Information, Advice And Discussion About Islam For Non-Muslims

[Friendly Muslim]

Hi Bendix - yes, thanks for sharing - and keep up the fasting. You said that you're fasting for the first time; I am just interested to know what that implies - are you observing Ramadan for the first time for religous reasons, or are you fasting for health reasons? Sorry to ask if you're not comfortable answering (you don't have to answer if you don't want to, of course) - I am just interested really.

 

Hi again Janus - I am brand new to Sheffield Forum so I don't understand how this all works, but I can certainly contribute more information if people want to learn. I can do a post on the five pilars, and then that can lead to a background on fasting and Ramadhan, as that seems most topical right now.

 

Thanks for your posts.

[Friendly Muslim]

The well-known concept of the ‘Five Pillars of Islam’ probably provides the best overview of the religion of Islam.

 

The Holy Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu alaihi wasssalam – salutations and peace be upon him) said, "Islam has been built on five (pillars): testifying that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, establishing the salah (prayer), paying the zakat (obligatory charity), making the hajj (pilgrimage) to the House, and fasting in Ramadhan."

 

In summary, Islam is based on:

• Testification/belief in Allah as One God and His Messenger Muhammad (sallallahu alaihi wasssalam – salutations and peace be upon him).
• Prayer.
• Charity.
• Fasting.
• Hajj - Pilgrimage to the Kaaba (the House of Allah) in Makkah.

I would normally go through belief, prayer and charity first, but we can move to fasting as we are in Ramadhan.  

 

A specific verse regarding fasting in the Holy Quran is “O you who believe, fasting has been prescribed for you, as it was prescribed for those before you, so that you may become righteous/God-fearing.”

 

This shows that the actual purpose of fasting is to make us more aware of Allah, improve our behaviour and become better people. In this regard, Islamic scholars teach us that fasting is not just about abstaining from food and other carnal desires, but it is also about refraining from hurtful gossip, arguments and confrontations.

 

Being charitable is also highly encouraged; many Muslims choose to calculate and pay their annual obligatory charity (another pillar of Islam) in Ramadhan and the Holy Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu alaihi wasssalam – salutations and peace be upon him) was reported to have been especially charitable in Ramadhan.  

[Friendly Muslim]

Another amazing thing about Ramadhan is that there is a very special night in this lunar month, which is the anniversary of the date on which the Holy Quran was revealed. This is the night in which the entire Holy Quran was brought down, or transferred, from the Protected Tablet (a heavenly tablet guarded by angels) to the skies of this world. From there, the Holy Quran was revealed incrementally to the Holy Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasssalam – salutations and peace be upon him)).

 

The Holy Quran itself refers to this night in Ramadhan as “a blessed night”, “the Night of Power” and describes this night as being “better than a thousand months” and “peace it is, until dawn”.

[Norbert]

On 16/05/2020 at 13:27, Friendly Muslim said:

Another amazing thing about Ramadhan is that there is a very special night in this lunar month, which is the anniversary of the date on which the Holy Quran was revealed. This is the night in which the entire Holy Quran was brought down, or transferred, from the Protected Tablet (a heavenly tablet guarded by angels) to the skies of this world. From there, the Holy Quran was revealed incrementally to the Holy Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasssalam – salutations and peace be upon him)).

 

The Holy Quran itself refers to this night in Ramadhan as “a blessed night”, “the Night of Power” and describes this night as being “better than a thousand months” and “peace it is, until dawn”.

I don’t mean to cause offence, but the strange occurrences of which you speak of sound similar to those of ufos, flat earthers, spiritualists, Mormons and countless other movements and cults which sensible people have no time for.

Should we give your claims special consideration?

[kaytie]

20 minutes ago, Norbert said:

I don’t mean to cause offence, but the strange occurrences of which you speak of sound similar to those of ufos, flat earthers, spiritualists, Mormons and countless other movements and cults which sensible people have no time for.

Should we give your claims special consideration?

No stranger imo than the visitation of an angel to Mary concerning her forthcoming happy event.    Virgin birth is in itself not an everyday occurrence. 

[Norbert]

5 minutes ago, kaytie said:

No stranger imo than the visitation of an angel to Mary concerning her forthcoming happy event.    Virgin birth is in itself not an everyday occurrence. 

I agree, it’s all very strange to modern ears with our knowledge of biology, genetics and the other sciences.

[Thorpist]

Personally speaking , I  have no need in my life for any sort of religion , however I do find it interesting looking at how religions have manipulated societies for thousands of years and how religious people buy into their version of god as the correct one.

Looking at what believers have done for the arts and crafts is absolutely fantastic.

From the pyramids, buddhist temples, mosques, cathedrals the list goes on , these places are a credit to man's ability to organise  and create.

It is a pity that all these things were built for the powerful as a tool  to manipulate the masses.

Among the powerful there has always been elements who use these tools to help society, but sadly the opposite is true that greedy nasty ones are always there.

To anyone who is a believer you have your faith and if you find solace in it good for you .

[bendix]

On 16/05/2020 at 11:13, Friendly Muslim said:

Hi Bendix - yes, thanks for sharing - and keep up the fasting. You said that you're fasting for the first time; I am just interested to know what that implies - are you observing Ramadan for the first time for religous reasons, or are you fasting for health reasons? Sorry to ask if you're not comfortable answering (you don't have to answer if you don't want to, of course) - I am just interested really.

 

Religious reasons. 

[Friendly Muslim]

57 minutes ago, bendix said:

Religious reasons. 

bendix - thanks for sharing, in that case, Ramadhan Kareem, I hope you enjoy it and keep it up.

[Friendly Muslim]

17 hours ago, Norbert said:

I agree, it’s all very strange to modern ears with our knowledge of biology, genetics and the other sciences.

Hi Norbert, thanks for you posts. I appreciate it can initially sound 'strange', rather than 'amazing', when you first hear such statements, particularly when you do not have enough context. So apologies from me for not providing enough background and going straight into the more religoius aspects of Ramadhan.

 

Islam is a an entirely rational religion and entirely evidence-based. I delivered a Zoom presentation last weekend, to friends, where I outlined several verses of the Holy Quran that inherently contain scientific information to a level that is as advanced as the understanding of modern experts, if not more. In many cases, modern leaders in their respective scientific fields and disciplines have reviewed the verses and confirmed that they conform to modern scientific understanding. I generally use this as evidence to illustrate that the Holy Quran is divinely inspired.

 

The specific topics I touched upon in my recent presentation are as as follows:

• Anatomical staging of the developing human embryo.
• Development of the faculties of hearing and sight in the developing human embryo.
• Structural geology and orography of the embedded structure of mountains.
• Chemical oceanography of certain local and global masses of water.

I can elaborate further or at least give you 'my favourite examples' if you or anyone else on here is interested. I do hope you would find that information interesting and enjoyable.