RAMADAN 2006 The 1st Day
Harun Yahya
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| Welcoming the Month of RAMADAN by HARUN YAHYA | ||||
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The month of Ramadan is a blessed month in which occurs the "Night of Power," described in the Qur'an as being "better than a thousand months". It is a blessed month in which all Muslims in the world come together in worship and perform spiritual exercises to win Allah's pleasure. I entreat Allah that this holy month will bring good and blessing to the community of Islam and to the entire world. On this Ramadan, too, all Muslims"no matter where they may be in the world"will fast from daybreak until evening. Fasting is an act of worship commanded by Allah: The month of Ramadan is the one in which the Qur'an was sent down as guidance for humanity, with clear signs containing guidance and discrimination. Any of you who are resident for the month should fast it. But any of you who are ill or on a journey should fast a number of other days. Allah desires ease for you; He does not desire difficulty for you. You should complete the number of days and proclaim Allah's greatness for the guidance He has given you so that hopefully you will be thankful. You who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you, as it was prescribed for those before you - so that hopefully, you will fear [and respect] Allah.
These verses tell us that one of the good things brought about by fasting is carefulness. A person who desires to win Allah's pleasure, obtain his mercy and go to Paradise, will be mindful of every thought and action that could deprive him of Allah's mercy. Throughout Ramadan, clearly, a Muslim gives much thought to this. He regards this period as one in which his lower self may be trained and his faith strengthened. All Muslims finish this month having purified their lower selves, and strengthened their faith and fear of Allah. Throughout the history of Islam, the month of Ramadan as been seen as a time when Muslims reach out to help the hungry, the poor and the destitute. This month, they take care to practice mercy, self-sacrifice, brotherhood, forgiveness and the other virtues all times. In his letter about Ramadan, Bediuzzaman Said Nursi points out the following: If fasting were not practiced, there might be so many rich people pursing their lower selves' desires that they would fail to grasp how others may suffer from hunger and poverty and sorrow, and how much they are in need of mercy. In this respect, feeling mercy for one another is an essential for thanksgiving in its truest sense. Bediuzzaman also describes the wisdom and the good in fasting thus: Indeed, fasting in Ramadan is the key to a true and pure, great and overall gratitude. That is because in other times, most of the people who were not compelled, failed to grasp the value of many blessings when they did not feel hunger in its truest sense . . . From the sultan to the poorest of all, by understanding the value of blessings, they felt truly grateful. A believer could not even imagine pleasing Allah for only one month of the year and not think of pleasing Him for the remaining eleven months. As this month comes to a close, we must embrace the morality of the Qur’an even more and live our lives with the greater sensitivity achieved in Ramadan. Allah says in the Qur’an: Say: " My prayers and my rites, my living and my dying, are for Allah alone, the Lord of all the worlds." (Surat al-An'am: 162)
By Allah's will, believers who have witnessed this miracle of our Prophet (saas), will also witness the wonderful things that he has revealed in great detail about the Golden Age. Here is one Hadith that stresses how, in that period to come, there will be no bloodshed, chaos or discontent: As the bowl is filled with water, the earth will fill with peace. No enmity will remain between people. All hostility, strife, jealousy will absolutely disappear. Again, our Prophet (saas) reveals in the Hadith that Allah will establish this blessed time through the agency of the Mahdi, an honorable person who will fill the world with justice, equality, truth and peace. Our Prophet (saas) says: Even if a single day remains in time for the Day of Ressurrection, Allah will send an individual from my descent, and just as how the earth was filled with violence, he will fill it with justice. (Abu Dawud) The Mahdi is from my descent. As the earth fills with violence and torture, he will fill it with justice and righteousness. (Abu Dawud) In the years that have passed since the days of our Prophet (saas), Muslims have remained eager to enjoy the period of prosperity that the Lord will grant and to meet the Mahdi, the descendant of our Prophet (saas). So, it is with this joy and excitement that we welcome the month of Ramadan. May it please Allah that this Ramadan will have a wholesome effect on all sincere hearts. And it should not be forgotten that many important achievements in Islamic history were made in the month of Ramadan, with the permission and aid of Allah.
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| EXAMPLES TO LIVING FOSSILS: | ||||
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CATERPILLAR
Age: 300 million years old Size: 50 millimeters (1.9 in); matrix: 58 millimeters (2.2 in) by 33 millimeters (1.2 in) Location: Morris, (Mazon Creek), Illinois, USA Formation: Francis Creek Shale Period: Pennsylvanian
Pictured is an approximately 300-million-year-old caterpillar fossil. This and other caterpillars that lived 300 million years ago display not the slightest difference from today's caterpillars. Like all other living beings, caterpillars too did not evolve, but were created.
CRAB
Age: 50 million years old Location: Oregon, USA Period: Eocene
One striking feature about the fossil record is that, living beings have undergone no changes during all the geological periods. In other words, for tens of millions, and even hundreds of millions of years, creatures have remained just as they initially appeared in the fossil records. This is evidence that then and now, living beings have not evolved. Crabs that have remained unchanged for 50 million years are among these proofs. Crabs that live today and those of millions of years ago are identical.
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| THE NAMES OF ALLAH: | ||||
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Whether you reveal a good act or keep it hidden, or pardon an evil act, Allah is Ever-Pardoning, All-Powerful. (Surat an-Nisa':149)
If Allah were to punish people for their wrong actions, not a single creature would be left upon Earth, but He defers them until a predetermined time. When their specified time arrives, they cannot delay it for a single hour or bring it forward. (Surat an-Nahl:61) Yet we need to remember that Allah only forgives His sincere servants who turn to Him in repentance. Thus, those desiring His forgiveness must be sincere and resolute in their repentance. Allah makes it clear that He will not forgive those who repent but then return to their former ways without feeling any true regret. In one verse, Allah states the following: Allah only accepts the repentance of those who do evil in ignorance and then quickly repent after doing it. Allah turns toward such people. Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise. (Surat an-Nisa':17) | ||||
| THE EVOLUTION DECEIT: | ||||
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However, the proponents of this movement do not openly state that it is Allah, the Lord of the worlds, Who created all living things. In describing the concept, Michael Behe, one of its most prominent advocates, says, "The theory of intelligent design is not a religiously based idea, even though devout people opposed to the teaching of evolution cite it in their arguments…" (See "Design for Living," New York Times, February 7, 2005.) No Muslim Would Ever Say, "There Is Intelligent Design" Instead of "Allah Created"! There are also proponents of the theory of "intelligent design" in Turkey. Notably, however, in defending this theory, they seek to imitate the style employed by their Western counterparts, and are careful to avoid any reference to the name of Allah. Instead of saying, "Allah created the entire universe and everything in it, living and non-living" in their accounts, they resort to vague expressions along the lines of "There is an intelligent design in the universe"—creating the impression that they deliberately avoid mentioning the name of Allah. Of course, there is nothing strange in non-Muslims, atheists, or some philosophers employing such a style. However, it is unacceptable for anyone who claims to be a Muslim to constantly avoid saying, "Allah created" and instead using terms such as "A power created…" or "the work of intelligent design." That is an approach no Muslim can adopt, because it means, "I do not wish to say 'Allah', I mean 'There is a power, and there is an intelligent design'." And nothing in that is compatible with Islam and the Qur'an.
Avoiding saying "Allah created all things," and "Everything came into being with Allah, the Lord of the worlds, saying 'Be!'," and merely referring to "an intelligent design in the universe" can only be the product of a mindset that lacks true faith in the existence of Allah. Even children at primary school know that it is Allah, and not "intelligent design," Who created the sky, gazelles, fish, lambs, apples, bananas, grapes and oranges.
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| THE SIGNS LEADING TO FAITH : | ||||
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Specialist in many Ways: The Koala
Animals have various miraculous features and each one of them is a miracle of creation. One of these animals is the koala. The koala feeding on eucalyptus leaves has various splendid features that ensure a comfortable life for it on trees. The bodily feature of the koala, a native of Australia, has flawless details that it needs in the kind of environment it lives. For instance, its limbs and claws ensure an easy climb to eucalyptus tress with wide trunks. The two fingers in its forepaws are separate from its other three fingers. When compared with the human hand, it can be said that the koala has two thumbs. These thumbs, which are quite different from other fingers, allows the koala to grip more securely. However, the features, of the koala, are not limited to these. Here are some of them: The Koala and the Balance of Water In the language of Aborigines, the Australian natives, the word "koala" means "the one who does not drink water". Indeed, the koala does not drink water, for it feeds entirely on eucalyptus leaves. The eucalyptus leaves has a water content of around 40% to 65%. Thanks to this feature, eucalyptus leaves provide the necessary amount of water to the koala. No doubt, this feature of the leaves is not sufficient alone. The koala's body structure utilizing the water in the eucalyptus leaves is extremely important. Thanks to the kind of digestive system that can hold water, the koala can rely on excess amounts of leaves that do not contain high amounts of water. The Koala's Protective Fur The main factor that determines the koala's body temperature is its fur. The fur is created in a way to ensure perfect heat insulation: The intensity of feathers in the fur may reach around 55 feathers per square millimeter. The fur in the back of the animal covers 77% of the body surface. The feathers on the stomach, on the other hand, are only half as intensive as the back fur, and it covers only 13% of the body surface. The length of feathers changes from season to season. In summertime, the difference between long feathers and short ones become even more. The thick fur on the back is darker than the loose ones on the stomach; this way, the koala collects and insulates the sun's heat. Despite the loose stomach feathers, the koala can adjust the grade of insulation by steepening them. The koala's metabolism rate is also regulated in a way to complement the heat insulation of the fur. The metabolism of the koala is quite slow; it is only 74% of other animals’ metabolism rate. With such a slow rate, the animal also has a low water loss. The Koala is a Great Deadlock for Evolutionists Let's remember the features of the koala: - The koala has a body structure that helps it to easily climb trees and live a comfortable life there. - Thanks to the special creation of its digestive system, the koala can get enough food and water from the eucalyptus leaves they find in ample amounts. - It has a physiological system that eliminates the poisonous effects of eucalyptus oils. - It has a metabolism that ensures maximum use of water taken from leaves. All of these features are required for the survival of an animal such as the koala that lives on trees. Could it be that these features, which are essential for the survival of the koala, have come into existence by chance, as evolutionists assert? A man of wisdom, who is able to think without prejudice and objectively, has only one answer to this question. No. It is the All-Mighty Allah Who has created the koala with its flawless features. Allah reveals His infinite compassion and mercy through these features He grants to all living beings. Our Lord informs us about the miracles He creates in living beings as follows: And in your creation and all the creatures He has spread about there are Signs for people with certainty. (Surat al-Jathiyya: 4)
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| BOOK OF THE DAY: | ||||
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There are approximately ten thousand different species of birds, many of which have miraculous characteristics. Wherever we live, we may encounter many of these creatures and can admire the different aspects of each variety. They exhibit countless examples of the evidence of creation, through their aesthetic appearance, their perfect flying mechanisms, their expertise in migration, their nest-making skills and their self-sacrificing behavior. Some birds distinguish themselves by their superior intelligence and special talents. These particular species are the subject matter of this book and which we may define as birds that can imitate sounds, include the parrots, songbirds, and hummingbirds. | ||||
| SITE OF THE DAY: | ||||
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LIVING - FOSSILS.COM
The number of living fossils that literally silence Darwinism is in the millions. Some of these are stored in warehouses. Only a very few are on display in various museums. This site has been prepared in order to put an end to the mentality that causes these fossils, that represent a complete response to Darwinism, to be hidden away, and that prevents them from being placed before the public. |
Today, one in every four individuals is a Muslim; it makes us happy to learn that day by day the religion of Islam is spreading rapidly in every corner of the world, from America to Australia. By the will of the Lord, as our Prophet, Muhammad (saas) foretold, the Golden Age, the last period of the End Times, will come. Muslims know that the recent wars happening in the world, the acts of terror, anarchy, violence and injustice are all signs of the End Times described in minute detail 1,400 years ago by our Prophet in his Hadith (Sayings). 
People are fallible beings who may at any time think erroneously, make a wrong decision, or display a flawed attitude. But Allah, Who created humanity and is fully aware of these mistakes, forgives them. If He were not so forgiving, no soul would ever attain Paradise. Indeed, Allah calls attention to this fact, as follows:
