Feel free to give an honest answer 
it all boils down to 'our' books and 'your' books.. the outcome is known before even the discussion begins.. which is.. you go your way and we go our way..
Very useful, as they help me understand a lot of stuff I didn't know
whats moratorium mean?
Honestly, I don't think these discussions really "enlighten" anybody apart from giving everyone the chance to express what they believe which imo is not a bad thing if done decently.
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*Originally posted by Rhia: *
whats moratorium mean?
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Oh... "moratorium" in our context means, to stop all such discussions and delete any attempt to discuss such topics. Previously, whenever these discussions became too much gaali galoch, our mods used to have temporary moratorium on sectarian discussions. Not to suggest one way or the other, that we need one at this point. It is just one of the FIVE choices available in the poll. :)
These discussions are tangents and They create rifts.
personally, I have to agree to what PA said...
any thing that causes fitnah must be avoided. Had there been more mature and knowledgeable people on this board as compare to very few of those, this discussion could be considered source of knowledge and understanding with a total show of respect and tolerence for others beleifs... Yet people come here and call names and use abusive language against what they dun like thus undermining their own point of view... this causes just arrogance among everyone.
salam
these discussion r useful if both parties r willing to learn from the discussion.otherwise they r useless
zia
Helpful to me.
Because I don't know the differences and I want to learn. I want peace.
I think they are "boring", "useless". Nobody will ever admit his wrongs, everybody will keep believing what he/she believed before. Sometimes I do come across new things, but the way these discussions are held is not productive.
oh no we are losing 
i voted for the moratorium 
jo cheez musalman bhai ko bhai se larwati hay woh FITNA parwar hoti hae aur us ko jar se khatam ker dena chahiyay, aapas mein larnay se kuch haasil naheen ye shaitaan ka kaam hota hae 
it is not matter of losing and winning if u think about it:-)
These discussions are for Ullemas...I doubt if any scholar would have the time to visit GS...All we have as members are mostly students and professionals whose knowledge consists of a few articles or books read when their Emaan was high...Of course being young, the blood runs fast and the slightest difference of opinion is temper flaring...Since both are Muslims, both are adroit, both have strong Emaan to prove themselves right, things get said which should not be said and creates chaos and havoc amongst brothers...This particular discussion is NOT for the novice and should strictly stay away from it by all means or severe scarring will occur...:)
Thanx Faisal and can we not have a moratorium pretty please? :)
I agree about the need for scholarly discussion but speaking for myself I think these discussions help or encourage me to research for myself, i.e. reading up on various sources of references, books, to speak to scholars etc especially if and when I try to take part in the actual discussion.
[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by Rhia: *
Thanx Faisal and can we not have a moratorium pretty please? :)
I agree about the need for scholarly discussion but speaking for myself I think these discussions help or encourage me to research for myself, i.e. reading up on various sources of references, books, to speak to scholars etc especially if and when I try to take part in the actual discussion.
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Exactly....:)
[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by Rhia: *
I think these discussions help or encourage me to research for myself, i.e. reading up on various sources of references, books, to speak to scholars etc especially if and when I try to take part in the actual discussion.
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what if the wrong information is passed to you?
"Passed"?!!
Gadha bhai the whole purpose of learning and research, ejtehad is to find out for yourself isn't it? As with any information there is no guarantee the information you find out is 100% accurate. Even the Quran, the only source of 100% correct information says (I paraphrase) "some are guided by it whilst others are misguided by it". The only way to ensure the information is not "wrong" is to try and be a little objective with the whole thing and to refer to sources without overwhelming bias to cross reference to speak to and question scholars of other madhabs and most importantly make use of the intellect and power of reasoning Allah swt bestowed upon you (instead of blindly following.
I think now the onus is on you to at least find out if we "pass on" wrong information if only to rid yourself of that bias.
Rhia: right on.. agreed!
the only concern was that due to the information given on this baord, the young people who apparently have no basic knowledge could get struck by it and thus can go astray... who will be responsible besides their own free will? This Forum will become the source of it.. is not it?
Sorry Gadhaji I disagree. See in all the discussions on the forums about the shia sunni differences I think the overall statistics for hurling abuse at each other is very minimal and in anycase that is where the moderators step in to do their "job".
The thing is it is much more easy for someone to stand up with a microphone in masjid to hurl abuse at others or to discredit one another in similar ways because it is much more an emotional thing then and all sorts of nonsense is spewed. The reason it is harder for that to occur on a discussion board especially with someone who is interested in learning instead of flaming is that you have to think and to explain in order to get your thoughts and belief across and this by virture of the actual logical thought process itself (and for writing the thoughts down) leaves very little room for becoming emotional and for abusing or causing fitna.
Discussions and disagreements which inevitably arise from constructive discussions are not cause for fitna nor the source for "becoming astray". For those who genuinly are interested this can be one of the best sources of information where all sides of an argument are presented. For those are not, well we can be hardly held responsible for that can we? Believe me, the chances of the young going astray adn being brainwashed is more likely to come from an ill informed biased molvi than reading whats said here. Our faith in our belief imo should be strong enough for it to be questioned (in a respectful manner). Of course those that don't understand what we are going on about well thats a different matter all together.
In my view the worst possible thing to happen is to ban all such discussions. Not only is it against Islamic principles, it will only cause more suspicion and mistrust and we don't really need to add to the amount of which has already been built up over the centuries. We need (re-phrasing President Khatmi) a dialogue within our civilisation.
How much knowledge one has we are not to judge. We all have to start somewhere. Granted for some it will be boring and repetitive for others however it will not. Even for those it is boring they may nevertheless come acroos new or different perspectives. Again its all aboout learning. If this can encourage someone like me, I usually can't find the time (or I like to think I can't :D), to read up on my own beliefs and the beliefs of others, in my view it can't be a bad thing can it?
Hope you understand where I'm coming from :)
[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by Lajawab: *
These discussions are for Ullemas...I doubt if any scholar would have the time to visit GS...All we have as members are mostly students and professionals whose knowledge consists of a few articles or books read when their Emaan was high...Of course being young, the blood runs fast and the slightest difference of opinion is temper flaring...Since both are Muslims, both are adroit, both have strong Emaan to prove themselves right, things get said which should not be said and creates chaos and havoc amongst brothers...This particular discussion is NOT for the novice and should strictly stay away from it by all means or severe scarring will occur...:)
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I agree 100 % .
I have many times on this board experienced that a lot of people think they are scholars. Even though there knowledge is very limited.
If they tried to use the same argument they do here with an scholar they will simply be corrected for there limited knowledge and incorrect statements.
Personly I try to avoid these kind of debates for a very simple reason, I´m scared to say something about Islam which is not true or incorrect. The results can be devastating.
I think the best way to understand a specific issue or topic in Islam is to take advise from as many different scholars as possible and pray to Allah to lead you in His direction. And one thing is for sure you wont find those scholars in this forum.
Well... thanks to all those who took the effort to respond to the poll and also to share their thoughts.
The idea was not to make an instant decision, but to gather ideas and get a feeling as to how the members think about such discussions. Its seems pretty clear members are evenly split on the usefulness or otherwise of such discussions.
Since each of you can only vote once, so we'll keep the poll open for now, to allow anyone who wishes to participate to get their voices heard. Please also feel free to share your thoughts or participate in the current discussion.
Allah hafiz
All the reasons given are quite valid.