SA.
You are not alone brother!
I can count a total of 3 that i know of, myself included, that are alone in our beliefs..
It's a lonely world indeed, and very tough at times.. especially with the family. It is hard to discuss Islam with sectarians when they are locked in their traditional way of thinking.
Find peace and solace in knowing Allah, the best companion, follows you everywhere, and that you have found an online community that supports your views.
We are not alone!
Greetings and Peace, all group
I'm not sure if "Consensus" is possible...maybe a section dedicated to subjects that is further divided into support for and against each individual subject. Double points for links to supporting threads! )
An example follows
Big topic is Fasting.
Suptopic is Fasting is for ten days.
The subtopic could be partitioned into Yes, No, Yes (however...), and No (however...).
It is more honest to look at both sides of an argument, but those prone to actually argue have an area to voice their views without impeding the flow of information. If one supported the topic, they would post in "Yes" or "Yes, however..." and not post in "No." Anyone not supporting the topic would post in "No" or "No, however..." and not in "Yes." There are plenty of forums for anyone intending to "mix it up."
3918 The ones who listen to what is being said, and then follow the best of it. These are the ones whom GOD has guided, and these are the ones who possess intelligence.
Just an opinion.
ALLAH knows best!
peace
~Abdul-Hadi
SA.
I am unsure of exactly what you mean Brother Abdul-Hadi.
You would create 3 different threads for the same topic? a "Yes", "Maybe" and "No"?
Could you clarify, as it seems rather tedious.
@Savage_Carrot
At the moment, i do not have a compilation of different topics at all.
But a thread could be created in which we gather links for all sorts of hot topics and start working on creating the threads that are to be stickied, in the same manner as the one made by Brother Wakas.
SA.
So what about one who adamantly denies the existence of any God, but does still live a morally and upright life (to some extent).
What is their position on this heaven/hell dilemma.
SA!
The post as made by Wakas was very much what i had in mind.
Maybe with an added summary of sorts to the topic at hand + a short summary of different opinions(very short ones).
As for its placement. I merely suggested a gathering of all posts such as that one under one subsection so as to create a database of sorts.
However, if it is easier and more convienient to do each topic under their respective forums, then that is how it should be.
EDIT Naturally the biggest criteria would be to keep the post updated to reflect current discussions if there ever was any.
SA.
@ Brother/Sister Savage_Carrot.
You are entirely right, i didn't not explain fully on my first post because i wanted to see the response from others before clarifying further.
(Please remember that this is just a seemingly draft of my idea, and in no way final)
What i had personally in mind is that perhaps, the moderators of FM could point out a couple of members they know and trust, who are not biased towards one way of thinking even if they have their own opinions on certain topics.
These members would run this certain subsection of the forums, call it whatever.
This subsection will hold threads of most topics, and within these threads, opionions can be added only by these appointed members.
A thread, say it was on the topic of Salaat
Would include, what i know from memory of what i have read here and there.
A link referring to each discussions or other articles relating to the discussions on salaat.
Thread closed!
Then, lets say someone posts an article on salaat which gives an entirely different point of view on this matter.
And it cannot be entirely argued against, members of the forum can then opt for this new view to be added to the closed thread on Salaat. The appointed members will then take it into consideration(or however we agree to make it work) to add to the closed consensus thread or not.
In this way we keep discussions alive and easy to find, and we also help to create a database of important issues that capture the mental time of many.
@ Brother/sister Good Logic.
I understand what you mean, which is why i was thinking there should be certain criterias to adding to such a thread.
F. example that the Qu'ran is indeed the book of Allah and "GOD does not give a choice on " Submission to HIM" ( upholding HIS authority Alone) ,nor does HE give a choice on commandements." as you said.
Therefore, any discussions regarding doubting the Qu'ran in itself or anything else that questions belief would not make it to the consensus thread and will remain a discussion amongst members.
In this way, in my opinion, we uphold the general idea of free discussion without comprimizing the word of Allah.
Remember, that it is still an idea, and in no way perfected.
We could help each other to make it work.
I really think it would benefit many with such a place to learn more about the Qu'ran.
Dear users.
Years ago, when i frequented the forums, i stumbled upon a Group whom arguemented linguistically that Allah, the word in itself, was shirk and therefore the Qu'ran urges us to believe in an entity that is not Allah.
Or something like that.
They were called something with light in it.
Does anyone remember them? And have a link to their page?
SA.
I'm relatively new to free-minds.
FM has alot of information and alot of differing opinions on many subjects regarding the Qu'ran.
I understand that this is the trademark of FM, which in itself is indeed a very good standpoint, since it removes the dogma of not questioning traditions and translations.
However, FM contains so many differing opinions that it can seem an almost impossible task for newcomers to shift through all this information without it seeming to be an almost impossible task due to everyday life etc.
So i was thinking. How maybe, to all those clever minds in here. We could create a subsection in the forum called "Consensus".
In this part will be collected information on hot topics often discussed in regards to the Qu'ran.
Topics such as ramadhan, salaat, hijab etc.
The topics would reflect the most acknowledged studies of these topics.
Most importantly is that these threads would be closed and not be debatable on the "Consensus" subforum.
But if a user would be interested in discussing something regarding this subject, they would be more than welcome to in the appropriate forums.
This way we would avoid clusters of threads which deal with the same discussions, and also newcommers would not have to read through 100+ pages of discussions in order to gather what the common opinion of what a certain topic is.
Some benefits
Many newcommers would be able to join in on discussions from the getgo on many topics, and stay up to date on many new understandings of the Qu'ran.
Members can always refer to a specific thread when people want to learn of something specific.
The consensus threads will reflect more than one opinion based on studies and discussions.
This one for me is the most important. Many in here go under the banner of "Qu'ran alone". And even though we are all joining the FM community, we are still split in essence. "Consensus" on major topics would help us unite even further.
I myself am very new to this, i became what some might call a Qu'ran aloner around the end of 2008.
But we are seeing more and more waking up from the shackles of traditions and hearsay, i think it'd be nice to help these people ease in to the idea of an islamic understanding without hadiths etc.
This is just an idea, how much help i'd be in this project is very limited, since i myself am one of those many who do not understand arabic.