What is Islam?

[Teacher]

The literal meaning of Islam is peace; surrender of one’s will i.e. losing oneself for the sake of God and surrendering one’s own pleasure for the pleasure of God. The message of Islam was revealed to the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings on him) 1, 400 years ago. It was revealed through angel Gabriel (on whom be peace) and was thus preserved in the Holy Quran. The Holy Quran carries a Divine guarantee of safeguard from interpolation and it claims that it combines the best features of the earlier scriptures.

The prime message of Islam is the Unity of God, that the Creator of the world is One and He alone is worthy of worship and that Muhammad (peace and blessings on him) is His Messenger and Servant. The follower of this belief is thus a Muslim - a Muslim’s other beliefs are: God’s angels, previously revealed Books of God, all the prophets, from Adam to Jesus (peace be on them both), the Day of Judgement and indeed the Decree of God. A Muslim has five main duties to perform, namely; bearing witness to the Unity of God and Muhammad (peace and blessings on him) as His Messenger, observing the prescribed prayer, payment of Zakat, keeping the fasts of Ramadhan and performing the pilgrimage to Mecca.

Islam believes that each person is born pure. The Holy Quran tells us that God has given human beings a choice between good and evil and to seek God’s pleasure through faith, prayer and charity. Islam believes that God created mankind in His image and by imbuing the attributes of God on a human level mankind can attain His nearness. Islam’s main message is to worship God and to treat all God’s creation with kindness and compassion. Rights of parents in old age, orphans and the needy are clearly stated. Women’s rights were safeguarded 1,400 years ago when the rest of the world was in total darkness about emancipation. Islamic teachings encompass every imaginable situation and its rules and principles are truly universal and have stood the test of time.

In Islam virtue does not connote forsaking the bounties of nature that are lawful. On the contrary one is encouraged to lead a healthy, active life with the qualities of kindness, chastity, honesty, mercy, courage patience and politeness. In short, Islam has a perfect and complete code for the guidance of individuals and communities alike. As the entire message of Islam is derived from the Holy Quran and indeed the Sunnah and Hadith (the traditions and practices of the Holy Prophet, peace and blessings on him) it is immutable in the face of change in time and place. It may appear rigid to the casual eye, in actual fact it is most certainly an adaptable way of life regardless of human changes.

Islam teaches that the path to spiritual development is open to all. Any individual who searches the One Creator can seek nearness to God through sincere and earnest worship; it is central to establishing a relationship with the Almighty. This positive message for humanity fills hearts with hope and courage.

At present there are 1.5 billion Muslims worldwide and they form the majority in more than 50 countries of the world. Today Islam is the fastest growing faith in the world - its beautiful message is reaching millions in the far corner of the earth.

[Doh]

What a crock!

[SUPERIOR AUSSIE]

So, you think the Ku Klux Klan
and the Spanish Inquisition are bad?
So do we, but...
Put the Numbers in Perspective

More people are killed by Islamists each year than in all 350 years of the Spanish Inquisition combined.

Islamic terrorists murder more people everyday than the Ku Klux Klan has in the last 50 years.

More civilians were killed by Muslim extremists in two hours on September 11th than in the 36 years of sectarian conflict in Northern Ireland.

19 Muslim hijackers killed more innocents in two hours on September 11th than the number of American criminals executed in the last 65 years.

[SUPERIOR AUSSIE]

Though most Muslims today reject the practice of outright forcing others into changing their religion, forced conversion has been a part of Islamic history since Muhammad first picked up a sword. As he is recorded in many places as saying, "I have been commanded to fight against people till they testify that there is no god but Allah, that Muhammad is the messenger of Allah..." (See Bukhari 2:24)

Muhammad put his words into practice. When he marched into Mecca with an army, one of his very first tasks was to destroy idols at the Kaaba, which had been devoutly worshipped by the Arabs for centuries. By eliminating these objects of worship, he destroyed the religion of the people and supplanted it with his own. Later, he ordered that Jews and Christians who would not convert to Islam be expelled from Arabia (See Sahih Muslim 19:4366). Does forcing others to choose between their homes or their faith sound like "no compulsion in religion?

[SUPERIOR AUSSIE]

The Myth:

Muhammad Would Never Approve of Murder

The Truth:

“Kill any Jew that falls into your power!”

This was the command that Muhammad gave to his people following the murder of another Jew named Ka’b al-Ashraf. From the nighttime assassination of Asma bint Marwan (a poet and mother of five) to the Christians killed at Tabuk, this is but one of many examples from the Sira that refute the silly idea that the prophet of Islam never approved of murder.

Following the gory assassination of al-Ashraf, Muhammad wished to assert his dominance in Medina by instilling terror into the hearts of the local Jewish population. Many of the locals were having second thoughts about allowing the Muslim immigrants into their community, which seemed particularly unwise in retrospect given that Muhammad had already begun killing and evicting the original residents only eighteen months after arriving.

Muhammad’s solution was to intimidate the local populace, particularly the two surviving Jewish tribes (the Nadir and Qurayza). Gleeful over the successful assassination of the Nadir leader, al-Ashraf, the prophet of Islam immediately exhorted his men to a random murder spree that would further narrow down the opposition through terror and conversion.

Following Muhammad’s mandate to kill "any Jew that falls into your power," a Muslim follower stabbed his Jewish business partner to death. The Muslim's brother was initially horrified by the crime, since they were not only on friendly terms with the victim, but the merchant was integral to their own livelihood:

The apostle said,“Kill any Jew that falls into your power.” Thereupon Muhayyisa lepat upon Ibn Sunayna, a Jewish merchant with whom they had social and business relations, and killed him. Huwayyisa was not a Muslim at the time, though he was the elder brother. When Muhayyisa killed [the Jew] Huwayyisa began to beat him, saying,“You enemy of God, did you kill him when much of the fat on your belly comes from his wealth?” Muhayyisa answered,“Had the one who ordered me to kill him ordered me to kill you I would have cut your head off.” This was the beginning of Huwayyisa’s acceptance of Islam…[Huwayyisa] replied exclaimed,“By God, a religion which can bring you to this is marvelous!” and he became a Muslim.(Ibn Ishaq 554)

[SUPERIOR AUSSIE]

cont-
The unbelieving brother is quite impressed with Islam’s ability to influence a man even to kill his own family on Muhammad's order. As such, he accepts the “Religion of Peace” on the spot (assuming his conversion was not out of self-preservation).

Becoming a Muslim was, in fact, the only way to ensure that one wasn’t killed by Muhammad’s men at the time. Murder in Islam is defined as a person killing another member of their own class (see the Law of Equality, Qur’an 2:178). Whereas a Muslim is prohibited from killing another (true) Muslim, Muhammad found plenty of excuses to kill non-Muslims over non-capital offenses – as this, the murder of Ibn Sunayna the Jewish merchant, proves.

[SUPERIOR AUSSIE]

“Other religions kill, too.”
The Muslim Game:
Bringing other religions down to the level of Islam is one of the most popular strategies of Muslim apologists when confronted with the spectacle of Islamic violence. Remember Timothy McVeigh, the Oklahoma City bomber? Why pick on Islam if other religions have the same problems?

The Truth:

Because they don’t.

Regardless of what his birth certificate may or may not have said, Timothy McVeigh was not a religious man (in fact, he was an atheist). At no time did he credit his deeds to religion, quote Bible verses, or claim that he killed for God.

The so-called “members of other faiths” alluded to by Muslims are nearly always just nominal members who have no active involvement. They are neither inspired by, nor do they credit religion as Muslim terrorists do, and this is what makes it a very different matter.

Islam is associated with Islamic terrorism because that is the association that the terrorists themselves choose to make.

Muslims who compare crime committed by people who happen to be nominal members of other religions to religious terror committed explicitly in the name of Islam are comparing apples to oranges.

[Teacher]

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.

[Teacher]

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.

[Gottaliv]

Teacher wrote:

Today Islam is the fastest growing faith in the world - its beautiful message is reaching millions in the far corner of the earth.

Please enlighten me - what is the "beautiful message" of Islam? And also please tell me why Muslims ostracise, kill, beat and burn alive those of a different faith?

And why do you feel the need to spread your Islam propaganda on this forum?

[Teacher]

Gottaliv wrote:

<quoted text>
Please enlighten me - what is the "beautiful message" of Islam? And also please tell me why Muslims ostracise, kill, beat and burn alive those of a different faith?
And why do you feel the need to spread your Islam propaganda on this forum?

Bring your Grey matter to life in Islam.

[Teacher]

Few topics touch a raw nerve in the United States like race and racism in America. Given the deeply embedded psychology and history of racism found in American society, it is often surprising to discover individuals who have truly fought against racial hatred with not just their words and actions, but in the two most important battlegrounds: their hearts and minds. Abdussalam Sipes is one example of this.

Sipes is currently chief of security at a masjid. His calm, frank discussion of his journey from being a member of the virulently racist American white supremacist group Ku Klux Klan (KKK) to his decision to leave racial hatred, and then his acceptance of Islam will make you not only see one individual's courage to change paths and "see the light" -it will also bring tears to your eyes.

[TBA]

Why is islam the only main religion which forbids anyone from leaving it?
Why can't muslim women marry other men and why do muslim men have to convert their non muslim wives?

[Teacher]

Gottaliv wrote:

<quoted text>
Please enlighten me - what is the "beautiful message" of Islam? And also please tell me why Muslims ostracise, kill, beat and burn alive those of a different faith?
And why do you feel the need to spread your Islam propaganda on this forum?

Islam is an Arabic word which means peace, purity, acceptance and commitment. The religion of Islam is the complete acceptance of the teachings and the guidance of God,(i.e. surrender to the Will of Allah).

A Muslim is one who accepts freely and willingly the supreme power of Allah and strives for total re-organisation of his life according to the revealed teachings of God. He also works towards the establishment of a just social order which would totally reflect the guidance of God.

[Doh]

Gottaliv wrote:

<quoted text>
Please enlighten me - what is the "beautiful message" of Islam? And also please tell me why Muslims ostracise, kill, beat and burn alive those of a different faith?
And why do you feel the need to spread your Islam propaganda on this forum?

Don't they also ostracize, kill, beat and burn alive those of the same faith?

[Teacher]

A Mexican-American finds answers to many questions about life and faith.

In high school, I received a jolt to my long-held belief when a Christian friend told me that the Holy Trinity was not true and that Jesus was not God. "He's wrong," I told myself. Jesus had to be God because God and humanity were diconnected by the sin committed by Adam and Eve. God, I reasoned to myself, had sent His only 'begotten' son to die because He loved us so much. And because only God forgives, Jesus had to be God. I even had the Bible quotes to prove it! Indeed, being a devout Roman Catholic, I had read almost the entire Bible. In high school, I was a lecturer, usher, Eucharistic minister, Sunday school teacher, and the godfather for a nephew and a niece. The idea that Jesus was God made sense.

I am a Mexican-American who comes from a modest background. I spent my adolescent and teenage years in such small Texas Panhandle towns as Quitaque, Turkey, Lakeview, and Memphis. None of them has a mall, a movie theater, or a McDonald's. Memphis, TX, population 2,300, proudly proclaims itself "The Cotton Capital of the World." In Memphis, if you hear a fire truch or police car, either your neighbor's house is on fire or your neighbor is being arrested. Growing up in small communities gave me much appreciation for the simplicity in God's creation.

I graduated from Memphis High School (1994), enrolled in Texas Tech University in Lubbock, and graduated with a BA in management information systems from the University of Texas at Austin (2001). Not bad for a kid who hoed cotton most of his junior high and high school summers to buy clothes and school supplies! My dad was a cotton ginner. Now, he is a custodian at a high school in Pampa, TX. I had 8 siblings, but in 2000 my 17-year-old sister died in a car wreck.

I have always respected other religions. I often attended other Christian churches and joined interfaith Bible study groups. While in one such group, when I told my friend Chris that I was Catholic, he blatantly told me that it was "a false doctrine." As you can imagine, I defended my religion. Chris accused me of worshipping Mary, saints, and the Pope, and I argued that we only revere them. Around this time, I happened to see a man praying. His knees, hands, and forehead were touching the ground, and he was barefoot. After he finished, I introduced myself to him. He said his name was Armando, and that he was Muslim. I thought to myself: "OK, freaky, you're Muslim. You can't be Muslim. What's this Hispanic guy doing praying to Allah?" He later told me that Spain was Muslim for over 700 years and that thousands of Spanish words have Arabic roots. The ruins of mosques with Qur'anic inscriptions have been found in Cuba, Mexico, Texas, and Nevada. Most importantly, Armando told me about Islam. I began to realize that my reverence for Mary and saints was much more than mere reverence. Chris was right. However, we were both worshipping Jesus! Armando said that Jesus was only a prophet and that no one or thing is worthy of worship but Allah.

Many of my questions were answered! What is the purpose of life? How can the Father be the Son? Why can't God just forgive anyone He wants? What happens to babies who die before baptism? In Qur'an 5:83, Allah states: When they (who call themselves Christian) listen to what has been sent down to the Messenger, you see their eyes overflowing with tears because of the truth they have recognized. They say:'Our Lord! We believe; so write us down among the witnesses.'"

Indeed, my eyes overflowed with tears as I read that verse. Yet I did not embrace Islam until 3 years after meeting Armando, because I did not want to change. A struggle occurs within everyone, everyday, and everywhere. We struggle to attain what is most important for us. By embracing Islam, we tell Allah that He is most important and that we are prepared to struggle to do what is right and to avoid what is wrong.

[Teacher]

From Judaism to Islam
by Josh Hasan

I did not have to be a Muslim. Maybe. I could have been a Hindu, worshipping 14,321 gods and goddesses, such as a goddess for my neighbor’s dog, another for the moon, and yet another for Evander Holyfield’s lost ear. I would be worshiping all these counterfeit “gods,” and I would be sick. Sick in the heart and blind to the logic of obeying a pink elephant with six arms, which can be found on the walls of some Hindu-influenced, Indian restaurants. Yes, they worship elephants, which are habitually afraid of mice.

Or perhaps I could be a Christian, worshipping Jesus Christ. But why should I worship a prophet, indeed, who never called himself divine? Wouldn’t he know? He does know, and so do I. Jesus is not God and God is not Jesus.

I could have gone to Buddhism, but which sect is correct? Who knows? And would I have wanted to listen to the Dalai Lama telling me how to enjoy life-in his words,“taking three hookers and traveling to Las Vegas.”

I did not become any of the above, nor will I. I turned in the direction of Islam when I knew almost nothing of it. One year later, I took Shahada. I only wish I had taken it much earlier. This is my story of becoming a Muslim. It began when I was 10.

[Teacher]

On May 6, 2000, I took the same train I had always taken to the Masjid in Cambridge. This time, I brought with me a book on Arabic, as I thought it would be appropriate to learn the language. That was my philosophy back then. Study Islam comprehensively. By the time you take Shahada, you’ll be a genius. I ran into a Muslim I hadn’t seen in months. He asked me if I had become a Muslim yet. Then, we had a short conversation. He talked about how if I went out in the street and got in a car accident, I would die a non-Muslim. This very well could mean hellfire. He told me this exact story back in December 1999, but I had dismissed it, even in the wake of the Bronx shooting. This time, putting off Islam would not last.

At the Masjid that same afternoon, I sat down, and watched as the Muslims lined up for Dhuhr, the second prayer of the day. I stared as they prostrated, an act Shaitan had refused. And I couldn’t take it any longer. I wondered what it would be like to become a Muslim now, but my thoughts were all one-sided. I told the brother right after the prayer that I wanted to become a Muslim today. As I write this, three months later, I know that taking Shahada was the best thing I could ever have done. I only wish I could have done it earlier.

[Teacher]

Doh wrote:

<quoted text>
Don't they also ostracize, kill, beat and burn alive those of the same faith?

Bring your Grey matter to life in Islam and multiculturalism.

[TBA]

Teacher wrote:

<quoted text>Islam is an Arabic word which means peace, purity, acceptance and commitment. The religion of Islam is the complete acceptance of the teachings and the guidance of God,(i.e. surrender to the Will of Allah).
A Muslim is one who accepts freely and willingly the supreme power of Allah and strives for total re-organisation of his life according to the revealed teachings of God. He also works towards the establishment of a just social order which would totally reflect the guidance of God.

A 'just social order which would totally reflect the guidance of god' would include sharia law, women in burquas, public beheadings, women being charged if they are rape victims, Christian churches torched, daughers married off at pubety...oh we have so much to gain from Islam...
NOT