Daniel J. Pipes

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It's is absolutely reality, not fiction

Reader comment on item: Islam in American Textbooks
in response to reader comment: fiction - no matter how plausible, is still fiction.

Submitted by Shaji (United Arab Emirates), Apr 2, 2009 at 03:58

Grand Infide, I am sure you haven't made any attempt to approach Islam with a clear and unprejudiced mind.

Actually I don't have to rationalize my belief to remain Muslim and to convey the message of Islam. It is already clarified by Qur'an and Sunnah through Prophet (peace be upon him). I am only trying to remove the misconceptions about this religion. It is the most misunderstood religion today. It has been maliciously presented in order to keep public away from true principles and in fact, it is the religion taught by all the Prophets (peace be upon them all), that is towards ONE GOD and worship HIM ALONE.

The problem you face, and all other critics of Islam do, is to interpret Qur'an and authentic Sunnah according to their own wish. As usual like those critics, this is evident from you also. One must understand Islam from Qur'an and Sunnah. The best teacher and interpreter of both was Prophet (peace be upon him) himself. His followers learnt Islam from him and spread to the whole world. We living in many centuries later, must understand Islam how those righteous predecessors (called Salaf, pious followers till 3rd generation, as certified by Prophet) understood and followed it. Without knowing the background of instructions of Prophet (peace be upon him) and how it is practiced by these predecessors, present-day critics do grave mistake with their own "misinterpretations" to attain their wicked benefits.

Their intention and purpose is to malign and nothing else. Regarding "camel's urine", I already clarified, it was proposed by prophet to certain people that time for some illness and those people got cured through that. Now see, his followers never understood this instruction to be followed whenever they have stomach discomforts or other unknown illness. It was meant that time when no alternative was available. I already mentioned some research reports on camel's urine found therapeutic ingredients in it. Also remember, science and understandings of today may change tomorrow and who knows new discoveries will not be made on what you find "unacceptable" today.

Regarding Prophet's (peace be upon him) marriage with Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her), I tried to clarify with culture in Semitic traditions, wisdom behind that marriage and with age factor in small detail. It seems you are not convinced and you don't want to ponder over the traditions. You are more inclined with Freudian thoughts. Many Muslims scholars already explained this matter, I will repeat it.

See an article entitled Puberty in Girls (http://www.public.health.wa.gov.au/hp2107.htm) by your own country (Australian government Public Health organization), says:

The first sign of puberty is usually a surge of growth: you become taller; your breasts develop; hair begins to grow in the pubic area and under the arms. This may start from 10 years to 14 years - even earlier for some and later for others.

This completely refutes your argument that there is no maturity difference among different people.

An article Physical Changes in Girls During Puberty (http://www.chmc.org/aboutchi/infoline/girls.htm) has this to say:

During puberty, a girl's body changes, inside and out, into the body of a woman. The changes don't come all at once, and they don't happen at the same time for everybody. Most girls start showing physical changes around age 11, but everyone has her own internal schedule for development. It's normal for changes to start as early as 8 or 9 years of age, or not until 13 or 14. Even if nothing looks or feels different yet, the changes may have already begun inside your body.

Many will readily agree with the information above, but still might harbour reservations about whether a marriage to an older man could be happy for such a young girl. The marriage of Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) and the Prophet (peace be upon him) was a mutually happy and loving one as in expressed in numerous Hadith and biography books. That happy marriages occur between people with a fairly large difference in ages is known among psychologists (from Theodor H. Vandevelde, Ideal Marriage: Its Physiology and Technique, Greenwood Publishing Group, 1980, p. 243.):

When the differences (in ages) is great, e.g. exceeds fifteen to twenty years, the results may be happier. The marriage of an elderly (senescent) not, of course, an old (senile) man to a quite young girl, is often very successful and harmonious. The bride is immediately introduced and accustomed to moderate sexual intercourse.

This topic can be explained in further detail. I will do it as per your response.

Regarding Comforter, followers of many religions have their own way of proving their belief. But let us analyze the scriptures to get the truth. If others are able to explain with the base of scriptures, we must evaluate how true is their arguments. I explained in detail about Muslim argument about the "comforter" in my reply to Mr. Lactantius Jr., http://www.danielpipes.org/comments/152892. Hope you will read it.

Mr. GIK, keep in mind, social practices and its acceptability is different among people even in the same country itself. Then how you compare such differences between nations…??. Right and wrong among such practices depends on religion, traditions and many other factors. That's why Islam speaks about God in providing guidance to mankind, wherever you are, irrespective of your cast, color, race, tribe or nation, you must follow God's divine guidance. This is what Qur'an says in 49:13 – "O mankind! We created you from a single (pair) of a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that ye may know each other (not that ye may despise (each other). Verily the most honoured of you in the sight of Allah is (he who is) the most righteous of you. And Allah has full knowledge and is well acquainted (with all things)".

Whether Islam is supreme or not, Qur'an has the answer. It says in 9:33 – "It is He Who hath sent His Messenger with guidance and the Religion of Truth, to proclaim it over all religion, even though the Pagans may detest (it)."

My friend, I would request you to go through Qur'an. You will find hereafter life is a reality. It is duty of every Muslim to convey the truth. Qur'aan says in 16:125 – "Invite (all) to the Way of thy Lord with wisdom and beautiful preaching; and argue with them in ways that are best and most gracious: for thy Lord knoweth best, who have strayed from His Path, and who receive guidance." Hope you got why I sit with you and it depends on my convenience. Qur'aan says in 2:286 – "On no soul doth ALLAH Place a burden greater than it can bear."

If Allah wishes, you will reach the truth.

May Allah helps to understand and follow the truth (Amen).

Shaji


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Note: Opinions expressed in comments are those of the authors alone and not necessarily those of Daniel Pipes. Original writing only, please. Comments are screened and in some cases edited before posting. Reasoned disagreement is welcome but not comments that are scurrilous, off-topic, commercial, disparaging religions, or otherwise inappropriate. For complete regulations, see the "Guidelines for Reader Comments".

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