Re: Is Islam misunderstood?
We need to look at our won actions to see what kind of muslim we are? What kind of ambassador are we to our beloved faith?
How many of us make an effort to take a break at work to say our daily prayers? How many of us make an effort to eat only Halal food? How many of us take time to understand our own religion ( tafseer, learning arabic etc)?
I think a self analysis will provide the answer to your query.
Re: Is Islam misunderstood?
Sorry people, but I think this thread is going off-topic.
Basically the question I meant to ask (very bady) was, when people criticize Islam, do they do it because of a lack of knowledge about the subject or are they just out to push forward their own bigoted agenda?
Re: Is Islam misunderstood?
it depends on who is doing the critisizing and why, yeah? I mean if you watch CNN, their critisisms are based on reporting on al-quaeda types. If you watch local news and live in a big metro area, you may see reports on things like whether hijaab should be allowed in schools or workplace. If you go into the deep south or some areas in the bible belt of US, you'll find utter ignorance just about every aspect of Islaam and Muslims. If you go into the NWFP in Pakistan and ask a madrassah student the meaning of a certain surah, the student will parrot a teacher. So the question you're asking is a bit too general.
Re: Is Islam misunderstood?
Sorry people, but I think this thread is going off-topic.
Basically the question I meant to ask (very bady) was, when people criticize Islam, do they do it because of a lack of knowledge about the subject or are they just out to push forward their own bigoted agenda?
people criticize Islam push forward their own bigoted agenda.
(but they wont create ny significant impact).
ppl who initially takes middle way n then slowly invade mindz (in other wordz slowly brain wash) are able to create more destruction.
only difference is of Politics (good question could b who plays better politics?)
Re: Is Islam misunderstood?
By the people who criticize I mean complete losers like Ibn Warraq, who have themselves left Islam and then write under pen names, with no obvious need to tell the truth, rather just to spew lots of hate.
Re: Is Islam misunderstood?
^^ wat else u gonna expect from them now 
?
Re: Is Islam misunderstood?
Those Non-Muslims that hate us are idiots for hating on us, criticising what we hold sacred only generates more hatred and even pushes true Muslims towards terrorism, nothing positive comes out of idiots like Fallwell and Spencer barking...
Every religion has the potential to be intrepreted in a negtaive way or a positive way, it's down to the followers. I can take verses out of the Christian Bibles (New Testament and Old Testament), Jewish Bible (Torah and Talmud), Hindu scriptures and Sikh scriptures which can be intrepreted in a negative way but I shant stoop to the level of Jerry Fallwell or Hindutva Pundits because it doesn't achieve anything positive... I would never advocate terrorism but I must admit when a colleague or journalist makes unpalatable comments about my religion and/or people I do hate them and I'd be quite apathetic if they themselves personally were the victims of terrorism, I'd have no sypamthy for them whereas western peace activists make me want to condemn terrorism and loath it more than I do.
We all need to work harder to get on with each other and intrepret our scriptures the way they're meant to be intrepreted which isn't to kill innocent babies, infants, women, men and elderly during war, terrorism is no more part of Islam than it is Christianity or Judaism.
As Muslims (especially our clerics and priests) need to do a lot more to distance ourselves from terrorism against innocents...
Re: Is Islam misunderstood?
As Muslims (especially our clerics and priests) need to do a lot more to distance ourselves from terrorism against innocents...
How can you say that and belive this
[quote]
when a colleague or journalist makes unpalatable comments about my religion and/or people I do hate them and I'd be quite apathetic if they themselves personally were the victims of terrorism, I'd have no sypamthy for them
[/quote]
That sounds like the very thing a terrorist would think when commiting an act of terrorism. Are they no longer 'innocents' because they have a view that offends you? Do you really 'hate' them or are you just a hothead?
Re: Is Islam misunderstood?
[quote]
That sounds like the very thing a terrorist would think when commiting an act of terrorism.
[/quote]
i wouldn't do it myself or encourage anyone to but i wouldn't be right bothered if they got it.. the same goes for Muslim hate mongers getting bombed by american terrorists (i.e. american gov/army), i'd have no sympathy for them.. the less hate-generators the better..
Re: Is Islam misunderstood?
I feel kind of bad when the army gets whacked. Those guys are just doing their job, probably because a lot of them just want to get into college. They don't want to be there.
Re: Is Islam misunderstood?
^
do u know ur right in a way.. i just found out my new boss was part of the army and he is the most warm hearted, understanding and helpful boss i've ever known, if i do something wrong he doesn't make me feel like sh!t like others have done and he'll take the time and effort to teach me, he's not been here long but he's makde my job far more interesting..
i guess it's easy to think of marines as just marines and not human, they go in thinking they doing it to serve their country and protect their people which are noble thoughts but in actual fact they're just helping the gpverments agenda which is to colonise any land/people it has an irrational fear/greed for.. same is the case with young Muslim lads who join terrorist cults, they're showed videos of suffering Muslims and they think they're doing it to defend their faith and their people and they're so overcome with emotion that they don't care if they kill innocents.. the ones who are really to blame are them up there (bush, laden etc.) but those that are brainwashed by them and do heineous things are not exactly blameless either..
it's hard, the world is such a fcuked up place.. if only we could all just get on with each other.