Bismillahir-rahmanir-rahim

As-salaamu`alaykum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh to my brothers & sisters in Islaam

[b:7d8dcc76ab]Nuaym ibn Masud [/b:7d8dcc76ab]was from Najd in the northern highlands of Arabia. He belonged to the powerful Ghatafan tribe. As a young man, he was clever and alert. He was full of enterprise and travelled widely. He was resourceful, every ready to take up a challenge and not prepared to allow any problem to get the better of him.

This son of the desert was endowed with extraordinary presence of mind and unusual subtlety. He was however someone who liked to enjoy himself and gave himself over to the pursuit of youthful passions. He loved music and took delight in the company of songstresses. Often when he felt the urge to listen to the strings of a musical instrument or to enjoy the company of a singer, he would leave the hearths of his people in the Najd and make his way to Yathrib and in particular to the Jewish community which was widely known for its song and music.

While in Yathrib, Nuaym was known to spend generously and he in turn would be lavishly entertained. In this way Nuaym came to develop strong links among the Jews of the city and in particular with the Banu Qurayzah.

At the time when God favored mankind by sending His Prophet with the religion of guidance and truth and the valleys of Makkah glowed with the light of Islam, Nuaym ibn Masud was still given over to the pursuit of sensual satisfaction. He stopped firmly opposed to the religion partly out of fear that he would be obliged to change and give up his pursuit of pleasure. And it was not long before he found himself being drawn into joining the fierce opposition to Islam and waging war against the Prophet and his companions.

The moment of truth for Nuaym came during the great siege of Madinah which took place in the fifth year of the Prophet's stay in the city. We need to go back a little to pick up the threads of the story.

Two years before the siege, the Prophet was compelled to banish a group of Jews belonging to the tribe of Banu an-Nadir from Madinah because of their collaboration with the Quraysh enemy. The Banu Nadir migrated to the north and settled in Khaybar and other oases along the trade route to Syria. They at once began to incite the tribes both near and far against the Muslims. Caravans going to Madinah were harassed partly to put economic pressure on the city.

But this was not enough. Leaders of the Banu an-Nadir got together and decided to form a mighty alliance or confederacy of as many tribes as possible to wage war on the Prophet, and to put an end once and for all to his mission. The Nadirites went to the Quraysh in Makkah and urged them to continue the fight against the Muslims. They made a pact with the Quraysh to attack Madinah at a specified time.

After Makkah, the Nadirite leaders set out northwards on a journey of some one thousand kilometers to meet the Ghatafan. They promised the Ghatafan the entire annual date harvest of Khaybar for waging war against Islam and its Prophet. They informed the Ghatafan of the pact they had concluded with the Quraysh and persuaded them to make a similar agreement.

Other tribes were also persuaded to join the mighty alliance. From the north came the Banu Asad and the Fazar. From the south the Ahabish, allies of the Quraysh, the Banu Sulaym and others. At the appointed time, the Quraysh set out from Makkah in large numbers on cavalry and on foot under the Leadership of Abu Sufyan ibn Harb. The Ghatafan too set out from Najd in large numbers under the leadership of Ubaynah ibn Hisn. In the vanguard of the Ghatafan army was Nuaym ibn Masud.

News of the impending attack on Madinah reached the Prophet while he was half-way on a long expedition to Dumat al-Jandal on the Syrian border some fifteen days journey from Madinah. The tribe at Dumat al-Jandal was molesting caravans bound for Madinah and their action was probably prompted by the Banu an-Nadir to entice the Prophet away from Madinah. With the Prophet away, they reasoned, it would be easier for the combined tribal forces from the north and the south to attack Madinah and deal a mortal blow to the Muslim community with the help of disaffected persons from within the city itself.

The Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, hurried back to Madinah and conferred with the Muslims. The forces of the Ahzab or the confederate enemy tribes amounted to over ten thousand men while the Muslims fighting were just three thousand men. It was unanimously decided to defend the city from within and to prepare for a siege rather than fight in the open. The Muslims were in dire straits.

"When they came upon you from above and from below you, and when eyes grew wild and hearts reached to the throats, and you were imagining vain thoughts concerning God. Then were the believers sorely tried and shaken with a mighty shock." (The Quran, Surah al-Ahzab, 33:1O)

To protect the city, the Muslims decided to dig a ditch or khandaq. It is said that the ditch was about three and a half miles long and some ten yards wide and five yards deep. The three thousand Muslims were divided into groups of ten and each group was given a fixed number of cubits to dig. The digging of the ditch took several weeks to complete.

The ditch was just completed when the mighty enemy forces from the north and the south converged on Madinah. While they were within a short distance from the city the Nadirire conspirators approached their fellow Jews of the Banu Qur~yzah who lived in Madinah and tried to persuade them to join the war against the Prophet by helping the two armies approaching from Makkah and the north. The response of the Qurayzah Jews to the Nadirite leaders was: "You have indeed called us to participate in something which we like and desire to have accomplished. But you know there is a treaty between us and Muhammad binding us to keep the peace with him so long as we live secure and content in Madinah. You do realize that our pact with him is still valid. We are afraid that if Muhammad is victorious in this war he would then punish us severely and that he would expel us from Madinah as a result of our treachery towards him."

The Nadirire leaders however continued to pressurize the Banu Qurayzah to renege on their treaty. Treachery to Muhammad, they affirmed, was a good and necessary act. They assured the Banu Qurayzah that there was no doubt this time that the Muslims would be completely routed and Muhammad would be finished once and for all.

The approach of the two mighty armies strengthened the resolve of the Banu Qurayzah to disavow their treaty with Muhammad. They tore up the pact and declared their support for the confederates. The news fell on the Muslims ears with the force of a thunderbolt.

The confederate armies were now pressing against Madinah. They effectively cut off the city and prevented food and provisions and any form of outside help or reinforcement from reaching the inhabitants of the city. After the terrible exhaustions of the past months the Prophet now felt as if they had fallen between the jaws of the enemy. The Quraysh and [he Ghatafan were besieging the city from without. The Banu Qurayzah were laying in wait behind the Muslims, ready to pounce from within the city. Added to this, the hypocrites of Madinah, those who had openly professed Islam but remained secretly opposed to the Prophet and his mission, began to come out openly and cast doubt and ridicule on the Prophet.

"Muhammad promised us." they said, "that we would gain possession of the treasures of Chosroes and Caesar and here we are today with not d single one of us being able to guarantee that he could go to the toilet safely to relieve himself!"

Thereafter, group after group of the inhabitants of Madinah began to disassociate themselves from the Prophet expressing fear for their women and children and for their homes should the Banu Qurayzah attack once the fighting began. The enemy forces though vastly superior in numbers were confounded by the enormous ditch. They had never seen or heard of such a military stratagem among the Arabs. Nonetheless they tightened their siege of the city. At the same time they attempted to breach the ditch at some narrow points but were repulsed by the vigilant Muslims. So hard-pressed were the Muslims that the Prophet Muhammad and his companions once did not even have time for Salat and the Zuhr, Asr, Maghrib and Isha prayers had to be performed during the night.

As the siege wore on and the situation became more critical for the Muslims. Muhammad turned fervently to his Lord for succour and support.

"O Allah," he prayed, "I beseech you to grant Your promise of victory. O Allah I beseech You to grant your promise of victory."

On that night, as the Prophet prayed, Nuaym lay tossing in his bivouac. He could not sleep. He kept gazing at the stars in the vast firmament above. He thought hard and long and suddenly he found himself exclaiming and asking: "Woe to you, Nuaym! What is it really that has brought you from those far off places in Najd to fight this man and those with him? Certainly you are not fighting him for the triumph of right or for the protection of some honor violated. Really you have only come here to fight for some unknown reason. Is it reasonable that someone with a mind such as yours should fight and kill or be killed for no cause whatsoever? Woe to you, Nuaym. What is it that has caused you to draw your sword against this righteous man who exhorts his followers to justice, good deeds and helping relatives? And what is it that has driven you to sink your spear into the bodies of his followers who follow the message of guidance and truth that he brought?"

Nuaym thus struggled with his conscience and debated with himself. Then he came to a decision. Suddenly he stood upright, determined. The doubts were gone. Under the cover of darkness, he slipped away from the camp of his tribe and made his way to the Prophet of God, peace and blessings of Allah be on him.

When the Prophet beheld him, standing erect in his presence, he exclaimed, "Nuaym ibn Masud?"

"Yes, O Messenger of God," declared Nuaym. "What has brought you here at this hour?"

"I came", said Nuaym, "to declare that there is no god but Allah and that you are the servant of God and His Messenger and that the message you have brought is

He went on: "I have declared my submission to God, O Messenger of God, but my people do not know of my submission. Command me therefore to do whatever you desire."

"You are only one person among us," observed the Prophet. "So go to your people and act as if you have nothing to do with us for indeed war is treachery."

"Yes, O Messenger of God," replied Nuaym. And if God wills, you shall witness what pleases you." Without losing any time, Nuaym went to the Banu Qurayzah. He was, as was mentioned earlier, a close friend of the tribe. "O Bani Qurayzah," he said. "You have known my love for you and my sincerity in advising you."

"Yes ," they agreed, "but what are you suspicious of so

far as we are concerned?" Nuaym continued: "The Quraysh and the Ghatafan have their own interests in this war which are different from your interests." "How so?" they queried.

"This is your city," Nuaym asserted. "You have your wealth, your children and your womenfolk here and it is not in your power to flee and take refuge in another city. On the other hand, the Quraysh and the Ghatafan have their land, their wealth, their children and their womenfolk away from this city. They came to fight Muhammad. They urged you to break the treaty you had with him and to help them against him. So you responded positively to them. If they were to be victorious in their encounter with him, they would reap the booty. But if they fail to subdue him, they would return to their country safe and sound and they would leave you to him and he would be in a position to exact the most bitter revenge on you. You know very well that you would have no power to confront him."

"You are right," they said. "But what suggestion do you have?" "My opinion," Nuaym suggested, "is that you should not join forces with them until you take a group of their prominent men as hostages. In that way you could carry on the fight against Muhammad either till victory or till the last of your men or theirs perish. (They would not be able to leave you in the lurch)." "You have advised well," they responded and agreed to take up his suggestion.

Nuaym then left and went to Abu Sufyan ibn Harb, the Quraysh leader and spoke to him and other Quraysh leaders. "O Quraysh," said Nuaym, "You know my affection for you and my enmity towards Muhammad. I have heard some news and I thought it my duty to disclose it to you but you should keep it confidential and do not attribute it to me"

"You must inform us of this matter," insisted the Quraysh.

Nuaym continued: "The Banu Qurayzah now regret that they have agreed to participate in the hostilities against Muhammad. They fear that you would turn back and abandon them to him. So they have sent a message to Muhammad saying: 'We are sorry for what we have done and we are determined to return to the treaty and a state of peace with you. Would it please you then if we take several Quraysh and Ghatafan nobles and surrender them to you? We will then join you in fighting them - the Quraysh and the Ghatafan - until you finish them off.' The Prophet has sent back a reply to them saying he agrees. If therefore the Jews send a delegation to you demanding hostages from among your men do not hand over a single person to them. And do not mention a word of what I said to you."

"What a good ally you are. May you be rewarded well ," said Abu Sufyan gratefully.

Nuaym then went to his own people the Ghatafan, and spoke to them in a similar vein. He gave them the same warning against expected treachery from the Banu Qurayzah.

Abu Sufyan wanted to test the Banu Qurayzah so he sent his son to them. "My father sends greetings of peace to you," began Abu Sufyan's son. "He says that our siege of Muhammad and his companions has been a protracted affair and we have become weary...We are now determined to fight Muhammad and finish him off. My father has sent me to you to ask you to join battle with Muhammad tomorrow."

"But tomorrow is Saturday," said the Jews of Banu Qurayzah, "and we do not work at all on Saturdays. Moreover, we would not fight with you until you hand over to us seventy of your nobles and nobles from the Ghatafan as hostages. We fear that if the fighting becomes too intense for you would hasten back home and leave us alone to Muhammad. You know that we have no power to resist him..."

When Abu Sufyan's son returned to his people and told them what he had heard from the Banu Qurayzah, they shouted in unison!

"Damned be the sons of monkeys and swine! By God, if they were to demand from us a single sheep as a hostage, we would not give them".

And so it was that Nuaym was successful in causing disharmony among the confederates and splitting their ranks.

While the mighty alliance was in this state of disarray, God sent down on the Quraysh and their allies a fierce and bitterly cold wind which swept their tents and their vessels away, extinguished their fires, buffeted their faces and cast sand in their eves. In this terrible state of confusion the allies fled under cover of darkness.

That very night the Prophet had sent one his companions, Hudayfah ibn al-Yaman, to get information on the enemy's morale and intentions. He brought back the news that on the advice and initiative of Abu Sufyan, the enemy had turned on their heels and fled... The news quickly spread through the Muslims ranks and they shouted in joy and relief!

La ilaha ilia Allahu wahdah

Sadaqa wadah

Wa nasara abdah

Wa a azza jundah

Wa hazama-l ahzaba wahdah.

There is no god but Allah alone

To His promise He has been true

His servant He has helped

His forces He has strengthened

And Alone the confederates He has destroyed.

The Prophet, peace be upon him, praised and gave thanks to his Lord for His deliverance from the threat posed by the mighty alliance. Nuaym, as a result of his subtle but major role in the blasting of the alliance, gained the confidence of the Prophet who entrusted him thereafter with many a difficult task. He became the standard-bearer of the Prophet on several occasions.

Three years after the Battle of the Ditch, on the day the Muslims marched victoriously into Makkah, Abu Sufyan ibn Harb stood surveying the Muslim armies. He beheld

a man carrying the Ghatafan flag and asked: "Who is this?" "Nuaym ibn Masud," came the reply.

"He did a terrible thing to us at al-Khandaq," Abu Sufyan confessed. "By God, he was certainly one of the fiercest enemies of Muhammad and here he is now carrying his people's flag in the ranks of Muhammad and coming to wage war on us under his leadership."

Through the grace of God and the magnanimity of the noble Prophet, Abu Sufyan himself was soon to join the same ranks.

WasSalaamu alaykum

[img:7d8dcc76ab]http://www.gifs.net/animate/colormov.gif[/img:7d8dcc76ab]

[b:7d8dcc76ab]Verily in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find rest! 13.28[/b:7d8dcc76ab]

[img:7d8dcc76ab]http://www.boomspeed.com/alanqood_s/allahnames2.gif[/img:7d8dcc76ab]

[b:7d8dcc76ab]Blessed be the name of thy Lord full of Majesty Bounty and Honor. 55:78[/b:7d8dcc76ab]

[b:7d8dcc76ab]Allah has revealed the most beautiful message, a Book consistent in its verses yet repeating its teachings in different ways. Those who fear their Rabb are filled with awe when they hear it, their skins and their hearts become pliant to the remembrance of Allah. Such is the guidance of Allah: He guides with it whom He pleases. But he to whom He confounds shall have none to guide him. 39.23[/b:7d8dcc76ab]

<span>[b:7d8dcc76ab]ALLAHUMMA[/b:7d8dcc76ab] O Allah </span>

<span>[b:7d8dcc76ab]IN-NE AS'ALUKA[/b:7d8dcc76ab] I ask You for</span>

<span>[b:7d8dcc76ab]ILMAN NAFI'AN[/b:7d8dcc76ab] Beneficial knowledge</span>

<span>[b:7d8dcc76ab]WA RIZQ-AN TAYYIBAN [/b:7d8dcc76ab]And a good provision</span>

<span>[b:7d8dcc76ab]WA AMALAN MUTAQABBALA [/b:7d8dcc76ab]And Deeds that are accepted [/color:7d8dcc76ab]</span>

<span><span>[b:7d8dcc76ab]SUBHANAK ALLAAHUMA WA BIHAMDIK[/b:7d8dcc76ab] Glory & praise & gratitude is to You Oh Allah;</span></span>

<span><span>[b:7d8dcc76ab]ASH-HADU ALLAA ILLAHAA ILLA ANT[/b:7d8dcc76ab] I bear witness there is none that has the right to my worship but You; </span></span>

<span><span>[b:7d8dcc76ab]ASTAGHFIRUKA WA A TUBU EELLAIK[/b:7d8dcc76ab] I ask Your forgiveness and repent unto You.[/color:7d8dcc76ab]</span></span>

<span><span><span>I pray to Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala to forgive me for any errors or shortcomings. May Allah Subhaanahu wa Ta'ala keep us on the Path that pleases Him. Ameen![/color:7d8dcc76ab][/size:7d8dcc76ab]</span></span></span>

<span><span><span>[img:7d8dcc76ab]</span></span></span><span><span><span>http://www.gifs.net/animate/colormov.gif</span></span></span><span><span><span>[/img:7d8dcc76ab]</span></span></span>

<span><span><span><span>[b:7d8dcc76ab]What do you know about Islaam? [/b:7d8dcc76ab] [/color:7d8dcc76ab] ***** </span></span></span></span><span><span><span><span>[b:7d8dcc76ab]The Guide[/b:7d8dcc76ab] </span></span></span></span><span><span><span><span> ***** </span></span></span></span><span><span><span><span>[b:7d8dcc76ab]The Light[/b:7d8dcc76ab]</span></span></span></span><span><span><span><span> ***** </span></span></span></span><span><span><span><span>[b:7d8dcc76ab]The Path[/b:7d8dcc76ab]</span></span></span></span><span><span><span><span> ***** </span></span></span></span>

<span><span><span><span>[img:7d8dcc76ab]</span></span></span></span><span><span><span><span>http://www.al-hdhd.net/pic/RSL.gif</span></span></span></span><span><span><span><span>[/img:7d8dcc76ab] </span></span></span></span>

As Salam Alykom brothers and sisters

We encourage u all to pls revise the rules and make sure to abide by them. Failure to do so will make us compelled to apply them.

Remember we are all here to learn and know each other. Allah Sobhanhu wa Ta`ala said (translation of the meaning): "We created you in different nations and tribes so that you know each other".

We are not here to provoke, challenge or steer hatered.

As salam Alykom all members

We have noticed lately some posts that are not compatible with the main theme we desire for this forum. Members slander each other and just post replies for the sake of posting.

As an Islamic forum, we need to set some rules hoping that every one shall respect:

1. We need to post useful Islamic material.

2. Any one has an Islam related question of course is most welcome in an effort that members may provide the answer.

We need to maintain ethical language (no hard language, swearing or the like). NO SWEARING allowed This include small words even like S**T and A*S and the big hardcore Swear....Be warned you WIL BE CENSORED if anyone Will be using such words

3. No foul mouthing against moderators or admins.

4. Post that Signify and Racial of Means of provoking will be edited and warned if persistant will be banned. Flamers will be warned a few times if persistant they will be banned for about 3 days then reinstated if they APOLOGISE and promise to refrain from doing so again

5. If a member expresses a problem, if you can help go ahead, if not just wait for other contributions may be you can learn.

6. No Posting Anti Islamic websites..this is only giving popularity to such sites

7. We need to maintain a brotherly relation after all we are all Muslims. And even for our non Muslim members, we are still commanded by Quran to maintain good relations with them. So defuse this feeling among us all.

8. We encourage you to look for useful topics and post them, in case topics are taken from another site, please include the source for property rights.

9. Exellent topics shall be moved to the home page of islamsms.com.

10. Based on the above mentioned, the forum team retains the right to delete/ edit any topic that if found not compatible with our rules. Mainly of course topics which may touch, slander or abuse Allah, Quran or our beloved Prophet Mohamed (PAPBUH).

11. Violations of the rules or regulations will be met with 1 or 2 warnings. After this time, you will be banned for a set period (3-9 days maybe). Constant abusers will face permanent bans. If things are said in the heat of the moment, the comments will be edited out but this doesn't constitute a warning.

12. The forum team would like not to be held accountable before Allah for whatever material may be posted here which bears any wrong info. After all we are humans and may miss or falter. May Allah assist, support and guide us to maintain this forum in the best we could in the eyes of Allah.

We are here to learn, help each other, share useful knowledge and Insh a Allah gain reward

As salam Alykom all members

We have noticed lately some posts that are not compatible with the main theme we desire for this forum. Members slander each other and just post replies for the sake of posting.

As an Islamic forum, we need to set some rules hoping that every one shall respect:

1. We need to post useful Islamic material.

2. Any one has an Islam related question of course is most welcome in an effort that members may provide the answer.

We need to maintain ethical language (no hard language, swearing or the like). NO SWEARING allowed This include small words even like S**T and A*S and the big hardcore Swear....Be warned you WIL BE CENSORED if anyone Will be using such words

3. No foul mouthing against moderators or admins.

4. Post that Signify and Racial of Means of provoking will be edited and warned if persistant will be banned. Flamers will be warned a few times if persistant they will be banned for about 3 days then reinstated if they APOLOGISE and promise to refrain from doing so again

5. If a member expresses a problem, if you can help go ahead, if not just wait for other contributions may be you can learn.

6. No Posting Anti Islamic websites..this is only giving popularity to such sites

7. We need to maintain a brotherly relation after all we are all Muslims. And even for our non Muslim members, we are still commanded by Quran to maintain good relations with them. So defuse this feeling among us all.

8. We encourage you to look for useful topics and post them, in case topics are taken from another site, please include the source for property rights.

9. Exellent topics shall be moved to the home page of islamsms.com.

10. Based on the above mentioned, the forum team retains the right to delete/ edit any topic that if found not compatible with our rules. Mainly of course topics which may touch, slander or abuse Allah, Quran or our beloved Prophet Mohamed (PAPBUH).

11. Violations of the rules or regulations will be met with 1 or 2 warnings. After this time, you will be banned for a set period (3-9 days maybe). Constant abusers will face permanent bans. If things are said in the heat of the moment, the comments will be edited out but this doesn't constitute a warning.

12. The forum team would like not to be held accountable before Allah for whatever material may be posted here which bears any wrong info. After all we are humans and may miss or falter. May Allah assist, support and guide us to maintain this forum in the best we could in the eyes of Allah.

We are here to learn, help each other, share useful knowledge and Insh a Allah gain reward

*deleted by Muslimah*

Contains distorted information

Many near-death accounts reveal that the religions of this world are merely an external path whose ideal is to lead people inward toward true spirituality. People often confuse religion with spirituality. Religion is the outward form of worship and spirituality is the inward form of worship. People who have a near-death experience often return less religious and more spiritual.

As an example of spiritual change that often takes place in near-death experiencers can be found in Tom Harpur's excellent documentary entitled Life After Death. In it, he profiles a minister named Ken Martin who had a near-death experience. Upon his return from his experience, he discovered that everything he had previously known - his ministry, his calling, everything - was insignificant in comparison to his experience with the afterlife.

Summary

Heaven is not about religious beliefs, but about spiritual actions. It is not true, as some people believe, that we get to heaven by giving verbal assent to belief in God. It is love, not religious doctrines, that creates spiritual growth. Religions are cultural institutions but love is universal. (Kevin Williams)

Those religions which claim superiority over other religions or exclude people for various reasons, go against God's law to love others as we love ourselves. Although religion, in itself, is not important to God, all religions are necessary because there are people who need what they teach. For this reason, all religions are precious in the sight of God. (Kevin Williams)

All religions refer to the same God. All religions are different ways of explaining the same God. (Kevin Williams)

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Whisper re read the rules.

*edited by Muslimah*[/b:7576f0da7c][/color:7576f0da7c]

The difference between outward religion and inward spirituality

Heaven is about deeds, not creeds. Therefore, persons of many cultures and religions form the societies of heaven. (Emanuel Swedenborg)

Doctrine and creed and race mean nothing. No matter what we believe we were all children joined under one God. The only rule is God's true law: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. (May Eulitt)

God cares little about our religious affiliation or church membership. Love is not limited to any one religion or even religion at all. Religions are cultural institutions but love is universal. (Kevin Williams)

Jesus didn't come to preach a new religion. Jesus was Jewish. Jesus preached unconditional love. (Kevin Williams)

What is truly important is love, not religion. (Beth Hammond)

People who truly practice the "religion" of love will find themselves in a universal sphere where everyone understands that true religion is to love others as ourselves. (Nora Spurgin)

The best religion is the religion that brings you closest to God. (Rev. Howard Storm)

There is light that can be found in many, many other faiths. All faiths which stress love have this focus. All have their own paradise, but the devoted eventually learn the tremendous experience that all is one under God and that there is no division in purpose. There is one God of us all. (Margaret Tweddell)

There are only two "true" religions - the religion of love and the religion of fear. (Sandra Rogers)

It is not true, as some people think, that if we only give verbal assent to belief in God, that is our passport to heaven and everything will be all right. Not so. God helps those who help themselves. (Margaret Tweddell)

One does not have to be religious to dwell in the spirit world, but one inevitably will benefit from a thorough understanding and practice of a particular tradition. (Nora Spurgin)

Those religions which claim some singular relationship with God, claim superiority over others, or exclude people for various reasons, go against God's law that we love one another as we love ourselves. (Sandra Rogers)

Not all teachings described as religious are beneficial. Religion which is judgmental, prejudicial, critical, and narrow may impede the spirit’s natural growth. Where religion teaches love, there is growth. Where religion impedes love, there is stagnation. (Nora Spurgin)

Religious beliefs have little to do with what we experience in the transition from one realm to another, except that we are allowed to see briefly the teacher or guru that we followed. Regardless of cultural or religious beliefs, we have the same basic experience at death. (Betty Bethards)

Deeply held religious beliefs come into visible expression in the spirit realms, just as they do in the physical realm. We create our own experience. Eventually, restrictive minds slowly open and expand allowing them to accept greater understanding. Then they are ready to move from their limited concept of life to the eternal adventure, for there is ever more to know, to do, to be. (Jan Price)

There are problems with having fixed beliefs about the hereafter. Things change little in the hereafter. Suppose we have the fixed idea that we'll sleep until the resurrection of the body. Then suppose there isn't a resurrection of the body. We might sleep a very long time. (Arthur Yensen)

<span>[b:7576f0da7c]Again re read the rules</span>

<span>we are being very patient this is second warning on one single post</span>

<span>*edited by Muslimah*[/b:7576f0da7c][/color:7576f0da7c]</span>

<span> If we have no fixed beliefs about anything, we'd be free to adapt to the new surroundings and fit in where we belong with no unusual difficulty. Everything has its place. Fixed beliefs are useful in prayer where doubt is fatal. Yet doubt is always useful in sizing up religious dogma, reading junk mail, listening to commercials, and the promises of politicians. (Arthur Yensen)</span>

<span> Religious beliefs can limit an open mind. (Kevin Williams) </span>

<span> Many people turned off by religion. Any complete body of knowledge is like a spoke in a wheel - pointing to the center of ultimate truth. Science, art, music, philosophy and religion run into trouble because they are not yet complete bodies of knowledge even though religion is advertised and sold as such. (Arthur Yensen) </span>

<span> Despite what some people think, heaven is not limited only to Christians. Jesus reveals the way, the truth, and the life. However, unless we can give someone the true Christian experience of the Christ, it is not right for us to say to them, 'You must not be a Buddhist - you must be a Christian.' (Margaret Tweddell) </span>

<span> Many religionists think they have the whole truth and the only short-cut to heaven. Some churches force their particular brand of God's love on people who were perfectly satisfied and thought they were on good terms with God already. But even though the churches have abused religion, I believe everyone should have some kind of a religion, or philosophy, to encourage them to think and grow spiritually. (Arthur Yensen) </span>

<span> God is not a member of any church or religion. It is the churches and the religions that are members within the vastness and the glory that is God. There is no one religion just as there is no "chosen" people or person, nor any single way of regarding what cannot be fully comprehended. (P.M.H. Atwater)</span>

<span> The belief that we are separate from God is the only real "sin." (P.M.H. Atwater) </span>

<span> Evil and the devil do not exist. What people consider "evil" is really ignorance. Hitler was not an "evil" man. He was just so incredibly ignorant that he was practically retarded at a spiritual level. Such people are to be pitied and our unconditional love should extended even to him because it is hard to hate a retarded person. (Kevin Williams)</span>

<span> There is no such thing as sin. There are only mistakes. Everything is a learning experience. We are here to make mistakes in order to learn and grow from them. (Jayne Smith)</span>

<span> In the hell realms, there are souls who argue over some religious doctrine and try to kill those who do not agree with them. (Dr. George Ritchie) </span>

<span> The reason God did not give us only one religion is because each of us is at a different level of spiritual development and understanding. All religions are necessary because there are people who need what they teach. (Betty Eadie)</span>

<span> We have no right to criticize any church or religion in any way. They are all precious in God's sight. Very special people with important missions have been placed in all religions that they might touch others. (Betty Eadie)</span>

<span> God does not care which religion is best. God does not care what religion people practice. They are all a blooming facet of the whole. All religions refer to the same God. (Mellen-Thomas Benedict) </span>

<span> The different religions just have different ways of explaining the same Creator. (Dr. Liz Dale)</span>

<span> If you read the Bible with the idea of finding contradictions and problems, you will find them. The Bible contains spiritual truth and it has to be read spiritually in order to understand it. It should be read prayerfully. When read prayerfully, it talks to you and reveals itself to you. (Rev. Howard Storm) </span>

<span> Some people believe that to be a spiritual person, we must renounce the world, give up worldly things and read the Bible all the time. But people who live this way create a mournful life for themselves and one that is not receptive of heavenly joy. Everyone's life on earth stays with them when they enter the afterlife. If people want to live a heavenly life, they must live a moral and civil life in the world. Living an inward life and not an outward life at the same time is like living in a house with no foundation which gradually develops cracks and collapses. (Emanuel Swedenborg)</span>

<span> God created differences in religion because of the different lessons we all need to learn. (Sandra Rogers)</span>

<span> Religions have a place and any one person in that religion is on the path of learning what is important for that soul. (Darlene Holman)</span>

<span> The most important thing is to really live what our religion teaches. Even if we have the greatest religion of all, it won't do us any good if we don't put it into practice in our lives. Whatever we practice becomes a part of us. (Daniel Rosenblit)</span>

<span> We are all different aspects of the same being who is not committed to one particular religion. (Mellen-Thomas Benedict)</span>

<span> Religious figures including the founders of world religions, the saints and prophets, exist in various spirit realms. The similarity of one’s life, heart and knowledge to a particular figure determines one’s closeness to these religious figures. (Nora Spurgin) </span>

<span> Religion is used as a stepping stone to further knowledge. Each church fulfills spiritual needs that perhaps others cannot fill. No one church can fulfill everybody's needs at every level. As an individual raises his level of understanding about God and his own eternal progress, he might feel discontented with the teachings of his present church and seek a different philosophy or religion to fill that void. When this occurs he has reached another level of understanding and will long for further truth and knowledge, and for another opportunity to grow. And at every step of the way, these new opportunities to learn will be given. (Betty Eadie) </span>

<span> Insincere prayers of repetition have little, if any, light. These, having no power, are not heard. But there is no prayer greater than that of a mother for her children. (Betty Eadie) </span>

<span>Religion in the afterlife </span>

<span> Death does not suddenly turn a non-religious person into a religious person. (Margaret Tweddell)</span>

<span> Everyone, religious or not, believing in God or not, transitions to the spirit world as part of the natural process of life. Just as one does not need to be religious to live in the physical world, one does not need to profess a particular faith to live in the spirit world. (Nora Spurgin) </span>

<span> The religion we practice is inconsequential. What is important is how we show our love for God by the way we treat each other. What is important is that we love God and each other, and that it isn't what a person says, but the love in their being that is examined in the afterlife. (Sandra Rogers) </span>

<span> When we die, there is no so-called "Judgment Day" involving the hellfire and brimstone that is described in the Bible. God judges no one. The only judgment is self-judgment. (Sherry Gideon) </span>

<span> There is no doctrine and no belief to pursue other than knowing that the Being of Light is God. (Norman Paulsen)</span>

<span> The Being of Light seen in near-death experiences can change into different figures, such as Jesus, Buddha, Krishna, mandalas, archetypal images and signs. Our beliefs shape the kind of feedback we get from this Being. If we were a Buddhist or Catholic or Fundamentalist, we would get a feedback loop of our own beliefs. (Mellen-Thomas Benedict)</span>

<span> There is a tendency among certain religious people in the afterlife to congregate in their little groups and have their little sessions of what they feel are "heaven." Eventually they become very bored with this narrowness, and then their own helpers and teachers will try to give them another idea to help them to break away from this narrow mindset. (Margaret Tweddell) </span>

<span> [b:7576f0da7c]</span><span><span>*edited by Muslimah*[/color:7576f0da7c][/b:7576f0da7c]</span></span>

<span><span> The most difficult thing for a person who has been deeply steeped in a particular religious tradition is to realize that the form alone is not what elevates a person; it is the heart. Still, those who cling to an external form of religion will be most comfortable with others who practice the same rituals, whatever they may be. In this sense, congregations may continue centered around the particular religious traditions they practiced while on earth. (Nora Spurgin)</span></span>

<span><span> In some dimensions of the afterlife, there exists denominations where people continue to practice the rites of their churches. But in the higher planes there is a unity of God-praise, not a segregation of the praise of God. (Margaret Tweddell) </span></span>

<span><span> </span></span><span><span><span>[b:7576f0da7c]*edited by Muslimah*[/b:7576f0da7c][/color:7576f0da7c]</span></span></span>

<span><span><span> The famous spiritualist Arthur Ford described an example of the afterlife situation of a hellfire and brimstone preacher when he crosses over:</span></span></span>

<span><span><span><span>[b:7576f0da7c]*edited by Muslimah*[/b:7576f0da7c][/color:7576f0da7c]"At last the old souls gather around and explain to him that he is preaching a false doctrine; that heaven is within each man, and so is his private hell; that he has arrived, and nothing is being hidden from him. It is up to him to begin work on his own spiritual advancement, and he is retarding the progress of others by misleading them with false hopes of a promised land. For this is the promised land, and we make of it what we will through our own endeavors." (Ruth Montgomery)</span></span></span></span>

<span><span><span><span> </span></span></span></span><span><span><span><span><span>[b:7576f0da7c]*edited by Muslimah*[/b:7576f0da7c][/color:7576f0da7c]</span></span></span></span></span>

<span><span><span><span><span> Some Christians enter the spirit world and are led into thoughts they had during their physical life about the soul's state after death, heaven, and hell, until they come to resent their former utter ignorance of things like this, and resent the Church's ignorance of such matters. (Emanuel Swedenborg)</span></span></span></span></span>

<span><span><span><span><span> When we enter the spirit realm, we are given glimpses of things we expected to see in order to bring us comfort. We may briefly see a teacher we worshipped in our lifetime: Jesus, Buddha, or another guru, according to your expectations. But gently we are brought out of many of our illusions and are shown that we have not landed in an ultimate paradise with gold paved streets. (Betty Bethards) </span></span></span></span></span>

<span><span><span><span><span> In the spirit realms, you are able to go back in time and live in the minds of Jesus and his disciples. You can heard their conversations, experience them eating, passing wine, smells, tastes - as pure consciousness. Any time in history, you can go there. (Dr. George Rodonaia)</span></span></span></span></span>

<span><span><span><span><span> One man who had a near-death experience realized that the "God" of his religious background wasn't anything like the reality. He learned that it doesn't matter if people call him God, Allah, Great Spirit or whatever, he is one and the same." (Dr. Liz Dale)</span></span></span></span></span>

<span><span><span><span><span> Hindu near-death experiences often consist of someone reading the a person's record of their life. In some Christian near-death experiences, it is the "Book of Life" that is read. (Pasricha and Stevenson)</span></span></span></span></span>

<span><span><span><span><span> The central message that Buddhist near-death experiencers bring back from their journey is that the most important qualities in life are love and knowledge, compassion and wisdom. (Lingza Chokyi)</span></span></span></span></span>

<span><span><span><span><span>Religious influences on NDEs </span></span></span></span></span>

<span><span><span><span><span> Religious backgrounds do not affect who is most likely to have an NDE. (P.M.H. Atwater)</span></span></span></span></span>

<span><span><span><span><span> An NDEr's religious beliefs do not prevent the expansion of psychic abilities resulting from their experience. (P.M.H. Atwater)</span></span></span></span></span>

<span><span><span><span><span> NDErs are not more or less religious than in the cross-section of the population. They come from many religious backgrounds and from the ranks of agnostics and even atheists. (IANDS faq) </span></span></span></span></span>

<span><span><span><span><span>Religious after-effects from NDEs</span></span></span></span></span>

<span><span><span><span><span> Near-death accounts suggest that unconditional love is the highest form of "religion" there is. (Kevin Williams)</span></span></span></span></span>

<span><span><span><span><span> One of the truths about NDEs is that each person integrates their NDE into their own pre-existing belief system. (Jody Long)</span></span></span></span></span>

<span><span><span><span><span> The "Beings of Light" found in NDEs usually conform to the predominant religion the person was exposed to, but not always. Jesus has appeared in near-death scenarios of Jewish people, for instance; a Muslim man once told me he was met by Buddha. (P.M.H. Atwater)</span></span></span></span></span>

<span><span><span><span><span> NDErs tend to become more spiritual - though not necessarily more involved in organized religion. (Dr. Ken Ring)</span></span></span></span></span>

<span><span><span><span><span> No matter what the nature of the NDE, it alters some lives. Atheists embrace the existence of a deity, while dogmatic members of a particular religion report feeling welcome in any church or temple or mosque. (P.M.H. Atwater)</span></span></span></span></span>

<span><span><span><span><span> After having an NDE, people tend to exhibit a significant shift in their beliefs on a wide range of subjects including a general tendency toward an increased openness to the idea of reincarnation. (Dr. Ken Ring)</span></span></span></span></span>

<span><span><span><span><span> After having an NDE, religious observance may increase or lessen, but a deepened belief in God, or a "Higher Power," is almost certain. People say, "Before, I believed; now I know." (IANDS faq)</span></span></span></span></span>

<span><span><span><span><span> Religious orientation is not a factor affecting either the likelihood or the depth of the NDE. An atheist is as likely to have one as a devoutly religious person. Regardless of their prior attitudes - whether skeptical or deeply religious - and regardless of the many variations in religious beliefs and degrees of skepticism from tolerant disbelief to outspoken atheism - most of these people were convinced that they had been in the presence of some supreme and loving power and had a glimpse of a life yet to come. Almost all who had an NDE find their lives transformed and are changed in their attitudes and values, and in their inclination to love and to help others. (Dr. Ken Ring) </span></span></span></span></span>

Forgive me if I offend any of you, I'll try to be quick and painless:

From what I understand, contraception in sex is forbidden in Islam. My first question, why? My second question, since times have changed and there are more sexual worries out there even with married couples (AIDS, STD's, etc) wouldn't it be a good idea to allow contraception under certain circumstances. For example, let's say a muslim man and woman get married, but the man has AIDS and the woman doesn't. They can now have sex if they please, but wouldn't it make sense to let the man use a condom so he doesn't cause his wife a premature and painful death?

http://www.thenausea.com/elements/Chechenya/ofex_h.wmv

its a russian who's head was cut off by chechen rebels.

why would they do such a thing?

i guess theyre just horrible terrorists.

if not, can someone plz explain.

http://www.atrueword.com/index.php/article...cleview/62/1/1/

Marriage: The Foundation of Our Future

by Waleed Kadous

wkadous@atrueword.com

http://www.atrueword.com/index.php/article...cleview/62/1/1/

"Most of the research results that I have reported here are fairly well known, especially to researchers working on the topics I have discussed. But I think they are not well known outside the research community ... I think that persuasive, even compelling, evidence exists ..."

A statement made by a researcher on climate change? The latest comments on genetic engineering?

Neither. Rather, it's a statement by Linda Waite, a Professor in the School of Sociology in the University of Chicago. She is talking about the compelling evidence in favour of marriage. In an article entitled "Does Marriage Matter?", she focuses on the personal benefits of marriage. Her conclusion:

On average, however, marriage seems to produce substantial benefits for men and women in the form of better health, longer life, more and better sex, greater earnings (at least for men), greater wealth, and better outcomes for children.

She was so moved by the evidence in favour of marriage resulting from her research that she subsequently wrote a book on the topic. "I wanted to take the very arcane research results to the general public," she said. "It was a story I felt responsible and obligated to share."

[As an aside, Harvard University Press, publishers of radical feminists like Catharine MacKinnon, refused to publish the book just before it was about to go to print, in yet another case of political correctness gone awry. Eventually it was published by Doubleday.]

The evidence does not end there. Other research shows that across 17 nations, married people are significantly happier than people who are cohabiting unmarried couples and singles. Studies in Canada show that cohabiting unmarried couple relations are far less stable than married couples. In their studies, less than half of cohabiting studies survived three years or more, and less than 15 per cent survived for 10 years or more, comparing with approximately 90 per cent of marital unions surviving for 10 years. Obviously, marriage provides a much more stable emotional base for both couples and their children.

The wider social impacts of having children brought up in married households versus either cohabiting households or single households are well-studied and well-known. Statistics show that children from married households are more mentally stable, less likely to be involved in crime, drugs and teenage pregnancies, and more likely to go on to tertiary education. As Senator Rick Santorum mentioned in the US Congress: "Every statistic that I'm aware of - and I'd be anxious to hear if there's one on the other side - says that marriage is better for children - every one - and usually by a very large margin. And so the question I have is, why are we neutral on this issue if we care about children?"

The interesting thing about the issue of marriage in Western society is that it is a conflict between ideology and reality. The feminist, free sex and anti-marriage movements promoted that "marriage is a place of oppression, danger and drudgery for women"; that we would all be happier if we were allowed to indulge in non-committal structures like cohabitation -- that society would benefit from "flexibility" in relationship; and that -- particularly -- women would be happier when freed from the "patriarchal tyranny of marriage". This idea has permeated through society; beginning in academe and spreading to the wider community. More than 60 per cent of Americans, according to one survey, felt that the best way to establish a marriage was to cohabit first.

Now the results of the socially excruciating, four-decade experiment of moving away from marriage are in -- and the results are very conclusive. Women are not happier, society is not better and we have a generation of children who have suffered at the hands of this ideology.

In short, the entire social experiment was a mistake.

People are not happier, and society is by no means better off. In a secular society, what other criteria matter? If one argues that non-marriage relationships are some kind of fundamental right, then one can also argue that it is the right of children to be raised in a stable environment.

All of the world's major religions advocate marriage and discourage cohabitation. Islam is probably the most vehement in its support for marriage -- as is visible by considering the punishments for pre-marital and extra-marital relations (100 lashes for the former, stoning for the latter). However, the stringent evidence required for convictions for either crime -- 4 witnesses, with a punishment of 80 lashes for false accusation -- have led many to argue that the punishments are not for the crimes themselves, but for being so flagrant in the act that the perpetrators couldn't care less who know -- in other words, a blatant disregard for the sanctity of the family.

So, what happens when an ideology turns out to be wrong? History provides a tragic dossier of case studies; whether it be the sad story of communism and its assumptions about human nature, or the taking of young from the indigenous people of Australia, on the basis of the ideology that absorption into white society was in their best interests.

When an ideology is inconsistent with the reality, people die and cultures suffer until those cultures come to their senses. In the Soviet Famine of 1931-3 alone, some 4.5 million people died, mostly due to the misallocation of resources. In the case of the attempt to absorb Indigenous people into Australian society, it led to massive increases in suicides and criminal activity amongst those who were taken away, as found in Australia's Senate Enquiry into the Stolen Generation.

The sooner that our societies return to the institution of marriage, the more quickly the decline will be halted, and the lesser the suffering.

a.s.w.k

Bros and sis i passed my driving test !!! make dua all that i get a car now..............