Page 2 The Islamic Bulletin Issue 5 Page 3 The Islamic Bulletin Issue 5 Dear Editor: I am a very devout Christian who was recently introduced to Islam. I enjoy reading The Islamic Bulletin very much and look forward to each issue. There is just one question, however, that has been bothering me from your last issue. It was stated that it was the Prophet Ismael who was going to be sacrificed by his father, Prophet Abraham. I have been taught in Christianity that it was Prophet Isaac. I never knew until reading the Islamic Bulletin, that Islam believes that it was the Prophet Ismael. Now I am confused. I don’t know which one is right. Please clarify it for me. Your Christian Brother, Carlos Rodriquez, San Francisco Response: First of all, I would like to thank you for writing and in response to your statement, please refer to the following sections from the Bible: “After these things God tested Abraham, and said to him, ‘Abraham! And he said, Here am I.’ God then said, ‘Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as burnt offering upon one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.” (Genesis 22:1-2). There is a glaring contradiction in this statement. It says that God asked Abraham to sacrifice his only son Isaac for Him and also emphasizes that he is the only son. Other statements of the Bible clearly show that Isaac was not the only son, “Now Sarai, Abraham’s wife, bore him no children. She had an Egyptian maid whose name was Hagar; and Sarai said to Abraham, ‘Behold now the Lord has prevented me from bearing children; go into my maid; it may be that I shall obtain children by her.’ And Abraham harkened to the voice of Sarai. So, after Abraham had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan, Sarai, Abraham’s wife took Hagar the Egyptian, her maid, and gave her to Abraham, her husband, as a wife. And he went in Hagar, and she conceived.’ (Genesis 16:1-4). And in the same chapter we find, “And the angel of the Lord said to her, ‘Behold, you are with child, and shall bear a son; you shall call his name Ishmael!’ (Genesis 16:1-4) And in the same chapter we read, ‘And Hagar bore Abraham a son; and Abraham called the name of his son, whom Hagar bore, Ishmael. Abraham was eighty-six years old when Hagar bore Ishmael to Abraham.” (Genesis 16:15-16). Letters To The Editor Thereafter when Abraham was a hundred years old he was given the good news of the birth of his second son, Ishaque from Sarai, “And God said to Abraham, ‘As for Sarai, your wife, you shall not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall be her name. I will bless her, and moreover I will give you a son by her... and you shall call his name Isaac...” Then Abraham took Ishmael his son and all the slaves born in his house or bought with his money, every male among the men of Abraham’s house, and he circumcised the flesh of their foreskins that very day as God had said to him. Abraham was ninety-nine years old when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin. And Ishmael, his son was thirteen years old when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin.” (Genesis 17: 15-25). Another section of the Bible mentions the time of birth of Isaac in these words, ‘Abraham was a hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him.’ (Genesis 21-5). A cursory glance at the above statements of the Bible will show that Ishmael was the only son of the Prophet Ibrahim right up to the age of fourteen. If Prophet Ibrahim was commanded to sacrifice his only son, it could be only Ishmael and not Ishaque because the latter was not his only son but second son. The statements in the Qur’an discussed above explicitly point out that The Almighty asked Prophet Ibrahim to sacrifice his son Ishmael when he was his only son and also establish first; that when Ibrahim had no children, he prayed to The Almighty for a virtuous child (Qur’an 37:100) and was given the good news of the birth of a gentle and patient boy (Qur’an 37:101). And second; when that child was able to run and play, then Prophet Ibrahim was asked to offer him in sacrifice (Qur’an 37:102). Third; it leaves no doubt that the good news was the birth of his first child and sacrifice was also of the first child who was the only child of Prophet Ibrahim. That child was Ishmael beyond any shadow of doubt. Fourth; the words used by the Qur’an when giving the good news of the birth of his two sons, Ishmael and Ishaque (Isaac), also seem to point out the different qualities of the two boys. For Ishmael it uses the words “gentle and patient boy” (Qur’an 37:101) and for Ishaque “boy possessing wisdom and knowledge” (Qur’an 15:53). Fifth; it seems more rational and reasonable to deduce from the language used in the Qur’an regarding the good news of the birth of Ishaque that he could not be the boy who was demanded in sacrifice. When the Qur’an gives the good news of the birth, it also gives the good news of Ibrahim’s grandson, Yakub (Jacob), from Ishaque (Isaac) (Qur’an 11:71). It seems very illogical that the prophet Ibrahim (A.S.) is given good news of the birth of a son and also a grandson from him and, at the same time, he is asked to sacrifice the same son. This totally rules out the birth of a grandson from the same son. Besides, when the news of the birth of Ishaque (A.S.) was given, Ibrahim (Abraham) (A. S.) was told that he would be a prophet and one of the righteous (Quran 37:112) and also that his grandson would be of the righteous and would receive revelation for human guidance. (Qur’an 21:72-73). This clearly points out that the Command of sacrifice was not for Ishaque (A.S.) but for the other son who was patient and was born many years before him. I hope this will answer your question. Need to contact us? Web Address: www.islamicbulletin.org E-Mail: info@islamicbulletin.org Editor, Islamic Bulletin P.O. Box 410186 San Francisco, CA 94141-0186, USA Islam in USSR - Democracy and Ideology London: Re-evaluation of the stereotypes concerning anti-religious propaganda is under way in Soviet academic circles. The long history of Muslim civilization, especially in Central Asia, speaks for itself. Atheism has failed. Presently, any attack on religion is not encouraged nor can it hope to succeed. Rather, in a subtle and sophisticated manner, government officials are taking care of the needs of the religious communities as long as there is no proliferation of tendencies detrimental to the present government. Mr. K. Moldobaev, the Vice Chairman of the USSR Council for Religious Affairs, has eloquently enumerated the facilities the Muslims have been given lately (see Pravda Vostoka, January 8, 91). Apart from mentioning the increase in the mosques, which according to him now stands at 1500, and preparation for the translation of the Holy Qur’an into different languages, he pointed also to the so-called democratic freedomof the official Muslim clergies who can now be elected to the Soviet parliament. But what seems to be contradictory to the democratic process is that again and again the official media has attacked the formation of the Islamic Revival Party. The latest criticism came from Pravda Vostoka (February 1, 91) suggesting that Muslims should neither form a party nor can they belong to any political organization for it is against Islam. The Muslims are advised to be content with what is being provided by the government. Without any linkage, the daily blames the Muslim Brotherhood party for creating tension in the Muslim World and paints an image of the Islamic Party intent on establishing a theocratic regime in USSR. The Islamic Party is seen as a threat to the new Soviet law of religion and the official religious leaders are equally raising their voice against it. Mufti Sadiq Mohammed Yusupov, Chairman of the Religious Board of Central Asia and Kazakhstan, has dismissed the party as illogical and absurd. Islam itself, according to him, is a party and the Holy Qur’an as its constitution. Islam in Netherlands Amsterdam: The Netherlands is one of the most densely populated countries in the world, with an estimated 14.6 million inhabitants in an area slightly larger than Massachusetts and Connecticut combined. The vast majority - 97% are ethnic Dutch and Christian. The Muslim community is estimated to number about 400,000 people, most of them originally “guest workers” from Turkey and Morocco. Smaller numbers came from Indonesia and Suriname, countries with former colonial connections to Holland, and from Pakistan. There are also those who have newly embraced Islam - mostly Dutch women who have married Muslims - as well as the so-called “second generation”: Dutch-born children of the Muslim immigrants. International Halal Food Conference Singapore: The World’s first ever Muslim food and technology exhibition will be held in August. The show named as International Muslim Food Exhibition (IMFEX), is being organized by the Singapore-Malay Chamber of Commerce. Hajji Abdul Kadir Hajji Elias Ali, Vice President of the Chamber said the exhibition would raise awareness about the business potential for trade in Halal (lawful) food products, the only kind of food Muslims can consume. He pointed out that nearly one billion Muslims in the world consumed an estimated $60 billion worth of Halal food last year. Singapore’s export of the Halal food products to the Middle East increased by 30% in 1988 to $124 million. Halal food products have been a major area of concern for the International community of Muslims. Western food companies have been hitherto exporting food prepared out of several religiously prohibited ingredients to theMuslimnations. However,mostMuslimcountries now insist on proper slaughter of the animals formeat purpose and avoidance of lard, gelatin, and similar derivatives from their food products. And Here in the US... Islam - The Most Popular Religion Among Black Americans New York: The New York Times quoting the head of the Mosques Council in USA reports that Islam has become the most popular religion among Black Americans. Six million of them, most of Asian and African origins have accepted Islam. At least a million Black Americans have become Muslims. It is the fastest growing religion in the U.S. The Black Muslims are mostly from cities like New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Detroit and Ohio. The Muslims have established several Islamic Centers and over 500 mosques all over the U.S. Black Muslims have been very active in propagating the Islamic Dahwah (open invitation.) In New York State alone there are 112 mosques today compared to three back in 1953. Islam is flourishing in the US which it an encouraging phenomenon. Muslim Prayer in Opening House Session in U.S. New York: On June 25th, Siraj Wahaj, the Imam of Masjid al-Taqwa, in Brooklyn, New York, offered the daily prayer at the House of Representatives on the Capitol Hill yesterday. Imam Wahaj prayed and called upon The Almighty God to guide the U.S. leaders...and grant them righteousness and wisdom. What is MuslimAid? Muslim Aid is a Charity Relief Agency founded in 1985 and is supported by 18 trustees, representing the major MuslimOrganizations in the United Kingdom. Since its commencement Brother Yusuf Islam (Cat Stevens) has acted as the Chairman. TheaimofthisorganizationistoseekGod’spleasurebyraisingfundsthrough Zakat, Sadaqah andother donations, inorder tohelp theneedyMuslims in manyparts of theWorld. Theorganization responds toemergencies caused by natural disasters such as floods and droughts, by distributing food, medicine, clothing, drinkingwater andproviding shelter directly to the people in need.Theorganizationisalsoactiveinprovidingassistancetomanyrefugees of war, especially widows, orphans and the elderly. The overseas activity reflects the organizations policy of avoiding the governments in the distribution of funds and ensuring that the funds are utilized properly and distributed according to the donors’ wishes. For further information, please contact: Muslim Aid PO Box 3 London E1 1WP United Kingdom Ph: +44 (0)20 7377 4200 Fax:+44 (0)20 7377 4201 E-Mail: mail@muslimaid.org
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