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The Quran, chapter 16/98: …When you read the Quran, you shall seek refuge in Allah from the Shaitaan the Rejected

Shirk is an offense not forgiven by Allah and those who indulge in shirk lose Allah’s protection against His punishments in this world and in the hereafter(4/48, 4/115). Shirk is generally understood as idol-worship and polytheism, which is a false understanding. This also results in a false understanding about monotheism/tawheed, because it is (also falsely) regarded as the anti-thesis of shirk. The false understanding that a monotheist/momin(believer in Tawheed/Allah’s oneness) cannot be a mushrik.

Shirk cannot be understood correctly without ‘ikhlaas’ as its antithesis. Shirk means neither idol-worship nor polytheism. It means ‘inclusiveness’ in ibadah/subservience of Allah. Inclusion of outside elements, elements that do not belong. Shirk is the condition of being inclusive/impure as opposed to ikhlaas, the condition of being exclusive(of outside elements)/pure. The word “ikhlaas” comes from the root

Kha-Laam-Saad, which is used in the Quran to means exclusiveness.

This website is named after the 112th chapter of the Quran, rightly titled, Al-Ikhlaas:


112/1: Say: Allah is ahad/unique.
112/2: Allah is Absolute.
112/3: He does not beget, nor is He begotten.
112/4: And there is none even comparable to Him.

Belief in Tawheed(Allah’s oneness) is the starting point of a believer. Al-Ikhlaas is something additional to the belief in Tawheed and necessary to keep the believers/monotheists free from shirk. In fact, this chapter is not about Allah’s Tawheed/Wahidiayyat/Oneness, as it is claimed to be. Allah is One indeed, but this particular chapter is about Allah’s Aahadiyyat/Uniqueness. Being wahid/one is not same as being ahad/unique:


One(wahid) can be included/associated(i.e. one can be made a shareek) with another. Logically, the one will still remain one, and at the same time be included/associated with the other. Therefore tawheed and shirk cannot logically be the antithesis of each other.

On the other hand, the one who is unique(ahad) cannot be rightfully included/associated(i.e cannot be made a shareek) with anyone else, because He is unlike everyone and everything. The one who is as unique/ahad as Allah(112/2-4) cannot be categorized with anyone else. Because He is not just one, He is also alone in His roles and His Attributes.

Due to His uniqueness/ahadiyyat, no one can rightfully be included/made shareek in any of His roles, for example:

He is the rightful Rabbinnaas(114/1), as the One who is the rabb/developer of the skies and the earth and all that is between them(19/65), exclusively deserves to be entrusted with the development/rabubiyyat of the people as well.

He is the rightful Malikinnaas(114/2), because the One who has the Mulk/Power/Dominance/Ownership of the skies and the earth(25/2) deserves exclusively to be the Malik/Dominator/King of the people as well i.e. the Power/Mulk He grants(3/26) to people deserves to be executed exclusively in accordance with His will, His book.

He is the rightful Ilahinnaas(114/3), because The One who is the Ilah in the skies and the Ilah in the earth(43/84) exclusively deserves to be regarded as the Ilah/’ultimate authority’ in all human affairs as well.

It is this recognition of Allah’s ahadiyat/uniqueness that can bring about ikhlaas/exclusiveness and eliminate shirk/inclusiveness from the believers’ lives, their ibadah/subservience, their deen/power-system.

This recognition is absent in the Muslim world.

Tawheed(oneness/monotheism) and shirk(inclusiveness) can co-exist under one roof. Ikhlaas and shirk cannot. A person can be momin(monotheist/believer in one Allah) and mushrik(inclusive) at the same time. But he/she cannot be mukhlis(exclusive) and mushrik
(inclusive) at the same time. Ikhlaas(exclusiveness) and shirk(inclusiveness) are the antithesis of each other. The traditional “Muslim” belief about Tawheed and Shirk, therefore, is fundamentally flawed, fundamentally unislamic/unquranic.

It is the mukhlis/exclusive ibadah of allah, and not mere belief in Tawheed, that is the decisive factor in sparing Allah’s punishment in this world and the hereafter:


4/118: Allah has cursed him(Shaitaan); and he had said: “I will assuredly take a definite portion of your servants/ibaad”.

38/82: He(Shaitaan) said: “By Your majesty, I will assuredly mislead them all.”
38/83: “Except for those among Your ibaad/servants who are al-mukhliseen/Exclusive(to You).”
38/84: He(Allah) said: “Therefore the Truth is, and the Truth is all I speak,”
38/85: “that I will fill Hell with you and all those who follow you.”

The verse below calls ‘mukhlis/exclusive ibadah'(al-ikhlaas/Exclusiveness) the siraat-e-mustaqeem/straight path(leading towards Allah):


15/39: He(Shiataan) said: My Lord! Because Thou hast sent me astray, I verily shall adorn the path of error for them in the earth, and shall mislead them collectively

15/40: Except for those among Your ibaad/servants who are mukhliseen/exclusive(to You).
15/41: He(Allah) said: This(mukhlis/exclusive ibadah) is the siraate mustaqeem/straight path incumbent upon Me.

In the same manner, the Quran also calls itself the siraat-e-mustaqeem(6/126).This equates mukhlis/exclusive ibadah of Allah(al-ikhlaas) with walking the path of the Quran exclusively during the course of one’s life. That is the only purpose that we are given life for:


51/56: And I have not created the jinns and humans except that they may give ibadah/service to Me

But ibadah is not what it is generally understood as. Ibadah is much more than worship. Ibadah is one’s subservience to Allah’s will in all matters dealt with in His book. And Allah’s ibadah/subservience/service cannot result without the implementation of His Hukm(Rule/Government/Verdict) in accordance with His Book.

This can happen only under Khilaafah(Representation of Allah’s Power and His Will) on a land where the Hukm/Rule/Government is dominated by those who have emaan/conviction in the sole authority of Allah and work for the islah/rehabilitation/reparation of the soceity. These khalaaif(representatives) will represent Allah’s will by ruling/governing in accordance with His Book. Only then can the believers make their subservience/ibadah exclusive/mukhlis(free from inclusiveness/shirk) for Allah. Only then will Al-islam be re-established. Those who think that al-islam is still in place and in practice should reconsider:


24/55: Allah promises those among you who believe and do works of islah/reparation, that He will make them khalaaif/representatives on earth, like He made representatives from those before them, and He will put in place for them their ‘deen/power-system/life-transaction'(which is to give ibadah/service to Allah, 10/104) which He has approved for them(i.e. al-islam, 5/6), and He will substitute security for them after fearThey shall give ibadah/service to Me, not including/making shareek with Me anything(i.e. ibadah will be exclusive/khaalis to Allah). And those who reject after that, they are the ones who are the wicked.

When Al-islam takes place, peace/harmony is attained and fear is replaced with security. The present state of the world(including the Muslim world) is hardly secure and peaceful. Nor is Al-islam promised to everyone who labels himself/herself a Muslim, but only to those who believe AND do works of islah/reparation. This promise does not suit the present-day Muslims, who are mostly those who believe AND commit shirk/inclusiveness in ibadah of Allah by upholding the hukm/rule/government/ of others beside Allah. According to Allah’s promise, under such conditions, Al-islam just cannot exist. So what “Islam”, then, have the Mullahs been preaching?

Whatever remains of al-Islam(or whatever it is that remains as Islam) today, remains as a ritualistic, superstitious religion, most of its beliefs and practices having nothing to do with the Quran. Al-Islam in Allah’s book is not a religion/faith. Al-Islam is the Deen/Power-system of Allah for those who have faith in Him, the believers, where Allah’s Hukm/Rule dominates all aspects of their lives. Al-islam is a moral and political code of life that the believers are indebted to living, in exchange for all the provisions of life given by Allah.

Man did not make any pledge before coming to this world to be subservient to man-made laws. He came into existence as a servant of Allah. Man is not obliged to and should not be made to follow any man-made rules/laws in matters already dealt with in the book of Allah. He is obliged only to give his ibadah/service to Allah by living in accordance with the rule/Hukm of His Book, and not to give it to Shaitaan:


36/60: “Did I not pledge to you, O Children of Adam, that you should not serve(give ibadah to) the Shaitaan? For certain he is your open enemy”

36/61: “And that you should serve(give ibadah to) Me? This is the straight path.”

But instead, it is Satan’s ibadah/servitude that is taking place all over the world, not in a ritualistic manner, but wherever people are made subservient/obedient to man-made laws instead of the divine laws. Any law contradictory to Allah’s laws is Satanic/evil, as there are only two sides in the world. The hizbullah/side of allah(5/56), and the hizbush shaitaan/side of Shaitaan(58/19). You are either with Allah, or you are against Him and against your own selves by siding with your own open enemy(the Shaitaan, 36/60). There is no middle path, no moderation. If one is not serving Allah exclusively, then it is the Shaitaan that he is including/making shareek with Allah in his service/ibadah.

In all aspects of people’s lives that are not governed in accordance with Allah’s book, and Allah’s book alone, the Shaitaan takes over and his ibadah fills the void wherever Allah’s ibadah is absent. The world today is shaitaan’s domain, run by his puppet regimes, both secular and religious[equally as “Godless” as the seculars]. Any regime that does not govern in accordance with Allah’s book is Satanic. The clergy and the religious regimes intensifying Book’s misuse in the private realm of religious rituals and superstitious practices and hiding the book’s message under piles of falsehood, while the secular regimes excluding the Book’s laws and verdicts from the social realm in the name of democracy. These are all puppets of Shaitaan(‘shaitaan’ literally meaning ‘alienated’/’alienating’ personality), and serve the same goal of alienating people to their Creator.

The superstitious uses of Allah’s book that are prevalent in the Muslim world is not how the book is supposed to be used. The Book of Allah was revealed so that people may establish Justice(al-qist) by ruling in accordance with it.


57/25: We have sent our messengers with Clarifications. And We revealed with them the Book(of Allah) and the Standard, so that people may establish Justice…

In fact, the Quran equates standing for Justice with the Shahadah(witnessing the oneness/tawheed of Allah, “la ilaha illa allah”)[3/18, 4/135, 5/8], the very basic Muslim belief, the starting point of a believer. But, in the presence of over a billion Muslims, the so-called followers of the Quran, there is widespread injustice and chaos in the world. Muslims, who are supposed to be establishers of Allah’s Justice and maintainers of the Divine standards for humanity(55/7-9), [currently in a condition of poverty/dependence that was promised by Shaitaan(2/268)], have become victims of zulm(injustice/mistreatment/oppression) themselves.

Justice can only prevail under the condition of Al-islam, (where the deenillah/power-system of Allah is enabled i.e. where power belongs to the khalaaif, those who represent Him by ruling/treating people in accordance with His book[24/55]) Any treatment of people, and of one’s self, that is in contradiction with the Quran is zaalim/unjust/oppressive. There can be no Justice without impartial treatment of people.

No Impartiality(al-adal) without hukum/ruling/governing in accordance with the book of Allah. Any government(“hukumat”) and judiciary(so-called “adal-iya”) not in accordance with the book of Allah cannot be impartial/equitible. All men(and women) are equal. No man can be subjected to man-made laws. The rule of man over man is unjust, oppressive and illegal. No present day regime is just and legal, none of them quranic/islamic, all of them Satanic.

All human beings should be subject only to Allah’s law. He created humanity from the point of nothingness(19/67). All people are equal by default before Him. Only He can judge/rule them most impartially/equitably. He is the ‘Khairul Hakimeen’/Best of the Rulers(7/87, 10/109, 12/80). He is the ‘Ahkamul Hakimeen’/the Most Decisive of Rulers(95/8). The ahkaam(rules/laws/judgments/verdicts) of His book are most impartial, most just.

The Quran is Allah’s book for moral and political guidance of the believers in all realms of life. The entire book is obligatory(28/85) upon them, not just the “five pillars”. Allah’s guidance cannot be restricted to the “religious” realms. He is the Rabbil alameen/Developer of all realms of existence(1/1), and Quran is the Developer’s manual/guidebook(20/50) for the humans to make the best use of their lives and resources. It is a complete detailing of His laws that govern people’s life(10/38, 6/114), perfect in truth and impartiality(6/115). It is the Furqan/Discriminator/Criterion(2/185) of true/false, just/unjust, moral/immoral.

Allah is for all time, and so are His words. The Quran is alive, never outdated, never irrelevant. Without the message of the Quran, it is the Muslims who have become outdated and irrelevant in the world. The

Quran is no ordinary book, it is as unique as its Author, a book apart from all others. It is fully detailed(7/52, 12/111, 17/12) as Allah does not run out of words. It is self-clarifying(4/26), as Allah’s word does not depend upon the additional words of man for clarification. The believers should not be in slightest doubt of this. They should uphold the authority of the Quran above all other authorities. No book in the world or even any traces of knowledge can take priority before the Quran(46/4).

But sadly, though they keep the Quran so close to themselves, YET they are SO far away from its messageSO ALIENATED to it that the Quran is the most “read”(parroted) YET least understood book for them. For a book kept so “close” and in such “high regard”, the general Muslims’ ignorance and alienation to its message is almost unimaginable. SUCH alienation can only be caused by THE Alienator, the Shaitaan and his human puppets.

Muslims have traded divine guidance in favour of manifest confusion. The most authentic sayings of the Messenger(peace be upon him) are recorded in the Quran by Allah Himself. This is one of them:


25/30: And the Messenger will say “My Rabb, my own nation has treated this Quran as a thing to be abandoned.”

Shame on the so-called Muslims for causing embarrassment and disappointment, in front of Allah, to the messenger who was sent as a ‘rehmatul lil aalameen’/mercy for all realms of existence. We cannot prevent that. We can, however, try not to be among those who will make it happen. We can try to be those who are loyal(mukhlis/exclusive/sincere) to the messenger of Allah and hold tight to what he brought us, the rope of Allah(3/103), the Quran exclusively…

Al-islam today is a dream for some of us, and a hallucination for others. This website(www.takhlees.blogspot.com) is an effort towards fulfilling that dream. Help this effort in any way that you can.


4/95: Those of the believers who sit still, other than those who are hurt/disabled, are not equal with those who strive in the cause of Allah with their wealth and their lives. Allah has conferred on those who strive with their wealth and lives a rank above the sedentary. Unto each Allah has promised good, but He has bestowed on those who strive a great reward above the sedentary;



Fahad

11/88: …I only intend al-islah/Reparation/Rehabilitation to the best of my ability; and my success is with Allah. In Him I trust, and unto Him I look.

What is Secularism?

What is Secularism? Quoting from the book World Arrogance. (1992), by A. Zidan.

>>>

pp.93-94…

‘Secularism’ implies that the Divine Guidance, worship of God, and obedience to Him, should be confined to the personal life of each individual and except for the small sphere of a person’s private life, all other affairs of this world should be settled purely from the worldly viewpoint, according to our own wishes and expediency. In such matters it is out of the question to think of what GOD may have commanded, what His Guidance consists of and what the Divine Books may lay down. This attitude owes its origin to the reaction that set in among the Western peoples as a result of their hatred of the man-made theology of Christian missionaries, a theology which had become a curse for them and which forged their shackles. Gradually, however, this attitude developed into an independent theory of life and then became the foundation of ‘modern civilisation’.

One often hears the utterance, ‘religion is a private affair between GOD and man’. This brief sentence is in fact the creed of ‘modern civilisation’. It implies that if a man’s conscience bears witness to the fact that there is a GOD Who should be worshipped, he is welcome to do so in his individual and personal life. But GOD should have nothing to do with this world and its collective affairs. The system of life built upon the foundation of this creed seeks to disassociate from the influence of GOD and Religion all the relations between man and man and between man and this world. Culture, education, economics, law, parliament, politics and administration of public affairs and international relations are all to be divested of this influence. Whatever is done in all these numerous aspects of life should be regulated by one’s own whims and knowledge. It would be irrelevant, indeed wrong in principle, and even a sign of the utmost ignorance to say that GOD has prescribed certain principles and laid down some commandments for us for the regulation of such matters.

pp.97-100…

The theory that GOD and Religion are concerned only with the individual life of man is completely meaningless, having nothing to do with reason and argument. It is perfectly obvious that the relations of man and GOD cannot lie beyond either of two alternatives. Either GOD is The Creator of man and the world in which he lives as well as being its Master and Sovereign, or He is not. If He is neither The Creator nor The Master, nor again The Sovereign, then it is entirely unnecessary to have any relations with Him. It is utterly absurd to worship [that is, serve] a being entirely unconcerned and having nothing to do with us. But if He is in reality our Creator, Master, and Sovereign and so also of this universe, then it is equally meaningless that His jurisdiction should be limited to the private life of an individual and from the very point from which the contact of one person with another commences, His jurisdiction should cease and come to an end.

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Social Justice: The first pillar of Islam

New website:
www.TAKHLEES.blogspot.com/

(Al-qist/the Justice)

“Do not read to contradict and refute, nor to believe and take it for granted, but to weigh and consider”

The Quran, chapter 16/98: …When you read the Quran, you shall seek refuge in God from the Satan the Rejected

Shahaada

3/18: God bears witness/shahaada surely that ‘‘la ilaha illa hua’/there is no god except Him, and so do the angels and those with the knowledge, established in Justice/al-qist. There is no god except He, The Mighty, The Wise.
شَهِدَ اللّهُ أَنَّهُ لاَ إِلَـهَ إِلاَّ هُوَ وَالْمَلاَئِكَةُ وَأُوْلُواْ الْعِلْمِ قَآئِماً بِالْقِسْطِ لاَ إِلَـهَ إِلاَّ هُوَ الْعَزِيزُ الْحَكِيمُ

As it can be read in the above verse, establishing Justice/’al-qist’ is a requirement for the very basic tenet of the Quran and Islam, the “Shahaada”, i.e. bearing witness to the unity of God/Allah, that ‘la ilaha illa allah’/’there is no god except God’. Establishing Justice is also the least important tenet for many Muslims. They will take to the streets protesting, burn effigies and embassies, and boycott foreign goods all for some stupid cartoons. Not that all Muslims are like that, only a minority. But poverty, child labor, honor killings, unjust death fatwas, and the so-called “terrorism”(fasaad) etc. i.e real problems causing injustice are not worth making an effort for most of them, the so-called followers of the Quran.

The Muslims consider themselves so close to the Quran, yet they are so far away from it that even the “first pillar of Islam” has become mere lip-service, as one cannot be witness to the unity of God unless he/she takes a firm stand with Justice.

4/135: O you who believe! Be established in Justice, as witnesses/shuhada for God, even if it be against yourselves, or your parents, or your relatives, whether they be rich or poor: for God is the protector of both. Therefore follow not the desires (of your hearts), lest you swerve from being impartial, and if you deviate or turn away, surely God is well-acquainted with whatever you do.
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ كُونُواْ قَوَّامِينَ بِالْقِسْطِ شُهَدَاء لِلّهِ وَلَوْ عَلَى أَنفُسِكُمْ أَوِ الْوَالِدَيْنِ وَالأَقْرَبِينَ إِن يَكُنْ غَنِيًّا أَوْ فَقَيرًا فَاللّهُ أَوْلَى بِهِمَا فَلاَ تَتَّبِعُواْ الْهَوَى أَن تَعْدِلُواْ وَإِن تَلْوُواْ أَوْ تُعْرِضُواْ فَإِنَّ اللّهَ كَانَ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ خَبِيرًا

When a Muslim stands firmly with Justice, only then can he be witnesses/shuhada of God’s oneness. Its importance can be realized by the fact that the Quran requires him to let nothing prevent himself from being impartial in discharging Justice, not even his parents or closest relatives, let alone his religion or nationality etc. For believers in the Quran, the top priority is supposed to be establishment of Justice and impartial treatment of all people.

5/8: O you who believe! Be established, for God, as witnesses/shuhada with Justice, and let not the hatred of any nation prevent you from being impartial(with them)…
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ كُونُواْ قَوَّامِينَ لِلّهِ شُهَدَاء بِالْقِسْطِ وَلاَ يَجْرِمَنَّكُمْ شَنَآنُ قَوْمٍ عَلَى أَلاَّ تَعْدِلُوا

Again, the believers are commanded to stand firmly as ‘shuhada lillah bil qist’/’witnesses for God, with Justice’ and even if they have a reason to hate some nation, they should not let the hatred prevent them from being just and impartial with them. No chanting death to entire nations for the injustices committed by their elites. The verse continues…

5/8: …Be impartial; that is closest to at-taqwa: and fear God. For God is well-acquainted with all that ye do.
ْ اعْدِلُواْ هُوَ أَقْرَبُ لِلتَّقْوَى وَاتَّقُواْ اللّهَ إِنَّ اللّهَ خَبِيرٌ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ

The closest that a person can get to attaining Taqwa is to attain Impartiality/’al-adl’ in one’s discharge of Justice/’al-qist’. And attaining Taqwa is the only basis for increasing one’s value in the sight of God:

49/13: O people! We created you from a single (pair) of a male and a female and made you into nations and tribes that you may be able to identify(each other). Surely the most honored/’akram’ of you in the sight of God is the one with most Taqwa. Surely God is knowledgeable, well acquainted.
يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِنَّا خَلَقْنَاكُم مِّن ذَكَرٍ وَأُنثَى وَجَعَلْنَاكُمْ شُعُوبًا وَقَبَائِلَ لِتَعَارَفُوا إِنَّ أَكْرَمَكُمْ عِندَ اللَّهِ أَتْقَاكُمْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَلِيمٌ خَبِيرٌ

The above verse addresses all humanity, without any classification by color, region or even religion. Therefore Quranically, no white person has any basis to feel more valuable/noble than a black, no Pakistani more than an Indian, no Muslim more than a non-Muslim, and vice versa. No basis, other than his/her Taqwa, i.e. the awareness and discharge of Justice and Impartiality.

Keeping in mind that Taqwa best manifests itself in the form of social justice and impartiality….

Masaajid

9/107: And there are those who take a masjid to harm by causing Kufr/Rejection(of God’s message) and to divide the Believers – and as an outpost for those who have been waging war against God and His messenger from before. They will indeed swear that their intention is nothing but good; while God bears witness that they are liars indeed.
9/108: You shall NEVER (even) stand therein. The masjid whose foundation was laid from the first day on Taqwa, is more deserving that you stand therein. In it are men who love to be purified; and God loves those who make themselves pure.
وَالَّذِينَ اتَّخَذُواْ مَسْجِدًا ضِرَارًا وَكُفْرًا وَتَفْرِيقًا بَيْنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَإِرْصَادًا لِّمَنْ حَارَبَ اللّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ مِن قَبْلُ وَلَيَحْلِفَنَّ إِنْ أَرَدْنَا إِلاَّ الْحُسْنَى وَاللّهُ يَشْهَدُ إِنَّهُمْ لَكَاذِبُون
َلاَ تَقُمْ فِيهِ أَبَدًا لَّمَسْجِدٌ أُسِّسَ عَلَى التَّقْوَى مِنْ أَوَّلِ يَوْمٍ أَحَقُّ أَن تَقُومَ فِيهِ فِيهِ رِجَالٌ يُحِبُّونَ أَن يَتَطَهَّرُواْ وَاللّهُ يُحِبُّ الْمُطَّهِّرِينَ

According to the above verses, the masaajid whose foundations are laid on Taqwa are more worthy for the believers to stand in it. The masaajid which do not take a firm stand for the establishment of social justice and impartial treatment of all people, are a way of causing ‘Kufr’/Rejection(since such masaajid do not judge by the book of God), and division among believers. Such masaajid become an outpost for those who cause ‘Fasaad’/mischief(the so called “terrorism”) by waging war against God and His messenger’s impartial system of Justice, something the Quran does not take lightly(5/33).

The Quran commands that such masaajid should be abandoned by the believers who want to become ‘shuhada bil qist’ for God and should instead take a stand in masaajid where the priority from day-one is to promote awareness and establishment of Justice.


Salaat(“Namaaz”)

The concept of Salaat(or “namaaz”) has been reduced to a daily ritual(weekly for many). Just stand up, sit down, head down a couple of times and you are made to think that you have fulfilled your most important “farz/obligation” as a Muslim. Due to the false division between ‘Huqooq ullah'(the rights of God) and ‘Huqooq ul ibaad'(the rights of people), you are made to think that you have at least fulfilled your duty towards God by performing some rituals. But the fact is that ‘Huqooq ullah’ and ‘Huqooq ul ibaad’ are the same thing, because even Salaat should result in Taqwa(social justice and impartial treatment), if the purpose of Salaat is heeded:

20/132: And enjoin your people with Salaat and be patient about it. We do not ask you(for) provision, We provide(for) you. And the end-result is to(attain) Taqwa.
وَأْمُرْ أَهْلَكَ بِالصَّلَاةِ وَاصْطَبِرْ عَلَيْهَا لَا نَسْأَلُكَ رِزْقًا نَّحْنُ نَرْزُقُكَ وَالْعَاقِبَةُ لِلتَّقْوَى

But in the presence of over a billion “practicing/praying” Muslims, the so-called “followers” of the Quran, about 30,000 children die every day of easily preventable causes due to non-availability of basic needs. The Quran mocks such ‘musalleen'(those who establish Salaat), calls them those who belie ‘ad-deen’/’al-islam’:

107/1: Have you seen the one who belies ad-deen(al-islam)?
107/2: that is he who repels the orphans
107/3: and does not urge the feeding of the needy.
107/4: Therefore, woe unto ‘al-musalleen’/who are in Salaat,
107/5: those who are heedless of (the purpose of)their Salaat
107/6: Who would be seen(at salaat)
107/7: but refuse even small necessities (to the needy)
أَرَأَيْتَ الَّذِي يُكَذِّبُ بِالدِّينِ
فَذَلِكَ الَّذِي يَدُعُّ الْيَتِيمَ
وَلَا يَحُضُّ عَلَى طَعَامِ الْمِسْكِينِ
فَوَيْلٌ لِّلْمُصَلِّينَ
الَّذِينَ هُمْ عَن صَلَاتِهِمْ سَاهُونَ
الَّذِينَ هُمْ يُرَاؤُونَ
وَيَمْنَعُونَ الْمَاعُونَ

For such Muslims, their shahaada, their salaat, their masaajid, don’t fulfill the purpose.

Solution: Judgment by the Book of God

God commands that whenever believers judge between people, they should judge with Impartiality…

4/58: …And when you judge between people, judge with Impartiality…
وَإِذَا حَكَمْتُم بَيْنَ النَّاسِ أَن تَحْكُمُواْ بِالْعَدْلِ

…and the way to judge among people with Impartiality is to judge with the book of God:

4/105: Surely We have sent down to you the Book(of God) in truth, that you may judge between people,
إِنَّا أَنزَلْنَا إِلَيْكَ الْكِتَابَ بِالْحَقِّ لِتَحْكُمَ بَيْنَ النَّاسِ

2/213: People used to be one single nation, and God appointed the Prophets as bringers of glad-tidings and warnings; and with them He sent down the Book(of God) in truth, so that they may judge between people wherein they differed in it;…
كَانَ النَّاسُ أُمَّةً وَاحِدَةً فَبَعَثَ اللّهُ النَّبِيِّينَ مُبَشِّرِينَ وَمُنذِرِينَ وَأَنزَلَ مَعَهُمُ الْكِتَابَ بِالْحَقِّ لِيَحْكُمَ بَيْنَ النَّاسِ فِيمَا اخْتَلَفُواْ فِيهِ

But try inviting them towards God and His messenger to judge by the Book of God and see how many turn away averse, not content with the Impartial judgment of God’s book:

3/23: Have you not seen those who have been given a portion of the Book(of God)? They are invited to the Book of God, to judge between them, then a group of them turn back in aversion.
أَلَمْ تَرَ إِلَى الَّذِينَ أُوْتُواْ نَصِيبًا مِّنَ الْكِتَابِ يُدْعَوْنَ إِلَى كِتَابِ اللّهِ لِيَحْكُمَ بَيْنَهُمْ ثُمَّ يَتَوَلَّى فَرِيقٌ مِّنْهُمْ وَهُم مُّعْرِضُونَ

24/48: And when they are invited towards God and His messenger to judge between them, a group of them turn back in aversion,
وَإِذَا دُعُوا إِلَى اللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ لِيَحْكُمَ بَيْنَهُمْ إِذَا فَرِيقٌ مِّنْهُم مُّعْرِضُونَ

Muslims’ responsibility towards Humanity and their abandonment of the Quran

The ignorance of these important Quranic commandments displays the Muslims’ abandonment of the Quran:

25/30: And the Messenger will say “My Lord, my nation has treated this Quran as a thing to be abandoned.”
وَقَالَ الرَّسُولُ يَا رَبِّ إِنَّ قَوْمِي اتَّخَذُوا هَذَا الْقُرْآنَ مَهْجُورًا

Are problems like the mufsideen(“terrorists”) killing innocents in the name of God and His messenger, honour killings, child labour etc not worth protesting for? Are 10 million children(under 5 years old) dying every year due to poverty not worth getting emoted for? According to the Quran, saving a single life is equal to saving all humanity. But they would rather protest against cartoonists, Rushdies and popes while humanity is killed thousands of times everyday:

5/32: …and whoever saved a single person, it would be as if he saved the whole humanity…
وَمَنْ أَحْيَاهَا فَكَأَنَّمَا أَحْيَا النَّاسَ جَمِيعًا

The true followers of the Quran are supposed to be maintainers of the Balance in the distribution of Justice:

55/7: And the sky has He raised high, and He has set up the Balance,
55/8: that you may not transgress in the Balance.
55/9: And establish the Weight in Justice and fall not short in the Balance.
وَالسَّمَاء رَفَعَهَا وَوَضَعَ الْمِيزَانَ
أَلَّا تَطْغَوْا فِي الْمِيزَانِ
وَأَقِيمُوا الْوَزْنَ بِالْقِسْطِ وَلَا تُخْسِرُوا الْمِيزَانَ

Establishing a balanced system of social justice and impartial treatment by judging/ruling in accordance with the book of God, is a responsibility of the Muslims because they consider themselves to be believers and followers of the Quran. God revealed His book so that people may establish Justice. Is that how the the book of God is being used by its self-proclaimed custodians and labeled followers?! Or is it being used to establish only their superstitious beliefs and practices?!

57/25: We have sent our messengers with Clarifications. And We revealed with them the Book(of God) and the Balance, so that people may establish Justice…
لَقَدْ أَرْسَلْنَا رُسُلَنَا بِالْبَيِّنَاتِ وَأَنزَلْنَا مَعَهُمُ الْكِتَابَ وَالْمِيزَانَ لِيَقُومَ النَّاسُ بِالْقِسْطِ


Fahad Ali Khan, August 20, 2007
http://takhlees.blogspot.com/

To help this effort, please forward the article link/url to as many as you can. Thanks.

Carnival of Islam in the West – 9th Edition

imgPeace everyone.

Welcome to Person al-quran. This blog is very honoured to host the 9th edition of Carnival of Islam in the West, a monthly blog carnival including articles mainly(not exclusively) by Muslims.

History

The Carnival was created by Hakim Abdullah, who blogs at www.wasalaam.wordpress.com. The resource page of the blog carnival can be found on his blog here. The previous eight editions of the Carnival were hosted at:

Eighth Edition: Apr 13, 2007 Truth & Beauty
Seventh Edition: Mar 10, 2007 Abdur Rahman’s Corner
Sixth Edition: Feb 19, 2007 Hakim Abdullah
Fifth Edition: Jan 12, 2007 Hakim Abdullah
Fourth Edition: Dec 09, 2006 Islam And The West
Third Edition: Nov 10, 2006 Travellers on the Path of Knowledge
Second Edition: Oct 14, 2006 Unwilling Self-Negation
First Edition: Sep 08, 2006 under|progress

Purpose

Islam is to the Muslims a key element in their identity. It represents belief, ethics, society and culture and occupies a large aspect of their being in the world.

The Carnival of Islam in the West has been a good opportunity to witness the diversity of this Muslim identity, by seeing how the human elements within the Muslim community contributes to the various colours of Islam present in the world. With Muslims now living in the West and forming significant minorities, we will be able to see an interaction of culture, like two colours forming yet another hue to beautify the world with.

I hope you will enjoy the present and future editions of the Carnival and take with you feelings of joy at seeing a world culture among world cultures.

In this edition we have received submissions in the category of “Religion and Philosophy”, “The State of the Ummah” and “News and Politics”. So without taking any more of your time, I present the articles included in the 9th Edition of the Carnival of Islam in the West


Religion and Philosophy

Irving Karchmar presents Waiting for God posted at Darvish, about finding God during the simple deeds of everyday life.

Farouk A. Peru presents Islam – From Existence to Essence posted at Jidal Society Home Page, about Islam as a phenomena of change to become a human being.

Hakim Abdullah presents What is the Punishment of God? posted at Hakim Abdullah. Hakim contemplates the similarities between the recent disasters in the U.S. with God’s punishments incurred by the past generations due to their misdeeds.

Muhammad Asadi presents The “Islamic” Threat: Real or Imagined? posted at ASADI.ORG Web Journal. Can the ‘Islamic Threat’ stand in the face of rational questioning? In this article Muhammad Asadi reproduces the arguments of both sides in debate format, after several hours of argumentation.

Abdur Rahman presents Intention & Meeting People of Other Faiths posted at Abdur Rahman’s Corner, about communication with people of other beliefs and ideologies should be in a certain way, read on.

Farouk A. Peru presents Fundamentalist Islam – A Fundamental Contradiction posted at Jidal Society Home Page, about what is known as Islamic fundamentalism which advocates terrorist acts contradicts Islam at a primordial level.

Atiya presents Our Prophet posted at irshaad.net, about manifesting the character of the Prophet within ourselves.

Abdur Rahman presents Own Your Own Responses posted at Abdur Rahman’s Corner. Some wise words of advice about how our souls should be.

Muhammad Asadi presents Mullah’s War against Islam posted at ASADI.ORG Web Journal, about how the Islamic Clergy represents a retrogressive force in Islam against the evolutionizing force of the Quran.

Shazad Mirza presents I am shocked by muslims in the media posted at Islamic facts, islamic info, islam general, about Muslim image in the West and media sensationalism.


The State of The Ummah

Farouk A. Peru presents Islam – Where we Begin and End posted at Jidal Society Home Page, about what are ‘Islam’ and ‘Muslims’ and what should they be in the world.

Yahya Birt presents The Islamist: A Review posted at Yahya Birt. A review of an important personal account of time spent with UK Islamist groups in the 1990s including Hizb ut-Tahrir, published in May 2007.

Farouk A. Peru presents Islam – Freedom of Belief and Practice posted at Jidal Society Home Page. Islam gives a freedom to believe which has been denied by cultural practice.

Farouk A. Peru presents What Muslims should protest against … but don’t posted at Jidal Society Home Page. The wrong things in the world emote the Muslims. Find out what should move them.


News and Politics

Muhammad Asadi presents Worthy & Unworthy Victims: The Virginia Tech Massacre & Iraq posted at ASADI.ORG Web Journal. “Media coverage of the massacre at Virginia Tech, by the U.S. mainstream media (CNN, FOX etc.), that is being broadcast throughout the globe these days, brings to our attention the use of the construct of “worthy” and “unworthy” victims by this media.”

That’s all for this edition. Thanks to everyone who participated. Special thanks to Farouk for helping me write this post.

Future hosts can be found on the carnival index page. The next edition of the Carnival will be hosted by Writeous Sister Speaks Jun 08, 2007. You can submit your blog articles by using the carnival submission form.


Peace.
Fahad

A chat with Bassam Zawadi

This msn chat was part of the debate with Bassam Zawadi:

The chat has been removed upon Bassam’s request because according to him, I did not have his permission to publish it. According to me, I had.

Update later.

By the way, there is a small debate in the comments section as well.

The Myth of Intercession in Islam

I seek refuge with Allah from Shaitan the rejected

[6:51] And warn with it(Al Quran) those who fear that they will be gathered to their Lord – they do not have from beside Him a protector, nor an intercessor – that they may guard.

Intercession According To the Quran

Intercession is one of Satan’s most effective tricks to entice people into idolatry. To believe that someone possesses a partnership with Allah in anything is setting up a god besides Him. To believe that on the Day of Judgment, Allah will share his authority of intercession with powerless beings (like Muhammad PBUH, Jesus PBUH, saints). Lets see what Al Quran has to say:

WILL THERE BE INTERCESSION? WILL IT BE USEFUL?

According to Al Quran, for example, if a father would request Allah to forgive his son then He would forgive him only if the request coincides with His will .i.e Allah will only forgive him if he really deserves to be forgiven, and not only because his father requested so . Thus “intercession” will take place, but it will be utterly useless.

[74:48] So the intercession of the intercessors will never help them.

[20:109] On that day, the intercession will not avail, except for whom The Gracious permits, and whose request is acceptable to Him.

BELIEF IN INTERCESSION IS SHIRK

[10:18] They give their ibadah/service to others besides Allah that can neither harm them nor benefit them, and they say, “These are our intercessors at Allah!” Say, “Are you informing Allah of something He does not know in the heavens and the earth?” Be He glorified and high above what they associate(with Him).

Allah has not informed in the Quran about any intercessor, yet people call other humans as their intercessors at Allah. Allah asks them how can they inform Allah about something new, when Allah who knows everything in the heavens and the earth, has not given them any such information about the intercessors?!

Verse 10/18 tells us those who take intercessors are actually committing Shirk i.e. associating them with Allah since all intercession belongs to Allah; He does not share intercession with anyone else, just like He does not share with anyone His Power over the skies and the earth:

[39:43-44] Have they taken intercessors from other than Allah ? Say, “What? Even though they do not possess any power, or intelligence?”
Say, “All Intercession belongs to Allah. To Him belongs the Power/Kingdom of the heavens and the earth, then to Him you will be summoned.

ALLAH DOES NOT REQUIRE PARTNERS

Did Allah require partners when he created the skies and the earth and everything between them? No. Why then would He require partners and assistants as intercessors on the Day of Judgment?

[32:4] Allah is He who created the skies and the earth, and whatever is between them in six periods, then settled on the throne. There is none for you from beside Him a protector nor an intercessor. So why do you not remember?

[34:22] Say, “Call on those whom you have set up from beside Allah. They do not own/control a single atom’s weight in the heavens, nor in the earth. And there is no share for them therein, nor is there for Him any assistant among them.”

PROPHETS COULD NOT INTERCEDE

The traditional Muslims claim that Muhammad will intercede for them. Christians claim Jesus will save them. But Al Quran tells us that no one, including the prophets and messengers, ever had any power to intercede, nor will they have on the DOJ. Do they think Allah will give them the power of intercession and say “choose your favourites”?

[4:123] It will not be in accordance with your desire, nor what the People of The Book desire: Whoever works evil, he will be requited with it. And he will find neither a protector nor a helper from other than Allah.

They think that the prophets will help them? But who will help the prophets ? Al Quran tells us that they have too much to worry about themselves:

[21:28] He knows what is between their hands and what succeeds them. They(messengers) do not intercede, except for those whom he has approved, and from His fear they tremble.

They themselves fear Allah’s Punsihment.

[17:57] Those whom they call upon, themselves seek the way of access towards their Lord. They hope for His mercy, and fear His punishment. Surely, the punishment of your Lord is a thing to be cautious of.

Al Quran tells us that messengers had implored Allah to save their relatives and loved ones, but they got what they deserved.

Noah could not save his son:

[11:45-47] And Noah implored his Lord, so he said “My Lord, surely my son is from my family, and surely Your promise is the truth. And You are the wisest of judges.” He(Allah) said, “O Noah, surely he is not from your family. Surely it is a deed unrighteous to ask Me what you have no knowledge of. Surely, I advise you, lest you be among the ignorants.” He said, “My Lord, surely I seek refuge with You, lest I ask You for what I have no knowledge of. And unless You have forgiveness for me, and have mercy on me, I will be among the losers.”

Abraham could not help his father . Abraham implored Allah to forgive his father :

[19:47] He(Abraham) said, “Peace be upon you(father). I will seek my Lord’s forgiveness for you; He has been most kind with me.

But when he was told that his father is an enemy of Allah and will not be forgiven, he disowned him .

[9:114] And Abraham did not ask forgiveness for his father except because of a promise he had promised him. But as soon as he realized that he was an enemy of Allah, he dissociated from him. Abraham was extremely kind, forbearing.

On the Day of Judgment, Jesus also leaves the judgment to Allah, where it belongs.

[5:118] “If You punish them, surely they are Your slaves. If You forgive them, surely You are the Almighty, Most Wise.”

MUHAMMED COULD NOT SAVE HIS RELATIVES

The traditional Muslims should know better that Muhammed could not help his (so called)uncle Abee Lahab . He was told that his uncle has incurred hell-fire.

[111:1-5] The hands of Abee Lahab will perish, and he will perish. His wealth will not avail him and neither what he earns. He will suffer the fire of blazing flame. And his wife, the carrier of wood. In her neck will be a rope of palm fibre.

WILL MUHAMMED INTERCEDE OR COMPLAIN ?

Instead of requesting Allah to forgive his nation, the Muhammad will complain that his people have deserted Al Quran.

[25:30] And the messenger will say, “My Lord, my nation has taken this Quran as a thing to be deserted.”

And they think that Muhammed will protest at Allah’s judgment?!

EVEN THE ANGELS CANNOT INTERCEDE

Forget the prophets intercession. Even the angels do not possess any power to intecede.

[53:26] And many from the angels in the skies, their intercession will not avail anything except after Allah permits and approves for whomever He wills.

Prophets who ?

CONCLUSION : NO ONE WILL BE ABLE TO HELP YOU AGAINST ALLAH

[36:23] “Shall I take gods from other than Him? If the Most Gracious intends any harm for me, their intercession will not avail me anything, nor can they deliver me.

[17:56] Say, “Call whatever idols you have set up from besides Him.” So they have no power to relieve your afflictions, nor can they change them.

But only on the Day of Judgment will they realize that …

[7:53] …”The messengers of our Lord had indeed come with the truth. So now are there any from the intercessors to intercede for us? Or send us back, so that we act differently than we used to act.”…

Too late . As the verse continues …

…They have lost their souls, and THEIR OWN INNOVATIONS HAVE CAUSED THEIR DOOM.

[6:94] “And indeed You have come back to us as individuals, just like We created you the first time, and you have left behind what We bestowed on you. And We do not see with you your INTERCESSORS, those whom you had set up as if they surely had a share in you. All ties between you have been severed and what you had asserted has abandoned you.”


Fahad

THE Book / Al Kitab

I seek refuge with Allah from the Shaitaan the rejected.

What Al-Kitab is not

Traditionally, in some occurrences of the word “Al-Kitab”, it is considered to be the same as Al Quran. And in other occurances it is confused with and translated as the “previous scriptures”. But actually “Al-Kitab” refers to neither of the two.

Take for example verse 2:2, which is mostly translated and understood as “This(al quran) is the Book(al-kitab)”. But the verse is actually saying “zaalika al-kitab” which means “that is the Book”, not “this“. From these very opening passages of Al-Quran, it should become very clear that by “zaalika al-kitab/that is the Book”, it is introducing us to another specific book, and not to itself.

The book points to itslef as “haaza/this al-quran”,”haaza kitab” or “haaza al-hadees” etc, but not even a single time as “haaza AL-kitab”.

So what is Al-Kitab then?

Al-Kitab: The subject matter for humanity

Al-Kitab is THE Book. It is the book of Allah / God. Throughout Al Quran, the terms “Al-Kitab” and “kitabillah”(book of Allah) refer to the same book. i.e the book introduced in verse 2:2 as “That is Al-Kitaab. No doubt therein. A guidance for al-muttaqeen.”

Al Kitaab was revealed with the prophets to judge between all people…

2/213: The people were one ummat, so Allah appointed the prophets as bearers of good news and warners, and He sent down with them Al-Kitab with the truth so that they may judge between the people wherein they differed…

According to verse 6:83-89, Allah gave Al-Kitab to the prophets including Ibrahim, Ishaaq, Yaqoob, Nooh, Dawood, Sulaiman, Ayub, Yusuf, Moosa, Haroon, Zakariya, Yahya, Eesa, Ilyas, Ismail, Yassa, Younis and Loot.

Everyone will be judged by Al-Kitab

Al-Kitaab was revealed with an-nabiyyeen/the prophets to judge between people,
2/213: The people were one ummat, so Allah appointed the prophets as bearers of good news and warners, and He sent down with them Al-Kitab with the truth so that they may judge between the people wherein they differed…

and on the Day of Resurrection everyone will be judged by it.

39/69: And the earth will shine with the light of its lord, and Al-Kitab will be placed, and the prophets and the witnesses will be brought forward, and it will be judged between them with the truth and they will not be oppressed.
39/70: And every nafs/psyche/self will be given in full to what it did and He knows best with what they do.

Hence Al-Kitaab is the subject matter for all humanity. On the Day of Judgment, when the whole of mankind will be gathered, and the prophets and witnesses will be brought forward, on that day Al-Kitab will be placed,and everyone will be held accountable by the same book: Al-Kitab. Thus al-kitab is the single most important subject, and the best book to study that subject is Al-Quran:

10/37: And this Al Quran is not such that it could be produced by other than Allah, but it is confirmation of what is between His hands and the tafseel/detail of Al-Kitab, no doubt in it, from the lord of the worlds.

Al-Quran is the tafseel/detailing of Al-Kitab(10:38). Al-Quran is Al-Haqq with which Al-Kitab is revealed mufassal.

6/114: Shall I seek other than Allah as a judge and He has revealed to you Al-Kitab mufassal/detailed. Those to whom We have given Al-Kitaab know that it is revealed from your Lord, with Al-Haqq(Al-Quraan). So do not be of those who doubt.

Prophets of the past also received revelation in Arabic language

Al-Kitab contains muhkamaat ayaat i.e. the verses containing hukm/judgment. These verses are the ‘ummil kitab’(um/mother of Al-Kitab):

3:7 He it is who has revealed Al-Kitab upon you. From it are muhkamat ayaat. They are the ummul kitab/mother of Al-Kitab…

The ‘ummul kitab’ contains ‘al-kitaab al-mubeen’ which is an Arabic reading:

43/1-4: Ha Meem. And ‘Al-Kitab al mubeen’. Surely, We have made it an Arabic reading, that you may be able to understand. Surely it is in the ‘um’/source of Al-Kitab with Us, the high, the wise.

Hence the hukm in Al-Kitaab is in Arabic language, and so was the one revealed to the prophets of the past who were given Al-Kitab by Allah(in verse 6:89).

13/36: And those whom We have given Al-Kitab rejoice at what has been sent to you. And out of Al-Ahzab there is that person who denies some of it. Say: “Surely what I have been commanded is that I serve Allah and I do not associate with Him. To Him I invite and to Him is the return.”
13/37: And
like that, We have sent it down as an Arabic hukm/judgment…

It means hukm revealed now is Arabic just like it was revealed to those given Al-Kitab by Allah i.e the prophets.

The message revealed in Arabic language is also in the zubur of the people of the past.

26/192-196: Surely, it(the message) is revealed by the lord of the worlds. Revealed with it the true spirit. Upon your heart that you may be from the warners. With the clear/mubeen Arabic language. And surely it is in the zubur of the earlier ones.

Revelation has always been in Arabic language because it is a language that provides details. Had the book been revealed some other language, people would have complained about the lack of details of its verses.

41/44: And had We made it a foreign (non-arabic) reading, they would have said “Why are its verses not detailed?”…

How well-known is the book of Allah?

‘Allazeena ootul kitab’/Those who are been given Al-Kitab are those who are capable of clarifying it for the people. But instead, they break the covenant to purchase cheap gains.

3/187: And when Allah took the covenant of those who were given Al-Kitab: “Clarify it for the people, and do not hide it”; But they threw it behind their backs and purchased with it a little price. Evil is what they purchase.

Other scriptures and religions copied from Al-Kitab

In addition to Al-Kitab already being kept hidden from the people(3:187), others write their own versions of Al-Kitab by copying from it, and then make claims of their divinity. The Evangels/Gospels, Torahs and the Hadiths etc appear to have been copied from the Al-Kitab.

And that is still being done, people are still copying from Al-Kitab, for example “The True Furqan”, a recent attempt at producing a “sura like it”(2:23) :

2/79: So woe to those who write Al-Kitab with their hands, and then they say “This is from the presence of Allah”, so that they may purchase a small gain with it. Woe to them for what their hands have written, and woe to them for what they earn.

Distortion of language with Al-Kitaab

Another group distorts their language to make it sound similar to Al-Kitab, so that people may confuse the new words with the words and language in Al-Kitab.

Some examples:

“Ahlal bayt” to Ahlal bayt/Shias
“Al-islam” to Islam
“muslim” to Muslim
“At-tauraat” to Torah
“Darussalam” to Jerusalem
(More on this later)

3:78 And among them is a group that twist their language with Al-Kitab, so that you may think it is from Al-Kitab, while it is not from Al-Kitab. And they say “It is from the presence of Allah”, while it is not from the presence of Allah. And they say the lie against Allah while they know.


Fahad

Related articles:

What are the “books/kutub” of God?
Ahlal Kitab
Those who are given Al-Kitab by God
Those who are given Al-Kitab


Digg!