Firstly I’d like to ask the mods not to move this thread to the religion forum. We all already know the answers that will come from there :).
The thing is, that nowadays there seem to be lots of attacks on Islam as a religion. But I wonder, why did these attacks only start after 9/11?
There were loads of Christians and Jews studying Islam before than, and the question of Islam being a violent religion never seemed to crop up. Why now?
As far as I’m concerned, many verses in The Quran are vague, and perhaps onlu applicable to certain situations. Genuine scholars like Montgomery Watts understood that and evaluated The Quran accordingly. However post 9/11, lots of people, including mischevious dime-a-dozen “scholars”, have eagerly grabbed copies of the Quran, and thus rises the confusion.
Also, the fact that a vast majority of Muslims are uneducated leaves us at a massive disadvantage. When even a slightly “chalaak” man says jump, Our population asks how high?
Also (sorry for the long winded rant, almost over now) Us as Muslims haven’t really covered our religion in Laurels have we? We can protest for hours for whimsical things (While holding insulting and degrading Banners against Jews) but we can’t rise as an ummah and say “These terrorists are destroying Islam”
PS. Are there any non-muslims on these forums? If so, what are your views on Islam?
^^ dude. problem is every one wants to correct otherz instead of themselves. u better work on ur belief, rather than asking others wat they think of ur belief.
ISLAM IS INFLUENTIAL religion. i never try to understand logic, i jus know one thing wat ever ALLAH SWT say…i m bound to fulfill dat. (whereas every thing mention to us via Quran n Hadith have great deal of reasoning n science behind)
i cant understand arabic but i m inspired by Qurat…Islamic art n calligraphy is another thing makes me love my religion…
I HAVE NO CONCERNS WID OTHER N ThEIR views about my religion n ma beliefs…its not ma headche.
^^ i actually do wake up at 9 am to actually hear my favorite Imam-e-Kaaba
@ thread stater
do u have any other option in mind i mean wat other religion u find understandable, **OR **can easily go along wid? (remember they r two seperate thingz)
Us as Muslims haven't really covered our religion in Laurels have we? We can protest for hours for whimsical things (While holding insulting and degrading Banners against Jews) but we can't rise as an ummah and say "These terrorists are destroying Islam"
Oh sure it will happen...It's booked right after the day Dubya and co. goes to trial for warcrimes...
neither did i say dat. i just wana know something. cuz it does’nt seemz like guys ever read Gospel or old/new testament otherwise he wont gonna talk about his opinion on inability to interpret Quranic verses. , n refer them as vauge
Quranic verses are obviously vague, due to the massive amount of words that can be substituted in for each other. Like the verse where it says that a man can beat his wife. There are apparently supposed to be about 300 other translations of the word commonly used as “beat” or “hit”.
Another example is about houri’s. While mostly referred to as virgins by classic commentators, after analyzing different texts of around the same period some linguists came to the conclusion that the word refers to special food and drink that will be served in Jannah… sooo… yes, in my humble opinion the Quran is vague.
Also, I disagree with you about using logic. Islam appeals to a humans reason and that’s why (IMHO again) it calls people towards it. Because its honest and realistic.
UPDATE: Sorry, forgot to add. I’m not comparing the Quran with the Old and New testament. I’d rather learn about my own religion than try and make myself feel better by insulting others.
^^ i found vauge lil unrespectable. i will go for inability to interpret Quranic verses. (cuz its u having problem)
Update: i think u will b better off reading lil of old/ new testament. cuz they r more vauge (since they r no more direct word of GOD).
this is not insulting (if u find so then accept appology) otherwise sharing knowledge in memorable way is my signature. :)
I'm very happy being a muslim, I just don't like people insulting my religion especially when it's due to their lack of knowledge. (ie pseudoscholars like Ibn Warraq and Robert Spencer)
^^ i found vauge lil unrespectable. i will go for inability to interpret Quranic verses. (cuz its u having problem)
Update: i think u will b better off reading lil of old/ new testament. cuz they r more vauge (since they r no more direct word of GOD).
this is not insulting (if u find so then accept appology) otherwise sharing knowledge in memorable way is my signature. :)
For someone making a big deal out of the word "vague", you sure don't seem to care enough to learn the meaning of the Arabic words that make up the Quran. Ironic.
And then when someone is encouraging muslims to understand their religion better and not misrepresent it, you say they have a problem and tell them to read the Old Testament.
Um, lady, the target of this thread is people like you.
:) Ok, so apart from the debate regarding whether arabic is vague or not... :s
Do we agree that the people who criticize Islam, are those with a less than scholarly understanding of the subject, rather they are just trying to push forward an extremely biased and error strewn agenda in order to appeal to a market that is trying to "demonize" the enemy?
Muslims don't have power over the media the day they will have that power it will be so easy to portray the right message.
Another reason is modest muslims like you and i sit on web and post messages when we should out there doing something about it..
it's not only media , it's almost in every circle of life that muslims lag behind , and those who excel believe in individuality rather than collective benefits
Greatly...and by muslims, unfortunately.
well said " charity begins at home "
only if muslims would be at better understanding islam , no other gropu could give other meanings to our beliefs
I think empatically yes, Islaam is greatly misunderstood. First by the "students" in the madrassahs who learn by memorizing the sounds of arabic within the koran but not know the meaning! Interpretations are left to the teachers.
Its vastly misunderstood in the west also. Due to lack of education about it. I do see that changing, ie., schools are teaching about it now and including Islaamic holidays in any holiday activities. Media, politicians and Islaamic leaders have been much more vocal about what exactly Islaam IS and IS NOT since 9/11. But not nearly enough. You didnt ask - what to do about it? - so I dont want to pontificate but if Muslims would be more vocal about the wonderful religion they practice, if they'd get out into their communities more and not isolate themselves so much it would do so much good! Yes, its a tough thing to do since you're facing an ignorant public and since media reports generally focus on the "loudest" and most "newsworthy" people and topics....I mean, you have al-quada types calling for death to america which is much more newsworthy than a local Imam maybe holding a community focus group about "What is Islaam", yeah? But Muslims have an opportunity here to get out there and show the western world what Islaam really is...and yes, its a tough thing to do but would be vastly worthwhile. IMHO.
k as u say so. but where u find me offending ISLAM? dude hav a close look. making “vauge” an emphatic issue cuz we r born n made to learn LOVE ALLAH SWT, Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and Quran-e-Majeed more than r soles. i find this word a bit awkward. y cuz lil things bugz we artist ppl.
(i already mentioned i have nothing to do wat other thinks about me n ma belief. )
to some extent YES. but it have more to do wid touching the eternal meanings, n jus feel them.
for scholarly thingee. every one thinks hez a scholar. tonz of useless sects exist in pak.
nowaday ppl r emotion less. they call themselves religious but will fight wid their brothers on money n land. n wont even bother to resolve on eid .
i don expect every could feel these meanings…but understanding the core values (5 fundamental principlez) n adopt them in their daily lives. (yeh to ker lain!!).
otherwise he wont gonna talk about his opinion on inability to interpret Quranic verses. 