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From: mmdh@cbnewsf.cb.att.com (Mamdouh Maher)
Newsgroups: soc.religion.islam
Subject: Re: salvation and islam
Message-ID: <1991May21.182323.17858@wpi.WPI.EDU>
Date: 21 May 91 18:23:23 GMT
References: <1991May17.140245.3938@wpi.WPI.EDU>
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In article <1991May17.140245.3938@wpi.WPI.EDU> moorthy@hctdemo.leis.bellcore.com (Velu Sembugamoorthy) writes:
>
>Is there anything in Islam similar to salvation (Christian), liberation 
>( as in Hindu, Buddhic religions) of human beings? Liberation means
>becoming one with God (Allah). I believe salvation means going to heaven
>after the judgement by God. According to Islam, what happens to a person after 
>she/he dies? Is there any notion similar to "experiencing God"? Are there
>saints in Islam? Does Islam teach reincarnation i.e., being born again and
>again in this world? Does Islam believe in other worlds? Does Islam talk
>about miracles? 
>
>I would appreciate if you could let me know. I do not know Arabic. So
>please use English words. I do not know much about Islam, though I read
>this news board regularly and I have an English translation of Kuron.
>I am sorry if I have asked a wrong question or spelt any of the Islamic terms 
>incorrectly. 
>
>/moorthy

A- The Muslim lives to worship Allah (God) who created him. The dignity of a 
human comes from submission to Allah. The creator is Just and Merciful. He is 
neither a tyrant nor a weakling. The Creator does not need our worship, he 
prescribes worship and obedience on us for our sakes. The mercy of Allah 
falls upon a person who choses to become a servant to the Creator by his 
obedience. Such a person is greatly and eternally rewarded, for Allah is 
Beneficient and Generous.
  
B- A Muslim is a creature of God. No one experiences God nor does anyone 
	become God. There is no reincarnation, we only have to suffer 
	through one life :-) before Allah rewards us as his Grace sees fit.
  
C- Allah says that he creates that which we do not know. He calls himself, 
	the Lord
	of the world_s_ this indicates that there are many worlds, but it is 
	not clear to me whether that means 'entirely unrelated similar worlds'
	or not.
  
D- Which translation of the meaning of the Qur'an do you have? I am asking
	because some of the translations (eg: one of the Penguin translations)
	are written by people (non-Muslims) who have more interest in 
	destroying Islam than in describing it. I recommend Yusuf 'Ali's, but 
	there are other good ones. There probably is some non-Muslim who made 
	an honest job, but I strongly recommend that you find a translation 
	written by a Muslim (if yours is not).
  
May Allah lead us all to the straight path.
  

Mamdouh Maher