Is Islam a universal religion.

[Jainarayan]

i dont beleive so for the reason that some of its practices are against modern societal norms

eg, polygamy is against the law in many countries

im sure there are a few other things the religion allows which is against the laws of many lands (hitting your wife for example)
Killing your enemy is another example.

So no, if it can't be universally expressed, then its not a universal religion.

I don't believe that polygamy is rooted in the religion, but in culture. If it were a religious requirement, every monogamous Muslim man would be sinning. Honor killings are also, I believe, cultural and not religious. Btw, the Old Testament not only condones killing one's enemies, but demands it. Yet Judaism and Christianity hold this text as religious canon.

 

[Jainarayan]

And if they are only allowed to pray in Arabic, what then??? If they dont know Arabic, how do they pray?

Everyone memorizes the Qur'an in Arabic. Whether they understand Arabic or not is a different issue.

We recite chapters of the Qur'an during our daily prayers. It's the fact that Islam goes by only one language that it makes it more plausible to be universal other than Islam saying so.

The same can be said of Sanskrit and Vedic chants and mantras. I doubt many Hindus understand very much of the Sanskrit texts, but it's the energy and vibrations of the sounds that connect with the divine. This is because Hindus believe the Vedas were revealed to the sages in Sanskrit. The Lotus Sutra, a Buddhist text, is memorized and chanted thought the practitioner may not understand the words. It's the sound and that one is chanting or praying from a holy text that matters.

 

[Assad91]

It is universal in the fact anyone can come and be a muslim.

 

[Revoltingest]

It is universal in the fact anyone can come and be a muslim.

Since I believe things contrary to Islam, I cannot become a Muslim.
Thus, it is not universal.

By your line of reasoning though, Xianity, Hinduism, Judaism, Scientology & Buddhism every bit as universal as Islam.
Btw, I cannot join them either. More conflicts with beliefs & non-beliefs, you know.

 

[Assad91]

Since I believe things contrary to Islam, I cannot become a Muslim.
Thus, it is not universal.

By your line of reasoning though, Xianity, Hinduism, Judaism, Scientology & Buddhism every bit as universal as Islam.
Btw, I cannot join them either. More conflicts with beliefs & non-beliefs, you know.

And?

Has Islam made the claim to be the only universal religion? No? Okay... so your point is?

 

[Revoltingest]

And?

Has Islam made the claim to be the only universal religion? No? Okay... so your point is?

And what? I finished the post.

My main point is that Islam is not a universal religion.
(I thought I was pretty clear about that.)

 

[Assad91]

My main point is that Islam is not a universal religion.
(I thought I was pretty clear about that.)

And how? Because you can't be muslim as your beliefs contradict Islam? I thought you was just being irelevant.

How again, does that in itself contradict with that I said? That Islam is universal in that anyone can become a muslim if they wish to. As in, drop their original beliefs or lack of beliefs, for Islamic beliefs? ( I thought that was pretty clear in the "become muslim" part.)

 

[Revoltingest]

And how? Because you can't be muslim as your beliefs contradict Islam? I thought you was just being irelevant.

I am irrelevant, but this is irrelevant.

How again, does that in itself contradict with that I said? That Islam is universal in that anyone can become a muslim if they wish to. As in, drop their original beliefs or lack of beliefs, for Islamic beliefs? ( I thought that was pretty clear in the "become muslim" part.)

If universality is defined this way, then it's moot to say Islam (or any other religion not based upon immutable personal characteristics) is universal.
A more interesting line of thought would be to ask which religions are not universal?

 

[YmirGF]

I am irrelevant, but this is irrelevant.

If universality is defined this way, then it's moot to say Islam (or any other religion not based upon immutable personal characteristics) is universal.
A more interesting line of thought would be to ask which religions are not universal?

Precisely. At that stage what isn't universal? It's always fun to watch self-nullifying ideas in action though.

 

[Matthew78]

Well, is it?

It depends on what people mean by "universal". What is a "universal" religion? Now I know of some Christian sects which are considered heretical by mainstream conservative Christian sects. One of these are "universalist" Christian churches. They believe that in end, everyone winds up in heaven and no one goes to hell. If "universal" is taken to mean something that applies universally to all human beings, I think Islam definitely qualifies as such. It looks at all human beings as brothers and sisters and all human beings, once they enter into Islam, are all seen as equal members of a spiritual and universal brother/sisterhood.

 

[YmirGF]

It looks at all human beings as brothers and sisters and all human beings, once they enter into Islam, are all seen as equal members of a spiritual and universal brother/sisterhood.

It is amusing that an exclusive club is somehow universal.

 

[darkendless]

It is best to know what is being spoken yes. But it is not necessary.

Seems to defeat the purpose if you don't know what you're praying for and for what reason though right?

 

[Gharib]

Seems to defeat the purpose if you don't know what you're praying for and for what reason though right?

The daily prayers which are done only in Arabic purify the person, have his small sins forgiven and gets rewarded for obedience to God (i.e worshiping him). The reason we do it is because of the aforementioned benefits (among others) and because God says so.

That kind of explains the 'what for'.

Our daily prayers are the same for everyone, if anyone wishes to ask (supplicate to) God for something then this is done before or after these prayers. It can be done in any language and by anyone. It can also be done at only one time during the prayer, in a state of prostration where one's forehead is on the ground. The closest we are to God is when we prostrate to him.

A supplication and a ritual are two different things.

 

[Pegg]

Arabic is the language of Islam. That is the language that the Qur'an was revealed.

Are you saying that God should have revealed Islam in all languages?

The whole point of something being universal is to unite all people in some way and in this case, it is a language that unites Muslims.

It doesnt matter what language a message was first given in, but for that message to be universal it 'needs' to be heard in all languages....otherwise its not really universal.

Every mosque makes the call to prayer in Arabic and there are a billion Muslims who don't know Arabic but they all know the call to prayer. It is a universal thing. Had the call to prayer been in every language then every person would need to know every language to be able to get along with other Muslims.

if people from all lanaguages could learn the Quran in their own language, then people from all languages are more likely to become muslim

shouldn't that be the goal of a universal religion???

 

[darkendless]

The daily prayers which are done only in Arabic purify the person, have his small sins forgiven and gets rewarded for obedience to God (i.e worshiping him). The reason we do it is because of the aforementioned benefits (among others) and because God says so.

That kind of explains the 'what for'.

Our daily prayers are the same for everyone, if anyone wishes to ask (supplicate to) God for something then this is done before or after these prayers. It can be done in any language and by anyone. It can also be done at only one time during the prayer, in a state of prostration where one's forehead is on the ground. The closest we are to God is when we prostrate to him.

A supplication and a ritual are two different things.

Makes sense, thanks

 

[Sha'irullah]

It doesnt matter what language a message was first given in, but for that message to be universal it 'needs' to be heard in all languages....otherwise its not really universal.

if people from all lanaguages could learn the Quran in their own language, then people from all languages are more likely to become muslim

shouldn't that be the goal of a universal religion???

Having been a Muslim I will tell you that the Qur'an cannot be understood in all languages as I had to learn Arabic to even fathom its glory.
The Qur'an is not written in a pure form and it is hard to understand english translation because all of in which are biased and often inaccurate.
The Qur'an itself states it is only meant for the Arabs in Surat Yusef.

It is not as universal as you think it is. I myself still pray in Arabic out of habit but I fully understand that it is not something that can be grasped by everybody.

 

[LuisDantas]

Nope, it isn't, despite its own best intentions.

The demand for belief in God is in and of itself a deal-breaker.

 

[Assad91]

The Qur'an itself states it is only meant for the Arabs in Surat Yusef.

Where?

 

[F0uad]

Where?

Yes please.. where, because the majority that are Muslims are from Asia.

 

[LuisDantas]

Maybe he means that the Arabic language is indispensable for Islamic practice?