Prophecy and

5Rabi ul Awaal 19,1442 Nov 6, 2020 f AITH Narrated `Abdullah bin Buhaina: Allah’s Messenger (SAW) got up after the second rak`a of the Zuhr prayer without sitting in between (the second and the third rak`at). When he finished the prayer he performed two prostrations (of Sahu) and then finished the prayer with Taslim.

Prophecy and revelation in Islam

By: Walid A. Saleh Muhammad is the differ on details, and more importantly on the significance of these stories and what they mean to Prophet of Islam. future generations. Professor Walid Mostly, the story Saleh explains the is presented as a role of prophecy failed attempt to in Islam, discuss- convince a people ing the primacy of to obey God. The the Prophet Mu- stories are told in hammad and his the Qur’an to conlife, as well as ex- At the age of forty Muhammad started to tells the story of prophets and their preach- vince people that ploring other bib- experience visions and hear revelations. ing. Most of the preaching of the prophets God wants the best lical and Arabian He soon realised that he had been chosen is about two major issues. The first is that for human beings, prophets present for a task: to preach to his own tribe about the world is created by one God, and people and the best way in the Qur’an, and the tradition of literature the one true God. Muhammad wanted his should worship this true God. The other is to be saved is to follow the prophets that about them. When the Qur’an summarises the points that a Muslim must accept as a matter of faith, the list includes: belief in the Oneness of God (tawhid), in angels, in prophecy (nubuwwah) and in revelation (wahy). Muslims also have to believe in resurrection and judgement. There are three major players in the Qur’an: God who wants to guide humanity, humanity who are ignorant of God and the prophets and messengers who are selected by God to communicate his word to humanity. Prophets are thus the most important part of human history in the Qur’an, and Islam. What is the Islamic view of prophecy? Prophecy is seen by Muslims as an essential part of human history. God, Muslims believe, has always chosen individuals to communicate with, and He then ‘sends’ these prophets to a specific community to convey His words and will. Prophets are thus chosen by God as messengers (rasul), who convey a message (risalah). God speaks to these messengers in various ways, mostly by a process called inspiration (wahy). There are two terms for the word prophet in Arabic, rasul, messenger, and nabi, prophesier. It is understood that some prophets are given books (kitab), which gather the revelation or the messages proclaimed by a prophet. These books contain the preaching of the prophet concerned, on behalf of God. These books are thus the word of God. Prophets are fully human, they eat and sleep, and some marry and have children. Some have the ability to perform miracles, acts that break the laws of nature, such as making rocks gush with water, splitting the sea or resurrecting the dead. Muhammad, according to Muslims, split the moon into two halves and ascended to Heaven one night to meet God. Who was the Prophet Muhammad? Muhammad was a messenger chosen by God to convey his message, transmitted in the Qur’an, the foundational scripture of the Muslim community. Muslims believe that Muhammad was the last prophet. He was the last of a line of prophets sent by God to guide humanity, the seal of the prophets (khatam al-nabiyyin, Q. 33.40). Muhammad was born in Mecca in Arabia around the year 570 CE. His father died before he was born and he grew up in his grandfather’s house. We know about the life of Muhammad from the biographies written by Muslims, which are called the sirah. Works telling the life of the Prophet continue to be popular across the world in all Muslim communities The Prophet’s biography tells us that Muhammad was a bright, honest and trustworthy young man who worked in commerce. He married a woman by the name of Khadija who was older than him. people to stop worshipping many gods and worship the one true God, the creator of the universe. When he started preaching very few people believed in him, and even when he performed miracles people accused him of being a magician and possessed by demons. Muhammad preached to his tribe for ten years, but he never succeeded in converting them. Eventually they wanted to kill him, and he migrated to another city, Medina (previously called Yathrib). When did the religion of Islam begin to flourish? The migration to Medina is called Hijrah in Arabic. This became the most important point in the life of Muhammad, and the year Muhammad migrated to Medina is the beginning of the Muslim calendar. Muslims started counting years from that year, corresponding to 622 CE. In Medina Muhammad wrote a treaty with the inhabitants of the city, including its Jewish tribes. This treaty is called the Constitution of Medina. It declares that the Muslims are a nation, a religious community (ummah) and that Medina is a religious shrine and a holy city. Muhammad became the leader of his new community in Medina, which then began to grow, and conquered his native city, Mecca. Eventually, Muhammad became the most powerful leader in Arabia and the tribes accepted his position as a prophet and as the head of the community. Muhammad left for the Muslims two major items: the Qur’an, which has the word of God as revealed to Muhammad, and the notion of the Muslims as being a nation or a community united under one God. Although Muhammad performed other miracles, his most important miracle is the Qur’an. It is seen as both the message of God to humanity and the miracle that points to the truth of this message. How does Muhammad inspire Muslims today? Muhammad was, and is, also seen by Muslims to represent the perfect human being and the most exemplary role model (uswa hasana, Q. 33.21). Testimonies about what Muhammad said became the second most important source of religious truth. Thus in addition to the Qur’an, which is the word of God, Muslims collected the sayings of Muhammad and called them Hadith. Together with the Qur’an, the Prophet’s sayings are his most important legacy and inheritance. The story of Muhammad and his career naturally became the most important story in Islam. His career as the Prophet became the ideal story of prophecy. Is Muhammad the only Qur’anic prophet? Muhammad was the last in a long line of prophets; indeed, the Qur’an does not tell the stories of kings or kingdoms, but rather Prayer Schedule in Greater Vancouver Prayer Schedule in Greater Vancouver For such Prayers are enjoined on believers at stated times: Quran ,n 4:103 Source: BCMA Day Date Isl. Dt. Sunr Zawal Dhuhr Asar MaghribFajar Isha Nov 6-20, 2020-Rabi ul Awaal 19-R.U II-4,1442 H Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed Thus Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed Thus Fri Dhur Asar Shafi / Hanfi 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 *1 2 3 4 that people should behave morally and not harm each other, feeding the poor, looking after orphans, not stealing or being greedy, not killing, not swearing falsely and being kind and loving to one’s parents. The Qur’an through the prophets is telling humanity that our worth is based on how good we are as human beings. Those who do good deeds and believe in the one true God will be saved and rewarded. Biblical prophets As the Qur’an shares many of the same stories as the Bible it is not surprising that many of the same figures also feature, such as Ibrahim (Abraham, the father of all the prophets), Musa (Moses, the leader of the Israelites), Yusuf (Joseph) and Isa (Jesus), the prophet before Muhammad. The Qur’an believes that the core message of all the prophets is the same: as carriers of revelation they came to declare that there is one God, the creator and preserver of the universe, and that human beings have to worship and submit to His will. Islam, meaning ‘submission’ to God, is seen as the core message of all the prophets sent by God. There are several narrative similarities between the Qur’an and its biblical forerunners: it shares the same story about the creation of the world with the Hebrew Bible, it also shares with the New Testament the idea that the world will come to an end, followed by a resurrection of the dead and a judgement that will see humanity divided into the damned in Hell and the saved in Paradise. Along with Abraham, the Qur’an features the stories of several of the Patriarchs in the Old Testament, Noah, David and Solomon. Their stories in the Qur’an, however, God sends them. Each community gets the chance to have a prophet and hear through him about the one God. People who obey this prophet are saved, those who do not are usually destroyed. Arabian prophets In addition to familiar names from the Bible, the Qur’an has stories about tribes of Arabia, ancient Arab tribes that have since disappeared from history. These tribes had never received the Word of God before, but were seen as part of God’s plan for humanity. Thus each deserved a prophet to tell them about God. Two Qur’anic prophets are Hud and Salih. Hud was sent to the people of Aad, a prosperous but proud civilisation. He preached about the one true God, but his people derided him and continued to worship their gods and put their faith in earthly goods and riches. As punishment God sent a tremendous storm that destroyed Aad. Salih was sent to the tribe of Thamud, who came after the people of Aad. He brought a blessed camel to them as a miracle, which they were asked not to harm. The people killed the camel and refused to believe in God. God punished them with an earthquake. The stories in the Qur’an are thus also meant to warn people not to disobey God. What place do these prophets have in Islam? In addition to the Qur’an, Muslims started to tell the stories of these prophets in more detail, expanding on the narrative contained in the scripture. A distinct genre of extraQur’anic tradition developed, with collections of stories proving among the most To be continued at page 7

6Rabi ul Awaal 19,1442 Nov 6, 2020 N AT & I NT NEWS

Trump sues in Pennsylvania, Michigan; Vienna gunman: ISIS supporter asks for Wisconsin recount Mark Sherman who ‘fooled’ the system WASHINGTON -- The Trump campaign VIENNA -- The gunman responsible for an said it filed lawsuits Wednesday in Pennsyl- attack in Vienna which left four people dead vania and Michigan, laying the groundwork on Monday night was a convicted supporter for contesting the outcome in undecided of the Islamic State (ISIS) group who the battleground states that could determine government says “fooled” official de-radiwhether U.S. President Donald Trump gets calization efforts. The 20-year-old, named as another four years in the White House. Kujtim Fejzulai, was shot dead by police and Suits in both states are demanding better was armed with a shortened Kalashnikov, access for campaign observers to locations a handgun, a machete and a fake explosive where ballots are being processed and counted, the campaign said. The campaign also is seeking to intervene in a Pennsylvania case at the Supreme Court that deals with whether ballots received up to three days after the election can be counted, deputy campaign manager Justin Clark said. The campaign said it is calling for a temporary halt in the counting in both states until it is given “meaningful” access in numerous locations and allowed to review ballots that already have been opened and processed. Trump is running slightly behind Democratic nominee Joe Biden in Michigan. The president is ahead in Pennsylvania but his margin is shrinking as more mailed ballots are counted. There have been no reports of fraud or any type of ballot concerns out of Pennsylvania. The state had 3.1 million mail-in ballots that take time to count and an order allows them to be counted up until Friday if they are postmarked by Nov. 3. The campaign also said it would ask for a recount in Wisconsin, a state The Associated Press called for Biden on Wednesday afternoon. Campaign manager Bill Stepien cited “irregularities in several Wisconsin counties.” The actions came as elections officials counted votes in several undecided states that are crucial to the outcome of the presidential election. The former vice-president’s campaign meanwhile welcomed the ongoing vote count and a Biden campaign attorney said they are ready for any legal fight. And Michigan Democrats said the suit was a longshot. Lonnie Scott, executive director of Progress Michigan, a liberal advocacy group, said Trump only filed the suit to stop The Associated Press and other media outlets from calling the race for Biden. “This is a Hail Mary,” he said. Source: ctvnews.ca Turkey earthquake: Search efforts belt. According to Interior Minster Karl Nehammer, Fejzulai had dual MacedonianAustrian nationality and had already been convicted last year of attempting to travel to Syria and trying to join ISIS. After that conviction, Fejzulai, whose name suggests he is of ethnic Albanian origin, was sentenced to 22 months in prison, but was released early on parole in December. “The perpetrator managed to fool the justice system’s de-radicalisation programme, to fool the people in it, and to get an early release through this,” Nehammer said, suggesting that the attacker had made special efforts to deceive probation officers. “Therefore there were no warning signs of his radicalisation,” he added. Justice Minister Alma Zadic said that, in line with Austrian law, Fejzulai had been paroled in December 2019 after serving two thirds of his sentence, but also put on three years’ probation. ”This enables us to continue to have an influence over the perpetrator beyond the term of their prison sentence,” she said, pointing out that this would not have been the case had he simply served his full sentence which normally would have expired in July 2020. In Fejzulai’s case, he was required to report regularly to probation counsellors and the de-radicalisation programme DERAD, “which, according to our current knowledge, he did,” Zadic said. After Monday’s shocking attack, Fejzulai’s home was raided and the evidence of his radical sympathies became clear. “It was clear that the attacker, despite all the outward signs of having integrated into society, did exactly the opposite,” the minister said.In a Facebook post, he posed with the Kalashnikov and the machete he would go on to use in the attack together with a caption saying he was “serving the sultanate” and other typical ISIS messages, Nehammer said. Source: ctvnews.ca World reacts with anger, solidarity continue for third day as death toll rises after Vienna shootings Rescue teams in the Turkish port city of Leaders in Europe and around the world Izmir are continuing to search for survivors condemn Vienna attacks as Austrian police of Friday’s powerful earthquake, as officials continue manhunt for suspects. say the death toll has increased to at least 64. Gunmen opened fire in six locations across Sixty-two deaths have been confirmed in central Vienna on Monday night, in an atTurkey, while two teenagers died on the tack that left at least three dead – including Greek island of Samos. Dozens of people re- one of the assailants – and some 15 people main unaccounted for following the quake. A 70-year-old man was pulled from the rubble of a building in Izmir after being trapped for some 33 hours. The US Geological Survey (USGS) said Friday’s quake was 7.0 magnitude, but Turkey wounded. The motive for the shootings, which began near the Austrian capital’s main synagogue, was not clear, but Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz described the shootings as a “repulsive terror attack” and said the gunmen were “very well equipped with autoaimed at dividing our societies.” United Kingdom put it lower at 6.6. tional death toll of 62, all in Izmir. matic weapons” and had “prepared profes- Boris Johnson, the UK prime minister, said he was The shallow tremor triggered tidal waves It said more than 900 people had been in- sionally”. “deeply shocked by the terrible attacks” in Vienna. that hit coastal areas and islands in both jured, though the majority have now been Leaders in Europe and elsewhere took to “We stand united with you against terror,” he Turkey and Greece. discharged from hospitals. social media to condemn the attack and ex- said in a tweet. What’s the latest? Eight people are reported to be in intensive press solidarity with Austria. European Union Rescue teams were searching through the care. Food was distributed among survivors Here is a round-up of their reactions. Charles Michel, the president of the European rubble of collapsed buildings in western and thousands of tents set up for those un- France Council, called the attack a “cowardly act” that Turkey for a third day on Sunday, hoping to able to return to their homes. President Emmanuel Macron of France, “violates life and our human values”. find survivors.Thousands of personnel were Vice-President Fuat Oktay said 26 badly which has experienced two serious attacks in “We stand with Austria,” he said in a tweet. deployed to help with the rescue efforts, using mechanical diggers to remove blocks of concrete. Turkey’s Health Minister Fahrettin Koca visited Mr Citim in hospital, and said he was doing well. Later on Sunday, the country’s Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency (AFAD) announced the new nadamaged buildings would be demolished. “It’s not the earthquake that kills but buildings,” he told reporters. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said his government was “determined to heal the wounds of our brothers and sisters in Izmir before the cold and rains begin”. Source:ctvnews.ca recent weeks, tweeted that “we French share the shock and sorrow of the Austrian people”. Germany The German foreign ministry called the attacks “terrifying and disturbing”. “We don’t know the full extent of the terror yet, our thoughts are with the injured and victims at this difficult time,” the ministry said in a tweet. “We will not give way to hatred which is Italy Giuseppe Conte, the president of Italy, also “strongly condemned” the shootings. “There is no room for hatred and violence in our common European home,” he said on Twitter in Italian and German. Netherlands Mark Rutte, the Dutch prime minister, expressed solidarity in a tweet.Source: aljazeera.com Biden ‘confident’ he’ll win after all votes counted

Donald Trump launched multiple lawsuits in hopes of halting vote-counting in Midwestern battlegrounds where he’s trailing. Biden said it’s clear he’s winning enough states to reach the threshold of 270 electoral votes necessary to clinch the presidency. Biden won Wisconsin Wednesday, flipping the state Trump won in 2016, and he expects Michigan will be next, followed by a strong showing among outstanding mail-in ballots in Pennsylvania, where he holds a sizeable advantage. “I’m not here to declare that we’ve won, but I am here to report that when the count is finished, we believe we will be the winners,” Biden told supporters in Delaware Wednesday afternoon. Biden also used the moment to call for unity following the bitter campaign. He urged Americans to work harder to listen to each other and leave the divisive election behind them. “To make progress, we have to stop treating our opponents as enemies. We are not enemies,” he said. Meanwhile, Trump’s campaign has launched lawsuits in hopes of stopping vote-counting in Michigan and Pennsylvania, which have yet to declare a winner. Trump is also calling for a recount in Wisconsin, which Biden has won by more than 20,000 votes. A 2016 recount in Wisconsin changed the margin in Trump’s favour by 131 votes. Biden urged for the democratic process to be carried out to completion. “No one is going to take our democracy away from us. Not now, not ever,” he said. Earlier Wednesday, Trump attacked media organizations for not declaring him the winner, saying in an early-morning appearance that it was “a major fraud on our nation.” “As far as I’m concerned, we already have won this,” he said, calling for outstanding ballots not to be counted. In a tweet later in the day, he seemed to imply the election was being rigged against him. “Last night I was leading, often solidly, in many key States, in almost all instances Democrat run & controlled,” he wrote. “Then, one by one, they started to magically disappear as surprise ballot dumps were counted. VERY STRANGE.”” Source: ctvnews.ca