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

I was referring to the official stance of the Church of England and the Catholic Church.

The mainstream comment was in relation to that there are a few mosques, so some change has been made in this regard but it is definitely not indicative of the mainstream view changing, in my opinion at least, not for quite some time anyway

That was the impression i was left with after reading your comments. They read as quite incendiary

The CofE and Catholic church are hardly the only churches.

If progress is possible in Christianity, then why can't it be possible in Islam?

I never said but comment clearly says that I have been insistent in saying islamaphobia is perfectly justified.

But I haven't so you basically made it up. You can read something and interpret it through your filters how you like what you can't do is then do is say someone said something when they didn't.

It's okay I know you won't own your mistake and apologise for it.

You’ve asked for my opinion and I’ve given it. I didn’t say it wasn’t possible but that it wasn’t likely for a while. The Ottoman Empire decriminalised homosexuality so that was a step towards LGBT rights, when that fell a new more conservative Islam took a hold.

there obviously has been some progress as there are lgbt mosques and I think they might perform nikahs but I’m not sure , they are a minority though and only in the west, but I just don’t see the mainstream mosques getting on board with gay Nikahs, similar to CoE and Catholic Church. Also most Muslims don’t live in the west, they live in developing and 3rd world nations, and developing/ third world countries aren’t known for their human rights or being particularly progressive on the LGBT front. I’m sure that has something to do with it. The demise of the Ottoman Empire and the formation of Saudi, re criminalised homosexuality.

What would you do if your child was gay or bisexual?

Not a lot, not sure what I could do in all honesty? I’ve answered this up thread also

oh right you mean the one where you said you'd be disappointed? or the one where you said a gay child of muslim parents would be in danger of violence at home?

hmmm think we could be taking things the wrong was here on purpose. I never said a kid / person would definitely face violence for coming out, the comment you’re referring to was a reply to someone who’s son had a friend who hadn’t come out to his parents and asked if I had advice and I said that I would base my reply on the worst case scenario because (sadly) it does happen, and I said if there was even the smallest inclination that the family would respond violently, do not come out at home and whilst living at home, that’s sound advice.

the reply I was referring to however when I said I answered up thread would be that I’d probably be (inwardly) disappointed because I know it would make their life more difficult

^the wrong way even

Bit of a weird one, but is green significant in Islam? I've noticed that a lot of mosques are green or have green trimming, but when I asked a Muslim colleague he didn't know what I was on about!

I think it is narrated that green was prophet Muhammad’s (saws)favourite colour. From my understanding though it tends to be Pakistanis with the green domes to mosques and often wearing green turbans, i think they are deobandis, which is a sect

Can I ask how is abortion viewed? Is it forbidden, or allowed under specific circumstances?
Or left up to the individual to decide.

Sorry if I've not worded this sympathetically, but I ask it genuinely.

This isn't a question to the OP as such, but to anyone on here.

My friend's son has started going to a mosque. His family aren't religious.

The son has said he wants to learn and explore more about the religion.

Why does everyone feel so shocked and concerned about this? The words "extremism" and "radicalisation" have been mentioned.

Surely they wouldn't feel this was if he was going to a Catholic or CofE church!

So it’s generally frowned about, but there are different rulings depending on what stage of of pregnancy it is, the first 40 days after the embryo has attached itself to the wall of the uterus wall then it’s permissible (unless it’s out of fear you can’t afford them then it’s haram), then the next period of embryonic development it is permissible if it will cause the mother harm (ive heard this as interpreted as certain conditions too like T13/18 etc) but after 120 days when Muslims believe the soul is breathed into the foetus abortion is not permissible unless continuing pregnancy will severely harm and or kill the mother, then it is the lesser of 2 evils

prejudice that’s why

@Lesschubtolove

prejudice that’s why

Exactly but I'm not sure I understand why.

Given what OP has posted about Islamic attitudes to women and gay people I'm not surprised they're a bit worried.

Super frustrating because you’re taking what I’ve said out of context.

i can’t deny that there are misogynistic and homophobic Muslims as there as those individuals in every walk of life, but the majority especially the younger generation aren’t bothered about homosexuality. I pointed out that like CoE and Catholic Church, Islam’s official position is that it’s a sin ( act not desire) but it doesn’t take you out of the fold of Islam.

I think that there are a lot of misconceptions about what Muslims think, ‘secretly’ think, do and want.

I will not lie to you it’s hard but there are people in this world that walk miles for dirty water and what they have water wise even then is so limited, it does make you stop and think, fuuuuccck I’m so lucky.

So what do you do as a result for those children and other people without clean water? It's not enough to identify with them and sympathise with them, is it? Is money raised for water aid in Third World countries as a result?

Muslims are heavily encouraged to give to charity and there are many charities set up to support in just that, there are also many Muslim task forces that go out to the places they are trying to help and do the work/ support where they can.

Back to charity, Zakat is compulsory and 2.5% of your wealth, Sadaqa is voluntary charity and there are many charities set up to provide clean water, infrastructure, food, schools, medical equipment to communities that need it the most. If for some reason you can’t fast and pay the fidyah (£5/6 per day) then that along with zakat would be donated too.

Give it a rest. Have a look at what the Bible says on the same topics and you’ll see they are not so dissimilar. The point is people’s views are slowly changing, just as Christian’s slowly changed their views over the past 50 years.

I hope so but op doesn't seem to think so

No, OP has said the exact opposite…