What the Bible Says…
Whoever corrects a mocker invites insult; whoever rebukes a wicked man incurs abuse. Do not rebuke a mocker or he will hate you. (Proverbs 9:7,8).
What the Qur'an Says…
Those among the children of Israel who disbelieved were cursed by the tongue of David and Jesus, son of Mary. That was because they disobeyed and were ever transgressing beyond bounds. They used not to forbid one another from the wickedness they did. Verily evil was that they used to do! (Qur'an 5: 78,79).
Let there arise of you a band of people inviting to all that is good, enjoying what is right, and forbidding what is wrong and they are the ones who are successful. (Qur'an, 3:104).
And the believers, men and women, are protecting friends one of another; they enjoin the right and forbid the wrong, and they establish worship and they pay the poor-due, and they obey Allah and His Messenger. On them will Allah pour his mercy; for Allah is exalted in power, Wise. (Qur'an, 9:71).
Commentary…
The Bible advises not to rebuke the wicked people in order to avoid hatred and insult. This tolerance towards wickedness resulted in the change and distortion of the religion and the deviation from the teachings of the Prophets in addition to the spread of adultery and evil deeds. Since the Jews didn't use to restrain one another from doing wicked deeds, as soon as the Prophet died they sank into wickedness, adultery and worshiping idols. They did not even wait for the death of Prophet Moses (pbuh); the moment Moses (pbuh) went to the mount, they made the calf and worshiped it.
As for Islam, on the one hand, Allah says in the Qur'an: "Let there be no compulsion in religion. (Qur'an, 2:256). You have the freedom to follow the religion you want and throughout the history of Islam, non-Muslims have enjoyed the highest degree of freedom in the Islamic society; none of the Christians, Jews, Zoroastrians or Hindus has ever been forced to become a Muslim. On the other hand, Islam does not support personal freedom at the expense of Allah's Laws and the rights of the community. Islam does not give the freedom to insult our creator Allah the Almighty, nor does it give the freedom to spread wickedness and temp others to commit evil deeds.
The Quran orders Muslims to command what is good and forbid what is evil. The Islamic teaching is a shield against the storms of wickedness and immortality. Because of this teaching, the religion of Islam has remained pure for fourteen hundred years as if it were preached yesterday, and the Islamic society has remained free from great and shameful sins such as worshiping idols, blasphemy, adultery, fornication, homosexuality, drinking and gambling. Islam does not only want to ensure bodily health, and the cleanness of food and environment, but also wants to purify the society from evil and immoral acts and prevent mental pollution which shakes the belief and corrupts people.
Tuesday, June 2, 2015
Monday, June 1, 2015
Worship
What the Bible Says…
Praise the Lord with the harp; make music to him on the ten-stringed layer. Sing to him a new song; play skillfully, and shout for joy. (Psalm 33:2,3).
Praise the Lord.. Praise; him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise him with the harp and lyre, praise him with the tambourine and dancing, praise him with the strings and flute, praise him with the clash of cymbals… (Psalm 150: 1-5).
What the Qur'an Says…
And of mankind is he who purchases idle talks (i.e. music, singing) to mislead from the path of Allah without knowledge, and takes it by way of mockery. For such there will be a humiliating torment . (Qur'an, 31:6).
Not all of them are alike; a party of the People of the Scripture (Jews and Christians) strand for the right, they recite the Verses of Allah during the hours of the night, prostrating themselves in prayer. (Qur'an, 3:113).
O you who have believed! Bow down, and prostrate yourselves, and worship your Lord and do good that you may be successful. (Qur'an, 22:77).
Only those believe in Our revelations, who, when they are reminded of them, fall down prostrate, and glorify the praises of their Lord, and they are not arrogant. Their sides forsake their beds, to invoke their Lord in fear and hope, and they spend (in charity) out of what We have bestowed on them. No person knows what delights of the eye are kept hidden for believer like him who is rebellious and wicked? They are not alike. (Qur'an. 32:15-18).
Those were they unto whom Allah bestowed His Grace from among the Prophets, of the offspring of Abraham and Israel, and from among those whom We guided and chose. When the Verses of the Most Generous (Allah) were recited unto them, they fell down prostrate and weeping. Then there has succeeded them a later generation who have reined worship and have followed lusts. So they will be thrown in Hell. Except those who repent and believe, and work righteousness. Such will enter Paradise, which the Most Gracious (Allah) has promised to His slaves in the Unseen. Verily, His Promise must come to pass. (Qur'an, 19:58-61).
Commentary...
The purpose of worship in Islam is to purify and cleanse the soul and daily life of sin and evil. The most fundamental and the most important act of worship is 'Salah', which is the five daily prayers. These daily prayers strengthen attachment to Allah and remind of commitments to Him. They help to prevent the Muslims from being dragged into unlawful worldly activities. The prayers are performed five times a day to ensure this purification.
Recite what has been revealed to you of the Book (Qur'an), and perform worship (prayers). Verily, worship prevents from great and shameful sins and evil wicked deeds. (Qur'an 2:45).
Performing prayer in congregation in mosques creates among the Muslims bonds of love and equality. The poor and the rich, the low and the high the black and white, all stand shoulder to shoulder and prostrate themselves before their Lord; racial pride and arrogance die out. They stand in full devotion and humility reciting the Verses of the Qur'an, giving thanks to Allah and asking Him for forgiveness and help without intermediaries and without priests. No other faith can be like Islam in his close, direct and noble relationship with Allah. In the mosque there is no priests claiming the authority to forgive sins on behalf of Allah and turning the hearts of people from pure worship of the one God. In the mosque there is no music to occupy the mind and divert it away from clear thinking and understanding.
Furthermore, worship, in Islam, is not limited to the limited to the mosque only. Every good action is considered an act of worship if it is performed sincerely for the sake of Allah and according to His Law. Even dealing with parents, relatives and people can be acts of worship if they are done according to the instruction of Allah and for His Pleasure. Prophet Muhammed (pbuh) said:
"Removing obstructions and dirt from the way is charity," and he said:
"Giving your brother a smile is charity, and helping a person load his animal is charity."
Praise the Lord with the harp; make music to him on the ten-stringed layer. Sing to him a new song; play skillfully, and shout for joy. (Psalm 33:2,3).
Praise the Lord.. Praise; him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise him with the harp and lyre, praise him with the tambourine and dancing, praise him with the strings and flute, praise him with the clash of cymbals… (Psalm 150: 1-5).
What the Qur'an Says…
And of mankind is he who purchases idle talks (i.e. music, singing) to mislead from the path of Allah without knowledge, and takes it by way of mockery. For such there will be a humiliating torment . (Qur'an, 31:6).
Not all of them are alike; a party of the People of the Scripture (Jews and Christians) strand for the right, they recite the Verses of Allah during the hours of the night, prostrating themselves in prayer. (Qur'an, 3:113).
O you who have believed! Bow down, and prostrate yourselves, and worship your Lord and do good that you may be successful. (Qur'an, 22:77).
Only those believe in Our revelations, who, when they are reminded of them, fall down prostrate, and glorify the praises of their Lord, and they are not arrogant. Their sides forsake their beds, to invoke their Lord in fear and hope, and they spend (in charity) out of what We have bestowed on them. No person knows what delights of the eye are kept hidden for believer like him who is rebellious and wicked? They are not alike. (Qur'an. 32:15-18).
Those were they unto whom Allah bestowed His Grace from among the Prophets, of the offspring of Abraham and Israel, and from among those whom We guided and chose. When the Verses of the Most Generous (Allah) were recited unto them, they fell down prostrate and weeping. Then there has succeeded them a later generation who have reined worship and have followed lusts. So they will be thrown in Hell. Except those who repent and believe, and work righteousness. Such will enter Paradise, which the Most Gracious (Allah) has promised to His slaves in the Unseen. Verily, His Promise must come to pass. (Qur'an, 19:58-61).
Commentary...
The purpose of worship in Islam is to purify and cleanse the soul and daily life of sin and evil. The most fundamental and the most important act of worship is 'Salah', which is the five daily prayers. These daily prayers strengthen attachment to Allah and remind of commitments to Him. They help to prevent the Muslims from being dragged into unlawful worldly activities. The prayers are performed five times a day to ensure this purification.
Recite what has been revealed to you of the Book (Qur'an), and perform worship (prayers). Verily, worship prevents from great and shameful sins and evil wicked deeds. (Qur'an 2:45).
Performing prayer in congregation in mosques creates among the Muslims bonds of love and equality. The poor and the rich, the low and the high the black and white, all stand shoulder to shoulder and prostrate themselves before their Lord; racial pride and arrogance die out. They stand in full devotion and humility reciting the Verses of the Qur'an, giving thanks to Allah and asking Him for forgiveness and help without intermediaries and without priests. No other faith can be like Islam in his close, direct and noble relationship with Allah. In the mosque there is no priests claiming the authority to forgive sins on behalf of Allah and turning the hearts of people from pure worship of the one God. In the mosque there is no music to occupy the mind and divert it away from clear thinking and understanding.
Furthermore, worship, in Islam, is not limited to the limited to the mosque only. Every good action is considered an act of worship if it is performed sincerely for the sake of Allah and according to His Law. Even dealing with parents, relatives and people can be acts of worship if they are done according to the instruction of Allah and for His Pleasure. Prophet Muhammed (pbuh) said:
"Removing obstructions and dirt from the way is charity," and he said:
"Giving your brother a smile is charity, and helping a person load his animal is charity."
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