Actions & their Weight

In an email message, JKC quoted some technical articles on Cryonics, and concluded: So if a neuron shrinks or grows in volume during freezing that shouldn't be something it hasn't seen before, and even if a shard of ice does punch a meaningless hole in the net it should be obvious to a intelligent nano-machine that the hole was  just caused by ice and not by synaptic behavior because the ice would still be sticking through it. 

I wrote: JC, I can see that you are concerned about the outcome of Cryonics program you've signed up your brain for. Someone or something set in motion a process which brought you into existence in this life - trust the same to repeat the process and bring you back into existence. 

I urge you to worry more about the quality of that life!  

We believe that the quality of that life depends on the beliefs and actions in this life. Do take the time to study the Quran or Torah or start with any scripture you feel more comfortable with. 

This link may be a good place to start: http://searchtruth.com/list.php 

JKC asked: Actions I can understand but why beliefs? Why on earth would an omniscient being consider​ holding an ​unshakable​ ​belief even in​ ​the face​ ​of overwhelming​ ​contrary evidence to be a virtue​ and not a vice​? Give me a good answer to that question and I​ ​promise I​ ​will start reading the Quran, although I'll have to learn Arabic first. 

...

Answer: Actions carry weight only if they are based upon the correct beliefs. 

As I understand it, in this world we have been sent to be tested if we can be entrusted with the inheritance of the Gardens of Eternity. This is because The Human volunteered for The Trust. 

The Quran uses the Arabic term for inheritance for the Gardens promised to the righteous Believers who do Good Deeds. Inheritance implies that we will not be guests but rather owners of those gardens. I think this means we shall have a much larger role and be entrusted with the land we inherit! 

The inheritance will vary in accordance with the faith and actions of each individual, as indicated in the size of the gardens mentioned in Quran 57:21 and Quran 3:133, and as stated in Quran 8:4. For those who believe and seek forgiveness for their sins, God will grace them with a garden as extensive as heaven [singular] and the earth, while those who also keep their duty to God, the pious, the reward will be greater: as extensive as the heavens [plural] and the earth. The believers will have exalted grades/grades of dignity, forgiveness and honourable sustenance. 

[Note: The term arabic term translated as heaven implies sky and not paradise; the Quran uses the terms Garden and Fire for the perpetual abode of the Hereafter. Personally, I imagine them with the concept of planets and stars]     

The last few verses of Quran Chapter 18 inform us: 

Quran 18:103-108 Say: "Shall we tell you of those who lose most in respect of their deeds?- "Those whose efforts have been wasted in this life, while they thought that they were acquiring good by their works?" They are those who deny the Signs of their Lord and the fact of their having to meet Him (in the Hereafter): vain will be their works, nor shall We, on the Day of Judgment, give them any weight. That is their reward, Hell, because they rejected Faith, and took My Signs and My Messengers by way of jest. As to those who believe and work righteous deeds, they have, for their entertainment, the Gardens of Paradise, Wherein they shall dwell (for aye): no change will they wish for from them. 

See if some of my blogposts are of any help: 

http://islam-qna.blogspot.com/ 

http://signsandscience.blogspot.com/ 

JKC responded: 

> Actions carry weight only if they are based upon the correct beliefs. 

I don't think so. If you hit me in the head with a heavy ax ​t​hat action carries weight regardless of what beliefs were or were not dancing around in your head when you did it. If somebody does the wrong thing for the right reason it's still the wrong thing, and the right thing for the wrong reason ​is ​​still the right thing.

  

> As I understand it, in this world we have been sent to be tested

​But why do religious people insist God devised it as is it as a stupidity test rather than a IQ test​? 

​> ​as stated in Quran 8:4. For those who believe and seek forgiveness for their sins, God will grace them with a garden as extensive as heaven

So says the Quran, and you believe it's true for the same reason anybody believes what the Quran (or the Bible) says is true, because their Mommy and Daddy told them it's true. It's no deeper than that. That's why there aren't many Baptists in Pakistan but lots of them in Mississippi. If you tell me where somebody was born I can have a pretty good idea what their religious beliefs are. ​Your deepest held beliefs are a function of Geography. 

​So it's easy to understand why a human could gain power by pushing the idea that believing in stuff he can't prove is a good idea, but you still haven't answered the question I asked in my last post. W​h​y on earth would an omniscient being ​consider​ holding an​ unshakable​ belief in​ the face​ of overwhelming​ contrary evidence to be a virtue​ and not a vice​?

Answer: 

Actions and their Weight: 

There is the outcome of actions and there is the recompense for the actions. According to my faith, the outcome is already preordained, while the choice to choose why and whether to choose to act or not is left to us. Eventually we end up doing whatever has already been preordained, and the program of this world proceeds as planned. Thus, the weight of the actions depends on the choices we make and the intentions and reasons behind them. Faith plays a major role in the evaluation of the choice. 

Evidence (or the lack of it) for An Omniscient Being:  

There is no evidence for either atheism or polytheism. The only deduction all humans can make from our daily experiences is that there is always someone who makes something, i.e. nothing comes from nothing. The other deduction that we can make from human interactions is that whenever there are more than one claimants to power, there eventually is a power struggle, with either one person dominating the rest, or whatever they were fighting over gets destroyed. Thus, logically, there can only be one God. 

Of course, that leads us to the question that if there is a God who is uncreated, then why can't everything else also come into existence without a creator? There is a definite gap in our knowledge as we know nothing about God, but that is not a proof for the non-existence of God. It simply means that our knowledge is limited and inadequate. 

Faith and Justice: 

The greatest injustice conceivable is to deny the existence of God or to believe that there can be more than one God. The Hereafter is about Justice and Recompense. 

Coming back to my previous post where I've mentioned The Trust, only those humans can be entrusted with the Gardens of Eternity who are able to prove that they qualify for the huge responsibility that comes with such an inheritance: that they have done their best to be Just towards God and His creations, including one's own self, and are kind and generous, and are doers of good deeds. Thus the need for this trial we call life on Earth. Therefore, it is deliberately a blindfolded test.  

This is how I understand it. And God knows best. 

Parting of the Sea

MSA asked: ... Did Allah part the Red Sea and create a safe passage through it for Moses and Hebrew to escape from the Pharaoh? 

Answer: Yes, Allah did part the sea for Moses and the Bani Israel to escape from Pharaoh and his forces, and yes, we do take it also on faith.  

MSA asked: ... That said, let me address question on the parting of the Red Sea and ask you to take a look at the geographical location of it and then tell us: 

-If the Red Sea had parted and Moses and the Hebrews reached the promised land, how was he able to hold a meeting with Allah on Mount Sinai and receive a tablet of Torah from Him, when the Mount is located in the Egyptian desert? 

I have more questions on this issue. They will follow as we make progress in our conversation.

My Response: Do all agree that it is the Red Sea, and/or the geography of the area hasn't changed?

MSA wrote to someone else: ... One of my questions related to whether Moses and the Hebrews had crossed the Red Sea and then they sojourned at the foot of Mount Sinai, while Moses was receiving the Torah from Allah on its summit remains unanswered. 

One of the participants in the discussion opined that perhaps the geography of the region where the Red Sea was located has changed, and that person has said this, despite having an apparently scientific mind! 

The truthfulness of the so-called monotheistic religions depends on the answer to this question, and I am more that sure no one is going to answer it with a straight face!!

Answer: 

فَانتَقَمْنَا مِنْهُمْ فَأَغْرَقْنَاهُمْ فِي الْيَمِّ بِأَنَّهُمْ كَذَّبُوا بِآيَاتِنَا وَكَانُوا عَنْهَا غَافِلِينَ 

وَأَوْرَثْنَا الْقَوْمَ الَّذِينَ كَانُوا يُسْتَضْعَفُونَ مَشَارِقَ الْأَرْضِ وَمَغَارِبَهَا الَّتِي بَارَكْنَا فِيهَا وَتَمَّتْ كَلِمَتُ رَبِّكَ الْحُسْنَىٰ عَلَىٰ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ بِمَا صَبَرُوا وَدَمَّرْنَا مَا كَانَ يَصْنَعُ فِرْعَوْنُ وَقَوْمُهُ وَمَا كَانُوا يَعْرِشُونَ

[Quran 7:136, 137] So We took retribution from them and We drowned them in the sea because they denied Our Signs, and they were to them heedless. And We made inheritors the people those who were considered weak - (the) eastern (parts) (of) the land and the western (parts) of it, which We blessed [in it]. And was fulfilled (the) word (of) your Lord - the best for (the) Children (of) Israel because they were patient. And We destroyed what used to make Firaun and his people, and what they used to erect.

[http://islamawakened.com/quran/7/136/ ; http://islamawakened.com/quran/7/137/ ] 

The Quran uses the same word: الْيَمِّ for the water in which the Baby Moses was thrown by his mother, as well as for the water which was parted during the Exodus.
[http://corpus.quran.com/qurandictionary.jsp?q=ymm#(7:136:5)].
Most translators translate the former as river and the latter as sea. I wonder why, however I would not jump to any conclusions.  

Geologic studies suggest that the Nile has moved since antiquity. http://ees.ac.uk/userfiles/file/EA-32pp03-05-Lutley.pdf However, Quran 7:137 informs us that the Bani Israel inherited the Eastern and Western parts of it. I hope it addresses your concerns regarding the geographical accuracy of the narration.   

As per Quran 7:137, all that the Pharaoh (Firaun) and his people built was destroyed. Historians teach us that the Pyramids were built by the Pharaohs. However, some researchers suggest that the Pyramids were not tombs built by the Pharaohs, but rather not only was the purpose of the Pyramids different from that suggested, they were also the legacy of an earlier, more advanced culture. [http://nuclearpyramid.com/great_pyramid.php] 

If everything that the Pharaoh and his people built was destroyed, it must have been a major cataclysmic event causing some major geographical changes in the region. 

Hope the above is instrumental in helping you place more faith in the verses of the Quran, a message from Lord of the Worlds. 

[Quran 61:8] They intend to put out (the) light (of) Allah with their mouths, but Allah will perfect His Light although dislike the disbelievers. 

 

Common root of most religions

In response to Religion and Control, someone posted: Well said, Samiya. But are not the writers of scriptures also 'leaders' and those who chose to follow the scriptures being followers?
Answer: Indeed, yet like in all things in our world, each has the potential for the good, for the bad, and for somewhere in between the spectrum.
I believe that the prophets were divinely inspired, bringing the same message, the scriptures were originally pure guidance from God, but later on, individuals in these groups decided that they were 'holier than thou', and sought control, establishing themselves as holy leaders [priest], morphing the message to suit their needs, and gullible people just went along and became their followers.
Nearly all major religions' original texts contain glimpses of the divine message of a single deity, piety, charity and love for all. Even hinduism's most sacred text, the Vedas, speaks of one God, of the grave sin of joining others in the worship of the One God, of sacrifice, of eating meat, etc. That the hindu religion as practiced today is of a pantheon of gods, worshipped and prayed to, appears totally contradictory to the message of the Vedas. I haven't read the holy book of the Zoroastrians, but when I visited the ruins of Persepolis, had I not known that this palace belonged to a Zoroastrian king, I would have thought that the proclamations engraved on the walls and pillars had an Islamic background, so similar it was to our beliefs and practices. Abraham and Moses preached of One God, the Torah of the Jews, contains the same message. The ten commandments resonate that common message. The Bible contains verses about the one and only God.
Have collected some web links below.
Regards,
Samiya


References:
Bible: http://www.submission.org/god-bible.html
Ten Commandments: http://submission.org/God/ten.html
Do Jews pray like Muslims: http://www.submission.org/jews.html
Zoroastrian faith: http://www.avesta.org/
Hindu faith and monotheism: http://www.hinduwebsite.com/onegod.asp
http://www.satyavidya.org/component/content/article/53-vedic-vitamins/126-there-is-only-one-god
Persepolis: http://www.persepolis3d.com/frameset.html
http://www.cais-soas.com/index.htm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nCwxJsk14e4&NR=1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rIPHEb9lWXA
Persepolis Inscriptions: http://www.livius.org/pen-pg/persepolis/persepolis.html
Ka'abah of Zoroaster: http://islam-qna.blogspot.com/2008/12/kaabah-of-zoroaster.html

Common Word between People of the Book

I quoted this verse in a forum, which generated the following exchange:
Holy Quran 3:64 Say: "O People of the Book! come to common terms as between us and you: That we worship none but Allah. that we associate no partners with him; that we erect not, from among ourselves, Lords and patrons other than Allah." If then they turn back, say ye: "Bear witness that we (atleast) are Muslims (bowing to Allah's Will) ."

Question: "O People of the Book! Come to the common Word (Kalimah) between you and us." (Quran 3:64)
"Behold! The angels said: "O Mary! Allah gives you glad tiding of His Word(Kalimah). His name will be Jesus son of Mary, the Messiah, held in honor in this world and the hereafter and one of those nearest to Allah." (Quran3:45)
Is there any relationship between the two verses above? Can we say theKalimah (The Holy Quran or Jesus Christ) is the instrument and the means with which the One has revealed Himself to all of us? Can someone believe in the Oneness of Allah, yet deny his Word?

Answer: As you know, Arabic is a complex language where the same word can mean differently in different contexts, especially when one attempts to translate it in another language. The verse I quoted (3:64), uses the word kalimah.Now what R is referring to (3:45) is another use of the same word, and is trying to draw some sort of parallel. But the fact is that throughout theQuran, Allah has repeatedly told us that:

• When He wills something, He just says Be and it becomes (that is all is needed is just a word or Divine Will).
• Allah willed Jesus without a father, and thus he was conceived and born, and that his creation is similar to the creation of Adam. Adam was without parents, Jesus was without father.
• We are reminded that Jesus was a messenger, he came to confirm that which was already with the Jews, that is The Torah, he reconfirmed the Laws and taught their wisdom to his people(I think there is a verse in the Bible to that effect, where Jesus is reported to have said that he has come to confirm the law, not to do away with it).
• Prophet Muhammad was sent as the final messenger to mankind. He came to reconfirm the message brought by all the prophets who preceded him. As the original message was from the same creator, thus the same, he was sent to remove all the man-made changes, and restore it to its pristine beauty.
• Quran was revealed to Prophet Muhammad as the guidance for mankind and preserved by Allah such that no alphabet or word has been changed since it was revealed.
• 3:64 is self explanatory as the common word/terms are defined in detail
  Holy Quran 3:64 Say: "O People of the Book! come to common terms as between us and you: That we worship none but Allah. that we associate no partners with him; that we erect not, from among ourselves, Lords and patrons other than Allah." If then they turn back, say ye: "Bear witness that we (atleast) are Muslims (bowing to Allah's Will) ."
• As Muslims, we are required to associate NO partners with Allah, thus even though we have a very high regard for Jesus and his mission, believing that he was a human is an article of faith, since we believe that the Holy Quran is the unadulterated, untampered word of Allah, and we cannot pick and choose what we believe in.
• Furthermore, in the Quran, Allah tells us that there is no confusion/doubt in it. Thus, if we are not sure about the correct interpretation of some verse/word, we put together the various verses throughout the Quran to get the larger picture, and then it usually is self-explanatory

Some verses about Jesus:

• 2:87 And verily We gave unto Moses the Scripture and We caused a train of messengers to follow after him, and We gave unto Jesus, son of Mary, clear proofs (of Allah's sovereignty), and We supported him with the Holy spirit. Is it ever so, that, when there cometh unto you a messenger (from Allah) with that which ye yourselves desire not, ye grow arrogant, and some ye disbelieve andsome ye slay?
• 2:136 Say (O Muslims): We believe in Allah and that which is revealed unto us and that which was revealed unto Abraham, and Ishmael, and Isaac, and Jacob, and the tribes, and that which Moses and Jesus received, and that which the prophets received from their Lord. We make no distinction between any of them, and untoHim we have surrendered.
• 2:253 Of those messengers, some of whom We have caused to excel others, and of whom there are some unto whom Allah spake, while some of them He exalted (above others) in degree; and We gave Jesus, son of Mary, clear proofs (of Allah's Sovereignty) and We supported him with the holy Spirit. And if Allah had sowiled it, those who followed after them would not have fought one with anotherafter the clear proofs had come unto them. But they differed, some of them believing and some disbelieving. And if Allah had so willed it, they would not have fought one with another; but Allah doeth what He will.
• 3:45 (And remember) when the angels said: O Mary! Lo! Allah giveth thee glad tidings of a word from him, whose name is the Messiah, Jesus, son of Mary, illustrious in the world and the Hereafter, and one of those brought near (unto Allah).
• 3:59 Lo! the likeness of Jesus with Allah is as the likeness of Adam. He created him of dust, then He said unto him: Be! and he is.
• 4:171 O People of the Scripture! Do not exaggerate in your religion nor utter aught concerning Allah save the truth. The Messiah, Jesus son of Mary, was only a messenger of Allah, and His word which He conveyed unto Mary, and a spirit from Him. So believe in Allah and His messengers, and say not "Three" - Cease!(it is) better for you! - Allah is only One Allah. Far is it removed from HisTranscendent Majesty that He should have a son. His is all that is in theheavens and all that is in the earth. And Allah is sufficient as Defender.
• 5:46 And We caused Jesus, son of Mary, to follow in their footsteps, confirming that which was (revealed) before him in the Torah, and We bestowed on him theGospel wherein is guidance and a light, confirming that which was (revealed)before it in the Torah - a guidance and an admonition unto those who ward off(evil).
• 5:116 And when Allah saith: O Jesus, son of Mary! Didst thou say unto mankind: Take me and my mother for two gods beside Allah? he saith: Be glorified! It was not mine to utter that to which I had no right. If I used to say it, then Thou knewest it. Thou knowest what is in my mind, and I know not what is in Thy Mind. Lo! Thou, only Thou, art the Knower of Things Hidden
• 61:6 And when Jesus son of Mary said: O Children of Israel! Lo! I am the messenger of Allah unto you, confirming that which was (revealed) before me in the Torah, and bringing good tidings of a messenger who cometh after me, whose name is the Praised One. Yet when he hath come unto them with clear proofs, they say: This is mere magic.

http://www.searchtruth.com/ translator:Picthall


Update [June 19, 2019]
Please read Virgin Birth and Human: Body or Soul? for a better explanation of the what was given to Mary.  

Torah and afterlife

Question: The "god" that gave the "law" to Moses forgot to mention anything about some "eternity", or hope of some "afterlife"........i guess he was just too busy? :))))))))))

Answer: I do not think God forgot, I think the people didn’t like the notion of after-life, reward and punishment, and thus slowly weeded it out of the Book.
I think so because I believe that the approach of God and His dictates have been consistent throughout the ages……… He has repeatedly sent messengers telling people this life is but a trial, and that there is a final destination beyond death, an eternal life, and He has sent guidance regarding that. When He stopped sending messengers, He guarded His last message…… it’s a miracle in itself that no alphabet or word of the Holy Quran has changed since it was revealed………and this book addresses all humans and transcends time.

What is meant by 'if' in the scriptures

Question: Thank you for the excerpt from the Quran as well, as I am unfamiliar with it at this time. One similarity between the bible and the Quran seems to be the word "if".
M has commented on this several times and made a good point of that word indicating the Holy One's love being conditional. In other words, "if" you do this I will love you.
I can see that and try to remain cognizant of it when I read any religious text.
However, there is another perspective. This one was also discussed during the Kabbalah workshop I attended this week. Rabbi W stated that when a scripture says "if" it actually means "when". For instance, "If you study diligently you will surely graduate. ". This statement is not entirely different from something like, "If you live by these words you will surely go to heaven".
Both statements indicate the result of a given action, not an "if you do this, then I'll do that" type of transaction. Which is very different than how we were perceiving it. It truly sheds a new light on everything IMHO.
From what I can tell, it seems to apply to both the bible and the Quran. Do you feel this true?

Answer: Yes, I agree with Rabbi W’s explanation of the word if…….. the book of God is a guidance for mankind and, as such, tells us which actions and beliefs lead us in which direction, and what is the ultimate destination. We believe that Torah, Bible, Quran and many other books/revelations have been sent earlier from the Almighty for the guidance of mankind, so essentially, Yes, the style is consistent throughout: glad tidings for the right beliefs and actions, warning for those who choose other paths. I guess this is the basic requirement for justice, all souls shall carry the burden of their beliefs and actions, and no soul shall be wronged in the slightest.

Why couldn't God protect the earlier scriptures?

Question: If you had been born into a Jewish or Christian family and culture, the odds are that you would now be a follower of one of those religions. Why do you think that an all knowing God went to the trouble of creating those religions, if he knew they would become corrupted and need to be replaced ? How come 'He' was able to perfectly protect the contents of the Holy Quran, but not able to protect the contents of the Hebrew Scriptures, or the New Testament ?I'm still trying to get my head around the links you gave me, I will try to respond soonish.... honest !!!!

Answer: Probably so, but who knows. All I can say is that I have read the Quran, Bible and Torah, and the Quran seems to stand the test of truth and accuracy.
It is not that God could not protect the earlier scriptures, rather he chose not to. Just like he left choice of religion to our free-will, he allowed us to do what we wanted with the scriptures as well. Do keep in mind that God had been sending prophets and revealing scriptures ever since man has been accountable. But since the Quran was meant to be the last and final scripture, and no prophet is to come now, we humans needed something from God to guide us. For this purpose, God guaranteed that this book will not suffer change!
Also, God did not create so many religions. His basic message has always been the same. Humans have made changes. A reading of the text of most world religions readily shows that. Where people have not been able to make enough changes in the original text, they have cleverly written/attributed books to other ‘holy’ men and say that now it is okay to follow this instead of what’s written in the original text.

Source of the Quran

Question: The very first thing you should always do is look at the source of anything. The source was the new testament in the Bible. The Bible is thousands of years older than the Quran. The New Testament is 600 years older than the Quran. If you want to follow the one God you must learn all about him. The very oldest writings are not Quranic. Read the words of Y'Shua and you will hear of the love he had for you. And that we all are the children of our Father. Our Father does not say anywhere in the old or new testament that anyone is an infidel. To him anyone can be forgiven and loved. And our beloved Y'Shua so loved the world that he gave his precious life for us. In heaven they rejoice when a sinner turns to God. Not rejoice at ones death. God does not have us as slaves, he gave us free will like our own Father would. If God is Father to us all than we are all brothers and sisters to each other.

Answer: The source of Torah (Old Testament), Bible (New Testament) and Quran are all the same: Allah. He has sent Messengers, Prophets and Books for our guidance from time to time, because He loves us, and knows that we need help in this trial …. This life in this world…. and He repeatedly reminds us (specifically in the Holy Quran) that this is a temporary period of trial and then we shall be returned to an eternal life, and where we spend our eternity will depend on our beliefs, intents and deeds in the life of this world. Allah again and again calls people to repent….. To him anyone can be forgiven and loved! We all have time and opportunity to mend our ways, and purify our beliefs, thoughts and deeds. For help, He has blessed us with Holy Books. If you read the Holy Quran without any preconceived notions about Allah, Islam and Muslims, you will be surprised. The problem is, like all religions, the followers of Islam also do not adhere strictly to the Holy Book(Quran) sent for their guidance. Thus, they stray from the path, misinterpret verses out of context, and do things NOT ordained…. They may be causing pain and suffering to others, but the real loss is their own, as every soul will have to account for all its done, and that is because we have been given Free Will!

Are God of the Old Testament and New Testament same?

Question: If the god of the old and new testament are one god, he has changed drastically. Perhaps he learned from the trials of Job or from the near sacrifice of Isaac, perhaps he awakened to a new truth. I don't know. I only know that the new God knows Love. The new God IS Love.

Answer: To Moses was revealed the Torah, which contained the Laws. With the passage of time, though prophets kept coming from time to time, yet the followers of Torah forgot the wisdom behind the Laws, and the Law became blind…… the compassion, the love, the mercy, and the wisdom was lost on most….. people who followed became rigid and closed their minds, their religion was difficult and harsh, and it seemed okay to them. Then God sent Jesus to re-teach the Torah, to let the people know the immense love and compassion that God has for His creatures. But the followers of Jesus concentrated so much on the love and compassion part, that they forgot that he had come to confirm the Law, not to do away with it…….. that he had come to explain why it was important and beneficial for humans, but, unfortunately, we have two religions while both study the Old Testament.