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On another thread about not wanting freedom but wanting Islam, there was something of a discussion on how Islam is seen as being practiced by Guyanese today as opposed to how we grew up practicing it.

 

We must remember that we grew up in an age where other parts of the world was distant and telecommunications was at best by the phone line. We must also remember that when our forefathers came to the Caribbean there weren't than many educated Islamic scholars. When the generation twice removed from us lost the Urdu language our understanding of Islamic literature, and especially in the absence of visiting missionaries (the Arab world was not yet rich from oil), our understanding was more tied to rote reading of the Arabic in the Quran.

 

We also brought with us a culture of cuisine, fashion (wearing clothing), and cohabiting with other non-Abrahamic religions like Hinduism, that is alien to Arabs. The Pakistanis had a tearing of their association with Hinduism that lasts up to today. Just look at the Bangladeshi Islamic experience.

 

The point is that with the heat and humidity in the Caribbean (the Arab heat is a dry one and people feel more comfortable in 100 deg F than they would 80 deg F in humid conditions), hijab and other full clothing would seem out of the normal. Likely also attendance at Hawans would seem common-place for Muslims in the Caribbean.

 

The Arabs of today read a Quran that was firstly "revealed" and secondly written in classical Arabic at a time centuries ago where linguistic interpretation differs from today's mores and norms of behavior. Underlying all this is the need to dress modestly and to not partake in alcohol. It may not be a productive person who submits 5 times a day and lose productivity during the month of Ramadaan, but it is seen as necessarily sacrifices to be close to God, mankind's yearning for progress notwithstanding.

 

So should we be debating how Guyanese Muslims in North America have reversed course in their practice of a liberal interpretation of Islam, or should we laud this as an advance in getting closer to God?

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I had to wear a wool cap, serge pants, wool socks, wool tie and wool jacket to school in Guyana. Now that I am an adult I wear my top hat, coat and tails and wool underwear. Damm, its hot here in Guyana, but I am a true patriot of the powerful British empire. What is a little sweat? You just need to wash your balls periodically
FM
Originally Posted by Nehru:

I respect People's right to practise their Religion the way they see fit. However, I will not be part of any Religion which dictates the disassociation with other Religion. Kari, Are you saying that Guyanese Muslims were practising Islam incorrectly and are probably still doing so?

Nehru, I had forgotten to address a part of Islam on which my understanding is still "evolving"  - to borrow a quip from Barack Obama. And that is is whether a belief in Islam means a complete and unequivocal denial of other religions. Other Muslims can jump in here.

 

To believe in Islam means that you "understand" the Jewish and Christian faith as the precursors of Islam and because the Prophet Muhammad is the last Prophet, the preceding "faiths" now become obsolescent. It also means that the faith of more than half of humanity - and those that preceded Arabs and Semetic peoples - is not seen by Islam as relevant. Now given this, and the need to convert non-Muslims to the faith, then what? And how do you relate to those followers in civilian life - that is life outside of faith, or is life only life "in" faith, which means you have to be a Muslim 100% of the time, unlike other religions which, in practice, means that religion and faith is only one part of several parts that makes up one's existence. An important belief of Islam is that the hereafter means everything and your life on earth (one to one hundred years or so) is just to prepare for that other, more permanent, life.

Kari
Ayah 256 -Al-Baqara. “There is no compulsion in religion. Verily, the Right Path has become distinct from the wrong path.”
quote:
A famous letter sent by 36 Islamic scholars to Pope Benedict XVI addressed this verse: "this verse is acknowledged to belong to the period of Quranic revelation corresponding to the political and military ascendance of the young Muslim community. ‘There is no compulsion in religion’ was not a command to Muslims to remain steadfast in the face of the desire of their oppressors to force them to renounce their faith, but was a reminder to Muslims themselves, once they had attained power, that they could not force another's heart to believe. There is no compulsion in religion addresses those in a position of strength, not weakness. The earliest commentaries on the Qur'an (such as that of Al-Tabari) make it clear that some Muslims of Medina wanted to force their children to convert from Judaism or Christianity to Islam, and this verse was precisely an answer to them not to try to force their children to convert to Islam."[1]
FM
Originally Posted by Pointblank:
Insult African Americans, and it's called 'racism'.
Insult Jewish people, and it's called 'anti-Semitism'.
Insult women, and it's called 'sexism'.
Insult homosexuals, and it's called 'intolerance'.
Insult your country, and it's called 'extremism'.
Insult Muhammad (pbuh), and it's called 'free speech'.

One can be anything one wants to be as long as one does not impose ones belief on others.  Racists exists as do sexists and anti Semites. If they come into the street to demonstrate their right to their beliefs and threaten violence in the process then it is a different matter. Mohamed is to be given no higher prominence in the society than the Buddha or Jesus or even ones neighbor across the street.

FM

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