Saturday, December 5, 2009
How our film industry gonna be???
I think, I should talk about this section…Most of the people right now like to watch movie right??? ...
But, I dun want to talk about the interest of the film….but I really like to discuss here about our film industry situation……really worried…
You all just see at the new film products right now….most of them story about social problems occur among teenagers….
It is ok to do that, but the problem is the way of the films are presented…..I know, the story sometimes bring the lessons…..but, how about the way of the story…..
Example here are
Rempit-show how to race motorbike
Kl drift-Show how to race cars……Show how teenagers get social interaction…
Bohsia- show how girl’s life
The new one is jalang- show the prostitute’s life….
In those films, they use beautiful and sexy girl to attract people…..then sometimes, the private actions also included….how they can be???
I believe, people will get more bad attraction compared to the lessons prepared in the films….
People will try to follow the actions….People who live like that will proud….
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Iqra Ya Ummaati....
Last day, I bought one kitab title Matli’ul Badrin Wa Majmu’ Al-Bahrain…One kitab written By Tuan Guru Al-fatani….This kitab Basically about syariat im Syafiee mazhab…Very thick kitab almost like my academic book…anatomy book…
But, I really worried when I read one sentence yesterday….about solah…It said, One of the condition of solah accepted is the people must know how to perform the solah and also know which movement or action is Sunat and fardhu….
Then I start to think…..
Today, how many people learn about solah…..
How many people know how to differentiate all those things…..
So, will their solah accepted….
Really sad right……
Monday, October 26, 2009
Keep Changing From Day 2 Day.....
Today, before I got my ruminant final exam, one uncle had talk to me something that gave a deep effect in my heart…During that time in my faculty surau when I was studying, one uncle suddenly came into that surau and took ablution and directly pray the dhuha prayer….After he prayed he stood up and sat back…then he started to talk with me and one my friend….
He said, Salam, Do u study???
I answered, yes…
Then he said with joking, if u have problem during exam, just ask lecturer…..
Then I said with a little smile…Yes….
Then he started to tell us about his life…..
He said, during the old time, he stayed at the area which now had been build UPM mosque….during that time, everyday he walked from his house to the main library of UPM…Then after he got his first salary, he spent his money to buy a bike…Then, everyday, he went to the library with his new bike…
Then he also talked to me about his family….He said, he has one son and one daughter who already studied in university…..he said he had no problems during his son and his daughter went to the university…Many of his relatives wonder where he got the money???? He said, planning is very important…Then he adviced us to keep money for future use….
But, he also said that, he did not miss to pray dhuha prayer and also woke up for last 10 days in Ramadhan months seeking for Lailatul Qadar….He also said to me that he always start his day with Ayat Seribu Dinar….Then, the most focus important thing he said to me was…. Don’t forget to pray to Allah SWT….Allah will always accept your pray……
Then, I start to think….Yes, before this…I am not really serious in pray….
So I determine to always pray to Allah SWT…….mainly since the final exam is just around the corner….
Monday, August 3, 2009
Why Raisin So Special????
Nabi Muhammad SAW bersabda: "Biasakanlah memakan kismis kerana kismis dapat menghilangkan kepahitan (empedu/cairan kuning), menghilangkan lendir, menyihatkan badan, membaguskan rupa, menguatkan saraf dan menghilangkan letih".
Imam Ali berkata: "Barangsiapa memakan 21 biji kismis merah, maka dia tidak akan melihat pada jasadnya suatu yang tidak disenangi".
Imam Ali berkata: "Kismis dapat menguatkan jantung, menghilangkan penyakit, menghilangkan panas dan memulihkan kesihatan jiwa".
Pada riwayat lain dari Abi Ja'far At-Thusi disebutkan bahawa kismis dapat menghilangkan lendir dan menyihatkan jiwa".
In addition, raisin also cantain antioxidant known as catechin. This antioxidant basically is completely absorbed in human body. This substance helps to maintain our colon to be functioned well.
Furthermore, raisin is contains potassium and fibre. It is also contains fructose which is natural sugar and it will be a good energy source for human.
Based on the research done by College of dentistry in Chicago, Raisin contains a substance called phytochemical which obstacles the replication of bacteria in mouth. This will decrease the gum and teeth problems.
Raisin also contains iron mineral which is function in blood formation. More iron mineral will increase the volume of the blood and it will generate the oxygen transportation more efficient. Students always feel sleepy because there is not enough oxygen supply to the brain mainly in rest or sit. Raisin which supplies the iron mineral will increase the volume and the efficiency of the blood and in simple word it will able to prevent tiredness and sleepy.
In addition, Raisin also contains Boron which is important for bone. Boron is function to prevent Osteoporosis in human.
So…eat raisin daily for our own health…Let’s try!!!!
Sunday, August 2, 2009
One day in ISA rally...So exhausted!!!
Today, I went to Kuala Lumpur to join a demonstration for ISA.Waa very anxiety right??? Hmm, There were three groups of crowd had planned. First at SOGO, second at Masjid Jamek and thirdly at Masjid Negara. All the groups had planned to go to Istana Negara to give a memorandum to Yang Di Pertuan Agong.
My friends and I went there quite early and at that time, not many people there.... Fortunately, Polices did not check us and they just ignored..hahaha… . So we had no problems to go into Masjid Negara. Then, after that, we just look around and waiting more people came in…..In waiting, we saw some people had asked by polices.the polices made some checks to them….and some of the people had been detained….Waaa, Pity on them right???
After praying, I turned down from the mosque and at that time our commander had came in…He is Dr Hatta….So, we must follow his instruction….Then we started our walked to Istana Negara….But in the middle of the road, we had blocked with some polices and then….from far…..the people who is wearing red helmet were coming…..They are FRU….waaa...
FRU just shooted some BoMbs to us and we ran away….run! run! run!...
I felt very pain in my nose and In my eye…..liquid from my eyes started to reach my cheek….wa…very discomfortable….But it is ok….I used some salt to recover my pain…When I turned around, I saw many people in unstable condition….some of them ran away and fall off…some of them ran to a bush area….some of them ran without shoes and slippers…many more….
After we ran to the other side….we met FRU….then we moved to another side and we met FRU again…so, it mean we had been controlled by them…..where should we ran???? I said I don’t know….we just follow all people…In my heart, where I should ran?? Or maybe today I will arrest by police???
Then my friend looked at some people who met FRU and They hold up their arms as a symbol they surrender…..Unfortunately, the FRU straightly aim the edge of the water cannon to them and finally someof them were wet with the chemical water….Yaaaah…Really bad action…
After almost 2 hours away and ran back…finally I moved to a building and finally we went back to Kuala Lumpur Commuter and bought some tickets to go back to UPM….Wa…really exhausted…
Well, after joining this demo, I impressed with the spirits and commitments of people who came to protest the ISA system….Some of them came from Kelantan, Terengganu, Kedah and many more places….I pray so that Allah received all works that we had done…Amin Ya Rabbal Alamin…
Friday, July 31, 2009
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Dr. Burhanuddin Al-Helmy; A Brief Introduction About His Life And Thoughts
In Malaysian history, the name of Dr. Burhanuddin al-Helmy is hardly ever seen and known. His contributions, works, ideas, thoughts and many more are being kept silence. But lately Alhamdulillah, many scholars are giving much emphasize and doing research about Dr. Burhanuddin and his associates. The role played by Dr. Burhanuddin during pre-independent, during and post independent are very significant and should be noted by all people in Malaysia particularly because the truth should be presented in a very decent way. Moreover, when we look thoroughly about his ideas, writings, and activism, there are three major themes which he tried to emphasized and achieved. According to Kamarudin Jaafar, the major themes of Dr. Burhanuddin are: (1) Islam, (2) Malay Nationalism, and (3) Independence (Kamarudin Jaafar 2000: 9). It is obvious that the education of him as well as the family background of him had a great influence and impact upon him.
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In this short and brief explanation about Dr. Burhanuddin al-Helmy, in the first chapter I will present details about his life background. It is important for any individuals to know the background of a person so that we could make a fair judgment and understands the environment that he lived in. For the case of Dr. Burhanuddin, his backgrounds of life are very interesting and amazing to learn.
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For the second chapter, I will focus and try to elaborate the role of Islam in his political activism, thoughts and some of his writings. He played and important role in many political parties like Parti Kebangsaan Melayu Malaya (PKMM), Majlis Agama Tertinggi Se-Malaya (MATA), Hizbul Muslimin, PUTERA-AMCJA, Parti Rakyat Malaya (PRM), Parti Islam Se-Malaya (PAS) and many more. Moreover, it should be noted that Dr. Burhanuddin wrote many books about his ideas compared to his counterparts who probably never wrote at all.
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In the third chapter, I will draw some major conclusion about Dr. Burhanuddin and some analysis about him overall.
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Chapter 1
A Brief Background of
Dr. Burhanuddin al-Helmy
Dr. Burhanuddin real name is Burhanuddin bin Haji Muhammad Nor. He was born in Changkat Tualang, Kota Bharu, Perak on the 29th August 1911. Some scholars said that he was born on 26th November 1911 (Ramlah Adam 1999: 124). His father, Haji Muhammad Noor worked as a farmer and was a very pious man. It is reported that Haji Muhammad Noor lineage was from a royal family of Sumatra. He was also a student to a prominent religious leader in Makkah and Sheikh Mohammad Khatib Minangkabau (M. Fuzi Omar 2005: 290). Dr. Burhanuddin received the title of ‘al-Helmy’ which means a person who is gentle, tranquil and never angry because of his late father was referred also as ‘Abi Halim’ by his friends due to his kindness, softhearted and calm person. Apart from the title of ‘al-Helmy’, Dr. Burhanuddin was also referred as ‘Pak Doktor’ by many people due to his profession as a homeopathy doctor. Dr. Burhanuddin mother’s name was Sharifah Zahrah binti Habib Osman. She was from a mixed parentage of Malay-Indian Muslim and she was also regarded highly in her society.
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His parents played an important role in shaping the mind Dr. Burhanuddin in the early stage of his life. He was brought up in an Islamic ambiance by his own parents, since his father was a very pious man. He received his formal education in Sekolah Melayu Behrang Ulu, Sekolah Melayu Bakap until standard three and then moved to Sekolah Melayu Kota Bahru. He realized his true potential and tendency to learn religious knowledge compared to other knowledge. After he finished his Malay School education, in 1924, he was sent to Sungai Jambu, Sumatra to learn Islamic knowledge. It should be noted here that in 1924, while he was at the age of thirteen years old, he made his first contact and learned with several religious Kaum Muda (Reformist group). He was indeed had been touched and influenced by the movement of Kaum Muda and later on, shaped his thought and action. He explained this when he said:
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“When I was learning in Indonesia, I was able to learn the Dutch language and my religious teachers were those of Youth Faction who had the progressive understanding of Islam. From then, my thought was formed after receiving the modern explanation and approach.” (Burhanuddin 1949:37)
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After he completed his studies in Sumatra for two years and master the Dutch language, he went back to Tanah Melayu to futher his study in Sekolah Pondok located at Pulau Pisang, Jitra, Kedah. He didn’t stay long in the Sekolah Pondok because he felt that the teaching methodology of Sekolah Pondok didn’t suit his style and he was uncomfortable with it. Immediately his father transferred him to Madrasah al- Mashor al-Islamiah, Pulau Pinang in 1927. He was only sixteen years old when he was admitted to Madrasah al-Mashor in 1927. At this period of time, he was able to master Arabic language within a short period of time.
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In 1928, he went to India to further his studies and to gain experience by doing expedition. Dr. Burhanuddin was exposed to the Independence movement made by Mahatma Gandhi and other prominent individuals like Pandit Nehru, Mohd Ali Jinnah and many others while his staying in India. It can be said that the exposure he experienced in India, had made him aware and realized the importance of independence when he came back to Tanah Melayu. He obtained a degree in homeopathy at Ismaeliah Medical College, New Delhi. His passion of knowledge is very fascinating. He was able to master some languages like English, German, Dutch and French while he was studying in India. Apart from that, he also learned about psychology of teaching, metaphysics, spiritual knowledge, philosophy and comparative religion (M. Fuzi Omar 2005: 291). It is also reported that he did his Ph.D dissertation in Aligarh Muslim University and after completed his studies, he traveled to Middle East Countries and came back to Tanah Melayu in 1935 (he was only twenty four years old).
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In his return to Tanah Melayu, he taught Arabic at Al-Junid Arabic School in Singapore and during this period, he was also an editor to a magazine called Taman Bahagia. Within just one and half an hour of the first publication, he was jailed for a period of six months. The British regime in Tanah Melayu felt that his writing could initiate some unwanted behavior among the Malays during those times. After he had been released, in 1939, Dr. Burhanuddin and with a help of Dr. Rajah, opened homeopathic clinics in Singapore and Johor Bharu but lasted only in 1942.
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Dr. Burhanuddin was also active in Jam’iyyah al-Islamiyyah Singapore, as its Secretary. In 1937, he represented his organization in a debate with the traditional ulema at Sri Cemerlang Palace, Kelantan. The issue that was to debate was about dog saliva. He went to Kelantan with Haji Abbas Mohd Taha who was the Grand Judge of Singapore (Kamaruddin Jaafar 2000: 17).
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It should be noted that during the Japanese occupation in Tanah Melayu, Dr. Burhanuddin was appointed as an advisor of the Malay Custom and Culture by the Japanese. Because of his high position, he used his authority to protect and assist a well-known Islamic religious school, which can be considered important in the development of history of Tanah Melayu (Malaysia) which is Ma’ahad al-Ehya as-Sharif, Gunung Semanggol Perak. Regarding to this religious school, Dato’ Onn Jaafar, as the President of UMNO always referred Ma’ahad al-Ehya as-Sharif as a threat (danger) from the mountain (Ramlah Adam 2004: 323)
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Chapter 2
The Role of Islamic Values in His Political Activism, Thoughts and Writings
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In one of the research made by Professor W.R. Roff, he focused three elitist groups that tried to initiate nationalism sentiment. One of the groups is the Islamic reformist (Arab educated), radical intellectual (Malay educated) and the Malay administrators (English educated) whereby the majority of this group is from Malay aristocrats and Royal family (W.R. Roff 1975: 268). Roff argued that the system of education produced the three types of elitist group But in the case of Dr. Burhanuddin, it is hard for us to identified to which group he belongs too. This is because of his attitudes and political participation which involved two major streams of Malay nationalism which are Islam and so called ‘leftist’.
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Dr. Burhanuddin joined Kesatuan Melayu Muda (KMM) in 1939. He was introduced by Mustapha Hussain but he did not participated very actively in this organization. According to Ramlah Adam, the main reason why the young Malays established KMM is because of their high political awareness (Ramlah Adam 2004: 3). But in 1940, many of KMM leaders were under arrest by the British regime like Ibrahim Haji Yaacob, Sutan Djenain, and Ahmad Boestamam which eventually disabled the movement of KMM.
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During the Japanese Occupation in Tanah Melayu, he was appointed as the ‘Advisor on Malay Custom and Culture’ which was located in Taiping, Perak. This position of him can be considered the highest ranking officer for Malays. The interesting part is that, he managed to organized two Islamic congress during the Japanese Occupation and prepared whatever it may seem necessary for independence of Tanah Melayu. He was also able to protect and assist Ma’ahad al-Ehya as-Sharif, Gunung Semanggol Perak from any harm made by the Japanese soldiers.
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Kesatuan Rakyat Indonesia Semenanjung (KRIS) was established by Onan Siradj and Ibrahim Yaacob in 1945 after the Japanese regime had abolished KMM. KRISS received its main support from the Japanese regime and give independence to KRIS.
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It can be said that Dr. Burhanuddin role in Parti Kebangsaan Melayu Malaya (PKMM) is the most interesting part in his political activism. Many members of PKMM were from KMM and supported the idea of Melayu Raya/Indonesia Raya. Apart from that, many of its leaders are associated to the communist. Even though there are some true facts about the role of communist and socialism in PKMM, but Dr. Burhanuddin was able to neutralize these elements and have strong in his idealism and action.
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Dr. Burhanuddin became Parti Islam Se-Malaya (PAS) members on 14th December 1956 and became the President of PAS on 25th December 1956. He was approached by some PAS leaders like Haji Hassan Adli and others and guarantees that the leadership of PAS will be trusted to Dr. Burhanuddin (M. Fuzi Omar 2005: 300). Under the leadership of Dr.Burhanuddin, the popularity of the party became famous and being accepted by the Malays as well. In 1956 and 1959, the seat of presidency was being contested and Zulkifli whom opposed him in the presidency post. No doubt that Dr. Burhanuddin personality, appearance and attitude had won the heart of many PAS members and thus elected him as the new President of PAS.
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Thoughts and Writings of Dr. Burhanuddin al- Helmy
When discussing about Dr. Burhanuddin al-Helmy, the theme of Islam is very apparent in his daily life. He wrote many books about politics, Tasawwuf and medicine. Compared to his counterparts in politics during his period, it is obvious that Dr. Burhanuddin wrote many books, wrote his own speeches and spread his own thoughts to the masses. Among the famous books that he wrote is Sejarah Perjuangan Kita, Falsafah Kebangsaan Melayu, Ugama dan Politik dan Ideologi Politik Islam.
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In his book (Sejarah Perjuangan Kita; published in 1946) in chapter VI, he quoted many verses from the Quran. This means that his worldview is based on Islam and he is trying as best as he could to spread the message of Islam. He emphasized a lot about faith, body, nation and territory. All of these elements are interrelated and vital to the Malays. We must get independents first in order to established Islam system of life. If we do not get independent, we do not control our country, it is useless to promote the message of Islam. He also added that politics should be compatible to Islam, and not Islam should be compatible to politics.
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In his another book entitled Falsafah Kebangsaan Melayu, he gave emphasize on the topic of “Kebangsaan Dalam Islam”. He wrote:
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“Islam memandang kebangsaan itu sebagai suatu alat bukan tujuan. Kebangsaan hendaklah mengambil tempat yang sederhana dan bulat sebagai suatu lambang yang boleh menarik dan menyatukan suatu bahagian tenaga untuk mencapai cita-cita mulia yang besar dan abadi, sebagimana Islam memandang dunia bukan tujuan tetapi hanya satu alat atau tunggangan yang menyampaikan ke akhirat”. (Burhanuddin 1954)
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It is clear that Dr. Burhanuddin viewed nationalism as not an end but as a medium to the hereafter. And even he stated that nationalism he perceived is very wide and not rigid compared to others understanding of nationalism. But in the end, Rustam A. Sani argued that nationalism movement in Tanah Melayu as a movement of ‘failed nationalism’ because it is not based on Malay itself.
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Chapter 3
Conclusion
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Dr. Burhanuddin major theme is always been Islam. In his early childhood until he holds the post of President of PAS, the political journey of his is always interesting. In his message to the masses, he gave many examples from Quran, hadith and even some historical settings which are relevant to the subject. Ahmad Boestamam in his one book also acknowledge to role of Islam in Dr. Burhanuddin thought. He never gave up easily even though he was capture, tortured, harsh criticisms and accusation, but he never gave up hope easily and perceived it as a challenge from Allah S.W.T.
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From what I could understand, he showed a good living example between Islam and politics. In every political organization he joined and even any movement, his manifestation of Islam is always noticeable. Some would say that KMM is based on true nationalism ideology but Dr. Burhanuddin joined and assist the organization. Some even labeled PKMM as communist and socialist party but when we looked deep through, I would say that it is not true. Dr. Burhanuddin role in these various organizations had a huge impact on Tanah Melayu political atmosphere be it in pre-Independence or post-Independence. Last but not least, I would like to quote few words of Dr. Burhanuddin which I found it very touching and interesting;
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
History Of Jews
As indicated earlier, all Palestinian land - particularly Jerusalem - are sacred to Jews, Christians, and Muslims. The reason for this is that most of the prophets God sent to warn people spent part or all of their lives on this land.
According to historical studies based on archeological excavations and sacred texts, Prophet Ibrahim, his sons, and a small number of people who followed him first migrated to Palestine - known then as Canaan - in the nineteenth century bce. The Qur'anic commentaries (tafsir) indicate that Ibrahim (Abraham), peace be upon him, thought to have lived in the Palestinian area known today as Al-Khalil (Hebron), settled there with Prophet Lut (Lot). The Qur'an reports of his migration as follows:
We said: "Fire, be coolness and peace for Ibrahim!" They desired to trap him, but We made them the losers. We delivered both him and Lut to the land which We had blessed for all beings. (Qur'an, 21:69-71)
This region, described as "the land which We had blessed," is mentioned in various Qur'anic commentaries as referring to the land of Palestine.
Before Ibrahim, peace be upon him, the Canaanite (Palestinian) people were idolaters. He convinced them to abandon their idolatry and recognize the one and only God. According to historical sources, he settled his wife Hajar and his son Isma'il (Ishmael) in Mecca and its surroundings, while another wife, Sara, and his second son Ishaq (Isaac) stayed in Canaan. Likewise, the Qur'an mentions that Prophet Ibrahim settled some of his sons in the vicinity of al-Bayt al-Haram, which, according to the Qur'anic commentaries, is located in the valley of Mecca.
Our Lord, I have settled some of my offspring by Your Sacred House in an uncultivated valley. Our Lord, let them perform prayer. Make the hearts of mankind incline towards them and provide them with fruits, so that hopefully they will be thankful. (Qur'an, 14:37)
However, Ishaq's son Ya'qub (Jacob) emigrated to Egypt during his son Yusuf (Joseph)'s royal appointment. (Ya'qub's sons also are remembered as the "Children of Israel.") After Yusuf's release from prison and appointment as the head of the Egyptian treasury, the Children of Israel lived in peace and security in Egypt.
Somehow, their condition changed over time, and Pharoah treated them with great cruelty. God made Musa (Moses) His prophet during this period, and ordered him to lead them out from Egypt. He went to Pharaoh, asked him to give up his pagan beliefs and to surrender to God, and to free the Children of Israel also called Israelites. But Pharaoh was a cruel and savage tyrant. He had enslaved the Children of Israel, working them almost to death, and then ordered the execution of male children. Continuing his cruelty, he responded hostilely towards Musa. To prevent his own followers - actually his sorcerers - from believing in Musa, he threatened to cut their alternate hands and feet.
Following the death of Prophet Yusuf (Joseph), the Children of Israel endured great cruelty at the hands of Pharaoh.
Although Pharaoh refused permission, Musa, peace be upon him, and his people fled Egypt, with the help of God's miracles, in approximately 1250 bce. They settled in the Sinai Peninsula and in eastern Canaan. In the Qur'an, Musa commands the Children of Israel to enter Canaan:
My people, enter the Holy Land, which God has ordained for you. Do not turn back in your tracks and so become transformed into losers. (Qur'an, 5:21)
After Musa, peace be upon him, the Israelites continued to live in Canaan (Palestine). Again according to historians, Dawud (David) became the Israelis' king and created a powerful kingdom. During the reign of his son Sulayman (Solomon), Israel's borders extended from the Nile River in the south to the Euphrates River in today's Syria to the north. This was a magnificent period for the Israelite kingdom in many fields, particularly architecture. In Jerusalem, Sulayman had a magnificent palace and temple built. After his death, God sent many more prophets to the Children of Israel, though in most cases they did not listen to them and rebelled against God.
Those who disbelieve filled their hearts with fanatical rage - the fanatical rage of the Time of Ignorance - and God sent down serenity to His Messenger and to the believers, and bound them to the expression of guarding against evil which they had most right to and were most entitled to. God has knowledge of all things.
(Qur'an, 48:26)
As a result of their degeneracy, the Israelite kingdom dissolved and was occupied by various idolatrous peoples, and the Israelites, also known as Jews at the time, were enslaved once again. When Palestine was occupied by the Roman Empire, Prophet 'Isa (Jesus), peace be upon him, came and once again invited the Children of Israel to forsake their pride, superstitions, and rebelliousness and to live according to God's religion. Very few Jews believed in him; most of the Children of Israel denied him. And, as the Qur'an reports, they were: "Those among the tribe of Israel who disbelieved were cursed on the tongue Dawud and that of 'Isa, son of Maryam." (Qur'an, 5:78) After some time, God plagued the Jews with the Romans, who drove all of them out of Palestine.
Our reason for this lengthy explanation is to show that the Zionists' fundamental contention that "Palestine is the land God promised to the Jews" is not true. This topic will be examined in more detail in the chapter on Zionism.
Zionism interprets the concepts of "chosen people" and "promised land" through a racist lense. According to this claim, everyone descended from the Jews is "chosen" and owns "the promised land." However, race has no value in the sight of God, for what is important is godliness and righteousness. In God's eyes, the chosen ones are those who continue to follow the religion of Ibrahim, no matter what their race may be.
The Qur'an also emphasizes this fact. God announces that Ibrahim's heirs are not the Jews who boast of being "children of Ibrahim," but the Muslims who live according to his religion:
The people with the strongest claim to Ibrahim are those who followed him and this Prophet [Muhammad], and those who believe. God is the Protector of believers. (Qur'an, 3:68)
THE MUSLIM OBSERVER, 9.2001
W.REPORT, JULY 96
While Jews opposed to Zionism openly defy the Israeli government, fanatical Jews take the view: "The Promised Land is for the Chosen People. For good. For keeps. Forever." On a cover of Washington Report on Middle East Affairs, fanatical Jews are pictured carrying signs with this slogan. Due to such mistaken ideas, they behave cruelly toward their captive population of Palestinian Christians and Muslims.
According to historical studies based on archeological excavations and sacred texts, Prophet Ibrahim, his sons, and a small number of people who followed him first migrated to Palestine - known then as Canaan - in the nineteenth century bce. The Qur'anic commentaries (tafsir) indicate that Ibrahim (Abraham), peace be upon him, thought to have lived in the Palestinian area known today as Al-Khalil (Hebron), settled there with Prophet Lut (Lot). The Qur'an reports of his migration as follows:
We said: "Fire, be coolness and peace for Ibrahim!" They desired to trap him, but We made them the losers. We delivered both him and Lut to the land which We had blessed for all beings. (Qur'an, 21:69-71)
This region, described as "the land which We had blessed," is mentioned in various Qur'anic commentaries as referring to the land of Palestine.
Before Ibrahim, peace be upon him, the Canaanite (Palestinian) people were idolaters. He convinced them to abandon their idolatry and recognize the one and only God. According to historical sources, he settled his wife Hajar and his son Isma'il (Ishmael) in Mecca and its surroundings, while another wife, Sara, and his second son Ishaq (Isaac) stayed in Canaan. Likewise, the Qur'an mentions that Prophet Ibrahim settled some of his sons in the vicinity of al-Bayt al-Haram, which, according to the Qur'anic commentaries, is located in the valley of Mecca.
Our Lord, I have settled some of my offspring by Your Sacred House in an uncultivated valley. Our Lord, let them perform prayer. Make the hearts of mankind incline towards them and provide them with fruits, so that hopefully they will be thankful. (Qur'an, 14:37)
However, Ishaq's son Ya'qub (Jacob) emigrated to Egypt during his son Yusuf (Joseph)'s royal appointment. (Ya'qub's sons also are remembered as the "Children of Israel.") After Yusuf's release from prison and appointment as the head of the Egyptian treasury, the Children of Israel lived in peace and security in Egypt.
Somehow, their condition changed over time, and Pharoah treated them with great cruelty. God made Musa (Moses) His prophet during this period, and ordered him to lead them out from Egypt. He went to Pharaoh, asked him to give up his pagan beliefs and to surrender to God, and to free the Children of Israel also called Israelites. But Pharaoh was a cruel and savage tyrant. He had enslaved the Children of Israel, working them almost to death, and then ordered the execution of male children. Continuing his cruelty, he responded hostilely towards Musa. To prevent his own followers - actually his sorcerers - from believing in Musa, he threatened to cut their alternate hands and feet.
Following the death of Prophet Yusuf (Joseph), the Children of Israel endured great cruelty at the hands of Pharaoh.
Although Pharaoh refused permission, Musa, peace be upon him, and his people fled Egypt, with the help of God's miracles, in approximately 1250 bce. They settled in the Sinai Peninsula and in eastern Canaan. In the Qur'an, Musa commands the Children of Israel to enter Canaan:
My people, enter the Holy Land, which God has ordained for you. Do not turn back in your tracks and so become transformed into losers. (Qur'an, 5:21)
After Musa, peace be upon him, the Israelites continued to live in Canaan (Palestine). Again according to historians, Dawud (David) became the Israelis' king and created a powerful kingdom. During the reign of his son Sulayman (Solomon), Israel's borders extended from the Nile River in the south to the Euphrates River in today's Syria to the north. This was a magnificent period for the Israelite kingdom in many fields, particularly architecture. In Jerusalem, Sulayman had a magnificent palace and temple built. After his death, God sent many more prophets to the Children of Israel, though in most cases they did not listen to them and rebelled against God.
Those who disbelieve filled their hearts with fanatical rage - the fanatical rage of the Time of Ignorance - and God sent down serenity to His Messenger and to the believers, and bound them to the expression of guarding against evil which they had most right to and were most entitled to. God has knowledge of all things.
(Qur'an, 48:26)
As a result of their degeneracy, the Israelite kingdom dissolved and was occupied by various idolatrous peoples, and the Israelites, also known as Jews at the time, were enslaved once again. When Palestine was occupied by the Roman Empire, Prophet 'Isa (Jesus), peace be upon him, came and once again invited the Children of Israel to forsake their pride, superstitions, and rebelliousness and to live according to God's religion. Very few Jews believed in him; most of the Children of Israel denied him. And, as the Qur'an reports, they were: "Those among the tribe of Israel who disbelieved were cursed on the tongue Dawud and that of 'Isa, son of Maryam." (Qur'an, 5:78) After some time, God plagued the Jews with the Romans, who drove all of them out of Palestine.
Our reason for this lengthy explanation is to show that the Zionists' fundamental contention that "Palestine is the land God promised to the Jews" is not true. This topic will be examined in more detail in the chapter on Zionism.
Zionism interprets the concepts of "chosen people" and "promised land" through a racist lense. According to this claim, everyone descended from the Jews is "chosen" and owns "the promised land." However, race has no value in the sight of God, for what is important is godliness and righteousness. In God's eyes, the chosen ones are those who continue to follow the religion of Ibrahim, no matter what their race may be.
The Qur'an also emphasizes this fact. God announces that Ibrahim's heirs are not the Jews who boast of being "children of Ibrahim," but the Muslims who live according to his religion:
The people with the strongest claim to Ibrahim are those who followed him and this Prophet [Muhammad], and those who believe. God is the Protector of believers. (Qur'an, 3:68)
THE MUSLIM OBSERVER, 9.2001
W.REPORT, JULY 96
While Jews opposed to Zionism openly defy the Israeli government, fanatical Jews take the view: "The Promised Land is for the Chosen People. For good. For keeps. Forever." On a cover of Washington Report on Middle East Affairs, fanatical Jews are pictured carrying signs with this slogan. Due to such mistaken ideas, they behave cruelly toward their captive population of Palestinian Christians and Muslims.
Monday, June 29, 2009
Pork Forbidden???
The fact that consumption of pork is prohibited in Islam is well known. The following points explain various aspects of this prohibition:
1. Pork prohibited in Qur’an
The Qur’an prohibits the consumption of pork in no less than 4 different places. It is prohibited in 2:173, 5:3, 6:145 and 16:115.
“Forbidden to you (for food) are: dead meat, blood, the flesh of swine, and that on which hath been invoked the name of other than Allah.” [Al-Qur’an 5:3]
The above verses of the Holy Qur’an are sufficient to satisfy a Muslim as to why pork is forbidden.
2. Pork prohibited in the Bible
The Christian is likely to be convinced by his religious scriptures. The Bible prohibits the consumption of pork, in the book of Leviticus
“And the swine, though he divide the hoof, and be cloven footed, yet he cheweth not the cud; he is unclean to you”.
“Of their flesh shall ye not eat, and their carcass shall ye not touch, they are unclean to you.”
[Leviticus 11:7-8]
Pork is also prohibited in the Bible in the book of Deuteronomy
“And the swine, because it divideth the hoof, yet cheweth not the cud, it is unclean unto you. Ye shall not eat of their flesh, nor touch their dead carcass.”
[Deuteronomy 14:8]
A similar prohibition is repeated in the Bible in the book of Isaiah chapter 65 verse 2-5.
3. Consumption of pork causes several diseases
The other non-Muslims and atheists will agree only if convinced through reason, logic and science. Eating of pork can cause no less than seventy different types of diseases. A person can have various helminthes like roundworm, pinworm, hookworm, etc. One of the most dangerous is Taenia Solium, which is in lay man’s terminology called tapeworm. It harbours in the intestine and is very long. Its ova i.e. eggs, enter the blood stream and can reach almost all the organs of the body. If it enters the brain it can cause memory loss. If it enters the heart it can cause heart attack, if it enters the eye it can cause blindness, if it enters the liver it can cause liver damage. It can damage almost all the organs of the body.
Another dangerous helminthes is Trichura Tichurasis. A common misconception about pork is that if it is cooked well, these ova die. In a research project undertaken in America, it was found that out of twenty-four people suffering from Trichura Tichurasis, twenty two had cooked the pork very well. This indicates that the ova present in the pork do not die under normal cooking temperature.
4. Pork has fat building material
Pork has very little muscle building material and contains excess of fat. This fat gets deposited in the vessels and can cause hypertension and heart attack. It is not surprising that over 50% of Americans suffer from hypertension.
5. Pig is one of the filthiest animals on earth
The pig is one of the filthiest animals on earth. It lives and thrives on muck, faeces and dirt. It is the best scavenger that I know that God has produced. In the villages they don’t have modern toilets and the villagers excrete in the open air. Very often excreta is cleared by pigs.
Some may argue that in advanced countries like Australia, pigs are bred in very clean and hygienic conditions. Even in these hygienic conditions the pigs are kept together in sties. No matter how hard you try to keep them clean they are filthy by nature. They eat and enjoy their own as well as their neighbour’s excreta.
6. Pig is the most shameless animal
The pig is the most shameless animal on the face of the earth. It is the only animal that invites its friends to have sex with its mate. In America, most people consume pork. Many times after dance parties, they have swapping of wives; i.e. many say “you sleep with my wife and I will sleep with your wife.” If you eat pigs then you behave like pigs. We Indians look upon America to be very advanced and sophisticated. Whatever they do, we follow after a few years. According to an article in Island magazine, this practice of swapping wives has become common in the affluent circles of Bombay.
(By - Dr. Zakir Naik)
The Challenge Of The Quran
Description: The Qur’anic challenge to produce a work similar to it, and the inability of its contemporaries to meet it.
By Dr. Bilal Philips
The Quran is not only unique in the way in which it presents its subject matter, but it is also unique in that it is a miracle itself. By the term “miracle,” we mean the performance of a supernatural or extraordinary event which cannot be duplicated by humans. It has been documented that Prophet Muhammad, may God praise him, challenged the Arabs to produce a literary work of a similar caliber as the Quran, but they were unable to do so in spite of their well-known eloquence and literary powers. The challenge to reproduce the Quran was presented to the Arabs and mankind in three stages:
l. The Whole Quran
In the Quran, God commanded the Prophet to challenge all of creation to create a book of the stature of the Quran:
“Say: ‘If all mankind and the jinn would come together to produce the like of this Quran, they could not produce its like even though they exerted all and their strength in aiding one another.’” (Quran 17:88)
2. Ten Chapters
Next, God made the challenge ostensibly easier by asking those who denied its divine origin to imitate even ten chapters of the Quran:
“Or do they say that he has invented it? Say (to them), ‘Bring ten invented chapters like it, and call (for help) on whomever you can besides God, if you are truthful.” (Quran 11:13)
3. One Chapter
This final challenge was to produce even a single chapter to match what is in the Quran, whose shortest chapter, al-Kawthar, consists of only three verses:
“And if you all are in doubt about what I have revealed to My servant, bring a single chapter like it, and call your witnesses besides God if you are truthful.” (Quran 2:23)
These challenges were not just empty words with no one caring to prove them wrong. Prophet Muhammad’s call to monotheism, to the abolition of idolatry in all its forms, and to the equality of slaves and their masters threatened the whole socio-economic framework of Mecca society in general, and the position of the ruling Quraishee tribe from which the Prophet came in particular. Mecca, the trading center of Arabia, as well as its spiritual center, desperately wanted to stop the spread of Islam. Yet all that the Prophet’s opponents had to do to crush the movement was to make up a single chapter like any one of those which the Prophet and his followers were reciting to the people. A number of Quraishee orators and poets tried to imitate the Quran, but they failed. They then resorted to offering him vast amounts of wealth, the position of king over them, and the most noble and beautiful of their women in exchange for his promise to stop inviting people to Islam. He responded to them by reciting the first thirteen verses of Chapter Fussilat, until they asked him to stop.[1] The Quraish also resorted to torturing their slaves and relatives who had embraced Islam in a vain attempt to cause them to revert to paganism. Later they organized an economic boycott against the Prophet his followers and the members of his clan, Banu Hashim, in an attempt to starve them into submission. But even this plan eventually failed. Finally, they plotted to kill him in his home by sending armed young men from each of the clans of Quraish in order that the guilt of his murder be shared by all the clans, making revenge by the Prophet’s clan impossible.
However, God enabled the Prophet and his followers to flee Mecca and join a new band of converts who had arisen among the tribes of a city to the north called Yathrib. Islam spread rapidly through the clans of Yathrib, and within a year Muslims became the city’s majority. Prophet Muhammad was then made the ruler, and the name of the city was changed to Medina an-Nabi (The City of the Prophet may God praise him), which was then shortened to “Medina.” Over the next eight years, the clans of Mecca and its neighboring lands mounted a series of unsuccessful battle campaigns against the emerging Muslim state in Medina, which ended with the Muslim invasion of Mecca itself.
All of this bloodshed could have been avoided if only the Quraish and their allies had been able to produce a mere three lines of poetry or flowing prose similar to the shortest chapter of the Quran. Hence, there can be no doubt about the inimitability of the Quran’s literary style, about the miracle of its rhyme and the marvel of its rhythm.
It has been suggested that the inimitability of the Quran is not necessarily unique, for great English poets like Shakespeare, Chaucer, or great poets in any language tend to have distinctly unique styles which set them apart from their contemporaries. However, if, for example, some leading poet of today were to make an in-depth study of Shakespeare’s writings and write a sonnet in Shakespeare’s style in old ink and on old paper, then claim that he had discovered a lost poem of Shakespeare’s, the literary world would probably accept this claim, even after careful study. Thus, even the greatest of poets could be imitated; no matter how unique his style was, just as the famous painters have been imitated. [In fact, some English scholars consider much of what has been attributed to Shakespeare to have been written by his contemporary, Christopher Marlowe.] The Quran, however, is way above this level, as attempts to forge chapters have been made throughout the ages, yet none has withstood close scrutiny. And, as was mentioned before, the incentive to imitate the Quran was more intense during the time of its revelation when literally skills were at their peak than at any other time, yet there was no successful attempt.
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Footnotes:
[1] Collected by al-Hakim, al-Bayhaqee, Aboo Ya’laa and Ibn Hishaam, and declared Hasan by Ibrahim al-’Alee in Sahih as-Seerah an-Nabaweeyah, p.64.
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