Sacred World

Islamic Wallpaper: Allah's Name

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The Meaning of Dreams

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What is the islamic status of a dream?

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Muslim Views on Dreams

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From Shaza, in Sudan

The Muslim believes in the truth of the Dreams, the Quran tells the Muslims the story of the prophet Joseph and how his early dreams when he was a child became true after many long years, and also how is Joseph interpreted to the two prisoner's dreams, and his interpretation occurred to them in the life.

Muslim believes that the God created all the dreams either bad or good ones, but some dreams are from the dreamers’ self, like if he is frighten or worry about something or if he ate a lot before sleeping. which we call it nightmare and never occurs in the real life.

Muslims believe that the one who has the truest dream is always the honest in his speaking and never lies, as the prophet Muhammad said.

The Truest Dream:

The prophet M. said that “the truest dream is in the early morning”, and he also said “the truest dream is in the afternoon because the God revealed to me in afternoon”.

The prophet Muhammad said (If anyone dreamed a bad dream he has to spat to his left three times and say “Oh God I ask you the best in this dream and I ask your help for it’s bad, then it will never occurs in the reality”. As the Prophet Muhammad said (the supplication struggles with the destiny in the sky).

The dreams comes on :

Something happened in the past, to remind the dreamer, or in the present situation, or in the future to tell what will occur like death, rain, poverty, richness, highness.

Some people dreams the opposite in their dreams, if he dreamed that he is laughing it means something bad will occur which will make him sad or cry , vice versa.

Some people dreams the exact thing, so everyone knows the kind of his dreams through time!.

The dreamer has not to lie or add something in his dreams because it is a revelation from the God.

Dreaming of the prophets

Dreaming of the prophets are either warning or good news for the dreamer. If anyone saw any prophet in a good look, it means he is –the dreamer-in good situation and the God loves his deeds in the life, if he saw any prophet looks strange or sad, it means that the dreamer has bad deeds, and he will be punished a lot.

If someone dreamed of Jesus : it means that the dreamer is good and helpful man, and travels a lot, and he has a knowledge of medicine and other sciences.

If some one dreamed of the virgin Mary :it means that he will be in highness among the people, and he will get everything he wants, if a pregnant woman dreamed of Mary she will get a wise boy.

If someone dreamed of the wise Daniel : it means he will get fortune and knowledge of dream’s interpretation, and he will win against big enemy. Or he will be prince or minister.

Prophet Muhammad said (If anyone saw me in the dream he will never go to the hell in the afterlife).

If someone dreamed of prophet Muhammad it means : if he has debt he will pay it, if he is ill he will be in good health, if the dreamer in a struggle he will win.

Dreams of Angels :

To see the angels in dreams in good look , it means something will occur to the dreamer, get power and highness, good news and winning after giving up, good health after disease, or safe after fear, or may be go to pilgrim.

If the dreamer saw the angel of death looks happy, it means the dreamer will live long time, or he will die as a martyr, if he saw the angel of death looks angry the dreamer will die with many bad deeds, if he struggled with the angel of death and the angel won it means the dreamer will die, if he didn’t win the dreamer will be very ill but will not die.

If he saw many angels in a village or town it means the death of a scholar, or a good believer, or an innocent one will be killed there.

Understanding Dreams and Visions from The Qur'an

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www.quran-miracle.com

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Dreams According to Quran and Sunnah

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Hadith - Bukhari 2:468, Narrated Samura bin Jundab

Whenever the Prophet finished the (morning) prayer, he would face us and ask, "Who amongst you had a dream last night?" So if anyone had seen a dream he would narrate it. The Prophet would say: "Ma sha'a-llah"

Hadith - Bukhari 9:119, Narrated AbuHuraira

I heard Allah's Apostle saying, "Nothing is left of the prophetism except Al-Mubashshirat." They asked, "What are Al-Mubashshirat?" He replied, "The true good dreams (that conveys glad tidings)."

Hadith - Bukhari 9:168, Narrated Abu Salama

I used to see a dream which would make me sick till I heard Abu Qatada saying, "I too, used to see a dream which would make me sick till I heard the Prophet saying, "A good dream is from Allah, so if anyone of you saw a dream which he liked, he should not tell it to anybody except to the one whom he loves, and if he saw a dream which he disliked, then he should seek refuge with Allah from its evil and from the evil of Satan, and spit three times (on his left) and should not tell it to anybody, for it will not harm him."

Hadith -Sahih Bukhari, Volume 9, Book 87, Number 115: Narrated Abu Qatada

The Prophet said, "A good dream that comes true is from Allah, and a bad dream is from Satan, so if anyone of you sees a bad dream, he should seek refuge with Allah from Satan and should spit on the left, for the bad dream will not harm him."

Hadith - Muslim 5640, Narrated Jabir ibn Abdullah, r.a.
Allah's Messenger said: There came to him (the Prophet) a desert Arab and said: I saw in a dream that I had been beheaded and I had been following it (the severed head). Allah's Apostle reprimanded him saying: Do not inform about the vain sporting of devil with you during the night.

Hadith - Sahih Bukhari 9:144, Narrated Abu Huraira
Allah's Apostle said, "When the Day of Resurrection approaches, the dreams of a believer will hardly fail to come true, and a dream of a believer is one of forty-six parts of prophetism, and whatever belongs to prothetism can never be false." Muhammad bin Sirin said, "But I say this." He said, "It used to be said, 'There are three types of dreams: The reflection of one's thoughts and experiences one has during wakefulness, what is suggested by Satan to frighten the dreamer, or glad tidings from Allah. So, if someone has a dream which he dislikes, he should not tell it to others, but get up and offer a prayer." He added, "He (Abu Huraira) hated to see a Ghul (i.e., iron collar around his neck in a dream) and people liked to see fetters (on their feet in a dream). The fetters on the feet symbolizes one's constant and firm adherence to religion." And Abu 'Abdullah said, "Ghuls (iron collars) are used only for necks."

Hadith - Al-Muwatta 52.5
Yahya related to me from Malik from Hisham ibn Urwa that his father said about this ayat, "For them are glad tidings, in the life of the present world, and in the Hereafter," (Sura 10 ayat 64), that it was the good dream which the man who was salih saw or which was shown to him.

The Noble Qur'an - Yunus 10:64
For them are glad tidings, in the life of the present world. (i.e. righteous dream seen by the person himself or shown to others), and in the Hereafter. No change can there be in the Words of Allâh, this is indeed the supreme success.

Some examples of symbolism in the Prophet's or companion's dreams:

Symbol Description Source
Cow Symbolized the believers (who were martyred) on the Day of Uhud in a dream of the Prophet Bukhari 4:818, 5:407
Dates, Fresh good in religion Abu Dawud, Narrated Anas ibn Malik
Garden with a pillar in the middle the garden of Islam Bukhari 9:142, Narrated 'Abdullah bin Salam
Milk protruding out of nails or limbs after drinking it (Religious) knowledge Bukhari 9:134, 135, Narrated Ibn 'Umar
Prophet Muhammad Whoever sees me in a dream then surely he has seen me for Satan cannot impersonate me Bukhari 1:110, Narrated Abu Huraira
Shirts, covering various lengths on body on different people The religion Bukhari 9:137, Narrated Abu Sa'id Al-Khudri
Spring, freshwater ...and he said, "That flowing spring symbolizes his good deeds." Bukhair 9:132, Narrated Az-Zuhri
Sword whose blade was broken the defeat which the Muslims suffered from, the casualities, on the Day of Uhud Bukhari 4:818, 5:407
Sword becoming unbroken victory (conquest of Mecca) and gathering together of Muslims Bukhari 4:818, 5:407

A dream from Allah, must happen

Bukhari 9:139, Narrated 'Aisha

Allah's Apostle said (to me), "You were shown to me twice in (my) dream. Behold, a man was carrying you in a silken piece of cloth and said to me, "She is your wife, so uncover her,' and behold, it was you. I would then say (to myself), 'If this is from Allah, then it must happen.' "

Examples of Revelationary Dreams amongst the companions

Some men amongst the companions of the Prophet were shown in their dreams that the night of Qadr was in the last seven nights of Ramadan. Allah's Apostle said, "It seems that all your dreams agree that (the Night of Qadr) is in the last seven nights, and whoever wants to search for it (i.e. the Night of Qadr) should search in the last seven (nights of Ramadan)." --Bukhari 3:232, Narrated Ibn 'Umar

Even the Companions could misinterpret a dream

Bukhari 9:170, Narrated Ibn Abbas

A man came to Allah's Apostle and said, "I saw in a dream, a cloud having shade. Butter and honey were dropping from it and I saw the people gathering it in their hands, some gathering much and some a little. And behold, there was a rope extending from the earth to the sky, and I saw that you (the Prophet) held it and went up, and then another man held it and went up and (after that) another (third) held it and went up, and then after another (fourth) man held it, but it broke and then got connected again." Abu Bakr said, "O Allah's Apostle! Let my father be sacrificed for you! Allow me to interpret this dream." The Prophet said to him, "Interpret it." Abu Bakr said, "The cloud with shade symbolizes Islam, and the butter and honey dropping from it, symbolizes the Qur'an, its sweetness dropping and some people learning much of the Qur'an and some a little. The rope which is extended from the sky to the earth is the Truth which you (the Prophet) are following. You follow it and Allah will raise you high with it, and then another man will follow it and will rise up with it and another person will follow it and then another man will follow it but it will break and then it will be connected for him and he will rise up with it. O Allah's Apostle! Let my father be sacrificed for you! Am I right or wrong?" The Prophet replied, "You are right in some of it and wrong in some." Abu Bakr said, "O Allah's Prophet! By Allah, you must tell me in what I was wrong." The Prophet said, "Do not swear."

An Example of the Methodology of Correct Interpretation

Hadith - Sahih Al-Bukhari 5.659, Narrated Ibn Abbas, r.a.

Musailima Al-Kadhdhab came during the lifetime of the Prophet and started saying, "If Muhammad gives me the rule after him, I will follow him." And he came to Medina with a great number of the people of his tribe. Allah's Apostle went to him in the company of Thabit bin Qais bin Shammas, and at that time, Allah's Apostle had a stick of a date-palm tree in his hand. When he (i.e. the Prophet ) stopped near Musailima while the latter was amidst his companions, he said to him, "If you ask me for this piece (of stick), I will not give it to you, and Allah's Order you cannot avoid, (but you will be destroyed), and if you turn your back from this religion, then Allah will destroy you. And I think you are the same person who was shown to me in my dream, and this is Thabit bin Qais who will answer your questions on my behalf." Then the Prophet went away from him. I asked about the Statement of Allah's Apostle: "You seem to be the same person who was shown to me in my dream," and Abu Huraira informed me that Allah's Apostle said, "When I was sleeping, I saw (in a dream) two bangles of gold on my hands and that worried me. And then I was inspired Divinely in the dream that I should blow on them, so I blew on them and both the bangles flew away. And I interpreted it that two liars (who would claim to be prophets) would appear after me. One of them has proved to be Al Ansi and the other, Musailima."

PROPHET Joseph(YUSUF) (peace be upon him)

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The Prophet Ya'qub (peace be upon him) had twelve sons and one of them was called Yusuf (Joseph) whose life is full of many interesting: happenings. He was a handsome and smart boy with polite habits and polished manners. He bore a sound character. He had an attractive personality. The Prophet Ya'qub (peace be upon him) had a deep affection for his son, Yusuf who occupied a rank of remarkable distinction among his brothers. His brothers began to Feel jealous of him. They became united against Yusuf and hatched a plan to do away. with him.

Vision of Prophet Yusuf and its Interpretation:
When the Prophet Yusuf (peace be upon him) became a teenager, he had a special vision. He rushed towards his father to inform him about it. He dreamt that there were eleven stars with the moon and the sun kneeling in front of him. The Prophet Yusuf (peace be upon him) was much excited to see this fantastic dream. His heart was beating fast while he was breaking the news to his father. The Holy Qur'an describes:

"Yusuf said to his father: 0' my father! I have indeed seen in a dream eleven stars and the sun and moon making obeisance to me." (12: 4)

On hearing about this vision the Prophet Ya'qub (peace be upon him) whisperingly advised his son not to divulge it to his brothers lest their jealousy should be excited. He had sound reasons to Fear that they would plot against him. The Prophet Ya'qub (peace be upon him) interpreted that Yusuf was destined to become a great personality. God would give him wisdom, grace and honour. He would enable him to read into the future. To crown all he would become a Prophet. His eleven brothers (the stars) and his father and mother (the sun and moon) would stand in need of him and bow to his dignified position. The Holy Qur'an relates:

"He (Ya'qub) said: O' my dear son! Tell not your brethren of your vision lest they should plot against you because surely Satan is the manifest enemy of man. So your Lord shall prefer you and will teach you the interpretations of dreams and will perfect His favours upon you and upon the family of Ya'qub as He perfected it upon your forefather Ibrahim and Ishaq. The Lord is Knowing, Wise." (7:5, 6)

Plot against the Prophet Yusuf:
The brothers of Prophet Yusuf did not like that he should become the only centre of their paternal love. The sentiments of jealousy burnt them inside. They decided to get rid of him. One of them suggested that he should be put to death but the others did not agree with him -because it was a terrible thing. Then another brother proposed to throw him into a pit. All of them I unanimously voted in favour of this scheme. The Holy Qur'an says:

"One said: Slay Yusuf or drive him some other land so that your father's favours may be exclusively for you and after that you shall live as upright persons. One among them said: Kill not Yusuf but cast him down into the bottom of a pit if you must do it so that some wayfarers may pick him up." (12: 7-10))

The Plan is put into Practice:
In order to put their plan into practice the mischievous brothers of the Prophet Yusuf (peace be upon him) approached their father. They persuaded the Prophet Ya'qub (peace be upon him) to allow his affectionate son, Yusuf to accompany them for tending the sheep. They insisted so much that their father became quite suspicious. He feared lest the jealous brothers should do some harm to Yusuf. The Prophet Ya'qub (peace be upon him) was hesitant in parting with his son but his other sons went on insisting and trying to satisfy him. They assured their father that they would look after their younger brother even at the risk of their own lives. As the Prophet Ya'qub (peace be upon him) did not wish to compel Yusuf to avoid his brothers he granted his permission hesitatingly. So the brothers got an opportunity of carrying out their evil design of casting him into the pit. The Holy Qur'an says:

"They said: O' our father! Why do you not entrust us with Yusuf though we, indeed, mean him well. Send him with us tomorrow that he may enjoy himself and sport and surely we shall take good care of him. He said: It grieves me that the wolf should devour him while you are heedless of him. They said: Surely if the wolf should devour him notwithstanding we are so strong a band, then we shall be in that case justly blamed for losing him." (12: 11-15)

They proceeded towards the hills. All of them were nervous except the unsuspecting Prophet Yusuf (peace be upon him). When they were enjoying a trip, they pushed the Prophet Yusuf (peace be upon him) sharply towards the waterless well He fell down with a thud and became sore all over. There was no food to eat and no water to drink. It was dark and scary. 'He screamed at the top of his voice but he could hear nothing except the echoes of his voice. He realised that a clever trick had been played upon him.

Father is Informed:
The brothers of Prophet Yusuf (peace be upon him) were feeling guilty inside because they had committed a shameful act. They walked back slowly with dejected faces. They approached their father crying and sobbing. They were shedding crocodile tears while they were informing their father that the Prophet Yusuf (peace be upon him)had been devoured by the wolf. They produced the blood smeared shirt of the Prophet Yusuf(peace be upon him) as an evidence. The Holy Qur'an says:

"And they came back weeping to their father at night fall and said: O' our father! of a truth, we went racing with one another and left Yusuf to loot after clothes and the wolf devoured him; but we art afraid you will not believe us though we speak the truth. And they brought his shirt with false blood upon it." (12: 16-18)

The Prophet Yusuf is Delivered out of Well and Sold:
The Prophet Yusuf (peace be upon him) was quite vigorous. He tried many times to climb out of the deep well but he could not. Finally he sat down in utter despair beseeching Allah's help. After some time a caravan happened to pass by the well. Some men needed water to quench their thirst. One of them lowered his bucket into the well but he could not hear the splash of water. The well was dry and there was nothing except the Prophet Yusuf (peace be upon him) who was waiting anxiously for some one to come and rescue him. When the bucket came down, it touched the Prophet Yusuf (peace be upon him). He clung to it with his dear life. The man pulled hard at the bucket and the Prophet Yusuf (peace be upon him) came out of the well. He felt a great pleasure and expressed a deep sense of gratitude to Allah Who had bestowed favour upon him. He dusted himself off and told the man all about what had happened to him. The Prophet Yusuf (peace be upon him) was taken to Egypt where he was sold as a slave. The Holy Qur'an states:

"And there came a wayfarer and they sent down a water drawer. He let down his pail into the pit. He said: What a good luck, here is a youth. And they kept his case secret to make merchandise of him and Allah knew what they did, and they sold him for a petty price, a few dirhams and they attached little value to him." (12:1,0, 21)

The Prophet Yusuf (peace be upon him) was purchased by a famous rich man. He rendered services to him and his family.

The Prophet Yusuf Overpowers Temptation:
The Prophet Yusuf (peace be upon him) was a handsome and an attractive young man. He was extremely charming and irresistible. He was a perfect gentleman whom Allah had honoured with His love, grace and protection. He was held in high esteem in the house of his master. As the time passed the lady of the house put him in an awkward position. She fell in love with him. She could hardly shake him out of her mind. One day in the absence of her husband she approached him and desired to be very close to him. The Prophet Yusuf (peace be upon him) refrained from even casting a glance at her. He tried to get rid of her but she chased him. She grabbed hard at the back of his shirt and it was torn apart. Just at that time the master appeared on the scene. He saw what was going on, He flew into a rage. The master's wife was embarrassed beyond all limits. She cried out after absolute frustration in her evil designs and levelled false accusations against Yusuf, the innocent. The Prophet Yusuf (peace be upon him) clarified his position with the moral support of one of the maid-servants who bore witness by saying: Look at the shirt. If it is torn at the back, the Prophet Yusuf (peace be upon him) will be quite innocent. He should not be blamed. In case it is rent from the front the accused will be one of the liars. When the shirt was examined it was torn at the back and the Prophet Yusuf (peace be upon him) was found truthful. The master was fully convinced of the innocence of Prophet Yusuf (peace be upon him). He appealed to him to keep the matter in secret lest it should become a scandal. Moreover he admonished his wife to beg pardon of Prophet Yusuf (peace be upon him).

Banquet is Arranged:
Many people got wind of this incident. They starred to talk about the master's wife who had been deeply affected with the love of her slave. She wished to seduce him. The whole town kept on talking maliciously about her.

When the master's wife heard about it, she made a special plan. She wished to show the people that it was very hard to resist the charm of Prophet Yusuf(peace be upon him) and his lovely youth. She arranged a grand banquet and invited most of the women in the town. They were talking and enjoying themselves. The most delicious food and fruit were served before the guests. The master's wife gave a sharp knife to every lady to peel off the fruit. When the ladies were busy with using the knives, the master's wife asked the Prophet Yusuf (peace be upon him) to enter the room. As the door opened with a squeak, there prevailed a pen-drop silence for a few second and the Prophet Yusuf (peace be upon him) stood calmly. The ladies looked at him constantly and got stunned at his beauty. He was so attractive that many of them were taken by a great surprise. They forgot that they were using the knives. They cut their fingers in utter amazement. The Holy Qur'an says:

"When they saw him, they exalted him? and (in their amazement) cut their hands exclaiming: Remote is Allah from imperfection. This is not a mortal but is a noble angel. She said: It is he about whom you blamed me Certainly I wished him to yield to my desires but he stood firm." (12:31,3?)

The Prophet Yusuf in the Prison:
The Prophet Yusuf (peace be upon him) found himself in a great trouble. As the time passed by, the Problems became more complicated. The Prophet Yusuf (peace be upon him) prayed to Almighty Allah to grant him protection from those ladies. He wished to be in prison rather than being indecent. He desired to escape from the temptations of sexual instinct. The Holy Qur'an says:

"He said: MY Lord! I Prefer the Prison to compliance with their bidding: and if you turn not away their snares from me, I may perchance yearn towards them (out of youthful folly) and become one of the unwise." (7: 33)

Allah accepted his prayer to shield him from evil temptations. The elite of the town noticed that their females were becoming ardent lovers of the Prophet Yusuf (peace be upon him). Although they knew that he had committed no crime yet they decided to imprison the Prophet Yusuf (peace be upon him) to avoid disturbance in their society. He remained in the prison for several years and developed friendly relations with many prisoners. There he preached the religion of Allah and tried to reform the prisoners who were greatly impressed by his personality. One day two prisoners saw strange dreams. They came to the Prophet Yusuf(peace be upon him) for asking the Interpretations of those dreams. One of them said: I saw in a dream that I was pressing wine. The other prisoner said: I saw in my dream that I was carrying a basket of bread on my head and the birds were eating from it. The Prophet Yusuf (peace be upon him) asked them to wait until lunch time so that they might become anxious and listen to him attentively. At the appointed time the Prophet Yusuf (peace be upon him) said: The one who was pressing wine, will be set at liberty and he will serve wine to his master. The other will be crucified for the crime, he had committed. The Holy Qur'an affirms:

"O' my two fellow prisoners! As for one of you he shall Pour out wine for his lord to drink and as for the other, he shall be executed and the birds shall eat from off his head. The matter is decreed concerning which you inquired." (11:40)

Soon after the interpretations of those dreams turned out to be true. When the first man was about to leave the prison, the Prophet Yusuf (peace be upon him) asked to remember him to the master. He did so as a self-respecting man without adopting a supplicative attitude. The man who found deliverance forgot mentioning all about the Prophet Yusuf (peace be upon him) to his lord. So he had to linger in the prison for a few more years. He continued praying and teaching goodness in the prison. One day, the king of Egypt dreamt that seven fat cows were eaten by seven thin cows and he also saw seven preen ears of corn and seven others that withered. The king wished to know the interpretation of that strange dream. Every one was puzzled because no one could really say what it meant. Some of them thought that it was a passing dream. The ex-prisoner informed the king about the Prophet Yusuf (peace be upon him) who was well versed in the art of explaining the dreams accurately. The king became quite curious and sent the man to see the Prophet Yusuf (peace be upon him) in the prison. The man rushed towards him and tendered an apology for not speaking to the master about him. Then he asked him about the fantastic dream of the king. The Prophet Yusuf (peace be upon him) said: You will sow for seven years diligently. There will be seven years of rich harvest in the country. It is better to store as much of the food stuff as possible because there will be a famine lasting for seven years. During this period of hardships the preserved stores of grain shall be consumed except a little quantity. Afterwards there will be a year in which the people shall have heavy rains and bumper crops. They shall press grapes.

The Prophet Yusuf's Innocence is Established:
The man sought permission of leave from the Prophet Yusuf (peace be upon him) and proceeded towards the king. He told him the interpretation of his dream in the presence of many courtiers. They were much surprised. The king was greatly impressed and expressed a keen desire to see him in person. He issued an immediate order to release the Prophet Yusuf (peace be upon him) from the prison but he refused to leave it until he had his innocence established beyond all doubts. He told the king about the cruelty and injustice inflicted upon him without any fault. He wished to clear the blot of crime on his fair name. The king summoned the women who put the Prophet Yusuf (peace be upon him) to inconvenience. They all confessed that he was quite innocent. The Holy Qur'an affirms: "They (women) said: Allah Blameless! We knew of no evil on his part. Thereupon the Chief's wife said: Now the truth has become established. I asked of him an evil act and he is surely of the truthful." (7: 50)

The Prophet Yusuf as Director of Stores:
The king was much impressed with his nobility and intelligence. He therefore, offered him an important position in the Government. He was appointed as the Director of Stores. The Holy Qur'an says:

"He (the king) said: Surely from this day you shall be with us invested with rank and trust. Then he (Yusuf) said: Set me over the store houses of the land. Surely I am a skilled custodian (knowing well my duties). (1:54, 55)

The Prophet Yusuf (peace be upon him) worked efficiently and managed the affairs. he won a good name as an officer and became powerful in the land.

The Prophet Ya'qub (peace be upon him)was awfully unhappy. He missed the Prophet Yusuf (peace be upon him) very much. He was assured by Almighty Allah that he would see his son again. The brothers of the Prophet Yusuf(peace be upon him) grew in age and kept remembering the mischievous trick which they had played upon him. It was highly shameful act. Now Palestine was also in the grip of dreadful famine. There was an acute dearth of food. The family of the Prophet Ya'qub (peace be upon him) was passing through the most straitened circumstances. They heard that Egyptians had huge stock of food stuff. They sold it at reasonable rates. The sons of the Prophet Ya'qub (peace be upon him) prepared a caravan and went to Egypt to purchase grain.

The Prophet Yusuf's Brothers go to Egypt and buy Food Conditionally:
When they reached Egypt the Prophet Yusuf (peace be upon him) recognised his brothers immediately and his heart was beating violently. He did not remind them of the cruelty inflicted upon him. He did not disclose his identity. He showed kindness to them and furnished them with provision at a very fair price. They felt highly obliged because of his noble behaviour. Before their departure the Prophet Yusuf (peace be upon him) said: If you come back, bring with you a younger brother of yours from your father's side. If my request is not complied with, I shall sell you no more grain.

They came back home after a tiresome journey. They told their father that the custodian of the food stores in Egypt had expressed a keen desire to see their younger brother. On hearing this the Prophet Ya'qub's face became tense and worried. He did not like the same thing happen to his other son. He hesitated to allow Yusuf's brother to accompany them. Because of his previous bitter experience he could not trust them. They in the long run convinced him after giving him a firm covenant in Allah's name that they would bring back the brother of Yusuf. When they opened the sacks of grain and were much surprised to find their money in it.

After many weeks their second caravan reached Egypt and went directly to the main store-house. The Prophet Yusuf (peace be upon him) greeted them with open arms. Every one was much pleased. There was a lot of hustle and bustle. The Prophet Yusuf (peace be upon him) took his younger brother aside and told him that he was Yusuf who was thrown into the well. His brother was much surprised and his joy knew no bounds. The Holy Qur'an says:

"And when they came into Yusuf's presence, he took his own brother aside with him saying: LO I am your brother. Therefore grieve not at what they do." (7:69)

Younger Brother is Detained:
The Prophet Yusuf (peace be upon him) had certain plans in his mind. He furnished them with their provisions and asked one of his servants to put a drinking cup in their bag. As the caravan was about to depart, some one shouted! The king's silver drinking cup is missing. Every one got puzzled. The brother of the Prophet Yusuf (peace be upon him) said: We are not thieves and we have not come here to make mischief. One of the Egyptians said: He who is found guilty, shall be detained here as penalty. All of them agreed upon the awarding of this punishment. They began to search out the sacks of the customers. They found the missing drinking cup in the sack of the younger brother of the Prophet Yusuf (peace be upon him). It followed a great deal of excitement. The brothers tried very hard to convince the Prophet Yusuf (peace be upon him) not to detain their brother but he flatly refused. He asked them not to back out of their promise. They became upset. Their eldest brother decided not to go back to the Prophet Ya'qub (peace be upon him) again and face him with heart breaking news. He stayed there and sent back his other brothers to inform the care-worn father of the whole situation. They went back and conveyed the most shocking news to their father. He displayed unshakeable patience and said:

"So patience is most fitting for me. May Allah restore them all to me. Surely, He is the Knowing, the Wise." (12: 83)

Any how he directed his sons to go and seek tidings of the Prophet Yusuf(peace be upon him) and his younger brother for whom he used to yearn day and night. They went to Egypt again after a few weeks. This time they had scanty money. They requested the Prophet Yusuf (peace be upon him) to help them in charity. They were dressed in rags. They looked pathetic due to poverty. The Holy Qur'an states:

"And when they came back into the presence of Yusuf, they said: O' chief! Misfortune has afflicted us and our family and we have brought a small amount, so give us full measure and be charitable to us; Surely Allah will requite charitable." (12: 88)

The Prophet Yusuf Helps his Brothers and Discloses his Identity:
The Prophet Yusuf (peace be upon him) was well known for his generosity. He had a tender and sympathetic heart. He took pity on them. He helped them from the core of his heart. They had also sinking feelings inside. Soon after he disclosed his identity to his brothers. The Holy Qur'an affirms:

"He (Yusuf) said: I am Yusuf and this is my brother. Allah has shown us favour. Surely who fears Allah and endures, is rewarded for surely Allah does not waste the reward of those who do good." (12:90)

Now every one wished to go immediately to their father to inform him of the happy news that the Prophet Yusuf (peace be upon him) was alive. At the time of departure the Prophet Yusuf(peace be upon him) gave them his shirt and said:

"Cast it on my father's face and he will recover his sight and come to me with all your family." (12: 93)

The brothers came home with happy spirit. They put the shirt of the Prophet Yusuf (peace be upon him) on the face of the Prophet Ya'qub (peace be upon him). He regained his eye sight in the twinkling of an eye. He took a sigh of relief when he smelt the sweet perfume of the Prophet Yusuf (peace be upon him) from his shirt. The brothers of Prophet Yusuf (peace be upon him) begged pardon of their father and he forgave them with an open heart.

The Prophet Ya'qub Meets the Prophet Yusuf:
They decided to settle in Egypt. They took their bag and baggage and set out on a long journey. They were given a warm reception when they reached Egypt. The father, Ya'qub, met his son Yusuf after a long separation. He said:

"O' my father! This is the interpretation of my old vision. My Lord has indeed made it to be true and He has shown me kindness. When He brought me forth from prison and brought you all from the desert even after Satan has sown (seeds of) dissension between me and my brothers. Surely my Lord is tender to whom He wills. Surely He is the Knowing, the Wise. O' my Lord! You have indeed given me (something) of the sovereignty and taught me of the interpretation of dreams--Creator of the heavens and the earth! You are my Protecting friend in this world and the Hereafter. Make me die submissive (unto You) and join me with the righteous". (12: 100, 101)

The Dream of Joseph (Lessons from Surrah Yousaf)

2010-10-30T08:25:00.000-07:00

A little introduction of surrah YOuSaF:
Surrah yousaf consists of twelve Rukus and one Hundred and eleven Verses,and this
Surrah is the only Surrah who has the only life of Hazrat Yousaf (A) completely .and in
this surrah Allah discuses not only his messenger but in this surrha Allah also tells us
about other lessons and beauties of his messengers life, in this chapter of Quran we can
see the discussion of beauty, Jealousy , Love between father and son, piousness
,messengers of Allah, Angels, Devils, Humanity, Literacy, illiteracy, Birds ,Animals,
Kings, Poor ,Bad woman, down falls of Life, popularity , predictions , Reality of Dreams,
Economy, ways how we can find the crime of man or woman ,Ups and downs of Life,
How to face difficulties, How to avoid evil and how to adopt Good , and a lot of Lessons
are there in this surrah to study and to help through these lessons as Allah sai in Quran in
this surrah “Ahsan-ul-Qasas” which means that beautiful story from every point of view .

Hazrat yousaf son of Hazrat Yaqoob(A) was very beautiful.hazrat yaqoob had 12 more
sons who were very jealous from the beauty of hi little brother so they try to kill their
brothr but Allah safe them and through this we can get leeson that those brother who were
jelous from hazrat yousaf they got nothing in the future but Allah awarded great place to
Hazrat Yousaf because he suffer from many difficulties of life .
Love to our brothers and other family members because this is the way which can lead us
to right path of life as Hazrat yousaf Done in his life

Face the difficulties manly because these difficulties are the ways to lead towards
Happiness and way of good and peace full life as Hazrat yousaf fase difficulties with
great courage .

We should believe in Allah in the hour of need or in the time of happiness as Hazrat
yousaf done ,this is a very golden Lesson to survive peacefully in the life of this world
and also in next world which is the real world to live .in the hour of difficulty we should
pray to Allah for help .

In this surrah we can also get the lesson of knowledge granted by Allah as hazrat yousaf
were known about telling the future through dreams and through this knowledge he came
out of the slavery and misery because it was very great knowledge who was granted to
him by Allah ,and in this we have lesson that through knowledge we have value but
without knowledge we are nothing as brothers of Hazrat yousaf were not aware of
knowledge.
We should not take revenge to any one as Hazrat yousaf did not take any action against
his brothers.so we should also follow this golden lesson of Surrah Yousaf .and Hazrat

Yousaf not only forgive his brothers but he also help them to get rid of the threat of Jail and court .if Hazrat Yousaf wanted to get revenge from his brothers then no one can stop him to do so because it was rite of Hazrat yousaf to do same as his brothers do with him. but he take to action against them and forgive them,

We sould not fell proud on our beauty as hazrat yousaf fell proud so Allah tell him that what is the the value of such beauty who feels proud so after that Allah forgive him for his proud so we sould get the lesson from this surrah that if Allah don’t like the proud of hi messenger then how could he like the proud of simple and those people who who are not pious and good.

We should think about our dreems because these dreams carries our future and these
derams can help up to predict about future or coming time, as Hazrat Yousaf had power
of telling the right and true way of dreams. As he told to the prisoners of the jail about
their dreams which come true same as what was told by Hazrat Yousaf.

We can not Change our fate after consulting our dreams this is also a lesson in surrah
Yousaf .as Hazrat Yousaf told to the prisoners about the reality of dreams but no one of
them try to quit such situation because they were not shower about the prediction ,and
Allah do what ever he want to do,and no one can change hi orders because he is one and
only owner of this Universe.

There is also a very beautiful lesson we got from the Surrah Yousaf is that if we are true clean and clear then no one can make us faulty ,there is no metter if you are rich or poor ,as the practice of Hazrat Yousaf ( A) tells us that he done nothing bad with woman. So in result after a time period Allah give the great result in the form of richness, in the form of ruler of Egypt.

Abalone

2010-10-30T08:20:00.000-07:00

To see or eat abalone in your dream, indicates a transitional period in your life. The symbol may also be a play on words to indicate feelings of "loneliness".

Muslim Dua 2 ( Prayer 2)

2010-08-05T10:55:00.000-07:00

Muslim Dua 1 ( Prayer 1)

2010-08-05T10:08:00.000-07:00

Vedic Talismans & Amulets

2010-02-06T02:12:00.000-08:00

The description below is a translation of the traditional method of Shree Yantra construction, stipulated in the ancient texts. The angles of your feet are transformed into four [angles] related to Shiv and five [angles] related to Shakti, which are distinct from those of Shiv, and thus into the nine primary forms of matter, as well as into forty-three [angles], eight-petals, sixteen-sides, three-folds and three-lines.

One should make a circle according to one's desire
[i.e. as large as one wants].
One should draw a line from east to west
and divide it into forty-eight parts.

One should make nine marks on this:
on the sixth, on the sixth and on the fifth,
on the third and again on the third,
on the fourth and then on the third,
on the sixth, and on the sixth again.
One should extend nine lines on both sides of these marks,
from south to north.

One who is skilled in this
[i.e. who knows the technical terms and drawing process]
should remove fractional parts [from these lines] in order:
on the first, second, and fourth,
then on the fifth and sixth,
and on the eighth and last
agni [three], bana [five], kala [sixteen], purana [eighteen],
sixteen, veda [four], and agni [three].

One who is learned should then join these lines in order:
the ends of Surya [Sun] in the middle of Shani [Saturn],

the ends of Chandra [Moon] in the middle of Ketu [Southern Node],

the ends of Mangal [Mars] in the middle of the circle,

the ends of Buddh [Mercury] in the middle of Rahu [Northern Node],

the ends of Brahaspathi [Jupiter] in the middle of Mangal [Mars],

the ends of Shukra [Venus] in the middle of Chandra [Moon],

the ends of Shani [Saturn] in the middle of the circle,

the ends of Rahu [Northern Node] in the middle of Surya [Sun],

the ends of Ketu [Southern Node] in the middle of Buddh [Mercury].

The best Shree Yantra is formed,
with its center having the form of trembling fire,
with eight and twelve and fourteen lights of fire.
Apart from the chakra there are 'Vasu' [eight] lotus petals and sixteen leaves;

It is adorned with a triad of circles
and has an earthly house distinguished by three lines.
The dwelling consists of a three-fold road
and is beautifully adorned with four-fold doors;
the chakra is divine, completely splendorous,
consisting of the nature of moon, sun and fire.

This dimensional variability utilized in the construction of Vedic altars is further developed in the proportional systems of yantras, the ritual diagrams of Tantric initiation and empowerment. As in the case of the tradition of Vedic altars mentioned above, there are many types of yantras. All yantras share the same basic scheme of enclosure, or "walls," although the representation within these walls varies depending upon the purpose of the yantra. In the case of the Shree Yantra, perhaps the most well known yantra, the central area is occupied by a pattern of nine interlocking triangles representing the Goddess of Wealth, Shree (Mahalakshmi).
Accurate calculation with precise lines

fig. 1: .

Three dimensional yantras

fig. 8: .

fig. 9: .

Marriage Spells 1

2010-02-06T02:06:00.000-08:00

Marriage Spells are supposed to be very strong and affective
Marriage Spells for marriage are strong marriage spells.

Marriage Spells are supposed to be very strong and affective. If you are in a relation and your lover is not committing or is taking time to decide if she or she or she wants to get married to you or not then these very strong marriage spells are used by which your love will marry you and you will be having a very strong and happy married life.

If you feel for some one and want to get married to that person, but due to some reasons you are not getting married then
Take a red rose flower on the petals of the flower you may write the name of the person you love, after you have written the name of the person, you may take the petals dip it in the rose water and throw the petals outside the house of the person you love.
This spell is very affective and has worked for many.

Another very strong marriage spell is done with the help of hair .
You may take ten strands of your hair and 25 hair strands of the person you want to get married, You may combine both the hair and chant these words
Tambur Chambur Marriage Kaban Kabiii Tumbaa
Then burn all the hair together and then very soon you will see miracles.

If you have any questions about the above written spells email me and all your queries will be answered.

Theory about the Great Pyramid and the Ark

2010-02-06T02:05:00.000-08:00

The word Ark comes from the Hebrew word 'Aron', which means a chest or box. Its dimensions are described by the bible as 2.5 cubits by 1.5 cubits by 1.5 cubits (62.5 inches by 37.5 inches by 37.5 inches). Curiously, this is the exact volume of the stone chest or porphyry coffer in the King's Chamber in the Great Pyramid in Egypt. This coffer was the only object within the King's Chamber, as the Ark was the single sacred object within the Holy of Holies, in the Temple. Also the laver, or basin, that the priests used to wash their feet had the identical cubit dimensions.
The cubit dimensions of the inner chamber of the Temple, the Holy of Holies, are precisely identical in size to the King's Chamber in the Pyramid and the same volume as the molten sea of water on the Temple Mount as prepared by King Solomon. Since the Pyramid was built and sealed long before the days of Moses, when he built the Ark and the Holy of Holies, and had remained sealed for over twenty-five centuries until the ninth century after Christ, there is no natural explanation for the phenomenon of both structures having identical volume measurements.
The pyramid itself possessed its own force centers: the heart of the King's Chamber, its most vital and sacred points, where divine energy was concentrated and especially powerful. And other chambers not yet discovered. The candidate undergoing initiation was placed in the great granite sarcophagus in the King's Chamber at the August moment of the initiation rites (Note: the purpose of Initiation is to bestow upon the disciple certain molecular changes in the body to handle higher energy) because the sarcophagus was in direct alignment with the down pouring ray of cosmic light through the Ark in the Third Eye capstone. The voltage of such a fiery light ray could only be endured by one in whom the physical, emotional and spiritual forces were completely aligned and purified.
The candidate with an unbalanced polarity ran the risk of injury to the physical organism, or even death, because of the accelerated frequencies of manna-loa pouring through the capstone.
When the massive structure was first constructed, the final portion to be levitated into place was the gleaming gold and crystal capstone containing the original Ark of the Covenant, allegedly brought from Atlantis. This Ark and capstone graced the very summit of Knut. Once this floating capstone was so placed, the Great Ones created several lesser Arks.
The voltage of a second Ark was integrated into the structure of the open granite sarcophagus in the King's Chamber. Since granite is saturated with minute crystals, it was not difficult to charge the initiatory coffer with incredible cosmic force. Hence the uninitiated unprotected sons of Earth were not permitted to touch the Ark because of its radiating voltage, placed there by generated cosmic rays. The priests who had charge of it, called the Arkites, wore protective garments. But they were themselves charged with cosmic power.
Such human Arks allegedly were somewhat immune from the rays of the crystal because each radiated frequencies harmonious with the crystal. Since the Ark radiated an energy destructive to all inharmonious with it, a gold sheath was constructed to insulate it, to partially shield the people from the powerful emanations.
To maintain its potency, each Ark had to be constantly recharged with a creative energy of tremendous voltage. The principal source of that energy was man himself, and only the highest initiates were capable of radiating the particular force required to keep the Ark active.
Much of this responsibility fell upon the high priests, the Arkites or Ptahs of the temple, who, if they so willed it, could raise the frequency of their forms to radiate so powerful a force that an initiate touching their bodies could be struck down, just as if he had touched the Ark itself. Rarely was such voltage require of them, except to recharge the Arks.
The crystals and compounds of which the Ark were allegedly constructed - the silver, brass-like substance, and pure living gold - were charged with seven octaves of energy, from the materialistic charges of electric voltage up to the highest spiritualized forces of celestial planes - pranic forces far beyond the voltage of Earth's electricity.

Pics of Talismans and Amulets

2010-02-06T02:02:00.001-08:00

The Ark of the Covenant

2010-02-06T02:02:00.000-08:00

The Ark of the Covenant

The Ark of the Covenant is described in the Bible as a sacred container, wherein rested the Tablets of stone containing the Ten Commandments as well as Aaron's rod and manna. According to the Biblical account, the Ark was built at the command of God, in accord with Moses' prophetic vision on Mount Sinai (Exodus 25:10-16). God communicated with Moses "from between the two cherubim" on the Ark's cover (Exodus 25:22). The Ark and its sanctuary were "the beauty of Israel" (Lamentations 2:1). Rashi and some Midrashim suggest that there were two arks - a temporary one made by Moses, and a later one made by Bezalel.

The Biblical account relates that during the exodus of the Israelites, the Ark was carried by the priests ~2,000 cubits (Numbers 35:5; Joshua 4:5) in advance of the people and their army or host (Num. 4:5-6; 10:33-36; Psalms 68:1; 132:8). When the Ark was borne by priests into the bed of the Jordan, the river was separated, opening a pathway for the whole of the host to pass over (Josh. 3:15-16; 4:7-18). The Ark was borne in a seven-day procession around the wall of Jericho by seven priests sounding seven trumpets of rams' horns, the city taken with a shout (Josh. 6:4-20). When carried, the Ark was always wrapped in a veil, in tachash skins (the identity of this animal is uncertain), and a blue cloth, and was carefully concealed, even from the eyes of the Levites who carried it.

Description The Ark of the Covenant may have looked similar to this chest (found in the Tomb of Tutankhamun).

The Bible describes the Ark as made of shittah-tree wood (acacia), known to the Egyptians as the Tree of Life and an important plant in traditional medicine containing in many cases psychoactive alkaloids. It was 1.5 cubits broad and high, and 2.5 cubits long, conforming to the golden ratio. The Ark was covered all over with the purest gold. Its upper surface or lid, the mercy seat, was surrounded with a rim of gold.

On each of the two long sides were two gold rings, wherein were placed two wooden poles (with a decorative sheathing of gold), to allow the Ark to be carried (Num. 7:9; 10:21; 4:5,19, 20; 1 Kings 8:3, 6). Over the Ark, at the two extremities, were two cherubim, with their faces turned toward one another (Leviticus 16:2; Num. 7:89). Their outspread wings over the top of the Ark formed the throne of God, while the Ark itself was his footstool (Ex. 25:10-22; 37:1-9). The Ark was placed in the "Holy of Holies," so that one end of the carrying poles touched the veil separating the two compartments of the tabernacle (1 Kings 8:8). The Book of Deuteronomy describes the Ark as a simple wooden container with no mention of ornaments or gold. Similarly, the Quran makes a reference to the Ark as a wooden box with holy relics inside it.

Contents

According to the Bible, the two tablets of stone constituting the "testimony" or evidence of God's covenant with the people (Deuteronomy 31:26) were kept within the Ark itself. The Tanakh states in I Kings 8:9 that there "was nothing in the ark save the two tables of stone". Some see this as contradictory with other verses, claiming the presence of the "pot of manna" (Ex. 16:34), and "Aaron's rod that budded" (Num. 17:25) before the Ark (Heb. 9:4 - in the Ark). The items were placed "before the Ark with the testimony"; the correct meaning of that phrase is open to interpretation.

Sanctity and consecration

Even Aaron, brother of Moses and the High Priest, was forbidden to enter the place of the Ark too often. He was enjoined to enter the Holy of Holies only once per year on a designated day, and to perform certain ceremonies there (Lev. 16). Moses was directed to consecrate the Ark, when completed, with the oil of holy ointment (Ex. 30:23-26); and he was also directed to have the Ark made by Bezaleel, son of Uri of the tribe of Judah, and by Aholiab, the son of Ahisamach of the tribe of Dan (Ex. 31:2-7). These instructions Moses carried out, calling upon "every wisehearted" one among the people to assist in the work (Ex. 35:10-12). Bezaleel the artist made the Ark (Ex. 37:1); and Moses approved the work, put the testimony in the Ark, and installed it.

In Deut. 10:1-5 a different account of the making of the Ark is given. Moses is made to say that he constructed the Ark before going upon Mount Sinai to receive the second set of tablets. The charge of carrying the Ark and the rest of the holy implements was given to the family of Kohath (of the tribe of Levi). They, though, were not to touch any of the holy things that were still uncovered by Aaron (Num. 4:2-15).

Prophets' Mentions

The Ark of the Covenant is mentioned by prophets in both the Bible and the Qur'an.

In the Bible

The Ark carried into the TempleThe only mention of the Ark in the books of the prophets is the reference to it by Jeremiah, who, speaking in the days of Josiah (Jer. 3:16), prophesies a time when the Ark will no longer be needed because of the righteousness of the people. In the Psalms, the Ark is twice referred to. In Ps. 78:61 its capture by the Philistines is spoken of, and the Ark is called "the strength and glory of God"; and in Ps. 132:8, it is spoken of as "the ark of the strength of the Lord."

The Ark is mentioned in one passage in the deuterocanonical 2 Maccabees 2:4-10, which contains a reference to a document saying that the prophet Jeremiah, "being warned of God," took the Ark, and the tabernacle, and the altar of incense, and buried them in a cave on Mount Nebo (Deut 34:1), informing those of his followers who wished to find the place that it should remain unknown "until the time that God should gather His people again together, and receive them unto mercy." Hebrews 9:4 states that the Ark contained "the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron's rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant." Finally, in Revelation 11:19, the Ark is described as being in heaven, just before the woman clothed with the sun appears (Book of Revelation 12).

In the Qur'an

According to some Muslim scholars, the Ark of the Covenant does not have a religious basis in Islam and Islam does not give it any special significance while others believe that it will be found by Mahdi near the end of times. These Islamic scholars believe inside there will be relics left by the people of Moses and the people of Aaron. There might be the sceptres of Moses (eg., Nehushtan), Aaron's rod, Plates of the Torah, and Aaron's turban.

History

Mobile vanguard

In the march from Sinai, and at the crossing of the Jordan, the Ark preceded the people, and was the signal for their advance (Num. 10:33; Josh. 3:3, 6). The Ark of the Covenant burned the thorns and other obstructions in the wilderness roads. According to tradition, sparks from between the two cherubim killed serpents and scorpions. (Canticles iii)

During the crossing of the Jordan, the river grew dry as soon as the feet of the priests carrying the Ark touched its waters; and remained so until the priests -- with the Ark -- left the river, after the people had passed over (Josh. 3:15-17; 4:10, 11, 18). As memorials, twelve stones were taken from the Jordan at the place where the priests had stood (Josh. 4:1-9).

The Ark was carried into battle, such as in the Midian war (Num. 31). During the ceremonies preceding the capture of Jericho, the Ark was carried round the city in the daily procession, preceded by the armed men and by seven priests bearing seven trumpets of rams' horns (Josh. 6:6-15). After the defeat at Ai, Joshua lamented before the Ark (Josh. 7:6-9). When Joshua read the Law to the people between Mount Gerizim and Mount Ebal, they stood on each side of the Ark. The Ark was again set up by Joshua at Shiloh; but when the Israelites fought against Benjamin at Gibeah, they had the Ark with them, and consulted it after their defeat.

Captured by the Philistines

The Ark is next spoken of as being in the tabernacle at Shiloh during Samuel's apprenticeship (1 Sam. 3:3). After the settlement of the Israelites in Canaan, the ark remained in the tabernacle at Gilgal for a season, then was removed to Shiloh until the time of Eli, between 300 and 400 years (Jeremiah 7:12), when it was carried into the field of battle, so as to secure, as they supposed, victory to the Hebrews; and it was taken by the Philistines (1 Sam. 4:3-11), who sent it back after retaining it seven months (1 Sam. 5:7, 8) because of the events said to have transpired. After their first defeat at Eben-ezer, the Israelites had the Ark brought from Shiloh, and welcomed its coming with great rejoicing.

In the second battle, the Israelites were again defeated, and the Philistines captured the Ark (1 Sam. 4:3-5, 10, 11). The news of its capture was at once taken to Shiloh by a messenger "with his clothes rent, and with earth upon his head." The old priest, Eli, fell dead when he heard it; and his daughter-in-law, bearing a son at the time the news of the capture of the Ark was received, named him Ichabod - explained as "Where is glory?" in reference to the loss of the Ark (1 Sam. 4:12-22).

The Philistines took the Ark to several places in their country, and at each place misfortune resulted to them (1 Sam. 5:1-6). At Ashdod it was placed in the temple of Dagon. The next morning Dagon was found prostrate, bowed down, before it; and on being restored to his place, he was on the following morning again found prostrate and broken. The people of Ashdod were smitten with boils; a plague of mice was sent over the land (1 Sam. 6:5). The affliction of boils was also visited upon the people of Gath and of Ekron, whither the Ark was successively removed (1 Sam. 5:8-12).

After the Ark had been among them seven months, the Philistines, on the advice of their diviners, returned it to the Israelites, accompanying its return with an offering consisting of golden images of the boils and mice wherewith they had been afflicted. The Ark was set in the field of Joshua the Beth-shemite, and the Beth-shemites offered sacrifices and burnt offerings (1 Sam. 6:1-15). Out of curiosity the men of Beth-shemesh gazed at the Ark; and as a punishment over fifty thousand of them were smitten by the Lord (1 Sam. 6:19). The Bethshemites sent to Kirjath-jearim, or Baal-Judah, to have the Ark removed (1 Sam. 6:21); and it was taken to the house of Abinadab, whose son Eleazar was sanctified to keep it. Kirjath-jearim was the abode of the Ark for twenty years. Under Saul, the Ark was with the army before he first met the Philistines, but the king was too impatient to consult it before engaging in battle. In 1 Chronicles 13:3 it is stated that the people were not accustomed to consult the Ark in the days of Saul.

In the Days of King David

At the very beginning of his reign, David removed the Ark from Kirjath-jearim amid great rejoicing. On the way to Zion, Uzzah, one of the drivers of the cart whereon the Ark was carried, put out his hand to steady the Ark, and was smitten by the Lord for touching it. David, in fear, carried the Ark aside into the house of Obed-edom the Gittite, instead of carrying it on to Zion, and here it stayed three months (2 Sam. 6:1-11; 1 Chron. 13:1-13).

On hearing that the Lord had blessed Obed-edom because of the presence of the Ark in his house, David had the Ark brought to Zion by the Levites, while he himself, "girded with a linen ephod," "danced before the Lord with all his might"‹a performance for which he was despised and scornfully rebuked by Saul's daughter Michal (2 Sam. 6:12-16, 20-22; 1 Chron. 15). This unjustified derision on her part resulted in the permanent loss of her fertility. In Zion, David put the Ark in the tabernacle he had prepared for it, offered sacrifices, distributed food, and blessed the people and his own household (2 Sam. 6:17-20; 1 Chron. 16:1-3; 2 Chron. 1:4).

Levites were appointed to minister before the Ark (1 Chron. 16:4). David's plan of building a temple for the Ark was stopped at the advice of God (2 Sam. 7:1-17; 1 Chron. 17:1-15; 28:2, 3). The Ark was with the army during the siege of Rabbah (2 Sam. 11:11); and when David fled from Jerusalem at the time of Absalom's conspiracy, the Ark was carried along with him until he ordered Zadok the priest to return it to Jerusalem (2 Sam. 15:24-29).

In Solomon's Temple

When Abiathar was dismissed from the priesthood by Solomon for having taken part in Adonijah's conspiracy against David, his life was spared because he had formerly borne the Ark (1 Kings 2:26). It was afterwards placed by Solomon in the temple (1 Kings 8:6-9). Solomon worshiped before the Ark after his dream in which the Lord promised him wisdom (1 Kings 3:15). In Solomon's Temple, a Holy of Holies was prepared to receive the Ark (1 Kings 6:19); and when the Temple was dedicated, the Ark -- containing nothing but the two Mosaic tables of stone -- was placed therein. When the priests emerged from the holy place after placing the Ark there, the Temple was filled with a cloud, "for the glory of the Lord had filled the house of the Lord" (1 Kings 8:10-11; 2 Chron. 5:13, 14).

When Solomon married Pharaoh's daughter, he caused her to dwell in a house outside Zion, as Zion was consecrated because of its containing the Ark (2 Chron. 8:11). King Josiah had the Ark put into the Temple (2 Chron. 35:3), whence it appears to have again been removed by one of his successors.

The Babylonians and Afterwards

When the Babylonians destroyed Jerusalem and plundered the temple, the Ark entered the domain of legend. Many historians suppose that the ark was probably taken away by Nebuchadnezzar and destroyed. The absence of the ark from the Second Temple was acknowledged.

Fate of the Ark

In contrast to the general consensus of historians (that supposes that the ark was taken away and destroyed), variant traditions about the ultimate fate of the Ark include the intentional concealing of the Ark under the Temple Mount, the removal of the Ark from Jerusalem in advance of the Babylonians (this variant usually ends up with the Ark in Ethiopia), the removal of the Ark by the Ethiopian prince Menelik I (purported son of King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba), removal by Jewish priests during the reign of Manasseh, and the miraculous removal of the Ark by divine intervention (C.f. 2 Chronicles).

Concealment

Some believe that the Ark of the Covenant and the Tabernacle of the Lord was hidden. This is referenced by four separate sources:

1. the Mishnayot of Rabbi Hertz 2. the Marble Tablets of Beirut 3. the Copper Scroll 4. the ancient Ben Ezra Synagogue sacred texts

Mishnayot

The Mishnayot introduction included ancient records that Rabbi Hertz called the "Mishnayot". Hertz used the term "Mishnayot", since the text of the Mishnayot is missing from the Mishnah (Mishna), which is the first section of the Talmud, a collection of ancient Rabbinic writings including also the Gemara, "the summary", and containing the Jewish religious law.

The "missing" Mishnaic text in the Mishnayot is called the Massakhet Keilim, written in twelve chapters. Each chapter of the Mishnayot describes vessels which were hidden under the direction of Jeremiah the Prophet by five holy men (Shimor HaLevi, Chizkiah, Tzidkiyahu, Haggai the Prophet and Zechariah the Prophet), seven years prior to the destruction of Solomon's First Temple, because the dangers of Babylonian conquest were imminent. The Mishnayot describing this hiding was then written in Babylon during the Babylonian Captivity.

The first chapter of the Mishnayot describes the vessels that were hidden - including the Ark of the Covenant and the Tabernacle of the Lord, i.e. the Mishkan, the Tablets of Moses, the altar (with cherubim) for the daily and seasonal sacrifices (the ushebtis), the Menorah (candelabra), the Qalal (copper urn) containing the Ashes of the Red Heifer (ashes from a red cow sacrificed under Moses, necessary for ritual purification of the priests), and numerous vessels of the Kohanim (priests).

The second chapter of the Mishnayot states that a list of these treasures was inscribed upon a copper tablet. This is the Copper Scroll found at Qumran.

Marble Tablets of Beirut

In 1952 two large marble tablets were found in the basement of a museum in Beirut, stating they were the words of Shimor HaLevi, the servant of HaShem, and the writing on the tablets is the entire missing text of "Massakhet Keilim" (Mishnayot) including reference to the Copper Scroll.

Copper Scroll

The first of the Dead Sea Scrolls was discovered in 1947, and the famed Copper Scroll - made of pure copper - was found at Qumran in 1952. The Copper Scroll is an inventory - written in Hebrew - of the holy treasures of Solomon's First Temple, treasures hidden before the destruction of that temple by the Babylonians and treasures which have not been seen since.

The Copper Scroll states that a silver [or alabaster?] chest, the vestments of the Cohen Gadol (Hebrew High Priest), gold and silver in great quantities, the Tabernacle of the Lord (the Mishkan) and many treasures were hidden in a desolate valley - under a hill - on its east side, forty stones deep. The Mishkan was a "portable" Temple for the Ark of the Covenant. The writings in the Copper Scroll were confirmed 40 years later in the 1990s through an ancient text found in the introduction to Emeq HaMelekh ("Valley of the King(s)") -- a book published in 1648 in Amsterdam, Holland, by Rabbi Naftali Hertz Ben Ya¹acov Elchanon (Rabbi Hertz).

Ben Ezra Synagogue Texts

Work in the 1990s showed that in 1896, almost one hundred years previous, Solomon Schechter at Cambridge University in England had acquired 100,000 pages of ancient Hebrew texts from the Genizah (repository for aged sacred Jewish texts) of the Ben Ezra Synagogue in Cairo, Egypt. A copy of the "Tosefta" (supplement to the Mishnah) was found in these texts, included among the text on Keilim (vessels). This "Tosefta" is the same text as cited by Rabbi Hertz as his source for the Mishnayot.

Where is it now?

Some have claimed to have possession or discovered the Ark.

Middle East

In 1989, Ron Wyatt claims to have broken into a chamber while digging underground beneath Mount Moriah, also known as The Temple Mount. He claimed to have seen the ark and taken photographs. All photos came out blurry (leading to skepticism of the claim). According to Wyatt the excavations were closed off (because of private property concerns) and, to the extent of knowledge, no one has seen the ark since. Ron Wyatt is widely seen in the Biblical archeology community as an attention seeker, often announcing he has found Biblically important objects with little or no hard evidence to back up his claims.

Vendyl Jones claimed to have found the entrance to the chamber in the cave of the Column - Qumran. Here, he stated, is where the Ark was hidden prior to the destruction of the First Temple. Arutz Sheva quoted Jones stating he would reveal the ark on Tisha B'Av (August 14, 2005), the anniversary of the destruction of both the First and Second Temples. However, this did not occur. On Jones' website he states that he was misquoted and actually said it would be appropriate if he discovered the ark on Tisha B'Av. Jones is waiting for funding to explore the cave.

Modern excavations near the Temple Mount in Jerusalem have found tunnels, but digging beneath the Temple Mount is somewhat restricted. One of the most important Islamic shrines, the Dome of the Rock, sits in the location where the Temple Mount in Jerusalem once stood. The late Ron Wyatt claimed he felt it unwise to fully excavate the Ark for a variety of reasons, including bloody ownership disputes and divine inspiration.

Africa

Some sources suggest that during the reign of King Manasseh (2 Chron 33) the Ark was smuggled from the temple by way of the Well of souls and taken to Egypt, eventually ending up in Ethiopia. There are some carvings on the Cathedral of Chartres that may refer to this.

Ethiopian Orthodox Church

The Ethiopian Orthodox Church in Axum, Ethiopia claims to still possess the Ark of the Covenant. Local tradition maintains that it was brought to Ethiopia by Menelik I following a visit to his father King Solomon. Although it was once paraded before the town once each year, it is now kept under constant guard in a "treasury" near the Church of Our Lady Mary of Zion, and only the head priest of the church is allowed to view it. Most Western historians are skeptical of this claim.

Valley of Kings

Andis Kaulins claims that the hiding place of the ark, said specifically by ancient sources (such as the Mishnayot), to be a desolate valley under a hill - on its east side, forty stones deep.

Today, it is believed by some that this refers to the Tomb of Tutankhamun (east side of the Valley of Kings, ca. forty stones deep). Some believe that what was found there are the described treasures, including the Mishkan and the Ark of the Covenant.

Media References

The Ark of the Covenant was the focus of the highly popular 1981 adventure film, Raiders of the Lost Ark. The plot suggests that Adolf Hitler, deeply interested in supernatural power and the occult, wants to acquire the Ark in order to rule the world. Intrepid archaeologist Indiana Jones opposes the Nazis and succeeds in keeping it from them. The Ark is shown to be extremely powerful, and dangerous to those who do not understand it. Jones wants to study the Ark, but it is last seen being boxed up and stored in a vast U.S. government warehouse - presumably never to be seen again.

A first season episode of the television series Xena: Warrior Princess uses the Ark as a plot device. In "The Royal Couple of Thieves", Xena recruits the King Of Thieves to assist her in stealing the Ark from a profiteering warlord. Xena returns it to its rightful people.

In the video game Halo 2 the "Ark" is a secondary control system for the ringworlds (the "Halos") that are capable of killing all life in the galaxy. The Ark is presumably on Earth, near the city of Mombasa. This Ark could be a reference to Noah's Ark, since activating it would destroy all life much like the Great Flood; interestingly, the purpose of the Halos is to stop the spread of a scourge that turns sentient beings into the "Flood", a horde of ravenous, zombie-like creatures.

Stone Amulets

2010-02-06T01:56:00.000-08:00

Stone Amulets

An amulet (from Latin amuletum; earliest extant use in Natural History [Pliny], meaning "an object that protects a person from trouble") or a talisman (from Arabic tilasm, ultimately from Greek telesma or from the Greek word "talein" which means "to initiate into the mysteries.") consists of any object intended to bring good luck and/or protection to its owner. Potential amulets include: gems or simple stones, statues, coins, drawings, pendants, rings, plants, animals, etc.; even words said in certain occasion.
Amulets and talismans in folklore
Amulets vary considerably according to their time and place of origin. Nevertheless, religious objects commonly serve as amulets in different societies, be these the figure of a god or simply some symbol representing the deity (such as the cross for Christians or the "eye of Horus" for the ancient Egyptians). In Thailand one can commonly see people with more than one Buddha hanging from their necks; in Bolivia and some places in Argentina the god Ekeko furnishes a standard amulet, to whom one should offer at least one banknote to obtain fortune and welfare.
Every zodiacal sign has its corresponding gem that acts as an amulet, but these stones vary according to different traditions.
An ancient tradition in China involves capturing a cricket alive and keeping it in an osier box to attract good luck (this tradition extended to the Philippines). Chinese may also spread coins on the floor to attract money; rice also has a reputation as a carrier of good fortune.
Turtles and cactus can cause controversy, for while some people consider them beneficial, others think they delay everything in the house.
Since the Middle Ages in Western culture pentagrams have had a reputation as amulets to attract money, love, etc; and to protect against envy, misfortune, and other disgraces. Other symbols, such as magic squares, angelic signatures and qabalistic signs have been employed to a variety of ends, both benign and malicious.
In Afro-Caribbean syncretic religions like Voodoo, Umbanda, Quimbanda and Santería, drawings are also used as amulets, such as with the veves of Voodoo; these religions also take into account the colour of the candles they light, because each colour features a different effect of attraction or repulsion.
Perfumes and essences (like incense, myrrh, etc.) also serve the purposes of attraction or repulsion. Popular legends often attributed magical powers to certain unusual objects, such as a baby's caul or a rabbit's foot; possession of these items allegedly endowed their magical abilities upon their owners.
In Central Europe, people believed garlic kept vampires away, and so did a crucifix.
The ancient Egyptians had many amulets for different occasions and needs, often with the figure of a god or the "ankh" (the key of eternal life); the figure of the scarab god Khepri became a common amulet too and has now gained renewed fame around the Western world.
For the ancient Scandinavians, Anglo-Saxons and Germans and currently for some Neopagan believers the rune Eoh (yew) protects against evil and witchcraft; a non-alphabetical rune representing Thor's hammer still offers protection against thieves in some places.
Deriving from the ancient Celts, the clover, if it has four leaves, symbolises good luck (not the Irish shamrock, which symbolises the Christian Trinity).
Corals, horseshoes and lucky bamboo also allegedly make good amulets.
Figures of elephants allegedly attract good luck and money if one offers banknotes to them. In Arab countries a hand with an eye amid the palm and two thumbs serves as protection against evil. Compare hand of Fatima.Small bells in India and Tyrol make demons escape when they sound in the wind or when a door or window opens.
Another aspect of amulets connects with demonology and demonolatry; these systems consider an inverted cross (not an upward cross, which drives demons away) or pentagram in downward position as favourable to communicate with demons and to show friendship towards them.
The Christian Copts used tattoos as protective amulets, and the Tuareg still use them, as do the Haida Canadian aborigines, who wear the totem of their clan tattooed.
Museums display many curious amulets, but one need not go far to see one, because they have never lost their influence on people of every nation and social status. We can see amulets in jewellery, fairs of artisans, shops, and, if we look carefully, even in our own homes, maybe on ourselves.
The need for amulets arose with the human race and the need of people for help and protection not only against supernatural/preternatural powers but also against other persons.
War and other dangerous activities make the participants try to get the most luck they can. Carlist soldiers wore a medal of the Sacred Heart of Jesus with the inscription 'Detente bala!' ("Stop, bullet!").
Followers of the Native American cult of the dance of the spirits believed that blessed shirts would protect them from enemy bullets as well. Unfortunately, this belief regarding the blessed shirts was shown to be disastrously incorrect when the group was massacred by the U.S. Army at Wounded Knee, South Dakota. History has shown several times that amulets which are meant to protect against bullets should be regarded with a healthy dose of skepticism.
Hermetic Talismans
The word talisman also describes a number of consecrated magical objects used in Hermeticism.Instuctions for how to create a talisman can be commonly found in Grimoires. These talismans, sometimes called pentacles, were usually either made to protect the wearer from various influences of disease and other forms of danger or to protect the wearer from demons and to seal a certain demon under the users control.
A common version of the later talisman is known as the Seal of Solomon. This became an extremely important talisman due to the legend that Solomon used demons to create Solomon's temple and was protected by a seal sent by God (although the earliest accounts describe this seal as a ring (see Testament of Solomon, later innovations were made by various ceremonial magicians and authors of other grimiores where they have described the seal as a ring or a talisman or both. Although usually with the ring providing general protection from spirits and the ability to command them while various talismans will be used to bind a particular sommoned demon, angel or spirit.)
These Talismans usually require very complex operations involving a noble metal, on which is engraved various seals, words, and/or graphs which have to be engraved during a certain day, hour, and astrological occurrence. For example, on one side of a talisman may appear a Magic Square while the other side has a symbol of astrological Sigil and the name of an angel or phrase in Latin, Greek, Hebrew or invented scripts such as Malachim, Theban, or Alphabet of the Magi. After the operation has been fulfilled, it is said to be blessed appropiately to protect to wearer appropiately.A jinx forms the opposite of an amulet.

The male bird headed being looks much like the Egyptian God Horus - resurrection and rebirth. The female with wings speaks the alchemy of consciousness. The amulets above were found in an ancient burial tomb in close proximity to an ancient pyramid located in the Mississippi River Valley. According to legend, this was the burial tomb of a High Priest and Priestess who inhabited that ancient city well over 30,000 years ago. They were laid to rest together so they might share the same union in the after world that they shared on the Earth plane. The strength of their union and concurrent time of death was indicated by the symbolic placement of their hands, one holding the other's.

JOB SPELLS

2010-02-06T01:47:00.001-08:00

JOB SPELLS is very important for every one and many are struggling for a better job, you must have tried so many times and when ever you may think you will get good job others succeed again your are lost You may also feel that why you are only suffering, some times it is possible that we accept negative energies from others and that's why others succeed and your turn to get a good job never come But there is nothing to be worried once your stars are strong and by performing proper job spells this problem can be solved very easily Every day you will pray
YAA HAIYOO YAA KAIYOOM
as much as you can whenever you are free and have time And when you are called for an interview while traveling also you may read these prayers by the grace of god you will achieve your goals

What is Talisman?

2010-02-06T01:46:00.000-08:00

Talismans

An amulet (from Latin amuletum; earliest extant use in Natural History [Pliny], meaning "an object that protects a person from trouble"), a close cousin of the talisman consists of any object intended to bring good luck and/or protection to its owner. Potential amulets include: gems or simple stones, statues, coins, drawings, pendants, rings, plants, animals, etc.; even words said in certain occasions - for example: vade retro satana - (Latin, "go back, Satan"), to repel evil or bad luck.

Amulets and Talismans in Folklore Amulets and talismans vary considerably according to their time and place of origin. In many societies, religious objects serve as amulets. A religious amulet might be the figure of a certain god or simply some symbol representing the deity (such as the cross for Christians or the "eye of Horus" for the ancient Egyptians). In Thailand one can commonly see people with more than one Buddha hanging from their necks; in Bolivia and some places in Argentina the god Ekeko furnishes a standard amulet, to whom one should offer at least one banknote to obtain fortune and welfare.
Every zodiacal sign corresponds to a gem that acts as an amulet, but these stones vary according to different traditions.
An ancient tradition in China involves capturing a cricket alive and keeping it in an osier box to attract good luck (this tradition extended to the Philippines). Chinese may also spread coins on the floor to attract money; rice also has a reputation as a carrier of good fortune.
Turtles and cactus can cause controversy, for while some people consider them beneficial, others think they delay everything in the house.
In Afro-Caribbean syncretic religions like Voodoo, Umbanda, Quimbanda and Santeria, drawings are also used as amulets, such as with the veves of Voodoo; these religions also take into account the colour of the candles they light, because each colour features a different effect of attraction or repulsion.
Perfumes and essences (like incense, myrrh, etc.) also serve the purposes of attraction or repulsion. Popular legends often attributed magical powers to certain unusual objects, such as a baby's caul or a rabbit's foot; possession of these items allegedly endowed their magical abilities upon their owners.
In Central Europe, people believed garlic kept vampires away, and so did a crucifix. The ancient Egyptians had many amulets for different occasions and needs, often with the figure of a god or the "ankh" (the key of eternal life); the figure of the scarab god Khepri became a common amulet too and has now gained renewed fame around the Western world.
For the ancient Scandinavians, Anglo-Saxons and Germans and currently for some Neopagan believers the rune Eoh (yew) protects against evil and witchcraft; a non-alphabetical rune representing Thor's hammer still offers protection against thieves in some places.
Deriving from the ancient Celts, the clover, if it has four leaves, symbolises good luck (not the Irish shamrock, which symbolises the Christian Trinity). In the celtic tradition a bag made from a crane skin (called a crane bag) symbolised treasure, a wheel symboled the sun, a boat also was a sun symbol, but also a death symbol (to the land of the dead), the raven was a symbol of death, the head was a symbol of wisdom as was the acorn and a well.
Corals, horseshoes and lucky bamboo also allegedly make good amulets.
Figures of elephants are said to attract good luck and money if one offers bank notes to them. In Arab countries a hand with an eye amid the palm and two thumbs (similar to a Hand of Fatima) serves as protection against evil.
In Tyrol, it is believed that small bells make demons escape when they sound in the wind or when a door or window opens. Amulets are also worn on the upper right arm to protect the person wearing it.
Some forms of Buddhism have a deep and ancient talismanic tradition. In the earliest days of Buddhism, just after the Buddha's death circa 485 B.C., amulets bearing the symbols of Buddhism were common. Symbols such as conch shells, the footprints of the Buddha, and others were commonly worn. After about the 2nd century B.C., Greeks began carving actual images of the Buddha. These were hungrily acquired by native Buddhists in India, and the tradition spread.
Another aspect of amulets connects with demonology and demonolatry; these systems consider an inverted cross (not an upward cross, which drives demons away) or pentagram in downward position as favourable to communicate with demons and to show friendship towards them.
During the tumultuous Plains Indians troubles in mid-19th century America, the Lakota Tribe adopted the Ghost Dance ritual, created by a Paiute Indian living in northwestern Oregon. Black Elk, the great Lakota Holy Man, received instructions on how to create a talismanic shirt that would protect the Lakota from the Greedy White Man's bullets. Tragically, the shirts failed to offer the Lakota any protection.
In addition to protection against supernatural powers, amulets are also used for protection against other people. For example, soldiers and those involved in other dangerous activities may use talismans to increase their luck. Carlist soldiers wore a medal of the Sacred Heart of Jesus with the inscription "Detente bala" ("Stop, bullet!"). Amulets can be found among people of every nation and social status. They can be seen in jewellery, artisan fairs, museums, shops, and homes.

Talismans in the Abrahamic Religions Since the Middle Ages in Western culture pentagrams have had a reputation as amulets to attract money, love, etc; and to protect against envy, misfortune, and other disgraces. Other symbols, such as magic squares, angelic signatures and qabalistic signs have been employed to a variety of ends, both benign and malicious.
Amulets are plentiful in the Jewish tradition, with examples of Solomon era amulets existing in many museums. Due to proscription of idols, Jewish amulets emphasize text and names - the shape, material or color of an amulet makes no difference.
The Jewish tallis (Yiddish-Hebrew form; plural is talleisim), the prayer shawl with fringed corners and knotted tassels at each corner, is perhaps one of the world's oldest and most used talismanic objects. Originally intended to distinguish the Jews from pagans, as well as to remind them of God and Heaven, the prayer shawl is notable for its name, which is very close to the term "talisman."
In antiquity and the Middle Ages, most Jews, Christians and Muslims in the Orient believed in the protective and healing power of amulets and talismans. Talismans used by these peoples can be broken down into three main categories. The first are the types carried or worn on the body.
The second version of a talisman is one which is hung upon or above the bed of an infirm person. The last classification of talisman is one with medicinal qualities. This latter category of magical item can be further divided into external and internal. In the former, one could, for example, place a magical amulet in a bath. The power of the amulet would be understood to be transmitted to the water, and thus to the bather. In the latter, magical inscriptions would be written or inscribed onto food, which was then boiled. The resulting broth, when consumed, would transfer the healing and magical qualities engraved on the food into the consumer.
There is also evidence that Jews, Christians, and Muslims used their holy books in a talisman-like manner in grave situations. For example, a bed-ridden and seriously ill person would have a holy book placed under part of the bed or cushion.
Christian authorities have always been wary of amulets and other talismans. However, the legitimate use of sacramentals, as long as one has the proper disposition, is practically encouraged in traditional Christianity. For example, the crucifix is considered a powerful apotropiac against demons and fallen spirits, and rosaries or St. Christopher medals are frequently hung on rear-view mirrors of vehicles in Christian cultures as a way of invoking God's protection during travel.
A little-known but well-worn amulet in the Jewish tradition is the kimiyah or "angel text". This consists of names of angels or Torah passages written on parchment squares by rabbinical scribes. The parchment is then placed in an ornate silver case and worn someplace on the body.
Muslims also wear such amulets, called Ta'wiz, with chosen text from Quran. The text is generally chosen depending on the situation for which the amulet is intended. Generally however, usage of amulets and other talismans is considered superstitious among more radical Muslims.
The Christian Copts sometimes use tattoos as protective amulets, and the Tuareg still use them, as do the Haida Canadian aborigines, who wear the totem of their clan tattooed. Many Thai Buddhist laypeople are tattoed with sacred Buddhist images, called 'sak yant' and even monks are known to practice this form of spiritual protection. The only rule, as with Jewish talismans and amulets, is that such symbols may only be applied to the upper part of the body, between the bottom of the neck and the waistline.

Hermetic Talismans The word talisman also describes a number of consecrated magical objects used in Hermeticism.
Instructions for how to create a talisman can be commonly found in Grimoires. These talismans, sometimes called pentacles, were usually either made to protect the wearer from various influences of disease and other forms of danger or to protect the wearer from demons and to seal a certain demon under the users control.
A common version of the later talisman is known as the Seal of Solomon. This became an extremely important talisman due to the legend that Solomon used demons to create Solomon's temple and was protected by a seal sent by God (although the earliest accounts describe this seal as a ring: see Testament of Solomon; later innovations were made by various ceremonial magicians and authors of other grimoires where they have described the seal as a ring.)

Magical Talismans

2010-02-06T01:44:00.001-08:00

Magical Talismans, Mystic Talismans, Mystical Talismans, Magic Talismans, magical talismans and mystic talismans and mystical talismans for love, money and success available. Talismans for love, Talismans for Money, Magic Talismans for success, power and all purpose available.

Talisman for Love

2010-02-06T01:42:00.000-08:00

Talisman for Love, Talisman for attraction, Talisman to reunite your love.
Magic Talismans for Love and talismans for money available, magic talismans and magic charms are also used for different types of magic spells.
This is a very strong and powerful talisman, you may draw it and close it in a paper, and then apply tape etc so that the talisman will be strong and wear it around your neck
This talisman will bring your love back to you and will make you successful in your love relation.

Talisman For Success

2010-02-06T01:39:00.000-08:00

Talisman for Success, Talisman for Money, Talisman for Protection. Talismans or magic talismans for love, talismans for money, talismans and spells for success and magic talismans or charms are always in demand.

This is a very strong and powerful talisman, you may draw it and close it in a paper, and then apply tape etc so that the talisman will be strong and wear it around your neck
This talisman will bring you money success and happiness.

Pictures India sadhu Hinduism MACSURAK

2010-02-04T00:02:00.000-08:00

The Holy Flag of Saudi Arabia

2010-01-25T14:22:00.000-08:00

Ekta Mandir, Irving, Texas, US

2010-01-25T14:18:00.000-08:00

BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, London

2010-01-25T14:14:00.000-08:00

BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir Toronto, Canada

2010-01-25T14:11:00.000-08:00

Sri Murugan Temple in Malaysia

2010-01-25T14:08:00.000-08:00

Arulmigu Sri Raja Kaliamman Temple, Johor Baru, Malaysia

2010-01-25T14:04:00.000-08:00

Conquering Life: An essay on Karma

2010-01-22T21:42:00.001-08:00

by Ch'onsa Kim
It is often difficult for us to feel in control of our lives. Unable to change the past, or control the events around us, it is easy to feel like a paper sailboat being tossed about on a stormy sea. The Dharma, however, offers us a different view. Within the Dharma we discover that we can control the nature of our lives, and that we can find an island of peace amidst this ocean of chaos we call life. Through understanding, we are able to conquer our lives.

The five things that are welcome in this world, but are difficult to attain, are long life, beauty, happiness, honor and heaven. These five auspicious and often sought after pleasures are not found easily. They do not come to us without effort. They do not come to us by way of day dreams or wishful thinking. If we wish to attain these, we must strive for them of our own merit. What is given to us can be easily taken away. Therefore, it is up to us to follow a path that leads us to the pleasures we seek. Those who prudently follow a wise path that leads to the attainment of these five pleasures, is said to attain these things - in both their human and divine existence.

The five things that we can not escape from in this world are age, sickness, change, death and karma. These five things are the nature of Samsara (the cycle of suffering, birth and death). Realizing this, can help improve the nature of our lives. Without clinging to our youth we allow ourselves to grow and mature. Realizing how fragile the nature of our existence is, we nurture ourselves and others. Realizing the impermanence of our lives, we find an appreciation of what is before us in the moment. Realizing death, life has value to us. Realizing we can not escape our karma, we begin to develop and cultivate a path that releases us from our self afflictions.

The life we live, is the result of how we have lived. A life lived with pain and anguish (in dark karma) is a result of having lived controlled by our desire nature. A life lived with merit (in light karma) is a result of having lived in control of our desire nature. A life lived with both pain and joy (in dark and light karma) is a result of having lived both controlled by and in control of our desire nature. A life lived with equanimity and peacefulness (in neither light nor dark karma) is the result of having lived free from our desire nature, and without taking delight in the benefit of our merits.

Karma is the chain that binds us to Samsara. The debts of our dark karma bind us to the wheel of Samsara. Even living in light karma binds us to Samsara, for we are drawn to the delight of our merits. The merits of heaven shall also be spent and bring us rebirth in the lower worlds. Only when we live for the benefit of all living beings, without any intentions of self, can we break the chain of karma and find liberation.

We are the owners of our karma. Karma, the fruit of our intentions, shape our lives. The intentions that create our karma are born of our own desire nature. Our karma manifests in the present, in the future, and even follows us in our future existences. What we run from, we shall run into. All that we reap, we must sow. Even if we allow others to carry our burden, they can not purify our karma for us, and we shall not share in the merit of their virtues.

We can control the nature of our lives. Within this moment, the only moment that exists, the past, present and future are contained. We may not be able to change our past actions or the actions of others, or prevent its results, but we are in control of how we re-act upon them. The Buddha tells us that studying the nature of our actions (before, during and after we act) can help us discern what is helpful and what is a hindrance upon our path. He has given us the Noble Eightfold Path, and adapting this path to our way of life can help us overcome our desire nature, change the light of our karma, and conquer our lives.

May your karma be full of Dharma.

Namaste'

References:
The Upajjhatthana, Nibbedhika and the Ittha Suttas of the Anguttara Nikaya (the Further Factored Discourses of the Buddha); The Saleyyaka, Kukkaravatika and Ambalatthikarahulovada Suttas of the Majjhima Nika (the Middle Length Discourses of the Buddha)

Buddhism

2010-01-22T21:28:00.001-08:00

In the sixth century before the Christian era, religion was forgotten in India. The lofty teachings of the Vedas were thrown into the background. There was much priest craft everywhere. The insincere priests traded on religion. They duped the people in a variety of ways and amassed wealth for themselves. At such a critical period, when there were cruelty, degeneration and unrighteousness everywhere, reformer Buddha was born to save the people and disseminate the message of equality, unity and cosmic love everywhere.

Hinduism: A Holy Water Religion

2010-01-22T21:21:00.001-08:00

by Dr. V. Sankaran Nair

The five elements of nature (panchamahabhuta) include earth, water, fire, air and ether (sky). In the graphical depiction of panchamahabhuta, water represented by a circle, symbolises fullness. Primarily water is the building block of life and all the living beings are at the mercy of God, for the water.

In India, water has been an object of worship from time immemorial. Prim(a)eval, primordial –water is aadi jalam, kaarana jalam, karana vaari. The sea of primeval water is kaaranavaaridhi. Water represents the non-manifested substratum from which all manifestations arise.

Images of Ganga on a crocodile and Yamuna on a tortoise flanked the doorways of early temples. In the Varaha cave at Udayagiri, of the 4th century A.D., the two goddesses meet in a wall of water, recreating Prayaga. The Pallavas at Mamallapuram, carved the story of the descent of the Ganga on an enormous rock. Later, Adi Shesha, the divine snake who forms the couch of Narayana, represented water. Indian art sanctified water as a giver of life.[1]

Akshitha is imperishable. Water is Akshitham. In the matter of purity it is like eyes. Hence it is also known as Akshitharam. Water is a purifier, life-giver and destroyer of evil. It is life- preserving power par excellence.

Although Hinduism encompasses so many different beliefs, most Hindus do share the importance of striving to attain purity and avoiding pollution. This relates to both physical cleanliness and spiritual well being. Water cleanses, washes away impurities and pollutants, and enables an object look fresh. The belief that water have spiritually cleansing powers has given it a central place in the practices and beliefs of many a religious ritual. Physically and mentally clean person is enabled to focus on worship.

Continuity of water as an element of belief system and culture makes Hinduism as a religion of holy water. The story of water can be narrated by examining the rituals in daily life in the past as well as in the present. We shall begin with water containers.

Earthenware

Earthenware is an excellent material for storing water. Its slight porosity allows a slight evaporation, thereby enabling water to remain cool. In Asian countries, a variety of earthenware containers to store water were in use from time immemorial. Their size varied from large ones, ten feet tall and as many feet in diameter to small sized.

Pathily is earthen pot. An earthen pot or plate is kaaruvacchatti. Karachhatti is an earthen pan. A receptacle for water (a pot, jug) is kutam. Kalam means earthen pot. This word also means boat and ship. A bronze vessel with a wide mouth is kalauruli. Karol means an earthen pot, a pitcher. An earthen pot with a spout is Kalasakkindi (Mankindi) in which holy water is collected. Karo(l)kkindi is an earthen jug with a spout. Dhaara is flow of water. Dhaarakam is a water pot. In fact, the words Kudam, kamandalu, kindi and kundi(ka) are the Indian water vessels.

Kindi

Most of the drinking-water vessels of all shapes and kinds found in Asia are commonly called kindi and its long history begins from ancient India. The earliest kindi found in India dates back to the second millenium B.C. In the hot climate, kindi served as a kind of travelling water jug, a container of drinking water and is called vellakkindi. In tropical countries, the earthenware kindi is mainly used as a drinking vessel and for hand- washing in domestic circles. It is kept at the main entrance of the traditional houses. Visitors and inmates enter the house after washing their feet and face as well as quenching their thirst using the water from the kindi. Water can be poured directly into the mouth from the kindi. Many persons can drink water from a single kindi directly from the stream coming from its spout after tilting. It is believed that the tube of the vessel should not be kept southwards, because it will invite death to some one dear.

This particular class of vessel, a more or less rounded body with a straight neck, mouth, a spout set at an angle on the belly, is conspicuous by the absence of a handle. The covered spout is for filling the vessel and the long erect spout attached to the vessel's flaring lip is for pouring and sprinkling.

It has a mouth for filling; a spout for pouring and the neck serves the role of a handle, for holding on. Some kindi have long necks and others have short and stout ones. All have an opening at the top for pouring water in and a spout on the side for drinking. Apart from the form of kindi with the single neck, there are also many excellent multi- necked and spouted kindi vessels. Provision of a handle makes it a ewer, bottle, tea pot or some other form. (Persian) Ewer is a water carrier.

In yoga, it is used to pour water through the nose to cure headaches and to cleanse the nose. Later on, it began to be used for medication, sacrificial blessing and remained as a symbol of purification and dispenser of compassion. There are dwarfing, at times even palm- sized, water vessels for purposes of religious ceremonies. In the puja rooms of all Hindu houses water-filled kindi is kept clean with a few tulasi leaves to please Lord Krishna. In sum, one can hardly find a Hindu house in Kerala without a kindi. In temples all over the world we see kindi in profuse use. The priest holds a kindi with milk or pure water with tulasi leaves, utters mantra and the sanctified water is then sprinkled on the heads of the devotees who drink some and pour the remaining onto the head.

Kindis was made out of clay initially in the primitive times. But with the advent of metal, earthenware relegated to the background. Various names for gold vessel or goblet, such as ponkinnam, pon kudam, ponkindi, bhringarakam, bhringam show the importance that the kindi achived with the march of time.

A lota is a water pot, used in Hindu puja or ceremony in Kerala, where a separate tradition of spare, utilitarian elegance flourished. Zebrowski refers to spouted lota of bell metal make, a bell metal kindi, vases and superbly refined oil lamps found in religious ceremonies in temples dedicated to Siva. Vellodu kindi is a remedy for the influence of evil eyes says Gunapatam.[2]

A water jar with small holes at the bottom as in sieve is muralulla kindi. Mural is Jaladwara, a sluice a spout.[3] It is an outlet also, a shutter to stop the flow of the water.

Kundika

A pit, a pool or a pond is kunti. This word includes a vessel with a spout, water pot of mendicants, as well as a bowl. The Dravidian word kindi / kinnam (Mal.), gindi (Tel), kinni (Tamil from v. kinu, ‘to be hollow’) refers to a pot/ vase usually of bell metal, curved outwards at the rim, with a flat circular bottom.

A bowl-shaped, round vessel with a wide mouth is kunta, a receptacle used for ghee, oil or fire during worship. A round hole in the ground for receiving and preserving water or sacred fire, a cavity or an altar, a pitcher, pot, a round basin is a kuntam. It is an emblem of Aghoramurti and Bhairava. The word also includes the bowl of a mendicant kunti. This word brings in its fold well, spring, holy bathing place, a pond, a pool etc. and is said to be a loan word from Dravidian language.[4] A kind of small pot is kunti. The generative organ of the female as well as penis is known as kunti. Kuntika is a basin, kindi. It is also known as kutam.

Similar to Kamandalu, Kundika is to collect pure water. It is a water pot, pitcher[5], a pouring vessel with a spout on the side but without a handle.

It has a long neck, above which rises a slender tube-like mouth that functions as the spout. Another spout is attached to the shoulder, with a small removable lid. Water filled through the covered spout on the shoulder can be poured out through the tubular finial. Kundikas, made of bronze, celadon and unglazed stoneware are held around its neck while pouring. Unlike the kindi, it is filled through the wide spout at the side while the pouring is done through the neck.

In Hindu iconography, the kundika appears as a godly attribute of Brahma and Siva. Lord Siva is Kamantaludharan. In Buddhism, kundika is one of the eighteen holy vessels held by a Buddhist monk. It is the attribute of Avalokiteswara.

Kalasam

A pitcher, jar or a water pot, also the churning pot is kalasam. Also known as kalayappana, kalasappaatram, kalasakkutam, they are large water jugs with spout, usually of earthenware. Holy water is collected in kalasam, for use in temples. In ancient India, the kalasam symbolized the universe and became an integral part of the mandalic liturgy, in the same way as it still forms a dispensable element of certain puja of Hinduism. “The vase is the first mandala into which the deities descend and arrange themselves.”[6] Meaning of mandala develops from the center to the periphery, and hence ‘the wider circles of its application grow, the more divergent become its defined meanings’.[7]

The Navarathri golu, set up with an odd number of steps for the placement of different idols of Gods, commences with the keeping of a kalasam on the first step. A brass or silver pot filled with water, this kalasam is adorned with either a coconut or a pomegranate amidst mango leaves.

The sanctifying rite performed on the water-filled pots intended for consecrating the idol is kalasa puja. A purificatory ceremony of idols in temples is kalasasm. A pot filled with consecrated water intended for pouring over the idols is kalasam. The ceremony for the purification of an idol in Hindu temples is kalasam kazhippikkuka. Punyakalasam, suddhikalasam are purification by pouring water. Purificatory ceremonies differ with the difference in the volume of kalasam. Astrakalasam, tatvakalasam, vastukalasam, ashtabandhakalasam, anunjnanakalasam, dravyakalasam, kumbhakalasam, jeevakalasam, nidrakalasam, brahmakalasam, naveekaranakalasam, kumbhera kalasam are the other important purificatory ceremonies based on kalasam. Of these, kumbhera kalasam is an important one.

A rounded pinnacle on the top of a temple, a dome, is kalasam. Kalasamuni, kalasa sambhavan, kalasajan are epithets of Agastya whose emblem is Hukka, a water pipe.

A particular propitiatory rite in performing teyyam is known as kalasam. Kalasamaatuka is the ablution of sanctified water in a kalasam on auspicious occasions. Kalasam vaippu is a ritual of the relatives to their mane on an auspicious day. Chaamuntikku kalasam vaykkuka is to sacrifice for injuring enemies.

Kamandalu

Kamandalu is a small water pot of various shapes. It may be an earthen or wooden pot. The wooden pot is made out of kamandalu(taru) (Ficus venosa). Karakam indicates kindi, kamandalu as well as water jar. Karakakkindi (karakam + kindi), is an earthen kindi/ goblet, galanthi. Karakajam is water. Karakapatrika is kamandalu. In Tamil muruda is kamandalu.

A cup or vessel called karankam (Karankam cha Kamandalau), also means Kamandalu. Since Kara(n)kam refers to coconut shell, karakam also means a pot made out of coconut shell. Till half a century ago, it was a common sight to see sanyasins with such kamandalu made out of coconut shell. Kamandalam is a water pot.

Gourd is a fleshy, three-celled, many-seeded fruit, as the melon, pumpkin, cucumber, etc., especially the bottle gourd (Lagenaria vulgaris) and occurs in a great variety of forms. When the interior part of the fruit of a ripe pumpkin is removed, it serves for bottles, dippers, cups, a drinking vessel, and other dishes. Its shell is cleaned for storing nectar. Gourd shell, used as a vessel is a churakudukka/ chorakudukka/ chora(nga)thondu. In olden days this vessel was used to preserve sacred ash. Toddy tapper’s vessel of gourd shell, used for collecting toddy is onda, konda. It is also known as chirappakkutty.

It is also used as a makati, a musical pipe used by snake charmers and jugglers. The resonant chamber (kutam) of stringed musical instruments like vina (Indian flute), tamburu etc., are made out of this vessel.[8] At the very bottom of vina is the kutam. It can be made out of the wood and covered with leather. The kutam is attached to get resonant sound. Kutam of the vina is Brahma, dandu is Siva says Attur Krishna Pisharoti.[9] Stringed instrument of the group including harps, lutes, lyres, and zithers is chordophone. The gourd functions to amplify the sound of the plucked string in the Indian vina.

It is also known as marayodu, kamandalu. Carried by the ascetics they symbolize the ascetic’s simple, self-contained life.

Holy water

Water is one of the ashtabhogam. The ten kinds of dhenudanam in which nine articles and a dhenu (cow) are given away as gifts in lieu of ten cows[10] is known as dasadhenu danam. Jaladhenu is one among these articles. Offerings made to the deceased soul for ten days known as dasadahanam includes udakadanam. Annam (rice), vastram (cloth), jalam (water), kamyam (desirable) are known as daanachatushtayam. They are nityam, naimithikam, kamyam, vimalam, says Padmapuranam.[11]

The ceremony performed in the worship of an idol by moving a lighted lamp or camphor circularly round the idol is aarathi/ aaraatrikam.[12] In Hindu temples, priests perform aarathi daily, in the morning, later in the morning, at lunchtime, in the evening and finally at sundown. On these occasions, the assembled devotees in the temple sing various types of prayers. Before performing aarati, the pujari purifies his hands with sacred water from the aachamanakam. Its shape is a conventional representation of the womb and is associated with fertility. Its large size suggests that its use is restricted to a temple. Milk and water are symbols of fertility, absence of which can cause barrenness, sterility leading to death. “Water also represents the non-manifested substratum from which all manifestations arise.”

Cavity formed by hollowing the joined palms is kutanna. Water taken in this formation is offered to the god during twilights. Sandhyopasana is a prayer and worship offered to the Lord at the junction (Sandhi). There is three such sandhi. They are one between night and morning, forenoon and afternoon and at the junction of evening and night. The Arghyapradana to the sun and the meditation on and recitation of Gayatri, form the heart of the worship. On these occasions the Lord was earnestly prayed to forgive all sins committed, unknowingly and to bestow are repeated, touching the various parts of the body, viz., the eyes, the ears, the face, the navel, the head, etc. Achamana is sipping water three times, repeating the names of the Lord. One becomes pure by doing Achamana after he answers calls of nature, after walking in the streets, just before taking food and after food, and after a bath. This reminds the practitioner of the Lord now and then. Every act, every ritual, every symbol has a deep philosophical importance, helping one in changing the mental substance from Rajas and Tamas to Sattva, thus offering an opportunity to think of God frequently.

This sinuous vessel, known as aachamana(ka)m, is used exclusively to hold holy water during worship. The priest dips in this water flowers and leaves to purify them before offering to the gods. A small copper ladle of the same is used to pour water on the images when bathing the gods. Then, the priest sprinkles three spoonfuls of water over a conch, and blows it thrice. Then he lights an odd number of incense sticks from a ghee lamp, standing beside the altar, and waves around the deities seven times, and extends the same to the assembled devotees, while ringing a small bell. After sipping water thrice, chanting mantras, the pujari cleanses his face twice, and eyes, ears, nose, shoulder, chest and forehead once, with this holy water.

Water, flowers, rice, etc., are offered to the Lord in worship. This denotes that the Lord is pleased with even the smallest offering. What is wanted is the heart of the devotee. The Lord says in the Gita: - Patram Pushpam Phalam Toyam Yo Me Bhaktya Prayacchati; Tadaham Bhaktyupahritamasnami Prayatatmanah - Whoever offers a leaf, a flower, a fruit or even water, with devotion, I accept that, as it is offered with a loving heart.

In the temple, the pujari lights a five-wick ghee lamp from the large lamp and offers it in several circles to the deity’s feet, navel, face, and then around the deity’s whole body. This enables the devotee looking at the idol with folded hands, to focus on all parts of the deity. One of the devotees takes the lamp from the priest to offer the same to the devotees present, who touch the flame with their hands, and apply the hands to their foreheads.

The pujari then fills a smaller conch with water and offers by waving it three times around the deity’s head and seven times around its body. Taking it out, a devotee shaking it, ensures everyone present there to receive a sprinkling of the sacred water. Sprinkling of water is jalasekam. Purification with water is jalasparsam.

A conch is jaladharam. Continuous pouring of water on Sivalinga, chanting mantras, is jaladhaara. Siva in the form of water is jalamurthi. He is also jaladhara. Some Siva sects also invoke Siva in vessels filled with water.[13] A small pitcher is galanthi(ka). This vessel with small hole at the bottom, is used to dribble water on the idol of Siva or Sivalinga.[14] Vishnu is jalasayanan. Varuna, the presiding deity of water, is jalaadhidaivatam. God of water and rain is Varuna. Naram is water. Naradan is one who donates water. Cloud is also called naram. Naradanam is Naradan.

Jalanjali is a handful of water as an offering to the manes, gods, etc. A rite observed before an idol is installed is jaladhivaasam (submersion in water) and Jalasthapanam is another rite.[15] Pouring water on the head in purificatory ceremony is jalaabhishekam.

Saucham, aachamanam are purification with water. Aachamanam is to rinse the mouth, sipping water (before religious ceremonies, before and after meals etc.) thrice, repeating the names of the Lord, by priests/ devotees of water from the palm of the hand for purification. To perform Achamanam the devotee drinks water from the palm of his hand for purification.

Living in water alone is jalaaharam. A religious austerity to be observed in water is jalavaasam. It is also abiding in water. One who lives by drinking water alone is jalaasi. Like a jeernaparnaasi he is a yogeendran. A religious vow or practice, one month long is jalakricchram. During this period one lives by drinking water only. Chanting of mantras standing in water is jalajapam. A kind of penance observed by standing under a continuous downpour of water is jaladhaara. Neernila is chanting hymns by standing in water.

Abhishekam

In dhaara, a rite in temple worship, water, milk etc are poured on the idol, using a copper vessel hung right above the idol. Dhaarakitaram is the vessel used to perform dhaara ritual. Dhaara is one like ashtaabhishekam, Sankabhishekam performed in temple worship, but superior to all abhishekam.

A bath performed in the holy water for the achievement of some desire is kaamyasnanam.[16] Washing ablution as well as bathing is avanejanam. It includes water for hands and deeds. Prokshana is sprinkling water over one’s body to purify, when a bath is not possible. This is for internal as well as external purity.

Aaru is a river that begins its journey from a hill and normally ends at the sea. Arattu is a ceremony of bathing an idol at the end of a festival. The water used for the bathing of idols or kings is neerkappu. It refers to the ceremonial bathing also. Sprinkling, watering, wetting is abhishekam. Anointing, bathing the image is abhishekam.[17] The holy water used for bathing an idol is abhishekateertham. During installation of a King, anointing of the king is abhishekam. The holy water used for the installation of the King is abhishekajalam. Inauguration or consecration by pouring oil, ghee, rice, pearls, etc on the heads of the idols, kings etc is abhishekam. Coronation or investiture of kings is pattabhishekam.

Ashtamangalam

In the life cycle rituals, marriage involves fertility and procreation. The kindi symbolizes married life and some rites are performed to ensure fertility. A collection of eight (ashta) auspicious objects submitted on great occasions such as coronation is known as ashtamangalyam. The items always included an overflowing vase, representing prosperity, etc. Ashtamangalyam to Ganapati includes a pair of chowries, kindi, vaal kannadi,[1] bull, srivatsa, svastika, conch and lamp, one each. Later, the eight lucky objects were a lion, bull elephant, water jar, fan, flag, trumpet, and lamp, or alternatively a Brahmin, cow, fire, gold, ghee, sun and water. Items for Durga, Vishnu, Sankaranarayanan and Skandan are different and all of them include a water jar. In south India, the eight objects are fan, full vase, mirror, gold, drum, lamp, and two fish.

In Tibetan Buddhism, they are parasol, pair of fishes, treasure vase, lotus, white-spiralling conch shell, endless knot, victory banner and golden wheel.

In India, throne, swastika, handprint, hooked knot, vase of jewels, water libation flask, pair of fishes, lidded bowl were the early grouping of symbols at ceremonies such as an investiture or coronation of a king. The story of the great flood found in Hindu scriptures tells how a fish that Manu once saved from being eaten by a larger fish rescued him, when all creations were submerged in a great deluge. Inclusion of a pair of fishes is perhaps symbolic of this episode.

Child Birth

Immediately after childbirth, a close relative of the child pours a few drops of water on the body of the child using his right hand, which is called Nir talikkuka. It is said that the child will get the character of this person. As such, a close relative with good character does the ritual. Among vannan community a ceremony of sprinkling of water is performed on the 3rd day after the birth of a child and on 7th day of death and followed by change of raiment (ettu).

The attainment of puberty is celebrated as an entry to womanhood all over the world. Among Nayars it is known as tirandukalyanam. On the fourth day of the first menstruation the ceremonial bath is held, followed by a feast to the relatives and neighbours. The tirandu kalyanam and kettu kalyanam are held on the same time provided the customary bridegroom exists on the spot. Otherwise tirandu kalyanam alone is held that day. Kettukalyanam is held at the age of 5 or 7 /12 years.

After the menstruation is known, the girl is kept in isolation in an inside chamber for three days. The traditional houses had a separate house known as naduveedu, reserved for the purpose. In this chamber, a bunch of coconut flowers placed inside a bronze vessel filled with water would be kept in front of an oil lamp. Coconut flower is symbolic of blessing the girl with as many children as there were tender coconuts on the bunch of flowers. On the third day, the girl is fed with sweet rice prepared by her aunt. In fact this was the aunt’s presentation on the girl’s attaining of womanhood. Once the period of pollution is over, the flower bunch in the vessel would be thrown out.In continuation a ceremonial bath to the girl in the family pond amidst songs sung by the women folk, followed by the ritual songs of velan (the village sorcerer) invoking prosperity for the girl. The purification ritual continues on the next day also, when the girl is adorned with ornaments made of tender coconut leaves and songs are sung.

Manjanirattam is a ceremonial bath, peculiar to the 4th day of marriage among Brahman women. Also known as manjakkuli, maasakkuli of the 5th day of menstruation of the Brahmanichis. In imitation of this, Goddess for instance.

Kodungallore for Parvati, Kodumbu for Walli is also given this purification bath on the 4th day of menstruation. [18]

Kettukalyanam

Kettukalyanam, only a ritual marriage was found in practice among Nayars till 80 years ago. On those days, the young girl remained indoors and her elders seldom took her anywhere outside the house. The girl would not even go before the Karanavar, father and brother as well. Kettukalyanam, a four-day ceremony, offered an opportunity for the girl child to come out of the four folds of the house to become a cynosure of all eyes.

Often, the child bride used to be found carried on the shoulders of her brother to the decorated venue, a thatched pandal, improvised for the purpose in the front courtyard of the traditional house behind the Poomukham.

On the first day, the girl goes to the temple where the temple priest pours the sacred water from a kalasam on her head, known as kalasamaaduka. On the second day, there is a ceremony to tie kappola on both the wrists of the girl. After this, she will have to cross a kindi filled with water and a coconut, fibrous with tuft after the nut is husked, kept at the top, twice on both ways. On the third crossing, she will have to kick the water away with her foot backwards. There may be a boy who is customarily the girl’s bridegroom; her father’s niece is the person to tie the tali around the neck of the girl. When a sister or brother marries from another family, where there are unmarried brothers, they are considered as brothers-in-law, one of who becomes the bridegroom in the kettukalyanam ceremony, which covered two or three days and invited huge expenses, showed the status of the family. Otherwise, it is of no importance. Feast follows on an elaborate scale. Real marriage will follow later.

After the ritual, the child in her bridal attire is left to her parents’ care. The bridegroom washes his hands, symbolic of completion of the assigned task, leaves the venue never to meet the girl again before her real marriage. On the fourth day, the women of the village take a ceremonial bath along with the girl. The elephant accompanying on this occasion would be carrying two kalayappana tied at end of a rope and laid on at its neck. After the ceremonial bath they return to her home and rejoice.

Usually, several girls of different age groups from the same tarawad had their kettukalyanam conducted at the same place, at the same occasion, to the same adult male, known as machhambi, which means ‘my thampi’, brother-in-law. Here mai is a Tamil word which means ‘barren’. So, the word machambi holds the key to several questions on this ritual marriage.

While crossing the kindi filled with water the girl kicks the water away with her foot. This is symbolic of infertility. Kalayappana is an earthen kindi. Tying of two such vessels at both end of a rope and kept hanging around the neck of the elephant accompanying the procession is also symbolic. It is devoid of water that means impotent. Elephant, while on the move, will certainly break it into pieces. It is also symbolic of an impotent husband.

Palmyra leaf (taalapatram) rolled up and placed in the ear is kaathola. The taali is also made out of palmyra leaf and taalikalyanam came to be known as kettukalyanam and the tali remains in the child bride’s neck only for few days. The real marriage after the girl attains puberty, held in a very simple way, and it is known as pudavakoda. Kettukalyanam was more expensive, elaborate and festive than the real marriage ceremonies. The sumptuous feasts for four days consecutively attracted friends and relatives to come together.

Talikettu

During the annual feast of Bhagavati, virgin girls, circumambulating the Bhagavati temple in procession carry with them a taalam (brass plate) containing rice (ariyum tiriyum), flower cluster of the arecanut tree, small lamp, flowers and other pooja items and is known as taalappoli. They offer the contents to the goddess, in order to get husband of desired merits. A ceremony connected with a marriage proposal is kainana. It indicates washing the hands after the feast.

As soon as the auspicious hour of the marriage (muhurtham) arrives, the wicks of the brass oil lamp at the kathirmandapam[2] are lit. A procession of young virgin girls with taalappoli, and an aunt of the bride, who is not a widow, carrying the big lamp with a chain changalavatta, leads the bride. Six girls from the bride's family accompany her with the ashtamangalyam (thamboolam, rice, arecanut, arecanut peduncle (kamukin poonkula), vaal kanaadi (mirror), folded kasavu neriyadu, kumkuma cheppu, coconut halves)[3] to the accompaniment of nagaswara melam, move to greet the bridegroom, who has come at the doorstep.

Led by the brother of the bride, the bride’s party follows the procession, carrying with them peedham, kindi filled with water, floral garland, bouquet, sandal plate, lemon fruit, rose water, etc. The prospective brother-in-law washes the groom’s feet extended to the peedham with the water from the kindi. Then he garlands, gives the bouquet and puts a thilakam on the groom’s forehead. Presents the lemon fruit, sprays the rose water (perfume), salutes each other with questions and leads the groom towards the kathirmandapam, in to the accompaniment of thalappoli and melam.[4]

The ritual of young girls leading the bride around the kathirmandapam with lamps, called thalappoli, is more common in the southern districts of Kerala.

Like the reception of the bridegroom before the talikettu ceremony, after the marriage at the bridegroom’s house the bride is also given reception against the background of ululu (kurava), ashtamangalyam and arattam by the retinue of the village women.

The newly wedded Nayar bride in ancient Kerala was gifted with seven vessels known as ezhurupaatram. They included one kindi, one lamp, and one platter for the mother-in law known as ammayittalika, three shallow plates made of metal, and one spitting pot called kolampi (cuspidor/e) with wide mouth and narrower base.

Udakapooranam is one of the items in the Namputhiri marriage customs, coming after mukha darsanam. The father of the bride pours a little water into the hands of the bridegroom through those of the bride, accompanied by the words ‘Sahadharmanam charitha’ (may you both tread the path of duty together) and gives to the bride the dowry which she in turn hands over to the bridegroom.[19] This is known as udakapuranam. Dattva-udakam is offering, oblations of water,”[20] arhana-udakam is oblation by water.[21]

In some places, wedding ceremony includes the bride washing the feet of the groom with water from the kindi. In one such rite, in Sinhala, known as ‘ata paen vakkaranava’ water is introduced ritualistically. Paadoudakam is the water, which has washed the feet.[22] In this ceremony the father of the bride pours water from a golden pitcher onto the little fingers of the couple’s right hands tied together with a white thread that cements the binding.

Death

Arrival of rice, an idiom in Malayalam, means the termination of one’s life.[23] His water and rice has not arrived, is a saying that indicates he has not eaten his last, did not die. When the relatives adjudge a person’s last seconds have arrived he is given drops of sacred water through the mouth. It is one of the last rites just before breathing the last. After death, raw rice soaked in water is put respectfully by each kith and kin of the deceased and this is known as vayakkari.

Among the Nayar communities in Travancore, it is the eldest daughter of the deceased who has to perform the religious rites to the deceased, whether it is her mother or father. She goes to the well or the river nearby and brings back, water in a kindi after wetting herself in the water, to the accompaniment of drum beating. With this water vessel kept on her head she circulates the dead body thrice weeping loudly. This will be followed by the funeral ceremony of placing rice in the mouth of the deceased body after soaking it with the water from the kindi.

At the cremation ground, the dead body is covered with hay and clay. The eldest son or the male member carries on his head, a water-filled clay pot and goes around the body thrice. Other male members, intimate to the deceased, will follow him. They place a piece of sandalwood at three places, head, middle and feet, three times while circling. During each round, one brother-in-law makes a hole in the clay pot, from behind with a sharp edged knife, allowing the water to spill on the ground. When the third round is complete, the pot is thrown backwards over his head, allowing the pot to touch the tip of the edge of a spade and to break into pieces. The water that is spread on the ground is then splashed thrice indicating the end of the ritual.

Udakapindham is funeral ceremonies for relations. A pot filled with water is neerkkudam/ poornakumbham. Cracking open of this earthen pot, filled with water at three locations, while circumambulating the corpse, and finally breaking it by dropping it down, just before flaming it, in the graveyard, is symbolic of saying that when the departed was alive, the body was brimming with life like a poornakumbham. With the lapse of water in the pot, the body becomes empty of life and joins the earth.

Presentation/ offering a handful of water after death is Udakakriya/ udakaanjali. This is deprived to a man driven away from his caste or religion and is known as udakavicchedam. Giving water to the travellers is Udakadaanam. Performing libation of water to dead ancestors or manes is udakadaanam, udakakriya, udakakarmam, pitrutarppanam, jalatarppanam.[24] It is also jalakarmam, jalakriya.

King Mahabali’s annual visit to Kerala during Onam perpetuates the ties between this popular Maharaja and his countrymen forever onwards. This is likened with the funeral ceremony for the deceased relations and ancestors, the sraadham, which serves as a bridge between the living and the dead. Gingelly and water is tilodakam. It is funeral offering of gingelly seeds and water to the spirits of the dead ancestors. Libation of water mixed with honey and sesamum offered in sraadha ceremony is known as tripti jalam/ akhshayodayam. [25]

Sprinkling

Prokshanam is punyaaham. Prokshaneeyam is punyaahajalam. It is sanctified, sacred, consecrated water. A vessel emblematic of Agni used, as a receptacle for holy water is Prokshanapaatra. Sprinkling of holy water on persons is prokhshanam. In order to purify places and persons, consecrated water or punyaaham is sprinkled. In purificatory rites, water is sprinkled on the object to be purified.

Kudikku-nir is in fact kudi-nir, any water suitable for drinking. Water, taken in the palm and sipped chanting mantras, at the beginning and end of meals, is known as Kutikku-nir.[26]

Before sitting for food, the place is purified; in a leaf put nearby a seat articles of food are served. Before taking the food, a little water is sprinkled making a line all round the leaf repeating some Vedic Mantras. This repetition purifies the food. After sipping a little water, the food is offered to the five Pranas and Brahman seated in the heart, by repeating Om Pranaya Svaha, Apanaya Svaha, Vyanaya Svaha, Udanaya Svaha, Samanaya Svaha, and lastly, Brahmane Svaha. The person who takes the food offers it to the deities who dwell in the body in the form of Prana, Apana, etc. The physical body or the individual before the leaf is not the eater. It is the Pancha Prana that takes the food. Thus, taking food also being converted into an act of yoga or sacrifice.

A meal of complete purification, after excommunicating a family member of clearing oneself from the charge of offence against caste is sudhyashti.

Holy water is sprinkled to remove asudhhi, which comes as a result of birth, death and menstruation. A woman in her course is udakya and deserves udakam to purify. Cleansing by sprinkling water is tali. A flat plate usually made of bronze is kinnam, thaalam, thalika. One who sprinkles holy water in purificatory rites is thalikkurup. Bathing after mourning as a rite completing the obsequies is thalicchukuli. Bathing is for purification after pollution. Anandikka (to rejoice) was a Nayar custom. Sprinkling every morning seven times the water of their tanks on to the face was the practice.

Poornakumbham

During solemn occasions like marriages, to fix the auspicious time for performing the ceremony, a kumbham (Ghata) is used. A 'full earthen pot’, with fresh mango leaves and a coconut placed atop, makes poornakumbham. It is an object symbolizing God and the pitcher also stands for Goddess Lakshmi. Before commencing a puja, the pitcher is placed as the chief deity or beside the deity. The pot symbolizes mother earth, the water the life-giver; the leaves life, and the coconut divine consciousness.

It is a symbol of fertility as well as death. A poornakalasam is frequently depicted on temple walls as a decorative motif. To honour someone, two water-filled kalasa (brass vessels) are set on either side in front of the door, with plates filled with flowers, etc on top of each kalasa. Purna ghata is a vase of plenty, a vase overflowing with fruit, flowers and foliage, a kind of cornucopia.

Pouring of water consecrated by mantras on the temple idols, and on the kings at the time of coronation is kumbhabhishekam. Water filled vessel, consecrated by mantras and kept on the heap of grains and used for auspicious ceremonies is kumbhakalasam. Before coronation a king in ancient times was sprinkled with water to ensure an auspicious beginning to his reign. Bhadrakumbha is the auspicious golden jar filled with consecrated water used solely for the consecration abhisheka of kings.

Kumbhamela is a religious festival held in select places like Hardwar, Prayag, Ujjain and Nasik, once in twelve years. The ceremony seems to have a link with the concept of Poornakumbham.

Kumbhakam is a fat-bellied vessel with a short, slim neck. A large jewel at its opening at the top indicates it as a treasure vase. In Sanskrit nidhanakumbham means a vase of inexhaustible treasures and its symbolic meaning is associated with the ideas of storage and the satisfaction of material desires. In the sagas and fairytales of many different cultures, for example, there is the recurring idea of an inexhaustible vessel. Nidhikalasam/nidhikumbham is a pot in which treasure is kept. It is a jar fixed under the installation of an idol in which gold, gems, etc are kept.[27] Ornamental work at the top of temples etc in the shape of an inverted vase is taazhika. The inverted pot fixed over taazhika is taazhikakkudam.

Wealth vases, sealed with precious and sacred substances, are commonly placed upon altars and on mountain passes, or buried at water springs, where their presence is believed to attract wealth and bring harmony to the environment. In relation to Buddhism it specifically means the spiritual abundance of the Buddha, a treasure that did not diminish; however, much of it is given away.

Physically, the 'vase of inexhaustible treasures' is modelled on the traditional Indian clay water pot or kumbham with a flat base, round body, narrow neck and fluted upper rim. However much is removed from it, this vase remains perpetually full.

Mother Goddess

In India pots are all-important, and hence are used to represent divinity. A painted pot, placed in fields, is symbolic of the divine, the container of all blessings including food. The pot is a symbol of fertility. At the marriage ritual, a pile of pots is made. It is said the fertility deities reside there and the pot becomes an object of worship.

Kannal (karakam) a pot, filled with water and decorated with mango leaves, represents the deity in village festivals, tutelary goddess of villages and towns. kumbhamaata is goddess of pots. The pot goddess is the tutelary divinity of a village, gramadevata and is represented by a pot. A bowl containing vegetables, known as sasypaatra, is symbolic of the earth goddess Bhu(mi)devi. Standing on a lotus plinth, she holds a pomegranate, water vessel and a bowl that contains curative herbs and another with vegetables.[28] Sometimes kuladevata is represented by a jar or pot (kumbha) and worshipped by members of a family (kula) on special occasions. Bhadraghata is a vase of fortune associated with Lakshmi, goddess of fortune. Eliades suggests that they are pre- Dravidian people.[29]

Yoga, immortality and freedom and their association with a water vessel or jar indicate a close connection with the ubiquitous fertility cult. In their shrines, often situated under trees, they may be portrayed with 2, 4, 6, 8 arms (or occasionally none at all). But their usual icons are simple stone images of the yoni, female organ of generation. Words like puram, pooru, poolu, pooram denote upastham. Pooranam is filling. Poornakam means a 'full pitcher'. Poornakumbham, symbolic of overflowing life force, has also the same meaning. Water vessels represent the womb, the generative spot and are identified with mother goddess.

Kumbhari is enemy of Aquarius; Kumbhayoni is pot born. Tundila means pot bellied. It indicates prosperity and well-being, and is characteristic of Kubera, Ganesha, Varuna, Yakshas and others.

Theertham

The Ganga is the most important of the sacred rivers. Its waters are used in puja (worship) and if possible a sip is given to the dying. A holy place, a place of pilgrimage is theertham. It includes sacred bathing ghats. Water of a sacred river is punyateertham. Water, sanctified by chanting mantras or by bathing an idol is theertham. A water cistern by the side of a well is theertham. Menstrual flow is theertham. The female genital organ upastham is theertham. A crane is theerthasevi.

Every temple has sacred wells and tanks. The devotees are expected to take a bath before entering the temple. Worship of water in the form of wells, tanks, and rivers is an ancient cult. A shrine, a place of pilgrimage or a sacred bathing ghat is a teertha.

Well dressing

The tradition of well dressing in the English country of Derby shire, intricate mosaics of leaves and flowers made around wells in the late spring, is considered to be an act of thanksgiving. Its roots traced in the Roman custom of venerating water. It was introduced to Britain by the occupying Roman forces.[30]

Aadiperukku

The current of a river changes constantly. But in the distinct body of the river, a spirit dwells and controls the flow of the water. As such they are deified as Goddess. Bathing ritually in their purifying water is considered sacred. The banks of rivers, coasts, seashores and mountains are the Hindu Pilgrim centers. Kumbhamela is held every three years at four different places in turn - Hardwar, Nasik, Prayaga and Ujjain is a pilgrimage of Hindu devotees. It is believed that on these places, drops of amrita - the nectar of immortality - fell during a heavenly conflict.

To the Hindus all water is sacred, especially of rivers. Of the seven sacred rivers, known as sapta nadikal, namely the Ganges, Yamuna, Godavari, Sarasvati, Narmada, Sindhu and Kaveri, Saraswati is not visible nowadays. Married women in Tamilnadu, celebrate fertility and reproduction by worshipping Goddess Kaveri, when they are supposed to be in the third month of pregnancy. Like all pregnant women, she has a craving for delicacies and as such offered baskets laden with food as treats. Lime rice, tamarind rice, coconut rice, curd rice, sweet jaggery rice, appam, fried karudams, appalams and pickles are the traditional items.

In the month of Adi, when the monsoon will be at its zenith, the season for planting seeds and vegetation begins. On this occasion chitrannam or rice cooked in different flavours, colours with ingredients is offered in honour of the river goddess and nature for bestowing with the life-giving water.

Aadiperukku or Padinettam perukku, is observed only in the Kaveri delta. On the 18th day of the Tamil month Aadi, the water level in the Kaveri River basin rises significantly. It is peculiar to the Kaveri delta that the rising of the river is expected to occur invariably on the 18th day of the solar month, Aadi (2- 3 August) every year. Padinettu means eighteen, and perukku denotes rising. This festival is observed as a water-ritual, celebrated as fertility and reproduction cult predominantly by women in Tamil Nadu, belonging to the rice cultivation tract along the Kaveri river basin districts of Tanjavur and Tiruchirapalli. Families often bathe in the river, wetting the head, wear new clothes and perform a consecration (abhishekam) for Kaveri amman. This ritual is associated with fertility, sex and reproduction.

The myths of this ritual practice explain that the water is propitiated as Mother Goddess. It is found that water is metaphorically linked to the reproduction i.e., a significant medium of exchange as reflected in the water ritual. The association of this ritual practice with fertility, sex and reproduction is both natural and human. This Hindu religious practice is linked with the reproduction of the natural capacity of the earth and women. It is symbolic of associating fresh water with the fertility of the earth, a practice honouring water as Goddess.

To allay fever sprinkling holy or consecrated water over a sick person chanting mantras is udakasaanthi. While, the water which being sprinkled muttering a curse, can effect a metamorphosis. Hindu saints are able to curse or bless (sapanugraha sakthan) using this sapodakam. They can either perfect anugraha or nigraha. At Suchindram Indra was freed from one such loathsome curse. Indra was directed to bathe in the tank at Suchindram and do oblation to the existing deity, the trinity in a single form. As the place cured and cleansed Indra, it came to be known as Suchi+Indra- Suchindram. The priests do not conduct the late night oblation even these days. It is belived that Indra himself is doing it. As such the priest who administered oblation on the previous night seldom arrive for the service for the morning service. Rational historians do not accept this story. [31]

Libation

Libation is pouring a liquid, in honour of some deity; also, the wine or liquid thus poured out. Libation of water allowed to fall from the palm of the hand is tarpanam. It is one of the five daily yajnas, presenting libation of water to the deceased ancestors, to the manes, devas and rsis. Small vessels made of brass or bronze, known as tarppanavatu, are only used in this ritual. Performing of tarpana to the deceased ancestors liberates people from all their sins, and they attain the blessings equivalent to the donation of thousands of cows. 'You may now offer water-oblations to all of your forefathers in the waters of Ganga, oh, king, the lord of people, thus you may fulfil and do away with the pledge of your requiescat.[32]

Oath by Libation

Dipping the hand in boiling ghee or oil, a practice to prove the innocence of Namputhiri, was held in the vicinity of the Suchindram Temple near Cape Comorin, till ME 1019.[33] Several preliminary ordeals were given for the suspect to tell the truth. Those priests or vaidikan who came out successful in the ordeal have come to be known as kaimukk, eratta kaimukk, cheru kaimukk.

In some Hindu courts like those in Kashmir, a sacred oath was taken by libation (Kosha). This type of oath can be traced in the annals of our country from the 10th century. During the reign of King Sambuvardhana (935-36 AD), some adherents went to him, but he would not trust them until they proved their bona fides.

Divya pramanam and Manusham are the two kinds of evidences adduced in courts evidence by ordeal.[34] Divyapramanam are pramanams to verify one’s purity.[35] They are of nine kinds. Balance, fire, water, poison, kosapanam, tandulas, taptamasham, hot iron and dharma.[36]

Kosham is the holy water, used in ordeal.[37] To drink holy water to prove innocence is an ordeal. Kosha paanam is similar to the kaimukku at Suchindram. Divya sudhikriya is an ordeal to find truth by inserting hand in the boiling ghee. The holy water used for bathing an idol is abhisheka teertham or kosham. The person who is going to take oath of truth has to drink thrice the kosha paanam of the deity he worships.[38] Shouting the words “I have not done crime,” the suspect has to drink thrice handful (ponga) of abhisheka teertham/ kosham of the deity he worships.[39] Divya rasam, divya jalam are heavenly water, believed to have healing powers. Koshapaanam is drinking abhisheka jalam.

Paanapaatra - an emblem

A sacrificial vessel belonging to the Asvins is Asvinapaatram. Panchapaatram refers to the five metal vessels/ plates required to perform shraaddham.

Neerattupalli, Pallineerattu[40] is the ablution of an idol.[41] Offering libation of water is neerudakam. Arghyam is honouring oblation, chiefly water offered reverently to a god or guest. Ten kinds of civility to be extended to guests are dasopacharam, which includes arghyam and paadyam. Water to wash the feet is paadyam. Arghyapaadyam is washing water offered to guests. Water offered reverentially to a god or a guest is arghyam. Arghyadaanam is a respectful offering when receiving a distinguished guest. It includes water.

A vessel in which Arghya is offered to a guest is arghya paatram. It is a chalice to make libation to gods or saints, of rice, flowers, etc., with water, or of water only, Arghya, a small boat-shaped vessel symbolizes yoni.[42] The resemblance of the sankha (conch) to the vulva is associated with fertility. Water filled white conch shell, placed on a tripod becomes an independent cult object.

Deities like Brahma, Sarasvati, Siva, Agni, Varuna, Ganga, Bhadrakali do have water pot as an emblem. Kamandalu is a special water pot in the hands of Lord Brahma.[43]In chapter 57, verse 41 of The Brahma Samhita, a four-headed Brahma holding a water vessel is described. This ‘wisdom vase’ is a symbol of earth and container/ sustainer of all things. Water pot filled with ambrosia (amrita), symbolizes knowledge and immortality. Paanapaatra is a drinking cup. It is also an emblem of Balarama.

Arundhati, wife of Vasishta, is personified as a goddess. Portrayed with calm, austere expression, she holds leaves, flowers and water.[44] This indicates that she is engaged in worshipping gods.[45] Of all the Matrikas, white complexioned Maheswari, Chamunda, the fertility aspect of Durga, and the dark-complexioned Vairali have, in one of their hands, a Paanapaatra. The cult of Sapta-Matrikas or Asta-Matrikas is very ancient. Varddhani is a kind of vessel. In Varddhanika, a type of small pot to fill pure water, Uma is invoked and worshipped.

Libation ritual beyond Hindu Religion

Libation ritual was common in the religions of antiquity, including Judaism: "And Jacob set up a Pillar in the place where he had spoken with him, a Pillar of Stone; and he poured out a drink offering on it, and poured oil on it."[46] The liquid used in libations varied; most commonly it was wine or olive oil, and in India, ghee. The vessels used in the ritual, including the patera, often had a significant form, which differentiated it from secular vessels. The liquid was poured onto something of religious significance. The libation was very often poured on the ground itself, as an offering to the Earth. In his Pneumatica, Hero of Alexandria describes a mechanism for automating the process by using altar fires to force oil from the cups of two statues.

In Shinto, the practice of libation and the drink offered is called Miki, lit., kami sake. At a ceremony at a Shinto shrine, it is usually done with sake wine, but at a shrine in a house, one may substitute fresh water, served in a white porcelain or metal cup, without any decoration.

Patera

Samprokshanam/ Sudhyodakam is lustration. Lusteral water is Sudhyodakam. Lustration is sudhyoshtam. Purify, consecrate sanctify is sudhikarikka. A lustration or purification is the performance of a purificatory ceremony, for example, a body of people, a piece of land, a city, especially the purification of the whole Roman people, carried out once in five years, after the census. As such a period of five years is also known as lustration.

A bas-relief decorative, oval or circular ornament, resembling a shallow dish of earthenware or metal, which the ancient Romans used for drinking and libations at sacrifices, is patera. This is a shallow bowl with a raised center. Held in the palm of the hand, the thumb is placed on the raised centre so that it does not profane the libation as it is poured into the focus. Most often seen in depictions of sacrifices is the libation bowl used by magistrates. It was, however, the special emblem of the septemvir epulonum. In appearance it is similar to the patera, a Eucharistic vessel used today by Roman Catholic priests, except for the raised centre.

The word ‘patera’ has different meanings. The meaning of Patera given in The Free Dictionary is: A saucer-like vessel of earthenware or metal, used by the Greeks and Romans in libations and sacrifices. It is a broad, shallow dish used for drinking, primarily in a ritual context such as a libation. In the Spanish language, ‘patera’ refers to a type of boat. We have seen that arghya is also a boat shaped vessel. In Malayalam pathemaari (patamar) is a native vessel larger than a cargo boat. A bathing tub, watering trough, or basin tray for gold wash etc are known as paathi. A spout, drain, sluice, etc are paathi. Paathimaravi is a long trough. In traditional houses there are paathi maravi with four or five (naalu/ anchu kuzhiyan maravi) partitions. These wooden vessels were pressed in to service to store curries at times of communal feast. Paathuta is pa(l)tuta, that is milk vessel (paalpaatram). Paathrakam is a small vessel. Paatram is a drinking goblet. Can there be a common origin for the word ‘patera’?

Libation in Coastal Areas

On India’s east and west coasts, fishermen before launching their crafts to the coastline performed libation of water for a prosperous catch and harmonious return home. This came to the notice of James Hornell, Director of Fisheries, and Madras Government in 1918, who speaks about libation performed in a few places in coastal India, during his time in his study entitled The Origins and Ethnological Significance Of Indian Boat Designs.

Most of the padagu, from the little port of Valaveddithurai (Velvettithurai, in Sri Lanka), were owned/ manned by the devout Hindus. Their rig was that of a fore and aft two-masted schooner with enormously developed bowsprit and headsails. “Stem and stern are sharp and somewhat raked; the former ends in an inwardly coiled ornamental head, called surul, the bowsprit being placed on the starboard side.”

The surul in these Hindu dhonis bearing three horizontal white stripes painted on the aft edge represent the three ash lines smeared on the forehead of the followers of Saivism. There is a little shrine of the god, beneath the surul in a tiny recess in the bows. One of the crew, who officiates as the pujari, with the aid of an assistant, particularly before leaving port, performs daily worship. A blowing conch and other items of the ceremony are kept on a shelf in the recess. In the ritual followed, before a lamp kept alight on the shelf, “incense is burned, the conch is blown, a bell rung, a coconut broken, libation made, and plantains and betel offered to the god.”: #292526; FONT-SIZE: 11pt"[47]

Majority of the crews of the fishing boats of the Bombay coast were Hindus and the remaining Roman Catholic Christians. Each time a boat manned by a Hindu crew leaves shore, with the nets taken aboard, one of the crew “empties a chatty (an earthen pot) of water over the prow,” just before move off from the landing place. It is one of the simplest of old time propitiatory ceremonies carried out upon appropriate occasions and the Roman Catholic fishermen of Tuticorin similarly splash water on the bow as the boat leaves the beach. Hornell compares this with their own custom of breaking a bottle of wine over the bow of a ship when being launched and assumes that this custom might probably has a common origin.

The Tamil word churul means to wind/ twist, curi means to be spiral as conch, whirl round, eddy (as water), and curl. A sectarian or ornamental mark made on the forehead or other parts of the body usually of sacred ashes, sandal pastes, saffron etc is kuri. Curly, spiral is churi. Churuluka is contract into a coil. The state of being rolled or coiled is churul (curl). The ornamental carving in coils at the prow and stern of country boats is churul. The curled head of a boat is churul, surul. The words surul and curl can be a word of common origin.

Hornell believes on a “theory of a cultural world drift from west to east.” But it seems that the trade between east and west had contributed a lot to the development of languages between the east and west and the flow of culture too followed the trade. To arrive at that point many secrets have to be cracked. Churul niavaruka / churul azhiyuka are Malayalam idioms. It means become clear, (truth/ secret) come out.

Kindi a symbol of the cosmos

We have seen kindi as a container of water with manifold uses through out the ages. It has plenty of significance, to Hindu, Saivaite and Buddhist priests who use this vessel for ritual purposes from ancient times. This religious factor seems to have a scientific basis.

Three fourth of planet earth is covered with water. This might appear that water is the most abundant substance on earth and that mankind will never run out of water. But in fact, usable fresh water is in a very limited quantity. Over 97 per cent of water on earth is in the ocean. Of the remaining, two per cent is stored as fresh water in glaciers, ice caps, and snowy mountain ranges. Water from these bodies cannot be used to meet any of our daily use. Fresh water found in the ponds, rivers, lakes that constitutes one per cent of the earth's water are the source of water for all living beings.

Water filled kindi is situating this scientific truth. The shortage of water has put everyone in the planet earth in a tight spot and kindi is a symbol of this tight spot. The water that the spout of the kindi holds is indicative of the one per cent of pure water available in the earth for human consumption.

If one analyzes the human body one finds that a normal adult has about 70 percent water. A human being requires between 25 and 30 litres per day to ensure the basic need for water for personal and domestic use. One cannot function beyond 3 days without water.[48]

The human body is constituted of panchabhuthas. We have seen that water; one of its components is 70 percent. Kindi, like the human body holds water in proportion to the human body. The other elements of the panchabhutas go to constitute the vessel itself. Here also kindi becomes a symbol of the cosmos.

Kindi obtained its shape in the hands of a potter. But when it changed hands it assumed importance with the change in time and with the material with which it was made. It did not remain in India alone. It crossed boundaries and reached all over Asia. The ancient symbolism of fertility associated with kindi and its myriad uses gave it an important part in the material culture of Asian countries and served as a unifier of cross-cultural elements. In Southeast Asia, the kindi has been used for pouring offerings to the gods and as an important object in religious rituals for many centuries. When reached Arabian countries it took the form of a hukka. In the Middle East the flowing well known as Qanat is in the shape of the kindi. Here the belly forms the mother well and the sluice a slowly descending water tunnel. Scottish word stroup means monda, kindi vaal. It shows that the distant Scotland too has knowledge about this vessel. Europeans conceived in it a perfect water seal, which in effect took the shape of a closet in the living room. But it became a symbol of wastage of fresh water.

In this saga, China and the Silk Road through which it reached that country remain to be explored. Among the innumerable vessels for water storage, the kindi is omnipresent throughout the entire South East Asian region. It holds the means to make the truth/ secret to come out, to many a question raised here.

Modern Temples of India

2010-01-22T21:00:00.001-08:00

ï¿½Temples of modern Indiaï¿½ was a term very much dear to Pandit Nehru. He often used it to describe the giant public sector units in Independent India to highlight their importance fully knowing the vital role played by temples in ancient India. It may be recalled that all the major temples in ancient India were more known for their encouragement of arts and learning than as places of worship. As a direct result of this almost all the people from the locality used to visit the temples for one reason or another. Over a period of time the versatility of our temples got degraded to mere rituals and superstitions. One of the main reasons for this sad state of affairs is the ulterior motives of Brahmins to keep the temples under their control. Time has now come to rediscover (or redefine) the concept of temples and to stress their relevance in our lives. We need modern temples to cater to the requirements of modern times. Building smaller and smaller temples at every nook and corner is of no use anymore. What we need are major complexes to cater to the needs of all those who believe in temples (not necessarily in God). Let me outline below a brief sketch of my own concept of a modern temple in India.

Sanctum Sanctorum

The sanctum sanctorum housing the presiding deity shall definitely form the central point in any temple. We do believe in idol worship as something symbolising the almighty, especially the ordinary among us who do not indulge much in reading (and understanding) the scriptures. The idol in each temple has a particular shape and form with a whole lot of qualities attributed to it at the time of installation. All the believers and worshippers at any temple should always bear in mind that they themselves have given the powers to the deity and its strength is solely depended on the intensity of their faith. It is a peculiar kind of understanding of the highest levels of spirituality between the worshippers and the worshipped. The fact that our ancient seers used commonly available rocks or wood to make temple idols clearly shows that they paid least importance to the material for idol construction. It is the reverence we give to an idol that makes it divine. I strongly feel that spending millions in making an idol is the worst one can do to denigrate the lofty ideals behind the concept of temple construction. Once an idol has been consecrated, it should be accessible to only the designated priests who have been trained well in the associated rituals. And most importantly, the priest can be anyone (from any caste) who has the right inclination and knowledge to perform.

Learning & Meditation

If there is one vital element that had disappeared from our temples in recent times, it is the facilities for learning and meditation. Again the people who made it happen must be the ones who do not want everyone to learn and get enlightened. Knowledge has always been Hinduismï¿½s forte and almost all the ancient temples had specially dedicated space for encouraging arts and literature. All pursuits for perfection, be it in arts or literature or philosophy, had always been encouraged in Hinduism at all times. Even the concept of God and its need & existence had been debated and deliberated on a daily basis within the premises of ancient temples. From such profound openness and quest in search of absolute truth, we have now degenerated into mute followers of rituals and superstitions. It would not be far from truth if we conclude that our present state of affairs is a direct result of the absence of such centres of learning in our temples.

Each modern temple should have a dedicated place for spending some time on reading and meditation. It is common practice among us to sit down somewhere in the temple premises before leaving. Nowadays most people spend such time looking at othersï¿½ business or gossiping. We can easily turn around this custom to spend some time in the temple library or meditation hall. All types of religious literature in the form of books and periodicals must be made available at these facilities. It would be all the more better if good facilities for meditation and teaching meditation to children are also provided. The benefits from such simple investments will be far reaching and much beyond any analysis in economic terms.

Such places for learning and meditation can also attract the atheist and agnostic among us to the temple. I have always been attracted by the concept of ï¿½Parabrahmaï¿½ and the temple at Oachira in Kerala dedicated to it. You can find a complete cross section of the Hindu society visiting this temple without any reservations whatsoever. Though a small and simple temple, I would consider it as housing the highest ideals of Hinduism or Sanatana Dharma. You can appreciate and understand its profoundness only by visiting it once.

Distribution of Commonwealth

Temples in ancient India had a clear role in distribution of wealth. I would consider all the temple festivals and grand rituals as attempts to distribute wealth in the society. There is no harm in having rich temples if the community around is also rich. But to have a rich temple amidst poverty and misery is a crime in itself. What can be more shameful if the idol in a temple is covered in gold when there are houses around with children dying of poverty and ill health? The recent act of Kanchi Shankaracharya in presenting a 11.5-kg gold crown to Lord Venkateshwar was a highly unimaginative exercise. By doing so, our spiritual leaders are sending very wrong messages to the society at large. There is nothing wrong in a rich man doing so because he is only parting with a part of his fortune for possible distribution among his fellow humans.

A temple has got relevance only if there are people associated with it. The prosperity or decline of any temple should reflect the conditions of society around it. In this respect it is inevitable that a part of its income is distributed among the needy who believe in it. There should be a system to spend at least 50% of surplus income every month for the benefit of the poor, who are regular worshippers at the temple. Of course, we need money to pay for the temple expenses, maintenance and essential development. But what is the point in having crores in bank deposits in the name of an all powerful God? For a hungry man food is God and for someone in pains, a pain-killer is the embodiment of God. There should be institutions or self-help groups supported by the temple money that can provide sustenance for the poor. But I am strongly against running public schools with temple money. Hinduism is the mother of Secularism and as someone rightly said communalisation of Indian society started only when the first public school (not religious school) was set up near the church by the missionaries.

All the costly offerings (like the golden crown above) can be auctioned and money thus generated put to productive use of the society. A temple has immense potential to become a centre for distribution of wealth and promoting the much wanted self-sufficiency (not socialism). Hinduism has never been an organised religion but only a way of life. It is quite natural that temples took care of the entire spectrum of a devoteeï¿½s life, not merely provided a place for him to worship. Until and unless the less fortunate in our society are shown ways & means for sustenance, attempts to worship an unseen God with empty stomach will not be successful. It was never meant to be so too.

Community Rituals & Get-together

It is a growing fashion nowadays to conduct some of the grand ï¿½yagaasï¿½ at homes which were earlier held only at temple premises. The rich and powerful often indulge in such acts primarily to show off their wealth and also for publicity. Brahmin lobby has also encouraged this trend so that there is more demand for them. But it is time that our leaders put an end to this undesirable trend. Grand rituals & yagaas should be held only in temple premises and with the maximum participation of one and all. Moreover, it is time that common facilities are provided in our temples for conducting private family rituals. Severe space constraints have also forced many of us to explore possibilities of doing such things outside our homes. I was highly impressed by such a facility provided at Paavakulam temple at Kochi. Family members could use the facilities for simple ceremonies like naming children or birthday rituals for the old. All the utensils and fireplace are readily available at such places which otherwise would be very difficult to arrange. All modern temples should necessarily have such facilities to make religious living a pleasure.

Facilities should also be available in each temple complex for conducting marriages and other socio-religious ceremonies at no or nominal cost. It is time we encouraged simple and less expensive ceremonies to look sensible in this modern world. Sarees costing lakhs of rupees and ornaments worth crores should be looked down upon by the society. The rich should concentrate on creating wealth which is useful for all and not assets for dumping in a locker. Our society and faith will survive only if productive wealth (which includes knowledge, skills and manufacturing facilities) is passed on to our next generation and not assets in terms of gold, diamonds, land, houses and automobiles. The earlier we realise the difference between wealth and asset in our life the better for our future.

Hindu Reform Revival Centre (H2RC)

More than mere places of worship our temple complexes should become a focal point for revival of a continuous reform process required in any religion. We have far too many organisations to watch and protect our faith but very less to see within and reform it. Instead of everyone watching others to find their faults, we need someone to watch our faults and initiate reforms to make us fit for future. Such temple complexes can double as Hindu Reform Revival Centres (H2RC) catering to our complete requirements. We have 600 odd districts in our country now and an H2RC in each district would present an ideal situation. At a cost of a couple of crores for each centre, an entire chain can be set up at Rs. 1500 crores which is peanuts for a mighty group of followers.

ï¿½ J. Ajith Kuma

Sun Temples in India

2010-01-22T20:57:00.000-08:00

Introduction: The Vedic scriptures of the Hindu religion refer to the sun as the store house of inexhaustible power and radiance. Ths sun god is referred to as Surya or Aditya. The Vedas are full of hymns describing the celestial body as the source and sustainer of all life on earth. The origin of the worship of the Sun in India is thus several centuries old.
References to sun worship are found in the puranas. The Ramayana speaks of Sage Agastya initiating Rama into sun worship through the Aditya Hridaya Mantra. The astronomer and astrologer Varahamirhira makes references to the intricacies of ceremonies connected with the installation of the icon of the Sun. It is also said that Iran was once a center of Solar worship and that some of the Magha priests of Iran had been brought to India to officiate in ceremonies.
There are several temples enshrining the Sun God as the principal deity. Several temples dedicated to Shiva, feature a small shrine for Surya the Sun God. In addition, it is believed that Surya, the Sun God has offered worship at several of the shrines in Tamilnadu; many of these shrines have been designed in such a way that the sun's rays illuminate the sanctum (of Shiva) on certain days of the year. Several of the South Indian Temple Tanks also bear the name Surya Theertham or Surya Pushkarini.
This article takes readers on a journey through seven temples dedicated primarily to Surya, Dakshinaarka Temple in the Gangetic Plains, Suryanaar Koyil in South India, Arasavilli and Konark on the East Coast of India, Modhera in Gujarat (Western India), Surya Pahar in North Eastern India and Unao in Central India. It should be mentioned here that remains of an ancient Sun temple are found at Martanda near Srinagar in Kashmir. It is said to date back to the first century AD. Ruins of a sun temple which attracted thousands of visitors in the 7th century AD are found in Multan in Pakistan.
As with all other temples in India, legends and beliefs are associated with each of the above temples. It is interesting to note that one of the beliefs shared by worshippers at these temples situated so far apart - is that visits to these temples followed by a dip in the sacred tanks associated with them would bring relief to believers ailing from blindness, leprosy and other skin diseases.
The Dakshinaarka temple at Gaya, Bihar
There is an ancient Sun temple at Gaya in the state of Bihar. Offerings to the ancestors are made at the Surya Kunda or the Dakshina Maanas tank in front of the temple. Sun worship apparently was very popular in the Magadha region which included Gaya. Numerous old images of the Sun God Aditya are found in the Gaya region and there are still quite a number of sun worshippers in Gaya. It is said that they may have descended from the fire worshippers of Central Asia. In fact, the granite image of Aditya (this particular image here is also referred to as Dakshinaarka) or the Sun God worshipped here is portrayed as wearing a jacket, a waist girdle and high boots in the Iranian tradition. Hundreds of people visit this temple on Sundays.
Sun worship in the Magadha region that encompassed Gaya has been mentioned in the Puranas and thus this temple is said to be of very ancient origin. The current structure dates back to the 13^th century, where the South Indian emperor Prataparudra of Warangal in Andhra Pradesh is said to have built it.
The Sun Temple at Gaya faces east and is located close to the famous Vishnupaada temple where a footprint of Vishnu is said to be enshrined. To the east of the temple is the tank Surya Kunda. The temple is a simple and plain one, with a dome over it. The comparatively larger sabha mandapa stands in front of the sanctum. Massive pillars line the mandapa where there are graceful stone sculptures of Shiva, Bhramaa, Vishnu, Surya and Durga.
There are two other notable Sun temples at Gaya, namely the Uttaraka temple near the Uttara Maanas tank and the Gayaditya temple on the river Falgu.
The Bhramanya Dev Temple at Unao in Madhya Pradesh
The Brahmanya Dev (Baramju) temple dedicated to the Sun is located at Unao near Jhansi in Madhya Pradesh. It is a well visited temple. Local belief is that worshippers find relief from ailments such as blindness and leprosy and other skin diseases. The stone image of the Sun God stands here on a brick platform covered with black plates. Twenty one triangles representing the 21 phases of the sun are engraved in the shrine.There is a protective brass cover for the image. Sunday is the special day of worship. This temple was patronized by the Peshwas and by the ruler of Datia, a nearby town.
Sun Temple at Surya Pahar in Assam
This relatively modern Sun temple in the vicinity of the Surya Pahar Hill near Goalpara in Assam. This temple enshrines a circular stone tablet having 12 images of Aditya in a circle with an image of Kashyapa the father of Aditya in the center. Surya is said to be the son of Aditi and Kashyapa (Prajapati or the creator of beings). Each of the Adityas os one faced and two armed. According to the Puranas the Adityas are 12 in number. The text Kalika Purana mentions Surya mountain, the perpetual abode of the sun. Sun worship was present in early Assam. Surya Pahad is referred to as a virtual gallery of archeological remains. At the foot of the hill, covering a vast area there are found a good number of Siva lingams cut out of stone.In addition, Surya Pahar ruins contain many rock cut figures of artistic merit.
Suryanaar Temple near Kumbhakonam in Tamilnadu
This ancient temple dedicated to the Sun is located near Kumbhakonam in Tamilnadu. Kumbhakonam and its surroundings abound in huge temples. This well known temple enshrines the Sun - Surya, Kasi Viswanatha and Visalakshi, and the other eight celestial bodies namely Chandran, Angarakan, Budhan, Brihaspati, Sukran, Saniswaran, Rahu and Ketu. An elaborate worship protocol is prescribed for pilgrims visiting here, starting with worship at the shrine of Ganesha, culminating in circumambulating the temple nine times. This temple built in the Dravidian style is over eight hundred years old and was patronized by the Imperial Chola Kings. This temple is located in close proximity to Kanjanur, and Tirumangalakkudi housing 1200 year old temples to Shiva. Suryanaar Koyil has acquired a lot of popularity in recent times, and is one of the pivotal points in the Navagaraha Stala Tour organized by the Tamilnadu Tourist Development Corporation.
Suryanarayanaswamy temple at Arasavilli in Andhra Pradesh
This is a shrine of the Sun in a well preserved state. The temple dates back to the 7^th century and a Kalinga king is said to have constructed it. The image of worship is a 5 ft tall one of black granite holding lotus buds - flanked by Usha and Chhaya. Padmapani is the name of this Sun God - padma stands for wisdom usha and chhaya stand for eternity. This shrine is located near Srikakulam in Andhra Pradesh.
The Sun Temple at Modhera - Gujarat
This is a grand temple to the Sun God concieved and built in 1026. As in the Sun Temple at Konark, this temple was so designed that the rays of the Sun would fall on the image of Surya at the time of the equnoxes. Whatever remains of this temple is grand; the shikharas are notaby absent but the Toranas in the frontal halls, and the intricate carvings in the exterior speak of the splendour of this shrine, which still is home to the Modhera dance festival featuring dance celebrities in performance in a natural setting. Ruins of the sun temple at Modhera in Gujarat show a lot of Magha influence. The walls of the temple have representations of the sun god wearing a peculiar West Asian belt and boots as in the Sun temple at Gaya. Mention must also be made of the huge tank in front of the temple with its multitude of images.

The Sun Temple at Konarak, Orissa
The grandest and best known of all Sun temples in India is the Konark temple in Orissa. This dates back to the 13^th century and it represent the highest point in Orissan temple architecture. Konark is situated 20 miles to the north east of Puri. The word Konark means corner sun.
The black pagoda at Konarak is a grand and magnificient temple in the form of the suns charriot drawn by seven horses marking the 7 days of the week. The 24 huge wheels, magnificiently carved and decorated, mark the hours of the day. This temple was envisioned by the Ganga ruler Narasimha Deva and it was not fully completed. The main idol of the Sun God on which the suns rays fall in the morning is said to have been removed by some Portuguese navigators. The temple now comprises only of the sabhamandap and the natamandir. The main temple crumbled down many years ago.

Story of Samuel

2010-01-17T12:01:00.000-08:00

Ibn Jarir reported that the condition of the Israelites deteriorated. They committed many sins and killed whom they wished of the prophets. Consequently Allah sent them tyrannous king who ill-treated them and spilled their blood, and set their enemies from outside against them as well. They used to go war, taking with them The Ark of the Covenant. They did this so that they would be victorious by its blessings, and it became a symbol of calm and a relic left behind by Moses's people. When they went to war with the people of Gaza and Askalon, they were defeated because the Ark of the Covenant was captured from them. When the king of the Israelites heard of this he died on the spot.

The children of Israel remained like sheep without a shepherd until Almighty Allah sent them a prophet named Samuel (Shammil) (pbuh). They asked him to appoint a king over them to lead in a war against their enemies.

According to Ibn 'Asaker, the Israelites believed their Ark of the Covenant to be very holy and an important symbol of their history. The carried the Ark even in battle and believed that, because of it, Allah would protect them from their enemies. This belief gave them peace of mind and great courage, and their enemies were terrified by it. Their enemies also believed that it was given special power by Allah. Gradually the Israelites started to ignore Allah's law; evil habits became part of their lives. Allah sent upon them an enemy, the Philistines, who defeated the Israelites, captured their Ark, drove them out of their homes, and took away their children to use or sell as slaves. Their power was broken. They separated from one another and were very disheartened.

Then came Prophet Samuel (pbuh) among them to bring some relief. They asked the prophet's help in appointing a strong leader, a king under whose banner they could unite and fight the Philistines. Prophet Samuel (pbuh), knowing their weakness, told them: "I fear that when the time comes to fight you may refuse." But they assured him that they had suffered enough insults and were now ready to fight in the way of Allah, even if they lost their lives.

Prophet Samuel prayed to Allah for guidance. Allah revealed to him that He had chosen one, Saul (Talut), to be their king. The prophet wanted to know how to recognize the future king. He was told that Saul would come to him by himself and that they should then hand over the control of kingdom to him, for he would lead them in battle against the Philistines.

Saul was tall and sturdy, pious, and very intelligent. He lived and worked with his father on their farm. One day, several of their donkeys were lost. Accompanied by his servant, Saul went in search of them. They traveled for many days and were very tired. Saul said to his servant: "Let us rather go back, for I am sure that my father will be worried by now, and the other animals must also be cared for." His servant suggested that as they were already in the land of Samuel the prophet, they should go to him to inquire about the lost donkeys.

Saul agreed, and they carried on. On their way, they asked directions from some maidens carrying water. They were told to go in the direction of the mountain. Here, a vast crowd was waiting for the Prophet Samuel. When Saul set eyes on him, he instantly recognized him as a prophet by his holy men. Samuel also recognized Saul as the king that Allah had chosen for them. Saul greeted the prophet respectfully. When he asked about his missing donkeys, Samuel told him not to worry, his donkeys were already on their way to his fat's farm.

He then told Saul that Allah had chosen him as the king of the children of Israel. His duty would be to take charge of their affairs, to unite them under one banner, and to protect them from their enemies. If he carried out Allah's commands, he would be given victory. Saul was surprised by this sudden honor offered to him. It was also a heavy responsibility. He protested to the prophet that he was a of the children of Benjamin, the least famous of the tribes of Jacob; he did not know anything of leadership or kingship and had no wealth. Samuel told him that it was the will of Allah that he should be the king, that he should thank Allah for His favor and be strong in faith.

Taking Saul by the hand, Samuel led him to the children of Israel, but they insisted on a direct sign from Allah. Prophet Samuel told them to go outside the city to see the sign, which they did. Almighty Allah revealed: "Have you not thought about the group of children of Israel after (the time of ) Moses? When they said to a Prophet of theirs: "Appoint for us a king and we will fight in Allah's Way."

He said: "Would you then refrain from fighting, if fighting was prescribed for you?"

They said: "Why should we not fight in Allah's Way while we have been driven out of our homes and our children (families have been taken as captives)?"

But when fighting was ordered for them, they turned away, all except a few of them. And Allah is All-Aware of the Zalimeen (polytheists, and wrongdoers).

And their Prophet (Samuel) said to them: "Indeed Allah has appointed Saul as a king over you."

They said: "How can he be a king over us when we are better fitted than him for the kingdom, and he has not been given enough wealth."

He said: "Verily, Allah has chosen him above you and has increased him abundantly in knowledge and stature. And Allah grants His Kingdom to whom He wills. And Allah is All-Sufficient for His creatures' needs, All-Knower."

And their Prophet (Samuel) said to them: "Verily! The sigh of His kingdom is that there shall come to you At Tabut (a wooden box), wherein is Sakinah (peace and reassurance) from your Lord and a remnant of that which Moses and Aaron left behind, carried by the angels. Verily, in this is a sigh for you if you are indeed believers."

Then when Saul set out with the army, he said: "Verily! Allah will try you by a river. So whoever drinks thereof, he is not of me, and whoever tastes it not, he is of me, except him who takes thereof in the hollow of his hand."

Yet, they drank thereof, all, except a few of them. So when he had crossed it (the river), he and those who believed with him, they said: "We have no power on this day against Goliath and his hosts."

But those who knew with certainty that they were to meet their Lord, said: "How often a small group overcame a mighty host by Allah's Leave?" And Allah is with the patient.

And when they advanced to meet Goliath and his forces, they invoked. "Our Lord! Pour forth on us patience and make us victorious over the disbelieving people." (Ch 2:246-250)

Saul set about organizing his army with strong faith and wisdom. He ordered that only men free from responsibilities should join. Those engaged in building homes, men who were about to be married and those occupied with business should not join.

After establishing a well-trained army, he decided to put them to the test. He told them that along the route they would pass a river where they should drink enough water to quench their thirst but not more than that. To his disappointment, he discovered the majority of them drank more water than they should have. He discharged them for disobedience and kept only the few who had obeyed him, as they were the ones who proved their sincerity. This resulted in a split in the army, but he was not bothered. He believed in quality and not numbers; better a small band of true believers he could rely on than a huge army of unreliable men.

Saul's men sighted the enemy on the other side of the river. Their opponents appeared physically strong and were armed with better weapons. They were led by the mighty warrior Goliath (Galut), known for his huge build and brute strength. A great number of Saul's men ran away on seeing this strong force. The small band that remained was willing to fight, whatever the outcome, for they had heard that there had been many incidents in the past in which Allah had caused a small force to defeat a larger one.

Story of Elisha (Elyas)

2010-01-17T11:59:00.001-08:00

And remember Our slaves, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, (all) owners of strength (in worshipping Us) and (also) of religious understanding. Verily, We did choose them by granting them (a good thing ) the remembrance of the home (in the Hereafter and they used to make the people remember it, and also they used to invite the people to obey Allah and to do good deeds for the Hereafter). And they are in Our Sight, verily, of the chosen and the best! And remember Ishmael, Elisha, and Dhul-Kifl, all are among the best. (Ch 38:45-48 Quran).

Ibn Ishaaq said that Elisha (pbuh) was sent to the children after Elijah (pbuh). He lived among his people, calling them to Allah and abiding by the message and laws of Elijah until he passed away. Then dissension rose among them, and events took momentum. Sins increased everywhere, and the tyrants increased and killed the prophets.

According to Al-Hafiz Abu Al-Qasim Ibn Asaker, Elisha was Ibn Adi, Ibn Shultam, Ibn Aphraem, Ibn Joseph, Ibn Isaac, Ibn Abraham. It was said that he was the cousin of Elijah. Other sources said also that he had been hiding with Elijah in a cave in Mount Qasium to escape from the King of Ba'alabak, and when Elijah died, he Elisha succeeded him as a prophet among his people.

Story of Ezekiel (Hizqeel)

2010-01-17T11:58:00.001-08:00

Almighty Allah said: Did you (O Muhammad) not think of those who went forth from their homes in thousands, fearing death? Allah said to them, "Die." And then He restored them to life. Truly, Allah is full of Bounty to mankind, but most men think not. (Ch 2:243 Quran).

Mohammad Ibn Ishaaq stated of Wahb Ibn Munbah said that when Allah took Kalih Ibn Yofra (Jephtha) after Joshua, Ezekiel Ibn Buzi succeeded him as the prophet to the Israelites. The people had fled from Palestine for fear of the plague and settled on a plateau. Allah said to them: "Die you all," and they all perished. A few centuries passed, and then Ezekiel, passing by, stopped over them, wondering. There came a voice: "Do you want Allah to resurrect them while you watch?" He said: "Yes." Then he was commanded to call those bones to join one to the other and to be covered with flesh. So he called them by the power of Allah, and the people arose and glorified Allah in the voice of one man.

According to Ibn Abbas, this place was called "Damardan." Its people were inflicted with plague, so they fled, while a group of them who remained in the village perished. The Angel of Death called to the survivors: "Die you all," and they perished. After a long time a prophet called Ezekiel passed by them and stood wondering over them, twisting his jaws and fingers. Allah revealed to him: "Do you want Me to show you how I bring them back to life? He said: "Yes." His idea was to marvel at the power of Allah over them. A voice said to him: "Call: 'O you bones, Allah commands you to gather up.'" The bones began to fly one to the other until they became skeletons. Then Allah revealed to him to say; "Call: 'O you bones, Allah commands you to put on flesh and blood and the clothes in which they had died.'" And a voice said: "Allah commands you to call the bodies to rise." And they rose. When they returned to life they said: "Blessed are You, O Lord, and all praises is Yours." Ibn 'Abbas reported that the dead who were resurrected were four thousand, while Ibn Salih said they were nine thousand.

Regarding plague, Abu Ubaidah Ibn Al-Jarrah related that 'Umar Ibn Al-Khattab was on his way to Syria and had reached Sarg when the leader of the Muslim army, Abu Ubaidah Ibn Al-Jarrah, and his companions met him and told him of a pestilence that had broken out in Syria. 'Umar remember the Prophet's (pbuh) saying: "If it (plague) be in a country where you are staying, do not go out fleeing it, and if you hear it is in a country, do not enter it." Umar praised Allah and then went off.

Muhammad Ibn Ishaaq stated that we do not know how long Ezekiel (pbuh) stayed among the Israelites before Allah took him away. After him, the Israelites deviated from the right way of life, as they usually did, and deserted Allah's covenant with them. They worshipped many idols, among them Ba'al, so Allah sent to them the Prophet Elijah (pbuh).

Prophet Jonah (Yunus)

2010-01-17T11:48:00.001-08:00

Prophet Jonah (Yunus) (pbuh) also known as Dhan-Nun. About his people Almighty Allah said: Was there any town community that believed after seeing the punishment, and its Faith at that moment, saved it from the punishment? (the answer is none)--except the people of Jonah; when they believed, We removed from them the torment of disgrace in the life of the present world, and permitted them to enjoy for a while. (Ch 10:98 Quran)

The inhabitants of the town of Nineveh were idolaters who lived a shameless life. Prophet Jonah (pbuh) was sent to teach them the worship of Allah. The people disliked his interference in their way of worship, so they argued. "We and our forefathers have worshipped these gods for many years and no harm has come to us."

Try as he might to convince them of the foolishness of idolatry and of the goodness of Allah's laws, the ignored him. He warned them that if they kept on with their foolishness, Allah's punishment would soon follow. Instead of fearing Allah, they told Jonah that they were not afraid of his threats. "Let it happen," they told him. Jonah was disheartened. "in that case, I will leave you to your misery!" so saying, he left Nineveh, fearing that Allah's anger would soon follow. Remember Dhan Nun (Jonah), when he went off in anger, and imagined that We shall not punish him (the calamities which had befallen him)! (ch 21:87)

Hardly had he left the city when the skies began to change color and looked as if they were on fire. The people were filled with fear by this sight. They recalled the destruction of the people of 'Ad, Thamud and Noah. Was theirs to be a similar fate? Slowly faith penetrated their hearts. They all gathered on the mountain and started to beseech Allah for His mercy and forgiveness. The mountains echoed with their cries. It was a momentous hour, filled with sincere repentance.

Allah removed His wrath and showered His blessings upon them once again. When the threatening storm was lifted, they prayed for the return of Jonah so that he could guide them.

Meanwhile, Jonah had boarded a small ship in the company of other passengers. It sailed all day in calm waters with a good wind blowing at the sails. When night came, the sea suddenly changed. A horrible storm blew as if it were going to split the ship into pieces. The waves looked wild. They rose up as high as mountains then plunged down like valleys, tossing the ship and sweeping over the deck.

Behind the ship, a large whale was splitting the water and opening its mouth. A command had been issued from Almighty Allah to one of the greatest whales of the sea to surface. It obeyed. The whale hurried to the surface of the sea and followed the ship as it had been commanded.

The tempest continued and the chief crewman asked the crew to lighten the ship's heavy load. They threw their baggage overboard, but this was not enough. Their safety lay in reducing the weight further, so they decided among themselves to lighten their load by removing at least one person.

The captain directed: We will make lots with all of the travelers' names. The one whose name is drawn will be thrown into the sea." Jonah knew this was one of the seamen's traditions when facing a tempest. It was a strange polytheistic tradition, but it was practiced at that time. Jonah's affliction and crisis began.

Here was the prophet, subjected to polytheistic rules that considered the sea and the wind to have gods that riot. The captain had to please these gods. Jonah reluctantly participated in the lot, and his name was added to the other travelers' names. The lot was drawn and "Jonah" appeared.

Since they knew him to be the most honorable among them, they did not wish to throw him into the angry sea. Therefore, they decided to draw a second lot. Again Jonah's name was drawn. They gave him a final chance and drew a third lot. Unfortunately for Jonah, his name came up again.

Jonah realized that Allah's hand was in all this, for he had abandoned his mission without Allah's consent. The matter was over, and it was decided that Jonah should throw himself into the water. Jonah stood at the edge of the ship looking at the furious sea. It was night and there was no moon. The stars were hidden behind a black fog. But before he could be thrown overboard, Jonah kept mentioning Allah's name as he jumped into the raging sea and disappeared beneath the huge waves.

The whale found Jonah floating on the waves before it. It swallowed Jonah into its furious stomach and shut its ivory teeth on him as if they were white bolts locking the door of his prison. The whale dived to the bottom of the sea, the sea that runs in the abyss of darkness.

Three layers of darkness enveloped him, one above the other; the darkness of the whale's stomach, the darkness of the bottom of the sea, the darkness of the night. Jonah imaged himself to be dead, but his senses became alert when he found he could move. He knew that he was alive and imprisoned in the midst of three layers of darkness. His heart was moved by remembering Allah. His tongue released soon after saying: La ilaha illa Anta (none has the right to be worshipped but You (O Allah), Glorified (and Exalted) be You (above all that evil they associate with You), Truly, I have been of the wrong doers." (Ch 21:87 Quran)

Jonah continued praying to Allah, repeating this invocation. Fishes, whales, seaweeds, and all the creatures that lived in the sea heard the voice of Jonah praying, heard the celebration of Allah's praises issuing from the whale's stomach. All these creatures gathered around the whale and began to celebrate the praises of Allah in their turn, each in its own way and in its own language.

The whale also participated in celebrating the praises of Allah and understood that it had swallowed a prophet. Therefore it felt afraid; however, it said to itself; "Why should I be afraid? Allah commanded me to swallow him."

Allah Almighty saw the sincere repentance of Jonah and heard his invocation in the whale's stomach. Allah commanded the whale to surface and eject Jonah onto an island. The whale obeyed and swam to the farthest side of the ocean. Allah commanded it to rise towards the warm, refreshing sun and the pleasant earth.

The whale ejected Jonah onto a remote island. His body was inflamed because of the acids inside the whale's stomach. He was ill, and when the sun rose, its ray burned his inflamed body so that he was on the verge of screaming for the pain. However, he endured the pain and continued to repeat his invocation to Allah.

Almighty Allah caused a vine to grow to considerable length over him for protection. Then Allah Exalted caused Jonah to recover and forgave him. Allah told Jonah that if it had not been for his praying to Him, he would have stayed in the whale's stomach till the Day of Judgment.

Almighty Allah recounted: And, verily, Jonah was one of the Messengers. When he ran to the laden ship, he agreed to cast lots and he was among the losers, Then a big fish swallowed him and he had done an act worthy of blame. Had he not been of them who glorify Allah, he would have indeed remained inside its belly (the fish) till the Day of Resurrection. But We cast him forth on the naked shore while he was sick and We caused a plant of gourd to grow over him. And We sent him to a hundred thousand people or even more, and they believed; so We gave them enjoyment for a while. (Ch 37:139-148 Quran).

Gradually he regained his strength and found his way to his hometown, Nineveh. He was pleasantly surprised to notice the change that had taken place there. The entire population turned out to welcome him. They informed him that they had turned to believe in Allah. Together they led a prayer of thanksgiving to their Merciful Lord.

Ibn Abbas narrated: "The Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said: 'One should not say I am better than Jonah Ibn Matta.'" (Sahih Bukhari).

Story of Prophet Joseph (Yusuf)

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This is the most detailed and fascinating story in the Quran, involving both human weaknesses such as jealousy, hatred, pride, passion, deception, intrigue, cruelty, and terror as well as noble qualities such as patience, loyalty, bravery, nobility, and compassion.

It is related that among the reasons for its revelation is that the Jews asked the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) to tell them about Joseph (pbuh) who was one of their old prophets. His story had been distorted in parts and marred in others with interpolation and exclusions. Therefore it was revealed in the Book of Allah (Quran), complete in its minute and careful details.

Allah the Almighty declared: We relate unto you (Muhammad) the best of stories through Our Revelations unto you, of this Quran. And before this (i.e. before the coming of Divine Inspiration to you), you were among those who knew nothing about it (the Quran). ( Ch 12:3 Quran)

Almighty Allah also decreed: thus We relate to you (O Muhammad) some information of what happened before, And indeed We have give you from Us a Reminder (this Quran). Whoever turns away from it (this Quran--i.e. does not believe in it, nor acts on its orders), verily they will bear a heavy burden (of sins) on the Day of Resurrection. They will abide in that (state in the Fire of Hell), and evil indeed will it be that load for them on the Day of Resurrection.(Ch 20:99-101)

The story of Joseph (pbuh) moves in a stream from beginning to end; its substance and form are equally coherent. It inspires you with a feeling for the depth of Allah's power and supremacy and the execution of His rulings despite the challenge of human intervention. And Allah has full power and control over His Affairs, but most of men know not. (Ch 12:21)

This is what the story of Joseph (pbuh), confirms categorically, for it ends with comfort and marvels.

Joseph lived all his life confronting schemes made by the people closest to him. His brothers plotted to kill him, but they amended it to exiling him. This happened to him while he was a boy. He was sold into the slave market in Egypt, where he was bought for a nominal sum. Then he fell victim to the attempted seduction by a great man's wife who, when her wish was foiled, sent him to prison, where he remained for some time. In spite of all of this, he at length approached close to the Egyptian throne and became the king's chief minister. He then began his call to Allah from the position of the ruling authority.

Allah's plans were carried out, and the matter ended. This is the substance (theme) of the story. As for the form (style) in which it is presented, it is a landmark of wonder.

The story is presented in a sequence of episodes. It gives you scene after scene and the transition is inspiring, informative, and stirring to the imagination. There are also artistic loopholes, which leave it to the imagination of the reader to complete the sense, as well as the depth of the picture, the like of which no human artist can bring forth.

The story begins with a dream and ends with its interpretation. As the sun appeared over the horizon, bathing the earth in its morning glory, Joseph (pbuh), son of the Prophet Jacob (pbuh) awoke from his sleep, delighted by a pleasant dream he had had. Filled with excitement he ran to his father and related it.

"O my father! Verily, I saw (in a dream) eleven stars and the sun and the moon, I saw them prostrating themselves to me." (Ch 12:4)

His father's face lit up. He foresaw that Joseph would be one through whom the prophecy of his grandfather, Prophet Abraham (pbuh), would be fulfilled, in that his offspring would keep the light of Abraham's house alive and spread Allah's message to mankind.

Therefore, it was narrated that Allah's Messenger Muhammad (pbuh) was asked: "Who is the most honorable amongst the people?" He replied: "The most God-fearing." The people said: "We do not want to ask you about this." He said: "The most honorable person is Joseph Allah's prophet, the son of Allah's prophet, the son of the faithful friend of Allah (Abraham)." (Sahih Al-Bukhari)

However, the father was well aware of the jealousy of Joseph's brothers, so he warned him against telling his dream to his brothers. "O my son! Relate not your vision to your brothers, lest they arrange a plot against you. Verily! Satan is to man an open enemy! Thus will your Lord choose you and teach you the interpretation of dreams (an other things) and perfect His Favor on you and on the offspring of Jacob, as He perfected it on your fathers, Abraham, and Isaac aforetime! Verily! your Lord is All-Knowing, All-Wise." (Ch 12:5-6)

Joseph heeded his father's warning. He did not tell his brothers what he had seen. It is well known that they hatred him so much that it was difficult for him to feel secure telling them what was in his heart and in his dreams.

Joseph was eighteen years old, very handsome and robust, with a gentle temperament. He was respectful, kind and considerate. His brother Benjamin was equally pleasant. Both were from one mother, Rachel. Because of their refined qualities, the father loved the two more than his other children, and would not let them out of his sight. To protect them, he kept them busy with work in the house garden.

The scene of Jacob and his son closes. Another opens on Joseph's brothers plotting against him. "Truly, Joseph and his brother (Benjamin) are loved more by our father than we, but we are Usbah (a strong group). Really our father is in a plain error. Kill Joseph or cast him out to some other land, so that the favor of your father may be give to you alone, and after that you will be righteous folk (by intending repentance before committing the sin)."

One from among them said: "Kill not Joseph, but if you must do something, throw him down to the bottom of a well, he will be picked up by some caravan of travelers.">> (Ch 12:8-10)

The pages of the Old Testament say that Joseph told them his dream, whereas the Quran does not say that happened. Had it been so, the brothers would have said so themselves. The Old Testament claims they had lost their own rights by him, and so they would kill him. Indeed Joseph kept his father's order and did not tell his brothers about his vision.

In spite of this, his brothers sat down to conspire against him. One of them asked: "Why does our father love Joseph more than us?"

Another answered: "Perhaps because of his beauty."

A third said: "Joseph and his brother occupied our father's heart."

The first complained: "Our father has gone all astray."

One of them suggested a solution to the matter; kill Joseph.

"Where should we kill him?"

"We should banish him away from these grounds."

"We will send him to a distant land."

"Why should we not kill him and have rest so that the favor of your father may be give to you alone?"

However, Judah (Yahudh), the eldest and most intelligent among them, said: "There is no need to kill him when all you want is to get rid of him. Look here, let us throw him into a well and he will be picked up by a passing caravan. T hey will take him with them to a distant land. He will disappear from your father's sight and our purpose will be served with his exile. Then after that we shall repent for our crime and become good people once again."

The discussion continued on the idea of dropping Joseph into a well, as it was seen as the safest solution. The plan to kill him was defeated; kidnap into a distant land was approved. It was the cleverest of ideas.

Their next movement opened the scene between them and their father Jacob (pbuh): They said: "O our father! Why do you not trust us with Joseph, when we are indeed his well wishers? Send him with us tomorrow to enjoy himself and play, and verily we will take care of him."

He (Jacob) said: "Truly, it saddens me that you should take him away. I fear lest a wolf should devour him, while you are careless of him."

They said: "If a wolf devours him, while we are Usbah (a strong group) (to guard him), then surely we are the losers.">> (Ch 12:11-14)

Jacob suggested a point, which had not occurred to them in their discussion: he feared that desert wolves would eat him! ithe wolves within them, or did he mean the wild wolves? No one but Allah knows. They coaxed their father to send Joseph with them; he agreed under their pressure.

They were excited that they could now get rid of Joseph for after this they could stand a better chance of receiving their father's affection. On leaving home, they went directly to the well, as they had planned, on the pretext of drinking water. One of them put his arms around Joseph and held him tightly. Startled by this unusual behavior, Joseph struggled to free himself. More brothers rushed to hold him. One of them removed his shirt. Some more joined in to lift Joseph up and cast him into the deep well. Joseph's piteous pleas made no difference to their cruel hearts.

Then Allah revealed to Joseph that he was safe and should not fear, for he would meet them again some day to remind them of what they had done.

There was water in the well, which buoyed Joseph's body, so he was not harmed. He sat lonely in the water, then clung to a rock ledge overheard and climbed on top of it. his brothers left him in this desolate place.

Then they killed a sheep and soaked Joseph's shirt in its blood. One brother said that they should swear to keep their deed a close secret. All of them took the oath. And they came to their father in the early part of the night weeping. (Ch 12:16)

The scene here is dark night, broken by the crying of ten men. The father is sitting in his house when the sons enter, the darkness of night covering the darkness of their hearts and the darkness of their lies struggling to come out. Jacob wondered aloud: "Why this weeping? Has anything happened to our flock?" They answered crying: "O our father! We went racing with one another, and left Joseph by our belongings and a wolf devoured him; but you will never believe us even when we speak the truth. (Ch 12:17)

"We were surprised after returning from the race that Joseph was in the belly of the wolf."

"We did not see him!"

"You will not believe us even though we are truthful! we are telling you what happened!"

"The wolf has eaten Joseph!"

"This is Joseph's shirt. We foiled it soiled with blood, and did not find Joseph!"

They brought his shirt stained with false blood. (Ch 12:18)

Deep down in the heart Jacob knew that his beloved son was still alive and that his other sons were lying. He held the blood stained in his hands, spread it out and remarked: "What a merciful wolf! he ate up my beloved son without tearing his shirt!" Their faces turned red when he demanded more information, but each swore by Allah that he was telling the truth. The brokenhearted father burst into tears: "Nay! But your ownselves have made up a tale. So for me patience is more fitting. It is Allah Alone whose Help can be sought against that which you assert." (Ch 12:18)

The father acted wisely by praying for mighty patience, which is free of doubt, and by trusting in Allah for help against what they had plotted against him and his son. This scene dims, and the scene opens in the well with which Joseph had been thrown.

In the dark well Joseph managed to find a stone ledge to hold onto. Around him was total darkness and an eerie silence. Fearful thoughts entered his mind: what would happen to him? Where would he find food? Why had his own brothers turned against him? Would his father know of his plight? His father's smile flashed before him recalling the love and affection he had always shown him. Joseph began to pray earnestly, pleading to Allah for salvation. Gradually his fear began to subside. His Creator was testing the young man with a great misfortune in order to infuse in him a spirit of patience and courage. Joseph, surrended himself to the will of his Lord.

The next scene shows the wide desert. At the horizon is a long line of camels, horses, and men; a caravan on its way to Egypt. The caravan of merchants halted at this famous well for water. A man lowered in his bucket. Joseph was startled by the bucket hurtling down and grabbed hold of it before it could land in the water. As the man began to haul he felt the load unusually heavy, so he peeped into the well. What he saw shocked him; a man was clinging to the rope! He held the rope tightly and shouted to his friends: "Better give me a hand fellows! Looks like I found real treasure in the well!"

His companions rushed to the well and helped him to pull out the stranger holding onto the rope. Standing before them was a healthy, handsome youth, beaming with an angelic smile. They saw in him a handsome prize, for money was all that mattered to them. Immediately, they clapped iron shackles on his feet and took him along to Egypt, far away from his beloved homeland of Canaan.

All over the Egyptian city the news spread that an unusually handsome, robust young slave was on sale. People gathered by the hundreds at the slave market. some were spectators, others were bidders the elite and the rich, each one craning his neck to view the handsome specimen. the auctioneer had a field day as the bidding went wild, each buyer trying to outbid the other. Eventually, the Aziz, the chief minister of Egypt, outbid all the others and took Joseph to his mansion.

The Quran describes this scene as follows: And there came a caravan of travelers; they sent their water drawer, and he let down his bucket into the well. He said: "What a good news! Here is a boy." So they hid him as merchandise (a slave). And Allah was the All Knower of what they did.

They sold him for a low price, for a few Dhirhams (for a few silver coins). They were of those who regarded him insignificant.

he (the man) from Egypt who bought him said to his wife: "Make his stay comfortable, may be he will profit us or we shall ado[t him as a son." Thus did We establish Joseph in the land, that We might teach him the interpretation of events. (Ch 12:19-21)

See how Allah the Almighty reveals the substance of this long story from its beginning: And Allah has full power and control over His Affairs, but most of men know not. (Ch 12:21)

The chains of slavery have closed on Joseph. He was cast into the well, deprived of his father, picked from the well, made a slave, sold at the market, and made the property of this man, the Aziz, the chief minister. The hazards followed in quick succession, leaving Joseph helpless.

What we see as hazards and slander is the first step of the ladder on Joseph's way to greatness. Allah is decisive in His action. His plan is carried out despite the plans of others and while theirs are still being made. So He spoils their plan, and Allah's promise is realized. Allah has promise Joseph prophethood. Love for Joseph was thrust into the heart of the man who bought him, and he was a man of no mean position. He was an important personage, one of the ruling class of Egypt.

Therefore, Joseph was pleasantly surprised when the chief minister of Egypt ordered his men to remove the heavy shackles from his swollen feet. He was also surprised when he told Joseph not to betray his trust; he would not be ill-treated if he behaved himself. Joseph smiled at his benefactor, thanked him, and promised to be loyal.

Joseph felt at ease, for at last he was sheltered and would be well cared for. He thanked Allah over and over and wondered at the mysterious of life. Not so long ago he had been cast into a deep, dark well with no hope of ever coming out alive. Next he was rescued, then enslaved in iron shackles, and now he was moving freely in a luxurious mansion with enough food to enjoy. However, his heart ached with longing for his parents and brother Benjamin, and he shed tears daily.

Joseph was made the personal attendant of the chief minister's wife. He was obedient and ever-obliging. With his pleasant manners and charming behavior, he won everybody's heart.

Joseph's handsomeness became the talk of the town. People referred to him as the most attractive man they had ever seen and wrote poetry about him. His face carried immaculate beauty. The purity of his inner soul and his heart showed in his face, increasing his beauty. People from afar came to the city to have a glimpse of him. The prettiest of maidens and the richest of ladiesnursthe to possess him, but not once did he show haughtiness or conceit. he was always humble and polite.

The days passed and Joseph grew. Almighty Allah said: And when he (Joseph) attained his full manhood, We gave him wisdom and knowledge (the Prophethood), thus We reward the doers of good. (Ch 12:22)

He was given wisdom in affairs and knowledge of life and its conditions. He as given the art of conversation, captivating those who heard him. He was given nobility and self restraint, which made him an irresistible personality. His master soon knew that Allah had graced him with Joseph. He understood that Joseph was the most honest, straightforward and noble person he had met in his life. Therefore, he put Joseph in charge of his household, honored him, and treated him as a son.

The wife of the chief minister, Zulaikha, watched Joseph from day to day. She at with him, talked with him, listened to him, and her wonder increased over the passion of time.

Joseph was soon confronted (with his second trial). The chief minister's wife, Zulaikha could not resist the handsome Joseph, and her obsession with him caused her sleepless nights. She fell in love with him, and it was painful for her to be so close to a man, yet be unable to hold him. Yet, she was not a wayward woman, for in her position she could get any man she desired. By all accounts, she must have been a very pretty and intelligent lady, or why would the chief minister have chosen her of all the pretty women in the kingdom? Although she bore him no child, he would not take another wife, as he loved her passionately.

The Quran raises the curtain on the scene of this fierce and devouring love on the part of the lady. Allah the Almighty told us: And she, in whose house he was, sought to seduce him (to do an evil act), she closed the doors and said: "come on, O you." He said: "I seek refuge in Allah (or Allah forbid)! Truly he (your husband) is my master! He made my stay agreeable! (So I will never betray him). Verily, the Zalimun (wrong, evildoers) will never be successful." Indeed she did desire him and he would have inclined to her desire had he not seen the evidence of his Lord. Thus it was, that We might turn away from evil and illegal sexual intercourse. Surely, he was one of Our chosen, guided slaves. (Ch 12:23-24)

Commentators are unanimous about her intention of disobedience but disagree about his own intention. There are those who say that she tempted him and he tempted her to sin, although he did not follow through with his intent. Others say that she merely wanted him to kiss her, and he attempted to strike her. Yet others say that this anxiety had been there before this incident. There was a psychological disturbance in Joseph when he reached adolescence, which Almighty Allah rid him of.

The safest commentary for us is that there is temptation and resistance in the verse, for He Most High stated: And indeed she did desire him and he would have inclined to her desire... (Ch 12:24)

Abu Ubaidah said that this is a temptation and resistance meaning that she had tried to seduce him; had he not seen the proof of Allah, he would have been seduced. This is in keeping with the infallibility of prophets, as it suits the words, which immediately follow: Thus it was that We might turn away from him evil and illegal sexual intercourse. surely, he was one of Our chosen, guided slaves. (Ch 12:24)

This verse proves that Joseph was an upright worshipper of Allah; it also testifies to his rescue from the authority of Satan. The Almighty said to the devil (Iblis) on the Day of Creation, "Certainly, you shall no authority over My slaves, except those who follow you of the Ghawin (Mushrikeen, and those who go astray, criminals, polytheists, and evildoers, etc)" (Ch 15:42)

Joseph's refusal only heightened her passion. As he moved to the door to escape, she ran after him and caught hold of his shirt, like a drowning person clinging to the boat. In her tugging she tore his shirt and held the torn piece in her hand. They reached the door together. It opened suddenly, there stood her husband and a relative of hers.

Almighty Allah said: So they raced with one another to the door, and she tore his shirt from the back. They both found her lord (her husband) at the door. (Ch 12:25)

As he opened the door, he saw her husband standing in front of him. The sly woman immediately changed her tone to anger, and, showing the torn piece of the shirt in her hand, asked her husband: "What is the recompense (punishment) for him who intended an evil design against your wife, except that he be put in prison or a painful torment?" (Ch 12:25)

She was now accusing Joseph of molesting her, to give the impression that she was innocent and a victim of Joseph's sexual desire. Though bewildered Joseph denied it: "it was she that sought to seduce me." (Ch 12:26)

The shirt was passed from hand to hand, while she watched. The witness (her cousin) looked at it and found that it was torn at the back. The evidence showed that she was guilty. The disappointed husband remarked to his wife: "Surely, it is a plot of you women! Certainly mighty is you plot!" (Ch 12:28)

The wise and just Aziz apologized to Joseph for his wife's indecency. He also instructed her to beg Joseph's forgiveness for accusing him falsely. Allah the Almighty narrated this incident thus: He (Joseph) said: "It was she that sought to seduce me," and a witness of her household bore witness saying: "If it be that his shirt is torn from the front, then her tale is true, and he is a liar! but if it be that his shirt is torn from the back, then she has told a lie and he is speaking the truth!"

So when he (the husband) saw his (Joseph's) shirt was torn at the back; (her husband) said: "Surely, it is a plot of you women! certainly mighty is your plot! O Joseph! turn away from this! (O woman)! Ask forgiveness for your sin. Verily, you were of the sinful."(Ch 12:26-29 Quran).

An incident like this cannot remain a secret in a house filled with servants, and the story spread. Women began to see her behavior as scandalous. They remarked: "The wife of Al-Aziz is seeking to seduce her (slave) young man, indeed she loves him violently; verily, we see her in plain error." (Ch 12:30)

Naturally their gossip distressed Zulaikha. She honestly believed that it was not easy for any women to resist a man as handsome as Joseph. To prove her helplessness, she planned to subject the women to the same temptation she faced. She invited them to a lavish banquet. No one so invited would want to miss the honor of dining with the chief minister's wife; besides, they secretly harbored the desire to meet the handsome Joseph face to face. Some of her close friends jokingly said they would come only if she introduced them to Joseph.

The invitation was restricted to ladies. The banquet began, laughter and mirth abounded. Etiquette dictated that the ladies not mention the topic of Joseph. They were shocked, therefore, when Zulaikha opened the topic. "I have heard of those who say I have fallen in love with the young Hebrew man, Joseph." Silence fell upon the banquet. At once all the guests hands stopped, and all eyes fell on the chief minister's wife. She said, while giving orders for the fruit to be served: "I admit that he is charming fellow. I do not deny that I love him. I have loved him for a long time."

The confession of the chief minister's wife removed the tension among the ladies. After finishing their dinner, the guests began cutting their fruit. At that very moment she summoned Joseph to make his appearance. He entered the hall gracefully, his gaze lowered. Zulaikha called him by his name and he raised his head. The guests were astonished and dumbfounded. His face was shining and full of mand angelic beauty. It reflected complete innocence, so much so that one could feel the peace of mind in the depth of his soul.

They exclaimed in astonishment while continuing to cut the fruit. All their eyes were on Joseph. So it was that the women began to cut their palms absent mindly without feeling that they had cut them.

The presence of Joseph at the scene of drama was so effective that blflowedwithouttheir feeling pain. One of the ladies gasped: "Good gracious!" Another whispered: "This is not a mortal being!" Another stammered, patting her hair: "This is but a noble angel."

Then the chief minister's wife stood up and announced: "This is the one for whom I have been blamed. I do not deny that I tempted him. You have been enchanted by Joseph, and see what has happened to your hands. I have tempted him, and if he does not do what I want of him he shall be imprisoned."

Almighty Allah related the scene of the banquet in His words: So when she heard of their accusation, she sent for them and prepared a banquet for them; she gave each one of them a knife (to cut the foodstuff with), and she said (to Joseph): "Come out before them." Then, when they saw him, they exalted him (at his beauty) and (in their astonishment) cut their hands. They said: "how perfect is Allah (or Allah forbid)! No man is this! This is none other than a noble angel!"

She said: "This is he (the young man) about whom you did blame me (for his love) and I did seek to seduce him, but he refused. And now if he refuses to obey my order, he shall certainly be cast into prison, and will be one of those who are disgraced."

He said: "O my Lord! Prison is more to my liking than that to which they invite me. Unless You turn away their plot from me, I will feel inclined towards them and be one of those who commit sin and deserve blame or those who do deeds of the ignorants."

So his Lord answered his inovocation and turned away from him their plot. Verily he is the All Hearer, the All Knower. (Ch 12:31-34)

That evening, Zulaikha convinced her husband that the only way to save her honor was to put Joseph in prison; otherwise she would not be able to control herself or to safeguard his prestige. The chief minister knew Joseph was absolutely innocent, that he was a young man of honor, a loyal servant, and he loved him for these reasons. It was not an easy decision for him to put an innocent man behind bars. However, he was left with no choice. He reasoned that Joseph's honor would also be safeguarded if he was kept out of Zulaikha's sight. That night, with a heavy heart, the chief minister sent Joseph to prison.

Prophet Lut

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Prophet Abraham (PBUH) left Egypt accompanied by his nephew Lut (PBUH), who then went to the city of Sodom (Sadum), which was on the western shore of the Dead Sea.

This city was filled with evil. Its residents waylaid, robbed and killed travelers. Another common evil among them was that men had sex with men instead of with women. This unnatural act later became known as sodomy (after the city of Sodom). It was practiced openly and unashamedly.

It was at the height of these crimes and sins that Allah revealed to Prophet Lut (PBUH) that he should summon the people to give up their indecent behavior, but they were so deeply sunk in their immoral habits that they were deaf to Lot's preaching. Swamped in their unnatural desires, they refused to listen, even when Lot warned them of Allah's punishment. Instead, they threatened to drive him out of the city if he kept on preaching.

Allah the Almighty revealed: The people of Lot (those dwelt in the towns of Sodom in Palestine) belied the Messengers when their brother Lot said to them: "Will you not fear Allah and obey Him? Verily! I am a trustworthy Messenger to you. SO fear Allah, keep your duty to Him, and obey me. No reward do I ask of you for it (my Message of Islamic Monotheism) my reward is only from the Lord of the Alamin (mankind, jinn and all that exists). Go you in unto the males of the Alamin (mankind), and leave those whom Allah has created for you to be your wives? Nay, you are a trespassing people!"

They said: "If you cease not, O Lot! Verily, you will be one of those who are driven out!"

HE said: "I am indeed, of those who disapprove with severe anger and fury your (this evil) action (of sodomy). My Lord! Save me and my family from what they do."

SO We saved him and his family, all except an old woman (this wife) among those who remained behind. (Ch 26:160-171 Quran)

The doings of Lot's people saddened his heart. Their unwholesome reputation spread throughout the land, while he struggled against them. As the years passed, he persisted in his mission but to no avail. No one responded to his call and believed except for the members of his family, and even in his household, not all the members believed. Lot's wife, like Noah's wife, a disbeliever.

Allah the Almighty declared: Allah set forth an example for those who disbelieve, the wife of Noah and the wife of Lot. They were under two of Our righteous slaves, but they both betrayed their (husbands, by rejecting their doctrines) so they (Noah & Lut) benefited them (their respective wives) not, against Allah, and it was said: "Enter the Fire along with those who enter!" (Ch 66:10 Quran)

If home is the place of comfort and rest, then Lut found none, for he was tormented both inside and outside his home. His life was continuous torture and he suffered greatly, but he remained patient and steadfast with his people. The years rolled by, and still not one believed in him. Instead, they belittled his message and mockingly challenged him: "Bring Allah's Torment upon us if you are one of the truthful!" (Ch 29:29 Quran).

Overwhelmed with despair, Lot prayed to Allah to grant him victory and destroy the corrupt. Therefore, the angels left Abraham (pbuh) and headed for Sodom the town of Lut (pbuh). They reached the walls of the town in the afternoon. The first person who caught sight of them was Lot's daughter, who was sitting beside the river, filling her jug with water. When she lifted her face and saw them, she was stunned that there could be men of such magnificent beauty on earth.

One of the tree men (angels) asked her: "O maiden, is there a place to rest?"

Remembering the character of her people she replied, "Stay here and do not enter until I inform my father and return." Leaving her jug by the river, she swiftly ran home.

"O father!" she cried. "You are wanted by young men at the town gate and I have never before seen the like of their faces!"

Lot felt distressed as he quickly ran to his guests. He asked them where they came from and where they were going.

They did not answer his questions. Instead they asked if he could host them. He started talking with them and impressed upon them the subject of his people's nature. Lot was filled with turmoil; he wanted to convince his guests without offending them, not to spend the night there, yet at the same time he wanted to extend to them the expected hospitality normally accorded to guests. In vain he tried to make them understand the perilous situation. At last, therefore, he requested them to wait until the night fell, for then no one would see them.

When darkness fell on the town, Lot escorted his guest to his home. No one was aware of their presence. However, as soon as Lot's wife saw them, she slipped out of the house quietly so that no one noticed her. Quickly, she ran to her people with the news and it spread to all the inhabitants like wildfire. The people rushed towards Lot quickly and excitedly. Lot was surprised by their discovery of his guests. and he wondered who could have informed them. The matter became clear, however, when he could not find his wife, anywhere, thus adding grief to his sorrow.

When Lot saw the mob approaching his house, he shut the door, but they kept on banging on it. He pleaded with them to leave the visitors alone and fear Allah's punishment. He urged them to seek sexual fulfillment with their wives, for that is what Allah had made lawful.

Lot's people waited until he had finished his short sermon, and then they roared with laughter. Blinded by passion, they broke down the door. Lot became very angry, but he stood powerless before these violent people. He was unable to prevent the abuse of his guests, but he firmly stood his ground and continued to plead with the mob.

At that terrible moment, he wished he had the power to push them away from his guests. Seeing him in a state of helplessness, and grief the guests said: "Do not be anxious or frightened, Lot for we are angels, and these people will not harm you."

On hearing this, the mob was terrified and fled from Lot's house, hurling threats at him as they left. The angels warned Prophet Lut (pbuh) to leave his house before sunrise, taking with him all his family except his wife.

Allah had decreed that the city of Sodom should perish. AN earthquake rocked the town. IT was as if a mighty power had lifted the entire city and flung it down in one jolt. A storm of stones rained on the city. Everyone and everything was destroyed, including Lot's wife.

Allah the Almighty recounted this story: And tell them about the guests (angels) of Abraham. When they entered unto him, and said: "Salaaman (peace)!" Abraham said: "Indeed! We are afraid of you."

They (the angels) said: "Do not be afraid! We give you glad tidings of a boy (son) possessing much knowledge and wisdom." (Abraham) said: "Do you give me glad tidings (of a son) when old age has overtaken me? Of what then is your news?" They (the angels) said: "We give you glad tidings in truth. SO be not of the despairing."

Abraham said: "And who despairs of the Mercy of his Lord except those who are astray?" (Abraham again) said: "What then is the business on which you have come, O Messengers?"

They (the angels) said: "We have been sent to a people who are Mujrimeen (criminals, disbeliveers, polytheists, sinners). (All) except the family of Lot. Them all we are surely going to save (from destruction)."

Except his wife, of whom We have decreed that she shall be of the those who remain behind (she will be destroyed).

Then when the Messengers (the angels) came unto the family of Lot, he said: "Verily! You are people unknown to me." They said: "Nay! we have come to you with that (torment) which they have been doubting. And we have brought to you the truth (the news of the destruction of your nation) and certainly, we tell the truth. Then travel in a part of the night with your family, and you go behind them in the rear, and let no one amongst you look back, but go on to where you are ordered."

And We made known this decree to him, that the root of those (sinners) was to be cut off in the early morning

The inhabitants of the city came rejoicing (at the news of the young men's arrival). Lot said: "Verily! These are my guests, so shame me not. And fear Allah and disgrace me not." They (people of the city) said: "Did we not forbid you to entertain (or protect) any of the Alamin (people, foreigners strangers etc) from us?" Lot said: "These (the girls of the nation) are my daughters to marry lawfully) if you must act so."

Verily, by your life (O Muhammad), in their wild intoxication they were wandering blindly. So As Saliha (torment, awful cry etc) overtook them at the time of sunrise; and We turned (the towns of Sodom in Palestine) upside down and rained down on them stones of baked clay. Surely! In this are signs for those who see (or understand or learn the lessons from the Signs of Allah). And verily! They (the cities) are right on the highroad (from Mecca to Syria, i.e. the place where the Dead Sea is now). Surely! Therein is indeed a sign for the believers." (Ch 15:51-77 Quran)

Allah the Exalted also declared: So we saved him and his family, all, except an old woman (his wife) among those who remained behind. Then afterward We destroyed the others. We rained on them a rain of torment. How evil was the rain of those who had been warned. Verily, in this is indeed a sign yet most of them are not believers. Verily! Your Lord, He is indeed the All Mighty, the Most Merciful. (Ch 26:170-175 Quran)

The book was closed on the people of Lot (pbuh). Their towns and names have been erased from the face of the earth. Gone are they from memory. One book was closed of the books of corruption.

Lot (pbuh) proceeded towards Abraham (pbuh). HE visited him, and when he recounted the story of his people, he was surprised to learn that Abraham (pbuh) already knew. So Lut (pbuh) continued to invite people to Allah, as did Abraham (pbuh), the patient one who turned to Allah repentantly, and the two held firm to their mission.

PROPHET ISHMAEL(ISMAIL)

2010-01-17T11:35:00.001-08:00

One day, Abraham woke up and asked his wife Hajar to get her son and prepare for a long journey. In a few days Abraham started out with his wife Hajar and their son Ishmael. The child was still nursing and not yet weaned.

Abraham walked through cultivated land, desert, and mountains until he reached the desert of the Arabian Peninsula and came to an uncultivated valley having no fruit, no trees, no food, no water. The valley had no sign of life. After Abraham had helped his wife and child to dismount, he left them with a small amount of food and water which was hardly enough for 2 days. He turned around and walked away. He wife hurried after him asking: "Where are you going Abraham, leaving us in this barren valley?"

Abraham did not answer her, but continued walking. She repeated what she had said, but he remained silent. Finally she understood that he was not acting on his own initiative. she realized that Allah had commanded him to do this. She asked him : "Did Allah command you to do so?" He replied: "Yes." Then his great wife said: "We are not going to be lost, since Allah Who has commanded you is with us."

Abraham invoked Almighty Allah thus: "O Our Lord! I have made some of my offspring to dwell in a valley with no cultivation, by Your Sacred House (the Ka'ba at Mecca); in order, O our Lord, that they may offer prayers perfectly (Iqamat as salat) so fill some hearts among men with love towards them, and O Allah provide them with fruits so that they may give thanks. O our Lord! Certainly, You know what we conceal and what we reveal. Nothing on the earth or in the heavens is hidden from Allah." (Ch 14:37-38)

Ibn Abbas narrated: "The first lady to use a girdle was the mother of Ishmael. she used a girdle so that she might hide her tracks from Sarah (by dragging it). Abraham brought her and her son Ishmael while she was suckling him to a place near the Kaba under a tree on the spot of ZamZam at the highest place in the mosque. During those days there was nobody in Mecca, nor was there any water so he made them sit over there and placed near them a leather bag containing some dates and a small water skin containing some water and set out homeward. Ishmael's mother followed him saying: "O Abraham! Where are you going, leaving us in this valley where there is no person whose company we may enjoy, nor is there anything to enjoy?" she repeated that to him many times, but he did not look back at her. Then she asked him : "Has Allah ordered you to do so?" He said: "Yes." She then said: "Then HE will not neglect us," and returned while Abraham proceeded onwards. On reaching the Thaniya where they could not see him, he faced the Kaba and raising both hands, invoked Allah saying the following prayers: "O our Lord! I have made some of my offspring dwell in a valley without cultivation, by Your Sacred House (Kaba at Mecca) in order, O our Lord that they may offer prayer perfectly. So fill some hearts among men with love towards them, and O Allah provide them with fruits so that they may give thanks." (Ch 14:37)

Ibn Abbas's narration continued; "Ishmael's mother went on suckling Ishmael and drinking from the water (she had) When the water in the water skin had been used up, she became thirsty and her child also became thirsty, She started looking at him (Ishmael) tossing in agony. She left him, for she could not endure looking at him, and found that the mountain of As-Safa was the nearest mountain to her on that land. she too on it and started looking at the valley keenly so that she might see somebody, but she could not see anybody. Then she descended for As Safa and when she reached the valley, she tucked up her robe and ran in the valley like a person in distress and trouble till she crossed the valley and reached the mountain of Al Marwa. There she stood and started looking expecting to see somebody, but she could not see anybody. she repeated that running between Safa And Marwa seven times."

The prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said: "This is the source of the tradition of the Sa'y (rituals of the hajj, pilgrimage) the going of people between them (As-Safa and Al-Marwa). When she reached Al Marwa (for the last time) she heard a voice and she asked herself to be quiet and listened attentively. She heard the voice again and said: "O whoever you maybe! You have made me hear your voice; have you got something to help me?" And behold! She saw an angel at the place of Zam zam, digging the earth with his heel (or his wing) till water flowed from that place. She started to make something like a basin around it, using her hand in this way, and started filling her water skin with water with her hands and the water was flowing out water she had scooped some of it."

The Prophet (pbuh) added: "May Allah bestow mercy on Ishmael's mother! Had she let the zam-zam flow without trying to control it, or had she not scooped from that water to fill her water skin, Zam zam would have been a stream flowing on the surface of the earth."

The Prophet (pbuh) continued: "Then she drank water and suckled her child. The angel said to her: "Don't be afraid of being neglected, for this is the House of Allah which will be built by this boy and his father, and Allah never neglects His people." The House (Kaba) at that time was on a high place resembling a hillock, and when torrents came, they flowed to its right and left.

"She lived in that way till some people from the tribe of Jurhum or a family from Jurhum passed by her and her child as they (the Jurhum people) were coming through the way of Kada. they landed in the lower part of Mecca where they saw a bird that had the habit of flying around water and not leaving it. they said: "this bird must be flying around water, though we know that there is no water in this valley." They sent one or two messengers who discovered the source of water and returned to inform them of the water. SO they all came towards the water. Ishmael's mother was sitting near the water. They asked her: "Do you allow us to stay with you?" She replied: "Yes, but you will have no right to possess the water." They agreed to that. Ishmael's mother was pleased with the whole situation, as she used to love to enjoy the company of the people, so they settled there, and later on they sent for their families who came and settled with them so that some families became permanent residents there. The child (Ishmael) grew up and learned Arabic from them and (his virtues) caused them to love and admire him as he grew up and when he reached the age of puberty they made him marry a woman from amongst them."

The Prophet (pbuh) continued: "After Ishmael's mother had died, Abraham came after Ishmael's marriage in order to see his family that he had left before but he did not find Ishmael there. When he asked Ishmael's wife about him, she replied: "He has gone in search of livelihood." Then he asked her about their way of living and their condition, and she replied, "We are living in misery; we are living in hardship and destitution,' complaining to him. He said: "When your husband returns, convey my salutations to him and tell him to change the threshold of the gate (of his house).'

"When Ishmael came, he seemed to have felt something unusual, so he asked his wife: 'Has anyone visited you?' she replied, 'Yes, an old man of such and such description came and asked me about you and I informed him and he asked about our state of living and I told him that we were living in a hardship and poverty.' On that Ishmael said: 'Did he advise you anything?' She said: 'Yes he told me to convey his salutation to you and to tell you to change the threshold of your gate.' Ishmael said: 'It was my father and he has ordered me to divorce you. Go back to your family.' so, Ishmael divorced her and married another woman from among them (Jurhum).

"Then Abraham stayed away from them for a period as long as Allah wished and called on them again but did not find Ishmael. So he came to Ishmael's wife and asked her about Ishmael. She said: 'he has gone in sof our livelihood.' Abraham asked her; 'how are you getting on?' asking her about their sustenance and living. she replied: 'we are prosperous and well off (we have everything in abundance).' then she thanked Allah. Abraham said: 'What kind of food do you eat?' she said: 'meat.' he said: 'what do you drink?' she said: 'water.' he said: 'O Allah! bless their meat and water.""

The Prophet (pbuh) added: "At that time they did not have grain, and if they had grain he would have also invoked Allah to bless it. If somebody has only these two things as his sustenance, his health and disposition will be badly affected unless he lives in Mecca."

The Prophet (pbuh) continued: "Then Abraham said to Ishmael's wife: 'When your husband comes give my regards to him and tell him that he should keep firm the threshold of his gate.' When Ishmael came back he asked his wife, 'did anyone call no you?' she replied: 'yes, a good looking old man came to me,' so she praised him and added: 'He asked about you and I informed him that we were in a good condition.' Ishmael asked her:' did he give you any piece of advice?' she said; 'yes, he told me to give his regards to you and ordered that you should keep firm the threshold of your gate.' on that Ishmael said: 'It was my father, and you are the threshold of the gate. He has ordered me to keep you with me.'

Then Abraham stayed away from them for a period as long as Allah wished and called on them afterwards. He saw Ishmael under a tree near Zam Zam, sharpening his arrows. When he saw Abraham, he rose up to welcome him (and they greeted each other as a father does with his son or a son does with his father). Abraham said: 'O Ishmael! Allah has give me an order.' Ishmael said: 'Do what your Lord has ordered you to do.' Abraham asked:'Will you help me?' Ishmael said: 'I will help you.' Abraham said: 'Allah has ordered me to build a house here,' pointing to a hillock higher than the land surrounding it.

"Then they raised the foundations of the House (the Kaba). Ishmael brought the stones while Abraham built and when the walls became high Ishmael brought this stone and put it for Abraham who stood over it and carried on building. While Ishmael was handing him the stones, and both of them were saying: "Our Lord! Accept this service from us, verily, You are the All Hearer, the All Knower." (Ch 2:127 Quran)

the Prophet (pbuh) added: "Then both of them went on building and going round the Kaba saying O our Lord! Accept this service from us, verily, You are the All Hearer, the All Knower."; (Sahih Bukhari).

Ibn Abbas narrated a slightly different version: "When Abraham had differences with his wife (because of her jealousy of Hajar, Ishmael's mother), he took Ishmael and his mother and went away. They had a water skin with them containing some water. Ishmael's mother used to drink water from the water skin so that her milk would increase for her child. When Abraham reached Mecca, he made her sit under a tree and afterwards returned home. Ishmael's mother followed him and when they reached Kada, she called him from behind: 'O Abraham! To whom are you leaving us?' He replied: '(I am leaving you) to Allah's care.' she said: 'I am satisfied to be with Allah.' She returned to her place and started drinking water from the water skin and her milk increased for her child.

"When the water had all been used up, she said to herself: 'I had better go and look so that I may see somebody.' she ascended As-Safa mountain and looked hoping to see somebody but in vain. When she came down to the valley, she ran till she reached Al Marwa Mountain. She ran to and for (between the two mountains) many times. Then she said to herself; 'I had better go and see the state of the child.' she went and found it in a state of one on the point of dying. She could not endure to watch it dying and said to herself: 'If I go and look I may find somebody.' she went and ascended al-Safa mountain and looked for a long while but could not find anybody. thus she completed seven rounds of running between As-Safa and Al-Marwa. Again she said to herself: 'I had better go back and see the state of the child.' but suddenly she heard a voice, and she said to that strange voice. 'help us if you can offer any help.' lo! it was Gabriel (who had made the voice) Gabriel hit the earth with his heel like this (Ibn Abbas hit the earth with his heel to illustrate it), and so the water gushed out. Ishmael's mother was astonished and started digging."

Abu Al Qasim, the Prophet (pbuh) said: "If she had left the water, (flow naturally, without her intervention, ) it would have been flowing on the surface of the earth."

Ibn Abbas continued narrating: "Ishmael's mother started drinking from the water, and her milk increased for her child. Afterwards some people of the tribe of Hurhum saw some birds while passing through the bottom of the valley and that astonished them. They said: "birds can only be found at a place where there is water." They sent a messenger who searched the place and found the water and returned to inform them about it. Then they all went to her and said: "O Ishmael's mother! Will you allow us to be with you (or dwell with you)?" Then they stayed there.

"Later on her boy reached the age of puberty and married a lady from them. Then an idea occurred to Abraham, which he disclosed to his wife (sarah). 'I want to call on my dependants I left at Mecca.' When he went there he greeted Ishmael's wife and said: 'where is Ishmael?' She replied: 'He has gone out hunting.' Abraham said to her: 'When he comes, tell him to change the threshold of his gate.' When Ishmael came she told him the same and whereupon Ishmael said to her: 'you are the threshold so go to your family (you are divorced).'

"Again Abraham thought of visiting his dependents whom he had left at Mecca, and told his wife (Sarah) of his intentions. Abraham came to Ishmael's house and asked: 'Where is Ishmael?' Ishmael's wife replied: 'He has gone out hunting,' and added: 'will you stay for some time and have something to eat and drink?' Abraham said: 'what is your food and what is your drink?' she replied: 'our food is meat and our drink is water.' he replied: 'O Allah! Bless their meals and their drink.'

Abu Al Qasim (the Prophet)(pbuh) said: "Because of Abraham's invocation there are blessings in Mecca."

Ibn Abbas continued: "Once more Abraham thought of visiting his family he had left at Mecca and he told his wife (Sarah) of his decision. HE went and found Ishmael behind the Zam-zam well, mending his arrows. He said: 'O Ishmael, your Lord has ordered me to build a house for Him.' Ishmael said: 'Obey the order of your Lord.' Abraham said: 'Allah has also ordered me that you should help me therein.' Ishmael said: 'Then I will do so.' So both of them were saying: "O our Lord! Accept this service of us, verily, You are the All Hearer, the All Knower." (Ch 2:127)

When the building became high and the old man (Abraham) could no longer lift the stones to such a high position, he stood over the stone of Al Maqam and Ishmael carried on handing him the stones and both of them were saying: "O our Lord! Accept this service of us, verily You are the All Hearer, the All Knower.""

Allah the Almighty told us of Abraham's affliction with his beloved son: And he said after his rescue from the fire: "Verily! I am going to my Lord. He will guide me! My Lord! Grant me (offspring) from the righteous." SO We gave him the glad tidings of a forbearing boy. And when he (his son) was old enough to walk with him, he said: "O my son! I have seen in a dream that I am slaughtering you (offer you in sacrifice to Allah), so look what do you think!ý" "O my father! Do that which you are commanded InshAllah (if Allah wills), you shall find me of the patient."

Then when they had both submitted themselves to the Will of Allah and he had laid him prostrate on his forehead (or on the side of his forehead for slaughtering); and We called out to him: "O Abraham! You have fulfilled the dream (vision!" Verily! Thus do Wereward those who perform good deeds, totally for Allah's sake only. Verily, that indeed was a manifest trial and We ransomed him with a great sacrifice (a ram;) and We left for him ( a goodly remembrance) among generations (to come) in later times. "Salamun (peace) be upon Abraham!" Thus indeed do We reward the Muhsineen (good doers). Verily, he was one of Our believing slaves. (Ch 37:99-111 Quran)

Time passed. One day Abraham was sitting outside his tent thinking of his son Ishmael and Allah's sacrifice. His heart was filled with awe and love for Allah for His countless blessings. A big tear dropped from his eyes and reminded him of Ishmael.

In the meantime, three angels descended to the earth; Gabriel, Israphael, and Michael. they came in human shapes and saluted Abraham. Abraham arose and welcomed them. He took them inside his tent thinking they were strangers and guests. He seated them and made sure that they were comfortable, then excused himself to go to his people.

His wife Sarah arose when he entered. She had become old and white haired. Abraham said to her: "We have three strangers in the house." "Who are they?" she asked. "I do not know any of them," he answered. "What food have we got?" He asked. Half a sheep." she replied, "Half a sheep! Slaughter a fat calf for them; they are strangers and guests." he ordered while leaving.

The servants roasted and served a calf. Abraham invited the angels to eat and he started eating so as to encourage them. He continued, but when he glanced at his guests to assure they were eating, he noticed that none of them had touched the food. He said to the them: "Are you not going to eat?" He resumed eating, but when he glanced at them again he found that they were still not eating. Their hands did not reach out for the food. HE began to fear them.

Abraham's fears increased. The angels, however were reading his inner thoughts and one of them said: "Do not fear." Abraham raised his head and replied: "Indeed I am in fear. I have asked you to eat food but you do not stretch out your hands to eat. DO you intend me evil?"

One of the angels smiled and said: "We do not eat. We are Allah's angels." One of them then turned towards his wife and conveyed the glad tidings about Isaac (Ishaaq).

Almighty Allah revealed: Verily! There came Our Messengers to Abraham with glad tidings. They said: "Salaam (greetings or peace)!" he answered: "Salaam (greetings or peace)!" and he hastened to entertain them with a roasted calf. But, when he saw their hands went not towards it (the meal), he felt some mistrust of them, and conceived a fear of them. They said: "Fear not, we have been sent against the people of Lot." And his wife was standing there and she laughed (either, because the Messengers did not eat their food or for being glad for the destruction of the people of Lot). But We gave her glad tidings of Isaac, and after him of Jacob.

She said (in astonishment): "Woe unto me! Shall I bear a child while I am an old woman, and here is my husband an old man? Verily! This is a strange thing!" They said: "Do you wonder at the Decree of Allah? The Mercy of Allah and His Blessings be on you, O the family (of Abraham). Surely, He (Allah) is All praiseworthy, All-Glorious." (CH 11:69-73).

Prophet Abraham(Ibrahim)

2010-01-17T11:20:00.001-08:00

Some of the People of the Book stated that his name was Abraham Ibn Tarikh, Ibn Nahur, Ibn Sarough, Ibn Raghu, Ibn Phaligh, Ibn Aher, Ibn Shalih, Ibn Arfghshand, Ibn Sam, Ibn Noah.

They said that when Tarikh was seventy five years old, he had Abraham, Nahor (Nohour) and Haran. Haran had a son named Lot. They also said that Abraham was the middle child and that Haran died in the lifetime of his father in the land where he was born, the land of the Chaldeans (Al Kaldanieen), also known as Babylonia. At that time some people worshipped idols of stone and wood; others worshipped the planets, stars, sun and moon; still others worshipped their kings and rulers.

Abraham was born into that atmosphere, into a typical family of that ancient time. The head of the family was not even an ordinary idolater, but was one who totally rejected Allah and who used to make the idols with his own hands. Some traditions claimed that Abraham's father died before his birth and he was raised by an uncle whom Abraham called father. Other traditions said that his father was alive and was named Azer.

Into that family Abraham was born, destined to stand against his own family, against the entire system of his community. In brief, he stood against all kinds of polytheism.

He was endowed with spiritual understanding from an early age. Allah enlightened his heart and mind gave him wisdom from childhood. Allah the Almighty stated: Indeed We bestowed aforetime on Abraham his (portion of) guidance, and We were Well Acquainted with him( as to his Belief in the Oneness of Allah etc). (Ch 21:51)

During his early childhood Abraham realized that his father made strange statues. One day, he asked him about what it was he made. His father replied that he made statues of gods. Abraham was astonished and he spontaneously rejected the idea. Being a child he played with such statues sitting on their backs as people sit on the backs of donkeys and mules.

One day his father saw him riding the statue of Mardukh and he became furious. He ordered his son not to play with it again.

Abraham asked: "What is this statue, father? It has big ears, bigger than ours."

His father answered: "It is Mardukh, the god of gods, son! These big ears show his deep knowledge."

This made Abraham laugh, he was only seven years old at that time.

Years passed and Abraham grew. Since his childhood his heart had been full of hatred for these idols. He could not understand how a sane person could make a statue and then worship what he had made. He noticed that these idols did not eat, drink or talk and they could not even turn themselves right side up if someone turned them upside down. How, then could people believe that such statues could harm or benefit them?

Abraham 's people had a big temple full of idols, in the middle of which was a niche accommodating the biggest gods which was of different kinds, qualities and shapes. Abraham, who used to go to the temple with his father when he was a child, greatly despised all that wood and stone. What surprised him was the way his people behaved when they entered the temple; they bowed and started to cry, begging and imploring their gods for help as if the idols could hear or understand these requests!

At first, such a sight seemed funny to Abraham, but later he began to feel angry. Was it not astonishing that all those people could be deceived? What added to the problem was that his father wanted him to be a priest when he was grown. He wanted nothing more from his son that that he revere those statues, yet Abraham never stopped displaying his hatred and disdain of them.

One night Abraham left his house to go to a mountain. He walked alone in the dark until he chose a cave in the mountain where he sat resting his back against its wall. He looked at the sky. He had hardly seen it when he remembered that he was looking at planets and stars which were worshipped by some people on earth. His young heart was filled with tremendous pain. He considered what was beyond the moon, the stars and the planets (i.e. Allah) and was astonished that these celestial bodies were worshipped by men when they had been created to worship and obey their Creator, appearing and disappearing at His command.

Therefore Abraham, addressed his people who worshipped celestial bodies as Almighty Allah revealed: Thus did We show Abraham the kingdom of the heavens and the earth that he be one of those who have Faith and certainty. When the night covered him over with darkness he saw a star. He said: "This is my lord." But when it set, he said: "I like not that those who set." When he saw the moon rising up he said: "This is my lord." but when it set he said: "Unless my Lord guides me, I shall surely be among the erring people." When he saw the sun rising up he said: "This is my lord, This is greater." But when it set, he said: "O my people! I am indeed free from all that you join as partners in worship with Allah. Verily, I have turned my face towards Him Who has created the heavens and the earth Hanifan (Islamic Monotheism, i.e. worshipping none but Allah Alone) and I am not of the Al Mushrikeen (those who worship others besides Allah)."

His people disputed with him. He said: "Do you dispute with me concerning Allah while HE has guided me and I fear not those whom you associate with Allah in worship. (Nothing can happen to me) except when my Lord (Allah) wills something. My Lord comprehends in His Knowledge all things. Will you not then remember?

"And how should I fear those whom you associate in worship with Allah (though they can neither benefit nor harm), while you fear not that you have joined in worship with Allah things for which HE has not sent down to you any authority. So which of the two parties has more right to be in security? If you but know."

It is those who believe (in the Oneness of Allah and worship none but Him Alone) and confuse not their belief with Zulm (wrong, i.e. by worshipping others besides Allah), for them only there is security and they are the guided. And that was Our proof which We gave Abraham against his people. We raise whom We will in degrees. Certainly your Lord is All Wise, All Knowing. (Ch 6:75-83 Quran).

In that debate, Abraham clarified to his people that these celestial bodies do not serve as deities and cannot be worshipped as partners with Allah the Almighty. Indeed these bodies are created things, fashioned, controlled, managed and made to serve. They appear sometimes and disappear at others, going out of sight from our world. However, Allah the Almighty does not lose sight of anything, and nothing can be hidden from Him. He is without end, everlasting without disappearance. There is no other deity but Allah.

Abraham made clear to them, first that the celestial bodies are unworthy of worship and second that they are among the signs of Allah. Almighty Allah commanded: And from among His Signs are the night and the day, and the sun and the moon. Prostrate not to the sun nor to the moon, but prostrate to Allah Who created them if you really worship Him. (Ch 41:37)

Abraham's reasoning helped to reveal the truth, and then the conflict between him and his people began for the worshippers of the stars and planets did not stand mute. they began arguing and threatening Abraham.

Abraham replied: "Do you dispute with me concerning Allah while HE has guided me, and I fear not those whom you associate with Allah in worship. (Nothing can happen to me except when my Lord (Allah) wills something. My Lord comprehends in His Knowledge all things. Will you not then remember? How should I fear those whom you associate in worship with Allah (though they can neither benefit or harm), while you fear not that you have joined in worship with Allah things for which He has not sent down to you any authority. SO which of the two parties has more rights to be in security? .....if you but know! It is those who believe (in the oneness of Allah and worship none but HiAlone) and confuse not their belief with Zulm (wrong by worshipping others besides Allah), for them only there is security and they are the guided." (Ch 6:80-82)

The curtains are drawn on the first category of the people, those who were worshipping celestial bodies. the next situation reveals the second group, those who were practicing idolatry. Allah gave Abraham (pbuh) the reasoning he needed the first time and every time he argued with his people. Almighty Allah declared: And that was Our Proof which We gave Abraham against his people. We raised whom We will in degrees. Certainly your Lord is All Wise, All Knowing. (Ch 6:83)

Abraham did his best to make his people heedful to the belief in the oneness of Almighty Allah and to the worship of Him alone. He bade them to firmly renounce the worship of idols. HE said to his father and his people: "What are these images, to which you are devoted?" they said: "We found our fathers worshipping them." He said: "Indeed you and your fathers have been in manifest error." They said: "Have you brought us the truth, or are you one of those who play about?" He said: "Nay, your Lord is the Lord of the heavens and the earth, Who created them and of that I am of the witnesses." (Ch 21:52-56)

All was finished between Abraham and his people and the struggle began. the most amazed and furious was his father (or his uncle who had raised him), for as it is well known, he not only worshipped idols but sculpted and sold them as well. Abraham felt that it was his duty as a good son to advise his father against this evil so that he could be saved from Allah's punishment.

Being a wise son he did not make his father feel foolish, nor did he openly laugh at his conduct. He told him that he loved him, thereby hoping to generate fatherly love. Then he gently asked him why he worshipped lifeless idols who could not hear, see or protect him. before his father could become angry he hastily added: "O my father! Verily! There has come to me of knowledge that which came not unto you. So follow me. I will guide you to a Straight Path. O my father! Worship not Satan. Verily! Stan has been a rebel against the Most Beneficent (Allah). O my father! Verily! I fear lest a torment from the Most Beneficent (Allah) overtake you as that you become a companion of Satan (in the Hellfire)."

He (the father) said: "Do you reject my gods, O Abraham? If you stop not this, I will indeed stone you. So get away from me safely before I punish you." Abraham said: "Peace be on you! I will ask Forgiveness of my Lord for you. Verily! He is unto me, Ever Most Gracious. And I shall turn away from you and from those whom you invoke besides Allah." (Ch 19:43-48)

His father's harsh treatment did not stop Abraham from delivering the message of truth. Angry and sad to see people prostate before idols, he was determined to stamp out these practices and went to the town to debate with the people knowing full well that he might suffer harm.

Like a wise doctor searching for the cause of a sickness so as to prescribe the proper cure, or like a judge who questioned the accused sharply so that he mighty detect the truth. Abraham asked them: "Do the idols see you when you prostrate before them? Do they benefit you in any way." They quickly tried to defend their beliefs. They argued that they knew the idols were lifeless but that their forefathers had worshipped them; to them this was proof enough for their belief.

Abraham explained that their forefathers had been wrong. This angered them and they retorted: "Are you condemning our gods and our forefathers? Or are you just joking?"

Abraham showed no fear as he replied: "I am serious. I come to you with a true religion. I have been sent with guidance from our Lord Who alone is worthy of worship, Who is the Creator of the heavens and the earth, and Who regulates all affairs of life, unlike the dumb idols which are just stone and wood."

TO convince them that the idols could not harm him, he challenged: "I have already condemned them; of they had any power they would have harmed me by now!"

Almighty Allah recounted: Recite to them the story of Abraham. When he said to his father and his people. "What do you worship?" They said: "We worship idols, and to them we are ever devoted." He said: "Do they hear you when you call on them? OR do they benefit you or do they harm you?" They said: "Nay but we found our father doing so."

He said: "Do you observe that which you been worshipping, You and your ancient fathers? Verily! They are enemies to me, save the Lord of the Alamin (mankind, jinn and all that exists); Who has created me and it is HE Who guides me and it is HE Who feeds me and gives me to drink. And when I am ill, it is He who cures me; and Who will cause me to die and then will bring me to life again and Who I hope will forgive me my faults on the Day of Resurrection." (Ch 26:69-82 Quran).

In another surah The Almighty revealed: And remember Abraham when he said to his people: "Worship Allah Alone and fear Him that is better for you if you did but know. You worship besides Allah only idols and you only invent falsehood. Verily, those whom you worship beside Allah have no power to give you provision, so seek your provision from Allah Alone, you will be brought back. And if you deny then nations before you have denied their Messengers. the duty of the Messenger is only to convey the Message plainly."

See they not how Allah originates creation, then will repent it. Verily, that is easy for Allah.

Say: "Travel in the land and see how Allah originated creation and then Allah will bring forth (resurrect) the creation of the Hereafter (i.e. resurrection after death) verily, Allah is Able to do all things."

He punishes whom HE wills and shows mercy to whom He wills, and to Him you will be returned. And you cannot escape in the earth or in the heaven. And besides Allah you have neither any Wali (Protector, or guardian) nor any Helper. And those who disbelieve in the Ayat (proofs, lessons, signs, evidences, verses, revelations etc) of Allah and the Meeting with Him, it is they who have no hope of My Mercy, and it is they who will have a painful torment. (CH 22:16-23 Quran)

He explained to them the beauty of Allah's creation, His power and wisdom. Idol worship is detested by Allah for Allah is the Lord of the universe Who created mankind, guided him and provided him with food and drink and cured him when he was sick and Who will cause him to die and be raised up again. iT was He to Whom Abraham prayed and Who would forgive his sins on the Day of Judgment. However, they would not give up but clung fast to idolatry.

Abraham left his father's house and abandoned his people and what they worshipped. He decide to do something about their state of disbelief, but did not reveal it. He knew that there was going to be a great celebration on the other bank of the river which would be attended by all the people. Abraham waited until the city was empty, then came out cautiously, directing his steps towards the temple. the streets leading to it were empty and the temple itself was deserted for the priests had also gone to the festival outside the city.

Abraham went there carrying a sharp axe. He looked at the stone and wood statues of the gods and at the food laid in front of them as offerings. He approached one of the statues and asked: "The food in front of you is getting cold. Why don't you eat?" the statue kept silent and rigid. Abraham asked all the other statues around him: "Will you not eat of the offering before you?" (Ch 37:91)

He was mocking them for he knew they would not eat. He once again asked then: "What is the matter with you that you do not speak?" (Ch 37:92)

he then raised his axe and started smashing the false gods worshipped by the people. He destroyed them all except one on whose neck he hung the axe. After this his anger subsides and he felt at peace. He left the temple. He had fulfilled his vow to show his people a practical proof of their foolishness in worshipping something other than All.

When the people returned, they were shocked to see their gods smashed to pieces, lying scattered all over the temple. They began to guess who had done that to their idols and Abraham's name came to their minds.

Allah the Almighty said: they said: "Who has done this to our aliah (gods)? He must indeed be one of the wrongdoers." They said: "We heard a young man talking against them who is called Abraham." They said: "Then bring him before the eyes of the people, that they may testify." they said: "Are you the one who has done this to our gods, O Abraham?" Abraham said: "nay, this one, the biggest of them (idols) did it, Ask them, if they can speak!"

SO they turned to themselves and said: "Verily you are the Zalimun (polytheists, and wrongdoers)." Then they turned to themselves (their first thought and said): "Indeed you (Abraham) know well that these idols speak not?" Abraham said: "DO you then worship besides Allah, things that can neither profit you nor harm you? If upon you, and upon that which you worship besides Allah! Have you then no sense?" (Ch 21:59-67 Quran)

Furious, they demanded that Abraham be arrested and tried. Abraham did not resist. this was precisely what he had been aiming for, so that he could show them up in public for their foolish beliefs.

At the trial they asked him if he was responsible for breaking the idols. Smiling, he told them to ask the biggest idol which was still whole. He told them that he must be the culprit! They replied that he knew well that the idol could not speak or move which gave Abraham the chance to prove the foolishness of worshipping these lifeless objects.

they then realized the senselessness of their beliefs; however, their arrogance would not allow them to admit their foolishness. All they could do was to use their power of authority as tyrants usually do to punish Abraham. They kept him in chains and planned their revenge.

Anger was burning in their hearts. They decided to throw Abraham into the biggest fire they could build. All the citizens were ordered to gather wood as a service to their gods. Ignorant, sick women vowed that if they were cured they would donate so much wood to burn Abraham. For several days they collected fuel.

They dug a deep pit, filled it with firewood and ignited it. They brought a catapult with which to cast Abraham into the fire. Abraham was put on the catapult, his hands and feet were tied. The fire was ready with its flame reaching the sky. The people stood away from the pit because of the great heat. Then the chief priest gave his order to cast Abraham into the fire.

The angel Gabriel came near Abraham's head and asked him: "O Abraham do you wish for anything?" Abraham replied: "Nothing from you."

The catapult was shot and Abraham was cast into the fire. But his descent into the blaze was as descent on steps in a cool garden. The flames were still there, but they did not burn for Allah the Almighty had issued His command: "O fire! Be you coolness and safety for Abraham." (Ch 21:69 Quran)

The fire submitted to the will of Allah, becoming cool and safe for Abraham. It only burned his bonds, and he sat in the midst of the fire as if he were sitting in a garden. He glorified and praised Allah the Almighty, with a heart that contained only his love for Allah. There was not any vacant space therein for fear, awe, or worry. IT was filled with love only.

Fear and awe were dead, and the fire was turned into coolness, making the air pleasant. Those who love Allah as Abraham do did not fear.

Allah declared: Those (believers) unto whom the people (hypocrites) said: "Verily! the people (pagans) have gathered against you (a great army), therefore, fear them." but it only increased them in Faith, and they said: Allah Alone is Sufficient for us, and He is the Best Disposer of affairs for us."

So they returned with Grace and Bounty from Allah. No harm touched them; and they followed the good Pleasure of Allah. Allah is the Owner of Great bounty. It is only Satan that suggests to you the fear of his Auliya (supporters and friends, polytheists, disbeliveers in the Oneness of Allah and in His Messenger Muhammad) so fear them not but fear Me if you are true believers." (Ch 3:173-175 Quran)

The throng, the chiefs, and the priests sad watching the fire from a distance. It was burning their faces and nearly suffocating them. It kept burning for such a long time that the disbeliveers thought it would never be extinguished. When it did burn out, they were greatly amazed to find Abraham coming out of the pit untouched by the fire. Their faces were black from the smoke, but his was bright with the light and grace of Allah. The raging fire had become cool for Abraham and had only charred the ropes which held him. He walked out of the fire as if he were walking out of a garden. Cries of astonishment were heard from the heathens. They wanted to harm him, but We made them the worst losers. (Ch 21:70)

This miracle shamed the tyrants, but it did not cool the flame of anger in their hearts. However after his event many of the people followed Abraham, although some kept their belief a secret for fear of harm or death at the hands of the rulers.

Abraham had established a definite reasoning against idolaters. Nothing was left for him except to reason against the people who proclaimed themselves gods.

When the king, Namrud, heard of Abraham's safe exit from the fire he became very angry. He feared that the status of godhead he had proclaimed for himself was not challenged by an ordinary human being. He summoned Abraham to the palace and held a dialogue with him which Allah Almighty recounted:Have you not thought about him who disputed with Abraham about his Lord (Allah) because Allah had given him the kingdom? When Abraham said to him: "My Lord (Allah) is He Who gives life and causes death." He said: "I give life and cause death." Abraham said: "Verily, Allah causes the sun to rise from the east; then cause it you to rise from the west." So the disbeliever was utterly defeated. Allah guides not the people who are Zalimeen (wrongdoers etc). (Ch 2:258 Quran)

Abraham's fame spread throughout the entire kingdom. People talked about how he had been saved from the blazing fire and how he had debated with the king and left him speechless. In the meantime, Abraham continued calling people to believe in Allah, exerting a great effort to guide his people to the right path. He tried every means to convince them. However in spite of his love and care for his people, they felt angry and deserted him. Only one woman and one man of his people shared his belief in Allah. The woman's name was Sarah and she became his wife. The man's name was Lot and he became a prophet.

When Abraham realized that no one else was going to believe in his call, he decided to emigrate. He left his people and traveled with his wife and Lot to a city called Ur, then another called Haran, and then to Palestine.

Allah the Almighty told us: So Lut believed in him (Abraham's message of Islamic Monotheism). He (Abraham) said: "I will emigrate for the sake of my Lord. Verily, He is the All Mighty, the All Wise." (Ch 29:26)

After Palestine, Abraham traveled to Egypt, calling people to believe in Allah wherever he traveled, judging fairly between people, and guiding them to truth and righteousness.

Abu Hurairah narrated that Abraham (pbuh) did not tell a lie except on three occasions, twice for the sake of Allah (Exalted and Almighty) when he said: "I am sick," (when his people were holding a festival in honor of their gods, Abraham excused himself by saying he was sick. (Ch 37:89 Quran) and when he said: "(I have not done this but) the big idol has done it." The (third was) that while Abraham and Sarah (his wife) were going (on a journey), they passed by (the territory of) a tyrant. Someone said to the tyrant: "This man (Abraham is accompanied by a very charming lady." SO, he sent for Abraham and asked him about Sarah saying "Who is this lady?" Abraham said: "She is my sister." Abraham went to Sarah said "O Sarah! There are no believers on the surface of the earth except you and me. This man asked me about you and I have told him that you are my sister do not contradict my statement." the tyrant then called Sarah, and when she went to him, he tried to take a hold of her with his hand, but his hand got stiff and he was confounded. He asked Sarah: "Pray to Allah for me and I shall not harm you." SO Sarah asked Allah to cure him and he got cured. He tried to take hold of her for the second time, but his hand got as stiff as or stiffer than before and he was more comfounded. He again requested Sarah: "Pray to Allah for me, and I will not harm you." Sarah asked Allah to again, and he became all right. He then called one of his guards who had brought her and said: "You have not brought me a human being but have brought me a devil." The tyrant then gave Hajar as a maid servant to Sarah. Abraham, gesturing with his hand, asked: "What has happened?" She replied: "Allah has spoiled the evil plot of the infidel or immoral person and gave me Hajar for service." Abu Hurairah then addressed his listeners saying: "That Hajar was your mother, O Bani Ma is Sama (Arab, the descendants of Ishmael, Hajar's son)."

Abraham's wife Sarah was sterile. She had been given an Egyptian woman Hajar, as a servant. Abraham had aged and his hair was gray and after many years spent in calling people to Allah. Sarah thought she and Abraham were lonely because she could not have a child. Therefore, she offered her husband her servant Hajar in marriage. Hajar gave birth to her first son Ishmael (isma'il) when Abraham was an old man.

Abraham lived on earth worshipping Allah and calling people to monotheism, but he was journeying to Allah, knowing that his days on earth were limited and that they would be followed by death and finally resurrection. The knowledge of life after death filled Abraham with peace and love and certitude.

One day he begged Allah to show him how He brought the dead back to life. Allah commanded Abraham to take four birds, cut them up and mingle their body parts, divide them into four portions and place them on top of four different hills, then call back the birds in Allah's name. Abraham did as he was told. Immediately the mingled parts of the birds separated to join their original bodies in different places and the birds flew back to Abraham.

Almighty Allah revealed: Remember when Abraham said: "My Lord Show me how You give life to the dead." Allah said: "Do you not believe?" Abraham said: "Yes I believe, but to be stronger in Faith." HE said: "Take four birds, the cause them to incline towards you (then slaughter them, cut them into pieces) and then put a portion of them on every hill and call them they will come to you in haste. And know that Allah is All Mighty and All Wise."(Ch

Prophet Hud

2010-01-17T11:12:00.001-08:00

The people of 'Ad lived many years in the windswept hills of an area between Yemen and Oman. They were physically well built and renowned for their craftsmanship especially in the construction of tall buildings with lofty towers. They were outstanding among all the nations in power and wealth, which, unfortunately, made them arrogant and boastful. Their political power was held in the hand of unjust rulers, against whom no one dared to raise a voice.

They were not ignorant of the existence of Allah, nor did they refuse to worship Him. What they did refuse was to worship Allah alone. They worshipped other gods, also, including idols. This is one sin Allah does not forgive.

Allah wanted to guide and discipline these people so He sent a prophet from among them. This prophet was Hud (PBUH), a noble man who handled this task with great resoluteness and tolerance.

Ibn Jarir reported that he was Hud Ibn Shalikh, Ibn Arfakhshand, Ibn Sam, Ibn Noah (PBUH). He also reported that Prophet Hud (PBUH) was from a tribe called Ad Ibn Us Ibn Sam Ibn Noah, who were Arabs living in Al Ahqaf in Yemen between Oman and Hadramaut, on a land called Ashar stretching out into the sea. The name of their valley was Mughiith

Some traditions claimed that Hud (PBUH) was the first person who spoke Arabic while others claimed that Noah (PBUH) was the first. It was also said that Adam was the first.

Hud (PBUH) condemned idol worship and admonished his people. "MY people, what is the benefit of these stones that you carve with your own hands and worship? In reality it is an insult to the intellect. There is only One Deity worthy of worship and that is Allah. Worship of Him and Him alone, is compulsory on you.

He created you, He provides for you and He is the One Who will cause you to die. He gave you wonderful physiques and blessed you in many ways. So believe in Him and do not be blind to His favors, or the same fate that destroyed Noah's people will overtake you."

With such reasoning Hud hoped to instill faith in them, but they refused to accept his message. His people asked him: "Do you desire to be our master with your call? What payment do you want?"

Hud tried to make them understand that he would receive his payment (reward) from Allah; he did not demand anything from them except that they let the light of truth touch their minds and hearts.

Allah the Almighty states: And to Ad people We sent their brother Hud. He said: "O my people! Worship Allah! You have no other Ilah (god) but Him; Certainly, you do nothing but invent (lies)! O my people I ask of you no reward for it (the Message). My reward is only from Him Who created me. Will you not then understand? And O my people! Ask forgiveness of your Lord and then repent to Him, He will send you (from the sky) abundant rain, and add strength to your strength, so do not turn away as Mujrimeen (criminals, disbeliveers in the Oneness of Allah)."

They said: "O Hud! No evidence have you brought us and we shall not leave our gods for your mere saying! We are not believers in you. All that we say is that some of our gods (false deities) have seized you with evil (madness)."

HE said: "I call Allah to witness and bear you witness that I am free from that which you ascribe as partners in worship, and with Him (Allah). SO plot against me, all of you, and give me no respite. I put my trust in Allah, my Lord and your Lord! There is not a moving (living) creature but HE has grasp of its forelock. Verily, my Lord is on the Straight Path (the truth). SO if you turn away, still I have conveyed the Message with which I was sent to you. My Lord will make another people succeed you, and you will not harm Him in the least. Surely, my Lord is Guardian over all things." (Ch 11:50-57 Quran)

Hud tried to speak to them and to explain about Allah's blessings: how Allah the Almighty had made them Noah's successors, how He had given them strength and power, and how HE sent them rain to revive the soil.

Hud's people looked about them and found they were the strongest on earth, so they become prouder and more obstinate. Thus they argued a lot with Hud. They asked "O Hud! Do you say that later we die and turn into dust, we will be resurrected?" He replied, "Yes, you will come back on the Day of Judgment and each of you will be asked about what you did."

A peal of laughter was heard after the last statement. "How strange Hud's claims are!" The disbeliveers muttered among themselves. They believed that when man dies his body decays and turns into dust, which is swept away by the wind. How could that return to its original state? Then what is the significance of the Day of Judgment? Why does the dead return to life?

All these questions were patiently received by Hud. He then addressed his people concerning the Day of Judgment. he explained that belief in the Day of Judgment is essential to Allah's justice, teaching them the same thing that every prophet taught about it.

Hud explained that justice demands that there be a Day of Judgment because good is not always victorious in life. Sometimes evil overpowers good. Will such crimes go unpunished? If we suppose there is no Day of Judgment, then a great injustice will have prevailed, but Allah has forbidden injustice to be incurred by Himself or His subjects. Therefore, the existence of the Day of Judgment, a day of accounting for our deeds and being rewarded or punished for them, reveals the extend of Allah's justice. Hud spoke to them about all of these things. They listened but disbelieved him.

Allah recounts his people's attitude towards the Day of Judgment: "The chiefs of his people, whom disbelieved and denied the meeting in the Hereafter, and to who We had given the luxuries and comforts of this life, said: "He is no more than a human being like you, he eats of that which you eat, and drinks of what you drink. If you were to obey a human being like yourselves then verily! You indeed would be losers. Does he promise you that when you have died and have become dust and bones, you shall come out alive (resurrected)? Far, very far, is that which you are promised. There is nothing but our life of this world! We die and we live! We are not going to be resurrected! He is only a man who has invented a lie against Allah, but we are not going to believe in him." (Ch 23:33-38 Quran)

the chiefs of Hud's people asked: "IS it not strange that Allah's chooses one of us to reveal His message to?"

Hud replied: "What is strange in that? Allah wants to guide you to the right way of life, so HE sent me to warn you. Noah's flood and his story are not far away from you, so do not forget what happened. All the disbeliveers were destroyed, no matter how strong they were."

"Who is going to destroy us Hud?" the chiefs asked.

"Allah." replied Hud.

The disbeliveers among his people answered: "We will be saved by our gods."

Hud clarified to them that the gods they worshipped would be the reason for their destruction, that it is Allah alone Who saves people, and that no other power on earth can benefit or harm anyone.

The conflict between Hud and his people continued. The years passed, and they became prouder and more obstinate, and more tyrannical and more defiant of their prophet's message.

Furthermore, they started to accuse Hud (PBUH) of being a crazy lunatic. One day they told him: "We now understand the secret of your madness you insulted our gods and they harmed you; that is why you have become insane."

Almighty Allah repeated their words in the Quran: "O my Hud! No evidence have you brought us, and we shall not leave our gods for your mere saying! And we are not believers in you. All that we say is that some of our gods (false deities) have seized you with evil (madness)." (Ch 11:53-54 Quran)

Hud had to return their challenge. He had no other way but to turn to Allah alone, no other alternative but to give them a threatening ultimatum. he declared to them: "I call Allah to witness and bear you witness that I am free from that which you ascribe as pin worship with Him (Allah). SO plot against me, all of you and give me no respite. I put my trust in Allah, my Lord your Lord! There is not a moving (living) creature but He has grasp of its forelock. Verily, my Lord is on the Straight Path (the truth). So if you turn away, still I have conveyed the message with which it was sent to you. My Lord will make another people succeed you, and you will not harm Him." (Ch 11:54-57 Quran)

Thus Hud renounced them and their gods and affirmed his dependence on Allah Who had created him. Hud realized that punishment would be incurred on the disbeliveers among his people. It is one of the laws of life. Allah punishes the disbeliveers, no matter how rich, tyrannical or great they are.

Hud and his people waited for Allah's promise. A drought spread throughout the land, for the sky no longer sent its rain. the sun scorched the desert sands, looking like a disk of fire which settled on people's heads.

Hud's people hastened to him asking: "What is that drought Hud?"

Hud answered: "Allah is angry with you. If you believe in Him, He will accept you and the rain will fall and you will become stronger than you are."

They mocked him and became more obstinate, sarcastic and preserve in their unbelief. The drought increased, the trees turned yellow, and plants died.

A day came when they found the sky full of clouds. Hud's people were glad as they came out of their tents crying: "A cloud, which will give us rain!"

The weather changed suddenly from burning dry and hot to stinging cold with wind that shook everything; trees, plants, tents, men and women. The wind increased day after day and night after night.

Hud's people started to flee. They ran to their tents to hide but the gale became stronger, ripping their tents from their stakes. They hid under cloth covers but the gale became stronger and still and tore away the covers. It slashed clothing and skin. It penetrated the apertures of the body and destroyed it. It hardly touched anything before it was destroyed or killed, its core sucked out to decompose and rot. The storm raged for 8 days and 7 nights.

Almighty Allah recounts: Then when they saw it as a dense cloud coming towards their valleys, they said: "This is a cloud bringing us rain!" Nay but it is that torment which you were asking to be hastened! a wind wherein is a painful torment! Destroying everything by the command of its Lord! (Ch 46:24-25 Quran)

Allah the Exalted described it thus: And as for Ad, they were destroyed for a firious violent wind which Allah imposed on them for 7 nights and 8 days in succession, so that you could see men lying overthrown (destroyed) as if they were hollow trunks of palm trees! (Ch 69:6-7 Quran)

That violent gale did not stop until the entire region was reduced to ruins and its wicked people destroyed, swallowed by the sands of the desert. Only Hud and his followers remained unharmed. They migrated to Hadramaut and lived there in peace, worshipping Allah, their true Lord.

PROPHET SALIH

2010-01-17T11:08:00.000-08:00

After the destruction of the Ad, the tribe of Thamud succeeded them in power and glory. They also fell to idol-worshipping. As their material wealth increased so, too, did their evil ways while their virtue decreased. Like the people of Ad, they erected huge buildings on the plains and hewed beautiful homes out of the hills. Tyranny and oppression became prevalent as evil men ruled the land.

So Allah sent unto them His Prophet Salih (PBUH), a man from among them. His name was Salih Ibn Ubeid, Ibn Maseh, Ibn Ubeid, Ibn Hader, Ibn Thamud, Ibn Ather, Ibn Eram, Ibn Noah. He called his people to worship Allah alone, and to not associate partners with Him. While some of them believed him, the majority of them disbelieved and harmed him by both words and deeds. Salih directed them: "O my people! Worship Allah, you have no other Ilah (god) but Him." (Ch 11:61)

Salih was known for his wisdom, purity and goodness and had been greatly respected by his people before Allah's revelation came to him. Salih's people said to him: "O Salih! You have been among us as a figure of good hope and we wished for you to be our chief, till this, new thing which you have brought that we leave our gods and worship your God (Allah) alone! Do you now forbid us the worship of what our fathers have worshipped? But we are really in grave doubt as to that which you invite us to monotheism." (CH 11:62 Quran).

they merely wanted to worship the same gods as their fathers had, with no reason, no proof, no thought. The proof of Salih's (PBUH) message was evident, but despite this it was obvious that most of his people did not believe him. They doubted his words, thinking he was charmed, and they saw that he would not stop preaching. Fearing that his followers would increase, they tried to put him off by assigning him an important task; to prove that he was a messenger of Allah by performing a miracle. Let a unique she camel issue from the mountains.

Allah granted Salih this miracle and a huge, unique, she camel appeared from the direction of the mountain. The Quranic commentators said that the people of Thamud gathered on a certain day at their meeting place, and the prophet Salih (PBUH) came and addressed them to believe in Allah, reminding them of the favors Allah had granted them.

Then pointing at a rock, they demanded: "Ask your Lord to make a she camel, which must be 10 months pregnant, tall and attractive, issue from the rock for us."

Salih replied: "Look now! If Allah sends you what you have requested, just as you have described, will you believe in that which I have come to you with and have faith in the message I have been sent with?"

They answered: "Yes."

So he took a vow from them on this, then prayed to Allah the Almighty to grant their request. Allah ordered the distant rock to split asunder, to bringing forth a great ten month pregnant she camel. When their eyes set on it, they were amazed. They saw a great thing, a wonderful sight, a dazzling power and clear evidence!

A number of Salih's people believed, yet most of them continued in their disbelief, stubbornness, and going astray. Allah the Almighty said: We sent the she camel to Thamud as a clear sign, but they did her wrong. (Ch 17:59) and also: Verily the dwellers of Al Hijr (the rocky tract) denied the Messengers. We gave them Our Signs, but they were averse to them. (Ch 15:80-81 Quran)

There are a number of ancient accounts of this camel and its miraculous nature. It was said that the she camel was miraculous because a rock in the mountain split open and it came forth from it, followed by its young offspring. Other accounts said that the she camel used to drink all the water in the wells in one day, and no other animals could approach the water. Still others claimed that the she camel produced milk sufficient for all the people to drink, on the same day that it drank all the water, leaving none for them.

At first, the people of Thamud were greatly surprised when the she camel issued from the mountain rocks. It was a blessed camel, and its milk sufficient for thousands of men, women and children. If it slept in a place that place was abandoned by other animals. Thus it was obvious that is was not an ordinary camel, but one of Allah's signs. It lived among Salih's people, some of whom believed in Allah while the majority continued in their obstinacy and disbelief.

Their hatred of Salih turned towards the blessed she camel and became centered on it. A conspiracy started to be hatched against the camel by the disbeliveers, and they secretly plotted against it.

Salih feared that they might kill the camel, so he warned them: "O my people! This she camel of Allah is a sign to you, leave her to feed on Allah's earth, and touch her not with evil lest a near torment will seize you." (Ch 11:64 Quran)

For awhile, Salih's people let the camel graze and drink freely, but in their hearts they hated it. However, the miraculous appearance of the unique camel caused many to become Salih's followers, and they clung to their belief in Allah.

the disbeliveers now began complaining that this huge she camel with its unusual qualities drank most of the water and frightened their cattle.

They laid a plot to kill the camel, and sought the help of their women folk to tempt the men to carry out their commands. Saduq bint of Mahya, who was from a rich and noble family, offered herself to a young man named Masrai Ibn Mahraj on condition that he hamstring the camel. Aniza, an old woman, offered one of her daughters to a young man, Qudar Ibn Saluf, in return for killing the camel. Naturally these young men were tempted and set about finding seven others to assist them.

They watched the camel closely, observing all its movements. As the she camel came to drink at the well, Masarai shot it in the leg with an arrow. It tried to escape but was hampered by the arrow. Qudar followed the camel and struck it with a sword in the other leg. As it fell to the ground, he pierced it with his sword.

The killers were given a hero's welcome,cheered with songs and poetry composed in their praise. In their arrogance they mocked Salih, but he warned them: "Enjoy life for 3 more days then the punishment will descend upon you." Salih was hoping that they would see the folly of their ways and change their attitude before the 3 days went out.

"Why 3 days?" they asked. "Let the punishment come as quickly as possible."

He pleaded with them: "My people, why do you hasten to evil rather than good? Why do not you ask pardon of Allah so that you may receive mercy?"

They replied: "We see your presence and that of your followers as bringing evil on us."

Almighty Allah related their story: And indeed We sent to Thamud their brother Salih, saying "Worship Allah Alone and none else." Then look! They became two parties (believers and disbeliveers) quarreling with each other.

He said: "O my people! Why do you seek to hasten the evil (torment) before the good (Allah's Mercy)? Why seek you not the Forgiveness of Allah, that you may receive mercy?" They said: We augur till omen from you and those with you." he said: "Your ill omen is with Allah; nay, but you are a people that are being tested."

And there were in the city nine men (from the sons of their chiefs), who made mischief in the land, and would not reform. They said: "Swear to another by Allah that we shall make a secret night attack on him and his household, and afterwards we will surely say to his near relatives: "We witnessed not the destruction of his household, and verily! We are telling the truth.""

So they plotted a plot, and We planned a plan, while they perceived not. Then see how was the end of their plot! Verily! We destroyed them and their nation, all together. These are their houses in utter ruin, for they did wrong. Verily, in this is indeed an Ayah (a lesson or a sign) for people who know. We saved those who believed, and used to fear and obey Allah. (Ch 27:45-53 Quran)

They also plotted to kill Salih and his household as Almighty Allah stated: "So they ploa plot, and We planned a plan, while they perceived not." (Ch 27:50 Quran) Allah saved Salih and his followers from their wicked plans. Heavy hearted, they left the evil doers and moved to another place.

Three days after Salih's warning, thunderbolts filled the air, followed by severe earthquakes which destroyed the entire tribe and its homeland. The land was violently shaken, destroying all living creatures in it. There was one terrific cry which had hardly ended when the disbeliveers of Salih's people were struck dead, one and all, at the same time. Neither their strong buildings nor their rock hewn homes could protect them.

Allah the Exalted said: To Thamud people We sent their brother Salih. HE said: "O my people! Worship Allah, you have no other Ilah (god) but Him (none has the right to be worshipped but Allah). Indeed there has come to you a clear sign ( the miracle of the coming out of a huge she camel from the midst of a rock) from your Lord. This she camel of Allah is a sign unto you so you leave her to graze in Allah's earth, and touch her not with harm, lest a painful torment should size you. Remember when He made you successors after Ad people and gave you habitations in the land, you build for yourselves palaces in plains and carve out homes in the mountains. So remember the graces bestowed upon you from Allah, and do not go about making mischief on the earth."

the leaders of those who were arrogant among his people said to those who were counted weak to such of them as believed: "Know you that Salih is one sent from his Lord." They said: "We indeed believe in that with which he has been sent." Those who were arrogant said: "Verily, we disbelieve in that which you believe in."

So they killed the she camel and insolently defied the Commandment of their Lord, and said: "O Salih! Bring about your threats if you are indeed one of the Messengers (of Allah)." So the earthquakes seized them and they lay dead, prostrate in their homes. Then he (Salih) turned from them, and said: "O my people! I have indeed conveyed to you the Message of my Lord, and have give you good advise but you like not good advisers." (Ch 7:73-79 Quran)

All were destroyed before they realized what was happening. As for the people who believed in the message of Salih (PBUH), they were saved because they had left the place.

Ibn Umar narrated that while the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was passing by Thamud's houses on his way to the battle of Tabuk, he stopped together with the people there. the people fetched water from the wells from which the people of Thamud used to drink. They prepared their dough (for baking) and filled their water skins from it (the water from the wells). The Prophet of Allah (PBUH) ordered them to empty the water skins and give the prepared dough to the camels. Then he went away with them until they stopped at the well from which the she camel (of Salih) used to drink. He warned them against entering upon the people that had been punished, saying "I fear that you may be affected by what afflicted them; so do no enter upon them."

Prophet Nuh

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He was Noah Ibn Lamik, Ibn Mitoshilkh, Ibn Enoch, Ibn yard, Ibn Mahlabeel, Ibn Qinan, Ibn Anoush, Ibn Seth, Ibn Adam the Father of Mankind (PBUH).

According to the history of the People of the Book, (refers to the Jews, and Christians, so called by Allah because they received Revealed Books, Taurat, Zabur and Injeel. These names are translated 'Torah, Psalms, and Gospels' respectively, but the books that are extent are corrupt. Of the Revealed Books, ONLY the Quran remains exactly as it was revealed).

the period between the birth of Noah and the death of Adam was 146 years. (According to Genesis 5 (new Revised Standard Version), Noah was born one hundred and twenty six years after the death of Adam. Ibn Abbas narrated that the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said: "The period between Adam and Noah was ten centuries." (Sahih Bukhari, Noah was born 1056 years after Adam's creation (or after he left the Garden of Eden). Thus, this hadith does not contradict the previous statement from the People of the Book as it may first appear to do. The reader should keep in mind, however that any statement or narratives taken from the People of the Book are not necessarily credible. This was taken from Genesis 5).

For many generations Noah's people had been worshipping statues that they called gods. They believed that these gods would bring them good, protect them from evil and provide all their needs. They gave their idols names such as Waddan, Suwa'an, Yaghutha, Ya'auga, and Nasran, (These idols represented, respectively, manly power; mutability, beauty; brute strength, swiftness, sharp sight, insight) according to the power they thought these gods possessed.

Allah the Almighty revealed: "They (idolaters) have said: "You shall not leave your gods nor shall you leave Wadd, nor Suwa, nor Yaghuth, nor Ya uq nor Nasr (names of the idols)." (CH 71:23 Quran).

Originally these were the names of good people who had lived among them. After their deaths, statues of them were erected to keep their memories alive. After sometime, however, people began to worship these statues. Later generations did not even know why they had been erected; they only knew their parents had prayed to them. That is how idol worshipping developed. Since they had no understanding of Allah the Almighty Who would punish them for their evil deeds, they became cruel and immoral.

Ibn Abbas explained: "Following upon the death of those righteous men, Satan inspired their people to erect statues in the places where they used to sit. They did this, but these statues were not worshiped until the coming generations deviated from the right way of life. Then they worshipped them as their idols."

In his version, Ibn Jarir narrated: "There were righteous people who lived in the period between Adam and Noah and who had followers who held them as models. After their death, their friends who used to emulate them said: 'If we make statues of them, it will be more pleasing to us in our worship and will remind us of them.' So they built statues of them, and , after they had died and others came after them, Iblis crept into their minds saying:'Your forefathers used to worship them, and through that worship they got rain.' So they worshipped them."

Ibn Abi Hatim related this story: "Waddan was a righteous man who was loved by his people. When he died, they withdrew to his grave in the land of Babylonia and were overwhelmed by sadness. When Iblis saw their sorrow caused by his death, he disguised himself in the form of a man saying: 'I have seen your sorrow because of this man's death; can I make a statue like him which could be put in your meeting place to make you remember him?' They said: 'Yes.'

So he made the statue like him. They put it in their meeting place in order to be reminded of him. When Iblis saw their interest in remembering him, he said: 'Can I build a statue of him in the home of each one of you so that he would be in everyone's house and you could remember him?'

They agreed. Their children learned about and saw what they were doing. They also learned about their remembrance of him instead of Allah. So the first to be worshipped instead of Allah was Waddan, the idol which they named thus."

The essence of this point is that every idol from those earlier mentioned was worshipped by a certain group of people. It was mentioned that people made picture sand as the ages passed they made these pictures into statues, so that their forms could be fully recognized; afterwards they were worshipped instead of Allah.

It was narrated that Umm Salmah and Umm Habibah told Allah's Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) about the church called "Maria" which they had seen in the land of Abyssinia. They described its beauty and the pictures therein. He said: "Those are the people who build places of worship on the grave of every dead man who was righteous and then make therein those pictures. Those are the worst of creation unto Allah." (Sahih al Bukhari).

Worshipping anything other than Allah is a tragedy that results not only in the loss of freedom; its serious effect reaches man's mind and destroys it as well. Almighty Allah created man and his mind with its purpose set on achieving knowledge the most important of which is that Allah alone is the Creator and all the rest are worshippers (slaves). Therefore, disbelief in Allah, or polytheism, results in the loss of freedom, the destruction of the mind, and the absence of a noble target in life. (By worshipping anything other than Allah, man becomes enslaved to Satan, who is himself a creature and becomes harnessed to his own baser qualities).

Into this environment Allah sent Noah with His message to his people. Noah was the only intellectual not caught in the whirlpool of man's destruction which was caused by polytheism.

Allah is His Mercy sent His messenger Noah to guide his people. Noah was an excellent speaker and a very patient man. He pointed out to his people the mysteries of life and the wonders of the universe. He pointed out how the night is regularly followed by the day and that the balance between these opposites were designed by Allah the Almighty for our good. The night gives coolness and rest while the day gives warmth and awakens activity. The sun encourages growth, keeping all plants and animals alive, while the moon and stars assist in the reckoning of time, direction and seasons. He pointed out that the ownership of the heavens and the earth belongs only to the Divine Creator.

Therefore, he explained to this people, there cannot have been more than one deity. He clarified to them how the devil had deceived them for so long and that the time had come for this deceit to stop. Noah spoke to them of Allah's glorification of man, how HE had created him and provided him with sustenance and the blessings of a mind. He told them that idol worshipping was a suffocating injustice to the mind. He warned them not to worship anyone but Allah and described the terrible punishment Allah would mete out if they continued in their evil ways.

The people listened to him in silence. His words were a shock to their stagnating minds as it is a shock to a person who is asleep under a wall which is about to fall and who is vigorously awakened. This person may be alarmed and may even become angry although the aim was to save him.

Noah's people were divided into two groups after his warning. His words touched the hearts of the weak, the poor, and the miserable and soothed their wounds with its mercy. As for the rich, the strong, the mighty and the rulers they looked upon the warning with cold distrust. They believed they would be better off if things stayed as they were. Therefore they started their war of words against Noah.

First they accused Noah of being only human like themselves. 'The chiefs of the disbeliveers among his people said: "We see you but a man like ourselves."' (Ch 11:27 Quran) He, however, had never said anything other than that. He asserted that, indeed, he was only a human being; Allah had sent a human messenger because the earth winhabited by humans. If it had been inhabited by angels Allah would have sent an angelic messenger.

The contest between the polytheists and Noah continued. the rulers had thought at first that Noah's call would soon fade on its own. When they found that his call attracted the poor, the helpless and common laborers, they started to verbally attack and taunt him: 'You are only followed by the poor, the meek and the worthless.'

Allah the Almighty told us: "Indeed We sent Noah to his people (he said): "I have come to you as a plain Warner that you worship none but Allah, surely, I fear for you the torment of a painful Day." the chiefs of the disbeliveers among his people said: "We see you but a man like ourselves, nor do we see any follow you but the meanest among us and they too followed you without thinking. And we do not see in you any merit above us in fact we think you are liars." (CH 11:25-27).

Thus the conflict between Noah and the heads of his people intensified. The disbeliveers tried to bargain: "Listen Noah, if you want us to believe in you, then dismiss your believers. They are meek and poor, while are elite and rich; no faith c an include us both." Noah listened to the heathens of his community and realized they were being obstinate. However, he was gentle in his response. He explained to his people that he could not dismiss the believers as they were not his guests but Allah's.

Noah appealed to them: "O my people! I ask of you no wealth for it, my reward is from none but Allah. I am not going to drive away those who have believed. Surely, they are going to meet their Lord, but I see that you are a people that are ignorant. O my people! Who will help me against Allah, if I drove them away? Will you not then give a thought? And I do not say to you that with me are the Treasures of Allah nor that I know the unseen, nor do I say I am an angel, and I do not say of those whom your eyes look down upon that Allah will not bestow any good on them. Allah knows what is in their inner selves (regards to Belief). In that case, I should, indeed be one of the Zalimeen (wrongdoers, oppressors etc)." (Ch 11:29-31 Quran)

Noah refuted the arguments of the disbeliveers with the noble knowledge of the prophets. It is the logic of intellect that rids itself of personal pride and interests.

The rulers were tired of Noah's arguments. Allah the Exalted related their attitude: They said: "O Noah! You have disputed with us and much have you prolonged the dispute with us, now bring upon us what you threaten us with, if you are of the truthful." He said: "Only Allah will bring it (the punishment)on you, if He will, and then you will escape not. And my advice will not profit you, even if I wish to give you counsel, if Allah's Will is to keep you astray. He is your Lord! And to Him you shall return." (Ch 11:32-34 Quran)

The battle continued; the arguments between the disbeliveers and Noah became prolonged. When all the refutations of the disbeliveers collapsed and they had no more to say, they began to be rude and insulted Allah's prophet: 'The leaders of his people said: "Verily, we see you in plain error." (Ch 7:60 Quran)

Noah responded in the manner of the prophets: "O my people! There is no error in me, but I am a Messenger from the Lord of the Alamin (mankind, jinn and all that exists)! I convey unto you the Messages of my Lord and give sincere advice to you. And I know from Allah what you know not." (CH 7:61-62 Quran)

Noah continued appealing to his people to believe in Allah hour after hour, day after day year after year. He admonished his people and called them to Allah day and night, in secret and openly. HE gave them examples, explained Allah's signs and illustrated Allah's ability in the formation of His creatures. But whenever he called them to Allah, they ran away from him. Whenever he urged them to ask Allah to forgive them, they put their fingers in their ears and became too proud to listen to the truth.

Allah the Almighty related what Noah faced: Verily, We sent Noah to his people saying: "Warn your people before there comes to them a painful torment."

He said: "O my people! Verily, I am a plain Warner to you, that you should worship Allah alone, be dutiful to Him and obey me, He (Allah) will forgive you of your sins and respite you to an appointed term. Verily, the term of Allah when it comes, cannot be delayed, if you but knew."

He said: "O my Lord! Verily, I have called my people night and day (secretly and openly to accept the doctrine of Islamic Monotheism), but all my calling added nothing but to their flight from the truth. Verily! Everytime I called unto them that You might forgive them, they thrust their fingers into their ears, covered themselves up with their garments, and persisted (in their refusal), and magnified themselves in pride. Then verily, I called to them openly (aloud); then verily, I proclaimed to them in public, and I have appealed to them in private, I said to them: 'Ask forgiveness from your Lord, Verily, He is Oft Forgiving; He will send rain to you in abundance, and give you increase in wealth and children, and bestow on you gardens and bestow on you rivers."

What is the matter with you, that you fear not Allah (His Punishment), and you hope not for reward from Allah or you believe not in His Oneness. While He has created you in different stages. (Ch 23:13-14 Quran)

See you not how Allah has created the seven heavens one above another, and has made the moon a light therein and made the sun a lamp? And Allah has brought you forth from the dust of earth. Afterwards He will return you into it (the earth), and bring you forth (again on the Day of Resurrection) Allah has made for you the earth wide spread (an expanse) that you may go about therein broad roads.

Noah said: "My Lord! They have disobeyed me, and followed one whose wealth and children give him no increase but only loss. They have plotted a mighty plot. They have said: 'you shall not leave your gods, nor shall you leave wadd, nor Suwa, nor Yaghuth, nor ya'uq nor Nasr (names of the idols). Indeed they have led many astray. O Allah! Grant no increase to the Zalimeen (polytheists, wrongdoers, and disbeliveers etc) save error."

Because of their sins they were drowned, then were made to enter the Fire and they found none to help them instead of Allah. (Ch 71:1-25 Quran).

Noah continued to call his people to believe in Allah for nine hundred fifty years. Allah the Almighty said: Indeed We sent Noah to his people and he stayed among them a thousand years less fifty years (inviting them to believe in the Oneness of Allah (Monotheism) and discard the false gods and other deities). (Ch 29:14 Quran)

It happened that every passing generation admonished the succeeding one not to believe Noah and to wage war against him. the father used to teach his child about the matter that was between himself and Noah and counsel him to reject his call when he reached adulthood. Their natural disposition rejected believing and following the truth.

Noah saw that the number of believers was not increasing, while that of the disbeliveers was. He was sad for his people, but he never reached the point of despair.

There came a day when Allah revealed to Noah that no others would believe. Allah inspired him not to grieve for them at which point Noah prayed that the disbeliveers be destroyed. He said: "My Lord! Leave not one of the disbeliveers on the earth. If you leave them, they will mislead Your slaves and they will beget none but wicked disbeliveers." (Ch 71:27 Quran)

Allah accepted Noah's prayer. The case was closed, and He passed His judgment on the disbeliveers in the form of a flood. Allah the Exalted ordered His worshipper Noah to build an ark with His knowledge and instructions and with the help of angels. Almighty Allah commanded: "And construct the ship under Our Eyes and with Our Inspiration and address Me not on behalf of those who did wrong; they are surely to be drowned." (Ch 11:37 Quran)

Noah chose a place outside the city, far from the sea. HE collected wood and tools and began to day and night to build the ark. The people's mockery continued: "O Noah! Does carpentry appeal to you more than prophethood? Why are you building an ark so far from the sea? Are you going to drag it to the water or is the wind going to carry it for you?" Noah replied: "You will come to know who will be put to shame and suffer."

Allah the Almighty narrated: As he was constructing the ship, whenever the chiefs of his people passed by him, they made a mockery of him. He said : "If you mock at us, so do we mock at you likewise for your mocking. And you will know who it is on whom will come a torment that will cover him with disgrace and on whom will fall a lasting torment." (Ch 11:38-39 Quran)

The ship was constructed, and Noah sat waiting Allah's command. Allah revealed to him that when water miraculously gushed forth from the oven at Noah's house, that would be the sign of the start of the flood, and the sign for Noah to act.

The terrible day arrived when the oven at Noah's house overflowed. Noah hurried to open the ark and summon the believers. He also took with him a pair, male and female, of every type of animal, bird and insect. Seeing him taking these creatures to the ark, the people laughed loudly: "Noah must have gone out of his head! What is he going to do with the animals?"

Almighty Allah narrated: So it was till then there came Our Command and the oven gushed forth (water like fountains from the earth). We said: "Embark therein, of each kind two (male and female), and your family, except him against whom the Word has already gone forth, and those who believe." And none believed him except a few. (Ch 11:40 Quran)

Noah's wife was not a believer with him so she did not join him; neither did one of Noah's sons, who was secretly a disbeliever but had pretended faith in front of Noah. Likewise most of the people were disbeliveers and did not go on board.

The scholars hold different opinions on the number of those who were with Noah on the ship. Ibn Abbas stated that there were 80 believers while Ka ab al Ahbar held that there were 72 believers. Others claimed that there were 10 believers with Noah.

Water rose from the cracks in the earth; there was not a crack from which water did not rise. rain poured from the sky in quantities never seen before on earth. Water continued pouring from the sky rising from the cracks; hour after hour the level rose. The seas and waves invaded the land. The interior of the earth moved in a strange way, and the ocean floors lifted suddenly, flooding the dry land. The earth, for the first time was submerged.

Allah told the story thus: He (Noah) said: "Embark therein in the Name of Allah will be its moving course and its resting anchorage. Surely, my Lord is Oft Forgiving, most Merciful." so it (the ship) sailed with them amidst the waves like mountains, and Noah called out to his son, who had separated himself (apart), "O my son! Embark with us and be not with the disbeliveers." The son replied, "I will betake myself to a mountain, it will save me from the water." Noah said: "This day there is no savior from the Decree of Allah except him on whom He has mercy." And a wave came in between them so he (the son) was among the drowned.

It was said: "O Earth! Swallow up your water, and O sky! Withhold (your rain)." The water was diminished (made to subside) and the Decree (of Allah) was fulfilled (the destruction of the people of Noah). And it (the ship) rested on Mount Judi, and it was said: "Away with the people who are Zalimeen (polytheists, and wrongdoing)!"

Noah called upon his Lord and said, "O my Lord! Verily, my son is of my family! Certainly, Your Promise is true, and You are the Most Just of the judges." HE said: "O Noah! Surely, he is not of your family; verily, his work is unrighteous, so ask not of Me that of which you have no knowledge! I admonish you, lest you be one of the ignorants."

Noah said: "O my Lord! I seek refuge with You from asking You that of which I have no knowledge. And unless You forgive me and have Mercy on me, I would indeed be one of the losers."

It was said: "O Noah! Come down (from the ship) with peace from Us and blessings on you and on the people o\who are with you(and on some of their offspring), but (there will be other) people to whom We shall grant their pleasures (for a time), but in the end a painful torment will reach them from Us." (Ch 11:41-48 Quran)

With the issue of the divine command, calm returned to earth, the water retreated, and the dry land shone once again in the rays of the sun. The flood had cleansed the earth of the disbeliveers and polytheists.

Noah released the birds, and the beats which scattered over the earth. After that the believers disembarked. Noah put his forehead to the ground in prostration. The survivors kindled a fire and sat around it. Lighting a fire had been prohibited on board so as not to ignite the ship's wood and burn it up. None of them had eaten hot food during the entire period of the floor. Following the disembarkation there was a day of fasting in thanks to Allah.

The Quran draws the curtain on Noah's story. We do not know how his affairs with his people continued. All we know or can ascertain is that on his deathbed he requested his son to worship Allah alone, Noah then passed away.

Abdullah Ibn Amru Ibn Al as narrated that the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said: "When the death of the Messenger of Allah Noah approached, the admonished his sons: 'Indeed I would give you far reaching advice, commanding you to do 2 things, and warning you against doing 2 things as well. I charge you to believe that there is no god but Allah and that if the seven heavens and the seven earths were put on one side of a scale and the words "there is no god but Allah" were put on the other, the latter would outweigh the former. I warn you against associating partners with Allah and against pride." (Sahih al Bukhari)

Some traditions said that his grave is in the Scared Mosque in Mecca, while others said that he was buried in Baalabak, a city in Iraq.

PROPHET ENOCH (IDRIS)

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Allah has praised Enoch, describing him as being a prophet and truthful: Mention in the Book (Quran) Idris (Enoch). Verily! He was a man of truth (and) a prophet. We raised him to a high station. (Ch 19:56-57 Quran).

Enoch was born and raised in Babylon following the teachings and religion of Prophet Adam (pbuh) and his son Seth (pbuh). Enoch was the 5th generation of the Prophet Adam. He called the people back to his forefathers religion, but only a few listened to him, while the majority turned away.

Prophet Enoch and his followers left Babylon for Egypt. There he carried on his mission, calling people to what is just and fair, teaching them certain prayers and instructing them to fast on certain days and to give a portion of their wealth to the poor.

He was the first of the Children of Adam to be given prophethood after Adam and Seth (peace upon them). It is reported that he was the 1st to invent the basic form of writing. Some of his wise sayings are:

Happy is he who looks at his own deeds and appoints them as pleaders to his Lord

None can show better gratitude for Allah's favors than he who shares them with others. Do not envy people for what they have as they will only enjoy it for a short while. He who indulges in excess will not benefit from it. The real joy of life is to have wisdom.

DHUL KIFL

Allah the Almighty declared : Remember Ishmael and Idris and Dhul Kifl, all were from among those who observe patience. (Ch 21:85-86 Quran).

Allah directed: Remember Our slaves, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (all) owners of strength (in worshipping Us) and also of religious understanding. Verily, We did choose them by granting them (a good thing ) the remembrance of the home (in the Hereafter and they used to make the people remember it and also they used to invite the people to obey Allah and to do good deeds for the Hereafter). And they are in Our Sight, verily of the chosen and the best! Remember Ishmael, Elisha, and Dhul Kifl all are among the best. (Ch 38:45-48 Quran).

Ibn Jarir narrated that he was not a prophet but he was a righteous man. He supported his people to suffice their needs and administrated justice among them. That is why he was called Dhul Kifl. (means possessor of, or giving, a double requital or portion)

Dwellers of Ar-Rass

Allah Almighty revealed: Noah's people, when they denied the Messengers We drowned them, and We made them as a sign for mankind. We have prepared a painful torment for the Zalimeen (polytheists and wrongdoers) Also Ad and Thamud and the dwellers of Ar Rass and many generations in between. For each of them We put forward examples (as proofs and lessons etc), and each of them We brought to utter ruin (because of their disbelief and evil deeds). (Ch 25:37-39 Quran)

Allah the Exalted revealed: Denied before them (these pagans of Mecca who denied you, O Muhammad) the people of Noah and the dwellers of Ar Rass, and Thamud and Ad and Pharaoh, and the brethren of Lot, and the dewellers of the Wood, and the people of Tubba, everyone of them denied their Messengers so My Threat took effect. (Ch 50:12-14 Quran).

These verses indicate that the dwellers of Ar Rass were destroyed as they were the other people who refused to believe in the prophets of Allah

Ibn jarir stated that the dwellers of Ar Rass were the people of one of Thamud's villages. Allah sent a prophet to them called Huzlah Ibn Safwan. They denied and killed him, so Allah destroyed them.

Abu Bakr Muhammad Ibn Al Hassan narrated: "The dwellers of AR Rass had a well sufficing them and their land. They also had a just and good-hearted king. When he died, they were much grieved for him. After four days Satan took his form and said: "I was not deed, but I kept absent from you to see your reaction." They were very joyful. He commanded them to set up a curtain between him and them and told them that he would never die. A great number of them believed him and were fascinated with and worshiped him. Then Allah sent them a prophet telling them that it was only Satan who was addressing them from behind the curtain. He forbade them to worship him and commanded them to worship only Allah and no partner with Him. In spite of that, they killed their prophet and threw his body into a well. Therefore Allah destroyed them and their homes."

Yasin People

All that we know about these people is what Allah Almighty has told us in the Glorious Quran: Put forward to them a similitude the (story of ) the dwellers of the town, (it is said that the town was Antioch, Antakiya), when there came Messengers to them. When We sent them two Messengers, they belied them both, so We reinforced them with a third and they said: "Verily! We have been sent to you as Messengers." They (people of the town) said: "You are only human beings like ourselves and the Most Beneficent (Allah) has revealed nothing, you are only telling lies." The Messengers said: "Our Lord knows that we have been sent as Messengers to you, our duty is only to convey plainly (the Message)." The people said: "For us we see an evil omen from you, if you cease not we will surely stone you and a painful torment will touch you from us." The Messengers said: "Your evil omens be with you! (Do you call it "evil omen") because you are admonished? Nay but you are a people Musrifun (transgressing all bounds by committing all kinds of great sins, and by disobeying Allah)." And there came running from the farthest part of the town, a man saying: "O my people! Obey the Messengers obey those who ask no wagers of you (for themselves) and who are rightly guided. Why should I not worship Him (Allah Alone) Who has created me and to Whom you shall be returned. Shall I take besides Him aliah (gods) if the Most Beneficent (Allah) intends me any harm, their intercession will be of no use whatsoever, nor can they save me? Then verily, I should be in plain error. Verily! I have believed in your Lord, so listen to me!" It was said (to him when the disbelievers killed him): "Enter Paradise." He said: "Would that my people knew! That my Lord (Allah) has forgive me, and made me of the honored ones!" We sent not against his people after him a host from heaven nor do We send (such a thing). IT was but one shout and lo! They (all) were silent (dead destroyed). Alas for mankind! There never came a Messenger to them but they used to mock at him. Do they not see how many of the generations We have destroyed before them? Verily, they will not return to them. (Ch 36:13-31 Quran).