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Ask the Muslim! (a.k.a. interrogate the Muslim)

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Hello guys! I’m a Sunni Muslim living in America.

A bit about me: My parents are emigrants from Pakistan who came to the USA for college and decided to stay. I’m an 18 year-old soon to be college student (this January!). I’m pretty much an average american kid, except for the fact that I am Muslim.

Islam is a religion a lot of people hear a lot about, yet don’t know much about. So naturally lots of people are curious about it. So if anyone has any questions about my religion, I am happy to answer.

I’ve made this for people who are curious and generally interested. I don’t expect you to become Muslim, and I’m sure you don’t expect me to become whatever you are. If you are just here to ask obnoxious and derogatory questions, I’m just going to ignore you. You might as well just not post.

Do they not see the birds controlled in the atmosphere of the sky? none holds them up except Allah. Indeed in that are signs for a people who believe. – Quran (16:79)

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+1 for following the “Ask the X” thread format.

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TV’s Frink said:

+1 for following the “Ask the X” thread format.

I try.

Do they not see the birds controlled in the atmosphere of the sky? none holds them up except Allah. Indeed in that are signs for a people who believe. – Quran (16:79)

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I am curious about what your thoughts on Sharia law are?

I often found it similar to the ridiculous content in the old testament in which God commits genocide for one person being gay. And it annoys me to no end when people think they can attack Sharia law but not admit the faults of their own holy book.

Nevertheless I still feel like both set of the teachings I refer to are quite reprehensible from a modern moral sense and am curious how you reconcile the teachings of Sharia law within your own personal beliefs?

And thanks for putting the thread up! I could use some more first hand knowledge on this religion which most definitely has so many beautiful aspects to it and I have a close Muslim friend of mine who I never have the nerve to talk to about his religion.

Return of the Jedi: Remastered

Lord of the Rings: The Darth Rush Definitives

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 (Edited)

darthrush said:

I am curious about what your thoughts on Sharia law are?

I often found it similar to the ridiculous content in the old testament in which God commits genocide for one person being gay. And it annoys me to no end when people think they can attack Sharia law but not admit the faults of their own holy book.

Nevertheless I still feel like both set of the teachings I refer to are quite reprehensible from a modern moral sense and am curious how you reconcile the teachings of Sharia law within your own personal beliefs?

And thanks for putting the thread up! I could use some more first hand knowledge on this religion which most definitely has so many beautiful aspects to it and I have a close Muslim friend of mine who I never have the nerve to talk to about his religion.

Hey Darthrush! Before I get started–Many people make the mistake of thinking that Sharia law is all from the Quran. Some of it is based in that, but in fact it was all built up over the years throughout history. So, some of it is based on precedent, and not on actual teachings.

Realizing that fact, I think that where Sharia law has become messed up in many Muslim communities is that they use it in a reactionary way in relation to the depraved ways of the outside world. In other words, they feel like because the rest of the world is so materialistic/immoral, they need to double down and make sure their world becomes nothing like the outside world. In that way, they are letting the world control them-- just not in the way they think.

So anyway, a couple of my thoughts:

  1. Some people say that Muslim law is oppressive. To Western values, I suppose it is. But who says western values are the best values? Properly applied, muslim law protects. Specifically, it protects our religion, human life, intellect, sanctity, lineage, and wealth.

  2. Sharia law is for Muslims. It is not for non-Muslims! If you do not want to follow it, do not become a Muslim.

  3. This is something that many of the wacko-Muslims in the middle east have forgotten. Back when we were the conquerors, we treated societies we conquered kindly. We let them live their own ways. Perhaps, because we often feel conquered (western influences in Middle East), we feel like we need to go around forcing Sharia law on everything. It’s like we feel that if we don’t do this, we’ll just collapse. I think this shows a huge lack of faith in God and in the beauty of our religion. Which leads me to my next point…

  4. An ideal worldwide would be one that is a theocracy (and ruled by sharia law). However, we know that this is not going to happen until the end times. So, until then we are commanded to spread the faith by Jihad (holy war). “Holy war” does not necessarily mean violent acts. It could also mean what is called by Christians “missionary work”.

  5. The Islamist extremists (like al-qaeda) claim that they are waging Jihad against the USA and the West. This is just dumb. The USA had never tried to kill Muslims. The west had tried to interfere in our politics in order to protect the UK’s oil interests. While this is bad, this is also the basis of the extremists’ beef with the west. Who’s the real materialist? It would appear to be al-qaeda.

Anyway, sorry, I think I’ve kind of gone off on some tangents. Your question was more about me personally.
I believe that the laws prescribed for us in the Quran are the way to happiness. However, I do struggle with the punishments the Quran sometimes prescribes for those who might fall short. But then, What does it really mean? How strict are we to read it? Scripture can always be so ambiguous. I think we need to realize that just because one community interprets it one way, that does not need to be the way everywhere does it. It isn’t an issue of literalism vs. being lax, it’s an issue of applying the scripture to yourself. I think I am lucky to live in a place where Muslims are in the minority, and strict Sharia cannot be implemented among the government. Faith is a matter of personal choice.

Do they not see the birds controlled in the atmosphere of the sky? none holds them up except Allah. Indeed in that are signs for a people who believe. – Quran (16:79)

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What is the different between Sunni and Shiite Muslims?

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 (Edited)

YodaFan67 said:

darthrush said:

I am curious about what your thoughts on Sharia law are?

I often found it similar to the ridiculous content in the old testament in which God commits genocide for one person being gay. And it annoys me to no end when people think they can attack Sharia law but not admit the faults of their own holy book.

Nevertheless I still feel like both set of the teachings I refer to are quite reprehensible from a modern moral sense and am curious how you reconcile the teachings of Sharia law within your own personal beliefs?

And thanks for putting the thread up! I could use some more first hand knowledge on this religion which most definitely has so many beautiful aspects to it and I have a close Muslim friend of mine who I never have the nerve to talk to about his religion.

Hey Darthrush! Before I get started–Many people make the mistake of thinking that Sharia law is all from the Quran. Some of it is based in that, but in fact it was all built up over the years throughout history. So, some of it is based on precedent, and not on actual teachings.

Realizing that fact, I think that where Sharia law has become messed up in many Muslim communities is that they use it in a reactionary way in relation to the depraved ways of the outside world. In other words, they feel like because the rest of the world is so materialistic/immoral, they need to double down and make sure their world becomes nothing like the outside world. In that way, they are letting the world control them-- just not in the way they think.

So anyway, a couple of my thoughts:

  1. Some people say that Muslim law is oppressive. To Western values, I suppose it is. But who says western values are the best values? Properly applied, muslim law protects. Specifically, it protects our religion, human life, intellect, sanctity, lineage, and wealth.

  2. Sharia law is for Muslims. It is not for non-Muslims! If you do not want to follow it, do not become a Muslim.

What about those that are Muslim? shouldn’t they be free to leave the faith and not follow Sharia Law?

What about all the oppressive rules on women? I’ve heard horror stories about women being beaten up just because they decided to drive a car or because they were raped.

  1. This is something that many of the wacko-Muslims in the middle east have forgotten. Back when we were the conquerors, we treated societies we conquered kindly. We let them live their own ways. Perhaps, because we often feel conquered (western influences in Middle East), we feel like we need to go around forcing Sharia law on everything. It’s like we feel that if we don’t do this, we’ll just collapse. I think this shows a huge lack of faith in God and in the beauty of our religion. Which leads me to my next point…

  2. An ideal worldwide would be one that is a theocracy (and ruled by sharia law). However, we know that this is not going to happen until the end times. So, until then we are commanded to spread the faith by Jihad (holy war). “Holy war” does not necessarily mean violent acts. It could also mean what is called by Christians “missionary work”.

does not necessarily mean violent acts? Does that mean that it could sometimes mean violent acts?

  1. The Islamist extremists (like al-qaeda) claim that they are waging Jihad against the USA and the West. This is just dumb. The USA had never tried to kill Muslims. The west had tried to interfere in our politics in order to protect the UK’s oil interests. While this is bad, this is also the basis of the extremists’ beef with the west. Who’s the real materialist? It would appear to be al-qaeda.

Anyway, sorry, I think I’ve kind of gone off on some tangents. Your question was more about me personally.
I believe that the laws prescribed for us in the Quran are the way to happiness. However, I do struggle with the punishments the Quran sometimes prescribes for those who might fall short. But then, What does it really mean? How strict are we to read it? Scripture can always be so ambiguous. I think we need to realize that just because one community interprets it one way, that does not need to be the way everywhere does it. It isn’t an issue of literalism vs. being lax, it’s an issue of applying the scripture to yourself. I think I am lucky to live in a place where Muslims are in the minority, and strict Sharia cannot be implemented among the government. Faith is a matter of personal choice.

I wish C3PX were still here. It would make for an interesting conversation.

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I have long been fascinated by Islam and even wrote a paper in its defense back in 2005 for my English 102 class. I am in a stalled state of writing a fictional book that deals with Islam and a new faith dealing with branching off from Islam (somewhat like the Bahai or the Druze). I know there is a great deal of evil in the world promulgated by extremist Muslims, but there are so many good people that it saddens me to have such an ugly voice of the minority representing the faith so much in the media. Oh, I also had a Pakistani friend in an anatomy and physiology class. He was a good guy and we often would discuss how amazing it was that the human body functioned as it did. We both could not help but ascribe it to the creation of an inspired Creator!

I don’t really have a question at this point. I am just very appreciative of a thread like this. I guess the name is probably representative of one of the very few trends I managed to start here. I am sure I will pop in and ask questions. Thanks for being willing to share your faith so openly.

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darth_ender said:

I am in a stalled state of writing a fictional book that deals with Islam and a new faith dealing with branching off from Islam (somewhat like the Bahai or the Druze).

A new faith branching off an older establish faith. Hmm, that seems to remind me of something . . .

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Warbler said:

darth_ender said:

I am in a stalled state of writing a fictional book that deals with Islam and a new faith dealing with branching off from Islam (somewhat like the Bahai or the Druze).

A new faith branching off an older establish faith. Hmm, that seems to remind me of something . . .

Yes. It reminds me of Dune, too.

😉

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That is not what I was thinking of.

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Warbler said:

darth_ender said:

I am in a stalled state of writing a fictional book that deals with Islam and a new faith dealing with branching off from Islam (somewhat like the Bahai or the Druze).

A new faith branching off an older establish faith. Hmm, that seems to remind me of something . . .

They say you should “write what you know.”

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 (Edited)

So, I do want to interrogate you, but not because you’re Muslim. I want your language skills, if you have them 😉

Since it sounds like you didn’t live in Pakistan yourself, your Urdu might not be so great, and if it isn’t just say so. But it would be seriously awesome if we got Urdu subtitles for Star Wars, just saying. And we have (most of) a Hindi dub, so you listen to the Hindi, write/convert it to Urdu, and it’s pretty easy as far as translations go. Anyway if you (or anyone you know) is interested in this, please oh please send them my way. Also if you have any other language connections, I’m not picky. Punjabi, Dari, whatever. I realize English is widely spoken and understood in Pakistan, so English audio or subtitles should be more than adequate, but hey why not Urdu too?

I now apologize for the derail and we can go back to the regularly scheduled interrogation.

Project Threepio (Star Wars OOT subtitles)

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I was at a Multicultural Event held by our local Muslim Women’s Group yesterday. It was fantastic.

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Warbler said:

What is the different between Sunni and Shiite Muslims?

Sunni Muslims believed that Muhammad’s successor should be chosen based on the best fit, Shiite Muslims thought that it should be someone who was chosen based upon relationship to Muhammad. Today, Sunnis have more of a focus on following the Quran, while Shiites are more focused on following the words of the authorities. So in that way you could think of the difference between Catholics and Protestants.

Do they not see the birds controlled in the atmosphere of the sky? none holds them up except Allah. Indeed in that are signs for a people who believe. – Quran (16:79)

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Warbler said:
What about those that are Muslim? shouldn’t they be free to leave the faith and not follow Sharia Law?

They should be, according to Quran 88:21–22. Unfortunately, a tradition has grown in the middle east that leaving Islam deserves the death penalty. This is another case where people are giving tradition a greater precedent than actual passages from the Quran.

What about all the oppressive rules on women? I’ve heard horror stories about women being beaten up just because they decided to drive a car or because they were raped.

Well, lynching of different sorts happens all over the world. Do Middle Eastern Muslims engage in this more than average? I honestly don’t know–I’ve never been to the Middle East. Either way, I think its important to note that such events are not state-sanctioned. They are done by violent mobs.

does not necessarily mean violent acts? Does that mean that it could sometimes mean violent acts?

Technically yes but there’s no need today. That passage came from a time where Muslims were under siege in their city.

Do they not see the birds controlled in the atmosphere of the sky? none holds them up except Allah. Indeed in that are signs for a people who believe. – Quran (16:79)

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If I wanted to read the Quran straight through, how would you recommend I do so? As currently laid out, longest to shortest surah? Chronologically? Topically? With commentary?

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I was thinking more along the lines of a mild soap or astringent.