DEAR NON-MUSLIMS-- Have any of you ever studied Islam in dept?

Question

Just Curious, because people who take the time to study it eventually realize that a lot of things are misunderstood and often times stereotyped. As is the same with almost every religion. Have any of you taken a course in Islam (In college) etc..

I took Christianity and Hinduism in college and was relieved of a lot of the misunderstandings I had... Have you ever tried to study Islam to get a better perspective of it?

Peace&Love

Answer 1

Yes. I am Catholic, but before I become Catholic I studied a few religions. The two I studied most were Islam and Catholicism (& Christian Protestantism to a lesser extent.)

I knew one of them had to be the truth. I have read the Quran too many times to recall. I also read a number of books by Muslim authors explaining the best they could why Islam was the true religion. You have to understand. This self imposed study I undertook basically went on for at least 2 hrs a day over the course of 9-12 months.

You may ask, "Well why then did you become Catholic if you read so much on Islam?" Very good question. I will admit that during those 9-12 months there were a few times were I was absolutely convinced that Islam was the truth.

It made sense, and I could comprehend it, unlike obscure doctrines in Christianity such as God became man and the Trinity.

I will not go in to why I thoroughly do not believe Islam is the truth because that really isn't the question. I will say though that I do really feel satisfied that I studied it, because it helps me see through all the negative propaganda that Islam gets dealt by the western media.

They say Islam = terrorist. But after studying it though, I do know it to be essentially a religion of peace and that there are extremists in every religion... and also that many of the Islamic terrorists who strap themselves with C4 aren't really even Islamic in that they are actually just bored kids looking to stand for an ideal, whatever that may be.

Many of those guys that blow themselves up are indeifferent to the religion aspect of it, and are really just wanting to be considered heroic... if there was ample opportunity for them2 do the same 4 another religion they probably would.

Sorry, getting off track. Yes, I have read in depth about Islam. As a matter of fact, my father was raised Muslim. He's from Libya. The fact that most people only believe what they hear about through gossip or opinion about Islam only really shows that many people blindly believe what they are told unfortunately.

Answer 2

I am a non-Muslim who happens to be an atheist. For me, all religions have the same basic flaw -- they require that one believe in the existence of one (or more) super-natural deities. The inability to believe in God is precisely what keeps me from being a Christian. It would also prevent me from becoming a Muslim, where the consequences of my atheism would be much more severe. With all due respect, the first step toward faith has to be knowing that God is real, and that is something I have never been able to do.

Edit: I do agree with "yarn whore" (above) in that moderate muslims need to do something to curtail the actions of the extremists within Islam, before you can expect moderate Christians to show much interest in Islam. As an American, I find the total absence of Muslim liberals and moderates working for peace most disturbing. If Islam is truly a religion of peace and love, where are those who love peace?

May your faith bring you peace and contentment.....

Answer 3

Life experience is just as important as studying. I remember Muslims killing back in the 70s. I know why the Marine Corp Hymn mentions Tripoli. I've read many different books about islam, including what you consider "holy books". I've talked to Muslims, non-Muslims, people who have studied islam, ex-Muslims and I have studied history. I like a well rounded approach. It all comes down to islam has always been violent. Muslims willingly lie about islam and that's one of the reasons they will always tell someone not to go to a non-Muslim website, do not believe the ex-Muslim websites or books. How else can you get a true picture if you do not examine the pros and cons? For every peaceful verse quoted from the quran, there is a violent one waiting to be heard. The abrogated verses do tend to be more violent and those are the ones you are supposed to follow now.

God Bless.

Answer 4

Yes, I am continuously studying many things about religion. I have studies Islam as history of peoples as well as the Quran. I have not read the Hadith as much as I would like. Yet, I seem to find the reading and understanding of the Quran as fluid in traditional interpretation. The latter Suras are to supercede the former Suras, the latter documents to supercede the former, and the latter revelations to supercede the former. So if any contradictions exist, follow this rule of interpretation. Unfortunately, the Quran, like the life of the prophet, is not so kind to non Muslims in the latter Sura revelations.

Answer 5

Non Muslims must read translation of Quran in English namely :
KANZUL IMAN
on 'Google' seach.
They must study hadith books like:
Bukhari,
Muslim,
Trimzi,
Abudawood,
Nisaai,
Ibne Maja
&
Mushkaat.
They must read a very -very nicely wreitten a book on how to pass islamic life . That is :
MINHAJUL MUSLIM by Al Jazairi.
All narrow minded & people of parochial thinkings will easily find their mind cleared of trash things in their mind.
For deep study they must study books :

Fatawa Alamgiri 8000 pages
&
Fatawa Razviah 20,000 pages.

All are available on the net. Please search. & study.

Bible & Taurah people are talking in their answers are not original ones rather very-very badly distorted ones having innumerable versions which change every year which means that nothing in them is authentic. All trash things they read therein as teachings. Let them wait for their last prophet Paraclete to come but Muslims believe which is true too that he came as Muhammed & departed from this world too & none else will ever come. Quran has only one version completely unchanged till now b coz of haafizs( those people who can memorize it in mind, 100,00,000 such people exist now in the whole world). No other so called religious book has this property. That's why it is a challenge that it is indestructible. People who do not understand the Arabic language too can memorize this book even in teder age of 8 years too, it is in such nice Arabic. Non Muslims must read Quranic translations done by Muslims only as those are distortion free. Translations written by Christians & Jews are highly distorted ones & wrong too at many places I've detected. That too is a Zionist conspiracy against Islam. Zionists are most dishonest, cruel & treacherous people of the world. As the tail of a dog can never be straightened irrespective of long hot oil massage , Jews too cannever be good people. According to Christians they crucified Prophet Isaa(pbuh) i.e., Jesus though according to Holy Quraan he was never crucified rather lifted from the world alive( Wama qataloohu wama salboohu . walaakin shubbiha lahum... Wama qataloohu yaqueena, barrafahullaahu.)

Answer 6

i took politics and religion but it taught little about islam rather about the superficial differences of the sects and their power struggles... i also learned about religion in middle school. all world religions and Quakerism or the Society of
Friends.. but that seems like a billion years ago sometimes... but i talk to people and have observed... many things since i was very young and my grandmother always read me all the classics and stories of everywhere... and there was alway much musice conversation dance and study with first my grandmother and then my mother when she made time. for me religion satarted not only with bibled stories but with stories of the ancient gods of every culture u can imagine,greek, roman, norse,...i also listen to good childrens programing like GeneLondon, Tell it to Dali, and Sally Star when i finally could begin to read later than other i did more serious work and read all classics, medical dictionary, sex education ,the dictionary itself,gideons bible for travelers, and so so much.... i cannot even begin to tell you.

Answer 7

I have a very hard time getting past this here:

"Believers, take not Jews and Christians for your friends.”

Hadith : The Hour [Resurrection] will not take place until the Muslims fight the Jews and kill them. And the Jews will hide behind the rock and tree, and the rock and tree will say: oh Muslim, oh servant of Allah, this is a Jew behind me, come and kill him!"


So I'll tell ya what. You get rid of that, and all similar verses, and you erase it from the minds of your fellow Muslims in the world today, then I'll think about studying Islam further. Right now I'll give it a pass, thanks anyway.

Source: Me, Jewish

Answer 8

No, but I like your question, and appreciate your honesty about realizing your misunderstandings of Christianity and Hinduism. I myself am a Christian, but I do read about other religions frequently, as I do like to understand things from other people's perspectives and life lessons. I am currently reading about Buddhism, but would like to look into Muslim religion. Thank you for your "open minded" question.

Answer 9

no, i haven't. i think a lot of the misunderstandings actually come from the people who are trying to convince others to follow islam - for instance all that talk of the scientific accuracy of the quran is to me just laughable. a dispassionate study may be of some use but i don't really feel the need.

Answer 10

For four months as part of religious education when I was at secondary school (in the UK).

One of the things I learned was that the moon on top of mosques has a similar significance to the face of the Green Man (pagan god) on church doorknobs.