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| 21 Questions Anyone Guiding to Allah Will be Asked |
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| WhatDFish |
| 07/24/03 at 11:35:18 |
| Swift & Logical 21 Questions Anyone Guiding to Allah Will be Asked Prepared by Muhammad Alshareef; © 2003 AlMaghrib Institute [1] Question: The Polygamy question. Plural marriage vs. plural mistresses If in the U.S. the culture and the law allow a macho man to have 1 or 4 or 15 mistresses – why should we condemn Islam for making those men legally responsible for the women? Plural marriage is not new to the Bible or the Torah. Islam did not initiate it; Islam regulated and fought the injustice that was happening in plural marriages. [2] Question: Men polygamous, why not women? It’s not fair? Does fairness mean I must get half the orange and you get half? Or can fairness be I get the peel, you get the fruit? There is no denying it, men are polygamous by their nature, and women are monogamous by their nature. If God legislated it like that, doesn’t He know what He created? [3] Question: Are women oppressed in Islam? Most likely someone thinks this because of the Muslim woman’s head covering.? So, that thinking tells us that the more clothes a woman takes off, the more liberated she is. Therefore, according to this belief, the most liberated women are pornography models. To a Muslim woman liberation is to be respected for who she is not what she looks like. A Muslim woman’s beauty is seen by her female friends, her children, her close relatives, and her husband. The only people that don’t see her beauty are strange men. [4] Question: Does Islam command the murder of innocent people? Why do you say so? (Let them explain. Most likely it will be something they saw on TV or ‘media’ related.) Let me ask you this, “Are bats evil? If you saw one at night would you get scared?” We’ve both watched too many Dracula movies right? Stereotype. Don’t let the media indoctrinate you with stereotypes. Travel the world and experience the diversity. There is more to planet earth then America and CNN. Surah Al-Maa’idah 5/32 […Whoever kills a soul, unless (it is in legal retribution for muder) of a soul, or whoever spreads corruption in the land – it is as if he had murdered all of mankind. And whoever saves (a soul) – it is as if he had saved all of mankind.] [5] Question: The spread of Islam was by the sword, through violence. Then why today is Islam the fastest growing religion amongst Americans and Europeans? Where are the swords? Or is it the power of truth? If it is the truth from God, your Creator, don’t you think you deserve to learn more about it? He’s your Creator too. [6] Question: Do Muslims worship the Grand Mosque in Makkah? It is a point of direction for all Muslims around the world. It is the universal axis of universal brotherhood and sisterhood. If a Muslim harbored the belief that they were worshipping the Ka’bah, they would be committing a sin that Allah would never forgive. In Arabic ‘shirk,’ to associate partners in worship with God. [7] Question: Non-Muslims cannot enter Makkah and Madinah? Every man, woman, and child is allowed to enter Makkah – but they must purify their heart first. There cannot be in their heart love for any God other than the one true God. This is the visa requirement. [8] Question: Why can’t Muslims drink alcohol? Of the things that the prophets warned of is alcohol and pork. This is guidance that will bring an individual prosperity and a warning that will bring an individual harm. We don’t need humans to tell us alcohol is a disease and detrimental to one’s health and prosperity. God already told us. [9] Question: The world is one big coincidence. Nothing comes from nothing – you believe that. How can an abstract nothing make a human? A human cannot make a fly, but an abstract nothing can make an intricate voice box and eyeballs, right? I’m sorry but I feel that is just sssooo illogical. Do you believe in a higher being? Yes. If this is one big coincidence, do you think there is any purpose to your life? Because if there isn’t any purpose to your existence, then your shoes are more valuable. At least the shoes have a purpose. Modern science has rejected the Darwin theory as heresy. Something can evolve, but not into a different animal and not again and again out of coincidence, chance, and accident. The similitude of the illogicalness of this is like someone who dumps a bucket of ink over a table hoping that it’ll fall into an Oxford collegiate dictionary. Illogical minds say that is what happened. So, let’s say for the sake of argument that’s what happened. Tell me now the odds of it happening again and again – trillions of times for all the life forms on earth. I’m sorry, but I feel that is just illogical. I’m not willing to go to the grave with Darwin around my neck. Nice guy, but he’s not MY prophet. [10] Question: Why 2 women witnesses for 1 male witness? This is only in regards to monetary transactions. If in an Islamic law court there is a dispute regarding issues where women are more familiar, 4 male witnesses may be canceled by 1 female witness. This is in regards to monetary transactions in the beginning documentation stage of the transactions. However, at times of dispute, the Judge may have nothing more than 1 female witness and so judgment may legally pass on that 1 female witness. [11] Question: Why does a woman get ½ of what the man gets in inheritance? Check this out: In Islamic law if a man dies, leaving behind a 1 month old girl and a powerful, wealthy, and influential brother, guess how the inheritance will be divided?. ½ for the girl, ½ for her uncle! So it is not about male/female, it is about who will now have to take responsibility for the family. If it was just a son and daughter, the son will get more inheritance, but he will also ‘inherit’ the fatherly responsibility of providing for the family; something that he will be held accountable for in front of God. [12] Question: I don’t believe there to be life after death. What is easier: to invent something totally new (say like a computer chip) or to mass duplicate it after it is created? Why do you think your body -- that you at this moment see, feel, and hear -- is so hard to duplicate? Person you are talking to is named Jenny. Close your eyes and say: “Jenny does not exist.” 5 times. Then open your eyes and say, “Hey, you are still here.” See, just because I think of something in my head, doesn’t change its reality. Just because someone thinks there is no life after death, doesn’t mean it’ll disappear. [13] Question: Why are there so many sects in Islam, like Shia and Sunni? With human differences, there is still one body of Muslims. Our God is the same, our Prophet is the same, our book is the same, our prayer is the same, our direction of prayer is the same, our name is the same (Muslims), our fasting is the same, our pilgrimage (Hajj) is the same on the same day and so much more. Our sources of legislation are the Qur’an and authentic Hadith. Whatever opinion comes, it is by these two we judge it. So, yes, there will be people who differ. Muslims always have a standard to go back to by which the statements of men are measured. [14] Question: Purpose of religion is high moral character. Then why Islam? And why should those others be condemned? (Good acting person in hell?) Who said the sum total of religion is good character? Could there be more to religion ... say ... the right of God to be worshipped alone? Do you think it’s possible for a person to be good to humans, but in their relationship with God they are the most wretched? [15] Question: Watchmaker theory. Ever heard of a watch repair shop? [16] Question: Are Muslims intolerant of other religions? The law of the Jizyah tax in Islam is legislated to protect the rights of the religious minorities. It is a fundamental principle in Islamic law that these people are not to be harmed. Harming these religious minorities is an abomination inconsistent with Islam. But now I ask: Where was the religious tolerance of the Crusaders that slaughtered thousands of innocent people in the name of Jesus? Where was the religious tolerance in the Spanish Inquisition? Today, where is the religious tolerance in Israel or Bosnia or India? [17] Question: Homophobia Of the things that all prophets warned of is homosexuality. Now let’s separate the problem from the people. This is not a condemnation of a human – it is guidance to that which will bring the individual prosperity and a warning of that which will bring the individual harm. We don’t need doctors to tell us homosexuality is detrimental to one’s health and prosperity. God already told us. [18] Question: How can you be so arrogant to say that you are guided and I am not? God sent Prophets and books and created in you a natural desire to recognize His Oneness (the ‘higher being’ as you call Him). That doesn’t sound like a God that has abandoned you – that sounds like a God that loves that you become guided. A human does not know in which state they will die and whether what they are doing is sincerely for God. So, a Muslim does not testify to the world that he or she is ‘accepted.’. Instead, a Muslim prays that their actions are accepted by God and prays to be kept firm on the truth till the day he or she dies. Your argument is geared more for Christians – so you’ve mistaken Islam for the ‘accept-Jesus-and-all-sins-are-ok’ doctrine. We don’t believe that. Each soul is responsible for what he or she has earned. [19] Question: Death for the apostate? The U.S. acknowledges the punishment for treason – death. Islam is not a bunch of theories; it is a way of life that encompasses spiritual, moral, and social laws. As you understand the punishment for U.S. treason, this is Islam’s punishment for violent treason. [20] Question: Is Jesus God? If the ‘Father’ wanted to destroy the son or Mary, could he? Someone may say, ‘No, Jesus/Mary is God.’. Is Jesus God? Or is he a half god? Or is he human? (Whatever they say, tell them) ‘Well, your priest said otherwise. Who am I supposed to believe? If the priests aren’t sure, then how can you expect me to be sure? This is about God, for heaven’s sake. Shouldn’t we be certain of something so fundamental? When you pray, do you pray to the father or the son? How does that make you feel? I would feel weird to pray to other then God alone. I’m sorry but that’s how I feel. Simply put: Jesus and Mary ate food, therefore they cannot be Gods. Someone who eats is not self-sufficient. Someone who eats must expel the waste. [21] Question: Beating wives? Go up to a random pick of American homes and ask the woman of the house if she has ever been physically ill-treated by the man of the house. It is not possible to find a nation on earth whose men have not in some form physically ill-treated their women. This is the man’s nature. It could never be said that Prophet Muhammad promoted ill treatment of one’s spouse. How so when he himself said, “The best of you is he who is best to his womenfolk.” The verse in the Qur’an is talking about the extreme case where the husband and wife are on the brink of marital breakdown. Even then, there are stages before one reaches the point of physical discipline. And if all stages are gone through and the spouse needs to be restrained, Islam prohibits hitting of the face. Islam prohibits uglification of the spouse. Islam prohibits that the restraint bring physical pain. Islam prohibits all of this and the best example was our Prophet Muhammad – sal Allaahu alayhi wa sallam. He never in his life hit a member of his family and we are commanded to emulate him. Some children only learn through gentle physical restraint. They may be too young to fully comprehend a situation. Which is better: gentle physical restraint or emotionally crushing someone until they submit? No doubt the emotional abuse could be much more devastating then a simple slap on the wrist. Doesn’t God know what He created? He is AlAleem AlHakeem (the All-Knowing, the All-Wise). |
| Re: 21 Questions Anyone Guiding to Allah Will be A |
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| Kathy |
| 07/24/03 at 23:24:40 |
| Twenty-Five Questions asked about Islam American doctor Shahid Athar replies to 25 questions asked by real people. Shahid Athar M.D. is Clinical Associate Professor of Internal Medicine and Endocrinology, Indiana University School of Medicine Indianapolis, Indiana, and a writer on Islam. In the name of God, most Kind, most Merciful INTRODUCTION The pluralistic American society is changing from being a "melting pot" to a "salad bowl"' in which all ingredients are encouraged to preserve and display their distinct individual taste and flavor. However, even though Islam is a major religion with over 1 billion followers worldwide and over 6 million in the U.S.A., some Americans still think it is a cult, some believe all Muslims are terrorists or have 4 wives or ask me if my wife puts on a veil, walks behind me or does belly dancing for me! Thus, the misconceptions about Islam continue because of a lack of correct information about the basic teachings of Islam. The ongoing crisis in the Muslim world and the misrepresentation of Islam sometimes by the media challenges us to answer questions by our non- Muslim friends about our way of life in a simple and concise language. I have given many lectures to non-Muslim school and college students, church audiences, inter-faith gatherings, and have appeared on radio and TV talk shows. Thus, based on actual questions asked from me due to their ignorance about Islam, my simplified answers are presented in this booklet. I thank all those who reviewed the manuscript for their valuable input. However, I take sole responsibility for the contents of this booklet. SHAHID ATHAR, MD Dr. Athar is a physician, an Islamic writer and speaker. He is author of over 60 articles and 5 books on Islam. This booklet has been translated into several languages including Russian and German. It can also be accessed on the Internet (http://www.safaar.com) In the text below, where (P) appears after the name of Mohammed or other prophets, this signifies "Peace and blessings be upon him", a mark of respect used by Muslims. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- List of Questions What is Islam? Who is Allah? Who is a Muslim? Who was Muhammad (P)? Do Muslims worship Muhammad (P)? What do Muslims think of Jesus? Do Muslims have many sects? What are the pillars of Islam? What is the purpose of worship in Islam? Do Muslims believe in the hereafter? Will the good actions of non-believers be wasted? What is the dress code for Muslims? What are the dietary prohibitions in Islam? What is Jihad? What is the Islamic year? What are the major Islamic festivals? What is Sharia? Was Islam spread by the sword? Does Islam promote violence and terrorism? What is Islamic Fundamentalism? Does Islam promote polygamy? Does Islam oppress women? Is Islam intolerant of other religious minorities? What is the Islamic view on dating and premarital sex abortion homosexuality and AIDS euthanasia and suicide organ transplantation How should Muslims treat Jews and Christians? SUGGESTED READING A FEW COMMENTS RECEIVED ABOUT THIS BOOKLET WHERE ARE THE WORLD'S MUSLIMS -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1. What is Islam? The word "Islam" means peace and submission. Peace means to be at peace with yourself and your surroundings and submission means submission to the will of God. A broader meaning of the word "Islam" is to achieve peace by submitting to the will of God. This is a unique religion with a name which signifies a moral attitude and a way of life. Judaism takes its name from the tribe of Juda, Christianity from Jesus Christ, Buddhism from Goutam Buddha and Hinduism from Indus River. However, Muslims derive their identity from the message of Islam, rather than the person of Muhammed (P), thus should not be called "Muhammadans". 2. Who is Allah? Allah is the Arabic word for "one God". Allah is not God of Muslims only. He is God of all creations, because He is their Creator and Sustainer. 3. Who is a Muslim? The word "Muslim" means one who submits to the will of God. This is done by declaring that "there is no god except one God and Muhammad is the messenger of God." In a broader sense, anyone who willingly submits to the will of God is a Muslim. Thus, all the prophets preceding the prophet Muhammad are considered Muslims. The Quran specifically mentions Abraham who lived long before Moses and Christ that, "he was not a Jew or a Christian but a Muslim," because, he had submitted to the will of God. Thus there are Muslims who are not submitting at all to the will of God and there are Muslims who are doing their best to live an Islamic life. One cannot judge Islam by looking at those individuals who have a Muslim name but in their actions, they are not living or behaving as Muslims. The extent of being a Muslim can be according to the degree to which one is submitting to the will of God, in his beliefs and his actions. 4. Who was Muhammad? (P) In brief, Muhammad (Peace be upon him) was born in a noble tribe of Mecca in Arabia in the year 570 AD. His ancestry goes back to Prophet Ishmael (P), son of Prophet Abraham (P). His father died before his birth and his mother died when he was six. He did not attend a formal school since he was raised first by a nurse as it was the custom those days, and then by his grandfather and uncle. As a young man, he was known as a righteous person who used to meditate in a cave. At age 40, he was given the prophethood when the angel, Gabriel, appeared in the cave. Subsequently, the revelations came over 23 years and were compiled in the form of a book called the Quran which Muslims consider as the final and the last word of God. The Quran has been preserved, unchanged, in its original form and confirms the truth in the Torah, the psalms and the Gospel. 5. Do Muslims worship Muhammad? (P) No. Muslims do not worship Muhammad (P) or any other prophets. Muslims believe in all prophets including Adam, Noah, Abraham, David, Solomon, Moses and Jesus. Muslims believe that Muhammad (P) was the last of the prophets. They believe that God alone is to be worshiped, not any human being. 6. What do Muslims think of Jesus? (P) Muslims think highly of Jesus (P) and his worthy mother, Mary. The Quran tells us that Jesus was born of a miraculous birth without a father. "Lo! The likeness of Jesus with Allah is the likeness of Adam. He created him of dust, and then He said unto him: Be and he is" (Quran 3.59). He was given many miracles as a prophet. These include speaking soon after his birth in defense of his mother's piety. God's other gifts to him included healing the blind and the sick, reviving the dead, making a bird out of clay and most importantly, the message he was carrying. These miracles were given to him by God to establish him as a prophet. According to the Quran, he was not crucified but was raised into Heaven. (Quran, Chapter Maryam) 7. Do Muslims have many sects? Muslims have no sects. In Islam, there are two major schools of thought, the Shia and the Sunni. Both have many things in common. They follow the same book - Quran. They follow the same prophet Muhammad (P). Both offer their prayers five time a day. Both fast in the month of Ramadan. They both go for hajj, pilgrimage to Mecca. Those who follow Prophet Muhammad (P), in accordance with his sayings and actions, are called Sunni and those who in addition follow the sayings and views of Ali (Muhammad's son-in- law), as the rightful successor to Prophet Muhammad (P), are called Shia. Shia means a partisan (party of Ali) and it started more as a political party to help Ali in his conflict with his political adversaries. Most Shias live in Iran and Iraq while the rest of the Muslim world is mostly Sunni. Shias comprise about 16-percent of the Muslim population. 8. What are the pillars of Islam? There are five major pillars of Islam which are the articles of faith. These pillars are 1) the belief (Iman) in one God and that Muhammad (P) is His messenger, 2) prayer (Salat) which are prescribed five times a day, 3) fasting (Siyam) which is required in the month of Ramadan, 4) charity (Zakat) which is the poor-due on the wealth of the rich and 5) hajj which is the pilgrimage to Mecca once in a lifetime if one can afford it physically and financially. All the pillars should be of equal height and strength in a building in order to give the building its due shape and proportions. It is not possible that one would do hajj without observing fasting or without practicing regular prayers. Now think of a building which has pillars only. It would not be called a building. In order to make it a building, it has to have a roof, it has to have walls, it has to have doors and windows. These things in Islam are the moral codes of Islam such as honesty, truthfulness, steadfastness and many other human moral qualities. Thus in order to be a Muslim, one should not only be practicing the pillars of Islam but should also have the highest possible attribute for being a good human being. Only then the building is completed and looks beautiful. 9. What is the purpose of worship in Islam? The purpose of worship in Islam is to be God conscious. Thus the worship, whether it is prayer, fasting, or charity, is a means to achieve God consciousness so that when one becomes conscious of God, in thought and in action, he is in a better position to receive His bounties both in this world and the hereafter. 10. Do Muslims believe in the hereafter? God is Just and manifest His justice, He established the system of accountability. Those who do good will be rewarded and those who do wrong will be punished accordingly. Thus, He created Heaven and Hell and there are admission criteria for both. Muslims believe that the present life is a temporary one. It is a test and if we pass the test, we will be given a life of permanent pleasure in the company of good people in Heaven. 11. Will the good actions of the non-believers be wasted? No. The Quran clearly says that, "anyone who has an atom's worth of goodness will see it and anyone who has done an atom's worth of evil will also see it" (Quran 99:7-8). By that it is meant that those who are non- believers but have done good will be rewarded in this world for their good deed. On the other hand, those who do good if they are Muslims, they will be rewarded not only in this world but also in the world hereafter. However, the final Judgment is up to God himself. (Quran 2:62) 12. What is the dress code for Muslims? Islam emphasizes modesty. No person should be perceived as a sex object. There are certain guidelines both for men and women that their dress should neither be too thin nor too tight to reveal body forms. For men, they must at least cover the area from the knee to navel and for women, their dress should cover all areas except the hands and face. The veil is not essential. 13. What are the dietary prohibitions in Islam? Muslims are told in the Quran not to eat pork or pork products, meat of the animals who died before being slaughtered or the carnivorous animals (as they eat dead animals), nor drink blood or intoxicants such as wine or use any illicit drugs. 14. What is Jihad? The word "Jihad" means struggle, or to be specific, striving in the cause of God. Any struggle done in day-to-day life to please God can be considered Jihad. One of the highest levels of Jihad is to stand up to a tyrant and speak a word of truth. Control of the self from wrong doings is also a great Jihad. One of the forms of Jihad is to take up arms in defense of Islam or a Muslim country when Islam is attacked. This kind of Jihad has to be declared by the religious leadership or by a Muslim head of state who is following the Quran and Sunnah. 15. What is the Islamic Year? The Islamic year started from the migration (Hijra) of Prophet Muhammad (P) from Mecca to Medina in 622 AD. It is a lunar year of 354 days. The first month is called Muharram. 1996 AD is in Islamic year 1416 AH. 16. What are the major Islamic festivals? Idul Fitre, marks the end of fasting in the month of Ramadan and is celebrated with public prayers, feasts and exchange of gifts. Idul Adha marks the end of the Hajj or the annual pilgrimage to Mecca. After the public prayers, those who can afford, sacrifice a lamb or a goat to signify Prophet Abraham's obedience to God, shown by his readiness to sacrifice his son Ishmael. 17. What is Sharia? Sharia is the comprehensive Muslim law derived form two sources, a) the Quran b) the Sunnah or traditions of Prophet Muhammad (P). It covers every aspect of daily individual and collective living. The purpose of Islamic laws are protection of individuals' basic human rights to include right to life, property, political and religious freedom and safeguarding the rights of women and minorities. The low crime rate in Muslim societies is due to the application of the Islamic laws. 18. Was Islam spread by the sword? According to the Quran, "There is no compulsion in religion" (2:256), thus, no one can be forced to become a Muslim. While it is true that in many places where Muslim armies went to liberate people or the land, they did carry the sword as that was the weapon used at that time. However, Islam did not spread by the sword because in many places where there are Muslims now, in the Far East like Indonesia, in China, and many parts of Africa, there are no records of any Muslim armies going there. To say that Islam was spread by the sword would be to say that Christianity was spread by guns, F-16's and atomic bombs, etc., which is not true. Christianity spread by the missionary works of Christians. Ten-percent of all Arabs are Christians. The "Sword of Islam" could not convert all the non-Muslim minorities in Muslim countries. In India, where Muslims ruled for 700 years, they are still a minority. In the U.S.A., Islam is the fastest growing religion and has 6 million followers without any sword around. 19. Does Islam promote violence and terrorism? No. Islam is religion of peace and submission and stresses on the sanctity of human life. A verse in the Quran says, [Chapter 5, verse 32], that "anyone who saves one life, it is as if he has saved the whole of mankind and anyone who has killed another person (except in lieu of murder or mischief on earth) it is as if he has killed the whole of mankind." Islam condemns all the violence which happened in the Crusades, in Spain, in WW II, or by acts of people like the Rev. Jim Jones, David Koresh, Dr. Baruch Goldstein, or the atrocities committed in Bosnia by the Christian Serbs. Anyone who is doing violence is not practicing his religion at that time. However, sometimes violence is a human response of oppressed people as it happens in Palestine. Although this is wrong, they think of this as a way to get attention. There is a lot of terrorism and violence in areas where there is no Muslim presence. For example, in Ireland, South Africa, Latin America, and Sri Lanka. Sometimes the violence is due to a struggle between those who have with those who do not have, or between those who are oppressed with those who are oppressors. We need to find out why people become terrorists. Unfortunately, the Palestinians who are doing violence are called terrorists, but not the armed Israeli settlers when they do the same sometimes even against their own people. As it turned out to be in the Oklahoma City bombing, sometime Muslims are prematurely blamed even if the terrorism is committed by non-Muslims. Sometimes those who want Peace and those who oppose Peace can be of the same religion. 20. What is "Islamic Fundamentalism"? There is no concept of "Fundamentalism" in Islam. The western media has coined this term to brand those Muslims who wish to return to the basic fundamental principles of Islam and mould their lives accordingly. Islam is a religion of moderation and a practicing God fearing Muslim can neither be a fanatic nor an extremist. 21. Does Islam promote polygamy? No, polygamy in Islam is a permission not an injunction. Historically, all the prophets except Jesus, who was not married, had more than one wife. For Muslim men to have more than one wife is a permission which is given to them in the Quran, not to satisfy lust, but for the welfare of the widows and the orphans of the wars. In the pre-Islamic period, men used to have many wives. One person had 11 wives and when he became Muslim, he asked the Prophet Muhammad (P), "What should I do with so many wives?" and he said, "Divorce all except the four." The Quran says, "you can marry 2 or 3 and up to 4 women if you can be equally just with each of them" (4:3). Since it is very difficult to be equally just with all wives, in practice, most of the Muslim men do not have more than one wife. Prophet Muhammad (P) himself from age 24 to 50 was married to only one woman, Khadija. In the western society, some men who have one wife have many extramarital affairs. Thus, a survey was published in "U.S.A. Today" (April 4, 1988 Section D) which asked 4,700 mistresses what they would like their status to be. They said that "they preferred being a second wife rather than the 'other woman' because they did not have the legal rights, nor did they have the financial equality of the legally married wives, and it appeared that they were being used by these men." 22. Does Islam oppress women? No. On the contrary, Islam elevated the status of women 1,400 years ago by giving them the right to divorce, the right to have financial independence and support and the right to be identified as dignified women (Hijab) when in the rest of the world, including Europe, women had no such rights. Women are equal to men in all acts of piety (Quran 33:32). Islam allows women to keep their maiden name after marriage, their earned money and spend it as they wish, and ask men to be their protector as women on the street can be molested. Prophet Muhammad (P) told Muslim men, "the best among you is the one who is best to his family." Not Islam, but some Muslim men, do oppress women today. This is because of their cultural habits or their ignorance about their religion. Female Genital Mutilations has nothing to do with Islam. It is a pre Islamic African Custom, practiced by non Muslims including coptic Christians as well. 23. Is Islam intolerant of other religious minorities? Islam recognizes the rights of the minority. To ensure their welfare and safety, Muslim rulers initiated a tax (Jazia) on them. Prophet Muhammad (P) forbade Muslim armies to destroy churches and synagogues. Caliph Umer did not even allow them to pray inside a church. Jews were welcomed and flourished in Muslim Spain even when they were persecuted in the rest of Europe. They consider that part of their history as the Golden Era. In Muslim countries, Christians live in prosperity, hold government positions and attend their church. Christian missionaries are allowed to establish and operate their schools and hospitals. However, the same religious tolerance is not always available to Muslim minorities as seen in the past during Spanish inquisition and the crusades, or as seen now by the events in Bosnia, Israel and India. Muslims do recognize that sometimes the actions of a ruler does not reflect the teachings of his religion. 24. What is the Islamic view on- a. Dating and Premarital sex: Islam does not approve of intimate mixing of the sexes, and forbids premarital or extramarital sex. Islam encourages marriage as a shield to such temptations and as a means of having mutual love, mercy and peace. b. Abortion: Islam considers abortion as murder and does not permit it except to save the mother's life (Quran 17:23-31, 6:15 1). c. Homosexuality and AIDS: Islam categorically opposes homosexuality and considers it a sin. However, Muslim physicians are advised to care for AIDS patients with compassion just as they would for other patients. d. Euthanasia and Suicide: Islam is opposed to both suicide and euthanasia. Muslims do not believe in heroic measures to prolong the misery in a terminally ill patient. e. Organ transplantation: Islam stresses upon saving lives (Quran 5:32); thus, transplantation in general would be considered permissible provided a donor consent is available. The sale of the organ is not allowed. 25. How should Muslims treat Jews and Christians? The Quran calls them "People of the Book", i.e., those who received Divine scriptures before Muhammad (P). Muslims are told to treat them with respect and justice and do not fight with them unless they initiate hostilities or ridicule their faith. The Muslims ultimate hope is that they all will join them in worshipping one God and submit to His will. "Say (O Muhammad): O people of the Book (Jews and Christians) come to an agreement between us and you, that we shall worship none but Allah, and that we shall take no partners with Him, and none of us shall take others for Lords beside Allah. And if they turn away, then say: Bear witness that we are those who have surrendered (unto Him)." (Quran 3:64) What about Hindus, Bahai, Buddhists and members of other religions? They should also be treated with love, respect, and understanding to make them recipients of Invitations to Islam. |
| 07/24/03 at 23:25:52 |
| Kathy |
| Re: 21 Questions Anyone Guiding to Allah Will be A |
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| Caraj |
| 07/25/03 at 01:04:38 |
| 'Uthmaan and Kathy thank you both for these post they were quite helpful to me. Answered many questions I still had. |
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