Messenger "Mohammad" (peace be upon him) in Bible

When i surfed the web , i saw a good article about our Messenger "Mohammad" (peace be upon him) in Bible written by Dr. Khalil Ahmad Nasir . let's share with you a brief of it :

These are just a few of the many prophecies found in the Bible about the advent of that great prophet who was going to lead the world into all truth.
Muhammad was going to be, in the words of Solomon, "altogether lovely" which in Hebrew is expressed as Mahmaddim. (Song of Solomon 5: 10-16) He was the fulfillment of the "stone" of Daniel's dream. (Daniel 2:34-35) He was the coming of the lord of the vineyard himself as foretold by Jesus.
True, there are some prophecies about Jesus as well in the Old Testament but it is also a fact that there are many which cannot rightly be applied to him. These could be fulfilled in the person of the one who was coming with a Law and whose mission was to be not just to "the lost sheep of the house of Israel" but to the whole world, one who was spoken of by Jesus as the Comforter and Spirit of Truth. The predictions about Muhammad in the Bible are clear and precise.
The door to the Kingdom of Heaven has been opened by the fulfillment of these prophecies. Blessed are those who accept the call of the Lord of Heaven and Earth to enter His Kingdom and receive His communion.
And our last observation is that all praise is due to God, the Sustainer of the Universe.

Is Hijab a obligation or a choice?

let us first define some Arabic terms related to your question: Islam, hijab, and khimar. Arabic Words Have Many Meanings Arabic is a language very rich in shades of meaning for every word; translations often fail to do justice to Arabic verses for lack of appropriate vocabulary.






Consequently, it is necessary, when addressing controversial issues, to look closely at the meaning of the Arabic words used in the original context. Let’s start from the meaning of the name of this religion: Islam. Meaning of the Arabic Word Islam and How Muslims Regard Islamic Rules Islam means total submission to Allah—in mind, heart, body, and soul—total acceptance of His laws and rules without doubts or arguments, total obedience to Him and His Messenger, and total refusal of shirk (associating anyone with Allah) in all its forms. The Qur’an states what means:
*{It is not for a believer, man or woman, when Allah and His Messenger have decreed a matter that they should have any option in their decision. And whoever disobeys Allah and His Messenger, he has indeed strayed into a plain error}* (Al-Ahzab 33:36).Muslims should not argue the commands, rules, or laws of Allah and His Prophet (peace be upon him). They do not need proof from Allah for everything He asks of them. Their obedience is the mark of their true faith. In addition, Islam is a complete way of life that should be wholly adhered to by its followers. Thus, Muslims are not supposed to worship selectively, picking out whatever rules or rituals appeal to them and leaving the rest. Denying a basic Islamic rule or ritual is a serious sin. Meaning of the Arabic Word Hijab Hijab in Arabic means “barrier” or “screen” and thus it appears in various Qur’anic verses, referring to many things besides the woman’s head cover. For example: Allah Almighty says in the Qur’an that He only talks to humans from behind a hijab. The Qur’an says what means:
*{It is not given to any human being that Allah should speak to him unless [it be] by revelation, or from behind a veil}* (Ash-Shura 42:51).The Virgin Mary worshipped behind a hijab:
*{She placed a screen [to screen herself] from them}* (Maryam 19:17).And, on Judgment Day there will be a hijab between the residents of Paradise and the residents of Hell:
*{And between them will be a [barrier] screen}* (Al-A`raf 7:51).In all these verses, the Arabic word hijab was used to mean different things. In this light, let’s ponder the logic of hijab. The Qur’an teaches us to look around us with open eyes and minds, to think, rationalize, and reach logical conclusions. If we look at the universe, from the tiny atom to the huge celestial bodies, don’t we see how everything important or precious is protected and concealed with a cover? Think of the skin to the human body, the womb to the baby, the plasma wall to the cell, the bark to the tree trunks, the shell to the egg, even the entire planet we live on is enjoying the protection of a “hijab”—which we call the atmosphere—against the dangers of asteroids and harmful cosmic rays. Think how other planets—Mars for example— deprived of their “hijab” have suffered much harm. Meaning of the Word Khimar in Arabic The Arabic word khimar means “top-cover” and it also applies to many things besides women’s head covers. For example, it applies to the top covering a pot or jar, to any head cover worn by people even men. Notably, that’s where liquor and narcotics got their Arabic name khamr because they “cover” the reasoning when a person is intoxicated. Khimar is the word used to prescribe the head cover of Muslim women in the verse you referred to. The Qur’an says what means:
*{And say to the believing women that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty; that they should not display their beauty and ornaments except what (must ordinarily) appear thereof; that they should draw veils over their bosoms and not display their beauty except to their husbands, their fathers, their husbands’ fathers, their sons...}* (An-Nur 24:31).The meaning apparent to the Arabic reader is that in the presence of men who are not mahrams to a Muslim women, she should wear a head cover that extends long enough to cover the bosom, not that only the bosom is covered. Another verse in Surat Al-Ahzab clarifies this further. The Qur’an says what means:
*{O Prophet! Tell thy wives and daughters, and the believing women that they should cast their outer garments over their persons [when abroad]; that is most convenient, that they should be known [as such] and not molested. And Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful}* (Al-Ahzab 33:59).The Arabic word used here to indicate the cover is the plural of jilbab. Ibn Taymiyyah stated in Majmu` Al-Fatawa 22:110-111: “The jilbab is a cover which is large enough to cover the woman’s head and the rest of her body hanging from the top of her head.” Further, the Qur’an instructs the Prophet’s Companions in words that mean:
*{And when you ask [the Prophet’s wives] for anything you want, ask them from behind a screen}* (Al-Ahzab 33:53).The meaning of hijab in this verse is any object that conceals a woman such as a wall, a door, or clothes. The ruling of the verse, even though it was revealed concerning the wives of the Prophet (peace be upon him), generally encompasses all Muslim women. This is because the wisdom behind the ruling is specified in the remainder of the verse. It says what means:
*{that makes for greater purity for your hearts and theirs}* (Al-Ahzab 33:53).This wisdom is general among all men and women. Therefore the generality of the wisdom also indicates the general application of the rule as apparent in surah 33, verse 59 above. Islam uplifted women, gave them equality, and expects them to maintain their status. The status of women in Islam is often the target of attacks in the secular media. The hijab or the Islamic dress is cited by many as an example of the “subjugation” of women under Islamic law. Yet, the truth is that 1400 years ago, Islam recognized women’s rights in a way that grants them the utmost protection and respect as well, a combination other systems fail to offer. Islam granted them freedom of expression, political participation, business and financial rights, and asked the rest of society to hold them in high esteem and offer them due respect as mothers, sisters, wives, and daughters. In the Qur’an, Allah Almighty first mentions lowering the gaze for men before lowering the gaze and wearing hijab for women. The Qur’an teaches us what means:
*{Say to the believing men that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty: that will make for greater purity for them: and Allah is well acquainted with all that they do}* (An-Nur 24:30).The moment a man looks at a woman with any brazen or unashamed thought in mind, he should lower his gaze. The next verse of Surat An-Nur is the one commanding believing women to wear the hijab. Islam expects women to maintain their status by following Allah’s rules designed for their advantage. Hijab is one such rule. Six Criteria for Hijab According to the Qur’an and Sunnah, there are basically six criteria for observing hijab: 1. It is obligatory for males to cover at least from the navel to the knees. For women, it is obligatory to cover the complete body except the face and the hands up to the wrist. If they wish to, they can cover even these parts of the body. Some scholars insist that the face and the hands are part of the obligatory extent of hijab, especially if temptation (fitna) is feared in times and places where Islamic rules are not prevalent or if security is scarce. All the remaining five criteria are the same for men and women: 2. The clothes should be loose and should not reveal the figure. 3. The clothes should not be transparent or see-through. 4. The clothes should not be so glamorous as to attract attention. 5. The clothes should not resemble those of the opposite sex. 6. The clothes should not resemble those of the unbelievers, that is, clothes that identify or are symbols of the unbelievers’ religions. Hijab Includes Conduct Complete hijab, besides the six criteria of clothing, also includes the moral conduct, behavior, attitude, and intention of the individual. A person only fulfilling the criteria of hijab of the clothes is observing hijab in a limited sense. Hijab of the clothes should be accompanied by hijab of the eyes, the heart, the thought, and the intention. It also includes the way a person walks, talks, and behaves. Therefore, the hypocritical use of hijab is not a good example of Muslim conduct. Hijab Prevents Molestation The Qur’an says that hijab enables women to be recognized as modest women and this will also protect them from being molested. Suppose there is a hooligan who is waiting to tease a girl. Whom will he tease? a girl wearing hijab, or one wearing a mini skirt or shorts? Hijab does not degrade a woman but uplifts a woman and protects her modesty and chastity. Lifting the Veil Will Not Uplift Women Woman’s liberalization mostly disguises exploitation of her body, degradation of her soul, and deprivation of her honor. Non-Muslim societies claim to have uplifted women via allowing them to expose their bodies, but on the contrary, this has actually degraded them to mere tools in the hands of pleasure seekers and sex marketers, hidden behind the colorful screen of “art” and “culture.” Muslim women should be well aware of these facts. They should be aware that hijab protects them from evil glances and evil desires of those who are sick in the heart, as described in the Qur’an. Muslim women must adhere to Allah’s rules and not be persuaded or tempted by the media that opposes hijab or belittles its significance, as those who spread these ideas only desire evil for her. The Qur’an warns by saying what means:
*{But the wish of those who follow their lusts is that you should deviate away [from the right path], -far, far away}* (An-Nisaa’ 4:27).I hope this answers your question and satisfies your inquiries. Thank you and please keep in touch.

EQUAL STATUS OF THE GENDER IN QURANIC SOCIETY

The first of these characteristics of a Qur'anic society which affect women is that both sexes are held to be equal in status and worth. In other words, the Qur'an teaches us that women and men are all creatures of Allah, existing on a level of equal worth and value, although their equal importance does not substantiate a claim for their equivalence or perfect identity. This equality of male and female is documentable in the Qur'an in passages pertaining to at least four aspects of human existence and interaction.

A. Religious Matters The first of these Qur'anic confirmations of male-female equality are contained in statements pertaining to such religious matters as the origins of humanity, or to religious obligations and rewards.

1. Origins of Humanity. The Qur'an is devoid of the stories found in the Old Testament which denigrate women. There is no hint that the first woman created by God is a creature of lesser worth than the first male, or that she is a kind of appendage formed from one of his ribs. Instead, male and female are created, we read, min nafsin wahidatin ("from a single soul or self") to complement each other (Qur'an 4:1; 7:189). Whereas the Torah or Old Testament treats Eve as the temptress of the Garden of Eden, who aids Satan in enticing Adam to disobey God, the Qur'an deals with the pair with perfect equity. Both are equally guilty of sinning; both are equally punished by God with expulsion from the Garden; and both are equally forgiven when they repent.

2. Religious Obligations and Rewards. The Qur'an is not less clear in commanding equality for men and women in its directives regarding religious obligations and rewards. We read:

B. Ethical Obligations and Rewards Secondly, the Qur'an reveals to mankind the desired equality of the two sexes by establishing the same ethical obligations and rewards for women and men.
If Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala had not deemed the two sexes of equal status and value, such explicit statements of their equality in ethical obligations and rewards would not have been made in the Qur'an.
C. Education Although the more specific commands for the equal rights of women and men to pursue education can be found in the hadith literature, the Qur'an does at least imply the pursuit of knowledge by all Muslims regardless of their sex. For example, it repeatedly commands all readers to read, to recite, to think, to contemplate, as well as to learn from the signs (ayat) of Allah in nature. In fact, the very first revelation to Prophet Muhammad (S) was concerned with knowledge. In a Qur'anic society, there can never be a restriction of this knowledge to one sex. It is the duty of every Muslim and every Muslimah to pursue knowledge throughout life, even if it should lead the seeker to China, we are told. The Prophet (S) even commanded that the slave girls be educated, and he asked Shifa' bint 'Abdillah to instruct his wife Hafsah bint 'Umar. Lectures of the Prophet (S) were attended by audiences of both men and women; and by the time of the Prophet's death, there were many women scholars.

D. Legal Rights
A fourth evidence in the Qur'an for the equality of men and women is its specification of legal rights which are guaranteed for every individual from cradle to grave. Unlike the situation in the West, where until the last century it was impossible for a married woman to hold property on her own, to contract with other persons, or to dispose of her property without the consent of her husband, the Qur'an proclaims the right of every woman to buy and sell, to contract and to earn, and to hold and manage her own money and property. In addition to these rights, the Qur'an grants woman a share in the inheritance of the family (4:7-11), warns against depriving her of that inheritance (4:19), specifies that the dower (mahr) of her marriage should belong to her alone and never be taken by her husband (2:229; 4:19-21,25) unless offered by the woman as a free gift (4:44).

As with any privilege, these rights of women carry corresponding responsibilities. If she commits a civil offence, the Qur'an tells us, woman's penalty is no less or no more than that of a man in a similar case (5:41; 24:2). If she is wronged or harmed, she is entitled to compensation just like a man.

It is clear that the Qur'an not only recommends, but is even insistent upon, the equality of women and men as an essential characteristic of a Qur'anic society. The claim of the non-Muslim critics that Islam denigrates women is denied emphatically by the Qur'an. Similarly denied are the arguments of certain Muslims that women are religiously, intellectually and ethically inferior to men, as Jewish and Christian literatures had earlier maintained.

Islamic Masques

Please press on any image to enlarge .

the state of discipline in islam

Not only that discipline is a secret of the success of great men, our universe also stands on the same foundation. If the solar system is working regularly, if the stars are revolving around the sun systematically and if there is no flaw function for millenniums it is only due to the fact that the solar system is based on order.

Order is found in everything around us from the largest bodies of the universe to the minutest thing called “atom”. Everything in this world is made up of tiny atoms. A wonderful discipline is in action and it is seen in each and every movement of the universe. There are tiny atoms in every system.

Every atom has its own center, which is called ‘proton’. Many ’electrons’ move round the center like stars and moons. In the words of a great Muslim scholar: “If you tear up the heart of every atom you will find its sun in its center.”

The universe is the best guide for all of us. We should learn about life and the causes and reasons of its stability and success from it. This universe tells that: “The secret of my survival is the regularity and orderliness which my Creator has ingrained in me.”

If the educational system of any country becomes chaotic, if the trade and economy of any nation is disturbed, if the balance of supply and demand is upset, if the law and order of any country turns corrupt, if the army gets out of control the end of that nation becomes certain.

When Imam Ali (pbuh), Commander of the Faithful, was fatally injured by the sword of Ibne Muljim, the first bequest uttered by him to his sons, after advising them to refrain from Allah’s (S.W.T) disobedience, was regarding this orderliness in every affair: “I advise you to refrain from disobeying Allah (S.W.T) and to abide by law and order and regularity in life.”

One of the ways of orderliness is to divide our daily time according to our needs. Doing every necessary work in its proper time is life. We should further this foundation of life. We must refrain from disorderliness and indiscipline because irregularity ends propriety and destroys our talent and competence.

The leader of the God-fearing people, Imam Ali (pbuh) says, “A Muslim must divide his time into three parts.

One part should be reserved for Allah’s (S.W.T) worship, one for earning livelihood and the third for attending to the demands of the body which cannot be ignored.”

If there was no orderliness or discipline in our past can we benefit from such orderliness in the remaining years of our life?

“Certainly, we can …” because the three stages of our life, childhood, youth and old age are like three compartments of a ship which can be separated from one another by pressing a button. If a compartment is damaged it can be separated from the rest.

Only he is successful who can, using his wisdom, separate different compartments of his life and deal whit them separately.

It is pitiable that man, instead of gaining from the present opportunities, should remain sorrowful for his past, thus wasting the time available to him and become careless about brining order in the forthcoming time.

A competent minister was carrying out his administrative duties with the help of his assistants.

When asked as to how he was arranging his affairs he replied, “I never postpone today’s work for tomorrow. In my view it is not correct to delay anything”.

We see signs in offices and workshops saying: Time is Gold. It surprises me because the value of time becomes more than gold if everything is done in time.

Hijab

According to Ancient civilizations, Head covering or Hijab used to be part of their customs. This custom can be found both in Ancient Iran, Jew and Hindus.
According to a famous American Historian Will Durant:
“If a Jew lady lacks in following the rules like for example she would go without covering her head in street or in front of other men, or even her voice get heard by other men or neighbours. In this case her husband has the right to divorce her without giving her dowry.”From above text it is apparent that the head covering rules in Jew was rather HARD comparing to that of Islam.
Will Durant further refers to the ancient Persian Civilization, Volume 1 History of Civilization pg 552:“After Daruish the status of woman particularly women from high social background, decline in their freedom came into existence. The women from lower social background somehow could manage to keep their freedom. This was mainly because they had to leave their homes to be in society to earn money and to survive. But women in other economical or financial level were not allowed to leave their homes while in the state of menstrual.”These types of customs took continuation and becoame more and tougher for women. The women from high social background couldn’t dare to go out except in the stretcher (special carrier made out of wood, with four men, each man holding one side of the stretcher) which was totally covered from all four sides with curtains. The women didn’t have even the permission to openly talk to any man. Ladies who were married were not allowed to see any man, even their own father and brothersWhether the concept of Head covering or Hijab is purely coming from Islam Prospective?Will Durant Further states: The Hijab during Ancient Persian times brought the concept of Hijab to Arab world and in particularly in Muslim nation.
We know that Hijab in Islam has nothing to do with the customs and rules of Hijab during Ancient Persian or in Jew. In Islam woman is only not allowed to do her obligatory prayers and fasting and she is not allowed to sleep with her legal partner during the time of her menstrual. Other than this she is completely free to go out in the society or associate with public. The concept of “prison yourself at home” during menstrual time doesn’t exist in Islam at all.
If will Durant is trying to convince us that the whole concept of Hijab was transfer to Muslim world through other civilizations like Ancient Iran or Jew. Again such statement is wrong since Verses of Quran relating Hijab were revealed before Iranian became Muslim.
Arab society according to Will Durant:
Will Durant Explanation about an Arab woman before Islam is no doubt true, but his opinion about the end of first century and beginning of the second century after Islam is doubtful. He talks as if during prophet time there wasn’t a smallest concept of Hijab in Arab and an Arab woman would freely go around with no Hijab or head covering. The History proof this is wrong to us, Islam did brought a lot of changes to the dress code of a woman. Most of Arab ladies used to dress according to the Islamic dress code as explained in the Quranic verses. This fact can be verified by the tradition of Prophet’s Wife like Ayesha.

In one of the writing by Jawahir Lal Nehru the first minister of India, also believed that emergence of Hijab in an Arab nation is from other non Muslim civilization like Iran and Rome. In his book “A look into the history of world” Vol1 pg 328: after praising the Islamic civilization, He talks about the afterward changes in Islam by other civilization.

“One big change that slowly took place in Arab society was in woman sect. In Arabia for woman there was no custom of head covering or Hijab. Arab women wouldn’t be separated in society from men. Rather an Arab woman would have public appearance, attend speeches etc. Arab nation after Islam copied different customs from empire like ancient Iran and Rome. Arab conquered empire Rome and Iran but adopt their customs and etiquettes. Therefore the custom of Hijab has come from other civilizations.”What Jawahir says doesn’t match with history of Islam. We can say that the relationship between Arab Muslim and Non Arab Muslim did add some different types of customs in practising Hijab or made it more strict comparing to Prophet Mohammad time, but saying that Hijab was a concept totally introduce in Islamic world by other civilizations, is incorrect.
Conclusion:
At the end what is apparent is that Hijab as a custom and practice was present in other civilisations. Islam didn’t bring this concept of Hijab as a whole new practice. Islam did make the concept of Hijab easier and took the harsh law which used to be practice by other culture and traditions. For example customs like: woman not associating with man in society, woman get prisoner at homes while in the state of menstrual, women voice couldn’t be heard by any man, woman not allowed even to see their own brothers and father and many more.
Of course we can prove this by the history, Prophet Mohammad daughter like Hazrat Fatima and granddaughter Like Hazrat Zainab had gone in front of public and had given hard speeches to the ruler of that time.
The question which arise here is about the in depth philosophy of Hijab. The philosophy and reasons of Hijab in Islam is same as the philosophy in other ancient civilization. We shall discuss in the later articles.

source:Tebyan.net

The story of one new muslim

let's to present a biography of a new Muslim .

(The photo is symbolic)

I am a Muslimah living in my home-town of Dayton, Ohio where I have lived most of my life. I became interested in Islam during a stint as a travel nurse in Baltimore, MD where I had a Muslim tennis partner. I learned most of my information about Islam on the internet and met many interesting people on-line, including my darling husband of 3 years now.
They say that hind site is 20-20, and I would tend to agree. Early in my college career I taught teenage Sunday school classes at my Methodist church. My teaching style was a bit different because I preferred group discussions to actual lectures and this seemed to work well. This also helped me to avoid any cognitive dissonance with the Jesus as Son of God idea which even then made no sense to me. I guess I was at that church because that's all I knew, even though my parents didn't really push religion on my brother and I as children. Then there came an art history class I took in which I did a special paper for the final on the historical image of Jesus in art throughout history. What I learned was that the current, blonde haired blue eyed, Jesus that we envision today is really the projection of one particular German painter named Peter Paul Rubins. This man believed that we each have god-like qualities and are a part of god therefore he had ever right to project his personal image as that of Jesus. Later I took another class called Understanding the Bible which took a look at the development of the Bible in history in a non-religious context. What I learned from this class was that it was a human decision as to what was included in Biblical text not divine and therefore subject to error. Also that there was no real way to trace the texts to the original source or author.
My early encounter with Islam addressed each of my problems with organized Christian religion. Jesus was a prophet and was immaculately conceived child. Prophets were all good and respectable people...not like some of the Bible stories portray them. In fact all the well known Christian figures have a place in Islam. The Quran is straight from God, and there is a clear difference between the Sunnah and the holy book. Even the intense materialistic tendencies in society were addressed. Thus Islam helped me realize there is one true religion that encompasses all the aspects of daily life. I particularly am fond of the role of women in Islam because we hold an honored place if we choose to live appropriately.
Writed by : Judy Sabyrah Atlagh