Salaam idolfree,

it is good to be back my brother! i have had many great moments "realizing" discussions we have had. i look forward to the "experience" of Islam that our talks lead to.

Peace,
olusanya

Salaam Wakas,

lol Thanks for the clarity!

Salaam Wakas,

I write exactly what I mean, there are no hidden implications.
You did not read anywhere where I said that no one here does anything to uplift HUmanity. My statement was very clear, dealt specifically with the constant debates, criticisms, and judgements. You are free to interpret it however you choose... and to take offense if you so choose.

If an individuals efforts are personal then there is no need to be public about what you believe to be true or not true.

I was responding and giving thanks to Layth for his post and the point within it. If you are not in agreement that is beautiful! If you are... that's beautiful too.

It is amazing how people can take offense at something that they do not believe applies to them!

Salaam Leyla ,

Your point is well made and taken in the spirit in which it is made, however... it does also illustrate a very important factor.
While we discuss the "right or wrong" of these things they continue to be perpetrated on the victims.

There is nothing in the Qur'an that is difficult to understand. Individuals make it difficult when they impose their perceptions upon what has been clearly stated in the Qur'an .

If we still need to debate female circumcision then THAT is the problem, because while we are discussing it... young women are being disfigured for life! Words will not stop this abuse, only action will. If a man thinks that beating his wife is okay words will not convince him otherwise, but consequences for his actions may do what words cannot. Yes... initially we must seek to reason with people, but after a while it becomes self-defeating, so we must lay the arguments aside and take steps to insure our safety, the safety of our women and children and HUmanity as a whole.

I had a discussion with a friend about how to separate the general view of Islam from the "reality" of Islam. My response was, "be a living example, when someone puts a dirty glass on the table... don't argue that it is dirty, pick it up and clean it, or... put a clean one beside it so they can see the difference". Everyone I know loves Islam because I give them reason to love Islam everytime I interact with them, by demonstrating the peace and love that is Islam.

Shukran for your thoughtful comments!

Olusanya

Peace,

I would just like to give thanks to Layth for his "See the Forest from the Trees" post.

I have been absent from the forums for months, during this time many changes have taken place in my personal life, as well as the world in general. Yet... I re-enter the free-minds forum and find much of the same.

The self-proclaimed prophets, the U.S.A. "evil-empire" conspiracy theorists, the the self-righteous Islamic qualifiers and judges, etc.

Where is the constructive dialogue putting our practice of Islam to practical day to day use, uplifting HUmanity and making the dunya a better place for our children and their children's children?

Do we practice Islam for a sense of superiority, so that we can then look down upon our fellow HUman BEings and chastise them for not being as pious, or righteous as we consider ourselves to be? Or do we practice because we have been given guidance as to how we may align our BEing with the Absoloute BEing of ALLAH and HU's system and order?

When one sincerely practices Islam one becomes a servant of Allah, thereby able to serve Allah's creation for the betterment of ALL, not just those who agree with our personal perceptions.

Let's stop addressing who is wrong and who is right and begin to address the hunger, poverty, abuse against women, child molestation and slavery, and the many HUman rights violations that cause untold millions to suffer on a daily basis.

We will be judged according to our "DEEDS", not our "DEBATES/ARGUMENTS"!

Salaam,
Olusanya