Islam. Who can claim to know what it is?

Question

"Islam is not that!!! Its..."

How often have you heard that from deseprate western muslims who compromise about .01% of the entire population of Muslims worldwide.

The question is, who can claim to know what Islam is and what defines Islam? Ever hear the expression "ALL TRUTH IS REVEALED BY ACTION". For example, someone asks you if your lazy and you say "no", afterwhich you continue to sit around and do nothing, as always. Which is the truth? The action or in this case, the inaction.

Its what we do that defines us or any entity for that matter. The primary thing that define is the "action product". If worried western muslims keep telling you Islam is "not that" what is the truth? What is "that"?

Saying "Islam is not that.." is essentially saying "please dont judge my religion by its end product". Almost all war today is Islamic...and we should NOT JUDGE ISLAM AT ALL? What kinda of insanity is this?

The greatestes genocides in history were Islam (Hindu 1 & 2)...but dont..

Angels: ...and yet you offer no reason "why" I am wrong....

Answer 1

I personally think you are wrong in your line of thinking...but that's just my opinion...

UPDATE: The reason is that you fail to see the good in all religions, including Islam. Believe it or not, there is much good in this great religion. AND maybe that's why you get the answer you are getting from Muslims. Alas, you focus on what can further your argument, so that's why I said you are wrong in your line of thinking. But you are free to think whatever you want to think, and you are not the first person I see who suffers from this type of thought process...so, there's a happy thought for you!

Answer 2

Well, first off, i find this line of thinking to be one-sided and obviously closed-minded. You cannot base a religion based on the actions of a smally minority of radicals. Muslims number 1 out of every 5 people, so basing the whole religion on a few is ludacrious on your part and makes you sound ignorant.

Islam is based on peace and teachings from the Quran. Until you come into contact with muslims, and actually visit an islamic institution or read the holy book (quran) then please do not stereotype. Funny how in the rest of the world, people are a lot less ignorant.

Despite all these actions of a few radicals, muslim converts number more than ever after 9/11 etc. Not because people heard of the atrocities committed, but because they were eager to learn and understand the religion and didn't take what they saw on CNN to be the full story. If we all did that, then all religions would seem horrible. So please, educate before you attempt to educate others. Practice what you preach.

And if your line of thinking is true, then it can be said that all Americans are ignorant due to your ignorant conclusions. Btw, i am an american, and i dont like being referred to as ignorant.

Answer 3

I will have to differ with you on this one.
As i have said here before in different posts, Islam is, in its essence, a very decentralized religion. There is not one single authority or figure that can tell people what religion is, or what is the correct interpretation of the Quran. As a result of this, there is an incredible diversity within Islam, from very secular to very fanatical.
I personaly resent many of the claims and accusations that Islam is somewhat a more evil religion than Christianity of Judaism or whatever, they are all one and the same. Religion in itself is an illogical, complex and often violent thing. My god is always better than yours, i am going to heaven and you're not and so forth.
Many of the ailments within the Muslim world now are due to not only ignorance, poverty and political repression, but also to the overwhelming presures (both cultural and social) brought about by globalization. Muslims can no longer live comfortably in their part of the world, isolated from all othe ideas and ideologies. As the world opens up and Islam is exposed to more and more opposing views, it is natural that a reaction will take place. We are witnessing this reaction.
One day Muslims will get through this stage, much like mainstream Christianity did several centuries ago.
Anyway, for all of the above, this is why many Muslims will tell you that "Islam is not that" and really mean it, because no one knows what Islam is, they only have their personal interpretation of the religion.
Never the less, yes, you are correct in the assumption that many Muslims blind themselves and refuse to acknowledge the many problems in the faith and its practice. Muslims will say things like "no, don't judge us for this," or "Islam is not that," but then do or say very little to combat such fanatical and violent interpretation of the religion. Much of this silence goes back to the political climate in the Muslim world, but what is the excuse for western Muslims? Why is the extremist minority so loud? Why is the majority so quiet, so inaffective?

Answer 4

Like every religion, there are extremeists. Not all Jews are liberal, and definitley not all Muslims are terrorists. When Islam was created, it was a religion that believed in devotion, prayer, personal sacrifice and giving, but when the Sunnis and Shiites groups were formed due to a schism, things started to become more violent. The five pillars, or the foundation/ duties, of Islam are Pilgrimage, Faith, Prayer, Giving (to charity), and Fasting during Rammadan. The Muslims contributed a lot to our world like the the number system that includes zero, and the invention of universities.

Answer 5

Just because there is a big war being fought by Muslims right now does not mean that ISlam is to blame. WWII was started by Hitler killing Jews because he thought they would all go to hell anyways. Does that mean all Christians are bad? No. And all religions are only a shadow of their former selves. The only real Islam is that in The Quran, not that mixed with Arab culture or that of western culture.

Answer 6

Actually Hitler was not a Christian (regardless of how his parents reared him). He was a tool of Satan and acted on his own evil behalf, not by and for the Christian religion.

Islam, I hear, (don't know if its a fact), was spread by the Sword and has been maintained by the Sword throughout history and is used to subdue native populations.

Conversion or Death.

Since Mohammed started the religion through Allah in the first place, it is a little bit different on how the early Christian Church began and was conducted.

No one has control over power hungry individuals who appear on the scene and do exceedingly wicked things, all for the sake of their religion.

Answer 7

Muslims can. We learn from the Prophet Muhammad (SWT) how to practice our religion. As far as time is concerned, we are directed to not waste it, as well as our youth, and our wealth. To not act on your knowledge, I believe, is a crime against humanity. Personally, I wouldn't allow any one to define what type of Muslim I am (like 2Pac said "Only God Can Judge Me"). Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but don't try to make that opinion fact.

I thought the Christian Adolph Hitler was responsible for the worst genocide in history. Genocide is evil, no matter who's responsible. I think the one's who had power to stop it , but didn't are equally responsible

Answer 8

Islam - I Self Lord And Master

If you want to know what Islam is about read the Koran and the Hadeeth.

Mohamed did a lot of fugged up things, like cutting the heads off of hundreds of Jews personally.

Answer 9

sadly i have heard that phrase many times.

and do you know why..it is because the damn western media
shows Muslims in such a negative image.

So honestly when we say
"Islam is not that..."
we truly mean that.
We don't say one thing and mean another like many Americans (not all) do.
But if you are looking for true Islamic example..
don't look at the middle east right now
because it is not in it's best condition.

peace+love=happiness

Answer 10

I thought your question was well thoughtout. However, as I read the details, I became slightly appalled. It just seemed like Islam-bashing that is more sophisticated than the usual.