Search Pains

Bloggers enjoy seeing search engine referrals, but yesterday, I found a disturbing one. What You Need To Know About Islam received three page views from two search engine results.  The first search, repeated once, is not a problem; it indicates timely curiosity.

• any one want know about islam
• i am new to islam what all i should know

    The second query gives me a pain. It indicates that someone sold his or her soul to Satan without first reading the sales contract with its codicils.  My guess is that the seeker did not find what he or she was looking for in that post.  It contains information that should stop any moral person from making the sale. 

    The recent 'revert' to Islam will probably want to know the basics of the salat schedules, postures, gestures & compulsory prayers, zakat, fitra & other arcana that require significant research to uncover. The Resources post would be more useful to that reader because it presents links to several large Islamic libraries where that sort of practical information can be found.

    In this case, cliches such as "look before you leap" and "investigate before you invest"  come to mind.  Anyone who is toying with the idea of 'reverting' to Islam should read its canonical texts before reciting Shahada.  The Qur'an and Sahih Bukhari should be required reading for anyone who might be tempted by the "simplicity", "certainty" & 'beauty" of Islam.
   
    Islam is a one way street, you can get in but you can't get out. Apostates are executed where Allah's writ runs.  Satan's recruiters are unlikely to tell prospects about that,  the requirement of circumcision and the fard al-kifaya of jihad. 
    Women and girls who are exposed to Muslims in the work place or college should read  Islamic Misogyny  now, while it can do them some good.  An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

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Tawfik Hamid: Reform Islam

Tawfik Hamid, writing at NEWSMAX, wants to reform Islam. Here are a few vital points from his article.

• Suspend the traditional teaching that Muslims must wage wars on non-Muslims to offer them one of three options: convert to Islam, pay jizia (humiliating tax paid by non-Muslims to Muslims), or be killed.
• Publish new theologically-based books of Islamic jurisprudence that stand against beating women, slavery, killing apostates, and other violent edicts of Shariah.
• As long as the Muslim world insists on teaching violent principles as mentioned earlier, the gap between it and the West will only increase, and the efforts to bridge the gap of civilizations will be inefficient.
• Once the Muslim world puts an end to the destructive points, the voices that emphasize the “common values” will be able to succeed in their great mission to make our world better.

The aforementioned "traditional teaching" is found in the Qur'an: 8:39, 9:29 & Sahih Muslim 19.4294. There is a problem with attempting to suspend teaching of Qur'anic doctrine. Allah's word describes itself as perfected in 5:3 "This day, I have perfected your religion for you, completed My Favour upon you, and have chosen for you Islâm as your religion".

Allah's perfect and final words can not be changed, Allah strictly forbids it. Allah said: "And the Word of your Lord has been fulfilled in truth and in justice. None can change His Words." 6:115 & 18:27. Allah said "No change let there be in Khalq­illâh (i.e. the Religion of Allâh Islâmic Monotheism), that is the straight religion, but most of men know not." 30:30. Allah's messenger confirmed it with a curse: "'Far removed, far removed (from mercy), those who changed (their religion) after me." Sahih Bukhari 8.76.585.

The clear and absolute prohibitions are confirmed by Shari'ah. Reliance of the Traveller contains a list of acts which entail apostasy, which carries a death sentence. These items are included in that list. O8.7.

-7- to deny any verse of the Koran or anything which by scholarly consensus (def: b7) belongs to it, or to add a verse that does belong to it;

-14- to deny the obligatory character of something which by the consensus of Muslims (ijma`, def: B7) is part of Islam, when it is well known as such, like the prayer (salat) or even one rak'a from one of the five obligatory prayers, if there is no excuse (def: u2.4);

Allah's imperatives can't be re-interpreted because they are clear, 3:7, requiring no interpretation. Moe's Sunna shows us what they mean; read the book of Jihad or Expedition in any of the canonical hadith collections.

Jihad can not be abandoned because it is central to Islam; its very core. Too much of the Qur'an must be ripped out, the Sira & Sunnna truncated radically, likewise Shari'ah. Then there is Moe's execration.

Sunan Abu Dawud Book 23, Number 3455:

Narrated Abdullah ibn Umar:

I heard the Apostle of Allah, (peace_be_upon_him) say: When you enter into the inah transaction, hold the tails of oxen, are pleased with agriculture, and give up conducting jihad (struggle in the way of Allah). Allah will make disgrace prevail over you, and will not withdraw it until you return to your original religion.

Islam will no more be reformed than lions will become herbivores and graze with the sheep..

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Proving Islam incompatible with Article 18 of the ICCPR

ICCPR

Article 18

1. Everyone shall have the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion. This right shall include freedom to have or to adopt a religion or belief of his choice, and freedom, either individually or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in worship, observance, practice and teaching.
2. No one shall be subject to coercion which would impair his freedom to have or to adopt a religion or belief of his choice.
3. Freedom to manifest one's religion or beliefs may be subject only to such limitations as are prescribed by law and are necessary to protect public safety, order, health, or morals or the fundamental rights and freedoms of others.
4. The States Parties to the present Covenant undertake to have respect for the liberty of parents and, when applicable, legal guardians to ensure the religious and moral education of their children in conformity with their own convictions.

3:85. And whoever seeks a religion other than Islâm, it will never be accepted of him, and in the Hereafter he will be one of the losers.

Sahih Bukhari Volume 9, Book 84, Number 57:

Narrated 'Ikrima:

Some Zanadiqa (atheists) were brought to 'Ali and he burnt them. The news of this event, reached Ibn 'Abbas who said, "If I had been in his place, I would not have burnt them, as Allah's Apostle forbade it, saying, 'Do not punish anybody with Allah's punishment (fire).' I would have killed them according to the statement of Allah's Apostle, 'Whoever changed his Islamic religion, then kill him.'"

Umdat as-Salik

O8.1

When a person who has reached puberty and is sane voluntarily apostatizes from Islam, he deserves to be killed.

O8.2

In such a case, it is obligatory for the caliph (A: or his representive) to ask him to repent and return to Islam. If he does, it is accepted from him, but if he refuses, he is immediately killed.

Shari'ah clearly reflects the congruent pattern of the Qur'an & hadith. Where Allah's writ runs, there is no freedom of religion. Where Allah's writ does not run, it eventually will. Take note of the terminal condition for Jihad against pagans in Al - Anfal 39.

8:39. And fight them until there is no more Fitnah (disbelief and polytheism: i.e. worshipping others besides Allâh) and the religion (worship) will all be for Allâh Alone [in the whole of the world ]. But if they cease (worshipping others besides Allâh), then certainly, Allâh is All-Seer of what they do.

The war ends when all resistance ceases and Allah has a global monopoly of faith & practice. It is obvious that war of religious compulsion and executing apostates violate the provisions of Article 18.

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