Keistimewaan Umat Muhammad SAW

عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: " إِنَّ مُوسَى لَمَّا نَزَلَتْ عَلَيْهِ التَّوْرَاةُ، وَقَرَأَهَا فَوَجَدَ فِيهَا ذِكْرَ هَذِهِ الْأُمَّةِ فَقَالَ: يَا رَبِّي، إِنِّي أَجِدُ فِي الْأَلْوَاحِ أُمَّةً هُمُ الْآخِرُونَ السَّابِقُونَ، فَاجْعَلْهَا أُمَّتِي قَالَ: تِلْكَ أُمَّةُ أَحْمَدَ قَالَ: يَا رَبِّ، إِنِّي أَجِدُ فِي الْأَلْوَاحِ أُمَّةً هُمُ السَّابِقُونَ الْمَشْفُوعُ لَهُمْ، فَاجْعَلْهَا أُمَّتِي قَالَ: تِلْكَ أُمَّةُ أَحْمَدَ قَالَ: يَا رَبِّ، إِنِّي أَجِدُ فِي الْأَلْوَاحِ أُمَّةً هُمُ الْمُسْتَجِيبُونَ الْمُسْتَجَابُ لَهُمْ، فَاجْعَلْهَا أُمَّتِي قَالَ: تِلْكَ أُمَّةُ أَحْمَدَ قَالَ: يَا رَبِّ، إِنِّي أَجِدُ فِي الْأَلْوَاحِ أُمَّةً أَنَاجِيلُهُمْ فِي صُدُورِهِمْ يَقْرَءُونَهَا ظَاهِرًا، فَاجْعَلْهَا أُمَّتِي قَالَ: تِلْكَ أُمَّةُ أَحْمَدَ قَالَ: يَا رَبِّ، إِنِّي أَجِدُ فِي الْأَلْوَاحِ أُمَّةً يَأْكُلُونَ الْفَيْءَ، فَاجْعَلْهَا أُمَّتِي قَالَ: تِلْكَ أُمَّةُ أَحْمَدَ قَالَ: يَا رَبِّ إِنِّي أَجِدُ فِي الْأَلْوَاحِ أُمَّةً يَجْعَلُونَ الصَّدَقَةَ فِي بُطُونِهِمْ يُؤْجَرُونَ عَلَيْهَا، فَاجْعَلْهَا أُمَّتِي قَالَ: تِلْكَ أُمَّةُ أَحْمَدَ قَالَ: يَا رَبِّ، إِنِّي أَجِدُ فِي [ص:69] الْأَلْوَاحِ أُمَّةً إِذَا هَمَّ أَحَدُهُمْ بِحَسَنَةٍ، فَلَمْ يَعْمَلْهَا كُتِبَ لَهُ حَسَنَةٌ وَاحِدَةٌ، فَإِنْ عَمِلَهَا كُتِبَ لَهُ عَشْرُ حَسَنَاتٍ، فَاجْعَلْهَا أُمَّتِي قَالَ: تِلْكَ أُمَّةُ أَحْمَدَ قَالَ: يَا رَبِّ، إِنِّي أَجِدُ فِي الْأَلْوَاحِ أُمَّةً إِذَا هَمَّ أَحَدُهُمْ بِسَيِّئَةٍ وَلَمْ يَعْمَلْهَا لَمْ تُكْتَبْ، وَإِنْ عَمِلَهَا كُتِبَتْ عَلَيْهِ سَيِّئَةً وَاحِدَةً، فَاجْعَلْهَا أُمَّتِي قَالَ: تِلْكَ أُمَّةُ أَحْمَدَ قَالَ: يَا رَبِّ، إِنِّي أَجِدُ فِي الْأَلْوَاحِ أُمَّةً يُؤْتَوْنَ الْعِلْمَ الْأَوَّلَ وَالْعِلْمَ الْآخِرَ، فَيَقْتُلُونَ قُرُونَ الضَّلَالَةِ الْمَسِيحَ الدَّجَّالَ، فَاجْعَلْهَا أُمَّتِي، قَالَ: تِلْكَ أُمَّةُ أَحْمَدَ، قَالَ: يَا رَبِّ فَاجْعَلْنِي مِنْ أُمَّةِ أَحْمَدَ فَأُعْطَى عِنْدَ ذَلِكَ خَصْلَتَيْنِ، فَقَالَ: {يَا مُوسَى، إِنِّي اصْطَفَيْتُكَ عَلَى النَّاسِ بِرِسَالَاتِي وَبِكَلَامِي فَخُذْ مَا آتَيْتُكَ وَكُنْ مِنَ الشَّاكِرِينَ} [الأعراف: 144] ، قَالَ: قَدْ رَضِيتُ يَا رَبِّ،

Diriwayatkan oleh Abu Nuaim dari Abu Hurairah RA, Rasulullah SAW bersabda bahawa ketika Nabi Musa diberi kitab TAURAT, maka di dalamnya ia menjumpai maklumat tentang umat ini. Lalu Nabi musa bertanya kepada Allah: 

"Ya Tuhanku!. Aku menjumpai dalam lembaran-lembaran TAURAT berita tentang umat yang disebut sebagai umat yang paling akhir dan paling terdepan. Maka jadikanlah mereka sebagai umatku". 

Allah menjawab: "Mereka adalah umat Muhammad".

Nabi Musa bersabda: "Aku menjumpai dalam lembaran TAURAT umat yang kitab sucinya berada di hati mereka, sementara mereka membacanya. Jadikan mereka umatku!".

Allah berfirman: "Mereka adalah umat Muhammad"

Nabi Musa bersabda: "Ya Allah!. Aku menjumpai dalam lembaran TAURAT, umat yang dihalalkan makan harta rampasan (fa'i). Jadikan mereka umatku!".

Allah berfirman: "Mereka adalah umat Muhammad".

Nabi Musa bersabda: Ya Allah! Aku menjumpai dalam TAURAT, umat yang menjadikan shadaqah dalam perut mereka, sementara mereka mendapatkan pahala. Jadikan mereka umatku!".

Allah berfirman: "Mereka adalah umat Muhammad"

Nabi Musa bersabda: "Ya Allah! Aku menermukan dalam TAURAT, umat yang ketika salah satu mereka menginginkan satu kebaikan tetapi tidak melakukankan, maka akan diberi satu pahala. Jika dilakukan, maka akan dicatat dengan 10 kebaikan. Jadikan mereka umatku!".

Allah berfirman: "Mereka adalah umat Muhammad"

Nabi Musa bersabda: "Ya Allah! Aku menermukan dalam TAURAT, umat yang ketika diantara mereka menginginkan keburukan, lalu tidak dilakukannya, maka tidak akan dicatat baginya sesuatupun. Dan jika ia melakukannya maka hanya dicatatan satu keburukan. Jadikan mereka umatku!"

Allah berfirman: "Mereka adalah umat Muhammad"

Nabi Musa bersabda: "Ya Allah! Aku menermukan dalam TAURAT umat yang diberi ilmu yang pertama dan ilmu yang terakhir. Lalu mereka memerangi Dajjal. Jadikan mereka umatku!"

Allah berfirman: "Mereka adalah umat Muhammad"

Nabi Musa bersabda: "Ya Allah! Jadikanlah aku sebagai umat Muhammad. Jika demikian, maka aku telah diberi dua perkara". 

Allah berfirman: "Wahai Musa! Sesungguhnya Aku telah memilihmu di atas manusia dengan risalah dan kalamKu. Maka ambilah apa yang telah aku beri dan jadilah engkau dari golongan orang-orang yang bersyukur".

Nabi Musa bersabda: "Aku redha Wahai Tuhanku!".

Al-Imam Fakhruddin mengatakan bahwa Nabi yang mukjizatnya lebih besar, maka pahala umatnya lebih kecil. As-Subky melanjutkan: "Kecuali umat ini. Sungguh mukjizat nabinya sangat agung, namun pahala bagi umatnya lebih besar dari pada pahala semua umat yang diciptakan".

Berikut adalah keistimewaan umat Muhammad yang tidak diberikan kepada umat-umat sebelumnya:

1. Dihalalkan Ghanimah

Ghanimah adalah hasil rampasan perang. Harta ini halal bagi umat Muhammad dengan segala ketentuan yang telah disyariatkan. Bagi umat terdahulu ghanimah tidak dihalalkan

2. Disucikannya Bumi 

Bagi umat terdahulu, tidak semua bumi suci, sehingga mereka tidak melakukan ibadah kecuali di dalam tempat-tempat peribadatan mereka. Bagi umat Muhammad, seluruh bagian bumi suci dan sah untuk dijadikan tempat shalat. Debunya juga suci, sehingga sah untuk dijadikan alat untuk bertayammum. Diriwayatkan dari Abu Umamah dalam kitab Shahih Al-Bukhari, Rasulullah SAW bersabda:

وجعلت الأرض كلها لى ولأمتى مسجدا وطهورا

"Telah dijadikan bumi kesemuanya bagiku dan umatku sebagai masjid dan suci"

3. Disyariatkannya Wudhuk

Al-Halimi menuturkan hal ini dengan dalil hadits Al-Bukhari:

إن أمتى يدعون يوم القيامة غرّا محجلين من آثار الوضوء

"Sesungguhnya umatku akan dipanggil di akhirat nanti dengan panggilan ghurran muhajjalin, kerana atsar wudhuk".

Ibnu Hajar Al-Asqalani dalam fathul Bari mengatakan bahwa apa yang disampaikan Al-Halimi ini perlu dipertimbangkan, kerana dalam al-Bukhari juga disebutkan kisah Sarah bersama malaikan yang memberinya Hajar, bahwa Sarah ketika Malaikat ingin mendekatinya, maka ia berdiri, berwudhuk dan melakukan Shalat. Oleh sebab itu, kesimpulan yang jelas adalah yang menjadi keistimewaan umat ini adalah Ghurrah dan Tahjil bukan wudhuk' itu sendiri. Hal ini telah disharihkan dalam Riwayat Muslim dari Abu Hurairah berupa hadits marfu', Rasulullah SAW bersabda:

لكم سيما ليست لأحد غيركم

"Bagi kalian sebuah tanda yang tidak dimiliki oleh seseorangpun dari selain kalian".

Tahjil adalah meratakan membasuh kedua tangan hingga lengan dan membasuh kaki hingga betis. Ghurrah adalah meratakan membasuh bagian depan kepala dan leher saat membasuh muka dalam wudhuk'.

4. Dikumpulkannya Shalat lima waktu

Bagi umat terdahulu shalat lima waktu tidak diwajibkan. Subuh untuk nabi Adam, Dzuhur untuk nabi Ishaq, Ashar untuk nabi Uzair, Maghrib untuk nabi Dawud dan Isyak untuk Rasulullah SAW.

Rasulullah bersabda:

أعتموا بهذه الصلاة فإنكم فضلتم بها على سائر الأمم ولم تصلها أمة قبلكم

"Bermalamlah dengan shalat ini (isyak) kerana kalian diberi keutamaan dengan shalat ini, diatas umat-umat lain. Umat sebelum kalian tidak melakukan shalat isyak

5. Penangguhan Siksaan di Dunia

Umat Nabi Muhammad SAW tidak akan disiksa oleh Allah hingga tiba hari akhirat kelak. Nabi Muhammad SAW telah memohon kepada Allah supaya memberikan peluang kepada umatnya agar boleh bertaubat kepada Allah terhadap kesalahan-kesalahan yang dilakukan.

Meski demikian, manusia adalah ciptaan Allah yang mempunyai potensi berbuat baik atau jahat, taat atau durhaka. Setiap orang pernah berbuat dosa, kecuali yang dijaga Allah darinya.

“Dan kalau sekiranya Allah menghukum manusia disebabkan apa yang mereka lakukan, niscaya Dia tidak akan meninggalkan di atas permukaan bumi ini satu makhluk melata pun, akan tetapi Allah menangguhkan mereka sampai waktu yang telah ditentukan. Maka apabila datang ajal mereka, maka sesungguhnya Allah Maha Melihat hamba-hamba-Nya.” (QS. Faathir: 45)

41 Kelebihan Rasulullah SAW

Dalam sebuah buku karangan Sheikh Izzuddin Abdul Aziz Bin Abdul Salam Al-Sulami beliau telah menyenaraikan  41 Kelebihan Rasulullah SAW

1.      Nabi s.a.w merupakan pemimpin bagi semua nabi.

2.     Ditangan Nabi s.a.w akan ada bendera kepujian di hari kiamat.

3.     Nabi Adam a.s  akan berdiri dibawah bendera Nabi s.a.w.

4.     Allah s.w.t telah mengampunkan dosa Nabi s.a.w yang terdahulu atau yang terkemudian. Disebabkan itu Nabi s.a.w adalah seorang yang ‘maksum’ (bebas dari dosa). Hanya Nabi s.a.w sahaja yang dimaklumkan mengenai perkara ini oleh Allah s.w.t. Keistimewaan yang tidak diberikan kepada para nabi lain.

5.     Nabi s.a.w adalah orang pertama yang mendapat keizinan syafaat dan orang pertama yang akan memberi syafaat di hari kiamat.

6.     Nabi s.a.w sentiasa melebihi masalah umat melebihi diri baginda sendiri.

-          Setiap nabi mempunyai kuasa doa yang akan diperkenankan oleh Allah s.w.t serta merta.

Doa ini hanya diberi sahaja sekali kepada setiap nabi. Sepertimana nabi Nuh a.s berdoa kepada Allah s.w.t selepas berdakwah selama 950 tahun- agar kaumnya dibinasakan. Namun, Nabi s.a.w telah menyimpan kuasa doa ini untuk berdoa di hari kiamat bagi menyelesaikan masalah umatnya.

7.     Hebatnya Rasulullah s.a.w sehingga Allah s.w.t bersumpah dengan hayat Nabi s.a.w.

                        لَعَمْرُكَ إِنَّهُمْ لَفِي سَكْرَتِهِمْ يَعْمَهُونَ

Maksudnya: (Allah berfirman): "Demi umurmu** (Muhammad), Sesungguhnya mereka terombang-ambing di dalam kemabukan (kesesatan)". (al-Hijr, ayat:72)

**Keterangan:  Orang Arab biasa bersumpah dengan umur seseorang. disini Allah bersumpah dengan umur atau kehidupan nabi Muhammad s.a.w. untuk memuliakan beliau.

8.      Allah s.w.t memuliakan Nabi s.a.w dalam panggilan-Nya. Jika kita perhatikan, Allah s.w.t tidak memanggil gelaran Muhammad di dalam Quran, tetapi memanggilnya dengan panggilan jawatan..”ya ayyuha nabi/rasul”..Tetapi para nabi lain dipanggil dengan nama mereka seperti Adam, Nuh, Musa, Isa, Ibrahim dan sebagainya.

9.      Mukjizat nabi lain sudah tiada. Tetapi mukjizat Quran terus dapat dilihat dan akan kekal sehingga hari kiamat.

*Perbandingan mukjizat Nabi Muhammad s.a.w bukanlah bertujuan untuk memperkecilkan mukjizat para nabi yang lain. Bahkan mukjizat para nabi lain juga begitu hebat dan besar. Tetapi tujuannya untuk kita sebagai umat Muhammad berbangga dengan nabi kita dan kelebihan ini juga sebenarnya satu pengiktirafan dan penghormatan buat Nabi s.a.w.

10.  Nabi s.a.w menerima salam dari batu semasa baginda di Mekah. Begitu juga pelapah tamar yang menangis ketika berpisah dengan Nabi s.a.w.

11. Nabi s.a.w mengeluarkan air dengan hanya menerusi jarinya untuk kaum muslimin berwuduk. Berbanding nabi Musa a.s yang mengeluarkan air dari celahan batu dengan mengunakan tongkatnya.

12.  Nabi Isa a.s telah menyembuhkan mata orang buta. Tetapi Nabi Muhammad s.a.w telah memasukkan mata orang yang terkeluar dan menjadikannya celik kembali seperti asal. Peristiwa ini berlaku kepada sahabat, Qatadah apabila matanya terkeluar ketika perang Uhud.

13.  Nabi Isa boleh menghidupkan orang yang mati. Tetapi Nabi s.a.w telah menghidupkan jiwa yang mati yakni dakwah Islam baginda menjadikan orang yang kufur berubah menjadi orang yang beriman. Ianya kekal sehingga hari kiamat.

14.  Setengah penduduk syurga terdiri daripada umat Nabi Muhammad s.a.w.

15.  Nabi dan rasul yang lain diutuskan kepada kaum yg khusus. Tetapi Nabi s.a.w diutuskan kepada seluruh manusia dan jin. Rahmatan lil a’lamin.

16.  Nabi Musa a.s berkata-kata dengan Allah s.w.t di bumi (bukit thursina dan di lembah yg suci), tetapi Nabi s.a.w berkata-kata dengan Allah s.w.t di sidratul muntaha (langit ketujuh).

17.  Umat Muhammad s.a.w merupakan umat terakhir di dunia, tetapi umat pertama yang akan di hisap di akhirat dan pertama masuk syurga.

18.  Nabi s.a.w merupakan orang pertama yang terbelah kuburnya di hari akhirat, orang pertama pemberi syafaat kepada umatnya dan orang pertama yang menerima pertolongan dari Allah s.w.t.

19.  Nabi Muhammad s.a.w diberi kuasa syafaat, yakni satu kuasa yang diingini oleh para nabi yang lain untuk memilikinya.

20. Kuasa syafaat adalah satu kedudukan tinggi di syurga, hanya seorang hamba Allah sahaja yang mampu memperolehnya. Dan Nabi s.a.w amat mengharapkannya agar baginda mampu memberikan syafaat ini kepada umatnya nanti.

21. 70,000 umat Muhammad s.a.w akan masuk syurga tanpa hisap dan azab. Keistimewaan yang tidak diberikan kepada kaum nabi lain.

22. Nabi s.a.w mempunyai kolam al-Kautsar di syurga dan kolam Haudh di luar syurga untuk kita (umat Muhammad) minum daripadanya.

23.  Umat Muhammad merupakan umat terakhir di dunia, tetapi umat pertama yang diselesaikan masalahnya dan memperoleh ketinggian darjatnya di hari akhirat kelak.

24.   Halal bagi umat Muhammad s.a.w untuk mengambil harta ghanimah di dalam perang. Tetapi umat terdahulu tidak diizin untuk mengambilnya.

-          5 perkara yang diberikan kepada nabi Muhammad s.a.w, tetapi tidak diberikan kepada nabi lain :

i)     Lurus saf solat umat Muhammad s.a.w seperti lurus saf mailakat.

ii)   Allah s.w.t menjadikan bumi sebagai masjid. Boleh solat di mana sahaja melainkan ditempat yang haram seperti tandas.

iii) Tanah bumi bersih untuk bertayammum.

iv) Nabi s.a.w diberi bantuan oleh Allah s.w.t dengan perasaan gerun di dalam hati musuh-musuhnya.

v)   Nabi Muhammad s.a.w mampu memberikan syafaat buat umatnya.

25.  Allah s.w.t telah memuji peribadi dan akhlak Nabi s.a.w. Firman Allah s.w.t :

وَإِنَّكَ لَعَلَى خُلُقٍ عَظِيمٍ

Maksudnya:  “Dan Sesungguhnya kamu (Muhammad) benar-benar berbudi pekerti yang agung.” (al-Qalam, ayat:4)

26.  Allah s.w.t telah berkata-kata dengan Nabi s.a.w melalui pelbagai cara menerusi wahyu. Antaranya, ru’yah (mimpi), secara langsung (ketika israk & mi’raj), menerusi malaikat Jibril (berupa manusia dan suara loceng), Jibril meniup wahyu ke dalam hati Nabi s.a.w.

27.  Kandungan al-Quran terdiri daripada isi kandungan TAURAT, injil dan zabur. Tetapi keistimewaan al-Quran melebihi kitab yang lain adalah mempunyai surah yang pendek.

28.  Amalan yang diberikan kepada umat Nabi s.a.w adalah sedikit berbanding umat yang terdahulu, tetapi ganjarannya  besar di sisi Allah s.w.t.

29. Allah s.w.t memberi tawaran jawatan dan kekayaan kepada Nabi s.a.w, iaitu sebagai seorang nabi yang berkuasa dan kaya. Namun Nabi s.a.w memilih untuk menjadi hamba yang bersyukur.

30.  Allah s.w.t menjadikan Nabi s.a.w sebagai rahmat seluruh alam.

31.   Segala tingkah laku dan tindak tanduk Nabi s.a.w menunjukkan indahnya sifat Nabi s.a.w.

32.  Nabi s.a.w seorang yang berlemah lembut di dalam perkara yg halal, tetapi tegas dalam perkara yang haram.

33.  Nabi s.a.w berlemah lembut dengan orang mukmin, tetapi bertegas dengan orang kafir.

34.  Nabi s.a.w sentiasa berkeinginan tinggi untuk melihat umatnya menerima dakwah Islam. Oleh itu, Nabi s.a.w selalu mengutamakan umatnya di dalam semua hal.

35.  Nabi s.a.w telah berjaya menyampaikan semua amanah dan menyempurnakan Islam kepada umatnya.

36.  Allah s.w.t menjadikan umat Islam sebagai saksi kepada nabi-nabi terdahulu bahawa mereka telah menjalankan tugas dakwah mereka.

37.  Allah s.w.t memberi jaminan untuk memelihara umat Muhammad s.a.w dari kesemuanya sesat. Pasti akan ada kumpulan yang bangun untuk membela Islam ketika wujudnya kumpulan-kumpulan yang menentang dan sesat.

38.  Allah s.w.t telah berjanji untuk memelihara al-Quran dari diselewengkan.

39.  Allah s.w.t tidak akan memberitahu sama ada amalan seseorang umat Muhammad s.a.w itu diterima atau tidak. Hal ini lebih baik untuk menutup keaiban orang yang tidak diterima amalannya. Kita hanya perlu berdoa agar amalan kita diterima Allah s.w.t. Berbanding umat terdahulu, Allah s.w.t akan ‘menjawab’ terus amalan mereka sekiranya diterima atau tidak.

40.   Allah s.w.t mengutuskan Nabi s.a.w dengan “jawami’ul kalim” iaitu kata-kata yang sedikit, tetapi maksud yang cukup banyak dan mendalam. Hal ini boleh dilihat di dalam kebanyakan doa-doa Nabi s.a.w yang mana doanya ringkas, tetapi maksudnya besar.

41.   Kelebihan yang dikurniakan kepada Nabi s.a.w melebihi kelebihan semua para nabi dan malaikat.

Mission Impossible v8.0 (Misi Mustahil)

Allah SWT telah menjadikan alam dunia ini untuk menguji manusia sama ada patuh atau derhaka kepada setiap suruhan atau tegahan Allah SWT dan menjadikan alam akhirat sebagai balasan setiap kepatuhan dan ketidakpatuhan tersebut.

Jadi manusia diberi peluang untuk membuktikan kepatuhan tersebut ketika hidup di dunia. Ringkasnya, segala tingkahlaku dan tutur bicaranya di dunia akan dibalas di akhirat. Dunia adalah untuk beramal sama ada amalan baik atau jahat, sementara akhirat hanya untuk menerima balasan dari amal ketika di dunia. Begitu juga di alam kubur ketika kita menunggu untuk sampai ke alam akhirat. Di alam kubur dan akhirat tidak ada peluang kita untuk menambah, mengkhada'  atau mengulangi segala amalan kita di dunia dulu. Tiada solat, puasa, sedekah, zikir, haji, memebaca al-Quran dsbnya. Kalau nak buat, buatlah semasa di dunia ini sebanyak mungkin.

Di alam kubur, jika kita seorang mukmin dan banyak amalan soleh, kita akan berehat di taman syurga sementara jika amalan kita banyaknya amalan jahat kita akan disiksa. Sementara di akhirat kelak, orang mukmin akan berehat dan menerima nikmat di syurga dan orang banyak dosa akan msauk neraka disiksa dan diazab..

Misi mustahil yang dimaksudkan di sini adalah keluhaan dan permintaan golongan yang derhaka kepada Allah SWT dan golongan orang kafir ketika mereka menghadapi malaikat maut di saat kematian. Begitu juga ketika mereka berada di alam barzakh serta berada di alam akhirat.

MUSTAHIL Allah SWT menjawab atau menunaikan permintaan mereka.

Misi mustahil golongan kuffar dan fujjar ini berlaku ketika suasana berikut ;

1. Ketika saat kematian.

Ketika di saat kematian... tatkala mereka melihat malailat maut... mereka akan berkata kepada malaikat maut.. TANGGUHlah kematian kami, nescaya kami akan bersedekah dan menjadi orang yang soleh. Ini dinyatkan oleh Allah SWT dalam al-Quran.

وَأَنْفِقُوا مِنْ مَا رَزَقْنَاكُمْ مِنْ قَبْلِ أَنْ يَأْتِيَ أَحَدَكُمُ الْمَوْتُ فَيَقُولَ رَبِّ لَوْلَا أَخَّرْتَنِي إِلَى أَجَلٍ قَرِيبٍ فَأَصَّدَّقَ وَأَكُنْ مِنَ الصَّالِحِينَ (10) Surah al-munafiqun 10

Dan belanjakanlah sebahagian dari rezeki yang Kami berikan kepada kamu sebelum seseorang dari kamu sampai ajal maut kepadanya, lalu dia berkata: Wahai Tuhanku! Alangkah baiknya kalau Engkau lambatkan kedatangan ajalku ke suatu masa yang sedikit lagi, maka aku dapat bersedekah dan dapat pula aku menjadi dari orang yang salih.

Apakah si mati akan bersedekah atau berubah menjadi orang baik sekiranya Allah  SWT memberi peluang kepadanya dengan menangguhkan kematiannya. Kita ambil contoh mudah, apabila seseorang terlantar sakit maka orang tersebut akan berdoa Ya Allah sembuhkan penyakitku, sekiranya aku sembuh, aku akan bersedekah dan menjadi orang soleh, akan mendirikan solat dan puasa yang aku selalu tinggalkan, aku akan solat . berjemaah dan sebagainya…Tapi apabila dah sembuh, dia akan tetap denan perangai lamanya.. tidak solat, tidak solat berjemaah, tidak puasa dan tidak pula bersedekah.

Sedekahlah kamu sebelum kamu mati selagi kamu masih mampu melaksanakannya. Janganlah berharap dengan ahli waris untuk melakukannya selepas kita mati nanti seperti memesan kepada anak kita.. bila emak/ayah mati nanti banyaklah sedekah atau adakan jamuan kepada orang ramai dan niatkan sedekah daripada emak/ayah. Ingatlah .. Anak kita ada tanggungjawab masing-masing… cuba kita fikir kembali.. sebagai anak.. berepa kali kita telah sedekah/menjamu orang atas nama ayah/emak kita selama ini.. atau kita berdoa untuk emak/ayah kita yang sudah mati..yang juga mengharapkan kita untuk berbuat demikian untuk mereka sebagaimana kita mengharapkan perkara yang sama kepada anak kita pula…  

2. Selepas Kematian

حَتَّى إِذَا جَاءَ أَحَدَهُمُ الْمَوْتُ قَالَ رَبِّ ارْجِعُونِ (99) لَعَلِّي أَعْمَلُ صَالِحًا فِيمَا تَرَكْتُ كَلَّا إِنَّهَا كَلِمَةٌ هُوَ قَائِلُهَا وَمِنْ وَرَائِهِمْ بَرْزَخٌ إِلَى يَوْمِ يُبْعَثُونَ (100) surah al-mukminun

Apabila mereka mati, mereka berkata : "Ya tuhanku kembalilah aku ke dunia, supaya aku dapat mengerjakan amal saleh yang telah aku tinggalkan (yang aku tidak buat semasa aku hidup di dunia dulu).  Tidak! Masakan dapat ? Sesungguhnya perkataannya itu hanyalah kata-kata yang ia sahaja yang mengatakannya, sedang di belakang mereka ada alam barzakh hingga hari mereka dibangkitkan semula.

MUSTAHIL ALLAH kembalikan semula ke dunia. Mereka ini akan menyesal kerana tidak melakukan amal salih ketika didunia dulu... tapi TIADA PELUANG untuk melakukan amal salih di alam kubur.

Contoh yang Rasulullah SAW gambarkan dalam peristiwa di bawah ....

عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ، قَالَ: مَرَّ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ بِحَائِطٍ مِنْ حِيطَانِ المَدِينَةِ، أَوْ مَكَّةَ، فَسَمِعَ صَوْتَ إِنْسَانَيْنِ يُعَذَّبَانِ فِي قُبُورِهِمَا، فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «يُعَذَّبَانِ، وَمَا يُعَذَّبَانِ فِي كَبِيرٍ» ثُمَّ قَالَ: «بَلَى، كَانَ أَحَدُهُمَا لاَ يَسْتَتِرُ مِنْ بَوْلِهِ، وَكَانَ الآخَرُ يَمْشِي بِالنَّمِيمَةِ». ثُمَّ دَعَا بِجَرِيدَةٍ، فَكَسَرَهَا كِسْرَتَيْنِ، فَوَضَعَ عَلَى كُلِّ قَبْرٍ مِنْهُمَا كِسْرَةً، فَقِيلَ لَهُ: يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ، لِمَ فَعَلْتَ هَذَا؟ قَالَ: «لَعَلَّهُ أَنْ يُخَفَّفَ عَنْهُمَا مَا لَمْ تَيْبَسَا» أَوْ: «إِلَى أَنْ يَيْبَسَا

Dari Ibnu Abbas RA ia berkata : “Rasulullah saw melalui dekat dua kuburan, lalu baginda bersabda “Sesungguhnya keduanya sedang diseksa, dan keduanya diseksa bukan kerana perkara besar. Yang satu diseksa kerana tidak bersuci setelah kencing, sementara yang satunya suka mengadu domba (menyebar fitnah)”. Kemudian baginda mengambil sebatang dahan kurma yang masih basah, baginda lalu membelahnya menjadi dua bahagian kemudian diletakkan pada kedua-dua kuburan tersebut. Para sahabat bertanya “Wahai Rasulullah, kenapa engkau melakukan ini?” baginda menjawab “Semoga seksa keduanya diringankan selama batang pohon ini basah”.

[Riwayat Bukhari di dalam Sahihnya, Kitab Wudhu’, Bab membersihkan kencing, no 216; juga diriwayatkan oleh Muslim, Ibnu Majah, dan Ahmad]

 Peristiwa ini menceritakan salah seorang daripada ahli kubur yang disiksa kerana tidak beristinjak selepas kencing. Dia disiksa sejak dari masuk kubur dan kekal di siksa hingga hari kiamat dan seterusnya selepas dimasukkan ke neraka selama-lamanya. Dia tidak berpeluang untuk kembali ke dunia untuk beristinjak dan tidak berpeluang untuk bertaubat kerana beristinjak dan bertaubat hanya berlaku di dunia.. tiada istilah tuabat dan istinjak di dalam kubur.. maka dia akan disiksa kerana perbuatannya tadi..

 

Kesimpulannya..

Oleh itu beristinjaklah dengan sempurna kertika di dunia dan bertaubatlah selagi ada peluang ketika di dunia.

 

Begitulah semua amalan salih yang lain yang menjadi kewajipan kepada kita semua.. Buatlah sekarng ketika kita masih hidup di dunia,, sementara kita masih sihat dan ada kesempatan..

 

Turut diingatkan ialah semua kesalahan atau dosa kita kepada Allah mintalah keampunan Allah. Semua dosa kepada manusia mintalah maaf sesama manusia.. seperti kita mengumpat, memfitnah termakan dsb..kerana di kubur dan akhirat nanti TIADA PELUANG UNTUK MINTA MAAF...

3. Ketika di depan Neraka

 وَلَوْ تَرَى إِذِ الْمُجْرِمُونَ نَاكِسُو رُءُوسِهِمْ عِنْدَ رَبِّهِمْ رَبَّنَا أَبْصَرْنَا وَسَمِعْنَا فَارْجِعْنَا نَعْمَلْ صَالِحًا إِنَّا مُوقِنُونَ (12) AsSajadah

Sekiranya engkau melihat ketika orang yang berdosa itu menundukkan kepala di hadapan Tuhan mereka sambil berkata: Ya Tuhan kami, kami telah melihat dan mendengar, maka kembalikanlah kami ke dunia agar kami mengerjakan amal saleh, sesungguhnya kami sekarang telah yakin dan beriman. 

Ayat di atas menjelaskan keadaan manusia ketika berada di hadapan neraka

Manusia yang banyak dosa akan dimasukkan ke dalam neraka Allah. Ketika berada di depan pintu neraka, mereka baru insaf dan teramat takut keadaan neraka yang amat dahsyat dan barulah mereka menyesal setelah melihat dengan mata kepala sendiri tentang neraka kerana semasa di dunia dulu, mereka tidak mempedulikan neraka walaupun puas diterangkan oleh para rasul dan ulama, malah mereka mengejek pula para rasul dan ulama dengan gelaran yang menghina    seperti dituduh golongan tersebut seperti  mengkuda agama, jumud, kembali ke era kuno dsb supaya nama baik dan reputasi  golongan tersebut menjadi hina, jijik dan amat dibenci  di kalangan masayarakat.

Ada juga golongan semasa di dunia dulu amat benci apabila dikatakan kalau buat begitu dan begini  pasti akan masuk neraka. Meerka akan terus menyerkah kembali denagn mengatakan apa sibuk dengan saya masuk neraka ke syurga ke…. Suka hati sayalah.. awak tu belum pasti lagi ke syurga… ada yang menjawab dengan sinis… awak ni tuhankah ? tahu pula siapa yang masuk syurga neraka..dan bermacam macam lagi komentar di alam maya yang semuanya ke arah mempertikaikan atau memperkecilkan tentang syurga neraka ini..  

Sekarang baru menyesal.. lalu mereka semuanya menangis dan memujuk supaya Allah kembalikan semula ke dunia.. MUSTAHIL ALLAH KEMBALIKAN SEMULA KE DUNIA kerana duania kerana dunia sudah tidak wujud lagi selepas hancur binasa semasa hari kiamat.

Bayangkan kalua kita berada di hadapan sebuah bangunan yang sedang marak terbakar sementara kita pula adalah salah seorang yang memang giliran yang akan dibakar dalam bangunan tersebut.. sudah tentulah kita akan amat takut dan menangis sekuat hati tidak mahu dicampak ke bangunan tersebut.. Tentu kita tidak lupa kisah Ashabul Ukhdud atau sekurang-kurangnya kisah nabi Ibrahim yang dibakar oelh Namrud dulu.. Atau kita lantas teringat kisah perang Balkan kisah masyarakat Bosnia dan kisah terkini tentang masyarakat Rohinya di Burma..

Ayat di bawah pula menjelaskan hal keadaan manusia ketika berada di hadapan neraka.

إِذَا أُلْقُوا فِيهَا سَمِعُوا لَهَا شَهِيقًا وَهِيَ تَفُورُ (7) تَكَادُ تَمَيَّزُ مِنَ الْغَيْظِ كُلَّمَا أُلْقِيَ فِيهَا فَوْجٌ سَأَلَهُمْ خَزَنَتُهَا أَلَمْ يَأْتِكُمْ نَذِيرٌ (8) قَالُوا بَلَى قَدْ جَاءَنَا نَذِيرٌ فَكَذَّبْنَا وَقُلْنَا مَا نَزَّلَ اللَّهُ مِنْ شَيْءٍ إِنْ أَنْتُمْ إِلَّا فِي ضَلَالٍ كَبِيرٍ (9)

Apabila mereka dicampakkan ke dalamnya, mereka mendengar suara jeritannya meraung-raung, sedang ia menggelegak. Hampir-hampir ia pecah berkecai-kecai kerana kuat marahnya. Tiap-tiap kali dicampakkan ke dalamnya sekumpulan besar (dari orang kafir), bertanyalah penjaga-penjaga neraka itu kepada mereka: Tidakkah kamu pernah didatangi seorang Rasul pemberi ingatan dan amaran (di dunia dahulu)? Mereka menjawab: Ada! Sebenarnya telah datang kepada kami seorang Rasul pemberi ingatan, lalu kami dustakan serta kami katakan (kepadanya) Allah tidak menurunkan sesuatu pun, kamu (wahai orang yang mendakwa menjadi Rasul) hanyalah berada dalam kesesatan yang besar! 

Ketika hendak dicampakkan ke dalam neraka atau dalam bahasa mudahnya di zaman sekarang, ketika di kaunter pendaftaran dan check-in di pintu masuk utama, mereka disapa oleh petugas (malaikat) yang bertanya kepada mereka… tiadakah para nabi , rasul atau para ulama’ yang datang kepada kamu memberi peringtan tentang azab neraka ni ?

Maka inilah jawapan mereka.. Ada! Sebenarnya telah datang kepada kami seorang Rasul pemberi ingatan, lalu kami dustakan serta kami katakan (kepadanya) Allah tidak menurunkan sesuatu pun, kamu (wahai orang yang mendakwa menjadi Rasul) hanyalah berada dalam kesesatan yang besar! 

Mereka (para rasul, nabi dan ulama)   yang datang tu kami dustakan… kami kata dia penipu, pemecahbelah masyrakat, membuang adat dan kepercayaan nenek moyang yang sudah berkurun kita amalkan.. Ini semua bukan daripada Allah, melainkan dari seorang yang gila dan ahli sihir atau pemecah masyrakat.. lagi sesat dan menyesatkan…..

Jadi..

Untuk mengubah MISI MUSTAHIL kepada MISI BERJAYA hendaklah bertindak seperti apa yang disarankan oleh Allah SWT dalam surah al-Mulk..

وَقَالُوا لَوْ كُنَّا نَسْمَعُ أَوْ نَعْقِلُ مَا كُنَّا فِي أَصْحَابِ السَّعِيرِ (10)

Dan mereka berkata: Kalaulah kami dahulu mendengar dan memikirkan (memahami), tentulah kami tidak termasuk dalam kalangan ahli Neraka

Allah SWT menjelaskan bagaimana keadaan orang jahat (ahli neraka) ketika hendak di masukkan ke dalam neraka, mereka dengan nada menyesal berkata .. alangkah menyesalnya kami di dunia dulu, kalua kami  mendengar dan memikirkan apa yang dibawa  dan disampaikan oleh para nabi serta mengamalkannya nescaya kami tidak akan dimasukkan ke dalam neraka.

Itulah punca masalahnya…. TIDAK MAHU MENGENGAR DAN MEMIKIRKAN …… apa yang dibawa oleh  para rasul dan nabi. Malah diejek, diperolok  dan diperangi sampai ada para nabi dan rasul dihalau dan dibunuh.

Jadi.. Kita sekarang hendaklah MENDENGAR DAN MEMIKIRKAN apa yang telah disampaikan oleh para nabi dan rasul… kemudian amalkannya.. NESCAYA kita selamat daripada neraka.

 

Sumbangan tokoh-tokoh Islam kepada tamadun dunia

AHLI SAINS, MATEMATIK DAN ASTRONOMI ISLAM

 

Tokoh	Bidang	Buku Terjemahan Latin/English/French/German	Tempat lahir/tempoh
Jabir Ibn Haiyan (Geber)	Kimia (Bapa Kimia)	The Book of the Composition of Alchemy,Book of Kingdom, Book of the Balances, Book of Eastern Mercury, Sum of Perfection (all translated byBerthelot).	Meninggal  803  Kufa
Al-Asmai	Zoologi, Botani, Animal Husbandry	De Scienta Stellarum - De Numeris Stellarum et motibus (12th cent.), Al-Zij (Rome, 1899).	740 - 828 Basrah
Al-Khwarizmi (Algorizm)	Matematik, Astronomi, Geografi. (Algorithm, Algebra, calculus)		770 – 840 Kheva, Khwarizm (Uzbekistan)
'Amr ibn Bakr Al-Jahiz	Zoologi, Arabic Grammar, Rhetoric, Lexicography		776 – 868
Ibn Ishaq Al-Kindi (Alkindus)	Falsafah, Fizik, Optik,Perubatan, Matematik, Metallurgy		800 - 873 Kufa
Thabit Ibn Qurrah (Thebit)	Astronomi, Mekanik, Geometri, Anatomi		836 – 901 Harran (Turkey)
'Abbas Ibn Firnas	Mekanik Kapalterbang, Planetarium, Artificial Crystals.		Meninggal  888
Ali Ibn Rabban Al-Tabari	Perubatan, Matematik, Khat, Kesusasteraan		838 – 870 Marv (Tabristan)
Al-Battani (Albategnius)	Astronomi, Matematik, Trigonometri		858 – 929 Battan (Turkey)
Al-Farghani (Al-Fraganus)	Astronomi, Kejuruteraan Awam	Scientia Stellarum, Jawami "The Elements" (Latin 1170-1187; Hebrew 1590; Latin 1669).	C. 860 Faraghna (Transoxiana)
Al-Razi (Rhazes)	Perubatan, Ophthalmology, Smallpox, Chemistry, Astronomi	Continens (1279), Liber Almansoris (1480s,several editions ending in 1890), Nonus Almansuri, Liber Experimentorum, Al-Judari wa al-Hasabah (London, 1848).	864 – 930 Tehran (Iran)
Al-Farabi (Al-Pharabius)	Sociology, Logic, Philosophy, Political Science, Music.		870 – 950 Farab (Turkistan)
Abul Hasan Ali Al-Masu'di	Geografi, Sejarah	Meadows of Gold and Mines of Precious Stones (London, 1841)	Meninggal  957
Al-Sufi (Azophi)	Astronomi		903 - 986
Abu Al-Qasim Al-Zahravi (Albucasis)	Pembedahan, Perubatan. (Bapa Pembedahan Moden)	Surgical Part of Al-Tasrif li man Ajazaan al-Taalif (Venice 1497, Basle 1541, Oxford 1778)	936 – 1013 Zahra, Cordova
Muhammad Al-Buzjani	Matematik, Astronomi, Geometri, Trigonometri		940 – 997 Buzjan, Nishapur
Ibn Al-Haitham (Alhazen)	Fizik, Optik, Matematik	Opticae Thesaurus (12th cent., also in Hebrew)	965 – 1040 Basrah
Al-Mawardi (Alboacen)	Sains Politik, Sosiologi, Jurisprudence, Ethics		972 – 1058 Basrah
Abu Raihan Al-Biruni	Astronomi, Matematik. (Determined Earth's Circumference)	Al-Biruni's India (London, 1914), Kitab al-Tafhim (Luzac, 1934), Book on Precious Stones (1941), Parts of Kitab al-Saydan (1945)	973-1048 Khwarizm; sekarang Kara-Kalpakshaya (Uzbekistan)
Ibn Sina (Avicenna)	Perubatan, Falsafah, Matematik, Astronomi	Canon (1170-87), Sanatio (12th cent.), "A Treatise on the Canons of Medicine of Avicenna (1930), Book of Healing.	981 – 1037 Afshana, Bukhara
Al-Zarqali (Arzachel)	Astronomi (Invented Astrolabe).	Toledan Tables (12th. cent.)	1028 – 1087 Spain
Omar Al-Khayyam	Matematik, Poetry	Maqalat fi al-Jabr wa al-Muqabila, Rubaiyat (Quatrains, 1859, Tr. Fitzgerald)	1044 – 1123 Nishapur, Khurasan (Iran)
Al-Ghazali (Algazel)	Sosiologi, Theology, Falsafah		1058 – 1111 Khorman (Iran)
Ibn Zuhr (Avenzoar)	Pembedahan,   Perubatan	Kitab al-Taisir fi al-Mudawat wa al-Tadbir,Kitab al-Iqtisad fi Islah Al-Anfus wa al-Ajsad, Kitab al-Aghziya (12-13th. cent.).	1091 – 1161 Seville (Andalusia)
Al-Idrisi (Dreses)	Geografi (Peta Dunia, Globe Pertama).	Al-Kitab al-Rujari (Roger's Book, 12th cent.), another in Latin (Rome, 1619, published using only Translator's name), Nuzhat al-Mushtaq fi Ikhtiraq al-Afaq	1099 – 1166 Ceuta (Andalusia, Spain)
Ibn Rushd (Averroes)	Falsafah, Perundangan, Perubatan, Astronomi, Theology.	Colliget (13th Cent.), Almagest (1231 tr. into Hebrew).	1128 – 1198 Cordova
Al-Bitruji (Alpetragius)	Astronomi		Meninggal 1204 Morocco
Ibn Al-Baitar	Farmasi, Botani		Meninggal 1248 Malaga (Sepanyol)
Nasir Al-Din Al-Tusi	Astronomi, Non-Euclidean Geometri	Figura Cata (14th cent.)	1201 – 1274 Tus, Khurasan (Iran)
Jalal Al-Din Rumi	Sosiologi		1207 – 1273 Balkh (Afghanistan)
Ibn Al-Nafis Damishqui	Anatomi		1213 – 1288 Damascus
Al-Fida (Abdulfeda)	Astronomi, Geografi, Sejarah	Geographie d'Abouldfeda (Paris, 1848)	1273 – 1331
Ibn Khaldun	Sociologi, Falsafah Sejarah, Sains Politik	Muqaddimah ( Prolegomena) (1981 Princeton), Kitab al-I'bar, Al-Tasrif.	1332 – 1395 Tunis
Ulugh Beg	Astronomi	Tables of Planetary Motions	1393 – 1449 Sultaniyya (Turkistan)

 

 

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Sumbangan Tamadun Islam kepada Dunia (2)

Orang Islam telah memberi sumbangan yang begitu besar terhadap peradaban dan tamadun manusia. Sumbangan yang paling besar ialah dan aspek agama kerana agama Islam membawa akidah, iaitu kepercayaan terhadap Allah Yang Maha Esa. Menerusi akidah, manusia bebas hidup tanpa ada sesuatu yang di­takutinya kecuali Tuhan. Akidah juga menjadi aspirasi bagi manusia untuk bekerja secara ikhlas dan jujur. Oleh sebab sifatnya sarwajagat dan tidak terbatas-batas bangsa, kaum, keturunan dan geografi menyebabkan agama Islam dapat diterima oleh semua bangsa di dunia. Inilah antara sebab agama dan tamadun Islam berkembang di seluruh dunia. Di samping itu, agama Islam juga menyediakan undang-undang dan peraturan hidup manusia yang dinamakan Undang-undang Syariat yang dilaksanakan setiap masa dan tempat. Sekiranya akidah menjadi aspirasi dan motif penggerak ke arah tamadun, maka peranan syariat itu ialah menunjuk ajar serta memberi kaedah yang jelas kepada asas pembinaan tamadun. Antara asas itu ialah ilmu, iman dan amal. Ini ditambah pula dengan aspek akhlak, iaitu asas kepada pembinaan peribadi yang luhur. Kesepaduan ketiga-ketiga aspek itu akan membentuk insan yang sem­purna yang merangkumi roh, akal dan jasad. Dengan ketibaan ajaran Islam, masyarakat Eropah tidak lagi terikat dengan kawalan atau sekatan Paus gereja Rom. Bukan sahaja mereka tidak menghormati institusi gereja, bahkan mereka menentangnya. Seruan agama secara paksaan yang selama mi diamal­kan oleh pihak gereja telah diubah kepada cara diplomasi dan damai.

 Dalam bidang falsafah dan pemikiran, daripada pengaruh Islam, orang Eropah dapat membebaskan pemikiran mereka yang selama mi dibelenggu oleh pelbagai doktrin Kristian terutama sekali hubungan manusia dengan alam. Manusia tidak lagi dipandang sebagai makhluk yang pasif lantaran dosa warisan. Demikian juga sikap mereka terhadap kehidupan di dunia, bukan lagi sesuatu yang dibenci lantaran ia merosakkan, tetapi sesuatu yang mesti diisi dengan aktiviti kehidupan yang bermakna. Perubahan sikap ini akhirnya melahirkan satu gerakan intelektual yang dikenali sebagai faham humanisme pada abad ke-13M. Tokoh-tokoh falsafah Islam yang dicontohi oleh orang Eropah ialah al-Kindi, al-Farabi, Ibn Tufayl dan Ibn Rushd. Ibn Tufayl dengan karyanya Hayy Ibn Yaqzan yang mengungkapkan bahawa manusia boleh mengenal Tuhan tanpa wahyu dan guru telah mempengaruhi pemikiran orang Eropah. Karya ini telah diterjemahkan ke bahasa Latin oleh Roger Bacon dan diterbitkan bersama-sama teks Arab di Oxford pada tahun 1671. Seterusnya karya tersebut diterjemahkan ke bahasa-bahasa Eropah yang lain. Bukan se­takat menterjemah, malahan orang Eropah juga menghayatinya melalui penciptaan kisah-kisah berdasarkan idea yang dikemukakan dalam buku tersebut. Antara kisah tersebut ialah Robinson Crusoe yang dihasilkan pada abad ke­ 18M.

 Begitu juga idea falsafah Ibn Rushd telah mempengaruhi ahli falsafah Eropah sejak abad ke-12M lagi. Pada abad ke-16M, falsafah Ibn Rushd, menurut Renan, telah diamalkan secara rasmi oleh golongan terpelajar di Itali.

Dalam bidang kemasyarakatan konsep keadilan, hak individu serta penyertaan rakyat memberi pendapat, memberi layanan baik terhadap tawanan pe­rang, etika peperangan seperti melindungi nyawa kanak-kanak, orang tua dan kaum wanita yang dianjurkan oleh Islam merupakan nilai baru bagi mereka. Tokoh-tokoh yang dicontohi dalam aspek keadilan sosial ialah Nabi Muhammad (saw) dan para sahabatnya termasuk Abu Bakar, ‘Umar, ‘Uthman dan ‘Ali.

 Orang Eropah juga mendapat pengetahuan dalam bidang ekonomi seperti kegiatan perdagangan, perindustrian, teknologi pertanian serta sistem perairan. Teknik tanaman seperti sekoi, padi, tembikai, aprikot dan limau telah dipe­lajari daripada orang Islam. Tokoh-tokoh Islam yang dicontohi ialah Ibn Baytar dan al-Ghafiqi.

 Tokoh-tokoh Islam yang terkenal dalam bidang perubatan ialah al-Razi dan al-Asrar. Al-Razi telah menghasilkan buku berjudul al-Hawi. Buku ini telah dijadikan rujukan di Eropah dalam bidang kimia. Begitu juga buku Ibn Sina berjudul al-Qanun menjadi bahan rujukan di Eropah.

 Dalam bidang perkilangan, misalnya kilang membuat senjata di kota-kota besar Islam seperti Cordova dan Baghdad telah memberikan sumbangan besar kepada Eropah.

 Dalam bidang matematik pula, ramai penuntut Eropah yang datang belajar ke Andalus pada zaman pemerintahan Islam. Kebanyakan mereka telah menjadi pakar dalam bidang tersebut, antaranya Adelard dan Morley dari Britain. Adelard telah berguru dengan orang Islam dan beliau telah menterjemahkan karya al-Khawarizmi yang menulis tentang teori geometri dalam matematik dan statistik. Beliau telah menggunakan nombor Arab dalam terjemahannya. Seorang lagi tokoh matematik Eropah ialah Leonardo Fibonacci of Pisa.Beliau telah mempelajari ilmu matematik dengan orang Islam di Andalus. Karya-­karya beliau antaranya Liberab’ci telah dijadikan bahan bacaan asas ahli matematik di Eropah. Begitu juga George Purbach, pakar matematik dari Vienna pada abad ke-15M banyak berpandukan kajian yang dilakukan oleh ahli matematik Islam seperti Ibn al-Zarqiyali. Beliau mahir dalam matematik rajah segi tiga.

 Dalam bidang astronomi terdapat beberapa karya karangan Abu Ma’syar dan al-Khawarizmi. Karya mereka telah diterjemahkan ke bahasa Latin oleh Adelard of Bath dan John of Siville. Karya al-Battani juga telah diterjemahkan ke dalam bahasa Latin oleh Alfonso X. Ahli astronomi Eropah bernama Romond telah menulis karya astronominya berdasarkan karya Ibn al-Zarqiyali (Azarchel). Ibn al-Zarqiyali mahir dalam menentukan gerhana matahari dan telah mencipta sebuah kompas untuk menentukan jarak antara bulan dan bumi dan di antara bintang-bintang dan matahari. Dalam bahasa Eropah ter­dapat beberapa istilah astronomi yang dipinjam daripada bahasa Arab. Antaranya ialah alsumut dan nadir (nazir). Umat Islam juga telah berjaya mencipta kompas yang digunakan dalam pelayaran di laut. Dengan itu pelayaran di laut dan kegiatan perdagangan telah berkembang dengan lebih pesat. Muhammad bin Musa telah mencipta astrolab (jam matahari). Beliau juga mencipta sebuah alat yang dapat mengukur bulatan dunia. Pada abad ke-12M, Abu Solet telah mencipta sebuah alat yang dapat menimbulkan semula kapal yang sudah tenggelam.

 Dalam bidang botani pula, umat Islam telah memberi sumbangan yang besar. Di kota-kota besar seperti Cordova, Kaherah, Baghdad dan Fez terdapat taman bunga yang cantik dan indah. Menurut Sarton, pencapaian umat Islam dalam bidang botani adalah jauh lebih hebat daripada pencapaian yang pernah diwarisi bangsa Yunani. Pada abad ke-12M, Ibn Arabi telah menulis sebuah buku tentang botani. Al-Ghafiqidari Cordova telah menerbitkan sebuah buku tentang tumbuh-tumbuhan dan 50 jenis pohon buah-buahan. Sementara Ibn Sina turut menghasilkan sebuah buku yang mengulas tentang tumbuh­tumbuhan. Ibn al-Baytaryang berasal dan Andalus telah menyusun sebuah buku yang menyenaraikan 1400 jenis dadah yang boleh diproses daripada binatang, tumbuh-tumbuhan dan bahan galian. Karyanya yang berjudul Kitab al-Mughni fi al-Adwiyah al-Mufradah merupakan sebuah buku yang paling perpengaruh dalam bidang farmakologi. Berikutnya, karya-karya botani yang berkaitan dengan perubatan telah dihasilkan oleh para pengkaji yang tinggi di wilayah-wilayah Islam. Segala kajian itu telah membantu mengenal pasti jenis akar kayu dan tumbuh-tumbuhan yang berkhasiat dan dapat digunakan dalam bidang perubatan.

 Umat Islam turut menghasilkan kain dan kertas bermutu tinggi melalui kemajuan teknologi yang mereka miliki. Dalam bidang pertanian, mereka telah membina kincir air dan kincir angin.

 Dalam bidang seni muzik pula, pada abad ke-12, didapati karya-karya penting yang dihasilkan oleh orang Islam tentang muzik telah diterjemahkan ke bahasa Latin. Terjemahan ini dilakukan di Toledo. Ahli muzik Eropah, Franco of Cobogne (1190M) telah mengikut jejak al-Kindi dalam bidang seni muzik. Setelah itu muncul pula John of Garland dengan karyanya berjudul Ochetus yang mengkaji tentang nada suara yang diambil daripada kaedah nada suara muzik Arab.

 Dalam bidang bahasa, sastera dan seni ukir, banyak karya bahasa dan sas­tera dalam bahasa Arab telah diterjemahkan ke bahasa-bahasa Eropah. Istilah-­istilah Arab seperti sukkar (sugar), kimia (alchemy), arsyek (cheque) dan ba­nyak lagi telah dipinjam oleh bahasa Eropah. Tidak kurang pentingnya tentang ilmu pelayaran Islam. Ramai tokoh ahli pelayaran Islam yang menjadi terkenal antaranya ialah al-Mas’udi, Ibn Jubayr dan Ibn Battutah.

 Dalam bidang ketenteraan pula, taktik peperangan yang digunakan oleh tentera Islam sejak zaman Nabi Muhammad (saw) banyak mempengaruhi taktik dan strategi peperangan pada zaman moden.

 Ringkasnya, banyak aspek keintelektualan Islam telah ditiru oleh bangsa Eropah sehingga melahirkan satu perubahan besar dalam sejarah tamadun di Eropah. Namun begitu, nilai-nilai murni yang terkandung dalam tamadun Islam tidak dimanfaatkan oleh masyarakat Barat bagi mengukuhkan lagi ta­madun mereka, malah mereka menggantikannya dengan nilai-nilai kebendaan semata-mata. Justeru, lahirlah era penjajahan bagi mengejar harta kekayaan tanpa batas dan sempadan.

Bible Compared to Quran

Bible Compared to Quran
Based on transcripts of vairous lectures given by Yusuf Estes & Dr. Gary Miller

Introduction by Yusuf Estes -
I praise Almighty Allah and thank Him for guiding me to the light of Islam, and I testify there is none worthy of any worship, except Allah and that Muhammad is His messenger.
Let me begin by stating, we Muslims do not seek to put down or desecrete the Holy Bible, even though there is no extant piece of scripture in original form, we still hold in our hearts and minds a very high place for the original revelation of the Bible and for all of those to whom God inspired with its revelation.

It is a critical matter of faith for every Muslim to believe in the original revelations that came down to Moses, David, Solomon and Jesus, just as it is is important for Muslims to believe in the revelation of the Quran that came to Muhammad, peace be upon him. The key word here however, is "original." As we all know the origin of the Bible is clouded with centuries of copying, translating and passing down information, now long lost with only copies of manuscripts remaining to remind us of what once was the Bible.

Additionally, it should be noted that Muslims do not seek to destroy the Christians or Jews belief in the Word of God, rather it is an obligation for Muslims to call to what is right and to halt that which is evil. Certainly, causing the "People of the Book" (as the Quran refers to Christians and Jews) to fall into disbelief and leave off any faith in God at all, is the very opposite of the direction Muslims should take in presenting any comparison between Islam and what has come down in the past from the Almighty God. We only seek to bring about more light to the people seeking guidance and pray for all of us to be successful with our Lord in this life and in the Next life and we ask His Guidance and Support in doing so, ameen.

THE BIBLE
[Yusuf Estes]
Detailed Information on Bible on our websites:
www.BibleIslam.com * www.911Bible.com

Old Testament

There exists today a number of different versions in the ancient Hebrew language of the Jewish Book called the Torah [Law] and this is usually referred to in Christianity as The Old Testament. Naturally, there have been many different translations to a great number of languages over the centuries and one could not expect them to be identical in text or meaning. What we have in English today still remains somewhat similar to large amounts of these older documents.

New Testament

There are also different versions of the Gospel or what is commonly called The New Testament in the Koine Greek language and Latin and these also have many translations to even other langugaes. Even amongst the English translations there are great differences. To mention two very clear differences for example; the Catholic Bible [c. 325 A.D] contains 73 books in total, while the Protestant Bible contains only 66 books, and although the newer (Protestant version) was taken from the Catholic Bible even then these books do not match completely with each other. There is no common denominator for any of the many different versions of the Bible.

Dead Sea Scrolls

There have been a number of scrolls and parchments found in places surrounding what we call the "Holy Land" over the centuries, not the least of which are those often referred to as the "Dead Sea Scrolls" or as they are known to the scholars "Wadi Qumran Scrolls." These were discovered in the last century around 1930 and have been proven to be very ancient and could well be older than any other extant manuscripts. Much of what has been translated from these scrolls is similar to some of the oldest manuscripts, but there are still very important differences worthy of note. We would like to recommend some important reading on this topic at the end of this paper.

THE QURAN
[Yusuf Estes]
Detailed Information on Quran on our websites:
www.AllahsQuran.com * www.Qtafsir.com

Quran Means "Recitation"

The word "Quran" means "that which is recited; or that which is dictated in memory form." As such, it is not only a book, nor is it something that reaches us only in written form. The documentation in writting about the Quran has been preserved in museums thoughout the world, including the Topekopi Palace in Istanbul, Turkey, the museum in Tashkent, Uzbekistan and also in England. Keep in mind also, the Quran is only considered "Quran" while it is in the recitation form, not in the written or the book form. The word for what is written and held in the hand to be read by the eye is called "mus-haf" (meaning script or that which is written down).

Only One Version - Arabic

There are no different versions of the Quran in the Arabic language, only different translations and of course, none of these would be considered to hold the value and authenticity of the original Arabic Recitation. The Quran is divided up into 30 equal parts, called "Juz'" (parts) in the Arabic language. These are learned by Muslims from their very early beginnings as children.

Memorized by Millions - Entirely

The important thing to keep in mind about the Quran is the memorization and transmission of the actual "Rectiation" just as it came to Muhammad, peace be upon him, from the Angel Gabriel and was learned and memorized by his companions and they in turn, passed it down to their followers and continued in this way until we see today, over 10,000,000 (ten million) Muslims who have committed the entire Quran to memory. This is not a small feat. After all, how many other works of literary value have been memorized and passed down through so many generations, in the original language, without a single change in even one sentence?

Each Muslim Has "Quran" Memorized

All Muslims have memorzied a portion of the Quran in the Arabic language, as this is an important part of their daily prayers. Many Muslims have memorized large portions of the Quran from one tenth to one half to all of the entire Quran, and all in the original Arabic language. It should be noted, there are over one and a half billion (1,500,000,000) Muslims worldwide and only about 10% are Arab, all the rest are learing the Quran in Arabic as a second language.

God Speaks in First Person to Mankind in Quran

The Quran contains clear statements from Almighty God (Allah) and it is Him speaking to all of us in the first person. He tells of us our own creation, the creation of all that is the universe and what has happened to those before us and what is to become of us if we do not take heed of the warnings clearly spelled out in His Revelation. He speaks also to Muhammad, peace be upon him, to show that Muhammad, peace be upon him, is not making this up himself and even chastises Muhammad, peace be upon him, for making human assumptions rather than waiting for revelation in matters (ie.; surah At-Tahreem and surah Abasa).

Quran Mentions Itself

The Quran refers to itself as "The Quran" (The Recitation) and mentions that it is to all mankind and jinn (another creation of Allah, similar to humans in that they could make choices as to whether or not they would obey God's Commandments, and they existed before humans).

Quran Describes God's Nature Exactly

The Quran is clear on who God is and who He is not. There is no room left for doubt after reading the Quran in the Arabic languge: God is One. He is the only Creator, Sustainer and Owner of the Universe. He has no partners. He has no relatives; wives, children or offspring. He is not like His creation and He does not need it for His existance, while all the time the creation is totally dependent on Him. His attributes are clearly spelled out as the epitome of each and every one. He is for instance, the All-Knowing; the All-Hearing; the All-Seeing; the All-Forgiving; the All- Loving; the All-Merciful; the Only One God. There is never a contradiction to this found anywhere in the Quran.

Quran Challanges Readers

The Quran makes the clear challange, that if you are in doubt about it - then bring a book like it. Also, to bring ten chapters like it and then finally, to bring one single chapter like it. 1,400 years - and no one has been able to duplicate it's beauty, recitation, miracles and ease of memorization. Another challange for the unbelievers to consider; "If this (Quran) were from other than Allah, you would find within it many contradictions." And yet, another challange offered by Allah in the Quran is for the unbelievers to look around for evidences. Allah says He will show them His signs within themselves and on the farthest horizons.

Scientific Miracles in Quran

The scientific miracles of the Quran could not have been understood at that time, yet today we take for granted the many things included in the revelation of the Quran. Some include mentioning: The formation of embryo in the womb of the mother (surah 98); deep seas partitions; waters that do not mix; clouds and how they make rain and how lightning is caused by ice crystals; formation of the earth's mountains deep underground; orbits of planets and stars and moons - and even the mention of space travel (surah 55:33).
[Watch videos of world's top scientists commenting on the "Miracle of Science in Quran"]
http://islamyesterday.com/videos/science/

- COMPARISON of BIBLE & QURAN- 
[Dr. Gary Miller- with Commentary by Yusuf Estes]

Bible is Collection of Writings -
Quran is Recitation From God to Muhammad (p)

Whereas, The Bible is a collection of writings by many different authors, the Quran is a dictation (or recitation). The speaker in the Quran - in the first person - is God Almighty (Allah) talking directly to man. In the Bible you have many men writing about God and you have in some places the word of God speaking to men and still in other places you have some men simply writing about history or personal exchanges of information to one another (ex: Epistle of John 3). The Bible in the English King James Version consists of 66 small books. About 18 of them begin by saying: This is the revelation God gave to so and so… The rest make no claim as to their origin. You have for example the beginning of the book of Jonah which begins by saying: The word of the Lord came to Jonah the son of Elmitaeh saying… quote and then it continues for two or three pages.

Compare this to the beginning of the Book of "Luke" begins by saying: “In as much as many have taken in hand to set in order a narrative of those things which have been fulfilled among us, (2) Just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word delivered them to us, (3) It seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write to youan orderly account, most excellent Theophilus, (4) That you may know the certainty of those things in which you were instructed.

We see the author of the Book of "Luke" saying essentially, "Many people have written about things, it seems fitting for me to do so too.” "Luke" says it seems to him that as long as others are taking in hand to write something about it, even though they were eye witnesses to the whole thing, he feels that even though he was not, he still has "perfect understanding of all things from the very first."

Therefore this is only a letter from one person to another, neither of whom knew Jesus, peace be upon him, nor were eyewitnesses to any of what had taken place. [Y. Estes]

If you compare that to one of the four accounts of the life of Jesus, Luke begins by saying: “many people have written about this man, it seems fitting for me to do so too”. That is all… no claim of saying “ these words were given to me by God here they are for you it is a revelation”, there is no mention of this.

"Bible" is NOT in the Bible

The Bible does not contain self-reference, that is, the word 'Bible' is not in the Bible. Nowhere does the Bible talk about itself. Some scriptures are sometimes pointed to in the Bible, say: Here where it talks about itself, but we have to look closely. 2nd Timothy 3:16 is the favourite which reads: “All scripture is inspired of God” and there are those who would say, here is where the Bible it talks about itself, it says it is inspired of God, all of it. But if you read the whole sentence, you read that this was a letter wrote by Paul to Timothy and the entire sentence says to Timothy: “Since you were a young man you have studied the holy scriptures, all scriptures inspired by God” and so on… When Timothy was a young man the New Testament did not exist, the only thing that stems he was talking about are scriptures – which are only a portion of the Bible - from before that time. It could not have meant the whole Bible.

Bible Curses Church Fathers Who REMOVED Book of Revelations

There is at the end of the Bible a verse which says:

Rev 22:18 "For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book (Revelations): if anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book:
19. And if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, god shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. [Y. Estes]

“Let anyone who takes away from this book or adds to this book be cursed”. This to is sometimes pointed to me saying: Here is where it sums itself as a whole. But look again and you will see that when it says: Let no one change this book, it is talking about that last book, #66 (or is it #73 in the Catholic Bible?), the Book of Revelation. It has too, because any reference will tell you that the Book of Revelation was written before certain other parts of the Bible were written. It happens today to be stacked at the end, but there are other parts that came after, so it can not be referring to the entire book.

(Incidentally, according to different manuscripts much older than the King James Version, there are different words at the end of the Book of Revelation, so how would we resolve that matter? - Y.E.)

Note: The Book of Revelation was taken out of the Bible several times and then replaced and then taken out and replaced according to various Church Councils throughout Church history. Guess the Church Fathers didn't read the curse at the end of the book?

Whose Word Is It?

It is an extreme position held only by some Christian groups that the Bible – in its entirety - cover to cover is the revealed word of God in every word, but they do a clever thing when they mention this, or make this claim. They will say that the Bible in its entirety is the word of God; inerrant (no mistakes) in the original writings.

So if you go to the Bible and point out some mistakes that are in it you are going to be told: Those mistakes were not there in the original manuscript, they have crept in so that we see them there today.

They are going on problem in that position. There is a verse in the Bible Isaiah 40:8 which in fact is so well known that some Bibles printed it on the inside front cover as an introduction and it says : “ The grass weathers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever”. Here is a claim in the Bible that the word of God will stand forever, it will not be corrupted, it won't be lost. So if today you find a mistake in the Bible you have two choices. Either that promise was false that when God said my word wont fade away, he was mistaken, or the portion which has the mistake in it was not a part of the word of God in the first place, because the promise was that it would be safeguarded, it would not be corrupted.

Are There Mistakes?

I have suggested many times that there are mistakes in the Bible and the accusation comes back very quickly: Show me one. Well there are hundreds. If you want to be specific I can mention few. You have for example at 2nd Samuel 10:18 a description of a war fought by David saying that he killed 7000 men and that he also killed 40000 men on horsebacks. In 1st Chronicles 19 it mentions the same episode saying that he killed 70000 men and the 40000 men were not on horsebacks, they were on foot. The point be what is the difference between the pedestrian and not is very fundamental.

How Did Judas Die?

Matthew 27:5 says that Judas Iscariot when he died he hung himself. Acts 1 says that, no he jumped off a cliff head first. If you study Logic very soon you will come in your course to what they call an “undecidable propositions” or “meaningless sentences” or statements that can not be decided because there is no contextual false. One of the classic examples sited is something called the Effeminites paradox. This man was Cretan and he said “Cretans always lie”, now was that statement true or false? If he was a Cretan and he says that they always lie is he lying? If he is not lying then he is telling the truth then the Cretans don’t always lie ! You see it can not be true and it can not be false, the statement turns back on itself. It is like saying “What I am telling you right now is a lie” would you believe that or not? You see the statement has no true content. It can not be true and it can not be false. If it is true it is always false. If it is false it is also true.

Well in the Bible at Titus 1:12 the writer is Paul and he is talking about the Cretans. He says that one of their own men – a prophet - said “Cretans always lie” and he says that what this man says is true. It is a small mistake, but the point is that it is a human mistake, you don’t find that if you carefully examine the true content of that statement. It can not be a true statement.

Who is the Author?

Now I come back to the Quran, and as I mentioned the speaker in the Quran is - in the first person - is God. The book claims throughout that it is the word of God. It names itself 70 times as the Quran. It talks about its own contents. It has self-reference. The Quran states in the first Sura after Fatiha that “This is the book, there is no doubt in it, it is a guidance for those who are conscious of God” and so on and so on… It begins that way and continues that way stressing that. And there is one very amazing statement in the Quran when you come to the fourth Sura 82nd Ayah which says to those who say Quran is something else than the word of God. It challenges them saying: “Have they not considered the Quran, if it came from someone other than God they will find in it many mistakes”. Some of you are students, would you dare to hand in a paper after you completed a research work or something at the bottom you put down there “You wont find mistakes in this”. Would you dare to challenge your professor that way?. Well the Quran does that. It is telling: If you really think you know where this came from then starts looking for mistakes because you wont find any. Another interesting thing the Quran does is that it quotes all its critics. There has never - in hundreds of years - ever been some suggestion as to where that book came from but that the Quran does not already mention that objection and reply to it. Many times you will find the Ayah saying something like: Do they say such and such and so, say to them such and such and so. In every case there is a reply. More than that the Quran claims that the evidence of its origin is in itself, and that if you look at this book you will be convinced.

Difference of Authority

So the difference in Christianity and Islam comes down to a difference of authority and appeal to authority. The Christian wants to appeal to the Bible and the Muslim wants to appeal to the Quran. You can not stop by saying: This is true because me book say it is, and somebody else would say something else is true because my book says differently, you can not stop at that point, and the Quran does not. The Christians may point to some words that it is recorded Jesus said and say this proves my point. But the Muslim does not simply open his book and say: No, no the Quran says this, because the Quran does not simply deny something the Bible says and say something else instead. The Quran takes the form of a rebuttal, it is a guidance as the opening says (Huda lil mutakeen). So that for every suggestion that the Christian may say: My Bible say such and such, the Quran will not simply say: No that is not true, it will say: Do they say such and such then ask them such and such. You have for example the Ayah that compares Jesus and Adam. There are those who may say that Jesus must have been God (Son of God) because he had no father. He had a woman who was his mother, but there was no human father. It was God that gave him life, so he must have been God’s son. The Quran reminds the Christian in one short sentence to remember Adam - who was his father ? - and in fact, who was his mother ? He did not have a father either and in fact he did not have a mother, but what does that make him? So that the likeness of Adam is the likeness of Jesus, they were nothing and then they became something; that they worship God.

Quran Invites - Not Demands

So that the Quran does not demand belief - the Quran invites belief, and here is the fundamental difference. It is not simply delivered as: Here is what you are to believe, but throughout the Quran the statements are always: Have you O man thought of such and such, have you considered so and so. It is always an invitation for you to look at the evidence; now what do you believe ?

Special Pleading of the Bible

The citation of the Bible very often takes the form of what is called in Argumentation: Special Pleading. Special Pleading is when implications are not consistent. When you take something and you say: Well that must mean this, but you don’t use the same argument to apply it to something else. To give an example, I have seen it in publications many times, stating that Jesus must have been God because he worked miracles. In other hand we know very well that there is no miracle ever worked by Jesus that is not also recorded in the Old Testament as worked by one of the prophets. You had amongst others, Elijah, who is reported to have cured the leper, raise the dead boy to life and to have multiplied bread for the people to eat - three of the most favourite miracles cited by Jesus. If the miracles worked by Jesus proved he was God, why don’t they prove Elijah was God ? This is Special Pleading, if you see what I mean. The implications are not consistent. If this implies that then in that case it must also imply the same thing. We have those who would say Jesus was God because he was taken up in the heaven. But the Bible also says the a certain Einah did not die he was taken up into the heaven by God. Whether it is true or not, who knows, but the point is if Jesus being taken up proves he is God, why does not it prove Einah was God? The same thing happened to him.

Clear Parts & Difficult Parts of Bible

I wrote to a man one time, who wrote a book about Christianity and I had some of the objections I mentioned to you now. And his reply to me was that I am making matters difficult to myself, that there are portions in the Bible that are crystal clear and that there are portions that are difficult, and that my problem was that I am looking at the difficult part instead of the clear parts. The problem is that this is an exercise in self deception - why are some parts clear and some parts difficult? It is because somebody decided what this clearly means, now that makes this very difficult. To give you an example, John Chapter 14 a certain man said to Jesus: Show us God, and Jesus said: If you have seen me you have seen God. Now without reading on the Christian will say: See Jesus claimed to be God, he said if you have seen me you have seen God. If that is crystal clear then you have a difficult portion when you go back just a few pages to Chapter 5 when another man came to Jesus and said show us God and he said you have never seen God you have never heard his voice. Now what did he mean there if on the other occasion he meant that he was God? Obviously you have made matters difficult by deciding what the first one meant. If you read on in Chapter 14 you will see what he went on to say. He was saying the closest you are going to seeing God are the works you see me doing.

Bible Does Not Claim Jesus Claimed to Be Son of God

It is a fact that the words “son of God” are not found on the lips of Jesus anywhere in the first three Gospel accounts, he was always calling himself the Son of Man. And it is a curious form of reasoning that I have seen so often that it is established from Bible that he claimed to be God because - look how the Jews reacted. They will say for example he said such and such and the Jews said he is blaspheming, he claimed to be God and they tried to stone him. So they argue that he must have been claiming to be God because look ! - the Jews tried to kill him. They said that’s what he was claiming. But the interesting thing is that all the evidence is then built on the fact that a person is saying: I believed that Jesus was the son of God because the Jews who killed him said that’s what he used to say ! His enemies used to say that, so he must have said it, this is what it amounts to. In other hand we have the words of Jesus saying he would keep the law, the law of Moses and we have the statement in the Bible, why did the Jews kill him ? Because he broke the law of Moses. Obviously the Jews misunderstood him, if he promised he would keep the law, but they killed him because he broke the law, they must have misunderstood him, or lied about him.

Writers of Bible - Out of Context

When I talk about the Bible and quote various verses here and there I am often accused of putting things out of context, to say you have lifted something out of what it was talking about and given it a meaning. I don’t want to respond to the accusation as such, but it doesn’t seem to occur to many people that perhaps those who wrote portions of the Bible in the first place were guilty of the same thing. Maybe they – some of those writers - believed a certain thing and in order to prove it quoted from their scriptures – the Old Testament, the Hebrew writings - quoted out of context to prove their point. There are examples of that kind of thing. In Matthew 2 it said that a king wanted to kill the young child Jesus so he with his family went to Egypt, and they stayed there until that king died, and then they came back.

When the writer of Matthew, whoever he was, because the name Matthew won't be found in the book of Matthew; when he described this event saying that he came back out of Egypt, he said: “ This was to fulfil a prophecy which is written” and then he quotes Hosea Chapter 11 “Out of Egypt I called my Son”. So he said because Jesus went to Egypt and then came back out of Egypt and we have this passage in the Hebrew scriptures “out of Egypt I called my son” Jesus must have been the son of God. If you look and see what he was quoting, Hosea 11:1 he quotes the second half of a complete sentence, the complete sentence reads: “When Israel was young I loved him and out of Egypt I called my son”. Israel the nation was considered as the son of God. Moses was told to go to Pharaoh and say to him: If you touch that nation of people, you touch my son; warning him, warning Pharaoh: don’t touch that nation, calling the nation “the son of God”. So that this is the only thing talked about in Hosea 11:1. “Out of Egypt I called my son” can only refer to the nation of Israel. I mentioned this point some months ago here in another talk, to which a young lady with us objected that Israel is a symbolic name for Jesus. You will have a hard time finding that anywhere in the Bible because it isn’t there. You can take an index of the Bible and lookup the word “Israel” everywhere the word occurs and you will find no where in any place that you can connect the word Israel with Jesus. But never mind - suppose it is true, read on, the second verse says “and after that he kept on worshipping Bal”, because this is what the Israelites were guilty of, very often they kept falling back into Idol worshipping. So if that “Israel” really meant Jesus and it means that Jesus is the son of God that came out of Egypt they must also mean that Jesus from time to time used to bow down to that idol Bal. You have to be consistent, and follow through on what it says. So the point is whoever wrote Matthew and Chapter 2 was trying to prove a point by quoting something out of context, and he undid himself, because if you follow through on it, it can not be so.

Quran Has Internal Evidences

Now I can come back to the claim the Quran makes that it has internal evidence of its origin. There are many many ways that you can look at this. As one example, if I single out somebody here and say: You know, I know your father - he is going to doubt that, he has never seen me with his father. He would say, how does he look like, is he tall short does he wear glasses? and so on, and if I give him the right answers pretty soon he will get convinced, “Oh yes, you did meet him”. If you apply the same kind of thinking when you look at the Quran, here is a book that says it came from the one who was there when the universe began. So you should be asking that one: So tell me something that proves it. Tell me something that shows me you must have been there when the universe was beginning. You will find in two different Ayahs the statement that all the creation began from a single point, and from this point it is expanding. In 1978 they gave the Noble prize to two people who proved that thats the case. It is the big bang origin of the universe. It was determined by the large radio receivers that they have for the telephone companies which were sensitive enough to pick up the transmissions from satellites and it kept finding background noise that they could not account for. Until the only explanation came to be, it is the left over energy from that original explosion which fits in exactly as would be predicted by the mathematical calculation of what would be this thing if the universe began from a single point and exploded outwards. So they confirmed that, but in 1978. Centuries before that here is the Quran saying the heavens and the earth in the beginning they were one piece and split and says in another Ayah : “of the heavens we are expanding it”.

Quran Has Exact Accuracy

Let me tell you about a personal investigation, it occurred to me that there are a number of things you can find in the Quran that give evidence to its origin – internal evidence. If the Quran is dictated from a perfect individual; it originates with God, then there should not be any wasted space, it should be very meaningful. There should be nothing that we don’t need that you can cut off, and it should not be missing anything. And so that everything in there should really be there for a specific purpose. And I got to thinking about the Ayah which I mentioned before, it says, the likeness of Jesus is the likeness of Adam. It an equation, it uses the Arabic word (mithel), it says Jesus, Adam, equal. You go to the index of the Quran, you look up the name ISA it is in the Quran 25 times, you lookup the name Adam it is there 25 times. They are equal, through scattered references but 25 of each. Follow that through and you will find that in the Quran there are 8 places were an Ayah says something is like something else, using this (Mithel), you will find in every case and take both sides of it whatever that word is look it up in the index and it will be lets say 110 times and lookup the other word and it will be said to be equal to the same 110. That is quite a project of co-ordination if you try to write a book that way yourself. So that everywhere you happened to mention that such and such is like such and such that then you check your index, filing system, or your IBM punch cards or whatever, to make sure that in this whole book you mentioned them both the same number of times. But that’s what you will find in the Quran.

Quran Provides Reason

What I am talking about is built on a thing that is called in Logic: Use and Mention of a Word. When you use a word, you are using its meaning. When you mention a word, you are talking about the symbol without the meaning. For example, if I say Toronto is a big city - I used the word Toronto as I meant this place Toronto is a big city. But if I say to you Toronto has 7 letters, I am not talking about this place Toronto, I am talking about this word - Toronto. So, the revelation is above reasoning, but it is not above reason. That is to say we are more apt not to find in the Quran something that is unreasonable, but we may find something that we would have never figured out for ourselves.

Unique Word Refers to Itself in Quran

The author of this sentence said if this book came from someone besides God then you will find in it many Ikhtalafan (inconsistencies). The word Ikhtilaf is found many times in the Quran. But the word Ikhtalafan is only found once in the Quran. So there are not many Ikhtilafan in the Quran, there is only one - where the sentence is mentioned. So you see how things are put together perfectly. It has been suggested to mankind: Find a mistake. Man could not get hold of a mistake, and he is very clever, because this sentence could also mean: Find many Iktilafan and so he quickly goes to the index to see if he can find many of them and there is only one... Sorry clever person.

[end of Dr. Gary Miller and Yusuf Estes]

Bible And Quran - Originally Both From Allah

Conclusion: Both the Bible and the Quran have come to us by way of Almighty God, then through His angel Gabriel and then to the prophets, peace be upon them. However, when the next step comes into play (that of the human beings faithfully transmitting it on to others and future generations) we find out that Allah has only perserved His Last and Final Revelation for all times. And He certainly did not need the humans to do that.

Respect For Holy Books

Muslims should respect the Bible because it does still contain some of the original teachings of Allah. But there is no need to go to Bible classes or purchase one to read to try to learn about what our purpose is here in this life. The Quran makes it clear that Allah has indeed, perfected our "way of life" for us and has conferred on us His favor and has chosen for us to submit to Him in Islam.

We would like to suggest to the non-Muslims to consider obtaining a Quran (order one free through our site if you like) and then investigate for themsleves what the Quran is really all about and what it might mean to them in their lives.

[Free Quran available at: http://islamtomorrow.com/free ]

Final comment from Yusuf Estes:

I would like to state that after years of studying the Bible and then learning the Arabic language to read the Quran as it was originally recited to Muhammad, peace be upon him, by the angel Gabriel, I have come to an amazing conclusion. It seems to me that the Bible and the Quran are most definitely from the exact same source and they compliment each other very nicely. In fact, it appears that the Bible does not contradict the Quran, except in the very same places where the Bible contradicts itself.

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Read "Son of Who?" - "Sons of God?" - "That Prophet?" and more about the Bible - [click here]

Scholars of Bible Discuss Secret Gospel of Mark - [click here]

For more about the Quran - [click here]

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