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This section, "Islam"
will answer questions about the fastest-growing and second largest religion in
the world.
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Q. Do Muslims
really worship the moon?
A. No.
Q. What is the
Muslim policy on dating? Do their parents chose their spouses?
A. Islam doesn't allow dating,
so most Muslims do not date. They are, however, allowed to choose their own spouse,
as forcing someone to marry is forbidden in Islam. The couple can meet under supervision,
but not alone. Some couples do go out alone after becoming engaged, but generally,
couples wait until after they are married.
Q. Who the heck
is "Allah" and why do some people worship him?
A. "Allah" refers to
the God of the Abramic Religions, and is mostly commonly associated with Muslims
because "Allah" is an Arabic word, which is the language their holy
text, the Qur'an, was written in. The word is also used by Arabic Christians and
Jews, though, and is not specifically designated for Muslims.
Q. Why do Muslim
women wear scarves? Don't they feel restricted?
A. The Muslim headcovering, a
hijab, is worn by Muslim women in many places (though it does vary from
culture to culture). It is worn for reasons of modesty, as the hair is considered
sexual in many societies (even in our own -- how often do you see a bald playboy
model?). Most women who wear the hijab see it as liberating not limiting,
because they feel that it keeps them from being objectified by being seen by others
(particularly men) as a person rather than as a sexual object.
Q. Tell me about
"jihad" which, I think, means "holy war"?
A. The word "jihad"
does not necessarily mean "holy war." On the simplest level, "jihad"
just means "struggle." To Muslims, there are two types of jihad.
The greater kind is the internal struggle of faith that many people go through.
Most Muslims in the world use the word in this way. However, "jihad"
can also mean "holy war" -- though it often comes from extremists who
do not represent the majority of Muslims.
Q. Someone keeps
saying "PBUH" - what does this mean?
A. "PBUH" stands for
"peace be upon him," and is said by Muslims after the name of a prophet
(which would include Jesus, since they view him as such), as well as the virign
Mary. There are various ways of saying this, also "upon him, be peace"
and "peace upon him," and is a sign of respect.
Q. What do Muslims
think of Jesus?
A. Muslims believe Jesus was
a prophet of God and the messiah, and greatly respect him. Like Christians, they
expect his return. They do not, however, believe him as either God, or God's
son, and thus do not believe one must worship him to get into Heaven. Worship
of Jesus as God is seen as idoltry.
Q. Do Muslims
worship Muhammed?
A. No. They believe that he was
the final prophet, or seal, and also an exemplary ethical figure. He founded
Islam, after receiving a revelation from the Angel Gabriel while medatating. Following
that, he dictated the Qur'an as had God told him and thus began Islam. The idea
of Muslims worshipping Muhammed is the equivilant of Jews worshipping Moses; they
were important people in history, but are not equal to God.
Q. Who are "People
of the Book?"
A. Christians and Jews, as called
by the Holy Qur'an.
Holy Scriptures
v
The Noble Qur'an by Dr. Muhammad TaqÎ-ud-DÎn Al-HilâlÎ
and Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khân (iad.org)
• The
Koran, as published by Penguin Classics.
•
The
Meaning Of The Holy Qur'an as translated by Abdullah Yusuf Ali.
v The
Word of Islam by John Alden Williams
Other Thought
v The
Essential Rumi (translated by Coleman Barks).
• Struggling
to Surrender by Jeffery B. Lang
Intro Texts
v
Islam
by Fazlur Rahman
v Symbols
of Islam
• Understanding Islam and the Muslims. Prepared by the Islamic Affairs Department.
• The
Complete Idiot's Guide to Understand Islam by Yahiya Emerick.
v Orientalism
by Edward Said
• Islam:
A Short History by Karen Armstrong
v What
Everyone Needs to Know About Islam by John Esposito
•
Islam:
The Straight Path by John Esposito
History
v
The
Camridge History of Islam (multivolume; link to Vol. 1) by PM Holt,
KS Lambton and Bernard Lewis
• History
of the Arab Peoples by Albert Hourani
• Islamic
History by R. Stephen Humphreys
v
The
Oxford History of Islam by John Esposito
• The
Arabs in History by Bernard Lewis
• The
History of Islamic Societies by Ira M. Lapidus
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