From tariqas-digest-approval@europe.std.com Tue Sep 3 21:36:29 1996 Date: Tue, 3 Sep 1996 18:57:09 -0400 (EDT) From: tariqas-digest-approval@europe.std.com Reply-To: tariqas-digest@world.std.com To: tariqas-digest@world.std.com Subject: tariqas-digest V1 #122 tariqas-digest Tuesday, 3 September 1996 Volume 01 : Number 122 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- From: maarof Date: Wed, 4 Sep 1996 01:39:13 +0800 Subject: Re: Pictures anybody? On Tue, 3 Sep 1996, dave wrote: >Michael J. Moore writes: > > You are a very diverse type of guy. I too am a Babylon 5 fan. > I like to draw parallels between the religions portrayed > on this series and real world religions. I find myself wishing > that the writers would probe these matters a little more > deeply. :-) > >Interestingly, for the purposes of this group and our recent >discussion on atheists, the creator and primary writer for the show, >J. Michael Straczynski, is a confirmed atheist. That he is able to >write so convincingly on such subjects is worthy of some thought. > > Dave Barton <*> > dlb@wash.inmet.com )0( > http://www.intermetrics.com/~dlb > Assalamualaikum, There was a short run on Babylon 5 here. And the ST series currently running is DS9. IMO, Spock of ST series is the first of tv sci-fi mystic. However, I find the "religion" potrayed in Babylon-5 or DS9 as too shallow - a stereotype "monks" who acted like robots. My favourite character is the secular Ferangi shop-owner in DS9. He talks sense most of the times. salam maarof ------------------------------ From: Well333@turbonet.com (Jacquie Weller) Date: Tue, 3 Sep 1996 10:23:03 +0100 Subject: Peace Peace takes no political sides. Muslims, Kurds, Jewish, Neighbors All Just bend the knee and pray today That peace and love will reign That neighbors won't be bullies. May Peace begin with us Lets build some bridges with Simple prayer for harmony and May leaders bow in humility To tolerance and love. Of course many are skeptical and Think that nothing ever changes But let's not give in to negative despair and hopelessness. Just bow our heads instead as Common citizens of God And ask in faith for hope That people will learn to Cherish Peace. Nothing is too hard When all of us believe Together we pray For Peace and the end Of bitter wars... Kaffea lalla ------------------------------ From: Jawad Qureshi Date: Tue, 3 Sep 1996 12:20:07 -0500 (CDT) Subject: Re: Sabri Brothers On Sat, 31 Aug 1996, John Womack wrote: > Greetings All. Our local paper tells of the " ... Sabri Brothers, a > popular Pakistani musical performance group, will bring its mystical tones > of Qawwali, the devotional music of the Sufi sect of Islam, to UNCA ..." on > 30 October. I have not heard of them, and I wondered if anyone on the list > might like to make a comment concerning them? John. > Salam, The Sabri brothers are possibly the best qawwali performers in the world after Nusrat. In fact, some people, such as myself, prefer Sabri Brothers to Nusrat - though I always have either of them in my car. I think that there songs, lyrically, are easier to get into, because they use more Urdu, whereas Nusrat's best songs are ussually in Punjabi. Also, the level of Urdu that they use is very accessiblr for someone like me. There songs, in all honesty, are INTENSE. Lyrically, and musically. There is a CD out from REALWORLD by the Sabri Brothers, that has one of the most "drunk" songs that I have ever come across. I would highyl recommend that you go, if that's what your into. Although, I was told by many that the older brother passed away of a heart attack recently, so that should change their music around tremendously, because he was very powerful. Wa salam, Jawad. ____________________ "The Enduring One! You are the Enduring One!" The most helpless slave of al-Rahman al-Ghufoor al-Wudood: Jawad Anwar ibn Muhammad Anwar al-Qureshi ------------------------------ From: "Michael J. Moore" Date: Tue, 03 Sep 1996 11:40:08 -0700 Subject: Re: Paraclete #1 (short side bar) As for the appropriateness of this topic on this mail list, I would say that it is very appropriate. Islam confirms the validity of prior revelations and scriptures with the provison that they have not been altered or misrepresented. So, it behooves muslims to understand as much we can about Christanity. Also, some believe that Jesus was a sufi, so, there is a connection there. On a personal note, I lived a Catholic childhood. During my religions education, I cannot ever remembering having heard the phrase "The Prophet Jesus". Also, I can't recall having ever heard this term used by Protestants either in person or on the countless hours of Christian Talk Radio that I have listended to. This seems to be a bridge that is difficult for native born Muslims to understand. Jesus is considered by Christians to be God in the flesh while simultaneously there is still God in the sky (speaking metaphoricaly) and the Holy Spirit. Not 3 Gods, but 3 views, like Rumi's Elephant story. To call Jesus a Prophet is almost an insult as it would be to call Mohammad pbuh a merchant. True, he was a merchant, but the overemphasis of this one aspect does not do justice. Just as it is true that Jesus was a Prophet, but to emphasize the prophetic aspect of Jesus is not seen by Christians as doing him justice. Now the whole of modern mainline Christanity is base on the ideas the Jesus was divinity and that he died on the cross. Almost 2 billion people see it this way. Without both of these ideas in tact, then Christanity becomes some other religion. So, it is easy to see that when Islam denies both of these points, Christians will take exception. Well, these are just my private observations, right or wrong as they may be. - -- Michael J. Moore ------------------------------ From: woodsong@juno.com (Carol Woodsong) Date: Tue, 03 Sep 1996 14:35:18 EDT Subject: Re: Peace The Great Invocation >From the point of Light within the Mind of God Let light stream forth into the minds of men. Let Light descend on Earth. >From the point of Love within the Heart of God Let love stream forth into the hearts of men. May Christ return to Earth. >From the center where the Will of God is known Let purpose guide the little wills of men -- The purpose which the Masters know and serve. >From the center which we call the race of men Let the plan of Love and Light work out. And may it seal the door where evil dwells. Let Light and Love and Power restore the Plan on Earth. ------------------------------ From: maarof Date: Wed, 4 Sep 1996 03:17:34 +0800 Subject: Gospel of Barnabas (re: Paraclete #1) On Tue, 3 Sep 1996, Farid wrote: > >Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullah, [...] >I must admit, the "Gospel of Barnabas" story has many interesting aspects, >however, to my understanding there is very strong evidence that what >we have of this text is either a medievel forgery, or else could be based >on an earlier document which was then altered in medievel times.... > >I personally am skeptical about the authenticity of this book.... > [...] >Wassalam, > >Fariduddien > Assalamualaikum, If it is not authentic, i.e written by someone, then what is the motive? One reason proposed is that it was written during Crusade (?), and to convert Christians (probably in Palestine?) to Islam. I think this the common reaction to book or books that is not in line with one's or group's view. So, I can accept why the Christians reject the Gospel of Barnabas. Personally, I think the main reason why Gospel of Barnabas is considered "not a Christian" book, is because it contains the word AHMAD, and in it JESUS clearly indicate that he is a messenger of God. I wonder if there is no word AHMAD in Gospel of Barnabas, will the Christians accept it? A side note: I was reading Gospel of Barnabas in a bus, a Muslim next to me looked strangely at me. Well, it is not a good idea reading a bible in public if you are a Muslim, even though it is only the Gospel of Barnabas :) salam maarof ------------------------------ From: BRYAN CONN Date: Tue, 3 Sep 1996 15:21:27 -0400 (EDT) Subject: The Most Beautiful Names (4) Al-Maleek Assalaamu Alaikum The following is another installment of "The Most Beautiful Names", compiled by Sheikh Tosun Bayrak, published by Threshold Books, Amana Books. _____________________________________________________________________ Bismillah ir-Rahmaan ir-Raheem In the name of Allah, the Beneficient, the Merciful _____________________________________________________________________ _ AL,MALIK He is the Owner of the universe, of the whole creation the absolute Ruler. Allah is the only Ruler of the entire universe, visible and invisible, and of all creation, from before the beginning and after the end. There is none like Him because He is the Creator of His kingdom, which He created from nothing. Only He knows the size of His kingdom, the number of its population, and the strength of His armies. Only His will, His rule and His justice exist. What happens is what He wills; what He does not will will never happen. Servants of Allah who come to know their Master, finding the meaning of that divine name in themselves, will become sober from the drunkenness of counting their fortunes, their high positions and their fame as their own. Those who have served worldly kings as gods will wish for the Master of their masters. _________________________________________________________________ Salaam, Bryan I reached my hand to touch you. You struck it down. "Why are you so harsh with me?" For good reason. But certainly not to keep you away! -Rumi ------------------------------ From: maarof Date: Wed, 4 Sep 1996 03:37:49 +0800 Subject: Re: Paraclete #1 (short side bar) Assalamualaikum, What are the views of Christianity on Abraham and Moses? Is it similar to Islam? Thanks for your post Michael. I'm ignorant on lots of things. salam Maarof On Tue, 03 Sep 1996, "Michael J. Moore" wrote: [...] >To call Jesus a Prophet is almost an insult as it would >be to call Mohammad pbuh a merchant. True, he was a merchant, >but the overemphasis of this one aspect does not do justice. >Just as it is true that Jesus was a Prophet, but to emphasize >the prophetic aspect of Jesus is not seen by Christians >as doing him justice. [...] > >-- >Michael J. Moore ------------------------------ From: Craig Johannsen Date: Tue, 03 Sep 1996 13:09:48 -0700 Subject: Re: Paraclete #1 (short side bar) Michael J. Moore wrote: > > [snip] During my > religions education, I cannot ever remembering having heard > the phrase "The Prophet Jesus". Also, I can't recall having > ever heard this term used by Protestants either in person > or on the countless hours of Christian Talk Radio that I have > listended to. Unitarians generally think (and sometimes speak) of Jesus as a prophet rather than a divinity. (They accept the validity of most other religions, seeing each as a different path to the Truth. However, they assume no one has a monopoly on the Truth.) > [snip] > Now the whole of modern mainline Christanity is base on the > ideas the Jesus was divinity and that he died on the cross. > Almost 2 billion people see it this way. > Without both of these ideas in tact, then Christanity > becomes some other religion. > [snip] Mainstream Christians typically say that Unitarians are "not really Christians". ------------------------------ From: woodsong@juno.com (Carol Woodsong) Date: Tue, 03 Sep 1996 17:10:11 EDT Subject: Re: Paraclete #1) blessed greetings, brother maarof! >I wonder if there is no word AHMAD in Gospel of Barnabas, will the Christians >accept it? Depends on which Christian you ask. :) If the Gospel of Barnabas speaks of the Love that Jesus taught, then /i/ (not knowing WHAT i might be! :) accept it regardless of what 'words' are used. :) love & peace, carol ------------------------------ From: frank gaude Date: Tue, 03 Sep 1996 14:31:56 -0700 Subject: Re: Paraclete #1 (short side bar) Craig Johannsen wrote: > Unitarians generally think (and sometimes speak) of Jesus as > a prophet rather than a divinity. (They accept the validity > of most other religions, seeing each as a different path to > the Truth. However, they assume no one has a monopoly on the > Truth.) > Mainstream Christians typically say that Unitarians are > "not really Christians". Seems to me to be a follower of Jesus, i.e., a Christian, would only require that one keep the commandment that he gave as the "full law and prophets": Love God with your whole being, and love your neighbor as yourself. Simple, in theory! Good, no one has a monopoly Truth... Good and Truth equate to God as "written" the Book of Nature. Peace and love, down silver threads of gold, tanzen ------------------------------ From: "Michael J. Moore" Date: Tue, 03 Sep 1996 14:45:08 -0700 Subject: Re: Paraclete #1 (short side bar) maarof wrote: > > Assalamualaikum, > > What are the views of Christianity on Abraham and Moses? Is it similar > to Islam? > > Thanks for your post Michael. I'm ignorant on lots of things. > > salam > Maarof I can only tell you about my own upbringing which I believe was pretty much main stream Christianity, but I could be wrong. Basicaly Abraham and Moses are minor characters. They are from the Old Testament part of the Bible (the old Jewish tradition and laws). Jesus brought a new covenant which means that he superseded the existing Jewish laws. He does not contradict the Jewish laws and indeed he says to follow them; these laws being the Ten Commandments. For example the old law says that you have a right to 'an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth', in other words the law of tribal blood rights. But Jesus said 'Turn the other cheek'. The law of Jesus was the law of gnosis . The Jews said that it was unlawful to kill but Jesus said that if you even thought about killing somebody it was the same sin as if you had done the deed. So, the law was eleveted from the relm of physical action to the relm of spiritual ideas. It was recognized that a man could possibly conform to all the Jewish laws, but all men would fall short of the laws of perfection layed down by Jesus. All men would fall into sin. If fact it is believed that all men are born into sin except Jesus and his mother Mary. Mary was born without sin and was a virgin. Her son, comming from the sinless virgin and the thought of God was also sinless. Now in Old Testament, sins could be forgiven by the letting of blood; sacrifice of aminals. But Jesus upped the anti. Since adherence to His law required the perfect man and since every man falls short mere animals were not sufficient for sacrifice. Only the sacrifice of perfection could atone for failure to reach be perfect. The only perfect one was Jesus. Without his perfection, he would not have been a suitable sacrifice, and without the voluntary sacrifice of the 'Son of God', man's sins could not be forgiven and men would go to hell forever. So, they would say in my chatechism classes 'Jesus died for your sins.' Now as a child, I could never understand this. It was as though a Judge, holding a man found guilty of murder desided to accept another man as a substitute to be executed! Rubbish! I thought. Only receintly I learned a little about tribal blood laws and how it was common place to retaliate against any member of the offending tribe. You didn't need to get the guy that did it, any member from that tribe would do. This was the mentality of the people in that place at that time, and so the sacrifice of Jesus as a substitue for all of mankind made perfect sense to them. I recall reading somewhere that during the Councel of Niceia (sp) when the Bible was pieced together, there was great debate as to wether the Old testament was to be included at all! So you can see that Moses and Abraham are only of incidental importance to Christians but certanly not necessary for salvation. Abraham showed that he was willing to do anything God asked, and Moses explains how the 10 Commandments got here and that is about it for most non-academic Christians. Maybe in some world this it true, but allah is lord of all the worlds. And allah knows best. :-) - -- Michael J. Moore ------------------------------ From: Jinavamsa@aol.com Date: Tue, 3 Sep 1996 18:44:40 -0400 Subject: Re: Paraclete #1 (short side bar) to all, in peace and love of al-Haqq (Allah, Reality, as Truth), I think we have the potential for distortion whenever we learn about one tradition through the eyes of another tradition which is trying to prove itself superior to that first tradition. The excerpts below might be taken as a reflection of this sort of teaching. iOPO. Jinavamsa In a message dated 96-09-03 17:47:14 EDT, you write: > >Basicaly Abraham and Moses are minor characters. They are from >the Old Testament part of the Bible (the old Jewish tradition >and laws). Jesus brought a new covenant which means that he >superseded the existing Jewish laws. He does not contradict >the Jewish laws and indeed he says to follow them; these >laws being the Ten Commandments. For example >the old law says that you have a right to 'an eye for an eye, >a tooth for a tooth', in >other words the law of tribal blood rights. But Jesus said >'Turn the other cheek'. The law of Jesus was the law of >gnosis . The Jews said that it was unlawful to kill but >Jesus said that if you even thought about killing somebody >it was the same sin as if you had done the deed. So, the law >was eleveted from the relm of physical action to the relm of >spiritual ideas. It was recognized that a man could possibly >conform to all the Jewish laws, but all men would fall short >of the laws of perfection layed down by Jesus. All men >would fall into sin. If fact it is believed that all men >are born into sin except Jesus and his mother Mary. Mary >was born without sin and was a virgin. Her son, comming from >the sinless virgin and the thought of God was also sinless. > >Now in Old Testament, sins could be forgiven by the letting >of blood; sacrifice of aminals. But Jesus upped the anti. >Since adherence to His law required the perfect man and >since every man falls short mere animals were not sufficient >for sacrifice. Only the sacrifice of perfection could atone >for failure to reach be perfect. The only perfect one was >Jesus. Without his perfection, he would not have been a >suitable sacrifice, and without the voluntary sacrifice >of the 'Son of God', man's sins could not be forgiven and >men would go to hell forever. > > ------------------------------ From: pivotal@inxpress.net (Jabriel Hanafi) Date: Tue, 3 Sep 1996 17:43:19 -0500 (CDT) Subject: Allah, Rahman, Rahim,Malik This is the last of the three drafts of poetry including the indrduction inclusding Allah, Rahmna , Rahim and Mailk. I will send the one page prose in a few days following up. If it serves as someone brings up the next name I will send both the poetry and prose for that name which I will be using in my new book. Love. Jabriel INTRODUCTION The following book is a description of the Ninety Nine Divine Names. These Names are described as veils of light bringing one to the threshhold of the awe expreienced within the epiphany of the Creator. Each name is presented with its Arabic Hierolgiphic, a short narative which extends a more scholaraly approach to definition, and a poem which has been extracted from my own personal journal. Last but not least their has been an attempt to phonetically transmit the proper sound of each name, although it is clear that proper intonation of both Classical Arabic, Turkish, and other Central Asian, Asian, and Far Eastern Communities lend particular cultural diffrences. Islamic philosophy while geometrically mathamatic standing elegant lends etreme subtely. Often books which have thus far extended interpritations in English have carried with them a harsh sense of reality which do not necessarily reflect much else but the author's own theological bias which is often fundammentalist and often filled with threats, guilt and fear. It is the intention in the prose descriptions of this book to eliminate this extra bias. While one can acurately speak of these names as the names of Allah it is important to note that Allah is but one of the Ninety Nine Names. Therefore this is not a book about Allah although often many of the Names are like Chinesse Boxes contained within one another. Hopefully what this book is about is a love affair between the writer and his Creator. The Poetry I right these poems with a mixture of love and fear. Love, because they are about the highest ideal which can be pondered by my brothers and sisters, fear because such a contemplation shatters the mind. With the persona shattered what is left is a Truth which incinerates the structure and foundation of the illusion of the ego. The illusion, as an idol in its grossest application is normally conceived of as commerce or reality. At least an attempt at being sober in heart, spirit, and mind has been thus far the demand of this journey. Sobriety and balance has many plateaus. Their relation to ecstasy is that they turn the very peaks of one's journey into mere plains. May I thus learn to honor the great teachers who have visited this small planet as envoys of Truth by emulating in action that paradise might begin with chopping wood and carrying water. The goal of this work is to "show up". I have interpreted my presence on this planet as a sketch from the drawing pad of God. Born as outlines of what we are capable of becoming we have received a rare and rich gift. Like all true gifts it comes from the Creator. For me it comes in the form of a notion. I can select and even perhaps create my response to that which I choose to perceive. The Ninety Nine Beautiful Names is thus the study of how one might go about seeing a Divine Reality everywhere and in everything. They are also an attempt to draw a sketch of the Face of my Creator. This is an impossible task. If every word of every book ever written were solely dedicated by a consortium of the greatest writers and genius of the past and present, they could not begin to express the magnitude, joy, nuturance, patience, and love of Allah. Yet the beauty of the very phonetic sounds of these names lend a fabric which can be enjoyed not only by the five senses, but most importantly by an intuition of the heart. There is a nostalgia, a reaching, a desire within the process of what one might call evolution. My inner child cries to transform this thing I call myself into the fullest potential of what it means to be human. My desire by the Grace of God seeks to be in union with my reason and my spirit. This soul in its original vow has dedicated itself to the task of being a type of worker in this world. I am a wild field as wide as any field waiting to be ploughed. I am the weeds and a lump of clay waiting to be harrowed. I learn from my dear sisters that I am the soil waiting to be sown. I am the reaper waiting to be harvested, waiting to be annihilated. I am nostalgic and praying for the Farmer. My fear is that I have eroded. My hope is for a miracle: Splashing water mixed with earth, the fire from the sun, clean air and ether lifts this face in salutation towards the kiss of its Beloved. This sketch was drawn on magic paper, drawn with magic ink , with a landscape left unknown even to itself. It was left to be explored, to cultivate itself. Its unmanageable terrain discovered that its powers lie within the potential to surrender. These poems are about my personal experiences of the ninety nine qualities of the Divine Names. They are an attempt to share and to entice the reader to seek those who know much more about these qualities so that the reader may be extended one more direct path to the inner landscape of his or her heart and being. My greatest joy would be that in some small way they assisted anyone to remember the one and ultimate truth of la ilaha il lla llah, There is no God, but God. Jabriel Sultan Munir Mahgoub Mohammed Yusuf Hanafi Allah (an unknowable essence) That the Name You call Yourself reverberates through every vertebrae when I am asleep makes me wonder what happens to my life when others tell me that I'm awake. That this Sound carries my soul at night and a taste of another plane imprints itself re-arranging molecules makes me wonder what Divine Excellence could emerge if I could stand aside. That once in prayer there was only You and everything else including me had disappeared and all that there was left to hold onto was the holding, makes me wonder when certainty will replace the illusion the nightmare of separation, the dawn's dreary dream which we call reality will dissipate and a presence will bloom ; into that lucid moment prayed for guilt free, broken covenant free : The judgment day, complete release unto Your Will directed by Your Love and witnessed in praise through Your Grace My Lord of Lords Ya Allah, Allah Hu Hu Hu! Jabriel RAHMAN (Beneficence) It's said the Beneficence exists between the exhale and the inhale. It's said that the Beneficence slips in when the left hand falls asleep, allowing the right to move in mystery bringing the clarity of stars to shine upon the world. It's said the beneficence begins when the lover forgets that it is she that loves and the wings of love set her back upon the earth alone, with a diamond heart which radiates with love for you Allah. It is said that the star in the crescent is Rahman in Rahim one a light the other a womb carrying a radiance of its reflection in the moon. Jabriel RAHIM (Compassion) Have mercy for the mask of this earthly king and slave, and with a liquid drop of love lodged, at the center, crush this hard rock I call my heart, and smooth this thwarted path. Fill my drinking cup with pain for what am I a black cracked thorn with faith but no belief thoughtlessly cutting into flesh, spilling blood with fear, as I live among imagined enemies, defending and attacking the delusion of a world drowning and insane Melt this mind and open vast the eye of certainty so I may find the thief, the liar and the cheat beaming with a light spilling new wine and a valor wove from innocence upon this antique prayer rug leaving me, Your poor drunk, gone and in my stead a soul lifting toward Your love a heart turned upside down , a chivalry that's clean and does perceive yet once again, the world with eyes which see Your perfect purity. Heal through me the past of all humanity, take this me and let it disappear. Shine Rahhim through the hearts and deeds of drunks, of idiots and of fools heal my Lord this wound of desperation shatter my Lord the false illusion and the pride of insufferable separation Jabriel MALIK I am a servant pretending to be a king there is a king born in every child the kingdom is never lost its just stolen by another pronoun, pretending sovereignty a time consuming game this forgetting so that the remembering is nectar sweet. I am a king willing to surrender to let go this foolish blunder of holding back my breath, reminding me of the ache so that the remembering is rose bud sweet. This accident which called itself into being for the purpose of annihilation can do nothing else but keep the original vow to sing the praises of its Lord to bend its knees, to bow. Jabriel - ----------------------------------------- Jabriel Hanafi Pivotal Point Dynamics ------------------------------ End of tariqas-digest V1 #122 *****************************