Common misconceptions about Islam - help needed
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This book by Prof. Fry proves peace-making is not only within human nature, war in itself is a deviation of human nature and evolution
http//www.amazon.com/Beyond-War-Human-Potential-Peace/dp/0195309480/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1220803206&sr=1-1
http//ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51RCTzWyoEL.SL500_BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-dp-500-arrow,TopRight,45,-64_OU01_AA240_SH20.jpg
Beyond War The Human Potential for Peace (Hardcover)
by Douglas P. Fry (Author) -
I am not sure that this is the right place to jump in but I could use some information on this topic. I am a Catholic who reads the Quran every night and who believes the Mohammad is a Prophet. I frankly do not believe in the divinity of Jesus and tend to look at him as a prophet as well. The Quran actually agrees with many scholars on it's view of the historical Jesus, (however most of them believe that he was crucified). I have gone to Friday services at a Shia (sp?) mosque and have frequently gone to a Sunni Mosque near my home. However, it is hard to leave a faith that my wife and my family embrase and that is such an intricate part of my background and support system.
One of my problems is that while I have found the Muslims I have met to be friendly and encouraging, their cultural orientation is usually very different than my own. Furthermore, the practices that appear to be outlined in the Hadith are for me, overwelming and often appear to be at odds with the world I operate in. How could I tell my wife that she needs to wear a head covering? Most of the Muslims I meet come from families that are Muslim-mine is not. There are other issues that I am struggling with. Possibly much of this is simply my hesitation in changing faiths and saying the Shahada, but I am interested in the idea of "God alone"
Whitaker
PS this is not a new issue. I have been reading the Quran for years and at one point belonged to another web site called "Progressive Muslims". Some of this truely is my own problem, however I would like to continue this dialoge again and would appreciate any imput you all would care to give. -
Peace Arnold,
This book by Prof. Fry proves peace-making is not only within human nature, war in itself is a deviation of human nature and evolution
Beyond War The Human Potential for Peace (Hardcover)
by Douglas P. Fry (Author)Thanks for the info about the book. It looks interesting. I will check it out.
Peace,
Ayman
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Peace Whitaker,
One of my problems is that while I have found the Muslims I have met to be friendly and encouraging, their cultural orientation is usually very different than my own. Furthermore, the practices that appear to be outlined in the Hadith are for me, overwelming and often appear to be at odds with the world I operate in. How could I tell my wife that she needs to wear a head covering? Most of the Muslims I meet come from families that are Muslim-mine is not. There are other issues that I am struggling with. Possibly much of this is simply my hesitation in changing faiths and saying the Shahada, but I am interested in the idea of "God alone"
Peacemaking/"islam" (lower case "i" is not a fraternity that we join by dressing a certain way or uttering some formula. It is an action. So you have to be a peacemaker ("muslim". If you have faith in the truth from the god then you should use it to contrast with falsehood. This way you will be able to better recognize both.
Peace,
Ayman
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So now we have
-death for apostasy
-women must fully cover up
-stoning to death sanctioned
-must be "Muslim" or you will go to "hell"
-no freedom of religion
-beating women- women confined to houses
- man ruler over women
- singing forbidden
- listening to songs forbidden
- images and statues forbidden
- having beard is "islamic"
- Male circumcision
- Female circumcision
- Women and men can't shake hands
- Treatment of pigs disliked
- Visiting churches forbidden
- Men and women can't be alone (e.g. a male cab driver can't have a female passenger)
- Gelatin is forbidden
- There is such a thing is "holy war" in quran.
- Some verses override others
- Quran commands acceptance of hadeeth
- Quran cannot be interpreted by laymen
- Muhammad was completely illiterate
- Muhammad kept slaves
- Women can't driver cars
- Sex education impermissible
- Cutting of hands
- Womans testimony only half that of a man
- Zakat is 2.5%
- Alcohol is forbidden not only terms of lifestyle consumption
- You can't stand and pee
- No such thing as rape in marriage
- Reading quran in arabic without understanding arabic earns you "good points".
- Forced marriage
- Honor killings
- Arab superiority
- Blind belief
- 72 virgins
- Hajj is obligatory only for Muslims.
- Writing a will is useless and not binding
- Polygamy
- Slavery
- women can't travel without a ma7ram
- Hawa (Eve) is the wife of Adam
- woman is created from the rib of man
-violence against non-muslims/pagans in chpt 9
-Why can a husband beat his wife?
-Why is a man able to have have more than one wife?
-Why are women being oppressed?
-How can they force marriage on their children?
-Why are honor killings allowed?
-Why do men have to grow a beard?
-Why do women have to cover themselves completely?
-If statues are not accceptable then why do muslims pray toward a brick building?
-How can we respect a man who married a 9 year old girl?
-Why does the son let his mother control his life after he becomes an adult?
-Why did a religious leader spread his religion by sword
-Why was Islam spread by sword
-Why can men have sex with their slaves(what their right hand possess).
-Muhammad(pbuh) influenced by satan leading to satanic verses in koran(after verses 19 and 20 ("Have you thought of Allt and al-'Uzz and Mant the third, the other?" - Allah is the God for Muslims.
- Muslims are inherently violent (suicide bombers).
- Muslims are supposed to have 4 wives.
- Cutting the hands of thieves.
- Dress code for men and women.
- Praying 5 times a day.
- Halal meat.
Let's start with beards
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Progress on my end about this has been slow. Mainly because I thought it would simply be a case of reviewing articles already written and refining them to compile a simple list. Little did I realise there is hardly any good quality information like this out there (no wonder people are being misled!) so a significant part has to be done from scratch, and I dont have that kind of time at the moment.
Anyone have even a small contribution to make in answering the specific issues brought up? A link to an article, a book? Anything?
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will there be grave punishment for a muslim who does not pray due to laziness like burning in hellfire and so on >(
Dear Sulh,
What is not in Quran is not what God says. What God does not say is not Islam. 5 times prayer is Buhari's and mullahs' inventions and to Hell with them. Do not pray the ritualistic body straightening and bending and falling for it is not said in quran. If you do not do this you are already in the path of Allah. Heaven is yours.
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Anyone have even a small contribution to make in answering the specific issues brought up? A link to an article, a book? Anything?
You might be able to find some on the http//www.answering-christianity.com/ website, most likely as many of those misconceptions were created by such people.
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peace all,
Almost a year after this thread was started, not one response was given to any of the misconceptions listed.
But it is always better to light a candle than to curse the darkness is it not? ;D
An initial draft for the following misconceptions have now been done
Misconception Death for apostasy
Misconception Stoning to death allowed
Misconception Must be "Muslim" or you will go to Hell
Misconception No freedom of religion
Misconception Women confined to houses
Misconception Statues/images forbidden
Misconception A man and woman cannot be alone together
Misconception Religion and science/reason/knowledge are not compatible
Misconception Alcohol is forbidden
Misconception Islam and The Quran promotes a clash of civilisations
Misconception Islam promotes honour killings of women
Misconception Allah is the God for Muslims
Misconception Forced marriage is allowed in Islam
Misconception Muslims reject Jesus
Misconception Muhammad was the founder of Islam
Misconception All Muslims are Arabs
Misconception Islam was spread by the sword
Misconception Islam and The Quran promotes fighting, war and terrorism
Misconception Two female witnesses are equivalent to one male witness
Misconception Women receive less than men in issues of inheritance
Misconception Males/Females are required to be circumcised
Misconception Martyrs will receive 72 virgins in paradise
Misconception Woman/Eve created from the rib of Man/Adam
Misconception Islam and The Quran promotes suicide bombing
Misconception Muslim men have to grow a beard
Misconception Gold and silver are banned for Muslims
Misconception Islam and The Quran promotes 'jihad' or 'holy war'
Misconception Islam and The Quran promotes slavery
Misconception In Islam homosexuals must be put to death
Misconception Polygamy - Muslim men can have as many wives as they wishThe following remain unfinished, thus if anyone wishes to write something, feel free
women are required to cover up
wife beating is allowed
women have no rights in Islam
the punishment for theft is cutting off the thief's handsThe site will be catered to misconceptions about islam from non-Muslims, not misconceptions about Islam from traditional Muslims, although some content will overlap. If anyone can think of other misconceptions, feel free to mention them.
Site launch will be with or without the unifinished ones above, in mid April, GW.
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Salaam
Misconception More women will go to Hell
The widely publicized belief, among Muslims, of more women than men being destined for Hell originates in Judaism and Christianity, rather than in Islam, with the idea of Eve being responsible for the 'orginal sin', and there is no support in the Qura'n for this view .
peace -
666
First of all you must understand one thing quite clearly, The Holy Quran is a re-confirmation of the previous scriptures ie, the Torah and the Ingell, we as muslims have to beleive in these books also, and we also have to believe in Moses. pbuh , Jesus. pbuh, they too were our prophets. The books which were handed down to man decided to change the books to make illegal things legal and legal things illegal to basically suit their wn selfish agendas. That is why Our Lord Allah, sent the Quran and told all of us that He will guard it from corruption, and uptil today not one single word has been changed. Therefore children, it is very essential that all of you just hold onto the Holy Quran and read it and understand it with meaning, the Quran has miracles within all the chapters, therefore the more you read it the more inspired will you all become.
The reason we are at our lowest ebb is simply because your elders had never guided you properly as to how to conduct yourselves in a proper manner, Muslim merely means to submit to God, therefore you cannot look at another person of another faith and tell him that he is a kafir, each and every human being has been born a muslim and in time they will all reinvert back to their true religion, it is a cycle which will be accomplished, in the meantime the ones who were born muslims should study in all aspects of education and read the Quran as much as possible, only then will you all be able to explain in a wise manner to everyone the religion which has been chosen by our LORD for us creatures to follow.
Islam is a religion of tolerance, therefore we as humans will make mistakes, strive to learn how we are to live in the life of the world, but if you do make mistakes do not worry ALLAH is the gentle and the Kind and He loves His creatures who merely Love Him. -
The following have been added
Misconception Adoption is not allowed in Islam
Misconception Dogs are not allowed to be kept by Muslims
Misconception Muslim women must fully cover up in Islam
Misconception A Muslim husband can divorce his wife immediately
Misconception Islam is a racist religion
Misconception Islam and The Quran orders thieves' hands to be cut off for this crimeThus, the one remaining is wife beating.
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Salaam,
Thus, the one remaining is wife beating.
Afghan law legalizes rape of wife, critics say
http//www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-afghan-law3-2009apr03,0,647468.storyPresident Hamid Karzai draws fire for signing the legislation related to Shiite Muslim life. It also prevents women from leaving the house without a man's permission.
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I read that today also. In any case, this thread is about providing a website resource/tool to educate and thus hopefully prevent/reduce such things.
In such websites, content is king, hence this thread.
Misconception Women confined to houses
Background Some think that in Islam a woman's place is in the home and they are not allowed outside or without the permission of their husbands or male family members. Some also think that women should not be allowed out by themselves unless chaperoned.
The Quran has several examples in which women are able to go freely and be amongst the community. The most clear example are in the references to Mary, some of which are shown below
And relate in the Scripture Mary, when she withdrew herself from her family to a place which was to the east.
So she was pregnant with him, and she retired to a far place.
"So eat and drink and be happy. If you see any person, then Say "I have made a vow of abstention for the Almighty, and I will not talk today to any person."
Then she came to her people carrying him. They said "O Mary, you have come with something totally unexpected!"The above verses prove beyond doubt that she was alone in a location where it was possible other people may have met her, and then she returned to her people.
The example of Mary is very important because The Quran gives her a special status
And when the angels said O Mary! surely God has chosen you and purified you and selected you above the women of all the beings.
The Quran also gives an example in which believing women were allowed to be amongst the community even in times of hostility
And those who harm the believing men and the believing women, with no just reason, shall bear the guilt of slander and an evident crime.
O prophet, tell your wives, your daughters, and the wives of the believers that they should lengthen upon themselves their outer garments. That is better so that they would be recognized and not harmed. God is Forgiver, Merciful.
If the hypocrites, and those with disease in their hearts and those who spread lies in the city do not refrain, then We will let you overpower them, then they will not be able to remain as your neighbours except for a short while.Women were also free to petition the prophet directly (who would have been the leader of the community at the time)
God has heard the woman who pleads with you regarding her husband, and she complained to God. And God hears the argument between you. God is Hearer, Seer.
There is also an example in which an engaged couple may meet in secret if they have something righteous to discuss
And there is no sin upon you if you openly propose marriage to these women, or you keep it between yourselves. God knows that you will be thinking of them, but do not meet them secretly, unless you have something righteous to discuss...
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peace all,
The site is now live for proofreading/testing
http//www.misconceptions-about-islam.com
Nothing on the website is final, i.e. feedback on any part of it is welcome, including content. Either personal message me or post comments here.
The site search function does not work yet because it is a new site so google has not indexed the site yet. The "more" and "acknowledgements" page content is not done yet.
