"The similitude of Jesus before Allah is as that of Adam: He created him from dust, then said to him: "Be" and he was. The truth [comes] from Allah alone; so be not of those who doubt."
Qur'an 3:59-60
Saturday, August 22, 2009
Is Jesus really the Son of God or a Prophet of God?
In the four Gospels of the Bible there are a number of references to Jesus Christ as the "Son of God." The following are a few examples:
And when the centurion, who stood facing him, saw that he thus breathed his last, he said, "Truly this man was the Son of God."
Mark 15:39
And the angel said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God."
Luke 1:35
And they all said, "Are you the Son of God, then?" And he said to them, "You say that I am."
Luke 22:70
He trust in God; let God deliver him now, If he desires; for he said, "I am the Son of God."
Matthew 27:43
And whenever the unclean spirits beheld him, they fell down before him and cried out, "You are the Son of God." And he strictly ordered them not to make him known.
Mark 3:11-12
And when he came to the other side, to the country of Gadarenes, two demoniac met him, coming out of the tombs, so fierce that no one could pass that way. And behold, they cried out, "What have you to do with us, O Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the time?"
Matthew 8:28-29
In the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke there are about 22 such references to Jesus as the Son of God, but in all of them not once did he call himself so. Matthew 27:43 quoted about refers to the allegation of the chief priest with the scribes and the elders who mocked him. It was not firsthand reporting of Jesus' own statement by the author of the Gospel. It was normally either madmen, the so called demoniac and unclean spirits, or pagan Roman soldiers who referred to him as the Son of God. His own preference was for the title of Ben Adam, which just meant man or son of man. That title is repeated about 80 times in the Gospels. His Jewish persecutors out of malice alleged that he claimed to be King of the Jews that he might incur the wrath of the Roman rulers, and that he claimed to be the Son of God to enraged to the Jewish people.
It should also be remembered that at the time of Jesus it was commonplace to invest with divinity not only non-existent mythological figures but historian mortals as well. Laertus, the pagan author of the Lives of the Philosophers, writes of a number of philosophers as being sons of God. Plato was described as being of divine parentage; and so was Pythagoras who was supposed to be the incarnate son of the god Hermes. Empedocles was also alleged to be an immortal god who healed the sick, and his followers worshipped him and prayed to him. Plutarch regards that Alexander the Great was of divine descent, and Romulus the legendary ancestor of the Romans was the Son of Mars, the god of war. He was supposed to have been raised to heaven in a cloud. An inscription of 48 B.C. refers to Julius Caesar as "god manifest offspring of Ares and Aphrodite and common savior of human life." Another inscription referring to Augustus Caesars says: "The Emperor Caesar, Son of God, god Augustus, overseer of land and sea."
These titles of "god," "son of god," and "lord" being common and widespread in the Mediterranean region about the time of Jesus could not but influence the general public who were not deeply infused with the Judaic monotheism. There were terms loosely used by all.
To return to the text of the Bible, when Jesus was brought before the court he refused to concur to the charge that he claimed to be the Son of God as madmen and pagans had been propagating about him; and the high priest stood up and said:
"Have you no answer to make? What is it that these men testify against you?" But Jesus was silent. And the high priest said to him, "I adjure you by the living God, tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God." Jesus said to him. "You have said so. But I tell you hereafter you will see the son of man seated at the right hand of Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven."
Matthew 26:62-64
The three Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke (called "synoptic" meaning common view because they agree in form and content) do not refer to Jesus as the "only" Son of God. It is the Gospel of John which lays special stress on the divinity of Jesus, and calls him, the Only Son of God.
And the Word became flesh and dwell among us, full of grace and truth; we have beheld his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father.
John 1:14
For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
John 3:16
What is special about the use of the term Son of God? Going through the Bible we find such terms being used in reference to many others besides Jesus Christ. In the Old Testament, all of it having been written before the birth of Jesus we find the following examples:
When men began to multiply on the face of the ground and daughters were born to them, the sons of God saw that the daughters of men were fair; and they took wives such of them as they chose.
Genesis 6:1-2
On what were its bases sunk, or who laid its cornerstone, when the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?
Job 38:6-7
Yet the number of the people of Israel shall be like the sand of the sea, which can be neither measured nor numbered, and in the place where it was said to them, "You are not my people." It shall be said to them "Sons of the living God."
Hosea 1:10
Apparently, it was quite common practice before the time of Jesus even for Hebrew writers on religious subjects to use the term "sons of God" in reference to those who were beloved of God. An Italian biblical authority, Marcello Craveri, who wrote The Life of Jesus, however, believes that the term has in history undergone changes through mistranslation. He writes:
Actually, the Old Testament does contain the phrase ebed Yahweh, which means "the servant of God," "the slave of God," and "God's loyal subject." The Greek text of Septuagint translates it equivocally as pais Theou, in as much as pais, like the Latin puer, can mean either "little boy" or "slave," subsequently, it was quite simple to replace pais in the sense of "boy" with hyos, which means "son."
Indeed, in Hebrew literature even the term "god" seems to have been rather loosely used. In Exodus we read of God addressing Moses and telling him about the relation which would be between him and Aaron:
He shall speak for you to the people; and he shall be a mouth for you, and you shall be to him as God.
Exodus 4:16
I say, "You are gods, sons of the Most High, all of you; nevertheless, you shall die like men and fall like any prince."
Psalm 82:6-7
But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for he is kind to the ungrateful and the selfish.
Luke 6:35
In the Gospel according to Matthew Jesus is reported to say:
Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called sons of God.
Matthew 5:9
Paul in his letter to the Romans writes:
For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.
Romans 8:14
The two men who are said to have done their utmost to ascribe divinity to Jesus Christ are John and Paul; and yet from the above quotation Paul definitely admits that Jesus was not the only son of God but "all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God."
Let us see what John has to say, he who has coined the phrase, "the only son of God." In the course of an argument Jesus had with the Jews who wanted to stone him, he asked of them for which of the good works that he had shown them were they stoning him?
The Jews answered him, "We stone you for no good works but for blasphemy; because you being a man, make yourself God." Jesus answered them, "Is it not written in you law, I said, you are gods! If he called them gods to whom the word of God came, do you say of him of whom the Father consecrated and sent into the world, "You are blaspheming" because I said "I am the son of God?"
John 10:33-36
In other words Jesus was pointing out to his Jewish persecutors that the term "Son of God" was no more blasphemous than the term "gods" which had been used in respect of others previous to him. At least that is what the writer of John's Gospel implies. Jesus' own personal preference was for the term "son of man," in Hebrew, Arabic, and Swahili: "Ben Adam," which just means "man." This is repeated no less than 80 times in the New Testament, mostly spoken by Jesus himself. Not once is he reported to categorically call himself the Son of God in any special sense.
Finally let us consider Christ's last words when he was about to ascend to heaven as related in the Gospel of John:
I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and you God.
John 20:17
It is very clear to understand what Jesus meant by this single sentence, that his son-ship was in no way different from the son-ship of all men.
And when the centurion, who stood facing him, saw that he thus breathed his last, he said, "Truly this man was the Son of God."
Mark 15:39
And the angel said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God."
Luke 1:35
And they all said, "Are you the Son of God, then?" And he said to them, "You say that I am."
Luke 22:70
He trust in God; let God deliver him now, If he desires; for he said, "I am the Son of God."
Matthew 27:43
And whenever the unclean spirits beheld him, they fell down before him and cried out, "You are the Son of God." And he strictly ordered them not to make him known.
Mark 3:11-12
And when he came to the other side, to the country of Gadarenes, two demoniac met him, coming out of the tombs, so fierce that no one could pass that way. And behold, they cried out, "What have you to do with us, O Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the time?"
Matthew 8:28-29
In the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke there are about 22 such references to Jesus as the Son of God, but in all of them not once did he call himself so. Matthew 27:43 quoted about refers to the allegation of the chief priest with the scribes and the elders who mocked him. It was not firsthand reporting of Jesus' own statement by the author of the Gospel. It was normally either madmen, the so called demoniac and unclean spirits, or pagan Roman soldiers who referred to him as the Son of God. His own preference was for the title of Ben Adam, which just meant man or son of man. That title is repeated about 80 times in the Gospels. His Jewish persecutors out of malice alleged that he claimed to be King of the Jews that he might incur the wrath of the Roman rulers, and that he claimed to be the Son of God to enraged to the Jewish people.
It should also be remembered that at the time of Jesus it was commonplace to invest with divinity not only non-existent mythological figures but historian mortals as well. Laertus, the pagan author of the Lives of the Philosophers, writes of a number of philosophers as being sons of God. Plato was described as being of divine parentage; and so was Pythagoras who was supposed to be the incarnate son of the god Hermes. Empedocles was also alleged to be an immortal god who healed the sick, and his followers worshipped him and prayed to him. Plutarch regards that Alexander the Great was of divine descent, and Romulus the legendary ancestor of the Romans was the Son of Mars, the god of war. He was supposed to have been raised to heaven in a cloud. An inscription of 48 B.C. refers to Julius Caesar as "god manifest offspring of Ares and Aphrodite and common savior of human life." Another inscription referring to Augustus Caesars says: "The Emperor Caesar, Son of God, god Augustus, overseer of land and sea."
These titles of "god," "son of god," and "lord" being common and widespread in the Mediterranean region about the time of Jesus could not but influence the general public who were not deeply infused with the Judaic monotheism. There were terms loosely used by all.
To return to the text of the Bible, when Jesus was brought before the court he refused to concur to the charge that he claimed to be the Son of God as madmen and pagans had been propagating about him; and the high priest stood up and said:
"Have you no answer to make? What is it that these men testify against you?" But Jesus was silent. And the high priest said to him, "I adjure you by the living God, tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God." Jesus said to him. "You have said so. But I tell you hereafter you will see the son of man seated at the right hand of Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven."
Matthew 26:62-64
The three Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke (called "synoptic" meaning common view because they agree in form and content) do not refer to Jesus as the "only" Son of God. It is the Gospel of John which lays special stress on the divinity of Jesus, and calls him, the Only Son of God.
And the Word became flesh and dwell among us, full of grace and truth; we have beheld his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father.
John 1:14
For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
John 3:16
What is special about the use of the term Son of God? Going through the Bible we find such terms being used in reference to many others besides Jesus Christ. In the Old Testament, all of it having been written before the birth of Jesus we find the following examples:
When men began to multiply on the face of the ground and daughters were born to them, the sons of God saw that the daughters of men were fair; and they took wives such of them as they chose.
Genesis 6:1-2
On what were its bases sunk, or who laid its cornerstone, when the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?
Job 38:6-7
Yet the number of the people of Israel shall be like the sand of the sea, which can be neither measured nor numbered, and in the place where it was said to them, "You are not my people." It shall be said to them "Sons of the living God."
Hosea 1:10
Apparently, it was quite common practice before the time of Jesus even for Hebrew writers on religious subjects to use the term "sons of God" in reference to those who were beloved of God. An Italian biblical authority, Marcello Craveri, who wrote The Life of Jesus, however, believes that the term has in history undergone changes through mistranslation. He writes:
Actually, the Old Testament does contain the phrase ebed Yahweh, which means "the servant of God," "the slave of God," and "God's loyal subject." The Greek text of Septuagint translates it equivocally as pais Theou, in as much as pais, like the Latin puer, can mean either "little boy" or "slave," subsequently, it was quite simple to replace pais in the sense of "boy" with hyos, which means "son."
Indeed, in Hebrew literature even the term "god" seems to have been rather loosely used. In Exodus we read of God addressing Moses and telling him about the relation which would be between him and Aaron:
He shall speak for you to the people; and he shall be a mouth for you, and you shall be to him as God.
Exodus 4:16
I say, "You are gods, sons of the Most High, all of you; nevertheless, you shall die like men and fall like any prince."
Psalm 82:6-7
But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for he is kind to the ungrateful and the selfish.
Luke 6:35
In the Gospel according to Matthew Jesus is reported to say:
Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called sons of God.
Matthew 5:9
Paul in his letter to the Romans writes:
For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.
Romans 8:14
The two men who are said to have done their utmost to ascribe divinity to Jesus Christ are John and Paul; and yet from the above quotation Paul definitely admits that Jesus was not the only son of God but "all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God."
Let us see what John has to say, he who has coined the phrase, "the only son of God." In the course of an argument Jesus had with the Jews who wanted to stone him, he asked of them for which of the good works that he had shown them were they stoning him?
The Jews answered him, "We stone you for no good works but for blasphemy; because you being a man, make yourself God." Jesus answered them, "Is it not written in you law, I said, you are gods! If he called them gods to whom the word of God came, do you say of him of whom the Father consecrated and sent into the world, "You are blaspheming" because I said "I am the son of God?"
John 10:33-36
In other words Jesus was pointing out to his Jewish persecutors that the term "Son of God" was no more blasphemous than the term "gods" which had been used in respect of others previous to him. At least that is what the writer of John's Gospel implies. Jesus' own personal preference was for the term "son of man," in Hebrew, Arabic, and Swahili: "Ben Adam," which just means "man." This is repeated no less than 80 times in the New Testament, mostly spoken by Jesus himself. Not once is he reported to categorically call himself the Son of God in any special sense.
Finally let us consider Christ's last words when he was about to ascend to heaven as related in the Gospel of John:
I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and you God.
John 20:17
It is very clear to understand what Jesus meant by this single sentence, that his son-ship was in no way different from the son-ship of all men.
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
What Does the Holy Book Say?
"He created you from a single cell... He formed you in the mother's womb... He is God your Lord. His is the Kingdom. There is no god other than He. How then can you turn away?"
God (Allah) Qur'an, Chp. 39, ver. 6: The Companies
God (Allah) Qur'an, Chp. 39, ver. 6: The Companies
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Poetry of the Month
Winning Without Victory
If you want to see someone lose everything and still win
If you want to read about incredible story of perseverance
If you want to hear of true friendship and loyalty
If you want to witness how can men battle without water for three days?
If you want to be reminded of miracles
If you want to know the greatest sacrifice of all time
Then see the book of history and travel 1,400 years back in time
Then read what became of the cousin of Jesus (p.b.u.h.)
Then hear the name Husain, the grandson of the last Prophet of God, Muhammad (p.b.u.t.)
Then witness how he sacrificed his sons and self, for the repentance of
you & me
Then you’d be reminded of the victims of Kerbala and their helplessness
Then you’d know the secrets of winning without victory
by S. Ali Zaidi
p.b.u.h stands for peace be upon him.
p.b.u.t. stands for peace be upon them.
If you want to see someone lose everything and still win
If you want to read about incredible story of perseverance
If you want to hear of true friendship and loyalty
If you want to witness how can men battle without water for three days?
If you want to be reminded of miracles
If you want to know the greatest sacrifice of all time
Then see the book of history and travel 1,400 years back in time
Then read what became of the cousin of Jesus (p.b.u.h.)
Then hear the name Husain, the grandson of the last Prophet of God, Muhammad (p.b.u.t.)
Then witness how he sacrificed his sons and self, for the repentance of
you & me
Then you’d be reminded of the victims of Kerbala and their helplessness
Then you’d know the secrets of winning without victory
by S. Ali Zaidi
p.b.u.h stands for peace be upon him.
p.b.u.t. stands for peace be upon them.
The Story of Kerbala
The struggles between right and wrong, truth and falsehood, piety and impiety, and worldliness and spirituality are eternal. Such struggles are recorded on the pages of history as the struggle of Rama against Ravana, the contest between Moses (p.b.u.h.)[1] and Pharaoh, the challenge of Abraham (p.b.u.h.) to Nimrud, and the contest of Jesus Christ (p.b.u.h.) against Herod. Such a struggle also took place in the plains of Kerbala between Husain (A)[2] and Yazid about 1,400 years ago (Wikipedia). Kerbala is a city 60 miles south of Baghdad in present day Iraq, according to Dictionary Online; but Kerbala means much more to some people. Kerbala reminds them each day to stand firm and have faith in God even when confronted with the most difficult and trying situations.
Kerbala was born on a tragic Monday, in 680 AD. The declining sun was casting lengthening shadows on the desert of Kerbala. Husain (A) was alone with none to befriend him, none to help him, and none to defend him[3]. On the other side was an army of several thousand strong, thirsting for his blood (SDOL). The soldiers of Umr Saad saw Husain (A) coming towards them, clad in the Prophet’s turban and robe. Husain (A) gave a speech in a clear and ringing voice. He reminded them that he was the grandson of Prophet Mohammad (p.b.u.h.), whom they acknowledged as their Prophet of Islam. He asked them why they had mercilessly killed his sons, brothers, and faithful friends; why have they denied him and his family even food and water? Umr Saad, Commander of Yazid’s army, replied saying: “Husain, we have heard enough from you. Since you are not accepting Yazid as your spiritual Lord, and subject yourself to his rulings in all matters, you will be beheaded, say what you will.” Shortly after, Umr Saad gave orders to fire a volley of arrows at Husain (A). He also gave orders to his infantry and cavalry to converge on Husain (A) with swords, scimitars, and daggers. Husain (A), with sword in hand, charged on the attacking soldiers mowing down all who came within the range of his sword. He then turned like lightning[4] to the center of the army, and cowardly soldiers retreated in panic and confusion. The army that had tried to converge on Husain (A) was now scattered and in full retreat. Husain (A) halted his charge to offer the evening prayer; he could use the respite to offer it, since the soldiers had fallen back. Umr Saad, who was watching Husain (A) from a distance, ordered his archers to fire volley after volley of arrows, his infantry to throw stones, and other soldiers to catapult burning coals at him from a distance. Husain (A), who was already wounded from head to foot, was now receiving one mortal wound after another in quick succession. His blood was flowing so fast that he was finding it difficult to remain on the horseback. Husain (A) managed to slide down from the saddle to the burning ground beneath; but for a few moments his body remained suspended on the spikes of the arrows that had pierced his body from top to toe. He saw the sun despite his stallion trying in vain to protect him from its blazing rays. He prostrated his head in prayer and addressed the Maker: “My Lord and Lord of the universe, I submit unreservedly to Thy decree and resign myself to Thy dispensation.” [5]
Umr Saad called upon his warriors to cut off Husain’s (A) head. Shimr decided to hurry up with the most dastardly act. He mounted on Husain’s (A) back with the sword he was carrying, and he prepared himself to cut off Husain’s (A) head. Husain (A), who was too weak with the loss of blood to raise his head, turned a little and said in a faltering voice, which was audible to Shimr: “O Shimr, I am thirsty, I am thirsty O shimr, give me a few drops of water before you accomplish your task.”[5]
Zainab (A), who was watching the events from the camps rushed to the tent where her nephew, Zainulabdeen (A), was lying on his sick bed. She shook him up and told him what she had seen a moment earlier. Supporting him, she brought him to the exit of the tent. Both of them stood there silent and speechless. In the distant and dusty view, they saw a spear with Husain’s (A) head on it. They heard the drums of Yazid’s army proclaiming the end of the battle. Zainab (A) with a shriek wailed: “O my brother Husain, my brother Husain! At last they have killed you, they have beheaded you without a drop of water,” and she fell unconscious unto her nephew. Zainulabdeen’s (A) gently put her down on the floor, and prostrating his head on the ground, exclaimed: “O God, we mortals resign ourselves to Thy will. From Thee we have come and unto Thee shall be our return.”[5]
Husain (A) stood for the oppressed and weak against Yazid, who was known as a debauchee and a profligate to even his own supporters. Husain (A) tolerated torture mental and material, and relinquished his wealth and loved ones; nonetheless, he never turned from the just principles for even a second. Kerbala shows faith, courage, and tolerance in especially the most difficult hours of trial.
- Wikipedia. “Battle of Kerbala.” 8 March 2007. 19 March 2007
.
- SDOL. “Kerbala.” 7 Mar. 2007. 2003-2008
.
Kerbala was born on a tragic Monday, in 680 AD. The declining sun was casting lengthening shadows on the desert of Kerbala. Husain (A) was alone with none to befriend him, none to help him, and none to defend him[3]. On the other side was an army of several thousand strong, thirsting for his blood (SDOL). The soldiers of Umr Saad saw Husain (A) coming towards them, clad in the Prophet’s turban and robe. Husain (A) gave a speech in a clear and ringing voice. He reminded them that he was the grandson of Prophet Mohammad (p.b.u.h.), whom they acknowledged as their Prophet of Islam. He asked them why they had mercilessly killed his sons, brothers, and faithful friends; why have they denied him and his family even food and water? Umr Saad, Commander of Yazid’s army, replied saying: “Husain, we have heard enough from you. Since you are not accepting Yazid as your spiritual Lord, and subject yourself to his rulings in all matters, you will be beheaded, say what you will.” Shortly after, Umr Saad gave orders to fire a volley of arrows at Husain (A). He also gave orders to his infantry and cavalry to converge on Husain (A) with swords, scimitars, and daggers. Husain (A), with sword in hand, charged on the attacking soldiers mowing down all who came within the range of his sword. He then turned like lightning[4] to the center of the army, and cowardly soldiers retreated in panic and confusion. The army that had tried to converge on Husain (A) was now scattered and in full retreat. Husain (A) halted his charge to offer the evening prayer; he could use the respite to offer it, since the soldiers had fallen back. Umr Saad, who was watching Husain (A) from a distance, ordered his archers to fire volley after volley of arrows, his infantry to throw stones, and other soldiers to catapult burning coals at him from a distance. Husain (A), who was already wounded from head to foot, was now receiving one mortal wound after another in quick succession. His blood was flowing so fast that he was finding it difficult to remain on the horseback. Husain (A) managed to slide down from the saddle to the burning ground beneath; but for a few moments his body remained suspended on the spikes of the arrows that had pierced his body from top to toe. He saw the sun despite his stallion trying in vain to protect him from its blazing rays. He prostrated his head in prayer and addressed the Maker: “My Lord and Lord of the universe, I submit unreservedly to Thy decree and resign myself to Thy dispensation.” [5]
Umr Saad called upon his warriors to cut off Husain’s (A) head. Shimr decided to hurry up with the most dastardly act. He mounted on Husain’s (A) back with the sword he was carrying, and he prepared himself to cut off Husain’s (A) head. Husain (A), who was too weak with the loss of blood to raise his head, turned a little and said in a faltering voice, which was audible to Shimr: “O Shimr, I am thirsty, I am thirsty O shimr, give me a few drops of water before you accomplish your task.”[5]
Zainab (A), who was watching the events from the camps rushed to the tent where her nephew, Zainulabdeen (A), was lying on his sick bed. She shook him up and told him what she had seen a moment earlier. Supporting him, she brought him to the exit of the tent. Both of them stood there silent and speechless. In the distant and dusty view, they saw a spear with Husain’s (A) head on it. They heard the drums of Yazid’s army proclaiming the end of the battle. Zainab (A) with a shriek wailed: “O my brother Husain, my brother Husain! At last they have killed you, they have beheaded you without a drop of water,” and she fell unconscious unto her nephew. Zainulabdeen’s (A) gently put her down on the floor, and prostrating his head on the ground, exclaimed: “O God, we mortals resign ourselves to Thy will. From Thee we have come and unto Thee shall be our return.”[5]
Husain (A) stood for the oppressed and weak against Yazid, who was known as a debauchee and a profligate to even his own supporters. Husain (A) tolerated torture mental and material, and relinquished his wealth and loved ones; nonetheless, he never turned from the just principles for even a second. Kerbala shows faith, courage, and tolerance in especially the most difficult hours of trial.
[1] (p.b.u.h.) stands for Peace be upon him, is put with the names of holy prophets and entities.
[2] (A) stands for Allayhay Salaam, Arabic for Peace be upon him, is put with the names of holy entities.
[3] Tautote sentence style.
[4] Simile
[5] Zakir. Tears and Tributes. Clarksville, Maryland: Khatoons, 2006.
[2] (A) stands for Allayhay Salaam, Arabic for Peace be upon him, is put with the names of holy entities.
[3] Tautote sentence style.
[4] Simile
[5] Zakir. Tears and Tributes. Clarksville, Maryland: Khatoons, 2006.
- Wikipedia. “Battle of Kerbala.” 8 March 2007. 19 March 2007
- SDOL. “Kerbala.” 7 Mar. 2007. 2003-2008
Eloquence of Ali ibn Abu Talib [Speech 89]
"Praise be to God who is well-known without being seen, Who creates without pondering over, Who has ever been existent when there was no sky with domes, nor curtains with lofty doors, nor gloomy night, nor peaceful ocean, not mountains with broad pathways, or curved mountain roads, nor earth of spread floors, nor self-reliant creatures. He is the Originator of creation and their Master. He is the God of the creation and its feeder. The sun and the moon are steadily moving in pursuit of His will. They make every fresh thing old and every distant thing near.
He distributed their sustenance and has counted thier deeds and acts, the number of their breaths, their concealed looks, and whatever is hidden in their bosoms. He knows their places of stay and places of last resort in the loins and wombs till they reach their end.
His punishment on enemies is harsh despite the extent of His Mercy, and His compassion of His friends is vast despite His harsh punishment. He overpowers one who wants to overcome Him, and destroys one who clashes with him. He disgraces one who opposes Him and gains sway over one who bears Him hostility. God is sufficient for one who relies on Him. He gives one who asks Him. He repays one who lends to Him. He rewards one who thanks Him.
O' creatures of God, weigh yourselves before you are weighed and assess yourselves before you are assessed. Breath before suffocation of the throat. Be submissive before you are harshly driven. Know that if one does not help himself in acting as his own adviser and warner then no one else can (effectively) be his adviser or warner."
He distributed their sustenance and has counted thier deeds and acts, the number of their breaths, their concealed looks, and whatever is hidden in their bosoms. He knows their places of stay and places of last resort in the loins and wombs till they reach their end.
His punishment on enemies is harsh despite the extent of His Mercy, and His compassion of His friends is vast despite His harsh punishment. He overpowers one who wants to overcome Him, and destroys one who clashes with him. He disgraces one who opposes Him and gains sway over one who bears Him hostility. God is sufficient for one who relies on Him. He gives one who asks Him. He repays one who lends to Him. He rewards one who thanks Him.
O' creatures of God, weigh yourselves before you are weighed and assess yourselves before you are assessed. Breath before suffocation of the throat. Be submissive before you are harshly driven. Know that if one does not help himself in acting as his own adviser and warner then no one else can (effectively) be his adviser or warner."
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