tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29480916.post8186418383378396868..comments2023-10-10T05:03:55.267-04:00Comments on May 14th Muslima: Just like the Christian Reform???may14muslimahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13725806919478486598noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29480916.post-16771716469852931532008-07-29T09:24:00.000-04:002008-07-29T09:24:00.000-04:00Jenny,I am wondering if you could discuss motherho...Jenny,<BR/><BR/>I am wondering if you could discuss motherhood or married life in Islam related to your experience as a convert.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29480916.post-5275778147785697972008-03-09T04:23:00.000-04:002008-03-09T04:23:00.000-04:00Sister Jenny,Before I make a comment on you though...Sister Jenny,<BR/>Before I make a comment on you thought provoking blog, could I ask you to maybe post some of the articles you were talking about? Or at least provide a link? I would be very interested in seeing what exactly is being criculated in the community.<BR/>Jazaki Allah Khair.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29480916.post-68482269349045164882008-03-07T13:34:00.000-05:002008-03-07T13:34:00.000-05:00Assalamu Alaikum sister Jenny,You said it best in ...<I>Assalamu Alaikum</I> sister Jenny,<BR/><BR/><BR/>You said it best in the following phrase:<BR/><BR/>"Such explanation of Islam and "change from the extremist view" (i.e. the Shariah) has been described as the equivalent to the Christian Reform in numerous of these articles. The Christian Reform eh?? One of the reasons I was so drawn to Islam was due to its consistancy and strong rootedness in the Quran. That the religion doesn't change, that it doesn't abandon teachings and values just to "fit in" and be more "easily accepted" by the mainstream."<BR/><BR/><BR/>I'd like to mention a book that deals specifically with this issue, sister Jenny. It was written by a Canadian revert to Islam; Haneef Oliver. Here are some details of this book:<BR/><BR/>Title: Sacred Freedom: Western Liberalist Ideologies in the Light of Islam. <BR/>Publisher: WestPoint Publishing<BR/>ISBN: 0977699609 <BR/><BR/><BR/>The following is from the introduction of this book [pages 1 and 2]:<BR/><BR/>"On a daily basis, we are being inundated with different kinds of manmade liberalist ideologies in the mainstream media. Because of the sheer volume and almost monotone voice of many media outlets, people are given the impression that these ideologies must be accepted by every living individual and society in the world today, and that the validity of these ideologies is not open to question.<BR/><BR/>At present, Westerners and liberalists in general are intrigued as to why people are still turning to Islaam for enlightenment in this modern age. This is particularly intriguing for those who are convinced that Islaam is something that impedes progress, and that Islaamic civilization has proven to be inferior to other civilizations as a result of its adherence to Islaam. This subject has been addressed in this book as a response to Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's remark that Islaamic civilization is "stuck where it was 1400 years ago" <B>1</B>.<BR/><BR/>I have also analyzed the two main reference points in Western humanist thinking throughout the book. The first of these is the belief that people are free and responsible for deciding their own actions, and therefore, that God should only have a personal, marginal place in their lives. The other important point of reference for Western policy and societal orientation is the belief that the opinion of the majority should act as mankind's principle criterion in shaping human behavior and legislation.<BR/><BR/>One of the major points of contention that liberalists have with Islaam is the reluctance the Muslim world has shown in embracing these two principles. Some liberalists take a more militant approach in trying to spread these two principles in the Muslim world, while others censure these tactics, hoping that more temperate policies will win the Muslims over to contemporary humanist values. Whatever the method, the message remains the same: Muslims must change their beliefs and eventually conform to this ever-changing series of humanist values.<BR/><BR/>After reading this book, the reader will be able to judge whether the devotion that people have towards these two principles is deserved, and whether there is any basis for people's opposition to the principles of Islaam."<BR/><BR/>-------------------------<BR/><B>1</B> Berlusconi: The West must conquer Islam, <I>Associated Press: Salon</I>, September 26, 2001."<BR/><BR/><BR/>There was one review [which was written by someone who's not a professional reviewer] that really made a big impact on me:<BR/><BR/>"<B>Thank you Haneef Oliver!<BR/>By datepalms6/5/2006 <BR/><BR/>Pros:</B><BR/>This book is the very opportunity for those of us who have been spoon fed to realize what we have been digesting may have never even tasted good...<BR/><BR/>In Sacred Freedom, Democracy is put in a practical petri dish. I realized while reading it how much of my little white western existence I have come to accept as good and true without knowledge of its origin or without questioning its validity. This is truly an encouraging work; one that supports those who want to re-evalute not WHAT they stand for but what they WANT to stand for. As the author illustrates, it is more than possible we have bought into a system that is consistently flawed, despite the fact we call it "freedom." <BR/><BR/>Another distinctive point Oliver makes is that any one of us who believes in God as the All Encompasing Creator has to come to terms with the fact that not one of us created beings can come up with a better solution or legislation for mankind than the one who created us. After all, who knows better: a man who forgets or the All Knowing One? <BR/><BR/>When will we (and I mean westerners) understand that just because our parents, our teachers, our brothers, our sisters, our relatives, our neighbors, our close friends, our founding fathers, our ancestors, our clergy men, our service men, our reporters, our newscasters, our baby sitters, our bus drivers, our congressmen, and our country did it, said it, saw it, lived it, wrote it, shared it, learned it, reported it, supported it, lobbied it, passed it, controlled it, conspired it, conceived it, acheived it, exemplified it, extorted it, and exported it DOES NOT MAKE IT RIGHT!!!<BR/><BR/>And especially in the case of Silvio Berlusconi; if he said it, then well... you'll have to read the book. <BR/><BR/><B>Cons:</B><BR/>This has actually turned out to be another pro- After finishing the book I was forced to reconcile what I thought was a Christian upbringing with a truly Godless subsistence. <BR/><BR/><B>Comments:</B><BR/>There is a lot of this book that Muslims can appreciate, though it appeals to a much wider audience of non Muslims.<BR/>"Who hears the Verses of Allâh (being) recited to him, yet persists with pride as if he heard them not...." (Al-Jathiyah - 45:8)"<BR/><BR/>Source: http://shopping.msn.com/Reviews/shp/?itemId=264871876<BR/><BR/><BR/>You should also watch this lecture by brother Adur Raheem Green entitled "Islam and Democracy":<BR/><BR/>http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=7548500044789176100<BR/><BR/><BR/>Regards,<BR/><BR/>Your anonymous brother in IslamAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com