good points of islam

[real2all]

From the Dictionary of Islamic Terms: good - adj., characterized by the advancement of Islam.

“Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached. – Byzantine Emperor Manuel II Paleologus, c. AD 1394

Anything about Islam that appears “good” is eyewash for the unwary and the gullible. Religion is the smallest part of Islamic foundational texts and is there only to appeal to the human’s natural tendency to do what is right. Brahmachari writes about the Muslim conquests of parts of his native India:

St. John of Damascus (c. AD 750) is considered one of the great Fathers of the Church. His critique of Islam, or “the heresy of the Ishmaelites,” is about the debates with Muslims at that time. As you read it, ask yourself if any of it sounds familiar:
[Emphasis added.]

Since Islam’s origins, according to St. John, make no theological sense, the conclusion is that Emperor Manuel and Brahmachari were right. And in view of St. John’s observations, one wonders if there is anything about Islam that makes sense.

Thank you for this information…

 

[sedonaman]

I take it you don’t think God is great, then? Or one? Because a blanket condemnation is just that (that is, it covers everything).

Hey, even a broken clock is right twice a day. I’d be willing to bet that the Islamic meaning of “great” is not the same as the Christian understanding. Consider: God is great because He is love; Allah is great because he is powerful. In fact, one of Allah’s 99 names is “The Powerful”, whereas not a single one is “Love”.

 

[sedonaman]

Thank you for this information…

You are welcome. The complete article is here orthodoxinfo.com/general/stjohn_islam.aspx .

 

[Aydan]

I’m probably going to touch off a debate about Turkey but I hope not. My favorite thing about Islam is that Muslims give such reverence to God. This is probably a more Turkish cultural thing than Islam but I love how Turks except you. When I’m with my Turkish friends it’s one of the few times that my wheelchair doesn’t matter they see me for me and not a person a wheelchair. Yes I know there are extremists in Turkey and I’m not denying that but the vast majority of Turks are loving tolerant people and my favorite thing is once you meet a Turk you are almost immediately considered a friend so I think that the Turks exemplify all that is good about Islam with the exception of the extremists in Turkey.

 

[tomarin]

Hey, even a broken clock is right twice a day. I’d be willing to bet that the Islamic meaning of “great” is not the same as the Christian understanding. Consider: God is great because He is love; Allah is great because he is powerful. In fact, one of Allah’s 99 names is “The Powerful”, whereas not a single one is “Love”.

Yes, but to be fair they also call him “the all-merciful, the beneficent.” And I’m not convinced that we don’t consider him great because he is powerful. Otherwise why do we call him the All-mighty?

 

[Byzantine_Wolf]

Hey, even a broken clock is right twice a day. I’d be willing to bet that the Islamic meaning of “great” is not the same as the Christian understanding. Consider: God is great because He is love; Allah is great because he is powerful. In fact, one of Allah’s 99 names is “The Powerful”, whereas not a single one is “Love”.

Actually, that’s a common misconception. In fact one of the names of Allah, AL-WADÛD (referred to in Surat 11:90 and 85:14), means “the Loving One.” This doesn’t cover the other names like AR-RAHÎM (the Merciful) which speak of traits relating to love.

However, if we are to speak of the differences between Islam and Christianity in regards to God, the biggest factor is the Trinity. The Koran staunchly denies the Trinity (Surat 4:171), calls it Paganism, and says those who believe in it are destined for the hellfire (Surat 5:72). The idea that Muslims and Christians believe in the same God is, I’m sorry to say, political correct nonsense.

 

[happilycatholic]

Their humility and modesty before God.

 

[meedo]

I’m probably going to touch off a debate about Turkey but I hope not. My favorite thing about Islam is that Muslims give such reverence to God. This is probably a more Turkish cultural thing than Islam but I love how Turks except you. When I’m with my Turkish friends it’s one of the few times that my wheelchair doesn’t matter they see me for me and not a person a wheelchair. Yes I know there are extremists in Turkey and I’m not denying that but the vast majority of Turks are loving tolerant people and my favorite thing is once you meet a Turk you are almost immediately considered a friend so I think that the Turks exemplify all that is good about Islam with the exception of the extremists in Turkey.

That appolies to many of Egyptians and arabs as well. Wjy do you rule out that Islam was not an influence ?

 

[happilycatholic]

Actually, that’s a common misconception. In fact one of the names of Allah, AL-WADÛD (referred to in Surat 11:90 and 85:14), means “the Loving One.” This doesn’t cover the other names like AR-RAHÎM (the Merciful) which speak of traits relating to love.

However, if we are to speak of the differences between Islam and Christianity in regards to God, the biggest factor is the Trinity. The Koran staunchly denies the Trinity (Surat 4:171), calls it Paganism, and says those who believe in it are destined for the hellfire (Surat 5:72). The idea that Muslims and Christians believe in the same God is, I’m sorry to say, political correct nonsense.

“The idea that Muslims and Christians believe in the same God is, I’m sorry to say, political correct nonsense.”

Hello Byzantine Wolf:

Wouldn’t we have to apply the same standard to Jews if this is correct?

 

[tomarin]

However, if we are to speak of the differences between Islam and Christianity in regards to God, the biggest factor is the Trinity. The Koran staunchly denies the Trinity (Surat 4:171), calls it Paganism, and says those who believe in it are destined for the hellfire (Surat 5:72). The idea that Muslims and Christians believe in the same God is, I’m sorry to say, political correct nonsense.

You are correct about the Qur’an denying the Trinity. But so do the Jews, and no one accuses them of worshipping a different God than God.

 

[sedonaman]

Actually, that’s a common misconception. In fact one of the names of Allah, AL-WADÛD (referred to in Surat 11:90 and 85:14), means “the Loving One.” This doesn’t cover the other names like AR-RAHÎM (the Merciful) which speak of traits relating to love.

Which only goes to show that, “When I use a word, it means precisely what I choose it to mean, neither more nor less.”

However, if we are to speak of the differences between Islam and Christianity in regards to God, the biggest factor is the Trinity. The Koran staunchly denies the Trinity (Surat 4:171), calls it Paganism, and says those who believe in it are destined for the hellfire (Surat 5:72). The idea that Muslims and Christians believe in the same God is, I’m sorry to say, political correct nonsense.

 

[Aydan]

That appolies to many of Egyptians and arabs as well. Wjy do you rule out that Islam was not an influence ?

I didn’t say that I said Turkish pride might be the main influence but I’m not sure. I never said that Islam had no influence of course it does. But as you know there are Muslims who say that Turks are not really Muslims. And the reason that I think this is the Turkish culture is that I get treated the same by Turks who are religious and by those Turks who are not as religious. That’s why I said I think the vast majority of Turks are good example of the positive things in Islam. I’m sure these things are present in other countries but I do not feel like I can speak for them because all my interactions have been with Turks so that’s why I was speaking about Turkey.

 

[swplan76]

One of two things happened.

1. Either Muhammad met with an angel in a cave and began transmitting the Qur’an to people
   or
2. Muhammad made it up and began transmitting the Qur’an to people

If option1 is true it was either Gabriel (as Muhammad said it was), or it was not. If it was not who might it have been? The Bible says that Satan and his demons masquerade as angels of light.

Muhammad was familiar with Judaism and had been a traveling merchant, so he was also familiar with Christianity. However he started relaying the Qur’an, he gathered followers in a land of people who were divided by religion and tribe. He brought them together and gave them a religion that has specific rules, regulation and consequences…

…the religion has all kinds of problems that I could get into, but more than any of its many problems, the thing that Satan wants it to primarily do is this:

Islam keeps people from the freedom that comes through Jesus. God made a way for us to be free from sin and be be reunited with Him in a way that we have not been since Adam and Eve ate the fruit in the garden. Islam attempts to destroy that. For Muslims Jesus was just a prophet. That is the best thing a man can be in the eyes of Muslims, but a prophet is not God. Who we believe Jesus is, for Muslims is an atrocity, a major sin.

The religion of Islam is attractive because through it the Muslim earns his way with Allah. If a muslim does everything he is suppose to do, then he will increase his chance of going to heaven. (In the Qur’an there is only one promise from Allah that guarantees salvation. If someone dies on the battlefield fighting for Islam, that Muslim will go to heaven. There is no things such promise). Christianity offers us the grace, forgiveness and Love of God. Islam offers us rules and regulations - order. In this life, you can live a very ordered and controlled existence as a Muslim. Islam offers a picture of Allah being very interested in our appearance. Jesus was not one of those people and He, along with the prophets of the Old Testament tell us that God is not interested in our religious activity - God wants our sincere hearts. Our tendency is to attempt to use religion to manipulate our way into God’s good books - that is what Islam provides. It appeals to us because we can manipulate His acceptance if we are Muslim. Islam is a prison.

Jesus offers liberation. Islam offers oppression.

good points of Islam?
The first post was good - it should remind us of how blessed we are not to be under that slavery.

As I read these words, I realize that a Muslim who reads them could be very insulted by them. I am not trying to be offensive. I am simply attempting to be honest. This is what Islam is from my perspective. I have done the research and studied the texts and I continue to do so. I would encourage anyone else to do the same. Read the Qur’an & the Hadiths - ask questions. You will not be disappointed.

God loves all of us - He loves Muslims just as much as the rest of us. Just like the rest of us, the only way any of us can know God is through asking God to reveal Himself to us. Jesus says He is the only way. Any other way will lead us away from God.

Be Blessed,
SW

 

[Byzantine_Wolf]

“The idea that Muslims and Christians believe in the same God is, I’m sorry to say, political correct nonsense.”

Hello Byzantine Wolf:

Wouldn’t we have to apply the same standard to Jews if this is correct?

Yes, certainly. I’ve heard people say that Jews and Christians worship the same God, and certainly there is no denying the Jewish roots of Christianity…however, we must remember that Christ represents the fullness of God. As such, to deny His divinity is to deny God. This is why I often laugh when Televangelists call the Jews “God’s people”…how can they be God’s people when, according to Christian theology, they deny God.

 

[libbybeth]

I have only read a few of the earlier contributions to this thread. I suspect that the starting point is that Jews, Christians and Muslims trace a commonality back to Abraham. Unfortunately, many Jews in the time of Jesus refused to accept him as the predicted Messiah and could not accept the truth of the incarnation. Christians quickly recognised the truth of what Christ said and that he was not only the Son of God incarnate, but that this represented a new, and fuller understanding of God. When Jesus said that he would send us a comforter, he rounded our understanding of God to include the Trinity, with a greater understanding of God. However, our understanding of God is still limited.

It is unfortunate that the third major faith with Abrahamic commonality, Islam, has chosen to restrict the understanding of God, and the Revelation that he has given us of himself. As far as I understand it, Muslims worship the One God; however, as they deny the Incarnation of Christ and emphatically reject the Trinity, they have denied themselves the comfort, the strength and the challenges that come with a fuller Christian understanding.
The good thing about Islam is that Muslims DO believe in God, in an age of global indifference, when even in so called democratic Western countries, religion is sidelined by being called “subjective” only relevant in “private”.
We may criticise Islam because Islamic states do not allow the free practice of our own or other faiths; but really, when we look at the West in general, and Europe in particular, isn’t it becoming “taboo” or “not quite polite” to talk about Jesus to other people? Not that we should stop, of course. Many of our criticisms of Islam should turn us towards taking an honest and objective look at our own society and our own attitudes.

By the way, wouldn’t it be wonderful to see Islam recognse the wonder, majesty and power of our triune God. Think how Muslims would benefit from a full understanding of God; and the Jews too, God’s first chosen people.

Let’s keep praying for the Kingdom of God!!

 

[Byzantine_Wolf]

Any religion thinks, by default, that they are right, but as Paul writes at the beginning of Romans the Lord revealed Himself to mankind, and now it is the decision of mankind to reject or accept Him, and they will be held responsible if they know of Christ and openly reject Him.

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." [John 14:6]

“But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.” [Matthew 10:33]

“For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, of him the Son of Man will be ashamed when He comes in His own glory, and in His Father’s, and of the holy angels.” [Luke 9:26]

“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.” [Romans 1:18-23]

Also an interesting point - Muslims claim that they have legitimacy through lineage with Ishmael, but in fact God said the covenant was with Isaac alone:

But God said, “No, but Sarah your wife will bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac; and I will establish My covenant with him for an everlasting covenant for his descendants after him. As for Ishmael, I have heard you; behold, I will bless him, and will make him fruitful and will multiply him exceedingly He shall become the father of twelve princes, and I will make him a great nation. But My covenant I will establish with Isaac, whom Sarah will bear to you at this season next year.” [Genesis 17:19-21; emphasis mine]

 

[planten]

One of two things happened.

1. Either Muhammad met with an angel in a cave and began transmitting the Qur’an to people
   or
2. Muhammad made it up and began transmitting the Qur’an to people

If option1 is true it was either Gabriel (as Muhammad said it was), or it was not. If it was not who might it have been? The Bible says that Satan and his demons masquerade as angels of light.

swplan, Thanks. You made your post too long. I will cut some off it to reply…
There is no need to doubt that Muhammad was visited by the angel Gabriel as it is stated in the Quran. It is just like you believe that Joseph the Carpentar (the father of Jesus) was visited by the angel to tell him that Mary was already pregnant before her marriage, and you believe that. So what is the problem about believing the visit of angel to Muhammad. We believe that Joseph was visited by angel. But you have difficulty in believing that Muhammad was visited by angel. Nobody saw the angels in both cases.

Muhammad was familiar with Judaism and had been a traveling merchant, so he was also familiar with Christianity. …

That does not prove that he wrote the quran or made it up all by himself. Quran is a big book. Do you want to give credit to Muhammad to have authored that book?

…the religion has all kinds of problems that I could get into, but more than any of its many problems, the thing that Satan wants it to primarily do is this:

No chance of satan going near Muhammad. it was Jesus who was tempted by the devil i.e. Satan, even though Muslims do not believe that satan went near Jesus or Mary. But the christians believe that Satan tempted Jesus, in other words, satan tempted god. How bad !! And impossible for the Satan to tempt god.

Islam keeps people from the freedom that comes through Jesus. God made a way for us to be free from sin … Who we believe Jesus is, for Muslims is an atrocity, a major sin

.

You love freedom and we can see the results of that freddom all over the western countires. It seems there is no law for the christians or christianity.

The religion of Islam is attractive because through it the Muslim earns his way with Allah. If a muslim does everything he is suppose to do, then he will increase his chance of going to heaven…Christianity offers us the grace, forgiveness and Love of God… Jesus was not one of those people and He, along with the prophets of the Old Testament tell us that God is not interested in our religious activity - God wants our sincere hearts. .

In Islam also, it is the Grace of Allah that will help the believers in the next world. How come god is not interested in your religious? activity. then why are you so active and why you do any religious work? In Islam also, it is the sincererity that counts for salvation. It is utmost and primary item and it is described as "Taqwa."

Jesus offers liberation. Islam offers oppression.

Utter nonsense.

good points of Islam?
The first post was good - it should remind us of how blessed we are not to be under that slavery

.

You do not know waht you are missing. You have lost the right way long ago. As soon as Jesus left the scene, the wolf entered the empty field and devoured the poor sheep.

As I read these words, I realize that a Muslim who reads them could be very insulted by them. I am not trying to be offensive. … I have done the research and studied the texts and I continue to do so. .

Thanks for being careful. You have not yet studied or understood anything of Islam. Continue with open heart.

God loves all of us - He loves Muslims just as much as the rest of us. Just like the rest of us, the only way any of us can know God is through asking God to reveal Himself to us. Jesus says He is the only way. Any other way will lead us away from God.

Be Blessed,
SW

**Your this para is good. You say the right things that God reveals Himself to people. So He did it always, not by coming down in human form. But through His angels he passed messages to mankind. Jesus was also a messenger. he said that clearlty in bible that he was sent. the one who is sent is a messenger. Would you believe that??

Jesus indeed was the way while he was here. When he left suddenly and went away in search of his other lost Sheep of Israel, he was quite successful there and very happy. He lived like a prince and convrted many people. He was the way and he cannot be the way now because the christians do not follow Jesus any more. If they follow the true teachings of Jesus, they could be very well people.

You have givenyour opinion about Islam. I have given youmy opinion about christianity.No hard feelings, please SW.**

 

[planten]

Yes, certainly. I’ve heard people say that Jews and Christians worship the same God, and certainly there is no denying the Jewish roots of Christianity…however, we must remember that Christ represents the fullness of God. As such, to deny His divinity is to deny God. This is why I often laugh when Televangelists call the Jews “God’s people”…how can they be God’s people when, according to Christian theology, they deny God.

** It is surprising, teh Jews and Christians worship the same God. jew do not believe in Trinity. OT is full of Unitarian faith.**

 

[planten]

**JC you have described the matter correctly and carefully. thanks. It helps much. **

 

[planten]

I have only read a few of the earlier contributions to this thread. I suspect that the starting point is that Jews, Christians and Muslims trace a commonality back to Abraham. Unfortunately, many Jews in the time of Jesus refused to accept him as the predicted Messiah and could not accept the truth of the incarnation. Christians quickly recognised the truth of what Christ said and that he was not only the Son of God incarnate, but that this represented a new, and fuller understanding of God. When Jesus said that he would send us a comforter, he rounded our understanding of God to include the Trinity, with a greater understanding of God. However, our understanding of God is still limited.

**Surpring thing is that the beleif in God changed from Unitarian to Trinity (Three pronged God). That had never been possible before Jesus came. He was a Jew and did not teach anything anti-Jewish. Trinity is anti-Jewish. Even son of God is anti-Jewish. **.

It is unfortunate that the third major faith with Abrahamic commonality, Islam, has chosen to restrict the understanding of God, and the Revelation that he has given us of himself

.

That revelation of jesus appearing in public as God is disputable. It is not a fact admitted by the Jews or Muslims and that appearance as God is wrong.

As far as I understand it, Muslims worship the One God; however, as they deny the Incarnation of Christ and emphatically reject the Trinity, they have denied themselves the comfort, the strength and the challenges that come with a fuller Christian understanding.

** What you said is right. Muslims are told to reject any God beside One God. There is no Trinity in bibleOT or NT or Quran.**

The good thing about Islam is that Muslims DO believe in God, in an age of global indifference, when even in so called democratic Western countries, religion is sidelined by being called “subjective” only relevant in “private”.

** It is good to keep on believing in God and not to say good-Bye to His teachings. One may be a christian or Muslim, it is better to act upon good religious principles. Otherwise the result will be a bad way of life for all.**

We may criticise Islam because Islamic states do not allow the free practice of our own or other faiths; but really, when we look at the West in general, and Europe in particular, isn’t it becoming “taboo” or “not quite polite” to talk about Jesus to other people? Not that we should stop, of course. Many of our criticisms of Islam should turn us towards taking an honest and objective look at our own society and our own attitudes

.

**That is politics and not religion. What they are doing in Islamic countries is bad practice of Islam. What they are doing in western countries is also bad i.e. no practice of christianity. Church has no say in the matters of life.

People just sing a few hymns once a week.**

By the way, wouldn’t it be wonderful to see Islam recognse the wonder, majesty and power of our triune God. Think how Muslims would benefit from a full understanding of God; and the Jews too, God’s first chosen people.

Let’s keep praying for the Kingdom of God!!

It would not be fair to try Trinity on Muslims. They have lived well without it for 1400 years. You may try your luck on the Jews. Where Jesus failed, you may be successful. You have their book bibleOT tied up with your bibleNT too. So there is a commonality.