We said, "O Adam, live with your wife in Paradise, and eat therefrom generously, as you please, but do not approach this tree, lest you sin." But the devil duped them, and caused their eviction therefrom. We said, "Go down as enemies of one another. On Earth shall be your habitation and provision for awhile." (2:35-36)
This story is about the first sin in of the mankind.Comparing this story to the bible version reveal little differences and explain us something about quran :
The prohibition
And the LORD God commanded the man, saying: 'Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat;but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it; for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.' (Genesis 2:17-18)
The Temptation
And he said unto the woman: 'Yea, hath God said: Ye shall not eat of any tree of the garden?' And the woman said unto the serpent: 'Of the fruit of the trees of the garden we may eat; but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said: Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.' And the serpent said unto the woman: 'Ye shall not surely die;And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food...(Genesis 3:1-6)
The Jewish midrash raba points about the difference between what God prohibited and what the woman said:
God said-thou shalt not eat of it
woman said-Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.
The woman added that God prohibited to touch the tree...So how this detail effect the story?The midrash explain that this was the trap of the serpent:"The serpent pushed the woman towards the tree and she touched it,and said,like you there's no death touching it so there's no death eating"
So we can see that in the bible God prohibited only about eating,but Muhammad didn't sense the slight difference between what God prohibited to what the woman added and.
Muhammad even made a rough mistake and added more then the woman added:
Muhammad said-but do not approach this tree
Sunday, November 26, 2006
Monday, November 20, 2006
Satan - 2:34
When we said to the angels, "Fall prostrate before Adam," they fell prostrate, except Satan; he refused, was too arrogant, and a disbeliever.
The Quran embrace the christian doctrine about Satan:
And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.(Revelation 12:9)
The Judaism doesn't accept the concept of Satan as autonomous evil creature :
I am the LORD, and there is none else, beside Me there is no God; I have girded thee, though thou hast not known Me; That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none beside Me; I am the LORD; and there is none else; I form the light, and create darkness; I make peace, and create evil; I am the LORD, that doeth all these things. (Isaiah 45:5-7).
The Quran embrace the christian doctrine about Satan:
And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.(Revelation 12:9)
The Judaism doesn't accept the concept of Satan as autonomous evil creature :
I am the LORD, and there is none else, beside Me there is no God; I have girded thee, though thou hast not known Me; That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none beside Me; I am the LORD; and there is none else; I form the light, and create darkness; I make peace, and create evil; I am the LORD, that doeth all these things. (Isaiah 45:5-7).
Monday, November 13, 2006
Adam Vs Angels 2:30-33
When your Lord said to the angels: ‘I am placing a caliph on earth,’ they replied: ‘Will You put there one that will do evil and shed blood, when we have for so long sung Your praises and sanctified Your name?’ He said: ‘I know what you do not know.’ He taught Adam all the names and then set them before the angels, saying: ‘Tell me the names of these, if what you say be true.’ ‘Glory be unto You,’ they replied, ‘we have no knowledge except that which You have given us. You alone are wise and all-knowing.’ Then said He to Adam: ‘Tell them their names.’ And when Adam had named them, He said: ‘Did I not tell you that I know the secrets of heaven and earth, and all that you hide and all that you reveal? (2:30-33)
There are 2 parts to this story:
1. The Angels resistance - The angels resist to the human creation cause of moral issues. The angels are spiritual creatures, they don't have bad urges so they don't sin. their all being is to sing God praises and glorify his name, but the human kind is not spiritual and has bad urges so he will make mischief and shed blood so why to create him?
2. Adam ability as answer - God show the angels ability that they lack - The knowledge of the names
There are some questions to ask:
How this ability answers the moral issue the angels raised?
If God taught Adam the names and the only reason the angels don't know the names is cause God didn't taught them "we have no knowledge except that which You have given us." So what answer is it??
The fingerprints of Jewish sources are noticeable in this story:
1.When God created Man, the heavenly hosts were divided.... Kindness said, "Let him be created, for he will do kindness!" Truth said, "Let him not be created, for he is full of lies!" Righteousness said, "Let him be created, for he will perform righteous acts!" Peace said, "Let him not be created, for he is always quarreling!"... (Bereishit Raba 8:5)
The Jewish midrash describe an allegorical debate between The ideals about Human creation-will he implement those ideals or not
2. And out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto the man to see what he would call them; and whatsoever the man would call every living creature, that was to be the name thereof. And the man gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field; but for Adam there was not found a help meet for him. (Genesis 2:19-20)
In the biblical story it's clear that the ability of knowing the name is Adam quality, but not the reason of creation...
There are 2 parts to this story:
1. The Angels resistance - The angels resist to the human creation cause of moral issues. The angels are spiritual creatures, they don't have bad urges so they don't sin. their all being is to sing God praises and glorify his name, but the human kind is not spiritual and has bad urges so he will make mischief and shed blood so why to create him?
2. Adam ability as answer - God show the angels ability that they lack - The knowledge of the names
There are some questions to ask:
How this ability answers the moral issue the angels raised?
If God taught Adam the names and the only reason the angels don't know the names is cause God didn't taught them "we have no knowledge except that which You have given us." So what answer is it??
The fingerprints of Jewish sources are noticeable in this story:
1.When God created Man, the heavenly hosts were divided.... Kindness said, "Let him be created, for he will do kindness!" Truth said, "Let him not be created, for he is full of lies!" Righteousness said, "Let him be created, for he will perform righteous acts!" Peace said, "Let him not be created, for he is always quarreling!"... (Bereishit Raba 8:5)
The Jewish midrash describe an allegorical debate between The ideals about Human creation-will he implement those ideals or not
2. And out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto the man to see what he would call them; and whatsoever the man would call every living creature, that was to be the name thereof. And the man gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field; but for Adam there was not found a help meet for him. (Genesis 2:19-20)
In the biblical story it's clear that the ability of knowing the name is Adam quality, but not the reason of creation...
Thursday, November 09, 2006
The quran Challenge - 2:23
The power of religion that attract the followers is that it's GOD words to the man kind.
How can we know is it really the words of GOD or maybe it's a human ?
In Judaism,the authentication of religion is a compose of 2 parts,revelation & tradition:
Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes saw, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life; but make them known unto thy children and thy children's children; the day that thou stoodest before the LORD thy God in Horeb, when the LORD said unto me: 'Assemble Me the people, and I will make them hear My words that they may learn to fear Me all the days that they live upon the earth, and that they may teach their children.' (Deuteronomy 4:9-10)
In Islam,the authentication of religion is placed inside the book:
If you have any doubt regarding what we revealed to our servant, then produce one sura like these, and call upon your own witnesses against GOD, if you are truthful. (2:23)
What does this challenge means?
Ever since the Quran was revealed, fourteen centuries ago, no one has been able to produce a single chapter like the chapters of the Quran in their beauty, eloquence, splendor, wise legislation, true information, true prophecy, and other perfect attributes. (http://www.islam-guide.com/ch1-2.htm#bf2).
This challenge is problematic in 3 aspects:
1.The criterion's - what should we measure? beauty? how can we measure beauty? beauty is in the eye of the behold,it's something subjective!
2.The judges - if we measure the poetry,only those who are specialists in poetry can decide,so how can the simple man that doesn't know or even doesn't understand poetry decide?should he trust the specialists?should he found his believes on other person opinion???
3.The language - the book is written in Arabic, and only in Arabic one can sense the beauty of the book,so how can one that doesn't speak Arabic ,should he trust those who speak Arabic?if this book is designate to the whole world,is it make sense that the book authentication can be prove only in Arabic???
Muslims scholars,know that this is a very frail prove so they now try to authenticate the quran in other ways:
Not many would accept the Qur’aan’s extraordinarily beautiful language, as proof of its Divine origin. Any scripture claiming to be a divine revelation must also be acceptable on the strength of its own reason and logic. (http://www.emuslim.com/QuranandScience/QuranandScience.asp)
How can we know is it really the words of GOD or maybe it's a human ?
In Judaism,the authentication of religion is a compose of 2 parts,revelation & tradition:
Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes saw, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life; but make them known unto thy children and thy children's children; the day that thou stoodest before the LORD thy God in Horeb, when the LORD said unto me: 'Assemble Me the people, and I will make them hear My words that they may learn to fear Me all the days that they live upon the earth, and that they may teach their children.' (Deuteronomy 4:9-10)
In Islam,the authentication of religion is placed inside the book:
If you have any doubt regarding what we revealed to our servant, then produce one sura like these, and call upon your own witnesses against GOD, if you are truthful. (2:23)
What does this challenge means?
Ever since the Quran was revealed, fourteen centuries ago, no one has been able to produce a single chapter like the chapters of the Quran in their beauty, eloquence, splendor, wise legislation, true information, true prophecy, and other perfect attributes. (http://www.islam-guide.com/ch1-2.htm#bf2).
This challenge is problematic in 3 aspects:
1.The criterion's - what should we measure? beauty? how can we measure beauty? beauty is in the eye of the behold,it's something subjective!
2.The judges - if we measure the poetry,only those who are specialists in poetry can decide,so how can the simple man that doesn't know or even doesn't understand poetry decide?should he trust the specialists?should he found his believes on other person opinion???
3.The language - the book is written in Arabic, and only in Arabic one can sense the beauty of the book,so how can one that doesn't speak Arabic ,should he trust those who speak Arabic?if this book is designate to the whole world,is it make sense that the book authentication can be prove only in Arabic???
Muslims scholars,know that this is a very frail prove so they now try to authenticate the quran in other ways:
Not many would accept the Qur’aan’s extraordinarily beautiful language, as proof of its Divine origin. Any scripture claiming to be a divine revelation must also be acceptable on the strength of its own reason and logic. (http://www.emuslim.com/QuranandScience/QuranandScience.asp)
Monday, November 06, 2006
The disbelievers 2:6-7
[2:6] As for those who disbelieve, it is the same for them; whether you warn them, or not warn them, they cannot believe.
[2:7] GOD seals their minds and their hearing, and their eyes are veiled. They have incurred severe retribution.
What a pessimistic point of view : "...they cannot believe" as if they are blind that cannot see.
Even blinds could see if GOD wants,Even deaf could hear if GOD wants,there where miracles...
So why can't they believe? cause GOD sealed their mind...
Where is the free will?!
Why God seals their mind?
Why should they get severe retribution,if they don't have a free will?!
I think its the easy way...if you failed to convince a man,its probably cause he can't believe...
Instead of thinking your logic is not convincing blame the other person...
[2:7] GOD seals their minds and their hearing, and their eyes are veiled. They have incurred severe retribution.
What a pessimistic point of view : "...they cannot believe" as if they are blind that cannot see.
Even blinds could see if GOD wants,Even deaf could hear if GOD wants,there where miracles...
So why can't they believe? cause GOD sealed their mind...
Where is the free will?!
Why God seals their mind?
Why should they get severe retribution,if they don't have a free will?!
I think its the easy way...if you failed to convince a man,its probably cause he can't believe...
Instead of thinking your logic is not convincing blame the other person...
Sunday, November 05, 2006
The Righteous - 2:4
"And they believe in what was revealed to you, and in what was revealed before you"(2:4)
So from this verse sound that a good muslim should belive in the old testement and the new testement.
To belive in what was revealed to Muhammad is to belive in Quran,
So
To Belive in what was revealed to Moses is to belive in the Old Testement.
To Belive in what was revealed to Jesus is to belive in the New Testement.
There is no meaning to say i belive in moses,but i don't accept the old Testement...
So from this verse sound that a good muslim should belive in the old testement and the new testement.
To belive in what was revealed to Muhammad is to belive in Quran,
So
To Belive in what was revealed to Moses is to belive in the Old Testement.
To Belive in what was revealed to Jesus is to belive in the New Testement.
There is no meaning to say i belive in moses,but i don't accept the old Testement...
Friday, November 03, 2006
This scripture is infallible - Sura 2:2
What a way to start a book...
"This scripture is infallible "- why? there's no explaination why should we believe that this scripture is reliable!!!
No one start a book with his own critique about the book he wrote...let the book say it!
If the book is really infallible ,trust the book to convince the readers...
"In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.
And God said, Let there be light: and there was light."(Genesis 1:1-3)
The Genesis opening is mush more dramatic!we actually can feel the silence of the void before creation,the story carry us away from the first moment...
"This scripture is infallible "- why? there's no explaination why should we believe that this scripture is reliable!!!
No one start a book with his own critique about the book he wrote...let the book say it!
If the book is really infallible ,trust the book to convince the readers...
"In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.
And God said, Let there be light: and there was light."(Genesis 1:1-3)
The Genesis opening is mush more dramatic!we actually can feel the silence of the void before creation,the story carry us away from the first moment...
Thursday, November 02, 2006
why Reading Quran?
If i thought that this century is the century of secularism,that God is no longer a factor in human life,well,i was wrong!
The 11/9 terror attack in NY,brought back to life the religion factor of war,war in the name of God.
I belive Islam,after years of not being on public attention will now go back to the spotlight.
We all have prejudice about the Islam,but to fight my ignorance,i decied to read-learn the quran,the holly book of the muslims.Here in this blog i will share thouhs about this book...
The 11/9 terror attack in NY,brought back to life the religion factor of war,war in the name of God.
I belive Islam,after years of not being on public attention will now go back to the spotlight.
We all have prejudice about the Islam,but to fight my ignorance,i decied to read-learn the quran,the holly book of the muslims.Here in this blog i will share thouhs about this book...
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