Creation, Perfection and Free Will

My two-bits on a discussion about Creation, Perfection and Free Will, and my comments on what someone has referred to in one of the posts as 'Why not accept instead that creation is a work in progress and evil exists for some purpose of which we are as yet unaware. That after all is rather how Samiya describes a fairly consistent Islamic view of the world.'

Creation is indeed a work in progress. Every new baby, every new star, the continual expansion of space, all bear witness to continuous creation. Consider the following verses:  
(Quran 35:1) Praise be to Allah, Who created (out of nothing) the heavens and the earth, Who made the angels, messengers with wings,- two, or three, or four (pairs): He adds to creation as He pleases: for Allah has power over all things.
(Quran 36:79)Say, "He will give them life Who created them for the first time! for He is Well-versed in every kind of creation!-
(Quran 40:57) Assuredly the creation of the heavens and the earth is a greater (matter) than the creation of men: Yet most men understand not.
(Quran 21:104) The Day that We roll up the heavens like a scroll rolled up for books (completed),- even as We produced the first creation, so shall We produce a new one: a promise We have undertaken: truly shall We fulfil it.
(Quran 27:64) Or, Who originates creation, then repeats it, and who gives you sustenance from heaven and earth? (Can there be another) god besides Allah? Say, "Bring forth your argument, if ye are telling the truth!"
(Quran 29:6) And if any strive (with might and main), they do so for their own souls: for Allah is free of all needs from all creation.
(Quran 67:3) He Who created the seven heavens one above another: No want of proportion wilt thou see in the creation of (Allah) Most Gracious. So turn thy vision again: seest thou any flaw?
(Quran 19:35) It is not Befitting to (the majesty of) Allah that He should Beget a son. Glory Be to Him! when He determines a matter, He only says to it, "Be", and it is.

As the verses above indicate, Creation is not a process of trial and error. God creates perfectly and effortlessly. The Islamic concept of God is a perfect and supreme being, omniscient and omnipresent, transcendent and immanent, nothing that we can understand or comprehend, but still begin to realize the majesty and hold in complete awe!

Free will, as I understand it, is the freedom of choice, not of outcome. Consider the following verse:

(Quran 57:22,23) No misfortune can happen on earth or in your souls but is recorded in a decree before We bring it into existence: That is truly easy for Allah:
In order that ye may not despair over matters that pass you by, nor exult over favours bestowed upon you. For Allah loveth not any vainglorious boaster,-

For those who have an idea of how softwares and computer games are coded, the programmer builds-in possible outcomes and the program proceeds as designed, while the user chooses from a limited array of choices. Now, these are but human designs. Imagine how fantastic the Creator's software is! Perhaps we do not understand Free Will completely, but the analogy of a computer software does help appreciate the simplicity, complexity, reality and illusion thereof. What happens is exactly as God has destined and planned, but our choices are recorded as we live the software of life!
   
Consider the following verses:

Behold! in the creation of the heavens and the earth; in the alternation of the night and the day; in the sailing of the ships through the ocean for the profit of mankind; in the rain which Allah Sends down from the skies, and the life which He gives therewith to an earth that is dead; in the beasts of all kinds that He scatters through the earth; in the change of the winds, and the clouds which they Trail like their slaves between the sky and the earth;- (Here) indeed are Signs for a people that are wise.
 (Al-Baqara, Chapter #2, Verse #164)

Behold! in the creation of the heavens and the earth, and the alternation of night and day,- there are indeed Signs for men of understanding,-
 (Aal-e-Imran, Chapter #3, Verse #190)

Men who celebrate the praises of Allah, standing, sitting, and lying down on their sides, and contemplate the (wonders of) creation in the heavens and the earth, (With the thought): "Our Lord! not for naught Hast Thou created (all) this! Glory to Thee! Give us salvation from the penalty of the Fire.
 (Aal-e-Imran, Chapter #3, Verse #191)

We have honoured the sons of Adam; provided them with transport on land and sea; given them for sustenance things good and pure; and conferred on them special favours, above a great part of our creation.
 (Al-Isra, Chapter #17, Verse #70)

Say: "Travel through the earth and see how Allah did originate creation; so will Allah produce a later creation: for Allah has power over all things.
 (Al-Ankaboot, Chapter #29, Verse #20)

And among His Signs is the creation of the heavens and the earth, and the variations in your languages and your colours: verily in that are Signs for those who know.
 (Ar-Room, Chapter #30, Verse #22)

It is He Who begins (the process of) creation; then repeats it; and for Him it is most easy. To Him belongs the loftiest similitude (we can think of) in the heavens and the earth: for He is Exalted in Might, full of wisdom.
 (Ar-Room, Chapter #30, Verse #27)

Sin, salvation, and all-mighty God‏

Question: In an online interfaith forum, someone recently lost his wife. He poses questions about sin, salvation and all-mighty God (his post is reproduced below after my answer).

Answer: I believe in an ever-loving God whose Love extends over all creation. I also believe that Beauty is an intrinsic value of the Divine, and hence all Do's and Don'ts are based upon beautiful moral and ethical values! Sin is a deviation from those values, and this information is ingrained in our consciousness. Furthermore, God also has sent prophets and books to supplement our conscience.  

I also believe that God is able to do all things. 

I believe that it is if no benefit to God to punish people. I also believe that God is the Supreme Judge. And I also believe that Resurrection and the Day of Reckoning will be established, primarily to bless those whom God considers worthy of His Heaven and eternal bliss. Punishment and Hell are but consequential to the establishment of justice. 

As I understand from the Quran, a basic principle is that God is neither cruel nor is He unjust. I also read there that God will have to judge us because we humans chose the responsibility. (Quran, 33: 72, 73 Lo! We offered the trust unto the heavens and the earth and the hills, but they shrank from bearing it and were afraid of it. And man assumed it. Lo! he hath proved a tyrant and a fool. So Allah punisheth hypocritical men and hypocritical women, and idolatrous men and idolatrous women. But Allah pardoneth believing men and believing women, and Allah is ever Forgiving, Merciful.) http://www.searchtruth.com/chapter_display.php?chapter=33&translator=4     

Happiness, Justice, Recompense,

K stated: Happiness is the purpose for design. Design provides for basic needs. People are happy when basic needs are met.
B responded: Basic needs? I can't buy food if I pay my medical bills, I can't pay my medical bills if I pay my routine creditors (mortgages, utilities, & communications, etc.). But I eat well enough and enjoy my life in our little home with my dear wife of 20 years (our anniversary was May 14th). How about those who are more desperate than we are, who go to bed hungry, or live in feeble shelters that afford little comfort in winter or summer? How about those in Haiti or other such places who live in great want and die young? This world's design is a poor work indeed, happiness is fleeting for most of us, and basic needs are met for few while some horde exorbitant excess with callous disregard for any others. It is truly a good design for nothing other than hell.
My Comments: Happiness is a state of mind, and is indeed fleeting in this world. There is much happening all around to affect those who feel for others, and wish for equality and justice, dream of a world where all live in peace, free of needs, a world of truth, of mutual respect and care...
There will be such a world, an ever-lasting world, and that is why the Day of Recompense has been promised: the Day when justice will be established, and every soul will be rewarded for its deeds, and not a single thing, big or small, will be ignored. The Day of Recompense will not be established because God wishes to punish people, but it will be established because God wishes to bless and reward those who believed and did good deeds. The punishment for evil will be a consequence of the need to establish justice, and the punishment will be according to the evil of the deeds. The blessings and rewards for those who believed and did good, will be multiplied and be far more than what they strove for.
It is important to remember that this life on Earth is transient, and we are all on trial. The analogy is like a theatre play: we are all playing parts, in which some are rich, others poor, some happy, others sad, each playing its own role, and each moving towards the finale... when the curtain comes down, and the play stops, then will the performers be judged how well they played their role.
If we take the life of this world to be et al, an end to itself, then nothing makes sense, but if we understand that this is a brief exam, and that everyone and everything will receive full justice, then one can begin to appreciate the grand scheme.

What is the real meaning of Halal Meat?

Question: Response to a request to comment on a different interpretation in an article about Halal Meat (pasted below)
Answer: As I understand it, Surah Maida is generally considered as the last surah revealed, and verses 2 and 3 indicate that. If the first four verses are read in order and then verse five, it appears that Allah has clearly declared the meat of certain forms of death as not suitable for eating. Furthermore, verse 5 couples two permissions: food of the People of the Book and marriage with 'chaste women' from among the People of the Book. I feel the logical derivative is that the permissible or clean portion of the food of the People of the Book is permissible, while we are to avoid that which is already declared as unsuitable for consumption.
Also worth pondering is the fact that food and pilgrimage are mentioned together. Perhaps there is a closer link between our spiritual and physical wellbeing than we think, or perhaps we need this analogy to understand the significance of why certain kinds of food are not permissible.
Consider the first ten verses of Surah Maida.
Holy Quran, Chapter 5, Verses 1-10
1 O ye who believe! fulfil (all) obligations. Lawful unto you (for food) are all four-footed animals, with the exceptions named: But animals of the chase are forbidden while ye are in the sacred precincts or in pilgrim garb: for Allah doth command according to His will and plan.  
 2 O ye who believe! Violate not the sanctity of the symbols of Allah, nor of the sacred month, nor of the animals brought for sacrifice, nor the garlands that mark out such animals, nor the people resorting to the sacred house, seeking of the bounty and good pleasure of their Lord. But when ye are clear of the sacred precincts and of pilgrim garb, ye may hunt and let not the hatred of some people in (once) shutting you out of the Sacred Mosque lead you to transgression (and hostility on your part). Help ye one another in righteousness and piety, but help ye not one another in sin and rancour: fear Allah. for Allah is strict in punishment.  
 3 Forbidden to you (for food) are: dead meat, blood, the flesh of swine, and that on which hath been invoked the name of other than Allah. that which hath been killed by strangling, or by a violent blow, or by a headlong fall, or by being gored to death; that which hath been (partly) eaten by a wild animal; unless ye are able to slaughter it (in due form); that which is sacrificed on stone (altars); (forbidden) also is the division (of meat) by raffling with arrows: that is impiety. This day have those who reject faith given up all hope of your religion: yet fear them not but fear Me. This day have I perfected your religion for you, completed My favour upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion. But if any is forced by hunger, with no inclination to transgression, Allah is indeed Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful.  
 4 They ask thee what is lawful to them (as food). Say: lawful unto you are (all) things good and pure: and what ye have taught your trained hunting animals (to catch) in the manner directed to you by Allah. eat what they catch for you, but pronounce the name of Allah over it: and fear Allah. for Allah is swift in taking account.  
 5 This day are (all) things good and pure made lawful unto you. The food of the People of the Book is lawful unto you and yours is lawful unto them. (Lawful unto you in marriage) are (not only) chaste women who are believers, but chaste women among the People of the Book, revealed before your time,- when ye give them their due dowers, and desire chastity, not lewdness, nor secret intrigues if any one rejects faith, fruitless is his work, and in the Hereafter he will be in the ranks of those who have lost (all spiritual good).  
 6 O ye who believe! when ye prepare for prayer, wash your faces, and your hands (and arms) to the elbows; Rub your heads (with water); and (wash) your feet to the ankles. If ye are in a state of ceremonial impurity, bathe your whole body. But if ye are ill, or on a journey, or one of you cometh from offices of nature, or ye have been in contact with women, and ye find no water, then take for yourselves clean sand or earth, and rub therewith your faces and hands, Allah doth not wish to place you in a difficulty, but to make you clean, and to complete his favour to you, that ye may be grateful.  
 7 And call in remembrance the favour of Allah unto you, and His covenant, which He ratified with you, when ye said: "We hear and we obey": And fear Allah, for Allah knoweth well the secrets of your hearts.  
 8 O ye who believe! stand out firmly for Allah, as witnesses to fair dealing, and let not the hatred of others to you make you swerve to wrong and depart from justice. Be just: that is next to piety: and fear Allah. For Allah is well-acquainted with all that ye do.  
 9 To those who believe and do deeds of righteousness hath Allah promised forgiveness and a great reward.  
 10 Those who reject faith and deny our signs will be companions of Hell-fire.


Original article:
Many Muslims keep arguing about what they call ‘halal meat’ without even knowing the Quranic criteria. Most of those who reach the USA or Europe from other countries, or those who convert to Islam in the Western countries, are usually confronted by some Muslims, “Do not eat but the halal meat.” What do they really mean by halal meat? Nothing Quranic!
Most importantly, let us not equate halal with Zabeeha. The word ZABEEHA does not even appear in the Quran. God knew in His infinite Wisdom that the ways of slaughtering would keep changing with time.
16:115 He only prohibits for you the dead animal, blood, and swine-flesh and anything that has been dedicated to other than God….
6:116 Do not keep uttering in falsehood, “This is lawful and this is unlawful”, thus inventing lies against God. Those who fabricate lies against God, fail to prosper in their own ‘self’.
The upholding of any prohibitions not specifically mentioned in the Quran is nothing but idolatry. Such man-made restrictions represent some other god(s) beside God. If we obey God alone, we will uphold His laws alone and honor only His commandments. God very clearly mentions in the Quran what is prohibited from the food and meat.
2:173 He has forbidden you: dead meat (carrion), blood, swine-flesh, and anything (NOT JUST MEAT) that has been dedicated to other than God (be it a person, an idol or a tomb 5:3) …
In addition to ignorance, the term “halal Meat” is a term often used for profits. Those calling their meat halal, are actually claiming that any other meat is not halal. And that the meat sold in the general groceries (supermarkets in the West) is not halal. They make more money on their products by selling it expensive. Ordinary Muslims get deceived that their meat is the only halal meat for them. God Almighty always knew that many Muslims would be living among People of the Book and sharing their food and for this reason God stated the following:
5:5 “Today, all good food is made lawful for you. The food of the People of the Book) is Lawful (HALAL) for you……”
BEFORE EATING: God Almighty has also specified a simple criterion for His servants. Mention God’s Name on EVERYTHING you are going to eat. See 5:4, & 6:118-119.
6:119 Why should you refuse to eat on which God’s Name has been pronounced (i.e. it is dedicated to Him alone)?
NOT BEFORE SLAUGHTERING: Muslims have substituted God’s command (mentioning His Name on food before eating it) by a non-Quranic condition of their own making. They have made slaughtering (ZABEEHA) the ONLY lawful method of killing an animal for its meat. There is absolutely no such restriction in the Quran. As a result of this man-made restriction, the Mullah-minded Muslims and meat merchants insist that the Name of God must be mentioned on it before slaughtering an animal. The following observations prove that this imposed restriction is false and that it is non-Quranic:
01. The first reason is that unless you have slaughtered the animal yourself, you cannot be sure that the Name of God has been mentioned on the animal. Therefore, the only choice available is to mention God’s Name before eating.
02. Another reason behind mentioning God’s Name on our food before eating is appreciation:
16:114 So enjoy all the lawful and decent THINGS which God has provided for you. And be grateful for God’s bounty if it is Him you truly serve.
This act of appreciation for God’s blessings would not be genuine and heartfelt if we rely on someone else taking God’s Name somewhere in the slaughter house.
03. By reading 16:114, we note that the command of uttering God’s Name is related to whatever we eat, ANYTHING, and not just meat. This includes fruit, vegetables, or even snacks like cookies, biscuits or peanuts etc. Should we slaughter fruit, cookies and peanuts? So, the only way to obey God’s law is to take His Name before eating all foods.
04. Verse 5:5 makes it clear that God has made it Lawful for us to eat the food of People of the Book (Jews, Christians). As the Christians in particular do not take God’s Name before slaughtering, their food is still lawful for us. This can only mean that the duty is laid on each of us before eating our food and nothing else.
BLOOD: Muslims need to recall that People of the Book also consider blood as Forbidden. Whichever way the animal is killed for consumption, its blood either drains out or lodges in its veins. This blood is automatically removed during washing the meat. See that happen in a chicken you buy from a Christian merchant or from a Muslim pushing for ‘Zabeeha’ meat.
A HADITH DISCARDED: The Hadith lovers even discard their beloved Bukhari (2057) here: Narrated by Bibi Aisha, A group of people asked the Prophet, “People bring us meat and we do not know if God’s Name has been mentioned on it.” The Prophet (S) replied, “Say BISMILLAH and eat it.”
Surat Al-Maidah 5.3
Surat Al Baqarah 2:173
Surat Al Baqarah 2:168
Surat An-Nahl 16-115
Surat An-Nahl 16-116
Surat Al-Anam 6-118
Surat Al-Anam 6-119
Surat Al-Maidah 5-5
 http://quran.com/2 is the best site for verifying Quran with English translation.
We can never be the better for our religion if our neighbour is the worse for it

What if there really are such things as demons?

Question: Perhaps the violence and oppression in Syria, the people killing their own people in a great feast of blood, is actually the work of a great demon or demons. Bloodthirsty demons of war who possess the minds of people and lead them to such atrocities as it daunts the human heart to ponder. Perhaps demons and angels do populate the world in great number, disembodied spirits who manipulate, for good or ill, the activities of men. I know that Arjuna in the Bhagavad Gita was bound to battle with the demons and against some of his kindred humans whom the demons had led into greater evil and darkness.
Do you feel yourself sometimes tempted to evils that a healthy mind rejects? Do you feel yourself as well sometimes tempted to outstanding goodness that your timid and callous mind rejects? Do you ask yourself how, how, how can people do some of the horrors they do in our world? Do you wonder as well how people find the incredible strength and courage by which they do such valorous and compassionate acts of service and sacrifice?
I've always chosen to believe that people are themselves able to do great evil and great good, and that demons and angels are just foolish rationalizations for such things. But I must here confess to occasional pondering on such matters. What say you all?

Answer: We humans have both: the potential for good and evil, and the free-will to choose which path to follow. Whether it is our own self which urges us to do great good or horrific evil, or whether our minds are prompted by suggestions from other humans or supernatural beings, for all sane thinking people, the responsibility for the choice they make and their actions rests with themselves.

From the Islamic perspective, we believe in the existence of angels and dJinns. We also know that angels do guard and supplement good efforts by God's command. We also believe in the existence of good and bad dJinns, but that they can only suggest ideas, and that they do not have any real power over us. We ultimately are responsible for our choices.
Consider Surah Naas (Chapter 114):
1 Say: I seek refuge in the Lord of humankind,  
2 The King of humankind,  
3 The God of humankind,  
4 From the evil of the sneaking whisperer,  
5 Who whispereth in the hearts of humankind,  
6 Of the jinn and of humankind.

We also believe in pre-destiny: that all that happens is already decreed. Consider the following verses: Surah Hadeed (Chapter 57):
22 No misfortune can happen on earth or in your souls but is recorded in a decree before We bring it into existence: That is truly easy for Allah.
23 In order that ye may not despair over matters that pass you by, nor exult over favours bestowed upon you. For Allah loveth not any vainglorious boaster,-

Coming back to the original point, the ability to discern between right and wrong, consider the following verses from Surah Shams (Chapter 91):
7 And the soul and Him Who made it perfect,  
8 Then He inspired it to understand what is right and wrong for it;  
9 He will indeed be successful who purifies it,  
10 And he will indeed fail who corrupts it.
As for the Syrian example you raised, well just as we are individually capable of all things, so are we collectively capable of good and evil. Its sad, but history simply keeps repeating itself. Humankind simply refuses to learn.

Life is once in a death experience!

A discussion on death and what it means:
P: Death is a once in a lifetime experience that I look forward to, but I'm in no hurry and have things I wish to get underway (or complete) before embracing it.
M: Does the “soul” die, or just the outer shell called the physical body?
S: Samiya, do I read you as saying there is reincarnation? Do you believe that our eternal souls return to new lives after death? Or did I misread your post? "We will die and again be reborn." (?)

And my views on it:
Life is once in a death experience!
We were dead, then we were born in this world.
We will die and again be re-born.
In this world, death is decreed for all souls; in the hereafter, immortality is decreed... this is about the only thing we can count on... rest is all uncertain! As I understand it, death is like sleep, only prolonged. In the Quran, it is explained as:
It is Allah that takes the souls (of men) at death; and those that die not (He takes) during their sleep: those on whom He has passed the decree of death, He keeps back (from returning to life), but the rest He sends (to their bodies) for a term appointed verily in this are Signs for those who reflect. 
(  سورة الزمر  , Az-Zumar, Chapter #39, Verse #42)
I can not speak with any knowledge about the soul's existence without the body, but it appears that it is in a state of sleep, as about resurrection, it is said that: They will say: "Ah! Woe unto us! Who hath raised us up from our beds of repose?"... (A voice will say:) "This is what ((Allah)) Most Gracious had promised. And true was the word of the apostles!" 
(  سورة يس  , Ya Seen, Chapter #36, Verse #52)

The way I interpret the scripture, this life on Earth is the first bodily life, hence there was no former bodily existence, rather from non-living(death), we were brought into existence(life). We will taste death again(removal of soul from body), and then given life again(resurrected). However, there is the the concept of some form of existence as the life of this world and the judgment to follow are based upon a responsibility (trust) we humans volunteered for (Quran 33:72,73).

And to give an analogy from this life, God explains: And He it is Who makes the Night as a Robe for you, and sleep as Repose, and makes the Day (as it were) a Resurrection. 
(  سورة الفرقان  , Al-Furqan, Chapter #25, Verse #47)

As I replied to M, we will be reborn, but not here, rather in the Hereafter, on the day of retribution, and then life will be eternal. So, its not death which is a finality, rather its life which is a finality, hence its not death that need be feared, rather eternity, as that life, good or bad, will be perpetual! In this life, we atleast taste good times and bad, there it'll be continuously good or bad. So, reincarnation, yes, but with a twist :)

Few verses related to the topic:
Every soul shall have a taste of death: And only on the Day of Judgment shall you be paid your full recompense. Only he who is saved far from the Fire and admitted to the Garden will have attained the object (of Life): For the life of this world is but goods and chattels of deception. 
(  سورة آل عمران  , Aal-e-Imran, Chapter #3, Verse #185)
And Allah sends down rain from the skies, and gives therewith life to the earth after its death: verily in this is a Sign for those who listen. 
(  سورة النحل  , An-Nahl, Chapter #16, Verse #65)
Then contemplate (O man!) the memorials of Allah's Mercy!- how He gives life to the earth after its death: verily the same will give life to the men who are dead: for He has power over all things. 
(  سورة الروم  , Ar-Room, Chapter #30, Verse #50)
It is Allah Who sends forth the Winds, so that they raise up the Clouds, and We drive them to a land that is dead, and revive the earth therewith after its death: even so (will be) the Resurrection! 
(  سورة فاطر  , Fatir, Chapter #35, Verse #9)
Know ye (all) that Allah giveth life to the earth after its death! already have We shown the Signs plainly to you, that ye may learn wisdom. 
(  سورة الحديد  , Al-Hadid, Chapter #57, Verse #17)

Religion and Science

Question: 'Science and religion both originate from the same source'. What does this mean? Science is a man made construct. Its a human form of knowledge. What source does science originate from?
Answer: Evolution existed millions of years before Darwin or Dawkins, right? The Universe, the laws of physics, the science has been there all along. We humans have simply discovered and figured out ways to harness science.
Similarly, if any of the holy books is actually divine, then it must have also originated from the same source as the science... the Creator must be the same, and must know what He's talking about.
We make hypotheses, build theories and reject most of them all the time. The few that pass the test are accepted as facts of science, which again may undergo revision a few centuries down. Similarly, we need to objectively study scripture and see if it makes sense. I think its important if we are ever to evolve from the dogmatic limbo we are in. Personally, to me the Quran does. Many muslims profess faith, but fear losing faith if exposed to scientific scrutiny. Understanding the same origin will help them cross the bridge without fear.

Comment: Endorsing the effort to try to find more "scientific facts" from the Quran? I think it cheapens both fields
Answer: Physicists search for a grand unified theory of Physics. Does that mean they are cheapening the Electromagnetic or the Strong or the Weak force or Gravity? Objective study and exploration of all realms and sources of knowledge doesn't cheapen any one... it simply enriches and provides a wider perspective, similar to how Liberal Arts allow you to delve in and explore different, seemingly unrelated areas of study, broadening your horizon.