What are the mistakes Muslims do when informing others about Islam?

[Rainbow Mage]

Well I don't proselytize anyways, so that doesn't apply to me.

 

[Sahar]

So then if Muslims all agree on a set of basic principles, can you clearly announce for me what a "real" Muslim is, and what "real" Islam is, and (hypothetically) no other Muslim will disagree with you?

If someone calls himself a Muslim and he doesn't believe in the prophet Muhammad as a messenger from God, sorry I can't help if you want it this way.

Of course there are basic principles agreed upon by all the scholars of Islam and by Muslims; the oneness of God, belief in hereafter, Muhammad being the messenger of God, the daily prayers, fasting, Zakaat, Hajj...
There are other principles that a small minority might deviate from but they will still remain principles accepted by the overwhelming majority.

 

[Aquitaine]

Well I don't proselytize anyways, so that doesn't apply to me.

Don't worry, I'm not accusing you of doing such a thing.
I mention it because the title of the OP sort of suggested ways to better "inform" others about Islam, and I presume to some degree it would also imply proselytizing, y' know like "spreading" Islam to others.

 

[Aquitaine]

If someone calls himself a Muslim and he doesn't believe in the prophet Muhammad as a messenger from God, sorry I can't help if you want it this way.

Of course there are basic principles agreed upon by all the scholars of Islam and by Muslims; the oneness of God, belief in hereafter, Muhammad being the messenger of God, the daily prayers, fasting, Zakaat, Hajj...
There are other principles that a small minority might deviate from but they will still remain principles accepted by the overwhelming majority.

I see. So then, in your opinion both Sunni and Shi'ite are representation of real Islam? Out of curiosity are there any factions of the faith that you think arn't Islamic, or that don't represent real Islam?

 

[YmirGF]

Paul I used to be a Shia, so maybe that makes me a little biased

I think you have inadvertently shown another feature that confuses the heck out of non-Muslims and it is an Islamic version of the no true Scotsman fallacy. The point being is the person making the assertion is obviously the true Muslim (or knows the true Muslim) and any who deviate from their viewpoint are equally and obviously not true Muslims.

 

[Aquitaine]

I think you have inadvertently shown another feature that confuses the heck out of non-Muslims and it is an Islamic version of the

no true Scotsman fallacy. The point being is the person making the assertion is obviously the true Muslim (or knows the true Muslim) and any who deviate from their viewpoint are equally and obviously not true Muslims.

Yep, pretty much.

 

[Shia Islam]

I am glad to see this rich feedbacks here…

I agree that there are two issues any Muslim who wants to be an informant about Islam in the West (and excuse me to use this general term !) to consider…

The first one is that what concerns the west about religions and Islam is not the same as what concerns the Muslims themselves…

The second issue is how to approach the discussion of those issues…

 

[Shia Islam]

I think I shall have more questions for you in the future, Shia Islam. Thank you for asking.

It's my pleasure :rainbow1:

 

[McBell]

Yes, but aren't these the hot topics of the debates anyway? Most of these topics were addressed hundreds of times.

I agree.
And I also agree that it may get repetitively annoying to have to repeat the same thing over and over.

However, I suspect that there are quite a few more westerners who have not heard it than there are who have.

Then there are loads of westerners who have gotten the "tired" version of and left with more questions than answers.

I have suggested on other forums, and here on RF a couple of times, that for some of these highly repetitive topics (I.E. jihad, Aisha) someone should start a thread spelling it all out.

Then when questions are asked or points brought up, you merely give them a link to the thread that already deals with it and or copy post the appropriate post from said thread into the new one.

That way you are not repeating yourself over and over and over.

 

[McBell]

What are the mistakes Muslims do when informing others about Islam?

By far the biggest mistake Muslims can make here on Religious Forums is to allow Fatihah or 301ouncer to post in a thread.

 

[YmirGF]

By far the biggest mistake Muslims can make here on Religious Forums is to allow Fatihah to post in a thread.

I disagree. Fatihah is representative of a small, but vocal, group I have encountered over the years, though such beings are akin to talking to a brick wall. I can't help but think that conversations with Fatihah are similar to conversations between America (or anyone else) and the Iranian Mullah-ocracy.

 

[McBell]

I disagree. Fatihah is representative of a small, but vocal, group I have encountered over the years, though such beings are akin to talking to a brick wall. I can't help but think that conversations with Fatihah are similar to conversations between America (or anyone else) and the Iranian Mullah-ocracy.

Seems to me that if the goal of the Muslim is to help people understand Islam, then Fatihah is the last person they want interacting with them.

Or at the very least call him out on his bull ****.
But the RF Muslims do not even do that.
They sit back and watch as Fatihah gives one of the worst possible impressions of Islam imaginable.
I wonder if they do not realize that their silence is taken as agreement with Fatihah and his tactics?
Or is it that they honestly do believe as Fatihah does and honestly do agree with his tactics and dishonesty and are just not as honest about it as Fatihah?

I know many Muslims outside of RF and the ones who I have shown this forum to are more upset with the Muslims who remain silent in the wake of Fatihah's disservice to Islam than they are with Fatihah's disservice.

To me, that is extremely revealing.

 

[301ouncer]

By far the biggest mistake Muslims can make here on Religious Forums is to allow Fatihah to post in a thread.

The best Islam has is someone like Fatihah as my beloved brother to me. None of the unbelieving mankind is worthy of a toe nail of a muslim brother like fatihah. Take that.

 

[LuisDantas]

Are you attempting to make Islam disliked?

 

[McBell]

Oh crap.
I completely forgot about 301ouncer.

I needs edit my post to give him credit for his arrogant ignorance as well.

 

[Breathe]

The best Islam has is someone like Fatihah as my beloved brother to me. None of the unbelieving mankind is worthy of a toe nail of a muslim brother like fatihah. Take that.

How sweet.

May I ask a question? If you have such a major problem with us unbelievers, why are you a religious-pluralist website? Why don't you go somewhere else, like a Muslim forum? Or at least, try to keep your bigotry off the forum. What's the point in being here if you hate everyone so much? Is it to insult us, or to convert us? Or both?

 

[Kerr]

The best Islam has is someone like Fatihah as my beloved brother to me. None of the unbelieving mankind is worthy of a toe nail of a muslim brother like fatihah. Take that.

I am not sure he need to "take it" since there has yet to be some sort of serious "attack" from your side.

 

[Fatihah]

By far the biggest mistake Muslims can make here on Religious Forums is to allow Fatihah or 301ouncer to post in a thread.

Response: Your words could never be substantial, once the reader notices the person making such statements. Which is why your every word is laughable to all that comprehends. Most people walk away from debates when they find themselves on the losing end, but not you. You've been crying about it and trolling my every word since. How you think you have any ounce of credibility when you speak is beyond me. But it is sad. Laughable, but sad nonetheless.

 

[Sahar]

Guys, why did you start mention names? If you have a problem with some members who happen to be Muslims, you can ignore them; why bother? I have non Muslim names on the list too...but it's really childish to turn a good thread like this into personal quarrels.

People are diverse, their discussion's style and way of thinking are different. Every person represents himself and his thoughts.

 

[Fatihah]

I disagree. Fatihah is representative of a small, but vocal, group I have encountered over the years, though such beings are akin to talking to a brick wall. I can't help but think that conversations with Fatihah are similar to conversations between America (or anyone else) and the Iranian Mullah-ocracy.

Response: Such responses are common, coming from a person who finds themself looking completely absurd when in dialogue. So in an effort to redeem themself, Fatihah has to continue to be your number one target. But the problem you continue to have is that any reasonable person can see your envy, so your every words only favors my case, and is a disfavor to you.