Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Why Do I Believe the Qur'an is the Word of God?

I suppose I could also say "How Do I Know the Qur'an is the Word of God?" but, really, I think people who have the idea that it is a belief and can not be founded by knowledge will read it the other way regardless.

Whenever I think of this question, I remember an old friend/coworker of mine. He was quite an abrupt person; one that you would never think had a religious bone in his body. After I got to know him a little bit better, I found out that he used to be a Muslim. He went to prison for a few years, and in prison he said he had time to think and he found Islam. Now, he is a white guy... so this isn't going to fit into the Nation of Islam stereotype. He learned Arabic and was the imam (pastor/preacher/leader) at the prison. I asked him why he didn't follow Islam any longer and his answer was basically that he got distracted with his old ways when he got out. Anyway... when I told him I was thinking of reading the Qur'an, he told me "You're going to be a Muslim. You'll see the science in it and know it is the truth." He knew me pretty well, I guess, to know what things would stick out to me.

At first, I didn't much care for what the Qur'an had to say. I felt jabs at my own lifestyle, and kept thinking to myself "Hey, what did I do to you?" but the fact is, some of it started sinking in. I started asking myself if I was really following the best lifestyle, or the most convenient?

I noticed the logic and reason the Qur'an calls to all people. We are told to think, reflect, ponder, and come to conclusions about the most basic things around us. We are encouraged to ask questions and wonder why this world is crafted in the way it is. Think about how complex this world is, and how it could have become such a way. It is very hard for me to imagine pure evolution coming to this result. I also realized that Muslims weren't required to give up all science when believing the story of creation and that one of God's names is The Evolver. We do not need to throw away science in order to believe in God!

There are numerous scientific proofs in the Qur'an that point to the fact that the Creator of the Universe sent this revelation, to an illiterate person in a time of poetry and linguistics, but yet still marvels people today in our time of science and technology.

There are many places where one can find a listing of this verses that point to science, so I will save myself the effort of compiling them myself.

The Qur'an demands that one use logic and reason to come to the conclusion and not simply following what their ancestors worshiped, or what is "easier" or more convenient. We are told to find proof for what we believe. Feeling good about it isn't good enough! After all, don't you think Satan is going to make you feel great about following the wrong path?

I learned Islam from books, lectures by scholars, etc. I didn't learn from the Muslims I knew, which I'm very glad and fortunate because if I considered Muslim people as the authority on Islam, I have big questions on where I would be today.

Along with the scientific proofs, I found that historically, stories in the Qur'an are generally accurate. I take our historical science we have today with a grain of salt just because we see a few mistakes still from time to time.

Allah tells us in the Qur'an:
Do they not ponder on the Qur'an (with care)? Had it been from other than Allah, they would surely have found therein much discrepancy. [4:82]
And thus far, I have not been able to find any contradictions or discrepancies when comparing one area of the text to another!! Now, I'm aware that contradictions in the Bible (10,000 people vs. 1,000, or the like) are chalked up to the authors getting something wrong, but over all the message is the same. I don't have to come to terms with anything like this, because there is only one author.

I am not told to "just believe" or that there is a "mystery" of God that I can't untangle. I know that if God created us with intellect and reason... something other species in this world do not have... then He must have created me in such a way that I can understand Him.

The "rules" just make sense. When we look at the general society, it makes sense to have such things in place. I think we have become a society of making rules on exceptions, which will entangle us more than we think.

Now, this didn't hit me as hard as it has since my faith has been questioned by others and I've been asked to read Christian literature numerous times, but the fact that the doctrine of Islam is explicitly stated in the Qur'an has kept me a Muslim and proven the message. God is not shy in how we are to worship Him and understand Him. We are told over and over and over and over and over (get it?) that we are to worship Him alone. There is no implicit statements about it. You are basically being hit over the head with a brick on this one item. Never should we construct a doctrine that we place the destiny of our souls in, with implicit statements.

I never wanted to be a Muslim. I never thought I would find an absolute truth that I could feel so confident with. The fact is though, after I finished reading the Qur'an, I could not think of how this book could have been written by a human being and thus the only logical thing for me to do was to be a Muslim.

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Question

I would like to know what the proofs are that the Bible is the Word of God and not something man created to fulfill his own desires and will.

Also, what proofs are there that Paul was inspired and had the authority to make amendments to Jesus's teachings (removing the law from the people), other than his own word that he heard it in a vision.

These questions have remained unanswered to me to this day.

Friday, May 14, 2010

Response to "You're Going to Hell" Pt. 1

We received a pamphlet (tract) in the mail from my husband's family member. I can't stay silent, so here's my start on a response to the publisher, and then I will make a friendly response to his family member. Frankly, the pamphlet didn't make me question my faith one bit. Why? Well, there are so many things in it that I don't believe and broad generalizations, that it just made me laugh. I guess it is in the form of a comic book for a reason.

So, let's get started with page 1. My notes are below, if I'm making a direct comment on that particular page. 






4:101 - When ye travel through the earth, there is no blame on you if ye shorten your prayers, for fear the Unbelievers may attack you: For the Unbelievers are unto you open enemies.

Does this not mean that they are openly displaying that they are an enemy? This was revealed as a verse pertaining to war. In no way is this taken in a general context as anyone who does not follow Islam is an enemy.


Qur'an 31:15 - But if they strive to make thee join in worhsip with Me things of which thou hast no knowledge, obey them not; Yet bear them company in this life with justice (and consideration), and follow the way of those who turn to Me (in love): In the End the return of you all is to Me, and I will tell you the truth (and meaning) of all that ye did.

Obviously, how the man pictured here is not in accordance with the Qur'an.


Qur'an 41:37 - Among His Signs are the Night and the Day, and the sun and the moon. Adore not the sun and the moon, but adore Allah, Who create them, if it is Him ye wish to serve.

The comment about not caring if God cares if we live or die is so far out there, I'm not sure what to quote. One thing to note is that this life is temporary, why are we so concerned with how long we stay here?


Qur'an 2:115 - To Allah belongs the east and the West; whithersoever ye turn, there is Allah's countenance. For Allah is All-Embarcing All-Knowing.

Qur'an 4:89-90 - They but wish that ye should reject Faith as they do, and thus be on the same footing (as they): so take not friends from their ranks until they flee in the way of Allah (from what is forbidden). But if they turn renegades, seize them and slay them wherever ye find them; and (in any case) take no friends or helpers from their ranks.― Except those who join a group between whom and you there is a treaty (of peace) or those who approach you with hearts restraining them from fighting you or fighting their own people. If Allah had pleased, He could have given them power over you, and they would have fought you: therefore if they withdraw from you but fight you, not and (instead) send you (guarantees of) peace, then Allah hath opened no way for you (to war against them).


"All mankind is from Adam and Eve, an Arab has no superiority over a non-Arab nor a non-Arab has any superiority over an Arab; also a white has no superiority over black nor a black has any superiority over white except by piety and good action." [Excerpt from Prophet Muhammed (peace be upon him) last sermon]

Does it matter what race either is? The Nation of Islam is what considers race, but Orthodox Islam does not, nor does it consider the Nation a sect of Islam.


I'm unaware if this is a true piece of history. Let's say it is. Christians did the same, but we do not blame Christians or Jesus for such things.
This is what I have so far. The next few pages go into things that people come with a load of assumptions, which is hard to combat in a precise way, so I'm brewing on the response to give, inshaAllah.  I'll continue with this very soon, inshaAllah.