Ten Misconceptions About Islam

Trinity of Light ^ | FR Post 06-13-02 | Editorial Staff

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Top Ten Misconceptions About Islam
Questions & Answers

Ten Misconceptions About Islam

MISCONCEPTION #1: Muslims are violent, terrorists and/or extremists.

This is the biggest misconception in Islam, no doubt resulting from the constant stereotyping and bashing the media gives Islam. When a gunman attacks a mosque in the name of Judaism, a Catholic IRA guerrilla sets off a bomb in an urban area, or Serbian Orthodox militiamen rape and kill innocent Muslim civilians, these acts are not used to stereotype an entire faith. Never are these acts attributed to the religion of the perpetrators. Yet how many times have we heard the words 'Islamic, Muslim fundamentalist. etc.' linked with violence.

Politics in so called  "Muslim countries" may or may not have any Islamic basis. Often dictators and politicians will use the name of Islam for their own purposes. One should remember to go to the source of Islam and separate what the true religion of Islam says from what is portrayed in the media. Islam literally means 'submission to God' and is derived from a root word meaning 'peace'.

Islam may seem exotic or even extreme in the modern world. Perhaps this is because religion doesn't dominate everyday life in the West, whereas Islam is considered a 'way of life' for Muslims and they make no division between secular and sacred in their lives. Like Christianity, Islam permits fighting in self-defense, in defense of religion, or on the part of those who have been expelled forcibly from their homes. It lays down strict rules of combat which include prohibitions against harming civilians and against destroying crops, trees and  livestock.

NOWHERE DOES ISLAM ENJOIN THE KILLING OF INNOCENTS.. The Quran says: "Fight in the cause of God against those who fight you, but do not transgress limits. God  does not love transgressors." (Quran 2:190) "If they seek peace, then seek you peace. And trust in God for He is the One that heareth  and knoweth all things." (Quran 8:61) War, therefore, is the last resort, and is subject to the rigorous conditions laid down by the  sacred law. The term 'jihad' literally means 'struggle'. Muslims believe that there are two kinds of  jihad. The other 'jihad' is the inner struggle of the soul which everyone wages against egotistic  desires for the sake of attaining inner peace.
 

MISCONCEPTION #2: Islam oppresses women.

The image of the typical Muslim woman wearing the veil and forced to stay home and forbidden to drive is all too common  in most peoples thoughts. Although some Muslim countries may  have laws that oppress women, this should not be seen as coming  from Islam. Many of these countries do not rule by  any kind of Shari'ah (Islamic law) and introduce their own cultural standpoints on the issue of  gender equity.

Islam on the other hand gives men and women different roles and equity between the two  is laid down in the Quran and the example of the Prophet (peace be upon him). Islam sees a woman, whether  single or married, as an individual in her own right, with the right to own and dispose of her property  and earnings. A marriage gift is given by the groom to the bride for her own personal use, and  she keeps her own family name rather than taking her husband's. Both men and women are expected to dress in a way that is modest and dignified. The Messenger of God (peace be upon him) said: "The most perfect in faith amongst  believers is he who is best in manner and kindest to his wife."

Violence of any kind towards  women and forcing them against their will for anything is not allowed. A Muslim marriage is a simple, legal agreement in which either partner is free to include  conditions. Marriage customs thus vary widely from country to country. Divorce is not common, although it is acceptable as a last resort. According to Islam, a Muslim girl cannot be forced to  marry against her will: her parents simply suggest young men they think may be suitable.
 

MISCONCEPTION #3: Muslims worship a different God.

Allah is simply the Arabic word for God. Allah for Muslims is  the greatest and most inclusive of the Names of God, it is an Arabic word of rich meaning, denoting the one and only God and ascribing no partners to Him. It is exactly the same word which the Jews, in Hebrew, use for God (eloh), the word which Jesus Christ used in Aramaic when he prayed to God. God has an identical name in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam; Allah is the same God worshiped by Muslims, Christians and Jews. Muslims believe that Allah's sovereignty is to be acknowledged in worship and in the pledge to obey His teaching and commandments, conveyed through His messengers and prophets who were sent at various times and in many places throughout history. However, it should be noted that God in Islam is One and Only. He, the Exalted, does not get tired, does not have a son ie Jesus or  have associates, nor does He have human-like attributions as found in  other faiths.
 

MISCONCEPTION #4: Islam was spread by the sword and intolerant of other faiths.

Many social studies textbooks for students show the image of an Arab horseman carrying  a sword in one hand and the Quran in the other conquering and forcibly converting. This, though, is not a correct portrayal of history. Islam has always given respect and  freedom of religion to all faiths. The Quran says: "God forbids you not, with regards to those who fight you not for [your] faith nor drive you out of your homes, from dealing kindly and justly with them; for God loveth those  who are just. 60:8)

Freedom of religion is laid down in the Quran itself: "There is no compulsion (or coercion) in the religion (Islam). The right direction is distinctly clear from error". (2:256) Christian missionary, T.W. Arnold had this opinion on his study of the question of the  spread of Islam: ".. of any organized attempt to force the acceptance of Islam on the non-Muslim  population, or of any systematic persecution intended to stamp out the Christian religion, we hear  nothing. Had the caliphs chosen to adopt either course of action, they might have swept away  Christianity as easily as Ferdinand and Isabella drove Islam out of Spain, or Louis XIV made  Protestanism ..."

It is a function of Islamic law to protect the privileged status of minorities, and this is why  non-Muslim places of worship have flourished all over the Islamic world. History provides many  examples of Muslim tolerance towards other faiths: when the caliph Omar entered Jerusalem in the  year 634, Islam granted freedom of worship to all religious communities in the city. Proclaiming to the inhabitants that their lives, and property were safe, and that their places of  worship would never be taken from them, he asked the Christian patriarch Sophronius to  accompany him on a visit to all the holy places. Islamic law also permits non-Muslim minorities to set up their own courts, which  implement family laws drawn up by the minorities themselves. The life and property of all citizens in an Islamic state are considered sacred whether the  person is Muslim or not.

Racism is not a part of Islam, the Quran speaks only of human equality and how all  peoples are equal in the sight of God. "O mankind! We created you from a single soul, male and  female, and made you into nations and tribes, so that you may come to know one another. Truly, the most honored of you in God's sight is the greatest of you in piety. God is All-Knowing, All- Aware. (49:13)
 

MISCONCEPTION #5: All Muslims are Arabs

The Muslim population of the world is around 1.2 billion. 1 out of 5 people in the world is a  Muslim. They are a vast range of races, nationalities, and cultures from around the globe--from the  Phillipines to Nigeria--they are united by their common Islamic faith. Only about 18% live  in the  Arab world and the largest Muslim community is in Indonesia. Most Muslims live east of Pakistan. 30% of Muslims live in the Indian subcontinent, 20% in Sub-Saharan Africa, 17% in Southeast  Asia, 18% in the Arab world, and 10% in the Soviet Union and China. Turkey, Iran and  Afghanistan make up 10% of the non-Arab Middle East. Although there are Muslim minorities in  almost every area, including Latin America and Australia, they are most numerous in Russia and  its newly independent states, India and central Africa. There are about 6 million Muslims in the  United States
 

MISCONCEPTION #6: The Nation of Islam is a Muslim group.

Islam and the so called  "Nation of Islam'" are two different religions. NOI is more of a political organization since its members are not limited to a single faith. Muslims consider this group to be  just one of many cults using the name of Islam for their own gain. The only thing  common between them is the jargon, the language used  by both. "The Nation of Islam" is a misnomer; this religion should be  called Farrakhanism, after the name of its propogator, Louis Farrakhan.

Islam and Farakhanism differ in many fundamental ways. For example, Farakhan followers  believe in racism and that the 'black man' was the original man and therefore superior, while in  Islam there is no racism and everyone is considered equal in the sight of God, the only difference  being in one's piety. There are many other theological examples that show the 'Nation's teachings  have little to do with true Islam. There are many groups in America who claim to represent Islam and call their adherents  Muslims.

Any serious student of Islam has a duty to investigate  and find the true Islam. The only two authentic sources which bind every Muslim are 1. the Quran and 2. authentic or sound Hadith. Any teachings under the label of "Islam" which contradict or at variance with the direct  understanding of fundamental beliefs and practices of Islam form the Quran and authentic Hadith should be rejected and such a religion should be considered a Pseudo-Islamic Cult. In America there are many pseudo-Islamic cults, Farrakhanism being one of them. An honest attitude on the  part of such cults should be not to call themselves Muslims and their religion Islam. such an  example of honesty is Bahaism which is an off-shoot of Islam but Bahais do not call themselves  Muslims nor their religion, Islam. In fact Bahaism is not Islam just as Farrakhanism is not Islam.
 

MISCONCEPTION #7: All Muslim men marry four wives.

The religion of Islam was revealed for all societies and all times and so accommodates  widely differing social requirements. Circumstances may warrant the taking of another wife but the  right is granted, according to the Quran, only on condition that the husband is scrupulously fair. No woman can be forced into this kind of marriage if they do not wish it, and they also have the  right to exclude it in their marriage contract.

Polygamy is neither mandatory, nor encouraged, but  merely permitted. Images of "sheikhs with harems" are not consistent with Islam, as a man is  only allowed at most four wives only if he can fulfill the stringent conditions of treating each fairly  and providing each with separate housing etc. Permission to practice polygamy is not associated  with mere satisfaction of passion. It is rather associated with compassion toward widows and  orphans. It was the Quran that limited and put conditions on the practice of polygamy among the  Arabs, who had as many as ten or more wives and considered them "property".

It is both honest and accurate to say that it is Islam that regulated this practice, limited  it, made it more humane, and instituted equal rights and status for all wives. What the Qur'anic  decrees amount to, taken together is discouragement of polygamy unless necessity for it exists. It is also evident that the general rule in Islam is monogamy and not polygamy. It is a very  tiny percentage of Muslims that practice it over the world. However, permission to practice limited  polygamy is only consistent with Islam's realistic view of the nature of man and woman and of  various social needs, problems and cultural variations.

The question is, however far more than the inherent flexibility of Islam; it also is the frank  and straightforward approach of Islam in dealing with practical problems. Rather than requiring  hypocritical and superficial compliance, Islam delves deeper into the problems of individuals and  societies, and provides for legitimate and clean solutions which are far more beneficial than would  be the case if they were ignored. There is no doubt that the second wife legally married and treated  kindly is better off than a mistress without any legal rights or expermanence.
 

MISCONCEPTION #8: Muslims are a barbaric, backward people.

Among the reasons for the rapid and peaceful spread of Islam was the simplicity of its  doctrine-Islam calls for faith in only one God worthy of worship. It also repeatedly instructs man to  use his powers of intelligence and observation. Within a few years, great civilizations and universities were flourishing, for according to the  Prophet (pbuh), 'seeking knowledge is an obligation for every Muslim man and woman'.

The  synthesis of Eastern and Western ideas and of new thought with old, brought about great  advances in medicine, mathematics, physics, astronomy, geography, architecture, art, literature, and history. Many crucial systems such as algebra, the Arabic numerals, and also the concept of  the zero (vital to the advancement of mathematics), were transmitted to medireview Europe from  Islam. Sophisticated instruments which were to make possible the European voyages of discovery  were developed, including the astrolabe, the quadrant and good navigational maps.
 

MISCONCEPTION #9: Muhammad was the founder of Islam and Muslims worship him.

Muhammad(pbuh) was born in Mecca in the year 570. Since his father died before his  birth, and his mother shortly afterwards, he was raised by his uncle from the respected tribe of  Quraysh. As he grew up, he became known for his truthfulness, generosity and sincerity, so that  he was sought after for his ability to arbitrate in disputes. The historians describe him as calm and  meditative. Muhammad (pbuh) was of a deeply religious nature, and had long detested the decadence  of his society.

It became his habit to meditate from time to time in the Cave of Hira near Mecca. At the age of 40, while engaged in a meditative retreat, Muhammad(pbuh) received his first  revelation from God through the Angel Gabriel. This revelation, which continued for 23 years is  known as the Quran. As soon as he began to recite the words he heard from Gabriel, and to preach the truth  which God had revealed to him, he and his small group of followers suffered bitter persecution, which grew so fierce that in the year 622 God gave them the command to emigrate.

This event, the Hijra 'migration', in which they left Mecca for the city of Medina, marks the beginning of the  Muslim calendar. After several years, the Prophet and his followers were able to return to Mecca, where they forgave their enemies and established Islam definitively. Before the Prophet saw dies at the age of 63, the greater part of Arabia was Muslim, and within a century of his death Islam had spread to Spain in the West and as far East as China. He died with less than 5 possessions to his name.

While Muhammad (pbuh) was chosen to deliver the message, he is not considered the  "founder" of Islam, since Muslims consider Islam to be the same divine guidance sent to all peoples before. Muslims believe all the prophets from Adam, Noah, Moses, Jesus etc. were all sent with divine guidance for their peoples. Every prophet was sent to his own people, but Muhammad(pbuh) was sent to all of mankind. Muhammad is the last and final messenger sent to deliver the message of Islam. Muslims revere and honor him (pbuh) for all he went through and his dedication, but they do not worship him. "O Prophet, verily We have sent you as a witness and a bearer of glad tidings and a warner and as one who invites unto God by His leave and as an illuminating lamp."(33:45-6)
 

MISCONCEPTION #10: Muslims don't believe in Jesus or any other prophets.

Muslims respect and revere Jesus, upon him be peace, and await his Second Coming. They consider him one of the greatest of God's messengers to mankind. A Muslim never refers to him simply as 'Jesus', but always adds the phrase 'upon him be peace' (abbreviated as (u) here). The Quran confirms his virgin birth (a chapter of the Quran is entitled 'Mary'), and Mary is considered the purest woman in all creation. The Quran describes the Annunciation as follows:

"Behold!" the Angel said, "God has chosen you, and purified you, and chosen you above the women of all nations. O Mary, God gives you good news of a word from Him whose name shall be the Messiah, Jesus son of Mary, honored in this world and the Hereafter, and one of those  brought near to God. He shall speak to the people from his cradle and in maturity, and shall be of the righteous." She said: "O my Lord! How shall I have a son when no man has touched me?" He said: "Even so; God creates what He will. When He decrees a thing, He says to it, "Be!" and it is" (Quran 3:42-47)

Jesus (u) was born miraculously through the same power, which had brought Adam (u) into being without a father: "Truly, the likeness of Jesus with God is as the likeness of Adam. He created him of dust, and then said to him, 'Be!' and he was." (3:59) During his prophetic mission Jesus (u) performed many miracles. The Quran tells us that he said: " I have come to you with a sign from your Lord: I make for you out of clay, as it were, the figure of a bird, and breath into it and it becomes a bird by God's leave. And I heal the blind, and the lepers, and I raise the dead by God's leave." (3:49) Neither Muhammad (pbuh) not Jesus (u) came to change the basic doctrine of the brief in  One God brought by earlier prophets, but to confirm and renew it.

In the Quran Jesus (u) is reported as saying that he came: "To attest the law which was before me. And to make lawful to you part of what was forbidden you; I have come to you with a sign from your Lord, so fear God and obey Me. (3:50) The Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said: "Whoever believes there is no god but God, alone without partner, that Muhammad (pbuh) is His messenger, that Jesus is the servant and messenger of God, His word breathed into Mary and a spirit emanating from Him, and that Paradise and Hell are true, shall be received by God into Heaven. "(Hadith related by Bukhari).

Understanding Islam and the Muslims 

 Questions & Answers

What is Islam? Who are the Muslims? What do Muslims believe? How does someone become a Muslim? What does 'Islam' mean? Why does Islam often seem strange?  Do Islam and Christianity have different origins? What is the Ka'ba? Who is Muhammad? How did he become a prophet and a messenger of God? How did the spread of Islam affect the world? What is the Quran? What is the Quran about? Are there any other sacred sources?

What are the 'Five Pillars' of Islam?  Does Islam tolerate other beliefs?  What do Muslims think about Jesus?  Why is the family so important to Muslims?  What about Muslim women?  Can a Muslim have more than one wife?  Is an Islamic marriage like a Christian marriage?  How do Muslims treat the elderly?  How do Muslims view death?  What does Islam say about war?  What about food?  What is Islam's presence in the United States?  How does Islam guarantee human rights?  What is the makeup of The Muslim World?

"What is Islam?"

Islam is not a new religion, but the same truth that God revealed through all His prophets to every people. For a fifth of the world's population, Islam is both a religion and a complete way of life. Muslims follow a religion of peace, mercy, and forgiveness, and the majority have nothing to do with the extremely grave events which have come to be associated with their faith. 
 
 

"Who are the Muslims?" 

One billion people from a vast range of races, nationalities and cultures across the globe--from the southern Philippines to Nigeria--are united by their common Islamic faith. About 18% live in the Arab world; the world's largest Muslim community is in Indonesia; substantial parts of Asia and most of Africa are Muslim, while significant minorities are to be found in the Soviet Union, China, North and South America, and Europe.
 
 

"What do Muslims believe?"

Muslims believe in One, Unique, Incomparable God; in the Angels created by Him; in the prophets through whom His revelations were brought to mankind; in the Day of Judgment and individual accountability for actions; in God's complete authority over human destiny and in life after death. Muslims believe in a chain of prophets starting with Adam and including Noah, Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Job, Moses, Aaron, David, Solomon, Elias, Jonah, John the Baptist, and Jesus, peace be upon them. But God's final message to man, a reconfirmation of the eternal message and a summing-up of all that has gone before was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) through Gabriel. 

"How does someone become a Muslim?"

Simply by saying 'There is no god apart from God, and Muhammad is the Messenger of God.' By this declaration the believer announces his or her faith in all God's messengers, and the scriptures they brought. 

"What does 'Islam' mean?" 

The Arabic word 'Islam' simply means 'submission', and derives from a word meaning 'peace'. In a religious context it means complete submission to the will of God. 'Mohammedanism' is thus a misnomer because it suggests that Muslims worship Muhammad (SAW) rather than God. 'Allah' is the Arabic name for God, which is used by Arab Muslims and Christians alike. 

"Why does Islam often seem strange?"

Islam may seem exotic or even extreme in the modern world. Perhaps this is because religion does not dominate everyday life in the West today, whereas Muslims have religion always uppermost in their minds, and make no division between secular and sacred. They believe that the Divine Law, the Shari'a, should be taken very seriously, which is why issues related to religion are still so important. 

"Do Islam and Christianity have different origins?" 

No. Together with Judaism, they go back to the prophet and patriarch Abraham, and their three prophets are directly descended from his sons--Muhammad (SAW) from the eldest, Ishmael, and Moses and Jesus, peace be upon them, from Isaac. Abraham established the settlement which today is the city of Makkah, and built the Ka'ba towards which all Muslims turn when they pray. 

"What is the Ka'ba?" 

The Ka'ba is the place of worship which God commanded Abraham and Ishmael to build over four thousand years ago. The building was constructed of stone on what many believe was the original site of a sanctuary established by Adam. God commanded Abraham to summon all mankind to visit this place, and when pilgrims go there today they say 'At Thy service, O Lord', in response to Abraham's summons. 

"Who is Muhammad?" 

Muhammad (SAW) was born in Makkah in the year 570, at a time when Christianity was not yet fully established in Europe. Since his father died before his birth, and his mother shortly afterwards, he was raised by his uncle from the respected tribe of Quraysh. As he grew up, he became known for his truthfulness, generosity and sincerity, so that he was sought after for his ability to arbitrate in disputes. The historians describe him as calm and meditative. Muhammad (SAW) was of a deeply religious nature, and had long detested the decadence of his society. It became his habit to meditate from time to time in the Cave of Hira near the summit of Jabal al-Nur, the 'Mountain of Light' near Makkah. 

"How did he become a prophet and a messenger of God?" 

At the age of 40, while engaged in a meditative retreat, Muhammad received his first revelation from God through the Angel Gabriel. This revelation, which continued for twenty-three years, is known as the Quran. 

As soon as he began to recite the words he heard from Gabriel, and to preach the truth which God had revealed to him, he and his small group of followers suffered bitter persecution, which grew so fierce that in the year 622 God gave them the command to emigrate. This event, the Hijra, 'migration', in which they left Makkah for the city of Madinah some 260 miles to the north, marks the beginning of the Muslim calendar. 

After several years, the Prophet (SAW) and his followers were able to return to Makkah, where they forgave their enemies and established Islam definitively. Before the Prophet (SAW) died at the age of 63, the greater part of Arabia was Muslim, and within a century of his death Islam had spread to Spain in the West and as far East as China. 

"How did the spread of Islam affect the world?"

Among the reasons for the rapid and peaceful spread of Islam was the simplicity of its doctrine. Islam calls for faith in only One God worthy of worship. It also repeatedly instructs man to use his powers of intelligence and observation. 

Within a few years, great civilizations and universities were flourishing, for according to the Prophet (SAW) 'seeking knowledge is an obligation for every Muslim man and woman'. The synthesis of Eastern and Western ideas and of new thought with old, brought about great advances in medicine, mathematics, physics, astronomy, geography, architecture, art, literature, and history. Many crucial systems such as algebra, the Arabic numerals, and also the concept of the zero (vital to the advancement of mathematics), were transmitted to medieval Europe from Islam. Sophisticated instruments which were to make possible the European voyages of discovery were developed, including the astrolabe, the quadrant and good navigational maps. 

Question 12 "What is the Quran?"

The Quran is a record of the exact words revealed by God through the Angel Gabriel to the Prophet Muhammad (SAW). It was memorized by Muhammad (SAW) and then dictated to his Companions, and written down by scribes, who cross-checked it during his lifetime. Not one word of its 114 chapters, Suras, has been changed over the centuries, so that the Quran is in every detail the unique and miraculous text which was revealed to Muhammad (SAW) fourteen centuries ago. 

Question 13 "What is the Quran about?" 

The Quran, the last revealed Word of God, is the prime source of every Muslim's faith and practice. It deals with all the subjects which concern us as human beings: wisdom, doctrine, worship, and law, but its basic theme is the relationship between God and His creatures. At the same time it provides guidelines for a just society, proper human conduct and an equitable economic system. 

Question 14 "Are there any other sacred sources?"

Yes, the sunna, the practice and example of the Prophet (SAW), is the second authority for Muslims. A hadith is a reliably transmitted report of what the Prophet (SAW) said, did, or approved. Belief in the sunna is part of the Islamic faith. 

Examples of the Prophet's sayings 

The Prophet (SAW) said: 

'God has no mercy on one who has no mercy for others.' 
'None of you truly believes until he wishes for his brother what he wishes for himself.' 
'He who eats his fill while his neighbor goes without food is not a believer.' 
'The truthful and trusty businessman is associated with the prophets the saints, and the martyrs.' 
'Powerful is not he who knocks the other down, indeed powerful is he who controls himself in a fit of anger.' 
'God does not judge according to your bodies and appearances but He scans your hearts and looks into your deeds.' 
'A man walking along a path felt very thirsty. Reaching a well he descended into it, drank his fill and came up. Then he saw a dog with its tongue hanging out, trying to lick up mud to quench its thirst. The man saw that the dog was feeling the same thirst as he had felt so he went down into the well again and filled his shoe with water and gave the dog a drink. God forgave his sins for this action.' The Prophet (SAW) was asked: 'Messenger of God, are we rewarded for kindness towards animals?' He said, 'There is a reward for kindness to every living thing.' (From the hadith collections of Bukhari, Muslim, Tirmidhi and Bayhaqi.) 
 
 

Question 15 "What are the 'Five Pillars' of Islam?" 

They are the framework of the Muslim life: faith, prayer, concern for the needy, self-purification, and the pilgrimage to Makkah for those who are able. 

First Pillar: Faith 

There is no god worthy of worship except God and Muhammad is His messenger. This declaration of faith is called the Shahada, a simple formula which all the faithful pronounce. In Arabic, the first part is la ilaha illa'Llah - 'there is no god except God'; ilaha (god) can refer to anything which we may be tempted to put in place of God--wealth, power, and the like. Then comes illa'Llah: 'except God', the source of all Creation. The second part of the Shahada is Muhammadun rasulu'Llah: 'Muhammad is the messenger of God.' A message of guidance has come through a man like ourselves. 

Second Pillar: Prayer 

Salat is the name for the obligatory prayers which are performed five times a day, and are a direct link between the worshiper and God. There is no hierarchical authority in Islam, and no priests, so the prayers are led by a learned person who knows the Quran, chosen by the congregation. These five prayers contain verses from the Quran, and are said in Arabic, the language of the Revelation, but personal supplication can be offered in one's own language. 

Prayers are said at dawn, noon, mid-afternoon, sunset and nightfall, and thus determine the rhythm of the entire day. Although it is preferable to worship together in a mosque, a Muslim may pray almost anywhere, such as in fields, offices, factories and universities. Visitors to the Muslim world are struck by the centrality of prayers in daily life. 

A translation of the Call to Prayer is: 

'God is most great. God is most great. God is most great. God is most great. I testify that there is no god except God. I testify that there is no god except God. I testify that Muhammad is the messenger of God. I testify that Muhammad is the messenger of God. Come to prayer! Come to prayer! Come to success (in this life and the Hereafter)! Come to success! God is most great. God is most great. There is no god except God.' 

Once Muslims prayed towards Jerusalem, but during the Prophet's lifetime it was changed to Makkah. From the minbar, the pulpit, the Imam who leads the prayer gives the sermon at the Friday noon community prayers. 

Third Pillar: Zakat 

One of the most important principles of Islam is that all things belong to God, and that wealth is therefore held by human beings in trust. The word zakat means both 'purification' and 'growth'. Our possessions are purified by setting aside a proportion for those in need, and, like the pruning of plants, this cutting back balances and encourages new growth. 

Each Muslim calculates his or her own zakat individually. For most purposes this involves the payment each year of two and a half percent of one's capital. A pious person may also give as much as he or she pleases as sadaqa, and does so preferably in secret. Although this word can be translated as 'voluntary charity' it has a wider meaning. The Prophet (SAW) said: 'Even meeting your brother with a cheerful face is charity.' 

The Prophet (SAW) said: 'Charity is a necessity for every Muslim.' He was asked: 'What if a person has nothing?' The Prophet (SAW) replied: 'He should work with his own hands for his benefit and then give something out of such earnings in charity.' The Companions asked: 'What if he is not able to work?' The Prophet (SAW) said: 'He should help poor and needy persons.' The Companions further asked 'What if he cannot do even that?' The Prophet (SAW) said 'He should urge others to do good.' The Companions said 'What if he lacks that also?' The Prophet (SAW) said 'He should check himself from doing evil. That is also charity.' 

Fourth Pillar: The Fast 

Every year in the month of Ramadan, all Muslims fast from first light until sundown, abstaining from food, drink, and sexual relations. Those who are sick, elderly, or on a journey, and women who are pregnant or nursing are permitted to break the fast and make up an equal number of days later in the year. If they are physically unable to do this, they must feed a needy person for every day missed. Children begin to fast (and to observe the prayer) from puberty, although many start earlier. 

Although the fast is most beneficial to the health, it is regarded principally as a method of self purification. By cutting oneself off from worldly comforts, even for a short time, a fasting person gains true sympathy with those who go hungry as well as growth in one's spiritual life. 

Fifth Pillar: The Pilgrimage (Hajj) 

The annual pilgrimage to Makkah, the Hajj, is an obligation only for those who are physically and financially able to perform it. Nevertheless, about two million people go to Makkah each year from every comer of the globe providing a unique opportunity for those of different nations to meet one another. Although Makkah is always filled with visitors, the annual Hajj begins in the twelfth month of the Islamic year (which is lunar, not solar, so that Hajj and Ramadan fall sometimes in summer, sometimes in winter). Pilgrims wear special clothes: simple garments which strip away distinctions of class and culture, so that all stand equal before God. 

The rites of the Hajj, which are of Abrahamic origin, include circling the Ka'ba seven times, and going seven times between the mountains of Safa and Marwa as did Hagar during her search for water. Then the pilgrims stand together on the wide plain of Arafa and join in prayers for God's forgiveness, in what is often thought of as a preview of the Last Judgment. 

In previous centuries the Hajj was an arduous undertaking. Today, however, Saudi Arabia provides millions of people with water, modem transport, and the most up-to-date health facilities. 

The close of the Hajj is marked by a festival, the Eid al-Adha, which is celebrated with prayers and the exchange of gifts in Muslim communities everywhere. This, and the Eid al-Fitr, a feast-day commemorating the end of Ramadan, are the main festivals of the Muslim calendar. 

Question 16 "Does Islam tolerate other beliefs?" 

The Quran says: God forbids you not, with regards to those who fight you not for [your] faith nor drive you out of your homes, from dealing kindly and justly with them; for God loveth those who are just. (Quran, 60.8) 

It is one function of Islamic law to protect the privileged status of minorities, and this is why non-Muslim places of worship have flourished all over the Islamic world. History provides many examples of Muslim tolerance towards other faiths: when the caliph Omar entered Jerusalem in the year 634, Islam granted freedom of worship to all religious communities in the city. 

Islamic law also permits non-Muslim minorities to set up their own courts, which implement family laws drawn up by the minorities themselves. 

When the caliph Omar took Jerusalem from the Byzantine, he insisted on entering the city with only a small number of his companions. Proclaiming to the inhabitants that their lives and property were safe, and that their places of worship would never be taken from them, he asked the Christian patriarch Sophronius to accompany him on a visit to all the holy places. 

The Patriarch invited him to pray in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, but he preferred to pray outside its gates, saying that if he accepted, later generations of Muslims might use his action as an excuse to turn it into a mosque. Above is the mosque built on the spot where Omar did pray. 

According to Islam, man is not born in 'original sin'. He is God's vicegerent on earth. Every child is born with the fitra, an innate disposition towards virtue, knowledge, and beauty. Islam considers itself to be the 'primordial religion', din al-hanif, it seeks to return man to his original, true nature in which he is in harmony with creation, inspired to do good, and confirming the Oneness of God. 

Question 17 "What do Muslims think about Jesus?"

Muslims respect and revere Jesus (SAW) and await his Second Coming. They consider him one of the greatest of God's messengers to mankind. A Muslim never refers to him simply as 'Jesus', but always adds the phrase 'upon him be peace'. The Quran confirms his virgin birth (a chapter of the Quran is entitled 'Mary'), and Mary is considered the purest woman in all creation. The Quran describes the Annunciation as follows: 

'Behold!' the Angel said, 'God has chosen you, and purified you, and chosen you above the women of all nations. O Mary, God gives you good news of a word from Him, whose name shall be the Messiah, Jesus son of Mary, honored in this world and the Hereafter, and one of those brought near to God. He shall speak to the people from his cradle and in maturity, and shall be of the righteous.' She said: 'O my Lord! How shall I have a son when no man has touched me?' He said: 'Even so; God creates what He will. When He decrees a thing He says to it, "Be!" and it is.' (Quran, 3.42-7) 

Jesus (SAW) was born miraculously through the same power which had brought Adam (SAW) into being without a father: 

Truly, the likeness of Jesus with God is as the likeness of Adam. He created him of dust, and then said to him, 'Be!' and he was. (3.59) During his prophetic mission Jesus (SAW) performed many miracles. The Quran tells us that he said: 

'I have come to you with a sign from your Lord: I make for you out of clay, as it were, the figure of a bird, and breathe into it and it becomes a bird by God's leave. And I heal the blind, and the lepers, and I raise the dead by God's leave.' (3.49) 

Neither Muhammad (SAW) nor Jesus (SAW) came to change the basic doctrine of the belief in One God, brought by earlier prophets, but to confirm and renew it. In the Quran Jesus (SAW) is reported as saying that he came: 

'To attest the law which was before me. And to make lawful to you paff of what was forbidden you; I have come to you with a sign from your Lord, so fear God and obey Me.' (3:5O) 

The Prophet Muhammad (SAW) said: 

'Whoever believes there is no god but God, alone without partner, that Muhammad (SAW) is His messenger, that Jesus is the servant and messenger of God, His word breathed into Mary and a spirit emanating from Him, and that Paradise and Hell are true, shall be received by God into Heaven.' (Hadith from Bukhari) 

Question 18 "Why is the family so important to Muslims?" 

The family is the foundation of Islamic society. The peace and security offered by a stable family unit is greatly valued, and seen as essential for the spiritual growth of its members. A harmonious social order is created by the existence of extended families; children are treasured, and rarely leave home until the time they marry. 

Question 19 "What about Muslim women ?" 

Islam sees a woman, whether single or married, as an individual in her own right, with the right to own and dispose of her property and earnings. A marriage dowry is given by the groom to the bride for her own personal use, and she keeps her own family name rather than taking her husband's. 

Both men and women are expected to dress in a way which is modest and dignified; the traditions of female dress found in some Muslim countries are often the expression of local customs. 

The Messenger of God said: 

'The most perfect in faith amongst believers is he who is best in manner and kindest to his wife.' 

Question 20 "Can a Muslim have more than one wife?" 

The religion of Islam was revealed for all societies and all times and so accommodates widely differing social requirements. Circumstances may warrant the taking of another wife but the right is granted, according to the Quran, only on condition that the husband is scrupulously fair. 

Question 21 "Is an Islamic marriage like a Christian marriage?" 

A Muslim marriage is not a 'sacrament', but a simple, legal agreement in which either partner is free to include conditions. Marriage customs thus vary widely from country to country. As a result, divorce is not common, although it is not forbidden as a last resort. According to Islam, no Muslim girl can be forced to marry against her will: her parents will simply suggest young men they think may be suitable. 

Question 22 "How do Muslims treat the elderly?" 

In the Islamic world there are no old people's homes. The strain of caring for one's parents in this most difficult time of their lives is considered an honor and blessing, and an opportunity for great spiritual growth. God asks that we not only pray for our parents, but act with limitless compassion, remembering that when we were helpless children they preferred us to themselves. Mothers are particularly honored: the Prophet (SAW) taught that 'Paradise lies at the feet of mothers'. When they reach old age, Muslim parents are treated mercifully, with the same kindness and selflessness. 

In Islam, serving one's parents is a duty second only to prayer, and it is their right to expect it. It is considered despicable to express any irritation when, through no fault of their own, the old become difficult. 

The Quran says: Your Lord has commanded that you worship none but Him, and be kind to parents. If either or both of them reach old age with you, do not say 'uff' to them or chide them, but speak to them in terms of honor and kindness. Treat them with humility, and say, 'My Lord! Have mercy on them, for they did care for me when I was little'. (17.23-4) 

Question 23 "How do Muslims view death?" 

Like Jews and Christians, Muslims believe that the present life is only a trial preparation for the next realm of existence. Basic articles of faith include: the Day of Judgment, resurrection, Heaven and Hell. When a Muslim dies, he or she is washed, usually by a family member, wrapped in a clean white cloth, and buried with a simple prayer preferably the same day. Muslims consider this one of the final services they can do for their relatives, and an opportunity to remember their own brief existence here on earth. The Prophet (SAW) taught that three things can continue to help a person even after death; charity which he had given, knowledge which he had taught and prayers on their behalf by a righteous child. 

Question 24 "What does Islam say about war?" 

Like Christianity, Islam permits fighting in self-defense, in defense of religion, or on the part of those who have been expelled forcibly from their homes. It lays down strict rules of combat which include prohibitions against harming civilians and against destroying crops, trees and livestock. As Muslims see it, injustice would be triumphant in the world if good men were not prepared to risk their lives in a righteous cause. The Quran says: 

'Fight in the cause of God against those who fight you, but do not transgress limits. God does not love transgressors.' (2.190) 

'If they seek peace, then seek you peace. And trust in God for He is the One that heareth and knoweth all things.' (8.61) 

War, therefore, is the last resort, and is subject to the rigorous conditions laid down by the sacred law. The term jihad literally means 'struggle', and Muslims believe that there are two kinds of jihad. The other jihad is the inner struggle which everyone wages against egotistic desires, for the sake of attaining inner peace. 

Question 25 "What about food?"

Although much simpler than the dietary law followed by Jews and the early Christians, the code which Muslims observe forbids the consumption of pig meat or any kind of intoxicating drink. The Prophet taught that 'your body has rights over you', and the consumption of wholesome food and the leading of a healthy lifestyle are seen as religious obligations. 

The Prophet (SAW) said: 'Ask God for certainty [of faith] and well-being; for after certainty, no one is given any gift better than health!' 

Question 26 "What is Islam's presence in the United States?" 

It is almost impossible to generalize about American Muslims: converts, immigrants, factory workers, doctors; all are making their own contribution to America's future. This complex community is unified by a common faith, under-pinned by a countrywide network of a thousand mosques. 

Muslims were early arrivals in North America. By the eighteenth century there were many thousands of them, working as slaves on plantations. These early communities, cut off from their heritage and families, inevitably lost their Islamic identity as time went by. Today many Afro-American Muslims play an important role in the Islamic community. 

The nineteenth century, however, saw the beginnings of an influx of Arab Muslims, most of whom settled in the major industrial centers where they worshiped in hired rooms. The early twentieth century witnessed the arrival of several hundred thousand Muslims from Eastern Europe: the first Albanian mosque was opened in Maine in 1915; others soon followed, and a group of Polish Muslims opened a mosque in Brooklyn in 1928. 

In 1947 the Washington Islamic Center was founded during the term of President Truman, and several nationwide organizations were set up in the fifties. The same period saw the establishment of other communities whose lives were in many ways modeled after Islam. More recently, numerous members of these groups have entered the fold of Muslim orthodoxy. Today there are about five million Muslims in America. 

Question 27 "How does Islam guarantee human rights ?" 

Freedom of conscience is laid down by the Quran itself: 'There is no compulsion in religion'. (2.256) 

The life and property of all citizens in an Islamic state are considered sacred whether a person is Muslim or not. 

Racism is incomprehensible to Muslims, for the Quran speaks of human equality in the following terms: 

'O mankind! We created you from a single soul, male and female, and made you into nations and tribes, so that you may come to know one another. Truly, the most honored of you in God 's sight is the greatest of you in piety. God is All-Knowing, All-Aware'. (49.13) 

Question 28 "What is the makeup of The Muslim World?" 

The Muslim population of the world is around one billion. Most Muslims live east of Karachi. 30% of Muslims live in the Indian subcontinent, 20 % in Sub-Saharan Africa, 17% in Southeast Asia, 18% in the Arab world, 10% in the Soviet Union and China. Turkey, Iran and Afghanistan comprise 10% of the non-Arab Middle East. Although there are Muslim minorities in almost every area including Latin America and Australia, they are most numerous in the Soviet Union, India, and central Afnca. There are 5 million Muslims in the United States. 

[Elsie]

Most Christians will tend to agree that the OT is useful to see how God related to His people in the past, and the NT contains how to relate to Him now.

 

We do not rush out to kill our enemies and displace them from their lands, because of their relious beliefs today.

---

 

Matthew 5:43-45
 43.  "You have heard that it was said, `Love your neighbor  and hate your enemy.'
 44.  But I tell you: Love your enemies  and pray for those who persecute you,
 45.  that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.

 

 

Matthew 13:27-30
 27.  "The owner's servants came to him and said, `Sir, didn't you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?'
 28.  "`An enemy did this,' he replied.   "The servants asked him, `Do you want us to go and pull them up?'
 29.  "`No,' he answered, `because while you are pulling the weeds, you may root up the wheat with them.
 30.  Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.'"

 

 

Luke 6:26-28
 26.  Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for that is how their fathers treated the false prophets.
 27.  "But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,
 28.  bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.

 

 

Luke 6:35
 35.  But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.

 

 

Romans 12:17-21
 17.  Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody.
 18.  If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.
 19.  Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay,"  says the Lord.
 20.  On the contrary: "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head."
 21.  Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

 

 

Galatians 4:16
 16.  Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth?

 

---

On the other hand, Muslims claim EVERYTHING in their book is to be taken as Gospel (now THERE is an inverted use of the word!)

 

Strike terror into the hearts of the enemies of Allah and your enemies.

Surah 8:60

Fight, kill them (non muslims ) and Allah will punish them by your hands, cover them with shame.

Surah 9:14

O Ye who believe! Fight the unbelievers, let them find harshness in you and know Allah is with those who fear him.

Surah 9:123

From the sayings of Mohammed:
I Have been ordered to fight with the people till they say, none has the right to be worshipped but Allah.

Al-Bukhari Vol 4:196

 

---

So, while some may claim that the 'same' Supreme Being is worshipped (under different names), the written works of each is so dissimilar that this assertion is seen to be incorrect, if the written word is, indeed, caused to be written by the same god.

[RISU]

Chuck Colson was on TV Sunday and said the religion is violent and capable of evil. I believe it based upon what we have already seen. Question you have to ask is "Is anything in the attack on 911 contrary to the teaching".

That attack was the religion taken to the final end.

This Islam religion is an enemy to America. Lethal enemy.

[RISU]

Wat to go RAVEN! You know hopw to communicate better than everyone else.!!

The FACTS are louder than the BS from the liberal mush heads.

[ZULU]

The problem Elsie, is that other people's idea of the Holy Book differs to a degree from yours. Although the Torah, Bible and Koran are similar, the last named is a different book altogether, but believed by its followers to be based on the teachings of the Bible and Torah as well as the prophecies of Mohammad.

I don't think anyone can second guess God. The salvation of every person is in His hands and all we can do is try to live the best life possible and follow God's words as we understand them to be.

[exmarine]

What I am saying is that the face of modern Fundamentalist Islam is the face of the Wahhabi sect, that not all Muslims are Wahhabists, and that Wahhabism is NOT traditional Islam.

You are wrong. Wahhabi sect does indeed represent fundamental islam because its tenets come straight from the Koran and the Hadith.

Anyone who has read a modicum of history knows that in the PAST, Christians and Jews fared far better under Islam than did Muslims under Christianity.

I have a degree in history, and I stating outright that Christians and Jews never fared well under Islam once it started spreading. Give me specific time period and locale where Christians ever fared well under Islam. Islam attacked Christendom first (look up the name "Charles Martel"). The Crusades came long after the muslims attacked Europe!

Islam, Christianity and Judaism have the same roots,

I fear it is you who need the history education. Islam came over 600 years after Christianity and the Koran gets many bible passages wrong! Allah is NOT the same God as Christians worship - many scholars have clearly shown that Allah was once a moon-god, a deity in a pantheon of 360 arabian gods. Clearly, the two concepts of who God is CONTRADICT each other and both cannot possibly be true.

[exmarine]

I hate people who are trying to kill me or destroy my country. I don't hate people because of their essential religious beliefs.

I don't hate people - but I hate their satanic hateful religion. If their essential religious beliefs call for my desruction, then their religion must be destroyed first!

personally, I'd be happier if Muslism were kept out of here until this terrorism can be stopped. But I'm not a religious bigot. I think you are. All roads that lead to God are Good Roads, as long sa they are not built over the corpses of other Human Beings.

This statement shows your utter ignorance about islam. All roads lead to heaven eh? Let me put it to you simply and logically so you can understand. Islam claims Jesus Christ is not God, Christians claim He is. Islam claims that there is one God and He is not trinitarian, Christianity proclaims a Holy Trinity (Father, Son, Spirit). BOTH CANNOT BE TRUE. Get it? Do you think the REAL God values truth? Do you think that it matters to God if we believe in the Real God or do you think He just overlooks it when we worship other false Gods...that as long as one is "sincere" in their belief, God approves? Hitler was sincere in his beliefs; Stalin was sincere in his atheism; the muslim terrorists who murder women and children are certainly sincere in their beliefs. All roads DO NOT lead to heaven pal. Jesus Christ said, "I am the way, the Truth and the life and no man comes to the Father but by me." Either Jesus is a liar or islam is a liar. Which is it?

[faintpraise]

I don't feel threatened by moderate Muslims whose beliefs are described by this article. They should not be targets of America's war on terrorism. The war should only target terrorist groups which directly threaten America, like Al Qaeda, and the governments that harbor them, like the former Taliban regime in Afghanistan. Every precaution should be taken to avoid civilian casualties.

[ZULU]

"You are wrong. Wahhabi sect does indeed represent fundamental islam because its tenets come straight from the Koran and the Hadith."

I am not asserting that Islam is a peaceful religion. I am asserting that Wahhabi Islam is responsible for the violence and aggression generated in the Islamic world today. There are Islamic sects like the Sufis which are non-violent. Like most religious books, you can extract whatever you want to justify anything from the Koran or the Bible for that matter. There ARE Muslims out there who are non-vilent and are intimadated by the Wahhabis, who control the Islamic holy sites and the oil wealth WE give them with our petrodollars.

"I have a degree in history, and I stating outright that Christians and Jews never fared well under Islam once it started spreading. Give me specific time period and locale where Christians ever fared well under Islam. Islam attacked Christendom first (look up the name "Charles Martel"). The Crusades came long after the muslims attacked Europe! "

One of the reasons that Islam was so successful in overrunning the middle east and Egypt and north Africa was because the native populations there found the Muslims did not interfere with or oppress them in the practise of the versions of Christianity they professed which differed from the orthodox version enforced by the Byzantine Emperor.

There was a thriving non-Catholic Christian community in Jerusalem and a thriving Jewsih quarter there under Islam before the arrival of the Crisaders. Once Jerusalem was captured, the eastern Christians found themselves either masacred with the Muslim population, or relegated to a status far worse than anything they experienced under the Muslims. The Jews were simply exterminated.

At times in the Balkans, the various Christian sects there were better off and kept peace with one another under Ottoman Islamic control.

Even today, there are Christian communities in Egypt and Iraq which can still practise their beliefs. As soon as the Christians took over Spain and Sicily, they exterminated, forcibly converted or drove out ALL Muslims from the territiory under their control.

Jewish scholars and Jews themselves were well treated and tolerated under the Ottomans and the medieval Islamic rulers of north Africa, Spain and the Middle East. In Christian Europe, Jews were continually subjected to brutal pograms, and even in some cases such as Spain and England, driven from the Country.

Fundamentalist Islam today is not the same creature as the Islam of the Middle Ages or even of the later Ottoman Empire.

"I fear it is you who need the history education. Islam came over 600 years after Christianity and the Koran gets many bible passages wrong! Allah is NOT the same God as Christians worship - many scholars have clearly shown that Allah was once a moon-god, a deity in a pantheon of 360 arabian gods. Clearly, the two concepts of who God is CONTRADICT each other and both cannot possibly be true."

True, Islam came 600 years after Christ. However, Islam is a montheistic religion. Muslims accept the Jewsih Prophets and Christ as prophets of God and honor them as such. They consider themselves followers of the same religious thread as that of Moses and Christ. They consideer the Koran their sacred text, but also revere the Bible as they feel their religion and the prophecies of Mohammad are based on Biblical foundations.

Neither I, nor any Muslims I know of consider Allah a pagan moon god. Every authority I have read, Christian and Muslim equates Allah with Yahweh and the "God" of the Christians.

[ZULU]

"I don't hate people - but I hate their satanic hateful religion. If their essential religious beliefs call for my desruction, then their religion must be destroyed first!"

You can't destroy a religious belief without destroying the people who practice it. Islam is not an enemy of America. Wahhabi Islam is. If the Wahhabists can convince Americans that ALL Muslims are their enemy (all four billion of them) then they have achieved their goal. I don't see four billion suicide bombers or four billion terrorists, do you? If all Muslims hated us as much you seem to think they do, we would be in a lot worse throuble than we are now.

"This statement shows your utter ignorance about islam. All roads lead to heaven eh?"

I said all roads that lead to God are good roads.

"Islam claims Jesus Christ is not God, Christians claim He is. Islam claims that there is one God and He is not trinitarian, Christianity proclaims a Holy Trinity (Father, Son, Spirit). BOTH CANNOT BE TRUE. Get it? Do you think the REAL God values truth?"

Islam does not believe Christ is the Son of God. They believe He is a major Prophet. Christians believe Christ is the Son of God. The "God" Christians believe Christ is the Son of (God the Father) is the same God that Jews worship as Yahweh and Muslims worship as Allah. Yes, Muslims do not believe in a triune God, neither do modern Jews. I think God values people who try to keep His word as they understand it, lead decent lives, and treat their fellow human beings as they would wish themselves to be treated. Only God can understand real Truth. Being finite creatures with a finite mind, we are incapapble of understanding God or the Real Truth.

"Hitler was sincere in his beliefs; Stalin was sincere in his atheism; the muslim terrorists who murder women and children are certainly sincere in their beliefs."

Hitler, Stalin and the Islamic terrorists who kill civilians are psychopathic madmen. Would compare ALL Muslims to these people, creatures torn by hate against their fellow men?

"All roads DO NOT lead to heaven pal."

Right. All roads don't lead to heaven and I didn't say that. I said that all roads that lead to God are good roads. There are many roads which can lead to God and I disagree with an interpretation of God, Christ and Scripture in which an all-knowing, all-loving and all-merciful God condemns anyone who is not a Christian to eternal damnation.

In your certitude of religious feelings and intolerance of the beliefs of others, sincere as you are obvously are, you sound philosophically very much like the very people you so abhor.

[exmarine]

I am the last one to defend Islam, but by your definition of what constitutes the "Christian" God, you would therefore postulate that the Jews don't worship the same God we do, simply because they don't accept Christ as the Son that of God.

The Christian God and God of Judaism are one and the same, but jews also do not believe in the trinity, which means that they also are outside of the truth. However, the jews are different from muslims because God chose them as His people and thru them he revealed the Law and the Prophets, and thru them came His Son, Jesus Christ (himself a jew). However, those who reject Jesus Christ have no hope of salvation because there is then no provision for forgiveness of their sins. That being said, I believe God has a plan for the jewish people. In fact, Paul wrote in Romans that one day "all Isreal would be saved" meaning that one day the jews would come to know the Savior of the World. Do you know the Savior? The one who paid the penalty for your sins? Do you accept that you need a Savior because you have blown it?

YOUR statemnt is both absurd and religiously bigoted. Read some books about comparative theology. Allah, Yahweh and "God" are the same person whether or not you accept Christ as his son.

My statement is the truth. Sometimes the truth seems bigoted because truth by definition is very narrow. But I will state one more time that you are wrong. Allah is not hte same as Yahweh and anyone who says this is not familiar with the history of both religions. The Koran accounts of Abraham and other patriarchs directly conflict with the accoounts in the bible. One of the accounts has to be wrong. Obviously, the bible is right and the Koran is wrong as the bible preceded the Koran, it was written 1000-2000 years before the Koran. Muslims even deny that Jesus Christ died on the cross - in direct contradiction to the eyewitnesses who said he did. Which is more credible - the eyewitness or the one writing 700 years later?

[exmarine]

You can't destroy a religious belief without destroying the people who practice it. Islam is not an enemy of America. Wahhabi Islam is.

You can repeat this mantra as many times as you want and it will be false every single time. Wahhabi islam IS fundamental islam. Period. Islam's founder was a violent warlike slave-holder who attacked caravans and forced people to convert. Sound familiar? Throughout history, Islam has attacked Christianity and other unsuspecting peoples - islam was spread by the sword, not by verbal persuasion! You need a lesson in history, not me. The attacks stopped for awhile when Christian Europe became more powerful than Islam in the 1600s, and after the death of the moribund Ottoman empire after WW I, islam became weak compared to the west and knew it would be clobbered if it attacked Christian nations. Strength is the only thing that will sway a fundamental muslim.

I think God values people who try to keep His word as they understand it, lead decent lives, and treat their fellow human beings as they would wish themselves to be treated.

It doesn't matter what you think, it only matters what Jesus Christ says. And He says that it does matter to God what people believe. Read the first commandment! Do not have 'ANY OTHER GODS BEFORE ME'. Jesus said that He alone is the way to heaven. So, the question you must resolve is: Is Jesus a liar or is He truly Lord?

[exmarine]

In your certitude of religious feelings and intolerance of the beliefs of others, sincere as you are obvously are, you sound philosophically very much like the very people you so abhor.

Tolerance? I tolerate the beliefs of others - I allow them to believe what they want without attacking them as long as they don't attack me first (with force). Does this mean I have to AGREE with them? Are you saying that if I disagree with someone I am intolerant? You need to look up the defintion of tolerance in the dictionary. Tolerance requires disagreement! By your standards of tolerance, you are intolerant because you are not tolerant of MY beliefs! Am I allowed to have my own opinion - even if it does not match what is politically correct? You bet. This is America. Read the title of this website - FREE REPUBLIC. I may not be free to say these things in Iraq, but this is America pal. I spit on your idea of tolerance.

[exmarine]

I disagree with an interpretation of God, Christ and Scripture in which an all-knowing, all-loving and all-merciful God condemns anyone who is not a Christian to eternal damnation.

The bible also disagrees with you. Which is more credible? The bible or you? The bible clearly states that one must be born again by putting their faith in Jesus Christ in order to be saved. There is no other way. If there was another way, God would not have sent Jesus Christ to die for the sins of the world, would he? The bible says that there "is none righteous, no not one" (romans 3:10) and that "all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God" (romans 3:23). God is Holy and perfect and good and sin cannot come into His presence. You may think you are a cdecent person, but you are mislead by your human perspective. From God's perspective, you are a fallen sinner and since God is also PERFECTLY JUST, He must punish you for your sins. Let me give you an analogy:

Suppose that you are a judge in the Superior Court for criminal trials, and suppose you had a son who stole a car and was caught red handed. Suppose he pleaded guilty, but was real sorrowful and remorseful (with tears). Would you still have to punish him? You bet you would - if you were a judge worth your salt! Now, imagine a perfectly just God - do you think He can just let you off? No way. Let's try another one:

There are a million ways to sin. In word (saying hateful things), in thought (lusting after another man's wife), or in deed (stealing or murdering). Also, one can sin by not doing something - not being kind enough, not praying every day, etc. So many ways to sin... We all sin many times a day, don't we? Now suppose I only sinned 3 times a day. That would add up to about 1000 sins a year and if I live 70 years, 70,000 sins in a lifetime. Do you think God will just accept my 70,000 sins? No, my friend, he won't. That is why He sent His son - to pay the penalty I could not pay - to die in my place! If you reject so great a salvation, do you really think you will be spared? Suppose you made a 3-egg omelette for some friends, and suppose one egg was rotten? Would they notice when they tasted it? You bet. By the same token, what makes you think you can serve up your sins to God and expect him to accept them?

[exmarine]

Would compare ALL Muslims to these people, creatures torn by hate against their fellow men?

You need to read my posts again. I didn't say all muslims. Most muslims (80%) are nominal muslims - they do not practice fundamental islam. And most are probably peaceful people. But there is no denying that fundamental islam is bent on destroying the U.S. and other infidels and therefore it must be destroyed first. Islam is not peace. It is violence and death and its history proves it. Next time, try backing up your assertions with hard facts.

[Elsie]

. Although the Torah, Bible and Koran are similar,

SIMILAR?

In that they speak about GOD.

The Jews and the Muslim's BOTH have a WORKS oriented religion: Be GOOD or else! If you think orthodox Jews have it rough in followinhg merely 613 laws, look into an official Muslim websbite and see ALL of the stuff THEY have to do! And in the end, the can only hope that when the end of their coffin opens, and they are poured out into the scales, their good deeds outweigh the bad!

Christians, on the other hand, rely on faith in GOD's promise. Faith alone is their watchword. Of course, good works and clean living should be a consequence of Faith, it is STILL the faith that does it.

True, there are MANY people who call them selves Christian that are relying on their 'good works' to 'help' in their Salvation, but this thread is not the place to be bringing THAT up.

---

I don't think anyone can second guess God.(True, but we humans try to do it all the time.)

The salvation of every person is in His hands and all we can do is try to live the best life possible and follow God's words as we understand them to be. AMEN!

---

......as we understand them to be

But, it's in this UNDERSTANDING that is ALL the trouble! As I posted earlier, the words in each Book are just too dissimilar.....

[ZULU]

"there is no denying that fundamental islam is bent on destroying the U.S. and other infidels and therefore it must be destroyed first. Islam is not peace. It is violence and death and its history proves it. Next time, try backing up your assertions with hard facts."

I think we both agree on Fundamentalist Islam. Where we disagree is on Islam in general. See my newsmax post today.

[stuartcr]

I don't know.

[tang-soo]

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