Mr Barry,
I do think we can agree to disagree as regards my statements. This because I do think we have two diametrically opposing (and irreconcilable) bases that we base our viewpoints on these issues.
Again my point was whether interpretations of the Islamic scriptures in a modern context is at all possible. I guess that such possibility presupposes an effective and worthwhile discourse on this with a non-believer like me.
Cheers!
:-) Abdou
----- Original Message -----
From: Sal Barry <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Friday, August 5, 2005 9:36 pm
Subject: Re: Question - Islam, Slavery
> Abdou wrote:
>
> “Slavery is one thing (of the past) but what about today's
> horrible gender
> inequality that is widely accepted - I'm thinking of the 4+ wives
> that a
> Muslim male can marry if he can provide (?) for all of them, the
> inheritancelaws that does not favour women, the general acceptance
> of the superiority
> of man over woman, etc.
>
> This statement above is very sad and dangerous. By uttering this
> statement,one is stripping Allaah (the One free from
> imperfections) of His perfection
> and far removed is He from that. The One who is the All-Seer and
> All-Knower
> is being stripped of these attributes He Himself described Himself
> with.
> Allaah, the One who create the Heavens and the Earth in His
> Infinite wisdom
> said Muslim men can marry up to four wives, then who are we His
> creation to
> question that? Do we even know the wisdom behind this before we
> raise any
> objection(s). Here we are relying on our intellect as oppose to
> the text of
> the noble Qu’ran.
>
> Allah Says:
> Whoever contradicts and opposes the messenger (Muhammad
> sallallaahu alaihi
> was sallam) after the right path has been shown clearly to him,
> and follows
> other than the believers’ way. We shall keep him in the path he
> has chosen,
> and burn him in hell, and what an evil destination. [Al-Quraan 4:115]
>
> Allah also Says:
> Had We sent down this Quran on a mountain, you would surely have
> seen it
> humbling itself and rending asunder by the fear of Allah. Such are the
> parables which We put forward to mankind that they may reflect.
> (59:21)
> For those of us in most western countries, If we were to marry
> more than one
> wife at the same time, we will be prosecuted by the laws of these
> lands no
> doubt. Yet if we married one wife but fornicated with other women the
> authorities will have no business with us because we are not
> breaking the
> laws. How twisted is this logic.
>
> “the inheritance laws that does not favour women,”
>
> According to who? Do we know the wisdom behind the laws of
> inheritance? Here
> we are accusing Allaah, the One free from imperfection of being
> unjust –
> refuge is sought from this. One of the attributes Allaah described
> Himselfwith is The Just (Al-Adl). Who is more Just than Allaah the
> One who will
> judge our affairs on the day of judgement?
>
>
> the general acceptance of the superiority of man over woman, etc”
> Pleaserefer to What Allaah says about man and woman in His book.
>
> “I know that I'm straying; my point is that the Koran is ripe for
> revision”
> Unlike the US constitution and all the other man-made
> constitutions that
> needs revisions from time to time due to changing times and the
> deficienciesof human beings, the Book of Allaah is for all times.
>
> Our practice and understanding of Islam is different from the
> Islam the
> Messenger (sallallaahu alaihi was sallam) brought. We (general)
> have strayed
> from our religion so we find ourselves adopting anything out there
> thinkingit will correct our situation as oppose to returning back
> to correct path.
>
> “For each (person), there are angels in succession, before and
> behind him.[]
> They guard him by the command of Allah. Verily Allah will not
> change the
> good condition of a people as long as they do not change their
> state of
> goodness themselves (by committing sins and by being ungrateful and
> disobedient to Allah). But when Allah wills a people’s punishment,
> there can
> be no turning back of it, and they will find besides Him no
> protector [Ra'd
> 13:11]
>
> Success lies with Allaah. I seek Allah's forgiveness if I have
> mispoken.
> Salieu
>
>
>
> For our benefit, see some of the things that can nullify our Islam
> below.Ten Things Which Nullify One's Islam
>
> By Shaikh Abdul Aziz ibn Abdullah ibn Baz
>
> All praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds. May peace and
> salutations be
> upon the Last Messenger of Allah, and upon all those who follow
> him until
> the Last day.
>
> To proceed: Brother and Sister Muslim, you must be aware that
> there are
> matters which nullify your Islam. Please be mindful of them.
>
> 1. Associating partners with Allah (shirk). Allah Most High says
> (in the
> meaning):
>
> "Truly, whosoever sets up partners with Allah, then Allah has
> forbidden the
> Garden for him, and the Fire will be his abode. And for the
> wrongdoers there
> are no helpers." (Soorah Al-Maa'ida 5:72)
>
> Calling upon the dead, asking their help, or offering them gifts or
> sacrifices are all forms of shirk.
>
> 2. Setting up intermediaries between oneself and Allah, making
> supplicationto them, asking their intercession with Allah, and
> placing ones trust in
> them is unbelief (kufr).
>
> 3. Anyone who does not consider the polytheists (mushrikeen) to be
> unbelievers, or who has doubts concerning their unbelief, or
> considers their
> way to be correct, is himself/herself an unbeliever (kafir).
>
> 4. Anyone who believes any guidance to be more perfect, or a
> decision other
> than the Prophets decision to be better, is an unbeliever. This
> applies to
> those who prefer the rule of Evil (Taghout) to the Prophets rule. Some
> examples of this are:
>
> (a) To believe that systems and laws made by human beings are
> better than
> the Shariah of Islam; for example,
>
> That the Islamic system is not suitable for the twentieth century.
> That Islam is the cause of the backwardness of the Muslims.
> Or that al-Islam is a relationship beween Allah and the Muslim. It
> shouldnot interfere in other aspects of life.
> (b)To say that enforcing the punishments prescribed Allah, such as
> cuttingof the hand of the thief or the stoning of an adulterer, is
> not suitable for
> this day and age.
>
> (c) To believe that it is permissible to give a rule from that
> which Allah
> did not reveal in Islamic transactions or matters of law,
> punishments or
> other affairs. Although one may not believe such things to be
> superior to
> the Shari'ah he in effect affirms such a stand by declaring a
> thing which
> Allah has totally prohibited, such as adultery, drinking alcohol
> or usury,
> to be permissible. According to the consensus of the Muslims, one who
> declares such things to be permissible is an unbeliever (Kafir)
>
> 5. Anyone who hates any part of what the Messenger of Allah [saw] has
> declared to be lawful has nullified his Islam, even though he may
> act in
> accordance with it. Allah Most High says(in the meaning):
>
> "This is because they hate what Allah has sent down, so he has
> made their
> deeds fruitless" (Soorah Muhammad 47:9)
>
> 6. Anyone who ridicules any aspect of the religion of the
> Messenger of Allah
> [saw], or any of its rewards or punishments, becomes an
> unbeliever. Allah
> Most High says (in the meaning):
>
> "Say: Was it Allah, and His signs and His Messenger that you were
> mocking?Make no excuse; you have disbelieved after you had
> believed." (Soorah
> At-Tawbah 9:65-66)
>
> 7. The practice of magic. Included in this, for example, is
> causing a rift
> between a husband and wife by turning his love for her into
> hatred, or
> tempting a person to do things he dislikes using black arts. One
> who engages
> in such a thing or is pleased with it is outside the fold of
> Islam. Allah
> Most High says (in the meaning):
>
> "But neither of these two (angels, Harut and Marut) taught anyone
> (magic)till they had said, Indeed, we are a trial; then do not
> disbelieve." (Soorah
> Al-Baqarah 2:102)
>
> 8. Supporting and aiding polytheists against the Muslims. Allah
> Most High
> says (in the meaning):
>
> "Whoever among you who takes them as allies is surely one of them.
> Truly,Allah does not guide the wrongdoers." (Soorah Al-Maaida 5:51)
>
> 9. Anyone who believes that some people are permitted to deviate
> from the
> Shariah of Muhammad [saw] is an un believer by the word of Allah
> Most High
> (in the meaning):
>
> "And whoever seeks a religion other than Islam, it will not be
> accepted of
> him, and in the hereafter he will be from among the losers." (Soorah
> Aal-Imraan 3:85)
>
> 10. To turn completely away from the religion of Allah neither
> learning its
> precepts nor acting upon it. Allah most high says (what means):
>
> "And who does greater wrong than he who is reminded of the
> revelations of
> his Lord and turns aside therefrom. Truly, We shall exact
> retribution from
> the guilty." (Soorah As-Sajdah 32:22)
>
> and He [Subhaanahu wa Ta'ala] also says (what means):
>
> "But those who disbelieve turn away from that about which they are
> warned."
> It makes no difference whether such violations are committed as a
> joke, in
> seriousness or out of fear, except when done under compulsion
> (i.e. from
> threat of loss of life). We seek refuge in Allah from such deeds
> as entail
> His wrath and severe punishment.
>
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