Entries from December 2009 ↓

We are living in the age of computers, laser surgeries, advanced medical treatments, and cloning! In today’s world of constant scientifically groundbreaking discoveries, how can we accept that Allah’s revelation, The Quran, did not reveal this all before? Believing the entire world to be created by God Himself, the Qur’an revealed 1400 years ago contains 1000 verses of scientific knowledge, and none of them contradicting with today’s scientific facts and discoveries. (SubhanAllah)

Apart from guiding mankind personal, social, moral and spiritual areas, the Quran doesn’t stop here and also throws light on varied scientific topics like astronomy, geology, embryology, genetics, biology, archeology an much more. Following lines will show you that Quran is truly a divine gift of Lord upon His creators. Read on.

The Big Bang Theory and Quran!

• Modern Science: Astronomers of today accept the big bang philosophy for the creation of this universe. According to the theory, 15billion years ago a primordial mass exploded and the universe was formed. This was discovered somewhere in 1973.
• The Quran: “Do not the unbelievers see that the Heavens and the earth were joined together, and then We split them apart.” (21:30)

Expansion of the Universe

• Modern science: “The universe is not static, as had previously been thought, it is expanding”
• The Quran: “And the firmament, We constructed with power and skill and verily We are expanding it” (51:47)

Reality of Sun’s Orbit

• Modern Science: Previous theories stated that sun is motionless in the center of the solar system with all the planets revolving around it. But modern science tells us today that the sun too is in motion along with the planets, and travels at 150 miles per second takes about 200 million years to complete one revolution around the center of our Milky Way Galaxy and 25 days to make one complete rotation around its own axis.
• The Quran: “It is He who created the night and the day, and the sun and the moon, all (the celestial bodies) swim along, each in its orbit with its own motion.” (21:33)

Invasion of Space by Human Beings

• Modern Science: After launching of the Russian Satellite, Sputnik I in 1957, the human interest in the space took form. Entailed by several incidents including man’s landing on moon, human dream of conquering space was given a reality.
• The Quran: “O assembly of Jinns and humans, if you can penetrate the regions of the heavens and the earth, then penetrate them! You will not penetrate them save with a power (of God).” (55:33)

Earth’s Ozone Layer

• Modern Science: Science proves that Earth is frequently attacked by meteoroids that collapse by sun rays. Similarly the dangerous UV radiation is absorbed by the Ozone layer around our planet, thus protecting it and making us live on earth.
• The Quran: “And We have made the atmosphere a protective roof, yet do they turn away from the Signs which these things point to.” (21:32)

The Creation of Mankind:

• Modern Science: Through powerful microscopes, ultra sound and fiber optics technology, the science of embryology shows that life is generated by eggs. Here are the processes defined by modern embryology:

1. Fertilization takes place with only one sperm among several tens of millions produced by man.
2. Implantation of the blastocyst in the uterus
3. The human embryo is similar to a leech from days 7-24, when it clings to the endometrium of the uterus.
4. The internal ears appear before the eyes, and the brain appears last.

• The Quran:

1. “God fashioned man from a small quantity (of sperm)” (16:4)
2. “Then We placed him as a drop in a place of rest” (23:13)
3. “Then We made the drop into a leech like structure…” (23:14)
4. “And He (God) gave you hearing and sight and feeling and understanding.” (32:9)

The Quran describes not only the development of external form but also the internal stages – the stages inside the embryo of its creation and development, emphasizing major events recognized by contemporary science.

Existence of Two Genders

• Modern Science: Science tells us that everything from animals to plants and even bacteria are divided into pairs, male and female.

• The Quran: “Hallowed is He, Who created pairs in all things, those that grow from the earth and of themselves, and what they know not.” (36:36)

“Pray to me and I will hear your prayer” Quran (40:60).

Namaz, Salah or Prayer is obligatory on every Muslim man and woman after reaching adolescence. Among all the wonderful benefits of praying, here is why Prayer is so important a deed in Islam:

• Allah Is With Those Who Pray

“Oh ye who believe! Seek help with perseverance and prayer: for God is with those who patiently persevere (11:153)

• Prayer Leads to Taqwa

“This is the Book in which there is no doubt, a guidance for those who have taqwa; who believe in the unseen, and who establish Salah, and spend out of what we have provided for them” (2: 2-3)

• Prayer Is a Believer’s Deed

“The believers, men and women, are protecting friends of one another; they enjoin good and forbid evil, and they establish Salah, and give Zakah, and obey Allah and His Messenger. Allah will have His Mercy on them, and surely, Allah is All-Mighty, All-Wise.” (9: 71)

• Prayer Results in Allah’s Blessings

“So whatever you have been given is but (a passing) enjoyment for this worldly life, but that which is with Allah is better and more lasting for those who believe and put their trust in their Lord. And those who avoid the great sins and lewdness, and when they are angry, they forgive. And those who answer the Call of their Lord, and perform the Salah, and who conduct their affairs by mutual consultation, and who spend of what We have bestowed on them.” (42:36-38)

• Prayer Reward in Akhirat

“Truly, those who believe and do righteous deeds, and perform Salah, and give Zakah, they will have their reward with their Lord. On them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve.” (2:277)

• Prayers Keep You In Connection With the Almighty

“When have finished performing the Salah, remember Allah standing, sitting, and reclining, but when you are free from danger, perform the Salah. Surely, Salah is enjoined on the believers at
fixed times.” (4:103)

• Command of Allah to Observe Prayers

“Guard strictly the Salah, especially the middle Salah. And stand before Allah with obedience.” (2:238)

• Prayers Are A Way To Seek Allah’s Help

“Oh you who believe! Seek help through patience and Salah. Truly, Allah is with those who are patient.” (2:153)

• Importance of Friday Prayer

“Oh you who believe! When the call is made for the Salah on Friday, come to the remembrance of Allah, and leave off business. That is better for you, if you only knew! And when the Salah has ended, you may disperse through the land, and seek the Bounty of Allah, and remember Allah much so that you may be successful.” (62:09-10)

• Prayer Prevents From Satan

“Shaytaan desires only to excite enmity and hatred between you with intoxicants and gambling, and hinder you from the remembrance of Allah, and from Salah. So will you then not abstain
(from these evils)?” (5:91)

• Prayer Saves from Troubles

“Recite that which has been revealed to you of the Book, and perform Salah. Verily, Salah prevents from lewdness and evils. And indeed, the remembrance of Allah (by you) is greatest. And Allah knows what you do.” (29:45)

• Only Those Who Pray Can Be Your Good Friends

“Indeed, your protecting friend (Wali) is none other than Allah, His Messenger, and the Believers who establish Salah, and give Zakat, and bow down (in prayer). (5: 55)

• Prayer and Women

“And stay in your houses, and do not display yourselves like that of the times of ignorance, and perform Salah, and give Zakah, and obey Allah and His Messenger. Allah wishes only to remove uncleanness from you, Oh people of the House, and to purify you with a thorough purification.” (33:33)

• Not Observing Prayer Is a Hypocrite’s Act

“Verily, the hypocrites seek to deceive Allah, but it is He who deceives them; When they stand up for Salah, they stand with laziness, only to be seen by men; and they do not remember Allah but a little.” (4:142)

• Leaving Prayer Causes Kufr

“(And remain always) turning to Him (only), and be fearful and dutiful towards Him, and perform Salah and be not of those who commit Shirk.” (30: 31)

• Leaving Prayers Destroys A Nation!

“Then, there came after them a generation who gave up Salah and followed lusts; so they will be thrown in Hell.” (19: 59)

Everyone in this world is well aware of the fact that this life is mortal. All of us are sent in to this world for some specific time after that we have to dwell in eternal life which starts after the end of this life. Humans pass through different phases after the death i.e. separation of soul from body, life, in grave and the most important event that will happen on the Day of Judgment is when we will be held accountable for our deeds and when we will be questioned by our Lord Allah (S.W.T.) as He says in Qur’an:

“Then surely, We shall question those (people) to whom it (the book) was sent and verily, We shall question the Messengers.” ( Al-A’raf, 6 and 7)

Two Methods of Accountability

On the Day of Judgment, every human being who is sent into this world in any era will be stood together at a place where they will be held accountable in front of God as He says in Qur’an:

“The Day is approaching when every soul shall find itself confronted with whatever good it has done and whatever evil it has wrought. It will then wish there is a wide space between it and the Day! Allah warns you to beware of Him; He is most tender towards His servants.” (Surat Al-Imran, 30)

There will be two methods of accountability,

• Those who have successfully spent their lives according to the teachings of Allah and His Prophet (PBUH) will be directly sent to the paradise to live an eternal life with all the blessing they have been promised for and will be considered as the most successful people.

They will say: “Praise be to Allah Who has fulfilled His promise to us and made us the inheritors of this land, letting us settle in Paradise wherever we want. How excellent is the wage of those who work.” (Surat az-Zumar, 74)

• Those who used to commit evil things in the worldly life will be questioned about their bad acts and surely they will have no answer for it except shame on their own deeds and begging pardon for their wrongdoings but the time of forgiveness will be over. Those people will be sent to hell fire where they will be tortured for their sins until they complete their punishments.

On the Day when those who were unbelievers are exposed to the Fire, [it will be said to them]: “You dissipated the good things you had in your worldly life, and enjoyed yourself in it. So today you are being repaid with the punishment of humiliation for being arrogant in the earth without any right, and for being deviators.” (Surat al-Ahqaf, 20)

First Question for the Mankind

Prayer is the very first question that will be asked from the people on the Day of Judgment. If a person performs prayers with the extreme quality, then the person will be saved. If the prayers were done incompletely or half-heartedly, then his voluntary prayers will suffice for the shortcomings.

Prophet (PBUH) said:

The Messenger (S.A.W.) told us in an authentic hadith , “The first thing the people will be accountable for on the Day of Judgment is prayer, Allah will say to His angels (even though he already knows) : “Look at my servants prayers. Were they complete or not?” If they were complete it will be written as complete. If they were not fully complete Allah will say: “See if my servant has voluntary prayers, if he has them Allah will say: Complete his obligatory prayers shortage with his voluntary prayers.” Then the rest of his deeds will be dealt with in the same manner.” (Reported by Imams Ahmad, Abu Dawood, An-Nisa’i, and Al-Hakim)

Five Things that will be Asked

The prophet Muhammad (PBUH) told us about five major questions that will be asked, and no one can bypass these prosecutions.

1. How he lived his life?
2. How he utilized his youth?
3. What means did he earn his wealth?
4. How did he spend his wealth?
5. What did he do with his knowledge?

There are lots of other question that will be asked from us e.g. all of our covenants and promises that have made in our lives, hearing, our vision, and our hearts.

“And fulfill (every) covenant. Verily! The covenant will be questioned about.” ( Surat Al-Israa, Verse 34)

“Verily! The hearing, and the sight, and the heart, of each of those, you will be questioned (by Allah)” ( Surat Al-Israa, Verse 36)

Conclusion

Muslims should consider themselves very lucky by having told about the day of judgment in such clear words and have Qur’an, Hadith and Sunnah to learn and live the life according to them so that at the Day of Judgment we stand amongst the believers and successful people. The good believer is the one who prepares himself for those difficult events by getting closer to Allah (S.W.T), by doing good deeds, and by staying away from what Allah has forbidden, so that he will be among those who receive their book of deeds on the Day of Judgment in their right hand and Allah will enter them into paradise.

Islam and Christianity are the two largest religions dominating the world, yet following the same baseline which reflects “Belief in One God.” It’s surprising to know how much similarity and connection both these monotheistic religions carry. Let’s throw some light on these similarities:

The Fateha & The Lord’s Prayer:

“The Lord’s Prayer” in the bible and the “Sura Al-Fateha” in the Quran are universal prayers. After careful observation, we can see that both the prayers carry the similar meaning with only the difference of language.

Belief on Jesus

Both Muslims and Christians recognize the Jesus. Both believe that Jesus was sinless and born of the Virgin Mary. Both religions accept that Jesus preformed miracles and was crucified and raised up to God. The difference is only in the belief where Muslims see Jesus as a highly regarded prophet, while Christians take Him as God Himself.

Belief in the World Hereafter

Islam and Christianity are united on the concept of the doomsday. Both believe that existence of this World is finite, but man does not know when the World will come to an end. Jesus Christ will return when the World ends and at that time Satan and his servants will be defeated. Believers who die will go to heaven and live forever, while Disbelievers will go to hell to be punished.

Similarity in Prayer

Prayer is an integral part of both the religions. Both religions facilitate the communication of man with God through prayer. Prayer can be conducted at any time and special times also exist to make sure man develops the habit to pray. Praying aids like “tasbeeh” in Islam and “rosary” in Christianity are also used which resemble a string of beads.

Creation of This World and Creation of Man

In both the Bible and The Quran, creation of the world and the man has been described alike. Here are a couple of verses, one from Quran and other from Bible, enforcing the same meanings:

• Quran and world’s creation: “We created the heavens and the earth and all between them in Six Days, nor did any sense of weariness touch Us.”
• Bible and world’s creation: “Thus the heavens and the earth were completed in all their vast array. By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. And God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.”
• Quran and man’s creation: “Behold! Thy Lord said to the angels: “I am about to create man from sounding clay from mud molded into shape; when I have fashioned him (in due proportion) and breathed into him of My spirit fall ye down in obeisance unto him.”
• Bible and man’s creation: “The Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.”

Similarities in Moral Codes

Both religions enforce their followers to abide by the following moral codes:

• Simple faith without its practical implementation is of no use
• Punishment for those who disrespect God and worship any other deity
• Prohibited from inhumane acts like murder, theft, lying, gambling and violence
• Parents and spouses are to be respected
• Adultery, fornication, Homosexuality and vulgarism is forbidden
• Respect and observing society laws is important
• Intoxication and suicide are forbidden
• Both religions oppose same sex marriage

These points certainly show just how similar Christians and Muslims are. All we have to do is look beyond our differences, extend our hands towards each other and live in peace and unity just the way Quran and Bible have directed.