Ask a Muslim anything

[Lesschubtolove]

Another thread on a Quran being kicked about has brought up some pretty ugly stereotypes on Muslims and a perception that we all want blasphemy laws and death threats are part of our religion and that a Quran only matters in Arabic. None are true but it dawned on me actually that there are a lot of mistruths and Misconceptions about what Muslims believe, think or do.

Well ask away… the questions you maybe wanted to know but thought you might get in trouble for or would be frowned upon

[Noicant]

I always wanted to ask this and I’m really sorry if this offends but I’m genuinely curious about it given the conversations around colonialism. Do Muslims ever think of the islamic conquests as colonialism or imperialism?

[extrapineappleonmypizza]

Can Muslim children sing and dance?

[SouthCountryGirl]

Favourite / least favourite thing about being Muslim?

[Lesschubtolove]

@Noicant

I always wanted to ask this and I’m really sorry if this offends but I’m genuinely curious about it given the conversations around colonialism. Do Muslims ever think of the islamic conquests as colonialism or imperialism?

This is really shameful to admit but I do think there is a perception that it ‘wasn’t as bad’ as western colonialism. I was at a talk and an Eritrean brother was talking and he said something to that affect about Islamic slavery. I can only assume he meant in relative terms, because there are shariah conditions put on slave owners and Muslims are told in the Quran it is better to free them.

i do know that under the caliphates non Muslims that although were second class citizens, for the times they were treated fairly well, comparatively speaking. For instance after the Muslim conquest of Jerusalem, Jews were once again allowed to visit the dome on the rock (I think that was the place I can’t 100%) recall and they called the second caliph Al faruq and al mesie becuase it had been banned under the Christian rule.

basically it’s really bloody complicated, and I’m sorry I can’t give you a robust answer but I do think, like with UK colonialism there is a blindness to some uncomfortable truths at times

[ouch321]

Re the hijab don't you think that if girls are supposed to wear it to avoid lustful gazes from men etc, ought it not be the same vice versa?

That is, how come guys don't need to wear one to avoid women looking at them lustfully?

Either neither sex should wear them or both should to avoid risks from the opposite sex. That's why I'm not a fan.

[Lesschubtolove]

@extrapineappleonmypizza

Can Muslim children sing and dance?

Do they have the ability? Or is it permissible?

it’s a divided school of thought. Some Muslims believe music is impermissible except from this sort of drum thing or percussion.

others would say it depends on the context of the song

others that nursery rhymes are fine as long as they aren’t sung with a melody.

my children however sing and dance but I do understand the point of view that says music is disliked

[Terrribletwos]

Why do you not want to live in a Muslim country?

[MrsBennetsPoorNerves]

How do you protect your children from the general level of prejudice against Muslims in our society? How do you explain it to them, and how do you help them to deal with it?

[Emmmie]

Yeah, there was a topic on here earlier on what Hijab REALLY means by a "Muslim" presenter when in fact the presenter was nothing more than a huge Islamophobe who mocks Islam and entices hate against Islam/Muslims on her SM.

Her books are so full of hate that she had to self-publish them as no publishing house would touch them with a 10 foot pole. Not sure if anyone has published them since.

But she was paraded as someone who needs to teach Muslim women what their hijab REALLY means.

Why is it okay to bring Islamophobes to represent Muslims and speak on their behalf, when this would never be done to any other group and rightly so!

Anyway, good luck OP!

[Letstaketotheskies]

Do you think it’s common to be culturally muslim but not really believe in god?
As in, follow all the rules and things and participate in and enjoy feasts, fasts and festivals but not really have that underlying religious faith?

[mids2019]

Is the Old Testament basically the same as the Torah and Qu'ran? I had a debate with a Muslim about the split of the Abrahamic religions and we had a theological argument about whether the God in those religions remained the same i.e. Allah = God?

[Emmmie]

Ouch322 so why do men in Western Countries sometimes walk around topless and women do not?

[Lesschubtolove]

@Terrribletwos

Why do you not want to live in a Muslim country?

Who says I don’t? But I’m a British citizen with no claim to any other land so here I am

[maddy68]

Why do modern Muslims still adopt hijabs ? I do know many that don't but I find it really odd that of Muslims are in a predominantly non Muslim country by choice then why choose to cover head and face?

I'm so sorry if that sounds offensive

Also I am friends with many Muslim men and without exception sadly have affairs outside their marriages (usually with non Muslim girls ). Is that seen differently? Their wives seem to turn a blind eye

[Lesschubtolove]

@SouthCountryGirl

Favourite / least favourite thing about being Muslim?

Same answer to both, the people sometimes

[showstopper100]

Questions asked with respect ....

What is your personal opinion on marrying within your own families?

Also, are all Muslim marriages arranged?

[Lesschubtolove]

@Emmmie

Yeah, there was a topic on here earlier on what Hijab REALLY means by a "Muslim" presenter when in fact the presenter was nothing more than a huge Islamophobe who mocks Islam and entices hate against Islam/Muslims on her SM.

Her books are so full of hate that she had to self-publish them as no publishing house would touch them with a 10 foot pole. Not sure if anyone has published them since.

But she was paraded as someone who needs to teach Muslim women what their hijab REALLY means.

Why is it okay to bring Islamophobes to represent Muslims and speak on their behalf, when this would never be done to any other group and rightly so!

Anyway, good luck OP!

Or ridiculous individuals such as anjem choudary, he was on every talk show to ages as if he was the representative of all Muslims

[extrapineappleonmypizza]

Regarding the singing and dancing, I teach in a primary school with a relatively high percentage of Muslim children. Some of them refuse to participate in certain aspects of the National Curriculum (Music, Drama, PE) due to their religion. It causes us a lot of issues.
We are a Christian faith school, so their refusal to participate also has huge implications for our daily Worship and Christian festival celebrations. For example, refusal to narrate the Nativity, design a Christmas card, decorate an Easter egg, etc.
Why do Muslim families send their children to Christian schools if they don't agree with our curriculums and policies (uniform, in particular)?

[Rocket1982]

How to you feel about Islamic regimes that severely restrict women’s rights such as Saudi Arabia and Afghanistan?

[Rocket1982]

All religions have a different idea of God. Do you think the Islamic God is the only one who exists? Or do you think they all exist? Or do you think they are all the same God?

[MrsBennetsPoorNerves]

@extrapineappleonmypizza

Regarding the singing and dancing, I teach in a primary school with a relatively high percentage of Muslim children. Some of them refuse to participate in certain aspects of the National Curriculum (Music, Drama, PE) due to their religion. It causes us a lot of issues.
We are a Christian faith school, so their refusal to participate also has huge implications for our daily Worship and Christian festival celebrations. For example, refusal to narrate the Nativity, design a Christmas card, decorate an Easter egg, etc.
Why do Muslim families send their children to Christian schools if they don't agree with our curriculums and policies (uniform, in particular)?

Surely some of them have no choice, unless they can afford to go private or home educate. There are lots of areas where Christian schools are the only state option... which is rubbish, but it's just the way it is.

[MamOfFive]

How do you feel about women's rights being severely restricted in Muslim countries in the far east?

If you believe in Allah, how do you explain dinosaurs & the Big Bang? No offence this is something that baffles me with all religions.

[Lesschubtolove]

@maddy68

Why do modern Muslims still adopt hijabs ? I do know many that don't but I find it really odd that of Muslims are in a predominantly non Muslim country by choice then why choose to cover head and face?

I'm so sorry if that sounds offensive

Also I am friends with many Muslim men and without exception sadly have affairs outside their marriages (usually with non Muslim girls ). Is that seen differently? Their wives seem to turn a blind eye

Point 1: many different reasons, identity politics, they think it’s compulsory, culture etc

point 2: no, affairs are haram. I suspect though these men didn’t want to marry their wives and were pressured Into it and the women are from the same culture or ‘back home’ and unfortunately there is a huge stigma around divorce in some cultures

[Lesschubtolove]

@extrapineappleonmypizza

Regarding the singing and dancing, I teach in a primary school with a relatively high percentage of Muslim children. Some of them refuse to participate in certain aspects of the National Curriculum (Music, Drama, PE) due to their religion. It causes us a lot of issues.
We are a Christian faith school, so their refusal to participate also has huge implications for our daily Worship and Christian festival celebrations. For example, refusal to narrate the Nativity, design a Christmas card, decorate an Easter egg, etc.
Why do Muslim families send their children to Christian schools if they don't agree with our curriculums and policies (uniform, in particular)?

I’m afraid that would be me, I’d send my child to the best school in the area, and if it’s a CoE school, I would but in terms of hymnes and nativity, they wouldn’t be participating, im sorry but that seriously can’t cause too many problems, assign the part to another child and let them help with costumes and painting the set

[Angelofthenortheast]

Are comedians haram? Someone once told me something about not laughing too hysterically, but I didn't know if that meant being a comedian or going to a comedy show was haram