The Night of Destiny

In the name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

Peace be upon you,

The month of fasting (Ramadan) this year (2011; or 1431 in the Islamic calendar) has been completed. We are thankful to God for the blessing to grow our souls and appreciate the gift of guidance He has given us through the Quran (2:185).

The night of Ramadan 27 (i.e., the night between the 26th and 27th fasts) is the Night of Destiny. In the lunar calendar, the day begins at sunset. So the Night of the 27th, precedes the 27th fast. The Night of Destiny is an extremely important night for Submitters to God (Muslims). It is the night in which the Holy Quran, was revealed from the Lord of the Universe to Prophet Muhammad.

Some submitters take advantage of this night to gain extra credit for the soul by spending the night commemorating God the Almighty (and doing other forms of worship like meditation or reading Quran), either in their privacy, or in a masjid with other submitters.

[Quran 97:1] We revealed it in the Night of Destiny.*
[97:2] How awesome is the Night of Destiny!
[97:3] The Night of Destiny is better than a thousand months.
[97:4] The angels and the Spirit descend therein, by their Lord's leave, to carry out every command.
[97:5] Peaceful it is until the advent of the dawn.
*97:1 The Quran was placed into Muhammad's soul on the 27th night of Ramadan, 13 B.H. (Before Hijrah). See also 17:1, 44:3, 53:1-18, and Appendix 28.

God encourages us in the Quran to meditate every night for extra credit (Quran 17:79), reminding us it’s better for our souls (Quran 39:9).

[Quran 39:9] Is it not better to be one of those who meditate in the night, prostrating and staying up, being aware of the Hereafter, and seeking the mercy of their Lord? Say, "Are those who know equal to those who do not know?" Only those who possess intelligence will take heed.

[Quran 17:79-80] During the night, you shall meditate for extra credit, that your Lord may raise you to an honorable rank. And say, "My Lord, admit me an honorable admittance, and let me depart an honorable departure, and grant me from You a powerful support."

Many of us, out of our human weakness or with worldly commitments cannot do much in the way of meditation every night. The Night of Destiny is an encouragement for our souls, to be able to do it and perhaps repeat it more often during the year with God’s help.

 

References
Night of Destiny
Religious Duties, A Gift from God

Peace.

Monotheism—A Natural Instinct placed into the people by God?

In the name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

Peace be upon you,

Almost every culture among the tens of thousands that we have come across, has a concept of a divine being—one who creates and protects and provides. Across time and place, communities have been aware of and have worshipped one or more deities. Some have a monotheistic form of worship (e.g., Judaism, Christianity or Submission to God), and others worship a pantheon of gods (e.g., sects in Hinduism, or historically—the Greeks and Romans).

Research at Oxford University shows that belief in God and the Hereafter is part of human nature.

Not surprisingly, this is what the Quran tells us too—that that monotheism is “the natural instinct placed into the people by God” (Quran 30:30). Science invariably confirms what the Quran says (see for example an article on Quran & Science and other articles on scientific signs in Quran). All praise be to God.

Monotheism: Natural Instinct*

[Quran 30:30] Therefore, you shall devote yourself to the religion of strict monotheism. Such is the natural instinct placed into the people by GOD. Such creation of GOD will never change. This is the perfect religion, but most people do not know.

*30:30 Recognizing God ALONE as our Lord and Master is a natural instinct. We are born into this world with such an instinct. See 7:172-173 and Appendix 7.

Reference: One Message, ONE GOD!

Peace.

Monotheism—A Natural Instinct placed into the people by God?

In the name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

Peace be upon you,

Almost every culture among the tens of thousands that we have come across, has a concept of a divine being – one who creates and protects and provides. Across time and place, communities have been aware of and have worshipped some deity. Some have a monotheistic form of worship (e.g., Judaism, Christianity or Submission to God / Islam), and others worship a pantheon of gods (e.g., sects in Hinduism, or historically—the Greeks and Romans).

Research at Oxford University shows that belief in God and the Hereafter is part of human nature.

Not surprisingly, this is what the Quran tells us too—that that monotheism is “the natural instinct placed into the people by God” (Quran 30:30). Science invariably confirms what the Quran says (see for example an article on Quran & Science and other articles on scientific signs in Quran). All praise be to God.

Monotheism: Natural Instinct*

[Quran 30:30] Therefore, you shall devote yourself to the religion of strict monotheism. Such is the natural instinct placed into the people by GOD. Such creation of GOD will never change. This is the perfect religion, but most people do not know.

*30:30 Recognizing God ALONE as our Lord and Master is a natural instinct. We are born into this world with such an instinct. See 7:172-173 and Appendix 7.

Reference: One Message, ONE GOD!

Peace.

Mathematical Miracle of Quran

The mathematical miracle of Quran is a powerful proof from God (Quran 74:30-35). Those who submit to God recognize this proof and their faith is strengthened (74:31). The proof based on the number 19 is present throughout the Quran, beginning at Chapter 1.

[Quran 74:30] Over it is nineteen.
...
[74:35] This is one of the great miracles.

The first chapter (sura) of the Quran is titled "The Key" (Al-Fatehah). It is short (7 verses), but contains strong mathematical signs. It is the chapter that Submitters (Muslims) recite in their Contact Prayers every day.

The Miracle of Miracles

Peace.

Submission (Islam) and Bin Laden's death

Capital Punishment, when is it justified?

Osama Bin Laden, the leader of Al-Qaeda, was killed by U.S. forces in Pakistan. Bin Laden was best known as the mastermind behind the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks which killed close to 3,000 innocent people. Over his lifetime, he was likely responsible for the deaths of many others.

Terrorism has no place in Submission (Islam), and the Quran condemns the killing and oppression of innocents in the strongest language.

Grossness of Murder

[Quran 5:32] ... anyone who murders any person who had not committed murder or horrendous crimes, it shall be as if he murdered all the people. And anyone who spares a life it shall be as if he spared the lives of all the people. Our messengers went to them with clear proofs and revelations, but most of them, after all this, are still transgressing.

[Quran 17:33] You shall not kill any person―for GOD has made life sacred―except in the course of justice. If one is killed unjustly, then we give his heir authority to enforce justice. Thus, he shall not exceed the limits in avenging the murder, he will be helped.

The Major Commandments

[Quran 6:151] Say, "Come let me tell you what your Lord has really prohibited for you: You shall not set up idols besides Him. You shall honor your parents. You shall not kill your children from fear of poverty―we provide for you and for them. You shall not commit gross sins, obvious or hidden. You shall not kill―GOD has made life sacred―except in the course of justice. These are His commandments to you, that you may understand."

While the Quran generally discourages capital punishment (2:178), murder is one of the few instances in which capital punishment is permitted. The verse after 5:32, we see an explanation of when capital punishment may be permitted.

Capital Punishment: When is it Justified?

[Quran 5:33] The just retribution for those who fight GOD and His messenger, and commit horrendous crimes, is to be killed, or crucified, or to have their hands and feet cut off on alternate sides, or to be banished from the land. This is to humiliate them in this life, then they suffer a far worse retribution in the Hereafter.
For those who commit gross offenses, capital punishment in this case provides justice and sets an example to deter future murders. Of course, the punishment in Hell in the Hereafter is far worse, beyond what we can imagine.

The Quran makes it clear, there is no excuse for murder and taking the life of an innocent person. Submitters to God (Muslims), particularly loathe terrorism, and do not condone murder or oppression of any kind (Quran 2:217). Many righteous people, including God's messengers have been killed for their religious beliefs (Quran 2:87, 85:4-8). The Messiah, Jesus, is the most well-known example of a prophet of God being tortured and executed because of the message he preached. In the not too distant past, Rashad Khalifa, God's messenger of the Covenant, was martyred for his teachings in one of the earliest acts of so-called "Islamic terrorism" in the USA. The killers reportedly had ties to Al-Qaida.

While killing a murderer does not does not bring the victims back or undo the original crime, it is permitted by God under certain circumstances if the Law of Equivalence is upheld.

Discouraging Capital Punishment*

[Quran 2:178] O you who believe, equivalence is the law decreed for you when dealing with murder―the free for the free, the slave for the slave, the female for the female. If one is pardoned by the victim's kin, an appreciative response is in order, and an equitable compensation shall be paid. This is an alleviation from your Lord and mercy. Anyone who transgresses beyond this incurs a painful retribution.
[Quran 2:179] Equivalence is a life saving law for you, O you who possess intelligence, that you may be righteous.
*2:178 The Quran clearly discourages capital punishment. Every kind of excuse is provided to spare lives, including the life of the murderer. The victim's kin may find it better, under certain circumstances, to spare the life of the murderer in exchange for an equitable compensation. Also capital punishment is not applicable if, for example, a woman kills a man, or vice versa.
 
To conclude, while capital punishment is discouraged in Quran, in certain cases it serves justice. When an individual who fights God and His messenger, and commits horrendous crimes is involved, God tells us in Quran 5:33 that capital punishment is justified. To conclude, the operation to kill Bin Laden, is not against God's law in Quran, and it is in the cause of justice from a Submission-related (Islamic) perspective.

Death, what does Submission (Islam) say about it?

 In the name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

Peace be upon you,

Death is a great mystery to most people. Not so for the students of the Quran. We learn that death is exactly like sleeping; complete with dreams (6:60, 40:46). The period between death and resurrection passes like one night of sleep (2:259; 6:60; 10:45; 16:21; 18:11, 19, 25; 30:55).

[Quran 6:60] He is the One who puts you to death during the night, and knows even the smallest of your actions during the day. He resurrects you every morning, until your life span is fulfilled, then to Him is your ultimate return. He will then inform you of everything you had done.

Further, we learn from Quran: The Righteous do not really die, they go straight to Heaven. What great news (2:25)!

The Righteous Go Straight to Paradise*

[Quran 36:26-27] (At the time of his death) he was told, "Enter Paradise." He said, "Oh, I wish my people knew. That my Lord has forgiven me, and made me honorable."
*36:26 The righteous do not really die; they simply move on to the same Paradise where Adam & Eve lived. They join the prophets, saints, and martyrs in an active and utopian life.


Death, a Quranic perspective.