This is how Islam will end....

[c0de]

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@ I.E

Well, the core is still there (i.e. the Quran), but our understanding and practice of that core has faded.


@ F2M

The similarities between the Didache and Jewish rituals, and the similarities between Islamic practices and those of Judaism are very clear. Its just that the Essenes (which might or might not have included Jesus and John pbuh) just shifted certain rituals to differentiate themselves from the "hypocrites". Just as the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was told to face Mecca for prayer instead of Jerusalem.

The Jews of Arabia leveled the charge of borrowing from Judaism at the Muslims. Christian critics sometimes consider Islam a break-away sect of the early Christians... But it is a matter of faith at the end of the day. Christians thought Jesus (pbuh) was a reformer of Judaism, yet the Jews dont think there is anything to reform. While the Muslims believe that the Quran is the final discrimination which decides on the OT and the NT.

Honestly, sometimes I wonder how "different" Jews, Christians and Muslims are these days... I mean think about it: they are all waiting for some messiah to come and clean up their mess; they all believe that there is going to be some big battle between good and evil, (and good will miraculously win). Most Muslims even believe that Jesus (pbuh) was physically resurrected! (like, seriously...)

But at the same time, there this whole smorgasbord of confused doctrines that turns this whole scenario into a practical comedy... We Muslims have to deal with a millions ahadith which give us God knows how many different rules and regulations which are not remotely connected to the Quran... The Jews still aren't sure how to deal with the whole sabbath thing. Like, do they shut down the entire country of Israel on that day or what? And dont even get me started on the Christians and their trinity issues.... Every Christian, it seems has his own theory on that....

... NeWayZzzz

 

[Muslimwoman]

nonsense! , for we allready have it in the hadith that the mainstream Muslims will allways remain supreme till the last day , and near the end of time, there may not be a Ghazali, but there will be the Mahdi [as] and he will get the khilafa ball rolling and Isa [as] will come and finish the job

Salaam

as salam aleykum Brother

and can you tell us where the Mahdi is mentioned either in the Quran or even in Bukhari?



As for the new look "Mecca" ... the word abomination springs to mind. Ho hum.

 

[koranist]

Greetings and peace to all,

Regarding fasting in Islam, compared to the original teachings of Jesus, one can find information in the gospel of Matthew and also in an early text called the 'Didache' (Greek work for Teaching). This Didaché (pronounced dee-da-kay) reveals the orignal Christianity which was corrupted after Emperor Constantine in 303. It has been 'lost' from 360s until found in Constantinople, of all places, 1873.

The Didaché reveals several remarkable parallels with Islam, for example, 4 pillars of the faith instead of 5 (lacking Hajj) and thrice-daily prayer rather than 5, and others besides.

Regarding fasting, in Islam, besides mandatory Ramadan fast, a 'recommended' fast is given, to occur on Mondays and Thursdays. By comparison the Didache says that Christians should fast on Wednesday and Friday but avoid fasting on Monday and Thursday –the very days that Islam recommends fasting! The Didaché shuns those days because they are the days of fasting by the 'hypocrites' (obviously referring to Jewish fasting customs of 1st century Palestine). ‘Hypocrites’ is of course the word Jesus uses for his sectarian rivals.

First-century Christians were told to change the twice-weekly fast days in order for the larger community of Palestine to recognize that Christians (who were then a brand new sect in the area) were not the same as Jews.

This fasting practice originated with John the Baptizer (Mat. 9.14) and was not practiced by Jesus' disciples until after Jesus was dead and gone (9.15). So, this text represents very early practice.

In the understanding of those times, fasting had nothing to do with self-discipline or willpower, but it was done as a sign of mourning (for a departed one). The Baptizer adapted this into a sign of mourning for sins, performed as a gesture to God.

In Mark's gospel, fasting becomes a spiritual weapon against demons (but I reject Mark's Gospel and that of Luke, and encourage others to do so as well--and that's another story).

The correct understanding of fasting is in the Didache and it continues the Baptizer's original teaching found in Matthew: we fast in repentance.

In the Gospel of Thomas we also learn that fasting expresses our larger rejection of the world of sin and sensual dependence. This is probably an authentic teaching of Jesus. His most authoritative teaching is Matthew 6:18 – when you fast, if you do not let anyone else know you're do it, you will receive God's reward. Also you should fast on behalf of others, meaning that God blesses others with your blessing, which you generously donate in prayer.

Jesus famously fasted 40 days and 40 nights, which sounds like an impossibility and exaggeration, but if you read the Wikipedia article on fasting you will find that this is accomplished by many holy men and women. Such fasting empties the body and soul of worldly consciousness in order that one's spirit can directly interact with the unseen spiritual beings e.g. Satan.

The Islamic fasting instructions are probably imported from both Judaism and this early Christianity. Note again that the recommended fasting days in Islam and Judaism are identical, i.e., Monday and Thursday. And the 30 day fast of Ramadan may have been inspired by Christ's fast.

Another curious parallel between Islam and pertinent Jewish sectarianism is the focus on the lunar calendar (which gives us Ramadan). This shift was originally constructed by the so-called returning Exiles in the 400s BC; prior to that time, the local Palestinian cult followed the solar calendar. In the later centuries B.C. a sectarian group at Qumran 'fought back' and reasserted a solar calendar, in order to distinguish themselves from the rival sectarian Jews (whose Temple administration was rejected by the Qumran sect).

In all likelihood, the Baptizer and Jesus were members of this Essene-like Qumran sect, or at least were heavily influenced by it. Both men despised the Temple rulers as a brood of vipers.

This new information has been painstakingly reconstructed since about 1990, when the Qumran texts were finally brought into full scholarly scrutiny after they had been hoarded and secreted since the 1940s.


Peace.

Do you know where I can get more info about Didache?

 

[nativeastral]

Didache - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia