What is Islam ?

[meditations]

I have been invited to this board in a try to answer questions about Islam
I couldn't find much though , so thought I'd start one myself

and I would like to hear what people here think the answer to this simple looking question would be.

The question is

According to your knowledge
What is Islam ?

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Meditiations

[Ahautenites]

:eyebrow: :) To quote Mrs. Troi from Star Trek: The Next Generation: "The simplest things in life are always the most complex."

Islam is a religion that calls the Divine Allah and it comes with an instruction manual. There's a lot of daily praying involved and a month of fasting during Ramadan.

Beyond that, I have *no* clue.


**edited to delete a minor verbal redundancy....edited again to remove an extra "the"**

[Guest42]

Perhaps I can give you something on it.
It's basically modified Christianity. It's the same god, though under their own name, Allah(sp?). However, rather than believing Jesus was the messiah, they believed it was a man named Muhammad. He went out into the desert in search of enlightenment, and came back with a whole lot of messages from the heavens. You're supposed to worship at least five times a day, and help others. So it's really not too different. The holy city is Mecca (or Makkah) and you're supposed to look in the direction of that city when in prayer. Also, you're supposed to visit it at least once in your life and wank around this holy shrine thingy. That's a good bit of info right there.

[Danustouch]

Greetings Meditations. Glad to have you aboard! I am sorry for the post from "Guest" ..uh...don't know the guy, so ..will apologize for that rude comment on behalf of the rest of our members here, who I am sure all eagerly embrace you.

As you may have gathered, many of us are probably very in the dark about Islamic Belief. I myself, count myself amongst them, though I've managed to pick up a little here and there on specific topics.

Mohammad was the Chosen Prophet, of the God, Allah. Muslims are supposed to make a pilgrimage to Mecca once in their life time, (isn't it located in Medina? Or is that the place of Mohammad's birth?) I too have read a little about Ramadan, a time of Fasting, and prayer. I have heard that during Ramadan, you are supposed to abstain from eating from sun up, until sundown, and that usually during Ramadan, there is a celebratory air in the evenings.

I know that Islamics have many cultural "rules" which they adhere to. Such as the praying five times a day, in the direction of Mecca, on a prayer rug.

I know that there are two forms of Islam, Sunni, and Shihite, and that sunni is considered by most, to be the more "liberal" form of Islam.

Muslim Women (though I don't know if this applies to both sects) are supposed to cover themselves, and dress modestly. Most wear "cover" over their heads, to hide their hair (or so I've heard that this is the reason). Muslim Men, are not supposed to trim their beards, in the more "fundamental" branch of Islam, and I've heard that it is considered an insult within Islam to greet someone with your left hand. Or to show the soles of your feet.

Unfortunately, I too, am unaware of much more than this. I've read a little on the topics of Fatwa, and Jihad, mainly because of the current political climate, but I do not really feel qualified to speak of what i've read :)

So..how are we doing so far? Perhaps you'd like to give us even more background?

Oh..one more thing, I have heard, that the word "Islam" means "Peace".

[Djiril]

I learned the basic outlines of it's history and teachings in a "World Religions" class.
What I would like to know is what draws people to Islam.

[Semele]

Originally posted by Guest42
Also, you're supposed to visit it at least once in your life and wank around this holy shrine thingy. That's a good bit of info right there.

Well, even though the "n" and the "l" are pretty far apart on the keyboard, I will give you the benefit of a doubt and assume that was a typo and you meant to say walk instead of wank. Otherwise that is rather rude don't ya think?

[~ Monk ~]

Originally posted by meditations
According to your knowledge
What is Islam ?

========
Meditiations

Nef pretty much covered the extent of my knowledge. What little I know about it does strike me as being similar in some ways to Christianity. I look forward to learning more.

[meditations]

Originally posted by Danustouch

Greetings Meditations. Glad to have you aboard! I am sorry for the post from "Guest" ..uh...don't know the guy, so ..will apologize for that rude comment on behalf of the rest of our members here, who I am sure all eagerly embrace you.

As you may have gathered, many of us are probably very in the dark about Islamic Belief. I myself, count myself amongst them, though I've managed to pick up a little here and there on specific topics.



Greetings Dan
glad to be here

you don't need to be sorry about guest at all , I have been sent way more weird things in the past , you won't believe it.

I will leave this question open till Fri , to get as many thoughts as possible , then will try to post a simple post about what Islam is about

If you or anyone has questions at the moment , I'll be glad to answer

Talk to you soon

[Danustouch]

Djiril brought up an interesting question, in the "Discussion on Islam" thread. She asked "What draws people to Islam". I am sure that this is a fairly complex question to answer, as it probably varies from person to person. But I would also like to see your answer. Islam has won many famous converts, in time. What do you think draws converts to the Islamic Faith?

[moonmorgan]

The best I can do is direct you to this site:

http://www.al-islam.org/

[FLipsiDE]

Some things I think I know about Islam:

In addition to Sunni and Shiite there are also the Mystics, the Sufis. Also, Jains are a related offshoot of Islam and the B'hai B'rith emerged from Islam. (Even though they are often not tolerated well in stricter Islamic countries)

They do not believe that Jesus was a Messiah, only that he was a Prophet. There have been many prophets (including Jesus and I THINK Buddha is included) but the last Prophet was Muhammad.

Muhammad himself was very pro-women's rights but later changes in the religion stripped this.

Muhammad was illiterate. But after recieving his vision in a cave he spent some time there writing what has been called some of the most beautiful poetry in the Arabic language.

Allah is the same God as the Christians and the Jews worship. I think the Quaran refers to the Jews as "the people of the book" or the truth or something.

I have heard that there is no basis for the concept that dying as a terrorist bomber will get you surrounded by nubile virgins and bowls of milk and honey in the afterlife, even though that is one reason why they might do it.

Different Islamic countries have very different practices. Morroccan Islam does not require women to hide themselves but the Taliban's version did.

I know that much of the bad stuff that we see in modern Islam probably wouldn't have come about if it weren't for the Crusades. Before the Crusades the Arabic world was the center of science and learning, having been a crossroads from India to Egypt and Roman Europe. But science didn't save them from the crusaders, only fundamentalism did and the Imams turned their back on science in exchange for people who could retake the holy land. The European renaissance began partially when returning knights translated pillaged Arabic books on science, math, architecture and began applying them at home.

I have heard that Jihad is never supposed to be declared to attack, only to retake was has been wrongfully taken from Islam.

I know that in addition to the Quaran there are supplementary books that have been written though the ages, from Calif(?) (Imam?) to Calif. The split between Shiite and Sunni has to do with trusting Mohammad's children as spiritual leaders vs holy men. Kind of a hereditary theocracy vs. a Vatican style heirarchy.

I know that Rumi kicked much poetic butt and if I can ever find that poem I read once I am going to memorize it.

[meditations]

Originally posted by Djiril

I learned the basic outlines of it's history and teachings in a "World Religions" class.
What I would like to know is what draws people to Islam.


Hi Dijril

maybe you'd like to share with us what have you learnt in the class ?

I was born muslim , so my journey with Islam was more of a re-birth rather than discovering

I had my share of stories about people becoming muslims , but I thought you might want to hear some of their own words , then tell us what you think that drew them to Islam.


My Journey to Islam

by Yvonne Ridley ( the journalist who was held by taliban and released )

http://www.sistersinislam.net/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=112&mode=thread&order=0&thold=0


My Journey to Islam ( some stories from various people )

http://islamonline.net/english/journey/index.shtml

Hope this is useful


And Allah knows best.

[Djiril]

*The Koran was revealed to Muhammad by the angel Gabrial in various sections and is considered to be the literal word of God, the sections are arranged according to length.
*Jesus was not crusified, but taken directly up to heaven on the way to his execution.
*Judaism and Christianity are valid but not complete. Jews and Christians will go to heaven unless they hear of Islam and reject it.
*The highest form of Jihad is internal.

Those are the things that most caught my attention anyway.

[PeleRising]

Since the war began in Iraq I have become very interested in the Middle east. I got a book that would explain it in a way I could quickly understand ... its called ... ahem... "the complete idiots guide to conflict in the middle east". Any who... :)

what i have learned is this....

Muhammad was born in Mecca but not much is known about his family. He didnt know how to read, and when he was 25 he married a woman who was a trader. Muhammad was 40 when he made a trading journey and met the angel Gabriel ( the month he met Gabriel and heard Gods words is the month of Ramadan)... he was shown a tablet and miraculously was able to read and write. Muhammad began to act in a way that he told ppl had come from Allah or God. He told them that the world would end but that if the ppl acted in accordance with Gods will they would be judged mercifully. what was revealed to Muhammad by Gabriel was eventually written down and became what is called the Koran. As it is said to be the word of God it is considered infallible.

The ppl who followed Muhammad were and are known as Muslims and their religion was/is Islam which means something like "surrender to the ideas or will of Allah".

Muslims believe in one God, and in angels, in prophets and a day of judgement. There are 5 obligations each Muslim has...

1) Recite... "There is no God but God, and Muhammad is the Prophet of God" each day
2) Pray 5 times a day
3) Pay a amount of money for the poor
4)If you are over 10 you must not eat, drink, or have sex during the day in the month of Ramadan
5)Travel to Mecca at least once in your life

Medina is the 2nd most sacred place to muslims as it is the city Muhammad went to after he had to leave Mecca. the journey he took to leave Mecca is called a Hegira...which now is taken to mean leaving a pagan place for one that follows Islam.

When Muhammad died his followers were left to continue his work. They are the ones who developed Islam.

Anyways that is as far as i have gotten or understand... I would be very interested in learning more.