to make us beings that can think, think for themselves. Prophet would not have gone to Hira to meditate there for years, at the age of 40, after pondering about life, religion, God, human suffering and the poverty, just as the Buddha did, Muhammad (pbuh) received revelations about oneness of God, and how to bring about harmony among the living, and commonness of humanity despite the differences.
Now coming to your points:
1. “Do any of you know that Prophet Muhammad (SAW) taught any one though his words, actions and deeds about
either poetry or music?”
Response: Prophet did not teach to be musicians; his role was guide humanity towards living in peace and harmony and to be a good human being. Did he teach Medicine to cure ailments? Did he teach how to build things that will make one’s life easy – like cars and plane? Should we indulge in finding cures and innovate transportation methods?
2. “Did Prophet Muhammad (SAW) encourage any of the sahabahs to be jokers!”
Response: Prophet had a good sense of humor, and humor is a part of life. Indeed he said Islam is a religion of fitra. I don’t know if you know that or not. However, he did not open a comedy club, his mission was to teach how to be a better humans and how to build cohesive societies. Humor is part of life and we should joke and enjoy the life.
3. Our short stay in this life is extremely serious
Response: This is the problem – a serious problem among Muslims. It is a major flaw in your understanding of Islam. God has given this wonderful life to enjoy and not to ignore it, thinking about Akhira without living the God given Hazira is cheating ourselves. Our inabilities and in-capabilities should not cause us to escape into the Akhira. By God he has given this life to live it to the full, its Amana, we cannot cheat the present for the future. Live a full life my friend.
4. No where in the Qur’an did Allah (SWT) call Himself ilah or God!
Response: So, you are limiting God, that he does not know any language besides Arabic? My friends, God is all knowing and all present. He is closer to us than our jugular veins – meaning he knows us before we can even think about it. Did you forget that God in 49:13 had said he has created many tribes, nations and communities? Had he wanted he would have made us all factory specified, exactly alike? He made us different with different thumb prints, DNA, race, religions, nations… The best ones are not those who call him Allah, but those who respect his creation by any name.
Let’s not commit the shirk of creating God and Allah; it is one and the same.
Thank you
mike
Mike Ghouse, Speaker
Motivation | Pluralism | Human Rights | Religion.
(214) 325-1916 text/talk
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Mike Ghouse is a public speaker, thinker, writer and a commentator on Pluralism, Islam, India, Israel-Palestine,Politics and other issues of the day. He is a human rights activist, and his book standing up for others will be out soon | He is producing a full feature film ” Sacred” to be released on 9/11 and a documentary “Americans together” for a July 4 release. He is a frequent guest commentator on Fox News and syndicated Talk Radio shows and a writer at major news papers including Dallas Morning News and Huffington Post. All about him is listed in 63 links at www.MikeGhouse.net and his writings are at www.TheGhousediary.com – Mike is committed to building cohesive societies and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day.
Dear Imam,
Thanks for the response, I appreciate your integrity.
On my part – I am going to enjoy the Music, tell jokes and listen to them, call God or Allah to mean the same, and focus on my life on earth. I don’t need to rob my time from the present to give it to the Akhira, Akhira is automatically sequences, if I am good to my present, it translates into Good for the Akhira.
Jazak Allah Khair
Mike
Dear Mike Ghouse:
Wa salaamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu wa maghfiratuh! I made a mistake with reference to poetry and music! Prophet Muhammad (SAW) did listen to both! As far as my other comments we will have to agree to disagree!
Yours in Al-Islam,
Akmal M. Muhammad
Imam Akmal M. Muhammad
Co-founder/Chairman/CEO
The Islamic Freedom Foundation, Inc. (TIFF)
2301 Glenallan Ave. STE 105
Silver Spring, MD 20906
In a message dated 5/26/2015 4:32:13 A.M. Central Daylight Time,
Dear Believers:
As salaamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu wa maghfiratuh! No one knows the intent that is in another’s hearth as to why they do or don’t do or say or don’t say about something. Only Allah (SWT) knows the true intent of one words, actions and deeds, besides the individual himself. However, we can call a spade a spade if we see a spade! To call a person a murderer if we saw them commit murder is our responsibility! So, if a person wants to act like a fool then that is his right and we truly don’t know his true intent; but one can say he acts like a fool!
To say what Allah (SWT) will or will not do is a grave error! “So God will not take him to task if he says something ‘thoughtlessly” None of mankind has that knowledge! According to the comments of the Joker he has given a great deal of thought in what he says and do!
My questions to all: “Is this the example set by Prophet Muhammad (SAW)?” “Do any of you know that Prophet Muhammad (SAW) taught any one though his words, actions and deeds about either poetry or music?” “Did Prophet Muhammad (SAW) encourage any of the sahabahs to be jokers!”
If you study history this foolish behavior was the way of the Romans, “Court Jesters or Jokers!” So, Joker are you striving to be pleasing to the West or to Allah (SWT)?
Our short stay in this life is extremely serious and we so-called leaders need to behave in a way consistent with the behavior of Prophet Muhammad (SAW) to the best of our ability! Question: “So-call leaders, where are you leading the the believers? If this is the behavior of the leaders no wonder the Muslim Ummah is in such a sad state!
No where in the Qur’an did Allah (SWT) call Himself ilah or God! I pray you all stop calling Allah (SWT), God! Ameen! Allah (SWT) is Most Merciful and Most Forgiving, therefore,correct the error of your ways and seek Allah’s (SWT) Mercy and Forgiveness!
Yours in Al-Islam,
Akmal M. Muhammad
Imam Akmal M. Muhammad
Co-founder/Chairman/CEO
The Islamic Freedom Foundation, Inc. (TIFF)
2301 Glenallan Ave. STE 105
Silver Spring, MD 20906
From: yunus mohammed
Sent: Tuesday, May 26, 2015 12:24 AM
To: Rafiq Lodhia
Subject: Re: FW: “MERA-NAAM-JOKER”
Rafiq Sahab,
My reply command couldn’t address all the recipients. Can you circulate this sigh from my heart to all.
To all, “I think Rafiq Sahab is not astray or disobedient as a Muslim as some may think of him. I think when he sees his serious calls falling on deaf ear, he follows up with something humorous. Those who do not wish to hear from him can simply ask him not to send him any mails or simply delete his incoming mails. But if we start passing judgement on people we speak like God and I understand all the recipients of the chain mail are community leaders, I wonder if it is right for any of you to say about the other: This is your way of life but perhaps you don’t like to trod on it.
Let me quote from the Qur’an lest somebody may put a label on me:
God will not take you to account for any frivolity in your oaths, but He will take you to account for the intention* in your hearts. (Indeed) He is Most Forgiving and Gracious” (2:225).
I do not believe that Rafiq Lodhia Sahab has any bad intentions. So God will not take him to task if he says something ‘thoughtlessly”; why should one be so harsh to him. May be I am myself disoriented.
Yunus,