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The Catechism of the Catholic Church
I just wanted to provide the above link to the Catechism of the Catholic Church. I've read many mischaracterizations of the Catholic faith on this board lately (worship Mary, worship statues, polytheist, etc). Those statements are based partly on prejudice but perhaps even more so on ignorance.
The great thing about understanding Catholic Christianity is that what we believe is out there and readily available to read and discern. There is no mystery as to what the Church teaches. It's all there in the Catechism which comes from the word of God through scripture and Holy Tradition.
So, Wel and others...next time you want to accuse Catholics of being Polytheists or Idol worshipers please first make sure you completely understand that which you attack. It is easy to pull a quote out of context from a Church Father and say, "Looky here. Catholics worship Mary." An attack like that is both disingenuous and dishonest. I am positive that I could take a quote from a cleric somewhere and do the same exact thing...but I don't...because I want an honest representation of Islam.
Speaking of Islam...I find it very difficult to find a succinct theology in Islam. I wish Islam had a Catechism or Pope. The problem in understanding Islam, in my opinion, is that there is no authority really to speak in terms of defining dogma or doctrine. Islam has tons of clerics and teachers but many of them disagree with one another about almost everything. For the Muslims on the board I have a question. How do you know that you practice and believe the complete truth about Islam, Allah and the teachings of the Prophet? Even on this board I've seen some say that salvation is guaranteed through blowing yourself in a market...while others on this board rejected that notion completely. Who is right? How do you know who is right? When the Quran isn't clear on a particular subject where do you look to towards understanding?
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Quote: When the Quran isn't clear on a particular subject where do you look to towards understanding?
Hi CC,
We use the Sunnah of the Prophet to get the details. For example, we know to pray from Quran, but we know HOW to pray from the sunnah.
I think you will find differences among Muslims for the same reason we find them in any group of people: Difference in level of faith, knowledge, and understanding.
Take care
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Quote:Hi CC,
We use the Sunnah of the Prophet to get the details. For example, we know to pray from Quran, but we know HOW to pray from the sunnah.
I think you will find differences among Muslims for the same reason we find them in any group of people: Difference in level of faith, knowledge, and understanding.
Take care
Thanks Jennifer,
Does it matter if one person interprets the Quran differntly in terms of hefty theology questions like, "How are we saved?" Obviously there must be only 1 truth. Truth in Islam isn't relative to the believer is it?
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Bismillah
" Truth in Islam isn't relative to the believer is it?"
Correct.
Of course you will find people differing and trying to use weak hadith or twisting verses but when one wants to truly understand Islam, the information is available to know the Ahl Us-Sunnah (the people who follow the Prophet).
Just as there are some christians who make claims that I know are not true. My brother had his boss approach him and say that all he had to do was believe that Jesus died for his sins and he could do whatever he wanted! (I think I can almost hear out christian members rolling their eyes... maybe gasping upon hearing this claim). I would never claim that this was the most correct view of christianity even though they are many people who think this way.
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In the Name of God - Father Son Holy Spirit.
Peace be with you!
Quote:" Truth in Islam isn't relative to the believer is it?"
Correct.
Of course you will find people differing and trying to use weak hadith or twisting verses but when one wants to truly understand Islam, the information is available to know the Ahl Us-Sunnah (the people who follow the Prophet).
Just as there are some christians who make claims that I know are not true. My brother had his boss approach him and say that all he had to do was believe that Jesus died for his sins and he could do whatever he wanted! (I think I can almost hear out christian members rolling their eyes... maybe gasping upon hearing this claim). I would never claim that this was the most correct view of christianity even though they are many people who think this way.
:rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes:
I'm rolling my eyes at you, Dan... not at various Christian sects. You know why!
God bless.
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Bismillah
No... I don't know why...
Maybe you can enlighten me as to why you are being rude?
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In the Name of God - Father Son Holy Spirit.
Peace be with you, Dan!
Quote:No... I don't know why...
Maybe you can enlighten me as to why you are being rude?
Oh you have to excuse my wacky Aussie sense of humor :P
The constant usage of "Christian parallels" on this forum is ultimately its downfall. For example, in your above explanation, all you managed to do was show me that Islam, like Protestantism, lacks infallibility, therefore, anything goes.
I'm learning very little by comparing & contrasting Islam with Christianity. Please back up your beliefs with Islamic examples.
Let's get back on topic because this is quite interesting...
Several times in the Quran, schisms are given as proof that a faith is not from Allah. It was easy for Allah (SWT) to say back in the early 7th Century AD because Muhammad (PBUH) only had a few hundred followers. But after his death, Muslims were splitting left, right & center. The earliest were the Ibadya Muslims who trace their lineage back to Khadija... way before the Sunni/Shiite fiasco. Speaking of Sunnis & Shiites, these two traditions have a number of sub-divisions within them that differ in beliefs/practices. How do you know which denomination is guided by Allah (SWT)?
I know the majority (if not all) Muslims on IslamMessage belong to the Sunni tradition (I'm guessing the Hambalis), & obviously you guys believe that your sect is the right one, & I'm aware that Muhammad (PBUH) or Allah (SWT) severely frowned upon schisms & granted Paradise to only one group, but how do Muslims (amongst themselves) determine who's right & who's wrong??? There's no Islamic authority on earth that can stand up & say with certainty, "Thus says Allah...".
I even heard that Shiites accuse Sunnis of the unforgivable sin of shirk because they believe the Quran is uncreated.
What do you think?
Cheers :)
God bless.
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Bismillah:
Quote:How do you know which denomination is guided by Allah (SWT)?
And whatsoever the Messenger (Muhammad SAW) gives you, take it, and whatsoever he forbids you, abstain (from it), and fear Allah. Verily, Allah is Severe in punishment.
(Quran, 59:7)"
Means whoever disobeyed the Messenger of Allah in any of his teaching, he is not following the guidance of Allah. For example, if any Muslim went to the graveyard (<i>as I've seen in Madinah</i>) and start calling upon the dead, prostrate down asking for their help etc, he is not following the guidance of Allah, he might call himself a Muslim, but in reality he is not following the teaching of Islam at all.
Quote:I know the majority (if not all) Muslims on IslamMessage belong to the Sunni tradition (I'm guessing the Hambalis)
You may also ask "who was our beloved prophet Muhammad pbuh? Was he a Hambali, Hanafi or a Shafi, or a Maliki?" No! <b>He was a Muslim</b>, like all the other prophets and messengers of Allah before him, and so we are also Muslims only Alhamdulelah. in fact the Qur’an tells us to call ourselves Muslims.
"Who is better in speech than one who calls (men) to Allah, works righteousness, and says, ‘I am of those who are Muslims”
[Qur’an 41:33]
Quote:Obviously you guys believe that your sect is the right one.
<b>A true Muslim should only follow the Qur’an and the Sahih Hadith</b>. He can agree with the views of any scholar as long as they conform to the teachings of the Qur’an and Sahih Hadith. If such views go against the Word of Allah, or the Sunnah of His Prophet, then they carry no weight regardless of how learned the scholar might be.
Quote:how do Muslims (amongst themselves) determine who's right & who's wrong???
From the Qur’anic and the Prophet's teaching.
Quote:There's no Islamic authority on earth that can stand up & say with certainty, "Thus says Allah...".
Huh ? :blink:
Salam
Wael.
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Quote:if any Muslim went to the graveyard (as I've seen in Madinah) and start calling upon the dead, prostrate down asking for their help etc,
Is that what you think "communion of the saints" is?
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Bismillah:
Quote:Is that what you think "communion of the saints" is?
It is somehow similar to what Catholics do when calling upon the so called '<i>saints</i>'. and as you know, Islam is totally against such practice.
Salam
Wael.
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