Topics

Please forgive my ignorance, but does the Quran give examples of what dua is appropriate for?

Example: as Allah does as he wills, and none die without his leave, I don't see the point in praying people's health.

Are there Quranic examples?

I was wondering today about the history of Islam after watching The Message. The movie was very touching, and seemed to represent what Islam is meant to be and not what it has been portrayed by in the media and certain groups.

Are there any arabic historical documents that are reliable and correspond with some of what the hadith describes as history of the region?

I was wondering if the Quran corrects mistakes in the Torah as well as substituting for better things, should laws written in the Torah that are not changed or corrected still be followed? Consequently, are stories and prophecies in the tanakh to be taken as true if they are not mentioned differently in the Quran?

[Freeminds:]

I was rereading Surah 2 this weekend and when I read 2:58-59 I starting thinking.


Freeminds:
2:58    And We said: �Enter this town, and eat from it as you wish bountifully. And enter the passageway by crouching, and say: �Our load is removed,� so that your wrongdoings will be forgiven, and We will increase for the good doers.�
2:59    But the wicked altered what was said to them to a different saying, thus We sent down upon the wicked an affliction from the heavens for what wickedness they were in.


Yusuf Ali:
58. And remember We said: "Enter this town, and eat of the plenty therein as ye wish; but enter the gate with humility, in posture and in words, and We shall forgive you your faults and increase (the portion of) those who do good."

59. But the transgressors changed the word from that which had been given them; so We sent on the transgressors a plague from heaven, for that they infringed (Our command) repeatedly.

Is it possible that this town was Canaan? I was always bothered that God would slaughter an entire city by the Hebrews hands, and was wondering if this statement about transgressing could be how they decided to not enter the city peacefully but in fact decided to take it by force.

Does anyone have any insight into these passages?

I can't find the thread, but someone asked others to pray for her, and a forum member said something to the effect of not wanting to pray for them because it would be a loan from god and the recipient of the prayer would be indebted.

This sounded very strange to me indeed and no one corrected or commented on the statement, so I wanted to ask: Is dua for others considered normal or is it not common? By 'dua for others' I mean asking Allah to provide for or to help others in different situations, e.g maybe someone needs a job so asking Allah to help them.

For me it has always seemed natural to pray for the needs of others where maybe I cannot directly offer help, but when I read that comment about taking out a loan from Allah I was very confused.