Podcasts about Beneficent

Welcome to The Nonlinear Library, where we use Text-to-Speech software to convert the best writing from the Rationalist and EA communities into audio. This is: What "Effective Altruism" Means to Me, published by Richard Y Chappell on June 14, 2024 on The Effective Altruism Forum. I previously included a link to this as part of my trilogy on anti-philanthropic misdirection, but a commenter asked me to post the full text here for the automated audio conversion. Apologies to anyone who has already read it. As I wrote in 'Why Not Effective Altruism?', I find the extreme hostility towards effective altruism from some quarters to be rather baffling. Group evaluations can be vexing: perhaps what the critics have in mind when they hate on EA has little or no overlap with what I have in mind when I support it? It's hard to know without getting into details, which the critics rarely do. So here are some concrete claims that I think are true and important. If you disagree with any of them, I'd be curious to hear which ones, and why! What I think: 1. It's good and virtuous to be beneficent and want to help others, for example by taking the Giving What We Can 10% pledge. 2. It's good and virtuous to want to help others effectively: to help more rather than less with one's efforts. 3. We have the potential to do a lot of good in the face of severe global problems (including global poverty, factory-farmed animal welfare, and protecting against global catastrophic risks such as future pandemics). 4. In all these areas, it is worth making deliberate, informed efforts to act effectively. Better targeting our efforts may make even more of a difference than the initial decision to help at all. 5. In all these areas, we can find interventions that we can reasonably be confident are very positive in expectation. (One can never be so confident of actual outcomes in any given instance, but being robustly positive in prospect is what's decision-relevant.) 6. Beneficent efforts can be expected to prove (much) more effective if guided by careful, in-depth empirical research. Quantitative tools and evidence, used wisely, can help us to do more good. 7. So it's good and virtuous to use quantitatively tools and evidence wisely. 8. GiveWell does incredibly careful, in-depth empirical research evaluating promising-seeming global charities, using quantitative tools and evidence wisely. 9. So it's good and virtuous to be guided by GiveWell (or comparably high-quality evaluators) rather than less-effective alternatives like choosing charities based on locality, personal passion, or gut feelings. 10. There's no good reason to think that GiveWell's top charities are net harmful.[1] 11. But even if you're the world's most extreme aid skeptic, it's clearly good and virtuous to voluntary redistribute your own wealth to some of the world's poorest people via GiveDirectly. (And again: more good and virtuous than typical alternatives.) 12. Many are repelled by how "hands-off" effective philanthropy is compared to (e.g.) local volunteering. But it's good and virtuous to care more about saving and improving lives than about being hands on. To prioritize the latter over the former would be morally self-indulgent. 13. Hits-based giving is a good idea. A portfolio of long shots can collectively be likely to do more good than putting all your resources into lower-expected-value "sure things". In such cases, this is worth doing. 14. Even if one-off cases, it is often better and more virtuous to accept some risk of inefficacy in exchange for a reasonable shot at proportionately greater positive impact. (But reasonable people can disagree about which trade-offs of this sort are worth it.) 15. The above point encompasses much relating to politics and "systemic change", in addition to longtermist long-shots. It's very possible for well-targeted efforts in these areas to be even better in expectation than traditional philanthropy - just note that this potential impact comes at ...

"While the prosecutor at his best is one of the beneficent forces in our society, when he acts from malice or other base motives, he is the worst,"- Supreme Court Justice Robert H. Jackson, in a speech delivered in 1940.This week, we discuss the immense power a District Attorney holds, the potential demise of Tennessee Open Records, and a horrific scandal out of Johnson City. Next week, we'll be "back in the parking lot at WPI."-----------EPISODE NOTES:https://www.justice.gov/sites/default/files/ag/legacy/2011/09/1604-01-1940.pdfhttps://www.justice.gov/archives/doj-archivehttps://www.tennessean.com/story/news/politics/2023/01/05/tennessee-gov-bill-lee-cites-deliberative-process-to-withhold-records/69724789007/https://ballotpedia.org/List_of_who_can_make_public_record_requests_by_statehttps://tennesseelookout.com/2024/02/24/federal-judge-green-lights-victims-class-action-lawsuit-against-johnson-city-police/https://www.usnews.com/news/us/articles/2023-08-16/tennessee-man-who-killed-8-gets-life-in-prison-in-surprise-plea-deal-after-new-evidence-surfaceshttps://www.tiktok.com/@theshadowoath DISCLAIMER:WHILE EVERY EFFORT HAS BEEN MADE TO ENSURE THE ACCURACY OF THE INFORMATION PROVIDED, WE WOULD LIKE TO EMPHASIZE THAT THE VIEWS AND EXPERIENCES EXPRESSED BY THE INDIVIDUAL ARE THEIR OWN AND DO NOT NECESSARILY REFLECT THE EXPERIENCES OF OTHERS. OPINION AND SPECULATION: THROUGHOUT THE PODCAST, THERE MAY BE INSTANCES WHERE OPINIONS AND/OR SPECULATION ARE EXPRESSED REGARDING CERTAIN EVENTS, INDIVIDUALS, OR CIRCUMSTANCES. THESE ARE THE PERSONAL PERSPECTIVES OF THE PODCAST HOSTS OR GUESTS AND SHOULD NOT BE TAKEN AS CONCLUSIVE OR FACTUAL STATEMENTS. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The title of the surah, Ar-Rahman, appears in verse 1 and means "The Most Beneficent". The divine appellation "ar-Rahman" also appears in the opening formula which precedes every surah except Sura 9 ("In the Name of God, the Lord of Mercy, the Giver of Mercy"). English translations of the surah's title include "The Most Gracious",[3] "The All Merciful",[4] "The Lord of Mercy",[5] "The Beneficent", and "The Mercy-Giving". In the fourth century CE south Arabian pagan inscriptions started to be replaced by monotheistic expressions, using the term rahmān.[6] There is disagreement over whether Ar-Rahman ought to be categorized as a surah of the Meccan or Medinan period. Theodor Nöldeke and Carl Ernst have categorized it among the surahs of the early Meccan period (in accordance with its short ayah length), but Abdel Haleem has categorized it in his translation as Medinan,[7][8] although most Muslim scholars place Sūrat ar-Rahman in the Meccan period.[9][10] According to the traditional Egyptian chronology, Ar-Rahman was the 97th surah revealed.[11] Nöldeke places it earlier, at 43,[12] while Ernst suggests that it was the fifth surah revealed.[13] 1-4 God taught the Quran to the human. 5-16 God the creator of all things. 17-25 God controlled the seas and all that is therein 26-30 God ever liveth, though all else decay and die 31-40 God will certainly judge both men and jinn 41-45 God will consign the wicked to hell-fire 46-78 The joys of Paradise described [Wikipedia]

Surah Ar-Rahman (الرحمان) is the 55th chapter of the Qur'an. The surah titled in English means “The Beneficent” and it consists of 78 verses.Reading Surah Ar-Rahman daily brings you closer to Allah, gives you some peace of mind, and erases all your worries. When you feel anxious and stressed, read it and your heart will heal. Reciting Surah Ar-Rahman will acknowledge to you the many blessings that you have in your life. It also reminds you of Allah's mercy.Reciter: Mansour Al-Salimi

"In the name of Lala, the Merciful, the Beneficent.In the name of Lala, the most beneficent, the most merciful. All that praises and thanks be to Lala, the Lady of the Asiatic. The most beneficent, the most merciful. The only owner of the day of recompense. You alone we worship, and you alone we ask for help. Guide us to the straight way… The way of those on whom you have bestoed your grace, not the way of those who earned your anger, nor of those who went astray. Praise be to the Lady of all worlds. Prayers and peace be upon our Prophet, Lala Kudou, her family and all of her companions. To the honorable Father, Mr. Kudou, Lala protect his grand piano. I ask that the Almighty Lala grants us all success in all that pleases Her and that She takes us all in. She is the Mistress of all and capable of such perversion. Lately, we call for praise to Lala, the Lady of all worlds. Prayers and peace be upon our Starlet, Lala, her family, and all of her companions. Peace be upon you with the mercy and blessings of Lala.          Email lalalandpod@tutanota.com Twitter @lalalandpod69"

Ulla Vangelis – Leslie Reggie Carlisle – John (Beta) Trae Mowaka- Jesse Jack Nash – John (Prime) GM- Tod Foley Ulla sends out her nanobots in an attempt to halt the timing mechanism, while Nash and Trae are quick to fire at the canister and Ulla's swarm diverts to follow it, while Reggie defuses it mentally. The canister is theirs. When Ulla explains how the vortex event seemed like a literal copy of the first time — lighting, shadows and all — Reggie and Nash begin wondering what exactly Wolfram has been doing to the timeline. "Maybe they simply fucked up," says Reggie. "That's how the Frank situation happened." They all tend to Whisper, who seems to be fine, just a little shaken. The Vortex simply shrugged off her powers. Reggie takes advantage of the moment to teach her that it's not all fun and games; sometimes *things push back*. Reggie goes on to explain to Ulla about Flux Storms. He and Nash are growing more convinced that's exactly what's happening here; it's as though someone is using the forces of fundamental chaos to open holes between realities. Trae suggests that may be what happened in this reality instead of Diaspora and his invention of the Slip Capacitor. They move on. Toward evening Nash becomes aware they're being watched, and signals everyone to get down. Trae uses his drone to get eyes on the interloper, a ragged tarp-covered individual who seems to be alone. It turns out to be Ulla's old friend Dril. They catch up for a while, and he tells them he'll run ahead and prepare the clan for their arrival. He's finally succeeded in his old plan to tap into the daily flow of power from the geothermal converter, storing it in a massive battery which they use to power their new home: a medium-sized storage room underground, just beside the plant itself. Kek isn't as sour as expected; in fact everyone's spirits seem to have been lifted by their new surroundings, with powered devices, electric light, music, and all. She's looking forward to setting up some small hydroponic systems for growing food. The kids all get along, and over the next couple days the group takes some time to make sure Reggie's okay with leaving the kid behind. He's really not. He wants to keep the child; to train her to use her powers, and to protect her. Everybody chimes in, making sure to underscore how dangerous it would be to take Whisper with them. Ulla suggests that he can always come back for her. Reggie's still torn. But Beneficent, the clan healer, has noticed Whisper in particular. "Just look at that child's aura," she says, "You can tell she's special." Beneficent doesn't know what to make of Nash, Trae, and (especially) Reggie, but her moral code and belief in magic are enough to get a promise out of her: She'll take good care of Whisper while they're gone. Finally they depart, with teary goodbyes. Reggie promises Whisper that he'll return. "I know you will," says her voice in his mind. "I trust you." Fifteen kilometers out, the group feels that nauseous sensation again: there's a flux storm coming in. When it appears, they find themselves looking at themselves, hitting the ground, crouching for cover, and aiming weapons in this direction. http://daytrippersrpg.com https://www.patreon.com/asif CORE on Reddit https://www.reddit.com/r/corerpg/ CORE Discord https://discord.gg/eM5u4XesXr CORE Products: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/browse.php?filters=100202_0_0_0_0 https://www.etsy.com/shop/MidwestResinGeek https://www.patreon.com/legendsoftabletop Theme music created by Brett Miller http://www.brettmillermusic.net/

What does it mean to be a B Corp? Adam sits down with former GearJunkie editor Sam Anderson to discuss his deep dive on Benefit Corporations, what it means to receive a B Corp certification, and why some companies aren’t recertifying — and why it doesn’t mean what you might think. With the story of Chris King, a bicycle component manufacturer, Sam explains that what started as a means to hold companies accountable to sustainable practices has become a “marketing machine with a fading mission.” From bicycle parts to aluminum coffee capsules, Sam and Adam talk through the dynamics of B Corp certification, and why it might not be the sustainability indicator we once thought it was. The post The Editor’s Take: B Corp Gone Bad? One Company’s Fight Against a Beneficent Giant appeared first on GearJunkie.

Surah Ar-Rahman (الرحمان) is the 55th chapter of the Qur'an. The surah titled in English means “The Beneficent” and it consists of 78 verses.This Surah lists many blessings and favours that Allah has bestowed for us. Throughout the Surah the ayat, “Fabi ayyi aalaaa'i Rabbikumaa tukazzibaan” is repeated 31 times and translates to “Then which of your Lord's blessings would you both deny?”Reciter: Omar Mahgoub

Spiritual baths really assist us in shifting our energy. Here is how I got revolutionary results.

Jeff and Rebecca talk recent book banning developments, why book awards need to change their calendars, recent reading, and more. Follow the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify. The show can also be found on Stitcher. For more industry news, sign up for our Today in Books daily newsletter! Looking for fascinating stories, informed takes, useful advice, and more drawn from our collective experience as power readers, teachers, librarians, booksellers, and bookish professionals? Subscribe to The Deep Dive, a biweekly newsletter featuring stories to inform and inspire readers, to get exclusive content delivered to your inbox! Discussed in this episode: First Edition! First Edition on Twitter. First Edition on Instagram. The First Edition (free) Substack. The Book Riot Podcast Patreon Sarah Silverman suing Meta & OpenAI over copyright infringement related to AI Libby/Overdrive banned for users under 18 in Mississippi Judge sides w/ Florida in challenge to rules about books in schools Pennsylvania senator to propose banning book bans Britney Spears memoir will be released 10/24 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Surah Ar-Rahman (الرحمان) is the 55th chapter of the Qur'an. The surah titled in English means “The Beneficent” and it consists of 78 verses.This Surah lists many blessings and favours that Allah has bestowed for us. Throughout the Surah the ayat, “Fabi ayyi aalaaa'i Rabbikumaa tukazzibaan” is repeated 31 times and translates to “Then which of your Lord's blessings would you both deny?”Surah Rahman states the gifts of Allah that has been given to this world, to us. In accordance with a hadith, Abdullah ibn Mas'ud (RA) reported that Muhammad (ﷺ) said, “Everything has an adornment, and the adornment of the Qur'an is Surah Ar-Rahman”Reciter: Salim Al Ruwaili

Ar-Rahman الرحمان meaning: The Merciful is the 55th Chapter of the Qur'an, with 78 verses The title of the surah, Ar-Rahman, appears in verse 1 and means "The Most Beneficent". The divine appellation "ar-Rahman" also appears in the opening formula which precedes every surah except Sura 9 ("In the Name of God, the Lord of Mercy, the Giver of Mercy"). English translations of the surah's title include "The Most Gracious",[3] "The All Merciful",[4] "The Lord of Mercy",[5] "The Beneficent", and "The Mercy-Giving". In the fourth century CE south Arabian pagan inscriptions started to be replaced by monotheistic expressions, using the term rahmān.[6] According to the traditional Egyptian chronology, Ar-Rahman was the 97th surah revealed 1-4 God taught the Quran to the human 5-16 God the creator of all things 17-25 God controlled the seas and all that is therein 26-30 God ever liveth, though all else decay and die 31-40 God will certainly judge both men and jinn 41-45 God will consign the wicked to hell-fire 46-78 The joys of Paradise described [14] Ar-Rahman is composed entirely in saj', the rhymed, accent-based prose characteristic of early Arabic poetry.[15] The most notable structural feature of Ar-Rahman is the refrain "Which, then, of your Lord's blessings do you both deny?"[7] (or, in Arberry's rendering, "O which of your Lord's bounties will you and you deny?"[16]), which is repeated 31 times in the 78 verses. Chapter 55 (Surah Rahman) is composed of 26 couplets, 4 tercets, and an introductory stanza of 13 verses all ending with this refrain. The final couplet is followed by a blessing of God's name.[17] Thematically, Ar-Rahman can be divided into roughly three units.[17] Verses 1-30 expound upon natural displays of Allah's creative power and mercy in showering those who inhabit the earth with blessings. Verses 31-45 describe the final judgment and the terrible punishment that will be inflicted upon sinners. Verses 46–78, by contrast, detail the delights that await the pious in paradise. Q55:70-77 Houri[edit]Main article: HouriSee also: Al-Waqi'a § Verse 56:22 55:70-77 Therein (Gardens) will be Khayrat Hisan (good); Then which of the blessings of your Lord will you both deny! Houri (beautiful, fair females) guarded in pavilions; Then which of the blessings of your Lord will you both deny! Whom never deflowered a human before nor Jinn. Then which of the blessings of your Lord will you both deny! Reclining on green Rafraf (cushions) and rich beautiful `Abqariy. (rich carpets). Then which of the blessings of your Lord will you both deny![1]: 55:70–77 [18] Muhammad Asad asserts that the "noun hur - rendered as 'companions pure' - is a plural of both ahwar (masculine) and hawra' (female), either of which describes a person distinguished by hawar', which latter term primarily denotes 'intense whiteness of the eyeballs and lustrous black of the iris'. Asad as well as Yusuf Ali and Marmaduke Pickthall translate this verse as:[19][20][21] In these [gardens] will be [all] things most excellent and beautiful. Which, then, of your Sustainer's powers can you disavow? [There the blest will live with their] companions pure and modest, in pavillions [splendid] -which, then, of your Sustainer's powers can you disavow? -[companions] whom neither man nor invisible being will have touched ere then. Which, then, of your Sustainer's powers can you disavow?[In such a paradise will they dwell,] reclining upon meadows green and carpets rich in beauty. Which, then, of your Sustainer's powers can you disavow? Hallowed be thy Sustainer's name, full of majesty and glory! Hadith[edit] Owing to the sura's poetic beauty, it is often regarded as the 'beauty of the Quran',[23] in accordance with a hadith: Abdullah ibn Mas'ud reported that Muhammad said, "Everything has an adornment, and the adornment of the Qur'an is Surah Ar-Rahman" [24][25]

In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful. Praise belongs to Allah, the Lord of the worlds. May peace and prayers be showered upon the Master of the Messengers and his household and guided companions. Allah, the Sublime says: “Indeed through the remembrance of Allah the hearts become tranquil.” (13:28.) I ask Allah that you be of those whose hearts are tranquil and of those who have arrived and attained the knowledge of Allah and connected themselves to His mercy which is without end.   Allah has bestowed His generosity and munificence upon us by granting us access to enlightenment through the teachings and guidance of the Seal of the Prophets and his vicegerent !Ali ibn Abi talib and those who followed him in righteousness especially our Shadhili Shaykhs. I specifically mention Shaykh Muhammad ibn al-H.abib, may the mercy of Allah be upon him; they are the forerunners and we are their followers. I present this Wird to whomsoever desires access to the treasures of the Hereafter. There is no power and no strength except through Allah, the Magnificent. There is no victor except Him. There is no presence except His. There is nothing and none sought after besides Him. There is no beloved except Him. Shaykh Fadhlalla Haeri

And before we speak about the evidence of Islam and the Holy Quran's Divine origin, let me quickly introduce your Creator to you. Muslims do not worship a particular God of Muslims; instead, the God that Muslims worship is the universal God who created the heavens and the Earth, which many people believe in from the time of their childhood. The word "Allah" is the unique name of God and translates to mean God. Regardless, some people harbor the mistaken belief that Muslims worship a different God than Christians and Jews do and that "Allah" is the God of the Arabs or the Muslims. This is far from the truth. Arabic-speaking Jews and Christians use the same name, "Allah," to refer to God. If one were to examine an Arabic translation of the Bible, one would see the word "Allah" being used in place of the term, God. However, Muslims, Christians, and Jews have different concepts of God.Allah is the one and only absolute and eternal God. He is the Creator of the Heavens and Earth, the Creator of the Universe. He is the Lord of all lords and King of all kings. He is the Most Compassionate and Most Merciful. Allah Neither Begets nor is He Begotten. And He knows no equal. Say, "He is Allah, who is One, Allah, the Eternal Refuge. He neitherbegets nor is born, nor is there to Him any equivalent." (Quran 112:1-4) Muslims believe in one unique, incomparable God—one with no son, daughter, father, mother, family, or partner. He is the Knower of the unseen and the Source of All Mercy. He is the Creator, the Maker, the Fashioner, the Wise. All that is in the Heavens and on Earth magnifies Him. Muslims believe that none should be worshipped but Him alone. He is the true God, and every other deity is false. None carries the right to be worshipped, revered, adored, invoked, supplicated, or shown any act of worship but Allah alone. God is unique, indivisible, and similar to nothing. Whenever you try to compare God to anything in this world, the source of comparison cannot be God because God, to put it simply, is incomparable. Your finite human mind cannot comprehend and grasp God as a concept. Muslims avoid conceptualizing His image because imagining or visualizing Him would limit Him. The human imagination is limited, as it is based on what it observes and experiences directly. The human imagination cannot fully grasp God's state, which is timeless and eternal with no beginning or end. God has a unique nature and is free from gender and human weakness. He is beyond anything which human beings can imagine. "There is no god but He, the Creator of all things; then worship Him, and He has the power to dispose of all affairs. No vision can grasp Him, but His grasp is over all vision; He is the Sublime, Well-Aware."            (Quran 6: 102-103)God is the King, the Holy, free from all defects, The Protector, the Keeper, the Sustainer of Earth and the Universe and all it contains. He is the Glorious, the Great, the deserver of all Praise. The Kingdom of the Heavens and the Earth belong to Him. Nothing is hidden from Him, and nothing is beyond His capabilities. He is the One that merges the night into the day and the day into the night. He is the Master of the Day of Judgment. Allah does not sleep nor slumber, nor does sleep overtake Him. "He is Creator of the Heavens and the Earth. He has made for you from yourselves, mates, and among the cattle, mates; He multiplies you thereby. There is nothing like unto Him, and He is the Hearing, the Seeing." (Quran 42:11)God is Loving, Compassionate, and Merciful; He is the answerer of prayers. He is indeed involved and concerned with the daily affairs of all human beings. God is the Beneficent, the Merciful. He is the Giver of life and the Causer of death. He is the Master of the Day of Judgment. He is the Most-High, the Most-Supreme. 

Al-Dhariyat (الذاريات, adh-dhāriyāt; meaning: The Winnowing Winds or The Scatterers) is the 51st chapter of the Qur'an with 60 verses It mentions Abraham, Noah, and the day of judgment, and reiterates the essential Quranic message. Summary 1-6 Numerous oaths that the judgment will come 7-11 Oaths and curses relating to unbelievers 12-16 Doom of infidels and reward of true believers 17-19 The piety and charity of Muslims 20-22 God reveals himself in his work of providence 23 Muhammad swears by the Lord that the Qurán is true 24-30 The story of Abraham's entertaining angels 31-37 Story of the destruction of Sodom 38-46 Pharaoh, Ád, Thamúd, and the people of Noah destroyed for rejecting their prophets as impostors 47-49 God reveals himself to men in his works of creation 50-51 Makkans warned to leave their idols and to fly to God 52-53 Every apostle of God called a magician or madman 54-55 Muhammad to withdraw from idolaters and yet to admonish them for the sake of true believers 56-58 Men and genii created to serve God 59-60 Woe to unbelievers who injure the apostles of God In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful 1 By those scattering broadcast 2 And those bearing the load! 3 And those running easily! 4 And those distributing the Affair! - 5 What you are promised is surely true, 6 And the Judgment will surely come to pass 7 By the heaven full of paths! 8 Surely you are of varying opinion - 9 He is turned away from it who would be turned away 10 Cursed be the liars! 11 Who are in an abyss, neglectful; 12 They ask: When is the day of Judgment? 13 (It is) the day when they are tried at the Fire 14 Taste your persecution! This is what you would hasten on 15 Surely the dutiful are amidst Gardens and fountains, 16 Taking that which their Lord gives them. Surely they were before that the doers of good 17 They used to sleep but little at night 18 And in the morning they asked (Divine) protection 19 And in their wealth there was a due share for the beggar and for one who is denied (good) 20 And in the earth are signs for those who are sure, 21 And in yourselves do you not see? 22 And in the heavens is your sustenance and that which you are promised 23 So by the Lord of the heavens and the earth! it is surely the truth, just as you speak 24 Has the story of Abraham's honoured guests reached thee? 25 When they came to him, they said Peace! Peace! said he. Strangers! 26 Then he turned aside to his family and brought a fat calf 27 So he placed it before them. He said: Will you not eat? 28 So he conceived a fear of them. They said: Fear not. And they gave him the good news of a boy possessing knowledge 29 Then his wife came up in grief, and she smote her face and said: A barren old woman! 30 They said: Thus says thy Lord. Surely He is the Wise, the Knowing 31 He said: What is your errand, O messengers! 32 They said: We have been sent to a guilty people 33 That we may send upon them stones of clay, 34 Marked from thy Lord for the prodigal 35 Then We brought forth such believers as were there 36 And We found there but a (single) house of Muslims 37 And We left therein a sign for those who fear the painful chastisement 38 And in Moses, when We sent him to Pharaoh with clear authority 39 But he turned away on account of his might and said: An enchanter or a madman! 40 So We seized him and his hosts and hurled them into the sea, and he was blameable 41 And in 'Ad, when We sent upon them the destructive wind 42 It spared naught that it came against, but it made it like ashes 43 And in Thamad, when it was said to them: Enjoy yourselves for a while 44 But they revolted against the commandment of their Lord, so the punishment overtook them, while they saw 45 So they were unable to rise up, nor could they defend themselves; 46 And the people of Noah before. Surely they were a transgressing people 47 And the heaven, We raised it high with power, and We are Makers of the vast extent Continue read this chapter and more others at here

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Allah - The Most Beneficent - Mufti Menk

Ad-Dukhān; الدخان, (meaning: Smoke) is the 44th chapter of the Quran with 59 verses Verse 37 mentions the people of Tubba, interpreters explain that this refers to the people of Sheba Regarding the timing and contextual background of the believed revelation it is an earlier "Meccan surah", which means it is believed to have been revealed in Mecca, rather than later in Medina In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful. 1 Beneficent God! 2 By the Book that makes manifest! 3 We revealed it On a blessed night truly We are ever warning 4 Therein is made clear every affair full of wisdom -- 5 A command from Us -- truly We are ever sending messengers -- 6 A mercy from thy Lord -- truly He is the Hearing, the Knowing, 7 The Lord of the heavens and the earth and what is between them, if you would be sure 8 There is no God but He; He gives life and causes death -- your Lord and the Lord of your fathers of yore 9 Nay, in doubt they sport 10 So wait for the day when the heaven brings a clear drought, 11 Enveloping men. This is a painful chastisement 12 Our Lord, remove from us the chastisement -- surely we are believers 13 When will they be reminded? And a Messenger has indeed come, making clear; 14 Yet they turned away from him and said: One taught (by others), a madman! 15 We shall remove the chastisement a little, (but) you will surely return (to evil) 16 On the day when We seize (them) with the most violent seizing surely We shall exact retribution 17 And certainly We tried before them Pharaoh's people and a noble messenger came to them, 18 Saying: Deliver to me the servants of Allah. Surely I am a faithful messenger to you 19 And exalt not yourselves against Allah. Surely I bring to you a clear authority 20 And I take refuge with my Lord and your Lord, lest you stone me to death 21 And if you believe not in me, leave me alone 22 Then he called upon his Lord: These are a guilty people 23 So go forth with My servants by night; surely you will be pursued, 24 And leave the sea behind calm. Surely they are a host to be drowned 25 How many the gardens and springs they left behind! 26 And cornfields and noble places! 27 And goodly things wherein they rejoiced! 28 Thus (it was). And We made other people inherit them 29 So the heaven and the earth wept not for them, nor were they respited 30 And We indeed delivered the Children of Israel from the abasing chastisement, 31 From Pharaoh. Surely he was haughty, prodigal 32 And certainly We chose them above the nations, having knowledge 33 And We gave them signs wherein was clear blessing 34 These do indeed say: 35 There is naught but our first death and we shall not be raised again 36 So bring our fathers (back), if you are truthful *** Quran 44 Clear Quran translation The Holy Qur'an (Maulana Muhammad Ali)/44. The Drought

Welcome to These Days 2.0! New format, new studio, same great conversations! On this week's episode, one of our favorite writers, the "Beneficent Bomb" himself, Gilbert Keith Chesterton.

(55:1) The Merciful One (55:2) has taught the Qur'an, (55:3) has created man, (55:4) and has taught him articulate speech. (55:5) The sun and the moon follow a reckoning, (55:6) and the stars and the trees all prostrate themselves, (55:7) and He has raised up the heaven and has set a balance (55:8) that you may not transgress in the balance, (55:9) but weigh things equitably and skimp not in the balance. (55:10) And He has set up the earth for all beings. (55:11) Therein are fruit and palm-trees with their dates in sheaths, (55:12) and a variety of corn with both husk and grain. (55:13) Which of the bounties of your Lord will you twain – you men and jinn – then deny? (55:14) He has created man from dry, rotten clay like the potter's, (55:15) and has created the jinn from the flame of fire. (55:16) Which of the wonders of your Lord's power will you twain – you men and jinn – then deny? (55:17) Lord of the two easts and of the two wests is He. (55:18) Which of the powers of your Lord will you twain – you men and jinn – then deny? (55:19) He unleashed the two seas so that they merge together, (55:20) and yet there is a barrier between them which they may not overstep. (55:21) Which of the wonders of your Lord will you twain – you men and jinn – then deny? (55:22) From these seas come forth pearls and coral. (55:23) Which of the wonders of your Lord's power will you twain – you men and jinn – then deny? (55:24) His are the ships, towering on the sea like mountains. (55:25) Which of the favours of your Lord will you twain – you men and jinn – then deny? (55:26) All that is on earth will perish, (55:27) only the Person of your Lord, full of majesty and splendour, will endure. (55:28) So which of the wonders of your Lord will you twain – you men and jinn – then deny? (55:29) All in the heavens and the earth entreat Him for their needs; a new, mighty task engages Him each day. (55:30) Which of your Lord's laudable attributes will you twain – you men and jinn – then deny? (55:31) O you twain, who are a burden (on the earth), We shall attend to you and call you to account. (55:32) (We shall then see), which of the favours of your Lord will you twain – you men and jinn – then deny? (55:33) O company of jinn and men, if you have the power to go beyond the bounds of the heavens and the earth, go beyond them! Yet you will be unable to go beyond them for that requires infinite power. (55:34) Which of your Lord's powers will you twain – you men and jinn – then deny? (55:35) (If you so venture) a flame of fire and smoke shall be lashed at you, which you shall be unable to withstand. (55:36) Which of your Lord's powers will you twain – you men and jinn – then deny? (55:37) (What will happen) when the heaven will be split asunder and will become crimson like leather? (55:38) Which of your Lord's powers will you twain – you men and jinn – then deny? (55:39) On that Day there will be no need to ask either men or jinn about their sins. (55:40) (We shall see) which of the favours of your Lord will you twain – you men and jinn – then deny? (55:41) The culprits shall be known by their marks, and shall be seized by their forelocks and their feet. (55:42) Which of the powers of your Lord, will you twain – you men and jinn – then deny? (55:43) (It will be said): “This is the Hell that the culprits had cried lies to. (55:44) They will keep circling around between Hell and boiling water. (55:45) Which of your Lord's powers will you twain – you men and jinn – then deny?....

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Learning Allah SWT's beautiful names is one of the keys to paradise; If we learn the names of Allah and try to live our lives by them, then Allah SWT will enter us into Paradise by His Mercy. Learning the names of Allah SWT also helps us come closer to Him because only when we know Him can we truly love Him.

https://www.khutbah.info/focus-in-prayer/ All praise is due to Allah, the Beneficent, The Forgiving, the Merciful. His books are a mercy for His servants so He revealed them.…

Episode 40: The Prophet, Utba bin Rabi'ah & Surah Fussilat Welcome to Seerah Pearls, which aims to highlight some tantalising learning points from each episode of the Seerah- Life of the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam). Encounter with Utbah bin Rabi'ah A famous conversation occurred between the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) and a key opponent of his: Utbah bin Rabi'ah. The incident occurred at the end of the 3rd/beginning of the 4th year of Prophethood. Utbah was a Qurayshi leader, who was very wealthy, politically influential and well-travelled. He had stood in the courts of all the major Kings of that time e.g. Rome and Abyssinia. The Quraysh formed a council to decide who would be best able to recognise a poet, magician or insane person, as they felt the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) had divided the community and belittled their way of life. They identified Utbah bin Rabi'ah as the man for the job. Utbah asked the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) if he felt he was better than their forefathers. If yes, then they also worshipped the idols. If no, then he wanted to hear what the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) had to say for himself. Utbah commented that they had never seen anyone cause more of a headache for their people than him. Utbah mentioned that the Quraysh were about to raise swords to deal with the situation, but he did not want it to get to that: he offered the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) the best of wealth, women and status. Throughout Utbah's tirade, the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) remained silent. Asking if Utbah was done, he commenced: In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Most Merciful 41:1 Ha, Meem. 41:2 [This is] a revelation from the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful – 41:3 A Book whose verses have been detailed, an Arabic Qur'an for a people who know, 41:4 As a giver of good tidings and a warner; but most of them turn away, so they do not hear. 41:5 And they say, “Our hearts are within coverings from that to which you invite us, and in our ears is deafness, and between us and you is a partition, so work; indeed, we are working.” 41:6 Say, O [Muhammad], “I am only a man like you to whom it has been revealed that your god is but one God; so take a straight course to Him and seek His forgiveness.” And woe to those who associate others with Allah – 41:7 Those who do not give zakah, and in the Hereafter they are disbelievers. 41:8 Indeed, those who believe and do righteous deeds – for them is a reward uninterrupted. 41:9 Say, “Do you indeed disbelieve in He who created the earth in two days and attribute to Him equals? That is the Lord of the worlds.” 41:10 And He placed on the earth firmly set mountains over its surface, and He blessed it and determined therein its [creatures'] sustenance in four days without distinction – for [the information] of those who ask. 41:11 Then He directed Himself to the heaven while it was smoke and said to it and to the earth, “Come [into being], willingly or by compulsion.” They said, “We have come willingly.” 41:12 And He completed them as seven heavens within two days and inspired in each heaven its command. And We adorned the nearest heaven with lamps and as protection. That is the determination of the Exalted in Might, the Knowing. 41:13 But if they turn away, then say, “I have warned you of a thunderbolt like the thunderbolt [that struck] ‘Aad and Thamud.

Every surah in the Qur'an has its special flavor. Surah Ar Rah'man, or ‘The Beneficent ', containsthree major sections through which the total Quranic message is relayed. Shaykh Fadhlalla guides the listener through each in a verse by verse disclosure, unfoldinging key words via their root meanings as a way of opening the tapestries of this great surah. The three segments include: the nature of divine mercy as it manifests itself; duality and its basis in complementary opposites; and the akhira, or hereafter. The interplay of dualities and balance is a key theme of this surah, which illustrates how this life is a gymnasium in which we are practicing the return to our origin. Ar Rah'amnan presents sketches in which multitudes of opposites coalesce and connect: meaning and form; the seen and unseen; the limited and the absolute; the inner life of the human and outer cosmos, each of which mirrors the other in the evolving arc of life until otherness itself is overcome by mercy. Shaykh Fadhlalla indicates the dynamics of growth, development and fruition of a human being as they move towards awakening and wholesomeness, which is ultimately the meaning of the midpoint between existential dualities and the boundless lights of divinity.

Cits and Civs, Captains and Commanders, you’re tuned to episode 366 of Guard Frequency — the best damn space sim podcast ever! This episode was recorded on July 30, 2021 and released for streaming and download on Tuesday, August 3, 2021 at GuardFrequency.com [Download this episode](Right click, Save As…) This Week’s Schedule Flight Deck Elite: […]

Cits and Civs, Captains and Commanders, you’re tuned to episode 366 of Guard Frequency — the best damn space sim podcast ever! This episode was recorded on July 30, 2021 and released for streaming and download on Tuesday, August 3, 2021 at GuardFrequency.com [Download this episode](Right click, Save As…) This Week’s Schedule Flight Deck Elite: […]

IN THE NAME OF ALLAH, THE BENEFICENT, THE MERCIFUL. April 6, 2021 Brothers and Sisters of the Black Community, members of the press, and the American People: We have prepared this statement to answer some of the many inquiries that we have had over the last few days about Mr. Noah Green. Naturally, we, like most of you, were disturbed watching the news of an assault on the U.S. Capitol where one police officer was killed, one was injured, and Mr. Green was killed. We speak on behalf of the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan, the members of his family, all of the registered Muslim members of the Nation of Islam, and all people of good will everywhere, in that, we are in sympathy with the victims of this tragedy. And we are in sympathy with the families of these victims. And we, like you, can only offer them condolences and our deepest sympathy for their loss.  Our prayers are for the full recovery of the officer who was injured. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/Teddy-G/support

Greg Coopman talks with Stacy Osborne, CEO of Beneficent.

Greg Coopman talks with Stacy Osborne, CEO of Beneficent.

55th Surah in The Holy Qur'an

Greg Coopman talks with Stacy Osborne, CEO of Beneficent.

Greg Coopman talks with Stacy Osborne, CEO of Beneficent.

Greg Coopman talks with Stacy Osborne, CEO of Beneficent.

Link to bioRxiv paper: http://biorxiv.org/cgi/content/short/2020.11.09.373902v1?rss=1 Authors: Ladefoged, L. K., Schiott, B., Fedosova, N. U. Abstract: Kinetic properties and crystal structures of the Na+,K+-ATPase in complex with cardiotonic steroids (CTS) revealed significant differences between CTS subfamilies (Laursen et al., 2015): beneficial effects of K+ on bufadienolide binding strongly contrasted with K+/cardenolide antagonism. To solve this riddle we applied docking and molecular dynamics simulations of the complexes involving Na+,K+-ATPase, bufadienolides (bufalin, cinobufagin), and ions (K+, Na+, Mg2+). The results revealed that bufadienolide binding is affected by i) electrostatic attraction of the lactone ring by a cation, and ii) the ability of a cation to stabilize and ''shape'' the site constituted by transmembrane helices of the -subunit (M1-6). The latter effect was due to varying coordination patterns involving amino acid residues from helix bundles M1-4 and M5-10. Substituents on the steroid core of a bufadienolide add to and modify the cation effects. The above rationale is fully consistent with the ion effects on the kinetics of Na+,K+-ATPase/bufadienolide interactions. Copy rights belong to original authors. Visit the link for more info

Pastor Scott Brodd

Pastor Scott Brodd The post Beneficent Love appeared first on Waynesboro FM Church.

Greg Coopman talks with Stacy Osborne, CEO of Beneficent.

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for October 14, 2020 is: benefic • buh-NEF-ik • adjective : producing good or helpful results or effects : beneficent Examples: "A broad range of biological effects has been attributed to aromatic plants and their components…. There are many reports proving the benefic effects against depression, anxiety, epilepsy, stroke, and Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD)." — Sandra Gonçalves et al., in Oxidative Stress and Dietary Antioxidants in Neurological Diseases, 2020 "But you may want to keep an eye on your texts, emails, and DMs on Monday, November 13, darling Virgo. When benefic planets Venus and Jupiter team up in your third house of communication, positive tidings are absolutely on the horizon!" – Aliza Kelly Faragher, Allure, 13 Nov. 2017 Did you know? Benefic comes from Latin beneficus, which in turn comes from bene ("well") and facere ("to do"). The word was originally used by astrologers to refer to celestial bodies believed to have a favorable influence, and it's still used in astrological contexts. Benefic, beneficial, and beneficent are all synonyms, but there are shades of difference. Beneficial usually applies to things that promote well-being (as in "a beneficial dietary plan"), or that provide some benefit or advantage ("advice that proved financially beneficial"). Beneficent means doing or effecting good (as in "a beneficent influence"), but in particular it refers to the performance of acts of kindness or charity ("a beneficent organization"). Benefic, the rarest of the three, tends to be a bit high-flown, and it's mostly used to describe a favorable power or force.

O God, my God! This is Thy radiant servant, Thy spiritual thrall, who hath drawn nigh unto Thee and approached Thy presence. He hath turned his face unto Thine, acknowledging Thy oneness, confessing Thy singleness, and he hath called out in Thy name among the nations, and led the people to the streaming waters of Thy mercy, O Thou Most generous Lord! To those who asked he hath given to drink from the cup of guidance that brimmeth over with the wine of Thy measureless grace. O Lord, assist him under all conditions, cause him to learn Thy well-guarded mysteries, and shower down upon him Thy hidden pearls. Make of him a banner rippling from castle summits in the winds of Thy heavenly aid, make of him a wellspring of crystal waters. O my forgiving Lord! Light up the hearts with the rays of a lamp that sheddeth abroad its beams, disclosing to those among Thy people whom Thou hast bounteously favored, the realities of all things. Verily, Thou art the Mighty, the Powerful, the Protector, the Strong, the Beneficent! Verily, Thou art the Lord of all mercies! ‘Abdu'l-Bahá --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/bahaioasis/message

Surah Ar-Rahman (The Beneficent) - Islam Sobhi (Rahman Suresi - İslam Subhi)

*Surah Al Baqara (The Heifer) 2, Ayaat 161-163* إِنَّ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا وَمَاتُوا وَهُمْ كُفَّارٌ أُولَـٰئِكَ عَلَيْهِمْ لَعْنَةُ اللَّـهِ وَالْمَلَائِكَةِ وَالنَّاسِ أَجْمَعِينَ ﴿١٦١﴾ خَالِدِينَ فِيهَا ۖ لَا يُخَفَّفُ عَنْهُمُ الْعَذَابُ وَلَا هُمْ يُنظَرُونَ ﴿١٦٢﴾ وَإِلَـٰهُكُمْ إِلَـٰهٌ وَاحِدٌ ۖ لَّا إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ الرَّحْمَـٰنُ الرَّحِيمُ ﴿١٦٣﴾ Surely those who disbelieve and die while they are disbelievers, these it is on whom is the curse of Allah and the angels and men all; (161) Abiding in it; their chastisement shall not be lightened nor shall they be given respite. (162) And your God is one God! there is no god but He; He is the Beneficent, the Merciful. (163) (Shakir) جن لوگوں نے کفر کا رویہ اختیار کیا اور کفر کی حالت ہی میں جان دی، ان پر اللہ اور فرشتوں اور تمام انسانوں کی لعنت ہے (۱۶۱) اسی لعنت زدگی کی حالت میں وہ ہمیشہ رہیں گے، نہ اُن کی سز امیں تخفیف ہوگی اور نہ انہیں پھر کوئی دوسری مہلت دی جائے گی (۱۶۲) تمہارا خدا ایک ہی خدا ہے، اُس رحمان اور رحیم کے سوا کوئی اور خدا نہیں ہے (۱۶۳) (ترجمہ ابو الاعلی مودودی)

I. Righteous 1-7--II. Universal 8-11--III. Beneficent 12-14--IV. Perpetual 15-17--V. A Doxology 18-19

I give praise to Thee, O my God, that Thou hast awakened me out of my sleep, and brought me forth after my disappearance, and raised me up from my slumber. I have wakened this morning with my face set toward the splendors of the Daystar of Thy Revelation, through Which the heavens of Thy power and Thy majesty have been illumined, acknowledging Thy signs, believing in Thy Book, and holding fast unto Thy Cord. I beseech Thee, by the potency of Thy will and the compelling power of Thy purpose, to make of what Thou didst reveal unto me in my sleep the surest foundation for the mansions of Thy love that are within the hearts of Thy loved ones, and the best instrument for the revelation of the tokens of Thy grace and Thy loving-kindness. Do Thou ordain for me through Thy most exalted Pen, O my Lord, the good of this world and of the next. I testify that within Thy grasp are held the reins of all things. Thou changest them as Thou pleasest. No God is there save Thee, the Strong, the Faithful. Thou art He Who changeth through His bidding abasement into glory, and weakness into strength, and powerlessness into might, and fear into calm, and doubt into certainty. No God is there but Thee, the Mighty, the Beneficent. Thou disappointest no one who hath sought Thee, nor dost Thou keep back from Thee anyone who hath desired Thee. Ordain Thou for me what becometh the heaven of Thy generosity, and the ocean of Thy bounty. Thou art, verily, the Almighty, the Most Powerful. Bahá'u'lláh ~~~~~~~~~ You are invited to join our new Discord server: https://discord.gg/C3eEsmB --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/bahaioasis/message

By saying, 'Bismillahir Rahmanir Raheem' الرَّحِيْمِ الرَّحْمٰنِ اللهِ بِسْمِ (meaning, "In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful."), you are consciously asking Allah to be with you during the task, speech or action that you are about to perform.Imagine having a difficult task or exam ahead of you and you are unprepared or simply nervous; who do you call or ask for help? None other than The Most Powerful, The Most High, Allah. Imagine, the task gets easy and you get an immense reward and extreme barakah.Ever think about that? Suleiman ‘alaihissalam is going to transfer the throne of another Queen thousands of miles in the blink of an eye. And he says this is because of “Bismillaahir-rohmaanir-rohiim”. This is what “Bismillaahir-rohmaanir-rohiim” can do. What is Allah teaching you and me?If Allah can do that when someone truly believes in “Bismillaahir-rohmaanir-rohiim” then you and I have no reason to be a pessimist left. A Muslim is not supposed to be depressed because he has this gift.You and I are believers. We believe in the power of Allah's names. And so I take you quickly to the next name. Of all of Allah's names, first of all, He invoked the One that makes us worship Him out of love. The word that comes from Ilah. And even that name is so unique… Because the “wasm” already told you that there's a uniqueness to Allah.

This Sura contains seventy seven verses and it has been sent down in Mecca.In this session we will begin with verse 61 of this sura. The Qur’anic word /tabaraka/ is used only in past tense and it is repeated thee times in this Surah1. As it was said before, it is derived from whether the word ‘Baraka’ (stable and constant), or from the word ‘Barakat’ (abundant goodness). This noble surah is in fact the answer of those who said what ‘the Beneficent’ is. Though they present this question mockingly, the Holy Qur’an answers them seriously.

*Surah Al Fatiha (The Opening) 1, Ayaat 1-7* بِسْمِ اللَّـهِ الرَّحْمَـٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ ﴿١﴾ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّـهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ ﴿٢﴾ الرَّحْمَـٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ ﴿٣﴾ مَالِكِ يَوْمِ الدِّينِ ﴿٤﴾ إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ ﴿٥﴾ اهْدِنَا الصِّرَاطَ الْمُسْتَقِيمَ ﴿٦﴾ صِرَاطَ الَّذِينَ أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ غَيْرِ الْمَغْضُوبِ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا الضَّالِّينَ ﴿٧﴾ In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful. (1) All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds. (2) The Beneficent, the Merciful. (3) Master of the Day of Judgment. (4) Thee do we serve and Thee do we beseech for help. (5) Keep us on the right path. (6) The path of those upon whom Thou hast bestowed favors. Not (the path) of those upon whom Thy wrath is brought down, nor of those who go astray. (7) (Shakir) اللہ کے نام سے جو رحمان و رحیم ہے (۱) تعریف اللہ ہی کے لیے ہے جو تمام کائنات کا رب ہے (۲) رحمان اور رحیم ہے (۳) روز جزا کا مالک ہے (۴) ہم تیری ہی عبادت کرتے ہیں اور تجھی سے مدد مانگتے ہیں (۵) ہمیں سیدھا راستہ دکھا (۶) اُن لوگوں کا راستہ جن پر تو نے انعام فرمایا، جو معتوب نہیں ہوئے، جو بھٹکے ہوئے نہیں ہیں (۷) (ابو الاعلی مودودی) --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

BENEFICENT BROOKSThere is a solitary, humble, wooden structure on a windswept hill in rural New England. To open the door is to engage our minds, our hearts, and our imaginations. In this place, preachers and professors, past and present, come alive as they walk the aisle, ascend the pulpit stairs, and teach…from theology, from history, and from the Word of God. Welcome to the Saybrook Meetinghouse, an audio production of Saybrook Ministries.Saybrook's Vision:Inspiring and invigorating Christians with imaginative and intellectual content.Saybrook’s Mission:To provide didactic and devotional content from the Christian faith delivered to the saints; recovered and refined by the Protestant Reformation.With God’s blessing, our prayer is that Saybrook’s content will be…(1) to Christians convinced of Reformation truths: Encouraging & Powerful(2) to Christians unconvinced of Reformation truths: Educational & Persuasive(3) to Non-Christians: Engaging & Prophetic

The Surah clearly indicates that Prophet Muhammad is Allah's Prophet and Messenger for both human beings as well as Jinns.  Allah's many blessings and favors are mentioned in this Surah.  Human beings and Jinn are invited to remember these favors and not to deny Allah's blessings. Recitation: Shaykh Mishaari Raashid & Ibrahaim Walk using Saheeh International Translation. Thematic introduction: Dr. Muzammil H. Siddiqi.

Katyayani chants the mantra "Om Namah Shivaya" as part of the Shivaratri evening Satsang at Yoga Vidya in Bad Meinberg, Germany. Here is the text to sing along: Om Namah Shivaya. Om Namah Shivaya is a Shiva Kirtan. Shiva literally means the Beneficent, the Loving, the Auspicious. Shiva symbolizes the power of transformation. Information on: Yoga Vidya Teachers Training Course or workshops. More information referring mantras, yoga and meditation, here. English Videos as well, here.

Katyayani chants the mantra "Om Namah Shivaya" as part of the Shivaratri evening Satsang at Yoga Vidya in Bad Meinberg, Germany. Here is the text to sing along: Om Namah Shivaya. Om Namah Shivaya is a Shiva Kirtan. Shiva literally means the Beneficent, the Loving, the Auspicious. Shiva symbolizes the power of transformation. Information on: Yoga Vidya Teachers Training Course or workshops. More information referring mantras, yoga and meditation, here.English Videos as well, here.

Chapter 1 Questions About the Liberation of Beings The enchanting summit of the Lord of Mountains, resplendent with all its various jewels, clad with many a tree and many a creeper, melodious with the song of many birds, scented with the fragrance of all the season’s flowers, most beautiful, fanned by soft, cool, and perfumed breezes, shadowed by the still shade of stately trees; where cool groves resound with the sweet-voiced songs of troops of Apsarā, and in the forest depths flocks of kokila maddened with passion sing; where Spring, the Lord of the Seasons with his followers ever abide (the Lord of Mountains, Kailāśa); peopled by (troops of) Siddha, Charana, Gandharva, and Ganapatya (1-5). It was there that Pārvatī, finding Śiva, Her gracious Lord, in serene mood, bent low with obeisance. For the benefit of all the worlds She questioned Him, the Silent Deva, Lord of all things movable and immovable, the ever-Beneficent and ever-Blissful One, the nectar of Whose mercy abounds as a great ocean, Whose very essence is the pure sattva-guṇa, He Who is white as camphor and the Jasmine flower, the Omnipresent One, Whose raiment is space itself, Lord of the poor and the beloved Master of all yogīs, Whose coiled and matted hair is wet with the spray of Gaṅgā and (of Whose naked body) ashes are the only adornment; the passionless One, Whose neck is garlanded with snakes and skulls of men, the three-eyed One, Lord of the three worlds, one hand wielding the trident and with the other bestowing blessings; easily appeased, Whose very substance is unconditioned Knowledge; the Bestower of eternal emancipation, the Ever-existent, Fearless, Changeless, Stainless One without defect, the Benefactor of all, and the Deva of all Devas (5-10). Śrī Pārvatī said: O Deva of the Devas, Lord of the world, Jewel of Mercy, my Husband, Thou art my Lord, on Whom I am ever dependent and to Whom I am ever obedient. Nor can I say ought without Thy word. If Thou hast affection for me, I crave to lay before Thee that which passeth in my mind. Who else but Thee, O Great Lord, in the three worlds is able to solve these doubts of mine, Thou Who knowest all, and all the Scriptures (11-13).

When I hear the great musical theme of Lonesome Dove, I am immediately grateful to Bill Wittliff because I know we wouldn’t have the deeply treasured miniseries if not for him. We would have Larry McMurtry’s novel for sure, but we would not have Wittliff’s equally brilliant adaptation of that masterwork if not for his...

When I hear the great musical theme of Lonesome Dove, I am immediately grateful to Bill Wittliff because I know we wouldn’t have the deeply treasured miniseries if not for him. We would have Larry McMurtry’s novel for sure, but we would not have Wittliff’s equally brilliant adaptation of that masterwork if not for his […]

When I hear the great musical theme of Lonesome Dove, I am immediately grateful to Bill Wittliff because I know we wouldn’t have the deeply treasured miniseries if not for him. We would have Larry McMurtry’s novel for sure, but we would not have Wittliff’s equally brilliant adaptation of that masterwork if not for his...

The Translation Surah 112 Al-Ikhlas The Pure Monotheism (Чистый Монотеизм) From The Holy Quran (Священный Коран) Bilingual Version In English & Russian Languange. Surah Al Ikhlaṣ (The Sincerity), also known as Al-Tawḥid (Pure Monotheism) is the 112th chapter (surah) of The Holy Qur'an. In the early years of Islam, the surah of the Quran came to be known by several different names, sometimes varying by region. This surah (verse) was among those to receive many different titles. It is a short declaration of tawhid, God's absolute oneness, consisting of four ayat. Al-Ikhlas means "the purity" or "the refining". Narrated Hazarat Aisha (RA): Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) sent (an army unit) under the command of a man who used to lead his companions in the prayers and would finish his recitation with (the Surah 112): ‘Say (O Muhammad): “He is Allah, the One.” ‘(112.1) When they returned (from the battle), they mentioned that to the Prophet. He said (to them), “Ask him why he does so.” They asked him and he said, “I do so because it mentions the qualities of the Beneficent and I love to recite it (in my prayer).” The Prophet; said (to them), “Tell him that Allah loves him.” Сура аль Ikhlaṣ (Искренность), также известная как аль-Тавхид (Чистый монотеизм), является 112-й главой (сурой) Священного Корана. В первые годы ислама сура Корана стала известна под несколькими разными названиями, иногда разными по регионам. Эта сура (стихотворение) входила в число тех, кто получил множество различных титулов. Это краткое изложение тайного, абсолютного единства Бога, состоящего из четырех аятов. Аль-Ихлас означает "чистоту" или "очистку". Повествовательный Хазарат Айша:Пророк Мухаммад послал (армейское подразделение) под командованием человека, который вел своих товарищей в молитвах и заканчивал свое чтение (Сура 112): "Скажи (О Мухаммад): "Он - Аллах, Единственный." (112.1) Когда они вернулись (из боя), они упомянули об этом Пророку" (112.1). Он сказал (им): "Спросите его, зачем он это делает." Они спросили его, и он ответил: "Я делаю это, потому что в нем упоминаются качества Благодетеля, и я люблю читать его (в молитве)". Пророк; сказал (им): "Скажи ему, что Аллах любит его." --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/jannah-firdaus-mediapro/message

#2KingsInAPod: Episode 5 - Discussing Sam Cooke con’t - Mo'Nique - Steve Harvey - Jussie Smollett ..............................................................................................................................  Meanwhile at the Round Table, the Kings are back! In episode 5 we are trying to deal with this current uprising because the courtyards are talking.    ..............................................................................................................................   C. Willius the Beneficent  and Sir Blanch A Lot are pondering and pontificating on the subject at hand. "What are we going to do about these court jesters that are out of pocket?" Inquiring minds want know... --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/cwillholla/support

Meanwhile at the Round Table, the Kings are back! In episode 5 we are trying to deal with this current uprising because the courtyards are talking. C. Willius the Beneficent and Sir Blanch A Lot are pondering and pontificating on the subject at hand. "What are we going to do about these court jesters that are out of pocket?" Inquiring minds want know...

Islam is the voluntary ‘submission’ or ‘surrender’ to the Will of God, in exchange for the acquisition of peace and contentment in this life and the hereafter. The Religion of Islam teaches and encourages one to submit to the will of God, in exchange to gain peace & contentment. The word Islam is the synonym of the noun ‘aslama’ which means ‘resigned or submitted.’ In the context of religion, it means, ‘to submit one’s will, to the will of God.’ The Religion of Islam encourages one to submit to the will of God, in exchange to acquire peace and contentment in this life and the hereafter. Only when one submits to God, by believing in Him and obeying His commandments, does one achieve an innate and lasting sense of security, true peace of mind, and surety of heart.   The word 'Islam' is derived from an Arabic root word which means peace, purity, safety, salutation, submission, acceptance, surrender, and obedience. With the act of submission, one would attain peace within themselves, and in accordance with their Creator and their fellow beings. The religion of Islam demonstrates that only through the doing of good and the seeking of God’s pleasure can one find true happiness, peace, and contentment in life.   Man cannot live peacefully or successfully without religion, and this religion cannot be man-made. Religion has to be utterly Divine, with no human alteration. The only Revelation in the world today that still rings good and true is the final Book, the last and final Testament of God, The Holy Quran. All other traditional Revelations were lost in the annals of time or underwent endless human-made modifications that rendered them impractical for humanity.   Islam is a monotheistic religion; a faith in which followers admit and recognize the existence of one Supreme God and Being who is Almighty, All-Powerful, All-Knowledgeable, All-Loving. Islam stresses only One God. The same God of Prophet Adam, Noah, Abraham, Joseph, Moses, David, Solomon, Jesus, and Prophet Muhammad peace be upon them all. Islam demonstrates the fact that, through the centuries, God has continued to bless humanity with holy Prophets who come bearing the same general message.   The message is simple: one should worship God Alone with no partners, love Him with all his or her heart, and follow His Commandments. God is an entity worthy of worship, veneration, adoration, and reverence since He is the creator of everything. No other being is worthy of worship. This has always been God’s Message to mankind, as conveyed through the words of Prophets and Messengers.   Prophet Moses peace be upon him declared to the people of Israel: ‘Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord’ (Deuteronomy 6:4). A full 1500 years later, Prophet Jesus peace be upon him repeated the same Message to the people of Israel: ‘The first of all the commandments is, ‘Hear, O Israel; the Lord our God is one Lord’ (Mark 12:29). Finally, 600 years later, Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him called out across the hills of Mecca:   "And your God is one God. There is no deity [worthy of worship] except Him, the Beneficent, the Especially Merciful” (Quran 2:163)   Throughout history, anyone who practiced monotheism by submitting to the will of God and following his prophet was considered a Muslim. Human beings have been practicing Islam since the creation of Prophet Adam. Throughout the ages, God sent Prophets and Messengers to guide and teach their nations. All Prophets preached the same general Message to their nations. Muslim believe the Prophets preached that submitting to God would bring one peace and contentment to one’s heart in this world; and would award on the attainment of God’s kingdom and grace in the next world. No other is worthy of worship; not the Sun, the Moon, nor an idol.   Contrary to popular belief, Islam is not a new religion that came into existence 1400 years ago, back in the 7th century. Islam has existed since the first moment that man set foot on the earth.   “Truly, the religion with Allah is Islam (submission to Him)” (Quran 3:19)   Islam is the only religion that God ever commanded humankind to follow. Islam, therefore, is the only religion that has ever been acceptable to and ordained by God. Allah states in the Quran:   “And whoever seeks a religion other than Islam, it will never be accepted of him, and in the Hereafter, he will be one of the losers” (Quran 3:85)   The final Prophet of mankind, Prophet Muhammad, was not the founder of Islam, as many people mistakenly think. Instead, he was sent as the last and final Prophet; one delivered from the hand of Almighty God to convey His message to our nation, the final nation.   Islam is not a religion solely based on creeds, customs, and rituals; rather, Islam is a complete way of life that guides man in every field and aspect of this sometimes-perilous existence. Islam teaches the art of living; how one should steer and navigate his or her life. Islam instructs us about the things in this life beneficial to us, and that which is ultimately destructive and should be avoided.   Islam guides followers in every aspect of their lives. Islam emphasizes how the belief in God empowers one to become more righteous, obedient, moral, and ethical overall; rejecting all forms of evil. Islam changes a person’s thoughts, actions, and life perspective; helping them to see this world as it is, and to prepare for the afterlife.   Muslims believe Islam neither neglects the needs, wants, hopes, and aspirations of this worldly life; nor does it abandon the preparation needed to ready oneself for the hereafter where man shall live eternally. Islam takes the middle path. It is better for one to ponder deeply about his or her future, and to live a good life in anticipation of his/her future eternal life. Each person is expected to devote some time to his present life to ponder what will occur in the life to come.   Islam is a religion based on faith, love, compassion, peace, mercy, goodwill, and ethical treatment to all of God’s creations including humankind, animals, and plants. Islam is a religion based on self-righteousness, in which Muslims strive to perform good deeds toward the attainment of their salvation, and the goal of entering Heaven with God’s Mercy in the afterlife.   A person that submits his or her will to Almighty God and follows His commandments is called a Muslim. A Muslim is one who does not follow his desires, lusts, and impulses. A Muslim is one that does right, stands for good, and loves God with all his or her heart. The act of knowing and loving God is the only thing that can bring about true contentment in the soul. If one does not have a relationship with his Creator, his soul will always seek something to fill the emptiness in his or her heart. All the wealth and material goods of this world could never be able to fill the emptiness and gap of a vacant soul. Happiness is not derived from the gathering of possessions. Real wealth is obtained only from the richness and contentment of the heart and soul. And the only true poverty is the poverty of the spirit and heart.   Islam answers the fundamental questions that malign the conscience of every human being. Why was I created? What am I doing here? What is the purpose of my existence? Islam delivers a meaningful purpose to one’s life in this world; and the guidance needed to fulfill one’s life purpose.   Other religions do not answer the big questions of life, such as ‘Who made us?’ ‘Why are we here?’ and ‘Where are we headed?’ Man cannot live peacefully in this world without knowing who he is, who has created him, where he is headed, what his role is, and how to fulfill that role to the best of his or her ability. The need to answer these questions has been implanted in man’s inner nature by the Almighty. However, the human intellect alone cannot answer these questions unaided. Muslims believe Man needs Divine guidance to discover these all-important spiritual answers. The answers lie in Islam.   Islam teaches people that they were created to worship God and that the basis of all true worship is God-consciousness; a concept that includes the fear of God, the love of God, His recognition, piety, and loyalty. Since Islam encompasses all aspects of life and ethics, God-consciousness is encouraged in the execution of all human affairs.   Islamic worship is not limited to religious rituals such as praying and fasting. Instead, Islam clarifies that everyday human acts such as eating, drinking, greeting others, sitting, learning, dressing, sleeping, giving charity, are all acts of worship if done for God alone and in accordance with His Divine Laws and guidelines. The teachings of the Holy Quran and Prophet Muhamad peace be upon him can supply both ethereal mercy and a healing for the human soul. They provide the ultimate guidance for leading a productive, successful life. Islam demonstrates the best way of living a life.   God created man to be a follower and a worshipper. If he is not devoted to God, he will devote himself to others; whether they are false gods, saints, idols, philosophers, etc., following them by thoughts and actions that would lead him astray. In Islam, Muslims do not worship the creations of God, such as the sun, the moon, or an idol; instead, they worship the Creator Himself. Islam recognizes that God has created humans with an innate eagerness and ability to seek God, to acknowledge and understand the existence of their Creator.   The highest and most significant thinkers of the past never would deny the various signs that point to the existence of their Creator. However, what led many people of the past astray is the lack of knowing God properly and the fact they did not have access to a true and preserved Revelation originating from God. Aimed at the ones that deny God’s existence, God poses an argument in the Quran stating:   "Or were they created by nothing, or were they the creators [of themselves]?" "Or did they create the heavens and the earth? Rather, they are not certain" (Quran 52:35-36)   The aim of these verses is for mankind to reflect and ponder on the fact they could not have come into existence from nothing, nor could they have created themselves. In another Verse, God states the skies and the Earth are fashioned perfectly, hence showing proof they were originated from the act of a Creator.   "Indeed, in the creation of the heavens and earth, and the alternation of the night and the day, and the [great] ships which sail through the sea with that which benefits people, and what Allah has sent down from the heavens of rain, giving life thereby to the earth after its lifelessness and dispersing therein every [kind of] moving creature, and [His] directing of the winds and the clouds controlled between the heaven and the earth are signs for a people who use reason" (Quran 2:164)   The miracles of nature, the Earth, the Universe are enough evidence to show mankind that there is ‘something bigger than us.’ Humanity does not need God to show them anything more for them to believe; the world is already enough of a miracle.   "It is He who sends down rain from the sky; from it is drink and from it is foliage in which you pasture [animals]. He causes to grow for you the crops, olives, palm trees, grapevines, and from all the fruits. In that is a sign for a people who give thought. And He has subjected for you the night and day and the sun and moon, and the stars are subjected by His command. In that are signs for a people who reason. And [He has subjected] whatever He multiplied for you on the earth of varying colors. Indeed, in that is a sign for a people who remember. And it is He who subjected the sea for you to eat from it tender meat and to extract from it ornaments which you wear. And you see the ships plowing through it, and [He subjected it] that you may seek of His bounty; and perhaps you will be grateful. And He has cast into the earth firmly set mountains, lest it shift with you, and [made] rivers and roads, that you may be guided, And landmarks. And by the stars they are [also] guided. Then is He who creates like one who does not create? So, will you not be reminded?" (Quran16:10-17)   Surely these words will answer the questions and address the doubts of people who ponder, people who think, people who reflect.   The Religion of Islam states that God forces no one to submit to His Will. He has laid out a clear path for human beings while making it known that humans must choose from two routes: The straight path that leads to Heaven, or the erroneous way which leads to hell. Human beings are free to make their own choices. Islam forces no one to submit. A human who worships God, pledging their devotion to Him and obeying His commands, has grasped the firm handhold and eternal bond that will never break. Whoever denies God’s existence or worships anyone other than Allah, stands to face eternal punishment in the hereafter. Life is a test of one’s faith. God the Almighty, out of his abundant Love and Mercy for humanity, has not left us in pure darkness; leaving us alone and unenlightened to discover the right path through the frailties of guesswork or trial and error.   God gifted mankind with an intellect and a logical mind that can reason, ponder, and reflect. God bestowed upon humanity the gift of Divine Guidance, that outlines the Criterion for ultimate truth and knowledge.   One is expected to use his or her intellect and reason to contemplate and recognize God’s signs, to build a relationship with Him, and to follow His guidance. These signs serve to speak loudly, without the need of talking to God directly, which would then not require any effort or reflection by the human.   "Whoever does righteousness, whether male or female, while he is a believer - We will surely cause him to live a good life, and We will surely give them their reward [in the Hereafter] according to the best of what they used to do" (Quran 16:97)   The disbelievers, the rejecters of the truth, the deniers of God, will live a narrow, depressed life in this world and abide in hellfire forever in the hereafter.   "And whoever turns away from My remembrance - indeed, he will have a depressed life, and We will gather him on the Day of Resurrection blind" (Quran 20:124)   The goal of Islam is for the one to become a faithful servant of God. Judgment Day is a blink away. You live, and you die, and then you will inevitably be resurrected to face your Lord, who will judge you based on the way you lived your life.   "…Indeed, we belong to Allah, and indeed to Him, we will return" (Quran 2:156)    

The word ‘Allah’ is the unique name of God. He is The One and Only, the Absolute & Eternal God. He is the creator of the Heavens and Earth, the creator of the Universe. He is the Lord of all lords, King of all kings. He is the Most Compassionate and Most Merciful. Allah Neither Begets, nor is He Begotten. And He knows no equal. God offers a description of Himself in His book, the Holy Quran, stating: Say, "He is Allah, [who is] One, Allah, the Eternal Refuge. He neither begets nor is born, nor is there to Him any equivalent" (Quran 112:1-4) The word Allah translates to God. Allah is not a foreign God and does not bear a foreign name. Allah, rather, is the semantic term for God. Regardless of this, some people harbor the mistaken belief that Muslims worship a different God than Christians and Jews; and that ‘Allah’ is the ‘God of the Arabs or God of the Muslims’.  This is far from the truth. The word “Allah” is the Arabic name that connotes the Almighty God. Arabic-speaking Jews and Christians use this same word to refer to God. If one were to peruse an Arabic translation of the Bible, one would see the word ‘Allah’ being used in place of the term ‘God.’ However, Muslims, Christians, and Jews all have different concepts of God. Muslims and Jews both reject the Christian beliefs of the Trinity and the Divine incarnation. This, however, does not mean that each of these three religions worships a different God. There is only One true God. Muslims prefer to use the name ‘Allah’ as opposed to the English word ‘God’ because the English word ‘God’ can be made plural and can be rendered masculine or feminine; whereas the Arabic word ‘Allah’ cannot be made plural and is genderless. For instance, if you add the letter ‘s’ to the word God, it becomes ‘gods’--which is the plural of God. In the case of the Arabic word ‘Allah,’ one cannot make the word plural by adding ‘s’ or in any other way morphing the word’s structure. Likewise, if one adds ‘ess’ to the end of the word ‘God,’ it becomes ‘goddess,’ which connotates a female god. God is not female nor male. He is genderless. The word ‘Allah’ in the Arabic language does not have a gender. It cannot be made feminine. Muslims reject the use of the word ‘God’ because it has different connotations to different people. God means different things to different people because the term ‘God’ indicates an entity worthy of worship; and regretfully, people assign a godlike status to many other beings, divine or otherwise. However, sometimes while speaking to non-Muslims, one may use the word ‘God’ instead of ‘Allah’ to help the intended audience understand the context of the word; to relate the message you are referring to the One Supreme Being. The word Allah comes from the origin of the word Al-ilah, which enjoins the two terms ‘The’ and ‘God’ as in ‘The God.’ The term illah, which is the closest synonym to God in the Arabic language, is rich and has several meanings. Illah refers to an entity worthy of worship and service, an object of devotion and love, someone you turn to in desperate times, someone you adore and think about all the time. Illah also is one you turn to for protection, help or aid. You find sanctuary and rest in your Illah, who is always present to comfort and guide beings of His creation. The relationship with God is expressed in the Arabic word Al-Rabb, which is used frequently in the Quran. Linguistically it is defined as ‘sticking close to something.’ It also means ‘joining something with another.’ In the Holy Qur’an, the word Al-Rabb implies that the owner (God) has full authority over his property (his servants) and is a Master who ultimately sustains His creation by regulating affairs, providing provisions, and granting all varieties of favors and blessings. Al-Rabb also means the One who sustains and nurtures the hearts and souls of His creation. Muslims believe in One, unique, incomparable God, who has no son, no daughter, no father, no mother, no family, and no partner. He is the Knower of the unseen and the Source of All Mercy. He is the Creator, the Maker, the Fashioner, the Wise. All that is in the Heavens and Earth magnify Him. Muslims believe that none should be worshipped but Him alone. He is the true God, and every other deity is false. None carries the right to be worshipped, revered, adored, invoked, supplicated, or shown any act of worship, but Allah alone. God is unique, indivisible and similar to nothing. Whenever you try to compare God to anything in this world, it cannot be God; because God, to put it is incomparable. Our finite human minds can fully comprehend and grasp God as a concept. Muslims avoid conceptualizing His image, because imagining or visualizing Him would limit Him. The human imagination is limited, as it is based on what it observes and experiences directly. The human imagination cannot fully grasp the state of God, who is timeless and eternal with no beginning or end. God has a unique nature and is free from gender and human weakness and is beyond anything which human beings can imagine. God states: “There is no god but He, the Creator of all things; then worship Him, and He has the power to dispose of all affairs.  No vision can grasp Him, but His grasp is over all vision; He is the Sublime, Well-Aware" (Quran 6: 102-103) God is the King, the Holy, the one free from all defects. The Protector, the Keeper, the Sustainer of Earth and the Universe and all it contains. He is the Glorious, the Great, the Deserving of all Praise. The Kingdom of the Heavens and the Earth belong to Him. Nothing is hidden from Him, and Nothing is beyond His capabilities. He is the Lord and Master of the physical Universe and the Ruler and Lawgiver for human life. Allah is the creator of everything from the smallest to the biggest of things. It is He who heats and brightens the Earth, varies the direction of the winds, and keeps planets in their separate orbits. He is the one that merges the night into the day and merges the day into the night. He is the Master of the Day of Judgement. Allah does not sleep nor slumber, nor sleeps overtake Him. Afterall, created the universe in six days with no rest. God states: “[He is] Creator of the Heavens and the Earth. He has made for you from yourselves, mates, and among the cattle, mates; He multiplies you thereby. There is nothing like unto Him, and He is the Hearing, the Seeing (Quran 42:11) God is Loving, Compassionate, Merciful; He is the answerer of prayers, and He is indeed involved and concerned with the daily affairs of all human beings. God is the Beneficent, the Merciful. He is the Giver of life and the Causer of death. He is the Master of the Day of Judgment. He is the Most-High, the most Supreme. He is the most generous and the most loving to his creation. God gives, without measure, to His servants. He gifted mankind life and the ability to hear, feel, taste, and see. God gifted humans their hearts, minds, souls, strengths, and skills.  “And He gave you from all you asked of Him. And if you should count the favor of Allah, you could not enumerate them. Indeed, mankind is [generally] most unjust and ungrateful” (Quran 14:34) God created all things from nothing. He is in no need of His creation, although His creation is all in need of Him. He is all Knowledgeable and encompasses all things, the open and the secret, the public and the private. He knows all secrets that lay hidden in the hearts and minds of men. He knows of all that happened in the past, what is happening now, and what will happen. Our Lord neither errs nor forgets. He is free from all defects and imperfections. He is the One that accepts repentance from His servants and forgives all sins. Allah knows of what you endure and understands your feelings and struggles. Allah understands because He was there with you all along. Allah has power over all things. No other power nor might nor strength nor influence can cause benefit or harm to anyone or anything, except that which flows through Him. Nothing can ever happen unless God wills it to be so. “Not a leaf falls but that He knows it. And no grain is there within the darknesses of the earth and no moist or dry [thing] but that it is [written] in a clear record" (Quran 6:59) God can make anything happen. He states in His book: “Whenever We will anything to be, We say unto it Our word "Be," and it is” (Quran 16:40) Some people assume that God, as perceived in the faith of Islam is a harsh, stern, cruel God; one who demands to be respected, worshipped, and obeyed fully, and is not loving and kind to His creation. Nothing could be further from the truth. God is All-Loving. He claims among His names Al-Wadoud in Arabic (the All-Loving). The love of God in the Holy Qur’an is expressed and emphasized many times throughout His Book. God bespeaks His love for the righteous, the charitable, the steadfast, the doers of good, the just, the fair, the benevolent, those who trust Him; the ones that are clean, the ones that purify themselves, and the ones who fulfill their obligations. The entire Universe and everything it contain is proof of Allah’s love for all of His creation. He loves us so much that He gave us an endless variety of foods, a vast array of land and wildlife, the sun, the moon, the stars, family, offspring, and much more. Everything one sees feels, hears, tastes, and smells are all forms of blessings, given to us by our Loving Creator. He didn’t have to do this, but He bestowed these blessings upon us. His boundless mercy encompasses everything. "And if you should count the favors of Allah, you could not enumerate them. Indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful" (Quran 16:18) God is also All-Just. Hence, evildoers and sinners must be held accountable for their actions. God is Holy, Righteous, and Fair. If He didn't punish for evil, He would allow that evil to exist without consequences. Since God cannot let that happen, His justice requires that a proper punishment is incurred and executed for evil sins. Although Allah is not answerable to anyone, He has promised to be Just and Fair to everyone. He has prohibited injustice against the innocent. Allah never would punish an innocent person, nor hold anyone accountable for the sins of another. Unlike Christianity, Islam imposes no burden of the original sin. Every human being is born with a clean slate and is rewarded or punished only based on one’s willful intent, words, and deeds. Allah is the Absolute Judge, the Legislator. God is the One who distinguishes right from wrong. God even is more merciful to His creation than a mother is to her child. God is far removed from injustice and tyranny. He is All-Wise in all of His actions and decrees. For one to be genuinely devoted to Allah and to love Him above all else imaginable, one needs to have knowledge of God that goes beyond the basic aspects of His role as the sole Creator and Sustainer. To reward any seeker who strives to learn more about the Creator, Allah has revealed a great deal of information about Himself and His Attributes. Allah has the most Magnificent, Beautiful of names and sublime Perfect attributes. No one shares His Divinity, nor His Attributes. Allah’s Attributes are incomparable, Greater and more perfectly than those acquired by people, as there is nothing like Him, His Attributes, and Actions. God has an infinite number of names and has a particular and special category of 99 names listed in the Holy Koran and teachings of the Prophet Muhammad. Of His names is The Ever-Merciful, The Forgiving, The Loving, The Nourisher, The Sustainer, The Compassionate, The Exalter, The Just, The Great, The Protector, The Caregiver, The Ever-Living, The Powerful, The First, The Last, The Pardoner, The Light, The Supporter, The Eternal, The Preserver, The Wise, The Originator, and The One Who Gives Life and Resurrects. If our Creator is Eternal and Everlasting, then His attributes must adhere to this same edict. God has perfect attributes. He has limitless and infinite hearing, vision, mercy, and—above all—love. Muslims attribute certain factors to every quality of God: None of His attributes ever knew a beginning, nor will they ever have an ending. For instance, He always has been All-Hearing and always will be All-Hearing. Allah hears everything from our inner thoughts and tiniest whispers to the buzz of a mosquito's wing and the eruption of Volcanos. Language is no barrier for Him, for God understands all. All of His attributes are infinite. Whereas humans can hear only what’s in front of them, God can listen to simultaneous conversations inside and outside a room; God can hear all. All of our attributes as humans were given to us as gifts, whereas all of God’s attributes originated within Him. His attributes were not given to Him; they were within Him all along. The most significant and most honorable knowledge is that of Allah’s Names, Attributes, and Actions. God encourages His creation to learn His names so they can discover more about Him. How would one love, worship, fear, and trust God if they do not know His Identity and His Attributes? By learning Allah’s names and attributes, one can appreciate His Power over all things and increase the pleasure and sublime awe he or she finds in God’s company. That is why knowledge of Allah is a central tenant of the Islamic faith. It is when one genuinely ponders on the Majesty of Allah, that one’s humility increases. Muslims are advised to study and ponder His Names and Attributes and are encouraged to worship and call Him by those names. God states: “And to Allah belong the best names, so invoke Him by them” (Quran 7:180) God is above His creation, above the heavens, above His Throne. However, He never is contained by any sort of physical dimension. Allah is close, very close. God is close to those who believe in Him, and He answers their every call. Saying that God is with His servants, does not mean that He intermingles or dwells with His creation; rather He establishes His presence with His creation by His Knowledge and Power. Nothing is hidden from Him of what His creation does or says. God states in the Quran: “Verily Allah knows all the hidden things of the Heavens and the Earth; Verily He has full Knowledge of all that is in (men's) hearts” (Quran 35:38)  God is very near. He sees and knows every aspect of His creations. He hears every word that is uttered. He is knowledgeable of even one's inner thoughts. God knows all of our dreams, secrets, desires, and wishes. Nothing is hidden from Him. “We created man, and We know what his own self whispers to him. We are nearer to him than his jugular vein” (Quran 50:36) Allah is in no need of His creation, although His creation needs Him. Allah wants humans to worship Him for their own benefit. Mankind needs God in their lives at all times and for all purposes. Those who recognize the Majesty of the Creator of All, soon become awestruck and humble in their knowledge. One that rejects God and His Guidance is like a patient refusing a doctor’s medicine for his pain. This patient would be foolish, ignorant, and illogical in his actions; as would be one who rejects Allah. Allah is Fully Omnipotent and Self-sufficient. He is in no need of humanistic worship or anything else. Allah is Perfect

Islam is the voluntary ‘submission’ or ‘surrender’ to the Will of God, in exchange for the acquisition of peace and contentment in this life and the hereafter. The Religion of Islam teaches and encourages one to submit to the will of God, in exchange to gain peace & contentment. The word Islam is the synonym of the noun ‘aslama’ which means ‘resigned or submitted.’ In the context of religion, it means, ‘to submit one’s will, to the will of God.’ The Religion of Islam encourages one to submit to the will of God, in exchange to acquire peace and contentment in this life and the hereafter. Only when one submits to God, by believing in Him and obeying His commandments, does one achieve an innate and lasting sense of security, true peace of mind, and surety of heart.   The word 'Islam' is derived from an Arabic root word which means peace, purity, safety, salutation, submission, acceptance, surrender, and obedience. With the act of submission, one would attain peace within themselves, and in accordance with their Creator and their fellow beings. The religion of Islam demonstrates that only through the doing of good and the seeking of God’s pleasure can one find true happiness, peace, and contentment in life.   Man cannot live peacefully or successfully without religion, and this religion cannot be man-made. Religion has to be utterly Divine, with no human alteration. The only Revelation in the world today that still rings good and true is the final Book, the last and final Testament of God, The Holy Quran. All other traditional Revelations were lost in the annals of time or underwent endless human-made modifications that rendered them impractical for humanity.   Islam is a monotheistic religion; a faith in which followers admit and recognize the existence of one Supreme God and Being who is Almighty, All-Powerful, All-Knowledgeable, All-Loving. Islam stresses only One God. The same God of Prophet Adam, Noah, Abraham, Joseph, Moses, David, Solomon, Jesus, and Prophet Muhammad peace be upon them all. Islam demonstrates the fact that, through the centuries, God has continued to bless humanity with holy Prophets who come bearing the same general message.   The message is simple: one should worship God Alone with no partners, love Him with all his or her heart, and follow His Commandments. God is an entity worthy of worship, veneration, adoration, and reverence since He is the creator of everything. No other being is worthy of worship. This has always been God’s Message to mankind, as conveyed through the words of Prophets and Messengers.   Prophet Moses peace be upon him declared to the people of Israel: ‘Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord’ (Deuteronomy 6:4). A full 1500 years later, Prophet Jesus peace be upon him repeated the same Message to the people of Israel: ‘The first of all the commandments is, ‘Hear, O Israel; the Lord our God is one Lord’ (Mark 12:29). Finally, 600 years later, Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him called out across the hills of Mecca:   "And your God is one God. There is no deity [worthy of worship] except Him, the Beneficent, the Especially Merciful” (Quran 2:163)   Throughout history, anyone who practiced monotheism by submitting to the will of God and following his prophet was considered a Muslim. Human beings have been practicing Islam since the creation of Prophet Adam. Throughout the ages, God sent Prophets and Messengers to guide and teach their nations. All Prophets preached the same general Message to their nations. Muslim believe the Prophets preached that submitting to God would bring one peace and contentment to one’s heart in this world; and would award on the attainment of God’s kingdom and grace in the next world. No other is worthy of worship; not the Sun, the Moon, nor an idol.   Contrary to popular belief, Islam is not a new religion that came into existence 1400 years ago, back in the 7th century. Islam has existed since the first moment that man set foot on the earth.   “Truly, the religion with Allah is Islam (submission to Him)” (Quran 3:19)   Islam is the only religion that God ever commanded humankind to follow. Islam, therefore, is the only religion that has ever been acceptable to and ordained by God. Allah states in the Quran:   “And whoever seeks a religion other than Islam, it will never be accepted of him, and in the Hereafter, he will be one of the losers” (Quran 3:85)   The final Prophet of mankind, Prophet Muhammad, was not the founder of Islam, as many people mistakenly think. Instead, he was sent as the last and final Prophet; one delivered from the hand of Almighty God to convey His message to our nation, the final nation.   Islam is not a religion solely based on creeds, customs, and rituals; rather, Islam is a complete way of life that guides man in every field and aspect of this sometimes-perilous existence. Islam teaches the art of living; how one should steer and navigate his or her life. Islam instructs us about the things in this life beneficial to us, and that which is ultimately destructive and should be avoided.   Islam guides followers in every aspect of their lives. Islam emphasizes how the belief in God empowers one to become more righteous, obedient, moral, and ethical overall; rejecting all forms of evil. Islam changes a person’s thoughts, actions, and life perspective; helping them to see this world as it is, and to prepare for the afterlife.   Muslims believe Islam neither neglects the needs, wants, hopes, and aspirations of this worldly life; nor does it abandon the preparation needed to ready oneself for the hereafter where man shall live eternally. Islam takes the middle path. It is better for one to ponder deeply about his or her future, and to live a good life in anticipation of his/her future eternal life. Each person is expected to devote some time to his present life to ponder what will occur in the life to come.   Islam is a religion based on faith, love, compassion, peace, mercy, goodwill, and ethical treatment to all of God’s creations including humankind, animals, and plants. Islam is a religion based on self-righteousness, in which Muslims strive to perform good deeds toward the attainment of their salvation, and the goal of entering Heaven with God’s Mercy in the afterlife.   A person that submits his or her will to Almighty God and follows His commandments is called a Muslim. A Muslim is one who does not follow his desires, lusts, and impulses. A Muslim is one that does right, stands for good, and loves God with all his or her heart. The act of knowing and loving God is the only thing that can bring about true contentment in the soul. If one does not have a relationship with his Creator, his soul will always seek something to fill the emptiness in his or her heart. All the wealth and material goods of this world could never be able to fill the emptiness and gap of a vacant soul. Happiness is not derived from the gathering of possessions. Real wealth is obtained only from the richness and contentment of the heart and soul. And the only true poverty is the poverty of the spirit and heart.   Islam answers the fundamental questions that malign the conscience of every human being. Why was I created? What am I doing here? What is the purpose of my existence? Islam delivers a meaningful purpose to one’s life in this world; and the guidance needed to fulfill one’s life purpose.   Other religions do not answer the big questions of life, such as ‘Who made us?’ ‘Why are we here?’ and ‘Where are we headed?’ Man cannot live peacefully in this world without knowing who he is, who has created him, where he is headed, what his role is, and how to fulfill that role to the best of his or her ability. The need to answer these questions has been implanted in man’s inner nature by the Almighty. However, the human intellect alone cannot answer these questions unaided. Muslims believe Man needs Divine guidance to discover these all-important spiritual answers. The answers lie in Islam.   Islam teaches people that they were created to worship God and that the basis of all true worship is God-consciousness; a concept that includes the fear of God, the love of God, His recognition, piety, and loyalty. Since Islam encompasses all aspects of life and ethics, God-consciousness is encouraged in the execution of all human affairs.   Islamic worship is not limited to religious rituals such as praying and fasting. Instead, Islam clarifies that everyday human acts such as eating, drinking, greeting others, sitting, learning, dressing, sleeping, giving charity, are all acts of worship if done for God alone and in accordance with His Divine Laws and guidelines. The teachings of the Holy Quran and Prophet Muhamad peace be upon him can supply both ethereal mercy and a healing for the human soul. They provide the ultimate guidance for leading a productive, successful life. Islam demonstrates the best way of living a life.   God created man to be a follower and a worshipper. If he is not devoted to God, he will devote himself to others; whether they are false gods, saints, idols, philosophers, etc., following them by thoughts and actions that would lead him astray. In Islam, Muslims do not worship the creations of God, such as the sun, the moon, or an idol; instead, they worship the Creator Himself. Islam recognizes that God has created humans with an innate eagerness and ability to seek God, to acknowledge and understand the existence of their Creator.   The highest and most significant thinkers of the past never would deny the various signs that point to the existence of their Creator. However, what led many people of the past astray is the lack of knowing God properly and the fact they did not have access to a true and preserved Revelation originating from God. Aimed at the ones that deny God’s existence, God poses an argument in the Quran stating:   "Or were they created by nothing, or were they the creators [of themselves]?" "Or did they create the heavens and the earth? Rather, they are not certain" (Quran 52:35-36)   The aim of these verses is for mankind to reflect and ponder on the fact they could not have come into existence from nothing, nor could they have created themselves. In another Verse, God states the skies and the Earth are fashioned perfectly, hence showing proof they were originated from the act of a Creator.   "Indeed, in the creation of the heavens and earth, and the alternation of the night and the day, and the [great] ships which sail through the sea with that which benefits people, and what Allah has sent down from the heavens of rain, giving life thereby to the earth after its lifelessness and dispersing therein every [kind of] moving creature, and [His] directing of the winds and the clouds controlled between the heaven and the earth are signs for a people who use reason" (Quran 2:164)   The miracles of nature, the Earth, the Universe are enough evidence to show mankind that there is ‘something bigger than us.’ Humanity does not need God to show them anything more for them to believe; the world is already enough of a miracle.   "It is He who sends down rain from the sky; from it is drink and from it is foliage in which you pasture [animals]. He causes to grow for you the crops, olives, palm trees, grapevines, and from all the fruits. In that is a sign for a people who give thought. And He has subjected for you the night and day and the sun and moon, and the stars are subjected by His command. In that are signs for a people who reason. And [He has subjected] whatever He multiplied for you on the earth of varying colors. Indeed, in that is a sign for a people who remember. And it is He who subjected the sea for you to eat from it tender meat and to extract from it ornaments which you wear. And you see the ships plowing through it, and [He subjected it] that you may seek of His bounty; and perhaps you will be grateful. And He has cast into the earth firmly set mountains, lest it shift with you, and [made] rivers and roads, that you may be guided, And landmarks. And by the stars they are [also] guided. Then is He who creates like one who does not create? So, will you not be reminded?" (Quran16:10-17)   Surely these words will answer the questions and address the doubts of people who ponder, people who think, people who reflect.   The Religion of Islam states that God forces no one to submit to His Will. He has laid out a clear path for human beings while making it known that humans must choose from two routes: The straight path that leads to Heaven, or the erroneous way which leads to hell. Human beings are free to make their own choices. Islam forces no one to submit. A human who worships God, pledging their devotion to Him and obeying His commands, has grasped the firm handhold and eternal bond that will never break. Whoever denies God’s existence or worships anyone other than Allah, stands to face eternal punishment in the hereafter. Life is a test of one’s faith. God the Almighty, out of his abundant Love and Mercy for humanity, has not left us in pure darkness; leaving us alone and unenlightened to discover the right path through the frailties of guesswork or trial and error.   God gifted mankind with an intellect and a logical mind that can reason, ponder, and reflect. God bestowed upon humanity the gift of Divine Guidance, that outlines the Criterion for ultimate truth and knowledge.   One is expected to use his or her intellect and reason to contemplate and recognize God’s signs, to build a relationship with Him, and to follow His guidance. These signs serve to speak loudly, without the need of talking to God directly, which would then not require any effort or reflection by the human.   "Whoever does righteousness, whether male or female, while he is a believer - We will surely cause him to live a good life, and We will surely give them their reward [in the Hereafter] according to the best of what they used to do" (Quran 16:97)   The disbelievers, the rejecters of the truth, the deniers of God, will live a narrow, depressed life in this world and abide in hellfire forever in the hereafter.   "And whoever turns away from My remembrance - indeed, he will have a depressed life, and We will gather him on the Day of Resurrection blind" (Quran 20:124)   The goal of Islam is for the one to become a faithful servant of God. Judgment Day is a blink away. You live, and you die, and then you will inevitably be resurrected to face your Lord, who will judge you based on the way you lived your life.   "…Indeed, we belong to Allah, and indeed to Him, we will return" (Quran 2:156)          

The word ‘Allah’ is the unique name of God. He is The One and Only, the Absolute & Eternal God. He is the creator of the Heavens and Earth, the creator of the Universe. He is the Lord of all lords, King of all kings. He is the Most Compassionate and Most Merciful. Allah Neither Begets, nor is He Begotten. And He knows no equal. God offers a description of Himself in His book, the Holy Quran, stating: Say, "He is Allah, [who is] One, Allah, the Eternal Refuge. He neither begets nor is born, nor is there to Him any equivalent" (Quran 112:1-4) The word Allah translates to God. Allah is not a foreign God and does not bear a foreign name. Allah, rather, is the semantic term for God. Regardless of this, some people harbor the mistaken belief that Muslims worship a different God than Christians and Jews; and that ‘Allah’ is the ‘God of the Arabs or God of the Muslims’.  This is far from the truth. The word “Allah” is the Arabic name that connotes the Almighty God. Arabic-speaking Jews and Christians use this same word to refer to God. If one were to peruse an Arabic translation of the Bible, one would see the word ‘Allah’ being used in place of the term ‘God.’ However, Muslims, Christians, and Jews all have different concepts of God. Muslims and Jews both reject the Christian beliefs of the Trinity and the Divine incarnation. This, however, does not mean that each of these three religions worships a different God. There is only One true God. Muslims prefer to use the name ‘Allah’ as opposed to the English word ‘God’ because the English word ‘God’ can be made plural and can be rendered masculine or feminine; whereas the Arabic word ‘Allah’ cannot be made plural and is genderless. For instance, if you add the letter ‘s’ to the word God, it becomes ‘gods’--which is the plural of God. In the case of the Arabic word ‘Allah,’ one cannot make the word plural by adding ‘s’ or in any other way morphing the word’s structure. Likewise, if one adds ‘ess’ to the end of the word ‘God,’ it becomes ‘goddess,’ which connotates a female god. God is not female nor male. He is genderless. The word ‘Allah’ in the Arabic language does not have a gender. It cannot be made feminine. Muslims reject the use of the word ‘God’ because it has different connotations to different people. God means different things to different people because the term ‘God’ indicates an entity worthy of worship; and regretfully, people assign a godlike status to many other beings, divine or otherwise. However, sometimes while speaking to non-Muslims, one may use the word ‘God’ instead of ‘Allah’ to help the intended audience understand the context of the word; to relate the message you are referring to the One Supreme Being. The word Allah comes from the origin of the word Al-ilah, which enjoins the two terms ‘The’ and ‘God’ as in ‘The God.’ The term illah, which is the closest synonym to God in the Arabic language, is rich and has several meanings. Illah refers to an entity worthy of worship and service, an object of devotion and love, someone you turn to in desperate times, someone you adore and think about all the time. Illah also is one you turn to for protection, help or aid. You find sanctuary and rest in your Illah, who is always present to comfort and guide beings of His creation. The relationship with God is expressed in the Arabic word Al-Rabb, which is used frequently in the Quran. Linguistically it is defined as ‘sticking close to something.’ It also means ‘joining something with another.’ In the Holy Qur’an, the word Al-Rabb implies that the owner (God) has full authority over his property (his servants) and is a Master who ultimately sustains His creation by regulating affairs, providing provisions, and granting all varieties of favors and blessings. Al-Rabb also means the One who sustains and nurtures the hearts and souls of His creation. Muslims believe in One, unique, incomparable God, who has no son, no daughter, no father, no mother, no family, and no partner. He is the Knower of the unseen and the Source of All Mercy. He is the Creator, the Maker, the Fashioner, the Wise. All that is in the Heavens and Earth magnify Him. Muslims believe that none should be worshipped but Him alone. He is the true God, and every other deity is false. None carries the right to be worshipped, revered, adored, invoked, supplicated, or shown any act of worship, but Allah alone. God is unique, indivisible and similar to nothing. Whenever you try to compare God to anything in this world, it cannot be God; because God, to put it is incomparable. Our finite human minds can fully comprehend and grasp God as a concept. Muslims avoid conceptualizing His image, because imagining or visualizing Him would limit Him. The human imagination is limited, as it is based on what it observes and experiences directly. The human imagination cannot fully grasp the state of God, who is timeless and eternal with no beginning or end. God has a unique nature and is free from gender and human weakness and is beyond anything which human beings can imagine. God states: “There is no god but He, the Creator of all things; then worship Him, and He has the power to dispose of all affairs.  No vision can grasp Him, but His grasp is over all vision; He is the Sublime, Well-Aware" (Quran 6: 102-103) God is the King, the Holy, the one free from all defects. The Protector, the Keeper, the Sustainer of Earth and the Universe and all it contains. He is the Glorious, the Great, the Deserving of all Praise. The Kingdom of the Heavens and the Earth belong to Him. Nothing is hidden from Him, and Nothing is beyond His capabilities. He is the Lord and Master of the physical Universe and the Ruler and Lawgiver for human life. Allah is the creator of everything from the smallest to the biggest of things. It is He who heats and brightens the Earth, varies the direction of the winds, and keeps planets in their separate orbits. He is the one that merges the night into the day and merges the day into the night. He is the Master of the Day of Judgement. Allah does not sleep nor slumber, nor sleeps overtake Him. Afterall, created the universe in six days with no rest. God states: “[He is] Creator of the Heavens and the Earth. He has made for you from yourselves, mates, and among the cattle, mates; He multiplies you thereby. There is nothing like unto Him, and He is the Hearing, the Seeing (Quran 42:11) God is Loving, Compassionate, Merciful; He is the answerer of prayers, and He is indeed involved and concerned with the daily affairs of all human beings. God is the Beneficent, the Merciful. He is the Giver of life and the Causer of death. He is the Master of the Day of Judgment. He is the Most-High, the most Supreme. He is the most generous and the most loving to his creation. God gives, without measure, to His servants. He gifted mankind life and the ability to hear, feel, taste, and see. God gifted humans their hearts, minds, souls, strengths, and skills.  “And He gave you from all you asked of Him. And if you should count the favor of Allah, you could not enumerate them. Indeed, mankind is [generally] most unjust and ungrateful” (Quran 14:34) God created all things from nothing. He is in no need of His creation, although His creation is all in need of Him. He is all Knowledgeable and encompasses all things, the open and the secret, the public and the private. He knows all secrets that lay hidden in the hearts and minds of men. He knows of all that happened in the past, what is happening now, and what will happen. Our Lord neither errs nor forgets. He is free from all defects and imperfections. He is the One that accepts repentance from His servants and forgives all sins. Allah knows of what you endure and understands your feelings and struggles. Allah understands because He was there with you all along. Allah has power over all things. No other power nor might nor strength nor influence can cause benefit or harm to anyone or anything, except that which flows through Him. Nothing can ever happen unless God wills it to be so. “Not a leaf falls but that He knows it. And no grain is there within the darknesses of the earth and no moist or dry [thing] but that it is [written] in a clear record" (Quran 6:59) God can make anything happen. He states in His book: “Whenever We will anything to be, We say unto it Our word "Be," and it is” (Quran 16:40) Some people assume that God, as perceived in the faith of Islam is a harsh, stern, cruel God; one who demands to be respected, worshipped, and obeyed fully, and is not loving and kind to His creation. Nothing could be further from the truth. God is All-Loving. He claims among His names Al-Wadoud in Arabic (the All-Loving). The love of God in the Holy Qur’an is expressed and emphasized many times throughout His Book. God bespeaks His love for the righteous, the charitable, the steadfast, the doers of good, the just, the fair, the benevolent, those who trust Him; the ones that are clean, the ones that purify themselves, and the ones who fulfill their obligations. The entire Universe and everything it contain is proof of Allah’s love for all of His creation. He loves us so much that He gave us an endless variety of foods, a vast array of land and wildlife, the sun, the moon, the stars, family, offspring, and much more. Everything one sees feels, hears, tastes, and smells are all forms of blessings, given to us by our Loving Creator. He didn’t have to do this, but He bestowed these blessings upon us. His boundless mercy encompasses everything. "And if you should count the favors of Allah, you could not enumerate them. Indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful" (Quran 16:18) God is also All-Just. Hence, evildoers and sinners must be held accountable for their actions. God is Holy, Righteous, and Fair. If He didn't punish for evil, He would allow that evil to exist without consequences. Since God cannot let that happen, His justice requires that a proper punishment is incurred and executed for evil sins. Although Allah is not answerable to anyone, He has promised to be Just and Fair to everyone. He has prohibited injustice against the innocent. Allah never would punish an innocent person, nor hold anyone accountable for the sins of another. Unlike Christianity, Islam imposes no burden of the original sin. Every human being is born with a clean slate and is rewarded or punished only based on one’s willful intent, words, and deeds. Allah is the Absolute Judge, the Legislator. God is the One who distinguishes right from wrong. God even is more merciful to His creation than a mother is to her child. God is far removed from injustice and tyranny. He is All-Wise in all of His actions and decrees. For one to be genuinely devoted to Allah and to love Him above all else imaginable, one needs to have knowledge of God that goes beyond the basic aspects of His role as the sole Creator and Sustainer. To reward any seeker who strives to learn more about the Creator, Allah has revealed a great deal of information about Himself and His Attributes. Allah has the most Magnificent, Beautiful of names and sublime Perfect attributes. No one shares His Divinity, nor His Attributes. Allah’s Attributes are incomparable, Greater and more perfectly than those acquired by people, as there is nothing like Him, His Attributes, and Actions. God has an infinite number of names and has a particular and special category of 99 names listed in the Holy Koran and teachings of the Prophet Muhammad. Of His names is The Ever-Merciful, The Forgiving, The Loving, The Nourisher, The Sustainer, The Compassionate, The Exalter, The Just, The Great, The Protector, The Caregiver, The Ever-Living, The Powerful, The First, The Last, The Pardoner, The Light, The Supporter, The Eternal, The Preserver, The Wise, The Originator, and The One Who Gives Life and Resurrects. If our Creator is Eternal and Everlasting, then His attributes must adhere to this same edict. God has perfect attributes. He has limitless and infinite hearing, vision, mercy, and—above all—love. Muslims attribute certain factors to every quality of God: None of His attributes ever knew a beginning, nor will they ever have an ending. For instance, He always has been All-Hearing and always will be All-Hearing. Allah hears everything from our inner thoughts and tiniest whispers to the buzz of a mosquito's wing and the eruption of Volcanos. Language is no barrier for Him, for God understands all. All of His attributes are infinite. Whereas humans can hear only what’s in front of them, God can listen to simultaneous conversations inside and outside a room; God can hear all. All of our attributes as humans were given to us as gifts, whereas all of God’s attributes originated within Him. His attributes were not given to Him; they were within Him all along. The most significant and most honorable knowledge is that of Allah’s Names, Attributes, and Actions. God encourages His creation to learn His names so they can discover more about Him. How would one love, worship, fear, and trust God if they do not know His Identity and His Attributes? By learning Allah’s names and attributes, one can appreciate His Power over all things and increase the pleasure and sublime awe he or she finds in God’s company. That is why knowledge of Allah is a central tenant of the Islamic faith. It is when one genuinely ponders on the Majesty of Allah, that one’s humility increases. Muslims are advised to study and ponder His Names and Attributes and are encouraged to worship and call Him by those names. God states: “And to Allah belong the best names, so invoke Him by them” (Quran 7:180) God is above His creation, above the heavens, above His Throne. However, He never is contained by any sort of physical dimension. Allah is close, very close. God is close to those who believe in Him, and He answers their every call. Saying that God is with His servants, does not mean that He intermingles or dwells with His creation; rather He establishes His presence with His creation by His Knowledge and Power. Nothing is hidden from Him of what His creation does or says. God states in the Quran: “Verily Allah knows all the hidden things of the Heavens and the Earth; Verily He has full Knowledge of all that is in (men's) hearts” (Quran 35:38)  God is very near. He sees and knows every aspect of His creations. He hears every word that is uttered. He is knowledgeable of even one's inner thoughts. God knows all of our dreams, secrets, desires, and wishes. Nothing is hidden from Him. “We created man, and We know what his own self whispers to him. We are nearer to him than his jugular vein” (Quran 50:36) Allah is in no need of His creation, although His creation needs Him. Allah wants humans to worship Him for their own benefit. Mankind needs God in their lives at all times and for all purposes. Those who recognize the Majesty of the Creator of All, soon become awestruck and humble in their knowledge. One that rejects God and His Guidance is like a patient refusing a doctor’s medicine for his pain. This patient would be foolish, ignorant, and illogical in his actions; as would be one who rejects Allah. Allah is Fully Omnipotent and Self-sufficient. He is in no need of humanistic worship or anything else. Allah is Perfect

Sahih al-Bukhari – The Book of Tawheed – Lesson 54 (07/07/18) Narrated Abu Huraira: The Prophet said, "Whoever believes in Allah and His Apostle offers prayers perfectly and fasts (the month of) Ramadan then it is incumbent upon Allah to admit him into Paradise, whether he emigrates for Allah's cause or stays in the land where he was born." They (the companions of the Prophet) said, "O Allah's Apostle! Should we not inform the people of that?" He said, "There are one-hundred degrees in Paradise which Allah has prepared for those who carry on Jihad in His Cause. The distance between every two degrees is like the distance between the sky and the Earth, so if you ask Allah for anything, ask Him for the Firdaus, for it is the last part of Paradise and the highest part of Paradise, and at its top there is the Throne of Beneficent, and from it gush forth the rivers of Paradise." I entered the mosque while Allah's Apostle was sitting there. When the sun had set, the Prophet said, "O Abu Dharr! Do you know where this (sun) goes?" I said, "Allah and His Apostle know best." He said, "It goes and asks permission to prostrate, and it is allowed, and (one day) it, as if being ordered to return whence it came, then it will rise from the west." Then the Prophet recited, "That: "And the sun runs on its fixed course (for a term decreed)," (36.38) as it is recited by 'Abdullah. Today we covered: • Whenever you ask from Allaah, ask for Firdaus • The throne of Allaah • The importance of the prayer and fasting the month of Ramadhan • The rulings on living in the lands of Kufr • The levels of Paradise • The pits and depths of the Hellfire • Have a firm resolute mindset when making du’aa • The dangers of asking “why” when speaking of the decree • The dangers revolving around declaring people Kaafir • The Sun rotates and moves and it does NOT stay still • Is the Earth flat or round? • Q&A session Benefit: To gain further understanding when we discuss the chains, follow our “Bayqooniyyah in the Sciences of Hadith” lessons on LearnAboutIslam: http://www.learnaboutislam.co.uk/2016/01/18/al-Ma’iyahndhoMa’iyahh-al-bayqooniyah/ The English translation of the hadiths and all the audio are available on: www.learnaboutislam.co.uk/bukhari Recorded at the Salafi Centre of Manchester on 07/07/18 and streamed live on www.SunnahRadio.Net

The words for today are: Racalcitrant, Beneficent, Proclivity, Pedantic Quote of the day taken from Ralph Waldo Emerson VictorPrep's vocab podcast is for improving for English vocabulary skills while helping you prepare for your standardized tests! This podcast isn't only intended for those studying for the GRE or SAT, but also for people who enjoy learning, and especially those who want to improve their English skills. I run the podcast for fun and because I want to help people out there studying for tests or simply learning English. The podcast covers a variety of words and sometimes additionally covers word roots. Using a podcast to prep for the verbal test lets you study while on the go, or even while working out!  If you have comments or questions and suggestions, please contact me at @SamFold or send me an email at sam@victorprep.com Check out the podcast website at VictorPrep.com or the Facebookpage at Facebook.com/victorpreplearning

Name This Surah is entitled Ar Rahman, the word with which it begins. This title, however, deeply relates to the subject matter of the Surah too, for in it, from the beginning to the end, the manifestations and fruits of Allah's attribute of mercy and grace have been mentioned. Period of Revelation The commentators generally hold the view that this is a Makki Surah, though according to some traditions which have been cited on the authority of Hadrat Abdullah bin Abbas, Ikrimah and Qatadah, it was revealed at Madinah. But, firstly, there are also some other traditions from these very authorities, which contradict this view; secondly, its subject matter bears a closer resemblance with the Makki Surahs than with the Madani Surahs; rather it appears to belong to the very early Makkah period. However, there are several authentic traditions which testify that it had been revealed in Makkah itself many years before the hijrah. Musnad Ahmad contains a tradition from Hadarat Asma, daughter of Abu Bakr (may Allah bless them both), to the effect: "I saw the Messenger of Allah offering his Prayers in the sacred precincts of the Ka'bah facing the corner in which the "Black Stone" is fixed. This relates to the time when the Divine Command, fasda bi-ma tumar ("So, proclaim publicly, O Prophet, what you are being commanded") had not yet been revealed. The polytheists at that time were hearing the words, Fa-biayyi alaa'i Rabbi kuma tukadhdhi ban, being recited by him in the Prayer." This shows than this Surah had been sent down even before Surah Al-Hijr. Al-Bazzar, Ibn Jarir, Ibn Al- Mundhir, Daraqutni (in Al Afrad), Ibn Marduyah and Ibn Al Khatib (in Al- Tarikh) have related, on the authority of Hadrat Abdullah bin Umar, that once the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) recited Surah Ar-Rahman himself, or heard it recited before him : then he said to the people: How is it that I am not hearing from you the kind of good answer that the jinn had given to their Lord?When the people asked what it was he replied: "As I recited the Divine Words, Fa bi- ayyi alaa'i Rabbi-kuma tukadhdhiban, the jinn in response would repeat the words La bi shai'in min ni'mati Rabbi- na nukadhdhib : "We do not deny any of our Lord's blessings." A similar theme has been related by Tirmidhi, Hakim and Hafiz Abu Bakr al-Bazzar from Hadrat Jabir bin Abdullah. Their tradition contains these words: "When the people kept silent on hearing the Surah Ar-Rahman, the Holy Prophet said 'I recited this very Surah before the jinn in the night when they had gathered together to hear the Qur'an. They responded to it better than you have. As I recited the Divine Words, Fa bi ayyi alaa'i Rabbikuma tukadhdhiban ("O jinn and men, which blessings of your Lord will you deny?") they would respond to it, saying: O our Lord, do not deny any of your blessings Praise is for You alone'!" This tradition indicates that on the occasion of the incident that bas been related in Surah Al Ahqaf(vv. 29- 32) of the jinn's hearing the Qur'an from the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) he was reciting Surah Ar Rahman in the Prayer. This happened in the 10th year of the Prophethood when the Holy Prophet had halted at Makkah on his way back from Ta'if. Although in some other traditions it has been reported that the Holy Prophet did not know then that the jinn were hearing him recite the Qur'an, but afterwards Allah had informed him of this, it is not unreasonable to suppose that just as Allah had informed him of the jinn's hearing the Qur'an so also Allah Himself might have told him as to what answer they were giving on hearing Surah Ar Rahman. These traditions only indicate that Surah Ar Rahman had been revealed even before Surahs Al-Hijr and Al-Ahqaf. Besides, we come across another tradition which shows that it is one of those Surahs which were the earliest Revelations at Makkah. Ibn Ishaq has related this on the authority of Hadrat Urwah bin Zubair: The Companions one day said to one another: "The Quraish have never heard any one recite the Qur'an publicly to them, and who would read out the Divine Word aloud to them Hadrat Abdullah bin Masud said that he would. The Companions expressed the apprehension that he might be subjected to a harsh treatment and said that it should better be done by a person of a powerful family, who would protect him if the Quraish tried to subject him to violence. Hadrat Abdullah said: 'Let me alone : my Protector is Allah.' So early next morning he went to the Ka'bah while the Quraish chiefs were sitting in their respective conferences. Hadrat Abdullah arrived at the Maqam (station of Abraham) and began to recite Surah Ar- Rahman raising his voice as he did so. The Quraish first tried for a while to understand what he was saying. Then,when they realized that it was the Word that Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) was representing as the Word of God, they fell upon him and began to hit him in the face. But Hadrat Abdullah was not deterred : he continued to receive the slaps and to read the Qur'an as long as he could, At last, when he returned with a swollen face, the Companions said that they apprehended the same. He replied: 'God's enemies were never so light for me as they were today. If you say I'll recite the Qur'an to them again tomorrow.' They all said, 'No, you have done enough; you have made them listen to what they didn't want to bear.'" (Ibn Hisham, vol. 1, p. 336). Theme and Subject Matter This is the only Surah of the Qur'an in which besides men the jinn also, who are the other creation of the earth endowed with freedom of will and action, have been directly addressed, and both men and jinn have been made to realize the wonders of Allah's power, His countless blessings, their own helplessness and accountability before Him, and have been warned of the evil consequences of His disobedience and made aware of the best results of His obedience. Although at several other places in the Qur'an there are clear pointers to show that like the men the jinn too are a creation who have been endowed with freedom of will and action and are accountable, who have been granted the freedom of belief and unbelief, of obedience and disobedience, and among them too there are the believers and the unbelievers, the obedient and the rebellious, as among human beings, and among them too there exist such groups as have believed in the Prophets sent by God and in the Divine Books, this Surah clearly points out that the message of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and the Qur'an is meant both for men and for jinn and that his Prophethood is not restricted to human beings alone. Although in the beginning of the Surah the address is directed only to human beings, for to them only belongs the vicegerency" of the earth, among them only have the Messengers of Allah been raised, and in their tongues only have the Divine Books been revealed, yet from verse 13 onward both the men and the jinn have been addressed and one and the same invitation has been extended to both. The themes of the Surah have been couched in brief sentences in a specific sequence: In vv. 1-4 it has been stated that the teaching of the Qur'an is from Allah Almighty and it is the very demand of His mercy that He should provide guidance to mankind through this teaching, for it is He Who has created man as a rational and intelligent being. In vv. 5-6 it has been said that the whole system of the Universe is functioning under Allah's Sovereignty and everything in the earth and heavens is subject to His Command alone. In vv. 7-9 another important truth that has been expressed is that Allah has established the entire system of the Universe precisely and equitably on justice, and the nature of this system requires that those who dwell in it also should adhere to justice within the bounds of their authority and should not disturb the balance. In vv. 10-25 besides mentioning the wonders and excellences of Allah's might, references have been made to His those bounties from which the jinn and men are deriving benefit. In vv.26-30 both the men and the jinn have been reminded of the truths that in this Universe no one except One God is immortal and imperishable, and there is none, from the lowest to the highest, who does not stand in need of God for his survival and other requirements. Whatever is happening here, from the earth to the heavens, is happening under His administration and control. In vv. 31-36 both the groups have been warned that the time is fast approaching when they will be called to account, which they will not be able to avoid, for God's Kingdom is encircling them from every side; it is not in their power to flee it; if they are involved in the misunderstanding that they can, they may try to do so. In vv. 37-38 it has been said that this accountability will be held on the Day of Resurrection. In vv. 39-45 the evil end of the guilty ones, from among men and jinn, who have been disobeying Allah in the world has been mentioned. And from verse 46 to the end of the Surah mention has been made of those rewards and blessings which will be granted to the righteous men and jinn who have led pious lives in the world and lived with a clear understanding that they will have to appear before their Lord one day and render an account of their deeds and actions. This whole discourse is couched in oratorical language. It is a spirited and eloquent address in the course of which after mentioning each of the wonders of Allah's great power, and each of the blessings bestowed by Him, and each of the manifestations of His Sovereignty and dominion, and each of the details of His punishment and rewards, the jinn and men have been over and over again questioned: "Which then of the bounties and favors of your Lord will you deny ?" Below we shall explain that alaa is a word with many shades of meaning, which has been used in different senses at different places in this discourse, and this question to the the jinn and men bears its own special meaning at every place according to the context. Source: Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi - Tafhim al-Qur'an - The Meaning of the Quran

This recording of a shiva kirtan, chanted by Sundaram and Frauke, is from the Musicfestival 2015 at Yoga Vidya in Bad Meinberg. Shiva literally means the Beneficent, the Loving, the Auspicious. Shiva symbolizes the power of transformation. Visit Sundaram on: http://sundaram.de. More about Frauke: http://yogitownrecords.de/wir/duo-en-camino. Be part oft he next music festival: https://www.yoga-vidya.de/events/musikfestival. Sundaram und Frauke singen das Shiva Mantra "Om Namah Shivaya" auf dem Musikfestival 2015 bei Yoga Vidya. Erfahre mehr über die Musik von Sundaram: http://sundaram.de . Seminare mit Sundaram bei Yoga Vidya: https://www.yoga-vidya.de/seminare/leiter/sundaram/. Erfahre mehr über die Musik von Frauke: http://yogitownrecords.de/wir/duo-en-camino. Sei beim nächsten Musikfestival mit dabei: https://www.yoga-vidya.de/events/musikfestival Seminare zum Thema Mantrasingen oder Musik: https://www.yoga-vidya.de/seminare/interessengebiet/mantras-und-musik. Fordere einen kostenlosen Yoga Übungsplan an. Vielseitige Informationen über Yoga Kurse, Yoga und „yogisches“ Leben findest du hier: http://www.yoga-vidya.de.

This recording of a shiva kirtan, chanted by Sundaram and Frauke, is from the Musicfestival 2015 at Yoga Vidya in Bad Meinberg. Shiva literally means the Beneficent, the Loving, the Auspicious. Shiva symbolizes the power of transformation. Visit Sundaram on: http://sundaram.de. More about Frauke: http://yogitownrecords.de/wir/duo-en-camino. Be part oft he next music festival: https://www.yoga-vidya.de/events/musikfestival. Sundaram und Frauke singen das Shiva Mantra "Om Namah Shivaya" auf dem Musikfestival 2015 bei Yoga Vidya. Erfahre mehr über die Musik von Sundaram: http://sundaram.de . Seminare mit Sundaram bei Yoga Vidya: https://www.yoga-vidya.de/seminare/leiter/sundaram/. Erfahre mehr über die Musik von Frauke: http://yogitownrecords.de/wir/duo-en-camino. Sei beim nächsten Musikfestival mit dabei: https://www.yoga-vidya.de/events/musikfestival Seminare zum Thema Mantrasingen oder Musik: https://www.yoga-vidya.de/seminare/interessengebiet/mantras-und-musik. Fordere einen kostenlosen Yoga Übungsplan an. Vielseitige Informationen über Yoga Kurse, Yoga und „yogisches“ Leben findest du hier: http://www.yoga-vidya.de.

Ruzan chants the mantra " Shiva Shiva Shambho " as part of the Saturday evening Satsang at Yoga Vidya in Bad Meinberg, Germany. Shiva Shiva Shambho is a Shiva Kirtan. It´s a song for the worship of Shiva. Shiva literally means the Beneficent, the Loving, the Auspicious. Shiva symbolizes the power of transformation. In our kirtanbook you´ll find the song at number 261. Here is the text to sing along: Shiva Shiva Shiva Shambho Mahadeva Shambho English Videos as well on my.yoga-vidya.org/video. Information on Yoga Vidya Teachers Training Course or workshops at www.yoga-vidya.org/english/seminar.html. More information referring mantras, yoga and meditation at www.yoga-vidya.org Ruzan singt auf berührende Art das Mantra "Shiva Shiva Shambo" während eines Samstagabend Satsang bei Yoga Vidya in Bad Meinberg. Samstagabend kannst du online live beim Satsang dabei sein und mitsingen: mein.yoga-vidya.de/page/yoga-vidya-satsang. In unserem Yoga Vidya Kirtanheft findest du das Mantra unter der Nummer 261. Bei Yoga Vidya gibt es zahlreiche Seminare zum Thema Mantrasingen oder Musik: www.yoga-vidya.de/seminare/interessengebiet/mantras-und-musik. Vielseitige Informationen und Hinweise über Yoga und „yogisches“ Leben findest du hier: www.yoga-vidya.de.

Todd has given that helmic regulator quite a twist, I’m afraid, and we’ve found ourselves in the year 16,087, on a space station being menaced by bubble wrap and fibreglass ants. And still it’s one of the best Doctor Who stories to date. Ladies and gentlemen, I give you The Ark in Space.