Friday, March 20, 2020

Allah Is the Best Creator Essays

Allah Is the Best Creator Essays Allah Is the Best Creator Essay Allah Is the Best Creator Essay In the name of Allah, The Compassionate The source of All Mercy ONLY ONE WAY TO SALVATION Creatures of Allah! There is only one way to avert an approaching disaster: * Have faith I Allah and His blessed prophet and cleanse your hearts of any allegiances that are false. *Continue doing good to your fellow creatures until the Day you are called home. *Invite others to the Path of righteousness with sincerity. *And endure with perseverance every test and hardship that comes your way. These are not our words, but the words of your Lord: By the declining day, surely man is in a state of loss, ave those who believes and do good deeds, and exhort one another to the truth and exhort one another to the endurance (Al-Quran:103:1-5) Remember! Even slight defect in your faith is a cause for damnation . It is only the sins, mistakes and shortcomings of ours that Allah will forgive through His Mercy. Our Lord only warns us against placing another object ,idol, or ideology before Him that is ,He does not allow any kind of association (Shirk). He says this plainly: Allah forgiveth not that partners should be set up with Him :but He forgivth anything else to who He pleaseth; to set up partners with Allah is to devise a in most heinous indeed. (Al-Quran:4:48) In the saying of the blessed Prophet we read: Whosoever fills the entire earth with sins, but then dies without associating any partner to me . I will meet him with the forgiveness equal to that. (Muslim) So many nations throughout history have been wiped out because of Association (Shirk) And Lo! Even today our Muslim community has reached. the verge of annihilation because of our indulgence in it: Say (O Mohammad , to the disbelievers) : Travel in the land and see the nature of the consequences for those who lived before you ! Most of them were polytheists ( Mushrik) (Al-Quran:30:42) In other words, tell them to explore the four corners of the earth and look upon the ruins of the past. If older civilizations, which were rooted in idolatry(Shirk) can succumb to disaster and disappear, then can’t we too? Our Lord testifies that for this Muslim community even as for others there is only One way to Salvation :Its true sons and daughters must arise and realize that this world is simply a way station on your journey to eternity and that each one of us is born to die. For such reasons it is imperative to live our life as successfully and count. One must, therefore: * Protect himself from every kind of Association(Shirk). Be firm in affirming the Unity of the creator(Tauhid). * Pattern his lifestyles after the most successful man in the History, the blessed Prophet Mohammed (May the peace and blessing of Allah be upon him). This is the only way one can transform the approaching disaster into certain success. If it is not done here and now then an awful fate is ine vitable. Those who believed and did not pollute their belief with Shirk, for them is peace and safety and they are truly the guided ones (they are going to reach the goal) (Al-Quran:6:82) (ZULM in this verse has been interpreted as Shirk by the holy Prophet himself) (Bukahri and Muslim) Let us be perfectly clear about the meaning of Kalima (the testimony of faith ) and let there be no doubt about its implications. Then we must learn to hold ton innovation (the bida) Only Tauhid and the way of the blessed prophet can build our steps into the hereafter . Our Lord has promised to defend us if we but try with sincerity. The meaning of the first part of the testimony of faith, La ilaha illa Allay is that is neither Father nor Son. Male nor Female, two nor three. He alone may be deemed worthy of of being called: * The Creator and the Master. * The knower of the hidden and the clear. * The Omnipresent, the Watcher and Sovereign. He is the Only in whose power are all good and ill. * He renders help, fulfills needs, lifts sorrow and attends to those who call upon Him. * He alone is to be remembered and called upon often. * All trust and hope must be placed in Him and all prayers are directed to Him alone with no effort and making intermediaries. One should humble himself phy sically and spiritually before him alone . Charity and goodwill must be done in His Name. * Legislation for the basics of human government and organization begins with his precepts. * All are his creature and no one has any influence or power over Him Whether living or dead. Neither graves, tombs , people, charms, symbols nor animals have any validity in his worship. All are helpless before Him. Priests, Monks, Rabbis, Sheiks, Imams, Swamis and Piers are mere suppliants with no power over him. The acceptance of the second half of the testimony of faith, Muhammad -ur-rasool Allah implies that: * The blessed prophet is only a man, a servant of Allah and a messenger. * the tradition of the blessed prophet shall remain the last word in question regarding the conduct of human affairs until the end of history . No words or deed will be acceptable from anyone if it is in contradiction with the prophet’s teachings. Rash and undue innovation will not be given currency. * Only the interpretations of this Prophet’s life as done by those who knew him best i. e. his companions will be considered authentic. Every sincere believer however much be or she may stumble will eventually enter the Paradise by the Grace of Allah . Anyone having a different practice of Faith which deviates from the pristine teachings of the Quran and the Sunnah will not get even a whiff of Paradise, a thousands prayers and years of fasting not with standing! Our Lord! grant to everyone the ability and aptitude to accept this ideology and to act accordingly.

Tuesday, March 3, 2020

Brigadier General George S. Greene in the Civil War

Brigadier General George S. Greene in the Civil War George S. Greene - Early Life Career: The son of Caleb and Sarah Greene, George S. Greene was born at Apponaug, RI on May 6, 1801 and was a second cousin of American Revolution commander Major General Nathanael Greene.   Attending Wrentham Academy and a Latin school in Providence, Greene hoped to continue his education at Brown University, but was prevented from doing so due to a downturn in his familys finances resulting from the Embargo Act of 1807.   Moving to New York City as a teenager, he found work in a dry goods store.   While in this position, Greene met Major Sylvanus Thayer who was serving as superintendent of the United States  Military Academy. Impressing Thayer, Greene earned an appointment to West Point in 1819.   Entering the academy, he proved a gifted student.   Graduating second in the Class of 1823, Greene declined an assignment in the Corps of Engineers and instead accepted a commission as a second lieutenant in the 3rd US Artillery.   Rather than join the regiment, he received orders to remain at West Point to serve as an assistant professor of mathematics and engineering.   Staying in this post for four years, Greene taught Robert E. Lee during this period.   Moving through several garrison assignments over the next several years, he studied both law and medicine to ease the boredom of the peacetime military.   In 1836, Greene resigned his commission to pursue a career in civil engineering. George S. Greene - Prewar Years: Over the next two decades, Greene aided in the construction of several railroads and water systems.   Among his projects were the Croton Aqueduct reservoir in New Yorks Central Park and expanding the High Bridge over the Harlem River.   In 1852, Greene was one of twelve founders of the American Society of Civil Engineers and Architects.   Following the secession crisis in the wake of the election of 1860 and the beginning of the Civil War in April 1861, Greene decided to return to military service.   A devout believer in restoring the Union, he pursued a commission despite turning sixty  that May.   On January 18, 1862, Governor Edwin D. Morgan appointed Greene colonel of the 60th New York Infantry Regiment.   Though concerned about his age, Morgan made his decision based on Greenes earlier career  in the US Army. George S. Greene - Army of the Potomac: Serving in Maryland, Greenes regiment later shifted west to the Shenandoah Valley.   On April 28, 1862, he received a promotion to brigadier general and joined Major General Nathaniel P. Banks staff.   In this capacity, Greene took part in the Valley Campaign that May and June  which saw Major General Thomas Stonewall Jackson inflict a series of defeats on Union troops.   Returning to the field later that summer, Greene  assumed command of a brigade in Brigadier General Christopher Augurs division in II Corps.   On August 9, his men performed well in the Battle of Cedar Mountain and mounted a tenacious defense despite being outnumbered by the enemy.   When Augur fell wounded in the fighting, Greene assumed command of the division.   For the next several weeks, Greene retained leadership of the division which was shifted into the newly-redesignated XII Corps.   On September 17, he advanced his men near the Dunker Church during the Battle of Antietam.   Launching a devastating attack, Greenes division achieved the deepest penetration of any attack against Jacksons lines.   Holding an advanced position, he was ultimately compelled to fall back.   Ordered to Harpers Ferry following the Union victory, Greene elected to take three weeks sick leave.   Returning to the army, he found that command of his division had been  given to Brigadier General John Geary who had recently recovered from wounds suffered at Cedar Mountain.   Though Greene possessed a stronger combat record, he was ordered to resume command of his former brigade.   Later that fall, his troops took part in skirmishing in northern Virginia and avoided the Battle of Fredericksburg in December.  Ã‚   In May 1863, Greenes men were exposed during the Battle of Chancellorsville when Major General Oliver O. Howards XI Corps collapsed following flank attack by Jackson.   Again, Greene directed a stubborn defense that employed a variety of field fortifications.   As the battle continued, he again assumed command of the division when Geary was wounded.   After the Union defeat, the Army of the Potomac pursued Lees Army of Northern Virginia north as the enemy invaded Maryland and Pennsylvania.   Late on  July 2, Greene played a key role at the Battle of Gettysburg when he defended Culps Hill from  Major General Edward Allegheny Johnsons division.   Threatened on his left flank, army commander Major General George G. Meade ordered XII Corps commander Major General Henry Slocum to send the bulk of his men south as reinforcements.   This left Culps Hill, which anchored the Union right, lightly protected.   Taking advantage of the ground, Greene directed his men to build fo rtifications.   This decision proved critical as his  men beat back repeated enemy assaults.   Greenes stand on Culps Hill prevented Confederate forces from reaching the Union supply line on the Baltimore Pike and striking the rear of Meades lines. George S. Greene - In the West: That fall, XI and XII Corps received orders to move west to aid Major General Ulysses S. Grant in relieving the siege of Chattanooga.   Serving under Major General Joseph Hooker, this combined force came under attack at the Battle of Wauhatchie on the night of October 28/29.   In the fighting, Greene was hit in face, breaking his jaw.   Placed on medical leave for six weeks, he continued to suffer from the wound.   Returning to the army, Greene served on light court-martial duty until January 1865.   Joining Major General William T. Shermans army in North Carolina, he initially volunteered on the staff of Major General Jacob D. Cox before assuming command of a brigade in the Third Division, XIV  Corps.   In this role, Greene took part in the capture of Raleigh and the surrender of General Joseph E. Johnstons army. George S. Greene - Later Life: With the end of the war, Greene returned to court-martial duty before leaving the army in 1866.   Resuming his career in  civil engineering, he served as chief engineer commissioner of the  Croton Aqueduct Department from 1867 to 1871 and later held the post of President of the American Society of Civil Engineers.   In the 1890s, Greene sought an engineer captains pension to aid his family after his death.   Though unable to obtain this, former Major General Daniel Sickles helped arranged a first lieutenants pension instead.   As a result, the ninety-three year-old Greene was briefly commissioned as a first lieutenant in 1894.   Greene died three years later on January 28, 1899, and was buried in the family cemetery in Warwick, RI. Selected Sources: Civil War Trust: General George Sears Greene at Culps HillLatin Library: George S. GreeneWarwick History: George S. Greene