smb
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Posts posted by smb
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so where do you recommend me to go to . i want to have fun , i have a couple of days off and i want to have a blast,
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where to stay in koh samui and have fun meeting forigners and is it the best place to go and have fun meting women or are there other island or cities to visit
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hello everyone
well i had a house maid who works for the building but she resind
.now im looking for a part time housemaid.does anyone know how can i find one?
thanks
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I have been in Bangkok just over six months now teaching English and have read this site on occasion but until now never joined.
This is my second time in Thailand but the first was a two week holiday in Phuket and Bangkok where I noticed many western models in magazines and billboards.
Why I have chosen not to live in the U.K. where I was born is a long story I don't want to get into but I am Arabian/British (my father is from Dubai) which I realise may be agaist me as may not be white enough to get modelling work here, however I am not as dark as a provincial Thai girl.
I have plenty of modelling and a little TV experience, but where are the agencies in Bangkok for foreigners?
hello there
if u are intrested i can hook u up with a modelling agency.
i know someone very close to me who has a modelling agency.
i can make u meet up anytime u wish
i will pm you my e-mail adress
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Hi SMB and Zaz, hey guys, because I was brought up in a Christian sort of environment, the translation "GOD" for Allah has always been a problem for me
When I got married, I asked the Immam about 'GOD' because it is a problem for me. And he said "god" is everything, trees, plants, stars.....
sorry i didnt get what u mean
u want to know what is the meaning of allah?
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I can’t force u to believe what I believe in and u can’t force me to believe in yours.
I think that im right and u think that u are.
You always want to make people think that we all want to kill the rest of the world.and we never accept the other.
How do u explain Arab Christians and Jew(there are juws in YEMEN) living with us?????????
And in Iran the extremist Islamic country. There are people who worship the sun. How come they still are living and not killed?
Well just go to do it (kill them all). who is stopping u? Your friends are already in Iraq killing, go and join them.
"You always want to make people think that we all want to kill the rest of the world.and we never accept the other."
Well, if you look at the history of ORGANIZED religion you'll find out that Christianity was spread by fear and murder, not love. The Middle East is like a scene out of a horror movie... thanks to religious zealots.
"How do u explain Arab Christians and Jew(there are juws in YEMEN) living with us?????????"
Huh? This is some sort of proof for you or something? OK, I'll turn part of my brain off and try to explain things at a level your might be able to understand. First of all, popularity has nothing to do with reality. Just because a zillion people believe something, doesn't mean it suddenly turned from fable to reality.
Second, as I don't know any individual Arabs who converted to Christianity, I couldn't begin to tell you why they converted.
Third, stupid people are an easy sell. It seems that a lot of people can't handle the most likely reality that when you die, you're gone forever.
"And in Iran the extremist Islamic country. There are people who worship the sun. How come they still are living and not killed?"
Because they don't have oil obviously! Wait a while and a religious leader will likely label them witches and kill them... you know, like the Christians did when they were spreading God's love.
"Well just go to do it (kill them all). who is stopping u? Your friends are already in Iraq killing, go and join them."
Oh, so anyone who isn't religious is automatically someone who doesn't mind killing people! How dare you. Assuming that you are a Christian (you sound like one), followers of your faith are the killers. Why don't you go over and kill someone.
Unlike religious idiots, I don't believe in nor support war. I am extremely opposed to what the US is doing in Iraq and every other country in the world. George W is the biggest moron in the history of US politics in my opinion and should be tried as a war criminal. But we all know who really runs the show... corporate America.
The easiest way to get citizens to follow a war is to use religion. We didn't find weapons of mass destruction (because they're all in the US of A), so we turned to human rights. Give me a break, the US has one of the worst human rights records of any country in the world.
But still, Bush talks about God and glory as if any reasonably compassionate God would support the attrocities that his troops are commiting in a 3rd World country.
Education is the way to improve the fate of humankind. Religion is a hinderance to education and it always has been. Read about the history of the Bible if you want a real eye-opener... and not some interpretation by some Jesus freak.
from what I see is that u have some mixed up realities and some false conclusion.
I also see some good points in what u posted.
First of all the Arab Christians have been Christians all their lifes the weren’t converted from Islam or any other religion and that is with the Arab Jews.
About the sun worshipers. What u said is all nonscence.you don’t know the futcher and they have been there even before Islam and they are still living with no harm.
i am a muslim not a Christian by the way
sound to me you are an ATHEIST
Normally, when I meet an atheist, the first thing I like to do is to congratulate him and say, " My special congratulations to you", because most of the people who believe in God are doing blind belief - he is a Christian, because his father is a Christian; he is a Hindu, because his father is a Hindu; the majority of the people in the world are blindly following the religion of their fathers. An atheist, on the other hand, even though he may belong to a religious family, uses his intellect to deny the existence of God; what ever concept or qualities of God he may have learnt in his religion may not seem to be logical to him.
My Muslim brothers may question me, "Zakir, why are you congratulating an atheist?" The reason that I am congratulating an atheist is because he agrees with the first part of the Shahada i.e. the Islamic Creed, ‘La ilaaha’ - meaning ‘there is no God’. So half my job is already done; now the only part left is ‘il lallah’ i.e. ‘BUT ALLAH’ which I shall do Insha Allah. With others (who are not atheists) I have to first remove from their minds the wrong concept of God they may have and then put the correct concept of one true God.
Local Concept Of God
My first question to the atheist will be: "What is the definition of God?" For a person to say there is no God, he should know what is the meaning of God. If I hold a book and say that ‘this is a pen’, for the opposite person to say, ‘it is not a pen’, he should know what is the definition of a pen, even if he does not know nor is able to recognise or identify the object I am holding in my hand. For him to say this is not a pen, he should at least know what a pen means. Similarly for an atheist to say ‘there is no God’, he should at least know the concept of God. His concept of God would be derived from the surroundings in which he lives. The god that a large number of people worship has got human qualities - therefore he does not believe in such a god. Similarly a Muslim too does not and should not believe in such false gods.
If a non-Muslim believes that Islam is a merciless religion with something to do with terrorism; a religion which does not give rights to women; a religion which contradicts science; in his limited sense that non-Muslim is correct to reject such Islam. The problem is he has a wrong picture of Islam. Even I reject such a false picture of Islam, but at the same time, it becomes my duty as a Muslim to present the correct picture of Islam to that non-Muslim i.e. Islam is a merciful religion, it gives equal rights to the women, it is not incompatible with logic, reason and science; if I present the correct facts about Islam, that non-Muslim may Inshallah accept Islam.
Similarly the atheist rejects the false gods and the duty of every Muslim is to present the correct concept of God which he shall Insha Allah not refuse.
(You may refer to my article, ‘Concept of God in Islam’, for more details: http://www.interactiveislam.com/html/article.php?sid=20)
Quran And Modern Science
The methods of proving the existence of God with usage of the material provided in the ‘Concept of God in Islam’ to an atheist may satisfy some but not all.
Many atheists demand a scientific proof for the existence of God. I agree that today is the age of science and technology. Let us use scientific knowledge to kill two birds with one stone, i.e. to prove the existence of God and simultaneously prove that the Qur’an is a revelation of God.
If a new object or a machine, which no one in the world has ever seen or heard of before, is shown to an atheist or any person and then a question is asked, " Who is the first person who will be able to provide details of the mechanism of this unknown object? After little bit of thinking, he will reply, ‘the creator of that object.’ Some may say ‘the producer’ while others may say ‘the manufacturer.’ What ever answer the person gives, keep it in your mind, the answer will always be either the creator, the producer, the manufacturer or some what of the same meaning, i.e. the person who has made it or created it. Don’t grapple with words, whatever answer he gives, the meaning will be same, therefore accept it.
SCIENTIFIC FACTS MENTIONED IN THE QUR’AN:
for details on this subject please refer to my book, ‘THE QUR’AN AND MODERN SCIENCE – COMPATIBLE OR INCOMPATIBLE?
THEORY OF PROBABILITY
In mathematics there is a theory known as ‘Theory of Probability’. If you have two options, out of which one is right, and one is wrong, the chances that you will chose the right one is half, i.e. one out of the two will be correct. You have 50% chances of being correct. Similarly if you toss a coin the chances that your guess will be correct is 50% (1 out of 2) i.e. 1/2. If you toss a coin the second time, the chances that you will be correct in the second toss is again 50% i.e. half. But the chances that you will be correct in both the tosses is half multiplied by half (1/2 x 1/2) which is equal to 1/4 i.e. 50% of 50% which is equal to 25%. If you toss a coin the third time, chances that you will be correct all three times is (1/2 x 1/2 x 1/2) that is 1/8 or 50% of 50% of 50% that is 12½%.
A dice has got six sides. If you throw a dice and guess any number between 1 to 6, the chances that your guess will be correct is 1/6. If you throw the dice the second time, the chances that your guess will be correct in both the throws is (1/6 x 1/6) which is equal to 1/36. If you throw the dice the third time, the chances that all your three guesses are correct is (1/6 x 1/6 x 1/6) is equal to 1/216 that is less than 0.5 %.
Let us apply this theory of probability to the Qur’an, and assume that a person has guessed all the information that is mentioned in the Qur’an which was unknown at that time. Let us discuss the probability of all the guesses being simultaneously correct.
At the time when the Qur’an was revealed, people thought the world was flat, there are several other options for the shape of the earth. It could be triangular, it could be quadrangular, pentagonal, hexagonal, heptagonal, octagonal, spherical, etc. Lets assume there are about 30 different options for the shape of the earth. The Qur’an rightly says it is spherical, if it was a guess the chances of the guess being correct is 1/30.
The light of the moon can be its own light or a reflected light. The Qur’an rightly says it is a reflected light. If it is a guess, the chances that it will be correct is 1/2 and the probability that both the guesses i.e the earth is spherical and the light of the moon is reflected light is 1/30 x 1/2 = 1/60.
Further, the Qur’an also mentions every living thing is made of water. Every living thing can be made up of either wood, stone, copper, aluminum, steel, silver, gold, oxygen, nitrogen, hydrogen, oil, water, cement, concrete, etc. The options are say about 10,000. The Qur’an rightly says that everything is made up of water. If it is a guess, the chances that it will be correct is 1/10,000 and the probability of all the three guesses i.e. the earth is spherical, light of moon is reflected light and everything is created from water being correct is 1/30 x 1/2 x 1/10,000 = 1/60,000 which is equal to about .0017%.
The Qur’an speaks about hundreds of things that were not known to men at the time of its revelation. Only in three options the result is .0017%. I leave it upto you, to work out the probability if all the hundreds of the unknown facts were guesses, the chances of all of them being correct guesses simultaneously and there being not a single wrong guess. It is beyond human capacity to make all correct guesses without a single mistake, which itself is sufficient to prove to a logical person that the origin of the Qur’an is Divine.
CREATOR IS THE AUTHOR OF THE QUR’AN
The only logical answer to the question as to who could have mentioned all these scientific facts 1400 years ago before they were discovered, is exactly the same answer initially given by the atheist or any person, to the question who will be the first person who will be able to tell the mechanism of the unknown object. It is the ‘CREATOR’, the producer, the Manufacturer of the whole universe and its contents. In the English language He is ‘God’, or more appropriate in the Arabic language, ‘ALLAH’.
QUR’AN IS A BOOK OF SIGNS AND NOT SCIENCE
Let me remind you that the Qur’an is not a book of Science, ‘S-C-I-E-N-C-E’ but a book of Signs ‘S-I-G-N-S’ i.e. a book of ayaats. The Qur’an contains more than 6,000 ayaats, i.e. ‘signs’, out of which more than a thousand speak about Science. I am not trying to prove that the Qur’an is the word of God using scientific knowledge as a yard stick because any yardstick is supposed to be more superior than what is being checked or verified. For us Muslims the Qur’an is the Furqan i.e. criteria to judge right from wrong and the ultimate yardstick which is more superior to scientific knowledge.
But for an educated man who is an atheist, scientific knowledge is the ultimate test which he believes in. We do know that science many a times takes ‘U’ turns, therefore I have restricted the examples only to scientific facts which have sufficient proof and evidence and not scientific theories based on assumptions. Using the ultimate yardstick of the atheist, I am trying to prove to him that the Qur’an is the word of God and it contains the scientific knowledge which is his yardstick which was discovered recently, while the Qur’an was revealed 1400 year ago. At the end of the discussion, we both come to the same conclusion that God though superior to science, is not incompatible with it.
SCIENCE IS ELIMINATING MODELS OF GOD BUT NOT GOD
Francis Bacon, the famous philosopher, has rightly said that a little knowledge of science makes man an atheist, but an in-depth study of science makes him a believer in God. Scientists today are eliminating models of God, but they are not eliminating God. If you translate this into Arabic, it is La illaha illal la, There is no god, (god with a small ‘g’ that is fake god) but God (with a capital ‘G’).
Surah Fussilat:
"Soon We will show them our signs in the (farthest) regions (of the earth), and in their own souls, until it becomes manifest to them that this is the Truth. Is it not enough that thy Lord doth witness all things?"
[Al-Quran 41:53]
this is A debate between a Muslim and an atheist i think it might intrest u
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Islam is a way of life. There is the Qur’an and the Sunna, from them we have the aqeeda and the shari'a.
And by them we learn how to pray how to treat humans animals and even plans.
We also learn from it how to fight and when to fight. Yes we learn everything from religion .
Organized religion is keeping mankind in the Dark Ages.
Islam! - The Modern Alternative
Invitation to Islam, Issue 2, July 1997
Some people think that to live an Islamic life is "restrictive". Islam however, was revealed as a balanced way of living.
Allah (The Most High) created all the humans with what is called 'A Fitrah' (a natural state/desire) [1].
Islam recognises that within this Fitrah there are motivations that influence a man's role on earth e.g. a desire for good food and drink, to have a home, a desire for love and sex, to protect and be protected and to be successful and strong. Without some form of control and limit, all of these legitimate motives could prove very dangerous.
So what constitutes the perfect control for the Fitrah? It must be a method that provides an organised yet practical demonstration of how to balance all these natural human desires. It cannot be something that goes against the Fitrah, by placing on it extra burdens. Likewise, it cannot be something that allows the human desires to run wild without any form of control.
Islam is the perfect control for the Fitrah. It provides a divine method that elevates man above animals and the rest of creation.
Limited Wisdom
Humans lack perfect knowledge as well as perfect wisdom. No matter how hard we try, we will never attain the perfect way of life by our own thinking and interpretation. This is the reason why Allaah being the Most Wise, sent us the Qur'an and the Prophet Muhammad (SAW)[2], to show us this practical and organised way of life.
Allaah, being Perfect, in His Wisdom and Knowledge, perfected a complete way of life for us. He has set His limitations and rules, all of which are beneficial to mankind, and therefore, do not need changing:
"These are the limits (set) by Allaah, so do not approach them"
(Surah al-Baqarah 2:1871)
"These are the limits set by Allaah, so do not transgress them"
(Surah al-Baqarah 2:229)
This is why Islam does not allow celibacy, because it is against the Fitrah, i.e., the desire for sex. Celibacy goes beyond the limits required by humans, and is something that cannot be fulfilled because humans are designed to procreate. As humans we are not expected to fast every single day for the rest of our lives (for most 30 days of the year provides an up-hill struggle). It is also from ignorance to say that 'I shall not sleep during the night, but rather I shall pray!' [3] Humans have not been created by Allah to live life in such a manner. There is a balance which must be observed.
The following incident describes the Islamic stance towards such behaviour, Anas reported that some of the Companions of Allaah's Messenger (SAW) used to say: "I will not marry women"; someone else said: "I will not eat meat"; and someone else said: "I will not lie down in bed". (On hearing this): The Prophet (SAW) praised Allaah, and glorified Him and said: "what has happened to these people that they say so and so, whereas I observe prayer and I sleep too. I observe fast and I break my fast; I marry women also. And he who turns away from my Sunnah (i.e., my example or lifestyle), he has no relation with me" [Narrated in Saheeh Muslim vol. 2. p703. no. 32361].
Islam on the other hand, does not allow the person to surrender themselves to lust and desire, as in contemporary 'civilisation'. Islam recognises the love a man has for women, children, gold, silver, and other possessions. But it provides a limit for the amount of this worldly pleasure which we require, and reminds us of the life in the hereafter.
"Beautified for men is the love of things they desire: Women, Children, much of gold and silver (wealth), branded beautiful horses, cattle and well-tilled land. This is the pleasure of the present world's life, but Allaah has the excellent return (Paradise)"
(Surah Aali-Imraan 3:141)
The inclinations and desires of the Fitrah are not to become the objective in life. Rather they are to be taken in a stabilised manner. The way to deal with them is real and Allaah (The Most High) has given us the detailed descriptions of a levelled approach. This levelled approach gives mankind the perfectly balanced pleasure in this worldly life. The method of maintaining a well-balanced life is not an endurance test to see who lasts the longest. Allah has revealed Islam, to show us how to attain this balance in a real manner. Life is not a torturous spiritual test, where you are ordered to Iive in mountains and trees. Fasting all year round is not obligatory. Marriage is permissible and you do not have to beat yourself senseless to purify your soul! Rather as Muslims, we must try to follow the Prophet and his balanced teachings of life and living. As Allah says in the Qur'an:
"Indeed in the Messenger of Allah (saw), you have a good example to follow.."
(Surah Al-Ahzab 33:21)
Restrictive Rules
The use of the word "restrictive" often comes from those who think they live a "free- life". But the fact of the matter is that, wherever you go you will find rules and regulations. For example, in the workplace, in colleges and universities and more obviously on the roads, i.e. the highway and green cross codes. Wherever you are, there are rules and regulations.
Islam forbids us to follow many of the rules which are held by western culture and subcultures. Yet people in the west are more than willing to obey them, because they believe that these rules will protect them. How wrong they are! Rave subculture is a classical example of this. Informal dance floor rules dictate to us ". . . . to drink lots of water, have frequent breaks and don't take too many pills in one go!" Despite these "recommendations", young people are still dying [4].
Western society is obsessed with 'safe sex', in order to 'prevent the risk of catching AIDS'. Despite the wide availability of contraceptives, AIDS is still on the increase, and people are dropping like flies from this killer epidemic.
Do we think of these rules as being restrictive? If anything you would expect them to bring about a sense of control and order, as well as increasing the pleasure. Without realising, people are ready and willing to accept many man-made rules. Rules that are invented by one group of people and to be obeyed by the rest of society. These rules are not perfect because man is imperfect, yet people accept them and hope and believe that they will benefit from them.
A Better Offer!
So when the Creator of the Heavens and the Earth is offering a reward which is high, and the Benefit is eternal, shouldn't we at least see what's on offer?
"You desire the good of this world, but Allaah desires (for you) the Hereafter. And Allaah is Almighty, All Wise"
(Surah Al-Anfal 8:67)
". . . in a lofty Paradise. Therein will be a running spring. Therein will be thrones raised high. And cups set at hand. And cushions set in rows. And rich carpets (all) spread out"
(Surah Al-Ghaashiyah 88:10-16)
This worldly life has many good things in it. Things that Allah has created for us to utilise. But the reality is all of these luxuries and benefits of the world will come to an end. For example, a person's good looks may do them many favours during their youth, but will it hold them on good ground when they are 60. Such is the reality of old age.
Likewise with wealth. Islam allows you to gain wealth as long as you do not oppress other people, and transgress the limits set by Allaah (The Most High). An example of this is making people pay back more money than they actually borrow, through usury or interest payments.
However wealth can not benefit you when you die, as it only passes on to your family as inheritance. Such is the civility of modem society, that many people are even killed, just so that inheritance can be gained sooner rather then later!!
Thus, we should see ourselves as travellers on a journey. A traveller is one who is constantly on the move. He will only take essential provisions, and not all his life's possessions. Likewise, a person must realise that Allah did not design the luxuries of this world to last forever. They only exist to aid our worship of Allah, which will take us to the journey's end, the hereafter. Being human, we must one-day die, and our worldly benefits and luxuries will also perish. The true wealth is indeed with Allah in the next-life. As Allah says:
"Seeking the perishable goods of the worldly life. There are much more profits and booties with Allah"
(Surah An-Nisa 4:94)
Man-made restrictions exist in all aspects of western society. Industry, travel and leisure, are just a few of the sectors which are dominated by human restrictions. Humans automatically assume that these restrictions are there to protect them. In part this may be true, but what about the restrictions set by Allah which can save the whole of man-kind? Such restrictions come from the One Who is Perfect, and not man, who is imperfect! The so-called 'freedom' of 'modern civilisation', is one which is defined for you, by another human. We are often told what is 'politically correct' and what is not. We are told that this is what everybody will be wearing this Summer, and that this is the film to watch. Those are the new Hollywood stars to emerge. You shouldn't be seen 'dead' in this dress and you should paint your finger-nails this colour. The list is endless. All of this is then redefined to fit in with the next wave of fashion trends.
Those who do not conform are labelled, bigamist, narrow-minded, backward, out-dated and so on.
Modem civilisation allows you so much freedom, that you can even waiver the law if you are 'well connected'. Laws are often defined by a small group of people, with everyone else conforming to what they consider right and wrong. What kind of justice is this? This would be more acceptable to those who accept the concept of man being divine. A concept where men decide what is moral and immoral even if it contradicts what God has already laid out for us. God has no part to play in such a civilisation, because man has adopted the role of god for himself. History bears witness to this as it was the way of the civilisations before the advent of the prophet Muhammad (SAW), as Allah says:
"They (Jews & Christians) took their rabbis and their monks to be their lords besides Allah (by obeying them in things which they made lawful or unlawful according to their own desires without being ordered by Allah)"
(Surah 9:31)
The true freedom of man is found in a civilisation that has a divine value system. A civilisation in which man submits to his Creator alone. A civilisation that reacts with the life of this world and links it to the Day of Judgement. On that Day, everyone will be held accountable in front of ALLAH, the Creator and The True Master of the universe.
The Purpose
Allaah created man and man belongs to Him. Allah decreed that one day man shall die and return to Him. The world is just a temporary period. We are born, we live in this world and then we die.
So while we are on this earth Allaah has given us the instruction manual to shape our lives according to what He has decreed. This is the meaning of worship. It requires absolute obedience, humility and love for Allaah, the way He has prescribed it.
We cannot love Allaah the way we want to, especially if we do not know what Allaah loves or hates in the first place.
So through Allaah's Perfect Wisdom and Infinite Knowledge, He sent us the Qur'aan and the Prophet Muhammad (SAW), and told us how this love is to be expressed:
"Say (O Muhammad (SAW) to mankind): If you really love Allaah then follow me (i.e. the Prophet (saw), and accept that Allaah is the one truly deserving of worship, follow the Qur'an and the Sunnah). Allaah will love you and forgive you your sins. And Allaah is Most Forgiving, Most Merciful"
(Surah Aali-Imraan 3:31)
The Problem with Human Law
Humans by themselves cannot determine what is good and bad for each other for all of the time.
Man-made laws are often defined by a person's personal motives, emotions, limited intellect, beliefs and prejudices. Thus, they are designed with these built-in flaws. This is why human law has so many loop-holes and deficiencies. It is always requiring change, modification and re-modification, time after time!
So when Allaah (The Most High) revealed the Qur'an and the example of the Prophet (SAW), all the details about good and bad, or right and wrong, were not left for the limited nature of mankind to define for themselves. Allaah (The Most High) says:
"And We have sent down to you the Book (Qur'an) as an EXPLANATION of EVERYTHING and a GUIDANCE, a Mercy and glad tidings for those who have surrendered (to Allaah as Muslims)"
(Surah An-Nahl 16:89)
So What is Islam saying?
The message of Islam fits the Fitrah of man. Allaah (The Most Wise) created man in the best form. He gave his Fitrah the ability to believe in the unseen. Thus, man's soul and its horizons are broader and more open than that of the rest of creation - like the animals, bird's and insects. In nature we can see the signs of Allah:
"Do they not look at the camels, and how they were created? And at the heavens, how it is raised? And at the mountains, how they are rooted and fixed firm? And at the earth, how it is spread out?"
(Surah Al-Ghaashiyah 88:17-20)
In ourselves we can see Allah's signs through the diversity of our languages, colours and nationalities.
"O mankind! We have created you from a male and female, and have made you into nations and tribes, that you may know one another"
(Surah Al-Hujuraat 49:13)
Having been told this, we must now recognise the Perfect way our Creator has chosen for us to follow, which is:
"Indeed, in the Messenger (Muhammad [saw]), you have a good example to follow"
(Surah Al-Ahzab 33:21)
We have been commanded to worship Allah alone without partners. We must recognise and understand that He is the Only True God who deserves to be worshipped;
"So know (Muhammad [saw]), that none has the right to be worshipped except Allah"
(Surah Muhammad 47:19)
To help us do this, Allaah (The Most High) sent the Prophet Muhammed (SAW), to deliver and explain the Final Message of Islam, and to help us recognise and worship our Lord in the best manner. We have been told to form our lives' according to this Message, by following and imitating the Final Messenger who is our only guide to worshipping our Lord: Allah.
This is what is meant when we say: Laa-illaa-ha il-Allaah, wa Muhammadur Rasool-Allah. "There is no true God worthy of worship except Allaah, and Muhammad is the Final Messenger of Allaah"
Footnotes
1 This can be explained as, the inborn or innate nature of mankind to recognise the Truth about the Creator [Allah]; that he is the only one who truly and sincerely deserves to be worshipped.
2 Sallallahu Alayhi Wassallam, i.e. The peace and Blessings Of Allah Be upon him (the Prophet). We as Muslims have been commanded to say this every time the Prophet's name is mentioned. This is done as a mark of respect and the honour which he deserves.
3 This is not to say that prayer at night is not important, but if you don't get enough sleep how are you going to fulfil your other obligations, e.g. going to work in order to provide for your family. The times of praying at night have been explained by the Prophet (SAW) as being in the last 3rd of the night before the Fajr prayer.
4 The death of the teenager Leah Betts a few years ago [in England], has shown how such rules work to destroy the very society which forms them.
_________________
"Invite to the way of your Lord with wisdom and beautiful preaching and reason with them in the best manners possible" (Sura Al-Nahl 16, Ayah 125)
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Islam is a way of life. There is the Qur’an and the Sunna, from them we have the aqeeda and the shari'a.
And by them we learn how to pray how to treat humans animals and even plans.
We also learn from it how to fight and when to fight. Yes we learn everything from religion .
Organized religion is keeping mankind in the Dark Ages. I'm completely and utterly fed up with having to kiss superstitious morons asses. They (radical Allah freaks) aren't event trying to get along with the rest of the world. I'm normally rather liberal, but my views on how to deal with these idiots is slowly changing over to the "kill em all" camp.
Go meet your maker and let the freethinkers of the world live their lives.
Religion is superstition and not one book has anything any more enlightening than purely secular material.
I don't need an invisible means of support. I can live with the fact that when I die I feed worms.
I can’t force u to believe what I believe in and u can’t force me to believe in yours.
I think that im right and u think that u are.
You always want to make people think that we all want to kill the rest of the world.and we never accept the other.
How do u explain Arab Christians and Jew(there are juws in YEMEN) living with us?????????
And in Iran the extremist Islamic country. There are people who worship the sun. How come they still are living and not killed?
Well just go to do it (kill them all). who is stopping u? Your friends are already in Iraq killing, go and join them.
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Islam is a way of life. There is the Qur’an and the Sunna, from them we have the aqeeda and the shari'a.
And by them we learn how to pray how to treat humans animals and even plans.
We also learn from it how to fight and when to fight. Yes we learn everything from religion .
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I'll keep revealing the truth wherever i can
Why don’t u go to Iraq then and reveal all your hatred there???
Or it’s too dangerous for you
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<<<<< Religion isnt the problem its the nutters who misinterpret it for their own ends.>>>
Wait Wait Wait - stop the presses! hold the phone! Whoa Silver
Yes the nutters are stirring the pot, BUT to say this religion is not the problem here
is incorrect - IN THIS CASE.
Why? Well in this case the religion IS THE QURAN, ITS WORDS ARE THE RELIGION
(ask any muslim about this).
The Quran gives the AOK for killing infidels (THATS US GUYS!!) and also states
a great reward will be waiting for them in heaven when they succeed.
Liberals wont understand this til the dull blade is sawing thru their neck bones
READ READ READ READ
DONT ASK. YOUR OLD ENOUGH TO BE ABLE TO READ FOR YOURSELF
AT LEAST READ MY POSTS
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Religion isnt the problem its the nutters who misinterpret it for their own ends.
i totally agree
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rich
this is your problem.you translate how u want.although i have been posting all day verses fromt he qur'an and im a muslim telling u that its not true...
u want to show like bin laden is the true muslim and all the other terrorists
i am an arab and i have read the qur'an and im a muslim telling u that they call themselves muslims but dont practise the real islam just like anyother religion but u dont seem to want to get it
Fast Eddie
it is really complicated
the mullas go to un educated,poor and sufring people and tell them that islam is this and islam is that and if u do this and that u will go to hevean.then they take them and feed them and give them money and help their families at times while thats they are feeding them with haterd.they use scripts from the qur'an to their use. and they know those uneducated guys wont read are try to corect what they were told.
something like that
and by the way sucide in islam is a great sin one of the greatest .it sends you to hellll straigt away
The thing is, that this is your (and other peace loving muslims) interpretation of your religion. But you cannot say that the others are not Muslims. They just have a different interpretation of the religion than you do. You cannot just disown them that easily and say they are not really part of your religion. They are acting in Islam's name, whether you agree with what they do or not. It would appear that there are plenty of Muslims in the world that do believe in a violent interpretation of their religion.
U should know that in any religion u live by rules. Now if someone came and said the Christ ordered me to kill all Indians for example and he translated scripts from the bible in the wrong way. Do u call him a Christian and does u blame Christianity for it?
i dont think you should
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and richb2004
u cant judge a book from the first two pages
i bet u havent read the quran that why your saying this
did u read the part wher it says u are not allowed to break a tree in a war????
I don’t recall reading that. Where is that in the Quran? Surely if you can kill unbelievers you can break a tree. Or are we talking Muslim trees versus non-Muslim trees?
Your right I haven’t yet read the complete Quran. I have got as far as around page 250 of the 400 odd pages. It’s quite consistent in its content and references. I really don’t see it taking a drastic change in the last 200 pages. So far I have gained nothing from it. The book dogmatically enforces the following of Allah and Mohammed. This is done over and over on every single page with the threat of burning for an eternity in ######. It is written in the style of a paranoid schizophrenic. The main message is complete and utter violent condemnation of all who refuse to follow its preaching’s.
here read this and see
but remember this was written over one thousand years ago
THE BIRTH OF A HUMAN BEING
Many diverse subjects are mentioned in the Qur'an in the course of inviting people to believe. Sometimes the heavens, sometimes animals, and sometimes plants are shown as evidence to man by God. In many of the verses, people are called upon to turn their attention to their own creation. They are often reminded how man came into the world, which stages he has passed through, and what his essence is:
(It is We Who have created you. Why, then, do you not accept the truth? Have you ever considered that (seed) which you emit? Is it you who create it? Or are We the Creator?) (The Qur'an, 56:57-59)
The creation of man, and the miraculous aspect of this, is stressed in many other verses. Some items of information within these verses are so detailed that it is impossible for anyone living in the 7th century to have known them. Some of these are as follows:
. Man is not created from the entire semen, but only a very small portion of it (sperm).
2. It is the male that determines the sex of the baby.
3. The human embryo adheres to the mother's uterus like a leech.
4. The embryo develops in three dark regions in the uterus.
People living when the Qur'an was revealed, to be sure, knew that the basic substance of birth was related to the semen of the male emitted during sexual intercourse. And the fact that the baby was born after a nine-month period was obviously an observable event not calling for any further investigation. However, the items of information just quoted were far above the level of learning of the people living at that time. These were verified by 20th century science.
Now, let us go over them one by one.
Once again my thoughts are confirmed. Another mad Muslim!
How the h*** did you extract that from the Quran? You might just as well be following the writings of Nostradamus. These are exactly the sort of things my Muslim 'friends' tell me.
I give up! Your right, Mohammed was the last prophet of Allah. Allah made everything. He made a whole load of people that aren’t Muslims, but he could change that if he chose to. We will all go to the land of milk and honey with a shed load of virgins. Let’s not eat pork because it is Allans will. We can all have four wives, because that’s ok. Mohammed married a 6 year old girl, but that’s ok because he didn't rape her until she was 9. Your right! You’ve convinced me. I am a Muslim and proud of all it entails. Where do I go to start my first Jihad?
You know you could always denounce Islam and join the human race. It’s never too late.
loooooooooooooooooooooool
i got that from the book you said u have read 200 pages from
wellcome to islam
your first jihad would have to be in your soul.clear all that ignorance and haterd in you
and remember jihad doesnt mean war.
i did post a looooooong explination of what does jihad means but as usual are here not to talk and try to reach the other side.
your problem is that u think that u are totally right and u know everything.although im trying to corect what your knowlegd about me but u refuse to listen.
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rich
this is your problem.you translate how u want.although i have been posting all day verses fromt he qur'an and im a muslim telling u that its not true...
u want to show like bin laden is the true muslim and all the other terrorists
i am an arab and i have read the qur'an and im a muslim telling u that they call themselves muslims but dont practise the real islam just like anyother religion but u dont seem to want to get it
Fast Eddie
it is really complicated
the mullas go to un educated,poor and sufring people and tell them that islam is this and islam is that and if u do this and that u will go to hevean.then they take them and feed them and give them money and help their families at times while thats they are feeding them with haterd.they use scripts from the qur'an to their use. and they know those uneducated guys wont read are try to corect what they were told.
something like that
and by the way sucide in islam is a great sin one of the greatest .it sends you to hellll straigt away
-
and richb2004
u cant judge a book from the first two pages
i bet u havent read the quran that why your saying this
did u read the part wher it says u are not allowed to break a tree in a war????
I don’t recall reading that. Where is that in the Quran? Surely if you can kill unbelievers you can break a tree. Or are we talking Muslim trees versus non-Muslim trees?
Your right I haven’t yet read the complete Quran. I have got as far as around page 250 of the 400 odd pages. It’s quite consistent in its content and references. I really don’t see it taking a drastic change in the last 200 pages. So far I have gained nothing from it. The book dogmatically enforces the following of Allah and Mohammed. This is done over and over on every single page with the threat of burning for an eternity in ######. It is written in the style of a paranoid schizophrenic. The main message is complete and utter violent condemnation of all who refuse to follow its preaching’s.
here read this and see
but remember this was written over one thousand years ago
THE BIRTH OF A HUMAN BEING
Many diverse subjects are mentioned in the Qur'an in the course of inviting people to believe. Sometimes the heavens, sometimes animals, and sometimes plants are shown as evidence to man by God. In many of the verses, people are called upon to turn their attention to their own creation. They are often reminded how man came into the world, which stages he has passed through, and what his essence is:
(It is We Who have created you. Why, then, do you not accept the truth? Have you ever considered that (seed) which you emit? Is it you who create it? Or are We the Creator?) (The Qur'an, 56:57-59)
The creation of man, and the miraculous aspect of this, is stressed in many other verses. Some items of information within these verses are so detailed that it is impossible for anyone living in the 7th century to have known them. Some of these are as follows:
. Man is not created from the entire semen, but only a very small portion of it (sperm).
2. It is the male that determines the sex of the baby.
3. The human embryo adheres to the mother's uterus like a leech.
4. The embryo develops in three dark regions in the uterus.
People living when the Qur'an was revealed, to be sure, knew that the basic substance of birth was related to the semen of the male emitted during sexual intercourse. And the fact that the baby was born after a nine-month period was obviously an observable event not calling for any further investigation. However, the items of information just quoted were far above the level of learning of the people living at that time. These were verified by 20th century science.
Now, let us go over them one by one.
A Drop of Semen
During sexual intercourse, 250 million sperms are emitted from the male at a time. The sperms undertake an arduous journey in the mother's body until they make it to the ovum. Only a thousand out of 250 million sperms succeed in reaching the ovum. At the end of this five-minute race, the ovum, half the size of a grain of salt, will let only one of the sperms in. That is, the essence of man is not the whole semen, but only a small part of it. This is explained in the Qur'an:
( Does man reckon he will be left uncontrolled (without purpose)? Was he not once a drop of ejected semen? ) (The Qur'an, 75:36-37)
As we have seen, the Qur'an informs us that man is made not from the entire semen, but only a small part of it. That the particular emphasis in this statement announces a fact only discovered by modern science is evidence that the statement is divine in origin.
The Mixture in the Semen
The fluid called semen, which contains the sperms, does not consist of sperms alone. On the contrary, it is made up of a mixture of different fluids. These fluids have different functions, such as containing the sugar necessary for providing energy for the sperms, neutralising the acids at the entrance of the uterus, and creating a slippery environment for the easy movement of the sperms.
Interestingly enough, when semen is mentioned in the Qur'an, this fact, which was discovered by modern science, is also referred to, and semen is defined as a mixed fluid:
(We created man from a mingled drop to test him, and We made him hearing and seeing.) (The Qur'an, 76:2)
In another verse, semen is again referred to as a mixture, and it is stressed that man is created from the "extract" of this mixture:
(He who has created all things in the best possible way. He commenced the creation of man from clay; then He made his progeny from an extract of discarded fluid.) (The Qur'an, 32:7-8)
The Arabic word "sulala", translated as "extract", means the essential or best part of something. By either implication, it means "part of a whole". This shows that the Qur'an is the word of a Will that knows the creation of man down to its slightest detail. This Will is God, the Creator of man.
The Sex of the Baby
Until fairly recently, it was thought that a baby's sex was determined by the mother's cells. Or at least, it was believed that the sex was determined by the male and female cells together. But we are given different information in the Qur'an, where it is stated that masculinity or femininity is created out of "a drop of sperm which has been ejected".
(He has created both sexes, male and female from a drop of semen which has been ejected.) (The Qur'an, 53:45-46)
The developing disciplines of genetics and molecular biology have scientifically validated the accuracy of this information given by the Qur'an. It is now understood that sex is determined by the sperm cells from the male, and that the female has no role in this process.
Chromosomes are the main elements in determining sex. Two of the 46 chromosomes that determine the structure of a human being are identified as the sex chromosomes. These two chromosomes are called "XY" in males, and "XX" in females, because the shapes of the chromosomes resemble these letters. The Y chromosome carries the genes that code for masculinity, while the X chromosome carries the genes that code for femininity.
The formation of a new human being begins with the cross combination of one of these chromosomes, which exist in males and females in pairs. In females, both components of the sex cell, which divides into two during ovulation, carry X chromosomes. The sex cell of a male, on the other hand, produces two different kinds of sperm, one that contains X chromosomes and the other Y chromosomes. If an X chromosome from the female unites with a sperm that contains an X chromosome, then the baby is female. If it unites with the sperm that contains a Y chromosome, the baby is male.
In other words, a baby's sex is determined by which chromosome from the male unites with the female's ovum.
None of this was known until the discovery of genetics in the 20th century. Indeed, in many cultures, it was believed that a baby's sex was determined by the female's body. That was why women were blamed when they gave birth to girls.
Thirteen centuries before human genes were discovered, however, the Qur'an revealed information that denies this superstition, and referred to the origin of sex lying not with women, but with the semen coming from men.
The Clot Clinging to the Uterus
If we keep on examining the facts announced to us in the Qur'an about the formation of human beings, we again encounter some very important scientific miracles.
When the sperm of the male unites with the ovum of the female, the essence of the baby to be born is formed. This single cell, known as a "zygote" in biology, will instantly start to reproduce by dividing, and eventually become a "piece of flesh" called an embryo. This of course can only be seen by human beings with the aid of a microscope.
uterus just like roots that are firmly fixed to the earth by their tendrils. Through this bond, the embryo can obtain the substances essential to its development from the mother's body.(1)
Here, at this point, a very significant miracle of the Qur'an is revealed. While referring to the embryo developing in the mother's womb, God uses the word "alaq" in the Qur'an:
(Recite: In the name of your Lord Who created man from alaq. Recite: And your Lord is the Most Generous.) (The Qur'an, 96:1-3)
The meaning of the word "alaq" in Arabic is "a thing that clings to some place". The word is literally used to describe leeches that cling to a body to suck blood.
Certainly, the use of such an appropriate word for the embryo developing in the mother's womb, proves once again that the Qur'an is a revelation from God, the Lord of all the Worlds
The wrapping of muscles over the bones
Another important aspect of the information given in the verses of the Qur'an is the developmental stages of a human being in the mother's womb. It is stated in the verses that in the mother's womb, the bones develop first, and then the muscles form which wrap around them
((We) then formed the drop into a clot and formed the clot into a lump and formed the lump into bones and clothed the bones in flesh; and then brought him into being as another creature. Blessed be God, the Best of Creators!) (The Qur'an, 23:14)
Embryology is the branch of science that studies the development of the embryo in the mother's womb. Until very recently, embryologists assumed that the bones and muscles in an embryo developed at the same time. For this reason, for a long time, some people claimed that these verses conflicted with science. Yet, advanced microscopic research conducted by virtue of new technological developments has revealed that the revelation of the Qur'an is word for word correct.
These observations at the microscopic level showed that the development inside the mother's womb takes place in just the way it is described in the verses. First, the cartilage tissue of the embryo ossifies. Then muscular cells that are selected from amongst the tissue around the bones come together and wrap around the bones
This event is described in a scientific publication titled Developing Human in the following words:
During the seventh week, the skeleton begins to spread throughout the body and the bones take their familiar shapes. At the end of the seventh week and during the eighth week the muscles take their positions around the bone forms.(1)
In short, man's developmental stages as described in the Qur'an are in perfect harmony with the findings of modern embryology.
Three Stages of the Baby in the Womb
In the Qur'an, it is related that man is created in a three-stage process in the mother's womb.
(... He creates you stage by stage in your mothers' wombs in a threefold darkness. That is God, your Lord. Sovereignty is His. There is no god but Him. So what has made you deviate?) (The Qur'an, 39:6)
As will be understood, it is pointed out in this verse that a human being is created in the mother's womb in three distinct stages. Indeed, modern biology has revealed that the baby's embryological development takes place in three distinct regions in the mother's womb. Today, in all the embryology textbooks studied in faculties of medicine, this subject is taken as an element of basic knowledge. For instance in Basic Human Embryology, a fundamental reference text in the field of embryology, this fact is stated as follows: "The life in the uterus has three stages: pre-embryonic; first two and a half weeks, embryonic; until the end of the eight week, and fetal; from the eight week to labor." (1)
These phases refer to the different developmental stages of a baby. In brief, the main characteristics of these developmental stages are as follows:
- Pre-embryonic stage : In this first phase, the zygote grows by division, and when it becomes a cell cluster, it buries itself in the wall of the uterus. While they continue growing, the cells organise themselves in three layers.
- Embryonic Stage : The second phase lasts for five and a half weeks, during which the baby is called an "embryo". In this stage, the basic organs and systems of the body start to appear from the cell layers.
- Fetal stage : From this stage on, the embryo is called a "foetus". This phase begins at the eighth week of gestation and lasts until the moment of birth. The distinctive characteristic of this stage is that the foetus looks just like a human being, with its face, hands and feet. Although it is only 3 cm. long initially, all of its organs have become apparent. This phase lasts for about 30 weeks, and development continues until the week of delivery.
Information on the development in the mother's womb became available only after observations with modern devices. Yet, just like many other scientific facts, these pieces of information are imparted in the verses of the Qur'an in a miraculous way. The fact that such detailed and accurate information was given in the Qur'an at a time when people had scarce information on medical matters is clear evidence that the Qur'an is not the word of man, but the word of God
THIS IS ONLY ONE EXAMPLE FROM THE QUR'AN
and if u want to know more i think you should open your eyes and brains while reading not only the qur'an but any book
here this is a usfull website
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and richb2004
u cant judge a book from the first two pages
i bet u havent read the quran that why your saying this
did u read the part wher it says u are not allowed to break a tree in a war????
I don’t recall reading that. Where is that in the Quran? Surely if you can kill unbelievers you can break a tree. Or are we talking Muslim trees versus non-Muslim trees?
Your right I haven’t yet read the complete Quran. I have got as far as around page 250 of the 400 odd pages. It’s quite consistent in its content and references. I really don’t see it taking a drastic change in the last 200 pages. So far I have gained nothing from it. The book dogmatically enforces the following of Allah and Mohammed. This is done over and over on every single page with the threat of burning for an eternity in ######. It is written in the style of a paranoid schizophrenic. The main message is complete and utter violent condemnation of all who refuse to follow its preaching’s. There are positives, such as Zakah (giving to charity) and kindness to ones parents and recommending that we do not bury our daughters alive, but this is far, far outweighed by the serious negatives. As with all religions the only reason people follow them is because their parents did so before them. This combined with the enforced teachings in Islamic culture are the only reason that one follows one religion and not another.
Quran 2: The Cow.
2:39 But they who disbelieve, and deny Our revelations, such are rightful Peoples of the Fire. They will abide therein.
2:161 Lo! Those who disbelieve, and die while they are disbelievers; on them is the curse of Allah and of angels and of men combined.
2:162 They ever dwell therein. The doom will not be lightened for them, neither will they be reprieved.
War! It’s good for you.
2:216 Warfare is ordained for you, though it is hateful unto you; but it may happen that ye hate a thing which is good for you, and it may happen that ye love a thing which is bad for you. Allah knoweth, ye know not.
I won’t go on.
Actually I seriously doubt that many Muslims have actually read the Quran from front to back or back to front, as it may be. I have quizzed many Muslims on the Quran and have never had an answer that didn’t require over night thought. I know that they read it fanatically, but I think they only read designated extracts and not the whole thing.
I have had to copy these eloquent extracts from the net, as I have left my beloved Quran at work. You can brush up on your chapter and verse at this site. It is a relatively unbiased site. It highlights the good as well as the bad.
u said that u have read 200 pages and u didnt even read what i have posted.
what i have posted are from the same book that u said mostly talks about war!!!!!!!!!!!!
let me ask you
u at work if u dont do your job and come to work late,what will the manager do to u?!!!!!!!!!!!!!
will he give u a bonus???????????????
Islam and the Qu'ran: a Religion of Hate?
Over the last few months, neoconservatives and Christian leaders have banded together in an attempt to mar the value systems defined by Islamic ideology and to present Islam to America as a violent, bloodthirsty religion that demands the subversion of the world, or its death. Islam has been decried by many a pastor and priest as a “religion of hate” and a “culture of intolerance.” Neoconservatives claim that Islamic ideology is so foreign and fundamentally different from Western ideology that overlap or mutual understanding is impossible. After all, they reason, how can America come to terms with a society that sends its children to die in the name of God, or a faith that demands its adherent to kill all infidels if they refuse to covert to Islam?
When I first heard these comments, I laughed. I laughed at the sheer stupidity of the people that would suggest such patently false ideas. I laughed at what I thought were their pathetic attempts to wage a propaganda and misinformation war against Muslims in America in an attempt to vilify and marginalize them. After all, what kind of dupe would believe the ridiculous lies they were spreading? Anyone could pick up a book or talk to a Muslim and find out the truth.
Well, I am not laughing anymore.
A lot of thought has gone into planning the war for America’s opinion. The misinformation war that the neoconservatives and Christian right have launched is from two fronts. First, Christian leaders take specific quotes out of the Qu’ran (or Koran), the Muslim holy book, in an attempt to depict Islam as a fundamentally violent faith, as defined by its basic ideology. They are particularly interested in presenting the idea of jihad as a call to war, knowing that this is completely false and that Muslims cannot reject jihad, as it is a central theme in Islam. Secondly, the public opinion spin doctors use misunderstood or poorly documented dogmas in Islam and present them as proof that Islam has a carnal and perverted moral code.
As both of these topics are extremely diverse and complex, I will attempt to answer them in two successive columns.
It seems to me that no matter how loudly we protest that Islam is not a religion of violence, conservative Christians are not willing to listen. They point out specific passages in the Qu’ran that demand Muslims to go to war against the infidels, or to kill the unbelievers wherever we should find them. Passage after passage is recited or detailed with exacting patience and precision; passages that deal with war, death, and punishment. Why is Islam so violent? Why does it demand so much bloodshed and death? Why does Allah command that Muslims kill Christians, Jews, and anyone else who does not convert to Islam?
It is thus with great irony that I would ask the same question of the Christian world. Why does the Biblical God demand the death of enemies or the seemingly brutal subjugation of women?
"If men strive, and hurt a woman with child, so that her fruit depart from her, and yet no mischief follow: he shall be surely punished according as the woman's husband will lay upon him; and he shall pay as the judges determine. And if any mischief follow, then thou shalt give life for life, Eye for eye, tooth for tooth . . . -- Ex. 21:22-25
"I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee." -- Genesis 3:16
"Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. For Adam was first formed, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression." --1 Tim. 2:11-14
In fact, it seems to me that the Bible demands the murder of children!
"Happy shall he be, that taketh and dasheth thy little ones against the stones." --Psalm 137:9
“… slay both man and woman, infant and suckling.” -- I Samuel 15:3
”… dash their children, and rip up their women with child.” -- 2 Kings 8:12
Of course, the intent here is to illustrate that any quote that is taken out of context can be made to fit the crime. It is not difficult to selectively provide quotes that incriminate or condemn. For instance, take a commonly used quote from the Qu’ran that is used as proof that it is violent:
“...slay (enemies] wherever you find them!" -- (4: 89).
This line does look extremely violent. It is difficult to imagine a viable explanation for such a statement. Indeed, can there even be such a justification? Well, let us take a look at the following line:
"Thus, if they let you be, and do not make war on you, and offer you peace, God does not allow you to harm them.” -- (4: 90).
The idea that this is “proof” that Islam is violent then is preposterous. The second line is crucial to the message of the text; even in times of war, soldiers must observe the laws of compassion and reason as dictated by the Qu’ran. One wonders why pundits like Jerry Falwell and Ann Coulter do not come across these lines in their search for the truth:
"Fight in the cause of Allah those who fight you, but do not transgress limits; for Allah loves not transgressors." – (2:190)
Do not "take life -- which God has made sacred -- except for just cause. And if anyone is slain wrongfully, we have given his heir authority" to demand justice for the death or to forgive it. "But let him not exceed bounds in the matter of taking life; for he is helped [by the Law]." -- Surah 17
One other ideological process neoconservatives have committed themselves to is the attempt to malign the intent of jihad. Western media have picked up their cry of jihad as “holy war,” which is in fact a western adaptation, reminiscent of crusader mentality used against Muslims during the Church’s holy war against Islam. There is no term for “holy war” in Arabic. The word jihad translates to “struggle.” It refers to the difficult effort that is needed to put God's will into practice at every level: personal and social, as well as political. A very important and much quoted tradition has Muhammad (s.a.w.) telling his companions as they go home after a battle, "We are returning from the lesser jihad [the battle] to the greater jihad,' the far more urgent and momentous task of extirpating wrongdoing from one's own society and one's own heart. Indeed, although jihad can be a struggle to protect the weak or to free the oppressed, a greater jihad is that of one’s own desires; the jihad for spiritual cleanliness and the application of the laws of God into one’s own life. This includes telling the truth, providing for the destitute and the hungry, and the control of carnal desires like gluttony and sleep. Although jihad can be used to defend one’s person, property, or community, it is not some rallying call to arms in an attempt to advocate violence as a way of life or to suggest that all infidels should be put to the sword.
It is clear then that the use of selective quotes out of the Qu’ran is merely an attempt at the legitimization of the false claim that Islam is violent. Indeed, by the examples referenced above, it is unmistakable that neoconservatives are relying on misinformation and lies to propagate their vicious slander. Their attempt to vilify jihad is similar in its intent, if not its process. What could be more in sync with American ideals of honor, self-sacrifice, and courage in the face of adversity? Jihad is not an Islamic invention; it is a global definition of valor and a demand for personal excellence.
It is all the more wretched that these lies are told by men and women that claim to represent the leadership of their faith. If this is what Christianity is, then I am glad that I am Muslim. Now it is time to determine if these leaders represent the exception or the rule. Do these leaders espouse what is commonly believed by the practitioners of their faith, representative of a majority of Christians that would like to see pluralism and interfaith communication perish? Or are these pundits on the leading edge of extremism, delegates of the few fanatics that Christianity generally rejects? From what I see in the media, I am fearful that it is the former
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Hi SBM and others, Thanks for the insights into the Koran, my translation is more or less the same. Can I tell you guys something.......? Where I live (not sure about the 'deep' south) it is 99.99% Muslim BUT most people on the island have absolutely NO idea what the Qur'an says. ALL of them can recite it in Arabic, perhaps believing in it through 'blind' faith. But very few can understand it. A Thai 'devout' Muslim here recently asked me to explain it to her when I had finished reading the Qur'an. I feel sad to tell this but it may be the cause of most of the problems. As with most religions - the majority of the general public have little understanding.
Seonai
yes the problem is in us humans not the religion.most translate the words how they wish,others read what they want and leave the rest.
Every thing in life work in a systematic movment.the moon the sun the day the night even animals travel from on place to another in a certain time of the year. We humans are the only living creature who have a choice to live with that movement or not.
God has given us the guide to follow that, if we follow it nothing will go wrong and we will live in peace and when we don’t we will face problems in all ways.
Look around u and see. When we are careless to the nature for example the temperature of the earth became higher than normal and we suffer. Hurricanes hit stronger than normal all of this is not a normal thing. It’s the cause of our wrong acts.
The same thing with treating other humans. We have to stick to the rules of life that god told us about. After all no one knows humans and the hole universe more than the one who made it himself (god)
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i think the main problem is that most people think islam is the religion of hate.
Say, "O followers of the scripture,........................................
Hey smb....I'm with you brother! Now we just have to send someone to south to preach the gospel of Abraham. I guess they have a different version of the Koran than you. Maybe we should send some Muslim missionaries down south preaching this because they obviously don't know (or they don't care).
Maybe thats the key. Christians have the pope to point them in the right direction. Who do the muslims have? Perhaps the Muslims of the world need a spiritual leader to guide them through this difficult time.
Or do they elect someone locally who says he represents God? If so, based on what some Muslim religious leaders have done in the name of Allah, he should have a back ground check. Make sure he is not some nutcase with some personal vendetta against whoever.
Islam may be a good religion like SMB says but I still think they need someone wise at the top to keep the crazies in check.
there is only one version of the Koran.muslims have the imam and the imam is being followed by muslims.the problem is terrorists do not follow the imam and they still call them selves muslims.
so they are only covering up their acts by religon and from what i posted is a living proof that islam has nothing incommon with them.
and most extremists from both sides take half of a sentnce from the qauran and translate it
for example
“...slay (enemies] wherever you find them!" -- (4: 89).
This line does look extremely violent. It is difficult to imagine a viable explanation for such a statement. Indeed, can there even be such a justification? Well, let us take a look at the following line:
"Thus, if they let you be, and do not make war on you, and offer you peace, God does not allow you to harm them.” -- (4: 90).
The idea that this is “proof” that Islam is violent then is preposterous. The second line is crucial to the message of the text; even in times of war, soldiers must observe the laws of compassion and reason as dictated by the Qu’ran.
so they do not come across these lines in their search for the truth.ior for search to misslead others.
this is what are true muslims belive in.anything other than this is not islamic
acually a muslim is not called a muslim unless he beleives in jesus and moses.
i hope this answers all your questions
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i think the main problem is that most people think islam is the religion of hate.
Say, "O followers of the scripture, let us come to a
logical agreement between us and you: that we shall not
worship except GOD; that we never set up any idols
besides Him, nor set up any human beings as lords beside
GOD." If they turn away, say, "Bear witness that we are submitters."
[3:64]
Islam (Submission), has been accused unjustly of being a religion of hate by those who never made a true effort to understand even the basic teachings of Islam. We all know that ignorance is the worst enemy of the truth, and God Almighty asked us to learn the truth as there is nothing after the truth except falsehood.
[Quran 10:32] Such is GOD, your rightful Lord. What is there after the truth, EXCEPT FALSEHOOD? How could you disregard all this?
"And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." John 8:32
Let us present the simple truth about Islam (submission) and the Quran that proves that Islam is not a religion of hate but rather a religion of love, tolerance, understanding, and social justice.
Many people are not aware that Islam is the religion of Abraham, not the religion of Muhammad. Abraham, being the founder of Islam (Submission), with all its beautiful and peaceful teachings and rituals, passed his religion to all the prophets who came after him, including all the Jewish prophets, Jesus and Muhammad. Those attacking Islam, out of ignorance, or deliberately, are attacking Abraham who is their prophet as much as the prophet of the Muslims (Submitters).
Quran explains clearly this fact,
" You shall strive for the cause of GOD as you should strive for His cause. He has chosen you and has placed no hardship on you in practicing your religion - the religion of your father Abraham. He is the one who named you "Submitters" originally. ………" [22:78]
"Abraham was neither Jewish , nor Christian; he was a monotheist; a Muslim; he never was an idol-worshiper. The people most worthy of following Abraham are those who follow him and this prophet (Muhammed), and those who believed. God is the Lord of the believers." 3:67-68
"Then we inspired you (O Muhammed) to follow the religion of Abraham, monotheism; never was he an idol-worshiper." 16:123
In that simple sense , how can Islam which is the religion of Abraham promote hate when it is the same religion passed down to the Jews and Christians before reaching Muhammad. How can the Jews and Christians claim different standard when we are talking about the same religion with different names but all go back to Abraham.
Quran, the final Testament , made a special mention of the relationship that controls the social and daily life with other people including but not limited to Jews and Christians. In it Quran urges the Muslims to be loving, caring, friendly, patient, tolerant, advocates of freedom, democracy, and social justice. Islam never advocated hate or promoted it. People who promote hate, do so on their own terms and misunderstanding. By doing so they do not represent Islam (Submission) or the teachings of God in the scripture. Quran urges the believers to;
[7:199] You shall resort to pardon, advocate tolerance, and disregard the ignorant.
[42:38] ......... Their affairs are decided after due CONSULTATION among themselves, and from our provisions to them they give (to charity).
The following verses will shatter completely all the lies about Islam (Submission) advocating or promoting hate. It shows total respect to people from different religions and backgrounds.
[2:62] Surely, those who believe, those who are Jewish, the Christians, and the converts; anyone who (1) believes in GOD, and (2) believes in the Last Day, and (3) leads a righteous life, will receive their recompense from their Lord. They have nothing to fear, nor will they grieve.
[29:46] Do not argue with the people of the scripture (Jews, Christians, and Muslims) except in the nicest possible manner - unless they transgress - and say, "We believe in what was revealed to us and in what was revealed to you, and our god and your god is one and the same; to Him we are submitters."
Basic Law Regulating Relations With Unbelievers
[60:8] GOD does not enjoin you from befriending those who do not fight you because of religion, and do not evict you from your homes. You may befriend them and be equitable towards them. GOD loves the equitable.
[60:9] GOD enjoins you only from befriending those who fight you because of religion, evict you from your homes, and band together with others to banish you. You shall not befriend them. Those who befriend them are the transgressors.
[49:13] O people, we created you from the same male and female, and rendered you distinct peoples and tribes, that you may recognize one another. The best among you in the sight of GOD is the most righteous. GOD is Omniscient, Cognizant.
Verse 5:82 is an important verse to mention and clarify. In verse 5:82, God states a fact about the true nature of the relationship of Muslims (submitters) , the Jews and Christians in our life. A fact we all can witness daily on our news. God does not mention that as an order or as a law but as a fact of life.God is all Knower Cognizant.
[5:82] You will find that the worst enemies of the believers are the Jews and the idol worshipers. And you will find that the closest people in friendship to the believers are those who say, "We are Christian." This is because they have priests and MONKS among them, and they are not arrogant.
Some Muslims, including some scholars, however do not understand that fact and abuse this verse to preach their own personal hate to all the Jews, not realizing that the verse does not call for that but rather states the facts. This does not represent what Islam (Submission) or Quran teaches. On the contrary, God is teaching us in the Quran, that there are righteous Jews, and Christians who stand for the truth and support God and His scripture.
Here are some of the verses that show that not all the people of the scripture (Jews, Christians and Muslims) are the same ;
[ 3:113] They are not all the same; among the followers of the scripture, there are those who are righteous. They recite GOD's revelations through the night, and they fall prostrate.
[ 3:114] They believe in GOD and the Last Day, they advocate righteousness and forbid evil, and they hasten to do righteous works. These are the righteous.
[ 3:115] Any good they do will not go unrewarded. GOD is fully aware of the righteous.
[3:199] Surely, some followers of the previous scriptures do believe in GOD, and in what was revealed to you, and in what was revealed to them. They reverence GOD, and they never trade away GOD's revelations for a cheap price. These will receive their recompense from their Lord. GOD is the most efficient in reckoning.
See also (Quran 2:62, 5:69)
We need to remember that hate is a man made crime, that we should not blame on religion. Any claim of hate in a religion is no more than man made innovation that has nothing to do with God or His scripture. Planting hate only produces hate. Planting love, will produce love. Our God is Almighty, all loving.
Let me give one example. How many people who watch the unjust treatment of the Palestinians, their murder, oppression, torture, destruction of their homes and land by the Israelis will develop HATE to this aggressing inhuman force that made it their job to destroy a nation longing to live in peace. ? It is HATE resulting from HATE crimes against humanity, not against a Jew or a Chrisian or any othre ethnic group. If these groups change their behaviour they will not need to complain about HATE and may start a peace process that saves both nations from destroying each other.
If we understand that, we will know where the HATE comes from, and we can confirm that those who scream, HATE are usually the ones who planted it, not the religion or the followers of the right religion. I pray to God to enlighten everyone by the truth and to guide everyone to understand where HATE comes from.
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To all the supporters of giving the 3 provinces back to the muslims
Islams quest for world domination might have worked 100 years ago. Thats when France, England, and the USA was too busy to notice. They were out sticking their flag in the ground in other countries claiming them for god and country.
Todays world will not stand for it. Things are different. Humans have evolved socially to a point where they don't tolerate it anymore. Look how much critisism the USA got when they invaded Vietnam, Laos, and Iraq.
Now, borders of countries of the world are pretty much set and are not going to change without a major war.
The land belonged to the South 100 years ago. Thats the past. Now it belongs to Thailand.
Get over it. You were not there. There is probably no one who was there when the land was not part of Thailand. Your not missing anything.
What would you do if the land was given back? How would you take care of the people there? I have not seen one solution where someone spelled out how they would take care of the millions of people there if they made the 3 provinces a little country.
Could they do it better than Thailand? If so, how?
richard i am against giving them their own country and i did say this in my first post.they will not be able most probably to survive and we will have one more poor nation.
i think what the govermant should do.is let them live the way they want as long as they dont bother others but under full control of the thai govermant .
like make the law there islamic as they wish but under supervition of the govermant. in schools let them study arabic and islam.
this way i think 1-the govermant first of all will remain in full controle
2-will reduce the number of people who support the terror
3-will have the killing reduced
4-will gain international support even from islamic countries
what do u guys think of this solution???
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South
Now this is my 1st so, pls bare with me guys......
As for the thais in the south i can only wish that they get themselves sorted out and cut loose from this whole mess, but as for the budhists of thailand i hope they just relax before going on killing sprees ..
they've done enough killing in the south for the past 30 years and they know they are only being payed back in return for their past crimes there...
As for all you people i hope you realise the situation in Thailand....it's no Malaysia...muslims have not moved over, they have always lived here, they infact were invaded which ever way you look at it...it was their land and it still is and it always will be.....
SMB thank you for an informative post. I don't see where the justification is in this for what we are dealing with, unless of course the other side is viewed as oppressors.
Zaz you are lumping an entire group of people as bad, isn't that exactly what you were upset at when it was directed at you. It wasn't right when others did it to you and it's not right when you do it either.
i posted the info about the women to reply to the persons post who talked about muslim beating his wife as if it is allawed in islam.
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SMB - what a load of <deleted>!!!! Sorry all you've listed was rubbish propoganda - we might as well be tuning into Al Jazera with that sh*te!!!
you didnt even read them i posted them a while ago
u dont have to beleive it at least read what u call rubbish
i listen to the bbc and the cnn everyday and that i call rubbish..
get the info from all sides and then use your mind to see what is more logical
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An Islamic Guide on How to Beat Your Wife
A Spanish court has at least identified the problem, but the judge’s solution is hopelessly naïve: An Islamic guide on how to beat your wife.
MADRID — An imam who wrote a book on how to beat your wife without leaving marks on her body has been ordered by a judge in Spain to study the country’s constitution.
The judge told Mohamed Kamal Mustafa, imam of a mosque in the southern resort of Fuengirola, to spend six months studying three articles of the constitution and the universal declaration of human rights
And San Francisco feminists and gays are in love with Islam, why?
In this case, the enemy of my enemy is not my friend. Why can't the left see that if Islamofascism wins, feminism, gay rights, minority rights and everyone else who does not worship Allah is doomed?
Ask the ``Queers for Palestine'' how the Gay Rights Parade in Ramallah went this year?
Child molesting priest walks free
A Melbourne Catholic priest who pleaded guilty to indecently assaulting a 15-year-old boy walked free today after being handed a two-year-eight-month suspended jail sentence.
In sentencing Father John Barry Gwillim, 71, of Coburg, County Court Judge Fred Davey told the defendant nothing would be gained by sending him to jail.
"There will be another sentence, that of a disgraced priest," Judge Davey said.
"The record of a disgraced priest will blot you from people's memory forever."
Gwillim, a priest of 40 years' standing, pleaded guilty to five counts of indecent assault and four of gross indecency between October 1979 and February 1981.
He was first interviewed by police in 1992.
Gwillim, who was parish priest at St Peter's church in suburban Keilor East between 1979 and 1999, approached his 15-year-old schoolboy victim in the city while he was waiting for a train in late 1979.
Gwillim did not tell the boy he was a priest and offered to drive him home.
He pulled over in a quiet street and asked the boy to be "nice" to him, directing him to perform oral sex.
The court heard the sexual relationship continued, with Gwillim picking up the boy after swimming lessons.
The pair would then perform mutual oral sex either in the car or at a motel.
Prosecutor Mihael Tinney said the schoolboy had a troubled home life and knew what was happening was wrong, but regarded the sexual acts as a "small price to pay for friendship".
http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/12/...l?oneclick=true
Former priest sentenced for molesting child
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. -- A former priest who has become a central figure in a sexual abuse scandal that has shaken Boston's Roman Catholic community was sentenced to the maximum of nine to 10 years today for fondling a 10-year-old boy.
Former priest John Geogan "hid behind his collar" and his position in the church to prey on young boys, Judge Sandra Hamlin said in announcing the sentence.
She detailed Geoghan's admissions of molesting other children and psychological evaluations citing his lack of concern for his victims and his tendency to blame them for his acts as evidence he was not a candidate for rehabilitation.
Under the sentence, Geoghan could be eligible for parole in six years. The judge ordered strict monitoring after any later release.
Geoghan, 66, was convicted last month of indecent assault and battery for fondling the boy in 1991 at a community swimming pool. The victim had testified that he was trying to teach himself how to dive when Geoghan, who had been coaching him verbally, reached inside his swimming trunks and squeezed his buttocks.
Since 1995, more than 130 people have claimed Geoghan fondled or raped them during the three decades he served in Boston-area parishes. The trial was the first of three criminal cases against Geoghan. He also is named in more than 80 civil suits.
The second trial, which was to have started Wednesday, is delayed while the judge hears arguments on whether the statute of limitations for the alleged crime has expired.
Geoghan's attorneys argued Wednesday in that case that the molestation accusations were made in 1986, when the statute of limitations was 10 years. Prosecutor David Deakin countered that the charges are based on specific allegations made in 1989, within the current 15-year limit. The hearing is to continue Friday.
The allegations against Geoghan and questions of how much church officials knew have created a scandal for the church and led to major changes in how the Archdiocese of Boston deals with allegations of abuse.
Last month, Cardinal Bernard Law ordered that church officials report all accusations of sexual abuse against minors, including past allegations. Law has since given prosecutors the names of more than 80 active and former priests accused of abuse during the last four decades. Nine active priests have been suspended.
The archdiocese also has been criticized over documents showing that church officials knew of allegations against Geoghan years ago but continued to move him from parish to parish.
During Geoghan's sentencing today, the victim, now a 20-year-old college junior, told the court he felt "nauseous" and that he was angered by the "emotionless" face Geoghan showed at the trial.
"I think as much time away from the outside world as possible will do him so good," he said.
Assistant District Attorney Lynn Rooney requested the maximum sentence for Geoghan, calling the former priest "a predatory pedophile."
Geoghan didn't testify at his trial or at his sentencing, and no one but his lawyer spoke on his behalf.
Defense attorney Geoffrey Packard today asked the judge to sentence Geoghan to probation, saying he was a good priest and neighbor. He asked the judge not to go outside the sentencing guidelines just because Geoghan "is the flashpoint for the issue that has shaken the foundation of the Archdiocese of Boston."
After the hearing, Packard said he was concerned about Geoghan's safety and his state of mind.
"I think he's stunned," the attorney said. "He's just been sent to state prison and he's 66 years old. I am afraid for him."
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sns-priesta...,0,298593.story
i can go on for ages if im a narrow minded looking for the crack heads from any religion and blame the religion itself for what he did...........................
but im not like u ,i did this only to show u that in every culture and religion good and bad.
now if u looking for the truth (im sure your not )
WOMAN IN ISLAM
1. The Spiritual Aspect
The Qur'an provides clear-cut evidence that woman iscompletely equated with man in the sight of God interms of her rights and responsibilities. The Qur'an states:
"Every soul will be (held) in pledge for its deeds" (Qur'an 74:38). It also states:
...So their Lord accepted their prayers, (saying): I will not suffer to be lost the work of any of you whether male or female. You proceed one from another ...(Qur'an 3: 195).
Whoever works righteousness, man or woman, and has faith, verily to him will We give a new life that is good and pure, and We will bestow on such their reward according to the their actions. (Qur'an 16:97, see also 4:124).
Woman according to the Qur'an is not blamed for Adam's first mistake. Both were jointly wrong in their disobedience to God, both repented, and both were forgiven. (Qur'an 2:36, 7:20 - 24). In one verse in fact (20:121), Adam specifically, was blamed.
In terms of religious obligations, such as the Daily Prayers, Fasting, Poor-due, and Pilgrimage, woman is no different from man. In some cases indeed, woman has certain advantages over man. For example, the woman is exempted from the daily prayers and from fasting during her menstrual periods and forty days after childbirth. She is also exempted from fasting during her pregnancy and when she is nursing her baby if there is any threat to her health or her baby's. If the missed fasting is obligatory (during the month of Ramadan), she can make up for the missed days whenever she can. She does not have to make up for the prayers missed for any of the above reasons. Although women can and did go into the mosque during the days of the prophet and thereafter attendance et the Friday congregational prayers is optional for them while it is mandatory for men (on Friday).
This is clearly a tender touch of the Islamic teachings for they are considerate of the fact that a woman may be nursing her baby or caring for him, and thus may be unable to go out to the mosque at the time of the prayers. They also take into account the physiological and psychological changes associated with her natural female functions.
2. The Social Aspect
a) As a child and an adolescent
Despite the social acceptance of female infanticide among some Arabian tribes, the Qur'an forbade this custom, and considered it a crime like any other murder.
"And when the female (infant) buried alive - is questioned, for what crime she was killed." (Qur'an 81:8-9).
Criticizing the attitudes of such parents who reject their female children, the Qur'an states:
When news is brought to one of them, of (the Birth of) a female (child), his face darkens and he is filled with inward grief! With shame does he hide himself from his people because of the bad news he has had! Shall he retain her on (sufferance) and contempt, or bury her in the dust? Ah! What an evil (choice) they decide on? (Qur'an 16: 58-59).
Far from saving the girl's life so that she may later suffer injustice and inequality, Islam requires kind and just treatment for her. Among the sayings of Prophet Muhammad (P.) in this regard are the following:
Whosoever has a daughter and he does not bury her alive, does not insult her, and does not favor his son over her, God will enter him into Paradise. (Ibn Hanbal, No. 1957).
Whosoever supports two daughters till they mature, he and I will come in the day of judgment as this (and he pointed with his two fingers held together).
A similar Hadeeth deals in like manner with one who supports two sisters. (Ibn-Hanbal, No. 2104).
The right of females to seek knowledge is not different from that of males. Prophet Muhammad (P.) said:
"Seeking knowledge is mandatory for every Muslim". (AlBayhaqi). Muslim as used here including both males and females.
As a wife: The Qur'an clearly indicates that marriage is sharing between the two halves of the society, and that its objectives, beside perpetuating human life, are emotional well-being and spiritual harmony. Its bases are love and mercy.
Among the most impressive verses in the Qur'an about marriage is the following.
"And among His signs is this: That He created mates for you from yourselves that you may find rest, peace of mind in them, and He ordained between you love and mercy. Lo, herein indeed are signs for people who reflect." (Qur'an 30:2 1).
According to Islamic Law, women cannot be forced to marry anyone without their consent.
Ibn Abbas reported that a girl came to the Messenger of God, Muhammad (P.), and she reported that her father had forced her to marry without her consent. The Messenger of God gave her the choice . . . (between accepting the marriage or invalidating it). (Ibn Hanbal No. 2469). In another version, the girl said: "Actually I accept this marriage but I wanted to let women know that parents have no right (to force a husband on them)" (Ibn Maja, No. 1873).
Besides all other provisions for her protection at the time of marriage, it was specifically decreed that woman has the full right to her Mahr, a marriage gift, which is presented to her by her husband and is included in the nuptial contract, and that such ownership does not transfer to her father or husband. The concept of Mahr in Islam is neither an actual or symbolic price for the woman, as was the case in certain cultures, but rather it is a gift symbolizing love and affection.
The rules for married life in Islam are clear and in harmony with upright human nature. In consideration of the physiological and psychological make-up of man and woman, both have equal rights and claims on one another, except for one responsibility, that of leadership. This is a matter which is natural in any collective life and which is consistent with the nature of man.
The Qur'an thus states:
"And they (women) have rights similar to those (of men) over them, and men are a degree above them." (Qur'an 2:228).
Such degree is Quiwama (maintenance and protection). This refers to that natural difference between the sexes which entitles the weaker sex to protection. It implies no superiority or advantage before the law. Yet, man's role of leadership in relation to his family does not mean the husband's dictatorship over his wife. Islam emphasizes the importance of taking counsel and mutual agreement in family decisions. The Qur'an gives us an example:
"...If they (husband wife) desire to wean the child by mutual consent and (after) consultation, there is no blame on them..." (Qur'an 2: 233).
Over and above her basic rights as a wife comes the right which is emphasized by the Qur'an and is strongly recommended by the Prophet (P); kind treatment and companionship.
The Qur'an states:
"...But consort with them in kindness, for if you hate them it may happen that you hate a thing wherein God has placed much good." (Qur'an 4: l9).
Prophet Muhammad. (P) said:
The best of you is the best to his family and I am the best among you to my family.
The most perfect believers are the best in conduct and best of you are those who are best to their wives. (Ibn-Hanbal, No. 7396)
Behold, many women came to Muhammad's wives complaining against their husbands (because they beat them) - - those (husbands) are not the best of you.
As the woman's right to decide about her marriage is recognized, so also her right to seek an end for an unsuccessful marriage is recognized. To provide for the stability of the family, however, and in order to protect it from hasty decisions under temporary emotional stress, certain steps and waiting periods should be observed by men and women seeking divorce. Considering the relatively more emotional nature of women, a good reason for asking for divorce should be brought before the judge. Like the man, however, the woman can divorce her husband with out resorting to the court, if the nuptial contract allows that.
More specifically, some aspects of Islamic Law concerning marriage and divorce are interesting and are worthy of separate treatment.
When the continuation of the marriage relationship is impossible for any reason, men are still taught to seek a gracious end for it.
The Qur'an states about such cases:
When you divorce women, and they reach their prescribed term, then retain them in kindness and retain them not for injury so that you transgress (the limits). (Qur'an 2:231). (See also Qur'an 2:229 and 33:49).
c) As a mother:
Islam considered kindness to parents next to the worship of God.
"And we have enjoined upon man (to be good) to his parents: His mother bears him in weakness upon weakness..." (Qur'an 31:14) (See also Qur'an 46:15, 29:8).
Moreover, the Qur'an has a special recommendation for the good treatment of mothers:
"Your Lord has decreed that you worship none save Him, and that you be kind to your parents. . ." (Qur'an 17:23).
A man came to Prophet Muhammad (P) asking:
O Messenger of God, who among the people is the most worthy of my good company? The Prophet (P) said, Your mother. The man said then who else: The Prophet (P) said, Your mother. The man asked, Then who else? Only then did the Prophet (P) say, Your father. (Al-Bukhari and Muslim).
A famous saying of The Prophet is "Paradise is at the feet of mothers." (In Al'Nisa'I, Ibn Majah, Ahmad).
"It is the generous (in character) who is good to women, and it is the wicked who insults them."
3. The Economic Aspect
Islam decreed a right of which woman was deprived both before Islam and after it (even as late as this century), the right of independent ownership. According to Islamic Law, woman's right to her money, real estate, or other properties is fully acknowledged. This right undergoes no change whether she is single or married. She retains her full rights to buy, sell, mortgage or lease any or all her properties. It is nowhere suggested in the Law that a woman is a minor simply because she is a female. It is also noteworthy that such right applies to her properties before marriage as well as to whatever she acquires thereafter.
With regard to the woman's right to seek employment it should be stated first that Islam regards her role in society as a mother and a wife as the most sacred and essential one. Neither maids nor baby-sitters can possibly take the mother's place as the educator of an upright, complex free, and carefully-reared children. Such a noble and vital role, which largely shapes the future of nations, cannot be regarded as "idleness".
However, there is no decree in Islam which forbids woman from seeking employment whenever there is a necessity for it, especially in positions which fit her nature and in which society needs her most. Examples of these professions are nursing, teaching (especially for children), and medicine. Moreover, there is no restriction on benefiting from woman's exceptional talent in any field. Even for the position of a judge, where there may be a tendency to doubt the woman's fitness for the post due to her more emotional nature, we find early Muslim scholars such as Abu-Hanifa and Al-Tabary holding there is nothing wrong with it. In addition, Islam restored to woman the right of inheritance, after she herself was an object of inheritance in some cultures. Her share is completely hers and no one can make any claim on it, including her father and her husband.
"Unto men (of the family) belongs a share of that which Parents and near kindred leave, and unto women a share of that which parents and near kindred leave, whether it be a little or much - a determinate share." ((Qur'an 4:7).
Her share in most cases is one-half the man's share, with no implication that she is worth half a man! It would seem grossly inconsistent after the overwhelming evidence of woman's equitable treatment in Islam, which was discussed in the preceding pages, to make such an inference. This variation in inheritance rights is only consistent with the variations in financial responsibilities of man and woman according to the Islamic Law. Man in Islam is fully responsible for the maintenance of his wife, his children, and in some cases of his needy relatives, especially the females. This responsibility is neither waived nor reduced because of his wife's wealth or because of her access to any personal income gained from work, rent, profit, or any other legal means.
Woman, on the other hand, is far more secure financially and is far less burdened with any claims on her possessions. Her possessions before marriage do not transfer to her husband and she even keeps her maiden name. She has no obligation to spend on her family out of such properties or out of her income after marriage. She is entitled to the "Mahr" which she takes from her husband at the time of marriage. If she is divorced, she may get an alimony from her ex-husband.
An examination of the inheritance law within the overall framework of the Islamic Law reveals not only justice but also an abundance of compassion for woman.
4. The Political Aspect
Any fair investigation of the teachings of Islam o~ into the history of the Islamic civilization will surely find a clear evidence of woman's equality with man in what we call today "political rights".
This includes the right of election as well as the nomination to political offices. It also includes woman's right to participate in public affairs. Both in the Qur'an and in Islamic history we find examples of women who participated in serious discussions and argued even with the Prophet (P) himself, (see Qur'an 58: 14 and 60: 10-12).
During the Caliphate of Omar Ibn al-Khattab, a woman argued with him in the mosque, proved her point, and caused him to declare in the presence of people: "A woman is right and Omar is wrong."
Although not mentioned in the Qur'an, one Hadeeth of the Prophet is interpreted to make woman ineligible for the position of head of state. The Hadeeth referred to is roughly translated: "A people will not prosper if they let a woman be their leader." This limitation, however, has nothing to do with the dignity of woman or with her rights. It is rather, related to the natural differences in the biological and psychological make-up of men and women.
According to Islam, the head of the state is no mere figurehead. He leads people in the prayers, especially on Fridays and festivities; he is continuously engaged in the process of decision-making pertaining to the security and well-being of his people. This demanding position, or any similar one, such as the Commander of the Army, is generally inconsistent with the physiological and psychological make-up of woman in general. It is a medical fact that during their monthly periods and during their pregnancies, women undergo various physiological and psychological changes. Such changes may occur during an emergency situation, thus affecting her decision, without considering the excessive strain which is produced. Moreover, some decisions require a maximum of rationality and a minimum of emotionality - a requirement which does not coincide with the instinctive nature of women.
Even in modern times, and in the most developed countries, it is rare to find a woman in the position of a head of state acting as more than a figurehead, a woman commander of the armed services, or even a proportionate number of women representatives in parliaments, or similar bodies. One can not possibly ascribe this to backwardness of various nations or to any constitutional limitation on woman's right to be in such a position as a head of state or as a member of the parliament. It is more logical to explain the present situation in terms of the natural and indisputable differences between man and woman, a difference which does not imply any "supremacy" of one over the other. The difference implies rather the "complementary" roles of both the sexes in life.
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IV. CONCLUSION
The first part of this paper deals briefly with the position of various religions and cultures on the issue under investigation. Part of this exposition extends to cover the general trend as late as the nineteenth century, nearly 1300 years after the Qur'an set forth the Islamic teachings.
In the second part of the paper, the status of women in Islam is briefly discussed. Emphasis in this part is placed on the original and authentic sources of Islam. This represents the standard according to which degree of adherence of Muslims can be judged. It is also a fact that during the downward cycle of Islamic Civilization, such teachings were not strictly adhered to by many people who profess to be Muslims.
Such deviations were unfairly exaggerated by some writers, and the worst of this, were superficially taken to represent the teachings of "Islam" to the Western reader without taking the trouble to make any original and unbiased study of the authentic sources of these teachings.
Even with such deviations three facts are worth mentioning:
1. The history of Muslims is rich with women of great achievements in all walks of life from as early as the seventh century (B.C.)
2. It is impossible for anyone to justify any mistreatment of woman by any decree of rule embodied in the Islamic Law, nor could anyone dare to cancel, reduce, or distort the clear-cut legal rights of women given in Islamic Law.
3. Throughout history, the reputation, chastity and maternal role of Muslim women were objects of admiration by impartial observers.
It is also worthwhile to state that the status which women reached during the present era was not achieved due to the kindness of men or due to natural progress. It was rather achieved through a long struggle and sacrifice on woman's part and only when society needed her contribution and work, more especial!; during the two world wars, and due to the escalation of technological change.
In the case of Islam such compassionate and dignified status was decreed, not because it reflects the environment of the seventh century, nor under the threat or pressure of women and their organizations, but rather because of its intrinsic truthfulness.
If this indicates anything, it would demonstrate the divine origin of the Qur'an and the truthfulness of the message of Islam, which, unlike human philosophies and ideologies, was far from proceeding from its human environment, a message which established such humane principles as neither grew obsolete during the course of time and after these many centuries, nor can become obsolete in the future. After all, this is the message of the All-Wise and all-knowing God whose wisdom and knowledge are far beyond the ultimate in human thought and progress.
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