Page 17 - Pakistan Link - October 13, 2023

COMMENTARY PAKISTAN LINK - OCTOBER 13, 2023 - P17
Allah Mighty God company of Muslims and non-Muslims. Gems from the Holy Qur’an
Muhammad Asad has expressed very
powerfully and movingly what Allah
subhanahu wa ta’ala has called Himself
in the Qur’an. Muhammad Asad says,
“Arabic is the Semitic tongue which
has remained uninterruptedly alive
for thousands of years. The Qur’an fre-
quently makes references to God – often
in one and the same phrase – as “He”,
“God”, “We”, or “I” with the correspond-
ing changes of the pronoun from “his” to
“Our” or “My” or from “Him” to “Us” or
“Me”. These changes are not accidental
and not even what one might describe as
“poetic license”, but are obviously delib-
erate; a linguistic device meant to stress
the idea that God is not a “person” and From the translation by Muham- Giver of Succor!
n By Mohammad Yacoob for these deities, reflecting not only cannot, therefore, but really circum- mad Asad (Leopold Weiss)
Los Angeles, CA the society’s created values but also its scribed by the pronouns applicable to fi- Translator’s Notes
he first verse of the opening sense of itself. nite human beings.” (The Message of the About the translator: [ 1 ] The absence of any “hardship”
chapter of the Holy Qur’an In some societies it became the Qur’an by Leopold Muhammad Asad). Muhammad Asad, Leopold in the religion of Islam is due to sev-
T takes a Muslim into the outer norm to worship anything that is pow- The beauty and uniqueness of the Weiss, was born of Jewish parents eral factors: (1) it is free of any dogma
space of the Universe when he recites erful or frightening. Worshiping the Qur’an and the commands of Allah in Livow, Austria (later Poland) in or mystical proposition which might
“Praise is due to God, sun and the moon, thunderbolts, fire, Mighty God keep us moving forward 1900, and at the age of 22 made his make the Qur’anic doctrine difficult
Lord of the worlds”. pictures or statues of frightening and because our life on this planet is not the first visit to the Middle East. He to understand or might even con-
By reciting the first terrifying gods and goddesses is still end of the journey. Our journey started later became an outstanding for- flict with man’s innate reason; (2) it
verse and continuing continuing in this day and age. The with the coming of Adam alayhis salaam eign correspondent for the Fran- avoids all complicated ritual or sys-
on, a Muslim imme- ancient Aztecs and Maya civilizations and Hawa alayhis salaam on this earth. furter Zeitung, and after years of tem of taboos which would impose
diately acknowledges of the new world, the Americas, also Later, human beings spread themselves devoted study became one of the undue restrictions on man’s everyday
the existence of Al- believed in gods. These ancient civiliza- over the earth becoming more nations, leading Muslim scholars of our age. life; (3) it rejects all self-mortification
mighty God and proclaims that HE tions were pioneers in the development speaking diverse languages, observing His translation of the Holy Qur’an and exaggerated asceticism, which
is the creator and owner of the whole of the calendar and also made severe diverse customs and laws, and started is one of the most lucid and well- must unavoidably conflict with man’s
Universe. A Muslim believes that HE, commitment to gods who demanded praying to many gods. All the attributes referenced works in this category, true nature; and (4) it takes fully into
the God, is one and there is none like the blood of human sacrifice. Their and traits human beings have assigned dedicated to “li-qawmin yatafak- account that “man has been created
HIM and a Muslim truly believes that patron gods were deity of war and sun to their gods have been fully explained in karoon” (people who think). For- weak” (Chapter 4, Verse 28).
HE has no partners. god. Aztecs’ patron god was deity of the Qur’an by saying that all those traits warded by Dr Ismat Kamal. [ 2 ] Abraham is designated here
Since the arrival of Prophet Adam on war and sun god, who came from his belong to Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala. “as your forefather” not only because
this earth, and later, the establishment mother’s womb fully armed; mother We, the Muslims, continue to wor- Chapter 22, Verse 78 he was, in fact, an ancestor of the
of factions and proliferation of other re- was the earth goddess and sister moon ship One and Only God – Allah Mighty And strive hard in God’s cause Prophet Mohammad – to whose fol-
ligions, gave birth to multiple gods. Any goddess; and their ancient god was God. The source of goodness; the ever- with all the striving that is due to lowers this passage is addressed – but
object or thing that seemed stronger, both male and a female. lasting; light of the heavens and earth; Him: it is He who has elected you also because he is the prototype (and
strange, mysterious, people started wor- In this world of gods and goddesses, who never sleeps. Allah is the one who [to carry His message], and has laid thus, the spiritual “forefather” of all
shipping it as god. Those at the top of where statues, stones and natural phe- guides human beings to the right path; no hardship on you in [anything that who consciously “surrender them-
this creating-gods game turned into the nomenon have been declared as gods, the compassionate, gracious and mer- pertains to] religion, [ 1 ] [and made selves to God”.
benefactors. We are all familiar with the the original voices of Islam are being ciful; and the one who accepts repen- you follow] the creed of your forefa- [ 3 ] The term Muslim signi-
religions in Asia and the Middle East. echoed by Muslims who declared the tance from sincere believers, a kind and ther Abraham. [ 2 ] fies “one who surrenders himself to
In many countries and societies, the command of God from the Qur’an, loving God. All Surahs of the Qur’an, It is He who has named you – God”; correspondingly, Islam de-
faith in one God was replaced with the “There is nothing like unto HIM.” Mus- except one, start with the attributes of in bygone times as in this [divine notes “self-surrender to God”. Both
worship and belief in multiple gods or lims believe in One and only God who Allah – the Most Compassionate and writ] – “those who have surrendered these terms are applied in the Qur’an
deities; monotheism was replaced with has no partners and He is Allah. Keeping the Most Merciful. themselves to God”, [ 3 ] so that the to all who believe in the One God and
polytheism. Many cultures in Europe this in mind, I upgraded using Almighty While talking to non-Muslims, I Apostle might bear witness to the affirm this belief by an unequivocal
and Asia commenced worshiping gods God to Allah Mighty God in conversa- strongly feel that I should remember all truth before you, and that you might acceptance of His revealed messages.
and goddesses, built religious centers tion with non-Muslims and in mixed attributes of Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala, bear witness to it before all mankind. Since the Qur’an represents the final
and my heart tells me that I should say Thus, be constant in prayer, and and most universal of these divine
Allah Mighty God. render the purifying dues, and hold revelations, the believers are called
[Mohammad Yacoob is a retired fast unto God. He is your Lord Su- upon, in the sequence, to follow the
Industrial Engineer and Engineering preme: and how excellent is this Lord guidance of its Apostle and thus to
Proposals Analyst who lives in Los Supreme, and how excellent is this become an example for all mankind.
Angeles, California.]

Hudson Institute Debates America’s up the ball where we dropped it with stan a moral and strategic one and
Best Options to Support NRF all of the cards stacked against them, “one that is still squarely in the inter-
(Continued from page 14) trying to fight the Taliban and fight ests of the United States.”
pledge alliance to the Taliban. “The the Islamic State Khorasan Province, Asked if the lack of a US presence
purpose of Vienna is to create a demo- [and] other transnational terrorist in Afghanistan is a win for China and
cratic alternative for Afghanistan’s fu- groups and regional terrorist groups,” Russia, Waltz responded: “Yes, it was
ture, for us to unite under one banner Coffey said. absolutely a win for China,” noting
and to prepare for a democratic Af- In addition, the United States the $10 billion in mining deals that
ghanistan in the future,” he explained. could have some form of observer China’s new ambassador in Kabul was
Coffey called the US-withdrawal role at the next Vienna meeting. “It just boasting and bragging about and
from Afghanistan in 202l “a stain pains me to say, but I don’t think we the fact there are multiple geologi-
on our honor as Americans.” It em- will see any fundamental change on cal survey teams sitting in Bagram
boldened US adversaries and made the US approach to Afghanistan with air base, which the US abandoned,
Washington’s allies question US re- this administration,” Coffey said. “But to exploit Afghanistan’s rich mineral
solve. What’s sad about the whole our legislative branch has the ability to wealth and expand their Belt and
thing is that it was completely avoid- make US foreign policy, certainly edit Road Initiative.
able. President Biden, Coffey stated, US foreign policy, so I think there are In conclusion, moderator Peterson
could have withdrawn from President some opportunities there and I think pointed out that a united Afghanistan
Trump’s agreement with the Taliban the NGO and think tank civil society was one of the most important ideas to
as he did with other Trump admin- community can keep the drum beat the legendary leader Ahmad Shah Mas-
istration policies. “But the truth is going…and raise awareness of what’s soud, who said: “We’re not Pashtuns;
he didn’t want to change it because going on so when the US government we’re not Tajiks; we’re all Afghans.”
he was never fully committed to the finally decides to get back in step with (Elaine Pasquini is a freelance
US mission in Afghanistan to begin dealing with this problem at least journalist. Her reports appear in the
with,” he argued. we’re not starting from nothing.” Washington Report on Middle East
Now, the NRF is “trying to pick Waltz called the issue of Afghani- Affairs and Nuze.Ink.)
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