Answers to the challenging questions made by one of our brothers on the forum

Posted on the forum: In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai,  nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad(saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers. 

Brother’s comment  :Do You say that a muslim is a person who believes the above sentence. Then i believe the same.

Answer : Yes,  anyone who proclaims the testimony of ‘shahadah’ is a muslim.   All praise is due to Allah Alone,  who has honored us to be muslims.

Brother’s comments: I didn`t ask you who you were because if you are a Dawoodi Bohra or not, because either way I know that you are a muslim. I just asked you that why are you taking up the guise of dawoodibohrahelpline.com (The name bothers me.)Like you said " the Prophet of Allah (saws) was neither a Shia, nor
a Sunni, nor a Dawoodi Bohra".

Answer :All the brothers who are associated with this forum were born into Dawoodi Bohra families and for a major part of our lives,  we lived in the invocation and worship of man and graves (May Allah forgive us).    Then,  at various stages of our lives,  the Merciful Allah guided us to read and understand the Glorious Quran,  whereby we left the invocation,  worship and bowing down to humans and graves,  and today we invoke,  worship and bow down to none but our Merciful Lord Alone!  

Brother,  we obviously cannot and will not change anything because it bothers you!   This forum was created to help our family and our brethren who still invoke and bow down in sajdah to human beings and graves.   Our duty is to invite our brethren to read and understand the Quran,  and then decide for themselves what is the Truth and what is falsehood.    If that ‘bothers’ you,  there is very little than we can do,  except to invite you also to read and understand the Quran.

Brother’s comments:So, thats what I want to say. People at that time were all muslims no sect! why? because of one Interpretation of the Qur`an. One authentic answer to questions ( I will continue this topic below).

Answer: Indeed,  there were no sects and creeds in Islam at the time of the Prophet (saws).   People always differed after the death of the Prophets because they wanted to wrong one another.   This was the way of almost all the people of all the Prophets.

Allah says in Chapter 45 Surah Al-Jathiyah aayat 17:“Then they differed amongst themselves after the knowledge (of Islam) had come to them, only because they wanted to wrong one another. Your Lord will judge between them on the Day of Resurrection concerning the matters in which they have been differing." 

Allah says in the Holy Quran: Chapter 16, Surah An-Nahl Ayat 125  Invite to the way of your Lord with wisdom and excellent admonition and argue with people in the best manner. Your Lord knows best who has gone astray from His Way and who is Rightly guided.

Brother’s comments:There are certain verses in the Quran that are meant as commands for the Rasulallah only, who said this command is for you? See the connection of this Ayat from Ayat 123. "Summa Avhaina ilaika" the person who is authenticated to invite, or the person whom this conversation is with, is the person to whom the Qu`an was revealed, are you him?

Answer: True,  there are some aayahs which were specifically for the Prophet (saws),  and Allah and His Messenger made those aayahs clear to the believers.    For example in Chapter 33 Surah Ahzaab,  regarding the marriages of the Prophet (saws),  and those aayahs which specifically say, “O Prophet……”, etc.   Either Allah made it clear that these instructions were for the Messenger (saws) only,  or the Prophet (saws) himself clarified the commandment to the believers.

To invite mankind to the Way of Allah,  was indeed the prime duty of the Prophets;  and the Prophet (saws) himself made it a duty for every believer to carry on his mission to the rest of mankind.    It happened many a times,  even at the time of the Prophet (saws),  that one person from a different tribe became a believer,  and he went back to his tribe and converted a multitude of them.   Eg. The first converts of the people of Medina,  Abu Dharr Ghaffari of the tribe of Banu Ghaffar, etc.   The noble companions of the Prophet (saws) understood and implemented this commandment of inviting people to Islam to such an extent,  that within a hundred years of the Prophet’s death,  Islam was dominant in almost half the known world!

There are many aayahs in the Quran whereby Allah states his approval for this mission:

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 41 Haa Meem Sajdah verses 33-34:And who could be better of speech than the one who called to Allah,  and did righteous good deeds, and said,  “I am a Muslim”.   Goodness and evil are not equal.   Repel evil with what is good.   You will see that he with whom you had enmity,  will become your closest friend.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 61 Surah Saff verse 14:O you who have believed!   Be helpers of Allah,  even as Jesus son of Mary,  had said to his disciples, “Who will be my helpers in calling towards Allah?”   The disciples had answered, “We are the helpers of Allah”.   Then,  some of the children of Israel believed,  and others disbelieved.   So,  We aided the believers against their enemies,  and they alone became triumphant.

Thus,  Allah has made it clear in the Glorious Quran that to invite people to Islam is a righteous deed and pleasing to Allah.   So much so,  that Allah has mentioned in the Quran through the words of Jesus,  son of Mary,  that those who invite others to the Way of Allah,  are the helpers in the Cause of Allah.    If only one could understand this honor!

Brother’s comments: No one is rejecting the Holy Qur`an, but I bet there are many things that you will not be able to explain to me in the Qur`an. What you will do is you will go and take up some tafseers of Tabari or Jalaalain or Baidhavi or some one, who all differ in what they say. who are you to authenticate a certain interpretaion as correct. I think Rasulallah Sa had the right to define each and everything in the Qur`an. Did these scholars by any how learn from Rasulallah SA. And if So then why do they all differ?(As I said People at that time were all muslims no sect! why? because of one Interpretation of the Qur`an. One authentic answer to questions) And if you are telling me to take chances on the day of Qiyamah then did Rasulallah come and tell you that you are on the right path. (My remaining comment to this line will continue below)

Answer: The Quran was revealed in the Arabic language by The All Knowing,  All Wise Allah.   He knew very well that Arabic was not and will probably never be the only language in the world.   Thus for anyone who does not understand the Arabic language,  his only recourse is to understand the Quran through a translation.  

Contrary to popular belief,  there is absolutely no differences of opinion in the translations of the Quran,   and especially in the foundation aayahs of guidance,  which makes up the majority of the Quran.    The difference of opinion is in the ambiguous or ‘mutashaabehaat’ aayahs,  whereby people who Allah Himself says, have disease or perversity in their hearts,  always go after these ambiguous aayahs and give them their own meanings and create ‘fitnah’ in the Ummah.

Allah says in the Holy Quran in Chapter 3 Surah Ale Imran verse 7:It is Allah,  Who sent down this Quran to you.  (There are two kinds of verses in the Book.)   In it are verses Basic or Fundamental (of established meanings which can be easily understood),  and they are the essence or foundation of the Book.   And the other verses are Allegorical or Ambiguous.   Those in whose hearts is perversity will always go  for the Allegorical or Ambiguous verses,  seeking discord and trying to search for their hidden meanings.   None,  except Allah,  knows their real meanings(Ta’aweel)!  In contrast to them,  those who are firmly grounded in knowledge,  say: “We believe in them all,  because all of them are from our Lord.

The guidance of the Holy Quran is crystal-clear for anyone who wants to take guidance.    And the ones who are bent on misguidance and want to blindly follow the ways of their forefathers,  are the ones who proclaim that the Quran is full of ambiguity,  hints and innuendoes;  and thus reject the clear Revelations of the Quran and instead create their own deen in the name of their Personalities!

 Allah says in Chapter 2, Surah Baqarah aayat 185:"Ramadan is the month in which the Quran was sent down: this Book is a perfect guidance for mankind and consists of CLEAR teachings which show the right way and are a Criterion of the Truth and falsehood."

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 16 Surah Nahl verse 89:We have sent down to you this Book, which makes everything plain,  and is a guidance,  blessing and good news to those who have surrendered themselves entirely.

Thus,  only those who declare that the Quran is impossible to understand and comprehend,  are the ones who are mis-guiding people.   The ones who guide and live their lives in accordance with the Quran and the established Sunnah, are the ones who are guided aright.

Brother’s comments Are you saying that a person can simply search and understand the truth by his own inteligence. Then you must reread the Quran. Several places in Surah Al Baqarah will give you an idea you are wrong. And still if you do not agree then everyone in this world is correct and on the right path according to his understanding. So here we can say that every scholor (doesn`t matter you authenticate or not) according to you is correct. Now you have not one but multiple Qur`an (Sorry its not what I mean) because of the various Tafseer that collide with each other.

Answer: Allah has placed accountability only on those who are of sound mind.   There is no accountability of the people who are mentally challenged or crazy, on the Day of Judgement.    Time and again,  Allah exhorts the people to use their intelligence to differentiate between right and wrong using their common-sense and intelligence.   Time and again,  all over the Quran,  Allah asks:

1.“Do you not ponder?”

2.“Do you not think?”

3.“Do you not use common-sense?”  , etc.

But only those people who are not prejudiced, not biased, and are not bent on taking guidance from other sources than the Glorious Quran,  are the ones who will accept the guidance of Allah.   

Intelligence and common sense are just but a tool used to understand the clear guidance of the Holy Quran.   If one says that he will create his own deen with his intelligence,  without the guidance of the Holy Quran,  is indeed a fool and doomed to mis-guidance!

Brother’s comments I agree to what you say, lets continue to see who is wasting time.

Answer: Alhamdolillah!   We at least agree on some things!  

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 70 Surah Mairaj verses 42-44: Therefore,  leave them engrossed in their vain talk and sport,  until they encounter that Day of theirs which they are being promised;  when they shall be rushing out of their graves as though they are racing towards the shrines of their deities.  Their eyes shall be downcast and abasement shall be covering them.  That is the Day they are being promised.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 43  Surah Zukhruf verse 83: Well,  let them remain absorbed in their falsehoods and play,  till they see that Day of theirs with which they are being threatened.

Brother’s comments Some personality? In what category would you place the person whose Tafseer you may be reading or Translation. Take a look into yourself may be you are believing in him or following him subconciously. I know, friends of mine reading Pickthall`s Translation of the Qur`an, can  You imagine some personality they are following? A christian`s interpretation of the Qur`an?

Answer: The ones who have truly believed,  do not follow any personality,  nor make these human beings their deities of invocation and worship,  and nor do they bow down in ‘sajdah’ to them!!  The ones who have believed,  invoke,  worship and bow down to Allah Alone,  and obey and follow the Last Messenger of Allah (saws).

And just for your information,  Pickthall was a revert to Islam and his first name was ‘Mahmude’!   If some brothers read his translation to understand the Quran,  does not mean that they invoke and worship him,  does not mean that they bow down to him,  does not mean that they make a shrine over his grave and invoke him,  does not mean that they have made him a diety with Allah!   

But if one does bow down to some human being(whoever he may be) in ‘sajdah’,  or invokes him to help remove his perils,  and invokes him for ‘shafaa’ on the Day of Qiyamah,  and takes his name standing, sitting and lying down,  and follows and obeys him as he should obey the Prophet (saws)… then indeed they are absolutely mis-guided!

Brother’s comments Oh! Now Syedna becomes a self proclaimed holy man and what would you say about your tafseer writer he was a public proclaimed guy?!!!! what about Abdullah Yusufali, whose translation you promote?

Answer: As believers,  we have no concern with the Syedna,  or Abdullah Yusuf Ali,  or Pickthall or any other person!    Our sole concern is with Allah and His Messenger (saws).    Everyone will be standing in the Court of Allah on an Inevitable Day to render a thorough accounting of his life and his own deeds.   And Allah will not ask us about the deeds of those people,   nor has he made us the judges about everyone else!

Allah says extremely clearly in Chapter 2 Surah Baqarah verse 134:  They were a people who passed away. They shall receive the reward of what they earned, and you shall have the reward of what you will earn. And you will not be questioned as to what they did.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 10 Surah Yunus verses 40-44: Some of these people will believe in (The Quran),  and others will not.   Your Lord knows these mischief-makers very well indeed.   If these people deny you,  say to them: “I am responsible for my deeds and you are for yours.   You are not accountable for what I do,  nor am I for what you do.”  There are many among them who hear what you say,  but will you make the deaf to listen to you,  even though they be incapable of understanding this?   Then there are many others among them who see you.   But will you show the way to the blind,  even though they be bereft of sight?   The fact is that Allah does not in any way wrong the people,  but they wronged themselves!

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 7 Surah Aaraaf verses 52-53:We have brought to these people a Book which gives details based on knowledge and which is a guidance and blessing for those who believe.   Now,  are these people waiting for anything other than the consequence of which they  have been warned in the Book?   When the consequence will come before them,  those very people who aforetime had disregarded it,  will say, “Indeed,  the Messenger of our Lord had come with the Truth.   Shall we have, then, any ‘shufaa’ who will intercede for us?  Or could we be sent back that we might do deeds different from those we did before?”   They have, indeed,  incurred heavy loss upon themselves,  and all the false things they had invented have forsaken them today.

Brother’s comments That is what I am saying. You are unconsiously (sorry by great understanding that you got using your smart brains ) reading stuff
written by a person in the name of "Qur`anic interpretation" who has no authority from Allah. Surely Allah`s promises are true. I think I dealt this subject about the authority given to Rasulallah by Allah.  By the way, Who gave you the authority to make false promises, like " you are welcome to formulate your own path and take your chances with Allah
on the Day of Qiyaamah" aren`t these your words?

Answer: These are indeed my words, but the guidance is from the Glorious Quran.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 18 Surah Kahf verses 29-30: Proclaim,  “This is the Truth from your Lord:  now whosoever will,  may accept it;  and whosoever will,  may reject it!”   (As for those who reject it),  We have prepared for such workers of inequity a fire whose flames have encircled them.   There,  if they ask for water,  they will be given a drink like the dregs of oil that will burn their mouths!   What an evil drink,  and an evil abode!

Brother,  I have tried to answer each of your concerns to the best of my ability.   Now,  I would like you to ponder and answer one of mine,  in light of the Holy Quran.   Can you tell me what is that sin,  which Allah Himself has declared that He will never forgive?   What is that sin,  for which Allah has declared that Paradise is ‘haraam’ for the people who died in that state?   What is that sin,  for which Allah has declared,  that He will assign no weight to all the good deeds done by that person, who commits this heinous sin?    What is that sin,  for which Allah destroyed the nations of Prophet Noah,  Prophet Hud,  Prophet Saleh,  Prophet Shoaib, etc.?   You are welcome to take any help you want,  from any scholar you want, and name and describe all the manifestations of this heinous crime,  which is so hateful to Allah Subhanah.   

And just a hint to get you started:   Allah has mentioned this sin and its manifestations in almost every major surah of the Glorious Quran!

Mu` meneen Brothers and Sisters  we now await your reply.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me.  Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength

Your brother and well wisher in Islam

Burhan