The Legacy of Ishmael (Ismail عليه السلام)

فَلَمَّا بَلَغَ مَعَهُ السَّعۡىَ قَالَ يٰبُنَىَّ اِنِّىۡۤ اَرٰى فِى الۡمَنَامِ اَنِّىۡۤ اَذۡبَحُكَ فَانْظُرۡ مَاذَا تَرٰى​ؕ قَالَ يٰۤاَبَتِ افۡعَلۡ مَا تُؤۡمَرُ​

 سَتَجِدُنِىۡۤ اِنۡ شَآءَ اللّٰهُ مِنَ الصّٰبِرِيۡنَ‏ 

فَلَمَّاۤ اَسۡلَمَا وَتَلَّهٗ لِلۡجَبِيۡنِ​ۚ‏ ١٠٣ 

وَنَادَيۡنٰهُ اَنۡ يّٰۤاِبۡرٰهِيۡمُۙ‏

قَدۡ صَدَّقۡتَ الرُّءۡيَا ​ ​ۚ اِنَّا كَذٰلِكَ نَجۡزِى الۡمُحۡسِنِيۡنَ‏ 

اِنَّ هٰذَا لَهُوَ الۡبَلٰٓؤُا الۡمُبِيۡنُ‏ 

وَفَدَيۡنٰهُ بِذِبۡحٍ عَظِيۡمٍ‏

And when he reached with him [the age of] exertion, he said, "O my son, indeed I have seen in a dream that I [must] sacrifice you, so see what you think." He said, "O my father, do as you are commanded. You will find me, if Allāh wills, of the steadfast."

103 And when they had both submitted and he put him down upon his forehead,

We called to him, "O Abraham,

You have fulfilled the vision." Indeed, We thus reward the doers of good.

Indeed, this was the clear trial.

And We ransomed him with a great sacrifice,

[Al-Quran 37:102-107]

This is a story of Faith (Iman) and Submission (Islam). 

The Quran relates the great sacrifice demanded from Abraham (Ibrahim عليه السلام): to sacrifice his only child, and the child's complete submission to what was required of his father. The physical expression of this complete submission was the father putting his son down upon his forehead: the posture of prostration. 

The amazing submission of this young man, Ishmael (Ismail عليه السلام), is amazing. He was not a baby. He was old enough to work along with his father (Q37:102). He was probably twelve or thirteen years old.* Generally, when boys are entering their teens, they show inclination to assert their independence, not submission, and that also to a dream. He was old enough to mock his old man. He was old enough to run away. This young Ishmael (Ismail عليه السلام) submits, willingly, assuring his father of his steadfastness, if Allah Wills (اِنۡ شَآءَ اللّٰهُ مِنَ الصّٰبِرِيۡنَ‏). He goes down in prostration, placing his forehead upon the ground. He is willing to make the ultimate sacrifice: lose his life, and embrace death, for the sake of Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى‎ . 

Allah was testing the father and son. Both passed with flying colours. Allah had bigger plans for them.  Ishmael (Ismail عليه السلام) was replaced with a great sacrifice. He is to assist his father Abraham (Ibrahim عليه السلام) in purifying Allah's house, for the worshippers, and also raise its foundation: 

وَإِذْ جَعَلْنَا الْبَيْتَ مَثَابَةً لِّلنَّاسِ وَأَمْنًا وَاتَّخِذُوا مِن مَّقَامِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ مُصَلًّى وَعَهِدْنَا إِلَىٰ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَإِسْمَاعِيلَ أَن طَهِّرَا بَيْتِيَ لِلطَّائِفِينَ وَالْعَاكِفِينَ وَالرُّكَّعِ السُّجُودِ

وَإِذْ قَالَ إِبْرَاهِيمُ رَبِّ اجْعَلْ هَٰذَا بَلَدًا آمِنًا وَارْزُقْ أَهْلَهُ مِنَ الثَّمَرَاتِ مَنْ آمَنَ مِنْهُم بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ قَالَ وَمَن كَفَرَ فَأُمَتِّعُهُ قَلِيلًا ثُمَّ أَضْطَرُّهُ إِلَىٰ عَذَابِ النَّارِ وَبِئْسَ الْمَصِيرُ

وَإِذْ يَرْفَعُ إِبْرَاهِيمُ الْقَوَاعِدَ مِنَ الْبَيْتِ وَإِسْمَاعِيلُ رَبَّنَا تَقَبَّلْ مِنَّا إِنَّكَ أَنتَ السَّمِيعُ الْعَلِيمُ

رَبَّنَا وَاجْعَلْنَا مُسْلِمَيْنِ لَكَ وَمِن ذُرِّيَّتِنَا أُمَّةً مُّسْلِمَةً لَّكَ وَأَرِنَا مَنَاسِكَنَا وَتُبْ عَلَيْنَا إِنَّكَ أَنتَ التَّوَّابُ الرَّحِيمُ

رَبَّنَا وَابْعَثْ فِيهِمْ رَسُولًا مِّنْهُمْ يَتْلُو عَلَيْهِمْ آيَاتِكَ وَيُعَلِّمُهُمُ الْكِتَابَ وَالْحِكْمَةَ وَيُزَكِّيهِمْ إِنَّكَ أَنتَ الْعَزِيزُ الْحَكِيمُ

وَمَن يَرْغَبُ عَن مِّلَّةِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ إِلَّا مَن سَفِهَ نَفْسَهُ وَلَقَدِ اصْطَفَيْنَاهُ فِي الدُّنْيَا وَإِنَّهُ فِي الْآخِرَةِ لَمِنَ الصَّالِحِينَ

And [mention] when We made the House a place of return for the people and [a place of] security. And take, [O believers], from the standing place of Abraham a place of prayer. And We charged Abraham and Ishmael, [saying], "Purify My House for those who perform Tawaf and those who are staying [there] for worship and those who bow and prostrate [in prayer]."

And [mention] when Abraham said, "My Lord, make this a secure city country and provide its people with fruits - whoever of them believes in Allah and the Last Day." [ Allah ] said. "And whoever disbelieves - I will grant him enjoyment for a little; then I will force him to the punishment of the Fire, and wretched is the destination."

And [mention] when Abraham was raising the foundations of the House and [with him] Ishmael, [saying], "Our Lord, accept [this] from us. Indeed You are the Hearing, the Knowing.

Our Lord, and make us Muslims [in submission] to You and from our descendants a Muslim nation [in submission] to You. And show us our rites and accept our repentance. Indeed, You are the Accepting of repentance, the Merciful.

Our Lord, and send among them a messenger from themselves who will recite to them Your verses and teach them the Book and wisdom and purify them. Indeed, You are the Exalted in Might, the Wise."

And who would be averse to the religion of Abraham except one who makes a fool of himself. And We had chosen him in this world, and indeed he, in the Hereafter, will be among the righteous.

[Al-Quran 2:125-130, Translation: Sahih International (edited in italics) ]

Purify My House: From these ayaat, it seems the House already existed but it was appointed the centre of pilgrimage when Abraham (Ibrahim عليه السلام) and Ishmael (Ismail عليه السلام) raised its foundations and purified the House. Similarly, their descendant whom they prayed for, Muhammad ﷺ , Messenger of Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى‎ , purified the House when he conquered Mecca, and retaught the rites of pilgrimage.  

Raise the Foundation: Raising the foundations of an existing house is a common practice, especially in areas prone to flooding. The house is temporarily raised, separating it from its existing foundation; the foundation is then raised and the house replaced on the newly-built foundation. 

Just like his descendant Muhammad ﷺ was a Prophet and Messenger of Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى‎ , so also The Quran informs us that Ishmael (Ismail عليه السلام) was also a Prophet and Messenger of Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى‎ :

وَاذۡكُرۡ فِى الۡـكِتٰبِ اِسۡمٰعِيۡلَ​ اِنَّهٗ كَانَ صَادِقَ الۡوَعۡدِ وَكَانَ رَسُوۡلًا نَّبِيًّا​ ۚ‏ ٥٤

وَ كَانَ يَاۡمُرُ اَهۡلَهٗ بِالصَّلٰوةِ وَالزَّكٰوةِ وَكَانَ عِنۡدَ رَبِّهٖ مَرۡضِيًّا‏ ٥٥ 

And mention in the Book, Ishmael. Indeed, he was true to his promise, and he was a messenger and a prophet.

And he used to enjoin on his people prayer and zakāh and was to his Lord pleasing [i.e., accepted by Him].

[Al-Quran 19:54-55, Translation: Saheeh International]

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* Age of Ishmael (Ismail عليه السلام): 

According to The Quran, Surah as-Saffaat, Abraham (Ibrahim عليه السلام) was given the glad tidings of  a forbearing son (Q37:101 فَبَشَّرۡنٰهُ بِغُلٰمٍ حَلِيۡمٍ‏)** after his migration (Q37:99 وَقَالَ اِنِّىۡ ذَاهِبٌ اِلٰى رَبِّىۡ سَيَهۡدِيۡنِ‏), and prayer for a righteous son (Q37:100 رَبِّ هَبۡ لِىۡ مِنَ الصّٰلِحِيۡنَ‏).  

The Quran, Surah as-Saffaat, also states that the son at the time of the sacrifice dream was old enough to work with his father (Q37:102 فَلَمَّا بَلَغَ مَعَهُ السَّعۡىَ قَالَ يٰبُنَىَّ اِنِّىۡۤ اَرٰى فِى الۡمَنَامِ اَنِّىۡۤ اَذۡبَحُكَ فَانْظُرۡ مَاذَا تَرٰى​ؕ قَالَ يٰۤاَبَتِ افۡعَلۡ مَا تُؤۡمَرُ​ سَتَجِدُنِىۡۤ اِنۡ شَآءَ اللّٰهُ مِنَ الصّٰبِرِيۡنَ‏ ). Boys can start lifting weights as early as the age of seven or eight years, but ideally by the age twelve or thirteen, the age of puberty. 

According to The Quran, Surah as-Saffaat, after the attempted sacrifice (Q37:103), Abraham (Ibrahim عليه السلام) was given the glad tidings of  a prophet by the name of Isaac (Ishaq عليه السلام) (Q37:112 وَبَشَّرۡنٰهُ بِاِسۡحٰقَ نَبِيًّا مِّنَ الصّٰلِحِيۡنَ‏), and that they were blessed (Q37:113 وَبٰرَكۡنَا عَلَيۡهِ وَعَلٰٓى اِسۡحٰقَ​ؕ وَ مِنۡ ذُرِّيَّتِهِمَا مُحۡسِنٌ وَّظَالِمٌ لِّنَفۡسِهٖ مُبِيۡنٌ​‏). We know about his son Jacob / Israel (Yaqub عليه السلام) , his son Joseph (Yusuf عليه السلام), and from the Bani Israel: Moses (Musa عليه السلام) and Aaron (Haroon عليه السلام). It is a matter of fact that there was a continuous line of prophets among their descendants till Messenger Jesus (Isa عليه السلام). 

According to The Bible, the age difference between Ishmael (Ismail عليه السلام) and Isaac (Ishaq عليه السلام) was fourteen years. 

At the age of seventy-six, Abraham (Ibrahim عليه السلام) was granted Ishmael (Ismail عليه السلام) through Hagar (Bibi Hajra رضي الله عنها). 

At the age of one hundred, Abraham (Ibrahim عليه السلام) was granted Isaac (Ishaq عليه السلام) through Sarah (Bibi Sara رضي الله عنها).  

So, assuming the good news about Isaac (Ishaq عليه السلام) was given immediately after the attempted sacrifice of the first born: Ishmael (Ismail عليه السلام), who was only son at the time, , the Age of Ishmael (Ismail عليه السلام) was most probably twelve or thirteen years at the time he and his father attempted to carry out the dream that Abraham (Ibrahim عليه السلام) had seen. 

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** Haleem (حَلِيۡمٍ‏):  

According to The Quran, Surah as-Saffaat, Abraham (Ibrahim عليه السلام) was given the glad tidings of  a forbearing son (Q37:101 فَبَشَّرۡنٰهُ بِغُلٰمٍ حَلِيۡمٍ‏). 

Allah meant to test father and son. What they were asked to do was unthinkable and unspeakable. It required immense faith, love and trust in Allah to even consider the request. It required even more to submit to it. It required forbearance. One of the attributes of Allah is Haleem (حَلِيمٌ), generally translated as Most Forbearing. The word 'forbearing' implies patience and restraint.  

Abraham (Ibrahim عليه السلام) was also forbearing (Q11:75). 

Ishmael (Ismail عليه السلام) was also forbearing (Q37:101). 

These two persons were already divinely equipped with the quality most required to submit to such a dream. 

Search results for forbearing https://corpus.quran.com/search.jsp?q=forbearing 

Quran dictionary for root - ح ل م : https://corpus.quran.com/qurandictionary.jsp?q=Hlm 

 ...

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Also read: 

Humans & The Human Condition 

Ignorant of The Law of Sacrifice 

Forehead / جَبِين 

The Possessors of The Stone & Hijr-e-Ismail 

Seventy Men & The Torah in Seventy Languages 

The Ancient House 

Muhammad ﷺ, a Messenger like Moses: The Qibla 

Maroof & Munkar 

Abraham (Ibrahim عليه السلام), the excellent example 

The Quran, the Pharaoh, Exodus and the Promised Day! 

Protect my sons (14:35) 

...

Lat updated on: August 23, 2026

Arab Prophet with a Global Mission

I wrote to an email discussion group: I am absolutely convinced that the Qur'an and former scriptures are sent by Allah for our guidance, and contain details of all things. On the surface, it may appear that it is not so, but the more one studies the Arabic text of the Qur'an in depth, exploring the surahs and the ayaat, dwelling upon each word, it gets absolutely fascinating. It contains such wealth of knowledge, pointing us towards so many facts and realities! Please see the various posts on my blog: signsandscience.blogspot.com 

...

MSA asked:

So for understand the Quran and for unravel the treasure it contains, one must know Arabic and study the Quran in Arabic. Does it not make clear that Quran is only for those who know and understand Arabic?

That is why Allah had sent an Arabic speaking Prophet to the Arabic speaking people of Mecca and its neighborhood thus eliminating the need of translating the Quran into other languages. Are we willing to accept this Quran fact?

My Response:

تَبَارَكَ الَّذِي نَزَّلَ الْفُرْقَانَ عَلَىٰ عَبْدِهِ لِيَكُونَ لِلْعَالَمِينَ نَذِيرًا

Blessed is He Who sent down the Criterion upon His slave that he may be to the worlds a warner 

http://islamawakened.com/quran/25/1/

وَمَا أَرْسَلْنَاكَ إِلَّا كَافَّةً لِّلنَّاسِ بَشِيرًا وَنَذِيرًا وَلَٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ النَّاسِ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ

And not We have sent you except to all mankind (as) a giver of glad tidings and (as) a warner. But most [the] people (do) not know.

http://islamawakened.com/quran/34/28/ 

هُوَ الَّذِي أَرْسَلَ رَسُولَهُ بِالْهُدَىٰ وَدِينِ الْحَقِّ لِيُظْهِرَهُ عَلَى الدِّينِ كُلِّهِ وَكَفَىٰ بِاللَّهِ شَهِيدًا

He (is) the One Who (has) sent His Messenger with guidance and (the) religion, the true that He (may) make it prevail over the religions all. And sufficient is Allah (as) a Witness. 

http://islamawakened.com/quran/48/28/

مَّا كَانَ مُحَمَّدٌ أَبَا أَحَدٍ مِّن رِّجَالِكُمْ وَلَٰكِن رَّسُولَ اللَّهِ وَخَاتَمَ النَّبِيِّينَ وَكَانَ اللَّهُ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ عَلِيمًا

Not is Muhammad (the) father (of) anyone of your men but (he is the) Messenger (of) Allah and Seal (of) the Prophets. And Allah is of every thing All-Knower. 

http://islamawakened.com/quran/33/40/

According to the Qur'an, Prophet Muhammad is the last of the series of prophets and his mission is to all people, not just the Arabs. The reason why I think he was sent as an Arab prophet is, as I have explained in my blogpost The Prophesy [signsandscience.blogspot.com/2016/06/the-battle.html]: 

Abstract

According to the verses of the Qur’an: the Arab Prophet-Messenger Muhammad, born and raised in the Arab major city of Makkah, speaking the native Arab language, and warning with a scripture revealed in Arabic, all together seem to be pointing to a major prophecy for the Middle East: the battle between the believers in the one true God and the followers of Satan, and the eventual triumph of Truth. 

Nabi & Rasool

ZK asked: Was Nabi Muhamad a Nabi? or a Rasool? or Both ? How many Prophets were sent overtime? and How many Rasools?...Did Naboowat end? what about Risalat? Or did both end? Are all Nabis also Rasools? and vice versa? who received scriptures or the revealed Books? Nabi? Rasool? and what is the "qualification" or indicators of those who had received the revelations? were they only Nabi's? or just Rasools? or both? Kindly clarify ! Thanks...

Answer: Please find my answers (in black) below your questions:

Was Nabi Muhamad a Nabi? or a Rasool? or Both ? 

Both 

How many Prophets were sent overtime? and How many Rasools?...

The Quran does not give a number. 

And certainly We have sent Messengers before you. Among them (are) who - We have related to you, and among them (are) who - not We have related to you. And not is for any Messenger that he brings a Sign except by (the) permission (of) Allah. So when comes (the) Command (of) Allah, it will be decided in truth, and will lose there the falsifiers. [http://islamawakened.com/quran/40/78/ ] 

Did Naboowat end? what about Risalat? Or did both end? 

According to my understanding of Quran verses 3:33,34 [http://islamawakened.com/quran/3/33/ , http://islamawakened.com/quran/3/34/ ] and 33:40 [http://islamawakened.com/quran/33/40/] Naboowat (prophethood) ended with Muhammad as the last prophet, as the prophets were all male descendants from the same family tree, tracing it right up to Noah and Adam; and after Abraham, from the progeny of Isaac and Ishmael, ending with Jesus and Muhammad respectively. 

Are all Nabis also Rasools? and vice versa? 

The word rasool has been used in the Quran for both human messengers and angel messengers. Angels come with Allah's decision, such as the ones who came to Abraham and informed him that they were sent to punish the people of Lot. 

And they said, "Why has not been sent down to him an Angel?" And if We (had) sent down an Angel, surely (would) have been decided the matter then no respite would have been [http://islamawakened.com/quran/6/8/ ]

If I'm not missing some key verse(s), all bani Adam rasools (messengers) were nabi (prophets), that is a rasool was a nabi who came with a decision and served a notice to the people to stop indulging in their criminal activities, else the punishment of Allah will necessarily come in the lifetime of the rasool. 

[Quran 17:15, Translation: Literal (Word by Word)] Whoever (is) guided then only he is guided for his soul. And whoever goes astray then only he goes astray against it And not will bear one laden with burden, burden (of) another. And not We are to punish until, We have sent a Messenger.

[Quran 30:47, Translation: Literal (Word by Word)] And verily, We sent before you Messengers to their people, and they came to them with clear proofs; then We took retribution from those who committed crimes. And it was incumbent upon Us (to) help the believers.  

[Quran 58:21, Translation: Sahih International] Allah has written, "I will surely overcome, I and My messengers." Indeed, Allah is Powerful and Exalted in Might. 

Surah Saaffaat [http://searchtruth.com/chapter_display_all.php?chapter=37 ] narrates the story of some messengers, and sends salaam on each of the messenger individually during the narration, and collectively at the end.  

The following two links list the verses which contain the words formed by the root letters of rasool and nabi. Kindly review the verses which mention who is a rasool and who is a nabi 

http://corpus.quran.com/qurandictionary.jsp?q=nbA 

http://corpus.quran.com/qurandictionary.jsp?q=rsl 

   

who received scriptures or the revealed Books? Nabi? Rasool? and what is the "qualification" or indicators of those who had received the revelations? were they only Nabi's? or just Rasools? or both? Kindly clarify ! Thanks...

The Quran mentions the Nabi(s) Abraham, Moses, David, Jesus and Muhammad as having received the scriptures. I think they were all rasool(s) as well. 

Jewish sources cite the Seven Laws of Noah. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seven_Laws_of_Noah ]

I do not think the Quran specifies a separate title for the prophets who received the scriptures. However, the following verse uses the term rasool: 

[Quran 62:2, Translation: Sahih International] He it is Who raised among the inhabitants of Mecca an Messenger from among themselves, who recites to them His communications and purifies them, and teaches them the Book and the Wisdom, although they were before certainly in clear error, 

I think this verse may also be relevant to the above: 

And when We took from the Prophets their Covenant and from you and from Nuh and Ibrahim and Musa and Isa, son (of) Maryam. And We took from them a covenant strong [http://islamawakened.com/quran/33/7/ ] 

And not is for any human that Allah should speak to him except (by) revelation or from behind a veil or (by) sending a messenger then he reveals by His permission what He wills. Indeed, He (is) Most High, Most Wise. [http://islamawakened.com/quran/42/51/ ]

Perhaps the following might also be of some help: 

Balance & Guidance: http://signsandscience.blogspot.com/2015/11/mission-of-messengers-iv.html 

Crime & Punishment: http://signsandscience.blogspot.com/2015/11/mission-of-messengers-v.html 

Thunderbolts: http://signsandscience.blogspot.com/2015/01/thunderbolts.html 

Communication Transmission: http://signsandscience.blogspot.com/2015/01/communication-transmission.html

And Allah knows best. 

Why Did the Prophet Have So Many Wives?

In a discussion on an email list, a Hindu raised several objections to Islam, among which was the following objection about Prophet Muhammud (may peace be upon him): 

... Yes all the ancient culture have people practicing Polygamy. Yes, if Mohammed wouldn't have been a prophet, we wouldn't have asked him this question on why Mohammed too so many wifes. Furthermore, taking a daughter-in-law as a wife is not a thing one would expect from a prophet. What about the concubines he maintained in his Harem ?. Is this also an act of prophethood. Yes, he was a prophet to Arabic people but he can't be asked by his followers to be the prophet for the entire man kind.

Since the primary participants of the discussion were not responding to this objection, I presented the following two links: 

Why Did the Prophet Have So Many Wives? 

http://www.onislam.net/english/ask-about-islam/ethics-and-values/muslim-character/166258-why-did-the-prophet-have-so-many-wives.html 

The Age of Hazrat Aisha at Marriage 
http://www.khalidzaheer.com/qa/1050 

Comment on article titled Which Quran, Mecca or Medina?

A non-Muslim interested in religious discussion shared this article on an email group: Which Quran, Mecca or Medina? 

Here are my two-bits:

Muhammad (may peace be upon him) was the last Prophet and the Messenger of God.

As the last Prophet, it was necessary to document and record all the revelations he received through Gabriel, the Trustworthy Messenger, so that future generations could benefit from the Quran. Hence, the final ordering of the verses of the Quran is also as revealed by Gabriel. Moreover, the Quran has been preserved in the same order, both in written form and orally, in the minds of those who memorise it (the Huffaz).

Quran is not the only scripture revealed by God. Other scriptures were revealed before it as well. As mentioned in the link Mr. G posted in his email [https://beyondthecusp.wordpress.com/2007/08/10/which-quran-mecca-or-medina/ ], there are certain similarities with other scriptures and certain differences. That the Quran was revealed in seventh century AD, and that it is the last scripture, means that now this book is meant for the guidance of humanity, as this is the most relevant for our times. I think this is what is meant by bringing something in place of the old. All verses of the Quran are equally valid and relevant, they do not contradict each other, and no verse is abrogated by any other verse. Its a matter of diligently studying the verses in context.

As for the contrast between the verses revealed earlier and later during Messenger Muhammad's mission, let me first explain the term Messenger (Rasool). Messengers are sent to warn clearly and Allah has always sent Messengers to warn nations transgressing beyond limits of impending divine punishment. Noah's nation, the Aad and the Samood, the Pharaoh of Egypt, and others were warned well in advance before punishment came to them. So thus this Messenger was sent to warn the Arabs, and give them time to mend. The warnings were conveyed through repeated examples of prior civilisations in several verses all across the Quran, revealed over a period of over two decades. After that the Treaty was declared annulled, notice of war given four months in advance, and then the Muslim State of Medina formally marched towards Makkah, as per divine order through the Messenger of God, and they were victorious, as promised by God.

There were several attacks on the Muslims in Medina prior to the conquest of Makkah. The verses which deal with qital give guidance on conduct when in a state of war. All armies of the world give similar advise to their combatants. Advice for soldiers being sent to battle, and advice for missionaries being sent for peaceful spread of the message must necessarily be different. It is important to read the verses in context, as well as to understand that only a Messenger of God or the Head of State can declare a war and call for battle.

Yes, the verses of the Quran are being abused and misapplied by some zealots within the fold of Islam as well organised criminals. And yes, I understand how imminent and real the threat of being murdered is for non-Muslims who fear for their lives, and thus view Islam as a Satanic cult. Of course, Satan is the avowed enemy of the progeny of Adam, and will use all means to deceive and destroy humans.

However, it is critical to remember that this life is not et al, and that eventually we all will die, and what is really going to matter is the final judgement. Immortality is a foregone eventuality, what matters is the quality of our eternal life. I hope and pray that all of us our guided to faith and guidance, are able to attain forgiveness of the Almighty and dwell in the Gardens of Eternity forever.

Al-Qur'an 4:34 - a circular debate

AZ copied me in an email discussion he was having with someone. Part of the message quoted verse 4:34, and so I commented which led to the following exchange: 

Excerpt of AZ's email I was copied in: ...What do you find wrong in Surah 4 : Ayat 34 -"Men are the protectors of maintainers of women, because Allah has made one of them to excel the other and because they spend to support them from their means" ------ and all that follows after that ... 

My comment: My interpretation of the verse 4:34 

http://islam-qna.blogspot.com/2008/11/to-be-or-not-to-be-equal-comments-on.html 

http://islam-qna.blogspot.com/2008/11/to-spankbeat-wives-is-not-crime.html 

AZ: What you say is correct and what I said is also correct. No where have I used the word 'inferior'. Please understand that Allah has assigned different duties for both which you have rightly mentioned too. In the eyes of Allah both are equal in deeds. A good act will receive the same reward for both; and an evil act will be punished accordingly for both. Since you go into details of a woman's position, being a women, can you answer one question- why did Allah not appoint woman as a Prophet. Why are all the Prophets  men and not a single woman? Why are two witnesses  required  from women as against only one from men in matters that requires witnesses ? 

My response: Thank you for agreeing with my interpretation. Yes, you did not use the word inferior - I had posted these on my blog in 2008 in response to someone else's post in a different list. Since it was relevant to your email, therefore I shared the links with you. 

Yes, I agree, all men and women are equal in terms of deeds and consequent rewards in the Hereafter, as clearly indicated in several verses: http://quran.com/4/124 , http://quran.com/16/97 , http://quran.com/33/35 , http://quran.com/40/40 , http://quran.com/47/19 , http://quran.com/48/5 , http://quran.com/57/12 , http://quran.com/57/18 and http://quran.com/85/10 

As regards the questions you have posed: 

a) why did Allah not appoint woman as a Prophet. Why are all the Prophets  men and not a single woman?  

Answer) I think, Allah knows best, that as the most precious job of the continuity of human kind (child bearing) has been assigned to women, thus women have not been overloaded with any other responsibility. Also, in the Quran chapter 66, where Allah is specifically giving example of believers and disbelievers, Allah chooses to present the example of women in both cases; the two exemplary believers worthy of mention for their belief as examples for all believers are the wife of Pharaoh and Mary, daughter of Imran: http://quran.com/66/11-12 

This may also be of interest: http://signsandscience.blogspot.com/2015/06/mission-of-messengers.html 

b) Why are two witnesses  required  from women as against only one from men in matters that requires witnesses?

Answer) Number of witnesses have been prescribed for specific cases clearly described in the relevant verses: 

Two male witnesses or one male and two female witnesses are required only in cases where debts are contracted: http://quran.com/2/282 

In cases of zina, four witnesses are required for the case to be admissible to court: http://quran.com/24/4 If the person lodging the accusation is unable to produce four witnesses, the accuser is to be punished, and their testimony not accepted ever after. 

In cases where one spouse accuses the other spouse, the rules and requirements are equal: http://quran.com/24/6-10 

Further, as punishment for crimes are equal, be it murder [http://quran.com/2/178], theft [http://quran.com/5/38] or adultery [http://quran.com/24/2], therefore, I suppose, in cases other than those two specifically mentioned, male and female witnesses should be considered equal as per the nature of the crime and the witness' presence at the scene. 

And Allah knows best. 

AZ: I am glad that you say Allah knows best.

Two more questions before I give you Allah's decision.

1. Why is a woman not allowed to marry another man while husband is alive and living with her, whereas a man is allowed to marry a second wife while his first wife is alive and staying with

him - that too without any need to take any sort of permission from the first wife ?

2. Why when a man dies his wealth and properties are not equally divided between his children - son gets more than the daughter.

Why? Why?  

My response: 

1. Why is a woman not allowed to marry another man while husband is alive and living with her, whereas a man is allowed to marry a second wife while his first wife is alive and staying with him - that too without any need to take any sort of permission from the first wife ?

Answer) Lineage. 

Also, note that according to the verses 4:2,3,127 of Surah Nisa, conditional polygamy is permitted to provide for the care of orphans, and 4:3 emphasises that only one is better. For explanation, please see: http://islam-qna.blogspot.com/2008/11/conditional-polygamy-permitted-in-islam.html 

I do not know whether permission is or not required. 

2. Why when a man dies his wealth and properties are not equally divided between his children - son gets more than the daughter. Why? Why? 

Answer) A woman is not required to spend from her personal wealth on anyone, including her own self. Since male members of the family are required to spend on the entire family's maintenance, therefore their need for it is greater. Therefore, since women do not have to spend, whatever they inherit is still greater than the male members share, even though it appears to be less. 

And Allah knows best! 

AZ: Yes, of course Allah knows the best. Allah knows the best in every matter - including relations  between men and women= "Men are the protectors and   maintainers of women, because Allah has made one of them to excel the other, and because they spend to support them from their means-------------------------------"

You Mashallah can read the Quran so I don't have to quote the whole Verse Ayat 34 of Surah 4.

Qadiani or Muslim

An atheist's objection about Knowledge, Islam and being Qadiani in Pakistan: 
If Seeking knowledge is encouraged it's very strange that although Muslims make up 23% of the world's population since 1900 only one Muslim has won a Nobel Prize in science, Ahmed Zewail won for chemistry in 1999.  Abdus Salam won for physics in 1979 and his tombstone said "First Muslim Nobel Laureate", but the Pakistani government officially decreed that Ahmed Zewail was NOT a Muslim and ordered that the word "Muslim" be erased from his tombstone. 

Answer: A number of times the Qadiani sect/religion has been referred to in various conversations pertaining to Islam in this list. Just for clarity, let me explain it with the Judaism-Christianity analogy. Both believe Moses to be a prophet of God. Both also believe that the Torah/Old Testament is a scripture. Christians believe in Jesus where as Jews don't. Christians believe in the gospels while the Jews don't. Christians do not call themselves Jews, nor is there any problem with that. 

Similarly, the Qadiani sect/religion believes in Muhammad and the Quran, yet they also believe in another latter prophet. They are free to practice their religion. its just that a law was passed that they should not call themselves Muslims.  By the way, Dr Abdus Salam was a Pakistani, and Ahmed Zewail of Egyptian origin. 

Quran, Muhammad and willful submission

A, you write frequently and claim that your view of a godless universe is indeed the correct view. You probably have followers (people who agree with your contention and world-view). If some of them were to relate what you said about something, and they to others, and yet others, and the chain was to go on... ever played Chinese whispers??? Can you guess what the message would morph into? And throw in a mix of some devious mischief-mongers who deliberately make some changes to your views and comments. Imagine!
As I have stated earlier, the arabic Quran is the word of Allah, guarded and preserved by Him as a guidance for all humanity. The hadith books are human compilation and subject to scrutiny just as much as any other human work. If some people choose to follow it without question and evaluation, they are just as free to do so as they are to follow (or not) any religion. As for your accusation about Allah being discriminatory in giving guidance, the fact of the matter is that we all have been equally blessed with life, signs in nature, a conscience, and the Quran. Though He blesses all of us with all these as well as varying degrees of wordly comforts and joys (or trials and tribulations), He wishes willful obedience from us. Had He wished, He could have made us all Muslims, but that is not the idea. He has sent us here on trial, and those who choose to willfully submit to His will qualify for Heaven. The Quran is a message, confirming the Prophets, Books and Messages of old, a message of glad tidings for those who believe and do good deeds, and a warning for those who choose not to. It's purpose is to guide those who choose guidance. Only those who choose and seek guidance will be guided. Those who reject will not be forced against their will. But, God makes plain His warning, so that those who reject, the Word is proven against them and they have no excuse on the Day of Judgement. The Prophets will be allowed to intercede only on behalf of those whom Allah allows them to intercede for. The command will indeed completely belong to God. The verses describing the Day of Judgement are only intended to convey a feel of the magnificence and awe. We cannot really begin to appreciate it while trapped in our mortal bodies and limited knowledge, or atleast I can't.
Mainstream Islam believes that Muhammad was mortal and that he died. Though we greatly love and honour our dear Prophet and those who went before him, we firmly believe that he is human. The hadith books did not exist at the time the Quranic verse of obedience to the Prophet was revealed. Simply explained, as the Prophet's entire life was complete obedience of Allah as revealed in the Quran, we are to follow his example and try to obey the Quran in letter and in spirit. Furthermore, as we are told, our dear Prophet was extremely humble and decent and would never tell others if they were being too forward or disrespectful of him, which is why Allah revealed the verses instructing proper conduct (the Prophet was obliged to recite all revealed verses, so he had no choice in the matter).
As for people belonging to other religions, when the Quran was being revealed, Jews and Christians also lived there. Jews were those who did not believe in Jesus, and Christians were those who believed in Jesus as well as all the prophets before him. In either case, both these groups did not believe Muhammad to be a prophet. Yet, in certain verses, Allah speaks very highly of certain People of the Book who were extremely pious. As I understand, belief in one God and continuous search for truth and guidance, and willful submission and piety is what is required, not a particular religious brand.
Holy Quran 5:119 Allah will say: "This is a day on which the truthful will profit from their truth: theirs are gardens, with rivers flowing beneath,- their eternal Home: Allah well-pleased with them, and they with Allah. That is the great salvation.
As for the muslim confession of shahdah, the translation is: there is no deity but Allah, and Muhammad is the messenger of Allah. Whenever we recite it, we are immediately reminded that only Allah is divine. Religions of afore have repeatedly made the mistake of glorifying their prophets to the extent that they've deified them; we are reminded over and over again to remember to not to commit this grave mistake. There is only one God, the Creator and Sustainer of all, and to whom shall be the final return.
May Allah guide us all.
Regards,
Samiya

Can any of the Holy Scriptures be totally trusted?

Question: My next BIG question is:CAN ANY OF THE HOLY SCRIPTURES BE TOTALLY TRUSTED ?Working on the ASSUMPTION that all humans are limited in their knowledge and understanding of God, and what they hear, read, or learn is strongly influenced by their culture and pre-existing world views, and perhaps shaped by their inner mental and emotional motives, can ANY of the writings of the various prophets be trusted to be totally accurate, or is it the case that that any sort of literal reading is too be avoided. Apart from the FACT that women often get a bad deal in most of the holy scriptures, I am also concerned that God is so often portrayed as being exclusively Male, and that so many of the holy scriptures paint an all too restricted and conveniently human image of God. IF such a thing as God exists, I hope She is more intelligent and compassionate than the ones portrayed in the world's holy scriptures. My guess is that no one religion has ALL the answers, and as Mark has already said, God remains a "Great Mystery".Just Being Curious & Exploring,

Answer: Yes, the Arabic Quran is a holy scripture that can be totally trusted.
Reason: Mathematically, Scientifically, Morally it stands the test.
Explanation: Allah/God has taken it upon himself to protect it. Any copy of the Holy Quran anywhere in the world contains the same alphabets in the same order. The numbering of the sentences may be different in some copies, but the exact alphabets and words in the exact same sequence are always there. For example, all Chapters (Surahs) begin with Bismillah hir Rahman nir Rahim (In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful): Some mark it as the first sentence while others mark it as the header, and the following sentence is marked as 1. Also, most copies list Surah Fatiha as Chapter 1 while some mark it as an opening prayer. Now, as a science student, you will be able to appreciate the following: if we take Surah Fatiha as the opening prayer, and Surah Baqarah as Chapter 1, then counting till the chapter titled Iron, the count is 56 which is the atomic weight of Iron(Fe). Then again, if you count the bismillah as the first sentence, then the count till the sentence which contains the mention of Iron is number 26, which is the atomic number of Iron.
Another example: Surah Rum or the Roman Empire (30:3 or 29:4, depending on how one counts), it says that ‘fi adna l-ardi’, now we know that Arabic language comprises of root words which lend themselves to an array of meanings, one of which can be: lowest part of the Earth……now you will be surprised to learn that the Romans were defeated by the Persians in the Dead Sea valley, which is indeed the lowest part on the surface of the Earth (land), being approximately 400m below sea level. This verse also goes on to foretell that after this they will soon be victorious…….. and indeed, history is witness to the fact that the Romans later on did win.
Point to Ponder: Prophet Muhammad was not only illiterate, science had not progressed to such a level in the 7th Century AD. Some people respond to this with the argument that he was inspired not by God but by a djinn, and thus such scientific accuracy is there which was unknown to humans at that time. Why would a djinn or any other creature inspire Muhammad with such a wonderful book which seeks to glorify the one and only creator alone? Links: You may do some research for more evidence from the following linkshttp://www.irf.net/irf/faqonislam/index.htm http://19.org/download/19_001.wmv http://www.quran.org/science/origin.htm There are many more sites on the web; for scientists you may look up Maurice Bucaille and Nurbaki to begin with; you might even look up youTube and Google videos.Also, do check out: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-5897202495636098966&ei=aaEkSuWDNIe8wgOXm_XSCQ&q=islam+and+science http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yjDBlH9Thug

Jews and Jesus

Q: Logical mistakes in thinking (according to the Quran, verse 4.157, the Jews say that Jesus is the Messiah and a Prophet of Allah, which they never did)”

A: In this particular verse, the Jews are boasting that they have killed Jesus, and as such mockingly saying that they have slain Christ, the messenger of Allah, not out of belief, but sarcastically. Allah has simply quoted them.