~Bismillahir Rahmanir Raheem~
In the Name of Allah,
The Most Gracious,
The Most Merciful
~~~
I began this inquiry on my own behalf while first reading the meaning of the Qur'an. I had so many questions, so many concerns, and knew so very little.
After I made my declaration of faith, saying the Shahadah first in my heart and mind, then over the phone with witnesses to it, I began making further inquiries based on questions, critiques, challenges and statements that were being made on a non-related discussion forum to which I belong.
I found myself frequently shocked and dismayed by what was being said there against Islam and Muslims, the Glorious Qur'an and the Prophet Muhammad. The attitudes expressed seemed to show an intent and attitude far worse than the objects of their accusations and derisions.
Statements varied from the somewhat mild desire to tear the hijab headscarf off any any woman seen wearing one to the much more extreme wish for a button that could be pressed to instantly destroy every Muslim on the planet--man, woman and child. This was me they were talking about and my little daughter, our faith, our way of life, our very lives. Accusations ran the full gamut of everything being popularly broadcast against Islam and Muslims, the Prophet (s.a.w.s.) and the Qur'an.
I had never faced anything like this before and I could not remain silent.
Here then is a little bit of the product, so far, of my ongoing inquiry, arranged for convenience from A-Z. There isn't room for everything, and I may not agree entirely with some of what I wish to present, but I did find certain things interesting, thought provoking and worthy of consideration. I hope you will too, insha'Allah, and I leave it up to your judgment and understanding.
I am not claiming that bad things haven't been done and believed by some Muslims, but not everything some Muslims have believed and done is actually Islamic or supportable by the Qur'an and Sunnah, having been adopted from other sources and for a variety of reasons. A possibly more important point is that there has also been a good deal of misinformation and disformation propagated about Islam and Muslims by non-Muslims who have a vested interest in doing so. Therefore, accurate information and honest analysis are vital.
Each title below should be a clickable link.
If I have made any errors they are my own. May Allah forgive and correct me. If anything I have said is right and beneficial it is from Allah, glorified and exalted is He.
A'ISHA (R.A.):
*What Was Ayesha's (r.a.) Age at the Time of Her Marriage to the
Prophet (p.b.u.h.)?
*A Response to 'What Was Ayesha's Age...'
ANTI-SEMITISM:
ARRANGED MARRIAGE:
* Marriage in Islam (scroll down to Consent of Parties)
APOSTASY:
*Leaving Islam - Apostasy in Islam
BLASPHEMY: My research has indicated to me that for Muslims the concept of blasphemy--speaking or acting disrespectfully towards Allah (s.w.t.), any of the Prophets (p.b.u.t.), the Qur'an, and the beliefs and practices of Islam--is connected with Apostasy, which has already been addressed above. For a non-Muslim to engage in this would be an extreme breach of etiquette, and could be illegal and punishable in a Muslim country or under a Caliphate/Khilapha, as is blasphemy against Christianity and questioning the Holocaust in some Western countries.
*Turkey's foreign minister asks the EU [to alter] blasphemy laws to
[include] Islam (I edited the title to be more accurate; notice when you go to
the site that the original wording is a bit misleading.)
CALIPHATE:
*The Myth and Reality of Islamic State
*Muslim Self-Rule is the Answer
CAPITAL PUNISHMENT:
*Shari'ah Punishments
CHILD BRIDES/CHILD MARRIAGE:
*Distinguishing Culture from Religion Concerning Marriage
CONVERSION BY THE SWORD:
*Was Islam Spread by the Sword?
*The Spread of Islam in Persia
*Religions Spread Through Conquest
Democratic Compatibility or Incompatibility:
*Islam and Democracy The Emerging Concensus
*Essential Features of the Islamic Political System (scroll down for
"Democracy in Islam")
also see the Caliphate links
FEMALE CIRCUMCISION/GENITAL MUTILATION:
*Female Genital Mutilation: An Islamic Perspective
*Female Genital Cutting and Religion
*Is Female Circumcision Required?
FORCED MARRIAGE:
*Marriage in Islam Considered from a Legal Point of View
*In Islam marriage and justice go together
HELL-FIRE:
*Hell - Made Ready for the Unbelievers
*Death and the Eternal Regret for Disbelievers
HIJAB:
*The Correct Islamic Ruling on the Muslim Woman's Dress
*The Question of Hijab and Choice
*Hijab Battles Around the World
*Protect Hijab, Hijab Ban News
*Headscarf Ban Lifted in Turkey
*Tunisia's Hijab Ban Unconstitutional
HOMOSEXUALITY:
*Homosexuality in a Changing World: Are We Being Misinformed?
(Introduction)
*Homosexuality in a Changing World:... (Islamic Stance on
Homosexuality)
*Homosexuality in a Changing World:... (Development of Sexual
Orientation)
LOVE: I have heard the claim, popular in some American Christian circles I think, that Muslims do not worship a God of Love and He is never described as loving. I thought that odd, considering that one of His 99 Most Beautiful Names is: "Al-Wadud" ~ "The Loving" and I am constantly reminded in the Qur'an and in every prayer of His Mercy and Compassion ~ love in action.
*Love one another for the sake of Allah (SWT)
*Loving for the Sake of Allaah
RAPE, FORNICATION & ADULTERY in SHARI'AH:
*Her Honor: An Islamic Critique of the Rape Laws of Pakistan from a
Woman-Sensitive Perspective
*Reality of Objections on Hudood Ordinance
WIFE BEATING:
*Answering misconceptions and false claims...
WORSHIP: I have heard the often puzzled, sometimes derisive, even angry, question as to why an all-powerful, all-wise God would need, desire or demand our worship, our acknowledgement, our obedience. To understand this, one needs to understand the true nature of worship in relation to the purpose of life, and to contemplate it deeply rather than avoiding it dismissively. The quick answer is that the Creator does not need anything from the creation. We can give nothing to Him nor take anything away from Him. We are the ones who need; we need material sustainance and we need spiritual sustainance; we need to eat, drink, breathe, move, think, love, and we need to do all those things as an act of worship, out of heartfelt desire to please the One who provided us with all things and gives us guidance in all things and offers us the best of all worlds in the Hereafter. We need our Creator. Why deny that? Why be ungrateful? Why be hateful? Why not embrace it and be filled with the peace and faith and joy and appreciation and wisdom that comes with submission to Allah ta'ala? Everything He requires of us is for our own good.