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.

The meaning of lil-mut-ta-qeen

Question: how do you interpret the end of Quran 5:46 which says "to those who fear Allah"
Answer: This is the reason why I insist that only Arabic Quran is Allah's word and translations are human efforts to spread the word.
The arabic word used is lil-mut-ta-qeen which means for the God-conscious. Most translators take it to be synonymous to Fear though it is not neccessarily so. Sometimes I have a different opinion from the published translation, yet I don't change it to maintain the integrity of the source.
If you follow the following link, you can see how four different translators have attempted to translate the same word:
http://www.searchtruth.com/chapter_display_all.php?chapter=5&from_verse=46&to_verse=48&mac=&translation_setting=1&show_transliteration=1&show_yusufali=1&show_shakir=1&show_pickthal=1&show_mkhan=1

Questioner's response: in both the hebrew of jewish scriptures and the greek of christian scriptures, and especially in the greek, it is closer to the word "reverence"..............on the other hand, sometimes it means fear someone, in the usual english usage........can be complicated.............
My response: I guess reverence for and consciousness of God would neccesarily go hand in hand. In fact, I think an appreciation of His majesty would encompass love and fear and many other emotions, varying from experience to experience, sign to sign, and circumstance to circumstance. It would actually depend on the focus and frame of mind of the individual.

Love and Compassion in Islam

Question: To my limited understanding, the big difference between Christianity and other religions and Islam is that "love your neighbor as yourself" is missing from the Koran. Am I wrong ?
Response: Indeed, you're misinformed. The Quran places great stress on love and compassion for all members of the society, to the extent that one chapter links faith with interpersonal relations.

Chapter 107 Verses 1-7
1 Seest thou one who denies the Judgment (to come)?  
2 Then such is the (man) who repulses the orphan (with harshness),  
3 And encourages not the feeding of the indigent.  
4 So woe to the worshippers  
5 Who are neglectful of their prayers,  
6 Those who (want but) to be seen (of men),  
7 But refuse (to supply) (even) neighbourly needs. 
Another verse related to taking care of the community:
Chapter 4 Verse 36: Serve Allah, and join not any partners with Him; and do good- to parents, kinsfolk, orphans, those in need, neighbours who are near, neighbours who are strangers, the companion by your side, the wayfarer (ye meet), and what your right hands possess: For Allah loveth not the arrogant, the vainglorious;-

Comment: Does that sound like love to you, Samiya ? To me it sounds like orders from above. Even threats.
Response: Belief in the divine origin of holy scriptures preceeding the Quran is an article of faith for a Muslim.
Chapter 2, Verse 4: And who believe in the Revelation sent to thee, and sent before thy time, and (in their hearts) have the assurance of the Hereafter.
We believe that the Quran completes and restores to its purity the message that was sent earlier.
Chapter 10, Verse 37: This Qur'an is not such as can be produced by other than Allah. On the contrary it is a confirmation of (revelations) that went before it, and a fuller explanation of the Book - wherein there is no doubt - from the Lord of the worlds.
Chapter 5:Verses 46-48
46 And in their footsteps We sent Jesus the son of Mary, confirming the Law that had come before him: We sent him the Gospel: therein was guidance and light, and confirmation of the Law that had come before him: a guidance and an admonition to those who fear Allah.  
47 Let the people of the Gospel judge by what Allah hath revealed therein. If any do fail to judge by (the light of) what Allah hath revealed, they are (no better than) those who rebel.  
48 To thee We sent the Scripture in truth, confirming the scripture that came before it, and guarding it in safety: so judge between them by what Allah hath revealed, and follow not their vain desires, diverging from the Truth that hath come to thee. To each among you have we prescribed a law and an open way. If Allah had so willed, He would have made you a single people, but (His plan is) to test you in what He hath given you: so strive as in a race in all virtues. The goal of you all is to Allah. it is He that will show you the truth of the matters in which ye dispute;
By the way, Love thy neighbour is also a commandment, an order from above.

Comment: Muslims are only generous to other muslims
Response: Unfortunately, that is the myopic understanding of certain communities and sects, to the extent that they then restrict the ambit of their charity to their own community or sect, and not even give to all muslims. But that is not the message of the Quran. The Quran emphasizes charity, sympathy and empathy for all humans.
The following is Chapter 90 which again links faith and righteousness to compassion
 1 I do call to witness this City;-  
 2 And thou art a freeman of this City;-  
 3 And (the mystic ties of) parent and child;-  
 4 Verily We have created man into toil and struggle.  
 5 Thinketh he, that none hath power over him?  
 6 He may say (boastfully); Wealth have I squandered in abundance!  
 7 Thinketh he that none beholdeth him?  
 8 Have We not made for him a pair of eyes?-  
 9 And a tongue, and a pair of lips?-  
 10 And shown him the two highways?  
 11 But he hath made no haste on the path that is steep.  
 12 And what will explain to thee the path that is steep?-  
 13 (It is:) freeing the bondman;  
 14 Or the giving of food in a day of privation  
 15 To the orphan with claims of relationship,  
 16 Or to the indigent (down) in the dust.  
 17 Then will he be of those who believe, and enjoin patience, (constancy, and self-restraint), and enjoin deeds of kindness and compassion.  
 18 Such are the Companions of the Right Hand.  
 19 But those who reject Our Signs, they are the (unhappy) Companions of the Left Hand.  
 20 On them will be Fire vaulted over (all round). 
  Translated by Yusuf Ali
http://searchtruth.com/chapter_display.php?chapter=90&translator=2&mac=

Attitudes of Faith

The following is from a chain of posts with the subject: why atheists are so disliked
Question: I wonder if either person would be offended if I compared their faith in divine revelation which they exhibit toward their chosen scriptures, the Bible of Mr R C and the Quran of Samiya Illias. I find it easier to respect Samiya's entrenched faith, but is that because the material of the Quran is mostly unknown to me? Is it because I see all Muslims, unfairly I'm sure, as Islamic fundies? I know the Bible well and have deep-seated feelings regarding its contents; I've considered my feelings about it, the available scholarship regarding it, the internal conflicts I went through trying to make sense of it, trying to resolve its bipolar deity into a realistic image of something I can call God. I think my personal difference in attitude owes very much to my difference in understanding of the two books, and I think Samiya and R's attitudes of faith in those books is really quite similar.
I would, of course, care not only for Mr M's response but also for what Samiya and R think about attitudes of faith. I know my wife's attitude of faith in the Bible is very different from R's, more critical and with a different focus. Brother M will have yet another interesting attitude of faith, one I believe, that is deep and profound while yet being critical in a scholarly manner, but that's for him to say.
Response:I'll begin by commenting on the subject of this post: I respect atheists because I feel that they have the courage to put faith to test and the honesty to reject what they find untruthful. Having said that, I feel they are half-way in their journey towards truth. They have scrutinized, found wanting and left the belief-systems they grew up with or explored in their journey.
Neither do I not take my religion blindly, nor does the Quran require it. My faith is based upon critical evaluation of the text I consider holy.
It is after many years of questioning and exploring Islam and other religions, as well as putting them all to tests of morality, science, etc that I've come to believe that only the Arabic Quran is divine and
unadulterated. All other texts are human compilations and thus cannot be articles of faith. Since I'm convinced about the veracity of the Quran, I do not question it, but I do question my understanding of it. As I believe it to be the ultimate source of wisdom, if something seems contradictory or conflicting with what I know to be the good and stated position, I try to explore by compiling related verses from other chapters, discussing my understanding with scholars, etc.
http://islam-qna.blogspot.com/2011/01/principles-of-quranic-study.html
I know that Islam and almost all other religions are mostly misunderstood and mispracticed by many. Yet, I believe that almost all religions emanate from the same source, have been coloured by human modifications, and contain some gems of the original message. Hence, we all have certain bits of the puzzle, and we all stand to benefit by sharing our perceptions and understanding of them.

Islam and Christianity: parallel religions or continuation of the same message?

Comment1: The big difference is that Christ voluntarily DIED for us all, believers and nonbelievers alike. That's love to the ultimate degree. Allah never did that, nor Mohammed.
Comment2: Since Islam honors the old and new testaments as sacred works of divine revelation, and since they believe God is God, then Allah did do that and Christ died for us all in their view also. Redundancy is not desirable.
Comment3: So Islam seems to be a parallel or alternate track to the Bible, not an "improvement" on Christianity.
My Response: Allah means The Deity, and therefore God.
We believe that all religions originate from the same source and thus are common in their essence. Each successive prophet came to proclaim, preach and purify the message, restoring it to its pristine glory. Prophet Muhammad also came with the same message of unity of God, of love and compassion, of patience and perseverance, explaining the temporal and eternal, the reality of this life and the undeniability of the hereafter, the responsibility of each for his/her own beliefs and deeds.
We believe that Jesus was never crucified, neither do we believe in doctrine of original sin. The understanding we get from the Quran is quite different.
Links below are some of my earlier responses on these topics:
Allah is God, The Deity http://islam-qna.blogspot.com/2008/12/allah-is-god.html
Jesus http://islam-qna.blogspot.com/2009/11/jesus.html
Original Sin http://islam-qna.blogspot.com/2008/12/original-sin.html
Man central to creation or not http://islam-qna.blogspot.com/2008/11/man-central-to-creation-or-not.html