Political/Religious Question

[Jester]

Hi. The majority of arguments I have with people online (at least nowadays) are not over religion, but despite my actual nationality I have a particularly heavy interest in American politics. This often results in some complete ponces telling me how their religion makes them so much better than both atheists and, naturally for them, Muslims.
I actually often find myself defending a religion I don't know much about. Islam in its basic forms seems to me as much more peaceful than Christianity, but they keep saying that "Mohammad was a warlord, not a prophet" and "Islam is not peaceful, it is a religion of hate" and such and such. Basic Christian bigotry.
So my posed question is how would you guys defend the Qur'an, Mohammad and Islam in general?

 

[F0uad]

Simply just look at all the records put therm in context instead of cherry picking.

 

[Aamer]

[60:8] God does not prohibit you from those who have not fought you because of your faith, nor drove you out of your homes, that you deal kindly and equitably with them. For God loves the equitable.

All the "violent" verses Christians love to quote from Quran... They are talking about defending yourself IF someone is kicking you out of your homes or keeping you from practicing your religion. Quran does not allow violence unless you are defending yourself against oppression. Peace.

 

[Pastek]

I actually often find myself defending a religion I don't know much about. Islam in its basic forms seems to me as much more peaceful than Christianity, but they keep saying that "Mohammad was a warlord, not a prophet" and "Islam is not peaceful, it is a religion of hate" and such and such. Basic Christian bigotry.
So my posed question is how would you guys defend the Qur'an, Mohammad and Islam in general?

Some people are just ignorants, or they have an agenda.
In the same time, everybody is free to believe what he wants. He they don't believe that Muhammad was a messenger, its their belief.

I think the problem come from the Medias. They always point what it's wrong in the Islam society. It's tjeir job to show the reality, but sometimes they exagerate and they just show the negativity.

They always show the poverty, the extremists ... of course people think we are violent and uneducated/astray

It's different in Europe, because here people know many muslims, and they travel to muslims countries for their holidays. But in the US, it's completely different.
They heard about Islam with the 9/11

So my posed question is how would you guys defend the Qur'an, Mohammad and Islam in general?

It's very rare that someone ask me a question about my faith.
I've found people very open and friendly. So, i didn't had to defend my religion.

I think the best thing to do is talking peacefully and just be a good person.

 

[Rational_Mind]

Hi. The majority of arguments I have with people online (at least nowadays) are not over religion, but despite my actual nationality I have a particularly heavy interest in American politics. This often results in some complete ponces telling me how their religion makes them so much better than both atheists and, naturally for them, Muslims.
I actually often find myself defending a religion I don't know much about. Islam in its basic forms seems to me as much more peaceful than Christianity, but they keep saying that "Mohammad was a warlord, not a prophet" and "Islam is not peaceful, it is a religion of hate" and such and such. Basic Christian bigotry.
So my posed question is how would you guys defend the Qur'an, Mohammad and Islam in general?

A couple of points:

1. Allegations raised today are the exact same allegations raised 1400 yrs back. Literally nothing is new. Literally not a single allegation is new.

2. All allegations against Islam and the Holy Prophet (saw) have been answered in the Holy Quran. It address allegations from perspective of Idol Worshiping Religions, past Abraham Religions, and those who have not recognized God in this life.

3. Unfortunately sometimes it is also Muslims who have taken up certain views that open ground to allegations. Unfortunately such views are not from the Quran and cannot be found from careful analysis of Hadith. For example, some Muslims today state that the Holy Prophet (saw) took up arms when he had the power, but didn't do it earlier because he was weak. Some have stated that Quranic verses on peace are abrogated. Some allegations take root here and cause harm to those Muslims who have actually stayed true to the source of Islamic Teachings. So to judge a religion one should judge it by its scripture, or else every religion is open ground to attacks based on selfish groups claiming to belong to a certain religion.

4. In the Quran we understand that all Prophets of God were righteous people. Unfortunately this view is not in other religious scriptures (in our view, due to alterations made).

For example, in order for Jews to prove that they are on the correct path they have to explain why Jesus (as) and Muhammad (saw) were false Prophets (God Forbid), since in our view there is no truth to it, baseless allegations are made. They also attack the character of all prior Prophets except for Moses (as) to show him as superior.

Similarly Christians to prove themselves as truthful have to attack the character of all other Prophets in the Bible, and the Holy Prophet (saw) and show that Jesus (as) was only person free of sin being a son of God (God Forbid). Again in our view, since there is no material to go on they fabricate and distort to prove their points.

In the case of Muslims, I think you should judge from the Quran. It has cleared EVERY single Prophet of these false allegations. It has honored the Jesus (as), Moses (as), and other Prophets not mentioned elsewhere. The Quran has specifically gone and cleared may Prophets of false allegations put in the Bible, and specifically related instances mentioned therein and given LOGICAL arguments to prove their truth. A truthful religion does not need to attack the character of the founders of other religions to prove themselves better.

Now look at the situation of righteous Muslims who follow the Quran word to word. We are obliged to never ever disrespect the founders of any Religion. Even so far that we are told not to insult false Gods because in return the disbelievers will insult God. We are strapped to have to resort to truth, we cannot do character assassinations as we take Prophets of God as righteous people and hold great respect for them. From the Ahmadiyya Perspective this includes people who we consider as Prophets such as (Buddha (as), Confucius (as), Krishna (as), and other well known figures who were Prophets of God who of some have been taken as God just as Jesus (as) was.)

5. Here is a new website that specifically went up for one and only one purpose. To respond to the assassination attempts on the character of the Holy Prophet (saw). Muhammad Fact Check | Muhammad Fact Check

They have answered 25 baseless allegations here and continue to upload more. It has grown from only a month old. They are basically trying to now database all the allegations and their responses we have collected over the years and put them in one place.

 

[OurCreed]

Good response Rational Mind.

Also, God has decreed certain events during the Prophet's (saw) life to refute the future allegations that people will bring forth.

There is one account that refutes THREE big false allegations.

People today claim that Muhammad (saw) was greedy for wealth, wanted power, and also was some womanizer.

This one story refutes all three of those senseless and baseless allegations.

During the time of the Holy Prophet (saw) in Mecca, many people were becoming Muslims and this angered the Meccan leaders, they wanted to put a stop to Muhammad's (saw) preaching.

So one day, the leaders told the Prophet's (saw) uncle, Abu Talib (ra) that the Meccan leaders would give Muhammad (saw) three things in order to stop his preaching.

1. They would give Muhammad (saw) all of their wealth and belongings.
2. They would give all the beautiful women to him.
3. They would make him the ruler and chief of Mecca.

All of these in order to stop preaching Islam.

Abu Talib (ra) went to the Prophet (saw) and told him this.

The Prophet (saw) replied, "Even if they put the Sun on my right hand, and the Moon on my left hand, I will not give up preaching the message of Islam and the message of One God."

 

[seeking4truth]

Islam would never have survived and thrived if it had been forced on people by violence.

An oft quoted remark is that 'swords can bend heads but not hearts'.

Religions do have an effect on people's lives for the better when followed in their original form and that is why they remain long after any 'conquerors' pass on.

 

[yoda89]

I have a few questions about the Quran and Islamic beliefs.

Reading it over I am having a hard time understanding where Islamic beliefs lay within how man was created? There seem to be many descriptions throughout the Quran about the creation. Some stating that he came from nowhere. Some state that he came from Clay, dust and others of blood? Which is the common belief or do they differ based on sect?

Where is Muhammad placed among prophets? Is he simply a prophet a higher prophet. This question derives from different passages stating who was the first Muslim. Is there a common belief on who was the first Muslim?

Does Allah forgive for worshiping false God's I found which passage that said he did not and one that said he did. Are there more than these or is one more predominate than the other to be considered more of the truth?

Is wine consumption looked upon as good or bad?

 

[Rational_Mind]

I have a few questions about the Quran and Islamic beliefs.

Reading it over I am having a hard time understanding where Islamic beliefs lay within how man was created? There seem to be many descriptions throughout the Quran about the creation. Some stating that he came from nowhere. Some state that he came from Clay, dust and others of blood? Which is the common belief or do they differ based on sect?

Where is Muhammad placed among prophets? Is he simply a prophet a higher prophet. This question derives from different passages stating who was the first Muslim. Is there a common belief on who was the first Muslim?

Does Allah forgive for worshiping false God's I found which passage that said he did not and one that said he did. Are there more than these or is one more predominate than the other to be considered more of the truth?

Is wine consumption looked upon as good or bad?

Most Orthodox Muslims believe in a creationism concept with a few differences such as the belief that mankind was not created in 6000 yrs.

Ahmadi Muslims assert that the Holy Quran teaches that mankind evolved from lower forms. In fact the term Rabb (God) means one who creates in stages. We believe in an evolution that was not haphazard but rather guided by God. For a better understanding of creation from clay I would highly highly recommend the following section from this book. I will try to address your question regarding creation from different substances by addressing the verses directly in a new thread.

The belief of most Muslims except for the exception of a few (Quran-Alone) believe that Holy Prophet (saw) attained the highest perfection in Prophethood. Muslims Saints of the past and Ahmadi Muslims today profess that Quran has given the title of Seal of Prophets to Holy Prophet (saw) which means the best of Prophets. For Non-Muslims this can be simply understood from the fact that Holy Prophet (saw) was the only Prophet chosen to be sent to all of mankind while in the past Islam was revealed in stages by Prophets sent to particular nations only.

The term Muslim can be taken as the one who submits or as an Islamic terminology referring to those who accepted Holy Prophet (saw). Adam (as) would be the first Muslim as he was the first Prophet.

Most Muslims believe that Shirk (worshiping Gods beside Allah) is never forgiven unless one converts to Islam. Ahmadi Muslims believe that Allah (swt) will not forgive Shirk once the person is warned against it and doesn't change his or her ways. Allah (swt) is extremely merciful and has said he forgives many sins which we are not worthy of being forgiven, Allah (swt) has specially warned his mercy will not allow for forgiveness of Shirk on the day of Judgement for those who did not change their ways.

Moreover, according to the Holy Prophet (saw) and the Holy Quran Hell is not everlasting while Heaven is, and one day after spiritual recovery Hell will be empty. But those who lead a worldly life today will suffer greatly in the afterlife as a place that is Heaven for believers will by perspective be Hell (a place where they will not find worldly desires fulfilled while spiritual desires will be). So God as he has said is still ever Merciful an attribute which will not stop past the day of Judgement which is under this attribute one can understand that Hell cannot be ever lasting. Another way to understand this was shared by an Ahmadi here was that any Sin in this life can only be finite, so how can God be just and punish us infinitely through an everlasting Hell?

Consumption of Alcohol is forbidden directly in the Quran as it does more harm than good to man and society in general.

 

[Aamer]

I have a few questions about the Quran and Islamic beliefs.

Reading it over I am having a hard time understanding where Islamic beliefs lay within how man was created? There seem to be many descriptions throughout the Quran about the creation. Some stating that he came from nowhere. Some state that he came from Clay, dust and others of blood? Which is the common belief or do they differ based on sect?

Where is Muhammad placed among prophets? Is he simply a prophet a higher prophet. This question derives from different passages stating who was the first Muslim. Is there a common belief on who was the first Muslim?

Does Allah forgive for worshiping false God's I found which passage that said he did not and one that said he did. Are there more than these or is one more predominate than the other to be considered more of the truth?

Is wine consumption looked upon as good or bad?

I follow Quran Alone (no Hadith), so my beliefs will vary greatly from sectarian Muslims. As for evolution vs Adam & Eve, my answer is... I don't know! Both situations are possible under Quran. The Quran does support the big bang theory, an earth that orbits around the sun and many other scientific facts that were discovered more than a thousand years later. Some say God planted Adam and Eve on Earth. Some say they evolved from less advanced beings, some say Adam and Eve are metaphors. I don't know. And I don't think it matters for our salvation.

Was Muhammad superior to other prophets? It doesn't say that anywhere in Quran. It does however say that God makes no distinction between his prophets.

Quran does say Shirk (worshipping anything besides God) is the only sin that will not be forgiven. He also says sinners will be punished unless God decides to pardon them. My suggestion is don't take any chances!

Is wine consumption bad? All intoxicants are referred to as tools of the devil in Quran. It's said that there is more harm in them than good. But the Quran also says not to pray when you're drunk until you sober up, because you won't know what you're saying when you're drunk. Traditional Muslims believe in abrogation. They believe thus verse is no longer valid because it was abrogated by a later verse. Quran Alone Muslims like myself don't believe in abrogation and we believe every word in Quran was strategically placed (there are many mathematical formulas in Quran and word patterns). We believe all of Quran is valid and counts. The word forbidden is not used for alcohol. But is it bad? Yes. It's a tool of the devil and can lead to greater sins and harm.

Peace.

 

[Pastek]

Reading it over I am having a hard time understanding where Islamic beliefs lay within how man was created? There seem to be many descriptions throughout the Quran about the creation. Some stating that he came from nowhere. Some state that he came from Clay, dust and others of blood? Which is the common belief or do they differ based on sect?

You are talking about Adam or humans in general ?

Where is Muhammad placed among prophets? Is he simply a prophet a higher prophet. This question derives from different passages stating who was the first Muslim. Is there a common belief on who was the first Muslim?

The first muslim is Adam. But it's true that in the Qu'ran some prophets say that they are "the first muslim". It's just a way of speaking.

As for the fact that Muhammad was or not the higher prophet, it's not in the Quran.
And i don't remember Muhammad saying this in any hadith.
They have different ranks in the sight of God, but Allah told us that we must'n make any difference between the messengers.

Does Allah forgive for worshiping false God's I found which passage that said he did not and one that said he did. Are there more than these or is one more predominate than the other to be considered more of the truth?

Before that arabs accept Islam were they not polytheists ?

God always says that he forgives if people repent.

 

[yoda89]

Thank you all for your answers. I will be back with more questions as I continue to study the Qu'ran