Time, people, culture, society, and the environment we are surrounded by, can produce the formation of many perspectives regarding an issue that we see in today’s society. One of many controversial topics is Islam and the Hijab. Many questions and generalisations are often formed in the minds of many non-Muslims in regards to the concepts behind the Hijab through the influence of the media.
Throughout the years of conflict between the "West" and "Islam", the media has strongly altered the minds of non-Muslims by negative exploitation of Islam, and Muslims, in particular on Muslim women. Misconceptions such as, "Are you bald underneath" "Do you go to sleep with that on?" to the association of "terrorism" that contrasts to what Muslim women believe the Hijab represents.
A common misconception is "the Islamic Hijab is something cultural, not religious". The use of the word "cultural" is faulty when describing the Hijab as it implies that it is a result of customs and practices that are something separate from Islam. The cultural dress is referred to the ancient Pre-Islamic Era (Jahiliyah). It is the veil from the Pre-Islamic Era that is considered as "traditional" which stops women from contributing in society. On the contrary, the Islamic Hijab is not considered as an informal tradition, nor does it lower her self-respect. The Hijab is aimed at presenting women with poise and equality in society. An example of Pre-Islamic era in our modern world is the Taliban in Afghanistan. The Taliban are a party who regard such activities un-Islamic for women, who are prohibited from exercising their primary rights. The Taliban have banned women from employment outside the home, apart from the health sector, and have terminated education for girls.
Prophet Mohammad (peace & blessings be upon him) said, "Seeking knowledge is incumbent upon every Muslim". Even Henry VIII forbid women to study the Bible when the first English translations began to appear. It’s an irony although the Taliban claim their guiding philosophy on women are in place to ensure the physical protection and self-respect of women, where as, many Afghan women have been killed, beaten and publicly hung. For many Afghan women fear of being severely punished by the Taliban is their main security concern.
Another misconception is "Muslim women have no right in Islam". Islam gave women rights over 1400 years ago, which is still ignored by many Muslims and non-Muslims today. Firstly, Islam has given women the basic right to freedom of speech. In the early days of Islam, the leaders of the Islamic state regarding legal issues consulted women. Rights that were appointed to Muslim women since the beginning of time are only just surfacing for non-Muslims. In Islam, a woman is free to be whom she is inside, and protected from being portrayed as a sex symbol and lusted after. Islam praises the status of a woman by commanding that she "enjoys equal rights to those of man in everything, she stands on an equal footing with man" (Qur’an, Nadvi: 11) and both share mutual rights and obligations in all aspects of life.
Many women are treated in ways far from Islamic ideals, yet in the name of Islam. The Taliban is an example of a cultural and political name that has been branded with Islam. There is no freedom for women if they are imprisoned in their home in the name of the Hijab and Islam. Moreover, the veil of Islam is not associated with the veil of oppression.
Women that are regaining their identity and role in society, are now wearing the Hijab and are embracing its concept of liberation. They are taking their lawful places that Islam had awarded them fourteen hundred years ago. In fact, the western women had no rights nor did they have rights over their husband. Not only were woman the property of their husband but so were their possessions. In 1919 women in England fought for their rights to be elected to parliament. Because of their demands, they were imprisoned by the government and suffered greatly. It was not until the late nineteenth and early twentieth century when women were given these rights.
A quote from the Qur’an in Surah 2: 26 states:
"And for women has rights over men, similar to those of men over women."
The background history between Islam and the West will shed some light as to why Muslims are portrayed so negatively in the media. Some strong contributing factors are the medieval western conflict, the crusades, the oil crisis of the 1970’s, the Lebanese civil war, the Iranian revolution, the Gulf war, and the explosive Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the September 11 bombings, the Bali Massacre and the London bombings. All these events have caused Islam to be consistently associated with violence and unresolved conflict. Furthermore, the view of Muslims as being violent typically explains why Muslims are seen to establish a threat to the West. One of the most effective ways the media attempts to somehow prevent Islam being seen in a positive frame is to develop propaganda against Muslims and Islam.
The media is able to use the Hijab as a means of exploiting Muslim women, and degrading them. The media assumes, in some cases, that the actions of one Muslim are representations of the general Muslim population. This is generalisation. This sets a example for members of society to abuse and degrade them.
An image of a Muslim woman wearing the chador was labelled as "like death out for a walk" in the Australian Magazine, 25-26 Jan. 1995 issue. The media implied to locate the position of women in Islamic society as dominated. The image also portrayed the difference between Muslim and Western Women in today’s society.
In current affair programs, people watching are bombarded with images of Muslims as savage terrorists, killing innocent people with no remorse. What results from this is the viewers of these programs, recognise and accept only the labels, and therefore with Islam immediately associating it with negative images.
I asked a resident from Parramatta, who wished to be kept anonymous if "the September 11th bombings altered their mind about Islam and Muslim women?" He said "I never knew Islam and the Qur’an preached terrorism. It has made me aware of Islam and the teachings. It increased my awareness of the complexities of Islam and politics in the Middle East including the veiling of Muslim women". This answer shows how influential the media is towards its viewers.
Throughout the western society, the practice of Muslim women wearing the Hijab has resulted in extreme points of view towards their so-called "oppression" and lack of freedom. Despite the obvious portrayal of Muslim women and myths that surround it such as; "Muslim women are oppressed", there continues to be an abundance of Western women reverting to Islam. What Islam uses to protect women is the Hijab. This is ironic because the Western media often portray the Muslim veil as a suppressive force in a woman's life.
Every Muslim woman is required to wear a scarf or some sort of head covering and loose-fitting, modest attire. This is not a means of controlling a woman's sexuality or suppressing her but rather, a means for protection. It implies by dressing this way she will not be seen as a mere sex symbol but will be appreciated for her intellect. Furthermore, it will not subject her to harassment. It is interesting to state the head covering for women is not an Islamic innovation but was also practiced by Judeo-Christian women centuries earlier, and yet is laughed at by the West today.
Naima Omar, a student of University of Western Sydney says "It is funny to say the same veil worn by catholic nuns for God is despised and presented as a symbol of subjection and domination when it is worn by Muslim women for the intention to protect themselves and devoting themself to God".
The term Islam means “submission to the will of Allah” and “peace”. Muslims believe Islam is not a religion but a gift that has been awarded to them. They believe Islam is the way of life and that is harmonious however the media portrays the opposite.
Maria Moskovakis, 18, a Greek Orthodox says "yes of course Muslims are presented negatively in the news. An action by one Muslim is presented with so much bias. If one Muslim commits a crime, it is not the person but the religion presented that goes to trial. What we hear and see is all controlled.
As El-Gharib (1996-97) noted, television, books, newspapers, and magazines are used to present Islam as being a backward and barbaric religion. It has been seen as oppressive and unjust; and more than this, it is seen as being most oppressive to women. These various forms of media misrepresent Islam in different ways, however largely achieve the same negative result – the creation of a growing barrier of misunderstanding and hostility between Islam and it’s followers, and the West.
Muslims have an obligation to fulfil which is to educate themselves, their children to gain knowledge which is ordained upon them regardless of their race, gender and marital status etc.
A Hasan Hadith narrated by Ibn Majah in the Qur’an states:
"Seeking knowledge is a duty on every Muslim" and therefore gaining knowledge is regarded as an act of worship. Stopping any Muslim from gaining an education regardless of age and sex is not Islamic.
Dr Homer of Sweden was asked by the United Nations in 1975 to study the status of Women in the Arab countries and said: "It is the Swedish woman who should demand her freedom, as the women in the Arab countries has already reached the peak of her freedom under Islam." From "Status Of Women In Islam" page 23.
Many have become used to believing the false information that they are spoon fed every time they turn on the screen, listen to the radio or open a newspaper.
http://www.islamfortoday.com/women.htm//ezinearticles.com/
Read More ..
Senin, 02 Maret 2009
Education and Islam
Islam is the religion of peace, and it is one of the most sacred and trustworthy religions, which has given us guidance in every aspect of life. Islam has given us education with knowledge which has no limits. The Holy Quran is the most sacred book of Allah revealed on Prophet Muhammad (SAW), for the upliftment guidance and enriched messages to the humanity.
Education is the knowledge of putting one's potentials to maximum use. Without education, no one can find the proper right path in this world.
This importance of education is basically for two reasons. Education makes man a right thinker. Without education, no one can think properly in an appropriate context you. It tells man how to think and how to make decision. The second reason for the importance of education is that only through the attainment of education, man is enabled to receive information from the external world. It is well said that
"Without education, man is as though in a closed room and with education he finds himself in a room with all its windows open towards outside world."
This is why Islam attaches such great importance to knowledge and education. When the Quran began to be revealed, the first word of its first verse was 'Iqra' that is, read..
The reflective book of Holy Quran is so rich in content and meaning that if the history of human thought continues forever, this book is not likely to be read to its end. Every day it conveys a new message to the humanity. Every morning, it gives us new thoughtful ideas and bound us in the boundaries of ethics.
Islamic Education is one of the best systems of education, which makes an ethical groomed person with all the qualities, which he/she should have as a human being. The Western world has created the wrong image of Islam in the world. They don't know that our teachings are directly given to us from Allah, who is the creator of this world, through our Prophets.
The Muslims all over the world are thirsty of acquiring quality education. They know their boundaries and never try to cross it. It is the West, which has created a hype that the Muslim are not in a path of getting proper education. They think that our education teaches us fighting, about weapons, etc., which is so false. This is true that there are certain elements, which force an individual to be on the wrong path, because as we will mould a child, they will be like that, but it doesn't mean that our religion teaches improperly to us.
Our Holy Prophet (SAW), said,
Seek knowledge from the cradle to the grave.
And:
Seek knowledge even [if it is to be found in a place as distant as China. At the battle of Badr, in which our beloved Holy Prophet (SAW) gained victory over his foes, seventy people of the enemy rank were taken to prison. These prisoners were literate people. In order to benefit from their education the Prophet declared that if one prisoner teaches ten Muslim children how to read and write, this will serve as his ransom and he will be set free. This was the first school in the history of Islam established by the Prophet himself with all its teachers being non-Muslims. The Sunnah of the Prophet shows that education is to be received whatever the risk involved.
Today, the Muslims are acquiring good ideas, thoughts, knowledge, and skills, from all corners of the world. The world is moving very fast, and in this industrialize world, It is the duty of the teachers to give quality ethical integrated education to the Muslim students worldwide, because children are invaluable assets of future generations.
The Prophet Muhammad (SAW) encouraged all Muslims to acquire knowledge and share it. He said:
"Acquire knowledge, for he who acquires it in the way of Allah performs an act of piety; he who speaks of it, praises the Lord; he who seeks it, adores Allah; he who dispenses instruction in it, bestows alms; and he who imparts it to others, performs an act of devotion to Allah." (Bukhari, Muslim)
All the teachers of either secular or religious education should give more attention to the pupils inside the classroom. It is necessary that in the Islamic system that we should consider these dear children as our own children, and put aside all other considerations, and rise above all such things and realize our duty and our mission. We should raise the standards of education and attend to the needs of these children. We should realize our duties with earnestness and awaken to the sense of responsibility. It has been seen that there are certain teacher who are not fulfilling their duties with keen interest. I would like to request all the teachers that for the sake of God, for the sake of your revolutionary duty, teach the children with devotion and dedication.
It is important that we advance our work through discussions, debates, studies, and through proper distribution of work among ourselves.
We must never forget that we are living in an Islamic State, and our aim should be simultaneously to create both an independent as well as an Islamic culture in character. Independence and richness of content are indeed among the characteristics of the Islamic culture. Our system is an ideological system.
We should make our child enthusiastic, dynamic, and this search should pervade every corner of our society. We should aspire them to be truthful and sincere.
Self-sacrifice and generosity, love of freedom, the resolve for resistance and headstrong perseverance, the courage to welcome martyrdom-all these are the new values of the new generation, which should be taught according to the teaching of Islam.
The doors of the school should always be kept open for the sake of Islam, for the sake of the Muslim Ummah.
Munir Moosa Sewani is one of the famous, prominent and creative names in the field of Education since 8 years. He is a Master Trainer In Special Education, Post Graduate, Teacher Educator and a Teacher. He is a Freelance Writer and Photographer too. He is an author of the famous self-published storybook for children named as "The MORAL STORIES FOR CHILDREN" and has also written Biology course book for Secondary Classes. He has written almost more than 40 articles on social, health, educational and cultural issues, which are internationally recognized and published on most of the famous world wide websites, magazines and newspapers. He is also a Social worker, private tutor, career counselor, musician, lyrics writer and have multi- dimensional talents. His future plan is to write dozens of informative books and articles and to work for education and media too.http://EzineArticles.com/ Read More ..
Education is the knowledge of putting one's potentials to maximum use. Without education, no one can find the proper right path in this world.
This importance of education is basically for two reasons. Education makes man a right thinker. Without education, no one can think properly in an appropriate context you. It tells man how to think and how to make decision. The second reason for the importance of education is that only through the attainment of education, man is enabled to receive information from the external world. It is well said that
"Without education, man is as though in a closed room and with education he finds himself in a room with all its windows open towards outside world."
This is why Islam attaches such great importance to knowledge and education. When the Quran began to be revealed, the first word of its first verse was 'Iqra' that is, read..
The reflective book of Holy Quran is so rich in content and meaning that if the history of human thought continues forever, this book is not likely to be read to its end. Every day it conveys a new message to the humanity. Every morning, it gives us new thoughtful ideas and bound us in the boundaries of ethics.
Islamic Education is one of the best systems of education, which makes an ethical groomed person with all the qualities, which he/she should have as a human being. The Western world has created the wrong image of Islam in the world. They don't know that our teachings are directly given to us from Allah, who is the creator of this world, through our Prophets.
The Muslims all over the world are thirsty of acquiring quality education. They know their boundaries and never try to cross it. It is the West, which has created a hype that the Muslim are not in a path of getting proper education. They think that our education teaches us fighting, about weapons, etc., which is so false. This is true that there are certain elements, which force an individual to be on the wrong path, because as we will mould a child, they will be like that, but it doesn't mean that our religion teaches improperly to us.
Our Holy Prophet (SAW), said,
Seek knowledge from the cradle to the grave.
And:
Seek knowledge even [if it is to be found in a place as distant as China. At the battle of Badr, in which our beloved Holy Prophet (SAW) gained victory over his foes, seventy people of the enemy rank were taken to prison. These prisoners were literate people. In order to benefit from their education the Prophet declared that if one prisoner teaches ten Muslim children how to read and write, this will serve as his ransom and he will be set free. This was the first school in the history of Islam established by the Prophet himself with all its teachers being non-Muslims. The Sunnah of the Prophet shows that education is to be received whatever the risk involved.
Today, the Muslims are acquiring good ideas, thoughts, knowledge, and skills, from all corners of the world. The world is moving very fast, and in this industrialize world, It is the duty of the teachers to give quality ethical integrated education to the Muslim students worldwide, because children are invaluable assets of future generations.
The Prophet Muhammad (SAW) encouraged all Muslims to acquire knowledge and share it. He said:
"Acquire knowledge, for he who acquires it in the way of Allah performs an act of piety; he who speaks of it, praises the Lord; he who seeks it, adores Allah; he who dispenses instruction in it, bestows alms; and he who imparts it to others, performs an act of devotion to Allah." (Bukhari, Muslim)
All the teachers of either secular or religious education should give more attention to the pupils inside the classroom. It is necessary that in the Islamic system that we should consider these dear children as our own children, and put aside all other considerations, and rise above all such things and realize our duty and our mission. We should raise the standards of education and attend to the needs of these children. We should realize our duties with earnestness and awaken to the sense of responsibility. It has been seen that there are certain teacher who are not fulfilling their duties with keen interest. I would like to request all the teachers that for the sake of God, for the sake of your revolutionary duty, teach the children with devotion and dedication.
It is important that we advance our work through discussions, debates, studies, and through proper distribution of work among ourselves.
We must never forget that we are living in an Islamic State, and our aim should be simultaneously to create both an independent as well as an Islamic culture in character. Independence and richness of content are indeed among the characteristics of the Islamic culture. Our system is an ideological system.
We should make our child enthusiastic, dynamic, and this search should pervade every corner of our society. We should aspire them to be truthful and sincere.
Self-sacrifice and generosity, love of freedom, the resolve for resistance and headstrong perseverance, the courage to welcome martyrdom-all these are the new values of the new generation, which should be taught according to the teaching of Islam.
The doors of the school should always be kept open for the sake of Islam, for the sake of the Muslim Ummah.
Munir Moosa Sewani is one of the famous, prominent and creative names in the field of Education since 8 years. He is a Master Trainer In Special Education, Post Graduate, Teacher Educator and a Teacher. He is a Freelance Writer and Photographer too. He is an author of the famous self-published storybook for children named as "The MORAL STORIES FOR CHILDREN" and has also written Biology course book for Secondary Classes. He has written almost more than 40 articles on social, health, educational and cultural issues, which are internationally recognized and published on most of the famous world wide websites, magazines and newspapers. He is also a Social worker, private tutor, career counselor, musician, lyrics writer and have multi- dimensional talents. His future plan is to write dozens of informative books and articles and to work for education and media too.http://EzineArticles.com/ Read More ..
Minggu, 01 Maret 2009
Helping You Choose the Best Islamic Wedding Cards
A marriage is a wonderful occasion no matter what religious faith you belong to. For Muslims however, it is poetry in motion. Everything about the wedding, which is termed "Nikaah," is dream-like. The framaan, or the wedding invitation, is meant to be an introduction to the style and elegance of the proposed festivities. If you reside in any Muslim country around the world, then you would never have a problem with finding the right invitations for wedding day celebrations. However, finding appropriate Islamic wedding cards elsewhere will require a little effort and market research.
Fortunately, you can view wedding invitation samples without having to leave your home. There are many wedding cards sites that offer not only a wide array of choices but they are also ready to customize these cards to your invitation ideas. Since the Islamic wedding cards are meant to be as meaningful as they are beautiful, they are not treated as just a small detail in the wedding plans.
These are painstakingly chosen to match the besotted couple and their families. The importance of these cards is double-pronged: they represent the taste and style of the people who make the invitation and they symbolize the respect that the hosts have for the expected guests. The Islamic religion is very polite and particular about the treatment extended to guests.
Choosing the best takes some effort in this case, since 'the best' here does not only extend to the beauty of the Islamic wedding cards, but also to the cost. The best deal would be to get your choice of cards at the budget you are comfortable with. How do you this? Via the internet. No matter where you are, you have access to designs, costs and special offers for your type of invitations for wedding day celebrations.
At the same time, you can bargain for a price that is suitable to you since you are aware of the price curve dictated by the market. Writing the script of the Islamic language is an art in itself and once upon a time required specially trained calligraphy lessons. Today, computers are "trained" to simulate the pen and make beautiful impressions on paper. You can also find a wide choice of paper, styles and designs to select from online.
For a wedding, there is no compromise when it comes to quality. Yet, price is an important factor as well. If you are looking for the best Islamic wedding cards, then use the internet to get access to the best designs and styles of wedding card and scroll type invitations. This will ensure that you select something that is within your budget without compromising on the quality of the cards.http://ezinearticles.com/ Read More ..
Fortunately, you can view wedding invitation samples without having to leave your home. There are many wedding cards sites that offer not only a wide array of choices but they are also ready to customize these cards to your invitation ideas. Since the Islamic wedding cards are meant to be as meaningful as they are beautiful, they are not treated as just a small detail in the wedding plans.
These are painstakingly chosen to match the besotted couple and their families. The importance of these cards is double-pronged: they represent the taste and style of the people who make the invitation and they symbolize the respect that the hosts have for the expected guests. The Islamic religion is very polite and particular about the treatment extended to guests.
Choosing the best takes some effort in this case, since 'the best' here does not only extend to the beauty of the Islamic wedding cards, but also to the cost. The best deal would be to get your choice of cards at the budget you are comfortable with. How do you this? Via the internet. No matter where you are, you have access to designs, costs and special offers for your type of invitations for wedding day celebrations.
At the same time, you can bargain for a price that is suitable to you since you are aware of the price curve dictated by the market. Writing the script of the Islamic language is an art in itself and once upon a time required specially trained calligraphy lessons. Today, computers are "trained" to simulate the pen and make beautiful impressions on paper. You can also find a wide choice of paper, styles and designs to select from online.
For a wedding, there is no compromise when it comes to quality. Yet, price is an important factor as well. If you are looking for the best Islamic wedding cards, then use the internet to get access to the best designs and styles of wedding card and scroll type invitations. This will ensure that you select something that is within your budget without compromising on the quality of the cards.http://ezinearticles.com/ Read More ..
Saudi Arabia's Role in Anti-American Terrorism
The latest public relations missive from Riyadh complains bitterly that alarmist Americans "have gotten out of control" with accusations that Saudi Arabia supports terrorism. But there is good reason to state the opposite: That we ignore to our peril the degree to which the Saudis spread extremist anti-Americanism. It is particularly unsettling that the Saudis stoke such sentiments here, in our own country. They do this by funding American outposts of the intolerant, militant Wahhabi form of Islam.
The Saudis have poured an astonishing sum of money into this effort. Reza F. Safa, author of Inside Islam, estimated that since 1973, the Saudi government has spent some $87 billion to promote Wahhabism in the United States and the Western Hemisphere.
In some ways, such largesse is to be expected from the Al-Saud. This old bellicose tribe - the only ruling family in the world with the audacity to name a country after itself - owes much to Wahhabism.
The Saudi regime first came to power via an 18th century alliance between two Muhammads: ibn Saud and ibn al Wahhab. Together, the Al-Saud and the Wahhabis commanded armies that vanquished Arabia. They pledged to form a nation based on the principles of Islam. In 1932, an Al-Saud warlord, Abdul Aziz, fulfilled his ancestor's dream; he declared himself sovereign of his own newly conquered territories, which he named the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Abdul Aziz adopted the Islamic holy book, the Koran, as his nation's constitution.
To this day, the official constitution of Saudi Arabia remains the Koran. Saudi officials affirm that their government functions "in total adherence to the Islamic religion."
This might be little more than a political curiosity if not for two factors. First, that a geological twist of fate gave Saudi Arabia considerable prominence in world economic affairs. Secondly - and significantly - Islam is not content to coexist peacefully with other faiths or systems of government.
Says Bernard Lewis, widely recognized as the foremost Western scholar on Islam: "In time, in the Muslim view, all mankind will accept Islam or submit to Islamic rule."
Hence, while Saudi contributions toward American Islam are not surprising, they are deeply worrisome.
Of that $87 billion religious propaganda budget, the Saudis have allocated considerable line-item space toward institutions that mold minds in the model of Wahhabism.
The most malleable minds belong to children. An estimated 30,000 of them attend Saudi-funded Wahhabi day schools.
In America, parochial schools have long been noted for their high educational standards. But Wahhabi schools do not emulate other American church-based nativities of faith and knowledge; nor do they follow the American model of rigorous intellectual inquiry.
The Islamic Saudi Academy (ISA) in Northern Virginia forthrightly states that even though it exists on U.S. soil, it is "subject to the government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia."
Students at ISA are not required to study U.S. history or government. They do, however, receive instruction in Wahhabism.
Outsiders are not permitted to observe Wahhabism lessons or any other classes at ISA. But early this year, students at the academy told two Washington Post reporters some of the things they learn at school. Among other things, students discover the intricacies of Judgment Day.
One event on that formidable day will be that Muslims will fight and kill Jews. The cowardly Jews will seek refuge behind trees. Much like the trees in the forest scene from the Wizard of Oz, these trees will become animated and aggressive. They will call out to the righteous: "Oh Muslim, Oh servant of God, here is a Jew hiding behind me. Come here and kill him."
Students also said they are taught "it is better to shun and even to dislike Christians, Jews and Shiite Muslims." Furthermore, students learn, it is okay to hurt or steal from a non-Muslim.
The Saudi-supplied textbooks at this and other Wahhabi schools state that Muslims are obliged to consider all infidels the enemy. Certain enemies are not even acknowledged in geography class. Wahhabi schools in America are notorious for doctoring maps of the Middle East, and hanging them in classrooms - with Israel blotted out.
Such is the curriculum of education-minded Saudis.
And what of the Saudis' contributions toward American mosques?
According to Safa, the Saudis have funded more than 80 percent of the mosques built in the United States within the last 20 years. The newcomers do not embrace the American religious community's spirit of inter-faith cooperation. They are distinctly isolationist. This attitude came to light as early as the 1990's, when Wahhabi mosques in America refused to accept help from local churches wanting to donate food to Bosnian Muslims. Apparently Wahhabis will not work with infidels, even if the purpose is to help other Muslims.
The Saudis, meanwhile, have directed considerable outreach toward the American Black Muslim community.
In one effort to showcase the bounties of Wahhabism to this target audience, the Saudis' enfeebled King Fahd pledged as much as $8 million for a lavish mosque in shabby South Central Los Angeles. The Saudis' Islamic Development Bank pledged an additional $295,000 for a school attached to the mosque.
From the Saudi perspective, this and other similar contributions are less an expense than an investment. According to Safa, as much as 90 percent of American converts to Islam are black. According to some estimates, if the conversion rate continues, Islam could emerge as a dominant religion among urban blacks.
This is a trend worth watching. Many of America's black Muslims have harshly criticized America, and have deemed it an "immoral society." Increasingly, black Muslims oppose U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East, and are adopting a Saudi-influenced view of Arab-Israeli relations.
Other Wahhabis in the U.S. advocate a Saudi-style approach to American government. Insightful Saudi-watcher Daniel Pipes reports that significant elements within American Islam seek to replace our Constitution with the Koran. A ludicrous fantasy, to be sure; but one that offers a glimpse of Wahhabi dreams for America.
Far more troubling is the ease with which the Wahhabis use religion as a means to express and stoke violent impulses. Indeed, in the days leading up to Christmas, the Wahhabi on-line magazine Al-Islam published this religious passage from the Koran: Against them make ready your strength to the utmost of your power, including steeds of war, to strike terror into (the hearts of) the enemies.... A particularly resonant selection, given the events of September 2001.
In the aftermath of those appalling attacks, Federal officials formed Operation Green Quest, aimed at tracing the money trail to Islamic terrorism. In the course of their investigation, agents raided more than a dozen Saudi-funded organizations, such as the Graduate School of Islamic and Social Sciences in Leesburg, Virginia.
Investigators are still working to unravel the complicated network of financial ties between the various organizations and their charities.
One targeted group, the SAAR Foundation, had links to the Muslim Brotherhood, which is being investigated by European and Middle Eastern governments for ties to terrorist organizations, including the Palestinian Hamas. Among its many other activities, SAAR, which is now officially disbanded, helped fund a Tampa, Florida-based group suspected of having ties to the terrorist Palestinian Islamic Jihad.
"It's like peeling an onion," said an intelligence officer familiar with Operation Green Quest. "There's always another layer."
The organizations and their Saudi enablers proclaim both innocence and ignorance. "To hear them tell it," the intelligence officer says, "they're just a bunch of well-meaning religious folks."
As in the days of old, though, when the two Mohammads acquired territory and power via jihad, Wahhabis are as much about politics as they are about religion.
Former CIA Director James Woolsey told Congress: "One analogue for Wahhabism's political influence today might be the extremely angry form taken by much of German nationalism in the period after World War I." The former spy chief acknowledged that not all extremists of the day became Nazis. But, he added: "Just as angry and extreme German nationalism of that period was the soil in which Nazism grew, Wahhabi Islamist extremism today is the soil in which al Qaeda and its sister terrorist organizations are growing."
Much of that soil is spread across the United States. It hosts a nascent Wahhabi Fifth Column.
Political commentator William Kristol couches the Saudi's export of Wahhabism - via its funding of schools, mosques and think tanks in America - as "a clear and present danger to the United States and its citizens."
America must respond aggressively to that threat. Rather than accept continued transparent professions of innocence, Americans must insist that the Saudis immediately stop funding Wahhabi schools, mosques, charities and think tanks in this country. We can no longer tolerate such an overt onslaught on our national values.http://ezinearticles.com/ Read More ..
The Saudis have poured an astonishing sum of money into this effort. Reza F. Safa, author of Inside Islam, estimated that since 1973, the Saudi government has spent some $87 billion to promote Wahhabism in the United States and the Western Hemisphere.
In some ways, such largesse is to be expected from the Al-Saud. This old bellicose tribe - the only ruling family in the world with the audacity to name a country after itself - owes much to Wahhabism.
The Saudi regime first came to power via an 18th century alliance between two Muhammads: ibn Saud and ibn al Wahhab. Together, the Al-Saud and the Wahhabis commanded armies that vanquished Arabia. They pledged to form a nation based on the principles of Islam. In 1932, an Al-Saud warlord, Abdul Aziz, fulfilled his ancestor's dream; he declared himself sovereign of his own newly conquered territories, which he named the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Abdul Aziz adopted the Islamic holy book, the Koran, as his nation's constitution.
To this day, the official constitution of Saudi Arabia remains the Koran. Saudi officials affirm that their government functions "in total adherence to the Islamic religion."
This might be little more than a political curiosity if not for two factors. First, that a geological twist of fate gave Saudi Arabia considerable prominence in world economic affairs. Secondly - and significantly - Islam is not content to coexist peacefully with other faiths or systems of government.
Says Bernard Lewis, widely recognized as the foremost Western scholar on Islam: "In time, in the Muslim view, all mankind will accept Islam or submit to Islamic rule."
Hence, while Saudi contributions toward American Islam are not surprising, they are deeply worrisome.
Of that $87 billion religious propaganda budget, the Saudis have allocated considerable line-item space toward institutions that mold minds in the model of Wahhabism.
The most malleable minds belong to children. An estimated 30,000 of them attend Saudi-funded Wahhabi day schools.
In America, parochial schools have long been noted for their high educational standards. But Wahhabi schools do not emulate other American church-based nativities of faith and knowledge; nor do they follow the American model of rigorous intellectual inquiry.
The Islamic Saudi Academy (ISA) in Northern Virginia forthrightly states that even though it exists on U.S. soil, it is "subject to the government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia."
Students at ISA are not required to study U.S. history or government. They do, however, receive instruction in Wahhabism.
Outsiders are not permitted to observe Wahhabism lessons or any other classes at ISA. But early this year, students at the academy told two Washington Post reporters some of the things they learn at school. Among other things, students discover the intricacies of Judgment Day.
One event on that formidable day will be that Muslims will fight and kill Jews. The cowardly Jews will seek refuge behind trees. Much like the trees in the forest scene from the Wizard of Oz, these trees will become animated and aggressive. They will call out to the righteous: "Oh Muslim, Oh servant of God, here is a Jew hiding behind me. Come here and kill him."
Students also said they are taught "it is better to shun and even to dislike Christians, Jews and Shiite Muslims." Furthermore, students learn, it is okay to hurt or steal from a non-Muslim.
The Saudi-supplied textbooks at this and other Wahhabi schools state that Muslims are obliged to consider all infidels the enemy. Certain enemies are not even acknowledged in geography class. Wahhabi schools in America are notorious for doctoring maps of the Middle East, and hanging them in classrooms - with Israel blotted out.
Such is the curriculum of education-minded Saudis.
And what of the Saudis' contributions toward American mosques?
According to Safa, the Saudis have funded more than 80 percent of the mosques built in the United States within the last 20 years. The newcomers do not embrace the American religious community's spirit of inter-faith cooperation. They are distinctly isolationist. This attitude came to light as early as the 1990's, when Wahhabi mosques in America refused to accept help from local churches wanting to donate food to Bosnian Muslims. Apparently Wahhabis will not work with infidels, even if the purpose is to help other Muslims.
The Saudis, meanwhile, have directed considerable outreach toward the American Black Muslim community.
In one effort to showcase the bounties of Wahhabism to this target audience, the Saudis' enfeebled King Fahd pledged as much as $8 million for a lavish mosque in shabby South Central Los Angeles. The Saudis' Islamic Development Bank pledged an additional $295,000 for a school attached to the mosque.
From the Saudi perspective, this and other similar contributions are less an expense than an investment. According to Safa, as much as 90 percent of American converts to Islam are black. According to some estimates, if the conversion rate continues, Islam could emerge as a dominant religion among urban blacks.
This is a trend worth watching. Many of America's black Muslims have harshly criticized America, and have deemed it an "immoral society." Increasingly, black Muslims oppose U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East, and are adopting a Saudi-influenced view of Arab-Israeli relations.
Other Wahhabis in the U.S. advocate a Saudi-style approach to American government. Insightful Saudi-watcher Daniel Pipes reports that significant elements within American Islam seek to replace our Constitution with the Koran. A ludicrous fantasy, to be sure; but one that offers a glimpse of Wahhabi dreams for America.
Far more troubling is the ease with which the Wahhabis use religion as a means to express and stoke violent impulses. Indeed, in the days leading up to Christmas, the Wahhabi on-line magazine Al-Islam published this religious passage from the Koran: Against them make ready your strength to the utmost of your power, including steeds of war, to strike terror into (the hearts of) the enemies.... A particularly resonant selection, given the events of September 2001.
In the aftermath of those appalling attacks, Federal officials formed Operation Green Quest, aimed at tracing the money trail to Islamic terrorism. In the course of their investigation, agents raided more than a dozen Saudi-funded organizations, such as the Graduate School of Islamic and Social Sciences in Leesburg, Virginia.
Investigators are still working to unravel the complicated network of financial ties between the various organizations and their charities.
One targeted group, the SAAR Foundation, had links to the Muslim Brotherhood, which is being investigated by European and Middle Eastern governments for ties to terrorist organizations, including the Palestinian Hamas. Among its many other activities, SAAR, which is now officially disbanded, helped fund a Tampa, Florida-based group suspected of having ties to the terrorist Palestinian Islamic Jihad.
"It's like peeling an onion," said an intelligence officer familiar with Operation Green Quest. "There's always another layer."
The organizations and their Saudi enablers proclaim both innocence and ignorance. "To hear them tell it," the intelligence officer says, "they're just a bunch of well-meaning religious folks."
As in the days of old, though, when the two Mohammads acquired territory and power via jihad, Wahhabis are as much about politics as they are about religion.
Former CIA Director James Woolsey told Congress: "One analogue for Wahhabism's political influence today might be the extremely angry form taken by much of German nationalism in the period after World War I." The former spy chief acknowledged that not all extremists of the day became Nazis. But, he added: "Just as angry and extreme German nationalism of that period was the soil in which Nazism grew, Wahhabi Islamist extremism today is the soil in which al Qaeda and its sister terrorist organizations are growing."
Much of that soil is spread across the United States. It hosts a nascent Wahhabi Fifth Column.
Political commentator William Kristol couches the Saudi's export of Wahhabism - via its funding of schools, mosques and think tanks in America - as "a clear and present danger to the United States and its citizens."
America must respond aggressively to that threat. Rather than accept continued transparent professions of innocence, Americans must insist that the Saudis immediately stop funding Wahhabi schools, mosques, charities and think tanks in this country. We can no longer tolerate such an overt onslaught on our national values.http://ezinearticles.com/ Read More ..
John Hagee: Prophetic Voice to America
I had the good fortune to meet Pastor Hagee when I visited his Cornerstone Church in San Antonio, TX. Pastor Hagee has always been an inspiration to me and many throughout the world. His fiery cutting edge sermons shake, awake and inspire.
I was greatly blessed by Pastor Hagee's teachings on Islam wherein he gives an accurate portrayal of the Quran, the injunction of Allah to kill infidels and the devotion of Muslims to be martyrs. Many modern Muslims who don't follow the Quran would disagree, but when you study it you fully see that in its purest unadulterated form Islam is a religion that has historically been spread by the sword. The nation of Sudan where over one-million Christians have been enslaved due to Islam is but one small example of the gruesome history of Islam. Islamic women throughout the world have been oppressed and bound by the Quran's teachings.
Thankfully both Muslim and non-Muslim are now lifting up their voice against the inhumane tenets, teachings and practices found within the Islamic culture. Traditions are very hard to break. It is very difficult to teach an old dog how to do new tricks. People sadly don't change their ways easily and often fight uneccesarily they who seek their liberty.
Islam is a beast of burden to humanity, an oppressive tool of Satan to enslave the souls of mankind, incite religious wars and divide people. Unless someone lifts up their voice against it, the status quo shall forever remain.
I have been to both Pakistan and Indonesia where Christians are regularly killed by Muslims for their faith. I met a young lady in Faisalabad, Pakistan who is now blind in one eye and has scars all over her body thanks to a "peace loving" Muslim who threw battery acid on her when she kindly refused to convert to Islam and be his girlfriend.
In another Islamic act representlying the heart of Allah, Pakistani militant Muslims blew up a building owned by a Muslim owned newspaper. They did not like that the newspaper wrote, "You do not have to have a long beard to be a good Muslim." So they bombed the building wherein the newspaper was printed.
Banda Aceh (the tsunami epicenter) has a long standing history of killing Christians as does the island of Ambon within Indonesia. One Pastor and his sons were murdered by Muslims in the island of Sulawesi during a time of prayer. I have been from Banda Aceh to Irian Jaya. I love Indonesia and its people. What I don't love however is the religion of Islam that oppresses the Indonesian people and all peoples of the world.
I thank God for men like John Hagee who don't tolerate such ignorant and violent religions. Unless we speak up we shall be overtaken by terrorists. There is an ideological war going on as much as there is one with bloodshed and weaponry. In fact the battle for the minds of mankind is perhaps more intense as essentially this determines our fate centuries from now.
America needs new churches. Cornerstone Church is just one of the great churches blessing our nation. Yet there needs to be more. Too many pulpits are empty and without holy fire. May God bring our nation back to the purity of our forefathers, devotion of our founders and send another great awakening across our land.
We truly need the Holy Spirit and truth to sweep across our land. Unless we repent and are revived America will go to hell in a handbasket. This does not need to happen. Nevertheless at this present time many seem to be numb to 911 and the events that shook us a few years ago. We must never forget. We must not remain silent. We must forever speak up and against the cancer of Islam that incites people to kill in the name of God. God is not a killer. God is a lifegiver.
Paul Davis is author of Breakthrough for a Broken Heart a book telling us "How to overcome disappointments and blossom into your dreams!" He is a minister, life coach (relational & professional), dating expert, popular worldwide keynote speaker, creative consultant, humor being, adventurer, explorer, mediator, liberator and dream-maker.
Paul's compassion for people & passion to travel has taken him to over 50 countries of the world where he has had a tremendous impact. Paul has also brought revival to many in war-torn, impoverished and tsunami stricken regions of the earth. His nonprofit organization Dream-Maker Ministries is building dreams and breaking limitations.
Paul's Breakthrough Seminars inspire, revive, awaken, impregnate with purpose, impart the fire of desire, catapult people into a new level of self-awareness, facilitate destiny discovery and dream fulfillment.http://ezinearticles.com/ Read More ..
I was greatly blessed by Pastor Hagee's teachings on Islam wherein he gives an accurate portrayal of the Quran, the injunction of Allah to kill infidels and the devotion of Muslims to be martyrs. Many modern Muslims who don't follow the Quran would disagree, but when you study it you fully see that in its purest unadulterated form Islam is a religion that has historically been spread by the sword. The nation of Sudan where over one-million Christians have been enslaved due to Islam is but one small example of the gruesome history of Islam. Islamic women throughout the world have been oppressed and bound by the Quran's teachings.
Thankfully both Muslim and non-Muslim are now lifting up their voice against the inhumane tenets, teachings and practices found within the Islamic culture. Traditions are very hard to break. It is very difficult to teach an old dog how to do new tricks. People sadly don't change their ways easily and often fight uneccesarily they who seek their liberty.
Islam is a beast of burden to humanity, an oppressive tool of Satan to enslave the souls of mankind, incite religious wars and divide people. Unless someone lifts up their voice against it, the status quo shall forever remain.
I have been to both Pakistan and Indonesia where Christians are regularly killed by Muslims for their faith. I met a young lady in Faisalabad, Pakistan who is now blind in one eye and has scars all over her body thanks to a "peace loving" Muslim who threw battery acid on her when she kindly refused to convert to Islam and be his girlfriend.
In another Islamic act representlying the heart of Allah, Pakistani militant Muslims blew up a building owned by a Muslim owned newspaper. They did not like that the newspaper wrote, "You do not have to have a long beard to be a good Muslim." So they bombed the building wherein the newspaper was printed.
Banda Aceh (the tsunami epicenter) has a long standing history of killing Christians as does the island of Ambon within Indonesia. One Pastor and his sons were murdered by Muslims in the island of Sulawesi during a time of prayer. I have been from Banda Aceh to Irian Jaya. I love Indonesia and its people. What I don't love however is the religion of Islam that oppresses the Indonesian people and all peoples of the world.
I thank God for men like John Hagee who don't tolerate such ignorant and violent religions. Unless we speak up we shall be overtaken by terrorists. There is an ideological war going on as much as there is one with bloodshed and weaponry. In fact the battle for the minds of mankind is perhaps more intense as essentially this determines our fate centuries from now.
America needs new churches. Cornerstone Church is just one of the great churches blessing our nation. Yet there needs to be more. Too many pulpits are empty and without holy fire. May God bring our nation back to the purity of our forefathers, devotion of our founders and send another great awakening across our land.
We truly need the Holy Spirit and truth to sweep across our land. Unless we repent and are revived America will go to hell in a handbasket. This does not need to happen. Nevertheless at this present time many seem to be numb to 911 and the events that shook us a few years ago. We must never forget. We must not remain silent. We must forever speak up and against the cancer of Islam that incites people to kill in the name of God. God is not a killer. God is a lifegiver.
Paul Davis is author of Breakthrough for a Broken Heart a book telling us "How to overcome disappointments and blossom into your dreams!" He is a minister, life coach (relational & professional), dating expert, popular worldwide keynote speaker, creative consultant, humor being, adventurer, explorer, mediator, liberator and dream-maker.
Paul's compassion for people & passion to travel has taken him to over 50 countries of the world where he has had a tremendous impact. Paul has also brought revival to many in war-torn, impoverished and tsunami stricken regions of the earth. His nonprofit organization Dream-Maker Ministries is building dreams and breaking limitations.
Paul's Breakthrough Seminars inspire, revive, awaken, impregnate with purpose, impart the fire of desire, catapult people into a new level of self-awareness, facilitate destiny discovery and dream fulfillment.http://ezinearticles.com/ Read More ..
Stealth Jihad by Robert Spencer
This is a review of the book: Stealth Jihad. How Radical Islam is Subverting America without Guns or Bombs. This is the 7th book written by Robert Spencer since 2002 that supposedly warns Americans and Non-Muslims in general of the threat they face from radical Islam and its jihadist aspect. While Spencer goes out of his way to ensure that readers know that the majority of Muslims are peaceful and the title of his book suggests that he is only condemning the radical aspect of Islam, the actual words in his book testify that he is opposed to Islam in general.
His last book, The Truth about Muhammad: Founder of the World's Most Intolerant Religion, warned the U.S. to "stop insisting that Islam is a religion of peace" while he bended the truth on the life of the Prophet Muhammad and focused on his life during war time.
The most intolerant religion happens to be the religion of all the peaceful Muslims that Spencer says he is not against, but who he is offending by claiming their religion is a religion of War. Even the late Benzair Bhutto claimed in her book, that Spencer is guilty of presenting "a skewed, one-sided, and inflammatory story." If a liberal Muslim like Bhutto believed this, then we must be suspicious of what Spencer has to say.
The book starts out by calmly giving us statements from Muslim leaders who say they are out to turn the United States into a nation run by Sharia law and he calls these Muslims "the most influential leaders in the U.S." One of those high-ranking leaders is Sami al-Arian who is quoted as saying "Let us damn America to death." This is a Palestinian immigrant who gained his Phd in computer engineering and has spent the last 5 years in prison. It would not be farfetched to think that most Muslims living in America don't even know who this man is.
The other Muslim leader in the U.S. is Ibrahim Hooper, a high ranking member of the Council of American-Islamic Relations. Hooper once made an offhand remark that he would not mind if the U.S. government became Islamic in the future and said he would not do anything violent to promote it. If Mr. Hooper is a leading and influential spokesman for Muslims in America, then I guess he should making a fatwa anytime soon based on his great knowledge of Islamic law. These are the only influential Muslim spokespeople mentioned, unless you consider a Muslim college student from Queensborough, NY who said "Eventually there will be a Muslim in the White House dictating the laws of Shariah" as quoted from Aaron Klein from a Muslim Student Association meeting.
When Spencer is not busy bashing Islam, he is giving the thumbs up to people who are actively fighting against the surge of Islam in America. Congresswoman Sue Myrick of North Carolina is praised by Spencer and he backs up her 10 point "Wake Up America" plan to battle radical Islam. This is the same Sue Myrick who criticized the Justice Department just for sending representatives to a convention held by the Islamic Society of North America because she thought they were a group of "radical jihadists."
It would be frightening indeed if all Muslims or most Muslims wanted Sharia law to be implemented in the West, but this is an exaggeration of monumental proportions. Spencer quotes in his book Sheikh Hisham Kabbani, a Sufi Muslim, who said that 80% of mosques in the U.S. are run by "extremist ideologies."
ISNA, a group which condemns Islamic terrorism at nearly every convention they have had since 9-11, is one of eight major U.S. Muslim organizations that issued a joint statement to Kabbani which demanded that he retract his accusation or prove it and an additional 100 Muslim groups and people have endorsed the condemnation and asked that he publicly make the financial details of the tax-exempt organizations which he runs.
Spencer's book ends with advice that we should be aware and active in stopping Muslims from increasing their power in the West and he implies that we should have suspicion towards any Muslim group or mosque in the U.S., whether they are peaceful or not. One must wonder if this preconceived notion of fearing Muslims is not a form of "stealth racism" which is similar to how Jews were perceived prior to Adolf Hitler getting into power.
Stealth Jihad By Roberhttp://ezinearticles.com/ Read More ..
His last book, The Truth about Muhammad: Founder of the World's Most Intolerant Religion, warned the U.S. to "stop insisting that Islam is a religion of peace" while he bended the truth on the life of the Prophet Muhammad and focused on his life during war time.
The most intolerant religion happens to be the religion of all the peaceful Muslims that Spencer says he is not against, but who he is offending by claiming their religion is a religion of War. Even the late Benzair Bhutto claimed in her book, that Spencer is guilty of presenting "a skewed, one-sided, and inflammatory story." If a liberal Muslim like Bhutto believed this, then we must be suspicious of what Spencer has to say.
The book starts out by calmly giving us statements from Muslim leaders who say they are out to turn the United States into a nation run by Sharia law and he calls these Muslims "the most influential leaders in the U.S." One of those high-ranking leaders is Sami al-Arian who is quoted as saying "Let us damn America to death." This is a Palestinian immigrant who gained his Phd in computer engineering and has spent the last 5 years in prison. It would not be farfetched to think that most Muslims living in America don't even know who this man is.
The other Muslim leader in the U.S. is Ibrahim Hooper, a high ranking member of the Council of American-Islamic Relations. Hooper once made an offhand remark that he would not mind if the U.S. government became Islamic in the future and said he would not do anything violent to promote it. If Mr. Hooper is a leading and influential spokesman for Muslims in America, then I guess he should making a fatwa anytime soon based on his great knowledge of Islamic law. These are the only influential Muslim spokespeople mentioned, unless you consider a Muslim college student from Queensborough, NY who said "Eventually there will be a Muslim in the White House dictating the laws of Shariah" as quoted from Aaron Klein from a Muslim Student Association meeting.
When Spencer is not busy bashing Islam, he is giving the thumbs up to people who are actively fighting against the surge of Islam in America. Congresswoman Sue Myrick of North Carolina is praised by Spencer and he backs up her 10 point "Wake Up America" plan to battle radical Islam. This is the same Sue Myrick who criticized the Justice Department just for sending representatives to a convention held by the Islamic Society of North America because she thought they were a group of "radical jihadists."
It would be frightening indeed if all Muslims or most Muslims wanted Sharia law to be implemented in the West, but this is an exaggeration of monumental proportions. Spencer quotes in his book Sheikh Hisham Kabbani, a Sufi Muslim, who said that 80% of mosques in the U.S. are run by "extremist ideologies."
ISNA, a group which condemns Islamic terrorism at nearly every convention they have had since 9-11, is one of eight major U.S. Muslim organizations that issued a joint statement to Kabbani which demanded that he retract his accusation or prove it and an additional 100 Muslim groups and people have endorsed the condemnation and asked that he publicly make the financial details of the tax-exempt organizations which he runs.
Spencer's book ends with advice that we should be aware and active in stopping Muslims from increasing their power in the West and he implies that we should have suspicion towards any Muslim group or mosque in the U.S., whether they are peaceful or not. One must wonder if this preconceived notion of fearing Muslims is not a form of "stealth racism" which is similar to how Jews were perceived prior to Adolf Hitler getting into power.
Stealth Jihad By Roberhttp://ezinearticles.com/ Read More ..
The Islamic Deception
Google the phrase “Muslim violence,” and more than 29 million entries pop up. Granted, some of these citations represent violence committed against Muslims, but, unfortunately, quite a few represent violence committed in the name of Islam.
This makes me wonder: What does Islam really stand for? I hear a great deal about Muslims who do not believe in violence. Yet, it seems that this is a troubling form of faith that rewards people for committing acts of violence.
Imagine if Klansman David Duke claimed he was part of the Ku Klux Klan but was not a racist—that he just liked wearing sheets. Wouldn’t that be a little hard to accept as a credible concept?
While it may seem outrageously politically incorrect to do so, a number of individuals are openly questioning whether the Muslim religion is truly a religion of peace. Some of these individuals are disaffected Muslims who feel as if they were sold a bill of goods by Islamic leaders. They believe they were betrayed—and they worry that others may be hoodwinked into believing that the Islamic faith is one of peace, love, and harmony.
Islamic regimes have been responsible for major human rights violations, especially against religious minority groups and women. Even some Muslims openly admit the religion has a history of violence—at least dating back to the 12th century. While some Muslims have openly called for a peace movement within their religion, the fact of the matter is that, year after year, the news pages are filled with instances of Muslim violence.
Another important thing to keep in mind here is that lying is actually sanctioned within the Islamic religion. As Islam spreads throughout the West, Americans need to be particularly vigilant, recognizing the fact that Muslim activists may try to deceive us into believing that they do not endorse violence, when their actions say otherwise. A number of Muslims artfully neglect to mention the more controversial aspects of Islamic writings and teachings.
For instance, the Koran is often quoted selectively to indicate that the religion stands for peace and tolerance. But after Mohammed migrated to Medina, the Koran became filled with passages showing not only prejudice and intolerance, but the endorsement of violence.
For example, Mohammed, a supposed prophet of peace, commanded his army to kill a Jewish tribe. Obviously, killing is the most extreme form of violence one can engage in, and it is appalling that a religious leader would sanction what can euphemistically be described as ethnic cleansing. The Koran contends that the “only reward of those who make war upon Allah and His messenger and strive after corruption in the land will be that they will be killed or crucified, or have their hands and feet on alternate sides cut off, or will be expelled out of the land.” Such lines of text could never be confused with the lyrics to “Let There Be Peace on Earth.”
It’s hard to reconcile such writings with the popular image of Islam as a peace-loving religion that is being unfairly attacked. The fact is, the media are often complicit in this deception. News reports suggest that violence is perpetrated by extremists or fundamentalists, leading the average Westerner to believe that mainstream Islam does not condone any form of violence.
Because of Islam’s traditional acceptance of lying, it’s entirely possible that, when Islamic leaders speak, they are not speaking the unadulterated truth. In fact, they may say one thing and believe something entirely different.
In the end, by their fruits you will know them—and, regrettably, the fruits of Islam are often destruction, violence and death.http://ezinearticles.com/ Read More ..
This makes me wonder: What does Islam really stand for? I hear a great deal about Muslims who do not believe in violence. Yet, it seems that this is a troubling form of faith that rewards people for committing acts of violence.
Imagine if Klansman David Duke claimed he was part of the Ku Klux Klan but was not a racist—that he just liked wearing sheets. Wouldn’t that be a little hard to accept as a credible concept?
While it may seem outrageously politically incorrect to do so, a number of individuals are openly questioning whether the Muslim religion is truly a religion of peace. Some of these individuals are disaffected Muslims who feel as if they were sold a bill of goods by Islamic leaders. They believe they were betrayed—and they worry that others may be hoodwinked into believing that the Islamic faith is one of peace, love, and harmony.
Islamic regimes have been responsible for major human rights violations, especially against religious minority groups and women. Even some Muslims openly admit the religion has a history of violence—at least dating back to the 12th century. While some Muslims have openly called for a peace movement within their religion, the fact of the matter is that, year after year, the news pages are filled with instances of Muslim violence.
Another important thing to keep in mind here is that lying is actually sanctioned within the Islamic religion. As Islam spreads throughout the West, Americans need to be particularly vigilant, recognizing the fact that Muslim activists may try to deceive us into believing that they do not endorse violence, when their actions say otherwise. A number of Muslims artfully neglect to mention the more controversial aspects of Islamic writings and teachings.
For instance, the Koran is often quoted selectively to indicate that the religion stands for peace and tolerance. But after Mohammed migrated to Medina, the Koran became filled with passages showing not only prejudice and intolerance, but the endorsement of violence.
For example, Mohammed, a supposed prophet of peace, commanded his army to kill a Jewish tribe. Obviously, killing is the most extreme form of violence one can engage in, and it is appalling that a religious leader would sanction what can euphemistically be described as ethnic cleansing. The Koran contends that the “only reward of those who make war upon Allah and His messenger and strive after corruption in the land will be that they will be killed or crucified, or have their hands and feet on alternate sides cut off, or will be expelled out of the land.” Such lines of text could never be confused with the lyrics to “Let There Be Peace on Earth.”
It’s hard to reconcile such writings with the popular image of Islam as a peace-loving religion that is being unfairly attacked. The fact is, the media are often complicit in this deception. News reports suggest that violence is perpetrated by extremists or fundamentalists, leading the average Westerner to believe that mainstream Islam does not condone any form of violence.
Because of Islam’s traditional acceptance of lying, it’s entirely possible that, when Islamic leaders speak, they are not speaking the unadulterated truth. In fact, they may say one thing and believe something entirely different.
In the end, by their fruits you will know them—and, regrettably, the fruits of Islam are often destruction, violence and death.http://ezinearticles.com/ Read More ..
Islamic Intolerance
Islamic apologists keep telling us that the religion of Islam is a kind, tolerante and peaceful religion. Every time a woman is stoned or someone is beheaded or a homicide bomber blows up a bus or restaurant filled with innocent people, we are told that it is the work of Islamic fanatics and that true followers of Islam do not agree with these things.
Now we find out that in Afganistan, a country that is 99% Muslim, a man is being tried under Sharia (Islamic law) for apostasy, and if convicted, will face the death penalty.
What did this man do that was so horrible, so against the Islamic faith? He converted to Christianity, that's the terrible thing that he did. This is apparently one of the worst things a Muslim can do. He chose to give up the Islamic faith and therefore is so evil that he deserves to be put to death. He can be spared, however, if he agrees to become a Muslim again.
The Hadith (which is said to be the body of quotes attributed to Muhammad), Sahih Bukhari Vol. 9, book 84, number 57, has been interpreted as saying "Kill whoever changes his religion", so the Sharia court judge is proposing to do just that.
The Torah in Deuteronomy 13:6-10 has been interpreted as saying about apostastics "But thou shalt surely kill him; thine hand shall be first upon him to put him to death, and afterwards the hand of all the people. And thou shalt stone him with stones, that he die; because he hath sought to thrust thee away from the LORD thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage." yet I don't believe that any Israeli judge would ever even consider attempting to hand down any type of criminal sentence for apostasy.
If the Islamic religion is so kind, tolerant and peaceful, why are it's laws interpreted in such a barbaric and intolerant way by so many followers. I realize that not all Muslim countries follow Sharia law and that of those that do, not all are so fanatical. However, many Muslim countries do still practice amputation of one/both hand(s) for theft, stoning for adultery, and execution for apostasy. Other countries, including Iraq, that did not, in the past, follow Sharia law are now talking about setting up Sharia courts.
I also realize that not all Muslims interpret Islamic law the same way. Islamic law like any other body of laws is subject to interpretation and therefore can be interpreted liberally, moderately or fundamentally. The problem is that while some Muslims interpret Islamic law liberally or moderately, it seems that a large majority of the Muslims in the Arabic world interpret the law fundamentally (at least as it pertains to women and non believers).
Afganistan's constitution guarentees freedom of religion, however, in an interview, Afganistan's Foreign Minister stated that the government had "nothing to do" with the court case. He further stated that he hoped there would be a "satisfactory result" to the case. To me, this seems that he was saying that the Sharia court is not bound by Afgani law and can do as it pleases, thereby making the Afgani constitution worthless. It further leads to the belief that Afganistan is a democracy on paper only and is actually ruled by Islamic fundamentalists. These fundamentalists may not be as bad as the Taliban but, so far, they do not seem to be much better.
There are many religious groups that believe that apostasy is wrong and that their religion is the only true religion. However, I know of no country, in this day and age, other than certain Muslim countries, that would sentence a person to death for changing his or her religious beliefs. Such things did happen in the past, look at the Spanish inquisition, but are now considered repugnant.
David G. Hallstrom, Sr. is a retired private investigator and currently publishes several internet directories including http://www.resourcesforattorneys.com a legal and lifestyle resources directory for attorneys, lawyers and the internet public. For more lifestyle information see lifestyle.resourcesforattorneys.com, the Lifestyle directory from Resources For Attorneys.http://ezinearticles.com/ Read More ..
Now we find out that in Afganistan, a country that is 99% Muslim, a man is being tried under Sharia (Islamic law) for apostasy, and if convicted, will face the death penalty.
What did this man do that was so horrible, so against the Islamic faith? He converted to Christianity, that's the terrible thing that he did. This is apparently one of the worst things a Muslim can do. He chose to give up the Islamic faith and therefore is so evil that he deserves to be put to death. He can be spared, however, if he agrees to become a Muslim again.
The Hadith (which is said to be the body of quotes attributed to Muhammad), Sahih Bukhari Vol. 9, book 84, number 57, has been interpreted as saying "Kill whoever changes his religion", so the Sharia court judge is proposing to do just that.
The Torah in Deuteronomy 13:6-10 has been interpreted as saying about apostastics "But thou shalt surely kill him; thine hand shall be first upon him to put him to death, and afterwards the hand of all the people. And thou shalt stone him with stones, that he die; because he hath sought to thrust thee away from the LORD thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage." yet I don't believe that any Israeli judge would ever even consider attempting to hand down any type of criminal sentence for apostasy.
If the Islamic religion is so kind, tolerant and peaceful, why are it's laws interpreted in such a barbaric and intolerant way by so many followers. I realize that not all Muslim countries follow Sharia law and that of those that do, not all are so fanatical. However, many Muslim countries do still practice amputation of one/both hand(s) for theft, stoning for adultery, and execution for apostasy. Other countries, including Iraq, that did not, in the past, follow Sharia law are now talking about setting up Sharia courts.
I also realize that not all Muslims interpret Islamic law the same way. Islamic law like any other body of laws is subject to interpretation and therefore can be interpreted liberally, moderately or fundamentally. The problem is that while some Muslims interpret Islamic law liberally or moderately, it seems that a large majority of the Muslims in the Arabic world interpret the law fundamentally (at least as it pertains to women and non believers).
Afganistan's constitution guarentees freedom of religion, however, in an interview, Afganistan's Foreign Minister stated that the government had "nothing to do" with the court case. He further stated that he hoped there would be a "satisfactory result" to the case. To me, this seems that he was saying that the Sharia court is not bound by Afgani law and can do as it pleases, thereby making the Afgani constitution worthless. It further leads to the belief that Afganistan is a democracy on paper only and is actually ruled by Islamic fundamentalists. These fundamentalists may not be as bad as the Taliban but, so far, they do not seem to be much better.
There are many religious groups that believe that apostasy is wrong and that their religion is the only true religion. However, I know of no country, in this day and age, other than certain Muslim countries, that would sentence a person to death for changing his or her religious beliefs. Such things did happen in the past, look at the Spanish inquisition, but are now considered repugnant.
David G. Hallstrom, Sr. is a retired private investigator and currently publishes several internet directories including http://www.resourcesforattorneys.com a legal and lifestyle resources directory for attorneys, lawyers and the internet public. For more lifestyle information see lifestyle.resourcesforattorneys.com, the Lifestyle directory from Resources For Attorneys.http://ezinearticles.com/ Read More ..
Divisions in Islam - The Fight Within the Faith
Islam is a complex religion, which according to CAIR (Council on American-Islamic relations), has 1.200 billion followers from every race and every century in the world. It has survived persecutions, subjugation and defamation since its founding by the prophet Mohammed (pbuh) in 1440ad. Since its founding, different sects and ideologies have spread from the original peaceful teachings over 1,000 years ago.
One of the most media popular sects in Islam is the Shia's, they display their feelings of the Prophets brothers death by a ritual self-mutilation. This is expressed in ways such as taking sharp or bladed instruments and repetitively tapping their heads and/or body, even after they are bleeding. Though this display and personal expression of Islam may seem extreme buthttp://ezinearticles.com/ Read More ..
One of the most media popular sects in Islam is the Shia's, they display their feelings of the Prophets brothers death by a ritual self-mutilation. This is expressed in ways such as taking sharp or bladed instruments and repetitively tapping their heads and/or body, even after they are bleeding. Though this display and personal expression of Islam may seem extreme buthttp://ezinearticles.com/ Read More ..
Islam - Essay - Fundamentals and History
today who have not heard something about Islam. Islam is one of the most prominent religions in the world today with at least 750 million people practicing. Islam is a voluntary relationship between an individual and his creator. Islam emerged in Arabia during the early 7th century.
Islam means “submission” in Arabic, which is the basis for the religion---submitting to the Will of God. Islamic religion is formed on the foundations of Islamic life, variety and unity is Islam, and Islam and its nonbelievers. The Islamic people had a new faith in their religion and kept their hopes high to conquer and spread the religion. They changed the society that was used across the lands and brought a new religion that would keep the people high in assurance that they’ll always have a good spirit.
The foundations of Islamic life are based on a sacred text called the Qu’ran. The Qu’ran is a record of the exact words revealed by God through the Angel Gabriel to the Prophet Muhammad. The Qu’ran is the prime source of every Muslims’ faith and practice. It deals with all the subjects which concern us as human beings: wisdom, doctrine, worship, and law, but its basic theme is the relationship between God and his creatures. At the same time it provides guidelines for a just society, proper human conduct and an equitable economic system. From the time the Qu’ran was revealed, until this day there has always been a large number of Muslims who have memorized all of the Qu’ran, letter by letter. Not one letter of the Qu’ran has been changed over the centuries.
Another source for the basis of Islamic life is al-Hadith, or sunnah. This is a vast body of transmitted stories and sayings attributed to the Prophet and his comparisons. Unlike the Qu’ran, these stories are not assembled in a single, absolutely accepted text. There are actually many collections of Hadith. Over time, during the first few centuries of Islam, it became obvious that many so-called hadith were in fact spurious sayings that had been fabricated for various motives, at best to encourage believers to act righteously and at worse to corrupt believers' understanding of Islam and to lead them astray. Since Islamic legal scholars were utilizing hadith as an adjunct to the Qu'ran in their development of the Islamic legal system, it became critically important to have reliable collections of hadith. While the early collections of hadith often contained hadith that were of questionable origin, gradually collections of authenticated hadith called sahih were compiled. Such collections were made possible by the development of the science of hadith criticism, a science at the basis of which was a critical analysis of the chain of (oral) transmission (isnad) of the hadith going all the way back to Muhammad. The two most highly respected collections of hadith are the authenticated collections the Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim. In addition to these, four other collections came to be well respected, although not to the degree of Bukhari and Muslim's sahih collections. These four other collections are the Sunan of Tirmidhi, Nasa'i, Ibn Majah, and Abu Da'ud. Together these four and the two sahih collections are called the "six books" (al-kutub al-sitta). Two other important collections, in particular, are the Muwatta of Ibn Malik, the founder of the Maliki School of law, and the Musnad of Ahmad ibn Hanbal, the founder of the Hanbali School of law.
The third source that provides an important basis for the faith is the biography of the Prophet of God---Muhammad. Muhammad ibnu Abdillah was born in Mecca in the year 569 CE. Orphaned at an early age, Muhammad was cared for by his uncle. He earned his living as a trader and a Shepard among the Bedouins, and was known by his people as al-amin (the trustworthy one). When he was 25, he married Khadija. When Muhammad reached the age of 40, the angel Gabriel came to him with revelations that established his prophethood. Muhammad was first ordered to instruct his immediate family on Islam, including his beloved wife Khadija, but eventually it was revealed to him that he should begin delivering the message to all of mankind. In the next 20 years of his life, he communicated the message of Allah to his people, and set an example for how each human being should lead her or his life. This is especially valuable since Muhammad is the last Prophet of Allah. In the year 632, the year of his death, the Prophet delivered his famous last sermon.http://ezinearticles.com/ Read More ..
Islam means “submission” in Arabic, which is the basis for the religion---submitting to the Will of God. Islamic religion is formed on the foundations of Islamic life, variety and unity is Islam, and Islam and its nonbelievers. The Islamic people had a new faith in their religion and kept their hopes high to conquer and spread the religion. They changed the society that was used across the lands and brought a new religion that would keep the people high in assurance that they’ll always have a good spirit.
The foundations of Islamic life are based on a sacred text called the Qu’ran. The Qu’ran is a record of the exact words revealed by God through the Angel Gabriel to the Prophet Muhammad. The Qu’ran is the prime source of every Muslims’ faith and practice. It deals with all the subjects which concern us as human beings: wisdom, doctrine, worship, and law, but its basic theme is the relationship between God and his creatures. At the same time it provides guidelines for a just society, proper human conduct and an equitable economic system. From the time the Qu’ran was revealed, until this day there has always been a large number of Muslims who have memorized all of the Qu’ran, letter by letter. Not one letter of the Qu’ran has been changed over the centuries.
Another source for the basis of Islamic life is al-Hadith, or sunnah. This is a vast body of transmitted stories and sayings attributed to the Prophet and his comparisons. Unlike the Qu’ran, these stories are not assembled in a single, absolutely accepted text. There are actually many collections of Hadith. Over time, during the first few centuries of Islam, it became obvious that many so-called hadith were in fact spurious sayings that had been fabricated for various motives, at best to encourage believers to act righteously and at worse to corrupt believers' understanding of Islam and to lead them astray. Since Islamic legal scholars were utilizing hadith as an adjunct to the Qu'ran in their development of the Islamic legal system, it became critically important to have reliable collections of hadith. While the early collections of hadith often contained hadith that were of questionable origin, gradually collections of authenticated hadith called sahih were compiled. Such collections were made possible by the development of the science of hadith criticism, a science at the basis of which was a critical analysis of the chain of (oral) transmission (isnad) of the hadith going all the way back to Muhammad. The two most highly respected collections of hadith are the authenticated collections the Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim. In addition to these, four other collections came to be well respected, although not to the degree of Bukhari and Muslim's sahih collections. These four other collections are the Sunan of Tirmidhi, Nasa'i, Ibn Majah, and Abu Da'ud. Together these four and the two sahih collections are called the "six books" (al-kutub al-sitta). Two other important collections, in particular, are the Muwatta of Ibn Malik, the founder of the Maliki School of law, and the Musnad of Ahmad ibn Hanbal, the founder of the Hanbali School of law.
The third source that provides an important basis for the faith is the biography of the Prophet of God---Muhammad. Muhammad ibnu Abdillah was born in Mecca in the year 569 CE. Orphaned at an early age, Muhammad was cared for by his uncle. He earned his living as a trader and a Shepard among the Bedouins, and was known by his people as al-amin (the trustworthy one). When he was 25, he married Khadija. When Muhammad reached the age of 40, the angel Gabriel came to him with revelations that established his prophethood. Muhammad was first ordered to instruct his immediate family on Islam, including his beloved wife Khadija, but eventually it was revealed to him that he should begin delivering the message to all of mankind. In the next 20 years of his life, he communicated the message of Allah to his people, and set an example for how each human being should lead her or his life. This is especially valuable since Muhammad is the last Prophet of Allah. In the year 632, the year of his death, the Prophet delivered his famous last sermon.http://ezinearticles.com/ Read More ..
Muslim Husband - Should Be a Man of Islamic Principles
Quran the holy religious book of the Muslims has clearly laid down the principles and the qualities of an ideal Muslim husband. Quran is the obvious place to look for the standards of the behavior of an ideal husband.
Islam as in the west does not permit the practice of having girl friends and premarital sex. It has clearly laid down that men who are capable of supporting their wife should marry so as to protect their chastity. Men those who regard themselves as unfit for marriage are required to practice fasting. It is the Muslim family that plays a major role in choosing the right partner for both men and women. The preacher of the religion guides the Muslim husband to opt for a religious Muslim woman so as to have a happy and a binding moral Islamic marriage. It is therefore the ideal Muslim men who opt for a responsible attitude of the women to build a strong and everlasting marriage anhttp://ezinearticles.com/ Read More ..
Islam as in the west does not permit the practice of having girl friends and premarital sex. It has clearly laid down that men who are capable of supporting their wife should marry so as to protect their chastity. Men those who regard themselves as unfit for marriage are required to practice fasting. It is the Muslim family that plays a major role in choosing the right partner for both men and women. The preacher of the religion guides the Muslim husband to opt for a religious Muslim woman so as to have a happy and a binding moral Islamic marriage. It is therefore the ideal Muslim men who opt for a responsible attitude of the women to build a strong and everlasting marriage anhttp://ezinearticles.com/ Read More ..
Introduction to Islam
Islam is a religion started in the 7th century in Saudi Arabia by it's prophet, Mohammed. It is one of the three most popular Abrahimic religions, the other two being Judaism and Christianity. The word Islam means "submission", which refers to submitting oneself to the one and only God, Allah. Currently Islam is the second largest religion in the world, and some estimate that there are of 1.2 to 1.5 billion Muslims.
Islam's holy book is the Qur'an, or al-Quran. It was revealed by Allah to the prophet Mohammed through the angel Jibril or Gabriel. These revelations came to Mohammed in a period of 22 years, from AD 610 up to his death in AD 632. Muslims believe that Mohammed is Allah's last prophet and that Islam is His last religion.
Islam is more than a religion, since it covers areas of spirituality, politics, society, and law. For example, there are teachings about how to pray, how the members of society should behave, who can be a leader, and what kind of punishments should be given for different offenses. This makes Islam a way of life and governance, which is different from Judaism and Christianity.
Just like Christianity and Judaism, Islam teaches that there is one omnipotent, omniscient God (Allah in Arabic), that Allah created everything, that Allah created Adam & Eve from whom humanity flourished about, that there is a Satan, that there is a day of judgment, etc. Islam believes that Jesus and Moses are prophets of Allah and as prophets, they are given their due respect. However, Muslims believe that the Torah and the New Testament were the words of Allah, but that the teachings have been corrupted by humans.
Islam has 5 tenants, which are the Shahadah, the Salah, the Zakat, the Sawm, and the Hajj. The Shahadah refers to the tenet of Islam, which is "ashadu al la ilaha illa lahu wa ashadu ana mohammdan rasulullah", which means "I testify that there is no god, but Allah, and Mohammed is his prophet". New Muslims MUST testify to this to be considered Muslims. The Salah is the ritual prayer of Islam, and it must be performed 5 times a day. Zakat is the giving of alms. Sawm is the fasting during the month of Ramadan. And Hajj is the pilgrimage to the city of Mecca, which must be done once in a person's lifetime.
Currently there are many denominations of Islam, but the most popular are Sunni, Shia, and the Suffis. Just like Christian denominations, the Islamic ones differ on few beliefs, but they all believe in the oneness of Allah, and prophet Mohammed's prophecy, etc.http://ezinearticles.com/ Read More ..
Islam's holy book is the Qur'an, or al-Quran. It was revealed by Allah to the prophet Mohammed through the angel Jibril or Gabriel. These revelations came to Mohammed in a period of 22 years, from AD 610 up to his death in AD 632. Muslims believe that Mohammed is Allah's last prophet and that Islam is His last religion.
Islam is more than a religion, since it covers areas of spirituality, politics, society, and law. For example, there are teachings about how to pray, how the members of society should behave, who can be a leader, and what kind of punishments should be given for different offenses. This makes Islam a way of life and governance, which is different from Judaism and Christianity.
Just like Christianity and Judaism, Islam teaches that there is one omnipotent, omniscient God (Allah in Arabic), that Allah created everything, that Allah created Adam & Eve from whom humanity flourished about, that there is a Satan, that there is a day of judgment, etc. Islam believes that Jesus and Moses are prophets of Allah and as prophets, they are given their due respect. However, Muslims believe that the Torah and the New Testament were the words of Allah, but that the teachings have been corrupted by humans.
Islam has 5 tenants, which are the Shahadah, the Salah, the Zakat, the Sawm, and the Hajj. The Shahadah refers to the tenet of Islam, which is "ashadu al la ilaha illa lahu wa ashadu ana mohammdan rasulullah", which means "I testify that there is no god, but Allah, and Mohammed is his prophet". New Muslims MUST testify to this to be considered Muslims. The Salah is the ritual prayer of Islam, and it must be performed 5 times a day. Zakat is the giving of alms. Sawm is the fasting during the month of Ramadan. And Hajj is the pilgrimage to the city of Mecca, which must be done once in a person's lifetime.
Currently there are many denominations of Islam, but the most popular are Sunni, Shia, and the Suffis. Just like Christian denominations, the Islamic ones differ on few beliefs, but they all believe in the oneness of Allah, and prophet Mohammed's prophecy, etc.http://ezinearticles.com/ Read More ..
Muslim Marriage - A Relationship Which Symbolizes Islam and Love
Muslim marriage as in other faiths is a sacred institution. It is a moral contract binding between a Muslim man and a Muslim woman. Muslim marriages are performed according to the laws of the Islamic Shariah. Islamic marriages are generally arranged marriages by the parents. The proposal for marriage is made by the girl's parents to the guy and once with the acceptance from both the sides the ceremony of engagement is made which is further followed by the marriage.
The Islamic marriage is solemnized by a priest who takes the consent of both the bride and the groom for the marriage. The bride and the groom's consent is followed by signing of the marriage proposal by the bride, the groom and the witnesses. The Koran or the holy book is placed between them and they are made to see each other through a mirror. The Islamic marriage ceremony is celebrated with the distribution of dates and sweets and with a grand feast. In an Islamic marriage premarital intimacy is strictly not permitted. According to the religion of Islam a Muslim marriage is the foundation upon which an Islamic society is built.
Muslim marriage is characterized by offering of the dowry by a Muslim man to his spouse. The main purpose is to safeguard the economic status of the Muslim women in case of any unto do incidents. The dowry or the mahr can be paid before or after the marriage and with the failure of the payment of dowry the Muslim marriage becomes invalidated. The Muslim marriages insist on the husband supporting his spouse financially and therefore it is the duty of the husband to support and protect his wife. The Muslim marriage rules also insist that the husband should make sure that both his wife and children have access to the religious Islamic materials.
One major difference between Islam and other religion is the practice of polygamy, the Muslim men are allowed to marry up to four wives as long as he can support and protect them. Muslim women however are not allowed to marry more than one man. The religion of Islam does not permit homosexuality. It allows the marriage of a Muslim man to a Jewish or a Christian woman. Though the Islamic law permit's the marriage of Christian or a Jewish woman to a Muslim male it does not permit them to have the inheritance of their spouse unless it is conferred by the Muslim man on their Jewish or Christian spouses.
Islamic religion lays down strict marriage regulations as marriage and family are the building blocks of Islamic society. The moral contract between the husband and wife in Islam is bound by certain rules and regulations. Islam clearly defines the role of a husband in a family as well as that of a wife's duty. It is the healthy family life which would form the basis of healthy off springs. This further would lead to the growth of a strong Islamic society. The ultimate aim being the growth of the religion with staunch followers of Islam and Muslim marriage is a really a formatted institution.http://ezinearticles.com/ Read More ..
The Islamic marriage is solemnized by a priest who takes the consent of both the bride and the groom for the marriage. The bride and the groom's consent is followed by signing of the marriage proposal by the bride, the groom and the witnesses. The Koran or the holy book is placed between them and they are made to see each other through a mirror. The Islamic marriage ceremony is celebrated with the distribution of dates and sweets and with a grand feast. In an Islamic marriage premarital intimacy is strictly not permitted. According to the religion of Islam a Muslim marriage is the foundation upon which an Islamic society is built.
Muslim marriage is characterized by offering of the dowry by a Muslim man to his spouse. The main purpose is to safeguard the economic status of the Muslim women in case of any unto do incidents. The dowry or the mahr can be paid before or after the marriage and with the failure of the payment of dowry the Muslim marriage becomes invalidated. The Muslim marriages insist on the husband supporting his spouse financially and therefore it is the duty of the husband to support and protect his wife. The Muslim marriage rules also insist that the husband should make sure that both his wife and children have access to the religious Islamic materials.
One major difference between Islam and other religion is the practice of polygamy, the Muslim men are allowed to marry up to four wives as long as he can support and protect them. Muslim women however are not allowed to marry more than one man. The religion of Islam does not permit homosexuality. It allows the marriage of a Muslim man to a Jewish or a Christian woman. Though the Islamic law permit's the marriage of Christian or a Jewish woman to a Muslim male it does not permit them to have the inheritance of their spouse unless it is conferred by the Muslim man on their Jewish or Christian spouses.
Islamic religion lays down strict marriage regulations as marriage and family are the building blocks of Islamic society. The moral contract between the husband and wife in Islam is bound by certain rules and regulations. Islam clearly defines the role of a husband in a family as well as that of a wife's duty. It is the healthy family life which would form the basis of healthy off springs. This further would lead to the growth of a strong Islamic society. The ultimate aim being the growth of the religion with staunch followers of Islam and Muslim marriage is a really a formatted institution.http://ezinearticles.com/ Read More ..
Sabtu, 28 Februari 2009
Articles of Faith
There are six articles of faith in Islam: 1. Belief in Allah 2.Belief in Angles, 3. Belief in the Books (Scriptures) of Allah 4. Belief in the Prophets of Allah, 5. Belief in the Day of Judgment and 6. Belief in the Divine Laws
Umar ibn Khattab, may Allah be pleased with him, relates:
We were sitting in the company of the Holy Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, when suddenly a man arrived. He was wearing clean, white clothes and his hair was jet black. He did not look as though he were a traveler and he was not known to any of us. He sat down close to the Holy Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, his knees touching the knees of the Holy Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him. He said: O Muhammad, tell me something about faith. The Holy Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, replied:
"Faith is that you should believe in Allah, His Angels, His Books and His Prophets; that you should believe in the Day of Judgment and that you should believe in the Divine Laws relating to good and evil." (Tirmidhi)
Ali ibn Talib, may Allah be pleased with him, relates that he Holy Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said:
"The faith is that one recognizes God at heart, accepts Him verbally and acts on His commandments." (Ibni Majah)http://www.islam.com/artialsfaith.htm Read More ..
Umar ibn Khattab, may Allah be pleased with him, relates:
We were sitting in the company of the Holy Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, when suddenly a man arrived. He was wearing clean, white clothes and his hair was jet black. He did not look as though he were a traveler and he was not known to any of us. He sat down close to the Holy Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, his knees touching the knees of the Holy Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him. He said: O Muhammad, tell me something about faith. The Holy Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, replied:
"Faith is that you should believe in Allah, His Angels, His Books and His Prophets; that you should believe in the Day of Judgment and that you should believe in the Divine Laws relating to good and evil." (Tirmidhi)
Ali ibn Talib, may Allah be pleased with him, relates that he Holy Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said:
"The faith is that one recognizes God at heart, accepts Him verbally and acts on His commandments." (Ibni Majah)http://www.islam.com/artialsfaith.htm Read More ..
Hajj
Hajj is the fifth Pillar of Islam and another form of worship. It is an annual pilgrimage to the holy sites in Mecca which each adult Muslim, who can afford it, has to perform once in life time. Apart from the financial aspect, the ability to afford the pilgrimage also means that one is able to travel and perform the Hajj in peace.Muslims perform Hajj in order to visit for themselves the holy sites where their faith started. More importantly it is a pilgrimage to the Ka'aba, which we believe is the first place of worship ever built on this earth, Muslims thus refer to it as House of God. The ceremony of Hajj is also symbolic of the Unity of God; all Muslims gather from four corners of the earth in one spot at an appointed time and worship God. There are no difficulties to perform Hajj apart from the obvious financial commitment in order to travel to Mecca. That is the reason why, strictly speaking, Hajj is only obligatory to those who have fulfilled all their worldly needs and have no pressing commitments left and indeed can afford the passage to Mecca.
It is a Muslim belief that God is everywhere and He answers those who truly seek Him. In this respect indeed going to a particular place to seek the pleasure and nearness to God is not the issue. However, it is the physical presence of being in the holiest of the holy places for the Muslim faith and indeed the congregational worship with millions of other fellow Muslims that leaves an indelible mark on the spiritual life of a person. It is a most supreme form of worship and is most desirable to God.
During Hajj, the person who intends to perform it is required to travel to Mecca during the prescribed days and observe all the rites and ceremonies. During Hajj Muslims from all corners of the world gather in Mecca and perform the rites of Hajj and thus strengthen the bond of Muslim unity.
During Hajj each place brings to mind some event of the blessed life of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings on him). It refreshes the memory of the supreme sacrifices made by the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings on him) for the sake of Islam.
http://www.islam.com/hajj.htm Read More ..
It is a Muslim belief that God is everywhere and He answers those who truly seek Him. In this respect indeed going to a particular place to seek the pleasure and nearness to God is not the issue. However, it is the physical presence of being in the holiest of the holy places for the Muslim faith and indeed the congregational worship with millions of other fellow Muslims that leaves an indelible mark on the spiritual life of a person. It is a most supreme form of worship and is most desirable to God.
During Hajj, the person who intends to perform it is required to travel to Mecca during the prescribed days and observe all the rites and ceremonies. During Hajj Muslims from all corners of the world gather in Mecca and perform the rites of Hajj and thus strengthen the bond of Muslim unity.
During Hajj each place brings to mind some event of the blessed life of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings on him). It refreshes the memory of the supreme sacrifices made by the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings on him) for the sake of Islam.
http://www.islam.com/hajj.htm Read More ..
Zakat
Zakat (Alms giving) is a part of devotion enjoined upon Muslims by the Holy Quran. It is a means where the well-off pay a set amount of their wealth.
Zakat means to purify oneself. It is obligatory on Muslims to pay a little percentage of their accumulated wealth towards Zakat, which is used for the benefit of the needy and the poor. Zakat is not levied on one's property that is in personal use, rather on the assets which have a means of increasing and which are surplus to one's needs. It is a means of social justice and order. It teaches sympathy of the highest order.
http://www.islam.com/zakat.htm Read More ..
Zakat means to purify oneself. It is obligatory on Muslims to pay a little percentage of their accumulated wealth towards Zakat, which is used for the benefit of the needy and the poor. Zakat is not levied on one's property that is in personal use, rather on the assets which have a means of increasing and which are surplus to one's needs. It is a means of social justice and order. It teaches sympathy of the highest order.
http://www.islam.com/zakat.htm Read More ..
Saum
Along with salat, another important form of worship is fasting. It is obligatory for each Muslim, apart from some exemptions, to fast in the month of Ramadhan. During the hours of fasting, food and drink and conjugal relations between husband and wife are forbidden. It is enjoined that during fasting one should pay attention to remembrance of God and study the Holy Quran in abundance. One should try to curtail one's worldly pastimes as much as possible during Ramadhan, and to be particularly inclined towards charity and alms giving.
Human life is dependent on food and drink and the continuation of the human race depends on the marital relationship. While fasting one refrains from them both, as if bearing witness to God that for His pleasure man gives up the factors (temporarily) upon which his very existence depends. The various other benefits of fasting are that man gets to exercise sacrificing physical comfort and to endure hunger and thirst. Fasting creates a sense of equality between the rich and the poor. By developing an appreciation of hunger and thirst, it makes the well-off think of the needs of the poor and impresses a feeling of compassion in their hearts. It makes them appreciate, through the practicality of it, the state a human being endures when hungry and thirsty. Ramadhan is a most effective and excellent means of spiritual development for mankind.
http://www.islam.com/saum.htm Read More ..
Human life is dependent on food and drink and the continuation of the human race depends on the marital relationship. While fasting one refrains from them both, as if bearing witness to God that for His pleasure man gives up the factors (temporarily) upon which his very existence depends. The various other benefits of fasting are that man gets to exercise sacrificing physical comfort and to endure hunger and thirst. Fasting creates a sense of equality between the rich and the poor. By developing an appreciation of hunger and thirst, it makes the well-off think of the needs of the poor and impresses a feeling of compassion in their hearts. It makes them appreciate, through the practicality of it, the state a human being endures when hungry and thirsty. Ramadhan is a most effective and excellent means of spiritual development for mankind.
http://www.islam.com/saum.htm Read More ..
Salat
Salat is one of the five pillars of Islam, it is a most important constituent of the faith. It is prayer of a very high level. The Holy Quran repeatedly enjoins the offering of salat and indeed declares it to be a fundamental trait of a believer. The benefits of salat are countless. The Holy Quran says:
"And enjoin Prayer on thy people, and be constant therein. We ask thee not for provision; it is We that provide for thee. And the end is for the righteous".
Salat strengthens man's spiritual faculties. It is the best way to form a relationship with one's Creator. It purifies one's spirit, and through it, constant remembrance of Allah delivers one of the self that incites to evil.
God created man to worship Him and salat is the most excellent kind of worship.
The Holy Quran also says:
"Recite that which has been revealed to thee of the Book, and observe Prayer. Surely, Prayer restrains one from indecency and manifest evil, and remembrance of Allah indeed is the greatest virtue. And Allah knows what you do." (29:46)
Abu Hurairah, may Allah be pleased with him, relates that he heard the Holy Prophet, peace and blessings be on him, say:
"Tell me if one of you had a stream running at his door and he should take a bath in it five times every day would any dirt be left upon him? He was answered: No dirt would be left on him. The Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be on him) observed: This is the case of the five prayers. Allah wipes out all faults in consequence of them." (Bukhari)
As for the punishment of not observing the salat, all matters of reward and punishment rest solely with Allah.
Jabir, may Allah be pleased with him, relates that he heard the Holy Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, say:
"Giving up prayer is tantamount to disbelief and associating partners with Allah." (Muslim)
Five Daily Prayers
Salat, the obligatory Muslim prayer, is said at appointed time fixed in relation to the sun's position. The time of Fajr, the morning prayer begins at dawn and ends just before sunrise. The time of Zuhr, the midday prayer, begins after the sun has crossed the zenith point and has begun to decline. The Asr prayer is said when the sun has further advanced in decline, in the late afternoon. The time of the Maghrib prayer begins immediately after sunset. It lasts till dusk. The Isha prayer can be said after dusk has finally disappeared, giving way to darkness of the night.
Fajr Zuhr Asr Maghrib Isha'
http://www.islam.com/salat.htm Read More ..
"And enjoin Prayer on thy people, and be constant therein. We ask thee not for provision; it is We that provide for thee. And the end is for the righteous".
Salat strengthens man's spiritual faculties. It is the best way to form a relationship with one's Creator. It purifies one's spirit, and through it, constant remembrance of Allah delivers one of the self that incites to evil.
God created man to worship Him and salat is the most excellent kind of worship.
The Holy Quran also says:
"Recite that which has been revealed to thee of the Book, and observe Prayer. Surely, Prayer restrains one from indecency and manifest evil, and remembrance of Allah indeed is the greatest virtue. And Allah knows what you do." (29:46)
Abu Hurairah, may Allah be pleased with him, relates that he heard the Holy Prophet, peace and blessings be on him, say:
"Tell me if one of you had a stream running at his door and he should take a bath in it five times every day would any dirt be left upon him? He was answered: No dirt would be left on him. The Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be on him) observed: This is the case of the five prayers. Allah wipes out all faults in consequence of them." (Bukhari)
As for the punishment of not observing the salat, all matters of reward and punishment rest solely with Allah.
Jabir, may Allah be pleased with him, relates that he heard the Holy Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, say:
"Giving up prayer is tantamount to disbelief and associating partners with Allah." (Muslim)
Five Daily Prayers
Salat, the obligatory Muslim prayer, is said at appointed time fixed in relation to the sun's position. The time of Fajr, the morning prayer begins at dawn and ends just before sunrise. The time of Zuhr, the midday prayer, begins after the sun has crossed the zenith point and has begun to decline. The Asr prayer is said when the sun has further advanced in decline, in the late afternoon. The time of the Maghrib prayer begins immediately after sunset. It lasts till dusk. The Isha prayer can be said after dusk has finally disappeared, giving way to darkness of the night.
Fajr Zuhr Asr Maghrib Isha'
http://www.islam.com/salat.htm Read More ..
A Muslim expresses his/her faith (Iman) in the following words:
Ash-hadu anla ilaha illal-Lahu Wahdahu la Sharika Lahu wa-ash-hadu anna Muhammadan abduhu wa rasuluhu
The English translation of the Shahadah is as follows:
I bear witness that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, the One, without any partner. And I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and His Messenger.
The declaration of faith consists of two distinct parts, i.e., the absolute belief in the Unity of Allah (God) and the belief in the Holy Prophet Muhammad as a mortal human being and the Messenger of Allah.
Islam's fundamental belief is the Unity of God. All other beliefs hang on this belief. Therefore the acknowledgement and 'bearing witness' of this is the key to the Muslim faith. Unless this is observed one cannot be a Muslim. A Muslim accepts Allah as the only God, and only Master, Lord and Ruler with no partner sharing in any way His Being, Powers and Attributes. He is One; He is Unique; He is not the father of any one, nor He has or had any father. He is Almighty and Self-Sustaining. He is there forever, and will be there forever.
A Muslim believes in Allah as the Ruler and must not disobey Him. In fact everything that exists in the universe obeys Him. He is the Fashioner of all the Universes that may exist.
The belief in the Prophet Muhammad (on whom be peace) as the servant and Messenger of Allah completes one’s faith. The Holy Prophet was the greatest of all the Prophets of Allah, yet he was only a human being with no share in Divinity. This is a very important belief that keeps Muslims from associating partners with Allah. This part of the Declaration of Faith where reinforces the first part of Allah being the only Supreme Being with no partners also establishes the absolute authority of the Holy Prophet as the Messenger of Allah, who must be obeyed as well in all the matters of faith. The Holy Prophet is the last prophet who brought us the last Book (the Holy Quran) to be followed. He lived among his people for a long time and his life is documented in utmost detail. He lead his followers by example. The way he lived his life and admonished his followers to live their lives is called Sunnah of the Holy Prophet. The second part of the Declaration of Faith makes obeying and following the advice of the Prophet Muhammad equally important to the belief in absolute Unity of Allah. This declaration make one to completely submit to the Will of Allah and that is why one who declares this belief is called a Muslim - one who completely submits to the will of Allah.
http://www.islam.com/introislam.htm Read More ..
Ash-hadu anla ilaha illal-Lahu Wahdahu la Sharika Lahu wa-ash-hadu anna Muhammadan abduhu wa rasuluhu
The English translation of the Shahadah is as follows:
I bear witness that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, the One, without any partner. And I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and His Messenger.
The declaration of faith consists of two distinct parts, i.e., the absolute belief in the Unity of Allah (God) and the belief in the Holy Prophet Muhammad as a mortal human being and the Messenger of Allah.
Islam's fundamental belief is the Unity of God. All other beliefs hang on this belief. Therefore the acknowledgement and 'bearing witness' of this is the key to the Muslim faith. Unless this is observed one cannot be a Muslim. A Muslim accepts Allah as the only God, and only Master, Lord and Ruler with no partner sharing in any way His Being, Powers and Attributes. He is One; He is Unique; He is not the father of any one, nor He has or had any father. He is Almighty and Self-Sustaining. He is there forever, and will be there forever.
A Muslim believes in Allah as the Ruler and must not disobey Him. In fact everything that exists in the universe obeys Him. He is the Fashioner of all the Universes that may exist.
The belief in the Prophet Muhammad (on whom be peace) as the servant and Messenger of Allah completes one’s faith. The Holy Prophet was the greatest of all the Prophets of Allah, yet he was only a human being with no share in Divinity. This is a very important belief that keeps Muslims from associating partners with Allah. This part of the Declaration of Faith where reinforces the first part of Allah being the only Supreme Being with no partners also establishes the absolute authority of the Holy Prophet as the Messenger of Allah, who must be obeyed as well in all the matters of faith. The Holy Prophet is the last prophet who brought us the last Book (the Holy Quran) to be followed. He lived among his people for a long time and his life is documented in utmost detail. He lead his followers by example. The way he lived his life and admonished his followers to live their lives is called Sunnah of the Holy Prophet. The second part of the Declaration of Faith makes obeying and following the advice of the Prophet Muhammad equally important to the belief in absolute Unity of Allah. This declaration make one to completely submit to the Will of Allah and that is why one who declares this belief is called a Muslim - one who completely submits to the will of Allah.
http://www.islam.com/introislam.htm Read More ..
Pillars of Islam
Ibn Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, relates that the Holy Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said: "Islam is based on five articles:
1. To bear witness that there is none worthy of worship save Allah and that Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) is the Messenger of Allah.
2. To observe Prayer (Salat).
3. To Pay Zakat (Alms giving)
4. To perform the Pilgrimage to the House of Allah (Hajj).
5. To Observe fasting during Ramadhan." (Bukhari)
Abdullah ibn Amr bin Aas, may Allah be pleased with them, relates that the Holy Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said:
"A Muslim is one against whose tongue and hands other Muslims are secure, and an Emigrant is one who departs from what Allah has forbidden." (Bukhari)
http://www.islam.com/introislam.htm Read More ..
1. To bear witness that there is none worthy of worship save Allah and that Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) is the Messenger of Allah.
2. To observe Prayer (Salat).
3. To Pay Zakat (Alms giving)
4. To perform the Pilgrimage to the House of Allah (Hajj).
5. To Observe fasting during Ramadhan." (Bukhari)
Abdullah ibn Amr bin Aas, may Allah be pleased with them, relates that the Holy Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said:
"A Muslim is one against whose tongue and hands other Muslims are secure, and an Emigrant is one who departs from what Allah has forbidden." (Bukhari)
http://www.islam.com/introislam.htm Read More ..
Introduction to Islam
The literal meaning of Islam is peace; surrender of one’s will i.e. losing oneself for the sake of God and surrendering one’s own pleasure for the pleasure of God. The message of Islam was revealed to the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings on him) 1, 400 years ago. It was revealed through angel Gabriel (on whom be peace) and was thus preserved in the Holy Quran. The Holy Quran carries a Divine guarantee of safeguard from interpolation and it claims that it combines the best features of the earlier scriptures.
The literal meaning of Islam is peace; surrender of one’s will i.e. losing oneself for the sake of God and surrendering one’s own pleasure for the pleasure of God. The message of Islam was revealed to the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings on him) 1, 400 years ago. It was revealed through angel Gabriel (on whom be peace) and was thus preserved in the Holy Quran. The Holy Quran carries a Divine guarantee of safeguard from interpolation and it claims that it combines the best features of the earlier scriptures.
http://www.islam.com/introislam.htm Read More ..
The literal meaning of Islam is peace; surrender of one’s will i.e. losing oneself for the sake of God and surrendering one’s own pleasure for the pleasure of God. The message of Islam was revealed to the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings on him) 1, 400 years ago. It was revealed through angel Gabriel (on whom be peace) and was thus preserved in the Holy Quran. The Holy Quran carries a Divine guarantee of safeguard from interpolation and it claims that it combines the best features of the earlier scriptures.
http://www.islam.com/introislam.htm Read More ..
Features of Islamic Greeting Cards
Islamic greeting cards are pretty common for both Muslims and non Muslims. They are used to celebrate great Islamic occasions by friends and family.
Islam is a very strong religion with a wide following all over the world and this is one of the reasons why Islamic greeting cards are popular all over the world. The cards are distinct and come with unique features which are worth a mention. First, you will notice that the cards are centered on the Islamic religion. This is because the faith determines what Islamic people do on a daily basis. In other words, Islam is a lifestyle which cannot be divorced from how they do things everyday including sending greeting cards. Many cards will contain religious messages and symbols. However, it will depend on the occasion when sending the cards. On special religious occasions, you will find the following message being written on cards may you be blessed, in remembrance of Allah and the list goes on and on.
Islamic greeting cards will come in many designs and shapes. However, the kind of designs and pictures that Islamic greeting cards come with must be in accordance to the will of Allah or God. In other words, the integrity of the faith must be upheld at every cost. Images that are displeasing will never be accepted and, if you are non Muslim sending cards to Muslim friends, it is good for you to keep this in mind. Look for down to earth cards that are floral or animated. However, do not forget to include what your friend would love. The varieties of Islamic cards will give you good ideas that will help you know the kind of cards to send. When there is a big occasion like Hajj, Ramadan, Eid Ul Fitr or Eid Ul Adha, you will know exactly what to do with the theme and the colors as well. If you need inspiration for cards, it is time you looked online.
Sites like Islamic greeting cards are sure to offer you different options. You can send your cards through email to make your work easier. At the site, you will find a link to other sites where you can enjoy different kinds of cards for Muslims. Let the sites teach you the kind of cards you should be sending out. If you can customize the cards for your recipients, by all means do it. You can also make the cards with your very own hands. Handmade cards are not just personal by they help create a special bond between you and your friends. There is nothing complicated about Islamic cards; all you have to do is have a message that will bring life to your recipients. Have fun while selecting the various cards you choose to go with. Cards will continue to transform relationships and even bridge the gap between religions. A good card will speak to the heart and the love for others is all that matters in life whether Muslim or otherwise.
http://EzineArticles.com/ Read More ..
Islam is a very strong religion with a wide following all over the world and this is one of the reasons why Islamic greeting cards are popular all over the world. The cards are distinct and come with unique features which are worth a mention. First, you will notice that the cards are centered on the Islamic religion. This is because the faith determines what Islamic people do on a daily basis. In other words, Islam is a lifestyle which cannot be divorced from how they do things everyday including sending greeting cards. Many cards will contain religious messages and symbols. However, it will depend on the occasion when sending the cards. On special religious occasions, you will find the following message being written on cards may you be blessed, in remembrance of Allah and the list goes on and on.
Islamic greeting cards will come in many designs and shapes. However, the kind of designs and pictures that Islamic greeting cards come with must be in accordance to the will of Allah or God. In other words, the integrity of the faith must be upheld at every cost. Images that are displeasing will never be accepted and, if you are non Muslim sending cards to Muslim friends, it is good for you to keep this in mind. Look for down to earth cards that are floral or animated. However, do not forget to include what your friend would love. The varieties of Islamic cards will give you good ideas that will help you know the kind of cards to send. When there is a big occasion like Hajj, Ramadan, Eid Ul Fitr or Eid Ul Adha, you will know exactly what to do with the theme and the colors as well. If you need inspiration for cards, it is time you looked online.
Sites like Islamic greeting cards are sure to offer you different options. You can send your cards through email to make your work easier. At the site, you will find a link to other sites where you can enjoy different kinds of cards for Muslims. Let the sites teach you the kind of cards you should be sending out. If you can customize the cards for your recipients, by all means do it. You can also make the cards with your very own hands. Handmade cards are not just personal by they help create a special bond between you and your friends. There is nothing complicated about Islamic cards; all you have to do is have a message that will bring life to your recipients. Have fun while selecting the various cards you choose to go with. Cards will continue to transform relationships and even bridge the gap between religions. A good card will speak to the heart and the love for others is all that matters in life whether Muslim or otherwise.
http://EzineArticles.com/ Read More ..
Selasa, 24 Februari 2009
Islamic Teachings and Beliefs
The religion Islam does not believe in the concept of "original sin." According to the teachings of Islam, people are born guiltless. They remain so until an individual himself or herself, commits a sinful deed. Islam is neither an ethnocentric nor a sacramental religion. The followers of this religion observe no sacraments. Anyone can become a Muslim by his/ her discretion. Introduction to Islam involves no sacramental ceremony, no involvement by any clergy, and no authentication by any organized body. All that a true Moslem needs to do is follow the teachings of Islam. These teachings are:
Doctrine of God: Islam is a strictly monotheistic religion. The followers of Islam believe that there is no other God than Allah.
Doctrine of Angels: The throne of God is surrounded by Angels. They serve as His messenger to people. The most important of all angels is Gabriel. Iblis is a fallen angel, he is also referred to as the Satan or Devil. He has authority over the djinns who are male and female demons.
Doctrine of Inspired Books: The Moslems believe in the sacred books which include the Torah, the Gospel of Jesus, the Psalms, and the Koran (Qur'an). The followers of Islam believe that Koran is the only book which is completely error free. Sections of the holy book Koran have resemblance to the Bible, the Apocrypha, and the Jewish Talmud. There are many stories in Koran that are similar to stories of various prophets in the Old Testament.
Koran is somewhat shorter in length than the New Testament. Islam's followers are expected to memorize as much of the Koran as they can. Those who memorize the whole book by heart are highly honored.
Doctrine of Prophets: According to the teachings of Islam, there are many persons who are considered to be prophets. Among them are Abraham, Ishmael, Moses, Noah, John the Baptist, Jesus, and Mohammed. Mohammed is considered to be last prophet. His proclamations completed the message sent by God to people.
Doctrine of Last Judgment: Moslems believe that there will be a day of final judgment. At that time, the non-believers will be sentenced to the burning fires of hell, while the believers will enter heaven. However, the pleasures of heaven will be given to the believers according to the degree of faith and morality they displayed in their lifetime.
The followers of Islam believe that the moral and legal codes of Islam apply to all areas of human life.
The Major Religions of the World....Revisited book includes information about what is Islam, Islamic religion and beliefs; and its comparison with worlds other 4 major religions Hinduism, Christianity, Buddhism and Judaism.
http://EzineArticles.com/ Read More ..
Doctrine of God: Islam is a strictly monotheistic religion. The followers of Islam believe that there is no other God than Allah.
Doctrine of Angels: The throne of God is surrounded by Angels. They serve as His messenger to people. The most important of all angels is Gabriel. Iblis is a fallen angel, he is also referred to as the Satan or Devil. He has authority over the djinns who are male and female demons.
Doctrine of Inspired Books: The Moslems believe in the sacred books which include the Torah, the Gospel of Jesus, the Psalms, and the Koran (Qur'an). The followers of Islam believe that Koran is the only book which is completely error free. Sections of the holy book Koran have resemblance to the Bible, the Apocrypha, and the Jewish Talmud. There are many stories in Koran that are similar to stories of various prophets in the Old Testament.
Koran is somewhat shorter in length than the New Testament. Islam's followers are expected to memorize as much of the Koran as they can. Those who memorize the whole book by heart are highly honored.
Doctrine of Prophets: According to the teachings of Islam, there are many persons who are considered to be prophets. Among them are Abraham, Ishmael, Moses, Noah, John the Baptist, Jesus, and Mohammed. Mohammed is considered to be last prophet. His proclamations completed the message sent by God to people.
Doctrine of Last Judgment: Moslems believe that there will be a day of final judgment. At that time, the non-believers will be sentenced to the burning fires of hell, while the believers will enter heaven. However, the pleasures of heaven will be given to the believers according to the degree of faith and morality they displayed in their lifetime.
The followers of Islam believe that the moral and legal codes of Islam apply to all areas of human life.
The Major Religions of the World....Revisited book includes information about what is Islam, Islamic religion and beliefs; and its comparison with worlds other 4 major religions Hinduism, Christianity, Buddhism and Judaism.
http://EzineArticles.com/ Read More ..
Muslim Marriage - A Relationship Which Symbolizes Islam and Love
Muslim marriage as in other faiths is a sacred institution. It is a moral contract binding between a Muslim man and a Muslim woman.
Muslim marriages are performed according to the laws of the Islamic Shariah. Islamic marriages are generally arranged marriages by the parents. The proposal for marriage is made by the girl's parents to the guy and once with the acceptance from both the sides the ceremony of engagement is made which is further followed by the marriage. The Islamic marriage is solemnized by a priest who takes the consent of both the bride and the groom for the marriage. The bride and the groom's consent is followed by signing of the marriage proposal by the bride, the groom and the witnesses. The Koran or the holy book is placed between them and they are made to see each other through a mirror. The Islamic marriage ceremony is celebrated with the distribution of dates and sweets and with a grand feast. In an Islamic marriage premarital intimacy is strictly not permitted. According to the religion of Islam a Muslim marriage is the foundation upon which an Islamic society is built.
Muslim marriage is characterized by offering of the dowry by a Muslim man to his spouse. The main purpose is to safeguard the economic status of the Muslim women in case of any unto do incidents. The dowry or the mahr can be paid before or after the marriage and with the failure of the payment of dowry the Muslim marriage becomes invalidated. The Muslim marriages insist on the husband supporting his spouse financially and therefore it is the duty of the husband to support and protect his wife. The Muslim marriage rules also insist that the husband should make sure that both his wife and children have access to the religious Islamic materials.
One major difference between Islam and other religion is the practice of polygamy, the Muslim men are allowed to marry up to four wives as long as he can support and protect them. Muslim women however are not allowed to marry more than one man. The religion of Islam does not permit homosexuality. It allows the marriage of a Muslim man to a Jewish or a Christian woman. Though the Islamic law permit's the marriage of Christian or a Jewish woman to a Muslim male it does not permit them to have the inheritance of their spouse unless it is conferred by the Muslim man on their Jewish or Christian spouses.
Islamic religion lays down strict marriage regulations as marriage and family are the building blocks of Islamic society. The moral contract between the husband and wife in Islam is bound by certain rules and regulations. Islam clearly defines the role of a husband in a family as well as that of a wife's duty. It is the healthy family life which would form the basis of healthy off springs. This further would lead to the growth of a strong Islamic society. The ultimate aim being the growth of the religion with staunch followers of Islam and Muslim marriage is a really a formatted institution.
: http://EzineArticles.com/ Read More ..
Muslim marriages are performed according to the laws of the Islamic Shariah. Islamic marriages are generally arranged marriages by the parents. The proposal for marriage is made by the girl's parents to the guy and once with the acceptance from both the sides the ceremony of engagement is made which is further followed by the marriage. The Islamic marriage is solemnized by a priest who takes the consent of both the bride and the groom for the marriage. The bride and the groom's consent is followed by signing of the marriage proposal by the bride, the groom and the witnesses. The Koran or the holy book is placed between them and they are made to see each other through a mirror. The Islamic marriage ceremony is celebrated with the distribution of dates and sweets and with a grand feast. In an Islamic marriage premarital intimacy is strictly not permitted. According to the religion of Islam a Muslim marriage is the foundation upon which an Islamic society is built.
Muslim marriage is characterized by offering of the dowry by a Muslim man to his spouse. The main purpose is to safeguard the economic status of the Muslim women in case of any unto do incidents. The dowry or the mahr can be paid before or after the marriage and with the failure of the payment of dowry the Muslim marriage becomes invalidated. The Muslim marriages insist on the husband supporting his spouse financially and therefore it is the duty of the husband to support and protect his wife. The Muslim marriage rules also insist that the husband should make sure that both his wife and children have access to the religious Islamic materials.
One major difference between Islam and other religion is the practice of polygamy, the Muslim men are allowed to marry up to four wives as long as he can support and protect them. Muslim women however are not allowed to marry more than one man. The religion of Islam does not permit homosexuality. It allows the marriage of a Muslim man to a Jewish or a Christian woman. Though the Islamic law permit's the marriage of Christian or a Jewish woman to a Muslim male it does not permit them to have the inheritance of their spouse unless it is conferred by the Muslim man on their Jewish or Christian spouses.
Islamic religion lays down strict marriage regulations as marriage and family are the building blocks of Islamic society. The moral contract between the husband and wife in Islam is bound by certain rules and regulations. Islam clearly defines the role of a husband in a family as well as that of a wife's duty. It is the healthy family life which would form the basis of healthy off springs. This further would lead to the growth of a strong Islamic society. The ultimate aim being the growth of the religion with staunch followers of Islam and Muslim marriage is a really a formatted institution.
: http://EzineArticles.com/ Read More ..
Sabtu, 21 Februari 2009
No God But God - Reza Aslan
"No god but God"
So said Saddam
The butcher of Baghdad
Before being executed
Did he serve God?
Certainly such could be refuted.
Islamic law in Muslim nations has muted
Freedom of religious expression
Shown the heart of Allah
And to the world taught a lesson
Violating many human rights
Troubled many souls with sleepless nights
Permitting the burning and bombing of churches
Continual killing of Jews of Christians
Now Islamic jihadists are killing Americans and Europeans
No god but God
Is a wonderful concept
For all other gods besides Jesus
We should wisely reject
Unlike Reza Aslan does project
Islam is not a religion
Firmly rooted in the prophetic
Jewish and Christian tradition.
The Torah and Bible call Islam
Erroneous and an abomination.
That should be quite obvious
Look around the world at Islam's murderous
Rage of religion, intolerant opinion
Hence it lacks spiritual dominion
For it spreads itself by violence
All other religions Islam meets with defiance
The prophet Muhammad
Is not one worthy of our reliance
This so-called prophet disobeyed his own doctrine
Marrying wives far more than four
More importantly, he fought in many religious wars
Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life
Jesus the Savior did not engage in religious strife
Christ gently entreated humanity never killing anyone
Through His exemplary life the hearts of the world He won
Peaceably and graciously welcoming everyone
He even forgave them as to the cross they crucified Him
The religious fanatics crucified God's own Son
He who had for humanity come
To save us from ourselves and sin
To deposit the Holy Spirit to live within
To liberate us from intolerant dead religion
Victoriously Christ arose from the grave
In the power of the resurrection to save
Every tribe, kindred, tongue, and nation
To declare good news to all, an emancipation
From every false religious representation
To birth within the heart of man a new creation
That they might seek and know their heavenly Father
Lovingly embrace and accept one another
Tasting and experiencing the goodness of the Spirit
Lifting up their voice happily, that all might hear it
Beyond being cerebral, you can be spiritual
Beyond being religious, you can enjoy revival
Beyond being as Islam - intolerant and violent
You can surpass Islam's spiritual impotence
Bridge the divide and close the gap that does distance
Mankind from its Creator
Humbly kneel and implore
Christ will open religious prison doors
God is not the author of religion
Religion is man's creation
Religion is Satan's chief deception
The blessing of heaven
Intimately know God 24/7
Lift up your eyes
Awake and realize
That Islam is a religion of orphans
They don't know God as Father
Hence they are on edge
Not knowing the comfort of being a son or daughter
Nobody can get to the Father in heaven
But through Christ
For you He gave His life
God is not a killer, He is a life giver
Taste and see the Lord of glory is good
Be filled with the Spirit of truth and live as you should
Not in quarreling and contention
But joyously in divine celebration.
For whosoever calls upon Christ Jesus
Shall be saved
No do's and don'ts need to be made
Believe and receive
Christ will meet your heart's need
On the cross for you He did bleed
Therefore you need not to die for God
Because God in Christ already died for you
Repent of sin and in your heart invite Christ in
There is nothing left to do.
Simply believe and the Spirit of God will magnificently show you.
Fear not! Jesus Christ the captain of the hosts and Prince of Peace
Will give you triumph over tribulation and divine release.
Give God glory in the highest and experience peace on earth
It all begins through Jesus from whom comes spiritual new birth.
For Christ's kingdom is established by His Holy Spirit within
Conquer the heart's of mankind and this war on terror you'll win.
Paul Davis is a FL real estate professional, life coach (relational & professional), worldwide minister, and change master.
Paul is the author of several books including Breakthrough for a Broken Heart; Adultery: 101 Reasons Not to Cheat; Are You Ready for True Love; Stop Lusting & Start Living; Waves of God; Supernatural Fire; Poems that Propel the Planet; and God vs. Religion.
Paul's compassion for people & passion to travel has taken him to over 50 countries of the world where he has had a tremendous impact. Paul has served in many war-torn, impoverished and tsunami stricken regions of the earth. His Dream-Maker Inc. is building dreams, breaking limitations & reviving nations.
Paul's Breakthrough Seminars inspire, revive, awaken, impregnate with purpose, impart the fire of desire, catapult people into a new level of self-awareness, facilitate destiny discovery and dream fulfillment.
http://EzineArticles.com/ Read More ..
So said Saddam
The butcher of Baghdad
Before being executed
Did he serve God?
Certainly such could be refuted.
Islamic law in Muslim nations has muted
Freedom of religious expression
Shown the heart of Allah
And to the world taught a lesson
Violating many human rights
Troubled many souls with sleepless nights
Permitting the burning and bombing of churches
Continual killing of Jews of Christians
Now Islamic jihadists are killing Americans and Europeans
No god but God
Is a wonderful concept
For all other gods besides Jesus
We should wisely reject
Unlike Reza Aslan does project
Islam is not a religion
Firmly rooted in the prophetic
Jewish and Christian tradition.
The Torah and Bible call Islam
Erroneous and an abomination.
That should be quite obvious
Look around the world at Islam's murderous
Rage of religion, intolerant opinion
Hence it lacks spiritual dominion
For it spreads itself by violence
All other religions Islam meets with defiance
The prophet Muhammad
Is not one worthy of our reliance
This so-called prophet disobeyed his own doctrine
Marrying wives far more than four
More importantly, he fought in many religious wars
Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life
Jesus the Savior did not engage in religious strife
Christ gently entreated humanity never killing anyone
Through His exemplary life the hearts of the world He won
Peaceably and graciously welcoming everyone
He even forgave them as to the cross they crucified Him
The religious fanatics crucified God's own Son
He who had for humanity come
To save us from ourselves and sin
To deposit the Holy Spirit to live within
To liberate us from intolerant dead religion
Victoriously Christ arose from the grave
In the power of the resurrection to save
Every tribe, kindred, tongue, and nation
To declare good news to all, an emancipation
From every false religious representation
To birth within the heart of man a new creation
That they might seek and know their heavenly Father
Lovingly embrace and accept one another
Tasting and experiencing the goodness of the Spirit
Lifting up their voice happily, that all might hear it
Beyond being cerebral, you can be spiritual
Beyond being religious, you can enjoy revival
Beyond being as Islam - intolerant and violent
You can surpass Islam's spiritual impotence
Bridge the divide and close the gap that does distance
Mankind from its Creator
Humbly kneel and implore
Christ will open religious prison doors
God is not the author of religion
Religion is man's creation
Religion is Satan's chief deception
The blessing of heaven
Intimately know God 24/7
Lift up your eyes
Awake and realize
That Islam is a religion of orphans
They don't know God as Father
Hence they are on edge
Not knowing the comfort of being a son or daughter
Nobody can get to the Father in heaven
But through Christ
For you He gave His life
God is not a killer, He is a life giver
Taste and see the Lord of glory is good
Be filled with the Spirit of truth and live as you should
Not in quarreling and contention
But joyously in divine celebration.
For whosoever calls upon Christ Jesus
Shall be saved
No do's and don'ts need to be made
Believe and receive
Christ will meet your heart's need
On the cross for you He did bleed
Therefore you need not to die for God
Because God in Christ already died for you
Repent of sin and in your heart invite Christ in
There is nothing left to do.
Simply believe and the Spirit of God will magnificently show you.
Fear not! Jesus Christ the captain of the hosts and Prince of Peace
Will give you triumph over tribulation and divine release.
Give God glory in the highest and experience peace on earth
It all begins through Jesus from whom comes spiritual new birth.
For Christ's kingdom is established by His Holy Spirit within
Conquer the heart's of mankind and this war on terror you'll win.
Paul Davis is a FL real estate professional, life coach (relational & professional), worldwide minister, and change master.
Paul is the author of several books including Breakthrough for a Broken Heart; Adultery: 101 Reasons Not to Cheat; Are You Ready for True Love; Stop Lusting & Start Living; Waves of God; Supernatural Fire; Poems that Propel the Planet; and God vs. Religion.
Paul's compassion for people & passion to travel has taken him to over 50 countries of the world where he has had a tremendous impact. Paul has served in many war-torn, impoverished and tsunami stricken regions of the earth. His Dream-Maker Inc. is building dreams, breaking limitations & reviving nations.
Paul's Breakthrough Seminars inspire, revive, awaken, impregnate with purpose, impart the fire of desire, catapult people into a new level of self-awareness, facilitate destiny discovery and dream fulfillment.
http://EzineArticles.com/ Read More ..
Rabu, 18 Februari 2009
Sejarah Ilmu Falak
Ilmu falak dikenal juga sebagai Ilmu Bintang atau Ilmu Astronomi, kata Falak bererti jalan/lintasan/peredaran yakni peredaran bintang-bintang.
Dalam surah Yaasin ayat 40 disebut bahawa: “(Dengan ketentuan yang diberikan oleh Allah) Matahari tidak mudah baginya mengejar bulan dan malam pula tidak dapat mendahului siang kerana tiap-tiap satunya beredar terapung-apung di tempat edarannya masing-masing”.
Pada zaman dahulu ilmu falak dikenal juga dengan Ilmu Nujum yang digunakan untuk meramal berlakunya peristiwa atau nasib. Di kalangan Sarjana Islam, Ilmu Bintang dibagi dua bagian yaitu :
1) Ilmu Tabi’ie (sains) yang membahas kedudukan bintang-bintang, pergerakannya dan ketentuan-ketentuan gerhana matahari dan bulan.
2) Ilmu yang membahas perhubungan pergerakan bintang-bintang dengan kelahiran, kematian, kebahagiaan dan kecelakaan, hujan, kesehatan dan lain-lain.
Ilmu yang pertama tadi dinamakan ilmu falak (Astronomi) dan ilmu yang kedua dinamakan Ilmu Astrologi (tanjim/nujum). Secara umum ilmu falak boleh diartikan sebagai ilmu yang membicarakan tentang matahari dan bintang-bintang yang beredar, besar kecilnya, jauh dekatnya dari matahari atau juga tentang cakrawala langit, gaya yg bekerja padanya, kedudukan pergerakannya dan lain-lain fenomena yang berkaitan.
Orang-orang Arab pada zaman dahulu pun mengetahui kedua bidang ilmu ini bahkan sejak zaman Jahiliah. Mereka memperolehi ilmu ini dari Yunani/Greek, Parsi, India dan Kaldan. Kemudian ilmu ini diwariskan kepada orang-orang Islam setelahnya.
Umat Islam pertama kali terlibat secara aktif dibidang Ilmu Sains termasuk ilmu falak pada zaman Kerajaan Umaiyah dan Abbasiah. Di zaman Umaiyah tokoh ilmu falak yang terkenal ialah Khalid bin Yazid Al-Amawi (meninggal 85H). Beliau dikenal dengan nama Hakim Ali Marwan. Beliau dianggap orang pertama yang menterjemahkan buku-buku termasuk buku-buku mengenai ilmu Bintang pada pertengahan kurun ke-4 Hijrah didapati dalam Perpustakaan Kaherah sebuah globe dari tembaga karya Batlamus yang ditulis kata-kata bahwa globe itu disediakan untuk Khalid bin Yazid.
Menurut pakar sejarah Al-Mas’udi bahwa Khalifah al-Malik bin Marwan sangat gemar kepada ilmu bintang sehingga ketika berperang belian membawa ahli ilmu bintang. Di zaman Abbasiah, Khalifah Abu Jaffar Al-Mansor adalah khalifah yang pertama memberi perhatian kepada kajian Ilmu Falak. Baginda mengeluarkan banyak belanja untuk memulai penyelidikan dalam bidang ilmu falak. Baginda mengumpulkan nama sarjana falak yang terkenal di istana Baginda. Dalam pembinaan Kota Baghdad baginda melantik seorang ahli falak bernama Naubakh sebagai Ketua Perancang Proyek itu.
Seterusnya perkembangan kajian ilmu falak berkembang pada zaman khalifah Al-Mansor. Usaha menterjemahkan buku Sdihanta dari bahasa Sanskrit ke Bahasa Arab dilakukan oleh Mohammad Al-Fazari yang kemudian ia diberi judul “Al-Sindhindin Al-Kabir”. Buku ini menjadi panduan utama kepada orang-orang arab dalam mengkaji ilmu falak hingga ke zaman Al-Makmun.
Mohammad Al-Fazari merupakan orang Islam yang pertama mencipta astrolabe (jam matahari untuk mengukur tinggi dan jarak bintang). Buku ini telah disalin ke bahasa Latin pada abad pertengahan oleh Johannes de Luna Hispakusis. Buku terjemahan ini telah digunakan oleh universitas-universitas Eropa untuk mengejar Ilmu Bintang.
Dari sinilah orang-orang Barat pertama kali mengetahui benda-benda di cakerawala.
Tokoh-tokoh Ilmu Falak Islam di zaman Abbasiah ialah Abu Sahl bin Naubakh, Ali bin Isa dan Masyaallah yang dikenal sebagai Phoenix pada zamannya. Dalam proyek pembinaan Kota Baghdad telah didirikan sebuah ‘observatorium’ (balai ilmu). Di zaman Al-Makmun telah muncul ramai sarjana-sarjana Falak antaranya Thabit bin Qurrah, Al-Battani dan Muhammad bin Musa al-Khawarizmi.
Di zaman Al-Makmun juga telah didirikan sebuah ‘observatorium’ yang digunakan untuk mengukur daya cahaya matahari. Di zamannya juga Ahli Falak berjaya mengukur longkaran bumi sebuah ‘observatorium’ yang didirikan di Bukit Gaisun di Damsyek. Di zamannya juga observatorium juga didirikan di Bukit Qaisun. Di Damsyik. Di zamannya juga telah diterjemahkan Alomagest karangan mengenai Ptolemeus ke bahasa Arab. Ahli Falak Islam juga telah mengamati equinox, gerhana bintang berekor (comet) dan lain-lain gejala di langit.
Di samping itu Al-Battani (wafat kira-kira 930M/317H) telah melakukan penyelidikan tentang perbintangan sejak tahun 877 hingga 918M dan bukunya yang telah disalin ke bahasa Latin disusun semula dalam bahasa Arab oleh Nallino (tahun 1903M). Al-Battani telah membagi sehari kepada 12 jam yang digunakan sekarang oleh tukang-tukang jam di Eropah. Beliau juga telah berjaya mengira setahun bersamaan dengan 356 hari, 5 jam 46 saat dan 24 secant yaitu kurang dalam pengiraan sekarang sebanyak 2 saat 23 secant.
Al-Battani menduduki tempat tertinggi di kalangan Ahli Bintang dan dikatakan peranannya di kalangan umat Islam sama dengan peranan Ptolemeus di kalangan orang-orang Yahudi. Di zaman-zaman seterusnya lahir tokoh-tokoh Islam yang meneruskan kajian-kajian yang dilakukan oleh al-Battani dan tokoh-tokoh lain dan telah menghasilkan berbagai-bagai kejayaan kepada Ilmu Falak.
Tokoh-tokoh Ilmu Falak yang terkenal pada kurun ke-7 Hijrah ialah Nasiruddin al-Tusi yang hidup di zaman Hulagu Khan seorang Raja Monggol. Al-Biruni (362H-442H) pula merupakan seorang ahli Falak yang terkenal di zaman Sultan Mahmud al-Ghaznawi. Beliau telah meninggalkan berbagai-bagai hasil karya yang antara al-Athar al-Baqiah yang diterjemahkan ke bahasa Inggeris oleh Dr. Sachan. Di zaman Kerajaan Turki Saljuk telah muncul seorang sarjana Falak terkenal iaitu Umar al-Khayyam. Kawannya ialah Abdul Rahman al-Hazimi. Sebenarnya kemasyhuran sarjana-sarjana Falak Islam merebak setiap sudut alam. Mereka menjadi tempat rujuk ilmu Falak. Wilayah Islam yang menjadi tumpuan rujukan Eropa ialah wilayah Andalus (Sepanyol) kerana berdekatan dengan mereka.
Fakta di atas adalah semata-mata untuk menunjukkan betapa umat Islam di zaman kegemilangan, telah menumpukan tenaga yang banyak untuk menguasai ilmu-ilmu sains yang hasilnya telah dirasakan oleh seluruh umat manusia. Kejayaan mereka itu adalah menunjukkan betapa Islam telah menjadi suatu sumber utama bukan saja dari segi panduan hidup tetapi juga dari segi Ilmu Pengetahuan. Inilah semangat yang hendak dibangkitkan di kalangan kita umat Islam.
http://falak.blogsome.com/2007/07/11/sejarah-ilmu-falak/trackback/ Read More ..
Dalam surah Yaasin ayat 40 disebut bahawa: “(Dengan ketentuan yang diberikan oleh Allah) Matahari tidak mudah baginya mengejar bulan dan malam pula tidak dapat mendahului siang kerana tiap-tiap satunya beredar terapung-apung di tempat edarannya masing-masing”.
Pada zaman dahulu ilmu falak dikenal juga dengan Ilmu Nujum yang digunakan untuk meramal berlakunya peristiwa atau nasib. Di kalangan Sarjana Islam, Ilmu Bintang dibagi dua bagian yaitu :
1) Ilmu Tabi’ie (sains) yang membahas kedudukan bintang-bintang, pergerakannya dan ketentuan-ketentuan gerhana matahari dan bulan.
2) Ilmu yang membahas perhubungan pergerakan bintang-bintang dengan kelahiran, kematian, kebahagiaan dan kecelakaan, hujan, kesehatan dan lain-lain.
Ilmu yang pertama tadi dinamakan ilmu falak (Astronomi) dan ilmu yang kedua dinamakan Ilmu Astrologi (tanjim/nujum). Secara umum ilmu falak boleh diartikan sebagai ilmu yang membicarakan tentang matahari dan bintang-bintang yang beredar, besar kecilnya, jauh dekatnya dari matahari atau juga tentang cakrawala langit, gaya yg bekerja padanya, kedudukan pergerakannya dan lain-lain fenomena yang berkaitan.
Orang-orang Arab pada zaman dahulu pun mengetahui kedua bidang ilmu ini bahkan sejak zaman Jahiliah. Mereka memperolehi ilmu ini dari Yunani/Greek, Parsi, India dan Kaldan. Kemudian ilmu ini diwariskan kepada orang-orang Islam setelahnya.
Umat Islam pertama kali terlibat secara aktif dibidang Ilmu Sains termasuk ilmu falak pada zaman Kerajaan Umaiyah dan Abbasiah. Di zaman Umaiyah tokoh ilmu falak yang terkenal ialah Khalid bin Yazid Al-Amawi (meninggal 85H). Beliau dikenal dengan nama Hakim Ali Marwan. Beliau dianggap orang pertama yang menterjemahkan buku-buku termasuk buku-buku mengenai ilmu Bintang pada pertengahan kurun ke-4 Hijrah didapati dalam Perpustakaan Kaherah sebuah globe dari tembaga karya Batlamus yang ditulis kata-kata bahwa globe itu disediakan untuk Khalid bin Yazid.
Menurut pakar sejarah Al-Mas’udi bahwa Khalifah al-Malik bin Marwan sangat gemar kepada ilmu bintang sehingga ketika berperang belian membawa ahli ilmu bintang. Di zaman Abbasiah, Khalifah Abu Jaffar Al-Mansor adalah khalifah yang pertama memberi perhatian kepada kajian Ilmu Falak. Baginda mengeluarkan banyak belanja untuk memulai penyelidikan dalam bidang ilmu falak. Baginda mengumpulkan nama sarjana falak yang terkenal di istana Baginda. Dalam pembinaan Kota Baghdad baginda melantik seorang ahli falak bernama Naubakh sebagai Ketua Perancang Proyek itu.
Seterusnya perkembangan kajian ilmu falak berkembang pada zaman khalifah Al-Mansor. Usaha menterjemahkan buku Sdihanta dari bahasa Sanskrit ke Bahasa Arab dilakukan oleh Mohammad Al-Fazari yang kemudian ia diberi judul “Al-Sindhindin Al-Kabir”. Buku ini menjadi panduan utama kepada orang-orang arab dalam mengkaji ilmu falak hingga ke zaman Al-Makmun.
Mohammad Al-Fazari merupakan orang Islam yang pertama mencipta astrolabe (jam matahari untuk mengukur tinggi dan jarak bintang). Buku ini telah disalin ke bahasa Latin pada abad pertengahan oleh Johannes de Luna Hispakusis. Buku terjemahan ini telah digunakan oleh universitas-universitas Eropa untuk mengejar Ilmu Bintang.
Dari sinilah orang-orang Barat pertama kali mengetahui benda-benda di cakerawala.
Tokoh-tokoh Ilmu Falak Islam di zaman Abbasiah ialah Abu Sahl bin Naubakh, Ali bin Isa dan Masyaallah yang dikenal sebagai Phoenix pada zamannya. Dalam proyek pembinaan Kota Baghdad telah didirikan sebuah ‘observatorium’ (balai ilmu). Di zaman Al-Makmun telah muncul ramai sarjana-sarjana Falak antaranya Thabit bin Qurrah, Al-Battani dan Muhammad bin Musa al-Khawarizmi.
Di zaman Al-Makmun juga telah didirikan sebuah ‘observatorium’ yang digunakan untuk mengukur daya cahaya matahari. Di zamannya juga Ahli Falak berjaya mengukur longkaran bumi sebuah ‘observatorium’ yang didirikan di Bukit Gaisun di Damsyek. Di zamannya juga observatorium juga didirikan di Bukit Qaisun. Di Damsyik. Di zamannya juga telah diterjemahkan Alomagest karangan mengenai Ptolemeus ke bahasa Arab. Ahli Falak Islam juga telah mengamati equinox, gerhana bintang berekor (comet) dan lain-lain gejala di langit.
Di samping itu Al-Battani (wafat kira-kira 930M/317H) telah melakukan penyelidikan tentang perbintangan sejak tahun 877 hingga 918M dan bukunya yang telah disalin ke bahasa Latin disusun semula dalam bahasa Arab oleh Nallino (tahun 1903M). Al-Battani telah membagi sehari kepada 12 jam yang digunakan sekarang oleh tukang-tukang jam di Eropah. Beliau juga telah berjaya mengira setahun bersamaan dengan 356 hari, 5 jam 46 saat dan 24 secant yaitu kurang dalam pengiraan sekarang sebanyak 2 saat 23 secant.
Al-Battani menduduki tempat tertinggi di kalangan Ahli Bintang dan dikatakan peranannya di kalangan umat Islam sama dengan peranan Ptolemeus di kalangan orang-orang Yahudi. Di zaman-zaman seterusnya lahir tokoh-tokoh Islam yang meneruskan kajian-kajian yang dilakukan oleh al-Battani dan tokoh-tokoh lain dan telah menghasilkan berbagai-bagai kejayaan kepada Ilmu Falak.
Tokoh-tokoh Ilmu Falak yang terkenal pada kurun ke-7 Hijrah ialah Nasiruddin al-Tusi yang hidup di zaman Hulagu Khan seorang Raja Monggol. Al-Biruni (362H-442H) pula merupakan seorang ahli Falak yang terkenal di zaman Sultan Mahmud al-Ghaznawi. Beliau telah meninggalkan berbagai-bagai hasil karya yang antara al-Athar al-Baqiah yang diterjemahkan ke bahasa Inggeris oleh Dr. Sachan. Di zaman Kerajaan Turki Saljuk telah muncul seorang sarjana Falak terkenal iaitu Umar al-Khayyam. Kawannya ialah Abdul Rahman al-Hazimi. Sebenarnya kemasyhuran sarjana-sarjana Falak Islam merebak setiap sudut alam. Mereka menjadi tempat rujuk ilmu Falak. Wilayah Islam yang menjadi tumpuan rujukan Eropa ialah wilayah Andalus (Sepanyol) kerana berdekatan dengan mereka.
Fakta di atas adalah semata-mata untuk menunjukkan betapa umat Islam di zaman kegemilangan, telah menumpukan tenaga yang banyak untuk menguasai ilmu-ilmu sains yang hasilnya telah dirasakan oleh seluruh umat manusia. Kejayaan mereka itu adalah menunjukkan betapa Islam telah menjadi suatu sumber utama bukan saja dari segi panduan hidup tetapi juga dari segi Ilmu Pengetahuan. Inilah semangat yang hendak dibangkitkan di kalangan kita umat Islam.
http://falak.blogsome.com/2007/07/11/sejarah-ilmu-falak/trackback/ Read More ..
Senin, 16 Februari 2009
Nasehat Imam Ghazali
Suatu hari, Imam Al Ghozali berkumpul dengan murid-muridnya. Lalu Imam Al Ghozali bertanya.... pertama," Apa yang paling dekat dengan diri kita di dunia ini?".
Murid-muridnya menjawab "orang tua,guru,kawan, dan sahabatnya".
Imam Ghozali menjelaskan semua jawapan itu benar. Tetapi yang paling dekat dengan kita adalah "MATI". Sebab itu sememangnya janji Allah SWT bahwa setiap yang bernyawa pasti akan mati. (Ali Imran 185)
On Mon, 2/9/09, agus erwanto wrote:
From: agus erwanto
Subject: [radionasyid] nasehat Imam Ghazali
To: "radio nasyid"
Date: Monday, February 9, 2009, 9:34 PM
Nasehat Imam Ghazali
Suatu hari, Imam Al Ghozali berkumpul dengan murid-muridnya. Lalu Imam Al Ghozali bertanya.... pertama," Apa yang paling dekat dengan diri kita di dunia ini?".
Murid-muridnya menjawab "orang tua,guru,kawan, dan sahabatnya".
Imam Ghozali menjelaskan semua jawapan itu benar. Tetapi yang paling dekat dengan kita adalah "MATI". Sebab itu sememangnya janji Allah SWT bahwa setiap yang bernyawa pasti akan mati. (Ali Imran 185)
Lalu Imam Ghozali meneruskan pertanyaan yang kedua.... "Apa yang paling jauh dari diri kita di dunia ini?".
Murid -muridnya menjawab "negara Cina, bulan, matahari dan bintang -bintang".
Lalu Imam Ghozali menjelaskan bahawa semua jawapan yang mereka berikan itu adalah benar. Tapi yang paling benar adalah "MASA LALU". Walau dengan apa cara sekalipun kita tidak dapat kembali ke masa lalu. Oleh sebab itu kita harus menjaga hari ini dan hari-hari yang akan datang dengan perbuatan yang sesuai dengan ajaran Agama.
Lalu Imam Ghozali meneruskan dengan pertanyaan yang ketiga.... "Apa yang paling besar di dunia ini?". Murid-muridnya menjawah "gunung, bumi dan matahari".
Semua jawapan itu benar kata Imam Ghozali. Tapi yang paling besar dari yang ada di dunia ini adalah "NAFSU" (Al A'Raf 179).
Maka kita harus berhati-hati dengan nafsu kita, jangan sampai nafsu membawa kita ke neraka.
Pertanyaan keempat adalah, "Apa yang paling berat di dunia ini?".
Ada yang menjawab "besi dan gajah".
Semua jawapan adalah benar, kata Imam Ghozali, tapi yang paling berat adalah "MEMEGANG AMANAH" (Al Ahzab 72).
Tumbuh-tumbuhan, binatang, gunung, dan malaikat semua tidak mampu ketika Allah SWT meminta mereka untuk menjadi kalifah (pemimpin) di dunia ini.
Tetapi manusia dengan sombongnya menyanggupi permintaan Allah SWT, sehingga banyak dari manusia masuk ke neraka karena ia tidak dapat memegang amanahnya.
Pertanyaan yang kelima adalah, "Apa yang paling ringan di dunia ini?"...
Ada yang menjawab "kapas, angin, debu dan daun-daunan" .
Semua itu benar kata Imam Ghozali, tapi yang paling ringan di dunia ini adalah meninggalkan Sholat. Gara-gara pekerjaan kita meninggalkan sholat, gara-gara bermesyuarat kita meninggalkan sholat.
Dan pertanyaan keenam adalah, "Apakah yang paling tajam di dunia ini?"...
Murid-muridnya menjawab dengan serentak, "pedang".
Benar kata Imam Ghozali, tapi yang paling tajam adalah "LIDAH MANUSIA" Karena melalui lidah, Manusia selalunya menyakiti hati dan melukai perasaan saudaranya sendiri.
________________________________________
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
"Mu'allimin adalah sekolah kader persyarikatan Muhammadiyah. Para alumnusnya adalah kader-kader atau "Anak Panah" Muhammadiyah yang selalu siap sedia mengembangkan persyarikatan ini. Sampai kapan pun, dimana pun, Muhammadiyah memanggilmu untuk berkiprah demi kemajuan, kedamaian dan kejayaan Islam."
"Muhammadiyah ini lain dengan Muhammadiyah yang akan datang. Maka teruslah
kamu bersekolah, menuntut ilmu pengetahuan dimana saja. Jadilah guru kembali pada Muhammadiyah. Jadilah dokter, kembali kepada Muhammadiyah. Jadilah Meester, insinyur dan lain-lain, dan kembalilah kepada Muhammadiyah"
(K.H. Ahmad Dahlan).
From:
(emgaingrops)
_____________________________________________________________>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Sesungguhnya Allah mempunyai hak atas setiap hempusan nafas kita, maka bertakwalah pada Allah.
Tidaklah (Aku) Allah menciptakan jin dan manusia kecuali hanya untuk menyembah-Ku(Allah).
Manusia akan di angkat derajatnya dengan ujian & juga akan dihinakan dengan ujian, maka bagaimanakah kita menyikapi ujian itu agar dapat menjadi ajang pengangkatan derajat kita di mata Allah?
SEBAB HANYA ALLAHLAH YANG MENGUASAI DIRI KITA
On Mon, 2/9/09, agus erwanto wrote:
From: agus erwanto
Subject: [radionasyid] nasehat Imam Ghazali
To: "radio nasyid"
Date: Monday, February 9, 2009, 9:34 PM Read More ..
Murid-muridnya menjawab "orang tua,guru,kawan, dan sahabatnya".
Imam Ghozali menjelaskan semua jawapan itu benar. Tetapi yang paling dekat dengan kita adalah "MATI". Sebab itu sememangnya janji Allah SWT bahwa setiap yang bernyawa pasti akan mati. (Ali Imran 185)
On Mon, 2/9/09, agus erwanto
From: agus erwanto
Subject: [radionasyid] nasehat Imam Ghazali
To: "radio nasyid"
Date: Monday, February 9, 2009, 9:34 PM
Nasehat Imam Ghazali
Suatu hari, Imam Al Ghozali berkumpul dengan murid-muridnya. Lalu Imam Al Ghozali bertanya.... pertama," Apa yang paling dekat dengan diri kita di dunia ini?".
Murid-muridnya menjawab "orang tua,guru,kawan, dan sahabatnya".
Imam Ghozali menjelaskan semua jawapan itu benar. Tetapi yang paling dekat dengan kita adalah "MATI". Sebab itu sememangnya janji Allah SWT bahwa setiap yang bernyawa pasti akan mati. (Ali Imran 185)
Lalu Imam Ghozali meneruskan pertanyaan yang kedua.... "Apa yang paling jauh dari diri kita di dunia ini?".
Murid -muridnya menjawab "negara Cina, bulan, matahari dan bintang -bintang".
Lalu Imam Ghozali menjelaskan bahawa semua jawapan yang mereka berikan itu adalah benar. Tapi yang paling benar adalah "MASA LALU". Walau dengan apa cara sekalipun kita tidak dapat kembali ke masa lalu. Oleh sebab itu kita harus menjaga hari ini dan hari-hari yang akan datang dengan perbuatan yang sesuai dengan ajaran Agama.
Lalu Imam Ghozali meneruskan dengan pertanyaan yang ketiga.... "Apa yang paling besar di dunia ini?". Murid-muridnya menjawah "gunung, bumi dan matahari".
Semua jawapan itu benar kata Imam Ghozali. Tapi yang paling besar dari yang ada di dunia ini adalah "NAFSU" (Al A'Raf 179).
Maka kita harus berhati-hati dengan nafsu kita, jangan sampai nafsu membawa kita ke neraka.
Pertanyaan keempat adalah, "Apa yang paling berat di dunia ini?".
Ada yang menjawab "besi dan gajah".
Semua jawapan adalah benar, kata Imam Ghozali, tapi yang paling berat adalah "MEMEGANG AMANAH" (Al Ahzab 72).
Tumbuh-tumbuhan, binatang, gunung, dan malaikat semua tidak mampu ketika Allah SWT meminta mereka untuk menjadi kalifah (pemimpin) di dunia ini.
Tetapi manusia dengan sombongnya menyanggupi permintaan Allah SWT, sehingga banyak dari manusia masuk ke neraka karena ia tidak dapat memegang amanahnya.
Pertanyaan yang kelima adalah, "Apa yang paling ringan di dunia ini?"...
Ada yang menjawab "kapas, angin, debu dan daun-daunan" .
Semua itu benar kata Imam Ghozali, tapi yang paling ringan di dunia ini adalah meninggalkan Sholat. Gara-gara pekerjaan kita meninggalkan sholat, gara-gara bermesyuarat kita meninggalkan sholat.
Dan pertanyaan keenam adalah, "Apakah yang paling tajam di dunia ini?"...
Murid-muridnya menjawab dengan serentak, "pedang".
Benar kata Imam Ghozali, tapi yang paling tajam adalah "LIDAH MANUSIA" Karena melalui lidah, Manusia selalunya menyakiti hati dan melukai perasaan saudaranya sendiri.
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"Mu'allimin adalah sekolah kader persyarikatan Muhammadiyah. Para alumnusnya adalah kader-kader atau "Anak Panah" Muhammadiyah yang selalu siap sedia mengembangkan persyarikatan ini. Sampai kapan pun, dimana pun, Muhammadiyah memanggilmu untuk berkiprah demi kemajuan, kedamaian dan kejayaan Islam."
"Muhammadiyah ini lain dengan Muhammadiyah yang akan datang. Maka teruslah
kamu bersekolah, menuntut ilmu pengetahuan dimana saja. Jadilah guru kembali pada Muhammadiyah. Jadilah dokter, kembali kepada Muhammadiyah. Jadilah Meester, insinyur dan lain-lain, dan kembalilah kepada Muhammadiyah"
(K.H. Ahmad Dahlan).
From:
(emgaingrops)
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Sesungguhnya Allah mempunyai hak atas setiap hempusan nafas kita, maka bertakwalah pada Allah.
Tidaklah (Aku) Allah menciptakan jin dan manusia kecuali hanya untuk menyembah-Ku(Allah).
Manusia akan di angkat derajatnya dengan ujian & juga akan dihinakan dengan ujian, maka bagaimanakah kita menyikapi ujian itu agar dapat menjadi ajang pengangkatan derajat kita di mata Allah?
SEBAB HANYA ALLAHLAH YANG MENGUASAI DIRI KITA
From: agus erwanto
Subject: [radionasyid] nasehat Imam Ghazali
To: "radio nasyid"
Date: Monday, February 9, 2009, 9:34 PM Read More ..
Minggu, 15 Februari 2009
Antara Sunnah, Bidah Dan Taklid
Antara Sunnah, Bidah Dan Taklid
Oleh: Iwan Sutedi
إِنَّ الْحَمْدَ لِلَّهِ نَحْمَدُهُ وَنَسْتَعِيْنُهُ وَنَسْتَغْفِرُهْ وَنَعُوذُ بِاللهِ مِنْ شُرُوْرِ أَنْفُسِنَا وَمِنْ سَيِّئَاتِ أَعْمَالِنَا، مَنْ يَهْدِهِ اللهُ فَلاَ مُضِلَّ لَهُ وَمَنْ يُضْلِلْهُ فَلاَ هَادِيَ لَهُ. وَأَشْهَدُ أَنْ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللهُ وَحْدَهُ لاَ شَرِيْكَ لَهُ وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُوْلُهُ. يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ أُوْصِيْكُمْ وَإِيَّايَ بِتَقْوَى اللهِ فَقَدْ فَازَ الْمُتَّقُوْنَ. قَالَ تَعَالَى: يَا أَيُّهاَ الَّذِيْنَ ءَامَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللهَ حَقَّ تُقَاتِهِ وَلاَ تَمُوْتُنَّ إِلاَّ وَأَنتُمْ مُّسْلِمُوْنَ. قَالَ تَعَالَى: يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ اتَّقُوْا رَبَّكُمُ الَّذِيْ خَلَقَكُمْ مِّنْ نَفْسٍ وَاحِدَةٍ وَخَلَقَ مِنْهَا زَوْجَهَا وَبَثَّ مِنْهُمَا رِجَالاً كَثِيْرًا وَنِسَآءً وَاتَّقُوا اللهَ الَّذِيْ تَسَآءَلُوْنَ بِهِ وَاْلأَرْحَامَ إِنَّ اللهَ كَانَ عَلَيْكُمْ رَقِيْبًا. يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِيْنَ ءَامَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللهَ وَقُوْلُوْا قَوْلاً سَدِيْدًا. يُصْلِحْ لَكُمْ أَعْمَالَكُمْ وَيَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ ذُنُوْبَكُمْ وَمَنْ يُطِعِ اللهَ وَرَسُوْلَهُ فَقَدْ فَازَ فَوْزًا عَظِيْمًا.
أَمَّا بَعْدُ؛ فَإِنَّ أَصْدَقَ الْحَدِيثِ كِتَابُ اللهَ، وَخَيْرَ الْهَدْيِ هَدْيُ مُحَمَّدٍ صَلَّى الله عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ وَشَّرَ الأُمُورِ مُحْدَثَاتُهَا وَكُلَّ مُحْدَثَةٍ بِدْعَةٌ وَكُلَّ بِدْعَةٍ ضَلاَلَةٌ وَكُلَّ ضَلاَلَةٍ فِى النَّارِ. اَللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ وَسَلِّمْ عَلَى نَبِيِّنَا مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى آلِهِ وَصَحْبِهِ وَمَنْ تَبِعَهُمْ بِإِحْسَانٍ إِلَى يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ.
Ikhwan fillah rahimakumullah.
Merupakan suatu kewajiban bagi kita untuk menuntut ilmu Al-Qur’an dan As-Sunnah agar kita dapat meghindari dan menolak syubhat di dalam memahami dien Islam ini. Telah kita sepakati bersama bahwa hanya dengan Al-Qur’an dan As-Sunnah kita dapat selamat dan tidak akan tersesat.
Rasulullah Shallallaahu alaihi wa Salam bersabda:
تَرَكْتُ فِيْكُمْ أَمْرَيْنِ لَنْ تَضِلُّوْا مَا تَمَسَّكْتُمْ بِهِمَا، كِتَابَ اللهِ وَسُنَّةَ نَبِيِّهِ.
“Aku tinggalkan pada kalian dua perkara, jika kalian berpegang teguh dengan keduanya kalian tidak akan sesat selama-lamanya yaitu: Kitabullah dan sunnah NabiNya”. (Hadist Riwayat Malik secara mursal (Al-Muwatha, juz 2, hal. 999).
Syaikh Al-Albani mengatakan dalam bukunya At-Tawashshul anwa’uhu wa ahkamuhu, Imam Malik meriwayatkan secara mursal, dan Al-Hakim dari Hadits Ibnu Abbas dan sanadnya hasan, juga hadist ini mempunyai syahid dari hadits jabir telah saya takhrij dalam Silsilah Ahadits As-Shahihah no. 1761).
Adakah pilihan lain agar kita termasuk dalam orang-orang yang selamat dan agar umat Islam ini memperoleh kejayaan lagi selain mengikuti Al-Qur’an dan As-Sunnah dengan pemahaman para Salafus Shalih? tentu tidak ada, karena sebenar-benar ucapan adalah Kalamullah, sebaik-baik petunjuk adalah sunnah Rasulullah Shallallaahu alaihi wa Salam dan sebaik-baik generasi adalah generasi sahabat yang telah Allah puji dan Allah ridhai.
Suatu kebahagiaan kiranya jikalau kita termasuk dalam golongan yang selamat, golongan Tha’ifah Manshurah (kelompok yang mendapat pertolongan) dari Allah.
Ikhwan fillah rahimakumullah
Kebanyakan ummat Islam, kini terjebak dalam taklid buta. Terkadang suatu anjuran untuk mengikuti dan berpegang teguh pada Al-Qur’an dan sunnah serta memalingkan jiwa dari selain keduanya dianggap sebagai seruan yang mengajak kepada pelecehan pendapat para ulama dan menghalangi untuk mengikuti jejak para ulama atau mengajak untuk menyerang perkataan mereka. Padahal tidak demikian yang dimaksudkan, bahkan harus dibedakan antara mengikuti Nabi semata dengan pelecehan terhadap pendapat para ulama. Kita tidak boleh mengutamakan pendapat seseorang di atas apa yang telah dibawa oleh beliau dan tidak juga pemikirannya, siapapun orang tersebut. Apabila seseorang datang kepada kita membawakan suatu hadits, maka hal pertama yang harus kita perhatikan adalah keshahihan hadits tersebut kemudian yang kedua adalah maknanya. Jika sudah shahih dan jelas maknanya maka tidak boleh berpaling dari hadits tersebut walaupun orang disekeliling kita menyalahi kita, selama penerapannya juga benar.
Para Imam ulama salaf yang dijadikan panutan umat, mencegah para pengikutnya mengikuti pendapat mereka tanpa mengetahui dalilnya. Di antara ucapan Abu Hanifah: “Tidak halal bagi seseorang untuk mengambil pendapat kami sebelum dia mengetahui dari mana kami mengambilnya.” Kemudian:
“Bila saya telah berkata dengan satu pendapat yang telah menyalahi kitab Allah ta’ala dan sunah Nabi Shallallaahu alaihi wa Salam , maka tinggalkanlah pendapatku.”
Sedangkan mayoritas ummat Islam sekarang ini mereka berkata, “Ustadz saya berkata.”
Padahal sudah datang kepada mereka firman Allah dalam surat Allah Hujarat ayat 1:
“Hai orang-orang yang beriman, janganlah kamu mendahului Allah dan RasulNya.”
Ibnu Abbas berkata. “Hampir-hampir saja diturunkan atas kalian batu dari langit. Aku mengataklan kepada kalian,” Rasulullah Shallallaahu alaihi wa Salam bersabda, tetapi kalian mengatakan, Abu Bakar berkata, Umar berkata.”
Firman Allah dalam surat 7 ayat 3:
“Ikutilah apa yang diturunkan kepadamu dari Tuhanmu dan janganlah kamu mengikuti pemimpin-pemimpin selainNya. Amat sedikitlah kamu mengambil pelajaran (dari padaNya).”
Kemudian salah satu penyakit umat Islam sekarang ini disamping taklid buta adalah banyaknya para pelaku bid’ah. Dan di antara sebab-sebab yang membawa terjadinya bid’ah adalah:
1. Bodoh tentang hukum agama dan sumber-sumbernya
Adapun sumber-sumber hukum Islam adalah Kitabullah, sunnah RasulNya dan ijma’ dan Qiyas. Setiap kali zaman berjalan dan manusia bertambah jauh dari ilmu yang haq, maka semakin sedikit ilmu dan tersebarlah kebodohan. Maka tidak ada yang mampu untuk menentang dan melawan bi’dah kecuali ilmu dan ulama. Apabila ilmu dan ulama telah tiada dengan wafatnya mereka, bi’dah akan mendapatkan kesempatan dan berpeluang besar untuk muncul dan berjaya dan tokoh-tokoh bid’ah bertebaran menyeret umat ke jalan sesat.
2. Mengikuti hawa nafsu dalam masalah hukum
Yaitu menjadikan hawa nafsu sebagai sumber segalanya dengan menyeret/membawa dalil-dalil Al-Qur’an dan As-Sunnah untuk mendukungnya, dalil-dalil tersebut dihukumi dengan hawa nafsunya. Ini adalah perusakan terhadap syari’at dan tujuannya.
“Maka pernahkah kamu melihat orang yang menjadikan hawa nafsunya sebagai ilah-nya dan Allah membiarkannya sesat berdasarkan ilmuNya dan Allah telah mengunci mati pendengaran dan hatinya dan meletakkan tutupan atas penglihatannya? Maka siapakah yang akan memberinya petunjuk sesudah Allah (membiar-kan sesat) ...” (Al-Jatsiyah: 23).
3. Fanatik buta terhadap pemikiran-pemikiran orang tertentu
Fanatik buta terhadap pemikiran orang-orang tertentu akan memisahkan antara seorang muslim dari dalil dan al-haq. Inilah keadaan orang-orang yang fanatik buta pada zaman kita sekarang ini, Mayoritas terdiri dari pengikut sebagian madzhab-madzab, sufiyyah dan quburiyyun (penyembah-penyembah kuburan), yang apabila mereka diseru untuk mengikuti Al-Kitab dan As-Sunnah, mereka menolaknya. Dan mereka juga menolak apa-apa yang menyelisihi pendapat mereka. Mereka berhujah dengan madzab-madzab, syaikh-syaikh, kiyai-kiyai, bapak-bapak nenek moyang mereka. Ini adalah pintu dari sekian banyak pintu-pintu masuknya bid’ah ke dalam agama Islam ini.
4. Ghuluw (berlebih-lebihan)
Contoh dari point ini adalah madzab khawarij dan syi’ah. Adapun khawarij, mereka ghuluw berlebihan dalam memahami ayat-ayat peringatan dan ancaman. Mereka berpaling dari ayat-ayat raja’ (pengharapan), janji pengampunan dan taubat sebagaimana Allah Subhannahu wa Ta'ala berfirman, yang artinya: “Sesungguhnya Allah tidak mengampuni dosa syirik, dan Dia mengampuni dosa yang selain dari (syirik) itu, bagi siapa yang dikehendakiNya ...” (An-Nisa’: 48,116).
5. Tasyabuh dengan kaum kuffar
Tasyabbuh (menyerupai) kaum kuffar adalah sebab yang paling menonjol terjatuhnya seorang kedalam bid’ah. Hal ini pulalah yang terjadi di zaman kita sekarang ini. Karena mayoritas dari kalangan kaum Muslimin taqlid kepada kaum kuffar pada amal-amal bid’ah dan syirik. Seperti perayaan-perayaan ulang tahun (maulid) dan mengadakan hari-hari atau minggu-minggu khusus dan perayaan serta peringatan bersejarah (menurut anggapan mereka) seperti: peringatan Maulid Nabi. Isra’ Mi’raj, Nuzulul Qur’an dan yang lainnya adalah meyerupai peringatan-peringatan kaum kuffar.
مَنْ تَشَبَّهَ بِقَوْمٍ فَهُوَ مِنْهُمْ.
“Barangsiapa yang menyerupai suatu kaum maka dia termasuk mereka”. (Abu Dawud).
6. Menolak bid’ah dengan bid’ah yang semisalnya atau bahkan yang lebih rusak
Contohnya ialah kaum Murji’ah, Mu’tazilah, Musyabibhah dan Jahmiyyah. Kaum Murji’ah memulai bid’ahnya dalam mensikapi orang-orang yang dizamannya, mereka berkata: “Kita tidak menghakimi mereka dan kita kembalikan urusannya kepada Allah Subhannahu wa Ta'ala ”. Hingga akhirnya mereka sampai pada pendapat bahwa maksiat tidak me-mudharat-kan iman, sebagaimana tidak berfaedah ketaatan yang disertai kekufuran. Al-Baghdadi berkata: “Mereka dinamakan Murji’ah karena mereka memisahkan amal dari keimanan.”
Demikianlah, para ahlul bid’ah menjadikan kebid’ahan-kebid’ahan yang mereka lakukan sebagai satu amalan ataupun suatu sunnah, sedangkan yang benar-benar sunnah mereka jauhi. Padahal sesungguhnya Rasulullah Shallallaahu alaihi wa Salam telah bersabda:
مَنْ عَمِلَ عَمَلاً لَيْسَ عَلَيْهِ أَمْرُنَا فَهُوَ رَدٌّ.
“Barangsiapa mengajarkan suatu amalan yang tidak ada keterangannya dari kami (Rasulullah), maka dia itu tertolak.” (Hadist riwayat Muslim).
Ihwan fillah rahimakumullah
Oleh karena itu jika kita mempelajari seluk beluk taqlid, kemudian kita pelajari hakekat kebid’ahan niscaya kita tahu bahwa ternyata antara bid’ah dan taqlid mempunyai hubungan yang sangat erat sekali. Jika kita perhatikan perbuatan bid’ah niscaya kita akan mengetahui bahwa pelakunya adalah seorang muqallid. Dan kalau kita melihat seorang muqallid, niscaya kita lihat bahwa dia tenggelam dalam kebid’ahan, kecuali bagi mereka yang dirahmati oleh Allah ‘Azza wa Jalla. Berikut ini ada beberapa sebab yang menunjukkan bahwa taqlid itu mempunyai hubungan yang erat dengan bid’ah.
Muqallid tidak bersandar dengan dalil dan tidak mau melihat dalil; jika dia bersandar pada dalil, maka dia tidak lagi dinamakan muqallid. Demikian pula mubtadi’, diapun dalam melakukan kebid’ahan tidak berpegang dengan dalil karena kalau berpegang dengan dalil maka ia tidak lagi dinamakan dengan mubtadi’ karena asal bid’ah adalah mengadakan sesuatu hal yang baru tanpa dalil atau nash.
Taqlid dan bid’ah adalah tempat ketergelinciran yang sangat berbahaya yang menyimpangkan seseorang dari agama dan aqidah. Karena dua hal tersebut akan menjauhkan pelakunya dari nash Al-Qur’an dan As-Sunnah yang merupakan sumber kebenaran.
Taqlid dan bid’ah merupakan sebab utama tersesatnya umat terdahulu. Allah Subhannahu wa Ta'ala menceritakan dalam Al-Qur’an tentang Bani Isra’il yang meminta Musa Alaihissalam untuk menjadikan bagi mereka satu ilah dari berhala, karena taqlid kepada para penyembah berhala yang pernah mereka lewati.
FirmanNya:
“Dan kami seberangkan Bani Israil keseberang lautan itu, maka setelah mereka sampai pada satu kaum yang telah menyembah berhala mereka, Bani Israil berkata: “Hai Musa, buatlah untuk kami sebuah ilah (berhala) sebagaimana mereka mempunyai beberapa ilah (berhala)!. Musa menjawab: “Sesungguhnya kamu adalah kaum yang tidak mengetahui (sifat-sifat Ilah)! “sesungguhnya mereka itu akan dihancurkan kepercayaan yang dianutnya dan akan batal apa yang selalu mereka kerjakan.” (Al- A’raf: 138-139).
Sekalipun Nabi Musa Alaihissalam melarang dan mencerca mereka dan mereka mengetahui bahwa arca itu hanyalah bebatuan yang tidak memberi manfaat dan mudlarat, tetapi mereka tetap membikin patung anak sapi dan menyembahnya.
Hal ini disebabkan karena taqlid yang sudah menimpa diri mereka. Ayat ini sangat jelas menunjukkan bahaya taqlid dan hubungannya yang sangat erat dengan kebid’ahan bahkan dengan kesyirikan dan kekufuran. Hal inilah yang merupakan sebab kesesatan Bani Isra’il dan umat lainnya, termasuk sebagian besar ummat Muhammad Shallallaahu alaihi wa Salam .
Terakhir adalah bagaimana cara kita untuk keluar dari bid’ah ini
Jalan keluar dari bid’ah ini telah di gariskan oleh Rasulullah Shallallaahu alaihi wa Salam dalam banyak hadits. Dan satu di antaranya adalah berpegang teguh pada Al-Qur’an dan As-Sunnah dengan pemahaman para Salafus Shahih, , karena mereka adalah orang yang paling besar cintanya kepada Allah dan RasulNya, paling kuat ittiba’nya, paling dalam ilmunya, dan paling luas pemahamannya terhadap dua wahyu yang mulia tersebut. Dengan cara ini seorang muslim mampu berpegang teguh dengan agamanya dan bebas dari kotoran yang mencemari dan terhindar dari semua kebid’ahan yang menyesatkan.
Mudah-mudahan Allah senantiasa memberikan taufiq dan hidayahNya kepada kita semua dan kepada saudara-saudara kita yang terjerumus dan bergelimang di dalam kebid’ahan. Mudah-mudahan pula Allah menambah ilmu kita, menganugrahkan kekuatan iman dan takwa untuk bisa tetap istiqomah di atas manhaj yang hak dan menjalani sisa hidup di jaman yang penuh fitnah ini dengan bimbingan syari’at Muhammadiyah (syariat yang dibawa oleh Muhammad Shallallaahu alaihi wa Salam ), sampai kita bertemu Allah dengan membawa bekal husnul khatimah.
Amin ya Rabbal Alamin.
بَارَكَ اللهُ لِيْ وَلَكُمْ فِي الْقُرْآنِ الْعَظِيْمِ، وَنَفَعَنِيْ وَإِيَّاكُمْ بِمَا فِيْهِ مِنَ اْلآيَاتِ وَالذِّكْرِ الْحَكِيْمِ. أَقُوْلُ قَوْلِيْ هَذَا وَأَسْتَغْفِرُ اللهَ الْعَظِيْمَ لِيْ وَلَكُمْ.
Khutbah Kedua
إِنَّ الْحَمْدَ لِلَّهِ نَحْمَدُهُ وَنَسْتَعِيْنُهُ وَنَسْتَغْفِرُهْ وَنَعُوذُ بِاللهِ مِنْ شُرُوْرِ أَنْفُسِنَا وَمِنْ سَيِّئَاتِ أَعْمَالِنَا، مَنْ يَهْدِهِ اللهُ فَلاَ مُضِلَّ لَهُ وَمَنْ يُضْلِلْ فَلاَ هَادِيَ لَهُ. أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللهُ وَحْدَهُ لاَ شَرِيْكَ لَهُ وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُوْلُهُ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَى نَبِيِّنَا مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى آلِهِ وَأَصْحَابِهِ وَسَلَّمَ تَسْلِيْمًا كَثِيْرًا. قَالَ تَعَالَى: يَا أَيُّهاَ الَّذِيْنَ ءَامَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللهَ حَقَّ تُقَاتِهِ وَلاَ تَمُوْتُنَّ إِلاَّ وَأَنتُمْ مُّسْلِمُوْنَ. قَالَ تَعَالَى: {وَمَن يَتَّقِ اللهَ يَجْعَل لَّهُ مَخْرَجًا} وَقَالَ: {وَمَن يَتَّقِ اللهَ يُكَفِّرْ عَنْهُ سَيِّئَاتِهِ وَيُعْظِمْ لَهُ أَجْرًا}. ثُمَّ اعْلَمُوْا فَإِنَّ اللهَ أَمَرَكُمْ بِالصَّلاَةِ وَالسَّلاَمِ عَلَى رَسُوْلِهِ فَقَالَ: {إِنَّ اللهَ وَمَلاَئِكَتَهُ يُصَلُّوْنَ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ، يَا أَيُّهاَ الَّذِيْنَ ءَامَنُوْا صَلُّوْا عَلَيْهِ وَسَلِّمُوْا تَسْلِيْمًا}.
اَللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ كَمَا صَلَّيْتَ عَلَى إِبْرَاهِيْمَ وَعَلَى آلِ إِبْرَاهِيْمَ، إِنَّكَ حَمِيْدٌ مَجِيْدٌ. وَبَارِكْ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ كَمَا بَارَكْتَ عَلَى إِبْرَاهِيْمَ وَعَلَى آلِ إِبْرَاهِيْمَ، إِنَّكَ حَمِيْدٌ مَجِيْدٌ. اَللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِلْمُسْلِمِيْنَ وَالْمُسْلِمَاتِ، وَالْمُؤْمِنِيْنَ وَالْمُؤْمِنَاتِ اْلأَحْيَاءِ مِنْهُمْ وَاْلأَمْوَاتِ، إِنَّكَ سَمِيْعٌ قَرِيْبٌ. اَللَّهُمَّ أَرِنَا الْحَقَّ حَقًّا وَارْزُقْنَا اتِّبَاعَهُ، وَأَرِنَا الْبَاطِلَ باَطِلاً وَارْزُقْنَا اجْتِنَابَهُ. رَبَّنَا آتِنَا فِي الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً وَفِي الآخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً وَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ. رَبَّنَا هَبْ لَنَا مِنْ أَزْوَاجِنَا وَذُرِّيَّاتِنَا قُرَّةَ أَعْيُنٍ وَاجْعَلْنَا لِلْمُتَّقِينَ إِمَامًا. سُبْحَانَ رَبِّكَ رَبِّ الْعِزَّةِ عَمَّا يَصِفُوْنَ، وَسَلاَمٌ عَلَى الْمُرْسَلِيْنَ وَالْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِيْنَ. وَصَلَّى اللهُ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى آلِهِ وَصَحْبِهِ وَسَلَّمَ. وَأَقِمِ الصَّلاَةَ. Read More ..
Oleh: Iwan Sutedi
إِنَّ الْحَمْدَ لِلَّهِ نَحْمَدُهُ وَنَسْتَعِيْنُهُ وَنَسْتَغْفِرُهْ وَنَعُوذُ بِاللهِ مِنْ شُرُوْرِ أَنْفُسِنَا وَمِنْ سَيِّئَاتِ أَعْمَالِنَا، مَنْ يَهْدِهِ اللهُ فَلاَ مُضِلَّ لَهُ وَمَنْ يُضْلِلْهُ فَلاَ هَادِيَ لَهُ. وَأَشْهَدُ أَنْ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللهُ وَحْدَهُ لاَ شَرِيْكَ لَهُ وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُوْلُهُ. يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ أُوْصِيْكُمْ وَإِيَّايَ بِتَقْوَى اللهِ فَقَدْ فَازَ الْمُتَّقُوْنَ. قَالَ تَعَالَى: يَا أَيُّهاَ الَّذِيْنَ ءَامَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللهَ حَقَّ تُقَاتِهِ وَلاَ تَمُوْتُنَّ إِلاَّ وَأَنتُمْ مُّسْلِمُوْنَ. قَالَ تَعَالَى: يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ اتَّقُوْا رَبَّكُمُ الَّذِيْ خَلَقَكُمْ مِّنْ نَفْسٍ وَاحِدَةٍ وَخَلَقَ مِنْهَا زَوْجَهَا وَبَثَّ مِنْهُمَا رِجَالاً كَثِيْرًا وَنِسَآءً وَاتَّقُوا اللهَ الَّذِيْ تَسَآءَلُوْنَ بِهِ وَاْلأَرْحَامَ إِنَّ اللهَ كَانَ عَلَيْكُمْ رَقِيْبًا. يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِيْنَ ءَامَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللهَ وَقُوْلُوْا قَوْلاً سَدِيْدًا. يُصْلِحْ لَكُمْ أَعْمَالَكُمْ وَيَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ ذُنُوْبَكُمْ وَمَنْ يُطِعِ اللهَ وَرَسُوْلَهُ فَقَدْ فَازَ فَوْزًا عَظِيْمًا.
أَمَّا بَعْدُ؛ فَإِنَّ أَصْدَقَ الْحَدِيثِ كِتَابُ اللهَ، وَخَيْرَ الْهَدْيِ هَدْيُ مُحَمَّدٍ صَلَّى الله عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ وَشَّرَ الأُمُورِ مُحْدَثَاتُهَا وَكُلَّ مُحْدَثَةٍ بِدْعَةٌ وَكُلَّ بِدْعَةٍ ضَلاَلَةٌ وَكُلَّ ضَلاَلَةٍ فِى النَّارِ. اَللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ وَسَلِّمْ عَلَى نَبِيِّنَا مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى آلِهِ وَصَحْبِهِ وَمَنْ تَبِعَهُمْ بِإِحْسَانٍ إِلَى يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ.
Ikhwan fillah rahimakumullah.
Merupakan suatu kewajiban bagi kita untuk menuntut ilmu Al-Qur’an dan As-Sunnah agar kita dapat meghindari dan menolak syubhat di dalam memahami dien Islam ini. Telah kita sepakati bersama bahwa hanya dengan Al-Qur’an dan As-Sunnah kita dapat selamat dan tidak akan tersesat.
Rasulullah Shallallaahu alaihi wa Salam bersabda:
تَرَكْتُ فِيْكُمْ أَمْرَيْنِ لَنْ تَضِلُّوْا مَا تَمَسَّكْتُمْ بِهِمَا، كِتَابَ اللهِ وَسُنَّةَ نَبِيِّهِ.
“Aku tinggalkan pada kalian dua perkara, jika kalian berpegang teguh dengan keduanya kalian tidak akan sesat selama-lamanya yaitu: Kitabullah dan sunnah NabiNya”. (Hadist Riwayat Malik secara mursal (Al-Muwatha, juz 2, hal. 999).
Syaikh Al-Albani mengatakan dalam bukunya At-Tawashshul anwa’uhu wa ahkamuhu, Imam Malik meriwayatkan secara mursal, dan Al-Hakim dari Hadits Ibnu Abbas dan sanadnya hasan, juga hadist ini mempunyai syahid dari hadits jabir telah saya takhrij dalam Silsilah Ahadits As-Shahihah no. 1761).
Adakah pilihan lain agar kita termasuk dalam orang-orang yang selamat dan agar umat Islam ini memperoleh kejayaan lagi selain mengikuti Al-Qur’an dan As-Sunnah dengan pemahaman para Salafus Shalih? tentu tidak ada, karena sebenar-benar ucapan adalah Kalamullah, sebaik-baik petunjuk adalah sunnah Rasulullah Shallallaahu alaihi wa Salam dan sebaik-baik generasi adalah generasi sahabat yang telah Allah puji dan Allah ridhai.
Suatu kebahagiaan kiranya jikalau kita termasuk dalam golongan yang selamat, golongan Tha’ifah Manshurah (kelompok yang mendapat pertolongan) dari Allah.
Ikhwan fillah rahimakumullah
Kebanyakan ummat Islam, kini terjebak dalam taklid buta. Terkadang suatu anjuran untuk mengikuti dan berpegang teguh pada Al-Qur’an dan sunnah serta memalingkan jiwa dari selain keduanya dianggap sebagai seruan yang mengajak kepada pelecehan pendapat para ulama dan menghalangi untuk mengikuti jejak para ulama atau mengajak untuk menyerang perkataan mereka. Padahal tidak demikian yang dimaksudkan, bahkan harus dibedakan antara mengikuti Nabi semata dengan pelecehan terhadap pendapat para ulama. Kita tidak boleh mengutamakan pendapat seseorang di atas apa yang telah dibawa oleh beliau dan tidak juga pemikirannya, siapapun orang tersebut. Apabila seseorang datang kepada kita membawakan suatu hadits, maka hal pertama yang harus kita perhatikan adalah keshahihan hadits tersebut kemudian yang kedua adalah maknanya. Jika sudah shahih dan jelas maknanya maka tidak boleh berpaling dari hadits tersebut walaupun orang disekeliling kita menyalahi kita, selama penerapannya juga benar.
Para Imam ulama salaf yang dijadikan panutan umat, mencegah para pengikutnya mengikuti pendapat mereka tanpa mengetahui dalilnya. Di antara ucapan Abu Hanifah: “Tidak halal bagi seseorang untuk mengambil pendapat kami sebelum dia mengetahui dari mana kami mengambilnya.” Kemudian:
“Bila saya telah berkata dengan satu pendapat yang telah menyalahi kitab Allah ta’ala dan sunah Nabi Shallallaahu alaihi wa Salam , maka tinggalkanlah pendapatku.”
Sedangkan mayoritas ummat Islam sekarang ini mereka berkata, “Ustadz saya berkata.”
Padahal sudah datang kepada mereka firman Allah dalam surat Allah Hujarat ayat 1:
“Hai orang-orang yang beriman, janganlah kamu mendahului Allah dan RasulNya.”
Ibnu Abbas berkata. “Hampir-hampir saja diturunkan atas kalian batu dari langit. Aku mengataklan kepada kalian,” Rasulullah Shallallaahu alaihi wa Salam bersabda, tetapi kalian mengatakan, Abu Bakar berkata, Umar berkata.”
Firman Allah dalam surat 7 ayat 3:
“Ikutilah apa yang diturunkan kepadamu dari Tuhanmu dan janganlah kamu mengikuti pemimpin-pemimpin selainNya. Amat sedikitlah kamu mengambil pelajaran (dari padaNya).”
Kemudian salah satu penyakit umat Islam sekarang ini disamping taklid buta adalah banyaknya para pelaku bid’ah. Dan di antara sebab-sebab yang membawa terjadinya bid’ah adalah:
1. Bodoh tentang hukum agama dan sumber-sumbernya
Adapun sumber-sumber hukum Islam adalah Kitabullah, sunnah RasulNya dan ijma’ dan Qiyas. Setiap kali zaman berjalan dan manusia bertambah jauh dari ilmu yang haq, maka semakin sedikit ilmu dan tersebarlah kebodohan. Maka tidak ada yang mampu untuk menentang dan melawan bi’dah kecuali ilmu dan ulama. Apabila ilmu dan ulama telah tiada dengan wafatnya mereka, bi’dah akan mendapatkan kesempatan dan berpeluang besar untuk muncul dan berjaya dan tokoh-tokoh bid’ah bertebaran menyeret umat ke jalan sesat.
2. Mengikuti hawa nafsu dalam masalah hukum
Yaitu menjadikan hawa nafsu sebagai sumber segalanya dengan menyeret/membawa dalil-dalil Al-Qur’an dan As-Sunnah untuk mendukungnya, dalil-dalil tersebut dihukumi dengan hawa nafsunya. Ini adalah perusakan terhadap syari’at dan tujuannya.
“Maka pernahkah kamu melihat orang yang menjadikan hawa nafsunya sebagai ilah-nya dan Allah membiarkannya sesat berdasarkan ilmuNya dan Allah telah mengunci mati pendengaran dan hatinya dan meletakkan tutupan atas penglihatannya? Maka siapakah yang akan memberinya petunjuk sesudah Allah (membiar-kan sesat) ...” (Al-Jatsiyah: 23).
3. Fanatik buta terhadap pemikiran-pemikiran orang tertentu
Fanatik buta terhadap pemikiran orang-orang tertentu akan memisahkan antara seorang muslim dari dalil dan al-haq. Inilah keadaan orang-orang yang fanatik buta pada zaman kita sekarang ini, Mayoritas terdiri dari pengikut sebagian madzhab-madzab, sufiyyah dan quburiyyun (penyembah-penyembah kuburan), yang apabila mereka diseru untuk mengikuti Al-Kitab dan As-Sunnah, mereka menolaknya. Dan mereka juga menolak apa-apa yang menyelisihi pendapat mereka. Mereka berhujah dengan madzab-madzab, syaikh-syaikh, kiyai-kiyai, bapak-bapak nenek moyang mereka. Ini adalah pintu dari sekian banyak pintu-pintu masuknya bid’ah ke dalam agama Islam ini.
4. Ghuluw (berlebih-lebihan)
Contoh dari point ini adalah madzab khawarij dan syi’ah. Adapun khawarij, mereka ghuluw berlebihan dalam memahami ayat-ayat peringatan dan ancaman. Mereka berpaling dari ayat-ayat raja’ (pengharapan), janji pengampunan dan taubat sebagaimana Allah Subhannahu wa Ta'ala berfirman, yang artinya: “Sesungguhnya Allah tidak mengampuni dosa syirik, dan Dia mengampuni dosa yang selain dari (syirik) itu, bagi siapa yang dikehendakiNya ...” (An-Nisa’: 48,116).
5. Tasyabuh dengan kaum kuffar
Tasyabbuh (menyerupai) kaum kuffar adalah sebab yang paling menonjol terjatuhnya seorang kedalam bid’ah. Hal ini pulalah yang terjadi di zaman kita sekarang ini. Karena mayoritas dari kalangan kaum Muslimin taqlid kepada kaum kuffar pada amal-amal bid’ah dan syirik. Seperti perayaan-perayaan ulang tahun (maulid) dan mengadakan hari-hari atau minggu-minggu khusus dan perayaan serta peringatan bersejarah (menurut anggapan mereka) seperti: peringatan Maulid Nabi. Isra’ Mi’raj, Nuzulul Qur’an dan yang lainnya adalah meyerupai peringatan-peringatan kaum kuffar.
مَنْ تَشَبَّهَ بِقَوْمٍ فَهُوَ مِنْهُمْ.
“Barangsiapa yang menyerupai suatu kaum maka dia termasuk mereka”. (Abu Dawud).
6. Menolak bid’ah dengan bid’ah yang semisalnya atau bahkan yang lebih rusak
Contohnya ialah kaum Murji’ah, Mu’tazilah, Musyabibhah dan Jahmiyyah. Kaum Murji’ah memulai bid’ahnya dalam mensikapi orang-orang yang dizamannya, mereka berkata: “Kita tidak menghakimi mereka dan kita kembalikan urusannya kepada Allah Subhannahu wa Ta'ala ”. Hingga akhirnya mereka sampai pada pendapat bahwa maksiat tidak me-mudharat-kan iman, sebagaimana tidak berfaedah ketaatan yang disertai kekufuran. Al-Baghdadi berkata: “Mereka dinamakan Murji’ah karena mereka memisahkan amal dari keimanan.”
Demikianlah, para ahlul bid’ah menjadikan kebid’ahan-kebid’ahan yang mereka lakukan sebagai satu amalan ataupun suatu sunnah, sedangkan yang benar-benar sunnah mereka jauhi. Padahal sesungguhnya Rasulullah Shallallaahu alaihi wa Salam telah bersabda:
مَنْ عَمِلَ عَمَلاً لَيْسَ عَلَيْهِ أَمْرُنَا فَهُوَ رَدٌّ.
“Barangsiapa mengajarkan suatu amalan yang tidak ada keterangannya dari kami (Rasulullah), maka dia itu tertolak.” (Hadist riwayat Muslim).
Ihwan fillah rahimakumullah
Oleh karena itu jika kita mempelajari seluk beluk taqlid, kemudian kita pelajari hakekat kebid’ahan niscaya kita tahu bahwa ternyata antara bid’ah dan taqlid mempunyai hubungan yang sangat erat sekali. Jika kita perhatikan perbuatan bid’ah niscaya kita akan mengetahui bahwa pelakunya adalah seorang muqallid. Dan kalau kita melihat seorang muqallid, niscaya kita lihat bahwa dia tenggelam dalam kebid’ahan, kecuali bagi mereka yang dirahmati oleh Allah ‘Azza wa Jalla. Berikut ini ada beberapa sebab yang menunjukkan bahwa taqlid itu mempunyai hubungan yang erat dengan bid’ah.
Muqallid tidak bersandar dengan dalil dan tidak mau melihat dalil; jika dia bersandar pada dalil, maka dia tidak lagi dinamakan muqallid. Demikian pula mubtadi’, diapun dalam melakukan kebid’ahan tidak berpegang dengan dalil karena kalau berpegang dengan dalil maka ia tidak lagi dinamakan dengan mubtadi’ karena asal bid’ah adalah mengadakan sesuatu hal yang baru tanpa dalil atau nash.
Taqlid dan bid’ah adalah tempat ketergelinciran yang sangat berbahaya yang menyimpangkan seseorang dari agama dan aqidah. Karena dua hal tersebut akan menjauhkan pelakunya dari nash Al-Qur’an dan As-Sunnah yang merupakan sumber kebenaran.
Taqlid dan bid’ah merupakan sebab utama tersesatnya umat terdahulu. Allah Subhannahu wa Ta'ala menceritakan dalam Al-Qur’an tentang Bani Isra’il yang meminta Musa Alaihissalam untuk menjadikan bagi mereka satu ilah dari berhala, karena taqlid kepada para penyembah berhala yang pernah mereka lewati.
FirmanNya:
“Dan kami seberangkan Bani Israil keseberang lautan itu, maka setelah mereka sampai pada satu kaum yang telah menyembah berhala mereka, Bani Israil berkata: “Hai Musa, buatlah untuk kami sebuah ilah (berhala) sebagaimana mereka mempunyai beberapa ilah (berhala)!. Musa menjawab: “Sesungguhnya kamu adalah kaum yang tidak mengetahui (sifat-sifat Ilah)! “sesungguhnya mereka itu akan dihancurkan kepercayaan yang dianutnya dan akan batal apa yang selalu mereka kerjakan.” (Al- A’raf: 138-139).
Sekalipun Nabi Musa Alaihissalam melarang dan mencerca mereka dan mereka mengetahui bahwa arca itu hanyalah bebatuan yang tidak memberi manfaat dan mudlarat, tetapi mereka tetap membikin patung anak sapi dan menyembahnya.
Hal ini disebabkan karena taqlid yang sudah menimpa diri mereka. Ayat ini sangat jelas menunjukkan bahaya taqlid dan hubungannya yang sangat erat dengan kebid’ahan bahkan dengan kesyirikan dan kekufuran. Hal inilah yang merupakan sebab kesesatan Bani Isra’il dan umat lainnya, termasuk sebagian besar ummat Muhammad Shallallaahu alaihi wa Salam .
Terakhir adalah bagaimana cara kita untuk keluar dari bid’ah ini
Jalan keluar dari bid’ah ini telah di gariskan oleh Rasulullah Shallallaahu alaihi wa Salam dalam banyak hadits. Dan satu di antaranya adalah berpegang teguh pada Al-Qur’an dan As-Sunnah dengan pemahaman para Salafus Shahih, , karena mereka adalah orang yang paling besar cintanya kepada Allah dan RasulNya, paling kuat ittiba’nya, paling dalam ilmunya, dan paling luas pemahamannya terhadap dua wahyu yang mulia tersebut. Dengan cara ini seorang muslim mampu berpegang teguh dengan agamanya dan bebas dari kotoran yang mencemari dan terhindar dari semua kebid’ahan yang menyesatkan.
Mudah-mudahan Allah senantiasa memberikan taufiq dan hidayahNya kepada kita semua dan kepada saudara-saudara kita yang terjerumus dan bergelimang di dalam kebid’ahan. Mudah-mudahan pula Allah menambah ilmu kita, menganugrahkan kekuatan iman dan takwa untuk bisa tetap istiqomah di atas manhaj yang hak dan menjalani sisa hidup di jaman yang penuh fitnah ini dengan bimbingan syari’at Muhammadiyah (syariat yang dibawa oleh Muhammad Shallallaahu alaihi wa Salam ), sampai kita bertemu Allah dengan membawa bekal husnul khatimah.
Amin ya Rabbal Alamin.
بَارَكَ اللهُ لِيْ وَلَكُمْ فِي الْقُرْآنِ الْعَظِيْمِ، وَنَفَعَنِيْ وَإِيَّاكُمْ بِمَا فِيْهِ مِنَ اْلآيَاتِ وَالذِّكْرِ الْحَكِيْمِ. أَقُوْلُ قَوْلِيْ هَذَا وَأَسْتَغْفِرُ اللهَ الْعَظِيْمَ لِيْ وَلَكُمْ.
Khutbah Kedua
إِنَّ الْحَمْدَ لِلَّهِ نَحْمَدُهُ وَنَسْتَعِيْنُهُ وَنَسْتَغْفِرُهْ وَنَعُوذُ بِاللهِ مِنْ شُرُوْرِ أَنْفُسِنَا وَمِنْ سَيِّئَاتِ أَعْمَالِنَا، مَنْ يَهْدِهِ اللهُ فَلاَ مُضِلَّ لَهُ وَمَنْ يُضْلِلْ فَلاَ هَادِيَ لَهُ. أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللهُ وَحْدَهُ لاَ شَرِيْكَ لَهُ وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُوْلُهُ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَى نَبِيِّنَا مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى آلِهِ وَأَصْحَابِهِ وَسَلَّمَ تَسْلِيْمًا كَثِيْرًا. قَالَ تَعَالَى: يَا أَيُّهاَ الَّذِيْنَ ءَامَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللهَ حَقَّ تُقَاتِهِ وَلاَ تَمُوْتُنَّ إِلاَّ وَأَنتُمْ مُّسْلِمُوْنَ. قَالَ تَعَالَى: {وَمَن يَتَّقِ اللهَ يَجْعَل لَّهُ مَخْرَجًا} وَقَالَ: {وَمَن يَتَّقِ اللهَ يُكَفِّرْ عَنْهُ سَيِّئَاتِهِ وَيُعْظِمْ لَهُ أَجْرًا}. ثُمَّ اعْلَمُوْا فَإِنَّ اللهَ أَمَرَكُمْ بِالصَّلاَةِ وَالسَّلاَمِ عَلَى رَسُوْلِهِ فَقَالَ: {إِنَّ اللهَ وَمَلاَئِكَتَهُ يُصَلُّوْنَ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ، يَا أَيُّهاَ الَّذِيْنَ ءَامَنُوْا صَلُّوْا عَلَيْهِ وَسَلِّمُوْا تَسْلِيْمًا}.
اَللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ كَمَا صَلَّيْتَ عَلَى إِبْرَاهِيْمَ وَعَلَى آلِ إِبْرَاهِيْمَ، إِنَّكَ حَمِيْدٌ مَجِيْدٌ. وَبَارِكْ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ كَمَا بَارَكْتَ عَلَى إِبْرَاهِيْمَ وَعَلَى آلِ إِبْرَاهِيْمَ، إِنَّكَ حَمِيْدٌ مَجِيْدٌ. اَللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِلْمُسْلِمِيْنَ وَالْمُسْلِمَاتِ، وَالْمُؤْمِنِيْنَ وَالْمُؤْمِنَاتِ اْلأَحْيَاءِ مِنْهُمْ وَاْلأَمْوَاتِ، إِنَّكَ سَمِيْعٌ قَرِيْبٌ. اَللَّهُمَّ أَرِنَا الْحَقَّ حَقًّا وَارْزُقْنَا اتِّبَاعَهُ، وَأَرِنَا الْبَاطِلَ باَطِلاً وَارْزُقْنَا اجْتِنَابَهُ. رَبَّنَا آتِنَا فِي الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً وَفِي الآخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً وَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ. رَبَّنَا هَبْ لَنَا مِنْ أَزْوَاجِنَا وَذُرِّيَّاتِنَا قُرَّةَ أَعْيُنٍ وَاجْعَلْنَا لِلْمُتَّقِينَ إِمَامًا. سُبْحَانَ رَبِّكَ رَبِّ الْعِزَّةِ عَمَّا يَصِفُوْنَ، وَسَلاَمٌ عَلَى الْمُرْسَلِيْنَ وَالْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِيْنَ. وَصَلَّى اللهُ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى آلِهِ وَصَحْبِهِ وَسَلَّمَ. وَأَقِمِ الصَّلاَةَ. Read More ..
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