Umrah is one of the pilgrimages that Muslims perform by visiting the holy city of Makkah in Saudi Arabia. The major pilgrimage and one of the five pillars of Islam is Hajj, which is accomplished in Dhu al-Hijjah, the last month in the Islamic calendar. When compared to it, Umrah is called the 'lesser pilgrimage' or the 'minor pilgrimage'. Umrah can be performed at any time of the year by Muslims who are physically and financially capable for making the journey. Unlike Hajj, which is an obligation for all Muslims, Umrah is not compulsory. However, it is the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and carries immense spiritual rewards for the pilgrim who performs it.

Part Twelve. Jesus’s teaching continues. Prayer

Jesus was asked by his disciples how should we pray? Here is two of his replies,

Luke chapter 11 verses 1 to 4

Instructions on Prayer

Now Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he stopped, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.” So he said to them, “When you pray, say:

Father, may your name be honoured; may your kingdom come.

Give us each day our daily bread, and forgive us our sins,

As we also forgive everyone who sins against us.

And do not lead us into temptation.”

He did not say to prostrate your self on the ground. Indeed he his often-portrayed standing with arms outstretched looking up.

Part Eleven. The Yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees

After the feeding of the 5000, Jesus warned his disciples about the Pharisees and Sadducees, who were the Political and Religious leaders at that time. Was he both warning his disciples and foretelling how he would be arrested and killed? He could also have been giving us advice about our leaders today?

Matthew chapter 16 verses 5 to 12

The Yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees

Mary Magdalene; a film

There is a film released this week for viewing at main cinemas, it depicts the life of Mary Magdalene. I have only seen the trailer, but I do intend to watch the film. I am always interested how MSM portray the Bible and Christianity.

Mary Magdalene Trailer (2018) Rooney Mara Jesus Movie

https://youtu.be/YOzyzRrgDAQ

It as already started some opposition, in the fact that it appears to portray a romantic [more then just a platonic] relationship between Mary Magdalene and Jesus. This in itself is not unusual; there have been many film, and book portrayals concerning this alleged relationship.

Mary Magdalene [Mary M is mentioned only a few times in the Gospels.

Part Ten. Jesus Teaching continues. Breaking with traditions and defilement.

There was a blog about Walkers crisps being Haram or not. There are lots of dietary laws that Muslims share with Jewish tradition. Both traditions regard Christians who follow no such laws as being wrong, unclean, or we do not care to follow laws laid down and simply do our own thing.

Why is this? I agree some Christians read the Old Testament and simply choose to ignore them, [or indeed some Christians pick and choose which laws to follow] Some Christians follow Jesus’s example. Mark in chapter 7 gives an example of this.

Mark chapter 7 verse 1 to 23

Breaking Human Traditions

Part Nine. Jesus Teaching continues, Feeding of the five thousand

It is said that Jesus travelled round Galilee, preaching, healing the sick and doing many miracles.

But what is a miracle?

Miracle | Definition of miracle in English by Oxford Dictionaries

An extraordinary and welcome event that is not explicable by natural or scientific laws and is therefore attributed to a divine agency....'People with traditional religious beliefs may view psychic phenomena as miracles or divine interventions by God.

One of Jesus’s miracles is the feeding of the five thousand. This is mentioned in all four gospels

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Part Eight. Jesus Teaching continues, Conversation with Nicodemus

Nicodemus was a member of the Sanhedrin [the Jewish council] he is to appear later and play a large part in Jesus’s trial and eventual execution and in doing so fulfils Isaiah’s prophecy.

John chapter three verse 1 to 21

Conversation with Nicodemus

Part seven. Jesus starts his teaching.

After Jesus had spent time, being tempted in the wilderness he began his teaching. This is described in three of the four gospels; all record the same thing but place emphases on different things. But still keeping to the same basic facts.

Mathew chapter 4 verse 12 to 17

Preaching in Galilee

Now when Jesus heard that John had been imprisoned, he went into Galilee. While in Galilee, he moved from Nazareth to make his home in Capernaum by the sea, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali, so that what was spoken by Isaiah the prophet would be fulfilled: