What brand is your favorite? I like Obermeyer which is a local midwest dairy. Yummy!
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for 16 January 2010
Acne Scars – Physical and Emotional
Acne skin disease, while not deadly, it can leave many emotional as well as physical scars both above and below the surface of the skin. Acne has negatively impacted the lives of millions of people around the world including Canada and the United States. It is believed that nearly eight out of very 10 teenagers both boys and girls will experience the ugly nature of pimples and zits at some point in their life.
The physical scars of acne are nothing more than uneven build-up of skin tissue surrounding the acne infected area. Generally this occurs when a person continues to pick at acne lesions and not allowing them to heel naturally or treat them with proper acne medicine. These scars can leave the skin dried out and looking like a dessert landscape. While the acne scars themselves pose no treat to the personâs health they are viewed by most people as being extremely unattractive and repulsive. The best treatment for scars, like a lot of other things in life is or course prevention, but not always possible. Most conventional treatments consist of demabrasion, chemical peel, laser and do it yourself home scar treatment kits. Each has its own set of advantages and disadvantages. However for minor to moderate scarring home treatment kits offer an excellent value to consumers as they cost hundreds less than other therapies such as chemical peel and laser.
Know what about the scars we donât see above the surface of the skin? These are what we call emotional scars. I can certainly guarantee that anyone whoâs ever had any form of visible scars such as facial can relate to what I am talking about. For many teenagers emotional scarring starts in junior high school and continues well into their adulthood. Teens are often teased and taunted by their peers with name callings such as âscar faceâ, âuglyâ and these are few of the nicer ones. This lack of acceptance and intolerance can and often does lead to very low self-esteem and feeling of worthlessness in individuals. These types of acne scars are the most difficult to treat. It can take months even years and in some cases life time to heal. The best therapy for these types of scars is offering understanding and emotion support to individuals in need; that individual could be your friend, your cousin, or your significant other.
Acne touches the lives of almost everyone around us; one day it could be you another it could be your son, daughter, or an acquaintance. Unfortunately, there is no cure for acne at the present but scientist and other medical professionals are working hard to find it soon. I am confident that one day we will cure acne but in the meantime we need to ensure that we protect our skin the best we can. Today, thanks to everything we have learned about pimples there are many acne treatments available; everything from high price laser therapies to more affordable of the counter treatments are available.
To Fight Cancer, Know the Enemy To Beat Cancer, Stand and Fight To Kill Cancer, We Must Stand Together
Lung Cancer is a killer. Walk into any public place anywhere and ask for a show of hands regarding people who know someone with cancer and 85% of the hands will spring into the air followed by stories of battles won and lost of bravery and fear all fought on a global battlefield yet fought hand to hand, one on one and more times then not, to the death. For those who fight and survive, your path is altered in someway, you will never be the exact same person you once were, life’s lessons can be harsh at times.
I read an article written by Dr. James Watson, founder of the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Nobel Prize recipient and brilliant sometimes-controversial thinker of thoughts. I have nothing short of respect and admiration for him in regards to what he has given to the world over the course of his career. His call to battle was picked up by Dr. Antonio Giordano from the Sbarro Health Research Organization who also called for the “second war on cancer” to begin. At the University of Wisconsin, there is a highly dedicated group of volunteers working tirelessly to staff a research facility with scientists and researchers. I’m sure all over the country the same thing is playing out, research facilities awaiting funding to continue an on going war.
I am not an award-winning scientist nor am I a Nobel Prize winner. I don’t know how to split a cell. The genes that I work with are Levi. I will not be the one who develops the cure, that is not my role. I am a current small cell Lung Cancer survivor. I say current, because things can change. As a small cell lung cancer patient, to survive to the five-year mark is a feat that not many can accomplish. Lung cancer is cancer’s leading assassin and will continue to kill more people each year then breast cancer, colon and prostate cancer combined.
What I offer you now is the patient’s perspective of the war on cancer. First of all let me state that my knowledge is strictly with lung cancer and the treatments that I underwent. As a patient although there seem to be universal methods of treatment depending upon the type and severity of cancer you have, every individual will react differently to that treatment. We are dependant upon a Doctors opinion and experience to provide us with the best option for treatment; we are dependant on a scientist or researcher to provide the doctor with the best options available for them to treat us with. It’s then up to us to stand, fight and survive. The treatment that I received consisted of radiation twice a day mixed with chemotherapy followed up with preventative radiation to the brain to kill any cells that might have migrated like geese. These treatments helped to save or at the very least prolong my life and I am grateful for that. But they’re harsh and un-relenting and the thing that will eventually help save you can almost kill you. We need to continue pursuing methods that will someday enable us to defend ourselves in advance as opposed to fighting it out toe to toe with cancer like prizefighters in the ring.
The American Cancer Society suggests that there will be 1,479,350 new cases of cancer diagnosed in 2009. Sticking to what I know, 219,440 of those cases will be lung related roughly 14.5%. Of those 219,440 cases there is an expected mortality rate of 72.5%. 159,390 friends, family members, mom’s, dad’s and yes children will lose a quick vicious fight with lung cancer. The family members, Moms, dads and children left behind to morn and wonder what if things would have been different?
When we talk about killing cancer it must be a group effort. Collectively as a culture we must continue to grow and develop new talent in the research fields. We must ensure that new ideas are free flowing from our leading minds. We have to be on the front side of the development of new technology. We have to obtain funding through all means possible. Corporate America the Federal Government should be stepping up to provide money and resources on a much larger scale. Research from the private sectors should be geared at public benefit and not private gain where cancer is concerned.
And what are you and I going to do to help defend our families and ourselves? If it were a man with a gun pointed at your daughter what lengths would you go to deliver her from harms way? Cancer is just that, it is a loaded gun pointed at every member of your family as if it were a cosmic game of Russian roulette. Cancer attacks and kills without reason, without remorse. Cancer does not discriminate it doesn’t make excuses for it’s behavior. Cancer knows no social bounds, rich or poor, all are vulnerable.
I contend that it is our responsibility as a society to help provide for cancer research and development above the normal taxes we pay. That maybe once a month we could forego the extra cheeseburger, the bottle of water, the new ring tone download take that $5.00 and send it in to a scientist who may be the one that turns around and saves your life with their research. So here’s the math $5.00 per month times 12 months = $60 per year per person times the current U.S. population between the age of 18 and 65 or 144,950,554 people. We’ll give 9.8% of those people a break for unemployment leaving a pool of 130,745,400 that could generate $7,844,724,000. Far fetched? Yes and no. Yes because that’s not the way we work, we like our extra cheeseburger and our bottled water and all that other stuff. But just imagine the impact we could have as a Nation if we could all give up a little something of non importance and trade it in to insure a better, healthier life for the next generation. What if the thing that we watched kill our Fathers was banished from our existence due to our efforts?
November is lung cancer awareness month. I’m asking you to begin now if you haven’t already. Fill a floor at the University of Wisconsin, sponsor a scientist at Temple University or help finance research at any one of the great institutions across the country that are working under funded in an effort to make our lives better. To kill cancer, we must stand together.
If you wish further information regarding Tim Giardina or the G.F.L.C.C.O. visit www.gflcco.com
Help!!!!!!!!! My 17 year old daughter just came home drunk.?
I love her with all my heart. Up until a few months ago she had her head on straight but now Iam afraid she does not. Iam a single mother and I work very hard. I just help her buy a car because she has picked out a college and she is going to nursing school to become a RN so therefore the car will be payed off before she starts school. I had to use all of my saving to help her. My daughter has fell in love with a guy that is dying with copd and his parnets allows him to do drugs, pills, and drinks. Before she would not be with him because of the drug and his drinking problem but now she has been talking to him again on the phone and tonight she was with him “I did not know” and comes home drunk. Every time she moves on with her life he show s back up. I told him to leave her along but he does not care what I think. It seems he likes hurting her. What should I do? Please help me.
ELUSIVE PARAPSYCHOLOGY
ELUSIVE PARAPSYCHOLOGY
At Home in the Twilight World
”How can a perfectly logical, intelligent person like yourself get involved in all that rubbish”, thundered a director of one of my companies. He was so genuinely upset that I half suspected that he was going to ditch it all in and put his job on the table. I could not afford to let him go and in particular because we had developed a trust and mutual respect which was well nigh impossible in the new social medium.
”I don´t,” I spluttered with amazement, ” I haven´t got a clue as to how it all works, but surely you must admit that something is going on ?”
The people at the office had often taken fright at some of these goings on and it was always when I was there. I have to admit that I often got myself het up about obvious and demoralizing carelessness and above all with my terrible knack of reading people´s thoughts even when, as they said, they had not uttered a word. They had experienced my bad temper and seen the results in the electrical circuitry which bothered me when every single bulb had blown with all the dramatic consequences. It had been frustrating at the best of time. Practically nothing worked at some stage, fax, computer telephone lines, and even the microven which is what annoyed them most. They even began to think that I had some sort of dry skin, high energy electrostatic current that just flashed off into the system and caused all these things. I investigated and even asked a scientist at an annual conference what he could tell me about it. I do not think they believed me and all this business of reading peoples minds and talking to strangers about their past, simply by reading my own train of thoughts was, to them,hilarious, until it happened again and again and they looked at me with those strange eyes. Keeping my self respect and even theirs was getting to be rather difficult.
One of the annoying factors was the abolutely wretched inability on my part to get together, at any one time, any form of hard core evidence that could be used as a means for further scientific experiment. I even volunteerd to act as a subject having once had a chat with Uri Geller at the Ramada Inn in Knightsbridge, London. But then those were early days and the matter had not become so frightening. When I say frightening, I mean it and because I am the type of nature’s optimists who can work away in an industrial warehouse, alone, surrounded by every type of shadowing object in semi darkness with thunder and lightning smashing away and still feel comfortably protected, My attitude had always been that the worst that could happen was that I could get killed and nobody ever find out what had happened. Disquieting, yes, but not altogether that frightening. The improbability of it, somehow kept fear away. That is, until the night that I have just described and my computer screen started to type away of its own accord, slowly and hesitantly before my eyes. The worst part of it was that I felt I knew it was going to do it and although it did not spell anything recognizable, I was not prepared for the printer to do it without as much as a prompt. I had been doing a great deal of research on ancient religions and their Gods and some of these were of a demonic nature. I was therefore already a bit on the edgy side and ready to go home and call it a day when I read what was being printed. What astounded me was the variations of spellings of the same name – all in a line and to my horror, outside the text frame near the edge which I had never seen before, because the cursor always stays within the margins. I did not need much more prompting and for the first time in my life, my hackles not only rose but the feeling of terror took me over so completely that I cannot even remember how I managed to get out and lock those massive doors. They were the early hours of the 25th.of December 1996 and I remember, because as I passed by the huge, smelly bin a little further down one of the industrial estate roads, I heard the muted wails which just about finished my already overstimulated day. Like the highly sensitive simpleton that I really am, I thought that some sort of creature could be severely beaten (as often happened in this part of the world) and had been left to die I was a little nervous at first because it could have been a dangerous rat or wild pet. I flung the lid open from the side and stood back as the stifled wails became louder. I eventually discovered the source of the sounds and gingerly lifted the plastic bag with its gyrating swellings onto the ground and proceeded to cut it open with a pair of scissors that made me go back to the warehouse. My moral strength was now totally restored and the grim, ugly environment almost felt like my childhold neighbourhood. Three little bundles, of fur fell to the ground – bundles that turned out to be puppies no more than a few hours old and which were to change the complete course of my life. From the walk to the petrol station in the rain, the purchase of milk and the attempt to feed them, a complete world had opened up for someone whose life had always been sterilised environments replete with every modern comfort.
The very first neurotic sucks that all three drew from the toy bottle in that cold and miserable warehouse sent rays of sunshine straight into a soul that obsorbed it with as much intensity as these pieces of heaven clung for life. The voice of a hardened woman of great wisdom close to the upper levels of British Government office, came to my mind “my mother told me not to trust anyone with a beard who did not like animals” Now I only needed to take off my beard when I next saw her in the depths of Gloucesershire with a broad incurable grin on my face.
I slept in that warehouse for over three weeks and until their eyes had opened and they took me into their grateful world. I could not take them to my hired apartment. One died and gave me my first, genuinely abrasive, piece of spiritual hiding. The other is my daughter and for my sins, my unruly, tough, demanding and sloppy, pack leader who shares his authority with me only because it amuses him.
I do not even want to pretend to understand just what happened there, but I felt certain that a degree of mathematics – a dimensional mathematics that created equations, was at play. It was all hysterical nonsense but it made sense as the postive side balanced off the non specific and terrifyingly negative other that appaered to have produced this miracle. That aspect perhaps could be attributed to Jungs theory of syncronicity. The babies that would never know any other father or mother than the eccentric thing that gave them too much to drink to be able to walk better than a drunken sailor, always watched me closely wondering what I would do next. They removed all my fears, but their presence and transmitted responsibility could not explain away those terrifying moments when I thought that there was something there beside me, manipulating the keyboard and somehow making up legible words – words that did not belong to chapter headings and were exclusively picked from the the long text and twisted around into different aspects of the same word. Why these words and not the thousands of others and why variations of the same and why the name of a Demon God when there were other subjects included?”. Some writers on similer objects of study, now well known, had told me about their own experiences but I do not remember any more about them other than that they were more like the sort of coincidences that the Psychologist Jung called non causal synchronicity. In my case it did not seem to apply. It was more than coincidence. It seemed to carry a voice or an identity rather than a non causal coincidental exercise. Again, despite all efforts to secure professional advise, I got the funny feeling that they thought the less of me for even daring to believe it was anything other than fantasy.
Hundreds of such incidences and mainly more amusing than frightening made me suspect that I caused them somehow but whether they had something to do with my having some sort of unknown biological equipment on board, I have still not found out. I offered the Royal Society for Pyschical Research to tear me apart but not being an ectoplasmic derivation, they ignored my offer. An affair on the beach had driven me to a British University, I think Leicester, but I have the correspondence from the Chairman of the Chair of Parapsychology founded by the well known author Arthur Koestler and which carries his name. I had I told him, been taking the sun on the beach and half asleep in the process when the feeling of alarm came over me and fo which I was consciously trying to find a natural reason. I turned to face the sun and looked around half expecting a tractor to loom over head, but it was all as it should be and no one stirred. I felt I had to walk along the shore almost as if I was being beckoned by clues in a paper chase, My mind was full of images which had one thing in common – black and shiny and like the patent leather of my childhood days. I could hear myself thinking incoherrently – diver with snorkel and wet suit – dolphin – then, dying dolphin or drowning diver. I searched the horizon and the slight swell for no reason at all, looking every inch a desperate and confused man. I did not even notice the group of people surrounding me quizzically and the beach guard asking me if there was anything wrong. I remember asking him to look towards the point at where the swell started to break and did he see something. I had been watching at a point some 100 metres from where I had been lying and I thought I could see a shadow in the swell. He said he could only see what he thought was a plastic water bottle and asked why I thought there was anything strange about it. I blurted out that I thought there was a dying dolphin somewhere and or perhaps a diver in trouble which of course spread alarm. I insisted because by then I knew there was something there even though I could not see anything other than what could have been a bottle in the swell some fifty metres away. It was bobbing up and down as a bottle would and that was probably what that was. Nothing stirred, nothing changed and I stood full of grief and playing the part as they say in this part of the world, of the bear , to the titters here and there.
I forgot about it completely until I came back the following day to face, to my concern, a reception party of (and some very agitated) bathers. One idiot was showing me a clenched fist. I saw it then , exactly where I had been standing. Its whole beautiful length still glistening. I bent down to stroke it and noticed the feel of the black top which was every inch exactly like patent leather – neither rubbery nor sticky. I felt its soft almost transparent underside which reminded me of dog bellies. Nothing at all like a fish, but of course, it dawned on me that a Dolphin was like us, a mammal and it was still warm, probably from the harsh sun rays. I had never been close to one before. They were all firing questions at me “How on earth did you know – There was nothing to see. – We had to wait till you came despite it being illegal – It must be buried or it will stink -We could not let them take it away especially since it landed exactly where you were standing.” they were all talking in unison and the guard just watched my eyes. “Why did you know?” he said with the faint wisp of a tear in his eye. I was overwhelmed and cried that night blaming myself somehow for not saving or being with that beautiful creature whose last thoughts were probably full of hope that I would remove the fear or pain somehow, during those last, probably terrifying moments. I knew and I cared very little for those who could not believe that a message had been sent and that somehow I managed to translate it. Even now, I attempt to convince myself that there was nothing I could have done other than send out an unavailable boat. A good swimmer in shallow waters, the depths produced panic. No one would have gone out with me even if they had believed me and there were no signs of bleeding or collision marks or as is often the case.
The Chairman of the Koestler Chair at the University was not even surprised. “Don´t even talk to me about Dolphins”, he said, “I cannot even get government files on their reseach. Its all classified as Top Secret and of National Interest. Heaven knows what they have done to the poor creature.” He said he would write and he did, but the questions on the subject of the exercise, the Dolphin and my experience, was taken for granted and the last inexplicable comment on who did what to one of nature´s most beloved creature, was never fully explained.
This was probably the most heartwarming of the parapsycological experiences that would keep me searching all my life, but not the most awesome later ones and which took place in front of others too.
The Offensive History of the Second Glass of Wine
In Genesis 9, the first glass of wine Biblically justifies Racism, Color discrimination and Slavery. Herein, the second glass of wine Biblically justifies.
Herein in Genesis 19, , the second glass of wine Biblically justifies committing adultery between the daughter and her father (Lot); a very shameful evil act that ended up with the creation of two big nations, Ammon and Moab.
The bible says that Lot’s daughter said: let us make our father drink wine, and we will lie with him, that we may preserve seed of our father.
This Biblical story contradicts with the science, the behavior, the social issues etc.
It is hard to believe that Lot did that and he never condemned what he had done.
Also, Abraham’s family and nation were not far from Lot and his daughters.
They could go there and marry and have kids without the need to commit adultery with their father, Lot.
Politically speaking, the Bible puts the two nations Ammon and Moab down because their root is the adultery between the daughter and her father; however, Ruth the Moabites was the grandmother of the Lord Jesus.
Minded with this Biblical story, in addition, many fathers in the Western countries committed adultery with their daughters.
You smart reader is invited to read the story of Lot in the Bible and the Quran to judge by yourself which of which.
Lot and His Daughters in the Bible
Genesis 19
1] And there came two angels to Sodom at even; and Lot sat in the gate of Sodom: and Lot seeing them rose up to meet them; and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground;
2] And he said, Behold now, my lords, turn in, I pray you, into your servant’s house, and tarry all night, and wash your feet, and ye shall rise up early, and go on your ways. And they said, Nay; but we will abide in the street all night.
3] And he pressed upon them greatly; and they turned in unto him, and entered into his house; and he made them a feast, and did bake unleavened bread, and they did eat.
4] But before they lay down, the men of the city, even the men of Sodom, compassed the house round, both old and young, all the people from every quarter:
5] And they called unto Lot, and said unto him, Where are the men which came in to thee this night? bring them out unto us, that we may know them.
6] And Lot went out at the door unto them, and shut the door after him,
7] And said, I pray you, brethren, do not so wickedly.
8] Behold now, I have two daughters which have not known man; let me, I pray you, bring them out unto you, and do ye to them as is good in your eyes: only unto these men do nothing; for therefore came they under the shadow of my roof.
9] And they said, Stand back. And they said again, This one fellow came in to sojourn, and he will needs be a judge: now will we deal worse with thee, than with them. And they pressed sore upon the man, even Lot, and came near to break the door.
10] But the men put forth their hand, and pulled Lot into the house to them, and shut to the door.
11] And they smote the men that were at the door of the house with blindness, both small and great: so that they wearied themselves to find the door.
12] And the men said unto Lot, Hast thou here any besides? son in law, and thy sons, and thy daughters, and whatsoever thou hast in the city, bring them out of this place:
13] For we will destroy this place, because the cry of them is waxen great before the face of the LORD; and the LORD hath sent us to destroy it.
14] And Lot went out, and spake unto his sons in law, which married his daughters, and said, Up, get you out of this place; for the LORD will destroy this city. But he seemed as one that mocked unto his sons in law.
15] And when the morning arose, then the angels hastened Lot, saying, Arise, take thy wife, and thy two daughters, which are here; lest thou be consumed in the iniquity of the city.
16] And while he lingered, the men laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters; the LORD being merciful unto him: and they brought him forth, and set him without the city.
17] And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth abroad, that he said, Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed.
18] And Lot said unto them, Oh, not so, my LORD:
19] Behold now, thy servant hath found grace in thy sight, and thou hast magnified thy mercy, which thou hast shewed unto me in saving my life; and I cannot escape to the mountain, lest some evil take me, and I die:
20] Behold now, this city is near to flee unto, and it is a little one: Oh, let me escape thither, (is it not a little one?) and my soul shall live.
21] And he said unto him, See, I have accepted thee concerning this thing also, that I will not overthrow this city, for the which thou hast spoken.
22] Haste thee, escape thither; for I cannot do anything till thou be come thither. Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar.
23] The sun was risen upon the earth when Lot entered into Zoar.
24] Then the LORD rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the LORD out of heaven;
25] And he overthrew those cities, and all the plain, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and that which grew upon the ground.
26] But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.
27] And Abraham gat up early in the morning to the place where he stood before the LORD:
28] And he looked toward Sodom and Gomorrah, and toward all the land of the plain, and beheld, and, lo, the smoke of the country went up as the smoke of a furnace.
29] And it came to pass, when God destroyed the cities of the plain, that God remembered Abraham, and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow, when he overthrew the cities in the which Lot dwelt.
30] And Lot went up out of Zoar, and dwelt in the mountain, and his two daughters with him; for he feared to dwell in Zoar: and he dwelt in a cave, he and his two daughters.
31] And the firstborn said unto the younger, Our father is old, and there is not a man in the earth to come in unto us after the manner of all the earth:
32] Come, let us make our father drink wine, and we will lie with him, that we may preserve seed of our father.
33] And they made their father drink wine that night: and the firstborn went in, and lay with her father; and he perceived not when she lay down, nor when she arose.
34] And it came to pass on the morrow, that the firstborn said unto the younger, Behold, I lay yesternight with my father: let us make him drink wine this night also; and go thou in, and lie with him, that we may preserve seed of our father.
35] And they made their father drink wine that night also: and the younger arose, and lay with him; and he perceived not when she lay down, nor when she arose.
36] Thus were both the daughters of Lot with child by their father.
37] And the first born bare a son, and called his name Moab: the same is the father of the Moabites unto this day.
38] And the younger, she also bare a son, and called his name Benammi: the same is the father of the children of Ammon unto this day.
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Lot and His Daughters in the Quran:
Lot’s nation was homosexual.
Allah told Lot to warn them and stop their evil acts but .they denied Lot.
Allah sent some Angels to Lot in the form of beautiful men.
Lot’s nation wanted to have sex with Lot’s guests.
Allah punished Lot’s nation and saved Lot and his daughters.
His daughters were more than two (at least three and may be more).
The Quran says that Lot’s nation was the first in the history of mankind to commit homosexuality. The Quran says that Allah left a sign for Lot’s nation; this sign needs serious scientists to dig for.
The Quran and Islamic teachings deny the Biblical story about Lot and his daughters.
The Quran consider Lot as a Messenger who had done his job perfectly.
The Quran describes Lot’s daughters as clean and pure and they never ever thought to sex with their father as the Bible claims.
Surah 7:80-84
[80] We also (sent) Lot: he said to his people: “Do ye commit lewdness such as no people in creation (ever) committed before you?
[81] “For ye practice your lusts on men in preference to women: ye are indeed a people transgressing beyond bounds.”
[82] And his people gave no answer but this: they said, “Drive them out of your city: these are indeed men who want to be clean and pure!”
[83] But We saved him and his family, except his wife: she was of those who lagged behind.
[84] And We rained down on them a shower (of brimstone): then see what was the end of those who indulged in sin and crime!
Surah 11:77- 82
[77] When our Messengers came to Lot, he was grieved on their account and felt himself powerless (to protect) them. He said: “This is a distressful day.”
[78] And his people came rushing towards him, and they had been long in the habit of practicing abominations. He said: “O my people! Here are my daughters: they are purer for you (if ye marry)! Now fear Allah, and cover me not with shame about my guests! Is there not among you a single right-minded man?”
[79] They said: “Well dost thou know we have no need of thy daughters: indeed thou knowest quite well what we want!”
[80] He said: “Would that I had power to suppress you or that I could betake myself to some powerful support.”
[81] (The Messengers) said: “O Lot! we are Messengers from thy Lord! by no means shall they reach thee! now travel with thy family while yet a part of the night remains, and let not any of you look back: but thy wife (will remain behind): to her will happen what happens to the people. Morning is their time appointed: is not the morning nigh?”
[82] When Our decree issued, We turned (the cities) upside down, and rained down on them brimstones hard as baked clay, spread, layer on layer.
[83] Marked as from thy Lord: nor are they ever far from those who do wrong!
Surah 15:57-74
[57] Abraham said: “What then is the business of which ye (have come), O ye messengers (of Allah)?”
[58] They said: “We have been sent to a people (deep) in sin,
[59] “Excepting the adherents of Lot: them we are certainly (charged) to save (from harm), – all –
[60] “Except his wife, who, we have ascertained, will be among those who will lag behind.”
[61] At length when the messengers arrived among the adherents of Lot.
[62] He said: “Ye appear to be uncommon folk.”
[63] They said: “Yea, we have come to thee to accomplish that of which they doubt.
[64] “We have brought to thee that which is inevitably due, and assuredly we tell the truth.
[65] “Then travel by night with thy household, when a portion of the night (yet remains), and do thou bring up the rear: let no one amongst you look back, but pass on whither ye are ordered.”
[66] And We made known this decree to him, that the last remnants of those (sinners) should be cut off by the morning.
[67] The inhabitants of the City came in (mad) joy (at news of the young men).
[68] Lot said: “These are my guests: disgrace me not:
[69] “But fear Allah and shame me not.”
[70] They said: “Did we not forbid thee (to speak) for all and sundry?”
[71] He said: “There are my daughters (to marry), if ye must act (so).”
[72] Verily, by thy life (O Prophet), in their wild intoxication, they wander in distraction, to and fro.
[73] But the (mighty) Blast overtook them before morning,
[74] And We turned (the Cities) upside down, and rained down on them brimstones hard as baked clay.
Surah 26:160-174
[160] The people of Lot rejected the Messengers.
[161] Behold, their brother Lot said to them: “Will ye not fear (Allah)?
[162] “I am to you a Messenger worthy of all trust.
[163] “So fear Allah and obey me.
[164] “No reward do I ask of you for it: my reward is only from the Lord of the Worlds.
[165] “Of all the creatures in the world, will ye approach males,
[166] “And leave those whom Allah has created for you to be your mates? Nay, ye are a people transgressing (all limits)!”
[167] They said. “If thou desist not O Lot! thou wilt assuredly be cast out.”
[168] He said: “I do detest your doings:”
[169] “O my Lord! deliver me and my family from such things as they do!”
[170] So We delivered him and his family, all
[171] Except an old woman who lingered behind.
[172] But the rest We destroyed utterly.
[173] We rained down on them a shower (of brimstone): and evil was the shower on those who were admonished (but heeded not)!
[174] Verily in this is a Sign: but most of them do not believe.
Surah 27:54-58
[54] (We also sent) Lot (as a Messenger): behold, he said to his people, “Do ye do what is shameful though ye see (its iniquity)?
[55] “Would ye really approach men in your lusts rather than women? Nay, ye are a people (grossly) ignorant!”
[56] But his people gave no other answer but this: they said, “Drive out the followers of Lot from your city: these are indeed men who want to be clean and pure!”
[57] But We saved him and his family, except his wife: her We destined to be of those who lagged behind.
[58] And We rained down on them a shower (of brimstone): and evil was the shower on those who were admonished (but heeded not)!
Surah 29:28-35
[28] And (remember) Lot: behold, he said to his people: “Ye do commit lewdness, such as no people in Creation (ever) committed before you.
[29] “Do ye indeed approach men, and cut off the highway? And practice wickedness (even) in your councils?” But his people gave no answer but this: they said: “Bring us the Wrath of Allah if thou tellest the truth.”
[30] He said: “O my Lord! help Thou me against people who do mischief!”
[31] When Our Messengers came to Abraham with the good news, they said: “We are indeed going to destroy the people of this township: for truly they are (addicted to) crime.”
[32] He said: “But there is Lot there.” They said: “Well do we know who is there: we will certainly save him and his following, except his wife: she is of those who lag behind!”
[33] And when Our Messengers came to Lot, he was grieved on their account, and felt himself powerless (to protect) them: but they said: “Fear thou not, nor grieve: we are (here) to save thee and thy following, except thy wife: she is of those who lag behind.
[34] “For we are going to bring down on the people of this township a Punishment from heaven, because they have been wickedly rebellious.”
[35] And We have left thereof an evident Sign, for any people who (care to) understand.
Surah 54:33-39
[33] The People of Lot rejected (his) Warning.
[34] We sent against them a violent tornado with showers of stones, (which destroyed them), except Lot’s household: them We delivered by early Dawn,
[35] As a Grace from Us: thus do We reward those who give thanks.
[36] And (Lot) did warn them of Our Punishment, but they disputed about the Warning.
[37] And they even sought to snatch away his guests from him, but We blinded their eyes. (They heard:) “Now taste ye My Wrath and My Warning.”
[38] Early on the morrow an abiding Punishment seized them:
[39] “So taste ye My Wrath and My Warning.”
Back to the main topic of my series of articles (1- 57); this is my question to you smart readers: “Is the Quran quoted from the Bible “?
A Retrospective Look at Every Ozzy Osbourne Album
Another Ozzfest, another album, and another year of the Ozz-Man is in the books. No one can argue with the fact that Ozzy Osbourne is an icon. I like to call him “The Johnny Cash of Heavy Metal.”
Look at their careers and you will see where I draw some of the parallels. His successful career has now spanned over 30 years, starting off with his famed start in Black Sabbath and then moving onto an equally successful solo career. I will be reviewing his solo discography (ie. No Black Sabbath material).
1980 – Blizzard of Ozz
The first of the two Ozzy Osbourne/Randy Rhoades albums. Blizzard of Ozz is simply a masterpiece Ozzy had just left Black Sabbath signed a record deal, and this was released to compete with Black Sabbath’s Dio debut Heaven & Hell.
“Crazy Train” is an anthem, now. “Goodbye to Romance” is an excellent ballad. “Suicide Solution” has a great lyrical theme, despite all its controversy. “Mr. Crowley” is an eerie song that also works great for a horror movie soundtrack, as I know from personal experience. I recommend this one to not just fans of metal. I recommend this to the casual listener. You will appreciate this album!
Strong Tracks – “Crazy Train,” “Goodbye To Romance,” “Suicide Solution,” “Mr. Crowley,” “Revelation (Mother Earth),” “Steal Away (The Night),” and “I Don’t Know”
“Eh…” Tracks – “Dee,” “No Bone Movies”
Weak Tracks – NONE
Rating: *****
1981 – Diary of a Madman
This is the second and last studio album to be released featuring Randy Rhoades before his tragic plane accident. This one generally is most hardcore fans of Ozzy’s favorite solo album. Personally, I prefer Blizzard of Ozz, but that is just me.
To me, this one is all about “Flying High Again.” I love that song. “Over the Mountain,” in my opinion, is a bit overplayed. The rest is gold. The title track, “Diary of a Madman,” is a bonafide classic!
If you are a casual listener of music and loved my first suggestion of Blizzard of Ozz, then you are going to love this one as well. If you are a metal fan of any kind… this belongs on your shelf / iPod.
Strong Tracks – “Flying High Again,” You Can’t Kill Rock ‘n’ Roll,” “Believer,” “S.A.T.O.,” “Diary of a Madman”
“Eh…” Tracks – “Over the Mountain,” “Little Dolls,” “Tonight”
Weak Tracks – NONE
Rating: *****
1982 – Speak of the Devil
This featured Ozzy performing all of the Black Sabbath hits live. This was done to mostly to compete with Black Sabbath’s live album featuring Ronnie James Dio. This is the first album to not feature Randy Rhoades.
When I rate a live album, I look for a few things.
Song Selection – It’s a concept live album featuring nothing but Black Sabbath songs. So, naturally, it gets a Grade A here.
Sound Quality – The sound on the album is very good. No real complaints.
Artist Performance - Ozzy’s voice was off during these performances. To be blunt, he mostly sounds drunk throughout the set. The band’s timing is also a bit off the
majority of the concert.
Bottom Line – If you want a live Black Sabbath album featuring Ozzy on vocals, get the 1998 Reunion album. You can pass this one up and your life would pretty much be the same.
Rating: ***
1983 – Bark at the Moon
This is the first post-Rhoades album, and about the only other one worth your time before Zakk Wylde came on board.
he album’s title track, “Bark at the Moon” has one of the best opening riffs is one of Ozzy’s best songs. The rest is pretty much hit or miss, and it seems like Ozzy was trying to capture the magic of the first two albums. A few tracks sound like they are trying to be sequels to previous favorites. For example, “So Tired” seems to be going for the “Goodbye To Romance” vibe, but totally bombing. Regardless, Bark at the Moon is worth your time if you are a fan of the genre.
STRONG>Strong Tracks – “Bark at the Moon,” “Rock’n’ Roll Rebel,” “Now You See It,”
“Now You Don’t”
“Eh…” Tracks – “You’re No Different,” “Slow Down”
Weak Tracks – “So Tired,” “Waiting for Darkness,” “Centre of Eternity”
Rating: ***1/2
1986 – The Ultimate Sin
This was Ozzy’s attempt at hair metal. Now, I am not going to just give it one star because its hair band material. There is some hair band material that I like, and Bon Jovi’s Slippery When Wet, this is not. “Shot in the Dark” is the “hit” on the album, but it doesn’t match pretty many other Ozzy Osbourne single out there.
For completists ONLY. Otherwise, it is a sin to pay more than $2 on The Ultimate Sin.
Strong Tracks – NONE
“Eh…” Tracks –
“Shot in the Dark,” “The Ultimate Sin,” “Never”
Weak Tracks – “Secret
Loser,” “Never Know Why,” “Thank God For The Bomb,” “Lightning Strikes,” “Fool
Like You”
Rating: *
1987 – Tribute
This album was released as a tribute to Randy Rhoades, one of the greatest guitarists to be
taken before his time. Out of all of the live Ozzy albums, this one is the best. When I rate a live album, I look for a few things.
Song Selection – The song selection here is awesome featuring the best tracks of Blizzard & Diary plus some classic Black Sabbath (you should hear Randy totally tear it up on “Paranoid”).
Sound Quality – The sound quality is fantastic. It is crystal clear and Ozzy’s vocals come out great.
Artist Performance - The performance is fantastic. Ozzy doesn’t sound drunk and, of course, Randy’s guitars are crazy awesome!
Bottom Line – This is Ozzy’s best live album. If you love the Ozzman and/or live albums, GET IT!
Rating: *****
1988 – No Rest for the Wicked
No Rest for the Wicked features the debut of Zakk Wylde. Unfortunately this is another “hair band”-like album, and isn’t very memorable. It isn’t the steaming pile of cow dung that is Ultimate Sin, but it is the one album that pretty much Ozzy fans don’t talk about too much. The only saving grace is Mr. Wylde. There are tracks that have potential, such as “Bloodbath in Paradise,” but end up going nowhere.
Strong Tracks – “Miracle Man,” “Fire in the Sky”
“Eh…” Tracks – “Devil’s Daughter,” “Crazy Babies,” “Breaking all the Rules,” “Bloodbath in Paradise,” “Hero”
Weak Tracks – “Tattooed Dancer,” “Demon Alcohol”
Rating: *1/4
1990 – Just Say Ozzy
A live album that is an EP? That is not exactly something I would be trying to sell.
When I rate a live album, I look for a few things.
Song Selection – Horrible! It features absolutely nothing from Ozzy’s first
three studio solo albums, but it features “Sweet Leaf?” Don’t get me wrong, it is one of my favorite Sabbath songs, but it seems like such a random selection when you have potential picks such as “Crazy Train” or even “Bark at the Moon.”
Sound Quality – Not that great. The drums seem to dominate more than the guitars, and the vocals are a little on the tinny side.
Artist Performance – Not bad. Not a blow away performance.
Bottom Line – Not worth your time. Why couldn’t they have just released a full concert?
Rating: *
1991 – No More Tears
This can essentially be considered Ozzy’s comeback album. After entering rehab, Ozzy was off a lot of the drugs that was plaguing his life. After enlisting some outside professional songwriters, and finally utilizing Zakk Wylde to his full potential, Ozzy released this masterpiece and reinvented his sound.
For one, this is the first solo work where Ozzy learned the fine art of the “demo.”
Zakk really shines on this album, especially in tracks like “S.I.N.” and “Mister Tinkertrain.” “Mama, I’m Coming Home” is a wonderful ballad and Ozzy’s best since “Goodbye to Romance.” Even the “Eh…” tracks are very good! Highly recommended for not just Ozzy and/or metal fans, but everybody!
Strong Tracks – “Mister Tinkertrain,” “I Don’t Want to Change the World,” “Mama I’m Coming Home,” “Desire,” “No More Tears,” “Hellraiser,” “S.I.N.,” “Time After Time,” “Road To Nowhere”
“Eh…” Tracks – “Zombie Stomp,” “AVH”
Weak Tracks – NONE
Rating: *****
1993 – Live and Loud
This is an excellent live album and is the first one to feature a slightly more sober Ozzy on stage.
Song Selection – It is a great retrospective of Ozzy’s career with a nice healthy mix of solo material and Sabbath material. About the notably most absent track is Iron Man, but it isn’t technically an Ozzy song, so I won’t count that against the score.
Sound Quality – Perfect. Absolutely no complaints.
Artist Performance. The performance is fantastic. Zakk Wylde really shines here and always brings his “A-Game” to a concert. You can also feel the emotion from Ozzy during “Changes.” We even get a Sabbath reunion on the track, ironically, “Black Sabbath.” Above all else, the most memorable performance is “Mama, I’m Coming Home.”
Bottom Line – The only reason why this doesn’t get five stars is because Tribute just edges this one out. You should also get the video if you get a chance because it is excellent.
Rating: ****3/4
1995 – Ozzmosis
This is definitely the softest and most melodic Ozzy album ever released. It generally is hated by Ozz fans, but I personally enjoy it.
However, I like to keep an open mind. My favorite track on this one is Perry Mason. I will admit, there is something that just doesn’t seem right about Ozzmosis. After thinking about it for awhile, I think it’s the expensive production values that really save this album from going completely down the crapper. If it was more raw like Ozzy’s earlier work, this would be a much worse album.
Trivia – Bad English AND Journey’s Deen Castronovo does the drums on this album.
Strong Tracks – “Perry Mason,” “I Just Want You,” “See You on the Other Side,” “Ghost Behind My Eyes,” “Denial,” “My Jekyll Doesn’t Hide”
“Eh…” Tracks – “Thunder Underground,” “Tomorrow,” “My Little Man,” “Old LA Tonight”
Weak Tracks – NONE
Rating: ***1/2
1997 – The Ozzman Cometh
This compilation is quite excellent, but, in the end, it’s the horrible Sabbath demo tracks that hurt this album. That room could have been saved for the notably missing such as “Flying High Again,” “Perry Mason,” and “Suicide Solution.” The new track, “Back on Earth,” is a nice addition to the Ozzy catalog as well. If one is looking for a good introduction, you probably will want to opt for one of those unofficial The Essential releases.
Rating: ***
2001 – Down to Earth
Blah! This album was released around the start of The Osbournes. To me, it seems like “Ozzmosis 2,” and you know how sequels can go sometimes. If nothing else, “Gets Me Through” is a memorable song because the lyrics pretty much sums up most of the career of Ozzy Osbourne. “Dreamer” is a great ballad, but it sounds like it belongs more on a Journey album rather than an Ozzy album.
Overall, this is a mediocre effort, at best.
Strong Tracks – “Gets Me Through,” “Facing Hell,” “Dreamer,” “Black Illusion”
“Eh…” Tracks – “No Easy Way Out,” “That I Never Had,” “Alive,” “Junkie”
Weak Tracks – “You Know,” “Running Out of Time”
Rating: **1/2
2002 – Live at Budokan
This is a horrible live album. After Tribute and Live & Loud, this is a huge disappointment. It was obviously slapped together to take advantage of The Osbournes success.
Song Selection – Thirteen songs? Only thirteen fucking songs? Not only that, but not even a great selection. Outside of Down to Earth, which this tour was promoting, the songs that don’t belong are “Believer, “Road to Nowhere,” and “I Don’t Want To Change the World.” What notably is absent are “Goodbye to Romance,” “Flying High Again,” “Suicide Solution,” “Miracle Man,” and one of the hits on Ozzmosis should have been stuck on there.
Sound Quality – The biggest problem is the mixing on the album. I’ve heard amateur bootlegs better than this. Ozzy’s vocals tends to echo like you were in the nose bleed section of an arena with shitty acoustics. Its only positive is that Zakk Wylde’s guitar squeals sound great.
Artist Performance - It was okay, but I can attribute it possible exhaustion as Ozzy was a rather busy man at this point.
Bottom Line – Pass this piece of garbage up. Get Live & Loud or Tribute instead.
Rating: *1/2
2005 – Prince of Darkness
This is a box set of demos, rarities, b-sides, live performances, and covers. Overall, it is a good compilation for completists only.
Disc 1 – Demos, Live Performances, and the 2002 Remastered Versions of some of Ozzy’s earlier hits.
Disc 2 – See Disc 1
Disc 3 – Collaborations. Best disc in the entire set! For one, you have Primus’s fabulous
cover of “NIB,” that I think is actually better than the original. Could have really done without the Miss Piggy collab, though. Instead, how about “Close My Eyes Forever” with Lita Ford? It was a pretty big hit at the time and should have been on this disc!
Disc 4 – Covers. Some good. Some
horrible.
I emphasize for completists only.
Rating: ***
2005 – Under Cover
This is basically 9 of the 10 covers from Disc 4 of Prince of Darkness with 4 more covers thrown on there.
I like cover albums, if they are done right. A good cover takes a great classic and reinterprets it for a whole new generation to listen to… giving it a fresh new sound without losing the magic and mystique of the original. Some of my favorite covers ever are Disturbed’s versions of Genesis’s “Land of Illusion,” KoRn’s version of Floyd’s “Another Brick in the Wall”, Johnny Cash’s version of Nine Inch Nails’ “Hurt” and Marilyn Manson’s version of “Sweet Dreams.”
Sadly, none of that magic is found here.
Some of these songs, I am a genuine fan on, but they are totally butchered in these covers. For example, “Sunshine of Your Love” is my favorite Cream song pretty much ever. Here, it doesn’t even get close to matching up with the original. The production values here rival William Hung’s debut album.
This is karaoke night with Ozzy. The only real positive here is Jerry Cantrell’s guitars and that’s about it. Stay away from this one at all costs… unless you’re a
collector.
Strong Tracks – “Mississippi Queen”
“Eh…” Tracks – “Go Now,” “Working Class Hero,” “Sympathy For The Devil,” “21st Century Schizoid Man”
Weak Tracks – “Woman,” “In My Life,” “For What It’s Worth,” “All The Young Dudes,” “Sunshine Of Your Love,” “Fire,” “Rocky Mountain Way,” “Good Times”
Rating: **1/2
2007 – Black Rain
This was Ozzy’s first studio album with original material in over half a decade. It was also the first album that Ozzy Osbourne created while remaining completely sober. It turned out really well, too. It doesn’t touch his three best albums, but its much better than many of his other efforts.
Strong Tracks – “I Don’t Wanna Stop,” “Trapdoor,” “God Bless the Almighty Dollar,” “Not Going Away,” “Black Rain”
“Eh…” Tracks – “Countdown’s Begun,” “Silver”
Weak Tracks – “Lay Your World On Me,” “Here For You”
Rating: ***3/4
In conclusion, there are no arguments that Ozzy is one of the greatest artists of our time. Some might say that he should retire. I more would like to quote Ozzy’s latest hit, when it comes listening to the legend, “I don’t wanna stop.”
Child Support: My daughter’s father is an alcoholic and drug user could he be allowed to take her?
I’m going through with child support with my daughter’s father. He’s not in our lives right now because he’s an alcoholic and drug user. He doesn’t have a job and he doesn’t have a steady place to live. He calls me but it’s cuz he wants to hang out and he wants to see her. But he does it the day of and I’m always really busy with a little one. I’m not trying to keep him from her but I also don’t want a bad influence around my daughter. I’m trying to get sole custody of my daughter and was wondering if there’s any way he could have be able to take her anywhere with him?? I dont’ know how this works so any help would be great.
How to Choose the Most Suitable Teen Residential Facility
So your teenage son or daughter is in trouble. The next step looks like being time spent in a residential facility for troubled teens. You may have no say in that decision. Without the therapy in a residential facility, your teen may be off to hospital or to jail. But take heart that most residential facilities are determined to help your teen and get them back on the road to recovery.
But, and this is a big but, you as the parent do have a say as to which particular residential facility your teen will attend. And the way to make the right decision is to run a check on prospective facilities. You do the sleuthing.
Here’s a tip. Don’t just accept the word of the facility because some have been found to make false claims or at best to give misleading information. Check with another authority. For example, take accreditation. The facility may tell you they have state approval to operate but ask the state authority. Then there is a serious of questions you can ask together with some follow up questions to the answers provided.
What are the qualifications of the staff? Now that is a logical question but you need extra information such as where they trained and how much experience they have. They are excellent follow up questions. Then you need to know other important things. What type of therapy is provided, is it on an individual or group basis and can the residents continue with their academic studies while in residence?
You see if your child is removed from their normal schooling and placed in a residential facility, their academic progress may suffer. That is understandable in that their health is a top priority. But is it possible to combine their therapy with some academic studies? And if so will those subjects be counted as part of their regular school studies once they leave the facility.
Another good example of a question with a follow up question concerns checks on the staff. If you ask the facility if they carry out checks on the background of their staff and the answer is ‘yes’, you should then ask, “Who conducts the checks?” It is not enough to get one answer. The health and recovery of your troubled teen is too important. They deserve and need the best staff, the best programs in the best facility.
Another important fact will give you an idea about how serious the facility is in treating their patients. Does the facility accept every applicant? You see there are big differences in the condition of troubled teens. Some have serious health problems both physical and mental. Some may be a danger to themselves and to others. Taking any and every troubled teen may not give every resident the best chance of recovery.
As you can see, not all residential facilities are the same; their standard of content and care may vary. As the parent it is your responsibility to investigate the quality of various facilities and choose the one which will best help your teen.
Islam and the aim life
Excuse me!!
Would you stop for a moment?!
O.. man – woman.. Haven’t you thought-one day- about yourself ?
Who has made it?
Have you seen a design which hasn’t a designer ?!
Have you seen a wonderful,delicate work without a worker ?!
It’s you and the whole universe!..
Who has made them all ?!!
You know who ?.. It’s “ALLAH”,prise be to him.
Just think for a moment.
How are you going to be after death ?!
Can you believe that this exact system of the universe and all of these great creation will end in in nothing…just after death!
Have you thought, for a second, How to save your soul from Allah’s punishment?!
Haven’t you thought about what is the right religion?!
Read … and think deeply before you answer..
It is religion of Islam.
It is the religion that Mohammad-peace upon him- the last prophet, had been sent by.
It is the religion that the right Bible- which is not distorted-has preached.
Just have a look at The Bible of (Bernaba).
Don’t be emstional.
Be rational and judge..
Just look..listen…compare..and then judge and say your word.
We advise you visiting :
http://www.al-sunnah.com/
http://www.islamunveiled.org/eng/index.php/
http://english.islamway.com/
http://thisistruth.org/
http://islamtomorrow.com/
http://www.beconvinced.com/
http://www.islamonline.net/English/index.shtml/
http://www.islamtoday.net/english/
http://www.islam-guide.com/
http://www.qurancomplex.org/default.asp?l=eng/
http://www.ahmed-deedat.net/modules.php?name=tapes
http://www.ahmed-deedat.net/modules.php?name=tapes&dcategory=All&sortby=dfilename&sortorder=ASC&page=2
ISLAM and the AIM of LIFE :
What is your purpose in life? What is the rationale behind our life? Why do we live in this life? These questions frequently intrigue people who try to find accurate answers.
People provide different answers to these questions. Some people believe the purpose of life is to accumulate wealth. But one may wonder: What is the purpose of life after one has collected colossal amounts of money? What then? What will the purpose be once money is gathered? If the purpose of life is to gain money, there will be no purpose after becoming wealthy. And in fact, here lies the problem of some disbelievers or misbelievers at some stage of their life, when collecting money is the target of their life. When they have collected the money they dreamt of, their life loses its purpose. They suffer from the panic of nothingness and they live in tension and restlessness.
Can Wealth Be an Aim?
We often hear of a millionaire committing suicide, sometimes, not the millionaire himself but his wife, son, or daughter. The question that poses itself is: Can wealth bring happiness to one’s life? In most cases the answer is NO. Is the purpose of collecting wealth a standing purpose? As we know, the five-year old child does not look for wealth: a toy for him is equal to a million dollars. The eighteen-year old adolescent does not dream of wealth because he is busy with more important things. The ninety-year old man does not care about money; he is worried more about his health. This proves that wealth cannot be a standing purpose in all the stages of the individual’s life.
Wealth can do little to bring happiness to a disbeliever, because he/she is not sure about his fate. A disbeliever does not know the purpose of life. And if he has a purpose, this purpose is doomed to be temporary or self destructive.
What is the use of wealth to a disbeliever if he feels scared of the end and skeptical of everything. A disbeliever may gain a lot of money, but will surely lose himself.
Worshipping Allah as an Aim
On the contrary, faith in Allah gives the believer the purpose of life that he needs. In Islam, the purpose of life is to worship Allah. The term “Worship” covers all acts of obedience to Allah.
The Islamic purpose of life is a standing purpose. The true Muslim sticks to this purpose throughout all the stages of his life, whether he is a child, adolescent, adult, or an old man.
Worshipping Allah makes life purposeful and meaningful, especially within the framework of Islam. According to Islam this worldly life is just a short stage of our life. Then there is the other life. The boundary between the first and second life is the death stage, which is a transitory stage to the second life. The type of life in the second stage a person deserves depends on his deeds in the first life. At the end of the death stage comes the day of judgment. On this day, Allah rewards or punishes people according to their deeds in the first life.
The First Life as an Examination
So, Islam looks at the first life as an examination of man. The death stage is similar to a rest period after the test, i. e. after the first life. The Day of Judgment is similar to the day of announcing the results of the examinees. The second life is the time when each examinee enjoys or suffers from the outcome of his behavior during the test period.
In Islam, the line of life is clear, simple, and logical: the first life, death, the Day of Judgment, and then the second life. With this clear line of life, the Muslim has a clear purpose in life. The Muslim knows he is created by Allah. Muslims know they are going to spend some years in this first life, during which they have to obey God, because God will question them and hold them responsible for their public or private deeds, because Allah knows about all the deeds of all people. The Muslim knows that his deeds in the first life will determine the type of second life they will live in. The Muslim knows that this first life is a very short one, one hundred years, more or less, whereas the second life is an eternal one.
The Eternity of the Second Life
The concept of the eternity of the second life has a tremendous effect on a Muslims during their first life, because Muslims believe that their first life determines the shape of their second life. In addition, this determines the shape of their second life and this determination will be through the Judgment of Allah, the All just and Almighty.
With this belief in the second life and the Day of Judgment, the Muslim’s life becomes purposeful and meaningful. Moreover, the Muslim’s standing purpose is to go to Paradise in the second life.
In other words, the Muslim’s permanent purpose is to obey Allah, to submit to Allah, to carry out His orders, and to keep in continues contact with Him through prayers (five times a day), through fasting (one month a year), through charity (as often as possible), and through pilgrimage (once in one’s life).
The Need for a Permanent Purpose
Disbelievers have purposes in their lives such as collecting money and property, indulging in sex, eating, and dancing. But all these purposes are transient and passing ones. All these purposes come and go, go up and down. Money comes and goes. Health comes and goes. Sexual activities cannot continue forever. All these lusts for money, food and sex cannot answer the individual’s questions: so what? Then What?
However, Islam saves Muslims from the trouble of asking the question, because Islam makes it clear, from the very beginning, that the permanent purpose of the Muslim in this life is to obey Allah in order to go to Paradise in the second life.
We should know that the only way for our salvation in this life and in the hereafter is to know our Lord who created us, believe in Him, and worship Him alone.
We should also know our Prophet whom Allah had sent to all mankind, believe in Him and follow Him. We should, know the religion of truth which our Lord has commanded us to believe in, and practice it …
Those in search of truth
Who have an open mind and heart,
Islamic Education Foundation
Welcome You.
Objectives: -
To Convey the message of Islam
To Educate Muslims about Islam
To keep in close contact with new Muslims.
Activities:
Offering Courses and presenting lectures about Islam in several languages.
Teaching Islam and Arabic.
Teaching new Muslims to receive the Holy Quran.
.Helping Non- Muslims embrace Islam and complete the required procedures
Islam, the Religion of Ease :
Allah, subhanahu wata’aala, is the creator of mankind and therefore knows his nature more intricately than mankind himself. Allah, subhanahu wata’aala, has therefore chosen for us a religion best suited to the nature of mankind, a religion that goes neither to the extremes of hardship nor of laxity, but instead provides a middle path; in other words, a religion of ease. Allah, subhanahu wata’aala, said; “Allah intends for you ease, and does not want to make things difficult for you” [2:185]; and “Allah does not want to place you in difficulty” [5:6].Such easiness is well explained in the hadeeth reported by Abu Hurairah, radiya Allahu ‘anhu, that the Prophet, salla Allaahu ‘alaihe wasallam, said, “Religion is easy…” [Bukhari], he also said; “The best of your religion, is the easiest.” [Ahmad]The easiness of this religion was put into practise by the best of humanity, the one who came to deliver the message, as Allah, subhanahu wata’aala, said; “Verily there has come unto you a Messenger from amongst yourselves, it grieves him that you should suffer any difficulty, he is anxious for you, for the believers he is full of pity and merciful” [10:128]This understanding is clarified in a hadeeth in which the Prophet, salla Allaahu ‘alaihe wasallam, said; “… Allah did not send me to be harsh, or cause harm, but He sent me to teach and make things easy” [Muslim]. This understanding is further implemented by the mercy sent to mankind, Muhammed, salla Allaahu ‘alaihe wasallam, in the hadeeth reported by his noble and pure wife, ‘Aishah, radiya Allahu ‘anhu, who said; “Whenever the Prophet, salla Allaahu ‘alaihe wasallam, has a choice between two matters, he would choose the easiest, unless it is sinful (act)” [Bukhari].Many hadeeths have been reported on the matter of easiness: “Allah likes for this nation ease and hates for it hardship and adversity.” [Tabaraani].”We have been given a privilege over other nations… .we have been given verses that no one else has been given, the last two verses of Surah Baqarah(chapter 2)”Our Lord! Punish us not if we forget or fall into error. Our Lord! Lay not on us a burden greater than we have strength to bear” After each statement, Allah responded by saying, “I did, I did, I did”" [Muslim].To further emphasise this understanding to his companions, when once a Bedouin stood up and started urinating in the mosque, the people caught him; but he, salla Allaahu ‘alaihe wasallam, ordered them to leave him and to pour a bucket or a tumbler of water over the place where he had urinated. The Prophet, salla Allaahu ‘alaihe wasallam, then said, “You have been sent to make things easy and not to make them difficult” [Bukhari].An example that illustrates this point is Salah, an act so important and vital to Islam that the Prophet, salla Allaahu ‘alaihe wasallam, said; “Between a person and disbelief is discarding prayer” [Muslim]. He also warned against leaving salah, even at the time of his death, in his very last breaths before departing from this world.Yet in this worship Allah has also prescribed easiness. At first, the number of prayers was fifty in number, but they were reduced several times until they were five. Then it was proclaimed ‘O Muhammad, the order is not changed. These five are (equal in reward) to fifty’ [Tirmidhi].Causes of hardshipIf Islam is a religion of ease, why do we find many Muslims not practising it? Why do we find them doing very little of what they ought to be doing, and why do even those who practise their religion sometimes find it difficult? There are reasons why the practice of Islam can becomes hard: 1) Lack of pietyWhen we speak about Islam being easy we are, in reality, speaking about the easiness of its acts of worship and morals. Religion by definition means commitment and an obligation to a master. Therefore, being a religious person means to be always aware that we are slaves to a master, Allah, subhanahu wata’aala. From here we see the mistake of those who want ‘ease’ to mean ‘doing nothing’, just saying “I am a Muslim”, committing themselves to nothing. It is obvious that they want it to be easy, but what exactly do they want? They want an easy life, a life without any religious practices. The idle belief of ‘existing only to live’ has long ago been negated by Allah, subhanahu wata’aala. He said: “Do you think you have been created for nothing and that you will not be resurrected and brought back to Allah again!” [23:115]. He also said: “Thinks man that he is left aimless?” [75:86].Islam is easy to practice; but those who do not understand the reasons behind their existence, who do not understand the concepts of religion, but meanwhile are striving to secure themselves in this life; then surely they will find its practices difficult.The easiness of Islam is felt in all of its commandments. Some people find this or that commandment hard to follow but this does not mean that the command is in itself hard; often it is the person who is the cause. For example Salah, it is an easy act of worship, as Allah, subhanahu wata’aala, has made clear: “And seek help in patience and prayer and truly it is (prayer) extremely heavy and hard except for Al-Khashi’un (i.e. true submitting)” [2;45].Prayer is an easy act of worship except, of course, for those who do not truly submit to their Lord; they will find it toilsome. Why do they find it so? The answer is that it is not the prayer that is difficult, but it is the hearts of these people which have changed from good to bad, as Allah, subhanahu wata’aala, mentioned: “Verily, the hypocrites seek to deceive Allah, but it is He Who deceives them. And when they stand up to pray, they stand with laziness …” [4;142]; in another verse He subhanahu wata’aala, said; “And that they came not to prayer except in a lazy state …” [9;54].2) IgnoranceThe rules of Islam did not come as mere do’s and don’ts. Each obligation has wisdom and motivation behind it. It should make no difference to us if the wisdom for that particular practice is known or not, because if it is not known to us today, then if Allah wills, He will reveal it to future generations. What is primarily expected from us is to fully submit and implement every command.For example, the giving of charity, which apparently decreases the wealth of the giver. Islam did not say “Pay charity, pay charity”, as this would not motivate people and therefore make it difficult to act upon. Instead Allah says; “Would you not like to give a loan to your Lord, and this loan will be paid back to you multiplied and you will be rewarded for it.” [2:245]The Prophet, salla Allaahu ‘alaihe wasallam, said; “Verily, wealth does not decrease because of charity.” [Muslim]It seems Muslims often ask why this act or matter is Halaal or Haraam. With such an attitude they will never achieve their goal, because behind each injunction there is an aspect of wisdom. Without understanding this, practising Islam becomes a heavy burden. With strong belief, we do not even have to ask whether this or that is halaal or Haraam, but rather if it pleases Allah. Therefore we should take the rules seeking the pleasure of Allah subhanahu wata’aala,. If pleasing Allah subhanahu wata’aala, is, always, our aim, then undoubtedly the practice of religion becomes easy, no matter what apparent hardships we may encounter. 3) Inappropriate environmentIt is true that sometimes we find it difficult to practise the religion, even those who are committed to it!The reason behind this is that we are practising our religion in an non-religious environment. Islam is not meant to be practised while being immersed in a Kufr (disbelieving) society. Its practice will indeed be difficult in such an environment. Therefore, the difficulty cannot be blamed upon Islam as a religion, but rather on the circumstances of the society.Returning to our example of prayer, we see that prayer by itself is easy, but if you have to stand alone to pray amongst non-Muslims, all of them watching you, it will suddenly become difficult. The obvious conclusion is that the prayer in itself is not difficult, but the environment has made it difficult.Another example is that of a woman who wears hijaab and is happy to cover herself. If this were an Islamic society, it would have been difficult for her not to be covered, or for a man not to respond to the call to prayer and pray in a mosque. Thus difficulty is not the nature of our religion, but we are trying to be pure in a decadent and immoral environment. These realities are not unknown to Islam, because the Prophet, salla Allaahu ‘alaihe wasallam, already warned his companions some fourteen centuries ago, and by that has also warned us by saying, as reported by Abu Tha’laba, radiya Allahu ‘anhu, “… Ahead of you are days which will require endurance (in the practice of religion), in which he who shows endurance will be like him who grasps live coals. The one who acts rightly during that period will have the reward of fifty men who act as he does.”The hearers said, “The reward of fifty of them, Messenger of Allah!” He replied, “The reward of fifty of you.” A companion said about this difference in reward, “Now you find people helping you to do good deeds, but then they will not find things to help them but they will find things to resist and oppose them.” [Tirmidhi].So Islam is the religion of ease. If we accept it as a religion to start with, then we should take it with its concepts, and practise it in a pure environment (as opposed to a corrupted and decadent one); it will then become an easier religion to practise. As it is not possible to have a 100% pure society, we have to strive to achieve this by being surrounded by good Muslims. In doing this, the religion will loosen the burdens around it. The easiness of Islam has even been testified by the enemies of Islam. This was apparent in the statement of the Jews at the time of the Prophet, salla Allaahu ‘alaihe wasallam, when a man and a woman from amongst them committed fornication. Some of them said to the others: “Let us go to this Prophet, for he has been sent with an easy law …”. [Abu Dawood].So may Allah, subhanahu wata’aala, make us amongst those who “Listen to the word and follow the best thereof, whom Allah has guided and those are men of understanding.” [39;18].Ameen.
WHAT IS ISLAM?:
Can we find an explanation of the great universe? Is there any convincing interpretation of the secret of existence? We realize that no family can function properly without a responsible head, that no city can prosperously exist without sound administration, and that no state can survive without a leader of some kind. We also realize that nothing comes into being on its own. Moreover, we observe that the universe exists and functions in the most orderly manner, and that it has survived for hundreds of thousand of years. Can we then say that all this is accidental and haphazard? Can we attribute the existence of man and the whole world to mere chance.
Man represents only a very small portion of the great universe. And if he can make plans and appreciate the merits of planning, then his own existence and the survival of the universe must also be a planned policy. This means that there is an extraordinary power to bring things into being and keep them moving in order.
In the world then must be a great force in action to keep everything in order. In the beautiful nature there must be a Great creator who creates the most charming pieces of art produces every thing for a special purpose in life. The deeply enlightened people recognize this creator and call him Allah “God”. He is not a man because no man can create or make another man. He is not an animal, nor he is a plant. He is neither an Idol nor is He a statue of any kind because non of these things can make itself or create anything else. He is different from all these things because he is the maker and keeper of them all. The maker of anything must be different from and greater than things which he makes.
There are various ways to know God “ALLAH” and there are many things to tell about him. The great wonders and impressive marvels of the world are like open books in which we can read about God. Besides, God Himself comes to our aid through the many Messengers and revelations He has sent down to man. These Messengers and revelations tell us everything we need to know about God.
The complete acceptance of the teachings and guidance of God ‘Allah’ as revealed to His Messengers Muhammad is the religion of Islam. Islam enjoins faith in the oneness and sovereignty of Allah, which makes man aware of meaningfulness of the Universe and of his place in it. This belief frees him from all fears and superstitions by making him conscious of the presence of the Almighty Allah and of man’s obligations towards Him. This faith must be expressed and tested in actions, faith alone is not enough. Belief in one God requires that we look upon all humanity as one family under the universal Omnipotence of God the Creator and Nourisher of all. Islam rejects the idea of chosen people, making belief in God and good actions the only way to heaven. Thus, a direct relationship in established with God, without any intercessor.
Islam is not a new religion. It is, in essence, the same message and guidance which Allah revealed to all Prophets. Adam, Noah, Abraham, Ismael, David, Moses and Jesus (PBUT). But the message which was revealed to Prophet Mohammed (PBUT) is Islam in its comprehensive, complete and final form.
The Quran is the last revealed word of Allah and the basic source of Islamic teachings and laws. The Quran deals with the basis of creeds, morality, history of humanity, worship, knowledge, wisdom, God-man relationship, and human relationship in all aspects. Comprehensive teaching on which, can be built sound systems of social justice, economics, politics, legislation, jurisprudence, law and international relations, are important contents of the Quran. Hadith, the teachings, sayings and actions of Prophet Mohammed (PBUT), meticulously reported and collected by his devoted companions. Explained and elaborated the Quranic verses.
THE FUNDAMENTAL ARTICLES OF FAITH IN ISLAM :
The true faithful Muslim believes in the following Principal articles of faith:-
1. He believes in One God ‘Allah’, Supreme and Eternal, Infinite and Mighty, Merciful and Compassionate, Creator and Provider.
2. He believes in all Messengers of God without any discrimination among them. Every known nation had a warner or Messenger from God. They were chosen by God to teach mankind and deliver His divine message. The Quran mentions the name of twenty five of them. Among them Mohammad stands as the last Messenger and the crowning glory of the foundation of Prophethood.
3. Muslin believes in all scriptures and revelations of God. They were the guiding light which the Messengers received to show their respected peoples the Right Path of God. In the Quran a special reference is made to the books of Abraham, Moses, David and Jesus. But long before the revelations has been lost or corrupted. The only authentic and complete book of God in existence in the Quran.
4. The true Muslim believes in the Angels of Allah. They are purely spiritual and splendid beings whose nature requires on food, drink or sleep. They spend their days and nights in the worship of God.
5. Muslim believes in the last Day of Judgement. This world will come to an end someday, and the dead will rise to stand for their final and fair trial. People with good records will be generously, rewarded and warmly welcomed to the Heaven of Allah, and those with bad records will be punished and cast into Hell.
6. Muslim believes in the timeless knowledge of God and His power to plan and execute His planes and nothing could happen in His Kingdom against His will. His knowledge and power are in action at all times and command over His creation. He is wise and merciful, and whatever He does must have a meaningful purpose. If this is established in our mind and hearts, we should accept with good faith all that He does, although we may fail to under stand it fully, or think it is bad.
THE FIVE PILLARS OF ISLAM
Faith without actions arid practice is a dead end, as far as Islam is concerned. Faith by nature is very sensitive and can be most effective. When it is not out of practice or out of use, it quickly loses its liveliness and motivation power.
There are five pillars of Islam:
1. The declaration of faith: To bear witness that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Mohammad (PBUH) is His Messenger to all human beings till the Day of Judgment. The Prophethood of Mohammad obliges the Muslims to follow, His exemplary life as a model.
2. Prayers: Daily, prayers are offered five times a day as a duty towards Allah. They strengthen and enliven the belief in Allah and inspire man to a higher morality. They purify the heart and prevent temptation towards wrong – doings and evil.
3. Fasting the month of Ramadan. The Muslims during the month of Ramadan not only abstain from food, drink and sexual intercourse from dawn to sunset but also sincerity and devotion. It develops a sound social conscience, patience, unselfishness and will – Power.
4. Zakkah: The literal and simple meaning of Zakkah is purity. The technical meaning of this word designates the annual amount in kind or coin which a Muslim with means must distribute among the rightful beneficiaries. But the religious and spiritual significance of Zakkah is much deeper and more lively. So it has humanitarian and sociopolitical values.
5. Hajj (Pilgrimage to Makkah): It is to be performed once in a lifetime, if one can afford it financially and physically.
Who is Jesus :
Who is Jesus?Without a doubt, you have often heard the claim that Jesus is God, the second person in the “Holy trinity.” However, the very Bible which is used as a basis for knowledge about Jesus and as the basis for doctrine within Christianity clearly belies this claim. We urge you to consult your own Bible and verify that the following conclusions are not drawn out of context: 1. God is All Knowing…..but Jesus was notWhen speaking of the day of judgment, Jesus clearly gave evidence of a limitation on his knowledge when he said, “but of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in Heaven, neither the son, but the Father.” Mark 13:32, and Matt 24:36. But God knows all. His knowledge is without any limitations. That Jesus, of his own admission, did not know when the day of judgment would be, is clear proof that Jesus is not all-knowing, and that Jesus is therefore not God. 2. God is All Powerful…..but Jesus was notWhile Jesus performed many miracles, he himself admitted that the power he had was not his own but was derived from God when he said, “Verily, verily I say unto you, the Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do…” St. John 5:19. Again he said, “I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.” St. John 5:30. But God is not only all-powerful, He is also the source of all power and authority. That Jesus, of his own admission, could do nothing on his own is clear proof that Jesus is not all-powerful, and that therefore Jesus is not God.3. God does not have a God…..but Jesus did have a God.God is the ultimate judge and refuge for all, and He does not call upon nor pray to any others. But Jesus acknowledged that there was one whom he worshipped and to whom he prayed when he said, “l ascend unto my Father and your Father, and to my God and your God.” St. John 20:17. He is also reported to have cried out while on the cross, “My God, my God why hast thou forsaken me?” Matt 27:46. If Jesus were God, then couldn’t this be read, “Myself, myself why hast thou forsaken me?” Would that not be pure nonsense? When Jesus prayed the Lord’s prayer (Luke 11:2-4), was he praying to himself? When in the garden of Gethsemane he prayed, “O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: Nevertheless not as I will but as thou wilt.” Matt 26:36-39. Was Jesus praying to himself? That Jesus, of his own admission and by his own actions, acknowledged, worshipped, and prayed to another being as God is clear proof that Jesus himself is not God.4. God is an invisible spirit…..but Jesus was flesh and bloodWhile thousands saw Jesus and heard his voice, Jesus himself said that this could not be done with God when he said. “No man hath seen God at any time.” St. John 1:18. ‘”Ye have neither heard His voice at any time nor seen His shape.” St. John 5:37. He also said in St. John 4:24. “God is a spirit and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.” That Jesus would say that no one had seen or heard God at any time, while his followers both saw and heard him, is clear proof that Jesus was not God.5. No one is greater than God and no one can direct Him but Jesus acknowledged someone greater than himself whose will was distinct from his own.Perhaps the clearest indication we have that Jesus and God are not equal, and therefore not one and the same, come again from the mouth of Jesus himself who said in St. John 14:28, “My Father is greater than I.” When someone referred to him as good master in Matt 19:17, Jesus responded, “Why callest thou me good? There is none good but one, that is God…” Furthermore, Jesus drew clear distinctions between himself and God when he said, “I proceeded forth and came from God, neither came I of myself but He sent me.” St. John 8:42. Jesus gave clear evidence of his subordination to God, rather than his equality with God,when he said in Luke 22:42, “not my will but thine be done” and in St. John 5:30, “I seek not mine own will but the will of the Father which hath sent me.” That Jesus would admit that he did not come into the world on his own initiative but was directed to do so, that he would acknowledge another being as greater than himself, and that he would negate his own will in deference to affirming the will of another, give clear proof that Jesus is not the Supreme One and therefore Jesus is not God.ConclusionThe Church recognizes the Bible as the primary source of knowledge about God and Jesus. But since the Bible makes it clear that Jesus is not the Supreme Being and the Supreme Being is not Jesus, upon what basis have you come to believe otherwise?My brother or sister, the belief that the Supreme Being is a Trinity is false and completely inconsistent with the words of Jesus as presented in the Bible. God is one, not three. He is a perfect unity. If you are interested in the truth about God and your relationship to Him, we invite you to investigate the religion of Islam.
What is the word of God about Jesus:
A. Regarding Sonship of Jesus:That is Jesus, son of Mary, in word of truth, concerning which they are doubting. It is not for God to take a son unto Him. Glory be to Him! When He decrees a thing he but says to it “Be”, and it is. (Qur’an 19:34,35).
And they say, ‘The All-merciful has taken unto Himself a son.’ You have indeed advanced something hideous. The heavens are well nigh rent of it and the earth split asunder, and the mountains well nigh fall down crashing for that they have attributed to the All-Merciful a son; and it behoves not the All-Merciful to take a son. None is there in the heavens and earth but comes to the All-Merciful as a servant (Qur’an 19:88-93).
Truly the likeness of Jesus, in God’s sight, is as Adam’s likeness; He created him of dust, then said He unto him, “Be”, and he was. (Qur’an 3:59).
People of the Book, go not beyond the bounds in your religion, and say not as to God but the Truth. The Messiah, Jesus, son of Mary, was only the Messenger of God, and His Word that He committed to Mary, and a spirit from Him. So believe in God and His Messengers. and say not, ‘Three’, Refrain, better is it for you. God is only One God. Glory be on Him – that He should have a son! To Him belongs that which is in the heavens and on the earth, God suffices for a guardian. (Qur’an 4:171)
B. Regarding Jesus being God:And when God said. ‘O Jesus son of Mary,did you say unto men, “Take me and my mother as gods, apart from God?” He Said, ‘To You be Glory! It is not mine to say what I have no right to. If I indeed said it, You knew it, knowing what is within my soul, and I do not know what is within Your soul; You know the things unseen. I only said to them what You did command me: “Serve God, my Lord and your Lord.” And I was a witness over them, while I remained among them; but when You did take me to Yourself the Watcher over them; You are the witness of everything. (Quran 5:116,117)
C. Regarding Crucifiction of Jesus:And for their unbelief, and their uttering against Mary a mighty calumny, and for their saying, ‘We slew the Messiah, Jesus son of Mary, the Messenger of God’…yet they did not slay him, neither crucified him, only a likeness of that was shown to them. Those who are at variance concerning him surely are in doubt regarding him, they have no knowledge of him, except the following of surmise; and they did not slay him of certainty… no indeed, God raised him up to Him; God is Almighty, All-Wise. There is not one of the people of the Book but will assuredly believe in him before his death, and on the Resurrection Day he will be a witness against them. (Qur’an 4:156-159).
JESUS in the QURAN :
The Islamic view of Jesus lies between two extremes. The Jews , who rejected Jesus as a Prophet of God, called him an impostor. The Christians, on the other hand, considered him to be the son of God and worship him as such. Islam considers Jesus to be one of the great prophets of God and respects him as much as Ibrahim (Abraham), Moses, and Mohammed. (Peace Be Upon Them) This is conformity with the Islamic view of the oneness of God, the oneness of Divine guidance, and the complementary role of the subsequent mission of God’s messengers.
The essence of Islam – willing submission to the will of God – was revealed to Adam, who was passed it on to his children. All following revelations to Noah, Ibrahim, Moses, Jesus, and finally Mohammed (Peace Be Upon Them) were conformity with that message, with some elaboration to define the revelation between man and God, man and man, man and instructions. Thus, any contradictions among revealed religions is viewed by Islam as a man-made element introduced into these religions. The position of Jesus in the three major religions – Judaism, Christianity, and Islam – should not be an exception.
Although the Quran does not present a detailed life-story of Jesus, it highlights the important aspects of his birth, his mission, his ascension to heaven, and passes judgements on the Christian beliefs concerning him. The Quranic account of Jesus starts with the conception of his mother, Mary, whose mother, the wife of Imran, vowed to dedicate her child to the service of God in the temple. When Mary became a woman, the Holy Spirit (the Archangel Gabriel) appeared to her as a man bringing her news of a son. We read the following dialogue in the Quran between Mary and the Angel:
“When the angel said, “Mary, god gives you a good tidings of a Word from Him whose name is messiah, Jesus, son of Mary, -high honoured shall he be in this world and the next, near stationed to God. He shall speak to men in the cradle, and of age, and righteous he shall be, “lord” said Mary “How shall I have a son, seeing no mortal has touched me? “Even so, he said “God creates what He will”.
When he decrees a thing He but say to it, “Be”, and it is. (Al-Imran 3:45-47)
In a chapter (Surah) entitled “Maryam” (Mary), the Quran tells us how Mary gave birth to her son, and how the Jesus accused her when she brought the child home:
“Then she brought the child to her folk, carrying him, and they said, “Mary, you have surely committed a monstrous thing. Sister of Aaron, your father was not a wicked man, nor your mother a woman unchaste. Mary pointed to the child; but they said, ‘Hoe shall we speak to one who still in the cradle, a little child. And he said, ‘Lo, I am God’s servant, God has given me the Book and made me a Prophet Blessed He has made me ,wherever/may be; and hi has enjoined me to prayer, and to give the alms so long as I live, and likewise to cherish my mother; He has not made me arrogant and wicked. Peace be upon me, the day I was born, and the day I die, and the day I am raised up a live. “Maryam 19:29-33)
in the same chapter, following the above quotation, God assures Mohammed (PBUH) and through him the whole world, that what is told above is the TRUTH about Jesus (PBUH), although Christians might not accept it. Jesus is NOT the son of God: He was obviously enough, the son of Mary. The verses continue: “That is Jesus, son of Mary, in word of truth, concerning which they are doubting. It is not for God to take a son unto Him. Glory be to Him, He nut says to it, ‘Be, and it is. (Maryam 19:34-35)
After this strong statement about the nature of Jesus, God directed Mohammed (PBUH) to call the Christians to worship the one God: “Surely God is my God, and your God, so surely serve him. This is the straight path”. (Maryam 19:36)
The rejection of the very idea of God having a son is restated later in the same chapter with even stronger words: “And they say, The All-merciful has taken unto Himself a son. You have indeed advanced something hideous. As if the skies are about to burst, the earth to split asunder and its mountain to fall down in the utter ruin for that they have attributed to the All-merciful a son; and behaves not the All-merciful to take a son. None there in the heavens and earth but comes to the All-merciful as a servant” (Maryam 19:88-93)
The Quran recognizes the fact that Jesus had no human father, but this does not make him the son of God, or God himself. By this criterion, Adam would have been more entitled more entitled to be the son of God, because he had neither a father nor a mother, so the Quran draws attention to the miraculous creation of both in the following verses; ” truly the likeness of Jesus, in God’s sight is as Adam’s likeness; He created him of dust, then He said upon him, ‘Be’ and hi was. (Al-Imran 3:59)
The Quran rejects the concept of Trinity God the Father, God the son, God the Holy Spirit – as strongly as it rejects the concept of Jesus as the son of God. This is because GOD IS ONE. Three cannot be one. The Quran addresses Christians in the following verses from the Surrah entitled “An-Nisaa” (The Women)
People of the Book, do not go beyond the bounds in your religion, and say nought as to God but the Truth. The messiah, Jesus, son of Mary, was only the messenger of God, and his word (Fulfilment of his word (Fulfilment of His command, through the word “Be”, for the creation of Jesus) that he committed to Mary, and a spirit originating from Him (was given life by God). So believe in God and His Messengers, and say not ‘Three’. Refrain, better is for you. God is only one God. Glory be to him-that He should have a son! To Him belongs all that is in the Heavens and in the Earth; God suffices for a guardian.
The Messiah will not disdain to be a servant of God, neither the Angels who are close to Him. Whosoever disdains to serve Him and walks proud, He will assuredly muster them to Him, all of them.
As for the believers, who do deeds of righteousness, we will pay them their rewards in full, and He will give them more, of His bounty; as for them who disdain and walks proud, then He will punish with a severe punishment, and they shall not find for them, apart from God, a friend or helper.” (An-Nissa 4:171-173)
The denial of Jesus’s divinity (and. For the matter, of Mary’s divinity) is presented in the Quran in the form of a dialogue, at the Day of Judgement, between the Almighty Jesus. All the Messengers and their nations will gather before God and He will ask the Messengers how they were received by their people and what they said to them. Among those who will be questioned is Jesus:
“And when God said, ‘O Jesus, son of Mary, did you say unto men, “Take me and my mother as gods, apart from God”? He said, ‘To you be glory! It is not mine to say what I have no right to. If I indeed said it, you would have known it, knowing what is within my heart, though I do not know your knowledge; you know the things unseen. I only said to them what you did commands me: “Serve God, my God and your God.” (Al-Maida 5-116)
Given that the Quran denies the Trinity and the son ship of Jesus, what, according to the Quran, was the real mission of Jesus? The answer is that Jesus was a link in a long chain of Prophets and Messengers sent by God to various nations and societies whenever they needed guidance or deviated from his teachings of Moses and other Messengers. As he was miraculously supported by numerous miracles to prove that he was a Messengers from God. However, the majority of the Jews rejected his ministry.
In another verse of the Quran, Jesus confirmed the validity of the Torah which was revealed to Moses, and also conveyed he glad tidings of a final Messenger who follow him: “And when Jesus son of Mary said, ‘Children of Israel, I am indeed the Messenger to you, confirming the Torah that is before me, and giving good tiding of a Messenger who shall be the praised one.”(As-Saff 61:6)
Note that “praised one” is a translation of “Ahmad” – The Prophet Mohammed’s name. Careful study of the New Testament shows that Jesus refers to the same Prophet in John 14:16-17: “And I will give you another Counsellor (ThProphet Mohammed). To be with you for ever, even the Spirit of Truth.”
The usual explanation of this Prophecy is that the counsellor referred to is the Holy Spirit, but this explanation is excluded by a previous verse in John: “Nevertheless I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Counsellor will not come to you.”
The characteristics of this counsellor, as can be derived from the prophecy, are that he will stay forever with the believers, he will glorify Jesus; and he will speak that he hears form God. All four characteristics apply to the Prophet Mohammed. He came six centuries after Jesus. He came six centuries after Jesus. He came with a universal and everlasting message, fulfilling the prophecy that the counsellor will stay forever with the faithful. He glorified Jesus as a great Prophet. The Quran attributes to Jesus miracles not mentioned in the Bible’s Old and New Testaments, as well as specific verses in the Quran show how the Prophet Mohammad is rejected by Jews and Christians out of prejudice and misunderstanding, rather that carefully study the Bible.
It is a sad fact of history that not many are following the “straight path” to which people were called by Jesus. He was only followed by a few disciples inspired by God to support him. The non-believers plotted – as they would against Mohammed, six centuries later – to kill Jesus. But God had better plan for him and his followers, as the Quran tells us:
“And when Jesus perceived their unbelief, he said ‘Who will be my helpers in the cause of God? The apostles said, ‘we are Gods helpers. We believe in God; so bear witness of our submission God, we believe in that you have sent down, and we follow the Messenger. Inscribe us therefore with those who bear witness. ‘And they devised, and God devised, and God devised, and God is the best of divisors. When God said, ‘Jesus, I will take you to Me and will raise you to Me, and I will purify you (of the falsehoods) of those who do not believe. I will make your followers above the unbelievers till the Resurrection Day.”(Al-Imran 3:52-55)
As the above verses indicate, Jesus was taken and raised to heaven. He was not crucified. It was certainly the plan of the enemies of Jesus to put him to death on the cross, but God saved him and someone else was crucified:
“And for their unbelief, and their uttering against Mary a grave false charge, and for their saying, ‘We killed the messiah, Jesus son of Mary, the Messiah of God”…yet they did not slay him, neither crucified him, only a likeness of that was shown to them. Those who are at variance concerning him are surely in doubt the following of conjecture; and they did not kill him of certainty…no indeed; God raised him up to Him; God is Almighty, Allwise. There is not one of the people of the book but will assuredly believe him before his death, and on the Resurrection Day he will be a witness against them.” (An-Nissa 4:156-159)
The Quran does not explain who was the person crucified instead of Jesus, nor elaborate on the Second Coming of Jesus. However, explanators of the Quran have always interpreted the last verse of the above quotation to mean that Jesus will believe in him before he dies. This understanding is supported by authentic sayings (Hadith) of the Prophet Mohammed may the peace and blessings of Allah him and upon all His Messengers.
YOU MUST KNOW THIS MAN
MUHAMMAD :
(May peace and blessings of God Almighty be upon him)
You may be an atheist or an agnostic; or you may belong to anyone of the religious denominations that exist in the world today. You may be a Communist or a believer in democracy and freedom. No matter what you are, and no matter what your religious and political beliefs, personal and social habits happen to be – YOU MUST STILL KNOW THIS MAN!
He was by far the most remarkable man that ever set foot on this earth. He preached a religion, founded a state, built a nation, laid down a moral code, initiated numberless social and political reforms, established a dynamic and powerful society to practice and represent his teachings, and completely revolutionized the worlds of human thought and action for all times to come.
HIS NAME IS MUHAMMAD, peace and blessings of Almighty God be upon him and he accomplished all these wonders in the unbelievably short span of twenty-three years.
Muhammad, peace and blessings of God Almighty be upon him was born in Arabia on the 20th of August, in the year 570 of the Christian era, and when he died after 63 years, the whole of the Arabian Peninsula had changed from paganism and idol-worship to the worship of One God; from tribal quarrels and wars to national solidarity and cohesion; from drunkenness and debauchery to sobriety and piety; from lawlessness and anarchy to disciplined living; from utter moral bankruptcy to the highest standards of moral excellence. Human history has never known such a complete transformation of a people or a place before or since!
The Encyclopedia Britannica calls him “the most successful of all religious personalities of the world”. Bernard Shaw said about him that if Muhammad were alive today he would succeed in solving all those problems which threaten to destroy human civilization in our times. Thomas Carlysle was simply amazed as to how one man, single-handedly, could weld warring tribes and wandering Bedouins into a most powerful and civilized nation in less than two decades. Napoleon and Gandhi never tired of dreaming of a society along the lines established by this man in Arabia fourteen centuries ago.
Indeed no other human being ever accomplished so much, in such diverse fields of human thought and behavior, in so limited a space of time, as did Muhammad, peace and blessings of God Almighty be upon him. He was a religious teacher, a social reformer, a moral guide, a political thinker, a military genius, an administrative colossus, a faithful friend, a wonderful companion, a devoted husband, a loving father – all in one. No other man in history ever excelled or equaled him in any of these difficult departments of life.
The world has had its share of great personalities. But these were one sided figures who distinguished themselves in but one or two fields such as religious thought or military leadership. None of the other great leaders of the world ever combined in himself so many different qualities to such an amazing level of perfection as did Muhammad, peace and blessings of God Almighty be upon him.
The lives and teachings of other great personalities of the world are shrouded in the mist of time. There is so much speculation about the time and the place of their birth, the mode and style of their life, the nature and detail of their teachings and the degree and measure of their success or failure that it is impossible for humanity today to reconstruct accurately and precisely the lives and teachings of those men.
Not so this man Muhammad, peace and blessings of God Almighty be upon him. Not only was he born in the fullest blaze of recorded history, but every detail of his private and public life, of his actions and utterances, has been accurately documented and faithfully preserved to our day. The authenticity of the information so preserved is vouched for not only by faithful followers but also by unbiased critics and open-minded scholars.
At the level of ideas there is no system of thought and belief-secular or religious, social or political-which could surpass or equal ISLAAM- the system which Muhammad peace and blessings of God Almighty be upon him propounded. In a fast changing world, while other systems have undergone profound transformations, Islaam alone has remained above all change and mutation, and retained its original form for the past 1400 years. What is more, the positive changes that are taking place in the world of human thought and behavior, truly and consistently reflect the healthy influence of Islam in these areas. Further, it is not given to the best of thinkers to put their ideas completely into practice, and to see the seeds of their labors grow and bear fruit, in their own lifetime. Except of course, Muhammad, peace and blessings of God Almighty be upon him, who not only preached the most wonderful ideas but also successfully translated each one of them into practice in his own lifetime. At the time of his death his teachings were not mere precepts and ideas straining for fulfillment, but had become the very core of the life of tens of thousands of perfectly trained individuals, each one of whom was a marvelous personification of everything that Muhammad peace and blessings of God Almighty be upon him taught and stood for. At what other time or place and in relation to what other political, social, religious system, philosophy or ideology-did the world ever witness such a perfectly amazing phenomenon?
Indeed no other system or ideology secular or religious, social or political, ancient or modern – could ever claim the distinction of having been put into practice in its fullness and entirety EVEN ONCE in this world, either before or after the death of its founder. Except of course ISLAAM, the ideology preached by Muhammad, peace and blessings of God Almighty be upon him which was established as a complete way of life by the teacher himself, before he departed from this world. History bears testimony to this fact and the greatest skeptics have no option but to concede this point.
In spite of these amazing achievements and in spite of the countless absolutely convincing and authentic miracles performed by him and the phenomenal success which crowned his efforts, he did not for a moment claim to be God or God’s incarnation or Son – but only a human being who was chosen and ordained by God to be a teacher of truth to man kind and a complete model and pattern for their actions.
He was nothing more or less than a human being. But he was a man with a noble and exalted mission-and his unique mission was to unite humanity on the worship of ONE AND ONLY GOD and to teach them the way to honest and upright living in accordance with the laws and commands of God. He always described himself as A MESSENGER AND SERVANT OF GOD, and so indeed every single action and movement of his proclaimed him to be.
A world which has not hesitated to raise to Divinity individuals whose very lives and missions have been lost in legend and who historically speaking did not accomplish half as much-or even one tenth-as was accomplished by Muhammad, peace and blessings of God Almighty be upon him should stop to take serious note of this remarkable man’s claim to be God’s messenger to mankind.
Today after the lapse of some 1400 years the life and teachings of Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings of God Almighty be upon him, have survived without the slightest loss, alteration or interpolation. Today they offer the same undying hope for treating mankind’s many ills which they did when Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings of God Almighty be upon him, was alive. This is our honest claim and this is the inescapable conclusion forced upon us by a critical and unbiased study of history.
The least YOU should do as a thinking, sensitive, concerned human being is to stop for one brief moment and ask yourself: Could it be that these statements, extraordinary and revolutionary as they sound, are really true? Supposing they really are true, and you did not know this man Muhammad, peace and blessings of God Almighty be upon him or hear about his teachings? Or did not know him well and intimately enough to be able to benefit from his guidance and example? Isn’t it time you responded to this tremendous challenge and made some effort to know him? It will not cost you anything but it may well prove to be the beginning of a completely new era in your life.
Come, let us make a new discovery of the life of this wonderful man Muhammad, peace and blessings of God Almighty be upon him the like of whom never walked on this earth, and whose example and teachings can change YOUR LIFE and OUR WORLD for the better. May God shower His choicest blessings upon him!.
Twelve Proofs that Muhammad is a True Prophet :
My brothers and sisters everywhere! With this essay, I am not singling out the adherents of Islam – to which I ascribe – but rather I am writing this essay to every man and woman throughout the whole world.
I ask Allah that He facilitates tat this essay reaches every ear, falls under the sight of every eye, and is understood by every heart…
Muhammad the son of `Abdullah is Allah’s Prophet and the Final Messenger Sent by Allah to the Inhabitants of Earth.
My brothers and sisters everywhere! You should know that the Messenger, Muhammad the son of `Abdullah (may Allah’s blessings and peace be upon him) is Allah’s Messenger in reality and truth. The evidences that show his veracity are abundant. None but an infidel, who out of arrogance alone, could deny these signs.
Among these proofs:
1. Muhammad (may Allah’s blessings and peace be upon him) was raised illiterate, unable to read or write, and remained like that till his death. Among all his people, he was known as being truthful and trustworthy. Before receiving revelation, he had no prior knowledge of Religion or any previously sent Message. He remained like that for his first forty years. Revelation then came to Muhammad with the Koran that we now have between our hands. This Koran mentioned most of the accounts found in the previous scriptures, telling us about these events in the greatest detail as if he witnessed them. These accounts came precisely as they were found in the Torah sent down to Moses and in the Gospel sent down to Jesus. Neither the Jews or Christians were able to belie him regarding anything that he said.
2. Muhammad (may Allah’s blessings and peace be upon him) also foretold of everything that would occur to him and his community after him, pertaining to victory, the removal of the tyrannical kingdoms of Chosroes [the royal title for the Zoroastrian kings of Persia] and Caesar, and the establishment of the religion of Islam throughout the earth. These events occurred exactly as Muhammad foretold, as if he was reading the future from an open book.
3. Muhammad (may Allah’s blessings and peace be upon him) also brought an Arabic Koran that is the peak of eloquence and clarity. The Koran challenged those eloquent and fluent Arabs of his time, who initially belied him, to bring forth a single chapter like the Koran. The eloquent Arabs of his day were unable to contest this Koran.
Indeed, till our day, none has ever dared to claim that he has been able to compose words that equal-or even approach-the order, grace, beauty, and splendor of this Glorious Koran.
4. The life history of this Noble Prophet was a perfect example of being upright, merciful, compassionate, truthful, brave, generous, distant from all evil character, and ascetic in all worldly matters, while striving solely for the reward of the Hereafter. Moreover, in all his actions and dealings, he was ever mindful and fearful of Allah.
5. Allah instilled great love for Muhammad (may Allah’s blessings and peace be upon him) in the hearts of all who believed in and met him. This love reached such a degree that any of his companions would willingly sacrifice his (or her) self, mother or father for him.
Till today, those who believe in Muhammad honor and love him. Anyone of those who believe in him would ransom his own family and wealth to see him, even if but once.
6. All of history has not preserved the biography of any person in the manner it has preserved the life of Muhammad, who is the most influential human in history.
Nor has the entire earth known of anyone whom every morning and evening, and many times thereafter throughout the day, is thought of by those who believe in him. Upon remembering Muhammad, the believers in him will greet him and ask Allah to bless him. They do such with full hearts and true love for him.
7. Nor has there every been a man on earth whom is still followed in all his doings by those who believe in him.
Those who believe in Muhammad, sleep in the manner he slept; purify themselves (through ablution and ritual washing) in the manner he purified himself; and adhere to his practice in the way they eat, drink, and clothe themselves.
Indeed in all aspects of their lives, the believers in Muhammad adhere to the teachings he spread among them and the path that he traveled upon during his life.
During every generation, from his day till our time, the believers in this Noble Prophet have fully adhered to his teachings. With some, this has reached the degree that they desire to follow and adhere to the Prophet’s way in his personal matters regarding which Allah has not sought of them to adhere to in worship. For example, some will only eat those specific foods or only wear those specific garments that the Messenger liked.
Let alone all that, all those who believe in Muhammad repeat those praises of Allah, special prayers, and invocations that he would say during each of his actions during day and night, like: what he would say when he greeted people, upon entering and leaving the house, entering and leaving the mosque, entering and leaving the bathroom, going to sleep and awaking from sleep, observing the new crescent, observing the new fruit on trees, eating, drinking, dressing, riding, traveling and returning from travel, etc.
Let alone all that, all those who believe in Muhammad fully perform-even to the minute detail-every act of worship-like prayer, fasting, charity, and pilgrimage-as this Noble Messenger (may Allah’s blessings and peace be upon him) taught and as he himself performed.
All of this allows those who believe in him, to live their lives in all aspects with this Noble Messenger as their example, as if he was standing before them, for them to follow in all their doings.
8. There has never been nor will there ever be a man anywhere upon this earth who has received such love, respect, honor, and obedience in all matters-small and large alike-as has this Noble Prophet.
9. Since his day, in every region of the earth and during every period, this Noble Prophet has been followed by individuals from all races, colors and peoples. Many of those who followed him were previously Christians, Jews, pagans, idolaters, or without any religion. Among those who chose to follow him, were those who were known for their sound judgment, wisdom, reflection, and foresight. They chose to follow this Noble Prophet after they witnessed the signs of his truthfulness and the evidences of his miracles. They did not choose to follow Muhammad out of compulsion or coercion or because they had adopted the ways of their fathers and mothers.
Indeed many of the followers of this Prophet (may Allah’s blessings peace be upon him), chose to follow him during the time when Islam was weak, when there were few Muslims, and when there was severe persecution of his followers on earth. Most people who have followed this Prophet (may Allah’s blessings and peace be upon him) have done so not to acquire some material benefits. Indeed many of his followers have suffered the greatest forms of harm and persecution as a result of following this Prophet. Despite all this harm and persecution, this did not turn them back from his religion.
My brethren! All of this clearly indicates to anyone possessing any sense, that this Prophet was truly and really Allah’s messenger and that he was not just a man who claimed prophethood or spoke about Allah without knowledge.
10. With all this, Muhammad came with a great religion in its credal and legal make-up.
Muhammad described Allah with qualities of complete perfection, and at the same time in a manner that is free of ascribing to Him any imperfection. Neither the philosophers or the wise could ever describe Allah like such. Indeed it is impossible to imagine that any human mind could conceive of an existing being that possesses such complete ability, knowledge, and greatness; Who has subdued the creation; Who has encompassed everything in the universe, small or large; and Who possesses such perfect mercy.
Nor is it in the ability of any human being to place a perfect law based upon justice, equality, mercy and objectivity for all human activity on earth like the laws that Muhammad brought for all spheres of human activity – like buying and selling, marriage and divorce, renting, testimony, custody, and all other contracts that are necessary to uphold life and civilization on earth.
11. It is impossible that any person conceive wisdom,, morals, good manners, nobleness of characters as what this honorable Prophet (may Allah’s blessings and peace be upon him) brought.
In a full and complete manner, Muhammad spread a teaching regarding character and manners toward one’ parents, relatives, fiends, family, humanity, animals, plants and inanimate objects. It is impossible for the human mind alone to grasp all of that teaching or come with a similar teaching.
All of that unequivocally indicates that this Messenger did not bring an) of this religion from his own accord, but that it was rather a teaching and inspiration that he received from the One Who created the earth and the high heavens above and created this universe in its miraculous architecture and perfection.
12. The legal and credal make-up of the religion that the Messenger, Muhammad, (may Allah’s blessings and peace be upon him) brought resembles the engineering of the heavens and the earth. All of that indicates that He who created the heavens and the earth is the One Who sent down this great law and upright religion.
The degree of inimitability of the Divine law that was sent down upon Muhammad is to the same degree of inimitability of the Divine creation of the heavens and earth. For just as humanity cannot create this universe, in the same manner humanity cannot bring forth a law like Allah’s law that He sent down upon His servant and messenger Muhammad (may Allah’s blessings and peace be upon him).
HOW TO BECOME A MUSLIM :
All praises be to Allah, the Lord of the Universe. May the peace and blessings of Allah be upon Muhammad His last messenger.
The objective of this handout is to correct a false idea spread among those willing to adopt Islam as their faith. Some people are facing difficulties on the basis of their mistaken belief that entering into the Islamic fold requires an announcement from the concerned person in the presence of high ranking scholars or sheikhs or reporting this act to courts of justice or other authorities. It is also thought t