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.

[Octavius]

I presume you were generally curious rather than cynically naive.

http://muslimhands.org.uk/our-work/

[jomifl]

Interesting link Octavius, no information on who got help from the charity though.

[Octavius]

There is actually if you look.

[jomifl]

I'll look again then :-)

[ludwig]

// there is also Sadaqah ludwig, if you are wary of Zakat being driven by self-interest. //

I'll have to go and look that up. It wasn't self interest, so much as saying it's unoriginal - just taxation with a religious driver behind it rather than a secular one.

[Khandro]

Thanks for the link Octavius, there is also Red Crescent; http://www.ifrc.org/

[Octavius]

Interesting. And who did this 'happiness' research ?....

[naomi24]

With regard to charity, we don't need to be shown 'the way'. We have that already, so nothing exceptional or innovative there.

[vetuste_ennemi]

"With regard to charity, we don't need to be shown 'the way'. We have that alread..."
Which led a Muslim (must track the quotation down) to say something of the sort that the non-Muslim West usually practises the Islamic virtues of charity and care for the poor while the Muslim East usually does not. Which is of course why so many of them have left their own societies and come to the West.

[Khandro]

v-e; //Which is of course why so many of them have left their own societies and come to the West.//
People come to the 'west' because the prospects are better, and they then send money back to their needy relatives, wouldn't you do the same?

[jomifl]

Khandro, are you implying that people only come to the 'west' for the money and not for mutual cultural improvement..I'm shocked!

[RATTER15]

^^ lol

[Khandro]

Jomifl; Re. "cultural improvement". I read last year that the highest grades and the most amount of individual A levels achieved in the UK were gained by two sisters, - Kurdish immigrants. Would you have preferred them barred and left in the wilderness? I don't think so. [ I hope :-) ]

[vetuste_ennemi]

"People come to the 'west' because the prospects are better, and they then send money back to their needy relatives, wouldn't you do the same?".
I find that admirable, Khandro; why would yopu assume otherwise?

[naomi24]

Khandro, //People come to the 'west' because the prospects are better, and they then send money back to their needy relatives, //

Not so - according to our man in the know. Have you still not read the question?

[Khandro]

Yes I've read the 'question', and it is hardly a quest for information, rather an assertion of the authors' stance, emitting an unpleasant undertone of intolerance.
Who, pray, is the "Our man in the know"?
v-e; As long as our laws allow it, people will do it, as I asked; wouldn't you?

[naomi24]

Khandro, Ah! Here we go. It never takes long for your rudeness to raise its ugly head. Intolerance! Another word like 'racism' - misused and abused by people with no rational argument.

Since you ask, Keyplus is the man.

So you can't think of anything Islam has to offer the world then?

[Orderlimit]

"Another word like 'racism' - misused and abused by people with no rational argument"

How this is so true.

[jomifl]

Khandro, you are interpreting the expression 'cultural improvement' in far too narrow a manner. You must try to broaden your understanding, I don't think A levels amount to culture, you might just as well compare lemonade to a single malt.