What is a moderate Muslim?

format_quote Originally Posted by Thinker

I can and if you insist I will post hundreds of verses of the Qu’ran that promote conflict and division. I am not rushing to do that because I presume that the members of this forum, being Muslims who actively pursue Islam, know of their existence. And I know from experience that such a post will get a rough ride here. Most Muslims (and Christians etc) are instructed in their religion from childhood and beyond. I came to study Islam from absolute ground zero, with no bias, no presupposition, no steer or guidance from someone with bias and no fear of God. The Qu’ran was constructed at a time when Muslims fought with non Muslims and if read objectively is clearly heavily weighted in terms of Muslims must mistrust, not associated with and fight against non Muslims. I started my studies looking for the ‘love thy neighbour’ verses and I never found them! Maybe I wasn’t looking hard enough – do they exist?

Cool, we're on the same boat then I guess concerning how you came around to studying Islam and in the manner that you did. I still would like for you to post the ayahs just to visualize where you're coming from. Yes, I am aware of some of the most infamous ayahs that are used, but I would like to see the hundreds. Also, maybe you should search a little harder for those "love thy neighbor" ayahs you are searching for because they do indeed exist, even if you don't find the exact wording you want, then at least search for something as close to that ideology as possible, that part should not be too hard. (: I know there's more to it than just finding them though, you nonMuslims don't let go that easily .

I'll say this again, however, Islam is not just Quran, it's also Sunnah. So for you to study Islam as a whole, you can't neglect that aspect of Islam, otherwise you're really not studying Islam.

"Radical" and "moderate" Islam are terms that the West has invented to distinguish true Islam from politically influenced, against-the-scriptures, twisted "Islam" like the terrorists practice. Although really, at least as often it seems to serve as a euphemistic-sounding apparently false distinction so that anti-Islamic bigots like Geert Wilders can make quotable sound bytes with the statement, "There is no 'moderate' Islam." Not to mention that putting true Islam the "moderate" kind can subtly backhand it while allegedly acting against the demonization of our religion, since the automatic implication is that taking Islam to its natural extreme produces wickedness and madness. If I were you I'd avoid the terms altogether and just make corrections to what is Islamic and what isn't when necessary.

P.S. right here

format_quote Originally Posted by Thinker

I don’t understand why Muslims think that only Muslims can know anything about Islam particularly when to become a Muslim no knowledge is required and no test is taken. I know more about Islam that I do about Christianity because although I was raised by Vhristiann parents and went to a Christian school I have never studied Christianity; I have never read the Bible. I suspect that most Muslims have never studied Islam, like me they will have been taught at school and accepted what they were taught as fact. I know there is lots I don’t know but I also know that I know more about Islam than most Muslims; why because I have studied it but more importantly I have studied it objectively and without the freat that God will send me to hell for questioning "His word."

I don't know why doctors think you have to go to medical school and get licensed to practice medicine? So many quacks read about medicine in books and know more about it than herbalism. You don't require any knowledge to enter into medical school and no licensure exam is then given (true). I suspect that most doctors have never studied medicine, like most quacks they'll have accepted what they were taught as a fact. Quacks know alot and they also know about Medicine more than most doctors, why because they have studied quackery, but more importantly studied objectively outside of academia, without fear that someone will take away that license!

all the best

format_quote Originally Posted by Thinker

I get them together, hopefully tomorrow, and send them to you privately. If you then still want them published here I’ll do that.

most if not all of us have read the Quran and some of us have memorized and continue to memorize it, there is nothing in the Quran that should or is to be hidden.. Don't be Pming sisters in private if you have a noble character or you too much of a coward to bring your 'studies' for everyone to judge just how 'studied' you actually are?

Everything the prophet taught whether the divine word of God or that, which he spoke in layman's word is divinely inspired, Who are you at all in the scheme of anything to decide that sunna is a form of 'idol worship' or contravenes with the Quran?

Why don't you simply stop all that hot air and put your money where your mouth is? There is no point in two pages worth of spam for the rest of us to try to decipher as we may to the 'genius' that hovers in your 'objective' head!

all the best

format_quote Originally Posted by Thinker

I get them together, hopefully tomorrow, and send them to you privately. If you then still want them published here I’ll do that.

That sounds good to me.

Indeed it is and the hadith, but it is only the Qu’ran that is the word of God; only the Qu’ran that is God’s immutable message; only the Qu’ran which MUST be obeyed all the rest is arguable. In fact in my opinion (and my opinion has changed several times over the past few years) I think I could make an argument that the sunnah is a form of idol worship which contravenes the Qu’ran

Everything can be made an argument out of, every little intricate detail, and I adulate if you sincerely look into those for educational purposes because there's nothing wrong with questioning all that's around you as long as you're intentions are to gain an understanding. I, however, don't know what your intentions are, but either way I'm still going to answer because I'll be learning from you whilst teaching myself.

With that, through your point of view and many others I'm sure, just as you said hadith can be questioned, then in the same way Quran can be as well, and just as you said sunnah can be interpreted as being a form of idol worship (I have no idea how but feel free to shed some light on the matter), then I guess you could also say or believe that Quran is not from God at all, which you probably already do, I don't know. So I'm still wondering, why Quran and not Hadith? There are ahadith which must be obeyed in the same respect that the ayahs of the Quran have to be obeyed. I understand the frustration/confusion that undivine human beings are what recorded the ahadith, and that after the death of Muhammad (peace be upon him) conflicting matters arised, and that the Quran is the only scripture in which we consider to be Holy and divine so the way you see it is that the Quran must or should weigh significantly more to us than ahadith, which it does, but Islamically they are both needed and one does not outlaw the other. If this were just about Allah only, then He would've made it so, but He gave us a prophet for a purpose. But all of this is besides the point, the point is that if you're going to study Islam, you can't just pick and choose parts of it, you have to learn it as a whole, otherwise it's just not Islam.

format_quote Originally Posted by Thinker

I can and if you insist I will post hundreds of verses of the Qu’ran that promote conflict and division. I am not rushing to do that because I presume that the members of this forum, being Muslims who actively pursue Islam, know of their existence. And I know from experience that such a post will get a rough ride here. Most Muslims (and Christians etc) are instructed in their religion from childhood and beyond. I came to study Islam from absolute ground zero, with no bias, no presupposition, no steer or guidance from someone with bias and no fear of God. The Qu’ran was constructed at a time when Muslims fought with non Muslims and if read objectively is clearly heavily weighted in terms of Muslims must mistrust, not associated with and fight against non Muslims. I started my studies looking for the ‘love thy neighbour’ verses and I never found them! Maybe I wasn’t looking hard enough – do they exist?

'
I see how you as a non-Muslim would see many ayyats in the Qur'an as promoting division and distrust. Yes, we are cautioned many times about the errors of non-Muslims and not to adopt their ways. In similar type writings non-Muslims give virtually the same message about themselves. The simple fact is when there is disagreement about beliefs and non-beliefs, each group does appear to be isolationists in regards to all other people. This is not necessarily a bad thing and can/should be done with as much peace as possible. Because a person disagrees with another, should not be equated as aggression.

format_quote Originally Posted by Thinker

I really don’t want to post hundreds of verses promoting conflict hate and division.

Context - that is exactly the point, the context is that these verses were written at a time when different tribes fought, killed and took slaves of their enemies who were the other tribes. And the context is that at a point in time it went from tribe A fighting tribe B and C etc to Muslims fighting non Muslims. That is the context of the Qu’ran, although it is purported to be God’s word and final word for all mankind forever, it is totally preoccupied with the conditions of that time and that was Muslim fighting against, killing and being killed by non Muslims; that is fact and it comes through clearly in the sentiment of the Qu’ran. Surely nobody would argue otherwise?

They were revealed at a particular time and for certain circumstances, but it is amazing how the verses of the Quran can be applied at all times, which only proves that it is the Word of God.

I started my studies looking for the ‘love thy neighbour’ verses and I never found them! Maybe I wasn’t looking hard enough – do they exist?

There is the "sahibul janb" verse which i believe means your neighbor and travelling companion, but I don't remember exactly where that verse is.

Indeed it is and the hadith, but it is only the Qu’ran that is the word of God; only the Qu’ran that is God’s immutable message; only the Qu’ran which MUST be obeyed all the rest is arguable. In fact in my opinion (and my opinion has changed several times over the past few years) I think I could make an argument that the sunnah is a form of idol worship which contravenes the Qu’ran

Sunnah and Hadith are also from God, although they are't the direct Word of God. God says in the Quran, Chapter Al-Najm verses 1 - 5 that whatever the Prophet (SAW) says is from God:

1. By the star when it goes down
2. Your companion is neither astray nor being mislead
3. Nor does he say (anything) of his own desire
4. It is no less than a revelation sent down to him
5. He was taught by one Mighty in power.

Additionally in many places of the Quraan, God tells us to obey God and the Prophet (SAW). Also, in chapter 34, verse 28, God says that He sent the Prophet (SAW) sufficient for us.

beautiful ahadiths that the learned one perhaps has either ignored or would love for us to divorce all together so that his 'objective' understanding would have some credence!

.. "What actions are most excellent? To gladden the heart of human beings, to feed the hungry, to help the afflicted, to lighten the sorrow of the sorrowful, and to remove the sufferings of the injured." (Bukhari)

"Religion is very easy and whoever overburdens himself in his religion will not be able to continue in that way. So you should not be extremists, but try to be near to perfection and receive the good tidings that you will be rewarded." Sahih Bukhari, Volume 1, Book 2, Number 38 "It is better for a leader to make a mistake in forgiving than to make a mistake in punishing." Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 1011 " '...what is the best type of Jihad [struggle].' He answered: 'Speaking truth before a tyrannical ruler.' " Riyadh us-Saleheen Volume 1:195 "...you should show courtesy and be cordial with each other, so that nobody should consider himself superior to another nor do him harm." Riyadh-us-Saleheen. Hadith 602. "Anyone who believes in God and the Last Day (of Judgment) should not harm his neighbor. Anyone who believes in God and the Last Day should entertain his guest generously. And anyone who believes in God and the Last Day should say what is good or keep quiet." Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 8, Book 73, Number 47. "(Each one) of you should save himself from the fire by giving even half of a date (in charity). And if you do not find a half date, then (by saying) a pleasant word (to your brethren)." Sahih Bukhari, Volume 2, Hadith 394. "It is better for any of you to carry a load of firewood on his own back than begging from someone else." Riyadh-Us-Saleheen, Chapter 59, hadith 540 "In the name of God, I put my trust in God. O God, I seek refuge in Thee lest I stray or be led astray or cause injustice or suffer injustice or do wrong or have wrong done to me!" Fiqh-us-Sunnah, Volume 2, Number 67b. "Righteousness is good morality, and wrongdoing is that which wavers in your soul and which you dislike people finding out about." An-Nawawi's "Forty Hadith," Hadith 27. "Do not turn away a poor man...even if all you can give is half a date. If you love the poor and bring them near you...God will bring you near Him on the Day of Resurrection." Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 1376. "Avoid cruelty and injustice...and guard yourselves against miserliness, for this has ruined nations who lived before you." Riyadh-us-Salaheen, Hadith 203. "Seven kinds of people will be sheltered under the shade of God on the Day of Judgment...They are: a just ruler, a young man who passed his youth in the worship and service of God...one whose heart is attached to the mosque...two people who love each other for the sake of God...a man who is invited to sin...but declines, saying 'I fear God'...one who spends his charity in secret, without making a show...and one who remembers God in solitude so that his eyes overflow." Riyadh-us-Salaheen, Hadith 376.

1.. "Acquire knowledge, it enables its professor to distinguish right from wrong; it lights the way to heaven. It is our friend in the desert, our company in solitude and companion when friendless. It guides us to happiness, it sustains us in misery, it is an ornament amongst friends and an armour against enemies." (widely attributed to the Prophet Mohammed (pbuh))

2.. "A Muslim who plants a tree or sows a field, from which man, birds and animals can eat, is committing an act of charity." (Muslim)

3.. "There is a polish for everything that takes away rust; and the polish for the heart is the remembrance of Allah." (Bukhari)

5.. "The most excellent Jihad is that for the conquest of self." (Bukhari)

6.. "If you put your whole trust in Allah, as you ought, He most certainly will satisfy your needs, as He satisfies those of the birds. They come out hungry in the morning, but return full to their nests." (Tirmidhi)

7.. "When Allah created his creatures He wrote above His throne: 'Verily, my Compassion overcomes my wrath." (Bukhari & Muslim)

8.. "Allah will not give mercy to anyone, except those who give mercy to other creatures." (Abdullah b. Amr: Abu Daud & Tirmidhi)

9.. " 'Son, if you are able, keep your heart from morning till night and from night till morning free from malice towards anyone.' Then the Prophet said: 'O my son! This is one of my laws, and he, who loves my laws verily loves me.' " (Bukhari)

10.. "Say what is true, although it may be bitter and displeasing to people." (Baihaqi)

11.. "Kindness is a mark of faith, and whoever is not kind has no faith." (Muslim)

12.. "When you see a person who has been given more than you in money and beauty, look to those, who have been given less." (Muslim)

13.. "If you do not feel ashamed of anything, then you can do whatever you like." (Abu-Masud: Bukhari)

14.. "O Lord, grant me your love, grant me that I love those who love you; grant me, that I might do the deeds that win your love. Make your love dearer to me than the love of myself, my family and wealth." (Tirmidhi)

15.. "It is better to sit alone than in company with the bad; and it is better still to sit with the good than alone. It is better to speak to a seeker of knowledge than to remain silent; but silence is better than idle words." (Bukhari)

16.. "Verily, a man teaching his child manners is better than giving one bushel of grain in alms." (Muslim)

17.. "Whoever is kind, Allah will be kind to him; therefore be kind to man on the earth. He Who is in heaven will show mercy on you."(Abu Daud: Tirmidhi)

18.. "It is difficult for a man laden with riches to climb the steep path, that leads to bliss." (Muslim)

19.. "Once a man, who was passing through a road, found a branch of a tree with torns obstructing it. The man removed the thorns from the way. Allah thanked him and forgave his sins." (Bukhari)

20.. "Who are the learned? Those who practice what they know." (Bukhari)

21.. "Allah has revealed to me, that you must be humble. No one should boast over one another, and no one should oppress another." (Iyad b. Hinar al-Mujashi: Muslim)

22.. "Who is the most favoured of Allah? He, from whom the greatest good comes to His creatures." (Bukhari)

23.. "A true Muslim is thankful to Allah in prosperity, and resigned to His will in adversity." (Muslim)

24.. "A Muslim who meets with others and shares their burdens is better than one who lives a life of seclusion and contemplation." (Muslim)

25.. "Serve Allah, as you would if you could see Him; although you cannot see Him, He can see you. (Umar: Muslim)

26.. "Allah does not look at your appearance or your possessions; but He looks at your heart and your deeds." (Abu Huraira: Muslim)

27.. "The best richness is the richness of the soul." (at the field ofTabuk, Syria, Rajab 9 A.H.: Bukhari)

28.. "Keep yourselves far from envy; because it eats up and takes away good actions, like a fire eats up and burns wood." (Abu Daud)

29.. "Much silence and a good disposition, there are no two things better than these." (Bukhari)

30.. "Verily, Allah is mild and is fond of mildness, and He gives to the mild what He does not give to the harsh." (Muslim)

31.. "Whoever loves to meet Allah, Allah loves to meet him." (Bukhari)

32.. "Once the Prophet was asked:'Tell us, which action is dearest to Allah?' He answered:'To say your prayer at its proper time.' Again he was asked: 'What comes next?' Mohammed said: 'To show kindness to parents.' 'Then what?' he was asked, 'To strive for the cause of Allah!' " (Ibn Masad: Bukhari)

33.. "When two persons are together, two of them must no whisper to each other, without letting the third hear; because it would hurt him." (Bukhari & Muslim)

34.. "Verily, it is one of the respects to Allah to honor an old man." (Bukhari)

35.. "All Muslims are like a foundation, each strengthening the other; in such a way they do support each other." (Abu Musa: Bukhari & Muslim)

36.. "Strive always to excel in virtue and truth." (Bukhari)

37.. "You will not enter paradise until you have faith; and you will not complete your faith till you love one another." (Muslim)

38.. "He, who wishes to enter paradise at the best gate, must please his father and mother." (Bukhari & Muslim)

39.. "I am leaving two things among you, and if you cling to them firmly you will never go astray; one is the Book of Allah and the other is my way of life." (Farewell Pilgrimage: Muatta)

40.. "Allah is One and likes Unity." (Muslim)

41.. "The best of alms is that, which the right hand gives and the left hand knows not of." (Bukhari)

42.. "The perfect Muslim is not a perfect Muslim, who eats till he is full and leaves his neighbors hungry." (Ibn Abbas: Baihaqi)

43.. "He is not of us who is not affectionate to the little ones, and does not respect the old; and he is not of us, who does not order which is lawful, and prohibits that which is unlawful." (Ibn Abbas: Tirmidhi)

44.. "No man is a true believer unless he desires for his brother that, what he desires for himself." (Abu Hamza Anas: Bukhari & Muslim)

45.. "To strive for the cause of Allah from daybreak to noon and sunset is better than the goods and enjoyment of the whole worldly life." (Bukhari)

46.. "Be not like the hypocrite who, when he talks, tells lies; when he gives a promise, he breaks it; and when he is trusted, he proves dishonest." (Bukhari & Muslim)

47.. "The proof of a Muslim's sincerity is, that he pays no heed to that, which is not his business." (Abu Hureira: Tirmidhi)

48.. "Do you know what is better than charity and fasting and prayer? It is keeping peace and good relations between people, as quarrels and bad feelings destroy mankind." (Muslims & Bukhari)

49.. "Conduct yourself in this world, as if you are here to stay forever; prepare for eternity as if you have to die tomorrow." (Bukhari)

50.. "The worldly comforts are not for me. I am like a traveller, who takes a rest under a tree in the shade and then goes on his way." (Tirmidhi)

Ahâdîth

The Prophet [peace be upon him]

1. The Prophet said: 'I am the Prophet of mercy and I am the Prophet of repentance. (Shamâ'il At-Tirmidhî, Musnad Ahmad)
2. The Prophet said: 'The likeness of me and the Prophets before me is that of a man who built a house which he made all complete and beautiful except for one brick in a corner. People visited and admired it but said: ‘Shouldn’t that brick be put in?’ I am that brick and I am the last of the prophets.' (Sahîh Bukhârî)
3. The Prophet said: 'Every Prophet used to be sent to his people alone but I have been sent to all mankind'. (Sahîh Bukhârî)
4. Ali ibn Abî Tâlib said: 'Anyone who saw him suddenly would stand in awe of him, and anyone who got to know him through spending time with him came to love him. Those who described him said that they had never seen anyone like him, before or since.' (Sunan At-Tirmidhî)
5. 'Â'ishah said: 'The Prophet spoke in a simple and clear way so that all those who heard him, understood him'. (Sunan Abî Dawûd)
6. Anas ibn Mâlik said: 'I was in the Prophet's service for ten years, and he never once said "Uff (i.e. shame)!" to me. When I did something (wrong) he never asked me, "Why did you do that?" When I did not do something (that I should have done) he never asked me, "Why did you not do that?" The Messenger of Allah had the best disposition of all people'. (Sunan At-Tirmidhî)
7. Abdullah ibn Ja'far said: 'Whenever Allah's Messenger came back from a journey, the children of his family used to (run to) welcome him. This was how he once came back from a journey when I was the first to go to him: he mounted me (on his camel) in front of him. Then one of his daughter Fatimah's two sons came, and he mounted him behind him, and that is how the three of us were brought into Madinah on a single mount. (Sahîh Muslim)
8. Ka'b ibn Mâlik reported: 'When the Messenger of Allah was pleased, his face lit up as if it was a piece of the moon. That is how we could tell when he was pleased.' (Sahîh Bukhârî, Musnad Ahmad)
9. Abdullah ibn Al-Hârith said: 'I never saw anyone who smiled more than Allah's Messenger'. (Sunan At-Tirmidhî)
10. Â'ishah said: 'The Prophet never hit anything or anyone - not a woman or a slave - except when he was fighting in the cause of Allah'. (Sahîh Muslim)
11. Jâbir said: 'Allah's Messenger never said no when anyone asked him for anything at all' (Sahîh Bukhârî)
12. The Prophet said: 'None of you (truly) believes until I am dearer to him than his own parents, his children and all mankind'. (Sahîh Bukhârî, Sahîh Muslim)
13. The Prophet said: 'Whoever asks Allah to bless me once will be blessed by Allah ten times over' (Sahîh Muslim)
14. The Prophet said: 'Whoever loves my way of life (Sunnah) loves me, and whoever loves me will be with me in Paradise.' (Sunan At-Tirmidhî)

Fundamentals

1. The Prophet said: 'Actions will be judged according to their intentions.' (Sahîh Bukhârî, Sahîh Muslim)
2. The Prophet said: 'The religion (of Islam) is easy. No one ever made it difficult without it becoming too much for him. So avoid extremes and strike a balance, do the best you can and be cheerful, and seek Allah's help (through prayer) in the morning, and evening, and part of the night.' (Sahîh Bukhârî)
3. The Prophet said: 'The similitude of the one who contemplates his Lord versus the one who does not is that of the living versus the dead.' (Sahîh Bukhârî, Sahîh Muslim)
4. Abu Umamah related: 'A man once asked Allah's Messenger, 'What is faith?' He replied, 'When your good deeds make you happy and your bad deeds make you sad, then you have faith.' Then the man asked him, 'What is sin?' THe Prophet replied, 'When anything troubles your conscience, stop doing it'.' (Musnad Ahmad)
5. The Prophet said: ''Whoever has three qualities will taste the sweetness of faith: To love Allah and His Messenger more than anything else; to love someone for Allah's sake alone, and to hate to return to unbelief just as much as one would hate to be thrown into fire'. (Sahîh Bukharî, Sahîh Muslim)
6. The Prophet said: 'The burden of proof is upon the plaintiff and the taking of oath is upon the defendant.' (Sunan Al-Bayhaqî)
7. The Prophet was asked about the major sins, and he mentioned: 'To worship other than Allah, to disobey your parents, to commit murder and to give false testimony'. (Sahîh Bukhârî)
8. The Prophet said: 'Allah will send humiliation upon you and will not remove it until you return to your religion.' (Sunan Abi Dawûd)
9. The Prophet said: 'If one of you had a stream running at his door and he bathed in it five times every day, do you think any dirt would be left on him?' His companions answered, 'No dirt at all would be left on him.' He said, 'That is what the five prayers are like, with which Allah washes away your sins.' (Sahîh Bukhârî)
10. The Prophet said: 'A person's wealth will never decrease from giving in charity. (Sunan At-Tirmidhî)
11. The Prophet said: 'No creature should be obeyed if it entails disobedience to the Creator.' (Sunan Abî Dawûd, Sharh As-Sunnah Al-Baghawî)

Knowledge

1. The Prophet said: 'The best among you are those who learn the Qur'an and teach it.' (Sahîh Bukhârî)
   
2. The Prophet said: 'Seeking knowledge is a religious obligation for every Muslim (male and female).' (Sunan Ibn Mâjah, Sunan Al-Bayhaqî)
3. The Prophet said: 'The cure for ignorance is to question.' (Sunan Abî Dawûd)
4. The Prophet said: 'Whomsoever Allah wishes goodness for, He grants him understanding of the religion.' (Sahîh Bukhârî)
5. The Prophet said: 'Acquire knowledge, and teach it to people; learn your religious obligations and teach them to people; learn the Qur'an and teach it to people.' (Sunan Ad-Dârimî)
6. The Prophet said: 'The superiority of a religious scholar an (ignorant) worshipper is like that of myself over you (my followers). Truly, Allah, His angels and all those in the heavens and the earth - even the ants in their anthills and the fish - invoke blessings on those who instruct others in anything good.' (Sunan At-Tirmidhî)
7. The Prophet said: 'Allah will not take away (religious) knowledge by removing it from people's hearts, but He will take it away by the the death of scholars, until, when no (true) scholars remain, people will take the ignorant (among them) as their leaders. When they are consulted, they will give their verdicts without knowledge. So they will go astray and will lead people astray.' (Sahîh Bukhârî)
8. The Prophet said: 'From the signs of the hour is that people will seek knowledge from the asâghir [small ones]. (Al-Lâlikâ'î in Sharh Usûl-I'tiqâd).
9. The Prophet said: 'Whoever seeks sacred knowledge to vie with scholars, argue with fools, or capture public notice, Allah will enter him into Hellfire.' (Sunan At-Tirmidhî, Sunan Ibn Mâjah)
10. The Prophet said: 'Whoever seeks that knowledge by which the pleasure of Allah is sought [sacred knowledge] only to acquire some worldly gain, he will not smell the fragance of Paradise on Judgement Day.' (Sunan Abî Dawûd, Sunan Ibn Mâjah, Musnad Ahmad)
    

Character, Etiquettes and Morals

1. The Prophet said: 'Surely I was sent to perfect the qualities of righteous character (Musnad Ahmad, Muwatta Mâlik)
2. The Prophet said: 'There is nothing which is heavier upon the balance than the good character.' (Musnad Ahmad)
3. The Prophet said: 'Righteousness is good character, and sin is what makes you uncomfortable inside and you would not like other people to find out about.' (Sahîh Muslim)
4. The Prophet said: 'The Muslim does not slander, curse, speak obscenely, or speak rudely.' (Sunan At-Tirmidhî)
5. The Prophet said: 'Whoever is deprived of gentleness is deprived of all good.' (Sahîh Muslim)
6. The Prophet said: 'Indeed Allah is gentle and loves gentleness, and gives due to gentleness that which He does not give to harshness.' (Sunan Ibn Mâjah, Sahîh Ibn Hibbân)
7. The Prophet said: 'Whoever suffers an injury done to him and forgives (the person responsible), Allah will raise his status to a higher degree and remove one of his sins.' (Sunan At-Tirmidhî)
8. The Prophet said: 'Do not be people without minds of your own, saying that if others treat you well you will treat them well, and that if they do wrong you will do wrong. Instead, accustom yourselves to do good if people do good and not to do wrong if they do evil.' (Sunan At-Tirmidhî)
9. The Prophet said: 'Show mercy to those on earth so that He who is in heaven will have mercy on you.' (Sunan At-Tirmidhî)
10. The Prophet said: 'Purity and cleanliness is part of faith. (Sahîh Muslim)
11. The Prophet said: 'By Allah, he is not a believer! By Allah, he is not a believer! By Allah, he is not a believer!' He was asked, 'Who, O Messenger of Allah?' He replied, 'Anyone whose neighbor does not feel safe from his harm.' (Musnad Ahmad)
12. The Prophet said: 'There is no better gift a parent can give his child than good manners'. (Sunan At-Tirmidhî)
13. The Prophet said: 'No one can give a better or more abundant gift than patience.' (Sahîh Bukhârî, Sahîh Muslim)
14. The Prophet said: 'Calmness and determination is from Allah and haste is from Satan.' (Sunan At-Tirmidhî)
15. The Prophet said: 'Wealth does not come from having great riches; (true) wealth is contentment of the soul.' (Sahîh Bukhârî, Sahîh Muslim)
16. The Prophet said: 'Whoever does not thank people (for their favors) has not thanked Allah (properly), Mighty and Glorious is He!' (Musnad Ahmad, Sunan At-Tirmidhî)
17. The Prophet said: 'The believer is one who is sociable [with others], and there is no benefit in one who is not sociable [with others] nor in one who is not met sociably [by them].' (Mustadarak Al-Hâkim, Shu'ab al-Îmân Al-Bayhaqî)
18. The Prophet said: 'Do not search for (the faults of others), for if anyone searches for (others) faults, God will search for his.' (Sunan Abî Dawûd)
19. The Prophet said: 'Blessed is he who preoccupies himself with his own defects, rather than those of others.' (Musnad Al-Bazzâr)
20. The Prophet said: 'The believer is not the one who eats his fill when the neighbour beside him is hungry.' (Sunan Al-Bayhaqî)
21. The Prophet said: 'Make things easy (for people) and do not make them difficult, and cheer people up and do not drive them away.' (Sahîh Bukhârî, Sahîh Muslim)
22. The Prophet said: 'The food of two people is enough for three, and the food of three people is enough for four.' (Sahîh Bukhârî, Sahîh Muslim)
23. The Prophet said: 'Eat together and do not separate, for the blessing is in companionship. (Sunan Ibn Mâjah)
24. The Prophet said: 'Modesty is part of faith.' (Sahîh Muslim)
25. The Prophet said: 'There are two blessings that many people fail to make the most of: good health and free time.' (Sahîh Bukhârî)
26. The Prophet said: 'He who does not keep his trusts lacks in faith and he who does not keep his agreements lacks in religion'. (Shu'ab Al-Îmân Al-Bayhaqî)
27. The Prophet said: 'None of you is truly a believer until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself.' (Sahîh Muslim)
28. The Prophet said: 'The best of you is the one who is best to his own family, and I am the best of you towards my family.' (Sunan At-Tirmidhî, Sunan Ibn Mâjah)
29. The Prophet said: 'He is not one of us who does not show mercy to our little ones and respect to our elders.' (Sunan At-Tirmidhî)
30. The Prophet said: 'Contemplate those who have less than you and not those who have more than you, lest you belittle the favors of Allah conferred upon you'. (Sahîh Bukhârî, Sahîh Muslim)
31. Once the Prophet was seated at some place in Madinah, along with his Companions. During this time a funeral procession passed by. On seeing this, the Prophet stood up. One of his companions remarked that the funeral was that of a Jew. The Prophet replied, “Was he not a human being?” (Sahîh Bukhârî, Sahîh Muslim, Sunan An-Nasâ'î)
32. The Prophet said: 'Seeking knowledge is a religious obligation for every Muslim (male or female). (Sunan Ibn Mâjah, Sunan Al-Bayhaqî)
33. The Prophet said: 'A truthful and trustworthy merchant will be in the company of the prophets, the very truthful, and the martyrs.' (Sunan At-Tirmidhî, Sunan Ad-Dârimî, Sunan Ad-Dâraqutnî)
34. The Prophet said: 'On a journey, the leader of the group is their servant.' (Sunan Ibn Mâjah, Shu'ab Al-Îmân Al-Bayhaqî)
35. The Prophet said: 'The most virtuous jihâd is when one speaks a word of truth before an unjust ruler.' (Sunan Abî Dawûd, Sunan At-Tirmidhî, Sunan Ibn Mâjah)
36. A disbelieving Bedouin urinated in the mosque, and the people rushed to beat him. Allah's Apostle ordered them to leave him alone, let him finish and pour water over the place where he has passed urine. The Prophet then explained to the Bedouin calmly, "This is a place of worship, in it is the worship of God and the reading of Qur'an." After the Bedouin had left, the Prophet then said to his companions, " You have been sent to make things easy (for the people) and you have not been sent to make things difficult for them." (Sahîh Bukhârî, Sahîh Muslim)
37. The Prophet said: 'Allah is beautiful and loves beauty.' (Sahîh Muslim)
38. The Prophet said: 'There is no clement person who has not stumbled, nor is there no wise person who possesses no experience.' (Sunan At-Tirmidhî, Mustadarak Al-Hâkim)
39. The Prophet said: 'Pay the laborer his due before his sweat dries.' (Sunan Ibn Mâjah)
40. The Prophet said: 'A believer is not stung from the same hole twice.' (Sahîh Bukhârî, Sahîh Muslim)
41. The Prophet said: 'The wise one is he who has subdued his nafs and has prepared for what follows death. And the foolish one is he who has placed his nafs in pursuance of its desires and has vain hopes about Allah.' (Sunan At-Tirmidhî, Sunan Ibn Mâjah)
42. The Prophet said: 'Believers are like a single person; if his eye is in pain his whole body pains, and if his head is in pain his whole body pains.' (Sahîh Muslim)
43. The Prophet said: 'Truly, I have been sent as a teacher.' (Sunan Ad-Dârimî)
44. Mu'awiyah ibn al-Hakam al-Sulami said: 'By my father and mother, (I swear that) I never saw a teacher, before or after him, who was a better teacher than the Messenger of Allah. By God, he never shouted at me, or punished me, or insulted me.' (Sunan Ad-Dârimî)
45. The Prophet said: 'If one of you happens to be standing when he becomes angry, then he should take a seat. If this helps his anger to subside, then good and well. Otherwise, he should go and lie down.' (Sunan Abî Dawûd, Sahîh Ibn Hibbân)
46. The Prophet said: 'The strong man is not the one who knocks others down, but the one who controls himself when angry.' (Sahîh Bukhârî, Sahîh Muslim)
47. The Prophet said: 'Teach the people and give them glad tidings. Do not make things difficult. And if you get angry, remain silent.' (Musnad Ahmad, Musnad al-Tayâlisî, and al-Adab al-Mufrad Bukhârî)
48. The Prophet said: 'Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day should not trouble his neighbor, and whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day should entertain his guest generously, and whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day should say what is good, or be silent.' (Sahîh Bukhârî, Sahîh Muslim).
49. The Prophet said: 'Honesty leads to righteousness and righteousness leads to Paradise. A man remains honest and concerned about honesty until he is recorded as an honest man with Allah. Lying leads to sinfulness and sinfulness leads to the Fire. A man keeps lying and remains partial to lies until he is recorded as a liar with Allah.' (Sahîh Bukharî, Sahîh Muslim)
50. The Prophet said: 'Do not indulge in excessive talk except when remembering Allah. For it hardens the heart; and those who are the farthest from Allah are those whose hearts are hard.' (Sunan At-Tirmidhî)
51. The Prophet said: 'Three things are the sign of the hypocrite: when he speaks he tells lies, when he promises he breaks it and when he is trusted he proves to be dishonest.' (Sahîh Bukhârî, Sahîh Muslim)
52. The Prophet said: 'Charity (sadaqah) is due upon every joint of a person on every day that the sun rises. Administering justice between two people is an act of charity; and to help a man concerning his riding beast by helping him on to it or lifting his luggage on to it is an act of charity; a good word is charity; and every step which you take to prayer is charity; and removing that which is harmful from the road is charity.' (Sahîh Bukhârî)
53. The Prophet said: 'What is little but sufficient is better than that which is abundant but causes heedlessness.' (Sahîh Ibn Hibbân)
54. The Prophet said: 'Two hungry wolves let loose amongst sheep will not cause more harm to them than the harm a person causes to his religion by craving after wealth and fame. (Musnad Ahmad)
55. The Prophet said: 'A man went out to visit a brother of his in a different village, so Allah, the Most High, put an angel in wait for him in the road. So when the angel came to him he said: Where are you going? He said: I am going to visit a brother in this village. He said: Is it that you have done something for him for which you seek repayment? He said: No, it is just that I love him for Allah's sake. He said: Then I am one sent by Allah to you (to inform you) that Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, loves you, just as you have loved for His sake.' ' (Sahîh Muslim)
56. The Prophet said: 'The believer is a mirror for the believer, and the believer is the brother of the believer. He safeguards his property for him and defends him from behind.' (Adab Al-Mufrad Bukhârî, Sunan Abî Dawûd)
57. The Prophet said: 'From the perfection of a person's Islam is that he leaves alone that which does not concern him.' (Sunan At-Tirmidhî)
58. The Prophet said: 'God has revealed to me that you must be humble, so that no one oppresses another and boasts over another.' (Sahîh Muslim, Sunan Abî Dawûd)
    
59. The Prophet said: 'Two characteristics are not found together in a hypocrite: good manners and understanding of the Religion.' (Sunan At-Tirmidhî)
60. The Prophet said: 'Each of you is a guardian and is responsible for those whom he is in charge of. So the ruler is a guardian and is responsible for his subjects; a man is the guardian of his family and is responsible for those under his care; a woman is a guardian of her husband's home and is responsible for those under her care; a servant is the guardian of his master's wealth and is responsible for that which he is entrusted with; and a man is the guardian of his father's wealth and is responsible fore what is under his care. So each one of you is a guardian and is responsible for what he is entrusted with.' (Sahîh Bukhârî, Sahîh Muslim)
61. Some of the Companions once asked the Prophet (peace be upon him) to pray to Allah to invoke His curse upon the pagans. He replied: “I was not sent to curse people but as a blessing. (Sahîh Muslim)
62. The Prophet said: 'Beware of envy, for envy destroys good deeds the way fire consumes firewood. (Sunan Abî Dawûd)
63. The Prophet said: 'There is to be no envy except with regard to two: A man whom Allah has given wealth which he strives to spend righteously, and a man to whom Allah has given the Wisdom (i.e. the Qur'aan) and he acts according to it and teaches it to others.' (Sahîh Bukhârî)
64. The Prophet said: 'There is no superiority for an Arab over a non-Arab, nor for a non-Arab over an Arab, nor for a fair-skinned person over a person with dark skin, nor for a dark-skinned person over a person with fair skin. Whoever is more pious and God-fearing is more deserving of honour.' (Musnad Ahmad)
65. The Prophet said: 'There is no vessel worse for the son of Adam to fill than his stomach. A few morsels are sufficient for him. If he is to consume more then a third is for his food, a third for his drink, and a third for air.' (Sunan At-Tirmidhî, Sunan Ibn Mâjah)
66. The Prophet said: 'Anyone who kills even a sparrow for no reason (should know that) it will cry alound to Allah on the Day of the Resurrection, saying, "O my Lord! So-and-so killed me just for fun; he killed me for no reason!" (Sunan An-Nasâ'î)
67. A'isha said: 'I was once riding a difficult (slow-moving) camel, so I kept hitting it. When the Prophet saw me, he said: 'Be gentle, for gentleness adorns everything in which it is found, and its absence leaves everything tainted.' (Musnad Ahmad)
68. The Prophet said: 'If a Muslim plants a seedling or cultivates a field, whenever a bird a human or an animal eats of it, it will be counted as a charity for him.' (Sahîh Muslim)

Women

1. The Prophet said: 'Anyone who cares for three daughter, gives them a good upbringing, marries them to good husbands and treats them well, they will enter paradise. The companions asked, "What about two daughters?" He said, "Even two daughters". They asked what about one daughter? He said "even one". (Sunan Abi Dawûd, Musnad Ahmad, Mustadarak Al-Hâkim)
2. A man came to Prophet Muhammad (P) asking “ O Messenger of God, who among the people is the most worthy of my good company?” The Prophet (P) said “Your mother”. The man said “then who else?” The Prophet (P) said “Your mother”. The man asked, “then who else?” The Prophet (P) replied “Your mother” When the man asked for the fourth time, only then did the Prophet (P) say, “Your father” ( Sahîh Bukhârî, Sahîh Muslim)
3. The Prophet said: 'Paradise lies at the feet of your mother' (Musnad Ahmad, Sunan An-Nasâ’i, Sunan Ibn Mâjah)
4. A'isha, the wife of the Prophet (peace be upon him), said: 'A poor woman came to me carrying her two daughters. I gave her three dates to eat. She gave each child a date, and raised the third to her own mouth to eat it. Her daughters asked her to give it to them, so she split the date that she had wanted to eat between them. I was impressed by what she had done, and told the Messenger of Allah P about it. He said, “Allah has decreed Paradise for her because of it”.' (Sahîh Muslim)
5. The Prophet said: 'Whoever has a daughter born to him, and he did not prefer his son over him, Allah will admit him to Paradise because of her.' (Mustadarak Al-Hâkim)
6. The Prophet said: 'There is no one who has three daughters, or three sisters, and he treats them well, but Allah will admit him/her to Paradise.' (Al-Adab Al-Mufrad of Bukhârî)
7. The Prophet said: 'There is no one among my ummah who has three daughters, or three sisters, and he supports them until they are grown up, but he will be with me in Paradise like this – and he held up his index and middle fingers together. (Mu'jam At-Tabarânî)
8. The Prophet said: 'The best of you is the one who is best to his wife. I am the best of you to his wife and I'm the best to my wife.' (Sunan At-Tirmidhî, Sunan Ad-Dârimî, Sahîh Ibn Hibbân)
9. The Prophet said: 'The most perfect of the believers in faith are the best of them in moral excellence, and the best of you are the kindest to their wives. (Sunan At-Tirmidhî)
10. The Prophet said: 'None but a noble man treats women in an honorable manner. And none but an ignoble treats women disgracefully' (Sunan At-Tirmidhî)
11. The Prophet said: 'I command you to be kind to women.' (Sahîh Bukhârî)
12. The Prophet said: 'The believer should not harbor hatred towards his wife. If he dislikes something in her, then surely he will be pleased with another quality in her.' (Sahîh Muslim)
13. The Prophet said to Abd-Allah ibn 'Amr ibn al-'Aas, who used to fast all day and pray all night: 'Do not do that. Fast and break your fast, pray qiyaam and sleep, for your body has a right over you, your eyes have a right over you, your wife has a right over you and your visitors have a right over you.' (Sahîh Bukhârî, Sahîh Muslim)
14. A'isha, the wife of the Prophet, was asked, "What did the Prophet used to do at home?" She answered, "he kept himself busy helping the members of his household, and when the time for prayer came, he would go out for the prayer". (Sahîh Bukhârî)
15. The Prophet said: 'Verily among the most evil of people with Allah in ranking on the Day of Resurrection is a man who goes to his wife and whose wife goes to him, and then he spreads her secrets.' (Sahîh Muslim, Musnad Ahmad, Sunan Abû Dawûd)
16. The Prophet said: 'Iblees (satan) sets up his throne on the water, then he sends out his raiding parties. The closest to him of these troops are the ones who cause the most tribulation (fitnah). One of them comes and says, 'I have done such and such.' He (Iblees) says, 'You have not done much.' Then another one comes and says, 'I never left him alone until I created trouble and caused division between him and his wife.' Then he (Iblees) comes close to him and says, 'How good you are!' (Sahîh Muslim)
17. The Prophet said: 'A woman may be married for four reasons: for her property, her status, her beauty, and her religion; so marry one who is religious, may you be blessed.' (Sahîh Bukhârî)
18. The Prophet said: 'If any man shows patience with his wife's bad temper, Allah will give him a reward similar to the reward of Ayyub (Job) for his patience, and if any woman shows patience with her husband's bad temper, Allah will give her a reward similar to the reward of Asiyah daughter of Muzahim, the wife of Pharoah (Cf. Qur'an 66:11).' (Al-Kabâ'ir of Adh-Dhahabî)
19. The Prophet said: 'Consult with women. Indeed, you have some rights over your women and they have some rights over you. It is their right on you that you provide for their food and clothing generously, and your right on them is that they do not let anyone whom you dislike in the house, walking upon your floor. (Sunan Ibn Mâjah, Sunan At-Tirmidhî)
20. Al-Khansaa’ bint Khidaam complained to the Prophet that her father wanted her to marry someone she didn’t want, saying “I do not wish to accept what my father has arranged.” The Prophet said, “Then this marriage is invalid, go and marry whomever you wish.” Al-Khansaa’ said, “I have actually accepted what my father has arranged, but I wanted women to know that fathers have no right in their daughter’s matters” (i.e. they have no right to force a marriage on them). (Fath Al-Barî Ibn Hajr, Sunan Ibn Mâjah)
21. The Prophet said: 'The most perfect believers are the best in conduct and best of you are those who are best to their wives.' (Musnad Ahmad)
22. The Prophet said: 'The life of this world is bountiful, and the best of the bounties of this world is the righteous woman.' (Sahîh Muslim)

format_quote Originally Posted by Thinker

If I were a Muslim I would be what has become known as an ‘extremist’ because I would have to accept that the Qu’ran is the word of God, that He didn’t make a mistake and that He didn’t need His words interpreting in some way other than how He said them.

You are not a Muslim, folks who enter Islam have the same character before and after, for instance abu baker (RA) didn't like being drunk, and that was with him before and after Islam. I don't find you to have a decent moral fiber and don't pursue work with high fidelity which is a trait of a Muslim, and as such I doubt you'd make a good Muslim.

I started my question here because there are Muslims who speak of other Muslims in terms of radical extremist and moderates and I wondered how Muslims defined those two types of Muslim.

There are no Muslims who speak in terms of radicals or moderates, those are terms your media churned out and you jumped right up on the band wagon, perhaps you are addressing the wrong people with your concerns?

Why, because it seems to me that the ‘west’ wants to support moderate Muslims and isolate and vilify extremist Muslims; I wondered what a moderate Muslim is?

Indeed, they'd like to turn Islam into a mere religion and not a way of life. Islam as discussed before is a complete constitution, a covenant a way of life. We are not to adopt 18th c. french constitution and visit a mosque on friday only. That wouldn't make for a 'moderate Muslim' it makes for a non-practicing fasiq!

It has been said here that for Muslims there are no extremists and moderates just good and bad Muslims; a good Muslim being the one who adheres strictly to Islamic teachings. We could argue about which interpretation by which scholar but whatever the interpretation the weight and sentiment of the Qu’ran and Islamic teaching promotes division and conflict between Muslims and non Muslims. So what is a moderate Muslim?

What interpretation by what scholar .. do you care to back up your opinion in lieu of merely dispensing with it?

Islam, the Religion of Ease

Allah, subhanahu wata'aala, is the creator of mankind and therefore knows his nature more intricately than mankind himself. Allah, subhanahu wata'aala, has therefore chosen for us a religion best suited to the nature of mankind, a religion that goes neither to the extremes of hardship nor of laxity, but instead provides a middle path; in other words, a religion of ease. Allah, subhanahu wata'aala, said;

"Allah intends for you ease, and does not want to make things difficult for you" [2:185]; and "Allah does not want to place you in difficulty" [5:6].

Such easiness is well explained in the hadeeth reported by Abu Hurairah, radiya Allahu 'anhu, that the Prophet, salla Allaahu 'alaihe wasallam, said, "Religion is easy..." [Bukhari], he also said; "The best of your religion, is the easiest." [Ahmad]

The easiness of this religion was put into practise by the best of humanity, the one who came to deliver the message, as Allah, subhanahu wata'aala, said;

"Verily there has come unto you a Messenger from amongst yourselves, it grieves him that you should suffer any difficulty, he is anxious for you, for the believers he is full of pity and merciful" [10:128]

This understanding is clarified in a hadeeth in which the Prophet, salla Allaahu 'alaihe wasallam, said; "… Allah did not send me to be harsh, or cause harm, but He sent me to teach and make things easy" [Muslim]. This understanding is further implemented by the mercy sent to mankind, Muhammed, salla Allaahu 'alaihe wasallam, in the hadeeth reported by his noble and pure wife, 'Aishah, radiya Allahu 'anhu, who said; "Whenever the Prophet, salla Allaahu 'alaihe wasallam, has a choice between two matters, he would choose the easiest, unless it is sinful (act)" [Bukhari].

Many hadeeths have been reported on the matter of easiness: "Allah likes for this nation ease and hates for it hardship and adversity." [Tabaraani].

"We have been given a privilege over other nations... .we have been given verses that no one else has been given, the last two verses of Surah Baqarah(chapter 2)"Our Lord! Punish us not if we forget or fall into error. Our Lord! Lay not on us a burden greater than we have strength to bear" After each statement, Allah responded by saying, "I did, I did, I did"" [Muslim].

To further emphasise this understanding to his companions, when once a Bedouin stood up and started urinating in the mosque, the people caught him; but he, salla Allaahu 'alaihe wasallam, ordered them to leave him and to pour a bucket or a tumbler of water over the place where he had urinated. The Prophet, salla Allaahu 'alaihe wasallam, then said, "You have been sent to make things easy and not to make them difficult" [Bukhari].

An example that illustrates this point is Salah, an act so important and vital to Islam that the Prophet, salla Allaahu 'alaihe wasallam, said; "Between a person and disbelief is discarding prayer" [Muslim]. He also warned against leaving salah, even at the time of his death, in his very last breaths before departing from this world.

Yet in this worship Allah has also prescribed easiness. At first, the number of prayers was fifty in number, but they were reduced several times until they were five. Then it was proclaimed 'O Muhammad, the order is not changed. These five are (equal in reward) to fifty' [Tirmidhi].

Causes of hardship
If Islam is a religion of ease, why do we find many Muslims not practising it? Why do we find them doing very little of what they ought to be doing, and why do even those who practise their religion sometimes find it difficult?

There are reasons why the practice of Islam can becomes hard:

1) Lack of piety
When we speak about Islam being easy we are, in reality, speaking about the easiness of its acts of worship and morals. Religion by definition means commitment and an obligation to a master. Therefore, being a religious person means to be always aware that we are slaves to a master, Allah, subhanahu wata'aala.

From here we see the mistake of those who want 'ease' to mean 'doing nothing', just saying "I am a Muslim", committing themselves to nothing. It is obvious that they want it to be easy, but what exactly do they want? They want an easy life, a life without any religious practices.

The idle belief of 'existing only to live' has long ago been negated by Allah, subhanahu wata'aala. He said:

"Do you think you have been created for nothing and that you will not be resurrected and brought back to Allah again!" [23:115]. He also said: "Thinks man that he is left aimless?" [75:86].

Islam is easy to practice; but those who do not understand the reasons behind their existence, who do not understand the concepts of religion, but meanwhile are striving to secure themselves in this life; then surely they will find its practices difficult.

The easiness of Islam is felt in all of its commandments. Some people find this or that commandment hard to follow but this does not mean that the command is in itself hard; often it is the person who is the cause.

For example Salah, it is an easy act of worship, as Allah, subhanahu wata'aala, has made clear:

"And seek help in patience and prayer and truly it is (prayer) extremely heavy and hard except for Al-Khashi'un (i.e. true submitting)" [2;45].

Prayer is an easy act of worship except, of course, for those who do not truly submit to their Lord; they will find it toilsome.

Why do they find it so? The answer is that it is not the prayer that is difficult, but it is the hearts of these people which have changed from good to bad, as Allah, subhanahu wata'aala, mentioned:

"Verily, the hypocrites seek to deceive Allah, but it is He Who deceives them. And when they stand up to pray, they stand with laziness …" [4;142]; in another verse He subhanahu wata'aala, said; "And that they came not to prayer except in a lazy state …" [9;54].

2) Ignorance
The rules of Islam did not come as mere do's and don'ts. Each obligation has wisdom and motivation behind it. It should make no difference to us if the wisdom for that particular practice is known or not, because if it is not known to us today, then if Allah wills, He will reveal it to future generations. What is primarily expected from us is to fully submit and implement every command.

For example, the giving of charity, which apparently decreases the wealth of the giver. Islam did not say "Pay charity, pay charity", as this would not motivate people and therefore make it difficult to act upon. Instead Allah says;

"Would you not like to give a loan to your Lord, and this loan will be paid back to you multiplied and you will be rewarded for it." [2:245]

The Prophet, salla Allaahu 'alaihe wasallam, said; "Verily, wealth does not decrease because of charity." [Muslim]

It seems Muslims often ask why this act or matter is Halaal or Haraam. With such an attitude they will never achieve their goal, because behind each injunction there is an aspect of wisdom. Without understanding this, practising Islam becomes a heavy burden. With strong belief, we do not even have to ask whether this or that is halaal or Haraam, but rather if it pleases Allah. Therefore we should take the rules seeking the pleasure of Allah subhanahu wata'aala,. If pleasing Allah subhanahu wata'aala, is, always, our aim, then undoubtedly the practice of religion becomes easy, no matter what apparent hardships we may encounter.

3) Inappropriate environment
It is true that sometimes we find it difficult to practise the religion, even those who are committed to it!

The reason behind this is that we are practising our religion in an non-religious environment. Islam is not meant to be practised while being immersed in a Kufr (disbelieving) society. Its practice will indeed be difficult in such an environment. Therefore, the difficulty cannot be blamed upon Islam as a religion, but rather on the circumstances of the society.

Returning to our example of prayer, we see that prayer by itself is easy, but if you have to stand alone to pray amongst non-Muslims, all of them watching you, it will suddenly become difficult. The obvious conclusion is that the prayer in itself is not difficult, but the environment has made it difficult.

Another example is that of a woman who wears hijaab and is happy to cover herself. If this were an Islamic society, it would have been difficult for her not to be covered, or for a man not to respond to the call to prayer and pray in a mosque. Thus difficulty is not the nature of our religion, but we are trying to be pure in a decadent and immoral environment. These realities are not unknown to Islam, because the Prophet, salla Allaahu 'alaihe wasallam, already warned his companions some fourteen centuries ago, and by that has also warned us by saying, as reported by Abu Tha'laba, radiya Allahu 'anhu, "… Ahead of you are days which will require endurance (in the practice of religion), in which he who shows endurance will be like him who grasps live coals. The one who acts rightly during that period will have the reward of fifty men who act as he does."

The hearers said, "The reward of fifty of them, Messenger of Allah!" He replied, "The reward of fifty of you." A companion said about this difference in reward, "Now you find people helping you to do good deeds, but then they will not find things to help them but they will find things to resist and oppose them." [Tirmidhi].

So Islam is the religion of ease. If we accept it as a religion to start with, then we should take it with its concepts, and practise it in a pure environment (as opposed to a corrupted and decadent one); it will then become an easier religion to practise.

As it is not possible to have a 100% pure society, we have to strive to achieve this by being surrounded by good Muslims. In doing this, the religion will loosen the burdens around it.

The easiness of Islam has even been testified by the enemies of Islam. This was apparent in the statement of the Jews at the time of the Prophet, salla Allaahu 'alaihe wasallam, when a man and a woman from amongst them committed fornication. Some of them said to the others: "Let us go to this Prophet, for he has been sent with an easy law …". [Abu Dawood].

So may Allah, subhanahu wata'aala, make us amongst those who

"Listen to the word and follow the best thereof, whom Allah has guided and those are men of understanding." [39;18].

Islam teaches that Muslims must physically look different to non Muslims, they must not have non Muslim friends, they must not live amongst non Muslims, they must not even live on the land of non Muslims.

That isn't true at all.. How dishonest that you should proclaim to be read and 'objective' and merely parroting the same stupid sentiment of the most ignorant of orientalists akin to the moongod crowd!

Islam does not preach that we should all love each other, it teaches that anyone who is not Muslim is the enemy. Count the number of words in the Qu’ran that speak of conflict,

Again not true at all, perhaps you'd have been better reading a few snippets that I have enclosed in the previous page before opening your stinking bazoo to spill such excrement?

violence and hate and then count the number of words that speak about love and peace; then examine the verses that speak about peace and look at the context. That isn’t me being nasty or judgmental that is what the text says and you can “ah but” “ah but” all you like, that is fact.

yes let's count

here we go
Results 1 - 20 of 113 for love‎ (0.054 seconds)

http://quran.com/search?q=love

Results 1 - 20 of 43 for hate‎ (0.01 seconds)

http://quran.com/search?q=hate

again how is that 'objective' education working out for you?

The Muslim you call a ‘good’ Muslim is the Muslim who accepts Islam for what it is and adheres to the script. The ‘bad’ Muslim is the Muslim who accepts Islam for what it is and decides that he/she is going to adhere to the script. Then there’s a whole bunch of Muslims who are in denial, they look towards the ‘scholars’ for reasons why the text doesn’t actually mean what it says; they search for excuses. I started my journey searching for reasons why and how the script had been misinterpreted, I’ve ended up having to accept that if it walks with a waggle, has feathers and quacks it’s a duck. Consequently If I were a Muslim I would accept those words as Gods word and in Muslim terminology I would submit and that would make me an extremist.

All we can say is that Thank God you are not a Muslim, for you are a poor excuse for a human being and I'd hate to think you'd have to think of what it would be like for you to exercise some decent human qualities, those that make a Muslim!


all the best

Thinker, either really respond to my article or stop pretending to do so. Discussion of a few opening sentences is not enough. They were almost a superfluous preliminary. Or could it be that the reason you glossed over the majority and main points of my article is that it proves you wrong?

what is Thinker trying to do exactly - is he promoting falsehood? thats what it looks like from his last post.

and this guy claims hes not bias? I've got news for you everyone is bias - your a prime example of it.

Just to tell you its not the muslims who created the labels of moderate and extremism - somebody else did like the people who benefit from applying these labels - maybe finding them and asking them the questions would be more productive.

Salaam

format_quote Originally Posted by Zafran

what is Thinker trying to do exactly - is he promoting falsehood? thats what it looks like from his last post.

and this guy claims hes not bias? I've got news for you everyone is bias - your a prime example of it.

Just to tell you its not the muslims who created the labels of moderate and extremism - somebody else did like the people who benefit from applying these labels - maybe finding them and asking them the questions would be more productive.

He's trolling.

Thinker, if you look at his posts is little more than a conventional Orientalist.

My replies are in red color.

format_quote Originally Posted by THINKER

Yahya Sulaiman In post number 23 of this thread gave a link to the web page http://www.xyapx.com/ziggyzag/doesislampromotepeace.php which is an article purporting to support the suggestion that Islam is a religion of peace.

The article starts with examples (presumably the best examples) of verses from the Qu’ran that support the suggestion that Islam is a religion of peace.

See here below the examples given. Look at those examples and then look at what is said in the accompanying verses.

Example 1. Making peace between people, according to verse 2:224, is a virtue

This series of verses starts with the assurance that fighting during the holy months is permitted as long as the fighting is against non believers. The seven verses later after giving guidance on marriage and sex, verse 224 says that they Muslims must not use his name as an excuse for not making peace between ‘people’. After specifically calling for the slaughter of non believers For your information, the verse said slaughter is graver than fighting in the Holy months. Which means that if nonbelievers are slaughtering and oppressing muslims it is permitted to fight them even in the Holy months. It didn't say that muslims should slaughter nonbelievers for no reason. seven verses earlier I think it’s a bit of a stretch to suggest that the mention of peace between ‘people’ included no believers. (See below) Are you blind? Can't you see that it doesn't say anything about nonbelievers but about those who cause oppression and slaughter, those who prevent people from the Path of God.

217. They ask thee concerning fighting In the Prohibited Month. Say: "Fighting therein Is a grave (offence); but graver is it In the sight of God To prevent access To the path of God, To deny Him, To prevent access To the Sacred Mosque, And drive out its members. Tumult and oppression Are worse than slaughter. Nor will they cease fighting you until They turn you back From your faith If they can. And if any of you Turn back from their faith And die in unbelief, Their works will bear no fruit In this life And in the Hereafter; They will beCompanions of the Fire And will abide therein.

218. Those who believed and those who suffered exile and fought In the path of God, They have the hope Of the Mercy of God; And God is Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful.
219. They ask thee Concerning wine and gambling . . . .
220. They ask thee Concerning orphans. . . .
221. Do not marry Unbelieving women (idolaters), Until they believe: . . .
222. They ask thee Concerning women's courses; . . .
223. Your wives are as a tilth unto you; . . .
224. And make not God's (name) an excuse in your oaths against doing good, or acting rightly, or making peace between persons; For God is One Who heareth and knoweth All things.

Example 2. The Koran is meant (amongst other things) to bring inner peace, according to verse 20:47. Can a murderer feel peace of mind? It's a natural thing for those who follow the true path have peace of mind and those who don't don't have it. This is because the mind knows they aren't on the correct path so feels restless. the reason is that deep down they know they will be questioned about their faith and actions and punished for disobeying. Do you feel inner peace or are you restless to find the truth because deep down you feel that you are wrong? Once you had written what you would say to God if He asked you why you hadn't used your intellect to find the true path, which means that your inner self is bothering you about what you would do if you were resurrected and God questioned you. This shows that God exists and there will be Life after death and your mind feels that you are wrong to deny these things and denying them will get you in trouble in the after-life. We muslims don't wonder whether we are on the right path or not because our minds know that we are.

Peace indeed but only to those who ‘follow guidance’ and a penalty awaits all those who turn away from Islam! (See below) These verses are about Prophet Moses and Pharoah.

47. "So go ye both to him, And say, "Verily we are Apostles sent by thy Lord:
Send forth, therefore, the Children Of Israel with us, and Afflict them not:
With a Sign, indeed, Have we come from thy Lord! And Peace to all who follow guidance!
48. "Verily it has been revealed To us that the Penalty (Awaits) those who reject
And turn away (from Islam)."


Example 3 Making peace with an unbeliever is a mark of a true believer according to 25:63.

This series of verses speaks about how God created everything and how Muslims should not listen to the evil unbelievers and verse 25:63 suggests it would be gracious when addressed by the ignorant to say “Peace”. This verse, in my opinion, is the nearest Islam gets to offering Peace to the evil unbeliever who shouldn’t be listened to! (see below)

52. Therefore listen not To the Unbelievers, but strive against them with the utmost
Strenuousness, with the (Qur-an).
You should quote the verses before this verse so we can see who the Quran is talking about.
55. Yet do they worship, Besides God, things that can Neither profit them nor Harm them: and the Misbeliever Is a helper (of Evil), Against his own Lord!
62. And it is He Who made The Night and the Day To follow each other: For such as have the will To celebrate His praises Or to show their gratitude.
63. And the servants of (God) Most Gracious are those Who walk on the earth
In humility, and when the ignorant Address them, they say, "Peace!";

Insha-Allah more coming later.

You know, for someone who allegedly doesn't "cut and paste volumes of diatribe", your diatribes do at the very least sound so much like the typical cut-and-paste jobs, refuted nineteen hundred times over on this and other boards (much of it already in this very thread), that we're used to seeing as to make no practical difference. You don't act like someone who's here to learn. What is it you even want to learn?