What are somethings that non-believers of Islam should know?

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When we are ignorant-ahem-uneducated about something, we tend to be disrespectful to it-Islam is no exception.
What are some general things that non-believers should know, in order to further our understanding of the religion?

[SUB]Sorry if a similar post was already written. Please post a link [/SUB][SUB]to[/SUB][SUB] the post if it happens to [/SUB][SUB]exist[/SUB][SUB], please[/SUB].

 
-Islam doesn't mean "Peace". It means "Submission", from "Aslama" which literally means "to surrender". Because we completely submit ourselves to Allah. But the word "Salam" (Peace) has the same root as "Islam".


-Allah is not a "name" for another god. Allah is the Arabic word for God. The word "Allah" is without a gender, cannot be made plural, and just means "One God" (to roughly translate). Christians and Jews who speak Arabic also refer to God as Allah. It doesn't mean "moon god" (or anything else that may be attributed to 'Allah')


-We believe that Jesus (peace be upon him) was one of the greatest Prophets of Allah. We do not believe he was the son of God. His miracles were done with the Permission of Allah, and he was a human being.


-Islam was not spread violently or spread "by the sword". There was no forcefulness in the spread of Islam. If you'd like to know more about how Islam was spread that is another, very long topic to discuss. But I'd be glad to, God willing.


-Women have MANY rights in Islam, we are NOT oppressed! I cannot stress this enough. Just as women in the West choose to go out in shorts, Muslim women choose to cover their bodies when they go out. We have a right to our money, education, raising our children, we have rights over our husbands, and many more. It is another very in depth topic to discuss. But the main point is, we have rights, we love our Religion, we love to dress modestly.

-Every single Muslim participates in Jihad, every day. Surprised? Yes we do! We practice Jihad by controlling our inner desires, and negative feelings. When we speak a good word to our parents even though we are angry, it is Jihad. When we wake up at 6AM even though we are exhausted, it is Jihad. It is a Jihad against our own souls, and according to our Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) it is the greatest Jihad we can do.

-We believe that Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) is the last and final Prophet.

I could go on and on... Just let me know if you are interested!
 
Thank you for your informative reply. Admittedly, I did not know many of these things-especially:

-Islam was not spread violently or spread "by the sword". There was no forcefulness in the spread of Islam. If you'd like to know more about how Islam was spread that is another, very long topic to discuss. But I'd be glad to, God willing.
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I was taught that Islam was spread through Jihad(holy battles, right?). Four Kaliphs/Caliphs played their part in bringing the faith to others. Wars were fought to actually convert non-believers...this always made me cringe. I imagine it as someone putting a sword to another's neck, screeching "Worship Allah or else!" I know you are probably cringing to this entire comment, but this is what I read in books and learnt from others. It's relieving to hear something different, phew. Well, anyway, feel free to continue!
:happy:
 
mickib said:
I was taught that Islam was spread through Jihad(holy battles, right?). Four Kaliphs/Caliphs played their part in bringing the faith to others. Wars were fought to actually convert non-believers...this always made me cringe. I imagine it as someone putting a sword to another's neck, screeching "Worship Allah or else!" I know you are probably cringing to this entire comment, but this is what I read in books and learnt from others. It's relieving to hear something different, phew. Well, anyway, feel free to continue!
:happy:
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History changes depending on what country and society it is taught in. Seems strange, right? History is meant to be objective, but sadly it is not.

To explain Jihad in simple terms, it is fighting in the cause of Allah, but that doesn't mean waging war unnecessarily to get everyone to convert, no. It also has a secondary meaning, which is to fight our inner selves (against negativity, sins, etc).

You are right that the 4 Rightly Guided Caliphs played a major role in the spread of Islam, and fighting in the way of Allah, they were some of the best humans of mankind! They did not oppress any humans (regardless of religion). On the contrary, that is what colonialism does. Oppression is a major sin in Islam, and human rights (again, regardless of religion) are valued HIGHLY.

Obviously, Islam didn't spread so vastly just by the tongue. Fighting was involved, and it was done within the Laws of Allah and His Messenger. The first resort of calling to Islam has always been with mercy and justice. Preaching peacefully, and spreading knowledge of the Religion. BUT with that also came hostility towards the Religion and towards people preaching it! And with those who are hostile, aggressive, and fight YOU, it is completely permissible to fight them back. This is the whole concept of self defense that the West teaches! Dealing violently with oppressors who fight against you, persecuting you, and putting obstacles in the way of peaceful preaching.. that's where the "sword" comes in.

There are rules of war prescribed to the Muslim men who fight in the cause of Allah:
-Torture is completely impermissible, under no circumstance can you torture a prisoner of war, or deprive them of food and water. It is inhuman and against what Islam stands for.
-"Do not kill any child, woman, or sick person"
-"Do not practice treachery or mutilation"
-"Do not cut down or burn fruitful trees"
-"Do not slaughter/kill an animal, except for food"
-"Do not kill monks in their monasteries, or kill those sitting in their places of worship."
-"Do not destroy the villages and towns, do not spoil the cultivated fields and gardens, and do not slaughter the cattle."
-"Do not wish for an encounter with the enemy; pray to God to grant you security; but when you [are forced to] encounter them, exercise patience."
-"No one may punish with fire except the Lord of Fire (Allah)."
-"Accustom yourselves to do good if people do good, and to not do wrong even if they commit evil."

Muslims are commanded to be good and JUST, to not be oppressors, to give ALL humans their rights, and though this may not be practiced now, it was most definitely practiced by our Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) and the 4 Rightly Guided Caliphs, no doubt about it.

Please continue asking questions, I love to answer them and I really do hope you gain something from our conversations, God willing.
 
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-We believe in many of the same prophets that jews and christians believe in, such as Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Job, Zechariah, John the Baptist, Jesus Christ, etc. [peace be upon them]

-We believe that Hell is a place where God's wrath is poured out on sinners. It's not simply the absence of God.

-We believe that Muhammad [peace be upon him] performed miracles (some claim that he didn't, but he did)

-Disobeying your parents is considered a major sin, unless they ask you to do something unIslamic, like buying a beer.

-We believe that Jesus Christ [peace be upon him] will return one day (to destroy the Dajjal, who is a false messiah)
 
mickib said:
Thank you for your informative reply. Admittedly, I did not know many of these things-especially:



I was taught that Islam was spread through Jihad(holy battles, right?). Four Kaliphs/Caliphs played their part in bringing the faith to others. Wars were fought to actually convert non-believers...this always made me cringe. I imagine it as someone putting a sword to another's neck, screeching "Worship Allah or else!" I know you are probably cringing to this entire comment, but this is what I read in books and learnt from others. It's relieving to hear something different, phew. Well, anyway, feel free to continue!
:happy:
Click to expand...

In many cases, when there was fighting, the fighting was brought to the Muslims, and not the other way around. For example, after the Prophet (pbuh) passed away, there were three major groups that decided that they were going to go to war against the Muslims in Medina: the first group felt that "zakat", which is an obligatory charity that all Muslims pay annually if they have the financial standing to do so, this group felt that zakat was actually a tribute to Muhammad (pbuh) and that since he was dead, they didn't have to pay it any more. The second group had originally joined Islam because they saw it as the winning party, and now that the Prophet (pbuh) had died, they thought Muslims were weakened so they joined forces with the group that didn't want to pay zakat. The third group was actually a bunch of smaller groups made up of tribes and gatherings who each had a new prophet of their own - false prophets, obviously - who wanted to overthrow the Muslims to take their lands and increase the prestige of their prophets.

The Muslims in Medina won, by the way. :) But it just shows that many took up the sword against Islam for varying reasons - and not because Islam had gone rushing in and held swords to their necks and forced them to convert. The spread of Islam was not like the spread of the Roman Empire in that vast armies went marching in and then stayed and occupied conquered territories (this did happen in some cases, but even where it did people were allowed to keep their religions), it was mostly the travelling of scholars and the heirs to the words of the Prophet (pbuh) such as the students of the Companions and their students after them that Islam made it from Spain to China.
 
mickib said:
Thank you for your informative reply. Admittedly, I did not know many of these things-especially:



I was taught that Islam was spread through Jihad(holy battles, right?). Four Kaliphs/Caliphs played their part in bringing the faith to others. Wars were fought to actually convert non-believers...this always made me cringe. I imagine it as someone putting a sword to another's neck, screeching "Worship Allah or else!" I know you are probably cringing to this entire comment, but this is what I read in books and learnt from others. It's relieving to hear something different, phew. Well, anyway, feel free to continue!
:happy:
Click to expand...

Indonesia has the largest Muslim population in the world today
What Muslim army set foot there?
 
mickib said:
Wars were fought to actually convert non-believers...
Click to expand...
Wars were fought and the adversary happened to be non-believers. The Byzantines had been fighting for centuries with the Sassanids (Persians) over who was to rule the eastern and southern Mediterranean, until a third party surprisingly emerged from Arabia and wiped the floor with both of them. Of course, all of that works better, if you really believe in what you are doing. The Byzantine strategy of getting Armenian mercenaries to do the work for them, did indeed not work that well.

The goal was NOT to convert non-believers. It was just a business opportunity. You see, the Byzantine empire had managed to convince entire populations to give to Caesar what belonged to Caesar, and to pay excruciating taxes to their lords. All that was needed now, was to knock out the Armenians, and tell these tax-farmed populations: I am now your lord. Wouldn't you do the same?
 
mickib said:
Thank you for your informative reply. Admittedly, I did not know many of these things-especially:

I was taught that Islam was spread through Jihad(holy battles, right?). Four Kaliphs/Caliphs played their part in bringing the faith to others. Wars were fought to actually convert non-believers...this always made me cringe. I imagine it as someone putting a sword to another's neck, screeching "Worship Allah or else!" I know you are probably cringing to this entire comment, but this is what I read in books and learnt from others. It's relieving to hear something different, phew. Well, anyway, feel free to continue!
:happy:
Click to expand...

Well, "spread through jihad" is a conveniently imprecise term, it's technically true but misleading because of the connotations people tend to make when it's put that way. Making it the best and most insidious kind of propaganda.

The conquests of the Four Rightly Guided Caliphs were directed at the Persian Empire and the Byzantine Empire, two states that were trying to destroy Islam in its infancy by force. The Islamic Empire that was established by the conquests enabled safe and free Islamic proselytization. The conquest was not followed up by forced conversion. Forced conversion did happen a few times much later in the history of Islam, but it was never the norm, and generally the scholarly consensus was against it.
 
Non-Muslims, specially Christians, should know that from Islam you can find similar moral principles like the Ten Commandments in the Christiany.
 
Non-Muslims might not know this but it would to be good to know as too many times Islam and Muslims are seen intolerant and hostile when it comes to other religions:

Who Guards The Most Sacred Site In Christendom? Two Muslims

JERUSALEM -- Every Christian knows the holiest places in Christendom are in Jerusalem. The holiest of all, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, was erected in 325, over the site where it is believed Jesus was crucified, buried and rose from the dead.

Yet, few know that it is a Muslim who opens and closes the only door to this holiest of Christian sites.

In fact, it's two Muslims: one man from the Joudeh family and another man from the Nuseibeh family, two Jerusalem Palestinian clans who have been the custodians of the entrance to the Holy Sepulchre since the 12th century.


Whole article: http://www.ibtimes.com/
 
mickib said:
Thank you for your informative reply. Admittedly, I did not know many of these things-especially:



I was taught that Islam was spread through Jihad(holy battles, right?). Four Kaliphs/Caliphs played their part in bringing the faith to others. Wars were fought to actually convert non-believers...this always made me cringe. I imagine it as someone putting a sword to another's neck, screeching "Worship Allah or else!" I know you are probably cringing to this entire comment, but this is what I read in books and learnt from others. It's relieving to hear something different, phew. Well, anyway, feel free to continue!
:happy:
Click to expand...

It is true that Islam came to dominate the World but the forced convertion which you imply as "Worship Allah or else!" did not happen in the Caliphate of Four Caliphas and is prohibited. There is no forced convertion in Islam. Mulims preached Islam in the lands they conquered and people excepted it willingly. But yes some bad examples happened after that.
 
Al Sultan said:
But we don't believe Jesus was crucified ?., and also why did he get back to life ? I thought Allah switched his soul with another being who looked like him...
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No, we do not believe he was crucified. He has not come back to life yet, and no Allah did not switch his soul with another being. Isa (peace be upon him) did not die. Allah raised him up to Himself, and before the Day of Resurrection comes, Isa will come back and he will be a follower of Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him). He will prove the Jews wrong (they claim they crucified Isa) and he will prove the Christians wrong (they claim he was god or the son of god). Nauzu biLlah

The Prophet salaAllahu alayhi wa salam said: "By the One in Whose hand is my soul, the son of Maryam (alayhi salam) will descend among you as a just judge. He will break the cross, kill the pigs and abolish the jizyah, and money will become so widespread that there will be no one who will accept it." (Muslim, Agreed upon)

Allah knows best
 
Interesting thread. Speaking as a believer in Jesus Christ (but not as a believer in Mohammed), here is what I would very much like to hear.

Just one more time, I'd like to hear that there is no compulsion in religion. But this time, I'd like to hear about the connection between this concept and an opposition to using Shariah as the entire basis of legislation for a whole country. Just this once, I'd like to hear this used as the basis for an argument in favor of a secular society, over and against the imposition of compulsory Islamic law.

Of course there are some other things I'd like to hear about, but this is at the top of the list.
 
cooterhein said:
Interesting thread. Speaking as a believer in Jesus Christ (but not as a believer in Mohammed), here is what I would very much like to hear.

Just one more time, I'd like to hear that there is no compulsion in religion. But this time, I'd like to hear about the connection between this concept and an opposition to using Shariah as the entire basis of legislation for a whole country. Just this once, I'd like to hear this used as the basis for an argument in favor of a secular society, over and against the imposition of compulsory Islamic law.

Of course there are some other things I'd like to hear about, but this is at the top of the list.
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Hello! So, I am quite sure I misunderstood you in some points, but I'll try to answer from what I did understand, and maybe you could clarify what I missed in your next post, God willing. I'd also like to begin as you began with saying, I am a believer in Jesus (peace be upon him) and Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him).

Firstly, "there is no compulsion in Religion" is a hugely misunderstood verse of the Quran. There is no need to force people to accept Islam because the Religion itself is clear from the start for those with understanding. Anyone who gains knowledge on the proper teachings of Islam will enter it on his or her own terms, without compulsion, because of the evident proof and its soundness of being the True Religion. (That was just to explain this verse) Allah knows best.

Secondly, (this is the part of yours I didn't understand I think), wanting Shari'a Law in a Muslim dominated country is not wrong. On the contrary, this is logic. Muslims who believe in Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) and believe in the revelation of the Quran, and the Laws of Allah, will naturally want Shari'a Law, not secularism. No Muslim would be in favor of a secularist society. This is not forcing someone to convert to Islam, on the contrary, Shari'a Law is not only for Muslims, it has laws in favor of Non-Muslims as well, who reside in Muslim lands. (I don't even want to bring up the whole topic of Colonialism).

Allah knows best.

Did I go off on a tangent and misunderstand you somewhere? Please let me know.
 
Thank you all for the polite, informative replies! I think I understand now. Jihad (in terms of the physical war) seemed to be very out of place in a religion that promotes peace, so I'm glad I actually have the facts right.
 
Ooh, I just noticed you are in Jamaica! Have you ever heard of Dr. Bilal Philips? He was born in Jamaica before moving to Canada and ultimately Qatar. He has done many, many excellent lectures on the basic tenets of Islam, and you can find a great deal of them on Youtube. I'd highly suggest checking some of them out! :)
 
mickib said:
Thank you all for the polite, informative replies! I think I understand now. Jihad (in terms of the physical war) seemed to be very out of place in a religion that promotes peace, so I'm glad I actually have the facts right.
Click to expand...

No.. Jihad is a huge part of Islam. And it is way more comprehensive than you can learn from this forum. But that was just an idea of what it is. And Islam doesn't promote peace. Islam promotes the Oneness of God, and complete Submission to Him..
 

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