More information please!

[Gill]

Hello all,


Over the past month I have been trying to learn all I can about Islam. So far I have read a book about the history on Islam, a biography of the Prophet, and I am almost done with the Quraan. Could a memeber of the muslim community suggest what I should read next?


Thanks,


Gill :D

[Rock]

Hellow Gill


It is very good to start this journey to know more about Islam,


I want to ask you what is your feeling after reading the Quran,is there is some


thing you want to know more about it or to ask about it.


I suggest to visit this site


"http://www.islamonline.net/english/journey/2006/01/jour01.shtml"


I think you will find it interest to know how Dr. Jeffrey Lang Discovers Islam


after Ten Years of Atheism by reading the Quran and how he read it,


it may help.

[Gill]

Hello Rock.


Thank you for the link. It was a inspiring story.

I want to ask you what is your feeling after reading the Quran

Well Im only half done, but so far it has provided an answer to a great many problems I had with Christianity. My first problem was that in the old testiment of the bible it says to not worship any other God, but modern christians clearly worship Jesus. My other problem was "Why doesnt God still talk to us?" But I remember reading somewhere in the quraan that God has already sent us the message so why should he keep doing so,


I do have a few questions.


1) Do muslims have to choose between sunni and shai?


2) I am a regular white north american guy, How would the muslim comunity act around me? Is it strange to see a caucasian in a mosque?


These questions have been on my mind for some time.


Thanks,


Gill

[radiyah]

Bismillah


May Allah(SWT) guide you Gill, to what He loves and Pleases, and Gill please my advice to you if you read The Quran, put in your mind that what you a re reading is only a translation of The Quran that conveyes the meaning of it in arabic, but sometimes u may understand a verse in another way that it is supposed to be, so please if you have any questions regarding unclear things in The Holy Quran, do not hesitate to ask, we will try and answer.


Now to answer your first Question, when islam first was revealed it was clear to everyone, and the sahaba followed the Prophet(PBUH) in all his deeds and orders that was revealed to him from Allah(SWT), and that is what is called Sunnah, to follow the Prophet(PBUH) path. Now the shi'its, in many ways do not follow the Prophet's path, even some sects of them if not all, u will find that they almost worship Ali, Prophet Muhammad's cousin and his Daughter's husband, by saying that within his hands is the heaven and earth, and that he is the saviour, and they give too much importance to him than to Prophet Muhammad, and there are many stories that just are not logical. to know more about shi'ism read the below link, and it is up to u to decide :


http://www.islamawareness.net/Deviant/Shia...out_shiism.html


And Gill, as our advice to everyone, do not hasten yourself, read and learn slowly, and you must know that even we as muslims do not have answers to everything, we are still learning and we will keep on learning, and as muslims and as Prophet Muhammad(PBUH) taught us, that the moment we say I know everything, I learnt everything, I am the best at knowledge, then he is the most ignorant person. May Allah(SWT) help you and guide you to the right path. Ameen


As to your second question, of course no it will not be strange, in Islam there is no difference between black or white, yellow or brown all are the same in The Eyes of Allah(SWT), we do not have racial discremination, as Allah(SWT) said in His Holy Book:


Bismillah Al-Rahman Al-Raheem:


O mankind! We have created you from a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that you may know one another. Verily, the most honourable of you with Allâh is that (believer) who has At-Taqwa [i.e. one of the Muttaqûn (pious - see V.2:2). Verily, Allâh is All-Knowing, All-Aware. (Al-Hujurat 49:13)



So as you see no it is not strange, we are all brothers and sisters in humanity, no matter what is our color or nationality.


Best of wishes :)


Peace

[Rock]

Hellow Gill


You ask" Do muslims have to choose between sunni and shai?"


No ,they have`nt to choose between sunni and shai,actually this classification


should`nt exist.All muslims are requested to obey Allah and his messenger and


no more.


(In addition to what sister Radiyah said and Without any details concerning the


shai`s faith we can`t deny that they are muslims.Shai means in Arabic"supporter",


Shai are those who support Ali Ibn Abi Talib"Muhammed cousion"to be the


muslim kalipha against Othman Ibn Affan after the death of Omar Ibn Elkattab,


they thought that the kalipha should be from the prophet family and of course


this is wrong.They pay a great Iove and respect to AIi and his son AIhussen,by


the time some of them follow the path of AIi and his son AIhussen and give this


a periority,may be than following the prophet path.Actually AIi and his son


AIhussen were following the prophet path but we as muslims must ensure that


we follow the prophet path,this is a part of our faith.)


You ask"I am a regular white north american guy, How would the muslim comunity


act around me?"


All non-muslims have two rights.


First we must inform them with Islam(if it is possible)using any peaseful avilable


tools.


Secondly,we must dealing kindly and justly with them,unless they did`nt fight us.


Refer to Holy Quran 60/8


(Allah forbids you not, with regard to those who fight you not for (your) Faith nor


drive you out of your homes, from dealing kindly and justly with them: for Allah


loveth those who are just.)


You ask"Is it strange to see a caucasian in a mosque?"


No,why caucasian?!any one can be a muslim,no difference.


Wishing the best for you.

[wel_mel_2]

Bismillah:


Assalamo Alikum Gill and welcome to your board. :)

Thank you for the link. It was a inspiring story.


Well Im only half done, but so far it has provided an answer to a great many problems I had with Christianity. My first problem was that in the old testiment of the bible it says to not worship any other God, but modern christians clearly worship Jesus. My other problem was "Why doesnt God still talk to us?" But I remember reading somewhere in the quraan that God has already sent us the message so why should he keep doing so,

That is just normal; the Qur'an will always have the answers for our problems, it is just normal for any open minded person to realize that a perfect religion must have the answer for all problems in all walks of life. Alhamdulelah.

1) Do muslims have to choose between sunni and shai?

in addition to what sister radiyah and brother Rock's explanation i would like to add the following:


The Qur’an says: "And hold fast, All together, by the rope Which Allah (stretches out for you), and be not divided among yourselves;" [Al-Qur’an 3:103]


Which is the rope of Allah that is being referred to in this verse? It is the Holy Qur'an. The Qur’an is the rope of Allah which all Muslims should hold fast together. There is double emphasis in this verse. Besides saying ‘hold fast all together’ it also says, ‘be not divided’.


Qur’an further says,


"Obey Allah, and obey the Messenger" [Al-Qur’an 4:59]


All the Muslim should follow the Qur’an and authentic Ahadith and be not divided among themselves.


The Qur’an also says: "As for those who divide Their religion and break up Into sects, thou hast No part in them in the least Their affair is with Allah: He will in the end Tell them the truth Of all that they did." [Al-Qur’an 6:159]


In this verse Allah says that one should disassociate oneself from those who divide their religion and break it up into sects.


But when one asks a Muslim, "who are you?", sadly the common answer is either ‘I am a Sunni, or ‘I am a Shia’. Some call themselves Hanafi, or Shafi or Maliki or Humbali etc etc


but Subhan Allah one may ask such Muslims, "Who was our beloved prophet (pbuh)? Was he a Hanafi or a Shafi, or a Humbali or a Maliki?" No! He was a Muslim, like all the other prophets and messengers of Allah before him.


It is mentioned in chapter 3 verse 52 of Al-Qur’an that Jesus (pbuh) was a Muslim.


Further, in chapter 3 verse 67, Al-Qur’an says that Ibrahim (pbuh) was not a Jew or a Christian but was a Muslim.


So in short if anyone poses a Muslim the question who are you, he should say "I am a MUSLIM, not a Hanafi or a Shafi". chapter 41 verse 33 says


"Who is better in speech Than one who calls (men) To Allah, works righteousness, And says, ‘I am of those Who bow in Islam (Muslim)?’


hope this answer your question insha'Allah.

2) I am a regular white north american guy, How would the muslim comunity act around me? Is it strange to see a caucasian in a mosque?

i don’t know why each time when someone ask about the racism issue i immediately remember brother Malcolm X, i will just let you hear some of his beautiful words regarding this matter.


during his visit to Mecca he said:

There were tens of thousands of pilgrims, from all over the world. They were of all colors, from blue eyed blonds to black skin Africans. But we were all participating in the same rituals, displaying a spirit of unity and brotherhood that my experiences in America had lead me to believe never could exist between the white and non-white.

America needs to understand Islam, because this is the one religion that erases from its society the race problem.

There are much to learn from Malcolm X' experience regarding racism. However even if you are a non Muslim and wanted to visit our mosques whether you are a white or black, brown or yellow, you are most welcome.

These questions have been on my mind for some time.

We are open for more questions insha'Allah :)


May Allah enable us to answer your question and may He guide you and us to the right path, Ameen.


Salam


Wael.

[Dan]

Bismillah


Gill


I am a "I am a regular white north american guy" as you put it. If you have any questions that you think that I might be able to ask due to my background please feel free to ask me. Even if you have questions that you may feel are embarrassing or you do not want to offend anyone, please pm me if you prefer. Otherwise, you are in good hands here.


Peace