Concerning the birth of Prophet Jesus, the following facts
from Muslims' point of view are presented from the Qur'an:
1). The Qur’an (19:15) first narrates Prophet John's
(Yahya's) birth (may peace be upon him) and ends it by describing: "So
Peace on him the day he was born, the day that he dies, and the day that he
will be raised up to life (again)!"
2). Just after this verse, God narrates the birth of Prophet
Jesus (may peace be upon him) and uses the same words to describe Prophet
Jesus's life through Jesus's speech in the Qur’an (19:33): "So Peace is on
me the day I was born, the day that I die, and the day that I shall be raised
up to life (again)"!
3). Prophet John (Yahya), who was born six months before
Prophet Jesus (Eesa), BOTH have their lives described exactly in the SAME words.
4). If Prophet Jesus (Eesa) has to re-emerge from a mosque in
Syria; as the Muslims say, and fight Dajjal close to the Hereafter then we have
to believe Prophet John (Yahya) too shall resurrect. For the record, the
literal meaning of the word Dajjal is a 'False Messiah' and a 'Deceiver in
Islam'.
5). Christians too have this concept of Jesus returning to
Earth before the Hereafter.
6). Also, the Qur'an (5:117)) narrates a dialogue between God
and Jesus in the Hereafter when Jesus replies to God asking whether he
asked the people to worship Mary (Maryam) and Jesus (Eesa) aside from God.
Jesus's reply, “I said not to them except what You commanded me - to
worship Allah, my Lord, and your Lord. And I was a witness over them as long as
I was among them; but when You took me up, You were the Observer over them, and
You are, over all things, Witness.
7). The Above Verse mentions that Jesus (Eesa) (may peace be
upon him) replies that during the time he was amongst his people, he asked his
people to worship God only but when God took him up he did not know about the
after events. If Jesus (Eesa) is to come before the Hereafter he would know the
Christians would have made Maryam and himself as the son of God.
8). The Qur'an testifies to Prophet Jesus's (Eesa's) complete
life span. Also, juxtapose this fact in conjunction with Prophet John's (Yahya's)
life span.
Aamir Yazdani
Tuesday, December 25, 2018
The Resurrection of Jesus before the Advent of the Hereafter - Qur'an's Version 24th December, 2016
Tuesday, December 11, 2018
Powerful Words of God 11th December, 2018
Powerful Words of God
Quran (11:44): And the word was spoken: "O earth!
Swallow up thy waters! And, O sky, cease (thy rain)!" And the water sank
into the earth, and the will (of God) was done, and the ark came to rest on
Al-Judi. And the word was spoken: "Away with these evil-doing folk!"
God's creation is subservient to Him: (41:11): "Then He
directed Himself to the heaven while it was smoke and said to it and the earth,
"Come (into being), willing or by compulsion. "They said, "We
have come willingly".
Quran in mentioning the tales of prophets says (54:17):
"And We have indeed made the Quran appropriate to understand as the
Reminder: then is there any that will receive admonition?"
Quran calls itself the 'Reminder' (15:9): "We have
without doubt sent down the Reminder, and We will assuredly guard it (from
corruption).
What is the Reminder?
Reminder is conscious and subconscious news of the advent of
the Hereafter. The oft-repeating tales of the prophets in the Quran, where the
believers of the prophets were honoured and the disbelievers disgraced in this
world, likewise, the same treatment shall be meted out to the believers and the
disbelievers in the Hereafter. So too, the affairs of the Universe point to
this advent (3: 190-191): "Behold! In the creation of the heavens and the
earth, and the alternation of night and day, there are indeed signs for men of
understanding. Men who celebrate the praises of Allah, standing, sitting, and
lying down at their sides, and contemplate the (wonders of) creation in the
heavens and the earth, (with the thought): Our Lord! you have not created all
this in vain; exalted are You (above creating anything in vain)! Glory to Thee!
Give us salvation from the penalty of the Fire".
The term above 'you have not created all this in vain'
implies all this one day shall experience the advent of the Hereafter. And we
seek Your protection that day from the penalty of Fire.
The Hereafter? Where each soul shall see an atom's weight of
good/bad he has brought forth, (99: 7-8): "Then shall anyone who has done
an atom's weight of good, see it. And anyone who has done an atom's weight of
evil, shall see it".
God claims each soul is born with the realization of three
innate manifestations: The Belief in God, the belief in the advent of the
Hereafter which shall be based on the deeds done here, now, as we read this
based on the Qur’an (7:172): “And [mention] when your Lord took from the
children of Adam - from their loins - their descendants and made them testify
of themselves, [saying to them], "Am I not your Lord?" They said,
"Yes, we have testified." [This] - lest you should say on the day of
Resurrection, "Indeed, we were of this unaware.", and thirdly (91:8):
"And it's enlightenment as to its wrong from its right".
The Qur’an gives glad tidings to people
who listen to the voice of their conscience, (2:62): "Those who believe
(in the Quran), and those who follow the Jewish (scriptures), and the
Christians and the Sabians, any who believe in Allah and the Last Day, and work
righteousness, shall have their reward with their Lord, on them shall be no fear,
nor shall they grieve (in the Hereafter)".
God's definition of success (3:185): "Everyone shall
taste death. And only on the Day of Resurrection shall you be paid your wages
in full. And whoever is removed away from the Fire and admitted to Paradise, he
indeed is successful; and the life of this world is nothing but a provision of
vanities".
Does this 'success' entail removing oneself from the success
of this world and becoming an ascetic? No. God's response is perfect (62:10):
"And when the prayer (of Juma) has been concluded, disperse within the
land and seek from the bounty of Allah, and remember Allah often that you may
succeed". The success of this life is linked with 'seeking from the bounty
of Allah'.
God's signs, (6:104): "Now have come to you, from your
Lord, proofs (to open your eyes): if any will see, it will be for (the good of)
his soul; if any will be blind, it will be to his own (harm): I (Muhammad) am
not (here) to watch over your doings".
God's yearning (84: 20-21): "What then is the matter
with them, that they believe not? And when the Quran is read to them, they fall
not prostrate".
Aamir Yazdani
Monday, December 3, 2018
Tragedy of Democracy & Suggestions 2nd May, 2016
1. A Pakistani Politician can contest elections from two or more seats!
But a
Pakistani citizen cannot vote from two places. (It should be rejected and
ratified. Needs to be corrected).
2. A person in jail cannot vote.
But a
Pakistani Politician can fight elections even while in prison! (It should be
rejected and ratified. Needs to be corrected).
3. A person who has ever been in prison can never get a government job.
But a
Pakistani politician could have been in jail any number of times and can become
PM or MNA/MPA. (It should be rejected and ratified. Needs to be
corrected).
4. You have to be a graduate to get an ordinary job in a bank.
If the
Pakistani politician is illiterate, he/she can become a minister in Pakistan.
(Work towards enhancing the literacy rate of the country).
5. To get into the armed forces as a non-commissioned officer one has to be a high school graduate along with being physically and mentally fit.
If a
Pakistani politician is illiterate potentially, he/she can become the Supreme
Leader of the Armed Forces.
6. Despite the court cases against a Pakistani politician potentially he or she can become the chief of the police department by being the Minister of the Interior. (Obviously, this needs to be rejected and ratified with proper legislation).
The system of governance is only democracy. Democratic norms and procedures need to be ratified and improved. We should all work towards its salvation and sustenance. It will take time. Nations cannot be built overnight. The concerned citizens have to light their share of light and move on for the next generations to light theirs.
In the end Sadiq, democracy has to rise and shine. Governments after all are a government "of the people, by the people and for the people".
Aamir Yazdani
Killing Innocent children in the Name of Jihad 9th April, 2018
Concerning the video on children who died recently:
Allama
Iqbal over a century ago singled out two countries. He said till the time
tribal administration will not cease and till the time the tribes do not enter
mainstream political government these two countries shall remain in tribal
confrontation resulting in law and order situation creating chaos and anarchy.
These two countries were Yemen and Afghanistan. Add our tribal FATA belt with
it also.
Government writ is of paramount importance in running the affairs of any country. Any group, tribe, or faction that takes up arms and wages jehad or tries to subjugate people without people's will is, vehemently, outrightly rejected and abhorred in Islam. Include the so-called Mullah Umar's band of Taliban rule. They were put into power without people's consent.
The result of tribal administration is no one is accountable to the government of the country. The writ of government is zero. War-mongering jihadists remain perpetually at war creating intra strife. They become easy meat for alien forces. Afghanistan is a classic example. Since 1979 in our living memory, only tribal heads have been associated with either Russia or the USA.
Children. Not only Muslim children. Not only Quran hafiz children. Children all around the world carry equal weight and equal levels of innocence. Everybody sheds a tear or two at this horrific act. The tribal warlords of Yemen and Afghanistan have to come into mainstream politics based on elections for the world to embrace them within the comity of nations. Otherwise, these acts will remain outcasts for the world media be it in Sudan, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Yemen, or Afghanistan.
One point. I find it most disgusting is declare the boys of Army Public School, Peshawar, or other such children who die of brutality as martyrs. This is sprinkling salt on the wounds of their parents. They were killed because of the brutality of blood-hungry people.
Aamir Yazdani
Advent of Eid after Ramazan 27th June, 2017
On the
Advent of Eid after the month of Fasting:
Dear Respected Sir,
There is this phrase which the believers of God believe in. It goes "There is no power and no strength except with God".
After the fasting month, it is exactly this feeling with which a believer feels drenched. Only through God's infinite mercy and blessings do the believers fast; come rain, snow, sunshine, extremely hot weather, humid weather under all conditions. What does God say in return? He says, "Fasting is for me alone; it is unto me alone to reward them". This implies the reward shall be limitless!
The practice of fasting for God is an ancient custom that goes right up to pre-historic times. The Qur’an says (2:183): "O you who have believed, decreed upon you is fasting as it was decreed upon those before you that you may become righteous".
Fasting is not only a Muslim tradition as it is made to appear in the media. It comes down from Prophet Abraham (and even before him). People of the Book (Divine religions) have practiced this custom and do so even today. Judaism practices Yom Kippur which is a fasting tradition. Christians practice 40 days of fasting, Lent (like Ramadan for Muslims).
The supposedly tangible things in life are wealth, a wallet full of currency and credit cards, cars, bungalows, and careers. But some things are more tangible than the tangibility of the above-mentioned things. Quran (3:14): "Beautified for mankind is the love of the joys (that come) from women and offspring; and stored-up heaps of gold and silver, and horses branded (with their mark), and cattle and land. That is the comfort of the life of the world. Allah! With Him is a more excellent abode".
Those (more tangible) are the beliefs are the tenets of faith. The belief in the Creator of the Universe, one God. The life after death to follow. God reminds us in the Qur’an (2:28): “How can you be ungrateful to Allah Who bestowed life upon you when you were lifeless, then He will cause you to die and will again bring you back to life so that you will be returned to Him.”
A life of eternity. An eternal life directly proportional to the deeds done here. Good deeds here shall be rewarded to the fullest to the minutest detail. Bad deeds here shall be held accountable for in equal proportion. Quran (99: 7-8): "So whoever does an atom's weight of good will see it, And whoever does an atom's weight of evil will see it".
Those who have been fasting all around the world especially in this part of the world, have endured very hot and at times humid weather. They had to stay out in the sun. Sweat a lot at times but they endured all to please God!
Again. Why did it so happen? Because as the saying goes, "There is no power and no strength except with God".
Eid Greetings!
Aamir Yazdani
Intellectual Approach vs Blind Following 9th April 2017
Hardliners
in religion thrive on blindly following the narrative they are fed with. That
is why their narrative is coated with high emotions. That is also why their
presentation is high on rhetoric and replete with emotions.
God on the other hand presents His signs. Sign (of God) means the point of consideration (as in matters of faith) may not be visible to the naked eye but it can be deciphered through one’s intellectual prowess and ability. That is the reason, the Qur’an throughout its discourse addresses people who are willing to employ their intellects in reading the signs of God.
Through the Qur’an, it appears God has no time for emotional allegiance towards reading His signs and adhering to His narrative. If we open the Qur’an randomly we shall observe that whenever God ends His line of arguments at all times He does so for people of reasoning:
عقل والے، تدبر کرنے والے، غور و فکر کرنے والے، دانش مند لوگ، بصیرت رکھنے والے، سننے والے وغیرہ۔۔۔
God has an affinity for travellers in the quest for truth irrespective of the individual's mental capability and IQ. The Qur’an testifies to God’s approach. People with the above attributes (in Urdu) carry a different facial lineament.
Aamir
Yazdani
Reply to Uzma Bhabi 3rd October, 2018
Reply
to Uzma Bhabi:
I feel and think and have the opinion that the Qur’an's first and foremost level of understanding, as the author of this article himself points out, remains the Quranic reference to the context - relating the verses with what is before and, after it. Later one may endeavour to correlate the verses for all times to come. But this has to be juxtaposed with the context of the revealed verses.
For the Qur’anic context to be understood it is pertinent to identify the first addressees of God’s revelations. In Makkah, the first addressees were the Prophet (sws) both as Muhammad bin Abdullah and Muhammad the Messenger of God, the tribal leaders of the Quraish, at times the Jews, some Bedouins, and of course the believers (companions of the prophet).
In Madina, the first addressees were the Prophet as the Messenger of God, Jews, Christians, Hypocrites, Quraish, Bedouins, and the Sahaba identified as the Ansars and the Muhajirs.
The context of the Qur’an, first and foremost, should dilate the era of Makkah or Madina. The well-known collector of Hadith Imam Shaf'i said, “I am convinced about the veracity of my opinion but I do consider it likely that may turn out to be incorrect. Likewise, I am convinced about the incorrectness of the views different from mine. But I do concede the possibility that they may turn out to be correct".
~ ولی تاویل شان در حیرت انداخت
خدا
و جبرئیل و مُصطفے را
Aamir Yazdani
A Traveller in the Quest for Truth.
Chacha Bashir - A Devout Christian 17th September, 2018
Chacha
Bashir. A devout Christian with a deep, unflinching, 'contagious' belief in
God. His livelihood remained to excavate earth for foundations with a shovel.
Here he is saying, "With sight goes the colour of life; with teeth goes taste; with hearing goes music".
His adult son was murdered a decade back. Chacha Bashir went to the police station to collect his son's body. The police wanted to do an autopsy. He said the law never protects the poor and asked them to hand over the body intact. And that he forgives the murderer.
Prophet Jesus said, 'Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted'.
Aamir Yazdani
Dadi 's (Grandmothers) Narration of Tales from Independence Days 25th August, 2018
Reply to Khawar Bhai - Sufism & Islam 20th August, 2018
Salam,
Khawar Bhai, Sufism, per my understanding, is where Sufis claim to be striving not only for the actions but also for the 'inner experience' of the prophet. They claim everything we see around us, including ourselves, is God - the concept of pantheism (وحدت الوجود).
The two ONLY components of God's last guidance are the Prophet Muhammad's way of life (in religious matters) called the Sunnah & the Quran. Both these pristine sources are devoid of going after the Prophets 'inner experience'.
God hasn't asked us to shun the worldly life for spiritual uplifting as in Buddhism or remain cut off from the normal way of life as in not marrying within the Christian priesthood or leave our homes to spread God's religion as the tableeghi jamaat people do or attain God's proximity by doing 'chilla's' and reciting some verse lakhs of time etc.
God wants us to be 'normal' human beings. Marriage, having children, going about doing our chores, pursuing our careers, competing in all walks of life.
That is why the Quran is also called a Tazkirah (in Arabic) meaning a ‘reminder’. Qur’an acts as a ‘reminder’ to us to remain vigilant and cognizant of the life to come. It says life doesn't end with this life. It transfers to an unending life. Indeed, when we read the Quran all its reasoning revolves around this singular point - of resurrection. God wants us to lead a fantastic, fulfilling life here. I consider Sufism a 'parallel' religion.
The upper echelons of Sufism officially consider themselves as a 'Prophet' - a Nabi if you like. They claim as far as revelations are concerned those doors closed with Prophet Muhammad. But otherwise, we still commune with God. God communes with us. For this communion with God, they practice مُراقبہ، مشق، ریاضت etc.
All the Sufis have this stance. The high-level ones. They call themselves خواص meaning special. We are commoners to them; hence, we cannot see what they see.
Just for the record Mirza Ghulam Ahmed Sahib of Rabwah made similar claims. No different to all the Sufi saint's narratives - that he is a Nabi as the Sufis claim they are. And that, like the Sufi saints he receives directives (not revelations) from God. He doesn't claim an iota more. Only he belongs to recent times people couldn't relate to the Sufi narrative.
So, Sufism is something I may not relate to Khawar Bhai. The reason it looks attractive is that obviously, it is peaceful, nirvana oriented, brings solace to mind, etc. But it's not the way God desires to achieve this.
What God desires is mentioned in the Qur'an.
Aamir Yazdani
Faith and Birth: A Call for Conscious Reflection on the Qadiani Question (1st August, 2018)
Epigraph:
Faith is a personal journey, not an inherited status. "No soul can bear
the burden of another. Every person is accountable for their own deeds." —
Qur’an 6:164
Faith and Birth: A Call for Conscious Reflection on the Qadiani Question
A person
born into the Qadiani community arrives at their faith by the same
means as someone born into any other sect of Islam—through the
circumstances of birth and upbringing. Just as a Deobandi, Barelvi, Shia,
or Wahhabi inherits their religious identity, so too does a Christian,
Jew, Hindu, or Buddhist. If faith is largely a matter of birth, then how can
one justify hatred or exclusion based on this?
What
purpose is served by alienating or avoiding those whose beliefs differ from
ours? Does distance achieve anything meaningful, or is engagement the key
to deeper understanding? I believe that by fostering genuine friendship
and dialogue, we create opportunities to share perspectives on the Qur’an amicably—not
with arrogance or condescension, but with humility and sincerity.
However,
history bears witness that people often resist change, clinging to inherited
traditions without questioning them. The Qur’an highlights this very tendency
in the Quraysh’s response to the Prophet (peace be upon him):
"Rather,
they say, ‘Indeed, we found our forefathers upon a certain practice, and we are
guided by their footsteps.’" (Qur’an 43:22)
To this,
the Prophet was commanded to ask them:
"What
if I bring you better guidance than what you found your forefathers upon?
Still, you would reject it?" (Qur’an 43:24)
And in
another instance, the Prophet boldly challenged them:
"Say,
then bring a scripture from God that is better in guidance than these (the
Torah and the Qur’an), so that I may follow it—if you are truthful." (Qur’an
28:49)
These
verses underscore a fundamental truth: Blind adherence to inherited
beliefs is not a guarantee of righteousness. What truly matters is our conscious
and sincere relationship with God, grounded in reason, truth, and moral
integrity. It is not sectarian labels that will determine our fate, but our
pursuit of divine guidance and righteousness. God Himself assures:
"And
those who strive in Our cause—We will surely guide them to Our ways. And
indeed, God is with the doers of good." (Qur’an 29:69)
Thus, the
only thing that truly benefits us is our conscious pursuit of God’s path,
through sincerity, knowledge, and moral integrity—not merely the faith of
our forefathers.
— Aamir
Yazdani
General Election Pakistan, 2018
Sabrina Ghani and my Book 24th June, 2018
Pakistani Film Actresses - Children of Lesser God (23rd June, 2018)
Pakistani Film Actresses - Children of Lesser God
They walk among us, unseen yet scrutinized, judged not for
their character but for the mere accident of their birth. Society, in its
self-appointed righteousness, deems them unworthy, children of a so-called
lesser God—outcasts in a world designed to serve the privileged. But did they
choose their fate any more than we chose ours? Did the divine hand offer them a
choice before placing them on the margins while we stood in the comfort of
acceptance?
And yet, despite the weight of such injustice, they survive.
They navigate the treacherous waters of a world that was never meant to
accommodate them, learning the unspoken rules of survival in a game rigged
against them. We scoff at their struggle, mock their means, and dismiss their
resilience—failing to see that in their struggle lies a dignity far greater
than the hollow pride of those who scorn them.
God, in His boundless justice, does not see as we do. He
does not measure worth by lineage or privilege, but by the consciousness with
which we engage the world around us. And in that light, what a damning truth we
must confront—those whom we belittle often live with greater awareness, greater
effort, and greater sincerity than we do.
Take a moment to reflect: Pakistani film actress Meera, whom we ridicule for her
imperfect grasp of English, at least dares to learn, to evolve, to embrace a
language foreign to her. And yet we, who claim devotion to the Divine Word,
recite the Qur’an without ever striving to understand its depths. Meera speaks
English way better than we Muslims speak Arabic (to understand God's Qur’an). In
our arrogance, we remain stagnant, while those we deem inferior move forward,
reaching for something beyond themselves.
So who, then, is truly misguided? Who is truly failing in
their duty to grow, to seek, to understand? Perhaps, before we laugh at them,
we must turn inward and ask: are we really any better?
Why is the word IZN (permission allowed) used for Jehad in the Qur'an? 22nd April, 2018
قرآن میں جہاد کے لئے 'اِذن' کا لفظ کیوں استعمال ہوا ہے؟ نماز، روزہ کے لئے یہ لفظ استعمال نہیں ہوا۔ ( لفظ 'اذِن' کا مفہوم اجازت ہے)۔جہاد بھی نیکی کا کام ہے تو پھر اس کے لئے 'اذِن' کا لفظ کیوں اِستعمال ہوا ہے؟قرآن سورہ حج، آیت ۳۹: 'جن سے جنگ کی جائے ان کو جنگ کرنے کی اجازت دی گئی بوجہ اس کے کہ ان پر ظلم ہوا اور بیشک اللّہ ان کی مدد پر پوری طرح قادر ہے'۔اس پہ روشنی ڈالئے۔ اللّہ نے جہاد کے ساتھ اجازت کیوں مشروط کی ہے؟- عامر یزدانی
The Ethics of War: From the Prophet’s Command to Hiroshima and Nagasaki (25th March, 2018)
Epigraph: "Whoever kills a soul unless for a
crime or corruption in the land—it is as if he has slain all of
humanity." — Qur’an 5:32
In war, non-combatants are to be left alone. Buildings,
animals, crops, trees, old men and women, young men, and women. God does
not sanction what modern warfare coldly calls "collateral damage."
Every life is sacred, and no innocent soul is expendable.
The prophet of God in the Arabian Peninsula, over 1500 years
ago, directed this to his men: You fight only the combatants when attacked
upon.
"Fight in the way of Allah those who fight you, but do
not transgress. Indeed, Allah does not like transgressors."
— Qur’an 2:190
You do not bomb Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
- Aamir Yazdani
I too have a Dream... 23rd March, 2018
My Parents Wedding Day - 16th March, 1957
March 16th, 1957
The Wedding Day of My Dear Parents
My dear parents' wedding day!
On this very day, sixty-eight years ago dark,
handsome, with a full life ahead of him, young Zafar Iqbal Yazdanie was to wed
young maiden and shy Anwar Farzana!
Their marriage was arranged by my father's elder
brother, Latif Yazdanie, and my dear Aunty Fahmida. It was not without its
urgency—my father had made it clear to his elder brother that if his wedding
wasn’t arranged promptly, he’d be off to Bangkok instead! That threat, it
seems, became family folklore. Bangkok never stood a chance.
That blessed day marked the start of a marriage full
of love, faith, and togetherness. God, in His Infinite Mercy, showered them
with barakah. My father's lifelong mantra, often whispered through sighs, was
simple yet profound: "God grant us Mercy." And
indeed, He did—His Mercy was woven into every year, every season, every joy,
and every sorrow of their shared life.
Their union was not just a marriage. It was a sacred
companionship. They built a home together, raised a family, and held fast to
each other and to God. Their love was quiet but unwavering—anchored in grace.
That journey of togetherness culminated in the early
morning hours of April 29th, 2012, when my beloved father returned to his
Creator. After that, something tender unfolded. My mother, in the solitude of
evenings, would sometimes call me by his name—Zafar. And why not? To her, he
was never far. She never once let his presence fade from her heart or her
bedside. At times, she would confide in me, softly and sincerely, “I
want to be with Zafar.”
And why wouldn’t she? For isn’t that how God created
us—husband and wife, as the very first human bond? The foundation of family,
the building block of society, and the anchor of companionship in both life and
death.
My mother, Anwar Farzana Yazdanie passed away in 2022,
ten years after my father’s passing. Yes! For sure as death, Anwar Farzana
Yazdanie will have her reunion in eternity with her beloved and dear husband.
She knew it. It was evident every day. Her health had gradually made her frail.
Her strength had slowly ebbed away from her bones and muscles. I could see
it—clear as daylight.
It was clear, even in her final months, that she was
slowly preparing for reunion. Her strength gently ebbed, and her soul seemed to
lean toward the unseen—toward him. I believe, with all my heart, that they are
now together again by the grace of the One who unites hearts and souls.
O Lord, have Mercy on my dear parents,
just as they had mercy on us when we were weak. Ameen
Aamir Yazdani
Letter to Maulana Wahid ud din Sahib on Presenting My Book 13th March, 2018
Playing God: When Judgement Clouds Reason: A Logos-Based Critique of Judgementalism in Islam (1st March, 2018)
Epigraph:
"Do
not regard yourselves as pure; He is most knowing of who is righteous." — Qur’an 53:32
“Judge
not, that ye be not judged.”— Jesus
Christ (Matthew 7:1)
One of the
most troubling ailments afflicting the contemporary Muslim psyche is the
tendency to assume divine prerogatives—assigning salvation or damnation to
others as though we possess the keys to Paradise and Hell. From pulpits to
drawing rooms, the discourse has often devolved into passing judgments on who
is worthy of God's mercy and who is irredeemably bound for Hellfire.
This
attitude is not only theologically untenable—it borders on blasphemy. It is, in
essence, “Playing God.” The Qur’an is unambiguous: only God knows the
inner secrets of the heart. Regardless of their station, human beings have not
been granted access to such divine knowledge. Even the Prophets themselves did
not claim this authority. Only through revelation, mediated by the Archangel
Gabriel, the Prophets came to know certain hidden matters—and even then, they
exercised humility and restraint.
Indeed,
the Prophets were embodiments of compassion, not condemnation. They prayed for
their people—even for those who opposed them. The Qur'an recounts a poignant
divine instruction to Prophet Muhammad:
“Whether
you ask forgiveness for them or do not ask forgiveness for them—if you should
ask forgiveness for them seventy times—never will Allah forgive them.”
(Qur’an 9:80)
This verse
reflects not only the gravity of divine decree but also the Prophet's
extraordinary capacity for mercy—persistently seeking forgiveness for even the
most obstinate disbelievers.
The Qur'an
reminds us of God's intimate knowledge of the soul’s whispers:
“And We
have already created man and know what his soul whispers to him, and We are
closer to him than [his] jugular vein.”
(Qur’an 50:16)
Parallel
teachings are echoed in the Christian tradition. In the Sermon on the Mount,
Prophet Jesus (peace be upon him) cautioned against self-righteous judgment:
“Why do
you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to
the plank in your own eye?”
(Matthew 7:3)
Both the
Qur’anic and Biblical traditions converge on this moral imperative: humility
before divine knowledge, mercy over judgment, and introspection over
condemnation.
As
Muslims, we are not tasked with sitting on God’s throne. We are called to walk
humbly on His earth. To love, not to hate. To correct, not to curse. To guide,
not to gloat. In this age of digital fatwas and viral denunciations, perhaps
the greatest service we can render to our faith is to refrain from playing
God—and to become human again.
Aamir Yazdani
Masood Bhai from Manchester 12th February, 2018
Mr. Ghulam Ahmed Qadiani's Stance 19th January, 2018
Based on Oprah Winfrey's speech on Women's Sexual Abuse: 9th January, 2018
Based
on Oprah Winfrey's speech on women's sexual abuse:
SEXUAL HARASSMENT & ABUSE
Back to basics!
The word ‘reminder’ is defined in the Merriam-Webster Dictionary as: "something that calls a memory or thought to the mind".
Divine guidance by God is declared a ‘reminder’. Quran (76:29): "Indeed, this is a reminder, so he who wills may take to his/her Lord’s way".
God claims in the Qur’an (91:8): "...by the soul and Him that moulded it and inspired it with knowledge of sin and piety: blessed shall be the one who has kept it pure, and ruined one that has corrupted it"! The human race is born with an innate sense of good and bad. On top of that God's guidance comes as a ‘reminder’.
The Qur’an (24:30) reminds us: "Enjoin believing men to turn their eyes away from temptation and to restrain their carnal desires. This will make their lives purer. God has knowledge of all their actions". Here God is reminding men to restrain their eyes from lewdness (Note: The menfolk are addressed first). God reminds He is All-Seeing and All-Knowing of their actions.
‘Reminder’! Quran (4:32): "And covet not the thing in which Allah hath made some of you excel others. Unto men a fortune from that which they have earned, and unto women a fortune from that which they have earned. (Envy not one another) but ask Allah for His bounty. Lo! Allah is ever Knower of all things". Men and women differ in their attributes. That is why God reminds us not to envy each other, but to ask God for His bounty.
The Qur’an’s ‘reminder’ for the pondering minds (5:100): "Say, "Not equal are the evil and the good, although the abundance of evil might impress you." So fear Allah, O you of understanding, that you may be successful". The 'abundance of evil might impress us. God reminds us to fear Him.
In addition to our inborn sense of morality, the Qur’an (7:33) reminds us: "Say: the things that my Lord hath indeed forbidden are: shameful deeds, whether open or secret; sins and trespasses against truth or reason; assigning of partners to Allah, for which He hath given no authority; and saying things about Allah of which ye have no knowledge". These are five aspects of our lives forbidden by God. The first is 'shameful deeds, whether open or secret'! An apt ‘reminder’ for oft-forgetful human beings!
The question is why does the human race require 'reminders'? Simply because they are a forgetful race! It happens to us all irrespective of our status in society! Reminders serve exactly as their meaning implies - "something that calls a memory or thought to the mind".
Human guidance requires constant reminders. That is the reason in Divine religions there are weekly congregational rituals. Judaism have the Sabbath. The Christians go to weekly church and the Muslims have their weekly congregational Friday prayers. God’s ‘reminders’ are reminded weekly which serves as an optimum level for humans to remain cognizant of our duties towards God. The Qur’an describes itself as a ‘reminder’.
Let me quote an example of women's triumph. Two Hollywood movies I watched lately; both made in Hollywood, both true stories, were 'Hidden Figures' and 'Saving Mr. Banks'. Both are the most profound true stories.
The movie 'Hidden Figures' has three black women in the America of the sixties, when America was competing with Russia in the space race. These three black women helped America put the first man on the moon! This is an era where only white men were designers and engineers in the space race. The black ladies were not abused in their work.
The other movie 'Saving Mr. Banks' has a British lady Ms. Pamela Lyndon Travers. She is the author of the famous 'Mary Poppins Series'. The movie shows Mr. Walt Disney flying to England to implore Ms. Travers to return to Hollywood to finish work on her characters and finish his movie. This lady was not abused in any way (sexual) throughout her work.
Let the men of the world - producers, directors, actors, CEOs, and promoters pay heed to the ‘reminders’ ascribed by God mentioned above. Let them endeavour to be true servants of God; so that they stand blessed in the life in this world and in the eternal life to follow.
Let the women of the world - young aspiring entrepreneurs, actresses, models, lawyers, and fashion designers also pay heed to the ‘reminders’ ascribed by God mentioned above. Let them endeavour to be true servants of God; so that they stand blessed in the life in this world and in the eternal life to follow.
An ending note to these ‘reminders’. God most graciously and affectionately mentions seeking forgiveness of the past deeds in the Qur’an (39:53): "Say, "O My servants who have transgressed against themselves [by sinning], do not despair of the mercy of Allah. Indeed, Allah forgives all sins. Indeed, it is He who is the Forgiving, the Merciful." The Qur’an (25:70-71): "Except for those who repent, believe and do righteous work. For them, Allah will replace their evil deeds with good. And ever is Allah Forgiving and Merciful. And he who repents and does righteousness does indeed turn to Allah with [accepted] repentance."
Men and women (including myself) who have wronged their souls; lend me your ear! Seek God's forgiveness and forgiveness from the people who were affected by our misdeeds.
God's Book - the Glorious Qur’an, serves as a ‘reminder’ (only to people who pay heed) in all facets of human dealing.
Regards, Aamir Yazdani
-
Epigraph: (Reading Time: 7-8 minutes) “O soul at peace, return to your Lord, well-pleased and pleasing. So enter among My servants, and ...
-
Faith and the Faculty of Reason Religion, in its purest form, is not a refuge for the unthinking. It is not a doctrine of submission to inhe...
-
Truth vs Emotion: The Courage of Intellectual Conviction - Lessons from Bilal and Bruno Reading Time: 7-8 minutes "They said:...