"Next!" said the teacher. I gasped audibly. It was going to be my turn soon. I had not prepared for the oral geometry test and there was no way that I would be excused for not knowing the correct answer. I could imagine the humiliation and embarrassment I would go through. How was I going to get out of this one? At the age of thirteen, not knowing an answer in class seemed like the end of the world.
Suddenly, I remembered that we had been taught that the Ayat al kursi, or the ‘Verse of the Throne’ is a protection from God from all evils. I started reciting it silently, hoping against hope that I would be saved from the teacher’s wrath and sarcasm.
It worked! The girl in front of me stood up to prove a theorem. And then, when I thought I would be called, the teacher moved on to the girl sitting behind me. That was my first experience with the Ayat al-Kursi as a refuge. I did not even know the meaning of what I was reciting, but from that day onwards, it became a part of my life.
It was not until much later that I realised the beauty and significance of this glorious verse. I grew up, got married and had children. I taught them all the Ayat al-Kursi when each one was five years old.
Even then, I had not truly grasped the meaning of this verse. Of course, I had read the translation, but it was not until I actually studied the Holy Qur’aan that I discovered it has been described as the most sublime verse in the Qur’aan. It has been likened to one quarter of the Qur’aan.
"In the Name of Allah, the Beneficient, the Merciful.
Allah-there is no God except Him.
The Ever-Living, the Sustainer of (all) existence.
Neither drowsiness overcomes Him nor sleep.
To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth.
Who is he that can intercede with Him except by His permission?
He knows what is before them and what will be after them.
And they encompass not a thing of His knowledge except what He wills.
His throne extends over the heavens and the earth.
And He feels no fatigue in guarding and preserving them.
And He is the Most High, the Supreme."
The gist of a Hadith tells us that whoever recites this verse after each obligatory prayer, will be granted a tongue that remembers Allah, a heart that thanks Allah and a reward like that of the Prophets and truthful ones, for only such people can be constant in reciting it after every farz or obligatory prayer.
What is so special about this verse? Why is it so sublime?
This verse is the first detailed introduction we get about Allah after Surah Al-Fatihah. He is telling us about Himself. The Ayat al-Kursi teaches us not to try and judge Allah or try to understand Him on a human level. In it Allah describes His unique qualities to emphasise that there is none like Him.
We learn from a narration by Hadhrat Abu Huraira (Radhi Allaho anho): Allah’s Messenger (Sall Allaho alaihe wasallam) ordered me to guard the Zakat revenue of Ramadan. Then somebody came to me and started stealing of the foodstuff. I caught him and said, "I will take you to Allah’s Messenger!"
Then Abu Huraira described the whole narration and said: That person said to me, "Please don’t take me to Allah’s Messenger; I will tell you a few words by which Allah will benefit you." When you go to your bed, recite Ayat al-Kursi, for then there will be a guard from Allah who will protect you all night long, and Satan will not be able to come near you till dawn." When the Holy Prophet (Sall Allaho alaihe wasallam) heard the story, he said to me, "He who came to you at night told you the truth although he is a liar; and it was Satan."
Once the Holy Prophet (Sall Allaho alaihe wasallam) asked Ubayy bin Kab (Radhi Allaho anho): "O Abu Mundhir! Which verse of the Book of God is the greatest?"
"Allah and His Messenger know best," came the reply.
The Holy Prophet (Sall Allaho alaihe wasallam) repeated the question and Ubayy bin Kab (Radhi Allaho anho) replied: "Allah, there is no god but He, the Living the Self-Subsisting. Neither slumber overtakes him nor sleep. To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on earth,..."
The Holy Prophet (Sall Allaho alaihe wasallam) struck his chest with his right hand in approval on hearing the reply and with his face glowing with happiness, said, "May knowledge delight and benefit you, Abu Mundhir."
When Hadhrat Abdullah bin Masood (Radhi Allaho anho) became a Muslim, he offered to be in the service of the Holy Prophet (Sall Allaho alaihe wasallam). The Holy Prophet (Sall Allaho alaihe wasallam) agreed and Abdullah bin Masood (Radhi Allaho anho) gave up tending sheep in exchange for looking after the needs of the blessed Prophet. Abdullah bin Masood (Radhi Allaho anho) remained closely attached to the Holy Prophet (Sall Allaho alaihe wasallam). He served him in the best way both inside and outside the house. He accompanied him on journeys and expeditions.
Abdullah bin Masood (Radhi Allaho anho) received his training in the household of the Holy Prophet (Sall Allaho alaihe wasallam). He was under the guidance of the Holy Prophet. He adopted his manner and followed his every trait until it was said of him, "He was the closest to the Prophet in character."
He was the best reciter of the Holy Qur’aan among the companions and he understood it better than them all. He was, therefore, the most knowledgeable on the Shari’ah.
Abdullah bin Masood (Radhi Allaho anho) acquired such great knowledge of the Qur’aan that he would say, "By Him besides Whom there is no god, no verse of the book of God has been revealed without my knowing where it was revealed and the circumstances of its revelation. By God, if I know there was anyone who knew more of the Book of Allah, I will do whatever is in my power to be with him."
Once Hadhrat Umar bin al-Khattab (Radhi Allaho anho) came across a caravan on one of his journeys as caliph. It was totally dark and the caravan could not be seen clearly. Hadrat Umar (Radhi Allaho anho) ordered someone to stop the caravan. He did not know that Hadhrat Abdullah bin Masood (Radhi Allaho anho) was in it.
"From where do you come?" asked Hadhrat Umar (Radhi Allaho anho).
"From a deep valley," came the reply. (The expression used "fajj amiq" meaning a deep valley, is a Qur’aanic one).
"And where are you going?" asked Hadhrat Umar (Radhi Allaho anho).
"To the ancient house," came the reply. (The expression used "al-bayt al-atiq" ancient house, is a Qur’aanic one.)
"There is a learned person (alim) among them," said Hadhrat Umar (Radhi Allaho anho) and he commanded someone to ask the person:
"Which part of the Qur’aan is the greatest?"
"God. There is no god except Him, the Living, the Self-subsisting. Neither slumber overtakes Him nor sleep," replied the person answering, quoting the Ayat al-Kursi (the Verse of the Throne).
After asking a few more questions, to which he received the most knowledgeable answers, Hadhrat Umar (Radhi Allaho anho) asked, "Is Abdullah bin Masood among you?" And he was told that indeed he was among them.
Reading the Ayat al-Kursi after each farz prayer seems quite easy but often when we are in a hurry, we forget to recite it. We should try and make it a habit, because the benefits are enormous and it is only constancy that will make it beneficial
By Ayesha Siddiqui
All rights belong to Source
Sallam Alaykum / Peace be unto you
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28.2.09
23.2.09
Al-Qaeda founder launches fierce attack on Osama bin Laden
Al-Qaeda founder launches fierce attack on Osama bin Laden
One of al-Qaeda's founding leaders, Dr Fadl, has begun an ideological revolt against Osama bin Laden, blaming him for "every drop" of blood spilt in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Sayyid Imam al-Sharif, who goes by the nom de guerre Dr Fadl, helped bin Laden create al-Qaeda and then led an Islamist insurgency in Egypt in the 1990s.
But in a book written from inside an Egyptian prison, he has launched a frontal attack on al-Qaeda's ideology and the personal failings of bin Laden and particularly his Egyptian deputy, Ayman al-Zawahiri.
Twenty years ago, Dr Fadl became al-Qaeda's intellectual figurehead with a crucial book setting out the rationale for global jihad against the West.
Today, however, he believes the murder of innocent people is both contrary to Islam and a strategic error. "Every drop of blood that was shed or is being shed in Afghanistan and Iraq is the responsibility of bin Laden and Zawahiri and their followers," writes Dr Fadl.
The terrorist attacks on September 11 were both immoral and counterproductive, he writes. "Ramming America has become the shortest road to fame and leadership among the Arabs and Muslims. But what good is it if you destroy one of your enemy's buildings, and he destroys one of your countries? What good is it if you kill one of his people, and he kills a thousand of yours?" asks Dr Fadl. "That, in short, is my evaluation of 9/11."
Full story
Sallam Alaykum / Peace be unto you
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20.2.09
World to end 2012? Answered by Imam Mustafa ‘Umar
The Question:
The life and death of planet Earth byastrophysicist Donald Brownlee and paleontologist Peter Ward. Now these two men are saying is that the world will end on some time in 2012. Allah says in the Quran that only he knows when the world will end these men are saying that there calculations are based on the mayacalendar, the calendar has been used to predict the future before also and so far it has only been 43 seconds off. Is there anything in the quran that agrees with this matter? i need some reassurance because i want to get it of my head its bothering me a lot.
The Answer by Imam Mustafa ‘Umar, Imam of Masjid Fahd, L.A, California
In the name of Allah, The Compassionate, The Merciful
You have made a very wise decision in asking this question on two counts. First, because many young people nowadays have several questions and/or misgivings about their religion but keep them inside. As time goes by, these ideas pile up and then might trigger some day and lead to numerous doubts about their religion without anyone understanding what happened. Therefore, it is beneficial to express what you feel and to ask questions.
Second, you have asked the right people who grew up in an environment similar to yours and have knowledge of Islam. Many people end up asking the wrong people who either can’t relate to them or have no knowledge. This would only end up causing more problems.
The stance of the Qur’an on this issue is clear from the following verse: “They ask you [Prophet] about the end of the world, saying, ‘When will it be?’ How can you tell them that? Its time is known only to your Lord. You are only sent to warn those who fear it.” (Qur’an 79:42-45)
The point is that when Allah says that something is “known only to your Lord”, it means that it is something that cannot be discovered by man, such as a person’s lifespan. Many people try to predict a number of things and we assume that, because of the advances in science and technology, we can also have knowledge similar to what Allah has. However, think about how many times the weather report has been wrong despite all the satellites and advanced equipment, how many people were supposed to die but lived, and how many people were supposed to have lived but died. All of these things remind us of how far we really are from Allah’s knowledge. As for using the Maya calendar, we need to stop and think about a number of things. First, how many predictions did they make? Second, what were their predictions about? Third, what was the rate of accuracy in all of their predictions and why they aren’t being used as mainstream evidence? Fourth, where did they get this knowledge from?
We must be very critical of people who claim to know the future. Most people who make such a claim are frauds while the others are merely guessing. It’s like horoscopes which are written in such a general way that people think they can actually tell the future when, in reality, they don’t. We shouldn’t be fooled by such things,even if they are packaged and presented in the name of science. Science is a very useful tool, but it is often misused and twisted to fit a certain agenda or just to sell a book. When all is said and done, remember that just because the sun has risen from the east for millions of years doesn’t mean that Allah can’t change it tomorrow and make it rise from the west. We must remember that just as our own lives are in the hands of Allah, so is the life of the world, and He can end it whenever He likes. May Allah allow us to utilize our limited lives with what pleases Him before our time is up.
Mustafa
Sallam Alaykum / Peace be unto you
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The life and death of planet Earth byastrophysicist Donald Brownlee and paleontologist Peter Ward. Now these two men are saying is that the world will end on some time in 2012. Allah says in the Quran that only he knows when the world will end these men are saying that there calculations are based on the mayacalendar, the calendar has been used to predict the future before also and so far it has only been 43 seconds off. Is there anything in the quran that agrees with this matter? i need some reassurance because i want to get it of my head its bothering me a lot.
The Answer by Imam Mustafa ‘Umar, Imam of Masjid Fahd, L.A, California
In the name of Allah, The Compassionate, The Merciful
You have made a very wise decision in asking this question on two counts. First, because many young people nowadays have several questions and/or misgivings about their religion but keep them inside. As time goes by, these ideas pile up and then might trigger some day and lead to numerous doubts about their religion without anyone understanding what happened. Therefore, it is beneficial to express what you feel and to ask questions.
Second, you have asked the right people who grew up in an environment similar to yours and have knowledge of Islam. Many people end up asking the wrong people who either can’t relate to them or have no knowledge. This would only end up causing more problems.
The stance of the Qur’an on this issue is clear from the following verse: “They ask you [Prophet] about the end of the world, saying, ‘When will it be?’ How can you tell them that? Its time is known only to your Lord. You are only sent to warn those who fear it.” (Qur’an 79:42-45)
The point is that when Allah says that something is “known only to your Lord”, it means that it is something that cannot be discovered by man, such as a person’s lifespan. Many people try to predict a number of things and we assume that, because of the advances in science and technology, we can also have knowledge similar to what Allah has. However, think about how many times the weather report has been wrong despite all the satellites and advanced equipment, how many people were supposed to die but lived, and how many people were supposed to have lived but died. All of these things remind us of how far we really are from Allah’s knowledge. As for using the Maya calendar, we need to stop and think about a number of things. First, how many predictions did they make? Second, what were their predictions about? Third, what was the rate of accuracy in all of their predictions and why they aren’t being used as mainstream evidence? Fourth, where did they get this knowledge from?
We must be very critical of people who claim to know the future. Most people who make such a claim are frauds while the others are merely guessing. It’s like horoscopes which are written in such a general way that people think they can actually tell the future when, in reality, they don’t. We shouldn’t be fooled by such things,even if they are packaged and presented in the name of science. Science is a very useful tool, but it is often misused and twisted to fit a certain agenda or just to sell a book. When all is said and done, remember that just because the sun has risen from the east for millions of years doesn’t mean that Allah can’t change it tomorrow and make it rise from the west. We must remember that just as our own lives are in the hands of Allah, so is the life of the world, and He can end it whenever He likes. May Allah allow us to utilize our limited lives with what pleases Him before our time is up.
Mustafa
Sallam Alaykum / Peace be unto you
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Manners of a Muslim
- Muhammad (salAllahu alayhi wasalam)
Below is a list compiled of various good characteristics. Note which qualities that you have, and which you lack in. Try and better your character, inshaAllah.
Care taken when speaking, think before you talk.
Be honest at all times.
Respect and kindness shown to others
A muslim should help others unless they ask for help in forbidden matters.
Care should be taken when making promises lest one cannot fulfill them.
Be humble and modest.
Be truthful at all times
Think well of others.
Give sincere advice when it is sought by others.
Keep promises and be reliable.
Control ones anger.
Be forgiving
Never indulge in slander/back-biting.
Be modest. Don’t show off.
Refrain from speaking about things that does not concern you
Always be patient.
Think wisely before doing any action.
Defend others when they are absent from slander.
Encourage one another in doing good and obeying and Worshipping Allah
Be generous/charitable without being extravagant
Do not be suspicious of fellow muslims.
Don’t be nosey in matters that don’t concern you.
Don’t lie.
Don’t boast.
Don’t be proud and don’t draw attention to ones own good deeds.
Don’t speak in loud/rude tones
Don’t praise or flatter someone when they are in front of you
Don’t ridicule or scoff at others. Treat with respect.
Be obedient to Allah, offer the 5 prayers and obey the Qur'an & Sunnah.
Sallam Alaykum / Peace be unto you
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Below is a list compiled of various good characteristics. Note which qualities that you have, and which you lack in. Try and better your character, inshaAllah.
Care taken when speaking, think before you talk.
Be honest at all times.
Respect and kindness shown to others
A muslim should help others unless they ask for help in forbidden matters.
Care should be taken when making promises lest one cannot fulfill them.
Be humble and modest.
Be truthful at all times
Think well of others.
Give sincere advice when it is sought by others.
Keep promises and be reliable.
Control ones anger.
Be forgiving
Never indulge in slander/back-biting.
Be modest. Don’t show off.
Refrain from speaking about things that does not concern you
Always be patient.
Think wisely before doing any action.
Defend others when they are absent from slander.
Encourage one another in doing good and obeying and Worshipping Allah
Be generous/charitable without being extravagant
Do not be suspicious of fellow muslims.
Don’t be nosey in matters that don’t concern you.
Don’t lie.
Don’t boast.
Don’t be proud and don’t draw attention to ones own good deeds.
Don’t speak in loud/rude tones
Don’t praise or flatter someone when they are in front of you
Don’t ridicule or scoff at others. Treat with respect.
Be obedient to Allah, offer the 5 prayers and obey the Qur'an & Sunnah.
Sallam Alaykum / Peace be unto you
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9.2.09
Ahmad Deedat Speaks On Zionist Jews
Sallam Alaykum / Peace be unto you
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31.1.09
Islam, Christianity and Judaism- Basic Comparison.
Name
Judaism
From the Hebrew:Yehudim, ‘Judah’.
Christianity
From the Greek: christos, ‘Anointed’ - referring to Jesus Christ.
Islam
Derived from an Arabic word for ’submission’. Also related to the Arabic word salaam, ‘peace’.
Leader
Judaism
Abraham (First Patriarch, born c. 1800 B.C.)
Christianity
Jesus Christ
(c. 4 B.C. - 30 A.D.)
Islam
Mohammad
(570 - 632 A.D.)
Divisions
Judaism
Several divisions, including Hasidic (Orthodox), Conservative and Reform Judaism. Ethnic groupings include Ashkenazi (The majority) and Sephardi Jews.
Christianity
Three main groups: Orthodox, Protestant and Roman Catholic.
Islam
Two main groups: Sunni and Shia (The division occured due to a dispute as to the legitimate successor of the prophet Mohammed). There is also a mystical/ascetic movement in Islam known as Sufi.
Followers
(2006 Estimate)
Judaism
14 Million;
not every Jewish is Jew!
Christianity
2,100 Million
Islam
1,500 Million, 20% arabs, 80% other nationalities!
Not every arab is muslim!
Nature of God
Judaism
One God (known in English as ‘Yahweh’ or ‘Jehovah’) - “…Hear Israel, the Lord is our God, the Lord is one.” (Deuteronomy 6:4).
Christianity
One God, who exists in three distinct persons (The Trinity): Father, Son and Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19).
Islam
One God (Arabic: Allah), who is not a trinity. The Islamic view of God is called strict Monotheism (Quran 112:1).
Holy Book(s)
Judaism
The Hebrew Tanakh, similar to the Christian Old Testament, comprised of the Torah (Hebrew: ‘Law’), Nevi’im (’Prophets’) and Ketuvim (’Writings’).
Christianity
The Bible (from the Greek:Biblos, ‘books’), given by God to man. The Bible writers were inspired by God in their writings. Thus Christians refer to the Bible as the Word of God (2 Timothy 3:16).
Islam
The Quran or Koran (Arabic: ‘recitation’), revealed to the prophet Mohammed over a period of about 20 years. The Quran is the final revelation given by Allah to mankind.
Jesus Christ
Judaism
An ordinary Jew, not the Messiah nor a divine person.
Christianity
The second person of the Trinity: “…true God from true God” (Nicene Creed), and born of the Virgin Mary.
Islam
A prophet, sent by Allah and born of the Virgin Mary, but not divine (Quran 5:17).
Jesus Christ, The Mission of
Judaism
As Judaism rejects the idea of Jesus as Messiah, his mission is of no relevance.
Christianity
To reconcile Man to God, through his death as a sacrifice for the sins of all mankind.
Islam
To proclaim the Injil, or gospel. This gospel has been corrupted over time by human additions and alterations.
Jesus Christ, The Death of
Judaism
Jesus was crucified for his claim to be divine.
Christianity
“For our sake he was crucified…he suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again…he ascended into heaven…”(Nicene Creed)
Islam
Jesus was not crucified (Quran 4:157), but was raised to Heaven by Allah (4:158).
Holy Spirit
Judaism
Not a distinct person, but a divine power which for example, was given to the Prophets.
Christianity
The third person of the Trinity, truly divine: “….with the Father and the Son he is worshipped and glorified.” (Nicene Creed)
Islam
Identical with the Angel Gabriel, who appeared to the Prophet Mohammed giving him the Quranic text.
Other Traditions
Judaism
The Talmud, an oral tradition explaining and interpreting the Tanakh. It includes the Mishnah - a code of Jewish law.
Christianity
The writings of the early church fathers and ecumenical councils, including the Creeds.
Islam
The Hadith, a collection of traditions/sayings of the Prophet Mohammed. The Hadith functions as a supplement to the Quran, giving guidance to Muslims for daily living.
Examples of Rituals
Judaism
Rituals include the Circumcision of newly born Jewish males, Barmitzvah - a ceremony marking the ‘coming of age’ of Jewish Boys and observation of the Sabbath (Shabat). As in the other faiths, prayer is important. The Jewish prayer book is called the siddur.
Christianity
The Sacraments, including Baptism and Holy Communion(Eucharist). In Orthodoxy and Roman Catholicism, five more are added, viz: Confirmation (Chrismation), Marriage, Penance, Holy Orders and Anointing of the sick.
Prayer is also an important part of the faith.
Islam
Five important rituals (known as the pillars of Islam):
1. Shahadah - A profession of faith.
2. Salat - Prayer five times daily.
3. Zakat - alms giving.
4. Sawm - Fasting during the Holy month of Ramadan.
5. Hajj - Pilgrimage to the Holy city of Mecca.
Sin
Judaism
Humans are born with a sinful nature (Genesis 8:21). Atonement is made through seeking forgiveness from God in prayer and repentance. In addition, the day of atonement (Yom Kippur) is set aside specially for this purpose.
Christianity
We inherit a sinful nature through our common ancestor Adam, who rebelled against God. Jesus Christ atoned for our sins through his death on the Cross (Romans 5:12-17).
Islam
There is no concept of original sin, nor vicarious atonement. All Humans are born sinless, but human weakness leads to sin.
Salvation
Judaism
Through good works, sacrifices and the grace of God. There is no parallel to the Christian view of substitutionary atonement.
Christianity
By grace through faith in Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:8-9).
Islam
Achieved through good works, thus personal righteousness must outweigh personal sin (Quran 23:101-103).
Hell
Judaism
Judaism recognizes the concept of Gehinnom or Gehenna - those who die in sin may suffer temporary punishment, but certain sins merit eternal punishment.
Christianity
A place of everlasting punishment for the unrighteous (Matthew 25:46). There is no crossover between Heaven and Hell.
Islam
A place of torment and fire (Quran 25:65, 104:6-7). In Islam, Hell is known as Jahannam. Jahannam has several levels and a person may not necessarily spend eternity there.
This is just a short list of a few comparrisons
Sallam Alaykum / Peace be unto you
Please share
Judaism
From the Hebrew:Yehudim, ‘Judah’.
Christianity
From the Greek: christos, ‘Anointed’ - referring to Jesus Christ.
Islam
Derived from an Arabic word for ’submission’. Also related to the Arabic word salaam, ‘peace’.
Leader
Judaism
Abraham (First Patriarch, born c. 1800 B.C.)
Christianity
Jesus Christ
(c. 4 B.C. - 30 A.D.)
Islam
Mohammad
(570 - 632 A.D.)
Divisions
Judaism
Several divisions, including Hasidic (Orthodox), Conservative and Reform Judaism. Ethnic groupings include Ashkenazi (The majority) and Sephardi Jews.
Christianity
Three main groups: Orthodox, Protestant and Roman Catholic.
Islam
Two main groups: Sunni and Shia (The division occured due to a dispute as to the legitimate successor of the prophet Mohammed). There is also a mystical/ascetic movement in Islam known as Sufi.
Followers
(2006 Estimate)
Judaism
14 Million;
not every Jewish is Jew!
Christianity
2,100 Million
Islam
1,500 Million, 20% arabs, 80% other nationalities!
Not every arab is muslim!
Nature of God
Judaism
One God (known in English as ‘Yahweh’ or ‘Jehovah’) - “…Hear Israel, the Lord is our God, the Lord is one.” (Deuteronomy 6:4).
Christianity
One God, who exists in three distinct persons (The Trinity): Father, Son and Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19).
Islam
One God (Arabic: Allah), who is not a trinity. The Islamic view of God is called strict Monotheism (Quran 112:1).
Holy Book(s)
Judaism
The Hebrew Tanakh, similar to the Christian Old Testament, comprised of the Torah (Hebrew: ‘Law’), Nevi’im (’Prophets’) and Ketuvim (’Writings’).
Christianity
The Bible (from the Greek:Biblos, ‘books’), given by God to man. The Bible writers were inspired by God in their writings. Thus Christians refer to the Bible as the Word of God (2 Timothy 3:16).
Islam
The Quran or Koran (Arabic: ‘recitation’), revealed to the prophet Mohammed over a period of about 20 years. The Quran is the final revelation given by Allah to mankind.
Jesus Christ
Judaism
An ordinary Jew, not the Messiah nor a divine person.
Christianity
The second person of the Trinity: “…true God from true God” (Nicene Creed), and born of the Virgin Mary.
Islam
A prophet, sent by Allah and born of the Virgin Mary, but not divine (Quran 5:17).
Jesus Christ, The Mission of
Judaism
As Judaism rejects the idea of Jesus as Messiah, his mission is of no relevance.
Christianity
To reconcile Man to God, through his death as a sacrifice for the sins of all mankind.
Islam
To proclaim the Injil, or gospel. This gospel has been corrupted over time by human additions and alterations.
Jesus Christ, The Death of
Judaism
Jesus was crucified for his claim to be divine.
Christianity
“For our sake he was crucified…he suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again…he ascended into heaven…”(Nicene Creed)
Islam
Jesus was not crucified (Quran 4:157), but was raised to Heaven by Allah (4:158).
Holy Spirit
Judaism
Not a distinct person, but a divine power which for example, was given to the Prophets.
Christianity
The third person of the Trinity, truly divine: “….with the Father and the Son he is worshipped and glorified.” (Nicene Creed)
Islam
Identical with the Angel Gabriel, who appeared to the Prophet Mohammed giving him the Quranic text.
Other Traditions
Judaism
The Talmud, an oral tradition explaining and interpreting the Tanakh. It includes the Mishnah - a code of Jewish law.
Christianity
The writings of the early church fathers and ecumenical councils, including the Creeds.
Islam
The Hadith, a collection of traditions/sayings of the Prophet Mohammed. The Hadith functions as a supplement to the Quran, giving guidance to Muslims for daily living.
Examples of Rituals
Judaism
Rituals include the Circumcision of newly born Jewish males, Barmitzvah - a ceremony marking the ‘coming of age’ of Jewish Boys and observation of the Sabbath (Shabat). As in the other faiths, prayer is important. The Jewish prayer book is called the siddur.
Christianity
The Sacraments, including Baptism and Holy Communion(Eucharist). In Orthodoxy and Roman Catholicism, five more are added, viz: Confirmation (Chrismation), Marriage, Penance, Holy Orders and Anointing of the sick.
Prayer is also an important part of the faith.
Islam
Five important rituals (known as the pillars of Islam):
1. Shahadah - A profession of faith.
2. Salat - Prayer five times daily.
3. Zakat - alms giving.
4. Sawm - Fasting during the Holy month of Ramadan.
5. Hajj - Pilgrimage to the Holy city of Mecca.
Sin
Judaism
Humans are born with a sinful nature (Genesis 8:21). Atonement is made through seeking forgiveness from God in prayer and repentance. In addition, the day of atonement (Yom Kippur) is set aside specially for this purpose.
Christianity
We inherit a sinful nature through our common ancestor Adam, who rebelled against God. Jesus Christ atoned for our sins through his death on the Cross (Romans 5:12-17).
Islam
There is no concept of original sin, nor vicarious atonement. All Humans are born sinless, but human weakness leads to sin.
Salvation
Judaism
Through good works, sacrifices and the grace of God. There is no parallel to the Christian view of substitutionary atonement.
Christianity
By grace through faith in Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:8-9).
Islam
Achieved through good works, thus personal righteousness must outweigh personal sin (Quran 23:101-103).
Hell
Judaism
Judaism recognizes the concept of Gehinnom or Gehenna - those who die in sin may suffer temporary punishment, but certain sins merit eternal punishment.
Christianity
A place of everlasting punishment for the unrighteous (Matthew 25:46). There is no crossover between Heaven and Hell.
Islam
A place of torment and fire (Quran 25:65, 104:6-7). In Islam, Hell is known as Jahannam. Jahannam has several levels and a person may not necessarily spend eternity there.
This is just a short list of a few comparrisons
Sallam Alaykum / Peace be unto you
Please share
Interest (Riba) Prohibited in Islam, Christianity and Judaism
1. Meaning of the word “Riba”
Riba literally means 'to grow; to increase.' Technically, it denotes the amount that a lender receives from a borrower at a fixed rate in excess of the principal. It is of two kinds:
1. Riba Nasi'a - taking interest on loaned money.
2. Riba Fadal - taking something of superior quality in exchange for giving less of the same kind of thing of poorer quality.
In English it is usually translated as “Interest” or “Usury”
2. Prohibition in Islam:
The word “Riba” is used in the Holy Quran 8 times. In 30:39,4:161,3:130, 2:276,2:278 and 3 times in 2:275. The Quran says
“Those who devour usury will not stand except as stand one whom the Evil one by his touch Hath driven to madness. That is because they say: "Trade is like usury," but Allah hath permitted trade and forbidden usury. Those who after receiving direction from their Lord, desist, shall be pardoned for the past; their case is for Allah (to judge); but those who repeat (The offence) are companions of the Fire: They will abide therein (for ever).” (Quran 2:275)
“O ye who believe! Devour not usury, doubled and multiplied; but fear Allah. that ye may (really) prosper.” (Quran 3:130)
“O ye who believe! Fear Allah, and give up what remains of your demand for usury, if ye are indeed believers. If ye do it not, Take notice of war from Allah and His Messenger. But if ye turn back, ye shall have your capital sums: Deal not unjustly, and ye shall not be dealt with unjustly.” (Quran 2:278-279)
If you are dealing in interest. Please do not expect angels to come down with swords to wage a war against you. It is talking about the severity of the sin. For other sins like alcohol, gambling etc. the Quran says
“O ye who believe! Intoxicants and gambling, (dedication of) stones, and (divination by) arrows, are an abomination,- of Satan's handwork: eschew such (abomination), that ye may prosper.” (Quran 5:90)
Here the Quran says that intoxicants and gambling are Satan’s handiwork and abstain from it. In the case of Riba (Interest) the Quran does not only say that it’s a sin but it says that Allah (SWT) and his messenger Muhammad (pbuh) will wage a war against. Showing how grave this sin really is. Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said :
Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) classified it among the seven major sins
"Volume 8, Book 82, Number 840:
Narrated Abu Huraira:
The Prophet said, "Avoid the seven great destructive sins." They (the people!) asked, "O Allah's Apostle! What are they?" He said, "To join partners in worship with Allah; to practice sorcery; to kill the life which Allah has forbidden except for a just cause (according to Islamic law); to eat up usury (Riba), to eat up the property of an orphan; to give one's back to the enemy and freeing from the battle-field at the time of fighting and to accuse chaste women who never even think of anything touching chastity and are good believers."
Some Muslims may argue that only the taking of interest is prohibited. But one Sahih Hadith says
“· Hazrat Jabir r.a. has reported that the Messenger of Allah cursed the devourer of usury, its payer, its scribe and its two witnesses. He also said that they were equal (in sin).” (Mishkat-ul-Masabih)
Though there are many hadith which condemn riba (interest) but these two are sufficient for now.
3. Prohibition in the Bible
“Do not charge your brother interest, whether on money or food or anything else that may earn interest.” (Deuteronomy 23:19)
“Do not take interest of any kind from him, but fear your God, so that your countryman may continue to live among you.” (Leviticus 25:36)
“If you lend money to one of my people among you who is needy, do not be like a moneylender; charge him no interest” (Exodus 22:25)
Righteous servant of God doesn’t take interest
5 "Suppose there is a righteous man who does what is just and right.
6 He does not eat at the mountain shrines or look to the idols of the house of Israel. He does not defile his neighbor's wife or lie with a woman during her period.
7 He does not oppress anyone, but returns what he took in pledge for a loan. He does not commit robbery but gives his food to the hungry and provides clothing for the naked.
8 He does not lend at usury or take excessive interest. He withholds his hand from doing wrong and judges fairly between man and man.
9 He follows my decrees and faithfully keeps my laws. That man is righteous; he will surely live, declares the Sovereign LORD. (Ezekiel 18:5-9)
But the violent one will take it
“10 "Suppose he has a violent son, who sheds blood or does any of these other things
11 (though the father has done none of them): "He eats at the mountain shrines. He defiles his neighbor's wife.
12 He oppresses the poor and needy. He commits robbery. He does not return what he took in pledge. He looks to the idols. He does detestable things.
13 He lends at usury and takes excessive interest. Will such a man live? He will not! Because he has done all these detestable things, he will surely be put to death and his blood will be on his own head” (Ezekiel 18:10-13)
Jesus Christ (pbuh) came to fulfill the Law. He said:
“[17] Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
[18] For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
[19] Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
[20] For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.” (Mathew 5:17-20)
The Hebrew word used for interest/usury in all these verses is
neh'-shek: which means:
From H5391; interest on a debt: - usury.
Hence, The Quran and Bible both consider interest to be a sin and Muslims, Christians and Jews Should NOT indulge in it.
By: Yahya Ahmed.
Sallam Alaykum / Peace be unto you
Please share
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Riba literally means 'to grow; to increase.' Technically, it denotes the amount that a lender receives from a borrower at a fixed rate in excess of the principal. It is of two kinds:
1. Riba Nasi'a - taking interest on loaned money.
2. Riba Fadal - taking something of superior quality in exchange for giving less of the same kind of thing of poorer quality.
In English it is usually translated as “Interest” or “Usury”
2. Prohibition in Islam:
The word “Riba” is used in the Holy Quran 8 times. In 30:39,4:161,3:130, 2:276,2:278 and 3 times in 2:275. The Quran says
“Those who devour usury will not stand except as stand one whom the Evil one by his touch Hath driven to madness. That is because they say: "Trade is like usury," but Allah hath permitted trade and forbidden usury. Those who after receiving direction from their Lord, desist, shall be pardoned for the past; their case is for Allah (to judge); but those who repeat (The offence) are companions of the Fire: They will abide therein (for ever).” (Quran 2:275)
“O ye who believe! Devour not usury, doubled and multiplied; but fear Allah. that ye may (really) prosper.” (Quran 3:130)
“O ye who believe! Fear Allah, and give up what remains of your demand for usury, if ye are indeed believers. If ye do it not, Take notice of war from Allah and His Messenger. But if ye turn back, ye shall have your capital sums: Deal not unjustly, and ye shall not be dealt with unjustly.” (Quran 2:278-279)
If you are dealing in interest. Please do not expect angels to come down with swords to wage a war against you. It is talking about the severity of the sin. For other sins like alcohol, gambling etc. the Quran says
“O ye who believe! Intoxicants and gambling, (dedication of) stones, and (divination by) arrows, are an abomination,- of Satan's handwork: eschew such (abomination), that ye may prosper.” (Quran 5:90)
Here the Quran says that intoxicants and gambling are Satan’s handiwork and abstain from it. In the case of Riba (Interest) the Quran does not only say that it’s a sin but it says that Allah (SWT) and his messenger Muhammad (pbuh) will wage a war against. Showing how grave this sin really is. Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said :
Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) classified it among the seven major sins
"Volume 8, Book 82, Number 840:
Narrated Abu Huraira:
The Prophet said, "Avoid the seven great destructive sins." They (the people!) asked, "O Allah's Apostle! What are they?" He said, "To join partners in worship with Allah; to practice sorcery; to kill the life which Allah has forbidden except for a just cause (according to Islamic law); to eat up usury (Riba), to eat up the property of an orphan; to give one's back to the enemy and freeing from the battle-field at the time of fighting and to accuse chaste women who never even think of anything touching chastity and are good believers."
Some Muslims may argue that only the taking of interest is prohibited. But one Sahih Hadith says
“· Hazrat Jabir r.a. has reported that the Messenger of Allah cursed the devourer of usury, its payer, its scribe and its two witnesses. He also said that they were equal (in sin).” (Mishkat-ul-Masabih)
Though there are many hadith which condemn riba (interest) but these two are sufficient for now.
3. Prohibition in the Bible
“Do not charge your brother interest, whether on money or food or anything else that may earn interest.” (Deuteronomy 23:19)
“Do not take interest of any kind from him, but fear your God, so that your countryman may continue to live among you.” (Leviticus 25:36)
“If you lend money to one of my people among you who is needy, do not be like a moneylender; charge him no interest” (Exodus 22:25)
Righteous servant of God doesn’t take interest
5 "Suppose there is a righteous man who does what is just and right.
6 He does not eat at the mountain shrines or look to the idols of the house of Israel. He does not defile his neighbor's wife or lie with a woman during her period.
7 He does not oppress anyone, but returns what he took in pledge for a loan. He does not commit robbery but gives his food to the hungry and provides clothing for the naked.
8 He does not lend at usury or take excessive interest. He withholds his hand from doing wrong and judges fairly between man and man.
9 He follows my decrees and faithfully keeps my laws. That man is righteous; he will surely live, declares the Sovereign LORD. (Ezekiel 18:5-9)
But the violent one will take it
“10 "Suppose he has a violent son, who sheds blood or does any of these other things
11 (though the father has done none of them): "He eats at the mountain shrines. He defiles his neighbor's wife.
12 He oppresses the poor and needy. He commits robbery. He does not return what he took in pledge. He looks to the idols. He does detestable things.
13 He lends at usury and takes excessive interest. Will such a man live? He will not! Because he has done all these detestable things, he will surely be put to death and his blood will be on his own head” (Ezekiel 18:10-13)
Jesus Christ (pbuh) came to fulfill the Law. He said:
“[17] Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
[18] For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
[19] Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
[20] For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.” (Mathew 5:17-20)
The Hebrew word used for interest/usury in all these verses is
neh'-shek: which means:
From H5391; interest on a debt: - usury.
Hence, The Quran and Bible both consider interest to be a sin and Muslims, Christians and Jews Should NOT indulge in it.
By: Yahya Ahmed.
Sallam Alaykum / Peace be unto you
Please share
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29.1.09
The Prophecy of Mohammad (pbuh) in the Tawrah and bible.
Q: I was wondering if there is any prophecy regarding the Prophet of Islam found in the Old Testament (Torah).
A: First, let me please draw your attention that it is not really accurate to refer to the Old Testament as Torah (pronounced in Arabic as "Tawrah"). The Old Testament is a Christian term referring to the first 39 books of the Bible. The Catholic Bible contains seven other books and additions to some books. The Christians have the New Testament (27 books) also in addition to the Old Testament. The Jewish Bible consists of 39 books; and the Torah is believed to be the first five books of the Jewish Bible. The Christians often call these five books, the Law or the "Pentateuch", which is the Greek word for "Five Books".
The Torah of the Jewish Bible is practically the same as the Torah of the Christian Bible. But for Muslims, the Torah (Tawrah) was the Book revealed by God to Prophet Moses (Musa, peace be upon him). Muslims do not believe that the present Jewish (or Christian) Torah is an exact copy of the Tawrah God revealed to Moses, peace be upon him.
One important reason is that the present Torah contains passages that are of questionable authenticity in the eyes of Muslims. For instance, at the end of the Book of Deuteronomy (the fifth book), you see a passage that describes the death and burial of Moses. (See Deuteronomy 34:5-8). If this were a book revealed to Moses by God, it is not likely to describe the death and burial of Moses in the past tense there. In addition, the nature of the narration, as well as the content in several places, clearly points to human authorship or interpolations. But, that is another story.
Back to your original question, I understand that you are asking whether there is any prophecy regarding Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) in the Torah. This means the first five books of the Bible.
In fact there is a clear prophecy about the coming of the Last Prophet in the fifth book of the Torah (or the Christian Pentateuch). The verses are from Deuteronomy, Chapter 18:
“I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him. And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him.” (Deuteronomy 18:18-19)
Here Moses is addressing the Children of Israel. He quotes Jehovah as telling him of the coming of a Prophet. The marks for recognizing the coming prophet would be as follows:
1. He would be from among the brethren of the Children of Israel.
2. He would be like Moses.
3. He would speak words and commands put in his mouth by God.
4. He would speak in God’s name.
If you examine the above details of the distinguishing traits of the foretold prophet and those of Muhammad (peace be upon him) who was born centuries after this prophecy, you will be surprised to learn of the striking similarities. Here one may also consider the Christian argument that the above prophecy is about Jesus. So we need to examine who is actually meant here, with reference to the details of the prophecy.
1. It is clearly mentioned that the coming prophet would be from ‘their brethren’, i.e from the brethren of the Children of Israel. We know that Jesus was one of the Children of Israel and so it is clear that the prophecy does not apply to him. Whereas Muhammad (peace be upon him) was born in the family of Ishmael; indeed his grandfather was Qaidar (Biblical name: Kedar), one of the twelve sons of Ishmael.
2. Of the two prophets (i.e Jesus and Muhammad) is mentioned to be like Moses. In fact, it is Prophet Muhammad who is really like Moses, and not Jesus. For instance, Jesus was born miraculously without a father; he did not marry and lead a family life; his mission was very short (three years at the most); and God raised him unto Himself when he faced the possibility of violent death at the hands of his enemies. (Christians believe that he was crucified). And so we find that Jesus did not have the time to realize the dream of establishing a society based on the principles he taught. Indeed he had declared that his mission was for ‘the lost sheep of the house of Israel’ (Matthew 15:24), and not for the whole of humanity.
Compare the above with the mission of Muhammad (peace be upon him). Like Moses, he had a father and mother; he married and led a family life; his mission was long like that of Moses; he died a natural death; and he brought a Law (Shari`ah) for the establishment of a social system, like Moses.
It is also worth emphasizing that at the end of the Book of Deuteronomy, the following is clearly stated:
“And there arose not a prophet since in Israel like unto Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face, in all the signs and the wonders, which the Lord sent him to do in the land of Egypt to Pharaoh, and to all his servants, and to all his land, and in all that mighty hand…” (Deuteronomy 34:10-12)
This makes it clear that there never was a prophet like Moses in the whole of Israel after Moses, according to the Bible.
Thus we can clearly see that between the two, it was Muhammad from the brethren of the Children of Israel, who could be called, “a Prophet like Moses”.
And Allah knows best.
Islamonline
Sallam Alaykum / Peace be unto you
Please share
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A: First, let me please draw your attention that it is not really accurate to refer to the Old Testament as Torah (pronounced in Arabic as "Tawrah"). The Old Testament is a Christian term referring to the first 39 books of the Bible. The Catholic Bible contains seven other books and additions to some books. The Christians have the New Testament (27 books) also in addition to the Old Testament. The Jewish Bible consists of 39 books; and the Torah is believed to be the first five books of the Jewish Bible. The Christians often call these five books, the Law or the "Pentateuch", which is the Greek word for "Five Books".
The Torah of the Jewish Bible is practically the same as the Torah of the Christian Bible. But for Muslims, the Torah (Tawrah) was the Book revealed by God to Prophet Moses (Musa, peace be upon him). Muslims do not believe that the present Jewish (or Christian) Torah is an exact copy of the Tawrah God revealed to Moses, peace be upon him.
One important reason is that the present Torah contains passages that are of questionable authenticity in the eyes of Muslims. For instance, at the end of the Book of Deuteronomy (the fifth book), you see a passage that describes the death and burial of Moses. (See Deuteronomy 34:5-8). If this were a book revealed to Moses by God, it is not likely to describe the death and burial of Moses in the past tense there. In addition, the nature of the narration, as well as the content in several places, clearly points to human authorship or interpolations. But, that is another story.
Back to your original question, I understand that you are asking whether there is any prophecy regarding Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) in the Torah. This means the first five books of the Bible.
In fact there is a clear prophecy about the coming of the Last Prophet in the fifth book of the Torah (or the Christian Pentateuch). The verses are from Deuteronomy, Chapter 18:
“I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him. And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him.” (Deuteronomy 18:18-19)
Here Moses is addressing the Children of Israel. He quotes Jehovah as telling him of the coming of a Prophet. The marks for recognizing the coming prophet would be as follows:
1. He would be from among the brethren of the Children of Israel.
2. He would be like Moses.
3. He would speak words and commands put in his mouth by God.
4. He would speak in God’s name.
If you examine the above details of the distinguishing traits of the foretold prophet and those of Muhammad (peace be upon him) who was born centuries after this prophecy, you will be surprised to learn of the striking similarities. Here one may also consider the Christian argument that the above prophecy is about Jesus. So we need to examine who is actually meant here, with reference to the details of the prophecy.
1. It is clearly mentioned that the coming prophet would be from ‘their brethren’, i.e from the brethren of the Children of Israel. We know that Jesus was one of the Children of Israel and so it is clear that the prophecy does not apply to him. Whereas Muhammad (peace be upon him) was born in the family of Ishmael; indeed his grandfather was Qaidar (Biblical name: Kedar), one of the twelve sons of Ishmael.
2. Of the two prophets (i.e Jesus and Muhammad) is mentioned to be like Moses. In fact, it is Prophet Muhammad who is really like Moses, and not Jesus. For instance, Jesus was born miraculously without a father; he did not marry and lead a family life; his mission was very short (three years at the most); and God raised him unto Himself when he faced the possibility of violent death at the hands of his enemies. (Christians believe that he was crucified). And so we find that Jesus did not have the time to realize the dream of establishing a society based on the principles he taught. Indeed he had declared that his mission was for ‘the lost sheep of the house of Israel’ (Matthew 15:24), and not for the whole of humanity.
Compare the above with the mission of Muhammad (peace be upon him). Like Moses, he had a father and mother; he married and led a family life; his mission was long like that of Moses; he died a natural death; and he brought a Law (Shari`ah) for the establishment of a social system, like Moses.
It is also worth emphasizing that at the end of the Book of Deuteronomy, the following is clearly stated:
“And there arose not a prophet since in Israel like unto Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face, in all the signs and the wonders, which the Lord sent him to do in the land of Egypt to Pharaoh, and to all his servants, and to all his land, and in all that mighty hand…” (Deuteronomy 34:10-12)
This makes it clear that there never was a prophet like Moses in the whole of Israel after Moses, according to the Bible.
Thus we can clearly see that between the two, it was Muhammad from the brethren of the Children of Israel, who could be called, “a Prophet like Moses”.
And Allah knows best.
Islamonline
Sallam Alaykum / Peace be unto you
Please share
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The Overlooked $170 Billion of American-Muslim Spending Power
Advertising in the United States has often influenced the pop-culture identities of religious and ethnic minorities. To be targeted by marketers serves as an invitation to join in the national narrative of capitalism. To shop is to be American.
In 2009, the US marketplace will begin to truly recognize and court the $170 billion purchasing power of American-Muslims. To date, pop-culture representations of Islam are either cloaked in evil or infused with pathos. But as Hallmark, Wal-Mart and 20th Century Fox aim to engage this consumer demographic, it will slowly help to prove that American-Muslims are, as Professor Farid Senzai says, "boring as the rest of us [Americans]."
When considering marketers' slow embrace of Muslim consumers, we must acknowledge legal scholar Leti Volpp's point that "September 11 facilitated the consolidation of a new identity category that groups together persons who appear 'Middle Eastern, Arab, or Muslim.' This consolidation reflects a racialization wherein members of this group are identified as terrorists and disidentified as citizens."
It is this conflation that bore the 2008 Dunkin Donuts controversy. Spokeswoman Rachel Ray wore a scarf that looked like a keffiyeh in a TV commercial and right-wing blogger Michelle Malkin then chided Ray for wearing a 'jihadi chic' garment. Dunkin Donuts dropped the advert. At no point was the spot even attempting to engage Islam or the Middle East, yet there was backlash.
No doubt that marketers considering this space are wary of the Islamaphobic chatter within media. And are likely confused by the diversity of people and practices within the American-Muslim population. But I posit that this may be similar to the hurdles brands faced when first reaching out to gay and lesbian consumers. And as Saad Ahmad, of the blog Chill Yo, Islam Yo, said "seeing that we live in a capitalist society, [including Islam] in advertising is really just an economic issue."
2009-01-28-BurgerKingRamadanyoyo.jpg
Such inclusion has been discussed within the ad industry, but little action has been taken. Yet consumer demand is there and (full disclosure) our company is responding to it. We'd be heedless to ignore Long Island radiologist Almas Abbasi. who told the New York Times "If Ramadan starts, and you see an ad in the newspaper saying, 'Happy Ramadan, here's a special in our store,' everyone will run to that store." Now, American brands indeed do this within primarily Muslim countries - Burger King in UAE, HP in Bangladesh, Oreos in Indonesia etc. Though to date, no Muslim holidays are seized as a sales opportunity within the US. Except perhaps in Dearborn, Michigan, a city with the highest concentration of Muslims and Middle Eastern folks in America. Wal-Mart has opened a store in Dearborn designed for this demo. Newsweek reports that:
Wal-Mart offers its standard fare, plus 550 items targeted at Middle Eastern shoppers....walk through the front door of the 200,000-square-foot supercenter and instead of rows of checkout counters, you find a scene akin to a farmers market in Beirut. Twenty-two tables are stacked high with fresh produce like kusa and batenjan, squash and eggplant used in Middle Eastern dishes... a walled-off section of the butcher case is devoted to Halal meats.
Ikea has taken measures to court Dearborn shoppers and the local McDonalds and KFC serve halal meat. On the national scale, Hallmark carries Eid cards and the USPS issued an Eid stamp in 2001. But that's about it.
While tailoring products to reach this consumer base is one important step for retailers, Yasmine Hafiz reminds us that "the average Muslim consumer is much like the average American consumer, with wants and needs mainly dictated by their income, education, and type of family. Their socioeconomic status dictates their spending habits more than their religious affiliation... there's a lot of untapped buying potential amongst all these doctors & engineers."
And as noted on the blog Muslim Canvas, "I guess the value I see in this marketing stuff is the effect it'll have on the American psyche, rather than the Muslim psyche necessarily. [Seeing] a hijabi mom spreading Jif peanut butter on her son's sandwich, or of a long-bearded man answering the door on a Domino's commercial, could go a long way for our "image".
The forthcoming US version of the CBC sitcom Little Mosque on the Prairie could be a space for product placement. That said, brands must be adroit and not fall prey to tropes like the soul-claps and sombreros that plague too many minority-market campaigns. Nor forget that only half of American-Muslim women wear a hijab or think that Islam is the sole aspect of Muslim consumers' identities.
While engaging Islam may appear complex, what remains quite simple is that there are millions of American consumers still being ignored. Millions of consumers who are waiting to see which brands will be smart enough to embrace them as fellow Americans.
This article was made thanks to the huffington post
Sallam Alaykum / Peace be unto you
Please share
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In 2009, the US marketplace will begin to truly recognize and court the $170 billion purchasing power of American-Muslims. To date, pop-culture representations of Islam are either cloaked in evil or infused with pathos. But as Hallmark, Wal-Mart and 20th Century Fox aim to engage this consumer demographic, it will slowly help to prove that American-Muslims are, as Professor Farid Senzai says, "boring as the rest of us [Americans]."
When considering marketers' slow embrace of Muslim consumers, we must acknowledge legal scholar Leti Volpp's point that "September 11 facilitated the consolidation of a new identity category that groups together persons who appear 'Middle Eastern, Arab, or Muslim.' This consolidation reflects a racialization wherein members of this group are identified as terrorists and disidentified as citizens."
It is this conflation that bore the 2008 Dunkin Donuts controversy. Spokeswoman Rachel Ray wore a scarf that looked like a keffiyeh in a TV commercial and right-wing blogger Michelle Malkin then chided Ray for wearing a 'jihadi chic' garment. Dunkin Donuts dropped the advert. At no point was the spot even attempting to engage Islam or the Middle East, yet there was backlash.
No doubt that marketers considering this space are wary of the Islamaphobic chatter within media. And are likely confused by the diversity of people and practices within the American-Muslim population. But I posit that this may be similar to the hurdles brands faced when first reaching out to gay and lesbian consumers. And as Saad Ahmad, of the blog Chill Yo, Islam Yo, said "seeing that we live in a capitalist society, [including Islam] in advertising is really just an economic issue."
2009-01-28-BurgerKingRamadanyoyo.jpg
Such inclusion has been discussed within the ad industry, but little action has been taken. Yet consumer demand is there and (full disclosure) our company is responding to it. We'd be heedless to ignore Long Island radiologist Almas Abbasi. who told the New York Times "If Ramadan starts, and you see an ad in the newspaper saying, 'Happy Ramadan, here's a special in our store,' everyone will run to that store." Now, American brands indeed do this within primarily Muslim countries - Burger King in UAE, HP in Bangladesh, Oreos in Indonesia etc. Though to date, no Muslim holidays are seized as a sales opportunity within the US. Except perhaps in Dearborn, Michigan, a city with the highest concentration of Muslims and Middle Eastern folks in America. Wal-Mart has opened a store in Dearborn designed for this demo. Newsweek reports that:
Wal-Mart offers its standard fare, plus 550 items targeted at Middle Eastern shoppers....walk through the front door of the 200,000-square-foot supercenter and instead of rows of checkout counters, you find a scene akin to a farmers market in Beirut. Twenty-two tables are stacked high with fresh produce like kusa and batenjan, squash and eggplant used in Middle Eastern dishes... a walled-off section of the butcher case is devoted to Halal meats.
Ikea has taken measures to court Dearborn shoppers and the local McDonalds and KFC serve halal meat. On the national scale, Hallmark carries Eid cards and the USPS issued an Eid stamp in 2001. But that's about it.
While tailoring products to reach this consumer base is one important step for retailers, Yasmine Hafiz reminds us that "the average Muslim consumer is much like the average American consumer, with wants and needs mainly dictated by their income, education, and type of family. Their socioeconomic status dictates their spending habits more than their religious affiliation... there's a lot of untapped buying potential amongst all these doctors & engineers."
And as noted on the blog Muslim Canvas, "I guess the value I see in this marketing stuff is the effect it'll have on the American psyche, rather than the Muslim psyche necessarily. [Seeing] a hijabi mom spreading Jif peanut butter on her son's sandwich, or of a long-bearded man answering the door on a Domino's commercial, could go a long way for our "image".
The forthcoming US version of the CBC sitcom Little Mosque on the Prairie could be a space for product placement. That said, brands must be adroit and not fall prey to tropes like the soul-claps and sombreros that plague too many minority-market campaigns. Nor forget that only half of American-Muslim women wear a hijab or think that Islam is the sole aspect of Muslim consumers' identities.
While engaging Islam may appear complex, what remains quite simple is that there are millions of American consumers still being ignored. Millions of consumers who are waiting to see which brands will be smart enough to embrace them as fellow Americans.
This article was made thanks to the huffington post
Sallam Alaykum / Peace be unto you
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