Thursday, 5 June 2008

Words and how they affect me....

Words are important tools. Words can kill a man. Words can save a man.
It has come to my attention that there are different versions of the Quran, just as there are versions of the Bible. Different by means of choice of words the translators choose to use to describe a certain event. You have the Yusuf Ali, the progressive Muslims, Sher Ali, Pickthall and Khalifa translations. Why is this I beg to know? The underlying message may be the same, but the choice of words is different.
This difference in words I feel lays importance in the meaning/logic/application of the verses. It may determine if one is to grasp easily by means of easy words or one is to ponder and try to find meaning for harder words. But then again, it is only the Almighty who guides and directs one towards the true meaning. May God bless us with understanding and inspiration of his message in order to draw us nearer to him.

In surah 16:27, I for one feel that where it says idols or partners ascribed to God ( Khalifas' translation) I thinks it does not mean idols in the sense of crafted images of deity that some people choose to worship, I think it means idols/partners in the sense of looking at humans as source of guidance instead of God. i.e. prophets/saints/pope/Imams/ who people tend to ask for help and hang to their every word.
I am quite sure we all have at some time fallen to the guise that we pray through a prophet /saint to allow our prayers to reach God. However my finding is that the Quran says that when you pray, prayer is to be directed to God alone.
Idolizing any human being/messenger/saint or otherwise I feel is wrong. We should only idolize God, as God is the Ultimate Ruler.

Besides, These Prophets/saints don’t know us. They have never met me neither have I ever met them. They cant hear me can they? They are dead. Their souls have gone to wherever their souls have gone to. So how does me praying through then benefit me? How can one who has no knowledge of you intercede for you? They do not know your character, they do not know your background. Unless you want to ascribe to them qualities that are not theirs and say that they know you and they know your situation????
Only God Almighty is aware of everything and everyone. No one else.
The Quran says (from my understanding) that the only time they will be able to respond to us is on the DOJ, but by then all will have been revealed - Truth established.
It is God who has knowledge of you and knows your heart. Moreover it is God who decides and judges.
I can see where I am coming from but can you…………

From my own background, Idols such as Imams/Alfas’ who people think have all the answers and guidance……. Go figure!!
The concept that God is infinite and grasping that God is the only one that controls things may be difficult to get.
These human idols are humans themselves, with sins and indiscretions, merits and whatever they have incurred for themselves. Regardless of how many times they have read the Holy Scripture, went to Hajj, HOW DO I KNOW THAT THEY ARE ON THE GUIDED PATH?? Is reading the Quran from top to cover and going to Hajj criteria for being consulted over the affairs of God???
To God belongs all things and To God belongs the right to guide.
In some ways we humans I feel want to have a manifestation/physical proof of Gods presence and that without it we cannot function or rationalize God. We want to humanify the qualities of God before we can understand God, before we can relate to God or believe in God.
But God is supreme and any attempts to humanify can only lead us to error and sin! Nest pas? Humanification has nowt to do with God and His Magnificence.

Honestly at times I think I am going mad!! For all I know I could be in the loosing end, God forbid and if I am God help me and direct me to his path and guidance.

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