Understanding Islam

[agchristie]

What is the best way to understanding Islam?

There are so many religions but I am especially keen to gain more of an understanding of Islam.

Islam seems to dominate our news these days and I'm interested to learn more about its influence in todays world. I've become very curious (and confused) though I am not thinking of converting.

Ive never read the Koran, is this the best place to start? Serious answers only please.

[keyplus90]

And I forgot to add one thing. Do not go and search any website online. Because mejority of the websites look very Islamic but inside they have very anti Islamic stuff. Twisted meanings, cooked stories and lot more. And anyone who is just a starter would not be able to tell the difference ald start believing whatever is there.

Even few people here will make every effort to give you links to those websites or copy and paste from those sources. For that reason I would suggest Peace TV SKY 813 for not only Islamic knowledge but also comparative analysis with other religions.

[keyplus90]

Here are three different people from three different backgrounds converted to Islam and now preaching Islam. One was a pastor, one was a known atheist and the other who did practice every single religion in this world until he found and learnt about Islam. They do have websites too but now a days facebook is the best.

https://www.facebook.com/AbdurraheemGreen

https://www.facebook.com/DrBilalPhilips?fref=nf

https://www.facebook.com/islamnewsroom?fref=ts

[naomi24]

Keyplus, I just had a look at Peace TV’s official website – and the first thing I came across was a big picture of Dr Zakir Naik, one of the most ill-informed and bigoted people I have ever heard speak. He knows the Koran inside out – but little else.

[jomifl]

agchristie, as you will by now have realised, there is only one correct (?)version of islam and only one correct translation. All the rest is the work of the devil..etc. But which one/ones? it's probably a test, god likes tests.

[agchristie]

Beso - I hope by education that I can increase my understanding and intelligence...

TWR - I sense your concerns but I would echo what Ive stated to Beso.

Mosaic - thanks for the info and link

Baldric - please dont get any wrong ideas about my intentions!

Naomi - thanks for your advice and re-inforcing the reason for my post!

Generally, I see no harm in undertaking research in this subject is there? I am not going to be brainwashed...

I will reply to other threads later.

[jourdain2]

ag you can't separate Islam from its followers. The Q'ran can be translated many ways and things you think you have read and understood will be disputed by others. People practice Islam in widely different ways. I don't know where you live, but I would very seriously suggest that you spend some holidays in places with large Muslim populations. Just walk around, speak to people and you will get some idea of the diversity and also the commonalities which they hold. You should then be able to start differentiating between cultural mores and religious beliefs. Hope this helps.

[TWR]

Ag, what gets my back up with respect to your Question, I would very much like to know why people that has been welcomed into this country, enjoy the benefits, help, Support with their businesses, then turn around & use aggression against us, we went out to the likes of Afghanistan to help those people "Muslims" who thanked us by using aggression against us, what did they expect the world to do when the evil basds out there killed their own, the same with the likes of Syria / Bagdad , these people that call death to the whites want to put that call out within their own community to go out & sort out the people within their own religion that are killing their own, but no, we are expected to do it, and the repayment, twin towers, my view to the rest of the world, let them sort themselves out & the like the USA & the UK, keep our noses out, I hope you can understand Islam, because it has a strange way of saying thank you to the people that are trying to help them, maybe we could help in one way by not using their Kebab houses or even the Taxies, I do have very strong views on this subject, but I would be the first to help them.

[vetuste_ennemi]

I recommend two books by Karen Armstrong, Ag: "Mohammed" (a life of the prophet), and "A History of Islam".
Armstrong (a former nun) writes well; I think you will like her clear and uncluttered prose.
The biography is quite irritating because Armstrong is obviously infatuated with her subject and gives a very convincing impression of a 13 year old virgin besotted by the local bad boy. That apart, she is informative and, every now and then, her residual honesty emerges and she ALMOST admits to some of the serious flaws in the character of her hero.
The second book I found excellent (although I am clearly not competent myself to judge her as an historian). I particularly like the later chapters when she describes the changing relationship between the Islamic and Christian worlds caused by the rapidly increasing wealth, power and political influence of the West in the modern era. She offers a very plausible explanation for both political unrest within the Muslim world (inspired by traditional Islamic value of social justice - the rise of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt early in the last century is a case in point), and the pervasive hostility to the West caused according to her by the pernicious and self-serving interventions in the Middle East and North Africa by the new imperial powers.

[naomi24]

V_E, I hesitate to recommend Karen Armstrong simply because she writes very little without the benefit of her rose-coloured spectacles perched on her nose. I’ve known Muslims to recommend her to the curious - which gives some indication of her perception of Islam and of Mohammed. That said, I’ve no doubt whatsoever that agchristie is astute enough to read between the simply written and eminently readable lines.

[dunnitall]

Why would anyone to understand such an extreme 'religion'....but if you do wish to....it only dominates our news because of how it makes them react to those who oppose it. They want to dominate the world, they won't rest until they do even if there are people who say it's only the extremists. Why would any 'religion' breed extremists, shows just how much rubbish there is in Islam for it to bring these people about. Why would anyone kill in the name of religion? Why would anyone want to even look into such things when it harms innocent people 'in the name of religion'....? Put your efforts and thoughts into something more worthwhile IMO....these scum don't even deserve consideration when the chips are down!

[jomifl]

I think the best way of understanding islam as with any religion is to regard it primarily as a mental illness. After that they all make some sort of sense.

[lightbulb247]

//Keyplus, I just had a look at Peace TV’s official website – and the first thing I came across was a big picture of Dr Zakir Naik, one of the most ill-informed and bigoted people I have ever heard speak. He knows the Koran inside out – but little else//

Well considering agchristie wants to learn about Islam and Dr Zakir Naik knows the quran, I say its a valuable source. Whether you believe he is "ill informed and bigoted" or not, agchristie can come to her own conclusions.

[dunnitall]

Lol jomifl, about right I should think.

[vetuste_ennemi]

We agree about Ms Armstrong, Naomi. (It was you who recommended the book to me, as I recall.) Neither of us think she's factually wrong, do we? As you say, the bias and spin are obvious to an intelligent read.

[vetuste_ennemi]

... intelligent reader.

[naomi24]

V_E, indeed we do agree. After this conversation I’ve no doubt that agchristie will make what she will of Karen.

Lightbulb, Dr Zakir Naik is not a good introduction to Islam. His head is buried in the backward superstition of the Dark Ages.

[boxtops]

Put "Islam for Non-Muslims" into Google, loads of sites come up which you might find useful. http://guide.muslimsinbritain.org/guide1.html

[lightbulb247]

//Lightbulb, Dr Zakir Naik is not a good introduction to Islam. His head is buried in the backward superstition of the Dark Ages.//

Agchristie wants to understand Islam. Dr Zakir Naik is a prominent Islamic figure whether you like it or not. I am sure she can come to her own judgements. Of course, I am not saying she only listens to him and not what other sources say. She should try to gather knowledge on Islam from as many places as she wants or can, both pro Islam and Anti Islam, then she can come to a judgement at the end.

[naomi24]

Lightbulb, I know he is. Just not the best representative.

[lightbulb247]

well thats your opinion and I respect that.