Sunday,Jul 19 2009, 11:20:13 AMMIRAAJ

[Author’s Note] This is the 17th Surah of the Qur’an. Some historians refer to it as Surah Bani Israel. It has 111 verses. ASRA (night journey) is often mixed up with MI'RAJ (Ascension). Since Allah is Omnipresent, the notion of anyone going to meet with Him over the skies does not stand up to reason. "ASRA" signifies night journey and it refers to the beginning of the exalted Messenger's emigration from Makkah to Madinah by night. Verses 20:77 and 26:52 use the same term for migration of Prophet Moses along with his followers across the sea. Also consider 17:2.
Masjid Al-Aqsa means, the Remote Mosque and refers to the ‘Remote Mosque’ in Madinah, the place where Muslims used to establish congregational prayer before the Prophet's arrival to the city. "Masjid" here may also be understood as Madinah being the place of collective submission to Allah's Commands.
The famous Masjid Al-Aqsa (the so-called Qiblah Awwal, or the supposed First Holy Sanctuary, also widely known as Haram Sharif) in Jerusalem was, in fact, built in 72 A.H. (691 C.E.) by the Umayyad Ruler, Abdul Malik bin Marwan, about 60 years after the exalted Messenger passed on.
Jerusalem, until the Muslim conquest under the second Caliph of Islam in 637 C.E., had been under the control of the Byzantine Christians for centuries, and there was no person worshiping in a Masjid anywhere in the world but Madinah.
Hence, the question of the presence of a Masjid in Jerusalem during the life times of the exalted Prophet should not arise.
Muslims conquered Jerusalem in 637 C.E. during the Rule of the second Caliph of Islam, Hazrat Umar. And when he visited the place, he continued to pray in open grounds, although Pope Severinus gave him the Key to the city and invited him to pray in the Church of Holy Sepulture. But Hazrat Umar feared that Muslims might start converting churches into Masjids, so he politely declined. If a Masjid were present he would have prayed there.
The word 'Mi'raj' (Bodily Ascension of any human being) nowhere occurs in the Qur’an. Yet, under erroneous traditions it is a popular, though non-Qur’anic, belief among Muslims that the exalted Messenger was taken up physically unto the heavens to meet with Allah!
The Qur’an as usual sets the records straight by asserting that the First ever Holy Sanctuary was the Ka’bah built by Prophets Abraham and Ishmael in Makkah. And, that the Divine Laws are unchangeable under all circumstances. Bodily Ascension is a Biblical, and not a Qur’anic theme at all.
With the Glorious Name of Allah, the Instant and Sustaining Source of all Mercy and Kindness.
17:1 Glorious is He Who initiated the migration by night of His servant from the Sacred Masjid to the Remote Masjid whose environs We did bless that We might show him of Our Signs (20:23). (That the Divine System will begin to prevail from therein). Verily, He is the Hearer, the Seer.

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Tuesday,May 12 2009, 11:14:41 AMTAQDEER

The Arabic word ‘QANOON (قانون) (3) has not been used in the Quran in the meaning of LAW. It seldom appears even in contemporary Arabic literature. Instead, the Quran has employed a root more comprehensive than QANOON. It is Q-D-R with the basic meaning of a measure. (قدرت الشيء) means: I measured that thing; estimated. (قدرت الشيء بالشيء) means: I measured the (one) thing against the (other) thing. (قدرت عليه الثوب) means: I made clothes for him according to measurements. Therefore, ‘taqdeer’ has the ...

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