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bismi-lLahi-rRahmani-rRahiem
In the Name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful
=== News Update ===
The Top Misconceptions About Islam
Wednesday, 25 June 2008 11:52 www.daily.pk
Muslims are violent, terrorists, and extremists!
This is the biggest misconception in Islam, no
doubt resulting from the constant stereotyping
and bashing the media gives Islam. When a gunman
attacks a mosque in the name of Judaism, a
Catholic IRA guerrilla sets off a bomb in an
urban area, or Serbian Orthodox militiamen rape
and kill innocent Muslim civilians, these acts
are not used to stereotype an entire faith. Never
are these acts attributed to the religion of the
perpetrators. Yet how many times have we heard
the words 'Islamic, Muslim fundamentalist. etc.' linked with violence.
Politics in so called âMuslim countries" may or
may not have any Islamic basis. Often dictators
and politicians will use the name of Islam for
their own purposes. One should remember to go to
the source of Islam and separate what the true
religion of Islam says from what is portrayed in
the media. Islam literally means 'submission to
God' and is derived from a root word meaning 'peace'.
Islam may seem exotic or even extreme in the
modern world. Perhaps this is because religion
doesnât dominate everyday life in the West,
whereas Islam is considered a 'way of life' for
Muslims and they make no division between secular
and sacred in their lives. Like Christianity,
Islam permits fighting in self-defense, in
defense of religion, or on the part of those who
have been expelled forcibly from their homes. It
lays down strict rules of combat which include
prohibitions against harming civilians and
against destroying crops, trees and livestock.
NOWHERE DOES ISLAM ENJOIN THE KILLING OF
INNOCENTS... The Qurâan says: "Fight in the
cause of God against those who fight you, but do
not transgress limits. God does not love
transgressors." (Qurâan 2:190) "If they seek
peace, then seek you peace. And trust in God for
He is the One that heareth and knoweth all
things." (Qurâan 8:61) War, therefore, is the
last resort, and is subject to the rigorous
conditions laid down by the sacred law. The term
'jihad' literally means 'struggle'. Muslims
believe that there are two kinds of jihad. The
other 'jihad' is the inner struggle of the soul
which everyone wages against egotistic desires
for the sake of attaining inner peace.
Islam oppresses women.
The image of the typical Muslim woman wearing the
veil and forced to stay home and forbidden to
drive is all too common in most peoplesâ
thoughts. Although some Muslim countries may have
laws that oppress women, this should not be seen
as coming from Islam. Many of these countries do
not rule by any kind of Shari'ah (Islamic law)
and introduce their own cultural standpoints on the issue of gender equity.
Islam on the other hand gives men and women
different roles and equity between the two is
laid down in the Qurâan and the example of the
Prophet (peace be upon him). Islam sees a woman,
whether single or married, as an individual in
her own right, with the right to own and dispose
of her property and earnings. A marriage gift is
given by the groom to the bride for her own
personal use, and she keeps her own family name
rather than taking her husband's. Both men and
women are expected to dress in a way which is
modest and dignified. The Messenger of God (peace
be upon him) said: "The most perfect in faith
amongst believers is he who is best in manner and kindest to his wife."
Violence of any kind towards women and forcing
them against their will for anything is not
allowed. A Muslim marriage is a simple, legal
agreement in which either partner is free to include conditions.
Marriage customs thus vary widely from country to
country. Divorce is not common, although it is
acceptable as a last resort. According to Islam,
a Muslim girl cannot be forced to marry against
her will: her parents simply suggest young men they think may be suitable.
Muslims worship a different God
Allah is simply the Arabic word for God. Allah
for Muslims is the greatest and most inclusive of
the Names of God, it is an Arabic word of rich
meaning, denoting the one and only God and
ascribing no partners to Him. It is exactly the
same word which the Jews, in Hebrew, use for God
(eloh), the word which Jesus Christ used in
Aramaic when he prayed to God. God has an
identical name in Judaism, Christianity, and
Islam; Allah is the same God worshiped by
Muslims, Christians and Jews. Muslims believe
that Allah's sovereignty is to be acknowledged in
worship and in the pledge to obey His teaching
and commandments, conveyed through His messengers
and prophets who were sent at various times and
in many places throughout history.
Islam was spread by the sword and is intolerant of other faiths
Many social studies textbooks for students show
the image of an Arab horseman carrying a sword in
one hand and the Qurâan in the other conquering
and forcibly converting. This, though, is not a
correct portrayal of history. Islam has always
given respect and freedom of religion to all
faiths. The Qurâan says: "God forbids you not,
with regards to those who fight you not for
[your] faith nor drive you out of your homes,
from dealing kindly and justly with them; for God
loveth those who are just." (60:8) Freedom of
religion is laid down in the Qurâan itself:
"There is no compulsion (or coercion) in the
religion (Islam). The right direction is distinctly clear from error". (2:256)
Christian missionary, T.W. Arnold had this
opinion on his study of the question of the
spread of Islam: "... Of any organized attempt to
force the acceptance of Islam on the non-Muslim
population, or of any systematic persecution
intended to stamp out the Christian religion, we
hear nothing. Had the caliphs chosen to adopt
either course of action, they might have swept
away Christianity as easily as Ferdinand and
Isabella drove Islam out of Spain, or Louis XIV made Protestantism ..."
It is a function of Islamic law to protect the
privileged status of minorities, and this is why
non-Muslim places of worship have flourished all
over the Islamic world. History provides many
examples of Muslim tolerance towards other
faiths: when the caliph Omar entered Jerusalem in
the year 634, Islam granted freedom of worship to
all religious communities in the city.
Proclaiming to the inhabitants that their lives,
and property were safe, and that their places of
worship would never be taken from them, he asked
the Christian patriarch Sophronius to accompany
him on a visit to all the holy places. Islamic
law also permits non-Muslim minorities to set up
their own courts, which implement family laws
drawn up by the minorities themselves. The life
and property of all citizens in an Islamic state
are considered sacred whether the person is Muslim or not.
Racism is not a part of Islam, the Qurâan
speaks only of human equality and how all peoples
are equal in the sight of God. "O mankind! We
created you from a single soul, male and female,
and made you into nations and tribes, so that you
may come to know one another. Truly, the most
honored of you in God's sight is the greatest of
you in piety. God is All-Knowing, All- Aware." (49:13)
All Muslims are Arabs
The Muslim population of the world is around 1.4
billion. 1 out of 4 people in the world is a
Muslim. Islam is the fastest growing religion in
the World and North America. They are a vast
range of races, nationalities, and cultures from
around the globe--from the Philippines to
Nigeria--they are united by their common Islamic
faith. Only about 18% live in the Arab world and
the largest Muslim community is in Indonesia.
Most Muslims live east of Pakistan. 30% of
Muslims live in the Indian subcontinent, 20% in
Sub-Saharan Africa, 17% in Southeast Asia, 18% in
the Arab world, and 10% in the Soviet Union and
China. Turkey, Iran and Afghanistan make up 10%
of the non-Arab Middle East. Although there are
Muslim minorities in almost every area, including
Latin America and Australia, they are most
numerous in Russia and its newly independent
states, India and central Africa. There are about
8 million Muslims in the United States.
The Nation of Islam is a Muslim group
Islam and the so called âNation of Islam'" are
two different religions. Muslims consider this
group to be just one of many cults using the name
of Islam for their own gain. The only thing
common between them is the jargon, the language
used by both. "The Nation of Islam" is a
misnomer; this religion should be called
Farrakhanism, after the name of its propagator, Louis Farrakhan.
Islam and Farakhanism differ in many fundamental
ways. For example, Farrakhan followers believe in
racism and that the 'black man' was the original
man and therefore superior, while in Islam there
is no racism and everyone is considered equal in
the sight of God, the only difference being in
one's piety. There are many other theological
examples that show the 'Nation's teachings have
little to do with true Islam. There are many
groups in America who claim to represent Islam
and call their adherents Muslims.
Any serious student of Islam has a duty to
investigate and find the true Islam. The only two
authentic sources which bind every Muslim are 1.
The Quran and 2. Authentic or sound Hadith. Any
teachings under the label of "Islam" which
contradict or at variance with the direct
understanding of fundamental beliefs and
practices of Islam form the Quran and authentic
Hadith should be rejected and such a religion
should be considered a Pseudo-Islamic Cult. In
America there are many pseudo-Islamic cults,
Farrakhanism being one of them. An honest
attitude on the part of such cults should be not
to call themselves Muslims and their religion
Islam. Such an example of honesty is Bahaism
which is an off-shoot of Islam but Bahais do not
call themselves Muslims nor their religion,
Islam. In fact Bahaism is not Islam just as Farrakhanism is not Islam.
All Muslim men marry four wives
The religion of Islam was revealed for all
societies and all times and so accommodates
widely differing social requirements.
Circumstances may warrant the taking of another
wife but the right is granted, according to the
Quran, only on condition that the husband is
scrupulously fair. No woman can be forced into
this kind of marriage if they do not wish it, and
they also have the right to exclude it in their marriage contract.
Polygamy is neither mandatory, nor encouraged,
but merely permitted. Images of "sheikhs with
harems" are not consistent with Islam, as a man
is only allowed at most four wives only if he can
fulfill the stringent conditions of treating each
fairly and providing each with separate housing
etc. Permission to practice polygamy is not
associated with mere satisfaction of passion. It
is rather associated with compassion toward
widows and orphans. It was the Quran that limited
and put conditions on the practice of polygamy
among the Arabs, who had as many as ten or more
wives and considered them "property". It is both
honest and accurate to say that it is Islam which
regulated this practice, limited it, made it more
humane and instituted equal rights and status for
all wives. What the Qur'anic decrees amount to,
taken together is discouragement of polygamy
unless necessity for it exists. It is also
evident that the general rule in Islam is
monogamy and not polygamy. It is a very tiny
percentage of Muslims that practice it over the
world. However, permission to practice limited
polygamy is only consistent with Islam's
realistic view of the nature of man and woman and
of various social needs, problems and cultural
variations. The question is, however far more
than the inherent flexibility of Islam; it also
is the frank and straightforward approach of
Islam in dealing with practical problems. Rather
than requiring hypocritical and superficial
compliance, Islam delves deeper into the problems
of individuals and societies, and provides for
legitimate and clean solutions which are far more
beneficial than would be the case if they were
ignored. There is no doubt that the second wife
legally married and treated kindly is better off
than a mistress without any legal rights or expermanence.
Muslims are a barbaric, backwards people
Among the reasons for the rapid and peaceful
spread of Islam was the simplicity of its
doctrine-Islam calls for faith in only one God
worthy of worship. It also repeatedly instructs
man to use his powers of intelligence and
observation. Within a few years, great
civilizations and universities were flourishing,
for according to the Prophet (pbuh), 'seeking
knowledge is an obligation for every Muslim man and woman'.
The synthesis of Eastern and Western ideas and of
new thought with old, brought about great
advances in medicine, mathematics, physics,
astronomy, geography, architecture, art, literature, and history.
Many crucial systems such as algebra, the Arabic
numerals, and also the concept of the zero (vital
to the advancement of mathematics), were
transmitted to medieval Europe from Islam.
Sophisticated instruments which were to make
possible the European voyages of discovery were
developed, including the astrolabe, the quadrant and good navigational maps.
Muhammad(PBUH) was the founder of Islam and Muslims worship him
Muhammad (pbuh) was born in Mecca in the year
570. Since his father died before his birth, and
his mother shortly afterwards, he was raised by
his uncle from the respected tribe of Quraysh. As
he grew up, he became known for his truthfulness,
generosity and sincerity, so that he was sought
after for his ability to arbitrate in disputes.
The historians describe him as calm and
meditative. Muhammad (pbuh) was of a deeply
religious nature, and had long detested the decadence of his society.
It became his habit to meditate from time to time
in the Cave of Hira near Mecca. At the age of 40,
while engaged in a meditative retreat, Muhammad
(pbuh) received his first revelation from God
through the Angel Gabriel. This revelation, which
continued for 23 years, is known as the Quran. As
soon as he began to recite the words he heard
from Gabriel, and to preach the truth which God
had revealed to him, he and his small group of
followers suffered bitter persecution, which grew
so fierce that in the year 622 God gave them the command to emigrate.
This event, the Hijra 'migration', in which they
left Mecca for the city of Medina, marks the
beginning of the Muslim calendar. After several
years, the Prophet and his followers were able to
return to Mecca, where they forgave their enemies
and established Islam definitively. Before the
Prophet saw dies at the age of 63, the greater
part of Arabia was Muslim, and within a century
of his death Islam had spread to Spain in the
West and as far East as China. He died with less
than 5 possessions to his name.
While Muhammad (pbuh) was chosen to deliver the
message, he is not considered the "founder" of
Islam, since Muslims consider Islam to be the
same divine guidance sent to all peoples before.
Muslims believe all the prophets from Adam, Noah,
Moses, Jesus etc. were all sent with divine
guidance for their peoples. Every prophet was
sent to his own people, but Muhammad (pbuh) was
sent to all of mankind. Muhammad is the last and
final messenger sent to deliver the message of
Islam. Muslims revere and honor him (pbuh) for
all he went through and his dedication, but they
do not worship him. "O Prophet, verily We have
sent you as a witness and a bearer of glad
tidings and a warner and as one who invites unto
God by His leave and as an illuminating lamp." (33:45-6)
Muslims don't believe in Jesus or any other prophets
Muslims respect and revere Jesus, upon him be
peace, and await his Second Coming. They consider
him one of the greatest of God's messengers to
mankind. A Muslim never refers to him simply as
'Jesus', but always adds the phrase 'upon him be
peace' (abbreviated as (u) here). The Quran
confirms his virgin birth (a chapter of the Quran
is entitled 'Mary'), and Mary is considered the
purest woman in all creation. The Quran describes
the Annunciation as follows: "Behold!" the Angel
said, "God has chosen you, and purified you, and
chosen you above the women of all nations. O
Mary, God gives you good news of a word from Him
whose name shall be the Messiah, Jesus son of
Mary, honored in this world and the Hereafter,
and one of those brought near to God. He shall
speak to the people from his cradle and in
maturity, and shall be of the righteous." She
said: "O my Lord! How shall I have a son when no
man has touched me?" He said: "Even so; God
creates what He will. When He decrees a thing, He
says to it, "Be!" and it is" (Quran 3:42-47)
Jesus (u) was born miraculously through the same
power which had brought Adam (u) into being
without a father: "Truly, the likeness of Jesus
with God is as the likeness of Adam. He created
him of dust, and then said to him, 'Be!' and he
was." (3:59) during his prophetic mission Jesus
(u) performed many miracles. The Quran tells us
that he said: " I have come to you with a sign
from your Lord: I make for you out of clay, as it
were, the figure of a bird, and breathe into it
and it becomes a bird by God's leave. And I heal
the blind, and the lepers, and I raise the dead
by God's leave." (3:49) Neither Muhammad (pbuh)
not Jesus (u) came to change the basic doctrine
of the brief in One God brought by earlier
prophets, but to confirm and renew it.
In the Qurâan Jesus (u) is reported as saying
that he came: "To attest the law which was before
me. And to make lawful to you part of what was
forbidden you; I have come to you with a sign
from your Lord, so fear God and obey Me. (3:50)
The Prophet Muhammad(pbuh) said: "Whoever
believes there is no god but God, alone without
partner, that Muhammad(pbuh) is His messenger,
that Jesus is the servant and messenger of God,
His word breathed into Mary and a spirit
emanating from Him, and that Paradise and Hell
are true, shall be received by God into Heaven. "(Hadith related by Bukhari)
source :
<http://www.daily.pk/general/generalnews/67-generalnews/4903-the-top-misconceptions-about-islam.html>http://www.daily.pk/general/generalnews/67-generalnews/4903-the-top-misconceptions-about-islam.<http://www.daily.pk/general/generalnews/67-generalnews/4903-the-top-misconceptions-about-islam.html>html
===
-muslim voice-
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