By Sheila Quinn
In the Christian European perception of things, we humans are capable of anything- and of knowing everything. In this perception we possess things and we possess ourselves.
Yet, such perceptions are contrary to the Islamic Faith. There are things that we humans cannot know without Guidance from The Creator. Also, we do not possess anything- not even our own bodies or ourselves. Did we create ourselves? Did you create yourself? Did I create myself? Are we sustaining ourselves? Did we create the oxygen that we are breathing?
It is known that dogs hear what we cannot hear and that insects see what we cannot see. Therefore it is logical to say that there is a possibility that there are creatures which exist on this earth with us which we cannot sense.
Indeed, from The Qur'an we do know that there are such creatures. Just as we are made from clay (mud/dirt) there are some creatures which are made from pure light(Angels) and others which are made from flame less fire (Jinn). The Angels don't have any free will and therefore are always good. Whereas, the Jinn are like us in that they have free will. Like humans, some are good and some are not good.
All knowledge comes from The Creator. Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was deeply aware of this. He was deeply conscious of The Creator.
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
What is Fard?
By Sheila Quinn
An English translation of what Allah says in the Qur'an is :
"...so fear not mankind, but fear me. And barter not my revelations for a little gain. Whoso judgeth not by that which Allah hath revealed such are disbelievers." (Maida: 44)
"Nor were the People of the Scripture divided until after the clear proof came unto them. And they were ordered naught else than to serve Allah, keeping religion pure for Him, as men by nature upright, and to establish worship and to pay the poor-due. That is true religion." (Bayyinah:4-5)
The Qur'an and The Sunneh of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him)is Islam. Together they make up the Guidance of Allah. It is upon this basis that the Islamic Nation exists.
We do not make things: haram ( forbidden), halal(lawful), or fard (obligatory). It is Allah- and only Allah-who determines such things. It is upon the basis of both the Qur'an and the Sunneh... that we know what Allah has determined.
In Islam, there are things which are black or white... but there is also other colors of the rainbow which is a part of Islam. There are things which are: encouraged, disliked, and neutral ( neither good nor bad).
There is much ignorance of Islam amongst Muslims... even some knowledgeable practitioners of Islam are ignorant of some things. Without being aware of this, some such practitioners confuse: encouraged with fard, and disliked with haram. It is this confusion which is a major source of: division, misunderstanding, and perhaps some hostility between Muslims. For example: we are encouraged to do Taraweah prayers (special extra night prayers during the month of Ramadan): we are encouraged to memorize the Qur'an and to encourage our children to memorize the Qur'an; and it is disliked for us to delay making Salat (prayer) until the last part of the period for Salat.
Yet there are some practitioners who would speak and behave as if these things are obligatory/haram. Such an attitude is not only wrong and divisive... it could easily discourage others from practicing the faith.
An English translation of what Allah says in the Qur'an is :
"...so fear not mankind, but fear me. And barter not my revelations for a little gain. Whoso judgeth not by that which Allah hath revealed such are disbelievers." (Maida: 44)
"Nor were the People of the Scripture divided until after the clear proof came unto them. And they were ordered naught else than to serve Allah, keeping religion pure for Him, as men by nature upright, and to establish worship and to pay the poor-due. That is true religion." (Bayyinah:4-5)
The Qur'an and The Sunneh of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him)is Islam. Together they make up the Guidance of Allah. It is upon this basis that the Islamic Nation exists.
We do not make things: haram ( forbidden), halal(lawful), or fard (obligatory). It is Allah- and only Allah-who determines such things. It is upon the basis of both the Qur'an and the Sunneh... that we know what Allah has determined.
In Islam, there are things which are black or white... but there is also other colors of the rainbow which is a part of Islam. There are things which are: encouraged, disliked, and neutral ( neither good nor bad).
There is much ignorance of Islam amongst Muslims... even some knowledgeable practitioners of Islam are ignorant of some things. Without being aware of this, some such practitioners confuse: encouraged with fard, and disliked with haram. It is this confusion which is a major source of: division, misunderstanding, and perhaps some hostility between Muslims. For example: we are encouraged to do Taraweah prayers (special extra night prayers during the month of Ramadan): we are encouraged to memorize the Qur'an and to encourage our children to memorize the Qur'an; and it is disliked for us to delay making Salat (prayer) until the last part of the period for Salat.
Yet there are some practitioners who would speak and behave as if these things are obligatory/haram. Such an attitude is not only wrong and divisive... it could easily discourage others from practicing the faith.
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