What is the best way to begin learning more about the Muslim religion?

Question

I've ordered a translated copy of the Qur'an but it hasn't arrived yet. For the record, I believe that the belief system of each individual is theirs to have - and I respect their right to have it. Understanding different beliefs is paramount to developing deeper relationships in all areas of life. If more people were willing open their minds, perhaps the world would be a better place.

Answer 1

I think you just want to learn about Islam and not to convert.

Here I wish to share qualities of Islam with you. No compulsion.


If you really wish to know about Islam, you must study history and Islam side by side.
What Islam says and how history confirms it.

What caused expension of Islam ?

" The phenominal success of Islam was primarily due to its revolutionary significance and its ability to lead the masses out of the hopeless situation created by the decay of antique civilisations not only of Greece and Rome but of Persia and China and of India."--[The Historic Role of Islam, by M.N.Roy,Foreword,Vora & Co.8 Round Building, Bombay-2]


Vem'bery says, " Islam is still the most democratic religion in the world, a religion favouring both liberty and equality. If there ever was a constitutional government it was that of the first Caliphs. "--Vem'bery, La Turquie d'aujard'hui et d'vant Quarante Aus.pg-58 ]

1. [][][][] ISLAM IS NOT A NEW RELIGION [][][][]


" Say : We believe in God and in what has been revealed to us and what was revealed to Abraham and Ismael and Issac and Jacob and the tribes and in that which was given to MOSES and JESUS and in that which was given to all prophets from their Lord. WE MAKE NO DISTINCTION BETWEEN ANY OF THEM
and to Him do we submit." ---The Quran.

"...Thus Islam appeared, not as a new religion, but as revival of pure Abrahamic monotheism, purified as one of the accretions of Judaism and Christianity and superseding them as the final revelation."--[Vem'bery, La Turquie d'aujard'hui et d'vant Quarante Aus. pg-44]


2. [][][][] BROTHERHOOD in ISLAM [][][][]

" We have not sent thee , O Mohammad, but [as] a mercy unto all creatures."-- The Quran,[xxi, p-326]

" And my mercy encompasseth all things." The quran,[ 7:156]

" O you men, surely we have created you of a male and a female and made you tribes and families that ye may know each other."--The Quran,[ 49:13 ]

" Who is the most favoured of Allah ? He from whom greatest good comes to his creatures."--The Quran

" All his creatures are Allah's family for thier subsistance is from him, therefore the most beloved of Allah is the person who does greatest good to Allah's creatures."--The Quran

These teachings were truely followed by the Muslims as History indicates........


"....when Jerusalem capitulated to Khalif Omer, the inhabitants of the vanquished city were left in possesion of thier worldly goods, and allowed the freedom of worship. A special quarter of the city was allotted for the residence of Christian population with thier Patriarch and his clergy."--[Rise and Fall of Roman Empire- GIBBON]

"We have never heard about any attempt to compel Non-Muslim
parties to adopt Islam or about any organized persecution aiming
at exterminating Christianity. If the Caliphs had chosen one of these plans, they would have wiped out Christianity as easily as what happened to Islam during the reign of Ferdinand and Isabella in Spain; by the same method which Louis XIV followed to make Protestantism a creed whose followers were to be sentenced to death; or with the same ease of keeping the Jews away from Britain for a period of three hundred fifty years."
(Thomas Arnold in 'The Call to Islam.')


3 .[][][][] JUSTICE in ISLAM [][][][]

" Make peace among them with justice and act equitably, surely Allah loves those who act equitably."--The Quran [49:9]

This is also backed by History.........
.
The critical Gibbon coclusively proves that, "...to his Christian subjects, Mohammad readily granted security of thier persons, the freedom of thier trade, the property of thier goods and the toleration of thier worship. This profitable principle of toleration was observed with more or less strictness, not only by all the immediate successors of the Prophet, but over the whole period of Arabic ascendency."--[Rise and Fall of Roman Empire- GIBBON]

4. [][][][] TOLERANCE in ISLAM [][][][]

"And if anyone of the idolaters seeketh thy protection (O Muhammad), then protect him so that he may hear the word of God, and afterward convey him to his place of safety. "(The Qur’an 9:6)

Now what History says..............

" He himself [the prophet] gave letters of security and protection to the Jews and Christians in Arabia and never used any violence to them upon the account of religion."--[ An Account of The Rise And Progress of Mahometanism with the life of Mahomet- by HENRY STUBBE, M.A. of Christ Church- Oxford, From a manuscript copied by Charles Hornby of Pipe office in 1705, London,Luzac & Co. 1911, pg- 142-143]

5. [][][][] Respect for other religions [][][][]

" Say : We believe in God and in what has been revealed to us and what was revealed to Abraham and Ismael and Issac and Jacob and the tribes and in that which was given to MOSES and JESUS and in that which was given to all prophets from their Lord. WE MAKE NO DISTINCTION BETWEEN ANY OF THEM and to Him do we submit." ---The Quran

6.[][][][] Islam is the most practical religion [][][][]


"Fight in the cause of God those WHO FIGHT YOU, but do not transgress limits; for God loveth not transgressors. (The Noble Quran, 2:190)"

"But if the enemy incline towards peace, do thou (also) incline towards peace, and trust in God: for He is One that heareth and knoweth (all things). (The Noble Quran, 8:61)"

"And if anyone of the idolaters seeketh thy protection (O Muhammad), then protect him so that he may hear the word of God, and afterward convey him to his place of safety. "(The Qur’an 9:6)

"[2:190-192] And fight in the cause of Allah with those WHO FIGHT WITH YOU, and do not exceed the limits, surely Allah does not love those who exceed the limits. And kill them wherever you find them, and drive them out from where they drove you out, and persecution is severer than slaughter, and do not fight with them at the Sacred Mosque (in Makkah) UNTILL THEY FIGHT WITH YOU in it, but if they do fight you, then slay them; such is the reward of the unbelievers. But if they desist, then surely Allah is Forgiving, Merciful. And fight with them until there is no persecution, and religion should be only for Allah, but if they desist, then there should be no hostility EXCEPT AGAINST THE OPPRESSORS."

These instructions exactly correspond with the International law. And every nation and every person or set of people has the right to self defence and to defend his/their property.-----as per law of the land.

Answer 2

There are a lot of websites and books out there that can give you a good start.

I'd contact CAIR (Coucil for American-Islamic Relations). They should be able to point you to some good resources.

You can also Google the word Islam and look at the links that produces.

There is also a Complete Idiot's Guide to Islam that can school you on the basics.

Finally, get a translation of the Quran and read it. I recommend the Yusuf Ali translation.

Answer 3

I also suggest you read the Koran for yourself. Then you will learn that those verses are not only not out of context, you will learn how much Muslims hate and despise everyone else because their "holy book" tells them to. Be sure to research the accuracy of the translation you choose. There are many editions written specifically for the "kafir" (thats the derogatory term for the rest of us) that sugarcoat what the Koran actually says. Another good book I'd recommend is "American Jihad" by Steven Emerson.

BTW: CAIR (Council for American Islamic Relations) is the US branch of Hamas. It is mainly a fundraising operation, proceeds going to support the families of sucide bombers as well as paying for training, propaganda to attract more, etc.

Answer 4

In my opinion to learn more about the Muslim religion is to commit suicide of the mind, I believe that God in heaven must just shudder at the malignant insanity that is written in the Koran, and "IF" what is said in the Koran is true, then I for one will take hell fire over an insane so called God, because the God I know would never spread that kind of fear upon his flock, the God I know is a compassionate, loving, and forgiving God, I believe the Muslim religion is nothing more than a malignant plague that is spreading around the world like the anti-Christ we are told will do.

Answer 5

Read the Qur'an (not just out-of-context verses)
Or go to the local mosque.

Answer 6

To read the Quaran and ask a muslim for help with what you do not understand.

Answer 7

Start here, in the Qur'an:

[2:126] "As for him who disbelieveth, I shall leave him in contentment for a while, then I shall compel him to the doom of Fire"

[4:56] Lo! Those who disbelieve Our revelations, We shall expose them to the Fire. As often as their skins are consumed We shall exchange them for fresh skins that they may taste the torment.

8:14 That (is the award), so taste it, and (know) that for disbelievers is the torment of the Fire.

10:4 ...as for those who disbelieve, theirs will be a boiling drink and painful doom because they disbelieved.

17:10 And that those who believe not in the Hereafter, for them We have prepared a painful doom.

18:29 Say: (It is) the truth from the Lord of you (all). Then whosoever will, let him believe, and whosoever will, let him disbelieve. Lo! We have prepared for disbelievers Fire. Its tent encloseth them. If they ask for showers, they will be showered with water like to molten lead which burneth the faces. Calamitous the drink and ill the resting-place!

22:19 These twain (the believers and the disbelievers) are two opponents who contend concerning their Lord. But as for those who disbelieve, garments of fire will be cut out for them; boiling fluid will be poured down on their heads, Disbelievers will wear garments of fire, boiling fluid will be poured on their heads, their bellies and skin will be melted, they will be tormented with iron hooks, and when they try to escape they will be driven back with the taunt: Taste the doom of burning.
22:20 Whereby that which is in their bellies, and their skins too, will be melted;
22:21 And for them are hooked rods of iron.
22:22 Whenever, in their anguish, they would go forth from thence they are driven back therein and (it is said unto them): Taste the doom of burning.

... And so on, and on, and on, and on, ad nauseum. Utterly vile.

Answer 8

Read the Bible and you will learn exactly how deceptive Islam really is.

Answer 9

Go serve in Iraq.