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     | Wednesday, January 10, 2001 - 03:49 pm First and Foremost Asalamu Alykum My brothers and sister's and Islam.This is a little Something That I put to together. I've been thinking lately about how badly us Muslims get treated simply because of our religious beliefs.I've had enough and I think it's time us Muslims took some action. Here are some of the Misconceptions Non Muslims Have about us. Muslims are violent, terrorists, and extremists! This is the biggest misconception in Islam, no doubt resulting from the constant stereotyping and bashing he media gives Islam. When a gunman attacks a mosque in the name of Judaism, a Catholic IRA guerrilla sets off a bomb in an urban area, or Serbian Orthodox militiamen rape and kill innocent Muslim civilians, these acts are not used to stereotype an entire faith. Never are these acts attributed to the religion of the perpetrators. Yet how many times have we heard the words 'Islamic, Muslim fundamentalist. etc.' linked with violence. Politics in so called "Muslim countries" may or may not have any Islamic basis. Often dictators and politicians will use the name of Islam for their own purposes. One should remember to go to the source of Islam and separate what the true religion of Islam says from what is portrayed in the media. Islam literally means 'submission to God' and is derived from a root word meaning 'peace'. Islam may seem exotic or even extreme in the modern world. Perhaps this is because religion doesn't dominate everyday life in the West, whereas Islam is considered a 'way of life' for Muslims and they make no division between secular and sacred in their lives. Like Christianity, Islam permits fighting in self-defense, in defense of religion, or on the part of those who have been expelled forcibly from their homes. It lays down strict rules of combat which include prohibitions against harming civilians and against destroying crops, trees and livestock. NOWHERE DOES ISLAM ENJOIN THE KILLING OF INNOCENTS.. The Quran says: "Fight in the cause of God against those who fight you, but do not transgress limits. God does not love transgressors." (Quran 2:190) "If they seek peace, then seek you peace. And trust in God for He is the One that heareth and knoweth all things." (Quran 8:61) War, therefore, is the last resort, and is subject to the rigorous conditions laid down by the sacred law. The term 'jihad' literally means 'struggle'. Muslims believe that there are two kinds of jihad. The other 'jihad' is the inner struggle of the soul which everyone wages against egotistic desires for the sake of attaining inner peace. Islam oppresses women. The image of the typical Muslim woman wearing the veil and forced to stay home and forbidden to drive is all too common in most peoples thoughts. Although some Muslim countries may have laws that oppress women, this should not be seen as coming from Islam. Many of these countries do not rule by any kind of Shari'ah (Islamic law) and introduce their own cultural standpoints on the issue of gender equity. Islam on the other hand gives men and women different roles and equity between the two is laid down in the Quran and the example of the Prophet (peace be upon him). Islam sees a woman, whether single or married, as an individual in her own right, with the right to own and dispose of her property and earnings. A marriage gift is given by the groom to the bride for her own personal use, and she keeps her own family name rather than taking her husband's. Both men and women are expected to dress in a way which is modest and dignified. The Messenger of God (peace be upon him) said: "The most perfect in faith amongst believers is he who is best in manner and kindest to his wife." Violence of any kind towards women and forcing them against their will for anything is not allowed. A Muslim marriage is a simple, legal agreement in which either partner is free to include conditions. Marriage customs thus vary widely from country to country. Divorce is not common, although it is acceptable as a last resort. According to Islam, a Muslim girl cannot be forced to marry against her will: her parents simply suggest young men they think may be suitable. Muslims worship a different God. Allah is simply the arabic word for God. Allah for Muslims is the greatest and most inclusive of the Names of God, it is an arabic word of rich meaning, denoting the one and only God and ascribing no partners to Him. It is exactly the same word which the Jews, in Hebrew, use for God (eloh), the word which Jesus Christ used in Aramaic when he prayed to God. God has an identical name in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam; Allah is the same God worshiped by Muslims, Christians and Jews. Muslims believe that Allah's sovereignty is to be acknowledged in worship and in the pledge to obey His teaching and commandments, conveyed through His messengers and prophets who were sent at various times and in many places throughout history. Islam was spread by the sword and is intolerant of other faiths. Many social studies textbooks for students show the image of an Arab horseman carrying a sword in one hand and the Quran in the other conquering and forcibly converting. This, though, is not a correct portrayal of history. Islam has always given respect and freedom of religion to all faiths. The Quran says: "God forbids you not, with regards to those who fight you not for [your] faith nor drive you out of your homes, from dealing kindly and justly with them; for God loveth those who are just. 60:8) Freedom of religion is laid down in the Quran itself: "There is no compulsion (or coercion) in the religion (Islam). The right direction is distinctly clear from error". (2:256) Christian missionary, T.W. Arnold had this opinion on his study of the question of the spread of Islam: ".. of any organized attempt to force the acceptance of Islam on the non-Muslim population, or of any systematic persecution intended to stamp out the Christian religion, we hear nothing. Had the caliphs chosen to adopt either course of action, they might have swept away Christianity as easily as Ferdinand and Isabella drove Islam out of Spain, or Louis XIV made Protestanism ..." It is a function of Islamic law to protect the privileged status of minorities, and this is why non-Muslim places of worship have flourished all over the Islamic world. History provides many examples of Muslim tolerance towards other faiths: when the caliph Omar entered Jerusalem in the year 634, Islam granted freedom of worship to all religious communities in the city. Proclaiming to the inhabitants that their lives, and property were safe, and that their places of worship would never be taken from them, he asked the Christian patriarch Sophronius to accompany him on a visit to all the holy places. Islamic law also permits non-Muslim minorities to set up their own courts, which implement family laws drawn up by the minorities themselves. The life and property of all citizens in an Islamic state are considered sacred whether the person is Muslim or not. Racism is not a part of Islam, the Quran speaks only of human equality and how all peoples are equal in the sight of God. "O mankind! We created you from a single soul, male and female, and made you into nations and tribes, so that you may come to know one another. Truly, the most honored of you in God's sight is the greatest of you in piety. God is All-Knowing, All- Aware. (49:13)
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| | Thursday, January 11, 2001 - 08:43 am Thanks Ghettoegirl, that was a lot of hardwork and dedicated writing. May Allah (swt) reward you for your actions
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| | Friday, January 12, 2001 - 03:30 pm Ghettoegirl. Nice peace! Your name should be Muslim girl or muslimah, its a lot better. besides i dont know too many ghetto people driving in a Maxima
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| | Friday, January 12, 2001 - 04:56 pm loooooooooool@JB your alive finally.Iam not changing my name for the world this is who I am I mean I can't go around being a hypocrite. Anyway I'm glad you liked it what can I say I learn from the best *wink wink*. Common Thanks for your blessings walaal.
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| | Friday, January 12, 2001 - 06:30 pm Ghettogirl you are full of surprises really. few girls surpirse me in this net You "Ghettogirl" and "Sweetgirl". Do you guys know each other?. Just a thought nothing serious.
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| | Friday, January 12, 2001 - 06:50 pm Formerguest: No I don't know Ghettogirl, and how do I surprise you? I don't even come here alot nowadays. JB: anys suggestions for me I'm really thinking of changing my user name.
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| | Friday, January 12, 2001 - 09:10 pm Sweetgirl You have a nice name. For discussion purposes, I think Amatullah (Female servant of Allah) is nice. Its also an honest name cuz we are all servants of Allah. I also like Aliyyah which means (Exaulted, noble, highest social standing). As a Muslim sister im sure you fit both descriptions well. Ignore the fact that there is a pop star (or shall I say pop trash) By that same name. Sorry Ghettogirl. lol 
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| | Friday, January 12, 2001 - 09:46 pm Sweetgirl. I meant T-GIRL. I saw some allegations flying around somewhere in the public forumss once that they(T&Ghetto) were one and the same. Wanted to make sure the validity of the case against her. Young sis, sorry again okey?. I have no case against you. You are cool young sis. Liked how you handled Mad too, also Anon once. Ghettogirl, sorry couldn't resist the temptations of asking. I think you should have spent more time with us here than you spend more time at the other side. Read more of your faith to learn more sis. I think you are smart. The rest: Sorry for the change of topic, I really apologize in advance in case someone will be unappreciative of my two cents here. Wasalaamu caleykum.
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| | Saturday, January 13, 2001 - 01:51 pm You guys flatter me thanks, Ghettogirl is aight we shouldn't be judgemental......JB I think both the names are cool but I'll take aliyyah cuz I've seen some one with amatullah already and I don't want to be the cyber theif stealing people's usernames..........now back to the subject at hand insha allah.
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| | Thursday, February 15, 2001 - 10:12 am GHETTOGIRL VERY GOOD WORK ON THE DIIN..I DIDN'T THINK YOU HAD IT IN YOU..LOOL..SEE YA ON THE WEB
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| | Thursday, February 15, 2001 - 08:01 pm ghettogirl is fake
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