#Muhammad University of Islam

[soulbrothershow]

The Daughters of the Divine

from The Gospel According to Chris

The sun was soft that afternoon, casting honey-colored light across a stone courtyard that had seen centuries come and go. The breeze carried the scent of cumin, cardamom, and crushed mint—prayers rising through the spices, through the laughter, through time itself.

Three women sat around a table, not in ceremony, but in something holier—communion without pretense. They were dressed in beauty, not for attention, but because they understood that adornment could be sacred too.

The first, robed in soft cream, her long locs cascading like a river of roots, was called Yeshua. There was healing in her gaze. Not the kind that shouted miracles, but the quiet kind—the kind that made wounds feel seen. Her tattoos told stories of crucifixion and rebirth. She spoke with the authority of one who had touched sorrow and made peace with it.

Beside her sat Muhammad, wrapped in black silk, her face framed by grace and hennaed hands. Her eyes were deep and wide like a moonless night in the desert, ancient and knowing. When she moved, it was with the intention of one who’d walked through revelations and returned with verses hidden in her silence.

The third woman, vibrant in magenta with laughter that rang like temple bells, was called the Buddha. Her energy was calm and playful, wise and open. She poured juice from a mason jar with the mindfulness of a monk and the joy of a child.

They passed the bread—fresh, warm, fragrant with the breath of the earth. All three reached for it at once, and their hands met in the middle. No words were needed. In that moment, the bread was not just food. It was memory. It was a bridge.

Yeshua broke the bread and said softly, “Each piece we tear away is still part of the whole. Just like us.”

Muhammad dipped the bread into the bowl of hummus and replied, “And in every piece, there is enough. For all of us. Always.”

Buddha took her share, her fingers adorned with gold rings catching the light. “This is the dharma,” she smiled. “Not in temples, not in scrolls. Right here. In this.”

They ate slowly, savoring not just the flavors but the presence. Their laughter rose like incense. Their silence was scripture.

Passersby saw three beautiful women sharing a meal. But the Earth saw three frequencies harmonizing into one. The Universe saw its own reflection braided in flesh, crowned in love.

They didn’t speak of theology. They didn’t need to. They spoke of gardens and music, of dreams and healing, of what it means to be fully alive and fully divine.

And when they stood to leave, there was no ceremony, only joy. A piece of bread left behind on the plate. A whisper left in the wind.

The courtyard never forgot that afternoon.

And neither did the stars. 

[manga-and-stuff]

Source: Fullmetal Alchemist Hagane no Renkinjutsushi 鋼の錬金術師

by Hiromu Arakawa

[islam-defined]

Indeed, Allah created everything, by a perfect measure (54:49)

Anything that is created by a measurement produces the product with perfection, whether it is its shape, size, appearance, lifespan or quality. Whenever humans produce something, it is certified for its perfection in the name of guarantee and warrantee. The product is also sent to R & D center for finding faults in it, so that any discrepancies in it could be removed.

In fact, Allah created everything, in truth, with perfect measure, in flawless shapes, with a time-span, with a purpose and their destiny.

So Allah declares, “He has perfected everything what He has created” (27:88, 32:7 etc) and then He CLAIMS, “Did they never observe the sky above them and understand how We built it and beautified it; without any flaws” (50:6).

Flawlessness in prefect measure. Really, Let’s check:

And I am not able to produce more, Allah's creation is infinite. Allah says, “To Allah belongs whatsoever is in the heavens and whatsoever is in the earth. Verily, Allah, He is Al-Ghani (Free of all needs), Worthy of all praise" [31:26]

Allah says, "If all the trees on earth were pens and the ocean were ink, refilled by seven other oceans, the Words of Allah would not be exhausted". [31:27]

Here I look into existence of Allah, in His creation of insect, fluid and hexagon. Quran says, "Surely Allah is Almighty, All-Wise. O people! Your creation and your resurrection for accountability on the Day of Judgement, is as easy as creating and resurrecting just one soul”. [31:28]

[totheidiot]

that new testament john x jesus post of mine is doing so good i might have to start cooking up another new testament related post. can't complain religious history when it comes to christianity and islam is of my most favorite things and i love to talk about it. if you want my thoughts on something concerning specifically the life of jesus and anything regarding islam before the sunni-shia split, shoot me an ask. i will come to you with an extremely long analysis post, trust.

[wordofprophet]

7 Scientific Miracles of Holy Quran ☄️

1) Expansion of the Universe (51:47) 2) The Big Bang (21:30) 3) The Sky's Protection (21:32) 4) Iron was sent down from outer space. (57:25) 5) Sun And the Moon moving on its own orbit. (21:33) 6) Pain Receptors (4:56) 7) Internal waves in the oceans (24:40)

. . . #allah#mohammadﷺ#quran#islam#makkah#madinah#hajj#miracle#explorepage#exploremore#viral#viralreels#instagram#trend#miracles#space#miracleshappen#science#trendingreels#trending#fyp#foryou#reels#reelsinstagram#sciencefacts#universe#bigbang#travel#inshaallah

[muslim-world]

[illogarithmil]

One day my fellow historians will achieve their ultimate triumph and demonstrate that polytheism has never existed, we've all been transcendental monotheists forever and we still are actually (sorry neopagans :( )

[chillinaris]

SIAPA yang melihat kisah luar biasa ini di halaman depan The New York Times hari ini? Ini adalah salah satu cerita paling populer minggu ini!

Penanggalan karbon baru-baru ini dari manuskrip Al-Quran kuno di Universitas Birmingham kini telah menambahkan lebih banyak lagi bukti mengenai tingkat kepastian Alquran yang tak tertandingi. Folio-folio ini diberi tanggal Karbon 14 dalam jangka waktu yang sama, atau mungkin tidak lama setelah Nabi kita (salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam). Dengan kata lain, jika perkamen ini tidak ditulis untuk/oleh seorang Sahabat, maka ditulis oleh/untuk seorang murid dari salah satu Sahabat.

Dalam gambar ini, yang disiapkan oleh Prof Godlas, Anda dapat melihat manuskrip asli, yang ditulis dalam manuskrip Hijazi kuno, dan membandingkannya dengan padanannya yang diketik modern.

Koleksi ini, disebut 'koleksi Mingana' (setelah peneliti Alphonse Mingana, meninggal 1937) dibeli oleh Mingana baik di Irak atau Suriah, hampir seratus tahun yang lalu. Edward Cadbury, pendiri perusahaan cokelat terkenal, mensponsori perjalanan Mingana ke Timur Tengah. Koleksinya, yang meliputi ratusan manuskrip, sebagian besar disimpan di University of Birmingham, di Inggris.

Banyak Muslim bertanya kepada saya, 'Mengapa begitu banyak dokumen dan manuskrip Islam berakhir di tanah dan perpustakaan non-Muslim?' Singkatnya, tanggapannya adalah: kolonialisme, dan kekuatan uang. Beberapa manuskrip hanya 'diperoleh'; tetapi sebagian besar dijual oleh pemilik pribadi, atau di pasar gelap, kepada pelancong dari Eropa yang dapat membayar harga yang dianggap sangat tinggi pada saat itu.

Dan terus terang, itu adalah hal yang baik. Dunia Muslim sama sekali tidak memiliki (juga tidak memiliki!) teknologi terbaru atau sarana ilmiah untuk mengurus manuskrip ini seperti yang dilakukan dunia Barat sekarang. Keyakinan saya adalah bahwa Kehendak Ilahi mengizinkan manuskrip-manuskrip ini dipelihara dengan cara sebaik mungkin, bahkan jika itu terjadi di tangan orang-orang yang tidak mempercayainya sejak awal.

“Sesungguhnya Kami telah menurunkan Peringatan ini, dan Kami pasti akan melestarikannya” [Quran]

[Foto dan huruf Arab diketik milik Prof Alan Godlas]

Share/ Bagikan...

[blackstarlineage]

Brother Khalid Abdul Muhammad (1948–2001) was a prominent African-American activist and orator known for his unapologetic views on race and social justice. He was a fiery speaker and a great figure in the fight against systemic racism and oppression.

Khalid Muhammad was born Harold Moore Jr. in Houston, Texas. He attended Dillard University in New Orleans, where he studied theology. Later, he furthered his studies at Pepperdine University in California. It was during his college years that he became involved with the Nation of Islam (NOI).

Khalid Muhammad rose to prominence within the Nation of Islam as a minister and a top aide to Louis Farrakhan. He became the National Spokesman for the NOI and was known for his powerful speeches advocating black empowerment, self-reliance, and resistance against white supremacy. However, his incendiary remarks, particularly in a 1993 speech at Kean College, led to his suspension from the Nation of Islam.

After leaving the NOI, Khalid Muhammad became active in the New Black Panther Party (NBPP), an organization that claims ideological lineage to the original Black Panther Party but with distinct differences such as being more pan african centred. He became the group's chairman in 1998, using his leadership to expand its platform of black empowerment and militant resistance to racial injustice.

The NBPP, under Khalid Muhammad's leadership, was known for its radical and militant stance. It advocated for black self-defense, reparations for slavery, and independence from systemic oppression. Critics, including members of the original Black Panther Party, accused the NBPP of distorting the original Panthers' legacy and focusing more on confrontational rhetoric.

Khalid Muhammad's speeches often emphasized black pride, self-determination, and unity. Khalid Muhammad supporters viewed him as a fearless advocate for the black community. His death in 2001 from a brain "aneurysm" marked the end of a contentious but impactful career in activism.

[a-shade-of-blue]

Masterlist of Vetted Fundraisers from the Palestinians who directly contacted me (12-17 December)

17 December

Fayrouz/ Fairuz (@fairouz-33, fairouz33): Fayrouz and her husband Jawad have 2 children: Muhammad (4) and Ahmed (1). Their house has been destroyed and they are now displaced and living in a tent. Muhammad has contacted hepatitis. (https://gofund.me/61a191c6) (#316 on @/gazavetters vetted list)

Mohammed Qeshta, Shorooq (@shorooq-mahmoud): Shorooq is a nursing graduate and is married to Mohammed. She gave birth to her first child Jamal on 6 Oct 2023. Their house has been destroyed. They managed to evacuate to Egypt after 124 days of genocide, but they’ve used up all their money doing so. They do not have a source of income in Egypt. They are fundraising to support themselves and also to get both Mohammed and Shorooq’s family out of Gaza.  (https://gofund.me/7c7c09d1) (Shared by bilal-salah0) (€255 raised of €25K target)

Ahmed Dawoud (@kmhan89): Ahmed and his wife Nour have 3 children: Kamel, Mohammed and Hamza. The oldest is 5 and Hamza was born 2 months before this genocide. Their house has been bombed and Ahmed’s business was completely destroyed. (https://gofund.me/41763bda) (#351 on @/gazavetters vetted list) (€5,067 raised of €20K goal, last donation was 6 months ago, they’ve been fundraising since February)

Nasreen Shawa (@nasreenshawa): Nasreen is 37 years old and used to work in a women’s protection organization. She has 4 children: Leila (13), Amal (8), Mohamed (4) and baby Samaa (1). They are living with Nasreen’s mother and brother Islam. Nasreen’s husband has been killed. They are fundraising to buy basic necessities like milk and medicine! (https://gofund.me/89e68f78) (#334 on @/gazavetters vetted list) ($965 USD raised of $20K target)

16 December

Doaa Ayyad (@malakandmasa025): Doaa is 21 years old and a university student who was about to graduate. She has 2 daughters: Malak and Masa.  Malak has Down Syndrome and is also suffering from heart problems. Masa is only 1 year old. They have been displaced from Northern Gaza and is now living in a tent in Rafah. (https://gofund.me/38d59a5e) (shared by 90-ghost)

Alaa Salama (@alaafamely55, @alaafamely0): Alaa (30) and his wife Nabila (28) have 2 children: Muhammad (7) and Sham (6). Their house has been destroyed and the children are suffering from malnutrition. (https://gofund.me/d60c16c1) (#339 on @/gazavetters vetted list)

Rahaf Al-Ghandour (@kisirahaf, @rahafmah): Rahaf has 5 children and she has lost her husband. Her 3 eldest children are missing out on their university studies and the younger children have also been deprived of their education. (https://gofund.me/707255fd) (shared by bilal-salah0) (£409 raised of £100K target)

Rahaf (@rahf2012): Rahaf is only 13 years old. She and her family have been displaced for more than 10 times and are now living in a tent. Her little brother is sick. (https://gofund.me/986196ba) (shared by 90-ghost) ($180 USD raised of $50K goal)

15 December

Rewaa Amir (@rewaa-gfm, @rewaa-amir-family2, @rewaaamir, @rewaaamir-family): Rewaa and her husband Mutez Akrem have 5 children: Kinan (13) who dreams of being a doctor, Taim (10) a catlover who wishes to become a vet, Akram (7), Amir (5) and Salma (3). (https://gofund.me/1550d98c) (#155 on @/gazavetters vetted list) ($666 CAD raised of $55K target)

Asmaa Abed (@freegazas-world, free-palestines-world): Asmaa’s new house was completely burnt and destroyed, and she and her family evacuated to Khan Yunis. They are raising funds to buy basic necessities. (https://gofund.me/1d58b4f4) (Vetted by association. Asmaa is a sister of Mohiy (@/mohiy-gaza2) (shared by 90-ghost))

Anwer Hells, Kifah (@kifah-hilles): Kifah and her husband Anwer are from Northern Gaza but they are now displaced in Deir el-Balah. They used to work in trade and imports. They are now fundraising to buy basic necessities. (https://gofund.me/ac6a5bd0) (shared by 90-ghost) (€200 raised of €30K target)

Marwan Alhabil (@merwangaza): Marwan and his wife are 70 years old. Marwan’s wife suffers from severe herniated disc and she also has severe osteoporosis and diabetes. Marwan’s wife has also broken her foot.  (https://gofund.me/25c4628e) (shared by 90-ghost) (€1,243 raised of €30K target, fundraising since July)

14 December

Hatem Hellis, Massa (@massagaza): Hatem and his children are from Shujaiya neighborhood in the northern Gaza Strip, but their house has been destroyed. They are now displaced in a tent in Deir al-Balah. (https://gofund.me/76daf41a) (shared by 90-ghost) (€878 raised of €45K target)

Momen Afana, Walaa (@walafamily1992): Momen is a dentist while his wife Wala is a mathematics teacher. They have 3 children: Youmna (5), Roua (8), and Tala (10). An airstrike killed 13 of their family members and destroyed their home. Momen’s spine was fractured and dislocated in two places due to the bombing. Even while injured, Momen has been offering dental care to displaced people in Gaza.  (https://gofund.me/e01d33c8) (Line 203, Case No JT03H on Project Watermelon Vetted fundraiser list, Project Watermelon has also posted with Walaa on the dental tent Momen set up to provide dental services for children in Gaza, see here)

13 December 

Ahmad Abu Al-Amrain (@ahmadfrompalestine2002, @ahmadfromgaza @ahmad382002): Ahmad is a pharmacy student and was supposed to graduate uni this year. He is still trying to finish his studies online. His father has pneumonia. Ahmad and his family is displaced and are now living in a tent. (https://gofund.me/4509ce4b) (#119 on @/gazavetters vetted list)

Serin Sameer (@seringaza92, @helpserin): Serin’s family consists of his parents and parents and four brothers, three of whom are married with kids. They have lost their sister-in-law and their nine-month-old niece. (https://gofund.me/56f689ca) (Vetted by association! Serin is a friend of @/abedallhferwanagaza (#60 on @/gazavetters vetted list, #964 on the Butterfly Effect Project vetted fundraiser list)) ($655 CAD raised of $100K goal, fundraising since July)

Ghada Muhaisen (@ghada-knan20): Ghada is 20 years old. She gave birth to a baby in a contaminated tent in the middle of this genocide. Her husband broke his foot while trying to provide for the family. (https://gofund.me/4d504edf) (#289 on @/gazavetters vetted list)

Marah (@marahkatoa2000): Marah is a 23-year-old university student. She has a brother and they used to own a supermarket that is now destroyed. Her mother suffers from an enlarged thyroid gland and diabetes. Her father had a stroke after learning of the deat of their relatives. (https://gofund.me/96e4f26a) (shared by 90-ghost, shared by bilal-salah0) (£820 raised of £20K goal)

Enas Shukry Issa Balousha (@enasfamily33, @enasfamily): Enas is a widowed mother and she has 2 children: Mohammed (7) and Hala (5). Her house has been destroyed and her husband Anas was killed in a bombing while on his way to work. (https://gofund.me/93a61d0b) (shared by 90-ghost) ($595 USD raised of $75K goal)

Jaber Mohammad Al-Dahdouh (@jaberdahdoh2000): Jaber is 13 years old and he has 4 siblings: Shabaan, Hanan, Ahmed, and Ameera. They are from Northern Gaza but they are now displaced in Nuseriat. (https://gofund.me/b7d4c9f4) (shared by 90-ghost) (€860 raised of €20K goal)

12 December

Hussam Al-Qazzaz (@hananqazaz, @hossamqazaz12): Hussam has 4 children: Bashar, Hani, Dianah, and baby Habiba who was born in the middle of this genocide. His mother mother suffers from high blood pressure, and his father suffers from intensive burns. (https://gofund.me/44c3cf74) (#287 on @/gazavetters vetted list) (€1,178 raised of €55K goal, fundraising since April)

Anas Ahmed Al Ammarin (@anasahmed05): Anas used to have 5 siblings. Israel took his oldest brother Muhammad (29) hostage and they have received no news of him. Israel killed Anas’s second-eldest brother Abdulrahman (24), who has just graduated at the top of his class. Anas is only 19 years old and is now the oldest of his remaining siblings. He almost bled to death in the bombing before his parents found him 3 days later. His left arm was amputated with no anaesthetic. (https://gogetfunding.com/help-a-disabled-survivor-get-a-prosthetic-arm/) (Vetted by @/RadioWatermelon on Twitter (this is not a vetter I'm familiar with, would appreciate if anyone has more info), this is his new Twitter account: @/3naskom. For more info see post here and here) (€492 raised of €30,000 goal)

Click here for my Google Doc with my complete masterlist of all the Palestinian gfm asks I've received

Info on how gfm campaigns vetted:  See here, here, here and here.

See post here for other verified ways to send aid to Gaza.

Daily Clicks on Arab.org. Every click made is registered in their system and generates donation from sponsors/advertisers.

See links below for my Masterlists of Vetted Fundraisers from the Palestinians who sent me asks for if you want to help more people! As well as resources for palestinian students if you are a palestinian student!

Masterlists of Vetted Fundraisers

Click here for my Masterlist for fundraisers from 13 - 25 July.

Click here for my Masterlist for fundraisers from 26 -29 July.

Click here for my Masterlist for fundraisers from 30 July - 1 August.

Click here for my Masterlist for fundraisers from 2 - 5 August.

Click here for my Masterlist for fundraisers from 6 - 10 August.

Click here for my Masterlist for fundraisers from 11 - 14 August.

Click here for my Masterlist for fundraisers from 15 - 18 August

Click here for my Masterlist for fundrasiers from 19 - 21 August

Click here for my Masterlist for fundrasiers from 22 - 24 August

Click here for my Masterlist for fundraisers from 25 - 28 August

Click here for my Masterlist for fundraisers from 29 August - 1 September

Click here for my Masterlist for fundraisers from 2 - 5 September.

Click here for my Masterlist for fundraisers from 6-10 September.

Click here for my Masterlist for fundraisers from 11-14 September.

Click here for my Masterlist for fundraisers from 15-18 September.

Click here for my Masterlist for fundraisers from 19-22 September.

Click here for my Masterlist for fundraisers from 23-26 September.

Click here for my Masterlist for fundraisers from 27-30 September.

Click here for my Masterlist for fundraisers from 1-4 October.

Click here for my Masterlist for fundraisers from 5-9 October.

Click here for my Masterlist for fundraisers from 10-14 October.

Click here for my Masterlist for fundraisers from 15-21 October.

Click here for my Masterlist for fundraisers from 22-26 October.

Click here for my Masterlist for fundraisers from 27 October - 2 November.

Click here for my Masterlist for fundraisers from 3-12 November.

Click here for my Masterlist for fundraisers from 13-22 November.

Click here for my Masterlist for fundraisers from 23-28 November.

Click here for my Masterlist for fundraisers from 29 November - 5 December.

Click here for my Masterlist for fundraisers from 6-11 December.

Resources for Palestinian Students!

Initiatives and resources to support Palestinian students, academics and universities:

This is a list of initiatives and resources for Gazan students seeking to complete their studies, including initiatives, resources, training and scholarships. See list here.

Scholarships for Displaced Palestinian students:

Putting this here for the palestininans who follow me: If you are a displaced Palestinian student looking to fund your education, this document lists the scholarships available around the world for displaced Palestinian students.

[newnitz]

I don't really see people talking about how cultural Christianity is applied to Jews.

In Christianity, Jews are the people who rejected and betrayed Jesus and are punished with statelessness and destitution, whose only redemption is accepting the Messiah and the Son of God. This is the basis of several antisemitic tropes, most prominently deception, religious supercessionism and the Wandering Jew.

In cultural Christianity, these tropes are considered tenants of Judaism rather than Christianity, as Judaism is considered Christianity without Jesus.

Christians see themselves as tortured saints, persecuted for spreading the truth of Jesus and God across the globe. Missionaries who go to non-Christian lands to try and get the people to convert by fearmongering with damnation to Hell see themselves as victims when they're rebuffed and asked to stop.

Cultural Christian non-Christians are usually atheists and adherents of folk religion revivalist movements who have suffered religious abuse, as many sects of Christianity normalize emotional abuse by instilling inherent guilt in the Original Sin and even physical abuse in "Spare the rod; spoil the child". These cultural Christians see the millennia of antisemitism and roll their eyes, to them we're just another sect of delusional religious people with a persecution complex.

To become a Christian all you need to do is accept the Father Son and Holy Spirit, to affirm your beliefs and confess your sins. To become a Jew you are either born a Jew, or you learn the Jewish culture and religion for months on end and must live half a year under the strictest restrictions of the Jewish lifestyle to show commitment. That is the difference between a universal religion and an ethnoreligion.

In a Culturally Christian world there is no room for ethnoreligions, and they do not exist. All religions are about your faith and which God(s) you believe in. So in a Cultural Christian's eyes, a country of Jews is a country that holds one faith supreme above all others and conditions rights with conversion, as that's how Christian countries have historically been.

Christianity's common ground with Jews comes from the Roman Empire appropriating the religion from the Cult of Jesus, and making it more appealing to the masses by introducing Greco-Roman and Germanic folk religion aspects into it. Xmas is Yule but with Jesus, Easter is a fertility holiday but with Jesus and so on. In the eyes of the Cultural Christian, Christianity and Judaism are two once-antagonistic sects of the same religion, no different than Catholics and Protestants.

Cultural Christianity erases and appropriates Judaism and is as inherently hateful of Jews as religious Christianity.

Now, when it comes to the elephant in the room: Islam.

Islam, like Christianity, is a universal religion. You must believe in Allah and accept the prophets, which include both Jesus and Muhammad. It is no more inherently violent than Christianity, though it's no less. In the Christian's eyes, Islam is the competitor, the enemy. The Muslims conquered Christian lands and converted them, and they've fought holy wars against one another throughout the Middle Ages.

To become a Muslim the Cultural Christian doesn't need to unlearn any of the core tenets of their culture. They can simply apply it to Islam.

Which is why many Cultural Christians, damaged by Christianity, are sympathetic to Islam. And since Muslims and Jews are no longer on good terms, they use this sympathy to give themselves a free pass to be antisemitic. Whether Muslims check their converts for bigotry, allow it or are powerless to stop them, that's another issue.

Jews are not diet Christians. We have less in common with you than you have with Muslims. Unlearn Christian cultural appropriation.

And no, I don't care that it's "offensive" to associate you with Christianity due to the religious abuse you endured. You still see the world through a Christian lens.

[worfsbarmitzvah]

I've thought about how gentile Abrahamic religions are antisemitic religious colonialism before and it pisses me off a ton and I'm thankful you said it, but now that it's someone besides me saying it, I'm gonna give some criticism (please don't take this personally)

Everything up to Abraham (particularly Adam and Noah) have G-d creating and tending to the entirety of humanity, right?

During Abraham's time, it should stand for something that G-d tends to Hagar and Ishmael, right? Especially since Hagar gives her own name for G-d and He makes a promise to Ishmael that he'll be the father of nations (or something like that). And I think the Prophet Muhammad is supposed to be descended from Ishmael.

And Noahides are a whole Thing in all this too ofc.

But the bigger thing is there are definitely texts and interpretations that take G-d being the G-d of the Hebrews and extend it to Henotheism, but for the Jews who are purely monotheists and say there is truly only one G-d in existence and He belongs only to us, isn't it cruel to totally deny the vast majority of humanity the Divine, especially if He is still their Creator and controls the world(s) they live in?

this whole thing is coming from the assumption that judaism was always monotheistic. it wasn’t. at one point in time we were monolatrous, meaning we only worshipped one g-d but didn’t deny the existence of others. hell, the language used in the torah supports this (the way the text treats egypt’s g-ds being perhaps the most prominent example). hashem has always been our specific g-d, since before the idea emerged that he is the only g-d. our/the world’s perception of him may have since evolved into this idea of one singular deity, but it has not always been that way.

hagar and ishmael still come from our mythology surrounding our particular g-d. the idea then emerged in islam, which was born with the same jewish roots that christianity was, that muslims were descended from ishmael. and, like, i don’t really mind or care about that either way. ishmael’s not a super major figure in our folklore. the story, along others in breishit, genuinely does lend itself to the idea that hashem can be the guardian of many different peoples, families, and nations. and to tell the truth i don’t genuinely have much of a problem with sharing some folklore and roots.

but it NEEDS to be acknowledged where those roots come from. for so much of history, right up until today, christians and muslims have pretended they know our g-d and our folklore and our history better than we do. they have MURDERED us for worshipping our g-d and practicing our customs in OUR way, the way we have been since before their religions and cultures emerged. if the religions that find their roots in our culture were more willing to listen to us, respect us, and learn from us, maybe i’d be less angry. but they’re not. they’ve tried and tried and tried to eradicate us and erase where they came from and make our stuff theirs. i don’t think it has to be like that forever but i don’t think we’re very close to it not being like that as of now.

also, i can’t think of a single cultural mythology that doesn’t have a creation story of some kind. it’s just the kind of thing that societies do when they try to make sense of their place in the grand scheme. the fact that we believe our g-d created the entire world does not actually mean that that story or that g-d belongs to the entire world. the fact that everybody thinks our creation myth applies to and belongs to them is just more evidence of how widely our culture has been co-opted.

there’s nothing we can do to change the fact that our g-d has been made universal (either through the natural evolution of our theology or from colonialism and cultural theft, more likely a combination of both) and i have to be fine with that. sure, fine, the people who have adopted our g-d as their own without actually bothering to understand us at all can outnumber us by orders of magnitude.

but why does our holy city have to also be their holy city? the christians have the vatican and rome and islam has mecca and medina. why do they need jerusalem? why can’t even that just be ours?

again, i have to push this aside and be okay with sharing if i truly want to have peace in our land. and i do, because i love eretz yisrael and yerushalayim more than i hate what has been done to her. the situation has grown so far beyond the injustices i am angry about that it is impossible to right those injustices without creating brand new ones. so i will be okay with sharing our g-d, our texts, and our land. but that doesn’t mean the injustice of it won’t burn like a fire in my heart.

[whencyclopedia]

Fatima Al-Fihri and Al-Qarawiyyin University

Fatima Al-Fihri (c. 800-880) was a Muslim woman, scholar and philanthropist who is credited with founding the world’s oldest, continuously running university during the 9th century: the University of Al-Qarawiyyin, located in Fez in Morocco.

Born in Tunisia in the city of Qairouan (Kairouan), after which she named the mosque and educational institution that would later become a leading centre of intellectual exchange, Fatima Al-Fihri migrated with her family to the city of Fez, located along the north-western coast Morocco, as a young adult. During the 9th century the city of Fez grew into a thriving cosmopolitan centre of commerce, culture, scholarship and trade. It reached its apex as an intellectual, cultural and trade epicentre during the 13-14th centuries, while under the rule of the Berber Marinid Dynasty (1248-1465).

Qarawiyyin University

Abdel Hassouni (CC BY-SA)

According to the historical chronical Rawd al-Qirtas (The Garden of Paper) written during the 14th century by Ibn Abi Zar (d. 1315), Fatima’s father, Muhammad al-Fihri al-Qayrawwani, was a successful Arab merchant, who hailed from the tribe of Quraysh (a famous Bedouin tribe that used to live in Mecca). Although not born into riches, Fatima and her sister Mariam inherited a vast fortune when her husband, brother and husband all died within a short time span.

Al-Qarawiyyin Mosque (Jami' al-Qarawiyyin)

Uninterested in commerce and the accumulation of wealth, both sisters chose to invest instead in sadaqah – the Islamic idea of pious charity. Both used their inheritance to build mosques and schools in Fez. Mariam built the Al-Andalus Mosque, while Fatima built the Al- Qarawiyyin Mosque complex, which included a madrasa; madrasa is an Arabic word that refers to any kind of educational institution –both secular and religious, elementary or secondary. In the Muslim world, mosques often became community centres that were utilised not only for religious purposes, but also for social gatherings, charitable services, educational classrooms, market places, and even political rallies.

Fatima first purchased a plot of prime real estate, near the Suq al-'Attarin or Spice Market, in the centre of the city of Fez. On the first day of Ramadan in 859 she, along with her sister, laid the foundation for the mosque and adjacent madrasa – perhaps unaware at that time that it would become the world’s first degree granting university; or perhaps she knew it all along. Fatima named the mosque after her birthplace, the city of Qairouan in Tunisa. Qarawiyyin means "belonging to the people of Qairouan."

The architectural design and layout of Al-Qarawiyyin Mosque was ambitious to say the least. Fatima employed the most skilled engineers and craftsmen of the times, and used materials of the highest quality. Following classical Islamic architectural layout for a mosque complex, Al-Qarawiyyin Mosque included a large ceramic-tiled courtyard that housed a fountain basin for the faithful to perform their ablutions before prayer. A customary arcade both frames the courtyard and ventilates the interior spaces, which lead to the large prayer hall. In addition to the tall minaret from which a muezzin would call the believers to prayer, the mosque also housed a library and separate praying quarters for women. In addition to the tall minaret from which a muezzin would call the believers to prayer, the mosque also housed a library and separate praying quarters for women.

Figure of Fatima Al-Fihri from the Jordan Museum

Anass Sedrati (CC BY-SA)

Historians believe it took about two years, from 857 to 859, to construct the main buildings of the Al- Qarawiyyin Mosque, under the patronage of Fatima, who it is said, oversaw every detail of architecture and craftsmanship herself. Between 1134 and 1143, the Almoravid ruler, Sultan 'Ali ben Yusuf further expanded the mosque complex to its current size. Sa'did Sultan 'Abdallah ibn al-Shaikh added additional fountains and blue tiles to the courtyard between 1606 and 1623.

Some scholars suggest that some teaching and instruction probably took place at al-Qarawiyyin Mosque from a very early period  or from its beginning. Major mosques in the early Islamic period were typically multi-functional buildings where teaching and education took place alongside other religious and civic activities. From its very early days, the mosque housed a neighbourhood madrasa. Over time, the Qarawiyyin madrasa developed into an institution of higher learning that attracted famous scholars from all over the Muslim world, and later even from medieval Europe.

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[islam-defined]

The Universe is expanding

Dr Alfred Kroner, Prof of Geology & the Chairman of the Deptt of Geology at the Institute of Geosciences, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany, said: “Thinking where Muhammad came from . . . I think it is almost impossible that he could have known about things like the common origin of the universe, because scientists have only found out within the last few years, with very complicated and advanced technological methods, that this is the case…… Somebody who did not know something about nuclear physics fourteen hundred years ago could not, I think, be in a position to find out from his own mind, for instance, that the earth and the heavens had the same origin….”

In 1924 a Swedish astronomer discovered that the universe is expanding. In June 2016 NASA and ESA scientists found that the universe is growing faster than thought earlier when Hubble Space Telescope provided some information in this matter.

Base Image Source: Google

[karlmarxmaybe]

HELP A FAMILY OF TWELVE ESCAPE THE GAZA GENOCIDE!!!

Vetted by @nabulsi and @el-shab-hussein, #305 in the list:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/u/0/d/1yYkNp5U3ANwILl2MknJi9G7ArY4uVTEEQ1CVfzR8Ioo/htmlview?pli=1#gid=0

The goal is in norwegian kroner, 11 kronor is worth 1 USD and every 1110 kroner is 100 USD. You can donate USD.

The story of the organizer, Ayman Al-Habil (@nour20habil), in his own words:

My name is Ayman Al-Habil, the father of ten, 5 females and 5 males (Aya, Heba, Nour, Malak, Mustafa, Muhammad, Ahmed, Yazan) On October 7, 2023, our lives were completely changed, the bombing of our house on our head was martyred My brother, and all my children were injured, some of them were described as severe. We had to migrate to the beach camp, then we moved to the south of the Gaza Strip (Deir al-Balah camp). I lived in a tent in December, the long, rainy winter, the weather was cold every day, drowning from the rain, and my family and I spent four months in tents.Then I migrated to Rafah, specifically on March 18, 2024. I left Deir al-Balah. I went to Rafah. I could not find a shelter. We spent the whole night in the truck. Then I started looking for shelter for me and my children.I found a school affiliated with Anruwa, my family and I sat in a classroomSchools are our shelters, as the class was divided into 4 families. Life was very difficult, neither water nor food nor sanitation, diseases and epidemics spread widely, as I had diabetes and cartilage, and my 5-year-old son, Ahmed, had hepatitis, and my 3-year-old child had osteoporosis. Hepatitis, with great difficulty, provided treatment for the difficulty of living, the financial situation and the high price of the drug My eldest daughter, Aya, graduated from the Faculty of Nursing,My daughter Heba is a software engineering graduate from the Islamic University of my daughter Nour studying English commerce at Gaza Training College: GTC: affiliated with Unrow الصور My son Mustafa is a high school student, Ahmed is in the first grade of primary school, and Muhammad is in the fifth grade of primary school,I recently lost my mother who had Cancer Help me rebuild my house Help me to escape death and extermination My children and your donations will help me make this possible and improve our tragic situation Thanks to your financial support, it will be part of my life change. I want to tell you every 11 kronor is worth 1 USD and every 1110 kroner is 100 USD.

[herald-divine-hell]

It still perplexes me why anyone in Thedas would have any reason to worship the Maker.

And this isn’t because He’s not real or anything of the like.

Listen, I’m fairly religious—or at least I do believe in God and all that—but more a significant interest in religious history and the development of specific religions within their historian context. A large reason why Christianity and Islam both spread early on was not through military conquest (though the later ‘Abbasid writers certainly did try their best to push Prophet Muhammad to a warrior-prophet), but from the poor, the needy, the slaves of society. The big reason why those two religions especially had such a strong pull was because of the inherent belief of a Divine entity being there to provide comfort and mercy when all social institutions. When no one else would, there was at least something out there that cared (rather than entity exists or not is another question entirely; and if its followers had continued such mercy is a different question that is not what my post is talking about)

In essence, the reason the conception of God in both Islam and Christinanity spread as they did was because God was universal, not bound to a singular state or people, but transcended, and perhaps more importantly all-merciful, all-compassionate, and all-loving.

Compared that to the Maker, whose mercy is entirely conditionally and He specifically chooses not to interact (supposedly) with His Creation for mistakes and sins, being almost entirely remote and disconnected with His Followers. Outside Andraste, who at least while the Maker’s Bride, is not entirely divine or made up the same transcendent presence as the Maker, there is nothing inherently there to draw any sort of respect interest to the Maker. Say what you will about the conception of God in the Abrahamic sense, specifically the Christian and Islamic conception, but at least They *are there* (theologically) for Their followers. The Maker can’t even do that.

It’s one of my biggest complaints and wishes from Inquisition—there is so much a person who is named Herald of Andraste with such a powerful force such as the Inquisition can do—but BioWare refused to explore these themes when it’s right there. It doesn’t matter if your Inquisitor does not believe in their prophethood. As Inquisition hits us over the head with Ameridan and Solas, people shall believe as much as they wish as they will believe the truth. Yet our Inquisitor isn’t bombarded with theological questions or inquiring over Andraste’s design. It’s just ahhh

Andrastianism deserved a better god than the Maker.