Friends,
I am writing this to introduce myself as a courtesy.
Let me start by stating that:
- I am a little confused about the Guidelines' prohibition on posting "personal information"; and
- I am not (yet) a Muslim, and I am therefore unfamiliar with the proper way to refer to persons and things of importance to Islam.
As to the first, may I post, for instance, the country/city where I live?
As to the second, I have notice that when Muslims refer to the prophet Muhammed the suffix "peace be upon him" (or an abbreviation which I take to have the same meaning) is appended. Likewise, references to (for example) Jesus Christ seem to be followed by the abbreviation (as). Whatever I may think of the desirability of adding such suffixes, which can often appear a little clumsy and formulaic, I do not want inadvertently to offend Muslims; at the same time, I consider it inevitable that I shall sooner or later forget or otherwise omit to include the correct suffix.
By way of background, I am a lapsed Catholic in a very secular English-speaking country. I have an interest in religion generally. Although the city where I live has a small but enthusiastic Muslim minority, I do not personally know any Muslims well. (The closest I get is a few "non-practising" Muslim friends, who would probably not be thought the best sources of information on Islam.) I understand no Arabic. I hope that this board will allow me to acquire easily comprehensible information about Islam. I am currently trying to read Asad's English translation/interpretation of the Qur'an.
Peace,
Tom