Aibu not to know the birthplace of the Prophet Mohammed?

[Quodlibet]

Just that really. I was unaware until today.

But Muhajaba It says in the Qu'ran that muslims face the ka'aba during prayer. It even says muslims face Mecca because of the Ka'aba. So not sure why this is incorrect? If the ka'aba was moved to the west the direction of prayer would too.

Also I found it intolerant of you to say I was wrong when I gave you an opinion that I have studied through various Imams. I spent years studying Islam because I wanted to learn, travelled to Saudi Arabia and the entirety of the Middle East during my youth. etc. Not saying that makes my belief in what I say any more informed than yours - but I know enough that the interpretation of the Qu'ran does depend on local customs or traditions. If you can't read the original Arabic (or your Imam can't) how do you know you're getting a correct translation?

why did you say this then 'Muslims don't pray facing Mecca'

Most of us probably know it's Mecca. It is a good idea to have wide general knowledge if you can. Most of us will know about Jesus being born in Bethlehem too.

Birth places can becom quite important. In North Korea where their leaders have become almost God like they make a huge fuss about the original one being born on some big mountain which they virtually then worship whereas in fact born in some much less interesting place.

Men, men men... when will we reach a point of similar interest in women and women leaders? Now the older religions were much better at this, more equitable, fair, mother earth and all the rest before men stripped women of their power (and if there is a God I bet she wept when men took power away from women).

What an epiphany!

It's not a place that's under threat so why is it topical?

What about all those Christian sites being destroyed?

'You think that Mohammed's birthplace is an "incidental" part of the Muslim religion? Has it never occurred to you to wonder why Muslims always pray facing Mecca? Or why all Muslims are expected to make the pilgrimmage to Mecca once in their lifetime?'

You're digging yourself a deeper hole...
Mecca's primary significance is due to its holy sites, in particular the Kaaba.

Also, Jerusalem is the main destination of Christian pilgrimage (though pilgrimage isn't as important in the Christian tradition) due to the key events in the Easter story.... Jesus wasn't born there though!

(going waaaay back upthread) nothing odd about not wanting rligion in schools. It's a basic pedagogical principle in some European countries. To me, the idea of discussing Jesus at school rather than taking your kids to church if you want them to hear it is deep,y weird, but hey.

Astoria7974 I'm sorry that you feel I'm being intolerant but you have stated things that simply aren't true, basic knowledge of the history of the kaaba or even just a quick google search would tell you that
Also, someone who isn't able to read and understand the original Arabic of the Quran is not qualified to be an Imam, though I'm sure there are some out there that can't, maybe the ones you learnt from? Because you have been misinformed, sorry.

.... also, ask a Muslim why they pray towards Mecca and i bet only a tiny proportion will answer 'because Muhammad was born there'.

"This is not true, the existence of a man called Jesus, who was a religious teacher is fairly well accepted amongst scholars"

That used to be the case because they've been told that constantly for 2 thousand years and not allowed to question it without having their genitals chopped off but nowadays people are actually trying to look for evidence, and, lo and behold, there is none! As usual, many people will come up with excuses and claim rubbish like "well there must have been someone", because there must also have been a Mithra, a Zeus, etc. etc., but it'll all come out in the wash eventually.

Jesus was the maitre de at our holiday restaurant

Fact

Did you just ask for water and get him to turn it into wine for you?

I certainly did

And he was fairly lucky as he didnt have to walk around the edge of the swimming pool...just over it

Satan was an angel, therefore 'made' rather than born.

Is there a Satan/Lucifer equivalent in Islam?

Yes we have Satan too. Same God, same devil.

YANBU, although it's not really a question of reasonableness. I would have guessed at Mecca, but could have also guessed at Medina. I read a lot of history, and I would have certainly come across this fact, but wouldn't have taken the effort to store it. Just yesterday I finished a biography of Attlee, and I can't remember where he was born. I know where Churchill was born, but that's more central to his life story.

I've always thought the birth place is a bit of a bad plot device. The messiah has to be born in Bethlehem. Jesus is from Nazareth, so how about an empire wide census where everyone has to go back to their home towns?

People can place as much importance on religion as they wish, but they really don't get to insist that others should deem it important enough that not knowing the birthplace of someone important in a religion is a major failing

I don't place any importance on religion at all, but i do on knowledge, and this is fairly basic common knowledge. It's a minor failing, but it does speak to a lack of interest in some well known areas.

Same genesis story for Satan muhajaba? Fallen angel?

I don't place any importance on religion at all, but i do on knowledge, and this is fairly basic common knowledge. It's a minor failing, but it does speak to a lack of interest in some well known areas.

I disagree that the birthplace of Mohammed is "fairly basic common knowledge". I don't think that not knowing it displays a lack of interest in anything.

Why do I want a 'common knowledge' of something that I believe does not exist? It's a fairy story in my book - you might as well berate me for my lack of knowledge about a Hans Christian Anderson tale

I think you are mistaken about the nature of belief. A person existed, was born and died, whether you believe it or not. Whether that person did the things it is claimed or was what people believe him to be, that you can dispute and believe or not.
Real people who lived are not fairy tales, and your belief is immaterial.

IAmNotAWitch I believe the story is similar if not the same, it's been a very very long time since I read the Bible though, my knowledge of Christianity is rusty. There are differing views in Islam as to whether he is an angel or a jinn. But we do believe he is the same being that Christians believe in.

I don't deny there probably was a guy called Muhammad knocking around at that time and place. But he was just that to me, a guy, not God's messenger. That's where we depart into a fairy tale, and he becomes irrelevant to me. Ditto Jesus.

So what if its irrelevant? You should still know a bit about it all, the religion has an effect on politics and world events in a huge way.

YANBU if you're not Muslim - do you know where Buddha was born? But I'm trying to think how I knew it was Mecca... I guess from school?

Thanks muhajaba. I actually went off for a google (I am supposed to be studying but this is more fun!).

Yes, I would say the Islamic Iblis and the jinn are very similar to the Christian Lucifer and the demons.

It is very interesting I had a vague concept of the Abrahamic religions being similar but hadn't really given it much thought/consideration.

Learn something new every day!