Saturday, December 26, 2009
Friday, December 25, 2009
All religions of this WORLD have failed Pt. 2
by
Brother Mustafaa Muhammad
In the Name of ALLAH, The Beneficent, The Merciful
"Religion is not interested in the transformation of human beings. Religion is show. Religion is song. Religion is dance and a false worship. Religion is ritual, but religion is not the cultivation of a human being, that that human can refl ect God in our actions, in our character, in the way we deal with our children, and our wives and our community and our world. We have failed."(The Hon. Louis Farrakhan 10-17-2004)
In this article[Read part 1] we will review some of the histories of the people of the book(Ahl Al-Kitab).
As Muslims we are taught to believe in all the prophets of the past and their revealed word(scripture). We are further taught not to make any distinction between them.
“Say: We believe in Allah and (in) that which has been revealed to us, and (in) that which was revealed to Abraham, and Ishmael and Isaac and Jacob and the tribes, and (in) that which was given to Moses and Jesus, and (in) that which was given to the prophets from their Lord, we do not make any distinction between any of them and to Him do we submit.” (HQ 2: 136)
“The Messenger believes in what has been revealed to him from his Lord, and (so do) the believers. They all believe in Allah and His angels and His Books and His messengers. We make no difference between any of His messengers.” (HQ 2: 285)
The Holy Qur’an teaches us that throughout the ages the merciful ALLAH has raised prophets and messengers when humanity has went off the path of divine favor.
We are taught that every time the prophet left or died the people fell down into their former behavior, while still claiming to be followers of their prophet and his message. So, after the people went back from whence they were called Almighty God raised up another prophet to correct them, but usually the people would reject the new prophet in favor of the former prophet, while not recognizing that the new prophet only bears witness to the former and desires to take you to the next level.
It is similar to how we advance in school. When we master our lessons and graduate to the next grade we don’t go back and say our last teacher was wrong and the new teacher is right or reject the next grade, because we learned much in the last grade.
Moses and the Children of Israel
“O Children of Israel, call to mind My favor which I bestowed on you and that I made you excel the nations.” (HQ 2: 122)
The children of Israel under the leadership of Moses, according to the Holy Qur’an, were brought out of a terrible circumstance in Egypt by Moses(Peace be upon him) and were being prepared by God to lead the nations in righteous conduct. However, they ultimately didn’t fulfill their part of the covenant with God as the following words show: “And when We made a covenant with the Children of Israel: You shall serve none but Allah. And do good to (your) parents, and to the near of kin and to orphans and the needy, and speak good (words) to (all) men, and keep up prayer and pay the poor-rate. Then you turned back except a few of you, and you are averse.” (HQ 2:83)
ALLAH kept sending prophets to warn, guide and renew the followers of Moses to the purity of his teachings. Yet, some prophets were killed, rejected or their teachings distorted by the scholars afterwards.
Finally, The Qur’an teaches(2:87) ALLAH took his favor away from the children of Israel and prepared another prophet to teach another community.
Jesus and the Christians
"And with those who say, We are Christians, We made a covenant, but they neglected a portion of that whereof they were reminded." (5:14)
Next we come to the history of the Christian community and their response to their prophet Jesus. (I am fully aware that the Christian belief is that Jesus was not a mere prophet and is God or the son of God, however I am not taking up that subject for the purpose of this article.) Jesus(Peace be upon him) came in the tradition of the prophets sent before him. He came to remind the Children of Israel of the supremacy of Almighty God, correct the errors that crept into the teachings of Moses and take them a step further in the revelation of the wisdom of God.
After the death of Jesus and his message going through Rome many changes would take place which would interpret his message quite differently that what he taught when he was among us. History teaches us that much of the doctrines that have been accepted as Christianity was formulated after the death of Jesus and was made official by vote at the Nicene Council in 325 AD.
After the emperor Constantine “accepted” Christianity he had a vision of the cross and Latin words translated which meant “With this sign we conquer”. Jesus said, “This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.” (Mark 7:6)
We see in history of the bloodshed committed by the European Christians against the people of the earth including the Native Americans and the Africans. Jesus didn’t teach the people to be bigoted towards others, enslave them or kill others that are different.
I am not trying to pick on those who are Jews or Christians and proclaim the Muslims to be some holy righteous people, because as we will see in the next section the Muslims followed the way of those before them step by step as Prophet Muhammad prophesied.
As was seen in the history of Moses, ALLAH took his favor away from those who call themselves followers of Jesus and re-revealed his message 600 years later to Muhammad ibn Abdullah and in the land of Arabia to make them a nation of obedience to God and a example to others.
Muhammad and the Muslims
“And thus We have made you an exalted nation that you may be the bearers of witness to the people and (that) the Messenger may be a bearer of witness to you.” (HQ 2:143)
In the year 610 at the age of 40 Muhammad(Peace be upon him) began to receive revelations which would later be compiled as a book called Al-Qur’an. He found his people in a low degraded state and over a 23 year ministry he transformed his people, united them into a nation and made them an example for the world. The Muslim world at that time was know for leading a sleeping humanity to the exploration of the sciences, medicine, mathematics and knowledge.
Soon after the death of the Prophet the Muslims would face circumstances that would divide them and lead them off the path of divine favor. For over 1400 years the Muslims have been arguing over who had the rights to “successor ship” to Prophet Muhammad. I put successor ship in quotes, because no one truly succeeds a prophet but another prophet raised by God. However, the Muslim community needed to fill a leadership void created by the death of Muhammad.
There was disagreement between who should be the leader of the Muslim Ummah(community). Some agreed with the selections of Abu Bakr, Umar ibn Khataab and Uthman ibn Affan. However, there was another group who believed that Ali ibn Abu Talib, the prophet’s relative and son in law, was the fittest person for the job. I will not be debating the arguments of both sides in this brief writing. To make a long story short, there were major disagreements which led to bloodshed and war among Muslim brothers and sisters, which have lasted till this day unfortunately. Two major sects of Islam(Sunni and Shiite) were created in the aftermath of the division and bloodshed.
The Prophet Muhammad warned the Muslims against killing each other in the following words:
"Once the sword is unsheathed among my followers, it will not be sheathed until the Last Day."
The Muslim world is currently manifesting major deviation from the path of Prophet Muhammad and his Sunnah. The followers of Muhammad have joined the followers of Jesus and Moses in deviation from the path of Almighty God ALLAH and divine favor.
The Holy Qur’an reminds Muslims, Christians and Jews of the ignorance of their division from each other.
“And surely this your community is one community, and I am your Lord, so keep your duty to Me. But they became divided into sects, each party rejoicing in that which was with them. So leave them in their ignorance till a time.” (HQ 23:52-54)
Brother Mustafaa Muhammad
In the Name of ALLAH, The Beneficent, The Merciful
"Religion is not interested in the transformation of human beings. Religion is show. Religion is song. Religion is dance and a false worship. Religion is ritual, but religion is not the cultivation of a human being, that that human can refl ect God in our actions, in our character, in the way we deal with our children, and our wives and our community and our world. We have failed."(The Hon. Louis Farrakhan 10-17-2004)
In this article[Read part 1] we will review some of the histories of the people of the book(Ahl Al-Kitab).
As Muslims we are taught to believe in all the prophets of the past and their revealed word(scripture). We are further taught not to make any distinction between them.
“Say: We believe in Allah and (in) that which has been revealed to us, and (in) that which was revealed to Abraham, and Ishmael and Isaac and Jacob and the tribes, and (in) that which was given to Moses and Jesus, and (in) that which was given to the prophets from their Lord, we do not make any distinction between any of them and to Him do we submit.” (HQ 2: 136)
“The Messenger believes in what has been revealed to him from his Lord, and (so do) the believers. They all believe in Allah and His angels and His Books and His messengers. We make no difference between any of His messengers.” (HQ 2: 285)
The Holy Qur’an teaches us that throughout the ages the merciful ALLAH has raised prophets and messengers when humanity has went off the path of divine favor.
We are taught that every time the prophet left or died the people fell down into their former behavior, while still claiming to be followers of their prophet and his message. So, after the people went back from whence they were called Almighty God raised up another prophet to correct them, but usually the people would reject the new prophet in favor of the former prophet, while not recognizing that the new prophet only bears witness to the former and desires to take you to the next level.
It is similar to how we advance in school. When we master our lessons and graduate to the next grade we don’t go back and say our last teacher was wrong and the new teacher is right or reject the next grade, because we learned much in the last grade.
Moses and the Children of Israel
“O Children of Israel, call to mind My favor which I bestowed on you and that I made you excel the nations.” (HQ 2: 122)
The children of Israel under the leadership of Moses, according to the Holy Qur’an, were brought out of a terrible circumstance in Egypt by Moses(Peace be upon him) and were being prepared by God to lead the nations in righteous conduct. However, they ultimately didn’t fulfill their part of the covenant with God as the following words show: “And when We made a covenant with the Children of Israel: You shall serve none but Allah. And do good to (your) parents, and to the near of kin and to orphans and the needy, and speak good (words) to (all) men, and keep up prayer and pay the poor-rate. Then you turned back except a few of you, and you are averse.” (HQ 2:83)
ALLAH kept sending prophets to warn, guide and renew the followers of Moses to the purity of his teachings. Yet, some prophets were killed, rejected or their teachings distorted by the scholars afterwards.
Finally, The Qur’an teaches(2:87) ALLAH took his favor away from the children of Israel and prepared another prophet to teach another community.
Jesus and the Christians
"And with those who say, We are Christians, We made a covenant, but they neglected a portion of that whereof they were reminded." (5:14)
Next we come to the history of the Christian community and their response to their prophet Jesus. (I am fully aware that the Christian belief is that Jesus was not a mere prophet and is God or the son of God, however I am not taking up that subject for the purpose of this article.) Jesus(Peace be upon him) came in the tradition of the prophets sent before him. He came to remind the Children of Israel of the supremacy of Almighty God, correct the errors that crept into the teachings of Moses and take them a step further in the revelation of the wisdom of God.
After the death of Jesus and his message going through Rome many changes would take place which would interpret his message quite differently that what he taught when he was among us. History teaches us that much of the doctrines that have been accepted as Christianity was formulated after the death of Jesus and was made official by vote at the Nicene Council in 325 AD.
After the emperor Constantine “accepted” Christianity he had a vision of the cross and Latin words translated which meant “With this sign we conquer”. Jesus said, “This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.” (Mark 7:6)
We see in history of the bloodshed committed by the European Christians against the people of the earth including the Native Americans and the Africans. Jesus didn’t teach the people to be bigoted towards others, enslave them or kill others that are different.
I am not trying to pick on those who are Jews or Christians and proclaim the Muslims to be some holy righteous people, because as we will see in the next section the Muslims followed the way of those before them step by step as Prophet Muhammad prophesied.
As was seen in the history of Moses, ALLAH took his favor away from those who call themselves followers of Jesus and re-revealed his message 600 years later to Muhammad ibn Abdullah and in the land of Arabia to make them a nation of obedience to God and a example to others.
Muhammad and the Muslims
“And thus We have made you an exalted nation that you may be the bearers of witness to the people and (that) the Messenger may be a bearer of witness to you.” (HQ 2:143)
In the year 610 at the age of 40 Muhammad(Peace be upon him) began to receive revelations which would later be compiled as a book called Al-Qur’an. He found his people in a low degraded state and over a 23 year ministry he transformed his people, united them into a nation and made them an example for the world. The Muslim world at that time was know for leading a sleeping humanity to the exploration of the sciences, medicine, mathematics and knowledge.
Soon after the death of the Prophet the Muslims would face circumstances that would divide them and lead them off the path of divine favor. For over 1400 years the Muslims have been arguing over who had the rights to “successor ship” to Prophet Muhammad. I put successor ship in quotes, because no one truly succeeds a prophet but another prophet raised by God. However, the Muslim community needed to fill a leadership void created by the death of Muhammad.
There was disagreement between who should be the leader of the Muslim Ummah(community). Some agreed with the selections of Abu Bakr, Umar ibn Khataab and Uthman ibn Affan. However, there was another group who believed that Ali ibn Abu Talib, the prophet’s relative and son in law, was the fittest person for the job. I will not be debating the arguments of both sides in this brief writing. To make a long story short, there were major disagreements which led to bloodshed and war among Muslim brothers and sisters, which have lasted till this day unfortunately. Two major sects of Islam(Sunni and Shiite) were created in the aftermath of the division and bloodshed.
The Prophet Muhammad warned the Muslims against killing each other in the following words:
"Once the sword is unsheathed among my followers, it will not be sheathed until the Last Day."
The Muslim world is currently manifesting major deviation from the path of Prophet Muhammad and his Sunnah. The followers of Muhammad have joined the followers of Jesus and Moses in deviation from the path of Almighty God ALLAH and divine favor.
The Holy Qur’an reminds Muslims, Christians and Jews of the ignorance of their division from each other.
“And surely this your community is one community, and I am your Lord, so keep your duty to Me. But they became divided into sects, each party rejoicing in that which was with them. So leave them in their ignorance till a time.” (HQ 23:52-54)
Thank you for reading these few words
Copyright2009 Mustafaa Muhammad
Saturday, December 19, 2009
How to protect yourself from sickness this Winter and beyond
By
Brother Mustafaa Muhammad
In the Name of ALLAH, The Beneficent, The Mercful
During the month of December many say, "Tis the season to be merry!" However, with the change in weather for many people it can be said: "Tis the season to be SICK!"
On the streets, at the grocery store, work and other places where people congregate it is common to see and hear persons coughing, wheezing and having runny noses during this season. Once DIS-EASE enters our bodies we are often debilitated thus missing time off from work, time from away from loved ones and the general well being we should be experiencing as human beings.
I have for a few years, due to my healthy practices, been able to prevent sickness during the cold season. I would like to, in a few words, share the things that have worked to keep me healthy.
Tips to prevent sickness
Many of the tips I present are based upon a school of thought commonly called "Alternative health" or "Natural healing". The basis of this belief system is the human body is self healing(over time) if we present it with the correct tools to allow nature to take it's course. However, it is also a fact that these natural self healing practices go back thousands of years, as well as being practiced among the indigenous people of the Earth.
Preventive measures
Washing hands- This one is common sense, yet during the "sickness" season it is very important to wash away germs from our hands. We pick up germs from various places we touch with our hands, therefore stay clean and you'll be helping prevent sickness. Lastly, you may want to carry a portable "hand sanitizer w/ anti-bacteria" for those moments when soap & water isn't a option.
Vitamins- Take a good multi-vitamin daily to boost your immune system's ability to fight any incoming dis-ease. Vitamin C is a good vitamin to have during sickness before and after as well. Echinecia is a old herb that was in use among the native population of America and even by many Americans up to the beginning of the 1900's according to some sources. Echinecia is a whole body cleaner and a immune system strengthener. You can receive the benefits of the herb in tea or pill form.
Proper Rest & Excercise- Another overlooked factor in preventing dis-ease is proper rest. Most "Experts" recommend a minimum of 8 hours rest each night. The effects of proper rest are: It gives the body time to heal/rejuvenate and allows our brain to sort out the various messages received during the day. In juxtaposition to the benefits of sleep, the deprivation of sleep can weaken our body's various systems overall ability to ward of sickness. The few times I have been sick have been in relation to me working long hours, not resting properly and not having time to prepare a wholesome meal.
Exercise also aids in the body's ability to fight susceptibility to sickness. You do not have to join some elaborate gym to exercise. The point is to keep your body active by whatever means work for you a few times a week.
Fasting- We, the Muslim followers of The Most Hon. Elijah Muhammad, under the leadership of The Hon. Louis Farrakhan, who practice the religion of Islam have been prescribed FASTING as a cure for physical and spiritual ills.
The Most Hon. Elijah Muhammad in his monumental book, How To Eat, available in 2 volumes says the following regarding fasting:
"Fasting is a greater cure of our ills, both mental and physical, than all of the drugs of the earth combined into one bottle or a billion bottles... The fact that fasting is the cure for 90 percent of our ills is known by the medical scientists. But, they do not teach you that... Fast once a month for three days, four days, or for whatever length of time you are able to go without food without harming yourself, and you will feel good."
Fasting will aid in your body's ability to fight sickness by eliminating disease producing toxins. If you are not able to complete a regular fast(abstaining from solid foods) then I recommend trying a juice(fruit or vegetable) fast while drinking pure water. At your local health food store you will be able to find Yogi brand herbal teas enhanced with spirulina, which aids in reducing hunger pangs as well as enhancing the cleansing process of fasting.
All of the recommendation in this article are either no cost or low cost to you. They can be safely implemented by all without any harmful side effects. As the government debates and goes around in circles regarding health care, we must take greater responsibility for our well being by practicing the natural health healing practices that have worked for thousands of years and will work for you in the present.
Thank you for reading these few words
Copyright 2009 Mustafaa Muhammad
In the Name of ALLAH, The Beneficent, The Mercful
During the month of December many say, "Tis the season to be merry!" However, with the change in weather for many people it can be said: "Tis the season to be SICK!"
On the streets, at the grocery store, work and other places where people congregate it is common to see and hear persons coughing, wheezing and having runny noses during this season. Once DIS-EASE enters our bodies we are often debilitated thus missing time off from work, time from away from loved ones and the general well being we should be experiencing as human beings.
I have for a few years, due to my healthy practices, been able to prevent sickness during the cold season. I would like to, in a few words, share the things that have worked to keep me healthy.
Tips to prevent sickness
Many of the tips I present are based upon a school of thought commonly called "Alternative health" or "Natural healing". The basis of this belief system is the human body is self healing(over time) if we present it with the correct tools to allow nature to take it's course. However, it is also a fact that these natural self healing practices go back thousands of years, as well as being practiced among the indigenous people of the Earth.
Preventive measures
Washing hands- This one is common sense, yet during the "sickness" season it is very important to wash away germs from our hands. We pick up germs from various places we touch with our hands, therefore stay clean and you'll be helping prevent sickness. Lastly, you may want to carry a portable "hand sanitizer w/ anti-bacteria" for those moments when soap & water isn't a option.
Vitamins- Take a good multi-vitamin daily to boost your immune system's ability to fight any incoming dis-ease. Vitamin C is a good vitamin to have during sickness before and after as well. Echinecia is a old herb that was in use among the native population of America and even by many Americans up to the beginning of the 1900's according to some sources. Echinecia is a whole body cleaner and a immune system strengthener. You can receive the benefits of the herb in tea or pill form.
Proper Rest & Excercise- Another overlooked factor in preventing dis-ease is proper rest. Most "Experts" recommend a minimum of 8 hours rest each night. The effects of proper rest are: It gives the body time to heal/rejuvenate and allows our brain to sort out the various messages received during the day. In juxtaposition to the benefits of sleep, the deprivation of sleep can weaken our body's various systems overall ability to ward of sickness. The few times I have been sick have been in relation to me working long hours, not resting properly and not having time to prepare a wholesome meal.
Exercise also aids in the body's ability to fight susceptibility to sickness. You do not have to join some elaborate gym to exercise. The point is to keep your body active by whatever means work for you a few times a week.
Fasting- We, the Muslim followers of The Most Hon. Elijah Muhammad, under the leadership of The Hon. Louis Farrakhan, who practice the religion of Islam have been prescribed FASTING as a cure for physical and spiritual ills.
The Most Hon. Elijah Muhammad in his monumental book, How To Eat, available in 2 volumes says the following regarding fasting:
"Fasting is a greater cure of our ills, both mental and physical, than all of the drugs of the earth combined into one bottle or a billion bottles... The fact that fasting is the cure for 90 percent of our ills is known by the medical scientists. But, they do not teach you that... Fast once a month for three days, four days, or for whatever length of time you are able to go without food without harming yourself, and you will feel good."
Fasting will aid in your body's ability to fight sickness by eliminating disease producing toxins. If you are not able to complete a regular fast(abstaining from solid foods) then I recommend trying a juice(fruit or vegetable) fast while drinking pure water. At your local health food store you will be able to find Yogi brand herbal teas enhanced with spirulina, which aids in reducing hunger pangs as well as enhancing the cleansing process of fasting.
All of the recommendation in this article are either no cost or low cost to you. They can be safely implemented by all without any harmful side effects. As the government debates and goes around in circles regarding health care, we must take greater responsibility for our well being by practicing the natural health healing practices that have worked for thousands of years and will work for you in the present.
Thank you for reading these few words
Copyright 2009 Mustafaa Muhammad
Friday, December 11, 2009
Death of teen brings community to action
by
Brother Mustafaa Muhammad
"I will not rest on this!" These were the words spoken recently by Mrs. Cassandra Steen as members of the Muhammad Study of Pensacola led by Dr. Abram Muhammad, local rep of The Hon. Louis Farrakhan and the Nation of Islam, recently met with her to offer condolences and offer themselves as servants in her time of grief.
The grief that Mrs. Cassandra has had to suffer is the recent death of her 17 year old son, Victor Steen, to obvious police misconduct by a member of the Pensacola Police dept, Mr. Jerald Ard.
The official story goes that Mr. Ard was on patrol about 1:50 am October 2nd 2009 when he spotted Mr. Steen riding on his bike in the Brownsville neighborhood of Pensacola, Fl. Next Mr. Steen rode away on his bike, after being asked to stop, which caused Officer Ard to shock the youth with his taser. After the taser was fired Steen turned into a parking lot, fell off his bike and was ran over by the police cruiser. The young Steen laid under the police vehicle 3-4 hours before being removed and being pronounced dead.
However, patrons at the local restaurant Sluggos located across the street where the incident took place tell of a totally different story. The congregants at the eatery say that the misconduct in this incident was overwhelmingly obvious from their witnessing it.
It has come out that the officer, Mr. Ard, in this incident has a questionable past including two false arrests and a on duty traffic crash.
Nearly two weeks after the death of Mr. Steen, the Pensacola Police dept is now alleging that the young man who was killed was in possession of a 9mm handgun in what is an obvious attempt to justify the murder by painting this youth as a criminal. However, we have seen in recent history that the enemy alleged that Sadaam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction to justify their strike on the independent nation of Iraq.
The Honorable Louis Farrakhan during his lecture Justifiable Homicide: Black Youth In Peril on October 28, 2007 informed black youth of the mindset of some officers, which is rooted in slavery times.
"I want Black youth to hear this message, because police authorities are the same today as they were during slavery. In fact, this is how policing began. Police were formed to catch runaway slaves, bring them back to their masters and make examples of them to throw fear into other slaves. It’s the same today. Police authorities are trained to kill, as well as to protect... And then, that deliberative body which is to discuss the brutal murder of our people by looking into the facts, comes away calling it justifiable homicide."
After meeting with the family of the victim, Dr. Muhammad and members of the Muhammad Study Group of Pensacola later met with Movement For Change, a local social justice group, to strategize with organizers and offer guidance from the perspective of the divine teachings of The Most Hon. Elijah Muhammad and the Hon. Louis Farrakhan.
Dr. Muhammad had the following to say regarding this case, "Being a former police officer myself, I know how some so-called internal investigations are really rubber stamps for the inappropriate actions of some officers. It is my intent to follow the investigation closely and do all that I can to promote a citizen review board in the future, so that such actions could be held accountable and reviewed by the citizens in which law enforcement officers are sworn to serve."
More information will be forthcoming as the case unfolds. Keep up with the latest updates on this blog
Copyright2009 Mustafaa Muhammad
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