Teddybear45
Except I’m half Arab half Asian as indicated in my previous post. And both sides read, write and understand the teachings of the Quraan to a good level. And Arabs aren’t 1% of the Muslim world...
In fact I haven’t seen any other religion emphasise on teaching the original language of the holy scriptures around all its followers. Which does mean most of us read and write the language, and understand the teachings from all the translated books and the Friday sermons and the widely available Islamic circles widely spread across even the poorest parts of the Muslim world.
We have a diverse understanding of the teaching due to the diverse cultural background of the followers And that is the point in being from different languages and backgrounds. It’s a very inclusive religion so please do not paint it as otherwise.
يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِنَّا خَلَقْنَاكُم مِّن ذَكَرٍ وَأُنثَىٰ وَجَعَلْنَاكُمْ شُعُوبًا وَقَبَائِلَ لِتَعَارَفُوا ۚ إِنَّ أَكْرَمَكُمْ عِندَ اللَّهِ أَتْقَاكُمْ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَلِيمٌ خَبِيرٌ (13)
“O mankind, indeed We have created you from male and female and made you peoples and tribes that you may know one another. Indeed, the most noble of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you. Indeed, Allah is Knowing and Acquainted.”
Even Arabs don’t learn language from the classical texts alone and get taught all the context and interpretations by “people of knowledge”. Which is what introduces multiple interpretations of the rulings. But the Essence of the actual intellectual understanding of God is all non requiring of any middle man and can be directly derived by the individual who learnt the basic language or read its basic translation.. which is again the point, to remove any needs of mediation.
Only the rulings require “people of knowledge” and in depth understanding and whether you are an Arab or a non Arab, You still need to learn the context of the rulings and how it applies to you. The language is irrelevant to anyone but the one teaching it unless you want to do your own verification which again is widely available.
So yes, Islam is only One. There are multiple interpretations of the specific lifestyle “rulings” which is actually encouraged by the religion to be inclusive. As for matters of understanding the spiritual parts it’s one. There has been divisions just like in Christianity about the concept of diety, but the source of teaching that is pretty clear, non changing, and only one.
The ruling interpretation for women differ just like they do for men. Based on who and where is teaching it and based on the individual female circumstance.
In any case, I agree this debate is infertile. I won’t be discussing points raised by PP about Islam and their perception of it. But majority what I’m reading is assumption and extrapolations and biased..
If anyone interested to know details you’re welcome to PM me. Happy to debate and use my “critical thinking” and be questions about fundamentals of my faith. As in fact unlike most religions, we are encouraged to do that to reach our own individual understanding.
As far the debate is concerned... well yeh, I’m not sure what “Islam is right about women” mean. Sounds like it’s pushing an agenda nothing more. Because
1- what DO YOU think Islam says about women?
2- which women are we talking about ?!
Islam does talk about human nature in general. And yeh as a Muslim I’m inclined to agree Islam is right about human nature, because by default being a Muslim I believe the creator knows his creation. But Islam has rulings for men and women which differ in some areas about how to please god.. doesn’t really define any individual as these rulings are indeed breakable depending on circumstances, as identified by the religion itself. We will be gathered together on the day of judgement men and women, judged on the exact same thing.. there is no judgement day for men or for women.. there’s for humans.
A statement that says “Islam is right about men” is equally confusing. It actually means nothing.
As for the argument that you judge a religion by its followers.. while admit the western Christian world seems to be doing well for itself in terms of justice.. facilitated by a preceding era of massacres, invasions and stealing resources and so being on top of the game now seems like the best way to not behave like a survival of the fittest jungle.. but there has been many eras before, where this hasn’t been the case.
Judaism isn’t in my book best judged by its current followers either.
And as a Muslim, I’m instructed to not judge either Christianity or Judaism by its followers and instead by its governing theology. Which I have great respect for.
I do judge the followers for what they’re doing but this doesn’t have any direct relation to their godly teachings. It is more about their own understanding and those circumstances.
The Muslim world has been a desperate world. Thanks to all the colonial acts of “good will”. It has been on survival mode. Islam also teaches us to eat pork when there’s is no other food. That the rules are breakable when human needs are vulnerable. It teaches us it’s ok to denounce god if under torture.
So if a Muslim community was eating pork, it does not mean Islam teaches to eat pork. And if a Muslim community denounced god because they’re under torture, it does not mean Islam teaches it’s ok to not believe in god.
So I’m afraid, you just can’t judge a religion by its followers. Even if every single Muslim in this era was doing the exact same thing, I would first see the context. They might not even be practicing their faith and just Muslim by name, just like how many pedos and criminals are of all sorts of religions.
They might have mental issues and a “messiah complex” born out of being raised in . Again blame God all you want, or look at history and blame your own colonial invasions. It’s a matter of perception.
Back to the main topic:
“Islam is right about women”
As a Muslim women, I think that’s just a “clickbait”.