Let us for the moment assume there never was a Osama bin Laden or Ghazani / Gori Mohamad sort of attackers or no muslim suicide bombers (these being the kind of things that have led to the impressions of a violent nature). In that state, everyone will certainly be interested to learn about the philosophy of Islam - because its positive aspects will be visible and create interest.
Unfortunately that is not the case - a 1000 muslims living in peace in a Indian village makes no news because there is nothing interesting for people to read! On the other hand stories of violence make good press.
It is like a company making 20% profit year after year - nobody thinks twice about that company. But one mistake - say two failed quarters or a CFO embezzlement and next thing you know, the stock starts diving.
That is true, because since 9/11 and 7/7, the interest in islam and the rate for reverts has rocketed sky high as opposed to the steady rate of reverts and general indifference before. It has caused thousand more to look into islam as a faith as opposed to the enemy...so you have point in that sense.
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There is no pointing lamenting against the press or the readers after that. The only 'fix' the company by getting rid of the embezzlers, cut the quarterly losses etc.
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True maybe in a company or organisation sense, but not in a religion. As a muslim or any other faith, you are not 'employed' per se, you do not get a membership card for being a muslim, and there is no boss who has been deemed the right to appoint and reject the membership bids based on your muslimness.
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Same way perhaps Islam must find a way to get rid of the bad elements. I don't know if you have a system for ex-communicating etc and if not, may be create one. Start publicly ex-communicating the suicide bombers, the fiery clerics and the tyrant monarchs who all claim o be saviors and defenders of Islam and I guarantee you the problems will be gone in no time
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Again no such system exists because noone is bound. you can go blue in the face excommunicating me and it'll have no effect on my faith as such. And its futile trying, cause folks with wayward ways will most likely have thier own membership club and before you know it there be 73 way split all claming large followers and the way to heaven...wait we aready have that.... dont we?
You guys have it totally wrong as usual.
What you need to do is to convert the pope to islam. He will issue a fatwa, then the 1.086 billion baptised RC members will follow too.
the rest of the non-muslims are not worth bothering about.
Re: wasting time on non muslims
WOW.
Are you kidding me? What if the Prophet(saww) had thought the same thing? Its not your job to make them understand or make them learn. Its your job to PRESENT Islam to them. And offcourse you present it by being an example and not stooping down to their level.
By the way other than these forums, in the real world have you ever talked to non-muslims? I have never had a rude or a heated discussion with anyone ever. True, they are very ignorant but that doesn't mean we can't take the time out and explain things to them. Once you have done your part, they can think or do whatever they like. Thats not your problem.
then why you have put up preconditions...if you do not agree with me you are deaf and dumb.
'deaf and dumb will not understand our ayats'
I do not see a precondition here.
Those who pass a test are called brainy people and those who do not.....
Thats the message. Whats wrong with that?
What should a teacher consider a student who purposefully fails the test?
If someone is telling other....there is a cliff ahead, stop!.... but other person keeps going on full speed and argues no there isn't..............what should that person be called?
Do you want Quran to say "you are smart, visionary and intelligent for not heeding upon its words"?
I think the arguments based on limited/selected/biased knowledge can never get anyone to 'learn' any faith.
It comes from sincerely seeking the truth. Selecting few items of arguments for the sake of argument or winning browny points does no good to anyone.
I understand the logic of this thread but would say Islam never teaches to give up on anyone. Also it does not tell anyone to be still and stagnant...and think that whatever he/she has learned is all there is.
Keep questiong and keep searching is the teaching of Islam. The day someone thinks he/she is the best...very same day the person is doomed for failure. There are many Ayas in Quran telling people to think think and think. More than the one which say pray pray pray.
Just leave what bothers you and take what you are comfortable with your mind ..the open mind......the mind which is ultimate organ of hearing/seeing/thinking etc.
(Please refrain from giving example of so few of ludicrous people who want to use islam to hurt anyone.. If you were not planning to give those examples..then accept my apology)
i think every one knows about islam, and if they only want to read the hate speech and dont want to read the other side of the story, then there is nothing we can do about it.
i now believe that there is no more need to preach islam to non muslims, if somebody wants to learn, there is easy access to islamic knowledge every where,
what is more important now is making those already muslim people to be more honest, tolerant, fair to humans and all the good qualities one can have in a person. this is the way to greatness
am i wrong ?
very well said, i think muslims that are muslims shld be more practical, so that non muslims who see em shld be impressed and once they wana know more abt islam they can easily find it anywhere.
u r right.
if we rectify ourselves, then the non-muslims, will follow insh'Allah.
the non-muslims only need an example to look up to and what great example is there other than our Rasulullal (pbuh). if we try to bring his characteristics into our lives then this is the best dawah. the way we interact, transact, walk, eat, sleep, drink, play, work, everything according to the sunnah, then the non-muslim has no complaints, only that he will come running to islam, insh'Allah!
a scholar mentioned that, a convert was asked how he came to islam, was he reached by some other muslim person? he said, no, thank Allah that I embraced Islam before I met MUSLIMS! this is a true story and sad one for us born Muslims who don't live up to the sunnah of Rasulullah(pbuh).
Exactly!!!
I agree.