believers are encouraged to forgive and are forbidden to go beyond their limits by exceeding their rights, and abusing the rights of others.

We will set up the Scales of justice on the Day of Resurrection,
and no soul will be wronged in the least.
Even so much as the weight of a mustard seed, We will bring out,
We are Sufficient for reckoning and none can take account as We do.

Al-Anbiya (21):47
(also see An-Nisâ’ (4):123-124)

Thus, Muslims are sternly warned against abusing the rights of others even to the smallest degree. While non-Islamic lands were etching their anger and vileness in history by oppressing, torturing, persecuting not only who oppose their beliefs but also their own for centuries by unthinkable means and in great volumes, Muslims have set an example in the history of humanity by excelling in fair treatment of societies following the prescriptions of the Qur’ân. One would be hard-pressed to find innovative torture techniques or stories of horrific captivity rooms in history for Muslims unlike some other traditions of the past. Thus Islâmic view of jihâd can not be associated by any oppression or usurping of the rights of any creature let alone humans, as its very reason for existence is to be a perfect tool to remove injustice by sustaining and transforming the human being to be truly God-conscious being. Historically attested by many, the rule of Muslims in were preferred over the rule of co-religionists and co-nationals due to the justice and freedoms rewarded to conquered people by the Muslim rulers in contrast to persecution, oppression and tortures inflicted by their past rulers. Muslims actively removed persecution and oppression and provided order.

They fulfill (their) vows, dreading a day whose ill is impending
And they feed, for the love of Allah, the indigent (poor), the orphan, and the captive
(Saying), “We feed you For the sake of Allah alone:
No reward do we desire from you, nor thanks.”

Al-Insân (76):7-9

Muslims are therefore given the honorable duty of restoring, establishing and maintain justice, freedom, and peace on earth, not only for themselves but for others as well, whether under direct attack, to protect life, or to save people from persecution and oppression, especially that of religion, which can not be forced, Muslims can with correct intentions and while obeying the limits set by Allâh and exemplified by the Final Messenger ﷺ, use their means to restore these basic rights.

O humankind! The messenger has come unto you with the truth from your Lord.
Therefore believe; (it is) better for you. But if you disbelieve, still, lo!
unto Allâh belongs whatsoever is in the heavens and the earth,
and Allâh is the all-knowing, the wise. O people of the scripture,
do not exaggerate in your religion
nor utter aught concerning Allâh save the truth.
The Messiah, Jesus the son of Mary was only a messenger of Allâh
and His word which He conveyed unto Mary, and a spirit from Him.
So believe in Allâh and His messengers, and say not “three.”
Desist, (it is) better for you.
Verily Allah is one God. Far exalted is He above having a son.
His is all that is in the heavens and the Earth,
and suffice in Allâh as a Trustee.
The Messiah will never scorn to be the slave of Allâh,
nor will the favored angels.
Whoso scorneth His service and is proud,
all such will He assemble unto Him;
Then, as for those who believed and did good works,
unto them will He pay their rewards in full
and He will add unto them from His bounty.
And as for those who were scornful and proud,
them will he punish with a painful torture
and they will not find for themselves
any other than Allâh as a friend or a supporter

Al-Nisâ’ (4):170-173

O People of the Scripture! Why do you argue about Abraham,
when the Torah and the Gospel were not revealed till after him?
Have you then no sense?
Verily! you are those who argue about that which you have some knowledge:
Why then do you argue concerning that which you have no knowledge?
Allâh knows and you know not. Abraham was not a Jew, nor yet a Christian;
but he was an upright “Muslim” (he surrendered to Allâh),
and he did not worship other than Allâh. Verily!
Those of mankind who have the best claim to Abraham are those who followed him,
and this Prophet (Muhammad) and those who believe;
and Allâh is the Protecting Friend of the believers

Al-‘Imrân (3):65-68

NOTES:

1 http://qa.sunnipath.com/issue_view.asp?HD=1&ID=2534&CATE=124
2 Questions and Answers about Faith by Fethullah Gülen
3 Islâm, Beliefs and Teachings by Ghulam Sarwar
4 http://www.harunyahya.com/articles/70people_of_the_book.php

also see.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_Jews_under_Muslim_rule
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religion_in_the_Ottoman_Empire
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_and_other_religions
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jewish_history
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dhimmi

The Qur’ân with Annotated Interpretation in Modern English by Ali Ünal
The Cross and The Crescent by Richard Fletcher
Struggle To Surrender by Jeffrey Lang
Islam in Focus by Hammudah Abdalati
Islam & Jihad Prejeduce vs. Reality by A G Noorani
The Heart of Islam by Seyyed Hossein Nasr
Religion of Islam by Mualana Muhammad Ali

Heart to Heart Part 15 – Islâmic Civilization in History and its Significance

Tawakkul Allaah

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(38) There is no hindrance for the Prophet with respect to what God has ordained and made lawful for him. This was God’s way with those (Prophets) who passed before. The command of God is a decree determined (in due measures for every thing, event and individual). (39) (The Prophets are those) who convey God’s Messages and feel great awe of Him; and they hold none but God in awe. God suffices as One Who reckons and settles the accounts (of His servants). (40) O believers, (know) that Muhammad is not the father of any man among you, but he is the Messenger of God and the Seal of the Prophets. God has full knowledge of everything. (41) O you who believe, remember and mention God much; (42) And glorify Him (in that He is absolutely above all defects and having partners) in the morning and in the evening (day and night). (43) He it is Who (in return for your remembrance of Him) bestows His special blessings upon you, with His angels (praying and asking His forgiveness for you), that He may lead you out of (all kinds of intellectual, spiritual, social, economic, and political) darkness into light (and keep them firm therein). He is All-Compassionate toward the believers. (44) On the Day when they meet Him, their greeting (from those who welcome them will be), “Peace” (the promise of eternal security from punishment). And He has prepared for them an honorable, generous reward. (45) O (most illustrious) Prophet! We have surely sent you (with the mission of Messengership) as a witness (to the truth through your life, and through your testimony on Judgment Day for your community concerning their deeds), and as a bearer of glad tidings (of prosperity in return for faith and righteousness) and a warner (against the consequences of misguidance); (46) And as one who calls (all humankind and jinn) to God by His leave, and a light-diffusing lamp (enlightening minds and hearts, and showing the way to those who follow that light). (47) And (so) give the believers the glad tidings that surely for them is a great bounty from God (in addition to what they may have merited by their faith and good deeds). (48) And pay no heed to (the offers of) the unbelievers and the hypocrites, and do not mind the sufferings they cause you, and put your trust in God. God suffices as the One to rely on and to Whom affairs should be referred.

Al-Ahzab(33):38-48

“We’re not judged on results, it’s not like taking an exam, we’re judged on the intentions and the quality of the moment when we do something, the outcome is in Allah’s hands”

More Excerpt to come…

Faith vs Atheism

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More on Abdal Hakim Murad…(Timothy Winter)

http://www.masud.co.uk/ISLAM/ahm/default.htm

http://www.islamfortoday.com/murad.htm

http://www.mereislam.info/labels/Abdal%20Hakim%20Murad.html

The Cambridge Companion to Classical Islamic Theology

Authenticity and Preservation of The Magnificent Qur’ân

Do they not ponder over the Qur’ân?
If it had been from other than Allâh,
surely they would have found in it many discrepancies/differences

Al-‘Imrân (4): 82

The Preservation of the Holy Qur’ân is probably one of its greatest miracles, for 1400 years this book managed to not only preserve itself in written form, but The Very Word of Allâhﷻ has also been carried etched in the hearts of its recitors and memorizers in a chain that goes back all the way to the Messengerﷺ, the vessel who Allâhﷻ chose to teach the Qur’ân to humankind.

The Holy Qur’ân which was revealed in piece-meal was first memorized by the Beloved Messenger, then taught to the scribes whom would write it down on different types of items and also memorize it, in which the memorization continued in every generation until today (9-30 million Muslims know the whole Qur’ân by memory today). The writing of it was complete and checked the Prophet so as the accuracy of many memorizers, thus the Qur’ân was protected via multiple methods and many sources who soon after the passing of the Prophet were able to compile it.

The Qur’ân was also recorded in writing by scribes, who faithfully transcribed each element of revelation at the time it was revealed, making the Holy Qur’an the only book of scripture recorded at the time of revelation and preserved unchanged to the present day. Writing material was scarce, so the Holy Qur’an was originally recorded on palm leaves, sheets of leather, shoulder blades of large animals, and whatever else was immediately available. This bulky and inconvenient record was copied and compiled into an official mushaf (book) at the commission of Abu Bakr (the first Caliph), roughly two years after Muhammad’s death.

This project was overseen by Zaid Ibn Thabit, one of Muhammad’s faithful scribes. Between four and eight copies were subsequently completed during the caliphate of Uthman, and each copy was dedicated to one of the territories of the Islamic world. Two of these books still exist — one in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, the other in Istanbul, Turkey. These ‘originals’ continue to serve as templates. Any Qur’ân, anywhere in the world, can be authenticated against these ‘originals’ to demonstrate the integrity and preservation of the sacred book of Islam. It is this very preservation which many consider a miraculous proof of the sanctity of the Holy Qur’ân.

Dr. Laura Vaglieri adds this element to her list of evidences with the comment, “We have still another proof of the divine origin of the Quran in the fact that its text has remained pure and unaltered through the centuries from the day of its delivery until today…”

Professor Arthur J. Arberry, Professor of Arabic at Cambridge University 1947-1969, contributes:
“Apart from certain orthographical modifications of the originally somewhat primitive method of writing, intended to render unambiguous and easy the task of reading the recitation, the Koran as printed in the twentieth century is identical with the Koran as authorized by Uthman more than 1300 years ago.”

Respected voices from the past, such as that of Sir William Muir, state the following:
“The recension of Othman has been handed down to us unaltered….There is probably in the world no other work which has remained twelve centuries with so pure a text.”

Whereas a more contemporary opinion can be found in the research of Adrian Brockett,
“The transmission of the Qur’an after the death of Muhammad was essentially static, rather than organic. There was a single text, and nothing significant, not even allegedly abrogated material, could be taken out nor could anything be put in. This applied even to the early caliphs….The transmission of the Qur’an has always been oral, just as it has always been written.”

Tens of thousands of sahâba (Muslims who lived and interacted with the prophet Muhammad) unanimously approved the written record of the Holy Qur’an. All of these sahâba had memorized portions of the Qur’an and many were hafidh, having memorized the Qur’an in entirety. When the Qur’an was compiled into a book, many sahâba possessed personal copies of their own recording. Many of these copies were incomplete and others (such as those of Abdullah Ibn Masud, Ubay Ibn Kab and Ibn Abbas), while correct in one reading, did not leave room for the multiple readings which constitute one of the miracles of the Qur’ân. Consequently, these partial records were not acknowledged, even by their possessors, as having been either complete or authoritative.

The only written record of the Qur’an to be accepted by unanimous approval was the officially adopted mushaf compiled by Zaid Ibn Thabit under the commission of Abu Bakr. To prevent confusion and the possibility of division in future generations, all other personal copies were voluntarily turned in and, along with the remnants of the bones, animal skins and papyrus, destroyed. Had this not been done, future generations may have fallen prey to ignorance or pride, preferring one of the incomplete works passed down in a family or tribe to the true and complete revelation. Tribal solidarity and fractionation of the religion almost certainly would have resulted. The pious sahâba appear to have recognized and eliminated this risk by preserving only the total and complete revelation, discarding the bits and pieces which, at the very least, could have become sources of confusion.

Muslims are fond of pointing out that not a single one of Muhammad’s contemporaries disagreed with the text of the official mushaf. Not a single sahâba claimed a passage was left out or a non-Qur’anic passage inserted. Most importantly, the texts which were gathered and destroyed were incomplete records and not differing records. The possessors voluntarily relinquished their copies, because the mushaf compiled by Zaid Ibn Thabit was comprehensive. There simply were no accurate records which were not represented therein. Furthermore, as stated above, the Qur’an has primarily been preserved not in writing, but in the memories of the faithful. Memorizers cross-checked and confirmed the official mushaf, and validated its completeness and accuracy. Not a single hafidh dissented. And they numbered in the thousands.[1]

We have sent down the Book, and We will assuredly preserve it
Al-Ĥijr (15):9

The New Catholic Encyclopedia, under the heading Qur’ân, mentions that over the centuries there has been many theories as to where this book came from. Their conclusion: today, no sensible person believes any of these theories. This leaves the Christians in some difficulty.[2]

Notes:

http://www.islamic-awareness.org/Quran/Text/Mss/hussein.html

http://www.islamic-awareness.org/Quran/Text/Mss/yem1b.html

http://www.themodernreligion.com/basic/quran/quran_proof_preservation.htm

1 God’ed by Laurance Brown
2 Quoted from: http://www.themodernreligion.com/essays_Gary_Miller.htm#Origin%20of%20the%20Qur’an

Next Section: About Religious Plurality vs. Social Plurality

Heart to Heart Part 14 – Religious Plurality vs. Social Plurality

Marveling on the Qur’ân

Please note this section isn’t meant to be an exhaustive and comprehensive proof of the claims presented, it is a summary and reference to put things in perspective, if you’re interested in finding more about the claims here, feel free to visit the links at the bottom of this section.

Non-Eternal Universe…

The Originator of the heavens and the earth (from nothing),
and when He decrees a matter,
He only says to it, “Be,” and it is.

Al-Baqara (2):117

One of the most commonly accepted theory of cosmology today is that the entire universe was formed out of a hot, smoky mixture of gases and particulate matter, galaxies formed from condensation of spiraling celestial “mists”, than coming together into a union of particle elements into a central core of condensed matter. . It is the rupture of this super-dense central mass from which the “Big Bang” emanated, following which the universe expanded from essentially nothing forming galaxies, stars, planets etc which swim along orbits. After a while by the use of water, life was emerged on earth.

Bing bang and discovery of importance of water

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leeuwenhoek
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_bang#Cosmic_microwave_background_radiation

Are, then, they who are bent on denying the truth (disbelievers) not aware
that the heavens and the earth were one single entity,
which We then parted (opened, split, separated) ?
and We made out of water every living thing? (also see 24:45) Will they not then believe?

Al-Anbiya (21):30

Verse points out at least to scientific facts who were discovered by “disbelievers” as verse specifically suggests.
also see. Numerous celestial bodies came into being and started swimming along in their orbits 21:33, 36:40

Gaseous state of universe…

Moreover He (Allâh) comprehended in His design the sky,
and it had been as smoke.
He said to it and to the earth:
“You come together, willingly or unwillingly”

Fussilat (41):11

Expanding universe…

With (creative) power We have built the Universe, and We are steadily expanding it

Adh-Dhâriyat (51):47

Orbiting celestial bodies…

Consider the sky with ingeniously devised paths (orbits)

Adh-Dhâriyat (51):7

It is not for the sun to overtake the moon, nor can the night outrun the day.
All of them swim along in their orbits

Yâ-Sîn (36):40

The sun cannot cause the moon to gravitate towards itself and the night and the day cannot lengthen or shorten other than the appointed measure 21:33, 22:61, 25:62, 31:29, 41:37, 57:6

Black holes…

So I swear by the place where the stars fall
And that is indeed a mighty oath, if you but knew

Al-Waqi`ah (56):75-76

Relativity of Time…

The Angels (Universal forces and the Divine Energy) ascend unto Him in a Day
the measure of which is fifty thousand years

Al-Ma’arij (70):4

He governs all that exists, from the celestial space to the earth;
and in the end all shall ascend unto Him on a Day the length
whereof will be like a thousand years of your reckoning

As-Sajdah (32):5

Layers of atmosphere…
(Troposphere, Stratosphere. Ozonosphere, Mesosphere, Thermosphere, Ionosphere, Exosphere) [3]

…And He has applied His Design to the Sky
and fashioned it as seven (many) heavens…

Al-Baqara (2):29

Levels of earth…

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Structure_of_the_Earth
(Oceanic Crust, Continental Crust, Upper Mantle, Asthenosphere, Lower Mantle, Outer Core, Inner Core)

God is He who has created seven heavens,
and, like them, (many aspects) of the earth

Al-Talaq (65):12

Constricting chest in heavens…

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Effects_of_high_altitude_on_humans
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypoxic_pulmonary_vasoconstriction
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyperventilation

Whoever follows Allah’s Guidance,
He expands his chest wide open to submission.
And whoever violates Allah’s Guidance,
feels his chest tight and narrowed as he were climbing to the sky
Al-An’âm (6):125

Protecting function of the skies, Ozone Layer…

And We made (set up) the heaven (sky) a roof (canopy) protected (well-secured, guarded)

Al-Anbiya’ (21):32

Sun and the moon…

Do you not see that it is Allah Who makes the night grow longer by shortening the day,
and makes the day longer by shortening the night?
And that He has made the sun and the moon subservient (to His laws)
each running along its course for an appointed term?…

Luqman (31):29 (See 13:2)

He rolls/rotates (kawara) the night over the day,
and rolls/rotates the day over the night.
And He has subjected the sun and the moon,
each running along its course for a term appointed

Az-Zumar (39):5

Mountains as stabilizers (from swaying)
and pegs (as in more is inside than out)…

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mountains#Geology
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isostasy

And We created mountains firm (anchors) lest it sway with them…

Al-Anbiya’ (21):31 (see 16:15)

Have We not made the earth as an expanse
(cradle, habitable, resting place),
and the mountains as pegs (stabilizers, anchors) ?

An-Naba’ (78):6-7

Future of Earth, No water

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Earth#Future

And verily, We shall reduce/make on it (earth) into a barren soil (dust, wasteland, plateau, destroyed)

Al-Kahf (18):8

Embryo…

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prenatal_development
Developing Human by Keith L. Moore and T. V. N. Persaud
http://www.miraclesofthequran.com/scientific_57.html

We created man from an extract (essence) of clay (mud)
Then We made him as a drop of sperm in a place of settlement (wombs),
firmly keeping (receptacle, secure)
Then We made the drop into an alaq
(leech, suspended thing, and blood clot, germ-cell, zygote),
then We made the alaq into a mudghah (chewed substance, embryonic lump)
And then We create within the embryonic lump bones,
and then We clothe the bones with flesh -
and then We bring (all) this into being as a new creation

Al-Mu’minûn (23):12-14

Knowing that He has created you in successive stages

Nuh (71):14

Unique fingertips…
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Finger_print#Timeline

Yes indeed, We have the Power to restore even his finger tips with finger prints!

Al-Qiyâmah (75):4

City of Iram… (Qur’ânic myth is historical reality)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iram_of_the_Pillars

Microscopic, Subatomic Entities
Things smaller than dharra (smallest unit of anything)

And He creates other things you do not know

An-Nahl (16):8

Not an atom’s weight (dharra) in the heavens and the earth escapes His Knowledge,
nor is hidden anything smaller or larger…

Saba’ (34):3

The Bees
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honey#Medicinal_uses_and_health_effects_of_honey
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honey_bee#Life_cycle

And thy Lord taught the bee to build (fem.) its cells in hills,
on trees and in (men’s) habitations…
Then eat (fem.) from every kind of fruit
and travel (fem.) the paths of your Lord,
which have been made easy for you to follow.
there issues from within their bodies a drink of varying colors,
wherein is healing for mankind.
Verily in this is a Sign for those who give thought

An-Nahl (16):68-69

In this verse, worker bees are identified specifically as female.
And the undeniable benefit in honey, Qur’ân also mentions fish, dates, olive, figs

Barrier between seas

He has let free the two bodies of flowing water, meeting together
Between them is a Barrier which they do not transgress

Ar-Rahmân (55):19-20

It is He Who has let free the two bodies of flowing water:
One palatable and sweet, and the other salt and bitter;
yet has He made a barrier between them,
a partition that is forbidden to be passed

Al-Furqân (25):53

French oceanographer, Jacques Cousteau, gives the following account as a result of his studies in water barriers: “We studied the assertions by certain researchers about barriers separating seas, and noticed that the Mediterranean Sea had its own salinity and density and housed autochthonous fauna and flora. Then we examined the water of the Atlantic Ocean and discovered features entirely different from those of the Mediterranean Sea. According to our expectations, these two seas that merged in the strait of Gibraltar should present similar characteristics in terms of salinity, density and other properties. The two seas presented different features even though they were adjacent. This greatly puzzled us. An incredible barrier prevented the two seas from coming together. Further researchers made it clear that the seas which had different characteristics had some barriers.”

Again I have attempted to scratch the surface of the beauty of the endless Word of Allâh as He says:

And if all the trees on earth were pens and the ocean (were ink),
with seven oceans behind it to add to its (supply),
yet would not the words of Allah be exhausted
for Allah is Exalted in Power, full of Wisdom

Luqman (31):27

Notes:
1 Unchallengeable Miracle: Qur’an by Caner Taslaman
2 http://www.hikmet.net/content/view/56344/23/
3 Layers are arbitrary, there is also a 5-layer model, “7” in the Qur’ânic language also denotes multiplicity.
http://www.harunyahya.com/miracles_of_the_quran_01.php

http://quranandscience.net/

http://scienceislam.com/

http://www.islamicity.com/science/

Heart to Heart Part 13 – Authenticity and Preservation of The Magnificent Qur’ân

Uniqueness and Magnificence of the Qur’ân

This is the (matchless) Divine Writ
whereof there is no doubt (as authorship belongs to Allâh),
a perfect guidance for the God-conscious (pious)
who believe in the existence of that which is beyond the reach of human perception,
and establish/are constant in worship,
and spend on others out of what We provide for them as sustenance

Al-Baqara (2):2-3

Muslims believe that the Qur’ân is the very word of Allâhﷻ; a complete record of the exact words revealed by Allâhﷻ through Angel Gabriel to Prophet Muĥammadﷺ

The Qur’ân, The Last and Final Testament from God was memorized by the Prophet and his followers dedicated to his companions. The Qur’ân is in every detail the same unique and miraculous text that was revealed to Muĥammadﷺ over fourteen centuries ago. The Qur’ân is the principle source of every Muslim’s faith and practice. It deals with all subjects and concerns as human beings, including wisdom, doctrine, worship, and law but its basic theme is the relationship between Allâhﷻ and his creatures. At the same time, the Qur’ân provide guidelines for just society, proper human conducts, and equitable economic principles.

He (Allâh) has sent down to you the book (Qur’ân) with truth
confirming what was revealed before;
and sent down the Torah (of Moses)
and Gospel (of Jesus) before this as guide to humankind;
and sent down the Criterion (Qur’ân)

Al-‘Imrân (3):3-4

The Qur’ân is unique in it language and style, it doesn’t resemble any works of humans. It doesn’t use the “Once upon a time” type of story telling that other traditions are accustomed. It has its own, unique, powerful engaging technique, and uses the Arabic language with an extreme level of literacy and strength, and despite being in Arabic, the Qur’ân bears no similarity to the forms used in Arabic literature while its melodious recitation can tremble the hearts of those who hear it even of those without the knowledge of the Arabic language, it is always full of meaning, lessons, beauty, majesty.

Ultimate Challenge…

Say : “If mankind and the Jinns gathered in order to produce the like of this Qur’ân,
they could not produce the like of it,
even if they were to each other assistants.

Al-‘Isrâ (17):88

Or do they say, “He invented it?”
Say, “Then bring ten šûrahs like it that have been invented
and call upon (for assistance) whoever you can besides Allah,
if you should be truthful

Hûd (11):13

And if you are in doubt about what We revealed (i.e. the Qur’an) upon Our servant,
then produce a šûrah (chapter) like thereof
and call upon your witnesses (i.e. supporters) other than Allah,
if you should be truthful.
But if you do not – and you will never be able to –
then fear the Fire, whose fuel is men and stones,
prepared for the disbelievers

Al-Baqara (2):23-24

Some things that need to be met by the challenger…

• Replicate the Qur’an’s literary form and uniqueness,
• Match the unique linguistic genre of the Qur’ân
• Select and arrange words like that of the Qur’ân,
• Select and arrange particles like that of the Qur’ân.
• Match the Qur’ân’s phonetic superiority,
• Equal the frequency of rhetorical devices,
• Match the level of informativity,
• Equal the Qur’ân’s conciseness and flexibility
• Match the multi-faceted interconnectedness of it’s verses

Detailed View

• Unique Literary Form
• Unique Linguistic Genre
• Abundance of rhetorical devices/features:

- Conceptual Relatedness
- Multiple Meanings
- Iltifaat (Grammatical shift)
- Word order and Arrangement
- Ellipsis
- Emphasis
- Choice of words & particles
- Intensification
- Phonetics
- Semantically Orientated Repetition
- Intimacy
- Exaggeration
- Rebuke and contempt
- Conciseness
- Flexibility
- Prophesy/Factual

The Qur’ân is a unique form of Arabic speech. The form of its language can not be described as Prose or Poetry. It achieves this unique literary form by intermingling metrical and non-metrical speech in such a way that its style is not affected and its meaning not distorted. Furthermore, the Qur’an does not adhere to the rules of Prose or Poetry but yet its expression is grammatically sound. This can been seen by analyzing every Qur’anic chapter. The totality of every chapter has a special character, with its own unique form, and its unique use of literary devices. It is easy to commit to memory and can address all levels of intellect and people from different cultures at their own level. It is also self referencing and coherent, consistent as a whole unlike other works deemed as scripture. These features of the Qur’ân are part of the reason of why it has not been emulated to this day.

Hamilton Gibb’s of Oxford states,

“…the Meccans still demanded of him a miracle and with remarkable boldness and self confidence Muhammad appealed as a supreme confirmation of his mission to the Koran itself. Like all Arabs they were connoisseurs of language and rhetoric. Well, then if the Koran were his own composition other men could rival it. Let them produce ten verses like it. If they could not (and it is obvious that they could not), then let them accept the Koran as an outstanding evidential miracle”

(H. A. R. Gibb. 1980. Islam: A Historical Survey. Oxford University Press, p. 28)

also, E. H. Palmer correctly asserts,

“That the best of Arab writers has never succeeded in producing anything equal in merit to the Qur’an itself is not surprising.”

Notes:
http://www.theinimitablequran.com/fivemajorarguments.html
http://www.miraclesofthequran.com/perfection_02.html
Kur’ân Sûrelerindeki Eşsiz Ahenk (Matchless accord/harmony in Qur’ânic verses, Turkish) by Dr. Faruk Tuncer

Next Part 12: Marveling on the Qur’an

Finding Similarities Working with Differences…

The Muslim Jesus is not divine, but a humble servant of God. He was not crucified – Islam insists that the story of the killing of Jesus is false. He is, as it were, Jesus as he might have been without St Paul or St Augustine or the Council of Nicaea

By John Casey, Daily Telegraph (London) 19 December 2001

Greetings, Peace be upon you…

See: Luke 10:5, Luke 24:36, Genesis 43:23, Numbers 6:26, I Samuel 1:17 & 25:6

Judges 6:23: But the Lord said to him, “Peace! Do not be afraid. You are not going to die.

John 20:19 (21,26): Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!”

Al-An’âm(6):54: When hen those who believe in Our signs come to you, say: “Salâmun ‘Alaykum” (peace be on you)

Say God Willing…

James 4:15 : Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that

Al-Kahf (18):23 : And never say of anything, ‘I shall do such and such thing tomorrow. Except (by saying): ‘If God wills!’

Purification…

See: Exodus 30:19, Exodus 19:10; 1 Samuel 16:5; 2 Chronicles 29:5

Exodus 40:31: Moses & Aaron & his sons used it to wash their hands and feet. They washed whenever they entered the Tent of Meeting or approached the altar, as the LORD commanded Moses

Mark 7:3: The Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they give their hands a ceremonial washing, holding to the tradition of the elders

John 13:10: Jesus answered, “A person who has had a bath needs only to wash his feet; his whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you

Al-Maida(5):6:When you stand up to pray, wash your faces, and your hands up to the elbows, and wipe your heads, and your feet up to the ankles, And if you are in a state. requiring total ablution, purify yourselves…

Praying…Worshipping…Prostrating

See: Luke 5:16, Genesis 17:3, Joshua 5:14, 1 Samuel 20:41, contrast Luke 22:42-44 and Hebrews 5:7

2 Chronicles 20:18: Jehoshaphat bowed with his face to the ground, and all the people of Judah and Jerusalem fell down in worship before the LORD.

Matthew 26:39:Going a little farther, he (Jesus) fell with his face to the ground and prayed. (also Matthew 26:42,44)

An-Nisâ’(4):102:…then when they have performed their prostration let them fall to the rear and let another group come that has not worshiped yet and let them worship with you.

Muslims pray falling on their faces, called sajdah (prostration).

Fasting…

See: I Kings 19:8, Matthew 4:2

Exodus 34:28: Moses was there with the LORD forty days and forty nights without eating bread or drinking water. And he wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant. (The Ten Commandments)

Luke 4:2: where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry.

Al-Baqara(2):183:O believers, prescribed for you is the fast, even as it was prescribed for those that were before you- haply you will be Allah fearing

Jesus…

See : James 2:14-25; Matthew 5:17-19, Matthew 7:21-23, Matthew 15:24, Luke 16:17, Luke 6:46-49, John 15:10

John 5:30 : By myself I can do nothing; I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just, for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me (Matthew 19:17, John 5:19, John 7:16, John 14:28)

John 5:37 : And the father himself which Has sent me, has borne witness of me. You have neither heard His voice at any time nor seen His shape (Mark 13:32, John 4:34, John 6:38)

John 12:44-50 : Jesus proclaimed aloud: “Whoever puts faith in me believes not so much in me as in him who sent me; ….. For I have not spoken on my own; no, the Father who sent me has commanded me what to say and how to speak. Since I know that his commandment means eternal life, whatever I say is spoken just as he instructed me.

(Mark 10-18, Luke 18:19, John 8:28, John 14:28, John 15:10)

Matthew 7:21-23 : Not everyone who says to me, “lord, lord” will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, “lord, lord” did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!

Jesus (as) was the lord of the Lost Sheep of Israel (as in landlord or A British King who is the lord of a nation, a master, a teacher, a sheep herder) Not The Lord of the Worlds, as in Qur’aan, Fatiha[1]:2, which would be Jesus’ Lord who is God Almighty, his God and our God and sent Jesus(as) to earth.

Matthew 15:24 : He (Jesus) answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.”

Luke 3:36 : Enos was the son of Seth, and Seth was the son of Adam, and Adam was the son of God.

Numbers 23:19 :God is not a man, that He should lie; neither the son of man, that He should repent: hath He said, and shall He not do it? or hath He spoken, and shall He not make it good?

Psalms 2:7 : I (David) will proclaim the decree of the Lord: he said to me (David), ‘you are my Son; this day have I begotten you (David).

Mark 6:10 :Why do you call me good?” answered Jesus, “No-one is good but God alone!

John 17:3 :And this is life eternal, that they might know thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou has sent

Mark 12:28-30 : And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that he had answered them well, asked him, ‘Which is the first commandment of all?’ And Jesus answered him: ‘The first of all the commandments is; hear O Israel, the Lord thy God is One Lord: and thou shalt love the Lord, thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.

Matthew 15:9 and Mark 7:7 :But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

Who does this verse apply to?

Mark 14:36 : And he [Jesus] said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible to thee; remove this cup from me; yet not what I will, but what thou wilt

Whose will? God’s Will or Jesus’ will? Is Jesus a Submitter of his will to God’s Will, just like a Muslim?

Matthew 26:39 : Going a little farther, he (Jesus) fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”

If Jesus’ (as) prayers weren’t answered to be saved from the torture of unbelievers, why would the prayers of anyone else be accepted? Indeed The Almighty accepted his prayers so they couldn’t kill him, neither crucify him. They only thought they did…

Luke 22:42-44 : “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.

Hebrews 5:7 : During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission.

also see … Matthew 27:46

Some one who says, “Yet not as I will, but as YOU will.” is by definition a Muslim (One Who Submits His Will To God Almighty). This is the Islamic understanding of the reason of creation.

Al-Mâ’idah(5):116: On the Resurrection Day, Allah will say, “O Jesus, son of Mary! Did you say to mankind, ‘Worship me and my mother as deities besides God?” He will respond, “Be Glorified! Never could I say what was not my right. If I said such a thing, You would indeed know it. You know what is in my mind, and I know not what is in Your mind. You, only You are the Knower of what is beyond human perception.” Never did I say to them except what You Commanded me to say, “Worship & obey Allâh my Lord and your Lord.”

Al-‘Imrân (3):59: The likeness of Jesus before Allah is as the likeness of Adam. (Both names mentioned in Qur’ân 25 times, this matching of counts is due to word “likeness”. If the comparison said “unlike”, the compared terms would have existed one count off of each other, Truly Allâh’s Book is magnificent.

Maryam (19):30: I am indeed a servant of Allâh: He has given me Revelation and made me a Prophet (Matthew 12:18, John 20:17)

Also see: Al-Mâ’idah (5):73; An-Nisâ’ (4):171, Circumcised, Luke 2:21; Mission, Matthew 15:24, Matthew 10:5-6, God, Mark 12:29-30, Matthew 22:37, Luke 10:27, John 14:9, John 5:37, John 1:18; Children, Psalm 82:1,6, Psalm 2:7, Luke 3:38, Exodus 4:22, Jeremiah 31:9

Paul , 2 Cor 12:16; Food , Lev 11:8 ,Mark 5:13; Muhammad , Song of Solomon 5:16, John 14:16, Isa 21:7,13, 42:11, Ezekiel 27:21, Deuteronomy 18:18,33:2, 32:21; Bible , Deuteronomy 31:25-29, Jeremiah 8:8

IV. TRANSMISSION OF THE TEXT

No book of ancient times has come down to us exactly as it left the hands of its author–all have been in some way altered. The material conditions under which a book was spread before the invention of printing (1440), the little care of the copyists, correctors, and glossators for the text, so different from the desire of accuracy exhibited today, explain sufficiently the divergences we find between various manuscripts of the same work. To these causes may be added, in regard to the Scriptures, exegetical difficulties and dogmatical controversies.

Taken From Catholic Encyclopedia: here and here

he gave this command to the Levites who carried the ark of the covenant of the LORD : “Take this Book of the Law and place it beside the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God. There it will remain as a witness against you. For I know how rebellious and stiff-necked you are. If you have been rebellious against the LORD while I am still alive and with you, how much more will you rebel after I die! Assemble before me all the elders of your tribes and all your officials, so that I can speak these words in their hearing and call heaven and earth to testify against them. For I know that after my death you are sure to become utterly corrupt and to turn from the way I have commanded you. In days to come, disaster will fall upon you because you will do evil in the sight of the LORD and provoke him to anger by what your hands have made.”

Deuteronomy 31:25-29

How can you say, “We are wise, for we have the law of the LORD,” when actually the lying pen of the scribes has handled it falsely? (NIV)

How do ye say, We are wise, and the law of the LORD is with us? Lo, certainly in vain made he it; the pen of the scribes is in vain. (KJV)

Jeremiah 8:8

But, what about the Qur’aan? …

Falsehood can never have access to it, whether from before it or from behind it (whether by arguments and attitudes based on modern philosophies or by attacks from the past based on earlier Scriptures) (it is) the Book being sent down in parts from the One All-Wise, All-Praiseworthy (to Whom all praise and gratitude belong).

Fussilat(41):42

Indeed it is We (Allaah), We Who send down the Reminder (Qur’aan) in parts, and it is indeed We Who are its Guardian.

Al’Hijr(15):9

We have sent down to you (O Messenger) the Book with the truth (embodying it, and with nothing false in it), confirming (the Divine authorship of and the truths that are still contained by) whatever of the Book was revealed before it, and guarding over (all the true teachings in) it. Judge, then, between them by what God has sent down (to you), and do not follow their desires and caprices away from the truth that has come to you. For each (community to which a Messenger was sent with a Book) have We appointed a clear way of life and a comprehensive system (containing the principles of that way and how to follow it). And if God had so willed, He would surely have made you a single community (following the same way of life and system surrounded by the same conditions throughout all history); but (He willed it otherwise) in order to test you by what He granted to you (and thereby made you subject to a law of progress). Strive, then, together as if competing in good works. To God is the return of all of you, and He will then make you understand (the truth) about what you have differed on.

Al’Maa’idah(5):48

also see … Al’Baqara(2):79 and Al-Maa’idah(5):41

Next Part: Non-Muslim Views of the Prophet Muhammad ص

Heart to Heart Part 10

Names

Guide of Hope

Ubuntu

More to come…

Gary Miller – Basis for Muslim Belief (54 Minutes)

“…and ask a Muslim, where is your miracle… Muslim can go over and take his miracle off the shelf and hand it to you…”

Gary Miller – Amazing Qur’aan Part 1 (60 Minutes)

Gary Miller – Amazing Qur’aan Part 2 (60 Minutes)

Gary Miller – Dialogue with Christianity (35 Minutes)

Non-Muslim Views of the Prophet ص

Michael Hart wrote in his book, The 100: A Ranking of the Most Influential Persons in History, “Muhammad was the only man in history who was supremely successful on both the religious and secular levels. Of humble origins, Muhammad founded and promulgated one of the world’s great religions, and became an immensely effective political leader. Today, thirteen centuries after his death, his influence is still powerful and pervasive. It is this unparalleled combination of secular and religious influence which I feel entitles Muhammad to be considered the most influential single figure in human history.”

“Philosopher, orator, apostle, legislator, warrior, conqueror of ideas, restorer of rational dogmas, of a cult without images; the founder of twenty terrestrial empires and of one spiritual empire, that is Muhammad. As regards all standards by which human greatness may be measured, we may well ask, is there any man greater than he?”
Lamartine, Historie De La Turqie, Paris, 1854, Vol. II, pp. 276-277.

“He was Caesar and Pope in one; but he was Pope without Pope’s pretensions, Caesar without the legions of Caesar: without a standing army, without a bodyguard, without a palace, without a fixed revenue; if ever any man had the right to say that he ruled by the right divine, it was Mohammed, for he had all the power without its instruments and without its supports.”
Bosworth Smith, Mohammad and Mohammadism, London, 1874, p. 92.

“His readiness to undergo persecutions for his beliefs, the high moral character of the men who believed in him and looked up to him as leader, and the greatness of his ultimate achievement – all argue his fundamental integrity. To suppose Muhammad an impostor raises more problems than it solves. Moreover, none of the great figures of history is so poorly appreciated in the West as Muhammad.”
W. Montgomery Watt, Mohammad at Mecca, Oxford, 1953, p. 52.

“In all things Muhammad was profoundly practical. When his beloved son Ibrahim died, an eclipse occurred, and rumors of God’s personal condolence quickly arose. Whereupon Muhammad is said to have announced, “An eclipse is a phenomenon of nature. It is foolish to attribute such things to the death or birth of a human being.” “At Muhammad’s own death an attempt was made to deify him, but the man who was to become his administrative successor killed the hysteria with one of the noblest speeches in religious history: “If there are any among you who worshipped Muhammad, he is dead. But if it is God you worshipped, He lives forever.”
James A. Michener, “Islam: The Misunderstood Religion,” Readers Digest May 1955, 68-70.

George Bernard Shaw said: “He must be called the Savior of Humanity. I believe that if a man like him were to assume the dictatorship of the modern world, he would succeed in solving its problems in a way that would bring it much needed peace and happiness”

Catholic priest, theologian, philosopher Hans Küng who was appointed to Pope John XXIII serving as an expert theological advisor has the following to say about The Final Prophet;

There is no doubt that if anyone in the whole of religious history is termed the prophet, because he claimed to be just that, but in no way more than that, it was Muhammad. But may a Christian assert that Muhammad was a prophet? Christians, if they pause to survey the situation, must admit the following (especially in light of the Hebrew Bible):

Like the prophets of Israel, Muhammad did not function by reason of an office assigned to him by the community (or its authorities), but by reason of a special personal relationship with God.

Like the prophets of Israel, Muhammad was a person of strong will who felt himself fully imbued with a godly calling, fully consumed, exclusively appointed to his task.

Like the prophets of Israel, Muhammad spoke to the heart of a religious and social crisis, and with his passionate piety and revolutionary proclamation he opposed the wealthy ruling class and the tradition it was trying to preserve.

Like the prophets of Israel, Muhammad, who mostly called himself the “Warner”, sought to be nothing but the verbal instrument of God and to proclaim not his own, but God’s word.

Like the prophets of Israel, Muhammad untiringly proclaimed the one God who tolerates no other gods and who is at the same time the good Creator and merciful Judge.

Like the prophets of Israel, Muhammad required, as a response to this one God, unconditional obedience, devotion, submission, which is the literal meaning of word Islam: everything that includes gratitude to God and generosity toward fellow human beings.

Like the prophets of Israel, Muhammad combined monotheism with humanism or human values, belief in the one God and God’s judgment with a call to social justice, and a threat to the unjust, who go to hell, with promises to the just, who are gathered into God’s paradise.

Whoever reads the Bible — at least the Hebrew Bible — together with the Qur’an will be led to ponder whether the three Semitic religions of revelation-Judaism, Christianity, and Islam-and especially the Hebrew Bible and the Qur’an, could have the same foundation. Is it not one and the same God who speaks so clearly in both? Does not the “Thus says the Lord” of the Hebrew Bible correspond to the “Speak” of the Qur’an, and the “Go and proclaim” of the Hebrew Bible to the “Stand up and warn” of the Qur’an? In truth, even the millions of Arab-speaking Christians have no other word for God than “Allah”.

Might it not therefore be purely dogmatic prejudice that recognizes Amos and Hosea, Isaiah and Jeremiah, as prophets, but not Muhammad? …

I am convinced that, despite all the renewed fears of Islam, there is a growing conviction among Christians that, in the light of Muhammad’s place in world history, we must correct our attitude toward Islam. The “scourge of exclusiveness”, arising from Christian dogmatic impatience and intolerance, condemned by the British historian Arnold Toynbee, must be abandoned.
…
he and he alone led the Muslims to pray to this one God, for through him this God “has spoken to humanity”: Muhammad the prophet. [3]

3 Christianity and World Religions: Dialogue with Islam by Hans Küng

http://www.ProphetOfIslam.com

http://www.TheProphetOfMercy.com

http://www.LastProphet.info

http://www.Mohammad-pbuh.com

http://www.RasoulAllah.net

http://www.TheProphetMuhammad.org

http://www.masud.co.uk/islam/misc/best.htm

http://mohammad.islamway.com/

Upcoming Part – Description, Uniqueness and Magnificence of the Qur’ân
Heart to Heart Part 11

Spring’s Gift with Hamza Yusuf

I envy the sand that met his feet

I’m jealous of honey he tasted sweet

Of birds that hovered above his head

Of spiders who spun their sacred web

To save him from his enemies

I envy clouds formed from the seas

That gave him cover from the heat

Of a sun whose light could not compete

With his, whose face did shine so bright

That all was clear in blinding night

I envy sightless trees that gazed

Upon his form completely dazed

Not knowing if the sun had risen

But felt themselves in unison

With those who prayed, and fasted too

Simply because he told them to

With truth and kindness, charity

From God who gave such clarity

His mercy comes in one He sent

To mold our hearts more heaven bent

I envy all there at his side

Who watched the turning of the tide

As truth prevailed and falsehood fled

And hope restored life to the dead

Men and Women through him found grace

To seek together God’s noble face

I envy the cup that gave him drink

His thoughts that helped us all to think

To be one thought that passed his mind

Inspiring him to act so kind

For me this world is not one jot

If I could simply be a thought

From him to God throughout the ages

As revelation came in stages

I pity all who think it odd

To hear him say there is one God

Or he was sent by God to men

To hone their spirits’ acumen

It’s pride that blinds us from the sight

That helps good men to see his light

He taught us all to be God’s slaves

And he will be the one who saves

Humanity from sinful pride

Muhammad has God on his side

So on this day be blessed and sing

For he was born to grace our Spring

With lilies, flowers, life’s rebirth

In a dome of green like his on earth

(Taken from http://www.zaytuna.org/articleDetails.asp?articleID=75 on Nov 14 2008)

Why Are You?