Tuesday, December 18, 2007

Orgin of man , pairs in sexes

ORGIN OF MAN

-SURAH 7, AYAT 189-190:

189 He it is who did create you from a single soul, and therefrom did make his mate that he might take rest in her. And when he covered her she bore a light burden, and she passed (unnoticed) with it, but when it became heavy they cried unto Allah, their Lord, saying: If thou givest unto us aright we shall be of the thankful.
190 But when He gave unto them aright, they ascribed unto Him partners in respect of that which He had given them. High is He exalted above all that they associate (with Him).
191 Attribute they as partners to Allah those who created naught, but are themselves created,

-SURAH 2, AYAT 30-32:

30 And when thy Lord said unto the angels: Lo! I am about to place a viceroy in the earth, they said: wilt Thou place therein one who will do harm therein and will shed blood, while we, we hymn Thy praise and sanctify Thee? He said: Surely I know that which ye know not.
31 And He taught Adam all the names, then showed them to the angels, saying: Inform me of the names of these, if ye are truthful.
32 They said: Be glorified! We have no knowledge saving that which Thou hast taught us. Lo! Thou, only Thou, art the Knower, the Wise.

-SURAH 15, AYAT 28-29:

28 And (remember) when thy Lord said unto the angels: Lo! I am creating a mortal out of potter's clay of black mud altered.
29 So, when I have made him and have breathed into him of My spirit, do ye fall down, prostrating yourselves unto him.

-SURAH 35, AYAT 11-12:

11 Allah created you from dust, then from a little fluid, then He made you pairs (the male and female). No female beareth or bringeth forth save with His knowledge. And no one groweth old who groweth old, nor is aught lessened of his life, but it is recorded in a Book. Lo! that is easy for Allah.
12 And two seas are not alike: this, fresh, sweet, food to drink, this (other) bitter, salt. And from them both ye eat fresh meat and derive the ornament that ye wear. And thou seest the ship cleaving them with its prow that ye may seek of His bounty, and that haply ye may give thanks.

-SURAH 23, AYAT 12-14:

12 Verily We created man from a product of wet earth;
13 Then placed him as a drop (of seed) in a safe lodging;
14 Then fashioned We the drop a clot, then fashioned We the clot a little lump, then fashioned We the little lump bones, then clothed the bones with flesh, and then produced it another creation. So blessed be Allah, the Best of Creators!

-SURAH 86, AYAT 5-8:

5 So let man consider from what he is created.
6 He is created from a gushing fluid
7 That issued from between the loins and ribs.
8 Lo! He verily is Able to return him (unto life)

-SURAH 64, AYAH 3:

3 He created the heavens and the earth with truth, and He shaped you and made good your shapes, and unto Him is the journeying.

-SURAH 23, AYAT 78-80:

78 He it is Who hath created for you ears and eyes and hearts. Small thanks give ye!
79 And He it is Who hath sown you broadcast in the earth, and unto Him ye will be gathered.
80 And He it is Who giveth life and causeth death, and His is the difference of night and day. Have ye then no sense?

-SURAH 21, AYAH 7:

7 And We sent not (as Our messengers) before thee other than men whom We inspired. Ask the followers of the Reminder if ye know not?

-SURAH 3, AYAH 33:

33 Lo! Allah preferred Adam and Noah and the Family of Abraham and the Family of 'Imran above (all His) creatures.

-SURAH 75, AYAT 36-39:

36 Thinketh man that he is to be left aimless?
37 Was he not a drop of fluid which gushed forth?
38 Then he became a clot; then (Allah) shaped and fashioned
39 And made of him a pair, the male and female.
40 Is not He (who doeth so) able to bring the dead to life?

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PAIRS IN SEXES


SURAH 36, AYAH 36:

36 Glory be to Him Who created all the sexual pairs, of that which the earth groweth, and of themselves, and of that which they know not!

SURAH 42, AYAT 11-12:

11 The Creator of the heavens and the earth. He hath made for you pairs of yourselves, and of the cattle also pairs, whereby He multiplieth you. Naught is as His likeness; and He is the Hearer, the Seer.
12 His are the keys of the heavens and the earth. He enlargeth providence for whom He will and straiteneth (it for whom He will). Lo! He is Knower of all things.

SURAH 55, AYAT 52-53:

52 Wherein is every kind of fruit in pairs.
53 Which is it, of the favors of your Lord, that ye deny?

SURAH 13, AYAH 3:

3 And He it is who spread out the earth and placed therein firm hills and flowing streams, and of all fruits be placed therein two spouses (male and female). He covereth the night with the day. Lo! herein verily are portents for people who take thought.

Water in the quran ..


WATER


SURAH 24, AYAH 45:

45 Allah hath created every animal of water. Of them is (a kind) that goeth upon its belly and (a kind) that goeth upon two legs and (a kind) that goeth upon four. Allah createth what He will. Lo! Allah is Able to do all things.

SURAH 30, AYAH 48:

48 Allah is He who sendeth the winds so that they raise clouds, and spreadeth them along the sky as pleaseth Him, and causeth them to break and thou seest the rain downpouring from within them. And when He maketh it to fall on whom He will of His bondmen, lo! they rejoice;

SURAH 2, AYAH 22:

22 Who hath appointed the earth a resting-place for you, and the sky a canopy; and causeth water to pour down from the sky, thereby producing fruits as food for you. And do not set up rivals to Allah when ye know (better).

SURAH 2, AYAH 164:

164 Lo! in the creation of the heavens and the earth, and the difference of night and day, and the ships which run upon the sea with that which is of use to men, and the water which Allah sendeth down from the sky, thereby reviving the earth after its death, and dispersing all kinds of beasts therein, and (in) the ordinance of the winds, and the clouds obedient between heaven and earth: are signs (of Allah's sovereignty) for people who have sense.

SURAH 18, AYAH 46:

46 Wealth and children are an ornament of life of the world. But the good deeds which endure are better in thy Lord's sight for reward, and better in respect of hope.

SURAH 23, AYAH 18:

18 And We send down from the sky water in measure, and We give it lodging in the earth, and lo! We are able to withdraw it.

SURAH 54, AYAH 12:

12 And caused the earth to gush forth springs, so that the waters met for a predestined purpose.

SURAH 67, AYAH 30:

30 Say: Have ye thought: If (all) your water were to disappear into the earth, who then could bring you gushing water?

SURAH 25, AYAT 47-48:

47 And He it is Who maketh night a covering for you, and sleep repose, and maketh day a resurrection.
48 And He it is Who sendeth the winds, glad tidings heralding His mercy, and We send down purifying water from the sky.

SURAH 35, AYAH 12:

12 And two seas are not alike: this, fresh, sweet, food to drink, this (other) bitter, salt. And from them both ye eat fresh meat and derive the ornament that ye wear. And thou seest the ship cleaving them with its prow that ye may seek of His bounty, and that haply ye may give thanks.

SURAH 6, AYAH 59:

59 And with Him are the keys of the invisible. None but He knoweth them. And He knoweth what is in the land and the sea. Not a leaf falleth but He knoweth it, not a grain amid the darkness of the earth, naught of wet or dry but (it is noted) in a clear record.

SURAH 45, AYAH 5:

5 And the difference of night and day and the provision that Allah sendeth down from the sky and thereby quickeneth the earth after her death, and the ordering of the winds, are portents for a people who have sense.

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Creation of the universe in the quran

CREATION OF THE UNIVERSE


SURAH 1, AYAH 1:

1 In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful.
2 Praise be to Allah, Lord of the Worlds,

SURAH 21, AYAH 30:

30 Have not those who disbelieve known that the heavens and the earth were of one piece, then We parted them, and We made every living thing of water? Will they not then believe?

SURAH 22, AYAH 47:

47 And they will bid thee hasten on the Doom, and Allah faileth not His promise, but lo! a Day with Allah is as a thousand years of what ye reckon.

SURAH 70, AYAT 3-4:

3 From Allah, Lord of the Ascending Stairways
4 (Whereby) the angels and the Spirit ascend unto Him in a Day whereof the span is fifty thousand years.

SURAH 25, AYAH 59:

59 Who created the heavens and the earth and all that is between them in six Days, then He mounted the Throne. The Beneficent! Ask any one informed concerning Him!

SURAH 7, AYAT 54-56:

54 Lo! your Lord is Allah Who created the heavens and the earth in six Days, then mounted He the Throne. He covereth the night with the day, which is in haste to follow it, and hath made the sun and the moon and the stars subservient by His command. His verily is all creation and commandment Blessed be Allah, the Lord of the Worlds!
55 O mankind! Call upon your Lord humbly and in secret. Lo! He loveth not aggressors.
56 Work not confusion in the earth after the fair ordering (thereof), and call on Him in fear and hope. Lo! the mercy of Allah is nigh unto the good.

SURAH 41, AYAT 9-12:

9 Say (O Muhammad, unto the idolaters): Disbelieve ye verily in Him Who created the earth in two Days, and ascribe ye unto Him rivals? He (and none else) is the Lord of the Worlds.

10 He placed therein firm hills rising above it, and blessed it and measured therein its sustenance in four Days, alike for (all) who ask;
11 Then turned He to the heaven when it was smoke, and said unto it and unto the earth: Come both of you, willingly or loth. They said: We come, obedient.
12 Then He ordained the seven heavens in two Days and inspired in each heaven its mandate; and we decked the nether heaven with lamps, and rendered it inviolable. That is the measuring of the Mighty, the Knower.

SURAH 65, AYAH 12:

12 Allah it is who hath created seven heavens, and of the earth the like thereof. The commandment cometh down among them slowly, that ye may know that Allah is Able to do all things, and that Allah surroundeth all things in knowledge.

SURAH 36, AYAT 38-40:

38 And the sun runneth on unto a resting place for him. That is the measuring of the Mighty, the Wise.
39 And for the moon We have appointed mansions till she return like an old shrivelled palm leaf.
40 It is not for the sun to overtake the moon, nor doth the night outstrip the day. They float each in an orbit.

SURAH 25, AYAH 61:

61 Blessed be He Who hath placed in the heaven mansions of the stars, and hath placed therein a great lamp and a moon giving light!

SURAH 21, AYAH 32:

32 And We have made the sky a roof withheld (from them). Yet they turn away from its portents.

SURAH 31, AYAH 10:

10 He hath created the heavens without supports that ye can see, and hath cast into the earth firm hills, so that it quake not with you; and He hath dispersed therein all kinds of beasts. And We send down water from the sky and We cause (plants) of every goodly kind to grow therein.

SURAH 51, AYAT 47-49:

47 We have built the heaven with might, and We it is who make the vast extent (thereof).
48 And the earth have We laid out, how gracious was the Spreader (thereof)!
49 And all things We have created by pairs, that haply ye may reflect.

SURAH 24, AYAT 44-45:

44 Allah causeth the revolution of the day and the night. Lo! herein is indeed a lesson for those who see.
45 Allah hath created every animal of water. Of them is (a kind) that goeth upon its belly and (a kind) that goeth upon two legs and (a kind) that goeth upon four. Allah createth what He will. Lo! Allah is Able to do all things.

SURAH 30, AYAT 8-9:

8 Have they not pondered upon themselves? Allah created not the heavens and the earth, and that which is between them, save with truth and for a destined end. But truly many of mankind are disbelievers in the meeting with their Lord.
9 Have they not traveled in the land and seen the nature of the consequence for those who were before them? They were stronger than these in power, and they dug the earth and built upon it more than these have built. Messengers of their own came unto them with clear proofs (of Allah's Sovereignty). Surely Allah wronged them not, but they did wrong themselves.

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Space and time in the quran

SPACE AND TIME


SURAH 22, AYAH 47:

47 And they will bid thee hasten on the Doom, and Allah faileth not His promise, but lo! a Day with Allah is as a thousand years of what ye reckon.

SURAH 70, AYAT 3-4:

3 From Allah, Lord of the Ascending Stairways
4 (Whereby) the angels and the Spirit ascend unto Him in a Day whereof the span is fifty thousand years.

SURAH 21, AYAT 30-33:

30 Have not those who disbelieve known that the heavens and the earth were of one piece, then We parted them, and We made every living thing of water? Will they not then believe?
31 And We have placed in the earth firm hills lest it quake with them, and We have placed therein ravines as roads that haply they may find their way.
32 And We have made the sky a roof withheld (from them). Yet they turn away from its portents.
33 And He it is Who created the night and the day, and the sun and the moon. They float, each in an orbit.

SURAH 55, AYAT 33-34:

33 O company of jinn and men, if ye have power to penetrate (all) regions of the heavens and the earth; then penetrate (them)! Ye will never penetrate them save with (Our) sanction.
34 Which is it, of the favors of your Lord, that ye deny?

SURAH 15, AYAH 44:

44 It hath seven gates, and each gate hath an appointed portion.

SURAH 23, AYAH 17:

17 And We have created above you seven paths, and We are never unmindful of creation.

SURAT 36, AYAT 36-44:

36 Glory be to Him Who created all the sexual pairs, of that which the earth groweth, and of themselves, and of that which they know not!
37 A token unto them is night. We strip it of the day, and lo! they are in darkness.
38 And the sun runneth on unto a resting place for him. That is the measuring of the Mighty, the Wise.
39 And for the moon We have appointed mansions till she return like an old shrivelled palm leaf.
40 It is not for the sun to overtake the moon, nor doth the night outstrip the day. They float each in an orbit.
41 And a token unto them is that We bear their offspring in the laden ship,
42 And have created for them of the like thereof whereon they ride.
43 And if We will, We drown them, and there is no help for them, neither can they be saved;
44 Unless by mercy from Us and as comfort for a while.

SURAH 6, AYAT 1-6:

1 Praise be to Allah, Who hath created the heavens and the earth, and hath appointed darkness and light. Yet those who disbelieve ascribe rivals unto their Lord.
2 He it is Who hath created you from clay, and hath decreed a term for you. A term is fixed with Him. Yet still ye doubt!
3 He is Allah in the heavens and in the earth. He knoweth both your secret and your utterance, and He knoweth what ye earn.
4 Never came there unto them a revelation of the revelations of Allah but they did turn away from it.
5 And they denied the truth when it came unto them. But there will come unto them the tidings of that which they used to deride.
6 See they not how many a generation We destroyed before them, whom We had established in the earth more firmly than We have established you, and We shed on them abundant showers from the sky, and made the rivers flow beneath them. Yet We destroyed them for their sins, and created after them another generation.

SURAH 29, AYAT 19-22:

19 See they not how Allah produceth creation, then reproduceth it? Lo! for Allah that is easy.
20 Say (O Muhammad): Travel in the land and see how He originated creation, then Allah bringeth forth the later growth. Lo! Allah is Able to do all things.
21 He punisheth whom He will and showeth mercy unto whom He will, and unto Him ye will be turned.
22 Ye cannot escape (from Him) in the earth or in the sky, and beside Allah there is for you no friend nor helper.

SURAH 30, AYAT 8-9:

8 Have they not pondered upon themselves? Allah created not the heavens and the earth, and that which is between them, save with truth and for a destined end. But truly many of mankind are disbelievers in the meeting with their Lord.
9 Have they not travelled in the land and seen the nature of the consequence for those who were before them? They were stronger than these in power, and they dug the earth and built upon it more than these have built. Messengers of their own came unto them with clear proofs (of Allah's Sovereignty). Surely Allah wronged them not, but they did wrong themselves.

SURAH 15, AYAH 16:

16 And verily in the heaven We have set mansions of the stars, and We have beautified it for beholders.

SURAH AL-NAHL (16), AYAT 12-13:

12 And he hath constrained the night and the day and the sun and the moon to be of service unto you, and the stars are made subservient by His command. Lo! herein indeed are portents for people who have sense.
13 And whatsoever He hath created for you in the earth of divers hues, lo! therein is indeed a portent for people who take heed.


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ASTRONOMY AND SPACE TRAVEL
SURAH 21, AYAH 33:

33 And He it is Who created the night and the day, and the sun and the moon. They float, each in an orbit.

SURAH 39, AYAH 5:

5 He hath created the heavens and the earth with truth. He maketh night to succeed day, and He maketh day to succeed night, and He constraineth the sun and the moon to give service, each running on for an appointed term. Is not He the Mighty, the Forgiver?

SURAH 21, AYAH 30:

30 Have not those who disbelieve known that the heavens and the earth were of one piece, then We parted them, and We made every living thing of water? Will they not then believe?

SURAH 55, AYAT 33-34:

33 O company of jinn and men, if ye have power to penetrate (all) regions of the heavens and the earth; then penetrate (them)! Ye will never penetrate them save with (Our) sanction.
34 Which is it, of the favors of your Lord, that ye deny?

Jinns in the quran

JINN

The Jinns are another creation of Allah, who were created from smokeless fire and existed before the creation of Adam (AS). They have their rules of conduct and have been given certain special capabilities; several passages about them appear in Surah Al-Jinn (Chapter 72, The Jinn). Like humans, they are given the choice of doing good or evil, to believe in Allah and to obey His commandments. It is for this reason, both mankind and Jinns will be accounted for on the judgement day.

SURAH AL-JINN (72), AYAT 1- 15:

1 Say (O Muhammad): It is revealed unto me that a company of the Jinn gave ear, and they said: Lo! it is a marvellous Qur'an,
2 Which guideth unto righteousness, so we believe in it and we ascribe unto our Lord no partner.
3 And (we believe) that He--exalted be the glory of our Lord!--hath taken neither wife nor son,
4 And that the foolish one among us used to speak concerning Allah an atrocious lie.
5 And lo! we had supposed that humankind and jinn would not speak a lie concerning Allah--
6 And indeed (O Muhammad) individuals of humankind used to invoke the protection of individuals of the jinn so that they increased them in revolt (against Allah);
7 And indeed they supposed, even as ye suppose, that Allah would not raise anyone (from the dead)
8 And (the Jinn who had listened to the Qur'an said): We had sought the heaven but had found it filled with strong warders and meteors.
9 And we used to sit on places (high) therein to listen. But he who listened now findeth a flame in wait for him;
10 And we know not whether harm is boded unto all who are in the earth, or whether their Lord intendeth guidance for them;
11 And among us there are righteous folk and among us there are far from that. We are sects having different rules.
12 And we know that we cannot escape from Allah in the earth, nor can we escape by flight.
13 And when we heard the guidance, we believed therein, and whoso believeth in his Lord, he feareth neither loss nor oppression.
14 And there are among us some who have surrendered (to Allah) and there are among us some who are unjust. And whoso hath surrendered to Allah, such have taken the right path purposefully.
15 And as for those who are unjust, they are firewood for hell.

SURAH AR-RAHMAN (55), AYAH 17:

14 He created man of clay like the potter's,
15 And the Jinn did He create of smokeless fire.
16 Which is it, of the favors of your Lord, that ye deny?

SURAH AL-HIJR (15), AYAT 26-34:

26 Verily We created man of potter's clay of black mud altered,
27 And the jinn did We create aforetime of essential fire.
28 And (remember) when thy Lord said unto the angels: Lo! I am creating a mortal out of potter's clay of black mud altered.
29 So, when I have made him and have breathed into him of My spirit, do ye fall down, prostrating yourselves unto him.
30 So the angels fell prostrate, all of them together
31 Save Iblis. He refused to be among the prostrate.
32 He said: O Iblis! What aileth thee that thou art not among the prostrate?
33 He said: Why should I prostrate myself unto a mortal whom Thou hast created out of potter's clay of black mud altered?
34 He said: Then go thou forth from hence, for verily thou art outcast.

SURAH AL-KAHF (18), AYAH 50:

50 And (remember) when We said unto the angels: Fall prostrate before Adam, and they fell prostrate, all save Iblis. He was of the Jinn, so he rebelled against his Lord's command. Will ye choose him and his seed for your protecting friends instead of Me, when they are an enemy unto you? Calamitous is the exchange for evil doers!

SURAH AR-RAHMAN (55), AYAT 31-33:

31 We shall dispose of you, O ye two dependents (man and jinn).
32 Which is it, of the favors of your Lord, that ye deny?
33 O company of jinn and men, if ye have power to penetrate (all) regions of the heavens and the earth; then penetrate (them)! Ye will never penetrate them save with (Our) sanction.

SURAH AL-AN'AM(6), AYAT 128 AND 130-131:

128 In the day when He will gather them together (He will say): O ye assembly of the jinn! Many of humankind did ye seduce. And their adherents among humankind will say: Our Lord! We enjoyed one another, but now we have arrived at the appointed term which Thou appointedst for us. He will say: Fire is your home. Abide therein for ever, save him whom Allah willeth (to deliver). Lo! thy Lord is Wise, Aware.

130 O ye assembly of the jinn and humankind! Came there not unto you messengers of your own who recounted unto you My tokens and warned you of the meeting of this your Day? They will say: We testify against ourselves. And the life of the world beguiled them. And they testify against themselves that they were disbelievers.
131 This is because thy Lord destroyeth not the townships arbitrarily while their people are unconscious (of the wrong they do).

SURAH AZ-ZARIYAT (51), AYAH 56:

56 I created the jinn and humankind only that they might worship Me.

SURAH AL-ISRAA (17), AYAT 88-89:

88 Say: Verily, though mankind and the Jinn should assemble to produce the like of this Qur'an, they could not produce the like thereof though they were helpers one of another.
89 And verily We have displayed for mankind in this Qur'an all kinds of similitudes, but most of mankind refuse aught save disbelief.

SURAH AL-A'RAF (7), AYAH 179:

179 Already have We urged unto hell many of the jinn and humankind, having hearts wherewith they understand not, and having eyes wherewith they see not, and having ears wherewith they hear not. These are as the cattle nay, but they are worse! These are the neglectful.

Monday, December 17, 2007

About Islam

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According to Islam, our individual and collective happiness lies in disciplining our faculties so that we may produce a harmonious and peaceful individual and social life.The prophet said that for us to maintain inner peace is through honesty, If we remain undisciplined, we may drive people to immorality, unlawful livelihoods, tyranny, injustice, deception, falsehood, and other vices. To prevent the ensuing chaos and suffering, we must submit to The authority that guides and regulates all collective affairs. Humanity needs a universal intellect, a guidance from beyond human reason and experience, to whose authority all may assent freely. That guidance is the Islam revealed and perfected by God through His Prophets

The Qur’an, is one truth.It speaks about things that we not with in mans reach, knowledge only from the creator and could have never been maintained by any man's mind like for example, water mentioned in the Quran

'45' Allah hath created every animal of water. Of them is (a kind) that goeth upon its belly and (a kind) that goeth upon two legs and (a kind) that goeth upon four. Allah createth what He will. Lo! Allah is Able to do all things.-SURAH 24, AYAH 45

How could have the prophet know about this ? ..... Not possible, I believe Darwin made that fact known a bout 1300 years after the Quran already spoke of it . The Qur’anic truths Mostly fit with our world today(from the Divine Attribute of Speech) and truths derived from the objective study of its counterpart, the created universe (from the Divine Attributes of Power and Will). An Islamic civilization true to its authentic, original impulse contains no contradiction between science (the objective study of the natural world) and religion (the personal and collective effort to seek God’s good pleasure). True belief is not based on blind imitation, but rather should appeal to our reason and heart, and combine reason’s affirmation and the heart’s inward experience and submission. So many have submitted why ? by force ? impossible . If we can learn one thing about wars is that people cannot be forced or bought all the time, and for their homeland they will fight till death .

But how can Islam become so big in such little time ?

why does 80% of Muslims live outside Arabian land ?

Why do people still hold on to their Islamic beliefs and values till today ?

For anyone to say Islam is evil, is insulting all of humanity, because not all Muslims are arabic, wear turbans, sandals, grow beards, sure many would greet you, smile at you regardless of race of color or background .

lets see why ,Islam teachs that rewards can only come from the creator, the lessons of the prophet mohammad (AS) were honesty, charity, trustworthiness, and communication of the Divine Message to name a few; the highest intellectual capacity, wisdom, and profound insight; sinlessness; and no mental or physical defects. Just as the sun attracts the planets by the invisible force of gravitation, the Prophet attract people by the force of their profound relation with God, certain miracles, and the sheer nobility of their person, purpose, and character.

political relationships existing at that time, and because all Prophets prior to Prophet Muhammad were sent to their own people and for their own time. Prophet Muhammad, however, was sent to humanity regardless of time or place. Thus to be a Muslim means believing in all previous Prophets and the original previous Scriptures.A Prophet, one purified of sin and vice and having a deep relation with God, guides people to truth and sets a perfect example for them to follow. Such people have the following essential characteristics: absolute and complete truthfulness,

All Prophets came with the same essentials of belief: belief in God’s Existence and Unity, the world’s final destruction, Resurrection and Judgment, Prophet hood and all Prophets without distinction, all Divine Scriptures, angels, and Divine Destiny and Decree (including human free will). They called people to worship the One God, preached and promoted moral virtue, and condemned vice. Differences in particular rules and injunctions were connected with the economic and beliefs

By means of belief and worship, as well as its intellectual, moral, and spiritual principles, Islam educates us in the best possible way. In addition, it uses its socioeconomic principles to establish an ideal society free of dissension, corruption, anarchy, and terror, one that allows everyone to obtain happiness both in this world and in the hereafter.

Faith or belief, the essence of religion, is not just a simple brief affirmation based on imitation. Rather, it has degrees and stages of expansion or development, just as a tree’s seed is gradually transformed into a fully grown, fruit-bearing tree. Belief contains so many truths pertaining to God and the realities contained in the universe that the most perfect human science, knowledge, and virtue is belief as well as knowledge of God originating in belief based on argument and investigation. Such belief has as many degrees and grades of manifestation as the number of Divine Names. Those who attain the degree of certainty of belief coming from direct observation of the truths on which belief is based can study the universe as a kind of Divine Scripture.

Friday, December 14, 2007

Mosque Mohammad ali ( Egypt )


Mosque Mohammad ali ( Egypt)

Though certainly not one of the most ancient mosques in cairo, nor even one of the most historic, because of its grandeur and its location in the Citadal, the Mosque of Muhammad ali is the most popular Islamic Mosques among tourists. This mosque is also sometimes referred to as the Alabaster Mosque due to its extensive use of that stone on some of the exterior walls and other surfaces. Sometimes it is popularly known as al-qal'a, meaning citadel, and thus confused with the fortress in which it is located.

The mosque, the largest such structure built during the first half of the 19th century, is more impressive at a distance than close up. Though there its artistic merit is questionable, it is an unparalleled contribution to the skyline of Cairo, visible high atop the Citadel grounds. Indeed, its great dome and towering minarets give the Citadel a romantic, oriental quality that makes up for any shortcomings in its detail. It is almost certainly the first feature that catches ones eyes at the fortress.

Mohammad ali tore down the remains of Mamluk palaces and their dependencies, which were luckily described only a short time before by Napoleon's scholars as the most impressive buildings in Cairo despite their dilapidated condition. Recent excavations demonstrate that, in order to build the mosque on top of the preexisting structures, some ten meters of rubble was filled in. Muhammad Ali, who was more eager to build modern factories than religious foundations, then erected this mosque, where he is buried, as a monument to himself. It is also an imperial mosque which challenged those of One of the mosque's pencil shaped minaretsIstanbul much in the same way that Muhammad Ali did militarily.

Indeed, just as Salah aldin, many centuries earlier, had abolished all traces of Fatimid power and status by refusing to live in their palaces and having them dismantled and parceled out to his courtiers, so Muhammad ali destroyed all traces of the Mamluk palaces from which Egypt had been ruled since the thirteenth century. This is the reason why, among cairo's wealth of historic Islamic monuments, there is not one royal palace left from these periods.

It should be noted that the Mosque of Muhammad ali is not typical of such structures in Cairo. In its architecture, Muhammad Ali Pasha, viceroy and effectively king of Egypt, as well as the founder of Egypt's modern era, achieved a radical break with all traditional characteristics of Cairo architecture from the Mamluk to the late Ottoman empire. This departure is emphasized by the choice of sites. Now, because it is the most visible of Islamic monuments in Cairo, Muhammad Ali's mosque became a symbol of the city, even though it is the least Egyptian of these monuments.

It is interesting, as well as paradoxical in a certain respect, that while politically Muhammad ali acted very independently of Istanbul, architecturally during his reign style came closer to that of A view of the main dome and several of the half dome interiorsIstanbul than ever before, including even its Western, and particularly French, influence. However, one must remember that he came close to taking the Ottoman Empire as his own, and he set out in Cairo to abandon the oriental Middle Ages and built a city that would surpass Istanbul.

Originally, the planning of this mosque was assigned to Muhammad ali's French architect, Pascal Coste, who probably would have built it in the local Mamluk style judging from his interest in Cairo's traditional architecture. However, for some unknown reason, Muhammad Ali changed his mind and hired a Greek architect, Yusuf Bushnaq, to design the mosque on a plan similar to that of the Mosque of Sultan Ahmad in Istanbul (known as the Blue Mosque).

A general view of the prayer hall and its lightingBuilt between 1830 and 1848, the long time it took to complete this monument may be due to its size, gigantic by Cairo's architectural standards. That, combined with its prominent location and its profile of domes flanked by a pair of slender high minarets, contribute to its prestige. The Egyptians themselves place a great deal of pride in this monument.

The pencil shaped minarets, over eighty meters high, stand on bases only three meters wide. Though the architecture of the mosque is entirely Ottoman, the domes are, relative to their width, The Mihrab of the Muhammad Ali Mosque in Cairo, Egypthigher and less squat than those in Istanbul.

The complex consists of two parts, the mosque proper to the east and the open courtyard, or sahn, to the west.

The plan of the mosque is a central dome carried on four piers and spherical pendentives, flanked by four half-domes, and four smaller domes on each corner. Measuring 41 meters square, the interior is impressive because of its size, and it shows the wonderful arrangement of mass and space that is characteristic of Istanbul mosques. The main, high dome of the mosque soars 52 meters high, with a diameter of 21 meters.

The grandeur of this single, large chamber is enhanced by the circle of small lamps hung in the middle of the praying area, and just above the main dome of the mosque. Other smaller lamps, many of them more modern, are hung elsewhere in the mosque, creating a spectacle of light that is grand in its own right.

A view of the top part of the older minbarWithin the mosque are two minbars, or pulpits. The larger one of wood is decorated with gilt ornament, and is original. It is said to be one of the largest in Egypt, incorporating significant gold in its decorations. The smaller one of alabaster was a gift from King Faruq, dating to 1939. The mirhab, or prayer niche, is made of Egyptian marble. It is rather simple, but very beautiful at the same time.

In the southwest corner of the sanctuary, within an enclosure richly decorated with bronze openwork, is the magnificent, white marble cenoteaph of Muhammad ali. However, Muhammad Ali was not originally interred here. He was originally buried at Housh el Basha, but one of his successors, King Abbas I, had his body moved to this location.

The mosque has three entrances, on the north, west and east walls. The western entrance opens onto the courtyard.

The courtyard, as at the mosque od sulyman pasha and Malika Safiyya, is surrounded by rounded arcades carrying small domes. These domes are supported by large, though relatively The fountain in the open courtyardsimple marble columns. The courtyard is almost square, measuring 54 by 53 meters. The courtyard has a northern and southern entrance from the mosque. In the middle of the courtyard is a marble ablution fountain with a carved wooden roof on columns. The fountain is lavishly decorated in a style similar to that of the sabil kuttab facing the madrasa of al nasir on Mu'izz street. That structure was built by Ismail Pasha in 1828. The sabil and the upper part of the courtyard facade are decorated with small oval wall paintings on which Mediterranean landscapes are represented.

On the west wall of the courtyard is an iron clock, presented to Muhammad ali by the French King Louis Philippe, with a tea salon on the upper level. Its style is a mixture of neo-gothic and oriental elements. It has never worked, and probably never will. The clock, given as a gift in exchange for the obelisk now in the Palace de la Concorde, Paris, somehow does not seem to be out of place, even though by all rights it should be. Perhaps this is due to the other European A view of the clockinfluences in the mosque, or that it's colors are well coordinated with other decorations nearby.

Though the architecture is entirely Ottoman, the decoration of the building is alien to Cairene traditions, and in fact, to Islamic art. There are no stalactites, geometric shapes or arabesques. Only the inscription bands continue any type of Islamic tradition. Six large medallions around the dome enclose the names of God, Muhammad and the first four Khalifs. The script written over a royal blue that often adorns windows in the mosque actually represent verses from the poem, "Al Burda", written by Imam al Buseiry.

Even the marble chosen for decoration is different from that of earlier mosques. In fact, the decorations, which were not finished until 1857, are at odds with the simplicity of the architectural structure itself. And yet, many tourists and Egyptians themselves, who are not especially trained in art or architecture, find the mosque decorations very beautiful. Its use of Alabaster panels on the exterior of the buildinggreens, golds and reds can be very appealing to many.

The walls and piers of the mosque are paneled with alabaster from Upper Egypt, which is inappropriate for architecture as it deteriorates quickly. A gesture of baroque luxe, unless frequently cleaned, the stone also becomes terribly grimy.

In 1931 serious structural deviancies were found in the dome and it had to be totally rebuilt. It took two years. Between 1937 and 1939 the decoration was renewed and in the middle of the 1980s the whole Citadel complex was once again renovated.

A general view of the arcades within the open courtyard