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Author:	MaxQ	Created:	12/7/2008 4:18 AM
Brought up in a progressive yet traditional muslim household, I have spent more than 20 years in the search for the truth regarding the contradiction between Islamic teaching and practice. I have realized that some of the traditions of Islam as practiced today are based on fabricated accounts, and the true teaching of the Quran keeps getting ignored. My posts are from a purely Quranic perspective showing my beliefs and opinions regarding the message it holds. I am not trying to impose my ideology on anyone, merely explaining my findings. What I hope is that my work be taken objectively, and not personally.

The Secret of Ashaab il Fil

By MaxQ on 3/15/2009 5:19 AM

According to traditional Muslim belief, there is an extraordinary legend about a powerful military general's expedition to Mecca in the year Prophet Muhammad was born. This powerful leader: Abraha – king of Saba, Hadramawt and Yamen – is believed to have been killed and his army humiliated by the Meccans led by Abd al-Muttalib in the battle of Macca. As amazing as this story is, we observe that the Quran seems to mention this event as well or so the traditionalists contend. Nonetheless, it would be vital to validate this event and determine its authenticity.

Muqatta'at: Cracking the Code!

By MaxQ on 12/7/2008 4:21 AM

A question that has perplexed Islamic scholars for centuries is the existance of strange initials in the beginning of various Quranic chapters. These initials consist of the first fourteen letters of the Arabic alphabet ordered its old numeric value form and are:أ ح ر س ص ط ع ق ك ل م ن ه يKnown as Tawaasiin and Hawaamiim, these intials exist in distinct patterns as follows:Alif Laam Meem - المAlif Laam Meem tSaad - المصAlif Laam Raa - الرAlif Laam Meem Raa - المرKaaf Haa Yaa 'Ain tSaad - كهيعصdTaa Haa - طهdTaa Seen Meem - طسمdTaa Seen - طسYaa Seen - يسtSaad - ص'Haa Meem - حم'Haa Meem, 'Ain Seen Qaaf - حم عسقQaaf - قNun - نThis paper is meant to provide an in depth study of the background of these initials, and also present possible explanation that may help the reader in understanding the Quran better.Contemporary TheoriesVarious scholars including Hamiduddin Farahi, Shabbir Ahmed, and going as far back as Imam Raghib Isfahani have proposed the meanings of the codes that, in the author's opinion, only provide...

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DRC's own researchers discussing and posting on diverse subjects on the Qur'an, the world, human society, interpretation, Muslim world, history, science, philosophy etc.