================Our Recommendation================

A contemporary mystical Islamic philosopher offers clarification about common misconceptions of the Islamic concept of God.

Hulusi is an Islamic scholar whose writings mirror the mystical dimension of Islam known as Sufism, made well known in the U.S. through translations of the Sufi poet-theologian Rumi. But many who read the English translations of Rumi fail to realize the complexity of the system of spiritual thinking that Sufism represents. Hulusi explicates one of the most difficult concepts in mystical Islam--the notion that "Allah," commonly misunderstood in the West and even in parts of the Muslim world as "God," encompasses more than the word "God" can illuminate. Drawing upon his interpretations of the Quran, Islam's most sacred scripture, Hulusi claims that nowhere in Muhammad's transmission of the Quran is there the assertion that Allah is a god. Instead, Hulusi writes that Allah is "an infinite, unlimited, whole One, in which case...there is nothing in existence other than Him." The consequences of this assertion are that individual lives are fated by Allah, predestined to heaven or hell after physical death. The point of religion, writes the author, is to gain nondualistic awareness of Allah, which is realized through essential self-knowledge and the rejection of illusionary dualities in daily life. The author relies on short paragraphs to frame his beliefs and uses abstract language to describe consciousness, but the gist of these abstruse ideas is helpfully noted in bold throughout the book. One can only imagine the difficulty translator Atalay faced in converting the author's esoteric Turkish style into readable English. Yet it does read clearly as a kind of Sufi manifesto of faith. Get the Book NOW

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Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Islam is not Mohammedanism

Some outsiders call our religion “Mohammedanism” and address the believers in  IslamQuranic Verses on Nikah Marriage. Read more ... » as “Mohammedans “. the Muslims both reject and protest the use of these  words. If our faith is classified as Mohammedanism and if we are called  Mohemmadans, there will be seriously wrong implications. This misnomer implies  that the religion takes its name after a mortal being, namely, Muhammad and that  IslamQuranic Verses on Nikah Marriage. Read more ... » is no more than another “ism” like Judasim, Hinduism, Marxism, etc. Another  wrong implication of this misnomer is that outsiders might think of the Muslims,  whom they call Mohammedans, as worshipers of Muhammad or as believers in him  in the same way as Christians, for example, believe in Jesus. A further wrong  implication is that the word Mohammedanism may mislead the outsider and make  him think that the religion was founded by Muhammad and therefore takes its name  after the founder. All these implications are seriously wrong or at best misleading.  Islam is not just another “ism”. Nor do Muslims worship Muhammad or look upon  him the same way as Christians, Jews, Hindus, Marxists, etc., look upon their  respective leaders.

The Muslims worship AllahThe Meaning of Al-Fatihah and its Various Names. Read more ... » – Almighty GodWhy Islam?. Read more ... » alone. Muhammad was only a mortal  being commissioned by AllahThe Meaning of Al-Fatihah and its Various Names. Read more ... » – Almighty GodWhy Islam?. Read more ... » to teach the word of Allah – Almighty God and lead an exemplary life. He  stands in history as the best model for man in pietyMYSTIC LIFE OF ZU'N NUN OF EGYPT. Read more ... » and perfection. He is a living  proof of what man can be and of what he can accomplish in the realm of excellence  and virtue. Moreover, the Muslims do not believe that Islam was founded by  Muhammad, although it was restored by him in the last stage of religious evolution.  The original founder of Islam is no other than Allah – Almighty God Himself, and the date of the  founding of Islam goes back to the age of Adam. Islam has existed in one form or  another all along from the beginning and will continue to exist till the end of time.   The true name of the religion, then, is Islam and those who follow it are Muslims.  Contrary to popular misconceptions, Islam or submission to the Will of Allah – Almighty God, together  with obedienceTHE LOVE OF GOD. Read more ... » to His Law, does not mean in any way loss of individual freedom or  surrender to fatalism. Anyone who thinks or believes so has certainly failed to  understand the true meaning of Islam and the concept of Allah – Almighty God in Islam.

The concept of  Allah – Almighty God in Islam describes Him as the Most Merciful and Gracious, and the Most Loving  and most concerned with the well-being of man, and as Full of Wisdom and care for  His Creatures. His Will, accordingly, is a Will of Benevolence and GoodnessWhy Islam?. Read more ... », and  whatever Law He prescribes must be in the best interest of mankind.   When the civilized people abide the laws of their countries, they are considered sound  citizens and honest members of their respective societies. No responsible person  would say that such people lose their freedom by their obedienceTHE LOVE OF GOD. Read more ... » to the Law. No  rational being would think or believe for a moment that such law-abiding people are  fatalists and helpless. Similarly, the person who submits to the Will of Allah – Almighty God, which is  good Will, and obeys the law of Allah – Almighty God, which is the best Law, is a sound and honest  person. He is gaining protection of his own rights, showing genuine respect for the  rights of others, and enjoying a high degree of responsible, creative freedom.

Submission to the good Will of Allah – Almighty God, therefore, does not take away or curtail  individual freedom. On the contrary, it gives freedom of a high degree in abundant  measures. It frees the mind from superstitionsWhy Islam?. Read more ... » and fills it with truth. It frees the soul  from sin and wrong and quickens it with goodnessWhy Islam?. Read more ... » and purity. It frees the self from  vanity and greed, from envy and tension, from fear and insecurity. It frees man from  subjugation to false deities and low desires, and unfolds before him the beautiful  horizons of goodness and excellence.

xtract from ISLAM   IN  FOCUS  by HAMMUDAH ABDALATI  www.islamicbulletin.com

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