I'm trying to understand Islam

Question:

OK so I have never been that religious, I do not even pray, but lately I have thinking about life in general, and a lot about religion and I want to learn more. Being in a western country so many people keep saying how " god doesn't exist, and its all fairy tales"... At one moment I was thinking about atheism, but something just hit me and I knew that life was actually worth something and there has to be some type of after life. Now I'm trying to understand Islam. I really do want to become a better muslim, but there are few things I need to understand about Islam. So first, how is Islam different then all of the other religions and do you think it is a "backwards religion" as some people call it? Do you believe science and religion can co-exist? I definitely believe in evolution but not in the sense that we were apes first and then became human. I think that the idea of natural selection and parts of evolution are definitely true. Lastly, the main thing I am having trouble grasping is why do bad things happen in this world? Especially with everything going on in Syria, it just breaks my heart to see so many people in pain! What would be an Islamic approach to this issue? Is it because god is testing them or have they done something bad? Or does this just go to show that there is a better world after this life. I'm trying really hard to figure all of this out and it would mean a lot if someone could help me! I would greatly appreciate it! Thank you so much! :)

Answered by IQRA Newsletter:

 1) How is Islam different then all of the other religions?
Islam is a way of life which means to surrender, submit and obey God in sincerity and in peace.

Read this: http://discoverislamaustralia.com/index.…

2) Do you think it is a "backwards religion" as some people call it?
Islam is not backwards.
"The religion of Allaah does not follow the whims and desires of anyone. Allaah is the One Who has created the universe and mankind, and He knows what is best for them in this life and in the Hereafter, so He issues commands and prohibitions for what is best for them in both realms."
{Islamqa, Fatwa no. 50687}

3) Do you believe science and religion can co-exist?
Please read "Quran and Modern Science" by Dr Zakir Naik:
 http://www.scribd.com/doc/10030165/Quran…

4) The main thing I am having trouble grasping is why do bad things happen in this world?
A must read! http://2inspireamuslim.blogspot.com/2011…


SOURCE:
Question answered in Yahoo Answers

A Question from a Non-Muslim

Question:

I have read the Qur'an and I found God doesn't like the non-believers and God is against the beliefs of Christians and Jews..but Muslims say Islam is Peace...well if the word Islam means Peace, why does have bad con-nations Islam in the world? where some people take the Qur'an and justified the Holy War.. like the surah 9 .. why is there a Holy war against the western besides the wars in middle east? I found all the conflicts even they are politics.. Islam is always part of it, like the conflicts among Christians and Muslims in Palestine, Lebanon and other Islamic countries.


Answer:


1. What is Islam?
Islam is a way of life which means to surrender, submit and obey God in sincerity and in peace.Thus, an individual who accepts Islam as his way of life must submit himself to the commands of God Almighty. A broader meaning of Islam is “attainment of peace by submitting one’s will to the will of God.”

2. Non-believers (Christians and Jews)
With regards to the verses concerning them, this were the non-believers who were either plotting to kill Muhammad peace be upon or wanting war. That is why those verses were revealed. It is not talking about non-believes in general.
Unlike the Bible which is straight forward, in order to read the Quran you must have knowledge of Islamic history, hadith and being able to speak with knowledgable muslims regarding any questions to understand it.

3. Holy War
There are Muslim who preach violence and unjust aggression. This has nothing to do with Islam, and therefore, a separation should be made between what Muslims do and what Islam as a religion dictates. The same separation should have been done between blaming Christianity instead of Christians who used to carry crosses and rape the women in Bosnia. Be careful from un-objective media that portrays Muslims as violent fanatics.

4. Islam always part of conflicts
It is true that the number of reports against Muslims and Muslim countries are numerous. However, the media is doing no justification in reporting as it only brings those cases that appear to be problematic. When a few of these cases are publicised, some people think that these acts are normal and everyday acts within Muslim countries.

It is true that there are “black sheep” in every community but the way Islam is depicted in the media makes it seem that every Muslim is a “black sheep.” When a Muslim commits a wrong, his religion is quickly accused and Islam creates headlines but when others commit similar acts, there is often no reports or the religion does not get mentioned. Milosevic and Hitler were guilty of mass murder and ethnic cleansing but their religions were never blamed.

According to Islam, every human being is innocent until proven guilty. Thus, blame cannot be placed on entire nations and communities because of one or a few individuals’ conducts. Similarly, just like Christianity cannot be judged by the actions of Adolf Hitler or Slobodan Milosevic, Islam cannot be judged by the actions of any Muslim or group of Muslims who have committed a crime or many criminal acts. If anyone wishes to judge Islam or to understand it better, they have to study its authentic sources– i.e. the Qur’aan and the practical exemplary way of the life of the
Prophet.

Media companies are not driven by a mission to educate but to gain profits. Hence profits decide the headlines at the end of the day. Islam urges everyone who wants to know more about Islam to study its sources rather than concentrate on media reports.

Thank you for your questions.



Source(s):
www.discoverislamaustralia.com
www.islamicity.com

Question asked in Yahoo Answers and answered by IQRA Newsletter

MISCONCEPTION: Islam was spread by the sword and is intolerant of other faiths

The image of an Arab horseman carrying a sword in one hand and the Quran in the other conquering and forcibly converting people is how some have portrayed the spread of Islam in the world during the Middle Ages. This, though, is not a correct portrayal of history. Islam has always given respect and freedom of religion to all faiths. The Quran says:

"God forbids you not, with regards to those who fight you not for [your] faith nor drive you out of your homes, from dealing kindly and justly with them; for God loves those who are just.”

[Quran 60:8]

Freedom of religion is laid down in the Quran itself:

"Let there be no compulsion in religion. Truth stands out clear from error; whoever rejects evil and believes in God has grasped the most trustworthy handhold that never breaks. And God hears and knows all things."

[Quran 2:256]

The Christian scholar, T.W. Arnold had this opinion on his study of the question of the spread of Islam:

"Of any organized attempt to force the acceptance of Islam on the non-Muslim population, or of any systematic persecution intended to stamp out the Christian religion, we hear nothing. Had the caliphs chosen to adopt either course of action, they might have swept away Christianity as easily as Ferdinand and Isabella drove Islam out of Spain, or Louis XIV made Protestantism penal in France, or the Jews were kept out of England for 350 years. The Eastern Churches in Asia were entirely cut off from communion with the rest of Christiandom, throughout which no one would have been found to lift a finger on their behalf, as heretical communions. So that the very survival of these Churches to the present day is a strong proof of the generally tolerant attitude of Mohammedan* [sic] governments towards them."

*[Please note: Where it is stated "Mohammedan", the correct word is Muslim. Muhammedan is incorrect as Muhammad is neither the founder of Islam nor is he worshipped by Muslims. The religion is Islam and those that follow Islam are Muslims.]

It is a function of Islamic law to protect the privileged status of minorities, and this is why non-Muslim places of worship have flourished all over the Islamic world. History provides many examples of Muslim tolerance towards other faiths: when the Caliph Omar entered Jerusalem in the year 634 CE, Islam granted freedom of worship to all religious communities in the city. Proclaiming to the inhabitants that their lives, and property were safe, and that their places of worship would never be taken from them, he asked the Christian patriarch Sophronius to
accompany him on a visit to all the holy places. Islamic law also permits non-Muslim minorities to set up their own courts, which implement family laws drawn up by the minorities themselves. The life and property of all citizens in an Islamic state are considered sacred whether the person is Muslim or not.

Racism is not a part of Islam, the Quran speaks only of human equality and how all peoples are equal in the sight of God.

"O mankind! We created you from a single soul, male and female, and made you into nations and tribes, so that you may come to know one another. Truly, the most honoured of you in God's sight is the greatest of you in piety. God is All-Knowing, All- Aware."

[Quran 49:13]

SOURCE:
http://www.discoverislamaustralia.com/

"Common Misconception"