Ecumenism and Muhammed

[Nonson]

Pathogenesis_of_Fundamentalism

Ecumenism and Prophet Muhammad

Muhammad recited in the Holy Qur'an (Koran) Chapter 98, Verse 6 :

"The People of the Book (Jews and Christians) and the Pagans will burn forever in the Fire of Hell. They are the vilest of all creatures."



The Nature of Hell

Qur'an (2:39), "On the Day of Judgement, We shall gather them all together prone on their faces, blind, dumb and deaf: their abode will be Hell and we shall increase for them the fierceness of the Fire."

Qur'an(4:56) "As often as their skins are roasted off, We shall change for them fresh skins."

Qur'an(22:19) "Those who deny Me, for them will be cut out a garment of Fire."

Qur'an(22:21) "In addition there will be maces of iron to punish them."

Qur'an (34:33) "We shall put yokes on their necks."

Qur'an (40:72) "By chains they will be dragged along in boiling, fetid fluid."

Qur'an (9:110) "Their hearts will be cut to pieces."

Qur'an (40:18) "Their hearts will come right up to their throats to choke them."

Qur'an (88:6-7) "No food will be there for them but bitter Dari which will neither nourish nor satisfy hunger."

Qur'an (37:62-66) "The Tree of Zaqqum, at the bottom of Hellfire, the fruit therof will cut their entrails."

Qur'an (18:29) "Water like melted brass that will scald their faces. How dreadful the drink!"

Qur'an (38:57) ... "and a fluid dark, murky, intensely cold ... taste it."



B. Hell (Continued)

Qur'an (11:106) "Those ┘ in the Fire will be ┘ nothing but the heaving of sighs and sobs."

Qur'an (11:119) "I will fill Hell with jinns and men all together."

Qur'an (7:179) "Many are the Jinns and men We have made for Hell."

(Qur'an 97:50) "The Companions of the Fire will call to the Companions of the Garden: "Pour down to us water or anything that Allah doth provide for your sustenance" ┘ but both things hath Allah forbidden to those who rejected Him."

Qur'an (6:44) "We opened to them the gates of all good things (Paradise) ┘ on a sudden We called them to account (Hell) and they were plunged in despair."

Qur'an (9:35) "On the Day that heat will be produced out of that (gold and silver) in the Fire of Hell and with it will be branded their foreheads, their flanks and their backs."

Qur'an (44:47-48) "Drag him into the midst of the Blazing Fire" Then pour over his head the Penalty of Boiling Water."

Qur'an (66:6) "Save yourselves and your families from a Fire whose fuel is men and stones, over which are appointed angels stern and severe who flinch not from executing the Commands they receive from Allah."

Qur'an (70:15-16) "The Fire of Hell will pluck out his being right to the skull."

Qur'an (72:23) "For any that disobey Allah and his Messenger - for them Hell: they shall remain therein for ever."



Muhammad and Tolerance of Other Religions

Hadith Sahih Muslim (4363) "You (the Jews) should know that the earth belongs to Allah and His Apostle and I wish to expel you from this land (Arabia)

Qur'an (4366) "I will expel the Jews and Christians from the Arabian Peninsula and will not leave any but Muslims."

(Qur'an 48:29) "Those who follow Muhammad are merciless for the unbelievers but kind to each other."

Qur'an (60:4) "Enmity and hatred will reign between us until ye believe in Allah alone."

Qur'an (8:39) (2:193) "Make war on them until idolatory does not exist any longer and Allah's religion reigns universally."

Qur'an (9:123) "Fight the unbelievers in your surroundings, and let them find harshness in you."

Qur'an (9:5) "Kill the unbelievers wherever you find them, capture and besiege them and prepare for them every kind of ambush."

Qur'an (5:72-73) "For he who believes in the Trinity, "the Fire will be his abode ┘ a grievous penalty will befall the blasphemer."

C. Oft-Merciful Allah

(Qur'an 13:13) "He flingeth the thunderbolts and striketh whomsoever He will."

(Qur'an 16:70) "Some are sent back by Us to a feeble age, so that they know nothing after having known much."

Qur'an (21:11) "How many were the populations We utterly destroyed because of their iniquities."

Qur'an (64:11) "No kind of calamity can occur, except by the permission of Allah."

Qur'an (2:10) "In their hearts is a disease; and Allah has increased their disease and grievous is their Penalty."

Qur'an (2:20)"┘ Allah can take away the faculty of hearing and seeing; for Allah hath power over all things."

Qur'an (2:65) "To those who transgressed in the matter of the Sabbath, We said to them: "Be ye apes despised and rejected."

Qur'an (2:213) "Allah guides whom He will to a path that is straight."

Qur'an (2:253) "If Allah had so willed, succeeding generations should not have fought among each other (over religion)."

Qur'an (2:269) "He granteth wisdom to whom He pleaseth."

Qur'an (2:284) "Allah forgiveth whom He pleases and punishes whom He pleases."

Qur'an (3:6) "He it is Who shapes you in the womb as He pleases."

Qur'an (3:47) "Allah createth what He willeth."

Qur'an (4:89) "┘ if they turn renegades, seize them and slay them wherever ye find them."

Qur'an (5:33) "The punishment of those who wage war against Allah and His Messengers ┘ is execution or crucifixion or the cutting off of hands and feet from opposite sides."

Qur'an (5:38) "As to the thief, male or female cut off his or her hands."

Qur'an (5:45) "We ordained for them: Life for life, eye for eye, nose for nose, ear for ear, tooth for tooth, wounds equal for equal."

D. Oft-Merciful Allah (Continued)

(Qur'an 5:60) "Those who incurred the wrath of Allah ┘ He transformed into apes and swine."

!Qur'an 6:65) "He hath power to send calamities on you, from above and below."

Qur'an (6:95) "And He is the One to cause the dead to issue forth from the living."

Qur'an (6:137) "If Allah had willed, they would not have done so. (slaughtered their children)."

Qur'an (6:165) "It is He Who hath made you ┘ inheritors of the earth: He hath raised you on ranks, some above others: that He may try you in the gifts He hath given you."

Qur'an (8:12) "Allah called on the angels to "smite all their finger tips off them. (the unbelievers)"

Qur'an (10:88) "And send hardness to their hearts so they will not believe until they see the grievous Penalty."

Qur'an (10:99) "If it had been the Lord's Will they would have all believed."

Qur'an (13:8) "Allah doth know what every female womb doth bear."

Qur'an (13:26) "Allah doth ┘ grant ┘ the sustenance to whom so He pleases."

Qur'an (14:7) "But if ye show ingratitude, Truly My Punishment is terrible indeed."

Qur'an (17:13) "Every man's fate We have fastened on his neck."

Qur'an (17:46) "And We put coverings over their hearts lest they should understand the Qur'an."

Qur'an (17:68) "Do you feel secure ┘ that He will not send against you a violent tornado."

Qur'an (17:69) or that "He will not send a heavy gale to drown you at sea because of your ingratitude."

Qur'an (19:86) "And We shall drive the sinners to Hell, like thirsty cattle driven to water."

Qur'an (21:15) "And that cry of theirs ceased not, till We made them as a field that is mown, as ashes silent and quenched."

Qur'an (23:41) "Then the earthquake overtook them with justice as We made them as rubbish of dead leaves - so away with the people who do wrong."

Qur'an (24:2) "The woman and the man guilty of zina (fornication) flog each of them with a hundred lashes ┘ and let a party of the Believers witness their punishment."

Qur'an (28:40) "So We seized him and his hosts and We flung them into the sea."

Qur'an (28:81) "Then We caused the earth to swallow him (Qarun) up and his house ┘"

Qur'an (30:34) "Then enjoy your brief day, but soon ye will know your folly."

Qur'an (35:45) "If Allah were to punish men according to what they deserve He would not leave on earth a single living creature."

Qur'an (40:5) "It was I that seized them. And how terrible was My Requital."

Qur'an (40:85) "And even thus did the rejecters of Allah perish utterly."

Qur'an (42:49) "He leaves barren (of children) whom He will."

Qur'an (44:16) "One day We shall seize you with a mighty onslaught: We will indeed then exact Retribution."

Qur'an (47:4) "When ye meet the Unbelievers in jihad smite at their necks."

Qur'an (47:23) "Such are the men whom Allah has cursed for He has made them deaf and blinded their sight."

Qur'an (47:34) "Those ┘ who die rejecting Allah, Allah will not forgive them."

Qur'an (48:17) "And he who turns back (in the jihad) Allah will punish him with a grievous Penalty."

Qur'an (56:55) "Indeed ye shall drink (the Boiling Water) like diseased camels raging with thirst."

Qur'an (82:8) "In whatever form He wills does He put thee together."



The writer counted 817 cruel/ ambivalent verses in the Qur'an. Many of them are similar to each other.

Fundamentalists literally believe in the above scripture. Modernists must seriously consider the Reformation of the Qur'an.

We fear that such negative attitudes towards mankind in the Qur'an can affect men who are dispossessed, damaged or perhaps inadequate, to hold life in low esteem and engage in the terrible acts which presently characterize Islam, many in the name of Islam.


Nonson
2.04.01

[kazanova3]

"O My Lord! Increase me in knowledge!" - Qur'an 20:114
Answers to Seven Questions About Islam
developed and written by
Abu Yusuf Daniel Masters, Abu Maryam Isma'il Kaka and Abu Iman Robert Squires
╘ 1998, 1999, 2000 - MUSLIM ANSWERS, P. O. Box 1227, Windermere, FL 34786 - U. S. A.



1. What is Islam?
The word "Islam" is an Arabic word that means "submitting and surrendering your will to Almighty God". The word comes from the same root as the Arabic word "salam", which means peace. Unlike the names used for other religions, such as Buddhism, Hinduism and Christianity, the name for the religion of Islam was both revealed by God and carries a deep spritual meaning ≈ only by submitting one▓s will to Almighty God can one obtain true peace both in this life and in thelife hereafter. Islam teaches that all religions originally had the same essential message ≈ which was to submit whole-heartedly to the will of God and to worship Him and Him alone. For this reason, Islam is not a new religion but is the same divinely revealed Ultimate Truth that God revealed to all prophets, including Noah, Abraham, Moses and Jesus.
2. Who are Muslims?
The Arabic word "Muslim" literally means "someone who submits to the will of God". The message of Islam is meant for the entire world and anyone who accepts this message becomes a Muslim. Some people mistakenly believe that Islam is just a religion for Arabs, but nothing could be further from the truth, since in actuality over 80% of the world's Muslims are not Arabs! Even though most Arabs are Muslims, there are Arabs who are Christians, Jews and atheists. If one just takes a look at the various peoples who live in the Muslim World ≈ from Nigeria to Bosnia and from Morocco to Indonesia ≈ it is easy enough to see that Muslims come from all different races, ethnic groups and nationalities. From the very beginning, Islam had a universal message for all people. This can be seen in the fact that some of the early companions of the Prophet Muhammad were not only Arabs, but also Persians, Africans and Byzantine Romans. Being a Muslim entails complete acceptance and active obedience to the revealed will of Almighty God. A Muslim is a person who freely accepts to base his beliefs, values and faith on the will of Almighty God. In the past, even though you don't see it as much today, the word "Mohammedans" was often used as a label for Muslims. This label is a misnomer and is the result of either willful distortion or sheer ignorance. One of the reasons for the misconception is that Europeans were taught for centuries that Muslims worshipped the Prophet Muhammad in the same way that Christians worship Jesus. This is absolutely not true since a Muslim is not permitted to worship anyone or anything besides Almighty God.
3. Who is Allah?
Very often one will here the Arabic word "Allah" being used in regards to Islam. The word "Allah" is simply the Arabic word for Almighty God, and is the same word used by Arabic speaking Christians and Jews. If one were to pick up an Arabic translation of the Bible, one would see the word "Allah" being use where the word "God" is used in English. Actually, the Arabic word for Almighty God, ⌠Allah■, is quite similiar to the word for God in other Semitic languages ≈ for example, the Hebrew word for God is ⌠Elah■. For various reasons, some non-Muslims mistakenly believe that Muslims worship a different God than Jews and Christians. This is certainly not the case, since the Pure Monotheism of Islam calls all people to the worship of the God of Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus and all of the other prophets. However, even though Jews, Christians and Muslims worship the same God ≈ since there is only one God ≈ their concepts concerning Him differ in some significant ways.
4. Who is Muhammad?
The last and final prophet that God sent to humanity was the Prophet Muhammad. Muhammad explained, interpreted and lived the teachings of Islam. The Prophet Muhammad is the greatest of all prophets for many reasons, but mainly because the results of his mission have brought more people into the pure belief in One God than any other prophet. Even though other religious communities claimed to believe in One God, over time they had corrupted their beliefs by taking their prophets and saints as intercessors with Almighty God. Some religions believe their prophets to be manifestions of God, ⌠God Incarnate■ or the ⌠Son of God■. All of these false ideas lead to the creature being worshipped instead of the Creator, which contributed to the idolatrous practice of believing that Almighty God can be approached through intermediaries. In order to guard against these falsehoods, the Prophet Muhammad always emphasized that he was only a human-being tasked with the preaching of God▓s message. He taught Muslims to refer to him as ⌠the Messenger of God and His Slave■. To Muslims, Muhammad is the supreme example for all people ≈ he was the exemplary prophet, statesman, military leader, ruler, teacher, neighbor husband, father and friend. Unlike other prophets and messengers, the Prophet Muhammad lived in the full light of history. Muslims don't need to have "faith" that he existed and that his teachings are preserved ≈ they know it to be a fact. Even when his followers only numbered a few dozen, Almighty God informed Muhammad that he had be sent as a mercy to all of mankind. Because people had distorted or forgotten God▓s messages, God took it upon Himself to protect the message revealed to Muhammad. This was because Almighty God promised not to send another messenger after him. Since all of God▓s messengers have preached the message of Islam ≈ i.e. submission to the will of God and the worship of God alone ≈ Muhammad is actually the last prophet of Islam, not the first.
5. What are the Teachings of Islam?
The foundation of the Islamic faith is belief in the Unity of God. This means to believe that there is only one Creator and Sustainer of everything in the Universe, and that nothing is divine or worthy of being worshipped except for Him. Truly believing in the Unity of God means much more than simply believing that there is "One God" ≈ as opposed to two, three or four. There are a number of religions that claim belief in ⌠One God■ and believe that ultimately there is only one Creator and Sustainer of the Universe. Islam, however, not only insists on this, but also rejects using such words as "Lord" and "Savior" for anyone besides Almighty God. Islam also rejects the use of all intermediaries between God and Man, and insists that people approach God directly and reserve all worship for Him alone. Muslims believe that Almighty God is Compassionate, Loving and Merciful. The essence of falsehood is the claim that God cannot deal with and forgive His creatures directly. By over-emphasizing the burden of sin, as well as claiming that God cannot forgive you directly, false religions seek to get people to despair of the Mercy of God. Once they are convinced that they cannot approach God directly, people can be mislead into turning to false gods for help. These ⌠false gods■ can take various forms, such as saints, angels, or someone who is believed to be the ⌠Son of God■ or ⌠God Incarnate■. In almost all cases, people who worship, pray to or seek help from a false god don▓t consider it to be, or call it, a ⌠god■. They claim belief in One Supreme God, but claim that they pray to and worship others beside God only to get closer to Him. In Islam, there is a clear distinction between the Creator and the created. There is no ambiguity in divinity ≈ anything that is created is not deserving of worship and only the Creator is worthy of being worshipped. Some religions falsely believe that God has become part of His creation, and this has led people to believe that they can worship something created in order to reach their Creator. Muslims believe that even though God is Unique and beyond comprehension ≈ He has no "Son", partners or associates. According to Muslim belief, Almighty God "does not beget nor was He begotten" ≈ neither literally, allegorically, metaphorically, physically or metaphysically ≈ He is Absolutely Unique and Eternal. He is in control of everything and is perfectly capable of bestowing His infinite Mercy and Forgiveness to whomever He chooses. That is why is called the All-Powerful and Most-Merciful. Almighty God has created the Universe for man, and as such wants the best for all human beings. Muslims see everything in the Universe as a sign of the Creatorship and Benevolence of Almighty God. Also, the belief in the Unity of God is not merely a metaphysical concept. It is a dynamic belief that effects ones view of humanity, society and all aspects of life. As a logical corollary to the Islamic belief in the Oneness of God, is its belief in the oneness of mankind and humanity.
6. What is the Qur'an?
It is the final revelation of the will of Almighty God's to all of mankind, which was conveyed through the Angel Gabriel, in Arabic, to the Prophet Muhammad in its sounds, words and meanings. The Qur▓an, sometimes spelled Koran, was relayed to the Prophet's companions, which they memorized verbatim, and which has been publicly and continually recited by them and their successors until the present day. In short, the Qur'an is the book of guidance from God par excellence. The Qur'an is still memorized and taught by millions of people. The language of the Qur'an, Arabic, is still a living language to millions of people, so unlike the scriptures of other religions, the Qur'an is still read in its original language by countless millions of people. The Qu'ran is a living miracle in the Arabic language; and is know to be inimitable in its style, form and spiritual impact. God's final revelation to mankind, the Qur'an, was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad over a period of 23 years. The Qur'an, in contrast to many other religious books, was always thought to be the Word of God by those who believed in it, i.e. it wasn't something decreed by a religious council many years after being written. Also, the Qu'ran was recited publicly in front of both the Muslim and non-Muslim communities during the life of the Prophet Muhammad. The entire Qur'an was also completely written down in lifetime of the Prophet, and numerous companions of the Prophet memorized the entire Qur'an word-for-word as it was revealed. So unlike other scriptures, the Qur'an was always in the hands of the common believers, it was always thought to be God's word and, due to wide-spread memorization, it was perfectly preserved. In regards to the teachings of the Qur'an - it is a universal scripture, and it is addressed to all of mankind, and not to a particular tribe or "chosen people". The message that it brings is nothing new, but the same message of all of the prophets - submit to Almighty God and worship Him alone. As such, God's revelation in the Qur'an focuses on teaching human beings the importance of believing in the Unity of God and framing their lives around the guidance which He has sent. Additionally, the Qur'an contains the stories of the previous prophets, such as Abraham, Noah, Moses and Jesus; as well as many commands and prohibitions from God. In modern times in which so many people are caught up in doubt, spiritual despair and "political correctness", the Qur'anic teachings offer solutions to the emptiness of our lives and the turmoil that is gripping the world today.
7. How Do Muslims View the Nature of Man, the Purpose of Life and the Life Hereafter?
In the Holy Qur'an, God teaches human beings that they were created in order to worship Him, and that the basis of all true worship is God-consciousness. Since the teachings of Islamic encompass all aspects of life and ethics, God-consciousness is encouraged in all human affairs. Islam makes it clear that all human acts are acts of worship if they are done for God alone and in accordance to His Divine Law. As such, worship in Islam is not limited to religious rituals. The teachings of Islam act as a mercy and a healing for the human soul, and such qualities as humility, sincerity, patience and charity are strongly encouraged. Additionally, Islam condemns pride and self-righteousness, since Almighty God is the only judge of human righteousness. The Islamic view of the nature of man is also realistic and well-balanced. Human beings are not believed to be inherently sinful, but are seen as equally capable of both good and evil. Islam also teaches that faith and action go hand-in-hand. God has given people free-will, and the measure of one's faith is one's deeds and actions. However, human beings have also been created weak and regularly fall into sin. This is the nature of the human being as created by God in His Wisdom, and it is not inherently "corrupt" or in need of repair. This is because the avenue of repentance of always open to all human beings, and Almighty God loves the repentant sinner more than one who does not sin at all. The true balance of an Islamic life is established by having a healthy fear of God as well as a sincere belief in His infinite Mercy. A life without fear of God leads to sin and disobedience, while believing that we have sinned so much that God will not possibly forgive us only leads to despair. In light of this, Islam teaches that: only the misguided despair of the Mercy of their Lord. Additionally, the Holy Qur'an, which was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad, contains a great deal of teachings about the life hereafter and the Day of Judgment. Due to this, Muslims believe that all human beings will ultimately be judged by God for their beliefs and actions in their earthly lives. In judging human beings, Almighty God will be both Merciful and Just, and people will only be judged for what they were capable of. Suffice it to say that Islam teaches that life is a test, and that all human beings will be accountable before God. A sincere belief in the life hereafter is key to leading a well-balanced life and moral. Otherwise, life is viewed as an end in itself, which causes human beings to become more selfish, materialistic and immoral.