seekeroftruth
Well-Known Member
Quran 9:119. O you who believe! Be conscious of God, and be with the sincere.
120. It is not for the inhabitants of Medina and the Desert-Arabs around them to stay behind the Messenger of God, nor to prefer themselves to him. That is because they never suffer any thirst, nor fatigue, nor hunger in the cause of God, nor do they take one step that enrages the disbelievers, nor do they gain anything from an enemy, but it is recorded to their credit as a righteous deed. God does not waste the reward of the righteous.
121. Nor do they spend any expenditure, small or large, nor do they cross any valley, but it is recorded to their credit. That God may reward them in accordance with the best of their deeds.
122. It is not advisable for the believers to march out altogether. Of every division that marches out, let a group remain behind, to gain understanding of the religion, and to notify their people when they have returned to them, that they may beware.
123. O you who believe! Fight those of the disbelievers who attack you, and let them find severity in you, and know that God is with the righteous.
124. Whenever a chapter is revealed, some of them say, “Which of you has this increased in faith?” As for those who believe: it increases them in faith, and they rejoice.
125. But as for those in whose hearts is sickness: it adds disgrace to their disgrace, and they die as unbelievers.
126. Do they not see that they are tested once or twice every year? Yet they do not repent, and they do not learn.
127. And whenever a chapter is revealed, they look at one another, “Does anyone see you?” Then they slip away. God has diverted their hearts, because they are a people who do not understand.
128. There has come to you a messenger from among yourselves, concerned over your suffering, anxious over you. Towards the believers, he is compassionate and merciful.
129. If they turn away, say, “God is enough for me; there is no god except He; in Him I have put my trust; He is the Lord of the Sublime Throne.”
I wanted to see what might cause the author to use the word "sublime" to describe a throne. Cool.....
of such excellence, grandeur, or beauty as to inspire great admiration or awe.
"Mozart's sublime piano concertos"
CHEMISTRY
2. (of a solid substance) change directly into vapor when heated, typically forming a solid deposit again on cooling.
"the ice sublimed away, leaving the books dry and undamaged"
ARCHAIC
3. elevate to a high degree of moral or spiritual purity or excellence.
"let your thoughts be sublimed by the spirit of God"
And this is from the commentary.
"Mozart's sublime piano concertos"
CHEMISTRY
2. (of a solid substance) change directly into vapor when heated, typically forming a solid deposit again on cooling.
"the ice sublimed away, leaving the books dry and undamaged"
ARCHAIC
3. elevate to a high degree of moral or spiritual purity or excellence.
"let your thoughts be sublimed by the spirit of God"
And this is from the commentary.
The introduction here of the subject of the study of religion shows the aim which the Qur’ån has in view. In the midst of the ordinances relating to fighting, it introduces the subject of the preparation of a missionary force, thus showing that this was the greatest necessity of Islåm. It was only by means of a missionary effort that truth could be spread, and the ultimate object was not to be lost sight of, even when the community was engaged in a life-and-death struggle against overwhelming forces of the enemy.
Because it was they who persecuted the Muslims. The object was to stop persecutions.
The uncleanness of their hearts increased with new revelation, because it increased them in stubbornness, and their hearts were more and more hardened against truth.
These trials consisted of the expeditions which the Muslims had to undertake every now and then, and in which the hypocrites were distinguished from the true believers.
This is the true picture of the heart which grieved, not for his followers alone, not for one tribe or country, but for all humanity. He grieves for the burdens of all, and he is solicitous for the welfare of all. That the whole of humanity is meant here is shown by the concluding words. There is a special relation he bears to those who follow him; to them he is, in addition, compassionate and merciful.
Ok... so with that I've finished the first nine chapters of the Quran. So far, it's a lot of law.... just like those most boring books of the Bible. Most of all, it's about "why" they wrote their own laws. Remember, this book as inked sometime in the 600's. There weren't any little red school houses. There weren't any super highways. There weren't any tanks or jeeps. There were no guns.... only swords.... and catapults maybe.... but no guns.
Muslims have always been hated. It's because they're the sons and daughters of yet another mother. There was Sarah... mother of the Jews and Christians. There was Hagar.... mother of Europe and Russia..... the northern family. And then there was Keturah.... mother of the Muslims. All three were had children by Abraham..... all three women had sons.... all three sons started their own nation. It's the deal God made with Abraham.
In today's society.... having three sons with three different women is no big deal. In today's church it's really hard to understand. In the real family.... three boys would tussle and fight.... these brothers from other mothers would argue and dispute. And eventually.... as all men do.... they would point out the other's faults and draw a line in the sand.
Muslims have always been the brother from another mother who have to fight to keep their religion alive. After all.... the Muslims haven't been collecting tithes since the beginning of time. They're the new guy on the block. They aren't as rich.... they aren't as studied in hypocrisy.
One more little tip here.... the Muslims don't hate women. A woman has rights in the Muslim faith.
My grandmother was about 13 when she had my aunt Helen. My great grandmother was about 12 or 13 when she was married too. We are Americans.... have been since the 1600's..... but we really only have two generations of educated women in charge of their own lives. It's a tempting station we have here in the US. The rest of the world isn't so fortunate..... or unfortunate.... depending on the view. Let's face it ladies... the only reason they let us out of the kitchen.... some of us are lousy cooks but we are needed to boost the Capitalist society we have built. Women aren't free because God wants us free.... Women in the US are free because we can be taught to "earn" a living.
The sons of Keturah have always been the third man out. They are always defending themselves.
This book is about the Sons of Keturah.
