Ask a Sunni Muslim

[Takhisis]

"What I have done?" Pray do tell.

You are being ridiculous. Please cut it out.

Erm, Dom, you've hogged dozens of threads recently, give it a rest. you already have 'Ask a filthy heretic who should be stoned to death' and if you want you can start 'Domination's religion thread' but don't drag every other thread into the same debate like you always do, please.

 

[NedimNapoleon]

Well that's pretty interesting, did you find anything?

To keep this from being a spam post, what do Sunni Muslims think about abortion and birth control?

Abortion is allowed if the child will be born seriously ill and if the mother is in danger of dieing during child birth.

I've just read about when the Muslim prayers are supposed to be held, and I must say that Islam was not designed for the northern latitudes.

Some keep up with the Saudi time, but we just use our own time.

How does it feel on the Sunni side of life? (Sorry but I can't stop on bad puns).

Seriously now. First, thumbs up for this thread, I consider myself largely unbiased towards Islam, but there's still so much I don't know to judge it properly.

I'm also wondering about the "peace be upon him", and since you didn't answer a similar question, I'd like to repeat it. You said you aren't that religious, so that practice seems odd to me, especially since this is typed conversation where colloquial reflexes don't come into play.

Second, I'm wondering about the religious hierarchy of Islam. Is there a strict separation between laypersons and clergy like in Christianity? How are your Imams educated and paid?

Can you see any differences in traditions etc. between Bosnian Islam and that practiced in, say, the Arab world?

Do you personally see the Quran as the direct word of God, as infallible and/or still 100% applicable within the context of the modern world as opposed to the time when it was written?

I really don't know why i write it but why not, I think its used to know who the prophets are, If im talking about the prophet and don't mention pbuh a guy can think Im talking about someone else. Clergy means nothing in Sunni Islam, they just teach people and start the Namaz (prayer). Their isn't a real hierarchy, there is just one Grand Mufti, and his role is limited, he's not really like the Pope. The imams live in the community just like normal people... They get paid from two ways: membership, you pay for it, its like a tax, its pretty small, you don't have to pay it and you pay them for doing a wedding, funereal... I also think they get money from the state and Saudi investment fonds. They can go to a special high school and college, the high school is free and the college gives away a ton of scholarships (Saudi money again).
We are more "Turkish" by culture, and way more liberal then the Saudis but in religious acts (during holidays, funereals, weddings) there are only small differences. Yes I believe it is the direct word of god, unlike the Bible in which gospels were written and it was picked by a council, the Qur'an has been spoken by the angel Gabriel to our prophet and he told it to his scribes, and they wrote it down. It is compatible with the modern world.

First off, I am extremely surprised how little some people in this thread know about Islam. I have a question though, do muslims believe Abraham and Jesus were prophets of God but their messages were distorted and corrupted by Judaism/Christianity respectively? If not, what do they think of them?

They are mentioned as the people of the books and I've already posted a surah about it, and the message was changed

How do you like your eggs prepared?

Scrambled.

Do -Muslim- people in Bosnia drink alcohol? Those who don't, what do they say/do/think about those who do?

Its pretty normal and nobody really cares who drinks and who doesn't, its your thing.

Oh and I have a question related to a controversy in Islam?

What do you feel about Usama Hasan and his position re evolution being compatible with Islam?

The people driving this anti-evolution thing (i.e. those wanting Dr. Hasan dead) seem to be mostly Saudi Wahhabis, who usually have ulterior motives.

Give me min to check it out

Have you read through the Koran in its entirety? How does your response to this question compare to most Muslims?

No, Im a bit more liberal

More later

 

[Leoreth]

There is no such thing in my Church. You are making Christendom to be a simple religion, when it is complex.

This is not about your church, which is a fringe group in Christianity anyway. Please don't lecture me.

I really don't know why i write it but why not, I think its used to know who the prophets are, If im talking about the prophet and don't mention pbuh a guy can think Im talking about someone else.

First, thanks for your answers. Good point as well, I think we easily forget what a common name Mohammed is for example ...

Clergy means nothing in Sunni Islam, they just teach people and start the Namaz (prayer). Their isn't a real hierarchy, there is just one Grand Mufti, and his role is limited, he's not really like the Pope. The imams live in the community just like normal people... They get paid from two ways: membership, you pay for it, its like a tax, its pretty small, you don't have to pay it and you pay them for doing a wedding, funereal... I also think they get money from the state and Saudi investment fonds. They can go to a special high school and college, the high school is free and the college gives away a ton of scholarships (Saudi money again).

Interesting. Who decides what they learn during education? Does your government interfere with that? Does it show that they are, in part, funded from abroad?

We are more "Turkish" by culture, and way more liberal then the Saudis but in religious acts (during holidays, funereals, weddings) there are only small differences. Yes I believe it is the direct word of god, unlike the Bible in which gospels were written and it was picked by a council, the Qur'an has been spoken by the angel Gabriel to our prophet and he told it to his scribes, and they wrote it down. It is compatible with the modern world.

Sorry to dig deeper here, but what do you mean by "compatible"? Does the literal word directly apply to the modern world, or does it need to be kind of "translated" from the 7th century context into a 21th century context? (I hope you get my meaning).

On a related note, how much do you rely on Imams to help interpreting the Quran? Or are you supposed to interpret it on your own?

 

[NedimNapoleon]

This is not about your church, which is a fringe group in Christianity anyway. Please don't lecture me.


First, thanks for your answers. Good point as well, I think we easily forget what a common name Mohammed is for example ...


Interesting. Who decides what they learn during education? Does your government interfere with that? Does it show that they are, in part, funded from abroad?


Sorry to dig deeper here, but what do you mean by "compatible"? Does the literal word directly apply to the modern world, or does it need to be kind of "translated" from the 7th century context into a 21th century context? (I hope you get my meaning).

On a related note, how much do you rely on Imams to help interpreting the Quran? Or are you supposed to interpret it on your own?

It is the most common name in the world. The government does nothing since we aren't a 100% Muslim state. But you can see Saudi influences. We do have a "muslim community" (islamska zajednica) and they try to set the rules but no one takes them seriously, people just believe what they find adequate and what they find in the holy book. An Imam can't say you have to think we are gods will on earth or something. The Imams as I said have a really minor role, some right books on interpretation but you can interpret it he cant say you are wrong or anything, the basics can not be interpreted but the small stuff is left to debate. I believe the worlds should be looked upon as a 7th century text that has been written for all time till the end but you should translate it to a 21th century meaning to understand it better

 

[Cheezy the Wiz]

Nedim I apologize. My expectations for this thread were way off. My comment was uncalled for, this has been a very interesting thread.

 

[Tee Kay]

Scrambled.

Are you worried about Saudi influence? What has changed in terms of the way Bosnians practice their religion as a result of this influence? Is it likely to continue into the future?

 

[NedimNapoleon]

Yes because some people are becoming Wahhabis, but they still don't influence us that much. Like .5 % of the Muslim population in Bosnia is Wahhabi, they don't influence normal muslim views and religious practices, they only influence the small number of people. I think they can't really influence people just by donating money.

 

[Brian Shanahan]

Yes because some people are becoming Wahhabis, but they still don't influence us that much. Like .5 % of the Muslim population in Bosnia is Wahhabi, they don't influence normal muslim views and religious practices, they only influence the small number of people. I think they can't really influence people just by donating money.

You'd be suprised how much influence money can have. For example the Saudis could be pouring so much money into educational institutions that they could use that to install their own preachers around the country, or get laws changed, or charges dropped on serious crimes.

It could get very nasty indeed if their tentacles get too deep.

 

[NedimNapoleon]

You'd be suprised how much influence money can have. For example the Saudis could be pouring so much money into educational institutions that they could use that to install their own preachers around the country, or get laws changed, or charges dropped on serious crimes.

It could get very nasty indeed if their tentacles get too deep.

Then a lot of people should become Shinto, the Japanese (for some reason) decided to open a lot of hospitals and schools here, despite having an earthquake at home.

 

[Leoreth]

It is the most common name in the world. The government does nothing since we aren't a 100% Muslim state. But you can see Saudi influences. We do have a "muslim community" (islamska zajednica) and they try to set the rules but no one takes them seriously, people just believe what they find adequate and what they find in the holy book. An Imam can't say you have to think we are gods will on earth or something. The Imams as I said have a really minor role, some right books on interpretation but you can interpret it he cant say you are wrong or anything, the basics can not be interpreted but the small stuff is left to debate. I believe the worlds should be looked upon as a 7th century text that has been written for all time till the end but you should translate it to a 21th century meaning to understand it better

Thanks again

 

[Brian Shanahan]

Then a lot of people should become Shinto, the Japanese (for some reason) decided to open a lot of hospitals and schools here, despite having an earthquake at home.

The Japanese are more interested in soft and economic power at the moment than influencing a country's government. The Saudis on the other hand have a long history of trying to interfere in other countries through religious intolerance.

I'm not trying to say that you should refuse all outside helpt (that'd be both stupid and hypocritical) just that you should be careful about where it's coming from and why.

 

[Karalysia]

What do you learn about the Ottoman Empire in schools? How is it remembered in Bosnia (positively) ? Do you like it? How much do you have in common with Albania and Kosovo?

 

[NedimNapoleon]

What do you learn about the Ottoman Empire in schools? How is it remembered in Bosnia (positively) ? Do you like it? How much do you have in common with Albania and Kosovo?

We learn it as a part of our national history,we learn almost everything about the Ottomans, the Ottoman empire is remembered positively by Bosniaks but negatively by Serbs and Croats, we do have some same stuff but they are a bit different, more conservative and they have Illyrian and Greek traditions but no Slavic traditions

 

[amadeus]

Scrambled.

Aww... and here I was thinking you'd like them Sunni side up.

 

[Ajidica]

Abortion is allowed if the child will be born seriously ill and if the mother is in danger of dieing during child birth.

Is this your position or the 'official' position or Sunni Scholars?

 

[Arakhor]

I'm sure that Sunni Islam is just as complicated as any other religious denomination out there and ignorant people do it no justice by claiming all sorts of wild facts about it. It's the age-old 'philosophy' of: "I'm okay; you're weird; screw you, Jack".

 

[Lillefix]

What's your view about that stone in Mekka. Do you take it as seriously as the Arabs do, who all want to kiss it?

 

[_random_]

What are your preferred Anglicizations of Moslem/Muslim, Koran/Qur'an, and Muhammad/Muhammed/Mohammed/Mahomet? Do you find any of these annoying or offensive?

 

[Dachs]

He's not Arabic, he's Bosnian...

 

[Lillefix]

He's not Arabic, he's Bosnian...

Yes I know. I tried to ask him how seriously he(and other Bosnians for that matter) took the stone, as opposed to the Arabs who I know take it very seriously. If I had said "other Arabs", then I would have implied he was an Arab.

edit: it is possible the sentence is more ambiguous in English than in my native Norwegian.