HOW I CAME TO ISLAM: June 2009

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

SHEIKH AHMAD DEEDAT: MUHAMMAD S.A.W AND ISA A.S

WITH MALAY SUBTITLES

SHEIKH AHMAD DEEDAT: MUHAMMAD S.A.W AND ISA A.S - PART 1

SHEIKH AHMAD DEEDAT: MUHAMMAD S.A.W AND ISA A.S - PART 2

TOP Q & A

Question and Answer Details.

Name of Questioner: Jody - Mexico
Title: Jesus & the Consumption of Pork
Date : 18/May/2009
Question: As the swine flu outbreak continues spreading, some people blame Christianity for this, my question is did prophet Jesus command the people to eat pig meat? Where does the idea of eating pork come from?

Topic : Interfaith Issues
Name of Counselor : Idris Tawfiq.

Answer:-

Salam, Jody.

Thank you for your very interesting question. It is interesting because I don't think there are even many Christians who would be able to answer it.

Before answering it, let us first of all reject out of hand the very suggestion that Christianity is in any way responsible for the outbreak of swine flu. Such an idea is ridiculous. According to World Health Organization, there is no evidence that swine flu is transmissible to people through eating pork or any other products obtained from pigs. If pork is properly cooked, it will not transmit the virus.

The fact that Christians eat pork does not make them responsible for a medical illness. If that were the case, what about people with no faith or adherents of any of the religions of Africa or South-East Asia who also eat pork? Are they responsible, too?

Your question about Jesus, though, is important. You are asking, just where exactly did the command come from that allowed the eating of pork, when Judaism clearly did not allow it?

In the first place, we need to recognize that, according to the Christian Gospels, there were pigs in Palestine at the time of Jesus (peace be upon him). In one of the Gospel accounts of Jesus healing a young man possessed with devils, Jesus commands the devils to leave the man and to go, instead, into a head of pigs.

In the story, the pigs then rush off a nearby cliff and are killed. In Saint Luke's story of the Prodigal Son, too, Jesus talks about a young man who goes off with his share of the inheritance and wastes it on wine, women and song, until he is so penniless that he has to take a job looking after pigs.

So clearly there were pigs around. What were they doing in Palestine, when Jews do not eat pork? Who were they for? In fact, both the Romans and the Greeks used to eat pork as a delicacy, so we must assume that the pigs were bred either for export or to feed the Romans who were occupying Palestine at the time.

In one of the first books of the Old Testament the Jews are told very clearly which animals they may eat and which animals they may not eat. We read:

"… and the pig, which does indeed have hoofs and is cloven-footed, but does not chew the cud and is therefore unclean for you. Their flesh you shall not eat, and their dead bodies you shall not touch; they are unclean for you." (Leviticus 11:7-8)

To this day, Jews do not eat pork.

From what we read in the Gospels, Jesus says nothing at all about eating or not eating pork, so where do his Christian followers get the idea from that it is permissible to eat pork?

As a prophet of Islam, Jesus would not have eaten pork, but it is highly unlikely, according even to the Gospel accounts themselves, that he would have done so as a Jew.

Why the change, then? Why do Christians eat pork, if they believe that their religion grew out of the Jewish one, which forbids it?

Jesus, in fact, is quoted as saying in Saint Matthew's Gospel,

"Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I didn't come to destroy them, but to fulfill them."

In such a case, then, we can only presume that he left untouched the instruction about pork.

The answer, in fact, lies not with Jesus, but with the Church which grew up after him and claimed to speak in his name.

After Jesus died, according to a book called Acts of the Apostles written by St Luke, a dispute arose among his followers about those who converted to Christianity. In the earliest days, the followers of Jesus were known as "followers of the Way." They did not consider themselves as anything other than Jews, but they followed the teachings of the Jewish rabbi, Jesus. It was only later in Antioch that they first came to be called "Christians."

Some people said that if someone wanted to be a follower of Jesus, he clearly had to become a Jew first.

"But some from the party of the Pharisees who had become believers stood up and said, 'It is necessary to circumcise them and direct them to observe the Mosaic Law.' The apostles and the presbyters met together to see about this matter." (Acts 15:5)

A meeting was held in Jerusalem to discuss this. It was much more important than a debate about circumcision, since its results would determine the future of those who followed Jesus. There were basically two arguments.

The first was put forward by the Apostle James, heavily influenced by Peter. He upheld the traditional view about circumcision and observation of the Jewish Law. In other words, as Jews the followers of Jesus had to follow the Jewish laws.

Paul of Tarsus, on the other hand, said that there was no longer any need for those new to Christianity to observe the Mosaic Law and become Jews, since Christianity was something different to Judaism.

A compromise was reached. Those who were born as Jews but who had become followers of Jesus would continue to observe the laws of the Jews. Those who were converts did not have to. The prevailing idea was expressed by Peter,

"The truth I have come to realize is that God does not have favorites. Rather, in every nation whoever fears him and acts uprightly is acceptable to him." (Acts 10:34).

Laws particular to the Jews would no longer need to apply.

So, you see, it was not Jesus who changed the rule about eating pork. He was quite clear that the Law said you must not do so. As in so many other cases, it was his followers, who became known as the Church, who made this new rule.

If Christians did not have to become Jews, then Christians were no longer bound by the rules of circumcision or of dietary requirements. They could eat as much pork as they wanted.

These leaders would ultimately declare, three hundred years later, that Jesus was God.

I hope this answers your question. Please keep in touch.

Salam.

--www.readingislam.com--

Monday, June 8, 2009

DEBATE AL-QURAN AND INJIL - PART 14 - 26

Saturday, June 6, 2009

DEBATE - AL-QURAN AND INJIL - PART 1 - 13

ISLAMIC CIRCLE OF NORTH AMERICA, CHICAGO U.S.A.

PRESENTS

DEBAT KRISTOLOGI TERSERU: AL-QURAN DAN INJIL - MENGUPAS ILMU PENGEHTAHUAN.

DIANTARA DR.WILLIAM CAMPBELL DARI PENNSYLVANIA, U.S.A.

DAN

DR.ZAKIR NAIK DARI MUMBAI, INDIA.

*THE MALAY VERSION

DEBATE - AL-QURAN AND INJIL - PART 1

DEBATE - AL-QURAN AND INJIL - PART 2

DEBATE - AL-QURAN AND INJIL - PART 3

DEBATE - AL-QURAN AND INJIL - PART 4

DEBATE - AL-QURAN AND INJIL - PART 5

DEBATE - AL-QURAN AND INJIL - PART 6

DEBATE - AL-QURAN AND INJIL - PART 7

DEBATE - AL-QURAN AND INJIL - PART 8

DEBATE - AL-QURAN AND INJIL - PART 9

DEBATE - AL-QURAN AND INJIL - PART 10

DEBATE - AL-QURAN AND INJIL - PART 11

DEBATE - AL-QURAN AND INJIL - PART 12

DEBATE - AL-QURAN AND INJIL - PART 13

CONTINUE... CLICK ->DEBATE VERSION 2: PART 14 - PART 26

BIODATA

DR. ZAKIR ABDUL-KARIM NAIK

ISLAMIC RESEARCH FOUNDATION
56/58 Tandel Street (North), Dongri, Mumbai - 400 009 (India)
Tel : (0091-22) 23736875 (8 lines) Fax : (0091-22) 23730689
e-mail: zakir@irf.net website : http://www.irf.net

BIRTH DATE & PLACE

October 18, 1965 in Mumbai, India

OCCUPATION

Islamic Da'wah (Propagation of Islam)
1. President, Islamic Research Foundation, Mumbai
2. Chairman, I.R.F. Educational Trust, Mumbai

EDUCATED AT

1. St. Peter's High School (I.C.S.E.), Mumbai
2. Kishinchand Chellaram College, Mumbai
3. Topiwala National Medical College, Nair Hospital, Mumbai

UNIVERSITY DEGREE

M.B.B.S. (Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery), University of Mumbai

PUBLIC LECTURES

Hundreds of Public Lectures (usually followed by Open Question and Answer Sessions) given internationally, of which more than a 100 are available on VCDs and DVDs

DA'WAH TRAINING PROGRAMMES

Conducted several Da'wah Training Programmes including International Da'wah Training Programme for training Muslims to effectively convey the message of Islam

FIELDS OF INTEREST

* Studies in Comparative Religion * Medicine * Humanitarian, Social, Moral, Educational and Economic Welfare activities

DA'WAH LECTURE TOURS ABROAD TO

U.S.A., Canada, Britain, Australia, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, U.A.E., South Africa, Botswana, Italy, Singapore, Guyana, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Thailand, Trinidad and Other Countries

BOOKS AUTHORED BY DR. ZAKIR NAIK

1. Non-Muslims’ Common Question about Islam.

2. Qur’an and Modern Science – Compatible or Incompatible?

3. Concept of God in Major Religions.

*4. The Qur’an and the Bible in the Light of Science

*5. Women’s Rights in Islam – Protected or Subjugated?

*6. Al-Qur’an – Should it be read with understanding?

*7. Is the Qur’an God’s Word?

*8. Most Common Questions asked by Non-Muslims who have some knowledge of Islam.

*9. Similarities between Hinduism and Islam.

--http://www.irf.net/irf/drzakirnaik/--

Thursday, June 4, 2009

SHEIKH KHALID YASIN'S FRIDAY KHOTBAH IN DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA.

THE POISON OF DIVISION (PART 1)

THE POISON OF DIVISION (PART 2)

THE POISON OF DIVISION (PART 3)

THE POISON OF DIVISION (PART 4)

THE POISON OF DIVISION (PART 5)

Wednesday, June 3, 2009

DEBATE ISLAM VS CHRISTIAN, ROYAL ALBERT LONDON - IS JESUS GOD?

SHEIKH AHMAD DEEDAT (1918 – 2005) VS DR ANIS SHORROSH.
(WITH MALAY TRANSLATION)

SHEIKH AHMAD DEEDAT - PART 1

SHEIKH AHMAD DEEDAT - PART 2

SHEIKH AHMAD DEEDAT - PART 3

SHEIKH AHMAD DEEDAT - PART 4

SHEIKH AHMAD DEEDAT - PART 5

BRIEF BIOGRAPHY OF THE LATE SHEIKH AHMAD DEEDAT (July 1, 1918–August 8, 2005)

Sheikh Ahmed Hoosen Deedat was Born on the 01 July 1918 in the Surat district of India in 1918. His father emigrated to South Africa in 1927 with him. Ahmed Deedat was a very bright student and excelled in school. Lack of finance interrupted his schooling and at an early age of 16 he took on the first of many jobs in retailing and short assistant.

He was best known for his numerous inter-religious public debates with evangelical Christians, as well as pioneering video lectures most of which centered around Islam, Christianity and the Bible. He also established the IPCI, an internationally renown islamic missionary organization under whose auspices Deedat wrote and mass produced several booklets on Islam and Christianity. He was awarded the prestigious King Faisal Award in 1986 for his 50 years of missionary work.

After reading a book called Izharul Haq – The Truth revealed, a book about a debate with Christian Missionaries in the then British India, Sheikh Deedat was spurred on in the direction of Dawah – Islamic Missionary Activity to halt the tide of the then Christian onslaught against Islam.

Over the next four decades, he immersed himself into a host of activities. Conducting Bible classes, lectures and debates the world over. He established the first Islamic Seminary in Southern Africa to train propagators at Assalaam educational Institute - Braemar.

He is the founder of the largest Islamic Dawah Organization in the world, the Islamic Propagation Center International and became its president.

He has published more than 20 books and distributed millions of copies of FREE literature and pamphlets the world over. Many of Sheikh Deedat’s publications have been translated into the many different languages of the world : Russian, Urdu, Arabic, Bengali, Bangladeshi, French, Amharic, Chinese, Japanese, Mayalam, Indonesian,, Zulu , Afrikaans, Dutch, Norwegian amongst others.

He delivered thousands of lectures all over the world, crossing all the continents and successfully engaging some of the biggest names in Christian evangelists in public debates. Sheikh Deedat’s debates and lectures are available all over the world in the various languages in Video and DVD format.

His career in the field of Comparative Religion took him across all five continents and dialogue with the heads of the Protestant world in America and the late Pope John Paul.

So fearless was his stand in defending the truth that Sheikh Deedat was refused entry into France and Nigeria on the pretext that ‘ he would cause a civil unrest’.

Sheikh Deedat also received a personal phone call at the IPCI from former President Nelson Mandela who was in Saudi Arabia at the time, congratulating Deedat for his international icon status in the Muslim World.

He was awarded the prestigious King Faisal Award in 1986 for his sterling services to Islam in the field of Propagation.

May Almighty Allah bless his soul, accept his efforts for the cause of da’wah and grant gracious patience to his loved ones during this trying time.

His funeral will leave his house 49 Trevenen Road, Lotusville Verulam at 5 pm. Proceeding to the Wick Street Musjid and after Magrib Salah / Prayer , he will be laid to rest in the Verulam Muslim Cemetery.

Early this morning, 8 August 2005 / 2 Rajab 1426, Sheikh Ahmed Hoosen Deedat passed on to meet his Creator. This was after succumbing to a severe stroke that left him paralysed for more than nine years.Throughout this period, he gracefully persevered under the most difficult personal conditions; however, not forgetting his task as a daee (Islamic worker) and an ambassador of Islam, he continued to inspire, educate, challenge and inform people about the universal message of Islam.It is on this solemn occasion of his demise that we salute the courageous spirit and phenomenal work of this world-renowned personality, a hero of the Muslim World, nay, a true hero of believers all around the globe!

--http://www.ahmed-deedat.co.za/founder.asp--

MOVING BEYOND RITUALS

MOVING BEYOND RITUALS: SHEIKH KHALID YASIN - UEIC 2008

Lecture by Sheikh Khalid Yasin at the University of Essex's Islamic Society International Conference titled "A Journey into Islamic Values" held on 23rd February 2008.

Tuesday, June 2, 2009

SHEIKH KHALID YASEEN: DEATH YOUR TIME IS UP!

SHEIKH KHALID YASEEN: DEATH YOUR TIME IS UP (PART 1-5)

SHEIKH KHALID YASEEN: DEATH YOUR TIME IS UP (PART 2-5)

SHEIKH KHALID YASEEN: DEATH YOUR TIME IS UP (PART 3-5)

SHEIKH KHALID YASEEN: DEATH YOUR TIME IS UP (PART 4-5)

SHEIKH KHALID YASEEN: DEATH YOUR TIME IS UP (PART 5-5)