Does Islam Have Anything To Offer The World?

[naomi24]

We have been told by a Muslim ABer that the people of Islam are coming to the west, not for a better life, but to show us ‘the way’. Most of the major problems the world is currently experiencing undoubtedly involve Muslim nations, and if that’s ‘the way’ they want to show us, it's not terribly enticing, so just what does Islam have to offer the world? As far as I can see, nothing whatsoever.

[jomifl]

Nungate, at the time of the muslim occupation of Spain the muslims in North Africa spent a lot of their time trying to achieve the stark purity of Islam. Needless to say as in any period of zealous rediscovery of religious principles many people died. (muslims mostly, killed by other muslims) I'm not sure whether the koranic coverage of that bit of behaviour was commonly known.

[wildwood]

If the Islamic teaching are followed to the letter than there would be no infidels left in the world. The vast majority of Muslims are only part-time Muslims, just like followers of all religions.

[nungate]

I believe it says in the Koran that a Muslim should not kill another Muslim but it happens doesn't it? What I was trying to convey was that at the beginning of the Caliphate all the religions in Spain were quite content living under Islamic laws, I'm not saying everything was rosy (sorry my historical knowledge of this time is a bit sketchy) but I understand that until the radical elements moved into Spain from North Africa the three major religions all rubbed along relatively peaceably. Nowadays, I'm afraid the view of us in the west is that we are all crusaders in a war against Islam - I doubt that very much. Until we can alter that mindset it will never be a case of live and let live.
It should be generally accepted that there are many paths to God whether you choose to believe or not and until we all accept or tolerate that we are all different and all have differing views on religion there will be conflict

[naomi24]

Khandro, // Do you?//

You’re comparing my potential influence on the world to that of the great horde of people and the doctrine that constitutes Islam? I’d like to say I’m flattered – but I’m not. Any chance of actually thinking about this and giving a sensible answer?

Nungate, //It should be generally accepted that there are many paths to God whether you choose to believe or not and until we all accept or tolerate that we are all different and all have differing views on religion there will be conflict//

Tell that to Islam. If there were no perceived ‘paths to God’, at least none that other people want the rest of us to follow, the world would be a happier place.

[sandyRoe]

Oil?

[Khandro]

//Any chance of actually thinking about this and giving a sensible answer? //
Any chance of you asking a sensible question? Of course Islam has made a huge contribution to the world as you would see if you went to the B.M. the V & A or the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford.

[naomi24]

Khandro, no surprise you haven't given a sensible answer. You haven't read the question.

[jomifl]

Khandro, why don't you save us the trouble and tell us, but read the question first.

[sandyRoe]

Many of our city centres on a Friday and Saturday night, when they're awash with drunks, are reminiscent of a Hogarthian nightmare. Even the most rabid Islamophobe must admit that their views on alcohol are worth considering.

[naomi24]

//Even the most rabid Islamophobe ...//

Criticise Islam and you're branded an Islamophobe. As ignorant as that may be, it's one way of attempting to shut people up!

[jake-the-peg]

You believe their charitable contributions are helping to promote war do you society?

How can you say that wiuth a straight face - with the US providing billions of dollars worth of military aid to Israel every year

With the UK and France pushing to end arms sanctions to Syria

When was the last time muslims invaded a western country?

Western countries have killed over 100,000 in Iraq and Afghanistan
How on Earth do you have the gall to say that?

So coming back to what Islam has to offer the world - I mentioned charity as one of the pillars of Islam - does anybody want to argue that the imperative to help those less fortunate than yourself is a worthy example to set.

We used to have tythes in Christianity which were compulsory and rather ended up in the Churches pocket.

By comparison in muslim countries Zakat is regulated by the state but is voluntary - yet it still gets collected



I'm sorry if I'm arguing against the expected party line here that Islam has nothing to offer the world at all but if the entire purpose of the question was to attract soley like minded people to have a self indulgant rant then we might as well all stick our fingers in our ears and go 'nah nah nah I can't hear you!'

[sandyRoe]

Perhaps the phrase, '...the most rabid Islamophobe', was ill considered because it draws attention away from the gist of that post. Are their thoughts on alcohol not worthy of consideration?

[naomi24]

Jake, //we might as well all stick our fingers in our ears and go 'nah nah nah I can't hear you.//

Seems that’s exactly what you’ve done here. You’ve not offered a single suggestion – apart from charitable donations – which are no more beneficial to the world than charitable donations from any other source.

SandyRoe, opinions on the evils of alcohol consumption are not confined to Islam.

[ludwig]

Jake, Zakat looks like a voluntary taxation system with the threat of eternal damnation in the afterlife for evaders rather than punishment in the here and now.

It's better than letting the poor starve, but nothing that Islam has given to the world.

[Kromovaracun]

There was a point in its history when Islamic countries were the only countires that preserved and advanced Greek science, philosophy and mathematics. Modern-day mathematics owes a great deal to early Islamic philosophers, and as nungate mentioned, Islamic rule was comparatively civilized compared to medieval Europe.

I'm at a loss, however, to explain what has happened to the Islamic world since - today virtually no scientific research whatsoever takes place in the Islamic world, and it seems to be synonymous with virulent homophobia and female subjugation - even in those majority-Muslim countires which are nominally secular.

And no, I don't see that the charitable activities of any faith (including the catholic church) necessarily balance them out. These are acts of conditional love - quite a vile and insipid idea if you think about it - and in the case of the Catholic church has come with great big heavy destructive strings attached.

[Kromovaracun]

Jake:

Don't be so melodramatic. You know full well your opinions are welcome here, but you can't expect people not to question or challenge them. You're starting to sound a bit like AOG.

[Octavius]

"if the entire purpose of the question was to attract soley like minded people to have a self indulgant rant then we might as well all stick our fingers in our ears and go 'nah nah nah I can't hear you!' "

Hilarious - got to be best answer! Agree with Jake the Peg, there is also Sadaqah ludwig, if you are wary of Zakat being driven by self-interest.

[jomifl]

Muslim 'charity' seems to be a bit incestuous. Are there muslim charities attempting to combat aids in 3rd world countries, to control logging in S.E.Asia, reduce the output of greenhouse gasses. ?

[emmie]

No never

[emmie]

modeller, if we sent them RC priests suggest they would be coming home in boxes, minus bits of their anatomy.