Hi:)
format_quote Originally Posted by
djsimba
1. What do muslims think of Catholics? I can understand why some of the extremist american christians could really annoy muslims (and everyone else), not sure about Catholics though. :?
Why specifically Catholics? :? we generally talk about christians in general with out specifically looking at the different types.
2. I live in Australia (not sure where this forum is based). Do muslims that move to Australia want to convert everyone to Islam? or are they happy with peaceful co-existence? :?
This forum is based in the UK. Muslims move to Australia for a whole bunch of different reasons. Many have moved here because their own country is/was in a state of war. Muslims, in general, didnt move to Australia to convert anyone, they just came to find a place to live for their own personal reasons, just like all the other people who came to Australia. Most Muslims just want to live their life in peace and do not want the media bombarding them with stupid stereotypes.
That said, there are Muslims who might have come to Australia, or who might have been born here, and wish to convert people to Islam. That is not illegal so I dont see why it should be an issue. They only want to best for others. :)
3. What are the views on muslim extremists? I have heard that suicide bombers become martyrs and get 27 virgins in heaven or something. Is that true, or is that a load of rubbish? Do you have a "thou shall not kill" type rule? :?
In Islam is it absolutely illegal to kill a person. The only time it is allowed is during war (and the war must be legitamate!), or when the person has committed a crime and the punishment for that crime is death. In Islam we have the death penalty, it very complicated, and can not be explained in a paragraph. :)
Martyrs, who are fighting for a just cause for the sake of God, are amongst those who have the highest status in the eyes of God because they gave up their own lives to fight for justice and to spread the word of God, so that they can benefit other people. They have a huge reward. For example, everyone who is granted paradise has to wait until after the Day of Judgement to enter it, whereas the martyr enters it as soon as he dies, because of the sacrifice that he made. He is also forgiven of all his siins and does not have to face suffer through the Day of Judgement. Yes, he gets 72 virgins from the women of paradise as a reward also, and I do not see what is wrong with that.
About suicide bombers, well lets just say that if some person goes and blows himself up on a train in Asutralia this afternoon, he is not a martyr! That is a very serious sin, he cannot kill innocent women and children, nor old men!
However, if he blows himself up in the middle of a battle field, I think we can all see that it is a different story, and this is a matter that is very complicated and I do not want to get in to it.
4. What is the position of Mary and Joseph in Islam? :?
Who is Joseph? Do you mean the prophet Joseph? Or someone else?
About Mary- Muslims believe that she is one of the most perect women from amongst all of mankind! We have huge, total respect for her!
From the Quran:
And (remember) when the angels said: "O Maryam (Mary)! Verily, Allâh has chosen you, purified you (from polytheism and disbelief), and chosen you above the women of the 'Alamîn (mankind and jinns) (of her lifetime)."
Chapter 3: Verse 42
I would like to also take this chance to explain a bit here about Jesus in Islam. We believe in Jesus. No Muslim is a Muslim if he does not believe in Jesus. However, we do not believe that he was the son of God. He was a prophet like any other prophet. He was not crucified, rather God took him up to the heavens and he will be returned to Earth one day and live the rest of his life and die a natural death.