Contrary to popular conception, there is no evidence that societies relied primarily on barter before using money for trade. Instead, non-monetary societies operated largely along the principles of gift economics. When barter did in fact occur, it was usually between either complete strangers or would-be enemies. The anthropologist Marshall Sahlins writes that Stone Age gift…
Tag: religion
Anglican Bishops Shock Christians!
In the British newspaper “Daily News” 25/6/1984 under the heading “Shock survey of Anglican Bishops”, that reads “More than half of England’s Anglican Bishops say that Christians are not obliged to believe that Jesus Christ was God, according to a survey published today. The pole of 31 of England’s 39 bishops shows that many of…
The Essential Difference between a Muslim and a Believer
قَالَتِ الْأَعْرَابُ آمَنَّا ۖ قُل لَّمْ تُؤْمِنُوا وَلَٰكِن قُولُوا أَسْلَمْنَا وَلَمَّا يَدْخُلِ الْإِيمَانُ فِي قُلُوبِكُمْ ۖ وَإِن تُطِيعُوا اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ لَا يَلِتْكُم مِّنْ أَعْمَالِكُمْ شَيْئًا ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ (Al-Quran, Al-Hujarat 49:14) The Al-A’arab say, “We have believed.” Say, “You have not [yet] believed; but say [instead], ‘We have submitted,’ for faith has not…
‘Hudud’: A Decree Seriously Misunderstood
Islam, meaning ‘Peace’, is synonymous to ‘Submission’ or ‘Compliance’ to God’s irrefutable Decree to ‘Non-Violation’ or ‘Non-Aggression’ Rule and Principle against legally and morally protected rights of the individuals, societies and countries.
God has decreed that there shall be no compelling to ‘deen’ (the path) of Allah. God has also decreed that there shall be no obstruction to activities arising of mutual consent between two willing parties, no matter how sinful or abhorring to the general standard of civilized society, like drug addiction, prostitution, gay and lesbian marriage.
This is essentially what ‘Hukum Hudud’ is all about, and God has decreed such ‘Behavioral Boundary’ involving the Do’s and Don’ts for purpose of regulating Human’s dealings and interactions involving people of different belief system, faith, ideology and culture, in order to bring about life of peace, free, safe and secure for all..
SAME GOD, SAME COMMANDS, SAME RELIGION…
WE SHARE THE SAME GOD Those who believe (in the Qur’an), and those who follow the Jewish (scriptures), and the Christians and the Sabians,- any who believe in Allah and the Last Day, and work righteousness, shall have their reward with their Lord; on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve (Qur’an 2:62)…
Living Religiously
It is interesting how the process of achieving goals (be it worldly or heavenly) requires development of good deals of “iman”, “solat”, “sabar”, “syukur” and “tawakkal”. However, I beg to differ from established meanings as I am adapting these Arabic terms for practical “worldly” applications which hopefully not far out from its respective literal meaning. Truly relevant…
Four Basic Quranic Terms
By Maulana Syed Abul-Ala Maududi Ilah, Rabb, Deen and ‘Ibadah, are four terms basic to the whole teaching of the Qur’an. Through-out its pages, it stresses again and again that Allah Almighty is the Rabb and the Ilah; that there is no ilah but He, nor is there any other rabb, nor does He share…
ONE GOD AT A TIME
Muslim’s solemn declaration of “la-illaha-il-allah” which simply means “Not god but the God” is in itself a logical conclusion that “the emergence of Allah (or al-Ilah), the God, makes all others lose their respective godly stature”, and superlative “the” (or “al” in Arabic) attached to it, is obviously indicative of oneness (of god). For instance,…
ISLAM, THE ONLY RELIGION OF GOD
There exist uncanny similarities between the content of the Koran and the Bible. Both relate to the same God, the same angels and the same prophets. In fact Koran describes Abraham, Isaac, Jacob (a.k.a. Israel), Moses, David, Jesus and their true followers as Muslims (like Muhammad and his true followers) too. Islam is therefore not…
KORAN, THE ONLY BOOK GOD AUTHORS
There are handful of universally accepted holy books amongst voluminous of other publications of lesser authority on the subject of God and Religion. Perhaps appointing amongst them leading authority that transcends all creeds and faith is desirable. If “Marx in His Own Words” or “Fidel Castro Speaks” is considered leading authority of each for reason…
WHEN RIGHT IS WRONGED
As Faith threads God educates That He draws man into making mistakes For man learn best from his own mistakes As God teaches man what’s right And as man sets forth to do it right God said, That man had got it all wronged, alright For that was not what He’d taught though that was…
Masters, Servants and Beggars
Masters we are To serve but not be served For our giving without taking Servants we are To serve and be served For our giving and taking Beggars we are To not serve but be served For our taking without giving Truly God is the Master of all and to all For He is served…
SANDIWARA 