Wednesday, January 30, 2008
10 Misteri Ciptaan Tuhan Paling Kompleks - Otak
Kita menggunakan’nya setiap masa setiap ketika walaupun kita sedang tidur bermimpi indah. Mimpi itu juga datang’nya dari ciptaan Tuhan paling kompleks ini. Tapi, tak semua fungsi yang ada pada otak kita dapat di’ungkap dengan logik akal manusia. Kuasa Tuhan tidak akan terjangkau oleh kita. Discover Magazine hari ini menyeranaikan 10 persoalan atau misteri yang tak terjawab tentang fungsi otak kita yang satu ini. Petikan 10 persoalan tersebut adalah;
- Bagaimana maklumat di’susun secara neural di’dalam otak?
- Bagaimana memori kita di’simpan dan bagaimana pula ia boleh di’jana semula?
- Apa yang di’tunjukkan oleh aktiviti dasar pada sesebuah unit otak?
- Bagaimana otak menjana tindakan kita yang seterusnya?
- Apa itu emosi?
- Apa yang di’maksudkan dengan kesempurnaan akal?
- Bagaimana masa di’kira & berjalan di’dalam otak?
- Kenapa otak perlu tidur & bermimpi?
- Apa itu daya ingatan?
- Dan, bagaimana sistem-sistem kompleks di’atas saling bekerja tanpa kecelaruan?
Basic Instructions: Panduan asas kehidupan
Basic Instructions: Panduan asas kehidupan
Malam-malam begini, aku banyak luangkan masa untuk membaca artikel pembangunan diri & peribadi. Seronok membaca motivasi dari mereka-mereka yang telah berjaya & sedang menikmati kejayaan. Aku terlanjur ke sini, Basic Instructions dan aku katakan pada diri aku, “wow,ini sangat bagus!”. Basic Instrustions secara asasnya adalah sebuah blog berbentuk komik yang memberikan panduan-panduan asas dalam kehidupan manusia sehari-hari. Dari bagaimana hendak berurusan dengan orang lain, sehingga’lah teknik terbaik membuka bungkusan makanan ringan di’tengah khalayak ramai. Scott Meyer, pelukis & penulis di’sana sangat sempoi! Aku suka’kan yang bawah ini, ‘How to Lie to a Child‘.
6 Wanita Malang & 19 Keistimewaan Wanita
January 30, 2008
6 JENIS WANITA MALANG
“Jangan engkau kahwini wanita yang enam, jangan yang Ananah, yang Mananah, dan yang Hananah, dan jangan engkau kahwini yang Hadaqah, yang Baraqah dan yang Syadaqah.”
Wanita Ananah:banyak mengeluh dan mengadu dan tiap saat memperalatkan sakit atau buat-buat sakit.
Wanita Mananah:suka membangkit-bangkit terhadap suami. Wanita ini sering menyatakan, “Aku membuat itu keranamu”.
Wanita Hananah: menyatakan kasih sayangnya kepada suaminya yang lain, yang dikahwininya sebelum ini atau kepada anaknya dari suami yang lain.
Wanita Hadaqah: melemparkan pandangan dan matanya pada tiap sesuatu, lalu menyatakan keinginannya untuk memiliki barang itu dan memaksa suaminya untuk membelinya.
Wanita Baraqah: ada 2 makna, pertama yang sepanjang hari mengilatkan dan menghias mukanya, kedua dia marah ketika makan dan tidak mahu makan kecuali sendirian dan diasingkannya bahagianya.
Wanita Syadaqah: banyak cakap tidak menentu lagi bising.
19 KEISTIMEWAAN WANITA
1. Doa wanita itu lebih makbul daripada lelaki kerana sifat penyayang yang lebih kuat daripada lelaki. Ketika ditanya kepada Rasulullah SAW akan hal tersebut, jawab baginda, ” Ibu lebih penyayang daripada bapa dan doa orang yang penyayang tidak akan sia-sia.”
2. Wanita yang solehah (baik) itu lebih baik daripada 1000 lelaki yang soleh.
3. Barangsiapa yang menggembirakan anak perempuannya darjatnya seumpama orang yang sentiasa menangis kerana takutkan Allah .Dan orang yang takutkan Allah SWT akan diharamkan api neraka ke atas tubuhnya.
4. Wanita yang tinggal bersama anak-anaknya akan tinggal bersama aku (Rasulullah SAW) di dalam syurga.
5. Barangsiapa membawa hadiah (barang makanan dari pasar ke rumah lalu diberikan kepada keluarganya) maka pahalanya seperti melakukan amalan bersedekah. Hendaklah mendahulukan anak perempuan daripada anak lelaki. Maka barangsiapa yang menyukakan anak perempuan seolah-olah dia memerdekakan anak Nabi Ismail.
6. Syurga itu di bawah telapak kaki ibu.
7. Barangsiapa mempunyai tiga anak perempuan atau tiga saudara perempuan atau dua anak perempuan atau dua saudara perempuan lalu dia bersikap ihsan dalam pergaulan dengan mereka dan mendidik mereka dengan penuh rasa takwa serta sikap bertanggungjawab, maka baginya adalah syurga.
8. Apabila memanggil akan dirimu dua orang ibu bapamu, maka jawablah panggilan ibumu terlebih dahulu.
9. Daripada Aisyah r.a.” Barangsiapa yang diuji dengan sesuatu daripada anak-anak perempuannya lalu dia berbuat baik kepada mereka, maka mereka akan menjadi penghalang baginya daripada api neraka.
10. Wanita yang taat berkhidmat kepada suaminya akan tertutuplah pintu-pintu neraka dan terbuka pintu-pintu syurga. Masuklah dari mana-mana pun pintu yang dia kehendaki dengan tidak dihisab.
11. Wanita yang taat pada suaminya, maka semua ikan-ikan di laut, burung di udara, malaikat di langit, matahari dan bulan semua beristighfar baginya selama mana dia taat kepada suaminya serta menjaga solat dan puasanya.
12. Aisyah r.a berkata, “Aku bertanya kepada Rasulullah, siapakah yang lebih besar haknya terhadap wanita?” Jawab Rasulullah SAW “Suaminya.” ” Siapa pula berhak terhadap lelaki?” Jawab Rasulullah SAW, “Ibunya.”
13. Perempuan apabila sembahyang lima waktu, puasa di bulan Ramadhan, memelihara kehormatannya serta kepada suaminya, masuklah dia dari pintu syurga mana sahaja yang dikehendaki.
14. Tiap perempuan yang menolong suaminya dalam urusan agama, maka Allah SWT memasukkan dia ke dalam syurga terlebih dahulu daripada suaminya (10,000 tahun).
15. Apabila seseorang perempuan mengandung janin dalam rahimnya,maka beristighfarlah para malaikat untuknya. Allah SWT mencatatkan baginya setiap hari dengan 1,000 kebajikan dan menghapuskan darinya 1,000 kejahatan.
16. Apabila seseorang perempuan mulai sakit hendak bersalin, maka Allah SWT mencatatkan baginya pahala orang yang berjihad pada jalan Allah.
17. Apabila seseorang perempuan melahirkan anak, keluarlah dia dari dosa-dosa seperti keadaan ibunya melahirkannya.
18. Apabila telah lahir anak lalu disusui, maka bagi ibu itu setiap satu tegukan daripada susunya diberi satu kebajikan.
19. Apabila semalaman seorang ibu tidak tidur dan memelihara anaknya yang sakit, maka Allah SWT memberinya pahala seperti memerdekakan 70 orang hamba dengan ikhlas untuk membela agama Allah SWT.
Dicatat oleh Imam Al-Ghazalli.
Tips Melegakan Stres / Tekanan
Assalamualaikum
Setiap kali tahun baru, sibuklah kita memasang azam baru, walaupun azam tahun sebelumnya jarang sangat atau tak pernah tercapai langsung. Bagi saya, tak kisahlah walau azam demi azam tak pernah tercapai, tapi asalkan kita berusaha utk mencapai azam itu, secara tak langsung kita berusaha utk menjadi lebih baik dari sebelumnya. Jangan pula ada yg stres bagai nak gila kalau gagal mencapai azam masing-masing. Biasalah tu, dalam dunia ni, tak semua yg kita nak kita akan dapat.
Sebut pasal stres atau tekanan , manusia zaman sekarang memang tak dapat lari dari tekanan hidup. Baik dari segi kewangan(gaji tak cukup, hutang keliling pinggang dsb), pekerjaan (terlalu banyak kerja, boss garang dsb) mahupun tekanan hidup berkeluarga (konflik rumahtangga, tugas yang dipikul sebagai ibu, bapa, suami, isteri, anak dsb). Segala perasaan tertekan jika dipendamkan, akan menjejaskan cara kita berfikir, mudah marah, malah boleh mengakibatkan macam2 penyakit seperti darah tinggi, sakit jantung, sakit hati, sengal2 badan, pening kepala, kemurungan, hingga ada yg membunuh diri lantaran gagal menangani tekanan. Maka amat penting kita mengetahui bagaimana langkah yg perlu diambil utk melegakan tekanan.
Cara Untuk Melegakan Stres / Tekanan
1. Jaga pemakanan. Macam kempen Kementerian Kesihatan tu…”makan secara sihat, amalkan 5M”…Terlalu banyak gula, garam dan kolestrol dalam pemakanan kita, akan menambahkan lagi tekanan dalam tubuh. Sebaliknya lebihkan pengambilan makanan berkhasiat seperti buah-buahan, sayur-sayuran dsb.
2. Relaks. Lakukan sesuatu yg boleh membuat kita gembira. Misalnya memasak, berkebun, bersukan, memancing, main games dan lain-lain hobi. Kalau ada duit lebih, pergilah ke spa utk memanjakan diri. Biarkan badan dibelai oleh jari jemari tukang urut yg boleh melegakan segala ketegangan urat dalam tubuh kita. Atau jumpa pakar refleksologi yg boleh melegakan tekanan dalam badan melalui urutan tapak kaki.
3. Buat senaman ringan seperti berjoging, berjalan, senaman harimau, tai chi, yoga dsb. Belajar cara bernafas dengan betul. Tarik nafas panjang melalui hidung dan hembus keluar melalui mulut. Buat beberapa kali, memang terasa kelegaannya.
4. Ketawa! Dalam keadaan tertekan, carilah kawan yg boleh menghiburkan dan membuat kita ketawa, atau tontonlah rancangan komedi yg boleh membuat kita ketawa. Ketawalah ubat paling mujarab utk melegakan tekanan. Ia cara paling mudah dan murah, tak perlu keluar modal. Hahaha…
5. Bercuti. Setiap manusia perlukan masa utk berehat dan menenangkan fikiran. Jangan fikir langsung tentang masalah kerja semasa bercuti, sebaliknya buatlah perkara2 yg menggembirakan seperti bermain dgn anak2, bermesra dgn suami/ isteri atau pergilah melancong.
6. Berfikiran positif. Anggap sesuatu cabaran dan masalah sebagai sesuatu yg boleh memperbaiki hidup kita.
7. Urus masa dgn baik. Jangan tangguh sesuatu kerja dan buat di saat2 akhir kerana apabila menghampiri deadline, kita akan rasa tertekan. Sebaiknya lakukan tugas yg diberi sedikit demi sedikit hingga selesai.
8. Luahkan perasaan pada orang yg boleh dipercayai. Apabila segala masalah diceritakan atau diluahkan kepada orang lain, ia dapat melegakan tekanan walaupun orang itu sekadar mendengar masalah kita. Lagi bagus jumpa pakar kaunseling, dijamin dia sudi mendengar masalah kita dan menawarkan jalan penyelesaiannya.
9. Kalau tiada juga orang yg boleh dipercayai, luahkan saja perasaan kpd sebarang makhluk bernyawa lain. Misalnya dgn haiwan peliharaan atau pokok bunga kita. Bercakap dengan kucing, hamster, ayam, kambing, ikan dsb mahupun dgn pokok bunga orkid, mawar atau pokok pisang sambil membelai-belai mereka, akan dapat melegakan tekanan. Pedulikan apa pun anggapan orang.Tapi kalau anda tiada haiwan peliharaan, biar saya cadangkan cara utk melegakan tekanan; pergi karaoke dan nyanyilah sekuat hati dan sepuas hati walaupun suara anda tak semerdu mana, atau nyanyi kuat2 dalam kereta anda tapi pastikan cermin tingkap ditutup rapat. Dikhuatiri orang yg terdengar pula akan rasa tertekan.
10. Kalau tiada langsung makhluk di dunia ini yg boleh anda percayai, berdoalah dan mengadulah masalah anda kepada Allah. Sesungguhnya Dia-lah Maha Mendengar lagi Maha Mengetahui.
11. Ini JALAN TERAKHIR! Jika perlu, pergilah jumpa doktor bertauliah untuk mendapatkan ubat yg boleh membuat anda tenang. Ikut dos yg ditetapkan, jangan overdose pulak. Nanti keluarga anda pula yg stres utk menguruskan jenazah anda.
Setakat itu sajalah. Semoga bermanfaat utk kita bersama dan semoga tahun baru 2008 ini dapat kita lalui tanpa tekanan. Kalau ada tekanan juga, cubalah tips di atas.
PS-Sempena tahun baru ni, sesiapa yang berazam nak berhenti merokok, bolehlah cuba
Buat Renungan Kepada Semua..
January 28, 2008
Sedikit Renungan dicelah kesibukan kita setiap hari
Dalam suatu pertemuan iblis, syaitan dan jin, dikatakan: “Kita tidak dapat melarang kaum muslim ke Masjid”, “Kita tidak dapat melarang mereka membaca Al-Qur’an dan mencari kebenaran”, “Bahkan kita tidak dapat melarang mereka mendekatkan diri dengan Tuhan mereka Allah dan Pembawa risalahNya Muhammad”, “Pada saat mereka melakukan hubungan dengan Allah, maka kekuatan kita akan lumpuh.”
“Oleh sebab itu, biarkanlah mereka pergi ke Masjid; biarkan mereka tetap melakukan kesukaan mereka, TETAPI CURI WAKTU MEREKA , sehingga Mereka tidak lagi punya waktu untuk lebih mendekatkan diri kepada Allah”. “Inilah yang akan kita lakukan,” kata iblis. “Alihkan perhatian mereka dari usaha meningkatkan kedekatannya kepada Allah dan awasi terus kegiatannya sepanjang hari!”. “Bagaimana kami melakukannya?” tanya para hadirin yaitu iblis, syaitan, dan jin. Sibukkan mereka dengan hal-hal yang tidak penting dalam kehidupan mereka, dan ciptakan
tipudaya untuk menyibukkan fikiran mereka,”
Jawab sang iblis “Rayu mereka agar suka BELANJA, BELANJA DAN BELANJA “.”Pujuk para isteri untuk bekerja di luar rumah sepanjang hari dan para suami bekerja 6 sampai 7 hari dalam seminggu, 10 - 12 jam seminggu, sehingga mereka merasa bahawa hidup ini sangat kosong.” “Jangan biarkan mereka menghabiskan waktu bersama anak-anak mereka.”
“Jika keluarga mereka mulai tidak harmoni, maka mereka akan merasa bahwa rumah bukanlah tempat mereka melepaskan lelah bila pulang dari bekerja”. “Dorong terus cara berfikir seperti itu sehingga mereka tidak merasa adanya ketenangan di rumah.”
“Hasut mereka untuk membunyikan radio atau kaset selama mereka berkenderaan”. “Dorong mereka untuk menonton TV, VCD, CD dan PC di rumah. Sepanjang hari. Bunyikan muzik terus menerus di semua restoran maupun pusat membeli-belah di dunia ini.”
“Hal ini akan mempengaruhi fikiran mereka dan merosak hubungan mereka dengan Allah dan RasulNya”
“Penuhi meja-meja rumah mereka dengan majalah-majalah dan tabloid”. “Sajikan mereka dengan berbagai berita dan gosip selama 24 jam sehari”.
“Serang mereka dengan berbagai iklan-iklan di jalanan”. “Banjiri kotak surat mereka dengan informasi tak berguna, katalog-katalog, undian-undian, tawaran-tawaran dari berbagai macam iklan.
“Muatkan gambaran wanita yang cantik itu adalah yang berbadan langsing dan berkulit mulus di majalah dan TV, untuk menggoda para suami hingga mereka terfikir bahwa PENAMPILAN itu menjadi unsur terpenting, sehingga membuat para suami tidak tertarik lagi pada isteri-isteri mereka”
“Buatlah para isteri menjadi sangat letih pada malam hari, buatlah mereka sering sakit kepala”. “Jika para isteri tidak memberikan cinta yang diinginkan sang suami, maka akan mulai mencari hiburan di luar”. “Hal inilah yang akan mempercepatkan retaknya sesebuah keluarga”
“Terbitkan buku-buku cerita untuk mengalihkan kesempatan mereka untuk mengajarkan anak-anak mereka akan makna dan kepentingan bersolat.” “Sibukkan mereka sehingga tidak lagi punya waktu untuk mengkaji bagaimana Allah menciptakan alam semesta. Arahkan mereka ke tempat-tempat hiburan, fitness, konsert2, panggung2 wayang dan pusat2 yang melekakan”
“Buatlah mereka menjadi SIBUK, SIBUK DAN SIBUK .” “Perhatikan, jika mereka jumpa dengan orang soleh, bisikkan gosip-gosip dan percakapan tidak berfaedah, sehingga percakapan mereka tidak mendatangkan apa-apa pahala sebaliknya berbuat dosa semata-mata.
“Isi kehidupan mereka dengan keindahan-keindahan semua yang akan membuat mereka tidak punya waktu untuk mengkaji kebesaran Allah.” “Dan Dengan segera mereka akan merasa bahwa rezeki, kebaikan/kesihatan keluarga adalah merupakan hasil usahanya yang kuat (bukan atas izin Allah).”
PASTI BERHASIL, PASTI BERHASIL.” “RENCANA YANG BAGUS .” Iblis, syaitan dan jin kemudian pergi dengan penuh semangat melakukan tugas MEMBUAT MUSLIMS MENJADI LEBIH SIBUK, LEBIH KELAM KABUT, DAN SENTIASA HURA-HURA”. “Dan hanya ada sedikit waktu saja untuk beribadat kepada Allah maha Pencipta.”
“Tidak lagi punya waktu untuk bersilaturahmi dan saling mengingatkan akan Allah dan RasulNya”. Sekarang pertanyaan saya adalah, “APAKAH RENCANA IBLIS INI AKAN BERHASIL???”
“ANDALAH YANG MENENTUKAN..!!!”
Sunday, January 20, 2008
Bagaimana cemerlang dengan doa
DALAM surah al-Mukmin (atau Ghafir) ayat 60 Allah berfirman, “Berdoalah kepadaku akan Aku perkenankan permintaanmu.”
Di samping berusaha umat Islam disuruh berdoa kerana kecemerlangan dan doa tidak dapat dipisahkan. Malah doa ialah ibu ibadah. Demikian yang disabdakan Nabi SAW mengikut riwayat Imam Tirmizi. Doa yang rahmat diturunkan. Ia dapat dikiaskan dengan perisai yang menjadi sebab senjata tidak menembusi badan.
Perkara ini dinukilkan dalam kitab al-Azkar. Dalam sebuah hadis yang diriwayatkan oleh Imam Tirmizi, Nabi SAW bersabda, “Mintalah kepada Allah kurniaannya. Sesungguhnya Allah menyukai permohonan (dari hambanya).”
Adab-Adab Berdoa
Doa yang diterima oleh Allah ialah doa yang datang dari hati yang khusyuk. Ketika berdoa beberapa adab perlu dijaga agar doa itu diberkati dan dimakbulkan Allah .
Doa yang diterima oleh Allah ialah doa yang datang dari hati yang khusyuk. Ketika berdoa beberapa adab perlu dijaga agar doa itu diberkati dan dimakbulkan Allah .
Antara adab-adab itu ialah:
1. Memilih waktu yang mulia. Antara waktu-waktu istimewa yang baik untuk berdoa, berpandukan hadis-hadis Nabi SAW, ialah di bulan Ramadan, pada hari Jumaat, pada hari Arafah, waktu sahur, ketika sedang berjihad, waktu hujan turun, selepas melaksanakan solat-solat fardu, antara azan dan iqamat, ketika sedang berpuasa dan ketika sedang sujud dalam solat.
2. Merendahkan diri kepada Allah dan khusyuk. Dalam surah Al-A’raf ayat 55 Allah berfirman, “Berdoalah kepada Tuhanmu dengan rendah hati dan takut.” Dalam sebuah hadis yang diriwayatkan oleh Imam Tirmizi, Nabi SAW bersabda, “Berdoalah kepada Allah dengan keyakinan bahawa Allah akan mengabulkan permintaanmu. Ingatlah, Allah tidak memperkenankan doa yang datang daripada hati yang lalai.”
3. Bertaubat daripada dosa dan mengembalikan semula hak mereka yang telah dizalimi. Dosa yang dilakukan akan menjadi benteng yang menghalang penerimaan doa oleh Allah . Hal ini disebutkan dalam Al-Azkar oleh Imam An-Nawawi. Allah berfirman dalam surah At-Tahrim ayat 8, “Wahai mereka yang beriman bertaubatlah kepada Allah dengan taubat nasuha (iaitu taubat yang sebenarnya).”
4. Meyakini bahawa doa itu akan diterima. Maksudnya, hendaklah kita berfikiran positif ketika berdoa. Dalam sebuah hadis yang diriwayatkan oleh Imam Tirmizi, Nabi SAW bersabda, “Berdoalah kepada Allah dengan kamu meyakini bahawa ia akan diterima.”
5. Tidak tergesa-gesa. Imam Bukhari dan Muslim meriwayatkan, Nabi SAW bersabda, “Doa seseorang kamu akan diperkenankan selagi mana dia tidak bersikap tergesa-gesa dengan berkata, ‘Aku telah pun berdoa tetapi nampaknya tidak diperkenankan’.” Mereka yang tergesa-gesa bersikap seolah-olahnya mengetahui apa yang terbaik untuk diri mereka. Sepatutnya mereka berserah diri kepada Allah kerana Allah saja yang mengetahui apa yang terbaik untuk diri mereka. Berhubung dengan ini Imam Tirmizi meriwayatkan sabda Nabi SAW yang bermaksud, “Tidak berdoa seseorang hamba di bumi ini melainkan ianya akan diperkenankan Allah , atau dipalingkan Allah satu keburukan daripadanya setimpal dengan apa yang dipohonnya, selama mana dia tidak meminta perkara yang berdosa atau meminta untuk memutuskan tali persaudaraan.”
6. Hendaklah dimulakan sesuatu doa dengan memuji Allah dan berselawat ke atas Rasulullah SAW. Demikian juga adabnya ketika mengakhiri doa itu. Hal ini disebutkan di dalam Al-Azkar oleh Imam An-Nawawi dan Ihya Ulumuddin oleh Al-Ghazali berdasarkan beberapa hadis Nabi SAW.
7. Disunatkan mengulang-ulangi sesuatu doa untuk menampakkan kesungguhan. Hal ini diriwayatkan oleh Imam Abu Daud melalui sahabat Abdullah ibn Masud yang berkata, “Sesungguhnya Rasulullah amat gemar mengulang-ulangi doa dan istighfar tiga-tiga kali.”
1. Memilih waktu yang mulia. Antara waktu-waktu istimewa yang baik untuk berdoa, berpandukan hadis-hadis Nabi SAW, ialah di bulan Ramadan, pada hari Jumaat, pada hari Arafah, waktu sahur, ketika sedang berjihad, waktu hujan turun, selepas melaksanakan solat-solat fardu, antara azan dan iqamat, ketika sedang berpuasa dan ketika sedang sujud dalam solat.
2. Merendahkan diri kepada Allah dan khusyuk. Dalam surah Al-A’raf ayat 55 Allah berfirman, “Berdoalah kepada Tuhanmu dengan rendah hati dan takut.” Dalam sebuah hadis yang diriwayatkan oleh Imam Tirmizi, Nabi SAW bersabda, “Berdoalah kepada Allah dengan keyakinan bahawa Allah akan mengabulkan permintaanmu. Ingatlah, Allah tidak memperkenankan doa yang datang daripada hati yang lalai.”
3. Bertaubat daripada dosa dan mengembalikan semula hak mereka yang telah dizalimi. Dosa yang dilakukan akan menjadi benteng yang menghalang penerimaan doa oleh Allah . Hal ini disebutkan dalam Al-Azkar oleh Imam An-Nawawi. Allah berfirman dalam surah At-Tahrim ayat 8, “Wahai mereka yang beriman bertaubatlah kepada Allah dengan taubat nasuha (iaitu taubat yang sebenarnya).”
4. Meyakini bahawa doa itu akan diterima. Maksudnya, hendaklah kita berfikiran positif ketika berdoa. Dalam sebuah hadis yang diriwayatkan oleh Imam Tirmizi, Nabi SAW bersabda, “Berdoalah kepada Allah dengan kamu meyakini bahawa ia akan diterima.”
5. Tidak tergesa-gesa. Imam Bukhari dan Muslim meriwayatkan, Nabi SAW bersabda, “Doa seseorang kamu akan diperkenankan selagi mana dia tidak bersikap tergesa-gesa dengan berkata, ‘Aku telah pun berdoa tetapi nampaknya tidak diperkenankan’.” Mereka yang tergesa-gesa bersikap seolah-olahnya mengetahui apa yang terbaik untuk diri mereka. Sepatutnya mereka berserah diri kepada Allah kerana Allah saja yang mengetahui apa yang terbaik untuk diri mereka. Berhubung dengan ini Imam Tirmizi meriwayatkan sabda Nabi SAW yang bermaksud, “Tidak berdoa seseorang hamba di bumi ini melainkan ianya akan diperkenankan Allah , atau dipalingkan Allah satu keburukan daripadanya setimpal dengan apa yang dipohonnya, selama mana dia tidak meminta perkara yang berdosa atau meminta untuk memutuskan tali persaudaraan.”
6. Hendaklah dimulakan sesuatu doa dengan memuji Allah dan berselawat ke atas Rasulullah SAW. Demikian juga adabnya ketika mengakhiri doa itu. Hal ini disebutkan di dalam Al-Azkar oleh Imam An-Nawawi dan Ihya Ulumuddin oleh Al-Ghazali berdasarkan beberapa hadis Nabi SAW.
7. Disunatkan mengulang-ulangi sesuatu doa untuk menampakkan kesungguhan. Hal ini diriwayatkan oleh Imam Abu Daud melalui sahabat Abdullah ibn Masud yang berkata, “Sesungguhnya Rasulullah amat gemar mengulang-ulangi doa dan istighfar tiga-tiga kali.”
Punca Doa Tertolak
Dalam sebuah hadis riwayat Imam Muslim, Nabi SAW bersabda, “Sesungguhnya Allah itu suci bersih dan Allah tidak menerima kecuali yang suci bersih jua”. Dan sesungguhnya Allah mengarah orang-orang mukmin dengan sesuatu yang perlu juga dilakukan oleh rasul-rasul. Allah berfirman, ‘Wahai rasul-rasul makanlah yang halal dan lakukanlah amalan yang salih.’
Allah juga berfirman, ‘Wahai mereka yang beriman, makanlah rezeki yang baik-baik yang dikurniakan kepadamu.’ Terdapat seorang lelaki yang bermusafir jauh sehingga menjadi kusut rambutnya dan berdebu mukanya. Lelaki ini menadahkan tangannya untuk bermohon kepada Allah dengan berkata ‘Ya Rab, ya Rab’ sedangkan makanannya haram, minumannya haram, pakaiannya haram dan mulutnya disuapkan dengan sesuatu yang haram. Bagaimana akan diperkenankan doanya? Hadis ini menunjukkan sumber rezeki yang haram menjadi sebab musabab sesuatu doa ditolak oleh Allah .
Ibrahim ibn Adham pernah pada suatu ketika berada di kota Basrah. Beliau ditanya tentang punca sesuatu doa tidak dimakbulkan oleh Allah . Beliau berkata,
“Pertama, kamu mengenal Allah tetapi kamu tidak menunaikan haknya. Kedua, kamu mengatakan bahawa kamu mencintai rasulullah tetapi kamu tidak mengikut sunahnya. Ketiga, kamu membaca Al-Quran tetapi kamu tidak beramal dengannya. Keempat, kamu menerima nikmat Allah tetapi kamu tidak menunaikan syukurnya. Kelima, kamu berkata bahawa syaitan itu musuh kamu tetapi kamu tidak menentangnya. Keenam, kamu berkata bahawa syurga itu benar tetapi kamu tidak beramal untuknya. Ketujuh, kamu berkata bahawa neraka itu benar tetapi kamu tidak melarikan diri daripadanya. Kelapan, kamu berkata bahawa mati itu benar tetapi kamu tidak bersedia untuk menghadapinya. Kesembilan, kamu bangun dari tidur dan kamu menceritakan tentang keaiban orang lain dan kamu melupakan keaiban dirimu sendiri. Kesepuluh, kamu mengebumikan mayat tetapi kamu tidak mengambil pengajaran darinya.” (Dari buku ‘Tip-Tip Cemerlang Dari Al-Quran’ oleh Dr. Danial bin Zainal Abidin)
Nukilan Dr. Danial Zainal Abidin (M.B.Ch.B. Universiti Alexandria)
Tangisan ahli neraka amat dahsyat
PENJENAYAH di penjara memiliki gelaran paling buruk yang diberi oleh masyarakat kerana membenci perbuatan mereka. Si pencuri, perompak, perogol dan pembunuh. Walaupun bertaubat atau tamat tempoh tahanan, jarang masyarakat boleh menerima bekas banduan ini. Kalau pun boleh, pasti mereka akan sentiasa berwaspada dan curiga. Betapa hebatnya kebencian kepada perbuatan jenayah.
Dapatkah bayangkan keadaan manusia ketika berada di mahkamah Allah nanti?
Pada hari penghisaban, apakah akan terasa malu seperti si penjenayah yang malu apabila kesalahannya menjadi bahan laporan dalam akhbar? Bolehkah muka ini ditutup?
Bolehkah mengupah peguam paling hebat untuk menghadapi segala pertuduhan ke atas diri sendiri? Mungkinkah semua orang boleh dibeli dengan wang dan pengaruh? Adakah ada jalan untuk melarikan diri?
Kita manusia yang kerdil, tetapi mengapa berlagak seperti Tuhan Pemilik segalanya? Manusia bertingkah seperti syaitan, padahal dia berada dalam genggaman Tuhannya. Ketika dia merampas hak orang lain, segala rekod perbuatannya itu disimpan kukuh sebagai bukti.
Mengapakah Allah SWT tidak menurunkan bala-Nya terus menerus pada saat seseorang itu melakukan dosa? Jawapannya adalah firman Allah bermaksud: “Berapa banyak penduduk negeri yang telah Aku beri tempoh, sedangkan mereka berbuat zalim, kemudian Aku seksa mereka dan kepada-Ku mereka kembali.” (Surah al-Hajj, ayat 48)
Biarlah pelaku dosa itu diberi tempoh selagi hayatnya di atas bumi ini belum berakhir. Allah Maha Penerima Taubat. Tetapi, sayang sekali, mereka suka menunda taubat, menganggap peluang itu untuk berpuas-puas terlebih dulu dan bertaubat kemudian.
Semakin dihulur setiap peluang, maka semakin buta matanya, pekak telinganya, keras hatinya dan hebat bergaya mengalahkan syaitan.
Diteguk segala kemanisan syahwat duniawi sehingga lupa kepanasan buah zaqqum tanaman neraka yang akan diletakkan di dalam kerongkongnya nanti.
Hatinya puas menikmati kesenangan yang memuncak pada hujung keghairahan. Tetapi, dia lupa di dasar lubang jahanam yang gelap itu nanti terpaksa melalui aksi pembakaran manusia, penyeksaan dan pembunuhan yang tidak pernah berhujung dengan kematian.
Jurang neraka terlalu curam, setiap penderhaka akan merasai seksa dihumbankan ke dalamnya. Pernahkah kita membayangkan jatuh dari ketinggian sejauh 70 tahun perjalanan baru sampai ke dasar lantainya? Jika kejadian itu di dunia ini, bagaimana pula keadaan orang yang jatuh ke dasar jurang neraka itu nanti?
“Pada suatu hari kami berada di sisi Rasulullah SAW, tiba-tiba terdengar suara benda yang jatuh. Lalu Baginda bertanya: “Tahukah kamu semua suara apakah itu?” Kami menjawab: “Allah dan rasul-Nya lebih mengetahui.” Baginda bersabda yang maksudnya: “Itu adalah suara batu yang dilemparkan ke dalam neraka jahanam sejak 70 tahun yang lalu dan sekarang baru sampai ke dasarnya.” Hadis riwayat Imam Muslim
Sesungguhnya mereka yang berada dalam neraka itu hidup dan merasai setiap kesakitan itu sedikit demi sedikit. Diganti setiap kulit yang hangus dengan kulit yang baru. Sehari di sana sama seperti seribu tahun di dunia ini.
Mengapakah mereka memilih kesenangan haram yang sebentar saja di dunia ini? Pada hal mereka pandai mengira, tahu membezakan makna sengsara dan bahagia, berakal tajam dalam menganalisis segala sesuatu. Allah mengingatkan kita bahawa azab dan sengsara yang akan diderita itu bukan sebentar. Firman-Nya bermaksud; “Sesungguhnya sehari di sisi Tuhanmu seperti seribu tahun daripada apa yang kamu hitung.” (Surah al-Hajj, ayat 47)
Bagaimanakah suara tangisan ahli neraka? Pernahkah anda mendengar tangisan orang yang dipisahkan daripada keluarganya? Tangisan orang yang menderita sakit dan terpaksa disuntikkan ubat penahan sakit? Tangisan orang yang kematian anak yang disayang? Tangisan orang yang gagal dalam kerjaya? Tangisan perempuan yang disakiti suaminya? Tangisan orang kaya yang muflis? Tangisan ibu dan bapa yang disakiti anaknya?
Semua jenis tangisan di atas dunia ini tidak sehebat tangisan ahli neraka. Tangisan yang mengalirkan penyesalan tidak berhujung. Tiada harapan dan peluang.
Mereka merayu kepada Tuhan: “Wahai Tuhan kami, keluarkanlah kami daripadanya (kembalikanlah kami ke dunia) maka jika kami kembali kepada kekufuran, sesungguhnya kami adalah orang yang zalim.” (Surah al-Mukminun, ayat 107)
Allah menjawab rayuan mereka itu dengan firman-Nya bermaksud: “Tinggallah kamu dengan hina di dalamnya dan janganlah kalian bercakap dengan Aku.” (Surah al-Mukminun, ayat 108)
Oleh itu, jika anda menangis di dunia ini, pastikan tangisan itu adalah tangisan penyesalan dan taubat kepada Allah .
Barang siapa yang banyak menangis di sini, nescaya tiada air mata lagi yang akan jatuh menitis di Padang Mahsyar nanti.
Balasan Allah sangat adil. Saksi yang dipanggil adalah anggota badan kita sendiri. Menunduklah wajah yang dulunya terngadah sombong, kecutlah hati yang dulunya bongkak dan bengkak serta menggigil sekujur badan bagai hendak melepaskan kulit.
Lalu kita bertanya, layakkah aku mendapat perlindungan Allah ? Jawapannya payung Allah itu hanya untuk tujuh golongan saja.
1.Pemimpin yang adil.
2.Pemuda yang sentiasa beribadah kepada Allah semasa hidupnya.
3.Seseorang yang hatinya sentiasa terpaut dengan Masjid.
4.Dua orang yang saling mencintai kerana Allah , keduanya berkumpul & berpisah kerana Allah . 5.Seorang lelaki yang diajak oleh seorang perempuan cantik & berkedudukan untuk berzina tetapi dia berkata, “Aku takut kepada Allah ”.
6.Seorang yang memberi sedekah tetapi dia merahsiakannya seolah-olah tangan kirinya tidak mengetahui apa yang diberikan oleh tangan kanannya.
7.Seseorang yang mengingat Allah di waktu sunyi sehingga bercucuran air matanya.
THE AMAZING AL-QURAN
By Dr Gary Miller (is a Canadian Muslim-He is notable for being a former Christian theologian and minister who converted to Islam in 1978. Since his conversion he has been active in giving public presentations on Islam including radio and television appearances. He has also given many lectures and he is also the author of several articles and publications about the religion Islam and about the dialogue between Islam and Christianity.)
Calling the Qur’an amazing is not something done only by Muslims, who have an appreciation for the book and who are pleased with it; it has been labeled amazing by non-Muslims as well. In fact, even people who hate Islam very much have still called it amazing.
Calling the Qur’an amazing is not something done only by Muslims, who have an appreciation for the book and who are pleased with it; it has been labeled amazing by non-Muslims as well. In fact, even people who hate Islam very much have still called it amazing.
Introduction
One thing which surprises non-Muslims who are examining the book very closely is that the Qur’an does not appear to them to be what they expected. What they assume is that they have an old book which came fourteen centuries ago from the Arabian desert; and they expect that the book should look something like that - an old book from the desert. And then they find out that it does not resemble what they expected at all. Additionally, one of the first things that some people assume is that because it is an old book which comes from the desert, it should talk about the desert. Well the Qur’an does talk about the desert - some of its imagery describes the desert; but it also talks about the sea - what it’s like to be in a storm on the sea.
Merchant Marine
Some years ago, the story came to us in Toronto about a man who was in the merchant marine and made his living on the sea. A Muslim gave him a translation of the Qur’an to read. The merchant marine knew nothing about the history of Islam but was interested in reading the Qur’an. When he finished reading it, he brought it back to the Muslim and asked, “This Muhammad, was he a sailor?” He was impressed at how accurately the Qur’an describes a storm on a sea. When he was told, “No as a matter of fact, Muhammad lived in the desert,” that was enough for him. He embraced Islam on the spot.He was so impressed with the Qur’an’s description because he had been in a storm on the sea, and he knew that whoever had written that description had also been in a storm on the sea. The description of “a wave, over it a wave, over it clouds” (Surah Nur, 24:40) was not what someone imagining a storm on a sea to be like would have written; rather, it was written by someone who knew what a storm on the sea was like. This is one example of how the Qur’an is not tied to certain place and time. Certainly, the scientific ideas expressed in it also do not seem to originate from the desert fourteen centuries ago.
The Smallest Thing
Many centuries before the onset of Muhammad’s prophethood, there was a well-known theory of atomism advanced by the Greek philosopher, Democritus. He and the people who came after him assumed that matter consists of tiny, indestructible, indivisible particles called atoms. The Arabs too, used to deal in the same concept; in fact, the Arabic word dharrah commonly referred to the smallest particle known to man. Now, modern science has discovered that this smallest unit of matter (i.e., the atom, which has all of the same properties as its element) can be split into its component parts. This is a new idea, a development of the last century; yet; interestingly enough, this information had already been documented in the Qur’an (Surah Saba’, 34:3) which states:
“He [i.e., Allah ] is aware of an atom’s weight in the heavens and on the earth and even anything smaller than that…”
Undoubtedly, fourteen centuries ago that statement would have looked unusual, even to an Arab. For him, the dharrah was the smallest thing there was. Indeed, this is proof, that the Qur’an is not outdated.
Honey
Another example of what one might expect to find in an “old book” that touches upon the subject of health or medicine is outdated remedies or cures. Various historical sources state that the Prophet (s) gave some advice about health and hygiene, yet most of these pieces of advice are not contained in the Qur’an. At first glance, to the non-Muslims this appears to be a negligent omission. They cannot understand why Allah would not “include” such helpful information in the Qur’an. Some Muslims attempt to explain this absence with the following argument: “Although the Prophet’s advice was sound and applicable to the time in which he lived, Allah , in His infinite wisdom, knew that there would come later medical and scientific advances which would make the Prophet’s advice appear outdated. When later discoveries occurred, people might say that such information contradicted that which the Prophet (s) had given. Thus, since Allah would never allow any opportunity for the non-Muslims to claim that the Qur’an contradicts itself or the teachings of the Prophet (s), He only included in the Qur’an information and examples which could stand the test of time.” However, when one examines the true realities of the Qur’an in terms of its existence as a divine revelation, the entire matter is quickly brought into its proper perspective, and the error in such argumentation becomes clear and understandable.
It must be understood that the Qur’an is a divine revelation, and as such, all information in it is of divine origin. Allah revealed the Qur’an from Himself. It is the words of Allah , which existed before creation, and thus nothing can be added, subtracted or altered. In essence, the Qur’an existed and was complete before the creation of Prophet Muhammad (s), so it could not possibly contain any of the Prophet’s own words or advice. An inclusion of such information would clearly contradict the purpose for which the Qur’an exists, compromise its authority and render it inauthentic as a divine revelation.
Consequently, there was no “home remedies” in the Qur’an which one could claim to be outdated; nor does it contain any man’s view about what is beneficial to health, what food is best to eat, or what will cure this or that disease. In fact, the Qur’an only mentions one item dealing with medical treatment, and it is not in dispute by anyone. It states that in honey there is healing. And certainly, I do not think that there is anyone who will argue with that!
Prophet Muhammad (s) and the Qur’an
If one assumes that the Qur’an is the product of a man’s mind, then one would expect it to reflect some of what was going on in the mind of the man who “composed” it. In fact, certain encyclopedias and various books claim that the Qur’an was the product of hallucinations that Muhammad underwent. If these claims are true - if it indeed originated from some psychological problems in Muhammad’s mind - then evidence of this would be apparent in the Qur’an. Is there such evidence? In order to determine whether or not there is, one must first identify what things would have been going on in his mind at that time and then search for these thoughts and reflections in the Qur’an.
It is common knowledge that Muhammad (s) had a very difficult life. All of his daughters died before him except one, and he had a wife of several years who was very dear and important to him, who not only proceeded him in death but died at a very critical period of his life. As a matter of fact, she must have been quite a woman because when the first revelation came to him, he ran home to her, afraid. Certainly, even today one would have a hard time trying to find an Arab who would tell you, “I was so afraid that I ran home to my wife.” They just aren’t that way. Yet Muhammad (s) felt comfortable enough with his wife to be able to do that. That’s how influential and strong woman she was. Although these examples are only a few of the subjects that would have been on Muhammad’s mind, they are sufficient in intensity to prove my point.
The Qur’an does not mention any of these things - not the death of his children, not the death of his beloved companion and wife, not his fear of the initial revelations, which he so beautifully shared with his wife - nothing; yet these topics must have hurt him, bothered him, and caused him pain and grief during periods of his life. Indeed, if the Qur’an was a product of his psychological reflections, then these subjects, as well as others, would be prevalent or at least mentioned throughout.
Scientific Approach to the Qur’an
A truly scientific approach to the Qur’an is possible because the Qur’an offers something that is not offered by other religious scriptures, in particular, and other religions, in general. It is what scientists demand. Today there are many people who have ideas and theories about how the universe works. These people are all over the place, but the scientific community does not even bother to listen to them. This is because within the last century the scientific community has demanded a test of falsification. They say, “If you have theory, do not bother us with it unless you bring with that theory a way for us to prove whether you are wrong or not.”
Such a test was exactly why the scientific community listened to Einstein towards the beginning of the century. He came with a new theory and said, “I believe the universe works like this; and here are three ways to prove whether I am wrong!” So the scientific community subjected his theory to the tests, and within six years it passed all three. Of course, this does not prove that he was great, but it proves that he deserved to be listened to because he said, “This is my idea; and if you want to try to prove me wrong, do this or try that.”
This is exactly what the Qur’an has - falsification tests. Some are old (in that they have already been proven true), and some still exist today. Basically it states, “If this book is not what it claims to be, then all you have to do is this or this or this to prove that it is false.” Of course, in 1400 years no one has been able to do “This or this or this,” and thus it is still considered true and authentic.
Falsification Test
I suggest to you that the next time you get into dispute with someone about Islam and he claims that he has the truth and that you are in darkness, you leave all other arguments at first and make this suggestion. Ask him, “Is there any falsification test in your religion? Is there anything in your religion that would prove you are wrong if I could prove to you that it exists - anything?” Well, I can promise right now that people will not have anything - no test, no proof, nothing! This is because they do not carry around the idea that they should not only present what they believe but should also offer others a chance to prove they’re wrong. However, Islam does that.
A perfect example of how Islam provides man with a chance to verify it authenticity and “prove it wrong” occurs in the 4th chapter. And quiet honestly, I was very surprised when I first discovered this challenge. It states (Surah An-Nisa, 4:82):
“Do they not consider the Qur’an? Had it been from any other than Allah , they would surely have found therein much discrepancy.”
This is a clear challenge to the non-Muslim. Basically, it invites him to find a mistake. As a matter of fact, the seriousness and difficulty of the challenge aside, the actual presentation of such a challenge in the first place is not even in human nature and is inconsistent with man’s personality. One doesn’t take an exam in school and after finishing the exam, write a note to the instructor at the end saying, “This exam is perfect. There are no mistakes in it. Find one if you can!” One just doesn’t do that. The teacher would not sleep until he found a mistake! And yet this is the way the Qur’an approaches people.
Ask Those Who Have Knowledge
Another interesting attitude that exists in the Qur’an repeatedly deals with its advice to the reader. The Qur’an informs the reader about different facts and then gives the advice: “If you want to know more about this or that, or if you doubt what is said, then you should ask those who have knowledge.” This too is a surprising attitude. It is not usual to have a book that comes from someone without training in geography, botany, biology, etc., who discusses these subjects and then advises the reader to ask men of knowledge if he doubts anything. Yet in every age there have been Muslims who have followed the advice of the Qur’an and made surprising discoveries. If one looks to the works of of many centuries ago, one will find them full of quotations from the Qur’an. These works state that they did research in such a place, looking for something. And they affirm that the reason they looked in such and such a place was that the Qur’an pointed them in that direction.
For example, the Qur’an mentions man’s origin and then tells the reader, “Research it!” It gives the reader a hint where to look and then states that one should find out more about it. This is the kind of thing that Muslims today largely seem to overlook - but not always, as illustrated in the following example.
Embryology
A few years ago, a group of men in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia collected all of the verses in the Qur’an which discuss embryology - the growth of the human being in the womb. They said, “Here is what the Qur’an says. Is it the truth?” In essence, they took the advice of the Qur’an: “Ask the men who know.” They chose, as it happened, a non-Muslim who is a professor of embryology at the University of Toronto. His name is Keith Moore, and he is the author of textbooks on embryology - a world expert on the subject. They invited him to Riyadh and said, “This is what the Qur’an says about your subject. Is it true? What can you tell us?”
While he was in Riyadh, they gave him all the help that he needed in translation and all of the cooperation for which he asked. And he was so surprised at what he found that he changed his textbooks. In fact, in the second edition of one of his books, called Before We Are Born… in the section about the history of embryology, he included some material that was not in the first edition because of what he found in the Qur’an was ahead of its time and that those who believe in the Qur’an know what other people do not know.
I had the pleasure of interviewing Dr. Keith Moore for a television presentation, and we talked a great deal about this - it was illustrated by slides and so on. He mentioned that some of the things that the Qur’an states about the growth of the human being were not known until thirty years ago. In fact, he said that one item in particular - the Qur’an’s description of the human being as a “leech-like clot” (’alaqah) at one stage (Surahs al-Hajj 22:5; al-Mu’minun 23:14; and Ghafir 40:67) - was new to him; but when he checked on it, he found that it was true, and so he added it to his book. He said, “I never thought of that before,” and he went to the zoology department and asked for a picture of a leech. When he found that it looked just like the human embryo, he decided to include both pictures in one of his textbooks.
Although the aforementioned example of man researching information contained in the Qur’an deals with a non-Muslim, it is still valid because he is one of those who is knowledgeable in the subject being researched. Had some layman claimed that what the Qur’an says about embryology is true, then one would not necessarily have to accept his word. However, because of the high position, respect, and esteem man gives scholars, one naturally assumes that if they research a subject and arrive at a conclusion based on that research, then the conclusion is valid.
Skeptic’s Reaction
Dr. Moore also wrote a book on clinical embryology, and when he presented this information in Toronto, it caused quite a stir throughout Canada. It was on the front pages of some of the newspapers across Canada, and some of the headlines were quite funny. For instance, one headline read: “SURPRISING THING FOUND IN ANCIENT PRAYER BOOK!” It seems obvious from this example that people do not clearly understand what it is all about. As a matter of fact, one newspaper reporter asked Professor Moore, “Don’t you think that maybe the Arabs might have known about these things - the description of the embryo, its appearance and how it changes and grows? Maybe they were not scientists, maybe they did some crude dissections on their own - carved up people and examined these things.” The professor immediately pointed out to him that he [i.e., the reporter] had missed a very important point - all of the slides of the embryo that had been shown and that had been projected in the film had come from pictures taken through a microscope. He said, “It does not matter if someone had tried to discover embryology fourteen centuries ago. They could not have seen it!”
All of the descriptions in the Qur’an of the appearance of the embryo are of the item when it is still too small to see with the eye; therefore, one needs a microscope to see it. Since such a device had only been around for little more than two hundred years, Dr. Moore taunted, “Maybe fourteen centuries ago someone secretly had a microscope and did this research, making no mistakes anywhere. Then he somehow taught Muhammad (s) and convinced him to put this information in his book. Then he destroyed his equipment and kept it a secret forever. Do you believe that? You really should not unless you bring some proof because it is such a ridiculous theory.” In fact, when he was asked, “How do you explain this information in the Qur’an?” Dr. Moore’s reply was, “It could only have been divinely revealed!”
Geology
One of Professor Moore’s colleagues, Marshall Johnson, deals extensively with geology at the University of Toronto. He became very interested in the fact that the Qur’an’s statements about embryology are accurate, and so he asked Muslims to collect everything contained in the Qur’an which deals with his speciality. Again people were very surprised at the findings. Since there are a vast number subjects discussed in the Qur’an, it would certainly require a large amount of time to exhaust each subject. It suffices for the purpose of this discussion to state that the Qur’an makes very clear and concise statements about various subjects while simultaneously advising the reader to verify the authenticity of these statements with research by scholars in those subjects. And as illustrated by the previous examples of embryology and geology, the Qur’an has clearly emerged authentic.
You Did Not Know This Before!
Undoubtedly, there is an attitude in the Qur’an which is not found anywhere else. It is interesting how when the Qur’an provides information, it often tells the reader, “You did not know this before.” Indeed, there is no scripture that exists which makes that claim. All of the other ancient writings and scriptures that people have do give a lot of information, but they always state where the information came from.
For example, when the Bible discusses ancient history, it states that this king lived here, this one fought in a certain battle, another one had so may sons, etc. Yet it always stipulates that if you want more information, then you should read the book of so and so because that is where the information came from. In contrast to this concept, the Qur’an provides the reader with information and states that this information is something new. Of course, there always exists the advice to research the information provided and verify its authenticity. It is interesting that such a concept was never challenged by non-Muslims fourteen centuries ago. Indeed, the Makkans who hated the Muslims, and time and time again they heard such revelations claiming to bring new information; yet, they never spoke up and said, “This is not new. We know where Muhammad got this information. We learned this at school.” They could never challenge its authenticity because it really was new!
In concurrence with the advice given in the Qur’an to research information (even if it is new), when ‘Umar was caliph, he chose a group of men and sent them to find the wall of Dhul-Qarnayn. Before the Qur’anic revelation, the Arabs had never heard of such a wall, but because the Qur’an described it, they were able to discover it. As a matter of fact, it is now located in what is called Durbend in the Soviet Union.
Proof of Authenticity: An Aproach
It must be stressed here that the Qur’an is accurate about many, many things, but accuracy does not necessarily mean that a book is a divine revelation. In fact, accuracy is only one of the criteria for divine revelations. For instance, the telephone book is accurate, but that does not mean that it is divinely revealed. The real problem lies in that one must establish some proof of the source the Qur’an’s information. The emphasis is in the other direction, in that the burden of proof is on the reader. One cannot simply deny the Qur’an’s authenticity without sufficient proof. If, indeed, one finds a mistake, then he has the right to disqualify it. This is exactly what the Qur’an encourages.
Once a man came up to me after a lecture I delivered in South Africa. He was very angry about what I had said, and so he claimed, “I am going to go home tonight and find a mistake in the Qur’an.” Of course, I said, “Congratulations. That is the most intelligent thing that you have said.” Certainly, this is the approach Muslims need to take with those who doubt the Qur’an’s authenticity, because the Qur’an itself offers the same challenge. And inevitably, after accepting it’s challenge and discovering that it is true, these people will come to believe it because they could not disqualify it. In essence, the Qur’an earns their respect because they themselves have had to verify its authenticity.
An essential fact that cannot be reiterated enough concerning the authenticity of the Qur’an is that one’s inability to explain a phenomenon himself does not require his acceptance of the phenomenon’s existence or another person’s explanation of it. Specifically, just because one cannot explain something does not mean that one has to accept someone else’s explanation. However, the person’s refusal of other explanations reverts the burden of proof back on himself to find a feasible answer. This general theory applies to numerous concepts in life, but fits most wonderfully with the Qur’anic challenge, for it creates a difficulty for one who says, “I do not believe it.” At the onset of refusal one immediately has an obligation to find an explanation himself if he feels others’ answers are inadequate.
In fact, in one particular Qur’anic verse which I have always seen mistranslated into English, Allah mentions a man who heard the truth explained to him. It states that he was derelict in his duty because after he heard the information, he left without checking the verity of what he had heard. In other words, one is guilty if he hears something and does not research it and check to see whether it is true. One is supposed to process all information and decide what is garbage to be thrown out and what is worthwhile information to be kept and benefitted from immediately or even at a later date.
One cannot just let it rattle around in his head. It must be put in the proper categories and approached from that point of view. For example, if the information is still speculatory, then one must discern whether it’s closer to being true or false. But if all the facts have been presented, then one must decide absolutely between these two options. And even if one is not positive about the authenticity of the information, he is still required to process all the information and make the admission that he just does not know for sure. Although this last point appears to be futile, in actuality, it is beneficial to the arrival at a positive conclusion at a later time in that it forces the person to at least recognize, research and review the facts.This familiarity with the information will give the person “the edge” when future discoveries are made and additional information is presented. The important thing is that one deals with the facts and does not simply discard them out of empathy and disinterest.
Exhausting the Alternatives
The real certainty about the truthfulness of the Qur’an is evident in the confidence which is prevalent throughout it; and this confidence comes from a different approach - “Exhausting the alternatives.” In essence, the Qur’an states, “This book is a divine revelation; if you do not believe that, then what is it?” In other words, the reader is challenged to come up with some other explanation. Here is a book made of paper and ink. Where did it come from? It says it is a divine revelation; if it is not, then what is its source? The interesting fact is that no one has yet come up with an explanation that works. In fact, all alternatives have bee exhausted. As has been well established by non-Muslims, these alternatives basically are reduced to two mutually exclusive schools of thought, insisting on one or the other.
On one hand, there exists a large group of people who have researched the Qur’an for hundreds of years and who claim, “One thing we know for sure - that man, Muhammad (s), thought he was a prophet. He was crazy!” They are convinced that Muhammad (s) was fooled somehow. Then on the other hand, there is a group which alleges, “Because of this evidence, one thing we know for sure is that that man, Muhammad (s) was a liar!” Ironically, these two groups never seem to get together without contradicting.
In fact, many references to Islam usually claim both theories. They start out by stating that Muhammad (s) was crazy and then end by saying he was a liar. They never seem to realize that he could not have been both! For example, if one is deluded and really thinks that he is a prophet, then he does not sit up late at night planning, “How will I fool the people tomorrow so that they think I am a prophet?” He truly believes that he is a prophet, and he trusts that the answer will be given to him by revelation.
The Critic’s Trail
As a matter of fact, a great deal of the Qur’an came in answer to questions. Someone would ask Muhammad (s) a question, and the revelation would come with the answer to it. Certainly, if one is crazy and believes that an angel put words in his ear, then when someone asks him a question, he thinks that the angel will give him the answer. Because he is crazy, he really thinks that. He does not tell someone to wait a short while and then run to his friends and ask them, “Does anyone know the answer?” This type of behavior is characteristic of one who does not believe that he is a prophet. What the non-Muslims refuse to accept is that you cannot have it both ways. One can be deluded, or he can be a liar. He can be either one or neither one, but he certainly cannot be both! The emphasis is on the fact that they are unquestionably mutually exclusive personality traits.
The following scenario is a good example of the kind of circle that non-Muslims go around in constantly. If you ask one of them, “What is the origin of the Qur’an?” He tells you that it originated from the mind of a man who was crazy. Then you ask him, “If it came from his head, then where did he get the information contained in it? Certainly the Qur’an mentions many things with which the Arabs were not familiar.” So in order to explain the fact which you bring him, he changes his position and says, “Well, maybe he was not crazy. Maybe some foreigner brought him the information. So he lied and told people that he was a prophet.” At this point then you have to ask him, “If Muhammad was a liar, then where did he get his confidence? Why did he behave as though he really thought he was a prophet?” Finally backed into a corner, like a cat he quickly lashes out with the first response that comes to his mind. Forgetting that he has already exhausted that possibility, he claims, “Well, maybe he wasn’t a liar. He was probably crazy and really thought that he was a prophet.” And thus he begins the futile cycle again.
As has already been mentioned, there is much information contained in the Qur’an whose source cannot be attributed to anyone other than Allah . For example, who told Muhammad (s) about the wall of Dhul-Qarnayn - a place hundreds of miles to the north? Who told him about embryology? When people assemble facts such as these, if they are not willing to attribute their existence to a divine source, they automatically resort to the assumption someone brought Muhammad (s) the information and that he used it to fool the people. However, this theory can easily be disproved with one simple question: “If Muhammad (s) was a liar, where did he get his confidence? Why did he tell some people out right to their face what others could never say?” Such confidence depends completely upon being convinced that one has a true divine revelation.
A Revelation - Abu Lahab
Prophet Muhammad (s) had an uncle by the name of Abu Lahab. This man hated Islam to such an extent that he used to follow the Prophet around in order to discredit him. If Abu Lahab saw the Prophet (s) speaking to a stranger, he would wait until they parted and the would go to the stranger and ask him, “What did he tell you? Did he say, ‘Black’? Well, it’s white. Did he say ‘morning’? Well, it’s night.” He faithfully said the exact opposite of whatever he heard Muhammad (s) and the Muslims say. However, about ten years before Abu Lahab died, a little chapter in the Qur’an (Surah al-Lahab, 111) was revealed about him. It distinctly stated that he would go to the fire (i.e., Hell). In other words, it affirmed that he would never become a Muslim and would therefore be condemned forever. For ten years all Abu Lahab had to do was say, “I heard that it has been revealed to Muhammad that I will never change - that I will never become a Muslim and will enter the Hellfire. Well, I want to become Muslim now. How do you like that? What do you think of your divine revelation now?” But he never did that. And yet, that is exactly the kind of behavior one would have expected from him since he always sought to contradict Islam.
In essence, Muhammad (s) said, “You hate me and you want to finish me? Here, say these words, and I am finished. Come on, say them!” But Abu Lahab never said them. Ten years! And in all that time he never accepted Islam or even became sympathetic to the Islamic cause.
How could Muhammad (s) possibly have known for sure that Abu Lahab would fulfil the Qur’anic revelation if he (i.e., Muhammad) was not truly the messenger of Allah ? How could he possibly have been so confident as to give someone 10 years to discredit his claim of prophethood? The only answer is that he was Allah ’s messenger; for in order to put forth such a risky challenge, one has to be entirely convinced that he has a divine revelation.
The Flight
Another example of the confidence which Muhammad (s) had in his own prophethood and consequently in the divine protection of himself and his message is when he left Makkah and hid in a cave with Abu Bakr (ra) during their emigration to Madeenah. The two clearly saw people coming to kill them, and Abu Bakr was afraid. Certainly, if Muhammad (s) was a liar, a forger and one who was trying to fool the people into believing that he was a prophet, one would have expected him to say in such a circumstance to his friend, “Hey, Abu Bakr, see if you can find a back way out of this cave.” Or “Squat down in that corner over there and keep quiet.” Yet, in fact, what he said to Abu Bakr clearly illustrated his confidence. He told him, “Relax! Allah is with us, and Allah will save us!” Now, if one knows that he is fooling the people, where does one get this kind of attitude? In fact, such a frame of mind is not characteristic of a liar or a forger at all.
So, as has been previously mentioned, the non-Muslims go around and around in a circle, searching for a way out - some way to explain the findings in the Qur’an without attributing them to their proper source. On one hand, they tell you on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, “The man was a liar,” and on the other hand, on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday they tell you, “He was crazy.” What they refuse to accept is that one cannot have it both ways; yet they need both theories, both excuses to explain the information in the Qur’an.
An Encounter with a Minister
About seven years ago, I had a minister over to my home. In the particular room which we were sitting there was a Qur’an on the table, face down, and so the minister was not aware of which book it was. In the midst of a discussion, I pointed to the Qur’an and said, “I have confidence in that book.” Looking at the Qur’an but not knowing which book it was, he replied, “Well, I tell you, if that book is not the Bible, it was written by a man!” In response to his statement, I said, “Let me tell you something about what is in that book.” And in just three to four minutes, I related to him a few things contained in the Qur’an. After just those three or four minutes, he completely changed his position and declared, “You are right. A man did not write that book. The Devil wrote it!” Indeed, possessing such an attitude is very unfortunate - for many reasons. For one thing, it is a very quick and cheap excuse. It is an instant exit out of an uncomfortable situation.
As a matter of fact, there is a famous story in the Bible that mentions how one day some of the Jews were witnesses when Jesus (pbuh) raised a man from the dead. The man had been dead for four days, and when Jesus arrived, he simply said, “Get up!” and the man arose and walked away. At such a sight, some of the Jews who were watching said disbelievingly, “This is the Devil. The Devil helped him!” Now this story is rehearsed very often in churches all over the world, and people cry big tears over it, saying, “Oh, if I had been there, I would not have been as stupid as the Jews!” Yet, ironically, these people do exactly what the Jews did when in just three minutes you show them only a small part of the Qur’an and all they can say is, “Oh, the Devil did it. The devil wrote that book!” Because they are truly backed into a corner and have no other viable answer, they resort to the quickest and cheapest excuse available.
The Source of the Qur’an
Another example of people’s use of this weak stance can be found in the Makkans’ explanation of the source of Muhammad’s message. They used to say, “The devils bring Muhammad that Qur’an!” But just as with every suggestion made, the Qur’an gives the answer. One verse (Surah Al-Qalam 68: 51-52) in particular states:
“And they say, ‘Surely he is possessed [by jinn],’ but it [i.e., the Qur’an] is not except a reminder to the worlds.”
Thus it gives an argument in reply to such a theory. In fact, there are many arguments in the Qur’an in reply to the suggestion that devils brought Muhammad (s) his message. For example, in the 26th chapter Allah (SWT) clearly affirms:
“No evil ones have brought it [i.e., this revelation] down. It would neither be fitting for them, nor would they be able. Indeed they have been removed far from hearing.” (Surah ash-Shu’ara 26:210-212)
And in another place (Surah an-Nahl 16:98) in the Qur’an, Allah (SWT) instructs us:
“So when you recite the Qur’an seek refuge in Allah from Shaytan, the rejected.”Now is this how Satan writes a book? He tells one, “Before you read my book, ask God to save you from me?” This is very, very tricky. Indeed, a man could write something like this, but would Satan do this? Many people clearly illustrate that they cannot come to one conclusion on this subject. On one hand, they claim that Satan would not do such a thing and that even if he could, God would not allow him to; yet, on the other hand, they also believe that Satan is only that much less than God. In essence they allege that the Devil can probably do whatever God can do. And as a result, when they look at the Qur’an, even as surprised as they are as to how amazing it is, they still insist, “The Devil did this!”
Thanks be to Allah (SWT), Muslims do not have that attitude. Although Satan may have some abilities, they are a long way separated from the abilities of Allah . And no Muslim is a Muslim unless he believes that. It is common knowledge even among non-Muslims that the Devil can easily make mistakes, and it would be expected that he would contradict himself if and when he wrote a book. For indeed, the Qur’an states (Surah an-Nisa 4:82):
“Do they not consider the Qur’an? Had it been from other than Allah , they would surely have found therein much discrepancy.”
Mythomania
In conjunction with the excuses that non-Muslims advance in futile attempts to justify unexplainable verses in the Qur’an, there is another attack often rendered which seems to be a combination of the theories that Muhammad (s) was crazy and a liar. Basically, these people propose that Muhammad was insane, and as a result of his delusion, he lied to and misled people. There is a name for this in psychology. It is referred to as mythomania. It means simply that one tells lies and then believes them. This is what the non-Muslims say Muhammad (s) suffered from. But the only problem with this proposal is that one suffering from mythomania absolutely cannot deal with any facts, and yet the whole Qur’an is based entirely upon facts. Everything contained in it can be researched and established as true. Since facts are such a problem for a mythomaniac, when a psychologist tries to treat one suffering from that condition, he continually confronts him with facts.
For example, if one is mentally ill and claims, “I am the king of England,” a psychologist does not say to him “No you aren’t. You are crazy!” He just does not do that. Rather, he confronts him with facts and says, “O.K., you say you are the king of England. So tell me where the queen is today. And where is your prime minister? And where are your guards?” Now, when the man has trouble trying to deal with these questions, he tries to make excuses, saying “Uh… the queen… she has gone to her mother’s. Uh… the prime minister… well he died.” And eventually he is cured because he cannot deal with the facts. If the psychologist continues confronting him with enough facts, finally he faces the reality and says, “I guess I am not the king of England.”
The Qur’an approaches everyone who reads it in very much the same way a psychologist treats his mythomania patient. There is a verse in the Qur’an (Surah Yunus 10:57) which states:
“O mankind, there has come to you an admonition [i.e., the Qur’an] from your Lord and a healing for what is in the hearts - and guidance and mercy for the believers.”
At first glance, this statement appears vague, but the meaning of this verse is clear when one views it in light of the aforementioned example. Basically, one is healed of his delusions by reading the Qur’an. In essence, it is therapy. It literally cures deluded people by confronting them with facts. A prevalent attitude throughout the Qur’an is one which says, “O mankind, you say such and such about this; but what about such and such? How can you say this when you know that?” And so forth. It forces one to consider what is relevant and what matters while simultaneously healing one of the delusions that facts presented to mankind by Allah can easily be explained away with flimsy theories and excuses.
New Catholic Encyclopedia
It is this very sort of thing - confronting people with facts - that had captured the attention of many non-Muslims. In fact, there exists a very interesting reference concerning this subject in the New Catholic Encyclopedia. In an article under the subject of the Qur’an, the Catholic Church states:
“Over the centuries, many theories have been offered as to the origin of the Qur’an… Today no sensible man accepts any of these theories!!”
Now here is the age-old Catholic Church, which has been around for so many centuries, denying these futile attempts to explain away the Qur’an.
Indeed, the Qur’an is a problem for the Catholic Church. It states that it is revelation, so they study it. Certainly, they would love to find proof that it is not, but they cannot. They cannot find a viable explanation. But at least they are honest in their research and do not accept the first unsubstantiated interpretation which comes along. The Church states that in fourteen centuries it has not yet been presented a sensible explanation. At least it admits that the Qur’an is not an easy subject to dismiss. Certainly, other people are much less honest. They quickly say, “Oh, the Qur’an came from here. The Qur’an came from there.” And they do not even examine the credibility of what they are stating most of the time.
Of course, such a statement by the Catholic Church leaves the everyday Christian in some difficulty. It just may be that he has his own ideas as to the origin of the Qur’an, but as a single member of the Church, he cannot really act upon his own theory. Such an action would be contrary to the obedience, allegiance and loyalty which the Church demands. By virtue of his membership, he must accept what the Catholic Church declares without question and establish its teachings as part of his everyday routine. So, in essence, if the Catholic Church as a whole is saying, “Do not listen to these unconfirmed reports about the Qur’an,” then what can be said about the Islamic point of view? If even non-Muslims are admitting that there is something to the Qur’an - something that has to be acknowledged - then why are people so stubborn and defensive and hostile when Muslims advance the very same theory? This is certainly something for those with a mind to contemplate - something to ponder for those of understanding!
Testimony of an Intellectual
Recently, the leading intellectual in the Catholic Church - a man by the name of Hans - studied the Qur’an and gave his opinion of what he had read. This man has been around for some time, and he is highly respected in the Catholic Church, and after careful scrutiny, he reported his findings, concluding, “God has spoken to man through the man, Muhammad.” Again this is a conclusion arrived at by a non-Muslim source - the very leading intellectual of the Catholic Church himself!
I do not think that the Pope agrees with him, but nonetheless, the opinion of such a noted, reputed public figure must carry some weight in defense of the Muslim position. He must be applauded for facing the reality that the Qur’an is not something which can be easily pushed aside and that, in fact God is the source of these words.
As is evident from the aforementioned information, all of the possibilities have been exhausted, so the chance of finding another possibility of dismissing the Qur’an is nonexistent.
Burden of Proof on the Critic
If the book is not a revelation, then it is a deception; and if it is a deception, one must ask, “What is its origin? And where does it deceive us?” Indeed, the true answers to these questions shed light on the Qur’an’s authenticity and silence the bitter unsubstantiated claims of the unbelievers.
Certainly, if people are going to insist that the Qur’an is a deception, then they must bring forth evidence to support such a claim. The burden of proof is on them, not us! One is never supposed to advance a theory without sufficient corroborating facts; so I say to them, “Show me one deception! Show me where the Qur’an deceives me! Show me, otherwise don’t say that it is a deception!”
Origin of the Universe and Life
An interesting characteristic of the Qur’an is how it deals with surprising phenomena which relate not only to the past but to modern times as well. In essence, the Qur’an is not and old problem. It is still a problem even today - a problem to the non-Muslims that is. For everyday, every week, every year brings more and more evidence that the Qur’an is a force to be contended with - that its authenticity is no longer to be challenged! For example, one verse in the Qur’an (Surah al-Anbiya 21:30) reads:
“Do not the unbelievers see that the heavens and the earth were joined together, then We clove them asunder, and made from water every living thing? Will they not then believe?”
Ironically, this very information is exactly what they awarded the 1973 Noble Prize for - to a couple of unbelievers.
The Qur’an reveals the origin of the universe - how it began from one piece - and mankind continues to verify this revelation, even up to now. Additionally, the fact that all life originated from water would not have been an easy thing to convince people of fourteen centuries ago. Indeed, if 1400 years ago you had stood in the desert and told someone, “All of this, you see (pointing to yourself), is made up of mostly water,” no one would have believed you. Proof of that was not available until the invention of the microscope. They had to wait to find out that cytoplasm, the basic substance of the cell, is made-up of 80% water. Nonetheless, the evidence did come, and once again the Qur’an stood the test of time.
More on Falsification Test
In reference to the falsification tests mentioned earlier, it is interesting to note that they, too, relate to both the past and the present. Some of them were used as illustrations of Allah ’s omnipotence and knowledge, while others continue to stand as challenges to the present day. An example of the former is the statement made in the Qur’an about Abu Lahab. It clearly illustrates that Allah , the Knower of the Unseen, knew that Abu Lahab would never change his ways and accept Islam. Thus Allah dictated that he would be condemned to the Hellfire forever. Such a chapter was both an illustration of Allah ’s divine wisdom and a warning to those who were like Abu Lahab.
People of the Book
An interesting example of the latter type of falsification tests contained in the Qur’an is the verse which mentions the relationship between the Muslims and the Jews. The verse is careful not to narrow its scope to the relationship between individual members of each religion, but rather, it summarizes the relationship between the two groups of people as a whole. In essence, the Qur’an states that the Christians will always treat the Muslims better than the Jews will treat the Muslims. Indeed, the full impact of such a statement can only be felt after careful consideration of the real meaning of such a verse. It is true that many Christians and many Jews have become Muslims, but as a whole, the Jewish community is to be viewed as an avid enemy of Islam. Additionally, very few people realize what such an open declaration in the Qur’an invites. In essence, it is an easy chance for the Jews to prove that the Qur’an is false - that it is not a divine revelation. All they have to do is organize themselves, treat the Muslims nicely for a few years and then say, “Now what does your holy book say about who are your best friends in the world - the Jews or the Christians? Look what we Jews have done for you!” That is all they have to do to disprove the Qur’an’s authenticity, yet they have not done it in 1400 years. But, as always, the offer still stands open!
A Mathematical Approach
All of the examples so far given concerning the various angles from which one can approach the Qur’an have undoubtedly been subjective in nature; however, there does exist another angle, among others, which is objective and whose basis is mathematical.
It is surprising how authentic the Qur’an becomes when one assembles what might be referred to as a list of good guesses. Mathematically, it can be explained using guessing and prediction examples. For instance, if a person has two choices (i.e., one is right, and one is wrong), and he closes his eyes and makes a choice, then half of the time (i.e., one time out of two) he will be right. Basically, he has a one in two chance, for he could pick the wrong choice, or he could pick the right choice.
Now if the same person has two situations like that (i.e., he could be right or wrong about situation number one, and he could be right or wrong about situation number two), and he closes his eyes and guesses, then he will only be right one-fourth of the time (i.e., one time out of four). He now has a one in four chance because now there are three ways for him to be wrong and only one way for him to be right. In simple terms, he could make the wrong choice in situation number one and then make the wrong choice in situation number two; or he could make the wrong choice in situation number one and then make the right choice in situation number two; or he could make the right choice in situation number one and then make the wrong choice in situation number two; or he could make the right choice in situation number one and then make the right choice in situation number two.
Of course, the (only instance in which he could be totally right is the last scenario where he could guess correctly in both situations. The odds of his guessing completely correctly have become greater because the number of situations for him to guess in have increased; and the mathematical equation representing such a scenario is ½ x ½ (i.e., one time out of two for the first situation multiplied by one time out of two for the second situation).
Continuing on with the example, if the same person now has three situations in which to make blind guesses, then he will only be right one-eighth of the time (i.e., one time out of eight or ½ x ½ x ½ ). Again, the odds of choosing the correct choice in all three situations have decreased his chances of being completely correct to only one time in eight. It must be understood that as the number of situations increase, the chances of being right decrease, for the two phenomena are inversely proportional.
Now applying this example to the situations in the Qur’an, if one draws up a list of all of the subjects about which the Qur’an has made correct statements, it becomes very clear that it is highly unlikely that they were all just correct blind guesses. Indeed, the subjects discussed in the Qur’an are numerous [some of them are listed in the Qur’an and Scientific Knowledge], and thus the odds of someone just making lucky guesses about all of them become practically nil. If there are a million ways for the Qur’an to be wrong, yet each time it is right, then it is unlikely that someone was guessing.
The following three examples of subjects about which the Qur’an has made correct statements collectively illustrate how the Qur’an continues to beat the odds.
The Female Bee
In the 16th chapter (Surah an-Nahl 16:68-69) the Qur’an mentions that the female bee leaves its home to gather food. Now, a person might guess on that, saying, “The bee that you see flying around - it could be male, or it could be female. I think I will guess female.” Certainly, he has a one in two chance of being right. So it happens that the Qur’an is right. But it also happens that that was not what most people believed at the time when the Qur’an was revealed. Can you tell the difference between a male and a female bee? Well, it takes a specialist to do that, but it has been discovered that the male bee never leaves his home to gather food. However, in Shakespeare’s play, Henry the Fourth, some of the characters discuss bees and mention that the bees are soldiers and have a king. That is what people thought in Shakespeare’s time - that the bees that one sees flying around are male bees and that they go home and answer to a king. However, that is not true at all. The fact is that they are females, and they answer to a queen. Yet it took modern scientific investigations in the last 300 years to discover that this is the case.
So, back to the list of good guesses, concerning the topic of bees, the Qur’an had a 50/50 chance of being right, and the odds were one in two.
The Sun
In addition to the subject of bees, the Qur’an also discusses the sun and the manner in which it travels through space. Again, a person can guess on that subject. When the sun moves through space, there are two options: it can travel just as a stone would travel if one threw it, or it can move of its own accord. The Qur’an states the latter - that it moves as a result of its own motion (Surah al-Anbiya 21:33). To do such, the Qur’an uses a form of the word sabaha to describe the sun’s movement through space. In order to properly provide the reader with a comprehensive understanding of the implications of this Arabic verb, the following example is given.
If a man is in water and the verb sabaha is applied in reference to his movement, it can be understood that he is swimming, moving of his own accord and not as a result of a direct force applied to him. Thus when this verb is used in reference to the sun’s movement through space, it in no way implies that the sun is flying uncontrollably through space as a result of being hurled or the like. It simply means that the sun is turning and rotating as it travels. Now, this is what the Qur’an affirms, but was it an easy thing to discover? Can any common man tell that the sun is turning? Only in modern times was the equipment made available to project the image of the sun onto a tabletop so that one could look at it without being blinded. And through this process it was discovered that not only are there spots on the sun but that these spots move once every 25 days. This movement is referred to as the rotation of the sun around its axis and conclusively proves that, as the Qur’an stated 1400 years ago, the sun does, indeed, turn as it travels through space.
And returning once again to the subject of good guesses, the odds of guessing correctly about both subjects - the sex of bees and the movement of the sun - are one in four!
Time Zones
Seeing as back fourteen centuries ago people probably did not understand much about time zones, the Qur’an’s statements about this subject are considerably surprising. The concept that one family is having breakfast as the sun comes up while another family is enjoying the brisk night air is truly something to be marveled at, even in modern time. Indeed, fourteen centuries ago, a man could not travel more than thirty miles in one day, and thus it took him literally months to travel from India to Morocco, for example. And probably, when he was having supper in Morocco, he thought to himself, “Back home in India they are having supper right now.” This is because he did not realize that, in the process of traveling, he moved across a time zone. Yet, because it is the words of Allah , the All-Knowing, the Qur’an recognizes and acknowledges such a phenomenon.
In an interesting verse it states that when history comes to an end and the Day of Judgement arrives, it will all occur in an instant; and this very instant will catch some people in the daytime and some people at night. This clearly illustrates Allah ’s divine wisdom and His previous knowledge of the existence of time zones, even though such a discovery was non-existent back fourteen centuries ago. Certainly, this phenomenon is not something which is obvious to one’s eyes or a result of one’s experience, and this fact, in itself, suffices as proof of the Qur’an’s authenticity.
Conclusions
Returning one final time to the subject of good guesses for the purpose of the present example, the odds that someone guessed correctly about all three of the aforementioned subjects - the sex of bees, the movement of the sun and the existence of time zones - are one in eight!
Certainly, one could continue on and on with this example, drawing up longer and longer list of good guesses; and of course, the odds would become higher and higher with each increase of subjects about which one could guess. But what no one can deny is the following: the odds that Muhammad (s), an illiterate, guessed correctly about thousands and thousands of subjects, never once making a mistake, are so high that any theory of his authorship of the Qur’an must be completely dismissed - even by the most hostile enemies of Islam!
Indeed, the Qur’an expects this kind of challenge. Undoubtedly, if one said to someone upon entering a foreign land, “I know your father. I have met him,” probably the man from that land would doubt the newcomer’s word, saying, “You have just come here. How could you know my father?” As a result, he would question him, “Tell me, is my father tall, short, dark, fair? What is he like?” Of course, if the visitor continued answering all of the questions correctly, the skeptic would have no choice but to say, “I guess you do know my father. I don’t know how you know him, but I guess you do!”
The situation is the same with the Qur’an. It states that it originates from the One who created everything. So everyone has the right to say, “Convince me! If the author of this book really originated life and everything in the heavens and on the earth, then He should know about this, about that, and so on.” And inevitably, after researching the Qur’an, everyone will discover the same truths. Additionally, we all know something for sure: we do not all have to be experts to verify what the Qur’an affirms. One’s iman (faith) grows as one continues to check and confirm the truths contained in the Qur’an. And one is supposed to do so all of his life.
May God (Allah ) guide everyone close to the truth.
Addendum 1
An engineer at the University of Toronto who was interested in psychology and who had read something on it, conducted research and wrote a thesis on Efficiency of Group Discussions. The purpose of his research was to find out how much people accomplish when they get together to talk in groups of two, three, ten, etc. The graph of his findings goes up and down at places, but it reaches the highest point at the variable of two. The findings: people accomplish most when they talk in groups of two. Of course, this discovery was entirely beyond his expectations, but it is very old advice given in the Qur’an (Surah Saba 34:46):
“Say, ‘I exhort you to one thing - that you stand for Allah , [assessing the truth] by twos and singly, and then reflect…’”
Addendum 2: ‘Iram
Additionally, the 89th chapter of the Qur’an (Surah al-Fajr 89:7) mentions a certain city by the name of ‘Iram (a city of pillars), which was not known in ancient history and which was non-existent as far as historians were concerned. However, the December 1978 edition of National Geographic introduced interesting information which mentioned that in 1973, the city of Elba was excavated in Syria. The city was discovered to be 43 centuries old, but that is not the most amazing part. Researchers found in the library of Elba a record of all of the cities with which Elba had done business. Believe it or not, there on the list was the name of the city of ‘Iram. The people of Elba had done business with the people of ‘Iram!
In conclusion I ask you to consider with care the following (Surah 29:50-51):
“And they say, ‘Why are not signs sent down to him from his Lord?’ Say, ‘Indeed, the signs are with Allah , and I am but a clear warner.’ But it is sufficient for them that We have sent down to you the Book [i.e., Qur’an] which is rehearsed to them? Verily, in that is mercy and a reminder to people who believe.”
“The Holy Qur’an,” Text, Translation and Commentary by Abdullah Yusuf Ali, 1934. (Latest Publisher: Amana Publications, Beltsville, MD, USA; Title: “The Meaning of the Holy Qur’an,” 1992). Includes subject index.
“The Meaning of the Glorious Koran,” An Explanatory Translation by Mohammed Marmaduke Pickthall, a Mentor Book Publication. (Also available as: “The Meaning of the Glorious Koran,” by Marmaduke Pickthall, Dorset Press, N.Y.; Published by several publishers since 1930).
“The Bible, The Qur’an and Science (Le Bible, le Coran et la Science),” The Holy Scriptures Examined in the Light of Modern Knowledge, by Maurice Bucaille, English version published by North American Trust Publication, 1978
HAKIKAT KESABARAN
Imam Ghazali (Ihya’ Ulumuddin)
IMAN itu terdiri dari dua bahagian. Setengahnya adalah kesabaran dan setengahnya lagi adalah rasa syukur, sesuai dengan yang disebutkan dalam kata-kata dan atsar-atsar.
Adapun kesabaran, Allah SWT telah berfirman memuji sifat itu. “Kami telah menjadikan mereka itu sebagai pemimpin-pemimpin yang memberi petunjuk dengan perintah Kami ketika mereka sabar.” (As-Sajdah: 24)
Allah SWT berfirman yang bermaksud: “Dan telah sempurnalah perkataan Tuhan-mu yang baik (sebagai janji) untuk Bani Israel disebabkan kesabaran mereka.” (Al-A’raf: 137)
Allah SWT berfirman yang bermaksud: “Kami akan memberi balasan kepada orang-orang yang sabar.” (An-Nahl: 96)
Nabi SAW ditanya tentang iman, maka baginda menjawab, “Kesabaran dan suka menolong.”
Baginda bersabda: “Kesabaran itu adalah harta terpendam di syurga.”
HAKIKAT KESABARAN
Kesabaran terdiri dari pengetahuan, keadaan dan amal. Pengetahuan di dalamnya seperti pohon, keadaan seperti ranting-ranting, dan amal seperti buah. Maka engkau ketahui bahawa maslahat keagamaan terdapat dalam kesabaran. Akibatnya, timbul kekuatan dan dorongan untuk melakukan kesabaran.
Hal itu dilakukan terhadap ibadah atas sabar dari melampiaskan syahwat. Dalam semua keadaan itu memerlukan kesabaran hingga tidak berlebih-lebihan dalam melakukan perbuatan-perbuatan yang mubah.
Adapun kesabaran dalam ibadah hendaklah diketahui bahawa seseorang bersabar beberapa hari dan akan bahagia selama-lamanya sebagai imbalannya. Ia memerlukan kesabaran untuk tidak menyiakan dan merosaknya dengan riya’.
Kesabaran terbesar adalah sabar dalam menahan diri dari melampiaskan syahwat dan berlarut-larut dalam melakukannya, dan juga seseorang harus sabar bila diganggu oleh seseorang dengan perkataan atau perbuatan.
Seorang sahabat Nabi SAW berkata: “Kami tidak menganggap iman seseorang sebagai iman bila ia tidak sabar di kala menghadapi gangguan.”
Allah SWT berfirman yang bermaksud: “Dan Kami sungguh-sungguh akan bersabar terhadap gangguan-gangguan yang kamu lakukan kepada kami. Dan hanya kepada Allah sajalah hendaknya orang-orang bertawakkal.” (Ibrahim: 12)
Kesabaran ini kadangkala dilakukan atas perbuatan itu dengan menahannya dan kadangkala sabar dari pembalasannya. Kedua hal itu menunjukkkan kesempurnaan iman.
Jenis yang lain adalah sesuatu yang menyerang tanpa disengaja, seperti musibah berupa penyakit, hilangnya penglihatan, kelumpuhan anggota badan, dan kematian orang yang dicintai. Ibnu Abbas ra berkata: “Kesabaran dalam Al-Quran ada tiga jenis, iaitu kesabaran untuk menunaikan kewajipan-kewajipan kerana Allah SWT dan ia mempunyai 300 darjat, kesabaran untuk tidak melanggar larangan-larangan Allah SWT dan ia mempunyai 600 darjat, dan kesabaran dalam menghadapi musibah pada kali pertama dan ia mempunyai 900 darjat.”
Kesabaran yang bagus itu ialah yang tidak diketahui dari penderita musibah, dan tidak mungkin mencapai hal ini kecuali dengan latihan yang lama dalam masa yang lama.
Wallahu a’lam.
Tanda Bahagia dan Sengsara
Bahagia dan sengsara ada petandanya.Berikut ini adalah tanda bahagia dan sengsara dalam kehidupan kita:
Tanda-tanda Bahagia
1. Menjauhkan diri dari urusan dunia dan senang kepada urusan akhirat
2. Kemahuan kuat terhadap ibadah dan membaca al-Quran
3. Sedikit bicara terhadap apa yang tidak diperlukan
4. Sangat memelihara solat lima waktu
5. Menjaga diri dari yang haram dan syubhat, sedikit atau banyak
6. Bersahabat dengan orang-orang soleh dan baik
7. Rendah diri
8. Bersifat dermawan yang ikhlas
9. Belas kasihan terhadap makhluk-makhluk Allah yang lain
10. Bermanfaat kepada orang lain11. Selalu ingat mati dan bersiap sedia menghadapinya
Tanda-tanda Sengsara
1. Rakus terhadap harta dunia
2. Kemahuan nafsu yang kuat dan cenderung pada kelazatan dunia
3. Perkataan yang kotor dan banyak ghibah (menceritakan cela orang lain)
4. Menganggap enteng solat 5 waktu.
5. Bersahabat dengan orang-orang fasik
6. Buruk perilakunya
7. Sombong dan tinggi hati
8. Enggan memberi kebaikan kepada orang lain
9. Sedikit kasih sayang terhadap orang yang beriman
10. Pengecut
11. Lupa terhadap mati
Wallahua'lam
(Dipetik dari kitab Tanhibul Ghafilin)
Tanda-tanda Bahagia
1. Menjauhkan diri dari urusan dunia dan senang kepada urusan akhirat
2. Kemahuan kuat terhadap ibadah dan membaca al-Quran
3. Sedikit bicara terhadap apa yang tidak diperlukan
4. Sangat memelihara solat lima waktu
5. Menjaga diri dari yang haram dan syubhat, sedikit atau banyak
6. Bersahabat dengan orang-orang soleh dan baik
7. Rendah diri
8. Bersifat dermawan yang ikhlas
9. Belas kasihan terhadap makhluk-makhluk Allah yang lain
10. Bermanfaat kepada orang lain11. Selalu ingat mati dan bersiap sedia menghadapinya
Tanda-tanda Sengsara
1. Rakus terhadap harta dunia
2. Kemahuan nafsu yang kuat dan cenderung pada kelazatan dunia
3. Perkataan yang kotor dan banyak ghibah (menceritakan cela orang lain)
4. Menganggap enteng solat 5 waktu.
5. Bersahabat dengan orang-orang fasik
6. Buruk perilakunya
7. Sombong dan tinggi hati
8. Enggan memberi kebaikan kepada orang lain
9. Sedikit kasih sayang terhadap orang yang beriman
10. Pengecut
11. Lupa terhadap mati
Wallahua'lam
(Dipetik dari kitab Tanhibul Ghafilin)
Talkin Yang Menggerunkan
Maksud talkin yang selalu dibaca untuk orang Islam yang meninggal dunia.
Semasa membaca, sebut-sebutlah nama sendiri, kalau tidak terasa takut sama-samalah kita lebihkan amal ibadat. Bukanlah perkara yang mudah setelah membaca atau menghafalnya begitu sahaja sesungguhnya hanya amalan baik yang kita lakukan selama hidup di dunia yang akan menjadi penyelamat, InsyaAllah..
Semasa membaca, sebut-sebutlah nama sendiri, kalau tidak terasa takut sama-samalah kita lebihkan amal ibadat. Bukanlah perkara yang mudah setelah membaca atau menghafalnya begitu sahaja sesungguhnya hanya amalan baik yang kita lakukan selama hidup di dunia yang akan menjadi penyelamat, InsyaAllah..
Bismillahhirrahmannirrahim.
Maha Suci Tuhan yang Engkau bersifat dengan Baqa’ dan QidamTuhan yang berkuasa mematikan sekalian yang bernyawaMaha Suci Tuhan yang menjadikan matiDan hidup untuk menguji siapa yang baik dan siapa yang kecewaMaha Suci Tuhan yang menjadikan lubang kubur sebesar-besar pengajaranUntuk menjadi iktibar kepada orang yang lalaiDan sebesar-besar amaran kepada orang yang masih hidupIngatlah! Bahawa sekalian mahluk Allah akan jahanam dan binasaMelainkan zat Allah Taala, Dialah Tuhan yang Maha Besar berkuasa menghukumManakala kita sekalian akan kembali menghadap hadhrat Allah Taala
Wahai SAYA Bin IBU SAYA, wahai SAYA Bin IBU SAYA, wahai SAYA Bin IBU SAYAHendaklah kamu ingat akan janji-janji Allah Yang mana kamu ada bawa bersama-sama dari dunia iniSekarang kamu telah menuju masuk ke negeri AkhiratKamu telah mengaku bahawa tiada Tuhan yang disembahDengan sebenar-benarnya melainkan Allah Dan bahawasanya Nabi Muhammad itu Pesuruh Allah Ingatlah wahai SAYA Bin IBU SAYA,Apabila datang kepada kamu dua malaikat yang serupa dengan kamuIaitu Mungkar dan Nangkir, maka janganlah berasa gentar dan takutJanganlah kamu berdukacita dan risauSerta janganlah kamu susah-hati dan terkejut
Ketahuilah wahai SAYA Bin IBU SAYABahawasanya Mungkar dan Nangkir itu hamba Allah Taala,Sebagaimana kamu juga hamba Allah TaalaApabila mereka menyuruh kamu duduk,Mereka juga akan menyoal kamuMereka berkata:
Siapakah Tuhan kamu?Siapakah Nabi kamu?Apakah agama kamu?Apakah kiblat kamu?Siapakah saudara kamu?Apakah pegangan iktikad kamu?Dan apakah kalimah yang kamu bawa bersama-sama kamu?
Di masa itu hendaklah kamu menjawab soalan-soalan merekaDengan cermat dan sehabis-habis terang, tepat dan betulJanganlah berasa gementar, janganlah cuakDan janganlah bergopoh-gapahBiarlah tenang dan berhati-hati, hendaklah kamu jawab begini:
Allah Taala Tuhanku,Muhammad nabiku,Islam agamaku,kitab suci Al-Quran ikutanku,Baitullah itu kiblatku,Malahan solah lima waktu,Puasa di bulan Ramadhan,Mengeluarkan zakat dan mengerjakan haji diwajibkan ke atas aku,Semua orang Islam dan orang yang beriman adalah saudara aku,Bahkan dari masa hidup hingga aku matiAku mengucap: “La ila ha illallah Muhammaddur rasulullah”.
Wahai SAYA Bin IBU SAYA tetapkanlah hatimuInilah dia suatu dugaan yang paling besarIngatlah bahawa kamu sekarang sedang tinggal di dalam alam BarzakhSehingga sampai satu masa kelak,Kamu akan dibangunkan semula untuk berkumpul di Padang Mahsyar
Insaflah wahai SAYA Bin IBU SAYA,Bahawasanya mati ini adalah benarSoalan malaikat Mungkar dan Nangkir di dalam kubur ini adalah benarBangun dari kubur kemudian kita dihidupkan semula adalah benarBerkumpul dan berhimpun di Padang Mahsyar adalah benarDihisab dan dikira segala amalan kamu adalah benarMinum di kolam air nabi adalah benarAda syurga dan neraka adalah benarBahawasanya hari Kiamat tetap akan adanyaBegitu juga Tuhan yang Maha BerkuasaAkan membangkitkan semula orang-orang yang di dalam kubur
Di akhirnya kami ucapkan selamat berpisahDan selamat tinggal kamu disisi Allah TaalaSemoga Tuhan akan memberi sejahtera kepada kamuTuhan jua yang menetapkan hati kamuKami sekalian berdoa mudah-mudahan Allah TaalaMenjinakkan hati kamu yang liarDan Allah menaruh belas kasihan kepada kamuYang berdagang seorang diri di dalam kubur iniMudah-mudahan Tuhan akan memberi keampunanDan memaafkan kesalahan kamu serta menerima segala amal kebajikan kamu
Ya Allah Ya Tuhan, kami merayu dan bermohon kepada Mu supaya tidakdiseksa mayat ini dengan kemegahan penghulu kami Muhammad SAW.
Subhana rabbika rabbil izati amma ya sifun wassallamu alalmursalinwalhamdulillahi rabbil alamin.
Setiap yang bernafas, pasti akan mati - “Kullu nafsin za iqatul maut”Firman Allah swt, “Demi masa, sesungguhnya manusia itu benar-benar berada di dalam kerugian, kecuali orang-orang yang beriman dan beramal soleh, yang ingat-mengingati supaya mentaati kebenaran, dan yang ingat-mengingati dengan kesabaran.” Surah Al-A’sr
Wallahua'lam.
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