Archives for September 2009

Muslims in the Philippines and other parts of the world ended the holy Ramadan month of fasting with Eid’l Fitr prayer Sunday, with no less than President Arroyo conveying her warmest greetings to the Islamic world, particularly its Filipino members.

Islam believers over flowed mosques and spilled outside as still many others prayed in outdoor areas early in the morning, many with their children in tow, for the Eid’l Fitr thanksgiving worship.

Eid’l Fitr means “Festival of Fast-Breaking”, an occasion for Muslims to thank Allah (God in Arabic) for hurdling the arduous season, forgive, and reconcile with enemies, and be happy after a month of sacrifice and heightened worship, etc.

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Hinduism is a religious, philosophical, and cultural system that originated and flourished in India. The Hindu religion believes in the Divine Spirit, Brahma, which is the ultimate soul with no form. Brahma is manifested in a pantheon of gods and goddesses; there are ten in total including Vishnu, Shiva, Krishna, and Mahavira. Hinduism is a religion of total non-violence and the conservation of all lifeforms.

Islam is the most growing religion on earth, There is more than 2 Billion humans all over the world called Muslims.

Islam Based on the Submission of human will to One God who is called in Arabic "Allah" The only One, The Superior and The Only Creator Of This Universe with no partners and all the existence under his own Control.

Islam was the religion given to Adam The first Man on Earth who was created by God, not as fallen being. all The Prophets & Messengers of God "Allah" to humankind on Earth were Muslims! including Adam, Abraham, Moses, Aaron, Jacob, Jesus and Mohammad. they have the same basic Message to Mankind:

"La Ilaha Illa Allah"

which means no God worth of worshiping Except Allah and anything else is his servant and creation.

Although those prophets came with different books, practices and methods of worshiping, Prophet Mohammad (peace and blessings be upon him and all other prophets) was the last Messenger of Allah On earth Before the Day of Judgment.

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There is an apt adage admiring Sanskrit: "Bhashasu mukhya madhura divya geervaan bharati" (Among all the languages, Sanskrit is the best, sweetest and divine language). Literally meaning "refined and cultured", Sanskrit is the divine language revealed through the sages (Sanskritam naam daivi vaak anavyakhyata maharshibhihi). Excepting Tirukkural which is in Tamil, almost all ancient Hindu scriptures like Vedas, Upanishads, Ramayan, Mahabharat are in Sanskrit.

Sanskrit is the symbol, the heart and the most precious possession of Bharat. As per Sir Monier Monier-Williams (1819-1899), famous for his Sanskrit-English dictionary, "India’s national character is cast in a Sanskrit mould and in Sanskrit language. Its literature is a key to its vast religious system. Sanskrit is one medium of approach to the hearts of Indians." Many Sanskrit literary works give identity and unity to Hindu civilisation and Bharat.

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There are only two Muslim festivals set down in Islamic law: Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-ul-Adha ( Eid is a word significance for festival). But there are also several other unique days which Muslims celebrate. Some Muslims disapprove of commemorateing the birthday of the Prophet (pbuh), on the grounds that it is an innovation, and novelty in religious matters are prohibited.

Some Muslims say that if amended were made in sacred issues it would entail that Islam was not absolute when it was exposed to the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), or that the Prophet (pbuh) did not tell Muslims everything that was revealed to him. This would be seen as extremely irreverent by many Muslims.

Eid ul Fitr: (1 Shawwal):-

This marks the end of Ramadan, the month of fasting, and is a festival of great celebration. In Islamic countries it is a public holiday.

The first Eid was celebrated in 624 CE by the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) with his comrades and kins after the triumph of the battle of Ghazwa -e-Badar. Muslims are not only celebrating the end of fasting, but expressing gratitude to Allah Almighty for the assistance and potency that he gave them throughout the previous month to help them carry out self-control. The fiesta begins when the first view of the new moon is seen in the sky.

The festive feeling is enlarged by everyone wearing best or new attire, and decorating their homes. There are extraordinary services out of doors and in masjids, parade through the streets, and of course, a special celebratory meal-eaten during daytime, the first daytime meal Muslims will have had in a month. Eid is also marked as a time of pardon, and making atonement.

Eid ul Adha: (10 Dil Hijja):-

This fiesta symbols the end of the Hajj or holy pilgrimage, which is one of the 5 pillars of Islam. though it is celebrated by all Muslims, not just individuals who are on the pilgrimage.

This is a 3-day public holiday in Muslim countries. The festival memorizes the prophet Ibrahim's readiness to sacrifice his son when God decree him to... Ibrahim's whole compliance to the will of God is celebrated by Muslims each year. Each Muslim, as they celebrate, reminds themselves of their own submission to God, and their own willingness to sacrifice anything to God's wishes.

During the festival Muslims who can afford to, sacrifice domestic animals, usually sheep, as a sign of Abraham sacrifice. The meat is dispersed among family, kiths and the deprived, who each get a third share.

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According to Islamic tradition, a dead person should preferable be buried within 24 hours. A dead man is washed by a male relative or an Imam. A dead woman is washed by a female relative or a midwife. The body is laid out with the arms along the side, and swaddled in white linen.

Before burial, the burial prayer must be recited. In Islamic countries, there are special places that are reserved for this purpose. In Norway, however, the coffin is driven to a mosque in a hearse. The prayer takes only a few minutes, and the coffin is transported further to either the cemetery or the airport for transport to the deceased country of origin.

On the day of resurrection, all good souls are awakened directly from their graves to live eternal life. This is why Muslims are against cremation. The body is buried lying on its right side and with the face turned toward Mecca. Usually, all those who participate in the ceremony will cast three hands full of earth on the grave while they recite: " "Of this (i.e. the earth) We created you, and to it shall We cause you to return, and of it We shall cause you to be resurrected a second time.

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God's Word Continues to Speak Via Christian Web Sites That Offer You Outstandingly Helpful and Highly Supportive Christian Ebooks.

Some Christian web sites supply you with fundamental guidance by offering downloadable ebooks. These may be such unique Christian ebooks that capture the essence of Christian lifestyle and thereby help you to benefit from the assistance provided by helpful, supportive, Christian web sites throughout the world.

When you are searching for enhancement or enlightenment on Christian lifestyle endeavors, you may find that your best Christian ebooks online, in addition to brick and mortar outlets, now tend to meet, match, and even neutralize the pace set by our modern, conquest oriented, quick-fix society.

As uniquely stated that Christianity is a time-honored tradition, the word of God continues to show forth dependably. Within the technological advances of our time, solid Christian web sites knowingly provide digital beacons in conveniently obtainable and easily readable formats.

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The [Catholic] Church regards with esteem also the Moslems. They adore the one God, living and subsisting in Himself; merciful and all- powerful, the Creator of heaven and earth,(5) who has spoken to men; they take pains to submit wholeheartedly to even His inscrutable decrees, just as Abraham, with whom the faith of Islam takes pleasure in linking itself, submitted to God. Though they do not acknowledge Jesus as God, they revere Him as a prophet. They also honor Mary, His virgin Mother; at times they even call on her with devotion. In addition, they await the day of judgment when God will render their deserts to all those who have been raised up from the dead. Finally, they value the moral life and worship God especially through prayer, almsgiving and fasting.

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There are many religions in the world. The top 3 include Christianity, Islam, and Hinduism. Hinduism consists of thousands of different religious groups that evolved from India. With 837 million followers, Hinduism contains 13% of the world’s population, and the number continues to grow. Hinduism has no real origin or founder; it is just the religion of the people of India. After many different tribes, fighting for power over the Indus River Valley, left pieces of their religions behind, the modern people of India developed a religion with those different pieces, called Hinduism.

Until 1948, the religion of Hinduism adopted, and used, the Caste System, which was a way to organize the ranks of society. The highest being priests (Brahmins), then soldiers (Kshatriyas), and finally farmers, craftspeople, and laborers (Harijhans). Even though it was outlawed, many Hindus believed it was the proper way of categorizing society.

Another belief that the Hindus had was the belief in rebirth, or reincarnation. The Hindus try to reach a Divine state of perfection in their lives, and they knew it took more than one life-time to reach this state, so they hoped that they led good lives, so they can come back in a better life-time with a better chance to reach this Divine state, or Moksha, and reach their ultimate goal.

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A steady stream of books with titles like Pagan Christianity?, Quitting Church, Life After Church, and They Like Jesus But Not the Church show that some of the church's staunchest critics come from within. Many Christians advocate an ecclesiology in which church is understood merely as the plural of Christian; hanging out at a café talking about Jesus is just as valid an expression of "doing church" as traditional models, if not more valid, because it is more relevant to the culture.

In Why We Love the Church: In Praise of Institutions and Organized Religion (Moody), Kevin DeYoung and Ted Kluck, authors of Why We're Not Emergent, address what they call the "decorpulation" of Christianity, a growing movement of evangelicals who want "spirituality without religion, to find a relationship without rules and have God without the church." Barista Katie Galli, who this fall begins graduate studies in history at Cambridge University, interviewed DeYoung, senior pastor of University Reformed Church in East Lansing, Michigan, about his own struggles with the church and his reasons for remaining in a traditional, institutional church.

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