God's System

And We have sent down to you the Scripture with truth, authenticating what is present of the Scripture and superseding it. So judge between them by what God Has sent down, and do not follow their desires from what has come to you of the truth. For each of you We have made laws, and a structure; and had God willed, He would have made you all one nation, but He tests you with what He has given you; so strive to do good. To God you will return all of you, and He will inform you regarding that in which you dispute. And judge between them by what God Has sent down, and do not follow their wishes, and beware lest they divert you away from some of what God Has sent down to you. If they turn away, then know that God wants to inflict them with some of their sins; and most of the people are corrupt. Is it the judgment of the days of ignorance that they seek? Who is better than God as a judge for a people that comprehend? (5:48-50)

Most of you probably think you are always right and that you are right now on right guidance. Albiet, most of you probably follow the teachings of decorated scholars whom you've heard so much about and you use their teachings to better understand that which may not only seem hard to understand, but also boring, and repetitious. Truth be told this is something many people do to a certain extent, varying from one person to another. Do you follow what decorated scholars tell you is the right way for you to serve God with the utmost trust and hardly make it a personal task to seek verification to their teachings? Do you verify things like Abraham did (Quran 6:75-79) and search for right guidance by the means given to you by God, namely reason, logic, and your senses? Did you know that because of this, placing too much trust in others without verifying things, most of you follow conjectures and false teachings! This is only because you are illiterate to the Scripture.

And if you obey the majority of those on earth they will lead you astray; that is because they follow conjecture, and that is because they only guess. (6:116)

And amongst them are Gentiles who do not know the Scripture except by hearsay, and they only conjecture. (2:78)

Now the question stands, what is it exactly that God wants us to follow? Let us look to the Scripture for the judgement given by God (5:48-49).

And this is a Scripture that We have sent down which is blessed, so follow it and be aware, that you may receive mercy. Lest you say: �The Scripture was only sent down to two groups before us, and we were unaware of their study!� (6:155-156)

We are commanded to follow the Book which God has revealed (41:2)! Since this is the Book you are to follow you cannot try to say that you had no Book to follow in the Hereafter. Notice, there is talk of only one Book, not more than one Book that was sent to the peoples. Each people had their own Book, the Torah and the Gospel for example, but nothing more.

Let's look at some more examples.

And if they are told: �Follow what God has sent down,� they say: �No, we will follow what we found our fathers doing!� What if their fathers did not understand anything and were not guided? (2:170)

And if they are told: �Come to what God has sent down, and to the messenger;� they say: �We are content with what we found our fathers doing.� What if their fathers did not know anything nor were guided? (5:104)



Answers to common Questions

#1- How do we follow and obey the Messenger using only the Quran?

There are numerous verses in the Quran pointing out that we should obey God and the Messenger of God. [3:132/4:59/4:69/4:80/5:92/8:1/8:20/8:46/9:71/24:52/33:33/33:66/47:33/49:14/64:12/] are just a few of these verses calling for mankind to obey God and the Messenger of God.

Most people are easily deluded by such commands and obligations stated in these verses. The 'great minds' of the Ummah have said that to obey the Messenger means we must look to sources outside of the Quran which narrate the Messenger's doings, sayings, explanations of the Quran, etc. These sources can be summed up in the widely known collections of Sahih Hadith and Sunnah of the Messenger. It is said that these books 'expand' on Quranic teachings, enlightening us on that which God commanded but did not give instruction to such as Solaa and Zakaa.

A critical error should immediately be seen in such commonly held beliefs. If everything the Messenger said and did were to be an instruction and guidance to mankind than it would be mentioned in the Quran. God has made it clear that He does not run out of words. So why should God not simply have put what the collections of Hadith and Sunnah have compiled into the Quran? Did He fear some mix up would take place?

Say: �If the sea were an inkwell for the words of my Lord, then the sea would run out before the words of my Lord run out;� even if We were to bring another like it for its aid. (18:109)

And if all the trees on earth were made into pens, and the ocean were supplied by seven more oceans, the words of God would not run out. God is Noble, Wise. (31:27)

Secondly God said the duty of the Messengers, including Ahmed, was to deliver the Message of God plainly (16:35/16:82/26:115/29:18/29:50/36:16-17). Plain deliverance is understood as delivering without alteration, or explanation of the Messenger. As a matter of fact God makes it clear that on Him alone rests the explanation of the Quran and He brings the best explanation.

Do not move your tongue with it to make haste. It is for Us to gather it and relate it. So when We relate it, you shall follow its reading. Then it is for Us to clarify it. (75:16-19)

And those who rejected said: �If only the Quran was sent down to him in one go!� It was done as such so We could strengthen your heart with it, and We arranged it accordingly. And for every example they come to you with, We bring you the truth and the best explanation. (25:32-33)

A third point I must make is that the Messenger himself professed that he followed naught but the Quran (6:50/7:203/10:15/41:9).

Say: �I am no different from the other messengers, nor do I know what will happen to me or to you. I only follow what is inspired to me. I am no more than a clear warner.� (41:9)

Therefore we follow the Messenger by following the indictments of the Quran. These are God's ordainments.



#2- The Quran does not give details and is not clear on certain issues so we must turn to the Sunnah and Hadith to get a clear conception.

This is something that seems quite silly if you have ever studied the Quran. Muslims who say the Quran is not clear on certain matters it commands for us to do are very much wrong. I will cite numerous examples where God says that His messages are clear and detailed.

A.L.R., these are the signs of the Scripture, and a clear Quran. (15:1)

A chapter which We have sent down and imposed, and We have sent down in it clear revelations that you may remember. (24:1)

And the evident Scripture. (43:2)

Shall I seek other than God as a judge when He has sent down to you this Scripture fully detailed? Those to whom We have given the Scripture know it is sent down from your Lord with truth; so do not be of those who have doubt. (6:114)

And this is your Lord�s straight path. We have fully detailed the revelations to a people who remember. (6:126)

God clarifies for you the revelations; and God is Knower, Wise. (24:18)

And when Our clear revelations are recited to them, those who do not wish to meet Us said: �Bring a Quran other than this, or change it!� Say: �It is not for me to change it from my own accord, I merely follow what is inspired to me. I fear if I disobey my Lord the retribution of a great day!� (10:15)

And We did not teach him poetry, nor does he need it. This is a reminder and a clear Quran. (36:69)

These are the signs of the Scripture of clarity. (26:2)

T�.S. These are the signs of the Quran and a clear Scripture. (27:1)

These are the signs of the clear Scripture. (28:2)

And We have come to them with a Scripture which We have detailed with knowledge; a guide and a mercy to those who believe. (7:52)

These verses prove that God's Book is supposed to be clear. If the Book is clear how can one doubt that it does give clear instruction to it's commands? God makes it clear that the Quran is the only and the best guidance for the Believers/Faithful to uphold.

In fact, it is a clear revelation in the chests of those who have been given knowledge. And it is only the wicked doubt Our revelations. And they said: �If only signs would come down to him from his Lord!� Say: �All signs are with God, and I am but a clear warner.� Is it not enough for them that We have sent down to you the Scripture, being recited to them? In that is a mercy and a reminder for people who believe. (29:49-51)

Say: �Then bring forth a scripture from God that is better in guidance so I may follow it, if you are truthful.� (28:49)



#3- What about the commands from God that we should follow the Knowledge and Wisdom revealed to the Messenger? Surely this shows us that we are to follow more than the Quran.

When the Quran mentions Knowledge and Wisdom along with the Book alot of you believe this somehow refers to the Sahih Ahadith and the Sunnah of the Messenger outside of the Quran. Some of the verses that mention what God revealed to the Messenger/s are: [2:129/2:151/2:231/3:48/3:79/3:81/3:164/4:54/4:113/5:110/62:2/].

In all these instances God points out that He reveals the Book as well as Knowledge and/or Wisdom. If one were to look to the Quran one would see that the Quran, like God, is given numerous names.

The Quran is called:

A Guide (3:3)                   A Mercy (17:82)            The Honoured (80:13)

The Reminder (15:9)         An Admonition (10:57)   The Judgement (13:37)

The Revelation (26:192)    The Truth (17:81)          The Light (7:157)

The Book (2:2)                 The Favour (93:11)        The Clear Statement (3:138)

These are but a few of the names of the Quran among others. Now I will show Quranic evidence that Wisdom and Knowledge are the Quran, not Sunnah or Ahadith outside of the Quran.

This We recite to you from the revelation and the Wise Reminder. (3:58)

A.L.R., these are the signs of the Scripture of wisdom. (10:1)

That is from what your Lord Has inspired to you of the wisdom. And do not make with God another god, or you will be cast into Hell, blameworthy and regretting. (17:39)

And the Quran of wisdom. (36:2)

The news had come to them in which there was sufficient warning. Wisdom which was great; but the warnings are in vain. (54:4-5)

And We have come to them with a Scripture which We have detailed with knowledge; a guide and a mercy to those who believe. (7:52)

One can clearly see that the Quran is not only referred to as wisdom, but it also contains much Wisdom and Knowledge. Many of the narratives related to us in the Quran contain Wisdom which teaches us many lessons such as the story of Joseph (12:4-102) and of the Messenger Ahmad (80:1-10).



#4- How do you know how to bury your dead?

Let us turn to the Judgement (13:37) to find out what God says.

So God sent forth a raven to scratch the land and show him how to deal with the wickedness inflicted upon his brother. He said: �O my, am I not able to be like this raven and deal with the wickedness inflicted upon my brother!� So he became of those who regretted. (5:31)

And Jonah was one of the messengers. When he escaped to the charged ship. And he was guilty, so he became among the losers. Thus a whale swallowed him, and he was the one to blame. And had it not been that he was one of those who implored, He would have stayed in its belly until the Day of Resurrection. (37:139-144)

1. Burying in the ground pereferably in planted land to be eaten by worms and the decomposition which will enrich the soil

2. Cremating the body, especially with clean burning incinerators. Ashes can be used to fertilize farmland.

3. Burial at sea if no other alternative is available.

4. Placing the body at a high place to be eaten by vultures. At least the birds get fed. Then the bones can be used to make fertiliser too.

Bad methods of disposing dead bodies:

1. Mummification - uses up too much resources and what for?

2. Burial inside expensive caskets and boxes and what for?

3. Burial inside cemeteries with headstones and markers and what for?



#5- Can women uphold the Solaa during menstruation?

In the Scripture God says:

And they ask you about menstruation? Say: �It is harmful, so retire yourselves sexually from the women during the menstruation, and do not approach them until they are cleansed. When they are cleansed, then you may approach them as God has commanded you.� God loves the repenters and He loves the cleansed. (2:222)

We are called to keep aloof from having sexual intercourse with women during this period and only afterwards are we allowed to go in to them, or engage in sex.

O you who believe, if the assembly is called to for the day of gathering, then you shall hasten towards the remembrance of God, and cease all selling. This is better for you, if you only knew. (62:9)

All believers are called to attend the Solaa, not just the men. I do not believe that women are incapable of having their periods on friday or any other day.

And that is all that God speaks of on the matter of menstruating women. Plain and simple. So women do your thing!

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