This was the first surah that I took any great interest in right from young.
I still remember the recitation of hand, all memorized able to recall: albeit with a few jolts.
I remember the tape version, how the reciter a one Alfa Hussain Mohammed would pronounce the words even with the Yoruba intonations, which was always evident with his work.
I remember as a child waking up from sleep and going to sit in the living room while my dad was performing his nightlong prayers. I remember the smell of incense burning in the background – in particular the long one packaged in the green and white box.
I remember my dad sitting on his prayer mat whilst I was cuddled up on the sofa both sitting in silence until I fell sleep. (Maybe this is where I got my love of sleeping on the sofa and living room; I cannot seem to shake this habit)
I was mesmerized by this surah for a long time. A lot to do with the clout and pageantry surrounding its mysticism. I remember some people said that the prophet Mohammed said that this was the heart of the quran – The powerful surah with the seven “mubins”.
Why this is of importance I don’t know and why the number is important I don’t know either.
Question: What is peoples fixation with the numbers 3, 6, 5, 7, 9, 11?
I remember the seven “mubins” very well: when my dad will get us all to sit and say prayers reciting the surah 7 times, with each “mubin” he will get us to recite 7 “Qursiyu”
Out of this fixation, I memorized this surah. Reciting it to give me a sense of achievement and accomplishment that Yes! I too can get it – whatever was out there with this surah will come to me too.
I would look at it and read it: Arabic only – whenever I looked at the translation it just washed over me – gobbledygook- just like when I pick up a physics book and read, I just read but I don’t know what I am reading. The translations just washed over me, I am reading but I am not getting, I am juts fixated with the mubins – as I have been mesmerized by everyone’s fixation with it.
It wasn’t until about 2-3 years ago with trying to find out about worshipping God that I looked at the translation of what I had been reading and it struck me…What exactly do people see in this surah?
When reading through the translation, what strikes me is the gloominess and advent of retribution for people who end up disbelieving. Which in a way is befitting because it means for those who cannot see God alone but for the partnering “God with his last prophet” that such people are just digging themselves deeper into the ground.
This surah talks about consequences and reminds of warnings of disbelieving, of DOJ, reminds us of the blessings from God…
Then I started to see chapter 36 in a different light. Whist the memorization has stuck in my head- albeit I may need a few jolts of verses to remember it- I no longer hold it awe or am I fixated by it.
I am now interested in surah Maryam, Furqan and Ibrahim. Firstly because the recitation by Abdul Sudais is one of the most beautiful melodious ones I have ever heard and also because I feel - in particular for Surah Maryam- that the gripe between major world religions are clarified for me in them. It embodies the crux of what we all argue about or have issues about.
Remember the part in the quran where it offers a logical agreement to us all
If I can recall, God help me with this “ that we should come to a logical agreement whereby we do not worship besides God any other.” Which for me is a fair cop out whereby we agree to disagree. If we say we worship God, then lets leave all the minor differences out of the way and focus on this one God who we say is the creator of all things.
Anyway I digress again……
For translations see : http://www.submission.org/quran/webqt.php, enter the chapter number and compare up to six translations side by side. my preffered translations are khalifas and progressive muslims
Monday, 29 December 2008
Sunday, 28 December 2008
Chapter 35 Al-Fateer
Verse 1
“Alhamdullilahi”
The starting of the verse with the phrase “Praise be to God” for me is important for me because I regard this statement as the essence of worship to the Creator. The creator who is the initiator of everything
Verse 2
Simple fact - what God wills be done, nothing can alter Gods plans/decisions be it in earth or in the heavens
Verse 3
“O People” – I guess this refers to every human being… asking us to remember Gods blessings upon us. Also again states “There is no other God beside Him”…How could we deviate.
The deviate part I can take to imply
Deviate from before practices of worshiping God
Deviate from God alone
Deviate from the book of God etc
Verse 4
I guess this verse is speaking to the messenger - reaffirming that God is in control, whether we believe what the messenger has brought forward from God or not.
The messenger has brought forward the scripture of God, from God to serve as a guide for us to redeem ourselves before the Day of Ressurrection/Judgment. This is my own view
Infact when I think of it again a là what we have going on at the moment regarding “God Plus ” for me it defies belief that the messenger(s) himself/themselves would testify “God plus messenger” because
It don’t make sense
It don’t follow the principles of what has been revealed previously
It still don’t make sense to me
Verse 5
Reminds us about our priorities… This life is but a mere illusion. As a matter of fact I have to remind myself of that daily.
Verse 6
I chuckled when I read this part but it is true though. Enemy is enemy and they are best avoided and best treated with animosity because really in times of war and everything, your enemies want to kill you and finish you off n’est pas? So fight is fight. It is a fight for survival in the hereafter The Devil is enemy because the devil seeks to repel from the path of God. Plain and simple
Verse 8
I still insist that this is the worse state to be in… “Misguided belief”.. God don’t visit such a fate on me and may He guide me to the straight path.
Verse 11
Interesting points raised here. The theme for me reinforces that nothing happens except for the will of God. Nothing comes into being or leaves existence except for as how God wants it to be
Verse 12
I smiled when I read this part – Salt water/Fresh water… Indeed we should b grateful
Verse 13-14
Slight chuckle at the part where I read “ if you call them they cannot hear you, even if they can hear you they cannae respond to you and on the DOR/DOJ thy will disown you”
Gba o! All these supplications to prophets, saints and whatever else… whatisgoingon there? Praying for prophet and family members and whatever else. How on earth do you know if the family members were guided, if for instance lets say for argument sake that the messenger/prophet was guided, how d I know if his family was? Hmmm
Tell me, how do I know what is in their heart that I can be praying for them? Hmmm,
When my time can be better-spent thinking about my God and praising my God hmmm
Lol. Sometimes I am mad….
Verse 15
I agree, yes! We are all in need of God
Verse 18
No transfer of sins. What you earn you earn! That entire one where some people may think that “Jesus died for our sins” I don’t get that after reading this verse.
From Verse 19 onwards
It is either on or the other, no in-between I guess. Blind and Seer, Darkness and Light, Coolness of shade and Heat of the sun. This brings to mind anther part the this scripture where I think it goes ” there is no compulsion in religion, the right way is now distinct from the wrong” and another one which I think goes “ righteousness is not about beating around the bush”
Verse 22
God causes whomever wills to hear…You cannot make hearers out o those in the graves.
We all have to make the initial choice/will I guess to want to be closer to God and ask God for the rest, for Him to direct us to the right path.
When you are dead, that’s it! That is your own part /story played out. Whatever you have earned you have earned, no going back once you are dead, no chance to overturn, no chance to repeat. God guide us right and keep us as righteous believers and grant us a good position on the DOJ.
Verse 25
I singled this part out.. “ Messengers have been with clear proofs, the psalms and the enlightening scripture”
Verse 27
I smiled at the description of words and colour
Verse 29
Investment: Recite the book of God, Prayer, and from Gods provisions to us we spend.
Verse 31
This verse for me again is pinnacle foundation of what we should uphold.
“What is revealed in this scripture is the truth consummating all previous scripture”
I get from reading the Quran that this is what we should uphold. This is what the messenger has brought forward from God and advocates that we read and uphold the teachings therein. So how can we start to deviate and practice from other things not sanctioned by God? Or even His messengers for that matter?
For translations go to http://www.submission.org/quran/webqt.php eterchapter number and compare different translations
Praise be to God, the Eternal Most Gracious.This is what has caught my interest initially while reading this verse.
“Alhamdullilahi”
The starting of the verse with the phrase “Praise be to God” for me is important for me because I regard this statement as the essence of worship to the Creator. The creator who is the initiator of everything
Verse 2
Simple fact - what God wills be done, nothing can alter Gods plans/decisions be it in earth or in the heavens
Verse 3
“O People” – I guess this refers to every human being… asking us to remember Gods blessings upon us. Also again states “There is no other God beside Him”…How could we deviate.
The deviate part I can take to imply
Deviate from before practices of worshiping God
Deviate from God alone
Deviate from the book of God etc
Verse 4
I guess this verse is speaking to the messenger - reaffirming that God is in control, whether we believe what the messenger has brought forward from God or not.
The messenger has brought forward the scripture of God, from God to serve as a guide for us to redeem ourselves before the Day of Ressurrection/Judgment. This is my own view
Infact when I think of it again a là what we have going on at the moment regarding “God Plus ” for me it defies belief that the messenger(s) himself/themselves would testify “God plus messenger” because
It don’t make sense
It don’t follow the principles of what has been revealed previously
It still don’t make sense to me
Verse 5
Reminds us about our priorities… This life is but a mere illusion. As a matter of fact I have to remind myself of that daily.
Verse 6
I chuckled when I read this part but it is true though. Enemy is enemy and they are best avoided and best treated with animosity because really in times of war and everything, your enemies want to kill you and finish you off n’est pas? So fight is fight. It is a fight for survival in the hereafter The Devil is enemy because the devil seeks to repel from the path of God. Plain and simple
Verse 8
I still insist that this is the worse state to be in… “Misguided belief”.. God don’t visit such a fate on me and may He guide me to the straight path.
Verse 11
Interesting points raised here. The theme for me reinforces that nothing happens except for the will of God. Nothing comes into being or leaves existence except for as how God wants it to be
Verse 12
I smiled when I read this part – Salt water/Fresh water… Indeed we should b grateful
Verse 13-14
Slight chuckle at the part where I read “ if you call them they cannot hear you, even if they can hear you they cannae respond to you and on the DOR/DOJ thy will disown you”
Gba o! All these supplications to prophets, saints and whatever else… whatisgoingon there? Praying for prophet and family members and whatever else. How on earth do you know if the family members were guided, if for instance lets say for argument sake that the messenger/prophet was guided, how d I know if his family was? Hmmm
Tell me, how do I know what is in their heart that I can be praying for them? Hmmm,
When my time can be better-spent thinking about my God and praising my God hmmm
Lol. Sometimes I am mad….
Verse 15
I agree, yes! We are all in need of God
Verse 18
No transfer of sins. What you earn you earn! That entire one where some people may think that “Jesus died for our sins” I don’t get that after reading this verse.
From Verse 19 onwards
It is either on or the other, no in-between I guess. Blind and Seer, Darkness and Light, Coolness of shade and Heat of the sun. This brings to mind anther part the this scripture where I think it goes ” there is no compulsion in religion, the right way is now distinct from the wrong” and another one which I think goes “ righteousness is not about beating around the bush”
Verse 22
God causes whomever wills to hear…You cannot make hearers out o those in the graves.
We all have to make the initial choice/will I guess to want to be closer to God and ask God for the rest, for Him to direct us to the right path.
When you are dead, that’s it! That is your own part /story played out. Whatever you have earned you have earned, no going back once you are dead, no chance to overturn, no chance to repeat. God guide us right and keep us as righteous believers and grant us a good position on the DOJ.
Verse 25
I singled this part out.. “ Messengers have been with clear proofs, the psalms and the enlightening scripture”
Verse 27
I smiled at the description of words and colour
Verse 29
Investment: Recite the book of God, Prayer, and from Gods provisions to us we spend.
Verse 31
This verse for me again is pinnacle foundation of what we should uphold.
“What is revealed in this scripture is the truth consummating all previous scripture”
I get from reading the Quran that this is what we should uphold. This is what the messenger has brought forward from God and advocates that we read and uphold the teachings therein. So how can we start to deviate and practice from other things not sanctioned by God? Or even His messengers for that matter?
For translations go to http://www.submission.org/quran/webqt.php eterchapter number and compare different translations
Praise be to God, the Eternal Most Gracious.This is what has caught my interest initially while reading this verse.
Sunday, 21 December 2008
chapter 2 my thoughts
baqrah!!
Vs 1-5
Scripture infallible, a beacon or the righteous . The righteous are the peeps who believe in the unseen ( which to me, may mean God and his wonders), peeps who perform salat and give to charity, believe in revelations previous and this revelation ( to me means Quran) and are certain of teh hereafter
Vs 6-20
Talks to me about disbelivers: peeps who say they believe but dont really believe: for me this is a bad scenario person to be in....
Vs 21-22
Worship only your Lord - Creator of All
Vs 30 onwards
Starts to talk belief in one God and about the reation of Adam and what people call the "concept of original sin"- Adams expulsion from heaven. how God redeemed Adam by giving him specific words... (this for me re-inforces the notion of God inspiring one with words)
Vs 37
this one is important to me because ti says Adam recieved from his Lord words of redemption... This could be the "rabanna zalamna anfusana wa in lam taghfirlana,... etc which is found in surah 7:23
Vs 40
Children of Isreal and their convenant with God ... Belief in One God, Do not confound truth with falsehood.. Observe Salat and zakat and bow down with those who bow down, Do not exhort others to be righteous while forgetting yourself... seek help through steadfastness and Salat.. ( from here i can confirm that all aspects of what peeps call 5 pillars of islam are already established in times of children of isreal: moses time... as it is said in Quran elsewhere ( will try find you verse) re these things have been established in times of Abraham as well... so salat is not new, it has been practiced from times ago...as was Zakat...
Vs 48 onwards
starts to talk about the DOJ- the day when no soul can avail another. there is no intercession ( i.e no one begging for you or interceeding for you), no ransome allowed and no help
Talks about Pharoah and how the COI were saved from him.
The summoning of Moses for 40 nights (30 and then additional 10) and what happened i.e the peeps worshiping of the calf - God redeemed the people even after that incident...talked about the provisions from God and how this was not enuff for teh COI, talks about upholding the convenant made with God i.e sign was raised mount sinai above them - Uphold what they were given and remember its content that they be saved - what happened when some peeps desecrated the sabbath day and what happened about the heifer which God asked the people to sacrifice and how the people shifted and shifted until they were convinced...
*Strong Theme - Do not kill
*Believe but not yet believing - distorting scripture....
Vs 83 onwards
The convenant with the Children of Isreal: Worship God only.. Honour Parents, Regard relatives, orphans and poor, treat people amicably, Shall observe Salat and Zakat, Shall not shed blood, shall not evict each other from their/your homes. ( this is clear in context and i think somethimes this is what peeps refer to as the 10 commandments)
Also talks about teh scripture given to Moses, Jesus;s miracles and confirms that God supported jesus with holy spirit.. ( for me this links judaism, christianity and islam as One entity) What happened when messengers went with things that the people didnt like - rejecting messengers and killing them...
Also Confirmation of Quran scripture with other scriptures: (moses scriptuire. Abrahams scripture, Davids, Jesus... these were all i think who quran state had scriptures)
How we prophesise ( i guess with scriptures) but when prophecy happens we fail to recognise it and how some people choose to believe in some scripture and disregard the others...
Talks about the prophet of God and the angels and scriptures
Mentions Solomon and his empire - sorcery/witchcraft was occuring then... Warning !!!...do not practice witchcraft cos if you do you will not have share in hereafter
Vs 111 onwards
How people think that they know who goes to paradise ( for me this means Judge not.. cos only God knows who is and who is not saved.. no one know future, so all these people who we think for sure they are going to end up in paradise, we dont knwo do we,, cos only God knows that)
Oneness of God
Reinstates for COI - remember my favours which I (God) bestowed upon you and that I (God) blessed you more than any nation
Abraham and the Kaaba - no one really knows wether abraham was jewish/christiam or muslim.. all we know is that he worshipped One God - submitted to the Lord of the universe... it tells us to follow the religion of Abraham... monotheism.. ( this part for me is where i can make the distinction that all these additions that we see in islam today i.e addition of Prophet to God is a fabrication.. because in the time of Abraham, there was no mohammed.. and salat was already established... and it is this same salat that we are trying to perfom today... In Abrahams time, is was all about God as i should be now as well... nothing has changed... we should follow monotheism.. worshipping One God only... so all this you have to be muslim/christian/jew before u see the kingdom of God is bullshit...)
Vs 136
States it here : Make no distinction btw messengers : which for me means all messengers are messangers of God,, i sould not make a disctinction btw anyone of them... so Mohammed is to jesus as is to Moses as is to Abraham.. all the same... canne uphold one more in favour of the other..
Vs 139 onwards
very Good statement made here " Do not argue with us about God, He is my Lord and your Lord.. the essence for me here is God is one God, so all the debates btw religion is pointless really...
Reinforces that God is one God which for me is a follow up on Verse 140... No one can really say if our prophets.messengers were definately of christians/jews/muslims mainstream religions because the truth is that we dont know..
For me this means which ever you subscribe to doesnt matter ... the most important thing is belief in ONE God - we all share the same prophets/messengers, yet we are all different from each other and despise each other...what we now have as defined mainstream religion is now how it was then... nor do i think how it should be now because i believe worshipping God is very simple, not the complication that Man has made for himself... once you start to seperate God from man made inventions the simplicity then becomes clear i feel...
Vs 143
For me this stalks about the direction of prayer... i think going by hazy memory that it used to be towards jerusalem then God changed it towards mecca... I remember when my friend used to ask me that "if God was everywhere.. omnipresent/omnipotent, then why do muslims have to face one direction to pray"...
my answer to this was to link it to the bible story about Saul.. which is also in the Quran... God told them on their way somewhere not to stop by a certain river to drink and this act initself was a test from God... but some people drank from the river... This was Gods way of distinguishng those who would readily follow or those who would not follow Gods words... so similar to direction if salat... it is a test from God to see those who would readily ober God and those who would not.. " change of Kiblah to distinguish " who would readily follow the messenger from those who would turn back on their heels"
Vs146
Says that "those who recieve scripture knows that this ( meaning this Quran scripture) is the truth and recognise it as such"
Vs 147
Reinforces... thsi is the truth from your Lord... do not doubt it... Reiterates for me that God is the only source of truth... no doubting.. From this alone i made my confirmation that it is Quran alone and nothig else... God has explained to me all i need to knwo and to be aware of.. everything else i may question may God inspire me to and Only to Him would i look to seeking answers and solutions...
Vs 148
We each all choose our own paths.. righteousness is the desired path..... from what i am getting here
Vs 149 -150
Prayer direction... towards sacred masjid,, masjid-il-Haram... stipulation that this is the truth from God
Vs 152
Remember God so that God remembers you and be appreciative... simple i guess.. be thankful for every mercies... seen and unseen
Vs 153
Seek help through steadfastness and salat... God is with those who steadfastky preservere... help from anything-- through steadfastnass... i guess this to mean patience, perseverance and holding onto God only,,
Vs 158 onwards
HAJJ.. rites for hajj... safa and marwa,,, walking the distance btw the two
Vs 163
Reiterates again... One God!!! "Your God is one God, There is no God but He, Most Gracious, Most merciful.... Clear and simple,,,t his is the theme of the Quran for me.. its is always lailaha illa llahu... pure and simple... nothing else other than one God... so where these additions of our own world comes from i beg to wonder...no where in Quran will you find the declaration of Oness of God couple with declaration of messanger...because rememer from earlier. do not make distinction btw messengers... The Quran is clear wo why i feel we are doing something else??? go figure...
Vs 165
"Yet some peeps set uo idold to rival God and love them as if they are God"... Important statement here... Which is true when we look at the devotion that we people have to saints/prophets/leaders,, more than the devotion that we give to God... This is represantative of what what is happening here and now ...we will rise to arms when our leaders our insulted but everyday people insult god but we do nothing about it... so who are we really worshipping... is it God.. or is it them leaders, who are we reallly loving... is it God or is it them leaders/saints/prophets
Vs 164
Those who were followed will disown those who followed them,- for me it is already warning us...why bother following someone else... Direction and guidance comes from God only.... apply this to christians and jesus/saints, muslims and mohammed/malims ... why seek guidance and help from mortals, when God is omnipotent???
Vs 168-169
so not follow satan
Vs 170
People seem comfy to follow what their parents show them... *role of parent very serious indeed* but they dont want to follow what God has revealed for them in the Quran...how do we know that our parents have the right guidance and wisdom to direct us in the path of God??? what if they are not guided in themselves... always remember what we see on the outside is never indicative of what is on inside... they may pray 5 times or 3 times daily they may be feverent during prayer, that does not give them licence to direct or guide... as only god directs and guides in His path...
You can apply this to mean... if parents told you to kill yourself knowing that it is wrong to do so... would you??? it also follows application for me in the sense of following malims/scholars etc.. what if they dont understand.. God is the best guide from God and God has given us the Quran,,,
Vs 173
food restriction...Animals that die of themselves, blood, meat of pigs, animals dedicated to other than God are our only prohibitions...
Vs 177
Righteousmess is belief in God, thelast day, The angels, the scripture and the prophets... Giving money to relatives, orphans, needy, the travelling alien, beggers, to free the slaves, Observing prayer, giving Zaka, righteous peeps are those who keep their word, steadfastly preservere in face of persecution, hardship and war...
Vs 178
LAW: equivalenve is the key for dealing with everything.. LAW for dealing with murder... the free fo rfree, slave for slave ets...
Vs 180
LAW: when death approaches, you must write a will
Vs 183
Fasting is decreed for us
Vs 184
rules regarding fasting... only on specified days, if ill or travelling we can substitute equal number of days.. for those who can fast but with great difficulty, they can substitute by feeding one poor person for each day of breaking fast... however it stresses fasting is the best for you...`
Vs185
Fast in month of ramadan ( also month Quran was revealed)
Vs186
People shall respond to God and believe in god in order to be guided
Vs187
LAW: fasting rules
Vs188
LAW: shall not take each others money illicitly... no bribing of people nin order to deprive others of their rights
Vs 189
I like it where is says" righteousness is attained by upholding the commandments and by being straightforwrd" observe God that we may succeed
Vs 190
LAW: We may fight in the cause of God against those who attack us... but we should not aggress... i.e fighting only as a form of defence... so we cannot strike first
Vs 191
LAW: We may kill those who wage war against us or evist themwhence they evicted us... oppression is worse than murder... clear guidelines here...
Vs 193
We may fight to eliminate oppression and to worship God freely. It also iterates... do not aggress!!! Aggression is only permitted against the aggressors
Vs 194
During sacred months aggression may be met by an equivalent response...
Vs 195
LAW: you shall spend in the cause of God, you shall be charitable and not throw ourselves with our hands into destruction... for me means spend wisely not lavishly or foolishly...
Vs 196
LAW: Observe complete rites of Hajj and Umrah for god...mentions what to do if we cant... Question here for me is how does one send an offering???
Vs 197-207
LAW: Hajj shall be observed in specified months
Vs 208
Embrace total submission
Vs 211
Children of Isreal... who are they???
Vs 212
Stay strong.. that is the message therein for me... The believers will be victors on the DOJ... May God include me with the believers and righteous and spare me the retribution of Hell.. God willing
Vs 213
For me this verse links back to one community.. One God. Same prophets i.e Abraham, isaac etc... it says here it was those who recieved the scripture that rejected any new scriptures despite the proofs...
Vs 214
Test for everyone.. Test so grave that people started to ask... where is Gods victory... must have been tough times...
Vs 215
RULES FOR CHARITY : to parents, relatives, orphans, the poor, the travelling alien... I think travelling alien is someone not from your own part of the world who is new to your neighbourhood
Vs 216
God only knows!!! Link this with when i say that i only ask for what i want what is present for me... i dont know the future and dont know wether what i am asking for is good for me or not... only God knows future and what is best for me... sometimes i may ask for that which is not good for me but only God knows and i know that god will not give me that which is bad for me... so if i dont get what i ask for, then maybe it is a good thing...
Vs 217
RULES FOR FIGHTING IN SACRED MONTHS
Vs 219-220
RULES on INTOXICANTS and GAMBLING.. causes more harm than good... WHAT TO GIVE TO CHARITY... the excess ORPHANS... bring them up as best righeous person is the best that we can do/// if we mix their property with opurs then we treat them as members of our family
Vs 221
RULES ON MARRIAGE... marry only believing men and women... they must be believers in God.. it makes no conditions that they be jewish/christian/mislims,,, just says "beliving" just believing
Vs 222
RULES ON MENSTRUATION...no intercourse during menstruation that is all it says... nothing like women cant pray on menstruation or cant touch quran or cant go into mosque... all thiese things which are man made... Quran is very clear....
Vs 224
Do not use Gods name in vain... or to attain credibility or appear righteous
Vs 225
What is important is innermost intention... that is what counts i guess
Vs 226-233
RULES ON DIVORCE... if you intend to divorce, wait 4 months to see if u change your mind,, if you do then fine and if u dont... proceed with it
Vs 234-237
RULES ON WIDOWS.. wait 4 months and 10 days before being open to offers from other men
Vs 238
SALAT: Consistently observe salst, especially middle prayer... Salst Wusta, devote yourself totally to God
Vs 239
RULES CONCERNING PRAYER... you may pray while walking.riding if under unusal circumstances.. Once safe commemorate God as he taught you what you did not know... i take it means when u arrive at destination commemorate God... it doesnt say what is unusual so i guess it is individual citcumstances... we each have to decide for ourselves
Vs 240
WIDOWS: make a will to support wives for a year as long as they remain in the same household
Vs 241
DIVORCEES... you shall provide for them as well
Vs 246-251
SAUL... evnts surrounding Saul and how the people at first didnt like him being king.,.. may be worthwile to read the bible story surrounding saul and because it says similar thing as well
Vs 249
test for saul and his troops... drinking at stream... similar to test for changing Qiblah
Vs 252
States that this revelation (Quran) is truthful... sort of confirms other scriptures
Vs 253
Talks about messengers and some of their differences in terms of how they related with Goid.. Also mentions Jesus - SON OF MARY and the holyspirit... also re-iterates that we were" one community" until the proof came to followers and then they disputed and all defacted
Vs 254
LAW: give to charity
Vs 255
Ayat Kursiyu... Only One God who is aware of all things, the Eternal, The Ever living God. He knows past and future and only by His will do things occur
Vs 256
Each person must make a choice... worshipping God is not by force... choose right over wrong
Vs 258-261
God in all his wonders is Omnipotent and is the Creator
Vs 262-276
RULES ON CHARITY: charity in the cause of God... should not be followed by insuly/harm... kind words/comapssion is better than charity followed by insult... charity in the cause of God not to show off
Vs 277
traits for righteousness... belive and lead righteous life, Salst, Zakat
Vs 278
LAW: No unsury at all in whatever form
Vs 280
RULES ON DEBT AND PAYMENT
Vs 282-283
RULES ON LOANS
Vs 285
Attributes of believers: Belief in God, Angels. Scriptures, Messengers- also states again make no distinction among any of Gods messengers And yes!! I am digging at those of our community who do....
Vs 286
God never burdens a soul beyond its means
Alhamdullilahi...
these are my views on this suran... May God in His mercy continue to guide us and inspire us, lead us and keep us in the straight path
Vs 1-5
Scripture infallible, a beacon or the righteous . The righteous are the peeps who believe in the unseen ( which to me, may mean God and his wonders), peeps who perform salat and give to charity, believe in revelations previous and this revelation ( to me means Quran) and are certain of teh hereafter
Vs 6-20
Talks to me about disbelivers: peeps who say they believe but dont really believe: for me this is a bad scenario person to be in....
Vs 21-22
Worship only your Lord - Creator of All
Vs 30 onwards
Starts to talk belief in one God and about the reation of Adam and what people call the "concept of original sin"- Adams expulsion from heaven. how God redeemed Adam by giving him specific words... (this for me re-inforces the notion of God inspiring one with words)
Vs 37
this one is important to me because ti says Adam recieved from his Lord words of redemption... This could be the "rabanna zalamna anfusana wa in lam taghfirlana,... etc which is found in surah 7:23
Vs 40
Children of Isreal and their convenant with God ... Belief in One God, Do not confound truth with falsehood.. Observe Salat and zakat and bow down with those who bow down, Do not exhort others to be righteous while forgetting yourself... seek help through steadfastness and Salat.. ( from here i can confirm that all aspects of what peeps call 5 pillars of islam are already established in times of children of isreal: moses time... as it is said in Quran elsewhere ( will try find you verse) re these things have been established in times of Abraham as well... so salat is not new, it has been practiced from times ago...as was Zakat...
Vs 48 onwards
starts to talk about the DOJ- the day when no soul can avail another. there is no intercession ( i.e no one begging for you or interceeding for you), no ransome allowed and no help
Talks about Pharoah and how the COI were saved from him.
The summoning of Moses for 40 nights (30 and then additional 10) and what happened i.e the peeps worshiping of the calf - God redeemed the people even after that incident...talked about the provisions from God and how this was not enuff for teh COI, talks about upholding the convenant made with God i.e sign was raised mount sinai above them - Uphold what they were given and remember its content that they be saved - what happened when some peeps desecrated the sabbath day and what happened about the heifer which God asked the people to sacrifice and how the people shifted and shifted until they were convinced...
*Strong Theme - Do not kill
*Believe but not yet believing - distorting scripture....
Vs 83 onwards
The convenant with the Children of Isreal: Worship God only.. Honour Parents, Regard relatives, orphans and poor, treat people amicably, Shall observe Salat and Zakat, Shall not shed blood, shall not evict each other from their/your homes. ( this is clear in context and i think somethimes this is what peeps refer to as the 10 commandments)
Also talks about teh scripture given to Moses, Jesus;s miracles and confirms that God supported jesus with holy spirit.. ( for me this links judaism, christianity and islam as One entity) What happened when messengers went with things that the people didnt like - rejecting messengers and killing them...
Also Confirmation of Quran scripture with other scriptures: (moses scriptuire. Abrahams scripture, Davids, Jesus... these were all i think who quran state had scriptures)
How we prophesise ( i guess with scriptures) but when prophecy happens we fail to recognise it and how some people choose to believe in some scripture and disregard the others...
Talks about the prophet of God and the angels and scriptures
Mentions Solomon and his empire - sorcery/witchcraft was occuring then... Warning !!!...do not practice witchcraft cos if you do you will not have share in hereafter
Vs 111 onwards
How people think that they know who goes to paradise ( for me this means Judge not.. cos only God knows who is and who is not saved.. no one know future, so all these people who we think for sure they are going to end up in paradise, we dont knwo do we,, cos only God knows that)
Oneness of God
Reinstates for COI - remember my favours which I (God) bestowed upon you and that I (God) blessed you more than any nation
Abraham and the Kaaba - no one really knows wether abraham was jewish/christiam or muslim.. all we know is that he worshipped One God - submitted to the Lord of the universe... it tells us to follow the religion of Abraham... monotheism.. ( this part for me is where i can make the distinction that all these additions that we see in islam today i.e addition of Prophet to God is a fabrication.. because in the time of Abraham, there was no mohammed.. and salat was already established... and it is this same salat that we are trying to perfom today... In Abrahams time, is was all about God as i should be now as well... nothing has changed... we should follow monotheism.. worshipping One God only... so all this you have to be muslim/christian/jew before u see the kingdom of God is bullshit...)
Vs 136
States it here : Make no distinction btw messengers : which for me means all messengers are messangers of God,, i sould not make a disctinction btw anyone of them... so Mohammed is to jesus as is to Moses as is to Abraham.. all the same... canne uphold one more in favour of the other..
Vs 139 onwards
very Good statement made here " Do not argue with us about God, He is my Lord and your Lord.. the essence for me here is God is one God, so all the debates btw religion is pointless really...
Reinforces that God is one God which for me is a follow up on Verse 140... No one can really say if our prophets.messengers were definately of christians/jews/muslims mainstream religions because the truth is that we dont know..
For me this means which ever you subscribe to doesnt matter ... the most important thing is belief in ONE God - we all share the same prophets/messengers, yet we are all different from each other and despise each other...what we now have as defined mainstream religion is now how it was then... nor do i think how it should be now because i believe worshipping God is very simple, not the complication that Man has made for himself... once you start to seperate God from man made inventions the simplicity then becomes clear i feel...
Vs 143
For me this stalks about the direction of prayer... i think going by hazy memory that it used to be towards jerusalem then God changed it towards mecca... I remember when my friend used to ask me that "if God was everywhere.. omnipresent/omnipotent, then why do muslims have to face one direction to pray"...
my answer to this was to link it to the bible story about Saul.. which is also in the Quran... God told them on their way somewhere not to stop by a certain river to drink and this act initself was a test from God... but some people drank from the river... This was Gods way of distinguishng those who would readily follow or those who would not follow Gods words... so similar to direction if salat... it is a test from God to see those who would readily ober God and those who would not.. " change of Kiblah to distinguish " who would readily follow the messenger from those who would turn back on their heels"
Vs146
Says that "those who recieve scripture knows that this ( meaning this Quran scripture) is the truth and recognise it as such"
Vs 147
Reinforces... thsi is the truth from your Lord... do not doubt it... Reiterates for me that God is the only source of truth... no doubting.. From this alone i made my confirmation that it is Quran alone and nothig else... God has explained to me all i need to knwo and to be aware of.. everything else i may question may God inspire me to and Only to Him would i look to seeking answers and solutions...
Vs 148
We each all choose our own paths.. righteousness is the desired path..... from what i am getting here
Vs 149 -150
Prayer direction... towards sacred masjid,, masjid-il-Haram... stipulation that this is the truth from God
Vs 152
Remember God so that God remembers you and be appreciative... simple i guess.. be thankful for every mercies... seen and unseen
Vs 153
Seek help through steadfastness and salat... God is with those who steadfastky preservere... help from anything-- through steadfastnass... i guess this to mean patience, perseverance and holding onto God only,,
Vs 158 onwards
HAJJ.. rites for hajj... safa and marwa,,, walking the distance btw the two
Vs 163
Reiterates again... One God!!! "Your God is one God, There is no God but He, Most Gracious, Most merciful.... Clear and simple,,,t his is the theme of the Quran for me.. its is always lailaha illa llahu... pure and simple... nothing else other than one God... so where these additions of our own world comes from i beg to wonder...no where in Quran will you find the declaration of Oness of God couple with declaration of messanger...because rememer from earlier. do not make distinction btw messengers... The Quran is clear wo why i feel we are doing something else??? go figure...
Vs 165
"Yet some peeps set uo idold to rival God and love them as if they are God"... Important statement here... Which is true when we look at the devotion that we people have to saints/prophets/leaders,, more than the devotion that we give to God... This is represantative of what what is happening here and now ...we will rise to arms when our leaders our insulted but everyday people insult god but we do nothing about it... so who are we really worshipping... is it God.. or is it them leaders, who are we reallly loving... is it God or is it them leaders/saints/prophets
Vs 164
Those who were followed will disown those who followed them,- for me it is already warning us...why bother following someone else... Direction and guidance comes from God only.... apply this to christians and jesus/saints, muslims and mohammed/malims ... why seek guidance and help from mortals, when God is omnipotent???
Vs 168-169
so not follow satan
Vs 170
People seem comfy to follow what their parents show them... *role of parent very serious indeed* but they dont want to follow what God has revealed for them in the Quran...how do we know that our parents have the right guidance and wisdom to direct us in the path of God??? what if they are not guided in themselves... always remember what we see on the outside is never indicative of what is on inside... they may pray 5 times or 3 times daily they may be feverent during prayer, that does not give them licence to direct or guide... as only god directs and guides in His path...
You can apply this to mean... if parents told you to kill yourself knowing that it is wrong to do so... would you??? it also follows application for me in the sense of following malims/scholars etc.. what if they dont understand.. God is the best guide from God and God has given us the Quran,,,
Vs 173
food restriction...Animals that die of themselves, blood, meat of pigs, animals dedicated to other than God are our only prohibitions...
Vs 177
Righteousmess is belief in God, thelast day, The angels, the scripture and the prophets... Giving money to relatives, orphans, needy, the travelling alien, beggers, to free the slaves, Observing prayer, giving Zaka, righteous peeps are those who keep their word, steadfastly preservere in face of persecution, hardship and war...
Vs 178
LAW: equivalenve is the key for dealing with everything.. LAW for dealing with murder... the free fo rfree, slave for slave ets...
Vs 180
LAW: when death approaches, you must write a will
Vs 183
Fasting is decreed for us
Vs 184
rules regarding fasting... only on specified days, if ill or travelling we can substitute equal number of days.. for those who can fast but with great difficulty, they can substitute by feeding one poor person for each day of breaking fast... however it stresses fasting is the best for you...`
Vs185
Fast in month of ramadan ( also month Quran was revealed)
Vs186
People shall respond to God and believe in god in order to be guided
Vs187
LAW: fasting rules
Vs188
LAW: shall not take each others money illicitly... no bribing of people nin order to deprive others of their rights
Vs 189
I like it where is says" righteousness is attained by upholding the commandments and by being straightforwrd" observe God that we may succeed
Vs 190
LAW: We may fight in the cause of God against those who attack us... but we should not aggress... i.e fighting only as a form of defence... so we cannot strike first
Vs 191
LAW: We may kill those who wage war against us or evist themwhence they evicted us... oppression is worse than murder... clear guidelines here...
Vs 193
We may fight to eliminate oppression and to worship God freely. It also iterates... do not aggress!!! Aggression is only permitted against the aggressors
Vs 194
During sacred months aggression may be met by an equivalent response...
Vs 195
LAW: you shall spend in the cause of God, you shall be charitable and not throw ourselves with our hands into destruction... for me means spend wisely not lavishly or foolishly...
Vs 196
LAW: Observe complete rites of Hajj and Umrah for god...mentions what to do if we cant... Question here for me is how does one send an offering???
Vs 197-207
LAW: Hajj shall be observed in specified months
Vs 208
Embrace total submission
Vs 211
Children of Isreal... who are they???
Vs 212
Stay strong.. that is the message therein for me... The believers will be victors on the DOJ... May God include me with the believers and righteous and spare me the retribution of Hell.. God willing
Vs 213
For me this verse links back to one community.. One God. Same prophets i.e Abraham, isaac etc... it says here it was those who recieved the scripture that rejected any new scriptures despite the proofs...
Vs 214
Test for everyone.. Test so grave that people started to ask... where is Gods victory... must have been tough times...
Vs 215
RULES FOR CHARITY : to parents, relatives, orphans, the poor, the travelling alien... I think travelling alien is someone not from your own part of the world who is new to your neighbourhood
Vs 216
God only knows!!! Link this with when i say that i only ask for what i want what is present for me... i dont know the future and dont know wether what i am asking for is good for me or not... only God knows future and what is best for me... sometimes i may ask for that which is not good for me but only God knows and i know that god will not give me that which is bad for me... so if i dont get what i ask for, then maybe it is a good thing...
Vs 217
RULES FOR FIGHTING IN SACRED MONTHS
Vs 219-220
RULES on INTOXICANTS and GAMBLING.. causes more harm than good... WHAT TO GIVE TO CHARITY... the excess ORPHANS... bring them up as best righeous person is the best that we can do/// if we mix their property with opurs then we treat them as members of our family
Vs 221
RULES ON MARRIAGE... marry only believing men and women... they must be believers in God.. it makes no conditions that they be jewish/christian/mislims,,, just says "beliving" just believing
Vs 222
RULES ON MENSTRUATION...no intercourse during menstruation that is all it says... nothing like women cant pray on menstruation or cant touch quran or cant go into mosque... all thiese things which are man made... Quran is very clear....
Vs 224
Do not use Gods name in vain... or to attain credibility or appear righteous
Vs 225
What is important is innermost intention... that is what counts i guess
Vs 226-233
RULES ON DIVORCE... if you intend to divorce, wait 4 months to see if u change your mind,, if you do then fine and if u dont... proceed with it
Vs 234-237
RULES ON WIDOWS.. wait 4 months and 10 days before being open to offers from other men
Vs 238
SALAT: Consistently observe salst, especially middle prayer... Salst Wusta, devote yourself totally to God
Vs 239
RULES CONCERNING PRAYER... you may pray while walking.riding if under unusal circumstances.. Once safe commemorate God as he taught you what you did not know... i take it means when u arrive at destination commemorate God... it doesnt say what is unusual so i guess it is individual citcumstances... we each have to decide for ourselves
Vs 240
WIDOWS: make a will to support wives for a year as long as they remain in the same household
Vs 241
DIVORCEES... you shall provide for them as well
Vs 246-251
SAUL... evnts surrounding Saul and how the people at first didnt like him being king.,.. may be worthwile to read the bible story surrounding saul and because it says similar thing as well
Vs 249
test for saul and his troops... drinking at stream... similar to test for changing Qiblah
Vs 252
States that this revelation (Quran) is truthful... sort of confirms other scriptures
Vs 253
Talks about messengers and some of their differences in terms of how they related with Goid.. Also mentions Jesus - SON OF MARY and the holyspirit... also re-iterates that we were" one community" until the proof came to followers and then they disputed and all defacted
Vs 254
LAW: give to charity
Vs 255
Ayat Kursiyu... Only One God who is aware of all things, the Eternal, The Ever living God. He knows past and future and only by His will do things occur
Vs 256
Each person must make a choice... worshipping God is not by force... choose right over wrong
Vs 258-261
God in all his wonders is Omnipotent and is the Creator
Vs 262-276
RULES ON CHARITY: charity in the cause of God... should not be followed by insuly/harm... kind words/comapssion is better than charity followed by insult... charity in the cause of God not to show off
Vs 277
traits for righteousness... belive and lead righteous life, Salst, Zakat
Vs 278
LAW: No unsury at all in whatever form
Vs 280
RULES ON DEBT AND PAYMENT
Vs 282-283
RULES ON LOANS
Vs 285
Attributes of believers: Belief in God, Angels. Scriptures, Messengers- also states again make no distinction among any of Gods messengers And yes!! I am digging at those of our community who do....
Vs 286
God never burdens a soul beyond its means
For translations go to http://www.submission.org/quran/webqt.php enter chapter numnber and compare up to six different transltions
Alhamdullilahi...
these are my views on this suran... May God in His mercy continue to guide us and inspire us, lead us and keep us in the straight path
chapter 3 my thoughts
At first, the chapter stuck me out as being interesting: Al-Imran.
Some people say the translation is: Amramites
So a couple of questions rose from me first of being who are the Amramites?
Google results says that they are descendants of the Amram people; who had the charge of the tabernacle, guarding the arc, table, candlesticks i.e. the treasures of the house of Yahweh – see numbers 3:27, Chronicles 26:23,22.
Verse 1
Letters Alif, Lam, Mim – Similar as in Baqrah and other Rum, Luqman etc
Verse 2
Statement of fact – There is no God except He – The Living, the Eternal. Which is for me the creed of our religion- oneness of God.
Verse 3-4
Confirmation that this scripture – Quran – is from God and also says that the scripture confirms all other scriptures – “and He sent down the Torah and Gospel and before that God sent the statute book”. Interesting that the torah and gospel
Question: What is the Statute Book?
Verse 6
God is the one who shapes in the womb as he wills – statement of fact for me.. There is no other God beside Him, The Almighty, Most wise.
All through the scripture is this theme, “La ilaha illa lahu”.. That is all it says, continually and re-affirmingly. Adding the attributes of the Most High to it… never any messenger or prophet.
Verse 7
In this scripture – Quran- there are straightforward verses and also states that they “ constitute the essence of the scripture”. So I guess straightforward verses are clear and concise in terms of intent and meaning.
In this scripture – Quran- There are multiple meaning/allegorical verses which says “those who harbour doubts in their hearts will pursue the multiple meaning verses to create confusion and to extricate a certain meaning” So to me, I guess that there are multiple meaning verses and they can mean more than one thing… “ No one knows the true meaning except God and those well founded in knowledge” God is the foundation of knowledge, which I wholly accept as a fact for me.
They say, “We believe in this, all of it comes from our Lord” So I guess again that this is the best approach to take as quran is a guiding scripture from God. Everything in is if from God, the most High. There is nothing like you accept one part while leaving another part of it… You cannot say that the quran is not complete because it is. I feel you cannot accept part of it and accept the reported hadiths (which in so many ways contradicts the quran severally) as the other part to Gods guidance (this is me digging at the hadithers!!)
“Everything comes from God” whatever meaning you arrive at or whatever meaning makes sense to you, God is the one who will guide you to the true meaning, as long as you seek it in sincerity, I feel you should do what you think is best for you as long as you remember the essence – God is one God – worship God alone. God is the only one that guides to the truth and may He guide us to the correct meaning, by His will.
Verse 14
Materials of this world are women, children, money, home wealth etc.
I remember when I was feeling very low and depressed and when I read this verse I felt a bit better because this for me re-inforces that marriage/children is not paramount to salvation neither is having children. As long as I live righteously and wholly believe in my creator and worship Him alone then all is well, Gw. Besides the best for me is at my Gods side and that is what I am after. “ The far better abode that is reserved at God”
However way I look at it, it is the best thing for me and Adetutu definitely knows that the right way is always the best way for her. No half measures about it.
Now don’t get me wrong here, I am not advocating celibacy and “monkism” or “nunnerism” because I don’t believe in that. I am enjoined to settle down as that is better for me (which I agree), but if perchance I cannot find the right person to settle with, I shall resort to patience and as best as I can as remain righteous Gw, my lord will provide for me as he knows what I am after what is best for me,
Verse 17
Qualities that are good to have being steadfast, humble, submitting, charitable, meditators at dawn
Verse 18
Statement of Fact again – There is only One God, The Almighty, Most Wise. This is the essence and declaration of faith.
Verse 19
Only religion approved by God is submission. Interesting because I guess this is what all messengers of God have been advocating. Submission to God’s will, to His laws.
It also goes to say that the people who received the scriptures (which may be the torah, gospel, statute book, quran) are the very ones who dispute this fact despite the knowledge they have received.
Verse 23
I like this verse: Some who were given the scripture and how they are invited to uphold this scripture and apply it to their lives – but some turn away in aversion.
Is this not what is happening? When we say Quran alone, they say that is nonsense; they say that it is the hadiths that they will follow. Well, go on follow hadiths now and see where that will end you. I don’t understand us, where God alone is not enough for people that they resort to getting guidance from other than God and His scriptures… God direct me to the straight path by his will.
Verse 24 (added 12/05/09)
I am after great lenght remembering what my malims used to tell us when we has quran lessons. in particular when i was re-reading this part it then dawned on me. What i remember was malim saying that for some people, on the DOJ, they will be punished for whatever sins they done bla bla bla i.e be thrown into hell but after a while, the prophet mohammed will then interceed for them and God will take them out of hell and into paradise. Or the other one that said on DOJ all humans will be grouped into lines of people and the rest is hazy but memory brings up 44 lines and like dat only one line of the 44 will go to paradise or only 44 lines will go to paradise or sumthing? go figure..
Verse 28
Believers never ally themselves with disbelievers instead of believers – So I guess it is a case of show me your friends and I will tell you who you are – Support believers over disbelievers.
Verse 30
Statement again – “Reverence God alone” I singled it out again after reading the verse. "God alerts you that you shall reverence Him alone" 12/05/09
Verse 32
Statement – “You shall obey God and the messenger” Whenever I see this I go, ok I understand what God is asking me to do. Obey Him and obey his messenger. I guess this is the part where most of us have tick with. Obey messenger does not mean copy his habits, his mannerisms and his action. We obey instructions, which is invariably the instructions of the Almighty and as such we are obeying the Almighty.
So what are the messengers asking us to do? They are relating Gods scriptures to us asking us to uphold them and to obey the commandments therein. This takes me to another part in the Quran where I think it says something like “ never would a messenger of God ask you to idolize him instead of God” See 3:79.
I feel what the messengers are asking us to do is to worship god and obey His laws. Obeying the messenger is obeying Gods laws, commandments and upholding Gods scriptures.
This also brings to mind the palava of the “hadiths” which people have collated as the sayings of one particular prophet. First why not collate sayings of the other messengers and prophets. At least we al agree that we have more than one messenger? Nest pas?
Then again these sayings are many and numerous each in itself contradicting themselves and also contradicting the Quran. Reported and post-reported speeches purporting to be that of the messengers, his habits and mannerisms…
I am quite sure, if there was one that said the messenger used to spank his wife’s butt after sex, quite a lot of us will do the same as well. In any case what do I know?
I only believe, that I cannot accept anything without verifying it for myself, and for me my Lord is my inspiration so anything anyone brings, if there is good in it, my Lord guide me to it, if not my lord will keep me away from it.
Verse 33
It translates for me that God has chosen Adam, Noah, Abraham and the family of Amram (as the lineage of messengers to the people)
See article “Hebrew manuscript of the Middle Ages” by Collette Sirat.
Verse 34
These above people belong in the same progeny i.e. they all come from the same genetic line
Verse 35-50
Wife of Amram dedicating her baby to god. This I guess starts the story of Mary, mother of Jesus. So Amram was Mary’s father. Also touches in Jesus and how he came to being which is partly Mary’s story
Also story of Zachariah who begat John – what happened and how God answered his prayers.
Verse 43.
This is of particular interest to me because of the part where I read: “submit to God and prostrate and bow down” this confirms that the process of salat/worship through prostration and bowing down is not a new phenomenon that was given to Mohammed. It was already established as I have read in the Quran and was practiced by Abraham, Moses.
Verse 51
Jesus said “Godi s my Lord and your Lord. you shall Worship Him (God) alone, this is the right path” is that not wonderful? So where did our brethrens start claiming that he is their saviour? Man and his account of history has a lot to play in all this misconception and we all have a lot to answer for ourselves. If only we can open our eyes, gw God will enlightenus that He alone is worthy of Praise and worship. It is not worship and praise of God via any Prophet/messenger but rather worship and praise of God via direct contact..
This part is also a good example for my explanations of verse 32. The messenger issued an instruction “ worship God alone” and as such we are to obey.
Verse 52-55
Story of the disciples of Jesus and some more on Jesus.
Verse 60
Statement – “This is the truth from your Lord, do not harbour any doubts”. Self-explanatory
Verse 61 12/05/09
is anyone willing to invoke such a curse on themselves.. lesson here is tolreance.. its is not about argueing that mine is the right way even though it may be, it is about asking God to enlighten us all and to guide us all to his path. for me, all dem hardline fanatics- my way or the highway- it is commendable but what if your way that you are porporting is the wrong way? and the highway is the right way? what then? makes one think. Rather surah 109:6 explains it beautifully when it says " To you is your religion and to to me is my religion" We are all racing to get Gods acceptance and to gain entry to paradise.. God is the only one who knows those who are on right path and those who serve Him.. I guess we all hope that We are included within Gods mercy and attain paradise.. At least i hope that.. what about you?.. remember God knows while we dont know..
Verse 62
Statement of fact – that the narration is one of the truth, also statement that there is no god except God.
Verse 64
This verse for me is about focusing on similarities and engaging in a mutual and logical agreement. We are all the same community and the only way we can get along is by conjoining similarities and sticking to that. Even within our purported sects… it is still the way we can be indivisible.
- Come to a logical agreement that we will worship God alone and never set up idols besides God nor set up any human beings as Lord beside God. - Think about this statement and reflect how it epitomizes what is happening in our world today.
Verse 65-67
We argue about the status of Gods messengers (this is what I feel is one of the driving wedges in our coming together) but interestingly we all share them together. Lets look at Abraham; we all share him in our 3 main religions done we? But can anyone of us say for sure that he is a Jew, Christian or Muslim? Can we? No we can’t!
So I can take it by my understanding that this verse says that we should not argue because the scriptures were revealed after him (though I read somewhere in quran where it mentions that Abraham was given a scripture as well - need to find more info if I can abut this) Why argue and make conjecture about what we don’t know?
All we know was that Abraham was a messenger of God, a prophet. So from this I can gather that being labeled Muslim, Jew/Christian isn’t the important thing. What is important is that like Abraham we all serve and worship one God, the Almighty Most Wise. “Abraham was never an idol worshipper.”
Verse 68
“People most worthy of Abraham are those who followed him” so for me this means the best example has been set by Abraham, who worshipped God alone. “ And this prophet”
This part I feel related to Mohammed himself, as he was a staunch worshipper of One God. All these additions we see today were done after Mohammed, not while he was alive.
Verse 73
Religion is not by compulsion! If they tell you to follow their religion before they believe – best reply is “ true guidance is Gods guidance”, Only God bestows His grace and guidance as He wills. It is not for me to say that I am guided or for you to say you are guided. Only God guides. May he guide us to the right path by His will.
Verse 79
This verse for me sums up all the factions/fractions/divisions/alliances that we have in all the worldly religions of today. “ Never would a prophet/messenger of God say to his people to idolize him instead of God. Instead he would say to devote yourself to God alone according to the scriptures you preach and the teachings you learn”
Let us be clear people, what we see today, is idolizing prophets and messengers and saints and whatever else we have. Because that is what it is. If the messengers themselves have advocated that we “devote ourselves to God alone according to the scriptures we preach and teachings we learn” where on earth did we start devoting ourselves to God according to the hadiths, where did we start letting human beings dictating how we serve god ad how we worship God, where did we start inventing laws and rules which clearly contradicts what is in the quran, where did we start dividing ourselves into sects and factions? Wo jare, this life Na wah!
Verse 80
Also says “ Nor would he command you to idolize the angels and prophets as Lords” So where did we get these habits from?
Verse 81
Messenger to come to confirm all existing scriptures
Verse 84
Belief in God and all His scriptures – mentions Abraham, Ishmael. Isaac, Jacob, the patriarch – what was given to Moses and Jesus: which I guess is the statute book, torah and Gospel – “ We make no distinctions among any of them, to God alone we are submitters” let us start thinking… for those of us who value some of our prophets above the others, for some of us who value some scripture above others?
Verse 92
I guess means you cannot attain righteousness till you sincerely give to charity from the possessions you love – important thing here
Verse 93
All food used to be lawful until Israel imposed certain prohibitions on themselves before the torah revealed.
Verse 95
You shall follow Abraham’s religion- worshipping one God- he was never an idolater. He was a monotheist.
Verse 97
Observe Hajj when you can afford it
Verse 100
Some people who received scripture, if you believe them, they will revert you to disbelief – for me I think that when you rely on people to form your belief, you end up being led astray- besides who is more apt to guide other than our creator?
Verse 101
This is in addition to the above, it goes on to say “ whoever holds onto God will be guided in the right path” – so can’t we all agree to stick by that, hold onto God alone, focus on our similarity – Quran and stick to that alone, let God inspire us and direct us to his path?
Verse 102
Statement – “Observe God as he should be observed” - and “do not die except as submitters” self-explanatory. Brings to mind what someone said Re: DOJ - what we are doing in this life is building up our souls for the DOJ when God and final truth is established. Should you loose your soul on that day then you have nothing and are left with nothing.
Verse 103
Statement - Hold onto God and do not be divided – his verse for me means even if we dispute on thins maybe out of interpretation or understanding, the best resolve is to hold onto God, because he is the only constant thing in our lives and reality. Besides with this as the only similarity amongst our differences we stand to become united.
Verse 108
Revelations in the quran truthful – I guess that is easy to understand and apply. “God does not wish hardship upon people” – I can take this part to mean – following God’s words, observing God as he should be observed, holding onto God is very simple.
(Simple but complicated for some of us because it is hard to grasp how easy it is to actually worship God because we have been doctrined into believing the most ridiculous complexities about God and about worship that actually grasping the simplicity of what the God asks us to do in Quran is almost a big task were in actual fact it is not.)
We are the ones who complicate the whole worship thing by adding to Gods words, when we should not be doing that… for example look at the ablution thing, in the Quran ablution is all about wash face, arms, wipe head and wash feet. But today its is wash hands three times, wash mouth three times, put water in nose, wash face, wash right arm three times, wash left arm three times, wipe head, wash ears, wash feet. Now tell me who ordered all these additional steps for us?? They will say the prophet? But how can the prophet go against God? Obviously that is impossible, because the prophet was ordered to uphold the same scriptures that were revealed to him as we are asked to do the same??
Na wah O!!
Advocate righteousness, forbid evil and believe in God.
Verse 110
From this verse I find it poignant that it doesn’t specify which community and which group of the followers of the scripture. It just says followers of the scripture – which to me looks at our community as a collective- So we all guilty peeps, no need to point fingers which most Muslims do by pointing at Christians and Jews and others.
Verse 112
Question for me here: Gods covenant, could it be referring to the one in Verse 81
Verse 113
Recite Gods revelations – Quran – through the night and fall prostrate – Good thing to do
Verse 118-120
RULE: don’t befriend those who wish you harm/want to see you suffer. It is plain simple advice, why dance butt naked in front of blazing fire?
Verse 125
Even at war, if your numbers are down, God will support you with His help. In a way this verse strengthens and reaffirms that God will be with those on the right, He will provide them with His support and help.
I remember a programme I watched about someone almost “vetoing” these extremist suicide bombers because according to my memory he says, “ we want to retaliate in kind and because their opponents weaponry is far superior to theirs, suicide seems the way to go” See how the evil are exposing themselves slowly…
BullShit!!! If you believe and you are in the right, you do not have to resort to petty tricks and wrong assumptions. You should resort to patience and trust in God. Even if you were one person fighting Gods support far outweighs your enemy by a million to one.
Verse 130
LAW: Shall not take usury. Observe God that you may succeed.
Let me pause here and talk about something that popped into my head. You know what I find interesting, Jews don’t accept Christianity but you see Christianity builds up on the old testament stuff which is what I think Judaism uphold.
Interesting thing for me is that Christianity doesn’t accept Islam but Islam builds up on Christianity stuff as well as Judaism stuff. It is sort of like with each revelation, the community doesn’t want to let go of what they feel is theirs and what they feel they have had and accept anything new. Interesting concept n’est pas?
Verse 132
Obey God and the messenger that you may attain mercy
Verse 133
Race towards forgiveness from your Lord and towards paradise
Verse 134-136
GOOD TRAITS: Give to charity in good and difficult times, try to suppress anger and pardon people, ask forgiveness for sins and don’t persist in sinning knowingly
Verse 139
You shall not waiver nor grieve. The believers are the ultimate victors. This verse strengthens my heart
Verse 142
Each one will be tested
Verse 145
No one dies except when his time is up. There is nothing like accidental death or mistake death. You go when you are meant to go.
Verse 175
It is the devils system to instill fear into his subject. Don’t fear the devil but fear God instead as He is the CREATOR. The devil has no real power only GOD has power for he is the LORD OF THE UNIVERSE.
I find this verse interesting because when we look at today’s systems, of converting and charming people into any religion, they do it with fear. Hell fire and brimstone fear which chills to the bone. But Gods system is simple, whether you do or you don’t do.
It is not coersion or by force, it is a conscious choice that one has to re-affirm each day and every night.
Verse 186
You will be tested. But perseverance and maintaining righteousness will prove the test of ones faith.
Verse 200
LAW: Shall be steadfast, shall persevere, shall be united and shall observe God
For translations go to http://www.submission.org/quran/webqt.php enter chapter number and compare up to six diff translations
Praise be to the Lord of the Universe.
Some people say the translation is: Amramites
So a couple of questions rose from me first of being who are the Amramites?
Google results says that they are descendants of the Amram people; who had the charge of the tabernacle, guarding the arc, table, candlesticks i.e. the treasures of the house of Yahweh – see numbers 3:27, Chronicles 26:23,22.
Verse 1
Letters Alif, Lam, Mim – Similar as in Baqrah and other Rum, Luqman etc
Verse 2
Statement of fact – There is no God except He – The Living, the Eternal. Which is for me the creed of our religion- oneness of God.
Verse 3-4
Confirmation that this scripture – Quran – is from God and also says that the scripture confirms all other scriptures – “and He sent down the Torah and Gospel and before that God sent the statute book”. Interesting that the torah and gospel
Question: What is the Statute Book?
Verse 6
God is the one who shapes in the womb as he wills – statement of fact for me.. There is no other God beside Him, The Almighty, Most wise.
All through the scripture is this theme, “La ilaha illa lahu”.. That is all it says, continually and re-affirmingly. Adding the attributes of the Most High to it… never any messenger or prophet.
Verse 7
In this scripture – Quran- there are straightforward verses and also states that they “ constitute the essence of the scripture”. So I guess straightforward verses are clear and concise in terms of intent and meaning.
In this scripture – Quran- There are multiple meaning/allegorical verses which says “those who harbour doubts in their hearts will pursue the multiple meaning verses to create confusion and to extricate a certain meaning” So to me, I guess that there are multiple meaning verses and they can mean more than one thing… “ No one knows the true meaning except God and those well founded in knowledge” God is the foundation of knowledge, which I wholly accept as a fact for me.
They say, “We believe in this, all of it comes from our Lord” So I guess again that this is the best approach to take as quran is a guiding scripture from God. Everything in is if from God, the most High. There is nothing like you accept one part while leaving another part of it… You cannot say that the quran is not complete because it is. I feel you cannot accept part of it and accept the reported hadiths (which in so many ways contradicts the quran severally) as the other part to Gods guidance (this is me digging at the hadithers!!)
“Everything comes from God” whatever meaning you arrive at or whatever meaning makes sense to you, God is the one who will guide you to the true meaning, as long as you seek it in sincerity, I feel you should do what you think is best for you as long as you remember the essence – God is one God – worship God alone. God is the only one that guides to the truth and may He guide us to the correct meaning, by His will.
Verse 14
Materials of this world are women, children, money, home wealth etc.
I remember when I was feeling very low and depressed and when I read this verse I felt a bit better because this for me re-inforces that marriage/children is not paramount to salvation neither is having children. As long as I live righteously and wholly believe in my creator and worship Him alone then all is well, Gw. Besides the best for me is at my Gods side and that is what I am after. “ The far better abode that is reserved at God”
However way I look at it, it is the best thing for me and Adetutu definitely knows that the right way is always the best way for her. No half measures about it.
Now don’t get me wrong here, I am not advocating celibacy and “monkism” or “nunnerism” because I don’t believe in that. I am enjoined to settle down as that is better for me (which I agree), but if perchance I cannot find the right person to settle with, I shall resort to patience and as best as I can as remain righteous Gw, my lord will provide for me as he knows what I am after what is best for me,
Verse 17
Qualities that are good to have being steadfast, humble, submitting, charitable, meditators at dawn
Verse 18
Statement of Fact again – There is only One God, The Almighty, Most Wise. This is the essence and declaration of faith.
Verse 19
Only religion approved by God is submission. Interesting because I guess this is what all messengers of God have been advocating. Submission to God’s will, to His laws.
It also goes to say that the people who received the scriptures (which may be the torah, gospel, statute book, quran) are the very ones who dispute this fact despite the knowledge they have received.
Verse 23
I like this verse: Some who were given the scripture and how they are invited to uphold this scripture and apply it to their lives – but some turn away in aversion.
Is this not what is happening? When we say Quran alone, they say that is nonsense; they say that it is the hadiths that they will follow. Well, go on follow hadiths now and see where that will end you. I don’t understand us, where God alone is not enough for people that they resort to getting guidance from other than God and His scriptures… God direct me to the straight path by his will.
Verse 24 (added 12/05/09)
I am after great lenght remembering what my malims used to tell us when we has quran lessons. in particular when i was re-reading this part it then dawned on me. What i remember was malim saying that for some people, on the DOJ, they will be punished for whatever sins they done bla bla bla i.e be thrown into hell but after a while, the prophet mohammed will then interceed for them and God will take them out of hell and into paradise. Or the other one that said on DOJ all humans will be grouped into lines of people and the rest is hazy but memory brings up 44 lines and like dat only one line of the 44 will go to paradise or only 44 lines will go to paradise or sumthing? go figure..
Verse 28
Believers never ally themselves with disbelievers instead of believers – So I guess it is a case of show me your friends and I will tell you who you are – Support believers over disbelievers.
Verse 30
Statement again – “Reverence God alone” I singled it out again after reading the verse. "God alerts you that you shall reverence Him alone" 12/05/09
Verse 32
Statement – “You shall obey God and the messenger” Whenever I see this I go, ok I understand what God is asking me to do. Obey Him and obey his messenger. I guess this is the part where most of us have tick with. Obey messenger does not mean copy his habits, his mannerisms and his action. We obey instructions, which is invariably the instructions of the Almighty and as such we are obeying the Almighty.
So what are the messengers asking us to do? They are relating Gods scriptures to us asking us to uphold them and to obey the commandments therein. This takes me to another part in the Quran where I think it says something like “ never would a messenger of God ask you to idolize him instead of God” See 3:79.
I feel what the messengers are asking us to do is to worship god and obey His laws. Obeying the messenger is obeying Gods laws, commandments and upholding Gods scriptures.
This also brings to mind the palava of the “hadiths” which people have collated as the sayings of one particular prophet. First why not collate sayings of the other messengers and prophets. At least we al agree that we have more than one messenger? Nest pas?
Then again these sayings are many and numerous each in itself contradicting themselves and also contradicting the Quran. Reported and post-reported speeches purporting to be that of the messengers, his habits and mannerisms…
I am quite sure, if there was one that said the messenger used to spank his wife’s butt after sex, quite a lot of us will do the same as well. In any case what do I know?
I only believe, that I cannot accept anything without verifying it for myself, and for me my Lord is my inspiration so anything anyone brings, if there is good in it, my Lord guide me to it, if not my lord will keep me away from it.
Verse 33
It translates for me that God has chosen Adam, Noah, Abraham and the family of Amram (as the lineage of messengers to the people)
See article “Hebrew manuscript of the Middle Ages” by Collette Sirat.
Verse 34
These above people belong in the same progeny i.e. they all come from the same genetic line
Verse 35-50
Wife of Amram dedicating her baby to god. This I guess starts the story of Mary, mother of Jesus. So Amram was Mary’s father. Also touches in Jesus and how he came to being which is partly Mary’s story
Also story of Zachariah who begat John – what happened and how God answered his prayers.
Verse 43.
This is of particular interest to me because of the part where I read: “submit to God and prostrate and bow down” this confirms that the process of salat/worship through prostration and bowing down is not a new phenomenon that was given to Mohammed. It was already established as I have read in the Quran and was practiced by Abraham, Moses.
Verse 51
Jesus said “Godi s my Lord and your Lord. you shall Worship Him (God) alone, this is the right path” is that not wonderful? So where did our brethrens start claiming that he is their saviour? Man and his account of history has a lot to play in all this misconception and we all have a lot to answer for ourselves. If only we can open our eyes, gw God will enlightenus that He alone is worthy of Praise and worship. It is not worship and praise of God via any Prophet/messenger but rather worship and praise of God via direct contact..
This part is also a good example for my explanations of verse 32. The messenger issued an instruction “ worship God alone” and as such we are to obey.
Verse 52-55
Story of the disciples of Jesus and some more on Jesus.
Verse 60
Statement – “This is the truth from your Lord, do not harbour any doubts”. Self-explanatory
Verse 61 12/05/09
is anyone willing to invoke such a curse on themselves.. lesson here is tolreance.. its is not about argueing that mine is the right way even though it may be, it is about asking God to enlighten us all and to guide us all to his path. for me, all dem hardline fanatics- my way or the highway- it is commendable but what if your way that you are porporting is the wrong way? and the highway is the right way? what then? makes one think. Rather surah 109:6 explains it beautifully when it says " To you is your religion and to to me is my religion" We are all racing to get Gods acceptance and to gain entry to paradise.. God is the only one who knows those who are on right path and those who serve Him.. I guess we all hope that We are included within Gods mercy and attain paradise.. At least i hope that.. what about you?.. remember God knows while we dont know..
Verse 62
Statement of fact – that the narration is one of the truth, also statement that there is no god except God.
Verse 64
This verse for me is about focusing on similarities and engaging in a mutual and logical agreement. We are all the same community and the only way we can get along is by conjoining similarities and sticking to that. Even within our purported sects… it is still the way we can be indivisible.
- Come to a logical agreement that we will worship God alone and never set up idols besides God nor set up any human beings as Lord beside God. - Think about this statement and reflect how it epitomizes what is happening in our world today.
Verse 65-67
We argue about the status of Gods messengers (this is what I feel is one of the driving wedges in our coming together) but interestingly we all share them together. Lets look at Abraham; we all share him in our 3 main religions done we? But can anyone of us say for sure that he is a Jew, Christian or Muslim? Can we? No we can’t!
So I can take it by my understanding that this verse says that we should not argue because the scriptures were revealed after him (though I read somewhere in quran where it mentions that Abraham was given a scripture as well - need to find more info if I can abut this) Why argue and make conjecture about what we don’t know?
All we know was that Abraham was a messenger of God, a prophet. So from this I can gather that being labeled Muslim, Jew/Christian isn’t the important thing. What is important is that like Abraham we all serve and worship one God, the Almighty Most Wise. “Abraham was never an idol worshipper.”
Verse 68
“People most worthy of Abraham are those who followed him” so for me this means the best example has been set by Abraham, who worshipped God alone. “ And this prophet”
This part I feel related to Mohammed himself, as he was a staunch worshipper of One God. All these additions we see today were done after Mohammed, not while he was alive.
Verse 73
Religion is not by compulsion! If they tell you to follow their religion before they believe – best reply is “ true guidance is Gods guidance”, Only God bestows His grace and guidance as He wills. It is not for me to say that I am guided or for you to say you are guided. Only God guides. May he guide us to the right path by His will.
Verse 79
This verse for me sums up all the factions/fractions/divisions/alliances that we have in all the worldly religions of today. “ Never would a prophet/messenger of God say to his people to idolize him instead of God. Instead he would say to devote yourself to God alone according to the scriptures you preach and the teachings you learn”
Let us be clear people, what we see today, is idolizing prophets and messengers and saints and whatever else we have. Because that is what it is. If the messengers themselves have advocated that we “devote ourselves to God alone according to the scriptures we preach and teachings we learn” where on earth did we start devoting ourselves to God according to the hadiths, where did we start letting human beings dictating how we serve god ad how we worship God, where did we start inventing laws and rules which clearly contradicts what is in the quran, where did we start dividing ourselves into sects and factions? Wo jare, this life Na wah!
Verse 80
Also says “ Nor would he command you to idolize the angels and prophets as Lords” So where did we get these habits from?
Verse 81
Messenger to come to confirm all existing scriptures
Verse 84
Belief in God and all His scriptures – mentions Abraham, Ishmael. Isaac, Jacob, the patriarch – what was given to Moses and Jesus: which I guess is the statute book, torah and Gospel – “ We make no distinctions among any of them, to God alone we are submitters” let us start thinking… for those of us who value some of our prophets above the others, for some of us who value some scripture above others?
Verse 92
I guess means you cannot attain righteousness till you sincerely give to charity from the possessions you love – important thing here
Verse 93
All food used to be lawful until Israel imposed certain prohibitions on themselves before the torah revealed.
Verse 95
You shall follow Abraham’s religion- worshipping one God- he was never an idolater. He was a monotheist.
Verse 97
Observe Hajj when you can afford it
Verse 100
Some people who received scripture, if you believe them, they will revert you to disbelief – for me I think that when you rely on people to form your belief, you end up being led astray- besides who is more apt to guide other than our creator?
Verse 101
This is in addition to the above, it goes on to say “ whoever holds onto God will be guided in the right path” – so can’t we all agree to stick by that, hold onto God alone, focus on our similarity – Quran and stick to that alone, let God inspire us and direct us to his path?
Verse 102
Statement – “Observe God as he should be observed” - and “do not die except as submitters” self-explanatory. Brings to mind what someone said Re: DOJ - what we are doing in this life is building up our souls for the DOJ when God and final truth is established. Should you loose your soul on that day then you have nothing and are left with nothing.
Verse 103
Statement - Hold onto God and do not be divided – his verse for me means even if we dispute on thins maybe out of interpretation or understanding, the best resolve is to hold onto God, because he is the only constant thing in our lives and reality. Besides with this as the only similarity amongst our differences we stand to become united.
Verse 108
Revelations in the quran truthful – I guess that is easy to understand and apply. “God does not wish hardship upon people” – I can take this part to mean – following God’s words, observing God as he should be observed, holding onto God is very simple.
(Simple but complicated for some of us because it is hard to grasp how easy it is to actually worship God because we have been doctrined into believing the most ridiculous complexities about God and about worship that actually grasping the simplicity of what the God asks us to do in Quran is almost a big task were in actual fact it is not.)
We are the ones who complicate the whole worship thing by adding to Gods words, when we should not be doing that… for example look at the ablution thing, in the Quran ablution is all about wash face, arms, wipe head and wash feet. But today its is wash hands three times, wash mouth three times, put water in nose, wash face, wash right arm three times, wash left arm three times, wipe head, wash ears, wash feet. Now tell me who ordered all these additional steps for us?? They will say the prophet? But how can the prophet go against God? Obviously that is impossible, because the prophet was ordered to uphold the same scriptures that were revealed to him as we are asked to do the same??
Na wah O!!
Advocate righteousness, forbid evil and believe in God.
Verse 110
From this verse I find it poignant that it doesn’t specify which community and which group of the followers of the scripture. It just says followers of the scripture – which to me looks at our community as a collective- So we all guilty peeps, no need to point fingers which most Muslims do by pointing at Christians and Jews and others.
Verse 112
Question for me here: Gods covenant, could it be referring to the one in Verse 81
Verse 113
Recite Gods revelations – Quran – through the night and fall prostrate – Good thing to do
Verse 118-120
RULE: don’t befriend those who wish you harm/want to see you suffer. It is plain simple advice, why dance butt naked in front of blazing fire?
Verse 125
Even at war, if your numbers are down, God will support you with His help. In a way this verse strengthens and reaffirms that God will be with those on the right, He will provide them with His support and help.
I remember a programme I watched about someone almost “vetoing” these extremist suicide bombers because according to my memory he says, “ we want to retaliate in kind and because their opponents weaponry is far superior to theirs, suicide seems the way to go” See how the evil are exposing themselves slowly…
BullShit!!! If you believe and you are in the right, you do not have to resort to petty tricks and wrong assumptions. You should resort to patience and trust in God. Even if you were one person fighting Gods support far outweighs your enemy by a million to one.
Verse 130
LAW: Shall not take usury. Observe God that you may succeed.
Let me pause here and talk about something that popped into my head. You know what I find interesting, Jews don’t accept Christianity but you see Christianity builds up on the old testament stuff which is what I think Judaism uphold.
Interesting thing for me is that Christianity doesn’t accept Islam but Islam builds up on Christianity stuff as well as Judaism stuff. It is sort of like with each revelation, the community doesn’t want to let go of what they feel is theirs and what they feel they have had and accept anything new. Interesting concept n’est pas?
Verse 132
Obey God and the messenger that you may attain mercy
Verse 133
Race towards forgiveness from your Lord and towards paradise
Verse 134-136
GOOD TRAITS: Give to charity in good and difficult times, try to suppress anger and pardon people, ask forgiveness for sins and don’t persist in sinning knowingly
Verse 139
You shall not waiver nor grieve. The believers are the ultimate victors. This verse strengthens my heart
Verse 142
Each one will be tested
Verse 145
No one dies except when his time is up. There is nothing like accidental death or mistake death. You go when you are meant to go.
Verse 175
It is the devils system to instill fear into his subject. Don’t fear the devil but fear God instead as He is the CREATOR. The devil has no real power only GOD has power for he is the LORD OF THE UNIVERSE.
I find this verse interesting because when we look at today’s systems, of converting and charming people into any religion, they do it with fear. Hell fire and brimstone fear which chills to the bone. But Gods system is simple, whether you do or you don’t do.
It is not coersion or by force, it is a conscious choice that one has to re-affirm each day and every night.
Verse 186
You will be tested. But perseverance and maintaining righteousness will prove the test of ones faith.
Verse 200
LAW: Shall be steadfast, shall persevere, shall be united and shall observe God
For translations go to http://www.submission.org/quran/webqt.php enter chapter number and compare up to six diff translations
Praise be to the Lord of the Universe.
Monday, 15 December 2008
chapter 30, my thoughts...
Transltion from http://www.submission.org/quran/webqt.php compare up to six different translations side by side
30:0
In the name of GOD, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
30:1
A. L. M.
30:2
Certainly, the Romans will be defeated.
30:3
In the nearest land. After their defeat, they will rise again and win.
30:4
Within several years. Such is God's decision, both in the first prophecy, and the second.
On that day, the believers shall rejoice
30:5
in GOD's victory. He grants victory to whomever He wills. He is the Almighty, Most Merciful.
30:6
Such is GOD's promise - and GOD never breaks His promise - but most people do not know.
30:7
They care only about things of this world that are visible to them, while being totally oblivious to the Hereafter.
30:8
Why do they not reflect on themselves? GOD did not create the heavens and the earth, and everything between them
except for a specific purpose, and for a specific life span. However, most people, with regard to meeting their
Lord, are disbelievers.
30:9
Have they not roamed the earth and noted the consequences for those who preceded them? They used to be more powerful
more prosperous, and more productive on earth. Their messengers went to them with clear signs. Consequently,
GOD was not the One who wronged them, they are the ones who wronged their own souls.
30:10
The consequences for those who committed evil had to be evil. That is because they rejected GOD's revelations,
and ridiculed them.
30:11
GOD is the One who initiates the creation and repeats it. Ultimately, you will be returned to Him.
30:12
On the Day when the Hour comes to pass, the guilty will be shocked.
30:13
Their idols will have no power to intercede on their behalf; on the contrary, they will disown their idols.
30:14
On the day when the Hour comes to pass, they will part company.
30:15
As for those who believe and lead a righteous life, they will be in Paradise, rejoicing.
30:16
As for those who disbelieve, and reject our revelations and the meeting of the Hereafter, they will last in
the retribution forever.
30:17
Therefore, you shall glorify GOD when you retire at night, and when you rise in the morning.
30:18
All praise is due to Him in the heavens and the earth, throughout the evening, as well as in the middle of your day.
30:19
He produces the live from the dead, and produces the dead from the live, and He revives the land after it
had died; you are similarly resurrected.
30:20
Among His proofs is that He created you from dust, then you became reproducing humans.
30:21
Among His proofs is that He created for you spouses from among yourselves, in order to have tranquillity
and contentment with each other, and He placed in your hearts love and care towards your spouses. In this,
there are sufficient proofs for people who think.
30:22
Among His proofs are the creation of the heavens and the earth, and the variations in your languages
and your colors. In these, there are signs for the knowledgeable.
30:23
Among His proofs is your sleeping during the night or the day, and your working in pursuit of His provisions.
In this, there are sufficient proofs for people who can hear.
30:24
Among His proofs is that He shows you the lightning as a source of fear, as well as hope, then He sends down
from the sky water to revive a land that has been dead. In these, there are sufficient proofs for people who
understand.
30:25
Among His proofs is that the heaven and the earth are standing at His disposal. Finally, when He calls you out
of the earth, one call, you will immediately come out.
30:26
To Him belongs everyone in the heavens and the earth; all are subservient to Him.
30:27
And He is the One who initiates the creation, then repeats it; this is even easier for Him. To Him belongs the
most sublime similitude, in the heavens and the earth, and He is the Almighty, Most Wise.
30:28
He cites for you herein an example from among yourselves: Do you ever elevate your servants or subordinates to
the level where they rival you, and to the point that you pay them as much allegiance as is being paid to you?
We thus explain the revelations for people who understand.
30:29
Indeed, the transgressors have followed their own opinions, without knowledge. Who then can guide those who have
been sent astray by GOD? No one can ever help them.
30:30
Therefore, you shall devote yourself to the religion of strict monotheism. Such is the natural instinct placed
into the people by GOD. Such creation of GOD will never change. This is the perfect religion, but most people
do not know.
30:31
You shall submit to Him, reverence Him, observe the Contact Prayers (Salat), and - whatever you do - do not ever
fall into idol worship.
30:32
(Do not fall in idol worship,) like those who divide their religion into sects; each party rejoicing with what
they have.
30:33
When adversity afflicts the people, they turn to their Lord, totally devoting themselves to Him. But then,
as soon as He showers them with mercy, some of them revert to idol worship.
30:34
Let them be unappreciative of what we have given them. Enjoy temporarily; you will surely find out.
30:35
Have we given them authorization that justifies their idolatry?
30:36
When we bestow mercy upon the people, they rejoice therein. But when adversity befalls them, as a consequence
of their own works, they become despondent.
30:37
Do they not realize that GOD increases the provision for whomever He wills, or reduces it? These should be
lessons for people who believe.
30:38
Therefore, you shall give the relatives their rightful share (of charity), as well as the poor, and the
traveling alien. This is better for those who sincerely seek GOD's pleasure; they are the winners.
30:39
The usury that is practiced to increase some people's wealth, does not gain anything at GOD. But if you
give to charity, seeking GOD's pleasure, these are the ones who receive their reward manifold.
30:40
GOD is the One who created you. He is the One who provides for you. He is the One who puts you to death.
He is the One who resurrects you. Can any of your idols do any of these things? Be He glorified. He is
much too exalted to have any partners.
30:41
Disasters have spread throughout the land and sea, because of what the people have committed. He thus
lets them taste the consequences of some of their works, that they may return (to the right works).
30:42
Say, "Roam the earth and note the consequences for those before you." Most of them were idol worshipers.
30:43
Therefore, you shall devote yourself completely to this perfect religion, before a day comes which is
made inevitable by GOD. On that day, they will be shocked.
30:44
Whoever disbelieves, disbelieves to the detriment of his own soul, while those who lead a righteous life,
do so to strengthen and develop their own souls.
30:45
For He will generously recompense those who believe and lead a righteous life from His bounties. He does
not love the disbelievers.
30:46
Among His proofs is that He sends the winds with good omen, to shower you with His mercy, and to allow
the ships to run in the sea in accordance with His rules, and for you to seek His bounties (through commerce),
that you may be appreciative.
30:47
We have sent messengers before you to their people, with profound signs. Subsequently, we punished those
who transgressed. It is our duty that we grant victory to the believers.
30:48
GOD is the One who sends the winds, to stir up clouds, to be spread throughout the sky in accordance with
His will. He then piles the clouds up, then you see the rain coming down therefrom. When it falls on whomever
He chooses from among His servants, they rejoice.
30:49
Before it fell on them, they had resorted to despair.
30:50
You shall appreciate GOD's continuous mercy, and how He revives the land that has been dead. He will just
as certainly resurrect the dead. He is Omnipotent.
30:51
Had we sent upon them instead a yellow sandstorm, they would have continued to disbelieve.
30:52
You cannot make the dead, nor the deaf, hear the call, once they turn away.
30:53
Nor can you guide the blind out of their straying. You can only be heard by those who believe in our revelations,
and decide to become submitters.
30:54
GOD is the One who created you weak, then granted you after the weakness strength, then substituted after the
strength weakness and gray hair. He creates whatever He wills. He is the Omniscient, the Omnipotent.
30:55
On the day when the Hour comes to pass, the guilty will swear that they lasted (in this world) only one hour.
That is how wrong they were.
30:56
Those who are blessed with knowledge and faith will say, "You have lasted, according to GOD's decree, until
the Day of Resurrection. Now, this is the Day of Resurrection, but you failed to recognize it."
30:57
Therefore, no apology, on that day, will benefit the transgressors, nor will they be excused.
30:58
Thus, we have cited for the people in this Quran all kinds of examples. Yet, no matter what kind of proof
you present to the disbelievers, they say, "You are falsifiers."
30:59
GOD thus seals the hearts of those who do not know.
30:60
Therefore, you shall steadfastly persevere - for GOD's promise is the truth - and do not be intimidated
by those who have not attained certainty.
========================================================================================
This is what I am perchance to be reading this month and some of its verses stopped me dead and made me consider some things
you see, when i read, i like to circle things that outwardly jumps at me for reference sake and also so that i can mull over it,
and in reading this chapter a couple of things that i don't understand....
the first of these is the first 4 verses... the one about Rome.... now there are some times when i consider things to be important and
there are some times when i don't... This verse i don't understand purely because i am not too clear what happened in the "Roman era"
so i am not going to make any conjecture about it...
sometimes i feel , some things concern me and others dont... The ones that do - i will worry about them.. and the ones that don't - " you have guessed my reply"
Verse 5 and 6 are pretty self explanatory for me as God's victory will always be established as it always has been as is Gods' promise, for "His word will always come to pass"
Verse 6-7 got me thinking about myself, and about people... the saying " care only about things of this world that are visible to them, while being totally oblivious to the Hereafter"
is interesting because in reality it is true... We only focus on the things of this life, family, children, money, career, friends while not being concerned of the things of the after life...
these things, money, friends and family etc. have no weight or relevance in the hereafter and as such i wonder why we seek these things...
It is hard, i know and it is only with clear mind and focus that one can seek to live this life as we have it... because the trappings are many and temptous...
but we don't realise that it is as such... The Christians say something like "the poor will inherit the earth" and this statement
is indicative of this need by us to acquire all these trappings which - believe it or not - are the same things that may tempt us from the path of the Most high..
it is all a balance i guess, as long as one is clear that priority lies with God first and foremost and everything comes second...
you have money, you seek money, this involved spending time, calculating time , loads of money can lead to other things, this also tempts you from the path of god, The search of the money also when you haven't got it may make you do things that under normal
circumstances you wont even consider
you have friends, they need your time, need your attention, want you to go out with them, socialise which in itself may lead you off the path of the most high, you are in their company, things are said, tongues are loosened.. beliefs are lost in hope of
preserving friendships... is that being true to the most high???
You have family, this very family will test you, they want your attention, you need to look after them, these things which will take time and energy, time that can be devoted to God...
You have family, children, husband/wife that wants your time, house needs grooming, food needs organising, children needs tending to... all these takes time and may lead you off the path of the most high... husband/wife needs tlc, needs cuddling, needs love making
needs us time... time that can be better spent in the cause of the most high... you know one should be careful of what they wish for because the everything that you seek may be the very thing that costs you your soul... and as such, I in myself ask the most
High to provide for me that which is good for me from Him, in the time that befits me... as only He will know that
Verse 8-16
these verses are clear as well in itself. God asks us to believe and lead righteous lives... its not about what religion that you belong to, because I am getting here that it dont matter... believe and lead a righteous life!!
The consequences of not doing that is loosing your soul in the hereafter, which some people call "eternal damnation"
Verse 17-18
this verse jumped out at me because it relates to praising and glorifying God..
the first part starts glorify God when you retire at night and when you rise in the morning and the second part goes praise God throughout the evening as well as in the middle of your day.
Glory be to God!! why so i smirk... well its because of this prayer thing... what i have found as per my own reading is the 3 prayers as i have already mentioned... and for me prayer is before sunrise, from the sun's decline at highest point as it approaches
sunset and just after sunset... At night what we are asked to do is to meditate on god...
this is what i feel it has mentioned here... glorify God when you retire at night - meditate on god, read Quran and generally praise God... remember the verse where it says at night we should be saying " My Lord admit me a honourable admittance and let me
depart a honourable departure and grant me from thee a powerful support"
" During the night, you shall meditate for extra credit, that your lord may raise you to a honourable rank
And say, "My lord admit me an honourable admittance and let me depart an honourable departure and grant me from you a powerful support"
Proclaim - Truth has prevailed and falsehood has vanished; falsehood will inevitably vanish. (17:80-81)
Glorifying God when you rise: this is the morning prayer/fajr prayer
Praising God in evening: this is the after sunset before the advent of darkness
Both earlier statements are linked via surah 11:14 ""You shall observe the contact prayers at both ends of the daylight, that is, during the adjacent hours of the night. . . " ( bearing in mind that this surah is a bone of contention amongst us all in terms of
interpreting... but for me this here one logifies it for me..)
Praising God in middle of day is linked via surah 2:238 "You shall consistently observe the contact prayers, especially the MIDDLE PRAYER, and devote yourselves totally to God." .
as is all linked by 20:130 "Therefore, be patient in the face of their utterances, and praise and glorify your Lord before sunrise and before sunset. And during the night glorify Him, as well as at both ends of the day, that you may be happy". I have a different thought to this whole thing
This life, fraught with everything... I find it interesting and perplexing... God guide us to the straight path
Verse 18-20
Self explanatory..
Verse21
i find this verse poignant.... probably because i have just seen a bollywood movie "rab ne bana di Jodi" which delved into intricacies on "own choice marriage" and "arranged marriage"
"Among His proofs is that He created for you spouses from among yourselves, in order to have tranquillity and contentment with each other, and He placed in your hearts love and care towards your spouses. In this, there are sufficient proofs for people who think"
interesting choice....in the film it was an arranged marriage however from that it blossomed or turned into a love marriage... God in His wonders eh!!!.
Verse 22-27
Self explanatory for me
Verse 28
"He cites for you herein an example from among yourselves: Do you ever elevate your servants or subordinates to the level where they rival you, and to the point that you pay them as much allegiance as is being paid to you?
We thus explain the revelations for people who understand"
This here verse stopped me in my tracks.... I went click!! click!! click!!!. lets look at it in the light of "God plus mohammed" and "God plus Jesus" debacle. From my earlier notes, I have stood that it is God alone, and not God plus anybody... (
" God be Glorified far above having any partners or allies" )
Mohammed and Jesus and anyone else for that matter are Gods servants, messengers, whatever term you want to look at it...
Now first apply the statement on the verse you yourself... and then look at it in the lines of the "God alone" and "God plus" palaver??
ha ha ha ha ha ha ha
this one made me laugh... here we are trying to tell people about God alone, where the Quran specifically states God alone, Where i feel it is clear God alone, and here it in black and white in "allegory terms" for us to ponder.
because Yes, what is our community doing .... we are upholding these messengers, these servants to the level of our creator... and it should not be... should it... whereby that we cannot say a prayer to our creator without
"paying allegiance to a prophet/saint/whatever" in hope that our prayers may be answered... which should not be should it...
Does the Quran not state that there is no intercession unless it coincides with the will of the Almighty... how can there be anyways... logic here please. these people that we want to intercede for us don't even know us, haven't smelt us, haven't dealt with us... so how can
they know if our heart is pure or not... I state again God holds all authority in this life and here after Forever, let us be clear it is all about God alone...
You have God and you have servant... but we praise servant and love servant much more than we love God... and i defy anyone who realises within himself to tell me that what i am saying is wrong!!! because that is what we are doing both Christians who feel
Jesus is their saviour and light and the Muslims who feel Mohammed will save them and intercede for them...
Verse 29-32
Self explanatory and is indicative of what is happening in our community today...
"Devote yourself to strict monotheism" - God alone??? has it sunk in yet...
"Do not ever fall into idol worship" - Anything beside God is idol worship... is it still sinking in...
"like those who divide religion into sects, each party rejoicing in what they had" - is that not what we have now... Christian _ Anglican,. Baptist Pentecostal, Jews, orthodox, unorthodox, Muslims shia, Sunni, Zoroastrians etc... laughing my head out loud..
Verse 33-37
thought provoking stuff here... but self explanatory
Verse 38
talks about charity and giving, relatives, poor and the travelling alien.... for me this makes me think... how do i give relatives share of charity... except those that probably ask for it... ( which is a hard fete because i purposely run away from family members and
their wahala you know... will have to stop doing that...) how easy is it to just go up there and say here take this money... wouldn't they be offended? probably easier for the children because as is with our culture, you generally give young children stuff... hmmm i have
to ponder this one still.. God help me... also same applied to where i live in terms of poor... other than those visible people looking for alms, its is not as prevalent as in for instance Nigeria.... other than maybe the charity organisations that collect for
poor like Oxfam or something like that....
and where does one find a travelling alien/wayfarer: expect for by the grace of God obviously... hmmm. travelling alien.... hmmm ponder for thought
Verse 39-51
Self explanatory
Verse 52-57
interesting aint it....
Verse 58
All proof that worship is about God is in the Quran, yet people don't want to accept... when even in the quran itself there is no phenomenon like "God plus" but they still will not accept it..
they choose to look outside the word of God to find their additions, which takes us from the path of God... hmmm. in itself this is a big pondering...
When God alone is not enuff that you seek to take guidance from man... when Gods scripture is not enough that we seek to take guidance from people,
When we don't trust that God can inspire you to the meaning of His words that you seek inspiration from people and when we don't trust that God can guide us to his path that we seek guidance from our fellow man, when we don't believe that to God belongs all
control that we fear our other man, that we deify man as saviour as guardian...
Verse 59-60
for me a perfect ending will be, My Lord, allow me to be appreciative of the blessing that you have bestowed upon me., inspire me by thy will to remember thee always, to praise thee and glorify thee.
Grant me from thee your support and help, that evermore i be tied to thee with bonds so strong, that wherever whatever, regardless of the situation the only thing from my lips be " Praise be to the lord of the universe"
30:0
In the name of GOD, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
30:1
A. L. M.
30:2
Certainly, the Romans will be defeated.
30:3
In the nearest land. After their defeat, they will rise again and win.
30:4
Within several years. Such is God's decision, both in the first prophecy, and the second.
On that day, the believers shall rejoice
30:5
in GOD's victory. He grants victory to whomever He wills. He is the Almighty, Most Merciful.
30:6
Such is GOD's promise - and GOD never breaks His promise - but most people do not know.
30:7
They care only about things of this world that are visible to them, while being totally oblivious to the Hereafter.
30:8
Why do they not reflect on themselves? GOD did not create the heavens and the earth, and everything between them
except for a specific purpose, and for a specific life span. However, most people, with regard to meeting their
Lord, are disbelievers.
30:9
Have they not roamed the earth and noted the consequences for those who preceded them? They used to be more powerful
more prosperous, and more productive on earth. Their messengers went to them with clear signs. Consequently,
GOD was not the One who wronged them, they are the ones who wronged their own souls.
30:10
The consequences for those who committed evil had to be evil. That is because they rejected GOD's revelations,
and ridiculed them.
30:11
GOD is the One who initiates the creation and repeats it. Ultimately, you will be returned to Him.
30:12
On the Day when the Hour comes to pass, the guilty will be shocked.
30:13
Their idols will have no power to intercede on their behalf; on the contrary, they will disown their idols.
30:14
On the day when the Hour comes to pass, they will part company.
30:15
As for those who believe and lead a righteous life, they will be in Paradise, rejoicing.
30:16
As for those who disbelieve, and reject our revelations and the meeting of the Hereafter, they will last in
the retribution forever.
30:17
Therefore, you shall glorify GOD when you retire at night, and when you rise in the morning.
30:18
All praise is due to Him in the heavens and the earth, throughout the evening, as well as in the middle of your day.
30:19
He produces the live from the dead, and produces the dead from the live, and He revives the land after it
had died; you are similarly resurrected.
30:20
Among His proofs is that He created you from dust, then you became reproducing humans.
30:21
Among His proofs is that He created for you spouses from among yourselves, in order to have tranquillity
and contentment with each other, and He placed in your hearts love and care towards your spouses. In this,
there are sufficient proofs for people who think.
30:22
Among His proofs are the creation of the heavens and the earth, and the variations in your languages
and your colors. In these, there are signs for the knowledgeable.
30:23
Among His proofs is your sleeping during the night or the day, and your working in pursuit of His provisions.
In this, there are sufficient proofs for people who can hear.
30:24
Among His proofs is that He shows you the lightning as a source of fear, as well as hope, then He sends down
from the sky water to revive a land that has been dead. In these, there are sufficient proofs for people who
understand.
30:25
Among His proofs is that the heaven and the earth are standing at His disposal. Finally, when He calls you out
of the earth, one call, you will immediately come out.
30:26
To Him belongs everyone in the heavens and the earth; all are subservient to Him.
30:27
And He is the One who initiates the creation, then repeats it; this is even easier for Him. To Him belongs the
most sublime similitude, in the heavens and the earth, and He is the Almighty, Most Wise.
30:28
He cites for you herein an example from among yourselves: Do you ever elevate your servants or subordinates to
the level where they rival you, and to the point that you pay them as much allegiance as is being paid to you?
We thus explain the revelations for people who understand.
30:29
Indeed, the transgressors have followed their own opinions, without knowledge. Who then can guide those who have
been sent astray by GOD? No one can ever help them.
30:30
Therefore, you shall devote yourself to the religion of strict monotheism. Such is the natural instinct placed
into the people by GOD. Such creation of GOD will never change. This is the perfect religion, but most people
do not know.
30:31
You shall submit to Him, reverence Him, observe the Contact Prayers (Salat), and - whatever you do - do not ever
fall into idol worship.
30:32
(Do not fall in idol worship,) like those who divide their religion into sects; each party rejoicing with what
they have.
30:33
When adversity afflicts the people, they turn to their Lord, totally devoting themselves to Him. But then,
as soon as He showers them with mercy, some of them revert to idol worship.
30:34
Let them be unappreciative of what we have given them. Enjoy temporarily; you will surely find out.
30:35
Have we given them authorization that justifies their idolatry?
30:36
When we bestow mercy upon the people, they rejoice therein. But when adversity befalls them, as a consequence
of their own works, they become despondent.
30:37
Do they not realize that GOD increases the provision for whomever He wills, or reduces it? These should be
lessons for people who believe.
30:38
Therefore, you shall give the relatives their rightful share (of charity), as well as the poor, and the
traveling alien. This is better for those who sincerely seek GOD's pleasure; they are the winners.
30:39
The usury that is practiced to increase some people's wealth, does not gain anything at GOD. But if you
give to charity, seeking GOD's pleasure, these are the ones who receive their reward manifold.
30:40
GOD is the One who created you. He is the One who provides for you. He is the One who puts you to death.
He is the One who resurrects you. Can any of your idols do any of these things? Be He glorified. He is
much too exalted to have any partners.
30:41
Disasters have spread throughout the land and sea, because of what the people have committed. He thus
lets them taste the consequences of some of their works, that they may return (to the right works).
30:42
Say, "Roam the earth and note the consequences for those before you." Most of them were idol worshipers.
30:43
Therefore, you shall devote yourself completely to this perfect religion, before a day comes which is
made inevitable by GOD. On that day, they will be shocked.
30:44
Whoever disbelieves, disbelieves to the detriment of his own soul, while those who lead a righteous life,
do so to strengthen and develop their own souls.
30:45
For He will generously recompense those who believe and lead a righteous life from His bounties. He does
not love the disbelievers.
30:46
Among His proofs is that He sends the winds with good omen, to shower you with His mercy, and to allow
the ships to run in the sea in accordance with His rules, and for you to seek His bounties (through commerce),
that you may be appreciative.
30:47
We have sent messengers before you to their people, with profound signs. Subsequently, we punished those
who transgressed. It is our duty that we grant victory to the believers.
30:48
GOD is the One who sends the winds, to stir up clouds, to be spread throughout the sky in accordance with
His will. He then piles the clouds up, then you see the rain coming down therefrom. When it falls on whomever
He chooses from among His servants, they rejoice.
30:49
Before it fell on them, they had resorted to despair.
30:50
You shall appreciate GOD's continuous mercy, and how He revives the land that has been dead. He will just
as certainly resurrect the dead. He is Omnipotent.
30:51
Had we sent upon them instead a yellow sandstorm, they would have continued to disbelieve.
30:52
You cannot make the dead, nor the deaf, hear the call, once they turn away.
30:53
Nor can you guide the blind out of their straying. You can only be heard by those who believe in our revelations,
and decide to become submitters.
30:54
GOD is the One who created you weak, then granted you after the weakness strength, then substituted after the
strength weakness and gray hair. He creates whatever He wills. He is the Omniscient, the Omnipotent.
30:55
On the day when the Hour comes to pass, the guilty will swear that they lasted (in this world) only one hour.
That is how wrong they were.
30:56
Those who are blessed with knowledge and faith will say, "You have lasted, according to GOD's decree, until
the Day of Resurrection. Now, this is the Day of Resurrection, but you failed to recognize it."
30:57
Therefore, no apology, on that day, will benefit the transgressors, nor will they be excused.
30:58
Thus, we have cited for the people in this Quran all kinds of examples. Yet, no matter what kind of proof
you present to the disbelievers, they say, "You are falsifiers."
30:59
GOD thus seals the hearts of those who do not know.
30:60
Therefore, you shall steadfastly persevere - for GOD's promise is the truth - and do not be intimidated
by those who have not attained certainty.
========================================================================================
This is what I am perchance to be reading this month and some of its verses stopped me dead and made me consider some things
you see, when i read, i like to circle things that outwardly jumps at me for reference sake and also so that i can mull over it,
and in reading this chapter a couple of things that i don't understand....
the first of these is the first 4 verses... the one about Rome.... now there are some times when i consider things to be important and
there are some times when i don't... This verse i don't understand purely because i am not too clear what happened in the "Roman era"
so i am not going to make any conjecture about it...
sometimes i feel , some things concern me and others dont... The ones that do - i will worry about them.. and the ones that don't - " you have guessed my reply"
Verse 5 and 6 are pretty self explanatory for me as God's victory will always be established as it always has been as is Gods' promise, for "His word will always come to pass"
Verse 6-7 got me thinking about myself, and about people... the saying " care only about things of this world that are visible to them, while being totally oblivious to the Hereafter"
is interesting because in reality it is true... We only focus on the things of this life, family, children, money, career, friends while not being concerned of the things of the after life...
these things, money, friends and family etc. have no weight or relevance in the hereafter and as such i wonder why we seek these things...
It is hard, i know and it is only with clear mind and focus that one can seek to live this life as we have it... because the trappings are many and temptous...
but we don't realise that it is as such... The Christians say something like "the poor will inherit the earth" and this statement
is indicative of this need by us to acquire all these trappings which - believe it or not - are the same things that may tempt us from the path of the Most high..
it is all a balance i guess, as long as one is clear that priority lies with God first and foremost and everything comes second...
you have money, you seek money, this involved spending time, calculating time , loads of money can lead to other things, this also tempts you from the path of god, The search of the money also when you haven't got it may make you do things that under normal
circumstances you wont even consider
you have friends, they need your time, need your attention, want you to go out with them, socialise which in itself may lead you off the path of the most high, you are in their company, things are said, tongues are loosened.. beliefs are lost in hope of
preserving friendships... is that being true to the most high???
You have family, this very family will test you, they want your attention, you need to look after them, these things which will take time and energy, time that can be devoted to God...
You have family, children, husband/wife that wants your time, house needs grooming, food needs organising, children needs tending to... all these takes time and may lead you off the path of the most high... husband/wife needs tlc, needs cuddling, needs love making
needs us time... time that can be better spent in the cause of the most high... you know one should be careful of what they wish for because the everything that you seek may be the very thing that costs you your soul... and as such, I in myself ask the most
High to provide for me that which is good for me from Him, in the time that befits me... as only He will know that
Verse 8-16
these verses are clear as well in itself. God asks us to believe and lead righteous lives... its not about what religion that you belong to, because I am getting here that it dont matter... believe and lead a righteous life!!
The consequences of not doing that is loosing your soul in the hereafter, which some people call "eternal damnation"
Verse 17-18
this verse jumped out at me because it relates to praising and glorifying God..
the first part starts glorify God when you retire at night and when you rise in the morning and the second part goes praise God throughout the evening as well as in the middle of your day.
Glory be to God!! why so i smirk... well its because of this prayer thing... what i have found as per my own reading is the 3 prayers as i have already mentioned... and for me prayer is before sunrise, from the sun's decline at highest point as it approaches
sunset and just after sunset... At night what we are asked to do is to meditate on god...
this is what i feel it has mentioned here... glorify God when you retire at night - meditate on god, read Quran and generally praise God... remember the verse where it says at night we should be saying " My Lord admit me a honourable admittance and let me
depart a honourable departure and grant me from thee a powerful support"
" During the night, you shall meditate for extra credit, that your lord may raise you to a honourable rank
And say, "My lord admit me an honourable admittance and let me depart an honourable departure and grant me from you a powerful support"
Proclaim - Truth has prevailed and falsehood has vanished; falsehood will inevitably vanish. (17:80-81)
Glorifying God when you rise: this is the morning prayer/fajr prayer
Praising God in evening: this is the after sunset before the advent of darkness
Both earlier statements are linked via surah 11:14 ""You shall observe the contact prayers at both ends of the daylight, that is, during the adjacent hours of the night. . . " ( bearing in mind that this surah is a bone of contention amongst us all in terms of
interpreting... but for me this here one logifies it for me..)
Praising God in middle of day is linked via surah 2:238 "You shall consistently observe the contact prayers, especially the MIDDLE PRAYER, and devote yourselves totally to God." .
as is all linked by 20:130 "Therefore, be patient in the face of their utterances, and praise and glorify your Lord before sunrise and before sunset. And during the night glorify Him, as well as at both ends of the day, that you may be happy". I have a different thought to this whole thing
This life, fraught with everything... I find it interesting and perplexing... God guide us to the straight path
Verse 18-20
Self explanatory..
Verse21
i find this verse poignant.... probably because i have just seen a bollywood movie "rab ne bana di Jodi" which delved into intricacies on "own choice marriage" and "arranged marriage"
"Among His proofs is that He created for you spouses from among yourselves, in order to have tranquillity and contentment with each other, and He placed in your hearts love and care towards your spouses. In this, there are sufficient proofs for people who think"
interesting choice....in the film it was an arranged marriage however from that it blossomed or turned into a love marriage... God in His wonders eh!!!.
Verse 22-27
Self explanatory for me
Verse 28
"He cites for you herein an example from among yourselves: Do you ever elevate your servants or subordinates to the level where they rival you, and to the point that you pay them as much allegiance as is being paid to you?
We thus explain the revelations for people who understand"
This here verse stopped me in my tracks.... I went click!! click!! click!!!. lets look at it in the light of "God plus mohammed" and "God plus Jesus" debacle. From my earlier notes, I have stood that it is God alone, and not God plus anybody... (
" God be Glorified far above having any partners or allies" )
Mohammed and Jesus and anyone else for that matter are Gods servants, messengers, whatever term you want to look at it...
Now first apply the statement on the verse you yourself... and then look at it in the lines of the "God alone" and "God plus" palaver??
ha ha ha ha ha ha ha
this one made me laugh... here we are trying to tell people about God alone, where the Quran specifically states God alone, Where i feel it is clear God alone, and here it in black and white in "allegory terms" for us to ponder.
because Yes, what is our community doing .... we are upholding these messengers, these servants to the level of our creator... and it should not be... should it... whereby that we cannot say a prayer to our creator without
"paying allegiance to a prophet/saint/whatever" in hope that our prayers may be answered... which should not be should it...
Does the Quran not state that there is no intercession unless it coincides with the will of the Almighty... how can there be anyways... logic here please. these people that we want to intercede for us don't even know us, haven't smelt us, haven't dealt with us... so how can
they know if our heart is pure or not... I state again God holds all authority in this life and here after Forever, let us be clear it is all about God alone...
You have God and you have servant... but we praise servant and love servant much more than we love God... and i defy anyone who realises within himself to tell me that what i am saying is wrong!!! because that is what we are doing both Christians who feel
Jesus is their saviour and light and the Muslims who feel Mohammed will save them and intercede for them...
Verse 29-32
Self explanatory and is indicative of what is happening in our community today...
"Devote yourself to strict monotheism" - God alone??? has it sunk in yet...
"Do not ever fall into idol worship" - Anything beside God is idol worship... is it still sinking in...
"like those who divide religion into sects, each party rejoicing in what they had" - is that not what we have now... Christian _ Anglican,. Baptist Pentecostal, Jews, orthodox, unorthodox, Muslims shia, Sunni, Zoroastrians etc... laughing my head out loud..
Verse 33-37
thought provoking stuff here... but self explanatory
Verse 38
talks about charity and giving, relatives, poor and the travelling alien.... for me this makes me think... how do i give relatives share of charity... except those that probably ask for it... ( which is a hard fete because i purposely run away from family members and
their wahala you know... will have to stop doing that...) how easy is it to just go up there and say here take this money... wouldn't they be offended? probably easier for the children because as is with our culture, you generally give young children stuff... hmmm i have
to ponder this one still.. God help me... also same applied to where i live in terms of poor... other than those visible people looking for alms, its is not as prevalent as in for instance Nigeria.... other than maybe the charity organisations that collect for
poor like Oxfam or something like that....
and where does one find a travelling alien/wayfarer: expect for by the grace of God obviously... hmmm. travelling alien.... hmmm ponder for thought
Verse 39-51
Self explanatory
Verse 52-57
interesting aint it....
Verse 58
All proof that worship is about God is in the Quran, yet people don't want to accept... when even in the quran itself there is no phenomenon like "God plus" but they still will not accept it..
they choose to look outside the word of God to find their additions, which takes us from the path of God... hmmm. in itself this is a big pondering...
When God alone is not enuff that you seek to take guidance from man... when Gods scripture is not enough that we seek to take guidance from people,
When we don't trust that God can inspire you to the meaning of His words that you seek inspiration from people and when we don't trust that God can guide us to his path that we seek guidance from our fellow man, when we don't believe that to God belongs all
control that we fear our other man, that we deify man as saviour as guardian...
Verse 59-60
for me a perfect ending will be, My Lord, allow me to be appreciative of the blessing that you have bestowed upon me., inspire me by thy will to remember thee always, to praise thee and glorify thee.
Grant me from thee your support and help, that evermore i be tied to thee with bonds so strong, that wherever whatever, regardless of the situation the only thing from my lips be " Praise be to the lord of the universe"
Thursday, 11 December 2008
someone posted this in 2007.... i came across ti today and yes it makes sense... future through unity,,, future through holding to God only....
http://my.opera.com/Quran/blog/2007/10/11/quran-muslim-community
Quran - Muslim Community
Thursday, 11. October 2007, 07:58:39
Muslim Community
Many individuals come together to make a community. An Islamic life is to live as a community. To stay dispersed and to pursue ones own advantages and self interest is not the life of the Muslim, who has submitted to God. The question now arises that how can different individuals become one single community? How can separate Muslims be woven into the single fabric of an Islamic community? We may look at the pivotal point and make clear the direction towards it. Have you ever seen a football match? Of course you have. On each side there are 11 players positioned around one half of the pitch. Some are at the back, some at the front and others in the center. Others are at the left and right and one can be seen standing alone behind them all. They are all spread out as if they have no connection with one another. The ball is placed in the center and a whistle is blown. The previously dispersed players start running very fast. A strange commotion takes place. Now we can see a game taking shape and in this bustle we observe a unique phenomenon. The player who is nearest to the ball makes every effort to direct it towards on specific target. It never happens that a player from one team kicks the ball in one direction and another player from the same team tries to kick it to the opposite direction. The point to which all players of the same side aim the ball is known as their Goal. And goal means aspiration, ambition, intent or purpose. The goal is a point, which is in sight of them all, something that they collectively cherish and wish to achieve. The players are eleven but their aim is one. All the individual players who have one goal are known as a team. Likewise if all the individuals of a society who have one purpose and a common aspiration, then they can be known as a Community. But individuals can only become a community if they all have One goal and One ambition. If members of any society which do not have one goal they cannot be a community; similarly, if different individuals have different goals they cannot be a community either. People of a nation of even different countries may have things in common but unless they share the same values, they cannot truly be a united community either. However, for Muslims, God has defined their goal. He has said in Al Imran verse 3:103 “Hold fast to the rope of God, and do not be divided.” This is the goal for all Muslims which will unite everyone and bring all individuals together to become one community. Of some individuals lose their grasp and clutch at straws their goals become distinctly separate; divisions will arise and sects will be created. This rope of God, holding onto which Muslims become one community, is none other than the Holy Quran – Gods criterion for mankind. This is the goal which every Muslim should be looking at. This is the pinnacle which every Muslim should aim for. This is the goal which will give Muslims the unity they need. Eleven players in the soccer field have one goal and theses players are called a team. The opposing players have a separate goal and belong to a different team. Have you noted how all the players in one field have become two distinct factions? This is due to having different Goals. In these times a community’s goal is called ideology. This means that Muslims become a community on the basis of an ideology. They all have the same ideology. As I have said before, this is what I called unity. If their ideology is different from each other’s then it is (Shirk) or division. That is why God said that, “Muslims take care! Do not become disbelievers after having believed. Do now be of those people who created sects within their social system and themselves became a sect and every sect became satisfied that only they had the truth.” (chapter 30 verse 32)Have you noted how the Quran has pointed out a single goal and any aim other than a single community is condemned as shirk or an unacceptable division in unity? This is because only on forming a united community cans Muslims prosper. When different sects have different goals, they will not be able to come together. They are not the community of the Ummah (Muslim nation). Their unity is broken and in place of unity there is division. The goal for Muslims is the Quran. It is a book in which there are no discrepancies. Only by following the Quran alone can the Muslims become one, undivided community. This is our ideology and it is for this purpose that Pakistan was created. Muslim means Believer and Kafir means Disbeliever or one who rejects. Those who believe that the Quran is a goal or ideology and establish a government according to it are Muslims. And those who do not believe that the Quran is a goal or an ideology and do not establish a government according to it are not Muslims and thus recognize as Kaafireen or disbelievers. From this it is clear that individuals do not become a community until they have ONE goal or ONE ideology as their aim. Those who believe in the Quranic ideology are Muslims and with this common aim become a united community. What it means to keep the Quran as your goal is that a government should be established to it. It is obvious that when people forget their aims, they can only live as individuals but never as a community. The Quran says to the Believers; “Remain steadfast and advocate steadfastness to others and join together to implement the laws of God; fear Him that you may prosper.” (3:200)By - Parvez Video
Quran - Muslim Community
Thursday, 11. October 2007, 07:58:39
Muslim Community
Many individuals come together to make a community. An Islamic life is to live as a community. To stay dispersed and to pursue ones own advantages and self interest is not the life of the Muslim, who has submitted to God. The question now arises that how can different individuals become one single community? How can separate Muslims be woven into the single fabric of an Islamic community? We may look at the pivotal point and make clear the direction towards it. Have you ever seen a football match? Of course you have. On each side there are 11 players positioned around one half of the pitch. Some are at the back, some at the front and others in the center. Others are at the left and right and one can be seen standing alone behind them all. They are all spread out as if they have no connection with one another. The ball is placed in the center and a whistle is blown. The previously dispersed players start running very fast. A strange commotion takes place. Now we can see a game taking shape and in this bustle we observe a unique phenomenon. The player who is nearest to the ball makes every effort to direct it towards on specific target. It never happens that a player from one team kicks the ball in one direction and another player from the same team tries to kick it to the opposite direction. The point to which all players of the same side aim the ball is known as their Goal. And goal means aspiration, ambition, intent or purpose. The goal is a point, which is in sight of them all, something that they collectively cherish and wish to achieve. The players are eleven but their aim is one. All the individual players who have one goal are known as a team. Likewise if all the individuals of a society who have one purpose and a common aspiration, then they can be known as a Community. But individuals can only become a community if they all have One goal and One ambition. If members of any society which do not have one goal they cannot be a community; similarly, if different individuals have different goals they cannot be a community either. People of a nation of even different countries may have things in common but unless they share the same values, they cannot truly be a united community either. However, for Muslims, God has defined their goal. He has said in Al Imran verse 3:103 “Hold fast to the rope of God, and do not be divided.” This is the goal for all Muslims which will unite everyone and bring all individuals together to become one community. Of some individuals lose their grasp and clutch at straws their goals become distinctly separate; divisions will arise and sects will be created. This rope of God, holding onto which Muslims become one community, is none other than the Holy Quran – Gods criterion for mankind. This is the goal which every Muslim should be looking at. This is the pinnacle which every Muslim should aim for. This is the goal which will give Muslims the unity they need. Eleven players in the soccer field have one goal and theses players are called a team. The opposing players have a separate goal and belong to a different team. Have you noted how all the players in one field have become two distinct factions? This is due to having different Goals. In these times a community’s goal is called ideology. This means that Muslims become a community on the basis of an ideology. They all have the same ideology. As I have said before, this is what I called unity. If their ideology is different from each other’s then it is (Shirk) or division. That is why God said that, “Muslims take care! Do not become disbelievers after having believed. Do now be of those people who created sects within their social system and themselves became a sect and every sect became satisfied that only they had the truth.” (chapter 30 verse 32)Have you noted how the Quran has pointed out a single goal and any aim other than a single community is condemned as shirk or an unacceptable division in unity? This is because only on forming a united community cans Muslims prosper. When different sects have different goals, they will not be able to come together. They are not the community of the Ummah (Muslim nation). Their unity is broken and in place of unity there is division. The goal for Muslims is the Quran. It is a book in which there are no discrepancies. Only by following the Quran alone can the Muslims become one, undivided community. This is our ideology and it is for this purpose that Pakistan was created. Muslim means Believer and Kafir means Disbeliever or one who rejects. Those who believe that the Quran is a goal or ideology and establish a government according to it are Muslims. And those who do not believe that the Quran is a goal or an ideology and do not establish a government according to it are not Muslims and thus recognize as Kaafireen or disbelievers. From this it is clear that individuals do not become a community until they have ONE goal or ONE ideology as their aim. Those who believe in the Quranic ideology are Muslims and with this common aim become a united community. What it means to keep the Quran as your goal is that a government should be established to it. It is obvious that when people forget their aims, they can only live as individuals but never as a community. The Quran says to the Believers; “Remain steadfast and advocate steadfastness to others and join together to implement the laws of God; fear Him that you may prosper.” (3:200)By - Parvez Video
Tuesday, 9 December 2008
XXXXXXX
yes peeps, that is how i am feeling at the moment... oh! and by the way so are women
I am sitting here, cannae sleep: women pains and all that!!
you know it never ceases to amaze me how my body changes every month owing to periods and everything that comes with it....
PEriods: i cannae do without them, i wanna do without some of the things it comes with....
This morning out of the bloom!!! (lol: private joke) i was perchanced to notice a subtle change in my physique... wow! that blew me off slightly cos normally i do notice these things and take account of them, but this month i guess i have not really been myself ( alien abduction) that i have lost touch with my body.
it is weird you know, for as long as i can remember it is always been a struggle... PAIN, mood swings, cramps, headaches, food cravings and hyperactivity... actually looking at it now, not all of it has been a struggle... but even in its worst state, i am still thankful for it,, because in some way it establishes normality for me and makes me feel whole.
and by gosh, this thing has a system of its own with its own set of rule books and occassionally it changes them... just when i think i have mastered it... then it throws me a curve ball....
it used to be.. eat loads of sugar before then you get less pain and cramp,, then that changed to eat no sugar then u get no pain.. then it was eat chocolates at a particular stage then it was eat no chocolate... it is like the thing gets used to the external soother and becomes immune to it... if there is such a word...
right now i need to go to the toilet but i am sooooo afraid because i know what i will have to deal with...
at least i know not to do a number 2 within the first 3 days because lord help me if i do.... however much my crazy body wants to lul me into a sense of insecurity by telling me that i need to go to the toilet.. i know for sure that it aint true!!! even if i believe it and go.... i guarantee you i will be sitting there with a sixpence worth of shit in the bowl... nothing to account for the feeling of elephant load of shit in my bowels...
i remember when would rub my belly, and hold me tight while the cramp heaves and lightens...
fuck that... i still cannae sleep... i am in pain and i need to sleep...
I am sitting here, cannae sleep: women pains and all that!!
you know it never ceases to amaze me how my body changes every month owing to periods and everything that comes with it....
PEriods: i cannae do without them, i wanna do without some of the things it comes with....
This morning out of the bloom!!! (lol: private joke) i was perchanced to notice a subtle change in my physique... wow! that blew me off slightly cos normally i do notice these things and take account of them, but this month i guess i have not really been myself ( alien abduction) that i have lost touch with my body.
it is weird you know, for as long as i can remember it is always been a struggle... PAIN, mood swings, cramps, headaches, food cravings and hyperactivity... actually looking at it now, not all of it has been a struggle... but even in its worst state, i am still thankful for it,, because in some way it establishes normality for me and makes me feel whole.
and by gosh, this thing has a system of its own with its own set of rule books and occassionally it changes them... just when i think i have mastered it... then it throws me a curve ball....
it used to be.. eat loads of sugar before then you get less pain and cramp,, then that changed to eat no sugar then u get no pain.. then it was eat chocolates at a particular stage then it was eat no chocolate... it is like the thing gets used to the external soother and becomes immune to it... if there is such a word...
right now i need to go to the toilet but i am sooooo afraid because i know what i will have to deal with...
at least i know not to do a number 2 within the first 3 days because lord help me if i do.... however much my crazy body wants to lul me into a sense of insecurity by telling me that i need to go to the toilet.. i know for sure that it aint true!!! even if i believe it and go.... i guarantee you i will be sitting there with a sixpence worth of shit in the bowl... nothing to account for the feeling of elephant load of shit in my bowels...
i remember when would rub my belly, and hold me tight while the cramp heaves and lightens...
fuck that... i still cannae sleep... i am in pain and i need to sleep...
Friday, 5 December 2008
DECEMBER 05 2008
This month is an interesting month for me... I am afraid folks, that my spirit is not as strong as it usually is during the month of my birth.
For the first time, I am seeking not to celebrate my birthday with any "pomp and pagentry" or any "exhuberance of spirit and joy" but to let the day pass as any other normal day.
Circumstances beyond my control ( and some that i could have controlled better) have left me with no choice but to do down this path.
I am reminded again of events that have conspired some years ago and it has left me sad, I am unduly filled with rage, which is unbecoming of me during this month that i am seeking My God to be near me evermore and not to let me descend into the hate-fuelled rage because my patience is wearing thin this month...
All these feelings i need to control and i am trying to figure out wht i am having this anyways.
I am filled with a desire to rant and rave and shout and destroy but i am trying to hold on and seeking God's protection against these feelings.
hmmmm
at the same time I am filled with sorrow and sadness, I am filled with longings and promises of " yet to come true but will it materialise"
I am weighed down by the yearly afflictions that gets me every december and I am trying for it not to get to me now cos i need to work as i cannot afford to be off work, so i am trying to task my body into delaying the inevitable... I know that i have to break down, the weather has already got to me, the moment i let up it will take hold of me and then start its course...
I am also looking to be alone in the house as my mum is yet to travel and i guess the lonliness feels me with some sense of comfort and routine because then i have no choice but to be focused and rigid with myself... I am looking to express myself as my self in the house, rearrange things the way i want them to be ( which i always do whenever she goes) I am looking for my routine back again, I am looking for no hassle stuff, no reminders of burning candles to effigies, i am just looking for "straightfowardness" of thought and direction
Really what i want to do on my birthday is to stay awake the night before praying to my God thanking him for what i will call a productive year, then on the morning i want to play my music out loud and sing and shout at the top of my voice,.. let myself go uncontrollable and shout... Praise be to the lord of the universe, thank you God for a productive year, count my blessings and praise God even more, cry, laugh, dance around wiggling my jubbly backside, roll on the ground and generally go mad for a day... also i would like to do the same thing up in the campsie mountains where i can feel close to nature and look back at my life and thank God for how far i have come...
but these things are not possible at home you see, cos my mum is still there, if i did do this... that will confirm even more that i am mad, ( i dont want her to worry) and my bro will think me weird.... it would have been better if i was alone, so i guess this kind of unsettles me as i now have to look for another routine... the only option is the campsie mountains...
then again due to credit crunch and "every penny counts" i may have to work on my birthday --- which will be a first for me... but i guess i have to break the cycle and work it the opportunity presents itself... it means this this years birthday celebrations will be delayed till next year God-willing when i reach a certain age... Yikes!! but i plan for Dubai or China then anyways...
anyways, God willing the best will always happen as i put my trust in God always and brace myself for another interesting year and foward progressing year...
For the first time, I am seeking not to celebrate my birthday with any "pomp and pagentry" or any "exhuberance of spirit and joy" but to let the day pass as any other normal day.
Circumstances beyond my control ( and some that i could have controlled better) have left me with no choice but to do down this path.
I am reminded again of events that have conspired some years ago and it has left me sad, I am unduly filled with rage, which is unbecoming of me during this month that i am seeking My God to be near me evermore and not to let me descend into the hate-fuelled rage because my patience is wearing thin this month...
All these feelings i need to control and i am trying to figure out wht i am having this anyways.
I am filled with a desire to rant and rave and shout and destroy but i am trying to hold on and seeking God's protection against these feelings.
hmmmm
at the same time I am filled with sorrow and sadness, I am filled with longings and promises of " yet to come true but will it materialise"
I am weighed down by the yearly afflictions that gets me every december and I am trying for it not to get to me now cos i need to work as i cannot afford to be off work, so i am trying to task my body into delaying the inevitable... I know that i have to break down, the weather has already got to me, the moment i let up it will take hold of me and then start its course...
I am also looking to be alone in the house as my mum is yet to travel and i guess the lonliness feels me with some sense of comfort and routine because then i have no choice but to be focused and rigid with myself... I am looking to express myself as my self in the house, rearrange things the way i want them to be ( which i always do whenever she goes) I am looking for my routine back again, I am looking for no hassle stuff, no reminders of burning candles to effigies, i am just looking for "straightfowardness" of thought and direction
Really what i want to do on my birthday is to stay awake the night before praying to my God thanking him for what i will call a productive year, then on the morning i want to play my music out loud and sing and shout at the top of my voice,.. let myself go uncontrollable and shout... Praise be to the lord of the universe, thank you God for a productive year, count my blessings and praise God even more, cry, laugh, dance around wiggling my jubbly backside, roll on the ground and generally go mad for a day... also i would like to do the same thing up in the campsie mountains where i can feel close to nature and look back at my life and thank God for how far i have come...
but these things are not possible at home you see, cos my mum is still there, if i did do this... that will confirm even more that i am mad, ( i dont want her to worry) and my bro will think me weird.... it would have been better if i was alone, so i guess this kind of unsettles me as i now have to look for another routine... the only option is the campsie mountains...
then again due to credit crunch and "every penny counts" i may have to work on my birthday --- which will be a first for me... but i guess i have to break the cycle and work it the opportunity presents itself... it means this this years birthday celebrations will be delayed till next year God-willing when i reach a certain age... Yikes!! but i plan for Dubai or China then anyways...
anyways, God willing the best will always happen as i put my trust in God always and brace myself for another interesting year and foward progressing year...
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