Islam as viewed by others.

firmbeliever · Aug 21, 2007, 05:58 AM

As I am a firm believer in Islam, I would like to hear what others see in muslims and Islam.
Or if they have any misconception about Islam, I would like to hear about them.

If you know muslims personally what have you seen in them and what has changed in your view after meeting them and knowing them.

I hope to hear your views on this...

Thank you all

Jesushelper76 · Aug 24, 2007, 11:26 AM

Is Allah, considered to be the same as the Christian God? This might sound like an ignorant question but I do not know much about Islam? Do Islam respect and believe in the Christian God to be the same. All in one? Does islam believe in Jesus to be part of God?

Edit:::: Muslim and Islam are the same?

Jesushelper76 · Aug 24, 2007, 11:59 AM

Why do you, or islam do not believe in the crucifixion of Jesus? Also was not the Quran written by man as well? Is it not true that both the bible and Quran were written by the hands of people through the revelation from God?

Does quron or Allah teach exceptance of all people, no matter what their belief? I am curious on the rules and guidelines of Allah, I also hear they are very similar to the Bible. That the bible is more history based with details and Quran is more of a Blueprint with guidelines of how to live without the historic background, what is your take on this?

templelane · Aug 24, 2007, 01:13 PM

I have known many muslims down the years my school was about a third muslim which when you consider most of the non muslims where agnostic/athiest probably made it the majority religion. This being so I never learnt about it in RE just other religions.

My lasting impressions of muslims/islam are Eid, Ramadam, henna and calvin klein hijabs. Most 'muslims' I meet now are not very strict, about the same as westeners you can stop in the street who call themselves 'kinda christian I suppose.' I put this down to the fact I work in a scientific field.

There is a lot of muslim terrorists in my country at the moment (my friend dated one!) but I remember back when it was the IRA so it's all swings and roundabouts really. Anybody who judges a whole religion and it's followers by a couple of fanatics actions is an idiot in my book.

shygrneyzs · Aug 24, 2007, 05:34 PM

The first time I met a Muslim was when I was a senior in high school - there was a foreign exchange student from Morocco. I remember him as a very kind and caring person. He was only in the U.S. one year and then to go back to his family. He was VERY patient in answering questions about his country and his beliefs. One thing he did mention, more than once, was the liberalism in dress for women. That was 1969-1970 and many girls were definitely in the fashion of short skirts and the like. He did not think that was appropriate and he was right!

In college there was a group of four or five students from Iran who went to my college and several from Saudi Arabia. You could not ask for nicer people. Some of them were in my philosophy class and they would go round and round with the monk who was teaching. I got more education out of the dialogue between them and the instructor than I got out of the philosophy books. Two were in my Old Testament class and it was amazing to me to see the parallels in teachings.

Now I have a little contact as there is a family that just moved here from Nigeria that are Muslim and I see again that Muslims are peace loving. I know there are the radicals out there - but honestly those radicals exist in every country, in every faith, and every point of origin. It would never be fair to place all in the same category as those who expouse violence as a answer to the world. While I do not share the belief in Allah, I can respect those that do.

Hope this helps answer your question.

firmbeliever · Aug 24, 2007, 07:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by templelane

I have known many muslims down the years my school was about a third muslim which when you consider most of the non muslims where agnostic/athiest probably made it the majority religion. This being so I never learnt about it in RE just other religions.

My lasting impressions of muslims/islam are Eid, Ramadam, henna and calvin klein hijabs. Most 'muslims' I meet now are not very strict, about the same as westeners you can stop in the street who call themselves 'kinda christian I suppose.' I put this down to the fact I work in a scientific field.

There is a lot of muslim terrorists in my country at the moment (my friend dated one!) but I remember back when it was the IRA so it's all swings and roundabouts really. Anybody who judges a whole religion and it's followers by a couple of fanatics actions is an idiot in my book.

We have two eids,one right after the Fasting month of Ramadhan and the other Eid is the celebration of the end of Hajj (the pilgrimage to Mecca).

About Henna, we are allowed to use Henna on our hands as decoration, but permanent tattooing is not allowed.
The reason for this is we have a ritual right before we pray or read the Quran (in its original form in Arabic),in that we have to wash palms,mouth and nose,face,hands,wipe our hair with water,wipe both our ears with water and wash our feet. And each part is washed three times each,except for the hair and ears, one of the musts of this ritual is water must touch the skin and tattoos and nail varnish prevent us from this.
Some use nail varnish during the period when we cannot pray, which is during the monthly menses for women,as this is considered an impurity.
We can start praying right after the menses but after a ritual bath. Even sexual intercourse is forbidden during the periods as this a time of uncleanliness and danger of disease for the husband.

Calvin Klein hijabs are just comercialised headscarves to market in the muslim community.Some assume that the headscarf is a form of opression or not as a compulsory thing, but it is stated in the Quran that both men and women should lower their gaze(i.e not look at forbidden things), and to gaurd their modesty.Even Scholars of Islam agree that the minimal covering of the whole body except for the hands and face is recommended by Allah. The dispute between scholars rises on the face veil, which was a practice(Allahs command) of the wives(May Allah be pleased with them) of the Prophet (peace be upon him), and as we regard them to be the mothers of all believers we try to emulate them as much as possible.

Some people consider the lowering of the gaze and such commands from Allah as too strict, but in Islam most commands are as a prevention before the act happens.
Everyone knows how hard men and women work on keeping their wives and husbands from cheating on them, by the command to lower the gaze prevents one from the forbidden look which in turn may or may not lead to a forbidden act.
I am not saying muslims do not cheat or have sex outside of marriage, but if one is a good practicer of Islam, they would be safe from STI,unwanted pregnancies etc.
Another thing about women being covered is the peace of mind we women have in that I do not have to compete with other women to look sexier,more beautiful or to have the perfect body.This unhealthy competition between women is eliminated in that we stop trying to show off our bodies except our husbands.

About strictness of muslims,all of us are supposed to be fundamentalists in that we should be following the fundamental principles of the religion in order to be a muslim.
The five pillars,the articles of faith are to be believed and followed. And our conduct must be according to the Quran and the Prophet's (peace be upon him) way pf conducting himself.
Mohammed The Prophet By Prof. K. S. Ramakrishna Rao
Here is an article by a non muslim on Muhammad (pbuh).

The word fundamentalist as been used by the media is a biased term and it is used only in reference to muslims, whereas there are orthodox Jews and fundamental Christians too.
The funny thing is if we were to leave the basics of the religion we follow we would cease to be Muslims as the fundamental beliefs is what defines each religion.

Thank you Templelane and Shygrneyzs for your unbiased opinion and for not judging us by what is portrayed by the mass media.

Marily · Aug 24, 2007, 08:58 PM

What i am trying to say firmbeliever is when God comes back, we all will know what the truth is whether the bible was tampered with as you believe or whether the koran was the holy book of God

firmbeliever · Aug 24, 2007, 11:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marily

What i am trying to say firmbeliever is when God comes back, we all will know what the truth is whether the bible was tampered with as you believe or whether the koran was the holy book of God

"when God comes back"
Therein lies the difference of our opinion, we do not believe God will descend to earth, but Jesus (alaihi salaam), the messenger of God...

I agree with you Marily that when Jesus (alahi salaam) descends to earth all falsehood will perish and the truth will be established.

Marily · Aug 25, 2007, 12:25 AM

Just out of curiosity, who is alaihi salaam ? According to islam who is Jesus and who is God ?