Madinat al-Muslimeen Islamic Message Board
Harry Potter |
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Kathy |
11/12/01 at 09:00:38 |
slm The Hub bub is about to begin.- I have not read any of his books. Is it just a fantasy type book/movie- or more? |
NS |
Re: Harry Potter |
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gift |
11/12/01 at 09:10:44 |
[slm] the books were all magic/fantasy for kids - but they are excellent, really refreshing - i read them all as soon as my little brother finished with them [wlm] |
Re: Harry Potter |
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Bintul-Khattab |
11/12/01 at 12:40:38 |
Assalaamu Alaikum personally, i think that to a certain extent they're a rip-off of Terry Pratchett's Discworld series (only a lot less funny). wassalaamu alaikum |
Re: Harry Potter |
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SomairaAltaf |
11/12/01 at 22:02:07 |
Assalamualaikum LoL, interesting that you should bring this up..I'm a junior in college, and to be quite honest, while may think I've lost my mind, and that I'm too old for these books..I ummm..started to read the first of his books just day before yesterday. So far, so good! It's entertaining, and besides, I'm assuming i shoudl i have some background info about what Harry Potter's all about before I go to see the movie right? (OF COURSE I'M only going because i MUST take my little sister ;) Or so I'd like to have everyone believe.....nahhh I'm jk, I'm actually sort of interested in seeing what the movie's all about...it looks cute..) Take care all ws Somaira |
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Merimda |
11/12/01 at 23:56:21 |
salam, Yay I like this topic..^_^ You're never too old...I enjoy reading children's/YA fantasy..It's much better than adult fantasy I find. I tried a couple of times to read Harry Potter but just couldn't get into it...It didn't appeal to me. Don't really see what all the hype is about..maybe I'll try again another time.. I'm a fan of J.R.R Tolkien and Lloyd Alexander...esp. liked The Hobbit and the Prydain chronicles by those two authors..those are good fantasy books for the young and the young at heart..^_^ Not really a movie buff..so I normally don't get excited about movies but I'm looking fwd to The Lord of the Rings movie..hope they don't butcher the story. salam, merimda |
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M.F. |
11/13/01 at 05:24:28 |
Assalamu alaikum, I haven't read any Harry Potter books, but I know they've cause quite a bit of controversy. Some Christian groups are against them because they say the books promote witchcraft and magic. However, don't most children's books contain those anyway? I'm a huge fan of the Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings as well. I like that there's a kind of good vs. evil message behind it, and it really makes your imagination work! I also liked the C.S. Lewis Narnia books that my dad read to us when we were kids, even though they're more for Christians. Their message is valid for Muslims as well. I'm kind of sad that they're making HP into a movie cause the whole big deal about it is that kids were actually starting to read! And the thing is each child had their own idea about what it all looked like, what the characters were like etc. Now they'll all have the exact same pictures in their head when the read the rest of the books. It'll completely limit children's imaginations. :( |
Re: Harry Potter |
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gift |
11/13/01 at 05:27:27 |
[slm] [quote]Terry Pratchett's Discworld series [/quote] lol ;-D ;-D ;-D i love these they are sooooo funny bint l'khattab [wlm] |
Re: Harry Potter |
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kiwi25 |
11/13/01 at 18:02:01 |
salam, i looooved shrek! hehehe that was soooooo funny, as for harry potter, i never read any of the books, i havent even heard of harry potter until they started making a big deal of the movie..... but i wont be watching it because i need to prepare myself fro ramadhan, wasalam, nouha:) |
Re: Harry Potter |
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eleanor |
11/14/01 at 05:48:53 |
slm okay, make way for the biggest Harry Potter fan in the Madina!!! I *love* the Harry Potter books! They are interesting and funny and have the old theme of good fighting evil. They are about a boy who discovers at the age of eleven, that he is a wizard by birth and therefore required to go to wizard boarding school. What I found amazing about the books is the success of the author in creating a credible world, parallel to our own. She has invented places, people, events, games, media and shops which all sound completely credible. In the Harry Potter books, the magic world exists parallel to the "Muggle" (non-magic) world and the Muggles don't even know it exists. There is a Ministery for Magic, whose responsiblity lies in firstly governing the magic world but also in keeping the existence of the magic world a secret. If the Muggles were to believe in magic, then the wizards would be run off their feet making magical solutions the physical and technical restrictions of the Muggle world. Some people have tried to read "deeply" into the Harry Potter books. For example the slaughter of unicorns in the first book is supposed to symbolise the sacrifice of the innocent and other such examples that I didn't take the time to read about because it was all so ridiculous to me. In some libraries here in Germany the books are banned because they supposedly encourage children to deal in matters of the occult. Which is utter rubbish. In the Harry Potter books once someone is dead, they are dead, and there is no mention of existence or non-existence after death. It's just left at that. There is no talk of religion at all, apart from the fact that Christmas is celebrated. (as it is in every school in England). But it's celebrated secularly and nothing to do with going to church or anything. Well, all I can say is I hate the merchandising at the moment. I hate the pictures of Harry because he looks like he has the flu in every picture. But the film looks good. The actor is just how I pictured Harry, so I can't wait to see the film. I have to go now or I'll be late back to class, but I'll type more Insha Allah if I think of anything else relevant to say. wasalaam eleanor |
Re: Harry Potter |
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Kathy |
11/14/01 at 07:39:22 |
slm My concerns are the magic and I watched a news show where a minister said it was teaching the children the world of magic, spells,occult etc... I have not read the books. I am wondering if a fatwa will be put out regarding these stories. It was not long ago that Pokemon was banned. |
Re: Harry Potter |
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gift |
11/14/01 at 08:33:03 |
[slm] [quote]My concerns are the magic and I watched a news show where a minister said it was teaching the children the world of magic, spells,occult etc...[/quote] kathy - from my point of view it's all fiction - like fairy stories i think its pretty harmless it's not really any sort of magic that could be real eg people flying, and turning pin cushions into hedgehogs etc. :) :) :) they are really are lovely books for children to read - i've seen so many children who couldn't be paid enough to read any book, but they wait on tenterhooks to get hold of the next harry potter book [quote]It was not long ago that Pokemon was banned.[/quote] correct me if i'm wrong - but i think this was to do with the pokemon cards - where children were literally gambling for them - the program itself was again harmless - about a lot of talking invented creatures. :) [wlm] |
Re: Harry Potter |
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eleanor |
11/14/01 at 13:20:46 |
slm Hmm Sister Kathy, I've heard that said before, but the books do not promote the occult in any way whatsoever. As for the magic, it's purely fictional. Any child who reads these books may act out Harry Potter fantasies in their head but the books also make it clear either you're a wizard or a Muggle, and no amount of practising or trying out magic will make you a wizard. The powers are from birth. I admit, I tend to lose myself in the world of a book when I read it. When I was small, I was crying one day and I wondered why Mr. Pink Whistle didn't hear me crying and come to see what was wrong. That was a hard lesson for me to learn; that all my favourite characters did not exist. There was no Mr. Pink Whistle who had a cat for a butler, no Wishing Chair, and no Faraway Tree. (yes I was a big Enid Blyton fan). By the time I got onto Roald Dahl I had realised that there was a big difference between fact and fiction. Did you ever read Roald Dahl Kathy? The BFG, and The Witches, to name but two. There was also films made from his books - Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Matilda more recently. Those books were and are brilliant and I never found anything on a par with them until I read Harry Potter. If your son is interested in the books or the film, I say let him go for it but you can make clear to him that they are pure fantasy and that the practise of magic whether for good or evil purposes is forbidden in Islam. But he's your son, Kathy, and therefore whatever decision you make is in his interest and you know best and Allah knows better. :) I hope I haven't offended anyone in this post. If I have then please forgive me. (and point it out to me) wasalaam eleanor |
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Saleema |
11/14/01 at 15:54:52 |
[slm] I'm sorry to say this but the Christian priests need to be occupying themselves with telling their children to stay away from fornication isntead of reading some fantasy books. They probably have nothing better to do and must be quite bored. Did they all get bored of passing out birth control? Have safe sex kids, but don't you dare pick up that Harry Potter book lest you start practicing magic. what a joke. [wlm] |
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Marcie |
11/14/01 at 21:20:50 |
As salamu alaykum Kathy, I have heard that some Muslims don't read Harry Potter because of the contents, but to be honest I don't know if this is a ruling from scholars or they are just being cautious. I don't have children yet, so I haven't really looked into the matter. As salamu alaykum Marcie |
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M.F. |
11/15/01 at 06:40:24 |
Assalamu alaikum Wow Eleanor! It never occured to me (or I forgot) that children can believe that fiction is reality. I do remember asking my mom if something (maybe it was the Princess and the Pea) was a "real" story. And she said it was a real story but it wasn't a true story :) or something like that. After that I knew the difference, but it was never so real to me that I thought I would ever meet any of the characters, I mean they weren't really part of my life. So I guess it's important to make that clear to children. Or do they just realize it at some point anyway? Any thoughts on that? |
Re: Harry Potter |
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Kathy |
11/15/01 at 08:54:27 |
slm All of this is just bad timing. I asked a teacher about it and she said that it wasn't so bad and gave me a copy to read. It just irritates me because Ramadan is almost here and I should be reading Islamic materials and not Harry Potter. Ah the responsibilities of a mother. My son could not believe his eyes when he saw the book on the coffee table! He is so excited that it makes me naucious. The media hype has all the kids salvating over Harry Potter. I will keep you posted on my thoughts of the book. No Elenor- other than Matilda I haven't. But then books like "Peter and the Wolf" used to scare me! and I barely made it through the monkey scenes in "Wizard of Oz!" And as long as I was a Christian- no minister ever said to go out and fornicate.... |
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M.F. |
11/15/01 at 10:10:43 |
Assalamu alaikum, I still get a bad feeling whenever I think about some of the fairy tales we used to read. I mean the classic ones. They're all SO SCARY!! I hate them to this day! Kathy, Allahu a'lam, but I don't think HP will harm your son. This is totally unsolicited advice but if he's that excited about it, don't disappoint him... Allahu a'lam but it may be one of those moments, that if you tell him we're not reading that book because we're Muslims, it might give him a bad feeling towards Islam. I don't know though, it's up to you of course. Mariam Fitzgerald, the ten-year old kid at heart :) ;) |
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Saleema |
11/16/01 at 01:10:32 |
[slm] Kathy, no they don't exactly say that. They tell them that if they are going to have sex no matter what, then to have birth control at least. That's like the "Don't drink and drive" message. Why not just say "don't drink." period. If the Chruch can create so much hype about a children's book to get the media's attention for so long then it can do a lot more for social ills. [wlm] |
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Barr |
11/16/01 at 05:13:56 |
Assalamu'alaikum :-) When I read the BFG (Big Friendly Giant) by Roald Dahl... I imagined that in Jannah, I would be able to go inside a BIG bubble and bounce and bounce and bounce. I love Roald Dahl... and read loads of Enid Blyton too, and sometimes, at night, I got frightened, if the toys start talking and moving.. and imagined that the toys got into a fight and I'll be scolding them the next day. As for HP... I was in a train the other day, and the whole train, in each car, are ads for Harry Potter... and I reckon that he looks like Robin Williams. :) [quote]I still get a bad feeling whenever I think about some of the fairy tales we used to read. [/quote] Me too. There are some things that I don't quite like in Classic fairytales like the values that they're teaching our children. Like putting physical beauty before anything else and a person going out of his way to get a beautiful girl. Like Sleeping Beauty. I'm not sure how long their marriage would last. But I like Beauty and the Beast though... I think it tells the message that people can change.. we just need to find the right key to peoples' hearts, and change the beast within us to be a beauty, mashaALlah. I think their marriage can last longer, inshaAllah. But I'll always feel sad about the Little Mermaid, though... she sacrificed so much for the man that she loved, but he never sees it... but she should have gone back to her family.... Sorry... a bit of deviation... my work involves research in divorces... so.. yeah... it reminds me of fairy tales... or the other way round, rather. Wassalam :-) |
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eleanor |
11/16/01 at 05:50:54 |
slm [quote]. and read loads of Enid Blyton too, and sometimes, at night, I got frightened, if the toys start talking and moving.. and imagined that the toys got into a fight and I'll be scolding them the next day. [/quote] lol! Me too! I used to try to sneak back into my bedroom so I could catch the toys moving around! I used to think they were *so* fast!! I always kind of knew it was just fiction and no one ever had to make it clear to me, but I think I kind of *wished* that it could be true! I mean just imagine having a plate and whatever you wished to eat would appear on it! Or being able to slide down the inside of a tree on cushions (which were collected by a little squirrel in a red jumper and brought back up to Moonface). Man I remember it all like yesterday. You'd think I had been there, the pictures are so clear in my head! Kathy, have a chat with your son about Harry Potter and about books and fiction in general. Let him read the book (after you if you want) and then discuss it with him afterwards. Which parts were good and why and which parts were weird or strange and why. What kind of values do we learn from Harry and so on. Insha Allah it'll be a learning experience for both of you :) I agree with Mariam here. He may be disappointed if he misses out on reading the book and Allahu Ahlam he is such a great kid the way he is such a good Muslim which is *not* easy for an American kid. Well, I wish you Happy Reading of Harry Potter!! It's a great book for children from 7 - 107 ;-D take care wasalaam eleanor |
Harroon Pahktoon and the Philosopher's Shahada |
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SuperHiMY |
11/18/01 at 01:22:09 |
AsalamAlay.com, Peace and e-Greetings be upon you. [center] [img]http://tyo.ca/himy/HarroonPakhtoon.gif[/img] [/center] Coming soon . . . [url=http://tyo.ca/himy/HarroonPakhtoon.gif]Harroon Pakhtoon and the Goblet of Akh[/url] . . . Distribution by Astrolabe Pictures |
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Saleema |
11/18/01 at 00:30:49 |
[slm] LOL :D That was good himy, brilliant. :) 8-13 eh? :) that's definately not my age... [wlm] |
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flyboy_nz |
11/20/01 at 20:56:05 |
[slm] *laughing so hard he's about to fall off his chair* hey i loved the bit about curry flavoured halal-gelatin-free jellybeans! well done br Himy! va va! -ahmed |
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NinthMuharram |
11/29/01 at 08:44:21 |
Assalamualaikum, I watched the movie. I've read all the books. Obsses with tbe books. Even bought the text books mention in the series.. abt Beast and Quiddith. I must say, I'm not really impressed with the movie. But then again, all movie adapted from book seems to be incomplete. |
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Kathy |
01/02/02 at 10:31:27 |
slm Ok - I just finished the book. Hmmm. It was an excellent read- I couldn't put it down. I have mixed feelings about it. The story is good- lots of good moral themes- alot of trials and tribulations that a child goes thru in life- all ending in a good result and mostly proper action. It is also about good vs evil with references about dark magic and making negative comments about it. Good wins- triumphs over the evil. All good in the hood- as one of our peeps on this board says... However- I am concerned about the magic part. The book makes it very clear that it is a story about Witches and Wizards. Thoughts of a stranger offering a little kid candy come to mind. Will these stories highten children's interest in magic? What kid would love to be a Seeker? Who wouldn't want to put a spell on a bully? I am scared that this will open the door of curiosity for my child to the world of magic. Back in my day- smoking a ciggarette was not such a bad thing- but it led to drinking- which then led to marijuanna- which led to harder drugs. (not in all cases- but check out the rehab joints- most started with a simple cig) Granted I am taking journalistic liberties by comparing Harry Potter with cigarettes. Yet- I worry. I may be developed Islamically- my son is still growing- do i really want to expose him to this? Especially at this age when fantasy and reality are seperated by a thin line. I absoulutely do not want him to be mesmerized by magic. Like M.F. says- does anyone understand me? |
NS |
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Saleema |
01/02/02 at 19:16:41 |
[slm] Dear Kathy, where would your son find a wizard? Or a witch to learn magic from? It's a kid's story. That's all. Like glass slippers and mice turning into horses. It's not real. It won't happen. Interest in magic might lead him to read the Quran perhaps, no? Where it says how bad it is. [wlm] |
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Kathy |
01/02/02 at 20:39:50 |
slm Finding a witch is easy. One of his Muslim friends mother is one. The father does not know. Shoot- even one of the bank tellers is a self proclaimed witch- she wears the pendant even. Also- one of the teacher's aides at the school is one. Saleema- Do you seriously think that witches aren't real, that they don't exist? The point I am making is that I do not want him to become interested in magic. From books like these it seems fun and harmless. |
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Caraj |
01/03/02 at 01:11:07 |
Kathy I have to admit I side with you big time. I raised two sons who are now 22 and 23 and I kept them away from anything violent or evil or witchcraft type stuff. No movies, books, music. I wouldn't allow them to celebrate holloween and at Christmas (I am a Christian) I told them the gifts were from me cause God provided, I didn't do the santa clause thing. And yes they sometimes say they felt a little left out of things and deprived. But as parents we have to be the bad guy sometimes. I know all of you won't agree with me. Same with guns, I didn't allow toy guns as guns are real and a tool and need to be treated with caution and respect. They were able to go with their Dad or I to a rifle range and shoot targets or shoot trap. I was totally against allowing a child to use a gun as a toy. As for gun control :) They were more afraid of getting their butts whooped than to touch a gun in the house. Now thats gun control :) All they needed to do was ask one of us to take them shooting. Movies??? There is so much violence in the world why in the world would I pay to see it? I only allowed clean comedy and educational and mild science fiction. Music, I once found a rap cd in my son's room and confiscated it. He went to our pastor and told the pastor I stoled as it was his and in his room. The pastor knew the father of the young lady my son was interested in. Pastor said... "If I can play this CD for the young ladies father I will tell your mother to return it to you" Needless to say that was the end of the story and the cd was thrown away. I know many wil not agree but if after reading it you still have doubts? Follow those wonderful motherly instincts God/Allah gave you. There is wichcraft and such in the world and we are told to stay away from it are we not? Fantasy and such??? Let them dream and think of being a great leader or an astronaut or a famous doctor who finds a cures to some bad illness. Ok you young'en out here I fully expect to get chomped on but I know in my heart when you are a mom you may feel very different later about such things than you do now. ;-D young'en = any person under 30 :) |
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Merimda |
01/03/02 at 03:43:38 |
Salam Here is an article about Harry Potter on Islam online http://www.islam-online.net/english/ArtCulture/2001/11/article10.shtml Yes there are plenty of witches out there..(not neo pagan or wiccan but witch) .. I used to be acquainted with one ( that was before I knew she was a witch). She was very nice.. but one still must be wary .. [quote]Fantasy and such Let them dream and think of being a great leader or an astronaut or a famous doctor who finds a cures to some bad illness. Ok you young'en out here I fully expect to get chomped on but I know in my heart when you are a mom you may feel very different later about such things than you do now.[/quote] Haha lol..I love fantasy and stories..I'm not that big on children.. but the only reason I would want to have children is to read to them stories I have enjoyed.. I already have a collection of stories that I look fwd to reading to my future children, if I am to have any, insha-Allah.. If my children do not enjoy them I would be very much disappointed ..:p Anyway, I think it all depends on the child...You know your son best..if you fear the bad will out weigh the good then keep it away from him. During these winter holidays I have been reading the Lord of the Rings to my litte bro. Everytime I see him turning on the T.V, I tell him: "turn it off and let me read you a story instead." He really enjoys it. He now prefers the story over watching T.V. However, bc Tolkien has suceeded in creating such a vivid world, every now and again my bro asks me: "Is this real?" and I have to tell him again and again "No it's all fiction." But, even though this story is fiction and fantasy I told him that there are elements in it that are real..(we reached a part in the story about the forest of Fangorn..the trees are alive in this forest and some can talk etc..) so I explained to him how the trees, rocks and mountains and wind etc all are alive and glorify Allah..then I took the opportuntiy to relate to him how Dawud (as) commanded the winds and glorified Allah with the mountains.. and then that took us to Prophet Solaiman (as)..and bc he was very much interested I proceeded to read the the Story of Solaiman from Ibn Kathir..he was really facsinated by it and would talk to my mom about it.."Mama did you know that the trees pray to Allah..and that Prophet Solaiman was going to step on the ants...etc" that kind of thing.. OMG..I didn't intend for my post to be so long..sorry..So my point here is that sometimes these fantasy stories are a really good alternative to T.V..They not only stimulate the imagination but entice discussion..Discussion about the story I think is very important..this is where you draw in Islam.. hopefully then this will arouse their interest in stories related in the Quran.. which will then hopefully encourage them to learn more. If you have read all of this then you have demonstrated one of the most difficult virtues: patience. ^_^ JAK salam merimda |
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tq |
01/03/02 at 08:12:16 |
Asslamo elikuim I agree with Kathy and Cara. I haven’t bought any Harry Potter books for my kids. I told him that these books are about magic and Alhamdullah he has understood ( Instead I bought him Yahiya Emerick’s mystery stories book) . Every store we go , on TV there is always something about Harry Potter coming, I don’t go “Haram Haram” whenever I see that , I let them see these adds etc , I bought a glue with pic from the movie for my son(it was on sale he needed the glue for his school:) )– I don’t know whether this is right or not .. Wasalam tq PS: My nephew who is 11 years old looks exactly like the kid who played Harry Potter – all his class fellows call him Harry Potter :) ! |
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Caraj |
01/03/02 at 12:55:48 |
I believe women are given a motherly instinct and Kathy you said even after reading the book you are not to sure about them. To me I would say "There's your answer" My sons are grown and gone now but if they were younger and still at home I would have to read the book bvefore I allowed them to read it and from what I heard I have no desire to read it. There are many many other things good and wholesome for kids to fantisize about. What it would be like to fly or take a raft down stream or explore a cave the list goes on and on. To this day my sons will tell you they sometimes sometimes felt left out and like they missed out on something. My answer to them is: "Come see me after you have your own kids and have raised them several years" ;-D |
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Saleema |
01/03/02 at 16:26:58 |
[slm] Kathy, are you talking about that religion Wicca? They have wizzards and witches in there. and they don't fly around. they do have books on how to magically start your car and stuff but my witch friend so far hasn't been able to succeeed. Nor has anyone else as far as she and I know. So why is she still a witch? she's delusional. [wlm] |
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Sparrow |
01/03/02 at 16:59:42 |
I've always been a reader and have to say that I'm glad my parents did not restrict my reading material. Although I grew up in a conservative home they felt that I had to be aware of what was out there in the world (age appropriately, of course) and so never told me "you can't read that." They encouraged me to read what I was interested in and then talked about it with me, explaining their own points of view on a topic or issue or ethical consideration. I read everything I could get my hands on, some of which were tales of magic and witchcraft yet I've never been compelled to cast a spell or raise bats or whatever. I think the point I'm trying to make is that kids don't exist in a vacuum. In my opinion, reading a Harry Potter book won't turn the average, well-adjusted, well-loved child into a witch, especially if that child has a solid home/religious foundation. Just one girl's opinion :) Peace, Sparrow. |
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Caraj |
01/03/02 at 17:36:28 |
Sparrow I see your point but even the best adjusted child, well child can get off track. You can raise three or four children, they eat the same food, are loved and taught the same way but all have very different personalities, strength and weaknesses. Another thing is you may of never chose anything that your parents had to put their foot down but I'd be willing to bet the bank if you had you would of known about it. You say your reading was not restricted but I bet if you brought something not so good home you would of known about it. Knowledge and being taught something is one thing, reading about witchcraft and sourcery in ones spare time for entertainment is another. Just my opinion. I still think any mom out there Kathy or other, if after reading a book it doesn't leave you smiling and sure it will benefit your child in some way, to me that is instinct and a warning. If I don't feel 100% good about it and one has doubts I wouldn't allow my child to read it. I'm not saying one of us is wrong and the other right but I certainly do side with Kathy. No a child does not live in a vacume as you put it but think of it this way, murder does exist but I am not going to let mine witness it so they know it exisits. witchcraft and sourcery exist but other than knowing it does exist and what our beliefs tell us about it is enough they don't need to read about it in detail in their spare time. I don't expect everyone to see my way but keep in mind some of you responding I say this with respect, after you have your own children and have raised them 10 or more years YOU WILL have different opinions and views than you do now. And no, children don't live in a vacume as you put it, but they are a gift from God/Allah and as Mom's until they are accountable for themselves and their actions it is our responsability to not only train and teach them but to protect them. |
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M.F. |
01/04/02 at 09:07:13 |
Assalamu alaikum Not that I have kids or anything, but... Cara's point about motherly instinct does make sense. Allah did give us that feeling and it's a gift that we should use. I felt left out when I was a kid cause we didn't have a TV till I was 14. My dad read to us instead. Now I'm sooo grateful that we had that experience. Ok, you know your son more than anyone else. If you think he'll be affected by it so much that he'll wanna learn about magic... don't let him read it. Magic IS haram in Islam after all, even though we know it exists. Sooo... either explain it really carefully, that magic is haram, and that jinn exist and do some of what people think is "magical" stuff, and that a lot of witches and magicians use jinn and that it's very dangerous... but... that this book isn't for real, it's just pretend and there aren't really people who can make potions and spells on people except for the ones who deal with jinn... or, if he's too young to understand wait till he's older (by that time it'll be so passé) or don't let him read it at all. But then again, how will you prevent him from reading it at the library at school or at a friend's house? I think the debriefing about jinn and magicians should take place in any case at some point. I think that's the one conclusion I'm able to reach and actually agree with myself on. is there a smiley face for dizzy? that's how I make myself... :-) |
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Kathy |
01/04/02 at 09:16:34 |
slm Thank you for all your replies. I can see a dividing line by age in regard to our respective opinions. I am wondering about some of these posts- are you being condesending? Granted- I believe everyone has a right to post their opinions, whether i agree or not! :) There is a place for sarcasm- but not in this topic.... This is one of those posts that you go to bed thinking about.- As many of you know I volunteer alot in the public elementary school. There are many Muslim children that go to this school. I have been so dismayed with the the concerns/discussions I have with teachers- who had Muslim children participate in holiday activities, in their classrooms in the past years and wonder why all of a sudden my son cannot. When I read some of your posts, I am becoming more concerned for you and your future children. I have taken time to share with all of you my mistakes and progress as I raise my son especially in school. I am hoping that I will make your paths easier and you remember some of the things I have done and avoid the pitfalls I have made. For those of you that find the magic and witches and wizards of Harry Potter- meer fun and fantasy. I can understand what you are feeling. What I am concerned with is that you will be laying a foundation for this in your child's life. When your child comes home and says the school is having a costume party for Halloween- what are you going to say? Especially if you have already told your children that witches, wizards and magic are entertaining? I wonder if all the Muslims who allow their kids to join the parade- just see it as harmless fun? What are they telling them? Will this then spill out in other areas? At age 9/10 school dances are harmless fun. Why is it different for the prom? Yet if you tell your child it is ok to go to the school dance at a young age- will they understand the difference at a later age- or just be mad that now they can't go. Many Muslim parents let there kids give out Valentines- I did too. I regret it because even tho I know it was harmless at age 5 I sent the wrong message to my child. In otherwords- as a Mom, I must be very careful about the future deen of my son and because of this I need to lay a strong foundation- and avoid sending him mixed messages. One standard I have developed- is if I am in question over doing something; I ask myself- how would I feel if my son started to tell the men at the mosque what he had done that day. I like what Cara had to say- with all of the choices of wonderful books out there- I would prefer he would read books like se7en suggested- The Abdullah series. I remember once having a discussion with the music teacher about my displeasure about the class singing a Christmas/or was it Halloween, song. There are millions of songs in the world can't she pick something else? By the way- after all this- Ali wasn't interested in me reading Harry Potter to him..................... Subhanna Allah- Makes me wonder if Allah swt was testing me... |
Re: Harry Potter |
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Saleema |
01/04/02 at 17:06:51 |
[slm] My siblings read harry potter books. but they don't celebrate haloween at school or valentine's. they know the difference and they are in elementary school. and they never bother my parents to let them join those kind of things either. and hey, if you meant me, i promise i wasn't being sarcastic. [wlm] |
Re: Harry Potter |
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Jenna |
01/04/02 at 17:53:44 |
[wlm] I must admit that we do read Harry Potter. Not my son, I wouldnt allow him too read books like this until he can understand fact from fantasy, as with violent cartoons; such as batman etc...And by then who knows where our lives will be. I dont believe children should read this Harry Potter books especially for this reason. [color=Red]Did you know that there is cursing in these books??[/color]So far I am on book #3 and I have found that a few times they said the D word and just last night while reading they said the B word. :o :o LailhaiAllah! Atsgfirllah! Why did they do this? They knew children were going to read them, why add the cursing?? Except to get children to say these words. Because the book would have been just fine without them. I don't believe we really should read these kind of books, its just that I guess it my weakness, not that that is an excuse. I am telling it straight. May Allah help us All Allah huma Ameen! Jenna :( |
Re: Harry Potter |
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Merimda |
01/05/02 at 01:07:48 |
[quote]I am wondering about some of these posts- are you being condesending? Granted- I believe everyone has a right to post their opinions, whether i agree or not! There is a place for sarcasm- but not in this topic....[/quote] Salam.. Oh dear..If it is my post you found condescending then I sincerely apologise.. for that was not my intention at all..If I came across as patronising then it was done unwittingly.. I was semi joking here..And am sorry if this or anything else I said came across as offensive.. [quote]Haha lol..I love fantasy and stories..I'm not that big on children.. but the only reason I would want to have children is to read to them stories I have enjoyed.. I already have a collection of stories that I look fwd to reading to my future children, if I am to have any, insha-Allah.. If my children do not enjoy them I would be very much disappointed ..:p[/quote] Anyway, I have not read Harry Potter so I cannot speak for or against those books..I was going to suggest just making istikharah..but since your son is not interested, the issue is *somewhat* settled.. Salam, merimda |
Re: Harry Potter |
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M.F. |
01/07/02 at 06:38:39 |
Assalamu alaikum, Kathy, I hope you didn't feel I was being condescending. In this last post I was just kind of thinking out loud, and every time I thought I'd come up with a good answer I could see that there was another side to it, and I certainly began to see your dilemma very clearly. After thinking a little more about this whole issue over the weekend, I realized that there are some stories that may be fantasy stories, but have a real message behind them. To me the Tolkien books (the Hobbit and Lord of the Rings) are one of them. It can be understood at a child's level as the adventures of someone going on a journey, but it can also be understood at a higher level as a struggle against evil and temptation... Harry Potter on the other hand (wallahu a'lam) seems not to address such deep issues. If as you say there's a lot of talk of putting spells on mean people and magic and things like that, then I don't think it's benificial in any way. The evil he's struggling against isn't evil in the deep sense of the word, it's just his mean family if I understand correctly. I also think that we (I don't know who "we" are, maybe the Madina people) should start a series of books for children like Merimda is doing that have adventure but no magic, and and Islamic message and feeling to it. I cannot imagine what it must be like to raise a child in the US, where you know that he can just never fit in. I'm sure that it's a struggle every day, and even more so around holidays when everyone's doing something and he'll just never fit in because he can't. May Allah give you the strength to continue laying out good foundations for him, and may he bless your son with understanding and love for Islam as he grows older. Ameen. |
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mujaahid |
01/09/02 at 11:58:40 |
Assalaamu-alaikum < I can see a dividing line by age in regard to our respective opinions> Sorry Kathy but i'm gona have to side with you oldies on this issue!!! Their are SOO many great stories of the prophets companions etc, that i do not see any reason why our kids should be reading stories about magic and myth, especially since magic in islaam is haraam!!! I'm not saying STOP kids reading such books, just dont encourage it too much! |
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