The Genesis Story in Islam and Christianity

                The Book of Genesis: the first book in the Bible contains one of the most popular stories known to humankind about the creation of the earth and heavens, the first man and woman: Adam and Eve and a deceiver, Satan. This story is not just known to Christians, but also to millions of Muslims around the world through the Qur’an which also contains information about the early days of the world and humankind in various places of the book. However, when comparing both accounts of the story, one can find numerous differences as well, which continues to provide a debating ground for Muslims and Christians.

               The early chapters of the Genesis narrates that God created the world in six days and then took a rest on the seventh day. First, God created the earth and the heavens and then separated the light from darkness which is how He formed day and night. Then the oceans and the sky were created. On the third day the earth was given life and then in the days to follow the sun and the moon and the various life forms was created. Finally, God created the first man and woman (Genesis 1). The Qur’anic account, however, has a slight difference on the act of creationism. Firstly, although the Qur’an states that the world was created in six days, it never says that God rested on the seventh day (Surah Al-Sajda: 4). Moreover, the order in which the world was created is not mentioned in the Qur’an.

               The next verses of the Genesis focus on the creation of Adam, as a representative of God and the place where he was created. Adam was made from dust of the ground in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 2: 7-8), a place many believe was an actual place on earth and there are various theories regarding its location but it cannot be said for sure whether it really existed or not, even though the Bible provides some clue to its location. The Qur’an, however, makes it obvious that the place where Adam and Eve were created was in the heavens, as they were banished to earth after disobeying God’s instruction not to eat from the Forbidden Tree. However, the Qur’an and the Bible agree on the fact that Adam was created to represent God on earth as a ‘vicegerent’ (Genesis 1: 26, Qur’an 2: 30), and that he was made from clay (Qur’an Ar-Rahman: 14).

               Perhaps the biggest difference between the two versions of the story in each book is the role of Eve. Qur’an tells us that Adam and Eve were created equal as husband and wife, while the Bible never mentions their marriage. Moreover, Bible blames Eve as the one who came under the influence of the serpent and ate fruit from the forbidden Tree of Knowledge, making Adam eat it as well. For this reason, God curses Eve in such a way that women thereafter, would go through the painful process of childbirth and live as beings inferior to men (Genesis 3: 16). From the Qur’anic perspective Adam and Eve were both deceived by Satan and were equally responsible for their sin. Thus, they were punished for their sin when God banished them from heaven to the earth (Qur’an Al-Baqarah: 36). On Adam’s repentance, God pardoned him saying “there comes to you guidance from me, whosoever follows my guidance, on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve” (Qur’an Al-Baqarah: 38). So, Contrary to the Bible, Qur’an tells as that there was no ‘original sin’ and that the status of Adam, as a ‘vicegerent’ on earth, was not taken away from him. Similarly, bible made the impression that women are inferior to men which is nowhere mentioned in the Qur’an.

               The identity of the deceiver in the story is another talking point. The Bible refers to the deceiver simply as the serpent in the Garden of Eden who seduces Eve of the power of the forbidden Tree of Knowledge. The Qur’anic account tells us that the deceiver was Iblis, a jinn ranked among angels, who refused to prostrate before Adam claiming he was the better of two creations and was banished from heavens. Iblis, therefore, sought to lead humans astray from their path until the Day of Judgment. Iblis was the deceiver who deceived Adam and Eve into believing that the Forbidden Tree will give them the eternal life of angels (Qur’an 7:12-21). What form the Iblis uses to address to Adam and Eve, however, is not mentioned in the Qur'an.

              Though read by millions around the world, many  find it difficult to explain some inconsistencies in the Bible, especially the Book of Genesis. One such question arises in the early chapters where there are two different accounts of the creation of man. In the first chapter, man and woman are created together, but in the second chapter Eve is created after Adam  and the Eden. This ambiguous change in sequence has led to the myth that there was a woman before Eve; her name was Lilith, Adam’s first wife. Bible does not link Lilith with Adam anywhere, but the myth might have been created in light of some Jewish scriptures which do relate to Lilith, as the first woman created. Like Bible, the Qur’an does not have any text in reference to a female before Adam and clearly states Eve as Adam’s first wife.

                  Not surprisingly, it is clear that both Qur’an and Bible edify the same message; God is the supreme creator of the universe and how easily humans can go astray from their path. The path which humans are urged to follow time and again by God Himself through His apostles, the path to make our lives better not only in the present world but the hereafter as well. 

                                                       Work Cited

Ali, Abdullah Yusuf. "Surah Al-Baqarah." Translation and Commentary on The Holy Qur-an: by Dr. Zohurul Hoque. Web. 05 Oct. 2010. <http://www.qurantoday.com/BaqSec4.htm>.

"Genesis, Chapter 3 (King James Bible) - ChristianAnswers® WebBible™." Christian Answers® Network™ (ChristianAnswers.Net): Multilingual Answers, Reviews, Ministry Resources, and More! [Home]. Eden Communications (Films for Christ). Web. 05 Oct. 2010. <http://www.christiananswers.net/bible/gen3.html>.

"Genesis (King James Bible) - ChristianAnswers® WebBible™." Christian Answers® Network™ (ChristianAnswers.Net): Multilingual Answers, Reviews, Ministry Resources, and More! [Home]. Eden Communications (Films for Christ). Web. 05 Oct. 2010. <http://www.christiananswers.net/bible/gen3.html>.

"The Holy Quran Arabic Text with Translation in English Text and Search Engine - Al Islam Online." IslamAhmadiyya - Ahmadiyya Muslim Community - Al Islam Online - Official Website. Web. 05 Oct. 2010. <http://www.alislam.org/quran/search2/showChapter.php?ch=7&verse=10>.

"The Story of Creation in the Qur'an and Old Testament." Bismika Allahuma | Muslim Responses To Anti-Islam Polemics | Answering Islam Exposed. 15 Oct. 2005. Web. 05 Oct. 2010. <http://www.bismikaallahuma.org/archives/2005/the-story-of-creation-in-the-quran-and-old-testament/>.

“Decoding the Past: Mysteries of the Garden of Eden”. Dir. Jeff Schiro. The History Channel. Television.

“Banned From The Bible II”. Dir. Geoffrey Madeja.  The History Channel. 2007. Television

Written By: Waleed Munir

Critique on "Diogenes And Alexander" by Gilbert Highet

               The article ‘Diogenes andAlexander’, written by Gilbert Highet, is a concise life account of two of the most intellectual personalities of ancient times, Diogenes and Alexander. In the beginning, Highet sheds some light on Diogenes; a philosopher, founder of the Cynic philosophy. The article further describes his life in the rich city of Corinth and his interaction with its citizens. Later in the passage, the author describes Alexander, the Macedonian King, not just as a conqueror but as a thinker, as a student of another great philosopher Aristotle. The author then goes on to illustrate an interesting encounter between the two and how both treated each other. The author gives an interesting account as an admirer of the two personalities and the language used describes that feeling, however, the organization of the article is confusing and inconsistent.

             The article describes Diogenes as a man indifferent to the worldly pleasures like wealth that most humans lust for. He believed humankind’s greed for an extravagant lifestyle is going to bring them no good except make them go astray from nature. He wrote essays, poems and plays to edify his philosophy that the goods bought from wealth are not going to last forever and they only threaten a man’s independence from worry and anxiety of losing them. He tried to give this message to the people by setting an example when he chose to live a life out on the streets with no possessions except a cask to sleep in and a piece of cloth to cover him. His ideology was targeted for people from all walks of life and not a chosen few. The article then focuses on Alexander, the Macedonian King, a student of Aristotle, another great Greek philosopher. The article describes Alexander as a great commander and a thinker which was mainly due to the influence of Aristotle’s teachings. As the article unfolds, Alexander was sent to Corinth as Commander-in-chief and was congratulated by everyone including the poets and philosophers of the city except Diogenes so Alexander decided to pay him a visit. When they meet, instead of greeting him, Diogenes publicly mocked Alexander. But, Alexander only walked away leaving the crowds stand in awe because he thought highly of Diogenes which and even took one of his students to India as a philosophical interpreter.

           The author mainly gives a descriptive account and his tone implies admiration for both Diogenes and Alexander which is also supported in the passage. For example, he compares Diogenes to Plato and Aristotle, who were different from Diogenes in the fact that Diogenes was more public than the other philosophers. Moreover, where most people are forced to live this life, Diogenes deliberately chose to live free from the life he saw as a threat to his independence. In this, the author sees Diogenes’ greatness as a philosopher. Furthermore, he refutes the claims of the society which labeled him as a lunatic in stating that he was a missionary, who wanted not only his society but the whole humankind to come close to nature and free their minds from acquiring ‘perishable goods’. The author then turns to Alexander stating he was ‘wiser than his years’. He praises Alexander not just as a military leader but also as a thinker, influenced by Aristotle and his teachings. In stating that Alexander would ‘create a supranational empire’ implies that the author sees him as someone destined for greatness.

            The author also narrates certain events to support his views in the essay. At one point, to support his claim that Alexander was a thinker, he puts in picture what Alexander did while invading Asia. He took some scientists with him to Asia and collected some research material to study the new region and then in India Alexander he tried to gain some knowledge from some Hindu mystics. These events clearly suggest that Alexander was thinking far ahead of his time. Later in the passage when Alexander takes Diogenes’ pupil to India as a philosophical interpreter, clearly supports the fact that Alexander had a high regard Diogenes and his Cynic philosophy. Again, he commends Alexander as an intellectual when he decides to meet Diogenes in the market place emphasizing his generosity and student of philosophy.

              The language used by the author is easily comprehendible and simple but he has used some metaphors and personifications. For example, Diogenes is compared to a ‘dog’ because of his lifestyle. He lived in the market, had no concern for privacy, taught those who wanted to listen to him and ‘barked’ at others who he disliked. Moreover, he uses the term ‘doggishness’ to make the readers understand Cynicism. Further, the author states Diogenes’ aim was to ‘re-stamp the currency’ to emphasize on the fact that Diogenes had no desire for money and wanted to rid the humankind of its greed. At another point, the author claims Aristotle taught to ‘those within the walls’ highlighting that his teachings       were for a chosen few whereas Diogenes targeted the general public.

          Despite the easy language and admirable tone the passage can be a bit puzzling due to lack of unity. For instance, the author gives a background on Diogenes, his life in Athens and Corinth, his place in the society and his ideologies regarding humankind. Then, as he goes on to come down to the meeting between Diogenes and Alexander, he breaks off and starts discussing Alexander, how he was brought up and how he came to Corinth. Then jumps back to the day when the meeting took place. So, this type of ill organization may cause a reader to lose track of what the author is trying to say.

         Nonetheless, what the author is trying to say is pretty easy to understand. He compares Diogenes and Alexander and tries to form a common ground between them which is their belief in Cynic philosophy and quotes Alexander saying that he would have been Diogenes, which shows he held Diogenes as a great philosopher. Moreover, a reader might notice how two extremes came together. Alexander was a King while on the contrary Diogenes was a ‘dog’ living in the streets of a city placed under the leadership of Alexander and yet somehow they met in an encounter which is still remembered by historians. The style of writing gives the impression that the author had utmost respect for the philosophers which can be drawn out of the fact that he also credits Aristotle for his contribution to what Alexander became, a commander and a thinker, something which was rare at that time of ‘military automatons’.

             Overall, despite the ill-organization and abrupt changes in the article, the author is successful in getting his aim across to the readers, describing the famous meeting between two of the greatest minds in Greece and the interesting conversation to which many conclusions can be drawn out. The author has shown his admiration and respect for both men in his tone of writing and also supported his own opinions with several events and life. The essay has made it clear to the readers the background on Cynicism; how it came about and how the characters of Diogenes and Alexander were related to this philosophy, providing apposite events and evidences to support his claims.   

Written By: Nabeel Munir

Is Technology Dangerous, or Does It Provide A Way To Solve Our Problems?

“Man is a complex being:  he makes deserts bloom - and lakes die. “ ~Gil Stern. It’s an incessant part of every human being to beautify, Improve or progress in life. It is this human that created fire out of rocks and paper out of trees. It is therefore this innate quality that distinguishes human race from all other species. Technology is one of the greatest achievements of man today. Today everything is accessible with a mere click of a button. Technology is an outcome of man’s own genius. Hence it is a man made phenomenon to facilitate a human being in making his life easier, but this is where man made things fall short of godlike perfection. Like every man made thing technology too has certain drawbacks.

            Technology is a tool to shape the world according to our convenience, and it has helped us in the development of civilization. Technology has made our lives convenient, but simultaneously it has replaced human touch, solving a few of our problems but giving birth to even more complications, consequently making life more complex.“The machine does not isolate man from the great problems of nature but plunges him more deeply into them.”(Saint-Exupéry, Wind, Sand, and Stars, 1939).

                 The greatest downside of modern technology is that it is replacing human effort and energy with that of a machine. We as a clan have become increasingly dependent on television, cell phones and various machines. In the olden times man believed in the survival of the fittest, he or she made his own life, but today we would rather ask our servant to bring us a glass of water or make us dinner. We have become lazy and inefficient. This is why harsher forms of slavery and child labor are more likely to be found technologically advanced societies rather than primitive societies. The replacement of man power with computers or robots has led to unemployment. Many of the jobs done in factories or even in offices are now done by machines. Poverty is persistently increasing due to unemployment. The rich are becoming richer as technology is for them where as the poor are becoming poorer. Poverty is creating frustrations and inferiority complexes which lead to more cases of suicides and crimes.

               As the world is becoming more technologically advanced it is morally, socially and ethically disintegrating. Moreover human beings stay within their homes rather than communicating or spending time with their relatives. Due to the fast pace world of technology there is a constant race between fellow human beings. People have become more materialistic, resulting in being self centered and selfish. Life has become isolated and mechanical. Thus technology is turning human beings into machines.

              Albert Einstein said “Technological progress is like an axe in the hands of a pathological criminal”. Today technological progress is intervening in the normal course of nature and creating complications. Medical technologies, such as medicines, life support systems; dialysis and improved health standards have increased the average life span. At the same time it has increased the world population growth. Death rate has decreased and birth rate has risen considerably resulting in an upsurge in population. This constant increase in population results in various social and economic outbreaks including wars over resources. Technology innovations have created new diseases and disorders. It is said that cancer which is the growth of abnormal cells is also an outcome of technology. Diseases like HIV, hepatitis and diabetes are a product of technology.

                    New innovations in genetic engineering are causing genetic mutations and diseases. Other medical advancements such as test tube babies are creating social as well as moral problems where single women use this method to have children who later lead abnormal lives without fathers.  Cloning is a very good example of technology, it is no undoubtedly remarkable but it is directly in conflict with the existence and power of the almighty. In future these clones are going to create further problems in society. Other technologies in medical such as laser, cosmetic surgeries, implantations, and liposuction are examples of the misuse of technology.

                                       Transportation technology has made life a lot more mobile and has made the world a smaller place but has increased traffic congestion consequently creating pollution which is endangering our mother earth. Due to air conditioners and refrigerators the ozone layer is depleting day by day. Increased infrastructure and paper leads to excessive cutting of trees. The world’s forests are being cut at an alarming rate. Global warming, green house effect is affecting the environment due to which the world climate is changing. Due to technology and cars natural reservoirs of petrol and coal are also diminishing which will soon result in severe energy crisis all over the world.

                              Information technology is the greatest form of technology, computer being the greatest invention. It has completely changed the world making it into a global village, making things quicker but at the same time this computer has caused job redundancies and downsizing. The upper class has not been affected but the lower and middle classes have lost a lot of jobs due to these technological advancements causing more unemployment. Internet and computers have created privacy issues like hacking and viruses which can destroy a whole computer network damaging important files. People today have a lot of privacy issues due to these advancements.

                    Technology has also developed into a very effective entertainment system throughout the world. Television, radio and mass communication has reduced distances but has also created many social and economic problems. Some superpowers use television in order to brainwash and conquer the whole world. Today half the teenagers in the world are greatly influenced by the prevalent American high school culture. Technology today is being used as an effective tool to conquer nations especially the underdeveloped nations. Games, cell phones and play stations have become an integral part of children’s lives. Instead of playing they would rather play games on the computer. This not only affects the academics but has various social implications on the upcoming generations. Technology in entertainment has also had many cultural implications on societies. The west is culturally invading the whole world through this media war.

               Apart from all the above mentioned problems there are further forthcoming implications that arise directly from technology. Technological advancements in warfare have resulted in weapons of mass destruction. Nuclear tests in Nagasaki and Hiroshima are still facing the various side effects. New weapons, and competition based on more and better warfare has caused the birth of the most dangerous phenomenon of the modern world terrorism. Terrorism is a prodigy of technology. These terrorists use all these technologies like internet, aircrafts and hackers to attack the super powers. The main objective of these terrorists is to create terror which is done through television and news channels around the world. Furthermore weapons of mass destruction that are created by us humans to annihilate our very own mother earth. “For 200 years we've been conquering Nature.  Now we're beating it to death. “ ~Tom McMillan, quoted in Francesca Lyman, The Greenhouse Trap, 1990

                               Bill gates once said “We're changing the world with technology.” Technology, for the better or worst; has drastically changed history, is revolutionizing the present and is reshaping the future. Man has used technology to change and mould the world but change is not always for good. The change is effective on a smaller level but on a broader level they have dangerous implications.

                  Even though technology results in progress but it is also evident of man’s own insecurity and distrust in his sole creator. Weapon technology is an inhumane creation. During World War II, an atomic race was started to create a new weapon of mass destruction. The atomic/nuclear bomb created is now a major threat for many countries. From tanks and guns, to bombs, grenades, air raids and missiles and nuclear weapons all these weapon technologies have changed the fate of this world.

                  According to Aldous Huxley “Technological progress has merely provided us with more efficient means for going backwards. “We as humans tend to believe that technology is a means of going forward but it is in fact the opposite we may be creating heaven on earth for ourselves, but are not realizing that in order to make life simpler we are further complicating it. Where technology is unraveling many mysteries and  problems, it is has entangled the world in a bigger mess.It is time to realize our role in the world which is to handle and use the created technology for the good of mankind and our very own mother earth. As Jacques Barzun said, “If civilization has risen from the Stone Age, it can rise again from the Wastepaper Age” (The House of Intellect, 1959).                               

Works Cited

"Answers.com - What Are the Disadvantages of Technology Today." WikiAnswers - The Q&A Wiki. Web. 15 Nov. 2010. <http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_are_the_disadvantages_of_technology_today>.

"Chapter 3: The Nature of Technology." AAAS - Project 2061. Web. 15 Nov. 2010. <http://www.project2061.org/publications/sfaa/online/chap3.htm>.

"The Pros and Cons of Technology Today :: Computers." Web. 15 Nov. 2010. <http://www.123helpme.com/view.asp?id=30009>.                                       


Written By: Walid Munir                                                                                    

Hawala System In Pakistan

Hawala is Arabic for transfer. A person (remitter) in country A sends some money denominated in country A’s currency to a person in country B without the use of normal mode of remittance i.e. banks and financial institutions is called “Hawala”. Hawala is often defined as a process of movement of money without actually moving it. In under developed countries, like Pakistan, where the foreign exchange difference is pretty large, Hawala system has grown itself as an institution running parallel to banks and other financial institutions. Although it is illegal to involve in remittance through Hawala, the pros of using hawala far exceed the cost and there is also a rare chance of getting caught. The very foundation of Hawala is trust that people show in the brokers of Hawala and these hawaladars have maintained their image which has helped it in becoming such a large network in Pakistan. The money remitted through Hawala never finds its way to the central bank and thus never shows up in the foreign exchange reserves of the country to which the money is remitted.

Hawala Process:

                             Usually the hawaladar is an entity (a person) with business extending to multiple countries. For example, a hawaladar in USA would have a business centre in USA and in Pakistan and other countries. A remitter in USA would give certain amount of money (in dollars) to hawaladar and would specify a person in the receiving country to which the money is to be transferred at a specified rate. Hawaladar charges a fee for his service. The remitter has done his part of the job and the money is now in hands of hawaladar. Hawaladr would direct his offices in Pakistan to give certain amount of money to a specified person in Pakistani Rupees. Hawaladars settle the balance between themselves by sending goods or reimbursinf any creditors of each other in their respective countries.

Benefits of Hawala Over Normal Procedure:

•       Normal procedure takes about 72 hours while Hawala takes 24 hours to transfer money
•       Broker fee is substantially low as compared to bank fee
•       Hawala offers better exchange rate

Impacts on Pakistan 

                                It has been seen that the money remitted to Pakistan through Hawala is approximately equal to the exports of Pakistan. If the money were to be transferred through legal systems via banks, this would have made its way to the foreign exchange reserves and our current account deficit would have been a surplus instead.

Initiatives taken by Government:

                                       Pakistan Remittance Initiative (PRI) is a joint initiative taken by State Bank of Pakistan, Ministries of Finance and Ministries of overseas Pakistanis. This initiative has been taken in order to facilitate the flow of remittance into Pakistan. Overseas Pakistanis or people living abroad can remit their funds through this service free of charge and free of taxes. Under this initiative, SBP will encourage financial institutions to increase their marketing so as to attract more remitters towards legal procedure. In return those institutions will get incentives. Incentives shall start from bringing at least US$ 100 million from one particularjurisdiction in one year. 0.5% reimbursement of the marketing expense for remittance between 100m-400m.0.75% of marketing expense reimbursement to those who remit 400m-800m from a particular jurisdiction.Currently it takes at least 72 hours for Pakistani expats to bank-transfer money to Pakistan. In the government’s project involving the State Bank of Pakistan, it will take only 24 hours to make a remittance.