From: rached@sample.eng.ohio-state.edu (Rached Zantout)
Subject: Re: Religious Ed. is an answer not a Dracula
Organization: The Ohio State University Dept of Electrical Engineering
Date: Tue, 25 Aug 1992 23:53:55 GMT

In article <1992Aug25.093622.22408@augean.eleceng.adelaide.edu.AU>, ghassoun@augean.eleceng.adelaide.edu.AU (George Hassoun) writes:
> 
> After this short :-) introduction let me go back to your statement. It
> is good to get this input from "Sura Al-Bakara (II)" but it is my
> feeling that the problem of many Christians is not related to the fear
> of being forced to convert to Islam, rather it is the concern of being
> ruled by Islamic Law which some of them (us) considers it quite tough
> let alone a bit outdated. In other words, since the "borders between
> religion and statehood" in Islam do not seem very clear, the concern
> stems from the probability that the principle summarised in "Sura
> Bakara" above, applies to the "deen" part (religious) of Islam only,
> not to the "dunya" one (earthly).

Hi George
I welcome your invitation and Inshallah (God willing) will discuss with you
religious matters on the basis of mutual respect. In fact Muslims are ordered by
Allah (Subhanahu Wa Taala) to speak to others (Muslims or Non-Muslims) in the
best of manners and to respect them.

Now about the application of Islamic Law in the deen and dunia (religion and 
worldly affairs), it is very clear in Islam especially from the traditions of the
prophet (peace be upon him) and the Khalifs after him that in both worldly and 
religious affairs the religion of the person is applied. 
For example at the time of the prophet (PBUH), two jews that had committed 
adultery wanted to escape their punishment according to jewish law. So they 
went to prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and asked that the Islamic punishment be applied
to them. Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) refused that and told them that they will be
punished according to their own religion.

That's the meaning of "LA IKRAHA FI DIN" that no one is made to proclaim Islam as
his/her religion unless he/she is totally convinced that Islam is the true
religion. No pressure should be exerted on his/her life, property or anything
else to make him/her accept Islam.

> 
>
> It would be nice to know whether Islam could accommodate separation of
> religion and state. Any Sura or Hadith, supporting this principle
> would be most welcome and, in my opinion, could pave the way for
> further positive developments regarding prospective constructive
> cooperation based on *mutual* (hopefully_soon_to_be *national*)
> respect.
> 

I only mentioned separation of chuch and state when the original poster said that
USA and other western countries were CHRISTIAN countries.
In fact Islam and seperation of Church and State are contradictory. Islam is not
only a religion (in western terms) it is rather a way of life. Thus a Muslim
finds rules that regulate his dealings with his God as well as with other human
beings. There are Halal and Haram in every aspect of life. Thus Islam is not
confined to the Mosque, it rather establishes a whole system of life that
encompasses the mosque, the marketplace, the ruling place, the home, the family
and one's self.

rached
Newsgroups: soc.culture.lebanon