Questions to ask a Mulism Friend

I am intersted in learning more about this relgion and I'm meeting a friend who's a mulism to learn more about it.

However, I really don't have any good questions to ask, ideas with or viewpoints to discuss.

So.........

What is are some good questions to ask about Islam?

what does the quran actually talk about...ive had read to me the first few lines (the ones which all muslims have to memorise) but i dont know anything more about the holy book.

what exactly does it say in there? eg, famous proverbs or sayings in the quran...because we hear loads of them from the bible, but nothing from the quran.

[princecharmant1980]

quote:Originally posted by nevermind:

what does the quran actually talk about...ive had read to me the first few lines (the ones which all muslims have to memorise) but i dont know anything more about the holy book.

what exactly does it say in there? eg, famous proverbs or sayings in the quran...because we hear loads of them from the bible, but nothing from the quran.

tell him whay does islam says about prophets

Ask him why they like to crash airplanes into shit.

quote:Originally posted by princecharmant1980:

tell him whay does islam says about prophets

Something more in-depth and detailed then that princey....

Name them off.

Ask him how Islam came to Earth, and how the Islamic Empire spread and brought upon mathematical advancement. Also about the battles, amazing battles of Muslims winning even though they were outnumbered.

Ask him what he thinks of Sharif Hussein's being promised independence from Britain during WWI and what he thinks of the Zionists.

(Yeah, I was watching Lawrence of Arabia last night, hehee [Does that movie seem a lot like Dune to anybody else? just a thought])

[Craftian]

Possibly because Dune was heavily based on Arabic themes?

quote:Originally posted by Paulius Faber:

Ask him why they like to crash airplanes into shit.

HAHAHHAHAHAAHHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHHAA

good one cleutus

[princecharmant1980]

!!!!!!!??????

quote:Originally posted by FourUntoFive:

I am intersted in learning more about this relgion and I'm meeting a friend who's a mulism to learn more about it.

However, I really don't have any good questions to ask, ideas with or viewpoints to discuss.

So.........

What is are some good questions to ask about Islam?

Well, keep in mind there are many different forms of Islam, just as there are many different forms of Christianity (or Buddhism, or whatever). Many people will insist that their particular form is the "true" way, though.

To be overly simplistic, there are two main forms of Islam: Sunni and Shi-ite. (Most Muslims are Sunni.) And beyond this, of course, there are fundamentalist Muslims that like to fly planes into buildings. Just as there are fundamentalist Christians that like to murder abortion doctors. The major difference between the two sects is that Sunnis believe Abu Bakr (father of Muhammad's youngest wife Aisha) was Muhammad's successor, while Shi-ites reject Abu Bakr and believe that Ali (Muhammad's cousin and husband of his daughter Fatima) was his successor. There are many more differences; perhaps he's familiar with these and could explain them to you? There is also a mystical sect of Islam called Sufism that I find very interesting. (But then, I find all mysticism interesting.)

To begin, you might ask your friend to explain what the Five Pillars are, as these are followed by every Muslim, regardless of sect.

Oh, and since somebody asked, some main prophets of Islam are Adam, Moses, Noah, Abraham, Jesus, and Muhammad. There are more, though.

[This message has been edited by Lolita (edited 05-20-2004).]

[This message has been edited by Lolita (edited 05-20-2004).]

Ask him if he thinks it is funny that Vlad Dracula once nailed three emissary's turbans to the top of their heads, because they refused to remove them in his presence?

I don't know... Ask him how his day went, I'd like to know.

[This message has been edited by Sol463 (edited 05-21-2004).]

It's done.

I asked the few questions you posted, along with this one.

Christ is one of the prophets, and he knew a little more about Christ then most of the prechers I know.

Quran is a bit older then the Bible.

Passion is suffering.

What make a person a man or an animal?

Got alot out of that one.

quote:

Quran is a bit older then the Bible.

B]

Your friend is a bit misinformed. The Old Testament *definitely* has it beat, but I'm assuming you're referring to the New Testament. Although there are scholarly debates about the dating of the Gospels, it's safe to say they were composed about 100 years after Jesus's death, give or take a few decades. (Each Gospel was written at a different time.)

Muhammad, however, lived in the seventh century BCE - at least 500 years after the New Testament of the Bible was written.

Well, the modern Bible wasn't drafted for a while after that, too. To take things out, rearrange them and such.

So the thing we actually refer to as the 'Bible' might actually indeed be a bit younger. That's not to say everything in it is, though.

[princecharmant1980]

quote:Originally posted by Lolita:



Well, keep in mind there are many different forms of Islam, just as there are many different forms of Christianity (or Buddhism, or whatever). Many people will insist that their particular form is the "true" way, though.

To be overly simplistic, there are two main forms of Islam: Sunni and Shi-ite. (Most Muslims are Sunni.) And beyond this, of course, there are fundamentalist Muslims that like to fly planes into buildings. Just as there are fundamentalist Christians that like to murder abortion doctors. The major difference between the two sects is that Sunnis believe Abu Bakr (father of Muhammad's youngest wife Aisha) was Muhammad's successor, while Shi-ites reject Abu Bakr and believe that Ali (Muhammad's cousin and husband of his daughter Fatima) was his successor. There are many more differences; perhaps he's familiar with these and could explain them to you? There is also a mystical sect of Islam called Sufism that I find very interesting. (But then, I find all mysticism interesting.)

To begin, you might ask your friend to explain what the Five Pillars are, as these are followed by every Muslim, regardless of sect.

Oh, and since somebody asked, some main prophets of Islam are Adam, Moses, Noah, Abraham, Jesus, and Muhammad. There are more, though.

[This message has been edited by Lolita (edited 05-20-2004).]

[This message has been edited by Lolita (edited 05-20-2004).]

shiites adde many things to Islam like asking a good dead man to be a medium with God so that he may forgive us this is of course is considered by sunnis like me as polytheisme and asking some one else than GOD

wich is against the Islamic Unicity of God principle but they also added many bloody rituals like the self mutilation in memory of the Ashuraa when the Ali son Hussain died by the first Umayade Caliphe this also is considered by sunnis as against Islam principle to take care of ones body and don't harm your body .

[KikoSanchez]

Brr, Islam dates back to ...600 ad?

So I would imagine the bible(old AND new) is older.

Ask him why the Quaran was changed to win over black people.(remember all the black americans going muslim back in the 60s/70s? funny that islam is at the same time pushing hard in northern africa and slowly moving southward.

quote:Originally posted by Phrensied Rabbits:

Well, the modern Bible wasn't drafted for a while after that, too. To take things out, rearrange them and such.

So the thing we actually refer to as the 'Bible' might actually indeed be a bit younger. That's not to say everything in it is, though.

There is no single Christian Bible. The Catholic Bible, for instance, includes the apocryphal texts while Protestant Bibles don't. There are also many different types of Bibles; since many modern readers find the King James version [Protestant, by the way] difficult to read, there have been translations that attempt to put it in contemporary English. But while there are many different translations and types, all of the stories are the same and they were all composed way before Muhammad even lived.

Muslims typically don't dispute the fact that their religion follows Judaism and Christianity. They see their religion as a continuation of those religions. (They believe that Jews and Christians made a few mistakes in interpreting God's word, and Islam is the purest and final religion.)

quote:Originally posted by KikoSanchez:

Brr, Islam dates back to ...600 ad?

So I would imagine the bible(old AND new) is older.

Ask him why the Quaran was changed to win over black people.(remember all the black americans going muslim back in the 60s/70s? funny that islam is at the same time pushing hard in northern africa and slowly moving southward.

Hmmm...I've never heard of that - that the Qur'an was changed for black people. Do you have any links to support this? I'd be interested in knowing more about this. I might add though that the Qur'an does support equality for all races, so it's easy to see why blacks might be attracted to it.

Oh, and Islam was spreading in Africa even during Muhammad's lifetime, so that's definitely not something new.

For the record, I'm not Muslim. Or Christian, for that matter.

No, the Orthodox Bible, from which ALL the other ones are derived WAS changed by the Catholic church from the time the final accepted scripture was compiled.

The 'Bible' as anyone knows did did NOT exist at the time when the Qur'an was written.

I'm not talking about translations and contemporation, I'm talking about THE 'Bible'. The Bible and it's contents are very different things. It doesn't matter how old what in it is, he said that the Qur'an is a bit older, and he is right.

Funny how the Catholics took it upon themselves to decide what gets to make it into the 'Bible' out of all the scriptures they had to choose from though, isn't it?

quote:Originally posted by Phrensied Rabbits:

No, the Orthodox Bible, from which ALL the other ones are derived WAS changed by the Catholic church from the time the final accepted scripture was compiled.

The 'Bible' as anyone knows did did NOT exist at the time when the Qur'an was written.

I'm not talking about translations and contemporation, I'm talking about THE 'Bible'. The Bible and it's contents are very different things. It doesn't matter how old what in it is, he said that the Qur'an is a bit older, and he is right.

Funny how the Catholics took it upon themselves to decide what gets to make it into the 'Bible' out of all the scriptures they had to choose from though, isn't it?

No, he's not right.

First of all, I never said the Bible was *never* changed. And as I noted, there is no "Bible", but there are many different "Bibles" . Since you mentioned the Catholic one, though...

The Catholic Church officially decided which scriptures would be included in the Bible at the fourth session of the Council of Trent, in 1546. Muhammed wasn't born until 1570, and he received his visions much later (at about the age of 40). Thus, even the Catholic Bible predates the Qur'an by over sixty years. As I noted, though, the books themselves were written much earlier, even though they weren't designated as "official scripture" by the Catholic Church until the Council of Trent.

So, yes, even the Catholic Bible predates the Qur'an.

[Hexadecimal]

"Muhammad, however, lived in the seventh century BCE - at least 500 years after the New Testament of the Bible was written."

500 BCE...wouldn't that be 515-600 years BEFORE the NT was written?

quote:Originally posted by Hexadecimal:

"Muhammad, however, lived in the seventh century BCE - at least 500 years after the New Testament of the Bible was written."

500 BCE...wouldn't that be 515-600 years BEFORE the NT was written?

Arrgh, a typo! Surprised nobody else caught it. Make that "CE", naturally. Thanks!

[woodlander]

quote:Originally posted by FourUntoFive:

What is are some good questions to ask about Islam?

How about: Is it a religious principle that women be denied the right to education, voting, etc?

Allah or Jesus?



by Rick Mathes



Last month I attended my annual training session that's required for maintaining my state prison security clearance. During the training session there was a presentation by three speakers representing the Roman Catholic, Protestant and Muslim faiths, who explained each of their belief systems.



I was particularly interested in what the Islamic Imam had to say. The Imam gave a great presentation of the basics of Islam, complete with a video. After the presentations, time was provided for questions and answers.



When it was my turn, I directed my question to the Imam and asked: "Please, correct me if I'm wrong, but I understand that most Imams and clerics of Islam have declared a holy jihad [Holy war] against the infidels of the world. And, that by killing an infidel, which is a command to all Muslims, they are assured of a place in heaven. If that's the case, can you give me the definition of an infidel?"



There was no disagreement with my statements and, without hesitation, he replied, "Non-believers!"



I responded, "So, let me make sure I have this straight All followers of Allah have been commanded to kill everyone who is not of your faith so they can go to Heaven. Is that correct?"



The expression on his face changed from one of authority and command to that of a little boy who had just gotten caught with his hand in the cookie jar. He sheepishly replied, "Yes."



I then stated, "Well, sir, I have a real problem trying to imagine Pope John Paul commanding all Catholics to kill those of your faith or Dr. Stanley ordering Protestants to do the same in order to go to Heaven!"



The Imam was speechless. I continued, "I also have problem with being your friend when you and your brother clerics are telling your followers to kill me. Let me ask you a question. Would you rather have your Allah who tells you to kill me in order to go to Heaven or my Jesus who tells me to love you because I am going to Heaven and He wants you to be with me?"



You could have heard a pin drop as the Imam hung his head in shame.



Senders words: Needless to say, the organizers and/or promoters of the 'Diversification' training seminar were not happy with Rick's way of dealing with the Islamic Imam and exposing the truth about the Muslim's beliefs. I think everyone in the US should be required to read this, but with the liberal justice system, liberal media, and the ACLU, there is no way this will be widely publicized. Please pass this on to all your email contacts.



This is a true story and the author, Rick Mathes, is a well known leader in prison ministry.

quote:Originally posted by Armed&Angry:

I'm fairly certain Islam was limited to the west coast of the Arabian peninsula until after Mohammed's death. I'd check on that one. And by "I" I mean "you," because I'm drunk and sleepy.

Hmmm....I'll have to check. The "official source" I'm using on that one is my professor; he mentioned that Islam was in Africa during Muhammed's lifetime. I'll have to find my notes. (I'm a graduate student/instructor in Religious Studies.)

"totallyVegas":

http:../../www.snopes.com/politics/religion/allah.asp

quote:Originally posted by Armed&Angry:

No shit? I considered that for a major, but ended up in history. In any case, I just fail to see how it could have worked its way into Africa in that short period of time, except maybe the East African port cities, since the Arabs did a fair amount of business with them.

Honestly, I can't give a definitive answer on the subject, mainly because I'm too busy to go searching through my notes from last semester. Islam's not my specialty, and it's quite possible that the professor was full of shit. I can't really say, though.