Wednesday, July 20, 2016

Gratitude for our Food‏


Gratitude vs Ingratitude
[Al-Qur'an 39:7, Translation: Literal (word by word)] If you disbelieve then indeed, Allah (is) free from need of you. And not He likes in His slaves ungratefulness. And if you are grateful He likes it in you. And not will bear bearer of burdens (the) burden (of) another. Then to your Lord (is) your return, then He will inform you about what you used to do. Indeed, He (is) the All-Knower of what (is) in the breasts. 

Gratitude for Grains and Fruits 
[Al-Qur'an 36:333435, Translation: Literal (word by word)] And a Sign for them (is) the earth dead. We give it life and We bring forth from it grain, and from it they eat. And We placed therein gardens of date-palms and grapevines, and We caused to gush in it of the springs, That they may eat of its fruit. And not made it their hands. So will not they be grateful?   

Gratitude for Cattle 
[Al-Qur'an 36:717273, Translation: Literal (word by word)] Do not they see that We [We] created for them from what have made Our hands, cattle, then they [for them] (are the) owners? And We have tamed them for them, so some of them - they ride them, and some of them they eat. And for them therein (are) benefits and drinks, so (will) not they give thanks? 

Grave sin to not to mention God's name
[Al-Qur'an 6:118119120121, Translation: Literal (word by word)] So eat of what (is) mentioned (the) name (of) Allah on it, if you are in His Verses - believers. And what for you that not you eat of what has been mentioned Allah's name on it, when indeed, He (has) explained in detail to you what He (has) forbidden to you except what you are compelled to it. And indeed, many surely lead astray by their (vain) desires without knowledge. Indeed, your Lord, He (is) most knowing of the transgressors. Forsake open [the] sins and the secret. Indeed, those who earn [the] sin they will be recompensed for what they used to commit. And (do) not eat of that, not has been mentioned Allah's name on it, and indeed, it (is) grave disobedience.And indeed, the devils inspire to their friends so that they dispute with you, and if you obey them, indeed, you (would) be the polytheists.

Though the above quoted verse from Surah Al-Anaam (Q6: The Cattle), with reference to context, seems to be about meat being slaughtered while pronouncing the name of Allah upon it, the verses quoted from Q36, Surah Ya'sin, exhort us to be grateful for all the food we eat. 

We our told that our dear Prophet's sunnah was to begin eating food with the name of Allah, and after eating, to thank Allah for it.     

To compare 50+ English translations of the ayaat quoted above, please follow their links. 

Some links for ahaadith regarding etiquettes of eating food: 

Tuesday, July 19, 2016

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 

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.

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. 

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. 


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.