Other religions right to practice their faith?

Society Religion & Philosophy
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Millions of Muslims reside in North America, Europe and other Non-Muslim countries. In most of these countries, Muslims are free to practice their faith and are allowed to construct their Mosques (Islamic centres) for followers to assemble as Islamic groups. Preaching of Islam to others has no restrictions and the State is reponsible to protect the rights of different faiths. How do we behave:

40 Pakistani Christians held in S. Arabia
RIYADH, April 23: Saudi Arabia has detained 40 Pakistani Christians for holding prayers at a house in the kingdom, where practicising any religion other than Islam is illegal, newspapers said on Saturday. A group of men, women and children were attending the service in the capital Riyadh when police raided the house, Al Jazirah newspaper said.

It said authorities also found Christian tapes and books.

Another Saudi daily, Al Yaum, said the raid took place on Friday while a Pakistani preacher was delivering a sermon. It was not clear what measures might be taken against the group.

Saudi authorities were not immediately available to comment.

There are around six million foreigners in the kingdom, which has a population of 23 million, including many Christians from Europe, North America, Asia and other Arab states.

In a rare official rebuke of a close ally last year, Washington accused Saudi Arabia of severe violations of religious freedom.

Following the Sept 11, 2001 attacks, which were carried out by mainly Saudis, the Gulf Arab state’s religious establishment came under sharp criticism by the West for fostering militancy and intolerance of other religions.—Reuters

Sourced: Dawn

Is this permissable according to Islamic law?

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Re: Other religions right to practice their faith?

Unfortunately, this makes it ok - "where practicising any religion other than Islam is illegal"

We tell immigrants that they must follow the laws here when they immigrate, they must do the same there or don't go. Doesn't make the right, but that wasn't the issue, the issue was they broke the law.

Just because th US and other countries allow relious freedom, doesn't mean everyone must.

What occurs to me is - how many of the Muslims in those areas are truly Muslim or are Muslim because to be anything else would mean persecution? Doesn't that foster a nation of hypocrites?

In Ireland, it was illegal to practice the Catholic faith at one point, people got around it by having mass in the basements of the pubs. The English used to joke about the Irish arriving at the Pub with their families and all the while most went downstairs to pray and have fellowship. This, of course, lead to the legend of the Irish drinker.

People will always find a way to worship. Religion is too personal to make illegal.

But I guess it makes it easier on the census takers or those wonders of Islaam that count all in Saudi, Iran, etc. as 100% Muslim, of course bolstering their numbers.

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Re: Other religions right to practice their faith?

well also in saudi arabia, shia muslims have to have majalisis in private because the gov or someone else can go after them.. thats what i heard a couple years ago. dont know if its still true.

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Re: Other religions right to practice their faith?

Agreed. If it is the law, then it was broken.

Apartheid was law in South Africa, till it was changed. Blacks had minimal if no rights as defined by the state. It was the law and black people were persecuted if they were in violation.

We have horrendous Hudood Laws of Zia ul Haq (Not the Quran) which are extremely prejuidical to women. Since it has become law, thousands of poor women who have been wronged are suffering in Paki jails.

Laws are man made, if they do not serve justice fairly and equitably they must be changed. Change can come from within or it will be thrust upon them.

One last thing, my question related to the Islamic legality of such an act. Does Islamic law in anyway condone such an act or not?

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Re: Other religions right to practice their faith?

NO.

In Islamic state, People of different faiths are allowed to practice their religion with complete freedom, untill they are not creating any law and order problem.

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Re: Other religions right to practice their faith?

Thankyou for agreeing. :slight_smile:

:confused:
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Re: Other religions right to practice their faith?

the article got it wrong....
practicing any faith is not the issue....

the things that r not allowed in saudi arabia are:
- constructing places of worship
- preaching religions other than Islam

in their homes, they can do whatever they like....

the accused here might have been preaching chrisitanity or sometimes such pakistanis, who r not muslims, enter saudi arabia declaring Islam as their religion and hence might have been held for false reporting....
u can never be sure unless u know the ppl themselves....

Islam and marital rape...
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Re: Other religions right to practice their faith?

Tell me something, are the Saudi’s Farishta’s they can do no wrong?

Iam sorry Sir, but this article did not get it wrong, what is wrong here to assume otherwise which will be a travesty of justice. You have squarely put the responsibility on the accused to prove their innocence which clearly reflects either a certain bias on your part or very little knowledge of how the Saudi’s operate.

Let me just add, we are dependent upon the source of information for its authenticity, then again that is the case for all reporting. Problem with Saudi is that it is a closed society which does not permit any self-retrospection, free press or access to foreign journalists.

According to your statement Saudi’s do not allow constructing places of worship. If that is the case then it confirms the above enclosed article. By the way, these arrests were made in Riyadh where foreigners are in abundance and what goes on behind closed walls is no secret. Only difference between those foreigners and these is there skin color and passport. Doesnt it sound odd to you that gora’s in Riyadh and Jeddah have had it bloody good for all these years, yet it is the desi’s who keep on getting arrested and heads chopped off!

Iam still waiting for the religious answer, is this condoned under Islamic law?

pari786 kay liya
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Re: Other religions right to practice their faith?

Can they propogate their religion?

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Re: Other religions right to practice their faith?

Not under the Saudi law, and Iam sure its supporters will find a sharia angle to it. However,Quran is very clear on imposition of religioius ideas, a big no no…

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Re: Other religions right to practice their faith?

No.
Islamic state is not a secular state. Only Islam can be propagated in Islamic State.

But the case here, SA is neither an Islamic state nor a secular state. Its is a Monarchy which proclaims that they are following Islamic Laws.

pari786 kay liya
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Re: Other religions right to practice their faith?

do the other countries have the right to ban mosque and prevent muslims
from practising their religen ? should there be a mutual respect or mutul disrespect?

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Re: Other religions right to practice their faith?

Rvikz,
Other countries can’t, because that’s called discrimination :slight_smile:
But if muslim country does that then its ok…Wish I know the logic…:rolleyes:

BTW,…don’t ask tough and hard questions here,…Coz its very hard to answer.:eek:

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Re: Other religions right to practice their faith?

I can't remember the specifics but there is a specific ruling for the hijaz according to shariah which doesn't allow any other religion in the hijaz.

However take Jerusalem or take any other part of the Muslim world churches, synagogues are still standing.

They don't tolerate Islam in the west, they tolerate (to a limited extent) the spiritual aspects of Islam. If they did there wouldn't be a problem called 'Islamophobia'

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Re: Other religions right to practice their faith?

yes, there have been countries where building mosques has been forbidden....
and even calling out for azaan from rooms/houses hired by the muslim community for prayers....

russia wud be a good example....

what saudis do, is not necessarily Islamically right....

but there is a lot of nonsense attached to Saudis, most of it false, just because of Arba-haters and Islam-haters....

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Re: Other religions right to practice their faith?

Thenm why you claim of tolerance in Islam.

pari786 kay liya
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Re: Other religions right to practice their faith?

Wrong information.

pari786 kay liya
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Re: Other religions right to practice their faith?

i dont think a religion has to be blamed for the ill of the people who practice it. or at least those in power paractice it. Fundmentaly all religions are good. But then the people who are influential and in power bend it to satisfy their needs. And thus gives a bad name to the religion.

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Re: Other religions right to practice their faith?

isn't banning the hijab religious intolerance?

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Re: Other religions right to practice their faith?

In Public schools only and yes it is intolerance…

Half Boiled ANDAA ...