From: bes@cco.caltech.edu (Behnam Sadeghi)
Newsgroups: soc.religion.islam
Subject: Re: Questions about Islam from an Innocent.
Date: 25 Jul 92 11:34:37 GMT
Organization: California Institute of Technology, Pasadena


In article <01GMHQ77KNBM9FNDIF@CC.USU.EDU> SLZM9@CC.USU.EDU writes:

>   I have a few questions concerning Islam. My motivation for these
>questions is to understand my fellow human beings and in so doing
>trying to take one small step toward peace on this planet. If you
>do not feel these questions are of general interest please feel
>free to email your responses to me. If they are of general interest
>email me and post to this newsgroup.
>
>  As background I am a white, male american raised as a baptist. Now
>I am an atheist. I realize that my view of muslems has been skewed
>by the american media. However, I got rid of my TV about a year
>ago and try to find alternative sources of news to that in the
>popular american vein. I am trying to find out firsthand what muslems
>are about and what they believe.

Congratulations.

>1. The small amount of reading I have done in the Qu'ran (spelling?)
>   seems to indicate that people should not kill other people. Yet
>   I routinely hear of violence committed by muslems. Are these
>   acts of violence sins against Islamic beliefs? Are these people
>   sinners?

In general, killing is one of the biggest possible sins.  However,
there are specific cases where it is permissible or even obligatory.
Examples:

1) A murderer must be executed unless the family of his victims
   forgives him.

2) Killing is permissible in "Jihad."  Jihad is an armed struggle
   in defence of Muslims and against an oppressive entity.  However,
   when such war is necessitated, it is important to abide by the
   humanitarian Islamic restrictions on warfare which are meant to
   minimize the sufferring of innocent people and to prevent the
   environment from damage.
  
>2. I consider Ghandi (a buddhist) and Martin Luther King, Jr. (a christian)
>   to be great people that changed our planet for the better principally
>   through non violence. How do muslems view these two men?

When trying to improve society, force must always be the last resort.
If it is possible to bring about positive
change without resorting to force, that's great.  That's what Ghandi
did and he must be admired for that.  If however, it is seen that the
use of force will minimize sufferring as a whole, it must be definitely
considered (e.g. in the case of self-defense).

>3. I know the basic story of the discovery of the Qu'ran and of
>   the prophet Mohammed. However, the historical sequence of events
>   is uncertain to me. Also what regions of the world were the 
>   birthplace and nurturing centers of Islam?

The Prophet Mohammad (born 570 AD) was appointed by God to be His
messenger to mankind at the age of 40 in the city of Mecca in
the Arabian Peninsula.  Islam grew from there and now has about
one billion adherents in the world.  The most populous Muslim country
today is Indonesia.

>4. Why do you think so few white americans are muslems?

1.  Incredibly biased or ignorant coverage of Islam in newspapers,
    TV, movies, and other media.

2.  Identifying Islam with Black Americans.  [While African-Americans,
    because of their oppressed background, have naturally shown a great
    interest in Islam, Islam is for ALL races].

>5. Will non-muslems go to a sort of "paradise" after death if they
>   live good lives? Do non-muslems have any afterlife at all?

Muslims have different opinions in this regard.  Many believe that
non-Muslims will go to hell.  However, many believe that non-Muslims
will not necessarily go to hell, that they may conceivably go to 
heaven as well (e.g. Ayatollah Muttahari).

>6. Why are there so many factions of muslems?

Because they interprete Islam differently.  But the differences among
the factions are usually on small, technical issues.  The basic beliefs
are all the same.

>7. Who is Rev. Farrakhan (spelling?)? For what does he stand?
>   Why do so many people recommend listening to him yet when
>   you hear what he has to say it sounds racist?

Minister Farrkhan is a person who calls himself a Muslim.   However,
since he appears to hold some beliefs that are contrary to Islam, Muslims
don't accept him.

As for him being a racist, I am not quite sure about that.  He may
have changed his views about Whites, judging by some of his latest 
comments.  As for Jews, the media's repetitious claims that he has called 
Judaism a "dirty religion" or "gutter religion" is completely spurious.  
I heard him say (during a 2 hour speech in 1988 that was broadcast on Pacifica 
Radio) that "Muslims, Christians, Jews, and Agnostics are all one nation."
You hardly find Jewish or Christian leaders who are _this_ liberal.

Note:  Farrkhan had said that the Nazi-like Zionists in Israel practice
their "dirty religion" in the name of Judaism (thus defaming Judaism), and
the pro-Israeli American media twisted his words to portray him as an
anti-Semite.  He is repeatedly (mis)quoted as haveing said, "Judaism is
a gutter religion."

>   I am sure many of these questions are naive. However, I am openly
>and honestly seeking answers. You needn't help but if you do you
>might find someone that will listen and learn and talk to others.

No problem.  Thanks for your questions.

>Peace, but not without justice,
>Mark

Behnam Sadeghi
Newsgroups: soc.religion.islam