The Corporate Touch on Da'wah: The Art of Persuading People

The Corporate Touch on Da'wah: The Art of Persuading People...

by Nisaar Y. Nadiadwala on Tuesday, May 10, 2011 at 3:23pm

My friend Abdul Wahid  has been in sales for twenty years. He has worked with Eureka Fobes , one of the leading companies selling water purifier. He shared his training experience with me. “We were taught persuading skills and encouraged not to leave hopes even after hundreds of rejections.That training provided me a lot of patience and endurance required in the world of sales" the experienced sales man Abdul Wahid told me “ my first deal clicked after two months, till then I had to face door slamming and other forms of rejections…” 

   The majority of today’s leaders in business were in sales at one time or another? The selling skills they learned to make others feel welcome, comfortable, important, and to trust their expert advice has taken them far

Amongst the most similar things between sales and Da'wah, one  is ' both are tireless efforts in convincing  and  persuading people'

 Get going in spite of rejection

This reminds me about something similar that happens in Da’wah as well. Sales and Da’wah have many common things between them. Both the fields offer  lot of rejections before things get alright. How many "no's" are you willing to take before getting to the "yes I am ready to embrace Islam"?  If Noah (pbuh) can get going for 950 years what makes you puff in few days? World famous Sales trainer Zig Ziglar says... More than 75% of the sales deals are clicked after the fifth attempt but unfortunately more than one third of the sales people give up after fourth attempt.

Closing the sales : Invite your invitee to accept Islam! Don’t laugh this one off thinking you’d never forget that. A study was done years ago where people were asked why they didn't make a purchase after a product had been demonstrated to them. The most common answer was, "We were never asked!" Top professionals in sales know anywhere from five to 25 ways of asking for the final "yes." Those are called closes and if you're in sales to be successful, you'll want to start mastering as many as possible as soon as you can.Then why not in D'awah, the invitation to Islam? Even the Qur'an instructs the same thing   after presenting  various signs of Allah.... Af'la U'minoon?.. Will you not believe...?

 Da'wah is not a conversion but an invitation to worship your creator.So keep on inviting people without fearing rejection.After all you are inviting people to a solution to their problems.

You have what it takes to learn to get involved in your field. Just make the commitment and get on with it! Don't forget to pray for your success as well.

About  the Author : Nisaar Yusuf loves to groom and guide aspirant da'ees for his own Sawab e Jarriya. He can be reached at nisaar_yusuf@yahoo.com

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Love for Allah... What are the Parameters?

Love for Allah... What are the Parameters?

by Nisaar Y. Nadiadwala on Monday, May 9, 2011 at 11:09am

   A Christian, once asked me the concept of loving God Almighty in Islam. For them, God is love, for us, God is loving. Many Muslims are unaware of the intensity of love for Allah that Islam demands. In the 24 th verse of Surah Toubah , Allah mentions the different types of love found in the hearts of people. The love in this verse is divided into three categories. 

1. Love for people that include our love towards our fathers, sons, brothers, spouses and relatives.

2. Love towards materialism which includes your wealth that your have earned, the business that your fear an incline and the dwellings that delights us.

3. Love towards Allah, His messenger and working hard in the way of Allah to establish Touhid. 

The last category supersedes the previous two. It is a part of the constitution of Islam and it should be unconditional.  

   The first two categories are tests  and it should never over take the last category. Here is the testimonial ; Beautified in the eyes of men is the love of things they covet: women and sons: heaped up hoards of gold and silver : Branded horses (include branded  cars, race bikes....): Cattle and well tilled land. (Surah Al e Imran, ch 3, verse 14).

   The parameter to gauge our love towards Allah is mentioned in Surah Al e Imran ch. 3, verse 31. Say: if you love Allah follow  me (The messenger, peace be upon him). Now the test is not hidden. Unlike school examinations, the questions are not hidden. What one has to prove himself to judge his claim is to list the number of commandments of Allah's Messenger that are fardh, and one implements them. Like a chartered accountant, make a balance sheet of your actions and put it into two columns. One, that which we as Muslims are supposed to do and the other which are not doing. Subtract the latter from the former and that will give  a faint idea of where one stands. 

 My slave continues to come closer to me through his voluntary deeds until I love him ….. (Sahih Al Bukhari). I have noticed many Muslims taking sunnah lightly . Deeds like getting up for Tahajjud, and  repenting for your sins, giving  charity more than zakah are the  one which leads you ahead in leaps and bounds.

   Some of us focus too much on voluntary deeds but over look significant obligatory commands. You will also find many among young men and women who are very good when it comes to display of Islam but when it comes to dealing with their own parents their Taqwa slides down.  Owais Qarni could not get the privilege to meet the Prophet (pbuh) because he had to serve his ailing old mother. Not because he loved his mother more but he was commanded by the Prophet (pbuh) himself. Abdullah bin Amr bin al As said : The beauty of a person’s religious understanding lies in the fact that he is able to differentiate not only between the good and the evil but also between the bad and the worse as well as between the good and the better and the best.

 How much each worshipper loves Allah will be graded by Allah  Himself. He has not given any right to any human or any of his creation to share the intensity of love towards Him. Only  He knows. That is what Touhid, the Islamic Monotheism is all about.

 Author: Nisaar Nadiadwala writes and speaks about socio- educational issues from Islamic perspective. He can be reached at  nisaar_yusuf@yahoo.com

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With No Malice towards Khushwant Singh.... A Humble but Thoughtful Response.........

With No Malice towards Khushwant Singh ....
A Humble but Thoughtful Response..

by Nisaar Y. Nadiadwala on Sunday, May 8, 2011 at 10:29am

  Khushwant Singh is the grand old Journalist cum writer of India and he is in his 90s. He writes at this age too. There are two types writings he involves into, one  extensive research work on academic topics, second obscene articles and novels which, if turned into movies, can fit into the category of pornography. For the  past couple of decades he communicates with his readers through  his popular column ' With Malice Towards One and All '. His columns are also translated in Urdu and read by Indians and Pakistanis.

   So I feel that it is my responsibility to respond his latest article published in English, Urdu and other languages too. The topic was ‘ The Sub continent Needs One More Kemal Pasha ‘. Just like his previous editorials even this time he strictly objects to the Islamic dress ‘Hijab’ considered to be modest by the Muslim women ( barring a few who are influenced by the Western life). He announces Hijab to be an outdated life style.

    With no malice towards the author, I acknowledge the fact that he has not updated himself with the ever green ways of Islamic life style. The Islamic life style whether it is Hijaab or beard or visiting the Masjid five times, is always in vogue. If some leader like Kemal pasha puts a ban, even then it surges inside the community’s hearts and mind like a volcano ready to erupt. To cross examine my point, have a look at the modest scarf worn by the wife of  Head of the Turkey right on the first day she entered the Assembly of elected representatives of Turkey. It was an announcement of the revival of Hijab in Turkey. Khushwant Singh further writes that the Muslims are backward because of their out dated laws. If his arguments are agreeable then why does  Khushwant Singh himself wears  his turban and does not consider it to be out dated.

  Janab Khushwant Singh writes “The upper class is educated and westernised. The lowest class, particularly those engaged in farming work along with their menfolk in the fields don’t wear burqas. Only the lower middle class is reluctant to free themselves from the bondage of burqas…..”

  Mr Singh  has outdated information about  Burkha.  In fact the Burkha production is all time high in the Muslim society, be it higher class or any other class. Doctors, Teachers and other highly educated Muslim ladies have taken up Burkha.  In very longitude and latitude of  the globe , Burkha is a daily sight , whether it is the street of New  York  or London or lanes  of Mumbai leading to  colleges.  In my local street  few years back there was only one Burkha shop and the tailor took three months to  fulfill your order, today that same street has no less than 10 shops stitching Hijaab. Few years back I had been to Bhiwandi a dusty little town near Mumbai to buy some Fabrics for HIjab, and  to my amazement the largest shop belonged to a Hindu. I asked him the reason for selling Burkha Fabric and Ready to wear Burkha, he replied…. The demand is growing very fast and it gives a good business….

 Janab Khushwant Singh says that today Turkey is the most advanced Muslim country… My testimony of objection  is… Then why is Europe objecting Turkey from entering into Euro ?   No Matter how low the Muslim stoops to please the West, never will they be pleased…Therefore rightly,Turkey is returning to Islam, faster than Janab Khushwant Singh can anticipate. The moral of the issue  of Turkey and Hijab is simple : one is Qur’anic and other is a local saying :

 First from Qur’an : Never will the Jews and the Christians ( Europe US and NATO) be happy with you unless you obey their community…. Surah Baqarah ch 2 verse 120.

   The second one from a local saying : If a crow ties the feather of a peacock  it will be rejected by the peacock community as well as by the crows……

 Author: Nisaar Nadiadwala speaks and writes on socio-edicational issues from Islamic perspective. He can be reached at nisaar_yusuf@yahoo.com

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This Economy is an X-Rated Economy !

This Economy is an X-Rated Economy !

by Nisaar Y. Nadiadwala on Monday, May 2, 2011 at 7:03pm

Forbes Magazine ([18 Sept. 1978] :page 81-92) ran a lead article entitled "The X-Rated Economy" by James Cook. He began by stating : "Pornography is ... no longer an illegal business. The market for pornography ... is not confined to perverts or other emotional cripples. To the contrary, the largest part of the market ... is middle class people....

Cook went on to say that according to the California Department of Justice, the nation's pornographers do more than four billion dollars' worth of business a year--more than the combined incomes of the often supportive movie and music industries. Other estimates place the total pornographic business--including a large segment of the burgeoning home video market--at three times that much. The article said that skin magazines circulate sixteen million copies a month and generate nearly 500 million dollars a year in revenue. Adult films are seen by two million people per week at $3.50 per ticket, grossing over 365 million dollars. (Remember, this article was written in 1978, so all these figures are much higher today.) Another hundred million dollars goes into sex toys. But the biggest grosser of all, Cook tells us, are "adult" bookstores. Some bookstores in New York take in $10,000 a day. The Los Angeles Police Department estimates that $125 million annually is spent in bookstores throughout the city.

   What do you understand by X- rated economy ? An economy where products, services and ideas thrive on publicity through glamour which grows more obscene due to cut throat competition and it reaches a stage where people judge your products only b your beautiful models and other obscene glamorous ads. Even Item songs and Pop music sell more than ghazals in a traditional country like India and Pakistan.

   If some one studies the trends in advertisement world  he can come across many  astonishing facts about sexual revolution in conventional economic system how many people would be interested in watching an average looking girl playing chess or scrabble which does not require any body movement or short dresses? Compare it with over crowded stadiums during French open and Wimbledon.

 Maria Sharapova earned  billion dollars upon winning grand slam, but she earned 2 billion dollars more in modeling and fashion shows!

The 2006 US Open women's singles winner she has won seven grand slam titles less than Roger Federer but she has made more money than him this year. That's because she earned in excess of a whopping 25 million dollars or approximately 116 crore rupees last year. Her career earnings on the WTA Tour was more than three million coming in 2006 alone!

But surprisingly, she is the richest of all the tennis players earning more than even Roger Federer who takes home 22.1 million dollars a year. That's because Federer may have nine grand slam titles as compared to her two, but she has the glamour and the oomph factor that make her an advertisers dream.

The conventional economy is an X-rated Economy : The sexual revolution is another  hazard of conventional economic system, where there is a lot of cut throat competition to sell products, and people stoop down to any level to get sales. One such gimmick is obscenity If any one wants to study  how fat sexually liberation has changes our lives, our  choices our thinking habits , just look at the  covers of magazines, read the supplements  see the supplements of news papers, etc, Assemble all these things and you will notice that sex is celebrated every where due to marketing, in fact sex is marketed instead of products Even some religious festivals, entertainments,  news, are captures by obscenity. 

The X rated economy is one of the prime causes of adultery and fornication in the society.

      Because of obscenity around us in festivals, entertainments, social gatherings as well as in media the mind set of people is changing including young children as well as house wives. This has led to believe among a mass section of society that sex before marriage and outside marriage is no more a sin but it is a matter of choice and in some societies a matter of pride and boasting. It is no longer a shame when industrialist, film stars and other celebrities and other men and women confess in public that they enjoy sexual liberty with the opposite sex.

Author : NIsaar Nadiadwala is an avid reader and speaker on socio economic issues from Islamic perspective. He can be reached at nisaar_yusuf@yahoo.com 

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That Lonely Woman... Have you understood her?

That Lonely Woman... Have you understood her?

by Nisaar Y. Nadiadwala on Saturday, April 30, 2011 at 7:08pm

Few years back I noted a janazah being carried away. Two ladies stood far off and wept consoling each other.  I asked my aunty, who was along with me to inquire about them. I was told" they were the daughters of the dead woman" While we passed besides them we could hear them saying" Mamma has gone and now we don’t have any house to go " These words pierced into  my heart and forced me to think over the issue and today I am sharing it with you. When the mother dies, it s a social trend that the daughters who are married off feel that the doors of her mother's house are closed for them, the house now belongs to their brothers and sisters in law!  Its an end of her paternal house relation. Very sad!

  How ruthless have we become in this matter! A girl, when she is born it is said " she is an amanah of some one else and will be staying with us for only few years"  Then she gets married and goes to her husbands house. When she grows old her daughter gets married and goes off. She is lonely again. Then comes her the news that her mother has died. So she waits  in a lonely manner in her husband’s house for the rest of her life seeking happiness from her grandchildren or pass time in front of Tv watching serials and get entertained form other people's imaginary problems.  If she is lucky her sons are good to her, other wise her daughter in law cannot tolerate a lady in her house who shares her dominance.  This is a common story of many women. 

    In case she gets divorced or becomes a widow at a young age  it becomes very difficult for her to run her life  especially if has children to bring up. I was told about a widow who stayed with her old parents and brothers. Once her wali told me that they were looking for a good person to remarry their daughter. They told in the same breadth " don’t worry about her kids, they will stay with her grand parents!" I was hurt and I advised them " look my dear brother, If you are looking for a proposal then look for a man who would not mind to bring up her children as well...."

 Among the finest things that Islam has done to women is that  she has been put in the protection of a wali or a guardian. The Qur'an declare " ar rijal  qawwamuna  an Nisa'.. Surah nisa ch 4 verse 35.. When she is young it  is her father as her protector, when she is married it is her husband and when she grows old her sons are her qawwam... Compare her with the western women... 45 % of working western women who are deserted by their husbands and have to work to run her life..... Is not Islam a better alternative for her? or rather the only alternative?

 Author: Nisar Nadiadwala is concerned about the plight of people and helps them form Islamic view point . He can be reached at nisaar_yusuf@yahoo.com

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Is it true that if you hurt a Sayyid's heart, it hurts Nabi(saw) and it angers Allah?

Is it true that if you hurt a Syed 's heart, it hurts Nabi(saw) and  it angers Allah? 

You know sayids (related to nabi s.a.w), is it true that if you hurt a sayyid's heart, it hurts nabi s.a.w, and if it hurts Nabi   it angers Allah? Please tell me so, and if it's yes evidence please!

Islam abolished all these wrong things (cast, color, race, lineage etc) but still some people out of ignorance or arrogance (who don’t know ...even the  basics of Islam) claim such silly thing.

And it is your friend who has to provide evidence in support of her claim other wise it will be like lying in the name of Prophet (Attributing false hood to him that he becomes angry and it angers Allah). May be due to ignorance otherwise any person even with a little knowledge will think many times before attributing any thing to Prophet as lying in the name of Allah or Rasool is very serious.

Quran 10:69
Say, "Indeed, those who invent falsehood about Allah will not succeed."

Sahi Bukhari 1.106:
Narrated `Ali: The Prophet said, "Do not tell a lie against me for whoever tells a lie against me (intentionally) then he will surely enter the Hell−fire."

Her claim conflicts with this verse and command of Prophet

Quran 49:13
O mankind, indeed We have created you from male and female and made you peoples and tribes that you may know one another. Indeed, the most noble of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you. Indeed, Allah is Knowing and Acquainted

Last sermon of Prophet Mohammed
All mankind is from Adam and Eve, an Arab has no superiority over a non-Arab nor a non-Arab has any superiority over an Arab; also a white has no superiority over black nor does a black have any superiority over white except by piety and good action. Learn that every Muslim is a brother to every Muslim and that the Muslims constitute one brotherhood.

Interesting lol. A sayyid claimed this to me...

Yes, this is a common statement out of ignorance.. first of all its almost impossible to prove that anyone actually is, even if anyone proves. The criteria for being noble in the sight of Allah is righteousness (already mentioned not colour, cast, lineage etc). On the day of judgment we will be judged as per our deeds not as per our lineage!!

Still some will argue…This is for them.
 Even the strongest enemies of Islam in the beginning were also from his lineage like Abu Lahab with respect to him there is a complete Surah in Quran [Surah 111 – al-Masad] in which Allah declared hell for him.
We all (Including Prophet ) are from same parents Adam & Hawwa (a.s.) even the non believers are but this isn't the criteria for heaven.

Sahih Muslim
Bk 1, Number 0313:
".............................When we(Prothet saw & Jibreel a.s.) ascended the lowest heaven (I saw) a man seated with parties on his right side and parties on his left side. When he looked up to his right, he laughed and when he looked to his left, he wept. He said: Welcome to the righteous apostle and the righteous son. I asked Gabriel who he was and he replied: He is Adam (peace be upon him) and these parties on his right and on his left are the souls of his descendants. Those of them on his right are the inmates of Paradise and the parties which are on his left side are the inmates of Hell; so when he looked towards his right side, he laughed, and when he looked towards his left side, he wept................................"




Quran 49:11.
O you who have believed, let not a people ridicule [another] people; perhaps they may be better than them; nor let women ridicule [other] women; perhaps they may be better than them. And do not insult one another and do not call each other by [offensive] nicknames. Wretched is the name [i.e., mention] of disobedience after [one's] faith. And whoever does not repent – then it is those who are the wrongdoers.


And Allah knows best


Regards
Mohammed Tariq

Kaffirs" are to be hated ??

Question-Is this true that "Kaffirs" are to be hated because they do not love Allah or Mohammad and it is the duty of Muslims to kill them.......

Answer-

The word "kaafir" is played with in the same way the word "jihaad" is otherwise they are simple arabic words one means "Non believers" and other means "Struggle".

Once i was talking to a Hindu Brother, i asked do you believe in Allah he said "NO". I asked what about the word Kafir he said thats ugly. i asked do you believe in Jihaad he said "no". ok do you believe in struggling for the cause of truth......he said "yes".

I replied Brother if  Bhagwat Geeta is translated in Arabic all words will be translated like this-

"God=Allah, Non Believer=Kafir, Struggling for the cause=Jihaad."
(same things can be asked from Christians brothers)



One of the condition required to go to heaven is calling other(Non believers) to truth (Dawah & Islaha).

Quran 103:3 Except for those who have believed and done righteous deeds and advised each other to truth and advised each other to patience.

There is no such requirement (killing Kaafir) in either pillar of Islam, faith or conditions required to go to heaven(Surah Al Asr).


But i know Critics present these verses(as usual out of context without background)

Quran 9:5
kill the polytheists wherever you find them and capture them and besiege them and sit in wait for them at every place of ambush.




Now read the same in context with background

Quran 9:

1. [This is a declaration of] disassociation, from Allah and His Messenger, to those with whom you had made a treaty among the polytheists.

2. So travel freely, [O disbelievers], throughout the land [during] four months but know that you cannot cause failure to Allah and that Allah will disgrace the disbelievers.

3.And [it is] an announcement from Allah and His Messenger to the people on the day of the greater pilgrimage that Allah is disassociated from the disbelievers, and [so is] His Messenger. So if you repent, that is best for you; but if you turn away – then know that you will not cause failure to Allah. And give tidings to those who disbelieve of a painful punishment.

4. Excepted are those with whom you made a treaty among the polytheists and then they have not been deficient toward you in anything or supported anyone against you; so complete for them their treaty until their term [has ended]. Indeed, Allah loves the righteous [who fear Him].

5. And when the sacred months have passed, then kill the polytheists wherever you find them and capture them and besiege them and sit in wait for them at every place of ambush. But if they should repent, establish prayer, and give zakah, let them [go] on their way. Indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.

6. And if any one of the polytheists seeks your protection, then grant him protection so that he may hear the words of Allah [i.e., the Quran]. Then deliver him to his place of safety. That is because they are a people who do not know.

• Backgroung-Unilateral Breaking of peace treaty by mushriks. Time was given to come back otherwise declaration of war....so these verses are like guidelines for war not a general statement
• Time given to come back to treaty.
• Critics mentions these selective verses only.
• Critics hides these verses

Look even in the battle field Allah talks about forgiveness if-

• Enemy is accepts faith (willingly, forcibly is prohibited and of no use).
• Enemy is not ready to accept but still wants your protection....in this case not only leave them even escort him to place of security.

Let me explain this with one more example....suppose i say that American Government says Kill Vietnamese
You know i am doing both things saying the truth and doing  the satanic work by presenting the truth out of context so that it may look ugly.

Now look at the same thing in context
"American Government says kill the Vietnamese who are fighting during Vietnam war".     
THIS MAKES SENSE

This is both a specific statement & general statement

• Specific- Related to that war.
• General- This applies to all war past, present and future.

Similarly Verses of Quran do have specific and general meaning

• Specific-With respect to that war.
• General- This gives guidelines for all wars.

Sahih Muslim 2098:
It is narrated on the authority of Ibn Abu Laila that while Qais b. Sa'd and Sahl b. Hunaif were both in Qadislyya a bier passed by them and they both stood up. They were told that it was the bier of one of the people of the land (non−Muslim). They said that a bier passed before the Holy Prophet (may peace be upon him) and he stood up. He was told that he (the dead man) was a Jew. Upon this he remarked: Was he not a human being or did he not have a soul?




Islam grants freedom of religion because this life is a test, We are free to choose 
Quran 2:256
There shall be no compulsion in [acceptance of] the religion. The right course has become clear from the wrong.

Quran 109
1. Say, "O disbelievers,
2. I do not worship what you worship.
3. Nor are you worshippers of what I worship.
4. Nor will I be a worshipper of what you worship.
5. Nor will you be worshippers of what I worship.
6. For you is your religion, and for me is my religion."

Quran 5:32
Whoever kills a soul unless for a soul or for corruption [done] in the land – it is as if he had slain mankind entirely. And whoever saves one – it is as if he had saved mankind entirely.
(no where it states Muslim only, mankind = entire humanity)

Quran 60:08
Allah does not forbid you from those who do not fight you because of religion and do not expel you from your homes – from being righteous toward them and acting justly toward them. Indeed, Allah loves those who act justly.

Peace
Mohammed Tariq

Muslim believe in Jesus (pbuh) as a Son Of God?

In the name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

Muslim believe in Jesus (pbuh) as a Son Of God??

No muslims believes him only as a Prophet….

First of all lets analyse what the term Son Of God means as per bible.

       Son of God is a metaphorical term used in bible to denote righteous person. This term is used again and again for all prophet. Abraham is son of God, Noah is son of God, David is son of God(Peace be upon all of them) etc

Bible has got son by Tons, in the book of Romans it is clearly mentioned that
Romans  {8:14} For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

It clearly states that son of God means righteous person, as per this if you are a God fearing person then you are a son of God.

So “Son of God” is a metaphorical term used in bible for righteous person.        

But some claim that Jesus (pbuh) is a begotten son of God (God Forbids).

John {3:16} For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.(KJV)

But they fail to realize that this word has been thrown out from bible as an alteration.

Now Revised Standards Version of Bible clearly states that

John 3:16  For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

The word begotten is not there.

But some will still argue no no…I believe its (John 3:16) begotten.

For them….its ok .. the verse says Only begotten son, means God has only one. Now look at Bible
Psalms {2:7} I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou [art] my Son; this day have I begotten thee.
As per this David is the begotten son…..and John 3:16 says God has only one without mentioning Jesus(pbuh)!!

Who is lord and savior???

Cause it should be David(pbuh) as per John 3:16

Its important to note that in bible he has been mentioned as ‘Son Of Man” more than 80 times

Islamic Perspective
As it is clearly mentioned in Quran that God is one, Unique without any partner anyone who believes contrary is out from the purview of ISLAM.

Quran 2: 116. They say, "Allah has taken a son." Exalted is He! Rather, to Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and the earth. All are devoutly obedient to Him,

Quran 4:171. O People of the Scriptures (Jew & Christians), do not commit excess in your religion or say about Allah except the truth. The Messiah, Jesus, the son of Mary, was but a messenger of Allah and His word which He directed to Mary and a soul [created at a command] from Him. So believe in Allah and His messengers. And do not say, "Three"; desist – it is better for you. Indeed, Allah is but one God. Exalted is He above having a son. To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth. And sufficient is Allah as Disposer of affairs.

Here Allah is asking to use  logic that if Jesus(pbuh) is son where is wife??
Quran 6:101. [He is] Originator of the heavens and the earth. How could He have a son when He does not have a companion [i.e., wife] and He created all things? And He is, of all things, Knowing.

Quran 10: 68. They(Christians) have said, "Allah has taken a son." Exalted is He; He is the [one] Free of need. To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is in the earth. You have no authority for this [claim]. Do you say about Allah that which you do not know?

Quran 17:111 And say, "Praise to Allah, who has not taken a son and has had no partner in [His] dominion and has no [need of a] protector out of weakness; and glorify Him with [great] glorification

Quran 25: 2 He to whom belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth and who has not taken a son and has not had a partner in dominion and has created each thing and determined it with [precise] determination.

Quran 43: 81. Say, [O Muúammad], "If the Most Merciful had a son, then I would be the first of [his] worshippers."

Quran 49:4. Indeed, those who call you, [O Muúammad], from behind the chambers – most of them do not use reason.

Quran 61:6  And [mention] when Jesus, the son of Mary, said, "O Children of Israel, indeed I am the messenger of Allah to you confirming what came before me of the Torah and bringing good tidings of a messenger to come after me, whose name is Ahmad." But when he came to them with clear evidences, they said, "This is obvious magic.

Quran 72: 3. And [it teaches] that exalted is the nobleness of our Lord; He has not taken a wife or a son

Quran112: 3. He neither begets nor is born.

QuoteGod raised him to heaven but since he was not on the cross, how could he have died. With my catholic background(and may be this jades my perspective a bit) if God made the effort to raise someone to heaven wouldn't it be because that person had greater purpose than the average Joe, or is that why Islam considers him a prophet?

Firstly let me present the story of birth of Jesus (pbuh) from Quran..
Quran 19 (Chapter Mary)
16. And mention, [O Muúammad], in the Book [the story of] Mary, when she withdrew from her family to a place toward the east.

17. And she took, in seclusion from them, a screen. Then We sent to her Our Angel [i.e., Gabriel], and he represented himself to her as a well-proportioned man.

18. She said, "Indeed, I seek refuge in the Most Merciful from you, [so leave me], if you should be fearing of Allah."

19. He said, "I am only the messenger of your Lord to give you [news of] a pure boy [i.e., son]."

20. She said, "How can I have a boy while no man has touched me and I have not been unchaste?"

21. He said, "Thus [it will be]; your Lord says, 'It is easy for Me, and We will make him a sign to the people and a mercy from Us. And it is a matter [already] decreed.' "

22. So she conceived him, and she withdrew with him to a remote place.

23. And the pains of childbirth drove her to the trunk of a palm tree. She said, "Oh, I wish I had died before this and was in oblivion, forgotten."

24. But he called her from below her, "Do not grieve; your Lord has provided beneath you a stream.
25. And shake toward you the trunk of the palm tree; it will drop upon you ripe, fresh dates.

26. So eat and drink and be contented. And if you see from among humanity anyone, say, 'Indeed, I have vowed to the Most Merciful abstention, so I will not speak today to [any] man.' "

27. Then she brought him to her people, carrying him. They said, "O Mary, you have certainly done a thing unprecedented.

28. O sister [i.e., descendant] of Aaron, your father was not a man of evil, nor was your mother unchaste."

29. So she pointed to him. They said, "How can we speak to one who is in the cradle a child?"

30. [Jesus] said, "Indeed, I am the servant of Allah. He has given me the Scripture and made me a prophet.

31. And He has made me blessed wherever I am and has enjoined upon me prayer and zakOEh as long as I remain alive

32. And [made me] dutiful to my mother, and He has not made me a wretched tyrant.

33. And peace is on me the day I was born and the day I will die and the day I am raised alive."

34. That is Jesus, the son of Mary – the word of truth about which they are in dispute.

35. It is not [befitting] for Allah to take a son; exalted is He! When He decrees an affair, He only says to it, "Be," and it is.

36. [Jesus said], "And indeed, Allah is my Lord and your Lord, so worship Him. That is a straight path."

37. Then the factions differed [concerning Jesus] from among them, so woe to those who disbelieved – from the scene of a tremendous Day.

38. How [clearly] they will hear and see the Day they come to Us, but the wrongdoers today are in clear error.

Verses with respect to Saving him from crucifixion.
Quran 4 (Chapter Women)
157. And [for] their saying, "Indeed, we have killed the Messiah, Jesus, the son of Mary, the messenger of Allah." And they did not kill him, nor did they crucify him; but [another] was made to resemble him to them. And indeed, those who differ over it are in doubt about it. They have no knowledge of it except the following of assumption. And they did not kill him, for certain.
158. Rather, Allah raised him to Himself. And ever is Allah Exalted in Might and Wise.

Quote: If God made the effort to raise someone to heaven wouldn't it be because that person had greater purpose than the average Joe.

Yes you are absolutely right there may be reason, one of the reason which we can clearly see is to save him otherwise it would have been  like Masiha (savior to save people) killed.  He has to serve a great purpose ahead in his second coming he is going to confess that he never claimed to be God. And on the day of judgment Allah will question him that--

Quran 5
116. And [beware the Day] when Allah will say, "O Jesus, Son of Mary, did you say to the people, 'Take me and my mother as deities besides Allah?' " He will say, "Exalted are You! It said it, You would have known it. You know what is within myself, and I do not know what is within Yourself. Indeed, it is You who is Knower of the unseen.

117. 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.

118. If You should punish them – indeed they are Your servants; but if You forgive them – indeed it is You who is the Exalted in Might, the Wise."

Same thing is mentioned in Bible..
Matthew {7:21} Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. {7:22} Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? {7:23} And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

Intresting Jesus(pbuh) himself is saying that uttering Lord Lord will not take you to heaven unless u follow the commands of God (no mention of Believe in crucifixion/original sin)…..on that day he will refuse even to identify them.



Purpose of Jesus(pbuh) in his second coming
Sahi Muslim Bk 1, Number 0287(Sahi Muslim is a book of collection of Traditions of Prophet saw)

Abu Huraira reported that the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said: By Him in Whose hand is my life, the son of Mary (may peace be upon him) will soon descend among you as a just judge. He will break crosses, kill swine and abolish Jizya and the wealth will pour forth to such an extent that no one will accept it.

He will destroy  Dajjal (Antichrist)…. (Antichrist will dissolve like salt after looking at him)

For all these reason he will be coming back n lastly shall die as a normal human being as Quran clearly mentions  3:185. Every soul will taste death.

Even Prophet (saw) went to heaven in Miraaj (night journey) and met with other prophets but this will not make him son of God.

One more Question can be raised that if he is going to come again then he sholud be called as last messenger???

Look messenger ship is over with Prophet Mohammed

Quran 33:40.
Muhammad is not the father of [any] one of your men, but [he is] the Messenger of Allah and seal [i.e., last] of the prophets. And ever is Allah, of all things, Knowing.

In his second coming Jesus(pbuh) will not be coming as a messenger or will bring any new message he will come under the sharia of Prophet and will follow that only.

Quote or is that why Islam considers him a prophet?

Prophet simply means a man approved by God to guide the community.

Bible Acts{2:22} Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know.

John {5:30} I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father(God) which hath sent me.
[Muslim=A person who submits his will to father.(metaphorically father in Bible)]

Islamic Belief regarding Prophets
And we believe that at the time of each and every Prophet it  is necessary for the community to follow him because he is the truth and way  to God no one can go to God without following the path of Prophet.

(Here I wd like to mention that Allah has sent Prophet to all the nations and it is recorded in authentic  saying of the prophet saw that around 1,20,000 prophets were sent to the Earth till last and final messenger and this is the reason even after corruption we can find the last prophet prophasised in their scriptures…in some scriptures(like bible and hindus books) even the name of Mohammmed saw is mentioned

Earlier All prophets were sent to their nations and their teachings were supposed to be followed  by that nation only..subject  to coming of last n final messenger then whole world is suppose to follow him
Matthew {15:24} But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

Jesus (pbuh) himself said that still said still much to come and someone will come, who shall teach you and guide you to truth
{16:12} I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. {16:13} Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, [that] shall he speak: and he will show you things to come. {16:14} He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall show [it] unto you.

Here prophet Jesus (PBUH) clarified all things and said still much to come and someone (HE) will come, who shall teach you and guide you to truth…..HE IS TALKING ABOUT PROPHET MOHAMMED(saw)….Very important thing is that he shall glorify Prophet Jesus (PBUH)…..Now you can see its compulsory for 1.5 billion Muslims to believe in Prophet Jesus (PBUH) and use the words "peace be upon him".

-:And Allah Knows Best:-

Regards
Mohammed Tariq.

"Her Faith In Him" A friendly enigma called Sumaiyah Amla

"Her Faith In Him" A friendly enigma called Sumaiyah Amla

Indian Express

Sumaiyah, with Graeme Smith’s girlfriend

Her Faith In Him

A friendly enigma called Sumaiyah Amla by Dola Mitra

      In the washroom at the  Eden Gardens Stadium clubhouse, a woman stood in front of a full-length mirror, languidly taking off her black burqa, alas, only to adjust it. But I had ample time to observe: her hair was tied in a long, brown braid; she looked typically Mediterranean, her skin golden.

Realising I was watching her, she smiled and, in an accented English typical of South Africans, asked, “Do you live here?” I nodded and added, “Your husband is doing very well out there in the field.” With an expression oozing serenity typical of those who believe in fatalism, she responded, “God is doing it.”

The man out in the field was Hashim Amla, dourly batting to deny India victory on the last day of the second Test match. And the woman in the washroom? Amla’s wife, Sumaiyah, who over the five days of cricket at Eden had been sitting in the glass-encased clubhouse box, covered from head to toe in a black burqa, often exchanging comments with the other visiting wives and partners of South African cricketers. Most viewers thought the image was stark—a solitary woman in the burqa amidst women wearing spaghetti straps and strapless sundresses.

As Amla expertly defended and stroked the ball around, stoking the anxiety of the crowds keen on India’s victory, many in our box turned to look at the figure clothed in the impenetrable veil, wondering what her emotions were. Once when Amla tripped on the field, gawking eyes turned to her to gauge her reaction. The figure in the burqa remained still.

Her marriage to Amla was an arranged one. Sumaiyah resigned as a schoolteacher to see to her new responsibilities.

And now there she was before me, in the washroom, without her face covered. Sumaiyah was extraordinarily friendly. She said her own knowledge of cricket was nothing more than rudimentary, largely because her own family consists of three sisters, and, understandably, never produced a cricketer. Sumaiyah, who’s the eldest of the three, remarked, “Sometimes I do lament that we don’t have a brother.” Not because it’s considered important in some cultures to have a son, but because “I think it would have been nice to have a brother. Women should be emotionally independent, strong and of course, God-loving.” Her marriage to Amla was an arranged one, though the two met a few times and agreed a life together would work well for them. She decided to resign from her schoolteacher job following her betrothal, to attend to the many responsibilities at her new home.

Sumaiyah had been to India before, with her family. On this tour, she found the people of Nagpur exuding warmth, and those in Calcutta a bit “aloof”, though she added her impression could be skewed, as she didn’t have a chance to meet people outside the cricket fraternity here. “I like to meet people and understand the culture of the places I visit. Unless you go out on the streets and talk to the common man this is not possible,” she said, inviting me and my husband to visit her and Amla in South Africa.

Our conversation was punctuated by a loud roar of the crowd. Could it be that Amla had fallen? She said it didn’t matter: “Some days are good, other days are not so good. If we have faith in God He will take care of everything.” As she lowered the veil to step  out, I too turned to the exit. Her voice wafted across, “Please remember us in your prayers.”

I sent her an e-mail requesting for a formal interview on Islam, and the stress Muslims were under. She said these were subjects too sensitive for her to speak on, and quoted this verse from the Quran, chapter 112: “Say, God is one/He is the absolute/He was not beget/Nor was He begotten/And there is none that is equal to Him.” Then these words: ‘Take care, God bless, Sumaiyah’.

http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?264465