The Qur’an on the Cerebrum

God has said in the Qur’an about one of the evil unbelievers who forbade the Prophet Muhammad from

praying at the Kaaba:

"No! If he does not stop, We will take him by the naseyah (front of the head), a lying,

sinful naseyah (front of the head)!" (Al-Quran, 96:15-16)

Why did the Qur’an describe the front of the head as being lying and sinful? Why didn’t the Qur’an say that the

person was lying and sinful? What is the relationship between the front of the head and lying and sinfulness?

If we look into the skull at the front of the head, we will find the pre-frontal area of the cerebrum (see figure above).

What does physiology tell us about the function of this area? A book entitled Essentials of Anatomy & Physiology

says about this area: “The motivation and the foresight to plan and initiate movements occur in the anterior portion

of the frontal lobes, the pre-frontal area. This is a region of association cortex...” 1

Also the book says: “In relation to its involvement inmotivation, the pre-frontal area is also thought to be the

functional center for aggression....” 2

So, this area of the cerebrum is responsible for planning, motivating, and initiating good and sinful behavior and

is responsible for the telling of lies and the speaking of truth. Thus, it is proper to describe the front of the head

as lying and sinful when someone lies or commits a sin, as the Quran has said: “...A lying, sinful naseyah

(front of the head)!”

Scientists have only discovered these functions of the pre-frontal area in the last sixty years, according to

Professor Keith L. Moore. 3

(1) Essentials of Anatomy&Physiology, Seeley and others, p. 211. Also see The Human Nervous System,

Noback and others, pp. 410-411.

(2) Essentials of Anatomy & Physiology, Seeley and others, p. 211.

(3) Al-E’jaz al-Elmy fee al-Naseyah (The Scientific Miracles in the Front of the Head), Moore and others, p. 41.

Ever ponder?

It's hard to make a comeback when you haven't been anywhere.

Good judgment comes from bad experience and a lot of that comes from bad judgment.

Learn from the mistakes of others. You can't live long enough to make them all yourself.

If you tell the truth, you don't have to remember anything.

Drive carefully. It's not only cars that can be recalled by their maker.

Think nobody knows you're alive? Try missing a payment.

If it wasn't for the last minute, nothing would get done.

No one pays attention until you make a mistake.

If I save time, when do I get it back?

Experience is something you don't get until just after you need it.

If the left side of the brain controls the right hand, then only left-handed people are in their right mind.

Police Quotes

These are actual police officer quotes collected from numerous people stopped for moving traffic violations.

"If you run, you'll only go to jail tired."

"The handcuffs are tight because they're new. They'll stretch out after you wear them awhile."

"So, you don't know how fast you were going. I guess that means I can write anything I want on the ticket, huh?"

"The answer to this last question will determine whether you are drunk or not. Was Mickey Mouse a cat or dog?"

"No sir, we don't have quotas anymore. We used to have quotas, but now we're allowed to write as many tickets

as we want."

"Warning! You want a warning? Okay, I'm warning you not to do that again or I'll give you another ticket."

"Life's tough, it's tougher if you're stupid."

"In God we trust, all others are suspects."

Young Boy with Strong Belief

Shaykh Fath al-Mowsily relates, once I saw a young boy walking through the jungle. It appeared as if he

was uttering some words. I greeted him with Salaam and he replied accordingly. I inquired,

"Where are you going?"

Young boy retorted, "To the house of Allah, Kaaba in Makkah."

I further asked, "What are you reciting?"

"Noble Qur'an" he replied.

I remarked, "You are at a tender age, it is not an obligation that you are required to fulfill."

Young boy said, "I have witnessed death approach people younger than me and therefore would like to

prepare if death was to knock on my door."

I astoundingly commented, "Your steps are small and your destination far."

He responded, "My duty is to take the step and it remains the responsibility of Allah (SWT) to take me

to my destination."

I continued to ask, "Where is your provision and conveyance (means of transport)."

He replied, "My Yaqeen (certainty) is my provision and my feet's are my conveyance."

I explained, "I am asking you regarding bread and water."

Young boy replied! "Oh Shaykh if someone invited you to his house, would it be appropriate to take your own food?"

I exclaimed, "No!"

"Similarly, My Lord has invited His servant to His house, it is only the weakness of your Yaqeen (certainty)

that makes us carry provisions. Despite this, do you think Allah (SWT) will let me go to waste?"

"Never" I replied.

Young boy then left.

Sometime later I saw him in Makkah.

Young boy approached me and inquired, "Oh Shaykh are you still of weak belief?"

Maths Jokes

It is only two weeks into the term that, in a calculus class, a student raises his hand and asks:

"Will we ever need this stuff in real life?"

The professor gently smiles at him and says:

"Of course not - if your real life will consist of flipping hamburgers at MacDonald's!"

Philosophy is a game with objectives and no rules.

Mathematics is a game with rules and no objectives.

Three Primary Divisions of Hadith

Introduction to the Development of Hadith Literature

by Mohamad K. Yusuff

The primary divisions of hadith are as follows:

- the 'sound' hadith (al sahih al hadith)

- the 'good' hadith (al hasan al hadith)

- the 'weak' hadith (al da`if al hadith)

The 'Sound' Hadith

Al Sahih Al Hadith (the 'sound' hadith) is a term used to describe any hadith the veracity of which is absolutely

beyond question. Hence, these ahadith are classified as 'sound' and 'trustworthy', meaning that they are of the

highest level of authenticity and reliability. All of the core (basic and primary) ahadith reported by Imam Al Bukhari

and Imam Muslim are universally accepted by Islam's orthodoxy as sahih. As mentioned before, the works of the

other four recognized compilers, Abu Dawud, Al Tirmidhi, Al Nasa'i and Ibn Majah have also been accorded

distinguished status behind the 'reliable two' by the `ulama'.

The 'Good' Hadith

Al Hasan Al Hadith (the 'good' hadith) is a term used to describe any hadith whose text (matn) is absolutely true

but whose narrators (isnad) do not pass the test of complete reliability and accuracy based on the stringent criteria

established by the hadith compilers. The ahadith in this division are a degree less in quality than that of the sahih

class and are thus considered as 'good' or 'fair' or 'moderate' in hadith literature.

The 'Weak' Hadith

Al Da`if Al Hadith (the 'weak' hadith) is a term used to describe any hadith whose truthfulness in both text (matn)

and transmission (isnad) is not absolutely beyond question; that is, its authenticity is not proven, and hence, it is

considered 'weak.' However, it is important to note that not all ahadith classified as 'weak' are rejected. As mentioned

before, Imam Abu Dawud (of the 'group of six') included da`if traditions in his musnad when he could find nothing else

to explain questions relating to 'morals' or 'religious devotion'. Many of the musnad collections also contain 'weak'

ahadith. [Muhammad `Ali]

There are as many varieties of weak (da`if) ahadith as there are kinds of vitiating characteristics affecting them.

Some hadith writers have classified 'weak' hadith in multiple subgroups, from as little as twenty-five, to as many

as seventy five. [Al Faruqi]

A hadith could be weak for many reasons, one of which is attributable to the character of its narrators. a hadith could

also be weak because one of its narrators is mastur; that is, he is not so well-known for his piety and reliability, but

nothing is known to the compiler that would impugn the narrator's character. Or, a narrator may have less than

perfect memory, but his veracity was never questioned, or his sympathy with or orientation toward heretical and

sectarian beliefs was never clearly established [`Abdul-Rauf].

The weakness in a hadith could also be due to the interruption in the isnad; that is, a break (missing narrator) in the

chain of transmission. Since there was nothing to suggest that a missing narrator was less than truthful or reliable,

such weak hadiths were included in musnad collections for reasons other than for legal necessity; that is, for their

value in areas of moral guidance and religious liturgy. for example, those ahadith which exhort people to good, or

illustrate principles of religious devotion, or answer moral questions are examples of da`if traditions which were

included in some collections. [Muhammad `Ali]