What comes to mind when you think about Islam?

Question

And how much do you actually know about the religion?

i see non muslim westerners really don't know **** about islam yet they critisize it so much

read macman's answer, he gets 10 points

islam is not deluded nor decieves in anyway, and to understand this, one must be knowledgable in islam

islam is not deluded nor decieves in anyway, and to understand this, one must be knowledgeable in islam

Answer 1

most people are really ignorant about other nations, religions, culture, etc. the public media and Hollywood instead of educating the masses, actually misinform them. so what comes to mind about Islam: Arab, camels, war, abusing women, many other negative images. Arabs only make %10 of Moslem's. majority of Moslem's are in Asia. as far as religion goes they are the opiates of masses, doesn't matter which one.

Answer 2

It's a false teaching. If Muhammad never existed, neither would islam. He's the only proof of any of it and he's such a bad example to follow. All prophets of God have actually talked to God and agree with God and each other. Muhammad hasn't done any of those things. All prophets of God have become better people because of their faith in God. Muhammad was a very sinful man and anyone who opens a history book or looks at his life can see that. You don't steal from caravans, take over towns by killing the men, taking the women and children captive, demanding your share of the booty and raping the women if you are Godly. Jesus said to love your enemy. Muhammad and allah said to smite the necks of your enemy, instill terror in them, wait in ambush for them, cut off their fingers, etc., etc., etc. Muhammad also said to lie and allah is described as a deceiver. You can deny that all you want but all anyone has to do is open an islamic book and you will see them brag about this. Trick the enemy, act like you like them, they will let their guard down and then you can take them out. That's part of islam. That's why islam cannot be trusted. That's why it's not from God.

God Bless.

Answer 3

When this one thinks of Islam, he remembers the beauty of the Holy Qur'an (despite its inaccuracies, errors and contradictions), the examplary life of the prophet Mohammad, peace be uopn him, his family and his followers (despite his finding it necessary to disregard some of the teachings in the Holy Qur'an, as well as the illogic of some of his personal teachings which contradict the teachings in the Holy Qur'an), the kindness of those Muslims I have personally met and the wonderful (for their day) social directions given in the Holy Qur'an.
This one also thinks of the historic scientific developments that came out of the once learning atmosphere of Islam, prior to the fall of the Ottoman Empire; how Islam kept knowledge alive and thereby saved Europe and western civilization from the Dark ages.
This one thinks of the religion of peace ( as it is taught in the Holy Qur'an and not as it is practiced in the world today.)

If this one ever decided to choose a religion, this one would choose Islam. However, this one does not need such a crutch nor such an excuse.

May those be blessed who do and may they each reach enlightenment in this lifetime.

As salaamu 'alaikym warahmatullahi wabaraktu, my friend.

This one has read the Holy Qur'an in Arabic, several times, has many Muslim friends, studied Islam and tried to practice it for a long while.
Eventually one must seek one's answers inside of one's self. Eventually one must open one's eyes and see what is there rather than simply what one desires to see.

Many non-Muslims have studied more than many Muslims and have compared other religions to Islam. Ferw Muslims have done this.

This one reads Hebrew, Greek, Latin and Arabic. Do you?

Answer 4

A peaceful religion that doesn't have terrorism or violence and worships ALLAH(SWT) only and treats the women nicely for the most part. I know enough about my religion as I am Muslim. If I have a question about something all I need to do is refer to the Qur'an or my husband.

Answer 5

What immediately comes to mind is a religion that is and was spread using violence and intimidation.

While most Muslims today are non-violent, Muhammad was very war-like and some present day Muslims follow their prophet's example to the letter even to the extent of attacking brother Muslims who disagree with them.

The world's perception of Islam is based on what they see Islam doing and what they see is violence and terrorism.

If they saw mass peace marches and anti-war demonstrations then the world would be more likely to believe that Islam was a religion of peace, but we are not seeing the moderate Muslims trying to discourage the violent Muslims and that is a huge concern in the West.

Answer 6

The first thing that came to my mind when I read the word Islam in your question was "peace."

Answer 7

Read: Qur'an, Ishaq, Tabari, Bukhari.

Family escaped Islam in the 1950s.

We've been expecting this war for decades.

I think, I pray, "Please God, let Islam and all the beauty and wisdom it contains survive, let it become the flowering of civilization and arts and sciences it once was,...

...but only after it accepts free speech, free expression, equality, and freedom of religion as part of itself and gets past a literalist view of their holy texts like Christianity has gotten over it's literalist views!"

Answer 8

A beautiful mystic core, best represented by Sufism, which is obscured by the popular dogmatic "exoteric" Islam. The same might be said of Christianity. The symbols of religion can be very powerful and inspiring (I say this as an atheist), as long as you remember they're only symbols - as long as you don't mistake them for the things they represent. This is the error of "fundamentalism."

Answer 9

Exactly the same as with Christianity. A deluded belief system built on a desire to control peoples lives, and rather well thanks.

Edit:

And how do you know that we know so little about it? Or is it that you think you know that we know little about it but you actually know no such thing?

And even if I knew only that it was based on a belief in god (though I know much more) my comments would stand.

Oh and Macmans answer isn't even Islam 101, any mildly educated person knows that the two most populous Muslim countries are Indonesia and Pakistan. India has almost as many Muslims than any Arab state.

Answer 10

I spent years in Saudi Arabia, read two translations of the Qur'an from cover to cover (one of which is on my desk at this moment), read numerous supplemental texts, and attended novice classes, so I can speak with some authority on the subject. Most Muslims are decent people, as interested in neighborliness and raising their kids as anyone else, but they have been taken in by the most successful fraud in human history. The Qur'an has errors; they are both obvious and significant; and the notion that the work is the word of god is preposterous. For more on this, see: