Ask a Muslim

[Katheryn]

Yes, in part. I don't believe the average uneducated man from the streat could make and detonate a dirty bomb.

Looking at this from the standpoint of a Muslim extremist I could say that while the average US Soldier here in Iraq has had little experience with foreign cultures and is lied to by the US media, his superiors are well educated and manipulate their culture to meet their agenda.

Without support, these terrorist leaders wouldn't be around. The lack of education among the supporters is the problem.

You don't see Zawahiri or OBL risking their lives.

Oh dear. I think you just called our soldiers uneducated. Actually, that isn't true. That reminds me of this:

 

[Katheryn]

And honestly, the best news we get is not from the media, it is directly from the soldiers' personal blogs.

The media is extremely left here in the U.S., with the exception of Fox News, which is only slightly better.

 

[Katheryn]

You don't see Zawahiri or OBL risking their lives.

Mohammed Atta and the rest of the college educated jihadis are quite dead. So are the 7/7 London bombers, who were also college educated.

 

[Sidhe]

And honestly, the best news we get is not from the media, it is directly from the soldiers' personal blogs.

The media is extremely left here in the U.S., with the exception of Fox News, which is only slightly better.

If it's extremely anything it's a waste of time viewing it, essentially if your watching a channel because it backs your personal oppinion, you're basically just reinforcing your steretypical view of the world, without considering the fact that there are views other than your own.

 

[Katheryn]

If it's extremely anything it's a waste of time viewing it, essentially if your watching a channel because it backs your personal oppinion, you're basically just reinforcing your steretypical view of the world, without considering the fact that there are views other than your own.

Honestly, I just can't stand all the murder and missing persons and rescues of hikers going into mountains during snowstorms... and Paris Hilton and Brittney Spears, it makes me:

 

[s.c.dude]

is ancatrix still here?

 

[GenMarshall]

is ancatrix still here?

I think with the Christian vs. Islam debate that snuck in here. I think Ancatrix fled :s.

 

[incantrix]

Is another Caliph possible in this day and age?

How do muslims of different ethnicities (Arab, Irania, Indonesian, etc.) view each other?

It's been less than 100 years since there was a Turkish Caliph....

There's plenty of racism within Islam. Racism is larger than any one religion.

 

[s.c.dude]

It's been less than 100 years since there was a Turkish Caliph....

There's plenty of racism within Islam. Racism is larger than any one religion.

your back why are the caliphs so important

 

[incantrix]

Offensive to you or to all muslims? Because, as mentioned earlier, there is beautiful muslim art that includes portrayal of Muhammad.

There's no explicit ban on depicting Muhammad, but I'm unaware of any time where it wasn't taboo.

Christians don't worship, say, John the baptist (usually). Or Adam and Eve. Yet there is a rich tradition for portraying them. Do you feel offended by portrayals of your other prophets and holy figures, or only of Muhammad? And why/why not? I really don't understand it.

It is something we feel is sacred and that the human hand cannot possibly recreate the likeness of God or Muhammad or the other prophets and it is an insult to try.

Further, if I personally paint Muhammad because I want to, are you going to be offended? It's not meant as an offense against anyone. It's art.

I would be, but I would never try and stop you from painting anything.

Men and women equal in the mosque, no veils, women imams, homosexual weddings, etc. Do you know of any such mosques? I've never heard of it, I only know secular muslims, but these particular religious practices remain socially backwards (imo).

No. I've never heard of any of those things, save the veil. I have never worn one and my mother hasn't either, even when she lived in Lebanon. I do know there are openly gay Muslims.

 

[incantrix]

I've read that your a westernized Muslim so this may be a totally opposite view of a Muslim living in the Middle East, but how do you feel about the nation of Israel? Do you think they stole Muslim land? Do you think they have a right to stay?

It doesn't matter why or how Israel was founded. It is there now and isn't going anywhere. Watching my cousin's town be bombed by the IDF didn't endear me to the State, no. I hung a Lebanese flag from my balcony.

 

[incantrix]

Oh dear. I think you just called our soldiers uneducated. Actually, that isn't true. That reminds me of this:

Never! One of Matthew's friends from high school just got back from Iraq. He's one of the sharpest little bastards I know I would say that the average soldier doesn't have an Ivy League education though, would you?

 

[incantrix]

Katheryn: Being a Muslim doesn't make me an expert on terrorism. If what I thought about poverty, education ect is wrong, then I don't know better than you. All I know is it isn't inherent to my faith.

I'm not about to blow anyone up

 

[incantrix]

your back why are the caliphs so important

A Caliph would be like a mini Pope, the head of State and Religion. Theoretically, a true Caliph should rule over the Islamic world. Because of the Sunni Shi'a split, that hasn't happened since Muhammad died.

 

[Trajan12]

I'm not about to blow anyone up

Why of course your not.

100% SERIOUS QUESTION!

Why do so many people of Arab descent here work at gas stations? I used to think it was some sort of exaggerated stereotype, but when I lived in Detroit I never saw a black or white gas station owner.

 

[incantrix]

Why of course your not.

100% SERIOUS QUESTION!

Why do so many people of Arab descent here work at gas stations? I used to think it was some sort of exaggerated stereotype, but when I lived in Detroit I never saw a black or white gas station owner.

I'm not sure about the States, but in Canada, the government will let you and your family move here if you plan to open a business and hire at least one current resident. You need experience (owning and running a shop is the same everywhere) and you probably have to pass some clearances.

 

[bob bobato]

Is there actually a passage in the Qur'an that says muslims are supposed to kill pagans? Not to be rude, or anything, but does it exist, just that most most people ignore it, or something?

Also, are there any living descendents of Muhammad? Ive heard somewhere that shiites believe that only his descendants can be an imam. Perhaps that was another in another context, or really old old.

 

[Mott1]

:Mott1: I've asked Hannibal why he became atheist. Could you share too?

Long or short version? PM me for the long if you want. In short, when people suddenly experience a life crises they tend to seek spiritual comfort, normally they seek refuge in a religion they are fimilar with. This is what happened to me, however certain events that transpired in my life led me to question my faith as opposed to finding comfort in it. My apostasy was the result of serious intellectual examination and the determination to discover the truth. It was a long and emotional routine of leaving Islam then running back into its comforting embrace, each time it became easier and easier until I finally left that part of my life behind. For me the hardest part about leaving my faith was not really the fear of hellfire (although that certainly was something I dwelled on), without Islam I had no identity; I felt vulnerable and alone. I had undergone tremendous guilt as if I betrayed my family and my heritage. It was definitely a trying ordeal but very much worth it, I am now liberated.

I do believe that jihadists are sincere in their conviction. They believe they are doing God's work. I believe they aren't and I believe their leaders are misguiding them.

Who or what is misguiding their leaders? Are they not sincere in thier conviction as well?

God might be benign and loving, but people are not. Yes, I believe Muhammed was qualified to be God's prophet. I believe that in comparison, he was far less violent than humanity.

I don't agree, however even if Muhammad was less violent than the other warlords of his time would a violent man be the chosen mouthpeice of a benign God? How can a person who values peace, tolerance and equality follow a man that was violent, intolerant and autocratic?

I believe that the Muhammed of today, in this world, would be a pacifist.

Your idea of Muhammad is beautiful, he is the reflection of the person you are, however this idea of a utopian Muhammad is not reflected in the text of Quran and Hadiths. How do you manage with the teachings and the actions of Muhammad that you disagree with?

 

[blackheart]

And honestly, the best news we get is not from the media, it is directly from the soldiers' personal blogs.

The media is extremely left here in the U.S., with the exception of Fox News, which is only slightly better.

There's a Vietnamese proverb that goes something like "those outside the box can better see what's happening inside than those embroiled in the box". I don't remember it distinctly but I'm not going to trust anything waist deep in **** to objectively describe to me the situation, nor would I expect everything that comes out of soldier's blogs to be 100% because of military restrictions during wartime.

 

[Katheryn]

Katheryn: Being a Muslim doesn't make me an expert on terrorism. If what I thought about poverty, education ect is wrong, then I don't know better than you. All I know is it isn't inherent to my faith.

I'm not about to blow anyone up

You know, I think what you and Ansheem came up with is the best idea I've ever heard on it.

When people are taught that they are superior, and then their situation doesn't bear that out, they look outside and say they are oppressed. Then the solution for that oppression is you know, jihad.

I think post-colonialism has much more to do with the problem than anything else. The people are still looked upon as inferior (ie Algerians in France, and Pakistanis in England, and Belgium and Congo/Rwanda etc.) and were allowed to come to the colonial power's country to do labor. These people have been left in ghettos and are disadvantaged, generations later.

Because there is socialism there now, education is free so they go on to get college degrees and can get good jobs but the anger is still there.

Then when they get the education, they don't go back to their original countries and make them BETTER.

I asked Hannibal if he was planning to go back to Tunisia and use his education to make it a better place. He probably won't do it. And so there are many immigrants, and no one to make the Islamic world a better place.

I don't think it has so much to do with religion as it does colonialism, and more recently BRAIN DRAIN.

America was a colony (13) too!