Aqib Smith Aqib

#WhyWeLeftIslam #Reason5 We are back working on the reasons why we left Islam with our partners at @exmuslim_norway If you want to get a better view, check out the page here: Reason #5: Abrogation of Direction of Prayer – ATM (exmuslimmemes.com) Reason 5: Direction of Prayer Most Muslims believe that Mecca was always the Qibla to pray toward. Why? because the Quran calls it the house of God. Also, in Quran 2:121 – 127, the Quran claims Prophet Ibrahim built it. Many more believe it was Adam who built it, but there is no evidence in the Quran or Hadith to this effect. But one thing for sure, it was ALWAYS the house of Allah from the very beginning of time. So, imagine a god, for 15 years of Islamic Dawah, tells you, "My house is Westwards to point X.” This prophet of god tells everyone to pray in that direction, insisting this is a divine command. Then, one day, he wakes up and tells people – “Actually, god's house is Eastwards to point Y.” For those who don't know, the Prophet directed people during the first period of Islam to pray toward Jerusalem—in alignment with all the other Ibrahimic believers. Many of the early mosques (still standing today in Madina) point to Jerusalem. If you do not believe me, search and learn about the mosque with two Qublas. The Story of the Mosque of Two Qiblahs in Madinah | About Islam So, we are set to believe that out of the blue, this verse was revealed: “Indeed, We see you ˹O Prophet˺ turning your face towards heaven. Now We will make you turn towards a direction ˹of prayer˺ that will please you. So turn your face towards the Sacred Mosque ˹in Mecca˺—wherever you are, turn your faces towards it...” Quran 2:144 The Hadith says that after a year and a half of being away from Mecca, the Prophet was missing Mecca and “... he wished that he could pray facing the Ka'ba (at Mecca). The first prayer which he offered facing the Ka'ba was the 'Asr (afternoon) prayer in the company of some people.” Sahih al-Bukhari 40 Sahih al-Bukhari 40 - Belief - كتاب الإيمان - Sunnah.com - Sayings and Teachings of Prophet Muhammad (صلى الله عليه و سلم) I have highlighted one part of the Quran that corresponds with one part of the Hadith. Who really wanted this change of direction? Allah or the Prophet? Notice it says “...that will please you” and not “...that will please Allah”. And why will it please him? Because “...he wished that he could pray facing the Ka’ba (at Mecca).” Arguments against this being an Abrogation: There are those who will say that this is not an abrogation because there was no verse that replaced a verse – yet even the great Islamic scholars saw it as the ‘first abrogation’ in the Quran. For example, in the Tafsir of this verse by Ibn Kathir, he says it clearly that this is the ‘first abrogation’ in the Quran. This is not our words; this is the Islamic Scholars words: Surah Al-Baqarah - 144 - Quran.com A hint to what was really happening is found in the next verse 2:145 which says: “Even if you were to bring every proof to the People of the Book, they would not accept your direction ˹of prayer˺, nor would you accept theirs; nor would any of them accept the direction ˹of prayer˺ of another...” Here, the same Tafsir takes a twist, hints at what was really happening and explicitly refers to the last Jews of the Madina who were stubborn in rejecting the Prophet’s message: Surah Al-Baqarah - 145 - Quran.com ----- Issue 5.1: The timing, a year and a half after the migration, when this change came about, is very telling. The Prophet had converted all that he could in that time of the Madina’s Jews. He has grown in power and now he was asserting himself and distancing himself from those who were ‘stubborn’, and this is not my words but the Tafsir’s words. What sums up the situation is that the Prophet was findings the last group of Jews too suborn to convert, and he was starting to miss Mecca – boom – the direction of prayer changes! This is a divine decision, this is a political decision. Issue 5.2: There is no real justification for this abrogation. Unlike the previous abrogations we mentioned, this has little to do with ‘preparing people’ or ‘adjusting to change’. The Quran was supposed to be set in stone from the beginning of time. This verse should have been written in the book at the start of time- follow me with this ridiculous logic. Allah knew people would be praying towards the wrong direction. Allah waited for the Prophet to miss home, and then Allah released the verse! How can anyone who reads this still not see that the Prophet was inventing things as he goes? ----- Apologists Response: Issue 5.1: This is a speculative analysis. The Hadith does not say the shifting of the Qibla was because the Prophet wanted that. The Quran is clear that this was a command from Allah. The circumstances were such that it may have been the right time to make the shift. Also, the Qibla to Jerusalem was not completely removed or rejected; it is still considered Islam's third holiest place. >> Our Response: This is not speculative, the Quran and Hadith both point to Muhammad being the reason (if not the instigator) of this change. This is further backed by the way the Quranic verse came down, the Tafsir, and the Hadith. Issue 5.2: This is all part of Allah’s grand plan – After all, Allah is the best planner. This may have been part of His grand plan to help the Jews see the truth of Islam and make their transition to Islam easier by suggesting the Qibla initially is Jerusalem. Then, they gradually got used to the religion before making that switch. If Muhammad had arrived claiming Mecca is the direction of prayer, hardly any Jews would have accepted his message. After all, you cannot argue with that outcome! Islam prevailed. >> Our Response: The term used in verse 8:30 is a deceiver and not a planner, but we know the translators did not like it, so they replaced it with a planner. But in essence, this excuse makes sense to what Quran 8:30 says. It is about deception to gain power! Even if you agree with this method, you have to wonder why Allah, who is capable of anything and can create anything from nothing, would resort to deception to win! Isn’t deception a sin and a characteristic of the ‘devil’. The fact Islam did prevail does not mean it is evidence of divine intervention. The Egyptian Dynasty, Chinese Dynasty, and even the Roman Empire succeeded and prevailed longer than Islam, and in your book, they are pagans and enemies of Allah. Final Thoughts: I know what you are thinking, how can any sane person think this makes sense. well, most Muslims don't even know this fact and many more do not even know the whole story. People in the days of the Prophet used to say: "Muhammad only repeats what he learned," and they were right. This prophet learned much of this faith from his maternal uncle, Waraqah Ibn Nawfal, who was a priest in Christianity and Judaism. For many historians who look at Islam objectively, Islam is a branch of Judaism, linked with Christianity for continuity, blended with Zoroastrianism for creativity, and mixed with Arabian mythology such as Jinns, Hajj, and the direction of prayer to Mecca. Read this and other Just in Time verses in the Quran that show Muhammad was inventing verses on the go... wikiislam.net/wiki/Convenien… You can also read the different mixture of origins of the Islamic faith, where Muhammad copied many of his ideas here:

Stockholm Syndrome is the condition when women defend Islam knowing that it degrades them as lesser than men, suggests they are evil, half the faith, intelligence, and worth. Hurray, the Quran had a chapter called "Women", chapter four! Until you read there is chapter called Cow and one called Scorpion...then it is not so special. What does this chapter talk about women that makes it so special? Why not read: 4:34 "Men are the caretakers of women, as men have been provisioned by Allah over women and tasked with supporting them financially. And righteous women are devoutly obedient and, when alone, protective of what Allah has entrusted them with.And if you sense ill-conduct from your women, advise them (first), (if they persist,)do not share their beds, ˹but if they still persist,˺ then discipline them (gently).But if they change their ways, do not be unjust to them. Surely Allah is Most High, All-Great." Note that gently and sequence are in brackets, these are added by the translators based on what the Tafseer (explanation made by scholars). In fact, if read literally from the Quran...the sequence is implied but one can read it as one go! That is in one evening event! And gently is no where to be seen. Why is this important? It leaves space for any abusive husband to read it whichever way he wants!! So, stop the bullshit. You think an All-knowing God could not spot this??? Of course, He can. But a 7th century Muhmmad, writing a book for other men to follow his faith would not have noticed or cared about this subtle mistake. And as if to "Crown" women, chapter 4 also talks in 4:24 about what men can have sex with. "Also ˹forbidden are˺ married women—except ˹female˺ captives in your possession. This is Allah’s commandment to you...." Commandment to own and have sex with female captives!! People this is what ISIS did to the Yazidi women. How can you not see it? All these verses come from Sahih International translations on Quran.com. And if you still believe that "Still Islam in the whole made women life better!" I urge you to read the story of Khadijah, Muhammad's first wife and how she lived BEFORE ISLAM - find it in our earlier post.