Category Archives: Religion

What is Secularism?

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

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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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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


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