Things in Islam I am curious about...

[MustafaMc]

Originally posted by: cooloonka

hello all. i have thought of a new question for the muslims. not so much for the christians. simple answers are best here.

I will answer according to my understanding.

how often should religious/practicing/devout/sincere (not sure what the correct word is for this) muslims go to mosque?

Ideally 5 times a day for prayer, but my observation has been about 10% of Muslim men go for one or more prayers in the masjid per day. Basically all Muslim men go for congregational prayer for noon prayer on Fridays. Women are not required to pray in the masjid, but are not forbidden to either.

what goes on inside the mosque?

Call to prayer, perform required ritual prayer together, perform optional prayers alone, read Quran.

is there any kind of ceremony or ritual?

Yes, ritual prayer with recitation of Quranic verses in Arabic and various postures - standing, bowing, prostrating, sitting. We believe that we pray according to how Muhammad (pbuh) and his companions prayed.

is the imam the leader and speaker?

For daily prayers, the one most knowledgable of the Quran leads the prayer. On Friday, the imam gives a short sermon and then leads the congregational prayer.

all catholic priests believe the same things and preach the one set of beliefs to the church (i.e. abortion is wrong, no sec before marriage, stealing is a forgivable sin but one must confess to be forgiven,etc...) do all imams believe the same things about islam? (i have seen so many contradictions in what i read from imam's web sites about rules of islam etc.)

I don't have a good answer for this, but to my knowledge all Muslims have the same basic beliefs.

i only know about 2 sects of islam shia and sunni. are there more?
what are the main differences between the two?

The Sunni is the largest group and they strive to follow the "sunnah" or traditions of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and his companions (may Allah be pleased with them) as the application of faith. The first source for religous knowledge is the Quran and the second is the collection of "hadith" that are written accounts of what the Prophet (pbuh) did and said. The Shia hold that the Prophet's cousin and son-in-law, Ali, should have been the first successor to Muhammad (pbuh). The primary difference is related to the political structure. Even though they have the same Quran, they have different collections of hadith. The Sufi is another group that is more mystical and less ritualistic than the other two.

d oyou think the radicalism presented by some individuals has scared most into asking questions about islam so they just keep believing what they are told?

Not sure of the question.

so does islam present itself in a way that promotes spreading the "good news about islam" and how it is a great and peaceful faith and how to get to heaven for non believers? do muslims go on pilgrimages to try and convert jews and christians? is that not a form of charity?

Muslims have a responsibility to witness to others the Oneness of God to unbelievers. No, we typically don't go on evangelical missions even though this was practiced early on. Early Muslim traders to Malaysia/Indonesia introduced Islam in this area through their fair and honest business relations.

according to islam is every human being God's child and deserves the opportunity to information that will lead to their eternal salavation/peace?

I wouldn't call us His children rather His created beings and those who obey Him are His servants. Yes, all should have the opportunity to learn about Islam.

Those more knowledgable of Islam please correct any mistakes that I made.

 

[- Qatada -]

:salamext:


Most of the questions have already been answered in the original thread:

http://www.islamicboard.com/discove...ut-islam-christians-not-debates-opinions.html

 

[skhalid]

It depends on the type of music...
If I refer to the arrival of the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.) in Madina..that is not considered in the category of music...to be precise it is called 'kaswidah'...now I don't really know if that is the arabic term for it..but it is similar to music due to having instruments used. I'll find out more and get back to you if I can...jazakallah

 

[Grace Seeker]

:salamext:


Most of the questions have already been answered in the original thread:

http://www.islamicboard.com/discove...ut-islam-christians-not-debates-opinions.html

Sorry, I didn't find this in that thread, but in another where Muslims were asking questions of Christians about Christianity. I thought it was out of place there and so I reposted and linked them here. It appears they have been posted many times in many places.

 

[- Qatada -]

Sorry, I didn't find this in that thread, but in another where Muslims were asking questions of Christians about Christianity. I thought it was out of place there and so I reposted and linked them here. It appears they have been posted many times in many places.

lol its ok then

 

[Hemoo]

concerning the story of the arrival of the prophet (P.B.U.H) to madina, this story is not authintic it is a false Hadith.

hadith scholars say that it is a fabricated story.

 

[Malaikah]

^Which hadith? :?

 

[Hemoo]

^Which hadith? :?

sorry i didn't clarify,

i was talking about the hadith that says that when the prophet came to Madina ,the people came to him saying "tala3 albadro alyna , etc"

this is a weak hadith

the scholars say that the prophet did not reach the madina from the direction of the Thanyat as it is mentioned in this weak hadith.


Note: jazaka Allah Khayran "Fi_Sanilillah" for correcting what i said, you are right, Sheikh Alalbany said it is a weak Hadith. but i read before that it is also has a wrong context (MATN)

 

[- Qatada -]

sorry i didn't clarify,

i was talking about the hadith that says that when the prophet came to Madina ,the people came to him saying "tala3 albadro alyna , etc"

this is a false story

the scholars say that the prophet did not reach the madina from the direction of the Thanyat as it is mentioned in this false hadith.

:salamext:


No, no akhi. I think it isn't fabricated, the scholars only say that the hadith is quite weak, however scholars like Ibn ul Qayyim say that it may have occured after the battle of Tabuk since the lyrics suit the direction of Al-Shaam [Greater Syria] because Al-Shaam is up North of Medina whereas Makkah is south of Medina. And Allaah knows best.

 

[Kashnowe]

hi all thanks for the answers. i acutally posted this i nthe wrong thread then i quickly realized that and opened a new thread with what i thought ot be the appropriate title. someone else put it here too. you guys are quick!

i'm glad its here too tho i got some different answers from the other tread.

and i thought of a new question.......................

Anybody who believes & testify that God is only one & Muhammed (p) is the Last Prophet is considered as a Muslim.

what is a person who testifies and believes the God is one and only one but is not so sure about Muhammed? (or Jesus)

still a Muslim? definately not a Christian. a Jew?

hrmmmm.........do you think they's still get into heaven?

 

[Malaikah]

what is a person who testifies and believes the God is one and only one but is not so sure about Muhammed? (or Jesus)

still a Muslim?

No, not a Muslim. A Muslim can not have any doubt about the Prophethood of Muhammad pbuh.

hrmmmm.........do you think they's still get into heaven?

Depends on when and where the person lived, his/her circumstances, how much he knew about Islam, etc.

A person who had never heard of Islam in his/her life but was a monotheist would seem to have a good chance, whereas a person who studied Islam in depth, understood it and rejected it does not stand a good chance at all.

But it is not for us to say who this applies to, only Allah swt knows a persons situation properly and it is up to Him to judge the person. And He is the best of judges...

Allah knows best.

 

[Muslim Woman]

Salaam/peace;

No, not a Muslim. A Muslim can not have any doubt about the Prophethood of Muhammad pbuh.

--also Jesus (pbuh )



It's a must for us to believe in all Prophets (pbut ) mentioned in Quran.

Depends on when and where the person lived, his/her circumstances, how much he knew about Islam, etc.

---in another forum , i read an interesting hadith.

Many non-Muslims will claim on the Last Day that if they knew about Islam , surely they would have become Muslims. Then Allah will order them to jump in to hell fire. Those who will obey Allah will enter paradise .

Those who refuse will be told that if u don't obey my order that u received directly from me , how can u claim that in the earth , u surely would have listened ? Then they will be thrown in to fire.

But it is not for us to say who this applies to, only Allah swt knows ...

yes , let's pray for us all that we can see each other in heaven . So that no more talk via on-line

 

[Kashnowe]

wow. i can see why there is such a ferocious debate between religions. getting into heaven is serious stuff.

another thing.............

i've read that mulsim men can marry non muslim women and muslim women can not marry non muslim men. is this true? is there a reason why?

again i am confused as to why a muslim man would want to marry a christian or a jew if he knew that they would not one day be in heaven togethrer. doesn't that make raising the children very difficult?

i also read that children are to take on the religion of their mothers. but that doesn't sound correct to me because each person has their own free will. and when a child is mature enough he/she will have the sense to choose for himself what is true and false.

i know of many chrisitans who marry jews and its equally strange to me.

i'm not saying i am against it. (my son's father is muslim) its just one of those idiosyncrasies.

 

[Uthman]

Greetings cooloonka,

i've read that mulsim men can marry non muslim women and muslim women can not marry non muslim men. is this true? is there a reason why?

To my understanding, it is for the protection of the woman's religion. You may be aware that in Islam, the woman must be obedient to her husband because it is his duty to provide for her. Now, if a woman marries a non Muslim man, you can see where it could get a little difficult...

Again, this is my understanding.

Regards

 

[Kashnowe]

i'm going over the rest of the thread and i saw this

One of the general rule of fiqh shariah is that everything that leads to haraam is haraam (if u read much about islaam u should know that)
Music leads to inter mingling of man and woman
e.g music leads to dancing .when u dance with a girl u should touch her and thsi also leads to zinaa/adultery which may lead to baby born without marriage and lead to....... the chain is long .I Hope my explanation is not difficult

i highly disagree with the validity of this because each person has free will and concious to know right from wrong. so nothing can lead to another unless you conciously allow it to. that is saying that people are doomed by their own temptations and that is not true. a man could be surrounded by naked women dancing around him and have the will power to not once touch them or even glace in their direction if he chose to. a poor person could be left alone in a store full of expensive things and not steal because they chose not to. because they know it is wrong. this is a problem i have with understanding islam . it says there is free will then says wait no! you are doomed by temtation..............

so how can music lead to adultery? or sex?

my neice is one year old. whenever she hears the slightest tune or music from anywhere she starts to dance. she never saw dancing as my family doesn't dance. she is a complete innocent soul who felt from within that urge to move her body with the music. to her it was fun and pleasing

music brings happiness. i think that is a glorious purpose. one to rejoice. the joy of music is so innocent and pure and to tag on a sexual connotation is wrong. one year olds are in no way sexual beings.


i understand how most music nowadays is vile and disgusting but then again their is much innocent music out there. there are songs about love bweteen a man and a woman. there are songs about loving God. i feel that is something to rejoice and sing about. it is beautiful. rejoicing about life is a praise to God. God gave us life and when we sing we are thanking God.

 

[Uthman]

Music is a very controversial issue amongst the scholars of Islam. There is 'Ijma (consensus) that all music with profane lyrics or that incites evil or promotes immorality is Haraam (unlawful)

There is, however, Ikhtilaf (difference of opinion) over the validity of using instruments. There are verses from the Qur'an which implicitly say that this is Haraam. There are several ahadith which explicitly say that this is Haraam.

The real issue is over the interpretation of the verses from the Qur'an and the argument over the authenticity of the ahadith.

It is not for us Muslims on this board to debate over the issue as we are not scholars. To do so would be violating the forum rules.

And Allah knows best

 

[Muslim Woman]

Salaam/peace;

.....

i've read that mulsim men can marry non muslim women and muslim women can not marry non muslim men. is this true?

yes.Muslim men are allowed to marry Jew & Christian women as they are people of the holy books. Condition is kids will be raised as Muslims


kids get father's name ......so , if a Muslim woman marry a non-Muslim , kids will be raised as non-Muslims. Also , non-Muslims don't respect the Last Prophet (p) but Muslims respect the Biblical Prophets (pbut ).

So , a Jewish & Christian woman will never heard any bad things about their respected Prophets but it won't happen with the Muslim lady. She will heard that Muhammed (p) is a fake one & her kids will hear these offensive comments since childhood .

Anyway , the main reason is God decided these things.

is there a reason why?

---because God says so in holy Quran

again i am confused as to why a muslim man would want to marry a christian or a jew if he knew that they would not one day be in heaven togethrer.

ummmm , may be one day wife will embrace Islam & there is a chance that they will see each other in heaven

doesn't that make raising the children very difficult?

yes. specially in the west , if mom is a non-Muslim , it must be very hard for a Muslim dad to give kids proper Islamic teaching.

That's why some scholars say , it's allowed but not encouraged to do so .

i also read that children are to take on the religion of their mothers.

nope.

but that doesn't sound correct to me because each person has their own free will. and when a child is mature enough he/she will have the sense to choose for himself what is true and false.

-it's duty of a parent to teach kids about the Truth .

So , kids must know about Islam since childhood. If we don't teach them about religion , they may become athiest or won't be practising Muslims.

i know of many chrisitans who marry jews and its equally strange to me.

--I found it strange that Jews don't respect Jesus (p) & Mother Mary (p) , still Christians feel so close with them . Muslims love & respect both mom & son , still Christians don't like us much ---- ( those who do , pl. exclude urselves & this is not to hurt anyone's feelings......i just always found it very strange )

 

[Grace Seeker]

No, not a Muslim. A Muslim can not have any doubt about the Prophethood of Muhammad pbuh.

But I have heard others here say that Ibrahim was, in their view, a Muslim?

Depends on when and where the person lived, his/her circumstances, how much he knew about Islam, etc.

A person who had never heard of Islam in his/her life but was a monotheist would seem to have a good chance, whereas a person who studied Islam in depth, understood it and rejected it does not stand a good chance at all.

Guess I'm in big trouble then. I think I know too much to get in under the ignorance rule. And while so many principles make sense, the Quran's denial of the truth (in my opinion the truth) of Jesus' crucifixion, means that I cannot ever accept it's teaching or that the one who said it was from God was a true prophet.

But it is not for us to say who this applies to, only Allah swt knows a persons situation properly and it is up to Him to judge the person. And He is the best of judges...

Allah knows best.

I find myself praying in the same way you expressed here for my Muslim friends to ultimately receive God's mercy, that I trust those Muslims who care for my eternal soul probably pray for me.

 

[syilla]

I find myself praying in the same way you expressed here for my Muslim friends to ultimately receive God's mercy, that I trust those Muslims who care for my eternal soul probably pray for me.

lol...

i shall pray...one day...InshaAllah...you'll be a muslim...

Everyone...says ameen...

 

[Grace Seeker]

lol...

i shall pray...one day...InshaAllah...you'll be a muslim...

Everyone...says ameen...

And I that one day, InshaAllah, you will be a Christian. Amen.