From: shamshoo@shelley.u.washington.edu (Shams Hasan)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.pakistan
Subject: Re: The fixation on *Halaal* food by Pakistani muslims and others.
Date: 6 Jan 1993 23:50:02 GMT
Organization: University of Washington, Seattle
Distribution: world
NNTP-Posting-Host: shelley.u.washington.edu
Keywords: KEEPING IT SIMPLE.

In article <1993Jan6.185028.7903@ncsu.edu> szkazmi@unity.ncsu.edu (Syed Zafar Kazmi) writes:
>In article <1ib9d4INNsq@shelley.u.washington.edu>, shamshoo@shelley.u.washington.edu (Shams Hasan) writes:
>|> 
>|> Dear netters,
>|> 
>|> Recently I had the honor of socializing with Pakistani muslims, and Arab 
>|> muslims, and honestly, I was amazed at the amount of energy and zeal placed
>|> on *Halaal* or *Zebah* meats by them.
>|> 
>|> Certain important areas that were noted by me were: None of them prayed five
>|> times a day, a must for every muslim, and especially for those who pay such 
>|> strong attention to a non-must part of Islam.
>|> 
>
>Well, this is an often cited argument from people when it concerns to the
>following of sharia. If someone does not observe one principle of Islam, that
>doesn't mean he (or she) should not observe others as well. Look at it this way:
>The people mentioned above are better than those who "do not pray" and "eat
>haram" as well!!
>
>The moral is; everyone of us has his own weaknesses. Being weak in one area
>does not mean that we should be weak in the rest of our life as well. 
>
>Whether or not the meat available in US is halal, is a point which can
>be discussed academically. That someone should not follow one rule because
>he is breaking another rule is, Gustakhi Ma'af, a ridiculous argument.
>
>|> All of them had never questioned the un-hygenic and filthy way animals are
>|> slaughtered in their *muslim* countries, and even fed dogs/cats without a
>|> scruple.
>|> 
>|> I would normally post this on SRI, but, my posting earlier last week did
>|> not appear, and I assume being moderated, it may have gotten lost by the
>|> censor.
>|> 
>|> I checked my copy of the Quran, and on eight different occasions it clearly
>|> states, donot eat unclean, dead meats and the swine. And donot eat of food 
>|> killed in the name of any other diety than God. I did a backgrounder, and  
>|> found that during the time of the revelations, the pagans killed animals as
>|> sacrifices to their Gods, and that is what the Muslims were told not to eat
>|> of.
>|> 
>
>Islam is not only quran, but it is also the life of Prophet. No explanation
>of any quranic ayah is complete without reference from prophet's life.
>
>|> This really puzzles me. The animals killed by the FDA standards is clean,
>|> hygenic, and not killed in the name of any diety at all.
>|> 
>
>Yes, cleanliness is said to be a half of faith. But "Pak" is something
>different from "Clean". After returning from a Restroom, no matter how
>you cleaned yourself your "Wudu" is still gone!
>
>Regards
>
>=====================================================================
>Syed Zafar Kazmi
>szkazmi@unity.ncsu.edu
>515-6507 (Office)
>834-5258 (Home)
>=====================================================================


Dear Mr. Kazmi,

I still do not see the reasoning and wisdom needed for establishing the 
guideline for a Islamic life from your article.

Simply put, Salah or Prayer is a Must or Farz on all Muslims regardless of
circumstance or situation without alternate. 

To me Quran is the only document that cannot be touched, as it is a guideline
from God for all times. I say guideline, because it simply cannot be used as a 
instructional manual due to the changes and developments that have come and
will continue to come in this world.

And so my argument still stands, on the basis of sanity and reason, as the
Quran tells us in every Surah, reasons and logic, rather than stories and
myths.

Life of the Prophet is an ideal for every Muslim to live towards, however,
as the Quran was sent over a period of 22 years, and relates to the on going
situation in Mecca and Medina in its history, it demonstrates changes in
details to accomodate the times, and shows us that Islam has to be dynamic,
and not static.

However, I will only say this much. If Quran was not to be the complete and
last message and to be understood by every one who could read, then the 
purpose of the message is defeated. We can surely expect the majority of Muslims to live in an Mullah dominated society in ignorance and inflexibility.

I apologize for this lengthy response on religion, as I make every effort to
use SRI, and will in the future refrain from using SCP for religion as much
as I can.

Best Regards,
Shams Hasan.