In the name of Allah, Most Beneficent, Most Merciful.

The photograph in the album is one of the proofs of the divinity of the Holy Quran. Read about this miracle in item 5 in this blog published on February 16, 2006. You might visit the URL http://www.bilal-prayer.com/Quran_en.html

You are invited to read – 13. Allah exists – A proof; and 14. Evidence that the Holy Quran supersedes the Holy Torah and the Holy Bible – in this blog. As of now, only one religion is approved by God Almighty – Islam.

There are many religions that associate good alone with God Almighty. Some have many deities each deity for one type of behavior. Some claim that the single God Almighty is made of many parts all of them doing good only. However Islam asserts that nothing happens without the sanction of the one and only God Almighty called ‘Allah’ in Arabic. From http://www.searchtruth.com/chapter_display_all.php?chapter=64&from_verse=11&to_verse=11&mac=&translation_setting=1&show_transliteration=1&show_yusufali=1&show_shakir=1&show_pickthal=1&show_mkhan=1 we quote the translation given by Abdullah Yusuf Ali in support of the above conclusion.

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Yusuf Ali 64:11

No kind of calamity can occur, except by the leave of Allah. and if any one believes in Allah, ((Allah)) guides his heart (aright): for Allah knows all things.

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Muslims believe that each and every action of God Almighty is either good or apparent evil that looks evil in this life but bestows immense good in the Hereafter. Can there be an act that looks evil on the surface but is good only? God Almighty caused this writer to experience such an apparent evil in this life itself. In the rest of this article the circumstances and the actions are described.

Recently quite a bit of controversy developed on account of a speech by the revered Pope Benedict XVI. Quoting from http://www.zaman.com/?bl=commentary&alt=&trh=20061024&hn=37645 we have:

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As a Christian philosopher, I have followed with great interest the controversy ignited by the Pope’s lecture in Regensburg.

… If some Muslims responded to that contention with the kind of rage and anger that seemed only to confirm it, the editors and writers of Zaman have done a commendable job of demonstrating that other response that the Pope insists was his real intent: the call for dialogue, possible only in the court of reason.

… With regard to the specific passage that ignited the controversy, I think little needs to be added to what was reported here in Zaman. Adel-Theodore Khoury, the author of the book the Pope was quoting, claimed that the Pope had misread him, creating an “obstacle against dialogue.” Instead of contrasting a rational and enlightened Byzantine emperor with an inherently irrational (but “educated”) Persian, the point of the entire text (according to its author) was to show how both the emperor and his interlocutor were locked inside of their own constrictive theological views, each of which was internally rational. What made the conversation unproductive was not the failure of one or the other to understand reason, but instead the failure of both to look at each other and recognize their common humanity. If the Pope had read Khoury as generously as he asked people to read him, that is, in full context, he would have been saved from the embarrassment not only of sloppy scholarship, but of replicating the very mistake the text was meant to expose. In extending to Islam his invitation to dialogue, the Pope unfortunately made the same mistake the emperor made. One cannot speak productively with a person one regards as irrational.

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Should a Muslim obey reason? From http://www.searchtruth.com/chapter_display_all.php?chapter=7&from_verse=33&to_verse=33&mac=&translation_setting=1&show_transliteration=1&show_yusufali=1&show_shakir=1&show_pickthal=1&show_mkhan=1 we find:

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Yusuf Ali 7:33

Say: the things that my Lord hath indeed forbidden are: shameful deeds, whether open or secret; sins and trespasses against truth or reason; assigning of partners to Allah, for which He hath given no authority; and saying things about Allah of which ye have no knowledge.

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For a Muslim trespass against reason is forbidden; so also trespass against truth. The implication is the Muslim must demand reason wherever possible, but should accept as truth those statements of God Almighty that are beyond reason at the current level of development of mankind. A Muslim should seek reason as far as possible.

So anyone who encourages people to live according to reason whether Muslim or not serves God Almighty. One such person is Mr. Ivan Alexander, author of HumanCafe (http://www.humancafe.com/ ). Quoting from http://www.humancafe.com/discus/messages/88/89.html?1161995494#POST1314 we find:

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Welcome to this discussion, Mohideen. The task here will be to explore, I hope with some lucidity of reason, what is it that human reason can accomplish, or fails to accomplish.

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The policy of HumanCafe is spelled out in http://www.humancafe.com/ . Quoting relevant extracts, we get:

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You are cordially invited to participate in the celebration of the evolution of human consciousness with your ideas.

… Write as you like. All your ideas and feelings are valid, on any topic or aspiration, even graffiti. Once you are happy with your  results, save your words into the People's Book Forums, where they will remain as a permanent testimony to who you are.

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Surprisingly one of my post was censored recently. http://www.humancafe.com/discus/messages/88/144.html?1161911754#POST2163 has:

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[DELETED]

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When I noticed that my feelings which are part of the testimony to who I am were curtailed, I felt hurt and desired to give a fitting response. Then I read the following:

1. http://www.humancafe.com/discus/messages/88/144.html?1161911754#POST2164

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Mohideen, I must ask you to cease and disist posting such rubbish on the Humancafe boards, we do not support such trash of not only weak intellect but seditious treason. Stop it.

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by Ivan and

2. http://www.humancafe.com/discus/messages/88/144.html?1161911754#POST2166

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Having been in the Middle East I have seen that the Muslem people are not stupid.

This take on events is far different and closer to the truth than the rubbish that Mohideen is spouting regarding 9/11.

… Compared to us Osama is a deprived child. Youngsters I was teaching advanced weapons theory to in 1997 were building one shot Lasers capable of blasting holes in concrete blocks.

From the streets of any city I have access to the world wide web and a technical cadre that has capabilities that Al Qaeda only dreams of.

… Blessed are the peacemakers for they will be called the children of God.

One hopes that you lock this thread to keep more dribble off of it

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by Ed.

Before I proceed, I must record that I value Ed and his opinions. I value Ivan too. Still to know that my post was not only censored but also the thread was closed denying me the opportunity to respond to the insinuations against me was appalling. See http://www.humancafe.com/discus/messages/88/88.html?1162057360 and notice the lock in the following:

I read the above developments regarding the censorship by a site that promotes ‘Freedom of Expression’ just before going to bed on October 28, 2006. I was boiling; I had difficulty getting sleep. However sleep I did possibly out of mental exhaustion.

I read the details about the censorship again on the morning of October 29, 2006. I reconstructed the deleted part of my post. This article is posted in my blog and web that I control. I could easily repost the deleted part here. I am not going to do that. I realize that both Ivan and Ed were indeed acting to protect me rather than to criticize me. How come? Read on.

What does ‘Freedom of Speech’ bestow? Hyde Park is well known for ‘Freedom of Speech.’ From http://community.iexplore.com/planning/journalEntryActivity.asp?JournalID=21788&EntryID=28742&n=Sunday+Hyde+Park+Speakers%92+Corner+%26+Sushi+in+Soho we get a recent certificate about Hyde Park given below:

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Soho has become associated for some time with alternative lifestyles and night life, just as Hyde Park’s Speakers’ Corner has become synonymous with individual freedom of speech; both areas offer visitors glimpses of the immense variety of peoples that are the Londoners of today.

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When one gives a speech in Hyde Park who bears the responsibility? The responsibility is that of the speaker alone; whatever consequences arise out of the speech is borne by the speaker alone.

What is the situation with respect to a web site that promotes ‘Freedom of Expression?’ To really serve ‘Freedom of Expression’ the web site must be on. If the web site is to suffer a Denial of Service (DOS) attack and thus is not accessible for any there is no benefit at all. So any web site that promotes ‘Freedom of Expression’ must ensure its own continued operation.

Whether the conclusion by Ivan that the deleted part of my post would be treated as treason is correct or not is immaterial for the current discussion. He being responsible for the upkeep of the web site has the responsibility to see to it that it does not suffer any DOS attack. If a poster claims that certain individuals acted against the law of the land such a claim – until and unless verified and supported by a court of law – is just that a mere claim. However such a claim could enrage some who would not tolerate that kind of claim becoming popular. To such people taking a site that makes such unverified claims out of circulation is a justified action. Is Ivan obliged to fight such people to honor my ‘Freedom of Expression?’ No! ‘Freedom of Expression’ is free only as long as the consequences are borne by the poster alone. It is constrained by reality if such a post is liable to cause hardship to others.

Ed acted in my benefit by suggesting that Ivan lock the thread so that I do not come back with stronger posts on the deleted theme. Ivan responded and locked the thread. Could he lock the thread leaving the objectionable matter in place? Of course not! By necessity he had to delete that part.

We all know that censorship is evil. However here we have a demonstration so orchestrated by God Almighty through three individuals – Ed, Ivan and Mohideen – that not only shows censorship to be beneficial but also to be essential.

This demonstration of censorship being an ‘apparent evil’ ties in handsomely with the Muslim understanding of the nature of God Almighty that all His actions are good or apparent evil. In what follows we expound on this aspect a little more.

1. Apparent Evil in this life as in the Holy Quran and Sunnah.

 http://www.searchtruth.com/chapter_display_all.php?chapter=18&from_verse=71&to_verse=71&mac=&translation_setting=1&show_transliteration=1&show_yusufali=1&show_shakir=1&show_pickthal=1&show_mkhan=1 has the following translation of Verse 71 of Chapter 18 of the Holy Quran:

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Yusuf Ali 18:71:

So they both proceeded: until, when they were in the boat, he scuttled it. Said Moses: "Hast thou scuttled it in order to drown those in it? Truly a strange thing hast thou done!"

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and from http://www.searchtruth.com/chapter_display_all.php?chapter=18&from_verse=79&to_verse=79&mac=&translation_setting=1&show_transliteration=1&show_yusufali=1&show_shakir=1&show_pickthal=1&show_mkhan=1

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Yusuf Ali 18:79:

"As for the boat, it belonged to certain men in dire want: they plied on the water: I but wished to render it unserviceable, for there was after them a certain king who seized on every boat by force.

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It is indeed evil to destroy the means of earning the livelihood of the owners of the boat. However it is a noble deed to save the owners of the boat from slavery. The detail is given in the Traditions found in http://www.searchtruth.com/searchHadith.php?keyword=boat+Khadir&translator=1&search=1&book=&start=0&records_display=10&search_word=all .

2. We find the following in Tradition quoted from http://www.searchtruth.com/searchHadith.php?keyword=epilepsy&translator=1&search=1&book=&start=0&records_display=10&search_word=all

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Narrated 'Ata bin Abi Rabah: Ibn 'Abbas said to me, "Shall I show you a woman of the people of Paradise?" I said, "Yes." He said, "This black lady came to the Prophet and said, 'I get attacks of epilepsy and my body becomes uncovered; please invoke Allah for me.' The Prophet said (to her), 'If you wish, be patient and you will have (enter) Paradise; and if you wish, I will invoke Allah to cure you.' She said, 'I will remain patient,' and added, 'but I become uncovered, so please invoke Allah for me that I may not become uncovered.' So he invoked Allah for her."  (Book #70, Hadith #555)

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The above Tradition illustrates the following facts:

a) Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, had the power to cure an incurable disease.

b) Suffering that incurable disease for the sake of God Almighty results in the reward of Paradise itself in the Hereafter.

c) Use of divine power to protect the modesty of a female does not diminish her rewards. What a pity that some females and their admirers boast that to expose the female body is a mark of freedom!

The above Tradition does not imply that we should not cure epilepsy using medicines developed by mankind. The following treatments do not deny the seat in Paradise:

1. http://www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk/articles/article.aspx?articleId=155&sectionId=19051

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Medicines to treat epilepsy are called anti-epileptics or anti-epileptic medicines. There are a large number of different anti-epileptics available. They are available as tablets, capsules, liquids and suppositories (medication placed in the vagina or anus).

Anti-epileptic medicines may stop seizures happening altogether, stop them occurring so often, or make them less severe. They do not cure epilepsy. They work by controlling the electrical activity of the brain that causes seizures.

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2. http://www.mayoclinic.org/epilepsy/epilepsy-surgery.html

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Traditionally, physicians have compared two SPECT (single photon emission computed tomography) scans of the brain: one taken during a seizure and one while seizure-free. The goal is to compare the two scans and find out where seizures are originating.

Differences between the two SPECT scans are very difficult to detect with the human eye. In response, a team of Mayo Clinic physicians and scientists developed a computer software program that electronically subtracts one image from the other, leaving a clear picture of the seizure hot spot. Next, the subtracted image is superimposed onto an MRI scan of the patient's brain so that neurosurgeons can verify the hot spot's anatomic location and remove it safely.

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3. http://www.hpathy.com/casesnew/barvalia-cuprum-met.asp

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This patient had been admitted in our ward in the year 1993, when I saw her. … A girl, a child of 5 years, was brought to us in a STATUS EPILEPTICUS. She was not responding to her anti-epileptic drugs even in the maximum therapeutic oral dosage. … She was frequently evaluated by the attending MD physician. … The seizures had been progressively worsening since the time they started, at the age of 6 months. … The exacerbation promptly responded and convulsions reduced completely. Over time she improved so much that she was able to even speak a few words. Her case was reviewed for a constitutional after about 7-8 months on Cuprum Met, and Silica was the chronic remedy given to her.

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We have included the surgical treatment also just to show that it is a possible remedy. In our opinion surgery simply removes the result of the disease; it does not eliminate the basic cause. For example, the bypass surgery performed on heart-attack patients does not avoid the blocks from occurring in future. It would be preferable to avoid surgery for religious reasons also. Inshah Allah the religious reasons would be considered in a future article.

In the name of Allah, Most Beneficent, Most Merciful.

The photograph in the album is one of the proofs of the divinity of the Holy Quran. Read about this miracle in item 5 in this blog published on February 16, 2006. You might visit the URL http://www.bilal-prayer.com/Quran_en.html

You are invited to read – 13. Allah exists – A proof; and 14. Evidence that the Holy Quran supersedes the Holy Torah and the Holy Bible – in this blog. As of now, only one religion is approved by God Almighty – Islam.

The translation of Verse 5 of Chapter 9 of the Holy Quran by four translators – Yusuf Ali, Shakir, Pickthal, and M. Khan – could be found in http://www.searchtruth.com/chapter_display_all.php?chapter=9&from_verse=5&to_verse=5&mac=&translation_setting=1&show_transliteration=1&show_yusufali=1&show_shakir=1&show_pickthal=1&show_mkhan=1

For our discussion we use the translation given by Yusuf Ali. Quoting we have:

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But when the forbidden months are past, then fight and slay the Pagans wherever ye find them, and seize them, beleaguer them, and lie in wait for them in every stratagem (of war); but if they repent, and establish regular prayers and practice regular charity, then open the way for them: for Allah is Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful.

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Our intention is to establish peace. By itself this Verse indicates peace during the four months, the four forbidden months the 1^st, 7^th, 11^th and 12^th months of the Islamic calendar. Notice that three months are continuous and one month stands alone. Whatever be the provocation by the enemy, moment any of the forbidden months has started, there is no fighting. Accordingly, in these four months peace exists; no war.

What about the remaining eight months? Verse 5 of Chapter 9 of the Holy Quran by itself permits war on the Pagans unless they become Muslims. This is the worst coercion possible: either become a Muslim or die!

The Holy Quran is a consistent book. That means our interpretation of any part of the Holy Quran should not contradict any other part of the Holy Quran. What does Verse 4 of Chapter 9 say?

The translations could be seen at http://www.searchtruth.com/chapter_display_all.php?chapter=9&from_verse=4&to_verse=4&mac=&translation_setting=1&show_transliteration=1&show_yusufali=1&show_shakir=1&show_pickthal=1&show_mkhan=1

We consider the translation by Yusuf Ali below:

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(But the treaties are) not dissolved with those Pagans with whom ye have entered into alliance and who have not subsequently failed you in aught, nor aided any one against you. So fulfill your engagements with them to the end of their term: for Allah loveth the righteous.

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The (peace) treaties are to be observed for the full term for all except those who have violated the (peace) treaty. The (peace) treaty is abrogated if the other party has failed to observe the terms of the treaty. Naturally, the enemy has broken the (peace) treaty and thus the Muslims also break the treaty to ensure a level playing field. What if a group aids the enemy against the Muslims? The act of aiding the enemy itself is a hostile act by the other party and thus the other party has violated the (peace) treaty. All that Verse 4 of Chapter 9 implies is that the Muslims need not cling to a (peace) treaty once the other side has broken the treaty explicitly or implicitly.

Verses 4 and 5 of Chapter 9 imply that Muslims should maintain the peace treaties that are maintained by the other party for the full term; even those who violate the peace treaty shall not be attacked during the four forbidden months.

In the name of Allah, Most Beneficent, Most Merciful.

The photograph in the album is one of the proofs of the divinity of the Holy Quran. Read about this miracle in item 5 in this blog published on February 16, 2006. You might visit the URL http://www.bilal-prayer.com/Quran_en.html

You are invited to read – 13. Allah exists – A proof; and 14. Evidence that the Holy Quran supersedes the Holy Torah and the Holy Bible – in this blog. As of now, only one religion is approved by God Almighty – Islam.

Some believe that God Almighty depends on the activities of His creation. God Almighty does not need any action from His creation. This is clearly spelt out in (Tradition) Hadith-al-Qudsi numbered 17 quoted below.

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O My servants, I have forbidden oppression for Myself and have made it forbidden amongst you, so do not oppress one another. O My servants, all of you are astray except for those I have guided, so seek guidance of Me and I shall guide you, O My servants, all of you are hungry except for those I have fed, so seek food of Me and I shall feed you. O My servants, all of you are naked except for those I have clothed, so seek clothing of Me and I shall clothe you. O My servants, you sin by night and by day, and I forgive all sins, so seek forgiveness of Me and I shall forgive you. O My servants, you will not attain harming Me so as to harm Me, and will not attain benefiting Me so as to benefit Me. O My servants, were the first of you and the last of you, the human of you and the jinn of you to be as pious as the most pious heart of any one man of you, that would not increase My kingdom in anything. O My servants, were the first of you and the last of you, the human of you and the jinn of you to be as wicked as the most wicked heart of any one man of you, that would not decrease My kingdom in anything. O My servants, were the first of you and the last of you, the human of you and the jinn of you to rise up in one place and make a request of Me, and were I to give everyone what he requested, that would not decrease what I have, any more that a needle decreases the sea if put into it. O My servants, it is but your deeds that I reckon up for you and then recompense you for, so let him finds good praise Allah and let him who finds other that blame no one but himself.

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Notice that the servant could be pious or wicked. Thus the servant does not refer to Muslims alone but to both Muslims and non-Muslims.

Further observe that oppression is forbidden. That is, no coercion.

In the name of Allah, Most Beneficent, Most Merciful.

The photograph in the album is one of the proofs of the divinity of the Holy Quran. Read about this miracle in item 5 in this blog published on February 16, 2006. You might visit the URL http://www.bilal-prayer.com/Quran_en.html

You are invited to read – 13. Allah exists – A proof; and 14. Evidence that the Holy Quran supersedes the Holy Torah and the Holy Bible – in this blog. As of now, only one religion is approved by God Almighty – Islam.

The Holy Quran is the Word of God Almighty exactly as revealed to Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him. A collection of forty Traditions are the Words of God Almighty spoken by Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him that are not part of the Revelation. These are called “Hadith-al-Qudsi.”

The fourteenth Hadith-al-Qudsi is quoted below:

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Allah (glorified and exalted be He) has supernumerary angels who rove about seeking out gatherings in which Allah's name is being invoked: they sit with them and fold their wings round each other, filling that which is between them and between the lowest heaven. When [the people in the gathering] depart, [the angels] ascend and rise up to heaven. He (the Prophet p.b.u.h.) said: Then Allah (mighty and sublime be He) asks them - [though] He is most knowing about them: From where have you come? And they say: We have come from some servants of Yours on Earth: they were glorifying You (Subhana llah), exalting you (Allahu akbar), witnessing that there is no god but You (La ilaha illa llah), praising You (Al-Hamdu lillah), and asking [favours] of You. He says: And what do they ask of Me? They say: They ask of You Your Paradise. He says: And have they seen My Paradise? They say: No, O Lord. He says: And how would it be were they to have seen My Paradise! They say: And they ask protection of You. He says: From what do they ask protection of Me? They say: From Your Hell-fire, O Lord. He says: And have they seen My Hell-fire? They say: No. He says: And how would it be were they to have seen My Hell-fire: They say: And they ask for Your forgiveness. He (the Prophet p.b.u.h) said: Then He says: I have forgiven them and I have bestowed upon them what they have asked for, and I have granted them sanctuary from that from which they asked protection. He (the Prophet p.b.u.h) said: They say: O Lord, among them is So-and-so, a much sinning servant, who was merely passing by and sat down with them. He (the Prophet p.b.u.h) said: And He says: And to him [too] I have given forgiveness: he who sits with such people shall not suffer.

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What are the supplications by the successful group?

1. Glorified be God.

2. Exalted be God.

3. There is only one God.

4. Praised be God.

5. Favors are from God.

And what are the demands on God?

1. Admit to Paradise.

2. Protect from Hell.

3. Grant Forgiveness.

Please observe that Islam contains all the above. Islam might not necessarily be the only religion containing all the above. (I do not know all religions.) Every religion that induces its followers to do the above is a successful religion.

In the name of Allah, Most Beneficent, Most Merciful.

The photograph in the album is one of the proofs of the divinity of the Holy Quran. Read about this miracle in item 5 in this blog published on February 16, 2006. You might visit the URL http://www.bilal-prayer.com/Quran_en.html

You are invited to read – 13. Allah exists – A proof; and 14. Evidence that the Holy Quran supersedes the Holy Torah and the Holy Bible – in this blog. As of now, only one religion is approved by God Almighty – Islam.

Is there ‘Freedom of thought’ in Islam?

It is Muslim belief that the soul of a human would be rewarded or punished depending on the actions performed by the human. Whether the soul would enter Heaven or Hell is based on the last action done by the human before the onset of the pain of death. What about the effect of the actions until then? Are they simply wasted?

We quote two Traditions to show that actions performed prior to the last action do have a role to play.

From http://www.searchtruth.com/searchHadith.php?keyword=Firdaus+acquaint&translator=1&search=1&book=&start=0&records_display=10&search_word=all we get:

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Narrated Abu Huraira: The Prophet said, "Whoever believes in Allah and His Apostle, offer prayer perfectly and fasts the month of Ramadan, will rightfully be granted Paradise by Allah, no matter whether he fights in Allah's Cause or remains in the land where he is born." The people said, "O Allah's Apostle ! Shall we acquaint the people with the is good news?" He said, "Paradise has one-hundred grades which Allah has reserved for the Mujahidin who fight in His Cause, and the distance between each of two grades is like the distance between the Heaven and the Earth. So, when you ask Allah (for something), ask for Al-Firdaus which is the best and highest part of Paradise." (i.e. The sub-narrator added, "I think the Prophet also said, 'Above it (i.e. Al-Firdaus) is the Throne of Beneficent (i.e. Allah), and from it originate the rivers of Paradise.")  (Book #52, Hadith #48) (Sahih Bukhari)

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The above Tradition clearly establishes that there are very many grades in Paradise and thus the deeds of one admitted to Paradise decides the grade in Paradise.

http://www.searchtruth.com/searchHadith.php?keyword=Fire+feet+embers&translator=1&search=1&book=&start=0&records_display=10&search_word=all has the following Tradition:

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Narrated An-Nu'man bin Bashir: I heard the Prophet saying, "The least punished person of the (Hell) Fire people on the Day of Resurrection will be a man under whose arch of the feet two smoldering embers will be placed, because of which his brain will boil just like Al-Mirjal (copper vessel) or a Qum-qum (narrow-necked vessel) is boiling with water."  (Book #76, Hadith #567) (Sahih Bukhari)

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Here again we find that there are grades in Hell and thus the previous deeds in fact decide the grade in Hell.

Whether a soul enters Heaven or Hell, the relative position is decided by previous actions, whereas Heaven or Hell is decided by the last action.

In Islam we are encouraged to help one another. Are there rewards without helping others? Yes, there are rewards even without actions to help others. Consider the following Tradition:

http://www.searchtruth.com/searchHadith.php?keyword=best+mankind+life&translator=1&search=1&book=&start=0&records_display=10&search_word=all

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Narrated Abu Sa'id Al-Khudri: A bedouin came to the Prophet and said, "O Allah's Apostle! Who is the best of mankind!" The Prophet said, "A man who strives for Allah's Cause with his life and property, and also a man who lives (all alone) in a mountain path among the mountain paths to worship his Lord and save the people from his evil."  (Book #76, Hadith #501) (Sahih Bukhari)

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Agreed, one of the best men living alone does not help any one. However, he worships his Lord. We know that additional worship of course brings rewards. And that worship is action. Is there any way to receive awards without action?

Yes, indeed! From http://www.searchtruth.com/searchHadith.php?keyword=occurs&translator=2&search=1&book=&start=0&records_display=10&search_word=all we get:

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Abu Huraira reported that Muhammad, the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him), said: When it occurs to my bondsman that he should do a good deed but he actually does not do it, record one good to him, but if he puts it into practice, I make an entry of ten good acts in his favor. When it occurs to him to do evil, but he does not commit it, I forgive that. But if he commits it, I record one evil against his name. The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) observed. The angels said: That bondsman of Yours intends to commit evil, though His Lord is more Vigilant than he. Upon this He (the Lord) said: Watch him; if he commits (evil), write it against his name but if he refrains from doing it, write one good deed for him, for he desisted from doing it for My sake. The Messenger of Allah said: He who amongst you is good of faith, all his good acts are multiplied from ten to seven hundred times (and are recorded in his name) and all the evils that he commits are recorded as such (i, e. without increase) till he meets Allah.  (Book #001, Hadith #0235) (Sahih Muslim)

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What about one who thinks and thinks but does nothing? Yes such a person also earns reward simply by thinking. If he thought of a good deed but did not do it, one good deed is written for him. If he thought of an evil deed and did not do it, even then a good deed is written for him. So if one thinks of a deed, whether good or bad, a good deed is written for him.

Well, if a person does good deeds, then such a person gets multiple rewards. It must be recognized that simple thought process by itself earns rewards. So Muslims must indulge in as much research and development as possible.

It must be observed that developing technology by itself is not evil: making a better knife is always welcome. However, if one uses a knife to kill an innocent person, then a great sin is committed by the one who committed murder. Can we say that the inventor of the knife has a share in the sin? No, as his invention is basically event neutral.

Muslims should invent. If they feel that their invention might lead to evil practices, they might not reveal the invention. An example of an evil invention is one that helps to rig elections. The inventors get rewarded for not revealing an evil invention if not by society in this life, by God Almighty in the Hereafter. If they do feel that their invention would benefit mankind, then they should make such invention a public property and get rewarded manifold.

In summary, we state that there is complete freedom of thought in Islam. This is because even an evil thought is rewarded as long as it is not put to practice.

In the name of Allah, Most Beneficent, Most Merciful.

The photograph in the album is one of the proofs of the divinity of the Holy Quran. Read about this miracle in item 5 in this blog published on February 16, 2006. You might visit the URL http://www.bilal-prayer.com/Quran_en.html

You are invited to read – 13. Allah exists – A proof; and 14. Evidence that the Holy Quran supersedes the Holy Torah and the Holy Bible – in this blog. As of now, only one religion is approved by God Almighty – Islam.

Some claim that Verse 29 of Chapter 9 of the Holy Quran being revealed after Verse 256 of Chapter 2 abrogates the earlier Verse. Does 9:29 cancel 2:256? The answer is no. Let us explain.

There are two collections of the translations of the Holy Quran of easy access: http://www.searchtruth.com/ for those with Internet access and ALIM CD for those without Internet access but have access to a device that reads the CD. Searchtruth has 4 translations respectively by Yusuf Ali, Shakir, Pickthal, and M.Khan. ALIM CD has the translations by Asad, Malik, Pickthal, and Yusuf Ali. ALIM CD can be purchased from ISL Software Corporation by sending an email to sales@islsoftware.com . The web site http://www.searchtruth.com/ offers free access. We quote Yusuf Ali, Shakir, Pickthal, and M.Khan from http://www.searchtruth.com/ and Asad and Malik from the ALIM CD. For immediate verification by the readers with Internet access, we give the URL also.

Let us consider 2:256 first. From http://www.searchtruth.com/chapter_display_all.php?chapter=2&from_verse=256&to_verse=256&mac=&translation_setting=1&show_yusufali=1&show_shakir=1&show_pickthal=1&show_mkhan=1 we get the first four rows of the table below.

The very first sentences of the entire above six translations mean “There is no compulsion in religion.”

Now we consider Verse 29 of Chapter 9 of the Holy Quran. From http://www.searchtruth.com/chapter_display_all.php?chapter=9&from_verse=29&to_verse=29&mac=&translation_setting=1&show_yusufali=1&show_shakir=1&show_pickthal=1&show_mkhan=1 we get the first four rows of the following table.

There is marginal difference with respect the target population in the above six translations. What about the objective of the fight? The entire translations are united in that objective: pay the Jizya. The objective is not for them to believe as the victors believe, but just to pay a tax. This tax is exempted from those who participate in Jihad.

What is the situation in USA? Are there not concessions for those serving in the Armed Forces of USA? There are concessions in USA, while Islam demands a special tax. The result is the same: those who fight for the country are treated favorably compared to those who do not.

What is important is that Verse 29 of Chapter 9 of the Holy Quran does not demand the target population to believe in Islam. Thus, there is no compulsion in religion. Both Verses 2:256 and 9:29 coexist. Verse 9:29 does not abrogate Verse 2:256.

Some Muslims and some non-Muslims believe that the Jizya is to be collected from all over the world – a misguided view of the target population. In view of the Traditions mentioned below:

1. From http://www.searchtruth.com/searchHadith.php?keyword=peninsula+Muslim&translator=2&search=1&book=&start=0&records_display=10&search_word=all we get:

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It has been narrated by 'Umar b. al-Khattib that he heard the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) say: I will expel the Jews and Christians from the Arabian peninsula and will not leave any but Muslim.  (Book #019, Hadith #4366) (Sahih Muslim) [This is found as Tradition numbered 814 Sahih Muslim in ALIM CD.]

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2. The following URL has http://www.searchtruth.com/searchHadith.php?keyword=peninsula&translator=4&search=1&book=&start=0 :

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Yahya related to me from Malik from Ibn Shihab that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "Two deens shall not co-exist in the Arabian peninsula." Malik said that Ibn Shihab said, ''Umar ibn al-Khattab searched for information about that until he was absolutely convinced that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, had said, 'Two deens shall not co-exist in the Arabian peninsula,' and he therefore expelled the jews from Khaybar."  (Book #45, Hadith #45.5.18) (Malik’s Muwatta) [ This is listed as Tradition numbered 18 in Volume 45 of Al-Muwatta Hadith in ALIM CD.]

In view of the above two Traditions we believe Verse 29 of Chapter 9 of the Holy Quran was an intermediate step before the expulsion of non-Muslims from the Arabian Peninsula. Please observe that the Conquest of Makkah was a bloodless affair and thus to our understanding the Pagans of the Arabian Peninsula did not pay any Jizya. Thus the target population of Verse 29 of Chapter 9 of the Holy Quran was the People of the Book living inside the Arabian Peninsula. When was the expulsion of the non-Muslims from the Arabian Peninsula indicated? The following Tradition throws light on the time.

This URL http://www.searchtruth.com/searchHadith.php?keyword=peninsula+comprises&translator=1&search=1&book=&start=0&records_display=10&search_word=all has the Tradition below:

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Narrated Said bin Jubair: Ibn 'Abbas said, "Thursday! What (great thing) took place on Thursday!" Then he started weeping till his tears wetted the gravels of the ground . Then he said, "On Thursday the illness of Allah's Apostle was aggravated and he said, "Fetch me writing materials so that I may have something written to you after which you will never go astray." The people (present there) differed in this matter and people should not differ before a prophet. They said, "Allah's Apostle is seriously sick.' The Prophet said, "Let me alone, as the state in which I am now, is better than what you are calling me for." The Prophet on his death-bed, gave three orders saying, "Expel the pagans from the Arabian peninsula, respect and give gifts to the foreign delegates as you have seen me dealing with them." I forgot the third (order)" (Ya'qub bin Muhammad said, "I asked Al-Mughira bin 'Abdur-Rahman about the Arabian peninsula and he said, 'It comprises Mecca, Medina, Al-Yama-ma and Yemen." Ya'qub added, "And Al-Arj, the beginning of Tihama.")  (Book #52, Hadith #288) (Sahih Bukhari) [In ALIM CD this Tradition is found as Tradition numbered 288 in Volume 4 of Sahih Al-Bukhari.]

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One reason we could think of for this order to be issued by Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, in his death bed was to ensure that the special powers of Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, were not used for this purpose.

Another reason is to restrain the future Muslims so that they do not extend the Muslim-only territory beyond the Arabian Peninsula, because at the time of his death Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, did not rule the whole of the Arabian Peninsula. Thus, the Muslims cannot use the argument that once a region has become Dar-al-Islam it shall remain so forever. Dar-al-Islam was defined to be the Arabian Peninsula only by Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him. This definition could not be altered by any but another Prophet, peace be upon him, to appear in future. The Muslims believe Prophet Jesus, peace be upon him, would descend from Heaven and extend the Muslim-only land outside the Arabian Peninsula. Until then no Muslim-only land outside the Arabian Peninsula.

The above restriction does not imply that populations outside the Arabian Peninsula cannot adopt the Islamic Shariah as their law; they can. However, a future population might opt for some other law.

In the name of Allah, Most Beneficent, Most Merciful.

The photograph in the album is one of the proofs of the divinity of the Holy Quran. Read about this miracle in item 5 in this blog published on February 16, 2006. You might visit the URL http://www.bilal-prayer.com/Quran_en.html

You are invited to read – 13. Allah exists – A proof; and 14. Evidence that the Holy Quran supersedes the Holy Torah and the Holy Bible – in this blog. As of now, only one religion is approved by God Almighty – Islam.

Many experts have opined that surrogate motherhood is forbidden in Islam. We believe under the special circumstances mentioned below the technique of fertilizing the egg of a woman with the sperm of her husband and implanting that fertilized egg in the womb of another wife of the husband is to be encouraged.

First we consider three expert opinions on surrogate motherhood and list the objections raised in them.

1. http://www.central-mosque.com/fiqh/test-tube.htm

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A surrogate born-child may have no genetic link with the surrogate at all. In other words, the surrogate is merely offering her gestation function to an embryo. This is referred to as 'fall surrogacy".

… It is illegal and immoral to introduce into a woman the sperm of any man other than her husband.

… It will be Haram (forbidden) to form the embryo by the fusion of a woman's ovum with the sperm of a man other than her husband.

… it is Haram to introduce sperm or embryo into an unmarried woman.

Surrogate motherhood is definitely not allowed in Islam due to the fact that many evils may arise from this procedure, which can be listed as follows:

… In order to relieve themselves of the agony of childbirth, married women could be tempted to resort to this technique. Islam abhors such action.

… Finally, surrogate motherhood violates the systematic planning of Allah in the normal process of procreation.

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2. http://www.islamonline.net/livefatwa/english/Browse.asp?hGuestID=i41ob9

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A surrogate mother is impossible in Islam because motherhood used to have two reasons:

1) Either the egg of the fetus is of the same pregnant mother and that is what the Qur'an says in sura 58, verse 2, "...None are their mothers except those who gave them birth - they indeed utter an ill word and a lie. And lo! Allah is Forgiving, Merciful."

2) The other mother is the one who breastfeeds a child. She becomes his mother.

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3. http://www.themodernreligion.com/misc/hh/surrogate-parenting.html

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The contract which the surrogate mother and the married couple enters into can in no way be justified legally under the Shari'ah.

… 1st. it is a contract stipulating the "sale" of a free person;

2nd. it involves an element of adulterous implantation (the fertilised egg being implanted not in the wife but in the womb of the surrogate mother).

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In summary, we have:

1. It is illegal and immoral to introduce into a woman the sperm of any man other than her husband.

2. It will be Haram (forbidden) to form the embryo by the fusion of a woman's ovum with the sperm of a man other than her husband.

3. It is Haram to introduce sperm or embryo into an unmarried woman.

4. In order to relieve themselves of the agony of childbirth, married women could be tempted to resort to this technique. Islam abhors such action.

5. Finally, surrogate motherhood violates the systematic planning of Allah in the normal process of procreation.

6. Either the egg of the fetus is of the same pregnant mother and that is what the Qur'an says in sura 58, verse 2, "...None are their mothers except those who gave them birth - they indeed utter an ill word and a lie. And lo! Allah is Forgiving, Merciful."

7. The other mother is the one who breastfeeds a child. She becomes his mother.

8. It is a contract stipulating the "sale" of a free person.

9. It involves an element of adulterous implantation (the fertilized egg being implanted not in the wife but in the womb of the surrogate mother).

Objections 1, 2, and 9 do not apply as the wife desiring a surrogate mother, and the surrogate mother has the same husband. We are in agreement with objection 3 in general. However in our case the surrogate mother being one wife of the husband, it does not apply. The surrogate mother is not unmarried; she is indeed married to the father of the child to be born of surrogacy. Objection 8 is not applicable as the child belongs to the single husband irrespective which of his wives delivers the child. Objections 4, 5, 6, and 7 are handled one by one in what follows.

Objection 5 does not apply as it is Allah’s process of procreation that a husband gets children through his wives. There is no ordnance – to our knowledge – insisting that the egg of one woman cannot be implanted inside the womb of another woman. One could extract the egg of the wife who could not bear a child, preserve it, and at the appropriate time place it surgically in the womb of the other wife who is healthy; then if the other wife conceives by having sex with her husband, such conception is valid. However, the egg is not hers, but that of the other wife. It is a matter of convenience whether the egg gets implanted in the womb and gets conceived or the egg of the unhealthy wife gets fertilized by the husband’s sperm in a test tube and the fertilized egg gets implanted in the womb of the other wife, who is now the surrogate mother. Let us not forget that what is forbidden in Islam is clearly forbidden. As there is no objection to implanting the egg of one wife inside the womb of another wife, there could be no objection to one wife becoming the surrogate mother to the other wife’s genetic child. If some might object to the above, we would like them to consider the process of the birth of Prophet Jesus, son of Mary, peace be upon them. It our stand that anything between the normal process performed by many and the miraculous process by which Prophet Jesus, son of Mary, peace be upon them, was delivered is acceptable in Islam unless forbidden by other reasons. There is no objection to implanting the egg of one woman into the womb of another woman, especially under the circumstances to be described below. Let us not forget that the technology of test tube babies would not have emerged unless sanctioned by God Almighty.

Objection 6: Let us consider the following two Verses of the Holy Quran from http://www.searchtruth.com/search.php?keyword=birth+mother&chapter=&translator=2&search=1&start=0&records_display=10&search_word=all :

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(1) We have enjoined on man kindness to his parents: In pain did his mother bear him, and in pain did she give him birth. The carrying of the (child) to his weaning is (a period of) thirty months. At length, when he reaches the age of full strength and attains forty years, he says, "O my Lord! Grant me that I may be grateful for Thy favour which Thou has bestowed upon me, and upon both my parents, and that I may work righteousness such as Thou mayest approve; and be gracious to me in my issue. Truly have I turned to Thee and truly do I bow (to Thee) in Islam."  
( Al-Ahqaf, Chapter #46, Verse #15) (Yusuf Ali – English translation)

(2) If any men among you divorce their wives by Zihar (calling them mothers), they cannot be their mothers: None can be their mothers except those who gave them birth. And in fact they use words (both) iniquitous and false: but truly Allah is one that blots out (sins), and forgives (again and again).  
( Al-Mujadila, Chapter #58, Verse #2) (Yusuf Ali – English translation)

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Objection 6 is taken from the second result given above. The surrogate mother is recognized as the real mother in Islam. Such a decision is strengthened by the first result, Verse 15 of Chapter 46 of the Holy Quran. The fact that the surrogate mother is the real mother basically affects the inheritance. The child would not inherit the genetic mother but the surrogate mother. The genetic mother has the freedom of giving one third of her wealth as gift and thus she could still give wealth to her genetic child. The situation is similar with respect to the foster mother too.

Objection 7 claims that the only other mother is a foster mother. In the case of the surrogate mother she is the blood mother and thus we need not consider this objection. This objection has a bearing on the genetic mother. The genetic mother is neither the blood mother nor a foster mother.

Only objection 4 needs to be considered. Yes some wealthy and lazy women might like to have a surrogate mother so that they avoid the pain of baby delivery. In view of the above fact that the surrogate mother becomes the blood mother and the genetic mother has no connection – in Islam – with the child, such efforts would not be attempted by Muslim women. Still, we like to indicate that this facility of having a co-wife as surrogate mother is valid for those women who cannot bear a child as per the knowledge of mankind at that time. We do identify such a class of women in the following.

From http://www.emedicine.com/EMERG/topic507.htm we have:

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The most common cause of Rh incompatibility is exposure to an Rh-negative mother by Rh-positive fetal blood during pregnancy or delivery … Once produced, maternal Rh immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies may cross freely from the placenta to the fetal circulation … The amount of fetal blood necessary to produce Rh incompatibility varies. In one study, less than 1 mL of Rh-positive blood has been shown to sensitize volunteers with Rh-negative blood. … Once sensitized, it takes approximately one month for Rh antibodies in the maternal circulation to equilibrate in the fetal circulation. … Rh positive antibodies circulating in the bloodstream of an Rh-negative woman have no adverse effect in the nonpregnant state.

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Often the first pregnancy of an Rh negative woman with an Rh positive baby does not affect the baby. In some cases, the first conception gets aborted. This abortion could be due to many reasons. However, if the cause is Rh incompatibility, and if the pregnant mother was not treated to suppress the formation of the Rh antibodies, she is sensitized. For such a sensitized Rh negative woman further pregnancies with Rh positive fetus might result in further abortions or other medical complications. In advanced countries medical care ensures that no Rh antibodies are formed in an Rh negative woman. It cannot be expected in other countries.

http://channels.apollolife.com/show.asp?NewAid=5459 has the following:

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By and large, in India 85-90 percent of the population is Rh positive while 5-10 percent is Rh negative.

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For simplicity of calculations, we take the population of India to be 1 billion, with equal males and females. Let us assume that about 30% of the population is of child bearing age. We are looking at the interaction of some 150 million males with 150 million females. These could result in a minimum of 0.05 x 0.85 x 150 million, or 6.375 million to a maximum of 0.1 x 0.9 x 150 million, or 13.5 million Rh negative women marrying Rh positive men.

http://channels.apollolife.com/show.asp?NewAid=5459 has the following also.

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…subsequent babies will be affected in the form of still birth (intrauterine death) or birth with severe anaemia (erythroblastosis fetalis) or jaundice (kernicterus), which can damage the baby's brain. If the baby survives, it will require blood transfusions. 

The statistics of such incidents in India have been reported as, 1 in 30 babies.

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Assuming that India achieves population stability, every female begets two children. Hence, a minimum of 12.75 million to a maximum of 27 million children are to be considered. Among these a minimum of 425,000 to a maximum of 900,000 babies are at risk. That is a minimum of 212,500 to a maximum of 450,000 mothers run the risk of losing the second child due to Rh complications in India. Some of these mothers might have lost the first baby due to abortion without knowing that they have Rh problem with their husbands. What are these women to do?

It is for the above small number of women that we recommend that their husbands marry a second wife. Such a marriage is not a temporary marriage. The second wife is as permanent as the first wife. Depending on the love and affection between the two wives – in many societies the first wife takes an active role in selecting the second wife – the second wife could become the surrogate mother for the genetic child of the first wife.

What is the advantage of such an arrangement to the first wife? We are told that the selfish gene likes to survive through the child. Thus, the gene pool of the first wife does not terminate by having the co-wife as surrogate mother. Further, as genes regulate behavior, the family has a child behaving as the natural child of the first wife even though it is the blood child of the second wife.

In conclusion, in the specific circumstance indicated above surrogate motherhood is permissible in Islam. Is it to be encouraged?

From http://www.searchtruth.com/search.php?keyword=life+slew&chapter=&translator=2&search=1&start=0&records_display=10&search_word=all we get:

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On that account: We ordained for the Children of Israel that if any one slew a person - unless it be for murder or for spreading mischief in the land - it would be as if he slew the whole people: and if any one saved a life, it would be as if he saved the life of the whole people. Then although there came to them Our apostles with clear signs, yet, even after that, many of them continued to commit excesses in the land.  
(Al-Maeda, Chapter #5, Verse #32) (Yusuf Ali – English translation)

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As the co-wife as surrogate mother saves the life of the first wife’s child, she indeed gets rewarded as though she saves the life of the whole people. Hence, we recommend the co-wife being the surrogate mother for the first wife who for medical reasons cannot deliver a baby, but has eggs that could be fertilized by the husband’s sperm.

Allah knows best.

Muslims believe that the Holy Torah was revealed to Prophet Moses, peace be upon him; the Holy Bible was revealed to Prophet Jesus, son of Mary, peace be upon them, and the Holy Quran was revealed to Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him in that order.

The book ‘Deuteronomy’ is contained in the Old Testament and thus is common to both the Holy Torah and the Holy Bible.

From http://king-james-bible.classic-literature.co.uk/deuteronomy/ebook-page-07.asp we have:
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7:14 Thou shalt be blessed above all people: there shall not be male or female barren among you, or among your cattle.
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Since the above is part of the Holy Bible and the Holy Torah, the above blessing must be valid even today. So, there should be no barren male or female among the current population of Israel.

From http://www.israelfm.org/academic/default.htm we have:
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ANAT ZURIA – Filmmaker
Director of documentaries 'Purity' and 'Sentenced to Marriage'

SENTENCED TO MARRIAGE Three young married women trapped in religious courts.

They can't get a divorce because the court needs their husband's consent in order to grant one. Dependent on their husbands' whim, they know not when release will finally come.

They are denied other relationships and are condemned to be barren, because a married woman is forbidden to another man.

In Israel, a democratic country of the 21st century, their pain and suffering is embedded in the law. Being young and anonymous, their voices are silenced. For two years the film follows the Kafkaesque struggle of Tamara, Michelle and Rachel - three young women doing all that is humanly possible to obtain a divorce, with the help of a group of female orthodox rabbinical advocates
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The film is a documentary. The three women – Tamara, Michelle, and Rachel – are real. They are condemned to be barren and they want divorce. By implication, these women are fertile, but their husbands are not. There are at least three men in the current Israel who are barren.

In contrast, what does the Holy Quran say? From http://www.searchtruth.com/search.php?keyword=male+female+both&chapter=&translator=2&search=1&start=0&records_display=10&search_word=all we get:

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Or He bestows both males and females, and He leaves barren whom He will: for He is full of Knowledge and Power.  
( Ash-Shura, Chapter #42, Verse #50) (Yusuf Ali – English Translation)

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We have seen that as per the Holy Bible and the Holy Torah, there would be no barren male or female among the children of Israel. In contrast, the Holy Quran, as given above states clearly that God Almighty leaves some barren.

To us, this is evidence that the Holy Quran supersedes both the Holy Torah and the Holy Bible.

Allah knows best.

In the name of Allah, Most Beneficent, Most Merciful.

The photograph in the album is one of the proofs of the divinity of the Holy Quran. Read about this miracle in item 5 in this blog published on February 16, 2006. You might visit the URL http://www.bilal-prayer.com/Quran_en.html

Islam places paramount importance on eye-witness testimony; one eye-witness for murder; two eye-witnesses for theft; and four eye-witnesses for illegal sex. The type of witness is indicated in the Holy Quran and in the Tradition of Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him. Quite a few non-Muslims are critical on the qualifications required for a witness. What does science say? We investigate below.

Verse 282 of Chapter 2 of the Holy Quran is considered first. http://www.searchtruth.com/search.php?keyword=two+women+evidence&chapter=&translator=2&search=1&start=0&records_display=10&search_word=all has:

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O ye who believe! When ye deal with each other, in transactions involving future obligations in a fixed period of time, reduce them to writing. Let a scribe write down faithfully as between the parties: let not the scribe refuse to write: as Allah has taught him, so let him write. Let him who incurs the liability dictate, but let him fear his Lord Allah, and not diminish aught of what he owes. If the party liable is mentally deficient, or weak, or unable himself to dictate, let his guardian dictate faithfully, and get two witnesses, out of your own men, and if there are not two men, then a man and two women, such as ye choose, for witnesses, so that if one of them errs, the other can remind her. The witnesses should not refuse when they are called on (for evidence). Disdain not to reduce to writing (your contract) for a future period, whether it be small or big: it is juster in the sight of Allah, more suitable as evidence, and more convenient to prevent doubts among yourselves but if it be a transaction which ye carry out on the spot among yourselves, there is no blame on you if ye reduce it not to writing. But take witness whenever ye make a commercial contract; and let neither scribe nor witness suffer harm. If ye do (such harm), it would be wickedness in you. So fear Allah, for it is God that teaches you. And Allah is well acquainted with all things. If ye are on a journey, and cannot find a scribe, a pledge with possession (may serve the purpose). And if one of you deposits a thing on trust with another, let the trustee (faithfully) discharge his trust, and let him Fear his Lord conceal not evidence; for whoever conceals it, - his heart is tainted with sin. And Allah knoweth all that ye do.  
( Al-Baqara, Chapter #2, Verse #282) (Yusuf Ali – English Translation)

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The explanation of the above Verse regarding the evidence of two women in place of the evidence of a single man is found in the following Tradition:

http://www.searchtruth.com/searchHadith.php?keyword=two+evidence+women&translator=1&search=1&book=&start=0&records_display=10&search_word=all

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Narrated Abu Said Al-Khudri: Once Allah's Apostle went out to the Musalla (to offer the prayer) of 'Id-al-Adha or Al-Fitr prayer. Then he passed by the women and said, "O women! Give alms, as I have seen that the majority of the dwellers of Hell-fire were you (women)." They asked, "Why is it so, O Allah's Apostle ?" He replied, "You curse frequently and are ungrateful to your husbands. I have not seen anyone more deficient in intelligence and religion than you. A cautious sensible man could be led astray by some of you." The women asked, "O Allah's Apostle! What is deficient in our intelligence and religion?" He said, "Is not the evidence of two women equal to the witness of one man?" They replied in the affirmative. He said, "This is the deficiency in her intelligence. Isn't it true that a woman can neither pray nor fast during her menses?" The women replied in the affirmative. He said, "This is the deficiency in her religion."  (Book #6, Hadith #301) (Sahih Bukhari)

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Is there any scientific evidence to show that the sexes are different in their faculties? http://www.womenshealthresearch.org/hs/iom.htm has the following:

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In the first significant review of the status of sex and gender differences in biomedical research by an independent research organization, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) of the National Academy of Sciences released a report in April 2001, "Exploring the Biological Contributions to Human Health: Does Sex Matter?"

"Sex does matter," said Mary-Lou Pardue, Ph.D., chair of the national IOM Committee on Understanding the Biology of Sex and Gender Differences, in the preface to the report. "It matters in ways that we did not expect. Undoubtedly, it also matters in ways that we have not begun to imagine."

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Are there areas in which the male is better? Pages 88 – 89 of the report contain:

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Males demonstrate an advantage on tests of visuospatial ability (as reviewed by Maccoby and Jacklin [1974] and more recently by Halpern [2000]. According to Halpern (2000), this refers to the ability “to imagine what an irregular figure would look like if it were rotated in space or the ability to discern the relationship between shapes and objects” (p. 98). Kerns and Berenbaum (1991) noted that a major issue is how to define and measure spatial ability. In a comprehensive meta-analysis, Linn and Petersen (1985) focused on three categories of spatial ability: spatial perception, mental rotation, and spatial visualization. The most consistent sex differences occur with measures of skills referred to as “spatial perception” and “mental rotation” (Linn and Petersen, 1985). In particular, the mental rotation task has demonstrated the most sensitivity at detecting sex differences in spatial ability (Sanders et al., 1982); here, a subject is asked to imagine how a figure would appear if it were rotated in a two- or three-dimensional space.

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Perhaps the most important finding from the various research studies is that differences in math ability are much smaller toward the middle of the distribution, where most males and females are represented, and are most pronounced at the upper end of the distribution. Males consistently outperform females on tests of quantitative ability, for example, the mathematics portion of the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT). Competitions among seventh and eighth grade boys and girls held to identify mathematically precocious youth on the basis of scores on the mathematics portion of the SAT greatly favor boys. A consistent finding on these tests is that differences between boys and girls tend to increase at the higher levels of performance. Thus, boys outscore girls 2:1 at scores of 500 and above, 5:1 at scores of 600 and above, and 17:1 at the highest scores, 700 and above (Benbow, 1988, Stanley and Benbow, 1982). One problem in interpreting such results is that the best predictor of performance on such standardized mathematics tests is experience. That is, most of the students who score the highest are enrolled in high-level mathematics courses. The data also indicate that many more males than females are enrolled in these high-level mathematics courses (Jones, 1984). However, even when one controls for the number of advanced mathematics courses, males continue to have an advantage, albeit a much smaller one (Meece et al., 1982).

Newer studies are shedding light on the nature of sex differences in quantitative abilities. A recent analysis (Gallagher et al., 2000) indicated that males performed better on various types of mathematics questions that had in common a dependence on a strategy to “construct and mentally transform a mental representation” (Halpern, 2000, p. 117). This suggests that it is not the type of mathematics problem that is important in evaluating sex differences but the kind of strategy required to solve it that is critical in determining whether males or females have ability. Reviews of the relationship between quantitative skills and spatial ability find that spatial ability is an important factor in predicting performance on advanced mathematics tests and that this relationship is especially strong at the highest levels of mathematics performance (Halpern, 2000).

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What are the qualities that make a good witness? From http://www.nycourts.gov/cji/1-General/CJI2d.Identification-Witness_Plus.pdf we find:

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With respect to whether the identification is accurate, that is, not an honest mistake, you must evaluate the witness’s intelligence, and capacity for observation, reasoning and memory, and determine whether you are satisfied that the witness is a reliable witness who had the ability to observe and remember the person in question.

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From a position of equality of sexes claiming that the female is as competent as the male in all walks of life, science has come to realize that there are differences. We would have liked to show that the sciences have come to the same conclusion as Islam. However, funds for research being controlled by non-Muslims, we should not expect research that would uphold the Holy Quran to be conducted now. It is indeed gratifying that science has agreed that the sexes are indeed different in their capabilities.

In identification of a culprit, the culprit is simply presented standing showing the frontal view only. From this frontal view, the witness has to correlate the images recorded during the commission of a crime. It is our opinion that this correlation depends on “spatial ability” in which the males outperform the females.

What does the Holy Quran state with respect to female witnesses? It does not rule out female witnesses. It qualifies a female witness – such as ye choose for witness – indicating that there are indeed some females who are good at “spatial ability.” We venture to identify one such group of females, those who seem to excel in the field of architecture. It is our conjecture that these females who do well in architecture would match the male in “spatial ability.” However, this conjecture needs to be tested.

It is our opinion that God Almighty with His infinite knowledge has decreed as in the Holy Quran. Such a decree should not be looked upon as a criticism of the female but as the high standards expected of witnesses. As and when unbiased research would be conducted, we expect to see the Islamic standard of witness becoming the scientific standard too.

Allah knows the best.

In the name of Allah, Most Beneficent, Most Merciful.

The photograph in the album is one of the proofs of the divinity of the Holy Quran. Read about this miracle in item 5 in this blog published on February 16, 2006. You might visit the URL http://www.bilal-prayer.com/Quran_en.html

In the afternoon of April 26, 2006G corresponding to Rabi Al-Awwal 28, 1427H I was led to the URL http://www.etreferendum.com/. Read the article in full; read it slowly. There is a question at the end of the article to be answered by you.

After you have read and decided invite others to do the same.

In the name of Allah, Most Beneficent, Most Merciful.

The photograph in the album is one of the proofs of the divinity of the Holy Quran. Read about this miracle in item 5 in this blog published on February 16, 2006. You might visit the URL http://www.bilal-prayer.com/Quran_en.html

There are accusations that some Muslims lure the young adults to commit suicide attacks by promising many wives in Paradise. We had taken the position that there is no physical sex in Paradise. Some doubts were raised earlier about our understanding by quoting Traditions. Today we feel our understanding has been vindicated by Allah SWT.

In

http://today.reuters.com/news/ArticleNews.aspx?type=oddlyEnoughNews&storyID=2006-04-17T165742Z_01_N31336032_RTRUKOC_0_US-SEX-FUTURE.xml&pageNumber=2&imageid=&cap=&sz=13 we find:

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Going even a level further, other researchers say in decades to come advanced devices will be able to stimulate the brain to create a sexual experience without manipulating genitalia.

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The continuation is found in http://today.reuters.com/news/ArticleNews.aspx?type=oddlyEnoughNews&storyID=2006-04-17T165742Z_01_N31336032_RTRUKOC_0_US-SEX-FUTURE.xml&pageNumber=3&imageid=&cap=&sz=13

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Marvin Minsky, a pioneer in the study of artificial intelligence dating back to 1951, said such devices could either trigger an actual physical response from the brain, or have the entire experience take place in the mind with the sensation of sex -- but without the mess or risk of sexually transmitted disease.

"It's bound to happen ... and is not as far off as some people think," Minsky, a professor emeritus at MIT, said of direct brain manipulation. "They are doing things with monkeys but it is not a big world-class industry yet, so that could take 20-30 years."

"But if the game (industry) people got involved in some underdeveloped country that didn't have any laws against it, it could all happen twice as fast."

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As the industry under globalization is geared to maximum profit and profit only, we expect Prof. Marvin Minsky’s prediction to come true in another 10 years or so, that is before 2016.

http://www.cnn.com/TECH/space/9803/11/asteroid/index.html has the following:

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Astronomers say a mile-wide asteroid described as "the most dangerous one we've found so far" may be on course for a near-miss -- or even a collision -- with Earth in the year 2028.

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So, the technology to enjoy orgasm without physical sexual contact is expected to arrive on earth itself. How come there is objection to the statements by Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, regarding sex in Paradise as found in http://63.175.194.25/index.php?formtrans=dgn%3D3%7C&ds=qa&lv=browse&QR=10053&ln=eng

What kind of sex is referred to as ‘sex in Paradise’? Is it the physical sex that normally takes place between a husband and wife? Or is it the feeling of orgasm that Prof. Marvin Minsky talks about that comes from direct brain manipulation?

For completeness, we quote two Traditions from the ALIM CD (referred to in the URL given above).

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Tradition numbered 1482 from Al-Tirmidhi collection:

Narrated Anas ibn Malik

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, "In Paradise the believer will be given such and

such power to conduct sexual intercourse." He was asked whether he would be capable of that and replied that he would be given the capacity of a hundred men.

Tirmidhi transmitted it.

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Anyone who reads the above and similar Traditions would be tempted to believe that the sex referred to above is the physical sex that is practiced now where in the brain gets stimulated through friction in appropriate parts of the skin. What happens if skin cannot be perceived at all? Quoting tradition numbered 1481 from Al-Tirmidhi collection given in ALIM CD, we have:

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Narrated AbuSa'id

Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) said, "The faces of the first company to enter

Paradise on the Day of Resurrection will be as bright as the moon on the night when it is full, and the second company will be like the most beautiful shining planet in the sky. Every man among them will have two wives, each wife wearing seventy mantles through which the marrow of her leg will be seen."

Tirmidhi transmitted it.

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What is seen of the body of the wife is the marrow of the bone. No skin would be seen. So, it is our understanding that when a husband in Paradise desires intercourse with his wife or more than one wife at the same time, it would be through brain stimulation. Are we saying that God Almighty does not have the power to do what His creation can do?

Please notice the sequence in which the two Traditions are arranged: the one saying the skin is not seen precedes the one talking about intercourse. We are tempted to think that Imam Tirmidhi has understood as we are stating: sex in Paradise is not physical, but something else producing similar results.

Allah knows best.

In the name of Allah, Most Beneficent, Most Merciful.

The photograph in the album is one of the proofs of the divinity of the Holy Quran. Read about this miracle in item 5 in this blog published on February 16, 2006. You might visit the URL http://www.bilal-prayer.com/Quran_en.html

A search on ‘crucified’ in http://www.blueletterbible.org/tmp_dir/words/c/1144975457-9144.html yielded 37 Verses from the Holy Bible. Verses Mat 26:2, Mat 27:22, Mat 27:23, Mat27:26, Mat 28:5, Mar 15:15, Mar 15:32, Mar 15:15, Mar 15:32, Mar 16:6, Luk 24:7, Jhn 19:16, Jhn 19:18, Jhn 19:20, Jhn 19:23, Act 2:36, Act 4:10, 1Cr 1:23, 1Cr 2:2, and Gal 3:1 clearly indicate that Prophet Jesus, son of Mary, peace be upon them was crucified.

What does the Holy Quran say about the crucifixion? From http://www.searchtruth.com/search.php?keyword=+Jesus+crucified&chapter=&translator=2&search=1&start=0&records_display=10&search_word=all we have:

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4:157 That they said (in boast), "We killed Christ Jesus the son of Mary, the Messenger of Allah.;- but they killed him not, nor crucified him, but so it was made to appear to them, and those who differ therein are full of doubts, with no (certain) knowledge, but only conjecture to follow, for of a surety they killed him not:-  
(  سورة النساء  , An-Nisa, Chapter #4, Verse #157) (Yusuf Ali – English Translation)

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The next Verse 4:158 from http://www.searchtruth.com/chapter_display.php?chapter=4&translator=2&mac= we have:

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4:158 Nay, Allah raised him up unto Himself; and Allah is Exalted in Power, Wise;-

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Muslims would believe the Holy Quran and claim that Prophet Jesus, son of Mary, peace be upon them, was not crucified. The Christians would believe the scripture they have, the Holy Bible, and claim that it was indeed Lord Jesus who was crucified. What about the rest of mankind?

As a Muslim, in what follows, we try to show that the statement of the Holy Quran is correct. In Mat 10:4 we find:

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Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him.

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Judas Iscariot was one of the twelve disciples before the crucifixion. What happens after the crucifixion and resurrection?

Act 1:13 says:

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And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James [the son] of Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas [the brother] of James.

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Is the Judas of Act 1:13 the same as the Judas of Mat 10:4? Yes in view of Act 1:16 to Act 1:25. Thus Judas, the betrayer was taught by Jesus along with the other 11 non-betrayers after the crucifixion and the resurrection. How is it possible that a betrayer is taught the ways to spread the message?

From http://www.agi.it/english/news.pl?doc=200604132030-1238-RT1-CRO-0-NF11&page=0&id=agionline-eng.oggitalia we find:

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Vatican, Apr 13 - The Vatican, by word of Pope Ratzinger, grants the recently surfaced Judas' Gospel no credit with regards to its apocryphal claims that Judas betrayed Jesus in compliance with the latter's own requests.

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True. We are with Pope Ratzinger in that Judas did not betray Jesus in compliance with the latter’s own requests. Judas exchanged places with his teacher, Jesus, and it was Judas who was crucified. How come Judas is alive in the company of Jesus and dies after Jesus ascends to Heaven? As long as Jesus was with his disciples, their enemies dare not even touch a hair on their body. Once Jesus has left them, to terrorize the disciples, the Romans have elected to attack Judas, possibly the most beloved to Jesus and see whether Judas was protected or not. It transpired that there was no protection, and thus the Romans killed Judas. Then the Romans have pressurized the remaining eleven disciples to make the teachings of Jesus to benefit the rulers rather than question the authority of the Romans.

Think. Twelve disciples were taught by Jesus to spread the message to the fallen children of Israel. We have just four accepted disciples out of the twelve. From http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/04/13/AR2006041301285.html we have:

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Purely as a matter of style, those who made the choices for the canonical gospels deserve our thanks and praise. Matthew, Mark, Luke and, in a different way, John offer a powerful narrative …

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Isn’t it possible that the Romans managed to modify the narratives of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John and thus let them survive, while they hunted out the other gospels and destroyed them? Never underestimate the power of authority. Today the western nations are involved in reforming Islam. They have already come out with “The Furqan,” which teaches exactly what the Christians like, but call it a holy book of Muslims! Who knows, if the plunder of Babylon could be repeated in all Islamic Centers, eventually “The Furqan” would become the holy book of Muslims. May God Almighty save the Holy Quran until the Day of Judgment.

From  http://www.jihadwatch.org/archives/006654.php#comments we have:

=== x x x ===

The victor is always virtuous and the loser is always a villain. So was it with respect to the Romans and the twelve disciples of Prophet Jesus, son of Mary, peace be upon them. In our opinion, the best disciple – Judas – sacrificed himself on the cross impersonating Prophet Jesus, son of Mary, peace be upon them. However, their strength, the miracle making Prophet Jesus, son of Mary, peace be upon them, was taken to Heaven by God Almighty and the disciples were no match for the power of the Romans. So, the Romans substituted the solar calendar in place of the lunar calendar followed by Prophet Jesus, son of Mary, peace be upon them. Could the Romans let the actual heroism of Judas be recorded and allow the future generations to laugh at them how they went to crucify Prophet Jesus, son of Mary, peace be upon them but ended up crucifying Judas who was made to look like Prophet Jesus, son of Mary, peace be upon them at the time of arrest? No. So, the Romans hanged Judas after the ascension of Prophet Jesus, son of Mary, peace be upon them, to Heaven and created spin – as the CIA does now – that Judas was a traitor.

If Judas has to simply point out Prophet Jesus, son of Mary, peace be upon them, to the Romans for a few silver coins, why should he go so near and embrace Prophet Jesus, son of Mary, peace be upon them? It is our claim that Judas embraced Prophet Jesus, son of Mary, peace be upon them, simply to transfer the silver coins to him and to surrender himself to the Romans as Prophet Jesus, son of Mary, peace be upon them. During the embrace, God Almighty made Judas to resemble Prophet Jesus, son of Mary, peace be upon them for some required time. After Judas had sacrificed his life on the cross, and his body was buried, the body within the shroud would have returned to its own shape as Judas. Prophet Jesus, son of Mary, who was not crucified, resurrects Judas and thus the leader and the twelve followers would have celebrated.

God Almighty as per His plan took Prophet Jesus, son of Mary, peace be upon them, to Heaven and the disciples continued to preach the truth – which it was Judas who was crucified and resurrected. Well, it took very little time to overpower the disciples, hang Judas and make Judas a traitor. We consider the above interpretation as true in the light of 4:157 and 4:158 of the Holy Quran. In the following we look at some of the accepted statements in the literature and interpret them as they should be.

Let us consider the seven last words of Christ as described in http://www.crossroadsinitiative.com/library_article/43/Seven_Last_Words_of_Christ.html They are:
1. Father, forgive them, they know not what they do. Lk. 23:34
2. This day thou shalt be with me in Paradise. Lk. 23:43
3. Woman, behold thy son. Jn. 19:26-7
4. My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken me? Mk. 15:34 (Mt. 27:46)
5. I thirst. Jn. 19:28
6. It is finished. Jn. 19:30
7. Into thine hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit. Lk. 23:46

Judas impersonated Prophet Jesus, son of Mary, peace be upon them and sacrificed himself on the cross. The first phrase is said by Judas while he is conscious of the fact that he is impersonating Prophet Jesus, son of Mary, peace be upon them. Tradition numbered 652 in Volume 4 of Sahih Al-Bukhari supports such a description of a Prophet, peace be upon him, as a son of God. Quoting the Tradition, we have:
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Narrated Abu Huraira
Allah's Apostle said, "Both in this world and in the Hereafter, I am the nearest of all the people to Jesus, the son of Mary. The prophets are paternal brothers; their mothers are different, but their religion is one."
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The second phrase is the statement by God indicating the onset of death, and is repeated by Judas. Judas by his act of sacrifice has become a martyr. Every martyr enters Heaven immediately as a “bird of Paradise,” in the company of God Almighty. Tradition numbered 873 of Sahih Muslim supports the above interpretation. Quoting the Tradition, we have:
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Narrated Abdullah
It has been narrated on the authority of Masruq who said: We asked Abdullah about the Qur'anic verse: "Think not of those who are slain in Allah's way as dead. Nay, they are alive, finding their sustenance in the presence of their Lord...." (iii.169). He said: We asked the meaning of the verse (from the Holy Prophet) who said: The souls of the martyrs live in the bodies of green birds who have their nests in chandeliers hung from the throne of the Almighty. They eat the fruits of Paradise wherever they like and then nestle in these chandeliers. Once their Lord cast a glance at them and said: Do ye want anything? They said: What more can we desire? We eat the fruit of Paradise wherever we like. Their Lord asked them the same question thrice. When they saw that they would continue to be asked and not left (without answering the question), they said: O Lord, we wish that Thou mayest return our souls to our bodies so that we may be slain in Thy cause once again. When He (Allah) saw that they had no need, they were left (to their joy in heaven).
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The last five phrases are said by Judas as Judas. The third, “Woman, behold thy son,” is addressed to mother Mary, Allah be pleased with her, to convey that the one dying on the cross is not the Prophet Jesus, son of Mary, peace be upon them, but someone else. What is there to behold in a dead body? So, the son referred was Prophet Jesus, son of Mary, peace be upon them, who was not crucified.

The fourth, “My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken me?” is uttered by Judas in response to the pain of death. God did say that Judas would be in Paradise that day; there should be no pain in Paradise; still, Judas felt the pain of death and responds on the occurrence of the pain of death.

The fifth, “I thirst,” is another sign of the onset of death. Tradition numbered 261 in volume 4 of Sahih Al-Bukhari supports this statement. The Tradition is:
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Narrated Anas bin Malik
A group of eight men from the tribe of Ukil came to the Prophet and then they found the climate of Medina unsuitable for them. So, they said, "O Allah's Apostle! Provide us with some milk." Allah's Apostle said, "I recommend that you should join the herd of camels." So they went and drank the urine and the milk of the camels (as a medicine) till they became healthy and fat. Then they killed the shepherd and drove away the camels, and they became unbelievers after they were Muslims. When the Prophet was informed by a shouter for help, he sent some men in their pursuit, and before the sun rose high, they were brought, and he had their hands and feet cut off. Then he ordered for nails which were heated and passed over their eyes, and they were left in the Harra (i.e. rocky land in
Medina). They asked for water, and nobody provided them with water till they died
(Abu Qilaba, a sub-narrator said, "They committed murder and theft and fought against
Allah and His Apostle, and spread evil in the land.")
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The sixth, “It is finished,” represents the completion of the sacrifice of Judas; the punishment has been meted out; and the one ordered to be killed by the Romans has reached the last few moments of his life on the cross. The Romans believed that they were crucifying Prophet Jesus, son of Mary, peace be upon them, while in reality they crucified Judas impersonating Prophet Jesus, son of Mary, peace be upon them.

The seventh, “Into thine hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit,” is the saying of Judas as a martyr.

=== x x x ===

Prophet Jesus, son of Mary, peace be upon them, was sanctioned the power to raise the dead. From http://www.searchtruth.com/chapter_display_all.php?chapter=3&mac= we get the Islamic understanding:

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38:49 "And (appoint him) an apostle to the Children of Israel, (with this message): "'I have come to you, with a Sign from your Lord, in that I make for you out of clay, as it were, the figure of a bird, and breathe into it, and it becomes a bird by Allah.s leave: And I heal those born blind, and the lepers, and I quicken the dead, by Allah's leave; and I declare to you what ye eat, and what ye store in your houses. Surely therein is a Sign for you if ye did believe;

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and from http://www.searchtruth.com/chapter_display_all.php?chapter=5&mac= the following is found:

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5:110 Then will Allah say: "O Jesus the son of Mary! Recount My favour to thee and to thy mother. Behold! I strengthened thee with the holy spirit, so that thou didst speak to the people in childhood and in maturity. Behold! I taught thee the Book and Wisdom, the Law and the Gospel and behold! thou makest out of clay, as it were, the figure of a bird, by My leave, and thou breathest into it and it becometh a bird by My leave, and thou healest those born blind, and the lepers, by My leave. And behold! thou bringest forth the dead by My leave. And behold! I did restrain the Children of Israel from (violence to) thee when thou didst show them the clear Signs, and the unbelievers among them said: 'This is nothing but evident magic.'

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What does the Holy Bible say? From http://www.blueletterbible.org/kjv/Mat/Mat009.html we have:

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Mat 9:18 While he spake these things unto them, behold, there came a certain ruler, and worshipped him, saying, My daughter is even now dead: but come and lay thy hand upon her, and she shall live.

Mat 9:19 And Jesus arose, and followed him, and [so did] his disciples.

Mat 9:23 And when Jesus came into the ruler's house, and saw the minstrels and the people making a noise,

Mat 9:24 He said unto them, Give place: for the maid is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn.

Mat 9:25 But when the people were put forth, he went in, and took her by the hand, and the maid arose.

Mat 9:26 And the fame hereof went abroad into all that land.

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Both the Christians and Muslims agree that Jesus had the power to give life to the dead. Consider the possible scenarios below:

1. Jesus is crucified; he dies on the cross; God Almighty resurrects Jesus.
2. Judas impersonates Jesus; Judas dies on the cross; Jesus restores life to Judas.

Of the two strategies above, which has a higher chance of success? To my mind, the second alternative wherein Judas sacrifices his life in place of Jesus is the sure thing. Should any throw the fruit on hand and seek a fruit yet to be known?

It is our understanding that Judas in consultation with Jesus, got himself crucified on the cross in place of Jesus. After the ascent of Jesus to Heaven, the subdued Romans murdered Judas and terrorized the remaining disciples. Those works which the Romans were able to modify to ensure passive obedience from the population were left in tact, while the real works like the Gospel of Judas were destroyed or discredited. Just consider the efforts by some in USA to reform Islam now.

There could be some other interpretation. Allah knows best.

In the name of Allah, Most Beneficent, Most Merciful.

The photograph in the album is one of the proofs of the divinity of the Holy Quran. Read about this miracle in item 5 in this blog published on February 16, 2006. You might visit the URL http://www.bilal-prayer.com/Quran_en.html

In item 1 we have quoted Tirmidhi 1063 in which we find:

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He who fights in Allah's cause as long as the time between two milkings of a she-camel will be assured of Paradise.

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We explain one such cause below by quoting Verse 75 of Chapter 4 of the Holy Quran:

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4:75 And why should ye not fight in the cause of Allah and of those who being weak are ill-treated (and oppressed)? Men women and children whose cry is: “Our Lord! Rescue us from this town whose people are oppressors; and raise for us from Thee one who will protect; and raise for us from Thee one who will help!”

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To relieve the pain of the oppressed is indeed Jihad, path of Allah. So, every Muslim who is capable of fighting an oppressor must strive to fight and Allah willing fight; that is participate in Jihad.

In the name of Allah, Most Beneficent, Most Merciful.

The photograph in the album is one of the proofs of the divinity of the Holy Quran. Read about this miracle in item 5 in this blog published on February 16, 2006. You might visit the URL http://www.bilal-prayer.com/Quran_en.html

The life of Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, was the practical demonstration of the Holy Quran. Thus, the Traditions of Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, are the explanations of the Holy Quran. The Verses of the Holy Quran were recorded in writing as they were revealed and during the month of Ramadan the Holy Quran revealed until then was recited in the order in which it was to be compiled. During the last Ramadan of Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, this compiled version of the Holy Quran was recited twice. When the Holy Quran was assembled, the written records of the Verses were collected and sequenced.

To differentiate between the Verses and the Traditions, no Tradition was recorded in writing, but was memorized. From http://www.pmo.gov.my/WebNotesApp/hadism.nsf/About%20Hadith?OpenPage&BaseTarget=_self we find the five conditions to be satisfied by the narrators for a Tradition to be collected. They are:

1. Continuity of chain of narrators
2. Uprightness of narrator
3. Exactitude of narrator
4. Freedom from eccentricity and
5. Freedom from blemish.

Please visit the URL above to find the details of these five characteristics.

The five conditions listed above do not verify the semantics of the Traditions. However, 39:23 of the Holy Quran declares that the Holy Quran is consistent. As a Tradition is the explanation of some part of the Holy Quran, any authentic Tradition must be consistent with the Holy Quran. Thus, we add a test of consistency as an additional condition for the authenticity of the Traditions.

A Tradition that is consistent with a part of the Holy Quran or an already established authentic Tradition is authentic; any Tradition that is inconsistent with a part of the Holy Quran or an authentic Tradition is not authentic.

We pray to God Almighty to guide us to identify those Traditions that are not authentic and remove any confusion caused by such a spurious Tradition.

In the name of Allah, Most Beneficent, Most Merciful.

The photograph in the album is one of the proofs of the divinity of the Holy Quran. Read about this miracle in item 5 in this blog published on February 16, 2006. You might visit the URL http://www.bilal-prayer.com/Quran_en.html

The meaning of Verse 23 of Surah 39 of the Holy Quran reads:

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39:23 Allah has revealed (from time to time) the most beautiful message in the form of a Book consistent with itself (yet) repeating (its teachings in various aspects): the skins of those who fear their Lord tremble thereat; then their skins and their hearts do soften to the celebration of Allah’s praises. Such is the guidance of Allah: He guides therewith whom He pleases but such as Allah leaves to stray can have none to guide.

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The above is a self-test for every Muslim. If any Muslim feels that there is some inconsistency between a part of the Holy Quran and another part, it simply shows that the understanding of that person with regard to Islam is lacking. Such a person must devote as much time as possible to study Islam until he / she understands that the apparent inconsistency is resolved.

A point to make now is that if any feels there is inconsistency do not blame self or others, but attempt further study. Doubts when cleared lead to knowledge.

There is no harm in getting doubts.

The plot shown in the photo album is a graphical representation of the Surahs of the Holy Quran using the Cartesian coordinates. The horizontal axis represents the Surah number and the perpendicular axis represents the number of Ayet (Verses) in the Surah. For example, the first point in the extreme right represents Surah Alfateha which is the first Surah in the Holy Quran and consists of 7 Ayet. The next point represents Surah Albaqara which is the second Surah and consists of 286 Ayet, and so on.

         Now if we connect the outer points in the graph so that all the points are contained within a single frame then the graph will spell the name of Allah in Arabic (الله ) and the name of Prophet Mohammad (محمد ) intertwined in the same figure . In fact they can be perfectly matched point by point to spell both names at the same plot as shown. 

Remarks:-

1.     Getting such a result by a simple graphical presentation of the Quran rules out coincidence.

2.     Getting both the name of Allah and the name of His Messenger at the same plot confirms this fact.

3.     The accuracy and beauty of the shape of both words without forcing the words to appear as they do confirm the above conclusions.

4.     The punctuation marks used in the word محمد is perfectly aligned with the relevant letters which also confirms the previous conclusions.

5.     The method used for connecting the relevant data points fully agrees with the systems used for character recognition in computer programs used for scanning documents, it uses "Neural Networks" concepts.

6.     Graphical presentation of data was not known 1400 years ago when the Quran was revealed except by the only God Allah.

7.     Allah will hold us all accountable because we have intellect. We are obligated to use our intellect to arrive at the true faith and definite knowledge of the Creator. By thinking of the signs and miracles of the universe and what is in it Humanity will definitely conclude that there is no god but ALLAH. By thinking of the miracles of the Quran Humanity will also conclude that Mohammad is the Messenger of Allah.

Source: http://www.bilal-prayer.com/Quran_en.html

In the name of Allah Most Beneficent Most Gracious

Robert Spencer, the Director of http://www.jihadwatch.org/ has written a book: The Politically Incorrect Guide to Islam (and the Crusades). In page 21 of this book, we find:

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Above all, no Muslim should force anyone to accept Islam: “Let there be no compulsion in religion: Truth stands out clear from Error: whoever rejects evil and believes in Allah hath grasped the most trustworthy handhold, that never breaks” (Qur’an 2:256).

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In pages 24 – 25 the following is found:

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… The relatively tolerant verses quoted above and others like them generally date from the Meccan period, while those with a more violent and intolerant edge are mostly from Medina.

Why does this distinction matter? Because of the Islamic doctrine of abrogation (naskh). This is the idea that Allah can change or cancel what he tells Muslims: “None of Our revelations do We abrogate or cause to be forgotten, but We substitute something better or similar: knowest thou not that Allah Hath power over all things?” (Qur’an 2:106). According to this idea, the violent verses of the ninth sura, including the Verse of the Sword (9:5), abrogate the peaceful verses, because they were revealed later in Muhammad’s prophetic career: In fact, most Muslim authorities agree that the ninth sura was the very last section of the Qur’an to be revealed.

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In page 26 inside a box we get:

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Just Like Today: The peaceful verses still abrogated

The doctrine of abrogation is not the province of long-dead muftis whose works no longer carry any weight in the Islamic world. The Saudi Sheikh Muhammad Saalih al-Munajid (b. 1962), whose lectures and Islamic rulings (fatawa) circulate widely throughout the Islamic world, demonstrates this in a discussion of whether Muslims should force others to accept Islam. In considering Qur’an 2:256 (“There is no compulsion in religion.”) the sheikh quotes Qur’an 9:29, 8:39, “And fight them until there is no more Fitnah (disbelief and polytheism, i.e. worshipping others besides Allaah), and the religion (worship) will all be for Allaah Alone [in the whole of the world]”, and the Verse of the Sword. Of the latter, Sheikh Muhammad says simply: “This verse is known as Ayat al-Sayf (the Verse of the Sword). These and similar verses abrogate those saying that there is no compulsion to become Muslim.”

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Alhamdhulillah, we had shown by simple arguments that abrogation does not apply to the Holy Quran in the following URLs:

http://www.jihadwatch.org/archives/007370.php

http://www.jihadwatch.org/archives/007421.php

http://www.jihadwatch.org/archives/007438.php

http://www.jihadwatch.org/archives/007491.php

http://www.jihadwatch.org/archives/007628.php

http://www.jihadwatch.org/archives/007709.php

http://www.jihadwatch.org/archives/007999.php

http://www.jihadwatch.org/archives/008224.php

http://www.jihadwatch.org/archives/008879.php

All the above discussions were using the Traditions of Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him. In what follows, we considered the first two Surahs of the Holy Quran (summary of the Holy Quran) and the last book of the Holy Quran (conclusion of the Holy Quran) and found immense evidence to show that each and every Verse of the Holy Quran is alive and active.

Evidences from the Holy Quran establishing the falsity of abrogation.

2:2 This is the book; in it is guidance sure without doubt to those who fear Allah.

If there are any abrogated Verses, the guidance is not sure. We need to have the additional knowledge about the abrogated Verses; that is only an expert can understand the Holy Quran, and not a simple learner.

2:27 Those who break Allah’s Covenant after it is ratified and who sunder what Allah has ordered to be joined and do mischief on earth: These cause loss (only) to themselves.

Is not the Holy Quran a Covenant between Allah SWT and Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him? Does it not then become a Covenant between Allah SWT and all believers? Did not Allah SWT collect the whole Quran and get it recited by Angel Gabriel? Did not Allah SWT join the existing Verses together in the Holy Quran? When some claim that Verse 9:5 abrogates Verse 2:256 are they not removing Verse 2:256 from the Covenant? re they not sundering verse 2:256?

2:39 “But those who reject Faith and belie Our Signs they shall be Companions of the Fire; they shall abide therein.”

What is the meaning of belie? From  

http://www.m-w.com/cgi-bin/dictionary?book=Dictionary&va=belie

we find the following as one of the meanings:

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to show (something) to be false or wrong

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When some say 2:256 is abrogated, don’t they belie that Verse? How a believer practice abrogation if such a person shall be in Fire?

2:85 After this it is ye the same people who slay among yourselves and banish a party of you from their homes; assist (their enemies) against them in guilt and rancor; and if they come to you as captives ye ransom them though it was not lawful for you to banish them. Then is it only a part of the Book that ye believe in and do ye reject the rest? But what is the reward for those among you who behave like this but disgrace in this life? And on the Day of judgment they shall be consigned to the most grievous penalty. For Allah is not unmindful of what ye do.

When one says 2:256 is abrogated, he / she does not believe in that. That is she / he believes in a part of the Book. Such people would be consigned to the most grievous penalty on the Day of Judgment. Is it not clear that the Muslims are to believe in each and every part of the Book?

2:99 WE have sent down to thee manifest signs (ayat); and none reject them but those who are perverse.

Allah SWT calls those who claim that 2:256 is abrogated and thus reject it as perverse.

2:106 None of Our revelations do We abrogate or cause to be forgotten but We substitute something better or similar; knowest thou not that Allah hath power over all things?

Verse 2:106 clearly establishes that the power of abrogation belongs to Allah SWT alone. Not only that He substitutes something better or similar to the abrogated revelations.

Narrated Anas bin Malik

For thirty days Allah's Apostle invoked Allah to curse those who had killed the companions of Bir-Mauna; he invoked evil upon the tribes of Ral, Dhakwan, and Usaiya who disobeyed Allah and His Apostle. There was revealed about those who were killed at Bir-Mauna a Qur'anic verse we used to recite, but it was cancelled later on. The verse was: "Inform our people that we have met our Lord. He is pleased with us and He has made us pleased."

What about 2:154? Could we consider that it gives the same meaning as the cancelled Verse but is more general. Quoting 2:154, we have:

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2:154 And say not of those who are slain in the way of Allah: “They are dead.” Nay they are living though ye perceive (it) not.

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We reiterate that the power to abrogate belongs to Allah SWT only.

2:147 The truth is from thy Lord so be not at all in doubt.

This Verse indirectly indicates that there could be no abrogation. The rule of abrogation is that a latter Verse abrogates an earlier Verse. However such information regarding the time of revelation is not available for all Verses. Thus, even if we accept the principle of abrogation – which we don’t – the absence of time stamp leads to doubt. We do not know whether a Verse is abrogated or not in case we find two Verses of opposite meanings. So there could be no abrogation so that we are free of doubt.

2:159 Those who conceal the clear (Signs) We have sent down and the guidance after We have made it clear for the people in the book on them shall be Allah’s curse and the curse of those entitled to curse.

The effect of abrogation is the same as concealment. When one says 9:5 abrogates 2:256 it simply has the same effect as though Verse 2:256 was not there at all. From the above Verse we conclude that abrogation is a sin worthy of getting Allah’s curse.

2:174 Those who conceal Allah’s revelations in the Book and purchase for them a miserable profit they swallow into themselves naught but fire; Allah will not address them on the Day of Resurrection nor purify them; grievous will be their penalty.

2:175 They are the ones who buy error in place of guidance and torment in place of forgiveness. Ah! what boldness (they show) for the Fire!

2:176 (Their doom is) because Allah sent down the Book in truth but those who seek causes of dispute in the Book are in a schism far (from the purpose).

What is the application of these three Verses with respect to the dispute over Jihad we have? If we agree that 2:256 is active, we have no permission to attack a non-Muslim country. For example, Pakistan cannot attack India as long as 2:256 is respected. The Muslims in India and elsewhere must try and convince the non-Muslims in India so that they embrace Islam because it is good. Currently such a process is on inside India. The Students Islamic Movement of India is organizing a number of camps in which the non-Muslims ask their questions and the experts in Islam clarify their doubts. Granted such meetings might not produce instant reverts, but slowly it works on them and moves them closer to Islam. Now the advantage of one who claims 9:5 abrogates 2:256 and thus marches on India with the army and wins might gain immense booty. Such gains lead to doom, as the attack on India for the sake of converting India to a Muslim land itself is not permitted.

2:231 When ye divorce women and they fulfill the term of their (‘Iddat) either take them back on equitable terms or set them free on equitable terms; but do not take them back to injure them or to take undue advantage; if anyone does that he wrongs his own soul. Do not treat Allah’s Signs as a jest but solemnly rehearse Allah’s favors on you and the fact that He sent down to you the Book and Wisdom for your instruction. And fear Allah and know that Allah is well acquainted with all things.

How can one take back a once divorced wife to injure her? Consider 2:226 For those who take an oath for abstention from their wives a waiting for four months is ordained; if then they return Allah is Oft-Forgiving Most Merciful. Consider the case of a husband with more than one wife. The husband has access to the other wife (wives) for legal sex. However, that wife regarding whom he has taken the oath of abstention has no access to legal sex. The husband can stay away from her for 3 months and 27 days and have sex with her during the day on the twenty eighth day of the fourth month. His oath of abstention is not counted as leading to divorce. He can again make the oath of abstention the next day after having had sex with her. Thus, the wife gets to have legal sex just once in 29 + 30 + 29 + 28 = 116 days. Is this the purpose of marriage? Is not such a husband treating the Verse 2:226 to his advantage? If causing injury to one human being leads to wronging one’s soul, what about those who claim that Verse 9:5 abrogates Verses like 2:256 and cause unjust wars to be justified? Don’t they wrong their own souls? Is not saying that 2:256 is abrogated like treating that Verse as in jest?

2:255 ALLAH! There is no Allah but He the living the Self-subsisting Eternal. No slumber can seize him nor sleep. His are all things in the heavens and on earth. Who is there can intercede in His presence except as He permitteth? HE knoweth what (appeareth to His creatures as) before or after or behind them. Nor shall they compass aught of His knowledge except as He willeth. HIS throne doth extend over the heavens and the earth and He feeleth no fatigue in guarding and preserving them. For He is the Most High the Supreme (in glory).

What does Allah say in His Book immediately after claiming that “HE knoweth what (appeareth to His creatures as) before or after or behind them?” It is Verse 2:256.

2:256 Let there be no compulsion in religion. Truth stands out clear from error; whoever rejects evil and believes in Allah hath grasped the most trustworthy hand-hold that never breaks. And Allah heareth and knoweth all things.

How can we say that 9:5 abrogates 2:256 when Allah says that believing Him is to hold a hand-hold that never breaks? How can we break that Verse itself? Can there be any abrogation if that abrogation negates 2:256 observing that 2:256 follows 2:255 immediately?

2:285 The Apostle believeth in what hath been revealed to him from his Lord as do the men of faith. Each one (of them) believeth in Allah His angels His books and His Apostles “We make no distinction (they say) between one and another of His Apostles.” And they say: “We hear and we obey; (We seek) Thy forgiveness our Lord and to Thee is the end of all journeys.”

Did not Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, recite both Verse 2:256 and Verse 9:5 as part his recitation during the last Ramadan of his life? Were not Verse 2:256 and Verse 9:5 already revealed by then? Do we believe that Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, would have recited both 2:256 and 9:5 if both are not alive and active? Was it so difficult for Allah SWT to ask Angel Gabriel, peace be upon him, to drop 2:256 from the recitation of the Holy Quran after 9:5 was revealed, if indeed 9:5 abrogates 2:256? Are we more knowledgeable than Angel Gabriel, peace be upon him that we claim on the basis of our very limited intellect that 9:5 abrogates 2:256?

78:28 But they (impudently) treated Our Signs as false.

When one says 9:5 abrogates 2:256, that person makes 2:256 as false.

80:13 (It is) in Books held (greatly) in honor.

80:14 Exalted (in dignity) kept pure and holy

80:15 (written) by the hands of scribes

80:16 Honorable and Pious and Just.

The Companions of Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, were indeed honorable, pious and just. They did write the Verses as they were revealed. When did writing by hand yield to some other method? From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woodblock_printing we find:

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by 1000 A.D. examples of woodblock printing appear in Islamic Egypt

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It would be safe to assume that until woodblock printing was adopted, the Holy Quran was copied by hand. If the principle of abrogation was known, and if the scribes knew that 9:5 has abrogated 2:256, they would not have labored to copy every letter of 2:256. They could as well have written something like: “2:256 …” The fact that the Holy Quran that we have indeed has 2:256 in full implies that the so called principle of abrogation is a later day invention.

80:42 Such will be the Rejecters of Allah the Doers of Iniquity.

As per the Compact Oxford English Dictionary, iniquity means ‘injustice or immoral behavior.’ (See http://www.askoxford.com/concise_oed/iniquity?view=uk ) In the context of our discussion, 9:5 is claimed to sanction waging of Jihad on non-Muslims with the specific purpose of making them Muslims or Dhimmis. Even in the case of an apostate, she / he is to be given three chances to revert before killing. How can we then claim that a kafir who had not been exposed to the principles of Islam be given no chance at all and get threatened at the tip of a sword to become Muslim? Can we claim that just because we have a web site like http://www.searchtruth.com others should know Islam? Are we claiming that every individual must learn the contents of each and every web site? Any who advocate Jihad on the kafir without first educating them falls under the category of ‘Doers of Iniquity.’ Let us hasten to add, just because we educate a kafir on Islam it is not mandatory for him to become a Muslim. It is up to Allah SWT to tune the hearts.

81:27 Verily this is no less than a Message to (all) the Worlds:

How can there be abrogation of any part of the Message by the current men and women be justified, when the Message is for all the Worlds to come until the Day of Judgment? There can be no abrogation at all.

87:6 By degrees shall We teach thee to declare (the Message) so thou shalt not forget

87:7 except as Allah wills: For He knoweth what is manifest and what is hidden.

If ever any Revelation was forgotten it was by the will of Allah SWT and not even by the will of Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him. How come some Muslims afterwards claim that some Verses are abrogated and thus they could be forgotten?

The first two Chapters and Chapters from 78 to 114 were considered and the above evidences to show the absence of abrogation were collected. Inshah Allah the remaining 75 Chapters might have more evidences. If called upon, Inshah Allah, they also would be considered. It is hoped that the fact that abrogation is false would be accepted and thus we plan for defensive Jihad only.

In conclusion, we say:

2:159 Those who conceal the clear (Signs) We have sent down and the guidance after We have made it clear for the people in the book on them shall be Allah’s curse and the curse of those entitled to curse.

The effect of abrogation is the same as concealment. When one says 9:5 abrogates 2:256 it simply has the same effect as though Verse 2:256 was not there at all. From the above Verse we conclude that abrogation is a sin worthy of getting Allah’s curse.

2:160 Except those who repent and make amends and openly declare (the truth) to them I turn; for I am Oft-Returning Most Merciful.

This Verse has a very important message. The sin of abrogation is not as serious as sharing the god-head which Allah does not forgive. So even though one might have claimed abrogation to be true earlier, once that person recognizes his / her fault and accepts the fact that each and every Verse of the Holy Quran is alive and active, Allah SWT forgives that person.

Allah SWT knows best.

In the name of Allah, Most Beneficent, Most Merciful.

Let us consider the Tradition found in

http://www.searchtruth.com/searchHadith.php?keyword=womb+soul+ultimately&translator=1&search=1&book=&start=0&search_word=all&records_display=10

given below:

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Narrated 'Abdullah bin Mas'ud: Allah's Apostle the true and truly inspired, narrated to us, "The creation of everyone of you starts with the process of collecting the material for his body within forty days and forty nights in the womb of his mother. Then he becomes a clot of thick blood for a similar period (40 days) and then he becomes like a piece of flesh for a similar period. Then an angel is sent to him (by Allah) and the angel is allowed (ordered) to write four things; his livelihood, his (date of) death, his deeds, and whether he will be a wretched one or a blessed one (in the Hereafter) and then the soul is breathed into him. So one of you may do (good) deeds characteristic of the people of Paradise so much that there is nothing except a cubit between him and Paradise but then what has been written for him decides his behavior and he starts doing (evil) deeds characteristic of the people of Hell (Fire) and (ultimately) enters Hell (Fire); and one of you may do (evil) deeds characteristic of the people of Hell (Fire) so much so that there is nothing except a cubit between him and Hell (Fire), then what has been written for him decides his behavior and he starts doing (good) deeds characteristic of the people of Paradise and ultimately) enters Paradise." (See Hadith No. 430, Vol. 4)  (Book #93, Hadith #546)

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As regards one entering Paradise because Allah wrote that on the 120^th day of conception, we consider such souls to be lucky. However, why should a soul be punished in Hell when that person was doing actions of the people of Paradise more or less all his life but for a few moments towards the end? Is not that unjust?

Consider Verse 40 of Surah 4 quoted below:

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S4 V40: Allah is never unjust in the least degree: if there is any good (done) He doubleth it and giveth from His own presence a great reward.

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Muslims understand that the actions are rewarded by the intention behind the action. From the first Tradition in

http://www.searchtruth.com/searchHadith.php?keyword=intentions&translator=1&search=1&book=&start=0&search_word=all&records_display=10

quoted below, we have:

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Narrated 'Umar bin Al-Khattab: I heard Allah's Apostle saying, "The reward of deeds depends upon the intentions and every person will get the reward according to what he has intended. So whoever emigrated for worldly benefits or for a woman to marry, his emigration was for what he emigrated for."  (Book #1, Hadith #1)

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Allah knows the intentions of His creation and rewards and punishes them by their intentions. This is attested by Tradition numbered 6 in the collection ‘Hadith Al-Qudsi’ in ALIM CD.

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The first of people against whom judgment will be pronounced on the Day of Resurrection will be a man who died a martyr. He will be brought and Allah will make known to him His favors and he will recognize them. [The Almighty] will say: And what did you do about them? He will say: I fought for you until I died a martyr. He will say: You have lied - you did but fight that it might be said [of you]: He is courageous. And so it was said. Then he will be ordered to be dragged along on his face until he is cast into Hell-fire. [Another] will be a man who has studied [religious] knowledge and has taught it and who used to recite the Quran. He will be brought and Allah will make known to his His favors and he will recognize them. [The Almighty] will say: And what did you do about them? He will say: I studied [religious] knowledge and I taught it and I recited the Quran for Your sake. He will say: You have lied - you did but study [religious] knowledge that it might be said [of you]: He is learned. And you recited the Quran that it might be said [of you]: He is a reciter. And so it was said. Then he will be ordered to be dragged along on his face until he is cast into Hell-fire. [Another] will be a man whom Allah had made rich and to whom He had given all kinds of wealth. He will be brought and Allah will make known to his His favors and he will recognize them. [The Almighty] will say: And what did you do about them? He will say: I left no path [un-trodden] in which You like money to be spent without spending in it for Your sake. He will say: You have lied - you did but do so that it might be said [of you]: He is open-handed. And so it was said. Then he will be ordered to be dragged along on his face until he is cast into Hell-fire.

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Would Paradise be filled with Muslims alone? The link has Tradition connected with this aspect.

http://www.searchtruth.com/searchHadith.php?keyword=hoary+Resurrection&translator=1&search=1&book=&start=0&search_word=all&records_display=10

The Tradition is:

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Narrated Abu Said Al-Khudri: The Prophet said, "Allah will say (on the Day of Resurrection), 'O Adam.' Adam will reply, 'Labbaik wa Sa'daik', and all the good is in Your Hand.' Allah will say: 'Bring out the people of the fire.' Adam will say: 'O Allah! How many are the people of the Fire?' Allah will reply: 'From every one thousand, take out nine-hundred-and ninety-nine.' At that time children will become hoary headed, every pregnant female will have a miscarriage, and one will see mankind as drunken, yet they will not be drunken, but dreadful will be the Wrath of Allah." The companions of the Prophet asked, "O Allah's Apostle! Who is that (excepted) one?" He said, "Rejoice with glad tidings; one person will be from you and one-thousand will be from Gog and Magog." The Prophet further said, "By Him in Whose Hands my life is, hope that you will be one-fourth of the people of Paradise." We shouted, "Allahu Akbar!" He added, "I hope that you will be one-third of the people of Paradise." We shouted, "Allahu Akbar!" He said, "I hope that you will be half of the people of Paradise." We shouted, "Allahu Akbar!" He further said, "You (Muslims) (compared with non Muslims) are like a black hair in the skin of a white ox or like a white hair in the skin of a black ox (i.e. your number is very small as compared with theirs)."  (Book #55, Hadith #567)

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Shall we infer that the Muslims, those who obeyed the Prophets, peace be upon them, would be half of the people of Paradise? If so, who are the rest? They might be those who receive the intercession of Allah as indicated by the Tradition in

http://www.searchtruth.com/searchHadith.php?keyword=white+necklaces+Paradise&translator=1&search=1&book=&start=0&search_word=all&records_display=10

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Narrated Abu Sa'id Al-Khudri: We said, "O Allah's Apostle! Shall we see our Lord on the Day of Resurrection?" He said, "Do you have any difficulty in seeing the sun and the moon when the sky is clear?" We said, "No." He said, "So you will have no difficulty in seeing your Lord on that Day as you have no difficulty in seeing the sun and the moon (in a clear sky)." The Prophet then said, "Somebody will then announce, 'Let every nation follow what they used to worship.' So the companions of the cross will go with their cross, and the idolators (will go) with their idols, and the companions of every god (false deities) (will go) with their god, till there remain those who used to worship Allah, both the obedient ones and the mischievous ones, and some of the people of the Scripture. Then Hell will be presented to them as if it were a mirage. Then it will be said to the Jews, "What did you use to worship?' They will reply, 'We used to worship Ezra, the son of Allah.' It will be said to them, 'You are liars, for Allah has neither a wife nor a son. What do you want (now)?' They will reply, 'We want You to provide us with water.' Then it will be said to them 'Drink,' and they will fall down in Hell (instead). Then it will be said to the Christians, 'What did you use to worship?' They will reply, 'We used to worship Messiah, the son of Allah.' It will be said, 'You are liars, for Allah has neither a wife nor a son. What: do you want (now)?' They will say, 'We want You to provide us with water.' It will be said to them, 'Drink,' and they will fall down in Hell (instead). When there remain only those who used to worship Allah (Alone), both the obedient ones and the mischievous ones, it will be said to them, 'What keeps you here when all the people have gone?' They will say, 'We parted with them (in the world) when we were in greater need of them than we are today, we heard the call of one proclaiming, 'Let every nation follow what they used to worship,' and now we are waiting for our Lord.' Then the Almighty will come to them in a shape other than the one which they saw the first time, and He will say, 'I am your Lord,' and they will say, 'You are not our Lord.' And none will speak: to Him then but the Prophets, and then it will be said to them, 'Do you know any sign by which you can recognize Him?' They will say. 'The Shin,' and so Allah will then uncover His Shin whereupon every believer will prostrate before Him and there will remain those who used to prostrate before Him just for showing off and for gaining good reputation. These people will try to prostrate but their backs will be rigid like one piece of a wood (and they will not be able to prostrate). Then the bridge will be laid across Hell." We, the companions of the Prophet said, "O Allah's Apostle! What is the bridge?' He said, "It is a slippery (bridge) on which there are clamps and (Hooks like) a thorny seed that is wide at one side and narrow at the other and has thorns with bent ends. Such a thorny seed is found in Najd and is called As-Sa'dan. Some of the believers will cross the bridge as quickly as the wink of an eye, some others as quick as lightning, a strong wind, fast horses or she-camels. So some will be safe without any harm; some will be safe after receiving some scratches, and some will fall down into Hell (Fire). The last person will cross by being dragged (over the bridge)." The Prophet said, "You (Muslims) cannot be more pressing in claiming from me a right that has been clearly proved to be yours than the believers in interceding with Almighty for their (Muslim) brothers on that Day, when they see themselves safe. They will say, 'O Allah! (Save) our brothers (for they) used to pray with us, fast with us and also do good deeds with us.' Allah will say, 'Go and take out (of Hell) anyone in whose heart you find faith equal to the weight of one (gold) Dinar.' Allah will forbid the Fire to burn the faces of those sinners. They will go to them and find some of them in Hell (Fire) up to their feet, and some up to the middle of their legs. So they will take out those whom they will recognize and then they will return, and Allah will say (to them), 'Go and take out (of Hell) anyone in whose heart you find faith equal to the weight of one half Dinar.' They will take out whomever they will recognize and return, and then Allah will say, 'Go and take out (of Hell) anyone in whose heart you find faith equal to the weight of an atom (or a smallest ant), and so they will take out all those whom they will recognize." Abu Sa'id said: If you do not believe me then read the Holy Verse:-- 'Surely! Allah wrongs not even of the weight of an atom (or a smallest ant) but if there is any good (done) He doubles it.' (4.40) The Prophet added, "Then the prophets and Angels and the believers will intercede, and (last of all) the Almighty (Allah) will say, 'Now remains My Intercession. He will then hold a handful of the Fire from which He will take out some people whose bodies have been burnt, and they will be thrown into a river at the entrance of Paradise, called the water of life. They will grow on its banks, as a seed carried by the torrent grows. You have noticed how it grows beside a rock or beside a tree, and how the side facing the sun is usually green while the side facing the shade is white. Those people will come out (of the River of Life) like pearls, and they will have (golden) necklaces, and then they will enter Paradise whereupon the people of Paradise will say, 'These are the people emancipated by the Beneficent. He has admitted them into Paradise without them having done any good deeds and without sending forth any good (for themselves).' Then it will be said to them, 'For you is what you have seen and its equivalent as well.'"  (Book #93, Hadith #532s)

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Who would be the above to receive the intercession of Allah? As Allah is Just, wouldn’t those who entered Hell Fire just because of the recording on the 120^th day of conception be those receiving Allah’s intercession. Let us hasten to add that any who deserved Hell from among those who were declared to be in Hell on the 120^th day of conception received justice by entering Hell.

It pays to lead a pious life; if our life deserves our place in Paradise, we would enter Paradise either by the intercession of Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, or by the intercession of Allah Himself.

Is Allah unjust? Not at all, He is Most Just.

In the name of Allah, Most Beneficent, Most Merciful.

What is the punishment for killing a believer? The following Verse is relevant.

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S4 V93: If a man kills a believer intentionally his recompense is Hell to abide therein (for ever): and the wrath and curse of Allah are upon him and a dreadful penalty is prepared for him.

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When a pregnant mother aborts, her action is intentional. Does she get punished in Hell because she aborted her child? It depends on the age of the fetus. Up to 120 days of conception, the fetus is simply a piece of flesh as defined in the following Tradition found in

http://www.searchtruth.com/searchHadith.php?keyword=womb+soul+ultimately&translator=1&search=1&book=&start=0&search_word=all&records_display=10

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Narrated 'Abdullah bin Mas'ud: Allah's Apostle the true and truly inspired, narrated to us, "The creation of everyone of you starts with the process of collecting the material for his body within forty days and forty nights in the womb of his mother. Then he becomes a clot of thick blood for a similar period (40 days) and then he becomes like a piece of flesh for a similar period. Then an angel is sent to him (by Allah) and the angel is allowed (ordered) to write four things; his livelihood, his (date of) death, his deeds, and whether he will be a wretched one or a blessed one (in the Hereafter) and then the soul is breathed into him. So one of you may do (good) deeds characteristic of the people of Paradise so much that there is nothing except a cubit between him and Paradise but then what has been written for him decides his behavior and he starts doing (evil) deeds characteristic of the people of Hell (Fire) and (ultimately) enters Hell (Fire); and one of you may do (evil) deeds characteristic of the people of Hell (Fire) so much so that there is nothing except a cubit between him and Hell (Fire), then what has been written for him decides his behavior and he starts doing (good) deeds characteristic of the people of Paradise and ultimately) enters Paradise." (See Hadith No. 430, Vol. 4)  (Book #93, Hadith #546)

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The first 40 days the material for the body is collected. There is no life during the first 40 days. The next 40 days the baby is simply a clot of thick blood. Hence, there is no life during the first 80 days of conception. During the next 40 days it is simply a piece of flesh. There is life only after the soul is breathed in. Until 120 days of conception is over, the womb does not carry any life. Thus, a pregnant Muslim woman does not incur any sin by aborting within 120 days – until 119 days – of conception.

Any abortion performed on or after 120 days of conception is the same as the intentional murder of a believer, and thus the aborting mother runs the risk of landing in Hell.