The Prophet Muhammad and Earlier Religions

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KeSfKi54uyE/VreiH_4TiHI/AAAAAAAAD-s/9oahkeTp_tc/s1600/knowledge111.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KeSfKi54uyE/VreiH_4TiHI/AAAAAAAAD-s/9oahkeTp_tc/s640/knowledge111.png" width="640" /></a></div> <b><br /></b> <b>The Prophet Muhammad and Earlier Religions, Especially Judaism and Christianity</b> It is often said that Islam is an off-shoot of the Judeo-Christian tradition. Sometimes it is even said that Islam is a Judeo-Christian heresy. Another form of this type of view attacks the very person of the Prophet of Islam. It is alleged that the Prophet Muhammad took most of his teachings from the Bible or from other Jewish/Christian sources. In particular, he borrowed from the Jews the central belief of his teaching – a strict monotheism and rejection of idol worship.<br /> <br /> The implication is that if most of what the Prophet taught, including the central proclamation of Islam, was found in earlier Judeo-Christian tradition, his teachings could not be from direct divine revelation. The fact that Qur`anic versions of older Jewish or Christian traditions can often have radically different elements is attributed to ignorance or misunderstanding or distortion of earlier sources on the part of the Prophet Muhammad or his “informers”. <br /> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhoRyn2C9HRVpounUiBgfg2LgHCEEVTTQu01HoZ6J5I0k52P30jqRf1M22ql-7O6wLN-SgoB4gUyDsa_WDw31gO3049MEED_X_s0Xz98NftyZd47OPCY1QHmyN9HS0dNWLxWGcjJ6MFuyv/s1600/cute-child-pray+20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhoRyn2C9HRVpounUiBgfg2LgHCEEVTTQu01HoZ6J5I0k52P30jqRf1M22ql-7O6wLN-SgoB4gUyDsa_WDw31gO3049MEED_X_s0Xz98NftyZd47OPCY1QHmyN9HS0dNWLxWGcjJ6MFuyv/s1600/cute-child-pray+20.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <br /> A closer look at Islam and the Judeo-Christian traditions shows such views to be grossly mistaken. Both the Biblical and Islamic traditions agree that Abraham had two sons, Ishmael and Isaac and that both became ancestors of nations. If so, then it is to be expected that both nations possessed some of Abraham's heritage without any one of them being a borrower from the other. For while one brother may in some ways influence the other they both independently inherit knowledge and some character traits from their father and then pass these on to their descendants.<br /> <br /> <b>Independent forms of the Abrahamic heritage</b><br /> <br /> This is confirmed by the fact that as the descendants of Ishmael and Isaac moved to different lands they gave independent forms to the Abrahamic heritage. Among the Ishmaelites the Abrahamic heritage was preserved mainly in the form of some system of regular prayer and charity and some hajj rites which commemorate stories connected with Abraham, Ishmael and Hagar. These rites which predate the writing of the Torah as we have it today have no parallel in the Israelite tradition. Also, most of the traditions enacted in the hajj rites are not told in the Bible, e.g., the running of Hagar between the hills of Safa and Marwa, the (re)building or purification of the shrine in Makkah, the stoning of the devil as he tries to tempt Abraham from doing the will of God, and the sacrifice of an animal to commemorate Abraham's sacrifice of his son for whom God provided a ransom. This establishes that the Ishmaelites preserved the Abrahamic heritage quite independently of the Israelites and makes it probable that at least some elements common to Islam and Judaism may also be the result of the two nations separately preserving that heritage without anyone borrowing from the other. This is probably the case with monotheism. The Qur`an traces its monotheistic message first and foremost to Abrahamic religion (millah; 2:135, 3:95, 4:126, 6:161, 19:123, 22:78)1 and not any Israelite prophet.<br /> <br /> <b>All prophets use earlier traditions</b><br /> <br /> The discrediting of Islam and its Prophet by explaining it in terms of simple borrowing from Judeo-Christian tradition also ignores the fact that extensive use of earlier traditions has also been established by critical scholarship in case of Judaism and Christianity and their founding figures. Thus: Many of the stories in the Old Testament, other than some of those that deal specifically with Israeli history, have been traced to Sumerian, Babylonian and Canaanite traditions. For example, the story of Adam and his expulsion from the Garden has been linked to similar Sumerian stories later adopted in the story of Gilgamesh in the Babylonian tradition. The Biblical story of Noah’s flood is also very similar, both in structure and details, to earlier Sumerian and Babylonian traditions. The story about Abraham and earlier ancient ancestors of humanity are also probably of non-Israelite non-Biblical origin. - The Law of Moses has close precedents in the Code of Hammurabi (the king of Babylon from 1792 to 1750 BCE, about five centuries before Moses, who lived in the 13th century BCE).<br /> <br /> The first recorded monotheistic system arose in Egypt during the rule of Akhenaten (1353-1337 BCE) who promulaged his monotheistic system a generation before Moses (died 1245 BCE?) and may have in some way influenced the Jewish community in Egypt around the time of Moses. Even if we accept a more tradtional dating of Moses that places him before Akhenaten, the fact remains that Akhenaten’s monotheism is documented many centuries before that of Moses. -  The institution of kingship, which later became the basis of influential messianic prophecy, was borrowed from other nations. According to 1 Sam 8:20, when people ask Samuel to appoint a king over them, they do so in order that they “also may be like other nations”. There are many parallels that have been pointed out by scholars between the kingship ideology of the Israelites and those of the nations around them2.<br /> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmTpE4jRGlBJTXXI_lnbS5MC9ZUmB9JYlB8UQ3QwsOL3YH0yre_-yf1-Ky_aoUmNjxvOVRvZlYzsWPeRAjmTAu9HXfvr5psTZBgm4lbwUIIiKg88gROw51RowiEcPKi1OC4QnEAhCeRskM/s1600/cute-pray+11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmTpE4jRGlBJTXXI_lnbS5MC9ZUmB9JYlB8UQ3QwsOL3YH0yre_-yf1-Ky_aoUmNjxvOVRvZlYzsWPeRAjmTAu9HXfvr5psTZBgm4lbwUIIiKg88gROw51RowiEcPKi1OC4QnEAhCeRskM/s1600/cute-pray+11.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <br /> This should hardly be surprising, since if the Israelites wanted a king to be like other nations, they could hardly have done otherwise than to pattern their kingdom on those that existed around them. -  Some beliefs found in the Biblical and other influential Jewish books such as the Apocrypha have also been traced to non-Jewish origins. For example, the belief in the resurrection, later affirmed by both Christianity and Islam, has been traced to Persia. -  The Talmud contains many ideas taken from Greek and Christian sources. -  As for Christianity, there is hardly anything that Jesus said which the Jewish prophets and rabbis or cynic sages had not said before, including the golden rule and the saying about the love of enemy, of which Christians are so proud. -  Paul, after declaring that the Jewish law was nailed to the cross, had to give to his Churches some rules of conduct and ethical principles of his own. But many of these principles have close parallels to the lists of vices and virtues found in Greek tradition, not to talk of the parallels that Paul’s central proclamation of a dying and rising Lord has with the dying and rising gods of the pagan mystery cults. To be sure that there are many differences between the Judeo-Christian traditions and their earlier Sumerian, Babylonian, Canaanite, Persian, and Greek forms, but why should these differences be not explained by ignorance or misunderstanding or distortion on the part of Biblical and other Jewish and Christian writers or their “informers”? It is better to admit the fact every religion has adopted ideas and traditions found earlier and then turn to the question: Must we conclude that a religion cannot be of divine origin simply because the ideas and traditions it contains existed earlier? The answer to this question is in the negative.<br /> <br /> For, there are two possibilities:<br /> <br />  1)        The earlier ideas and traditions used by the religion are revealed by God himself. In this case, God himself may be using his earlier revelations in a new communication, e.g. to make them more effective and relevant in a new situation. This is hardly problematic.<br /> <br />  2)        The earlier ideas and traditions are of human origin. Again there is no problem, for, if divine revelation can use human language, why can’t it also use some human ideas? The truth is that prophets of God like other leaders who want to change people’s thinking and conduct must build on what is already there. They cannot bring completely unfamiliar ideas and achieve much with people. Moreover, since the prophetic revelation deals with basic issues of human existence and salvation, it is only to be expected that people everywhere have thought about these issues and come up with answers, of which some are similar or even identical.<br /> <br /> Thus despite some very close parallels between what Moses, Jesus, Muhammad (God bless them all) had to say and what was said before them, they can be true prophets of God bringing genuine divine revelation. It should be noted that even if no new ideas are introduced by a prophet there may be something very new in his words. This something new may be a new expression of the older ideas, an expression that makes it more effective and relevant to a new situation. It may consist of decisions as to which of several interpretations of earlier ideas and traditions are the correct ones. Or, it may be new emphases put on the various ideas and a new way of fitting them into the whole. The post-Mosaic biblical prophets all say very similar things and yet each one of them has something very new. Sometimes something new can be added without any change in the outward form of an existing idea. Take a joke. Two people tell the joke in exactly the same words. One produces yawns and the other laughter. Two conductors conduct the same musical piece with exactly the same notes in exactly the same sequence. One delights the audience, the other disappoints them. In case of the Biblical prophets, the mere freshness of their experience with the divine adds something new to their words, even if the intellectual content of those words may seem very similar.<br /> <br /> <b>The unique role of the Prophet of Islam</b><br /> <br /> The Qur`an by being based on a fresh experience with the divine, by transforming earlier stories and/or telling them in a new spirit, and by stating earlier ideas differently and changing their relative value in the overall system has created something very new and powerful which first transformed the Arab nation and subsequently started a process of transforming the whole world which still continues and, according to Islamic belief, will continue till the end of history. It is interesting that the Qur`an itself addresses in many verses the relationship of Islam with earlier religious traditions. Thus it tells us that the Prophet of Islam did not come to introduce any innovation in religion (46:9) but teaches the same religion that was taught by earlier prophets (42:13) and that is based on unchanging fitrah or true nature of human beings (30:30). In earlier times prophets were raised among all nations (16:36). The similarity of the teachings of the true prophets of God concerns its essence but not all the details. The essence of all true religions is a relationship with the one transcendent and holy God, a moral life, and good deeds, with implicit or explicit belief in the hereafter and future judgment (5:69, 98:5).<br /> <br /> This does not change, but details of ritual procedures and regulations/conventions for organizing community life may differ from religion to religion (5:48, 22:67, 45:17). The true prophets of God also differ in the roles they perform in history. Some play a more foundational role, others more reforming or supporting role.<br /> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzyPepTANIoR0g39Pssyl3hi1-rFGvsERnGbn8-GMY0D7aqGwxZyU7OMnxgJ3YXEetPKPgVyoF5Y2MyFkJ-EokSiTBaJn53StcWOO8Kclf6VI0UXI_1-pxLBazJx2BPZzCpuglm8qRpK7a/s1600/cute-child-pray+22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzyPepTANIoR0g39Pssyl3hi1-rFGvsERnGbn8-GMY0D7aqGwxZyU7OMnxgJ3YXEetPKPgVyoF5Y2MyFkJ-EokSiTBaJn53StcWOO8Kclf6VI0UXI_1-pxLBazJx2BPZzCpuglm8qRpK7a/s1600/cute-child-pray+22.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <br /> <b>The role of the Prophet Muhammad is mainly defined by the following functions</b><br /> <br /> - Providing a universal expression to the religious truth. In many different chapters of the Qur`an, coming from different periods, the Prophet is presented as a messenger of God to all humankind and all people of the world are explicitly addressed (6:90, 7:158, 10:57, 12:104, 21:107, 25:1, 38:87, 68:52, 81:27, 98:1-3).<br /> <br /> -  Providing resolutions of important differences that existed earlier. Thus in reference to the Jews the Qur`an says: This Qur`an indeed relates to the children of Israel most of what they differ in. And it is surely guidance and mercy to the believers (27:76-77) Many ideas in Judaism and Christianity oppose each other and while some diversity is positive and inevitably exists in all traditions, in other cases we want to know the truth. One may say that we should simply leave people to choose which of the opposing ideas are true. But if people were so smart why is there any need of divine revelation at all? If there is God and he communicates with humanity through revelation, then we should expect that at least in some important matters such as whether there is resurrection or not, he would provide some guidance. It is noteworthy that, as shown by the word “most” in the above verse, the Qur`an does not aim to settle all differences. Elsewhere it says that some differences between people will only be settled in the hereafter (22:17).<br /> <br /> -  Providing complete and balanced teaching. Human beings can come up with very good ideas but they often get carried away with their good ideas and cannot hold them in balance with other good ideas. Mercy and compassion are a very good idea but so are justice and law of retaliation. How to hold the two in balance? Having a law is a very good idea but so is the idea that there is a spirituality that transcends the law and without which law can indeed cease to be a life giving force. How to balance the two ideas so that the law is not rejected as a curse nor does it become a curse? Pluralism is good but so is making a distinction between truth and falsehood, right and wrong. How to see truth and goodness in other traditions and at the same time take these distinctions seriously? Universal view of religious truth is a great idea but for religious truth to be manifested and advanced, it has to be experienced by some individuals and communities at particular times and places. How to maintain a universal outlook on religious truth without reducing it to a set of abstract, intellectually satisfying ideas and how to define it in terms of the individuals, communities or circumstances in relation to which its manifestation takes place without getting lost in those individuals, communities, or circumstances? Muslims believe that the Qur`an strikes the necessary  balance, even if they themselves cannot often maintain it. One Christian who converted to Islam gave his reason for conversion as follows: Islam is like a perfect building, where there is everything and everything is where it should be.<br /> <br /> -  Providing more focus on what is really important and necessary. Jewish tradition, being the work of many individuals over many centuries, is so vast that you can find almost every religious idea somewhere in the Bible, the apocrypha, and the rabbinical writings in the Talmud etc. This has one advantage: anything a follower of another religion says, the Jews can point to some of their sources and say: “the idea is found in our religion and so we do not have to listen to you, much less follow you.” The situation is somewhat similar in Christianity, although in that religion a few trinitarian and redemptive dogmas and talk (but not so much the practice) of love tend to push everything else aside.<br /> <br /> But the vast and tremendous diversity of ideas also has a disadvantage: important religious ideas and spiritual and moral principles get diluted and confused, if not buried under the massive weight of tradition. The emphasis then shifts towards something other than the essential religious, spiritual, and moral principles. In Judaism the emphasis gets put on nation while in Christianity focus is on the person of Christ. Neither Moses nor Jesus taught any such emphasis. From another angle the situation can be described thus: In his/her spiritual and moral journey a Jew travels with a lot of heavy baggage while a Christian (by concentrating on the messianic prophecy and doing away with other elements of earlier traditions including the law) travels with an insufficient amount of luggage. God Most High in his mercy sent the Prophet Muhammad to provide spiritual and moral seekers just the right amount and type of baggage for their important journey.<br /> <br /> <u>Notes</u> 1.  Here one may raise two objections: a)      Abraham was not a monotheist, since the Torah suggests that his grandson Jacob had figurines of gods in his house (Gen 31:30-35). But, since the writing of Torah was not completed until around 450 BCE, almost 15 centuries after Abraham, we cannot reject Abraham’s monotheism on the basis of polytheistic tendencies in the existing Torah. Just think of the case of another figure who is known to be a monotheist: Jesus. Most of the traditions about Jesus were formed and written down within about 150 years after his departure. Yet, on the basis of those traditions Jesus himself has become God the Son, separate in person from God the Father. Imagine if those traditions were written a thousand years after him!!! A strong argument in favor of Abraham’s monotheism or at least very strong monotheistic tendency is that two religious traditions that adopted monotheism with the greatest seriousness and  persistence --- Islam and Judaism – both trace their origin to Abraham. That is, Islam and Judaism are like two independent and hence reliable witnesses to the monotheism of Abraham. b)     <br /> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCdwQkCwqtQzDvT-HqRg8Fk5wdC0pFham2b0ldztfj5K4RwDwShYayIowHRTn2R5M927QLloz6InOvMzLfYewX3ni6ZLHBLSlbTYJaul25dUuFccy9Mzu5ENh7IYEvWz_KJGQ41hF5a4dO/s1600/cute-child-pray+21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCdwQkCwqtQzDvT-HqRg8Fk5wdC0pFham2b0ldztfj5K4RwDwShYayIowHRTn2R5M927QLloz6InOvMzLfYewX3ni6ZLHBLSlbTYJaul25dUuFccy9Mzu5ENh7IYEvWz_KJGQ41hF5a4dO/s1600/cute-child-pray+21.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <br /> By the time Islam came on the scene the descendents of Ishmael had become pagans, so Islam’s monotheistic teachings must have been derived from Judaism and Christianity. In connection with this objection, it may be admitted that paganism was indeed the dominant religion in Arabia at the time of the Prophet Muhammad. But this does not mean that monotheistic ideas had ceased to exist. Once again the example of Christianity illustrates the point. Although in Christianity trinitarian view of God became dominant in the fourth century, a strict monotheism had always existed within<br /> <br /> Christianity, sometimes as an undercurrent and sometimes as separate organized churches. When the Qur`an calls the pagan Arabs to the monotheistic heritage of Abraham, they do not object by saying that Abraham was not a monotheist. They do not tell Muhammad that the idols they worshipped were also worshipped by Abraham and Ishmael. 2. Thus Babylonian, Assyrian, and Egyptian kings are said to be sons of God or gods who bring comfort and joy to the downtrodden, defeat the oppressors, and bring blessings, peace and prosperity; they are chosen by the gods to make right shine in the country; they defeat the enemies and rule from sea to sea and are lords of the whole world (Helmut Ringgren, The Messiah in the Old Testament, SCM Press, London, 1956). Very similar things are said of the Israelite kings in the Old Testament (Psalms 72: 1-9, 89:27, 110: 1-2, 132:10-12, 1 Chronicles 22:10).<br /> <br /> By: Dr. Ahmad Shafaat (January 2003)<br /> http://www.islamicperspectives.com/ProphetMuhammad.htm<br /> <br /></div>

The Prophet Muhammad and Earlier Religions

The Prophet Muhammad and Earlier Religions, Especially Judaism and Christianity It is often said that Islam is an off-shoot of the Jud...

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A Christian's Prayer to which Muslims can say: 'Amen.'

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7t5IObU4FQY1gh5Tvt1OeffmyPWft38iG8udv_g1C1CTDqlorSarvuz_0JJ42M7SVSn6P07bbOzXNhJ06thN42TPk63QCm4sEKouHxjGE6YQ1-h-YgYXSb1FrzX_xDH90AHVss5OOSBRF/s1600/paradise-113.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7t5IObU4FQY1gh5Tvt1OeffmyPWft38iG8udv_g1C1CTDqlorSarvuz_0JJ42M7SVSn6P07bbOzXNhJ06thN42TPk63QCm4sEKouHxjGE6YQ1-h-YgYXSb1FrzX_xDH90AHVss5OOSBRF/s640/paradise-113.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <br /> Kansas Senate Prayer<br /> <br /> <i>When Minister Joe Wright was asked to open the new session of the Kansas Senate, everyone was expecting the usual generalities, but this is what they heard:</i><br /> <br /> "Heavenly father, we come before you today to ask your forgiveness and to seek your direction and guidance. We know Your Word says "Woe to those who call evil good," but that is exactly what we have done. Yes, there are those in government who have lead us astray by calling evil good! We have lost our spiritual equilibrium and reversed our values. We confess that and we ask your help to change that. We have ridiculed the absolute truth of Your Word and called it pluralism. In fact, we have perverted the truth by calling some evil things good.<br /> <br /> We have exploited the poor and called it the lottery, We have rewarded laziness and called it welfare.<br /> <br /> We have killed our unborn and called it choice, AND we have killed hundreds of thousands of Iraqi born and unborn children and called it "worth it" instead of genocide (so said Secretary of State Albright) and "Doing God's work" (George Bush Sr.) - we know in our hearts that you really do not need a puny human to do Your Work, Father , and. We have shot abortionists and called it justifiable.<br /> <br /> We have neglected to discipline our children and called it building self-esteem, We have abused power and called it politics, and we have been selective in recognising crimes against humanity, calling it good one time and evil another time, depending upon the country doing it and ignoring our own crimes against humanity, and we have coveted our neighbor's possessions and called it ambition, And we have trapped the American taxpayer, people of all religions, into subsidizing theft of land through murder, deceit, greed and lust for a neighbor's possessions, racism and bigotry by the apartheid state policies of Israel so that all Americans have become a party to actions that are considered criminal in the United States - and called this evil good and said YOU God, did it !<br /> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiRIt-g8FNVbNcxeqPAu-kcLIPVRM3wHtCukoV_Ph02JkbjETIezJW0CMbaNl6jzcLrCcYAywD8omPmWRYbj52ptGfO8URVkOnzpSpRxXZW85Tke0DZ48zR9ESWTI-2wPOjKehJ6dq2P3Y/s1600/moment.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiRIt-g8FNVbNcxeqPAu-kcLIPVRM3wHtCukoV_Ph02JkbjETIezJW0CMbaNl6jzcLrCcYAywD8omPmWRYbj52ptGfO8URVkOnzpSpRxXZW85Tke0DZ48zR9ESWTI-2wPOjKehJ6dq2P3Y/s1600/moment.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <br /> We have polluted the air with profanity and pornography and called it freedom of statement, and we have quited the voices of descent by calling them anti this or anti that, and We have ridiculed the time-honored values of our forefathers, some of whom (George Washington) warned us not to become entangled in a foreign government, and called it enlightenment. Search us, Oh, God, and know our hearts today; cleanse us from every sin and set us free from the evils of government policies that turn all of us into criminals.<br /> <br /> Guide and bless these men and women who have been sent: to direct us to the center of Your will so that they can say NO to the evils of AIPAC when it comes knocking with bribe money to inluence them to lie to all their constituents that Israel is a friendly ally, the only democracy in the Middle East and is culturally and historically close to us so that we are being blinded to the crimes we are being forced to accept. (A true democracy does not discriminate against those of a different religion and a friendly ally does not reward spies with praise and money)"<br /> <br /> <i>The response was immediate. A number of legislators walked out during the prayer in protest. In 6 short weeks Central Christian Church, where Rev. Wright is pastor, logged more than 5000 phone calls with only 47 of those calls responding negatively.</i><br /> <i><br /></i> <i>The church is now receiving international requests for copies of this prayer from India, Africa, and Korea.</i><br /> <i><br /></i> <i>Commentator Paul Harvey aired this story on his radio program, "The Rest of the Story", and received a larger response to this program than any other he has ever aired.</i><br /> <i><br /></i> <i>With the Lord's help, may this prayer sweep over our nation and wholeheartedly become our desire so that we again can be called ,"One Nation Under God". If possible, please pass this prayer on to your friends. Think about this: If you forward this prayer to everyone on your e-mail list, in less than 30 days it would be heard by the world.</i><br /> <b><br /></b> <span style="background-color: #ffffcc; color: navy; font-family: "arial"; font-size: x-small;">This event happened in the Kansas House (not Senate) in Topeka, Kansas USA on January 23, 1996.  Joe Wright is the pastor of Central Christian Church in Wichita and was guest chaplain that day.  He prayed a prayer of repentance that was written by Bob Russell, pastor of  Southeast Christian Church in Louisville, Kentucky.</span></div>

A Christian's Prayer to which Muslims can say: 'Amen.'

Kansas Senate Prayer When Minister Joe Wright was asked to open the new session of the Kansas Senate, everyone was expecting the usual...

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The Story of Jesus [pbuh] and Mary in Islam

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9wCTGgIwCn8/VThmNbuE2wI/AAAAAAAADQQ/wyR042TI0Nw/s1600/How_Can_I_IslamicCoverPhoto-300.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="236" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9wCTGgIwCn8/VThmNbuE2wI/AAAAAAAADQQ/wyR042TI0Nw/s640/How_Can_I_IslamicCoverPhoto-300.png" width="640" /></a></div> <br /> Dear brothers and sisters:<br /> Last Friday, I dealt with the story of Maryam [Mary] and her family who Allah chose over<br /> all mankind. I mentioned that the family of ‘Imran are ‘Imran, his wife Hannah, the mother of Mary and Mary, the mother of Jesus, and her son Jesus. The family of ‘Imran were pious, noble and righteous people. Their story is mentioned in the Qur’an and is one of the longest Surahs.<br /> <br /> Today, I will deal with the story of the Messiah ‘Isa, son of Mary and his life in Islam. The Qur’an says, ‘In their stories, there is a lesson…’ [12:] so the purpose of these stories is to learn, take wisdom, admonition and advice. The Prophet [pbuh] said, ‘I am the supplication of my father Ibrahim, and the good tidings of my brother `Isa. The night I was delivered my mother saw a light that lit the castles of Damascus so that she could see them.’<br /> <br /> ‘Isa, who is nicknamed by the messiah, the son of Maryam [Mary] is a messenger of God and God’s promise to Mary, his mother. He gave glad tidings of Prophet Muhammad’s coming. He was given signs and proofs; held in honor in this world and the Hereafter and is of (the company of) those who are nearest to Allah. He spoke to the people in childhood and in maturity. He is (of the company) of the righteous. Allah taught him the Book and wisdom, the Law and the Gospel, and (appointed him) a Messenger to the Children of Israel, (with this message). He went to them, with a sign from the Lord, he made the figure of a bird, from clay, and breathed into it, and it becomes a bird by Allah's leave. He healed those born blind, and the lepers, and he quickened the dead, by Allah's leave. He told them what they should eat, and what they should store in their houses. Surely therein is a Sign for you if ye did believe; ‘(I have come to you), to attest the Law which was before me. And to make lawful to you part of what was (before) forbidden to you; I have come to you with a Sign from your Lord. So fear Allah, and obey me.’ [3:45:50]<br /> <br /> Dear brothers and sisters:<br /> Jesus’ birth was a miracle, his life was full of miracles. His mother Mary was known for her piety, righteousness, and purity. The Qur’an says, ‘ And Mary, the daughter of 'Imran, who guarded her chastity; and We breathed into (her body) of Our spirit; and she testified to the truth of the words of her Lord and of his Revelations, and was one of the devout (Servants). [66:12]<br /> Prophet Muhammad mentioned the excellence of Mary: ‘Many among men attained perfection, but among women none attained perfection except Mary the daughter of ‘Imran, and Asiya the wife of Pharaoh; and the superiority of ‘Aishah to other women is like the superiority of Tharid [an Arabic dish] to other meals.’<br /> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghCHI2-y8Pu8JzcMoy1cxcoG1_hpKF_cfjPte6VwHvvf_JSb7mvyDIwFSgA6BkwKJ9cxPhS-QpyKmJekdyN7NApWQfW_i_p_IVHv5XuY0r7tpMBnZTcnbDz-5HF_tFz51inym1gahYuTuV/s1600/11-Mosque+Tengku+Ampuan+Jemaah.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghCHI2-y8Pu8JzcMoy1cxcoG1_hpKF_cfjPte6VwHvvf_JSb7mvyDIwFSgA6BkwKJ9cxPhS-QpyKmJekdyN7NApWQfW_i_p_IVHv5XuY0r7tpMBnZTcnbDz-5HF_tFz51inym1gahYuTuV/s1600/11-Mosque+Tengku+Ampuan+Jemaah.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <br /> The Qur’an gives Mary glad tidings of her son Jesus. The Qur’an says, ‘Behold! the angels said: ‘O Mary! Allah gives Thee glad tidings of a Word from Him: his name will be Jesus. The son of Mary, held in honor in this world and the Hereafter and of (the company of) those nearest to Allah; ‘He shall speak to the people in childhood and in maturity.<br /> And he shall be (of the company) of the righteous.’<br /> She said: ‘O my Lord! how shall I have a son when no man has touched me?’ He said: ‘Even so: Allah creates what He will: when He has decrees a plan, He says, `Be', and it is!<br /> <br /> Dear brothers and sisters:<br /> when the Jews and her people saw the miracle of Jesus’ birth, they asked Mary about the baby and scolded her. The Qur’an declares, ‘They scolded her: ‘This is a terrible sin that you have committed.’ She put her finger to her lips and pointed to the child. They asked: ‘How can we speak to a newborn baby?’ To their total amazement, the child began to speak clearly: ‘I am Allah's servant. Allah has given me the Book, and has made me a prophet, and has blessed me wherever I may be, and has enjoined on me prayers and alms-giving as long as I live. Allah has made me dutiful towards she who has borne me. He has not made me arrogant nor unblessed. Peace unto me the day I was born, the day I die and the day I shall be raised alive.’ [19:30-33]<br /> The Jewish priests felt this child Jesus was dangerous, for they felt that the people would turn to him; displacing the existing Jewish tenets. Consequently, they would lose their authority over the people. Therefore, they kept the miracle of Jesus's speech in infancy a secret and accused Mary of a great misdeed.<br /> As Jesus grew, the signs of Prophethood began to increase. He could tell his friends what kind of supper waited for them at home and what they had hidden and where. When he was twelve years old, he accompanied his mother from Egypt to Jerusalem.<br /> On the night that the two noble prophets John and Zechariah died, killed by the ruling authority, the revelation descended upon Jesus. Allah commanded him to begin his call to the children of Israel. To Jesus, the life of ease was closed, and the page of worship and struggle were opened.<br /> Jesus' call, from the beginning, was marked by its complete uprightness and piety. Jesus invited the people to Allah.<br /> <br /> His call was based on the principle that there is no mediation between the Creator and His creatures. Jesus continued to invite people to worship the Only Lord, Who is without partner, just as he invited them to purify of the heart and soul. Jesus saw that those who believed in him were from among the poor, the wretched, and the downtrodden, and<br /> their number was small. Among those who believed in him were twelve people [disciples].<br /> Some of the miracles which Jesus performed were been requested by his disciples, such as their wish for a ‘holy table’ to be sent down from heaven. The Qur’an says, ‘(Remember) when the disciples said: ‘0 Jesus, son of Mary! Can your Lord send down to us a table spread (with food) from heaven?’ Jesus said: ‘Fear Allah, if you are indeed believers.’<br /> They said: ‘We wish to eat thereof and to be stronger in Faith, and to know that you have indeed told us the truth and that we ourselves be its witnesses.’<br /> <br /> Jesus, son of Mary, said: ‘0 Allah, our Lord! Send us from heaven a table spread (with food) that there may be for us - for the first and the last of us - a festival and a sign from You; and provide us sustenance, for You are the Best of sustainers.’ Allah said: ‘I am going to send it down unto you, but if any of you after that disbelieves, then I will punish him with a torment such as Iha ye not inflicted on anyone among (all) the Alamin (mankind and jinn) .’ Surah 5: 112-116<br /> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LdbZ1og6qFc/VThx80W1mCI/AAAAAAAADQo/5bieruABfr8/s1600/615-pray-japan-001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="388" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LdbZ1og6qFc/VThx80W1mCI/AAAAAAAADQo/5bieruABfr8/s640/615-pray-japan-001.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <br /> Dear brothers and sisters: the Qur’an relates this conversation between God and Jesus: And (remember) when Allah will say (on the Day of Resurrection): ‘0 Jesus son of Mary! Did you say unto men: 'Worship me and my mother as two gods besides Allah?’' He will say: ‘Glory be to You! It was not for me to say what I had no right (to say). Had I said such a thing, You would surely have known it. You know what is in my inner-self though I do not know what is in Yours, truly, You, only You, are the All-Knower of all that is hidden and unseen. Never did I say to them anything except what You (Allah) did command me to say: 'Worship Allah, my Lord and your Lord', And I was a witness over them while I dwelt amongst them, but when You took me up, You were the Watcher over them, and You are a Witness to all things.. If you punish them, they are Your slaves, and if You forgive them… 5: 116-119]<br /> <br /> Dear brothers and sisters: His teaching annoyed the priests, for every word of Jesus was a threat to them and their position, exposing their misdeeds. So, they planned to get rid of him.<br /> The Qur’an affirms that Allah did not permit the people of Israel to kill Jesus or crucify him. What happened was that Allah saved him from his enemies and raised him to heaven. They never killed Jesus; they killed someone else.<br /> <br /> Allah the Almighty declared: ‘And because of their saying (in boast), ‘We killed Messiah Jesus, son of Mary the Messenger of Allah,’ - but they killed him not, nor crucified him, but the resemblance of Jesus was put over another man (and they killed that man), and those who differ therein are full of doubts. They have no (certain) knowledge, they follow nothing but conjecture. For surely; they killed him not: But Allah raised him (Jesus) up (with his body and soul) unto Himself (and he is in the heavens). ’ [4: 157]<br /> <br /> And what about the verse that says: And (remember) when Allah said: ‘0 Jesus! I will take you [mutawafika] and raise you to Myself and clear you (of the forged statement that Jesus is Allah son) of those who disbelieve …’ [ 3: 55], the answer here is that the word mutawafika means that Allah made him sleep, and will then raises him.<br /> <br /> Dear brothers and sisters:<br /> Another point that I want to deal with are the changes that the Jews made in Jerusalem and around Al-Aqsa Mosque every day in order to alter the sites of the city. It is our duty as Muslims, both individuals and governments to face these plans and stop the silence.<br /> <br /> The final point I would like to draw attention to is the deadly swine flu virus. This is one of a series of diseases and disasters that have appeared recently and destroy humans. Other diseases and trials include bird flu, floods, storms, poverty, recession and many others. Everyone should be aware and be careful about swine flu and take all possible precautions to protect themselves from this virus. These problems show that despite advances in technology, humans are weak. We ask Allah to protect everyone from this deadly virus.<br /> <br /> Dear brothers and sisters:<br /> I ask Allah to liberate Jerusalem and al-Aqsa mosque and to guide us all.<br /> <br /> Sh. Khalifa Ezzat<br /> May 1, 2009/ Jumada al-Awwal, 1430<br /> <br /> http://iccuk.org/page.php?section=religious&page=khutbas<br /> <br /></div>

The Story of Jesus [pbuh] and Mary in Islam

Dear brothers and sisters: Last Friday, I dealt with the story of Maryam [Mary] and her family who Allah chose over all mankind. I men...

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Solidarity with Jews and Christians

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiESjQzc08GXWEXq-dYON8eTcT2wEkrRzJv8Q9c6fI3oK3XWnSN4SypE5HtCz9tKj_GBfZ1FIC3nQnnmyiFQCxCavV0Bxr8Cq7zRS3gUxDDTwk7MhpJu6UUSqGylKtObTYGyt5eQsbv1Z4o/s1600/coastal-trees.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiESjQzc08GXWEXq-dYON8eTcT2wEkrRzJv8Q9c6fI3oK3XWnSN4SypE5HtCz9tKj_GBfZ1FIC3nQnnmyiFQCxCavV0Bxr8Cq7zRS3gUxDDTwk7MhpJu6UUSqGylKtObTYGyt5eQsbv1Z4o/s640/coastal-trees.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <br /> “As-salámu 'alaikum wa rahmatul láhi wa barakátuh!”<br /> “A-úthu billáhi minash shaytánir rajeem.  Bismilláhir rahmánir raheem.<br /> <br /> My respected Brothers and Sisters,<br /> <br /> These 5 verses introduce the Holy Quran at the beginning of Sura Al Baqara. They also encapsulate everything the Quran stands for, and everything we need to know for a successful life.<br /> <br /> Those people who have no faith will argue differently about what a “successful life” means: lots of money in the bank, a luxury car, a palatial home, a comfortable and sometimes hedonistic lifestyle. But to those who have cultivated true faith, Iman, those who worship none but Allah, the Lord of the Majestic Throne, the Creator and Nourisher and Sustainer of all that exists, to such believers, a successful life is simply to travel the Siraat-al-Mustaqeem, the straight path that leads to al-Jannah, Paradise, the Garden of Allah.<br /> <br /> We are living in a time where faith in God becomes ever more challenging. Faith communities in general and Muslims in particular, are under increasing pressure. Secular attitudes are hardening and some secularists are becoming as abusive and extreme as some of the militants within the faith communities. Take the hysterical attacks by people like Richard Dawkins and Christopher Hitchens, for example. Or, consider the way new laws are passed that prevent Catholic adoption agencies from freely choosing where to place their children in care. We Muslims must be prepared to stand side by side with other faith communities when they are under attack by secular groups. The Holy Quran makes a clear distinction between Iman and Kufr, Belief and Unbelief. It also clearly distinguishes the Jews and Christians as ‘People of the Book’, and assures us that the sincere, God-fearing Jews and Christians who do good works will be rewarded. They have nothing to fear.<br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div> <br /> In Sura Al Baqara [2:62] we read: “Those who believe in the Quran, and those who follow the Jewish Scriptures, and the Christians and the Sabians, - any who believe in Allah and the last day, and work righteousness, shall have their reward with their Lord: on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve.” [la ghowfun alay-him wala hum yahzanoon.]<br /> <br /> No religion has the monopoly of good people. Jews, Christians and Muslims, have their ‘awkward squad’ those who make life miserable for others, and who use their sacred books to justify their evil deeds.<br /> <br /> Some Jews claim that God promised them the Holy Land, so they may as well take it by force, regardless of the suffering they inflict on the Palestinians. Not all Jews are like this. Many do not support these actions and they can be seen at the anti-war demonstrations. Amongst the Christians, some Evangelicals and right-wing Neo-conservatives use the Bible to support the invasion of Iraq and the seizure of oil resources in the Middle East. But the majority of Christians around the world oppose them. Some Muslim extremists try to use Holy Quran to justify bombing innocent people on trains and planes. But the majority of Muslims, supported by the correct understanding of Quran and Sunnah, reject their interpretation of the militants and are sickened by their actions.<br /> <br /> Brothers and sisters, we must build bridges with our cousins in the family of Abraham, those Jews and Christians who stand up for justice, who do good works and who want to establish a peaceful and harmonious society. It is our duty to do our bit as well. Allah has conferred on us a great honour and a great responsibility, when he addressed us as the khaira ummatin, the ‘best of nations’<br /> <br /> “Kuntum khaira ummatin ukhrijat lin-naasi, ta’muroona bil ma’roofi, wa tan hawna ‘anil munkari, watu’ minoona bil-laah.”<br /> <br />  “You are the best of nations evolved for mankind, you enjoin what is right and you forbid what is wrong, and you believe in Allah.”<br /> <br /> Let us then join hands with believers in other communities who also enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong. This is our duty. Simply reciting the Kalima Shahada is not enough. Belief and Action must go hand-in-hand. When we do our good works for the sake of Allah, our intentions must be pure and our hearts must be pure. We must not be driven by a desire to impress people. That’s wrong. That would be indulging our vanity. We must desire only to seek Allah’s good pleasure, nothing else.<br /> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUPIRC6joeMmBf_lTDYhpes8tjwSJ2DC5h_rND8wqs7Eg9aRbRSndl_5b2i-K1PA8sbbhsSZgPSqzMblgjkj964OoTUdQVb79G_IaXocOtg77i3C8nKpSUlSdTtDSPqAQh36Laz9GAeFo0/s1600/atmosphere+111.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="394" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUPIRC6joeMmBf_lTDYhpes8tjwSJ2DC5h_rND8wqs7Eg9aRbRSndl_5b2i-K1PA8sbbhsSZgPSqzMblgjkj964OoTUdQVb79G_IaXocOtg77i3C8nKpSUlSdTtDSPqAQh36Laz9GAeFo0/s640/atmosphere+111.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <br /> Allah reminds us in the Holy Quran that no one shall enter Paradise except those with a pure and sound heart.<br /> <br /> “Ill-la man atal-Laaha biqalbi saleema”<br /> <br /> “And only he will prosper who comes to Allah with a sound heart.” Sura al-Shu’araa’  The Poets [26:89]<br /> <br /> May Allah help us all to cleanse our hearts constantly, from all forms of pollution, and may all our good works bring us closer to Him. Ameen.<br /> <br /> All praise is due to Alláh, the Lord of all the Worlds; may the greetings and peace be upon the best messenger, Muhammad, the unlettered prophet; and upon his family and upon all of his companions.    Amma ba’ad, And, after this, <br /> <br /> Behold, Alláh and his angels shower blessings on the Prophet. O you who believe! Ask for blessings on him, and salute him with a worthy greeting.<br /> <br />  O Alláh! Send your greetings upon Muhammad and his family,  just as you sent your greetings on Abraham, and his family. O Alláh, send your blessings on Muhammad and his family, just as you blessed Abraham and his family. In both worlds, you are praiseworthy and exalted."<br /> <br /> Alhamdu lillahi Rabbil ‘Aalameen. Was-salaatu was-salaamu alaa Khairil mursaleen. Muhammadin-nabeey-yil Ummiy-yee, wa-‘alaa aalihee, wasah-bihee, aj-ma’een.<br /> <br /> Ammaa ba’ad:<br /> <br /> Innalláha wa malaaikata yusallúna alan nabi. Yá ay yuhal latheena ámanu sallú alayhi wasalli mú tas leema. Allahumma salli alá Muhammad, wa ala áli Muhammad, kama salayta ala Ibrahim, wa ala ali Ibrahim. Allahumma barik ala Muhammad, wa alaa áli Muhammad, kama barakta ala Ibrahim, wa ala ali ibrahim. Fil ála meen, innaka hameedun majeed.”<br /> <br /> Part Two:<br /> <br />  Sub' hanallahi wal hamdu lillah, wala hawla wala quwwata illah billah yu althi yual theem.<br /> <br />  "All glory is for Allah, and all praise is for Allah; There is no power and no strength except with Allah."<br /> <br /> My respected brothers and sisters,<br /> <br /> We must never become depressed or desperate when Islam is under attack, whether it is from militant secular people or malicious ones from other faith communities. And we should never return insult or injury with more of the same. The Holy Quran advises us to “invite to the way of your Lord with wisdom and beautiful speech…” [Sura An Nahl 16:125]<br /> <br /> “Od’ ‘U ilaa sabeeli Rabbika bil hikmati, wal mow ‘idatil hasanah..”<br /> <br />  When rudeness is met with courtesy it defuses tension and sometimes wins over hearts and minds. The seerah literature is rich with examples. Remember how Prophet Muhammad sws went to visit his neighbour who used to throw rubbish at the Prophet’s front door. He went there because one day he found that there was no rubbish as usual, because the neighbour was ill. What was the Prophet's reaction? Did he treat this neighbour harshly? Did he remind him of his bad behaviour? Did he take revenge? No, The noble Prophet of Islam was gentle and kind. He had no bruised ego to massage. Because of his dignified and generous manner, his neighbour stopped dumping rubbish accepted Islam.<br /> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibZC94wRTIrNMOAwKBxZ8O4ek8PEQis-0zi8j-GQ8bqtknizqEzYUz68uDk7XNZdULLSPQuJCJI4n2rVUdrDTyq82xOwJUR99QzOLo6GrhtoyQn9xGHnernLqheVGszyQygaECKvvxVAIB/s1600/railroad-crossing-at-sunset-hdr-hd-wallpaper-337050.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibZC94wRTIrNMOAwKBxZ8O4ek8PEQis-0zi8j-GQ8bqtknizqEzYUz68uDk7XNZdULLSPQuJCJI4n2rVUdrDTyq82xOwJUR99QzOLo6GrhtoyQn9xGHnernLqheVGszyQygaECKvvxVAIB/s640/railroad-crossing-at-sunset-hdr-hd-wallpaper-337050.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <br />  Brothers and sisters, when we understand Islam properly, we cultivate a  superior moral fibre that gives us dignity and serenity in the most difficult times. This will ensure that we never feel intimidated by threats. We should fear Allah alone, and no-one else. We should always remember the ways of our illustrious predecessors, the Sahaaba, the Companions of our Noble Prophet Muhammad sws. Remember how they responded at the battle of Uhud, when they were warned: “Beware, a great army is waiting in ambush for you, beyond that mountain!” Instead of being paralyzed by fear, this only strengthened their faith and hardened their resolve to stand firm:<br /> <br />  Hasbun-Allah, wa neya’mal wakeel, neya’mal mawlaa waneya’mal naseer!<br /> <br />  “Allah is sufficient for us, He is the best Protector and the best Helper”<br /> <br />  So let us face the future with renewed confidence, energised by the certain knowledge that Allah will never allow His religion to be humiliated or destroyed.<br /> <br />  This guarantee is offered in Sura 61:v8<br /> <br />  “Their intention is to extinguish Allah’s Light by blowing on it with their mouths: But Allah will complete the revelation of His Light, even though the unbelievers may detest it.”<br /> <br />  Let us end this khutbah with some supplications, duahs, taught to us by the anbiyyaa, the Prophets of Allah:<br /> <br /> “O my Lord, do not let our hearts deviate, now that we have been guided to the truth, but send us Mercy from Your very Presence, for You are the Grantor or Bounties without measure.”<br /> <br /> Rabbana la tuzigh quloobanaa, ba’da ith hadaytanaa, wa hablanaa min ladunka Rahma. Innaka antal Wah-haab. <br /> <br /> My Lord, help me to perfect my prayer, and of my descendants, Our Lord, accept this prayer....<br /> <br /> Rabbi ja'alni muqeemus salaati, wamin dur-riy-yati, Rabbanaa wata qabbal du'aah...<br /> <br /> My Lord, forgive me, and my parents, and all Believers until the Day of Reckoning..<br /> <br /> Rabbigh firlee wali waali dayya, walil Mu'mineena yawma yaqoomul hisaab...<br /> <br /> Glory to Allah, Lord of Majesty and Honour, and Peace on the Prophets, and Praise to Allah, Lord of all creation!<br /> <br /> "Soob' haanaka Rabika Rabbil-‘’izzati 'Ammaa yasifoon, wasalaamun 'alal Mursaleen, wal Hamdu lil-Laahi Rabbil Aalameen."<br /> <br /> Ameen.                 <br /> Aqeemus salaah!<br /> <br /> By: Arshad Gamiet/Royal Holloway Univ. of London/ 2nd March 2007.<br /> Source: www.khutbahbank.org.uk</div>

Solidarity with Jews and Christians

“As-salámu 'alaikum wa rahmatul láhi wa barakátuh!” “A-úthu billáhi minash shaytánir rajeem.  Bismilláhir rahmánir raheem. My res...

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