Mr. Ali Sina,

On your official Facebook page, your websites named http://faithfreedom.org & http://alisina.org and in your writings, you (also your followers) claim that you’re an Ex-Muslim. My question, were you (and your followers) a Muslim?
In your book named “Understanding Muhammad” you wrote, ‘Since September 11, 2001, there have been over 13,000 terrorist attacks, resulting in the deaths and injury of hundreds of thousands of civilians, throughout the world. The perpetrators of these attacks were not monsters; they were Muslims, …’ [Understanding Muhammad by Ali Sina, Synopsis, Page iv, 4th Edition 2008, FaithFreedom Publishing, USA]. My question, were the perpetrators Muslim?
In your websites we see you took part written debates with some renowned scholars & many persons (but They “have tried and failed” @ http://www.faithfreedom.org/ffiprologue) who claim that they are Muslim. My question, are they Muslim?
In your language ‘World’s Greatest Showman’ (I likewise agree with this assertion) and his website http://www.irf.net, we came to know that Dr. Zakir Naik is renowned as a dynamic international orator on Islam and Comparative Religion. My inquiry, in truth, has he become a Muslim at all?
Many ‘so-called’ Islamic Scholars, founder & member of ‘so-called’ Islamic Organizations, people from Islamic family & followers of Islam who claim that they are Muslim. My question, are they Muslim?
Then who are ‘Muslim’? Do you know the definition of a Muslim? If a person born in an Islamic state or in an Islamic family (where Islam practiced), can we consider this person a Muslim? If you think like that, I say that you (and your followers & the entire human beings who claim that they’re Muslim) are in the wrong.
To read a book you can earn knowledge about something, to read a joke you can laugh, to read a fairy tale you feel romance, but to read the Quran & the Hadith you can’t be a Muslim. One may be a Hafez of the Quran by memorizing the whole Quran, maybe a famous reciter of the Quran by reciting the Quran using melodious voice, maybe an explainer, scholar & researcher of the Quran by explaining & researching the Quran using knowledge & reference, maybe earn virtue by reading the Quran in the prayer. These are not proving that they’re Muslim. To read, recite & explain the Quran & the Hadith you can get a picture or an idea about Islam but you can’t get the reality. Now what is reality? If you eat food, then your stomach is happy, when the wind blows your body feel relaxed. This is the reality here. Did you feel any reality to understand the Quran or to do the prayer when you were a ‘so-called’ Muslim? I know the answer will be “No”. Before taking food firstly, you taste the food of your tongue as the food may sour or putrefied. You’ll take your food just then when your tongue confirmed that the food is Ok. If the wind is excessively cool or hot then your skin commands you to cover your body to protect the skin from harm. Now it’s clear that without testing you can’t take anything in spite of necessity. Had you tested the Quran or Islam when you were a ‘so-called’ Muslim as you claimed “that book (the Quran) is a hoax (!)”? (@ http://www.faithfreedom.org/ffiprologue) If the response is “Yes” please tell me the name of your tester by which you tested the Quran as you’ve declared that “The Quran is replete with scientific heresies, historic blunders, logical absurdities, grammatical errors and ethical fallacies(!)”. (@ http://www.faithfreedom.org/ffiprologue) If the testing power of your tongue is lost you’ll be unable to taste different kinds of food. If the feeling power of your skin becomes extinct you’ll be unable to feel hot or cool. Allah (Swt) says in the 2nd Sura al-Baqarah in verse 02:
“This is the Book (Quran) about which there is no doubt, a guidance for those who are mindful of Allah.”
Here mindful means alive, aware, sensible. It’s clear that those who are dead (dead means not bodily death, it’s mentally or spiritually dead), unaware, insensible, the Quran is not for them a guidance and they’ll find doubt in the Quran (!). Though they read the Quran, explain the Quran, research the Quran or recite the Quran.
In another place of the Quran Allah (Swt) says in the 16th Sura an-Nahl in verse 89:
“We have sent down to thee the Book (Quran) explaining all things, a Guide, a Mercy, and Glad Tidings to Muslims.”
So those who are not Muslims, couldn’t find anything from the Quran. Also those who are not Muslims, the Quran is not a Guide for them, not a Mercy for them.
In a hadith, Hazrath Abdullah Ibn Ma’sud (Radiallahu Anhu) reported the Messenger of Allah (Sallallahu Alayhe Wa Sallam) said, “The Quran was sent down in seven harfs (letter). Each of these harfs has an outward aspect (zahr) and an inward aspect (batn)” [The Commentary on the Quran by Abu Jafar Muhammad B. Jarir Al-Tabari, being an abridged translation of ‘Jami al-bayan an tawil ay al-quran’ with an introduction & notes by J. Cooper, Vol. 1, Pg. 16, Oxford University Press, GB].
Outward aspect of the Quran is easy to translate, but Inward aspect – it’s difficult to translate. It’s a matter of Perception. To understand the Quran you must have the Knowledge of perception (In Sufi tradition it’s called knowledge of unseen). As you’ve no Knowledge of perception so you’ve not found any difference between the Quran & other general books. It’s not only your (also atheist, anti Islam blogger etc.) problem but also the problem of Scholar of Islam & Scholar of Quran. Therefore, it’s clear that to ‘understanding Muhammad (Sw.)’ & the Quran all of you must have the Knowledge of perception, in Arabic which is called Iman (faith).
Now, what is Iman (belief)? Just recite the ‘Kalimah Tayyibah’ (Word of Purity) “La ilaha illallahu Muhammadur Rasulullah (Sw.)” i.e. ‘There is no god but Allah, (and) Muhammad (Sw.) is the messenger of Allah’, is it Iman? Or a ‘blind faith’ in Allah & His Messenger, is it Iman? If you & the entire human beings (who claim that they’re Muslim) have the confidence that, to be a Believer one must accept the above definition of Iman, I say that all of you are in the wrong. It is wrong to think that way. To recite ‘Mango is a tasty fruit’ (literally) or to ‘eat a Mango’ (physically) is not a same thing. By recite ‘Mango is a tasty fruit’ we just get an idea about Mango that it’s a tasty fruit but we don’t get any idea about what taste is a Mango. To check the taste of a Mango firstly, you must eat the Mango. If you have an MBA degree you must have a document which is called ‘Certificate’. To read one’s MBA Degree’s Certificate or to hold an MBA Degree (MBA holder) is not an equal thing. Similarly, to recite ‘Kalimah Tayyibah’ (word of Iman) or ‘a holder of Iman’ is not a same thing. ‘Iman’ is a name of power, is a name of light (Nur). Allah (Swt) says in the 2nd Sura al-Baqarah in verse 257:
“Allah is the Protector of those who have Iman (faith), He brings them out from darknesses into the light (Nur).”
Concerning these words Sahl said: “That is, (He protects them with) the protection of (His) good pleasure (rija). He is their protector due to the former guidance He granted them, and His knowledge concerning them, of their affirmation of His oneness. This is due to His knowledge that they have freed themselves from every cause except their Creator. Hence they were taken out of the darkness into the light, and from disbelief, error, disobedience and innovation to faith, which is the light that God, Mighty and Majestic is He, established in their hearts. This is the light of the insight of certainty (Nur basirat al-yaqin) by which they seek inner perception of the divine oneness (tawhid), and obedience to Him in that which He has commanded and forbidden. For anyone to whom God gives no light, there is no light! (24:40).” [Tafsir al-Tustari by Sahl b. Abdullah al-Tustari, translated by Annabel Keeler and Ali Keeler, Pg. 29, Royal Aal al-Bayt Institute for Islamic Thought, Amman, Jordan, Published by Fons Vitae, Louisville, KY]
‘Muslim’ is the second highest rank for the follower of Islam. Then, what is the first? ‘Iman’ (faith) is the first subject and first pillar of Islam. A person who holds a particular belief (Iman) with proof is called Believer of Allah (holder of Iman). You said (Mr. Ali Sina) “I was a believer before I became an atheist and now..(!)” [‘Why I believe in God and the afterlife now’ by Ali Sina on August 28, 2013, at http://alisina.org/?p=3869 accessed May 24, 2015] What was your document of Iman when you were an Ex-Muslim or a believer Mr. Sina? Hey, the follower of Islam, what is the instrument of your Iman? Just recite the ‘Kalimah’? Just born in an Islamic family? Just read the Quran? Just do the Prayer? Please look into the verse (2:257) “He brings them out from darknesses into the light” Have you seen the Light of Iman? Light is not an unseen thing. It has an existence & a weight. Allah (Swt) says in the 33rd Sura al-Ahzab in verse 72:
“We offered the trust (Light of Iman) to the heavens and the earth and the mountains, but they refused to carry it (because of weight) and feared it (because of love as objects can’t love); and man carried it (because only man who has got the light of Iman can love cause he has an evidence).”
The person who has got the light is able to walk smoothly. When you’re standing on a dark street you can’t see what perils lie near you. You don’t know what insects, animals, pit holes are around you. If you move, you just move with conjecture. But Allah says in the 10th Sura Yunus in verse 36 (also see 53:28):
“Assuredly conjecture can by no means take the place of truth.”
When a lamp is lighted on the street, you’re able to see all the harmful things that are around you. The same way when a Believer of Allah gets Nur (light) from Allah through the Prophet (Sw.), he is able to see his own weaknesses, own faults which were invisible to him before. He is able to realize the verse of the Quran where Allah says,
“They follow what their own souls desire.” [Sura an-Najm, verse 23]
See Mr. Ali Sina’s own souls desire, “I am a follower of Jesus. I don’t go to any church but I pray at home and converse with Jesus. Jesus is alive. He is listening and he has the key to hell and heaven. So, although you can go to heaven even if you worship a stone, I choose to have a relationship with Jesus. I know he loves me. If he loves even the sinners, why should he not love me? I am not really a great sinner, just a faulty person, and he can overlook my faults (!).” [‘I am lost, please help’ by Ali Sina on January 29, 2015, at http://alisina.org/?p=5036 accessed May 24, 2015]
When a Believer of Allah gets Nur (light) he finds himself so lowly that all other people he meets seem very virtuous to him. But we see ‘so-called’ Scholars of Islam become haughty despite their knowledge of dependency. They are just become like information recorders. They memorise many things and quote them like parrot. They’re not wise. They’re wiseacre. Real scholar are humble. I’ll now relate an incident regarding humble. “Hazrat Bishr Haafi (Rahmatullah Alaihi) began attending the discourses of Imaam Ahmed bin Hambal (Rahmatullah Alaihi) out of regard for this knowledge and being a Muhaddith (Interpreter of Hadith). Imaam Ahmed bin Hambal (Rah.) was the compiler of ‘Musnad Imaam Ahmad’, a famous book of Ahadith. He used to teach Hadith. On seeing Hazrat Bishr Haafi (Rah.), Imaam Ahmed bin Hambal (Rah.) routinely used to stand up even though Hazrat Bishr Haafi (Rah.) was not a scholar. On one such occasion when Imaam Ahmed bin Hambal (Rah.) began to stand up, his student objected by saying, ‘Hazrat, you are a Muhaddith while he is not even a scholar. Why then do you stand up for him?’ He replied, ‘I am a scholar of books, but he is a scholar of Allah Ta’ala; he knows Allah Ta’ala. What do you know of his status?” [‘Tajalliat-e-Jazb’ (Manifestation of Allah’s Attraction) by Shaikh Hakeem Muhammad Akhtar Saheb (Ra.), translated by Ismail Adam Patel, Pg. 75, Al-Aqsa Publishers, UK]
With this light of faith, he constantly strives to contain and get rid of the evil in him. He is then able to realize the inner meaning of the verse where Allah says,
“The seven heavens and the earth, and all beings therein, declare His (Allah’s) glory, there is not a thing (in the creation of Allah) but celebrates His (Allah’s) praise; but you do not understand (due to lack of Light of Iman) their (way of) exalting.” [Sura Bani Israil, verse 44]
“Purity of Allah is proclaimed by all those within the heavens and the earth.” [Sura al-Nur, verse 41]
One, who has read the above verse (24:41), how can he tore a leaf without valid reason where the leaf has announced ‘Purity of Allah’? Therefore, how he can kill people without any reason? Today we see ‘so-called’ militant groups like ISIS, Boko Haram, Al-Qaeda, Taliban etc. (are killing people for the sake of religion!) as being the delegates of ‘Real Islam’, which gives the public a ‘false conception’ that Islam is evil, backward, tyrannical and aggressive. Can we consider them as believer of Allah (holder of Iman) or martyr? Today ‘Jihad’ is one of the most manipulated concepts in Islam. The concept of jihad is definitely a Quranic one, but miserably, an untrue and perverted version of this Quranic notion has been used by terrorists acting in the name of Islam to commit various fanatic acts. These fanatic acts, which occur all over the world, aim at the haphazard killing of non-believers & innocent people. They are being undertaken in the name of ‘jihad’. Before trying to explain what Jihad is, we should first define what it is NOT. Jihad is not Holy War (Because there is nothing ‘Holy’ about wars. Wars only involve killings and ruins). Jihad is not blowing up one’s self (Cause suicide is a sin in Islam). Jihad is not flying an aeroplane into a building packed with civilians. Jihad is not fighting out of fury and hatred. Jihad is not killing others just because they don’t agree with you. Jihad is not killing others just because they are not the followers of Islam. Then what is Jihad? According to the Glossary of Islamic Terms (Jihad) of ‘Jami’ At-Tirmidhi’- “The word Jihad literally means ‘to strive’ or ‘to exert to the utmost.’ It is an Arabic word the root of which is Ja Ha Da, which means to strive for a better way of life. The nouns are Juhd, Mujahid, Jihad, and Ijtihad. The other meanings are: struggle, endeavor, strain, exertion, effort, diligence, fighting to defend one’s life, land, and religion. Usually understood in terms of personal betterment, Jihad remained a highly nuanced concept, it should not be confused with Holy War, a common misrepresentation, the latter does not exist in Islam nor will Islam allow its followers to be involved in a Holy War. The latter refers only to the Holy War of the Crusaders. Jihad is not a war to force the faith on others, as many people think of it. It should never be interpreted as a way of compulsion of the belief on others, since there is an explicit Verse in the Qur’an that says: “There is no compulsion in religion.” (Qur’an: Al-Baqarah 2:256). Jihad is not a defensive war only, but a war against any unjust regime, or any evil that is rampant in the society. If such a regime or a group exists that is spreading disinformation, and by that creating the chaos, a war is to be waged against the leaders, but not against the people to stop it. People should be freed from the unjust regimes and influences so that they can freely choose to believe in Allah and worshipping Him. Not only in peace but also in war, Islam prohibits terrorism, kidnapping, and hijacking, when carried against civilians. Whoever commits such violations is considered a murderer in Islam, and is to be punished by the Islamic state. During defensive wars, Islam prohibits Muslim soldiers from harming civilians, women, children, elderly, and the religious men like priests and rabbis. It also prohibits cutting down trees and destroying civilian constructions. In short, any cruelty or unjust practice with the enemies is also prohibited in Islam, in fact introducing the highest human rights first time before the world.” [Glossary of Islamic Terms-Jihad, Jami’ At-Tirmidhi, Compiled by Imam Hafiz Abu Eisa Mohammad Ibn Eisa At-Tirmidhi, Translated by Abu Khaliyl (USA) Vol. 6, Darussalam Publication, KSA]
In a Hadith about Mujahid (a Muslim fighter), Fadalah bin Ubaid narrated that the Messenger of Allah (Sw.) said, “The Mujahid is one who strives against his own soul.” That means a person, who cannot fight or wage Jihad against his own inner self, and instead of subduing the enemy within, falls prey to its whims and desires; he can never challenge the enemy without. The task of going out into the open and challenging the enemy for the pleasure of Allah can only be accomplished by those who have first successfully subdued their own inciting souls. [Jami’ At-Tirmidhi, Compiled by Imam Hafiz Abu Eisa Mohammad Ibn Eisa At-Tirmidhi, Translated by Abu Khaliyl (USA) Vol. 3, Chapter: The Virtues Of Jihad, Hadith No. 1621, Darussalam Publication, KSA]
So who is an example of a Mujahid? Hazrat Ali bin Abu Talib (Radiallahu Anhu), cousin of Prophet Mohammed (Sw.) and the fourth Caliph of the Islamic Ummah is a good example. “Once, while fighting with a non-believer, he overpowered him and was sitting on top of him ready to deliver the final blow with his sword. At that moment, the non-believer spat on his face. This act of the disbeliever made Hazrat Ali (Ra.) feel very much displeased. In spite of this, he immediately refrained from killing him, although he had full opportunity to do so. As he separated himself from the enemy, the disbeliever shouted at him, ‘O Ali, What is this? After I insulted you by spitting on your face, you should have killed me immediately. You had me at your mercy and completely subdued and subjugated. What is it that stopped you from killing me?’ Hazrat Ali replied, ‘I had the intention of killing you solely for the pleasure of Allah Ta’ala. When you spat in my face, you stirred up my anger. If I had killed you then, this act of mine would have been out of anger of my Nafs (lower self) and not out of sincerity to Allah Ta’ala. Allah Ta’ala doesn’t accept any deed which is not done out of sincerity. Killing you at that time would have been against sincerity. Hence, I refrained myself.’ Hearing these words of Hazrat Ali (Ra.), the enemy was astonished and the light of Iman was lit in his heart, ‘I consider it my good fortune to accept such a Deen (religion), O Ali, where such a teaching of sincerity is expounded. This Deen is undoubtedly the true Deen.” [‘Ma’aarif- e –Mathnawi’ (A Commentary of the Mathnawi of Hazrat Maulana Jalaluddin Rumi Rah.), by Shaikh Hakeem Muhammad Akhtar Saheb (Ra.), translated by Maulana Yusuf Karan, Pg. 162 (The Story of The Sincerity of Hazrat Ali), Kutub Khana Mazhari Publishers, Pakistan; also see ‘Masnavi i Ma’navi’ (The Spiritual Couplets of Hazrat Maulana Jalaluddin Rumi Rah.), Translated and abridged by E. H. Whinfield, M.A., Pg. 83 (Ali’s Forbearance) published by Omphaloskepsis, Ames, Iowa, USA]
Another Hadith about greater jihad- We were told by Layth, on the authority of ‘Ata’, on the authority of Abu Rabah, on the authority of Jabir, who said, The Holy Prophet (Sw.) returned from one of his battles saying: “You have come forth in the best way of coming forth: you have come from the smaller jihad to the greater jihad – the striving of a servant (of Allah) against his desires.” [Hadith from Fayd al-qadir sharh al-Jami al-saghir min ahadith al-Bashir al-Nadhir, by Muhammad Abd al-Rauf Munawi, vol. 4, Pg. 511, published by Dar al-Kutub al-Ilmiyah, Bayrut & Tafsir al-Mazhari by Qazi Muhammad Sanaullah Panipati, vol. 1, interpretation of verse 216 of Sura al- Baqarah]
Another Hadith about ‘Dhikr’ or ‘Remembrance of Allah’ better than Jihad- Abu Ad-Darda’ (Ra.) narrated that the Prophet (Sw.) said: “Should I not inform you of the best of your deeds, and the purest of them with your Master, and the highest of them in your ranks, and what is better for you than spending gold and silver, and better for you than meeting your enemy and striking their necks, and they strike your necks?” They said: “Of course.” He (Sw.) said, “The remembrance of Allah (Most High).” (Then) Mu’adh bin Jabal (Ra.) said: “There is nothing that brings more salvation from the punishment of Allah than the remembrance of Allah.” [Jami’ At-Tirmidhi, Compiled by Imam Hafiz Abu Eisa Mohammad Ibn Eisa At-Tirmidhi, Translated by Abu Khaliyl (USA) Vol.6, Chapter: Something Else, Hadith No. 3377, Darussalam Publication, KSA]
Allah (Swt) says in the 66th Sura al-Tahrim in verse 6:
“O you who believe! protect yourselves and your families from (Hell) Fire.”
According to this verse, first, you have to be sure that you are free from hell fire. Then you can free up your families, your followers. My question to ‘so-called’ believers, to ‘so-called’ Islamic Scholar and to ‘so-called’ militant groups- are you sure that you are free from (Hell) fire? If the answer is ‘No’, then how do you claim to be Muslim with yourself? How can you claim that your argument is correct, the rest are fake? How do you kill people in the name of religion? Those who are free from Hell fire they shall be free from ‘Worldly’ fire. I’ll now relate an incident regarding fire. “Hasan al-Basri (Rahmatullah Alaihi) had a neighbour named Simeon who was a fire-worshipper. Simeon fell ill and was at death’s door. Friends begged Hasan to visit him; he called, to find him in bed, blackened with fire and smoke. ‘Fear God,’ Hasan counselled him. ‘You have passed all your life amid fire and smoke. Accept Islam, that God may have mercy on you. You who have worshipped fire for seventy years, and I who have never worshipped fire—we are both carried off to Hell. Hell will consume you and me. God will pay no regard to you; but if God so wills, the fire will not dare so much as to burn one hair of my body. For fire is a thing created by God; and the creature is subject to the Creator’s command. Come now, you who have worshipped fire for seventy years; let us both put our hands into the fire, then you will see with your own eyes the impotence of fire and the omnipotence of God.’ So saying, Hasan thrust his hand into the fire and held it there. Not a particle of his body was affected or burnt. When Simeon saw this he was amazed. The dawn of true knowledge began to break. ‘For seventy years I have worshipped fire,’ he groaned. ‘Now only a breath or two remains to me. What am I to do?’ ‘Become a Muslim,’ was Hasan’s reply.” [Tadhkirat al-Auliya’ (Memorial of the Saints) by Farid al-Din Attar, Translated by A. J. Arberry, Pg. 7 (Hasan of Basra), published by Omphaloskepsis, Ames, Iowa, USA]
You wrote Mr. Sina, “I don’t believe God has a hell to burn humans.” [‘Why Muhammad Loves Me Most?’ by Ali Sina on July 21, 2013, at http://alisina.org/?p=3736 accessed May 24, 2015] Do you have any document stating the pros? But you’re relying on NDE’s (near-death experience) which is completely ridiculous. You also wrote, “I don’t call myself a believer either. Belief means accepting a proposition without evidence.” [‘Why I believe in God and the afterlife now’ by Ali Sina on August 28, 2013, at http://alisina.org/?p=3869 accessed May 24, 2015] Who told you that belief means accepting a proposition without evidence? Please
“Do not pursue that of which you have no knowledge.” [Quran 17:36]
You may be correct in the case of other religions but Islam is a religion of reality. All of the work of Islam in cash, not credits. Allah says,
“and He (Allah) is with you wherever you are.” [Quran 57:4]
“On earth there are signs (to know Allah or to see Allah) for those who know with certainty and in yourselves too (are signs), do you not see?” [Quran 51:20-21]
Allah questions us, ‘Do you not see?’ I’m in you, why don’t you see me? Is this your fault or me? Of course, it’s your fault. Because,
“We’ve veiled the hearts of those who are heedless from Our remembrance due to their pursuance of lusts (which prevent them from perceiving these signs).” [Quran 18:28]
For example, you’ve a child whom you love very much. You’ve a nice house also. If your child is sick, you may have to sell the house for the child’s treatment if necessary. But if your child wants to enter your tiles fitting house with dirty feet, will you allow him to enter the house? Similarly, if someone’s heart is full of dirty & garbage, how Allah will place him in His Holy Paradise? Although Allah feeds him, nursing him etc. So please think twice about your statement, “As for your fear of God’s punishment, it is an unfounded fear. God will not punish you. God will not judge you, even if you commit a sin. There is no judgment in God.” [‘Should We Fear God?’ by Ali Sina on July 20, 2013, at http://alisina.org/?p=3695 accessed May 24, 2015]
He is a mad who believes anything without proof. In ‘Kalimah Shahadah’ (Word of Evidence) we read, “Ashadu an la ilaha illallahu wahdahu la sarika lahu, wa ashadu anna muhammadan ʿabduhu wa rasuluhu” i.e. ‘I bear witness that (there is) no god except Allah; One is He, no partner hath He, and I bear witness that Muhammad (Sw.) is His Servant and Messenger.’ Here ‘witness’ means who sees an event or see (an event) take place or evidence or proof. I’ve told earlier that ‘Iman’ (faith) is the first subject and first pillar of Islam. So when you say ‘there is no God except Allah & Muhammad (Sw.) is His Messenger’ then you must have evidence for that statement otherwise your claim is bogus. I’ll now narrate an incident regarding evidence. “On one occasion, Hazrat Abu Bakr As-Siddique (Radiallahu Anhu), the first Caliph of the Islamic Ummah, went to Syria for the purpose of trade. In Syria, he saw a dream, which he mentioned to a monk whom he met there. The monk asked him a few questions, ‘Where do you come from?’ He replied, ‘From Makkatul Mukarramah.’ ‘What work do you do?’ To this, he replied, ‘I am a trader and have come here on a trade mission.’ ‘Which tribe do you belong to?’ ‘To the tribe of Quraish do I belong,’ he replied. The monk then said, ‘Listen to the interpretation of your dream.’ ‘The meaning of your dream is that shortly there will be a proclaimer of Prophethood in your city. A Prophet will be deputed from your people. You will be his minister during his lifetime and his first successor after his demise.’ Hazrat Abu Bakr (Ra.) kept this a secret from the entire world. Neither to his wife, children, nor to his friends did he revealed this dream until he was thirty-eight years old and the Apostle of Allah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) returned from the cave of Hira with the treasure of Prophethood. The Apostle of Allah Ta’ala (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) announced: ‘O Abu Bakr, I am the Prophet of Allah Ta’ala, Allah Ta’ala has sent revelation upon me.’ To this he said, ‘O Muhammad (He addressed the Apostle of Allah Ta’ala as is the case of friends who address each other informally, for he had not yet adopted faith. However, let us all send Durood upon Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam), what is the proof of the truth of that to which you invite me?’ The friendship between them was very firm, so he, with the ease and informality of a bosom friend, posed the above question. The Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) replied, ‘The dream that you saw while in Syria!” [‘Tajalliat-e-Jazb’ (Manifestation of Allah’s Attraction) by Shaikh Hakeem Muhammad Akhtar Saheb (Ra.), translated by Ismail Adam Patel, Pg. 33, Al-Aqsa Publishers, UK and ‘Al Khasais ul Kubra’ (Miracles Attributed to Islamic Prophet Sw.) By Shaykh Jalaluddin Al Suyuti (Ra.), Vol. 1]
Anyone can recite the ‘Word of Evidence’ cheating purposes but can’t be able to enter it (the ‘Word of Evidence’) into the heart (in Arabic it is called ‘Qalb’ i.e. spiritual heart, not to be confused with the blood pumping organ) of a human. In this regard Allah says in the Quran,
“The day when wealth and children will not benefit anyone except he who will come to Allah with a sound heart (Qalb-e-Saleem).” [Quran 26: 88-89]
I’ve said before that a person who holds a particular belief (Iman) with proof is called Believer of Allah (holder of Iman). Think, ‘who holds a particular belief’- where the belief (Iman) is holding? Indeed, there is a place to store it. The name of the place is ‘Heart’. When the Light of Iman enters the heart then it becomes sound. When the heart becomes sound then it feels that the Prophet of Islam is actually ‘Iman’. Then we’re able to realize the verse of the Quran where Allah says,
“(O Prophet, indeed We’ve sent you) as a lamp that gives bright light.” [Quran 33:46]
“Of the people there are some who say, ‘We believe in Allah and the Last Day,’ but (as they don’t obey Rasulullaah Sallallahu Alayhe Wa Sallam) they are not Mu’minin”
But you, Mr. Ali Sina, wrote, “Muhammad also suffered from obsessive compulsive disorder, causing his fixations on numbers, rituals and stringent rules. This explains why he lived such an austere life and why his religion is filled with so many absurd rules (!)” [Understanding Muhammad by Ali Sina, Synopsis, Page v, 4th Edition 2008, FaithFreedom Publishing, USA]. It’s completely a statement of an unsound heart. We know, critically ill people can say wrong. Your heart is sick & blind, therefore you can say, “Islam, as it is taught in the Quran (Koran) and lived by Muhammad, as is reported in the Hadith (Biography and sayings of the Prophet) is a religion of Injustice, Intolerance, Cruelty, Absurdities, discrimination, Contradictions, and blind faith.” (@ http://www.faithfreedom.org/ffiprologue) But Alhamdulillah (praise be to Allah), my heart is not sick & not blind, so I can see Islam is a religion of Justice, Tolerance, Benignity, Rational, Impartiality, Compatible and Reality.
In this world, we see, there’re various types of Prophet, like Shia’s Prophet, Sunni’s Prophet, Wahhabi’s Prophet, Salafi’s Prophet, Qadiani’s Prophet, Atheist’s Prophet etc. Why this variance? Because of unsound or blind heart. Allah says,
“Indeed, it is not the eyes that become blind, but it is their hearts that become blind within the breasts” [Quran 22:46]
So where is the true Prophet (Sw.)?
“The Prophet is closer to the Mu’minin (Mu’min-the highest rank for the follower of Islam) than their (own) souls.” [Quran 33:6]
So Muhammad Ibn Abdullah & Muhammad Rasulullah (Sw.) are not the same. In a Hadith the Prophet (Sw.) says, “None of you can be a Mu’min until I am dearer to him than his soul, his wealth, his children and everyone else.” [Sahih Bukhari by Imam Muhammad bin Ismail bin Al-Mughirah Al-Bukhari (Rah.), Translated by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan, Vol. 1, The Book of Belief, Chapter 8, Page 61, Hadith Number 15 and Vol. 8, The Book of Oaths & Vows, Chapter 83, Page 333, Hadith Number 6632, Darussalam Publication, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia]
Another example of an unsound heart, “He made his Allah indignantly ask ‘What! Do you then dispute with him [Muhammad] as to what he saw?’ (Q.53:12) This is psychopathology. Why should others believe in what he saw? Isn’t it up to him to prove what he saw was real?” [Understanding Muhammad by Ali Sina, Synopsis, Page v, 4th Edition 2008, FaithFreedom Publishing, USA]
Of course, He (Rasulullaah Sallallahu Alayhe Wa Sallam) has proved that his followers (even today) will be able to see the unseen. Please read this Hadith. Hazrat Anas (Radiallahu Anhu) reports that Hazrat Rasulullaah (Sw.) entered the Masjid one day where he found Hazrat Haarith bin Maalik (Ra.) asleep. Nudging him with his foot, Rasulullaah (Sw.) said, ‘Raise your head.’ As he raised his head, Hazrat Haarith (Ra.) exclaimed, ‘May my parents be sacrificed for you, O Rasulullaah (Sw.)!’ ‘How do you feel this morning, O Haarith bin Maalik?’ Rasulullaah (Sw.) asked. Hazrat Haarith (Ra.) replied, ‘I feel like a true Mu’min this morning, O Rasulullaah (Sw.).’ Rasulullaah (Sw.) said, ‘Every fact requires substantiation, so how do you substantiate your statement?’ Hazrat Haarith (Ra.) replied, ‘I have turned my eyes away from this world, I keep myself thirsty during the days (because I am fasting) and I stay awake (in Ibaadah) during the nights. In addition to that, it is as if I can actually see the Arsh (The Divine Throne of Allah) of my Rabb and as if I can actually see the people of Jannah (Paradise) visiting each other and the people of Jahannam (Hell) barking at each other.’ Rasulullaah (Sw.) remarked, ‘You are a man whose heart Allah has illuminated. You have understood (the reality of Iman) so now remain steadfast.’ [Hayatus Sahabah by Hazrat Maulana Muhammad Yusuf Kandhelwi (Rh.), translated by Mufti Afzal Hoosen Elias (The Lives of The Sahabah), Vol. 03, Pg. 58, Zam Zam Publishers, Pakistan]
Imagine, if your friend is about to die hungry, then what would you do as a responsible friend? You’ll bring food for your friend, say, do not die of starvation. But Allah says,
“O you who have believed (who have Iman), do not die except as Muslims.” [Quran 3:102]
Ponder, Allah says to those who have Iman, as they die as Muslims. So, firstly you must have Iman. After fulfilling the other pillars of Islam like daily prayers (Salah), fasting during the Islamic month of Ramadan, pilgrimage (Hajj) & giving Zakat (support of the needy), you’ll be promoted to the door of Muslim. ‘Muslim’ means complete. Please don’t take this word ‘Complete’ lightly. Allah says,
“O you who have believed, enter into Islam completely.” [Quran 2:208]
If you are incomplete, you can’t be a Muslim. So please don’t use the term ‘Muslim’ everywhere cause ‘Muslim’ is the second highest rank for the follower of Islam. Even you can’t use the term ‘Believer’ (holder of Iman) to every follower of Islam cause to be a ‘Follower of Islam’ is one thing and to be a ‘Believer’ (holder of Iman) is another thing (and this is very tough).
And Mu’min, the highest rank for the follower of Islam.
“Indeed, prosperous are the Mu’minun.” [Quran 23:1]
This is the final. So those who are successful, what else takes them? The future is guaranteed for them. Not only Al-Ashara Al- Mubashshareen (the ten noble companions of the Prophet Sw. who were guaranteed Paradise by the Prophet Sw. during their lifetime) were guaranteed to Paradise but as per above verse (23:1) the Mu’minun is also confirmed to Paradise even today. Now who are the Mu’minun? Allah says,
“Behold! verily on the Auliya of Allah (friends of Allah) there is no fear, nor shall they grieve.” [Quran 10:62]
Subhan Allah! ‘No Fear, No Sorrow’ – in this earth or hereafter. Please don’t take it so simple. Freedom from fear and grief with which the Auliya of Allah are blessed is common to the present world and the Hereafter both. The thing unique about the Auliya of Allah is that they remain protected from fear and grief even in the present world, and that they will have no fear and grief in the Hereafter is natural. The friends of Allah are those whose position requires no boundaries between them and their Lord and they ain’t distant from Allah. Their hearts are open and unveiled and they see Allah with all their hearts through the light of knowledge, faith (Light of Iman), and good deeds which leaves them with perfect candor. It’s because of such an acquaintance with Allah that, in their views, anything else other than Allah is insignificant, of little value, and ephemeral.
Now the most valuable & most awaited question is, where do we collect the Light of Iman? Of course, from the ‘Light Holder’, the ‘Truthful’. Allah says,
“O you who have believed, fear Allah and be with those who are true.” [Quran 9:119]
Ponder ‘Who are true’. Allah is with the truthful (also Rasulullah Sw. is with the truthful). The truthful knows Allah & also His Rasul (Sw.). They are the representatives of Allah in this world. Allah says,
“It is He (Allah) who has made you vicegerent (of Allah) upon the earth.” [Quran 35:39]
Here vicegerent means a person regarded as an earthly representative of Allah. If you can’t find a representative of Allah in your country then you may have to go to other countries for him. In a Hadith the Mesenger of Allah (Sw.) said, “Acquire knowledge (Light of Iman) even if you may have to go to China for it.” [Narrated by Imam al-Bazaar in Musnad al bazaar, 1:175- 95 and ‘Ihya Ulum-ud-Din’ Written by Imam Ghazzali, The Book of Worship, Chapter: The Acquisition of Knowledge]
If you can’t find their identity or can’t be with them or fail to collect the ‘Light of Iman’ from them, then your whole life in vain. Because,
“The Day We will call forth every people with their (respective) Imams.” [Quran 17:71]
In a Hadith Rasulullaah (Sw.) said, “The person who dies and doesn’t know his Imam (the Truthful of his period), is dead as in the era of ignorance (the ignorance period before Islam).” [Sahih Muslim, Compiled by Imam Abul Hussain Muslim bin al-Hajjaj, Translated by Nasiruddin al-Khattab (Canada) Vol.5, Chapter: The Book of Leadership, Hadith No. 4793, Darussalam Publication, KSA and ‘Bihar Ul Anwar’ – vol.23, p.18]
One more example of a numb heart, “I am really interested to hear from someone who has read my book and still wants to defend Islam. I offer $50,000 reward to anyone who can prove me wrong.” [Ali Sina at http://alisina.org/?page_id=100 accessed May 24, 2015] ‘Defend Islam’! Is Islam a man-made religion that will required to defend it? Islam is a religion of Allah.
“Truly, the religion with Allah is Islam.” [Quran 3:19]
It’s not our duty to defend Islam. It’s Allah’s headache to defend His religion. Our responsibility is to obey Islam as a true religion and enter into Islam completely. It’s common knowledge that pure things are try to fake always. The pure & truth are always and everywhere pure & truth despite whatever criticism. So Islam is the only true. Islam tells us to be submissive, tells us to be realistic. Islam teaches us to see the unseen, teaches us to learn the secret. And finally Islam set us free from blind faith, set us free from all kinds of evil deeds. But “Islam initiated by the few poor emigrants. Soon it will revert to being the poor condition as it began” [Sahih Muslim, Compiled by Imam Abul Hussain Muslim bin al-Hajjaj, Vol.1, The Book of Faith].
Time is short. Please STOP this valueless & proof less activities. Please don’t waste your time running behind the darkness. Come into the Light of Iman. Think, Think & Think again about Islam.
“Remember me (Love me), I’ll remember you (I’ll love you).” [Quran 2:152]
“Love my beloved (Rasulullaah Sallallahu Alayhe Wa Sallam), I’ll love you.” [Quran 3:31]
“O man! What has deceived you with regard to your Generous Lord?” [Quran 82:6]
“If you were to know with knowledge of certainty.” [Quran 102:5]