"Sunday School," - muslim Style

[Theland]

When Christians send their kids to Sunday School, they learn Bible stories, say a prayer and sing, "Jesus Wants Me For A Sunbeam."
The muslims certainly know how to spice things up a bit for their youngsters.
Any comments?
http://www.moriel.org/articles/discernment/isl am/ashura_celebrations.htm

[keyplus90]

I think you missed the word "SHIA" before Muslims in this case. These people are not more than 2% of the Muslim population. Why they do it, they have their own reasons right or wrong. Majority of Muslims 98% do not like these things and are against it. Why do you think there are differences between Shia (sometimes Spelt Shiate in western media) and Sunni as you hear in the media.

But once again as I always say Western media always picks on a fraction of Muslims because that is all they get to propagate against Islam. But by the Grace of God, this is working in favor of Islam and Muslims as more than ever people are reverting to Islam because of this negative image shown on the media. Reason, yes because after this they start studying about Islam and find the truth. Well done Western media.

[naomi24]

Keyplus I think you'll find it's a little more than 2% of the Muslim population.

This comes from:
http://www.islamfortoday.com/shia.htm

Shias Today
Iran is overwhelmingly Shia - 89%. Shias also form a majority of the population in Yemen and Azerbaijan, Bahrain and 60% of the population of Iraq. There are also sizeable Shia communities along the east coast of Saudi Arabia and in the Lebanon. The well known guerilla organization Hizbollah, which forced the Israelis out of southern Lebanon in 2000, is Shia. Worldwide, Shias constitute ten to fifteen percent of the overall Muslim population.

[DONNAKEBABUK]

Those last three look a bit like Blackpool on a Saturday night Theland.

Katie. x

[jake-the-peg]

Isn't there a similarly bloody Christian festival in Spain where volunteers have themselves nailed to crosses?

[naomi24]

Jake I'm not sure it happens in Spain, but it certainly happens in the Philippines. That's religious fervour for you.

[Theland]

Yes Jake you are right. Nutters I think.

[brionon]

Yeah it's the 98% that make the rest look bad.

[keyplus90]

Naomi - In reality Shia's are not more than 2%. These are people who claim to be the descendents of Muhammed (pbuh). They are usually called "SYED" then a proportion of them are further divided into "Sunni Syed" and "Shia Syed".
Technically Muhammad (pbuh) did not any descendents as none of his Sons survived and had kids. These people were from her daughters and even that mainly one of them.

Then further from those Shia's not all believe in these things.

The areas you mentioned, most of them claim to be Shia only to be included in Muhammed's (pbuh) descendents. Iran is the only large country with over 90% Shia Muslims. And even there not all of the people do these things here on that link. So overall

[keyplus90]

Sorry missed last bit - So overall Shia's who believe in these things are even less than 2% of total Muslim population.

[WaldoMcFroog]

Wikipedia cites claims of 10-15% Shia muslims.

Can you clarify the idea that female children are not considered descendents? I cannot easily reconcile this with your oft-stated views about Islam and the status of women.

[keyplus90]

Waldo - Where do the people get their family name from even in West. Do you use your mother's or Father's. Can you clarify that.

[keyplus90]

And then again. read it properly I said not ALL SHIA MUSLIMS do what the topic of this debate is.

[jake-the-peg]

My (probably over simplified) understanding is that there is a division of Shia muslims based on the number of Imams that they recognise.

The largest group being the 12ers but the 7ers or Ismaliis are very interesting. They were very active in the 13th Century and gave rise to the Assassin legends. They rather fell foul of Gengis Khan and their base was distroyed

Nowadays there are small groups in India led by the Aga Khan and in Lebanon I believe.

Then of course there are Sufi muslims who are the "whirling dervishes" etc.

Many of these subdivisions look on each other much as Theland looks on Catholics ;c)

[Theland]

Correction Jake - should read, " ... as Theland looks on Catholicism." Not individual Roman Catholics.

[naomi24]

Keyplus I wonder why an Islamic source would give figures so far removed from yours, then?

[keyplus90]

Naomi - what do you mean. Explain again please.

[WaldoMcFroog]

"Where do the people get their family name from even in West. Do you use your mother's or Father's. Can you clarify that."

Westerners trace kinship via the patrilineal line, but that doesn't mean that females aren't regarded as decendants. You wrote; "Technically Muhammad (pbuh) did not any descendents as none of his Sons survived and had kids." A Westerner would never claim someone had no decendents because there were no sons and 'only' a female line survived!!!

"And then again. read it properly I said not ALL SHIA MUSLIMS do what the topic of this debate is."

Ah, okay. That's quite different from how what you've actually said comes across, though. It comes across as though you mean Shia muslims represent 2% of all muslims.

[Theland]

Red - say ten hail marys and four our fathers!

[naomi24]

Keyplus You quoted a figure of 2%, which was contrary to the figure quoted by the Islamic link I gave.

However, Waldo has now clarified it by saying it comes across as though you mean that Shia Muslims represent 2% of all Muslims - and that's exactly what I thought too.