Fellowship of the Quran, Aggression Against Innocent, Preserve Water
Issue 377 » May 5, 2006 - Rabi Al-Thani 7, 1427
General
| Living the Quran |
Al-Ahzab
(The Confederates)
Your journey through the Quran requires that you seek and join a community of quest and study. No doubt you will read the Quran individually, but your benefits will multiply if you also join in fellowship with other believers and seekers after the Quran. In companionship, the states of the heart may be intensified, and many minds joined together may understand meanings better and more correctly. And, only by joining with others can you live fully the lives inspired by the Quran and discharge the mission that reading it enjoins upon you. By acting and fulfilling that mission you will deserve to be admitted to the fullest possible blessings of the Quran. Significantly, the Quranic address is almost always collective. And the Prophet, blessings and peace be on him, from the moment he received the revelation of the Quran, set out to create a community with the Quran at the centre of its life, and spent every moment of his life in this effort. The instruction to 'read' was followed, in time, by the command to 'arise and warn'. The instruction to continue to 'read what has been revealed to you in the Book of your Lord' is immediately followed, contextually, with the instruction to 'bind yourself with those who call upon their Lord at morning and evening, desiring His countenance, and let not your eyes turn away from them' (al-Kahf 18: 27-8). These Quranic teachings clearly and forcefully establish the link between its reading and the need for a strong, closely-knit community rooted in that reading. Those who gather together to read and study the Quran are blessed because upon them descend the angels with God's abundant mercy. So you should not be content with reading and studying the Quran alone, but should set out to find other seekers and invite them that you may do so together. Source: |
| Understanding the Prophet's Life |
| Islam Forbids Aggression Against Innocent People Islam does not permit aggression against innocent people, whether the aggression is against life, property, or honour, and this ruling applies to everyone, regardless of position, status and prestige. In Islam, as the state’s subject is addressed with Islamic teachings, so is the ruler or caliph; he is not allowed to violate people's rights, lives, honour, property, etc. In the Farewell Pilgrimage, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) declared the principle that people's lives, property, and honour are inviolable until the Day of Judgment. This ruling is not restricted to Muslims; rather, it includes non-Muslims who are not fighting Muslims. Even in case of war, Islam does not permit killing those who are not involved in fighting, such as women, children, the aged, and the monks who confine themselves to worship only. This shouldn’t raise any wonder, for Islam is a religion that prohibits aggression even against animals. Ibn `Umar, may Allah be pleased with them both, quoted the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, as saying: "A woman (was made to) enter (Hell) Fire because of a cat which she tied, neither giving it food nor setting it free to eat from the vermin of the earth." (Reported by Al-Bukhari) If such is Islamic ruling concerning aggressive acts against animals then the punishment is bound to be severe when human being happens to be the victim of aggression, torture and terrorism. Source: |
| Blindspot! |
Ten Easy Ways You Can Conserve Water “Get out of the shower!” your little brother shouts as he bangs on the washroom door. “You’ve been in there for twenty minutes!” The 20 minutes you spend in the shower, use up 400 litres of water. The Prophet (peace be upon him) performed the ghusl, a complete bath, with one Sa’ of water—that’s just 1.6 litres! You may ask, “How is that possible? Taking a shower in six cups of water? The times sure have changed.” You’re right. The times have changed—the problem of water scarcity is worse today than during time of the Prophet. The question of possibilities uncovers our passive acceptance of the luxurious North American lifestyle. While the average Canadian uses 335 litres of water per day, the average sub-Saharan African uses 10-20 litres per day. It may seem impossible for us in North American, but in today’s world, the level of conservation practiced by the Prophet is necessary. Here're ten ways you can conserve water and save lives:
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