" Islam an Arab religion” Do you agree or disagree?

format_quote Originally Posted by ardianto

Why people changing their names to Arab ones ?.

Do you mean Muslim convert ?. Because they like it.
Using Arab name is not obligated. Muslim converts can use their old name, or use Arab name, or use non-Arabic new name.
In example, there is a Muslim who often gives da'wah in Indonesian television. He was Scottish, and after he converted to Islam he use an Indonesian name, Wahyu Soeparno Putro. Actually, no one forced him to change his name, but he decided to change his name into Indonesian name because he love Indonesia.

Why people using Arab dress ?
Muslims have a right to wear Arab dress or wear other culture dress. I never worn Arab dress. South East Asian Muslim have their own Islamic dress that
different than Arab dress.

Speak and learn Arabic language ?
Many Muslims speak in non-Arabic language.
Learn Arabic language is not obligated, Muslim are allowed to learn other language without learn Arabic. And if I want to learn Arabic language that because I want to know what my Arab brothers say.

Every non-Arab Muslim has a right, adopt Arab culture or not adopt Arab culture. I decided to not adopt Arab culture because Islam is not only for Arab.

I think if I may say so you have not understood what was asked or what I said. The thread is about perceptions, is Islam perceived as an Arab religion. That has nothing whatever to do with personal choice and you or any one may dress more or less as they please - although in many Muslim countries there would at least for women be little choice.

God could one supposes have caused revelations to occur anywhere to any people. So suppose there had been revelations to North American Indians instead of to the Arabs do you suppose that Muslim and Muslim converts would be naming themselves and their children Sitting Bull, Moose, Big Foot or Hiawatha and wearing North American Indian dress and feathers?

If Prophet Mohammed were born to day in say New York how would he dress and what would be his likely name?

format_quote Originally Posted by Hugo

I think if I may say so you have not understood what was asked or what I said. The thread is about perceptions, is Islam perceived as an Arab religion. That has nothing whatever to do with personal choice and you or any one may dress more or less as they please - although in many Muslim countries there would at least for women be little choice.

Muslims are suggested to follow prophet Muhammad Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasalam. But some Muslims thinking it including follow his dress, how he ate, etc. Because he was lived in Arab culture, these Muslims also adopt Arab culture.
Muslims are also suggested to give names of Sahabaah to their children. And because Sahabaah were Arabs, of course those names are Arab names.
This causing a wrong perception, Islam is Arab religion.

God could one supposes have caused revelations to occur anywhere to any people. So suppose there had been revelations to North American Indians instead of to the Arabs do you suppose that Muslim and Muslim converts would be naming themselves and their children Sitting Bull, Moose, Big Foot or Hiawatha and wearing North American Indian dress and feathers?

Wearing Native American dress and feather is not a problem for Muslim men, but Muslim women need a little modification to their native American dress and must covering their hairs with hijab.
Native Americans can named their children with their typically names, but need a little change in their tradition. Usually, a moment after their children born, a Native American dad looked around and named their children like something that they saw first. But now, they can named their children like something that they saw second or third. This is for prevent them give a strange name like Smiling Dog, or Wrecked Car.

If Prophet Mohammed were born to day in say New York how would he dress and what would be his likely name?

This is IF, okay ?
He dressed like New Yorker, but I can't imagine his name.

format_quote Originally Posted by Guestfellow

I don't understand why changing a name would be an insult.

Yeah, there are plenty of other examples of people changing names from a whole host of cultures and religions:

Countless people change their name when they immigrate from one country to another in order to "fit" in their new land.

Abram, Sarai, and Jacob all had their names changed by God as an expression of their encounter with God.

Catholics today still receive a new name at the time of their confirmation. I had high school classmates who chose to use them as their new everyday name in place of the one they had been given at their birth and christening -- all with the blessing of their parents.

My son has gone through so many name changes (none to avoid the law or anyone), that sometimes I have actually had trouble keeping up with its present rendering.

And of course in Anglo cultures it is common for women to change their surname upon marriage, but in Hispanic cultures one keeps one's surname without changing it at the time of marriage. Some of my Hispanic friends think that for a woman to change her name is an insult to the family she was born in, but of course I don't think it is meant that way at all.

So, Hugo, just because you (or I) don't understand why a Muslim convert would want to change his name, that doesn't mean that we should project that it would necessarily be received as an insult to one's parents or grandparents.

format_quote Originally Posted by Grace Seeker

Yeah, there are plenty of other examples of people changing names from a whole host of cultures and religions:

Countless people change their name when they immigrate from one country to another in order to "fit" in their new land.

Abram, Sarai, and Jacob all had their names changed by God as an expression of their encounter with God.

Catholics today still receive a new name at the time of their confirmation. I had high school classmates who chose to use them as their new everyday name in place of the one they had been given at their birth and christening -- all with the blessing of their parents.

My son has gone through so many name changes (none to avoid the law or anyone), that sometimes I have actually had trouble keeping up with its present rendering.

And of course in Anglo cultures it is common for women to change their surname upon marriage, but in Hispanic cultures one keeps one's surname without changing it at the time of marriage. Some of my Hispanic friends think that for a woman to change her name is an insult to the family she was born in, but of course I don't think it is meant that way at all.

So, Hugo, just because you (or I) don't understand why a Muslim convert would want to change his name, that doesn't mean that we should project that it would necessarily be received as an insult to one's parents or grandparents.

You may be right but my words were might be regarded as an insult to the family name.

format_quote Originally Posted by Hugo

You may be right but my words were might be regarded as an insult to the family name.

If I am to understand your use of the word "might" means that you weren't really saying that the family would be insulted, shall I also understand your use of the word "may" in saying that I "may be right" means that you really aren't saying that I am right?

Islam isn't an arab religion..I'm Pakistani and I'm Muslim and follow Islam. I even made a website (http://www.OurIslamic.WebNode.com) to honor Islam and Allah (SWT)

format_quote Originally Posted by Guestfellow

I don't understand why changing a name would be an insult.

When I became muslim , people gived me a new name , Mustapha .

It is not an insult for my mother and she is calling me "Philippe" . In fact , I did'nt change my name , but Mustapha is a new name .

This is not an obligation in Islam to change the name , Arabic or not .

Iskander is a muslim name but not an Arabic name .

Be happy with Islam .

format_quote Originally Posted by Grace Seeker

If I am to understand your use of the word "might" means that you weren't really saying that the family would be insulted, shall I also understand your use of the word "may" in saying that I "may be right" means that you really aren't saying that I am right?

Does ".. aren't ...I am right" - you are wrong?

I just offered an opinion and I can be as wrong or right as anyone else. Thomas Paine once said:

A long habit of not thinking a thing wrong gives it the superficial appearance of being right, and raises at first a formidable outcry in defense of custom. But the tumult soon subsides. Time makes more converts than reason.

If Prophet Mohammed were born to day in say New York how would he dress and what would be his likely name?

New York didn't use to exist back then.Islam isn't perceived as an Arab religion but a lot of Muslims follow the Sunnah,traditions of the Prophet Mohammad(PBUH).