Is eating vegetarian 'pork' permissable?

Impossible, first came out with the impossible burger meat, which tasted much like meat, even though it is purely vegetarian.  Apparently, what gives the meat the smell and taste of real meat, is the molecule heme, which can be found in hemoglobin, which exists in living plants and animals - according to their website. 

Now they are coming up with a new product which is the vegetarian 'pork'.   

So in Singapore, the Muslims have asked advice from the Islamic authority if it's permissable to eat the vegetarian 'pork'.   The answer, simplified by me here, is - if the materials are truly plant based, it is technically permissable.  However, Muslims are advised to abstain from it. 

I would agree fully with the authorities.   

Why I believe we should abstain from it are two. 

1. It is to remove the possibilities of earning God's displeasure without you realising.   

 Because according to the concept that might be familiar to most Muslims, the reward of a deed  depends on your intention. (Hadith Sahih, Bukhari)

You and your friend might both be eating it, but one of you may be earning God's displeasure and the other is not.  The one that is not, if perhaps, having it, because they primarily assume it to be vegetable based product, regardless of what you call it.    While the other person, is eating it, because they want to know how it feels like to eat like the non-Muslims.    We want to avoid the possibility of being considered as 'one of them'

2. To avoid possibilities of confusion. 

If you become familiar with eating the 'impossible' pork,  you may more likely to be confused or not know when you're actually eating real pork in some ignorant situations.  Eg. if another company sells actual pork, and calls them impossible, and you assume them to be the 'vegetarian' one.     Whereas the person who in the first place, abstains from all those, will not fall into this possibility at all. 

Alhamdulillaah, there is an abundance of food variety in Singapore and around the world that are clearly halal, delicious and good too.    So, one should abstain from unnecessary confusions and imitating non-Muslims diet, as such. 

May God guide us all. 

Albert Einstein's - 3 types/levels of religiosity (my Islamic perspective)

I learnt that Albert Einstein, through his scientific understanding of the universe, do believe in a supreme being, who have designed the universe and us. 

However, he has classified this understanding of the Supreme Being, through the creations of the universe and of us, being the most intellectual and highest level of religiosity, and that the first two is not relevant to him.  That's where we differ. 

This is found in his collections of writings, in a compiled book - 'The World As I See It', under the topic of Religion and Science.

According to Einstein, there are 3 types of religiosity :

1. Religion based on fear.

He said, the most primitive form of religion is the one based on fear, where people feel the need to ask from and depend on a Being, who will nourish them  or protect them from danger or sickness.

2. Religion based on social and morality needs. 

When people became more 'civilised' people find the need for a guidance on right and wrong, and the need for reward for good things and punishment for bad things.

3. 'Cosmic' Religion.

The last one - cosmic religion, which Einstein subscribes to, is when people observe and discover the grandness the perfectness and magnificent order that the creation around us and within us are, therefore discovering the greatness of the Supreme Being.

Personally I find his thoughts on the 3 levels of religiosity to be enlightening.  All three types of religiosity is valid and mentioned in the Quran,  And it is no surprise - God is All Encompassing.  Different kinds of religiosity may reach the souls of different types of people. However,  the common factor that must exist in all 3 levels of religiosity is that the person should never ever associate any other beings with GOD, believe in the life after death and the day of Judgement. 

Einstein, through his scientific findings in the absence of "free will" cannot understand why God would punish someone for something that is beyond the man's capacity to choose.  A similar thought and question were also mentioned by a sahabah, and a modern scientist Briane Green. 

In the case of the Sahabah, this hadith from Bukhari from the Book of Divine Will " While we were sitting with the Prophet (ﷺ) who had a stick with which he was scraping the earth, he lowered his head and said, "There is none of you but has his place assigned either in the Fire or in Paradise." Thereupon a man from the people said, "Shall we not depend upon this, O Allah's Apostle?" The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "No, but carry on and do your deeds, for everybody finds it easy to do such deeds (as will lead him to his place)." The Prophet (ﷺ) then recited the Verse: 'As for him who gives (in charity) and keeps his duty to Allah..' (92.5) "

So what do we do?  With this knowledge, instead of being arrogant, trying to know everything that God does (when God already said, men's knowledge is too little), we should, in our current state of understanding and capacity, compel ourselves to do good, and put our hope in God to make us the inheritors of the Heavens. 

In the case of Briane Green, in the conversation he has with Forbes' Dan Potterfield, written in an article dated July 21 2020, even though he is a strong believer of 'no free will'  (in our Islamic terms, I would say that everything is fated, written, as Allaah said) - he still believes that everyone is still responsible for what their particles do.  Should a person be punished for the wrong that he does?  If punishment is a consequential perspective to shape future behaviours, he believes it is justifiable.   (I cannot begin to tell you how many of his words just reminds me of ayahs in the Quran.. like this punishment to shape future behaviours.. "And we will surely let them taste the nearer punishment short of the greater punishment that perhaps they will repent" Q-AS-Sajdah 32:21)

In Islamic terms, I would say, this is the part, where to me, it is a test of our humility and submission (our Islam).  We have to SUBMIT to all Allaah has said in the Quran. God does what He Wills.  Put your trust in God - God is a Just God.  God knows best.  Humans know much much too little to comprehend. Just focus on doing good now.  (Focus on the 'here', because 'there' it disintegrates - says Briane Greene)

"On the earth are signs for those of assured Faith,  As also in your own selves: Will ye not then see?"  Q - Azzariyat 51:20-21

May Allaah guide us all. 

Descriptions of a believer

Interesting that Allaah has referenced the Torah and Gospel with regards to some of the descriptions of a believer.   In the Quran, believers are stern toward disbelievers (in confrontations), yet compassionate amongst believers.  Torah points to believers having a mark - from frequent worship, a consistent worshipper and in the Gospel, the believers have their beliefs very firmly rooted.

 Surah Al Fath, ayat 48:29 

( 29 )   Muhammad is the Messenger of God. Those with him are stern against the disbelievers, yet compassionate amongst themselves. You see them kneeling, prostrating, seeking blessings from God and approval. Their marks are on their faces from the effects of prostration. Such is their description in the Torah, and their description in the Gospel: like a plant that sprouts, becomes strong, grows thick, and rests on its stem, impressing the farmers. Through them He enrages the disbelievers. God has promised those among them who believe and do good deeds forgiveness and a great reward.

Some descriptions of the believers, Allaah said in this ayat, is mentioned in the Torah and the Gospel. I was curious by what was said in the Gospel, this that Allaah mentioned. Alhamdulillaah for internet and search, it's easy to find those information today.

Here is the description found in one of the English version  (New King James Version) of many versions of the Bible under book of  Matthew 13:1-9

On the same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the sea. 2 And great multitudes were gathered together to Him, so that He got into a boat and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore.

3 Then He spoke many things to them in parables, saying: “Behold, a sower went out to sow. 4 And as he sowed, some seed fell by the wayside; and the birds came and devoured them. 5 Some fell on stony places, where they did not have much earth; and they immediately sprang up because they had no depth of earth. 6 But when the sun was up they were scorched, and because they had no root they withered away. 7 And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up and choked them. 8 But others fell on good ground and yielded a crop: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. 9 He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”

 Allaah did say, this latest revelation, will confirm what came before (of the original revelations). In the ayat just before ayat 29, i.e. ayat 28 :

It is He who sent His Messenger with guidance and the religion of truth to manifest it over all religion. And sufficient is Allah as Witness. 

Stories from my bapak. (Chapter 1)

Alhamdulillaah, at age 77, my father is still healthy and relatively still strong.  He lives on his own now, after my mother's passing.  He cycles to the mosque daily.  He buys his food or sometimes he cooks easy dishes with ready made cooking pastes.   On weekends, he travels to visit his children, my brother and me.

Bapak was born in Melaka, Malaysia.  At about the age of 10, his family moved to Temasek, Lorong Engku Aman.   When I was a child, I thought it was Long Kwa Man.  Then, for a short time, he stayed in KL before returning to Singapore to work.   

Nowadays, he would tell me stories of his childhood and younger days.  I'd like to keep some here, so that I will not forget. 

MELAKA Childhood stories :

His house in Melaka is one house before the main road. And across that main road, was the sea.  Though his house is that near to the sea, his grandmother was a very strict person and did not allow the grandchildren to play at the sea, at all.    My father and his siblings could only watch from across the road, other kids playing at the sea.   My father and his siblings could only play around their house area and village, not across the road. 

Before maghrib, they must all be home, to take their baths and change to clean clothes, and can no longer step outside the house.  Sometimes they would sit at the verandah to watch other children who are still playing, till late.

Every morning, breakfast was putu piring and coffee.   My father would walk about five minutes to the house selling putu piring, which was towards the deeper end of the village.   Payment for the putu piring are made monthly.  This was apparently quite a common practice in the olden days with some shops and sellers. They would record the takings and payments in a small popular notebook, used to be sold in mamak shops, the 'buku tiga lima' (555)..  I've seen those notebooks at mamak shops during my younger days.   

One of those mornings, he was assigned to pick up the putu piring for breakfast and make payment, He was given a five ringgit note.    However, he forgot about it.  He collected the putu piring and returned home.  He didn't even know he had lost the money, and only realised when he was asked, if he had already paid the person.  I wanted to ask, what happened then, like was he scolded or beaten? But I didn't get the [mental] chance. 

Other stories, including the Temasek stories in other posts insyaaAllaah. 

Answering Ex Muslim's 16 questions

Questions posted on the website for ex muslims in singapore - that also makes me ponder and want to answer for myself.  Bismillaah. 

16 Questions Ex-Muslims Have For Muslims In Singapore

[1] Censoring others
If someone insulted Islam or Allah or the Prophet, what would your response be? If you could just shut someone up to prevent him from insulting or critiquing Islam, would you?  >> Say, 'salam' and leave.  (Q:25:63)

[2] Critique of Islam
What about the critique of Islam? Is that permitted or should that not be allowed? Are there questions that cannot or should not be asked, pertaining to Islam? If so, what are they? And why can’t those questions be asked? Does critique and honest curiosity count as intolerance and hatred towards Muslims and Islam?  >> Permitted.  Ponder, seek knowledge, think.  (Q:30:8)

[3] Misconceptions about Islam
What are some questions that you think non-Muslims in Singapore might have about Muslims in Singapore? Do you think that ex-Muslims are mistaken in the way that they have perceived Islam? Or how about non-Muslims, in what ways do you think that non-Muslims have false assumptions about Islam?  >> People make false assumptions about Islam when they look for answers in people, rather than trying to find the answers themselves, directly from God's Words (the Quran), first and foremost.

[4] Being Offended
Is an offence taken or given? Who is responsible as in the case of Charlie Hebdo for the retaliatory actions of the murderers of the editors?  >>  The people who commit the actions are responsible for them.   

[5] Apostasy of a family member
If someone in your family chose to leave Islam, would you still consider him family? Will he be treated the same, or differently? If differently, how so? Why?  >>  Yes, still a family till we leave this world.  Until then, we will make doa that Allaah brings peace in our minds and guides us all, forgive our sins and let us finally die as Muslims, and that we may meet again in Jannatul Firdaus.   Allaah is Most Merciful.

[6] Friendships with Ex-Muslims
If your friend chooses to leave Islam, do you think it is possible for you to still continue being friends with him? How so?  >> yes of course, as per normal.  Just like how I'm now friends with other non Muslims. 

[7] Equality of gender in Islam
Would you say that Islam in Singapore treats women equally? Even though in Islam it clearly states in the Quran that a woman will receive half the inheritance of her male sibling, among other things, and that sharia dictates that a woman’s testimony is only half the value of that of a man’s?  >> Yes, the Creator, The Merciful is fair and the Creator knows His creations best.  Each of us have a role to play.   You earn some, you learn some.  On the other hand, in a marriage, women has a right over the husband's money - but the husband has no right over the wife's money - it's her own and not her responsibility to feed her family.  

[8] Consequences of Muslim apostasy in general
If a Muslim leaves Islam in a country where sharia is the law, is it right, or necessary, to kill him, as stated according to sharia law?  >> What is syaria law?  Are you referring to something decided by a government of a country, by a people.  in the Quran though, there is no compulsion in religion (Q:2:256)

[9] Relevance of the Quran
What are the verses in the Quran today that no longer have any relevance in today’s society? Since some verses are said to be only contextually and historically relevant and that a lot of the context then, it does not apply now. How many percent of the Quran is irrelevant today?   >> 100% still relevant.    In the Quran there are many stories, lessons, examples, advice, instructions and restrictions.    All of it helps a person live this life with purpose and some guidance on how to act and react. 

[10] Emulating the Prophet
What are the practices of the prophet that should not be emulated? Is fondling a girl and underage marriage allowed or even to be recommended or is that no longer recommended? Is slavery in Islam condoned, if it was still permissible today?
*Sahih Bukhari 3:38:504 *Sahih Bukhari 7:62:16 *Sahih Bukhari 7:62:17

>> Nobody can emulate every single thing about the prophet's SAW actions.  Some are exclusive to him SAW, as a prophet.   What is 'underaged' marriage?  My late grandaunt was married at 12 years old - was that underaged?  currently in rural Indonesia it is common and normal for girls to be married at 14, 15 years old.  Is this 'underaged' in Singapore 2021 context based on common age of marriage?  Slavery is discouraged if it was permissible, therefore the freeing of a slave is a great act of charity and a means of atonements.  

[11] Islam, a religion of peace
Is Islam a religion of peace? If so, why do Muslims around the world act in a non-peaceful manner when they find something offensive. Numerous Bangladeshi bloggers have been hacked to death on the streets for blasphemy. A fatwa calling for the death of blasphemers was imposed by Ayatollah Khomeini to Salman Rushdie in 1989. Theo Van Gogh, the film producer of Submission(2004) was killed as a response for his role in making the film, that criticized Islam’s treatment of women.  >> This is akin to asking: if Singapore is a peaceful country, why is there still murders and thefts and harrasment in Singapore?  Did the government teach the citizens so? Are Singaporeans gangsters and murderers?  

[12] Other Muslim denominations in Singapore
How do you view Shi’ah’s in Singapore and the other Muslim denominations? Are they to blame for anything or everything bad that has happened in Islam?  >> what??  why??  People create sects, but by God - Muslims are only Muslims. Muslims are those who believe and worship One God, believe in the Day of Judgement, and do good deeds. 

[13] Implementation of Sharia Law
If possible, should you want for the full extent of Sharia law in Singapore, given that the Sharia is supposedly the highest standard of ruling in any society, after all, it was decided by Allah?   >> What constitutes the FULL extent of sharia law?  If it includes that - even if a leader's child, commits a robbery, they'd be subjected to the same punishment.  That if a person is caught in the act of indecency, by one who was spying on him, then the accusation is invalid.  If a person accuses a woman of adultery, that they must have discovered not by spying, and have 4 witnesses who actually saw them in the act.  and if after accusing, the person cannot produce the 4 witnesses, then the accuser himself would be flogged.   - all this included?   Sadly, there is no known country leaders known to me, that can carry out the FULL extent.   Plus Singapore is not a Muslim country. 

[14] Refusal of Sharia Law
What would it mean if a Muslim refuses sharia law, does that make him a hypocrite? Does that make him a non-Muslim? >> No, especially when the person is only a housewife and does not run the country. 

[15] The correct brand of Islam
Who is practicing the right brand of Islam? It is always said that anything that doesn’t seem right in Islam is due to misinterpretation. Any unfair punishment or unequal treatment is said to be a wrong interpretation of the doer’s part. So who is actually interpreting it correctly then?   >> Only God can interpret correctly - people always try their best to interpret them, but in the end - God will judge.  And as long as one is sincere in his actions and has tried his best, Allaah is Most Merciful.  

[16] Are you happy that we are happy after leaving Islam? If not why is that so? Why are you sad when we’re happy. We are happy for you, why can’t you be happy for us?  >>  If you have a child, who wants to play on a busy road and he says he will be happy running around, or else, he will throw tantrums and be so sad and angry, would you be happy to let the child go and play on the road?  Why can't you be happy for him, if he said he will be happy?   This is a delicate situation for the believers (and especially the parents who love their children, it pains them lah, when they are afraid of what will happen to you on Judgement Day).  Some of them don't know how to react to this.  Some other parents, maybe can only do our best to try and be an examplary Muslim, and until the day they return or we die, pray to Allaah for guidance and Mercy and leave our affairs to Allaah.   Allaah is Most Merciful. 

May we all be guided, and may we all have peace. 

Singapore Malaysia borders opening situation - in times of COVID19

 Believe me, I am as expectant as everyone else, for Singapore to open it's borders with Malaysia, to establish the VTL (Vaccinated Travel Lane), that will allow me to visit my family and friends in Malaysia.

My Malaysian family and friends said to me, after Singapore opened up VTL to eight more countries, 'how could Singapore, have not included it's neighbour?'

In the Quran, there is the story of Moses, who thought that he was the most knowledgeable person, and God directed him to a person more knowledgeable. He asked that knowledgeable man, if he could follow and learn from him.   The knowledgeable man said, Moses would not have patience with him. He would not have the patience, when he does not have a full grasp of the situation.

The people complaining about the Singapore-Malaysia borders situation truly reminded me of this.    

So in order for us to have patience about this situation, we should try to understand it -  why it is not an easy thing for Singapore to open it's borders to our closest and beloved neighbour, Malaysia.

1. When Singapore opens it's borders to other countries than Malaysia - these people are all arriving by AIR.  Also, there are designated planes, that comes under this program, which means that the number of incoming visitors can be controlled by the number of incoming flights. 

2. This will not be the case, when Singapore opens it's borders to Malaysia.  As it was - Kuala Lumpur to Singapore was the 3rd busiest international AIR route in 2018.  Nearly 4,500,000 incoming persons in that year - via AIR alone (according to Wikipedia).

The number of people coming to Singapore by LAND (JOHOR -> SINGAPORE) based on a 2012 report, was... 127,000,000 annually. 127 MILLION. (Wikipedia)

3. VTL does not mean that the incoming people just go through immigration like we do previously.   With VTL, incoming people must take PCR test upon entry. 

127 million translates to an average of 320,000 people a day - queuing for PCR tests.  The situation at the immigration will be crazy!  Worse than Chinese New year jams!  Singapore immigration must prepare for so many personnel to do this all day long.    If previously, just having to stamp/scan your passport, we sometimes have to queue 1-3 hours, imagine if you also need to take PCR.  

4.  Then you say, if that is so, open the AIR route only.   However, you can already imagine the same people and press complaining - why open to people from Kuala Lumpur only and not opened to your NEXT DOOR neighbour?

5. The government has to prepare for AIR and LAND scenarios, and I'm sure apart from that, they also have to think of how to manage the exponential increase in COVID19 cases in Singapore due to influx of thousands of people into Singapore?  Even currently, while Singapore is slowly adjusting and putting in place the steps to manage positive COVID19 cases in Singapore - the people are already complaining that MOH reaction is slow, they are not efficient blah blah blah.   Do we think we can do a much better job?  Do we think they are superhumans?  

I can see how at this time, Singapore is not ready to manage the kind of numbers, if Singapore were to open it's borders by VTL to Malaysia.   It's almost impossible to apply the PCR for land border crossings.   Perhaps a special arrangement has to be considered for Malaysians, like no PCR test required at all upon entry.  

But if we do this -  will the Singapore health system be ready for the consequences - managing inevitable COVID19 cases increment within Singapore?  

People, it's not an easy decision to make and steps to take.  

Let's have patience and pray for the best.  I'm sure, they are doing their best - there are no ill-intentions here, only precautions. 

I also hope the press, instead of inciting the readers towards negative thoughts, should work with the authorities to educate the public about the possible reasons behind such decisions.  

May God ease our affairs.   I miss you Malaysia. 

A message without words

What if I tell you, that we can send and receive some messages without the need for words.

Messages that are transmitted by other than words, carry such deeper meanings, and emotions and awesomeness.   Messages that when transformed into words, or worse, into languages with limited expressions and descriptions, loses it's grandeur, and limits it's meanings. 

We can get these messages if we observe and ponder over them, and pay attention to receiving them.

Allaah tells us, that his ayahs are in the heavens and on earth, it is in everything that we can observe and in those which man have yet to discover.   

I am in awe, just thinking about them and absorbing them all - these signs (ayahs) that are all around us.    I no longer want to try to reduce everything into limited words. 

I want the ayahs to engulf my heart, granting me understanding of God's infinite knowledge and wisdom and intelligence and beauty and power and more.   Aamiin.

a message without words

yet, able to engulf the heart and soul

one that makes you believe,

gives hope and security, and saves your dignity

a message that you see, hear or feel

that you need not try to convey, within you, let it stay

breathe, think, seek and pray.

Wishing upon a star?

 "Wishing upon a star",  "Blow the candle and make a wish",  and some latest terms for a song "talking to the moon"

As I was reading ar ra3d 13:14, the above phrases come to mind - and how fitting it is!

"To Him is the call of truth; and those upon whom they call, apart from Him, answer them nothing, but it is like a man who stretches out his hands to water that it may reach his mouth, and it reaches it not. The prayer of the unbelievers goes only astray."

Yes, people think it sounds romantic and cute(?) saying all those things without logic or with just wishful thinking.  It may sound 'beautiful', because... 

"... and satan makes their acts seem alluring to them". al an3aam 6:43  naudzubillaah.   

The problem with this modern life is that, everybody is trying to 'fit in' by following what the masses are doing - even if the idea was sparked by an ignorant one.   They do it without any reflection or thought, following blindly.  

And if we question the act, then immediately we would be deemed 'weird' or strange. 

It is narrated on the authority of Abu Huraira that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:
Islam initiated as something strange, and it would revert to its (old position) of being strange. so good tidings for the stranger. Sahih Muslim

This is a continuous fight against satan's plan to deceive people by making them believe what they do is 'beautiful'.   So let us persevere and stand our ground, don't start or stop doing nonsense. 

"O ye who believe! Persevere in patience and constancy; vie in such perseverance; strengthen each other; and fear Allah; that ye may prosper."  3:200

Feedback on The Clear Quran - a translation effort by Talal Itani

 I have a group of sisters who gets together twice a week to recite the Quran and read the translations.    Most of them have been averted from reading the English translations because the English was classic and most find it difficult to understand.   

In my aim to gently introduce and encourage them to at least have a rough idea of what Allaah SWT is saying in the Quran, I tried to find a simple English translation of the Quran - that would not scare them away.    I found on the internet, The Clear Quran, by Talal Itani.    

I read his biography (About ClearQuran - About Talal Itani) - and understood that he is not an Islamic scholar - but for many years learned the Quran through various English translations.   His objective was basically to translate the Quran into simpler English that would be accessible to more modern people.  He explained that he did not intend to do a tafsir on it or give his understanding of it - but only to translate the words and sentences to the best of his knowledge.  

I have the same thoughts and feelings about reading the various English translations of the Quran,  where some translator put more words in brackets, perhaps to ease understanding - however some of them may lead a person to restrict the understanding of the Quranic ayat in only that specific way, the translator thinks.  May Allaah reward ALL of their efforts of trying to let people understand a bit of the message of the Quran.

The Quran itself is a miracle and Allaah is The Most Subtle, very detailed.  Every fallen leaf on this earth, is in a Clear Record.   Nothing is accidental or missed out in the Quran.   If it is there or not there, there is a reason, or if the words may lead to multiple intepretations - there is a hikmah.   Allaah knows best.

So, back to the translation - one of the sisters tried to find out more about the translation and came across a feedback on Quora, which was quite strongly against this translation.  

The feedback on quora regarding this translation - he mentioned 'serious errors' and 'going against Islamic creed and aqidah', then he went on to quote - what I believe is to him, a very good example of a 'great error' - which is 'use the shrine of Abraham as a place of prayer'. 2:125

Other translators have indicated use the place where Abraham stood, as a place of prayer, or 'where Abraham stand'.

Perhaps the person giving feedback, was affected by our common usage of the word shrine - which almost always refers to a grave.   However, that is not so.   If we look up the dictionary, the word shrine simply means a place regarded as holy because of it's associations with divinity or a sacred person, marked by a building or other construction. 

Maybe his choice of word used in this instance, is scaring some people, but it's not utterly wrong.

That ayat does refer to a place where Abraham A.S. stood and we are asked to do 2 rakaat prayer after tawaf there, near the Kaabah.   

So based on only that example, so far.. i don't see him as having greatly deviated. 

Also, if we are in doubt about the translations, we can always refer back to the various translations and the arabic text or corpus, that explains the word.  As he mentioned also, this is not an exegisis or tafsir - it's just a translation from the Arabic, as is.  If we want to find out more - we can read the tafsir or ask a scholar.

AND on top of all that - as in ALL translations, we have to bear in mind, that it is not THE word of Allaah.  This is their translations, to their understandings, in their words - of what Allaah said in Arabic.  

So we always have to read any translations with a pinch of salt.

Update / Sep 2021 

We are almost half way through reading the Quran and Talal Atani's translations.    Perhaps because I have read other translations  (Asad, Yusuf Ali, Pickthall, Sahih etc), there are some areas, although the meanings may not be too off, for choice of words, but I do get the feeling of it having less weight.  A matter of personal feel.  

There is one place, where the word Jin is used in Arabic, but he chose to use the word devil, and he used the word Gehenna, to translate Jahannam (Hell), which I personally will read as Jahannam or Hell, in translation.  So far those are the two things that I'm not comfortable with. 

We are continuing with his translation, but I sometimes have the desire that we go back to using the Sahih translations.  We'll see how.

The Bani Israel - now, I see.

Why didn't I really ponder over it?  I've never thought that understanding the family tree of the prophets was really that necessary,  I've read the Quran and translations and whenever I come across the Bani Israel, I only thought they were the people that Pharoah tortured, and Moses saved.  

However, yesterday, alhamdulillaah - someone asked, who are the Bani Israel?

Only then, I started to wonder and went to look for answers.  They are the descendants of Yacob A.S.  Yacob A.S. was also known as Israel. 

Yacob A.S. the grandson of Ibrahim A.S.   Yacob A.S who had 12 sons, including Yusuf A.S - whose story appeared as a whole chapter in the Quran. Subhanallaah.  I've never once linked them.   

Now that I've understood this, more of what I've read in the Quran became clearer.

Only now, I begin to grasp and understand a little bit the enormity of Allaah's favours upon the Bani Israel.  They were blessed with many prophets to guide them and clear signs given to them.  And also the enormity of the disobedience of some of them even after all this.    

It's not like this was totally never mentioned to me before. Maybe even when I was a kid, we've probably learned it in weekend madrasah - but during those times, all of those information, were just a jumble of words and stories that I don't really remember.

The information can be all around us, even under our noses - but the knowledge will come to us, only when Allaah wills.   Alhamdulillaah, for some clarity.

Arabic transliterations using English alphabets (and number)

بِسْمِ اللّهِ الرَّحْمـَنِ الرَّحِيمِ
bismillaaHirrahmaanirrahiim

To reflect a more accurate pronunciation of transliterated Arabic words/sentences, especially from the Quran and Hadith, the following is proposed:

1) Usage of the English alphabets and number to represent the Arabic alphabets:

2) New sentences in transliterations need not start with an upper case of the English alphabet, since the lower or upper cases of the English alphabets will reflect a specific Arabic alphabet.   If one needs to separate two ayat, a fullstop after the first ayat should suffice.
E.g.:
qul HuwallaaHu ahadd. allaaHuSSamadd. lamyalidd walam yuuladd. walam yaku[n]l laHu kufuwan ahadd.
(قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌ. اللَّهُ الصَّمَدُ. لَمْ يَلِدْ وَلَمْ يُولَدْ. وَلَمْ يَكُن لَّهُ كُفُوًا أَحَدٌ)

3) Vowels and mad (lengthening) to show single or longer harakat.

E.g. 
insyaa allaaH (إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ)
walaa khaufun 3alaiHim wa laa Hum yahZanuun (وَلاَ خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلاَ هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ)

4) shaddaH, should be reflected by indicating the alphabet twice.
E.g. illa (إِلاَّ), al-hayatuddunyaa (الْحَيَاةُ الدُّنْيَا), innamaa (إِنَّمَا)

5) HamzaH sakinaH, can be reflected with a ' sign at the end.
E.g. falyastajibuu lii walyu'minuu bii la3allakum yarshuduun
(فَلْيَسْتَجِيبُواْ لِي وَلْيُؤْمِنُواْ بِي لَعَلَّهُمْ يَرْشُدُونَ)

6) There are some other tajweed rules that can be reflected in transliterations.
E.g.
a) idgham bii laa ghunnaH / merging without nasal sound, it is needed to reflect that an alphabet is there, but not pronounced.
E.g. fai[n]llam taf3aluu (فَإِن لَّمْ تَفْعَلُواْ)
b) idgham bii ghunnaH / merging with nasal sound can be indicated with a {g}
E.g. wa lan{g}taf3aluu (وَلَن تَفْعَلُواْ)
c) iqlab for tanwin or nun sakinaH, which has the 'm' sound can be indicated with a {m}
E.g. wa yu'min{m} billaaHi faqadistamsaka bil 3urwatilwuthqaa
( وَيُؤْمِن بِاللّهِ فَقَدِ اسْتَمْسَكَ بِالْعُرْوَةِ الْوُثْقَىَ)
d) qalqalaH can be reflected by indicating the alphabet twice at the end.
E.g. walam yaku[n]llaHu kufuwan ahadd. (وَلَمْ يَكُن لَّهُ كُفُوًا أَحَدٌ)

Transliterations cannot effectively reflect every tajweed rule in the Quran, and should only be used to aid pronunciation/reading for those who do not know or are beginners in reading Arabic. If they have come across every tajweed rule in the Quran, it can be safely assumed that the person has, by then, learnt how to read Arabic.

In providing transliterations, in feasible situations, it is highly recommended to accompany it with the original Arabic text, to aid reader's familiarisation.

For those who are beginners, if you are trying to read an ayat or learn doas by reading transliterations, do also listen to the audio (if available) and see the Arabic text (if available), and compare them with the transliterations to ensure that you are getting them right.

Hopefully, this guide may aid more accurate readings for those still learning. May Allaah guide us, and reward us and ease our affairs. Aamiin.

Salam

 Lately, I've included 'peace' in my doa for myself and for others.

I have come to realise how understated it is, yet it is such an important and wonderful thing to have. Especially in this new chaotic world. 

Peace or in arabic 'Salam' is the greeting that will be said as people enter Heaven.  Having peace of the mind and heart is having a slight taste of Heaven on earth. 

Close your eyes, and imagine peacefulness - how refreshing. 

Peacefulness in your heart and mind - being able to steer yourselves towards achieving that, despite the situations you're in.  

To achieve salam, you need patience and gratefulness.   Ponder.

Peace be upon you.

Daud and Sulaiman

Have you heard the story 

Of a man who sings praises to his Lord 

And they join him in harmony - 

the mountains and the birds 

Loyalty to the One Creator he preached 

He seeks no reward from the people he reached 

He aims for the World of eternal bliss 

A land where no sadness nor pain exist 

Have you heard the story 

Of a man who commands the wind 

Genies and the birds abide by him 

Teleportation a breeze 

Loyalty to the One Creator he preached 

He seeks no reward from the people he reached 

He aims for the World of eternal bliss 

A land where no sadness nor pain exist

~madame blossom ~

Why does God lead some people astray?

Bismillaahirrahmanirrahim

In the name of God, the Most Merciful, Most Beneficent

"...He whom Allah guides is the [rightly] guided, but he whom He sends astray - never will you find for him a protecting guide." (18:17) - among a few other verses on this subject.

This is among some tough questions in Islam.  There is not a straight forward answer and it takes many aspects of our iman to take this in. 

God has answered this question in the Quran.  As Sajdah (32:13) transliterated:  "And if We had willed, We could have given every soul its guidance, but the word from Me will come into effect [that] "I will surely fill Hell with jinn and people all together."

This is a very big test in gauging our humility, as a servant of God who has no power over God's will.  This puts us in our place.  Only our understanding of God's power and our true humility as a servant of God can make us accept this wholeheartedly - that we accept the fact that we ARE truly at His Mercy.  It is God who has ultimate power over all of us and all of the universe.    We have no power but to SURRENDER OURSELVES to God -  which is what it means to be a true Muslim. Allaahu Akbar.

As Muslims, we understand that God knows best, and we know next to nothing - we, as in we human, including the most knowledgeable of scientists.  We know only what God allows us to know.  (2:32 : "They [the Angels] said, "Exalted are You; we have no knowledge except what You have taught us. Indeed, it is You who is the Knowing,1 the Wise.")

We cannot be so arrogant as to demand to know the meaning behind every of God's actions and Words, as if we can understand everything fully.  We cannot encompass and understand the much greater part of God's plans and God's knowledge.  We accept that God knows and we know not.  

But then again, as a Muslim, the other aspect of our iman, tells us to put our full trust in God " for Allah loves those who put their trust in Him." (3:159).  God has promised, and His promise is true, that if we have faith in the One God, we don't assign partners to Him in our worship, we believe in the akhirah and we do good, then, we have nothing to fear.   Put our trust in him and just focus on our iman and good deeds. 

God is Most Merciful, as God most frequently and repeatedly state in the Quran, He is Ar-Rahman.  His Mercy will reign in Akhirah.  "Abu Huraira reported that Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said:  When Allah created the creation as He was upon the Throne, He put down in His Book: Verily, My mercy predominates My wrath." Sahih Muslim  

So the answer is to surrender fully, put your trust in Allaah and Allaah will be as how His servants deem Him to be. 

Narrated Abu Huraira:

The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Allah says: 'I am just as My slave thinks I am, (i.e. I am able to do for him what he thinks I can do for him) and I am with him if He remembers Me. If he remembers Me in himself, I too, remember him in Myself; and if he remembers Me in a group of people, I remember him in a group that is better than they; and if he comes one span nearer to Me, I go one cubit nearer to him; and if he comes one cubit nearer to Me, I go a distance of two outstretched arms nearer to him; and if he comes to Me walking, I go to him running.' " Sahih Bukhari

May Allaah grant us humility as His servants, grant us wisdom and understanding, a good iman and a good result in the world and the Hereafter.  Aamiin.

The scientifically advanced Quran

I am always in awe at how scientific the Quran is, subhanallaah.  However, scientific ayats are easily missed as we read through the Quran, perhaps because they appear as any other ayats and surahs in the Quran.  There is no major attention given to it, e.g. like a having a specific chapter on 'Stem Cell Biology'.

These advanced or scientific facts are often mentioned in just one or two ayats, or a few.   Only God knows best, but from my perspective it makes sense.  God does not have to say much, because this is something too easy for God.  God mentions it so we, man, can know and learn more about it.   

We only talk about a subject more, and explain them in detail when we are excited or amazed, or when it takes effort for us to achieve the subject.  Imagine us, in modern cities, getting clean drinkable water just by turning on the tap - we may inform our guest, "get drinking water from the tap."  However, if our guest is from a place without easy access to water, they would describe it in much more detail to others back home.

One example of the numerous awesome scientific facts in the Quran is in Al Qiyamah 75:3-4, 

أَيَحْسَبُ ٱلْإِنسَٰنُ أَلَّن نَّجْمَعَ عِظَامَهُۥ(3) بَلَىٰ قَٰدِرِينَ عَلَىٰٓ أَن نُّسَوِّىَ بَنَانَهُۥ (4)

translated by man as :

Does man think that we will not assemble his bones? Yes, in fact, we are able to put together in perfect order the very tips of his fingers.

This would be something beyond man's abilities - i.e. to re-create the whole living human being.  However, this idea should not be too strange to the modern man because, already, we applaud and are amazed at how scientists are now able to grow cells for the purpose of mending or replacing some parts of the human body, and they are still studying to actually create a whole human organ - look up 'stem cells current application and studies'.  These with man's very limited knowledge.   

At this age, with man's current advancements in science and technology, the Words in the Quran should make more sense and give us further solid proofs that the Quran is indeed the truth and that it is way advanced, beyond man's knowledge.

There are too many valuable information in the Quran, overlooked or not studied in detail yet,  This book is an all encompassing guide for man, if only man study and ponder over it's every Words.  masyaaAllaah.

Reading aloud - Iqra

In an article in the Reader’s Digest Canada on Why Reading Aloud is Good for You, the writer quoted that the second-century Greek doctor Antyllus prescribed reading aloud to his patients, suggesting that it is kind of a health giving tonic and that epic verses are good for one’s health.  [1]

In recent studies conducted by Colin Macleod, a psychology professor at the University of Waterloo Canada  shows how reading aloud is better for memory retention.  This is known as the ‘production effect’ in memory.[2]

MasyaaAllaah, yes because I love the Quran, I immediately connected to how God instructs us to recite the Quran.   Quran are always, normally, recited – read aloud.  It is so ingrained that it feels incomplete if you just read it in your head.  We don’t do silent reading of the Quran. 

96:1 “Recite in the name of your Lord who created”

87:6 "We will make you recite, [O Muhammad], and you will not forget, " (illa masyaaAllaah).

73:4 Muzammil. ‘..and recite the Qur'an in (slow) measured [rhythmic tones / recitation].”

7:110 Al-Isra “…Neither speak thy Prayer aloud, nor speak it in a low tone, but seek a middle course between.”

God said, recite the Quran not in a loud tone, nor in a soft voice but a middle voice.  I’m sure this in itself also has it’s benefits.  For one thing, others can hear it.  When Quran is read too loud, well, I don’t know about others, but for me, it is quite stressful and not pleasing to hear.   I personally prefer to listen to Quran read in a moderate voice.   I digressed a little.

The point is, again, God knows best what is best for us – the instruction to recite the Quran, as in read aloud, apparently is beneficial to us in terms of health (jogging your memory and brain) and also in terms of memory (remembering the reminders in the Quran).

So in any case, if you’re studying, make it a habit to read aloud to yourself, if you want to understand and memorise what you’re studying.    Also, there is another verse with regards to studying or being taught.  Writing. 

God says,

96:4-6  Read! And your Lord is the Most Generous, Who taught by the pen— taught humanity what they knew not.

For another read, research and ponder.

---

[1] Reading aloud health benefits - Why Reading Aloud Is Good for You | Reader's Digest Canada

[2] This time it’s personal: the memory benefit of hearing oneself by Noah D. Forrin &Colin M. MacLeod. Memory - Volume 26, 2018 - Issue 4 https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/09658211.2017.1383434 

Islam is good for you

Islam means submission.  Submission to what?   Submission to God's will.

Submitting to God's will is also a tool for mental health.  It helps to know that we are taken care of, that all the things that is happening was planned.  It helps to be assured that God planned all of it, and ALWAYS in the end, it's for our own good. 

Everything God tells us to do is also truly for OUR own good.  Allaah does not need our prayers or fasting or charity.  It is us, our mind and soul that needs all those to be mentally, spiritually and physically healthy.

Too many examples, but I just want to bring up about our five daily solahs (the Muslim's specific prayers)

Our five daily solahs is a fixed routine that God has set for us.  Other than the spiritual and physical health benefits of solahs- there is also a benefit for our mental health.

One that I'm sure many will already think of, is that solah is our meditation, one that has recently always been advocated in modern times.  These are the moments you take a break from your daily grind to focus on yourself, reflecting on purpose of life and connecting to God.   

If you are lazing around, then the five daily solahs work the other way, it forces you to take a break from  your lazing around, binge-watching or game-playing, to have some physical, spiritual and mental activity. 

Our five daily solahs is a set routine for the Muslims.  I recently came across an article about how having a routine is beneficial for your mental health.   This idea clicked right away.  

In whatever state our life is in, we still can have some order in our lives when we do our five daily solahs. If nothing else is in order in your life - the five daily prayers provides to you some order, and some sense of control, insyaaallaah.

So, if you want a healthier lifestyle, try to adhere religiously (pun intended) to the five pillars of Islam - our solahs being the second one.