Ask a Muslim anything

[Jinn]

Welcome my friend. It will be good to have a Muslim perspective here, for all we really have is bigoted-extremist interpretations of Islam.

My question for you is this: How is your relationship with the Jews of your community?

Peace Dayan,

Uneventful, really. I was engaged to a Jewish woman for 3 years, but she turned out to have issues with long distance after I had to move to Vermont and she wasn't able to move immediately with me due to family issues. I had to call off the wedding after that.

Edit: I'm well aware that there are some Islam haters on the forums and am prepared to peacefully ignore them unless they're willing to have a friendly and civil discussion.

 

[AdMan]

That is an interpretation, isn't it? Please quote where the Qur'an accurately describes a pulsar.

I would like to see this as well.

I have seen attempts at showing the Qu'ran has accurate scientific explanations which I have found profoundly lacking, so I'd like to see if there is anything I've been missing.

 

[Dayan81]

Peace Dayan,

Uneventful, really. I was engaged to a Jewish woman for 3 years, but she turned out to have issues with long distance after I had to move to Vermont and she wasn't able to move immediately with me due to family issues. I had to call off the wedding after that...

I'm very sorry to hear that. I am a huge fan of multi-ethnic & multi-religious relationships. I think we all have a lot we can learn & offer one another.

 

[angrysoba]

Peace angrysoba,

I'm glad to be here, I've always wanted to join the JREF forums, but just never got around to it until now unfortunately.

When I first came to Islam, I considered myself a Sunni... until I started reading the hadith. The hadith are a very interesting topic and for many Muslims, are a form of canon that are not to be questioned. I found this to be wildly different from what the Qur'an says (do not accept a document until you verify it to be true), so I started asking questions anyways.

As I currently stand, I am a Muslim. I do not align with any sect because such classification is discouraged by the Qur'an, and "Muslim" is the only title that God named us, however many others like to call me a "Quranist" or "Quran-Alone" which I find false, since the Qur'an isn't the only holy text in Islam (we are to uphold the Bible and Torah with the Qur'an as authority over them). As far as hadith, I do not accept any of them because the methodology that all major collections were compiled by, have flaws in their 'scientific' methods which basically boils down to a scholar determining whether each narrator of hadith was trustworthy. It's pretty laughable. Because of this, I am of the belief that any valid hadith will align perfectly with the Quran and therefore are not needed, since the Qur'an makes the statement that Muhammad only followed what he was revealed, that being the Qur'an itself.

Hmmm...so is it fair to say you were a Sunni and you rejected Sunnism and the hadiths at the same time? Would it be fair to say you are not a practioner of "Sunna" as well?

I have heard of "Quranists" and assumed that this is by far a minority of the "umma". Are there actually any mosques around you which recognize your form of Islam? And without wanting to pepper you with too many questions at once do you ever find it difficult to gain acceptance with other Muslims considering you don't recognize the authenticity of the hadiths?

 

[Minoosh]

Because what Jesus said about himself did not align with the claim that he was God.

Hello, I'm new here too. I don't see a lot of attacks on Islam itself on these boards but there is a definite inclination toward atheism and a strong belief by some members (as I perceive it) that mankind would be better off with no religions at all as they do more harm than good by encouraging superstitious beliefs that hinder human progress, provide fodder for wars, etc.

There are many things in Islam I find appealing - such as classifying Jesus as prophet instead of God/savior.

My personal exposure to Islam is very odd, originating with the Submitters and a very controversial Imam.

 

[Jinn]

That is an interpretation, isn't it? Please quote where the Qur'an accurately describes a pulsar.

Peace gerdbonk,


The verses in question would be Chapter 86 al-Tariq, 1-3.

The arabic "tariq" means "knocking" "striking" "Rapping" or "pulsing" and so the chapter translates into "The Knocker/Striker/Rapper", etc. I will use "Knocker" for the verses.

1. By the Sky and The Knocker
2. And what will make you know what The Knocker is?
3. The star of piercing brightness!

From these three verses, we can conclude that the object in question is a star of some sort, it is described as knocking, rapping, pulsing, etc; and is piercingly bright. Not only do pulsars sound like they're knocking due to their fast rotations, but they are incredibly bright. The crab nebula is one such example of how immensely bright these things are. That's the basic answer.

 

[Dayan81]

The simple fact that Muslims consider the idea of a man being the offspring of a God ridiculous, makes Islam highly attractive.

 

[Jinn]

Muslims consider Jesus to have been a prophet, born of a virgin, and the Messiah, but not the son of God. Am I correct?

Peace Dayan,

Yes, Muslims consider Jesus a prophet to Israel.

 

[Jinn]

So, it was a philosophical rejection, not a rejection of the Christian community, church policies nor your upbringing? I ask because it appears you rejected this religion in your adolescence.

Peace gerdbonk,

Pretty much. I'm not too keen on a religion that ignores massive amounts of Jesus quotes that refute the central point of Christian salvation.

 

[AdMan]

Peace gerdbonk,


The verses in question would be Chapter 86 al-Tariq, 1-3.

The arabic "tariq" means "knocking" "striking" "Rapping" or "pulsing" and so the chapter translates into "The Knocker/Striker/Rapper", etc. I will use "Knocker" for the verses.

1. By the Sky and The Knocker
2. And what will make you know what The Knocker is?
3. The star of piercing brightness!

From these three verses, we can conclude that the object in question is a star of some sort, it is described as knocking, rapping, pulsing, etc; and is piercingly bright. Not only do pulsars sound like they're knocking due to their fast rotations, but they are incredibly bright. The crab nebula is one such example of how immensely bright these things are. That's the basic answer.

I'll buy the knocker/rapper idea for now, but how do you support a "star of incredible brightness"? The first pulsar wasn't observed until 1967, which would be incredibly unlikely if pulsars are supposed to be piercingly bright, which they are clearly not.

Sorry, but just on that, I don't buy it. Is there more?

 

[Skeptic Ginger]

I would like to see this as well.

I have seen attempts at showing the Qu'ran has accurate scientific explanations which I have found profoundly lacking, so I'd like to see if there is anything I've been missing.

I can't find any such thing on the Skeptic's Annotated Quran.

 

[Toontown]

Peace Toontown,

According to the Qur'an, nothing. No killing, no ridicule, nothing. There is to be no compulsion in religion.

http://answering-islam.org/Authors/Arlandson/apostasy.htm

 

[RossFW]

but I will save you the time and tell you that in summation of my studies, the Qur'an described things such as the pulsar that couldn't have been known to mankind 1400 years ago.

Was the existence of the Pulsar known to Islamic scholars before it was discovered by Astronomers?

Did YOU learn of the existence of Pulsars by reading the Quoran, or did you read someone elses interpretaion of a Quoranic verse to be a prediction of Pulsars?

 

[Jinn]

Jinn- there are several passages in the Koran that suggest Muslims should not be friends with or even associate with non-Muslims. Now, I am aware that such passages also exist in the Bible, but as a Muslim in the 21st Century, how do you feel Muslims should relate to non-Muslims, especially in Western-nations?

Peace Dayan.

There's a bit of a historical context within those passages. Many verses are directed to Muhammad and pertain to a specific time and place, such as the verses revealed during the Battle of Badr. The verses you mention were revealed in a time where Muslims were being threatened by offensive armies. In order to maintain a stable internal structure, Muslims were commanded to stick together due to the fact that the vocal Non-Muslims who were under amnesty were prone to becoming traitorous.

 

[Gord_in_Toronto]

http://answering-islam.org/Authors/Arlandson/apostasy.htm

Those aren't Real Muslims.

They pervert the Holy Book. We interpret it correctly.

 

[caniswalensis]

Hello Ryan, and welcome to the forum.

I think this thread you started is fun and interesting.

I know that many muslims do not eat pork, while others do.

What is the basis for that restriction, and are there other dietary laws in the islamic faith?

 

[angrysoba]

Peace gerdbonk,


The verses in question would be Chapter 86 al-Tariq, 1-3.

The arabic "tariq" means "knocking" "striking" "Rapping" or "pulsing" and so the chapter translates into "The Knocker/Striker/Rapper", etc. I will use "Knocker" for the verses.

1. By the Sky and The Knocker
2. And what will make you know what The Knocker is?
3. The star of piercing brightness!

From these three verses, we can conclude that the object in question is a star of some sort, it is described as knocking, rapping, pulsing, etc; and is piercingly bright. Not only do pulsars sound like they're knocking due to their fast rotations, but they are incredibly bright. The crab nebula is one such example of how immensely bright these things are. That's the basic answer.

Hmmm... my own Koran says thusly:

By the heaven, and by the nightly visitant!
Would that you know what the nightly visitant is!
It is the star of piercing brightness.

And the rest of the surah goes on like this:

For every soul there is a guardian watching it. Let man reflect from what he is created. He is created from an ejaculated fluid that issues from between the loins and the ribs.

Surely He has the power to bring him back to life, on the day when men's consciences are searched. Helpless shall he be, with none to succour him.

By the heaven with its recurring cycles, and by the earth, ever bursting with new growth; this is a discerning utterance; no flippant jest.

They scheme and scheme: and I, too, scheme and scheme. Therefore bear with the unbelievers, and let them be awhile.

You may have to bear with this unbeliever too and I think you'll find most of us will be of the impression that this description of a pulsar is a little thin.

Is it now a majority opinion among interpreters of the Koran that this is a description of a pulsar or is it a personal interpretation?

 

[Dayan81]

Peace Dayan.

There's a bit of a historical context within those passages. Many verses are directed to Muhammad and pertain to a specific time and place, such as the verses revealed during the Battle of Badr. The verses you mention were revealed in a time where Muslims were being threatened by offensive armies. In order to maintain a stable internal structure, Muslims were commanded to stick together due to the fact that the vocal Non-Muslims who were under amnesty were prone to becoming traitorous.

Sounds fair. Things were very different 1,500 years ago.

The Bible says that a child who curses his parents shall be put to death, but no one in their right mind argues today that this rule should be enforced.

 

[Dayan81]

Hello Ryan, and welcome to the forum.

I think this thread you started is fun and interesting.

I know that many muslims do not eat pork, while others do.

What is the basis for that restriction, and are there other dietary laws in the islamic faith?

I am not certain but I believe that many cultures in the Middle East considered pigs to be dirty animals due to some of their habits. This apparently took on a religious nature for Jews & Muslims.

Why did Christians abandon this? Perhaps because Greeks, Romans & other early Christian converts loved their bacon.

 

[devnull]

Did YOU learn of the existence of Pulsars by reading the Quoran, or did you read someone elses interpretaion of a Quoranic verse to be a prediction of Pulsars?

Hi Jinn

I second this question

And welcome!