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Getting up to speed on Islam

Understanding Islam

In 8.5. below, the TH language police made me change the name of a hot afterlife venue from its original name to "Heck." Sorry.

I'm a liberal academic in Massachusetts. I've taught college students about Islam--its theology and its politics--for over 30 years. The resources available now online can be very useful. Here are a few of them that are easily found. I've chosen mostly sources on jihad, with a couple of others thrown in.

I will say bluntly that it is absolutely necessary to understand the sheer alienness of Islam. Differences between Islam and Christianity are not like differences between Lutherans and Catholics, or Baptists and Methodists. The differences go all the way down.

1. For starters, a short piece on jihad from the reliable and accurate Daniel Pipes:

http://www.danielpipes.org/article/990

2. Here’s a Muslim site claiming that jihad isn’t really about violence.

http://www.islamworld.net/#jihad

3.Read this one to learn what our enemy—and yes—I believe Islam as such, not just so-called ‘radical Islam” is our enemy--believes

http://www.youngmuslims.ca/online_library/books/jihad/#why_fight

Here is a sample:

Hasan al-Banna:

“Why Do the Muslims Fight?

"Islam allows jihad and permits war until the following Qur'anic verse is fulfilled:

‘We will we show them Our signs in the universe, and in their ownselves, until it becomes manifest to them that this (the Qur'an) is the truth.’
(Surat al-Fussilat (41), ayah 53)

People have for some time now ridiculed this but today these same people acknowledge that preparation for war is the surest way to peace! Allah did not ordain jihad for the Muslims so that it may be used as a tool of oppression or tyranny or so that it may be used by some to further their personal gains. Rather jihad is used to safeguard the mission of spreading Islam. This would guarantee peace and the means of implementing the Supreme Message. This is a responsibility which the Muslims bear, this Message guiding mankind to truth and justice. For Islam, even as it ordains jihad, it extols peace: the Blessed and Almighty said:

‘But if they incline to peace, you also incline to it, and (put your) trust in Allah.’
(Surat al-Anfal (8), ayah 61)

"The Muslims in war had only one concern and this was to make the name of Allah Supreme, there was no room at all for any other objective.”

4. This next site has an exhaustive and authoritative presentation—tough going, but revealing. Here you’ll learn that jihad is, in part, a fight for the freedom of all mankind to believe the truth about God.

http://al-islam.org/short/jihad/index.html

Here is a sample on comparing Islam and Christianity on the question of jihad:

Ayatullah Morteza Mutahhari

“It is said about Christianity that it has the distinction of not having any rule governing war. We, on the other hand, say that Islam has the distinction of having the law of jihad. If we look closely, we see that in Christianity there is no jihad because it has nothing at all. By which I mean that there is no Christian structure of society, no Christian legal system, and no Christian rules as to how a society is to be formed, for these to contain a law of jihad. There is no substance in Christianity; it contains no more than a few moral teachings that form a set of advice such as "tell the truth", "do not tell lies", "do not gobble up the wealth of others", and so on. Such things do not call for jihad? Islam however is a religion that sees it its duty and commitment to form an Islamic state. Islam came to reform society and to form a nation and government. Its mandate is the reform of the whole world. “

“Such a religion cannot be indifferent. It cannot be without a law of jihad. In the same way, its government cannot be without an army. While the scope of Christianity is extremely limited, that of Islam is extremely wide. While Christianity does not cross the frontiers of advice, Islam is a religion which covers all the activities of human life. It has laws which govern the society, economic laws, and political laws. It came to organize a state, to organize a government. Once this done, how can it remain without an army? How can it be without a law of jihad? “

5. Here is another explanation and defense of jihad, which includes a lot on how cool martyrdom (shahadat) is.

http://al-islam.org/beliefs/philosophy/jihadandshahadat.html

Here is a sample:
Ayatullah Sayyid Mahmud Taleqani

“The real question is whether or not Islam is a true religion. If it is a true religion, if it is a religion teaching the unity of God and obedience to the one God, if it has laws and regulations useful to the world and it can make the people fortunate, such a religion has to advance. If there is no sword, it should advance with teeth and claws. One cannot ask why Islam has advanced with the sword. The real question is whether it is the truth or fallacy which has advanced. It is wrong to argue, as some do, that since it has advanced by the sword, it is false. If you are not prejudiced, if you do not wish to remain under illusion, and if you do not wish to paint a false caricature of Islam for the already prejudiced masses of Europe, why do you argue as such? Do you mean that since the Muslims have fought, Islam is a false religion? Isn't it more reasonable to say, that because Islam is a true religion, it has not disregarded the necessity of warfare, and on the contrary has given a commandment to that effect?”

6. This next is from another website extolling martyrdom. Even those 72 virgins can't compare with what the martyr gets here!

http://www.shariati.com/jihadand.html

Dr. Ali Sharitati

“ A Shahid is the one who negates his whole existence for the sacred ideal in which we all believe. It is natural then that all the sacredness of that ideal and goal transports itself to his existence. True, that his
existence has suddenly become non-existent, but he has absorbed the whole value of the idea for which he has negated himself. No wonder
then, that he, in the mind of the people, becomes sacredness itself. In this way, man becomes absolute man, because he is no longer a
person, an individual. He is "thought." He had been an individual who sacrificed himself
for "thought" Now he is "thought" itself. For this reason, we do not recognize Husayn as a particular person who is the son of Ali. Husayn is a name for Islam, justice, imamat, and
divine unity. We do not praise him as an individual in order to evaluate him and rank him among shuhada. This issue is notrelevant. When we speak of Husayn, we do not mean Husayn as a person. Husayn was that individual who negated himself with absolute sincerity, with the utmost magnificence within human power, for
an absolute and sacred value. From him remains nothing but a name.
His content is no longer an individual, but is a thought. He has transformed himself into the very school [for which he has negated him-
self].”
“An individual who becomes a shahid for the sake of a nation, and thus obtains sacredness, earns this status. In the opinion of the ones who do not recognize a nation as the sum of individuals, but recognize it as a collective spirit above the individuals, a shahid is a spiritual crystallization of that collective spirit which they call "nation." Likewise, when an individual sacrifices himself for the sake of knowledge, he is no longer an individual. He becomes knowledge itself. He becomes the shahid of knowledge. We praise liberty through an individual who has given himself to liberty; we do not praise "him" because he was a good person. This is not of course in contradiction with the fact that, from God's perspective, he is still an individual, and in the hereafter, he will have a separate destiny and account. But in the society, and by the criterion of our school, we do not praise him as an individual; we praise the thought, the sacred. At this point, the meaning of the word "shahid" is all the more
clear. When the belief in a sacred school of thought is gradually eroding, is about to vanish or be forgotten in a new generation due to
a conspiracy, suddenly an individual, by negating himself, re-establishes it. In other words, he calls it back again to the scene of the world. By sacrificing his existence, he affirms the thitherto]vanishing existence of that ideal. For this reason, he is shahid (witness, present) and mashhud (visible). He is always in front of us. The thought also obtains presence and permanence through him. It becomes revived and obtains a soul again.”


7. This one—a site intended for Muslim women-- explains why Islam discourages, almost to the point of prohibition, music and dancing.

This is why you will never, ever see an imam on "Dancing with the Stars" or a Muslim country-western singer.

http://members.tripod.com/oum_abdulaziz/music4.html#B

Here is a sample:
Abu Bilaal Mustafa al-Kanadi

“Preceding texts of the sunnah designated the general ruling of prohibition regarding singing under certain circumstances. The narration of Al-Haakim described the singing voice coupled with music as imbecilic and sinful. Naturally, singing to musical accompaniment is forbidden since it is coupled with music. (*255) As for innocent singing to the accompaniment of just the daff, this has been allowed on only specific occasions. (*256) “

“Singing without musical accompaniment is permitted under certain circumstances and with particular conditions. The lyrics of the songs must be pure and innocent, and must keep within the moral bounds set by Islamic teachings. Hence, lyrics which are erotic and licentious (*257) and/or sung in a licentious manner (*258) (which adversely affects the libidinous instincts of the listener) are undoubtedly forbidden. Moreover, even innocent songs become forbidden if they are performed in the presence of, or are coupled with, such prohibited acts as gambling, drinking and other deeds of moral depravity. Singing by women is restricted to a female audience as the nature of a woman's (singing) voice is to excite sexual feeling in the male listener. Generally speaking, these songs should be pure and innocent although they need not be restricted to Islamic themes. They may express simple joys, wisdom, etc. They may be in praise of such attributes as courage, fearlessness and strength; or the lyrics may commemorate historical incidents such as battles against the enemy, etc. Among the best songs are those which encourage piety through good deeds done for the sake of Allah.”

“It follows from what has preceded that the profession of music, singing, dancing and instrument making and selling are all forbidden. (*266) In an Islamic state such instruments may be seized (*267) from their owner and destroyed with recourse to indemnity.”

“It is the duty of a Muslim that he avoid listening to music and singing in so far as it is within his power and jurisdiction (e.g. in his home, office, car, etc.). As for what he hears from his neighbor's yard, or when he passes through the streets or markets, that is not a sin upon him, (*268) nor is it his responsibility to try to stop it unless he has the power and authority to do so. He may advise such unfortunates in a gentle, admonishing tome, using wisdom and good convincing arguments so that perchance they may see the light and fear Allah.”

8. Finally, why Muslims believe that Islam leaves no room for other religions; this shows that Islam itself, and not just some unpleasant version of it, is in principle opposed to freedom of religion.

http://www.islaam.com/Article.aspx?id=273

Unification of Religions
The Presidency of Islamic Research and Ifta - Riyadh
Under The General Supervision of the Grand Council of Scholars
Fatwa No: 19402, Dated 25 Muharram 1418H
Here is a sample from this fatwa:

“After comprehensive study the committee resolves the following:-

1. One of the fundamentals of Faith in Islam, which is known as an essential part of the religion and upon which all Muslims have agreed, is that there is no true religion on the earth except Islam, and that it is the Final religion which abrogated all previous religuions and creeds. Therefore, no other religion remains on earth by which Allah can be worshipped except Islam. Allah The Most High says, "And whoever seeks a religion other than Islam, it will never be accepted of him, and in the Hereafter he will be one of the losers." [Al-Qur'an 3:85].

2. One of the fundamentals of faith in Islam is what Allah's Book (the Qur'an) is the last Book that was revealed by the Cherisher of the Worlds. It abrogated all the Books revealed by Allah before it, such as the Torah, the Psalms, and the Bible, and as such no other Book has been left by which Allah can be worshipped except the Qur'an. Allah, The Most High, says, "And We have sent down to you (O Muhammad) the Book (the Qur'an) in truth, confirming the Scriptures that came before it, and trustworthy in highness and a witness over it (old scriptures). So judge between them by what Allah has revealed, and follow not their vain desires." [Al-Qur'an] 5:48]

3. It is our belief that both the Torah and the Bible were abrogated by the Qur'an, and that they were changed by means of additions or deletions by their followers. This was indicated in some verses in Allah's Book - the Noble Qur'an. Allah, The Most High, says in His Qur'an, "So because of their breach of their covenant, We cursed them, and made their hearts grow hard. They change the words from their (right) places and have abandoned a good part of the Message that was sent to them. And you will not cease to discover deceit in them, except a few of them." [Al-Qur'an 5:13]


“5. One of the fundamentals of Islam is that any Jew or Christian who does not embrace Islam should be considered and designated as an unbeliever (Kafir) as well as an enemy of Allah, of His Messengers and the Believers (Muminoon), and such people will be the people of the Fire in accordance to Allah's Saying, that, "Those who disbelieve from among the people of the Scriptures (Jews and Christians) and among al-Mushrikun (Polytheists), were not going to leave (their disbelief) until there came to them clear evidence." [Al-Qur'an 98:1]

“And Allah says, "Verily, those who disbelieve (in the religion of Islam, the Qur'an, and the Prophet Muhammad (sallalahu 'alaihi wa sallam)) from among the people of the Scriptures (Jews and Christians) and al-Mushrikun (Polytheists) will abide in the Fire of [Heck]. They are the worst of creatures." [Al-Quran 98:6]



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