Other
Reading the Quran blocks / hides you from disbelievers
If you are facing a disbelieving enemy, verses 17:45–56 indicates that reciting the Quran would put up a barrier between you and them and cause them to turn away.
وَإِذَا قَرَأْتَ الْقُرْآنَ جَعَلْنَا بَيْنَكَ وَبَيْنَ الَّذِينَ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ بِالْآخِرَةِ حِجَابًا مَّسْتُورًاAnd when you recite the Qur’an, We put between you and those who do not believe in the Hereafter a concealed partition. (17:45)وَجَعَلْنَا عَلَىٰ قُلُوبِهِمْ أَكِنَّةً أَن يَفْقَهُوهُ وَفِي آذَانِهِمْ وَقْرًا ۚ وَإِذَا ذَكَرْتَ رَبَّكَ فِي الْقُرْآنِ وَحْدَهُ وَلَّوْا عَلَىٰ أَدْبَارِهِمْ نُفُورًاAnd We have placed over their hearts coverings, lest they understand it, and in their ears deafness. And when you mention your Lord in the Qur’an alone, they turn back in aversion. (17:46)
Don’t spread false information / say a lie against God
It is sad that many Muslims who consider themselves to be very religious like to go around telling people that what others are doing is forbidden (haram). You may have heard people tell unveiled Muslim women that it is forbidden (haram) for them to expose their hair. These people may appear as very religious but many of them cannot prove their claim of whether something is forbidden or not. You may have even seen many of them recite the Arabic Quran regularly yet not even understand most of what they are reading. In verse 16:116, God makes it very clear that you are not allowed to go around saying this or that is lawful or not when, in fact, the opposite it true. While you may not realize it, you may actually be spreading false information in the name of God. Therefore, before you go telling people whether something is permitted (halal) or forbidden (haram), you should get proof of your claims and understand it first.
وَلَا تَقُولُوا لِمَا تَصِفُ أَلْسِنَتُكُمُ الْكَذِبَ هَٰذَا حَلَالٌ وَهَٰذَا حَرَامٌ لِّتَفْتَرُوا عَلَى اللَّهِ الْكَذِبَ ۚ إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَفْتَرُونَ عَلَى اللَّهِ الْكَذِبَ لَا يُفْلِحُونَAnd do not say about what your tongues assert of untruth, “This is lawful and this is unlawful,” to invent falsehood about Allah . Indeed, those who invent falsehood about Allah will not succeed. (16:116)يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لَا تُحَرِّمُوا طَيِّبَاتِ مَا أَحَلَّ اللَّهُ لَكُمْ وَلَا تَعْتَدُوا ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يُحِبُّ الْمُعْتَدِينَO you who have believed, do not prohibit the good things which Allah has made lawful to you and do not transgress. Indeed, Allah does not like transgressors. (5:87)
Are Muslims today just as ignorant as idol worshippers long ago?
Many Muslims believe that they understand Islam and are not ignorant like the blind idol worshippers long ago. However, many Muslims cannot prove why they must follow certain practices and simply do what they ancestors do. This attitude is no different than that of the idol worshippers during the time of Prophet Abraham according to verses 21:52–68 and 2:170.
Abraham asked his own father and his people why they worshipped statues. Their response was simply because that’s what their parents had done. Abraham the proved to them that their statues were not gods by breaking all but the largest statue. Obviously, if the statues were gods, they could not have been broken. Instead of thinking about this proof, Abraham’s father and his people instead threatened to burn Abraham. This story also shows that even one’s parents may be wrong.
When he (Prophet Abraham) said to his father and his people, “What are these statues to which you are devoted?” They said, “We found our fathers worshippers of them.” He said, “You were certainly, you and your fathers, in manifest error.” … And [I swear] by Allah, I will surely plan against your idols after you have turned and gone away.” So he made them into fragments, except a large one among them, that they might return to it [and question]. … They said, “Have you done this to our gods, O Abraham?” … They said, “Burn him (Abraham) and support your gods — if you are to act.” (21:52–68)This attitude of “blind belief” is similarly mentioned in verse 2:170.
وَإِذَا قِيلَ لَهُمُ اتَّبِعُوا مَا أَنزَلَ اللَّهُ قَالُوا بَلْ نَتَّبِعُ مَا أَلْفَيْنَا عَلَيْهِ آبَاءَنَا ۗ أَوَلَوْ كَانَ آبَاؤُهُمْ لَا يَعْقِلُونَ شَيْئًا وَلَا يَهْتَدُونَAnd when it is said to them, “Follow what Allah has revealed,” they say, “Rather, we will follow that which we found our fathers doing.” Even though their fathers understood nothing, nor were they guided? (2:170)
Is black magic real?
Many Muslims don’t believe in black magic. However, the Quran makes it clear that black magic is real and that it can, among other things, destroy marriages. This is proven in verse 2:102.
وَاتَّبَعُوا مَا تَتْلُو الشَّيَاطِينُ عَلَىٰ مُلْكِ سُلَيْمَانَ ۖ وَمَا كَفَرَ سُلَيْمَانُ وَلَٰكِنَّ الشَّيَاطِينَ كَفَرُوا يُعَلِّمُونَ النَّاسَ السِّحْرَ وَمَا أُنزِلَ عَلَى الْمَلَكَيْنِ بِبَابِلَ هَارُوتَ وَمَارُوتَ ۚ وَمَا يُعَلِّمَانِ مِنْ أَحَدٍ حَتَّىٰ يَقُولَا إِنَّمَا نَحْنُ فِتْنَةٌ فَلَا تَكْفُرْ ۖ فَيَتَعَلَّمُونَ مِنْهُمَا مَا يُفَرِّقُونَ بِهِ بَيْنَ الْمَرْءِ وَزَوْجِهِ ۚ وَمَا هُم بِضَارِّينَ بِهِ مِنْ أَحَدٍ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِ اللَّهِ ۚ وَيَتَعَلَّمُونَ مَا يَضُرُّهُمْ وَلَا يَنفَعُهُمْ ۚ وَلَقَدْ عَلِمُوا لَمَنِ اشْتَرَاهُ مَا لَهُ فِي الْآخِرَةِ مِنْ خَلَاقٍ ۚ وَلَبِئْسَ مَا شَرَوْا بِهِ أَنفُسَهُمْ ۚ لَوْ كَانُوا يَعْلَمُونَAnd they followed [instead] what the devils had recited during the reign of Solomon. It was not Solomon who disbelieved, but the devils disbelieved, teaching people magic and that which was revealed to the two angels at Babylon, Harut and Marut. But the two angels do not teach anyone unless they say, “We are a trial, so do not disbelieve” And [yet] they learn from them that by which they cause separation between a man and his wife. But they do not harm anyone through it except by permission of Allah . And the people learn what harms them and does not benefit them. But the Children of Israel certainly knew that whoever purchased the magic would not have in the Hereafter any share. And wretched is that for which they sold themselves, if they only knew. (2:102)
Do aliens exist?
Some Muslims believe that there are no aliens. However, the Quran indicates that there are living creatures beyond the Earth.
Definition of alien
Alien: “An extraterrestrial being. A form (s) of life assumed to exist outside the Earth or its atmosphere within other parts of the Universe”
What is the Arabic word “Da’aba”?
Da’aba means to go gently, crawl, creep or walk. The word basically captures whatsoever moves on the earth, especially that of animals and beasts of burden, quadrupeds, any moving creature, insects, creature which includes man.
Daabatun (n.): Moving creature; Crawling animal. Dawaabbun (n.plu.): Crawling animals. Daba has been used to denote humans too (24:45; 35:45). It is also used negatively (16:61 8:22; 8.55). Dabbah n.f. (pl. dawab) has been used many times in the Quran: 2:164, 6:38, 8:22, 8:55, 11:6, 11:56, 16:49, 16:61, 22:18, 24:45, 27:82, 29:60, 31:10, 34:14, 35:28, 35:45, 42:29, 45:4
What is the Arabic word “Samawaat (heavens)”?
The Quranic expression “Samawat wal ‘ard” means “The Heavens and the Earth”. It denotes the whole Universe in its entirety.
إِنَّ رَبَّكُمُ اللَّهُ الَّذِي خَلَقَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ فِي سِتَّةِ أَيَّامٍ ثُمَّ اسْتَوَىٰ عَلَى الْعَرْشِ ۖ يُدَبِّرُ الْأَمْرَ ۖ مَا مِن شَفِيعٍ إِلَّا مِن بَعْدِ إِذْنِهِ ۚ ذَٰلِكُمُ اللَّهُ رَبُّكُمْ فَاعْبُدُوهُ ۚ أَفَلَا تَذَكَّرُونَIndeed, your Lord is Allah, who created the heavens and the earth (Arabic: samawat wal ‘ard) in six days and then established Himself above the Throne, arranging the matter [of His creation]. There is no intercessor except after His permission. That is Allah, your Lord, so worship Him. Then will you not remember? (10:3)وَلَقَدْ جَعَلْنَا فِي السَّمَاءِ بُرُوجًا وَزَيَّنَّاهَا لِلنَّاظِرِينَAnd We have placed within the heaven (Arabic: samaa) great stars and have beautified it for the observers. (15:16)وَزَيَّنَّا السَّمَاءَ الدُّنْيَا بِمَصَابِيحَ… And We adorned the nearest heaven (Arabic: samaa) with lamps (stars) … (41:12)إِنَّا زَيَّنَّا السَّمَاءَ الدُّنْيَا بِزِينَةٍ الْكَوَاكِبِIndeed, We have adorned the nearest heaven (Arabic: samaa) with an adornment of stars / planets. (37:6)
Based on the above verses, it should be clear that the Arabic word “samaa” (heaven) or plural “samawaat” (heavens) means the entire universe.
Proof of alien existence
Now that we know what da’ba (moving creature) and samawaat (heavens / universe) mean, we can see from verse 42:29 that there are moving creates in both the heavens and the earth.
وَمِنْ آيَاتِهِ خَلْقُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَمَا بَثَّ فِيهِمَا مِن دَابَّةٍ ۚ وَهُوَ عَلَىٰ جَمْعِهِمْ إِذَا يَشَاءُ قَدِيرٌAnd of his signs is the creation of the heavens and earth and what He has dispersed in both of them (Arabic: fi-hima) of creatures. And He, for gathering them when He wills, is competent.(42:29)
The basis of the question posed by the angels
In verse 2:30, there is a story about the angels questioning God regarding man’s vicegerency on the Earth.
وَإِذْ قَالَ رَبُّكَ لِلْمَلَائِكَةِ إِنِّي جَاعِلٌ فِي الْأَرْضِ خَلِيفَةً ۖ قَالُوا أَتَجْعَلُ فِيهَا مَن يُفْسِدُ فِيهَا وَيَسْفِكُ الدِّمَاءَ وَنَحْنُ نُسَبِّحُ بِحَمْدِكَ وَنُقَدِّسُ لَكَ ۖ قَالَ إِنِّي أَعْلَمُ مَا لَا تَعْلَمُونَAnd [mention, O Muhammad], when your Lord said to the angels, “Indeed, I will make upon the earth a vicegerent.” They said, “Will You place upon it one who causes corruption therein and sheds blood, while we declare Your praise and sanctify You?”Allah said, “Indeed, I know that which you do not know.”(42:29)
For the angels to ask whether God was going to place on Earth a creature such as man who will shed blood, they must have known about a similar creature that sheds blood, e.g. in some other part of the universe. If the angels had no prior knowledge of a similar creature that behaves that way, they wouldn’t have asked that question. At this point in the conversation with God, man had not yet been created. Also, angels have no knowledge of the future as, according to the Quran, only God knows the future.
Why are you Muslim?
Many Muslims, when asked why they are Muslim, say that they are Muslim because their parents were Muslim and their relatives are Muslim and that’s what they’ve been taught since childhood and that that’s all they know. Many non-Muslims would say the exact same thing. However, is this reason for being Muslim an acceptable reason? According to verses 21:52–68, we see the story of Prophet Abraham and his community of idolaters. We Abraham told them to stop worshipping statues and to worship the one true God, their response was, “No. We shall worship what our parents and ancestors worship.” The Quran goes on to say that they follow their parents “even though their parents knew nothing.” Therefore, is the behavior of Muslims and non-Muslims today any different than the idolaters of Abraham’s time? If your reason for being Muslim is because of tradition, then your reason for being Muslim is not based on an understanding as to why you should be Muslim. The same applies to non-Muslims. In verse 17:36, God tells us to not follow what we don’t understand. In verse 10:100, He tells use to use reason to choose a belief.
وَلَا تَقْفُ مَا لَيْسَ لَكَ بِهِ عِلْمٌ ۚ إِنَّ السَّمْعَ وَالْبَصَرَ وَالْفُؤَادَ كُلُّ أُولَٰئِكَ كَانَ عَنْهُ مَسْئُولًاAnd do not pursue that of which you have no knowledge. Indeed, the hearing, the sight and the heart — about all those [one] will be questioned. (17:36)وَمَا كَانَ لِنَفْسٍ أَن تُؤْمِنَ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِ اللَّهِ ۚ وَيَجْعَلُ الرِّجْسَ عَلَى الَّذِينَ لَا يَعْقِلُونَAnd it is not for a soul to believe except by permission of Allah, and He will place defilement upon those who will not use reason. (10:100)
Therefore, everyone must try to understand and see proof to support their choice of religion. If you were born Christian, then studying Christianity alone would most likely only give you a better understanding of Christianity and not make you aware of the correct religion of Islam. The same applies to all other non-Muslims. But what about Muslims? Of all the religions in the world, how could you know that Islam is correct if you haven’t done at least a simple comparison of the other religions. By comparing all religions, even if just briefly, one can then choose a religion based on understanding and personal choice rather than tradition and inheritance. In the end, you should come to the conclusion that the religion of Submission (Islam) according to the Quran is the true religion to be followed. Then, if anyone asks why you are Muslim, instead of saying, “because I was born Muslim” or “because my parents are Muslim” or “because that’s all I know”, you could say, “because I’ve compared all religions and Islam makes sense so therefore I personally choose Islam as my religion.”
My advice to you
Following is my personal advice for prospective and current Muslims.
Don’t believe me because of me
Many Muslims just believe their Islamic leaders because their leaders appear knowledgeable, famous, old and wise, and/or reputable. When it comes to Islamic law, no one should be believed purely because of who they are. What you should believe in is whatever can be proven to you. If I or anyone else makes a claim regarding Islam, you can and should ask for proof and only believe in it if you understand the proof. The Quran prohibits blind belief in verse 17:36.
Read the Quran to understand it
Many Muslims read the Quran in Arabic because they think that’s better even though they don’t speak nor understand Arabic. The Quran was revealed as a guide for life. Obviously, not understanding it will render its purpose almost useless to you. This isn’t to say that reading the Quran in Arabic is unnecessary. However, you need to prioritize understanding the Quran as that is logically necessary to correctly understand and follow the religion. If you read and understand only one page of the Quran each day, that would arguably be better than reading but not understanding even 1000 pages each day. The Quran expects you to understand and think deeply about it in verse 47:24.
Get an idea about other religions
Everyone is raised to follow the beliefs of their parents. By the time one is an adult, they’ve been so indoctrinated into and accustomed to their parent’s religion that they’d feel almost sure that their parent’s religion is correct. Furthermore, their relatives probably all share the same religion which makes them feel comfortable to keep their existing religion. However, we all know that not all religions are correct. For that reason, Islam could also be a wrong religion. Therefore, to increase your belief and understanding as to why Islam is the correct religion, one should at the very least learn a bit about other religions. If you, for example, read that Hindus, who make up a large percentage of the world population, worship statues, believe in a multitude of gods and, especially in Nepal, worship cows, then if you disagree that statues and cows are gods (as you should), you can confirm to yourself that Hinduism is not a correct religion. When you are done understanding core aspects of religion, you should be able to make an educated decision, in the sense that you’ve at least compared the various religions, and come to the conclusion that Islam is the correct religion. A nice summary of key beliefs for each religion can be viewed at
http://www.religionfacts.com/big-religion-chart
Note: As usual, religionfacts.com states that Muhammad founded Islam which is obviously not true.
Ask yourself why you are a Muslim … then answer the question
When asked why you are a Muslim, some people will honestly say something like, “because I was born that way” or, “because that’s all I know”, or “because it’s just the right religion”, or something else non-sensical. Obviously, if God asked you this and those were one of your answers, you should feel worried as neither one of those reasons are acceptable reasons for being a Muslim. For me personally, my analysis is as follows:
- God must be the creator and not the created
It makes no sense for something you create, e.g. a statue, to then be your god. Logically, a creator is more suitable to be the god of its creation, whether that creation is inanimate or not. - God is something that cannot be killed or destroyed
If God were a statue or a cow or a tree, then since these things can be destroyed and killed, it makes no sense that they be God. - Something must have created the entire universe
The universe is practically infinitely large. It makes no sense that anything on earth that we are aware of, e.g. humans, animals, trees, could have created the universe. It is not unreasonable, however, that God be a large, invisible entity that we just can’t see. - Quran
The Quran provides many arguments for why God is God. I did not find any of the arguments to be irrational or non-sensical. - Justice and equality for all
It makes no sense for God to prefer a specific group of people over others, e.g. Jews. It also makes no sense for some people to get away with hurting others, no matter how big or small. Since it’s clear that justice is not always realized in this world, e.g. some people do get away with murder before dying themselves, then there must be a way for these people to be punished. In the Quran, God ensures justice by explaining that everyone will be recompensed for all their actions, whether good or bad, and whether big or small. This is to occur on Judgment Day where the Quran explains that no soul can help one another and God will be the judge. Everyone’s past actions will be shown to them. Evildoers who are not punished in the world will be punished in the afterlife, likely in Hell. - Exorcisms
I’ve had the opportunity to see numerous times how reciting the Quran could summon and burn jinn living in a human body. Consequently, I’ve been able to talk to jinn through a human medium. In some cases, the human would be a female and the voice of the jinn would be a male’s voice. This discovery proves that 1) invisible creatures exist, 2) the jinn, as explained in the Quran, are real, and 3) the Quran itself is the truth.
Therefore, Islam (or Submission), as explained in the Quran, is the correct religion. And that is why I am a Muslim (Submitter).
How to find Quran word definitions
Let’s say you’re reading the Quran and you come across a word that you’d like to find the definition of. Following are steps you can take.
1. Get the verse and chapter number
Let’s say we’re interested in the definition of the word yatadabbaruuna in the following verse.
أَفَلَا يَتَدَبَّرُونَ الْقُرْآنَ أَمْ عَلَىٰ قُلُوبٍ أَقْفَالُهَاThen do they not yatadabbaruuna the Qur’an, or are there locks upon [their] hearts? (47:24)
We take note that it is in verse 47:24.
2. Find the verse in The Quran Arabic Corpus
Go to http://corpus.quran.com/wordbyword.jsp?chapter=47&verse=24 and replace the chapter and verse values in the URL with the chapter and verse you are interested in. Then, scroll down until you find the word of interest, as shown below.
3. Get listing of all references of the word
Click on the word to be taken to a page listing all verses referencing the word, as shown below.
Here, we see the word is translated as “ponder” but it could mean much more than that. Take note of the word’s form, which in this case is Form V.
Then, scroll up and take note of the word’s root letters, which in this case are
د ب ر
4. Find the word in Edward Lane’s Lexicon
Go to http://lexicon.quranic-research.net/ and find the word using the root letters.
Then, click on the word that matches the form determined previously (form 5).
In this case, the definition we’re looking for isn’t there so click on the link for form 2. Now we see the definitions we’re looking for which I’ve highlighted.
