Ask a Muslim

[Eran of Arcadia]

Hmm, that sounds like the sun revolving around the earth, though.

 

[Salah-Al-Din]

Generally speaking, I think most people convert to Islam because of the beauty of the Quran and its eloquence, not so much any scientific data--as the Quran was not revealed as a science book. Having said that, I do believe that the Quran contains some amazing scientific facts in it, especially the embryological information, which by the way, is mentioned in my medical text book which is used in American medical schools. The Quran is actually cited as the first book to detail an accurate description of the embryological stages.

Having said that, I think that it is not really a very good way of spreading the faith, because the *real* beauty of the Quran is in its eloquence, and like I said earlier, it was not revealed as a book of science but rather as a book of faith.

 

[knigh+]

Hmm, that sounds like the sun revolving around the earth, though.

No it doesn't, it doesn't say that. It just specifies sun has a round orbit. And Sun has a round orbit within its galaxy.

 

[Nick Garai]

In Christianity, the focal point is Christ's death on the cross and resurrection - an act that is uniqie. What kind of a God would die for people only to rise again from the dead so that people can have hope and destroy the power of death. It is the single most fundamentally poweful features of Christianity.

Does Islam have anything even closely similar to this? Something of a bodily resurecction or miracle of this scale?

 

[knigh+]

Having said that, I think that it is not really a very good way of spreading the faith, because the *real* beauty of the Quran is in its eloquence, and like I said earlier, it was not revealed as a book of science but rather as a book of faith.

I agree, I just brought it up as a reason for my belief that Quran is divine in response to a question.

 

[Salah-Al-Din]

In Christianity, the focal point is Christ's death on the cross and resurrection - an act that is uniqie. What kind of a God would die for people only to rise again from the dead so that people can have hope and destroy the power of death. It is the single most fundamentally poweful features of Christianity.

Does Islam have anything even closely similar to this? Something of a bodily resurecction or miracle of this scale?

God cannot die.

The very definition of God is that He is Eternal, neither was He born nor can He be killed.

Prophet Jesus (as) was a human being, and a slave of God.

To answer your question: the focus of Islam revolves around the Oneness of Allah. This is the beauty of Islam.

 

[Salah-Al-Din]

I agree, I just brought it up as a reason for my belief that Quran is divine in response to a question.

I understand. You were responding to what El Machinae asked.

Anyways, I'd just like to say that I really appreciate your attitude and your posting style. You have a great deal of patience, humility, and kindness.

Fi Aman Allah.

 

[knigh+]

In Christianity, the focal point is Christ's death on the cross and resurrection - an act that is uniqie. What kind of a God would die for people only to rise again from the dead so that people can have hope and destroy the power of death. It is the single most fundamentally poweful features of Christianity.

Does Islam have anything even closely similar to this? Something of a bodily resurecction or miracle of this scale?

We believe Jesus will return for the Apocalypse and the Judgement Day, defeat Dejjal (antichrist), Gog and Magog; and save the believers.

But Quran has a different take on the crucifixion. (What kind of God would let one of his holiest and most beloved prophets suffer and die)

4:156 - That they rejected Faith; that they uttered against Maryam a grave false charge; 4:157 - That they said (in boast), "We killed Al-Masih 'Isa the son of Maryam, the Messenger of Allah"; but they killed him not, nor crucified him, but so it was made to appear to them, and those who differ therein are full of doubts, with no (certain) knowledge, but only conjecture to follow, for of a surety they killed him not. 4:158 - Nay, Allah raised him up unto Himself; and Allah is Exalted in Power, Wise. 4:159 - And there is none of the People of the Book but must believe in him before his death; and on the Day of Judgment he will be a witness against them.

 

[Nick Garai]

True, God cannot die or be killed (thankfully, praise God). but is there any kind of sacrifice of this kind in Islam that happened with Christ which stands out? Some great divine act that is nothing short of miraculous.

Put aside whether or not it happened with Christ.

 

[Sidhe]

First I'd like to say I appreciate your efforts and all the people who have contributed to this thread, again in the last month there have been some really interesting threads that justify the ask a topic.

I'm sorry if this has been asked before but where are you from Salah-al-Din. I don't want to wade through the whole thread to find the answer.

What are the historical reasons for the laws against the consumption of alcahol(I know why these make sense) But where did they originate?

Do you think it's right that a Muslim can judge another Muslim as being heretical or not correct in his beliefs?

Do you therefore think their is a good basis for the speration of Shea and Sunni and for their animosity?

In the Christian faith there were some very good reasons for seperating from the Catholic church, but in Islam they seem more a matter of semantics than real dispute?

 

[knigh+]

True, God cannot die or be killed (thankfully, praise God). but is there any kind of sacrifice of this kind in Islam that happened with Christ which stands out? Some great divine act that is nothing short of miraculous.

Put aside whether or not it happened with Christ.

Well, Abraham almost sacrificing his son, Lot and Noah leaving their wives behind to die, stuff that are in the Old Testament.

From Muhammad's lifetime there is the Hejrat (exodus of Muslims from Mecca to Yathrib), which involved families separating to later face their brothers, fathers and sons in the battlefield. I can't think of any blazing sacrifice right now...

In Islam, everyone is responsible for their own actions, so someone sacrificing himself to redeem others is not applicable. And Quran says crucifixion was a masterful trick scheme by God anyway.

 

[knigh+]

Anyways, I'd just like to say that I really appreciate your attitude and your posting style. You have a great deal of patience, humility, and kindness.

wow Thank you very much, but your efforts in this thread so far showed a lot more of each of those qualities, as well as piety, and knowledge with your massive contribution to bridgeing the gap of understanding between muslims and non-muslims. Actually this thread proved quite informational for me, so thank you for all the info.

 

[Nick Garai]

Knigh+

I wanted to debate post 511 above with you in PM out of respect for you and others in the forum

 

[knigh+]

Knigh+

I wanted to debate post 511 above with you in PM out of respect for you and others in the forum

I noticed, replied, and edited, while not seeing why it would be disrespectful to me to post here.

 

[ironduck]

Congratulations Salah-Al-Din, you walk beautifully in the footsteps of the propaganda machines of brutal dictatorships throughout the world. Weaving outrageous lies in with a few truths to make your stories seem believeable. The more outrageous the lie, the more people are likely to believe it, after all.

You make me sick.

Moderator Action: Warned for Trolling
Please read the forum rules: http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=422889

One thing I find funny about you liberals is that you automatically make yourselves the spokespersons of other people. You somehow have come up with the assumption that Afghanis hated the Taliban, when in fact, the Taliban were a highly popular grass-roots movement with great support from the masses of Afghanis. So who are *you* to say that they terrorized the population?

 

[Nick Garai]

I noticed, replied, and edited, while not seeing why it would be disrespectful to me to post here.

Just to avoid turning this into a Christian vs. Muslim Thread.

 

[ironduck]

knigh+, thank you for all the examples. I chewed through all of them and am entirely unconvinced by a single one, but so be it. Many people read similar things into the bible and I'm equally unconvinced.

I did run into an interesting argument trying to find these scientific explanations on my own; if a deity wanted us to know about these things, wouldn't it have made sense to spell out in clear and exact language how to avoid bacterial infections? That would have made a tremendous difference in the following 1300 years.

 

[Nick Garai]

Congratulations Salah-Al-Din, you walk beautifully in the footsteps of the propaganda machines of brutal dictatorships throughout the world. Weaving outrageous lies in with a few truths to make your stories seem believeable. The more outrageous the lie, the more people are likely to believe it, after all.

You make me sick.

Ironduck, that picture really is graphic. Seeing that child there adds to the horror of what is going on. It may be a truth but is that really hecessary to be that graphic and shocking? That kind of violence does exists in all societies.

What would happen if someone were to put up a picture of a Jew with his fist raised in the air and holding an UZI? Or a black man holding a gun defiantly? It is specific images like that which can cause someone to see the whole as being the universal norm. There is no question that that is a reall scenario but still, it is shocking.

I am not saying you are right or wrong in your conclusions.

 

[ironduck]

Ironduck, that picture really is graphic. Seeing that child there adds to the horror of what is going on. It may be a truth but is that really hecessary to be that graphic and shocking? That kind of violence does exists in all societies.

I think it's considerably more shocking to see people defend oppressors. Sometimes a picture might be needed to show the seriousness of the situation. I specifically picked a milder one (and not one showing a public execution of a woman on her knees, for instance).

What would happen if someone were to put up a picture of a Jew with his fist raised in the air and holding an UZI? Or a black man holding a gun defiantly? It is specific images like that which can cause someone to see the whole as being the universal norm. There is no question that that is a reall scenario but still, it is shocking.

I am not saying you are right or wrong in your conclusions.

If you think an image of religious Taleban police beating up a woman for not wearing a burqa is shocking I don't know what you think about real life. If you have ever talked to people who have been beaten and tortured you will know that a picture like this is nothing in comparison. There is a lot of horror in this world and it doesn't go away just because we pretend it doesn't exist.

 

[Nick Garai]

I think it's considerably more shocking to see people defend oppressors. Sometimes a picture might be needed to show the seriousness of the situation. I specifically picked a milder one (and not one showing a public execution of a woman on her knees, for instance).

I am not defending an oppressor. I am aware of dictatorships in the Middle Eastern Regions of the world and in Theocractic Governments the rights of women are non-existent. Those kinds of reports of women being exectued are regretfully true and reported regularly in the media. I don't doubt that these are true.

If you think an image of religious Taleban police beating up a woman for not wearing a burqa is shocking I don't know what you think about real life. If you have ever talked to people who have been beaten and tortured you will know that a picture like this is nothing in comparison. There is a lot of horror in this world and it doesn't go away just because we pretend it doesn't exist.

Ido not doubt that the stories are true. That horror is real and without a shadow of a doubt those stories are horrible. The sight of the child seeing that beating says more than just the beating itself (both of which are horrid).

PS: Is that horse in your avatar asleep or dead?