15 Comments so far

1. on July 12, 2007 10:12 am

   […] No, not Muslim Terrorists. […]

2. on July 12, 2007 12:10 pm

   Manas,
   I’m trying to understand your point.
   You are saying that Islam never condones or approves of violent actions. Is that correct?

3. on July 12, 2007 1:57 pm

   Amit

   I am not trying to say that. Islam allows violent action against crimes. It condones war against aggression and tumult.

   But it does not allow attack on innocents.

   Whenever the Prophet(S) fought a war, he warned his warriors not to harm women, children. He forbade even cutting down a tree. Only attack the members of the opposing army.

4. on July 12, 2007 2:49 pm

   I agree with you Manas. Infact I believe that no religion allows killing of innocents.

5. on July 12, 2007 3:07 pm

   Thanks aunty!

6. on July 12, 2007 3:22 pm

   Islam allows violent action against crimes. It condones war against aggression and tumult.

   OK, thanks Manas. I think it’s perfectly justified to use violence to defend oneself, relatives and one’s country.

   How are the terms ‘war’ and ‘aggression’ defined in Islam? Are these definitions set in stone, or are they to be interpreted by the current standards of the society, and the world, or any individual Muslim who is reading them, or the leader of the country/society? What if there is disagreement over what is aggression? How is that resolved?

   Please forgive my lack of knowledge about these issues, and I hope you don’t mind my questions as I’m trying to understand. From what I’ve read, OBL justifies his war/terror acts using the argument that he’s fighting US oppression.

7. on July 12, 2007 4:16 pm

   One thing is quite certain- that one can never target civilians. Even during war. Let alone during peacetime. Mainstream Islam never doubts that and it is quite clear about it.

   There are conflicting views, however, about how and when is a war lawful. One case is to defend oneself. This too is unanimous. The non-unanimous ideas about when to wage a war is too diverse for this blog. I suggest you should read some original literature. Maybe the Qur’an to make your own opinion, God Willing.

8. on July 12, 2007 5:11 pm

   Manas,

   Thanks for your responses.

   Can you please suggest a couple of them (English translation) from amazon.com? I think there are so many different versions and authors so I’ll take your recommendation. Thanks.

   I don’t believe in the concept of God but I have no problem if you believe in it.

   And I guess from where you stand, you believe in Qu’ran and that is what guides your decisions, and that’s fine.

   For me, democracy, secularism and equality are what guide my decisions.

   So, if there are two different points-of-view and one of them is not Islam, what do we do when these different views don’t agree regarding a problem that involves both parties? :)

9. on July 12, 2007 6:16 pm

   Nothing. I won’t interfere with the way you want to live in. And I would, surely, expect the same. :)

10. on July 12, 2007 6:25 pm

    You can use one of the following:

    http://www.amazon.com/Meaning-Glorious-Quran-Explanatory-Translation/dp/0915957221/ref=sr_1_1/105-2148842-4018830?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1184264533&sr=1-1

    http://www.amazon.com/Glorious-QuRan-Muhammad-M-Pickthall/dp/1879402513/ref=sr_1_3/105-2148842-4018830?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1184264533&sr=1-3

    http://www.amazon.com/Quran-Text-Translation-Commentary/dp/0940368323/ref=pd_bbs_2/105-2148842-4018830?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1184264615&sr=1-2

    There is a downloadable translation in the resources page of this blog. You can use that too.

    http://wishsubmission.wordpress.com/resources/

11. on July 12, 2007 6:31 pm

    Manas,

    You forgot to answer my question regarding recommendations of English version of Qu’ran in my message. Please let me know. Thanks.

    Nothing. I won’t interfere with the way you want to live in. And I would, surely, expect the same.

    Does that mean you’re saying all Muslims should live in Muslim countries governed by Islamic laws and all non-Muslims in other countries free to govern by their laws?

12. on July 12, 2007 6:33 pm

    Sorry, just saw your message and the links. Thanks. :)

13. on July 12, 2007 6:41 pm

    Does that mean you’re saying all Muslims should live in Muslim countries governed by Islamic laws and all non-Muslims in other countries free to govern by their laws?

    That is an understatement. Islamic law states that even inside a Islamic State, the minorities can enact and be governed by their own laws. :)

    When Jews, Christians and Hindus have lived in a Islamic State, they were represented by their leaders, and governed by their own laws. That is what Islam teaches.

14. on July 12, 2007 7:07 pm

    But I don’t want to live within an Islamic country. And it’s still Islamic law that you are stating. I don’t want to agree to any law where I do not have a say in how that law was made unless I moved to that country of my own free will. :)

15. on July 12, 2007 8:49 pm

    We will miss you in our Islamic Country. :)