02-23-2007, 01:14 AM
In the Name of the Father & of the Son & of the Spirit - One God now & forever. Amen.
Peace be with you, hmm Zachariah!
Thanks so much for answering my questions :) I hope you don't mind if we take it a step further.
Quote:What does 'image' with another wording then mean?
You see, you can't give what you don't have.
"Image" in the sense that we have "being" in the same way as God has "being" (will, intellect, love & communion [Holy Trinity], etc). God's perfect & He creates perfection according to one's nature (angels, humans). "Likeness" in the sense of qualities (truth, goodness, beauty, etc). Through Original Sin we lose our likeness to God, however, by Christ's redemption, it's restored. We also possess a number of God's attributes (justice, compassion, forgiveness, wisdom etc) but not to God's infinite degree.
Quote:Do you believe that Jesus pbuh is begotten?
We profess that the Son is begotten of the Father. We don't believe that God begets another god.
Quote:To me it is not farfetced to compare slave and servant. It is one that adhere the call of the Creator and follow, meaning does His will. Just as can be read in NT
Mat 10:24 ''The disciple is not above [his] master, nor the servant above his lord. ''
Jesus taught humanity the greatest lessons - Love God with all your heart, mind & strength; & love your neighbour as yourself (because they too are made in the image & likeness of God).
You can't serve God if you don't love Him. You can't love God if you don't know Him, therefore, our purpose is to know, love & serve God. We don't simply become His slaves because that's what He commands us to do. It's way deeper than that for Christians. (which is why I'm still battling between predestination vs freewill in Islam)
Thank you for quoting the biblical verse (my heart opens up each time someone does so). Our greatest glory will consist in imitating the Master who took on the role of a servant & endured persecution for the sake of humanity's entrance into the Kingdom of God.
The Bible truly is a love letter... from God to us. Alhamdilulah!
Quote:Also animals follow their given laws, the will of Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala. They get hungry, they hunt and eat. BUT in difference to humans they just DO it, they do not reflect or ponder on WHY they do it.
What has Allah (SWT) given us that He hasn't given them? They're vegetative & sensitive creatures too. Are there animals in Paradise too?
Quote:Yes, since both Adam pbuh and his wife made something they should not have done. Adam pbuh did not blame his wife, as he does in Genesis? instead they both admit their mistake, they both repent and they both ask Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala for forgiveness. And it is given to them. Both.
What special privileges are you referring to?
That's my whole point! If Allah (SWT) forgave them, why did they remain on earth? They were sent here as a punishment but as soon as their sin/guilt was washed away, logic tells us they should've returned to their original state.
Why aren't we tested in Paradise since we're without sin???
Quote:Why not? We are tested wherever we are, aren't we? According to Islamic teachings it was Iblis/Shaytan that was present and he never left us since then. He is always around. Wherever we are. If Shaytan is not created, what is he?
We do have only One Creator - yes?
Is one of the 99 names of Allah (SWT) "evil one"? If not, then evil can't be in Allah's (SWT) presence.
Before you ask, Satan's a fallen angel in Christianity - he was created good... because God can't create anything contrary to his nature.
It's ludicrous & heretical for Christians to believe that we get tested in Heaven - evil doesn't belong in Heaven.
Quote:He Subhanahu wa Ta'ala <b>knows</b> as you say, since He is the the All-Knowing. He knows what choices we are going to do before we do them. But He has left the job to be done by us. Even when you cross a road you have to take your responsibility and look if it is ok to pass over the road. You cannot just walk without looking first only because 'it is already known'. The choice you make are yours, even if they are known to our Creator.
That's ideal! However, if you fail to look & consequently get run over by a car is it due to Allah's (SWT) will? Was it written?
From my understanding, the Qur'an & Hadith doesn't quite agree with your above statement & so far on this forum... Wael, Muslimah & Dan have expressed different viewpoints regarding this issue... which is why I'm so lost!
Please refer to the ayats & sayings in post 47: http://islamsms.com/bb/index.php?showtopic=4116&st=40 & feel free to share your opinion :)
Quote:Keep up the good work! :) InshaAllah.
Hope I can clarify some issues inshaAllah.
Thank you x 2.
Glory to God, peace on earth & good will to all.
Take care, umm!