A R C H I V E S
Madinat al-Muslimeen Islamic Message Board
| Top 20 RecommenedBooks for ne1 Interested in Islam |
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| jannah |
| 05/15/03 at 13:57:19 |
| [slm] Here are my recommendations on the Top 20 books (in alphabetical order) for anyone interested in Islam or new Muslims. Most of these you can buy online from Amazon.com or other places. 1. Daughters of Another Path: Experiences of American Women Choosing Islam by Carol L. Anway - About the path of many American women to Islam 2. Gender Equity in Islam: Basic Principles by Jamal A. Badawi - Short book that explains all the basics about women in Islam in a beautiful way! 3. Islam - Empire Of Faith (DVD - 3hrs) PBS Documentary - Great Intro video on History of Islam by PBS. 4. Islam: A Short History by Karen Armstrong, Karen Armstrong (Hardcover - August 2000) - Great book that goes into misconceptions. Also written by a Non-Muslim but good. 5. Islam: The Straight Path by John L. Esposito (Paperback - January 1998) - THE intro book used in every Islam 101 class at universities. Decent although written by an orientalist. 6. Message of the Quran by Muhammad Asad - The most readable translation of the Quran by a German revert for those new or interested in Islam. 7. Muhammad: His Life Based on the Earliest Sources by Martin Lings (Paperback - September 1987) - A very good biography of prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him. 8. Muhammad: Legacy of a Prophet (DVD - 2hrs) PBS Documentary produced by Michael Wolfe and Alex Kronemer - Comprehensive biography of the prophet Muhammad interspersed with how his life affects contemporary Muslims. 9. Rethinking Muslim Women and the Veil: Challenging Historical & Modern Stereotypes by Katherine Bullock (Paperback) - Challenges perceptions about Muslim women's dress 10. Struggling to Surrender: Some Impressions of an American Convert to Islam by Jeffery B. Lang - Great book on how one contemporary revert came to Islam and what he encountered on the way. 11. Taking Back Islam: American Muslims Reclaim Their Faith by Michael Wolfe (Editor), Beliefnet - Collection of writings of Muslims post 9/11. 12. The Autobiography of Malcolm X by Malcolm X, et al (Paperback - December 1989) - Malcolm's search for the truth and peace, and how he finally found it. 13. The Complete Idiot's Guide(R) to Understanding Islam by Yahiya Emerick - THE #1 introduction to Islam by an Irish American revert living in the States :) despite the name a good book!! 14. The Essential Rumi by Coleman Barks (Author) (Paperback - February 1997) - Nice book of Islamic poetry. 15. The Life of the Last Prophet (Casette) by Yusuf Islam (Cat Stevens) - Really nice casette with spoken biography of prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and a few songs to listen to in the car too ? 16. The Meaning of the Holy Qur'an by Abdullah Yusuf Ali, Abdullah Yusuf Ali (Hardcover) - This is by far the translation that most English speaking Muslims use. The one I have at home :) 17. The Road to Mecca by Muhammad Asad (Paperback) - Fascinating autobiography of a German revert's life and travels in the 1900s. 18. The Vision of Islam by Sachiko Murata and William C. Chittick. - A university text written by professors of Islam that covers the basics comprehensively and it's spiritual dimensions. 19. Towards Understanding Islam by Sayyid Abul A'la Maududi - Carefully researched and written. 20. What Everybody needs to know about Islam and Muslims by Suzanne Haneef - An excellent work. |
| 05/15/03 at 15:15:27 |
| jannah |
| Re: Top 20 RecommenedBooks for ne1 Interested in I |
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| jannah |
| 05/15/03 at 13:58:27 |
| Here is CAIR's list of recommended books from their library project: The Life of the Last Prophet (Audio) Yusuf Islam (Formerly Cat Stevens), Mountain of Light Productions This spoken-word audio biography of Muhammad has been applauded by audiences for its production style and narration. It was written and produced by the artist formerly known as Cat Stevens, who has sold over 60 million albums worldwide to date. It also features Yusuf Islam's first song, a classical tribute to the Prophet, after seventeen years away from the recording studio. 70 minutes. The Hajj: One American's Pilgrimage to Mecca (Video) ABC News "Nightline" Michael Wolfe, who is a Muslim convert, was born the son of a Christian mother and a Jewish father. He takes his viewers step-by-step through the spiritual side of the Hajj, or pilgrimage to Mecca, explaining the origins and meanings of the various rituals. 22 minutes. Islam: A Closer Look (Video) Licensed by Astrolabe Islamic Media A wonderful and thought-provoking exploration of Islam. Well known personalities such as Imam Hamza Yusuf, Dr. John Esposito, Nancy Ali, and basketball star Hakeem Olajuwon share their understanding of the faith while tackling stereotypes. 30 minutes. ISLAM: Empire of Faith (DVD) Robert Gardner, PBS Narrated by Academy Award-winning actor Ben Kingsley, this three-hour program tells the spectacular story of the great sweep of Islamic power and faith during its first 1,000 years, from the birth of the Prophet Muhammad to the peak of the Ottoman Empire. Evocative re-enactments and a remarkable exposition of Islamic art, artifacts and architecture are combined with interviews with scholars from around the world. The Islamic Threat: Myth or Reality? John L. Esposito, Oxford University Press An objective, thorough response to those who try to oversimplify events in the Muslim world, and demonize Islam. The text examines key developments in the last century, including the rise of Islamic movements, Muslim nation-states and the implications of recent international incidents including terrorism. 292pgs. "One of America's foremost authorities and interpreters of Islam'offers an informed and reasoned discussion of Islam in politics." The Wall Street Journal The Essential Koran Thomas Cleary, HarperSanFrancisco "For Muslims, the whole of the Quran is sacred, but there are certain passages which are more accessible to those seeking from the outside to understand its meaning. The present translation has the virtue of making many such passages available in easily comprehensible language, thereby opening the doors for many readers to the inexhaustible treasure of the Sacred Text." Seyyed Hossein Nasr, University Professor of Islamic Studies, George Washington University. 224pgs. Critical Lives: Muhammad Yahiya Emerick, Alpha Books This concise, informative biography explores: * Muhammad's background and boyhood, as well as the culture and society in which he lived. * A look at Muhammad as a family man, and how his personal life was a testament to his high regard for women. * Muhammad's mission as a prophet and his new religion's philosophy on topics ranging from monotheism to interfaith relations. * The Quran and how it was revealed, how Muslims view it in their religious life, and the concept of jihad from Muhammad's perspective. 330pgs. Daughters of Another Path: Experiences of American Women Choosing Islam Carol L. Anway, Yawna Publications The rapid growth of Islam in America is a current phenomenon. Why are our American daughters leaving their Christian backgrounds and choosing Islam, a religion that requires discipline, submission, and being "different?" This book reveals some of the reasons and thought processes that led these daughters into a new journey in their spiritual life. 214 pgs. Gender Equity in Islam Dr. Jamal Badawi, American Trust Publications This book presents an overview of the status and rights of Muslim women as defined by the Quran and Prophetic tradition. In this brief but important work, Dr. Jamal Badawi examines the spiritual, social, economic and political aspects of women's position in Islam. It was originally presented at the UN Conference on Women in Beijing. 62pgs. Reel Bad Arabs: How Hollywood Vilifies a People Jack G. Shaheen, Olive Branch Press This passionately written and meticulously documented book shows the persistent and prolonged vilification of Arab peoples in mainstream Western movies. Offering reviews of the 900 films he has seen or researched over 20 years, the author shows a century of offensive stereotypes the image of the 'dirty Arab' has reemerged over the last 30 years, even as other groups have more or less successfully fought to eliminate the use of racist stereotypes. 592pgs. Servants of Allah: African Muslims Enslaved in the Americas Sylviane A. Diouf, New York University Press A book retracing the "influential footsteps" of African Muslims in America. It asserts that Islam was clearly the first revealed religion followed by African slaves in the Americas. It describes their struggles in upholding practice of Islam, trying to return to Africa, preserving literacy through understanding the Quran, and resisting missionary pressures. It summarizes the enduring legacy of Islamic culture in African-American names, songs, rituals and religious ceremony. 251 pgs. "A welcome and timely work on a subject of great importance. By combining materials in African Islam with New World sources and thereby linking both sides of the Atlantic, the author provides a fresh angle on studies of the Diaspora. Readers will find in the book a great deal of information presented in a clear, lively style." Lamin Sanneh, D. William James Professor of Missions and World Christianity, and Professor of History, Yale University The Meaning of The Holy Quran Translated by Abdullah Yusuf Ali, Amana Publications This book is by far the best known, most studied, and most respected English translation of the Quran. It was the first monumental and authoritative work of its kind and it subsequently inspired many such similar endeavors. Silent No More: Confronting America's False Images of Islam Paul Findley, Amana Publications Congressman Paul Findley chronicles his far-flung trail of discovery, the false stereotypes of Islam that linger in the minds of the American people, the corrective actions that the leaders of America's seven million Muslims are undertaking, and the community's remarkable progress in mainstream politics. 323pgs. Eyewitness: Islam Philip Wilkinson A colorful book for children and young adults that explores the faith, culture, and history that has shaped the modern Islamic world. Beautiful photographs and drawings enhance this unique book. 64pgs Teaching about Islam & Muslims in the Public School Classroom: a Handbook for Educators Council on Islamic Education Now in its third edition, this popular publication helps American educators presented with the task of accurately and fairly teaching about Islam and Muslims in primary and secondary schools. It contains information on Muslim beliefs and practices, an Islamic terms glossary, charts and relevant graphics, a section on the needs of Muslim students in public schools, and an annotated list of recommended primary and supplementary materials (including audio/visuals) grouped by topic. This book has been reviewed for accuracy by academics and Muslim scholars. "I would highly recommend this as a resource. It grapples with issues often raised by students and provides the teacher with background information as well as factual details." Penelope Maguire, 7th Grade Social Studies Teacher, Apex Middle School, Apex, NC The Complete Idiot's Guide to Understanding Islam Yahiya Emerick, Alpha Books You're no idiot, of course. You know Islam is an ancient religion with millions of followers and has a profound impact on world affairs. But are you aware of how many facets of modern life were influenced by Islamic inventions and discoveries? Or that Islam is the fastest-growing religion in the United States? This book takes you back to the origins of Islam and explores its beliefs and practices through the centuries and in the present. 408pgs. Celebrating Ramadan Diane Hoyt-Goldsmith, Holiday House Join Ibrahim and his family from New Jersey as they take you through the month of Ramadan. Fasting, giving charity, gathering as a family, praying in the masjid and preparing for Eid are all well presented in a warm and endearing style. Photographs bring the story to life. The book is highly recommended to explain Ramadan to friends and in public schools. 32pgs. "The book captures an aspect of the unique cultural interpretation of the Muslim community during Ramadan and Eid in the contemporary United States." Council on Islamic Education Ramadan Suhaib Hamid Ghazi, Holiday House A clear and informative description of one boy's celebration of Ramadan is skillfully brought to life by Omar Rayyan's warm and joyful illustrations. Awarded Book of the Year by the National Council for the Social Studies, it is a perfect book to take to school and share. 30pgs. |
| 05/15/03 at 14:01:46 |
| jannah |
| Re: Top 20 RecommenedBooks for ne1 Interested in I |
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| Tesseract |
| 05/16/03 at 13:16:47 |
| Assalamu 'alaikum, [quote]The Life of the Last Prophet (Audio) Yusuf Islam (Formerly Cat Stevens), Mountain of Light Productions This spoken-word audio biography of Muhammad has been applauded by audiences for its production style and narration. It was written and produced by the artist formerly known as Cat Stevens, who has sold over 60 million albums worldwide to date. It also features Yusuf Islam's first song, a classical tribute to the Prophet, after seventeen years away from the recording studio. 70 minutes. [/quote] Is there any online bookstore or anything where u can buy it? Wassalam. |
| FAO Br Bulwark of Islam |
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| Saffiyah |
| 05/16/03 at 16:05:05 |
| [slm] In the other thread, which has now been closed, you asked about the audio version of The Life of the Last Prophet. It can be bought online at http://www.mountainoflight.co.uk/ If you are outside the UK, it can be bought at http://www.islamicmedia.com/mol.html [wlm] |
| Re: Top 20 RecommenedBooks for ne1 Interested in I |
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| foodi |
| 05/20/03 at 17:57:16 |
| salaam you guys didnt mention sayyed hossain nasr's Young muslim's guide to teh modern world.. or any of charles le Gai Eaton's books destiny of man king of teh castle remembering god eaton is right up there with asad as one of the best english writers on islam |
| Re: Top 20 RecommenedBooks for ne1 Interested in I |
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| bhaloo |
| 05/21/03 at 02:09:01 |
| [slm] I actually don't like this list, its pretty bad. My objections: -I'm not a fan of Karen Armstrong (she's a non-Muslim first of all), she has some distorted views on Islam, and we had a thread earlier on some of the misconceptions she has. Admittedly somethings she says are good, but the distorted things she says can mislead someone. I say stick with Muslim writers only. -Muhammad Message of the Quran by Asad: Muhammad Asad, The Message of The Qur'an (Gibraltar, 1980). l edn. Translated in chaste, idiomatic English by a convert from Judaism to Islam. However, it contains some serious departures from the orthodox viewpoint on a number of Qur'anic statements. Asad appears to be reluctant to accept the literal meaning of some Qur'anic verses. For example, he doubts the throwing of Ibrahim into fire, Jesus speaking in the cradle; refers to Khidr and Dhulqarnain as mythical figures and expresses unconventional views on abrogation (Naskh) theory. (For details please see Arfaque Malik's review in the Muslim World Book Review, Vol. 1, No. 1 (1980), pp. 5-7 (above commentary from A.R. Kidwai) -Muhammad Legacy of a Prophet (DVD). I didn't like this DVD at all, except for the nurse, fireman, and congressman's assistant. They were the hilights of the video, and if a separate video was made just on them, that would have been great. I didn't buy this video, and wouldn't recommend others to buy. However, the other DVD, Islam Empire of Faith (though there were some minor problems with it), was awesome overall. I give 2 thumbs up to Jeffrey Lang and Yahiya Emerick, both are really good writers, mashallah. I couldn't have picked a better writer then Yahiya Emerick to write the Complete Idiot's Guide to Understanding Islam. And alhumdullilah Yusuf Islam does an excellent job with his Life of the Last Prophet CD, and his nasheeds are really nice. I like Dawud Wharnsbury's as well, but unfortunately (in my opinion) the songs start to sound the same (the rhythm). The Essential Rumi? ??? Hmmmm. I think he should not be included in an Islamic book list, but leave him in a poets sections. As I have mentioned before in another thread, I don't like the wine and love analogies used throughout his poetry. I know we discussed the topic before in a thread when some conference was mentioned, Abu Hamza raised some issues, if I remember correctly. I also wouldn't recommend a book by William C. Chittick, why not recommend some book by Ibn Qayyim instead, such as that one that Maliha is reviewing. I also think a good book on tafsir is needed, such as Ibn Kathir's. People should actually understand what the verses in the Quran mean and have access to this information. And also I think there should be some book(s) on what hadiths are. Most of the non-Muslims that come here just think the Quran is it. I think they should know what the sources are for Islam and how this information was preserved. [quote author=foodi link=board=kabob;num=1053017841;start=0#4 date=05/20/03 at 17:57:16]salaam you guys didnt mention sayyed hossain nasr's Young muslim's guide to teh modern world.. or any of charles le Gai Eaton's books destiny of man king of teh castle remembering god eaton is right up there with asad as one of the best english writers on islam [/quote] Sayyed Hossain Nasr is shia, and besides that there were some issues raised in his writings in earlier threads, so I think its best to stay away from his works, and stick with writers that make references to sources that are more inline with sunni refence books (i.e. hadith narrations). |
| Re: Top 20 RecommenedBooks for ne1 Interested in I |
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| mr-bean |
| 05/21/03 at 10:23:50 |
| [slm] I wonder whether the general non-muslim can understand the quran just by reading it like a novel. There are too many verses which are surrounded by history and circumstance. Maybe it is then very good to have a commentary. Particular good ones are (1a) A Thematic Commentary on the Qur'an by Mohammed al-Ghazali http://www.softechww.com/iiiT/shopping/prod_Preview.asp?prod_id=76 [i] He is the eminent and recently deceased scholar and dawah worker (you can get a much cheaper copy at an islamic bookstore[/i] (1b) The Qur'an Themes & Style by Muhammad Abdel Haleem http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1860646506/qid=1053523731/sr=8-3/ref=sr_8_3/102-5938497-5693724?v=glance&s=books&n=507846 [i] He is a professor of Arabic at the famous SOAS (School of Orental and Asian Studies) in London and is a hafiz [/i] Also the biography of the Prophet is one of the best ways to solidify belief in Islam. A really good one is (1) Remembrance and Prayer by Mohammed al-Ghazali http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0915957612/qid=1053524298/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/102-5938497-5693724?v=glance&s=books [i] Nobody can but be touched by the prayers of the prophet. It is a really cool book[/i] (2) The Martin Lings book. http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0892811706/qid=1053524343/sr=2-1/ref=sr_2_1/102-5938497-5693724 [i] Everybody likes this book except those who don't like martin lings because he is a bit sufistic.[/i] Hadith: (1) Hadith Qudsi by Imam an-Nawawi http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0933511213/qid=1053524420/sr=1-5/ref=sr_1_5/102-5938497-5693724?v=glance&s=books [i](my hero --- do you know he didn't lie down for ten years?! Every moment was spent working (in scholarship) or in dhikr. He was the ultimate islamic geek) [/i] (2) 40 Hadith by Imam Nawawi. http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0933511221/qid=1053524480/sr=1-3/ref=sr_1_3/102-5938497-5693724?v=glance&s=books [i]Every muslim should know this book backwards and forwards. Although a non-muslim probably needs some help with it and extra commentary.[/i] Quran: (1) The Koran by N.J. Dawood. http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0140445420/qid=1053524601/sr=1-6/ref=sr_1_6/102-5938497-5693724?v=glance&s=books [i] this is a bit contraversial because the translater is jewish (i think), and the original edition decades ago appeared in a non-traditional order. But I don't know of any other translation which gets accross the message in an easier or more elegant way. (And after all that is what a translation is supposed to do). It reads a bit like a novel (which i really like) and is extremely nice to read. [/i] The Islamic attitude: Any book by the Islamic Texts Society, Cambridge. Particurly good ones are (1) Al-Ghazali The Remembrance of Death and the Afterlife by Imam Abu Hamid Al-ghazali and translated by T.J. Winter. http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0946621136/qid=1053524669/sr=1-3/ref=sr_1_3/102-5938497-5693724?v=glance&s=books [i] An absolutely wonderful book.[/i] (2) Al-Ghazali Invocations and Supplications translated by K Nakamura http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0946621144/qid=1053524746/sr=1-2/ref=sr_1_2/102-5938497-5693724?v=glance&s=books (3) Ibn Qayyim Al-Jawziyya on the Invocation of God translated by Moulay Youssef Slitine, Michael Abdurrahman Fitzgerald http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0946621780/qid=1053521775/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/102-5938497-5693724?v=glance&s=books To learn Arabic (for muslims and serious people) (1a) An Introduction to Koranic and Classical Arabic by William Thackston. http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0936347406/qid=1053524947/sr=1-7/ref=sr_1_7/102-5938497-5693724?v=glance&s=books (1b) An Introduction to Koranic and Classical Arabic: Key to Excercises by William Thackston. http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0936347511/qid=1053524866/sr=8-2/ref=sr_8_2/102-5938497-5693724?v=glance&s=books&n=507846 [i] This is a hard book if you don't understand grammar terminology. But if you know this book you really know arabic grammar. All you then have to do is practice reading and this book explicitly uses the quran to teach. Most of the excercises come from the quran and the hadith. Also it is very concise (I hate fat books) and has a little companion book Called Key to Excercises, which gives answers to all the excercises. This used to be the course text for the 1st year classical arabic course at Harvard. Although because it is a bit hard, i think it is not followed that well anymore. (Thackston is a harvard prof and used to teach this course frequently.) [/i] I guess this list is a bit more advanced than "An idiot's guide...." but tis the next step i guess.... For any audio: Any lecture by T.J. Winter aka Abdul Hakim Murad -- the most amazing and eloquent scholar i have ever, ever, ever met. He is a genius (I.Q wise) with a heart of gold and very humble. I know him well since he often used to give the friday khutbah when I was a grad student. He is a lecturer in the School of Divinity at U of Cambridge. A very quick google search produced : http://onlineislamicstore.com/abmurtjwin.html http://www.simplyislam.com/htmls/50578.html http://www.astrolabepictures.com/astrolabe/vm083-088.html http://aswatalislam.net/DisplayFilesP.aspx?TitleID=2001 |
| 05/21/03 at 13:26:33 |
| mr-bean |
| Re: Top 20 RecommenedBooks for ne1 Interested in I |
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| amatullah |
| 05/26/03 at 12:59:33 |
| I am forwarding to you from IslamOnline (http://www.islamonline.net/askaboutislam/idsplay.asp?hquestionID=4818) a reply on the question "Readings for New Muslims" for information and use. Elizabeth - Russian Federation Topic Faith & Practice Title: Readings for New Muslims Question Hi, My name is Elizabeth and I’m Russian but I have been living in an Arab country for the last 10 years. I’m Christian and I’m getting married to a Muslim man. I am thinking of converting to Islam. So, I would like to get your advice on what books should I read, to get to know more about Islam. Also, what should I do to become Muslim. Thank you. Date 2003/5/5 Name of Consultant Nabil Haroun Content of Reply Salaam Elizabeth, Thank you for your question. In your blessed trip of learning to explore Islam, you should do some objective readings. Taking them stepwise, you would start by reading to examine the fact that Islam is the same eternal message, sent to guide humanity through all prophets. It is also to examine the fact that Qur’an, revealed to Muhammad, the Seal of Prophets, is the last - and only book preserved intact - word of God. This is to also to say that it could not be the work of any human being. To prove that, you can read some books or articles, dealing with Science and Qur’an, for example: Qur’an and Modern Science - by Maurice Bucailles and Why Islam? Proofs of Modern Science - by N. A. Haroun. You can also visit the following links: A Brief Illustrated Guide to Understanding Islam Islam for Everyone Science Leads to Islam Also, being a Christian converting to Islam, you can easily discover that some of the basic tenets of Christianity are totally different and even opposite to what Jesus himself has been sent with. Nowhere in the Bible did Jesus proclaim that he was more than a human prophet ‘the son of man’, sent to the Israelite. This is to purify their souls and get them back to the original message of all prophets i.e. Islam. You will find also that Moses, Jesus, Isaiah and other Israelite prophets has prophesied according to the Bible itself - the coming of Muhammad, the Seal of messengers. For example, please read: · Muslim Christian Dialogue - by Hasan Baagil · Islam the True Message of Moses, Jesus and Muhammad - by N. A. Haroun · Is the Trinity Doctrine Divinely Inspired - by M. A. C. Cave · Crucifixion or Crucifiction - by Ahmad Deedat · Resurrection or Resuscitation - by Ahmad Deedat · Jesus; a Prophet of Islam - by M. Ata ur-Rahim · Muhammad in the Bible - by G. Badawi · What the Bible Says about Muhammad - by Ahmad Deedat Besides, the following site is also rich in articles: Islam Tomorrow The historical reality of the bible, both Old and New Testaments, can be ascertained, to find out that they are a collection of 68 human writings. These are documented and collected as a sacred book, several centuries after the departure of Moses and Jesus respectively. Thus, neither of them can be considered the word of God. The only divine text preserved - by the will of Allah - is the Holy Qur’an. I suggest you read: · Qur’an, Bible, and Modern Science -by Maurice Bucailles · Let the Bible Speak - by A. Dimashqiyyah · The Qur’an and the Gospels; a Comparative Study - by M. Abu-Layla At this point you could be insha’Allah - totally convinced that Islam is the authentic message of God to all humanity, everywhere to the end of time. You need to build a broad overview of Islam as a comprehensive message and guidance addressing: elements of faith, how to worship and get near to Allah, elements of Islamic morals and behavior, as well as basic legislation for the individual and community. There are some useful primers to read at this stage, for example: · Islam; Faith and Practice - by M. M. Ahsan · Comprehensive Background on Islam - by A. A. Al-Mawdudi · Islam in Brief - By M. I. El-Masry · Islam - by I. R. Al-Faruqi · Islam at a Glance - by Dar El-Falah · Islam, What is it All About - by Yahia A. Emerick · Islam in Focus - by H. Abdul-`Ati · Idiot’s Guide to Understanding Islam - by Yahia A. Emerick Also visit: Understanding Islam You might also be interested to know more about the status of woman in Islam, along with the Islamic concept of marriage and family. For this, you can read: · Woman in Islam - by A. Limo · Woman Under the Shade of Islam - by G. Badawi · Family Structure in Islam - by H. Abdul-`Ati · Family Life in Islam - by Khurshid Ahmad Or you can also visit the sections about Women in Islam and Woman’s status in both Islam and Christianity, in the following sites: Islamic Network Discover Islam; The Fastest Growing Religion It could be interesting also to examine the stories and experiences of many new converts to Islam in: My Journey to Islam You would now be ready to start your great trip to the world of Islam. It is very simple, you do not need any intermediary as there is no clergy or Church-like institution in Islam. You should simply testify that you believe there is no deity except Allah, and that Muhammad (pbuh) is His Messenger. It is recommended, but not essential, to do that in the nearest Islamic centre or major mosque - I am not sure of your whereabouts. You need also to have a purifatory bath, before going there. You need to take this step mainly to identify yourself as a Muslim, for legal and social considerations. A useful guide can be the book: Your Way to Islam - by Muhammad Sulayman Al-Ashqar. Becoming a Muslim, you are responsible before Allah to follow His guidance and develop you belief, understanding and practice of Islam. This is as well as striving to help others to achieve the blessings you thankfully gained by becoming a Muslim. May Allah bless us all and guide us to His righteous path. Thank you again for your question and please, do keep in touch. Salaam. More to Read: Non-Muslims… Approaching the Qur’an Converting or Reverting... My Prayer, Life and Death… for Allah Changing Names When Converting |
| Re: Top 20 RecommenedBooks for ne1 Interested in I |
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| se7en |
| 05/29/03 at 07:09:58 |
| as salaamu alaykum wa rahmatullah, We just learned this awesome hadeeth in Arabic class: [color=black]"al hikmatu dhaaltul mu'min. [Wisdom is the lost property of a believer]"[/color].. which means basically that a believer should acquire, accept and appreciate wisdom, no matter what the source of it is. (obviously, anything that contradicts the shari'ah is not wisdom.) I just thought this was good to bring up, because often times we dismiss books/works by non-muslims simply because they're non-muslim. I understand the hesitancy many ppl have because a lot of books written by non-Muslims may be written with particular agendas, or have some incorrect stuff in it, etc .. but just thought this was a good hadeeth to keep in mind. wasalaamu alaykum wa rahmatullah :-) |
| 05/29/03 at 07:12:01 |
| se7en |
| Re: Top 20 RecommenedBooks for ne1 Interested in I |
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| deenb4dunya |
| 05/29/03 at 17:56:14 |
| Assalamu Alaikum, [quote]-I'm not a fan of Karen Armstrong (she's a non-Muslim first of all), she has some distorted views on Islam, and we had a thread earlier on some of the misconceptions she has. Admittedly somethings she says are good, but the distorted things she says can mislead someone. I say stick with Muslim writers only. [/quote] Anyone know where this thread is? Br.Bhaloo? WassalamU Alaikum, --Deen :-) |
| Re: Top 20 RecommenedBooks for ne1 Interested in I |
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| deenb4dunya |
| 05/29/03 at 17:57:30 |
| [quote]5. Islam: The Straight Path by John L. Esposito (Paperback - January 199 - THE intro book used in every Islam 101 class at universities. Decent although written by an orientalist. [/quote] He's not Muslim? |
| Re: Top 20 RecommenedBooks for ne1 Interested in I |
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| muslimah853 |
| 05/29/03 at 22:53:00 |
| [slm] My two cents. Not that anyone asked :) In addition to what 7 said about taking wisdom wherever it may be, I'd also like to say that sometimes when dealing with non-Muslims, some of them would rather read a book by a non-Muslim because they feel less threatened by it--they feel less of a chance that they will be preached at. Many non-Muslim writers foul things up, but there are some good ones. Someone mentioned Sylviane Diouf's book on Muslim slaves, she is a very good example of a non-Muslim who does a stellar job on the topic she writes about. Allan Austin wrote a book on the same topic (African Muslims in Antebellum America) and is another example. We are starting a da'wah library here, masha'allah, and one of the things we were sharing when trying to identify good materials is that you have a wide range of people out there who are non-Muslim, coming from alot of different life experiences and such. You have some who are highly educated and academic--and frankly there are not that many materials in English written by Muslims that play on that level. So we lose alot of people, or end up having to settle for non-Muslim academics speak for us. One brother shared the fact that his mother is Buddhist--and because Thomas Cleary translates some of those Eastern works into English she is familiar with him, and thus is very interested in Thomas Cleary's works on Islam. You have people who are not interested in Islam, per se, but are definitely into poetry and would appreciate Rumi. Or people who are interested in Islamic art and architecture--there are many good books on those as well. I think Jannah had a good list--I haven't read all of the titles on it. But a couple of my faves are: Islam: Religion of Life by Abdul Wadud Shalabi Foundations of Islam by Hamza Yusuf (tapes) Wisdom of the Qur'an published by Oneworld Press |
| Re: Top 20 RecommenedBooks for ne1 Interested in I |
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| bhaloo |
| 05/31/03 at 16:26:29 |
| [slm] [quote author=se7en link=board=kabob;num=1053017841;start=0#8 date=05/29/03 at 07:09:58]We just learned this awesome hadeeth in Arabic class: [color=black]"al hikmatu dhaaltul mu'min. [Wisdom is the lost property of a believer]"[/color].. which means basically that a believer should acquire, accept and appreciate wisdom, no matter what the source of it is. (obviously, anything that contradicts the shari'ah is not wisdom.) I just thought this was good to bring up, because often times we dismiss books/works by non-muslims simply because they're non-muslim. I understand the hesitancy many ppl have because a lot of books written by non-Muslims may be written with particular agendas, or have some incorrect stuff in it, etc .. but just thought this was a good hadeeth to keep in mind. [/quote] I don't think you can apply that hadith to this situation. Remember the saying, becareful who you take your deen from? Or in the Quran when it mentions in the Quran to ask those with knowledge if one doesn't know? What about the hadith narrated by Ibn Maajah from the hadeeth of Anas ibn Maalik, who said: “The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: ‘Seeking knowledge is obligatory upon every Muslim.’” (Classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh Sunan Ibn Maajah. What is meant by knowledge here is knowledge of sharee’ah (Islamic knowledge). Al-Thawri said: “It is the knowledge for which no person has any excuse for not knowing.” Another example that comes to mind is the hadith when Umar (ra) did not receive approval for reading the Bible. I'm sure there maybe wisdom in their book, but think about why he was rebuked. Their book is not a source of guidance for us and by the same token, someone that is not a Muslim and has wrong ideas about Islam should not even be allowed to be spreading their false beliefs nor encouraged to do so by Muslims. |
| Re: Top 20 RecommenedBooks for ne1 Interested in I |
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| salaampeaceshalom |
| 05/31/03 at 18:34:54 |
| [slm] Bro bhaloo, can u give the exact hadith referring to Umar (radi'Allaahu Anhu) pls? That's quite interesting, and I just want to know what is actually said in the hadith. Thanks :) wa'salaam |
| Re: Top 20 RecommenedBooks for ne1 Interested in I |
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| bhaloo |
| 06/01/03 at 10:44:56 |
| [slm] The exact hadith, hmmmm, I'll look for it insha'Allah, I've read it before, I just have to find the source again, insha'Allah.. Brother Shabir Ally (the famous daiee from Canada, mentions it in a article he wrote, but he just paraphrases) http://www3.sympatico.ca/shabir.ally/new_page_18.htm [quote] Anyone know where this thread is? Br.Bhaloo? [/quote] I'm so bad with this searching feature. Part of it was mentioned in that thread (or maybe all of it?) talking about that video that came on PBS. |
| Re: Top 20 RecommenedBooks for ne1 Interested in I |
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| tawbah |
| 06/02/03 at 03:09:15 |
| bro bhaloo, here is a concrete testimonial from a convert: http://www.muhajabah.com/books.htm see her section on recommended books for non muslims. I do not know the sister personally but know from her postings on another message board that she does not adhere chitticks and nasr’s ideology…but I have asked her personally about the books she read on her path to conversion and she was humble enough to admit that those were among the most convincing books on islam she had read. Allahu Alim, wassalam. |
| Re: Top 20 RecommenedBooks for ne1 Interested in I |
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| se7en |
| 06/02/03 at 04:41:16 |
| as salaamu alaykum wa rahmatullah, [quote] I don't think you can apply that hadith to this situation. Remember the saying, becareful who you take your deen from? Or in the Quran when it mentions in the Quran to ask those with knowledge if one doesn't know? [/quote] I definitely agree.. that we all should be *extremely* careful about the people we take on as our shuyookh, teachers, and guides in this deen.. and be careful with the books we read, and the ideas and beliefs we accept and reject. However.. I think there is a distinction between *reading* a book on Islamic history by a non-muslim author (like Armstrong's book mentioned above) and *taking your deen* from someone. [quote]What about the hadith narrated by Ibn Maajah from the hadeeth of Anas ibn Maalik, who said: “The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: ‘Seeking knowledge is obligatory upon every Muslim.’” (Classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh Sunan Ibn Maajah. What is meant by knowledge here is knowledge of sharee’ah (Islamic knowledge). Al-Thawri said: “It is the knowledge for which no person has any excuse for not knowing.” [/quote] This explanation implies that the text is referring to knowledge about the deen that will help us in our spiritual journey and in our worship, and not other types of knowledge about 'mundane' things like engineering, literature, etc. I'm not sure if I understand the relevance of this text here. [quote]Another example that comes to mind is the hadith when Umar (ra) did not receive approval for reading the Bible. I'm sure there maybe wisdom in their book, but think about why he was rebuked. Their book is not a source of guidance for us and by the same token, someone that is not a Muslim and has wrong ideas about Islam should not even be allowed to be spreading their false beliefs nor encouraged to do so by Muslims. [/quote] I understand your point.. that Muslims should be careful about reading books by non-Muslims because they may contain errors, misinterpretations, or distortions. I agree.. but I also think it is improper to sweepingly reject any and all works/books written by non-Muslims. Yes, we need to be careful with what we read.. [and also make sure we have the proper foundation of knowledge to intelligently assess the information we are taking in.] But we should also be careful not to dismiss beneficial knowledge simply because we don't like it's source. I think the hadeeth I mentioned is applicable here. If you come across some type of information that is *hikma* - defined as that which is in concordance with the shari'ah and beneficial - then the source of it is inconsequential. w'Allahu a'lam. wasalaamu alaykum wa rahmatullah. PS -- We got into a bit of a discussion about this before, in relation to Muslim authors, but I can't seem to find it :( PPS -- here are two older threads related to Armstrong: http://www.jannah.org/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl/YaBB.pl?board=ark&action=display&num=2752 http://www.jannah.org/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl/YaBB.pl?board=ark&action=display&num=3143 |
| 06/02/03 at 05:07:41 |
| se7en |
| Re: Top 20 RecommenedBooks for ne1 Interested in I |
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| bhaloo |
| 06/02/03 at 09:19:40 |
| [slm] First let me say the search engine sucks big time here, I can never find anything. :( So I went to another message board :o and found the information there. :P [quote] I definitely agree.. that we all should be *extremely* careful about the people we take on as our shuyookh, teachers, and guides in this deen.. and be careful with the books we read, and the ideas and beliefs we accept and reject. However.. I think there is a distinction between *reading* a book on Islamic history by a non-muslim author (like Armstrong's book mentioned above) and *taking your deen* from someone. [/quote] i understand the point your trying to make, that its a book on *islamic history* and we aren't taking our deen from her. but unfortunately biases show up in people's account of history (subtle as they maybe). its not just history we're talking about. now someone like yourself, that has mashallah such good knowledge may not pay much attention to that because of this knowledge, but someone new to this deen, or wanting to learn about it, its important that the information they learn from the beginning is correct. [quote] But we should also be careful not to dismiss beneficial knowledge simply because we don't like it's source. I think the hadeeth I mentioned is applicable here. If you come across some type of information that is *hikma* - defined as that which is in concordance with the shari'ah and beneficial - then the source of it is inconsequential. w'Allahu a'lam. wasalaamu alaykum wa rahmatullah. PS -- We got into a bit of a discussion about this before, in relation to Muslim authors, but I can't seem to find it PPS -- here are two older threads related to Armstrong: [/quote] Those weren't the threads I was thinking of. Ok, I'll put up the information from that other board (that was on this board as well, but I cant find it with the search engine here). Here is the 1st point, an audio of an interview with Karen Armstrong: http://www.npr.org/ramfiles/fa/20011017.fa.01.ram In it she talks about how islamic fundamentalism originated from Syed Qutb. How insulting to this great scholar. Here's what Se7en said about the audio on 10/22/01: I didn't know everyone thought these things of syed qutb! subhanAllah.. i only listened to about half of it.. pretty disappointing.. her books are a lot better ;=================================== Here is point 2, where someone commented on the PBS Video, and particularly Karen Armstrong. I think the individual makes *some* good points (some may not agree with all of his points, but still he has some good points). I will be focusing on the most important points, which relate to the Prophethood of Rasoolullah Muhammad salla Allahu aleihi wa sallam. The reality of this Prophethood was put in question by some of the non-Muslim participants in a very subtle way. The approach, especially by Armstrong, was to put a sugar coat of praising Rasoolullah around denying his Prophethood: 1) The documentary starts with a background that Rasoolullah “encountered Christians and Jews [before his Prophethood], and learned from them what their faith, what their religions, what there cultures are”…then comes Karen Armstrong in the program to say: “ Muhammad would become aware that for the Jews and the Christians, the holly scripture was very important. Both got scriptures in which God have sent a sacred message to Prophets, and this was a way in which people could relate to the Devine”. Armstrong wants from that to say that Rasoolullah salla Allahu aleihi wa sallam got ideas from the Jews and Christians that helped him making up the Qur’an (A’utho billah!). I know that you may think I am putting words which she didn’t say in her mouth, but this is exactly what she said several times in her Book ‘Muhammad’: “I am not claiming that Islam is entirely faultless. All religions are human institutions and frequently make serious mistakes” (‘Muhammad’ by Karen Armstrong-page13). And this is what she says in her book (Islam: a Short History, pages9-10): “The Quran mentions only those Prophets who were known to Arabs, but today Muslim scholars argue that had Muhammad known about the Buddhists or Hindus, the Australian Aborigines or the Native Americans, the Quran would have endorsed their sages too”…As if Rasoolullah is the one who made up the Quran and he failed to mention other Prophets in the Quran because he didn’t know of them. We need to know that Rasoolullah salla Allahu aleihi wa sallam didn’t know about Prophets and their messages before Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala sent Revelation to him. Allah said: (( ãÇ ßäÊ ÊÏÑí ãÇ ÇáßÊÇÈ æáÇ ÇáÅíãÇä æáßä ÌÚáäÇå äæÑÇ äåÏí Èå ãä äÔÇÁ)) (And thus did We reveal to you an inspired book by Our command. You did not know what the Book was, nor (what) the faith (was), but We made it a light, guiding thereby whom We please of Our servants) [Ash-Shura 42:52]. In fact this was one of the greatest miracles of Rasoolullah salla Allahu aleihi wa sallam; that he told about other Prophets and religions although he knew nothing about that before his Prophethood. 2) The documentary focuses on the social injustice and wars among Arabs that preceded the Prophethood of Rasoolullah salla Allahu aleihi wa sallam. The background given in the beginning gives the impression that Muhammad [salla Allahu aleihi wa sallam] claimed to be a Prophet to unite Arabs…that it wasn’t first and foremost a message of Tawheed (Oneness of Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala) for all of the inhabitants of earth, but a religion made by Muhammad to unite Arabs. The documentary goes: “but as Muhammad approached his own fortieth birthday, he was becoming increasingly restless and troubled by the problems of the Meccan society .” Then comes Karen Armstrong to elaborate on the social decline in the Meccan society, with no mention at this point of polytheism and the lack of a well-formed religion, which really troubled Rasoolullah the most. Armstrong keeps focusing on this aspect throughout the documentary and in her books. In the documentary she later says “ and as soon as Waraqah [Khadija’s cousin] heard about this, he immediately said, ‘Muhammad is the Prophet, who will bring the Revelation of the One God to the Arabs’…” To the Arabs only!! In fact the story of Waraqah is in Bukhari and doesn’t include the mentioning of Arabs at all, but Armstrong had to add it to serve her purpose. Armstrong hides that the whole Message of Rasoolullah was about Tawheed first and foremost. She wrote in (Islam: a Short History-page 6): “Social justice was, therefore, the crucial virtue of Islam”.… Social justice! Not the Oneness of Allah! Then she tries to show that for Muslims, the unity of the Ummah is the most sacred value, compared God for the Christians: “Consequently, they [Muslims] would be affected as profoundly by any misfortuneor humiliation suffered by the Ummah as Christians by the spectacle of somebody blasphemously trampling on the Bible or ripping the Eucharistic host apart.” (Islam: a Short History-page 6)…to show that, while the most sacred for the Christians is God and His Book, the most sacred for the Muslims is unity of their ummah…just to serve the idea that Rasoolullah made up this religion to unite the ummah, not for any other reason. For us Muslims, when we hear them in the documentary talking about how Rasoolullah salla Allahu aleihi wa sallam united Arabs, we simply take it as admiration of his achievements…the fact that he was Rasoolullah and that his main virtue is the message of Tawheed is for granted in our souls…it doesn’t matter to us if they don’t mention it…but for a non-Muslim watching the film, he has in his soul that the main job of a true Prophet is to convey the reality about God…if this is not mentioned as the main achievement of a Prophet…this will not fulfill the expectation of non-Muslim about a true Prophet…even worse when you give the impression that the main achievement was a worldly thing (uniting Arabs) confined to a limited geographical area (Arabia). Before going on, you may wonder why I am focusing on Karen Armstrong, and why should I mention her books and not only what she said in the documentary…Well! From a fast look at the discussion board put by PBS to discuss the documentary I found the following: A contribution from a Muslim sister (as appears from the name): “Thank you dear karen Armstrong for this program, may God bless you and your heart. Good work” A contribution form a Muslim brother: “Karen Armstrong is impressive; she is very knowledgeable, accurate and unbiased. Please, invite her again and again and ask her to give more details about Islam. PBS, how can I help you producing such documentaries? I would like to contribute.” O ye! Invite her again and again to put more sugar-coated poisons, and to give more details about Islam which she denies and refuses to embrace after studying it for years…Alas! How naïve we Muslims are! Moreover, some Muslim institutes sell her book ‘Muhammad’ paying no attention to the poisons in the book which can deceive not only non-Muslims, but also Muslims who have limited knowledge about their religion. To strengthen the idea that Muhammad [salla Allahu aleihi wa sallam] made up this religion for Arabs only, she says: “Now at least God had sent the Quraysh a prophet and a scripture. The Quran points out that Muhammad had not come to cancel older religions, to contradict their Prophets or to start a new faith…..Hence Muhammad never asked Jews or Christians to accept Islam, unless they particularly wished to do so, because they had received perfectly valid revelations of their own.” (Islam: a Short History-page 9-10)….Notice how she mingles and mixes false statement with right ones to make the whole thing easy to swallow! Yes, Islam didn’t contradict their Prophets but it did cancel and supercede older religions, and Rasoolullah did call Jews and Christians to accept Islam and told them that they will be ruined in Hellfire if they don’t do so …but again, she wants to implant the idea that Rasoolullah made up this religion for Arabs of Arabia and didn’t mind about others…so it is not a religion from the God of all to he whole humanity! And yes, Jews and Christians re ceived perfect Revelations but Rasoolullah salla Allahu aleihi wa sallam explained that these Revelations were changed and adulterated and that the salvation is in the Qur’an only…Naïve people would think that she is just praising Rasoolullah and admiring how tolerant he was!! 3) In the documentary, Armstrong portrays a picture which indicates that the Qur’an was an inspiration from the inner soul of Muhammad [salla Allahu aleihi wa sallam]: Strangely enough, they chose this person (Armstrong) who doesn’t even believe in God (see below) to talk about how Rasoolullah received the first Revelation!!!...in a film which was supposedly produced and funded in part by Muslim! She said: “The voice again said: ‘recite’…..and then squeezed, as he [Rasoolullah] said almost beyond his endurance. Muhammad felt the first inspired words of a new scripture in Arabic pouring from his lips…everywhere he looked there was Gabriel, and not just a single angelic image, but a presence, a being, a power”…To indicate that it was a psychological experience that Muhammad [salla Allahu aleihi wa sallam] had, not a real Revelation, she describes Gabriel as a ‘voice’, and when she comes to the physical elements like squeezing, she uses expressions like ‘as he said’ to indicate that it was something he imagined or claimed, and finally says ‘not a single angelic image, but a presence, a power, a being’ which fit most with someone having a hallucination and wide imagination! A’uothobillah! To give the picture of a person having inner psychological personal experience without any contribution from outer beings, she says “Muhammad felt the first inspired words of a new scripture in Arabic pouring from his lips”, although the story is in Bukhari, and says that it was Gabriel who recited the words…but this would not serve her purpose of letting the listener feel that it was a psychological experience which Muhammad [salla Allahu aleihi wa sallam] developed into his inner soul. Again, this is exactly what she says in her books: “In purely secular terms, we could say that Muhammad had perceived the great problems confronting his people at a deeper level than most of his contemporaries, and that as he “listened” to events, he had to delve deeply and painfully into his inner being to find a solution that was not only politically viable but spiritually illuminating. He was creating a new literary form and a masterpiece of Arab prose and poetry.” (Islam: a Short History-page 5)…and of course by the last sentence she means that he made up the Qur’an! These tricks can be overlooked by us Muslims because we already believe in the Prophethood of Rasoolullah salla Allahu aleihi wa sallam…but think about the non-Muslims or the shaky Muslims...how can this affect them? So, for Karen Armstrong, Rasoolullah either lied or was possessed when he said that he was the Messenger of Allah…and again, this is a woman who doesn’t even believe in God. She believes that it is a man-made myth. In the first paragraph of her book (A History of God, page 12), she wrote: “In the beginning, human beings created a God who was the First Cause of all things and Ruler of heaven and earth… That, at least, is one theory…” Again and again, the focus of the film was that Rasoolullah came with this message for Arabs, to achieve social justice in Arabia. It goes: “The Divine Message that Muhammad brought to his fellow Meccans carried with it a sharp warning for their increasingly materialistic society”…then comes Armstrong to say: “He was coming to warn the people of Mecca and the surrounding countryside and the tribe of Quraysh that unless they pull themselves together and started creating a more just and decent society, restoring the old tribal values of looking after the poor, the orphan, the widow, the oppressed, then there was going to be a terrible catastrophe”…Yes, part of the message of Islam was to achieve social justice, but this wasn’t the core of its message…and Islam restored the concept of Oneness of God and that Allah alone can put rules to human beings…Islam didn’t come to restore old tribal values as Armstrong claims! For a non-Muslim watching the documentary, why should he care about the ‘old tribal values’ of Arabia!? 4) Appearing as if she was just admiring the eloquence of the Qur’an, Armstrong said in the documentary: “When the first Muslims heard the Qur’an, many of them were converted to the Prophet’s Message, not necessarily because of its content, but because of its beauty”…same as what she said in (Islam” a Short History-page 5): “Many of the first believers were converted by the sheer beauty of the Quran”…This is not far from what the Kuffar of Quraysh said about Rasoolullah salla Allahu aleihi wa sallam, that he was a magician, and that the people who followed him were simply bewitched by the Qur’an! The Companions of Rasoolullah, who were tortured and exiled…was all of that because of the sheer beauty…!? Did they sacrifice their lives for Islam without being convinced to their cores by the content of the Qur’an!? 5) Armstrong mentions in the documentary that “Abu Talib was in a difficult position. He was not a Muslim, but it went against the grain of him to simply hand over his beloved nephew to these people who would kill him…”…Here she makes no mention of the fact that Abu Talib expressed his belief in the message of Rasoolullah salla Allahu aleihi wa sallam more than once but refused to embrace Islam fearing the shame that he would be going off the way of his forefathers. She states that the reason was simply that “it went against the grain of him to simply hand over his beloved nephew”. It doesn’t serve her purposes to mention that many Kuffar, including Abu Talib, were convinced in their hearts that Muhammad salla Allahu aleihi wa sallam was Rasoolullah but refused to follow him, and yet expressed their conviction…this would strengthen the reality that he was indeed Rasoolullah…and Armstrong doesn’t want to give any indication of the reality of the Prophethood of Muhammad salla Allahu aleihi wa sallam. In her book ‘Muhammad-page 72’: “Muhammad, on the other hand, did not work miracles: he always claimed that the revelation of the Quran was a miracle in itself and a sufficient sign of its divine origin. He insisted that he was simply ‘ a man like other men’.” As we know, Rasoolullah had tens, if not hundreds, of miracles other than the Qur’an…these miracles are mentioned in authentic Ahadeeth…like telling about opening of Constantine while digging the trench, increasing the food that is sufficient for a couple of people to become sufficient for a thousand, crying of the trunk of tree when he stopped making khutbah on it, telling about what was happening in the battle of Mu’tah while it was taking place thousands of miles away from him, and many many more. However, Armstrong says that Muhammad [salla Allahu aleihi wa sallam] claimed the Qur’an as his only miracle and that he claimed it is Divine…then Armstrong refutes that the Qur’an is Divine, to leave the reader with the conclusion that Muhammad [salla Allahu aleihi wa sallam] was a liar, A’uthobillah! She says in her book ‘Muhammad-page 52’ which is sold by Muslim institutes!!!!!: “If we could view Muhammad as we do any other important historical figure we would surely consider him to be one of the greatest geniuses the world has known. To create a literary masterpiece, to found a major religion and a new world power are not ordinary achievements”…and, of course, the masterpiece she’s talking about is the Qur’an….See how she sugar coats this clear statement which claims that Rasoolullah made the Qur’an up with the sugar coat of describing him as a great man. Therefore, when we hear Armstrong saying in the documentary that Muhammad [salla Allahu aleihi wa sallam] warned his followers not to do with him like what the Christians did with Jesus [aleihis-salam] and take him as a god, and that he stressed that he wasn’t a god, he was an ordinary man, we need to know what she meant by ‘an ordinary man’. 6) Even when they talked about emigration of Rasoolullah salla Allahu aleihi wa sallam to Madinah, the statements of the non-Muslims reassure the misconception that the whole message of Muhammad [salla Allahu aleihi wa sallam] was to unite Arabs and stop war…no mentioning of the universal message of monotheism against polytheism…in the documentary, the background about Yathrib (Madinah) is given by Armstrong: “the settlement was engulfed in tribal warfare of the worst kind…it was an example of where the whole system in Arabia was beginning to break down…one killing let to another, and nobody seemed to find a solution” Then the narrator of the documentary goes: “nobody, until the clans of Yathrib heard about the trustworthy Muhammad, hoping he could unify its warring factions…” We know that the major problem of Madinah was polytheism, and that the tribal heads of Madinah went to Rasoolullah after they believed in him as Rasoolullah…they sacrificed everything and knew that all the Arabs were going to fight them if they host Rasoolullah in Madinah…as As’ad Bin Zorarah said when they came to make the pledge with Rasoolullah in makkah (in authentic narrations in Musnad Ahmad): “Wait O people of Yathrib…we did not hit the livers of camels to him (we didn’t come to him) except knowing that he is indeed Rasoolullah…and if you take ask him to move (from Mekkah to Madinah) then this will cause all the Arabs to become your enemies, the best of you will be killed, and you will be swords…so if you will be patient with this then take him and your reward is with Allah”…this was their hope; reward from Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala…and this was the only thing that Rasoolullah promised them in this pledge; the Jannah. Yet, the documentary twists this fact very strangely when the narrator says: “nobody, until the clans of Yathrib heard about the trustworthy Muhammad, hoping he could unify its warring factions…”…the trustworthy…not the Prophet!!!, unify the warring faction…not because they believed in the monotheism that he was calling for!!! And then comes the professor of Judaism and Islam in Hebrew Union College to say: “the deal is he would serve as their binding arbitrator, that is both sides of the conflict have agreed already that they would accept the arbitration of Muhammad whatever it would be.”…Binding arbitrator!!! Not Rasoolullah!! In fact, the people of Madinah knew that the advent of Rasoolullah will cause wars with the rest of Arabs (as mentioned above) and will even split the people of Madinah…As Abul-Haitham Ibn At-Taihan said: “O Rasoolullah, there are ties between us and the men (meaning the Jews of Madinah), and we are going to cut these ties (for the sake of Rasoolullah)…so if do so and Allah makes you victorious then will you go back to your people and leave us?”…he was worried that Rasoolullah will leave them. So, the deal was that they will support Rasoolullah whatever it would cost them…and the only reward for that is Jannah…yes, unifying of some tribes came as a consequence of the emigration of Rasoolullah, but it wa by no mean the reason why they cam to him and asked him to move to Madinah. This twisting of facts comes after mentioning in the documentary that Rasoolullah stayed in Makkah for 13 years and “the results were not impressive”...so they have to give a worldly reason as to why a whole city accepts Islam…nothing about the truth of the message but just to serve as a binding arbitrator!!! And what’s the reason, according to the documentary, that made the Ansar (people of Madinah) accept the arbitration of Muhammad [salla Allahu aleihi wa sallam] whatever it would be? To stop the conflict!!! Not because they believed that he is Rasoolullah and whatever arbitration he gives is according to the will of Allah!!! What a dishonest twisting of facts!!! To nail down this misconception, the documentary goes: “In Yathrib, Muhammad’s followers anxiously awaited the Prophet’s arrival. Had the man they hoped would save them been able to save himself?”…Yes, they hoped he would save them, but save them from Hellfire first and most, not from tribal conflict. We need to know that some of the disbelievers, like Armstrong, do not have a problem with calling Muhammad [salla Allahu aleihi wa sallam] a Prophet, although they deny his relationship with Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala. Like in her book ‘Muhammad: a biography of a Prophet’, where Armstrong denies that Rasoolullah was receiving Revelation from Allah…where she uses Prophet to refer to a hero who achieves something for his society. She say in this book (page 72): “Both [Jesus and Muhammad] penetrated to new realms of experience, confronted situations of great peril and brought to their people a gift which transformed their lives, a Prometheus had stolen fire from the gods and brought it down to earth to illuminate the lives of men”!!!!!! 7) Throughout the documentary, there was alternation of persons, a Muslims then a Armstrong...Muslim…Armstrong in the same story line. Muslim would start the story then Armstrong would come to complete an element of the story…This alternation, seemingly, gave credibility to whatever Armstrong said. Although, I am sure, the Muslims who participated would not agree with all of what Armstrong said, this cut and paste approach made it as if whatever the she said was agreed upon even by Muslims. 8') Saying that Rasoolullah married his wives for ‘political reasons’!! as in the documentary just serves this whole misconception that he made up this religion to unify Arabs. Disbelievers already started making fun of that!! It is sad that we Muslims try to give convince the disbelievers in this way which just to add to their disbelief. The way to approach is to prove that he was indeed Rasoolullah. If you prove that then any serious truth-seeker will not have any problem with knowing that he married that many wives…because he would know that Rasoolullah salla Allahu aleihi wa sallam did so with the permission of the Creator of the universe. In conclusion, the documentary included many good points. However, the approach, especially of Armstrong, was to praise Rasoolullah so much as a man, a hero, defend his history, but at the same time, misconceptions were added to obscure that he wad a Prophet of Allah, whose main message was Tawheed….for disbelievers, if the one who watches the film ‘swallows’ this whole package and goes to read the books of Armstrong, then it is more than enough as a disservice to Islam...If you convince people that Muhammad [salla Allahu aleihi wa sallam] was a hero, an eloquent person, a successful leader…but after all he was a man who ‘claimed’ Prophethood’ to unify Arabs…then why should any non-Muslim westerner be interested in him? Do we trust a person who studied Islam for time (like Armstrong) and yet Insisted on disbelief to come and talk about our beloved Prophet? After all she is a one who denies the Prophethood of Rasoolullah, no matter what nice things she says about him. Did our belief and trust in our religion reach to a level that we get excited the most when a disbeliever comes and says that our religion is nice? Did we become so frustrated from the attack against Islam that we get happy with any program that praises Islam even if this program is highly contaminated? At least let’s now make use of the fact that some people got interested in Islam after this documentary and give them authentic material, not the books of Armstrong! |
| 06/02/03 at 09:24:36 |
| bhaloo |
Madinat al-Muslimeen Islamic Message Board |