I have a question about belief in Hell

Les Nubian · **I have a question about belief in Hell -** 07-19-2005

Hello,

I'm a little confused, because well...I am very interested in the faith/religion of Islam, but I am unsure on a few things. See, I don't quite beleive that hell exists(i.e., a firey furnace underground that all the "bad" people go to) and I don't beleive that "God" is necessarily a "male" if "he/she/it" exists at all.

Would I HAVE to beleive these things in order to become a Muslim? I'm only asking, not yet considering converting, but I just wanted to know...

Thank you so much if you can answer

A7med · **Re: I have a question... -** 07-19-2005

U Have To Belive Those Things To Become A Muslim!
Islam i about beliving in the oness of god :brother:

Les Nubian · **Re: I have a question... -** 07-19-2005

So I'd have to beleive in a firey furnace underground? And that god is a MALE?

Well, do you beleive that god necessarily has a "gender"? Or that God is just God?

Abu Sayyad · **Re: I have a question... -** 07-19-2005

Here are a few answers to your questions:

http://63.175.194.25/index.php?ln=en...e&QR=499&dgn=4

http://63.175.194.25/index.php?ln=en...&QR=4524&dgn=4

http://63.175.194.25/index.php?ln=en...e&QR=439&dgn=4

**aamirsaab** · **Re: I have a question... -** 07-19-2005

God doesn't have a gender. We, as muslims, refer to God as He - that is all

Les Nubian · **Re: I have a question... -** 07-19-2005

cool sab

Also, thanks a lot for the links, ahmed

minaz · **Re: I have a question... -** 07-19-2005

Hang on for one sec, we don't believe that Allah is a a male, we simply use the word "he" whenever refering to the lord. It's a language thing i.e. like when one refers to a ship - "her sails" etc. Out of interest why would the belief of hell put you off Islam?

**Ansar Al-'Adl** · **Re: I have a question... -** 07-19-2005

Greetings,

Quote:

Originally Posted by Les Nubian

See, I don't quite beleive that hell exists(i.e., a firey furnace underground that all the "bad" people go to)

How then are evil people punished for their crimes against humanity? Do you think a God of justice would allow a man like Hitler to escape without punishment considering the unspeakable atrocities he perpetrated on minorities?

Quote:

and I don't beleive that "God" is necessarily a "male" if "he/she/it" exists at all.

God, being the Creator, does not posses the qualities or attributes of His Creation. Genders are a trait of Creation not befitting God.

Therefore, God is neither male nor female. He is genderless. Why then do we call Him a "He", you might ask. As I have written before:

Quote:

God is genderless, but we tend to refer to God as "Him" because "it" normally refers to inaminate objects, which would be disrespectful.

Its the way the language evolves. "He" can refer to someone of unspecified gender, but "she" cannot (although now people use 'they' to refer to someone of unspecified gender). As the Oxford Dictionary writes:

Until recently, he was used uncontroversially to refer to a person of unspecified sex, as in: every child needs to know that he is loved

Since this has been the traditional way to refer to God, any attempt to change it to 'she' would instantly imply the feminin gender, while 'they' would imply plurality. Thus, we leave it as 'He'.

Hopefully this should answer your questions.
Peace.

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	(#1 (permalink))
Les Nubian Limited Member Status: Offline Posts: 9 Reputation: 10 Rep Power: 0 Join Date: Jul 2005 Gender: Way of Life: Agnostic	I have a question about belief in Hell - 07-19-2005 Hello, I'm a little confused, because well...I am very interested in the faith/religion of Islam, but I am unsure on a few things. See, I don't quite beleive that hell exists(i.e., a firey furnace underground that all the "bad" people go to) and I don't beleive that "God" is necessarily a "male" if "he/she/it" exists at all. Would I HAVE to beleive these things in order to become a Muslim? I'm only asking, not yet considering converting, but I just wanted to know... Thank you so much if you can answer

	(#2 (permalink))
A7med Account Disabled Status: Offline Posts: 2,049 Reputation: 3079 Rep Power: 0 Join Date: May 2005 Gender: Way of Life: Muslim	Re: I have a question... - 07-19-2005 U Have To Belive Those Things To Become A Muslim! Islam i about beliving in the oness of god :brother:

	(#3 (permalink))
Les Nubian Limited Member Status: Offline Posts: 9 Reputation: 10 Rep Power: 0 Join Date: Jul 2005 Gender: Way of Life: Agnostic	Re: I have a question... - 07-19-2005 So I'd have to beleive in a firey furnace underground? And that god is a MALE? Well, do you beleive that god necessarily has a "gender"? Or that God is just God?

	(#4 (permalink))
Abu Sayyad Back! Status: Offline Posts: 6,355 Reputation: 35000 Rep Power: 70 Join Date: Mar 2005 Gender: Way of Life: Muslim	Re: I have a question... - 07-19-2005 Here are a few answers to your questions: http://63.175.194.25/index.php?ln=en...e&QR=499&dgn=4 http://63.175.194.25/index.php?ln=en...&QR=4524&dgn=4 http://63.175.194.25/index.php?ln=en...e&QR=439&dgn=4 __________________ هَلْ جَزَاء الْإِحْسَانِ إِلَّا الْإِحْسَانُ؟ Is there any reward for good other than good? [ar-Rahman: 60] O Allah, Lord of Jibril, Mika'il and Israfil, Creator of the heavens and the earth, Knower of the unseen and the seen, You will judge between Your servants concerning that wherein they differ. Guide me with regard to that wherein there is dispute concerning the truth by Your leave, for You guide whomsoever You will to the straight path. Oh Allah, I seek refuge in You lest I misguide others, or I am misguided by others, lest I cause others to err or I am caused to err, lest I abuse others or be abused, and lest I behave foolishly or meet with the foolishness of others.

	(#6 (permalink))
Les Nubian Limited Member Status: Offline Posts: 9 Reputation: 10 Rep Power: 0 Join Date: Jul 2005 Gender: Way of Life: Agnostic	Re: I have a question... - 07-19-2005 cool sab Also, thanks a lot for the links, ahmed

	(#7 (permalink))
minaz rep points mean nothin Status: Offline Posts: 1,337 Reputation: 2070 Rep Power: 22 Join Date: May 2005 Location: Leicester Gender: Way of Life: Muslim	Re: I have a question... - 07-19-2005 Hang on for one sec, we don't believe that Allah is a a male, we simply use the word "he" whenever refering to the lord. It's a language thing i.e. like when one refers to a ship - "her sails" etc. Out of interest why would the belief of hell put you off Islam?