When you're talking about Islam to someone who suspects you of hating Muslims, try saying something like this:
If I said (as a criticism of Christianity) "It's written in the Bible that homosexuality is a sin," would you assume I hate all Christians? Would you think I shouldn't say it? Would you think we should not talk about it in public?
So when I say, "It's written in the Koran that Muslims must fight non-Muslims until everyone on earth comes under the rule of Islamic law," why assume I hate all Muslims? Do you think I shouldn't say it? Do you think we should not talk about it in public? Is Islam in some special category of things that can't be talked about?
For more ideas about how to talk to people about Islam, check this out: Tools to Help You Educate Your Fellow Non-Muslims About Islam.
Citizen Warrior is the author of the book, Getting Through: How to Talk to Non-Muslims About the Disturbing Nature of Islam and also writes for Inquiry Into Islam, History is Fascinating, and Foundation for Coexistence. Subscribe to Citizen Warrior updates here. You can send an email to CW here.
One could even answer:
ReplyDeleteWhy don't you assume I'm speaking, not because I hate, but because I care. I know this isn't a popular subject. We all know it's so easy to get dumped on if we bring anything up about Islam that isn't positive. I don't like risking criticism. It's no fun. In fact, I'd rather be silent. But I care too much. I care that we're safe. I care about the truth. I care that we all know it. It doesn't help if we're silent. Imagine a doctor not speaking because it's no fun telling the truth, because people get upset.
(02) CHAPTER 24. AN-NUR: LIGHT (LINE 31). Original text (Part): And tell the believing women to lower their gaze and be modest, and to display of their adornment only that which is apparent, and to draw their veils over their bosoms, and not to reveal their adornment save to their own husbands or fathers or husbands fathers, or their sons or their husbands' sons, or their brothers or their brothers' sons or sisters sons, or their women, or their slaves, or male attendants who lack vigor, or children who know naught of women's nakedness.
ReplyDeleteMEANING FROM HISTORICAL BACKGROUND: God in the religious book said that women can leave their outer dress in front of some relatives and persons like, "... their own husbands or fathers or husbands fathers, or their sons or their husbands' sons….". While some of these are acceptable it is questionable why god included "husbands father" in this list. The answer to this question is important because of Chapter 33. Al-ahzab: The Clans, Line 37, where the preacher wished to marry his son's wife and the son had to divorce.
(03) CHAPTER 33. AL-AHZAB: THE CLANS (LINE 37): Original text (Part): 37. ….. And thou didst hide in thy mind that which Allah was to bring to light, and thou didst fear mankind whereas Allah had a better right that thou shouldst fear Him. So when Zeyd had performed the necessary formality (of divorce) from her, We gave her unto thee in marriage, so that (henceforth) there may be no sin for believers in respect of wives of their adopted sons, when the latter have performed the necessary formality (of release) from them….
ReplyDeleteMEANING FROM HISTORICAL BACKGROUND: The preacher released his slave Zeyd and made him his foster son. Zeyd married Zainab. God came to know what was in the preacher's mind because in the religious book he said: "And thou didst hide in thy mind that which Allah was to bring to light". Zeyd divorced his wife and the preacher married her. God said, "So when Zeyd had performed the necessary formality (of divorce) from her, We gave her unto thee in marriage,..". In addition God endeavored to justify such act by saying, "so that (henceforth) there may be no sin for believers in respect of wives of their adopted sons,".
(01) CHAPTER 24. AN-NUR: LIGHT (LINE 4, 11-15). Original text (Part): (4) And those who accuse honorable women but do not bring four witnesses scourge them (with) eighty stripes and never (afterward) accept their testimony – They are indeed evildoers…... (11-15) Lo! They who spread the slander are a gang among you. …… Why did not the believers, men and women, when you heard it, think good of their own folk; and say: It is a manifest untruth? Why did they not produce four witnesses? Since they produce not witnesses, they verily are liars in the sight of God. Had it not been for the grace of God and His mercy to you in the world and the Hereafter an awful punishment had overtaken you for that whereof you murmured.
ReplyDeleteMEANING FROM HISTORICAL BACKGROUND: In the deserts the caravan journey from one oasis to another begins in the evening. The women sit on enclosed boxes and the slaves pick up the boxes on camel-back. One person (naquib) invites all to come and the journey begins. The caravan usually reaches destinations in the morning. In one such journey, after the caravan reached the destination, it was found that one wife of the preacher was found missing. The following evening one camel with two slaves were sent back to the previous oasis. They came back with the wife and one more person after the following night. Their staying in there for two nights made men to murmur. At this time god sent the preaching, "those who accuse honorable women but do not bring four witnesses scourge them (with) eighty stripes". It was natural that in such the offenders would disagree. There may be at best three male persons, but the number would never be four.
"In this religion their god has prescribed everything that may be helpful for their preacher". All from other religions can understand this simple truth, only their followers cannot. Why?
ReplyDelete"Because by this time they have done one of the greatest investments of their lives- (i) Five times prayer ever since age of five/six, (ii) painful circumcision at early age, (iii)one month long day time starvation per year and so on.
Does anyone like to declare "I have committed mistake" after investing so much?