isis neuromelanin and realm of sound

8/3/2019 Isis Neuromelanin and Realm of Sound

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Bghagavad Gita 6:7 Abhyasa Yoga. The being who has conquered the mind,

transcending the dualities of cold, heat, happiness, distress, honor & dishonor is firmly

established with the ultimate consciousness within. http://www.bhagavad-gita.org/Gita/verse-06-07.html

RICHARD KING on BLACKNESS

"King argues that blackness or carbon is life and is therefore divine. He says that ancient

Africans understood this, and called themselves by various names meaning 'black,' suchas 'Kemites' (people of the black earth), from which the Greeks developed the word

'chemistry' (and the Arabs 'alchemy'). Recognizing the special significance of their

blackness,which far transcended the color of the skin, according to King, these ancient

scientists studied the workings of their own minds, which they understoood as beingidentified with their entire bodies. (So much for the mind/body split so basic to European

thought.).... According to King, the ancient Africans studied until they came to

understand the relationsip of 'blackness' to spirituality and inner vision; the higher levels

of understanding on which synthesis occurs. For them Blackness' represented the divine.In his series of works entitled, The Black Dot, King supports this contention with an

impressive array of references to ancient Kemetic texts and symbolic images and to ahost of other theorists and historians.(105) What did these early, advanced scientists

discover?"

'The original titans found that all life came from a black seed, all life was rooted in

blackness, all things possessed a memory of their collective ancestors. Blackness, theuniversal solvent of all was seen as the one reality from which spun the threads of the

loom of life. All colors, all vibratory energies, were but a shade of black; blackwas the

color of the night sky, primeval ocean of outer space, birthplace and womb of the planets,stars and galaxies of the universe; black holes were found at the center of our own galaxy

and countless other galaxies; black as the color of carbon, the key atom found in al livingmatter of our world; carbon atoms linked together to form black melanin, the firstchemical that could capture light and reproduce itself, the chemical key to life; and the

brain itself was found to be centered around black neuromelanin.

"Inner vision, intuition, creative genius, and spiritual illumination were all found to be

dependent upon pineal gland blood bourne chemical messengers that controlled skin

color and opened the hidden door to the darkness of the collective unconscious mind,

allowing the ancient priest-scientist to visualize knowledge from the timeless collectiveunconscious memory banks of the mind. Indeed, the Black Dot was found to be the

hidden doorway to universal knowledge of the past, and future.'(106)

In the ocean today I remembered the first Angel, Isis the Alchemist.

In hieroglyphics she is winged, and the top of her wings are 'peacock'feathers. It's now known that DNA of the peacock feather, and that of

melanin are identical. In fact the brain is comprised of black

neuromelanin, which holds the key to tapping into the timeless

collective unconscious mind.


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She gave birth to herself out of the primordial watersof time (existence).Reverence to her, reverence!

She lived in the land of Khem before the pharaohkings and the great pyramids.Reverence to her,

reverence!

She lived in Egypt as the throne itself.Reverence toher, reverence!

She is worshipped as the star Sirius.Reverence to her,reverence!

Her home is amidst celestial stars and the primordialabyss.Reverence to her, reverence!

She is the voluptuous sunset sky.Reverence to her,

reverence!

She exists as the iridescent dawn blue sky.Reverenceto her, reverence!

She exists since beginningless time as UraeusKundalini.Reverence to her, reverence!

She is a mother to the motherless.Reverence to her,reverence!


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She grants boons to her devoted devotees.Reverenceto her, reverence!

She is the great physician who heals all disease andgrants radiant health.Reverence to her, reverence!

She suckled the pharaohs and great kings in the landof Al Khem (Egypt).Reverence to her, reverence!

She slays the ego through initiatory rites in her

templesin Egypt, Greece, and Rome.Reverence to her,reverence!

Her sweet breast milk nourishes her initiates anddevotees.Reverence to her, reverence!

She is the primordial feminine.Reverence to her,reverence!

She is the primordial now.Reverence to her,reverence!

She is worshipped as the path of Bhakti and wisdomyoga.Reverence to her, reverence!

She lived on the muddy black banks of the river Nile.Reverence to her, reverence!

Her presence is felt in the heart as ecstasy and pure


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delight.Reverence to her, reverence!

She is Sat Guru and liberator from the myriad forms.

Reverence to her, reverence!

She will return in her full glory as universal mother toall.Reverence to her, reverence!

She was worshipped in Egypt, Rome, Greece, theMiddle East,Asia, Scandinavia and the Celtic lands


She is loved by all and as diverse as the stars.Reverence to her, reverence!

She exists as no mind and the living mind throughoutcreation.Reverence to her, reverence!

She exists as the solar essence and the lunar currents.Reverence to her, reverence!

She nourishes the world in need and will destroy theevildoers as she pleases.Reverence to her, reverence!

She alleviates suffering in all its forms.Reverence toher, reverence!

Her priestesses and priests were scattered to thewinds.Reverence to her, reverence!


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She is known by one thousands names.Reverence toher, reverence!

Her mystical teachings were veiled in the language ofthe Hieroglyph,Sacred Geometry and the DivineProportion,in Freemasonry, Tarot, and Alchemy


She will restore peace amidst chaos, and calm wereviolence reigns.Reverence to her, reverence!

She is Adi (first) Shakti, impermanence andpermanenceReverence to her, reverence!

She lived on the mountain of Meru in the land ofKhem.Reverence to her, reverence!

In her temples were abundant animals, reptiles,insects, and all species of birds.Reverence to her,

reverence!

She who was the first Buddha, Bodhisattva tohumanity.Reverence to her, reverence!

She understands the sentience and intelligence of allanimal species.Reverence to her, reverence!

She rules romantic love and heals the heart throughdivine love.Reverence to her, reverence!


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She resurrected the corn god Osiris from the dead.Reverence to her, reverence!

She is the mother of Horus (Harpocrates), the Christ.Reverence to her, reverence!

She took Osiris as consort and lover.Reverence to her,reverence!

Her temples were surrounded by lakes and pools of

water.Reverence to her, reverence!

Her temples had birthing and dream chambers for herdevotees.Reverence to her, reverence!

Her breasts were the symbol of life givingnourishment and healing.Reverence to her, reverence!

She was worshipped by kings, statesmen, warriors,the affluent and the poor.Reverence to her, reverence!

She inspired Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's opera,theMysteries of Isis (The Magic Flute).Reverence to her,

reverence!

She inspired Verdi's opera Aida.Reverence to her,reverence!

She is mother of all regardless of race, religion, time,


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or space.Reverence to her, reverence!

As mother she is support, foundation, and divine

grace.Reverence to her, reverence!

She is the protectress of babies and childreneverywhere.Reverence to her, reverence!

She who as woman is worshipped as the highest formof devotion.Reverence to her, reverence!

Lady of the pyramid and the galaxies in space,ruler ofthe stars, invoked to change the course of ones fate.


She was the first Madonna with the child Horus,whobecame the Madonna with the Christ child in theChristian pantheon.Reverence to her, reverence!

She will return to the new Egypt on the Continent andher worship restored.Reverence to her, reverence!

Her ancient symbol is the lotus flower found on thebanks of the river Nile.Reverence to her, reverence!

To you great mother I offer my humble obeisance.Toyou great mother I offer my humble obeisance.It is

you I worship, it is you I adore!


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PLEASE ASSIST ME IN FINDING MORE INFORMATION ONSANTUMAKI / SANTAMAKI. I FOUND A PAGE ONLINE ON

18.JUNE.2008 GREGORIAN, WITH INFORMATION ON A MUSICALGROUP GENERATIONS-OLD WHO MENTIONED SANTAMAKI, THEYWERE IN FINLAND BUT ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THE "KOMUTIANS"BROUGHT THE KNOWLEDGE OF SANTUMAKI FROMKOMUT/KAMUT/KEMET - THE REALM OF MUSIC AND SOUNDWHICH MUST BE MEDIATED BY CHOSEN HUMAN BEINGS TOCHANNEL AURAL TRANSMISSIONS TO EARTH-BEINGS. NOWWHEN I SEARCH THE PAGE DOES NOT APPEAR!!

I have never heard of this, however the realm of music dealing with

creation is the 8th octave, aum, know to sufis and tamareans andbuddihst. The 11th attribute of allah is al khaliqu which translates insyraic arabic as the creator or fashioneror the nuwaupik al khalug to

fashion create from where the sound kha which is contraction andexpanison for this is the sound each being makes when entering the

physical plane of naasuwt and this is the sound of chaos after the big

bang of our solar system. However the true sound is aum or aun whichwill link back in with pa paut, the all.

Tha realm u speak of is the realm of malakuwt, however they may

have given another name. The science of sound is called wazufa innuwaupik and wazifa in syraic. Which is to repeat sacred words overand over for spiritual health and protection."

Space-time continuum

To put it in very simple terms, the space-time continuum is ouruniverse. When most people think of dimensions, they only think in

terms of spacial dimensions (up-down, right-left, forward-backward).These are the dimensions through which we have a certain limited

amount of control over our movement. However, there is anotherdimension through which we have no control of our movement, time.Excluding relativistic effects, time just keeps moving forward. We can't

slow, stop, or reverse it, but it is something with which we must deal.Whenever we describe an object's place in the universe, there is a

time factor involved as well as a spacial location. For example, if I give

some one my address, that assumes that I am living at that addressright now. It's not the same address at which I was living just a year


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ago. So, space and time are both parts of our universe. However,since most people tend not to think about time in this context, the

term space-time continuum was coined as a means of emphasizingtimes importance.

The Fabric of the Cosmos by Brian Greene, the time-space continuumis a time/space loaf. If you sliced a cross-section in the loaf,

perpendicular to time's flow, you have a sampling of everything that ishappening in the universe at this moment. You are watching tv, and

an alien is 5 galaxies away is watching tv. However, if the alien gets

up to cross the room to grab the tv remote, his velocity has changedthe time/space slice diagonally. And now he shares the present

moment relative to our space with Abraham Lincoln. That is a cross-reference index of that comparitve distance (5 galaxies apart) with

that relative velocity (5 mph walking over to get the remote control).

So the speed of a slow stroll amplifies outward to huge differenceswhen comparing vast distances in the time/space continuum. Since the

universe is vast and everything is in motion, you can see how theconcept of time gets a little mooshy. Nevertheless, this is how I picture

the time/space continuum.

Spacetime is a model in physics that joins the three dimensional space

and one dimensional time into the idea of space-time continuum.Combining these two ideas helped physicists to make many laws of

physics easier to understand, and to explain how the universe workson the big level (e.g., stars) and small level (e.g., atoms).

The actual number of dimensions in spacetime is not fixed, but usuallyspacetime means a four dimensional (three dimensions of space andone dimension of time) spacetime. Some other theories claim that

there are more than four dimensions.

The space-time continuum is a mathematical model that combines

space and time into a single construct. This spacetime is usuallyexplained with a model where space is three-dimensional and time has

the role of the fourth dimension.If one follows the model of space that Euclid had, our universe has

three dimensions of space, and one dimension of time. By combiningspace and time into a single manifold, physicists have simplified agood deal of physical theory, as well as described in a more uniform

way the workings of the universe at both levels: the supergalactic andsubatomic.

Two-dimensional analogy of space-time distortion.


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Where an important quantity of matter exists, it changes the geometryof spacetime, this (curved) geometry can be understood as gravity.

The white lines ot the picture on the right do not represent thecurvature of space, but instead represent the coordinate system

imposed on the curved spacetime which would be rectilinear in a flat

spacetime.

In classical mechanics, the use of spacetime over Euclidean space isoptional, as time is independent of mechanical motion in three

dimensions. In relativistic contexts, however, time cannot be

separated from the three dimensions of space as it depends on anobject's velocity relative to the speed of light.

[change]Historical origin

The origins of this 20th century scientific theory began in the 19th

century with fiction writers. Edgar Allan Poe stated in his essay oncosmology titled Eureka (1848) that "space and duration are one."

This is the first known instance of suggesting space and time to bedifferent perceptions of one thing. Poe arrived at this conclusion after

approximately 90 pages of reasoning but employed no mathematics.In 1895, H.G. Wells in his novel, The Time Machine, wrote, There is

no difference between Time and any of the three dimensions of Space

except that our consciousness moves along it. He added, Scientificpeopleknow very well that Time is only a kind of Space.

Albert Einstein's 1905 theory of special relativity is the beginning ofthe concept of spacetime, but the first mathematical theory of

spacetime was proposed by one of his teachers, the mathematicianHermann Minkowski, in a 1908 essay.[1] His concept of Minkowskispace is the earliest treatment of space and time as two aspects of a

unified whole, the essence of special relativity. The idea of Minkowskispace also led to special relativity being viewed in a more geometrical

way, this geometric viewpoint of spacetime being important in general

relativity too. The 1926 thirteenth edition of the EncyclopediaBritannica included an article by Einstein titled "space-time".[2]

Hermann Minkowski, "Raum und Zeit", 80. Versammlung Deutscher

Naturforscher (Kln, 1908). Published in Physikalische Zeitschrift 10104-111 (1909) and Jahresbericht der Deutschen Mathematiker-Vereinigung 18 75-88 (1909). For an English translation, see Lorentz

et al. (1952).

Einstein, Albert, 1926, "Space-Time," Encyclopedia Britannica, 13th

ed.Lorentz, H. A., Einstein, Albert, Minkowksi, Hermann, and Weyl

Hermann, 1952. The Principle of Relativity: A Collection of Original


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Memoirs. Dover.Lucas, John Randolph, 1973. A Treatise on Time and Space. London:

Methuen.Poe, Edgar A. (1848). Eureka; An Essay on the Material and Spiritual

Universe. Hesperus Press Limited. ISBN 1-84391-009-8.

Wells, H.G. (2004). The Time Machine. New York: Pocket Books. (pp.5; 6)simple:Spacetime

Physicist: Space-Time Continuum Just an Illusion

Friday, May 16, 2008

By Robert Roy Britt

Physicists have come up with a way to explain how information couldescape from a black hole, an idea that's been debated since the 1970s.

But the new proposal leaves the long-held concept of a space-timecontinuum in tatters.

Whether you've been following the arguments over the years or not,

now might be a good time to reach for some aspirin, as space-timecontinuum textbooks may have to be revised.

First, some basics: Black holes are like kitchen sinks. Stuff is only

supposed to go one direction, and then it's gone forever, lost to theformidable clutches of gravity in a bizarre distortion of space and time,

or what scientists call space-time.

You no longer have to be an Einstein to have heard as much, though

all this is indeed based on his work.

However, in the 1970s, Stephen Hawking declared that black holes

leak. Eventually, like a tire doing a slow, inaudible pffffft, everythingthat was sucked in would seep out.

But, and this was a big but that Hawking proposed, any informationthat went into the black hole would be lost. Whatever stuff leaked out,in other words, would not be identifiable as corresponding ingoing

stuff.

Oops!

But by the late 1990s, Hawking's idea fell out of favor. It messed too


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much with quantum mechanics, a successful theory that saysinformation can't be lost.

In 2004, Hawking renounced his idea.

Yet no viable explanation has emerged, until perhaps now, for how theinformation could get out of the black hole.

The newly proposed scheme, in a nutshell, says space-time is bigger

than was thought, and so there's room for the information to

reappear.

"Information only appears to be lost because we have been looking ata restricted part of the true quantum-mechanical space-time," said

Penn State's Abhay Ashtekar, who has come up with the idea. "Once

you consider quantum gravity, then space-time becomes much largerand there is room for information to reappear in the distant future on

the other side of what was first thought to be the end of space-time."

While this might not explain where your socks are, it does come withsome mind-bending new concepts for theorists to chew on.

For starters, Ashtekar thinks space-time is not a continuum, as we'vebeen hearing for years.

Rather, "it is made up of individual building blocks," according to a

statement released by the university.

It's like a piece of fabric which, "though it appears to be continuous, is

made up of individual threads."

Now what?

The space-time continuum has long been invoked to understand how

things get warped in the presence of gravity.

For example, light from the sun is bent slightly as it passes Earth, thuschanging the timing and perceived origin of that light as witnessed bysomeone farther out in the solar system. The effect in this example

would be minuscule, but not imperceptible.

One study found that satellites are dragged by about 6 feet (2 meters)every year because our world's gravity, combined with its spin, mucks

with the cosmic fabric.


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Light traveling near a black hole is bent so severely that it's consumed,

never to be seen again (excepting that whole leaking thing). Such adistortion in the space-time continuum, hard as it might be to

comprehend, is the basis for other exotic notions such as time travel.

A person who wants to go to another dimension, the thinking goes,

need only to enter a severely warped reality, called a singularity, andsomehow emerge unharmed on some other side.

"Once we realized that the notion of space-time as a continuum is onlyan approximation of reality, it became clear to us that singularities are

merely artifacts of our insistence that space-time should be describedas a continuum," Ashtekar said.

The mind-bending proposal will be detailed in the May 20 issue of thejournal Physical Review Letters.

It was funded by the National Science Foundation and the Penn State

Eberly College of Science. Victor Taveras, a graduate student in thePenn State Department of Physics, and Madhavan Varadarajan, a

professor at the Raman Research Institute in India, contributed.

_________________

AFRICANS INVENTED ARITHMETIC AND ALGEBRA

The earliest treatise on algebra is the Egyptian Rhind Papyrus (c.1700

BC). But in c.3000 BC Egyptians called it aha Calculus becauseAha, Ahe, or Ahau was the name of the second pharaoh of the

first dynasty. Meaning mass, quantity, or heap (a pile of many things),

it was used as an abstract term for the unknown in an equation.Originally, the word algebra(al from Egypt--al-Kemit)--meant

the reuniting of broken parts and was later defined by the Arabs asrestoration, including bone setting. Note that Yin and Yang are also

about the union of separate parts.

Now, algebra deals with math structuresthe solution of equations

and the general relations among numbers. It embraces calculus, logic,theories of numbers, equations, functions, and their combinations.

Both arithmetic and algebra are branches of mathematics and both areways of figuring. Figuring involves discovering answers (e.g.

establishing values) to problems using the amount or value given in


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is 4. A Series is a group of numbers related by some rule. In anarithmetic series1, 4, 7, 10a constant number (here, 3) is added to

each term to give the next. Africans found a place for arithmetic andalgebra during their on-going activities on such vast construction

projects-- as in building temples, pyramids, irrigation works, and

obelisks.

Joseph A. Bailey, II, M.D.

ALGEBRA & TRIGONOMETRY

Medieval Muslims made invaluable contributions to the study of

mathematics, and their key role is clear from the many terms derivedfrom Arabic. Perhaps the most famous mathematician was Muhammad

ibn Musa al-Khwarizmi (ca. 800-ca. 847), author of several treatises of

earth-shattering importance. His book On the Calculation with HinduNumerals, written about 825, was principally responsible for the

diffusion of the Indian system of numeration (Arabic numerals) in theIslamic lands and the West.

Traditional systems had used different letters of the alphabet to

represent numbers or cumbersome Roman numerals, and the new

system was far superior, for it allowed people to multiply and divideeasily and check their work. The merchant Leonardo Fibonacci of Pisa,

who had learned about Arabic numerals in Tunis, wrote a treatiserejecting the abacus in favor of the Arab method of reckoning, and as

a result, the system of Hindu-Arabic numeration caught on quickly inCentral Italy. By the fourteenth century, Italian merchants andbankers had abandoned the abacus and were doing their calculations

using pen and paper, in much the same way we do today.

In addition to his treatise on numerals, al-Khwarizmi also wrote a

revolutionary book on resolving quadratic equations. These were giveneither as geometric demonstrations or as numerical proofs in an

entirely new mode of expression. The book was soon translated intoLatin, and the word in its title, al-jabr, or transposition, gave the entire

process its name in European languages, algebra, understood today asthe generalization of arithmetic in which symbols, usually letters of thealphabet such as A, B, and C, represent numbers. Al-Khwarizmi had

used the Arabic word for "thing" (shay) to refer to the quantity sought,the unknown. When al-Khwarizmi's work was translated in Spain, the

Arabic word shay was transcribed as xay, since the letter x waspronounced as sh in Spain. In time this word was abbreviated as x,

the universal algebraic symbol for the unknown.


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Robert of Chester's translation of al-Khwarzmi's treatise on algebra

opens with the words dixit Algorithmi, "Algorithmi says." In time, themathematician's epithet of his Central Asian origin, al-Khwarizmi,

came in the West to denote first the new process of reckoning with

Hindu-Arabic numerals, algorithmus, and then the entire step-by-stepprocess of solving mathematical problems, algorithm.

FinalCall.com News - Refer This Page

PERSPECTIVESIslam, Mathematically Speaking

By Kathleen X and Kareem AbdullahUpdated Jul 29, 2008, 04:20 pm

After learning Mathematics, which is Islam, and Islam is Mathematics,it stands true. You can always prove it at no limit of time. Then you

must learn to use it and secure some benefit while you are living, thatisluxury, money, good homes, friendship in all walks of life.

The Supreme Wisdom Lessons

In an article titled The Mathematical Legacy of Islam, which was

published by the Mathematical Association of America, it suggests thatIslam prefigured modern mathematics. Math scholar Keith Devlin

wrote, As mathematicians, we are all children of Islam. He supportedthis claim, citing a book that was written by a ninth century Muslim

scholar named Abu Jafar Mohammed ibn Musa Al-Khwarizmi, entitledKitab al jabr wal-muqabala, which means restoration andcompensation. Devlin stated, The phrase al jabr in the books title

gave rise to our modern word algebra. He further noted, After Al-Khwarizmi, algebra became an important part of Arabic Mathematics.

Arabic mathematics provided a foundation, upon which modern

civilization was built.

Like the Prophet Muhammad ibn Abdullah (PBUH), whose divineleadership inspired those named above to become mathematical

scholars and scientific thinkers, the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad,through His Servant-the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan isinspiring present-day Muslims to do the same. At Muhammad

University of Islam (MUI), we are striving, with the help of Allah, toproduce students who will reflect such excellence. Brother Shahid

Muhammad (SM); the upper-grade math instructor at MUI and aStudent in the Nation of Islams Ministry, has worked diligently

towards such a worthy cause for nineteen years.


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Commonly known as The Math Doctor, Brother Shahid is an

unusually humble man. In fact, his unassuming character would leadone to never suspect that he has received considerably high honors in

his respective field. For instance, in 2002 he received a Masters

Degree in Mathematics, from Lincoln University. Shortly thereafter, hereceived the distinguished Whos Who Amongst American Teachers

award, which made him a widely sought-after authority onmathematics. He has traveled throughout America, and even to

London, England, holding lectures, workshops, and seminars;

promoting mathematics among youth and adults, alike. He granted usa very informative interview, addressing several issues faced by Black

America, in mathematical terms.

MUI: What is Mathematics?

SM: Mathematics, which is the mother of all sciences, facilitates the

systematic construction of the Kingdom of God and providesindisputable proof of the reality of Allah (God) and the majesty of His

creation. It is the universal language and the basis by which Allah(God) makes His decisions.

MUI: When did you develop a passion for teaching Math?

SM: My high school Algebra class gave me the spark that made mewant to teach it. I was inspired to master it by Doctor Abdul Alim

Shabazz; Endowed Chair of Mathematics, at Grambling University. TheTeachings of the Most Hon. Elijah Muhammad, as well as MotherTynettas workshops, introduced me to the power of math and gave

me an appreciation for it. The Teachings opened up my mind to theroot of math as universal; not just a course. Beginning to teach it gave

me more insight into its application and [relation] to the universe.

MUI: What role does the teacher play in the students appreciation for

Math?

SM: The teachers role is critical and vital. The teacher is the catalystto help the student gain a love for math, which is usually seen as anelitist course, or subject, that only a few can master, i.e.,

predominantly Whites and Asians. The teacher has to be excited andhave a love for it, themselves, in order to inspire and motivate the

students to love it. Otherwise, the students will pick up on theteachers lack of enthusiasm.


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MUI: Please describe your teaching method.

SM: I incorporate humor and animation in my presentations. I strive tobe very invigorated, excited, and enthusiastic. The Most Hon. Elijah

Muhammad and the Hon. Minister Louis Farrakhan teach us, as

teachers, to make the subject matter relevant to the students. I showthe students how they are Math by illustrating all of the mathematical

correlations in human anatomy, biology, and chemistry, to name afew. I also show its universal presence in cooking, sports, music, video

games, etc.

MUI: In your book How to Teach Math to Black Students, you

remarked on worksheet feeders or teachers who are somewhatunimaginative. What strategies do you use to avoid such monotony?

SM: Statistics and research show that students retain moremathematics when they are actually doing or demonstrating it. I like

to incorporate videos and computer-assisted instruction using activitiessuch as math games, simulations, experiments, hands-on discovery,

peer tutoring, group problem-solving and project-based learning to getout of the traditional mode of lectures, chalk talk and worksheets.

MUI: Is there one strategy that stands out more than others?

Educational DVDs byThe Math DoctorClick here to browse titles

SM: One of the most powerful aspects of the class is when I integratethe Supreme Wisdom Lessons into the math curriculum. This serves to

illuminate each childs mind to Master Fard Muhammad, the Great

Mahdi. This is what the Hon. Min. Louis Farrakhan desires eachinstructor to do with every subject.

MUI: When did you begin using the name Math Doctor? Why?

SM: It started in 1995, when I wrote How to Teach Math to BlackStudents. I saw a lot of advertisements for Rug Doctors, Tax

Doctors, etc. I coined the title because a doctor heals and helps thosethat are sick. Our people are at the bottom, in terms of math literacy

and achievement. I embarked on a mission to raise the level ofmathematical literacy amongst our people, since [we] are suffering

from so many math ailments and math phobias; I used the title, Math


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Doctor.

MUI: What is math phobia? What can parents and instructors do todecrease or diminish its effect?

SM: Math phobia is a fear of mastering mathematics, based upon amisunderstanding of its nature; coupled with negative past

experiences in math courses. Parents should first refresh their mathskills, by taking adult education classes, online classes, or viewing

instructional DVDs. Children should be exposed to mathematics

around the house, be involved in fun math related activities toreinforce their lessons and have parents to help support them.

MUI: Why should we be mathematically literate?

SM: Math is universal. It is vital to every aspect of [our] lives. Goodhealth is predicated upon the use of mathematics. For example, there

are certain amounts or percentages of vitamins, minerals and nutrientsthat the body requires to run effectively. Heart rates, blood pressure,

vein/artery widths and the number of white/red blood cells are allexamples of how we are mathematics. There is no aspect of our lives

that is not touched, in some way by mathematics. Basketball players

follow a parabolic path on their way to slam dunk a basketball! TheMost Hon. Elijah Muhammad and the Hon. Min. Louis Farrakhan desire

for us to build a Nation. Every aspect of nation building demandsmathematical literacy and proficiency.

(The Math Doctor is available to conduct seminars/workshops for

teachers and parents, as well as give motivational math talks tochildren. Please email him to schedule workshops, lectures or

programs at [email protected]. Visit http://store.finalcall.com to

browse The Math Doctor's educational DVDs for Children.)

A-Z of Islam

Compiled from the books and tapes of Dr. Abu Ameenah Bilal Philips

Allah (God)Cleanliness

Muslim Contribution to ScienceHuman Rights

Jesus


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KnowledgeMain Pillars

MuhammadWomen

Other Religions

PeaceRelevance

SourcesSunnah

Tolerance

Universality

Allah (God)

Islam is the complete submission and obedience to Allah (God). The

name Allah (God) in Islam never refers to Muhammad (pbuh), asmany Christians may think; Allah is the personal name of God.

What do Muslims believe about Allah?

1. He is the one God, Who has no partner.

2. Nothing is like Him. He is the Creator, not created, nor a part of His

creation.3. He is All-Powerful, absolutely Just.

4. There is no other entity in the entire universe worthy of worshipbesides Him.

5. He is First, Last, and Everlasting; He was when nothing was, andwill be when nothing elseremains.

6. He is the All-Knowing, and All-Merciful,the Supreme, the Sovereign.7. It is only He Who is capable of granting life to anything.

8. He sent His Messengers (peace be upon them) to guide all of

mankind.9. He sent Muhammad (pbuh) as the last Prophet and Messenger for

all mankind.10. His book is the Holy Qur'an, the only authentic revealed book in

the world that has beenkept without change.11. Allah knows what is in our hearts.

These are some of the basic guidelines Muslims follow in their

knowledge of God:

1. Eliminate any anthropomorphism (human qualities) from their


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conception of Allah. His attributes are not like human attributes,despite similar labels or appellations.

2. Have unwavering faith in exactly what Allah and ProphetMuhammad (pbuh) described Allah to be, no more, no less.

3. Eradicate any hope or desire of learning or knowing the modality of

His names and attributes.4. Belief totally in all the names and attributes of Allah; one cannot

believe in some and disbelieve the others.5. One cannot accept the names of Allah without their associated

attributes, i.e. one cannot say He is Al-Hayy - 'The Living' and then

say that He is without life.6. Similarity in names (or meanings) does not imply similarity in what

is being described (referents). As a robotics arm differs from a humanarm, so the "hand" of Allah is nothing like a human hand, His speech is

nothing like human speech, etc.

7. Certain words are ambiguous or vague in their meanings, and thusmay be susceptible to misinterpretation. Only those meanings that are

in accordance with what is specified by Allah and His Prophet (pbuh)are acceptable.

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Cleanliness

Islam places great emphasis on cleanliness, in both its physical andspiritual aspects. On the physical side, Islam requires the Muslim to

clean his body, his clothes, his house, and the whole community, andhe is rewarded by God for doing so. Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said,for example:

"Removing any harm from the road is charity (that will be rewarded by

Allah)." [Bukhari]

While people generally consider cleanliness a desirable attribute, Islam

insists on it , making it an indispensable fundamental of the faith. Amuslim is required to to be pure morally and spiritually as well as

physically. Through the Qur'an and Sunnah Islam requires the sincerebeliever to sanitize and purify his entire way of life.

In the Qur'an Allah commends those who are accustomed tocleanliness:

"Allah loves those who turn to Him constantly and He loves those who

keep themselves pure and clean." [2: 22]


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In Islam the Arabic term for purity is Taharah. Books of Islamic

jurisprudence often contain an entire chapter with Taharah as aheading.

Allah orders the believer to be tidy in appearance:

"Keep your clothes clean." [74:4]

The Qur'an insists that the believer maintain a constant state of purity:

"Believers! When you prepare for prayer wash your faces, and your

hands (and arms) to the elbows; rub your heads (with water) and(wash) your feet up to the ankles. If you are ritually impure bathe

your whole body." [5: 6]

Ritual impurity refers to that resulting from sexual release,

menstruation and the first forty days after childbirth. Muslims also usewater, not paper or anything else to after eliminating body wastes.

Prophet Muhammad )pbuh) advised the Muslims to appear neat and

tidy in private and in public. Once when returning home from battle he

advised his army:

"You are soon going to meet your brothers, so tidy your saddles andclothes. Be distinguished in the eyes of the people." [Abu Dawud]

On another occasion he said:

"Don't ever come with your hair and beard disheveled like a devil."[Al-Tirmidhi]

And on another:

"Had I not been afraid of overburdening my community, I would haveordered them to brush their teeth for every prayer." [Bukhari]

Moral hygiene was not ignored, either, for the Prophet (pbuh)encouraged the muslims to make a special prayer upon seeing

themselves in the mirror:

"Allah, You have endowed me with a good form; likewise bless mewith an immaculate character and forbid my face from touching the

Hellfire." [Ahmad]


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And modesty in dress, for men as well as for women, assists one in

maintaining purity of thought.

Being charitable is a way of purifying one's wealth. A Muslim who does

not give charity (Sadaqah) and pay the required annual Zakah, the2.5% alms-tax, has in effect contaminated his wealth by hoarding that

which rightfully belongs to others:

"Of their wealth take alms so that you may purify and sanctify them."

[9: 103]

All the laws and injunctions given by Allah and His Prophet (pbuh) arepure; on the other hand, man-made laws suffer from the impurities of

human bias and other imperfections. Thus any formal law can only be

truly just when it is purified by divine guidance - as elucidated by theQur'an and the Sunnah - or if it is divinely ordained to begin with - the

Shari'ah.

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Muslims Contribution To Science

Astronomy

Muslims have always had a special interest in astronomy. The moonand the sun are of vital importance in the daily life of every Muslim. By

the moon, Muslims determine the beginning and the end of themonths in their lunar calendar. By the sun the Muslims calculate the

times for prayer and fasting. It is also by means of astronomy that

Muslims can determine the precise direction of the Qiblah, to face theKa'bah in Makkah, during prayer. The most precise solar calendar,

superior to the Julian, is the Jilali, devised under the supervision ofUmar Khayyam.

The Qur'an contains many references to astronomy.

"The heavens and the earth were ordered rightly, and were madesubservient to man, including the sun, the moon, the stars, and day

and night. Every heavenly body moves in an orbit assigned to it byGod and never digresses, making the universe an orderly cosmos

whose life and existence, diminution and expansion, are totally


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determined by the Creator." [Qur'an 30:22]

These references, and the injunctions to learn, inspired the earlyMuslim scholars to study the heavens. They integrated the earlier

works of the Indians, Persians and Greeks into a new synthesis.

Ptolemy's Almagest (the title as we know it is Arabic) was translated,studied and criticized. Many new stars were discovered, as we see in

their Arabic names - Algol, Deneb, Betelgeuse, Rigel, Aldebaran.Astronomical tables were compiled, among them the Toledan tables,

which were used by Copernicus, Tycho Brahe and Kepler. Also

compiled were almanacs - another Arabic term. Other terms fromArabic are zenith, nadir, albedo, azimuth.

Muslim astronomers were the first to establish observatories, like the

one built at Mugharah by Hulagu, the son of Genghis Khan, in Persia,

and they invented instruments such as the quadrant and astrolabe,which led to advances not only in astronomy but in oceanic navigation,

contributing to the European age of exploration.

Geography

Muslim scholars paid great attention to geography. In fact, the

Muslims' great concern for geography originated with their religion.The Qur'an encourages people to travel throughout the earth to see

God's signs and patterns everywhere. Islam also requires each Muslimto have at least enough knowledge of geography to know the direction

of the Qiblah (the position of the Ka'bah in Makkah) in order to prayfive times a day. Muslims were also used to taking long journeys toconduct trade as well as to make the Hajj and spread their religion.

The far-flung Islamic empire enabled scholar-explorers to compilelarge amounts of geographical and climatic information from the

Atlantic to the Pacific.

Among the most famous names in the field of geography, even in the

West, are Ibn Khaldun and Ibn Batuta, renowned for their writtenaccounts of their extensive explorations.

In 1166, Al-Idrisi, the well-known Muslim scholar who served theSicilian court, produced very accurate maps, including a world map

with all the continents and their mountains, rivers and famous cities.Al-Muqdishi was the first geographer to produce accurate maps in

color.

It was, moreover, with the help of Muslim navigators and their


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horizons/universe and in yourselves until you are convinced that therevelation is the truth." [Qur'an, 14:53]

This invitation to explore and search made Muslims interested in

astronomy, mathematics, chemistry, and the other sciences, and they

had a very clear and firm understanding of the correspondencesamong geometry, mathematics, and astronomy.

The Muslims invented the symbol for zero (The word "cipher" comes

from Arabic sifr), and they organized the numbers into the decimal

system - base 10. Additionally, they invented the symbol to express anunknown quantity, i.e. variables like x.

The first great Muslim mathematician, Al-Khawarizmi, invented the

subject of algebra (al-Jabr), which was further developed by others,

most notably Umar Khayyam. Al-Khawarizmi's work, in Latintranslation, brought the Arabic numerals along with the mathematics

to Europe, through Spain. The word "algorithm" is derived from hisname.

Muslim mathematicians excelled also in geometry, as can be seen in

their graphic arts, and it was the great Al-Biruni (who excelled also in

the fields of natural history, even geology and mineralogy) whoestablished trigonometry as a distinct branch of mathematics. Other

Muslim mathematicians made significant progress in number theory.

Medicine

In Islam, the human body is a source of appreciation, as it is created

by Almighty Allah (God). How it functions, how to keep it clean andsafe, how to prevent diseases from attacking it or cure those diseases,

have been important issues for Muslims.

Prophet Muhammad himself urged people to "take medicines for your

diseases", as people at that time were reluctant to do so. He also said,

"God created no illness, but established for it a cure, except for oldage. When the antidote is applied, the patient will recover with thepermission of God."

This was strong motivation to encourage Muslim scientists to explore,

develop, and apply empirical laws. Much attention was given tomedicine and public health care. The first hospital was built in Baghdad

in 706 AC. The Muslims also used camel caravans as mobile hospitals,


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which moved from place to place.

Since the religion did not forbid it, Muslim scholars used humancadavers to study anatomy and physiology and to help their students

understand how the body functions. This empirical study enabled

surgery to develop very quickly.

Al-Razi, known in the West as Rhazes, the famous physician andscientist, (d. 932) was one of the greatest physicians in the world in

the Middle Ages. He stressed empirical observation and clinical

medicine and was unrivaled as a diagnostician. He also wrote atreatise on hygiene in hospitals. Khalaf Abul-Qasim Al-Zahrawi was a

very famous surgeon in the eleventh century, known in Europe for hiswork, Concessio (Kitab al-Tasrif).

Ibn Sina (d. 1037), better known to the West as Avicenna, wasperhaps the greatest physician until the modern era. His famous book,

Al-Qanun fi al-Tibb, remained a standard textbook even in Europe, forover 700 years. Ibn Sina's work is still studied and built upon in the

East.

Other significant contributions were made in pharmacology, such as

Ibn Sina's Kitab al-Shifa' (Book of Healing), and in public health. Everymajor city in the Islamic world had a number of excellent hospitals,

some of them teaching hospitals, and many of them were specializedfor particular diseases, including mental and emotional. The Ottomans

were particularly noted for their building of hospitals and for the highlevel of hygiene practiced in them.

Definition

The word ISLAM has a two-fold meaning: peace, and submission to

God. This submission requires a fully conscious and willing effort tosubmit to the one Almighty God. One must consciously and

conscientiously give oneself to the service of Allah. This means to acton what Allah enjoins all of us to do (in the Qur'an) and what His

beloved Prophet, Muhammad (pbuh) encouraged us to do in hisSunnah (his lifestyle and sayings personifying the Qur'an).

Once we humble ourselves, rid ourselves of our egoism and submittotally to Allah, and to Him exclusively, in faith and in action, we will

surely feel peace in our hearts. Establishing peace in our hearts willbring about peace in our external conduct as well.


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Islam is careful to remind us that it not a religion to be paid mere lipservice; rather it is an all-encompassing way of life that must be

practiced continuously for it to be Islam. The Muslim must practice thefive pillars of the religion: the declaration of faith in the oneness of

Allah and the prophet hood of Muhammad (pbuh), prayer, fasting the

month of Ramadan, alms-tax, and the pilgrimage to Makkah; andbelieve in the six articles of faith: belief in God, the Holy Books, the

prophets, the angels, the Day of Judgment and God's decree, whetherfor good or ill.

There are other injunctions and commandments which concernvirtually all facets of one's personal, family and civic life. These include

such matters as diet, clothing, personal hygiene, interpersonalrelations, business ethics, responsibilities towards parents, spouse and

children, marriage, divorce and inheritance, civil and criminal law,

fighting in defense of Islam, relations with non-Muslims, and so muchmore.

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Human Rights

Islam has been from its inception very concerned with issues of human

rights. Privacy, freedom, dignity and equality are guaranteed in Islam.The holy Qur'an states clearly:

"There is no compulsion in religion."

And there are no reliable reports to confirm the old accusations thatwhen the Muslim armies were expanding into Asia, Africa and Europe

the people were put to the sword if they failed to convert to Islam. The

best proof is that not only did the Christians, Jews, Zoroastrians andHindus in those areas not perish or otherwise disappear, they actually

flourished as protected minority communities, and many individualsrose to prominent positions in the arts, sciences, even in government.

The lives, property and privacy of all citizens in an Islamic state areconsidered sacred, whether or not the person is Muslim. Non-Muslims

have freedom of worship and the practice of their religions, includingtheir own family law and religious courts. They are obliged to pay a

different tax (Jizyah) instead of the Zakah, and the state is obligatedto provide both protection and government services. Before the

modern era it was extremely rare to find a state or government


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anywhere in the world that was as solicitous of its minorities and theircivil rights as the Islamic states.

In no other religion did women receive such a degree of legal and

moral equality and personal respect. Moreover, racism and tribalism

are incompatible with Islam, for the Qur'an speaks of human equalityin the following terms:

"Mankind! We created you from a single soul, male and female, and

made you into nations and tribes, that you may come to know one

another. Truly, the most honored of you in God's sight is the greatestof you in piety."

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Jesus

Islam honors all the prophets who were sent to mankind. Muslims

respect all prophets in general, but Jesus in particular, because he wasone of the prophets who foretold the coming of Muhammad. Muslims,

too, await the second coming of Jesus. They consider him one of the

greatest of Allah's prophets to mankind. A Muslim does not refer tohim simply as "Jesus," but normally adds the phrase "peace be upon

him" as a sign of respect.

No other religion in the world respects and dignifies Jesus as Islamdoes. The Qur'an confirms his virgin birth (a chapter of the Qur'an isentitled "Mary"), and Mary is considered to have been one of the

purest women in all creation. The Qur'an describes Jesus' birth asfollows:

"Behold!' the Angel said, God has chosen you, and purified you, andchosen you above the women of all nations. Mary, God gives you good

news of a word from Him, whose name shall be the Messiah, Jesus sonof Mary, honored in this world and in the Hereafter, and one of those

brought near to God. He shall speak to the people from his cradle andin maturity, and he shall be of the righteous. She said: "My Lord! Howshall I have a son when no man has touched me?' He said: "Even so;

God creates what He will. When He decrees a thing, He says to it, 'Be!'and it is." [3:42-47]

Muslims believe that Jesus was born immaculately, and through the

same power which had brought Eve to life and Adam into being


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without a father or a mother.

"Truly, the likeness of Jesus with God is as the likeness of Adam. Hecreated him of dust, and then said to him, 'Be!' and he was." [3:59]

During his prophetic mission, Jesus performed many miracles. TheQur'an tells us that he said:

"I have come to you with a sign from your Lord: I make for you out of

clay, as it were, the figure of a bird, and breathe into it and it becomes

a bird by God's leave. And I heal the blind, and the lepers, and I raisethe dead by God's leave." [3:49]

Muhammad and Jesus, as well as the other prophets, were sent to

confirm the belief in one God. This is referred to in the Qur'an where

Jesus is reported as saying that he came:

"To attest the law which was before me, and to make lawful to youpart of what was forbidden you; I have come to you with a sign from

your Lord, so fear God and obey me." [3:50]

Prophet Muhammad emphasized the importance of Jesus by saying:

"Whoever believes there is no god but Allah, alone without partner,

that Muhammad is His messenger, that Jesus is a servant andmessenger of God, His word breathed into Mary and a spirit emanating

from Him, and that Paradise and Hell are true, shall be received byGod into Heaven. [Bukhari]

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Knowledge

Islam urges people to read and learn on every occasion. The verses ofthe Qur'an command, advise, warn, and encourage people to observe

the phenomena of nature, the succession of day and night, themovements of stars, the sun, moon, and other heavenly bodies.Muslims are urged to look into everything in the universe, to travel,

investigate, explore and understand them, the better to appreciate andbe thankful for all the wonders and beauty of God's creations. The first

revelation to Muhammad showed how much Islam cares aboutknowledge.


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"Read, in the name of your Lord, Who created..." [96:1]

Learning is obligatory for both men and women. Moreover, educationis not restricted to religious issues; it includes all fields of knowledge,

including biology, physics, and technology. Scholars have the highest

status in Islam, second only to that accorded to prophets.

Almost from the very beginnings of the Islamic state Muslims began tostudy and to master a number of fields of so-called secular learning,

beginning with linguistics and architecture, but very quickly extending

to mathematics, physics, astronomy, geography, medicine, chemistryand philosophy. They translated and synthesized the known works of

the ancient world, from Greece, Persia, India, even China. Before longthey were criticizing, improving and expanding on that knowledge.

Centuries before the European Renaissance there were Muslim

Rennaissance men, men who were simultaneously explorers,scientists, philosophers, physicians and poets, like Ibn Sina

(Avicenna), Umar Khayyam, and others.

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Main Pillars

1. Shahadah

The first pillar of Islam is that a Muslim believe and declare his faith bysaying the Shahadah (lit. 'witness'), also known as the Kalimah:

La ilaha ila Allah; Muhammadur-rasul Allah. 'There is no god but Allah;

Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.'

This declaration contains two parts. The first part refers to God

Almighty, the Creator of everything, the Lord of the Worlds; thesecond part refers to the Messenger, Muhammad (pbuh) a prophet and

a human being, who received the revelation through the ArchangelGabriel, and taught it to mankind.

By sincerely uttering the Shahadah the Muslim acknowledges Allah asthe sole Creator of all, and the Supreme Authority over everything and

everyone in the universe. Consequently the Muslim closes his/herheart and mind to loyalty, devotion and obedience to, trust in, reliance

on, and worship of anything or anyone other than Allah. This rejection


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is not confined merely to pagan gods and goddesses of wood andstone and created by human hands and imaginations; this rejection

must extend to all other conceptions, superstitions, ideologies, ways oflife, and authority figures that claim supreme devotion, loyalty, trust,

love, obedience or worship. This entails, for example, the rejection of

belief in such common things as astrology, palm reading, good luckcharms, fortune-telling and psychic readings, in addition to praying at

shrines or graves of "saints", asking the dead souls to intercede forthem with Allah. There are no intercessors in Islam, nor any class of

clergy as such; a Muslim prays directly and exclusively to Allah.

Belief in the prophet hood of Muhammad (pbuh) entails belief in the

guidance brought by him and contained in his Sunnah (traditions of hissayings and actions), and demands of the Muslim the intention to

follow his guidance faithfully. Muhammad (pbuh) was also a human

being, a man with feelings and emotions, who ate, drank and slept,and was born and died, like other men. He had a pure and upright

nature, extraordinary righteousness, and an unwavering faith in Allahand commitment to Islam, but he was not divine. Muslims do not pray

to him, not even as an intercessor, and Muslims abhor the terms"Mohamedan" and "Mohamedanism".

2. Salah (Prayer)

Prayer (Salah), in the sense of worship, is the second pillar of Islam.Prayer is obligatory and must be performed five times a day. These

five times are dawn (Fajr), immediately after noon (Dhuhr), mid-afternoon ('Asr), sunset (Maghrib), and early night (Isha'). Ritualcleanliness and ablution are required before prayer, as are clean

clothes and location, and the removal of shoes. One may prayindividually or communally, at home, outside, virtually any clean place,

as well as in a mosque, though the latter is preferred. Special is the

Friday noon prayer, called Jum'ah. It, too, is obligatory and is to bedone in a mosque, in congregation. It is accompanied by a sermon

(Khutbah), and it replaces the normal Dhuhr prayer.

There is no hierarchical clerical authority in Islam, no priests orministers. Prayers are led by any learned person who knows theQur'an and is chosen by the congregation. He (or she, if the

congregation is all women) is called the imam. There is also nominimum number of congregates required to hold communal prayers.

Prayer consists of verses from the Qur'an and other prayers,accompanied by various bodily postures - standing, bowing,

prostrating and sitting. They are said in Arabic, the language of the


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revelation, though personal supplications (Du'ah) can be offered inone's own language. Worshippers face the Qiblah, the direction of the

Ka'bah in the city of Makkah.

The significance of prayer lies in one's maintaining a continuous link to

God five times a day, which helps the worshipper avoid misdeeds ifhe/she performs the prayers sincerely. In addition it promotes

discipline, God-consciousness and placing one's trust in Allah alone,and the importance of striving for the Hereafter. When performed in

congregation it also provides a strong sense of community, equality

and brotherhood/sisterhood.

3. Sawm (Fasting)

The fourth pillar of Islam is fasting. Allah prescribes daily fasting for all

able, adult Muslims during the whole of the month of Ramadan, theninth month of the lunar calendar, beginning with the sighting of the

new moon. Exempted from the fast are the very old and the insane.On the physical side, fasting is from first light of dawn until sundown,

abstaining from food, drink, and sexual relations. On the moral,behavioral side, one must abstain from lying, malicious gossip,

quarreling and trivial nonsense.

Those who are sick, elderly, or on a journey, and women who are

menstruating, pregnant, or nursing are permitted to break the fast,but must make up an equal number of days later in the year. If

physically unable to do so, they must feed a needy person for eachday missed. Children begin to fast (and to observe the prayers) frompuberty, although many start earlier.

Although fasting is beneficial to the health, it is regarded principally as

a method of self-purification. By cutting oneself off from worldly

pleasures and comforts, even for a short time, the fasting person gainstrue sympathy for those who go hungry regularly, and achieves growth

in his spiritual life, learning discipline, self-restraint, patience andflexibility.

In addition to the fast proper, one is encouraged to read the entireQur'an. In addition, special prayers, called Tarawih, are held in the

mosque every night of the month, during which a whole section of theQur'an (Juz') is recited, so that by the end of the month the entire

Qur'an has been completed. These are done in remembrance of thefact that the revelation of the Qur'an to Prophet Muhammad (pbuh)

was begun during Ramadan.


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During the last ten days - though the exact day is never known and

may not even be the same every year - occurs the Night of Power(Laylat al-Qadr). To spend that night in worship is equivalent to a

thousand months of worship, i.e. Allah's reward for it is very great.

On the first day of the following month, after another new moon has

been sighted, a special celebration is made, called 'Id al-Fitr. Aquantity of staple food is donated to the poor (Zakat al-Fitr), everyone

has bathed and put on their best, preferably new, clothes, and

communal prayers are held in the early morning, followed by feastingand visiting relatives and friends.

There are other fast days throughout the year. Muslims are

encouraged to fast six days in Shawwal, the month following

Ramadan, Mondays and Thursdays, and the ninth and tenth, or tenthand eleventh of Muharram, the first month of the year. The tenth day,

called Ashurah, is also a fast day for the Jews (Yom Kippur), and Allahcommanded the Muslims to fast two days to distinguish themselves

from the People of the Book.

While fasting per se is encouraged, constant fasting, as well as

monasticism, celibacy, and otherwise retreating from the real world,are condemned in Islam. Fasting on the two festival days, 'Id al-Fitr

and 'Id al-Adha, the feast of the Hajj, is strictly forbidden.

4. Zakah

The third pillar of Islam is the alms-tax (Zakah). It is a tax on wealth,

payable on various categories of property, notably savings andinvestments, produce, inventory of goods, salable crops and cattle,

and precious metals, and is to be used for the various categories of

distribution specified by Islamic law. It is also an act of purificationthrough sharing what one has with others.

The rationale behind this is that Muslims believe that everything

belongs to God, and wealth is held by man as a trust. This trust mustbe discharged, moreover, as instructed by God, as that portion of ourwealth legally belongs to other people and must be given to them. If

we refuse and hoard this wealth, it is considered impure and unclean.If, for example one were to use that wealth for charity or to finance

one's pilgrimage to Makkah, those acts would also be impure, invalid,and of course unrewarded. Allah says:


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"Of their wealth, take alms so you may purify and sanctify them."[9:103]

The word Zakah means purification and growth. Our possessions are

purified by setting aside that portion of it for those in need. Each

Muslim calculates his or her own Zakah individually.

For most purposes this involves the payment each year of 2.5% ofone's capital, provided that this capital reaches a certain minimum

amount that which is not consumed by its owner. A generous person

can pay more than this amount, though it is treated and rewarded asvoluntary charity (Sadaqah). This amount of money is provided to

bridge the gap between the rich and the poor, and can be used inmany useful projects for the welfare of the community.

Historically the pillar of Zakah became mandatory on Muslims form thesecond year after the Hijrah, 622 C.E. It is mentioned more than thirty

times in the Qur'an, usually in the same breath as Salah. So importantis this pillar that one is not considered a part of the Islamic

brotherhood if one ignores this obligation.

5. Hajj

The fifth pillar of Islam is to make a pilgrimage (Hajj) to Makkah, in

Saudi Arabia, at least once in one's lifetime. This pillar is obligatory forevery Muslim, male or female, provided that he/she is physically and

financially able to do so. Prerequisites for performing the Hajj are to bea Muslim, to be free, to be an adult or mature enough, to be of soundmind, and to have the ability to afford the journey and maintain one's

dependents back home for the duration. The reward for the Hajj isnothing less than Paradise.

The Hajj is the ultimate form of worship, as it involves the spirit of allthe other rituals and demands of the believer great sacrifice. On this

unique occasion, nearly two million Muslims from all over the globemeet one another in a given year. Regardless of the season, pilgrims

wear special clothes (Ihram) - two, very simple, unsewn whitegarments - which strips away all distinctions of wealth, status, classand culture; all stand together and equal before Allah (God).

The rites of Hajj, which go back to the time of Prophet Abraham who

built the Ka'bah, are observed over five or six days, beginning on theeighth day of the last month of the year, named Dhul-Hijjah

(pilgrimage). These rites include circumambulating the Ka'bah


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(Tawwaf), and going between the mountains of Safa and Marwah, asHajjar (Abraham's wife) did during her search for water for her son

Isma'il. Then the pilgrims stand together on the wide plain of Arafahand join in prayers for God's forgiveness, in what is often thought of as

a preview of the Last Judgment. The pilgrims also cast stones at a

stone pillar which represents Satan. The pilgrimage ends with afestival, called 'Id al-Adha, which is celebrated with prayers, the

sacrifice of an animal, and the exchange of greetings and gifts inMuslim communities everywhere.

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Muhammad

Muhammad (pbuh) was an illiterate but wise and well-respected manwho was born in Makkah in the year 570 C.E., at a time when

Christianity was not yet fully established in Europe. His first years weremarked by the deaths of his parents. Since his father died before his

birth, his uncle, Abu Talib, from the respected tribe of Quraysh, raised

him. As Muhammad (pbuh) grew up, he became known for histruthfulness, generosity and sincerity, so that he was sought after for

his ability to arbitrate in disputes. His reputation and personal qualitiesalso led to his marriage, at the age of twenty-five, to Khadijah, a

widow whom he had assisted in business. Thenceforth, he became animportant and trusted citizen of Makkah. Historians describe him ascalm and meditative.

Muhammad (pbuh) never felt fully content to be part of a society

whose values he considered to be devoid of true religious significance.

It became his habit to retreat from time to time to the cave of Hira', tomeditate near the summit of Jabal al-Nur, the "Mountain of Light",

near Makkah.

At the age of 40, while engaged in one such meditative retreat,Muhammad (pbuh) received his first revelation from God through theAngel Gabriel. This revelation, which continued for twenty-three years,

is known as the Qur'an, the faithful recording of the entire revelationof God. The first revelation read:

"Recite: In the name of your Lord Who created man from a clot (of

blood). Recite: Your Lord is Most Noble, Who taught by the pen, taught


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man what he did not know." [96:1-5]

It was this reality that he gradually and steadily came to learn andbelieve, until he fully realized that it is the truth.

His first convert was Khadijah, whose support and companionshipprovided necessary reassurance and strength. He also won the support

of some of his relatives and friends. Three basic themes of the earlymessage were the majesty of the one, unique God, the futility of idol

worship, the threat of judgment, and the necessity of faith,

compassion and morality in human affairs. All these themesrepresented an attack on the crass materialism and idolatry prevalent

in Makkah at the time. So when he began to proclaim the message toothers the Makkans rejected him. He and his small group of followers

suffered bitter persecution, which grew so fierce that in the year 622

C.E., God gave them the command to emigrate. This event, the Hijrah(migration), in which they left Makkah for the city of Madinah, some

260 miles to the north, marked the beginning of a new era and thusthe beginning of the Muslim calendar. During his suffering, Muhammad

(pbuh) drew comfort from the knowledge revealed to him about otherprophets, such as Abraham, Joseph, and Moses, each of whom had

also been persecuted and tested.

After several years and some significant battles, the Prophet and his

followers were able to return to Makkah, where they forgave theirenemies and established Islam definitively. By the time the Prophet

died, at the age of 63, the greater part of Arabia had accepted Islam,and within a century of his death, Islam had spread as far west asSpain and as far east as China. It was clear that the message was not

limited to Arabs; it was for the whole of humanity.

The Prophet's sayings (Hadith), are also believed to be revelation. The

number of sayings collected by his followers and scholars is about10,000. Some typical examples of his sayings are as follows:

"To pursue knowledge is obligatory on every believing (man and

woman)." [Ibn Majah]

"Removing a harmful thing from the road is charity." [Bukhari, Muslim]

"Those who do not show tenderness and love cannot expect to havetenderness shown to them." [Bukhari]

"Adore Allah (God) as though you see Him; even if you do not see

Him, He nonetheless sees you." {Bukhari, Muslim]


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Although Muhammad is deeply loved, revered and emulated by

Muslims as God's final messenger, he is not an object of worship.

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Women

At a time when the rest of the world, from Greece and Rome to India

and China, considered women as no better than children or evenslaves, with no rights whatsoever, Islam acknowledged women's

equality with men in a great many respects. The Qur'an states:

"And among His signs is this: that He created mates for you form

yourselves that you may find rest, peace of mind in them, and Heordained between you love and mercy. Lo, herein indeed are signs for

people who reflect." [30:21]

Prophet Muhammad said:

"The most perfect in faith amongst believers is he who is best in

manners and kindest to his wife." [Abu Dawud]

Muslims believe that Adam and Eve were created from the same soul.Both were equally guilty of their sin and fall from grace, and both wereforgiven by Allah. Many women in Islam have had high status;

consider the fact that the first person to convert to Islam wasKhadijah, the wife of Muhammad, whom he both loved and respected.

His favorite wife after Khadijah's death, Aeisha, became renowned as a

scholar and one of the greatest sources of Hadith literature. Many ofthe female Companions accomplished great deeds and achieved fame,

and throughout Islamic history there have been famous and influentialscholars, jurists and mystics.

With regard to education, both women and men have the same rightsand obligations. This is clear in Prophet Muhammad's saying:

"Seeking knowledge is mandatory for every believer." [Ibn Majah]

This implies men and women.

A woman is to be treated as God has endowed her, with rights, such


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as to be treated as an individual, with the right to own and dispose ofher own property and earnings, enter into contracts, even after

marriage. She has the right to be educated and to work outside thehome if she so chooses. She has the right to inherit from her father,

mother, and husband. A very interesting point to note is that in Islam,

unlike any other religion, a woman can be an imam, a leader ofcommunal prayer, for a group of women.

A Muslim woman also has obligations. All the laws and regulations

pertaining to prayer, fasting, charity, pilgrimage, doing good deeds,

etc., apply to women, albeit with minor differences having mainly todo with female physiology.

Before marriage, a woman has the right to choose her husband.

Islamic law is very strict regarding the necessity of having the

woman's consent for marriage. A marriage dowry (money) is given bythe groom to the bride for her own personal use. She keeps her own

family name, rather than taking her husband's. As a wife, a womanhas the right to be supported by her husband even if she is already

rich. She also has the right to seek divorce and custody of youngchildren. She does not return the dowry, except in a few unusual

situations.

Despite the fact that in many places and times Muslim communities

have not always adhered to all or even many of the foregoing inpractice, the ideal has been there for 1400 years, while virtually all

other major civilizations did not begin to address these issues orchange their negative attitudes until the 19th and 20th centuries, andthere are still many contemporary civilizations which have yet to do

so.

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Other Religions

Islam is the religion of all prophets. Muslims believe that all the

prophets were sent to their respective peoples from God (Allah). Theyall had the same mission and message - guiding people to the rightpath.

The three revealed, monotheistic religions, Islam, Christianity, and

Judaism, go back to Abraham. The prophets of these religions weredirectly descended from him - Moses, Jesus and others from Isaac, but

Muhammad from Ismail. It was Prophet Abraham who had


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established the settlement which today is the city of Makkah, and withhis son Ismail built the Kabah, which Muslims all over the world

face when they pray.

Christians and Jews hold a special place in Islam. They are called the

People of the Book (Ahl al-Kitab), since the original Torah and Gospelwere also divinely revealed and they shared in the prophetic tradition.

Islamic states have nearly always shown their religious minoritiestolerance and respect and those communities flourished under Islamic

rule. God says:

"...[T]hose who believe (in the message of Islam), and the Jews, the

Sabaeans, and the Christians - all those who believe in Allah and theLast Day, and act righteously - no fear shall come upon them..."

[5:69]

Setting up the Islamic state in Madinah, Prophet Muhammad (pbuh)

further warned:

"Whoever oppresses any Dhimmi (non-Muslim citizen of the Islamicstate), I shall be his prosecutor on the Day of Judgment."

In setting up the Islamic state, Prophet Muhammad made it inclusiveof the Arabian Jews and Christians. Their persons, properties, churches

and synagogues were protected, freedom of worship was guaranteed,and they controlled their own community affairs with their own civil

and religious laws and courts. For most of the first century of theIslamic state, in fact, the majority of the citizens were Christians,enjoying peace and liberty such as they had not had even under

Christian Rome or Byzantium.

The Jews, from the very beginning in Madinah, and later everywhere

else, were lifted from the burden of being clients of individual Arabtribes to being citizens of the state, thus freeing them to focus on their

Jewishness. When the Islamic state expanded outside Arabia the Jewsof other lands were treated for the first time as liberated citizens.

Judaism flourished as never before, with Jews even serving in Muslimarmies and administrations while their culture bloomed in the arts,sciences, medicine and philosophy. This knowledge they transmitted to

their brethren in the hostile climate of Christian Europe. Even Jewishmysticism originated under the influence of sufism and spread to

northern Europe.

When Islam reached Persia the concept of People of the Book was


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extended to the Zoroastrians as well. Later, when the Muslimsconquered parts of India and encountered Buddhists and Hindus, who

appeared to worship idols, the question was referred to the ulema(council of scholars), who judged that even they could have the same

protected status as the Jews and Christians, so long as they did not

fight Islam and they paid the Jizyah tax.

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Peace

"Peace" is the most common word on a Muslim's tongue. Whenevertwo people meet, they exchange greetings, wishing each other peace:

"Peace be upon you." But peace cannot prevail except through justice.

Since the concept of justice may differ from one man to another, orfrom one society to another, Muslims believe that real justice is that

which is specified by Allah (God).

Islam permits fighting in self-defense, in defense of the religion, or bythose who have been expelled forcibly from their homes. At the same

time, Islam requires one to treat one's enemy mercifully. It lays down

strict rules of combat which include prohibitions against harmingcivilians and against destroying crops, trees, and livestock. Islam also

requires that if an enemy declares his desire to end hostilities and seekpeace, the Muslims must do the same.

The concept of Jihad (struggling in the cause of Allah) is stated in theQur'an. Allah said: "Fight in the cause of God those who fight you, but

do not transgress limits. God does not love transgressors." [2:19]Jihad is never to be waged to force anybody to choose a particular

religion. On the contrary, it is to waged to protect his right to choose

freely. Therefore, if there is a force in the world that tries to prevent aperson from practicing this right, Jihad may lead to fighting the force

that is trying to prevent him from exercising free will.

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Relevance

Since Islam is the last religion revealed by Allah, it possesses some

elements that make it unique. One of these is its relevance for human


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beings regardless of place and time.

This means that Islam - submission to God - is a comprehensiveinstitution which includes all the guidelines necessary for all aspects of

life. Therefore, the best way to understand Islam is to look at it as

more than a religion - as a complete way of life. In other words, it is asystem which regulates every aspect of life, dealing with all issues -

social, economic, educational, judicial, health, and even military. Thus,it is suitable for all human beings and for all times, since it is the final

religion. Islamic law aims to achieve five goals for human beings in

life: protecting the religion, protecting one's self, protecting one'spossessions, protecting one's mind, and protecting one's offspring.

Therefore, God (Allah) decided on two main domains of law:

1. If the domain always requires change and progress, Allah legislatedcomprehensive yet flexible rules and gave people the chance to create

and develop the necessary laws to satisfy the specific needs of acertain period of time. For example, in the rule of consultation

(Shura), Allah decided that it should be the general rule for anygovernment; however, its form and style are left open for people to

choose and decide according to their needs.

2. If the domain does not require or lend itself to change or progress,

Allah legislated fixed and detailed laws that govern all issues related toa specific area. Thus, there is no way for man to change or develop

those laws, which were made for the welfare of all mankind. Forexample, the area of worshipping God contains fixed details whichcannot be changed at all. These regard prayer, fasting, making

pilgrimage, etc. Another example is in family matters, such as the lawsof marriage, divorce, and inheritance.

To show how Islam cares for the environment, one can cite the manylaws that protect the environment. About fourteen hundred years ago.

Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said:

"The world is green and beautiful, and Allah has appointed you as Hisstewards over it. He sees how you acquit yourselves."

Muhammad showed how important plants and trees are by saying:"Whoever plants a tree and looks after it with care until it matures and

becomes productive will be rewarded in the Hereafter." Even in theterritory of an enemy, Islam's care for plants, animals, and trees is

profound. Abu Bakr, the first Caliph, or successor, to Muhammad


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(pbuh), instructed his troops that he was sending into battle not to cutdown any trees or kill any animals except for food.

These are but a few examples of how Islam remains relevant in the

modern world.

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Sources

The ultimate manifestation of God's grace for man, the ultimatewisdom, and the ultimate beauty of expression: in short, the word of

God. This is how the German scholar, Muhammad Asad, once

described the Qur'an. If one were to ask any Muslim to depict it, mostlikely they would offer similar words. The Qur'an, to the Muslim, is the

irrefutable, inimitable Word of God. It was revealed by God Almighty,through the instrument of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). The Prophet

(pbuh) himself had no role in authoring the Qur'an, he was merely ahuman secretary, repeating the dictates of the Divine Creator:

"He (Muhammad) does not speak of his own desire. It is no less thanan Inspiration sent down to him." [53:3-4]

The Qur'an was revealed in Arabic, to Prophet Muhammad (pbuh),

over a period of twenty-three years. It is composed in a style sounique, that it cannot be deemed either poetry or prose, but somehowa mixture of both. The Qur'an is imimitable; it cannot be simulated or

copied, and God Almighty challenges mankind to pursue such anendeavor if he thinks he can:

"Or do they say he forged it? Say: Bring then a chapter like unto it,and call (to your aid) anyone you can, beside God, if it be you speak

the truth." [10:38].

The Qur'an's language is indeed sublime, its recitation moving, as onenon-Muslim scholar noted, it was like the cadence of my heartbeat.Due to its unique style of language, the Qur'an is not only highly

readable, but also relatively easy to remember. This latter aspect hasplayed an important role not only in the Qur'an's preservation, but in

the spiritual life of Muslims as well. God Himself declares,

"And We have indeed made the Qur'an easy to understand and


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remember; then is there anyone that will receive admonition?" [54:17]

One of the most important characteristics of the Qur'an is that itremains today, the only holy book which has never changed; it has

remained free from any and all adulterations. Sir William Muir noted,

"There is probably in the world no other book which has remained(fourteen) centuries with so pure a text." The Qur'an was written down

during the lifetime and under the supervision of the Prophet, whohimself was illiterate, and it was canonized shortly after his death by a

rigorous method which scrutinized both written and oral traditions.

Thus its authenticity is unblemished, and is its preservation is seen asthe fulfillment of God's promise:

"We have, without doubt, sent down the Message, and We will

assuredly guard it from corruption." [15:9]

The Qur'an is a book which provides the human being the spiritual and

intellectual nourishment he/she craves. Its major themes include theoneness of God, the purpose of human existence, faith and God-

consciousness, the Hereafter and its significance. The Qur'an also laysa heavy emphasis upon reason and understanding. In these spheres of

human understanding, the Qur'an goes beyond just satisfying the

human intellect; it causes one to reflect on implications. There areQur'anic challenges and prophecies. One of the most exciting fields in

recent years has been the discovery that, of the significant amount ofscientific information in the Qur'an, including the event of the Big

Bang, embryological data, and other information concerningastronomy biology, etc., there is not a single statement that has notbeen borne out by modern discoveries In short, the Qur'an fulfills the

heart, the soul, and the mind.

Perhaps the best description of the Qur'an was given by Ali, the cousin

of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) when he expounded upon it as,

"The Book of God. In it is the record of what was before you, thejudgment of what is among you, and the prophecies of what will come

after you. It is decisive, not a case for levity. Whoever is a tryant andignores the Qur'an will be destroyed by God. Whoever seeks guidancefrom other than it will be misguided. The Qur'an is the unbreakable

bond of connection with God; it is the remembrance full of wisdom andthe straight path. The Qur'an does not become distorted by tongues.

nor can it be deviated by caprices; it never dulls from repeated study;scholars will always want more of it. The wonders of the Qur'an are

never ending. Whoever speaks from it will speak the truth, whoever


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rules with it will be just, and whoever holds fast to it will be guided tothe straight path." [Al-Tirmidhi]

Top

Sunnah

The term Sunnah comes from the root word sanna, which means topave the way or make a path easily passable, such that it becomes a

commonly followed way by everyone afterwards. Thus sunnah can be

used to describe a street or road or path on which people, animals,and cars travel. Additionally, it can apply to a prophetic way, i.e. the

law that they brought and taught as an explanation or furtherclarification of a divinely revealed book. Normally, the prophetic way

includes references to his sayings, actions, physical features and

character traits.

From the Islamic stand

isis neuromelanin and realm of sound

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