Erasing Palestine

By: Omar Suleiman

What is happening in Palestine can no longer be described as genocide or even ethnic cleansing. It is beyond mass extermination – it is total erasure.

As the siege and bombardment of Gaza continues at full force, killing hundreds each day, maiming many more and wiping entire families out of the civil registry, the international community is still watching idly by. The global conversation on the assault on Gaza is shifting towards the annexation of yet another part of historic Palestine by Israel, with countries around the world rushing not to prevent the injustice but to ensure Palestinians made into refugees as a result won’t end up coming their way.

Today, the fear of what comes next is looming larger for Palestinians than the cruelty of the world’s apparent indifference to their suffering.

This time, the Nakba is being televised, and it has a stench of finality to it. What is happening in Palestine can no longer be described as genocide or even ethnic cleansing. It is beyond mass extermination – it is total erasure.

Alongside the deranged and morally rotten military campaign to extinguish the lives of innocent Palestinian civilians – most of whom are women and children – is the equally if not more sinister campaign to entirely erase their identity.

Open Apple, Google or any other digital map. Type “Palestine”. You won’t find it. You will only find Israel. If you’re lucky, you may be directed to a small patchwork of what is called “Palestinian Territories” firmly embedded inside Israel lest anyone mistakenly think it is an independent nation-state. And of course, you will find nowhere on any map the keyword that precedes Palestinian Territories to lay bare the ugly, but necessary and harrowing truth: “Occupied.”

Every single Palestinian alive today has had either the brutal experience of being rendered stateless and/or homeless, or waking up to the reality that the homeland of their parents is apparently fictional. I will never forget the experience as a young boy born and raised in Louisiana when my mom had to explain to me why my second-grade teacher said “Palestine doesn’t exist.” Suddenly all the maps, flags, pictures, culture, and even old coins from prior to 1948 that had “Palestine” written on them were supposedly a lie. This, even though my father is five years older than the state of Israel. Everything about us is supposedly non-existent.

It’s not just the Palestinian people or the name of the country that’s disappearing, but the word Palestine itself. Palestine is being deliberately erased from our consciousness and discourse, during war and even in peace.

The Abraham Accords, the supposed blockbuster deal brokered by the United States to normalise relations between Arab states and Israel, somehow manages to exclude the main aggrieved party: the population of Palestine. One would assume that the plight of the Palestinians, which has supposedly been the single biggest impediment to peace between Arab states and Israel, would have made the Palestinian people a critical – if not the central – stakeholder in such a monumental deal. Yet, as far as the Abraham Accords are concerned, the Palestinians are non-existent.

And now, the current genocidal campaign being waged by the occupying state of Israel against Palestinians is being universally – and erroneously – described as “a war between Israel and Hamas”. Somehow the Palestinian people, who have been subjected to Israeli occupation and oppression for 75 years before October 7, no longer matter. This sinister public relations move is deeply problematic for two reasons.

First, it allows for a simplistic story of good vs evil, where Israel takes on the role of the peace-loving, civilized democracy minding its own business and Hamas the inexplicably evil and barbaric militia group – decorated with all the anti-Muslim trimmings and tropes imaginable – that attacks it out of the blue. This despite the fact that according to Human Rights Watch, Amnesty and even numerous Israeli human rights organizations, Israel is in fact an apartheid state and illegal occupier that has implemented the most inhumane open-air incarceration system on earth. Israel may have dozens of political parties, but the oft-repeated claim that it is the only “democracy” in the Middle East cannot be taken seriously when its veteran prime minister, who is embattled with corruption charges, can undermine the judiciary and appoint to his government senior officials that openly refer to themselves as fascists.

Second, and far more disturbingly, by strategically erasing Palestine from the narrative, Israel entirely sidesteps any awkward questions about the attacks of October 7 being linked to its more than 70 years of occupying the Palestinian people.

The simple truth is that the word “Palestine” is deeply damaging to Israel’s image on the international stage. The word “Palestine” carries with it so much universally recognised victimhood and so many stories of oppression, subjugation and genocide that when it is included in the conversation, Israel simply cannot dispute, however desperately it tries to, its crimes. The moral weight of Palestine is so heavy that every time the word is uttered, you can hear the deflating hiss from Israel’s PR bubble. No amount of beach resorts and tech unicorns can wipe the permanent stain of Palestinian blood off Israel’s hands.

Which is why the only way to get rid of the heavy moral burden of Palestine, Israel seems to think, is to literally get rid of “Palestine” altogether, and that includes totally erasing it from the map. And yet, it is Israel that stands in front of the United Nations, year after year, pleading to be protected from the “barbarian” nations that supposedly wish to erase it from the map. The irony may be hysterical, but the hypocrisy is real. - islamweb.net

PHOTO CAPTION

This picture taken from the city of Sderot shows a smoke plume erupting during Israeli bombardment in the northern Gaza Strip on October 19, 2023 [Jack Guez/AFP]

Aljazeera.com

Quran: The Way to Salvation

 

The Book of Allah is the rain that brings forth true life on Earth.

I bear witness that there is no deity besides Allah—alone, who has no partner, no equal; Lord of the Messengers, Creator of the heavens and the earths. I bear witness that Muhammad is His devoted-servant and His Messenger sent with a Clear Book that separates guidance from misguidance, deception from righteousness, and conjectures from certainty.

Allah revealed the Book (Noble Quran) in order for us to read it, and mull over it with care and vigilance; to enrich our souls from its remembrance; to carry it and construe it in the best of manners; to affirm it and strive to establish its commands and prohibitions; pick the fruits of its precious knowledge that is our way to Allah and to glean the wisdom from its gardens and flowers.

For it is His Book, and nothing else, that can guide His seekers to Him. It is the path that leads the traveler to Allah. It is His brilliant Light that illuminates the darkness of uncertainty and disbelief. It is His mercy of guidance and source of happiness for all creation. It is the bridge that connects His devotee to Him when all else fails. It is the great door to Him that remains open, when all else is closed. It is the straight path that is not tainted by the opinions of mortals. It is the remembrance full of wisdom that is not swayed by desires. It is the noble revelation containing wisdom that sages can never fathom. Its wonders never end, nor are its clouds barren, its signs are never exhausted, its agreements never contradict.

The more a soul delves into its depths, the more it increases in insight and guidance. It is the cure for mankind from diseases of the heart. It is life to the hearts and pleasure and brilliance to the souls. It is the harbinger that calls night and day: "O seekers of good, hurry to me"

It is the caller of faith at the head of the straight path, calling (what means): "O our people, respond to the caller of Allah and have faith in Him so He may forgive your sins for you and may save you from a painful chastisement." [Quran 31: 46]

 The Quran is Allah's greatest blessing on us. It is the fulfillment of His promise to Adam, may Allah exalt his mention, and his descendants, as Allah Almighty Says (what means): ''…There shall come to you guidance from Me, and whatsoever follows My Guidance no fear shall be on them, nor shall they sorrow''[Quran 2:38]

It is the only weapon for struggling against the forces of evil and temptation in this world. It is the only means to overpower our fear and anxiety. It is the only Light as we grope in the darkness, with which to find our way to success and salvation. It is the only healing for our inner sickness, as well as the social ills that may surround us. It is the constant reminder of our true nature and destiny, of our station and our duties.

But alas! Desires have put out the lamps of the hearts, and opinions of the mortal humans have shut those doors of Divine guidance and lost the keys. The hearts are laden with the rust of their own earning, so much so that they do not find the realities of the Quran opening to them. The burdens of ignorance have so settled upon it that its knowledge does not blossom into righteous actions.

Woe unto you, how have you made the nourishment of your heart those vain opinions that contradict the Quran and Sunnah (Prophet's Tradtion) that neither replenish it nor quench its thirst? So now your heart does not accept nourishment of the Word of the Lord of the worlds, and the speech of His eminent Messenger!

For how will you ever find your way through the darkness of conjectures and opinions of mortals to the clear distinction of right and wrong when    you have closed your eyes to the light of the Book of Allah and the way of the Messenger?

Woe unto you, how have you adulterated the right opinions with the sick ones, and the accepted ones with the rejected ones, and have managed to incapacitate your souls from receiving the guidance and knowledge from the Book that is immune to falsehood from all directions.

Nay, but it is, by Allah, a trial that has blinded the hearts from the sources of righteousness and has embezzled the minds from their goals.

The Book of Allah is the coolness of eyes for which the competitors compete, the finality to which the contenders contend.

How can you still be in the dark under a rising sun? 

   

How can you lose your way under a bright constellation?

Glory be to Allah, The Exalted! - islamweb.net

How to Attain Inner Peace and Strength?

 

Islam is a way of life that focuses on social order.

For that social order to be maintained in a balanced way and for the individual to have a valid role in society, he or she must, in turn, work on self-development.

In Islam this is acknowledged as being a major type of jihad (struggle). It involves dissolving negative emotions such as greed, jealousy, envy, deceit, and hypocrisy.

When we dissolve these negative emotions, we are more able to have control of our ego and our will. We are then more able to recognize our own rights and the rights of others and be more just in our daily transactions.

One can say: well lots of people do this.

This is especially – as today – there are a lot of self-realization and self-development courses and workshops.

Still, once those workshops and courses end, one is entirely on ones own.

If one is fortunate, one is able to refer to a teacher or a guide when in need. But, how many of us are that fortunate?!

The Inner Jihad

In our self jihad, also called the inner jihad (striving against ones negative desires and impulses), our one and only guide is Allah (God in Arabic).

In fact, Islam does not recognize human existence without the Creator, Allah. He is to us the Creator of all that is life, both visible and invisible.

One might understand this if one was to refer to the law of nature, which for Muslims is the expression of Allah, it is only for us to recognize those signs or forms of expression and to meditate.

Thus, realizing the purpose of that life form and then from that we can deduce what we can learn from it. This also includes humans as creations of Allah, altogether, which we refer to as the oneness or tawheed of all that is from our Creator.

Now you might say we are down here and Allah is up there, but that is not but of our understanding.

The Quran tells us in chapter 50 verse 16:

{And certainly We created man, and We know what his mind suggests to him, and We are nearer to him than his life-vein.}

Also in chapter 2 verse 186:

{And when my servants ask you concerning Me, then surely I am very near; I answer the prayer of the supplicant when he calls Me, so they should answer My call and believe in Me, that they may walk in the right way}

So, if you know that your Creator is wherever you are and you remember that, this makes the Muslim more mindful of his/her thoughts and actions.

Energy and Faith

In terms of modern day spiritual practices, this can be translated into the human energy field…

Healing therapies like acupuncture, homeopathy, gem therapy, and hands on healing– for example– are based on the knowledge of the human energy.

You become aware of it, for instance, when for some unknown reason a stranger walks into the room and you instantly have a bad feeling, or when someone not within your field of vision is staring at you.

This is the human energy field at work – communicating. All of nature is communicating.

Another example is that when we take a walk in a natural environment full of vegetation, we feel calmer. This is nature sharing with you its energy field and as previously said, all life forms are from the Creator.

With all this energy radiating outwards who is to say how far it extends, our thoughts, ideas, and actions.

Like radio waves we are all communicating with each other including the visible with the invisible, like for example, the wind.

So through these means, Allah Almighty is able to be present wherever we are.

When we Muslims pray five times daily, we are putting ourselves in touch with our Creator, reminding ourselves of what is important life. When we are in need, we turn to Him–only-for He is ready and waiting to help us, in our hour of need.

On the other hand, sometimes we supplicate to Allah for something and we see that our question is not answered, so we might begin to question. But, later we realize that what we asked for was not in our best interest and that Allah has the best knowledge on the matter, as He is All-Knowing. Remember the proverb: ‘Be careful what you wish for, because you might regret it’.

So, Islam tries to instill in us patience, self-respect, mutual respect, and self-sufficiency, as well as interdependence. This is what the holy month of Ramadan–for example-reminds us of, every year. All in all, we know that all that we need emotionally, psychologically, and materially comes from the Creator, Who guides us and wants only the best for us.

This is unlike Man, who wavers between self-interest and common good. When we know this in our hearts, we understand that there is balance in everything that we may face. Allah gives us no more than we can bear, even if we think we cannot. It’s all to do with presence of mind.

(From Ask About Islam archives)

DID MUHAMMAD AUTHOR THE QURAN?

 

Who authored the Quran?  Someone must have produced it!  After all, how many desert men have stood up in the history of man and given the world a book like the Quran?  The book has amazing details of past nations, prophets, and religions as well as accurate scientific information unavailable at the time.  What was the source of all this?  If we were to deny the divine origin of the Quran, we are left with only a few possibilities:

- The Prophet Muhammad authored it himself.

- He took it from someone else.  In this case, he either took it from a Jew or a Christian or one of the foreigners in Arabia.  The Meccans did not bother to accuse him of having taken it from one of them.

A brief response from God is:

"And they say, ‘Legends of the former peoples which he has written down, and they are dictated to him morning and afternoon.’  Say, [O Muhammad], ‘It has been revealed by He who knows [every] secret within the heavens and the earth.  Indeed, He is ever Forgiving and Merciful.’" (Quran 25:5-6)

It was well known to his detractors that Muhammad, who was raised among them, never learned how to read or write from the time of his birth.  They knew whom he befriended and where he had traveled; they acknowledged his integrity and honesty by calling him ‘Al-Ameen,’ the Reliable, the Trustworthy, the Honest.[1]  Only in their revulsion against his preaching did they accuse him – and then it was anything they could dream up: He was accused of being a sorcerer, a poet and even an imposter!  They could not make up their minds.  God says:

"Look how they strike for you comparisons; but they have strayed, so they cannot [find] a way." (Quran 17:48)

Simply, God is aware of what is in the heavens and the earth, He knows the past and thepresent, and reveals the truth to His prophet.

Could Muhammad Have Authored It?

It is impossible that Muhammad could have authored the Quran due to the following reasons:

First, several occasions presented themselves where he could have fabricated revelation.  For example, after the first revelation came, people awaited to hear more, but the Prophet did not receive anything new for months.  The Meccans began making fun of him, ‘His Lord has abandoned him!’  This continued until the 93rd chapter, Ad-Doha, was revealed.  The Prophet could have compiled something and presented it as the latest revelation to end the mockery, but he did not.  Also, at one point during his prophethood, some of the hypocrites accused his beloved wife Aisha of being unchaste.  The Prophet could have easily fabricated something to free her of blame, but he waited for many excruciating days, all spent in pain, mockery, and anguish, until revelation came from God freeing her from the accusation.

Second, there is internal evidence within the Quran that Muhammad was not its author.  Several verses criticized him, and were on occasion strongly worded.  How can an imposter prophet blame himself when it may run him into the danger of losing the respect, perhaps following, of his followers?  Here are some examples:

"O Prophet!  Why do you prohibit [yourself from] what God has made lawful for you, seeking the approval of your wives?  And God is Forgiving and Merciful." (Quran 66:1)

"…while you concealed within yourself that which God is to disclose and you feared the people, while God has more right that you fear Him.." (Quran 33:37)

"It is not for the Prophet and those who have believed to ask forgiveness for the polytheists, even if they were relatives, after it has become clear to them that they are companions of Hellfire." (Quran 9:113)

"But as for he who came to you striving [for knowledge] while he fears [God], from him you are distracted.  No!  Indeed, they [these verses] are a reminder." (Quran 80:8-11)

If he were to hide anything, he would have hid these verses, but he recited them faithfully.

"And he [Muhammad] is not a withholder of [knowledge of] the unseen.  And it [the Quran] is not the word of a devil, expelled [from the heavens].  So where are you going?  It is nothing but a reminder to the worlds." (Quran 81:24-27)

The Prophet is cautioned, perhaps warned, in the following verses:

"Indeed, We have revealed to you, [O Muhammad], the Book in truth so you may judge between the people by that which God has shown you.  And do not be an advocate for the deceitful.  And seek forgiveness of God.  Indeed, God is ever Forgiving and Merciful.  And do not argue on behalf of those who deceive themselves.  Indeed, God loves not the one who is a habitually sinful deceiver.  They conceal [their evil intentions and deeds] from the people, but they cannot conceal [them] from God, and He is with them [in His knowledge] when they spend the night in such as He does not accept of speech.  And God ever is encompassing of what they do,.  Here you are – those who argue on their behalf in [this] worldly life – but who will argue with God for them on the Day of Resurrection, or who will [then] be their representative?  And whoever does a wrong or wrongs himself but then seeks forgiveness of God will find God Forgiving and Merciful.  And whoever earns [i.e., commits] a sin only earns it against himself.  And God is ever Knowing and Wise.  But whoever earns an offense or a sin and then blames it on an innocent [person] has taken upon himself slander and manifest sin.  And if it was not for the favor of God upon you, [O Muhammad], and His mercy, a group of them would have determined to mislead you.  But they do not mislead except themselves, and they will not harm you at all.  And God has revealed to you the Book and wisdom and has taught you that which you did not know.  And ever has the favor of God upon you been great." (Quran 4:105-113)

These verses explain a situation in which a man from the Muslim inhabitants of Medina stole a piece of armor and hid itin the property of his Jewish neighbor.  When the owners of the armor caught up with himhe denied any wrongdoing, and the armor was discovered with the Jewish man.  He, however, pointed to hisMuslim neighbor, also denying his involvement in the crime.  The people from the Muslim’s tribe went to the Prophet to plead on hisbehalf, and the Prophet began to incline towards them till the above verses were revealedclearing the Jewish man of wrongdoing.  All this despite the Jew’s rejection of Muhammad’sprophethood!  The verses instructed Prophet Muhammad himself not to side with thedeceitful!  The verses:

"…and do not be an advocate for the deceitful and seek forgiveness of God…and if it was not for the favor of God upon you, [O Muhammad], and His mercy, a group of them would have determined to mislead you."

If Muhammad himself authored the Quran, thus being a lying imposter, he would have made sure that there was nothing in existence which could jeopardize the gaining of followers and supporters.  The fact that the Quran, on various occasions, reprimands the Prophet in certain issues in which he had made in incorrect judgment is in itself a proof that it was not authored by him. - islamreligion.com

FOOTNOTES:

[1]‘Muhammad: His Life Based on the Earliest Sources’ by Martin Lings, p. 34.

Seek forgiveness and do not Despair

 

Here is a Qudsi Hadeeth (sacred narration) that gives boundless hope to believers, and it depicts the depth of Almighty Allah's Great Forgiveness and Mercy. The subject of this article is the discussion that is based on this Qudsi Hadeeth that is reffered below. 

Anas  reported: ‘I heard the Messenger of Allah  say’: Allah the Almighty said: “O son of Adam, so long as you call upon Me and ask of Me, I shall forgive you for what you have done, and I shall not mind. O son of Adam, were your sins to reach the clouds of the sky and were you then to ask forgiveness of Me, I would forgive you. O son of Adam, were you to come to Me with sins nearly as great as the earth and were you then to face Me, ascribing no partner to Me, I would bring you forgiveness nearly as great as it.”  (Imam At-Tirmithi)

 

In this Qudsi Hadeeth, Allah the Almighty gives hope to humanity more than in any other narration. It displays the quality and attribute of the mercy of Allah the Almighty. Indeed, He is Ar-Rahman (the Most Compassionate), and Ar-Raheem (the Most Merciful). In this Qudsi Hadeeth, Allah the Almighty tells man of the greatness of His Forgiveness and Mercy so that no one would despair due to the excessive quantity of sins he may have committed.

This is supported by the following verse of the Noble Quran:

{Say, “O My servants who have transgressed against themselves [by sinning], do not despair of the mercy of Allah. Indeed, Allah forgives all sins. Indeed, it is He who is the Forgiving, the Merciful.”} [Quran 39:53]

This Hadeeth teaches us the importance of realizing the mercy of Allah the Almighty, having faith and hope in Him especially when making supplications, calling to Allah the Almighty alone for forgiveness, and the importance of repentance in the life and faith of a believer.

Allah the Almighty catches the attention of humankind by calling out: O son of Adam! This is a call to every human being. Why didn't Allah the Almighty say, 'O humankind or O people'?

The significance of this specific call is because it was the first human being, Aadam  who committed the first sin. Adam  was an example to all humans of the consequences of sin and how to turn to Allah the Almighty for forgiveness of one's sins. This gives hope that even after committing a violation, one's sins can be forgiven if one repents to Allah the Almighty sincerely the same way that the father of humankind sinned, repented, and was forgiven by Allah the Almighty. This was clearly mentioned in the Quran. Allah Says (what means): {Then Adam received from his Lord [some] words, and He accepted his repentance. Indeed, it is He who is the Accepting repentance, the Merciful} [Quran 2:37]

Allah the Almighty calls out to His servants, a call of forgiveness, mercy, and compassion, for He Knows that man was created weak and is prone to fall into sin. After calling out to humankind, Allah the Almighty informs them that as long as they call on Him and put their hope in Him, He will forgive them and not mind. This statement alone can convince one to have hope and never to despair. When one calls out to Allah the Almighty or supplicates Him, he is displaying his need and dependence on Allah the Almighty. He is demonstrating his weakness to the fact that he has no power to do anything for himself. This is the essence of submission and servitude. It is also recognition of Allah's attributes of Kindness, Generosity, Forgiving and Merciful nature, and His unlimited Power and Knowledge. Humans are never in a situation where they are not in need of Allah the Almighty. A believer always turns to Him to ask for guidance as well as to seek forgiveness of sins and shortcomings.

One of the most important conditions of supplication is that one must completely trust that Allah the Almighty will respond. One must also supplicate with sincerity, hope, and seriousness.

One must not have any doubt at all on whether Allah the Almighty will respond to one's call or if He will accept the supplication. The Messenger of Allah, sallallahu alaiyhi wa sallam, asked us to supplicate to Allah the Almighty while being certain of a response. We must also know that Allah the Almighty does not respond to a supplication from a heart that is heedless and inattentive. The Prophet  also forbade that one say: ‘O Allah, forgive me if You will’. Instead, he  asked us to supplicate with will and conviction, for there is nothing so great to Allah that He cannot grant it. Allah the Almighty Says (what means): {And to Allah belongs the depositories of the heavens and the earth, but the hypocrites do not understand} [Quran 63:7] - islamweb.net

Call to Prayer (Adhan) Drew Me to Islam

 

The Adhan is a melodious call to prayer that, when recited, draws the attention of Muslims, letting them know it is time for prayer. In this video, sister Sumayya, a Russian lady, describes how the call to prayer drew her to Islam. Click on this video to hear her story.

- aboutislam.net

Islam's features

 

Introduction

The world is not only densely populated but it is also saturated with different religions in various concepts. Everyone claims that he has a message to rescue the world and that he is the only one who is on the right path - each one asserting as if everybody owns the franchise to the truth!

Faced with such a fact, it is imperative upon us, as Muslims, to know the features of our religion. This is for us to determine our position, as well as, to properly conduct and guard ourselves against the other ones that may either be of divine roots such as Christianity and Judaism or of human origin like Buddhism and Hinduism. Otherwise, we will succumb to a plethora of religions.

Islam has specific features, which distinguishes it among the rest. By understanding these features, we will hopefully realize its merits and Allah’s (God’s) kindness as He guides and immerses us towards Islam. Here are some of these features:

1.     Islam is a divine religion

Allah Says (what means): " And indeed, (O Muhammad), you receive the Quran from one Wise and Knowing." [Quran: 27:6] "Alif - Lam - Meem. (This is) the revelation of the Book about which there is no doubt from the Lord of the worlds." [Quran: 32:1-2].

So Islam, by this feature, is essentially distinguished from the other laws and ideologies whose source is the human mind as opposed to Islam’s which is divine ("Godly"). This great difference should not be ignored nor taken for granted.

While Islam is considered a divine revelation, it should be:

A. Perfect and devoid of insufficiency, ignorance and caprice because it comes from Allah the Almighty, Whose perfection is complete and Who is infallible. Therefore, if the effect of Allah’s perfection is shown in His revealed commands, they should also be perfect.

B. Suitable, convenient and sufficient. This revelation is from the Creator Who knows what may benefit or harm His creatures. Allah Says (what means): "Does He Who created not know, while He is the Subtle, the Acquainted?" [Quran: 67:14].

C. Highly respected and dignified by believers regardless of one’s social status and earthly power because such positions and influence cannot take them away from the submission to Almighty Allah.

This holds true to a president or a ruler who is not obliged to follow any philosopher’s or intellectual’s opinion but still has to submit to Almighty Allah, regardless of his position, as all other creatures submit to Him.

For instance, Muslims who used to drink wine before Islam gave up their habit when Islam had forbidden it. In contrast, the United States in CE 1930 spent a lot of money advertising the dangers of wine and even applied hard punishment along the line in order to put a stop to it but still all their efforts failed.

2.     Islam is comprehensive

Islam unlike human principles and ordered set of ideas is a comprehensive system for all life affairs and human behaviour, as each aspect caters to its own field. So there are no spaces in human life which are apart from his religion and belief.

Muslims cannot do anything without a jurisprudent ruling either by obligation, prohibition, legalisation, recommendation or abhorrence. Therefore, everything in a Muslim’s life submits to and are gauged against these five jurisprudentially rulings, such that whatever comes to one ‘s mind always has a jurisprudential verdict in Islam.

The comprehensiveness of this religious jurisprudential ruling is clear because:

A. Islam includes the Jurisprudence of belief, such as faith in Allah and faith in the Last Day and Judgement.

B. It includes the Jurisprudence of morality, such as honesty and forbidden lie.

C. It includes the jurisprudential ruling of man’s relationship with his Lord, such as prayer and fasting.

D. It includes the regulations of man’s relationship with each other, such as the jurisprudential ruling of the family including the manner of dealing with them.

The effect of this comprehensiveness is reflected in a Muslim’s life because he is always in touch with Allah in all his undertakings. He is connected with Allah in his worship, his relationship with others and his children, his eating, his companionship with his wife, his livelihood and many others of such respect, affirming that this religion concludes and evaluates all these things.

3.     It is general

Another one of Islam’s excellent aspects is its generality or applicability to all human beings. It was not sent solely to a specific group or special race. Almighty Allah Says (what means): "And We have not sent you except comprehensively to mankind as a bringer of good tidings and a warner…" [Quran: 34:28]. "Say, (O Muhammad), 'O mankind! Indeed I am the Messenger of Allah to you all…'" [Quran: 7:158]

Its suitability at any given time and place is permanent and unchangeable. Unlike the previous divine laws that catered only to a specific period and to a specific group or race.

One might ask: "Why is it that divine laws were not continued in its revelation till the Day of Judgment?"

The answer is that the revelation of these divine laws is not a kind of futility but rather wisdom in order to complete a previous divine law or to meet a specific need for a given specific group. However, Almighty Allah has sent completely and perfectly the Islamic message when the sequence and series of divine messages already nurtured the human beings. Such an Islamic message filled the gaps and completed the previous revelations as well as confirmed the virtues inherent of the previous divine messages. Almighty Allah has provided Islamic messages with continuous characteristics and fulfillment of human needs till the Day of Judgment, demonstrating in effect one of Almighty Allah’s wisdoms.

The Almighty Allah Says (what means): "This day I have perfected for you your religion, and completed My favour upon you, and have approved for you Islam as religion." [Quran: 5:3]

4.     Islam sets up rewards as well as punishment for our deeds.

The jurisprudential rulings of Islam are not just abstract pieces of advice or instructions that have no bearing for reward or punishment. On the contrary, it offers good reward for the obedient ones and punishment for the transgressors and violators of its law. Moreover, there are inherent degrees of reward and punishment in it. It is common knowledge that the punishment and rewards are meted out in the Last Day of Judgement but in some cases, the earthly penalty shares in the Day of Judgement’s penalty by applying punishment to the people who violate the jurisprudential rulings of Islam in such cases as murder, theft and adultery.

This special feature of punishment and reward for deeds obliges Muslims to submit willfully, whether in secret or open, to the jurisprudential rulings of Islam. Muslims obey this for fear of Almighty Allah’s punishment because even if one could escape from his sins in this life, the reality that everyone will be brought before Allah on the Day of Judgement for a fair and decent trial will always hold true in the end.

Therefore, Muslims avoid the forbidden deeds not only because of respect to and shame from Allah, but also out of fear for Allah’s punishment on the Day of Judgement. Allah Says (what means): " The Day every soul will find what it has done of good present (before it) and what it has done of evil, it will wish between itself and that (evil) was a great distance…" [Quran: 3:30].

So Muslims may escape from people that they have wronged while in this life, but they will always be held accountable for it causing them to fear Allah’s punishment on the Day of Judgement.

Reflective of this is the story of Maa'iz who committed adultery and then went to the Prophet  proclaiming he had committed adultery finally asking for purification.

5.     It is ideal and practical

Islam hones and gears people for perfection, granting their needs, not ignoring them. This Islamic feature promotes mankind with due consciousness of his nature, reality, interest and desire.

In general, there is moderation more than exaggeration or excessiveness, but it still gives and satisfies each one with his needs.

This is best exemplified when Islam orders Muslims to pay charity or Zakat ("poor due") and at the same time it cautions man against his human instinct of cherishing money to the point of getting enslaved to it.

Almighty Allah Says (what means): "And (they are) those who, when they spend, do so not excessively or sparingly but are ever, between that, (justly) moderate." [Quran: 25:67]. "And let not your hand be tied (like a miser) to your neck nor stretch it forth to its utmost reach (like a spendthrift)". [Quran: 17:29] For instance, it is forbidden to follow one’s desire by eating prohibited things or having illegal sexual intercourse. On the other hand, it is also forbidden to torture oneself by barring this natural need by fulfilling them in an allowed manner. So moderation must be there all the time.

Three people came to the Prophet  and they asked about his daily program and worship. Upon hearing it, they thought his worship was not enough for them. One of them said, "I will never sleep at night (i.e. spend it solely in worshipping Allah). The other one said: "I will never get married" (so that he can spend his life solely worshipping Allah). The third one said: "I will never eat meat". (to deprive himself of the pleasure to be derived from it, perhaps that it would please Allah).

When Prophet Muhammad  heard them, he denied their deeds and said: "But I fast, break my fast, sleep and wake up (part of night for worshipping) and marry women - the one who refuses my Sunnah (recommended deeds) is not one of my followers."

Also, the jurisprudential ruling of Islam is practical. It has nothing impossible or hard to do because it is not abstract ideals but rather one that takes care of man’s desires needs and the reality of his life. In this respect, Islam nurtures moulds, guides and polishes man without necessarily forgetting and renouncing his earthly whims and caprices.

Almighty Allah Says (what means): "And eat of what Allah has provided for you [which is] lawful and good. And fear Allah, in whom you are believers." [Quran: 5:88]. Also: "…Eat and drink but be not excessive…" [Quran: 7:31]. And: "O you who have believed, do not prohibit the good things which Allah has made lawful to you and do not transgress…" [Quran: 5:87].

We all know that Islam is the truth, but until and unless we realize all its merits, coupled of course with God’s guidance and enlightenment, we will never be sure if we will always live with or die for it, considering the proliferation of various other religions around us.  - islamweb,net