COUNTERCURRENT

Countering The Currents Of Misinformation

Issue 6

Prophet Muhammad [pbuh] stated that God Almighty says: My servant does not draw near to Me with anything more beloved to Me than the obligatory duties I have enjoined upon him; and My servant continues to draw near to Me with voluntary works, such that I [begin to] love him. And when I love him I become his hearing with which he hears, his sight with which he sees, his hand with which he grasps and his foot with which he walks. [I take full control over his actions.] Were he to ask [something] of Me, I would surely give it to him, and were he to ask Me for refuge, I would surely grant him it. I do not hesitate about anything as much as I hesitate about [seizing] the soul of My faithful servant: he hates death and I hate hurting him.. [Recorded by Bukhari]

Mission The aim of CounterCurrent is to engender God-consciousness and spirituality in a materialoriented society. It particularly aims to present the true picture of Islam and do away with the false negativity that has been associated with it. It is not a business venture and relies mainly on individual sponsorship. If you wish to be part of this noble cause, please contact us [below]. Availability CounterCurrent is currently available at major public outlets and some smaller establishments. It is also distributed hand to hand where appropriate. For personal subscription please contact us through our email. Disclaimer The opinions and views expressed by contributors are their own and do not necessarily express CounterCurrents viewpoint or position. CounterCurrent does not accept responsibility for views expressed in articles that appear in its pages. Contribution of Content We welcome your articles for publication in the magazine. We do however reserve the right to edit them or not publish them at all. Articles should be of a standard quality and with a positive message, and forwarded with the contact details of the writer to our email address below. Copyright Notice No part of this publication may be reproduced in any manner without prior written permission from the editor.

All correspondence should be sent to: THE EDITOR COUNTERCURRENT 84 BONSALL STREET, LEICESTER - LE5 5AE Email: info@c-current.org COUNTERCURRENT IS A NON-PROFIT-MAKING ORGANIZATION Registered in England - No: 06040401

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The world today is witnessing conflicts and bloodshed on a scale that if not unprecedented, is at least reminiscent of some of the darkest eras of human history. The frightening spectacle of the persecution and victimization of the human race by the human race, inevitably throws the concept of being civilized into an abyss of doubt and confusion. One is compelled to reflect on the whole notion of civilization can continuous persecution of sections of the humankind, expropriation of lands and expulsion of vast numbers of indigenous populations be attributed to a characteristic of being civilized? Yet the civilized world not only allows all this to happen, but, by some perverted ideology and justification, supports it. This goes to the extent that those at the helm of political affairs consider acts of terror by States as appropriate and essential acts of defence. The question that naturally occurs to every rational human being is Is this civilization or a travesty of such a dignified word? Needless to say, the truly civilized people are at odds with such tendencies and happenings, but feel helpless to do much about it. But it is such mentality that induces inaction and apathy, which in turn accounts for why the good, in recent times, have not been able to

editorial
hold sway over the evil. Every individual, regardless of faith and race, is morally obliged to stand up for the noble cause of truth and justice; to defiantly expose and oppose the evil garbed in civilized garments, and do their utmost in checking the propagation of hate and the resultant crimes. After all it had been individuals in our glorious past who had resisted evil and effected miraculous changes in the world. History bears ample testimony that individuals in their individual capacities have played a huge role in the advance of noble causes. Whether it be the great works of art and literature, astonishing inventions of science or peaceoriented political revolutions, the result and impact, however great and timeless, were effected owing to the high aspirations and firm convictions of individuals. Margaret Mead once stated, Never believe that a few caring people cant change the world. For, indeed, they are the only ones who ever have. And it was Dale Carnegie who said, Most of the important things in the world have been accomplished by people who have kept on trying when there seemed to be no hope at all.

IN THIS ISSUE
Nature or God?... Page 4 My Entry into Islam... CounterCurrent... Prophetic Medicine... Words of Wisdom... Page 14 Page 17 Page 18 Page 20 Muslims - Then and Now.. Page 6 Muhammad [pbuh]... The Eloquent Quran... Page 9 Page 12

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Nature or God?
This world is undoubtedly the handiwork of a being far more ingenious than the human mind can imagine. Atheism ignores the fact that the world is wondrously uniform and harmonious in every facet of its existence. A haphazard emergence cannot be so uniform in law and structure. To imagine so is purely illogical. Just look at the harmony of things that are so physically dispersed and apart. Look at the beast and its prey, the herbivore and its fodder, the consistent nature of the water cycle, the elaborately interwoven system of stars and other countless phenomena of this world alone, let alone the hitherto undiscovered universe. If just a single atom, with its mind-boggling design and structure, can leave the best of human minds wonder-struck, what to say of the millions of structures formed therefrom, converging harmoniously to create various parts of the universe. And what of their perfectly harmonious relationship with other phenomena? And how welltailored is one for the other. Take the example of man himself. He cannot subsist without water, and water has been supplied for him in abundance. He needs food to nourish and sustain himself. Edible food, markedly distinct from inedible forms, in all its varieties and taste, grows almost independ ently of him. At least he was not the one and shall never be the one to produce it, despite all his claims to intelligence and superiority. Man needs shelter, and the best materials for the purpose exist within this world. Bricks, stones, glass and timber were not things he could have brought out from nothingness. Someone has supplied him with it. His tiresome struggles of the day demanded restful nights that would envelop him with peace and serenity and let him awake refreshed for another days work. That too was duly arranged. The genius of God stares man in his face! In short, all of mans needs have been fulfilled in such a way that he can covet no more for a satisfactory existence in this world. What he covets and desires further is a reflection of his spiritual need for another world, one with unabated pleasures and unbounded satisfaction. Since such indulgent desire was created for another world, it needs to be suppressed here, else it would wreak havoc, as we often witness. The perfect harmony of nature dissolves all arguments of unbelief. Isnt it true that man to this day continues to probe nature and unearth discoveries which continue to baffle him? Isnt it also true that man has always been and continues to discover the ingenuity of nature; learning all the while how things function in the natural world and how wonderfully they correlate to one another? Further, isnt it also true that many inventions of men are a clever replication of natures own creations? Does all this not demonstrate that there exists an intelligence which is far superior to mans own? All of mans inventions have come about through material already provided and have been devised through minds already provided. One may ask, indeed, what does belong to man over which he takes such pride? Even in the workshops of human minds, thoughts, which are the precursors of all inventions, come to man, and he does not create them. When you hit upon an idea or a clever plan, do you create it? The answer inevitably is in the negative. Supposing if man himself was responsible for its creation, the question is why did he not create it earlier? Indeed if one has within his possession the possibility of something good, why would he wait for a certain time for it to materialize? The fact that all ideas and all thoughts find their way to the mind rather than being brought on by the thinker points to an outside Source. And

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since all inventions of man are a result of thoughts, and thoughts are not the creation of people, the credit of all discoveries and inventions rests with the Source that provided the initial thoughts; and it is this Source to whom we refer as God. Such ingenuity is artfully attributed to nature by those who choose to deny God. It is strange, however, how on the one hand someone can deny the contribution of an external Source, and yet on the other accept it too; albeit being attributed to an unintelligible phenomenon called nature. If such is the case, where would one attribute the ingenuity and intelligence which abounds throughout

the universe? A single act of intelligence can be credited to accident, but what do you say about a world, as large as ours, nay of the universe, the expanse of which boggles minds, free from a single unintelligible or irrational phenomenon? If scientists, with all their know-how and sophisticated technology, unceasingly continue to unravel mysteries of great ingenuity, where would you rank the Genius whose ingenuity it is that is being probed? And what would you say of one who lives in and observes a world of such perfect order and precise chemistry and refuses to accept the Maker of it? If modern atheism is to be accepted, it is akin to

believing in an explosion on a street that causes fragments of rubble to swirl into space and then suddenly, of their own accord, transform into the most perfect system of life and existence. There are perfectly sized balls of dust that orbit with precision and order. There is light and heat in perfect balance; there is life with all its requirements for sustenance and nourishment. There is not a single instance of discrepancy or incongruity to be found within. Thousands of years pass by without any disruption to the remarkable arrangement and order of this system. If such a hypothesis is to be rejected, then atheistic beliefs regarding our universe, which is far greater than this hypothetical example, all the more deserve to be rejected.

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Muslims - Then And Now

Read in the name of your Lord, who created; created man from a clinging clot. Read, and your Lord is the most Generous, who taught by the pen; taught man that which he knew not. [Quran 96:1-5 - The first revelation Muhammad (pbuh) received from God] These were the verses which catalyzed the revolution for which the subsequent Islamic world was to be credited. It was to dispel the darkness and gloom of ignorance that had for so long gripped the world. Knowledge, worldly or religious, is deemed necessary, and the Quran exhorts people to acquire it for the benefit of all. Muslims from earlier generations understood this and surpassed other nations in scientific advancement and carried the torch of knowledge for many centuries. On the basis of the teachings of Islam, they made great advances in all fields of knowledge. But when failing to heed the message of the Quran, they were gripped in the intellectual quagmire which they find themselves in today. In this article we would like to make the distinction between the terms Islam and Muslims in this respect and portray a picture of the earlier Muslims by contrast. We would like to begin with a few quotes. T.W. Wallbank and A. Schrier write: In medicine, mathematics, astronomy, chemistry and physics, Muslim achievements were particularly noteworthy. Well-equipped hospitals, usually associated with medical schools, were located in the principal cities. At a time when superstition still hampered the practice of medicine in Western countries, Muslim physicians were diagnosing diseases, prescribing cures and performing advanced surgery Probably the greatest of all physicians was the 9th century figure, al-Razi, known in the West as Rhazes. He was the author of scores of scientific works, including a comprehensive medical encyclopaedia and a pioneering handbook on smallpox and measles. A 10th century physician, Avicenna, (Ibn Sina) compiled a huge Cannon of Medicine which was considered the standard guide in European medical circles until the late 17th century. Important advances were made in algebra, analytical geometry and plane spherical trigonometry. [Living World History, Scott Forseman and Company, 1990, p.191-2] Carly Fiorina, former CEO of HewlettPackard, made the following comments during her famous speech of Minneapolis: There was once a civilization that was the greatest in the world. It was able to create a continental super-state that stretched from ocean to ocean, and from northern climes to tropics and deserts. Within its dominion lived hundreds of millions of people, of different creeds and ethnic origins. One of its languages became the universal language of much of the world, the bridge between the peoples of a hundred lands. Its armies were made up of people of many nationalities, and its military protection allowed a degree of peace and prosperity that had never been known. The reach of this civilizations commerce extended from Latin America

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to China, and everywhere in between. And this civilization was driven more than anything, by invention. Its architects designed buildings that defied gravity. Its mathematicians created the algebra and algorithms that would enable the building of computers and the creation of encryption. Its doctors examined the human body and found new cures for disease. Its astronomers looked into the heavens, named the stars, and paved the way for space travel and exploration. Its writers created thousands of stories; stories of courage, romance and magic. Its poets wrote of love when others before them were too steeped in fear to think of such things. When other nations were afraid of ideas, this civilization thrived on them, and kept them alive. When censors threatened to wipe out knowledge from past civilizations, this civilization kept the knowledge alive, and passed it on to others. While modern Western civilization shares many of these traits, the civilization Im talking about was the Islamic world from the year 800 to 1600, which included the Ottoman Empire and the courts of Baghdad, Damascus and Cairo, and enlightened rulers like Suleiman the Magnificent. Although we are often unaware of our indebtedness to this other civilization, its gifts are very much a part of our heritage. The technology industry would not exist without the contributions of Arab mathematicians. Sufi poet-philosophers like Rumi challenged our notions of self and truth. Leaders like Suleiman contributed to our notions of tolerance and civic leadership. And perhaps we can learn a lesson from his example. It was leadership based on meritocracy, not inheritance. It was leadership that harnessed the full capabilities of a very diverse population that included Christian, Islamic, and Jewish traditions. This kind of enlightened leadership that

nurtured culture, sustainability, diversity and courage led to 800 years of invention and prosperity. In dark and serious times like this, we must affirm our commitment to building societies and institutions that aspire to this kind of greatness. More than ever, we must focus on the importance of leadership - bold acts of leadership and decidedly personal acts of leadership. It is a fact that it is the Glorious Quran alone that inspired the Muslims to take up the scientific study of the universe. For fulfilling their obligations of the religion, it urged the Muslims, in varied styles, to reflect upon the natural phenomena, fathom deep into the systems that are upholding the whole administration of this universe and evolve means and methods of seeking benefits from them. Numerous verses exhort man to cast deep investigating looks at every object and phenomenon of nature and find out for himself the facts underlying them. Thus it has pointed out the very first principles of experimental science namely observation and study. When the Glorious Quran has time and again exhorted to investigate the phenomena governing this entire universe and to discover the principles, facts and causes underlying them, a question arises as to what might be the reason and aim for such stress. The first of these purposes is that human research should alone be the vehicle of revealing the Divine Signs (i.e., Divine arguments) inherent in the manifestations of Nature. This will provide an irrefutable and irrevocable basis for accepting the existence of One God. Divine arguments involve such characteristics as His Unity, Creativity, Sustenance and Divinity which come out as natural results of reflection, research

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and experimentation on the materials of the universe. These arguments and proofs will in themselves be a deterrent for polytheism, naturalism, heresy and all prevalent material philosophies. The divine guidance in this regard runs as follows: Behold! In the creation of the heavens and the earth; in the alternation of the Night and the Day; in the sailing of the ships through the ocean for the profit of mankind; in the rain which God sends down from the skies, and the life which He gives therewith to an earth that is dead; in the beasts of all kinds that He scatters through the earth; in the change of the winds, and the clouds which they trail like their slaves between the sky and the earth;- (here) indeed are Signs for a people that are wise. [Quran, 2:164] Abdul Aleem Siddiqui, in his book Cultivation of Science by the Muslims writes: The stress which the Holy Quran has laid on the scientific study of the universe is a phenomenon unique in the religious literature of the world. Repeatedly it calls our attention to the multifarious phenomena of nature occurring around us. Repeatedly it exhorts humankind that the pursuit of scientific knowledge is one of their religious duties. Repeatedly it emphasises the great truth unknown to the pre-Quranic world that everything in nature is for the service of man and should be harnessed by him for his use. It exhorts us to study the structure and function of the human organism; the structure, functions and distribution of animals; the form, structure, functions, classification and distribution of plants, and these are problems of Biology. It exhorts us to study the order of nature and the general properties of matter as

affected by energy, which is the problem of modern Physics. It exhorts us to study the properties of substances both elementary and compound, and the laws of their combination and action one upon another which is the problem of modern Chemistry. It exhorts us to study the structure and mineral constitution of the globe, the different strata of which it is composed, the changes that take place in its organic and inorganic matter, etc, etc., which are the problems of modern Geology. It exhorts us to study the construct of the earth, its physical divisions into seas, rivers, mountains, plains, etc., and the minerals, plants and animals in each, and its political divisions, which are the problems of modern Geography. It exhorts us to study the causes which bring about the alternation of day and night, the variation of the seasons, the movement of the planets and other celestial phenomena, which are the problems of modern Astronomy. It exhorts us to study the movements of winds, the formation and evolution of clouds and the production of rain, and other similar phenomena, which are the problems of modern Meteorology. If such was the exhortation of the Quran, what then led to the intellectual downfall of the Muslims in the field of Science? This is a rather extensive subject, which cannot be dealt with satisfactorily here. However, briefly it can be stated that the blame has to be laid at the doors of Muslims themselves. It was their apathy, inaction and failure to continue in the footsteps of their predecessors that brought upon them the intellectual pall of gloom which they find themselves under today. Despite centuries of stagnation, the current situation, unfortunately, remains the same.

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MUHAMMAD
By Shaikh Ibrahim Dremali

Recent events concerning the Islamic faith, and more specifically the Prophet Muhammad [pbuh], have led to many people asking the question, Who indeed is Muhammad [pbuh] and what makes him so beloved to a large group of the human race? In an attempt to portray a true reflection of his personality and character, this article was put together focusing on some relevant aspects of his life. Before discussing the life of Muhammad [pbuh], It seems appropriate to share comments of two leading Western personalities of recent times regarding his person. They too were unaware of the noble qualities of this admirable personage before they read his biography and studied his statements. George Bernard Shaw, the British playwright, said: The world is in dire need of a man with the mind of Muhammad; religious people in the Middle Ages, due to their ignorance and prejudice, had pictured him in a very dark way as they used to consider him the enemy of Christianity. But after looking into the story of this man I found it to be an amazing and a miraculous one, and I came to the conclusion that he was never an enemy of Christianity, and must be called instead the saviour of humanity. In my opinion, if he was to be given control over the world today, he would solve our problems and secure the peace and happiness which the world is longing for. [Genuine Islam, Vol. I, 1936]

The British philosopher, Thomas Carlyle, who won the Nobel Prize for his book The Heroes, wrote: It is a great shame for anyone to listen to the accusation that Islam is a lie and that Muhammad was a fabricator and a deceiver. We saw that he remained steadfast upon his principles with firm determination; kind and generous, compassionate, pious, virtuous, with real manhood, hardworking and sincere. Besides all these qualities, he was lenient with others, tolerant, kind, cheerful and praiseworthy and perhaps he would joke and tease his companions. He was just, truthful, smart, pure, magnanimous and present-minded; his face was radiant as if he had lights within him to illuminate the darkest of nights; he was a great man by nature who was not educated in a school nor nurtured by a teacher as he was not in need of any of this. [Heroes and Hero Worship and the Heroic in History, 1840] Looking into the Islamic scriptures, one can get a better picture of the character of Muhammad [pbuh], both through the words of God Almighty in the Quran, and through the words of those who had been around him. The Prophet Muhammad [pbuh] was an embodiment of mercy sent by God to the entire human race. His mercy encompassed all of humanity - men, women and children; believers and non-believers alike. As a family man, he raised four daughters, loving them and providing for them, and he cherished the memory of their mother

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and his wife of 25 years, Khadijah, till the end of his life. Muhammads mercy extended beyond the human race to all of Gods creation, such as animals and plants. He taught that feeding an animal can take one to Paradise while mistreating it can land one in the Fire. [There are numerous narratives in regard to animal welfare, which we must omit for the sake of brevity.] When he began calling the local people of Makkah to worship God alone as opposed to their many idols, he faced immediate resistance from many sectors of his society, including some of his own relatives. When people began accepting his message, however, submitting themselves to the worship of the one God, the Makkans only escalated their resistance to him and began actively persecuting him and his followers. There are many accounts that tell of the torture, humiliation and abuse faced by the first believers and by Muhammad [pbuh] himself. Once, when persecution was escalated to an intolerable degree, his companions asked him to curse the perpetrators. At

this the Prophet [pbuh] replied, I have not been sent to lay a curse upon men but to be a blessing to them. His opponents continued to treat him and his companions unjustly and cruelly, but he always prayed for them. [Sahih Muslim] Almost ten years after leaving Makkah, the Prophet [pbuh] returned with a force of 10,000 to retake the city. Knowing that they could never fight or resist such a force, the very people who had abused and tortured the Prophet [pbuh] and his followers wondered what their fate would be. Would he execute them for their long persecution and torture, which even they knew they deserved? Or would he exhibit the kind of response for which he had been known all along. The Prophets response was to set them free, declaring Makkah to be a city of peace, a sanctuary and refuge for all. It was on that same day that one of his companions said, Today is the day of the battle. Today God will humiliate the people who drove us out. The Prophet immediately objected to this and corrected him by saying, No. Today is the day of mercy. Today God honours the Quraish

[Makkan tribe]. [Sahih Bukhari] Years before that when he had just started preaching the call of Islam, the Prophet [pbuh] went to Taif, a lush town of green palm trees and fruits, just south-east of Makkah. He was hoping that perhaps the people of this city would be receptive to his message, which had been rejected by most of the Makkans for more than a decade. However, the people of Taif proved just as cruel and intolerant, and not only did they scorn his message, but even turned their youth against him who hurled stones and insults at him as he sadly left the city. Bleeding from head to toe, battered and exhausted, Muhammad [pbuh] looked beyond his own wounds and forgave them. This is just one of many examples of how he whom God described as a mercy to the universe dealt with those who opposed him. Indeed, the Prophet [pbuh] was true to the words he himself used to advise others, such as his saying, The merciful are shown mercy by the All-Merciful. Show mercy to those on earth, and He Who is the owner in heaven will show mercy to you [Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi]

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It is narrated by Jabir ibn Abdullah [a companion, that once] a funeral procession passed in front of us and the Prophet [pbuh] stood up and we too stood up. We said, O Allahs Messenger! This is the funeral procession of a Jew. He said, Whenever you see a funeral procession, you should stand up [out of respect, regardless of the faith of the deceased]. [Sahih Bukhari] This illustrates how an atmosphere of mutual love can be brought about in the world only when we consciously rise above all insidious demarcation of caste, colour and creed. Just as the Prophet [pbuh] did, we too must look at all men as human beings who deserve to be respected at all times. The Prophet [pbuh] taught humanity the qualities of mercy and justice at all times, but more so during times of war. This was at a time when the world was steeped in barbarism and there were no treaties or recognized principles to regulate battle. He prohibited abuse and mutilation, and forbade the killing of women, children and innocent, as well as the destruction of property and trees. He also prohibited

targeting the religious engaged in worship and religious buildings. He urged not to initiate war. And if done so by the opponent, respect the principles of the battlefield and fight only those who were engaged in the offensive. His mercy towards women and children was also remarkable. He would state, I start the prayers, intending to lengthen them. I then hear a child crying, so I make them shorter, knowing that a mother will be distressed by her childs cries. [Sahih Bukhari] It is related that once the Prophet [pbuh] kissed his grandsons on the forehead. A man who happened to be present remarked, I have ten children, but I have never kissed any of them! The Prophet [pbuh] looked at him and said, He who does not show mercy will not be shown any. [Sahih Bukhari] On another occasion, the Prophet [pbuh] was handed his daughters son who was dying, and again his eyes filled with tears. His companion Sad asked in surprise, What is this, O Prophet of God? He said, This is [a reflection of] mercy that the Almighty has created in the hearts of

His servants. And surely God is merciful with those among His servants who show mercy to others. [Sahih Bukhari] The Prophet [pbuh] was never too proud to walk alongside a widow or a poor person and fulfill their needs. He used to visit the sick both from the Muslim community as well as the non-Muslim, and he treated all orphans with mercy and kindness. A step further, he even advised people to sponsor orphans and treat them with similar compassion and gentleness. Once, joining his index finger with the middle one he said, I and the sponsor of an orphan will be like these [as close] in Paradise. [Sahih Bukhari] The above-mentioned are a few randomly selected examples of his life. To truly appreciate the greatness of Muhammad [pbuh], a detailed and objective study of his biography is required. One should judge the Prophet [pbuh] through his own conduct and behaviour, and not any other source.

And We have not sent you but as a mercy to the universe. [The Quran - 21:107]

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THE ELOQUENT QURAN

Shaykh Rahmatullah Keranwi

In order to appreciate the true eloquence and beauty of the Quran, one would have to read it in the language in which it had been revealed Arabic. Translations not only take away its glamour and attraction, but rather do great injustice to it. Translations should be taken for what they are and no more a means of communicating the message in the language of the reader. Equipped with the intelligence to learn and investigate, the excuse of people expressing their inability to learn Arabic and study the Quran is lame. What is even more scandalous is the behaviour of those who have not given any time at all to understand the Quran, yet point to some of its verses without any consideration for the context, time and the prevailing circumstances of its revelation. It is hoped that in this rational age, some rationality would be observed when approaching a book as rational as the Quran. [The Editor]

The Holy Quran maintains the highest possible standard of rhetoric in its speech, to the extent that it is literally impossible to find its parallel in human works. The rules of rhetoric demand that the words chosen for expression should be so exact in conveying the message that they should not express too much or too little for the occasion. The more a description embodies this quality, and the more appropriate the words are to the situation, the more eloquent it is said to be. The Holy Quran fulfils all the requirements of rhetoric to the highest standard. We present the following arguments to prove our claim. First Argument Human eloquence, whether from Arabs or non-Arabs, usually concerns the physical phenomena that are closely associated with those people. For instance, the Arabs are considered to be great orators and eloquent in the description

of camels, horses, swords and women. Poets, linguists and other writers acquire dexterity and proficiency in some particular field simply because poets and writers of all times have been writing and adding subtleties to the subject, providing food for thought for subsequent writers to open new avenues in it. However, the Holy Quran does not fit this pattern, owing nothing to precedent and being replete with astonishing examples of eloquence that were unanimously acknowledged by all the Arabs. Second Argument It is our usual experience that when poets and writers of literature try to adorn their language with eloquent expressions, they do not remain truthful. Anyone trying to be absolutely true in conveying his/her message can do so only at the cost of eloquence. It is therefore said that untruth is the main element of good poetry. The famous poets Labid ibn Rabiah and Hassan ibn

Thabit could not maintain the high standard of their poetry after embracing Islam. Their pre-Islamic poetry is more forceful and elegant than their post-Islamic compositions. The Holy Quran presents miraculous examples of eloquence in spite of being absolutely true in all that it says. Third Argument Good poetry is considered elegant and beautiful because some of its verses are of a high standard of eloquence. Each and every verse of that poetry is rarely all of the same standard. The Holy Quran, however, from beginning to end, is such an example of unabated beauty, elegance and eloquence that human beings of all times have been unable to produce even a small piece of equal standard. Fourth Argument Any writer or poet, when relating the same event more than once, does not manage in the repeated account to be as elegant and beautiful

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as he/she was the first time. The Holy Quran repeats versions of the same event, and of descriptions of the creation and the end of the world, and of the injunctions and the attributes of God. Each description is different in style and in size, but everyone is of such high standard that one cannot be preferred to another. Fifth Argument The Quran talks of many things like obligatory rituals, legal prohibitions, instigation to virtue, repudiation of worldly desires, and preparation for the Hereafter and other similar themes. The description of these things does not lend itself to elegance and beauty and any poet trying to compose poetry on practical injunctions of this kind would be hard put to produce a passage of literary merit. The Holy Quran deals with all these subjects with a high standard of eloquence. Sixth Argument The eloquence of every poet is confined to a particular subject and when the same poet speaks on other subjects, his beauty of expression and his proficiency is distinctly circumscribed. Imrul-Qais, the famous Arab poet, is known for his description of wine, women and horses. No other poet is as eloquent on this subject. Nabigha is known for his description of fear and awful events, Zuhayr for hope and so on. The Holy Quran, on the other hand, talks on all kinds of subjects with great force

of eloquence, beauty and elegance, and is found to be miraculously eloquent in each description. Seventh Argument Diversion from one subject to another which in turn has many branches usually makes it impossible for an author to maintain flow and continuity with the same grandeur and majesty and their language usually loses its height of eloquence. The Holy Quran is full of such diversions, frequently jumping from one event to another, but miraculously it maintains the same flow and continuity with all the other subjects under discussion. Eighth Argument Another distinct feature of the Quranic diction is that it encloses a vast range of meaning in a surprisingly small number of words without losing its charm and majesty in the least. Chapter Sads opening verses are a good example of this. The Holy Quran here describes a large number of subjects in very few verses, including a description of the unbelievers of Makkah, their rejection of the Holy Prophet, admonitions to them with reference to historical events of previous people, their distrust and astonishment at the revelation of the Quran, a description of their envious nature, threats and instigations, the teaching of patience and a description of events related to the Prophets David, Solomon, Job, Abraham and Jacob. All these diverse subjects have

been dealt with a force and eloquence that is unique to the Quran. Ninth Argument Majesty and grandeur, elegance and beauty are counteracting qualities that are rarely found together in a single work. These two opposite qualities are seen divinely combined together throughout the Quran in a way unknown to human genius. This again is a strong argument for the miraculous eloquence of the Quranic diction, which is absolutely absent from human writings. Tenth Argument The language of the Quran contains all possible kinds of eloquence, metaphor, similes, comparisons, transitions, inversions etc., but at the same time it is free of any hint of verbiage like false exaggeration, hyperbolical statements and other defects of falsehood. Human writing does not usually combine all the aspects of eloquence in one work. People have tried in vain to accommodate all these qualities. The Holy Quran, however, does so superlatively. These ten arguments are enough to prove the claim that the Quranic language is so sublime that it cannot be measured by human genius. The more one is acquainted with the Arabic language, the more they will find the words of the Quran burning into their heart, and its thought breathing into their soul.

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My Entry Into Islam

Interview of Jermaine Jackson, brother of the late Michael Jackson

When and how did you start your journey towards Islam? It was way back in 1989 when I, along with my sister, conducted a tour of some of the countries of Middle East. During our stay in Bahrain, we were accorded a very warm welcome. There I happened to meet some children and had a light chitchat with them. I put certain questions to them and they flung at me their innocent queries. During the course of this interaction, they inquired about my religion. I told them, I am a Christian. I asked them of their religion. A wave of serenity took over them. They replied in one voice: Islam. Their enthusiastic answer really shook me from within. Then they started telling me about Islam. They were giving me information, much in piece with their age. The pitch of their voice would reveal that they were highly proud of Islam. This is how I began my pace

toward Islam. A very short interaction with a group of children ultimately led me to have long discourses about Islam with Muslim scholars. A great ripple had taken place in my thought. I made failing attempt to console myself that nothing had happened but I could not conceal this fact any longer from myself that at heart I had converted to Islam. This I disclosed first to my family friend, Qunber Ali. The same Qunber Ali managed to take me to Riyadh, capital of Saudi Arabia. Till that time, I did not know much about Islam. From there, in the company of a Saudi family, I proceeded for Makkah for the performance of Umrah [A lesser type of pilgrimage]. There I made public for the first time that I had become Muslim. What were your feelings after you proclaimed that you were a Muslim? Having embraced Islam, I felt as if I were born again. I found in Islam the answers

to those queries which I had failed to find elsewhere. Particularly, it was Islam alone that provided a satisfactory answer to the question relating to the birth of Christ. For the first time I was convinced about religion itself. I pray my family members might appreciate these facts. What happened when you got back to the US after embracing Islam? When I returned to USA, American media orchestrated heinous propaganda against Islam and Muslims. The gossips were let loose on me which really disturbed my peace of mind. Hollywood was hell-bent upon maligning the Muslims. They were being projected as terrorists. There are many things where there is consensus between Christianity and Islam, and Quran presents Holy Christ as a virtuous Prophet. Then, I wondered, why Christian America levels baseless allegations against Muslims? This made me gloomy. I made

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up my mind that I would do my best to dispel the wrong image of Muslims, portrayed by the American media. I had not the slightest idea that the American media would not digest the news of my accepting Islam and raise such a great hue and cry. It was virtually acting against all its tall and much publicized claims about freedom of expression and freedom of conscience. So the hypocrisy of American society came to surface and lay uncovered before me. Islam unknotted many complications for me. As a matter of fact, I came to think of myself as a complete human being, in the literal sense of the word. After becoming Muslim, I felt a tremendous change in me. I discarded all things prohibited in Islam. This made things difficult for my family too. In short, the Jackson family tumbled altogether. Threatening letters poured in, which further intensified the worries of my family. What was the reaction of your brother Michael Jackson? On my way back to America, I brought a number of books from Saudi Arabia.

Michael Jackson asked me himself for some of these books for study. Before this, his opinion was influenced by the propaganda of American media against Islam and Muslims. He was not inimical towards Islam, but he was not favourably disposed towards Muslims either. But after reading these books, he would keep mum and not say anything against Muslims. Perhaps it was the impact of the study of Islam that made him divert some of his business interests towards Muslim traders. It was said earlier that Michael Jackson was against Muslims, and then there were rumours that he had become Muslim. What is the real story? To the best of my knowledge, Michael Jackson has never said anything derogatory against Muslims. His songs, too, give message of love for others. We have learnt from our parents to love others. Only those who have their own axe to grind hurl allegations on him. When there can be a nasty uproar against me when I became Muslim, why can it not be so against Michael Jackson. But, so far, the

media has not subjected him to scathing criticism, although he is threatened for his getting somewhat closer to Islam. But who knows what would it look like when Michael Jackson embraces Islam. What are the views of the rest of the members of your family about you? When I returned to America, my mother had already heard the news of my conversion to Islam. My mother is a religious and civilized woman. When I reached home, she put forth only one question, have you taken this decision all of a sudden, or is it the outcome of some deep and long thinking? I have decided after a lot of thinking, I replied. Let me say we are known as a religious family. Whatever we possess is due to the blessing of God. Then why should we not be grateful to Him? This is why we actively participate in charitable activities. We dispatched medicines to poor African countries. During Bosnian war, our aircrafts were engaged in supplying aid to those affected most. We are sensitive to such things because we have witnessed abject poverty ourselves.

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We used to live in a house which was hardly a few square metres capacious. Have you ever discussed about Islam with your sister, pop star Janet Jackson? Like other members of my family, my sudden conversion to Islam was a great surprise for her. In the beginning, she was worried. All her negative perceptions about Muslims were based on polygamy. When I explained that this permission granted by Islam was with reference to the state of the present American society, she understood. This is a fact that promiscuity and infidelity is very common in the Western society. In spite of being married, Western men enjoy extramarital relations too. This has caused devastating moral decay in that society. Islam safeguards the social fabric from this destruction. As per Islamic teachings, if a man is emotionally attracted towards a woman, he should honourably give this relation a legal shape, otherwise he must be contented with only one wife. On the other hand, Islam has laid down

so many conditions for second marriage that I do not think an ordinary Muslim can afford to meet these conditions. There is hardly a single percent of Muslims throughout the Islamic world who have more than one wife. To my view, a woman in an Islamic society is just like a well-protected flower which is safe from the stray penetrating looks of the viewers, whereas the Western society is devoid of the vision that would allow them to appreciate this wisdom and philosophy. What is your take on the Muslim society of today? For the larger interest of humanity, Islamic society presents the safest place on this planet. For instance, take the example of women. American women are clad in their outfits in such a manner that gives temptation to the male for harassment. But this is unthinkable in an Islamic society. Besides, the prevalent sins and vices have disfigured the moral fabric of Western society. I believe if there is any place left where humanity is still visible, it cannot be anywhere other than in an Islamic society. Time

would come when the world would be obliged to accept this reality. Can you maintain a linkage between your Islamic personality and the culture of your family? Why not? This linkage can be kept up for the achievement of many good things. Who has influenced you so far as Islam is concerned? Many people have impressed me. But the fact is that the very first thing I always do is turn to the Holy Quran, therefore I do not run a risk of getting strayed on the way. However, there are many Islamic scholars that one can be duly proud of. Are your wife and children Muslims too? I have seven sons and two daughters, who, like me, are fully Islam-oriented. My wife is still studying Islam. I trust Insha-Allah [God-Willing], she would soon join Islam. May God Almighty give us the courage and perseverance to remain on this true religion. (Aameen)

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COUNTERCURRENT - WHAT AND WHY

Man has severed his relationship with his Lord and forgotten his duties for which he was liable. The obsession with lifes transient pursuits and possessions has overtaken all meaningful goals. Spirituality has become meaningless and virtues such as ethics and righteousness have lost their glamour. Abandoned is the message of God brought by all revealed religions; not least the final revealed message, Islam. Far from studying the religion with an objective outlook, modern man has fallen a prey to malevolent forces wishing to malign it. Unfounded claims and baseless assertions are now increasingly finding an audience, thanks to media misportrayal of it. Consequently, what we get is an extremely negative perception of the faith in the minds of those whose daily diet is the mainstream media and cannot find time to explore for themselves where the reality lies. This publication is a humble effort in this direction. It seeks to engender God-consciousness and spirituality in a material-oriented society. It also aims to develop critical thinking in minds accustomed to seeing the one side of the coin. It attempts to provide the readers with an alternative source of information. This publication is distributed free of charge to major public places, as well as other smaller establishments. It is also distributed individually wherever appropriate. To fulfil our ambitions and further our cause we require your assistance. You can help by doing one or more of the following.

You can become part of this project through the following methods
Support us morally and spiritually. Provide support through your professional services and / or distribution. Support us financially. We require consistent funds to keep this project running. To ensure this we have begun a scheme of small-sum sponsorship. We ask you to donate at least one pound a month for this noble cause. You can obviously fix a larger sum if you wish.

If you think you can help in either of the above please contact us at the email / postal address on page 2.

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Prophetic Medicine
Dr. Muhammad Salim Khan M.D.{M.A.}D.O.M.H.

Prophet Muhammad [pbuh] said, Within the body there is a piece of flesh. When it is sound, the whole body is sound; and when it is corrupt, the entire body goes corrupt. Behold, it is the heart. [Sahih Bukhari] The Messenger of God [pbuh] came as a mercy for the entire creation - for their souls and their bodies. Therefore, the above saying can carry both spiritual and physical interpretations. Today, due to the so-called modern and civilized way of life, there are thousands of chronic diseases that cripple millions of people and kill many in the prime of their lives. The deviation from Fitrah - natural way of life has created epidemics of what were once known simply as Degenerative diseases. We will look at these (Modern Epidemics) and see how the medicine of the Prophet [pbuh], and in particular, the use of honey can help in curing them. In the present article we will discuss the leading killer of adults in the industrialised Western world - heart disease. Although there are many different types of heart diseases, there is one which is potentially fatal. Before we look at the statistics, it would be wise to try and understand this modern killer. The term Coronary Heart Disease or C.H.D, is used to describe a disorder of the heart muscles resulting from narrowing

or blockage of the coronary arteries. These arteries supply blood to the heart muscles. Because of the narrowness, the heart muscles may not receive sufficient blood. An inadequate blood supply is called Ischemia. The term Ischemia Heart Disease is synonymous with coronary heart disease. Often, the blood supply is only insufficient when demands on the heart are increased due to overwork, stress, etc. This transient Ischemia may cause a chest discomfort or pain called Angina (waji qalb), which characteristically disappears on resting. When the reduction in blood supply and vital force is so severe as to cause death of the muscle cells, it is known as Myocardial infarction. In everyday language it is called a heart attack. Heart attacks affect over a quarter of a million people in the U.K. each year. Angina attacks over two million people each year in the U.K. Coronary disease is a leading cause of death in the U.K. Men are more likely to have a heart attack; and out of all groups, Asian men have the highest record of death from heart attacks in UK. There are many and varied reasons behind the epidemic levels of heart diseases. These range from everyday stress, worry, to poor diet, especially junk food, pollution, lack of physical exercise or activity. Heart diseases were although present during the early era too, but firstly they were rare

and when they did occur, Prophetic remedies were there to help. The use of honey has been prescribed for many types of illnesses in the Prophetic medicine; it has also been recommended as a wonderful dietary supplement for healthy people too for the preservation of health. Regular use of honey helps prevent heart diseases. A famous physician, lbne Sina, the author of the medical classic, Al-Qanoon filTibb, used to give honey and pomegranate to his heart patients. I, too, following in his footsteps, prescribe honey and Sana (Sana Maki) for such patients. Honey is a heart tonic which tones the heart muscles and provides energy as well as a whole range of vitamins and minerals. Honey also removes impurities and toxins from the arteries. The poisons are removed faster when Sana Maki is used alongside honey. For heart diseases, tea made from Sana Maki and sweetened with pure honey is highly effective. Regular use of honey in warm water before breakfast also acts as a tonic for the heart. For those who have survived a heart attack, the combination of honey, Sana and Ajwaa (a quality date grown in parts of Madeenah) should speed up recovery.
Dr. Salim Khan can be contacted at: clinic@ mohsinhealthgroup.co.uk

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Tibb - holistic herbal medicine - is an original tradition of natural health care.

Mohsin Clinic of natural medicine uses this ancient wisdom and tradition to help deal with modern problems and illnesses. The primary emphasis at the Clinic is on preservation of health. The unique diagnostic methods of natural medicine such as iridology and pulse reading allow for an early detection of illness.

Hakim M. Salim has attained the reputation for being a world renowned herbalist with over thirty years successful clinical experience.

Arrange Your Consultation Now!

www.mohsinhealthgroup.co.uk

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Words of Wisdom
[of Prophet Muhammad pbuh]

A Muslim who meets with others and shares their burdens is better than one who lives a life of seclusion and contemplation. (Sahih Muslim) God does not look at your appearance or your possessions; but He looks at your heart and your deeds. (Sahih Muslim) God [Himself] is One and [therefore] likes Unity. (Sahih Muslim) He is not a Muslim who eats to his fill while his neighbour goes hungry. (Baihaqi) Whoever desires to meet God, God desires to meet him [too]. (Bukhari) Much silence and a good disposition; there are no two things better than these. (Bukhari) Verily, God is lenient and is fond of leniency, and He gives to the lenient what He does not give to the harsh. (Sahih Muslim) The worldly comforts are not for me. I am like a traveller, who takes a rest under a tree shade [for a short while] and then continues his journey. (Tirmidhi) Once a man, passing through a road, found a thorny branch of a tree obstructing it. He removed it, and in appreciation, God forgave his sins. (Bukhari) It is better to sit alone than in the company of the evil; and it is better still to sit with the good than alone. It is better to speak to a seeker of knowledge than to remain silent; but silence is better than idle words. (Bukhari)