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Subject:
The Line Between Good And Evil
David_Blue2002@yahoo.com.au
10/29/2001 4:13:56 PM
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| By the way, for a sympathetic look at what's happening in all religions today, I recommend one of my favorite sites: link
This site is very good if you are ever tempted to see Mulims as just a demonic other, bad guys and nothing else. The coverage of Islam is good.
Is it possible to think of woman like those below as "the enemy"? They're Americans exercising their freedom of religion, and trying to get nearer to God and do what's right in a confusing world. This is one of the great American quests. (From a discussion board ...)
And then there are the other types. :( And so it goes, back and forth. Aleksander Solzhenitsyn said the dividing line between good and evil was not between peoples but right down the middle of every human heart. One of the wisest things ever said.
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Bismallah.
Peace to all that read this. I am a muslim. Born & raised in the United States. I accepted Islam about 5 years ago. I must say that I am extremely saddened on what has happened in New York & what developments have taken place since September 11th. I now feel that I don't belong or I never have been welcome in the Muslim "ummah"(brotherhood/sisterhood). I havent went to a masjid since the world trade center bombing. It doesnt seem muslims here in the U.S. publicly are being sympathetic enough in the wake of this tragedy. Then again only Allah knows whats in our hearts. Since september 11th I have been on a mission trying to tell those that I know that what happened has nothing to do with Islam. That Islam is a religion of peace. I told them when they think of Islam think of me and the peaceful loving positivity I strive to represent. For the most part Alhumdillah I have been successful but I still feel they question Islam due to the lack of positive images in the mainstream. In light of all this I have now found myself asking these questions. Like what REALLY is the Islamic take on all this? I mean do the Muslims in Pakistan,Indonesia & other parts of the world realize that there are over 6 million Muslims that live here in the United States? Because I feel that when they chant "death to America" in their protests they want me, a Muslim, dead too. Do Muslims outside the United States realize that these "so called" Muslims killed hundreds of Muslims that day? Do people know that their are over 4000 Muslims who served in the United States military? Are Muslims who were born here in the United States(particularly like in my case i am one of those who arent of Arab or South Asian decent)considered true Muslims by rest of the world? I dont mean to sound ignorant but every expierience I have had since I have claimed to be Muslim I now question. Times in the past I have went to masjids & brothers won't shake my hand after salat, many times not feeling welcome. Times when I went to fundraisers or gave zakat at the masjid I now I cant help but wonder where that money was going to. Was it going to help organizations that would help kill the innocent people that are no longer here? In conclusion I am just very hurt & confused. Sometimes I wish I would have died on september 11th because it seems thats the day Islam I believed in went down with the world trade center. :(
p.s. by no means am I blind to the horrible atrocities that have been done to the people of Afghanistan, Kashmir, Cheyneya & throughout the middle east, but two wrongs dont make a right. The killing of innocent people!!? Doesnt Islam forbid this?
blacknight780
10/21/01 5:05 AM 2 out of 28
when they say death to america i don't think they mean the muslims as well :-)
NadjaOfNewark
10/22/01 4:15 PM 3 out of 28
On the other hand, somewhere between 600 and 1500 Muslims were murdered in the attacks on September 11th.
I don't know, I think I feel betrayed, too.
I have listened to people complain because the US didn't send military help to Bosnia. Then there are complaints because help was sent to Kosovo, Saudi, and Kuwait.
I don't know what to think anymore. I am following the fatwa of obeying my government and supporting the efforts to capture those responsible for the attacks.
I sometimes get the feeling that those of us in America are conveniently defined as "hypocrites" or "pretending to be Muslim" when we get in the way of someone in another country's political agenda.
I had a man here on this website accuse me of not really being a Muslim when I questioned the notion that the Taliban were somehow "purer" or "truer" to Islam than anyone else. After all, the founders of the madhabs and their followers never made any such claims.
I got the real feeling that he was working up to the notion that it would be OK to kill me, given that he had determined that I wasn't "Muslim enough."
I try to make my prayers, to follow the five pillars, to make nafl fasts occassionally - I hope to work up to two days a month, then two days a week.....
But I cannot standby "brothers" who |
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