From a Muslim female

[MikeyDB]

Greetings and welcome Nadia_

Could you expand on the idea that Moslem believers regard their existence, their experience of 'being' as indistinguishable from any other believers'?

While the extremes of Christianity, Catholicism and many other ideological constructs arising in many parts of the world have heralded murder torture and genocide in the name of these various "beliefs", the moderating effect of less-entrenched thinkers has ameliorated (to significant degree) the atrocities and excesses of these fanatical proponents. Is it reasonable to entertain the notion that moderate Moslems will step up to the task presented by extremists and fanatics within Islam and provide an alternate rapproachment to human interaction?

While western societies appear loathe to abandon gender and ethnic prejudice in the name of a dollar....for "prosperities sake", are Moslems equally prepared to only pay lip-service to those belief structures within Islam that advise tolerance compassion and forgiveness toward other human beings?

 

[Niflmir]

A simple question:

If you, an average Muslim female, went to your mother and father and said, "Mom, Dad, I am no longer a Muslim," what would happen?

 

[karrie]

From reading Nadia's post, it doesn't sound as though she wears a veil covering her face. The 'thing' she refers to is a round dot known as a bindi and is more of an addition to her beauty than having anything to do with her marital status or religion.

I thought the bindi was Hindu, not Muslim. I just assumed she was referring to wearing the hijab, the traditional headscarf.

 

[Curiosity]

Welcome Nadia

If you are here to educate us and answer questions I commend you for I am illiterate in the ways of Islam and in particular what life is like for women under Shar'ia Law either in the middle east or in western nations. I am not concerned with head gear or garments which apparently have many rules attached to them - but as a humanist and a proud woman, I would appreciate the link I attach being refuted, explained, debunked or whatever you feel is necessary.

I also prefer the term - woman, which in my freedom and emancipation sounds so filled with rights and equality as opposed to female - which is merely a biological appelation and can be applied to any living creature throughout the known animal kingdom.

My own doctor who travels with the Doctors Without Borders organization has shared with me some of the conditions he has had to treat and 'accept' and I cannot understand why this barbaric form of abuse continues in our modern world.

You include your admonishment with 'rules of engagement' - I trust you will not find my query offensive - the link is - at least I find it so in my strong desire that all be granted human rights - both men and women. I would like to read what you can affirm or deny as fact.

Thank you.

http://www.middleastwomen.org/html/bulletin/bulletin-35.htm

 

[Shia]

Dear nadia, I am glad to see another muslim on the forum. I have been sign up here for a while, but due to my studies and general pressure in life I couldn't participate here until today. First off I am Pakistani, not living in canada and definately not a shia. lol

Impetus: brother, I am not certain of this tree of life that you took out of the context of bible. If you can further explain it to me, perhaps ill try to let you know of my opinion "an islamic view point".
2ndly, I have an open mind, I do think there are other ways that might lead you to heaven or get you closer to God, but there is only one way which I am certain about, hence I take the way of islam. I am sure the publicity that we get in american media about muslims and islam, it is hard to swallow that our faith could establish such a thing. So all I can say is, read quran do not look at the people for answers because we are not perfect.

Karrie: sister regarding your pet dog, it isn't haram to pet it. The only reasons muslims might hesitate to play around with it is because when we pray, we aren't suppose to have dirty clothes or dirty body. The kids in your park were just scared, it had nothing to do with our faith.

s243a: Dear brother. many non-muslims are unaware of the reasons why muslim females (muslimahs) wear a veil or hijab to cover themselves. The fact is in quran God states that females should cover themselves from strangers (mainly men) due to our distinct "nature". The way they cover themselves is up to them but they do it because of the fear of God not the fear of opression of men in society. The message of covering has also been given in Bible, Torah' (to christans and jews). The only females that do follow it are nuns and the western society find that to be purely religious. In islam its not only the muslims females that teach islam wear scarfs to cover themselves but also any believers, whom are afraid. one other point I should mention is, islam prohibits the use of alchol, so we can't drink beer and hence the whole pub thing is out of the question. Taking photo for driver license is one place where the females might make an exception but even then, they cover their whole head so no hairs are to be shown or any other parts of the body besides hands, feet and face.

Unforgiven: Brother, Where were you when they were handing out religions. lol
Youngjoonkim: Well, islam says it is mandatory to cover yourself and as I have said previously it is not important how you do it, because everyone has their own ways of "covering" but the main motivation behind should be the fear of Allah and the day of judgement. Are you korean by any chance? I had a friend from their who had the same name. Joon.. middle east is not oil addicted, it is blessed with oil which american firms have taken over. I mean think about it, the place is a merely a dessert with nothing but sand all over. The only thing they have is oil, which they have no control over. If they decided to stop giving oil away, the whole world would go caiotic.

MickeyDB: In my view Islam states, all human beings are equal whether they are christans, muslims, jews, hindus, budhists etc. While there are many muslims who struck out more than others, but it is not their faith that makes them come out, it is their human nature. For example driving a car such as mercedes which is basically one of the best cars there is, there are good drivers and there are bad drivers, you can't blame the car if a person isn't a good driver. The same goes with our faith. The so called extremists in islam has been sprung around alot in the media which is causing people to think that any muslim person is a fanatic, who will kill others because they dont believe in islam. That is not true, there are probably like 50 maybe 100 bad apples against the millions of good muslims and judging those millions based on such figures show signs of illiteracy. You would agree because the same goes with American government and what the people are like in america. We can't accuse american people based on the decisions its government has made over the years. Alot of moderate muslims have stood against terrorism and the attrocities commited by other muslims in the name of God but the pressure being put by american government and the whole world has labelled them in the same catogary as being "the same" as other terrorists. Your last question, No we don't.

Niflmir: That depends on the family. Some parents are more opened than others. They might except her, but the society around her wouldnt be so opened.

Curiosity: sister, I will answer your reply later, unless nadia her self want to answer which is also fine with me. Right now I am off to eat. lol

 

[gopher]

What happened to Nadia? One post and that's it??

 

[karrie]

I've had at least three conversations with Muslims here regarding dogs being haraam. All have said they are. Even the adults give a wide berth to my calm little dog. The only disparity seems to be what kind of contact is and isn't haraam. I find it odd that so many here would say they are, while you say they are not.

Karrie: sister regarding your pet dog, it isn't haram to pet it. The only reasons muslims might hesitate to play around with it is because when we pray, we aren't suppose to have dirty clothes or dirty body. The kids in your park were just scared, it had nothing to do with our faith.

 

[gopher]

I forget where exactly this subject was discussed before, perhaps it was another forum.

But in Egypt and in other parts of the Near East, cats were held to be sacred for millenia. Wild dogs, by contrast, are known to be vicious hunters who attack livestock and are a menace to farmers and herders. Thus, the prejudice against dogs stems from cultural values and needs.