Islam 101

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

I have recently read some posts here that seem to indicate a lack of understanding about Islam, especially in relation to terrorism and the fatwas calling for violence. I am relatively new to Islam, and am most acquainted with Sufism, the mystical sect of that faith; I hope that others more versed in Islam will kindly correct me if I say something that isn't quite right.


1. Islam, unlike Catholicism, does not have one supreme spiritual head. There are religious scholars and religious leaders, but their influence is not universal over the entire population of Muslims.

2. Although it is required to pray a certain number of times every day, there is no compulsion that a Muslim must attend a mosque to pray and listen to the talk of the imam (a Qur'anic scholar who leads prayers). So Islam is not like Christianity in this regard. This doesn't mean that imams don't have respect or that they aren't listened to by many; but again, their influence is not world-wide over all Islam.

3. There are different sects of Islam-Sunni, Shia, and Sufi, and each has its share of those more conservative and those more liberal. Just as most Quakers I'm sure don't agree with Pat Robertson, all the Sufis I know don't agree with the violent fatwas that have come out of the Middle East.

4. American Muslims have been doing their best to let their voices be heard, especially when it comes to terrorism and violence. Kindly check out this thread right here at DU:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=359x47
I have had other well meaning DUers ask me why American Muslims aren't doing more in regards to getting out the message that we are for peace and against terrorism. I would suggest the reason is the same as why it has been so difficult for liberals and Democrats to get out their message. Our MSM is controlled by those interests that don't want this message out. I personally know of ecumenical meetings that have taken place since 911 that have not made a blip on the national media radar. One took place this last July in Dallas, and from what I understand, even the local media didn't say much about it--and it was a large meeting that lasted a week!

Anyway, I wanted to point out these things for those posting here who aren't Muslims, so that they could understand a bit more about Islam and especially the position of American Muslims in what's gonig on.

Thank you.

[Book Lover]

1. Also

CAIR (the Council on American-Islamic Relations) offers a free Arabic-English copy of the Qur'an to all comers at https://www.cair-net.org/explorethequran/request.asp.

[babylonsister]

2. Thanks for sharing, ayeshahaqqiqa:

the corp. media isn't covering Muslims that want to inform. It almost seems as if they don't want people to know how the vast majority of American Muslims think or react to what's happening in this world today. And that is such a shame for all concerned. Knowledge might make some hardcore warmongers less apt to want to destroy and instead try to build. Again, the dumbing down of America at work, and the media is totally complicit.

[H2O Man]

3. Thank you.

Non-Islamic Americans, including those on the democratic left, should take the time to learn more about Islam.

[oneold1-4u]

4. Understand Americans!

"So Islam is not like Christianity in this regard."

Certainly not all Americans go to a church of any kind! That does not mean that they don't have an individual faith. That is why we have America! We have the right to choose as individuals and not as any one group. We can pray or not pray, as prayer has many forms and formality is never needed!
The need for honesty, and caring for humanity as a whole, is the greatest importance of life for all.
Wherever this is transgressed by any group or faith, it should be changed or removed by any possible means.
If any use a certain faith to destroy, then those of that faith should remove those who use it wrongly or suffer in the same name!
Today, this can be seen happening within the Catholic Church and its strength and power is diminishing, because they have never destroyed the transgressors from the beginning.
When the house is falling apart because the structure is poor, then it is time to move!

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

7. Would you have the Quakers then, reform the Catholic church?

Or my Penticostal relatives in Michigan do something about Mormons in Utah who are practicing polygamy?

I think you would agree that anyone whould say that is ridiculous. What I tried to point out is that American Muslims, at least the ones I know, are not connected with those who call themselves Muslims and have called for terrorism and violence. What I feel we American Muslims can do is speak out against this violence, and I have, as have other Muslims.

Having been raised a Protestant here in the US, I know that in many many Christian sects church attendance is considered quite important, and have some friends who would feel that they had done a great sin if they didn't receive the sacrement of Communion each Sunday. It was a generalization about Christianity, and I apologize for not making that clear.

[Cleita]

5. Thanks Ayesha..

I hope you have better luck in bringing understanding about your religion, than I have had with the issues I have tried to educate about.

Americans are really stubborn about hanging onto their preconceived ideas even when proven wrong. I guess this is why we have the Bush idiot for president.

[Yollam]

6. Civilization 101

If Muslims, Christians, Jews, Mormons, Hindus and whatever else there is would keep their respective religions in the home and in the houses of worship where they belong and stop trying to enforce their beliefs on others, the world would be a hell of a lot more peaceful and happy.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

9. I won't disagree

but then this brings up a real dillemma. As an individual, I can speak out politically as much as I want; but I cannot speak as a representative of my religious order. My order takes the position of strict seperation of church and state, and won't make political stands. Some would argue that we should, but if we did, we'd be blurring those lines again. Like many Sufi orders, it is initiatic in nature, and does not prosletize and keeps a low profile when it comes to ceremony and practices.

[Clark2008]

12. Actually, if they would just practice their true religion, there

would be peace. All of those religions teach a tolerance, but some of the people who teach the religions don't want to be bothered with that.

[JCMach1]

18. Islam as it is practised in many places bleeds over into

every aspect of life... from Sharish Law to (well) just simply everything. Separation of Church in State is almost unthinkable here, because Muslims do not think of Islam in quite the same way as a church. Islam is both centered (on the Koran) and decentered (no central church authority) at the same time. Imams are teachers, but there is no obligation to listen to them if you disagree. Your voice in Islam is just as valid as his...

Religion bleeds into everything...

For example you might see a college student say "I am going to the club to listen to some house music tonigh, Insh'Allah..."

What Democracy needs in the Middle-east is not separation of church in state, but the application of democratic principles as seen through the prism of the word (the Koran). A completely secular democratic state would be near impossible to build.

Islam is even resurgent in Turkey where there was a strong attempt from Ataturk on to severly limit religious influence in secular society.

[CJCRANE]

19. Exactly

there's no reason why there can't be a Democratic version of Islam. Even religious laws need argument and interpretation and compromise between different sects and viewpoints (as God isn't around to tell us what to do, then it will always take people to implement the laws, and if we're all equal in the eyes of God then we should all have a say).

I personally choose to live in a secular/liberal system but even in Islam (and Christianity) there are liberal strains that could potentially find a voice within a theo-democratic context.

[JCMach1]

20. Also, CAVEAT EMPTOR

Many (if not all) groups and politicians in the middle-east will brand themselves as Islamic, or Muslim. As Americans we need to look beyond the labels to what lies beyond.

Hamas, for example, is as much about social refore as it is about Islam. IF someone like Sharon could "work for peace," shouldn't Hamas be given a chance in the process.

[Yollam]

22. To me, there can be no such thing as a non-secular democracy.

The minute religion is imposed on everyone, it's a totalitarian dictatorship, as far as I'm concerned. I want no part of religion. When you proclaim your right to impose YOUR religion on me, you've just taken away my right to freedom of thought and religion, and therefore made me a second-class citizen. You can call it what you want, but it's not a true democracy, IMO.

Just my two cents.

[Clark2008]

8. Brava!

My ex husband is a Palestinian Muslim. I read the Sunnah guides and the Qu'ran before we married (I'm Catholic and he'd gone to a Catholic school in Jordan as a child, so he knew my religion). It's a beautiful religion, but I never felt the need to convert.

Ironically, I just re-married and my new husband is Jewish. So, now, I have to read the Torah and the Talmud. LOL!

I always get so angered when I hear the Limpballs or the Insannity's of the world say, "Why aren't more moderate Muslims speaking out against these terrorist attacks," when I know they are, but the fucking media doesn't report it. The former Muslim chaplain (sic) for the FDNY, Kevin James, for example, who hosted the big event just after 9/11 to teach and educate the public on the truth about Islam - we should have heard more from him, but a Google search reveals mostly nothing. It's sad.

But, thank you for your post. I knew all these things, but, sadly, the one good thing I thought would come from 9/11 - that Americans would try to learn more realistic things about the Middle East and Islam - didn't happen.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

10. That is so interesting!

I know a lovely couple-he's Muslim, she's Palestinian Catholic. It surprises many to find out that there can be "mixed marriages" with no compulision for one or the other to convert.

I have read both the Torah and the Qur'an (sadly, translations) and several translations of the Bible. I think if more people took the time to read these books, they would understand others better.

[Cleita]

14. So you will now be well grounded in the Abrahamic religions

as they are called.

[BlueIris]

11. Please also consider reading this article by my beloved Deborah Birkett:

http://www.al-bushra.org/mos-chr/birkett.html

Sorry I couldn't find a better link to it; if I do, I'll update. Birkett's article change my perspectives, and my life.

[alarcojon]

13. Very nice article, Blue Iris

Thanks for posting it.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

21. thank you so much!

Your friend Deborah Birkett stated things far better than I did. I have bookmarked the page so that I can refer back to it again and again.

[BlueIris]

15. Kick.

Because although this thread has things in it I don't like, cultural literacy is important. Learning about at least the basics of as many religions as you can is important.

[elshiva]

16. Thanks!

:hug:

[JuneInJax]

17. my view in verse

Say: O ye that reject Faith!
I worship not that which ye worship,
Nor will ye worship that which I worship.
And I will not worship that which ye have been wont to worship,
Nor will ye worship that which I worship.
To you be your Way, and to me mine.

(The Holy Qur'an, Surah 109, translated by Abdullah Yusuf Ali.)

I put this much shorter:
I'm cool with you being the way you are;
I'm cool with me being the way I am.
Please afford me the same courtesy.

Thank you for the post; I enjoyed reading the article!
:)
Moni