2 replies

  1. Yo,

    Do you have Discord? If yes, here’s the link to my server: https://discord.gg/yxxEJyeW

    I welcome even Ex-Muslims and I promote Freedom of Speech and Freedom of Religion, Tolerance and Respect. And anyone who does an act of racism will be banned from my server, because I want to implement correctly Islam and I am Anti-Racist. And anyone who supports, agree or promotes terrorism will be straightly banned from my server which I call it Rashidun Caliphate which means Rightly Guided Predecessors.

    I welcome even Christians and Sam Shamoun to join my server, but I also forbid polemicism, because polemicism only creates problem and will make the server to be toxic.

  2. Dear Paul.
    I appreciate your openness and well researched presentations. I would like you to do a piece on ‘Seven Heavens’. My interest on this topic was kindled by a recent BBC radio 4 programme Infinite Monkey Cage, episode ‘Under our night sky’. Please find below my comment sent to the presenters:

    Dear Robin and Brian,
    I found the panelists’ discussion on Under our night sky, very rich and interesting, particularly the ancient cultures’ take on the sky/heaven, in attempts to find meaning and understand the universe. We know that Kepler and Newton’s arrival led to the dispelling of many superstitions.

    You also discussed how some people do not change their beliefs despite scientific evidence. I think this is because we differ in terms of our views of what constitutes acceptable evidence, particularly on issues we cannot experiment scientifically. I don’t believe in a flat earth, but I believe in the seven heavens.
    For instance, in the following verses of the Quran Chapter 67 Al Mulk (The Dominion/Kingdom/Sovereignty), we can all agree on the beauty and the enchantment of the stars in the night sky (nearest heaven), but we all won’t agree that they are also missiles:

    1. Blessed is He in whose hand is dominion, and He is over all things competent
    2. [He] who created death and life to test you [as to] which of you is best in deed – and He is the Exalted in Might, the Forgiving –
    3. [And] who created seven heavens in layers. You do not see in the creation of the Most Merciful any inconsistency. So return [your] vision [to the sky]; do you see any breaks?
    4. Then return [your] vision twice again. [Your] vision will return to you humbled while it is fatigued.
    5. And We have certainly beautified the nearest heaven with stars and have made [from] them what is thrown at the devils and have prepared for them the punishment of the Blaze.

    Based on the sayings (Hadith) of Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, and interpretation of Muslims scholars, many Muslims believe in the ‘ring in the desert model’ of the universe; essentially that the earth and nearest heaven is like a ring thrown into the desert compared to the next heaven; likewise the second heaven, compared to the third etc.

    The Quranic verses above describe the vastness and multiplicity of a universe without breaks, rifts or demarcation, but we don’t fully understand the nature/structure/extent.

    Choosing to believe the statement of Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him, who claimed that the Quran was revealed to him by God, requires two basic skills stated in verse 10 of Chapter 67 Al Mulk: listening and reasoning. For example, Muhammad, peace be upon him lived over a 1000 years before Kepler or Newton and dispelled superstition as in the hadith below:

    “Narrated Abu Bakra:
    In the lifetime of the Allah’s Messenger (ï·ș) (p.b.u.h) the sun eclipsed and he went out dragging his clothes till he reached the Mosque. The people gathered around him and he led them and offered two rak`at. When the sun (eclipse) cleared, he said, “The sun and the moon are two signs amongst the signs of Allah; they do not eclipse because of the death of someone, and so when an eclipse occurs, pray and invoke Allah till the eclipse is over.” It happened that a son of the Prophet (ï·ș) called Ibrahim died on that day and the people were talking about that (saying that the eclipse was caused by his death).” (Bukhari)

    Finally, just like the ancient cultures, some of us still find purpose and meaning in messages from heaven:
    “[He] who created death and life to test you [as to] which of you is best in deed – and He is the Exalted in Might, the Forgiving -“

    Hoping to see your blog on the topic soon.

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