This was an online correspondence I had with a fellow blogger which I wanted to share with everyone. This has my question followed by the answer by the other person, followed by my next question. Its interesting......
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Reality" Wants to Know:
Reading through your posts I can gather that you are a very rational person who tries to know the facts before making judgements. But one thing I do not understand is your defensiveness when it comes to religion. You can be proud of your religion but does not mean you have to condone everything that goes on in its name. Now you can put forward the arguement that its a few people's interpretation thats got the bad reputation, so my question is - why isnt the right version put out as loudly by the ones who really care?
The Muslimah Says:
Asalamalaykom, Reality! I have been searching for reality for quite some time, so it is kind of funny that reality has come looking for me!
By the way, that funky Arab word means I wish you peace. Seems like peace is in short supply around the world, so if you're blessed enough to have someone share peace with you, please pass it on. Maybe the whole idea of sharing peace will catch on.
You've completely misjudged me. You say I'm very rational!? I'm about as irrational as they come. I flunked Logic and had to take it again, only to get a "D". I am a dreamer and I keep dreaming of a good life.
That's what most people want, isn't it?
You did get it right, however, when you say I want to be informed and make informed decisions. That's true. I'm not a dumb bunny (with the except of the aforementioned Logic course).
I'm a learner and a teacher again and again in this cyclical life. One of the biggest challenges for every human being is to lea
rn about their own personal faith and how it dovetails into the collective.
For me, I searched thirty-two years for the faith that made sense to me. Elhumdullah (thanks be to God)! I found a spiritual home within Islam.
"Which Islam is that?" you might ask. "The Islam that preaches hate and destruction, suicide bombings, death of innocents, mistreatment of women or this Islam that lives only in propaganda which talks of love, peace, and understanding but doesn't deliever?"
Who could be proud of the first definition of Islam? NOBODY. It sounds awful and it looks even worse on TV.
If I ever sound defensive of my religion it is because my religion is really is about love, peace, and understanding. It isn't ever practiced 100% in line with those ideals since the days of the Prophet Mohamed, peace by upon him. But they are the goals for which every conscience Muslim aims.
They are also the goals of every practising Christian and Jew.
Judaism, Christianity and Islam are the three monotheistic religions. We share most of the same ideology and Prophets.
But, let's get real, "Reality," I don't think Christians go around apologising for Timothy McVeigh, the BTK Killer, or Jerry Falwell. I wouldn't expect my mother, a Christian, to sit me down and say she was sorry for the drunk driver who killed my friend. It doesn't make any sense.
I watched the Twin Towers come down on September 11th. But I can't honestly apologize on behalf of those misguided men who perpetrated that act of evil. They are not my family. They are not my faith. If they practised a kind of faith, it was a distortion of what I have studied and practice. It was not Islam. If anyone kills an innocent person in the name of Islam, that is a travesty and will get them the worst kind of hell.
So. Here we are. One version of Islam makes the news and is spread worldwide. The other version is quiet and stays at home. You ask, "WHY?"
It's a good question.
Those U.S. Muslims who don't propagate the truth about Islam, let me tell you about them. They are busy. They are first or second generation Americans. They are running businesses, driving cabs, juggling kids and work. They are trying to keep their cultural identity more than they are trying to assimilate. They probably know what the weather is like in Dubai, but don't know if it's going to rain today in their own city. They aren't interested in informing you. They don't have time to be interested in you. They barely have time for themselves.
That is wrong, according to Islam. Our duty, as Muslims, is to spread information about Allah and the book Allah sent down; the Quran. What I love is that we don't have to force you to convert to I
slam. If you are truly meant to be Muslim, you simply will be. It's all up to Allah.
But, what about you? Have you read the Quran? I'm amazed how many people simply haven't read the book. It's not that hard! You don't even have to buy it! Just look at it on-line. Get the Ahmed Ali translation. Be the first one on your block! Read it as a book club! Challenge a Muslim to read the Bible if you will read the Quran! You don't even have to buy it! Just look at it on-line.
There. I've tried to answer your comments and questions in a civilized manner. I do truly appreciate your asking. It is only through intelligent dialogue that we can share a peace of our mind.
Join us again for another question.
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Thanks a lot for the patient reply. Let me start with a disclaimer, even though I call myself
Current Mood: Feeling Better
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