Halast7's comments

Does Islam Say Ex-Muslims Must Die?

31 Jan 2008 02:56 PM

Thank you very much Misty for bringing up this misunderstood topic. I want to add my voice to yours and stress that Islam absolutely guarantees freedom of religion in this life. The Quran says: [2:256] There shall be no compulsion in religion: the right way is now distinct from the wrong way. Anyone who denounces the devil and believes in GOD has grasped the strongest bond; one that never breaks. GOD is Hearer, Omniscient. And also: [109:6] "To you is your religion, and to me is my religion." In another verse, Allah says: [18:29] Proclaim: "This is the truth from your Lord," then whoever wills let him believe, and whoever wills let him disbelieve. We have prepared for the transgressors a fire that will completely surround them. When they scream for help, they will be given a liquid like concentrated acid that scalds the faces. What a miserable drink! What a miserable destiny!

So clearly the Quran instructs Muslims to only transmit the message while judgement and punishment is left to God in the next life! [42:48] If they turn away, we did not send you as their guardian. Your sole mission is delivering the message....

The only case where punishment is allowed is when as the verse you referred to says: But those who reject faith after they accepted it, and then go on adding to their defiance of faith never will their repentance be accepted; for they are those who have [of set purpose] gone astray. (Aal-`Imran 3:90)

The verse talks about those who accept Islam and are fully convinced that the message it came with is true, yet they become too arrogant to comply with its teaching. It is only when they intentionally aim to cause fitna (anarchy) within a society to mislead people and create doubts, when the leader of the Muslim society should interfere and apply the punishment to ensure the wellbeing of the society as a whole. There is no punishment for people who enter the fold of Islam then leave it because they are not convinced it is the truth.

Can Muslims be Vegetarians?

29 Jan 2008 01:43 PM

Thanks Misty for this entry. I agree with you in that abstaining from eating meat is not forbidden (Haram). While the Quran explicitly speficies foods and drinks that are forbidden because of their harmful effects on our health and minds, there is no command that specifically instruct us to eat meat.

The concept of halal/mubah actually refers to ‘‘That which is permissible/lawful in Shariah and that a person won't be punished on leaving it out.’’ The following verse states that we should eat FROM the allowed foods/drinks and not eat ALL, so there is room for personal choice in this matter.

[2:172] O you who believe, eat from the good things we provided for you, and be thankful to GOD, if you do worship Him alone

Having said that, in this day and age with man disrupting animals' natural diets by pumping them with all sorts of substances, if meat consumption is deemed harmful to one's health, then accordging to Shariah's concept that "benefits should always outweigh risks", people must abstain from eating meat.

Look forward to reading more of your entries.

Sex in the Muslim Marriage

24 Jan 2008 08:55 AM

A great article! I think it would be nice to elaborate further on the issue of Tilth. In your article you said that Tilth refers to the vagina. Many scholasr, however, suggest the word Tilth or "Harth" in Arabic refers to the entire body of the woman. It is a metaphor and as you farmers cultivate the soil and take care of every part of it to support plant growth so is the man doing with his wife's body. It is an inivitation to the man to explore and nurture every inch of his wife's body to prepare it for intercourse (Foreplay).