The Prophet Muhammad pbuh said:

[wel_mel_2]

Bismillah:


<b>the prophet Muhammad pbuh said:</b>


<b>Character </b>


- The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "One who covers up the failings of someone in this world will have his shortcomings covered up by God on the Day of Judgment." - Riyadh us-Saleheen, 240


- The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "By his good character, a believer will attain the degree of one who prays during the night and fasts during the day." - Abu Dawood, Hadith 2233


- The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "Being rich does not mean having a great amount of property, but [it] is being content [with what one has]." - Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 4, Hadith 453


- The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "(God) has revealed to me that you should adopt humility so that no one oppresses another." - Riyadh-us-Salaheen, Hadith 1589


- The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "No one has swallowed anything more excellent in the sight of God...than the anger he restrains, seeking to please God most high." Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 1324


- A person once asked the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him): "What is faith?" The Prophet replied: "When a good deed becomes a source of pleasure for you and an evil deed becomes a source of disgust, then you are a believer." He was then asked: "What is a sin?" The Prophet said: "When something pricks your conscience, give it up." Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 8


- The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "Envy is not permitted except in two cases: (Envy) of a person who God has given wealth and he spends it in the right way, and (envy of) a person who God has given wisdom and he gives his decisions accordingly and teaches it to others." - Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 2, Hadith 490


- The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "Wealth consists of various kinds of treasures, and those treasures (all) have keys. Blessed is the man whom God has made a key for good and a lock for evil." Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 1366


- The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "Whoever suffers an injury and forgives (the person responsible), God will raise his status to a higher degree and remove one of his sins." Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 998


- The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "Shall I tell you who are the best among you?...The best of you are those who when seen are a means of God Being brought to mind." AL-Tirmidhi, Hadith 1302


- Narrated Masruq: "I asked (the Prophet Muhammad's wife) Aisha which (good) deed was most loved by the Prophet. She said: 'A deed done continuously.'" Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 2, Hadith 232


<b>Charity </b>


- The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "Charity does not diminish wealth." - Riyadh-us-Saleheen, Volume 1, Hadith 556


Equality


The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "God does not judge you according to your bodies and appearances, but He looks into your hearts and observes your deeds."


<b>Family </b>


- A man once told the Prophet that he had many children but did not kiss any of them. The Prophet (pbuh) replied: "Verily, God will only show mercy to those of His servants who do good to others." Imam Bukhari's Book of Muslim Morals and Manners


- "Thy Lord hath decreed that ye worhsip none save Him, and show kindness to your parents. If one or both of them attain old age with thee, say not "Fie" unto them or repulse them, but speak unto them a gracious word." Holy Quran, Surah 17, Verses 23-24


<b>Forgiveness </b>


- The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "Whoever suffers an injury and forgives (the person responsible), God will raise his status to a higher degree and remove one of his sins." Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 998


<b>Honesty </b>


- The Prophet (peace be upon him) quoted a person who will face severe punishment on Judgment day as saying: "I enjoined others to do good, but did not do it myself, and I forbade them to do evil, but did it myself." - Riyadh-us-Saleheen, Hadith 198


- The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said, "If you guarantee me six things on your part I shall guarantee you Paradise : Speak the truth when you talk, keep a promise when you make it, when you are trusted with something fulfill your trust, avoid sexual immorality, lower your gaze (in modesty), and restrain your hands from injustice." - Al Tirmidhi, Hadith 1260


<b>Justice </b>


- The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "Help your brother, whether he is an oppressor or he is oppressed." People asked, "…It is right to help him if he is oppressed, but how should we help him if he is an oppressor?" The Prophet said, "By preventing him from oppressing others." Sahih Al-Bukhari, 3:624


- The Prophet also stated that God said: "O My servants, I have forbidden oppression for Myself and have made it forbidden amongst you, so do not oppress one another." - Hadith Qudsi, 17


- The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "To administer justice between two people is charity." - Fiqh-us-Sunnah, 3:98


- The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "The just and fair will be seated on chairs of light before God. Such people are those who decide with justice and deal justly in matters relating to their families and other affairs entrusted to them." - Riyadh-us-Saleheen, Hadith 650


- "God does not burden a soul beyond what it can bear. Each will enjoy the good it earns, as indeed each will suffer for the wrong." - The Holy Quran, Chapter 2, Verse 286


<b>Kindness </b>


- A man once told the Prophet that he had many children but did not kiss any of them. The Prophet (pbuh) replied: "Verily, God will only show mercy to those of His servants who do good to others." Imam Bukhari's Book of Muslim Morals and Manners


- The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "If one of you loves his brother, he should tell him that he loves him." - Imam Bukhari's Book of Muslim Morals and Manners


- The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "Be kind, for whenever kindness becomes part of something, it beautifies it. Whenever it is taken from something, it leaves it tarnished." He also said: "Make things simple and do not complicate them. Calm people and do not drive them away." - Imam Bukhari's Book of Muslim Morals and Manners


- The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) would hear the crying of a child in the company of his mother during payer, and he would then recite only a short portion of the Quran (to end the prayer and let the mother comfort her child)." - Sahih Muslim, Hadith 220


- The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "God did not send me to be harsh, or cause harm, but He sent me to teach and make things easy." - Sahih Muslim, Hadith 707


<b>Life & Human Nature </b>


- "God does not burden a soul beyond what it can bear. Each will enjoy the good it earns, as indeed each will suffer for the wrong." - The Holy Quran, Chapter 2, Verse 286


- The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "There is no disease that God has created, except that He has also created its treatment." - Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume, Hadith 582


- The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "If anyone would like to receive an answer from God in times of difficulty, he should make many supplications when times are easy."


- A person once asked the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him): "What is faith?" The Prophet replied: "When a good deed becomes a source of pleasure for you and an evil deed becomes a source of disgust, then you are a believer." He was then asked: "What is a sin?" The Prophet said: "When something pricks your conscience, give it up." Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 8


- The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "Wealth consists of various kinds of treasures, and those treasures (all) have keys. Blessed is the man whom God has made a key for good and a lock for evil." Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 1366


<b>Manners </b>


- The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "One who covers up the failings of someone in this world will have his shortcomings covered up by God on the Day of Judgment." - Riyadh us-Saleheen, 240


<b>Mercy </b>


- A man once told the Prophet that he had many children but did not kiss any of them. The Prophet (pbuh) replied: "Verily, God will only show mercy to those of His servants who do good to others." Imam Bukhari's Book of Muslim Morals and Manners


<b>Moderation </b>


- The Prophet Muhammed (peace be upon him) said, "Religion is very easy and whoever overburdens himself in his religion will not be able to continue in that way. So you should not be extremists, but try to be near to perfection and receive the good tidings that you will be rewarded; and gain strength by worshipping in the mornings, the nights." - Sahih Al Bukhari - Volumn I, Hadith 8


- The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "God did not send me to be harsh, or cause harm, but He sent me to teach and make things easy." - Sahih Muslim, Hadith 707


<b>Time</b>


- The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "A time will come when the murderer will not know why he has committed the murder, and the victim will not know why he has been killed." - Sahih Muslim, Hadith 1356


<b>War </b>


- "During [a military expedition], a woman was found killed, so [the Prophet Muhammad] forbade the killing of women and children." Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 4, Hadith 258


<b>Witnessing </b>


- The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "Should I not tell you of the best witness? He is the one who produces his evidence before he is asked for it." - Sahih Muslim, Hadith 799


<b>Women </b>


- The Prophet (pbuh) said: "The most perfect in faith amongst believers is he who is best in manner and kindest to his wife."


- The Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said: "The best thing in this world is a virtuous woman (wife)." - Riyadh us-Salaheen, 1:280


- The Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said: "Whoever has three daughters, cares and provides for them, and shows them mercy, will enter Paradise ." Imam Bukhari's Book of Muslim Morals and Manners


- A man once told the Prophet that he had many children but did not kiss any of them. The Prophet (pbuh) replied: "Verily, God will only show mercy to those of His servants who do good to others." Imam Bukhari's Book of Muslim Morals and Manners


- As he carried his grandson on his shoulders, the Prophet was heard to say: "O God! I love him, so You love him too." Imam Bukhari's Book of Muslim Morals and Manners.


Salam.

[wel_mel_2]

Bismillah:

there are so many extremist muslims. Don't you think that this should feature more prominently ?

There are extremists from all walks of life, the media doesn’t publicize that (and you know this very well).


Why are you picking on Muslims? And why you are always associating the actions of some bad Muslims with Islam as a way of life?


Why you have never mentioned about the conference that took place in Saudi Arabia last year to discuss <b>the danger of terrorism</b>?


Why you have never mentioned about the peaceful conference that took place in Denmark few months ago between Muslims scholars and Danish Non Muslims thinker and youth to discuss and clarify the misconceptions that westerners have about Islam? And the conference was so successful that in the next day of this meeting on Danish TV and news papers it was declared that <b>MUHAMMAD pbuh IS A GREAT MAN</b>.


Why you have not heard about the international conference that was organized by Muslim Scholar Amr Khaled (<b>right start international</b>) in London to condemn 7/7 bombing attack and to clarify the Islamic view point on this subject?


<b>Simply because these types of news don’t reach you, your media is feeding you of what they wants and you were fooled by them as usual. </b>


Anyway, we have told you before (MANY TIMES) that we Muslims reject and condemn terrorism and all kind of extremism and so did our scholars but our voices are not heard.


Salam


Wael.

[wel_mel_2]

Bismillah:

No they don't. They pay lip service with such condemnations. Why are mosques around the globe being lead by vitriolic peddlers of hate and violence ? Why do ordinary muslims, MILLIONS of them, allow these fanatics to preach intolerance and hate in THEIR mosques ?

have you been to any of these mosques?


Salam


Wael

[wel_mel_2]

Bismillah:

I haven't been to the sun either but I'm told it's very hot and I believe it.

Also you have been told that <i>"Muslims are no good"</i> and you just believe it, at least you can feel the heat of the sun without visiting it :D but have you ever come closer to the Muslims to listen to them and see weather what you <i>have been told </i> is true or false? Are you telling me that you <b>100% dependent on what the media portray? </b>


Listen you said that there are millions of Muslims who are extremists today, I will agree for the sake of discussion, but I would like to know <b>how many millions </b> are extremists? How many millions <i>are no good </i> out of <b>1.5 Billion</b>?


Salam


Wael.

[AlShamms]

Peace.....


What I would like to know is, how does a muslim become an extremist? What verses of the quran do they use to justify their actions? Yes, we've already established that they are not the majority of Islam's followers. But for my own curiosity, I'd like to know what surahs or hadiths do they use?


Shamms

[wel_mel_2]

Bismillah:

Peace.....


What I would like to know is, how does a muslim become an extremist? What verses of the quran do they use to justify their actions? Yes, we've already established that they are not the majority of Islam's followers. But for my own curiosity, I'd like to know what surahs or hadiths do they use?


Shamms

Peace upon you too Shamms.


I personaly have never meet any of those so called extremists to understand what they are using to justify their actions. Plus all acts of terrorism and extremism are not related to Islam at all, <b>the absence of justice, truth and freedom is what led them to all this</b>. I am not justifying their actions, but we have to recognize the real reason for such behavior.


Here are some quotes from the Muslims Scholars regarding this matter as reported in the Asian news.co.uk

Top Muslim scholars told the cheering audience that true Muslims should go on a personal jihad by fighting the "temptation" within themselves.

"In Islam there is nothing holy about bloodshed and war.

"Jihad has nothing to do with terrorism either. If it's terrorism it's not Islam."

"There is no such thing as Muslim terrorism because a true Muslim cannot be a terrorist. A true Muslim does not go around killing innocent people.

"In Islam, killing one innocent Muslim is like killing all of humanity."

The Asian News.co.uk


Salam


Wael

[AlShamms]

Peace.....


Wael, we all understand that by their actions terrorists do not follow the tenents of Islam. However, that does not mean they do not twist surahs for their own justification. I think it would benefit the muslim communities to find out what terrorists expouse as the justification for their actions so that they can better speak against the actions of the terrorists. For instance, christian pro-life groups believe abortion should be made illegal and that unborn life should be protected...but they then twist the scriptures to justify the killing of the doctors who perform the abortions....thereby making themselves terrorists.


Shamms

[Muslim Observer]

Bismillah.


This is an excerpt from a scholar in comparative religion (Dr. Zakir Naik). This will inshaAllah answer a lot of your Qs.


Why are most of the Muslims labelled as fundamentalists and terrorists?


Answer:


This question is often hurled at Muslims, either directly or indirectly, during any discussion on religion or world affairs. Muslim stereotypes are perpetuated in every form of the media accompanied by gross misinformation about Islam and Muslims. In fact, such misinformation and false propaganda often leads to discrimination and acts of violence against Muslims. A case in point is the anti-Muslim campaign in the American media following the Oklahoma bomb blast, where the press was quick to declare a ‘Middle Eastern conspiracy’ behind the attack. The culprit was later identified as a soldier from the American Armed Forces.


Let us analyze this allegation of ‘fundamentalism’ and ‘terrorism’:


1. Definition of the word ‘fundamentalist’


A fundamentalist is a person who follows and adheres to the fundamentals of the doctrine or theory he is following. For a person to be a good doctor, he should know, follow, and practise the fundamentals of medicine. In other words, he should be a fundamentalist in the field of medicine. For a person to be a good mathematician, he should know, follow and practise the fundamentals of mathematics. He should be a fundamentalist in the field of mathematics. For a person to be a good scientist, he should know, follow and practise the fundamentals of science. He should be a fundamentalist in the field of science.


2. Not all ‘fundamentalists’ are the same


One cannot paint all fundamentalists with the same brush. One cannot categorize all fundamentalists as either good or bad. Such a categorization of any fund amentalist will depend upon the field or activity in which he is a fundamentalist. A fundamentalist robber or thief causes harm to society and is therefore undesirable. A fundamentalist doctor, on the other hand, benefits society and earns much respect.


3. Dictionary meaning of the word ‘fundamentalist’


According to Webster’s dictionary ‘fundamentalism’ was a movement in American Protestanism that arose in the earlier part of the 20th century. It was a reaction to modernism, and stressed the infallibility of the Bible, not only in matters of faith and morals but also as a literal historical record. It stressed on belief in the Bible as the literal word of God. Thus fundamentalism was a word initially used for a group of Christians who believed that the Bible was the verbatim word of God without any errors and mistakes.


According to the Oxford dictionary ‘fundamentalism’ means ‘strict maintenance of ancient or fundamental doctrines of any religion, especially Islam’.


Today the moment a person uses the word fundamentalist he thinks of a Muslim who is a terrorist.


4. Different labels given to the same individual for the same action, i.e. ‘terrorist’ and ‘patriot’


Before India achieved independence from British rule, some freedom fighters of India who did not subscribe to non-violence were labeled as terrorists by the British government. The same individuals have been lauded by Indians for the same activities and hailed as ‘patriots’. Thus two different labels have been given to the same people for the same set of actions. One is calling him a terrorist while the other is calling him a patriot. Those who believed that Britain had a right to rule over India called these people terrorists, while those who were of the view that Britain had no right to rule India called them patriots and freedom fighters.


It is therefore important that before a person is judged, he is given a fair hearing. Both sides of the argument should be heard, the situation should be analyzed, and the reason and the intention of the person should be taken into account, and then the person can be judged accordingly.


5. Islam means peace


Islam is derived from the word ‘salaam’ which means peace. It is a religion of peace whose fundamentals teach its followers to maintain and promote peace throughout the world.


Thus every Muslim should be a fundamentalist i.e. he should follow the fundamentals of the Religion of Peace: Islam. He should be a terrorist only towards the antisocial elements in order to promote peace and justice in the society.


How can Islam be called the religion of peace when it was spread by the sword?


Answer:


It is a common complaint among some non-Muslims that Islam would not have millions of adherents all over the world, if it had not been spread by the use of force. The following points will make it clear, that far from being spread by the sword, it was the inherent force of truth, reason and logic that was responsible for the rapid spread of Islam.


6. Opinion of historian De Lacy O’Leary.


The best reply to the misconception that Islam was spread by the sword is given by the noted historian De Lacy O’Leary in the book ’Islam at the cross road’ (Page 8):


’History makes it clear however, that the legend of fanatical Muslims sweeping through the world and forcing Islam at the point of the sword upon conquered races is one of the most fantastically absurd myth that historians have ever repeated.’


7. Muslims ruled Spain for 800 years.


Muslims ruled Spain for about 800 years. The Muslims in Spain never used the sword to force the people to convert. Later the Christian Crusaders came to Spain and wiped out the Muslims. There was not a single Muslim in Spain who could openly give the adhan, that is the call for prayers.


8. 14 million Arabs are Coptic Christians.


Muslims were the lords of Arabia for 1400 years. For a few years the British ruled, and for a few years the French ruled. Overall, the Muslims ruled Arabia for 1400 years. Yet today, there are 14 million Arabs who are Coptic Christians i.e. Christians since generations. If the Muslims had used the sword there would not have been a single Arab who would have remained a Christian.


9. More than 80% non-Muslims in India.


The Muslims ruled India for about a thousand years. If they wanted, they had the power of converting each and every non-Muslim of India to Islam. Today more than 80% of the population of India are non-Muslims. All these non-Muslim Indians are bearing witness today that Islam was not spread by the sword.


10. Indonesia and Malaysia.


Indonesia is a country that has the maximum number of Muslims in the world. The majority of people in Malaysia are Muslims. May one ask, ’Which Muslim army went to Indonesia and Malaysia?’


11. East Coast of Africa.


Similarly, Islam has spread rapidly on the East Coast of Africa. One may again ask, if Islam was spread by the sword, ’Which Muslim army went to the East Coast of Africa?’

[AlShamms]

Peace.....


MO, Unfortunately your article doesn't answer the questions I posted. It doesn't really address anything specifically. It sets up its own questions then proceeds to answer them. This is called a "straw man" fallacy. If you read my post you'll see the answers in the article don't address what I was asking at all.


I don't understand why these questions are so difficult to answer. Wael said he's never spoken with an "extremist" to understand what it is they expouse. One doesn't have to understand why a person believes what they do to know according to what you follow that they are in error. I've never spoken with a mormon personally to know the tenants they adhire to do not line up with what the Bible teaches which is why they resort to their own manufactured book. Once again, it seems to me the muslim community would better be served if the surahs, ayats, or fatwas used by those who are called "terrorists" are learned and discussed so they can be refuted.


If this is done, then the misunderstandings talked about in MO's article can be lessened....in my opinion.


Shamms

[Muslimah]

Bismillah


Shamms, let me try to help here. Can you pls give me your definition of an extremist and fundamentalists.


Pls define them, from there we can discuss Insh aAllah. :)