Book of Signs Foundation » Truthseekers

Art

obaloch — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 17:33:04 +0000

Art is the spirit of progress and one of the most important means of developing emotions. Those who cannot make use of this means are unfortunate indeed, and live a numbed, diminished life.

Art is like a magical key that opens hidden treasures. Behind the doors it opens are ideas embodied and imaginings given substantial form.

It is art which inspires human beings to travel in the depths of oceans and heavens. By means of art, humanity sets sail for the outer limits of the Earth and sky and reaches feelings beyond time and space.

Art shows human sentiments and feelings the highest goals and incites sensitive souls to profound depths. But for art, we would have seen no beauty in the realm of existence where humanity is allowed to act, and all those great abilities and the works they have produced wouldn’t have been able to come to surface.

It is art which manifests and defines the power and deepest potentials of the human psyche and soul. It is by means of art that the most profound emotions and thoughts, the most striking observations and discoveries, and the most heart-felt desires have been preserved as if recorded on a tape and gained eternity.

It was by means of art combined with faith that, with its most magnificent places of worship, slender minarets pointing to the realms beyond, sacred designs and intricate patterns carved in marble each of which served as a distinct message, diverse kinds of calligraphy, brilliant gildings, and embroideries as beautiful and fine as butterfly wings, this once magnificent world of Islam became a gallery of invaluable beauty.

True knowledge shows itself through art. If one has never produced anything in the name of art, how can we say that he or she knows very much?

The vitality of a person’s natural capabilities is closely related to the artistic spirit. One devoid of the spirit of art may be regarded as little different from a corpse.

Art makes iron more valuable than gold and copper more valuable than bronze. Thanks to art, the most worthless metals become more valuable than gold, silver, and diamonds.

It is the same whether one without the spirit of art exists or not. Such people comprise crowds that are of no benefit, and might even actually harmful to, themselves, their families, and their nations.

All the fine arts are eternal gifts of blessed souls to humanity. The products of technology, combined with the spirit of art clocks telling us the time; glasses to compensate or correct weakened sight; telecommunicative devices that shrink space, conveying sounds and images over unbelievable distances; trains, buses and planes that transport us from place to place all these tools and objects in use in ordinary life can be the work of, and can inspire, sensitive, artistic souls.

Check out Islamic Art in the following video clip and in other Posts under the sections “Quran in Pictures” and “Introduction to Islam”

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As Seen on CNN: Islamophobia and anti-Semitism Public Service Announcement

obaloch — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 02:25:23 +0000

The Weekend of Twinning, November 21-23, brings together 50 mosques and 50 synagogues representing over 100,000 Muslims and Jews throughout the United States and Canada to confront Islamophobia and anti-Semitism. This video PSA ran on the CNN family of networks throughout November 2008.

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Before the 1st day, where was God and what was He doing?

obaloch — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 01:40:51 +0000

That is a good question. Part of the answer is in your question itself. Imagine two things: First, that there is no concept of space and there is no concept of time, and in such a state, there is no past, present, or future. One way to start understanding this issue, is if you read one of the previous posts where we were talking about the expanding universe. Obviously, wherever the universe expands to becomes a place of time and space. Prior to being part of time and space, it would be a place of complete vacuum. It is understood, that would be all an area outside the dimension of time and space. Once something is in the dimension of time and space, the laws that we commonly call “cause and effect” start to take place and the laws of time and speed and distance also come into place. The question now becomes: What is the universe like, or the world of God like, without time and space?

The Qur’an explains this in detail and that is that this area of vacuum comes under the area of the world of God’s command, and the place where there is time and space is called the world of God’s creation. In the world of God’s command, everything happens spontaneously, just like it will be in heaven and, therefore, live for eternity. So there was the world of God’s command and God, without imagination, without thought, without effort, without moving, deliberated to create the world of creation and from there, time and space began with the big bang, which was mentioned in the Qur’an.
The second point is, that in Islam we have many names and attributes of God. His personality and qualities did not change by the creation that He created. In fact, one of His names that is His permanent attribute, is Al Khaliq – The Creator. So in that period of no space and time, He did what God qualifies Himself to do, which is to create. This creation has a beginning and an end. After God creates, the creation comes to an end, and then God creates again. We can see this also within our world: in the water cycle and what happens with the seasons. Planets come into existence, planets go away, that is what God does.
Over here, one point that is worth making is that whatever is happening in the world of creation is experienced as time for us, but it is not experienced as time for God because He sits outside of time and space. So in simple, God was doing what God does and what God does, we’re experiencing, i.e. God is creating new creation all the time. He is bringing everything that He creates into harmony with everything else, etc.

I want to end this with an example: Let’s suppose cartoons were living beings. We’re also living beings. But they are two dimensional and we are three dimensional. They have only height and length, with no width, where as we have all three. Now we created a world of cartoons in which they have many similar attributes. They would have eyes to see, ears to hear, a brain to communicate, etc. But if the cartoon was to ask me, “What were you doing the day before my first day” your answer would be “I created other cartoons, other episodes.” Now for that cartoon it would be almost impossible to imagine a day outside it’s own self. Sorry for the bad example, but it perhaps illustrates what I am trying to say.

To finish off, that space that is not part of the universe, but the universe is expanding to, is far greater in size than to the entire universe. The expanding universe is much like a drop of water in an ocean of vacuum. Prior to our creation and prior to day one, that drop did not exist. The point being, what the Qur’an calls the unseen world, is far greater in size. Meaning it is almost insignificant to ask about the drop of water in an ocean. To put very simply, God is in a dimension outside ours, and our dimension is like a drop of water compared to an ocean.

Life Originated From Water: Qur’an & Modern Science In Harmony

Does God Deserve Praise

obaloch — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 01:39:28 +0000

Question: “However, the only point I’m trying to make here is that if there was a God, as described in Qur’an, then He does have the right to expect to be worshipped all the time, as it is consistent with the Qur’an that the whole universe is worshipping Him.”

Sounds pretty conceited, self centered and someone in need of some self confidence. I mean I’m not any where close to being perfect, divine, God like… but I don’t need to be praised all day every day for eternity just to feel like I am loved and appreciated for all I do. Why would a divine being need something that a simpleton like me doesn’t need?”

Answer:-

I suppose you said that because of two reasons: #1 You are clearly not aware of the Qur’anic view of the worshipping universe and #2 your view about the human psyche is wrong and you are superimposing your wrong notions upon God. If somebody makes a picture of Mona Lisa or an advancement in technology that is very unique, that thing praises him. The universe, as it is moving in its orbits and with its perfect harmony, is praising its Creator. The very fact that the moon and the sun follow a very precise movement, or the fact that cows give milk, and honey bees give honey (in the Islamic view) shows that everything is under the perfect care and obedience of God.

Now certainly, God does not need you or anyone to praise Him. Nor does God need any of the other beings, like angels, to praise Him. However, as conceited as it may sound to you that God “needs” our praise, it seems far more conceited that you do not feel God needs to be praised, if God exists. As far as the psycho babble goes, if there was ever a being who is worthy of being conceited and proud, it is God. In fact, in Islam one of the names of God is Al-Mutaqabbir, the one who is Proud. Yes, human beings should be humble because they are really not in control of anything. But how can you expect, if there is a God, a being who is in control of cause and effect, time and space, in control of your every breath, how do you expect Him not to be proud? Let God be proud and let yourself practice humbleness.
Now as far as God being arrogant and proud in the sense you were saying, if God really was arrogant and proud in the way that you meant it, why did God not cut off your oxygen? Meaning, if there is a God who is in control of everything, and he is arrogant and proud in the way you insisted, then certainly your saying that he does not deserve your praise would cause Him to cut off your oxygen. God is proud, but not in the arrogant sense. Praise is a positive, affirmative form of worthiness, whereas arrogance is a negative form of worthiness. So God is not arrogant, but He is worthy of praise. If God was arrogant and had low confidence as you suggested, He would indeed take action to show His power over you in regards to every wrong action you took. In fact, God placing a barrier between Himself and the world of creation further shows that He is in no need of attention and approval, which is a sign of low confidence amongst humans.

I know you intend well and one of the problems of the modern times is that not only do we question God, but we question the personality of God, whether he is a mean God or a nice God, etc. Even if we agree that God exists, it is very hard to understand how powerful He is. One of the reasons for that is because modern man strives to have as much control over his being and finds it repulsive in his imagery that someone other than him/herself is in control of him/herself. The very definition that someone else is in control of us, in the modern mind, sounds oppressive. Since me and you are both by-products of modern times, we have to see this in ourselves and overcome it. If you do overcome it, and there is no proof for this other than personal experience, than there is no state more blissful than being in a state of surrender to the One who controls everything.
Mustafa Masih

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Golden Ratio & Existence of God

obaloch — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 09:05:38 +0000

In mathematics and the arts, two quantities are in the golden ratio if the ratio between the sum of those quantities and the larger one is the same as the ratio between the larger one and the small..

You should do your own philosophy to get the meaning of this number,which is seen everywhere in nature and even in yourself.Be careful while thinking …you owe it to yourself to ask, does God exist? Was this all one big freak of nature.

“We have created all things in measure” (Quran)

The Golden Ratio of the Earth–Mecca

The Word Allah

obaloch — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 21:01:31 +0000

What does the word Allah mean? This video will show why Muslims use the word Allah for God.

Who Speaks for Islam?

obaloch — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 19:24:23 +0000

Who speaks for Islam? Gallup poll for Muslim studies, Dalia Magahad gives a nice presentation about Islam and Muslims.

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Call to Prayer in Islam– enjoy!

obaloch — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 00:02:46 +0000

The Human voice is the greatest musical instrument. The following are the call to prayer in Islam that is made 5 times a day around the world. Listen to a few and Enjoy!

Introduction to Hajj

obaloch — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 23:34:47 +0000

A small introduction to Hajj.

Miracles of Qur’an

obaloch — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 00:50:07 +0000

Miracles of Qur’an

Miracles Of Quran