Attempting to Better Understand Islam (any Muslims here at SP?)

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I'm currently working on a project for one of my senior-level advertising courses. It's an advertising campaign for an NPO with the purpose of reeducating people (specifically, Americans) on the misconceptions many of us have about Islam, and what it's all about. Some of the misconceptions I'm focusing on include (but aren't limited to): Everybody's named "Mohammad;" everybody agrees with, or at least mildly sympathizes with, Bin Laden, out of loyalty to Islam; women are all oppressed and forced to wear burkas, etc. Many of these stereotypes have become exceedingly prevelant post-9/11, for obvious reasons. The goal of the campaign for this ficticious (as per the assignment) NPO is to correct these misconceptions and set the average American at ease about our many fellow Americans who are in fact Muslims.

In my research for this project, I've stumbled upon a number of fascinating articles on the subject. ( Here's one of them. ) The more research I'm doing, the more I'm confirming what I've come to suspect for quite some time - that the many extremist examples of Islam we've all become so familiar with recently (the Taliban, for example) are indeed perversions and abuses of the true ideals that the majority of Muslims subscribe to. That these radical factions have essentially hijacked the faith (no 9/11 pun intended) and are essentially declaring war on their own faith. This, at least, is the conclusion I've come to based on the limited amount of research I've been able to devote to this project which, unfortunately, isn't as much as I'd like.

So while I try to devert my attention to some other projects that have deadlines in the next day or two, I'd like to get the ball rolling for a discussion on Islam, what makes it tick, and how the majority philosophy of Islam compares with the fundemental Islamist view that seems to be taking more precedence in the Middle East today. I know there is very little I know about Islam, and I find it nearly impossible to believe that the fastest growing religion on earth has become so popular as a result of the terrorist tendencies of those who abuse it, but rather just the opposite.

This thread is intended to educate and stimulate friendly discussion, and is of course open to everyone. And since we're all well aware of the abundance of evangelical Christians from all over the world here at SP (Chev, Gnarfflinger and Mathetais just to name a few), it occurs to me that I don't recall hearing any insight from any SP members who are actually Muslims.* Their unique perspective on any topics dealing with the situations in the Middle East would be invaluable IMO, and this thread is an official invitation for any and all followers of Islam to please share their thoughts. I sincerely hope the invitation is accepted, and furthermore, if anyone on these boards knows a Muslim who wouldn't mind participating, please send them a link to this thread with an invite to join our community.

Also - and I know the mods won't allow it, so this should go without saying - I definitely don't want this thread to turn into an Islam bash-o-rama, so please start another thread if you plan on getting nasty. Even-handed criticisms are fine, but for the most part I'd like this to be educational for all of us. This thread is intended for understanding, as I think we could all benefit from learning more about what Islam is really all about, and attempting to seperate the extremist fervor from the status quo within the Islamic community. I hope people pose their own questions along the way as well.

* That is...if SP HAS any Muslims. Do we?

 

I am no Muslim, but I think the following is a great article for you:

Western view of Islam: A troubled history

Also bible bashers may change their mind once they discover that Iraq has Abrahams home, Joseph has a tomb in Iran etc and that Muslims believe in the one God, and are not pagans!

 

And what's even better is that unlike Christianity and Judaism, Islam preaches that it's the same God as the others, and that those other two religions should be respected. I'll tell you, when I heard about that in my World Cultures class, I seriously considered converting. Still ended up agnostic, though.

 

Well, afaik Islam says that anyone who's not baptized is a Muslim, so guess SP got one Muslim in me

As far as I recall Muhammed was actually a Christian or Jewish prophet, though they would not recognize him or some sort. So basically they would have the same god. However do not hold me onto this. I'm everything but and expert.

My sisters husband is actually a muslim (he comes from Morocco). He is however quite shy, so I doubt I could get much out of him.

One interesting thing I've observed, is though that he is very aware of how Christian people looks at him. Moreover he's very afraid of what we in the family think of him, and him being a Muslim.
This brings a whole new perspective to things in my view. i mean especially concerning extremists and such. It would to me seem like he is afraid of being judged based on the actions of the extremists.

A friend of mine from Somalia has also many a time told me the excact phrase: "Bin Ladin is no muslim! Islam preaches love".

[ September 06, 2005, 19:05: Message edited by: olimikrig ]

 

@Felinoid:

Judaism teaches the same thing. Guess where Islam got it from?

I wish I knew more about Islam, as well. I'm looking forward to seeing how this thread develops. Didn't Faraaz say elsewhere that he's a Muslim? DR, check the "What religion do you practice?" thread.

 

Ummm, Muhammed? What do I win?!? I suppose that makes sense if he was originally a Jewish prophet, though.

 

I'll be helpful
Link to a thread on a different forum

http://www.embracingmystery.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=386

Remain polite is you post though.

 

Yes, Islam and Judaism both trace common roots back to Abraham, who at the time in question was known as Abram. According to Biblical and Jewish sources (don't know what Muslim sources have to say) Abram was getting on in years, as was his wife Sarah, and they had no children. He had been promised by God that he would be the Father of a great nation, which is hard to do without an heir, so they kind of took matters into their own hands. Sarah had a servant named Hagar who slept with Abram to conceive a child in proxy...and here's where the trouble starts. It's likely that Hagar was viewed as a slave and property, but it's possible that some of the local cultures would have classified her as concubine or semi-wife.

Hagar bore a son named Ishmael. Although later Jewish law wouldn't consider him a legitimate heir because Abram and Hagar weren't married, the land and time they were living in had no such mores (remember, this is even before the 10 Commandments). Eventually when Sarah conceived and bore a son who would become Isaac, the problems escalated.

In order to insure that the Son of Abram's wife became his heir, Hagar and Ishmael had to go away. There are many different accounts as to how this happened...run out of camp with nothing in the middle of the night, sent off with ample riches and supplies...however it came to pass, Isaac became the senior and only heir and Ishmeal was sent off on his own.

This is where Islam and Judaism have a dichotomy. Muhammad traces his ancestry back to Ishmael and Judaism follows the line of Isaac, Jacob, Joseph and so on.

The Qur'an has always held that Hagar was the legitimate wife of Abram, thereby making Ishmael his true first son. Makes it easy to see the roots of disagreement that were formed centuries ago. Seems like the bitterest fights occur within families.

It's interesting that both the Qur'an and the Torah tell essentially the same story of Hagar and Ishmael running around in the desert nearly dead from lack of water, when God miraculously caused a well to appear and save their lives. These wells are known today as ancient sites for both Judaism and Islam...although they're a couple hundred miles apart .

That's just a starter to clarify the roots of the two respective Faiths.

[ September 07, 2005, 02:25: Message edited by: Hacken Slash ]

 

Here's one thing I remember hearing, I believe it to be accurate, but if it can be expanded on, I would appreciate it: Allah translates to English as "The God".

 

The Qur'an also gives more rights to women than Christianity did. If countries have taken these rights from them then they are not following the teaching of the Qur'an.

See here

 

"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. However, it should be noted that God in Islam is One and Only. He, the Exalted, does not get tired, does not have a son (i.e. Jesus) or have associates, nor does He have human-like attributions as found in other faiths."

http://members.tripod.com/~bimcrot/sv/misc.html

 

Jesus said that all commandments essentially contract into one, that one should love God above everything and the neighbour as he does himself. When asked who was the neighbour, He replied with the tale of the good Samaritan. I suppose this says something.

As for peace, I know Islam teaches peace. Al Quaeda's crimes are as Muslim as the slaughter of Indians was Christian. But does this mean that Muhammad's immediate sucessors, the early caliphs, were in error when they set off on conquest, taking over Palestine, Egypt and North Africa from the (Christian) Byzantine Empire in the 7th to 8th century, then Spain in the 9th?

 

When it comes to charity, Muslims would be the most generous. Countries Offering U.S. Aid for Katrina

Hopefully this will make major news, and people will see that Islam is not 'bad'.

 

Can't say that I'm a specialist in this part of the history nor very good at islam theology but there is allways the possibility that Byzantium and Spain prevented the expansion of Islam which is as far as I know a legimate reason for warfare.

 

I read that the Moorish did not enslave, rape and kill in Spain, as documented, but they did fine anyone that did not recognise Muhammad as a prophet.

One of the strangest things I seen in Spain, was an old Moorish mosque, that was later converted into a Catholic Church. Its a very beautiful building that retains much of its Arabic influences.

 

As Nakia points out Islam did originally give a better level of rights to women than was possible in the Christian world at the time. Indeed, Mohammed's first wife was a businesswoman and somewhat older than him. Cuchulainn's point about the charity of Muslim nations could be backed up by the fact that one of the five pilars of Islam is Zakat, or giving aid to the needy. Muslims are expected to contritbute at least 2.5 per cent of their income to the needy in society where possible.

By the way Chevalier Jesus was not the first person to make the comment on all the rules contracting. There was a Rabbi who lived some time before Christ who responded to a question about, 'What is the Jewish Law' by responding that, 'Love of your neighour and love of God. All the rest is commentary'. And I'm sure that rabbi was not the first to think it. However there are other things about Christ that make him unique in his own way.

I would say the Caliphs like the medeival popes had essentially built poorly on structures errected by idealists who probably never considered such institutions coming to be. Although of course since Islam never evolved a central governing body like the Papacy in regard to religion the comparision only works so far between the two religions.