Just a saying

[ruqayyahrr]

Assalamualaikum Wr.Wb.

There's this saying,mainly to all muslimeen.

"You can sleep in a Christian's home,but not eat their food.But you can eat in an Israeli's home,but not sleep over there".

From this phrase,what I can understand is,yeah,we can eat food prepared by the Israeli.Like Muslims,they don't eat pork.Well they SHOULDN'T eat pork,I guess.But many of them seem to follow that rule.So it should be okay.As for the Christians,I don't think they still obey the saying of Jesus,not to eat pork.So therefore,we can't eat their food.

However,when it comes to trust,maybe you can trust a Christian more than a Jewish.I guess,the Jewish are meant to break their promises and are good in playing back-stabbing games.I don't know,but maybe we shouldn't trust them at all.Even Allah says in the Quran that they're the most "stone-hearted" "stubborn"
"never-listen-to-others" "cant-accept-the-fact-Islam-is-the-true-religion-even-if-they-KNOW-how-true-it-is".Yeah,the last description is right.Just look at the hundreds of messengers Allah has sent to them before.Moses,Ishaq,Yaaqub,Yusuf,Ayyub,
Harun............I tell you,LOTS.But did they listen?Nopes.Not at all.It was just temporary.Moses left them for about like 40 days when he went to meet God(though he didn't get to see HIM),and what did the Israeli do?(well,MOST of them).Worshipped a golden female cow.They were being stubborn.Plus,they knew Islam is right,but they can't accept that.

So I guess that is all I can tell and share about this saying and some of the things duscussed about it by me and some of our classmates that other day.I hope all of us here will be awared of the Jewish,and pray to God we won't be deceived or fooled by their sweet promises.To the jewish,maybe it is time for you to look into yourselves,and pray to God not to be so stubborn.Allah has condemned you in the Quran,but He is still the Most Merciful.I am sure He will forgive you if you repent.Plus if you don't repent,please just don't disturb the muslims.In Palestine,especially.You don't have to kill all those innocent muslimeen just because you know they're right,and you're wrong.

Subhanallah.Allah,forgive me for all the mistakes I have done.Only You,Allah,knows everything we humans don't.

-Ruqayyah Ramli

[jcecil3]

LAST EDITED ON 22-10-01 AT 03:05 PM (GMT)[p]>As for
>the Christians,I don't think they
>still obey the saying of
>Jesus,not to eat pork.So therefore,we
>can't eat their food.
>
Jesus is recorded in the earliest known Gospel as saying "Nothing that enters a person from outside can defile that person; but things that come out from within are what defile." (Mark 7:15) a few verses later, he says to his disciples, "'Are even you likewise without understanding? Do you not realize that everything that goes into a person from outside cannot defile, since it enters not the heart but the stomach and passes out into the latrine?' Thus, he declared all foods clean." (Mark 7:18-19). The ancient Isrealites chose to express their holiness as the people of God by avoiding foods they considered unnatural. Thus, they avoided fish that appeared to walk (lobster and other shellfish). They avoided animals with hooves that did not chew from the cud (swine, or pork)...,and so forth. Some people today argue that this diet may have even helped them live longer by avoiding trichinosis. What Jesus realized is that this type of legalism distracted one from the essential elements of the law: to love God above all, and to love your neighbor as yourself! To believe that pork somehow magically makes the soul unclean is actually superstitious. There is nothing wrong with avoiding pork if you want. But there is also nothing inherently wrong with enjoying God's creation and gaining nutrition where it is found. Christians believe that Jesus is God, and that the gospel writers were inspired by the Holy Spirit when crafting their catechetical rememberances of his teachings. Thus, Christians believe that in Christ, God has declared that it is acceptable to eat pork if you wish. Personally, I am a vegatarian. Saint Paul woudl say I am weak in faith if I believed vegetarianism were required for salvation. However, I do not believe dietary regulations earn salvation, and I base this on the teaching of Christ.

>However,when it comes to trust,maybe you
>can trust a Christian more
>than a Jewish.I guess,the Jewish
>are meant to break their
>promises and are good in
>playing back-stabbing games.I don't know,but
>maybe we shouldn't trust them
>at all.Even Allah says in
>the Quran that they're the
>most "stone-hearted" "stubborn"
>"never-listen-to-others" "cant-accept-the-fact-Islam-is-the-true-religion-even-if-they-KNOW-how-true-it-is".Yeah,the last description is right.Just
>look at the hundreds of
>messengers Allah has sent to
>them before.Moses,Ishaq,Yaaqub,Yusuf,Ayyub,
>Harun............I tell you,LOTS.But did they listen?Nopes.Not
>at all.It was just temporary.Moses
>left them for about like
>40 days when he went
>to meet God(though he didn't
>get to see HIM),and what
>did the Israeli do?(well,MOST of
>them).Worshipped a golden female cow.They
>were being stubborn.Plus,they knew Islam
>is right,but they can't accept
>that.
>
The plight of the Palestinians is awful. However, your statements about the Jews display your own ignorance. Many Jewish people are peaceful, God fearing, fiercely monotheistic, prayerful, law-abiding people. They are the heirs of the promise made to Abraham. Even those Jews by race who do not follow their religion are deserving of basic human respect. To suggest that the Jews universally did not listen to their own prophets is a broad generalization made without convincing argument. You are doing to Jews what Muslims claim Christians and Westerners in general do to Islam.

[ruqayyahrr]

Assalamualaikum.
Here,I'd like to apologize if my language had been a little rough.The main intention was only to share what me and my classmates had discussed earlier in school.And yeah,this is 'comparative religion'.I was just comparing Islam to Christian to Yahudi.Only...well,the fingers just slipped typing without thinking.Astagh-firullah.
Sorry about that.
-Ruqayyah.

[jcecil3]

Apology accepted.

[ruqayyahrr]

Thanks.

[jcecil3]

What is "Yahudi"? (Is it the same as Judaism?)

[luque66]

Jcecil

"Yahudi" is a Malay word for Jewish, or Jew people.

Would you tell me the differences among Israel, Israelites, Jewish, Judaism ?

Even Qur'an does mention about them negatively, but I found they are very interesting. Because they are just human being like you and me I supposed?

Luque
(Islamic Logicist)

[jcecil3]

LAST EDITED ON 23-10-01 AT 02:29 PM (GMT)[p]I do believe that the Jews are just people, like you and I. The term "Jew" can refer to both the religion of Judaism, and the race of people who trace their lineage back to Abraham through Isaac via birth or marriage. Thus, there are secular Jews, and religious Jews. Within the religion, there are conservatives, liberals, and a branch that refers to themselves as the "Orthodox". Within each of these classifications, there are gradations.

I believe your view indicates respect for the Jewish religion. Likewise, I respect the Jewish religion as a monotheistic religion with a long history and rich tradition. Jesus was a Jew, as were all of the earliest Christians.

Regarding the difference between Israel, Israelites, Jews and Judaism:

Moses lead 12 tribes through the desert. Each of the tribes trace their lineage to one of the 11 sons of Jacob son of Isaac(who changed his name to Israel) and 2 sons of Jacob's son, Joseph. The 12 tribes are Rueben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Zebulun, Dan, Gad, Asher, Nephtali, Benjamin, and the two sons of Joseph who were Ephraim and Manessah.

Ephraim and Manessah settled west of the Jordon. Judah and Benjamin settled in the South, and Judah was the largest tribe. Jerusalem was in the territory of Judah. Levi became the priestly cast spread throughout the federation. The others tribes settled North of Jerusalem, and south of Tyre and Sidon and south of the northern shores of Galilee.

The tribes were united under the monarchy of David and Solomon. However, after Solomon, they became divided. The northern tribes called themselves "Israel" after their anncestor Jacob-Isreal. They became known as Israelites. The southern tribes of Judah and Benjamin called their nation Judah, and they became known as the "Jews". To outsiders, both groups were the same people racially and culturally. Thus, they were referred to as Jews and Israelites interchangeabley.

Around 587 B.C. on the western calandar, the Babylonian empire conquered Israel and took the northern tribes into captivity. This is the period when much of the the Old Testament Torah took its final form as the scribes of Israel sought to solidfy and preserve their heritage. It is also the period of the prophets.

The Israelites returned to their land under the Babylonian King, Cyrus, after a captivity period of about 70 years. Some were of mixed race with the Babylonians, and they settled between the former northern and southern kingdoms becoming the Samaritans. Pure blooded Jews and Israelites hated the Samaritans.

The Jews and Israelites have sought the reunion of the kingdom since the days they first broke apart, and much of the messianic prophecy in the Bible was written on a human level to express this hope. At times, the prophets wrote poetically of a united kingdom becoming a light to all nations. Isreal and Judah were never reunited prior to 1948. After the Babylonian captivity, Palestine was occupied variously by the Greeks, the Romans, and later the Arabs.

Christians believe that in Jesus, these prophecies found their ultimate fullfillment. Paul and the early Christians saw the Church as a spiritual kingdom with the law written on the human heart. After the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D., the Christians used the language of "Israel" and "Judah" to refer to the Church. In Europe, Christians nearly forgot any tie to the literal land of Palestine.

Modern Jews see this Christian interpretation as a distortion of the text, and they have a valid point when you look at the intent of the human authors. But Christians and Jews have both always agreed that their is more than a literal reading of the texts. Furthermore, many Christians have adopted the position of "Liberation Theology" which sees all movements for liberation from unjust oppression as an encounter with the God of Moses and the God revealed in Jesus.

After the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D. on the Western calendar, the Jews and Israelites living in Palestine were mostly dispersed. Some went into Ethiopia and Egypt. Some went into Persia. Most fled into Europe into Greek and Roman provinces. A handful stayed in Palestine, and there were Jewish and Christian settlements in Palestine even before the formation of modern Israel. Many Christians and Jews see the formation of modern Israel as a literal fullfilment of the Olt Testament prophecies, while Christians still believe that Christ is the ultimate spiritual fullfilment of the prophecies.

Some Christians believe that the "Messianic Jew" or "Jews For Jesus" movements fulfills a prochecy that the Jews and Israelites will eventually accept Jesus Christ as the Messiah just before the end times. Combined with the formation of the modern state of Israel, many Christians believe that we are on the verge of the end times. Others see this "end-time" thinking as a constant part of Christian theology, whith current events having no more Biblical significance than past or future events.

I hope this brief and somewhat simplified explanaition makes sense.

[Fadhilah]

Bismillahirrahmanirrahim.

Assalamualaikum to all.

30 Facts about Islam.

1) "Islam" literally means "peace through the submission to God".

2) "Muslim" literally means "anyone or anything that submits itself to the will of God".

3) Islam is not a cult. Its followers number over one billion worldwide. Along with Judaism and Christianity, it is considered to be one of the three Abrahamic faiths.

4) There are five pillars of practice in Islam. These practices must be undertaken with the best of effort in order to be considered a true Muslim: A) Shahadah - declaration of faith in the oneness of God and that Muhammad is the last prophet of God. B) Formal prayer five times a day. C) Fasting during the daylight hours in the month of Ramadan. D) Charity - 2.5% of one's savings given to the needy at the end of each year. E) Pilgrimage to Mecca at least once, if physically and financially able.

5) There are six articles of faith in Islam. These are the basic beliefs that one must have in order to be considered a true Muslim. They are belief in: A) the One and only God B) all the prophets of God C) the original books revealed to Moses, David, Jesus, and Muhammad D) the angels E) the Day of Judgment and the Hereafter F) pre-ordainment.

6) Islam is a complete way of life that governs all facets of life - moral, spiritual, social, political, economical, intellectual, etc.

7) Islam is one of the fastest growing religions in the world. Approximately one out of every five people today designate their religion as Islam.

8) "Allah" is an Arabic word that literally means "God". Muslims also believe that "Allah" is the personal name of God.

9) Allah is not God of the Muslims only. He is the God of all people and all creation. Just because people choose to call God by different names does not mean that they are different gods. Interestingly, most Arab Jews and Arab Christians also refer to God as "Allah".

10) The Islamic concept of God is that He is loving, merciful, and compassionate. But Islam also teaches that He is just and swift in punishment, much like a father is to his child. Nevertheless, Allah once said to Muhammad "My Mercy prevails over my wrath." (Hadith Qudsi)

11) Muslims believe that God has revealed 99 of His names (or attributes) in the Qur'an. It is through these that one can come to know the Creator. Some names are: the All-Merciful, the All-Knower, the Protector, the Provider, the Helper, the Near, the One, the Source of Peace.

12) Muslims believe in and acknowledge all the prophets of old, from Adam to Jesus. Muslims believe that they brought the message of peace and submission (islam) to different nations at different times. Muslims also believe that these prophets were "muslims" because they submitted their wills to God.

13) Muslims neither worship Muhammad nor pray through him. Muslims solely worship the unseen and Omniscient Creator, Allah.

14) Muslims accept the original unaltered Torah (the Gospel of Moses) and Bible (the Gospel of Jesus) since they were revealed by God. However, none of those original scriptures are in existence today. Therefore, Muslims follow the subsequent, final, and preserved revelation of God - The Holy Qur'an.

15) The Holy Qur'an was not authored by Muhammad. It was authored by God, revealed to Muhammad, and written into physical form by Muhammad's companions.

16) The Holy Qur'an has no flaws or contradictions. The original Arabic scriptures have never been changed or tampered with.

17) Actual seventh century Qur'ans, complete and intact, are on display in museums in Turkey and many other places around the world.

18) If all Qur'ans in the world today were burned and destroyed, the original Arabic would still remain. This is because millions of Muslims (called Hafiz or "preservers") have memorized the text letter for letter from beginning to end - every word and syllable. Chapters from the Qur'an are precisely recited by memory in each of the five daily prayers.

19) Muslims do not believe in the concept of "vicarious atonement" but rather believe in the natural law of personal responsibility. Islam teaches that each person is responsible for his or her own actions. On the Day of Judgment Muslims believe that every person will have to answer to God for their every word, thought, and deed. Consequently, a practicing Muslim is always striving to be righteous.

20) Terrorism, unjustified violence, and killing innocent people are not allowed in Islam. Islam is a religion of peace. The extreme actions of those who claim to be Muslim may be a result of their ignorance or uncontrolled anger.

21) "Islamic fundamentalism" does not mean "Islamic terrorism". Since Islam means "peace" such a term would be an oxymoron. How is it possible to have "peaceful terrorism"? Actually, Islamic fundamentalism is adherence to Islam's fundamental beliefs and practices.

22) The word "jihad" does not mean "holy war". Instead, it means the inner struggle that one endures in trying to practice Islam. Some Muslims may say they are going for "jihad" when fighting in a war to defend their faith, but they only say this because they are conceding that it will be a tremendous struggle. There are many forms of jihad (struggle) such as the struggle against self-desire, against a tyrant ruler, against the temptations of Satan, etc., etc.

23) Islam was not spread by the sword. It was spread by the word of truth and the example of its followers. Islam teaches that there is no compulsion in religion. (the Holy Qur'an 2:256 and 10:99)

24) Women are not oppressed in Islam. Any Muslim man that oppresses a woman is not following true Islam. Prophet Muhammad once said, "...the best among you are those who treat their wives well." (Related by Imam Tirmidhi)

25) Arranged marriages are allowed in Islam but are not required. The marriage decision is left to the individual. "Forced" marriages are cultural practices and are not Islamic.

26) Divorce is permissible in Islam, however, reconciliation is what is most encouraged. Indeed, if there are irreconcilable differences, then a fair and just annulment usually is best.

27) Islam and so-called "Nation of Islam" are two different religions. Islam is a religion that was revealed to Prophet Muhammad in the seventh century A.D. It is a religion for all races of people and enjoins the worship of the One unseen God Allah who has no sons, daughters, or partners and who never took human form. The "Nation of Islam", on the other hand, is a movement geared towards non-whites for the upliftment of minorities on a social scale. It teaches that God appeared in the form of Fard Muhammad in Detroit in 1930 A.D. and that Elijah Muhammad was a prophet of God. These beliefs clearly contradict the fundamental beliefs and teachings of true Islam and The Holy Qur'an. The followers of "the Nation" adhere to some Islamic principles that are mixed up with many other teachings. To understand the difference between the two more clearly, read the story about Malcolm X, his pilgrimage to Mecca, and his subsequent comments to the media. Islam teaches unity and equality amongst the races. (Holy Qur'an 49:13)

28) All Muslims are not Arab. Islam is a universal religion and way of life which includes followers from all races of people. There are Muslims in and from Europe, China, Japan, South America, Russia, Australia, Jamaica, the Philippines, and throughout North America! Arabs only constitute about 20% of Muslims worldwide. Indonesia has the largest concentration of Muslims at about 120 million!

29) In the formal prayer Muslims face the Kaaba in Mecca, Arabia. It is a cube-shaped stone structure that was originally built by Prophet Adam and later rebuilt by Prophet Abraham. Muslims believe that the Kaaba was the first house of worship on Earth dedicated to the worship of one god. It serves as a central focal point for Muslims around the world, unifying them in worship and symbolizing their common belief, spiritual focus and direction. Muslims do not worship the Kaaba. Interestingly, the inside of the Kaaba is empty.

30) The hajj is a simultaneous pilgrimage to the Kaaba made by able-bodied Muslims each year. It is performed namely to commemorate the struggles of Abraham, his son Ismail, and his wife Hagar in submitting their wills to God.

-Taken from meccacentric.com
-Fadhilah Ramli.

[Lulua]

Assalaamu alaikum.

I know that this reply is rather belated...but as the old saying goes...'better late than never', heh?

Anyways, the saying that you have presented here, sis Ruqayyah...is just that...a 'saying'...which is basing itself in local traditions, not based necessarily upon Islamic teachings, or even worse...apparently perhaps even based on a misconception of Islamic teachings.

It is quite clear from a verse of the Quran:

'This day are (all) things good and pure made lawful unto you. The food of the People of the Book is lawful unto you and yours is lawful unto them.' s. 5, v. 5.

It is because of this verse, that the majority of scholars...both ancient as well as modern-day, have attained the ruling and understanding of the permissability of muslims to eat from the food and the tables of the 'people of the Book' (this is an all-encompassing term understood to represent both Christians and Jews)...and vice versa(that they, too, the people of the Book...are allowed to eat of the food and from the tables of the muslims).

Local customs in various parts of the world have devloped...even amongst muslims communities...which are detrimental to and in opposition from Islamic teachings. It behooves us all better to make ourselves more acquainted with the true teachings of Islam by learning better what is revealed to us from on High.

Lulua.

[Ruqayyah]

Assalamualaikum sister Lulua:

I was trying to find this verse I saw in the Quran that other day... about not to trust the Christians and Jews things like that.So I tried to find it again today... maybe it's not the same, but it can explain.

11.And when it is said unto them: Make not mischief in the earth, they say: We are peacemakers only.

12.Are not they indeed the mischief-makers ? But they perceive not.
-Al-Baqarah

So from these verses, I was just wondering...how exactly friendly and trusting do we have to be towards them?
Thank you.
Wassalam.
Ruqayyah