Learning to swim: For Muslim women in U.S., it's not easy

[Sister_Amy]

Culturally and based on location, those make sense. I wonder why swimming was one when Islam is a desert religion

Islam is not a desert religion.

 

[ralphinal]

Islam is not a desert religion.

Well, it was the last of the Three Monotheistic, Abrahamic faiths, so it was…usless it is the meat course…

How about a religion that came from an arid land without a lot of water…

 

[Sister_Amy]

Well, it was the last of the Three Monotheistic, Abrahamic faiths, so it was…usless it is the meat course…

dessert?

How about a religion that came from an arid land without a lot of water…

Islam is a religion for people all over the world–a universal religion. Not just for desert Arabs. That’s precisely why I responded the way I did. And it came from Allah, not from the land.

Being able to swim can save a person’s life in many cases. For all the people who don’t live in deserts it’s pretty important, I’d say. And even for those who do, whenever they travel extensively they might end up on a boat. It’s so practical.

 

[ralphinal]

dessert?

Islam is a religion for people all over the world–a universal religion. Not just for desert Arabs. That’s precisely why I responded the way I did. And it came from Allah, not from the land.

Being able to swim can save a person’s life in many cases. For all the people who don’t live in deserts it’s pretty important, I’d say. And even for those who do, whenever they travel extensively they might end up on a boat. It’s so practical.

Oh, sorry. My spelling is so bad that I thought I misspelled the word.

I know that Islam is supposed to be for all mankind. However, you cannot deny that it has its roots and heretage in Saudi Arabia.

I am not implying that it is only for Arabs, that is a discussion for another day…

 

[Sister_Amy]

Oh, sorry. My spelling is so bad that I thought I misspelled the word.

I know that Islam is supposed to be for all mankind. However, you cannot deny that it has its roots and heretage in Saudi Arabia.

I am not implying that it is only for Arabs, that is a discussion for another day…

The Prophet Muhammad was born in Mecca, on the Arabian Peninsula. There was no such thing as Saudi Arabia then.

Jesus Christ was born in Palestine. And Moses was born in Egypt. Does that have very much effect on the religions which followed them? Does it mean they cannot apply to people living in different places?

 

[ralphinal]

The Prophet Muhammad was born in Mecca, on the Arabian Peninsula. There was no such thing as Saudi Arabia then.

Jesus Christ was born in Palestine. And Moses was born in Egypt. Does that have very much effect on the religions which followed them? Does it mean they cannot apply to people living in different places?

Let me go backwards. No, religions can apply to different people in different places. That much is somewhat common sense. Some religions may need to be adjusted to do so, but you can make them work.

Does the location and historical background of a religion matter? Yes. Certain idioms in the texts may mean one thing in one language and something else in another language and century. When studying these faiths, that must be taken into account. Any good Bible Scholar does that with the Bible, and I bet the same is true in Islam.

Now, does it matter where Muhammed was born? Does the culture of that land at that time matter?

There are Muslims (and you are not one) who claim that the Qur’an can only be understood by an Arab reading in Arabic. If that is the case, then Islam is not for all people in all times. Personally, I doubt that is the case, even without any (name removed by moderator)ut from anyone else. Either the book makes sense or it does not.

 

[Sister_Amy]

Owing to the fact that less than 20% of the world’s Muslims are Arabs, would you like to consider revising your statement that Islam is not for all people?

 

[ralphinal]

Owing to the fact that less than 20% of the world’s Muslims are Arabs, would you like to consider revising your statement that Islam is not for all people?

I do not hold that position. I was saying that there are Muslims who say that no Translation of the Qur’an is good, and even if I could read it in Arabic, my Western mind could not grasp it. That is a load. EIther the book makes sense or it does not.

My position that Islam is not for all people has to do with my position that I do not consider it an inspired faith. Basically, I would say that it is for no people. I cannot deny that Islam has helped the spread of monotheism. Nor can I deny that Islam has done good things in many people’s lives. I can say just as well that Buddhism has helped many people as well. So has New Age thinking. It does not make either of them true.

I have been reading the Qur’an, and reading on Islam. I still have the same hang-ups that I had before, such as the contradictions between it and the Bible. It may be a frame of reference situation, but it is MY frame of reference that matters to me.

 

[Booklover]

Owing to the fact that less than 20% of the world’s Muslims are Arabs, would you like to consider revising your statement that Islam is not for all people?

A religion whose holy book calls unbelievers “the worst of creation” cannot be meant for them, but only for those who follow its founder and creed.

Why did Muhammad expel the unbelievers out of Arabia? Islam didn’t become “universal” until after Muslims considered it “halal” to attack and invade other countries and loot, plunder and steal other peoples’ property and rape their women and so on.

Vickie

 

[MugenOne]

The Saudis had even told me that you can’t fully understand the quran if you can’t read Arabic. They said the quran was beautifully written that no translation can justify its meaning.

 

[Sister_Amy]

The Saudis had even told me that you can’t fully understand the quran if you can’t read Arabic. They said the quran was beautifully written that no translation can justify its meaning.

Just like no translation can truly capture Shakespeare, or Wagner. Or even the Torah.