I want to believe in Islam, but I am having trouble with Muhammad. Can anyone help?

Question

Ive decided to believe in one God and reject evolution and science and reason. I am now looking at religions and need help.

In Islam, believing in God alone is never ever ever enough. You absolutely must believe in Muhammad, or you go to hell. You must believe in the Quran, or you go to hell. Belief in God doesnt cut it, that only 1 out of 3, and you need all 3 (like a trinity actually).

Anyway, so, I dont want to go to hell, and since so many Muslims believe in Islam, welllll...Islam must be true....right!!! (I have an IQ of below 90).

Ok, so heres my problem. In order to believe in Muhammad, i must believe that God thinks that owning slaves is excellent conduct for all humans to follow for all time. Why? Cause anything Muhammad did, is considered the perfect example for all Muslims to follow. Now, I have a real problem with this...help! How can I rationalize this?

Also, the Quran says the whole EARTH is like a "carpet spread out". Ehhh. How do I unlearn?

Quran 20:53 "he (allah) who has, made for you the earth like a carpet spread out" http://www.usc.edu/dept/msa/quran/020.qmt.html#020.053

sahih bukhari, book 73: volume 8, book 73, number 182:"allah's apostle was on a journey and he had a black slave called anjasha, and he was driving the camels" http://www.islamicity.com/mosque/sunnah/bukhari/073.sbt.html#008.073.182

“i came and behold, allah's apostle was staying on a mashroba (attic room) and a black slave of allah's apostle was at the top if its stairs.” http://www.islamicity.com/mosque/sunnah/bukhari/091.sbt.html#009.091.368

Answer 1

I am sorry to tell you this, but to be a Muslim YOU HAVE TO believe in Muhammad (PBUH), otherwise you are not considered a Muslim.

Answer 2

First off, everything in the Qur'an is scientifically accurate! The part where it talks about the Earth being spread out like a carpet is talking about the top layer (crust) of the Earth. As it is spread out upon the other parts as a carpet would be.

And in Islam one must believe in ALL of the Prophets of Allah (peace be upon them all.) The reason why there is so much put on belief in Muhammad is because he is the final Prophet to mankind. Though if you were to believe in Muhammad and reject Jesus, Moses or any of the Prophets of Allah, then you would not be Muslim either. This is the same with the divinely revealed scriptures. Though due to the fact that humanity has horribly altered the previous scriptures... only the Qur'an can be taken as the literal word of Allah.

Slavery is allowed in Islam under certain circumstances and so there are rules for this act within the Hadith. But Muhammad was really the first man to abolish slavery as a practice. It was commonplace in his time to have many slaves. After his Prophethood it was no longer to take anyone as a slave outside of warfare. Allah knows best!

Answer 3

People become slaves when they go to war and lose. In Islam, there are many teachings to treat your slaves right. Also, Islam encouraged freeing slaves.
This can be seen in Quran where most of the sins require freeing a slave to be forgiven, in case there is still slavery.

Regarding the "carpet spread out", i don't know why you are having problems with it!!
The earth is spherically shaped, however, "like the Quran said" it is like a carpet spread out.
The Quran didn't say that the Earth is flat like a carpet, it said that Allah made the Earth spread out like a carpet.

Answer 4

Religion is a sensitive subject, someone always gets offended.
My personal belief is if it doesn't make sense after reading, then interpretation is a form of indoctrination. I don't always believe what other people's understanding is of a religion.
To find the true God (Religion) you must study all religions within that Genre.
I still believe that Jesus said "no prophet shall come after me" This is my belief, what I extracted from the bible.
Your belief of any religion is what you think you just read, not what other people tell you what it means. Watch out for those who read between the lines.
My understanding is my relationship with God is personal, between me an him. I will be judged as such by him, not by a mortal.

Answer 5

Great observation.

It must be OK to own slaves because Muhammad did and it must be OK to let them go because Muhammad did.

Does that also mean that if Muhammad didn't make his women wear burkas because the men of his day had more control over their own bodies and didn't do the blame shifting bit that we should follow his example?

Or since Muhammad didn't commit suicide or ask any of his soldiers to, that we shouldn't ask anyone to commit suicide either?

Since the whole is like a "carpet spread out" and by that we are to understand it to mean the earth's crust, then we should carpet balls in honor of this understanding and then try to spread it out flat....as is implied.

Did Muhammad ever live in peace with his neighbors or is it an honor to die because you respect one of the other prophets more than Muhammad at this point in time?

Answer 6

Dude, your first sentence tells it all. If you reject reason or science then you'll never be a Muslim anyway.
Secondly, just because Muhammad owned slaves doesn't mean we are supposed to. In fact, if you read on he freed every single slave he owned. In fact he even adopted one.
Thirdly, the Quran states that the earth is a SPHERE. Of course you would never know that since you don't read Arabic. Here is the verse that explains it actually. Using REASON even English-speaking folk can understand this.
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YUSUFALI: He created the heavens and the earth in true (proportions): He makes the Night overlap the Day, and the Day overlap the Night: He has subjected the sun and the moon (to His law): Each one follows a course for a time appointed. Is not He the Exalted in Power - He Who forgives again and again?

Answer 7

Muhammad also married a 9 year old girl & his religious tolerence was legenday.

Here's a wonderful verse regarding the 'proper' behavior towards polytheistic Christian allies, after the battels are won:

Sura 9:5
"And when the sacred months are past, kill those who join other gods with God wherever ye shall find them; seize them, besiege them, and lay wait for them with every kind of ambush: but if they convert, and observe prayer, and pay the obligatory alms, then let them go their way, for God is Gracious, Merciful."

Answer 8

The verse that you are talking about is:

"He Who has, made for you the earth like a carpet spread out; has enabled you to go about therein by roads (and channels); and has sent down water from the sky." {Al Quran 20:53}

The earth’s crust is approximately less than 30 miles in thickness and is very thin as compared to the radius of the earth which is about 3750 miles. The deeper layers of the earth are very hot, fluid and hostile to any form of life. The earth’s crust is a solidified shell on which we can live. The Quran rightly refers to it like a carpet spread out, so that we can travel along its roads and paths.

Answer 9

There is no god but Allah and Mohammed is his prophet. This is the faith which inevitable Allah and Mohammed (peace be upon him), in an interview with Gabriel to the prophet says that faith that believes in God and angels, books and messengers . As for the issue of land, know that God said (and the earth, moreover) means that it like an egg.it is a scientific fact has been proved by Koran before 1000 year of discoveries in the West. As for the degree of cleverness that she wrote please review the source of this information was taken from him. Because in the Golden Age of Islam had no bones scientists For example, there was Ibn Hayyan and bigeye and much, now facing Ahmed Zewail from Egypt, Magdi Yacoub.look my friend if you want any info contact me at my email [e-mail] and please send me yous and i will for some sites to help you .

Answer 10

Friend, I am a Christian & I have been one for over 37 yrs. One reason you are having trouble with islam is because islam is wrong, You look at their so called prophet & see all the evil things he did, That is one reason you are having trouble with him. You mentioned your IQ is that of 90 or below, Friend that is nothing to be ashamed of, God many times uses the very simple to acomplish the things he desires to be done. Have you stop to think that God is trying to keep you away from a religion that is solely based on hatred & killings, Now in the Christian sector, we also have some bad so called Christians, But a True Christian will follwing the teachings of the Apostles of Old. No, you will not understand it overnight, I am still learning after 37 yrs. But in what I do believe in, I am not one bit ashamed of or afraid of to debate anyone that has a debatable mind. Why do I say this, Because I will never say anything unless I also understand it myself.

Answer 11

Your sense of sarcasm never escapes us.. and for that I smile because its all I wish to do.. Its amazing to me that someone would go to such lengths to try to discredit a belief system without submitting an alternative that is as plausible and logical and beautiful.
At least you're reading parts of the Quran.. so there's hope yet. Vlad, you can rationalise all you like, you can ask all you like, and these things are good. Seek knowledge. That's part of Islam too.. but there's one thing you cannot do without and that is faith. So instead of answering your question with trying to convince you, I'm going to wish you faith. May Allah grant you "Hidaya" (guidance).. and peace.
I've just noticed that today, I've stumble on many of your questions. You seem to devote so much time to anti-islamic questions, but hey, its your prerogative.
Still, if every you find the faith, I won't hold it against you and will welcome you into the fold of Islam with gentleness.
keep seeking, only seek for the sake of knowledge, not the sake of criticising , okay?
Take care, and Salaam.. (peace...)... much peace to you..