This is Islam

[LuigiColetta]

I am always dumbfounded when I hear people make claims that “Jesus never claimed to be God”, “Jesus never said he is the son of God”, a different subject, but “Jesus never started a new church”…These list some references, but there are more…enjoy the reading…

Matthew 1:23
“The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” Isaiah 7:14] —which means, “God with us.”

Matthew
1Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. 2After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”
4Jesus answered, “It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'a]”

Matthew 4:6
“If you are the Son of God,” he said, "throw yourself down. For it is written: " ‘He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’ Psalm 91:11,12] "

Matthew 8:28-30
28When he arrived at the other side in the region of the Gadarenes,a] two demon-possessed men coming from the tombs met him. They were so violent that no one could pass that way. 29"What do you want with us, Son of God?" they shouted. “Have you come here to torture us before the appointed time?”

Matthew 14:32-34
32And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. 33Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”
34When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret.

Matthew 16:15-17
15"But what about you?" he asked. “Who do you say I am?” 16Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ,a] the Son of the living God.”
17Jesus replied, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven.

Mark 3:10-12
10For he had healed many, so that those with diseases were pushing forward to touch him. 11Whenever the evila] spirits saw him, they fell down before him and cried out, "You are the Son of God." 12But he gave them strict orders not to tell who he was.

Mark 5:6-20
6When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees in front of him. 7He shouted at the top of his voice, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? Swear to God that you won’t torture me!” 8For Jesus had said to him, “Come out of this man, you evil spirit!”

 

[LuigiColetta]

Luke 1:31-38

31You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. 32He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end." 34"How will this be," Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?” 35The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be calleda] the Son of God. 36Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. 37For nothing is impossible with God.” 38"I am the Lord’s servant," Mary answered. “May it be to me as you have said.” Then the angel left her.

Luke 8:28
When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell at his feet, shouting at the top of his voice, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, don’t torture me!”

Luke 22:69-71

69But from now on, the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the mighty God." 70They all asked, “Are you then the Son of God?”
He replied, “You are right in saying I am.” 71Then they said, “Why do we need any more testimony? We have heard it from his own lips.”

John 1:48-50
48"How do you know me?" Nathanael asked.
Jesus answered, “I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you.” 49Then Nathanael declared, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel.”
50Jesus said, “You believea] because I told you I saw you under the fig tree. You shall see greater things than that.”

John 10:32-40
32but Jesus said to them, “I have shown you many great miracles from the Father. For which of these do you stone me?” 33"We are not stoning you for any of these," replied the Jews, “but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God.”
34Jesus answered them, “Is it not written in your Law, 'I have said you are gods’a]? 35If he called them ‘gods,’ to whom the word of God came—and the Scripture cannot be broken— 36what about the one whom the Father set apart as his very own and sent into the world? Why then do you accuse me of blasphemy because I said, ‘I am God’s Son’? 37Do not believe me unless I do what my Father does. 38But if I do it, even though you do not believe me, believe the miracles, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me, and I in the Father.” 39Again they tried to seize him, but he escaped their grasp.

John 11:3-5

3So the sisters sent word to Jesus, “Lord, the one you love is sick.” 4When he heard this, Jesus said, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.”

John 11:3-5
26and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?" 27"Yes, Lord," she told him, “I believe that you are the Christ,a] the Son of God, who was to come into the world.”
28And after she had said this, she went back and called her sister Mary aside. “The Teacher is here,” she said, “and is asking for you.”

John 17:1-4
1After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed: "Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. 2For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. 3Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. 4I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do.

John 20:27-29
27Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.” 28Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!” 29Then Jesus told him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."

 

[deen]

Eden:

What would your response be when a Christian would ask, “Aren’t you told in your religion to lie to non-believers if you need to, to deceive them about aspects of Islam that may be unpalatable to Westerners?” Is lying proscribed in the Qu’ran so that “the end justifies the means”?

Islam is based on absolute truth. So it means that I cannot and must not lie about it. The Quran tells us that believers must always tell the truth and stand firm for justice even if it is against ourselves and our families. The prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, told us that if anyone is a liar then he is not a believer. So you can be assured from the beginning that I must either tell you what I am absolutely sure of or else tell that I will try to find the answer for your question and then get back to you as soon as I can.

Lying is considered a MAJOR SIN in Islam. There are only three situations where it is allowed: During warfare, to mend relationship between friends and to gain closeness between husband and wife.

Btw, it is part of the Shiite’s article of faith to lie to achieve their end but NOT the Sunnis.

peace,

deen

 

[deen]

Maranatha:

Which correct path do they not stray from Sunni Muslim teaching , Shiite Muslim teachings or a third small sect? How can you say there is one path in Islam where there are so many interpretations that seem to be taken as valid?

Different interpretations are valid in Islam as long as they are accompanied with clear evidence from ther Qur’an and authentic Sunnah. Shiite and other sects outside the Sunni are using either false or fabricated evidence to support their beliefs.

Don’t you have the same in Christianity? Such as Protestants, JW, Mormons, SDA etc.

deen

 

[elizabeth4truth]

deen:

Thanks for your comment. I pray that you are having a great day. To answer your query, allow me to share with you a brief description of Women in Islam. The following words are not mine. I adapted them (with approval) from a brother who has written an excellent article about the issue.
…
The Prophet Muhammadp said that the most perfect in faith among believers is he who is best in manners to his wife.

Thank you Deen, for your response. I am very well, and pray you have a peacefilled day. Please thank your brother also for writing on this subject, offering grace and dignity to women.

When I see news reports, women are dressed from head to toe, in what appears to be a shrowd of sorts (don’t know if this is the correct usage for the word “shrowd”) Regardless, it appears to me they are oppressed in their form of public dress. Why do they dress this way? Do most/all women wear such garments in public, always? At whose command to women dress this way or is it voluntary?

I have heard of many instances of violence toward women to the point that it is legal for a man to kill his wife, if she does not please him. Is this true? Is physical abuse defined in Islam? Are there sanctions against it?

On another thread, someone remarked that Muhammadp (may he rest in peace) professed there are more women in hell then men. Is this true? If so, can you tell me why he said this and what it means regarding the feeling toward the holiness/unholiness of women on earth?

Are women welcomed in the Mosque and do they pray, along side of men? Do women and men have separate prayer obligations, like Jewish people and Christians? Part of an Orthodox Jewish man’s prayer is to thank The Lord that He did not make him a woman. Do Muslims pray this way too; thanking God for what they have/are by thanking Him for what they have or are not?

Thank you in advance,
Elizabeth

 

[Eden]

deen:

Lying is considered a MAJOR SIN in Islam. There are only three situations where it is allowed: During warfare, to mend relationship between friends and to gain closeness between husband and wife.

Isn’t the West a scene of “warfare” because we are non-believers and are in the “Dar al-harb” (house of war) vs. the Islamic world which is in the “Dar al-Islam” (house of Islam)? Under your definition, you are allowed to lie to Westerners.

 

[Irenicist]

deen:

Different interpretations are valid in Islam as long as they are accompanied with clear evidence from ther Qur’an and authentic Sunnah. Shiite and other sects outside the Sunni are using either false or fabricated evidence to support their beliefs.

Don’t you have the same in Christianity? Such as Protestants, JW, Mormons, SDA etc.

deen

You might wish to limit your discourse to describing Sunni Islam, and let the Shia speak for themselves even if you consider their beliefs “false” and based on “fabricated evidence”. We extend the same courtesy here to Protestants, Orthodox, Jews, JW and Mormons.

Irenicist

 

[Maranatha]

deen:

Different interpretations are valid in Islam as long as they are accompanied with clear evidence from ther Qur’an and authentic Sunnah. Shiite and other sects outside the Sunni are using either false or fabricated evidence to support their beliefs.

Don’t you have the same in Christianity? Such as Protestants, JW, Mormons, SDA etc.

deen

From what I understand from your postings, you have a very good interpretation of Islam. It is very close to the morality taught by the Catholic church. This good, like all good, comes from God. From this I can call you my Monotheistic Brother.

Multiple interpretations, such as found in Islam, cause confusion and ambiguity. This lack of clarity comes from our adversary.

The Catholic Church has had a consistent clear moral message since it’s founding. This message is specifically spelled out for any to read in the Catechism of the Catholic Church. This message has not been corrupted. This lack of corruption is not the result of the efforts of man since we are fallible. This perfection must come from God.

As you pointed out, some Christians do not agree with all that is taught by the Catholic Church. Many argue and dissent. They want to put their personal decision and morality above God. This pride confusion also comes from our adversary.

God give us a choice. We can stay with the clear unambiguous message of perfect morality found in the Catholic Church or we can go with confusion and ambiguity found in Protestantism, Islam and other religions.

 

[hlgomez]

Do you believe that Jesus was God-incarnate, full man and full God? If yes, can the finite and the infinite be one? “To be full” God means freedom from finite forms and from helplessness, and to be “full man” means the absence of divinity.

Good question Deen! Now can God Almighty who can do all things DO IT? I bet he can.

Jesus Christ is truly God and truly man. Not that the Divinity of the Son needs something to complete it, but that the human nature was assumed by the Word of God. It was a natural union of the human and divine in order to effect his plan of salvation. The name Jesus means Saviour. There is no other closer meaning to it. The Son is the only one who has two natures–human and divine, in hypostatic union. Now if you understand this mystery of God’s work, then it is not God.

To be son is to be less than divine and to be divine is to be no one’s son. **How could Jesus have the attributes of sonship and divinity altogether? **

The Trinity is three Divine Persons but One God. One nature, one essence, one substance. Not three Gods but one. This is a mystery revealed by the Son. The creation itself, like the family, is a reflection of the Creator. In a family, you have the father and mother, and the two begets a child in their expression of love. We all have one nature–human. But we are all different persons.
For no one knows the Son, but the Father. And no one knows the Father but the Son, and to whom He chooses to reveal Him.

Maybe we can open a new thread about Trinity if you wish to discuss this further.

thx and peace,

deen

Understanding the mystery of the Trinity will take forever. As I said, this is a mystery of faith. No one can explain it to its fulness. No one can fathom it. God Himself is from eternity to eternity a mystery. If your tiny little puny finite mind can understand Him who is the infinite, then you are not only self-proclaiming to be God–an arrogant speck of dust, but are trying to be acting as if you are God.

Pio

 

[Brad]

Deus Vult:

I have enjoyed reading the dialogue in this thread…but find it interesting that I have not gotten a response to my question for an explanation of the text in the Quran. I can wholeheartly say that if anyone had a question surrounding any part of the New Testament my fellow Roman Catholics on this forum would be up for the task. So I ask my question again…Please explain the following from the Quran and how is it that you say Islam is a religion of Peace…when the precepts of the religion quote otherwise?

ANNOUNCE PAINFUL PUNISHMENT TO THOSE WHO DISBELIEVE (9:3)

O Prophet! urge the believers to war; if there are twenty patient ones of you they shall overcome two hundred… (8:65)

Surely the vilest of animals in Allah’s sight are those who disbelieve (8:55)

And fight with them until there is no more persecution and religion should be only for Allah (8:39)

When the sacred months have passed away, THEN SLAY THE IDOLATERS WHEREVER YOU FIND THEM, AND TAKE THEM CAPTIVES AND BESIEGE THEM AND LIE IN WAIT FOR THEM IN EVERY AMBUSH, then if they repent and keep up prayer [become believers] and pay the poor-rate, leave their way free to them (9:5)

And if they intend to act unfaithfully towards you, so indeed they acted unfaithfully towards Allah before, but He GAVE YOU MASTERY OVER THEM (8:71)

FIGHT THEM: ALLAH WILL PUNISH THEM BY YOUR HANDS AND BRING THEM TO DISGRACE, AND ASSIST YOU AGAINST THEM. (9:14)

FIGHT THOSE WHO DO NOT BELIEVE IN ALLAH, nor in the latter day, nor do they prohibit what Allah and His Messenger have prohibited, NOR FOLLOW THE RELIGION OF TRUTH, OUT OF THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN GIVEN THE BOOK [Christians and Jews], until they pay the tax in acknowledgment of superiority and THEY ARE IN A STATE OF SUBJECTION. (9:29)

O Prophet! strive hard against the unbelievers and the hypocrites and be unyielding to them; and their abode is hell, and evil is the destination. (9:73)

O you who believe! fight those of the unbelievers who are near to you and let them find in you hardness; and know that Allah is with those who guard (against evil). (9:123)

I WILL CAST TERROR INTO THE HEARTS OF THOSE WHO DISBELIEVE. THEREFORE STRIKE OFF THEIR HEADS AND STRIKE OFF EVERY FINGERTIP OF THEM. THIS IS BECAUSE THEY ACTED ADVERSELY TO ALLAH AND HIS MESSENGER; AND WHOEVER ACTS ADVERSELY TO ALLAH AND HIS MESSENGER - THEN SURELY ALLAH IS SEVERE IN REQUITING (EVIL). THIS - TASTE IT, AND (KNOW) THAT FOR THE UNBELIEVERS IS THE PUNISHMENT OF FIRE. O you who believe! When you meet those who disbelieve marching for war, then turn not your backs to them. And whoever shall turn his back to them on that day - unless he turn aside for the sake of fighting or withdraws to a company - then he, indeed, becomes deserving of Allah’s wrath, and his abode is hell; and an evil destination shall it be. So you did not slay them, but it was Allah Who slew them and you did not smite when you smote (the enemy) but it was Allah Who smote, and that He might confer upon the believers a good gift from Himself; (8:12-17)

And that you should judge between them by what Allah has revealed, and do not follow their low desires, and be cautious of them, lest they seduce you from part of what Allah has revealed to you; but if they turn back, then know that Allah desires to afflict them on account of some of their faults; and most surely many of the people are transgressors. Is it then the judgment of the times of ignorance that they desire: and who is better than Allah to judge for a people who are sure? O YOU WHO BELIEVE! DO NOT TAKE THE JEWS AND THE CHRISTIANS FOR FRIENDS; THEY ARE FRIENDS OF EACH OTHER; AND WHOEVER AMONGST YOU TAKES THEM FOR A FRIEND, THEN SURELY HE IS ONE OF THEM; SURELY ALLAH DOES NOT GUIDE THE UNJUST PEOPLE. (5:49-51)

An excellent question. I am waiting for a good answer to these verses as well. Seeing as Mohammed and an entire host of subsequent Muslim leaders seemed to follow these verses with their actions and were anything but peaceful, I have a very tough time reconciling this “religion of peace”.

 

[Ahimsa]

Deus Vult:

You said The name of this religion is Islam, the root of which is Silm and Salam which means peace. Salam may also mean greeting one another with peace. One of the beautiful names of God is that He is the Peace. It means more than that: submission to the One God, and to live in peace with the Creator, within one’s self, with other people and with the environment. Thus, Islam is a total system of living. A Muslim is supposed to live in peace and harmony with all these segments; hence, a Muslim is any person anywhere in the world whose obedience, allegiance, and loyalty are to God, the Lord of the Universe.

We here this concept of a peacfull Islam alot these days…I think the peace is peace with believers but the opposite for those who do not follow its precepts…since you offered please explain the following text from the Quran:

ANNOUNCE PAINFUL PUNISHMENT TO THOSE WHO DISBELIEVE (9:3)

O Prophet! urge the believers to war; if there are twenty patient ones of you they shall overcome two hundred… (8:65)

Surely the vilest of animals in Allah’s sight are those who disbelieve (8:55)

And fight with them until there is no more persecution and religion should be only for Allah (8:39)

When the sacred months have passed away, THEN SLAY THE IDOLATERS WHEREVER YOU FIND THEM, AND TAKE THEM CAPTIVES AND BESIEGE THEM AND LIE IN WAIT FOR THEM IN EVERY AMBUSH, then if they repent and keep up prayer [become believers] and pay the poor-rate, leave their way free to them (9:5)

And if they intend to act unfaithfully towards you, so indeed they acted unfaithfully towards Allah before, but He GAVE YOU MASTERY OVER THEM (8:71)

FIGHT THEM: ALLAH WILL PUNISH THEM BY YOUR HANDS AND BRING THEM TO DISGRACE, AND ASSIST YOU AGAINST THEM. (9:14)

FIGHT THOSE WHO DO NOT BELIEVE IN ALLAH, nor in the latter day, nor do they prohibit what Allah and His Messenger have prohibited, NOR FOLLOW THE RELIGION OF TRUTH, OUT OF THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN GIVEN THE BOOK [Christians and Jews], until they pay the tax in acknowledgment of superiority and THEY ARE IN A STATE OF SUBJECTION. (9:29)

O Prophet! strive hard against the unbelievers and the hypocrites and be unyielding to them; and their abode is hell, and evil is the destination. (9:73)

O you who believe! fight those of the unbelievers who are near to you and let them find in you hardness; and know that Allah is with those who guard (against evil). (9:123)

I WILL CAST TERROR INTO THE HEARTS OF THOSE WHO DISBELIEVE. THEREFORE STRIKE OFF THEIR HEADS AND STRIKE OFF EVERY FINGERTIP OF THEM. THIS IS BECAUSE THEY ACTED ADVERSELY TO ALLAH AND HIS MESSENGER; AND WHOEVER ACTS ADVERSELY TO ALLAH AND HIS MESSENGER - THEN SURELY ALLAH IS SEVERE IN REQUITING (EVIL). THIS - TASTE IT, AND (KNOW) THAT FOR THE UNBELIEVERS IS THE PUNISHMENT OF FIRE. O you who believe! When you meet those who disbelieve marching for war, then turn not your backs to them. And whoever shall turn his back to them on that day - unless he turn aside for the sake of fighting or withdraws to a company - then he, indeed, becomes deserving of Allah’s wrath, and his abode is hell; and an evil destination shall it be. So you did not slay them, but it was Allah Who slew them and you did not smite when you smote (the enemy) but it was Allah Who smote, and that He might confer upon the believers a good gift from Himself; (8:12-17)

And that you should judge between them by what Allah has revealed, and do not follow their low desires, and be cautious of them, lest they seduce you from part of what Allah has revealed to you; but if they turn back, then know that Allah desires to afflict them on account of some of their faults; and most surely many of the people are transgressors. Is it then the judgment of the times of ignorance that they desire: and who is better than Allah to judge for a people who are sure? O YOU WHO BELIEVE! DO NOT TAKE THE JEWS AND THE CHRISTIANS FOR FRIENDS; THEY ARE FRIENDS OF EACH OTHER; AND WHOEVER AMONGST YOU TAKES THEM FOR A FRIEND, THEN SURELY HE IS ONE OF THEM; SURELY ALLAH DOES NOT GUIDE THE UNJUST PEOPLE. (5:49-51)

I’ll take a page from Catholic-Protestant apologetics: which one quote most disturbs you? We can start there.

 

[exoflare]

Ahimsa:

I’ll take a page from Catholic-Protestant apologetics: which one quote most disturbs you? We can start there.

I don’t blame you. How about this one first:

Surely the vilest of animals in Allah’s sight are those who disbelieve (8:55)

 

[mike182d]

Irenicist:

If they were a response to Muslim aggression they were a very belated one.

Granted, it was a belated response, but I certainly can’t blame them. After the fall of the Western Empire during the 5th century, the whole of Europe was chaotic. While Christians in the East may have fought Islam for several hundred years prior to the Crusades, the West was not able to effectively do anything about it until the 11th century, even if they wanted to. They were far too busy bickering with themselves and trynig to fend off invaders at the same time.

Which specific act of Muslim aggression do you feel prompted them instead?

There are several factors, but I would say the act most influential in launching the Crusades was the loss of nearly all of Christian Asia Minor to the Turks and the emperor in Constantinople pleading to Gregory VII for help. The initial idea had several dimentions: 1) unite the whole of Europe against a common enemy instead of fighting themselves, 2) repell the Islamic military juggernaut that threatened their continued existence, 3) rescue the emperor of Constantinople’s lands and thereby aid in reconciling the schism, and 4) allow Christians to freely visit the Holy Land without being robbed, tortured or murdered.

It really was a good idea, in theory…

 

[exoflare]

mike182d:

While Christians in the East may have fought Islam for several hundred years prior to the Crusades, the West was not able to effectively do anything about it until the 11th century, even if they wanted to. They were far too busy bickering with themselves and trynig to fend off invaders at the same time.

Hmm… deja vu.

 

[Ahimsa]

exoflare:

I don’t blame you. How about this one first:

Surely the vilest of animals in Allah’s sight are those who disbelieve (8:55)

I’m using M. A. S. Abdel Haleem’s translation of the Qur’an, a translation I find to be very clarifying in its language. Eight:55 is coupled with 8:56, thus:

(8:55) The worst creatures in the sight of God are those who reject Him and will not believe; (56) who, whenever you, the Prophet, make a treaty with them, break it – for they have no fear of God.

Here, God speaks of the Meccan, non-Muslim, opponents of Muhammad, who made a treaty, but then broke it. The Qur’an simply states that those who do not believe in God, and who do immoral acts (such as breaking treaties), are the worst of human beings.

I don’t see too much to object in that verse, once the context is understood.

 

[deen]

To Elizabeth,

My replies are in dard red.

Thank you Deen, for your response. I am very well, and pray you have a peacefilled day. Please thank your brother also for writing on this subject, offering grace and dignity to women.

When I see news reports, women are dressed from head to toe, in what appears to be a shrowd of sorts (don’t know if this is the correct usage for the word “shrowd”) Regardless, it appears to me they are oppressed in their form of public dress. Why do they dress this way?

The correct term for the Muslim women’s Islamic dress is Hijab. It is a symbol of obedience to God and it does not signify oppression. The Creator prescribed it for women for their protection, honor and dignity. Those who are oppressed are the ones who follow the dictates of fashion and society.

Do most/all women wear such garments in public, always? At whose command to women dress this way or is it voluntary?

While in public, yes. Hijab is an obligatory duty prescribed by God.

I have heard of many instances of violence toward women to the point that it is legal for a man to kill his wife, if she does not please him. Is this true?

NO. That’s murder.

On another thread, someone remarked that Muhammadp (may he rest in peace) professed there are more women in hell then men. Is this true?

Thanks for the respect for the Prophet, that’s very rare coming from a Chrsitian. Yes, what the Prophet said about being more women in hell is true.

If so, can you tell me why he said this and what it means regarding the feeling toward the holiness/unholiness of women on earth?

One narration stated that the reason is because many women are ungrateful to their husbands. However, women are not to be blamed alone for the evil deeds in this earth. Both men and women share the responsibility to do good and avoid evil.

Are women welcomed in the Mosque and do they pray, along side of men?

They are allowed but not obliged. Women should always pray behind men to avoid mixing.

Do women and men have separate prayer obligations, like Jewish people and Christians? NO

Part of an Orthodox Jewish man’s prayer is to thank The Lord that He did not make him a woman.

This is absurd. There is nothing like this in Islam . Man and women have complimentary roles to play.

Do Muslims pray this way too; thanking God for what they have/are by thanking Him for what they have or are not?

Generally, we are encouraged to pray for goodness in this life (that includes material, health, spiritual, etc) and goodness in the next life (i.e. receiving salvation, admittance to paradise and protection from hell).

Thank you in advance,
Elizabeth

You are Welcome!

If you have time, please check the following link to read true-to-life stories of ex-Christians who embraced Islam. Perhaps their stories will shed more light to your questions.

THE VEIL HAS SET US FREE:

fmwf.com/C2B/PressOffice/display.asp?ID=693&Type=1

rgds,

deen

 

[Maranatha]

Brad:

An excellent question. I am waiting for a good answer to these verses as well. Seeing as Mohammed and an entire host of subsequent Muslim leaders seemed to follow these verses with their actions and were anything but peaceful, I have a very tough time reconciling this “religion of peace”.

deen:

Different interpretations are valid in Islam as long as they are accompanied with clear evidence from ther Qur’an and authentic Sunnah.

Brad,

As you can see, different Muslims, even within the Sunni sect, can interpret the passages differently. One religious leader can interpret it so that Islam is a religion of perfect peace. Another, can, and has, interpreted it in ways in which a Christian would consider Islam to be less than prefect.

 

[straightpath]

Thank you in advance,
ElizabethHi Elizabeth, peace be with you,I know you asked these question to Deen but since i am a brother in Islam for him please allow me to help clarify soem misconceptions.

elizabeth4truth:

When I see news reports, women are dressed from head to toe, in what appears to be a shrowd of sorts (don’t know if this is the correct usage for the word “shrowd”) Regardless, it appears to me they are oppressed in their form of public dress. Why do they dress this way? Do most/all women wear such garments in public, always? At whose command to women dress this way or is it voluntary?

The veil is not something New in Islam.It is not islam that invented it .If you are are a christian you would see that the Virgin Mary( peace be upon here) was Covered in what is called the Hijab. She did not flaunt here body and show to evey one she was respectably covered.In the Bible too we see that Rebeka in Gen 24:
65 For she had said unto the servant, What man is this that walketh in the field to meet us? And the servant had said, It is my master: therefore she took a vail, and covered herself.
So out of modesty she took a veil and covered herself.

Also we see that in Son 5:
7 The watchmen that went about the city found me, they smote me, they wounded me; the keepers of the walls took away my veil from me.

we look at the footnotes in bible and it says “The word probably denotes some kind of cloak or wrapper.”

Rth 3:
15 Also he said, Bring the vail that thou hast upon thee, and hold it. And when she held it, he measured six measures of barley, and laid it on her: and she went into the city. So as we can see it is not something new that Islam invented and forced on its women these practice has been in force by pious women from before.
In the Quran Allah commands a woman to cover Herself.

[033:059] O Prophet! Tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to draw their cloaks (veils) all over their bodies (i.e. screen themselves completely except the eyes or one eye to see the way). That will be better that they should be known (as free respectable women) so as not to be annoyed. And Allâh is Ever Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. So this woman has been command by GOD to cover herself.She has the choice either to obey GOD and do it or she can refuse but she will be punished by GOD.But she is not to be forced to wear it.It is between her and GOD.

elizabeth4truth:

I have heard of many instances of violence toward women to the point that it is legal for a man to kill his wife, if she does not please him. Is this true? Is physical abuse defined in Islam? Are there sanctions against it?

There is nowher In islam where the permission is given for a man to KIll his wife.This is of course false what you have heard.A man in order to save his marriage is only allowed to hit his wife with a toothstick.That is all otherwise the Prophet mohammed ordain to the men that"the best amongs yuo are those who are best with their wives"

elizabeth4truth:

On another thread, someone remarked that Muhammadp (may he rest in peace) professed there are more women in hell then men. Is this true? If so, can you tell me why he said this and what it means regarding the feeling toward the holiness/unholiness of women on earth?

This is true he did say that and he also said that there will be main the rich in hell too.And heaven will be filled with the poor

elizabeth4truth:

Are women welcomed in the Mosque and do they pray, along side of men? Do women and men have separate prayer obligations, like Jewish people and Christians? Part of an Orthodox Jewish man’s prayer is to thank The Lord that He did not make him a woman. Do Muslims pray this way too; thanking God for what they have/are by thanking Him for what they have or are not?

Yes women are welcomed in mosques, they have a different section for men and women, Islam does not encourage woman and men Mixing especially at the time of prayers.No men and women do have have separate prayer obligations,They are supposed to pray exactly like men and are rewrede exactly the same.Concerning the prayer about not thanking the lord not to make him a woman.No this is not in islam Islam respects women too much too thank God a man wa snot a woman.We believ that GOD created us how he wished.Man woman, black white , tall , sort, Handsome or Ugly we thank him and praise him for all.
And Allah Knows best.

I hope this has answered your questions, pls feel free to ask any thing else.I hope By allah that i have answered Properly and if i have made Mistakes it comes from me and may allah forgive My weakness
Peace be upon those who are Righteously guided
Straightpath

 

[Maryam_V]

Hi, Elizabeth

When I see news reports, women are dressed from head to toe, in what appears to be a shrowd of sorts (don’t know if this is the correct usage for the word “shrowd”) Regardless, it appears to me they are oppressed in their form of public dress. Why do they dress this way?

Thank you, too for your questions. I hope you don’t mind my sharing with you how I feel to be in the “shrowd” as a Muslim woman

The Muslim’s woman dress is called “hijaab” although, per Islamic law, the Hijaab encompasses more than the woman’s dress, but we will, Godwilling, discuss that later. The hijaab is the dress of the Muslim woman which she wears when she goes out in public or when she is in the presence of men whom she is allowed to marry. The hijaab should cover her from head to toe, showing only her face and hands - although I am sure you have seen some who cover their faces as well showing only their eyes.

Yes, there are many who, when they see the Muslim woman in proper hijaab, they sort of think these Muslim women are oppressed. Elizabeth, believe me, I have never felt more liberated until I embraced Islam and understood the meaning of this hijaab.

Most importantly, it is part of my worship of my Creator- this wearing of the hijaab. It is His command for the Muslim woman to do so - so that she is known to be a believing woman and so that she is not molested, it’s for her protection. If I may say so, there are Muslimah’s, of course, who choose not to don the hijaab - Islamically, they are sinning, but it is between themselves and their Creator.

I feel liberated because I do not have to dress according to the dictates of the latest fashion. I dress according to the dictates of my Creator who knows what is best for His creation. I have been called “ninja”, I have been laughed at, my car scratched, just because of what I am wearing. BUT I was never verbally sexually harrassed as I was when I was not a Muslim and not covering the way I do now. Sometimes, I am mistaken to be a nun, but most of the time, men tend to “keep off” specially when I am walking along corridors or hallways. It’s happened a number of times when men stop for me to pass first or they tend to keep as close to the wall as possible. I guess this covering just gives the signal “private…keep off”.

I have heard of many instances of violence toward women to the point that it is legal for a man to kill his wife, if she does not please him. Is this true?

I don’t think this is a Muslim-exclusive tragedy. However, Islam only teaches kindness to women considering her biological and emotional make-up. The Creator of all knows His creation best. As with other communities, there are those who disobey and transgress the limits set by their Lord.

On another thread, someone remarked that Muhammadp (may he rest in peace) professed there are more women in hell then men. Is this true?

If so, can you tell me why he said this and what it means regarding the feeling toward the holiness/unholiness of women on earth?

I have come accross an authentic naration of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) that there are more women than men in hell because of their “ingratitude” to their husbands. When for instance, she feels he has done her wrong, she curses him and gets angry at him forgetting the rest of the other good things that he has done for her. There are reasons for women going to hell as well as men…she does not go to hell just because she is a woman.

In Islam, both Adam and Eve sinned, both sought for repentance and both were forgiven by their Lord. In the Qur’an, it says "Never will I allow to be lost the work of any of you, male or female. You are one of another. (Qur’an 3:195)

Men and women have to establish their prayers. Women though are not obliged to always pray in a mosque and in a congregation as men are. She is welcome to go pray in a mosque if she wishes. In a congregation, she prays alongside other women, who are behind the men.

regards,

maryam v

 

[milimac]

One thing of which I am unclear: It is commonly mentioned that Christians, Muslims and Jews share Abraham as our father.

• At what point does our common ancestry diverge?
• What religion, if any, did Muhammed practice before he became a prophet?