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Tag Archives: Jesus

Daily Reminder | We fight Zionism – Not Judaism. For who does not understand the difference →

09 Sunday Dec 2012

Posted by The Tale Of My Heart in Allah, Anger, Chritianity, Culture, Feelings, Israel, Jews, Life, Lord, Muslims, Politics, Power, Wars, Wisdom, World, Youth

≈ 6 Comments

Tags

Anti-Zionism, Greater Israel, Israel, Jesus, Jew, Judaism, United States, Zionism

RESOURCES

Anti-Zionism is not Anti-Semitism

http://occupiedpalestine.wordpress.com/2011/05/13/anti-zionism-is-not-anti-semitism

A 130 Year Record of Religious Jewish Opposition to Zionism

http://www.nkusa.org/Historical_Documents/TheRabbisSpeakOut.htm

Don’t Equate Zionism with Judaism

http://t.co/3l25CxrU

Real Torah Jews against Zionism

http://www.jewsagainstzionism.com

The difference between Real Judaism and Zionist

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GuAPaKywuLA

Zionism: Real Jew reveals the Truth

http://wp.me/p16sn9-ark

 

VIDEO

Rabbi Israel Domb explains the Neturei Karta & Jews United Against Zionism Movement;

http://occupiedpalestine.wordpress.com/2011/06/25/rabbi-israel-domb-explains-the-neturei-karta-jews-united-against-zionism-movement-full-documentary

Shocking Video: Zionist Thugs Beating Up Jewish Rabbis;

http://wp.me/p16sn9-91H

 

PHOTOS



Shocking Photo | Zionist forces beat up a Jewish man supporting peace for Palestine

A6iQFavCAAA1juu.jpg large



Shocking Photo | Zionist policeofficer keeps Jewish men in head clamp

A6iQNc-CEAAYCZ-.jpg large



Shocking Photo | Zionist forces tackle a Jewish man in support of peace with Palestine

A6iQbo8CAAAJTfU.jpg large



Shocking Photo | Most moral Israeli forces abuse and violate a Jewish man supporting peace for Palestine

A6iQuPGCcAAfYnJ.jpg large

 

ZIONIST CRIMES AGAINST PEOPLE OF OTHER RELIGIONS

Zionist Crimes against Christianity – Zionists target Christians as well, 100.000 were expelled from Palestine during the Nakba to create “Israel”

http://occupiedpalestine.wordpress.com/2011/04/24/crimes-against-christianity

Not even all zionists are Jewish. What sort of Christians become Zionists? Wake Up From Your Slumber

http://occupiedpalestine.wordpress.com/2011/06/02/what-sort-of-christians-become-zionists/

 

VIDEOS OF ZIONIST VIOLENCE AGAINST CHRISTIANS

(Video 1) Zionists mocking Jesus .. on Television, watch for yourself:

http://occupiedpalestine.wordpress.com/2011/04/24/mocking-jesus-on-israeli-tv-צליבת-ישו-the-crucifixion-of-yeshu/ #Zionism #palestine

(Video 2)  Israeli zionists calling Jesus a “stupid bastard” 

http://youtu.be/s-ns_CnX9Ps #Zionism #Christianity

(Video 3) Israeli Settler brags and taunts about how “Jesus was killed by Jews”

http://youtu.be/bjgP33-Hi1c

(Video 4) Christian pilgrims attacked by Zionists because of their faith: “Go back to Jesus” 

http://youtu.be/OlT3ARuUSGc

(Video 5) Christians praising the Lord attack and taunted by Zionists

http://youtu.be/gohRo7DQ7As

(Video 6)
Christian Zionist love Israel not Jesus.
http://t.co/mm0trHzn

In this process of using and abusing anyone, zionists even cuddle up with NEO NAZIS, they don’t mind at all about a holocaust or THAT past,

For anything that will aid to the Greater Israel, will be (ab)used:

http://bit.ly/eXIG72

Zionism even invites hate pastors and holocaust deniers into Knesset : (as long as they are of use)

http://occupiedpalestine.wordpress.com/2011/07/29/settler-mks-welcome-russian-neo-nazi-holocaust-deniers-to-knesset-yad-vashem

 

WHY?



Israel. Not looking for Peace. Nor Talks. But this…The Greater Israel. Including map as publish by the zionist movement

http://storify.com/occpal/israel-not-looking-for-peace-nor-talks-but-this

(Video 1)
AIPAC 101 The Video every American should watch

http://is.gd/tVb5p3

(Video 2)
The Voice of America – Part 1 The Orange and the Pea

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aOZZ5zGAWKE

(Video 3)
AIPAC: The Voice of America – Part 2 The Treasonous Dollar Drain

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQE1Fe9nQeQ

(Video 4)
Treason by Members of the United States Congress

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3BahjX9nI5k



IS THERE MORE? YES!

 

ZIONIST VIOLENCE AND ETHNIC CLEANSING OF AFRICANS

Africans are being ethnic cleansed too.

Woman in an Israeli bus: “It’s all black. Film that garbage” “Goldstein Dawn” video by @davidsheen

http://occupiedpalestine.wordpress.com/2012/11/01/▶-israelis-vs-africans-goldstein-dawn-a-must-see-video-by-davidsheen

Woman in an Israeli bus: “Israel is conquered.. Look the whole bus!” “Goldstein Dawn” video by @davidsheen

http://occupiedpalestine.wordpress.com/2012/11/01/▶-israelis-vs-africans-goldstein-dawn-a-must-see-video-by-davidsheen

GOLDSTEIN DAWN | Israelis vs. Africans ~ a Must See #Video by @davidsheen

http://occupiedpalestine.wordpress.com/2012/11/01/▶-israelis-vs-africans-goldstein-dawn-a-must-see-video-by-davidsheen

Meet Israel: “We need a tsunami on all of #Gaza. Every pregnant Arab woman has a terrorist inside her,”

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2012/11/01/red-alerts-at-a-sderot-hair-salon.html

ActiveStills Gallery of Refugees

http://www.flickr.com/photos/activestills/sets/72157600731120579/with/8130312325/

An article about last year’s “Kick-the-Africans-out-of-Israel”-themed Hannukah party

http://electronicintifada.net/blogs/ali-abunimah/israeli-jewish-hate-rally-against-africans-tel-aviv-caught-video-haaretz-deletes


Zionism is no Judaism. It’s plain Racism.

 

FOR INFORMATION ABOUT TRUE JUDAISM CONTACT OR FOLLOW

@rhreng

@netureikartausa

@TrueTorahJews

@jewssf

@jihadijew

@jewisheditor

 

HOW TO DEAL WITH ZIONISM
Oppose – Expose – Dispose ~ by @docjazzmusic

http://wp.me/p16sn9-q61

Occupied Palestine | فلسطين

A COLLECTION OF LINKS
hate-zionism-not-jews

RESOURCES

Anti-Zionism is not Anti-Semitism
http://occupiedpalestine.wordpress.com/2011/05/13/anti-zionism-is-not-anti-semitism

A 130 Year Record of Religious Jewish Opposition to Zionism
http://www.nkusa.org/Historical_Documents/TheRabbisSpeakOut.htm

Don’t Equate Zionism with Judaism
http://t.co/3l25CxrU

Real Torah Jews against Zionism
http://www.jewsagainstzionism.com

The difference between Real Judaism and Zionist
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GuAPaKywuLA

Zionism: Real Jew reveals the Truth
http://wp.me/p16sn9-ark


VIDEO

Rabbi Israel Domb explains the Neturei Karta & Jews United Against Zionism Movement
http://occupiedpalestine.wordpress.com/2011/06/25/rabbi-israel-domb-explains-the-neturei-karta-jews-united-against-zionism-movement-full-documentary


Shocking Video: Zionist Thugs Beating Up Jewish Rabbis
http://wp.me/p16sn9-91H


PHOTOS



Shocking Photo | Zionist forces beat up a Jewish man supporting peace for Palestine

A6iQFavCAAA1juu.jpg large



Shocking Photo | Zionist policeofficer keeps Jewish men in head clamp

A6iQNc-CEAAYCZ-.jpg large



Shocking Photo | Zionist forces tackle a Jewish man in support of peace with Palestine

A6iQbo8CAAAJTfU.jpg large



Shocking Photo | Most moral Israeli forces abuse and violate a Jewish man supporting peace for Palestine

A6iQuPGCcAAfYnJ.jpg large


ZIONIST CRIMES AGAINST PEOPLE OF OTHER RELIGIONS

Zionist Crimes against Christianity – Zionists target Christians as well, 100.000 were expelled…

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The Doctrine Of The Trinity

08 Saturday Dec 2012

Posted by The Tale Of My Heart in Chritianity, Culture, God, History, Life, Quotes, World

≈ 30 Comments

Tags

Arianism, Christ, Christianity, God, Holy Spirit, Islam, Jehovah's Witnesses, Jesus, Jews, Judaism, Monotheism, Mormonism (LDS), Muslims, Nicene Creed, Quotes, religion, The Da Vinci Code, The Doctrine Of The Trinity, Trinity, Unitarianism, World

The Doctrine Of The Trinity

Christians regards their religion as monotheistic, since Christianity teaches the existence of one God – Yahweh, the God of the Jews. It shares this belief with two other major world religions, Judaism and Islam.

However, Christian monotheism is a unique kind of monotheism. It holds that God is One, but that three distinct “persons” constitute the one God: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. This unique threefold God of Christian belief is referred to as the Trinity (from Latin trinitas, “three”).

Fast Facts on the Trinity

  • The word “Trinity” does not appear in the Bible
  • The word “Trinity” was first used by Tertullian (c.155-230)
  • The doctrine of the Trinity is commonly expressed as: “One God, three Persons”
  • The doctrine is formally defined in the Nicene Creed, which declares Jesus to be: “God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God, begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father.”
  • Past and present Christian faiths who do not believe in the Trinity include:
    • Arianism (4th century)
    • Some Radical Reformers (16th century), such as Michael Servetus
    • Jehovah’s Witnesses
    • Mormonism
    • Unitarianism
  • Reasons given for rejecting the doctrine of the Trinity include:
    • It is not mentioned in the Bible
    • It does not make philosophical sense
    • It is not compatible with monotheism
    • It is not necessary in order to explain the “specialness” of Jesus
  • Reasons given for believing in the Trinity include:
    • It is taught indirectly in various statements in the Bible
    • It explains the divinity of Jesus and the Holy Spirit while affirming monotheism
    • It would not be expected that the nature of God would make sense to human minds
    • The early ecumenical councils (primarily Nicea) are authoritative

History of the Doctrine of the Trinity

The doctrine of the Trinity took centuries to develop, but the roots of the doctrine can be seen from the first century.

The word “Trinity” is not found in the New Testament, nor is the doctrine explicitly taught there. However, foundations of the concept of the Trinity can be seen in the New Testament, especially in the Gospel of John, one of the latest and most theologically developed of the New Testament books. 

1: Hints of Trinitarian beliefs can also be seen in the teachings of extra-biblical writers as early as the end of the first century. 2 However, the clearest early expression of the concept came with Tertullian, a Latin theologian who wrote in the early third century. Tertullian coined the words “Trinity” and “person” and explained that the Father, Son and Holy Spirit were “one in essence – not one in Person.” 

2: About a century later, in 325, the Council of Nicea set out to officially define the relationship of the Son to the Father, in response to the controversial teachings of Arius. Led by bishop Athanasius, the council established the doctrine of the Trinity as orthodoxy and condemned Arius’ teaching that Christ was the first creation of God. The creed adopted by the council described Christ as “God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God, begotten, not made, being of one substance (homoousios) with the Father.”

3: Nicea did not end the controversy, however. Debate over how the creed (especially the phrase “one substance”) ought to be interpreted continued to rage for decades. One group advocated the doctrine that Christ was a “similar substance” (homoiousios) as the Father. But for the most part, the issue of the Trinity was settled at Nicea and, by the fifth century, never again became a focus of serious controversy.

3: Most post-Nicene theological discussion of the Trinity consisted of attempts to understand and explain such a unique concept. Gregory of Nyssa, in his treatise, That There are Not Three Gods, compared the divinity shared by the three persons of the Trinity to the common “humanness,” or human nature, that is shared by individual human beings. (Ironically, this initially promising explanation has been seen by some to yield a conclusion quite opposite than the title of his work.)

4: Saint Augustine, one of the greatest thinkers of the early church, described the Trinity as comparable to the three parts of an individual human being: mind, spirit, and will. They are three distinct aspects, yet they are inseparable and together constitute one unified human being.

Modern Denominational Statements on the Trinity

There are many differences in doctrine between various mainstream Christian denominations, but the doctrine of the Trinity is not one of them.

The mystery of the Most Holy Trinity is the central mystery of the Christian faith and of Christian life.
— Roman Catholicism

The fundamental truth of the Orthodox Church is the faith revealed in the True God: the Holy Trinity of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. — Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America

We teach that the one true God. is the Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost, three distinct persons, but of one and the same divine essence, equal in power, equal in eternity, equal in majesty, because each person possesses the one divine essence .— Lutheran Church (Missouri Synod)

We trust in the one triune God. — Presbyterian Church (USA)

The eternal triune God reveals Himself to us as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, with distinct personal attributes, but without division of nature, essence, or being. — Southern Baptist Convention

There is but one living and true God, everlasting, without body or parts, of infinite power, wisdom, and goodness; the maker and preserver of all things, both visible and invisible. And in unity of this Godhead there are three persons, of one substance, power, and eternity-the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. — United Methodist Church

Critics of the Trinitarian Doctrine, Past and Present

Despite its widespread acceptance among Christians, the doctrine of the Trinity has been a stumbling block to many non-Christians throughout its history. The fiercely monotheistic Jews rejected the idea of the Trinity since it first arose, it has been similarly rejected by Islam since that religion was founded, and many other men and women of all backgrounds have found the concept difficult to understand or accept.

This section provides a brief summary of groups and individuals who have rejected the Trinity, presented in roughly chronological order.

Judaism

In the New Testament, Jews are described as rejecting Jesus’ claims apparent claims to divinity, accusing him of blasphemy. In the Gospel of Mark, for instance, Jesus forgives a man’s sins and some Jewish teachers thought to themselves: “Why does this fellow talk like that? He’s blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?” 5 In the Gospel of John, some Jews began to stone Jesus, explaining that they did so “for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God.” 

The great Jewish philosopher Maimonides also rejected the Trinitarian beliefs of Christians.

In his aversion to what he considered to be Christian dilutions of pure monotheism, especially in its doctrine of the Trinity, much of Maimonides’ philosophical critique of Christian theology is similar to Islamic arguments against it. In his earlier work, Maimonides translated his theoretical disdain of Christianity into practice. He deemed Christians to be idolators and bemoaned the fact that political necessity forced many European Jews to live in Christian societies. 7

Today, Jewish counter-missionary movements like “Jews for Judaism” seek to educate Jews about why belief in the Trinity is incompatible with Judaism.

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Arianism

Arianism is the name given to an anti-Trinitarian belief system taught by Arius, an elder in the Alexandrian church, in the early fourth century AD. Arius affirmed the uniqueness of God and denied the complete divinity of the Son (Christ). He taught instead that Christ was a created and changeable being, who, while superior to humans, is not of the same order as the one God.

Arius and Arianism were condemned at the famous Council of Nicea in 325 AD, which proclaimed that the Son was of “the same substance” as the Father. After Constantine’s death, however, Arianism flourished again for some decades and almost overcame the Nicene party. Arianism was finally condemned at the Council of Constantinople in 381 AD.

Islam

The sacred text of Islam, the Qur’an (or Koran), explicitly denies the doctrine of the Trinity. It appears to understand the Christian Trinity as being the Father, Son and Mary:

And (remember) when Allah will say (on the Day of Resurrection): ‘O ‘Iesa (Jesus), son of Maryam (Mary) ! Did you say unto men: Worship me and my mother as two gods besides Allah?’ He will say: ‘Glory be to you! It was not for me to say that which I had no right (to say).

,,,

,,,

,,,

,,,

Jehovah’s Witnesses

The Jehovah’s Witnesses, a Christian group founded in the United States, rejects the doctrine of the Trinity. Instead, it teaches a doctrine similar to that of Arius in the fourth century – Christ is the Son of God, a special being, created by God before the beginning of time, but not equal with God. Witnesses regard Arius as a forerunner of Charles Taze Russell, their movement’s founder. 9

A Jehovah’s Witness brochure entitled “Beliefs and Customs that God Hates” includes the Trinity, saying:

Is Jehovah a Trinity-three persons in one God? No! Jehovah, the Father, is “the only true God.” (John 17:3; Mark 12:29) Jesus is His firstborn Son, and he is subject to God. (1 Corinthians 11:3) The Father is greater than the Son. (John 14:28) The holy spirit is not a person; it is God’s active force.-Genesis 1:2; Acts 2:18.

In addition to the Bible verses cited above, Witnesses point out that it was the secular Emperor who proposed the doctrine of Christ as “same substance” with God, not the bishops present, and that the doctrine of the Trinity (i.e., including the divinity of the Holy Spirit) was not actually brought forth at Nicea at all. Jehovah’s Witnesses also argue that the Athanasian Creed, which sets forth the doctrine more clearly, was not only probably not written by Athanasius himself, but may not have been composed until the fifth century. Finally, they note the presence of Trinitarian-type beliefs in pagan religion, and argue that paganism is the source of the Christian doctrine of the Trinity as well.

Mormonism (LDS)

Mormons believe that the Godhead is made up of three distinct beings who are “one in purpose” but not in being. Jesus is affirmed as Son of God, but not God himself. He is a created spirit. 

Unitarianism

“Unitarianism” is the doctrine of the oneness of God, with the resultant denial of the Trinity. Today, the doctrine of unitarianism is expressed by the Unitarian Universalist Association and similar groups, which have their historical roots in sixteenth-century eastern Europe. Historically, Unitarian Universalists are defined by their rejection of the Trinity and their belief in the ultimate salvation of all humanity.

Today, however, Unitarians draw from a variety of religious traditions and do not focus on doctrine and creeds as much as love and justice between human beings. Because of this de-emphasis on doctrine, modern Unitarian Universalist arguments against the Trinity are scarce. However, the official Web site of the Unitarian Univeralist Association describes the early history of their beliefs this way:

During the first three centuries of the Christian church, believers could choose from a variety of tenets about Jesus. Among these was a belief that Jesus was an entity sent by God on a divine mission. Thus the word “Unitarian” developed, meaning the oneness of God. Another religious choice in the first three centuries of the Common Era (CE) was universal salvation. This was the belief that no person would be condemned by God to eternal damnation in a fiery pit. Thus a Universalist believed that all people will be saved. Christianity lost its element of choice in 325 CE when the Nicene Creed established the Trinity as dogma. For centuries thereafter, people who professed Unitarian or Universalist beliefs were persecuted. 11

The Da Vinci Code

Although neither a scholarly nor a religious source, Dan Brown’s novel The Da Vinci Code is mentioned here because it has been widely read and it claims to present numerous “historical facts” about the development of the Trinity and other aspects of early Christianity. At one point in the novel, a learned character explains that the Trinity was unheard of until the Emperor Constantine enforced the foreign idea of Christ’s divinity on Christendom. Brown writes, “until that moment in history, Jesus was viewed by His followers as a mortal prophet … a great and powerful man, but a man nonetheless.” This is not historically accurate. For more information on The Da Vinci Code as it relates to Christian history and theology, see the feature article on the subject.

References

  1. E.g., Matthew 28:19; John 1:1; John 10:30.
  2. Epistle of Ignatius to the Ephesians (Ante-Nicene Fathers 1.58); The Martyrdom of Polycarp 14 (ANF 1.42).
  3. ANF 3.621; c. 213 AD.
  4. William Placher, Readings in the History of Christian Theology, 53.
  5. Mark 2:7.
  6. John 10:33.
  7. David Novak, “The Mind of Maimonides.” First Things, February 1999.
  8. “Arianism.” Encyclopædia Britannica Premium Service, 2004.
  9. “How Did the Trinity Doctrine Develop?” Watchtower.org.
  10. “Our Historic Faith.” Unitarian Universalist Association.
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Christology: Beliefs about the Nature of Christ

08 Saturday Dec 2012

Posted by The Tale Of My Heart in Allah, Angels, Chritianity, Culture, God, History, Life, Nature, World

≈ 17 Comments

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Acts of the Apostles, Beliefs about the Nature of Christ, Christ, Christianity, God, Gospel, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Life, Messiah, religion, Son of Man, World

orthodox icon of Christ

Jesus Christ is one the most fascinating and enigmatic figures in history. Despite his humble origins (a son of a carpenter from the Judean countryside), short life (about 33 years), and very short public career (between one and three years), Jesus is the central focus of the world’s largest religion and has meant many things to many people since his death almost 2,000 years ago. Merriam-Webster’s Encyclopedia of World Religions calls Jesus “arguably the most important figure in the history of western civilization.”

In recent years, both scholarly and popular attention has been focused on the “quest for the historical Jesus,” an attempt to distinguish the human Jesus who lived and taught in Galilee from the “Christ of faith” developed by the early Christians. This subject will be discussed in a separate article (currently under development).

This article focuses on the “Christ of faith” – that is, the Christian doctrine about who Jesus was. This topic is known to Christian theologians as “Christology,” a field that seeks to answer the question, “Who is Jesus Christ?” from a theological perspective. The article that follows will focus on five major answers that Christians have traditionally given to this question: he was a real human being, the Messiah, the Son of Man, the Son of God, and God.

Christ as a Historical Human Being

First, Christians believe Jesus to have been a historical human being who was born in Bethlehem between 7 and 4 BC. {1} The humanity of Jesus is now one of the least controversial areas of Christology, but this was not always so.

In the early years after Christ, some taught that Jesus’ body, suffering, and death were merely appearances. Scholars call this view “docetism,” from the Greek word meaning “to seem.” Docetism arose from the Gnostic view that all matter is evil, and concluded that God could not have been actually associated with it.

Christ as the Messiah

Christians believe Jesus is the Messiah, the “anointed one” predicted in the Jewish Scriptures. The word “Christ” comes from the Greek for “Messiah,” (it is actually a title, not a surname). According to the Hebrew prophets, the Messiah is a king-like figure from the line of David who would, among other things, rescue Israel from her oppressors, return Jerusalem to the Jewish people, and usher in an age of peace. {2} There is evidence that Jewish messianic expectation was high at the time of Jesus, associated with hope of liberation from Roman occupation.

Jews and Christians disagree, of course, as to whether Jesus was the Messiah. The arguments given for both sides and the history of this disagreement is worthy of fuller treatment, and will be the subject of a future feature article. In the meantime, an overview of Jewish beliefs about the Messiah can be found in the article on Jewish Beliefs.

In the New Testament, affirmations of Jesus as the Messiah are found almost exclusively in the four Gospel narratives and the Acts of the Apostles. The Pauline and other epistles, many of which predate the Gospels, do not attempt to show that Jesus is Messiah, yet they refer to him almost exclusively as “Christ.” In the Gospels, various people identify Jesus as the Messiah, and Jesus himself reinforces this perception:

  • After meeting Jesus, Andrew runs to tell Peter that he has found the Messiah (Jn 1:41)
  • In a conversation with Jesus, a Samaritan woman says she knows the Messiah is coming. Jesus replies, “I who speak to you am he.” (Jn 4:25-26)
  • When Jesus asks his disciples who they think he is, Peter answers, “You are the Christ.” (Mt 16:16; Mk 8:29; Lk 9:20)
  • During the Triumphal Entry, the crowds shout, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” and the Gospel author explains that this fulfilled the prophecy of Zechariah 9:9. (Mt 21:4-9)
  • When Jesus stands trial before the Sanhedrin (the Jewish high court), the high priest asks him if he is ” the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?” and Jesus replies, “I am.” (Mk 14:61-62)

In Acts, one of the primary messages of the apostles is that Jesus is the Messiah:

  • “Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they [the apostles] never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ.” (Ac 5:52)
  • “As his custom was, Paul went into the synagogue, and one three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and proving that the Christ had to suffer and rise from the dead. ‘This Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the Christ,’ he said.” (Ac 17:2-3)
  • Before King Herod Agrippa II, Paul insists, “I am saying nothing beyond what the prophets and Moses said would happen – that the Christ would suffer and, as the first to rise from the dead, would proclaim light to his own people and to the Gentiles.” (Ac 26:22-23)

It is interesting to note that although Jesus appears to see himself as the Messiah in the Gospels, he does not go out of his way to identify himself as such, and those who do are commanded not to tell anyone about it. {3} This is known as the “messianic secret,” and its significance remains somewhat of a mystery to biblical scholars.

Christ as Son of Man

“Son of Man” is one of the more interesting and enigmatic titles of Jesus. It used 81 times in theGospels, and always by Jesus himself. No other character in the Gospel narratives nor any other New Testament writer uses the term. {4} Various explanations have been offered as to why Jesus employed the term and others did not. It may have been a term Jesus could use early in his ministry without inciting much hostility, because of its various meanings, but that would later encompass his messianic claims. The early Christian writers may have been reluctant to use it because the Greek phrase is somewhat ambiguous (Jesus would have used the simpler Aramaic term). {5}

To determine what Jesus meant by the phrase, Biblical scholars turn to its use in the Old Testament. There the term “Son of Man” is used in three main contexts:

  • an address to the prophet Ezekiel (e.g. Ezekiel 2:1);
  • to refer to humanity in general, especially its lowliness when compared to God and the angels (Numbers 23:19; Psalm 8:14); and
  • to refer to an eschatological figure whose coming signals the end of history (Daniel 7:13-14). {6}

Jesus appears to use the phrase especially in the third sense. He uses the phrase “Son of Man” when speaking of his roles of saving and judging (e.g. Mk 10:45; Mt 25:31) and of the future coming of an exalted, heavenly figure (e.g. Mt 13:41, 24:30; Mk 14:62; Lk 18:8).

Christ as Son of God

Another title used to refer to Jesus in the New Testament is “Son of God.” In the Old Testament, this phrase had a general meaning of “belonging to God.” It was applied to the people of Israel in general and especially its rulers (see e.g. Ex 4:22; 2 Sa 7:14).

Jesus does not refer to himself as the Son of God in the Gospels, but the term is used in the writings of Paul (e.g. Ro 1:4, 8:31) and in the epistle to the Hebrews (4:14). The Gospel of John refers to Jesus simply as “the Son,” which may have a similar meaning. Paul uses the term for both Christ and Christians, but distinguishes between the two. Christians become sons of God by adoption, but Jesus is the rightful Son of God by nature. {7}

Christ as God

Finally, Christians believe that Christ is God. This concept seems to be stated explicitly in the New Testament in at least the following places:

  • In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God…. The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. (John 1:1,14)
  • Thomas said to him [the resurrected Jesus], “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:28)
  • But about the Son he [God] says, “Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever.” (Hebrews 1:8)

In addition, some important titles and functions applied to Christ in the New Testament indicate early belief in his divinity. The statement “Jesus Christ is Lord (Greek kyrios, Hebrew adonai)” is found throughout the New Testament and was one of the earliest Christian confessions of faith. Due to the substitution of the word “Lord” in place of YHWH (the holy name of God that may not be pronounced) in Torah readings, “Lord” had come to be almost synonymous with God in Jewish thinking by the time of Jesus. This associated can be seen in the Jews’ refusal to address the Roman emperor as “lord,” even under penalty of death. {8}

Finally, as noted by Alister McGrath, the New Testament writers apply the following functions to Jesus that are associated only with God:

  • Jesus is the savior of humanity (Mt 1:21, Ac 4:12, Lk 2:11)
  • It is appropriate to call on the name of Jesus in prayer (1 Co 1:2) and to worship him (Mt 28:9)
  • Jesus reveals God directly: “Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father.” (Jn 14:9) {9}

 

,,,

References;

1. Jesus was born “Before Christ” due to a calculation error by the monk Dionysius Exiguus, who established the Christian calendar in 525 AD.

2. See, for example, 2 Samuel 7:12-13; Isaiah 11; Jeremiah 23:5-8; 30-31; Hosea 3:5.

3. Mt 16:20; Mk 8:30, 9:9; Lk 8:56, 9:21.

4. “Son of Man,” Catholic Encylopedia (1912).

5. Ibid.

6. McGrath, Christian Theology, 327.

7. Ibid., 326.

8. Ibid., 328, citing the Jewish historian Josephus.

9. Ibid., 329-30

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Christian Beliefs About Angels

19 Monday Nov 2012

Posted by The Tale Of My Heart in Angels, Culture, Feelings, History, Human, Life, Lord, Muslims, Politics, Power, Wars, Wisdom, World, Youth

≈ 11 Comments

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Allah, Angel, Bible, Christian Beliefs About Angels, Christianity, Christians, Gabriel, God, Human, Jesus, Life, Lord, Mary, Recomendations, religion, United States, Victory, Wars, Wisdom, Women, World, Youth

Call Angels is the perfect way to promote growth and healthy profits

angel statue in a Belgian church

“God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendent of David. The virgin’s name was Mary.”

–Luke 1:26-27, NIV

“Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?”
–Hebrews 1:14, NIV

According to a March 2004 Gallup poll, belief in angels and demons is on the rise, at least in the United States. In 1994, 72% of Americans said they believed in angels; in 2004, 78% indicated belief in angels. Belief in the devil has risen even more dramatically, increasing from 55% in 1990 to 70% in 2004. 1

Other English-speaking countries are more skeptical, however. In November 2004, a Gallup poll showed that 56% of Canadians and 36% of Britons believe in angels and only 37% of Canadians and 29% of Britons believe in the devil. 2

Belief in angels is common to Christianity, Judaism and Islam. The concept of angelic beings is very similar in all three faiths: angels are spiritual beings who were created by God before the world was created. Their role is to glorify God, minister to God, and, especially, act as God’s messengers to humans in matters of great importance (such as the announcement to Mary in Christianity and the revelation of the Qur’an in Islam). They are also helpers and guardians of the faithful.

Angels in the New Testament

In the New Testament, angels appear frequently as the ministers of God and the agents of revelation (Matt 1:20 to Joseph, 4:11 to Jesus, Luke 1:26 to Mary, Acts 12:7 to Peter); and Jesus speaks of angels as fulfilling such functions (Mark 8:38, 13:27), implying in one saying that they neither marry nor are given in marriage (Mark 12:25). Angels are most prominent in Revelation.

The New Testament takes little interest in the idea of the angelic hierarchy that developed later, but there are traces of the doctrine. The distinction of good and bad angels is recognized; there are names: Gabriel (Luke 1:19), the evil angels Abaddon or Apollyon (Rev. 9:11), Beelzebub (Mark 3:22) and Satan (Mark 1:13); ranks are implied: archangels (Michael, Jude 9), principalities and powers (Rom. 8:38; Col. 2:10), thrones and dominions (Col 1:16). Angels occur in groups of four or seven (Rev 7:1).

In Rev 1-3 we meet with the “Angels” of the Seven Churches of Asia Minor. These are probably guardian angels, standing to the churches in the same relation that the “princes” in Daniel stand to the nations; practically the “angels” are personifications of the churches. A less likely view is that the “angels” are the human representatives of the churches, the bishops or chief presbyters.

The angel Gabriel appeared to Mary in the traditional role of messenger to inform her that her child would be the Messiah, and other angels were present to herald his birth. An angel appeared at Jesus’ tomb, frightened the Roman guards, rolled away the stone from the tomb, and later told the myrrh-bearing women of Jesus’ resurrection. Two angels witnessed Jesus’ ascent into Heaven and prophesied his return. When Peter was imprisoned, an angel put his guards to sleep, released him from his chains, and led him out of the prison. Angels fill a number of different roles in the book of Revelation. Among other things, they are seen gathered around the Throne of God singing the “Holy, holy, holy” hymn.

Artistic and Literary Depictions of Angels in Christianity

Angels are frequently depicted as human in appearance, though many theologians have argued that they have no physical existence. (Hence the frequently recounted tale of Scholastics arguing about how many angels could fit on a pinhead; if angels possess physical bodies, the answer is “a finite number”, if they do not, the answer is “an infinite number”.) Seraphim are often depicted as six wings radiating from a center — either concealing a body, or without a body.

Beginning in the end of the 4th century, angels were depicted with wings, presumably to give an easy explanation for them travelling to and from heaven or to depict them as spirits. Scholastic theologians teach that angels are able to reason instantly, and to move instantly. They also teach that angels are intermediaries to some forces that would otherwise be natural forces of the universe, such as the rotation of planets and the motion of stars. Angels possess the beatific vision, or the unencumbered understanding of God (the essence of the pleasure of heaven). Furthermore, there are more angels then there are anything else in the universe (although when first written this would have probably not included atoms since atomic structure was not known).

Religious thought about the angels during the middle ages was much influenced by the theory of the angelic hierarchy set forth in the The Celestial Hierarchy, written in the 5th century in the name of Dionysius the Areopagite. The creeds and confessions do not formulate any authoritative doctrine of angels; and modern rationalism has tended to deny the existence of such beings, or to regard the subject as one on which we can have no certain knowledge. The principle of continuity, however, seems to require the existence of beings intermediate between man and God.

Some Christian traditions hold that angels are organized into three major Hierarchies which are subdivided into orders or Choirs, and list as many as ten orders of angels. This is particularly clear in the above-mentioned The Celestial Hierarchy, which gives the names that have become part of tradition: Angels, Archangels, Principalities, Powers, Virtues, Dominions, Thrones, Cherubim, and Seraphim. In this hierarchy, the Cherubim and Seraphim are typically closest to God, while the Angels and Archangels are most active in human affairs. Many of these names come from verses in the Bible which would appear at first to be referencing a literal thing, although retroactively suggesting that they really mention angels can also make sense in the context. For example the verse in Paul “our struggle is not with earthly things but with principalities and powers” (meaning, according to most theologians, the fallen angels of those choirs, used as an example of all the fallen angels).

Some Christian traditions also hold that angels play a variety of specific roles in the lives of believers. For instance, each Christian may be assigned a guardian angel at their baptism (although never defined by the Catholic or Orthodox churches, this is personally held by many church members and theologians). Each consecrated altar has at least one angel always present offering up prayers, and a number of angels join the congregation when they meet to pray. In the story of the 40 martyrs of Sebaste, in which 40 Christian Roman soldiers were made to stand naked on a frozen lake in the snow until they renounced their faith, angels were seen descending from Heaven placing the crowns of martyrs on their heads.

Certain Christian traditions, especially the Protestant Reformed tradition, hold that references to the “Angel of the Lord” are references to pre-Incarnation appearances of Jesus.

In many informal folk beliefs among Christians concerning the afterlife, the souls of the virtuous dead ascend into Heaven to be converted into angels. However, this belief is not supported by the Bible and theologians are quick to discount it.

References

  1. “Eternal Destinations: Americans Believe in Heaven, Hell.” Gallup Poll News Service, May 25, 2004.
  2. “Divine Subjects: Canadians Believe, Britons Skeptical.” Gallup Poll News Service, November 16, 2004.
  3. “Angels.” Wikipedia. 2005.

Further Reading on Angels

Catholic Sources on Angels

  • Angels – Catholic Encyclopedia (1907)
  • Early Christian Representations of Angels – Catholic Encyclopedia (1907)
  • Opus Sanctorum Angelorum: The Work of the Holy Angels (a Catholic organization)

Protestant Sources on Angels

  • Christian Answers: What does the Bible teach about angels? – A thorough FAQ
  • Angels, Demons and Satan – by Dan Corner of Evangelical Outreach
  • Martin Luther’s Table Talk on Angels – CCEL
  • The Trouble With Angels – Common-Place.org (focuses on the Puritans)

Orthodox Sources on Angels

  • The World of the Angels – reprinted from “Orthodox Russia” (1999)
  • Angels and Evil Spirits – Orthodox Church in America
  • Angels: Our Elder Brethren – St. Nicholai Velimirovic, Bishop of Zica
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Islamic Views of Hazrat Maryam (RA)

18 Sunday Nov 2012

Posted by The Tale Of My Heart in Allah, Angels, Beauty, Culture, Feelings, God, Heart, History, Islam, Jews, Life, Love, Muslims, Nature, Peace, Qura'n, Wars, Wisdom, World, Youth

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Ali-Imran, Allah, Beauty, Christians, Death, God, Hagia Sophia, Heart, Holy Quran, Islam, Jesus, Jews, Life, Love, Mary, Maryam, Men, New Testament, Peace, Qura'n, Relationship, religion, Victory, Wars, Women, World, Youth

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Mary (مريم Maryam in Arabic), the mother of Jesus (Isa), is considered one of the most righteous women in the Islamic tradition. She is mentioned more in the Quran than in the entire New Testament and is also the only woman mentioned by name in the Quran. According to the Quran, Jesus was born miraculously by the will of God without a father. His mother is regarded as a chaste and virtuous woman and is said to have been a virgin. The Quran states clearly that Jesus was the result of a virgin birth, but that neither Mary nor her son were divine. In the Quran, no other woman is given more attention than Mary and the Quran states that Mary was chosen above all women:

Behold! the angels said: “O Mary! Allah hath chosen thee and purified thee- chosen thee above the women of all nations.

Quran, sura 3 (Ali-Imran), ayah 42

The nineteenth chapter of the Quran is named after her and is, to some extent, about her life. Of the Quran’s 114 suras, she is among only eight people who have a chapter named after them. Mary is specifically mentioned in the Quran, alongside Asiya, as an exemplar for all righteous women. Mary plays an important role in Islamic culture and religious tradition, and verses from the Quran relating to Mary are frequently inscribed on the mihrabof various mosques, including in the Hagia Sophia.

Family

Mary’s lineage, going back to her grandfather, as interpreted by Muslims.

Lineage of six prominent prophets according to Islamic tradition
Adem (Adam)
Nuh (Noah)
Ibrahim(Abraham)
Ismā’īl (Ishmael) Is’haq (Isaac)
Musa (Moses)
Maryam (Mary)
Isa (Jesus)
Abdul Muttalib
Muhammad

The Quran refers to Mary as being from the “house of Amram“, which is a reference to Amram, the father ofMoses (Musa), Aaron (Harun) and Miriam, through whom Mary descended. Mary is further called the “daughter of Amram”, which has again been interpreted to refer to her ancestor rather than her actual father, who is unnamed in the Quran, but to whom Christian tradition applies the name Joachim. Muslim scholars and commentators have seen the Quran’s statement of Mary being a “daughter of Amram” as similar to the description of Elizabeth in the Gospel of Luke as being one of the “daughters of Aaron”; they interpret both of these phrases as referring to ancestral fathers, rather than literal fathers. Take note, however, that the Gospel of Luke only says Mary and Elizabeth are relatives. There is no phrase “the daughter of Aaron.” (Only Luke 1 mentions Elizabeth.)

Mary in the Quran

Mary is mentioned frequently in the Quran, and her narrative occurs consistently from the earliest chapters, revealed in Mecca, to the latest verses, revealed in Medina.

Birth

The birth of Mary is narrated in the Quran with references to her father as well as Saint Anne. Mary’s father is called Amram in tradition and is the equivalent of Joachim in Christian tradition. Muslim literature narrates that Amram (Imran in Arabic) and Anne (Hannah in Arabic) were old and childless and that, one day, the sight of a bird in a tree feeding her young aroused Anne’s desire for a child. She prayed to God to fulfill her desire and vowed, if her prayer was accepted, that her child would be dedicated to the service of God. She prayed for her child to remain protected from Satan (Shayṭān) and Muslim tradition records a hadith, which states that the only children born without the “touch of Satan,” were Mary and Jesus.

Early years

The Quran narrates that Mary grew up in the temple of the prayer, and had a special place in the temple of her own. She was placed under the care of the prophet Zechariah. The Muslim narrative makes it clear that lots were cast as to who should be the guardian of Mary and the outcome was that she should be placed under Zechariah’s care. As often as Zechariah entered Mary’s prayer chamber, he found her provided with food and he would ask her where she received it from, to which she would reply that God provides to whom He wills. Scholars have debated as to whether this refers to miraculous food that Mary received from God or whether it was normal food. Those in favor of the former view state that it had to be miraculous food, as Zechariah being aprophet, would have known that God is the provider of all sustenance and thus would not have questioned Mary, if it was normal food.

Annunciation to Mary

The virgin birth of Jesus is supremely important in Islam, as one of the most important miracles of God. The first explicit mention of an annunciation foreshadowing the birth of Jesus is in sura 19 (Maryam), ayah 20 where Mary asks Gabriel (Jibral) how she will be able to conceive, when no man has touched her. Gabriel’s reply assures Mary that for God all things are easy and that Jesus’s virgin birth will be a sign for mankind. The birth is later referred in sura 66 (At-Tahrim), ayah 12, where the Quran states that Mary remained “pure”, while God allowed a life to shape itself in Mary’s womb. A third mention of the annunciation is in sura 3 (Ali-Imran), ayat 37–38, where Mary is also given the glad tidings that she has been chosen above all the women of creation.

Commentators on the Quran remark on the last verse that Mary was as close to a perfect woman as there could be, and she was devoid of almost all failings. Although Islam honors numerous women, including Khadija and Fatimah, many commentators followed this verse in the absolute sense, and agreed that Mary was the greatest woman of all time. Other commentators, however, while maintaining that Mary was the “queen of the saints”, interpreted this verse to mean that Mary was the greatest woman of that time and that Fatimah and Khadija were equally great. According to exegesis and literature, Gabriel appeared to Mary, who was still young in age, in the form of a well-made man with a “shining face” and announced to her the birth of Jesus. After her immediate astonishment, she was reassured by the angel‘s answer that God has the power to do anything. The details of the Mary’s conception are not discussed during these angelic visits, but elsewhere the Quran states (sura 21, (Al-Anbiya), ayah 91 and 66:12) that God breathed “His Spirit” into Mary while she was chaste.

Virgin birth of Jesus

Virgin Mary nurtured by a palm tree, as described in the Quran.

The Quran narrates the virgin birth of Jesus numerous times. In sura 19 (Maryam), ayat 17-21, the annunciation is given, followed by the virgin birth, which exegesis relates took place soon after the annunciation. In Islam, Jesus is called the “spirit of God” because he was through the action of the spirit, but that belief does not include the doctrine of his pre-existence, as it does in Christianity. Sura:66:12 states that Jesus was born when the spirit of God breathed upon Mary, whose body was chaste.

The Quran’s narrative of the virgin birth is somewhat different from that in the New Testament. The Quran states that Mary was in the midst of the desert, when the pains of childbirth came upon her, as she was near a palm tree. Mary cried in pain and held onto the palm, at which point a voice came from “beneath the (palm-tree)” or “beneath her”, understood by some to refer to Jesus, who was yet in her womb, which said ” “Grieve not! for thy Lord hath provided a rivulet beneath thee; “And shake towards thyself the trunk of the palm-tree: It will let fall fresh ripe dates upon thee.” The Quran goes on to describe that Mary vowed not to speak to any man on that day, as God was to make Jesus, whom Muslims believe spoke in the cradle, perform his first miracle. The Quran goes on to narrate that Mary then brought Jesus to the temple, where immediately she began to be taunted by all the men, excluding Zechariah, who believed in the virgin birth. The Israelites accused Mary of having touched another man whilst unmarried. It was then that according to the Quran the infant Jesus began to speak in the cradle, and spoke of his prophecy for the first time.

Mary in Muslim tradition

Mary is one of the most honored figures in Muslim history. Muslim women look upon her as an example and are known to visit both Muslim and Christian shrines. Muslim tradition, like Christian, honors her memory at Matariyyah near Cairo, and in Jerusalem. Muslims also visit the Bath of Mary in Jerusalem, where Muslim tradition recounts Mary once bathed, and this location was visited at times by women, who were seeking a cure for barrenness. Some plants have also been named after Mary, such as Maryammiah, which, as tradition recounts, acquired its sweet scent when Mary wiped her forehead with its leaves. Another plant is Kaff Maryam (Anastatica), which was used by some Muslim women to help in pregnancy, and the water of this plant was given to women to drink while praying.

Islamic literature does not recount many instances from Mary’s later life, and the assumption is one of the Christian events not present in any Muslim records. Nevertheless, some contemporary Muslim scholars, an example being Martin Lings, accepted the assumption as being a historical event from Mary’s life.[27] One of the lesser-known events which is recorded in Muslim literature, is that of Mary visiting Rome with John and Thaddeus (Jude), the disciples (al-Hawāriyūn) of Jesus, during the reign of Nero.

Arabic titles

  • Qānitah: Mary is so called in sura 66:12.The Arabic term implies the meaning, not only of constant submission to God, but also absorption in prayer and invocation, meanings that coincides with the image of Mary spending her childhood in the temple of prayer. In this way, Mary personifies prayer and contemplation in Islam.
  • Siddiqah: She who confirms the truth or She who has faith. Mary is called Siddiqah twice in the Quran (sura 5 (Al-Ma’ida), ayat 73-75 and 66:12). The term has also been translated, She who believes sincerely completely.
  • Sājidah: She who prostrates to God in worship. The Quran states: “O Mary! Worship your Lord devoutly: prostrate yourself”. While in Sujud, a Muslim is to praise God and glorify Him. In this motion, which Muslims believe to be derived from Marian nature, hands, knees and the forehead touch the ground together.
  • Rāki’ah: She who bows down to God in worship. The Quran states: “O Mary! Bow down in prayer with those men, who bow down.” The command was repeated by angels only to Mary, according to the Muslim view. Ruku’ in Muslim prayer during prayer has been derived from Mary’s practice.
  • Tāhirah: She who was purified.
  • Mustafia: She who was chosen. The Quran states: “O Mary! God has chosen you and purified you and again he has chosen you above all women of all nations of the worlds” .
  • Sa’imah: She who fasts. Mary is reported to fast one-half of a year in some Muslim traditions.

Many other names of Mary can be found in various other books and religious collections. In Hadith, she has been referred to by names such as Batul, Adhraa (Ascetic Virgin), and Marhumah (Enveloped in God’s Mercy).

Burial place

Outside View the Tomb of Mary

Mary is belived to have been buried at the Tomb of the Virgin Mary in the Kidron Valley, at the foot of the Mount of Olives, in Jerusalem. The Christian church on the site has been destroyed several times but the crypt has remained intact. The site is run by the Greek Orthodox Church of Jerusalem who share it with the Armenian Apostolic Church. A mihrab is located at the site to aid Muslims.

  • Wall Painting at Tomb of Mary

  • Inside of the Tomb of Mary

    Surat Maryam (Mary) – سورة مريم

    بسم الله الرحمن الرحي
    19:1
     
    19:1
    Sahih International

    Kaf, Ha, Ya, ‘Ayn, Sad.

    19:2

     
    19:2
    Sahih International

    [This is] a mention of the mercy of your Lord to His servant Zechariah

    19:3

     
    19:3
    Sahih International

    When he called to his Lord a private supplication.

    19:4

     
    19:4
    Sahih International

    He said, “My Lord, indeed my bones have weakened, and my head has filled with white, and never have I been in my supplication to You, my Lord, unhappy.

    19:5

     
    19:5
    Sahih International

    And indeed, I fear the successors after me, and my wife has been barren, so give me from Yourself an heir

    19:6

    to top
    19:6
    Sahih International

    Who will inherit me and inherit from the family of Jacob. And make him, my Lord, pleasing [to You].”

    19:7

     
    19:7
    Sahih International

    [He was told], “O Zechariah, indeed We give you good tidings of a boy whose name will be John. We have not assigned to any before [this] name.”

    19:8

     
    19:8
    Sahih International

    He said, “My Lord, how will I have a boy when my wife has been barren and I have reached extreme old age?”


    to top
    19:9
    Sahih International

    [An angel] said, “Thus [it will be]; your Lord says, ‘It is easy for Me, for I created you before, while you were nothing.’ “

    19:10

     
    19:10
    Sahih International

    [Zechariah] said, “My Lord, make for me a sign.” He said, “Your sign is that you will not speak to the people for three nights, [being] sound.”

    19:11

     
    19:11
    Sahih International

    So he came out to his people from the prayer chamber and signaled to them to exalt [ Allah ] in the morning and afternoon.

    19:12

     
    19:12
    Sahih International

    [ Allah ] said, “O John, take the Scripture with determination.” And We gave him judgement [while yet] a boy

    19:13

     
    19:13
    Sahih International

    And affection from Us and purity, and he was fearing of Allah

    19:14

     
    19:14
    Sahih International

    And dutiful to his parents, and he was not a disobedient tyrant.

    19:15

     
    19:15
    Sahih International

    And peace be upon him the day he was born and the day he dies and the day he is raised alive.

    19:16

     
    19:16
    Sahih International

    And mention, [O Muhammad], in the Book [the story of] Mary, when she withdrew from her family to a place toward the east.

    19:17

     
    19:17
    Sahih International

    And she took, in seclusion from them, a screen. Then We sent to her Our Angel, and he represented himself to her as a well-proportioned man.

    19:18

     
    19:18
    Sahih International

    She said, “Indeed, I seek refuge in the Most Merciful from you, [so leave me], if you should be fearing of Allah .”

    19:19

     
    19:19
    Sahih International

    He said, “I am only the messenger of your Lord to give you [news of] a pure boy.”

    19:20

     
    19:20
    Sahih International

    She said, “How can I have a boy while no man has touched me and I have not been unchaste?”

    19:21

     
    19:21
    Sahih International

    He said, “Thus [it will be]; your Lord says, ‘It is easy for Me, and We will make him a sign to the people and a mercy from Us. And it is a matter [already] decreed.’ “

    19:22
    19:22
    Sahih International

    So she conceived him, and she withdrew with him to a remote place.

    19:23

     
    19:23
    Sahih International

    And the pains of childbirth drove her to the trunk of a palm tree. She said, “Oh, I wish I had died before this and was in oblivion, forgotten.”

    19:24

     
    19:24
    Sahih International

    But he called her from below her, “Do not grieve; your Lord has provided beneath you a stream.

    19:25

     
    19:25
    Sahih International

    And shake toward you the trunk of the palm tree; it will drop upon you ripe, fresh dates.

    19:26

     
    19:26
    Sahih International

    So eat and drink and be contented. And if you see from among humanity anyone, say, ‘Indeed, I have vowed to the Most Merciful abstention, so I will not speak today to [any] man.’ “

    19:27

     
    19:27
    Sahih International

    Then she brought him to her people, carrying him. They said, “O Mary, you have certainly done a thing unprecedented.

    19:28

     
    19:28
    Sahih International

    O sister of Aaron, your father was not a man of evil, nor was your mother unchaste.”

    19:29

     
    19:29
    Sahih International

    So she pointed to him. They said, “How can we speak to one who is in the cradle a child?”

    19:30

     
    19:30
    Sahih International

    [Jesus] said, “Indeed, I am the servant of Allah . He has given me the Scripture and made me a prophet.

    19:31

     
    19:31
    Sahih International

    And He has made me blessed wherever I am and has enjoined upon me prayer and zakah as long as I remain alive

    19:32

     
    19:32
    Sahih International

    And [made me] dutiful to my mother, and He has not made me a wretched tyrant.

    19:33

     
    19:33
    Sahih International

    And peace is on me the day I was born and the day I will die and the day I am raised alive.”

    19:34

     
    19:34
    Sahih International

    That is Jesus, the son of Mary – the word of truth about which they are in dispute.

    19:35

     
    19:35
    Sahih International

    It is not [befitting] for Allah to take a son; exalted is He! When He decrees an affair, He only says to it, “Be,” and it is.

    19:36

     
    19:36
    Sahih International

    [Jesus said], “And indeed, Allah is my Lord and your Lord, so worship Him. That is a straight path.”

    19:37

     
    19:37
    Sahih International

    Then the factions differed [concerning Jesus] from among them, so woe to those who disbelieved – from the scene of a tremendous Day.

    19:38

     
    19:38
    Sahih International

    How [clearly] they will hear and see the Day they come to Us, but the wrongdoers today are in clear error.

    19:39

     
    19:39
    Sahih International

    And warn them, [O Muhammad], of the Day of Regret, when the matter will be concluded; and [yet], they are in [a state of] heedlessness, and they do not believe.

    19:40

     
    19:40
    Sahih International

    Indeed, it is We who will inherit the earth and whoever is on it, and to Us they will be returned.

    19:41

     
    19:41
    Sahih International

    And mention in the Book [the story of] Abraham. Indeed, he was a man of truth and a prophet.

    19:42
    19:42
    Sahih International

    [Mention] when he said to his father, “O my father, why do you worship that which does not hear and does not see and will not benefit you at all?

    19:43

     
    19:43
    Sahih International

    O my father, indeed there has come to me of knowledge that which has not come to you, so follow me; I will guide you to an even path.

    19:44

     
    19:44
    Sahih International

    O my father, do not worship Satan. Indeed Satan has ever been, to the Most Merciful, disobedient.

    19:45

     
    19:45
    Sahih International

    O my father, indeed I fear that there will touch you a punishment from the Most Merciful so you would be to Satan a companion [in Hellfire].”

    19:46

     
    19:46
    Sahih International

    [His father] said, “Have you no desire for my gods, O Abraham? If you do not desist, I will surely stone you, so avoid me a prolonged time.”

    19:47

     
    19:47
    Sahih International

    [Abraham] said, “Peace will be upon you. I will ask forgiveness for you of my Lord. Indeed, He is ever gracious to me.

    19:48

     
    19:48
    Sahih International

    And I will leave you and those you invoke other than Allah and will invoke my Lord. I expect that I will not be in invocation to my Lord unhappy.”

    19:49

     
    19:49
    Sahih International

    So when he had left them and those they worshipped other than Allah , We gave him Isaac and Jacob, and each [of them] We made a prophet.

    19:50

     
    19:50
    Sahih International

    And We gave them of Our mercy, and we made for them a reputation of high honor.

    19:51

     
    19:51
    Sahih International

    And mention in the Book, Moses. Indeed, he was chosen, and he was a messenger and a prophet.

    19:52

     
    19:52
    Sahih International

    And We called him from the side of the mount at [his] right and brought him near, confiding [to him].

    19:53

     
    19:53
    Sahih International

    And We gave him out of Our mercy his brother Aaron as a prophet.

    19:54

     
    19:54
    Sahih International

    And mention in the Book, Ishmael. Indeed, he was true to his promise, and he was a messenger and a prophet.

    19:55
    19:55
    Sahih International

    And he used to enjoin on his people prayer and zakah and was to his Lord pleasing.

    19:56

     
    19:56
    Sahih International

    And mention in the Book, Idrees. Indeed, he was a man of truth and a prophet.

    19:57

     
    19:57
    Sahih International

    And We raised him to a high station.

    19:58

     
    19:58
    Sahih International

    Those were the ones upon whom Allah bestowed favor from among the prophets of the descendants of Adam and of those We carried [in the ship] with Noah, and of the descendants of Abraham and Israel, and of those whom We guided and chose. When the verses of the Most Merciful were recited to them, they fell in prostration and weeping.

    19:59

     
    19:59
    Sahih International

    But there came after them successors who neglected prayer and pursued desires; so they are going to meet evil –

    19:60

     
    19:60
    Sahih International

    Except those who repent, believe and do righteousness; for those will enter Paradise and will not be wronged at all.

    19:61

     
    19:61
    Sahih International

    [Therein are] gardens of perpetual residence which the Most Merciful has promised His servants in the unseen. Indeed, His promise has ever been coming.

    19:62

     
    19:62
    Sahih International

    They will not hear therein any ill speech – only [greetings of] peace – and they will have their provision therein, morning and afternoon.

    19:63

     
    19:63
    Sahih International

    That is Paradise, which We give as inheritance to those of Our servants who were fearing of Allah .

    19:64

     
    19:64
    Sahih International

    [Gabriel said], “And we [angels] descend not except by the order of your Lord. To Him belongs that before us and that behind us and what is in between. And never is your Lord forgetful –

    19:65

     
    19:65
    Sahih International

    Lord of the heavens and the earth and whatever is between them – so worship Him and have patience for His worship. Do you know of any similarity to Him?”

    19:66

     
    19:66
    Sahih International

    And the disbeliever says, “When I have died, am I going to be brought forth alive?”

    19:67

     
    19:67
    Sahih International

    Does man not remember that We created him before, while he was nothing?

    19:68

     
    19:68
    Sahih International

    So by your Lord, We will surely gather them and the devils; then We will bring them to be present around Hell upon their knees.

    19:69

     
    19:69
    Sahih International

    Then We will surely extract from every sect those of them who were worst against the Most Merciful in insolence.

    19:70

     
    19:70
    Sahih International

    Then, surely it is We who are most knowing of those most worthy of burning therein.

    19:71

     
    19:71
    Sahih International

    And there is none of you except he will come to it. This is upon your Lord an inevitability decreed.

    19:72

     
    19:72
    Sahih International

    Then We will save those who feared Allah and leave the wrongdoers within it, on their knees.

    19:73

     
    19:73
    Sahih International

    And when Our verses are recited to them as clear evidences, those who disbelieve say to those who believe, “Which of [our] two parties is best in position and best in association?”

    19:74

     
    19:74
    Sahih International

    And how many a generation have We destroyed before them who were better in possessions and [outward] appearance?

    19:75

     
    19:75
    Sahih International

    Say, “Whoever is in error – let the Most Merciful extend for him an extension [in wealth and time] until, when they see that which they were promised – either punishment [in this world] or the Hour [of resurrection] – they will come to know who is worst in position and weaker in soldiers.”

    19:76
    19:76
    Sahih International

    And Allah increases those who were guided, in guidance, and the enduring good deeds are better to your Lord for reward and better for recourse.

    19:77

     
    19:77
    Sahih International

    Then, have you seen he who disbelieved in Our verses and said, “I will surely be given wealth and children [in the next life]?”

    19:78

     
    19:78
    Sahih International

    Has he looked into the unseen, or has he taken from the Most Merciful a promise?

    19:79

     
    19:79
    Sahih International

    No! We will record what he says and extend for him from the punishment extensively.

    19:80

     
    19:80
    Sahih International

    And We will inherit him [in] what he mentions, and he will come to Us alone.

    19:81

     
    19:81
    Sahih International

    And they have taken besides Allah [false] deities that they would be for them [a source of] honor.

    19:82

     
    19:82
    Sahih International

    No! Those “gods” will deny their worship of them and will be against them opponents [on the Day of Judgement].

    19:83

     
    19:83
    Sahih International

    Do you not see that We have sent the devils upon the disbelievers, inciting them to [evil] with [constant] incitement?

    19:84

     
    19:84
    Sahih International

    So be not impatient over them. We only count out to them a [limited] number.

    19:85

     
    19:85
    Sahih International

    On the Day We will gather the righteous to the Most Merciful as a delegation

    19:86

     
    19:86
    Sahih International

    And will drive the criminals to Hell in thirst

    19:87

     
    19:87
    Sahih International

    None will have [power of] intercession except he who had taken from the Most Merciful a covenant.

    19:88

     
    19:88
    Sahih International

    And they say, “The Most Merciful has taken [for Himself] a son.”

    19:89

     
    19:89
    Sahih International

    You have done an atrocious thing.

    19:90

     
    19:90
    Sahih International

    The heavens almost rupture therefrom and the earth splits open and the mountains collapse in devastation

    19:91

     
    19:91
    Sahih International

    That they attribute to the Most Merciful a son.

    19:92

     
    19:92
    Sahih International

    And it is not appropriate for the Most Merciful that He should take a son.

    19:93

     
    19:93
    Sahih International

    There is no one in the heavens and earth but that he comes to the Most Merciful as a servant.

    19:94

     
    19:94
    Sahih International

    He has enumerated them and counted them a [full] counting.

    19:95

     
    19:95
    Sahih International

    And all of them are coming to Him on the Day of Resurrection alone.

    19:96

     
    19:96
    Sahih International

    Indeed, those who have believed and done righteous deeds – the Most Merciful will appoint for them affection.

    19:97

     
    19:97
    Sahih International

    So, [O Muhammad], We have only made Qur’an easy in the Arabic language that you may give good tidings thereby to the righteous and warn thereby a hostile people.

    19:98

     
    19:98
    Sahih International

    And how many have We destroyed before them of generations? Do you perceive of them anyone or hear from them a sound?

    References

    1. ^ Esposito, John. What Everyone Needs to Know About Islam. New York: University Press, 2002. P31.
    2. ^ “Mary” in Glasse, Cyril, Concise Encyclopedia of Islam. Stacey International, 3rd edition, 2008.
    3. ^ a b c Quran 3:42
    4. ^ Quran 66:11–12
    5. ^ Dimensions of Islam, F. Schuon, Wisdom of the Virgin
    6. ^ Quran 3:31
    7. ^ Bukhari, Anbiya, 44; Muslim, Fada’il, trad. 146, 147
    8. ^ Quran 3:39
    9. ^ Quran 3:32
    10. ^ Quran 19:20–22 Sura 19:20 She said: “How shall I have a son, seeing that no man has touched me, and I am not unchaste?”
      19:21 He said: “So (it will be): Thy Lord saith, ‘that is easy for Me: and (We wish) to appoint him as a Sign unto men and a Mercy from Us’:It is a matter (so) decreed.”
      19:22 So she conceived him, and she retired with him to a remote place.
    11. ^ a b c d e Quran 66:12
    12. ^ Quran 3:37–38
    13. ^ Encyclopedia of Islam, Vol. VI, pg. 629
    14. ^ Two such commentators were Razi and Kurtubi
    15. ^ R. Arnaldez, Jesus fils de Marie prophete de l’Islam, Paris 1980, 77
    16. ^ Encyclopedia of Islam, Vol. VI, pg. 629
    17. ^ Quran 21:91
    18. ^ Islam: A Guide for Jews and Christians by F. E. Peters 2005 Princeton University Press ISBN 0-691-12233-4 page 23
    19. ^ Holy people of the world: a cross-cultural encyclopedia, Volume 1 by Phyllis G. Jestice 2004 ISBN 1-57607-355-6pages 558-559
    20. ^ Quran 19:17–21
    21. ^ Christianity, Islam, and the West by Robert A. Burns, 2011, ISBN page 32
    22. ^ Understand My Muslim People by Abraham Sarker 2004 ISBN 1-59498-002-0 page 127
    23. ^ Quran 19:24–25
    24. ^ Quran 19:26
    25. ^ Quran 19:27–33
    26. ^ T. Canaan, Muhammaden Saints and Sanctuaries in Palestine, in Journal of the Palestine Oriental Sac., iv/1-2, 1924, 1-84
    27. ^ Muhammad, M. Lings, pg. 101
    28. ^ Encyclopedia of Islam, Vol. 6, pg. 631
    29. ^ Quran 5:73–75
    30. ^ Quran 3:43
    31. ^ Khattan, Rahib; The Blessed names of Sayyidatina Maryam, pg 111
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Christian Beliefs About Mary

18 Sunday Nov 2012

Posted by The Tale Of My Heart in God, History, Islam, Politics, Power, Wars, World

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Bible, Christians, Death, God, Islam, Jesus, World

“Henceforth all generations will call me blessed.”
–Mary, Luke 1:48

There are several Marys in the Bible, but by far the most important is Mary, the Mother of Jesus. She is known by many titles, including the Blessed Virgin Mary(sometimes abbreviated BVM), Queen of Heaven, Theotokos (Mother of God) andOur Lady (Notre-Dame in French; Madonna in Italian).

Because of her humility, piety and role as the mother of the Savior of humanity, Mary has been accorded great respect in all branches of Christianity and is a favorite subject in art, music and literature. In Catholic and Orthodox Churches, Mary is the pre-eminent saint and the focus of much popular devotion.

This article explores historical and modern Christian beliefs about Mary (known as “Mariology”), which includes such doctrines as the Immaculate Conception of Mary, the Virgin Birth of Christ, the perpetual virginity of Mary, the Assumption of Mary, Mary as “Theotokos,” and Mary as Coredemptrix and Mediatrix.

Visions, shrines, feast days, the “Hail Mary” and other devotional practices related to Mary, which are important aspects of Mariology, will be treated in the Christian Practices section.

Mary in the New Testament

The Annunciation by El Greco (1575)The Virgin Mary plays a prominent role in the Gospels, especially in the birth stories of Mark (1-2) and Luke (1-2). According to Luke, Mary was of the tribe of Judah and the lineage of David (1:32).

When Mary was a young woman engaged to Joseph, the Angel Gabriele announced to her that she would give birth to a son that would be born of the Holy Spirit. Mary humbly accepted her divinely-appointed role, saying, “May it be unto me as you have said.” She then conceived and gave birth to Jesus while remaining a virgin (Lk 1:31f; Mt 1:20, 23).

Mary appears periodically throughout Jesus’ ministry, death and resurrection. She was present at Jesus’ first miracle, which he performed reluctantly at her suggestion (John 2:1f).

Michaelangelo's PietaAt the crucifixion, Mary and a small group of women were present (Jn 19:25). Speaking from the cross, Jesus entrusted her care to his disciple John (Jn 19:26). One of Michaelangelo’s most famous sculptures (right) depicts Mary mourning her son’s death.

According to traditional interpretation, the Virgin Mary was not the “other Mary” who visited the tomb after Jesus’ death (Matthew 28:1) – it is said she did not visit the tomb because she already knew he would not be there.

In addition, there is no biblical record of the resurrected Jesus appearing to Mary. In 1997, the Pope speculates that it is highly likely Jesus did appear to his mother (Vatican Information Services, May 21, 1997). After the resurrection, Mary was present in the Upper Room at Jerusalem with the disciples (Acts 1:14), but this is the last biblical mention of her.

Mary in Apocryphal Texts

The Gospel of James contains biographical material about Mary considered plausible by some Orthodox and Catholic Christians. It states she was the daughter of Joachim and Anna, who were quite old when she was conceived. They took her to live in the Temple in Jerusalem when she was three years old, as Hannah took Samuel to the Tabernacle in the Old Testament. The Gospel of James also teaches Mary’s perpetual virginity. 

Mary in Early Christian Theology

In the writings of the early church fathers, Mary is mentioned only occasionally and primarily in contrast to Eve. Justin Martyr (d. c.165) and Irenaeus (d. c.202) contrasted Mary’s obedience with Eve’s disobedience.

The apocryphal Gospel of James (as seen above), Irenaeus, Clement of Alexandria, and especially Athanasius affirmed Mary’s perpetual virginity. This doctrine was accepted by both Western and Eastern Churches from the fifth century onwards.

The doctrine of Mary as Theotokos (God-bearer) arose in Alexandria and was probably first used by Origen. It became common in the fourth century, was opposed by Nestorius, and accepted at the Council of Ephesus in 431. Mary played a lesser role in the West than in the East at this time. Western theologians like St. Ambrose primarily spoke of Mary as a “type” or symbol of the Church.

The doctrine of the bodily Assumption of Mary was formally developed by St. Gregory of Tours (d. 594), although it had been present in apocryphal tests since the late fourth century. The Feast of the Assumption became widespread in the sixth century, and sermons on that occasion tended to emphasize Mary’s power in heaven. 

Mary in the Reformation and Protestantism

Despite the Reformer’s rejection of the veneration of Mary and other saints, most Protestants have shown a great deal of honor and respect for Mary. Martin Luther said Mary is “the highest woman,” that “we can never honour her enough,” that “the veneration of Mary is inscribed in the very depths of the human heart” and that we should “wish that everyone know and respect her.” John Calvin said, “It cannot be denied that God in choosing and destining Mary to be the Mother of his Son, granted her the highest honor.” Zwingli said, “I esteem immensely the Mother of God,” and, “The more the honor and love of Christ increases among men, so much the esteem and honor given to Mary should grow.”

Most Reformers rejected the Immaculate Conception, and the Assumption of Mary, but some affirmed the perpetual virginity of Mary and all accepted the Virgin Birth.

Since the Reformation, Protestants have tended to pay little attention to Mary, primarily in reaction against the excessive level of adoration they believe is relegated to her in Catholic and Orthodox Christianity. But this may be beginning to change. In the summer of 2004, Christian History & Biography magazine (affiliated with the Protestant Christianity Today) dedicated an entire issue to Mary. Included were articles suggesting the value of making a larger place for her in Protestantism. {6} In December 2004, the Southern Baptist dean of an evangelical school in Alabama said:

I would like Protestants today, evangelicals today, to go back to the reformers. I don’t think we have to become Roman Catholics or Eastern Orthodox believers to recover a truly Protestant, reformational, scriptural understanding of Mary.

Professor Beverley Roberts Gaventa of Princeton Theological Seminary, whose writings have called for more Protestant emphasis of Mary agrees, pointing out:

What happens in the story is that Mary is chosen entirely by God’s own initiative. This is a primary example of what Protestants emphasize as God’s divine grace, God’s initiative.

The Immaculate Conception

The Most Blessed Virgin Mary was, from the first moment of her conception, by a singular grace and privilege of almighty God and by virtue of the merits of Jesus Christ, Savior of the human race, preserved immune from all stain of original sin.– Pope Pius IX, Ineffabilis Deus (1854)

According to the doctrine of the Immaculate Conception, Mary was born without the stain of original sin. Both Catholics and Orthodox accept this doctrine, but only the Roman Catholic Church has solemnly defined the teaching, and the title “Immaculate Conception” is generally used only by Catholics. Most Protestants reject the idea as having no foundation in Scripture.

In Eastern Orthodox Churches, the matter is seen somewhat differently. Orthodox Christians reject the western doctrine of original sin, preferring instead to speak of a tendency towards sin. Thus they believe Mary was born without sin, but so is everyone else. However, Orthodox still affirm Mary was “immaculate” (i.e., sinless) in that the grace of God preserved her from any actual sin during her lifetime.

Unlike the Virgin Birth and the Assumption of Mary, the doctrine of the Immaculate Conception has not gone uncontested within the Catholic Church. It was the source of great controversy among medieval theologians, primarily because it was believed original sin was passed on to one’s offspring through the sexual act and no one denied Mary was born in the natural way. Those opposing the doctrine included St. Anselm of Canterbury and the Dominicans; it was defended and explained by Anselm’s student Eadmer, Duns Scotus, the Franciscans and the Jesuits. The Assumption of Mary was formally affirmed and defined for Roman Catholics in 1854. 

Mary as Virgin Mother

The notion that Mary gave birth to Jesus while remaining a virgin is taught explicitly in the birth narratives of Matthew (1:18 ff.) and Luke (1:34 ff.), but these seem to be the only references to the Virgin Birth in the New Testament. The Gospel of Mark begins with Jesus as an adult, and the Gospel of John, while beginning with Jesus’ pre-birth existence, does not mention any miraculous aspects of Jesus’ birth. Galatians 4:4, the earliest allusion to Mary in Christian literature, states only that Jesus was “born of woman.” Most scholars do not attach special significance to this phrase on the basis that “as parallels such as Job 14:1 and Matthew 11:11 suggest, the phrase is a Hebraic way of speaking about the essential humanity of a person.”

After the New Testament, the doctrine of the Virgin Birth became prominent. It appeared frequently in early Christian literature, it was formalized in the ecumenical creeds, and it was accepted by the Reformers, who rejected most other Catholic doctrines regarding Mary. Today, the Virgin Birth continues to be accepted by Catholics, Orthodox, and Protestants alike. 

Mary as Theotokos or the Mother of God

Icon of the TheotokosThe doctrine of Mary to attract the most controversy within Christianity is her title of Theotokos (Greek for “God-bearer” or “Mother of God”). This term first arose in Alexandria, Egypt, around the fourth century and quickly gained popularity. Despite centering on a title for Mary, the issue actually has much more to do with Christology. The notion of Mary as God-bearer was intended to reflect the then-established belief that Jesus was fully divine. However, for some (most notably Nestorius), it did so at the expense of Jesus’ full humanity. In 431, the Council of Ephesus affirmed the use of Theotokos as acceptable and condemned Nestorius. Today, Theotokos is used often by Orthodox Christians as a synonym for Mary, and Catholics regularly refer to Mary as Mother of God. 

Mary as Perpetual Virgin

Roman Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy teach that Mary was not only a virgin before she gave birth to Jesus, but she remained a virgin her entire life. Some Protestants also hold this view, including Luther, Zwingli, and Calvin, but most modern Protestants believe she later had other children with Joseph since the Bible speaks of Jesus’ brothers and sisters. Catholics and Orthodox explain references to Jesus’ brothers as either cousins, or as step brothers who were Joseph’s children by a prior marriage. 

The Assumption of Mary

According to Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox tradition, between three and fifteen years after Christ’s Ascension, in either Jerusalem or Ephesus, Mary died while surrounded by the apostles. Later when the apostles opened her tomb, they found it empty and concluded that she had been bodily assumed into Heaven.

This doctrine was present in apocryphal works since the end of the fourth century, and was formally taught by St. Gregory of Tours in the sixth century. The bodily Assumption of Mary seems to have been accepted in both Western and Eastern Churches from the sixth century onwards, and went virtually uncontested until the Reformation.

In 1950, speaking ex cathedra (infallibly) in his encyclical Munificentissimus Deus, Pope Pius XII proclaimed the Dogma of the Assumption, in which he stated that “at the end of her earthly course, Mary was assumed into heavenly glory, body and soul.” 

Mary as Coredemptrix and Mediatrix of All Graces

An additional doctrine of Mary believed by many Catholics, but not yet formalized by the Pope, is that of Mary as Coredemptrix. This title indicates that Mary participated in some way in Christ’s redemption of mankind. At its simplest, this doctrine is based on Mary’s free acceptance of her opportunity to give birth to the Savior, as indicated by her reply, “May it be unto me as you have said” (Lk 1:38). This event is sometimes referred to as the “guarantee of the Incarnation.”

Over the years, however, the term Coredemptrix has come to denote a more active role for Mary than her assent. The Second Vatican Council declared, “in suffering with Him as He died on the cross, she cooperated in the work of the Savior, in an altogether singular way, by obedience, faith, hope, and burning love, to restore supernatural life to souls” (Lumen gentium 61-62). However, Catholic theologians differ as to the precise nature of Mary’s participation in the redemption, and, as aforementioned, the Pope has yet to speak ex cathedra on the subject.

Closely related to this doctrine is that of Mary as Mediatrix of All Graces, which affirms that all graces Christ obtains for humanity are dispensed by and through Mary. The Second Vatican Council also touched on this subject when it stated that “the Blessed Virgin’s salutary influence on men… flows from the superabundance of the merits of Christ, rests on His mediation, depends entirely on it, and draws all its power from it” (Lumen gentium 60). This also has not been formally affirmed by the pope, but it is popular among many Catholics.

A lay Catholic organization, the Vox Populi Mariae Mediatrici (Voice of the People for Mary Mediatrix), has been founded with the goal of winning formal recognition of the “fifth doctrine of Mary,” which includes Mary as Coredemptrix, Mediatrix of All Graces, and Advocate for the People of God. The organization is currently collecting signatures that will be included with a letter to the Pope asking that he “define and proclaim the Blessed Virgin Mary as Coredemptrix, Mediatrix of all grace and Advocate for the People of God.”  

Mary in Other Faiths

Islamic theology accepts that Jesus was the result of a virgin birth. The Quran tells the story of Maryam (Mary) in two places, 3:35-47 and 19:16-34, but provides much less detail than the New Testament. It says Maryam was dedicated to God’s service by her mother while still in the womb (Quran 3:35), that she was cared for by Zakariya (Zecharias) (3:36), and that in her childhood God provided for her to help her grow strong and pious (3:37). God then sent an angel to announce that she could shortly expect to bear a son, specifying that “O Mary! Allah hath chosen thee and purified thee – chosen thee above the women of all nations.” (Qur’an 3:42). It specifies that she conceived Jesus despite being a virgin: “She said: “O my Lord! How shall I have a son when no man hath touched me?” He said: “Even so: Allah createth what He willeth: When He hath decreed a plan, He but saith to it, ‘Be,’ and it is!” (3:47).

 

Surat Maryam (Mary) – سورة مريم

بسم الله الرحمن الرحي
19:1
 
19:1
Sahih International

Kaf, Ha, Ya, ‘Ayn, Sad.

19:2

 
19:2
Sahih International

[This is] a mention of the mercy of your Lord to His servant Zechariah

19:3

 
19:3
Sahih International

When he called to his Lord a private supplication.

19:4

 
19:4
Sahih International

He said, “My Lord, indeed my bones have weakened, and my head has filled with white, and never have I been in my supplication to You, my Lord, unhappy.

19:5

 
19:5
Sahih International

And indeed, I fear the successors after me, and my wife has been barren, so give me from Yourself an heir

19:6

to top
19:6
Sahih International

Who will inherit me and inherit from the family of Jacob. And make him, my Lord, pleasing [to You].”

19:7

 
19:7
Sahih International

[He was told], “O Zechariah, indeed We give you good tidings of a boy whose name will be John. We have not assigned to any before [this] name.”

19:8

 
19:8
Sahih International

He said, “My Lord, how will I have a boy when my wife has been barren and I have reached extreme old age?”


to top
19:9
Sahih International

[An angel] said, “Thus [it will be]; your Lord says, ‘It is easy for Me, for I created you before, while you were nothing.’ ”

19:10

 
19:10
Sahih International

[Zechariah] said, “My Lord, make for me a sign.” He said, “Your sign is that you will not speak to the people for three nights, [being] sound.”

19:11

 
19:11
Sahih International

So he came out to his people from the prayer chamber and signaled to them to exalt [ Allah ] in the morning and afternoon.

19:12

 
19:12
Sahih International

[ Allah ] said, “O John, take the Scripture with determination.” And We gave him judgement [while yet] a boy

19:13

 
19:13
Sahih International

And affection from Us and purity, and he was fearing of Allah

19:14

 
19:14
Sahih International

And dutiful to his parents, and he was not a disobedient tyrant.

19:15

 
19:15
Sahih International

And peace be upon him the day he was born and the day he dies and the day he is raised alive.

19:16

 
19:16
Sahih International

And mention, [O Muhammad], in the Book [the story of] Mary, when she withdrew from her family to a place toward the east.

19:17

 
19:17
Sahih International

And she took, in seclusion from them, a screen. Then We sent to her Our Angel, and he represented himself to her as a well-proportioned man.

19:18

 
19:18
Sahih International

She said, “Indeed, I seek refuge in the Most Merciful from you, [so leave me], if you should be fearing of Allah .”

19:19

 
19:19
Sahih International

He said, “I am only the messenger of your Lord to give you [news of] a pure boy.”

19:20

 
19:20
Sahih International

She said, “How can I have a boy while no man has touched me and I have not been unchaste?”

19:21

 
19:21
Sahih International

He said, “Thus [it will be]; your Lord says, ‘It is easy for Me, and We will make him a sign to the people and a mercy from Us. And it is a matter [already] decreed.’ ”

19:22
19:22
Sahih International

So she conceived him, and she withdrew with him to a remote place.

19:23

 
19:23
Sahih International

And the pains of childbirth drove her to the trunk of a palm tree. She said, “Oh, I wish I had died before this and was in oblivion, forgotten.”

19:24

 
19:24
Sahih International

But he called her from below her, “Do not grieve; your Lord has provided beneath you a stream.

19:25

 
19:25
Sahih International

And shake toward you the trunk of the palm tree; it will drop upon you ripe, fresh dates.

19:26

 
19:26
Sahih International

So eat and drink and be contented. And if you see from among humanity anyone, say, ‘Indeed, I have vowed to the Most Merciful abstention, so I will not speak today to [any] man.’ ”

19:27

 
19:27
Sahih International

Then she brought him to her people, carrying him. They said, “O Mary, you have certainly done a thing unprecedented.

19:28

 
19:28
Sahih International

O sister of Aaron, your father was not a man of evil, nor was your mother unchaste.”

19:29

 
19:29
Sahih International

So she pointed to him. They said, “How can we speak to one who is in the cradle a child?”

19:30

 
19:30
Sahih International

[Jesus] said, “Indeed, I am the servant of Allah . He has given me the Scripture and made me a prophet.

19:31

 
19:31
Sahih International

And He has made me blessed wherever I am and has enjoined upon me prayer and zakah as long as I remain alive

19:32

 
19:32
Sahih International

And [made me] dutiful to my mother, and He has not made me a wretched tyrant.

19:33

 
19:33
Sahih International

And peace is on me the day I was born and the day I will die and the day I am raised alive.”

19:34

 
19:34
Sahih International

That is Jesus, the son of Mary – the word of truth about which they are in dispute.

19:35

 
19:35
Sahih International

It is not [befitting] for Allah to take a son; exalted is He! When He decrees an affair, He only says to it, “Be,” and it is.

19:36

 
19:36
Sahih International

[Jesus said], “And indeed, Allah is my Lord and your Lord, so worship Him. That is a straight path.”

19:37

 
19:37
Sahih International

Then the factions differed [concerning Jesus] from among them, so woe to those who disbelieved – from the scene of a tremendous Day.

19:38

 
19:38
Sahih International

How [clearly] they will hear and see the Day they come to Us, but the wrongdoers today are in clear error.

19:39

 
19:39
Sahih International

And warn them, [O Muhammad], of the Day of Regret, when the matter will be concluded; and [yet], they are in [a state of] heedlessness, and they do not believe.

19:40

 
19:40
Sahih International

Indeed, it is We who will inherit the earth and whoever is on it, and to Us they will be returned.

19:41

 
19:41
Sahih International

And mention in the Book [the story of] Abraham. Indeed, he was a man of truth and a prophet.

19:42
19:42
Sahih International

[Mention] when he said to his father, “O my father, why do you worship that which does not hear and does not see and will not benefit you at all?

19:43

 
19:43
Sahih International

O my father, indeed there has come to me of knowledge that which has not come to you, so follow me; I will guide you to an even path.

19:44

 
19:44
Sahih International

O my father, do not worship Satan. Indeed Satan has ever been, to the Most Merciful, disobedient.

19:45

 
19:45
Sahih International

O my father, indeed I fear that there will touch you a punishment from the Most Merciful so you would be to Satan a companion [in Hellfire].”

19:46

 
19:46
Sahih International

[His father] said, “Have you no desire for my gods, O Abraham? If you do not desist, I will surely stone you, so avoid me a prolonged time.”

19:47

 
19:47
Sahih International

[Abraham] said, “Peace will be upon you. I will ask forgiveness for you of my Lord. Indeed, He is ever gracious to me.

19:48

 
19:48
Sahih International

And I will leave you and those you invoke other than Allah and will invoke my Lord. I expect that I will not be in invocation to my Lord unhappy.”

19:49

 
19:49
Sahih International

So when he had left them and those they worshipped other than Allah , We gave him Isaac and Jacob, and each [of them] We made a prophet.

19:50

 
19:50
Sahih International

And We gave them of Our mercy, and we made for them a reputation of high honor.

19:51

 
19:51
Sahih International

And mention in the Book, Moses. Indeed, he was chosen, and he was a messenger and a prophet.

19:52

 
19:52
Sahih International

And We called him from the side of the mount at [his] right and brought him near, confiding [to him].

19:53

 
19:53
Sahih International

And We gave him out of Our mercy his brother Aaron as a prophet.

19:54

 
19:54
Sahih International

And mention in the Book, Ishmael. Indeed, he was true to his promise, and he was a messenger and a prophet.

19:55
19:55
Sahih International

And he used to enjoin on his people prayer and zakah and was to his Lord pleasing.

19:56

 
19:56
Sahih International

And mention in the Book, Idrees. Indeed, he was a man of truth and a prophet.

19:57

 
19:57
Sahih International

And We raised him to a high station.

19:58

 
19:58
Sahih International

Those were the ones upon whom Allah bestowed favor from among the prophets of the descendants of Adam and of those We carried [in the ship] with Noah, and of the descendants of Abraham and Israel, and of those whom We guided and chose. When the verses of the Most Merciful were recited to them, they fell in prostration and weeping.

19:59

 
19:59
Sahih International

But there came after them successors who neglected prayer and pursued desires; so they are going to meet evil –

19:60

 
19:60
Sahih International

Except those who repent, believe and do righteousness; for those will enter Paradise and will not be wronged at all.

19:61

 
19:61
Sahih International

[Therein are] gardens of perpetual residence which the Most Merciful has promised His servants in the unseen. Indeed, His promise has ever been coming.

19:62

 
19:62
Sahih International

They will not hear therein any ill speech – only [greetings of] peace – and they will have their provision therein, morning and afternoon.

19:63

 
19:63
Sahih International

That is Paradise, which We give as inheritance to those of Our servants who were fearing of Allah .

19:64

 
19:64
Sahih International

[Gabriel said], “And we [angels] descend not except by the order of your Lord. To Him belongs that before us and that behind us and what is in between. And never is your Lord forgetful –

19:65

 
19:65
Sahih International

Lord of the heavens and the earth and whatever is between them – so worship Him and have patience for His worship. Do you know of any similarity to Him?”

19:66

 
19:66
Sahih International

And the disbeliever says, “When I have died, am I going to be brought forth alive?”

19:67

 
19:67
Sahih International

Does man not remember that We created him before, while he was nothing?

19:68

 
19:68
Sahih International

So by your Lord, We will surely gather them and the devils; then We will bring them to be present around Hell upon their knees.

19:69

 
19:69
Sahih International

Then We will surely extract from every sect those of them who were worst against the Most Merciful in insolence.

19:70

 
19:70
Sahih International

Then, surely it is We who are most knowing of those most worthy of burning therein.

19:71

 
19:71
Sahih International

And there is none of you except he will come to it. This is upon your Lord an inevitability decreed.

19:72

 
19:72
Sahih International

Then We will save those who feared Allah and leave the wrongdoers within it, on their knees.

19:73

 
19:73
Sahih International

And when Our verses are recited to them as clear evidences, those who disbelieve say to those who believe, “Which of [our] two parties is best in position and best in association?”

19:74

 
19:74
Sahih International

And how many a generation have We destroyed before them who were better in possessions and [outward] appearance?

19:75

 
19:75
Sahih International

Say, “Whoever is in error – let the Most Merciful extend for him an extension [in wealth and time] until, when they see that which they were promised – either punishment [in this world] or the Hour [of resurrection] – they will come to know who is worst in position and weaker in soldiers.”

19:76
19:76
Sahih International

And Allah increases those who were guided, in guidance, and the enduring good deeds are better to your Lord for reward and better for recourse.

19:77

 
19:77
Sahih International

Then, have you seen he who disbelieved in Our verses and said, “I will surely be given wealth and children [in the next life]?”

19:78

 
19:78
Sahih International

Has he looked into the unseen, or has he taken from the Most Merciful a promise?

19:79

 
19:79
Sahih International

No! We will record what he says and extend for him from the punishment extensively.

19:80

 
19:80
Sahih International

And We will inherit him [in] what he mentions, and he will come to Us alone.

19:81

 
19:81
Sahih International

And they have taken besides Allah [false] deities that they would be for them [a source of] honor.

19:82

 
19:82
Sahih International

No! Those “gods” will deny their worship of them and will be against them opponents [on the Day of Judgement].

19:83

 
19:83
Sahih International

Do you not see that We have sent the devils upon the disbelievers, inciting them to [evil] with [constant] incitement?

19:84

 
19:84
Sahih International

So be not impatient over them. We only count out to them a [limited] number.

19:85

 
19:85
Sahih International

On the Day We will gather the righteous to the Most Merciful as a delegation

19:86

 
19:86
Sahih International

And will drive the criminals to Hell in thirst

19:87

 
19:87
Sahih International

None will have [power of] intercession except he who had taken from the Most Merciful a covenant.

19:88

 
19:88
Sahih International

And they say, “The Most Merciful has taken [for Himself] a son.”

19:89

 
19:89
Sahih International

You have done an atrocious thing.

19:90

 
19:90
Sahih International

The heavens almost rupture therefrom and the earth splits open and the mountains collapse in devastation

19:91

 
19:91
Sahih International

That they attribute to the Most Merciful a son.

19:92

 
19:92
Sahih International

And it is not appropriate for the Most Merciful that He should take a son.

19:93

 
19:93
Sahih International

There is no one in the heavens and earth but that he comes to the Most Merciful as a servant.

19:94

 
19:94
Sahih International

He has enumerated them and counted them a [full] counting.

19:95

 
19:95
Sahih International

And all of them are coming to Him on the Day of Resurrection alone.

19:96

 
19:96
Sahih International

Indeed, those who have believed and done righteous deeds – the Most Merciful will appoint for them affection.

19:97

 
19:97
Sahih International

So, [O Muhammad], We have only made Qur’an easy in the Arabic language that you may give good tidings thereby to the righteous and warn thereby a hostile people.

19:98

 
19:98
Sahih International

And how many have We destroyed before them of generations? Do you perceive of them anyone or hear from them a sound?

Many followers of Wicca associate Mary with the Earth Mother of various Neo-pagan traditions. Some Buddhists have linked Mary to Kuan-Yin, a Bodhisattva of compassion venerated by various Chinese Buddhist faiths. Followers of the New Age movement or those interested in general spirituality have also found inspiration in Mary (see Books on the Doctrine of Mary, below).

References

  1. F.L. Cross and E.A. Livingstone, eds., “Mary, the Blessed Virgin.” Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church(Oxford UP, 1997), pp. 1047-48.
  2. “Mary, Mother of Jesus.” Wikipedia. January 4, 2005.
  3. “Mary.” Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica Premium Service. January 4, 2005.
  4. Munificentissimus Deus – Apostolic Constitution of Pope Pius XII issued November 1, 1950.
  5. Petition for the Papal definition of Mary, Coredemptrix, Mediatrix and Advocate.
  6. Mary in the Imagination of the Church – Christian History and Biography Magazine, Summer Issue 2004.
  7. Protestant Mary – PBS Religion & Ethics Newsweekly, December 17, 2004

External Links on Mary

  • Blessed Virgin Mary – Internet Encyclopedia of Religion
  • Blessed Virgin Mary – Catholic Pages. Various articles on Catholic doctrines and practices related to Mary.
  • Official Site of Vox Populi Mariae Mediatrici
  • The Mary Page – Catholic.net
  • The Mediatrix of All Graces – Catholic.net
  • Mary the Blessed Virgin – Catholic Online Saints
  • Immaculate Conception and Assumption – Catholic Answers
  • Mary: Ever Virgin – Catholic Answers
  • The Ever-Virginity of the Mother of God – AGAIN Magazine (Orthodox)
  • Mary Mother of God – Catholic Answers
  • The Blessed Evangelical Mary: Why we shouldn’t ignore her any longer – Christianity Today
  • Mariology.com 

General Resources

  • Jaroslav Pelikan, Mary Through the Centuries: Her Place in the History of Culture (Yale UP, 1998).

Catholic Perspectives

  • Lesley Hazleton, Mary: A Flesh-and-Blood Biography of the Virgin Mother (2004).
  • Elizabeth A. Johnson, Truly Our Sister: A Theology of Mary in the Communion of Saints (2003).
  • Scott Hahn, Hail, Holy Queen (2001). “Melds autobiographical reflections, scriptural interpretation, and historical anecdotes in an accessible style to clarify some sophisticated points of Catholic theology.”
  • Peter M. J. Stravinskas, The Catholic Answer Book of Mary (Our Sunday Visitor, 1999).
  • Luigi Gambero, Thomas Buffer, Mary and the Fathers of the Church: The Blessed Virgin Mary in Patristic Thought (Ignatius Press, 1999).
  • Father Mateo, Refuting the Attack on Mary: A Defense of Marian Doctrines (Catholic Answers, 1999).
  • Stefano M Manelli, All generations shall call me Blessed: Biblical mariology (Academy of the Immaculate, 1995).
  • Judith A. Bauer, The Essential Mary Handbook: A Summary of Beliefs, Practices, and Prayers (Liguori Publications, 1999).
  • Philip Boyce, Mary: The Virgin Mary in the Life and Writings of John Henry Newman (Gracewing, 2002).
  • Peter M.J. Stravinskas, Mary and the Fundamentalist Challenge (Our Sunday Visitor, 1997).
  • Beth Hart, Catholic for a Reason II: Scripture and the Mystery of the Mother of God – not available at Amazon.
  • Margaret Bunson, ed., John Paul II’s Book of Mary (Our Sunday Visitor, 1996).
  • Maria Ruiz Scaperlanda, The Seeker’s Guide to Mary (Loyola Press, 2002).
  • John Martin, Roses, Fountains, and Gold: The Virgin Mary in History, Art, and Apparition (Ignatius Press, 1998).
  • Charlene Spretnak, Missing Mary: The Queen of Heaven and Her Re-Emergence in the Modern Church(Palgrave Macmillan, 1997).

Divine Feminine/General Spirituality Perspectives

  • G. Scott Sparrow, Blessed Among Women: Encounters with Mary and Her Message. “Recounts first-person, dramatic, true stories of people’s encounters with Mary and discusses their significance in ways that will inspire people of all spiritual backgrounds.” (Three Rivers Press, 1998).
  • Geoffrey Ashe, The Virgin: Mary’s Cult and the Re-Emergence of the Goddess (Arkana, 1991 (reprint)). Out of print.
  • Beverly Donofrio, Looking for Mary: Or, the Blessed Mother and Me. (Compass Books, reissue 2001). By the author of Riding in Cars with Boys. “Entering her fortieth year, Beverly Donofrio, a “lapsed Catholic,” inexplicably begins collecting Virgin Mary memorabilia at yard sales. Her search for kitsch, however, soon becomes a spiritual quest, leading her to make a pilgrimage to the holy city of Medjugorje. There, she learns that Mary comes into your life only when pride steps out and receives a bonus: hope.”
  • Stephen Benko, The Virgin Goddess: Studies in the Pagan and Christian Roots of Mariology (Studies in the History of Religions).” Stephen Benko approaches this study as both an historian and a Christian believer. Inquiring into extra-biblical sources of Marian piety, belief and doctrine, he proposes ‘that there is a direct line, unbroken and clearly discernible, from the goddess-cults of the ancients to the reverence paid and eventually the cult accorded to the Virgin Mary.'” (Brill Academic, 1997).
  • James F. Twyman, Secret of the Beloved Disciple (Findhorn Press, 2000). “James Twyman finally learns the mysterious identity of the Emissaries of Light, and meets an amazing woman named Maria during a peace demonstration on the streets of Belgrade. He later learns that Maria is a physical manifestation of Mary, the Blessed Mother, and she leads him on a journey that changes his life forever.”
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Holy Month Of Ramadan Kareem

18 Wednesday Jul 2012

Posted by The Tale Of My Heart in Allah, Angels, Astrlogy, Beauty, Culture, God, Hadith, Health, Heart, History, Human, Islam, Jews, Life, Lord, Love, Muslims, Nature, Peace, Pics, Qura'n, Sahih Bukhari, Sahih Muslim, Sufi's, Wisdom, World, Youth

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Month Of Ramadan

As the Month Ramadan is approaching and will to start soon, I am posting this article is about the Islamic calendar month called Ramadan. I hope my fellow bloggers and friends will have better understanding and having some knowledge of Ramadan. I am very grateful to all my beautiful minds who always being so supportive to my space. I LOVE you all 🙂

Islamic Calendar;

  1. Muharram
  2. Safar
  3. Rabi’ al-awwal
  4. Rabi’ al-thani
  5. Jumada al-awwal
  6. Jumada al-thani
  7. Rajab
  8. Sha’aban
  9. Ramadan
  10. Shawwal
  11. Dhu al-Qi’dah
  12. Dhu al-Hijjah


Ramadan
 (Arabic: رمضان) is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, and the month in which the Qura’n was revealed.

Fasting during the month of Ramadan is one of the Five Pillars of Islam. The month is spent by Muslimsfasting during the daylight hours from dawn to sunset. Muslims believe that the Qur’an was sent down to the lowest heaven during this month, thus being prepared for gradual revelation by the Angel Jibraeel(Gabriel) to the Islamic prophet Muhammad. Furthermore, Muhammad told his followers that the gates ofHeaven would be open all the month and the gates of Hell (Jahannum) would be closed. The first three days of the next month, Shawwal, is spent in celebrations and is observed as the “Festival of Breaking Fast” or `Eid ul-Fitr.

Timing;

The Islamic calendar is a lunar calendar, and months begin when the first crescent of a new moon is sighted. Since the Islamic lunar calendar year is 11 to 12 days shorter than the solar year and contains no intercalation, Ramadan migrates throughout the seasons. The Islamic day starts after sunset. Many Muslims insist on the local physical sighting of the moon to mark the beginning of Ramadan, but others use the calculated time of the new moon or the Saudi Arabian declaration to determine the start of the month. Since the new moon is not in the same state at the same time globally, the beginning and ending dates of Ramadan depend on what lunar sightings are received in each respective location. As a result, Ramadan dates vary in different countries, but usually only by a day. This is due to the cycle of the moon. When one country sees the moon, mainly Saudi Arabia, the moon travels the same path all year round and that same moon seen in the east is then seen traveling towards the west. All the countries around the world see the moon within a 24 hour period once spotted by one country in the east.

Each year, Ramadan begins about eleven days earlier than in the previous year. Astronomical projections that approximate the start of Ramadan are available. It takes about 33 years and 5 days for Ramadan to complete a twelve month move across the yearly calendar. As Ramadan March 28, 1990 to Ramadan March 22, 2023.

Events;

Ramadan is observed by Muslims during the entire lunar month by the same name. The month of religious observances consists of fasting and extra prayers.

02 Ramadan, the Torah (Tawrat) was bestowed on Moses (Musa). (According to Shia Islam)

10 Ramadan, death of Khadijah bint Khuwaylid – first wife of Muhammad

12 Ramadan, the Gospel (Injil) was bestowed on Jesus (Isa). (According to Shia Islam)

15 Ramadan, birth of Hasan ibn Ali

17 Ramadan, the Battle of Badr was won by the Muslims.

18 Ramadan, the Psalms (Zabur) were bestowed on David (Dawood). (According to Shia Islam)

19 Ramadan, Ali bin Abu Talib was struck on the head by a sword.

21 Ramadan, Ali bin Abu Talib died due to injuries he sustained by a sword.

Laylat al-Qadr is observed during one of the last ten odd numbered days of the month. Muslims believe that this night which is also known as “The Night of Destiny” is better than a thousand months. This is often interpreted as praying throughout this night is rewarded equally with praying for a thousand months (just over 83 years i.e. a lifetime). Many Muslims spend the entire night in prayer. 

In the Ottoman Empire, the sultan presented trays of baklava to the Janissaries in a ceremonial procession called the Baklava Alayı.

10 Ramadan, in 1973, Operation Badr took place, starting the Yom Kippur War.

…

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Playing The Feeling Of Other’s And Hurting Someone!

03 Tuesday Jan 2012

Posted by The Tale Of My Heart in Allah, Angels, Anger, Beauty, Children, Culture, Feelings, God, Hadith, Health, Heart, Hindus, History, Human, Islam, Jews, Life, Love, Marriage, Medicine, Muslims, Nature, Peace, Politics, Power, Quote Of The Day, Quotes, Qura'n, Relationship, Sahih Bukhari, Sahih Muslim, Sufi's, Uncategorized, Wars, Wisdom, World, Youth

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Playing The Feeling Of Other’s And Hurting Someone!

Bismillahi ‘r-Rahmani ‘r-Raheem

Nawaytu’l-arba`een, nawaytu’l-`itikaaf, nawaytu’l-khalwah, nawaytu’l-riyaada, nawaytu’s-salook, nawaytu’l-`uzlah lillahi ta`ala fee hadha’l-masjid

They say that if speaking is from silver, if you like to talk, it is equal to silver, then to be silent is equal to gold because we cannot as a human being control our tongues. And the biggest problem in this world is that people are not able to control their tongues from talking. And the Prophet Sayyidina Muhammad he said, in the meaning of his hadith, tradition, part of the hadith is that “anyone who can guarantee for me,” he is saying, “can guarantee for me his tongue,” he didn’t say “his tongue” but he said, “what is between his jaws, I will guarantee for him Paradise.” Because you don’t know how you might address people and you hurt their feelings.

I heard my master in his teachings to many Muslim and non-Muslim. …As I said, “the place is small but the hearts are big.”

So… the Prophet , I heard my teacher many times was saying that “people might commit sins, too many and they might do things that are not allowed.” It means they might lie or they might cheat or they might because of their greediness, they might raise prices more than it should be, or they might do other things, not listening to the mother or the father or the elders, or not following what they need to follow in their beliefs, all that if you ask repentance, Allah will forgive you. God will forgive you. Anything that is between you and God, Allah swt, you do something wrong and you might take something to your advantage from the rights of your Lord, you repent, Allah is merciful He will forgive you.

As it is said in the Holy Qur’an, “Say [O Muhammad] to the people, ‘If they were oppressors to themselves, let them not lose hope of My forgiveness. I will forgive them, just let them repent.”

God is always merciful. But the problem is that when we hurt the feeling of someone else or we backbite someone else or we spread a bad rumor about someone else, the problem is not that you repent and god will forgive. The problem is that the person you hurt you must ask forgiveness. So there is a problem there. Might be the person you ask will not forgive you. So what happens? You are falling into a valley that has not bottom.

When the Prophet asked his companions about the meaning of bankruptcy, and we have lot of bankruptcy going around today. He asked them, “who is the bankrupt one?” They said, “whoever loses his wealth.” He said, “No, this is not the real meaning of bankrupt.” Although that is what we understand, bankruptcy is whoever lost all his wealth. He said, “No, the bankrupt one is the one who has no good deeds to present to God on Judgment Day.” And the companions said, “even if he is praying and fasting?” and he said, “even if he is praying and fasting, he might not have any good deeds.” They were surprised.

So it means on the Day of Judgment, and it is called judgment like you are judged here in a court, one person accuses the other. So on the Day of Judgment whoever has been harmed he will give from his good deeds to give to you. If he hurt you a lot then all the good deeds he did in his life will be transferred to you. Then he will be left with nothing, bankrupted.

So we said at the beginning that the Prophet Muhammad and Jesus and Moses and Abraham and Noah , all these heavenly religions came to discipline us and to teach how to behave with each other and to be relate with each other. That is the message that we have to carry with us.

Unfortunately many of us they try to hurt the others… in different ways. Look. Some Muslims hurt the majority of Muslims. Why? Because they thought this is their way, so even though they prayed and fasted, as the prophet said, because they hurted the other they are bankrupted in the presence of Allah they have nothing, they deserve punishment. Those who blended or branded or labeled the name of Islam and Muslim as terrorists because of their actions that they killed innocent people, they hurt the whole Muslim community. And not only the Muslim community, but they hurt the whole human race. What do you think the punishment will be on them. It is not going to be an easy punishment.

Antichrist, and we know in the Holy Bible and in the Torah of Moses and in the Holy Qur’an and the holy hadith of the prophet, about the last days we know that Antichrist is coming. Antichrist means the one who does not accept Jesus coming back on earth .it means he does not accept except his own belief. How many Antichrist we now have around this world?

Prophet Muhammad came 1400 years ago and delivered his message and he said, “Tis message will go to the Day of Judgment and in the Last Days Jesus will come back, and him and one of my grandchildren, Mahdi , will come to eliminate injustice.” But before that a lot of confusion that Antichrist will bring on earth before Jesus comes. So Jesus will come to eliminate what the Antichrist is doing.

So how many nowadays can be called “Antichrist on earth” that they are damaging the reputation of Islam and Muslims and against all heavenly messages? And they are coming against all messages and they are coming against every one who doesn’t accept them and the Antichrist will come against the whole world because they don’t accept him, and he will come and conquer one land after another. You found this in Bible in and in the hadith of the Holy Prophet . So he will establish himself in one place and then use that place to take over other places. That is the point of departure, intilaq in Arabic, to take over different places in order to take over the whole world.

And the Prophet said, “His evil power will move from one place to another.” Look today you see these circles of evilness, they are forming circles of evilness and they are doing all kinds of miseries around the world, problems around the world; terrorism around the world; fighting around the world; hijacking now, vessels and boats around the world. All kinds of evil work they are doing and this is because they are inheritors of what the Antichrist is coming with, they are paving the road for Antichrist. That means they are his supporters and we are looking and we are surprised how many of them coming around the world, destroying all kinds of beliefs.

“Antichrist,” the Prophet said, “he will not accept except his own beliefs.” He will say to you “if you accept me ok, if you don’t accept me…” he will eliminate them. And he will eliminate anyone who does not accept his belief and he will use massive elimination. And are we not seeing massive eliminations? Yes, look in Iraq, with suicide bombings. In other countries. And 911, after 911, before 911. Look in Africa how they are fighting. All of that is like a collection of different places around the world, with the same behavior and same ideology. Even if their belief is not Muslim but they are from different religions, but their focus, their belief, is to create confusion on earth either by their speeches or by their actions. Listen to what they say in their speeches. They are fiery speeches. And the Prophet said, “Anyone who can guarantee what is between his jaws … I will guarantee for him Paradise.”

These people we don’t hear from them except threatenings and Antichrist comes with threatenings, he cannot come with other than that. He comes before Jesus , before `Isa . And as I said, he has supporters. These supporters are coming out of their caves now and are spreading this earth with all these kinds of confusion. Unfortunately there is no end for it. The end will come with arrival of Antichrist. Because the evil power always going to be from century to century And in this century it is increasing a lot.

So what we have to do then is, as the Prophet said, “There will coming a time that there will be huge confusions around the world. Like chunks,… You know how you look at the sky at night and you don’t see any stars, there are huge chunks of dark night. He said, “Confusions will be so dark and so huge,” as if someone looking in the sky and seeing huge darkness there, no light. So at that time he said, “there will be lot of confusions around the world.” He said, “the one sitting, the one who is sitting, means sitting at home or sitting looking after his work, and sitting looking after his children and his family is better than the one standing and looking from the window.” He might receives something that might hurt him. The one looking is exposed. The one who is sitting on his chair, he is not looking outside there is no exposure for anything. He is not going to be exposed. He said, “the one who is sitting, is better than the one who is standing the one who is standing better than one walking the one walking on the street is better…?

And he said, “If you get angry at that time, then hit on a stone.” Hit your hand or your stick, it means get your anger out on that stone, until you break your stick. At that time “take your bow and arrow and hit it on the rock.” Don’t involve with anyone as something might hurt you. We are in such days.

That is why one of the companions of the Prophet , Sayyidina `Ali (r), karam-Allahu wajha, wa , he said, “you have to be careful what you are saying and what you want to say.” Today what makes people falling into problems is they have to know what they have to speak and what they have to say. He said, “before you speak judge yourself before you talk anything.”

Does anyone judge himself before he speaks? Look today these talk shows. Did you see any show they didn’t criticize each other? This one criticize this one and that one criticize that one. They say two opinions. What is the benefit? You are making more confusion with two opinions that one says something and that one says another: Who is right and who is wrong? Both consider they are right.

So the best is to keep silent. Study, learn, raise a family. Look at your work and don’t involve yourself too much with issues that don’t concern you. I don’t want to be long, but as he said, Sayyidina `Ali (r):

اعمل لدنياك كأنك تعيش أبداً ، و اعمل لآخرتك كأنك تموت غدا

A`amal li-dunyaka ka-annaka ta`ayshu abadan wa a`amal li akhiratika ka-annaka tamootu ghaddan – do for you lifetime that you are living on this earth as if you are living forever.”

It means be ambitious do what you want to do, but check what you want to say, but try to do the maximum, No problem. But make sure you do for your other life, the afterlife, as if you are dying tomorrow.

So look at the both sides. He said, “look at this world as if you are living forever. But keep in mind you might die tomorrow. You have to keep both sides, as any time you might be called and asked.

So the best in this time is to raise good children and a good family and to as soon as possible to get them married. You cannot leave your children without marriage. Too much temptations. Too much unacceptable acts that might make your children to fall down, as we are seeing outside in the streets, too much between girls and boys with drugs that are ruining their lives. Why? Because we are delaying their studies and we are delaying, we are not encouraging them to finish as quick as possible and then get married. Everyone is saying to wait and wait and wait, until they become 60 years old. Like Sayyid `Ali (r). Are you married.


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Priests And Scholars Parade

30 Wednesday Nov 2011

Posted by The Tale Of My Heart in Allah, Angels, Anger, Beauty, Culture, Feelings, God, Heart, History, Human, Islam, Life, Lord, Love, Muslims, Nature, Peace, Pics, Poems, Poetry, Politics, Power, Relationship, Sufi's, Uncategorized, Wars, Wisdom, World, Youth

≈ 14 Comments

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Allah, Anger, Beauty, Christian Living, Christianity, Death, English Poetry, God, Great Learning, Happiness, Hate, Heart, Hearts, Human, Jesus, Kings, Life, Lord, Love, Lovers, Man, O Bahu, Peace, Poetry, Priests And Scholars Parade, Quotes, Recomendations, Relationship, religion, Religion and Spirituality, Smoke screen, Sufi's, Sufism, Sultan Bahu, Temptation, Uncategorized, Victory, Wars, Wisdom, Woman, Women, World, Youth

Priests and scholars parade their learning to please the kings – 

of what avail is such erudition?

Reading scriptures is like boiling curdled milk in the false hope of obtaining butter. 

No more profitable to them is their chanting than is chirping to the mimicking chandoor.

If you bring inner comfort to a heart in distress, 

you will earn the merit of years of worship. 

They think they have acquired great learning; 

they call themselves sheikhs.

While they perform much outside worship, 

they do not know the manner in which temptation, 

like a thief,

enters to ravage their hearts. 

The soul that has attached herself to God is forever at peace — 

the smoke screen of illusion is lifted from her eyes.

Only they realize God,

O Bahu, 

whose hearts the world has not seduced.

Sufi ; (Sultan Bahu)

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Vision Of Lord

05 Monday Sep 2011

Posted by The Tale Of My Heart in Allah, Angels, Anger, Beauty, Hindus, Human, Islam, Jews, Life, Lord, Love, Nature, Sufi's, Uncategorized, Wisdom, World

≈ 10 Comments

Tags

Allah, Beauty, Bible, Christianity, Denominations, God, Holy Spirit, Human, Islam, Jesus, Life, Lord, Love, Man, Men, Peace, religion, Religion Spirituality, Sufi's, Uncategorized, Woman, Women, World

God is never seen immaterially; and the vision of Him in woman is the most perfect of all.

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