p a s t i m a t i

wio.web.id

2007-03-27T03:11:00.000+07:00

alhamdulillah, i have moved to my own domain at wio.web.id. thank you.

death: a beginning––not the end

2007-03-13T07:20:00.000+07:00

people of poor faith, or those having no faith at all in the Hereafter, have a distorted perception of death and the life that comes after it. that is why they consider death a calamity rather than as a blessing. they believe that when they lose someone to death they lose them for ever; therefore, according to them, in the ground he is reduced to nothingness.

the fact is, however, that death is not eternal extinguishment; on the contrary, it is a transition to the life of the hereafter, our resting place. it is a moment we are all drawing near to, to the day we will have to give account of all that we engaged in the life of this world, that is, the Day of Judgement. every human being, without exception, will meet the moment of death and pass to his eternal resting place. this may happen at an early age as well as later in life. ultimately then, everyone will one day depart from this world; every day brings that predetermined date nearer. as such, to strive to escape death, or avoiding the very thought of it, or considering it as a calamity, is completely irrational.

Say: "Death, from which you are fleeing, will certainly catch up with you. Then you will be returned to the Knower of the Unseen and the Visible and He will inform you about what you did." [QS al-Jumu’ah 8]

man never actually disappears. from the very moment we are created, our eternal life begins. that is, we have already started our eternal life. once our worldly trial has ended, and immediately following the moment of transition, which we call death, we will live on into eternity. whether that time will be spent in torment or in bliss depends on one's commitment to the Word of God, the Qur'an, and his fastidiousness in observing His limits. this entire system: the universe, the world, human beings, and everything created for human beings, have been designed for an ultimate purpose–the life in the Hereafter. Allah informs us that man's existence in this world is not without a purpose and that, in the Hereafter, after his short life in this world, man will have to offer an account of his deeds:

Did you suppose that We created you for amusement and that you would not return to Us? [QS al-Muminun 115]

the life of the Hereafter is important in the sense that it represents the manifestation of Allah's infinite justice, as well as the provision of His infinite blessings. the Hereafter will be the place where everything a man does in this world will be repaid, where justice and compassion will prevail. the absolute justice of the Hereafter is described in a verse as follows:

...Say, "The enjoyment of the world is very brief. The Hereafter is better for those who have fear. You will not be wronged by so much as the smallest speck." [QS an-Nisa' 77]

of love, life and deity

2007-02-20T13:14:00.000+07:00

some people's heedlessness prevents them from living the peace of faith as they should and cause them trouble in a number of ways. from others they expect love, respect, affection, friendship, self-sacrifice, patience, forgiveness and many other blessings. likewise, they believe that they will achieve them by their own acts, efforts and their own will. however, only Allah can make an individual be loved, respected and admired. no matter how hard he tries, a person can never affect the hearts of others. Allah places love in a person's heart as a blessing resulting from his observance of the morality of the Qur'an. likewise, no one can create love for another in his own heart. it is Allah Who gives him this emotion. whatever people acquire materially or spiritually is created by Allah.

setting the approval of others above Allah's approval causes considerable trouble. living according to others' rules and ideas rather than those of the Qur'an also has the same effect, for no one can please a large number of people at the same time. when a particular behavior pleases one person, it angers somebody else. this is a vicious circle, and such an individual is doomed to live an uneasy life.

for a person who seeks only Allah's approval, everything is easy. the Qur'an informs him of all the deeds to which he should conform, and which he should avoid, during his life. what others think and how they behave towards him is of no importance. as long as he conforms to Allah's will, a sincere Muslim lives in the hope of finding salvation both in this world and the next. consequently, he lives out a far more tranquil, simple and beautiful life than those who feel compelled to judge themselves against those around them and seek the approval of others.

Allah describes the situation of people who seek the approval of others in this verse: "Most of them do not believe in Allah without associating others with Him" [QS Yusuf 106]. for this reason, without excepting himself, everyone should think carefully on the subject of idolatry and regulate his beliefs and his life according to this truth. everybody should take a warning from this important truth which Allah reveals to us in the verse:

That is part of the wisdom your Lord has revealed to you. Do not set up another deity together with Allah and so be thrown into Hell, blamed and driven out. [QS al-Isra' 39]

good in all

2006-12-13T08:01:00.000+07:00

when we speak of "living a beautiful life," you should not take this to mean that people will experience no difficulty, for this world is a place where everyone is tested, and a person will be tested by various events until the end of his life. as Allah tells us in the verses of the Qur'an, everyone will suffer difficulties and problems. some will be tested with hunger, some with fear, some with losses of property or loved ones. but none of these detract in the slightest from the internal tranquility or the happiness in the heart of a believer, because a believer submits to the destiny, seeing the benefits and blessings in events, or believes in them even if he cannot perceive them, and experiences the beauty in all this. thinking positively about events and submitting to the will of Allah, the Possessor of boundless knowledge, brings lasting and genuine happiness.

deadly deception

2006-02-21T06:31:00.000+07:00

most people know of Allah's existence and accept it but they do not praise His might as they should. the matter on which they fall into deception is not Allah's existence but His attributes. for example, they believe quite rightly that Allah is very generous, affectionate and compassionate towards His servants but they do not really take on board his attribute of being the Punisher of resistance to the faith and the One Who torments and curses the deniers.

these people who do not praise Allah as they should either have no fear of Allah at all or very little. in terms of the Hereafter, this is very dangerous for them because a person with no fear of Allah who does not believe that he will be punished for what he does can easily commit all kinds of evil acts. such people may succumb to the perverse idea, which is in no way related to the truth, that although they commit every sin which Allah condemns, He will forgive them anyway. satan approaches people from this direction and causes them to imagine that they will be forgiven whatever they do.

the truth is that people who think in such a way have fallen into a great error because although Allah is the One Who accepts repentance and forgives those who repent, at the same time, He is the One Who, with eternal justice, repays everything which is done in the manner it deserves. of course, those who do evil as well as those who do good will receive the repayment they deserve on the Day of Judgment. the Qur'an tells us this truth:

Or do those who perpetrate evil deeds suppose that We will make them like those who believe and do right actions, so that their lives and deaths will be the same? How bad their judgment is! Allah created the heavens and Earth with truth so that every self might be repaid for what it earned and they will not be wronged. [QS al-Jathiyya 21-22]

however, we should point out that naturally, any person can make mistakes during his life and may feel remorse for the wrong things he has done and the mistakes he has made because man is prone to error. nobody can claim to be perfect. because of this, while he is in the world a person can repent to Allah in order to be forgiven. until death, Allah allows everybody the opportunity for repentance; but the Qur'an tells us what kind of repentance is sincere and will be accepted. in the following verses, Allah tells us that sincerity is a condition of repentance:

Allah only accepts the repentance of those who do evil in ignorance and then quickly repent after doing it. Allah turns towards such people. Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise. There is no repentance for people who persist in doing evil until death comes to them and who then say, "Now I repent," nor for people who die unbelievers. We have prepared for them a painful punishment. [QS an-Nisa' 17-18]

since this is the case, when a person falls into error he should not regard it as unimportant and think, "Never mind, I'll be forgiven anyway," he should sincerely turn towards our Lord and repent his mistake with the determination to put it right. what is important is for a person to be a sincere and honest servant of Allah. only in this way can he hope for Allah's forgiveness. those who do not take refuge in Allah and do not ask for forgiveness, who think that Allah will forgive them anyway, will meet with results which they do not at all expect.

be careful and do not risk making the mistake, with which Allah will not be pleased, of thinking that He will forgive you whatever happens. otherwise you will be placing your eternal life in a grave danger of your own making.

islam : the just, the peace-loving

2005-11-21T06:56:00.000+07:00

the British historian Karen Armstrong, a former nun and an expert on Middle East history, in her book "Holy War", which examines the history of the three divine religions, she makes the following comments:
"...The word 'Islam' comes from the same Arabic root as the word 'peace' and the Qur'an condemns war as an abnormal state of affairs opposed to God's will... Islam does not justify a total aggressive war of extermination… Islam recognises that war is inevitable and sometimes a positive duty in order to end oppression and suffering. The Qur'an teaches that war must be limited and be conducted in as humane a way as possible. Mohammad had to fight not only the Meccans but also the Jewish tribes in the area and Christian tribes in Syria who planned on offensive against him in alliance with the Jews. Yet this did not make Mohammad denounce the People of the Book. His Muslims were forced to defend themselves but they were not fighting a 'holy war' against the religion of their enemies. When Mohammad sent his freedman Zaid against the Christians at the head of a Muslim army, he told them to fight in the cause of God bravely but humanely. They must not molest priests, monks and nuns nor the weak and helpless people who were unable to fight. There must be no massacre of civilians nor should they cut down a single tree nor pull down any building..."

in "The Genuine Islam", Sir George Bernard Shaw described Prophet Mohammad's superior traits:
"I have always held the religion of Mohammad in high estimation because of its wonderful vitality. It is the only religion which appears to me to possess that assimilating capacity to the changing phase of existence which can make itself appeal to every age. I have studied him... 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 the much needed peace and happiness..."

since the Prophet Mohammad, true Muslims have always brought with them an atmosphere of freedom and tolerance wherever they have gone. they have enabled people whose religions, languages and cultures are completely different from one another to live together in peace and harmony under one roof, and provided peace and harmony for its own members. within this multinational structure, all ethnic and religious groups have been free to live according to their own religions, and their own rules.

barbarism and radicalism in the name of religion, that is so preoccupying the world at present, is the work of ignorant and fanatical people, completely estranged from Qur'anic morality, and who have absolutely nothing to do with religion. the solution to these people and groups who try to carry out their savagery under the mask of religion is the teaching of true Qur'anic morality.

Islam and Qur'anic morality are solutions to the scourge of bigotry, barbarism and terrorism; not supporters of it.

islam denounces terrorism

2005-11-18T09:40:00.000+07:00

the meaning of the concept of "jihad"

one concept that deserves clarification is that of 'jihad'.

the exact meaning of 'jihad' is 'effort'. thus, in Islam, 'to carry out jihad' is 'to show effort, to struggle'. the Prophet Muhammad explained that 'the greatest jihad is the one a person carries out against his lower soul'. what is meant by 'lower soul' here is selfish desires and ambitions.

assessed from the Qur'anic point of view, the word 'jihad' can also mean a struggle carried out on intellectual grounds against those who oppress people, treat them unjustly, subject them to torture and cruelty and violate legitimate human rights. the purpose of this struggle is to bring about justice, peace and equality.

apart from these ideological and spiritual meanings, struggle in the physical sense is also considered as 'jihad'. however, as explained above, this has to be a struggle carried out solely for defensive purposes. the use of the concept of 'jihad' for acts of aggression against innocent people, that is for terror, would be unjust and a great distortion of the true meaning of the term.

killing oneself (committing suicide) is forbidden in the Qur'an

another important matter that arose in the wake of terrorist assaults is that of suicide attacks. some people who are ill-informed on Islam have made utterly erroneous statements to the effect that this religion of peace allows suicide attacks, whereas in Islam killing oneself and killing other people are both prohibited. in the words, "Do not kill yourselves" [QS an-Nisaa 29], God has declared suicide to be a sin. in Islam it is forbidden for anyone to kill himself or herself, for no matter what reason.

the Prophet reveals suicide to be a sin in a parable, when he says that those who commit suicide will be punished:
"Indeed, whoever (intentionally) kills himself, then certainly he will be punished in the Fire of Hell, wherein he shall dwell forever." [Bukhari and Muslim Hadith]

as this makes clear, committing suicide, and thus carrying out suicide attacks, and causing the deaths of many innocent people while doing so, is a total violation of Islamic morality. God says in the Qur'an that it is a sin to put an end to one's own life. for that reason, it is quite impossible for someone who believes in God and says he abides by the Qur'an to do such a thing. the only people who can do such things are those who have a very mistaken perception of religion, have no idea of true Qur'anic morality, fail to use their reason and conscience, are under the influence of atheist ideologies, and who have been brainwashed with feelings of hatred and revenge. everybody must oppose such actions.

uniting against terrorism

according to the Qur'an, it is a great sin to kill an innocent person, and anyone who does so will suffer great torment in the Hereafter:
...If someone kills another person—unless it is in retaliation for someone else or for causing corruption in the earth—it is as if he had murdered all mankind. And if anyone gives life to another person, it is as if he had given life to all mankind. Our Messengers came to them with Clear Signs, but even after that, many of them committed outrages in the earth. [QS al-Ma'idah 32]

the ideological fight against terrorism, therefore, must be started with great urgency. this fight will be fought on the level of ideas—between people who believe in God, who are loving, forgiving, compassionate and in full possession of their conscience; and those who draw their strength from ignorance and violence. in one verse, our Lord reveals, "Why were there not people with good sense among the generations of those who came before you, who forbade corruption in the earth..." [QS Hud 116]. believers should possess the virtue that God describes in that verse. while terrorists hope to achieve their aims by violence, believers know that true success can be achieved only by clinging tightly to the religion of God, and acting accordingly.

terrorist ideology is built on sand. its foundations can easily be swept away by mobilizing a proper education campaign. sincere believers in all parts of the world can help end the ignorance that breeds terrorism by searching for solutions, writing books and articles, promoting educational activities and disseminating their own cultural heritage. the prevalence of tolerance, peace and security on the Earth, as commanded by God, will make terrorism disappear into the pages of history forever. adopting a defeatist, pessimistic attitude in the face of terror is unacceptable. our hope is that this suffering will not be repeated, and that all measures will be adopted to that end.

may God have mercy on those who died in many hateful attacks, and may He heal the injured. our sincere condolences to all mankind.

because You are the only One

2005-10-24T12:27:00.000+07:00

if we cannot determine our physical appearance, neither can we determine our destiny. it is only Allah Who determines the birth of a man, his community, his family and the experience he will have throughout his life. it is again Allah Who inspires in us wisdom and good sense.

even our faith in Allah does not depend on our own characteristics. again it is Allah, the One and Only, Who grants us faith. He is the One Who guides, teaches and trains. as Musa (Moses) said in reply to a question put by Pharaoh: "Our Lord is He that gave to each thing its form and nature and further, gave guidance." [QS Ta Ha 50]

those who go to hell are the people who fully deserve it, because they have rebelled against Allah Who created them and in feeling the wrath of Allah, they receive their just deserts. as for those who are admitted to paradise, Allah grants them His blessings and forgives their sins.

the believers must understand how wonderful it is to have been chosen by Allah, and must be grateful and praise Allah with all their hearts for what He has given them in His munificence. they should appreciate that they have been chosen from among millions of people and that they are the few blessed servants of Allah to be selected and set apart from a community whose members face perdition. the entire conduct of the believers should reflect the honour of this great privilege. Allah describes those who face perdition thus:

"By (the Token of) Time. Verily man is in loss. Except those who have faith and do righteous deeds, and recommend one another to truth, and recommend one another to patience."
[QS al-'Asr 1-3]

is there a higher honour than that of being rescued and exalted above all others by the Lord of the Universe?

death of this earth

2005-10-24T12:14:00.000+07:00

over the last few centuries, many new probable causes for the world's end have emerged, and their number continues to increase every day. our planet's current situation contains a strong message: earth's end is a certainty, and its time is approaching. physicists, in particular, frequently express their concerns about this, as follows:

"If the universe has a finite stock of order, and is changing irreversibly towards disorder—ultimately to thermodynamic equilibrium—two very deep inferences follow immediately. The first is that the universe will eventually die, wallowing, as it were, in its own entropy. This is known among physicists as the 'heat death' of the universe. The second is that the universe cannot have existed for ever, otherwise it would have reached its equilibrium end state an infinite time ago. Conclusion: the universe did not always exist."
[Paul Davies, God and The New Physics]

it is surprising that so many people continue to live without considering their own end and being in awe of Allah, and remain totally absorbed by their worldly lives despite the proximity of death. and, it is even more surprising that most people, when reminded of death and the ensuing hardships, consider it a distant possibility. as they reject the Qur'an outright, its descriptions of the Day of Judgment have no meaning for them. they behave as if they will live forever, and so endanger the eternal life for the sake of a temporary life. death, which people try to avoid at all costs, will find all of them, for neither humanity nor the universe can avoid or prevent death. the Qur'an reveals this reality, as follows:

Say: "Death, from which you are fleeing, will certainly catch up with you. Then you will be returned to the Knower of the Unseen and the Visible, and He will inform you about what you did."
[QS al-Jumu‘a 8]

given that earth's destruction is a physical fact rather than a belief, the factors that will contribute to its end reveal themselves in the light of scientific discoveries. even people who do not believe in Allah or any other religion must acknowledge that the universe is approaching its inevitable end. hence, a new reality besides belief in the Day of Judgment and the Hereafter emerges. this is a frightening reality, because it means endless nothingness. the signs of the approaching Last Day leave people with a number of options: some unbelievers see it is an endless nothingness, whereas believers see it is either eternal pleasure or eternal suffering...

The Hour is coming, but I have concealed it so that every self can be repaid for its efforts.
[QS Ta Ha 15]

their eyes were watching God

2005-09-09T07:03:00.000+07:00

ignorant people have various perverted beliefs about religion, since they base their decisions about what is right and wrong upon their primitive rationale rather than on the Qur'an. mostly they gather these beliefs from their parents or other people immediately surrounding them, who influence them deeply during their early years. yet these beliefs, especially the ones regarding the existence of Allah, misguide them all through their lives.

many people, who in fact do not really deny the existence of Allah but have a wrong perception of Him, share the basic mistake of those who deny Allah. they do not deny creation, but have superstitious beliefs about "where" Allah is. most of them think that "Allah is up in the sky." they imagine that Allah is behind a very distant planet and interferes with "worldly affairs" only once in a while. or, perhaps, that He does not intervene at all: He created the universe and then left it to itself and people are left to determine their fates for themselves. still others have heard that in the Qur'an it is written that Allah is "everywhere", but they cannot perceive what exactly this means. they think that Allah surrounds everything like radio waves or like an invisible, intangible gas. for some, on the other hand, Allah evokes the image of an old wise man.

however, those who interpret and evaluate all happenings according to the Qur'an have an accurate grasp of Allah. such people understand that the entire universe has a single Sovereign, that He changes the entire physical world, including all human beings, as He pleases, and that He is not confined to a particular place and time. they know that even a dust particle, invisible to the naked eye, is under His control. Allah's existence encompasses all things and "reason" apprehends this. as the verse suggests: "Allah is nearer to man than his jugular vein" [QS Qaf 16]. just as He has created this all-pervading order, He is the One Who also maintains it incessantly. He encompasses all things and all places as stated in the Qur'an:

To Allah belong the East and the West, and wherever you turn, there is Allah's Countenance. Allah is All-Embracing, All-Knowing. [QS al-Baqarah 115]

To Allah belong whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth. Allah ever surrounded all things. [QS an-Nisa 126]

vitamins for the soul

2005-08-05T12:14:00.000+07:00

surely, it is God Who best knows the nature of man, which He has Himself created. this being the case, He is the One Who best knows people's needs and the ways to meet them. from how to maintain one's physical well-being, how to remain spiritually strong, or how to attain a satisfying social life, are all known to God. for example, a human being, by nature, is attracted to all forms of mercy, love and virtuous conduct. he expects to be treated with mercy and compassion. he detests and avoids injustice, immorality, and all forms of wickedness. he feels so by God's Will. because, God has instiled these values as part of a human's nature, he likes the good and avoids the wicked. moreover, what is demanded by the religion of Islam, which God has revealed to mankind, and what man is naturally inclined to, are like the lock and the key that unlocks it, in perfect harmony with one another. God informs us of this fact in the Qur'an as follows:
So set your face firmly towards the religion, as a pure natural believer, God's natural pattern on which He made mankind. There is no changing in God's creation. That is the true religion-but most people do not know it. [QS ar-Rum 30]

unless people observe the limits set by God in the Qur'an, they wrong their own souls. because, by failing to adopt the values that are in accordance with their creation, they appropriate attitudes against their very nature; this causes anxiety not only in themselves, but also makes them troublesome to society. as here stated:
...God does not wrong people in any way; rather it is people who wrong themselves. [QS Yunus 44]

the main force binding man, greater than any law of society, is the corruption of his own soul. immoderate desires are a source of continual anxiety to him. they foster in him feelings of insecurity and fear of the future. because of these negative tendencies within himself, he becomes ensnared in a difficult struggle with his various passions and desires. his soul relentlessly commands him to accumulate more assets, to make more money, or to win the admiration of others. yet, these are all insatiable desires. the desire for wealth is a deep-seated passion, common to many. however, the fulfillment of this desire only arouses further false desires. essentially, worldly desires always tend to become part of a vicious cycle.

man can only save himself from such ignorance through faith in God and surrender to Him. he attains freedom only when he ceases to be a slave to his passions. from then on, satisfying the endless desires mentioned above finally ceases to be his purpose in life. he begins a life in which earning God's good pleasure becomes his only purpose, the purpose for which God created him. this is true freedom: being a servant to God, and thus liberating oneself from everything other than God. as the Qur'an puts it: ...It is the people who are safe-guarded from the avarice of their own selves who are successful. [QS al-Hashr 9]

to conclude, Islam is a religion that is entirely in conformity with the nature of man. because, it is God Who is pleased with Islam as a religion for man, and it is He Who has created him. God desires not difficulty but ease for His servants, and determined as their religion those values that best conform to their needs, wishes and manner of living. in a verse of the Qur'an, our Lord commands as follows:
...Today I have perfected your religion for you and completed My blessing upon you and I am pleased with Islam as a religion for you... [QS al-Ma'ida 3]

why is religion revealed?

2005-07-13T09:55:00.000+07:00

where am i coming from, where will i go? what is the meaning and purpose of my life? what is death like? is it certain that there is life after death? do Paradise and Hell exist? what is the origin of life? where is our Creator? what does the Creator demand from us? how can i discern between right and wrong? where do i find the answers to these questions? ...

for ages, people have sought answers to these crucial questions, given serious thought to them and discussed them thoroughly. yet, contrary to what is generally believed, in all ages, the most reliable answers to these questions have been provided, not by the philosophers, but by the "true religion" which is the revelation of God.

many religions have attracted adherents throughout the world-buddhism, shamanism and paganism to name a few. however, none of these were the revelation of God. therefore, they were nothing more than a philosophy or a movement. some, having merely a symbolic or cultural meaning, provided no social or psychological solutions to problems. those who developed these religions, too, thought over these crucial questions, yet they could never find reliable answers.

nevertheless, there are some "righteous religions" which have to be evaluated separately from these false religions. the most important feature of righteous religions, which distinguishes them from false religions, is their origin: they all have their roots in revelation. God informs mankind in the Qur'an about the superiority of the religion of truth over all other religions, philosophies or sociological systems:
It is He Who sent His messenger with guidance and the religion of Truth to exalt it over every other religion, and God suffices as a witness. [QS al-Fath 28]

Judaism, Christianity and Islam are the religions which have their roots in revelation. originally, they were all revealed by God, yet after their respective messengers, Christianity and Judaism were corrupted.

man made countless distortions in the Old and New Testaments-making additions and deletions-and as the original books disappeared in time, various forged Old Testaments and New Testaments appeared. meanwhile, the originals were completely forgotten. hence, followers of these religions deviated from the original divine religion, and founded their beliefs, rituals, worshipping and life styles upon a wholly distorted understanding of religion fabricated by clergy and rabbis. today, these beliefs and interpretations still persist. thus, these distorted religions are very far from providing answers to the questions mentioned above.

after the distortion of these religions, God revealed the last divine Book, which will remain unchanged until the Day of Judgment, and He will be the One Who will surely guard it against all distortions:
We have, without doubt, sent down the Message; and We will assuredly guard it (from corruption). [QS al-Hijr 9]

for 14 centuries, the Qur'an has remained unchanged, and free from corruption. every single letter of the original hand-written copies of the Qur'an has a one-to-one relation to the current copies we have today. in every corner of the world, people read the very same Qur'an, which proves that the Qur'an is kept under the special protection of God.

God communicates His messages to man through His messengers and Books. Messengers always warn their people against the Day of Judgment and an eternal Hell, while they also give them the good tidings of an eternal bliss-Paradise. God, the One Who created man, is also the One Who surely knows the proper conditions in which man would feel most comfortable in this world. that is why the life style and moral values God demands from His servants shape a comfortable life on earth, as well as in the Hereafter. all divine religions convey fundamental facts about the existence of God, the purpose in the creation of man and all other living beings, how to be a decent servant of God, the ideal attitude and behaviour praised by God, the way to distinguish between right and wrong, good and bad, and how to conduct one's life to earn God's approval. in brief, by the mercy of God, religion is the system enabling man to attain an ideally structured life, both psychologically and sociologically.

from this standpoint, the truly righteous religion in the sight of God is Islam. the basis of all religions revealed to man since the time of Prophet Adam (as), is Islam, which means "submission to God." this fact is stressed as follows:
The religion with God is Islam... [QS Al 'Imran 19]

those who received divine books (Christians and Jews), before the Qur'an was revealed, were actually Muslims. this fact is related in the Qur'an in the words of those who had true faith among the Christians and Jews:
Those to whom We gave the Book before this believe in it. When it is recited to them, they say, "We believe in it; it is the truth from our Lord. We were already Muslims long before it came." [QS al-Qasas 52-53]

consequently, the religion with God is Islam. this incontrovertible fact is related in the Qur'an:
If anyone desires anything other than Islam as a religion, it will not be accepted from him, and in the Hereafter he will be among the losers. [QS Al 'Imran 85]

revealed : the Holy Fingerprints {2}

2005-05-26T13:24:00.000+07:00

so far, we have read the logic behind the similarities that exist between the Qur'an and the other altered books. however, when a person pays enough attention he will realize that there are many more incompatibilities and differences between them. in addition to the existing resemblances, the Qur'an's dissimilarity with the altered portions of the other divine books and how it corrects these changes is evidence that it is, word for word, a Holy Book.

since the previous divine books have gone through extensive man-made changes and have lost much of their original divine message, they contain conflicting references and logic, and are at times the direct opposite of what is contained in the Qur'an. there are also many variations in their anecdotes compared to Qur'anic ones.

these books have been changed in content and logic as well as style and composition; hence they have been turned into mystical religious history texts rather than divine books. for instance, the first book of the Torah, Genesis, tells the story of Children of Israel from the beginning of creation until the death of the Prophet Joseph. this style of historic expression is dominant in all the other books of the Torah as well.

in the same way, the initial parts of the four official Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) contain the life of the Prophet Jesus as their main topic. the main subject of all of these four Gospels is his life, words and actions.

in contrast, the Qur'an is very different in style. there is an open invitation to religion right from the start with Surat al-Fatihah. overall, the main subject in the Qur'an is declaring God to be free of imperfection and ordering believers to avoid idolatry in order to surrender themselves only to God.

today, in the altered version of the Torah, many imperfections and human attributes have been ascribed to God (God is surely beyond these). for example, the anecdote of the Prophet Noah contains a great deal of far-fetched nonsense about God's attributes. human qualities such as feeling tired or regretful, serenity, and many more it is not appropriate to mention here have been ascribed to God. again, the Torah has greatly slandered God when it describes Him as a human-like entity that walks, fights, and feels anger (God is surely beyond that).

this is the reason why there are clear warnings in the Qur'an against such slanders and lies by the Jews. one such accusation is that God (who is surely beyond that) is parsimonious.

The Jews say, 'God's hand is chained.' Their hands are chained and they are cursed for what they say! No! Both His hands are open wide and He gives however He wills. [QS al-Ma'idah 64]

on the whole, the Qur'an differs again from the Torah since it does not just talk about a single nation but of all civilizations, their rise and fall, as well as holding those whom it has been revealed to responsible for following its verses. these qualities make it unique and universal. since the other books have been changed by people throughout history and have lost their originality, they no longer possess these qualities. some of the basic principles of Christianity that are mentioned in the Bible, which is claimed to be a source of the Qur'an have been openly rejected by the Qur'an. the most important one is that which assumes Prophet Jesus to be the son of God. this belief has been appraised in the Qur'an as a lie against God.

They say, 'The All-Merciful has a son.' They have devised a monstrous thing. The heavens are all but rent apart and the earth split open and the mountains brought crashing down, at their ascription of a son to the All-Merciful! It is not fitting for the All-Merciful to have a son. There is no one in the heavens and earth who will not come to the All-Merciful as a slave... [QS Maryam 88-93]

another such claim the Qur'an entirely opposes is the crucifixion of the Prophet Jesus by the Jews. in the Qur'an, it is stated that the Jews did not kill Jesus, but that is how it was made to look, and it is added that God raised him up to Himself.

in conclusion, if we make a general comparison we will see that the important truth the Qur'an guides human beings toward is the Oneness of God, that there is no other deity but He and His purity from any defects or negative attributes. these important facts are repeated in each Qur'anic anecdote, information and verse. in the same manner, each Qur'anic anecdote carries guidance, warning and information.

all of these prove that the Qur'an is a divine revelation.

revealed : the Holy Fingerprints {1}

2005-05-26T13:17:00.000+07:00

the Qur'an is the only divine book that God has sent to all of mankind as a warning as well as guidance, and is valid until the Day of Judgment. mankind has altered the other holy books that were sent before the Qur'an. however, God has protected the Qur'an. this fact is mentioned in verse 9 of Surat al-Hijr: "It is We Who have sent down the Reminder and We Who will preserve it..."

another of the unsound claims widely spread by the unwise is that the Prophet Muhammad was inspired by the Bible (the Torah and the Gospel) and afterwards wrote the Qur'an. at the root of this totally imaginary and baseless claim lie some similarities that exist between the Qur'an and the Bible.

it is quite natural for such similarities to exist because, ultimately (if we were to remove the altered parts of the Torah and the Gospel) they all contain the words of God and their message is one and the same. the main subjects, such as the presence of God, His oneness, His attributes, belief in the Hereafter, the characteristics of believers, hypocrites and those who deny Him, the lives of previous nations, guidance, prohibitions, and moral values, are universal facts and will stay unaltered throughout time. consequently, it is no surprise that these topics mentioned in the previous holy books are similar and parallel to those in the Qur'an. what's more, it is stated in the Qur'an that it confirms the original, unaltered Torah and the Gospel:

And We have sent down the Book to you (O Muhammad) with truth, confirming and conserving the previous Books. So judge between them by what God has sent down and do not follow their whims and desires deviating from the Truth that has come to you. We have appointed a law and a practice for every one of you... [QS al-Ma'idah 48]

the quality of confirming its predecessors is not unique to the Qur'an, but has been given to all the divine books. the Gospel that was sent to the Prophet Jesus confirmed its predecessor the Torah that was revealed to the Prophet Moses. this reality is stated in the Qur'an:

And We sent Jesus son of Maryam following in their footsteps, confirming the Torah that came before him. We gave him the Gospel containing guidance and light, confirming the Torah that came before it, and as guidance and admonition for those who do their duty. [QS al-Ma'idah 46]

we may conclude that there are similar beliefs between the Qur'an and the other divine books, and that this is not only natural but logical. therefore, the presence of these similarities does not in any way show that our Prophet wrote the Qur'an. in fact, quite the opposite; it further emphasizes the truth that the books of all Divine religions come from one source: God. this is a reality stated by the Qur'an and confirmed by reason as well as logic.

God has revealed in His verses that the Qur'an is the book of truth sent by Him and the condition of those who do not believe in this truth:

And this Qur'an is not such as could ever be invented in despite of God; but it is a confirmation of that which was before it and an exposition of that which is decreed for mankind - This Qur'an could never have been devised by any besides God. Rather it is confirmation of what came before it and an elucidation of the Book which contains no doubt from the Lord of all the worlds. Do they say, 'He has invented it'? Say: 'Then produce a chapter like it and call on anyone you can besides God if you are telling the truth.' No, the fact is that they have denied something which their knowledge does not embrace and the meaning of which has not yet reached them. In the same way those before them also denied the truth. See the final fate of the wrongdoers! [QS Yunus 37-39]

moreover, there is another dimension to this subject. the Prophet Muhammad was not someone who collected information and researched either the Torah or the Gospel in his lifetime. the Prophet's fellow tribesmen closely witnessed the fact that he never actually read, wrote, worked on or researched any of these books. no one ever had any doubt concerning this point. furthermore, this characteristic of the Prophet that was so well known by the disbelievers was used in the Qur'an as evidence against them:

You never recited any Book before it nor did you write one down with your right hand. If you had, the purveyors of falsehood would have voiced their doubts... [QS al-'Ankabut 48]

the long war against God

2005-04-07T09:03:00.000+07:00

the Torah and the Gospel, the earlier revelations from God, have lost their original authenticity, since the words and interpolations of man have been incorporated into them. this is one of the reasons for which the Qur'an was sent. that the holy books preceded the Qur'an were distorted by man is related by God as follows:

Woe to those who write the Book with their own hands and then say "This is from God" to sell it for a paltry price. Woe to them for what their hands have written! Woe to them for what they earn! [QS al-Baqara 79]

Among them is a group who distort the Book with their tongues so that you think it is from the Book when it is not from the Book. They say, "It is from God," but it is not from God. They tell a lie against God and they know it. [QS al 'Imran 78]

distortion of the Torah and the New Testament led proliferation of false beliefs among their adherents. these holy books include beliefs and ideas that derive from outside of God's true religion. this manifests itself in the distortion of the true revelation, and the depiction of God as a being with weaknesses and imperfections peculiar to human beings. (truly, God is above what they ascribe to Him)

in the corrupted Torah, for instance, a story has been fabricated in which God is depicted as a being who was defeated in wrestling bout with the Prophet Jacob (as). similarly, in another tale, it is claimed that having created the world in six days, God became weary and rested on the seventh day. however, God, being exalted far above any imperfections, cannot become weary or in need of rest. this is related in the Qur'an as follows:

We created the heavens and the earth, and everything between them, in six days and We were not affected by fatigue. [QS Qaf 38]

this reveals that the adherents of these books have swerved from the straight path, and have not had an accurate understanding of God and His attributes.

the Qur'an, on the other hand, is under God's protection, and is the only book revealed by God to have survived intact. the Qur'an is the book of Islam, the only true religion:

It is We Who have sent down the Reminder and We Who will preserve it. [QS al-Hijr 9]

If anyone desires anything other than Islam as a religion, it will not be accepted from him, and in the hereafter he will be among the losers. [QS al 'Imran 85]

the Qur'an refers to the erroneous beliefs adopted by Christians and Jews, and makes known the correct belief. for instance, their saying, "God has a son (Jesus)," which is one of the tenets of Christianity, is said to be merely an irrational belief and a lie said against God:

People of the Book! Do not go to excess in your religion. Say nothing but the truth about God. The Messiah, Jesus the son of Mary, was only the Messenger of God and His Word, which He cast into Mary, and a Spirit from Him. So believe in God and His Messengers. Do not say, "Three." It is better that you stop. God is only One God. He is too Glorious to have a son! Everything in the heavens and in the earth belongs to Him. God suffices as a Guardian. [QS an-Nisa' 171]

Christian belief maintains that God created the universe and then left it to its own. yet, God commands Will over the universe at every single moment; it is constantly within His control. nothing can happen without His Will and control:

God, there is no god but Him, the Living, the Self-Sustaining. He is not subject to drowsiness or sleep. Everything in the heavens and the earth belongs to Him. Who can intercede with Him except by His permission? He knows what is before them and what is behind them but they cannot grasp any of His knowledge save what He wills. His Footstool encompasses the heavens and the earth and their preservation does not tire Him. He is the Most High, the Magnificent. [QS al-Baqara 255]

to counter these false notions, and many others not mentioned here, God gives His sublime attributes for us in the Qur'an. this is in order to, not only answer these erroneous claims, but also to guide those guilty of them to the true religion of God.

everyone must acknowledge that God is One, and that nothing is comparable to Him; He is free of any weaknesses. He encompasses everything, He exercises His command over creation at every moment, He is near to man, He has the power to do anything, He is the Most Merciful, He is the Just, He is the King of the Day of Judgement, He sees and hears everything, and is the most sublime in attributes.

before you regret

2005-04-04T11:58:00.000+07:00

death is an unavoidable end. like all the other people who lived in the past, the ones who will live in the future will also die. nobody, without exception, can escape it. that is why this is one of the issues human beings avoid thinking and talking about. some people insistently avoid the thought that one day they will lose everything to which they are attached with desire, and they will stand before Allah to give an account of the deeds they did in this life.

since, so far, not a single soul has escaped death, how can these people behave so heedlessly? how can they lead their lives as if they will never face death one day?

people often invent scenarios in their minds. they want to believe, for instance, that they will die in the later years of their lives and that hence they still have years ahead. that there are a lot of things to accomplish probably makes them feel that it is too early to die. contrary to what they believe however, they hear almost everyday news of young people who lose their lives. hearses which they see on television, or which they come across on the streets or cemeteries they pass by every day remind them of death. yet, they pretend not to understand the fact of death.

however, death is a reality you may meet any time, and time flies in the countdown to your own death. it is possible that you could breathe your last in the blink of an eye. any time, you may face angels assigned to take your soul. from then on, you lose all your chances to save yourself from an everlasting grievous punishment. nothing surely compensates for a life spent in heedlessness.

Wherever you are, death will catch up with you, even if you are in impregnable fortresses. If a good thing happens to them, they say, "This has come from Allah." But if a bad thing happens to them, they say, "This has come from you." Say, "Everything has come from Allah." What is the matter with these people that they scarcely understand a single word? [QS an-Nisa 78]

think about a man who does not ponder on death all through his life, who does not take heed from the events Allah makes him experience, who does not respond to the call of Allah's messengers and accordingly who spends his life without believing Allah. a person who follows his vain desires will surely be seized abruptly by death. regretful, he will demand another chance to return to life. however, there will be no return.

When death comes to one of them, he says: "My Lord, send me back again, so that perhaps I may act rightly regarding the things I failed to do!" No indeed! It is just words he utters. Before them there is an interspace until the day they are raised up. [QS al-Muminun 99-100]

There is no repentance for people who persist in doing evil until death comes to them and who then say, "Now I repent," nor for people who die rejecting faith. We have prepared for them a painful punishment. [QS an-Nisa 18]

depression no more

2005-02-22T15:15:00.000+07:00

current research suggests, that religion is a fundamental necessity for mental health, contrary to the atheist's view that it is a mental illness. this "mental illness" perspective is the brainchild of the 19th century atheist thinker Freud, but since then he has been comprehensively refuted. the american author Patrick Glynn sums it up:

"Yet, the last quarter of the twentieth century has not been kind to the psychoanalytic vision. Most significant has been the exposure of Freud's views of religion (not to mention a host of other matters) as entirely fallacious. Ironically enough, scientific research in psychology over the past twenty-five years has demonstrated that, far from being a neurosis or source of neuroses as Freud and his disciples claimed, religious belief is one of the most consistent correlates of overall mental health and happiness. Study after study has shown a powerful relationship between religious belief and practice, on the one hand, and healthy behaviors with regard to such problems as suicide, alcohol and drug abuse, divorce, depression, even, perhaps surprisingly, levels of sexual satisfaction in marriage, on the other. In short, the empirical data run exactly contrary to the supposedly 'scientific' consensus of the psychotherapeutic profession."
[Patrick Glynn, God: The Evidence, The Reconciliation of Faith and Reason in a Postsecular World]

the fact that those who fail to abide by religious moral values experience "stress" is revealed by Allah in the Qur'an:

"But if anyone turns away from My reminder, his life will be a dark and narrow one..."
[QS Ta-Ha 124]

this "dark and narrow" life, or stress/depression, to give it the current name, is the outcome of non-believers' failure to abide by the moral values imparted by faith. today, doctors maintain that a calm and self-assured composure are essential for protection from the effects of stress. a calm and peaceful disposition is only possible by living according to the Qur'an. indeed, it has been revealed in many verses of the Qur'an that Allah imparts "serenity" upon the believers [QS at-Taubah 26, al-Fath 4]. our Lord's promise to the faithful has been revealed as follows:

Anyone who acts rightly, male or female, being a believer, We will give them a good life and We will recompense them according to the best of what they did.
[QS an-Nahl 97]

the day we learn to love

2005-02-14T07:44:00.000+07:00

in the relationship between a man and a woman, the establishment of a mutual bond, outside of that approved by God, is one of the most critical factors leading to "idolatry", or "shirk" in arabic. it may take the form of marriage, or "living together", which has gained an increasingly widespread acceptance.

in this romantic understanding of love, the "lovers" show to each other all the duties that should be directed toward God, and they show to each other those feelings that should be reserved for God, as if they had an existence apart from Him. these individuals, instead of keeping God in mind, think only of each other. when they first open their eyes in the morning, instead of thanking their Creator for the new day, they think of each other, seeking to please only each other, not to please God. they are willing to sacrifice themselves for each other, but not for God.

in short, each turns the other into god. likewise, when we consider various examples of this warped understanding of love, as has become so widespread in the world, we will find that romantic men and women will openly declare to each other, "I worship you", "Wherever I go, I think about you", and other such expressions. however, wherever one looks, and wherever one goes, the only Being who deserves to be adored is God, the Lord of the Universe.

unfortunately, romantic love appears to be an innocent kind of love, though it is a type of "idolatry", reprehensible in the sight of God. however, satan blinds people to the truth, and so, in this case, he has again warped the truth to make it seem pleasant, and to make people follow the way he shows them:

...Satan made their actions seem good to them and so debarred them from the Way, even though they had been granted insight. [QS al-Ankabuut 38]

the Qu'ran calls special attention to the errant passion felt for a man/woman in this kind of romantic love. the recipient of this love can be anyone: a husband/wife, boyfriend/girlfriend, even a distant "platonic" love. if this kind of love prevents a person from remembering God as he ought, or makes him prefer his beloved in his heart rather than God, it leads that person into idolatry. people who live absorbed in this romantic man-woman relationship, are often unaware of the dangers into which they have put themselves. because of the fact that they have followed their cues since childhood from a misguided society, without knowing that the Qu'ran is their only guide to the right path, they are completely unaware that the way they have been living is a wrong in the sight of God. because they live their lives without cognisance of God, they become trapped in a mire of ignorance, though they believe they are on the right way. however, because they have no faith in God, their wisdom and understanding have become blind.

the kind of romantic love that leads to idolatry has become acceptable in society under completely "innocent" rubrics, as "mere romance", "true feelings", or "dating"; it is even praised and encouraged. usually, it is at a young age that people fall under the influence of romanticism, which prevents the development of their minds and conscience, keeping them ignorant of religion, faith and the purpose of creation. they have forgotten God, and know nothing about loving or fearing Him. idolatry then becomes the common practise of this misguided generation.

television and films often impose romantic and emotional subjects on viewers. they contend that sentimentality is merely a natural tendency in human beings. romance is one of the most consistent and marketable themes in music, poetry and literature. satan knows very well that sentimentality is a sickness that prevents people from thinking properly, of recognising reality, of being mindful of God, and of contemplating the purpose of creation and the afterlife, and that it lures people away from practising their religion, and leads them ultimately into idolatry. therefore, he seeks to mislead society at every turn by means of an intense and constant bombardment of sentimental themes.

consequently, those who think that idolatry simply refers to the worship of false-gods, or statues made of stone or wood, should be careful not to regard themselves as immune from this matter, or to be among those who will say on the last day, "By God, our Lord, we were not idolators." [QS al-An'aam 23]

the "M" word

2005-02-11T15:18:00.000+07:00

marriage is considered an important turning point in one's life. every young girl or boy looks forward to meeting the person of her or his dreams. a good mate is a major goal in life and young people are almost "indoctrinated" with the importance of finding one. however, relations between man and woman are fundamentally based on unsound grounds in ignorant societies, namely societies in which people do not accept the Qur'anic way of life: "friendships" are solely romantic relationships in which both sexes seek emotional satisfaction. yet, marriages are usually based on mutual material benefits. many women try to find a "prosperous man" in expectation of a high standard of living. for such a purpose, a young girl may easily accept to be the life-long spouse of someone for whom she has no affection. on the other hand, what a man seeks in a woman is very often "good looks".

yet the rationale behind the viewpoint of an ignorant society neglects a crucial fact: all these materialistic values are eventually doomed to perish; Allah can take back the fortune of a man in a moment. similarly, it takes but a few seconds to lose good looks; as city dwellers, for instance, our daily commuting to and from work can at any time be thwarted by an accident that may leave hideous and permanent scars on the face. time, meanwhile, deals irrecoverable damage to our health, strength and beauty. under such unpredictable conditions, what consequences are there in a system based on purely materialistic values? for instance, think of a man who only marries a woman because he is impressed by her good looks. what would he think if her face is badly injured in an accident? would he leave her when wrinkles start to appear on her face? the answers no doubt reveal the unreasonable basis of materialistic thinking.

the type of marriage acceptable in the presence of Allah is, however, based on totally different criteria. contrary to the marriages common in an ignorant society, where people are heedless about earning the good pleasure of Allah, the criteria is not money, fame or beauty; but a marriage intended to gain His good pleasure. for believers, the only criterion is taqwa, in other words, 'the avoidance of all that is prohibited, the fulfilment of all that is commanded, and the fear of Allah.' consequently, a believer can only marry someone who displays a deep loyalty to Allah. people find peace and happiness in this marriage. the relevant verse follows:

And among His Signs is this, that He created for you mates from among yourselves, that you may dwell in tranquillity with them, and He has put love and mercy between your (hearts): verily in that are Signs for those who reflect.
[QS ar-Rum 21]

taqwa being the sole bond, believers will surely meet a pleasant life in the Hereafter. as they remind each other righteousness and guide one another to the paradise all through their lives, they will also remain close friends for all eternity [the true soulmate!]. their relations are described as follows:

The believers, men and women, are protectors one of another: they enjoin what is just, and forbid what is evil: they observe regular prayers, practice regular charity, and obey Allah and His messenger. On them will Allah pour His mercy: for Allah is exalted in power, Wise.
[QS at-Tawbah 71]

Qur'an & science

2005-01-27T06:36:00.000+07:00

two basic pieces of information about the standard cosmological model are provided in the Qur'an

scientists learned that the universe had a beginning (Big Bang) and was expanding (Inflation) by reading the radiation and heavenly bodies in space thanks to the possibilities of modern science. however, these fundamental data are not at all new to mankind. mankind has been reading these two facts, which scientists were only able to read in the depths of space in the 20th century, in the Qur'an for the last 1,400 years.

in the Qur'an, and in the Torah and the Bible that were corrupted after their revelation, God has revealed that the universe and all matter were created out of nothing; in the Qur'an, the only text that has not been corrupted, He reveals one other miraculous secret that the universe is expanding.

the way the universe came into "being" from "non-being" is reported thus in the Qur'an:

He is the Originator of the heavens and the earth.
{QS al-An'aam 101}

the expansion of the universe, one of the main areas of research of modern science, is revealed in this verse:

And it is We Who have constructed the heaven with might, and it is We Who are steadily expanding it.
{QS adz-Dzaariyaat 47}

two elements of the standard cosmological model, the Big Bang and Inflation, were reported in the Qur'an at a time when the means of astronomical observation were very limited. this represents clear proof that the Qur'an was revealed by God. the findings of modern science are in complete agreement with what is related in the Qur'an, and these latest studies once again draw attention to that close compatibility.

I believe that everything mentioned in the Qur'an 1400 years ago is true and can be proven by scientific methods... This must be by inspiration from God, or Allah, Who knows all science. Thus, I believe that this is the time to say: "There is no god but Allah and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah."
{Prof. Tejatat Tejasen, Head of the Department of Anatomy and Embryology, University of Chiang Mai, Thailand}

:: harunyahya dot com ::

where is god

2005-01-14T10:04:00.000+07:00

despite having faith in the existence of Allah, many people hold extremely erroneous convictions about where He is. the materialistic outlook on life accounts mainly for these convictions. because the materialist maintains that nothing really exists except matter, he inevitably assumes that Allah has to be within the material universe yet fails to imagine the kind of space He might inhabit.

the Qur'an relates that people of the same mentality existed in the past. in order to see Allah, the Pharaoh ordered a tower to be built which would extend to the heavens. his erroneous belief was the result of a failure to understand Allah's attributes and his presumption about absoluteness of matter:

And Pharaoh said, 'O eminent ones, I have not known you to have a god other than me. Then ignite for me, O Haman, [a fire] upon the clay and make for me a tower that I may look at the God of Moses. And indeed, I do think he is among the liars.'
[QS al-Qashash 38]

but Allah is the Creator of space, and He is unbounded by it. it is only created beings that are bound by space, and Allah is exalted above all creation, while He encompasses all of it in knowledge.

people under influence of the materialist view of life fail to grasp this obvious truth, assuming that Allah resides in the heavens. some people look up into the sky while praying, but a person who knows that Allah is all-aware feels His presence wherever he turns. Allah informs us of this reality:

And to Allah belongs the east and the west. So wherever you [might] turn, there is the Face of Allah...
[QS al-Baqarah 115]

"If My servants ask you about Me, I am near (to them)..."
[QS al-Baqarah 186]

...We know what dark suggestions his soul makes to him: for We are nearer to him than (his) jugular vein.
[QS Qaf 16]

secret behind trials

2004-12-28T10:01:00.000+07:00

He Who created death and life to test which of you is best in action. He is the Almighty, the Ever-Forgiving.
[QS al-Mulk 2]

This worldly realm is the field of testing, the abode of service. It is not the place of pleasure, reward, and requital. Considering, then, that it is the abode of service and place of worship, sicknesses and misfortunes—as long as they do not affect belief and are patiently endured—conform fully to service and worship, and even strengthen it. Since they make each hour's worship equivalent to that of a day, one should offer thanks instead of complaining.
[Bediuzzaman Said Nursi]

We will test you with a certain amount of fear and hunger, and loss of wealth, life, and fruits. But give good news to the steadfast. Those who, when disaster strikes them, say: "We belong to Allah, and to Him we will return." Those are the people who will have blessings and mercy from their Lord; they are the ones who are guided.
[QS al-Baqara 155-157]

:: our on-going test ::

renungkan bencana

2004-12-27T08:47:00.000+07:00

there are hidden meanings to be reflected on in the disaster reports frequently covered by newspapers and TV.

some of the reports people frequently run across on TVs and in newspapers are of disasters. people may meet disaster at any time. a powerful earthquake may happen, a fire may start or flooding may occur. someone who sees these reports remembers that Allah has power over all things, that He can raze a city to the ground if He so wills. thinking of these, one sees that there is no one but Allah with whom one can take refuge and from whom one can ask help. even the strongest buildings and cities equipped with the most advanced technology cannot stand against the power of Allah; they too can perish all of a sudden.

all these scenes are for men to think about and take lessons from.

someone who hears about or reads these disaster reports also reflects that Allah has sent a disaster against this city for a purpose. in the Qur'an, Allah relates that He consigns the disobedient nations to penalty so that they might take heed or be repaid for their deeds. hence, if a given community practises values with which Allah would be displeased, Allah may have punished them for that reason. or, it may be that Allah is testing these people with some hardships in the world.

thinking about these possibilities, the believer fears that all these may also befall him, and asks forgiveness of Allah for his own conduct.

no person and no nation can prevent any disaster from occurring unless Allah so wills. it makes no difference whether it is the most wealthy and powerful country in the world or a place that ordinarily would be thought to be at little risk because of its geographical location. Allah says that no nation can prevent a disaster that will befall them:

Do the people of the cities feel secure against Our violent force coming down on them in the night while they are asleep?
Or do the people of the cities feel secure against Our violent force coming down on them in the day while they are playing games?
Do they feel secure against Allah's devising? No one feels secure against Allah's devising except for those who are lost.
Is it not clear to those who have inherited the earth after these people that, if We wanted to, We could strike them for their wrong actions, sealing up their hearts so that they cannot hear?
[QS al-A'raf: 97-100]

an earthquake lasting a few seconds is enough to destroy a whole city. those who think that these scenes are 'works of nature' are mistaken. this is because nature, an incredibly ill-defined entity, just as all other beings, under the command of Allah.

the greatest miracle in the world history

2004-12-24T10:19:00.000+07:00

So Christ ... will appear a second time ... to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him. [Hebrews 9:28]

"Men of Galilee," they (the angels) said, "why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven." [Acts 1:9,11]

And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come. [Matthew 24:14]

=0=

Doomsday will not take place until Jesus son of Mary (pbuh) comes as a fair ruler and a just imam.
[Sunan Ibn Majah]

He (Jesus) is a Sign of the Hour. Have no doubt about it. But follow me. This is a straight path.
[QS az-Zukhruf:61]

Ibn Juzayy says that the first meaning of this verse is that Jesus is a sign or precondition of the Last Hour. We can confidently say that this verse indicates his return at the End Times, because he lived six centuries before the Qur'an's revelation. Therefore we cannot consider his first life as a sign of the Day of Judgment. The verse says that Jesus will return toward the end of time or, in other words, during the last period of time before the Day of Judgment. In that context, his return is a sign of the Hour's imminent arrival. [God knows best.]
By the expression "Have no doubt about it. But follow me," which continues the verse; the great scholars of Islam interpret this pronoun as referring to Jesus, an opinion that they base on other Qur'anic verses and hadiths. In his commentary, Elmalili Muhammad Hamdi Yazir writes that: "No doubt he [Jesus] is a sign of the Hour, one that declares that the Hour will come, that the dead will be resurrected and stand up, because the miracle of Jesus' second coming and his miracle of resurrecting the dead, together with his revelation that the dead will rise, prove that the Day of Judgment is real. According to the hadiths, his arrival is a sign of the Last Day."

:: time of Prophet Jesus' (pbuh) second coming ::

come, let us prepare together for the coming return of Jesus.
let us wait together for this glad tiding and the greatest miracle in the world history.

terapi spiritual 'tuk si calon mayit

2004-12-13T07:50:00.000+07:00

seumur hidup, kita menyaksikan bahwa apa yang disebut sebagai "liang lahat" adalah selalu untuk orang lain. namun, pernahkah terlintas dalam benak kita...

:: bahwa suatu saat nanti, liang lahat itu adalah sepasti-pastinya untuk diri kita sendiri?

:: apakah yang akan terjadi pada jasad—tubuh yang tiada henti kita rawat semasa di dunia dan telah habis masa pakainya—kelak di liang lahat?

:: apakah pula yang akan dipertanggungjawabkan oleh jiwa—amal baik atau burukkah yang dibawa—kebahagiaan abadi atau kekalnya siksa yang diterima?

:: inginkah, atau mungkin lebih tepatnya, sanggupkah, jiwa yang tercabik dosa ini mengalami hal yang luar biasa spektakular: bertemu dengan Dzat Maha Mulia—Pencipta langit dan bumi beserta isinya—Pemilik hidup dan mati tiap-tiap yang bernyawa?

tidak ada salahnya bila kita berduka [selama masih dalam batas keridhaan Illahi] atas kepergian seseorang menghadap Sang Khalik, namun sungguh lebih tepat lagi bila kita justru menangisi diri sendiri, sambil merenung tentang dahsyatnya peristiwa pencabutan nyawa, tentang siksa teramat pedih akibat perbuatan-perbuatan buruk selama di dunia...

:: H i k m a h K e m a t i a n ::

dan tiadalah kehidupan dunia ini, selain senda gurau belaka.
dan sungguh kampung akhirat itu lebih baik bagi orang-orang yang bertakwa.
maka tidakkah kamu memahaminya?
[QS al-An'aam 32]

can you be happy without religion?

2004-12-10T19:04:00.000+07:00

John Lennon: The world he imagined —one without religion— did not bring a happy end, neither to him nor to his followers.

people who do not live by the religion cannot be happy, in the true sense of the word, for in order to be happy, first of all one's conscience needs to be at ease. in other words, nothing should cause them distress or confusion, or make them feel remorse. ease of conscience can be attained only by living by the religion. your conscience, which is under Allah's control, always commands you to believe in Allah, to fulfill the religion's requirements, and to adhere to the Qur'an's values. for that reason, irreligious person, one who has struggled against this command of his or her conscience throughout his or her life, cannot be truly happy. Allah reveals that people can attain ease of heart and true peace only by having faith in Him:

Those who believe and whose hearts find peace in the remembrance of Allah. Only in the remembrance of Allah can the heart find peace. [QS ar-Ra'd 28]

scientists of faith

2004-12-06T10:19:00.000+07:00

Isaac Newton (1642-1727)
Considered the greatest scientist who ever lived, Newton was both a mathematician and a physicist. His greatest contribution to science was his discovery of the law of universal gravitation. He added the concept of mass to the relation between force and acceleration; introduced the law of action and reaction, and put forward the thesis that a moving object will continue moving in straight line at a constant speed unless acted on by a force. Newton's laws of motion remained applicable for four centuries, from simplest engineering calculations to the most complex technological projects. Newton's contributions were not limited to gravity, but also extended to the fields of mechanics and optics. Discovering the seven colors of light, Newton thus laid the ground for a new discipline, namely optics.

In addition to his groundbreaking discoveries, Newton wrote critical essays refuting atheism and defending Creation. He supported the idea that "creation is the only scientific explanation". Newton believed that the mechanic universe, a gigantic clock working non-stop, in his analogy, could only be the work of an all-powerful and all-wise Creator.

Behind Newton's discoveries, which changed the course of the world, was his desire to come closer to God. Newton investigated the objects of God's creation to know Him better. To this end, he devoted himself to studies with great energy. Newton communicated the reason underlying his zeal for scientific endeavor with the following words, in his famous work Principia Mathematica:

...He (God) is eternal and infinite, omnipotent and omniscient; that is, His duration reaches from eternity to eternity; His presence from infinity to infinity; He governs all things, and knows all things that are or can be done... He endures forever, and is everywhere present; and, by existing always and everywhere, He constitutes duration and space... We know Him only by His most wise and excellent contrivances of things... [W]e reverence and adore Him as His servants...

Johannes Kepler (1571-1630)
Kepler, the founder of modern astronomy, discovered the elliptical movement of the planets, established a formula for relating a planet's orbital period to its mean distance from the sun, and completed astronomical tables that allow calculations of planetary positions for any time in the past or future.

As a scientist, Kepler also believed that the universe was created by a Creator. When he was asked why he practiced science, he said "I had the intention of becoming a theologian... but now I see how God is, by my endeavors, also glorified in astronomy, for 'heavens declare the glory of God'."

Louis Pasteur (1822-1895)
Pasteur is one of the greatest figures in the history of science and medicine, chiefly because of his establishment of the germ theory of disease, and his strong opposition to the theory of evolution. He was the first to explain the organic basis and control of fermentation, and as his research led him further and further into bacteriology, he isolated a number of disease-producing organisms, and developed vaccines to combat them - notably the dreaded diseases of rabies, diphtheria, anthrax, and others - as well as the processes of pasteurization and sterilization.

Pasteur, who was a firm believer in God, was the object of fierce opposition because of his resistance to Darwin's theory of evolution. He was a defender of the compatibility of science and religion, which he would often emphasize in his writings. As he put it:

Little science takes you away from God, but more of it takes you to Him.

Albert Einstein (1879-1955)
Albert Einstein, who is one of the most important scientists of the last century, was known for his faith in God. He did not hesitate to defend that science could not exist without religion. As he put it:

I cannot conceive of a genuine scientist without that profound faith. The situation may be expressed by an image: science without religion is lame.

nanti kita pasti mengalami ini, lho!

2004-12-02T13:00:00.000+07:00

Dan datanglah sakaratulmaut dengan sebenar-benarnya. Itulah yang kamu selalu lari daripadanya.

Dan ditiuplah sangkakala. Itulah hari terlaksananya ancaman.

Dan datanglah tiap-tiap diri, bersama dengan dia seorang malaikat penggiring dan seorang malaikat penyaksi.

Sesungguhnya kamu berada dalam keadaan lalai dari (hal) ini, maka Kami singkapkan dari padamu tutup (yang menutupi) matamu, maka penglihatanmu pada hari itu amat tajam.

Dan yang menyertai dia berkata: "Inilah (catatan amalnya) yang tersedia pada sisiku."

Allah berfirman: "Lemparkanlah olehmu berdua ke dalam neraka semua orang yang sangat ingkar dan keras kepala,

yang sangat enggan melakukan kebajikan, melanggar batas lagi ragu-ragu,

yang menyembah sembahan yang lain beserta Allah, maka lemparkanlah dia ke dalam siksaan yang sangat."

Yang menyertai dia*) berkata (pula): "Ya Tuhan kami, aku tidak menyesatkannya tetapi dialah yang berada dalam kesesatan yang jauh."

Allah berfirman: "Janganlah kamu bertengkar di hadapan-Ku, padahal sesungguhnya Aku dahulu telah memberikan ancaman kepadamu."

Keputusan di sisi-Ku tidak dapat diubah dan Aku sekali-kali tidak menganiaya hamba-hamba-Ku.

(Dan ingatlah akan) hari (yang pada hari itu) Kami bertanya kepada Jahannam: "Apakah kamu sudah penuh?" Dia menjawab: "Masih adakah tambahan?"

Dan didekatkanlah surga itu kepada orang-orang yang bertakwa pada tempat yang tiada jauh (dari mereka).

Inilah yang dijanjikan kepadamu, (yaitu) kepada setiap hamba yang selalu kembali (kepada Allah) lagi memelihara (semua peraturan-peraturan-Nya).

(Yaitu) orang yang takut kepada Tuhan Yang Maha Pemurah sedang Dia tidak kelihatan (olehnya) dan dia datang dengan hati yang bertaubat,

masukilah surga itu dengan aman, itulah hari kekekalan.

[QS Qaaf 19-34]

*) Yang dimaksud dengan Yang menyertai dia ialah syaitan yang menyesatkan di dunia ini.

pernahkah anda merenung

2004-11-29T10:59:00.000+07:00

...tentang kebenaran?

Maka apakah kamu mengira, bahwa Kami menciptakan kamu secara main-main (saja), dan bahwa kamu tidak akan dikembalikan kepada Kami?
[QS al-Mu'minuun 115]

heart. peace. and Allah.

2004-11-10T13:52:00.000+07:00

the wide-ranging research into the connection between religious belief and physical health carried out by Dr. Herbert Benson of the Harvard Medical Faculty has produced surprising conclusions. despite not being a believer himself, Dr. Benson has concluded that worship and belief in Allah have a more positive effect on human health than that observed in anything else. Benson states that he has concluded that no belief provides as much mental peace as belief in Allah.

what is the reason for this connection between belief and the human soul and body? the conclusion reached by the secular researcher Benson is, in his own words, that the human body and mind are regulated to believe in Allah.

this fact, which the world of medicine has slowly begun to appreciate, is a secret revealed in the Qur'an in these words: "Only in the remembrance of Allah can the heart find peace." [QS ar-Ra'd 28] the reason why those who believe in Allah, who pray to and trust in Him, are psychologically and physically healthier is that they behave in accordance with the purpose of their creation. philosophies and systems which contradict human creation always lead to pain and unhappiness. [pengalaman pribadi: menghambakan diri dan menaruh harapan kepada selain Allah hanya membuat hati ini tertekan dan gelisah]

modern medicine is now tending towards the realization of this truth. as Patrick Glynn put it: "[S]cientific research in psychology over the past twenty-five years has demonstrated that,... religious belief is one of the most consistent correlates of overall mental health and happiness."

life on earth is temporary & death is a certain reality

2004-11-10T08:37:00.000+07:00

from your earliest childhood onwards, you head for certain goals or are guided by others. you probably will have a family and a job, try to earn more in order to have a better life, educate your children, and hope that they will have a better life than you did. once a week you meet the other members of your extended family. you take vacations, go to work, and spend the rest of your time at home. except for a few hiccups on the way, your life progresses orderly and you usually encounter nothing outside the ordinary.

everything in your life seems to be premeditated, and everyone's life is like everyone else's. you need to work to realize these goals, and you need to have a family to continue your lineage. according to this worldview, what else could you possibly want besides "a good job" and "a nice family?" having achieved these goals, you expect to lead a happy life. in this way, everything is wonderful and you will live happily ever after.

however, some important changes are happening in your body and environment. many cells with diverse functions fulfill their purpose and die. as you age, it becomes harder to replace them. your body is ageing visibly, as seen through your illnesses and weaknesses. time moves fast, and the impossibility of reversing it becomes clearer every day. thinking that you were going to live happily and comfortably forever, you are nevertheless nearing death. thus, this worldly life can never give the sense of contentment and peace you expect. when this "satisfying" life ends, you will come face to face with the real truth. given this fact, none of your life ambitions should become your true purpose in life. this life is a temporary trial to separate the righteous from the evildoers. Allah reveals this reality in the following verse:

He Who created death and life to test which of you is best in action. He is the Almighty, the Ever-Forgiving.
[QS al-Mulk 2]

the true purpose of life is not a decent job and a nice family. rather, everybody has been created for one purpose: to serve Allah. we become attached to our children, rank, and status but with the first instance of death, these worldly pleasures lose their value and importance. everybody knows this, but many choose to ignore it. and so such things should not be the ultimate goals of life. we must reflect carefully and realize what is the real purpose and the true gain. Allah reveals the true purpose of our creation, as follows:

I only created jinn and man to worship Me.
[QS adh-Dhariyat 56]

only by fulfilling this responsibility can we expect the gifts of the Hereafter. most people have some unfounded expectations and comfort themselves with them. but this is a great error. if one has nothing to expect from the Hereafter, there is only one possibility left: to become nothing with death, a possibility that is scarier than all the others. the unbelievers develop various methods of forgetting this possibility, because they fear it so much. among these methods are not talking about, discussing, or remembering death, even though it is a certainty for everyone. everybody acts as if it does not exist. that most people behave in such a way might be reassuring to some extent, but in reality they are all misguided. people know about death, the Last Day, and the Hereafter, but refuse to ponder them. they are satisfied with this worldly life, or at least make themselves believe that they are. however, Allah reveals that death will find everyone:

Say: "Death, from which you are fleeing, will certainly catch up with you. Then you will be returned to the Knower of the Unseen and the Visible, and He will inform you about what you did."
[QS al-Jumu‘a 8]

the universe and all of its contents, not just humanity, will die on the Day of Judgment, for on that Day the trial will end. many people will recognize its coming by its signs, and the events leading up to the universe's death will be literally hair-raising. finally, on that Day, Allah will raise up all those in the graves and all people on the Earth will be called to account. those who did not expect to experience such a Day will no longer be able to deny it, and so will bow to Allah's will whether they want to or not. Allah has prepared a spectacular end for the universe, and despite most people's attempts to deny this reality, the Day of Judgment will come at its appointed time.

siapakah dunia?

2004-11-08T07:19:00.000+07:00

diriwayatkan, kepada Isa as telah diperlihatkan dunia dalam bentuk seorang perempuan tua berwajah buruk memakai berbagai macam perhiasan. kemudian beliau bertanya kepada perempuan tua itu, "berapa kali anda menikah?"
perempuan itu menjawab, "aku tidak bisa menghitung mereka [suami-suamiku]."
Isa bertanya lagi, "apakah mereka mentalakmu atau mati meninggalkanmu?"
perempuan itu menjawab, "bahkan kubunuh mereka semua."
Isa berkata, "sungguh mengejutkan! suami-suamimu yang terakhir, mengapa mereka tidak mengambil pelajaran dari suami-suamimu yang terdahulu?"

wahai manusia
dirimu hanya sekedar singgah
urungkan hasratmu 'tuk meminang dunia
jangan sampai kau "dibunuh" olehnya!

every_____moment

2004-11-03T09:28:00.000+07:00

while you're reading this, in every passing second...

» more than 2.5 million red blood cells are produced in your body

» your heart pumps 83 ccm of blood

» 4 babies are born

» 2 people die

:: download ::

...Nor is hidden from thy Lord (so much as) the weight of an atom on the earth or in heaven. And not the least and not the greatest of these things but are recorded in a clear record.
[QS Jonah 61]

from atheism to belief

2004-10-29T09:40:00.000+07:00

Abu Hanifa [d. 767], founder of the Hanifa sect and known during his own lifetime as "al Imam al-A'zam" [The Great Scholar], strove to communicate the message of Islam and teach people God's commandments. The signs leading to faith constituted the most important method he used to spread Islam and prove God's existence. As an example of just how much importance this great scholar attached to these signs, consider the following dialogue with an atheist [a naturalist or materialist who does not believe the Hereafter]:

When Abu Hanifa, who lived on the opposite shore of Baghdad, failed to take his place at the hour for debate, various questions arose in the mind of the atheist and the crowd. Everyone wondered: "Why hasn't he come? Will he really not come? Is he afraid? Has he been unable to find any proof?" and so on. Al-Imam al-A'zam arrived shortly after the appointed time. The atheist had been encouraged by this, and his arrogance and pride had grown...

Abu Hanifa apologized and began to explain why he was late: "I could not find a boat to carry me from the other shore. I began waiting, thinking that perhaps a skiff or a raft would come... At that moment, I saw that the trees suddenly fall over, turn themselves into timber, and the timber become a skiff. And then I saw an oar and a sail create themselves and assume their proper forms. I was delighted that I would no longer have to keep you waiting and so jumped into the skiff, which then brought me here by itself..."

The atheist and the crowd were unable to understand these words. The atheist, who believed that everything was created by nature, said that it was impossible for such an event to take place... which was just what al-Imam al-A'zam had been expecting...

Smiling, he replied: "How can you accept that a tiny skiff cannot come into being of its own accord without a builder and an artist, and yet you still believe that this magnificent universe could have come into being of its own accord, without a maker or a creator? The universe is the work of God, not of itself. There is no need to initiate a debate and dispute when all this is so apparent."

:: Die, Atheism, Die! ::

bergembiralah menyambut kiamat!

2004-10-07T07:06:00.000+07:00

...sebab di sana akan ada perhitungan yang adil dan kehidupan nan abadi;
yakni tempat dimana Allah akan menghimpun semua makhluk dari yang pertama hingga yang terakhir. keyakinan seperti ini akan membuat hati merasa tenteram dengan keadilan Allah. barangsiapa hartanya dirampas ketika di dunia, maka ia akan mendapatkannya di akhirat. barangsiapa dizhalimi di sini, di dunia, maka ia akan mendapat perlakuan yang adil di sana. dan barangsiapa melakukan kejahatan di tempat ini, maka ia akan disiksa di sana.

mengutip pernyataan Immanuel Kant, seorang filosof besar asal Jerman, "Sesungguhnya panggung kehidupan ini belum lagi sempurna; pastilah ada sebuah panggung kedua. Sebab kita semua menyaksikan di sini: orang yang zhalim dan dizhalimi namun tidak kita dapati keadilan, orang yang menang dan kalah namun tidak kita dapati ganjaran yang setimpal. Maka pasti ada alam lain yang akan menyempurnakan keadilan."

Syaikh ath-Thantawi berkomentar tentang pernyataan Kant tersebut, "Ini merupakan pengakuan implisit dari seorang filosof barat tentang adanya Hari Kiamat."

Pada hari ini tiap-tiap jiwa diberi balasan dengan apa yang diusahakannya. Tidak ada yang dirugikan pada hari ini. Sesungguhnya Allah amat cepat hisabnya.
[QS al-Mu'min 17]

akhir kehidupan

2004-09-22T08:37:00.000+07:00

su'ul-khatimah atau akhir kehidupan yang buruk disebabkan oleh lemahnya dasar keimanan dan dominannya cinta dunia, yang mengakibatkan di dalam hati tidak ada lagi tempat untuk cinta Allah. hal ini menjadikan manusia tenggelam dalam mengikuti syahwat sehingga hati menjadi gelap dan tertindih oleh tumpukan kezhaliman, sehingga cahaya iman yang sudah lemah itu semakin terpadamkan lalu menjadi karat di dalam hati.

jika sakratul-maut tiba, maka cinta Allah itu bertambah lemah karena hati tengah merasakan perpisahan dengan dunia, "sang kekasih" yang selama ini memenuhi jiwanya, lalu hati menjadi sakit karena perpisahannya tersebut. pengingkaran terhadap takdir kematian pun menyeruak, dan karena kematian berasal dari Allah, maka dikhawatirkan akan muncul dalam batinnya kebencian pada-Nya. jika pencabutan nyawa bertepatan dengan keadaan yang terlintas dalam benaknya seperti ini, berarti ia menutup kehidupannya dengan keburukan dan kekal selamanya dalam siksa. na'udzubillahi min dzalik...

Muhammad bin Wasi' berkata, "Apabila kamu melihat seseorang menangis di surga, maka apakah kamu tidak merasa heran mengapa dia menangis?" Dijawab, "Tentu." Muhammad bin Wasi' melanjutkan, "Maka orang yang tertawa sesukanya di dunia sedang dia tidak tahu bagaimana nasibnya kelak [seperti apa akhir kehidupannya], sungguh itu lebih mengherankan lagi."

statements regarding the Qur'an

2004-09-02T15:57:00.000+07:00

Everything made so much sense. This is the beauty of the Qur'an; it asks you to reflect and reason... When I read the Qur'an further, it talked about prayer, kindness and charity. I was not a Muslim yet, but I felt the only answer for me was the Qur'an and Allah had sent it to me.
[Yusuf Islam (Cat Stevens), former British pop star]

I hope the time is not far off when I shall be able to unite all the wise and educated men of all the countries and establish a uniform regime based on the principles of Qur'an which alone are true and which alone can lead men to happiness.
[French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte]

A speech by Bill Clinton which described how influenced he was by the Qur'an

In his last year in the White House, former US President Bill Clinton received a number of Muslims during Ramadan. At the meeting, which began with a reading from the Qur'an, Clinton used verses from the Qur'an in his own address and frequently stated his interest in Islam:

And I thought it was particularly moving that Imam read the passage from the Koran that said that Allah created nations and tribes that we might know one another, not that we might despise one another. There's a wonderful passage in the Hebrew Torah, which warns people never to turn aside the stranger, for it is like turning aside the most high God. And the Christian Bible says that people should love their neighbor as themselves. But it's quite wonderful to say that Allah created the nations and tribes that they might know one another better... Let me say, also, that there is much that the world can learn from Islam. It is now practiced by one of every four people on Earth. Americans are learning more in our schools and universities. Indeed, I remember that our daughter took a course on Islamic history in high school and read large portions of the Koran, and came home at night and educated her parents about it, and later asked us questions about it... So I ask you again to rededicate yourselves in this coming year to making sure that others in this country truly understand and appreciate the faith you embrace, its practices, its beliefs, its precepts and its inclusive humanity... The Koran also teaches, in addition, to the fact that we should do unto others as we wish to have done to us, and reject for others what we would reject for ourselves, but we should also make a commitment to live in peace...

Tony Blair:
"Qur'an Inspired Me."

The British Prime Minister Tony Blair says that he has read the whole Qur'an three times. In his statements, he often mentioned his admiration for the Qur'an's moral teaching. On March 29, 2000, the BBC reported on Blair's admiration for the Qur'an in a feature entitled "Blair: Qur'an Inspired Me." He was reported to have said that Islam was a good and peaceful religion, that he owned two copies of the Qur'an, and that he was quite inspired by it:

If you read the Koran, it is so clear...the concept of love and fellowship as the guiding spirits of humanity.

Two or three days before the 9/11 attacks, the British newspaper The Mail on Sunday published an article in which Blair said that former US president Bill Clinton's daughter Chelsea had given him a copy of the Qur'an as a gift, that he had begun to read it and that it had given him courage in times of difficulty. After the attacks, Blair once again said in an interview on Al-Jazeera television that he had read the Qur'an. He also added:

I read the message of the Koran, insofar as it can be translated. And I read about Islam and I enjoy doing that. And I think that I have learned things about the Koran that I never knew before and I think a lot of Christians would be interested.

Time magazine described Blair as "long-time student of the Koran" in one article about him.

George W. Bush:
"It's [the Qur'an is] a very thoughtful gift."

On 26 September 2001, President George W. Bush held a substantive meeting with American Muslim leaders, and said that "the teachings of Islam are the teachings of peace and good." During this meeting, Dr. Muzammil Siddiqi, President of the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA), presented a copy of the Holy Qur'an to President Bush. During a brief press conference after the meeting, the President expressed his pleasure saying:

And I want to thank you very much for the gift you gave me, Imam, the Koran. It's a very thoughtful gift. I say, "Thank you very much for the gift." He said, "It's the best gift I could give you, Mr. President." I appreciate that very much.

On September 17, 2001, President Bush visited the Washington Islam Center mosque, one of the oldest mosques in the United States. In his speech, he emphasized that Islam is a religion of peace and that the terrorist attacks of 9/11 have nothing to do with the teachings of Islam or the sincere Muslims of the world, all of whom deplore terrorism. Bush stated that those who inflict harm on innocent and civilian Muslims are just as in the wrong as those who carry out terrorist attacks. At this crowded meeting, covered live by a large number of domestic and international television stations, President Bush read the following verse from the Qur'an:

"In the long run, evil in the extreme will be the end of those who do evil. For that they rejected the signs of Allah and held them up to ridicule."
[QS ar-Ruum 10]

:: Miracles of the Qur'an ::

matahati [jangan] mati

2004-08-31T07:52:00.000+07:00

dunia tempat tinggal luas terhampar

di sana pesona dan fatamorgana dikejar

para pelengah terlena dalam tidur

seolah keabadian telah mereka atur

hingga petaka datang menyambar

pemaklumatan waktu segera mengantar

ke alam kubur menyambut umur

lalu tiada lagi bekas, semua hancur.

sejenak tafakkur

2004-08-18T09:31:00.000+07:00

Aku [Allah] heran terhadap orang yang yakin akan datangnya maut, tetapi mengapa ia masih sombong membanggakan diri?

Aku heran terhadap orang yang yakin dengan hari perhitungan [hisab], tetapi mengapa ia masih sibuk menimbun harta-benda?

Aku heran terhadap orang yang yakin akan masuk pintu kubur, tetapi mengapa ia masih tertawa terbahak-bahak?

Aku heran terhadap orang yang yakin terhadap hari akhirat, tetapi mengapa ia masih bersenang-senang, lalai tidak beramal?

Aku heran terhadap orang yang yakin akan lenyapnya dunia ini, tetapi mengapa ia masih menambatkan hati kepadanya?

Aku heran terhadap orang 'alim yang pintar bicara, tetapi bodoh dalam paham pengertian.

Aku heran terhadap orang yang sibuk menyelidiki aib orang lain, tetapi lupa cacat cela diri sendiri.

Aku heran terhadap orang yang tahu bahwa Allah memperhatikan tingkah-lakunya, tetapi mengapa ia masih durhaka kepada Allah?

Aku heran terhadap orang yang mengerti bahwa ia akan mati sendirian dan masuk kubur sendirian, tetapi mengapa ia masih asyik bersenda-gurau dengan orang banyak?

Tidak ada Tuhan yang patut disembah melainkan Allah, Muhammad itu benar-benar hamba-Ku dan Rasul-Ku.

[Kitab Sirrus Shaalihin: Hadist Qudsi]

who am i?

2004-08-05T09:44:00.000+07:00

how did i come into existence?

who has created me, who has created this perfect body of mine?

who has created this great order which surrounds me?

what does He, who created everything, want from me?

what does He want to show me?

and these are the Quranic answers:

Has man ever known a point of time when he was not something remembered? Verily We created Man from a drop of mingled sperm, in order to try him: So We gave him (the gifts), of Hearing and Sight.
[QS al-Insan 1-2]

Does man think that he will be left uncontrolled, (without purpose)? Was he not a drop of sperm emitted (in lowly form)? Then did he become a leech-like clot; which He created and shaped, making from it both sexes, male and female?
[QS al-Qiyamah 36-39]

O man! What has deluded you in respect of your Noble Lord? He Who created you and formed you and proportioned you and assembled you in whatever way He willed.
[QS al-Infitar 6-8]

:: scientific proof based on these verses, click here.

the human is a being created by Allah and as a created entity, he cannot change this fact. he cannot bring any other explanation to his own existence. since he has been created, he would not be left uncontrolled and irresponsible as emphasized in the above verses. there is, of course, a purpose for creation. where then will he find the answer?

there is only one answer to this question and that is in the book that Allah has sent down to him.

Dan apa saja yang diberikan kepada kamu, maka itu adalah kenikmatan hidup duniawi dan perhiasannya; sedang apa yang di sisi Allah adalah lebih baik dan lebih kekal. Maka apakah kamu tidak memahaminya?
[QS al-Qashash 60]

pergilah, aku pun akan menyusul...

2004-08-02T15:35:00.000+07:00

mata terpaku menatap whiteboard tepat di depan mejaku: ada tiga berita duka-cita. siapa tahu, mungkin besok atau lusa, ganti namaku yang tercantum di sana...

Innalillahi wa inna ilaihi raji'un.
kita semua milik-Nya: dari-Nya kita berasal, dan kepada-Nya kita kembali.

science finds GOD

2004-06-22T08:00:00.000+07:00

There is a mind and purpose behind the universe. There are hints of that divine presence in how abstract mathematics can penetrate the universe's secrets, which suggests that a rational mind created the world. Nature is fined tuned to allow life and consciousness to emerge.
[John Polkinghorne, British Physicist]

...Something else has to be behind things, somehow guiding them. And that, one might say, is a kind of mathematical proof of divinity.
[Guy Marchie, American Science Writer]

An intelligent, transcendent Creator must have brought the universe into existence.
An intelligent, transcendent Creator must have designed the universe.
An intelligent, transcendent Creator must have designed planet Earth.
An intelligent, transcendent Creator must have designed life.
[Hugh Ross]

:: The Creation of the Universe ::

Sesungguhnya dalam penciptaan langit dan bumi, dan silih bergantinya malam dan siang terdapat tanda-tanda bagi orang-orang yang berakal, (yaitu) orang-orang yang mengingat Allah sambil berdiri atau duduk atau dalam keadaan berbaring dan mereka memikirkan tentang penciptaan langit dan bumi (seraya berkata): "Ya Tuhan kami, tiadalah Engkau menciptakan ini dengan sia-sia. Maha Suci Engkau, maka peliharalah kami dari siksa neraka."
[QS Ali 'Imran 190-191]

Rasulullah saw bersabda: "...Maka celakalah orang-orang yang membaca (ayat tersebut) sedang ia tidak memikirkannya."
[HR Ibnu Hibban]

ingatlah maut

2004-06-15T12:28:00.000+07:00

Al-Rabi' bin Khutsaim menggali kubur di dalam rumahnya, dan setiap malam dia biasa tidur di situ sehingga dia bisa terus-menerus mengingat maut. "Sekiranya ingatan akan maut hilang dari hatiku untuk sesaat saja," demikian dia sering berkata, "niscaya hatiku akan menjadi rusak."

syair kematian

2004-06-15T12:24:00.000+07:00

Setelah kematian Fathimah Az-Zahra' bintu Rasulullah--sang istri tercinta, Ali bin Abu Thalib melantunkan syair:

Setiap pertemuan dua kekasih berakhir dengan perpisahan
Segala sesuatu adalah sedikit selain dari kematian
Aku kehilangan Fathimah setelah Muhammad tercinta
Ini bukti bahwa tiada kekasih yang abadi selamanya...

GOD IS ONE

2004-06-12T10:10:00.000+07:00

Your God is One God. There is no god but Him...
[Qur'an, 2:163]

..."He is God, Absolute Oneness."
[Qur'an, 112:1]

New Testament
...The Lord our God, the Lord is One. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, with all your mind and with all your strength... You are right in saying that God is One, and there is no other but Him.
[Mark 12:29, 30, 32]

Old Testament
"There is no one like You, O Lord, and there is no God but You."
[1 Chronicles 17:20]

You were shown these things so that you might know that the Lord is God; besides Him, there is no other.
[Deuteronomy 4:35]

kiamat & surat al-Kahfi

2004-06-12T09:19:00.000+07:00

The numerical values (abjad) in some of the verses in surat Al-Kahf point to times very close to our own day

We fortified their hearts... [QS al-Kahf 4]
1400 A.H. (Anno Hegirae, the Islamic calendar) or 1979 A.D. (Anno Domini, 'In the year of our Lord,' the Christians' Gregorian calendar)

He said: "The power my Lord has granted me is better than that..." [QS al-Kahf 95]
1409 A.H., or 1988 A.D. (without shaddah)

We gave him power and authority on Earth, and granted him a way to everything... [QS al-Kahf 84]
1440 A.H., or 2019 A.D. (with shaddah)

A sign pointing at the beginning of the fourteenth Islamic century and the end of the twentieth and the beginning of the twenty-first Christian century is the number 1980, which is obtained by multiplying Surat al-Kahf's number of verses with its order number.

Bediuzzaman Said Nursi also often indicated that this time was the beginning of the End Times. He says, for example:
Thus, unfair people who do not know this truth say: 'Why did the Companions of the Prophet with their vigilant hearts and keen sight, who had been taught all the details of the hereafter, suppose a fact that would occur one thousand four hundred years later to be close to their century, as though their ideas had deviated a thousand years from the truth?'

Sura 18: Surat al-Kahf (contains 110 verses)
18 x 110 = 1980

Bediuzzaman Said Nursi, by saying '1400 years after' the Companions of the Prophet indicated the years around 1980 as the end times. Here it is important to note that he said 1400, not 1373, 1378, and not 1398. In other words, the fourteenth Islamic century.

Surat al-Kahf contains very good news for the Muslims. This news, as our Prophet (saas) revealed, is the approaching blessed period of the End Times. If Surat al-Kahf is viewed from this perspective, it is pointing at the different phases, beginning, development, and conclusion of Islam in the End Times, culminating in the rule of Islam and concluding with the arrival of 'Isa (as).

more...

kiamat sudah dekat

2004-05-28T09:38:00.000+07:00

According to our Prophet, the people of Iraq will be divided into three groups. One part will join the pillagers. One group will flee, leaving their families behind. And one group will fight and kill. Prepare yourselves for doomsday when you see this.
[Fera Idu Fevaidi'l Fiqr Fi'l Imam al-Mahdi al-Muntadhar]

'Isa [as] did not die ... and he'll return!

2004-05-25T15:43:00.000+07:00

And (on account of) their saying, "We killed the Messiah, 'Isa son of Maryam, Messenger of Allah." They did not kill him and they did not crucify him but it was made to seem so to them. Those who argue about him are in doubt about it. They have no real knowledge of it, just conjecture. But they certainly did not kill him. Allah raised him up to Himself. Allah is Almighty, All-Wise.
[QS an-Nisa' 157-158]

Abu Hurairah (ra) narrated, "The Prophet, peace be upon him, said: 'There is no prophet between me and him, that is, 'Isa, peace be upon him. He will descend (to the earth). When you see him, recognise him: a man of medium height, reddish fair, wearing two light yellow garments, looking as if drops were falling down from his head though it will not be wet. He will fight the people for the cause of Islam. He will break the cross, kill the pig, and abolish the jizyah. Allah will cause to perish all religions except Islam. He will destroy the Dajjal and will live on the earth for forty years and then he will die. The Muslims will pray over him.'"
[Abu Dawud]

:: Jesus will return ::

'Isa [as] bukan Anak Tuhan!

2004-05-25T15:06:00.000+07:00

Those who say that the Messiah, son of Maryam, is the third of three are disbelievers. There is no god but One God.
[QS al-Ma’idah 73]

People of the Book! Do not go to excess in your religion. Say nothing but the truth about God. The Messiah, Jesus son of Mary, was only the Messenger of God and His Word, which He cast into Mary, and a Spirit from Him. So believe in God and His Messengers. Do not say: "Three." It is better that you stop. God is only One God. He is too Glorious to have a son! Everything in the heavens and in Earth belongs to Him. God suffices as a Guardian.
[QS an-Nisaa' 171]

fananya dunia

2004-05-21T11:00:00.000+07:00

The origin of the Arabic word for 'world' – dunya – has a significant meaning. Etymologically, it is derived from the root daniy, which means "simple", "inferior", "low" and "worthless". Hence, the word 'world' in Arabic inherently comprises these qualities.
...Indeed, all factors believed to make life wonderful – wealth, personal and business success, marriage, children, and so on – are nothing but vain deceptions. The related verse follows:

Know you (all), that the life of this world is but play and amusement, pomp and mutual boasting and multiplying (in rivalry) among yourselves, riches and children. Here is a similitude: How rain and the growth which it brings forth, delight (the hearts of) the tillers; soon it withers; you will see it grow yellow; then it becomes dry and crumbles away. But in the Hereafter is a penalty severe (for the devotees of wrong). And forgiveness from Allah and (His) good pleasure (for the devotees of Allah). And what is the life of this world, but goods and chattels of deception?
[QS al-Hadid 20]

tidakkah kamu memahaminya?

2004-05-21T10:21:00.000+07:00

dan tiadalah kehidupan dunia ini, selain senda gurau belaka. dan sungguh kampung akhirat itu lebih baik bagi orang-orang yang bertakwa. maka tidakkah kamu memahaminya?
[QS al-An'aam 32]