A Respectful Dialogue with Muslims

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Hello.

I posted here briefly around December and would like to resume now. Looking through the posts I was and continued to be dismayed by the rather poor quality of dialogue about Islam here (that is not to include all members). I started a thread here when I began, asking Muslim some respectful questions about certain elements of Islam which I found disturbing or falsifying.

A Muslim poster posted this

"Hello,

First , i would like to commend you on your great post and charity. muslims have not heared such an attempt to write a balanced post on islam for ages on this forum. I´May God rewards you for your strive for fairness"
I’m afraid that his comment about the lack of fair posts regarding Islam is true. I do not believe that this is because most people here are angry, hateful people. I have always had, and continue to have, a deep respect and even affection (despite what I see as its flaws) for the Catholic Church. I do not believe this vitriolic attitude is representative of even most board members. Rather it seems that a small group dominates all these discussions. The conclusion seems to be a small group of individuals get in a mindless shouting match with Muslim defenders.

I like to take this opportunity to start a thread dedicated to a respectful discussion about Islam. A respectful discussion does not imply a lack of criticism. It simply entails being open to changing ones opinions (on both sides), being thoughtful, and honestly trying to come mutual understanding rather than being focused on beating the other into intellectual submission.
 
I suppose I will start with this. As I read the Qur’an I am under the impression that Muslims beleive this book to be an eternal creation (or co exist) of or with God. Yet there seem to be parts of it which go into the private affairs of Muhammad or address specific instances in Muhammad’s life. I find this somewhat odd. Why would such an eternal book involve itself with mundane issues of Muhammad’s life?
 
In the name of Allah , Most Gracious, Most Merciful

Salaam/peace

Thanks for your good intention 🙂 but I am afraid . Some Christians specially Catholics will flood this thread with anti-Islamic posts . They will claim that Muhammaed (pbuh) was not the legal child of his parents etc etc. Then it will be hard to have a respectful dialogue.

Anyway, let’s try 😃
 
In the name of Allah , Most Gracious, Most Merciful

Salaam/peace
neploho said:
Why would such an eternal book involve itself with mundane issues of Muhammad’s life?
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holy Quran was revealed to Muhammed (pbuh) for long 23 years. Several verses came on specific events . Take this example : if any man brings any nasty allegation against a believing woman , he must produce 4 eye witnesses. Otherwise, he will get 80 lashes & his testimony won’t be accepted as truth ever.

This verses came when some men started spreading lies against Mother Aisha (ra) --Prophet’s wife. This is to protect the honour of the women. If u read verses with context , u will understand Islam is not only a religion , it’s also a life style . So ,naturally many things that we need to know in our daily lives are mentioned in Quran.
 
Hi, my encounter with the Koran was very brief. I began reading the Koran while I was on retreat at a catholic monastery. I stopped reading when I realised that I could not reconcile the small passages with what is commonly known from reading the old testament. Some sentences were very hard to make sense of, and I learned later that even in the Arabic that problem remains.

I would like to ask a question. Does Allah ask others to kill those who blaspheme against him, or does he punish those himself?

Respectfully yours,

Vincent
 
In the name of Allah , Most Gracious, Most Merciful

Salaam/peace
geometer said:
I began reading the Koran … I stopped reading … Does Allah ask others to kill those who blaspheme against him, or does he punish those himself?
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While reading Quran on war , killing , please read with context .

Most probably there is a punishment for those who revolted against God. They will be asked to offer repentance , if deny to do that , yes , earthy punishment is there …but wait , I have to browse.

Moreover , we must feel sorry for them to think what punishment they are going to get on the Final Day . Comparing to that , punishment in this earth is nothing.
 
In the name of Allah , Most Gracious, Most Merciful

Salaam/peace

Question Hour - Dr. Zakir Naik

Ruling for Blasphemy in Islam

The punishment for blasphemy in most of the major religions is death. It is stated in the Old Testament of the Bible, which is the authority for both the Jews and the Christians:

And he that blasphemeth the name of the LORD, he shall surely be put to death, and all the congregation shall certainly stone him: [Book of Leviticus 24:16]

Moreover, if we read Manusmriti, the Law book of the Hindus, it says:

“If a man born of a lower class intentionally bothers a priest, the king should punish him physically with various forms of corporal and capital punishment that make men shudder.” [Manusmriti 9:248]

Regarding the punishment for blasphemy in Islam, it is mentioned in the Glorious Qur’an:

“The punishment of those who wage war against Allah and His Messenger, and strive with might for mischief through the land is: execution, or crucifixion, or the cutting off of hands and feet from opposite sides, or exile from the land: that is their disgrace in this world, and a heavy punishment is theirs in the Hereafter;” [Surah Al-Maidah 5:33]. In Islam, a person who has committed blasphemy can either be killed or crucified, or his opposite hands and feet can be cut off, or he can be exiled from that land.

On the other hand, in other religions there is no other option except capital punishment. Islam at least has four options of punishment for an act of blasphemy.

islamicvoice.com/April2006/QuestionHour-DrZakirNaik/
 
Why is it that every time some Muslims defends their faith, they attack another religion? The question put forward was about killing in Islam, but yet the reply is 2/3rds about some other religion. Instead of making us listen what you said to defend your faith, you put us in the offensive.
 
Muslim_Woman said:
The punishment for blasphemy in most of the major religions is death. It is stated in the Old Testament of the Bible, which is the authority for both the Jews and the Christians:

And he that blasphemeth the name of the LORD, he shall surely be put to death, and all the congregation shall certainly stone him: [Book of Leviticus 24:16]
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Well, thanks for pointing out that particular verse. However, Jews don’t execute people for blasphemy anymore. The Rabbis have ruled that God punishes those who blaspheme.

Does Islam still crucify people?
 
** As far as I know, there is no punishment for blasphemy in Islam. If any one abuses Allah or the prophet, there is no punishment. The verse quoted is as follows:

“The punishment of those who wage war against Allah and His Messenger, and strive with might for mischief through the land is: execution, or crucifixion, or the cutting off of hands and feet from opposite sides, or exile from the land: that is their disgrace in this world, and a heavy punishment is theirs in the Hereafter;” [Surah Al-Maidah 5:33]. **

There is no blasphemy here. It is about those who wage war against Islam. They take up arms to fight and annihilate Islam. They try to make mischief in the land, all these things do not come under blasphemy. These are othe rcriminal acts such as killing, murder or dacoity or rape etc. This verse has nothing to do with blasphemy.

But I may have to admit that many Muslim countries have laws against blaphemy and the punishment is not less than death. I cannot understand wherefrom they have deduced that bad law. I feel that it is alright to punish the warmongers and the criminals. But there is no punishment for any one who abuses the prophet of Islam.

I may be wrong. But I will stick to my belief unless proved otherwise. Ther eis no punishment for blasphemy in Islam. One member is upset that the nature of laws of other religions is being mentioned. There is no harm as long something wrong is not being presented. I know that in England, ther eis a law to protect the honor of Jesus. That protection is for Jesus only.

So let the discussion contimue in good faith and about islam only. No need to mention other faiths.
 
In the name of Allah , Most Gracious, Most Merciful

Salaam/peace
katy_kt said:
Why is it that every time some Muslims defends their faith, they attack another religion?
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Many non-Muslims condemn Islam for allowing war , war slaves , killing , polygamy etc as if Islam introduced all of these . They forgot that their own holy book approved all these.

Give examples from others holy books …
I don’t think it’s attacking other religions , it’s the comparison . If u don’t compare , then how will u understand u have got the best ? 🙂
 
Muslim_Woman said:
Many non-Muslims condemn Islam for allowing war , war slaves , killing , polygamy etc as if Islam introduced all of these . They forgot that their own holy book approved all these.
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But, judaism and christianity matured over the years. Isn’t Islam simply a young religion that lacks maturity?
 
In the name of Allah , Most Gracious, Most Merciful

Salaam/peace
geometer said:
But, judaism and christianity matured over the years. Isn’t Islam simply a young religion that lacks maturity?
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We believe , Quran is the final holy book from God Almighty. It’s laws must be followed till the last day. To apply the laws , some conditions must be fulfilled. Any individual must not try to kill anyone claming that s/he did wrong etc.

In my country , when anyone writes against Islam or the Last Prophet , normally
Islmaic groups demands his/her death penalty . Then western country comes to rescue the author . Tasleema Nasreen is the latest example. Most probably she is in Sweden now.
 
geometer said:
But, judaism and christianity matured over the years. Isn’t Islam simply a young religion that lacks maturity?
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**Judaism had been around for 1400 years since Moses to the time of Jesus. there were many ups and down on the way to maturity. At the time of Jesus, Judaism was at its lowest (ebb).

Christianity could not surface for the first 300 years, till 325 A.D. Perhaps, the maturity started after that. But islam came along very soon within 300 years. Now Islam is very much in the field for the last 1400 years. Do you please not consider that it must have matured by now. .**
 
Muslim_Woman said:
** In my country , when anyone writes against Islam or the Last Prophet , normally Islmaic groups demands his/her death penalty.**

Is this the extremist Islamic groups or the mainstream Islamic groups? And why do they demand the death penalty?
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planten said:
[Now Islam is very much in the field for the last 1400 years. Do you please not consider that it must have matured by now.
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No, not at all. It seems as primative as the stone age, very brutal, and rudely knocked together…

Commonsensically,

Vincent
[/quote]
 
Muslim_Woman said:
In the name of Allah , Most Gracious, Most Merciful

Salaam/peace

Thanks for your good intention 🙂 but I am afraid . Some Christians specially Catholics will flood this thread with anti-Islamic posts . They will claim that Muhammaed (pbuh) was not the legal child of his parents etc etc. Then it will be hard to have a respectful dialogue.
😃
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Hi Muslim woman,

I think you’re right over here. Yes I went to many threads addressing
muslims, and they where attacking their beleif and telling the truth
into a very harsh way.
I am very sorry that we let you feel so upset about it.
I don’t see it a right thing speaking about your prophet Mohammed
with insults and underesteem because we should all consider your
veneration to him and esteem it.
There are many resemblances into what is spoken in Quran with the
Bible, but , Unfortunately many discordances too.
My conclusion is that we beleive on the Same God ,
but we understand him differently.
Now . in our days, we: christians , jews and muslims,
should be more in accordance then discordance .
The fact is : that God give us all many keys of knowledge,
But they are misused by us , especially in manufacturing
distructive weapons.
By possessing those weapons , God , The Creator, is letting
us facing this question : " Are you going to stay in discordance
and use these weapons then destroy mother earth and all
creation? You are now responsible of your Faith. Their is
no third issue for you : Or Peace, Or War and complete destruction.

If we choose war , we become all sinners towards The Creator.
My friendly request is that every one of us perceive and apply
in his beleif God"s Will for Mercy , Peace and love to all humankind.
Otherwise, we’re destroying every beleif.

Please , think about it , and reply to me because
I hate that propaganda about Islam as a war beleif.

Salam And Peace Be With You.

With my sincere prayers to all of us.:gopray2::gopray2::amen:

Nohamaria(OFS Member)
 
jakasaki said:
What does that mean? Bites the dust… We… well I… haven’t seen you around for while…
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Was not this thread supposed to be a “respectful dialogue with Muslims?” Having already failed in that regard, I say it has bitten the dust.

And I haven’t been around for a while. I’ve been kind of busy and the forum is just a time sink.
 
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