بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

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Jun 24 Transforming Your Reality Jun 17 A History of Muslim Americans’ Political Engagement Jun 17 My Brother is Gay: Navigating the Intersection of Religion and Family An interview with Imam Wesley Lebron Jun 10 Islam and the Romans: Early Muslim-Byzantine Interaction May 20 Reclaiming the Sunnah of Adoption and Foster Care: An Interview with Basmah Salam Apr 29 National Poetry Month: An Ode to Faith, Visibility, and the Conversations We Don’t Forget Apr 15 Beyond Ramadan: Taking Its Lessons Farther  Apr 15 The Power of Saying No: A Reflection on Boundaries

Tag: islamic belief

  • 100 Commandments and Doctrines from the Quran

    100 Commandments and Doctrines from the Quran

    1. Do not be rude in speech (3:159)

    2. Restrain anger (3:134)

    3. Be good to others (4:36)

    4. Do not be arrogant (7:13)

    5. Forgive others for their mistakes (7:199)

    6. Speak to people mildly (20:44)

    7. Be moderate in your bearing and the volume of your speech (31:19)

    8. Do not ridicule others (49:11)

    9. Be dutiful to parents (17:23)

    10. Do not say a word of disrespect to parents (17:23)

    11. Do not enter parents’ private room without asking permission (24:58)

    12. Commit to writing any transaction involving the taking or giving of loans (2:282)

    13. Do not follow anyone blindly (2:170)

    14. Grant more time to repay if the debtor is in hard times (2:280)

    15. Don’t be involved with usury or interest (2:275)

    16. Do not engage in bribery (2:188)

    17. Do not break any promise (2:177)

    18. Keep and fulfil all trusts (2:283)

    19. Do not mix the truth with falsehood (2:42)

    20. Judge with justice between people (4:58)

    21. Stand out firmly for justice (4:135)

    22. Wealth of the dead should be distributed among his family members (4:7)

    23. Women have the right of inheritance (4:7)

    24. Do not take for yourself the property of orphans (4:10)

    25. Protect orphans (2:220)

    26. Do not consume one another’s wealth unjustly (4:29)

    27. Facilitate peace between those in conflict (49:9)

    28. Avoid being suspicious (49:12)

    29. Spend wealth in charity (57:7)

    30. Encourage feeding of the poor (107:3)

    31. Seek out the needy and help them (2:273)

    32. Do not spend money extravagantly (17:29)

    33. Do not invalidate charity by bragging about your generosity (2:264)

    34. Honor guests (51:26)

    35. Enjoin virtue to others only after practicing it yourself (2:44)

    36. Do not engage in or spread corruption (2:60)

    37. Do not prevent people from going to houses of worship (2:114)

    38. Never engage in fighting as an aggressor but only in defense (2:190)

    39. Do not engage in compulsion regarding religion (2:256)

    40. Believe in all prophets (2:285)

    41. Do not have sexual intercourse during the menstrual period (2:222)

    42. Do not commit adultery (17:32)

    43. Choose leaders based on their merit (2:247)

    44. God does not burden a person beyond his capacity; nor should we (2:286)

    45. Do not become divided (3:103)

    46. Think deeply about the wonders of nature and the creation of this universe (3:191)

    47. Men and women have equal rewards for their deeds (3:195)

    48. Do not marry those related to you by blood (4:23)

    49. The man is the protector and supporter of the family (4:34)

    50. Do not be miserly (4:37)

    51. Do not envy others (4:54)

    52. Do not support or be an advocate for those who betray their trusts (4:105)

    53. Support one another in virtue and piety, not in sin or enmity (5:2)

    54. Be just and do not let hatred swerve you from justice (5:8)

    55. Do not consume dead animals, the blood of animals, or pork (5:3)

    56. Avoid intoxicants and alcohol (5:90)

    57. Do not gamble (5:90)

    58. Do not insult other people’s deities (6:108)

    59. Be honest; don’t cheat in any of your dealings (6:152)

    60. Eat and drink but be not excessive (7:31)

    61. Wear good clothing during prayer times (7:31)

    62. Protect and help those who seek protection (9:6)

    63. Strive for purity (9:108)

    64. Never give up hope of Allah’s Mercy (12:87)

    65. Know that Allah forgives a wrong done out of ignorance if the person repents and corrects himself (16:119)

    66. Inviting others to the way of God should be done with wisdom and graciousness (16:125)

    67. No one can bear another person’s sins (17:15)

    68. Do not kill your children for fear of poverty (17:31)

    69. Avoid vain talk (23:3)

    70. Respect other people’s privacy, especially in their own homes (24:27)

    71. Know that God provides security and peace to those who worship Him and act virtuously (24:55)

    72. Be modest and humble (25:63)

    73. Strive for reward in the Hereafter but do not neglect your affairs in this world (28:77)

    74. Invoke not any other deity along with God (28:88)

    75. Do not engage in homosexuality (29:29)

    76. Enjoin the right and forbid the wrong (31:17)

    77. Women should not display or flaunt their beauty and charms (33:33)

    78. God forgives all sins when the sinner repents and turns to Him (39:53)

    79. Repel evil by something that is better (41:34)

    80. Decide affairs by consultation (42:38)

    81. Know that there should be no monasticism in religion (57:27)

    82. Those who have knowledge will be given a higher rank by God (58:11)

    83. Treat non-Muslims in a kind and fair manner (60:8)

    84. Stay away from greed and stinginess (64:16)

    85. Do not ignore or push away the needy (93:10)

    86. Pardon and forgive the mistakes of others (3:135)

    87. Establish prayer and give in charity (31:4)

    88. Know that the bounty of God is better than anything man can amass or hoard (10:58)

    89. God puts love and affection between the hearts of those who believe in Him (8:63)

    90. Those who purify their souls succeed, and those who corrupt their souls fail (91:10)

    91. Those who believe in God find satisfaction in remembering Him (13:28)

    92. Those who believe and do good are given joy and peace of mind (13:29)

    93. Enjoin patience and compassion (90:17)

    94. Know that God gave humans hearing, sight, intelligence, and affections so that they might be grateful (16:78)

    95. Compete with one another in doing good (21:90)

    96. Know that God created the universe with meaning and purpose (3:191)

    97. Guard your modesty (23:5)

    98. Know that being just is next to piety (5:8)

    99. Fight when necessary to defend yourselves but do not aggress (2:190)

    100. Know that it is only righteousness that makes a person noble (49:13)

     

  • The Concept of Akhira, the Hereafter

    The Concept of Akhira, the Hereafter

    This short article examines the concept of the Akhira (Hereafter) in the Qur’an, and the consequences of believing or denying its existence.

    According to the Qur’an, this universe and everything in it was created by a Supreme Being who Muslims refer to as Allah (God). Allah created the universe and life on this earth to test us. In several verses of the Qur’an, Allah explains this. In Surah Mulk, Allah says that “He is the one who created death and life so that He may test you as to which of you is best in conduct. And He is the Almighty, the Oft-forgiving” (Qur’an 67:2).

    Thus, this life is a period of trial or test for us, and we will be accountable for our actions. And so, the guidance of the Qur’an is indispensable to us in this life. “Does man think that he will be left neglected?” (75:36). One day everything in the universe will be totally destroyed and then recreated. On that day, the Day of Judgment, the accounting will take place. Allah says: “On that day people will proceed in scattered groups, to be shown their deeds. Then whoever does an atom’s weight of good, will see it! And whoever does an atom’s weight of evil, shall see it” (Qur’an 99:6-8). Based on this accounting, people will commence their eternal lives.

    Since life in this world is certainly finite and life in the Akhira is eternal, for a true believer
    Akhira is an immensely important concept. In the Qur’an, belief in Akhira is usually mentioned with belief in Allah. In fact, denial of Akhira amounts to denying Allah as the one and only being worthy of worship. Allah says, “And if you are astonished, then astonishing is their saying, ‘When we are dust, will we indeed be in a new creation?’ Those are the ones who have disbelieved in their Lord…” (Qur’an 13:5).

    The belief in the Akhira is also a condition for receiving guidance from Allah. “This is the book, there is no doubt in it, guidance for those who are conscious of Allah, who believe in the unseen, who establish the prayer and spend out of what We have provided for them. And who believe in the revelation sent to you and sent before you. And in their hearts have the assurance of the Hereafter. They are on true guidance from their Lord, and it is these who are the successful ones” (Qur’an 2:2-5).

    Once we accept that we have to be accountable for our actions no matter how minor they may seem, and that based on those actions we will attain an eternally good life if we did good things, or receive severe punishment if we sinned — that is, if the balance of good outweighs the bad. The term Akhira has a profound effect on the believer’s life in this world. Naturally, our goal should be to succeed in Akhira through good deeds. What are good deeds according to the Qur’an? The answer to-this question has been provided by the Qur’an itself. The road to success in the Akhira is called “siratul mustaqueem,” or the straight path, which has been explained in many verses in the Qur’an. Some of the things mentioned as adhering to the straight path include not associating any partners with Allah, being good to parents, staying away from lewd things, always speaking in a just manner, and fulfilling the Covenant with God

    Denying or forgetting Akhira results in our focusing on success in this life. Thus, for someone who thinks that there is nothing beyond this life, success is measured by wealth, power, and social status. “Fair in the eyes of men is the love of things they covet — women and sons, and heaps of stored up gold and silver, horses branded and cattle and tilled land; such are the provisions of this world’s life. But AlIah, with Him, is the best abode to return to” (Qur’an 3:14).

    Unfortunately, mankind’s alienation from Allah and doubts or denial of the Akhira, have resulted in corruption, exploitation of the weak, abuse of power, and the degradation of society as a whole. As believers, we should always work to strengthen our belief in the Akhira and our determination to attain the reward of Paradise.