jusaskin wrote: Would someone be kind enough to explain why Muslims attach to the name of Muhammad, the phrase "peace be upon him", or variations such as "saw", "pbuh", etc.? I find it puzzling that extra attention be placed faithfully on the mention of his name, and occassionally other prophets as well, but not on the mention of "Allah". I would expect emphasis on the Creator rather than the created; something on the order of how Jews will not spell out entirely the name of God as a sign of respect.

Hi,

you are right about where the emphesis should be and it is that way in Islam. I think you just misunderstood. Muslims praise God all the time. We don't praise our beloved prophet or any of God's prophets for a matter of fact. What you are refering to translates somewhat like this when mentioned followed by the name of any of God's prophets, i.e.  Abraham, Moses, David, Jesus of Mohammad (pbut): May God's peace and blessings be upon them, or him if its one.

Unlike jews and christians of this era, muslims have been regarding all of God's messagers as guides and teachers for mankind and put them in a more respectful position than anyone else. So any time we address them by name we ask God to grant His peace and blessings on that messenger. Thus we also affirm that they were human like us and needed God's blessings.

Hasan

 Jusaskin, that is true. We do request Allah to forgive and bless the living and the deceased, young or old, male or female. In that respect we may be like Catholics. We believe that our prayers can help those who have passed away. While they cannot pray for us any more because they have passed away.

 As we pray for the blessings of allah on the prophets and our prophet Muhammad, that blessing for them all is increasing day by day and mounting.

minuteman,

Thank you for the explanation! A further question if I may. Does the belief that prayers help the deceased originate directly from the Quran, or is it more of a traditional belief? In other words, does the Quran tell you to pray for the dead, and if so would you site the passage? I have a copy of "The Noble Quran in the English Language", but have some difficulty finding things on my own.

jusaskin wrote: What reasoning or teachings do Muslims use to ask God "to grant His peace and blessings on that messenger"?

33:56 Allah and His angels send blessings on the Prophet: O ye that believe! Send ye blessings on him, and salute him with all respect.

Since all acts are being recorded; this is a no brainier no cost high yield investment cuz the return is ten fold blessings for the believers own safety here now in this world and his intercession guarantee on the day of reckoning plus a fill of the cup from his reservoir when one would need most.

jusaskin wrote: And a related question: do Muslims also ask God's blessings on others that have died, such as loved ones or family members?

Hi Jusakin,

You are welcome to ask any of your doubts. And also continue with the Noble Quran. Is it with the interpretations of meanings too ? If it is, then you must have seen this hadith repeated  many times.

The Prophet  (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "When a person dies, all his deeds come to an end except three: sadaqah jaariyah (ongoing charity, e.g. a waqf or endowment), beneficial knowledge (which he has left behind), or a righteous child who will pray for him." (Reported by al-Tirmidhi, no 1376; he said this is a saheeh hasan hadeeth)

But giving charity on behalf of the deceased is better than reading Qur�aan for them, just as making du�a  for them and seeking forgiveness for them is better than other deeds.  Like the dua shared by Bro.Sign reader. And also make other beautiful duas { prayers} for him. We ask Allah swt for there salvation from hell fire too.

There is a hadith in which Prophet { peace and blessings of Allah be upon him}said ," "A man�s status will be raised in Paradise and he will ask, �How did I get here?� He will be told, �By your son�s du�a�s (prayers) for forgiveness for you." 

Do continue with that copy of Noble Quran. Its simple and easy to understand. You can ask any of your doubts and get them clarified.

SignReader,

Thanks for the information! My lack of knowledge about Islam and Muslim terms usually prompts more questions when I receive a reply.

When you use the term "believer", or the Quran uses, "ye that believe", to whom does that apply? Is it only those who profess belief in the religion of Islam, or does it include all who profess belief in the God of Abraham, such as Jews and Christians?

seekshidayath,

Thanks for the reply!

I had not run into the "hadith" that you mentioned. Is "hadith" considered on the same level as the Quran? If you are familiar with the Christian Bible, would you equate "hadith" with the books of the New Testament that supplement the four Gospels, such as those of Paul, Peter, etc?

jusaskin wrote: SignReader, Thanks for the information! My lack of knowledge about Islam and Muslim terms usually prompts more questions when I receive a reply. When you use the term "believer", or the Quran uses, "ye that believe", to whom does that apply? Is it only those who profess belief in the religion of Islam, or does it include all who profess belief in the God of Abraham, such as Jews and Christians?

Hi, I hope you don't mind I answer this question. In my understanding when Quran refers "O you who believe" or as a "believer", it mean those who believe: in Oneness of God, and submitt to the will of God, and believe in all of God's messangers (from Adam through Noah through Moses through Jesus and Mohammed (pbut) and believe in the message given to them was from God.

Now those we know now as Jews did not accept two of God's prophets, Jesus and Mohammed (pbut) neither the message they brought.

Those we know as Christians now did not accept Prophet Mohammed (pbuh) to be from God, neither the message he brought.

But those who accept them all as God's prophets, and submitt thier will only to God, and none else are refered as "believers" in the Quran.

I hope I was able to answer your question.

Regards,

Hasan

As'Salamu Alaikum,

Thankyou Brother Hasan for not answering my part. I would not let my oppurtunity to else.

Jusakin, we appreciate your  efforts to study Islam. You are replying us with lots of attention and patience.

Coming to your question regarding hadith - No, i don't know much of christianity. I have n't gone into its books. But yes, to explain what hadith is here is its explanation

Hadith,are the teachings, sayings, and actions of the Holy Prophet Muhammad ( SAW ), meticulously reported and collected by his devoted companions, explain and elaborate the Qu'ranic verses. The Messenger's life is an example for all Muslims, or those who accept Islam, to follow. Whatever the Messenger (saas) did, said, or approved of is a source of Islam just as much as the Qur'an. The Messenger's role is not overemphasized: his life was dictated by what the Creator desired, and the Messenger did not add or subtract to Islam according to his own personal whim. His life was such that his wife called him "a walking Qur'an."

The Qur'an and Sunnah are the only two mediums by which Allah has directly taught us about Islam. This leads us to the following simple but critical principle

You can keep asking any of your doubts.

I read at an other thread that your grandson is also studying Islam. It was very nice to know that. A special bond is also shared between you and your grandson, that makes the relations strong.

Hasan,

Thank you for that explanation! Would you mind giving me your interpretation of "Book"? I see the term "people of the Book", and "the Book" in the Quran, but do not know the meaning. While doing a search for the term, I see in 2:02, "This is the Book ...", and in 2:87 it states, " We gave Moses the Book ...", so I don't know if it refers to the Quran, or the Tanakh, or perhaps some other meaning.

seekshidayath,

Thank you again for the explanation of hadith. I can appreciate your desire to emulate your prophet. As Christians we also attempt to follow the examples and exhortations of Jesus. Both of us have difficult tasks, but with God's help we can make much progress.

One of my grandsons is at the age of spiritual inquiry and we thought it would be good to examine other faiths as well as his own. Islam and Judaism proclaim belief in the God of Abraham, and we are investigating why we do not all see Him the same way. Since grandson has a difficult time expressing himself or following the replies from the forum, I thought I might ask a few questions and pass the information on to him ..... as well as learning more of Islam for myself.

I appreciate the answers I have received so far, and we are both learning much.

jusaskin wrote: Hasan, Thank you for that explanation! Would you mind giving me your interpretation of "Book"? I see the term "people of the Book", and "the Book" in the Quran, but do not know the meaning. While doing a search for the term, I see in 2:02, "This is the Book ...", and in 2:87 it states, " We gave Moses the Book ...", so I don't know if it refers to the Quran, or the Tanakh, or perhaps some other meaning.

Hi Joe,

sorry, I did not see this question until now. In my understanding the word "the book" in Quran refers to the word of God given to the prophets. We Muslims believe that God's word or message was same in nature in all times from Adam to Mohammed (pbut), to bring people back to the worship of their Creator and how to live this life according to the will of God.

Hasan

Hasan,

OK! Thank you!