Can Islam co exist with non Muslims

[Guest]

I don't know an Arabic greeting but here is a Scottish one, "Hello there !"

OK, now I don't have the time to read the Qu'ran in it's entirety so maybe you could help me out here. It's not laziness, it's lack of time with a bit of laziness too

I seem to see a lot of "evidence" in the Qu'ran than would indicate that Islam is THE only religion, period, end of story. Any non Muslims are worth less than a muslim, basically is the message I am picking up here. However, moderate muslims say they can quite happily co exist with other religions. I take that with a pinch of salt because I have yet to see 2 religions live completely at peace with one another, Protestant, Catholic in the case of Scotland/Ireland although in Ireland it is a more geo political stance rather than a religous stance. And the Muslims themselves seem a bit ambivalent about this also, Sunni's v Shiites etc.

But my question would be, is the Qu'ran basically a manifesto for world domination ?

And if true, just how committed are Muslims to the manifesto ?

Am I missing something ?

Would this be an extremists view of Islam ?

Regards, HabibHibee !

[Muslimah]

As Salam a`alamanitaba`al hoda

This is the greeting we are commanded to use with non Muslims

Yes Islam can certainly live with other religions.

Insh a Allah I will prepare the verses from Quran for you to fully understand this topic.

Just before that will give u an example. when Omar Ibn Alkhatab went to visit Jerusalem and receive its keys, he was visiting an important church at the time when Asr prayer came one. Preists offered him to pray, but he refused and went outside. He did not want to set a rule for Muslims to be allowed to turn churches into mosques. Respect of other religions is essential. Simply because there is no compulsion in religion, that is what the quran say. Also there are verses that regulate our relation with non muslims.

Insh aAllah will prepare them in more detail for u.

[Guest]

How should I greet you ?

Don't go to too much bother.

What I am beginning to see (correct me if I am wrong) is that the Qu'ran is THE book of God it can't be added to and it can't modified in anyway. However, what seems to be happening is that various hadiths have in fact distorted some of the teachings in the Qu'ran. Because on the one hand I see (and I paraphrase here) "submit to Islam or pay a tax as a non muslim and go to hell" and on another hand I see Islam being tolerant of all other religions, respect other religions etc etc.

My resources are varied and conflicting to say the least but who/what is right ? Do the hadiths have any right to interpret the Qu'ran ?

Interestingly, I was reading earlier about the Hijab being a tradition rather than a religious thing. In other words, Allah did not specifically state that wearing of the Hijab by women (or anyone else) was something they had to do. Maybe I will take this up with SisterJennifer in another thread.

[SisterJennifer]

Hi HabibHibee,

I have heard about the "unless they submit to Islam they must pay a tax..." (I have never seen the and go to hell part added). But this is referring to non-Muslims who live in an Islamic country. To the best of my understanding it is something like this:

A Non-Muslim living in that country pays a special tax, as they are not expected to pay the Zakat (which is like an Islamic tax) and they are also not exepted to serve in a Muslim army. This is out of respect for the Non-Muslims religion. It is basically a different tax system than that which the Muslim majority would pay. If the non-Muslim converts to Islam, than they would pay the Zakat.

If you want to start another thread on the hijab, I will be happy to give my input, and maybe a few others would be happy to give theirs as well.

Take care

[Guest]

Hi SisterJennifer.

Re: The tax, it's still a form of dicrimination albeit a physically harmless one. I'm pretty sure that foreign workers are tax exempt in Saudie. This is what I heard anyway from someone trying to recruit me for a contract in Saudie but I am not 100% sure. But don't worry about that part, it's an ecomomic situation that can happen anywhere really. But Ilsam wise you have cleared it up.

Now other things kind of get my attention too regarding other religions existing alongside Islam. Prayer time for muslims is announced by someone yelling (sorry I don't know the technical term) for people to come to prayer. In some Christian religions, the ringing of bells on a Sunday marks something, I don't know what but that's what they do. So, would an Islamic state permit Christians living there to ring their bells on a Sunday, have a Christmas tree etc, etc ? I mean just how tolerant Islamists (not Muslims) of other religions because my perception (based on Saudie and say Afghanistan) is not very tolerant. The Taleban demolished the ancient symbols of Buhdiism. Now, maybe the Taleban are not the correct role models for Islam but they seemed to be getting a bit too admiration from certain quarters from the Islamic/Muslim world.

Look forward to your input and others, come on folks, don't be shy. How do you expect to be understood if you don't join in ?

[SisterJennifer]

<i>Originally posted by HabibHibee </i><b></b>

In some Christian religions, the ringing of bells on a Sunday marks something, I don't know what but that's what they do. So, would an Islamic state permit Christians living there to ring their bells on a Sunday, have a Christmas tree etc, etc ?

Yes.

[AhmedSyed]

True they sure would, but remeber there is no Islamic state in existance...as of now.

The states with majority muslim population have a gov't that is not like the Kalifa model of Gov't and differen't people in power impose laws that don't exactly follow Islam.

Btw...Kalifa means "succesor" its the guy who runs the state but has secrateries of different departments to help him out. Kind of like the US model, although we hold ours in higher esteem:D.

[Guest]

So a resounding yes for tolerance but this flies in the face of world events, particularly in Saudie Arabia where the importing of bibles is against the law. And again I bring up Afghanistan which (correct me if I am wrong) was as near to an Islamic state as you can get.

Or am I wrong here ? Was Afghanistan no where near being an Islamic state ?

Jump back to Saudie for a seconf, drinking alcohol seems to be against the wishes of Allah, in other religions, drinking alcohol is allowed. Saudie does not seem tolerant of alcohol drinking. For example, catholics use wine during one of their ceromonies, would they be allowed wine in an Islamic state ?

[Muslimah]

As Salam a`alaman itab`alhoda

Now I prefer to be focused Habib, u seem to discuss states rather than religion. I told u before that Islam is a religion not applied unfortunately in any Muslim country.

Verse in the Quran that regulate the relationship between Muslims and non Muslims as follows:

“Made lawful to you this day are At-Tayyibât [all kinds of Halâl (lawful) foods, which Allâh has made lawful (meat of slaughtered eatable animals, milk products, fats, vegetables and fruits)]. The food (slaughtered cattle, eatable animals) of the people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians) is lawful to you and yours is lawful to them.” (Quran 5:5)

“And argue not with the people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians), unless it be in (a way) that is better (with good words and in good manner, inviting them to Islâmic Monotheism with His Verses), except with such of them as do wrong; and say (to them): "We believe in that which has been revealed to us and revealed to you; our Ilâh (God) and your Ilâh (God) is One (i.e. Allâh), and to Him we have submitted (as Muslims)." (Quran 29:46)

Taking your laziness in consideraton Habib, I thought to present only 2 ayahs, however, I think you can sense how exactly we are commanded to treat non Muslims nicely.

Just ponder on them and Insh a Allah we may continue later. You have a good day, evening well with time difference I am not sure

[Muslimah]

<i>Originally posted by HabibHibee </i><b></b>

Or am I wrong here ? Was Afghanistan no where near being an Islamic state ?

What was wrong about them?

Jump back to Saudie for a seconf, drinking alcohol seems to be against the wishes of Allah, in other religions, drinking alcohol is allowed. Saudie does not seem tolerant of alcohol drinking. For example, catholics use wine during one of their ceromonies, would they be allowed wine in an Islamic state ?

U know better than me that alcohol is not permissible in christiantiy and that Preists claim that what they offer during communion is not an alcoholic wine. So let us not get into that ok.

As for Saudi Arabia, I wish I lived in a country where alcohol is not allowed in. This never contradicts tolerence. Saudi Arabia is the country where our holy places are in. Can the Pope allow a Friday Prayer to be held in pubic in Vatican? I guess not. let us not even take the Vatican, in the US Muslims are not allowed to hold the call for prayer in loud speakers. Well, I hope you start focusing on what is not clear to u in Islam rather discussing regimes. Are u an international relation student, I wonder:confused: