The Fulfillment of the Prayer of Abraham (PBUH)

Prophet Muhammad (p) is a direct descendant of Ismael (p), the first son of Prophet Abraham (p), he was born in Makkah as a fulfillment of the prayer of Abraham (p).

And (remember) when the Lord of Ibrahim (Abraham) (i.e., Allah) tried him with (certain) Commands, which he fulfilled. He (Allah) said (to him), "Verily, I am going to make you a leader (Prophet) of mankind." (Ibrahim (Abraham)) said, "And of my offspring (to make leaders)." (Allah) said, "My Covenant (Prophethood, etc.) includes not Zalimoon (polytheists and wrong-doers).
{Holy Quran 2:124}

"(My mercy is for) those who follow the messenger, the prophet who can neither read nor write. They will find him mentioned in their scriptures, the Torah and the gospels. He orders them to do the right thing, and to avoid the wrong. He makes the pure and the wholesome lawful for them, and he forbids them the foul and the filthy. He relieves them of the burdens and the shackles with which they were bogged down. Successful indeed, are those who believe in him, honor and help him, and follow the light (the Qur’an) that was revealed to him."
{Holy Quran 7:157}

"Prophet Like Moses"
I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him.
Deuteronomy 18:18 (http://bible.cc/deuteronomy/18-18.htm)

Prophets/Messengers of the Abrahamic Faiths (Islam, Judaism, Christianity)
http://img197.imageshack.us/img197/8196/prophetsoftheabrahamicf.jpg

"A Prophet From Among Their Brethren"
If Ismael and Isaac are the sons of the same father Abraham, then they are brothers. And so the children of the one are the BRETHREN of the children of the other. The children of Isaac are the Jews and the Children of Ishmael are the Arabs - so they are BRETHREN to one another. The Bible affirms, 'AND HE (ISHMAEL) SHALL DWELL IN THE PRESENCE OF ALL HIS BRETHREN.' (Genesis 16:12). 'AND HE (ISHMAEL) DIED IN THE PRESENCE OF ALL HIS BRETHREN.{Genesis 25:18}. The children of Isaac are the brethren of the Ishmaelites. In like manner Muhammad is from among the brethren of the Israelites because he was a descendant of Ishmael the son of Abraham. This exactly as the prophecy has it- 'FROM AMONG THEIR BRETHREN'.{Deut.18:18}. There the prophecy distinctly mentions that the coming prophet who would be like Moses, must arise NOT from the 'children of Israel' or from 'among themselves', but from among their brethren. Muhammad THEREFORE WAS FROM AMONG THEIR BRETHREN!
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"Like Unto Thee", this does not pertain to Jesus (p), it pertains to Muhammad (p):
1. Moses had a father and a mother. Muhammad also had a father and a mother. But Jesus had only a mother, and no human father.
2. Moses and Muhammad were born in the normal, natural course, i.e. the physical association of man and woman; but Jesus was created by a special miracle.
3. Moses and Muhammad married and begat children, but Jesus remained a bachelor all his life.
4. Moses and Muhammad were accepted as prophets by their people in their very lifetime.
5. Moses and Muhammad were prophets as well as kings. A prophet means a man who receives Divine Revelation for the Guidance of Man and this Guidance he conveys to God's creatures as received without any addition or deletion. A king is a person who has the power of life and death over his people.
6. Moses and Muhammad brought new laws and new regulations for their people.
7. Both Moses and Muhammad died natural deaths.
8. Moses and Muhammad both lie buried in earth.
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"Will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him"
Prophet Muhammad (p) was unlettered and unlearned, no human had ever taught him a word. His teacher was his Creator:
Nor does he say (aught) of (his own) Desire.
It is no less than inspiration sent down to him:
He was taught by one Mighty in Power,
{Holy Quran 53:3-5}

History tells us that Muhammad (p) was forty years of age. He was in a cave some three miles north of the City of Mecca. It was the 27th night of the Muslim month of Ramadaan. In the cave the Archangel Gabriel commands him in his mother tongue: 'IQRA' which means READ! or PROCLAIM! or RECITE! Muhammad (p) is terrified and in his bewilderment replies " MA ANA BEQARA which means I AM NOT LEARNED! The angel commands him a second time with the same result. For the third time the angel continues. Now Muhammad (p), grasps, that what was required of him was to repeat! to rehearse! And he repeats the words as they were put into his mouth:
Proclaim! (or read!) in the name of thy Lord and Cherisher, Who created-
Created man, out of a (mere) clot of congealed blood:
Proclaim! And thy Lord is Most Bountiful,-
He Who taught (the use of) the pen,-
Taught man that which he knew not.
{Holy Quran 96:1-5}
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We have sent thee inspiration, as We sent it to Noah and the Messengers after him: we sent inspiration to Abraham, Isma'il, Isaac, Jacob and the Tribes, to Jesus, Job, Jonah, Aaron, and solomon, and to David We gave the Psalms.
Of some apostles We have already told thee the story; of others We have not;- and to Moses God spoke direct;-
Apostles who gave good news as well as warning, that mankind, after (the coming) of the apostles, should have no plea against God: For God is Exalted in Power, Wise.
{Holy Quran 4:163-165}

“…This day have I perfected your religion for you, completed My Grace upon you, and have chosen Islam for you as your religion…”
{Holy Quran 5:3}

For a detailed and additional info: What The Bible Says About Muhammad.pdf (http://www.4shared.com/file/192967301/b97ac4f/A_collection_of_Deedats_Englis.html)
Additional sources: Prophet Muhammad (p) Family Tree (http://www.quranandscience.com/his-biography/175-prophet-muhammad-family-tree.html)

Prophet Muhammad’s Last Sermon

http://www.islamreligion.com/articles/images/Prophet_Muhammad_s_Last_Sermon_-_A_Final_Admonition_001.jpg

After praising, and thanking God, the Prophet, may God send His praises upon him said:

“O People, lend me an attentive ear, for I know not whether after this year, I shall ever be amongst you again. Therefore, listen to what I am saying to you very carefully and take these words to those who could not be present here today.

O People, just as you regard this month, this day, this city as Sacred, so regard the life and property of every Muslim as a sacred trust. Return the goods entrusted to you to their rightful owners. Hurt no one so that no one may hurt you. Remember that you will indeed meet your Lord, and that He will indeed reckon your deeds. God has forbidden you to take usury (interest), therefore all interest obligation shall henceforth be waived. Your capital, however, is yours to keep. You will neither inflict nor suffer any inequity. God has Judged that there shall be no interest, and that all the interest due to Abbas ibn Abd’al Muttalib shall henceforth be waived...

Beware of Satan, for the safety of your religion. He has lost all hope that he will ever be able to lead you astray in big things, so beware of following him in small things.

O People, it is true that you have certain rights with regard to your women, but they also have rights over you. Remember that you have taken them as your wives only under a trust from God and with His permission. If they abide by your right then to them belongs the right to be fed and clothed in kindness. Do treat your women well and be kind to them for they are your partners and committed helpers. And it is your right that they do not make friends with any one of whom you do not approve, as well as never to be unchaste.

O People, listen to me in earnest, worship God, perform your five daily prayers, fast during the month of Ramadan, and offer Zakat. Perform Hajj if you have the means.

All mankind is from Adam and Eve. An Arab has no superiority over a non-Arab, nor does a non-Arab have any superiority over an Arab; white has no superiority over black, nor does a black have any superiority over white; [none have superiority over another] except by piety and good action. Learn that every Muslim is a brother to every Muslim and that the Muslims constitute one brotherhood. Nothing shall be legitimate to a Muslim which belongs to a fellow Muslim unless it was given freely and willingly. Do not, therefore, do injustice to yourselves.

Remember, one day you will appear before God and answer for your deeds. So beware, do not stray from the path of righteousness after I am gone.

O People, no prophet or apostle will come after me, and no new faith will be born. Reason well, therefore, O people, and understand words which I convey to you. I leave behind me two things, the Quran and my example, the Sunnah, and if you follow these you will never go astray.

All those who listen to me shall pass on my words to others and those to others again; and it may be that the last ones understand my words better than those who listen to me directly. Be my witness, O God, that I have conveyed your message to your people.”
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Thus the beloved Prophet completed his Final Sermon, and upon it, near the summit of Arafat, the revelation came down:
“…This day have I perfected your religion for you, completed My Grace upon you, and have chosen Islam for you as your religion…” (Quran 5:3)

God says in the Holy Quran that he was sent as a mercy for the people of the world:
“We sent thee not save as a mercy for the peoples.” (Quran 21:107)
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Even today the Last Sermon of Prophet Muhammad is passed to every Muslim in every corner of the world through all possible means of communication. Muslims are reminded about it in mosques and in lectures. Indeed the meanings found in this sermon are indeed astounding, touching upon some of the most important rights God has over humanity, and humanity has over each other. Though the Prophet’s soul has left this world, his words are still living in our hearts.

For more info:
Prophet Muhammad’s Last Sermon: A Final Admonition (http://www.islamreligion.com/articles/523/)
The Prophet Muhammad's Last Sermon (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3Xc1MfX9X8)

Listen to the Holy Quran: Holy Quran with English Translation (http://www.allahsquran.com/listen/)
Get a Holy Quran Free: Free Holy Quran (http://www.islamtomorrow.com/quran/)
Holy Quran Search/Translations: Noble Quran Search Engine (http://www.quransearch.com/quran_search.htm)
Holy Bible comparison: Holy Bible compared to Holy Quran (http://islamtomorrow.com/articles/Bible_vs_Quran.asp)
The Overwhelming Scientific Miracles in the Noble Quran: The Scientific Miracles in the Noble Quran (http://answering-christianity.com/ac20.htm#links)
Quran from the first century of Hijra: The Qur'anic Manuscripts (http://www.islamic-awareness.org/Quran/Text/Mss/)
Quran and Scientists': Scientists' Comments On The Qur'an (http://www.islamic-awareness.org/Quran/Science/scientists.html)
High flying claims against the Noble Quran: Responses to the so-called "Textual Errors" and "Historical Corruption" in the Noble Quran (http://answering-christianity.com/quran/textual.htm)
Watch this video: How The Qur'an Was Revealed & Compiled - Hamza Yusuf (http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-2963640488220666019&hl=en#)

What is the Holy Quran?

http://answering-christianity.com/quran/noble_quran_mss1.jpg
These are images of the original Noble Quran's entire compilation and entire original Manuscripts!

The Quran is a Divine Miracle of Literature [Prophesy - Science - Warnings - Wisdom - Truths]...and it has been Preserved 100% In the Original Language - for over 1,400 years!

Humanity has received Divine Guidance only through two channels:
- The Word of Almighty God ("Allah" ) [scriptures, Bible, Psalms, etc.]
- The Prophets sent by the Allah to communicate His Will to mankind

These two things have always been going together, hand in hand.

[i]More important though, there were at that time, tens of thousands of his companions ("sahabi" in Arabic) who memorized the complete Quran from the instruction of the prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). Even the prophet himself (peace be upon him) used to recite it with angel Gabriel once a year and in the last year of his life he recited it two times just before the month in which he died.

Next, the leader who came after the prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) (Abu Bakr) entrusted the collection of the Quran to be written in one volume by one of the Prophet's scribe, Zaid Ibn Thabit. He kept it till his death. Then the next leader, Umar and after him to his daughter, Hafsa who had been one of the wives of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).

Then from the original text which now resides in Topkope Museum, in Istanbul, Turkey, the next leader, Uthman prepared several other exact duplications and sent them to various Muslim territories such as; Uzbekistan and Turkey and other places. These scriptures are still in museums there and one has found its way to a museum in England as well. All of them are exactly the same. Today many of the Muslims from these areas are still memorizing the Quran.

The Quran was so meticulously preserved because it is the Book of Guidance for all of humanity for all times. That is why it does not address just the Arabs, in whose language it was revealed. In fact Arabs today do not comprise more than 13% of the Today of Muslims in the world today.
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http://img130.imageshack.us/img130/1665/codexsandam01271aqurnic.jpg
Codex San a DAM 01-27.1 – A Qur'anic Manuscript From Mid-1st Century Of Hijra. (http://www.islamic-awareness.org/Quran/Text/Mss/soth.html)

Allah Almighty Said:
"We have, without doubt, sent down the Message; and We will assuredly Guard it (from corruption). (The Noble Quran, 15:9)"
"It is upon Us to collect and compile it (i.e., the Quran) and to promulgate it: (The Noble Quran, 75:17)"
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The Quran speaks to "mankind"

Quran speaks to all of mankind on a general basis without regard to race, tribe, color, social position, financial condition or genealogy.

Allah the Almighty says:
"O Mankind! What has seduced you from your Lord so Generous?"
[Noble Quran 82:6]
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http://answering-christianity.com/quran/noble_quran_mss2.JPG
These are images of the original Noble Quran's entire compilation and entire original Manuscripts!

The Practical Teachings of the Quran

Teachings of Quran are established by the example of Muhammad (peace be upon him) and the good Muslims throughout the ages have endeavored to emulate his teachings both in thought and conduct.

The distinctive approach of the Quran is that its instructions are aimed at the general welfare of the mankind and are based on the possibilities within his reach.
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The Quran is Wisdom Conclusive.

- It neither condemns nor tortures the flesh nor does it neglect the soul.
- It does not humanize God, nor does it deify man.
- Everything is carefully placed where it belongs in the total scheme of creation.

Yet it obviously is not written in human style (chronological order). Those who would claim that the prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was the author of the Quran are claiming something that is humanly impossible.

How could any person of the 7th century utter such scientific truths as those found in the Quran?
Could he describe the evolution of the embryo inside the uterus so accurately as we find it now recorded in modern science?
[See: Dr. Keith Moore's book - on embryology]

Secondly, is it logical to believe that Muhammad (peace be upon him) who up to the age of forty was marked only for his honesty and integrity, began all of a sudden the authorship of a book matchless in literary merit and the equivalent of which the whole legion of the Arab poets and orators of the highest caliber could not produce?

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Codex S?an a DAM 01-25.1 – A Qur'anic Manuscript From 1st Century Of Hijra (http://www.islamic-awareness.org/Quran/Text/Mss/yem1a.html)

And lastly, is it justified to say that Muhammad (peace be upon him) who was known as "Al-Ameen" (trustworthy) in his society and who is still admired by the non-Muslim scholars for his honesty, would lie about receiving the Quran (which forbids lying) from the Angel Gabriel and then still be able to establish the best human society on the face of the earth, based on truth?

Surely, any sincere and unbiased searcher of truth must come to the conclusion that the Quran is the revealed Book of Almighty Allah.

Readers can easily see how the modern world is coming closer to reality regarding the truth of the Quran.
We appeal to all open minded scholars to study the Quran in the light of the aforementioned points.
We invite all to challenge the validity and accuracy of the sciences known to man today and keep in mind that this is the EXACT TEXT used by the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) over one thousand four hundred years ago.

We are sure that any such attempt will convince the reader that the Quran could never have been written by any human being ever.

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Notes:
- Allah (SWT), is the same as God Almighty for the Christians. In the arabic Bible, they use Allah to represent God Almighty, the Christian arabs use it as well.
- Information taken from Allah's Quran (http://www.allahsquran.com/)
- Examples Of The Qur'anic Manuscripts taken from The Qur'anic Manuscripts (http://www.islamic-awareness.org/Quran/Text/Mss/)
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http://www.islamic-awareness.org/Quran/Science/JOHNSON1.JPG
E. Marshall Johnson
Professor and Chairman of the Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, and Director of the Daniel Baugh Institute, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.

"...in summary, the Qur'an describes not only the development of external form, but emphasises also the internal stages, the stages inside the embryo, of its creation and development, emphasising major events recognised by contemporary science."

"As a scientist, I can only deal with things which I can specifically see. I can understand embryology and developmental biology. I can understand the words that are translated to me from the Qur'an. As I gave the example before, if I were to transpose myself into that era, knowing what I do today and describing things, I could not describe the things that were described...

I see no evidence to refute the concept that this individual Muhammad had to be developing this information from some place... so I see nothing here in conflict with the concept that divine intervention was involved in what he was able to write..."
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http://www.islamic-awareness.org/Quran/Science/GOERINGE.JPG
Gerald C. Goeringer
Professor and Co-ordinator of Medical Embryology in the Department of Cell Biology, School of Medicine, Georgetown University, Washington DC, USA.

"...In a relatively few ayahs (Qur'anic verses) is contained a rather comprehensive description of human development from the time of commingling of the gametes through organogenesis. No such distinct and complete record of human development such as classification, terminology, and description existed previously. In most, if not all instances, this description antedates by many centuries the recording of the various stages of human embryonic and fetal development recorded in the traditional scientific literature."
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http://www.islamic-awareness.org/Quran/Science/KRONER1.JPG
Alfred Kroner
Professor of the Department of Geosciences, University of Mainz, Germany.

"Thinking where Muhammad came from... I think it is almost impossible that he could have known about things like the common origin of the universe, because scientists have only found out within the last few years with very complicated and advanced technological methods that this is the case."

"Somebody who did not know something about nuclear physics 1400 years ago could not, I think, be in a position to find out from his own mind for instance that the earth and the heavens had the same origin, or many others of the questions that we have discussed here...

If you combine all these and you combine all these statements that are being made in the Qur'an in terms that relate to the earth and the formation of the earth and science in general, you can basically say that statements made there in many ways are true, they can now be confirmed by scientific methods, and in a way, you can say that the Qur'an is a simple science text book for the simple man. And that many of the statements made in there at that time could not be proven, but that modern scientific methods are now in a position to prove what Muhammad said 1400 years ago."
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http://www.islamic-awareness.org/Quran/Science/BUCAILLE.JPG
Dr. Maurice Bucaille
Born in 1920, former chief of the Surgical Clinic, University of Paris, has for a long time deeply interested in the correspondences between the teachings of the Holy Scriptures and modern secular knowledge.

"...our knowledge of these disciplines is such, that it is impossible to explain how a text produced at the time of the Qur'an could have contained ideas that have only been discovered in modern times."

"The above observation makes the hypothesis advanced by those who see Muhammad as the author of the Qur'an untenable. How could a man, from being illiterate, become the most important author, in terms of literary merits, in the whole of Arabic literature?

How could he then pronounce truths of a scientific nature that no other human-being could possibly have developed at that time, and all this without once making the slightest error in his pronouncement on the subject?"
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http://www.islamic-awareness.org/Quran/Science/KUSAN1.JPG
Yushidi Kusan
Director of the Tokyo Observatory, Tokyo, Japan.

"I say, I am very much impressed by finding true astronomical facts in Qur'an, and for us modern astronomers have been studying very small piece of the universe. We have concentrated our efforts for understanding of very small part. Because by using telescopes, we can see only very few parts of the sky without thinking about the whole universe. So by reading Qur'an and by answering to the questions, I think I can find my future way for investigation of the universe."
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Listen to the Holy Quran: Holy Quran with English Translation (http://www.allahsquran.com/listen/)
Get a Holy Quran Free: Free Holy Quran (http://www.islamtomorrow.com/quran/)
Holy Quran Search/Translations: Noble Quran Search Engine (http://www.quransearch.com/quran_search.htm)
Holy Bible comparison: Holy Bible compared to Holy Quran (http://islamtomorrow.com/articles/Bible_vs_Quran.asp)
The Overwhelming Scientific Miracles in the Noble Quran: The Scientific Miracles in the Noble Quran (http://answering-christianity.com/ac20.htm#links)
Quran from the first century of Hijra: The Qur'anic Manuscripts (http://www.islamic-awareness.org/Quran/Text/Mss/)
Quran and Scientists': Scientists' Comments On The Qur'an (http://www.islamic-awareness.org/Quran/Science/scientists.html)
High flying claims against the Noble Quran: Responses to the so-called "Textual Errors" and "Historical Corruption" in the Noble Quran (http://answering-christianity.com/quran/textual.htm)
Watch this video: How The Qur'an Was Revealed & Compiled - Hamza Yusuf (http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-2963640488220666019&hl=en#)

Watch Videos:
Islam in Brief - The Meaning of Islam (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KjyH8k7s6CE&feature=related)
Islam in Brief - Does God Exist? (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_hCTWeNYayA&feature=related)

What is Islam? [introduction/overview]

http://img.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2007/12_03/haj1712_1000x709.jpg
Kaaba, built by Prophets Abraham (PBUH) and Ismael (PBUH). Visited by millions of pilgrims per year.

Among the blessings and favors that God has bestowed upon humanity is that He endowed them with an innate ability to recognize and acknowledge His existence. He placed this awareness deep in their hearts as a natural disposition that has not changed since human beings were first created. Furthermore, He reinforced this natural disposition with the signs that he placed in Creation that testify to His existence. However, since it is not possible for human beings to have a detailed knowledge of God except through revelation from Himself, God sent His Messengers to teach the people about their Creator Who they must worship. These Messengers also brought with them the details of how to worship God, because such details cannot be known except by way of revelation. These two fundamentals were the most important things that the Messengers of all the divine revelations brought with them from God. On this basis, all the divine revelations have had the same lofty objectives, which are:

1. To affirm the Oneness of God - the praised and glorified Creator – in His essence and His attributes.

2. To affirm that God alone should be worshipped and that no other being should be worshipped along with Him or instead of Him.

3. To safeguard human welfare and oppose corruption and evil. Thus, everything that safeguards faith, life, reason, wealth and lineage are part of this human welfare that religion protects. On the other hand, anything that endangers these five universal needs is a form of corruption that religion opposes and prohibits.

4. To invite the people to the highest level of virtue, moral values, and noble customs.

The ultimate goal of every Divine Message has always been the same: to guide the people to God, to make them aware of Him, and to have them worship Him alone. Each Divine Message came to strengthen this meaning, and the following words were repeated on the tongues of all the Messengers: “Worship God, you have no god other than Him.” This message was conveyed to humanity by prophets and messengers which God sent to every nation. All of these messengers came with this same message, the message of Islam.

http://conservation.catholic.org/earth-close.jpg

All the Divine Messages came to bring the life of the people into willing submission to God. For this reason, they all share the name of “Islam”, or “submission” derived from the same word as “Salam”, or “peace”, in Arabic. Islam, in this sense, was the religion of all the prophets, but why does one see different variations of the religion of God if they all emanated from the same source? The answer is twofold.

The first reason is that as a result of the passage of time, and due to the fact that previous religions were not under the Divine protection of God, they underwent much change and variation. As a result, we see that the fundamental truths which were brought by all messengers now differ from one religion to another, the most apparent being the strict tenet of the belief and worship of God and God alone.

The second reason for this variation is that God, in His infinite Wisdom and eternal Will, decreed that all the divine missions prior to the final message of Islam brought by Muhammad, may the mercy and blessings of God be upon him, be limited to a specific time frame. As a result, their laws and methodologies dealt with the specific conditions of the people whom they had been sent to address.

Humanity has passed through numerous periods of guidance, misguidance, integrity, and deviation, from the most primitive age to the heights of civilization. Divine guidance accompanied humanity through all of this, always providing the appropriate solutions and remedies.

This was the essence of the disparity that existed between the different religions. This disagreement never went beyond the particulars of the Divine Law. Each manifestation of the Law addressed the particular problems of the people it was meant for. However, the areas of agreement were significant and many, such as fundamentals of faith; the basic principles and objectives of the Divine Law, such as protecting faith, life, reason, wealth, and lineage and establishing justice in the land; and certain fundamental prohibitions, some of the most important of these being idolatry, fornication, murder, theft, and giving false witness. Moreover, they also agreed upon moral virtues like honesty, justice, charity, kindness, chastity, righteousness, and mercy. These principles as well as others are permanent and lasting; they are the essence of all the Divine Messages and bind them all together.

But where does the message of Muhammad, may the mercy and blessings of God be upon him, fit in with the previous messages revealed by God? A brief history of the prophets might clear this point.

The first human, Adam, followed Islam, in that he directed worship to God alone and none else and abided by His commandments. But through the passage of time and the dispersal of humanity throughout the earth, people strayed from this message and began directing worship to others instead of or along with God. Some took to worshipping the pious who passed away amongst them, while others took to worshipping spirits and forces of nature. It was then that God started to send messengers to humanity steering them back to the worship of God Alone, which accorded to their true nature, and warning them of the grave consequences of directing any type of worship to others besides Him.

http://english.pravda.ru/img/2005/12/noah_ark.jpg

The first of these messengers was Noah, who was sent to preach this message of Islam to his people, after they had started to direct worship to their pious forefathers along with God. Noah called his people to leave the worship of their idols, and ordered them to return to the worship of God Alone. Some of them followed the teachings of Noah, while the majority disbelieved in him. Those who followed Noah were followers of Islam, or Muslims, while those that did not, remained in their disbelief and were seized with a punishment for doing so.

After Noah, God sent messengers to every nation who had strayed from the Truth, to steer them back to it. This Truth was the same throughout time: to reject all objects of worship and to direct all worship without exception to God and none else, the Creator and Lord of all, and to abide by His commandments. But as we mentioned before, because each nation differed in regards to their way of life, language, and culture, specific messengers were sent to specific nations for a specific time period.

God sent messengers to all nations, and to the Kingdom of Babylon He sent Abraham – one of the earliest and greatest prophets – who called his people to reject the worship of the idols to which they were devoted. He called them to Islam, but they rejected him and even tried to kill him. God put Abraham through many tests, and he proved true to all of them. For his many sacrifices, God proclaimed that he would raise from amongst his progeny a great nation and choose prophets from amongst them. Whenever people from his progeny started to stray away from the Truth, which was to worship none but God alone and to obey His commandments, God sent them another messenger steering them back to it.

http://www.bibleexplained.com/moses/Exod/queen-egypt-moses.jpg

Consequently, we see that many prophets were sent amongst the progeny of Abraham, such as his two sons Isaac and Ishmael, along with Jacob (Israel), Joseph, David, Solomon, Moses, and of course, Jesus, to mention a few, may the peace and blessings of God be upon them all. Each prophet was sent to the Children of Israel (the Jews) when they went astray from the true religion of God, and it became obligatory upon them to follow the messenger which was sent to them and obey their commandments. All of the messengers came with the same message, to reject worship of all other beings except God Alone and to obey His commandments. Some disbelieved in the prophets, while others believed. Those that believed were followers of Islam, or Muslims.

From amongst the messengers was Muhammad, may the mercy and blessings of God be upon him, from the progeny of Ishmael, the son of Abraham, may the mercy and blessings of God be upon him, who was sent as a messenger in succession to Jesus. Muhammad preached the same message of Islam as the previous prophets and messengers – to direct all worship to God Alone and none else and to obey His commandments – in which the followers of the previous prophets went astray.

So as we see, the Prophet Muhammad was Not the founder of a new religion, as many people mistakenly think, but he was sent as the Final Prophet of Islam. By revealing His final message to Muhammad, which is an eternal and universal message for all of mankind, God finally fulfilled the covenant that He made with Abraham.

Just as it was incumbent upon the those who were alive to follow the message of the last of the succession of prophets which was sent to them, it becomes incumbent upon all of humanity to follow the message of Muhammad. God promised that this message would remain unchanged and fit for all times and places. Suffice is it to say that the way of Islam is the same as the way of the prophet Abraham, because both the Bible and the Quran portray Abraham as a towering example of someone who submitted himself completely to God and directed worship to Him alone and none else, and without any intermediaries. Once this is realized, it should be clear that Islam has the most continuous and universal message of any religion, because all prophets and messengers were “Muslims”, i.e. those who submitted to God’s will, and they preached “Islam”, i.e. submission to the will of Almighty God by worshipping Him Alone and obeying His commandments.

http://img695.imageshack.us/img695/4127/grandmosque02.jpg
Kaaba, built by Prophets Abraham (PBUH) and Ismael (PBUH). Visited by millions of pilgrims per year.

So we see that those who call themselves Muslims today do not follow a new religion; rather they follow the religion and message of all prophets and messengers which were sent to humanity by God’s command, also known as Islam. The word “Islam” is an Arabic word which literally means “submission to God”, and Muslims are those who willfully submit to and actively obey God, living in accordance with His message.

Read further : What is Islam? continue... (http://www.islamreligion.com/articles/4/)
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Listen to the Holy Quran: Holy Quran with English Translation (http://www.allahsquran.com/listen/)
Get a Holy Quran Free: Free Holy Quran (http://www.islamtomorrow.com/quran/)
Holy Quran Search/Translations: Noble Quran Search Engine (http://www.quransearch.com/quran_search.htm)
Holy Bible comparison: Holy Bible compared to Holy Quran (http://islamtomorrow.com/articles/Bible_vs_Quran.asp)
The Overwhelming Scientific Miracles in the Noble Quran: The Scientific Miracles in the Noble Quran (http://answering-christianity.com/ac20.htm#links)
Quran from the first century of Hijra: The Qur'anic Manuscripts (http://www.islamic-awareness.org/Quran/Text/Mss/)
Quran and Scientists': Scientists' Comments On The Qur'an (http://www.islamic-awareness.org/Quran/Science/scientists.html)
High flying claims against the Noble Quran: Responses to the so-called "Textual Errors" and "Historical Corruption" in the Noble Quran (http://answering-christianity.com/quran/textual.htm)
Watch this video: How The Qur'an Was Revealed & Compiled - Hamza Yusuf (http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-2963640488220666019&hl=en#)

How can ye reject the faith in God?- seeing that ye were without life, and He gave you life; then will He cause you to die, and will again bring you to life; and again to Him will ye return.
{Holy Quran 2:28}
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Why did God Almighty Create Us? Why not eradicate the source of evil? (http://www.4shared.com/file/200033356/3954b281/Why_were_we_created.html)

From the Humans and Jinns perspective, the purpose of our current life is the worship of God (prayer, etc), this life is a test. A test for us, will we worship God (prayer, etc), or will we forget Him. This is where our focus has to begin. The creation (galaxies, YOU, etc) is a manifestation of God’s attribute of being the creator. In the creation of man within the scheme of things, there manifest God’s attribute of mercy, his attribute of justice and this is the reason for the creation of man from the point of view of God. (summarized from: Why Were We Created? Why did God Almighty Create Us? (http://www.4shared.com/file/200033356/3954b281/Why_were_we_created.html) by Dr. Abu Ameenah Bilal Philips (Muslim Scholar, PhD. in Theology, Wales. Ex-Christian/Ex-Marxist-Leninist))

Evil comes from that which God Almighty has created {Quran 113:2}, He is not evil, He is using this as one of the many tests for us. God has created all that we call the universe as a test for us. This is not our final destination. What we might consider to be "bad" or "good" could actually be quite the opposite. As regards oppression, this is something that God forbids for Himself to do to anyone, and He hates it when anyone oppresses someone else. He does have absolute power over everything. He allows sickness, disease, death and even oppression so that we can all be tested in what we do. (source: Allah - FAQ (http://www.islamtomorrow.com/allah.asp))

Reward and punishment are definitely a part of the Next Life on a very permanent basis. Those who suffer in this life and seemly have nothing to show for all their hard works, good deeds and sacrifices and maintaining the faith can look forward to a far greater reward in a place where these things will not be temporary but rather they will be for eternity. Those who corrupt, violate, injure and do evil and destruction seem to escape any justice here, yet in the Next Life they too will see the fruits of their labors, and certainly they will be paid according to what they have done as well. (source: Allah - FAQ (http://www.islamtomorrow.com/allah.asp))

A brief enjoyment in this world! - and then unto Us will be their return, then We shall make them taste the severest torment because they used to disbelieve [in God, belie His Messengers, deny and challenge His proofs, signs, verses, etc.]
{Holy Quran 10:70}
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Why Were We Created? Why did God Almighty Create Us? (http://www.4shared.com/file/200033356/3954b281/Why_were_we_created.html) by Dr. Abu Ameenah Bilal Philips (Muslim Scholar, PhD. in Theology, Wales. Ex-Christian/Ex-Marxist-Leninist)

For a Heavily Summarized Explanation read below:

All praise is due to God Almighty. May His prayers and blessings be upon his Last Messenger and on all those who follow the path of righteousness until the Last Day. Not just Muslims, but every single human being has to answer the most fundamental question at some point in his or her lifetime: "Why was I created? Why am I here? What am I doing in this world? Why did God create me?"

When a Muslim addresses this topic, we have to find our understanding from Divine Revelation and NOT human speculation. Because human speculation has no bounds; we can imagine all kinds of things and if any of you has studied philosophy of religion, you will know how many opinions there are about the creation of man and existence. Because of the variety of philosophies which are out there, no one can say this one is correct or that one is incorrect, because there is no guidance behind it. No Divine Revelation. It is only from Divine Revelation that we can determine the reality of our creation, because it is God who has created us and so He knows the purpose of our creation. We can hardly understand it ourselves, much less trying to understand the essence of things. So it is for God to inform us through the revelation in the Qur'an and the Sunnah (the Prophetic traditions) which were brought to us by His Last Messenger and the Messengers before him.

http://www.futurehi.net/images/deepfield.jpg
"The creation of the Heavens and the Earth is indeed greater then the creation of mankind; yet, most of mankind know not." {Surah Ghafir, verse 57}

The creation is a manifestation of God’s attribute of being the creator. In the creation of man within the scheme of things, there manifest God’s attribute of mercy, his attribute of justice and this is the reason for the creation of man from the point of view of God. From human perspective, why did God create man in terms of for what purpose? Then this is the one we all know and are familiar with: "We did not create the jinn and men except to worship us" {Surah adh-Dhariyyat, verse 56}
So relative to God, we were created in a means or a way in which God has chosen to manifest his attributes of creation, mercy, grace, etc., and he could have chosen another one. But relative to us as human beings, we know that our purpose is to worship God. As we said, God does not need our worship, a God didn’t need to create. When he created us to worship him, he didn’t create us, out of a need for our worship, because God has no needs.

Therefore when we look for the purpose of worship, we have to look into man. God created us to worship him, because we need to worship him. It is something he has given us as a means of benefiting ourselves. We are the ones who benefit from it. Worship has been established, fundamentally for the growth, the spiritual growth of man. This growth takes place through the remembrance of God. When you look at all the different aspects of worship, you will see the core of it is focused on the remembrance of God.

Worship is there for us to remember God. And it is in the remembrance of God, that we achieve that consciousness. Because it is when we forget God, that Shaytan (satan) causes us to disobey God and fall into sin. So it is only in His remembrance that we can attain salvation.

God has said that he has created us to test us, to see which of us is best in deeds. He is not testing us to know, in the sense that he doesn’t already know, but this world is a test for us in order again that we can grow spiritually. We cannot develop this spiritual characteristic of generosity unless some of us have more than others and then we are required to give of the wealth we have. When we give, we grow. Similarly, if we were not in a position where others had more then us then we wouldn’t have the ability to develop the higher spiritual quality of contentment, patience, satisfaction in what God has given us.

So it is all there in order to bring out the higher spiritual qualities, which enable us to attain the state, which makes us suitable and eligible to return to paradise. The paradise from which we were created, we were created in paradise and for paradise. Through our choices we have left, in this life, a field of testing, where we can grow to a state where we deserve paradise.

The purpose of this life is the worship of God, this life is a test. A test for us, will we worship God, or will we forget Him. This is where our focus has to begin.

That Day mankind will proceed in scattered groups that they may be shown their deeds. So whoever does good equal to the weight of an atom, shall see it. And whoever does evil equal to the weight of an atom, shall see it.
{Holy Quran 99:6-8}
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Notes:
- "Allah" is the perfect description of the "One God" of monotheism for Jews, Christians and Muslims. It is for All Three Abrahamic Faiths, "Allah" is the same word used by Christian Arabs and Jewish Arabs in their Bible, centuries before Islam came. On page one of Genesis in the Old Testament, we find the word "Allah" seventeen [17] times. Every hotel and motel has a Bible. Next time you see one look in the introduction, you will find samples of the different languages they have translated.
- For a complete and detailed explanation, download and read Why Were We Created? Why did God Almighty Create Us? (http://www.4shared.com/file/200033356/3954b281/Why_were_we_created.html) by Dr. Abu Ameenah Bilal Philips (Muslim Scholar, PhD. in Theology, Wales. Ex-Christian/Ex-Marxist-Leninist).
- Click for more: Articles/Q&A About God Almighty (Allah) (http://www.godallah.com/) and Frequent Questions About Islam And Religion (http://www.livingislam.org/fqir_e.html)

Basic Q&A about God Almighty

If God created everything - then who created God?
God is not like his creation, He is not part of His creation, He is eternal, never having a beginning nor an end (even your concept of time/space He created). He is the Eternal, who is sought after by His creation, while He has no need from them at all.

How can you believe in God, when you can't see, hear, touch, smell, taste or even imagine what He is?
We use our senses and our common sense to recognize that all of this universe could not possibly come into existence on its own. Something had to design it all and then put it into motion. That is beyond our ability to do, yet it is something that we can understand.
We don't have to see an artist to recognize a painting, correct? So, if we see paintings without seeing artists painting them, in the same way, we can believe that God created everything without having to see Him (or touch, or hear, etc.).
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While in conversation with God Almighty, Moses (PBUH) himself asked to see Him, "You shall not see Me," replied God Almighty. "But look upon the mountain. If it remains firm upon its base, then only shall you see Me." And the Lord revealed His Glory to the mountain, it crumbled to dust and Moses (PBUH) swooned. "Glory be to You!" Moses (PBUH) exclaimed when he regained his senses. "Accept my repentance. I am the first to believe." (Quran 7:143)

The supreme trial of the human being in this world is that he or she should believe in God Almighty without actually seeing Him. Even Moses (PBUH) wanted to see God Almighty. But if the greatest bliss of paradise is the sight of the Divine Being, how could it be possible to see Him in this world?

God Almighty accepted Prophet Moses’ repentance: "Moses, I have chosen you of all mankind to make known My messages and My commandments. Take therefore what I have given you, and be thankful." (Quran 7:144)

Why did God create everything?
He did not create all of this for any foolish purpose. He tells us that He created us for the purpose of worshiping Him, Alone and without any partners.

Does God really have power of things? - If so, then why does He let people become sick, oppressed and die?
God has created all that we call the universe as a test for us. This is not our final destination. What we might consider to be "bad" or "good" could actually be quite the opposite. As regards oppression, this is something that God forbids for Himself to do to anyone and He hates it when anyone oppresses someone else. He does have absolute power over everything. He allows sickness, disease, death and even oppression so that we can all be tested in what we do.

Is God pure, good, loving and fair? - If so, then where does evil, hatred and injustice come from?
God tells us that He is Pure, Loving, and absolutely Just in every respect. He says that He is the Best of Judges. He also tells us that the life that we are in is a test. He has created all the things that exist and He has created all that happens as well. There is nothing in this existence except what He has created. Evil comes from that which God Almighty has created {Quran 113:2} (He is not evil). He is using this as one of the many tests for us.

Can you prove there is a God?
Yes, of course you can. You merely use your senses to determine that you can see, hear, feel, smell, taste and you have emotions as well. All of this is a part of your existence. We can look to the things that He has created and the way that He cares for things and sustains us, to know that there is no doubt of His existence.

Think about this the next time that you are looking up at the moon or the stars on a clear night; could you drop a drinking glass on the sidewalk and expect that it would hit the ground and on impact it would not shatter, but it would divide up into little small drinking glasses, with iced tea in them? Of course not.

And then consider if a tornado came through a junkyard and tore through the old cars; would it leave behind a nice new Mercedes with the engine running and no parts left around? Naturally not.

Can a fast food restaurant operate itself without any people there? That's crazy for anyone to even think about.

After considering all of the above, how could we look to the universe above us through a telescope or observe the molecules in a microscope and then think that all of this came about as a result of some "accident?" I suggest you download the videos "The Elegant Universe" (torrent), and watch them (shows that mathematically, our universe does not only contain 4 dimensions of space/time, BUT 11!!! - Startrek fans out there?).

Does God know everything that is going to happen? - Does He have absolute control on the outcome of everything? - If so, how is that fair for us? Where is our free will then?
God Knows everything that will happen. The first thing that He created was the "pen" and He ordered the pen to write. The pen wrote until it had written everything that would happen. And then God began to create the universe. All of this was already known to Him before He created it. He does have absolute and total control at all times. There is nothing that happens except that He is in control of if. There is a mistake in the question: "Free Will." God alone, has Free Will, He Wills whatever He likes and it will always happen as He wills. We have something called, "Free choice" The difference is that what God "Wills" always happens and what we choose may or may not happen. We are not being judged on the outcome of things, we are being judged on our choices. This means that at the core of everything will always be our intentions. Whatever we intended, is what we will have the reward for. Each person will be judged according to what God gave them to work with, how they used it and what they intended to do with it.

As regards the actual "Judgment Day" - God tells us that everything we are doing is being recorded and not a single tiny thing escapes from this record. Even an atom's weight of good will be seen on the Day of Judgment and even a single atom's weight of evil will be seen too.

The one who will bring the evidences against us will be ourselves. Our ears, tongue, eyes and all of our bodies will begin to testify against us in front of God on the Day of Judgment. None will be oppressed on that Day, none will be falsely accused.

He could have put everyone in their respective places from the very beginning, but the people would complain as to why they were thrown in Hell without being given a chance. This life is exactly that; a chance to prove to ourselves who we really are and what we would really do if we indeed had a free choice.

God Knows everything that will happen, but we don't. That is why the test is fair.

If there is only one God, then why are there so many religions?
God does not force anyone to submit to Him. He has layed out a clear path and then made it known to them the two ways (Heaven or Hell). The person is always free to make his or her own choice. There is not complusion in the way. Whoever choses to worship God without partners and is devoted to Him and is obeying His commands as much as possible, has grasped the firm handhold that will never break. Whoever denies God and choses some other way to worship or not to believe at all, for them there is an eternal punishment that is most horrible (Hell).

All religions originated with God and then people began to add or take away from the teachings so as to take control over each other. Man made religions are an abomination before the Lord and will never be accepted. He will only accept true submission, obedience and in purity and peace to His commandments.

God is independent of us, then why does He want us to pray to Him? If God is the creator of everything, why then did He not create only righteous beings and why does he not destroy Satan?

Indeed, God is the Creator and Originator of everything. Angels always obey their Lord and never do any wrong, and Satan temps man to forget God and to do wrong. Whereas man's destiny is known only to God, he was, however, created with a "Free choice", and can therefore, in principle, choose which action to take, for God inspired him with the understanding of good and evil.

Man has to prove what he is worth in the sight of God, as he was created to worship Him, by such thoughts, words and actions which gain God's approval. Even so man was not created as a mere robot, but he was honored as a thinking being with the possibility to understand the Divine Will, much as our cosmos is not a closed mechanism, but open and dynamic.

God is indeed in no need whatsoever of His creation. However He wants us to pray and worship Him, to praise and remember Him, because prayer is for our own good, it is a divine blessing and strength it protects us from negative influences and constitutes part of gaining spirituality and proximity to our Lord. God said to us, establish prayer, for prayer restrains from shameful and unjust deeds.
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Using one of the Abrahamic scriptures/books, this is what God Almighty said to us:

Hadith Qudsi 17

O My servants, I have forbidden oppression for Myself and have made it forbidden amongst you, so do not oppress one another.
O My servants, all of you are astray except for those I have guided, so seek guidance of Me and I shall guide you,
O My servants, all of you are hungry except for those I have fed, so seek food of Me and I shall feed you.
O My servants, all of you are naked except for those I have clothed, so seek clothing of Me and I shall clothe you O My servants, you sin by night and by day, and I forgive all sins, so seek forgiveness of Me and I shall forgive you.
O My servants, you will not attain harming Me so as to harm Me, and will not attain benefiting Me so as to benefit Me.
O My servants, were the first of you and the last of you, the human of you and the jinn of you to be as pious as the most pious heart of any one man of you, that would not increase My kingdom in anything.
O My servants, were the first of you and the last of you, the human of you and the jinn of you to be as wicked as the most wicked heart of any one man of you, that would not decrease My kingdom in anything.
O My servants, were the first of you and the last of you, the human of you and the jinn of you to rise up in one place and make a request of Me, and were I to give everyone what he requested, that would not decrease what I have, any more that a needle decreases the sea if put into it.
O My servants, it is but your deeds that I reckon up for you and then recompense you for, so let him finds good praise God and let him who finds other that blame no one but himself.
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All of these are basic facts within the Abrahamic religions (Christianity, Islam, Judaism), they are found in the Bible (Torah/New Testament) in one form or the other, and The Quran, if you are really searching for the truth, you just have to read them :) You might ask me, then what is the correct religion? That is another topic and another VERY long discussion. I can only say to do a research of your own, ask those people that believes on those religions (make sure they are the learned men among them), you can start in the three Abrahamic faiths (just don't allow prejudice to cloud your judgment).
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Click the links below for a brief information about them:
The Journey after Death (http://www.islamreligion.com/articles/406/)
The Day of Judgement and Its Signs (http://www.islamreligion.com/category/125/)
Paradise (http://www.islamreligion.com/articles/11/)
Hellfire (http://www.islamreligion.com/articles/344/)
Biological Evolution – An Islamic Perspective (http://www.islamreligion.com/articles/657/)
Stories of the Prophets (Adam, Noah, Abraham, Lot, Joseph, Moses, Mary - The Mother of Jesus, Jesus - Son of Mary) (http://www.islamreligion.com/category/53/)
The Authenticity and Preservation of the Holy Quran (http://www.islamreligion.com/category/37/)
The Six Pillars of Faith and Other Islamic Beliefs (http://www.islamreligion.com/category/50/)
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The fastest growing religion in the world (http://www.islamictube.net/watch/793317928/ISLAM:-The-Fastest-Growing-Religion-In-The-World), click the links below:
Yusuf Estes, Former Christian and Federal Prison Chaplain (http://www.islamreligion.com/articles/97/)
Poncardas Romas, Ex-Christian, Philippines (http://www.islamreligion.com/articles/1927/)
C.S. Mathos, Ex-Atheist, USA (http://www.islamreligion.com/articles/593/)
Radko, Ex-Atheist, Czech (http://www.islamreligion.com/articles/472/)
Musa Caplan, Ex-Jew, USA (http://www.islamreligion.com/articles/540/)
Josh Hasan, Ex-Jew, USA (http://www.islamreligion.com/articles/2099/)
Indrani and Chandara, Ex-Hindu, Singapore (http://www.islamreligion.com/articles/111/)
Brandon Toropov, Ex-Christian, USA (http://www.islamreligion.com/articles/475/)
Hussein Abdulwaheed Amin, Ex-Catholic, Ireland (http://www.islamreligion.com/articles/658/)
Donald W. Flood, Ex-Christian, USA (http://www.islamreligion.com/articles/1871/)
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If we are to explore the idea of creation from a purely logical standpoint using simple terminology without religious hype, emotional pre-convictions or superstitions:

What if someone called a 'scientist' tells you his 'theory' of how cars are made is like this:

A salvage yard on the south side of town blows up and all the metal pieces fly into the air and fall back down in one place forming a brand new Chevrolet Caprice automobile.. with no left over parts.. and the motor is running..

Or what if his theory for how a chair is made is:

An explosion occurs in a forest and the trees go flying into the air and then suddenly they combine with some flying cloth to make a beautiful chair... and then it lands in a furniture showroom complete with matching table and lamp...

He further explains that:

An earthquake in California's 'Silicon Valley' causes the computer chips and circuit boards and other various parts to fall out of their boxes and off of their shelves and just come in place together as they are rolling around on the floor and form the most advanced technical computers existing on the earth?...

Or what of his 'Medicine Theory'? He now claims that:

A gas leak in a pharmacy warehouse causes a terrific explosion. All the different chemicals and substances just smash into each other in exactly the correct amounts to produce a miracle drug which cures everything form cancer to heart and liver disease, old age and warts?...

Wait... there's more to this one:

It is all in one formula, packaged in the bottles with labels and ready to sell with no mess left on the floor?...

Now after all this exploding and excitement this 'scientist' tells you of a great place to relax and have something to eat. It is his favorite place and he calls it: "Burger Blast"! He says:

You just go in and sit down and suddenly a 'blast' from the kitchen occurs and immediately a burger lands right in front of you with all the trimmings.. just the way you like it complete with fries, a drink and even your favorite dessert?...

AND...

No one works at "Burger Blast", it just runs itself, automatically cleaning itself and as you leave it scans your billfold for a valid credit card and charges your bank account for what you have eaten?...

Now the question is: "Are you really going to accept any of this as 'fact'?"

Of course not!

We wouldn't believe a new car is made from flying junk; chairs don't fall down from exploding trees; earthquakes do not produce computers and blasting burgers don't rain down on us from above.

Question: So how come we don't challenge a theory of something coming from nothing and then colliding in the cosmos to make the universe? Is it because of its tremendous magnitude that we have so little comprehension about it, that we are willing to accept any theory from a few telescope 'peeping Toms' to tell us that it came from 'nothingness'? Or just some gases colliding and then... 'Poof'!? Instant Universe? How?
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Muslims, the Jesus (p) freaks???

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41fOgx2rimL._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click,TopRight,35,-76_AA240_SH20_OU01_.jpg

MisGod'ed, check here in Amazon Books. (http://www.amazon.com/MisGoded-Guidance-Misguidance-Abrahamic-Religions/dp/1419681486)

by Dr. Laurence B. Brown, the author of The Eighth Scroll, described by North Carolina State Senator Larry Shaw as, "Indiana Jones meets The Da Vinci Code. The Eighth Scroll is a breath-holding, white-knuckled, can't-put-down thriller that challenges Western views of humanity, history and religion. Bar none, the best book in its class!" Dr. Brown is also the author of three scholastic books of comparative religion, MisGod'ed, God'ed, and Bearing True Witness.

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When I was a child, growing up in the sixties and seventies just a few blocks away from the notorious Haight-Ashbury district of San Francisco, I was surrounded by the hippie movement. It was a “turn on, tune in, drop out” age of sexual freedom, cultural revolution and social recklessness.

Happily, I was never caught up in the hippie movement, but being so close to it, I could not help but observe its development. One thing I clearly remember is how many hippies were labeled “Jesus freaks.” As I surf my childhood memories, nearly four decades later, this euphemism strikes me as having been decidedly peculiar. These hippies were considered “Jesus freaks” because they dressed as Jesus did, grew their hair as he did, renounced materialism as he did, and propagated devotion to God, peace, charity and communal love.

Now, many whom embarked upon this path fell into hallucinogenic drug use and wanton sexual proclivities—practices which are far from the example of Jesus—but this is not why these hippies were called Jesus freaks. Rather, they were called Jesus freaks for their long hair, loose clothing, asceticism, communal unity and passivism, all a result of their effort to live like Jesus. The House of Love and Prayer, located nearby in the avenues, was a collecting point for many of these well-meaning souls, and the title of the institution reflected their focus in life.

Looking back, what seems strange to me now is not that people would wish to embody Jesus’ values, but that others would criticize them for it. What seems even stranger is that few Christians, in the modern day, match this profile. Indeed, what seemed most strange to me, prior to my conversion to Islam, is that Muslims seemed to embody Jesus’ values better than Christians.

Now, that assertion requires an explanation, and it goes like this: To begin with, both Christianity and Islam consider Jesus to have been a prophet of their religion. However, whereas Jesus’ teachings have been lost from the creed and practices of most Christians (see my article, Where is the “Christ” in “Christianity?”), these same teachings are respected and evident in Islam.

Let us look at some examples.

Appearance

1. Jesus was bearded, as are most Muslims, but only the rare Christian.

http://blogs.phoenixnewtimes.com/valleyfever/assets_c/2009/05/beard-thumb-400x321.jpg

2. Jesus dressed modestly. If we close our eyes and form a mental picture, we see flowing robes, from wrists to ankles—much like the loose Arabian thobes and the Indio-Pakistani shalwar kameez, typical of the Muslims of those areas. What we don’t imagine is the revealing or seductive clothing so ubiquitous in Christian cultures.

3. Jesus’ mother covered her hair, and this practice was maintained among the Christian women of the Holy Land up to the middle of the twentieth century. Again, this is a practice maintained among Muslims as well as Orthodox Jews (of which Jesus was one), but not among modern day Christians.

http://www.usvetdsp.com/gifs/muslim_girl.jpg
Muslim girl.

Manners

1. Jesus focused upon salvation and eschewed finery. How many “righteous” Christians fit this “It’s not just on Sundays” profile? Now how many “five prayers a day, every day of the year” Muslims?

2. Jesus spoke with humility and kindness. He didn’t “showboat.” When we think of his speeches, we don’t imagine theatrics. He was a simple man known for quality and truth. How many preachers and how many evangelists follow this example?

3. Jesus taught his disciples to offer the greeting of “Peace” (Luke 10:5), and then set the example: “Peace be with you” (Luke 24:36, John 20:19, John 20:21, John 20:26). Who continues this practice to this day, Christians or Muslims? “Peace be with you” is the meaning of the Muslim greeting, “Assalam alaikum.” Interestingly enough, we find this greeting in Judaism as well (Genesis 43:23, Numbers 6:26, Judges 6:23, I Samuel 1:17 and I Samuel 25:6).

Religious Practices

1. Jesus was circumcised (Luke 2:21). Paul taught it wasn’t necessary (Rom 4:11 and Gal 5:2). Muslims believe it is.

2. Jesus didn’t eat pork, in keeping with Old Testament law (Leviticus 11:7 and Deuteronomy 14:8). Muslims also believe pork is forbidden. Christians … well, you get the idea.

http://blogs.venturacountystar.com/vcs/dennert/archives/pig-thumb.jpg

3. Jesus didn’t give or take usury, in compliance with the Old Testament prohibition (Exodus 22:25). Usury is forbidden in the Old Testament and the Quran, as it was forbidden in the religion of Jesus. The economies of most Christian countries, however, are structured upon usury.

http://www.blackcommentator.com/277/277_images/277_cartoon_bank_bailout_hurwitt_small_over.jpg

4. Jesus didn’t fornicate, and abstained from extramarital contact with women. Now, this issue extends to the least physical contact with the opposite sex. With the exception of performing religious rituals and helping those in need, Jesus never even touched a woman other than his mother. Strictly practicing Orthodox Jews maintain this practice to this day in observance of Old Testament law. Likewise, practicing Muslims don’t even shake hands between the sexes. Can Christian “hug your neighbor” and “kiss the bride” congregations make the same claim?

Practices of Worship

1. Jesus purified himself with washing prior to prayer, as was the practice of the pious prophets who preceded him (see Exodus 40:31-32 in reference to Moses and Aaron), and as is the practice of Muslims.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/galleries/wudhu/images/6.jpg
Muslims purifies/wash before prayer.

2. Jesus prayed in prostration (Matthew 26:39), like the other prophets (see Nehemiah 8:6 with regard to Ezra and the people, Joshua 5:14 for Joshua, Genesis 17:3 and 24:52 for Abraham, Exodus 34:8 and Numbers 20:6 for Moses and Aaron). Who prays like that, Christians or Muslims?

http://www.learningislam.org/welcome/images/prostration.jpg

3. Jesus fasted for more than a month at a time (Matthew 4:2 and Luke 4:2), as did the pious before him (Exodus 34:28, I Kings 19:8), and as do Muslims in the annual fast of the month of Ramadan.

4. Jesus made pilgrimage for the purpose of worship, as all Orthodox Jews aspire to do. The Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca is well known, and is alluded to in the Bible (see The First and Final Commandment).

http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n0009/25ikonos/mecca.jpg
Image of Mecca in space.

Matters of Creed

1. Jesus taught the oneness of God (Mark 12:29-30, Matthew 22:37 and Luke 10:27), as conveyed in the first commandment (Exodus 20:3). Nowhere did he declare the Trinity.

2. Jesus declared himself a man and a prophet of God (see above), and nowhere claimed divinity or divine sonship. Which creed are the above points more consistent with—the Trinitarian formula or the absolute monotheism of Islam?

http://www.nccg.org/trinity3.jpg

In short, Muslims appear to be the “Jesus freaks” of modern day, if by that expression we mean those who live by God’s laws and Jesus’ example.

Carmichael notes, “… for a whole generation after Jesus’ death his followers were pious Jews and proud of it, had attracted into their fold members of the professional religious classes, and did not deviate even from the burdensome ceremonial laws.”

http://artintifada.files.wordpress.com/2009/01/orthodox-jews-2.jpg

One wonders what happened between the practices of the first generation of Jesus’ followers and the Christians of modern day. At the same time, we have to respect the fact that Muslims exemplify Jesus’ teachings more than Christians do. Furthermore, we should remember that the Old Testament foretold three prophets to follow. John the Baptist and Jesus Christ were numbers one and two, and Jesus Christ himself predicted the third and last. Hence, both Old and New Testaments speak of a final prophet, and we would be amiss if we didn’t consider that final prophet to be Muhammad, and the final revelation to be that of Islam.

For further reading, click here. (http://www.islamreligion.com/articles/489/)

Do Muslims Believe in Jesus and Mary?

The similitude of Jesus before God is as that of Adam; He created him from dust, then said to him: "Be". And he was. {Holy Quran 3:59}
And behold! God will say: "O Jesus the son of Mary! Didst thou say unto men, worship me and my mother as gods in derogation of God'?" He will say: "Glory to Thee! never could I say what I had no right (to say). Had I said such a thing, thou wouldst indeed have known it. Thou knowest what is in my heart, Thou I know not what is in Thine. For Thou knowest in full all that is hidden. {Holy Qur'an 5:116}
It is not befitting to (the majesty of) God that He should beget a son. Glory be to Him! when He determines a matter, He only says to it, "Be", and it is. {Holy Quran 19:35}

Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I didn't come to destroy them, but to fulfill them Matthew 5:17 (http://bible.cc/matthew/5-17.htm)
But Jesus answered him, "It is written, 'You must worship the Lord your God and serve only him.'" Luke 4:8 (http://bible.cc/luke/4-8.htm)
And this is eternal life: to know you, the only true God, and the one whom you sent-Jesus the Messiah. John 17:3 (http://bible.cc/john/17-3.htm)
And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. Matthew 19:17 (http://bible.cc/matthew/19-17.htm)
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Jesus Christ (PBUH) in Islam
No Muslim is a Muslim if he/she doesn't believe in Jesus (PBUH)
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Jesus in the Holy Quran holds one of the highest statures amongst the Prophets. Unlike other Prophets who performed miracles, Jesus himself was a miracle, as he was born of a virgin mother, and God describes him and his mother Mary as such:
“…and We made her (Mary) and her son (Jesus) a sign for the worlds.” (Quran 21:91)
Nonetheless, in the Quran, Jesus is described as having many miracles not bestowed upon other prophets. God says:
“And We gave unto Jesus, son of Mary, clear miracles” (Quran 2:87)
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The following is a brief description of the miracles performed by Jesus mentioned in the Quran:
1. In the fifth chapter of the Quran, “The Table Laden with Food” – named after this miracle of Jesus, God narrates how the disciples of Jesus requested him to ask God to send down a table laden with food, and for it to be a special day of commemoration for them in the future.
2. One of the miracles mentioned in the Quran, although not mentioned in the Bible, is that fact that Jesus, while still in the cradle, spoke out to protect his mother Mary.
3. God mentions a miracle given to none other in the Quran but Jesus, one which is quite parallel to how God himself created Adam. This miracle was one which none can argue its greatness. God mentions in the Quran that Jesus says: “I create for you out of clay the likeness of a bird, then I breathe into it and it becomes a bird with God’s permission.” (Quran 3:49) This miracle is not found in the New Testament, but it is found in the non-canonical ‘Infancy Gospel of Thomas’. “When this boy, Jesus, was five years old, he was playing at the ford of a rushing stream… he then made soft clay and shaped it into twelve sparrows… but Jesus simply clapped his hands and shouted to the sparrows: “Be off, fly away, and remember me, you who are now alive!” And the sparrows took off and flew away noisily.” (Infancy Gospel of Thomas:2).
4. Similar to the New Testament, The Quran also mentions Jesus to a have healed the blind and lepers. “I also heal the blind and the leper.” (Quran 3:49).
5. The Resurrection of the Dead “…and I bring to life the dead, by the permission of God.” (Quran 3:49).
6. Jesus was given the miracle of knowing what people had just eaten, as well as what they had in store for the coming days. God says. “I inform you too of what things you eat, and what you store up in your houses. Surely in that is a sign for you, if you are believers.” (Quran 3:49).
7. A Demonstration of Truth - Similar to other prophets, Jesus performed miracles to convince skeptics of his truthfulness, not to demonstrate his divinity. The Quran says: “Surely in that is a sign for you, if you are believers.” (Quran 3:49). These miracles were performed only by the Will of God, had he not willed them to occur, they could never come to be. God explicitly states this in the Quran, saying that they were: “…by the permission of God” (Quran 3:49; 5:10).

Click this video for more information: Top 10 reasons why Jesus is not god. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YW99U4JWNEc)
Click this for more info: Jesus (PBUH) in Islam (http://www.islamreligion.com/articles/31/)
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The Muslims Believe on What was Sent to All the Prophets (Moses - Torah/Gospel - Jesus/etc.)

The Noble Qur'an, 2:97 “To thee (Muhammad) We sent the scripture(Qur'an) in truth confirming the scripture that came before it, and guarding it in safety. Say: Whoever is the enemy of Jibreel -- for surely he revealed it to your heart by Allah's command, verifying that which IS before it and guidance and good news for the believers.”
The Noble Qur'an, 5:82 “Nearest among them in love to the believers will thou find those who say "We are Christians" because amongst these are men devoted to learning.”
The Noble Qur'an, 42:15 “I believe in the Book (of the People of the Book) which God has sent down...”
The Noble Qur'an, 5:46 “And in their footsteps we sent Jesus the son of Mary confirming the Law that had come before him. We sent him the Gospel: therein was guidance and light, and confirmation of the Law.”
The Noble Qur'an, 5:47 “Let the People of the Gospel judge by what God has revealed therein”
The Noble Qur'an, 5:48 “To thee (Muhammad) We sent the scripture (Qur'an) in truth confirming the scripture that came before it, and guarding it in safety.”
The Noble Qur'an, 10:94 “If thou (Muhammad) are in doubt as to what We have revealed, then ask the People of the Book.”

Notes:
- Allah in Arabic means the One True God/God Almighty, any arabic speaking Christian/Jew use Allah as well.
- People of the Book means the Christians/Jews.
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Mary mother of Jesus (PBUH)

The Qur'an speaks of Mary (called Miriam in Arabic) not only as the mother of Jesus, but as a righteous woman in her own right. There is even a chapter of the Qur'an named for her (the 19th chapter of the Qur'an). She is the only woman mentioned by name in the Qur'an - her name is mentioned more than it is in the New Testament. Mary is one of the most highly-regarded women in Islam; there are several verses in the Qur'an praising her and confirming that she was an extremely chaste and pious woman.

"Behold! The angels said, 'Oh Mary! God has chosen you and purified you, chosen you above the women of all nations. Oh Mary! Worship your Lord devoutly. Prostrate yourself, and bow down (in prayer) with those who bow down'" (Holy Quran 3:42-43).
(Remember) When the angels said O Mary! God Gives thee Good News of a son through a Word from Him! His name shall be the Messiah, Jesus son of Mary, honoured in this world and in the next, and of those who Are Granted Nearness to God! (Holy Quran 3.45)

And he shall speak to the people in the cradle, and when of middle age, and he shall be of The Righteous (Holy Quran 3.46)

She said My Lord! How shall I have a son when no man has touched me ? He Said, That is as it shall be. God Creates what He Pleases. When He decrees a thing He says to it "Be" and it is! (Holy Quran 3.47)

http://www.usvetdsp.com/gifs/muslim_girl.jpg
Muslim Girl (looks familiar?)

http://www.designsbymaryellen.com/ncimage/FourNuns.jpg
Catholic Nuns

http://www.richardpettinger.com/blog/images7/nuns_story.jpg
Catholic Nun
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Be careful were you get your sources... avoid reading anti-Islamic/Islamophobic sites, else you just mislead yourself, strongly recommend to talk to a learned Muslim in your area.

For further reading check:
Jesus in Islam (http://www.islamreligion.com/category/69/)
Stories of the Prophets (http://www.islamreligion.com/category/69/)
Jesus (PBUH) in Islam (http://www.islamreligion.com/articles/31/)

http://www.islamweb.net/ver2/ShowPic.php?id=134284

Unlike Christianity where Religion and Science are two separate elements, the study of Science has always been compatible with Islam.

Many young Muslims are discouraged when they see the poor standard of living of Muslims throughout the world and their limited opportunities. They also know the undeveloped status of technology within the Muslim countries in comparison with the West. From these observations, they immediately leap to the conclusion that the Muslim countries are ‘backward’, because Islam cannot adapt itself to the changing conditions; cannot assimilate new knowledge. Some even go so far as to say that Islam is actually against progress and against scientific advancement. However, those Muslims who have studied the later part of Islamic history will know that this is a complete fallacy and misconception.

Let us do a brief review of the contribution of Islam to civilization as we know it.

Trigonometry, Sine, Tangent, Co-Tangent

The Arabs developed these functions in trigonometry and Ibn Moosaa's work Hisaab-Al Jab-Wal Muqaabala (The Calculation of Integration and Equation) presented 800 examples in the 8th century CE. His work was translated from Arabic into Latin and until the 16th century CE, it was Europe's main textbook on the subject.

Algebra and Geometry

Muhammad bin Moosaa Al-Khawaarizmi is considered to be one of the founders of Algebra. The word ‘Algorithm’ or 'Algorizm' is a corruption of his name or the name of the town Khwaarizm (Kheva), in what is now Uzbekistan, where he was born. He adopted the use of ‘cipher’ (zero), that was devised in India some centuries earlier, a numeral of fundamental importance, leading up to the so-called arithmetic of positions and the decimal system. The very word ‘zero’ is a derivative of the Arabic ‘sifr’ or ‘cipher’. His pioneering work on the system of numerals is well known as "Algorithm," or "Algorizm." In addition to introducing the Arabic numerals, he developed several arithmetical procedures, including operations on fractions.

Another great mathematician was Omar Khayyaam, who offered to the world geometric and algebraic solutions of the second degree. Naseeruddeen wrote the treatise on quadrilateral trigonometry, as well as plain and spherical geometry.

Physics and Chemistry

Kamaaluddeen examined the refraction of sunlight in raindrops and offered an explanation of the genesis of primary and secondary rainbows. The story of the invention of the pendulum and the presentation of a water clock to Emperor Charlemagne by Haaroon Ar-Rasheed is well known.

The great historian Gibbons wrote in his Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire (Volume 5) that the science of chemistry owes its origin and improvements to the Muslims.

Science of Mechanics

The development of the science of mechanics in Islam is an act of genius. Moosaa bin Shaakir described one hundred pieces of mechanical equipment in his book of artifices. Other outstanding Muslim treatises included Al Kitaab Fi Ma`rifat Al-Hiya Al-Handasiyyah (The Book of the Knowledge of Ingenious Geometrical Contrivances) by Abul Fiaz bin Al Raz and Al Kitaab Meezanal-Hikmah (The Book of Balance and Wisdom) by Al-Khazini. He also did work on accurate weighing, and determination of the specific gravity of substances.

Camera Obscura

In the field of optics, Camera Obscura was invented by Ibn Haytham in 1038 CE.

Theory of Relativity

Qaadhi Abu Bakr had developed the theory of relativity in the 8th century CE in terms of time and space by means of mathematical equations and astrophysics. Imagine, Einstein was not even born in the Western world, who propounded the same theory of relativity much later in the 20th century CE.

Geography

As far as geography was concerned, Muslim scientists established that the world was round in the 9th century CE, and the first map of the globe was made during the Caliphate of Ma’moon.

Paper Making

This was one of the earliest skills attained by the Muslims. As early as the 8th century CE, high quality paper was being manufactured in Samarqand. Egypt was known to have its first paper mill in the year 900 CE. The earliest Arabic manuscript written on paper that has been discovered is the Ghareeb Al Hadeeth by Abu ‘Ubayed, dated 837 CE. It can be seen in Holland preserved in the library at the University of Leyden.

Advances in Industry

Under Islamic rule, Spain was an industrial center. It was one of the wealthiest and most thickly populated of the European countries. Muslims were leading in weaving wool, producing silk, pottery, jewelry, leather and perfume industry. In the Middle Ages, world trade was commanded by Muslims and Baghdad, Bukhaara and Samarqand remained centers for world fairs until the 16th century CE. The Bayt Al-Hikmah at Cairo contained two million books, the library at Tripoli contained some three million, but this library was burned down by the Christians during the first Crusade.

Miracles of the Quran


Let us consider the hundreds of scientific facts mentioned in the Holy Quran. For example, the fact that the earth was previously a part of the sun and after its separation, it became a habitable place for humankind, as mentioned in chapter 21, verse 30. That matter is made up of sub-atomic particles (chapter 10, verse 61). That the embryo in the mother's womb in enclosed by three epithelial coverings (chapter 39, verse 6). That each human being has a unique fingerprint (chapter 75, verse 4) etc. There are thousands of other scientific facts in the Holy Quran.

Regrettably, today the West is at its peak and we have lagged behind so far. However, our downfall is not due to Islam, as the West would like us to believe, but due to our sheer neglect of Islamic principles. We must realize that Islam is undeniably the most progressive religion, which is in fact a way of life with a very wide scope.

Of course, life is a very hard struggle. However, struggle is an inbuilt instinct of human nature. Struggle is a way but not an accomplishment or attainment in itself. We should make an effort and struggle but at the same time make Du'aa. This is where Tawakkul, i.e. trust in Allaah comes because destiny supersedes thought. We must trust in Allaah for our betterment, because if success depended merely upon one’s personal struggle, then nobody in the world would be unsuccessful. Furthermore, struggle is itself predestined by Allaah. Man should do his best, then leave the rest to Allaah, Most High.

Read this for more information: Islamic Contributions (http://www.islamweb.net/ver2/archive/article.php?lang=E&id=134284)

http://www.lightuponlight.com/islam/mainpagepics/bilalphilips.JPG

Foundations of Islamic Studies (video)
By: Dr. Abu Ameenah Bilal Philips (Muslim Scholar, PhD. in Theology, Wales. Ex-Christian/Ex-Marxist-Leninist)

Download videos, 20 parts (download using Orbit downloader with Grab++):
Foundations of Islamic Studies Downloads : Light Upon Light Islam (http://www.lightuponlight.com/islam/modules.php?name=Downloads&d_op=viewdownload&cid=69)

Islamic Studies series have been generally acknowledged as an excellent introduction set to the principles of the Islamic faith, with core sciences discussed and explored, for both the new Muslim as well as the "old" Muslim wishing to brush up on the fundamentals. It focuses on four areas of Islamic knowledge: Aqeedah, Tafseer, Hadeeth, Fiqh. It is also suitable for new-Muslims and adults seeking an easy explanation of the basic areas of Islamic disciplines. All texts are supported by evidence from the Quran and authentic hadeeths.

Download via torrent (not yet tested):
Studies in Islam Volume 1 (video) (http://www.islamictorrents.net/details.php?id=14614 VOL 1)
Studies in Islam Volume 2 (video) (http://www.islamictorrents.net/details.php?id=14768 VOL 2)
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Foundations of Islamic Studies (video)

Content/Description of Lectures:

Bilal Philips delivers an outstanding program that leaves you wishing we put the rest of the series online. He goes into very important topics that are usually boring in such a funny and interesting way using PRACTICAL and easy-to-understand examples that will stick in your mind and allow you to share with others. Also discusses the story of Musa and Khidr, the shias, and other topics along the way.

Discusses different types of shirk committed in the major areas of tawheed, in different religions and their versions of God, and even those who deny the creation God commit shirk as they have turned other things equal to God. How our prophet sallGodu'alayhiwasallam warned us of Riyaa (the shirk of showing off when doing good deeds), and how it more hidden black ant creeping on a black stone in the middle of a moonless night - so we must be careful of this shirk.

The lecture is about Where God is... And that he is not everywhere, or is he? find out.. Bilal Philips also covered deviant sects and how they claim to have hidden knowledge, but we know the religion is simple and DOES NOT permit blind following.

Disccuses the issue of why did God create us? and why does God command us to worship Him? If the whole world worshipped God it would NOT increase Him in any way, if the whole world refused to worship God it would NOT decrease Him in anyway. Worshipping God is a need we have, God does not need us to worship Him. Worshipping is a need for us to get to Paradise, the purpose of our existance. The shaykh continues to discuss what is worship, defines the true meaning of worship in Islaam and mistakes made in worship.

Discusses the meaning behind trials and calamities, how it can be a form of punishment or a form of purification of sins, then he swiftly moves on to what is hijra (migration) and how it is an obligation upon us to live in a place where we can pratice the deen. The brother then discusses the importance of Sabr and Faith, and ends with a general Q&A on Aqeedah. One of the questions asked is, "Is Suicide bombing allowed in Islam?"

Detailing the fundementals of the quran including the structure of the quran how it was compiled by the companions. Shaykh Bilal Philips explains how learning the history of the quran re affirms our faith, comparing this to the other sacred texts by other religions that are full of doubt, we know our quran has none. Shaykh Bilal Philips then discusses the various false claims people have made to say the quran is not authentic, exlpaining how these claims have no basis. A very informative lecture giving us the ability to understand the beauty of how the quran is the way it is today. masha'God.

A beautiful lecture detailing the quran and its preservation, exlpaining the difference between the Meccan and Medinan revelations and the roles they played. Shaykh Bilal Philips also gives a tafseer of Surah Al Fatihah, and other verses of the quran and the wisdom behind its revelation such as its timing, impact and target. Also how to make dua properly.

About the "methodology of tafseer (exegesis/explanation) of Quran" i.e the framework/methodology that we can use to understand and derive meaning of the quran. Why do we need tafseer? Cuz God wanted it that way..
- How about sex in heaven?
- Problem with Yusuf Ali translation - Seeing God in the next life
- Why Quran and Sunnah cannot be seperated
- The clothing of a woman

Lecture covers the collection of Hadith - differences between Hadith, and Sunnah Conditions for Hadith to be "Saheeh" (Authentic), Daeef (Weak) or Fabricated.

Collection of Hadith, Different Madhabs, and how availabilty of stronger authentic hadeeth should effect the practise. Also a Q and A section covering many topics including positions in prayers, etc.

In the first half of this lecture, Sheikh Bilal discusses Usool al Fiqh (Understanding of Islamic Law). He explains the difference between Shariah and Fiqh. Other topics discussed:
* How can we rule by a book that is 1400 years old? Doesn't that make it rigid and inflexible?
* When we find a ruling in the Quran, can we immediately apply it, or do we have to look at the sunnah?
* The example of cutting off the hand, can we do it for stealing a pencil
* What is the difference between ijmaa and democracy
* Is Islam compatible with democracy??
* What is Qiyas

Continuing with explanation of Ijmah (consensus) Side topics: Fiqh and Alcohol age, Cigarettes, Polygamy, how 3000 people accepted Islam in Damam, Cutting off the hands of thieves and equality of law, is smoking makrooh? or haram? the principle of qiyas (analogy)....

And MORE....
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Additional videos and resources:
The Sounds of Islam (http://www.aswatalislam.net/)
More videos on Islam (http://www.lightuponlight.com/islam/)
Islam Youtube (videos) (http://tubeislam.com/)
Answering the false Islamic Cults (http://www.answering-christianity.com/ac11.htm#links)

http://www.americanholocaust.50megs.com/The_Prophet.htm

read it please. thanks!


According to Alberto Rivera, Jesuits are responsible for the creation of communism, Islam, and Nazism, and causing the World Wars, recession, the Jonestown Massacre, and the assassinations of Abraham Lincoln and John F. Kennedy (a Catholic); he further claims that the Catholic Church wants to spread homosexuality and abortion, that the Charismatic Movement is a front for the Catholic Church, that the Popes are antichrists, and that the Catholic Church is the Whore of Babylon.

Alberto Rivera also alleged that Muhammad was manipulated by the Catholic Church to create Islam and destroy the Jews and other groups of Christians, and that his first wife, Khadija, was actually a Catholic nun in an Arabian monastery who was told by a bishop to marry him and sow the seeds of what was to become Islam[3]. Rivera also alleged that the Vatican staged an apparition at Fatima (named after Muhammed's daughter) to cozy up to Muslims.[3] He further claims that it also staged the 1981 assassination attempt on Pope John Paul II using a Muslim as the marksman "to guilt-induce the Muslim world, bringing them still closer to the Catholic faith!


http://www.remnantofgod.org/blackpope.htm the black pope

http://www.americanholocaust.50megs.com/The_Prophet.htm

read it please. thanks!

According to Alberto Rivera,

Alberto Rivera also alleged that

Who is Alberto Rivera? is he a historian? where did he get this information from?
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"Head of the State as well as the Church, he was Caesar and Pope in one; but he was Pope without the Pope's pretensions, and Caesar without the legions of Caesar, without a standing army, without a bodyguard, without a police force, without a fixed revenue. If ever a man ruled by a right divine, it was Muhammad, for he had all the powers without their supports. He cared not for the dressings of power. The simplicity of his private life was in keeping with his public life."
Reverend Bosworth Smith

http://img695.imageshack.us/img695/4127/grandmosque02.jpg
Mecca Grand Mosque

http://www.h-net.org/~bahai/diglib/books/A-E/D/draper/Draper.jpg
Dr. William Draper in 'History of Intellectual Development of Europe'

Four years after the death of Justinian, A.D. 569, was born in Mecca, in Arabia, the man who, of all men, has exercised the greatest influence upon the human race... To be the religious head of many empires, to guide the daily life of one-third of the human race, may perhaps justify the title of a Messenger of God.

http://www.iqraforum.com/oldforum1/2020ok.com/img/0/5390.jpg

http://www.nndb.com/people/601/000030511/shaw_george.jpg
Sir George Bernard Shaw

"If any religion had the chance of ruling over England, nay Europe within the next hundred years, it could be Islam."

“I have always held the religion of Muhammad in high estimation because of its wonderful vitality. It is the only religion which appears to me to possess that assimilating capacity to the changing phase of existence which can make itself appeal to every age. I have studied him - the wonderful man and in my opinion is far from being an anti-Christ, he must be called the Savior of Humanity."

"I believe that if a man like him were to assume the dictatorship of the modern world he would succeed in solving its problems in a way that would bring it the much needed peace and happiness: I have prophesied about the faith of Muhammad that it would be acceptable to the Europe of tomorrow as it is beginning to be acceptable to the Europe of today.”

http://centros5.pntic.mec.es/sierrami/dematesna/demates67/opciones/sabias/Frases/thomas-carlyle.jpg
Thomas Carlyle

'Heroes and Hero Worship and the Heroic in History'

"The lies (Western slander) which well-meaning zeal has heaped round this man (Muhammad) are disgraceful to ourselves only."

"A silent great soul, one of that who cannot but be earnest. He was to kindle the world, the world’s Maker had ordered so."

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2104/2173104515_3fdf06eed6_o.jpg
Grand Mosque, Mecca - Satellite Imagery

History makes it clear, however, that the legend of fanatical Muslims sweeping through the world and forcing Islam at the point of sword upon conquered races is one of the most fantastically absurd myths that historians have ever repeated.
De Lacy O'Leary in 'Islam at the Crossroads,' London, 1923.

The picture of the Muslim soldier advancing with a sword in one hand and the Qur'an in the other is quite false.
A. S. Tritton in 'Islam,' 1951

http://www.datarabia.com/images/greatmosque.jpg

http://img138.imageshack.us/img138/4383/empireoffaith.jpg
Download video via torrent, click: Islam - Empire of Faith (http://www.4shared.com/file/201882535/77c2e7a2/isoHunt_Islam_-_Empire_of_Fait.html) (by non-Muslims)

Islam - Empire of Faith (by non-Muslims)

This three-part series covers more than a thousand years of Islamic history and culture, with emphasis on the contributions that Muslims have made in science, medicine, art, philosophy, learning, and trade.

The first one-hour segment ("The Messenger") introduces the story of the rise of Islam, and the extraordinary life of the Prophet Muhammad (p). It covers the revelation of the Qur'an, the persecution suffered by the early Muslims, the first mosques, and then the rapid expansion of Islam.

The second segment ("The Awakening") examines the growth of Islam into a world civilization. Through trade and learning, the Islamic influence extended further. Muslims made great achievements in architecture, medicine, and science, influencing the intellectual development of the West. This episode also explores the story of the Crusades (including stunning reenactments filmed in Iran), and ends with the invasion of Islamic lands by the Mongols.

The final segment ("The Ottomans") looks at the dramatic rise and fall of the Ottoman empire.

Notes:
- Some of the information in this video are incorrect/misleading, but generally it's good introduction already. I still suggest you read the Holy Quran (without prejudiced) as a whole, and get more Islamic knowledge from the Muslim Scholars themselves.
-----

Areas at on Time Under Muslim Rule
http://img714.imageshack.us/img714/715/areasatontimeundermusli.gif

Muslim Distribution Today
http://img641.imageshack.us/img641/6217/mapmuslimdistribution36.jpg

World Religions
http://img512.imageshack.us/img512/1037/3731004acd90ca6.gif
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Al-Andalus (Spain) was under Muslim rule for ~700 years

Mosque/Cathedral of Cordoba
http://img689.imageshack.us/img689/2016/1058cordobamezquita1.jpg

The interior of the Cathedral of Cordoba
http://img713.imageshack.us/img713/174/mosqueofcordobaspain.jpg

Formerly the Mosque of Cordoba, built by the Umayyads on the site of the Saint Vincent Visigothic Christian basilica and rededicated as a Christian cathedral in the 13th century. The mosque is one of the finest examples of Arab-Islamic architecture in the Umayyad style.

Notes:
- You can search for more torrents here: http://www.islamictorrents.net

http://www.islamic-awareness.org/Quran/Science/JOHNSON1.JPG
E. Marshall Johnson
Professor and Chairman of the Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, and Director of the Daniel Baugh Institute, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.

"...in summary, the Qur'an describes not only the development of external form, but emphasises also the internal stages, the stages inside the embryo, of its creation and development, emphasising major events recognised by contemporary science."

"As a scientist, I can only deal with things which I can specifically see. I can understand embryology and developmental biology. I can understand the words that are translated to me from the Qur'an. As I gave the example before, if I were to transpose myself into that era, knowing what I do today and describing things, I could not describe the things that were described...

I see no evidence to refute the concept that this individual Muhammad had to be developing this information from some place... so I see nothing here in conflict with the concept that divine intervention was involved in what he was able to write..."
-----

http://www.islamic-awareness.org/Quran/Science/GOERINGE.JPG
Gerald C. Goeringer
Professor and Co-ordinator of Medical Embryology in the Department of Cell Biology, School of Medicine, Georgetown University, Washington DC, USA.

"...In a relatively few ayahs (Qur'anic verses) is contained a rather comprehensive description of human development from the time of commingling of the gametes through organogenesis. No such distinct and complete record of human development such as classification, terminology, and description existed previously. In most, if not all instances, this description antedates by many centuries the recording of the various stages of human embryonic and fetal development recorded in the traditional scientific literature."
-----

http://www.islamic-awareness.org/Quran/Science/KRONER1.JPG
Alfred Kroner
Professor of the Department of Geosciences, University of Mainz, Germany.

"Thinking where Muhammad came from... I think it is almost impossible that he could have known about things like the common origin of the universe, because scientists have only found out within the last few years with very complicated and advanced technological methods that this is the case."

"Somebody who did not know something about nuclear physics 1400 years ago could not, I think, be in a position to find out from his own mind for instance that the earth and the heavens had the same origin, or many others of the questions that we have discussed here...

If you combine all these and you combine all these statements that are being made in the Qur'an in terms that relate to the earth and the formation of the earth and science in general, you can basically say that statements made there in many ways are true, they can now be confirmed by scientific methods, and in a way, you can say that the Qur'an is a simple science text book for the simple man. And that many of the statements made in there at that time could not be proven, but that modern scientific methods are now in a position to prove what Muhammad said 1400 years ago."
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http://www.islamic-awareness.org/Quran/Science/BUCAILLE.JPG
Dr. Maurice Bucaille
Born in 1920, former chief of the Surgical Clinic, University of Paris, has for a long time deeply interested in the correspondences between the teachings of the Holy Scriptures and modern secular knowledge.

"...our knowledge of these disciplines is such, that it is impossible to explain how a text produced at the time of the Qur'an could have contained ideas that have only been discovered in modern times."

"The above observation makes the hypothesis advanced by those who see Muhammad as the author of the Qur'an untenable. How could a man, from being illiterate, become the most important author, in terms of literary merits, in the whole of Arabic literature?

How could he then pronounce truths of a scientific nature that no other human-being could possibly have developed at that time, and all this without once making the slightest error in his pronouncement on the subject?"
-----

http://www.islamic-awareness.org/Quran/Science/KUSAN1.JPG
Yushidi Kusan
Director of the Tokyo Observatory, Tokyo, Japan.

"I say, I am very much impressed by finding true astronomical facts in Qur'an, and for us modern astronomers have been studying very small piece of the universe. We have concentrated our efforts for understanding of very small part. Because by using telescopes, we can see only very few parts of the sky without thinking about the whole universe. So by reading Qur'an and by answering to the questions, I think I can find my future way for investigation of the universe."
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http://img267.imageshack.us/img267/4715/m81deepgallegoaverage3.jpg
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Listen to the Holy Quran: Holy Quran with English Translation (http://www.allahsquran.com/listen/)
Get a Holy Quran Free: Free Holy Quran (http://www.islamtomorrow.com/quran/)
Holy Quran Search/Translations: Noble Quran Search Engine (http://www.quransearch.com/quran_search.htm)
Holy Bible comparison: Holy Bible compared to Holy Quran (http://islamtomorrow.com/articles/Bible_vs_Quran.asp)
The Overwhelming Scientific Miracles in the Noble Quran: The Scientific Miracles in the Noble Quran (http://answering-christianity.com/ac20.htm#links)
Quran from the first century of Hijra: The Qur'anic Manuscripts (http://www.islamic-awareness.org/Quran/Text/Mss/)
Quran and Scientists': Scientists' Comments On The Qur'an (http://www.islamic-awareness.org/Quran/Science/scientists.html)
High flying claims against the Noble Quran: Responses to the so-called "Textual Errors" and "Historical Corruption" in the Noble Quran (http://answering-christianity.com/quran/textual.htm)
Watch this video: How The Qur'an Was Revealed & Compiled - Hamza Yusuf (http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-2963640488220666019&hl=en#)

What is that Black Cube in Mecca?

http://www.panasianbiz.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/kaaba.jpg

That black box was made by Prophet's Abraham (PBUH) and Ismael (PBUH), you can go inside it and It's Empty, You can pray inside that black box. You can't compare this to the idols of the Roman Catholic Church (RCC). Can you go inside one of their idols and pray? Their idols are all over the place... schools, churches, and houses.

http://img508.imageshack.us/img508/9480/giantstatue9248150.jpg
Can you worship inside this?
---

And (remember) when Ibrahim (Abraham) and (his son) Isma'il (Ishmael) were raising the foundations of the House (the Ka'bah) at Mecca, ( saying), 'Our Lord! Accept (this service) from us. Verily! You are the All-Hearer, all Knower.
{Quran chapter 2, verse 127}

And Remember when We showed Ibrahim (Abraham) the site of the Holy House (the Ka'bah) at Mecca saying : Associate not anything in worship with Me, [La Ilaha ill-Allah (none has the right to be worshiped but Allah - Islamic Monotheism], and sanctify My House for those who circumnavigate it, and those who stand up for prayer, and those who bow and submit themselves with humility and obedience to Allah), and make prostration in prayer. (Quran chapter 22:26)

And proclaim to mankind the Hajj. They will come to you on foot and on every lean camel, they will come from every deep and distant wide mountain highway to perform Hajj.
{Quran chapter 22, verse 27}

And from Al-Masjid-al-Haram at Mecca which We have made open to all men, the dweller in it and the visitor from the country}
{Quran 22:25}

Say, "Indeed, my Lord has guided me to a straight path - a correct religion - the way of Abraham, inclining toward truth. And he was not among those who associated others with Allah ."
{Quran 6:161}
---

Watch videos:
Inside the Ka'aba (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I-MimunZijM) (you will notice someone is praying inside)
Inside the Ka'aba (3D) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=40SNX5wLntU&feature=related)
Opening of the Ka'aba Door (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pm_zrBcivhg&NR=1&feature=fvwp)
---

Note:
- Allah in Arabic means the One True God/God Almighty, any Arabic speaking Christian/Jew use Allah as well.

Click here for more information:
Mecca Black Cube (http://islamnewsroom.com/news-we-need/403-blackbox1)
Black Stone An Idol? Hajj a Pagan Right? (http://www.performhajj.com/blackstone_an_idol.php)

http://img686.imageshack.us/img686/2457/insidestructureofkaaba.jpg
The Interior of the Ka'bah

Mecca Grand Mosque
http://img.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2007/12_03/haj1712_1000x709.jpg

http://www.sacred-destinations.com/saudi-arabia/images/mecca/resized/black-stone-crowd-ccc-omar.jpg

Black Stone An Idol?

We don't have black stone's in our houses and places of worship. The Black Stone serves to mark the start of each round around the Ka'bah seven times (Tawaf). The stone can not harm anyone, nor benefit anyone, Muslims don't worship it . Abraham (peace be upon him) ordered his son to choose a piece of stone to mark the main cornerpoint of the Ka'bah, this is the one (Archangel Gabriel gave it). For more info read further below.
---

And (remember) when Ibrahim (Abraham) and (his son) Isma'il (Ishmael) were raising the foundations of the House (the Ka'bah) at Mecca, (saying), 'Our Lord! Accept (this service) from us. Verily! You are the All-Hearer, all Knower.
[Noble Quran 2:127]

The father and the son, true Monotheists (Muslims), were thus raising the foundations with trembling hearts, for the Muslims are Allah's most devoted servants, ever fearful of his displeasure. While building the Ka'bah, therefore, both of them were afraid that Allah may not accept their humble service, hence that prayer of theirs. When raised to a certain height, Ibrahim (peace be upon him) ordered his son to choose a piece of stone to mark the main cornerpoint. Even as the lad was searching for it, the Archangel Gabriel appeared with the Black Stone from Heaven.

Abraham (peace be upon him) took it up and fitted it in, and there it stands up to this day. It is a heavenly stone, then, and not an earthly one. It was selected by Allah for His Holy House (the Ka'bah).

Our Lord! And make us submissive unto you and of our offspring a nation submissive unto You, and show us our Manasik (all the ceremonies of Pilgrimage - Hajj and ‘Umrah etc.) and accept our repentance. Truly, You are the One Who accepts repentance, the Most Merciful.
[Noble Quran 2:128]
---

Assuming that the Black Stone is missing for one reason or another, does it render the Tawaf and Pilgrimage invalid and void on such account? Absolutely not. This is exactly what has already happened in the history of Islam. The Karamathians (Arabic: al-Qaramitah), the most un-Islamic sect in Islam, had removed the Black Stone during their mad merrymaking in the year 317 AH/980 AD. They carried it away with them to their territory in Al-Ahsa (in the Arabian Gulf). After keeping it there for twenty years, they had returned it back to Mecca in the year 339 AH (see shorter Encyclopedia Leiden 1953, P. 219). In such an event, the Shari'ah (Law) maintains that the pilgrim shall perform his Tawaf without the Black stone. Instead of the Black Stone, the pilgrim shall touch its place at the corner of the Ka'bah, or point at its spot, and continue his Tawaf. Thus the total absence of the Stone itself makes no difference in the validity of the Tawaf and the Pilgrimage.

This shows how tiny a part is being played by this stone. How ignorant of others and how childish, therefore, sounds the charge that it is the "most Precious Idol preserved by Islam"!
---

For a complete explanation:
Black Stone An Idol? Hajj a Pagan Right? (http://www.performhajj.com/blackstone_an_idol.php)
Hajj - Pagan Worship of a Black Stone or Moon-god? (http://islamnewsroom.com/news-we-need/403-blackbox1)

"So I say to you: Keep asking, and it will be given you. Keep searching, and you will find. Keep knocking, and the door will be opened for you"
Luke 11:9 (http://bible.cc/luke/11-9.htm)

http://www.islamnewsroom.com/images/stories/jihad.jpg

What is Jihad? (http://www.islamnewsroom.com/news-we-need/481-jihadexplained2)
Jihad a Holy War? (http://www.islamnewsroom.com/answers/328-aboutjihad)
About Jihad - Elevate Your Perception (http://www.aboutjihad.com/)

Kill Apostates - Really? Do it say kill "apostates" if they leave?

http://www.islamnewsroom.com/images/stories/kill_them.jpg
Read here (click): Kill Apostates - Really? (http://www.islamnewsroom.com/if-someone-leaves-islam-hot-topics-45)

If it had been thy Lord's will, they would all have believed,- all who are on earth! wilt thou then compel mankind, against their will, to believe!
{Holy Quran 10:99}

Let there be no compulsion in religion: Truth stands out clear from Error: whoever rejects evil and believes in God hath grasped the most trustworthy hand- hold, that never breaks. And God heareth and knoweth all things.
{Holy Quran 2:256}

Say, "The truth is from your Lord": Let him who will believe, and let him who will, reject (it): for the wrong-doers We have prepared a Fire whose (smoke and flames), like the walls and roof of a tent, will hem them in: if they implore relief they will be granted water like melted brass, that will scald their faces, how dreadful the drink! How uncomfortable a couch to recline on!
{Holy Quran 18:29}
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If your brother, your mother's son, or your son or daughter, or the wife you cherish, or your friend who is as your own soul, entice you secretly, saying, 'Let us go and serve other gods' (whom neither you nor your fathers have known, of the gods of the peoples who are around you, near you or far from you, from one end of the earth to the other end), you shall not yield to him or listen to him; and your eye shall not pity him, nor shall you spare or conceal him. "But you shall surely kill him; your hand shall be first against him to put him to death, and afterwards the hand of all the people.
Deuteronomy 13:6-9 (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy+13%3A6-9%2C1+Kings+18%3A40&version=NASB)

All who would not seek the LORD, the God of Israel, were to be put to death, whether small or great, man or woman.
2 Chronicles 15:13 (http://bible.cc/2_chronicles/15-13.htm)

For God said, 'Honor your father and mother' and 'Anyone who curses his father or mother must be put to death.
Matthew 15:4 (http://bible.cc/matthew/15-4.htm)

Then Jesus spoke to the crowds and to His disciples,
saying: "The scribes and the Pharisees have seated themselves in the chair of Moses;
therefore all that they tell you, do and observe, but do not do according to their deeds; for they say things and do not do them.
Matthew 23:1-3 (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+23%3A1-3&version=NASB)

Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I didn't come to destroy them, but to fulfill them
Matthew 5:17 (http://bible.cc/matthew/5-17.htm)

Although they know God's righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.
Romans 1:32 (read Romans 1:20-32 for a full explaination) (http://bible.cc/romans/1-32.htm)

"'A man or woman who is a medium or spiritist among you must be put to death. You are to stone them; their blood will be on their own heads.'"
Leviticus 20:27 (http://bible.cc/leviticus/20-27.htm)

During the middle centuries when the Church used to rule over everything, the minority Christians and the Christian Scientists were slaughtered and put to death by the majority ones just because the Priests and Ministers of the High Church decided to call as "heresies" or "apostates". The Bible does give clear authority to the Priests and Ministers to call someone an apostate: The spiritual man makes judgments about all things, but he himself is not subject to any man's judgment. (1 Corinthians 2:15).
-----

YES, freedom of Religion is allowed in Islam! (http://www.answering-christianity.org/apostates.htm) Islam totally disagree with Afghanistan's Taliban or any Muslim State that execute any Muslim for deserting Islam! Islam also totally disagrees with killing any non-Muslim Missionaries trying to spread their religion in Muslim States. See the proof for yourself from the Noble Quran.

Notes:
- Islam does not advocate killing someone just for not believing by itself. This has never been a proper teaching of true Islam. There is no compulsion or forcing anyone to be a Muslim.

Who is Alberto Rivera? is he a historian? where did he get this information from?
----------


http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/b/b4/Albertoriv.PNG

Alberto Rivera is neither an anti-Islam nor an atheist. In fact he's a former roman catholic but then converted into a protestant.

Rivera was born in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Canary Islands, Spain. He is most notable for his claims about his time as a Catholic priest and the inner workings of the Catholic Church.

According to Rivera: After education at a Catholic seminary, he was sent to destroy various Protestant organizations and discredit Protestant leaders, but became disillusioned upon finding that the Vatican was behind Freemasonry and that its reverence of the Virgin Mary was contradicted by the Bible. In 1965, at an Ecumenical Conference in a Guatemalan stadium, he denounced the Catholic Church to an audience of 50,000 people. The Jesuits then sent him to a top-secret sanitorium in Spain to make him recant his faith. Here he was tortured and given drugs until he nearly died, eventually being put into an iron lung because his lungs had broken down from the abuse. Nearly at death, he asked Jesus to forgive him and was miraculously healed. A senior Jesuit attempted to persuade Rivera to return to Catholicism, but instead was himself persuaded to give Rivera the passport and papers he needed to escape Spain. Afterwards he flew to London and rescued his sister María, a nun, after she nearly died in a convent.

VATICAN

Black Pope
http://www.conspiracyplanet.com/images/black-pope.gif

he Black Pope Peter Hans Kolvenbach, who directs the worldwide coven of the Jesuits

Former Bishop Gerard Bouffard of Guatemala said the Vatican is "the real spiritual controller" of the Illuminati and New World Order while the Jesuits through the Black Pope, Jesuit Gen. Fr. Peter Hans Kolvenbach, actually control the Vatican hierarchy and the Roman Catholic Church.

Bishop Bouffard, who left the Church and is now a born again Christian living n Canada, based his conclusion after working six years as a Vatican priest, assigned the task of passing daily, sensitive correspondence between the Pope and the leaders of the Jesuit Order residing at Borgo Santo Spirito 5 near St. Peter's Square.

"Yes, the man known as the Black Pope controls all major decisions made by the Pope and he in turn controls the Illuminati," said Bishop Bouffard last week on Greg Szymanski's radio show, The Investigative Journal, at www.gcnlive.com where archives of the startling statements can be heard in their entirety.


How the Vatican Created Islam...


The Evangelical Da Vinci Code
According to Alberto Rivera the Vatican had desires for dominance in the Holy Land and through Saint Augustine's monastical system manipulated people and events around Mohammed to create in him a fake prophet. Mohammed's job was to re-conquer the Middle East then turn the area back over to the Pope. Only Mohammed died and his Arab generals were too successful, thus refusing to give temporal power to the Pope. This led ultimately to the crusades and has ordered history down to the present day. Rivera claims that this account of history is locked away in theVatican and with the "ayatollahs" of Islam and is locked away from regular people to save from detriment for both religions. Alberto Rivera insinuated that the reason that he was informed of this was due to his position as an agent of the Vatican during the time he claimed to be a Jesuit priest.



Why would any Catholic Pope do it? Why create a rival to his own church?

Alberto Rivera, a self-proclaimed former Jesuit priest upon whose testimony Jack Chick bases his allegations, says that the RomanCatholic Church created Islam to rid itself of rival Christian groups ("true Christians") and to gain the Holy Land (Jerusalem) for Rome. Rivera claims that this information was given to him during his days as a priest by Cardinal Augustin

The comics he made :

read here:
http://www.chick.com/reading/comics/0117/0117_allinone.asp

may this help to enlighten you.

The media classifies Muslims as "terrorists," "highjackers" and "kidnappers." So why would anyone even look at Islam? Why are so many priests and preachers going to Islam? To know more click: Priests And Preachers Enter ISLAM. (http://www.islamtomorrow.com/yusuf.asp)

http://img196.imageshack.us/img196/6554/islamreverts.jpg
Muslim Reverts

Click: Videos of Muslim Reverts (http://www.thedeenshow.com/show.php?action=converts)

http://img31.imageshack.us/img31/5540/muslimrevertsii.jpg
Muslim Reverts

The First Groups of People in Hell Fire

http://becky.gehrisch.us/files/2009/04/hell-lake-of-fire-300x217.jpg

The first 3 people who would be cast into the Hell Fire are people who were involved in what everybody considers great acts of righteousness. They are the scholar who taught knowledge; the wealthy person who gave from his wealth in charity and the martyr who gave his life fighting in the path of God.

The Prophet Muhammad (p), in an authentic narration, said that they would be among the first groups of people thrown into because the scholar, when he taught the knowledge that God gave him, did not do so for the sake of God. He taught so that people would praise him, saying what a great scholar he is and how knowledgeable he is. God will say to him: "You received your praise, what you sought in that world. But there will be nothing for you in the next." So he will be drawn off on his face and thrown into Hell.

Similarly the rich individual - the philanthropist, who was generous with his wealth. He gave and people praised his generosity, but God will say, "You did it for the praise and you were praised. There was no sincerity there; it was not for the sake of God. You did it for as long as people appreciated it, but when people did not pay you mind, you were not generous anymore. Your generosity was conditional; it was not really for the sake of God." So that individual will be drawn off on his face and thrown into Hell.

And the martyr - the one whom we all assumed had died fii-sabilillah. We would think that his place in Paradise is guaranteed. But God will say: "You fought so people would say, 'How brave this one is! How strong and courageous he was!'" People said it; they praised him, but he did not do it for the sake of God, so he will be drawn off on his face and thrown into Hell.
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Our deeds - what we do externally - are judged ultimately by the states of our hearts. These are good deeds. Evil deeds are evil, but these good deeds are in reference to those that we perceive to be a part and parcel of righteousness. God will inspect the hearts to determine whether they are truly acts of righteousness.

This is all telling us that ultimately, even the highest of deeds can be of no avail if the hearts are sick; if the hearts are corrupt. So the place of the heart should, in our minds, occupy great attention. We have to spend much of our time observing, being aware of the state of our heart. When the Prophet Muhammad (p) described Abu Bakr As-Siddiq, explaining to the people his status over the rest of them, he said, "He does not surpass you by performing more prayers and fasts - there are among you those who pray and fast more - but by something which deeply has embedded itself in his heart… Iman in his heart." That was where his superiority laid.
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The value of iman is more than all of the things of this world.
-----

Notes:
- "Allah" is the perfect description of the "One God" of monotheism for Jews, Christians and Muslims. It is for All Three Abrahamic Faiths, "Allah" is the same word used by Christian Arabs and Jewish Arabs in their Bible, centuries before Islam came. On page one of Genesis in the Old Testament, we find the word "Allah" seventeen [17] times. Every hotel and motel has a Bible. Next time you see one look in the introduction, you will find samples of the different languages they have translated.
- Edited and taken from: Hardening of the Heart (http://www.islaam.com/Article.aspx?id=444)

Joshua Evans (Former Youth Minister)

http://www.thedeenshow.com/uploads/profile/1b7aecec801004ac3a4f9d1a594ac049_Evans.jpg

"I was raised by my grandparents in Greenville, South Carolina in a very strict Methodist home. In my teenage years, I became very involved in the church and was studying at a small Bible college in my hometown with the intention of eventually enrolling in Bob Jones University. I was learning to read the Bible in Hebrew and Greek and was very interested in textual criticism of the Bible. It was during these years of intense Bible study that I read the Bible cover to cover a half a dozen times. In doing so, I realized there were many inconsistencies and contradictions. not only in the text, but in the message preached by Jesus himself and what I had been taught all my life based on the writings of Paul. I then realized the Bible was not the inerrant Word of God as I had always been taught. I eventually left Christianity and searched for the truth about God elsewhere.

I studied every religion from Judaism to Buddhism, Wicca to Bushido. While many religions had certain truths to them, they had major tenants or flaws I could not accept. And none gave me the absolute tangeable proof I was looking for. All praise is due to God, one day I found myself talking with a young Muslim who invited me to jumuah, the Friday service and congregational prayer. When I saw the Muslims praying, bowing and prostrating with their heads on the floor, all the verses of the Bible describing the prayer of the prophets came flooding back to me. I asked for a copy of the Quran, read it from cover to cover in three days, found my tangeable proof, and the rest (as they say) is history.

Yusha currently works as a full time caller to Islam and has traveled extensively conducting dawah workshops and calling people to Islam. He has studied under numerous teachers in the U.S and egypt.

Watch videos: Why Joshal Evans chose Islam? (http://www.thedeenshow.com/show.php?action=detail&id=674)

http://www.islamreligion.com/articles/images/Idris_Tawfiq,_Catholic_Priest,_UK_001.jpg

A former British Catholic Priest accepts Islam [after September 11, 2001] after reading the Quran and his interactions with Muslims.

“Strongest among men in enmity to the Believers wilt thou find the Jews and Pagans; and nearest among them in love to the Believers wilt thou find those who say “We are Christians”: because amongst these are men devoted to learning (priests), and men who have renounced the world (monks), and they are not arrogant. And then they listen to the revelation received by the Messenger, thou wilt see their eyes overflowing with tears, for they recognize the truth. They pray: ‘Our Lord! We believe, write us down among the witnesses.’ (Holy Quran Surat Al-Maida 82-83)”

This was what happened to the former British Catholic Priest Idris Tawfiq on reciting Islam’s holy book, the Quran, to his students at a school in Britain. And this was one of the important steps in his journey of conversion to Islam.

During a recent lecture he gave at the British Council in Cairo, Tawfiq made clear that he has no regrets about his past and what he holds in regard to what Christians do and his life at the Vatican for five years.

“I enjoyed being a priest helping the people for some years. However, deep inside I was not happy and I felt that there was something not right. Fortunately, and it is God’s will, some events and coincidences in my life led me to Islam,” he told a packed hall at the British Council.

A second important coincidence for Tawfiq was his decision to quit his work at the Vatican, a step followed by making a trip to Egypt.

“I used to think of Egypt as a country of Pyramids, camels, sand and palm trees. I actually took a charter flight to Hurghada.

Shocked to find it similar to some European beaches, I took the first bus to Cairo where I spent the most wonderful week in my life.

This was my first introduction to Muslims and Islam. I noticed how Egyptians are such gentle, sweet people, but also very strong.

“Like all Britons, my knowledge about Muslims up to that time didn’t exceed what I heard from the TV about suicide bombers and fighters, which gave the impression that Islam is a religion of troubles. However, getting into Cairo I discovered how beautiful this religion is. Very simple people selling goods on the street would abandon their trade and direct their face to Allah and pray the moment they heard the call to prayer from the mosque. They have a strong faith in the presence and will of Allah. They pray, fast, help the needy and dream to have a trip to Mecca with the hope of living in heaven in the hereafter,” he said.

“On my return I resumed my old job of teaching religion. The only compulsory subject in British education is Religious Studies. I was teaching about Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Buddhism and others. So everyday I had to read about these religions to be able to teach my lessons to the students, many of whom were Arab Muslim refugees. In other words, teaching about Islam taught me many things.

“Unlike many troublesome teenagers, these students set a good example of what a Muslim could be. They were polite and kind. So a friendship developed between us and they asked if they could use my classroom for prayers during the fasting month of Ramadan.

“Luckily, my room was the only one with a carpet. So I got accustomed to sitting at the back, watching them praying for a month. I sought to encourage them by fasting during Ramadan with them, even though I wasn’t yet a Muslim.

“Once while reciting a translation of the holy Quran in class I reached the verse:

“And when they listen to the revelation received by the Messenger, thou wilt see their eyes overflowing with tears, for they recognize the truth.”

To my surprise, I felt tears welling up in my eyes and I tried hard to hide it from the students.”
Earth-shaking event

A turning point in his life, however, came in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks in the US on September 11, 2001.

“The following day, I was taking the underground and noticed how terrified the people were. I was also afraid of the repetition of such acts in Britain. At the time, the Western people started fearing this religion they blamed for terrorism.

“However, my previous experience with Muslims took me to a different direction. I started wondering ‘Why Islam? Why do we blame Islam as a religion for the action of terrorists who happened to be Muslims, when no-one accused Christianity of terrorism when some Christians have acted the same way?

“One day I headed to the biggest Mosque in London, to hear more about this religion. Getting into London Central Mosque, there was Yusuf Islam, the former pop singer, sitting in a circle talking to some people about Islam. After a while, I found myself asking him” ‘What do you actually do to become a Muslim?’”

“He answered that a Muslim should believe in one God, pray five times a day and fast during Ramadan. I interrupted him saying that I believed all this and had even fasted during Ramadan. So he asked, ‘What are you waiting for? What is holding you back?’ I said, ‘No, I don’t intend to convert.’

“At that moment the call to prayer was made and everyone got ready and stood in lines to pray.

“I sat at the back, and I cried and cried. Then I said to myself, ‘Who am I trying to fool?’

“After they ended their prayers, I headed to Yusuf Islam, asking him to teach me the words by which I announce my conversion.

“After explaining its meanings to me in English, I recited after him in Arabic that there is no God but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah,” recounted Tawfiq, holding back his tears.
‘Gardens of Islam’

Thus his life has taken a different course. Living in Egypt, Tawfiq wrote a book about the tenets of Islam.

Explaining why he penned his book Gardens of Delight: a Simple Introduction to Islam, Tawfiq noted that everyone is saying that Islam is not a religion of terrorism and isn’t a religion of hatred, but no-one tries to explain what it is.

“So I decided to write this book to give non-Muslims an idea about the basic principles of Islam. I tried to tell people how beautiful Islam is and that Islam has the most extraordinary treasures, the most important being Muslims’ love for each other. The Prophet says ‘Even a smile to your brother is a charity.’

Tawfiq told the Gazette that he is working on a book about the Prophet Muhammad [may the blessing and mercy of God be upon him] which he thinks will be different from the many books already written about him.

He thinks that the “best and fastest way” of acquainting the world with the true image of Islam is to set a good example in real life.

Read here. (http://www.islamreligion.com/articles/586/)

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Former Christian and Federal Prison Chaplain Enters Islam

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Many people ask me how a preacher or priest in Christianity can ever go to Islam, especially considering all the negative things that we hear about Islam and Muslims everyday. Some people are simply curious, while others take a profound exception to my “conversion” to Islam. Some have asked how I could have turned my back on Jesus, or if I truly understood the Holy Ghost, and some even questioned whether or not I considered myself as “born again” or had ever really been saved at all. These are good questions to which I will offer answers to at the end of this writing. I would like to thank everyone for their interest and offer my humble story, God Willing.

One very nice Christian gentleman asked me in email why and how I left Christianity for Islam. This is more or less a copy of the letter I sent to him.

Introduction
My name is Yusuf Estes now, but in years past my friends used to call me Skip. I have preached Christianity and worked in the entertainment and music industry since I was a boy in the 1950’s. My father and I have established music stores, TV and radio programs and outdoor entertainment for fun (and profit). I was a music minister and even used a pony ride and entertained the children as “Skippy the Clown.”

Once, I have served as Delegate to the United Nations Peace Conference for Religious Leaders. Now I am a retired former Muslim Chaplain for United States Bureau of Prisons, Washington, DC. and I join alongside many American Muslims, working with Muslim students and youth organizations as well as schools for Muslim children. As such, I travel around the entire world lecturing and sharing the message of the Christ of the Quran in Islam. We hold dialogs and discussion groups with all faiths and enjoy the opportunity to work alongside rabbis, ministers, preachers and priests everywhere. Some of our work is in the institutional area, military, universities and prisons. Primarily our goal is to educate and communicate the correct message of Islam and who the Muslims really are. Although Islam has grown now to nearly tie Christianity as the largest of religions on earth, we see many of those who claim Islam as Muslims that do not correctly understand nor properly represent the message of “Peace, Surrender and Obedience to God” [Arabic = ‘Islam’]

Dear me, I am afraid that I got a bit ahead of myself. I was trying to give a bit of background of our work perhaps to see if it would in anyway benefit those who may being going through what I experienced while trying to resolve some of the issues of Christianity.

How It Happened
This may seem quite strange, while we perhaps may share a few different perspectives and concepts of God, Jesus, prophethood, sin and salvation. But you see, at one time I was in the same boat as many folks are today. Really, I was. Let me explain.

Born a Strong Christian

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I was born into a very strong Christian family in the Midwest. Our family and their ancestors not only built the churches and schools across this land, but actually were the same ones who came here in the first place. While I was still in elementary we relocated in Houston, Texas in 1949 (I’m old). We attended church regularly, and I was baptized at the age of 12 in Pasadena, Texas. As a teenager, I wanted to visit other churches to learn more of their teachings and beliefs. The Baptists, Methodists, Episcopalians, Charismatic movements, Nazarene, Church of Christ, Church of God, Church of God in Christ, Full Gospel, Agape, Catholic, Presbyterian and many more. I developed quite a thirst for the “Gospel” or as we say; “Good News.” My research into religion did not stop with Christianity. Not at all. Hinduism, Judaism, Buddhism, Metaphysics, native American beliefs were all a part of my studies. Just about the only one that I did not look into seriously was “Islam”. Why? Good question.

Music Minister

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Anyway, I became very interested in different types of music, especially Gospel and Classical. Because my whole family was religious and musical, it followed that I too would begin my studies in both areas. All this set me for the logical position of Music Minister in many of the churches that I became affiliated with over the years. I started teaching keyboard instruments in 1960 and by 1963 owned my own studios in Laurel, Maryland, called “Estes Music Studios.”

Read more here: Yusuf Estes (http://www.islamreligion.com/articles/98/)
Youtube click here: Yusuf Estes (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tpd-Ek1-RRc&feature=related)

Former Southern Baptist and Feminist reverts to Islam

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Aminah Assilmi was born as a Southern Baptist and was a feminist working for women's rights. She had her education in recreation and broadcast journalism. Although she was initially opposed by her entire family for accepting Islam in 1977, subsequently most of her family membes accepted Islam. She is currently the President of the International Union of Muslim Women.

"I am so very glad that I am a Muslim. Islam is my life. Islam is the beat of my heart. Islam is the blood that courses through my veins. Islam is my strength. Islam is my life so wonderful and beautiful. Without Islam I am nothing, and should Allah ever turn His magnificent face from me, I could not survive."

For more info click me. (http://www.welcome-back.org/profile/aminah1.shtml)

"I must remind the Christians that unless they believe in the absolute unity of God, and renounce the belief in the three persons, they are certainly unbelievers in the true God ... The Old Testament and the Qur'an condemn the doctrine of three persons in God; the New Testament does not expressly hold or defend it, but even if it contains hints and traces concerning the Trinity, it is no authority at all, because it was neither seen nor written by Christ himself, nor in the language he spoke, nor did it exist in its present form and contents for - at least - the first two centuries after him."
- Rev. David Benjamin Keldani

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Former Bishop Rev. David Benjamin Keldani

Before he became a Muslim and changed his name to Abdul-Ahad Dawud, Rev. David Benjamin Keldani, B.D. was a Roman Catholic priest of the Uniate-Chaldean sect. He was on the teaching staff of the Archbishop of Canterbury’s Mission to the Assyrian (Nestorian) Christians at Urmia. He was sent by Cardinal Vaughan to Rome, where he underwent a course of philosophical and theological studies at the Propaganda Fide College, and was ordained Priest. Professor Dawud contributed a series of articles to The Tablet on “Assyria, Rome and Canterbury”; and also to the Irish Record on the “Authenticity of the Pentateuch.” He has several translations of the Ave Maria in different languages, published in the Illustrated Catholic Missions. While in Constantinople on his way to Persia, he contributed a long series of articles in English and French to the daily paper, published there under the name of The Levant Herald, on “Eastern Churches.” He joined the French Lazarist Mission at Urmia, and published for the first time in the history of that Mission a periodical in the vernacular Syriac called Qala-La-Shara, i.e. “The Voice of Truth.” He was delegated by two Uniate-Chaldean Arch*bishops of Urmia and of Salinas to represent the Eastern Catholics at the Eucharistic Congress held at Paray-le-Monial in France under the presidency of Cardinal Perraud. This was, of course, an official invitation. The paper read at the Congress by “Father Benjamin” was published in the Annals of the Eucharistic Congress, called “Le Pellerin” of that year. In this paper, the Chaldean Arch-Priest (that being his official title) deplored the Catholic system of education among the Nestorians, and foretold the imminent appearance of the Russian priests in Urmia.

For more information (detailed): Former Bishop Accepted Islam (http://www.welcome-back.org/profile/david_keldani_bio.shtml)

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Jerald F. Dirks (accepts Islam), Minister of United Methodist Church, USA

Description: The early life and education of a Harvard Hollis scholar and author of the book “The Cross and the Crescent”, disillusioned by Christianity due the information learnt in its School of Theology.

One of my earliest childhood memories is of hearing the church bell toll for Sunday morning worship in the small, rural town in which I was raised. The Methodist Church was an old, wooden structure with a bell tower, two children’s Sunday School classrooms cubby-holed behind folding, wooden doors to separate it from the sanctuary, and a choir loft that housed the Sunday school classrooms for the older children. It stood less than two blocks from my home. As the bell rang, we would come together as a family, and make our weekly pilgrimage to the church.

In that rural setting from the 1950s, the three churches in the town of about 500 were the center of community life. The local Methodist Church, to which my family belonged, sponsored ice cream socials with hand-cranked, homemade ice cream, chicken potpie dinners, and corn roasts. My family and I were always involved in all three, but each came only once a year. In addition, there was a two-week community Bible school every June, and I was a regular attendee through my eighth grade year in school. However, Sunday morning worship and Sunday school were weekly events, and I strove to keep extending my collection of perfect attendance pins and of awards for memorizing Bible verses.

By my junior high school days, the local Methodist Church had closed, and we were attending the Methodist Church in the neighboring town, which was only slightly larger than the town in which I lived. There, my thoughts first began to focus on the ministry as a personal calling. I became active in the Methodist Youth Fellowship, and eventually served as both a district and a conference officer. I also became the regular “preacher” during the annual Youth Sunday service. My preaching began to draw community-wide attention, and before long I was occasionally filling pulpits at other churches, at a nursing home, and at various church-affiliated youth and ladies groups, where I typically set attendance records.

By age 17, when I began my freshman year at Harvard College, my decision to enter the ministry had solidified. During my freshman year, I enrolled in a two-semester course in comparative religion, which was taught by Wilfred Cantwell Smith, whose specific area of expertise was Islam. During that course, I gave far less attention to Islam than I did to other religions, such as Hinduism and Buddhism, as the latter two seemed so much more esoteric and strange to me. In contrast, Islam appeared to be somewhat similar to my own Christianity. As such, I didn’t concentrate on it as much as I probably should have, although I can remember writing a term paper for the course on the concept of revelation in the Quran. Nonetheless, as the course was one of rigorous academic standards and demands, I did acquire a small library of about a half dozen books on Islam, all of which were written by non-Muslims, and all of which were to serve me in good stead 25 years later. I also acquired two different English translations of the meaning of the Quran, which I read at the time.

That spring, Harvard named me a Hollis Scholar, signifying that I was one of the top pre-theology students in the college. The summer between my freshman and sophomore years at Harvard, I worked as a youth minister at a fairly large United Methodist Church. The following summer, I obtained my License to Preach from the United Methodist Church. Upon graduating from Harvard College in 1971, I enrolled at the Harvard Divinity School, and there obtained my Master of Divinity degree in 1974, having been previously ordained into the Deaconate of the United Methodist Church in 1972, and having previously received a Stewart Scholarship from the United Methodist Church as a supplement to my Harvard Divinity School scholarships. During my seminary education, I also completed a two-year externship program as a hospital chaplain at Peter Bent Brigham Hospital in Boston. Following graduation from Harvard Divinity School, I spent the summer as the minister of two United Methodist churches in rural Kansas, where attendance soared to heights not seen in those churches for several years.

Seen from the outside, I was a very promising young minister, who had received an excellent education, drew large crowds to the Sunday morning worship service, and had been successful at every stop along the ministerial path. However, seen from the inside, I was fighting a constant war to maintain my personal integrity in the face of my ministerial responsibilities. This war was far removed from the ones presumably fought by some later televangelists in unsuccessfully trying to maintain personal sexual morality. Likewise, it was a far different war than those fought by the headline-grabbing pedophilic priests of the current moment. However, my struggle to maintain personal integrity may be the most common one encountered by the better-educated members of the ministry.

There is some irony in the fact that the supposedly best, brightest, and most idealistic of ministers-to-be are selected for the very best of seminary education, e.g. that offered at that time at the Harvard Divinity School. The irony is that, given such an education, the seminarian is exposed to as much of the actual historical truth as is known about:

1) the formation of the early, “mainstream” church, and how it was shaped by geopolitical considerations;

2) the “original” reading of various Biblical texts, many of which are in sharp contrast to what most Christians read when they pick up their Bible, although gradually, some of this information is being incorporated into newer and better translations;

3) the evolution of such concepts as a triune godhead and the “sonship” of Jesus, peace be upon him;

4) the non-religious considerations that underlie many Christian creeds and doctrines;

5) the existence of those early churches and Christian movements which never accepted the concept of a triune godhead, and which never accepted the concept of the divinity of Jesus, peace be upon him; and

6) etc. (Some of these fruits of my seminary education are recounted in more detail in my recent book, The Cross and the Crescent: An Interfaith Dialogue between Christianity and Islam, Amana Publications, 2001.)

As such, it is no real wonder that almost a majority of such seminary graduates leave seminary, not to “fill pulpits”, where they would be asked to preach that which they know is not true, but to enter the various counseling professions. Such was also the case for me, as I went on to earn a master’s and doctorate in clinical psychology. I continued to call myself a Christian, because that was a needed bit of self-identity, and because I was, after all, an ordained minister, even though my full time job was as a mental health professional. However, my seminary education had taken care of any belief I might have had regarding a triune godhead or the divinity of Jesus, peace be upon him. (Polls regularly reveal that ministers are less likely to believe these and other dogmas of the church than are the laity they serve, with ministers more likely to understand such terms as “son of God” metaphorically, while their parishioners understand it literally.) I thus became a “Christmas and Easter Christian”, attending church very sporadically, and then gritting my teeth and biting my tongue as I listened to sermons espousing that which I knew was not the case.

None of the above should be taken to imply that I was any less religious or spiritually oriented than I had once been. I prayed regularly, my belief in a supreme deity remained solid and secure, and I conducted my personal life in line with the ethics I had once been taught in church and Sunday school. I simply knew better than to buy into the man-made dogmas and articles of faith of the organized church which were so heavily laden with the pagan influences, polytheistic notions, and geo-political considerations of a bygone era.

Click to continue... (http://www.islamreligion.com/articles/76/)

Natassia M. Kelly
Another Sister (15 years old) Becomes Muslim
Surrounded by Christians - Hard, but not impossible
Story of 15 year old girl coming to Islam

I cannot express the joy I felt. I cannot express the weight that was lifted from my shoulders. I had finally received my peace of mind.
...
It has been about five months since I recited the Shahadah. Islam has made me a better person. I am stronger now and understand things more. My life has changed significantly. I now have purpose. My purpose is to prove myself worthy of eternal life in Jennah. I have my long sought after faith. Religion is a part of me all the time. I am striving everyday to become the best Muslim I can be.

People are often amazed at how a fifteen year old can make such an important decision in life. I am grateful that Allah blessed me with my state of mind that I was able to find it so young.

For more info click: Girl Becomes A Muslim (http://www.islamtomorrow.com/converts/natassia_kelly.asp)

Not all of them are alike: Of the People of the Book [Jews and Christians] are a portion that stand (For the right): They rehearse the Signs of God all night long, and they prostrate themselves in adoration. They believe in God and the Last Day; they enjoin what is right, and forbid what is wrong; and they hasten (in emulation) in (all) good works: They are in the ranks of the righteous.
{The Noble Quran, 3:113-3:114}

O mankind! [this includes all races and all nations] We created you from a single (pair) of a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that ye may know each other. Verily the most honoured of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you. And Allah has full knowledge and is well-acquainted.
{The Noble Quran, 49:13}
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Allah (God Almighty) guides Whom He wills

Allah (God Almighty) says to His Messenger :
`O Muhammad: (Verily, you guide not whom you like)' meaning, `the matter does not rest with you; all that you have to do is convey the Message, and Allah will guide whom He wills, and His is the ultimate wisdom,' as He says: (Not upon you is their guidance, but Allah guides whom He wills.) (2:272)

(And most of mankind will not believe even if you desire it eagerly.) (12:103) This Ayah is even more specific than the following:

(Verily, you guide not whom you like, but Allah guides whom He wills. And He knows best those who are the guided.) meaning: Allah knows best who deserves to be guided and who deserves to be misguided. It was recorded in the Two Sahihs that this Ayah was revealed concerning Abu Talib, the paternal uncle of the Messenger of Allah . He used to protect the Prophet, support him and stand by him. He loved the Prophet dearly, but this love was a natural love, i.e., born of kinship, not a love that was born of the fact that he was the Messenger of Allah . When he was on his deathbed, the Messenger of Allah called him to Faith and to enter Islam, but the decree overtook him and he remained a follower of disbelief, and Allah's is the complete wisdom. Az-Zuhri said: "Sa`id bin Al-Musayyib narrated to me that his father, Al-Musayyib bin Hazan Al-Makhzumi, may Allah be pleased with him, said: "When Abu Talib was dying, the Messenger of Allah came to him and found Abu Jahl bin Hisham and `Abdullah bin Abi Umayyah bin Al-Mughirah with him.

The Messenger of Allah (God Almighty) said: (O my uncle, say La ilaha illallah, a word which I may use as evidence in your favor before Allah in the Hereafter. Abu Jahl bin Hisham and `Abdullah bin Abi Umayyah said: `O Abu Talib, will you leave the religion of `Abdul-Muttalib' The Messenger of Allah kept urging him to say La ilaha illallah, and they kept saying, `Will you leave the religion of `Abdul-Muttalib' -- until, at the very end, he said that he was on the religion of `Abdul-Muttalib, and he refused to say La ilaha illallah.

The Messenger of Allah (God Almighty) said: (By Allah, I shall certainly seek forgiveness for you unless I am told not to.) Then Allah revealed:

(It is not (proper) for the Prophet and those who believe to ask Allah's forgiveness for the idolators, even though they be of kin) (9:113). And there was revealed concerning Abu Talib the Ayah,

(Verily, you guide not whom you like, but Allah (God Almighty) guides whom He wills.)'' This was recorded (by Al-Bukhari and Muslim) from the Hadith of Az-Zuhri.

6:125. Those whom Allah (in His plan) willeth to guide,- He openeth their breast to Islam; those whom He willeth to leave straying,- He maketh their breast close and constricted, as if they had to climb up to the skies: thus doth Allah (heap) the penalty on those who refuse to believe.

Nor can a soul die except by Allah.s leave, the term being fixed as by writing. If any do desire a reward in this LIFE, We shall give it to him; and if any do desire a reward in the HereAFTER, We shall give it to him. And swiftly shall We reward those that (serve us with) gratitude. (Holy Quran 3:145)

Why would any Catholic Pope do it? Why create a rival to his own church?

Alberto Rivera, a self-proclaimed former Jesuit priest upon whose testimony Jack Chick bases his allegations, says that the RomanCatholic Church created Islam to rid itself of rival Christian groups ("true Christians") and to gain the Holy Land (Jerusalem) for Rome. Rivera claims that this information was given to him during his days as a priest by Cardinal Augustin

The information that Alberto has about Islam is false... I went through the website...

Peace...

In the name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

Say: He is God, the One and Only;
God, the Eternal, Absolute;
He begetteth not, nor is He begotten;
And there is none like unto Him.

Al-Ikhlas (The Purity of Faith)
Noble Quran (Yusuf Ali English Translation)

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Can we see God in this life?
The human mind is a true marvel, but in certain areas it is limited. God is different from anything the human mind can think of or imagine, so the mind will become confused if it tries to picture God. Nevertheless, it is possible to understand the attributes of God that do not require one to make any mental pictures of Him. For example, one of God’s names is al-Ghaffar, which means He forgives all sins. Everyone can understand this easily because that is how the human mind can think of God. Jewish and Christian teachings on God are confused partly because of incorrect understanding of this issue. The Jewish Torah teaches God is like man,

“Then God said, ‘Let us make man in our image, after our likeness…so God made man in His own image.’” (Genesis 1:26-27)

Moreover, certain churches contain statues or images of an old white bearded man depicting God. Some of these were produced by the likes of Michelangelo who depicted the Face and Hand of a god – a tough looking old man - in paintings.

Rendering images of God in Islam is an impossibility, and amounts to disbelief, as God tells us in the Quran that nothing resembles Him:

“There is nothing like Him, but He is All-Hearing, All-Seeing.” (Quran 42:11)

“There is nothing comparable to Him.” (Quran 112:4)
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The Request of Moses to See God

Eyes cannot bear the vision of God. He tells us in the Quran:

“Vision cannot grasp Him, but His Grasp is over all vision.” (Quran 6:103)

Moses, to whom God spoke and gave great miracles, was chosen by God to be His Prophet. It is said that he thought that, since God used to speak to him, he might be able to actually see God. The story is in the Quran, where God tells us what happened:

“And when Moses arrived at Our appointed time and his Lord spoke to him, he said, ‘My Lord, show me (Yourself) that I may look at You.’ (God) said, ‘You will not see Me, but look at the mountain; if it should remain in place, then you will see Me.’ But when his Lord appeared to the mountain, He rendered it level, and Moses fell unconscious. And when he awoke, he said, ‘Exalted are You! I have repented to You, and I am the first of the believers.’” (Quran 7:143)

God made it clear that no-one, including the great prophet Moses, can bear the sight of the divine, for God is too great to be grasped by human eyes in this life. According to the Quran, Moses realized his request was in error; therefore, he sought forgiveness from God for having asked.

The supreme trial of the human being in this world is that he or she should believe in God Almighty without actually seeing Him. Even Moses (PBUH) wanted to see God Almighty. But if the greatest bliss of paradise is the sight of the Divine Being, how could it be possible to see Him in this world?

God Almighty accepted Prophet Moses’ repentance: "Moses, I have chosen you of all mankind to make known My messages and My commandments. Take therefore what I have given you, and be thankful." (Quran 7:144)
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Did Prophet Muhammad See God In This Life?

Prophet Muhammad traveled in a miraculous journey through the heavens and met God. People thought that since Prophet Muhammad spoke to God in that journey, he probably saw God too. One of the companions, Abu Dahrr, asked him about it. The Prophet replied:

“There was only light, how could I see Him?” (Saheeh Muslim)

What was the light he saw? The Prophet explained:

“Surely, God does not sleep nor is it befitting for Him to sleep. He is the one who lowers the scales and raises them. The deeds of the night go up to Him before the deeds of the day and those of the day before those of the night, and His veil is light.” (Saheeh Muslim)
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Seeing God in Afterlife

In Islamic doctrine, God cannot be seen in this life, but the believers will see God in the next life; even then, God will not be grasped in totality. This is stated clearly in the Quran and the Sunnah. The Prophet said,

“The Day Of Resurrection is the first day any eye will look at God, the Mighty and Exalted.”

Describing the events of Resurrection Day, God states in the Quran:

“On that day some faces will be bright, looking at their Lord.” (Quran 75:22-23)

The Prophet was asked if we will see God on the Day of resurrection. He replied, “Are you harmed by looking at the moon when it is full?” ‘No,’ they replied. Then he said, “Surely, you will see Him likewise.” In another hadith the Prophet said, “Surely, each of you will see God on the day when you shall meet Him, and there will be no veil or translator between Him and you.” Seeing God will be a favor that is additional to Paradise on the people who will dwell therein. As a matter of fact, the joy of seeing God for a believer will be greater than the all the joys of Paradise combined together. The unbelievers, on the other hand, will be deprived of seeing God, and this will be greater punishment for them than all the pain and suffering of Hell combined together.

Click: further reading. (http://www.islamreligion.com/articles/331/)

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Foundations of Islamic Studies (video)
By: Dr. Abu Ameenah Bilal Philips (Muslim Scholar, PhD. in Theology, Wales. Ex-Christian/Ex-Marxist-Leninist)

Download videos, 20 parts (download using Orbit downloader with Grab++):
Foundations of Islamic Studies Downloads : Light Upon Light Islam (http://www.lightuponlight.com/islam/modules.php?name=Downloads&d_op=viewdownload&cid=69)

Islamic Studies series have been generally acknowledged as an excellent introduction set to the principles of the Islamic faith, with core sciences discussed and explored, for both the new Muslim as well as the "old" Muslim wishing to brush up on the fundamentals. It focuses on four areas of Islamic knowledge: Aqeedah, Tafseer, Hadeeth, Fiqh. It is also suitable for new-Muslims and adults seeking an easy explanation of the basic areas of Islamic disciplines. All texts are supported by evidence from the Quran and authentic hadeeths.

Download via torrent (not yet tested):
Studies in Islam Volume 1 (video) (http://www.islamictorrents.net/details.php?id=14614 VOL 1)
Studies in Islam Volume 2 (video) (http://www.islamictorrents.net/details.php?id=14768 VOL 2)
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Foundations of Islamic Studies (video)

Content/Description of Lectures:

Bilal Philips delivers an outstanding program that leaves you wishing we put the rest of the series online. He goes into very important topics that are usually boring in such a funny and interesting way using PRACTICAL and easy-to-understand examples that will stick in your mind and allow you to share with others. Also discusses the story of Musa and Khidr, the shias, and other topics along the way.

Discusses different types of shirk committed in the major areas of tawheed, in different religions and their versions of God, and even those who deny the creation God commit shirk as they have turned other things equal to God. How our prophet sallGodu'alayhiwasallam warned us of Riyaa (the shirk of showing off when doing good deeds), and how it more hidden black ant creeping on a black stone in the middle of a moonless night - so we must be careful of this shirk.

The lecture is about Where God is... And that he is not everywhere, or is he? find out.. Bilal Philips also covered deviant sects and how they claim to have hidden knowledge, but we know the religion is simple and DOES NOT permit blind following.

Disccuses the issue of why did God create us? and why does God command us to worship Him? If the whole world worshipped God it would NOT increase Him in any way, if the whole world refused to worship God it would NOT decrease Him in anyway. Worshipping God is a need we have, God does not need us to worship Him. Worshipping is a need for us to get to Paradise, the purpose of our existance. The shaykh continues to discuss what is worship, defines the true meaning of worship in Islaam and mistakes made in worship.

Discusses the meaning behind trials and calamities, how it can be a form of punishment or a form of purification of sins, then he swiftly moves on to what is hijra (migration) and how it is an obligation upon us to live in a place where we can pratice the deen. The brother then discusses the importance of Sabr and Faith, and ends with a general Q&A on Aqeedah. One of the questions asked is, "Is Suicide bombing allowed in Islam?"

Detailing the fundementals of the quran including the structure of the quran how it was compiled by the companions. Shaykh Bilal Philips explains how learning the history of the quran re affirms our faith, comparing this to the other sacred texts by other religions that are full of doubt, we know our quran has none. Shaykh Bilal Philips then discusses the various false claims people have made to say the quran is not authentic, exlpaining how these claims have no basis. A very informative lecture giving us the ability to understand the beauty of how the quran is the way it is today. masha'God.

A beautiful lecture detailing the quran and its preservation, exlpaining the difference between the Meccan and Medinan revelations and the roles they played. Shaykh Bilal Philips also gives a tafseer of Surah Al Fatihah, and other verses of the quran and the wisdom behind its revelation such as its timing, impact and target. Also how to make dua properly.

About the "methodology of tafseer (exegesis/explanation) of Quran" i.e the framework/methodology that we can use to understand and derive meaning of the quran. Why do we need tafseer? Cuz God wanted it that way..
- How about sex in heaven?
- Problem with Yusuf Ali translation - Seeing God in the next life
- Why Quran and Sunnah cannot be seperated
- The clothing of a woman

Lecture covers the collection of Hadith - differences between Hadith, and Sunnah Conditions for Hadith to be "Saheeh" (Authentic), Daeef (Weak) or Fabricated.

Collection of Hadith, Different Madhabs, and how availabilty of stronger authentic hadeeth should effect the practise. Also a Q and A section covering many topics including positions in prayers, etc.

In the first half of this lecture, Sheikh Bilal discusses Usool al Fiqh (Understanding of Islamic Law). He explains the difference between Shariah and Fiqh. Other topics discussed:
* How can we rule by a book that is 1400 years old? Doesn't that make it rigid and inflexible?
* When we find a ruling in the Quran, can we immediately apply it, or do we have to look at the sunnah?
* The example of cutting off the hand, can we do it for stealing a pencil
* What is the difference between ijmaa and democracy
* Is Islam compatible with democracy??
* What is Qiyas

Continuing with explanation of Ijmah (consensus) Side topics: Fiqh and Alcohol age, Cigarettes, Polygamy, how 3000 people accepted Islam in Damam, Cutting off the hands of thieves and equality of law, is smoking makrooh? or haram? the principle of qiyas (analogy)....

And MORE....
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Additional videos and resources:
The Sounds of Islam (http://www.aswatalislam.net/)
More videos on Islam (http://www.lightuponlight.com/islam/)
Islam Youtube (videos) (http://tubeislam.com/)
Answering the false Islamic Cults (http://www.answering-christianity.com/ac11.htm#links)

Muhammad (p) the Reality and Truth

1. Muhammad (p) was raised unable to read or write, and remained like that till his death. Among all his people, he was known as being truthful and trustworthy. Before receiving revelation, he had no prior knowledge of Religion or any previously sent Message. He remained like that for his first forty years. Revelation then came to Muhammad with the Quran that we now have between our hands. This Quran mentioned most of the accounts found in the previous scriptures, telling us about these events in the greatest detail as if he witnessed them. These accounts came precisely as they were found in the Torah sent down to Moses and in the Gospel sent down to Jesus. Neither the Jews or Christians were able to belie him regarding anything that he said.

2. Muhammad (p) also foretold of everything that would occur to him and his community after him, pertaining to victory, the removal of the tyrannical kingdoms of Chosroes [the royal title for the Zoroastrian kings of Persia] and Caesar, and the establishment of the religion of Islam throughout the earth. These events occurred exactly as Muhammad foretold, as if he was reading the future from an open book.

3. Muhammad (p) also brought an Arabic Quran that is the peak of eloquence and clarity. The Quran challenged those eloquent and fluent Arabs of his time, who initially belied him, to bring forth a single chapter like the Quran. The eloquent Arabs of his day were unable to contest this Quran. Indeed, till our day, none has ever dared to claim that he has been able to compose words that equal-or even approach-the order, grace, beauty, and splendor of this Glorious Quran.

4. The life history of this Noble Prophet was a perfect example of being upright, merciful, compassionate, truthful, brave, generous, distant from all evil character, and ascetic in all worldly matters, while striving solely for the reward of the Hereafter. Moreover, in all his actions and dealings, he was ever mindful and fearful of Allah.

5. Allah instilled great love for Muhammad (p) in the hearts of all who believed in and met him. This love reached such a degree that any of his companions would willingly sacrifice his (or her) self, mother or father for him. Till today, those who believe in Muhammad honor and love him. Anyone of those who believe in him would ransom his own family and wealth to see him, even if but once.

6. All of history has not preserved the biography of any person in the manner it has preserved the life of Muhammad, who is the most influential human in history. Nor has the entire earth known of anyone whom every morning and evening, and many times thereafter throughout the day, is thought of by those who believe in him. Upon remembering Muhammad, the believers in him will greet him and ask Allah to bless him. They do such with full hearts and true love for him.

7. Nor has there every been a man on earth whom is still followed in all his doings by those who believe in him. Those who believe in Muhammad, sleep in the manner he slept; purify themselves (through ablution and ritual washing) in the manner he purified himself; and adhere to his practice in the way they eat, drink, and clothe themselves. Indeed in all aspects of their lives, the believers in Muhammad adhere to the teachings he spread among them and the path that he traveled upon during his life. During every generation, from his day till our time, the believers in this Noble Prophet have fully adhered to his teachings. With some, this has reached the degree that they desire to follow and adhere to the Prophet's way in his personal matters regarding which Allah has not sought of them to adhere to in worship. For example, some will only eat those specific foods or only wear those specific garments that the Messenger liked. Let alone all that, all those who believe in Muhammad repeat those praises of Allah, special prayers, and invocations that he would say during each of his actions during day and night, like: what he would say when he greeted people, upon entering and leaving the house, entering and leaving the mosque, entering and leaving the bathroom, going to sleep and awaking from sleep, observing the new crescent, observing the new fruit on trees, eating, drinking, dressing, riding, traveling and returning from travel, etc. Let alone all that, all those who believe in Muhammad fully perform-even to the minute detail-every act of worship-like prayer, fasting, charity, and pilgrimage-as this Noble Messenger (p) taught and as he himself performed. All of this allows those who believe in him, to live their lives in all aspects with this Noble Messenger as their example, as if he was standing before them, for them to follow in all their doings.

8. There has never been nor will there ever be a man anywhere upon this earth who has received such love, respect, honor, and obedience in all matters-small and large alike-as has this Noble Prophet.

9. Since his day, in every region of the earth and during every period, this Noble Prophet has been followed by individuals from all races, colors and peoples. Many of those who followed him were previously Christians, Jews, pagans, idolaters, or without any religion. Among those who chose to follow him, were those who were known for their sound judgment, wisdom, reflection, and foresight. They chose to follow this Noble Prophet after they witnessed the signs of his truthfulness and the evidences of his miracles. They did not choose to follow Muhammad out of compulsion or coercion or because they had adopted the ways of their fathers and mothers.

Indeed many of the followers of this Prophet (may Allah's blessings peace be upon him), chose to follow him during the time when Islam was weak, when there were few Muslims, and when there was severe persecution of his followers on earth. Most people who have followed this Prophet (p) have done so not to acquire some material benefits. Indeed many of his followers have suffered the greatest forms of harm and persecution as a result of following this Prophet. Despite all this harm and persecution, this did not turn them back from his religion.

My brethren! All of this clearly indicates to anyone possessing any sense, that this Prophet was truly and really Allah's messenger and that he was not just a man who claimed prophethood or spoke about Allah without knowledge.

10. With all this, Muhammad came with a great religion in its credal and legal make-up.

Muhammad described Allah with qualities of complete perfection, and at the same time in a manner that is free of ascribing to Him any imperfection. Neither the philosophers or the wise could ever describe Allah like such. Indeed it is impossible to imagine that any human mind could conceive of an existing being that possesses such complete ability, knowledge, and greatness; Who has subdued the creation; Who has encompassed everything in the universe, small or large; and Who possesses such perfect mercy.

Nor is it in the ability of any human being to place a perfect law based upon justice, equality, mercy and objectivity for all human activity on earth like the laws that Muhammad brought for all spheres of human activity - like buying and selling, marriage and divorce, renting, testimony, custody, and all other contracts that are necessary to uphold life and civilization on earth.

11. It is impossible that any person conceive wisdom,, morals, good manners, nobleness of characters as what this honorable Prophet (p) brought.

In a full and complete manner, Muhammad spread a teaching regarding character and manners toward one' parents, relatives, fiends, family, humanity, animals, plants and inanimate objects. It is impossible for the human mind alone to grasp all of that teaching or come with a similar teaching.

All of that unequivocally indicates that this Messenger did not bring an) of this religion from his own accord, but that it was rather a teaching and inspiration that he received from the One Who created the earth and the high heavens above and created this universe in its miraculous architecture and perfection.

12. The legal and credal make-up of the religion that the Messenger, Muhammad, (p) brought resembles the engineering of the heavens and the earth. All of that indicates that He who created the heavens and the earth is the One Who sent down this great law and upright religion.

The degree of inimitability of the Divine law that was sent down upon Muhammad is to the same degree of inimitability of the Divine creation of the heavens and earth. For just as humanity cannot create this universe, in the same manner humanity cannot bring forth a law like Allah's law that He sent down upon His servant and messenger Muhammad (p).

http://www.quranandscience.com/images/stories/muradwilfriedhofmann.jpg
Murad Wilfried Hofmann

Ph.D (Law) Harvard. German Social Scientist and Diplomat. Embraced Islam. He went back to the very basic question of the existence of God. After analyzing works of philosophers, such as Wittgenstein, Pascal, Swinburn, and Kant, he came to an intellectual conviction of the existence of God. The next logical question he faced was how God communicates to human beings so that they can be guided. This led him to acknowledge the need for revelations. But what contains the truth – Judeo-Christian scriptures or Islam?

He found the answer to this question in his third crucial experience when he came across the following verse of the Qur’an: “… no bearer of burdens shall bear the burdens of another.” {Qur’an 53:38}. This verse opened up his eyes and provided the answer to his dilemma. Clearly and unambiguously for him, it rejected the ideas of the burden of "original sin” and the expectation of “intercession” by the saints. “A Muslim lives in a world without clergy and without religious hierarchy; when he prays he does not pray via Jesus, Mary, or other interceding saints, but directly to God – as a fully emancipated believer – and this is a religion free of mysteries.” According to Hofmann, “A Muslim is the emancipated believer par excellence".

"I began to see Islam with its own eyes, as the unadulterated, pristine belief in the one and only, the true God, Who does not beget, and was not begotten, Whom nothing and nobody resembles … In place of the qualified deism of a tribal God and the constructions of a divine Trinity, the Qur’an showed me the most lucid, most straightforward, the most abstract - thus historically most advanced – and least anthropomorphic concept of God.”

Read further: Murad Wilfried Hofmann (http://www.quranandscience.com/new-muslim-stories/244-murad-wilfried-hofmann.html)

..ISLAm is PEACe....

Yes your are Right..

You may be a Christian Protestant, Catholic, Jew, an atheist or an agnostic; or you may belong to any of many different religious denominations existing in today's world. You might even be a communist or believe in man's democracy as the rule on earth.

Whoever you are and whatever ideological or political beliefs, social habits you may hold, there is no doubt - You Must Know This MAN - MUHAMMAD (peace be upon him) (CLICK). (http://prophetofislam.com/)

Learn more About Islam in this Website.. Sultan.org

Learn more About Islam in this Website.. Sultan.org

Thanks, I will get some info here :) and use it as reference...

In the name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

Say: He is God, the One and Only;
God, the Eternal, Absolute;
He begetteth not, nor is He begotten;
And there is none like unto Him.

Al-Ikhlas (The Purity of Faith)
Noble Quran (Yusuf Ali English Translation)

And if you (Arab pagans, Jews, and Christians) are in doubt concerning that which We have sent down (i.e. the Quran) to Our slave (Muhammad Peace be upon him ), then produce a Soorah (chapter) of the like thereof and call your witnesses (supporters and helpers) besides Allah, if you are truthful.
But if you do it not, and you can never do it, then fear the Fire (Hell) whose fuel is men and stones, prepared for the disbelievers.
{Noble Quran 2:23-24}
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Notes:
'Allah' in Arabic means the One True God/God Almighty, 'Allah' is the same word used by Christian Arabs and Jewish Arabs in their Bible, centuries before Islam came.

Jewish British Dude Converts to Islam

Click to Watch: Jewish British Dude Converts to Islam (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rty9EWzPpd0)

http://img713.imageshack.us/img713/4581/jewishbritishdudetoisla.jpg