Common misconceptions about Islam

da32010

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Common misconceptions about Islam answered

Misconceptions # 1: Islam is a religion only for Arabs

Of the two billion Muslims worldwide, only 15% to 20% are Arabs. There are more Indian Muslims than Arab Muslims and more Indonesian Muslims than Indian Muslims! Belief that Islam is only a religion for Arabs is a myth that was spread by the enemies of Islam early in its history. This mistaken assumption is possibly based on the fact that most of the first generation of Muslims were Arabs, the Quran is in Arabic and the Prophet Muhammad was an Arab. However, both the teachings of Islam and the history of its spread show that the early Muslims made every effort to spread their message to all nations, races and peoples. Furthermore, it should be clarified that not all Arabs are Muslims and not all Muslims are Arabs. An Arab can be a Muslim, Christian, Jew, atheist - or of any other religion or ideology. Also, many countries that some people consider to be Arab are not Arab at all - such as Turkey and Iran (Persia). The people who live in these countries speak languages other than Arabic as their native tongues and are of different ethnic heritage. It is important to realize that from the very beginning of the mission of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), his followers came from a wide spectrum of geographic and religious origins -- there was Bilaal, the Abyssinian slave; Suhaib, the Byzantine Roman; Ibn Salaam, the Jewish Rabbi; and Salmaan, the Persian. Islam teaches that God's revelations to mankind have always been consistent, clear and universal. Islam is meant for all people regardless of race, nationality or linguistic background. Taking a look at theMuslim World, from Nigeria to Bosnia and from Malaysia toAfghanistan is enough to prove that Islam is a universal message for all of mankind -- not to mention the fact that significant numbers of Europeans and Americans of all races and ethnic backgrounds are accepting Islam as their way of life.


Misconception # 2: Muslims worship Muhammad

According to Islamic belief, the Prophet Muhammad was the last Messenger of God. He, like all of God's prophets and messengers such as Noah, Abraham, Moses and Jesus - was only a human being. Some people have the mistaken assumption that Muslims worship Muhammad because Christians worship Christ. This is one of the reasons that they called Muslims by the incorrect name "Muhammadans" for so many years! Muhammad, like Jesus, never claimed divine status. He called people to worship only Almighty God and he continually emphasized his humanity so that people would not fall into the same errors as others did with regard to Jesus. In order to prevent his deification, the Prophet Muhammad always said to refer to him as the Messenger of God and His slave. “Muhammad was God's final messenger - entrusted to communicate the message not only in words but also to be a living example of the message. Muslims love and respect him because he was of the highest moral character and he brought a religion of pure monotheism, or Islam. Even when Islam was in its very early stages, God revealed that Muhammad "was sent as a mercy to all of mankind" - thus informing us that the message of Islam would become very widespread. Muslims strive to follow the great example of Muhammad (peace be upon him), but they do not worship him in any way. Additionally, Islam teaches Muslims to respect all of God's prophets and messengers - but respecting and loving them does not entail worshipping them. All true Muslims realize that all worship and prayer must be directed to Almighty God alone. Suffice it to say that worshipping Muhammad --- or anyone else --- along with Almighty God is considered to be the worst sin in Islam. Even if a person claims to be Muslim, but he worships and prays to other than Almighty God, this cancels and nullifies his Islam. The Declaration of Faith of Islam makes it clear that Muslims are taught to worship God only.

This declaration is as follows: "There is nothing worthy of being worshipped except God, and Muhammad is the Messenger of God".


Misconception # 3: Muhammad wrote the Quran

In addressing this misconception, it is interesting to note that no other religious scripture claims to be the direct word of God Almighty in total as clear and as often as the Holy Quran. As God clearly says in the Quran: "if it had been written by man, you would have found many discrepancies therein". [An-Nisaa’ 4:82]

{...وَلَوْ كَانَ مِنْ عِندِ غَيْرِ اللَّـهِ لَوَجَدُوا فِيهِ اخْتِلَافًا كَثِيرًا} النساء: 82



Transliteration: walaw kana min AAindi ghayri Allahi lawajadoo feehi ikhtilafan katheeran


At the time the Quran was revealed, the Arabs recognized that the language of the Quran was unique and that it was distinctly different from the language normally used by the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him. It is important to note that the Arabs of that time were known for their beautiful poetry and Muhammad was known to be an illiterate man! The Quran clearly says that Muhammad was unable to read and write, so if this wasn't true, certainly his contemporaries would have protested and rejected him, refuting him in this regard. However, there are no reports of this. Of course there were people who rejected Muhammad's message, just like other prophets were rejected, but none for this reason. On the contrary, Muhammad, peace be upon him, had thousands of loyal followers and the results of their efforts spread Islam from Spain to China in just over a century!

It is also interesting to point out that even though the Quran is not poetry, the Arabs essentially quit writing poetry after it was revealed. It could be said that the Quran is a piece of Arabic literature par excellence -and Muhammad's contemporaries realized that they couldn't outdo it. Additionally, it is easy to prove that Muhammad did not possess a great deal of the knowledge that is expounded in the Quran, such as knowledge of historical events, previous prophets and natural scientific phenomenon, subjects about which Muhammad could not have known about. So, again, if this wasn't true, certainly his contemporaries would have rejected his claims.

Suffice it to say that not only is the Quran the most memorized and well preserved scripture on earth, it is also unequalled in eloquence, spiritual impact and clarity of message.


Misconception #4: Women in Islam

Even though many aspects of Islam are misunderstood by non-Muslims, the ignorance, misinformation and incorrect assumptions that are made with regard to Islam's treatment of women are probably the most severe. Numerous verses of the Quran make it clear that men and women are equal in the sight of God. According to the teachings of Islam, the only thing that distinguishes people in the sight of God is their level of God-consciousness. Due to this, many people are surprised to learn that Islamic Law guaranteed rights to women over 1400 years ago which women in Europe and America only obtained recently. For example, Islam clearly teaches that a woman is a full- person under the law and is the spiritual equal of a male. Also, according to Islamic Law, women have the right to own property, operate a business and receive equal pay for equal work. Women are allowed total control of their wealth, they cannot be married against their will and they are allowed to keep their own name when married. Additionally, they have the right to inherit property and to have their marriage dissolved in the case of neglect or mistreatment. Also, Islam does not consider woman an "evil temptress", and thus does not blame woman for the "original sin".

Women in Islam participate in all forms of worship that men participate in. Actually, the rights that Islam gave to women over 1400 years ago were almost unheard of in the West until het 900s. For example, less than fifty years ago in Britain and North America, a woman could not buy a house or car without the co-signature of her father or husband.

Islam gives great respect to women and their role in society by preserving their dignity and integrity as members of the community. It should be mentioned that the Prophet Muhammad's mission stopped many of the horrible practices that women were subject to in the society of his time. For example, the Quran put an end to the pagan Arab practice of killing unwanted daughters when they were born. Additionally, Islam put restrictions on the unrestricted polygamy of the Arabs of the time, and put many laws in place to protect the well-being of women.

Many of the misconceptions regarding the treatment of women in Islam are falsely attributed to the religion. In actuality, the real problem is that in many places, cultural traditions alien to Islam have come to overshadow its teachings either through ignorance or the impact of colonialization. Islam has clearly given women their rights. It is just that people unrightfully withhold them due to their culture.
 
I had a couple questions:

(1) Is Arabic more "perfect" than Mandarin Chinese?


(2) Are polytheistic religions (like Native American or Japanese Shinto faiths) equal to Islam?


(3) Are Muslim Women LEGALLY equal with men?


(4) Under Sharia Law is it legal to suggest Mohammad was NOT a Prophet but actually a liar, or deluded or even possessed by a demon?
 
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I was also wondering when the Qur'an was completed? I mean, what was the day and year?
 
Misconceptions # 1: Islam is a religion only for Arabs
I don't know where you got the idea that this is a common misconception. The world's four largest Muslim countries, where the overwhelming majority of the earth's Muslims live, are Indonesia, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nigeria, none of which are Arab nations. In the USA, most Arabs are Christians, and the largest population of Muslims are Afro-Americans and African immigrants.
Misconception # 2: Muslims worship Muhammad
When "good, decent, religious people" advocate the assassination of a cartoonist who treated Mohammed like any other mortal human, it's hard to make the case that they don't "worship" him. Your argument is very difficult to take seriously. If Mohammed is not worshipped, then he is legally and morally open to the same criticism, rudeness and humor that applies to any other public figure such as politicians, entertainers, priests, athletes and business tycoons. No one tries to kill cartoonists who make fun of them--or even Jesus, whom some people actually do "worship."
Misconception # 3: Muhammad wrote the Quran.
No one believes that Abraham wrote the Torah or that Jesus wrote the New Testament, so why would anyone think that Mohammed wrote the holy book for his religion?
Misconception #4: Women in Islam
You have a long way to go before anyone is going to believe you on this topic. In the most traditional Muslim societies, women are not allowed by law to go out in public without a male relative, to drive cars or to show their faces. Men have no such prohibitions. You can dissemble about this all you want with your clever, pious rhetoric, but you will never change our observation that you treat your women, at best, like second-class citizens, and, at worst, like LIVESTOCK.

The way you treat your women in those traditional Stone Age societies is ILLEGAL in the United States and most of the modern nations. It's called ABUSE. If you try that shit here, you might be arrested and imprisoned.

Get over it.
 
In addition to the verses that say men and wemon are equal, the koran also says to beat your wife if she doesn't listen..... little contradictive isn't it? I'm glad most muslims don't follow that rule. The idea that they do is wrong, not the fact that the koran teaches it.
 
I had a couple questions:

(1) Is Arabic more "perfect" than Mandarin Chinese?
yes
(2) Are polytheistic religions (like Native American or Japanese Shinto faiths) equal to Islam?

no, but should be respected
(3) Are Muslim Women LEGALLY equal with men?

yes, and should be when applying the islamic laws

(4) Under Sharia Law is it legal to suggest Mohammad was NOT a Prophet but actually a liar, or deluded or even possessed by a demon?

uuuuh, idk
 
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In addition to the verses that say men and wemon are equal, the koran also says to beat your wife if she doesn't listen..... little contradictive isn't it? I'm glad most muslims don't follow that rule. The idea that they do is wrong, not the fact that the koran teaches it.

no, not exactly, but to beat her, in a very light way, like with a pen :p i know it sounds redecilous, beat like with a pen, but it is.
also, there are many cases of beating and violence between married people, everywhere, not because "islam"
 
no, not exactly, but to beat her, in a very light way, like with a pen :p i know it sounds redecilous, beat like with a pen, but it is.

The Qu'ran says to beat your wife in a "light" way?...Or with a pen?

Can you possibly tell me where it says anything like that?
 
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You have a long way to go before anyone is going to believe you on this topic. In the most traditional Muslim societies, women are not allowed by law to go out in public without a male relative, to drive cars or to show their faces. Men have no such prohibitions. You can dissemble about this all you want with your clever, pious rhetoric, but you will never change our observation that you treat your women, at best, like second-class citizens, and, at worst, like LIVESTOCK.

The way you treat your women in those traditional Stone Age societies is ILLEGAL in the United States and most of the modern nations. It's called ABUSE. If you try that shit here, you might be arrested and imprisoned.

Get over it.

ok, in islam, that's all bullshits, in islam the relegion, anyway, in muslim societies, well, more specificly, muslim arab societies, let's 70 years ago, in many countries, it was like, women , not illigal, but, immoral to go out, and to show her face, and etc... and guess what, that is exactly, the time, where those people, were back to stoneage like you said, but in islam, the relegion, all those are bullshits, and serious mistakes, according to islam, and yes human rights

and HEY HEY HEY, are you talking about today how we treat our woman? go educate your self... maybe you got a dark image from saudi arabia and others, wich i didnt visit before to see with my own eyes and judge, because your media is actually ignorant in some parts...for example about the tunisian revolution, hmm, some media news, american ones, are ignorant in many points, many
 
Hmm, it says beating your wife is against Islamic rules..

But, it says that you can beat her after giving her two warnings..

Kind of hard to understand..
 
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Hmm, it says beating your wife is against Islamic rules..

But, it says that you can beat her after giving her two warnings..

Kind of hard to understand..
(while effcorse woman is ecaul to man, sometimes more than a man if she deserve it, and some times less than a man if she deserve that, there's no strict line)
conclusion:
=>you can't beat your wife, only if it is serious, and if you beat, you must never hert, or leave traces, it must not be beating that phisycly herts, like for example a fother beat he's son very little, means, in a light way, that don't hert, as a punishement if talking didnt work or something, idk, i'm not a fother :p
 
It's still a little confusing..But, thanks for the links Shadow..

Now I see where you came up with the "pen" thing...From the siwak, right?
 
I was also wondering when the Qur'an was completed? I mean, what was the day and year?

You should read the Al-aqaid and you will see where Islamic beliefs get some of there modern belief systems from, Like Je=Had and stuff like that. Pay close attention when the book talks about Me Mekigal/s you might eVen learn something important and why the radical muslim wants to kill you
 
(while effcorse woman is ecaul to man, sometimes more than a man if she deserve it, and some times less than a man if she deserve that, there's no strict line)
conclusion:
=>you can't beat your wife, only if it is serious, and if you beat, you must never hert, or leave traces, it must not be beating that phisycly herts, like for example a fother beat he's son very little, means, in a light way, that don't hert, as a punishement if talking didnt work or something, idk, i'm not a fother :p
This is bull crap to reality brother, You beat your wife to save face and the punishment is meant to match the crime of what the rest of the family expects . Even if you don't want to beat her you will or be scorned by old traditional ways of the culture. Now don't land blast Me for ever family is different and expectations are different so some of your delusions may be true , but tell the truth your a Muslim trying to sugar coat things as to paint your Glorious people in a better light. Dude you don't go to paradise for telling fibs. I know it says you can be justified by your actions if your direction is by Allah and Allah him self justify those who act in his perfect will, but beating Eve is not the answer Allah is looking for. I understand the burning down of the house and dismantling the old way of greed. Lots of people feel that way , but unlike Joe Stack the guy that ran his plane into the I.R.S. building . We hold back for the day that is coming in the Glory of the 12 Iman
 
...HEY HEY HEY, are you talking about today how we treat our woman? go educate your self...

I lived in a Moslem country for several years (NOT Saudi Arabia). I was informed that women have no souls and are "lower than dogs in the eyes of God". They were indeed treated as such. That was my education in how Islam teaches how to treat women, regardless of what you have to say on the topic.

Epic fail. :(
 
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This is bull crap to reality brother, You beat your wife to save face and the punishment is meant to match the crime of what the rest of the family expects . Even if you don't want to beat her you will or be scorned by old traditional ways of the culture. Now don't land blast Me for ever family is different and expectations are different so some of your delusions may be true , but tell the truth your a Muslim trying to sugar coat things as to paint your Glorious people in a better light. Dude you don't go to paradise for telling fibs. I know it says you can be justified by your actions if your direction is by Allah and Allah him self justify those who act in his perfect will, but beating Eve is not the answer Allah is looking for. I understand the burning down of the house and dismantling the old way of greed. Lots of people feel that way , but unlike Joe Stack the guy that ran his plane into the I.R.S. building . We hold back for the day that is coming in the Glory of the 12 Iman

yes, beat your wife without causing damage physicly, and yes beat, without herting physicly. i think you can see the link.

glory of 12 iman? huh?
 
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I lived in a Moslem country for several years (NOT Saudi Arabia). I was informed that women have no souls and are "lower than dogs in the eyes of God". They were indeed treated as such. That was my education in how Islam teaches how to treat women, regardless of what you have to say on the topic.

Epic fail. :(

that's totally wrong! that's totally against islam!! that's not islam! maybe that what many people thought before, when the muslim civilisation, was back to the stone age after they gave up their noble relegion after all those golden ages, and i think things like that are attached to cultural things, formed by time, for example, the burka, is not an obligation in islam, but the hijab is, but effcorse, some times you find a woman with no hijab and covering her body better than a woman with hijab with a tight clothes that would explode soon

and what is that muslim country?
(i didnt saudi arabia, i didnt went their to see how they live, i don't trust your media that keep insulting them)


beleive me, tht guy who otld oyu that, tell him go educate your self, he's a backward :p
what can i say, he or they don't know nothing about islam, that kind of stuff and thinking, is what brought the muslim civilisation from the golden ages where it ruled to the world, when they were following islam during it, to the stone age later, (the arab in middle east and north africa, civilisation) where they don't follow islam, and where we became like, hmm, backwards sometimes before, well, about 200 years ago, a man used to buy many women, and puted them in he's house, 200 years or maybe more, because my fother told me about this one, and, he wasn't alive in that time, nor he's fother or he's grandfother, so, i don't know the time exactly when they were doing that,
 
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