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Thank you
This archived discussion is "read only". » AlphaWolf72 - Clarification I often look for articles such as this one. Allot of people try to explain different religions to me. They claim to know the words of God, but by the end of the conversation, I am left with the same feeling. They are only explaining it to me as they understand it. And you definitely can't ask a Christian, or catholic about other religions, because they seldom ever have an objective view. I would have liked for you to explain in more detail the wearing of the veils, and why it's done. But one thing that seems to reign true in all religions, is the belief of equality, truth, and the internal struggle to fight evil. The thing that I can't seem to understand is, if this is so, why do we always end up fighting each other, over religions? I am a catholic by birth, but I don't go to church, I don't believe everything in the bible. But I do believe there is a God, and that he does not want us to ram any religion, or belief down anyones throat. And I also believe that anyone, that has killed in the name of God, or used God, or the fear of God, to obtain any type of profit will burn in hell for it. I think it's the "Thou shalt not use my name in vein" thing that bothers me allot. I think allot of people have twisted this saying way out of proportion. When the basic meaning seems to be, Don't use God's name to obtain wealth and riches for yourself. And the bottom line for all this is, Does God want crystal cathedrals? And the Catholic church is the richest of all religions. And every Sunday they pass that collection plate around, but if a homeless person goes to a church to seek shelter. The police are called and he is taken to jail, rather than taken in and helped in any way by the church. And if you ask the priests in the church, where does this money go, they say the same thing, to help the poor. Well, needless to say their are contradictions in all religions, but they all say the same basic thing. Which is an easy philosophy to live by. Live and Let Live.In closing I would just like to say thank you, this ariticle has cleared up allot of misconceptions I had about the Muslim beliefs. -- posted by AlphaWolf72 » Binte - Re: Clarification In response to Clarification posted by AlphaWolf72:You're welcome It was great to read your post! Everytime someone says that an article I put up helped them understand Islam a little better, it makes me feel that I'm doing something right You're right about not being able to be objective about other faiths. That's the main reason why I ask everyone to to make sure they get information about Islam from Islamic sources. Although this topic is supposed to explain about Shiasm, I'm beginning to realise that there is so little known about general Islam, that it's necessary to address that first before going into the details of various sects within it.
All I need to do is make sure that I know why I have chosen the principles I live by. I share my reasons with others - especially now - because I want them to understand the truth about Islam. What anyone choses to do with that information is their business. I will write about the veil as you've asked and try to explain it as best as I can. If there's something in particular you'd like to know apart from why we wear it, then please ask! -- posted by Binte » SIBAIBROS - Re: Re: Clarification In response to Re: Clarification posted by Binte:In response to Re: Clarification posted by Binte: Dear Ms jaffer, ASSALAMU ALAIKUM WA RAHMATULLAH WA BARAKATUH I want to thank you for what you are doing to explain shia Islam through you articles in Suite 101, you are doing a tremedous job. I pray that one day soon Muslims will unite, be called just Muslims and not shia and sunni. My question to you is as follows:- I am a Lebanese (Shia) Muslim, and have a lot of (Sunni) Muslim friends. We have a great relationship, I try hard to show Solidarity and unity when we socialize, most of the times, by not discussing sensitive issues, which might affect this relationship. Recently, and after the assassination of our Prime Minister Rafiq Harriri, some have brought up the issue of the split between Muslims (Shia and Sunni) and asked me a lot of questions. I have done my best to answer their questions, but when I read you articles I was impressed with the way you explained things and thought to ask you to advise me on how you yourself would explain this difference? How can I approach this subject without causing offense to our Muslim brothers? Can we work on uniting the Muslim Nation starting with our close friends? Why do you think the Muslim Clerics have not met yet to agree these differences? I look forward to hear from you soon.
-- posted by SIBAIBROS » Pinky102 - Re: Re: Re: Clarification In response to Re: Re: Clarification posted by SIBAIBROS:ASSALAMU ALAIKUM ... I've been following this site with interest. I'm currently reading a book that deals with the beliefs of Muslims, Christians and Hindus as an important part in the main character's experience of life. If you can get it, Yann Martel's book, The Life of Pi, is a great book well worth the reading. The three religions might be more compatible than we know. Could a person be faithful to each outside the influence of the priesthood of each? -- posted by Pinky102 » Binte - Re: Re: Re: Clarification In response to Re: Re: Clarification posted by SIBAIBROS:Alaykum Salaam, brother Ibrahim! The issues you bring up are something every Muslim thinks about I'm sure. I don't consider myself an expert - I learn something new with every article I write or question I have to answer, so it's more of a learning process The emphasis on unity of the Muslim Ummah (society) by Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) is something you must be aware of. There is no doubt that we need to find some way to stop seeing each other (Sunni and Shia) as enemies. On the other hand, I personally don't believe this means that we have to compromise what we believe in to make it more palatable to others. It wouldn't be sincere faith or belief if it were so easily changed. Besides, the issues of Imamat is essential to our Aqaid (belief) as Shia and we cannot lessen its importance to us. When speaking to Sunni's, I usually try to assess the conversation based on how well I know the person I'm talking to and whether they will listen to me or they are already set in their bias. I encourage them to ask me questions rather than the other way around, because here in Kenya I've found that Sunni's have strange ideas about the Shia. I had a teacher once who used to tell the other children that the Shia should be hated because they spat in water before serving it to a Sunni! In a case like that, if I had no idea that this lie was being spread, I would never have understood why the other children were so hostile towards me. Knowing the misconceptions usually helps to remove them with reason and logic If on the other hand, you are lucky to have friends who are eager to discuss and learn, then it's easy to find plenty of references online to help you with your debates. I like to find sayings and historical events as related in Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim to support my point, because then a Sunni cannot deny them or claim they were fabricated. And these books are full of clear traditions about Ghadir, Saqifa and even Imamat! However at some point in time, if the people you are talking to don't seem to understand what you are explaining, then I think it's just best to back away before it gets ugly. Like the Qur'an says, leave it in peace. I think that's probably why things don't work out at clerical level. A large percentage of publicised intellectual debates involve ego-issues which means one side has to 'win'. I don't think we can judge winners and losers in a religious debate. You make a choice and you will account for it infront of God alone, it's a personal issue between you and Him. So, yes, I also believe we can work on uniting at a more social level, not only amongst Muslims but amongst all faiths. Remember, the Prophet (pbuh) made a treaty with the Jews who were in Madinah and they lived together without any problems - that should be example enough for us! Have you read 'Peshawar Nights', by the way? It's an excellent debate (with detailed references) that covers all issues between Shia and Sunni. Many of the Sunni scholars actually coverted at the end of the debate. Those who didn't, learnt what Shiaism was really about and became more understanding. As an end note, please do let me know if there are any specific issues your friends bring up and we can work on them together, perhaps? Or you can tell me how you dealt with them and I can store that knowledge away for future use at my end! Maybe you can even invite them here and we can have an online discussion? The benefits of cyberspace are endless! Thanks for writing and Inshallah*, you will succeed in putting your message across. God always guides those who seek Him --- -- posted by Binte » Binte - Re: Re: Re: Re: Clarification In response to Re: Re: Re: Clarification posted by Pinky102:Salaam I'm replying this seperately, because I didn't want it to get mixed up with the issues in the other one I wrote. Would you believe I had The Life of Pi in my hands but had to pass it on, because I was swamped under work deadlines I'm presuming you mean faithful to each simultaneously? How can a person believe in monotheism and polytheism at the same time? I would also ask what you mean by the influence of priesthood, for example in the context of Christianity? What do you think, is it possible? ( I know it's not fair to throw back a question without even attempting to answer it, but I'm still working out the implications -- posted by Binte » Pinky102 - Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Clarification In response to Re: Re: Re: Re: Clarification posted by Binte:"What do you think, is it possible?" I don't know if it is possible; but, I wonder why it wouldn't be possible. At least in so far as we could show the areas of compatibility. Obviusly the priesthood wouldn't go along with it. They would have too much to lose. -- posted by Pinky102 » Binte - Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Clarification In response to Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Clarification posted by Pinky102:I'm wondering how one would be able to reconcile the differences in belief. I mean, it's easy to follow the same rules - morally speaking - because all three faiths encourage similar values. Isn't it necessary though to believe in Christ as a saviour and part of the Trinity, in order to be a Christian? That is almost the opposite of Islam says (that Jesus was a Prophet and there is no Trinity). Hindu's believe in many gods and goddesses controlling various aspects of creation ... How would an individual be faithful to any one religion without immediately contradicting the other two? -- posted by Binte Please follow the guidelines set forth in the Suite101 Posting Etiquette when adding to the discussion. |
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I'll have to hunt it down again!