Some Benefits of Islam

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   thetiger22posted 13 years ago

   Some Benefits of Islam
   
   
   
   
      
   
   Islam's Rational Appeal ▲
   
   Islam, with its clear and direct expression of truth, has a great appeal to anyone seeking knowledge. It has a solution for all problems that arise during the course of one's life. It is a guide toward a better and complete life.
   
   
   
   
      
   
   Glance View of Life ▲
   
   Human beings live according to their view of life. The tragedy of secular societies is that they fail to connect the different aspects of life. The secular and the religious, as well as the scientific and the spiritual seem to be in conduct. Islam puts an end to this conflict and brings harmony to man vision of life.
   
      
   
   Brotherhood ▲
   
   The Brotherhood of Man: A major problem facing mankind today is racism. The developed world can send a man to the moon but cannot stop man from hating and fighting his fellow man. Ever since the days of the Prophet Muhammad fourteen centuries ago, Islam has given a vivid example of how racism can be ended: the annual pilgrimage to Makkah reveals the Islamic miracle of the real brotherhood of all races and nations.
      
   
   Marriage ▲
   
   A Muslim marriage is not a ³sacrament², but a simple, legal agreement in which either partner is free to include conditions. Marriage customs thus vary widely from country to country. As a result, divorce is not common, although it is not forbidden as a last resort. According to Islam, no Muslim girl can be forced to marry against her will.
   
      
   
   Family ▲
   
   The family, which is the basic unit of civilization, is disintegrating in all western countries. Islam's family system brings the rights of the husband, wife, children, and relatives into a fine equilibrium. It nourishes human unselfishness, generosity, and love in the framework of a well-organized family system
   
   
      
   
   Treating the Elderly ▲
   
   In the Islamic world there are no old people's homes. The strain of caring for one's parents in this most difficult time of their lives is considered an honor and blessing, and an opportunity for great spiritual growth. God asks that we not only pray for our parents, but act with limitless compassion, remembering that when we were helpless children they preferred us to themselves. Mothers are particularly honored: the Prophet (peace be upon him) taught that 'Paradise lies at the feet of mothers'. When they reach old age, Muslim parents are treated mercifully, with the same kindness and selflessness.
   In Islam, serving one's parents is a duty second only to prayer, and it is their right to expect it. It is considered despicable to express any irritation when, through no fault of their own, the old become difficult.
   The Qur’an says:
   
   " Your Lord has commanded that you worship none but Him, and be kind to parents. If either or both of them reach old age with you, do not say 'uff' to them or chide them, but speak to them in terms of honor and kindness. Treat them with humility, and say, 'My Lord! Have mercy on them, for they did care for me when I was little ". (17.23-4)
   
   
      
   
   Inner Peace of Mind/Heart ▲
   
   Real happiness and peace can be found in submitting to the commands of the Creator and the Sustainer of this world. God has said in the Qur'an:
   
   {Truly, in remembering God do hearts find rest} (Qur'an, 13:28)
   
   On the other hand, the one who turns away from the Qur'an will have a life of hardship in this world. God has said:
   
   { But whoever turns away from the Quran,1 he will have a hard life, and We will raise him up blind on the Day of Judgment } (Qur'an, 20:124)
   
   This may explain why some people commit suicide while they enjoy the material comfort money can buy. For example, look at Cat Stevens (now Yusuf Islam), formerly a famous pop singer who used to earn sometimes more than $150,000 a night. After he converted to Islam, he found true happiness and peace, which he had not found in material success.
   
      
   
   Forgiveness of GOD ▲
   
   If we sin, what should we expect from God? If we subsequently feel guilty and repent after doing something evil, God wants us to expect Him to be forgiving, forgiving, and more forgiving. However, there is one sin that God will not forgive: worshipping anything besides Him (unless the person realizes his or her error and returns to worshipping the One God):
   
   
   " Verily God does not forgive the ascribing of divinity to anything beside Him, although He forgives any lesser sin to whomever He wills: for he who ascribes divinity to anything beside God has indeed contrived an awesome sin." [4:48]
   
   
   " Say, `O you servants of Mine who have transgressed against your own selves! Despair not of God's Mercy: behold, God forgives all sins - for verily, He alone is much-forgiving, a dispenser of grace " [39:53]
   
   
   Again, the most common phrase in the Qur'an is " In the Name of God, the Most Merciful, the One who Acts Mercifully ".
   
   
   The Last Messenger commented on God's forgiveness on many occasions as in the following case:
   " God has said, `O son of Adam, so long as you call upon Me and ask of Me, I shall forgive you for what you have done, and I shall not mind. O son of Adam, were your sins to reach the clouds of the sky and were you then to ask forgiveness of Me, I would forgive you. O son of Adam, were you to come to Me with sins nearly as great as the earth and were you then to face Me, ascribing no partner to Me, I would bring you forgiveness nearly as great as it [i.e. the earth] ". - The Last Messenger
      
   
   
      
   
   Muslims' Belief in Jesus ▲
   
   Muslims respect and revere Jesus (peace be upon him).  They consider him one of the greatest of God’s messengers to mankind.  The Qur'an confirms his virgin birth, and a chapter of the Qur'an is entitled ‘Maryam’ (Mary).  The Qur'an describes the birth of Jesus as follows:
   
   { (Remember) when the angels said, “O Mary, God gives you good news of a word from Him (God), whose name is the Messiah Jesus, son of Mary, revered in this world and the Hereafter, and one of those brought near (to God).  He will speak to the people from his cradle and as a man, and he is of the righteous.” She said, “My Lord, how can I have a child when no mortal has touched me?” He said, “So (it will be).  God creates what He wills.  If He decrees a thing, He says to it only, ‘Be!’ and it is.” }           (Qur'an, 3:45-47)
   
   Jesus was born miraculously by the command of God which had brought Adam into being without a father.  God has said:
   
   { The case of Jesus with God is like the case of Adam.  He created him from     dust, and then He said to him, “Be!” and he came into being }  (Qur'an, 3:59)
   
   During his prophetic mission, Jesus performed many miracles.  God tells us that Jesus said:
   
   { “I have come to you with a sign from your Lord.  I make for you the shape of a bird out of clay, I breathe into it, and it becomes a bird by God’s permission.  I heal the blind from birth and the leper.  And I bring the dead to life by God’s permission.  And I tell you what you eat and what you store in your houses....” }  (Qur'an, 3:49)
   
   Muslims believe that Jesus was not crucified.  It was the plan of Jesus’ enemies to crucify him, but God saved him and raised him up to Him.  And the likeness of Jesus was put over another man.  Jesus’ enemies took this man and crucified him, thinking that he was Jesus.  God has said:
   
   { ...They said, “We killed the Messiah Jesus, son of Mary, the messenger of God.” They did not kill him, nor did they crucify him, but the likeness of him was put on another man (and they killed that man)... } (Qur'an, 4:157)
   
   
   Neither Muhammad (Peace be upon him) nor Jesus (Peace be upon him) came to change the basic doctrine of the belief in one God, brought by earlier prophets, but rather to confirm and renew it.
   
   
   Muhammad (Peace be upon him) in the Bible ▲
   
   
   -The Prophet Like unto Moses
   
   God addressed Moses: Deuteronomy 18:18: "I will raise them up a prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee [Moses], and will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him."
   
   
   1. Brethren of Israelites (descendants of Abraham through Isaac) are Ishmaelite (descendants of Abraham through Ishmael). Jesus is here excluded, as he is an Israelite. Otherwise it should be written "a prophet from among yourselves."
   
   
   2. Who looks like Moses? Jesus or Muhammad (Peace be upon them all)? The table below is self explanatory:
   Jesus     Mohammad     Moses    
   
   Area of Comparison
   Unusual     Usual     Usual     Birth
   Single, No children     Married, children     Married, children     Family Life
   Unusual     Usual     Usual     Death
   Prophet     Prophet/Statesman     Prophet/Statesman     Career
   None     Yes - to Madinah     Yes - to Median     Forced Emigration - in adulthood
   No similar encounter     Hot pursuit/Battles     Hot pursuit     Encounter with Enemies
   Moral victory     Moral/Physical victory     Moral/Physical victory     Results of Encounter
   After him     In his lifetime: Qur'an     In his lifetime: Torah     Writing down of Revelation
   Spiritual     Spiritual/Legal     Spiritual/Legal     Nature of Teachings
   Rejected by most Israelites     Rejected, then accepted     Rejected, then accepted     Acceptance of his Leadership - by his people
   
   3. "… and will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him." Each surah of the Holy Qur'an starts with the phrase: "In the name of Allah, most Gracious, most Merciful."
   
   
   4. Deuteronomy 18:19: "And it shall come to pass that whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him." It should also be noted that those who will not hear or accept the message that he brings will be punished. This corresponds with Surah 3:19: Truly the religion in the sight of Allah is Islam and surah 3:85: And whoever desires a religion other than Islam, it will never be accepted of him, and in the Hereafter he will be one of the losers.
   
   -Art Thou That Prophet?
   
   The Jews sent priests and Levites to John the Baptist to ask who he really was. John 1:20-21: "And he [John the Baptist] confessed and denied not; but confessed, 'I am not the Christ.' And they asked him: 'What then? Art thou Elias? 'And he saith: 'I am not.' 'Art thou that prophet?' And he answered: 'No."'
   The crucial question here is: Art thou that prophet? Who was the long awaited prophet who was to come after the advent of Jesus and John the Baptist? Was he not the one like unto Moses (Deuteronomy 18:18) who is Muhammad?
   
   -Comforter
   
   John 14:16: "And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever." Other Bibles use "Consoler," "Advocate," "Helper."
   Whatever the explanation is of the Comforter, we conclude that Jesus left an unfinished work and that someone was coming to complete his mission. Let us examine, in the light of the Bible, if this Comforter fits the character of Prophet Muhammad:
   
   1. "Another Comforter": So many Comforters had come, and another one was to come.
   
   2. "That he may abide with you for ever": As there was no need for another one to come after him, and he was the seal of all prophets. The teaching will abide for ever and will remain intact. In fact, the Qur'an and all of the teachings of Prophet Muhammad remain as they were 1400 years ago.
   
   3. "The Spirit of Truth" (John 16: 13). Since childhood, Prophet Muhammad was called al-Amin, i.e., the Honest or Truthful One. This person will also come and "he will guide you into all truth: ..." (John 16:13).
   
   4. "And he will show you things to come" (John 16: 13). Many prophecies of Prophet Muhammad have already come to pass, and the rest will be fulfilled in the future.
   
   5. "He shall glorify me" (John 16:14). Actually, the Qur'an has more reverence for Jesus than do the Bible and Christians themselves.
   
      
   
   Is Jesus The Son Of God? TRINITY ▲
   
   a) Jesus denies his divinity 
   
   There are numerous accounts in the Bible which deny Jesus’ divinity:
   JOHN 1:18     TIMOTHY 6:16     EXODUS 33:20
   JOHN 5:30     JOHN 8:50     JOHN 12:49
   JOHN 20:17     MATTHEW 28:18     MATTHEW 12:28
   LUKE 11: 20      ACTS 2:22     JOHN8:40
   
   b) A Messenger
   There are many verses in the New Testament supporting the messenger ship / prophet hood of Jesus. The following are only a few: In Matthew 21:11, the people of his time are recorded as referring to Jesus as a prophet: “And the crowds said, ‘This is the prophet Jesus of Nazareth of Galilee.’ ” In Mark, 6:4, it is stated that Jesus referred to himself as a prophet: “And Jesus said to them, ‘A prophet is not without honor, except in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house.’ ” In the following verses, Jesus is referred to as having been sent as a messenger is sent. In Matthew 10:40, Jesus was purported to have said: “He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.” In John 17:3, Jesus is also quoted as saying: “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.”
   
   
   
   c) A Man
   For example, in Matthew 19:17, Jesus responded to one who addressed him as “O good master”, saying: “Why callest thou me good? There is none good but one, that is God.” If he rejected being called “good”, and stated that only God is truly good, he clearly implies that he is not God.
   In John 14:28, Jesus was saying: “The Father is greater than I.” Hence, he left no room for anyone to intelligently claim that he was God.
   Even in some of the writings of Paul, Jesus is referred to as a “man”, distinct and different from God. In 1st Timothy, 2:5, “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.”
   In the Gospel according to Mark 13:31-32, Jesus is also reported to have denied having knowledge of when the final hour of this world would be, saying: “..but of that day or hour no man knoweth, neither the angels in the heaven nor the Son but the Father.” One of the attributes of God is omniscience, knowledge of all things. Therefore, his denial of knowledge of the Day of Judgment is also a denial of divinity, for one who does not know the time of the final hour cannot possibly be God.
   
   
   
   d) The Miracles
   
   Unfortunately, those who claim divinity for Jesus, usually hold up his miracles as evidence. However, other prophets were recorded to have done the same or similar miracles in the Old Testament; For Example:
   Similar Miracles from the Old Testament     Jesus Miracles
   
   Elisha fed 100 people with twenty barley loaves and a few ears of corn (II Kings 4:44)
      
   
   Jesus fed 5,000 people with five loaves of bread and two fishes.
   
   Elisha cured Naaman the leper (II Kings 5:14).
      
   
   Jesus healed lepers.
   
   Elisha caused the blind to see (II Kings 6:17&20).
      
   
   Jesus caused the blind to see.
   
   Elijah did the same (I Kings 17:22). So did Elisha (II Kings 4:34). Even Elisha’s bones could restore the dead (II Kings 13:21).
      
   
   Jesus raised the dead.
   
   Moses and his people crossed the dead sea (Exodus 14:22).
      
   
   Jesus walked on water.
   
   
   
   In the New Testament it is confirmed that Jesus did not act on his own as in John 5:30, as saying: “I can of mine own self do nothing...” and in Luke 11:20.
      
   
      
   
   Confutation of the "Evidence" for Jesus Divinity ▲
   
   
   
   1. The Alpha and Omega
   
   In the Book of Revelation 1, verse 8, it is implied that Jesus said the following about himself: “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.” These are the attributes of God. Consequently, Jesus, according to early Christians, is here claiming divinity. However, the above-mentioned wording is according to the King James Version. In the Revised Standard Version, biblical scholars corrected the translation and wrote: “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” A correction was also made in the New American Bible produced by Catholics. The translation of that verse has been amended to put it in its correct context as follows: “The Lord God says: ‘I am the Alpha and the Omega, the one who is and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.’ ” With these corrections, it becomes evident that this was a statement of God and not a statement of Prophet Jesus.
   
   2. The Pre-existence of Christ
   
   Another verse commonly used to support the divinity of Jesus is John 8:58: “Jesus said unto them, ‘Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.’ ” This verse is taken to imply that Jesus existed prior to his appearance on earth. The conclusion drawn from it is that Jesus must be God, since his existence predates his birth on earth. However, the concept of the pre-existence of the prophets, and of man in general, exists in both the Old Testament, as well as in the Qur‘an. Jeremiah described himself in The Book of Jeremiah 1:4-5 as follows: “Now the word of the Lord came to me saying, ‘Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.’ ”
   Prophet Solomon is reported in Proverbs 8:23-27, to have said, “Ages ago I was set up at the first, before the beginning of the earth. When there were…; before he had made the earth with its fields, or the first of the dust of the world. When he established the heavens, I was there.”
   According to Job 38:4 and 21, God addresses Prophet Job in a similar way. Consequently, Prophet Jesus’ statement, “Before Abraham was, I am,” cannot be used as evidence of his divinity. Within the context of John 8:54-58, Jesus is purported to have spoken about God’s knowledge of His prophets, which predates the creation of this world.
   
   3. The Son of God
   
   Another of the evidences used for Jesus’ divinity is the application of the title “Son of God” to Jesus. However, there are numerous places in the Old Testament where this title has been given to others:
   
   -God called Israel (Prophet Jacob) His “son” Exodus 4:22-23, “ .. ‘Thus says the Lord, “Israel is my first-born son"
   
   -God promised to make Prophet David His son in Psalms 89:26-27: “..I will make him my first-born,.”
   
   -Angels are referred to as “sons of God” in The Book of Job 1:6, “Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them.”
   
   -You can also refer to:
   
   1Chro. 22:10
       Romans 8:14     Genesis 6: 2-4     Samuel 8:13-14
   
   2Chro. 6:18
       Mat. 5:45     Psalms 2:7     Luke 3:38
   
   Some claim that what is unique in the case of Jesus, is that he is the only begotten Son of God, while the others are merely “sons of God”. However, God is recorded as saying to Prophet David, in Psalms 2:7, “I will tell the decree of the Lord: He said to me, ‘You are my son, today I have begotten you.’ ”
   It should also be noted that nowhere in the Gospels does Jesus actually call himself “Son of God”. Instead, he is recorded to have repeatedly called himself “Son of man” (e.g. Luke 9:22) innumerable times.
   The expression “son of God” merely meant “Servant of God”; one who, because of his faithful service, was close and dear to God, as a son is to a father. Consequently, the use of the term “son of God” should only be understood from the Semitic symbolic sense of a “servant of God”, and not in the pagan sense of a literal offspring of God. In the four Gospels, Jesus is recorded as saying: “Blessed are the peace-makers; they will be called sons of God.”
   
   4. One with God
   
   Those who claim that Jesus was God, hold that he was not a separate god, but one and the same God incarnate. They draw support for this belief from different verses in the Bible; fore example, "..I am in the Father and the Father in me?
   
   These phrases would imply Jesus’ divinity. However; Jesus is also recorded as saying to his disciples, in John 14:20, , “In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you.” Thus, if Jesus’ statement “I am in the Father and the Father is in me” means that he is God, then so were his disciples. This symbolic statement means oneness of purpose and not oneness of essence. The symbolic interpretation is further emphasized in John 17:20-21.
   
   5. “In the beginning was the Word”
   
   John 1:1&14, “1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God....” However, these statements were not made by Jesus Christ, nor were they attributed to him by the author of the Gospel according to John. Consequently, these verses do not constitute evidence for Jesus’ divinity, especially considering the doubts held by Christian scholars about the Fourth Gospel. The Bible scholars who authored The Five Gospels said: “The two pictures painted by John and the synoptic gospels (i.e., the Gospels of Matthew, Mark & Luke) cannot both be historically accurate. (see my explanations earlier, ple

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   1. 64

      pisean282311posted 13 years agoin reply to this

      why dont u make hub on it..it is too huge for forum post..

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   2. 52

      paarsurreyposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Hi friend
      
      I agree with you; Islam/Quran/Muhammad guide one in ethical , moral and spiritual realms.
      
      Thanks
      
      I am an Ahmadi peaceful Muslim

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   andygrantposted 13 years ago

   I agree with pisean! It will make a great hub on teachings of Islam...

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3. 79

   earnestshubposted 13 years ago

   Here are some more benefits of islam.
   
   
   Sura 3:151 Soon shall We cast terror into the hearts of the unbelievers for that they joined companions with Allah for which He had sent no authority: their abode will be the fire; and evil is the home of the wrong-doers!
   
   Sura 8:60 Against them make ready your strength to the utmost of your power including steeds of war to strike terror into (the hearts of) the enemies of Allah and your enemies and others besides whom ye may not know but whom Allah doth know. Whatever ye shall spend in the cause of Allah shall be repaid unto you and ye shall not be treated unjustly.
   
   You get to live!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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4. 79

   LeanManposted 13 years ago

   Come to Saudi Arabia and see if you can find all of these benefits in the Muslims living here... This is the birthplace of your religion and has it's holiest shrines and cities..
   
   But most of the people are hypocrites, they have no respect for others, they are arrogant, they mistreat their workers, they are rude, they are racist and so on..
   
   Many are drunks and drug addicts. Most of the men chase women whenever and however they can, the women are not much better!!
   
   Come and show me the benefits here... I see worse behavior here than anywhere else in the world and I have traveled a lot!!!

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   1. 58

      kaleem aliposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      i live here too, it all depends how u see it...most of the muslims here have moved away from their religion, but my friends there are many more who still follow the real principles.The government still follows shariah, and its not bad, its the only way too maintain a peaceful community.
      
      and as u said about the men here, yes they are that way But  arent chirstian men the same?
      im not going to talk abt the differenc between them.Did Jesus not come from somewhere from the arab land?
      My friend all of this is related, before passing comment on saudi men and women u have ot  survey all facts. The whole world is like this, u cant help it.

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