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History of Islam

History of Islam

MuhammadThe history of Islam centers around one person, Muhammad (also spelled Muhammed or Mohammed). He was born around 570 A.D. and was raised by his extended family after the death of his parents. As he grew, he became dissatisfied with polytheism and came to believe in one God, Allah. He began to have religious visions around age 40. During these visions, Muhammad would receive "messages" or "revelations" from Allah. He would memorize them and teach them to his followers. These visions are now recorded in the Qur'an (or Koran). Muhammad continued to receive these visions and messages until his death in 632 A.D.

The Expansion of Islam

Muhammad's new faith was not widely accepted in his hometown of Mecca. Therefore, he and his followers moved to Medina which means "City of the Prophet". This movement is known as the Hijirat or "the flight". It marks the turning point in Islam and serves as the beginning date on Islamic calendars.

At first, Muhammad was sympathetic to both Christians and Jews, but after their rejection of his teaching, he turned from Jerusalem as the center of worship for Islam to Mecca. He realized he must return to Mecca, and he did, conquering the city. Islam quickly spread throughout the area.

When Muhammad died, he left no document appointing a successor. Some people thought that one of the original converts who had taught with Muhammad, some wanted a member of a powerful political family in the area, and others felt that 'Ali, the cousin and son-in-law of Muhammad had been divinely designated as successor. An early believer, Abu Bakr was appointed, but died within two years.

Eventually, a power struggle developed as different groups of Muslims believed their method of establishing a successor were the best. The largest argument was over whether the successor should be elected or chosen through heredity. This controversy produced the main body of Islam known as the Sunnis (followers of the prophet's way) and other numerous sects including the Shi'a and the Sufis. The Sunnis are the majority in Islam today.

The Shi'a are the group of Muslims who believe that the successorship should remain within Muhammad's family, and that leaders are spiritually chosen, not politically chosen. They carry with them the pain of Muhammad's son-in-law, 'Ali, who was murdered by Mu'awiya in order to obtain power. Today, the Shi'a dominate Iran.

The Sufis are a group who believes that orthodox Islam is too mechanical and impersonal. This group of Islamic mystics seek for direct personal experience of the Divine.

Nationalism in the Arab world since the rise of Israel as a political power has kept Islam strong. It is a rapidly spreading religion because of its cultural and political appeal and its universal message of peace, temperance and the brotherhood of man.

References

McDowell, Josh and Don Stewart, Handbook of Today's Religions. Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1983. Twelfth printing, June 1992.

Shelley, Fred M. and Audrey E. Clarke, eds. Human and Cultural Geography. Dubuque, Iowa: Wm. C. Brown Publishers, 1994.

Images

'The Expansion of Islam' courtesy of The Expansion of Islam

'Muhammad' courtesy of World Religions in Images

Friday, March 14, 2008

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Sunday, March 9, 2008

ISLAM FOR TODAY


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The religion of Islam
Basic theological beliefs and concepts

"Invite to the way of your Lord with wisdom and beautiful preaching."
Quran 16:125


The Quran open at the first chapter, Surat al-Fatiha

Click on an issue to view or scroll down to browse by topic

Introductions to Islamic Beliefs

Articles about the Quran

Quran resources

Prophet Mohammed and his hadeeth (sayings)

The Schools of Islamic Law

Sharia Resources

Articles on Muslim character

Articles on community and society

Zakat (compulsory alms)

Ramadan and Eid ul Fitr (religion)

Ramadan in the News

Hajj and Eid ul Adha

Halal Food

Heresies and pseudo-Islamic sects

Islamic Extremism and Fundamentalism

Islam and Christianity

Islam and Judaism


"Lo! Those who believe (in that which is revealed unto thee, Muhammad), and those who are Jews, and Christians, and Sabaeans - whoever believeth in God and the Last Day and doeth right - surely their reward is with their Lord, and there shall no fear come upon them neither shall they grieve" - Quran 2:62

Links to other sites dealing principally with the religion of Islam (not politics)


Surat al-Fatiha, the first chapter of the Quran

Introductions to Islamic Beliefs

The Beliefs and Laws of Islam
Stephen Bates explains the basics to non-Muslims with little previous knowledge.

Exploring Islam - The World's Second Biggest Religion Also Is a Way of Life
Washington Post Special Feature.
Excellent overview and introduction to Islam by Carolyn Ruff.

We are Muslims. Who are we?
Imam Tammam Adi of the Islamic Cultural Center, Eugene, Oregon, explains basic Islamic beliefs and history for a non-Muslim audience.

Let's set the record straight!
Imam Tammam Adi of the Islamic Cultural Center, Eugene, Oregon, tackles widespread misconceptions and stereotypes about Muslims and Islam and sets out the reality.

Understanding Islam
A very positive, brief introduction to Islam written for a Christian audience
by Orthodox priest, Father Theodore Pulcini.

Jihad: Looking beyond the myths
Explanations of what "jihad" is and what it is not.

Some Common Misconceptions about Shi'ism
by Shahid Athar MD

What's in a name? - The Problem with the "Nation of Islam"
A court ruling overturning a fifteen year British ban on its leader, Louis Farrakhan, has propelled the so-called Nation of Islam into the headlines. Michael Young examines the Islamic credentials of these self-styled "Muslims".

Islam
An overview of Islam written by Erin Bell for the Sociology of Religious Behavior course, University of Virginia.

Ten Things Everyone Should Know About Islam
A supplement to what you may have learned from the Fox News Network.
Canadian Deborah Birkett tackles widespread Western misconceptions.

The five pillars of Islam
An overview with links to more detailed information.

Twenty-Five Questions asked about Islam
American doctor Shahid Athar replies to 25 questions asked by real people.

A concise overview of Islam
A useful guide to the schools of law of Sunni Islam plus other Muslim movements, sects and offshoots. Compiled by the Department of Religion and Ethics at Saint Martin's Teacher Training College, Lancaster, England

Guide to Islam for New Muslims
Also very useful for non-Muslims who would like to find out more about Islam. Resource guide covering a summary of basic Islamic teachings and practices, advice for Muslims, a listing of the books they recommend for a Muslim to read and a listing of basic Islamic terms that a new Muslim ought to learn.

The Understanding Islam and Muslims Slideshow
A quick course on Islam for beginners and non-Muslims. It is presented with pictures as a slide show.

Understanding Islam and the Muslims
FAQ's for the complete beginner.

University of Southern California Muslim Students Association
A useful introduction to the fundamentals of Islam.

Mecca: About Islam
Another good general introduction.

Islam 101
An educational site on Islam, its way of life, civilization and culture. It includes an introductory course on Islam and presents Islamic views on contemporary issues.

ViewIslam.com
Provides English-speaking non-Muslims with basic information on Islam and new Muslims with an accurate source of Islamic information and aims to answer basic Islamic questions that they may have.

Al-Islam.com
A huge collection of resources and information on Islam. Includes the Quran, ahadith, biography of Prophet Mohammed , Jurisprudence and much more. Suitable mainly for those who already know the basics of Islam.

Introduction to Islamic Religion
Religious Studies course 143 taught by Professor Barbara R. von Schlegell, University of Pennsylvania.

Harvard Business School - Islam section
Articles and source documents outlining the beliefs and traditions of the Muslim world.

About Islam and Muslims
An excellent, moderate site providing accurate information about Islamic beliefs, history and civilization for Muslims and Non-Muslims. Compiled by the Islamic Society at the University of Northumbria at Newcastle, England.

The Ten Commandments confirmed in Islam

Prophets, Messengers of God and Holy Scriptures
Twenty-five Prophets mentioned by name in the Holy Quran

Top 10 Misconceptions about Islam

The Major Sins

Dr. Muzammil H. Siddiqi

US-based Pakistani scholar answers questions on Islam.

OurDialogue.com
Answers to 1780 questions on Islamic Law. Originally appeared in the Arab News, Jeddah.

Islamic Quiz
Superb interactive quiz. Hundreds of questions at different levels. Tells you the correct answers to questions you get wrong.

Test Your Knowledge of Islam
What's behind one of the fastest growing religions in the U.S.? What do Muslims believe? Take this quiz to test your knowledge of Islam.

What Sort of Muslim Are You?
What role does Islam play in your life? One's faith is often difficult to put in words, let alone in general categories. Most Muslims will find that these categories do not make room for the complex role Islam plays in their life. But, hey, we're already stereotyped -- why not add a couple more? Take this Beliefnet quiz to be categorized, generalized, and pigeonholed.

99Questions.com
An opportunity for non-Muslims to contribute questions to a new multi-media CD about Islam.

BBC Television Islam season - August 2001
A guide to forthcoming BBC television programmes on Islam plus a quiz, details of community events, introduction to Islam and many other interesting links.

The Religion of Islam
A very brief overview from the Los Angeles Times, Thursday, December 28, 2000.

A Friendlier Face for Islam
Muslims and Arabs are trying to do a better job of explaining their culture, faith and concerns to the West, making it seem at once less exotic and more compatible with modern times, reports Howard Schneider.

Islamic Studies, Islam, Arabic, and Religion
This website, the academic website of Dr. Alan Godlas, professor of Religion at the University of Georgia, provides a scholarly overview of Islam and related subjects.

Academic Info - Islamic Studies Resources
An independent directory compiled by Mike Madin, a graduate of the University of Washington's Comparative Religion program.

VirtuallyIslamic.com
A guide to Islam on the Internet by Dr. Gary Bunt, University of Wales, Lampeter.

BBC World Service Islam website
What is the future for Islam? Across the Muslim world, reformers are pressing for changes. How far can they go? In a four part series 'Islam: Revolution and Reform' Jane Little visits Iran, Turkey, the UK and the USA to explore changes which are taking place in this "dynamic and evolving religion". [RealPlayer required]

American Learning Institute for Muslims (A. L. I. M.)
2001 Summer Retreat for Islamic Studies at Madonna College in Southeast Michigan
July 24, 2001 - August 19, 2001
An intensive summer session for college students (undergraduate and graduate) and high school seniors, focusing on the following topics: fiqh, shari`ah sciences, Qur'anic Sciences, Hadith sciences, Seerah, Muslim Character & Spirituality, Islamic History, Da'wah, and more.

Islamic Texts and Resources
Information on Islam and other religions provided by the Muslim Students Association at the University of Buffalo, New York State.

The Religion of Islam
by the Islamic Affairs Department at the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia, Washington DC. In English, Spanish and Arabic.

Islam
A basic introduction from Compton's Encyclopedia. Includes a section on the pseudo-Islamic sect, the confusingly named Nation of Islam, many of whose beliefs are completely unacceptable to Muslims.

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Understanding Islam
by Yahiya John Emerick
408 pages, ISBN: 0028642333, available from bookshops priced US$18.95 and from Amazon.com (US$13.26).

Islam Questions and Answers
Answers to queries from Muslims seeking advice about daily life.

Islamic hotline goes international
An Egyptian telephone hotline offering round-the clock advice on Islam has expanded into Jordan in the first step of an ambitious plan to go global.
By Caroline Hawley in Cairo, BBC News, 25 March, 2001

Gregorian-Hijri Dates Converter
Converts the Muslim calendar to western dates and vice-versa.

Organization of the Islamic Conference
An umbrella organization for 56 Muslim countries.

Articles about the Quran


Surat al Fatihah
the first chapter of the Quran.

Aga Khan Urges Correct Use of Koran Teachings
"There are attempts at transforming what are meant to be fluid, progressive, open-ended, intellectually informed and spiritually inspired traditions of thought, into hardened, monolithic, absolutist and obscurantist positions."

The Quran and Modern Science
In contrast to the Bible, statements about scientific phenomena made in the Qur'an are perfectly in conformity with the modern sciences, states French surgeon, Dr. Maurice Bucaille.

Koran a Book of Peace, Not War, Scholars Say
Osama bin Laden, who is widely assumed to be the force behind the September 11 hijackings in the United States, cites the Koran, Islam's most holy book, as the inspiration for terrorist attacks. But Muslim scholars around the world who are reviled by such actions explain that the Koran preaches peace.
Peter Standring, National Geographic Today, September 25, 2001

The Dual Purpose of the Quran
"I believe the Quran was written for two peoples: 1) For the Muslims who have already dropped the ball. And 2) for the 'other, very different people' (many hadiths refer to them as 'strangers' or 'immigrants') who will take a fresh look at the Quran and understand it in new ways."
By Imam Tammam Adi PhD, Director of the Islamic Cultural Center of Eugene, Oregon.

The Quran
Entry from Encarta encyclopaedia.

"Successful are those who purify it (i.e.. their soul), and the losers will be those who corrupt it."
A commentary by Zahid Pervez on Surah ash-Shams (The Sun) Chapter 69, Verse 30-34 of the Quran.

Reflections on Surah 39, Ayat 18 of the Quran
By Muqtedar Khan PhD.
"Those who listen to the Word (the Quran) and follow the best meaning in it: those are the ones whom Allah has guided and those are the one's endowed with understanding." - Quran 39:18

Treasured Koran goes digital
The British Library in London has made a digital version of a 700-year-old copy of the Koran, so that visitors can browse it without damaging the original.
BBC, September 8, 2002

Quran Resources

Download the entire Quran (audio)
A particularly beautiful recitation by Nassir Al-Ghamidi. Available as MP3 or Real Audio files. Three other recitations also available.

Quran101.com
A site which enables non-Arabic speaking new Muslims to learn the short surahs of the Quran and other requirements for performing ritual worship (Salat). Each phrase slowly and clearly enunciated. Includes 17 surahs plus ayat al kursi (2:255), the Tasha-hud (Al-Taheyat), the Adhan and the Iqama.
Requires RealPlayer

Holy Quran (Arabic Script and Recitation)
Requires RealPlayer. Listen to and learn the Quran verse by verse.

An Index to the Qur'an
An online search facility.

The Quran
Translations, transliteration, index and introduction to each chapter.

Index of the Qur'an
An introduction to each chapter of the Quran by the late Pakistani scholar, Syed Abu Al-Ala Al-Maududi. Includes information on such matters as name, theme, period of revelation and historical background.

Syed Abu-Ala' Maududi's Chapter Introductions to the Qur'an
The late Pakistani scholar explains the Quranic verses from the sunnah of prophet Mohammed
, including the historical context behind the verses.

Prophet Mohammed and his hadeeth (sayings)

Biography of Prophet Muhammad

Mohammed The Prophet
By Prof. K. S. Ramakrishna Rao
A sympathetic biography by an Indian, Hindu academic.

What non-Muslims say about Prophet Mohammed

Principles of Success in the light of the life of Prophet Mohammed
by Maulana Wahiduddin Khan.

The Last Sermon of Prophet Muhammad
"Hurt no one so that no one may hurt you. Remember that you will indeed meet your Lord, and that He will indeed reckon your deeds."

What is the distinction between hadith and sunna?
Sheikh Nuh Ha Mim Keller dispels the confusion.

Words of Wisdom from Prophet Mohammad
Fifty hadiths selected by Dr. Shahid Athar.

More Sayings of Prophet Mohammed

500 Ahadeeth
organized by category
.

The sayings of Prophet Mohammed
A collection of 150 hadiths, arranged according to topic by Sir Abdullah Suhrawardy (1882-1935)

Translation of Sahih Bukhari with internal search engine
Translated by M. Muhsin Khan with an introduction by the Muslim Students Association at the University of Southern California. Sahih Bukhari is a collection of sayings and deeds of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), also known as the sunnah. The reports of the Prophet's sayings and deeds are called ahadith. Bukhari's collection is recognized by the overwhelming majority of the Muslim world to be one of the most authentic collections of the Sunnah of the Prophet (pbuh).

Translation of Sahih Muslim with internal search engine
Translator by Abdul Hamid Siddiqui with an introduction by the Muslim Students Association at the University of Southern California. Sahih Muslim is a collection of sayings and deeds of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). It is also recognized as one of the most authentic collections of the Sunnah of the Prophet (pbuh).

Partial Translation of Sunan Abu-Dawud (Hadith collection)
Translated by Prof. Ahmad Hasan with an introduction by the Muslim Students Association at the University of Southern California.

Translation of Malik's Muwatta
Translated by A'isha `Abdarahman at-Tarjumana and Ya`qub Johnson with an introduction by the Muslim Students Association at the University of Southern California. Malik's Muwatta ("the well-trodden path") is a collection of two items:

  • the sayings and deeds of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) (also known as the sunnah). The reports of the Prophet's sayings and deeds are called ahadith.

  • the legal opinions and decisions of the Prophet's Companions, their successors, and some later authorities.

Hadith Search

Riyad-us-Saliheen
An extremely useful collection of quotations from the Quran and hadeeth grouped by topic. Includes explanatory commentary. Compiled By Al-Imam Abu Zakariya Yahya bin Sharaf An-Nawawi Ad-Dimashqi.

The Book of Jihad and Expedition (Kitab Al-Jihad wa'l-Siyar)
A translation of Translation of Sahih Muslim, Book 19, the Muslim rules of warfare.

An-Nawawi's Forty Hadiths
A popular small collection of forty two of the sayings of prophet Muhammed gathered by the Islamic scholar Yahia bin Sharaful-Deen An-Nawawi.

Forty Hadith Qudsi
Hadith Qudsi are the sayings of the Prophet Muhammad (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) as revealed to him by the Almighty Allah. Hadith Qudsi (or Sacred Hadith) are so named because, unlike the majority of Hadith which are Prophetic Hadith, their authority (Sanad) is traced back not to the Prophet but to the Almighty.

The Hadith Database

  • Translation of Sahih Bukhari

  • Translation of Sahih Muslim Translation of Malik's Muwatta

  • Partial Translation of Sunan Abu Dawood

  • Translation of Hadith Qudsi

  • Translation of Al Nawawi's Forty Hadith

An Introduction to the Science of Hadith
How the recorded sayings and teachings of Prophet Mohammed are traced back and checked for legitimacy and authenticity.

Women Scholars of Hadith
History records few scholarly enterprises, at least before modern times, in which women have played an important and active role side by side with men. The science of hadith forms an outstanding exception in this respect.
By Dr. Muhammad Zubayr Siddiqi

Would you advise individuals to study hadith from al-Bukhari and Muslim on their own?
"There are benefits the ordinary Muslim can expect from personally reading hadith... but without a guiding hand, the untrained reader will misunderstand many of the hadiths," cautions Nuh Ha Mim Keller.

The Schools of Islamic Law

Al Fiqh al akbar by Imam Abu Hanifah
All the main beliefs and spiritual convictions of the Sunni-Hanafi school of law (madhab).
Translated by Hamid Algar, Professor of Persian and Islamic Studies, University of California, Berkeley.

Abu Hanifah
Encyclopaedia Britannica article on the Muslim jurist and theologian whose systematization of Islamic legal doctrine was acknowledged as one of the four canonical schools of Islamic law. The school of Abu Hanifah acquired such prestige that its doctrines were applied by a majority of Muslim dynasties. Even today it is widely followed in India, Pakistan, Turkey, Central Asia, and Arab countries.

The Four Sunni Madhabs
A brief overview of their doctrines and history from the Department of Religion and Ethics at Saint Martin's Teacher Training College, Lancaster, England.

Hanifi Maliki Shafi Hanbali

Understanding the Four Madhhabs (Schools of Law)
The threat to the internal cohesion of Islam posed by rejectionists
by Abdal-Hakim Murad

What is a Madhhab? Why is it necessary to follow one?
"The slogans we hear today about 'following the Qur'an and sunna instead of following the madhhabs' are wide of the mark...In reality it is a great leap backward, a call to abandon centuries of detailed, case-by-case Islamic scholarship in finding and spelling out the commands of the Qur'an and sunna," argues Nuh Ha Mim Keller.

Why Muslims follow Madhabs
"Who needs the Imams of Sacred Law when we have the Qur’an and hadith? Why can’t we take our Islam from the word of Allah and His Messenger?" Nuh Ha Mim Keller explains the necessity to respect and value scholars and the schools of Islamic law.

Sharia Resources

English translation of Fiqh-us-Sunnah by Sayyid Saabiq.
Volume 1: Purification and Prayer
Volume 2: Supererogatory Prayer
Volume 3: Zakaat and Fasting
Volume 4: Funerals and Dhikr
Volume 5: Hajj and 'Umrah

Muslim character

The Blessings of Salaat
Prostrate and bring yourself closer to God - Quran 96:1

Our Fajr Double Advantage
The key to spiritual and material success for Muslims
By Michael Young

Smoking is haraam in Islam
Powerful arguments based on the Quran and Sunnah from Dr. Ibrahim B. Syed

Goal Setting for Muslims
by Ahmed Adam
Part 1 - Introduction, The Journey, The Importance of setting goals, Leading a balanced life, Focus is the Key, What goals should we pursue?

Islamic teachings on the Importance of Parents
Say not to them a word of contempt, nor repel them, but address them in terms of honour. - Quran 17:23

Backbiting & Slander - an Islamic perspective
And why did you not, when you heard it, say? "It is not right of us to speak of this: Glory to God, this is a most serious slander" (Quran 24:16)
A commentary on one of the most destructive of major sins.

Dare to be different
Ruqaiyyah Waris Maqsood offers advice for the shy Muslim teenager who longs to be like everyone else in the group and feels left out; for the Muslim teenager who is being tempted into non-Muslim ways – getting drunk, smoking, sexual activity etc.; for the Muslim teenager who is so committed to serving God that he/she is in danger of becoming a ‘pain in the neck’ – an extremist.

Four Principles of Dawah
Texas Muslim Juan Galvan offers his insights on Invitation to Islam.

The Pleasures of Learning
By Dr. Ibrahim B. Syed, Ph.D
"My Lord! Enrich me with knowledge.." - (Quran, 20:114)

The Great Importance of Good Manners by Muslims
"According to most scholars, one of the reasons that Islam spread in the region of South-East Asia, to places like Indonesia and Malaysia was the fact that Muslim traders appeared to have excellent manners. There was no Jihad in Indonesia. We must also remember that the converse applies and that bad manners reflect badly on Islam."
A khutbah (sermon) by M. Waleed Kadous

Born Muslim...
Reflections about Muslim immigrants in the West by Neqiniso Abdullah

We must love others to be loved by God
"When we close our hearts to others, our eyes are closed to see the beauty of God in them. The message of Islam, Judaism, Christianity and all other religions is one of love and service to others. If God decides to care and love and feed even those who deny his existence, then who are we to deprive someone else of our love just because he is of different color or speaks a different language or is born in a different country or prays to the same God but in a different direction, using different words?"
Dr. Shahid Athar

A Fishy Tale
A sensible warning in the form of a parable.

Are we "born to be free"?
"Freewill is the most difficult of God's gifts to understand or appreciate. The person who gives up selfish freedom and agrees to be God's servant will always be truly free.
By Ruqaiyyah Waris Maqsood.

Dhikr - Remembering Allah
by Khalid Baig
"I am with my servant as long as he remembers Me." (Hadith Qudsi)

Humility in Knowledge, Arrogance in Ignorance
"A pseudo doctor is danger to life. A pseudo religious scholar is danger to faith."

"Waste no time debating what a good Muslim should be. Be one!"
Respecting our differences, by Muhammad Alshareef

Honesty in Monetary Dealings
Uprightness and honesty in monetary dealings forms a vital part of the fundamental teachings of Islam, says Moulana Manzoor Naomani.

Perfecting One's Character
"The Magnificent Journey" by Imam Ibn ul Qayyim al Jawziyyah

Ignore that which does not concern you
A Sign of Excellence in Islam
by Shaykh Nathim Sultan

Gossip and Its Adverse Effects on the Muslim Community
Anecdotes on the Condemnation of al-Ghibah (gossip/backbiting) from Shaykh Husayan al-Awaaishah

Convertitis or the Case of the Insta-Scholar
Convertitis - a highly contagious disease, which spreads rapidly among converts to Islam, particularly those who are experiencing great amounts of confusion,
but who don't think they are.

Caution For New Muslims
Dangers of Excess and Extremism among Muslims
By Imam Ghayth Nur Kashif

Concealing the Faults and Weaknesses of Others
abridged from "Freedom of Expression in Islam" by Kamali

Lifestyle Choices - Food for Thought
"I took my clothes off, I learnt all there is to know about sex and I changed my body - all to please men" - topless model Jordan. A recent British tabloid story gave Michael Young cause to reflect.

A Muslim's Character
by Sheikh Muhammad Al-Ghazali
Chapter 1: Pillars Of Islam And Moral Values. Purpose Of Prophethood -- Perfection of Morals
Chapter 2: Weakness Of Morals--Proof Of Lack Of Faith

Mercy, Guidance, and Light
"God's Guidance, like His Mercy, is ever-present and available to us all, but we must be receptive to it."
By Sirac Münir

Forgiveness in Islam
By Shahid Athar, M.D.
"O Son of Adam, so long as you call upon Me and ask of Me, I shall forgive you for what you have done, and I shall not mind. O Son of Adam, were your sins to reach the clouds of the sky and were you then to ask forgiveness of Me, I would forgive you. O Son of Adam, were you to come to Me with sins as great as the earth, and were you then to face Me ascribing no partners to Me, I would bring you forgiveness nearly as great as it." - Hadith qudsi.

What Does It Mean To Be a Muslim Today?
"To be a Muslim one has constantly to face the challenge, first of knowing what God wills or desires not only for humanity in general but also for oneself in particular, and then of doing what one believes to be God's will and pleasure each moment of one's life."
By Riffat Hassan

Being a Real Man in Islam:
Drugs, Criminality and The Problem of Masculinity

English convert to Islam, Yahya Birt, contrasts the crisis of criminality in the Pakistani and Bangladeshi communities in Britain with the Islamic ideal and suggests a way forward.

Community and Society

It's Muslim Boy Meets Girl, But Don't Call It 'Dating'
Many American Muslims - or at least those bent on maintaining certain conservative traditions - equate anything labelled "dating" with hellfire!
September 19, 2006

Can’t we be (Halal) Friends?
"We should accept that what is forbidden in Islam is seeking privacy with someone of the opposite sex without a third party present... What we need is firstly to recognise that there is nothing at all wrong with young people meeting in situations where intimacy cannot occur because of witnesses; and secondly to create occasions in which they can meet safely in halal ways, so that they CAN get to know each other."
By Ruqaiyyah Waris Maqsood

Who or what is a Salafi? Is their approach valid?
Their basic claim is that Islam has not been properly understood by anyone since the prophet Mohammed and the early Muslims - except themselves.
By Nuh Ha Mim Keller

Islam doesn’t need liberalising
Continuous renewal is central to Islamic jurisprudence. Those who say that Islam should reform itself have misunderstood it, says Mohammad Seddon.

Who are the "moderate Muslims"?
The term moderate Muslims is not only becoming important in the post September 11 discussion of Islam and the West, it is also becoming highly contested. What do we really mean when we brand someone as a moderate Muslim? Indeed the more interesting question is what does the word mean to Westerns, looking-in to Islam, and to Muslims, looking out from within Islam?
By Muqtedar Khan, Ph.D.

Islam is wonderful, but I can't stand the Muslims
"Why should I try to convert my non-Muslim friends when I often prefer them to the Muslims that I know? How will being Muslim change their lives for the better if they already display more of the Islamic virtues than most of the Muslims they are likely to meet?"
By British convert to Islam, Michael A. Malik.

Why are you here?
Why have so many Muslims chosen to forsake Dar al-Islam and settle in the West where there is so much that is injurious and unconducive to their Islamic faith and morals? Is Islamist activism among immigrant communities just a glaring symptom of a guilty conscience among those who have migrated not for the cause of Allah but for worldly benefits? A self-righteous magazine article prompts British convert, Michael Young, to question the methods, priorities and very commitment to Islam of Muslim immigrants.

Rethinking Islam
"There is nothing divine about the Shari`ah. The only thing that can legitimately be described as divine in Islam is the Qur’an. The Shari`ah is a human construction; an attempt to understand the divine will in a particular context...The Shari`ah is nothing more than a set of principles, a framework of values, that provide Muslim societies with guidance. But these sets of principles and values are not a static given but are dynamically derived within changing contexts. As such, the Shari`ah is a problem-solving methodology rather than law. It requires the believers to exert themselves and constantly reinterpret the Qur’an and look at the life of the Prophet Muhammad with ever changing fresh eyes. Indeed, the Qur’an has to be reinterpreted from epoch to epoch – which means the Shari`ah, and by extension Islam itself, has to be reformulated with changing contexts. The only thing that remains constant in Islam is the text of the Qur’an itself – its concepts providing the anchor for ever changing interpretations." [More]
By Professor Ziauddin Sardar

Islam has a progressive tradition too
Most western views of Muslims are founded on ignorance, says American scholar, Hamza Yusuf Hanson.

Islam and the West
A former Catholic nun and author of books on many of the world's religions including Islam, English writer Karen Armstrong speaks about Western views of Islam, the mood after 11 September and her hopes for better relations between Islam and the West.

Scholars debate future of Islam
Ulamas from across the world attend conference in Malaysia
BBC News, 11 July, 2003

Boys will be Boys - Gender identity issues
"Walaysa al-dhakaru ka’l-untha, says the Qur’an: the male is not like the female. This is why we say, respectfully ignoring the protests of old-fashioned feminists, that men and women, in a God-fearing society, will tend towards different concerns and spheres of activity. Our aim, after all, is human happiness, not political correctness."
By Abdal-Hakim Murad.

Islam and Freedom of Thought
"What was once an occasional event -- silencing scholars -- increasingly has become a way of life in most Muslim countries. From South Asia to North Africa, an entire generation of Muslim intellectuals is at this moment under threat: Many have already been killed, silenced, or forced into exile."
By Akbar Ahmed and Lawrence Rosen

Islam and the Theology of Power
"Supremacist puritanism in contemporary Islam is dismissive of all moral norms or ethical values."
By Khaled Abou El Fadl, UCLA School of Law.

The Islamic State and Religious Minorities
The Taliban are gone but they have left us with several serious questions about the future of religious minorities in Islamic states in particular and religious states in general.
By Muqtedar Khan, Ph.D.

Freedom and Islam
"Recently, I read an article, “Women in Islam” describing the liberation of women by Islam and Prophet (s). In reality women cannot travel alone to Hajj or visit Mecca (the safest place for any one), and women cannot drive a car in Saudi Arabia. It is not a secret that Muslims in general and Muslim women in particular in the world are the least free and least educated. So, I wonder: Oh Islam! You are a great theory but no practical value, unless you live in the West."
By T. O. Shanavas, M. D. Vice President, Islamic Research Foundation International, Inc.

Islamic Government
"The establishment of justice for all citizens of the state, Muslim and non-Muslim alike, is one of the major purposes of the Islamic system of government. Corruption, bribery, abuse of authority, the creation of social conflict for personal or group benefit, torture, exploitation and oppression, are all evils against which the Islamic system must struggle."
By Bilal Cleland.

Relations between Communities of Faith in the Qur'an

Islamic Fundamentalism in the Sunni and Shia Worlds
"The West is democratic, but if democracy anywhere gave birth to an Islamic state. they would abort it immediately. Unfortunately, many Western powers do not believe that democracy is an absolute value, a universal, absolute value. There are other values as well, but if democracy breeds Islam, then let us frustrate it completely. This has happened time and again in Turkey and it happened in Algeria. I'm sure it will happen anywhere else."
By Dr Hassan al-Turabi.

Tolerance in Islam
by Muhammad Marmaduke Pickthall, early 20th century English convert to Islam.

Unity and Diversity
Dr. Muzammil H. Siddiqi gives an Islamic perspective on diversity, unity, harmony, tolerance and peace.

Is every new thing a Bid'a?
Dr M Hussain conducts an invaluable investigation of this controversial subject.

The Fall of the Family (Part I)
"Back in the 1950s and early 1960s, British family values were still recognisably derived from a great religious tradition rooted in the family-nurturing Abrahamic soil. While the doctrinal debates between Islam and Christianity remained sharp, the moral and social assumptions of the "guest-workers" and their "hosts" were in most respects reassuringly and productively similar. That overlap has now almost gone."
Abdal-Hakim Murad

Reflections on Islam and Muslim Society
"The worst advertisements for Islam are the Muslim countries with their selective Islam, especially where the religion is used to deprive people of their rights. In fact, a society that obeys the fundamentals of Islam has to be a liberal one."
By Imran Khan, former Pakistani cricket captain.

Wisdom from a Plumber
"Too much material success, too many lawyers and psychiatrists, and too many service industries doing everything for everyone has America losing its edge, and essentially, its American-ness," says US convert to Islam, Abdul-Lateef Abdullah.

Spirituality - Two views
Australian Muslim convert Bilal Cleland contrasts Islam's holistic approach to the material and spiritual worlds with that of other philosophies and religions.

The Ideal Muslim and His Community
Dr. Muhammad Ali Al-Hashimi offers more than 60 practical tips.

Frustrations of a Muslim Convert
Committed to Islam, vexed by Muslims
A cautionary tale. How for one theologically motivated convert to the pure monotheism of Islam, certain fellow Muslims have turned the Straight Path into something of a rocky road.
by Michael Young.

  1. Introduction

  2. Lack of Induction

  3. Internet - The good, the bad and the dangerous!

  4. Beware the Zealots!

  5. Must we proceed at the pace of the most prudish?

  6. "Muslim name" and attire

  7. Relationship with non-Muslim parents

  8. So-called "Islamic Causes"

  9. Final Thoughts

Ten Things Every Muslim in the West Should Do
American convert and writer, Yahiya Emerick, suggests ten easy things that every Muslim family can do to contribute to the betterment of Muslims and the establishment of Islam in the West.

Six things you can do for Islam
Practical tips for contributing to Islam on a community level.

Islam is a religion
Enough of this "way of life" business. "What's wrong with admitting that your own religion is, in fact, a religion?" asks American convert to Islam, Yahya M.

Islam needs to talk to the rest of the world
From a speech given to the Muslim Council in Washington DC by Akbar Ahmed, Professor of Islamic Studies at the American University, 20 July 2001

The True Face of Islam
Despite its violent image in the West, the religion of Islam is a balm to millions in an otherwise cruel and crowded world. American writer Zachary Karabell reflects on his experiences of Islam in Egypt.

What do today's Muslims need?
by Dr. Sherif Abdel Azeem Mohammad

"Caution: There is Another anti-Islamic Site"
Why issuing an alert letter is precisely the wrong thing to do
"The most anti-Islamic site will die if it faces a frozen counter. That would happen if you just leave it alone. But if you are out there telling everyone about it and asking them to do the same, you are in effect volunteering as their publicity department."
By Khalid Baig, 7 December 2001

The Confusion of the Scholars
by Yahiya Emerick
When I first became a Muslim, one of the things that was mentioned over and over was that there was no clergy in Islam. No "holy men" or intermediaries between Allah and people. Then I was introduced into the whole culture of "Scholars." That's where my alarm bells started to ring...

Justice and Injustice
American convert to Islam, Sirac Münir, reflects on terrorism, globalization and poverty through the lens of the Risale-I Nur (The Treatise of Light), a Quranic commentary written in Turkish by Bediuzzaman Said Nursi (1877-1960) and a work which has been the inspiration of a movement for the strengthening and renewal of Islam in Turkey and elsewhere from the time it was written to the present day.

The Confusion as to the True Nature of Islamic Government
"Intellectuals are inclined ever more towards democracy. They love Islam but are afraid of theocratic rule. They view democracy not as an alternative to Islam, but genuinely believe that as a political philosophy, it is the Holy Quran itself which propounds democracy."

Islamic Morality in War
"Do not kill an old man, a woman or a child. Do not injure date palms and do not cut down fruit trees. Do not slaughter any sheep or cows or camels except for food. You will encounter persons who spend their lives in monasteries. Leave them alone and do not molest them." - Caliph Abu Bakr

The Treatment of Minorities - the Islamic Model
"Far from imposing Qur'anic laws on everybody, Islam permits and even encourages every group (Jewish, Christian or other) to establish its own tribunals presided over by its own judges. As far as issues of social and cultural autonomy are concerned, the safeguard of the rights of non-Muslims in Islamic territory goes even to the extent of giving them the liberty of practising customs entirely opposed to those of Islam," explains Syed Mumtaz Ali.

An interview with Hamza Yusuf
Topics covered include education, the effects of colonialism on Muslim countries, Muslim daily life and the modern Muslim mentality, technology, the generation gap.
Conducted by Randa Hammadieh.

Orientalism, Misinformation and Islam
by Abu Iman 'Abd ar-Rahman Robert Squires.
A study of how Islam is misunderstood and maligned in the West.

The Latter-Day Kharijites of Kabul
As the world pleads for Afghanistan's pre-Islamic cultural heritage,
the Taleban drag the good name of Islam ever deeper into disrepute.
By Michael Young, March 3, 2001.

The Western Mind of Radical Islam
A highly thought-provoking 1995 article by Daniel Pipes,
Editor of the Middle East Quarterly (non-Muslim)

Muslim societies need to deal with their own failure
Martin Woollacott The Guardian (London) September 28, 2001

Do Animals Have Souls?
American convert to Islam, Sirac Münir, ponders the issues.

Islam, Market Economy and the Rule of Law
"Law is in Islam a process of discovery. Just as the physical scientist believes that the laws of physics exist as an absolute, waiting to be discovered rather than invented, so the Muslim legal scholar believes that the shariah has been created by God and his role is to discover and articulate it rather than invent it."
by Imad-ad-Dean Ahmad, Ph.D.

Khatami warns against imposition of views
President Mohammad Khatami of Iran has given a warning about what he called forces attempting to impose their own interpretation of Islamic rule on the country.
BBC News, 10 February 2001

'Tribal' acts giving a false view of Muslims
Slaughter in Algeria, the plight of two nurses in Saudi Arabia, and the Taliban's arrest of Emma Bonino give the world a false view of Islam, argues Michael Jansen.
Irish Times, Wednesday, October 1, 1997

Zakat

Islamic Philanthropy: For the love of God
"And be steadfast in your prayer and pay charity; whatever good you send forth for your future, you shall find it with God, for God is well aware of what you do." - Quran 2:110
Shahid Athar M.D.

Zakat Calculator
Enables Muslims to calculate their compulsory alms-giving in US$.

The Muslim Philanthropy Boom
What's behind the growing number of mosques, Islamic centers and
Islamic schools in the United States?
The third pillar of Islam. By Monique Parsons.

Zakat Links and Muslim charitable Organizations in the US.

Ramadan and Eid ul Fitr

Pinning Down The Start Of Ramadan Is A Matter of Debate
Islamic Council Uses Science, Not Sightings of New Moon
By Caryle Murphy
Friday, September 22, 2006

Fasting Is Not Only to Purify the Soul, but also to Cleanse the Body
Mariam Alireza, 27, September, 2006

Take medication on time in Ramadan, say doctors
By Nada S.Mussallam, 28 September 2006

Ramadan Duas
Duas for starting and ending the daily fast

Ramadan - The Fundamentals of Fasting
Obligations and exemptions explained by Umaru Ibrahim

Ramadan Rules and regulations
Compiled by Ishaq Zahid

Reaping the Benefits of Ramadan
"In the month of Ramadan it is very important that we spent a few moments to understand some of the wisdoms and lessons that we can learn from this month of fasting", writes Ali Al-Timimi.

The Spiritual and Health Benefits of Ramadan Fasting
By Shahid Athar M.D.
"O you who believe, fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you so that you can learn self restraint". (Quran 2:183)

Reflections on Ramadan
"A person who can restrain himself, for the love and pleasure of God, deserves a reward from the Creator Himself. The hardship of fasting brings the glad tidings that the fasting undertaken for the sole purpose of pleasing God is sure to be accepted by the Most Merciful Lord."
By Ibrahim B. Syed, Ph.D

The Medical Benefits of Taraweeh Prayers
Muslims perform five daily contact prayers (Salat) and voluntary prayers (Sunnah, Nafl) throughout the year and Taraweeh prayers during the month of Ramadan. This results in moderate physical exercise particularly to every muscle in the body.
By Dr. Ibrahim B. Syed, Ph.D

Ramadan in the News

Delicious Sweets and Festive Mood Make Damascus Different in Ramadan
Ellen Feris, Deutsche Presse-Agentur, September 27, 2006

Pinning Down The Start Of Ramadan Is A Matter of Debate
Islamic Council Uses Science, Not Sightings of New Moon
By Caryle Murphy
Friday, September 22, 2006

As Ramadan Begins, Ex-Catholic Reflects on Islam
Chris Moore was raised Catholic but converted to Islam during a quest for spiritual fulfilment.
By Caryle Murphy, Friday, September 22, 2006

Ramadan Duas
Duas for starting and ending the daily fast

Ramadan Begins in North America
by Anayat Durrani, December 1, 2000

Ramadan in Knoxville
Jeannine F. Hunter meets Muslim students at the University of Tennessee as they invite friends, who are not Muslim, to experience their faith and enjoy a meal at a local mosque.
Knoxville News-Sentinel, December 9, 2000

Ramadan Fasting at British Universities
by Abul Taher.
The Guardian, Tuesday December 12, 2000

Muslims worldwide begin 3-day holiday to mark Ramadan's end
CNN, 27 December 2000

Muslims mark end of Fast
BBC News 27 December 2000

Cyber Alms for Ramadan
BBC News, 1 December 2000

A Prayer on Eid Day
by Shahid Athar M.D.

Eid preparations are exciting, busy
By Mariah Ashraf Jamal, Los Angeles Times,
Saturday, December 30, 2000

Muslims Celebrate End of Month long Sacrifice
Eid El Fitr in California by Richard Fausset, Los Angeles Times, Thursday, December 28, 2000

Halal Food

Zabihah.com
A guide to self-declared halal restaurants and food stores in North America with over 1,000 reader reviews.

Heresies and pseudo-Islamic sects

The Problem Of Qadiyanism
How the heretical beliefs of the Ahmadiya sect, who accept their founder Ghulam Ahmad as a prophet, have put them outside the fold of Islam and left them designated as non-Muslims in Pakistan.
By Sayid Abu'l Ala Mawdudi

What's in a name? - The Problem with the "Nation of Islam"
A court ruling overturning a fifteen year British ban on its leader, Louis Farrakhan, has propelled the so-called Nation of Islam into the headlines. Michael Young examines the Islamic credentials of these self-styled "Muslims".

America's black Muslims close a rift
Louis Farrakhan's "Nation of Islam" edges closer to orthodox Islam.
By Daniel B. Wood

Islam and Christianity


Men pray during the holy month of Ramadan at the tomb of John the Baptist, at the historic Umayyad mosque in the Old City of Damascus Septembers, 27 2006.

The [Catholic] Church regards with esteem also the Moslems. They adore the one God, living and subsisting in Himself; merciful and all- powerful, the Creator of heaven and earth,(5) who has spoken to men; they take pains to submit wholeheartedly to even His inscrutable decrees, just as Abraham, with whom the faith of Islam takes pleasure in linking itself, submitted to God. Though they do not acknowledge Jesus as God, they revere Him as a prophet. They also honor Mary, His virgin Mother; at times they even call on her with devotion. In addition, they await the day of judgment when God will render their deserts to all those who have been raised up from the dead. Finally, they value the moral life and worship God especially through prayer, almsgiving and fasting.

Since in the course of centuries not a few quarrels and hostilities have arisen between Christians and Moslems, this sacred synod urges all to forget the past and to work sincerely for mutual understanding and to preserve as well as to promote together for the benefit of all mankind social justice and moral welfare, as well as peace and freedom."
Declaration on the Relation of the Church to Non-Christian Religions - Nostra Aetate

"Of any organized attempt to force the acceptance of Islam on the non-Muslim population, or of any systematic persecution intended to stamp out the Christian religion, we hear nothing. Had the caliphs chosen to adopt either course of action, they might have swept away Christianity as easily as Ferdinand and Isabella drove Islam out of Spain, or Louis XIV made Protestantism penal in France, or the Jews were kept out of England for 350 years. The Eastern Churches in Asia were entirely cut off from communion with the rest of Christiandom, throughout which no one would have been found to lift a finger on their behalf, as heretical communions. So that the very survival of these Churches to the present day is a strong proof of the generally tolerant attitude of Mohammedan [sic] governments towards them" .
Arnold, Sir Thomas W. THE PREACHING OF ISLAM, A HISTORY OF THE PROPAGATION OF THE MUSLIM FAITH, Westminister A. Constable & Co., London, 1896, p. 80.

Christians Pray That Muslims Find Jesus
Evangelicals choose Ramadan to target Islamic Nations
September 22, 2006

Muslims want to know more on Pope's view of Islam
Following a wave of protests against Pope Benedict's remarks on Islam, Muslim intellectuals in Turkey are asking what he really thinks about their faith and what long-term consequences his views will have.
By Tom Heneghan, Religion Editor Reuters Friday, September 22, 2006

The Islamists' War
"Those who have taken most offense at the Pope's comments have responded in ways that seem to prove Manuel II's point."
Linda Chavez, Thu Sep 21, 2006

Christian Extremism
According to the evangelicals so influential in today's America, only 'born again' Christians are on their way to Heaven, the Jews are doomed and the rest of us including non 'born again' Christians are not really on God's 'radar screen' at all until He calls us forth to be slain at Armageddon. And extremely worrying for Muslims, one of the things that has to happen before the time of the end can come, is not only the re-establishment of Israel but also that the Jewish Temple in Jerusalam must be rebuilt on its ancient site. This necessitates destroying the Haram ash-Sharif and the al-Aqsa mosque.
by Ruqaiyyah Waris Maqsood

Europe’s Muslims worry bishops
John L. Allen Jr. of the National Catholic Reporter details differing attitudes of the Catholic hierarchy to the dramatic rise in Europe's Muslim population.

"I knew that my God was a real God, and his was an idol."
US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld has declined to criticise the evangelical Christian general in charge of finding Saddam Hussein and Osama bin Laden who told audiences the war on terrorism is a battle with Satan and described the god of the Muslims as an idol.
BBC News, 17 October, 2003

Islam and Unitarians – The Quest for Truth and Justice
Islam is a corrective to, not an aberration from, Christianity.
"Unitarians and Muslims both believe that the New Testament is an uncertain guide to the actual events of this early period. Muslims regard the books of the New Testament as mainly the product of the followers of Paul of Tarsus, who did not know Jesus, but whose followers became dominant."
by Bilal Cleland

No offence, but Muslims love Jesus as much as Christians do
"The Muslim Jesus is not divine, but a humble servant of God. He was not crucified - Islam insists that the story of the killing of Jesus is false. He is, as it were, Jesus as he might have been without St Paul or St Augustine or the Council of Nicaea."
By John Casey

Jesus and The Virgin Mary in Islam
Many Christians may be surprised to learn that Muslims love and honor Jesus and his mother, Mary.
By Juan Galvan

The Trinity - a Muslim Perspective
A lecture by Abdal-Hakim Murad given to a group of Christians in Oxford, England.

Jesus Through a Muslim Lens
Many may be surprised to learn that Muslims believe in Jesus' miracles. But this shared interest goes much further
By convert to Islam, Michael Wolfe

The Judeo-Christian-Islamic heritage
"Media images of Islam have often obscured the fact that Muslims, Jews and Christians share much in common."
By John L. Esposito

The Conversion Story of Oum Abdul-Aziz
An American former "born again" Christian explains how her in-depth theological studies led her to reject the Christian doctrines of Trinity, the Divinity of Jesus and Original Sin and to embrace pure monotheism in Islam. Contains detailed references from the Bible and Quran.

Comparing Christianity & Islam
"Islamic growth rates in Africa and even America are phenomenal. Islam has the world's lowest rate of being converted and one of the world's highest rates of converting. What accounts for this success? What makes Islam such an attractive creed?" Alarmed Catholic, Peter Kreeft, bemoans the success of Islam then outlines the main theological and practical differences, as well as the important common elements, between Christianity and the other great world religions.

Belief-O-Matic Quiz
Even if YOU don't know what faith you are, Belief-O-Matic knows. Answer 20 questions about your concept of God, the afterlife, human nature, and more, and Belief-O-Matic will tell you what religion (if any) you practice...or ought to consider practicing.

The Origin of Life - an Islamic Perspective
Science must increase our faith. It is wrong for anyone to close their eyes to what is right in front of them. For a Muslim the evidence of dinosaurs and fossils is not a threat to our beliefs. Rather, it is a confirmation of the power of Allah.

Adapted from the Book: What Islam is All About By Yahiya Emerick

The Poisoned Chalice
The Guardian, Saturday November 25, 2000
Christianity faces extinction - and it is not science but the church itself that is to blame, argues AN Wilson (non-Muslim).
"The millennium is the anniversary of an event that we no longer believe: namely, the birth of Almighty God in human form in a stable in Bethlehem. How, at this date in history could we possibly claim that Christianity was literally true? Christianity will decline yet further in the next 1,000 years to the point of near extinction - because Christians themselves no longer believe it to be true.... There is a religion that satisfies this deep human need for a moral code without a mythology. It is not Christianity. The mullahs and the imams of Islam preach the same undiluted message which was first given to the world by the Holy Prophet in the sixth and seventh centuries. While the west tries to dub the followers of Islam fundamentalist lunatics, increasing numbers of people turn to the Koran and find in this book what they have always craved: a moral and an intellectual acknowledgement of the lordship of God without the encumbrance of Christian mythological baggage in which almost no one really believes. That is why Christianity will decline in this millennium, and the next religious hunger of the human heart will be answered by the Crescent, not by the Cross." [Full Article]

Islam and Judaism

Creating Peace, One Meal At A Time
Although They Rarely Agree, Muslim And Jewish Students At Yale University Foster A Sense Of Understanding, Civility
By ADRIAN BRUNE, September 28 2006

The Judeo-Christian-Islamic heritage
"Media images of Islam have often obscured the fact that Muslims, Jews and Christians share much in common."
By John L. Esposito

Beyond belief - The Rabbi and the Imam
Meet Rabbi Hershel Gluck and Imam Ismael Amaan. They are good friends who delight in confounding expectations even as tensions rise in the Middle East.
By Michael Skapinker, August 8 2003

Jewish dad backs headscarf daughters in France school row
Lila and Alma began to get interested in Islam two years ago - their mother is a non-practising Algerian. Now their left-wing Lawyer, Jewish father is campaigning against their expulsion from a state school for the "ostentatious" conduct" of wearing hijab in apparent contravention of a 1905 law guaranteeing the separation of church and state.

Islam Hijacked
Rabbi Reuven Firestone, author of "Jihad: The Origin of Holy War in Islam" and Professor of Medieval Judaism and Islam at Hebrew Union College in Los Angeles, offers his insights into the events of September 11.

Islam and Judaism
Cambridge academic and former Pakistani ambassador to London, Akbar S. Ahmed, celebrates the Jewish contribution to humanity and the shared core belief in the one omnipotent, universal God.

When Jews and Muslims Lived in Harmony
As violence between Muslims and Jews flares in the Middle East, it's all too easy to forget that for long periods of time, the two sides coexisted in relative harmony in some parts of the region.
Katherine Roth reports on an exhibition celebrating two thousand years of Jewish life in Morocco held in early 2001.

Qaradawi Rejects Al-Qaeda’s Killing of Innocents
Prominent Muslim scholar Dr. Youssef Al-Qaradawi has condemned Al-Qaeda for their fuel tanker suicide bombing of a centuries-old Jewish synagogue on the Tunisian island of Djerba in April 2002.

British Jewish group calls for dismantlement of Zionist state
London, Nov 15, 2001, IRNA -- Representatives of a Jewish religious group has called for the dismantlement of Israel as the root cause of tension and violence in the Middle East.

Judaism – an Alternative to Zionism
"One hundred years ago, a Jew, far removed from his faith and in total ignorance of its basic beliefs, launched the movement today known as Zionism. Its early adherents were almost uniformly drawn from the ranks of Jews who had previously abandoned their faith." For over a century Zionism has been opposed by large segments of Orthodox Jewry, explains Rabbi Dovid Weiss in a speech delivered at the NGO Forum of the United Nations World Conference Against Racism in Durban, South Africa on August 29, 2001.

More Than 1,000 Jewish Pilgrims Visit Jerba, Tunisia
More than 1,000 Jews, including dozens of Israelis, gathered in the south-western Tunisian island of Djerba late last week in a rare pilgrimage to an Arab land.
Panafrican News Agency (Dakar), May 17, 2001

Why Jews Don't Accept Jesus as the Messiah or Son of God
An answer to Christian missionaries by David Wolpe, Rabbi of Sinai Temple in Los Angeles and author of Making Loss Matter.

Polygamy in Jewish History
by Charles A. Rubenstein.

The Vice-President of Granada
by Eliezer Segal.
How a Jew rose to high office in Muslim Spain.

New Jewish-American Campus Network seeks "middle path" for peace.
A press release from the newly formed Tikkun Campus Network.

Links to other sites dealing principally with the religion of Islam (not politics)

Islamic Philosophy Online
An academic site dedicated to the study of the philosophical output of the Muslim world.

Al Ghazali's Website
Resources for studying the works of the great Muslim philosopher and theologian, Ghazali of Tus (1058-1111)

Amal Press - Reviving Classical Education
Amal Press was founded in 2001 by a small group of Muslims based in the UK. It was born out of a need to present traditional orthodox teachings of Islam in an age that is steeped in ignorance of its rich, historical, spiritual and intellectual legacy. The consequences of this has been the unfortunate and disastrous fall of Muslims into the abyss of division, confusion and discord. Amal Press endeavors to provide readers a source of sound knowledge.

The Sunnah Islamic Page
Features introductory articles, a discussion forum, Islamic software, and audio/video. In several languages.

This is Islam
A site based in Blackburn, England, which aims to "act as a channel to spread the teachings of Islam - da'wah - and to assist Muslims and Non-Muslims worldwide via the Net, to cope with their religious obligations within their worldly life, to honor our obligations to society by being an economic, intellectual and social asset to each nation and each community in which we serve." Multiple features including E-Commerce store selling a large selection of Islamic Books, Islamic Videos, Audios and Gifts. Also World News concerning Islam and its Community, On-line articles, on the Teachings of Islam from the Quran, Hadith & Sunnah, Islamic Beliefs, Hajj & Umrah Portal, Charity, Halal & Haraam, and Islam & the Family.


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