Warning

He remembered his grandmother' s warning about praying on time:

'My son, you shouldn't leave prayer to this late time'. His grandmother' s
age was 70 but, whenever she heard the Adhan, she got up like an arrow and
performed Salah.
He, however could never win over his ego to get up and pray. Whatever he
did, his Salah was always the last to be offered and he prayed it quickly
to get it in on time.
Thinking of this, he got up and realized that there were only 15 minutes
left before Salat-ul Isha. He quickly made Wudhu and performed Salat-ul
Maghrib.
While making Tasbih, he again remembered his grandmother and was
embarrassed by how he had prayed. His grandmother prayed with such
tranquillity and peace.
He began making Dua and went down to make Sajdah and stayed like that for
a while. He had been at work all day and was tired, very tired. He awoke
abruptly to the sound of noise and shouting.
He was sweating profusely. He looked around. It was very crowded. Every
direction he looked in was filled with people. Some stood frozen looking
around, some were running left and right and some were on their knees with
their heads in their hands just waiting. Pure fear and apprehension filled
him as he realized where he was. His heart was about to burst.

It was the Day of Judgment.

When he was alive, he had heard many things about the questioning on the
Day of Judgment, but that seemed so long ago. Could this be something his
mind made up?
No, the wait and the fear were so great that he could not have imagined
this. The interrogation was still going on. He began moving frantically
from people to people to ask if his name had been called. No one could
answer him. All of a sudden his name was called and the crowd split into
two and made a passageway for him.

Two angels grabbed his arms and led him forward. He walked with unknowing
eyes through the crowd. The angels brought him to the centre and left him
there. His head was bent down and his whole life was passing in front of
his eyes like a movie. He opened his eyes but saw only another world. The
people were all helping others. He saw his father running from one lecture
to the other, spending his wealth in the way of Islam. His mother invited
guests to their house and one table was being set while the other was
being cleared. He pleaded his case, 'I too was always on this path. I
helped others. I spread the word of Allah. I performed my Salah. I fasted
in the month of Ramadhan.' 'Whatever Allah ordered us to do, I did.'
'Whatever he ordered us not to do, I did not.' He began to cry and think
about how much he loved Allah. He knew that whatever he had done in life
would be less than what Allah deserved and his only protector was Allah He
was sweating like never before and was shaking all over. His eyes were
fixed on the scale, waiting for the final decision.

At last, the decision was made.

The two angels with sheets of paper in their hands, turned to the crowd.
His legs felt like they were going to collapse. He closed his eyes as they
began to read the names of those people who were to enter Jahannam.

His name was read first.

He fell on his knees and yelled that this couldn't be, 'How could I go to
Jahannam? I served others all my life, I spread the word of Allah to
others.' His eyes had become blurry and he was shaking with sweat. The
two angels took him by the arms. As his feet dragged, they went through
the crowd and advanced toward the blazing flames of Jahannam. He was
yelling and wondered if there was any person who was going to help him. He
was yelling of all the good deeds he had done, how he had helped his
father, his fasts, prayers, the Noble Qur'an hat he read, he was asking
if none of them would help him.

The Jahannam angels continued to drag him.

They had gotten closer to the Hellfire. He looked back and these were his
last pleas. Had not Rasulullah [SAW] said, 'How clean would a person be
who bathes in a river five times a day, so too does the Salah performed
five times cleanse someone of their sins?'

He began yelling, 'My prayers? My prayers? My prayers?'

The two angels did not stop, and they came to the edge of the abyss of
Jahannam. The flames of the fire were burning his face. He looked back one
last time, but his eyes were dry of hope and he had nothing left in him.
One of the angels pushed him in. He found himself in the air and falling
towards the flames. He had just fallen five or six feet when a hand
grabbed him by the arm and pulled him back.
He lifted his head and saw an old man with a long white beard. He wiped
some dust off himself and asked him, 'Who are you?'

The old man replied, 'I am your prayers.'

'Why are you so late?! I was almost in the fire! You rescued me at the
last minute before I fell in.' The old man smiled and shook his head, 'You
always performed me at the last minute, did you forget?'
At that instant, he blinked and lifted his head from Sajdah. He was in a
sweat. He listened to the voices coming from outside. He heard the Adhan
for Salat-ul Isha. He got up quickly and went to perform Wudhu.


Pass this on to your friends and family...... .

Maybe, you can help someone open their eyes.

The Quran Speaks About the Quran

The etymological meaning of the Quran is to read. It is a book which is like a fathomless and boundless sea. One has to dive in to it to fetch the pearls of wisdom. The very first verse revealed to the Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) in the cave of Hira was: "Read! In the name of your Lord who created." (96:1)

By Quran we mean the verses revealed to the prophet of Islam. It is the word of God. It is the Greatest and the Ever-current miracle of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) the last Apostle of God. It was revealed on the Night of Qadr. (2:185; 44-3; 97:1)

About the authenticity of the Quran the disbelievers used to create doubts in the minds of the people. They used to make hue and cry about it. The Quran says: "And those who disbelieve say: listen ye not to this Quran and make noise therein" - But about the Quranic truth and genuineness the Quran in the chapter The Heifer declares: "This is the Book, there is no doubt in it (being the word of God). (It is) a guidance for the pious ones." (2:2)

In Sura Al-Imran once again Allah regards the Quran as the Book of Guidance. The Quran says: "Here is a plain statement to men, a guidance and instruction to those who fear Allah." The people who are not pious and chaste and who do not fear Allah are incapable of enjoying the fresh and sweet fruit of this spiritual tree. They are misguided because of their stale souls and dullness of minds. About them in Sura The Heifer the Quran says: "Allah has set a seal on their hearts and on their hearing, and on their eyes is a veil; great is the penalty they (incur)." (2:7) At another place the Quran says that many people get astray and many receive guidance from the Quran. The Quran clarifies that only the wicked and unchaste ones go astray. Such immoral debauches have no clean heart and mind to sip the pure water from the Eternal spring of Sagacity. The Quran is a Book of Wisdom for wise people. In Sura Yunus it says: "These are the verses of the Book of Wisdom." (10:1) There is a full chapter in the Quran entitled Luqman (The wise). Luqman was a physician, philosopher and saint. The ascription and dedication of a full chapter to his name shows immense reverence for the man of wisdom in the sight of God. This Sura starts with these words: "These are verses of the Wise Book, a guide and a mercy to the doers of Good." (20:2-3)

The miracle of the Quran is that it gives eloquent and elegant message in a few words. Its preciseness and conciseness makes it marvelous. It has 114 chapters and 6666 verses. But according to the punctuation ascribed to the Holy Prophet by the Majmou-ul-Byan the number of the Quranic verses is 6263. The different schools of the reciters-Kufi, Hijazi, Macci, Madani, Egyptian and Syrian differ in this regard. It carries injunctions, parables, admonitions, exhortations, advices, stories and tenets. The Holy Quran at different places makes different claims about the nature of the Quran. Briefly they are as such. The Quran is the revelation of Allah. In Sura Fussilat the Quran says: "Falsehood cannot reach it from before it or behind it. It is revelation from one who is All-wise, praiseworthy. " (41:42) Then in Sura Abraham the Quran announces: "A Book which we have revealed to you in order that you might lead mankind out of the depths of darkness in to light." (14:1) In Suras, The Poets: The Crowds; The Sure Reality: The Adoration: The Pilgrimage and The Israelites, the Quran announces it to be the revelation and word of God. The infidels who challenged its truth and authenticity the Quran in Sura Yunus are likewise mentioned: "Thus is the word of your Lord proved true against those who rebel: verily they will not believe." Then in the same Sura they are challenged in these words: "This Quran is not such as can be produced by other than Allah; on the contrary it is a confirmation of (revelation) that went before it, and a fuller explanation of the Book - wherein there is no doubt from the Lord of the worlds ¨C or do they say, he forged it? Say: Bring then a Sura Like it, and call (to your aid) anyone you can, besides Allah, if it be you speaks the truth." (10:37-38) It has been brought by the arch angel Gabriel. In Sura The Poets, the Quran says: "verily this is a revelation from the Lord of the worlds. With it came down the spirit of Faith and Truth. To your heart and mind, that you may admonish in the perspicuous Arabic tongue." (26:192-195) The following verses also mention about Arabic language (12:2; 12:37; 41:3). The reason being the people directly addressed is to understand its message and act on it.

The Quran is a guide and warning for all human beings. In Sura, The Sure Reality the Quran announces: "It is a reminder for the heedful." (69:48) The Quran says that only the men of thinking pay heed to its verses. In Suras, The Cattle; The Abraham; The Saad; The TaHa; The Al-Imran: The Light; and The One Wrapped Up, The Quran says that it is the Book of Admonition and warning. It is mentioned in the previous scriptures. In Sura, The Poets the Quran says: "It (The Quran) is certainly in the scriptures of the previous peoples." There can be no omission and commission in the Quran. It is free from "Tahreef". Allah has promised to preserve it. The Quran in Sura, The Rocky Tract says: "It is WE who have sent down the reminder (The Quran) and WE will preserve it." (15:9) Then in Sura The Inevitable Event Allah says: "That this is indeed a Quran most honorable in a Book Well-guarded, which none can touch but those who are clean; A revelation from the Lord of the worlds." (56:77-80) The Holy Quran is the fundamental reference of source and guidance for judgments. No Un-Quranic verdict, decree or decision can be accepted by the Muslims. The Quran in Sura The Table Spread says: "Do they then seek the judgment of the Time of Ignorance? Who could be better at giving judgment than Allah for people with certainty?" (5:50) In Suras, The Mary; The Cattle; The Pilgrimage and The light, it is said that our verses are clear and explicit. In Sura, The Time the Quran says: "It is we who have sent the Quran down to you little by little." (76:23) The Quran is a light of Allah to show the right and straight path to humankind. In Suras, The Battle Array; The Table Spread: The Consultation and The Mutual Loss and Gain the Quran has been regarded as Light from Allah. The Quran is a criterion between right and wrong. It guides to the Right path. It is a healing for the believers. It is a book of Balance and Justice. Hence we see how the Quran speaks of the Quran. The Quran was compiled during the life time of the Holy Prophet. He had set its order. The Quran was recorded in writing at least by the following persons on the instructions of the Holy Prophet; Harzat Ali bin Abi Talib; Abdullah Bin Masood; Maaz bin Jabal and Obai Bin Kaab. During the life time of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) it was duly collected and had been given the form to be called a complete Book. As it had seven to ten recitations Harzat Usman gave instruction to Zaid bin Thabit to prepare its final copy on one recitation. The other copies he ordered to destroy or burn. Since then there is only one Quran in the whole Muslim world and all sects of Muslims recite the same Quran. There are no two or three Qurans. The Quran which Hazrat Ali had complied and collected on the guidance and instruction of the Holy Prophet was also the same Quran with the correct punctuation, pronunciation and recitation. During the period of caliphate Hazrat Ali people recited the same Quran, collected by Zaid bin Sabit. Hajjaj Bin Yusuf, a cruel and tyrant Muslim ruler ordered for the punctuation of the Quran for easy and correct reading and understanding of the Quran for the non-Arabs. But for non-Arabic speaking people still it is a problem. They do not recite the Quran with translation in their mother tongues and do not follow it. They should recite the Quran with translation. On the other hand most of the Arabs recite it but do not ponder over its meaning and do not learn any lesson from the Quran. They are oblivious of message. For all such people the Quran in Sura The Criterion says: "Then the messenger will say; O my Lord! Truly my people took this Quran for just foolish nonsense." Let Allah grant us grace and wisdom to recite the Quran with understanding and act upon its glorious message. In the words of Dr. Allama Iqbal "I make open what is hidden in my heart. The Quran is not only a Book, it is more than that."

What is more than that? Let us ask the Quran about this mystery. In Sura Hashr (The Gathering) the Quran says: "Had we sent down this Quran on a mountain, verily, you would have seen it humble itself and leave asunder for fear of Allah. Such are similitude which we propound to men that they may reflect." (59:21) The Quran claims that it can cleave the earth and move the mountains. It is a book of Law, wisdom, system, code and miracles. It is a final revelation carrying the basic message of earlier prophets. It is a master piece of immense literary, intellectual and spiritual value. The Quran provides bases for universal values and is a complete code of life.

While concluding a few citations from the writings for some non-Muslim scholars about the Quran may seem befitting. Thomas Carlyle says: "Sincerity, in all sense, seems to me the merit of the Quran." J.C. Wilson opines: "The Quran is the most esteemed and most powerful religious Book in the world." Harry Gaylord Dorman states: "It is a literal revelation of God, dictated to Mohammad by Gabriel, perfect in every letter." Hence the Quran aptly announce: "We have revealed for you (O Men) a Book which is a Message for you: Will you not then understand?" (21:10)

Woman in your Life

The woman in your life...very well expressed...

Tomorrow you may get a working woman, but you should marry her with these facts as well.

Here is a girl, who is as much educated as you are;
Who is earning almost as much as you do;

One, who has dreams and aspirations just as
you have because she is as human as you are;

One, who has never entered the kitchen in her life just like you or your
Sister haven't, as she was busy in studies and competing in a system
that gives no special concession to girls for their culinary achievements

One, who has lived and loved her parents & brothers & sisters, almost as
much as you do for 20-25 years of her life;

One, who has bravely agreed to leave behind all that, her home, people who love her, to adopt your home, your family, your ways and even your family ,name

One, who is somehow expected to be a master-chef from day #1, while you sleep oblivious to her predicament in her new circumstances, environment and that kitchen

One, who is expected to make the tea, first thing in the morning and cook
food at the end of the day, even if she is as tired as you are, maybe more,
and yet never ever expected to complain; to be a servant, a cook, a mother,
a wife, even if she doesn't want to; and is learning just like you are as
to what you want from her; and is clumsy and sloppy at times and knows that you won't like it if she is too demanding, or if she learns faster than you;

One, who has her own set of friends, and that includes boys and even men at her workplace too, those, who she knows from school days and yet is willing to put all that on the back-burners to avoid your irrational jealousy, unnecessary competition and your inherent insecurities;

Yes, she can drink and dance just as well as you can, but won't, simply
Because you won't like it, even though you say otherwise

One, who can be late from work once in a while when deadlines, just like yours, are to be met;

One, who is doing her level best and wants to make this most important,
relationship in her entire life a grand success, if you just help her some
and trust her;

One, who just wants one thing from you, as you are the only one she knows in your entire house - your unstinted support, your sensitivities and most importantly - your understanding, or love, if you may call it.

But not many guys understand this......

Please appreciate "HER"

My Dad is Great

How children think of there dad at different ages

At 4 Years
My daddy is great.

At 6 Years
My daddy knows everybody.

At 10 Years
My daddy is good but is short tempered

At 12 Years
My daddy was very nice to me when I was young.

At 14 Years
My daddy is getting fastidious.

At 16 Years
My daddy is not in line with the current times.

At 18 Years
My daddy is becoming increasingly cranky.

At 20 Years
Oh! It's becoming difficult to tolerate daddy. Wonder how Mom puts up with him.

At 25 Years
Daddy is objecting to everything.

At 30 Years
It's becoming difficult to manage my son.. I was so scared of my father when I was young.

At 40 Years
Daddy brought me up with so much discipline. Even I should do the same.

At 45 Years
I am baffled as to how my daddy brought us up.

At 50 Years
My daddy faced so many hardships to bring us up. I am unable to manage a single son.

At 55 Years
My daddy was so far sighted and planned so many things for us. He is one of his kind and unique.

At 60 Years
My daddy is great.

Thus, it took 56 Years to complete the cycle and come back to the 1st stage !

Why do we Muslims not celebrate Valentine's Day?

This question may be answered in several ways:
1- In Islam, the festivals are clearly defined and well established, and no additions or subtractions may be accepted. They are an essential part of our worship and there is no room for personal opinion. They have been prescribed for us by Allaah and His Messenger . Ibn Taymiyyah may Allaah have mercy on him said: "Festivals are part of the laws, clear way and religious ceremonies of which Allaah Says (what means): 'To each among you, We have prescribed a law and a clear way' [Quran 5:48] and 'For every nation We have ordained religious ceremonies which they must follow.'" [Quran 22:67]
Like the Qiblah (the direction faced in prayer), prayer and fasting. So there is no difference between joining them in their festival and joining them in their other rituals. Agreeing with the whole festival is agreeing with disbelief. Agreeing with some of their minor issues is the same as agreeing with them in some of the branches of disbelief.
Festivals are the most distinctive things by which religions are told apart, so whoever celebrates their festivals is agreeing with the most distinctive rituals of disbelief. Undoubtedly, going along with them in their festivals may, in some cases, lead to disbelief. Dabbling in these things, at the very least, is a sin. The Prophet referred to the fact that every nation has its own festivals when he said: "Every nation has its own ‘Eed and this is our ‘Eed." [Al-Bukhaari]
Because Valentine's Day goes back to Roman times, not Islamic times, this means that it is something which belongs exclusively to the Christians, not to Islam, and the Muslims have no share and no part in it. If every nation has its own festivals, as the Prophet said: "Every nation has its ‘Eed" [Al-Bukhaari and Muslim] - then this means that every nation should be distinguished by its festivals.
If the Christians have a festival and the Jews have a festival, which belongs exclusively to them, then no Muslim should join in with them, just as he does not share their religion or their direction of prayer.
2- Celebrating Valentine's Day means resembling or imitating the pagan Romans, then the Christian People of the Book in their imitation of the Romans in something that was not part of their religion. If it is not allowed to imitate the Christians in things that really are part of their religion - but not part of our religion - then how about things which they have innovated in their religion in imitation of idol-worshippers?
Imitating non-Muslims in general -whether they are idol-worshippers or People of the Book - is Haraam (prohibited) , whether that imitation is of their worship - which is the most serious form - or of their customs and behavior. This is indicated by the Quran, Sunnah and Ijmaa' (scholarly consensus):
(i) From the Quran: Allaah Says (what means): "And be not as those who divided and differed among themselves after the clear proofs had come to them. It is they for whom there is an awful torment." [Quran 3:105]
(ii) From the Sunnah: the Prophet said: "Whoever imitates a people is one of them." [Abu Daawood]
Ibn Taymiyyah may Allaah have mercy on him said: "This Hadeeth (narration) at the very least indicates that it is Haraam to imitate them, although the apparent meaning implies that the one who imitates them is non-Muslim, as Allaah Says (what means): 'And if any amongst you takes them friends (and helpers), then surely, he is one of them' [Quran 5:5]."
(iii) With regard to Ijmaa', Ibn Taymiyyah narrated that there was agreement that it is Haraam to imitate non-Muslims in their festivals at the time of the Prophet’s Companions and Ibn Al-Qayyim narrated that there was scholarly consensus on this point.
3- The love referred to in this festival ever since the Christians revived it is romantic love outside the framework of marriage. The result of that is the spread of fornication and immorality. Hence, the Christian clergy opposed it at some stage and abolished it, then it came back again.
Some people may wonder, and say: “You mean to deprive us of love, but in this day and age we express our feelings and emotions - what is so wrong with that?”
We say:
Firstly: It is a mistake to confuse what they call the day with what the real intentions are behind it. The love referred to on this day is romantic love, taking mistresses and lovers, boyfriends and girlfriends. It is known to be a day of promiscuity and sex for them, with no restraints or restrictions… They are not talking of pure love between a man and his wife or a woman and her husband, or at least they do not distinguish between the legitimate love in the relationship between husband and wife, and the forbidden love of mistresses and lovers. This festival for them is a means for everyone to express love.
Secondly: Expression of feelings and emotions is not a justification for the Muslim to allocate a day for celebration based on his own thoughts and ideas, and to call it a festival, or make it like a festival or ‘Eed. So how about when it is one of the festivals of the non-Muslims?
In Islam, a husband loves his wife throughout the year, and he expresses that love towards her with gifts, in verse and in prose, in letters and in other ways, throughout the years - not just on one day of the year.
Thirdly: There is no religion which encourages its followers to love and care for one another more than Islam does. This applies at all times and in all circumstances, not just on one particular day. Indeed, Islam encourages us to express our emotions and love at all times, as the Prophet said: "If a man loves his brother, let him tell him that he loves him." [Abu Daawood]
And he said: "By the One in Whose hand is my soul, you will not enter Paradise until you truly believe, and you will not truly believe until you love one another. Shall I not tell you of something that, if you do it, you will love one another? Spread salaam (Islamic greeting) amongst yourselves." [Muslim]
Fourthly: Love in Islam is more general and more comprehensive; it is not restricted only to one kind of love, that between a man and a woman. There are many more kinds of love. There is the love of Allaah, love of His Messenger and his companions love for good and righteous people, love and support for the religion, love of martyrdom for the Sake of Allaah, etc. There are many kinds of love. It is a dangerous mistake to restrict this broad meaning to this one kind of love.
Fifthly: What these people think, that love before marriage is a good thing, is wrong, as has been proven in studies and by real-life experience.
So, how can we believe that Valentine's Day is of any benefit to Muslims? The truth is that it is a call for more permissiveness and immorality, and the forming of forbidden relationships.
The husband who sincerely loves his wife does not need this holiday to remind him of his love. He expresses his love for his wife at all times and on all occasions.

How Islam improves on Christianity?

1. In Islam men and women are equal in the eyes of God (Quran 4:1; 4:124; 16:97; 40:40; 33:35; 3:195; 49:13; etc.); in Christianity men and women are not equal (Genesis 2:22; 1 Corinthians 11:8-9; 1 Timothy 2:13; Ephesians 5:22; 1 Corinthians 14:34-35; Leviticus 27:3-4; 1 Timothy 2:14; etc.).
2. Islam calls for faith in One True God (Quran 112:1-4); Christianity calls for faith in an absurd triune God (Father, Son and Holy Ghost).
3. Islam calls for faith and good works (Quran 85:11; 4:122; 19:61; 32:19; 103:1-3; etc.); Christianity is all about faith only.
[In Islam it is a combination, you must have faith and you must also do good works. Both are combined together, and without one, the other is useless. This is absent from Christianity, in Christianity good works means absolutely nothing as the Christians always say, it's only about faith!]
4. Salvation in Islam is very pure and simple, submit to God and do good works (Quran 85:11; 4:122; 19:61; 32:19; 2:112; 103:1-3; etc.); in Christianity Salvation rests on believing in torture and blood-shed of Jesus (God?)!
[One of the most disturbing things about Christianity is that to be saved, you have to believe that an innocent man died for you, an innocent man who did no wrong, paid for your crime! This innocent man was tortured, and given one of the most painful deaths, and basically you have to believe in such barbarity to be saved! This is nothing like the beauty of Islam, where you only have to submit your will to God and believe in Him. Why should you lay your Salvation on a man who was beaten, tortured, for a crime he did not commit! Christians are saved by the blood, torture and the brutal death of Jesus!]
5. Islam prohibits the killing of innocent people, women and children (Quran 5:32; Bukhari Vol. 4, Book 52, No. 257-8; etc.); Christianity advocates killing of innocent people, women and children (Deuteronomy 2:32-37; 3:1-7; 7:1-6; 13:6-18; 21:18-22; 22:25-29; 23:1-4; 25:1-3; 28:15-68; Numbers 31:17-18; Joshua 2:8-21; 8:23-29; 10:28-43; Judges 1:21-35; 21:10-24; etc.).
6. Islam is a non-racist religion (Quran 49:13; 17:70; etc.); Christianity is racist (Leviticus 25:44-46; Matthew 15: 21-28; etc.).
The Prophet's Farewell Sermon: "All Mankind is from Adam and Eve, an Arab has no superiority over a non-Arab nor a non-Arab has any superiority over an Arab; also a white has no superiority over a black nor a black has any superiority over a white - except by piety and good action."
7. In Islam slaves are equal to us and they must be set free (Quran 90:12-13; 2:177; Bukhari Vol. 1, Book 2, No. 29; Vol. 1, Book 2, No. 12; Vol. 7, Book 65, No. 286; Muslim Book 15, No. 4096; Book 15, No. 4074; etc.); in Christianity slaves are mere possessions (Exodus 21:20-21; Exodus 21:7; 1 Peter 2:18; etc.).
8. Islam condemns female infanticide (Quran 16:58-59; 81:8-9; 17:31); Christianity does not.
9. In Islam a lady is free to get a divorce (Muslim Book 11, No. 2091; Bukhari Vol. 7, Book 63, No. 197; Vol. 7, Book 63, No. 198); in Christianity a lady is like a prisoner and cannot get a divorce (Romans 7:2-3; 1 Corinthians 7:39; Matthew 5:32; Matthew 19:9).
10. In Islam women can inherit property and they can also earn money (Quran 4:7; 4:32); in Christianity women cannot inherit any property if there is a son (Numbers 27:8).
11. Islam forbids alcohol (Quran 5:90-91); Christianity does not.
12. Islam is for Mankind (Quran 21:107; 7:158; 34:28; etc.); Christianity is not.
13. Quran does not contain any clear-cut error or contradiction; Bible does contain many clear-cut errors, contradictions and unscientific statements. Please watch the debate between Dr. William Campbell and Dr. Zakir Naik on this issue:
http://video. google.co. uk/videoplay? docid=-669312582 0690597622
In conclusion these are at least 13 ways in which Islam improves on Christianity. It must be said that there are many other ways in which Islam improves on Christianity.
PS: This write-up was composed based on Brother Sami's article:
http://www.answerin g-christianity. com/sami_ zaatri/islam_ improves_ christianity. htm

Worship is Obedience without Questioning

Ibadah means, 'obedience and compliance of the creation to the Orders and Commands of the Creator.' When Allah Commands us to pray five times a day, then Salaat here is Ibadah and obedience to Allah. Similarly, obedience to everything that He has commanded is worship and refusal to perform any of it is disobedience and road to Kufr (disbelief). So, we are obliged to carry out His Command and not ask questions as to why do we pray five times and why four rak'ahs or three rak'ahs? We obey His Orders even if we do not understand the wisdoms behind it because the reason behind the worship is that it is a Command of our Lord - Allah, the Exalted.

Mu'aathah said, 'I asked Aishah, why must we make up the fasts missed due to our menstruation, and not the prayers?' She said, 'That was what the Messenger of Allah told us to do. We were ordered to make up the fasts and were ordered not to make up the prayers.' [Fiqhus-Sunnah, (1.71A)]

Iblees rejected the Command of Allah and questioned His Wisdom when he said, 'I am better than him [Adam], You created me from fire, and him You created from clay.' [Soorah al-A'raf (7): 12] This act is disobedience to Allah and Kufr (disbelief), and Allah tells us in the Qur'aan, 'And (remember) when We said to the angels, 'Prostrate yourselves before Adam.' And they prostrated except Iblees, he refused and was proud and was one of the disbelievers (Kuffar).' [Soorah al-Baqarah (2): 34]

Why I Embraced ISLAM – Maryam Jameelah, the First American Jewish lady

MARYAM JAMEELAH
(Formerly Margaret Marcus) The First American Jewish Lady from New York embraced Islam. The height of the Great depression a fourth-generation American of German Jewish origin.
The well-known convert from Judaism narrates below in her own words is not just a story, but the beginning of her literary mission to combat modernism inflicted on Islam by so-called reformers.
My discovery of Holy Quran was tortuous and led me through strange by-ways but since the end of the road was supremely worthwhile, I have never regretted my experiences.
These teachings of Holy Quran, made even more explicit by Hadith, were thoroughly compatible with my temperament. When I embraced Islam, my parents, relatives and their friends regarded me almost as a fanatic, because I could think and talk of nothing else. To them, religion is a purely private concern which at the most perhaps could be cultivated like an amateur hobby among other hobbies. But as soon as I read Holy Quran, I knew that Islam was no hobby but life itself!
Neither Judaism nor Christianity could satisfy me.
I could never reconcile myself to the complicated, incomprehensible theology of the Christians and the endless compromises of the Church with moral, social, political and economic evils.
The superiority of the Quran over the Bible to me lay in its all-embracing universality in contrast to the narrow, rigid nationalism of the Jewish scriptures. As this universality makes for the superior morality, it has exerted a drastic effect on the historical development of these religions and civilizations shaped by them.
In Islam, my quest for absolute values was satisfied. In Islam I found all that was true, good and beautiful and which gives meaning and direction to human life (and death) while in other religions, the Truth is deformed, distorted, restricted and fragmentary.
 

For the non-Muslims from a Canadian Lady

http://www.turntois lam.com/forum/ showthread. php?t=25771

I am no scholar, and I am new to Islam (about a month)
But one of the biggest things that I like to discuss are in fact women's rights in Islam.
There are many questions I have received from friends and family members since my conversion and most of them have been related to this topic.
Some of the main questions from people who know little about Islam were: "Won't your husband be oppressive, and isn't the hijab oppressive? Wont your husband beat you?"
Please, ladies, know your rights in Islam! Men are not allowed to beat women in Islam. In fact IF they DO touch you, they can't even leave a mark on your skin, there should not even be a red mark (you know, that fades away in seconds).
The hijab is a woman's choice, it is not forced upon them. Anyone that forces their women to wear it is ruled by culture, and not by Islam.
Most women make the choice to wear hijab because it FREES them from oppression. Do you truly think a half naked woman sitting on a car to SELL the car is not oppression? Women being used as sexual objects? A woman in hijab is looked at with the highest respect, and for her mind, and not her beauty.
About men being allowed 4 wives. Do you think a woman would really want four husbands? Would YOU want 4 husbands to take care of at the end of the day?! It¡¯s hard enough caring for one! (laundry, dinner, ETC)
The whole reason behind men being allowed 4 wives is for social needs. In the times of the Prophet (peace be upon him) there was a lot of war. Men would leave their wives and kids and not return home. What were these women supposed to do to care for her family? There was no social support in those days. Everything about Islam is an answer to a problem. You don't see too many Muslim men taking more than one wife these days because he has to treat each one equally. That means, a house for each wife, he has to spend the same amount of time with each wife, therefore you have to be WELL OFF in order to do this. And in fact, while polygamy is allowed, even Allah SWT in the Quran says one is better.
Another question I get is this "If a father dies, why the son gets more than the daughter? In the Quran, it says that the son is to receive double of what the daughter would get. HOW IS THIS FAIR???¡± Well I will tell you how it is fair. The Quran also says that the son must care for all the women in his family until his sisters are married, and if the mother doesn't remarry it is the son's responsibility to care for her entirely, just as his father did. That means, any money that he received, he will likely not see a penny of it for himself after he cares for his sisters and mother. ALSO the money the daughter receives is her in its entirety. While the son is paying for her living expenses and food, the money she gets, she may spend on whatever she likes, it is hers and nobody can touch it. Now does that seem fair?
How about women in Islam that don't have jobs and slave away at home. Well, that is the woman's choice. A woman can either work, or stay at home and care for her children. Since it is the man's duty to provide for his family, the woman usually prefers to watch her kids grow, then to have them in daycare while she makes money. If she does decide to work however, any of the money she makes is hers to spend on whatever she likes, and she does not have to put a single penny of it towards the household.
Women in Islam are seen as more precious then diamonds and pearls. We are held high. It is US that carry life inside of us for 9 months, it is us that raise the children.
Allah (SWT) gives men and women equality or rights. We as women however are not the same as men. Men were made to be able to provide for a family, to be strong in times of need, to be the king of the home. But as history tells this story, No king can run a country without a right hand. No palace can stand without a pillar. We my sister, are the pillars for our men.
I am sorry for going on like this, May Allah guide you to the truth. Aameen.

Who Is Shaytan

Literally, Shaytan means, 'rebellious' and it describes anyone who is insolent and seeks to divert people away from the obedience of Allah, whether he be from the Jinn or humans. Qatadah commented on Allah's statement, 'Shayateen (pl. of Shaytan) among mankind and Jinn...' 'There are Shayateen among the Jinn and Shayateen among mankind, who inspire each other.' [Tafseer Ibn Katheer for the verse, (6): 112]
In general, this term refers to Iblees, who is from the Jinn and created from fire. Jinn are a creation of Allah too, and are subject to the commands and prohibitions like humans, and they will be held accountable for their deeds on the Day of Judgment.
In the beginning, Iblees used to worship Allah with the Angels. In His Glorious Book, Allah, the Exalted, has informed us - the children of Adam, about the enmity between Shaytan and mankind that has continued since the day Adam (alaihis-salaam) was created. When Allah breathed soul into Adam, he commanded the Angels to prostrate before Adam as a sign of honor. Although Iblees was not an angel, he was trying - and pretending - to imitate the Angel's behavior and deeds, and this is why he was also included in the command to prostrate before Adam, but Iblees thought too highly of himself and was arrogant. Muhammad bin Ishaq reported that Ibn Abbas (radhi allahu anhu) said, 'Before he undertook the path of sin, Iblees was with the Angels and was called Azazil. He was among the residents of the earth and was one of the most active worshippers and knowledgeable persons amidst the Angels. This fact caused him to be arrogant. Iblees was from a genus called Jinn.' [See, Tafseer Ibn Katheer for (2): 34] So he refused the Command of Allah and said, 'I am better than him [Adam], You created me from fire, and him You created from clay.' [Soorah al-A'raf (7): 12] Because of this rebellion against Allah, he was cast out of the heavens and cursed by Allah. This creature has been expelled from the Mercy of Allah and he seeks to lead mankind astray and with him to Hellfire. He is thus, mankind's greatest enemy.
Imam Ibnul-Qayyim (rahimahullah) brings together some of the great wisdoms behind the creation of Shaytan in his book, Shifaa al-Ghaleel, p.322, he writes, 'In the creation of Iblees and his cohorts, there is wisdom, the details of which cannot be encompassed by anyone except Allah.' A few of the many reasons he mentioned are briefly stated below;
a) The effects of fighting against Shaytan and his supporters leads to the perfection of worship. The Prophets and slaves of Allah perfect their servitude to Allah by struggling against Shaytan and opposing his supporters. They also perfect their faith by seeking refuge in Allah from Shaytan and fleeing to Allah in order to seek refuge from Shaytan's evil. This leads to reaching lofty positions of worship that would not have been reached without Shaytan's existence.
b) By the existence of Shaytan, the slaves of Allah become fearful due to their sins since they have witnessed what has become of Shaytan after his sin. They learn from his fall from being amidst the Angels to being Shaytan - the rejected (mardood) - by this example the believer’s fear (Taqwa) fear increases and grows stronger.
c) A lesson for those who are willing to learn. The fathers of both; humankind and jinn were tested with sin. So Allah made one father, Iblees, a lesson to the one who goes against His Commands and is too proud to obey Him, and who persist in his sins. And the other father, a lesson to the one who repents and turns back to his Lord.
d) Shaytan is a trial and test for Allah's slaves
e) Manifestation of Allah's complete Ability to create opposites. Iblees is one of the greatest signs of His Power, Will and Authority to create opposites such as, the heavens and the earths, light and darkness, Paradise and Hell, water and fire, heat and cold, good and evil, Jibreel and Angels as opposed to Iblees and the Shayateen.
f) The goodness of a thing is demonstrated by means of its opposite. The beauty of a thing can only be manifested in comparison with its opposite. It if were not for the ugly, we would not appreciate the virtue of beauty, if it were not for poverty, we would not value richness.
g) Allah's Forbearance and Patience. Allah loves to manifest to His slaves His Forbearance, Patience and Deliberation (lack of haste), immense Mercy and Generosity. This dictates that He should create those who will associate others with Him and make Him angry, yet, despite that, He bestows upon them all kinds of blessings. He sends provision, gives good health and enables them to enjoy all kinds of luxuries, He answers their prayers and removes harm from them. He treats them with kindness and care, unlike the manner in which they treat him, by disbelieving in Him, associating others in worship with him and speaking badly of Him. According to a saheeh hadeeth, 'If you did not err, Allah would cause you to vanish and would bring people who would err and then seek His forgiveness, so that He could forgive them.' According to a hasan report, 'O son of Adam, you have not been fair to Me. My goodness comes down to you, and your evil deeds ascend to Me. I try to win your love by sending you blessing, when I have no need of you, and how you try to earn My hatred by disobeying Me, while you are in great need of Me, and the noble angels are continuously bringing your evil actions to Me.'
h) Things beloved to Allah that happen because of the existence of Shaytan. How often things that Allah loves, happen because of the existence of this creature, which the Lord hates and is angry with. No matter what evil and sins happened because of the existence of the enemy of Allah, the acts of obedience that happen because of him and his cohorts are dearer to Allah and more pleasing to Him, such as going against one's desires and whims, putting up with difficulties and hardships in order to earn His love and pleasure. The dearest thing to the beloved is to see his lover putting up with hardship and difficulty for his sake, in order to prove his love for him. While sins and disobedience that are caused by Iblees anger Allah. Nonetheless, Allah is more pleased at the repentance of His slave than one who has lost his camel, which is carrying his food and drink, when he finds it in an isolated and dangerous desert.(*1)
Footnotes:
(1) Allah's Messenger (sallalalhu alaihi wa-sallam) said, 'Allah is more pleased with the repentance of a servant as he turns towards Him for repentance than the one amongst you, who is upon the camel in a waterless desert and there is upon (that camel) his provision of food and drink, then it is lost by him. Having lost all hope (to get it back), he lies down in the shade and is disappointed about his camel and then he finds that camel standing before him. He takes hold of its nose-string and then out of boundless joy says, 'O Lord, You are my servant and I am Your Lord. He commits this mistake out of extreme delight.' [Saheeh Muslim (6618)]
Taken from As-Sunnah Newsletter - http://www.qsep. com
As-Sunnah Vol. 2 Issue No. 10