From: zmbenhal@netcom.com (Zeyd M. Ben-Halim)
Subject: Re:  The Question of Culture
Organization: Netcom - Online Communication Services (408 241-9760 guest)
Date: Sun, 27 Dec 1992 21:05:58 GMT

In article <Dec.27.14.08.50.1992.26685@pilot.njin.net> hubey@pilot.njin.net (Hubey) writes:
>> I don't how you can call either texts wrong, there is no one right version.
>> Both are "du'aa" not quranic. The intent in the same even though they differ
>> in details.
>
>Thank you very much. They're certainly not Quranic. Then are they
>custom or habit? From what time do these customs date ? What
>does it mean ? Who are the "People of Abraham" and the
>"People of Mohammad"? I get confused easily :-)..

I have no idea how far this "du'aa" dates. A "du'aa" is a prayer in the sense
you are asking God for something. You can ask for anything you want but I guess
this is one asks for blessing for the Prophet and his family, the same blessing
God has already bestowed on Ibrahim and his family (his children and their
cildren and so on). The children of Ibrahim gave us many prophets and good
people thus they are blessed.

>
>I don't understand. Please explain in terms of modern terminology
>such as ethnicity, religion, nationality.

Sorry can't, this is set in terms of ancient terminology.

>Who are the "People of Abraham" ?
>
>Who are the "People of Mohammad"?

See above.

>If the first one is 'descendants' is the second one descendants? If

From my understanding of Arabic, Yes. Frankly, I don't see what your objection
is.

>the second one is 'those who follow the path/religion' is the first
>one the same ?
>
>So you're saying it's 'extended family'. And in the sense of extended
>family, and if Moses and Jesus are members of this extended family,
>then I suppose all the Semitic peoples also belong to this extended
>family. Does this sound correct ?

I wouldn't mix anthropology with religious doctrine, they don't necessarily
lead from one to the other.

>So now, the Indonesians, Pakistanis and Turks are asking God daily
>God's for blessings on Semites. Is this correct ?

No, they are asking God to bless the Prophet and his family like he had blessed
Ibrahim and his family. Ibrahim's descendants have already been blessed
whether you like it or not.

>Do the Semites now include Egyptians and other North Africans
>because they speak Arabic? Are the Christian Semites also included ?

This becomes an irrelevant question in light of above.

>My original question was a very simple one. It exploded to this.
				 ^^^^^^ ^^^
>I'm still wondering what it means. Will you please answer the
>questions above in a consistent manner?

What IS your question?

>> Gee, I'm surprised you didn't complain about being called hubal :-)
>> 
>> Zeyd
>
>It's simple. I already corrected it in the first line of my
>posting. There's no need to get into a pissing contest with
>people who would indulge in name-calling, if that's what it
>is. If it isn't, a simple correction (as I've done) is
>sufficient. Why the smiley ?

Hubal was a pagan idol worshipped by Meccans before Islam, hence the subtle
dig in the ribs and the smiley from me.

>	mark	
>
>   hubey@amiga.montclair.edu         hubey@apollo.montclair.edu
>   hubey@pilot.njin.net               ...!rutgers!pilot!hubey    

Zeyd