From: rzantout@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu (Rached N Zantout)
Newsgroups: soc.religion.islam,soc.culture.pakistan,soc.culture.arabic,soc.culture.lebanon,soc.culture.afghanistan,soc.culture.bangladesh,soc.culture.turkish
Subject: FAQ for ISlamic issues
Date: 14 Apr 92 05:37:36 GMT
Followup-To: soc.religion.islam,soc.culture.pakistan,soc.culture.arabic,soc.culture.lebanon,soc.culture.afghanistan,soc.culture.bangladesh,soc.culture.turkish
Organization: The Ohio State University




Assalamu Alaykum
This is the new version (updated) of the FAQ that we are trying to
maintain here at MSA (OSU Chapter).
To make the maintaining more general we would like to follow the
following procedure:

1. From now until APRIL 15, we will receive requests for changing, adding
or deleting questions from the list. So by April 15 we should have all
the suggestions for the FAQ list.

2. After that we will publish the final draft of the FAQ. Then we will
begin receiveing answers to the questions on the FAQ.

3. The answers will be received until May 15, where we will Inshallah
compile them (summarize/merge) into answers that will be put in some
database (possibly MSA-net's).

4. Afterwards, any question that is answered by the FAQ will only need
retreiving the specific answer and sending it by email to the one who is
asking.

5. The FAQ will be periodically broadcast over soc.religion.islam by one
of the moderators (preferably).

6. Updating the FAQ should also be the job of the moderators (at least
coordinating the update).

7. It is useful also to have a further references section after each
answer that will direct the one who is asking the question to
books/articles/anything that will enable him/her to go more in depth.


PLEASE REPLY TO ME BY EMAIL AS I CANNOT GUARANTEE THAT I WILL BE ABLE TO
READ ALL MESSAGES ON DIFFERENT NEWSGROUPS.

ALSO PLEASE DO NOT INCLUDE IN YOUR REPLY ALL THIS MESSAGE, TRY TO BE AS
CONCISE AS POSSIBLE.

rached
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		Frequently Asked Question List
		------------------------------

1. Social Structure in Islam:
	1.1 Why are men allowed to marry more than one wife but not vice versa ?
	1.2 why do men wear beards, is it compulsory ?
	1.3 Why are women obliged to wear Hijab ?
	1.4 Why is man dominant in an Islamic Society ?
	1.5 What is the role of women in an Islamic Government ?
	1.6 why men don't shake hands with women ?
	1.7 why women cannot have leadership ?
	1.8 why do you separate men and women in educational and social
	    institutions ?
	1.9 I know that a Muslim woman is not permitted to marry a Christian
	    or a Jew.  What about a married woman who converts to Islam?
	1.10 Why 70 or more Hurs (beautiful women) for believers in paradise?,
	     why not 70 husbands for good women?

2. Political Structure in Islam:
	2.1 What is the relation between Islam as a Religion and the State ?
	2.2 What is the political affiliation of Islam (capitalist,
	    communist...) ?
	2.3 What form of control does a Muslim State practice (democracy ?) ?
	2.4 Is arab nationalism different from Islam ?

3. Economic Structure in Islam:
	3.1 Why is Interest forbidden in Islam ?
	3.2 How does Islam organize trade transactions ?
	3.3 How would an Islamic State deal with the current Islamic System ?

4. Islamic Punitive Syatem:
	4.1 Isn't the Islamic punitive system cruel ?
	4.2 Is it applicable anytime and anywhere ?
	4.3 What are the major crimes and their punishments in Islam ?
	4.4 How does Islam punish the less severe crimes (e.g. fraud, bribe) ?

5. What are the major beleifs of Islam ?
	5.1 Major Beleifs ?
	5.2 Why is pork and wine forbidden ?
	5.3 What are the major sects in Islam ?
	    What kind of subgroups exist in Islam?  Is there anything like the
	    numerous forms of Christianity -- Presbyterian, Lutheran, Roman
	    Catholic, Greek Orthodox, etc. -- or Judaism -- Reform,
	    Conservative, Orthodox, Hasidic, etc.? Is there 'liberal' Islam,
	    akin in some sense to Reform Judaism or American Episcopalianism
	    or Unitarianism?
	5.4 What are the differences/similarities between Islam and christianity?
	5.5 Jesus:
		5.5.1 Since Jesus is beleived by muslims to be returning
		      while Muhammad will not, doesn't this make Jesus more
		      divine ?
		5.5.2 Why did Jesus die on the cross, if not for the salvation
		      of those who will beleive in him ?
	5.6 Prayer:
		5.6.1 Why do Muslims face East when they pray ?
		5.6.2 Why do Muslims have to move while Praying ?
		5.6.3 Why do Muslims have to say specific things in prayer ?
		5.6.4 Why do Muslims have to wash before prayer ? doesn't god
		      listen to them if they don't ?
		5.6.5 why do you have so many prayers per day ?
	5.7 What is the procedure for conversion to Islam?  Does it require a
	    specified set of readings or instruction?  Is there a 'probationary'
	    time period during which one gains sufficient knowledge?  Is one's
	    committment tested in some way?  Is there a ceremony or other such
	    'official' demarkation that says 'you are not Muslim ... now you
	    are'?
	5.8 Why are converts required to declare their Islam in public? Isn't it
		enough to just follow the obligations without informing the public ?

6. Jihad, is it Holy war ? Is it spreading Islam by force ?

7. Authenticity of Islam:
	7.1 How is religion authenticated ?
	7.2 Can any Muslim dare question anything in the Quran ?
	7.3 Science and Quran, does Quran predict or forecast ? Does Quran
	    agree or disagree with science ?
	7.4 How does Islam handle situations that aren't addressed in the 
	    Koran?  Is there something like canon law in Catholicism or the
	    Talmud and Mishnah in Judaism (or legal precedent in the American
	    and British legal systems)?

8. Treatment of Non-Muslims in an Islamic State, Theoretically and Practically.

9. Politics:
	9.1 Is peace possible between Muslims and Jews ?
	9.2 If the Muslims have the best system, then why is that all happening
	    in their countries (Algeria, Sudan, Afghanistan, Syria, Iraq, Iran,
	    Kuwait, etc...) ?
	9.3 Why do Muslims hate americans especially in Middle east?

10. How are Muslims instructed to reply to blasphemy ? Compare with their 
    reaction to Salman Rushdie's "Satanic Verses".