Life after Death : An Argument & Its Fruits

 

Life after Death (part 1 of 2): An Argument

The question of whether or not there is life after death does not fall into the field of science, because science is only concerned with the classification and analysis of recorded data.  Moreover, man has been busy with scientific enquiries and research, in the modern sense of the term, only for the last few centuries, while he has been familiar with the idea of life after death since time immemorial.  All the prophets of God called their people to worship God and to believe in life after death.  They laid so much emphasis on the belief in life after death that even a slight doubt concerning the actuality of it meant denying God, and made all other beliefs meaningless.  Prophets of God have come and gone, the epochs of their advent being spread over thousands of years, yet life after death was proclaimed by them all.  The very fact that they have all dealt with this metaphysical question so confidently and uniformly goes to prove that the source of their knowledge of what to expect after death was the same: Divine revelation.

We also know that these prophets of God were greatly opposed by their people, mainly on the issue of resurrection to life once a person had died, since their people thought it to be impossible.  But in spite of that opposition, the prophets won many sincere followers.  The question of what made those followers forsake their earlier belief systems arises.  What led them to reject the established beliefs, traditions and customs of their forefathers even though they risked being totally alienated from their own community?  The simple answer is that they made use of their faculties of mind and heart, and realized the truth.  Did they realize the truth through experiencing it?  It cannot be so, as the perceptual experience of life after death is impossible. 

Actually, God has given man, besides perceptual consciousness, rational, aesthetic and moral consciousness too.  It is this consciousness that guides man regarding realities that cannot be verified through sensory data.  That is why all the prophets of God, while calling people to believe in God and the life hereafter, appealed to the aesthetic, moral and rational sides of man.  For example, when the idolaters of Mecca denied even the possibility of life after death, the Quran exposed the weakness of their stand by advancing very logical and rational arguments in support of it:

“And Man has coined for Us a similitude, and has forgotten the fact of his creation, saying: ‘Who will revive these bones when they have rotted away?’  Say: ‘He will revive them who produced them at the first, for He is the Knower of every creation, Who has appointed for you fire from the green tree, and behold!  You kindle from it.  Is it not He who created the heavens and the earth, able to create the like of them?  Yes, and He is indeed the Supreme Creator, the All-Knowing.” (Quran 36:78-81)

At another occasion, the Quran very clearly says that the disbelievers have no sound basis for their denial of life after death.  It is based on pure conjecture:

“They say, ‘There is nothing but our present life; we die, and we live, and nothing but time destroys us.’  Of that they have no knowledge; they merely conjecture.  And when Our revelations are recited to them, their only argument is that they say, ‘Bring us our father, if you speak truly.’” (Quran 45:24-25)

Surely God will raise all the dead, but not at our whim or for our idle inspection in the mundane world; God has His own plan of things.  A day will come when the whole universe will be destroyed, and then again will the dead be resurrected to stand before God.  That day will be the beginning of the life that will never end, and that Day, every person will be rewarded by God according to his good and evil deeds.

The explanation that the Quran gives about the necessity of life after death is what the moral consciousness of man demands it.  Actually, if there is no life after death, the very belief in God becomes irrelevant, or, even if one believes in God, that would be an unjust and indifferent God.  He would have been a God who once created man, only to be unconcerned with his fate thereafter.  Surely, God is just.  He will punish the tyrants whose crimes are beyond count: having killed hundreds of innocent persons, created great corruption in the society, enslaved numerous persons to serve their whims, and so forth.  Man, having a very short span of life in this world, and this physical world also not being eternal, the punishments or rewards equal to the evil or noble deeds of persons are not possible here.  The Quran very emphatically states that the Day of Judgment must come and God will decide about the fate of each soul according to his or her record of deeds:

“Those who disbelieve say: The Hour will never come unto us.  Say: Nay, by my Lord, but it is coming unto you surely.  (He is) the Knower of the Unseen.  Not an atom’s weight, or less than that or greater, escapes Him in the heavens or in the earth, but it is in a clear Record.  That He may reward those who believe and do good works.  For them is pardon and a rich provision.  But those who strive against our revelations, challenging (Us), theirs will be a painful doom of wrath.” (Quran 34:3-5)

The Day of Resurrection will be the Day when God’s attributes of Justice and Mercy will be in full manifestation.  God will shower His mercy on those who suffered for His sake in their worldly life, believing that an eternal bliss was awaiting them.  But those who abused the bounties of God, caring nothing for the life to come, will be in the most miserable state.  Drawing a comparison between them the Quran says:

“Is he, then, to whom we have promised a goodly promise the fulfillment of which he will meet, like the one whom We have provided with the good things of this life, and then on the Day of Resurrection he will be of those who will be brought arraigned before God?” (Quran 28:61)

Life after Death (part 2 of 2): Its Fruits

The Quran also states that this worldly life is a preparation for the eternal life after death.  But those who deny it become slaves of their passions and desires, and make fun of virtuous and God-conscious persons.  Such people realize their folly only at the time of their death and wish in vain to be given a further chance in the world.  Their miserable state at the time of death, the horror of the Day of Judgment, and the eternal bliss guaranteed to the sincere believers are very beautifully mentioned in the following verses of the Quran.

“Until, when death comes unto one of them, he says, ‘My Lord, send me back, that I may do right in that which I have left behind!’  But nay!  It is but a word that he speaks; and behind them is a barrier until the day when they are raised.  And when the Trumpet is blown there will be no kinship among them that day, nor will they ask of another.  Then those whose scales are heavy, they are successful.  And those whose scales are light are those who lose their souls, in hell abiding, the fire burns their faces and they are glum therein.” (Quran 23:99-104)

The belief in life after death not only guarantees success in the Hereafter, but also makes this world full of peace and happiness. This is through making individuals exceedingly responsible and dutiful in their activities due to their awe of God: the fear of His punishment and hope for His reward.

Think of the people of Arabia.  Gambling, drinking, tribal feuds, plundering and murdering were the main traits of their society when they had no belief in a life hereafter.  But as soon as they accepted the belief in One God and life after death, they became the most disciplined nation of the world.  They gave up their vices, helped each other in hours of need, and settled all their disputes on the basis of justice and equality.  Similarly, the denial of life after death has its consequences not only in the Hereafter, but also in this world.  When a nation as a whole denies it, all kinds of evil and corruption become rampant in that society and ultimately it is destroyed.  The Quran mentions the terrible end of  the ‘Aad, Thamud and the Pharaoh in some detail:

“(The tribes of) Thamud and ‘Aad disbelieved in the judgment to come.  As for Thamud, they were destroyed by the lightning, and as for ‘Aad, they were destroyed by a fierce roaring wind, which he imposed on them for seven long nights and eight long days, so that you might see the people laid prostrate in it as if they were the stumps of fallen down palm trees.

“Now do you see remnant of them?  Pharaoh likewise and those before him and the subverted cities.  They committed errors and those before him, and they rebelled against the Messenger of their Lord, and He seized them with a surpassing grip.  Lo, when the waters rose, We bore you in the running ship that We might make it a reminder for you and for heeding ears to hold.

“So when the Trumpet is blown with a single blast and the earth and the mountains are lifted up and crushed with a single blow, then on that day, the Terror shall come to pass, and the heaven shall be split, for upon that day it shall be very frail.

“Then as for him who is given his book in his right hand, he shall say ‘Here, take and read my book!  Certainly I thought that I should encounter my reckoning.’  So he shall be in a pleasing life in a lofty garden, its clusters nigh to gather.  Eat and drink with wholesome appetite for what you did long ago, in the days gone by.

“But as for him who is given his book in his left hand, he shall say: ‘Would that I had not been given my book and known my reckoning!  Would it had been the end!  My wealth has not availed me, my authority is gone from me.’” (Quran 69:4-29)

Thus, there are very convincing reasons to believe in life after death.

First, all the prophets of God have called their people to believe in it.

Secondly, whenever a human society is built on the basis of this belief, it has been the most ideal and peaceful society, free of social and moral evils.

Thirdly, history bears witness that whenever this belief is rejected collectively by a group of people in spite of the repeated warning of their Prophet, the group as a whole has been punished by God, even in this world.

Fourthly, moral, aesthetic and rational facilities of man endorse the possibility of life after death.

Fifthly, God’s attributes of Justice and Mercy would have no meaning if there is no life after death. - islamreligion.com

Is the Quran Authentic?

 

The Quran, sometimes called the Holy Quran or the Noble Quran is the divine scripture or sacred text of the religion of Islam.  Muslims believe that the Quran is the literal word of God.  It was revealed to God’s final messenger Muhammad, to bring humankind out of the darkness of polytheism and ignorance and into the light of Islam.  Quran confirms the books that were sent before it, including the Jewish Torah and the Gospels of Jesus.  It became the book of guidance for all humankind.  Quran abrogates all scriptures before it.  It contains signs of God’s greatness, miracles, parables, and lessons.  The Quran explains the names and attributes of God and His creation.  It calls us to believe in God, His angels, His Books, His Messengers, the Last Day, and in in fate or the divine decree.

“And We have sent down to you the Book (the Quran) as an exposition of everything, guidance, a mercy, and glad tidings for those who have submitted themselves.” (Quran 16:89)

“The Messenger (Muhammad) believes in what has been sent down to him from his Lord and (so do) the believers.  Each one believes in God, His Angels, His Books, and His Messengers.  (They say)  ‘We make no distinction between one another of His Messengers’ — and they say, ‘We hear, and we obey.  (We seek)  Your forgiveness, our Lord, and to You is the return (of all)’”. (Quran 2:285)

“And We have sent down to you (O Muhammad) the Book (this Quran) in truth, confirming the Scripture that came before it and trustworthy in highness and a witness over it (old Scriptures).” (Quran 5:48)

The Quran is the greatest of all scriptures.  Through it, God speaks to humankind.  He shows us His mercy, His love, His justice, and His wisdom.  It is guidance, and a comfort to the heart.  It is a most important book indeed.  How then can we be sure that God’s words have not be changed or lost?  How can we be sure that the Quran we hold in our hands today is authentic? 

Muslims have no doubt that Quran is exactly the same today as it was more than 1400 years ago when it was first revealed to Prophet Muhammad.  The authenticity of Quran is  established in several ways.  The most important way we can be sure that the Quran is authentic is the fact that when God revealed the Quran, He promised to preserve it.

“It is We Who have sent down the remembrance (i.e. the Quran) and surely, We will guard it from corruption.” (Quran 15:9)

In the time of Prophet Muhammad, may the mercy and blessings of God be upon him, the Arabs, although predominantly illiterate, were masters of the spoken word. Their poetry and prose were considered outstanding, and a model of literary excellence. When Prophet Muhammad recited the Quran – the words of God – the Arabs were moved tremendously by its sublime tone, eloquence, and extraordinary beauty. The Quran was Prophet Muhammad’s miracle from God.

The Quran was also preserved by the people around Prophet Muhammad, they  memorised the words of the Quran as they were revealed and  paid careful attention to each word. Until today there are people who memorize the Quran with direct chains of memorization that span back to the Prophet, may the mercy and blessings of God be upon him, himself. Besides this record of memorization there is the written record as well, whereby trustworthy scribes wrote down the revelation. They wrote on flat stones, bark, bones, and even animal skins.

Prophet Muhammad himself supervised the memorisation and writing of the Quran.  The preservation of Quran was also a major priority for the four men destined to follow Muhammad as leaders of the Muslim nation.  Through their extraordinary effort and by the permission of God the Quran came to be written in book form.  Generation after generation, one after the other, went to great lengths to preserve the word of Quran exactly as they were revealed.

This process is called Tawatur in the Arabic language.  It means that  historical continuity and perpetuation is achieved by transfer from one generation to the next.  What is implied is that so many people in each generation conveyed it that there can be no doubt about its authenticity.  Quran was not transmitted by a handful of people in one generation to a few persons in the next.  It was passed  by each entire generation to the next generation.  More about how the early Muslims preserved Quran can be found in The Story of Quran, Parts 1-4. 

One of Quran’s most remarkable qualities and another reason for believing its authenticity is the complete consistency between the Quran and many of the discoveries of modern science.  Quran even pre-empts facts only discovered in the last 50 years or less.  More information about the marvellous symbiotic relationship between the Quran and scientific discoveries can be found on this website in the section entitled The Scientific Miracles of the Holy Quran.  Dr Maurice Bucaille, a French medical doctor specialising in gastroenterology had the following words to say about the scientific information contained in Quran.

“The Quran follows on from the two Revelations that preceded it,  and it  is not only free from contradictions in its narrations, but provides a quality all of its own for those who examine it objectively and in the light of science, i.e. its complete agreement with modern scientific data.  What is more, statements are to be found in it (as has been shown) that are connected with science: and yet it is unthinkable that a man of Muhammad’s time could have been the author of them.  Modern scientific knowledge therefore allows us to understand certain verses of the Quran which, until now, it has been impossible to interpret.”

The Quran used by more then 1.5 billion Muslims throughout the world today is known as the Uthmani Quran.  It was compiled by the third leader of the Islamic nation, Uthman ibn Affan, and copies were distributed throughout the Caliphate.  Each book is a copy of the original and it is believed that two of these original copies exist to this day in Turkey and Uzbekistan.

The words of Quran have remained unchanged. Over the centuries Muslims and non Muslims alike have examined copies of Quran more than 1000 years old and found that they are all identical, apart from the introduction of vowel marks in the 7th century CE. These marks were introduced to further guard the authenticity of Quran by demanding strict adherence to pronunciation rules.

The preservation of Quran is a tale of wonder and amazement. It is a testament of God's love for humankind, a book of guidance and a source of comfort. Muslims around the globe bear witness that it is the divinely revealed words of God.  Words from the Most Merciful to His slaves.  From the moment it was revealed to Prophet Muhammad it has been protected and preserved by God from the corruption of mankind and generations of men, women, and children have stood guard over Quran with their hearts, minds and lives. - islamreligion.com

The Struggle for One God

 

At the time of Prophet Muhammad – may God praise him-  there was a powerful and influential tribal leader by the name of Musaylamah.  For those who know his history, I challenge you to tell me who his father was.  Ask anyone in the world and they will say, "Al kadhdhab – the liar!" Even if we were to search out his descendants in the present day and ask them who was your ancestor Musaylimah’s father, they would say, "The liar!"  Why?

Musaylimah had all the earthly ingredients to launch a new religion.  He had exquisite knowledge of the language, was a magical public speaker, had wealth beyond imagination, and a tribal army crazy about him, ready to die for his safety.  He took all these ingredients and proclaimed to all that he was a Prophet of God just like Muhammad. 

He missed one ingredient though, that sunk his ship – the ingredient of truthfulness.  That is why today, over 1400 years later, there is not a single human soul on earth who thinks Musaylamah was the Prophet of God.  Alas, God did not give him the authority to make this claim. 

On the other hand, not a second ticks by in 24 hours, 7 days a week, except that there is a Muslim caller to prayer somewhere in the world in the millions of mosques announcing Ash-hadu anna Muhammadan Rasul-Allah – I testify that Muhammad is the Messenger of God. 

This is so because human beings did not give him this authority, nor did he himself proclaim this to himself.  As the emperor of Rome, Heracles, asked the Muslim messenger in the year 679 after he had presented Islam to him, "Which King gave [Muhammad] this authority?" The reply was so simple, so profound, "God did! God gave [him] this authority!"

I grew up in central Canada, in a city called Winnipeg; a city so synonymous with the term cold that local folk call it "Winterpeg".  It’s so cold that people in Canada say, "Man, you’re from Winnipeg, isn’t it cold there?"

I went to grade school in Winnipeg in the early 80’s.  My family and I lived in an environment where we would be giggled at and insulted at the mall and by passing cars.  Not uncommon were random shouts of, "Hey Ninja lady!" or "Look what came out of the Desert!"

At that time, we were the only colored children in the school.  I remember once telling a friend to guess what the most popular name in the world was.  When I told him it was Muhammad, he told me, "Get lost! You’re the only one in the school with that name.  It must be John or something."

I don’t blame him; a lot of people in North America have not travelled and experienced the treasures of culture and flavour that the nations of the world have to offer humanity.

Reverend Billy Graham once said something so profound.  He said, "I travelled the world and came to the realization that perhaps America does not have in its palm all the truths of the world."

Reverend Billy Graham deserves a standing ovation for a statement like that and the modesty to announce that to millions of viewers.  But although America may not have all the truths, it is blessed with a nation of truth seekers, for it is never a shame to be mistaken.  The only thing shame lies in after the truth has come is to persist in one’s mistake.

Islam is the fastest growing religion in America, rather in the world.  In the past 50 years, Muslims have increased by 233%.  And across the earth, from every nation, Muslims number over 1 billion.

The key to Islam is the statement laa ilaaha illa Allah Muhammad Rasul-Allah – there is no (true) deity except God (Allah), and Muhammad is the Messenger of God. 

This statement takes only a few seconds to pronounce, but it is the transformation point of the lives of billions of Muslims around the world.  Only the Creator deserves to be worshipped.

Let’s take an example from the lives of such people whose lives changed with this call to worship only one God.  Bilal - may God be pleased with him - was an Abyssinian slave for the aristocracy of Makkah in the year 623.  When Muhammad the Messenger of God, may God praise him, came with this message of ‘No (true) deity except God (Allah)’, Bilal - may God be pleased with him - denounced the 360 statues and idols that the tribes of Makkah were worshipping and believed in only God.

His enraged slave master Umayyah would take Bilal out in the sizzling noon heat because of his beliefs, and burn away Bilal’s back on the sand.  To intensify the pain, Umayyah would bring a boulder and place it on his stomach to press him down on the grilling sand, burning the skin away.

All Bilal would whisper was, "He is only One (God), He is only One (God)," infuriating Umayyah who would only intensify the torture. 

Bilal was freed by one of Muhammad’s closest friends and followers, Abu Bakr, and Bilal became the first mu’adhdhin (the one who calls others to prayer) of Islam. 

Another example is that of the Muslim woman Sumayyah - may God be pleased with her.  She was also a slave and because they had accepted that no created thing deserved worship, only the Creator, she, her husband, and her son were subjected to physical beatings. 

Her torturer Abu Jahl became infuriated one day with her soft voice repeating, "There is no (true) deity except God!" He became so infuriated that he took a spear through her mid section and made Sumayyah the first Muslim to die in the name of "There is no (true) deity but God!" May God be pleased with her!

Although it was permissible for the Muslims to lie to save themselves from the torture, you’ll see example after example of Muslims who would rather die than surrender their right to believe that only God deserves to be worshipped. 

Amongst the tyrants of Makkah there was a man by the name of Umar ibn Al-Khattab.  He was so vicious with the Muslims that he would volunteer to torture Muslim slaves.  One day, he just had enough and unsheathed his sword and set on his way to the home of Muhammad to slit his throat once and for all.  On the way a Muslim who had been hiding his Islam, Nu’aym ibn Abdullah, inquired about Umar’s haste.  "I’m off to Muhammad, that one who cut up our tribe, belittled our gods, and mocked our religion, to kill him!"

Nu’aym became afraid for the Messenger of God so he quickly thought and said, "Why don’t you start with your family first!  Your sister and her husband have accepted Islam!"

Umar became enraged and changed direction to his sister’s home.  At that time, a Muslim teacher, Khabbab ibn Al-Arat, was at their home teaching them the word of God, the Qur’an, and for a few moments Umar stood there listening.  Then he shouted for them to open the door.  Khabbab hid in an adjacent room and Umar’s sister Fatimah hid the scroll that had the Qur’an written on it.

Umar entered and walked right up to his brother-in-law.  "I heard you both have accepted Muhammad, and are following him." Then Umar pounded his brother-in-law in the face.  Fatimah, his sister, stood to protect her husband, and when she came in the way, Umar slapped the face of his sister with all his might. 

She fell to the ground, her cheek split and the blood spilt all over her clothes.  She looked up at her brother and said from behind her tears, "Yes Umar we are Muslim and yes, we have believed in God and His Messenger.  Maybe you don’t have all the truth like you think you do?"

Umar was ashamed at the sight of his sister’s blood and desisted.  He asked, "What was that sound I heard, that recitation?"

His sister replied, "I fear for that scroll to fall in your hands." But Umar swore by the idols that he would do no harm.  She handed him the scroll after he had cleansed himself and he recited:

Taha.  We did not send down to you the Qur’an that you be distressed.  But only as a reminder for those who fear (God).  A revelation from He who created the earth and the highest heavens. (God) the Merciful (who is) above the Throne established.  To him belongs what is in the heavens and what is on the earth and what is between them and what is under the soil.  And if you speak aloud - then indeed, He knows the secret and what is (even) more hidden.  Allah - there in no god except Him, to Him belong the best names (Quran  20:1-8)

Umar later that day visited the Messenger of God.  When he met him, the Messenger of God took the coat of Umar and said, "Hasn’t the time come for you to become Muslim?" And Umar replied, "I’ve only come for that reason.  Ash-hadu an laa ilaaha illa Allah, wa ash-hadu anna Muhammadan Rasul-Allah (There is no god but God (Allah) and Muhammad is the Messenger of God.)"

The Prophet shouted Allahu Akbar (God is Great), and everyone that heard it knew that Umar had become Muslim!

I’ve been in large crowds in my life, both in the West and in the Middle East. 

In Winnipeg, the biggest crowds I experienced were at hockey games.  Like I said before, Winnipeg has a lot of ice.  Maybe 20 thousand Winnipeggers would gather at night for a hockey game.  Hey that’s a lot for Winnipeg!

In Makkah, at the Grand Mosque, I have been in a crowd of 3 million worshippers in one prayer!  These people were not from one nation, nor were they from one language background, and no, they didn’t gather to see the Winnipeg Jets beat the Washington Capitols!

As you’ll see today when we line up for prayer, in Makkah 3 Million people lined up in perfect circles around the Grand Mosque to worship God! I once stood in the window of a hotel across from the Grand Mosque and watched down below the swarming crowd of 3 million Muslims.  Then, when the call to prayer began, that entire crowd stood in perfect circles in less than 50 seconds.  Who gathered these hearts? Only God!

A consistent crowd of 3 million from every nation, class, and color came about with pain and struggle to assert humanity’s right to worship nothing but the one true God, Allah. 

There were times in that very same valley of Makkah when Muhammad would prostrate only to God, avoiding all the false idols that surrounded him.  The polytheists of Makkah sat there staring at him and loathed the scene.  They said to themselves, "How can we sit here and allow Muhammad to prostrate to God in your midst.  Who amongst us will humiliate him?"

"I shall," said a man by the name of Utbah.

He took the intestines of a fresh lamb that had been sacrificed to the idols and dumped it on the head of Muhammad.  The polytheists fell off their seats in hysterical laughter.  Muhammad did not come up from his prostration. 

News reached his daughter Fatimah, who at that time was still a young girl, that her father was being ridiculed at the Ka’bah (the sacred House of God)[1].  She raced there, and when she saw her father, she cried and removed the filth and swore through her tears at the polytheists. 

This is just an example of the ridicule the Messenger of God and the Muslims went through to teach humanity that nothing deserves worship except God!

The polytheists of Makkah used their media – poetry and word of mouth – to sway public opinion against this call that there was no (true) deity but God. 

A doctor by the name of Damaud from the tribe of Azd made pilgrimage to Makkah and when he arrived in the Holy valley the news media of Makkah flash warned him not listen to a word Muhammad says.  "He is a magician," they said, "He’s mad."

Damaud recalls, "They frightened me so much that I considered putting cotton in my ears.  But then I said to myself, ‘I am a doctor and have healed mad men before, perhaps I may be able to cure Muhammad."

So after completing his circumambulation around the Ka’bah, he saw Muhammad sitting peacefully in the courtyard.  He approached him and said softly, "Muhammad, I administer treatment for this illness and God has allowed me to heal many people, would you wish that I nurse you?"

Muhammad, may God praise him, turned and said, "Verily all praise belongs to God; we thank God and seek his protection from everything; whoever God guides none can misguide them and whoever God leaves to go astray none can guide them aright.  I testify that there is no deity worthy of worship except God (Allah) and that (I) Muhammad am the Messenger of God."

Damaud’s mouth gapped open.  He swallowed and said, "Could you repeat that for me?"  Muhammad the Messenger of God repeated it.

Then Damaud smiled and announced, "By God, I have heard the words of soothsayers, and have heard the words of magicians, and have heard the words of poets, but I have never heard words like this! Give me your hand for I am pledging allegiance to Islam.  There is no (true) deity except God and Muhammad is His Messenger!"

You’ll find in the Qur’an verse after verse opening the eyes of humanity to the reality that there is a God and He is only One. 

Jubayr ibn Mut’em stood quietly behind the Messenger of God at Maghrib prayer one day and listened to the verses of the Qur’an.  The Messenger of God was reciting Chapter At-Toor and in it he heard him recite:

Were they created by nothing or were they the creators of (themselves)? Or, did they create the heavens and the earth? Rather, they are not certain. Or have they (in their hands) the treasures of your Lord? Or do they control it? (At-Toor 52:35-37)

Jubayr ibn Mut’em said, "When I heard these verses, it was as if my heart had wings flying swiftly and in bliss to the truth that I had found in Islam."

Brothers and sisters, where will you be in 100 years? You’ll be dead.  And where were you 100 years ago? Nowhere.  You were nothing.  God says in the Qur’an:

Has there not come upon man a period of time when he was not a thing (even) mentioned? Indeed, We created man from a sperm - drop mixture (i.e.  combination of male and female substance) that We may test him and We made him hearing and seeing.  Indeed, We guided him to the way, to be thankful or to be ungrateful.  (Al-Insan 76/1-3)

In those early days of Islam, the Messenger of God would go from tent to tent, tribe to tribe, announcing to them, "Say there is no (true) deity except God and success will be yours!"

Today, over 1400 years later as the followers of Muhammad, believers in God (Allah), we extend those words of our Messenger to all our guests today: Say there is no (true) deity except God (Allah) and success will be yours!

 - islamreligion.com

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Footnotes:

[1]To learn more about the Ka’bah, please see:  http://www.islamreligion.com/articles/3282/

Forgiveness vs. Retaliation : Overcome Anger and Forgive

 

God understands the intricate nature of humankind.  Some people will not be satisfied without some sort of pay back or retaliation against those who do them an injustice; and rightly so.  However the religion of Islam tells us several things that are worth bearing in mind before retaliating.

The first and possibly the most important reason to forgive rather than retaliate is that the Quran and the traditions of Prophet Muhammad encourage us to do so.  Forgiveness means to relinquish the right of retaliation that you have over somebody for something wrong done to you.  God offers innumerable rewards for those who do forgive.  It is in fact among the good morals and the noble characteristics that all believers should aim for.  Even in the agony of despair these rewards are extremely valuable and if one can exercise patience and think before retaliating they might find that indeed forgiveness is better. 

"… (those) who repress anger and who pardon men; verily, God loves the doers of good." (Quran 3:134)

Prophet Muhammad said, "On the Day of Judgment a caller will say: ‘Who amongst you are the people of kindness?’ Then some people stand up.  It is then said to them, ‘Go into Paradise’.  The Angels meet them and ask them, ‘Where to?’ They reply, ‘To Paradise’.  The Angels say: ‘Before being judged?’ They reply: ‘Yes’.  The Angels ask: ‘Who are you?’ They reply, ‘We are the people of kindness’.  The Angels ask: ‘And what was your kindness?’ They reply, ‘We used to be forbearing when oppressed and be patient when aggressed and forgive when offended’.  The Angels then say: ‘Enter Paradise, how excellent a reward for the (pious good) workers’."[1]

God exhorts us over and over to think, be patient, overcome our anger and forgive.  One of Prophet Muhammad’s companions once said that in any dispute regarding retaliation he never saw the Prophet command anything but remission.  When someone is unjust to us or commits evil against us, we are encouraged to respond with kind and good actions, so that the hatred between us will evaporate.

"The good deed and the evil deed cannot be equal.  Repel (the evil) with one which is better (i.e.  God orders the faithful believers to be patient at the time of anger, and to excuse those who treat them badly) then verily he, between whom and you there was enmity, (will become) as though he was a close friend." (Quran 41:34)

"And if you punish, then punish them with the like of that with which you were afflicted.  But if you endure patiently, verily, it is better for the patient." (Quran 16:126)

Islam allows retaliation as a tool to achieve justice, to calm anger, to relieve emotional suffering, to prevent oppression of the criminal and to put an end to excessive force.  At the same time, it encourages the wronged person to forgive and pardon the one who did wrong.   However, having said that, when trying to decide between permissible retaliation and forgiveness, it is worth remembering that God Himself is the Most Just. 

"And We shall set up balances of justice on the Day of Resurrection, then none will be dealt with unjustly in anything.  And if there be (even) the weight of a mustard seed, We will bring it.  And Sufficient are We to take account." (Quran 21:47)

Another good reason to think about forgiveness before retaliation or anger is that there is a direct connection between the way we treat others and the way God treats us.   Prophet Muhammad used this parable to illustrate this.   "There was a merchant who used to extend credit to people.  If he found one of his customers to be in straightened means, he would say to his assistants: ‘Forgive them their debt, perhaps God will forgive us.’ God did forgive him."[2]

God describes the believers as:

"…those who avoid the major sins and immoralities, and when they are angry, they forgive" (Quran 42:37)

The inability to forgive can affect us deeply, emotionally, spiritually and even physically.  It causes stress and ill health.  When you forgive someone you not only give up your right to retaliation but you also give up feelings of revenge and resentment.  Recent research specifically on the health benefits of forgiveness shows that people who can make this mental shift between retaliation and forgiveness may benefit in ways they didn’t anticipate[3].  One study even makes the claim that people who forgive live longer.[4]

Forgive and forget is a saying that is often heard and while forgetting might be near impossible for some wrongs that are committed against us, forgiving is tantamount to trusting in God alone.  God will lift the burden from our minds and our hearts.  Withholding forgiveness is often based on an unconscious attempt to keep us safe and in control of the own little sphere of influence.  A believer knows however that this is only an illusion of safety and control.  It is God that keeps us safe and He is the one with the power to control all events, from a leaf falling from a tree to the time of our death.

"And with Him are the keys of the unseen; none knows them except Him.  And He knows what is on the land and in the sea.  Not a leaf falls but that He knows it…" (Quran 6:59)

Perhaps the most amazing example of forgiveness rather than retaliation happened when Prophet Muhammad conquered the city of Mecca.  He and his followers left the city after being abused, and tortured, driven from their homes, starved and humiliated, and murdered and maimed.  When he rode into Mecca humbly, on a donkey, Prophet Muhammad had the power to exact any revenge he wanted.  He could have retaliated in any way that he saw fit, yet he chose forgiveness.  He said to the people of Mecca the same words that Prophet Yusuf said to his brothers. 

"No blame will there be upon you today.  May God forgive you; and He is the Most Merciful of those who show mercy." (Quran 12:92)

- islamreligion.com

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Footnotes:

[1]Al-Baihaqi

[2]Saheeh Al-Bukhari, Saheeh Muslim

[3]http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/fulfillment-any-age/201301/live-longer-practicing-forgiveness

[4]Toussaint, L.  L., Owen, A.  D., & Cheadle, A.  (2012).  Forgive to live: Forgiveness, health, and longevity.  Journal Of Behavioral Medicine, 35(4), 375-386.  doi:10.1007/s10865-011-9362-4

What are Hadith?

 

Islam has two primary sources.  First is the Quran which is the direct word of God inspired to the Prophet Muhammad, may the mercy and blessings of God be upon him. The second source is the Prophet’s teachings.  These teachings include his words, actions, and things he approved of.  The Prophet’s teachings are called Sunnah.  The Sunnah is found in texts called hadith.  Hadith are statements of the Prophet which were narrated by his Companions and subsequently narrated to the next generation until these sayings were compiled in hadith collections.

The Prophet Muhammad was sent as the final messenger to mankind.  With his death, the message of Islam was completed.  The preservation of scripture is not limited to the text of the Quran, but its meaning as well.  If the Prophet’s explanation is needed in order to understand the Quran, then it is necessary that his sayings be preserved as well, not only the words of the Quran.

Imagine for instance trying to discover the manner of prayer based only on the command to "establish prayer" with few references to bowing and prostration.  The number of prayers, times per day, and what to recite would remain unknown.  Therefore, the Sunnah is part of the Quran’s preservation.

Importance of Hadith

All Muslims, be they Sunni or Shia, agree that hadith are essential to understanding Islam.  They provide a context to the verses in the Quran.  The Quran is a rather concise book and therefore contains many general statements.  For instance, the Quran commands Muslims to pray, but it does not provide the details of how one is to perform prayer.

The Quran also commands Muslims to perform pilgrimage and give charity, but it does not provide the details.  These details are found in the hadith where Prophet Muhammad explained the details and mechanics of prayer as well as other aspects of Islam.  There are dozens of verses in the Quran that command Muslims to follow the Prophet.  Without knowing his teachings, one cannot possibly fulfill this command.

Collection of Hadith

The Companions of Prophet Muhammad memorized his statements and actions.  In addition to memorization, many Companions wrote these hadith down in their personal collections.  These hadith were passed down to the students of the Companions and subsequently down to their students.  Several Muslim scholars collected these hadith into compilations which have become widespread and are the main sources of hadith until today.

Hadith are a Primary Source of Islamic Teachings

The verses concerning the authority of the Prophet’s teachings are abundant; for brevity we will only list four:

"And whatever the Messenger gives you, accept it, and from whatever he forbids you, abstain from it." (Quran 59:7)

"Say: If you love God then follow me and God will love you and forgive your sins." (Quran 3:31)

"Whoever obeys the Messenger has obeyed God." (Quran 4:80)

"O you who believe, obey God and obey the Messenger and those in authority among you.  If you differ in anything, then refer it to God and His Messenger if you believe in God and the Last Day; that is better and the best interpretation." (Quran 4:59)

The Quran establishes that Prophet Muhammad must be referred to when disputations occur.  This is an example of how the Prophet is a legislator and does not speak out of whim.  The Quran cannot command Muslims to follow the Prophet without making a means for them to know and follow him.  If his teachings are not preserved, then the Quran would be commanding Muslims to follow something that does not exist.  From this we understand that part of the preservation of the Quran is the preservation of the Sunnah itself.

Authentication of Hadith

In order to ensure that hadith were authentic and not fabricated, scholars developed a unique and critical method.  This consisted of two components, first scholars scrutinized the people who were narrating the hadith.  They ensured that everyone in the chain of transmission met each other and was free from any disqualifying characteristics.  These disqualifying characteristics include lying, indulging in major sins, or having a known or obvious motive to fabricate a hadith.

The second criteria they used was to measure and grade the memory of the narrators.  This was done empirically by comparing the narrations of different students to see who might have made a mistake.  For instance, a Companion of the Prophet might have narrated ten sayings of the Prophet to 15 students.  Hadith scholars would then individually ask these students to recite the hadith to them.  If of those 15 students 13 students say that the hadith says XYZ and 2 say it says ZYX then it is likely they made a mistake.  They would then note that this narrator has a poor memory and their narrations are to be rejected or accepted with caution.  Hadith would then be classified as authentic, acceptable, weak, or fabricated.  For more details on this process check out this article.

Examples of Prophet’s Statements Found in Hadith

"Those people who show no mercy will receive no mercy from God."[1]

"Not one of you can (truly) believe if you do not want for your (believing) brother what you want for yourself."[2]

"Do not have ill-will towards one another, do not be envious of one another, do not turn your back on one another; O, servants of God, be brothers (and sisters).  It is not permissible for a Muslim to remain angry with their brother [in religion] for more than three days."[3]

"When a human being dies all their actions and blessings come to an end, except for these three things: continuous charity, the knowledge from which they have benefited others, and a blessed child who prays for them."[4]

"If someone conceals the mistake of another servant, on the Day of Judgement God will cover their mistake."[5]

Conclusion

The statements of Prophet Muhammad are the second source of Islamic knowledge and law.  These statements help understand the Quran and explain its application.  Scholars developed a science which they used to determine the level of each hadith’s authenticity.  Hadith serve as a source of guidance for Muslims in their daily lives.  They use hadith to learn more about the Prophet and try to emulate his actions and character.

- islamreligion.com

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Footnotes:

[1]Saheeh Muslim

[2]Saheeh Al-Bukhari

[3]Saheeh Al-Bukhari

[4]Saheeh Muslim

[5]Saheeh Muslim