Islam

This blog continues the series of studies looking at references to the Garden(s) of Paradise, as depicted in the Qur’an. Our last blog on this matter was on August 23 .
The next relevant passage is from Surah 32:19-20 (Yusuf Ali):
19: For those who believe and do righteous deeds are Gardens as hospitable homes, for their (good) deeds.
20: […]

This blog continues the series of studies looking at references to the Garden(s) of Paradise, as depicted in the Qur’an. Our last blog on this matter was on July 31.
The next relevant passage is from Surah 31:8-9 (Yusuf Ali):
8: For those who believe and work righteous deeds, there will be Gardens of Bliss,-
9: To dwell […]

This blog continues the series of studies looking at references to the Garden(s) of Paradise, as depicted in the Qur’an. Our last blog on this matter was on June .
The next relevant passage is from Surah 30:14-16 (Yusuf Ali):
14: On the Day that the Hour will be established,- that Day shall (all men) be sorted […]

This blog continues the series of studies looking at references to the Garden(s) of Paradise, as depicted in the Qur’an. Our last blog on this matter was on June .
The next relevant passage is from Surah 29:56-58, 64 (Yusuf Ali):
56: O My servants who believe! truly, spacious is My Earth: therefore serve ye Me - […]

This blog continues the series of studies looking at references to the Garden(s) of Paradise, as depicted in the Qur’an. Our last blog on this matter was on June .
The next relevant passage is from Surah 26:82-85, 90 (Yusuf Ali):
82: “And who, I hope, will forgive me my faults on the day of Judgment.
83: “O my […]

This blog continues the series of studies looking at references to the Garden(s) of Paradise, as depicted in the Qur’an. Our last blog on this matter was on June 21.
The next relevant passage is from Surah 25:10-16, 24 (Yusuf Ali):
10: Blessed is He who, if that were His will, could give thee better (things) than those,- […]

This blog continues the series of studies looking at references to the Garden(s) of Paradise, as depicted in the Qur’an. Our last blog on this matter was on June 2.
The next relevant passage is from Surah 22:55-57 (Yusuf Ali):
55: Those who reject Faith will not cease to be in doubt concerning (Revelation) until the Hour […]

A friend of mine relates an experience he had on the day before ANZAC day in Auburn, Sydney. First he sets the broad context:
Nearby was the inappropriately named Gallipoli mosque, capable of holding over 3,000 worshippers. At 25% Muslim, Auburn is one of Australia’s most concentrated Local Government Area of Muslims.
Then he recalls walking past “two smiling […]

This blog continues the series of studies looking at references to the Garden(s) of Paradise, as depicted in the Qur’an. Our last blog on this matter was on March 27.
The next relevant passage is from Surah 22:23-24 (Yusuf Ali):
23: Allah will admit those who believe and work righteous deeds, to Gardens beneath which rivers flow: […]

In an article from the Daily Telegraph (May 26, 2008) the following positive portrayal of halal food was presented:
EVERY kid knows how to get what they want - and in Sydney’s west it was only persistent badgering that brought halal food to the school tuckshop.
The technique worked at Lurnea Public School, which has become the […]

In Sent by Jesus D.B. Knox quotes from the Second Vatican Council (”Nostra Aetate: Declaration on the Relation of the Church to Non-Christian Religions”, paragraph 3):
Moslems adore the one God, living and subsisting in himself, merciful and all powerful, the Creator of heaven and earth, who has spoken to men; they take pains to submit […]

This blog continues the series of studies looking at references to the Garden(s) of Paradise, as depicted in the Qur’an. Our last blog on this matter was on March 16.
The next relevant passage is from Surah 22:14-15 (Yusuf Ali):
14: Verily Allah will admit those who believe and work righteous deeds, to Gardens, beneath which rivers […]

This blog continues the series of studies looking at references to the Garden(s) of Paradise, as depicted in the Qur’an. Our last blog on this matter was on February 28.
The next relevant passage is from Surah 20:116-123 (Yusuf Ali):
116: When We said to the angels, “Prostrate yourselves to Adam”, they prostrated themselves, but not Iblis: […]

This blog continues the series of studies looking at references to the Garden(s) of Paradise, as depicted in the Qur’an. Our last blog on this matter was on February 21.
The next relevant passage is from Surah 20, namely 74-76 (Yusuf Ali):
74: Verily he who comes to his Lord as a sinner (at Judgment),- for him […]

This blog continues the series of studies looking at references to the Garden(s) of Paradise, as depicted in the Qur’an. Our last blog on this matter was on February 5.
The next relevant passage is from Surah 19, namely 58-63 (Yusuf Ali):
58: Those were some of the prophets on whom Allah did bestow His Grace,- of […]

This blog continues the series of studies looking at references to the Garden(s) of Paradise, as depicted in the Qur’an. Our last blog on this matter was on December 22. The next relevant passages are from Surah 18, namely 29-31, 105-108 (Yusuf Ali):
29-31:
Say, “The truth is from your Lord”: Let him who will believe, and […]

This blog continues the series of studies looking at references to the Garden(s) of Paradise, as depicted in the Qur’an. Our last blog on this matter was on December 1.
The next relevant passage is 16:30-32 (Yusuf Ali):
To the righteous (when) it is said, “What is it that your Lord has revealed?” they say, “All that […]

This blog continues the series of studies looking at references to the Garden(s) of Paradise, as depicted in the Qur’an. Our last blog on this matter was on November 22.
The next relevant passage is 15:45-49 (Yusuf Ali):
45: The righteous (will be) amid gardens and fountains (of clear-flowing water).
46: (Their greeting will be): “Enter ye here […]

This blog continues the series of studies looking at references to the Garden(s) of Paradise, as depicted in the Qur’an. Our last blog on this matter was on November 17.
The next relevant passages is 15:28-35 (Yusuf Ali’s translation):
28: Behold! thy Lord said to the angels: “I am about to create man, from sounding clay from […]

This blog continues the series of studies looking at references to the Garden(s) of Paradise, as depicted in the Qur’an. Our last blog on this matter was back on October 17.
The next relevant passages is 14:23, :
But those who believe and work righteousness will be admitted to gardens beneath which rivers flow,- to dwell therein […]

This blog continues the series of studies looking at references to the Garden(s) of Paradise, as depicted in the Qur’an. Our last blog on this matter was back on October 17.
The next relevant passage is 13:33-37:
33: Is then He who standeth over every soul (and knoweth) all that it doth, (like any others)? And yet […]

I’ve browsed through People Like Us by Waleed Aly before. This time I’m reading it more carefully, making copious notes in the margin of the book as I do so.
Waleed Aly begins his book (Introduction) with a cartoon. A man and woman, perhaps his wife, are yelling at each other. But while they are using the same […]

This blog continues the series of studies looking at references to the Garden(s) of Paradise, as depicted in the Qur’an. Our last blog on this matter was back on September 18.
The next relevant passage is 13:19-26. Here is Yusuf Ali’s translation of this passage:
19: Is then one who doth know that that which hath been […]

11:103 speaks of the Day of Judgment, when all people will be gathered together. This Day has been delayed for a set period predetermined by Allah (11:104). When the Day does eventually come nobody will be allowed to speak unless Allah gives permission to do so (11:105a). All gathered will fall into two classes of […]

Late this afternoon I was walking down a street in suburban Sydney. Two schoolboys of Middle Eastern appearance were walking behind me. I’d guess they were 12-13 years old, about the same size, though one boy’s voice had not broken while the second boy’s voice had. They were talking quite loudly to each other in fluent English.
Boy with […]

The next Qur’anic reference to the Garden is found at 11:23:

But those who believe and work righteousness, and humble themselves before their Lord,- They will be companions of the gardens, to dwell therein for aye! (Yusuf Ali).
This verse belongs to a cohesive context extending from 11:9 to 11:24. The verses preceding 11:23 emphasise that what […]

The next verses that concern the Garden of Paradise in the Qur’an are located at 10:25-26:

But Allah doth call to the Home of Peace: He doth guide whom He pleaseth to a way that is straight.
To those who do right is a goodly (reward)- Yea, more (than in measure)! No darkness nor shame shall cover […]

Somebody dropped on my desk the June 2009 Bridges newsletter of the Columban Mission Institute. It provided a transcript of the Welcome Speech by Muslim Prince Ghazi to Pope Benedict XVI when he visited Jordan’s State Mosque. During this speech Prince Ghazi said the following:
I must also thank Your Holiness for the ‘regret’ you expressed […]

Our series now brings us to 10:9 in the Qur’an:
Those who believe, and work righteousness,- their Lord will guide them because of their faith: beneath them will flow rivers in gardens of bliss.
The preceding verses have stressed that Allah made the sun and the moon and the consequent ability to measure time. Given this, if […]

9:111 in the Qur’an marks the next reference to the Gardens of Paradise:
Allah hath purchased of the believers their persons and their goods; for theirs (in return) is the garden (of Paradise): they fight in His cause, and slay and are slain: a promise binding on Him in truth, through the Law, the Gospel, and […]

Our series now brings us to 9:100 in the Qur’an:
The vanguard (of Islam)- the first of those who forsook (their homes) and of those who gave them aid, and (also) those who follow them in (all) good deeds,- well-pleased is Allah with them, as are they with Him: for them hath He prepared gardens under […]

The next Qur’anic reference to the Gardens of Paradise is located at 9:89. In this case the context is particularly crucial for understanding its significance. Let’s consider 9:86-95:
When a Sura comes down, enjoining them to believe in Allah and to strive and fight along with His Messenger, those with wealth and influence among them ask […]

Our series now brings us to 9:72 in the Qur’an:
Allah hath promised to Believers, men and women, gardens under which rivers flow, to dwell therein, and beautiful mansions in gardens of everlasting bliss. But the greatest bliss is the good pleasure of Allah: that is the supreme felicity.
Significantly, this verse literally speaks of “the Gardens […]

In our series we now come to 9:20-22 in the Qur’an:

Those who believe, and suffer exile and strive with might and main, in Allah’s cause, with their goods and their persons, have the highest rank in the sight of Allah: they are the people who will achieve (salvation).
Their Lord doth give them glad tidings of […]

In his book The Challenge of Islam to the Church and its Mission Sookhdeo rightly draws attention to a fundamental mistake made by many Christians who have failed to discriminate between Muslims as people and Islam:
…they have let their emotions guide their intellect and theology; they have generalised from a moderate peacable Muslim individual whom […]

In his book The Challenge of Islam to the Church and its Mission, Patrick Sookhdeo, a convert from Islam, points out that the phenomenological approach to other religions does not work with respect to Islam. To centre comparisons on religious phenomena, to look for commonalities between Christianity and Islam such as holy men, holy places […]

In our series we now come to a major passage from the Qur’an dealing with the Garden of Paradise, namely 7:40-51:
To those who reject Our signs and treat them with arrogance, no opening will there be of the gates of heaven, nor will they enter the garden, until the camel can pass through the eye […]

The next Qur’anic verses in our series, at 7:26-27, follow immediately on from the last Qur’anic passage we examined. Once again these verses are concerned with an Islamic view of the Fall:

O ye Children of Adam! We have bestowed raiment upon you to cover your shame, as well as to be an adornment to you. […]

The next Qur’anic verses in our series are located at 7:18-25. This time the focus is on the Islamic understanding of the Fall:
(Allah) said [to Iblis]: “Get out from this, disgraced and expelled. If any of them follow thee,- Hell will I fill with you all.
“O Adam! dwell thou and thy wife in the Garden, […]

In our series we come to 5:116-119 in the Qur’an which deals with what the Qur’an considers to be false doctrines introduced after Jesus’ death:

And behold! Allah will say: “O Jesus the son of Mary! Didst thou say unto men, worship me and my mother as gods in derogation of Allah’?” He will say: “Glory […]

Continuing our series, the next context in the Qur’an to deal with the Garden of Paradise is located at 5:83-86:
And when they listen to the revelation received by the Messenger, thou wilt see their eyes overflowing with tears, for they recognise the truth: they pray: “Our Lord! we believe; write us down among the witnesses.
“What […]

Our series now brings us to 5:72 in the Qur’an:
They do blaspheme who say: “Allah is Christ the son of Mary.” But said Christ: “O Children of Israel! worship Allah, my Lord and your Lord.” Whoever joins other gods with Allah,- Allah will forbid him the garden, and the Fire will be his abode. There […]

We come to 5:65 in the Qur’an in our continuing series:
If only the People of the Book had believed and been righteous, We should indeed have blotted out their iniquities and admitted them to gardens of bliss (Yusuf Ali).
This verse clearly indicates that Jews and Christians are not righteous, that they have not experienced forgiveness […]

Our series now brings us to 5:12 in the Qur’an:
Allah did aforetime take a covenant from the Children of Israel, and we appointed twelve captains among them. And Allah said: “I am with you: if ye (but) establish regular prayers, practise regular charity, believe in my messengers, honour and assist them, and loan to Allah […]

Our series now brings us to 4:122-124 in the Qur’an:

But those who believe and do deeds of righteousness,- we shall soon admit them to gardens, with rivers flowing beneath,-to dwell therein for ever. Allah’s promise is the truth, and whose word can be truer than Allah’s? Not your desires, nor those of the People of […]

Next in our series is 4:57 in the Qur’an which we will consider in context (4:55-57):
Some of them believed, and some of them averted their faces from him: And enough is Hell for a burning fire.
Those who reject our Signs, We shall soon cast into the Fire: as often as their skins are roasted through, […]

At a time when some are making dire predictions about Islam taking over Britain, Europe and beyond it is worth recalling, as Southern recalls, that Martin Luther once “looked forward to the probability that Christendom would be engulfed in Islam. He wrote to strengthen the faith of those Christians who might find themselves in this condition.”
In his […]

Our series next brings us to 4:13 in the Qur’an:
Those are limits set by Allah: those who obey Allah and His Messenger will be admitted to Gardens with rivers flowing beneath, to abide therein (for ever) and that will be the supreme achievement (Yusuf Ali).
4:14 paints the opposite scenario:

But those who disobey Allah and His […]

In our series we come to 3:194-200 in the Qur’an:
Our Lord! Grant us what Thou didst promise unto us through Thine messengers, and save us from shame on the Day of Judgment: For Thou never breakest Thy promise.
And their Lord hath accepted of them, and answered them: “Never will I suffer to be lost the […]

The next Qur’anic reference to the Garden is 3:185:

Every soul shall have a taste of death: And only on the Day of Judgment shall you be paid your full recompense. Only he who is saved far from the Fire and admitted to the Garden will have attained the object (of Life): For the life of […]