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[2San]

What if you do ignore the Quran? What if there is a section or passage that is crystal clear in intent and meaning, but you ignore it anyway? Is there a punishment? Degrees of punishment? Some sort of 'get out of jail free' clause?

Well that depends. Some passages are to get favor, but not necessarily bad if you don't follow it. Some passages are advice as well. The other extreme exist as well with violation of certain passages being irredeemable. Degrees of punishment is variable as well. You can have genuine remorse to avoid punishment. Going to hell isn't necessarily a permanent thing either. There's also a difference between punishment by God and what you can demand in real life(like in case of Murder). Being forgiving is a big part of Islam.

 

[SquiddyCracker]

Might as well add what region/country you're from as well when you answer as culture plays a large part in the answer to some of these as well. At this point it's impossible to separate the two.

Yeah, added that to the OP.
When answering questions, you should preferably mention both what denomination you're part of and what country you're from.

I will be adding the answers to the OP, would just like to see more than one representative for each denomination/region so that I know it's generally acceptable and not just the answer of an individual muslim gaffer.

 

[SIRF]

Do women have to pray in separate rooms as men?

In mosques yes, but it's okay if you're families.

Not sure if this is true, I was always instructed that it was that women had to pray behind men but could be in the same room. I did get into many arguments with other Muslims over this but I had been able to talk to the folks at Al-Azhar Uni at times and the scholars their believed that trying to put women in separate room was blasphemy. They also had women in the mosque during the time of the prophet praying in the same room.

I would be interested in getting some clarifications on this, maybe it's a difference between the 4 schools.

 

[kurisu_1974]

NO. I think the main reason is (someone correct me) because pigs are dirty animals and eating them can give specific parasite diseases if not cooked properly like Trichinosis, taenia solium (pork tape worm), and other worms.

Is this something you believe yourself or are you just being informative? I think the question is, why is the pig singled out... or can't you get sick from improperly cooked chicken or cow? (Protip: you can).

 

[Demon Ice]

It's not Islam Gaf has a problem with, it's organized religion as a whole.

Yep. Each group likes to play the victim and claim they're being singled out.

Taenia saginata comes from undercooked beef too, why you gotta single out the bacon?

 

[Wellscha]

Is this something you believe yourself or are you just being informative? I think the question is, why is the pig singled out... or can't you get sick from improperly cooked chicken or cow? (Protip: you can).

It eats its own feces, that's why its 'forbidden'.

 

[2San]

Taenia saginata comes from undercooked beef too, why you gotta single out the bacon?

Yeah, the no blood and no naturally dead/sick animals made sense, never really understood the pork bit. The the whole no-pork thing is present in Judaism and in Christianity(though they apparently don't give a fuck) as well.

 

[kurisu_1974]

It eats its own feces, that's why its 'forbidden'.

Small children sometimes do that too. It's not a reason.

 

[Wellscha]

It's a commandment in the Quran.

 

[SystemBug]

Small children sometimes do that too. It's not a reason.

we don't eat small children

 

[Magni]

Why did Allah create pigs?

 

[Messofanego]

Not sure if this is true, I was always instructed that it was that women had to pray behind men but could be in the same room. I did get into many arguments with other Muslims over this but I had been able to talk to the folks at Al-Azhar Uni at times and the scholars their believed that trying to put women in separate room was blasphemy. They also had women in the mosque during the time of the prophet praying in the same room.

I would be interested in getting some clarifications on this, maybe it's a difference between the 4 schools.

Yes, women pray behind men and can be in the same room. I've seen this in mosques.

I'm not sure what the ruling is if it's any different to praying at home with family.

Is this something you believe yourself or are you just being informative? I think the question is, why is the pig singled out... or can't you get sick from improperly cooked chicken or cow? (Protip: you can).

This is my own personal belief, yes, which is why I said I think and asked someone to correct me on what Qoran's official reasoning for not allowing pig eating was.

 

[2San]

Why did Allah create pigs?

Not to be eaten apparently. Not everything is created to serve as food for mankind.

This is my own personal belief, yes, which is why I said I think and asked someone to correct me on what Qoran's official reasoning for not allowing pig eating was.

The Quran doesn't list a reason, just that it isn't allowed from what I remember.

 

[Magni]

Not to be eaten apparently. Not everything is created to serve as food.

The Quran doesn't list a reason, just that it isn't allowed from what I remember.

But if a wolf eats a pig, does he go to hell? More seriously, do animals go anywhere after their death?

 

[-COOLIO-]

Small children sometimes do that too. It's not a reason.

Dogs cud too. Although I'm all for dogs not being eaten.

 

[kurisu_1974]

we don't eat small children

We don't really consider them 'dirty' or 'being forbidden' either, nor is that the reason we don't eat them.

This is my own personal belief, yes, which is why I said I think and asked someone to correct me on what Qoran's official reasoning for not allowing pig eating was.

So if this is personal belief, why not include all farm animals as they probably have eaten some shit at some point in their lives, and parasites / worms are not exclusive to just pigs afaik...

 

[2San]

But if a wolf eats a pig, does he go to hell? More seriously, do animals go anywhere after their death?

I have no idea.

 

[Wellscha]

He hath only forbidden you dead meat, and blood, and the flesh of swine, and that on which any other name hath been invoked besides that of Allah. But if one is forced by necessity, without wilful disobedience, nor transgressing due limits,- then is he guiltless. For Allah is Oft-forgiving Most Merciful" (Al-Baqara, 2:173).

This is why pigs are forbidden.

 

[SquiddyCracker]

He hath only forbidden you dead meat, and blood, and the flesh of swine, and that on which any other name hath been invoked besides that of Allah. But if one is forced by necessity, without wilful disobedience, nor transgressing due limits,- then is he guiltless. For Allah is Oft-forgiving Most Merciful" (Al-Baqara, 2:173).

This is why pigs are forbidden.

I'll put that in as a conclusive no then.

 

[Messofanego]

BTW great thread, SquiddyBiscuit or whatever your name now is

Should we expect more biscuit nicknames?

 

[Terra Firma]

Not allowed.

And just for trivia, they actually suggesting human shouldn't be totally naked in sex activity.

The reasoning for this because they're not a animal and there's angel that witnessing your daily act.

This is false. Although Islam emphasizes modesty, even in privacy, there is no requirement for a married couple to be fully clothed in each other's company at all times.

I'll provide answers from a Sunni standpoint:

Is it compulsory for women to wear a Niqab (Covers everything but eyes)?
Difference of opinion exists on this issue. Some scholars say yes, it is. Some say it is compulsory in a place where a woman's safety is feared. Others say it is not. The basis of this is from the hadeeth that describes how 'Aisha RA covered her face when a companion of the Prophet PBUH approached her when she was stranded alone in the desert.


Is it compulsory for women to wear a Hijab (Covers hair and neck)?
Yes. The Qur'an explicitly commands believing women to cover themselves. The minimum extent of coverage would only allow the face and the hands to be visible. Covering is only required in front of unrelated men, though.

Is it compulsory for women to wear a Burka (Covers everything, including eyes)?
No. But as with everything in the religion, circumstances shape obligations unless explicitly mentioned in the Qur'an and the hadeeth. Covering the eyes is not mentioned in the hadeeth, for example, but some scholars in certain areas recommend doing so. This has everything to do with the men in that particular society who cannot control themselves and nothing to do with the women themselves.

Do women have to pray in separate rooms as men?
No. In Makkah, there is no barrier separating the men and women either. The barrier came about during the caliphate of Umar RA because of circumstantial reasons. Men are obligated to pray at the mosque. Women are not. Also, children are usually in the care of women and it is considered disliked to forbidden (depending on opinion) to bring children younger than the age of 7 to the mosque. The reason a lot of mosques do have separate areas is because of not just convenience (as men are obligated to pray and women are not, entrance and space for men is more important than entrance and space for women) but also to prevent intermingling of the sexes.

Are women equal to men as legal witnesses?
This depends on the case. In some cases, yes. In others, no.

Are women allowed to work?
Yes. The wives of the Prophet PBUH ran their own businesses. The restrictions in some areas are only due to circumstance (or a misguided sense of 'protecting the women'), not something innate to the religion.

Are women allowed to drive?
Yes, they are. The opinion in Saudi Arabia is unique to the country. I suspect it is mostly due to the culture of the country rather than for any innately religious basis. Many women who wear the full face veil, for example, can be seen driving in many Muslim communities outside of Saudi Arabia.

Are women allowed to serve in the army?
Yes, but men are obligated to. Women are not obligated to.

Legal issues

Should thieves have their hands cut off?
Under Islamic shari'a, yes. The severity of the crime would warrant this but this is not the first penalty. So if you steal a loaf of bread, you don't lose your hands. The wronged party also always has the option to pardon or demand repayment in another form.

Should liars have their tongues cut off?
This also depends on the case. There is no explicit command to cut off a person's tongue but Islam follows Judaism in the concept of punishment, where an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, etc. are allowed. In cases of slander, cutting off the tongue has been a proscribed punishment but this is also found in other Middle Eastern communities, such as the Assyrian Christians of Iraq.

Should muslims who have converted to Christianity be punished, and if yes - how?
Should muslims who have converted to Judaism be punished, and if yes - how?
Should muslims who have converted to any non-Abrahemic religion be punished, and if yes - how?
Should muslims who have turned atheist be punished, and if yes - how?

The answers to all this are the same. Apostasy in Islam, under an Islamic shari'a, is akin to treason. A person renouncing Islam is the same as someone renouncing the Constitution of the US. The punishment is death. In the Hanafi school of jurisprudence, the apostate woman can be imprisoned instead of being put to death.

The same punishment applies to political traitors, being those that still accept Islam but side with the enemies of Muslims to kill Muslims.

Should atheists be punished for being atheists, and if yes - how?
Should Christians be punished for being Christians, and if yes - how?
Should Jews be punished for being Jews, and if yes - how?
Should individuals subscribing to non-Abrahemic religions be punished for subscribing to non-Abrahemic religions, and if yes - how?

There is no punishment for being non-Muslim as opposed to apostatizing to a non-Islamic religion. Under an Islamic state, non-Muslims are not considered citizens as they do not adhere to the Islamic "constitution", which means the shari'a. Their only obligation to the Muslims is payment of the jizyah, a poll tax, provided they can afford it and provided they are males (women, children, elderly, and the poor are exempt from the jizyah). They can be exempted from this by serving in the Muslim army. On the other hand, Muslims cannot be exempt from the zakat tax.

Non-Muslims have their own legal systems, their own courts, their own prisons, etc. Non-Muslim communities flourished under Muslim rule as long as the shari'a was in place.

Should muslims who criticize part of the Quran be punished?
The Qur'an is the literal word of God. If a "Muslim" criticizes the Qur'an in a manner that negates part of it, then that "Muslim" must repent from this and reproclaim the testament of faith. Otherwise, he has apostatized. Criticism naturally entails that there is some doubt as to the veracity of the message.

Criticising ideas some have derived from the Qur'an, however, is highly praised, especially if done well. Scholarly debates in Islam are usually about just that (and Islam has a healthy history of intrareligious debate).

Should atheists who criticize part of the Quran be punished?
Should Christians who criticize part of the Quran be punished?
Should Jews who criticize part of the Quran be punished?
Should others who criticize part of the Quran be punished?

No. Non-Muslims under Muslim rule criticized the Qur'an but were not punished for it. Non-Muslims can even insult Allah without fear of reprisal. Muslims are forbidden from insulting the gods of other religions, though. The only thing that Muslims won't tolerate is insulting the Prophet PBUH. Why? Because when one insults God, God has the right to seek retribution Himself, whereas when one insults the Prophet PBUH, the Prophet PBUH does not have this ability.

Is secularism compatible with Islam?
To an extent, yes, which means that a person can be Muslim and live in a secular country without him trying to change it. But in the long term, no, it is not, because Islam is a way of life, which includes politics. If a country is majority Muslim, some Muslims must strive for the establishment of Islamic law as the law of the land.

Is freedom of press compatible with Islam?
Yes. The caliph and the shoora are not some sort of divinely appointed party.

Is religious freedom compatible with Islam?
Islam does not allow people to convert out of it. It also does not allow non-Muslims to preach their religion to those of other religions. That means that Christians cannot send missionaries to convert Muslims/Jews. As for non-Muslims proselytizing to other non-Muslims of a different religion, that would depend on the laws of the religion being targeted for preaching. Remember, each religion or ideology is allowed to practice its own laws under and Islamic government.

Is free speech compatible with Islam?
Carte blanche free speech is not compatible with Islam.

Theology
Should Haddiths be followed?
Yes. The ahadeeth (sing. hadeeth) are graded depending on their authenticity, though. Some ahadeeth are found to be authentic if there is a continuous chain with completely trustworthy narrators. Others are not as authentic if they contain someone with a poor memory or if someone was relatively aged by the time they narrated the hadeeth. Some are deemed inauthentic if any one person in a chain is known to be a liar. The science of hadeeth is extensive. Furthermore, some ahadeeth are ranked as "tawattur", which is the same status as the Qur'an in terms of chain of transmission. This means that there is not even a shadow of a doubt in their authenticity. If someone denies them, they might as well deny the Qur'an.

Is the Quran without flaws?
Yes. The Qur'an is the literal word of God, preserved and protected since revelation.

Can parts of the Quran be ignored?
No. Everything in the Qur'an has a context and cannot be taken in a vacuum. Those who do so are in essence rejecting ahadeeth. Those who reject ahadeeth overall are also considered expelled from Islam.

Can some Haddiths be ignored?
See above.

Sex and social issues

Is abortion permissible (please specify up to which week, month, trimester if yes)?
Yes, only if there is danger to the mother. Otherwise, no.

Is contraception permissible?
Yes. Almost every form of contraception is permissible.

Is sex before marriage permissible for men?
No.

Is sex before marriage permissible for women?
No.

Are gay relationships devoid of sex permissible?
Legally and technically, yes.

Are gay relationships inclusive of sex permissible?
No.

Are gays allowed to marry?
No. Marriage in Islam is not the same as marriage in the West. The husband has the obligation to maintain his wife. The wife has no such obligation. How would this work in a male/male relationship?

Are gay couples allowed to adopt children?
If by "gay couples", you mean men or women who cohabit without sex, then yes.

A note on homosexuality:
It isn't homosexuality that is prohibited in Islam, as some people have these urges and others do not. It is acting upon them. Sodomy is not allowed in Islam, whether between a male and female or a male and a male. Also, note that sodomy is not restricted to anal intercourse.

Is anal sex permissible for hetereosexual couples?
No.

Is oral sex permissible for hetereosexual couples?
No.

Is non-missionary style sex permissible for hetereosexual couples?
Yes.

Is masturbation for pleasure permissible in Islam?
No. The only exception would be if someone is unable to control himself and comes to the brink of committing extramarital or premarital sex.

There's a general rule in Islam: under extreme circumstances, many things that are forbidden become permissible. For example, pork becomes permissible if a person has no food and is starving.

Is in-vitro fertilization acceptable?
Yes.

Is selective abortion acceptable (to determine gender)?
See above. Abortion is not acceptable unless the mother's life is in danger.

And what do you mean by "to determine gender"?

Is selective abortion acceptable (for the purpose of removing genetic and other diseases/deformities)?
See above. Abortion is not acceptable unless the mother's life is in danger.

Is Human genetic engineering acceptable?
Still under debate. Personally, I believe eugenics to be morally reprehensible if used for determining aesthetic features, like skin/eye/hair colour. If it is used to prevent disease, such as genetically eliminating cystic fibrosis in utero, then there is no harm.

Misc.

Are interest rates un-Islamic?
Yes. Interest is worse than premarital/extramarital sex. Interest, in a ranking of sin, is worse than even incest. The reason is that extramarital affairs may destroy families, but interest destroys societies. The current financial crisis can easily be seen as an outcome of an interest based economy.

Are dogs allowed as outdoor pets?
Yes.

Are dogs allowed as indoor pets?
Depends on the school of thought. The Malikis allow this; the other schools do not.

Are pigs allowed as indoor pets
Are pigs allowed as outdoor pets?

Pigs are unclean animals. The less one has to deal with them, the better. We are not even allowed to wear clothing or items made of pig skin.

Is it permissible to consume pork?

No, extreme circumstances notwithstanding.

Is it permissible to consume alcohol?

No, extreme circumstances notwithstanding.

Is it permissible to cook your food in alcohol?

No.

Is it permissible for men to pluck their eyebrows?

No. Unibrows, where a bridge of hair forms between the two eyebrows are not considered part of the eyebrow and can be removed.

Is it permissible for women to pluck their eyebrows?

No. The only exception would be if not doing so would make the woman undesirable to her husband.

Is it permissible for women to shave their leg/arm/chest/back hair?

Yes.

Is it permissible for men to shave their leg/arm/chest/back hair?

Yes, but it is not recommended.

A closing note on the legal system of Islam

In the legal system of Islam for the most part, actions are divided into a broad range of categories:

1. Obligatory, undeniable (fardh) -> meaning that the action is obligatory and to deny the obligation is to deny the religion itself; fasting in the month of Ramadhan falls under this. Note that it isn't that not doing the action expels one from Islam; so if a person does not fast in Ramadhan without a valid excuse, that person is still a Muslim but a grave sinner. If the person denies the obligation of fasting altogether, then that person has rejected Islam.

2. Obligatory, deniable (wajib) -> meaning that the action is obligatory but its obligation can be denied, based on scholarly differences. For example, there is an extra prayer in the night prayer called the "Witr" prayer. In the Hanafi school of jurisprudence, this prayer is obligatory. If someone denies this obligation, then they are not considered expelled from the religion nor are they considered sinful if they have evidence. The other 3 schools of thought and the Salafis in general do not consider Witr to be obligatory, for example.

3. Recommended (sunnah) -> these can be further subdivided into muakkadah (strongly recommended) and ghair muakkadah (desired). These are derived strictly from prophetic actions as well as the actions of the companions of the Prophet PBUH. These do not include things that the Prophet PBUH commanded be done (these would be obligatory actions). An example would be to fast Mondays and Thursdays. The Prophet PBUH did this but did not command others to do so. Another example would be the late night prayer (tahajjud); the Prophet PBUH did this but it is not obligatory for anyone. Another category, mustahabb, which means desired or liked action, may not necessarily find direct evidence in the Qur'an or hadeeth or the sunnah at large, but may be derived based on the 'spirit' of the narrations. For example, it may be considered mustahabb to do things in threes unless otherwise specified.

4. Optional (nafl) -> these are actions that are supererogatory actions that are extensions of the sunnah actions. For example, to fast on a Wednesday would be considered nafl. Sometimes the recommended actions are seen as a subcategory of optional (nafl) actions.

5. Permissible (mubah) -> these are actions that are permissible, such as reading a book or writing or going out for dinner, etc. There is no inherent reward or sin attached to any of these actions. It is intent that can make any of these actions into rewarding or sinful. For example, going out to dinner with the family with the intention to bring them together and increase love for one another is rewarding. On the other hand, going out clubbing is sinful.

6. Disliked (makrooh) -> these actions can be further subdivided into tahreema (close to prohibition) and tanzeeha (not as bad). These are actions that are not necessarily sinful but may be if repeated. An example would be to continuously and willfully omit sunnah actions. Another example would be to not remove the arm pits and pubic hairs. The latter can even become prohibited and sinful if the person does not remove them for 40 days or if they get longer than a grain of rice (whichever comes first).

7. Forbidden (haraam) -> these include things like drinking alcohol, lying, murder, etc. Some come with punishments, some do not. For example, not praying 5 times a day is haraam, but there is no specified punishment for this. Also, for almost any crime where another party is wronged, the maximum penalty that is afforded to the wronged party is what is specified. For example, if a man murders his neighbour, the neighbour's family has the option to have the man executed but that is the most extreme permissible option available to the family. Families can also get blood money, seek imprisonment of the murderer, or even forgive the murderer. Interest, and usury in general, is also forbidden.

Not everything is black and white in Islam. You'll sometimes even get remarkably different answers depending on which school of thought one adheres to, the scholar the question is asked to, etc. but there are some set rules and those are the ones explicitly mentioned in the Qur'an.

 

[Maninthemirror]

Islamic Denomination: Ahmadi Muslim


Female related questions

Is it compulsory for women to wear a Niqab (Covers everything but eyes)?
my stance:it is not compulsory and it is the womens choice
In my denomination: it is not compulsory and it is the womens choice
Clerical stance: it is not compulsory but recommended that atleast hair is covered and dress is not too tight and too short, but choice lies with women


Is it compulsory for women to wear a Hijab (Covers hair and neck)?

my stance:it is not compulsory and it is the womens choice
In my denomination: it is not compulsory and it is the womens choice
Clerical stance: it is not compulsory but recommended that atleast hair is covered and dress is not too tight and too short, but choice lies with women

Is it compulsory for women to wear a Burka (Covers everything, including eyes)?

same answer as above two exactly



Do women have to pray in separate rooms as men?

my stance: yes men and women pray together at home but separately in congregational prayers. See the different positions of a prayer and a man could easily fall for a woman bending over in front of him

Denomination stance: women and men pray together at home but separately so we forego our wordly desires.

Clerical stance: here is the answer http://www.askislam.org/practices/question_1039.html

Are women equal to men as legal witnesses?

Personal stance: Yes

Denomination: Yes

Clerical:

There is here not the slightest trace of discrimination. The normal rule is that women should be safeguarded against the contingency of having to appear as witnesses in judicial proceedings. Therefore, normally a woman should not be called upon to attest a document recording a transaction. This rule may be relaxed in an emergency. But then another difficulty would arise. In the case of male witnesses their memory of a transaction that they attest as witnesses would be refreshed when they met socially and the transaction was recalled for one reason or another. 1n the case of a document recording a transaction, which is attested by one male and one female witness, the female witness, under the Islamic social system, as will presently be appreciated, would not normally have frequent occasion to meet the male witness and talk to him, so that there would be little chance of her memory of the transaction being refreshed. To overcome this lack of opportunity of refreshing the memory, it is wisely provided that where only one male witness is available two female witnesses may be called upon so that, in the very words of the text, one may refresh the memory of the other.
This provision is concerned only with the preservation of evidence, and does not deal with the weight to be attached to the testimony of a male or female witness. An illustration may help to clear up any doubt on the matter. Assume that a transaction recorded in a document attested by one male and two female witnesses becomes the subject of a dispute which comes up for judicial determination. It is then discovered that one of the two female witnesses has in the mean time died. The male witness and the surviving female witness are examined in court and the judge finds that their respective accounts of the terms of the transaction are not entirely in harmony; but he feels very strongly that taking every relevant factor into consideration the testimony of the female witness is more reliable than that of the male witness. In such a case it would be his plain duty to rely on the testimony of the female witness in preference to that of the male witness. There could be no question of discrimination in favour of or against a woman.

Are women allowed to work?

What kind of sexist question is this and the one below based of 1 nation
My stance: yes
Denomination : yes
Clerical: yes


Are women allowed to drive?

My stance: yes
Denomination: yes
Clerical: yes

Are women allowed to serve in the army?

My stance: yes
Denomination: yes
Clerical: yes

 

[-COOLIO-]

For various muslim views on women I found this thread to be illuminating: http://m.neogaf.com/showthread.php?t=455916&page=1

edit: after reading through it again, i want to thank OttomanScribe for always having well written and thought out answers.

 

[SquiddyCracker]

BTW great thread, SquiddyBiscuit or whatever your name now is

Should we expect more biscuit nicknames?

SquiddyCracker!

Squidbiscuit was already taken, and I felt more like a cracker than a biscuit anyway.
Thanks for putting down what denomination of Islam you guys belong to, it will make for less confusion later on if I find contradictory answers.

 

[kurisu_1974]

He hath only forbidden you dead meat, and blood, and the flesh of swine, and that on which any other name hath been invoked besides that of Allah. But if one is forced by necessity, without wilful disobedience, nor transgressing due limits,- then is he guiltless. For Allah is Oft-forgiving Most Merciful" (Al-Baqara, 2:173).

This is why pigs are forbidden.

Still not a reason, just random rules without argumentation.

Oh wait, religion.

 

[dripdripsplash]

Multiple answers on Islamic questions

Thank you very much for taking your time to write this! I've learned a couple of new things!

Jazakallah Khair

 

[Terra Firma]

Still not a reason, just random rules without argumentation.

Oh wait, religion.

The point of most religions is obedience to God. I think it would have been clear by the fact that Muslims must pray 5 times a day, despite the fact that there is no obvious personal benefit.

 

[Joel Was Right]

As Muslims, how do you reconcile sensitive issues like the age of Aisha (r.a), and the death sentence for apostates, with your personal feelings. In other words, how do you feel about them: do you think apostates should be killed and would you reject a marriage proposal for your daughter if she were 10 on the basis of age

 

[Air]

Still not a reason, just random rules without argumentation.

Oh wait, religion.

Because they're dirty? And hey maybe that's a good thing because pigs are also quite intelligent! (Not a Muslim here)

 

[Ydahs]

You see, this thread doesn't work well because...

Not allowed.

And just for trivia, they actually suggesting human shouldn't be totally naked in sex activity.

The reasoning for this because they're not a animal and there's angel that witnessing your daily act.

... this makes it sound like what's being discussed is commonly accepted, though in reality, the above is rejected by the majority of Islamic schools. It's definitely not apart of 'mainstream' Islam.



Anyway, I'll have a shot at answering some questions. I'm non-practicing (some will consider me an apostate) so I won't associate myself with any groups and I'll try to be honest about it all. Like I said above, these answers don't represent Islam as a whole, it's just my understanding of it.

Are women allowed to work?
Of course, though it must be work that confines to Islamic regulation (this applies to men as well).

Are women allowed to drive?
Yep. The idea of a woman needing someone to accompany her dates back to pre-Islamic Arabia, where travelling from one village to another would often be dangerous, because you don't really know who or what you'd encounter crossing a desert. This ruling doesn't apply to driving a car in our era.

Are women allowed to serve in the army?
Yes. There are historically documented cases of women engaging in warfare and treating the wounded on the battlefield.



Is abortion permissible (please specify up to which week, month, trimester if yes)?
Yes, though under certain conditions. If a woman is in danger of losing her life, pregnant through rape or will give birth to an ill child, abortion is allowed as long as it's before a certain period (not sure).

Is contraception permissible?
Yes.

Is sex before marriage permissible for men?
Nope.

Is sex before marriage permissible for women?
Nope.



Are gay relationships devoid of sex permissible?
Hmm, I really don't know. I will say no, only because girlfriends and boyfriends are not allowed and I guess this is an extension of that.

Are gay relationships inclusive of sex permissible?
No.

Are gays allowed to marry?
No.



Is it permissible to consume pork?
If you need it to survive, yes.

Is it permissible to consume alcohol?
If you need it to survive (or medicinally), yes.

Is it permissible to cook your food in alcohol?
Nope.



Is it permissible for women to shave their leg/arm/chest/back hair?
Yes.

Is it permissible for men to shave their leg/arm/chest/back hair?
Yes, I think it's encouraged to shave the armpit and private areas because of cleanliness issues. So basically men can shave off everything except for the beard and eyelashes (and maybe eyebrows).



Should Haddiths be followed?
If they are deemed to be strong, yes. Though not following some hadiths doesn't mean a person is sinning, since hadiths don't always discuss what is right and what is wrong. Some might just be a recommendation or a guideline on how a person should live out his life.

Can parts of the Quran be ignored?
No, unless scholars have deemed it okay to do so. Some parts of the Quran override other parts because the Quran wasn't revealed at once. Some verses contradict others only because they applied to a different period of the Prophet's life and were only permissible under a particular situation.

Can some Haddiths be ignored?
See "should Haddiths be followed?".



Should muslims who criticize part of the Quran be punished?
This is an interesting one. I've heard from some that Muslims shouldn't criticize it, but the majority of people who I've spoken to say that criticism is a form of seeking knowledge, so if you have doubts with parts of the scripture, it is advised to seek clarification as to what it actually means. By ignoring the parts you have issues with, it leaves doubts in your heart about whether or not Islam is factual, though by bringing up your grievances, you're actually opening yourself to discussion about why you have these issues in the first place.



Should muslims who have turned atheist be punished, and if yes - how?
Islamically speaking? Unfortunately, the majority of answers I've heard is yes. How? I think it was usually by death if the person didn't repent after a certain number of days, but there's also the belief that they must only be killed if they begin to spread lies about the religion. This specific ruling is one of the major issues I have with the religion, for reasons which I've discussed before with athiests here on GAF. It's ironically one of the reasons why I'm not really practicing anymore.


edit: Parents are Sunni, so I guess I'll identify myself as so. I was born and raised in Australia with a Lebanese background.

 

[Magni]

lots of very informative answers

Thanks for taking the time to answer all of these! One that stuck me as odd was the armpit hair/pubic hair one. I guess I don't understand why it would be sinful to not shave your pits for six weeks. I can certainly understand it not being accepted culturally, but I have a hard time understanding why it is important religiously.

I think that's the main sticking point between Muslims and non-Muslims, there are so many material rules which, from a Western point of view, seem out of place in a religious setting. Of course that isn't exclusive to Islam, Judaism for example has even crazier food restrictions IIRC.

Why does Allah allow people to do so much but then forbid them from doing it? For example, oral sex between a married couple, whether it be fellatio or cunnilingus: what is the justification for that being sinful?

edit: unrelated from the above: would interest rates tied to inflation be haraam?

 

[Maninthemirror]

Still not a reason, just random rules without argumentation.

Oh wait, religion.

Here is an audio answer aside from the filth and medical argument http://www.askislam.org/practices/eating/question_1010.html

 

[SmokyDave]

Well that depends. Some passages are to get favor, but not necessarily bad if you don't follow it. Some passages are advice as well. The other extreme exist as well with violation of certain passages being irredeemable. Degrees of punishment is variable as well. You can have genuine remorse to avoid punishment. Going to hell isn't necessarily a permanent thing either. There's also a difference between punishment by God and what you can demand in real life(like in case of Murder). Being forgiving is a big part of Islam.

Cheers chap. I reckon I follow.

 

[SquiddyCracker]

You see, this thread doesn't work well because...



... this makes it sound like what's being discussed is commonly accepted, though in reality, the above is rejected by the majority of Islamic schools. It's definitely not apart of 'mainstream' Islam.

Which is why you should state what denomination of Islam you're part of or claim to speak for...

... which you didn't

I will be editing the answers posted in this thread into the OP, but only if the poster has provided a denomination/national background for their answers.

 

[kobashi100]

This is false. Although Islam emphasizes modesty, even in privacy, there is no requirement for a married couple to be fully clothed in each other's company at all times.

I'll provide answers from a Sunni standpoint:

Is it compulsory for women to wear a Niqab (Covers everything but eyes)?
Difference of opinion exists on this issue. Some scholars say yes, it is. Some say it is compulsory in a place where a woman's safety is feared. Others say it is not. The basis of this is from the hadeeth that describes how 'Aisha RA covered her face when a companion of the Prophet PBUH approached her when she was stranded alone in the desert.


Is it compulsory for women to wear a Hijab (Covers hair and neck)?
Yes. The Qur'an explicitly commands believing women to cover themselves. The minimum extent of coverage would only allow the face and the hands to be visible. Covering is only required in front of unrelated men, though.

Is it compulsory for women to wear a Burka (Covers everything, including eyes)?
No. But as with everything in the religion, circumstances shape obligations unless explicitly mentioned in the Qur'an and the hadeeth. Covering the eyes is not mentioned in the hadeeth, for example, but some scholars in certain areas recommend doing so. This has everything to do with the men in that particular society who cannot control themselves and nothing to do with the women themselves.

Do women have to pray in separate rooms as men?
No. In Makkah, there is no barrier separating the men and women either. The barrier came about during the caliphate of Umar RA because of circumstantial reasons. Men are obligated to pray at the mosque. Women are not. Also, children are usually in the care of women and it is considered disliked to forbidden (depending on opinion) to bring children younger than the age of 7 to the mosque. The reason a lot of mosques do have separate areas is because of not just convenience (as men are obligated to pray and women are not, entrance and space for men is more important than entrance and space for women) but also to prevent intermingling of the sexes.

Are women equal to men as legal witnesses?
This depends on the case. In some cases, yes. In others, no.

Are women allowed to work?
Yes. The wives of the Prophet PBUH ran their own businesses. The restrictions in some areas are only due to circumstance (or a misguided sense of 'protecting the women'), not something innate to the religion.

Are women allowed to drive?
Yes, they are. The opinion in Saudi Arabia is unique to the country. I suspect it is mostly due to the culture of the country rather than for any innately religious basis. Many women who wear the full face veil, for example, can be seen driving in many Muslim communities outside of Saudi Arabia.

Are women allowed to serve in the army?
Yes, but men are obligated to. Women are not obligated to.

Legal issues

Should thieves have their hands cut off?
Under Islamic shari'a, yes. The severity of the crime would warrant this but this is not the first penalty. So if you steal a loaf of bread, you don't lose your hands. The wronged party also always has the option to pardon or demand repayment in another form.

Should liars have their tongues cut off?
This also depends on the case. There is no explicit command to cut off a person's tongue but Islam follows Judaism in the concept of punishment, where an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, etc. are allowed. In cases of slander, cutting off the tongue has been a proscribed punishment but this is also found in other Middle Eastern communities, such as the Assyrian Christians of Iraq.

Should muslims who have converted to Christianity be punished, and if yes - how?
Should muslims who have converted to Judaism be punished, and if yes - how?
Should muslims who have converted to any non-Abrahemic religion be punished, and if yes - how?
Should muslims who have turned atheist be punished, and if yes - how?

The answers to all this are the same. Apostasy in Islam, under an Islamic shari'a, is akin to treason. A person renouncing Islam is the same as someone renouncing the Constitution of the US. The punishment is death. In the Hanafi school of jurisprudence, the apostate woman can be imprisoned instead of being put to death.

The same punishment applies to political traitors, being those that still accept Islam but side with the enemies of Muslims to kill Muslims.

Should atheists be punished for being atheists, and if yes - how?
Should Christians be punished for being Christians, and if yes - how?
Should Jews be punished for being Jews, and if yes - how?
Should individuals subscribing to non-Abrahemic religions be punished for subscribing to non-Abrahemic religions, and if yes - how?

There is no punishment for being non-Muslim as opposed to apostatizing to a non-Islamic religion. Under an Islamic state, non-Muslims are not considered citizens as they do not adhere to the Islamic "constitution", which means the shari'a. Their only obligation to the Muslims is payment of the jizyah, a poll tax, provided they can afford it and provided they are males (women, children, elderly, and the poor are exempt from the jizyah). They can be exempted from this by serving in the Muslim army. On the other hand, Muslims cannot be exempt from the zakat tax.

Non-Muslims have their own legal systems, their own courts, their own prisons, etc. Non-Muslim communities flourished under Muslim rule as long as the shari'a was in place.

Should muslims who criticize part of the Quran be punished?
The Qur'an is the literal word of God. If a "Muslim" criticizes the Qur'an in a manner that negates part of it, then that "Muslim" must repent from this and reproclaim the testament of faith. Otherwise, he has apostatized. Criticism naturally entails that there is some doubt as to the veracity of the message.

Criticising ideas some have derived from the Qur'an, however, is highly praised, especially if done well. Scholarly debates in Islam are usually about just that (and Islam has a healthy history of intrareligious debate).

Should atheists who criticize part of the Quran be punished?
Should Christians who criticize part of the Quran be punished?
Should Jews who criticize part of the Quran be punished?
Should others who criticize part of the Quran be punished?

No. Non-Muslims under Muslim rule criticized the Qur'an but were not punished for it. Non-Muslims can even insult Allah without fear of reprisal. Muslims are forbidden from insulting the gods of other religions, though. The only thing that Muslims won't tolerate is insulting the Prophet PBUH. Why? Because when one insults God, God has the right to seek retribution Himself, whereas when one insults the Prophet PBUH, the Prophet PBUH does not have this ability.

Is secularism compatible with Islam?
To an extent, yes, which means that a person can be Muslim and live in a secular country without him trying to change it. But in the long term, no, it is not, because Islam is a way of life, which includes politics. If a country is majority Muslim, some Muslims must strive for the establishment of Islamic law as the law of the land.

Is freedom of press compatible with Islam?
Yes. The caliph and the shoora are not some sort of divinely appointed party.

Is religious freedom compatible with Islam?
Islam does not allow people to convert out of it. It also does not allow non-Muslims to preach their religion to those of other religions. That means that Christians cannot send missionaries to convert Muslims/Jews. As for non-Muslims proselytizing to other non-Muslims of a different religion, that would depend on the laws of the religion being targeted for preaching. Remember, each religion or ideology is allowed to practice its own laws under and Islamic government.

Is free speech compatible with Islam?
Carte blanche free speech is not compatible with Islam.

Theology
Should Haddiths be followed?
Yes. The ahadeeth (sing. hadeeth) are graded depending on their authenticity, though. Some ahadeeth are found to be authentic if there is a continuous chain with completely trustworthy narrators. Others are not as authentic if they contain someone with a poor memory or if someone was relatively aged by the time they narrated the hadeeth. Some are deemed inauthentic if any one person in a chain is known to be a liar. The science of hadeeth is extensive. Furthermore, some ahadeeth are ranked as "tawattur", which is the same status as the Qur'an in terms of chain of transmission. This means that there is not even a shadow of a doubt in their authenticity. If someone denies them, they might as well deny the Qur'an.

Is the Quran without flaws?
Yes. The Qur'an is the literal word of God, preserved and protected since revelation.

Can parts of the Quran be ignored?
No. Everything in the Qur'an has a context and cannot be taken in a vacuum. Those who do so are in essence rejecting ahadeeth. Those who reject ahadeeth overall are also considered expelled from Islam.

Can some Haddiths be ignored?
See above.

Sex and social issues

Is abortion permissible (please specify up to which week, month, trimester if yes)?
Yes, only if there is danger to the mother. Otherwise, no.

Is contraception permissible?
Yes. Almost every form of contraception is permissible.

Is sex before marriage permissible for men?
No.

Is sex before marriage permissible for women?
No.

Are gay relationships devoid of sex permissible?
Legally and technically, yes.

Are gay relationships inclusive of sex permissible?
No.

Are gays allowed to marry?
No. Marriage in Islam is not the same as marriage in the West. The husband has the obligation to maintain his wife. The wife has no such obligation. How would this work in a male/male relationship?

Are gay couples allowed to adopt children?
If by "gay couples", you mean men or women who cohabit without sex, then yes.

A note on homosexuality:
It isn't homosexuality that is prohibited in Islam, as some people have these urges and others do not. It is acting upon them. Sodomy is not allowed in Islam, whether between a male and female or a male and a male. Also, note that sodomy is not restricted to anal intercourse.

Is anal sex permissible for hetereosexual couples?
No.

Is oral sex permissible for hetereosexual couples?
No.

Is non-missionary style sex permissible for hetereosexual couples?
Yes.

Is masturbation for pleasure permissible in Islam?
No. The only exception would be if someone is unable to control himself and comes to the brink of committing extramarital or premarital sex.

There's a general rule in Islam: under extreme circumstances, many things that are forbidden become permissible. For example, pork becomes permissible if a person has no food and is starving.

Is in-vitro fertilization acceptable?
Yes.

Is selective abortion acceptable (to determine gender)?
See above. Abortion is not acceptable unless the mother's life is in danger.

And what do you mean by "to determine gender"?

Is selective abortion acceptable (for the purpose of removing genetic and other diseases/deformities)?
See above. Abortion is not acceptable unless the mother's life is in danger.

Is Human genetic engineering acceptable?
Still under debate. Personally, I believe eugenics to be morally reprehensible if used for determining aesthetic features, like skin/eye/hair colour. If it is used to prevent disease, such as genetically eliminating cystic fibrosis in utero, then there is no harm.

Misc.

Are interest rates un-Islamic?
Yes. Interest is worse than premarital/extramarital sex. Interest, in a ranking of sin, is worse than even incest. The reason is that extramarital affairs may destroy families, but interest destroys societies. The current financial crisis can easily be seen as an outcome of an interest based economy.

Are dogs allowed as outdoor pets?
Yes.

Are dogs allowed as indoor pets?
Depends on the school of thought. The Malikis allow this; the other schools do not.

Are pigs allowed as indoor pets
Are pigs allowed as outdoor pets?

Pigs are unclean animals. The less one has to deal with them, the better. We are not even allowed to wear clothing or items made of pig skin.

Is it permissible to consume pork?

No, extreme circumstances notwithstanding.

Is it permissible to consume alcohol?

No, extreme circumstances notwithstanding.

Is it permissible to cook your food in alcohol?

No.

Is it permissible for men to pluck their eyebrows?

No. Unibrows, where a bridge of hair forms between the two eyebrows are not considered part of the eyebrow and can be removed.

Is it permissible for women to pluck their eyebrows?

No. The only exception would be if not doing so would make the woman undesirable to her husband.

Is it permissible for women to shave their leg/arm/chest/back hair?

Yes.

Is it permissible for men to shave their leg/arm/chest/back hair?

Yes, but it is not recommended.

A closing note on the legal system of Islam

In the legal system of Islam for the most part, actions are divided into a broad range of categories:

1. Obligatory, undeniable (fardh) -> meaning that the action is obligatory and to deny the obligation is to deny the religion itself; fasting in the month of Ramadhan falls under this. Note that it isn't that not doing the action expels one from Islam; so if a person does not fast in Ramadhan without a valid excuse, that person is still a Muslim but a grave sinner. If the person denies the obligation of fasting altogether, then that person has rejected Islam.

2. Obligatory, deniable (wajib) -> meaning that the action is obligatory but its obligation can be denied, based on scholarly differences. For example, there is an extra prayer in the night prayer called the "Witr" prayer. In the Hanafi school of jurisprudence, this prayer is obligatory. If someone denies this obligation, then they are not considered expelled from the religion nor are they considered sinful if they have evidence. The other 3 schools of thought and the Salafis in general do not consider Witr to be obligatory, for example.

3. Recommended (sunnah) -> these can be further subdivided into muakkadah (strongly recommended) and ghair muakkadah (desired). These are derived strictly from prophetic actions as well as the actions of the companions of the Prophet PBUH. These do not include things that the Prophet PBUH commanded be done (these would be obligatory actions). An example would be to fast Mondays and Thursdays. The Prophet PBUH did this but did not command others to do so. Another example would be the late night prayer (tahajjud); the Prophet PBUH did this but it is not obligatory for anyone. Another category, mustahabb, which means desired or liked action, may not necessarily find direct evidence in the Qur'an or hadeeth or the sunnah at large, but may be derived based on the 'spirit' of the narrations. For example, it may be considered mustahabb to do things in threes unless otherwise specified.

4. Optional (nafl) -> these are actions that are supererogatory actions that are extensions of the sunnah actions. For example, to fast on a Wednesday would be considered nafl. Sometimes the recommended actions are seen as a subcategory of optional (nafl) actions.

5. Permissible (mubah) -> these are actions that are permissible, such as reading a book or writing or going out for dinner, etc. There is no inherent reward or sin attached to any of these actions. It is intent that can make any of these actions into rewarding or sinful. For example, going out to dinner with the family with the intention to bring them together and increase love for one another is rewarding. On the other hand, going out clubbing is sinful.

6. Disliked (makrooh) -> these actions can be further subdivided into tahreema (close to prohibition) and tanzeeha (not as bad). These are actions that are not necessarily sinful but may be if repeated. An example would be to continuously and willfully omit sunnah actions. Another example would be to not remove the arm pits and pubic hairs. The latter can even become prohibited and sinful if the person does not remove them for 40 days or if they get longer than a grain of rice (whichever comes first).

7. Forbidden (haraam) -> these include things like drinking alcohol, lying, murder, etc. Some come with punishments, some do not. For example, not praying 5 times a day is haraam, but there is no specified punishment for this. Also, for almost any crime where another party is wronged, the maximum penalty that is afforded to the wronged party is what is specified. For example, if a man murders his neighbour, the neighbour's family has the option to have the man executed but that is the most extreme permissible option available to the family. Families can also get blood money, seek imprisonment of the murderer, or even forgive the murderer. Interest, and usury in general, is also forbidden.

Not everything is black and white in Islam. You'll sometimes even get remarkably different answers depending on which school of thought one adheres to, the scholar the question is asked to, etc. but there are some set rules and those are the ones explicitly mentioned in the Qur'an.

Great answers bro.

I am pretty sure though that in an Islamic state, non Muslims are citizens of the state. Yes they are required to pay the jizyah but they are not seen as some bogus group that have no rights.

There is examples of non Muslims challenging the caliph and winning in islamic history. Non Muslims can be employed in government positions also under the rule of a caliphate.

 

[Terra Firma]

Thanks for taking the time to answer all of these! One that stuck me as odd was the armpit hair/pubic hair one. I guess I don't understand why it would be sinful to not shave your pits for six weeks. I can certainly understand it not being accepted culturally, but I have a hard time understanding why it is important religiously.

The reason for that is cleanliness is a prerequisite for almost any form of worship in Islam except dhikr (verbal remembrance of God, excluding the Qur'an). A person whose armpit and/or pubic hair as well as nails are left untended for 40 days or until specific lengths is considered unclean until these issues are rectified. Thus the sin comes into play.

I think that's the main sticking point between Muslims and non-Muslims, there are so many material rules which, from a Western point of view, seem out of place in a religious setting. Of course that isn't exclusive to Islam, Judaism for example has even crazier food restrictions IIRC.

Most religions presuppose the existence of God and that God has absolute dominion over all creation. His rules are meant to be followed as a sign of obedience. Why do Muslims pray 5 times a day or fast an entire month in Ramadhan? The short answer is obedience to God.

Why does Allah allow people to do so much but then forbid them from doing it? For example, oral sex between a married couple, whether it be fellatio or cunnilingus: what is the justification for that being sinful?

The mouth is a tool that is supposed to be used for good actions, like speaking the truth or against tyranny, to remember God, to send salutations upon the Prophet PBUH, to recite the Qur'an, to perform prayers, etc. To use the mouth as a sex object is to degrade it.

This ruling is derived by scholars using a technique called "qiyas", which is similar to "analogy". In Islam, rules are derived based on four primary sources, with ascending importance (e.g. anything that is found to contradict number 1 from numbers 2, 3, and 4 is rejected; anything found to contradict 2 but not 1 from 3 and 4 is rejected; whereas anything found to contradict 3 from 2 and 1 is accepted and overrules what is found through 3)

1. Qur'an - the word of God
2. Sunnah - the words and actions of the Prophet PBUH
3. Ijma' - the consensus of the companions of the Prophet PBUH and the scholars of each generation
4. Qiyas - using analogy to extrapolate the rulings derived from 1, 2, and 3.

edit: unrelated from the above: would interest rates tied to inflation be haraam?

I don't understand what this means (I'm not good with finances, sorry). Basically, any time you are paying or taking more than you gave out without earning it would be considered usury. A lottery where you have to buy a ticket would, for example, also be considered usury.

 

[ReadingRambo]

Based on the answers Terra Firma gave above, and based upon my knowledge of the religion prior I can conclude that Islam is wholly incompatible with anything resembling a free and equal society. The religion is intolerant of so many different groups of people. That anyone could defend the religion in this day and age baffles me.

 

[Ydahs]

As Muslims, how do you reconcile sensitive issues like the age of Aisha (r.a), and the death sentence for apostates, with your personal feelings. In other words, how do you feel about them: do you think apostates should be killed and would you reject a marriage proposal for your daughter if she were 10 on the basis of age

Even though I have issues regarding the religion, the Aisha one isn't really much of an issue to me, only because I'm not equating the standards of today's society regarding both the concept of marriage and the age of marriage to one from 1400 years ago. Oh, and anyone proposing to my daughter (if I'm ever blessed with one!) at such an age will be introduced to my fist.

Regarding apostasy, well as I mentioned above, I am already considered an apostate in some circles, so I wouldn't really want to be killed. The thing is, I've seen people 'leave' Islam, only to come back to it years later. If those people were killed, they'd have been killed as an atheist, though if they were to die today, they'll die as a Muslim, only because they had the time to re-assess their lives and determine whether or not Islam was truly right for them. So no, I definitely feel that an apostate should not be killed.

Which is why you should state what denomination of Islam you're part of or claim to speak for...

... which you didn't

I will be editing the answers posted in this thread into the OP, but only if the poster has provided a denomination/national background for their answers.

My bad. I didn't really want to be seen as part of a sect, but I'll put it down anyway.

 

[RustyNails]

More importantly was Prophet Muhammad (S) a cat person or a dog person?

 

[Terra Firma]

Great answers bro.

I am pretty sure though that in an Islamic state, non Muslims are citizens of the state. Yes they are required to pay the jizyah but they are not seen as some bogus group that have no rights.

There is examples of non Muslims challenging the caliph and winning in islamic history. Non Muslims can be employed in government positions also under the rule of a caliphate.

Non-Muslims are like permanent residents. They have rights, yes, but they are not citizens, as citizens have equal rights and non-Muslims do not have the same rights as Muslims.

This does not mean that Muslims have more rights. In fact, Muslims tend to have fewer rights, especially if the non-Muslim in question are Atheists or follow a religion that have no set of laws.

For example, able Muslim men can never be exempted from military service, even if they are poor. Non-Muslim men can be exempted if they pay the jizyah. If they cannot afford the jizyah, they are also exempt. Muslims also must pay the zakat, both men and women. Non-Muslim women are exempt from the zakat as well as the jizyah.

The status of a non-citizen under an Islamic caliphate is higher than that of a non-citizen in un-Islamic forms of government, which is why you see many non-Muslims reach high echelons of power in Muslim governments. Many non-Muslims even served as personal physicians of the caliph himself.

 

[curlyfriski]

Based on the answers Terra Firma gave above, and based upon my knowledge of the religion prior I can conclude that Islam is wholly incompatible with anything resembling a free and equal society. The religion is intolerant of so many different groups of people. That anyone could defend the religion in this day and age baffles me.

The world is a large place.

 

[Dyno]

All I see is rules, rules, rules.

Well, have fun with all those rules.

 

[Ydahs]

More importantly was Prophet Muhammad (S) a cat person or a dog person?

Definitely a cat person. No joke.

 

[Maninthemirror]

Denomination : Ahmadi muslim

Here are answers to different questions (all in audio format)

Are Muslims allowed to keep dogs?
http://www2.alislam.org/askislam/mp3/MEI_19850222_05.mp3

By what laws should non muslims be governed in a muslim country
http://www2.alislam.org/askislam/mp3/MEI_19850517_04.mp3

Is animal experimentation a sin?
http://www2.alislam.org/askislam/mp3/MEI_19850813_04.mp3

What are the rights of illegitimate children in Islam
http://www2.alislam.org/askislam/mp3/MEI_19860124_01.mp3

Does Islam condemn racial supremacy in society?
http://www2.alislam.org/askislam/mp3/MEI_19841024_01.mp3

Are Muslim men and women allowed to shake hands with each other?
http://www2.alislam.org/askislam/mp3/MEI_19870609_02.mp3

How should muslims interact with non muslims in society
http://www2.alislam.org/askislam/mp3/MEI_19910505_08.mp3


Does our denomination support the fatwas against Salman Rushdie
http://www2.alislam.org/askislam/mp3/EMQ_19960324_03.mp3

Should religious doctrine be taught in school?
http://www2.alislam.org/askislam/mp3/EMQ_19960421_04.mp3

Does Islam permit abortion and if so under what conditions?
http://www2.alislam.org/askislam/mp3/EMQ_19960225_05.mp3

 

[Terra Firma]

Based on the answers Terra Firma gave above, and based upon my knowledge of the religion prior I can conclude that Islam is wholly incompatible with anything resembling a free and equal society. The religion is intolerant of so many different groups of people. That anyone could defend the religion in this day and age baffles me.

Yes, Islam is incompatible with absolute freedom and complete equality. Too bad nature is the same. Islam only tries to compensate where nature made us unequal. Women are physically weaker than men. Islam provides ways to protect women from predators who take advantage of this biological fact.

What I find odd about a lot of people attacking Islam is that they judge the religion based on their sense of morality. Guess what? Your sense of morality is shaped by society. You think men and women are equal? Then why are most rapists men? Why are men more involved in homicide? Why are women more likely to commit suicide? Why are men expected to provide child support even if the man did not want the woman to have the child?

Also, can you please tell me what "different groups of people" Islam is intolerant towards? Do you even know what intolerance is?

Islam gives different rights to different people. No one has more right than the other if one is a Muslim - and this is the case with any religion, where believers are superior to the non-believers. But even then, non-Muslims (and thus, non-citizens) are provided greater rights than non-citizens living in secular democracies.

 

[Air]

All I see is rules, rules, rules.

Well, have fun with all those rules.

Everyone's gotta have a code.

Also if you are coming to a thread that asks what the rules of Islam are, and you say all you see are rules, than I don't think this thread is for you.

 

[Joel Was Right]

More importantly was Prophet Muhammad (S) a cat person or a dog person?

He was nice to both but favoured cats. He made wudhu with the same jug of water a cat drank from

 

[RustyNails]

Definitely a cat person. No joke.

I thought the story about his pet cat Muezza was fabricated? I couldn't find it in hadiths.

He was nice to both but favoured cats. He made wudhu with the same jug of water a cat drank from

Cool. Didn't know this.

 

[Terra Firma]

He was nice to both but favoured cats. He made wudhu with the same jug of water a cat drank from

A prostitute was granted jannah (paradise) for simply giving water to a thirsty dog.

 

[WorriedCitizen]

How common is it for muslims to greet infidels with their "shit hand"? (i saw this in a documentary). What's your personal opinion about it and what do the imams in your sect of islam recommend? Do and if yes what says the quran or the hadiths about it?