Been a Muslim for 23 years, I would like to clear misconceptions you have

[Nektarios_Lady]

Islam covers banking, dress, behavior, food, drink, political issues, marriage, relationships, jobs, how many prayers per day, who in the family has what responsibility and a lot lot more. It creates a very community bond. Every Muslim is really a brother or sister to one another.

It’s interesting that you were under the impression that other religions don’t cover these areas.

I can only speak for Orthodox Christianity as I answer:

Banking: charging interest is forbidden, investing $ is honorable, honesty & charity are required

Dress: Modesty is required for both men & women, head-covering during prayer for women is traditional

Behavior: self-control in all areas of life is expected, all sexual immorality is condemned, gluttony is condemned, lying, wrath, etc. are condemned. Kindness, gentleness, etc. is expected.

Food & Drink: we are required to feed the hungry and give thirsty a drink. We are also to Fast about 50% of the year & while Fasting Refrain from consuming any animal (sea, air or land), consuming any animal products (like dairy, fat), consuming oil, consuming wine. At all times we are to only consume enough to take away hunger, eating beyond satiety is a sin.

Political Issues: Ignore for the most part as or minds need to be focused on overcoming our passions (sins, addictions bad habits), we are to obey just laws including paying taxes & fight when necessary to re-gain religious freedom (for example in Greece who fought & won back religious freedom from the Ottoman Turks). In the past, when Orthodox Emperor (Empresses) ruled, they had the ability to call an Ecumenical Council.

Marriage: between 1 man & 1 woman. Multiple wives or multiple husbands, mistresses, boyfriends of bride or groom, girlfriends of bride or groom are strictly forbidden. Any sexual acts outside of marriage is forbidden (sex slaves, fornication, etc. - Forbidden). Ecclesiastical Divorce is permitted for certain things, like sexual immorality. Remarriage after death of spouse or divorce is possible a maximum of twice, even if with previous spouse. Many priests are married. Priests may Not remarry after spouse dies or divorces, regardless of how many or how young the children are.

Relationships: children are to obey & honor their parents, parents are not to push their children to anger. Parents are to love and educate their children. husbands are to love their wives even unto a horrible death, widows are to be cared for by their families or the Church if no family is left, husbands are to provide for their families (he who does not provide for his family is worse than a non-believer). Orphans are to be adopted and are from that point on, truly full members of the family no different from other children born into the home. In countries where adoption isn’t possible, Christians are to provide for orphans through foster care or orphanages. All humans are to tend to animals & all of creation as caretakers.

Jobs: working is important for household providers, but work must be honorable and must not conflict with Christian morals - for example, cannot work at a place that sells porn, but it is honorable to work as a teacher, a house cleaner and as a medical receptionist.

How many Prayers per day: all Christians are called to pray without ceasing with each and every breath and in addition to pray at 7 specific times a day: 1st hour (about 6 am), 3rd hour(about 9), 6th hour(noon), 9th hour(about 3pm), sunset (about 6pm), after dinner/before bed (about 9pm) & midnight. In monasteries, people also pray before sunset & I think, in the middle of the night around 3 am.

The Roles of family members are outlined in the Bible & in the Fathers & I’ve mentioned some above in Relationships.

What are your thoughts on how the Orthodox Christian Church covers these issues?

 

[Jakubb]

Can you give an example of a misconception you are talking about?

MJ

Some people think Muslims not educated well. Or that Islam prohibits women from education and stuff like this.

 

[Efnouti_Nai_Nan]

To keep the Qur’an preserved and never changed it is said that we must keep the word of God how it was meant to be from the start and you can only do that in Arabic.

How can that be how it was meant to be from the start when Arabic is a younger language than Aramaic-Syrian of our Lord, which the Jews were speaking since 7 or 8 hundred years before Jesus, and Jesus was 600 years before Mohammed? Arabic is not that old, and before Mohammed it was not spoken very much outside of Arabia, The major languages were Greek and Latin, and the language of the people was Syrian (even in some places of Arabia they knew Syrian and Arabic; lots of religious words in Arabic are from Syrian). Allah only wanted this tiny percent of people to know his message clearly? If Allah had problem with people changing his words through translation and can only be preserved through Arabic, why didn’t all the prophets speak Arabic from the beginning? Or does Islam say they all did? Then why is there no Arabic Jewish or Christian Bible until after the Muslims came and forced their language? Everyone had their writings in their own languages instead: Aramaic-Syrian, Greek, Coptic, Latin, Ethiopian, others.

Sorry, friend. It’s confusing thinking from Allah in Islam. It makes it seem this religion is only for the Arab and the people who want to be Arab.

 

[Jakubb]

Forgive the naive question: so, if a husband was acting in a bad way, contrary to how Allah says he should behave, what recourse does his wife have either to correct him, or protect herself? What if he is hurting her, or telling her to do wrong things: she surely doesn’t need to be obedient to him then? What if he is out of control? Refusing to listen? Causing problems?

Is she ‘empowered’ to rebuke him? To refuse to share his bed? To strike him? To separate from him, even if he doesn’t want her to? Or is she ‘empowered’ to shut up and suffer?

She can separate from him, this is perfectly acceptable. If a Muslim man is not behaving how an Islamic husband should, she can have a separation period and if they do not solve their differences in this period she can get a divorce.

 

[Jakubb]

The fact that there are always some voluntary conversions to Islam does not change the general facts of history. But since you mentioned South - East Asia, just what countries are you talking about and just what period of history because, as far as I know, violent Jihad and Sharia are wide spread in South - East Asia as well. Do you want to talk about the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, East-Timor?

Linus2nd

In Indonesia Islam spread through Dawah not fighting.

 

[Jakubb]

This makes you question why didn’t Allah inform Muhammad** not to create mischief** in Yathrib & in Mecca…

Hmmmmm

They persecuted Muhammad and Islam. Which is when Allah revealed some verses in self defense.

 

[Jakubb]

Robert spencer said Muslims will lie for thier faith to get you to believe is that true,

Taqiyya is something in Shia Islam. It is not apart of Sunni Islam.

 

[TypesAndShadows]

She can separate from him, this is perfectly acceptable. If a Muslim man is not behaving how an Islamic husband should, she can have a separation period and if they do not solve their differences in this period she can get a divorce.

Ah, so she is allowed to separate from him against his will? And divorce him, even if he objects and refuses permission? That is good to know. So, for example, if a Muslim woman wanted to pursue an academic life, and her husband told her she was not allowed to do so because he wanted her at home being a wife, and she argued and he hit her, she would be able to seperate from him, and even divorce him, with him protesting all the way?

But if it is not necessary for a wife to hit her husband, why would it be necessary for a husband to hit his wife?

Can I also check my understanding: Islam does not have the concept of vocations other than married life for women, right? Every Muslim girl, when she grows up, is supposed to marry and be subject to (obedient to) a husband who is permitted to hit her if she argues too much? Islam has no equivalent to nuns, sisters, consecrated virgins, or generally the consecrated single life?

 

[meltzerboy]

Taqiyya is something in Shia Islam. It is not apart of Sunni Islam.

Would Shia Muslims therefore agree that it is acceptable or even desirable to lie for one’s faith to persuade others that it is true? Or does the concept you mention–taqiyya–have a more subtle meaning?

 

[Estevao]

Yes this has been brought to my attention before. There is two explanations, one is that people will have been judged by how they righteously followed the gospel and the Torah before the Qur’an.

The other is that when Allah says therein he is referring to the Qur’an and the Christians and Jews will judge if they follow the Qur’an and if they do not then…they are disobedient to Allah.

This is how we interpret this Sura.

That Jesus(pbuh) was sent down by Allah…but the bible was corrupted many times over hundreds of years. Yes we believe Jesus was a Muslim

Well to be honest and no offense but i don’t think the first explanation would make me a muslim because there are entire copies of the new testament that still exist that come from the 300s which contain almost all the verses that our modern bibles have:

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Codex_Sinaiticus
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Codex_Vaticanus

Yes I believe that Jesus was sent by God and that he was a prophet, but he was more, he came to die, of his own will, for the sins of the world and to offer us the path to heaven. One of the events related in the gospel of Mark is when Peter tried to convince Jesus to not allow himself to be crucified, just after Peter had confessed that Jesus was the Christ, the messiah:

Mark chapter 8:

31 And he began to teach them that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. 32 And he said this plainly. And Peter took him, and began to rebuke him. 33 But turning and seeing his disciples, he rebuked Peter, and said, “Get behind me, Satan! For you are not on the side of God, but of men.”

34 And he called to him the multitude with his disciples, and said to them, “If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 35 For whoever would save his life will lose it; and whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it. 36 For what does it profit a man, to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? 37 For what can a man give in return for his life? 38 For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of man also be ashamed, when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”

 

[jakasaki]

Question:

It is claimed that Allah had created the Quran, in the heavens, from the beginning of time, therefore it had existed before creation.

Why did Allah wait thousand upon thousands of years to reveal it to a nomad in the Arabian peninsula and not issue it from the beginning of Hebrew scripture time and would have avoided all of these “corrupted” holy books?

Why did Allah send 124,000 prophets on earth to spread the message of Islam and they all failed? Why didn’t he just send Mohammad right from the beginning?

Since Allah is all-knowing, all-seeing and his Quran was heaven before creation, why did he need to “abrogate” the Quran muslims have today? Did he not know the future of events to come?

 

[manualman]

Is it possible in your understanding of Islam for a believer to become a martyr by strapping himself full of explosives and shrapnel and walking into a crowded public place populated by civilian, unbelieving non-muslims? Does that glorify Allah?

Does it matter if the crowd is, say, Hindus versus Christians?

Does it bother you at all that pretty much every other religion in the world uncategorically considers suicide bombing a barbaric atrocity? (Possible exemption of now nearly extinct WW2 era Shintoism…)

 

[MartinJordan]

Some people think Muslims not educated well. Or that Islam prohibits women from education and stuff like this.

Appreciate yr reply despite being busy answering many others questions. In my,experience I can vouch for you I have not seen education only for men proclaimed by Muslims in my country either.

But can you point to me verses from any Islam scripture that talks about education?

MJ

 

[joe371]

Jesus(Isa) is a very important prophet in Islam. It is said when Dajjal(anti christ) comes to earth Jesus(Isa) will come back & this is when the end days will come.

We believe Jesus(Isa) was born via a virgin birth from Maryam who is held in high esteem in Islam. She is chosen above all other women and is the highest role model for women.

Do you believe that Muslim woman are treated fairly and equally. If not then why not, in view of the fact that Maryam is held in such high esteem in Islam?

 

[joe371]

Yes I know many Catholics who have converted to Islam also. We see Jesus(pbuh) as a prophet not the son of God. Allah has no son. We believe Jesus(pbuh) never said he was the son of God but that the bible was corrupted by man which added and altered things to make it appears like this is what Jesus(pbuh) said.

We believe Jesus(Isa) was ascended to heaven and did not die on a cross and was not resurrected.

We see Jesus and Moses as important prophets but Muhammad(pbuh) as the final messenger.

On what basis to you affirm that the bible was corrupted by man i.e. Christians added and altered things to make it appear that Jesus was the son of God? Why is it not possible that Muslims corrupted the bible i.e. Muslims added and altered things to make it appear that Jesus was not the son of God?

 

[joe371]

We believe before Islam people will be judged on their deeds to enter heaven and hell. On judgement day they will be spared if they lived righteous lives.

After Islam has been formed we believe that non Muslims will go to hell if they reject the word of Allah having been given it by a Muslim. There is a school of thought that Allah will give people a chance of forgiveness on judgement day to choose Islam also within some jurisprudence.

It is slightly more complex than this but that’s the main summary.

I know what Christianity claims that Jesus did, and as a result why he can say that he is the truth and the life, and no one comes to the Father except through him. What are the key tenets of Allah (God) that must be adhered to if one wants to go to heaven?

 

[joe371]

I believe there is a lot of misinformation about Islam in the world, so please ask any questions, I studied very hard theologically about Islam so I can answer almost anything accurately.

Since it’s not part of the Muslim religion why do certain extremist Muslims believe in things like suicide killing in the name of God? Would you not consider them valid members of Islam?

 

[Jakubb]

Ah, so she is allowed to separate from him against his will? And divorce him, even if he objects and refuses permission? That is good to know. So, for example, if a Muslim woman wanted to pursue an academic life, and her husband told her she was not allowed to do so because he wanted her at home being a wife, and she argued and he hit her, she would be able to seperate from him, and even divorce him, with him protesting all the way?

But if it is not necessary for a wife to hit her husband, why would it be necessary for a husband to hit his wife?

Can I also check my understanding: Islam does not have the concept of vocations other than married life for women, right? Every Muslim girl, when she grows up, is supposed to marry and be subject to (obedient to) a husband who is permitted to hit her if she argues too much? Islam has no equivalent to nuns, sisters, consecrated virgins, or generally the consecrated single life?

It is made clear that the man is the head of the house so to speak. He is the authority which may explain the question you ask.

A Muslim girl can be single if she chooses but we believe marriage is very important and every man should have a wife and every woman a husband. He is not permitted to hit her if she argues too much. There is a 3 step process only in extreme circumstances and to strike is only the last step and it cannot be with real force or leave a mark.

Islam’s sisterhood is very strong. A woman has many rights in a relationship. If you see an Islamic relationship while the man is the authority on many occasions he is doing all he can to please his wife and she has a huge say on almost everything.

Yes she can separate with no problem but it is advised they have a period where they talk while separated to try and resolve the issues. If it cannot be resolved she will be granted a divorce.

 

[Jakubb]

Question:

It is claimed that Allah had created the Quran, in the heavens, from the beginning of time, therefore it had existed before creation.

Why did Allah wait thousand upon thousands of years to reveal it to a nomad in the Arabian peninsula and not issue it from the beginning of Hebrew scripture time and would have avoided all of these “corrupted” holy books?

Why did Allah send 124,000 prophets on earth to spread the message of Islam and they all failed? Why didn’t he just send Mohammad right from the beginning?

Since Allah is all-knowing, all-seeing and his Quran was heaven before creation, why did he need to “abrogate” the Quran muslims have today? Did he not know the future of events to come?

Yes you are right there were many prophets sent to earth. This is the same in Christianity and Judaism also. Of course it was not intended for books to be corrupted. Prophets were sent to give messages and pass on the word of God and help civilization develop. Eventually there was a final messenger a final prophet and we believe that to be Muhammad(pbuh) you believe it to be Jesus(Isa)

The Hebrew scripture for that time was meant correctly. Allah chose the children of Israel but Ismael was of the Arabs and that was the prophecy that the final messenger would be from the Arabs and this is Muhammad(pbuh)

It is a gradual process and took many years. We say that Moses(pbuh) delivered the message correctly like all prophets but it got corrupted over time in the books. So this is why Muhammad(pbuh) was needed after all the prophets to deliver the final word of Allah & for Muslims to make sure the word was never corrupted or changed like before.

 

[Jakubb]

Is it possible in your understanding of Islam for a believer to become a martyr by strapping himself full of explosives and shrapnel and walking into a crowded public place populated by civilian, unbelieving non-muslims? Does that glorify Allah?

Does it matter if the crowd is, say, Hindus versus Christians?

Does it bother you at all that pretty much every other religion in the world uncategorically considers suicide bombing a barbaric atrocity? (Possible exemption of now nearly extinct WW2 era Shintoism…)

Maybe this will help explain. onislam.net/english/ask-the-scholar/international-relations-and-jihad/jihad-rulings-and-regulations/174723-martyr-operations-carried-out-by-the-palestinians.html?Regulations=

I am not saying I agree at all. But this is how many Muslims view such acts.