Ask me about Islaam

[Yusha']

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

In the Name of Allaah, the Beneficent, the Merciful

I would like to invite searchers of truth, whether they are Christians, catholics, Baha'is, or any other religion to discuss with me any of their questions about Islaam. May Allaah تعالى guide us to the straight path (ameen)

 

[JM]

On what basis are your sins forgiven?

 

[Yusha']

On what basis are your sins forgiven?

An excellent question.

Allaah says in the Holy Quraan:

Say: "O my servants who have transgressed against their souls! despair not of the mercy of Allah. for Allah forgives all sins: for He is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful." (39:53)

And the way to obtain Allaah's mercy is by believing and worshipping Him alone, repenting your sins to Him alone, and leaving off shirk, which is to set up partners with Allaah.

So here are three important points about repentance and forgiveness in Islaam:

1. Allaah forgives all sins which believers repent from

2. Allaah may forgive even sins which believers dont repent from, if He so wished out of His pure mercy, or if He so wishes, He may punish the sinful

3. Allaah will never forgive those people who never repented from shirk (setting up partners with Allaah), such people will be doomed forever in the Fire, because they did not recognize Allaah as the One True God who alone has the power to forgive sins and who alone is worthy of worship.

 

[JM]

If I’m not mistaken Islam believes it is a corrected and continued version of previous revelations from God. In the Old Testament we have a sacrificial system where a blood atonement was offered to God for sin. The New Testament teaches, clearly, that Christ was typified in the Old Testament ceremonial Laws and was the basis for all forgiveness of sin. (Lev. 16 and Hebrews 10)
Where is the blood offering for sin?

 

[Yusha']

If I’m not mistaken Islam believes it is a corrected and continued version of previous revelations from God. In the Old Testament we have a sacrificial system where a blood atonement was offered to God for sin. The New Testament teaches, clearly, that Christ was typified in the Old Testament ceremonial Laws and was the basis for all forgiveness of sin. (Lev. 16 and Hebrews 10)
Where is the blood offering for sin?

You are talking about animal sacrifices, which are an act of worship and is supposed to be dedicated to Allaah only. Animal sacrifice is definitely a way to atone for sins, just like fasting, or giving charity, etc.

However, in Islaam there is no such thing as "human sacrifice", as this is a pagan practice of various pagan cultures, which God in the Old testament considered as an abomination and way of the pagan gentile cultures which the Israelites were forbidden to follow their ways. For example, the pagans used to sacrifice humans to their idol molech. The Aztecs also sacrificed humans to their "gods".

However, Islaam says sacrifices to God can only be animals, i.e. sheep, goat, oxen, birds. This is why we don't believe Jesus Christ عليه السلام dying on a cross atones for sins.

 

[Lokke]

is Russia to help muslims destroy temple i n Jerusalem?

 

[Yusha']

is Russia to help muslims destroy temple i n Jerusalem?

The temple in Jerusalem was destroyed in 70 c.e. by the Romans, way before Islaam came on the scene.

 

[Playfair]

I have a couple of questions. I mean all due respect to you, so I hope you understand I just want to have a better understanding.

1. Why is the crescent moon a symbol of Islam? What does it represent?

2. The Old Testament speaks of a Messiah, of a Redeemer. I understand the Prophet, but who is the Redeemer in Islam? Who is the Messiah? If there is no Messiah, then what do all the blood sacrifices and symbols represent then. In my mind they are all a picture of what was to come, the Messiah.

3. Why is Mohammad spoken of as higher then the prophets, and even Jesus? Why is he addressed as He or Him, when that title (the capital H) is usually only referred to YHWH?

4. Is YHWH and Allah the same God? If not what are the differences between the Jewish God and the Islamic God - don't they both come from the same Biblical source?

Thanks, I look forward to your answers!!!

 

[Wicked Willow]

Why does the One God supposedly object to dogs? They're among the first domesticated animals, after all (and ones that helped Man to guard his herds of sheep, to protect the home, assisted in the hunt and so forth).

 

[Wicked Willow]

1. Why is the crescent moon a symbol of Islam? What does it represent?

Even I can answer that one:

Originally, Islam had no symbols whatsoever. Neither Mohammed nor the early Islamic rulers used the crescent moon (or any other symbol) to represent their faith; this went so far that even COINS did not feature any symbols, but were covered in ARabic writing instead.

In fact, the crescent moon was originally not a religious icon at all: it was the symbol of the Sabaeans and the Sassanian Empire of Persia (Iran) and is prominently displayed on the crowns of its rulers. After the Arab conquest of that empire in 651 CE, it was gradually adopted by later caliphates and Muslim rulers as an established and recognized symbol of power in Western Asia.
Thus, it became islamic-by-association.

 

[canukian]

Even I can answer that one:

Originally, Islam had no symbols whatsoever. Neither Mohammed nor the early Islamic rulers used the crescent moon (or any other symbol) to represent their faith; this went so far that even COINS did not feature any symbols, but were covered in ARabic writing instead.

In fact, the crescent moon was originally not a religious icon at all: it was the symbol of the Sabaeans and the Sassanian Empire of Persia (Iran) and is prominently displayed on the crowns of its rulers. After the Arab conquest of that empire in 651 CE, it was gradually adopted by later caliphates and Muslim rulers as an established and recognized symbol of power in Western Asia.
Thus, it became islamic-by-association.

it it symbolic?

 

[Nooj]

Why should I worship Allah?

 

[Yusha']

I have a couple of questions. I mean all due respect to you, so I hope you understand I just want to have a better understanding.

1. Why is the crescent moon a symbol of Islam? What does it represent?

2. The Old Testament speaks of a Messiah, of a Redeemer. I understand the Prophet, but who is the Redeemer in Islam? Who is the Messiah? If there is no Messiah, then what do all the blood sacrifices and symbols represent then. In my mind they are all a picture of what was to come, the Messiah.

3. Why is Mohammad spoken of as higher then the prophets, and even Jesus? Why is he addressed as He or Him, when that title (the capital H) is usually only referred to YHWH?

4. Is YHWH and Allah the same God? If not what are the differences between the Jewish God and the Islamic God - don't they both come from the same Biblical source?

Thanks, I look forward to your answers!!!

Thanks for the questions, and I pray that you benefit from the answers.

1. The crescent, or the crescent and the star are NOT symbols of Islaam, never were and never will be. Neither did the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم nor his companions, nor the first three generations of Muslims ever adapted any symbol of the religion, and they never used the crescent as a symbol of Islaam. The reason the crescent appears on the flags of many Muslim countries is due to Turkish influence. It was a symbol of the Turks, particularly the Ottoman empire. So this symbol was adapted much later on by some Muslims and has nothing to do with Islaam. If you look at the flag of Saudi Arabia, where Islaam started, the flag does not have a crescent or a star, but rather the testimony of faith and a sword underneath it.

2. Islaam teaches that Jesus is indeed the promised messiah sent to Israel. The nation of Israel was awaiting for a king from the descendant of David who will rule them and bring about a great era of peace where the wolf and lion and sheep will all live together in peace, etc. We believe Jesus was that messiah, but since the Jews rejected him, so Allaah took him away. Thus Jesus will return in the future from the sky as the messiah and rule as a king, and in his kingdom the wolf and lion and sheep will all live in peace together and not fight or kill eachother. However, Islaam does not teach that the messiah is someone who will die for our sins, rather he will be a king who will rule by the laws of God.

3. Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم is indeed the seal of prophets, and no new prophet will come after him. He is never spoken of as being better than any particular prophet, Muslims believe in all prophets equally. Our Prophet even said that "Do not praise me over Jonah, the son of Matta."

Islaam teaches that prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم was just a human being, chosen by God to receive divine revelation and convey the message to mankind that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah the One True God. He has died and is buried in Arabia, we don't consider him to be divine, and we don't capitalize the pronoun "he" for him. In fact, Arabic language does not have capital or lower case letters anyways. But in English translations of the Quraan, the pronoun He is only capitalized for Allaah.

4. YHWH, Yahweh, or Yehovah that is the name of God in Hebrew used in the Old Testament. The Quraan is in Arabic, and the name of God in Arabic is Allaah or Ilaah. If you pick up an Arabic translation of the Bible, the word for God is Allaah in the Bible. So it is the one and same God, Who has many names in different languages.

 

[Playfair]

Thanks for the questions, and I pray that you benefit from the answers.

1. The crescent, or the crescent and the star are NOT symbols of Islaam, never were and never will be. Neither did the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم nor his companions, nor the first three generations of Muslims ever adapted any symbol of the religion, and they never used the crescent as a symbol of Islaam. The reason the crescent appears on the flags of many Muslim countries is due to Turkish influence. It was a symbol of the Turks, particularly the Ottoman empire. So this symbol was adapted much later on by some Muslims and has nothing to do with Islaam. If you look at the flag of Saudi Arabia, where Islaam started, the flag does not have a crescent or a star, but rather the testimony of faith and a sword underneath it.

2. Islaam teaches that Jesus is indeed the promised messiah sent to Israel. The nation of Israel was awaiting for a king from the descendant of David who will rule them and bring about a great era of peace where the wolf and lion and sheep will all live together in peace, etc. We believe Jesus was that messiah, but since the Jews rejected him, so Allaah took him away. Thus Jesus will return in the future from the sky as the messiah and rule as a king, and in his kingdom the wolf and lion and sheep will all live in peace together and not fight or kill eachother. However, Islaam does not teach that the messiah is someone who will die for our sins, rather he will be a king who will rule by the laws of God.

3. Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم is indeed the seal of prophets, and no new prophet will come after him. He is never spoken of as being better than any particular prophet, Muslims believe in all prophets equally. Our Prophet even said that "Do not praise me over Jonah, the son of Matta."

Islaam teaches that prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم was just a human being, chosen by God to receive divine revelation and convey the message to mankind that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah the One True God. He has died and is buried in Arabia, we don't consider him to be divine, and we don't capitalize the pronoun "he" for him. In fact, Arabic language does not have capital or lower case letters anyways. But in English translations of the Quraan, the pronoun He is only capitalized for Allaah.

4. YHWH, Yahweh, or Yehovah that is the name of God in Hebrew used in the Old Testament. The Quraan is in Arabic, and the name of God in Arabic is Allaah or Ilaah. If you pick up an Arabic translation of the Bible, the word for God is Allaah in the Bible. So it is the one and same God, Who has many names in different languages.

Wow! Thank you for your heartfelt, honest and quick responses. I really respect that.

Although I know we don't see eye to eye on some things, I really appreciate your answers. I have a couple more if you don't mind!

1. If the God of Islam and the God of Israel are the same, then why is there the division? Why are there different religions? Wouldn't God be the same God in the Bible as well?

What are your feelings on this man:

[youtube]4HXX2fO8pM4[/youtube]
I honestly don't know much about him, but I understand there is much controversy with him in the Islamic world.

Thanks a lot, I appreciate your openness and honestly.

God bless.

 

[Yusha']

Why does the One God supposedly object to dogs? They're among the first domesticated animals, after all (and ones that helped Man to guard his herds of sheep, to protect the home, assisted in the hunt and so forth).

I don't know what you mean by "object". Dogs are a creation of Allaah, but they are an unclean animal, and if a Muslim comes into contact with a dog he must wash himself seven times.

The purpose of dogs is indeed to herd sheep and guard animals, and also for hunting. That is the only reason they are allowed to be kept for. It is sin to keep them for other reasons, as our prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said:

Whoever keeps a dog, except a dog that is trained for hunting or a dog for herding livestock, his reward will decrease each day by two qeeraats. (Bukharee, 5059)

Similarly, pigs are another unclean animal, and may not be touched and it is a great sin to eat pork as well.

 

[Beckyy25]

2. Allaah may forgive even sins which believers dont repent from, if He so wished out of His pure mercy,

I have read the entire Qur'an last month, but I do not remember to have read an ayah saying that "Allah may forgive even sins which believers don't repent from". But maybe I simply don't remember that. So, I would be happy if you could give me an ayah which confirms what you wrote above.

 

[Yusha']

Why should I worship Allah?

A very good question. Allaah, the One True God, is the Creator of all things. He is eternal, without beginning or end, He is above and beyond His creation. He is not a man, and nothing is like unto Him. The reason you should worship only Allaah is because only He has the power to answer your prayers. Worshipping anything or anyone else is rebellion and treachery against God, it is known as shirk (idolatry/polytheism) and is the greatest sin ever. Therefore praying to idols of stone, wood, metal, or praying to dead spirits, or praying to saints and pictures, or praying to animals, or praying to a holy man or a prophet is all classified as shirk. Also, praying to any of these things in order to become closer to God is also shirk, because there are no intermediaries in worship, Islaam teaches that we have to worship Allaah directly without any intermediaries, because Allaah is All-Seeing and All-Hearing and All-Knowing, He does not need intermediaries.

 

[Lokke]

Russia thiis have much oil and want to get in EU. many country i n EU want to have Russia. Köpenhagn accord let Russia come to EU but for many muslim live i n Russia. thiis is like turky and iran want to be in EU. do you think this i s true that muslim country want to come to EU economie?

 

[Nooj]

A very good question. Allaah, the One True God, is the Creator of all things. He is eternal, without beginning or end, He is above and beyond His creation. He is not a man, and nothing is like unto Him. The reason you should worship only Allaah is because only He has the power to answer your prayers. Worshipping anything or anyone else is rebellion and treachery against God, it is known as shirk (idolatry/polytheism) and is the greatest sin ever. Therefore praying to idols of stone, wood, metal, or praying to dead spirits, or praying to saints and pictures, or praying to animals, or praying to a holy man or a prophet is all classified as shirk. Also, praying to any of these things in order to become closer to God is also shirk, because there are no intermediaries in worship, Islaam teaches that we have to worship Allaah directly without any intermediaries, because Allaah is All-Seeing and All-Hearing and All-Knowing, He does not need intermediaries.

I appreciate your answer, but I don't feel that it answers my question. You've told me why I should worship Allah alone as opposed to anything else, but you haven't told me why I should worship Allah in the first place. That's what I was asking.

 

[JM]

You are talking about animal sacrifices, which are an act of worship and is supposed to be dedicated to Allaah only. Animal sacrifice is definitely a way to atone for sins, just like fasting, or giving charity, etc.

Hebrews 10:4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins.

However, in Islaam there is no such thing as "human sacrifice", as this is a pagan practice of various pagan cultures, which God in the Old testament considered as an abomination and way of the pagan gentile cultures which the Israelites were forbidden to follow their ways. For example, the pagans used to sacrifice humans to their idol molech. The Aztecs also sacrificed humans to their "gods".

Christians would agree that "human sacrifice" would be pagan, but we read:

Eph. 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, 4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, 5 having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, 6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved. 7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace 8 which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, 9 having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself, 10 that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both[a] which are in heaven and which are on earth—in Him. 11 In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, 12 that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory.

However, Islaam says sacrifices to God can only be animals, i.e. sheep, goat, oxen, birds. This is why we don't believe Jesus Christ [FONT=&quot]عليه[/FONT] [FONT=&quot]السلام[/FONT] dying on a cross atones for sins.

Christ’s Death Fulfills God’s Will

5 Therefore, when He came into the world, He said:

“ Sacrifice and offering You did not desire,
But a body You have prepared for Me.
6 In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin
You had no pleasure.
7 Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come—
In the volume of the book it is written of Me—
To do Your will, O God.’”

8 Previously saying, “Sacrifice and offering, burnt offerings, and offerings for sin You did not desire, nor had pleasure in them ” (which are offered according to the law), 9 then He said, “Behold, I have come to do Your will, O God.” He takes away the first that He may establish the second. 10 By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

Christ’s Death Perfects the Sanctified

11 And every priest stands ministering daily and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. 12 But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, 13 from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool. 14 For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.
15 But the Holy Spirit also witnesses to us; for after He had said before,
16 “This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the LORD: I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them,” 17 then He adds, “Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.” 18 Now where there is remission of these, there is no longer an offering for sin.

Hold Fast Your Confession

19 Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, 21 and having a High Priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.

Who is the high Priest in Islam?