Yesterday I posted my first vidcast “Tips for New Muslims: Approaching the Qur’an,” but I thought I’d do a written post on the topic as well. This is for those who can’t/don’t want to view vidcasts and also to make the content searchable in the future.

Introduction

The Qur’an, the holy scripture of Muslims, was revealed in the Arabic language to the Prophet Muhammad , peace be upon him, over fourteen hundred years ago. Muslims believe the Qur’an in its Arabic original is literally the word of God (not the word of Muhammad). As such, the English texts we read are really translations of the meanings of the Qur’an.

This post assumes that readers have little to no knowledge of Arabic, and is designed for those who have never read an English translation of the Qur’an.

Purifying intentions

Traditionally, Muslims perform ritual ablutions (a ritual ablution), purifying the bodies and souls, before touching a copy of the Qur’an. This isn’t a concern if you are simply reading an English translation, but it is good to make an intention that you want to read the translation of the Qur’an for the sake of Allah . This is because the intention behind any action is extremely important according to Islamic belief.

The holy Prophet, peace be upon him, said: “Actions are only by intention, and every person shall only have what he intended.”

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My very first vidcast. This week I talk about approaching the holy Qur’an for new Muslims or people generally interested in gaining a better understanding of Islam through reading a translation of the Islamic scripture.

Abu Yasmin (who knows all about coding and stuff) and I are thinking of doing something like this, but for the Qur’an. The thing I like the best is that you can keep your own annotations, and cross-reference verses. I haven’t come across anything like that for the Qur’an - but has anyone else? (Before I make Abu Yasmin start coding stuff).

(Via Arab News) A Saudi blogger has made a counter-video to Geert Wilder’s abominable jihadi clip, called Schism. He uses the same technique by taking verses of the Bible out of context and juxtaposes scenes of Christian calls for violence. The purpose, of course, is to demonstrate that Wilder’s jihadi clip might be done for any religion, and does not represent what the vast majority of Muslims or Christians believe and do.

Now, I do not recommend going and viewing it, which is why I don’t have a link to it. I watched about ten seconds and then had to turn it off when I saw American soldiers glorying in the beating of some unarmed presumably Iraqi, civilians, after reading excerpts from Bible commanding killing and genocide. I just couldn’t watch any more (I haven’t even attempted to watch Wilder’s jihadi clip).

I don’t want to put violent images into my mind, but see what the world has come to? Subhanallah. These types of clips and images leave lasting impressions on our minds. Whether it is Geert Wilder or a rhetorical response to him, the violence causes a rift between the children of Adam, when we should race to virtues not to the bottom:

Unto every one of you have We appointed a [different] law and way of life. And if God had so willed, He could surely have made you all one single community: but [He willed it otherwise] in order to test you by means of what He has vouchsafed unto, you. Vie, then, with one another in doing good works! Unto God you all must return; and then He will make you truly understand all that on which you were wont to differ. (Al Ma’idah 5:48)

Surah al-`Alaq (96), "The Clot", verses 1-5

I seek refuge in God from Satan, the rejected: in the Name of God, the Merciful, the Mercy-giving.

created	who	your Lord	in the name (of)	read!

iqra’ bismi-rabbika-lladhi khalaqa

a clot of congealed blood	from	humankind	created

khalaqal-in::sana min `alaqin

is the Most Generous	and your Lord	read!

iqra’ warabbuka-l’akramu

by the pen	taught	who

aladhi `allama bi-lqalami

know	did not	what (it)	humankind	he taught

`allama-l’in:sana ma lam ya`lam

Reciter (requires Flash)

Eight parallel translations (.doc)