RAMADAN 2005 The 2nd Day

1404

18 February, 2018

Special for Ramadan

Ayat of the Day

What is in the heavens and in the earth belongs to Allah. Allah encompasses
all things.
(Surat an-Nisa’: 126)

Hadith of the Day:

Acquire the knowledge and impart it to the people. Learn the Qur'an and teach it to the people; for I am a person who has to depart this world.
(Tirmidhi)

Miracles of the Qur’an:

Allah's Scientific Miracles in the Qur'an

THE QUIVERING AND SWELLING OF THE EARTH

And you see the earth dead and barren. Then, when We send down water onto it, it quivers and swells and sprouts with luxuriant plants of every kind. (Surat al-Hajj:5)

The Arabic word for "quivers" is "ihtazzat," meaning "to set in motion, come alive, quiver, move, stir; the movement and stretching of a plant." The word "rabat," translated as "swells," bears the meanings "to increase, grow in number, swell, grow, develop, rise (of a plant), provision, fill with air." These words describe in the most appropriate manner the changes that occur in the molecular structure of soil during rain.

The motion described in the verse is different from the movement of Earth's crust, such as when a portion of it moves to produce an earthquake, for it is only the soil particles that are moving. These particles are composed of layers, each of which is on top of the other. When water penetrates the layers, it causes the swelling of mud particles. The stages referred to in the verse can be scientifically explained as follows:

1. Quivering of the soil: The electrostatic charge on the particle surface that appears after the water falls on the soil in sufficient amount would cause its instability and quivering movements. This movement is stabilized only after this charge has been neutralized with an opposing one. The soil particle's moving and quivering is also due to its collision with water particles. Since the water particles move in no specific direction, the soil particles move as they are struck from all sides. Robert Brown, a Scottish botanist, discovered in 1827 that when raindrops fall on the soil, they cause a kind of shaking and vibration in the soil molecules. He described this movement of microscopic particles, which today is known as the "Brownian motion.”

2. Swelling of the soil: When it rains, those raindrops hitting the soil cause its particles to swell and increase in volume. This is because when there is abundant water, the space between soil particles, which allows water particles and dissolved ions to enter, increases. When water and the nourishing elements dissolved in it diffuse between the layers, the size of the soil particles increases. Consequently, these particles serve as water deposits that bring the soil to life. It is due to Allah's infinite grace upon humanity that this water is stored in this manner without seeping downward due to the action of gravity. If the soil could not hold water and these mineral deposits could not be laid down in the soil, the water would soak into Earth's deepest parts and, because of its resulting absence, all plants would soon die. However, our Lord has created the soil in such a way that various products can emerge from it.

3. Sprouting of the earth: When there is enough water in the soil, the seeds become active and absorb simple nutritious material. Growing plants meet their water requirements for 2 to 3 months from these deposits.

The above verse describes, in three stages, what happens when rain falls onto dry ground: the soil particles quiver, and the soil swells and then brings forth various products. These stages, which the Qur'an revealed 1,400 years ago, are strikingly parallel to the scientific descriptions. Another verse reveals this about plants:

A sign for them is the dead land that We bring to life and from which We bring forth grain, of which they eat. (Surah Ya Sin:33)

Wonders of Creation:

"THE FOUR ANIMALS EMPHASIZED IN THE QUR'AN" - I

THE MOSQUITO

While all living beings bear these signs, there are some to which Allah specifically refers in the Qur’an. The mosquito is one of these animals. In the 26th verse of Surat al-Baqara, the mosquito is mentioned:

Allah is not ashamed to make the example of a mosquito or of an even smaller thing. As for those who believe, they know it is the truth from their Lord. But as for those who reject, they say, "What does Allah mean by this example?" He misguides many by it and guides many by it. But He only misguides the degenerate. (Surat al-Baqara: 26)

Considered as an ordinary living being, even the mosquito is worthy of being examined and pondered since it bears the signs of Allah. This is why "Allah is not ashamed to make the example of a mosquito or of an even smaller thing".

The Extraordinary Adventure of the Mosquito

What is generally known about mosquitoes is that they are bloodsuckers and feed on blood. This, however, is not quite correct, because not all mosquitoes suck blood but only females. Besides, the females suck blood not because of their need for food. Both male and female mosquitoes feed on the nectar from flowers. The only reason female mosquitoes, unlike the males, suck blood is their need for the proteins found in blood which help their eggs to develop.

The developmental process is one of the most amazing and admirable sides of the mosquito. The short story of the transformation of a living being from a tiny larva through many different phases into a mosquito is as follows:

Mosquito eggs, which are fed by blood to develop, are deposited on damp leaves or dried ponds by the female mosquito during summer or autumn. Prior to this, the mother initially inspects the ground thoroughly by using the delicate receptors under her abdomen. Upon finding a convenient place, she starts to deposit her eggs. The eggs, which are less than 1 mm in length, are arranged in a row either in groups or one by one. Some species deposit their eggs in a form, which is joined together like a raft. Some of these egg groups contain about 300 eggs.

The neatly placed white eggs soon start to darken, and they turn completely black in a couple of hours. This dark color provides protection for the larvae by preventing them from being noticed by other insects and birds. Apart from the eggs, the skin colors of some other larvae also change according to their surroundings, and this helps to protect them.

The larvae change colors by making use of certain factors after quite complicated chemical processes. No doubt, neither the eggs, nor the larvae, nor the mother mosquito is aware of the processes behind the color changes during the mosquito’s different developmental stages. It is out of the question for these living beings themselves to make this system or for this system to form by coincidence. Mosquitoes have been created with these systems from the moment they first appeared.

Amazing Technique of Blood Sucking

The mosquito’s technique of "blood-sucking" depends on a complex system in which unbelievably detailed structures work together.

After the mosquito lands on its target, it first detects a spot by means of the lips in its proboscis. The syringe-like “sting” of the mosquito is protected by a special sheath, which is stripped back during the blood-sucking process.

The mosquito does not pierce the skin, as assumed, by thrusting its proboscis into it with pressure. Here, the main task falls to the upper jaw, which is as sharp as a knife, and the mandible on which there are teeth bent backwards. The mosquito moves its mandible forwards and backwards like a saw and cuts the skin with the help of the upper jaws. When the sting, inserted through this cut in the skin, reaches to the blood vessel, the drilling ends. Now it is time for the mosquito to suck blood.

However, as we know, the slightest harm to the vessels causes the human body to secrete an enzyme that makes the blood clot and stops its leakage. But the problem is eliminated for the mosquito. Before the mosquito starts sucking blood, it injects a special liquid secreted in its body into the cleavage opened in the living being it has stung. This liquid neutralizes the enzyme that causes the clotting of blood. Thus, the mosquito sucks the blood it needs without the problem of clotting. The itching and swelling formed on the spot bitten by the mosquito is caused by this liquid that prevents clotting.

This is surely an extraordinary process and it brings the following questions to mind:

1) How does the mosquito know that there is a clotting enzyme in the human body?

2) In order to produce a neutralizing secretion in its own body against that enzyme, it needs to know the chemical structure of the enzyme. How could this be possible?

3) Even if it somehow attained such knowledge (!), how could it produce the secretion in its own body and make the "technical rigging" needed to transfer it to its proboscis?

The answer to all these questions is obvious: it is not possible for the mosquito to perform any of the above. It neither has the required wisdom, knowledge of chemistry, or the "laboratory" environment to produce the secretion. What we talk about here is only a mosquito of a few millimeters in length, without consciousness or wisdom, that is all!

It is quite clear that Allah, "Lord of the heavens and of the Earth, and of all that is between them", has created both the mosquito and man, and donated such extraordinary and marvelous features to the mosquito.

Lives of the Prophets:

Prophet Abraham's (as) Religion - I

Who could have a better religion than someone who submits himself completely to Allah, is a good-doer, and follows the religion of Abraham, a man of pure natural belief?... (Surat an-Nisa’:125)

People continue to argue over which religion Prophet Abraham (as) followed. Jews regard him as a Jewish prophet and claim to follow his path. Christians also consider him a Jewish prophet, but claim that he followed Prophet Jesus (as), who came after him.

In the Qur’an, however, Allah reveals the truth of this matter by providing certain information:

Or do they say that Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, and the descendents were Jews or Christians? Say: “Do you know better, or does Allah?” Who could do greater wrong than someone who hides the evidence he has been given by Allah? Allah is not unaware of what you do. (Surat al-Baqara: 140)

Moreover, other verses expose just how irrational this debate really is:

O People of the Book. Why do you argue about Abraham when the Torah and Gospel were only sent down after him? Why don’t you use your intellect? You are the ones who argued about that of which you had knowledge. But why do you argue about something of which you have no knowledge? Allah knows; you do not know. (Surah Al ‘Imran: 65-66)

The Qur’an provides the most accurate information about Prophet Abraham (as), for it is the only uncorrupted book of Allah. If people take other sources as guides, they fall into great error and interpret matters in the light of their own ideas and beliefs. As in all matters, however, believers take the Qur’an and the Sunnah of our Prophet (saas) as the only true sources of information about the prophets and their lines, for teaching falsehoods and engaging in speculation and guesswork, particularly about the prophets, displeases Allah.

Only the Qur’an states the whole truth about Prophet Abraham (as):

Abraham was neither a Jew nor a Christian, but a man of pure natural belief—Muslim. He was not one of the idolaters. (Surah Al ‘Imran: 67)

The Qur’an calls Prophet Abraham (as) a hanif, instead of a Jew or a Christian. Hanif means a devout, upright, and righteous person who submits to Allah’s command and never moves away from His religion. The most hanif characteristics of Prophet Abraham (as) were his belief in the One and Only Allah and his submission to Him.

In another verse, our Lord commands Prophet Muhammad (saas) to abide by Prophet Abraham’s (as) religion:

Then We revealed to you: “Follow the religion of Abraham, a man of pure+natural belief. He was not one of the idolaters.” (Surat an-Nahl: 123)

Allah wills people to turn to religion in a hanif manner, as pure believers. Allah clearly emphasizes that hanif people do not ascribe partners to Him:

So set your face firmly towards the Religion, as a pure natural believer, Allah’s natural pattern on which He made humanity. There is no changing in Allah’s creation. That is the true religion—but most people do not know it. (Surat ar-Rum: 30)

As can be understood from several verses, Prophet Abraham’s (as) religion was essentially the same as Islam. In any case, all divinely revealed religions are, in their original and uncorrupted forms, essentially built on earning Allah’s good pleasure, compassion, and Paradise. Prophet Abraham’s (as) children and grandchildren, as well as other devout individuals from his line, adhered to this religion after his death. For example, the Qur’an emphasizes Prophet Joseph’s (as) address to his fellow prisoners:

I hold fast to the creed of my forebears Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. We don’t associate anything with Allah. And that is how Allah has favored us and all humanity, but most do not give thanks. (Surah Yusuf: 38)

Evolution Deceit:

The "Intelligent Design" Distraction

Allah Does Not Need to Make a Design in Order to Create

It must be appreciated that Allah, the Lord of the heavens and Earth, has no need of making a design in order to create. Allah is free of all such imperfections.

The perfection in Allah's creations may be expressed in such terms as "a perfection as if designed," but that is all.

It is sufficient for Allah to say "Be!" in order for any object or event to come into being as He wishes.

In verses it is revealed that:

His command when He desires a thing is just to say to it, "Be!" and it is. (Surah Ya Sin: 82)

[He is] the Originator of the heavens and Earth. When He decides on something, He just says to it, "Be!" and it is. (Surat al-Baqara: 117)

"Intelligent Design" Accounts Could Harm Individuals Sincerely Inclined toward Religion

Now, in the 21st century, the whole world is swiftly abandoning materialist and atheist views.

With every passing day, it becomes better understood that the theory of evolution is unscientific, irrational, and invalid; and there is a trend toward a sincere belief in Allah.

One of the most dramatic examples of this is Anthony Flew, the famous scientist who devoted his whole life to espousing atheism. In an interview he gave a few months ago, Flew announced that he had abandoned atheism and now believed in Allah.

In a similar way, many scientists, artists, and politicians have also declared their interest in and curiosity about the Qur'an.

That being so, clearly terms like "intelligent design," which lack sincerity and Islamic awareness, could have a negative effect on people with a sincere tendency to belief. Veiled and vague accounts of this kind may lead those with religious tendency to fall into doubt and inconsistency, confusion and mental turmoil.

"Intelligent Design" Is Another of Satan's Distractions

In rejecting one false claim such as evolution, one must be very careful not to fall prey to another of Satan's snares. One of Satan's main objectives is to prevent the recognition of Allah by any means possible, and to cause people to ignore His remembrance.

There are those whom Satan has not been able to deceive with the concept of evolution. But if he can divert them in another direction, such as that of "intelligent design" he will again have achieved his end, in turning people away from remembering Allah.

How Satan manages to appear in the name of truth and causes people to deviate by obstructing truth is revealed in the Qur'an:

He [Satan] said: "By Your misguidance of me, I will lie in ambush for them on your straight path. Then I will come at them, from in front of them and behind them, from their right and from their left. You will not find most of them thankful." (Surat al-A’raf:16-17)

It should be known that overturning the theory of evolution and revealing the "chance" mindset as invalid both demonstrate the existence of Allah, by Whom everything was created, and not of "intelligent design."

To say, "If there is no evolution, then there is intelligent design" is nothing less than adopting yet another false idol to replace the one of evolution.

What Befits A Muslim Is to Adopt the Path of the Prophets and Messengers as Given in the Qur'an

Muslims are not obliged to follow this scientist or that scientific movement, but of the prophets and messengers whom the Qur'an cites as role models, and to follow the pattern of these blessed individuals.

When communicating their messages, the prophets in all ages have employed a very clear, distinct, decisive and comprehensible style. All made perfectly clear their message concerning the existence and oneness of Allah, that there is no deity but Allah, and that He created all things; and they called on people to serve only Him. While preaching that message, none of them refrained from repeating the name of Allah courageously and openly.

Some of the verses describing these characteristics of the prophets are as follows:

We sent Nuh to his people and he said: "My people, worship Allah. You have no deity other than Him. So will you not guard against evil?" (Surat al-Muminun: 23)

And Ibrahim, when he said to his people: "Worship Allah and have fear [and respect] of Him. That is better for you if you only knew." (Surat al-‘Ankabut: 16)

[Yusuf said:] "My fellow-prisoners, are many lords better, or Allah, the only One, the Conqueror? What you serve apart from Him are only names which you and your forefathers have made up. There is no mandate for them from Allah. Allah alone is qualified to judge. His order is to worship none but Him. That is in truth the straight and upright religion, but most of mankind simply do not know." (Surah Yusuf: 39-40)

When their brother Lut said to them: "Will you not guard against evil? I am a faithful messenger to you. So have fear [and respect] of Allah and obey me." (Surat ash-Shu‘ara’: 161-163)

And to Madyan We sent their brother Shu'ayb who said: "My people, worship Allah! You have no other deity than Him…" (Surat al-A’raf: 85)

['Isa said:] "Allah is my Lord and your Lord so worship Him. This is a straight path." (Surat az-Zukhruf: 64)

As we have seen, none of the prophets cited in the Qur'an even hinted at such concepts as "intelligent designer." Each of them clearly declared the commandment of Allah by calling on His Exalted name.

It is incumbent upon all Muslims who adopt the way of the Qur'an and our beloved Prophet Muhammad (saas) to adopt the prophets as their guide and their superior moral values, exemplary attitudes and style as their model.

Quick Grasp of Faith:

Do believers feel anger?

Believers, like anyone else, may naturally feel anger at certain events. However one of the most important indications of their virtuous character is their ability to control their anger. They know that no good will come of an uncontrolled, intense fury, and that they will just lose their ability to act reasonably or to be just. They avoid making wrong decisions that may harm both themselves and those around them. For that reason believers exhibit steadfastness and forgiveness. Allah praises this feature of believers in the Qur'an in these words:

Those who give in times of both ease and hardship, those who control their rage and pardon other people—Allah loves the good-doers. (Surah Al 'Imran: 134)

Yet, "controlling rage" should not be misunderstood: it does not mean to accept everything as it is or being passive. Believers certainly act in response to events, and try to prevent any wrongdoing or situations that may cause harm to other believers. However, they do not react emotionally; instead they try to find sensible ways to influence people's behavior, or otherwise limit whatever damage is being caused.

Our Prophet (saas) has this to say on controlling anger:

The strong is not the one who overcomes the people by his strength, but the strong is the one who controls himself while in anger. (Bukhari)

Book Review:

The Nightmare of Disbelief

That people do not adopt the moral values of the Qur'an and submit to Allah underlie the personal and social depression, pain, fears and lack of confidence that is widely experienced today. This book explains the detriments that disbelief gives to people and discloses the only way to salvation,
which is submission to Allah... >>

Site of the Day:

www.unionoffaiths.com

As people who believe in Allah and follow His revelations, let us rally to a common formula - "faith". Let's love Allah, Who is our Creator and Lord, and follow His commands. And let us pray Allah to lead us to an even straighter path. When Muslims, Christians and Jews rally to a common formula this way; When they understand that they are friends not enemies, When they see that the real enemy is atheism and paganism, then the world will become a very different place.

Here, Jews, Christians and Muslims are called to join in the light of common objectives to wage a joint struggle against atheism, social and moral degeneration, terrorism, and to spread good morals throughout the world. This call is to all the sincere, scrupulous, benevolent, agreeable, decent, pacifist, and just Jew s, Christians and Muslims.

solidarity

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RAMADAN 2005 The 2nd Day