Do you really know Mohammad??

RE: Do you really know Mohammad??

Dear Chocolate,

I agree with your post in so many ways, it is not right to produce literature or pictures that will offend others on account of religious devotions etc.

However, I feel this whole episode to do with the recent charicature of prophet Mohamed brings up other more improtant issues for muslims to remember.

I am Muslim and have the greatest respect for my own religion and for ALL the prophets, including prophet mohamed. i guess I would not like the cartoon, but even more I dislike the behvaiour exhibited by many muslims as a result of it.

Muslims are supposed to think of the prophet, we are supposed to take his life example as a model for our own behaviour. that doesn't mean we start riding arund on camels because he did but we take the essense of his attitude and behaviour which gives us the spirit of islam and we use our common sense to apply it to our own lives.

In islam we are taught to be respectful of other cultures and religions, we are not to fight, argue or trouble others on account of religion under any circumstances. it is a sin even to take the micky. We are told that where non muslims ask us questions we should answer honestly but without being opinionated and forceful.

Where non muslims are rude to us, aggressive or make fun we are supposed to walk away from them..not to fight and argue.

Although this action from the Danish paper may hurt our feelings and offend us, we are still suppsoed to remember the dignity with which we are supposed to behave. Our religion is suppsoed to help us rise above such low behaviour, we are suppsoed to consider that the person who offended us did not know better.

perhaps we should show that person that we are better than he or she thinks.

people should not have died over this matter, this is not islam, islam is all about moderation and taking the middle road, it is supposed to be about learning to live a quiet, modest and dignified life, not brawling in the street and shouting.

I believe that our prophet would not have reacted this way, he would have modestly stated his case and moved on.

Violence is not a good answer to insolence and rudeness and it doesn't teach anyone any good lesson....two wrongs do not make a right.

I personally think good behaviour would have been a better reaction to this business, those who acted with violence have in my opinion done nothing to defend islam against those who misunderstand or offend us,

hal

RE: Do you really know Mohammad??

Dear Chocolate, dear Hal,

I wonder if I might ask you both a question?

As an interested onlooker, I have always wondered why the Christians see Jesus as the Lord and the Muslim followers see Mohammed in the same context. Both were messengers from God, both had a spiritual connection - like the channels of today -and were able to talk with Spirit and pass on the wisdoms of Spirit/ God/Allah/the Ultimate Being or whatever you call that energy, to their fellow man.

Surely, God is something different from these two Prophets? He is the energy that asked in the Ten Coomandments: 'there shall be no other God than me.' (apologies for the inaccurate wording) and yet the Christians worship Jesus and you worship Mohammed - the messengers.

It's a huge question and probably one without answer, since we all have our own individual understandings (and all valid may I say)but I always think of God giving a message and the postman delivering it to the customer and the customer worshipping the postman :eek:.

My very best wishes
Publisher

RE: Do you really know Mohammad??

Dear Publisher,

As an interested onlooker, I have always wondered why the Christians see Jesus as the Lord and the Muslim followers see Mohammed in the same context.

I am not sure we do see them in the same context, we Muslims believe in Jesus and Mohammed as prophets, we have respect for them both and their messages as we do other prophets before them.

Surely, God is something different from these two Prophets? He is the energy that asked in the Ten Coomandments: 'there shall be no other God than me.'

Precisely..God is God, prophets are men, two different things.

and yet the Christians worship Jesus and you worship Mohammed - the messengers.

I don't think that statement is correct at all.

For a start, Muslims do NOT worship mohammed, we respect him as we do Jesus, to worship other than God is idolatry which we do not do.

I don't think Christians do really either, some Christians believe in the holy trinity..I am not wise on this matter, as I am not Christian. However I understand they believe in the three being the same thing. But it seems that Christians by and large worship God, not Jesus.

I will amke clear though that we do not worship any other than God.

The prophets are important though and held in high esteem and their messages regarded as the message of God.

These people are special people, their lives extraordinary, they are perhaps special people, but are people all the same,

hal

RE: Do you really know Mohammad??

Thank you Hal,

That is a lovely posting and answers my question

thank you
Publisher 🙂

RE: Do you really know Mohammad??

Hi Publisher,

You are welcome. It is interesting actually for me to have answered this question because it has brought home how a simple fact about Islam is not perhaps as well known as I thought.

It suprised me that you thought we worshipped prophets, especially as a key part of Islam is in not doing such things.

it goes to show that it is so easy to misunderstand a religion etc when you don't know of it, this may be especially true of Islam. Although there is a lot of chat about Islam, maybe a lot of people don't really know anything true or real about the religion, it's beauty and good message.

In another post though i did mention that i wondered if anyone was actually interested in that, sometimes it seems that some are desperate to use islam as an excuse or scapegoat..whatever the truth may be..this may be true of muslims and non muslims alike,

hal

RE: Do you really know Mohammad??

Hi Hal,

The trouble with being an outsider, watching the news, watching the turmoil about the cartoons, and the venom displayed throughout the world, would lead any innocent western bystander (educated to our basic norms - not that bright by the way)to come to the conclusion that the Muslims were simplistic.

Six months ago I met my very first Indian family. Their daughter was in intensive care and through an amazing link through the internet - a link that started over 25 years ago - a lady from my past, told another lady, who told another lady, that I was a healer. I tended a tiny beautiful, simply amazing child aged 3. They were, and remain the only Indian people that I have ever befriended - andI love them dearly.

I cannot get away from the fact that I just love people. I really have no interest in what religion they follow, since every religion has demonstrated hatred and anger until the present day - something that a supreme being/God/Allah would never do.

I don't criticise or condemn, but in you Hal, I just sensed that a delightful person, is trying to bring calm into a faith that has remained as it was first practised many, many hundreds of years ago, and perhaps needs now, to look to the future and the happiness of the world.

I have enjoyed our first meeting, bless you
Publisher

RE: Do you really know Mohammad??

Dear Hal

As always beautiful responses from a true Muslim and a child at one with God.

So it is that we can all be children of the light of love and in so doing create a new world.

Bless you

Divine Love

RE: Do you really know Mohammad??

Hi,

Thank you for your kind words, both of you, I am just a very ordinary person, not especially religious I guess, I am sure I don't appear that way to people I meet. I discuss religion very little, I certainly don't worry about the religions of other people.

I take people as I find, religion is not an issue.

But for me, God is important, spirituality is important in my life, I do not think my religion is more important than others, but it is important to me.

people are more important, people should be respected whatever their religion and it is nice to understand people who do things diferently..they can so often look odd from a distance and just as they should when we get to know them.

since every religion has demonstrated hatred and anger until the present day - something that a supreme being/God/Allah would never do.

Are you sure this is correct? Do you mean the religion? All religions..any texts that go with them, or the people? all or some?

Given that you did not realise that we Muslims do not worship mohammed..do you think you may be mistaken about this as well.

Anger and hatred is a very human ailment or condition, and it is not restricted to muslims or followers of other monotheisic religions.

I just sensed that a delightful person, is trying to bring calm into a faith that has remained as it was first practised many, many hundreds of years ago, and perhaps needs now, to look to the future and the happiness of the world.

No, islam is a progressive faith, we are told in Qu'ran that the world will change and how we live will need to alter as well..nothing is supposed to stand still.

Yet there are age old teachings and lessons that are appropriate today, these will pre-date Islam, I am not sure that islam was entirely teaching a new trick to man...just reminding people of messages and defining them.

There are lots of things people did thousands of years ago that are good to do today, simple things like kindness, generosity, mercy etc..these things needn't go out of fashion.

You say you know only one Indian family..you like them..why not..they are simply people, Indian people come in many religions, beliefs and cultures, some are muslim.

I feel you do not really know many muslim people, I can assure you that you could meet vast amounts that you would like, who have loads in common with you and do not harm other people.

I think unless one has good understanding of all sorts of muslims through time and around the world it is dangerous to comment on their calm or lack of it.

But ulttimately they are just people..families..like everyone here, it is not a mad religion but one of moderation, beauty and kindnes.

We are taught to be merciful and that if we cannot show mercy and compassion to others..why should we expect it from God?

We are taught not to be judgemental.

We are taught to have compassion, love and kindness for all of Allah's creations..that is all the people. We are to be respectful, polite, we should not be proud, we should treat others well.

Bad manners are considered sinful, selfishness..we are not supposed to gossip, hurt feelings, we are supposed to live peaceful and good lives.

that aspect of islam is simplistic, but it is tue and nothing wrong with it..these things are the true core and essense of Islam, really the same as most other people.

I think actually islam is being practised differently all over the place and from what it origionally was..perhaps it would be better to go back to basics?

I think fifteen hundred years ago islam was pretty modern and forward thinking, islam is all about protecting society, important institutions such as family and most important;y the weaker memebers of society...children, elderly people, poor people, disabled etc.

A lot is said in

RE: Do you really know Mohammad??

sweety Chocolate...

really nice topic....

and wonderful as you...

we need like this topic

to spread its....

go a head

and good luck 4 all

your
sis
HaLo0oLah

RE: Do you really know Mohammad??

Hello Chocolate, Hal and everyone,

You have brought out the essence of Islam, and these people who went on the rampage over cartoons, are the sort who would go out looking for trouble anyway, no matter what the provocation. They are just using their religion as an excuse to commit criminal acts and should not be lumped in with followers of Islam as a whole. They are distorting the picture, and unfortunately, these sorts grab the headlines. The man who drew the cartoons wasn't in the right either, and for what it's worth, they were offensive to the other religions portrayed, too.

I am fortunate to have two Muslimfamilies in my road and I could not wish for better neighbours. One family even makes little cakes and savouries to share around on Christmas Eve, and the wife arranges a 'landing party' at Christmas (we live in flats) for the neighbours in the block. I won't have a bad word said about them - they are smashing folks. We get involved in one another's lives and have integrated well because of it. All done without interference from 'Government initiatives' or anything else. Proof that if people are allowed to leave things as they are, they will soon become a part of the community as a whole. The friendship which has grown out of our knowing our Muslim neighbours has given us an insight into lives, which we otherwise would not have known, or they have known about us.

You are right Hal - Jesus wanted his followers to worship God, not him.

Bestwishes,
Patsy.
xxxxxx

RE: Do you really know Mohammad??

'Our religion is suppsoed to help us rise above such low behaviour, we are suppsoed to consider that the person who offended us did not know better. perhaps we should show that person that we are better than he or she thinks.  people should not have died over this matter, this is not islam, islam is all about moderation and taking the middle road, it is supposed to be about learning to live a quiet, modest and dignified life, not brawling in the street and shouting. I believe that our prophet would not have reacted this way, he would have modestly stated his case and moved on. Violence is not a good answer to insolence and rudeness and it doesn't teach anyone any good lesson....two wrongs do not make a right. I personally think good behaviour would have been a better reaction to this business, those who acted with violence have in my opinion done nothing to defend islam against those who misunderstand or offend us, hal'

well said Hal,

as always the catalyst is sent by God, time for Islam to look at its own issues within itself, move beyond being precious and taking things personally, only then will they have freedom of Spirit and oneness with God.

I agree Songstress my beloved Muslim brothers and sisters are the most peaceful and loving people I know.

Divine Love

RE: Do you really know Mohammad??

We also have Muslim brothers and sisters as friends, who abhor the current situation.

May we all join hands in peace.

Dino