In Matthew Chapter 5, we read the following passage, advocating for people to be forgiving and going the extra mile to maintain peace. 38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ 39 But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn … Continue reading Turn the Other Cheek
Guideliness for Understanding Quran
Below is a list of general rules of thumb that I consider when attempting to understand the verses of the Quran. Most Gracious, Most Merciful Out of all the multitude of names that God could use to introduce Himself to the readers of the Quran, the two names that He chose were Most Gracious ( … Continue reading Guideliness for Understanding Quran
Harsh Punishments
In chapter 8 of the Bible, we read the following passage regarding the stoning of the adulterous. 1 but Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. 2 At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them. 3 The teachers of the law and the Pharisees … Continue reading Harsh Punishments
The Sting Operation
In 1978, the FBI's office in suburban Long Island created and oversaw a sting operation called "Abscam", which was initially intended to investigate theft, forgery, and stolen art. The FBI employed a person by the name of Melvin Weinberg, who was a convicted swindler, international con artist, and informant, as well as his girlfriend, Evelyn Knight, to help plan and conduct the operation. The two … Continue reading The Sting Operation
Bala vs. Fitna
In the Arabic Quran, there are typically two words for the word "test." The first is the word "l-balā" ( الْبَلَاء ), and the other is "l-fit'na" ( الْفِتْنَة ). The root for balā ( ب ل و ) occurs 38 times in the Quran. While the root for fit'na ( ف ت ن ) … Continue reading Bala vs. Fitna
Abu Hurayra
Abu-Hurayra ( أبو هريرة ) historically was a companion of the prophet Muhammad. He is most known for having the greatest number of Hadith attributed to him compared to any other companion, despite only being among the prophet for only a couple years before his passing. It is estimated that there are ~5,374 traditions attributed … Continue reading Abu Hurayra
Four Paradigms for Understanding Quran
From my studies, people appear to utilize four paradigms when understanding scripture and settling disputes. I don't believe this is limited to the Quran, but for the sake of this article, I will limit the references to the Quran. These four different approaches serve as a coping mechanism to keep the subscribers to any of … Continue reading Four Paradigms for Understanding Quran
How God Answers Prayers
Two of the names of God are The Omniscient ( الْعَلِيمُ ) and The Provider ( الرَّزَّاقُ ). Additionally, God informs us that He answers the prayers of his servants. [2:186] When My servants ask you about Me, I am always near. I answer their prayers when they pray to Me. The people shall respond to … Continue reading How God Answers Prayers
Hadith, Lies, and Civil Wars
A glaring question that any sensible person who studies the history of Islam must ask themselves is: how did the religion get taken over by the most ardent enemies of the prophet shortly after his death in 632 CE? This was done by the vicious idol-worshiping Quraish who fought the prophet up until the moment … Continue reading Hadith, Lies, and Civil Wars
Modern Day Slavery
One of the criticisms of the Quran is, "Why doesn't the Quran ban slavery outright?" The response to this criticism is that the Quran provides the framework for a society to eliminate slavery without victimizing the very people one is trying to assist. There is no question that according to the Quran, slavery is a … Continue reading Modern Day Slavery