Interesting Islamic Facts
The Majority of muslims do not live in the middle East. The most populous muslim country is Indonesia, the 4th largest country in the world with 184 million muslims
There are more muslims in India than the combined population of Syria, Iraq, Jordan, Palestine and the whole of the Arabian Peninsula.
The following English words are borrowed from Arabic: Algebra, Zero, Cotton, Sofa, Rice, Candy, Safron, Balcony. And even 'alchohol' derives from Arabic : al-kuhl meaning powder. These are just a few mentioned here.
The first treatise on smallpox and measles was written by Abu Bakr alrazi (c.864-925,known to Europe as Rhazes). (Due to this) Inoculation agianst smallpox became a common practise in muslim lands. Despite this , Scientific text book credit the invention of a smallpox vaccine to Edward Jenner.(1749-1823).
Early Oxbridge students studied books written by muslims on mathematics, medicine, chemistry, optics and astronomy.
Adelard of Bath (a city in the UK) was a leading scholar of the middle ages. what made him famous was translating the word of muslim scientists from Arabic to latin!
The 1860 city records of Cardiff (UK) show a masjid in operation in a converted building at 2 Glynrhondda St. Yemani sea men on their trips between Aden (in Yemen) and Cardiff founded this masjid.
The first purpose built masjid is claimed to be in Woking (South of England) with money provided by the ruler of Bhopal, in India (the Shah Jehan masjid was built in 1889).
The Islamic calender is based on the phases of the moon, with it being approximately 11 days shorter than the 365 days of the year in the Julien calender. Hence, the dates of our festivals move through the year.
The grand doors of our prophets (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) masjid in Medina weigh 2 and half tonnes each! Enormous quantities of "sag wood" was gathered from all over the world and shipped to the united kingdom to be dryed in computerised furnaces (the traditional drying process would have taken many years!). Even then , it took 5 months to dry the wood! the wood was then shipped to Barcelona (Spain), Where the main body of the doors where made. And finally the French even paid their little part, as the brass ornamentation was carried out in the city of Roi (France). Next time you visit the holy masjid, keep this entire in mind!
The Zam Zam well came into existance at the time of prophets Ibrahim and Ismail (alayhum salam). It then "dissapeared" for nearly 26 centuries (2600 years) due to the certain events and was rediscovered and dug by the grandfather of our beloved prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam). The location of the well was revealed to him in a dream.
It was only in 1932 the Kiswah (cloth of the Ka'bah) was wholly made by Saudis (citizens of Saudi Arabia).
The roof top of our prophet's (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) masjid in Madina is disigned to be strong enough to carry addtional floors in the future.
The black stone (as it is known), Cannot really be described in full, because the parts we touch with our hands and "Kiss" , are eight small pieces, the biggest of which is the size of a date.
Adam (alayhis salam) was 30 Ziraa tall. Ziraa is a measurement and one Ziraa is approximately half a metrE
date founded
622 CE
place founded
Mecca, Saudi Arabia
founder
Muhammad, an Arabian camel driver
adherents
1.3 billion {Adherents.com}
size rank
second largest in the world
main location
Middle East and North Africa
major sects and denominations
Sunni and Shiite; Sufi is a mystical branch
sacred text
Qur'an (Koran)
original language
Arabic
religious professionals
sheikh; imam (Shi'ite)
house of worship
mosque
type of theism
strict monotheism
ultimate reality
God (Allah in Arabic); the same God revealed in the Jewish and Christian Bibles
human nature
Born in a state of purity, imperfect but capable of seeking God and doing good
purpose of life
Submit to the will of Allah and attain paradise after death
how to live
Follow the Qur'an, Hadith and Five Pillars of Islam
afterlife
Resurrection of body and soul followed by eternal paradise or hell
symbol
crescent moon and star
major holidays
Ramadan - month long, begins Oct. 16, 2004
Eid al-Fitr - Festival of Breaking the Fast
Hijra - week long; begins 1 Muharram
Eid al-Adha - Festival of Sacrifice
Five Pillars
1. Confession of faith (shahada)
2. Daily prayer (salat)
3. Alms tax (zakat)
4. Pilgrimage to Mecca (hajj)
5. Fasting during Ramadan (sawm)
Seveners
Shi'ite denomination holding that the legitimate line of imams ended with the seventh.
Twelvers
Majority Shi'ite denomination that reveres the Twelve Imams.
Twelve Imams
1. Ali
2. Al-Hasan
3. al-Husain
4. Ali Zayn al-Abidin
5. Muhammad al-Baqir
6. Ja'far al-Sadiq
7. Musa al-Kazim
8. Ali al-Rida
9. Muhammad al-Taqi
10. Ali al-Naqi
11. al-Hasan al-Askari
12. Muhammad al-Mahdi
Did you know that cow's milk has a cure for every illness in it?
Yes, it's true! On the authority of 'Abdullaah ibn Mas'ood (may Allaah be pleased with him), the Prophet (sallallaahu 'alayhe wa sallam) said:
"Drink cow's milk! For verily it (the cow) eats from all kinds of vegetation, and it (the milk) is a cure for every illness." [1]
* * *
Did you know that one of the Companions was reported to have lived 250 years?
It's true! It has been reported that Salmaan Al-Faarisee (may Allaah be pleased with him) lived 250 years. Some reports even say 350 years. [2] However, this seems unlikely due to the statement of the Prophet (sallallaahu 'alayhe wa sallam):
"The lifespans (of the members) of my ummah are between 60 and 70 (years). Few live beyond this." [3]
A number of scholars rejected the reports about Salmaan al-Faarisee living 250 years, like Ath-Thahabee, since there are no connected chains to any of them. He suggested that Salmaan probably did not live past his seventies [2], and Allaah knows best.
* * *
Did you know that there is a kind of kufr (disbelief) that is obligatory on every Muslim?
Yes, there is. In fact, one can not be a Muslim without commiting this act of disbelief. It is the disbelief that Allaah refers to in the Verse [4]:
( So whoever disbelieves in the taaghoot (those worshipped other than Allaah) and believes in Allaah, verily he has grabbed hold of the most trustworthy handhold that will never break. )
It is a condition for a person's acceptance of Islaam that he disbelieves in everything that is worshipped besides Allaah, as belief in Allaah along with other deities has not caused a person to enter into Islaam. This is the essence of a Muslim's testimony of faith: Laa ilaaha ill-Allaah, meaning: "There is nothing worthy of worship except Allaah."
* * *
Did you know that there are Muslims who claim to have the same level of faith as the angels and prophets?
Yes, there are. They are a group of innovators called the Murji'ah. The Murji'ah claim that eemaan (faith) is one level, it does not increase or decrease. Based on this, they claim that a person either has eemaan or not; so whoever has it, he has the same amount of eemaan as the angels and the prophets!
Of course, the Murji'ah's beliefs are rejected by many Verses in the Qur'aan and narrations from the Messenger that prove that eemaan has levels and it fluxuates due to a person's obedience or disobedience. For example, Allaah says [5]:
( Verily the believers are only those whose hearts tremble at the mention of Allaah, and when His Verses are recited they are increased in eemaan, and they put their trust in Allaah )
So the Qur'aan proves clearly that eemaan increases. As for the decrease of eemaan, Sufyaan ibn 'Uyaynah was asked, "Does eemaan increase and decrease?"
He replied, "Don't you read the Qur'aan: ( So their eemaan was increased ) in so many places?"
Then it was said, "But does it decrease?"
He replied, "Nothing increases except that it also decreases!" [6]
This shows how ridiculous it is to believe that eemaan does not increase or decrease, which implies that the drunk, fornicating Muslim has the same level of eemaan as the righteous Muslims, the Prophets, and even the Angels!
* * *
Did you know that the Prophet's favorite color was green (sallallaahu 'alayhe wa sallam)?
Yes, it's true! Anas ibn Maalik (may Allaah be pleased with him) said, "The most beloved color to the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu 'alayhe wa sallam) was GREEN
Islam is NOT an inheritance nor a set of empty rituals, nor a simple testimony as widely believed in the traditional so-called islamic world. Islam is a life long actual identifiable process.
Islam is much much more and has a much broader meaning than the traditional false concept of the five pillars of islam.
That is in addition to the fact that these concepts themselves have been greatly distorted and abused for the longest time, the thing that you may have already began to realize or should realize shortly.
It will not be an easy ride, to some people, it will be strange and shocking but, soon enough, if you continue to free yourself and sincerely desire and seek GOD'S guidance, you will feel like you are being born again, with a pure clear vision in real freedom.
You will realize how devastating these false and wrongful concepts have been to you and to people around you, and you will surely realize how much people can be dominated and emotionally wrongfully and unjustly enslaved in the name of GOD, HIS message, and HIS messenger, and in the name of religion in general.
Islam is best described as a pyramid layers/levels instead of Pillars and corners... why?
Because, Islam is the our sacred, most noble method of duty in worshiping the GOD almighty and is the logical, rational, sensible, free, intellectual, progressive, COMPOUNDING and elevating process of freedom, peace, justice, guidance, redemption, righteousness, best deeds, and salvation.
Islam is the straight path of truth and justice, and the way of Ibramih, moses, Jesus, Ahmad and all prophets and messengers. Islam is the ONLY WAY to worshiping GOD in truth and in pure sincere monotheism.
Islam is the progressive process of going forward AND upward, a process that is best represented by the ladder looking sides of the pyramid.
The Islamic life-long progressive process is just like constructing house of faith to worship the GOD in sincere monotheism and in freedom, peace, and justice... a house of reverence that is founded on reverence.
The size and the height of each level depends on the level below it.
You need to be aware of the fact that the Suni and Shia so-called pillars of Islam are wrong... how?
(1) Due to the nature of Islam as being a natural gradual progressive life-long process... it is better described as phases now pillars.
(2)The pillars term is better used to illustrate the true religion which happens to be freedom, peace, and justice... the three pillars of true religion and that you can read about here.
(3)Islam is the way to believing in GOD, His message, and His messenger etc, not the other way around. In another word, Islam leads to believing, but there is No believing without establishing the Islamic process. That fact proves that the Sunni and Shia believe of witnessing that there is no GOD but GOD and that muhammad his messenger" as being a condition to being a Muslim is not only wrong, but a grave lie.
(4) As you will notice, the Sunni and Shia so-called pillars of Islam leave out some of the major fundamental vital aspects of the Islamic Process.
**********************
Based on good virtues, Islam Starts with the real distinguishable process of #REVERING the GOD the creator, provider, and sustainer of the whole universe, #REPENTING from obvious wrong and bad ways (sin) , #DESIRING to seek HIS guidance, #FOLLOWING HIS guidance, #BELIEVING in HIM, HIS book, HIS messenger, and the day of Judgment, #REACHING-OUT to HIM, and ultimately achieving the #PURIFICATION of the mind, soul.
THE ENTIRE PROCESS IS THE PROCESS OF GOOD AND BEST DEEDS AND SALVATION.
They are compounding in a sense that they continue to increase as they develop, and every phase continues to increase and strengthen with time.
THE COMPOUNDING, NATURAL, GRADUAL, RIGHTFUL, LOGICAL, SENSIBLE, RATIONAL, JUST, BALANCED, RIGHTEOUS, VIRTEOUS, MOST NOBLE, INTELLECTUAL, BEST CHOICE, ELEVATING PROGRESSIVE PROCESS OF "FULFILLING"OUR"DUTY TO GOD" BY THE METHODISLAM ********
(1)
REVERING THE GOD (TAQWA)
(2)
REPENTING FROM THE OBVIOUS WRONG
BAD WAYS (SIN) (TAWBAH)
(3)
DESIRING AND SEEKING HIS GUIDANCE
(MASHI-ATO IL-HIDAIAH)
(4)
FOLLOWING HIS GUIDANCE (ITI'BA)
(5)
BELIEVING IN HIM (IMAAN)
(6)
REACHING-OUT TO HIM (ESTABLISHING SALAT)
(7)
PURIFICATION OF THE MINDE, SOUL,
AND DEEDS (ACHIEVING ZAKAT)
Simply, this is the REAL ACTUAL GENUINE PRACTICAL TRUE VERIFIABLE IRREFUTABLE meaning of Islam. Pay good attention to how every CONCEPT/PHASE is mentioned repeatedly all over the book of GOD... these are the MAIN GREAT MAJOR FUNDAMENTAL PHASES of the Islamic Process.
Please be aware of the following major aspect of this concept/reality and the nature of the process.
1) Is the fact that from the start of the first phase/concept of revering GOD process, there will be some degree of other concepts, and the same goes for the rest of the phases. The above just shows the natural major and dominate concept and the natural logical sequence.
For example, although there is a degree of purification in the concept of reverencing GOD, the real major purification will be after believing in HIM and after the establishing of the reaching-out to HIM process.
IN ANOTHER WORD, YOU CAN NOT REPENT FROM YOUR WRONFGUL WAYS UNTIL YOU REVERE GOD, AND YOU CAN NOT DESIRE HIS GUIDANCE IF YOU DO NOT REPENT FROM YOUR WROGFUL WAYS, AND YOU CAN NOT FOLLOW HIS GUIDANCE IF YOU DID NOT DESIRE HIS GUIDANCE TO DESERVE AND GAIN HIS GUIDANCE IN THE FIRST PLACE AND SO ON AND SO FORTH.
2) Revering GOD will continue to increase as the individual progress from one phase to the next one, in another word, the more you reverence, the more you will repent, and vise versa, and the more you repent, the more you will be able to desire and seek GOD'S guidance, and the more you desire GOD'S guidance, the more you will follow the guidance, and the more you follow GOD'S guidance the more you will believe in HIM and so on and so forth.
3) Every phase springs from the phase before it and confirms it. That mean, a real true reverence will result in repentance and repentance in retrospect confirms revernce. Repentance will naturally be followed by desiring and seeking GOD'S guidance, and desiring GOD"S guidance confirm the reverence and the repentence and so on and so forth with the rest of the phases.
A STABLE WELL-FOUNDED PYRAMID ILLUSTRATING THE ISLAMIC ASCENDING PROCESS.
That is all verifiable by and consistent with GOD'S message/verses in HIS book, and if you are sincere and serious in your desire to realize the truth, you simply can NOT miss it, and when you do, you will realize the magnitudeof its implications and you will realize the falsehood of the tradtional five pillars of Islam we inherited from our ancestors!
What a logical great sensible religion and what a great logical sensible concept!
I don't know what happened back in history, be it a horrible lie and conspiracy and evil-scheme or anything else, the fact remains that the traditional Islamic Five Pillars of Islam Myth have had a devastating horrible effect and implications in misguiding the people and in obscuring and undermining the TRUTHFUL GREAT GENUINE PURE and POWERFUL meaning of Islam!
As usual, for the sake of deception, falsehood is best mixed with the right amount of truth to achieve maximum result of deception, and what a result they achieved... whomever the people that were behind it.
For all of you who say how could the entire so-called Muslim people fall for such a lie and never notice it I say, the same way the Christians fall for the idea that Jesus was a GOD and a son of GOD, and the same way bani-Israel -and right after having been saved by the GOD through HIS messenger- started worshiping the Golden calf.
Just like many other facts that gets distorted in a matter of hours not ever days, weeks, months, years, decades, centuries, and milleniums.
According to the false traditional Five pillars of Islam concept, one would have to believe in GOD, HIS Book, and HIS messenger to be a Muslim. That concept simply contradicts the verse in the book of GOD that makes it clear that Islam is the WAY to believing.
[49:14] The A'rabs say, "We believe." Say, you did not believe, just say 'We established the Islamic process,' and you WILL KNOW when faith enters your hearts. But if ye obey Allah and His Messenger, He will not belittle aught of your deeds: for Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful."
Now Just imagine how false and unjust the traditional believe is in distorting the truth and by excluding many actual Muslims from the circle of Islam and worse yet accusing them of rejecting the truth while including every ignorant, every rejector, and every hypocrite who simply say he is a Muslim, does some rituals, or simply born to a so-called Muslim family!
I know one thing for sure and that is the FACT that messenger Ahmad was innocent of all of that, just like he is innocent from many of the sayings and doings they contributed to him just like Jesus is innocent from the claim that he is the actual GOD and a son of GOD as widely believed.
One More Example To illustrate the process
It is like an advanced space plane/rocket... that has 7 engines. you Fire the first two engines, (the gradual process of refering GOD and repenting of your wrongful ways) that will move you to the runway, then you fire two more engines (the desire of GOD'S guidance and the following of HIS guidance) that will help you to make that fast speed on the runway, and just before take off you fire that 5th engine (Believing in GOD and HIS book, and HIS messenger) that will help you take off, and when in midair you fire that 6th engine (that is the process of reaching-out to GOD process) which well propel you into deep space where you will break through the ozone layer where there is zero gravity (no nonsense, no confusion, no doubts and no falsehood) and where you will fire that one last required engine (Purification of the soul) which will propel you into much much more speed and much much higher rankings!
So you see, this is just an example but it best illustrate the Islamic process, it is literally and spiritually an elevating process... while people remain in ignorance and confusion, you will make leaps after leaps into wisdom and enlightenment and all that comes with it.
Having said that, obviously, by its nature, you will not fully realize it until you experience it.
There you have it, just maintain your sincerity and humbleness and you will SURELY AND GRADUALLY REALIZE the truthfulness of what is being mentioned here in this website, it will all come together, one issue after another and one step at a time.
I promise you, if you maintain your Freedom, peace, and justice, if you continue to be sincere and humble yourself, if you continue to revere the great GOD and Repent from your sins such as arrogance, crookedness, carelessness , if you continue to free yourself from all kinds of idols, and if you continue to DESIRE and seek the truth, you WILL gradually deserve and gain GOD'S utmost precious, utmost beneficial, utmost vital, and utmost rewarding unequaled and undescribable guidance, and it will all be very REAL AND CLEAR.
You will be extremely amazed and you will appreciate how powerful and sombering the truth can be, and you will continue to feel that you are being liberated from the bondage of ignorance and falsehood therefore from evil, Injustice, and corruption and you will witness yourself being elevated to a higher status more than you can imagine.
Naturally, you have to experience it to appreciate it and believe it, but I assure you and promise you that it is there for anyone who choose to revere the GOD ,repent, and be as sincere as they can be in desiring and seeking GOD'S most rewarding guidance.
This the progressive verifiable process of the PURE GENUINE ISLAM based on the ultimate CRITERION.... The GREAT book of GOD.
This is the reality of the Seven phases of Islam vs the false tradtion five pillars of Islam.
) "Islam" means "peace through the submission to God".
2) "Muslim" means "anyone or anything that submits itself to the will of God".
3) Islam is not a cult. Its followers number over 1.5 billion worldwide. Along with Judaism and Christianity, it is considered to be one of the three Abrahamic traditions.
4) There are five pillars of practice in Islam. These practices must be undertaken with the best of effort in order to be considered a true Muslim: A) Shahadah - declaration of faith in the oneness of God and that Muhammad is the last prophet of God. B) Formal prayer five times a day. C) Fasting during the daylight hours in the month of Ramadan. D) Poor-due "tax" - 2.5% of one's savings given to the needy at the end of each year. E) Pilgrimage to Mecca at least once, if physically and financially able.
5) There are six articles of faith in Islam. These are the basic beliefs that one must have in order to be considered a true Muslim. They are belief in: A) the One God. B) all the prophets of God. C) the original scriptures revealed to Prophets Moses, David, Jesus, and Muhammad. D) the angels. E) the Day of Judgment and the Hereafter. F) the divine decree (or destiny).
6) Islam is a complete way of life that governs all facets of life: moral, spiritual, social, political, economical, intellectual, etc.
7) Islam is one of the fastest growing religions in the world. To become Muslim, a person of any race or culture must say a simple statement, the shahadah, that bears witness to the belief in the One God and that Prophet Muhammad was the last prophet of God.
8) "Allah" is an Arabic word that means "God". Muslims also believe that "Allah" is the personal name of God.
9) Allah is not the God of Muslims only. He is the God of all people and all creation. Just because people refer to God using different terms does not mean that they are different gods. Spanish people refer to God as "Dios" and French people refer to God as "Dieu", yet they are all the same God. Interestingly, most Arab Jews and Arab Christians refer to God as "Allah". And the word Allah in Arabic appears on the walls of many Arab churches.
10) The Islamic concept of God is that He is loving, merciful, and compassionate. But Islam also teaches that He is just and swift in punishment. Nevertheless, Allah once said to Prophet Muhammad, "My mercy prevails over my wrath." Islam teaches a balance between fear and hope, protecting one from both complacency and despair.
11) Muslims believe that God has revealed 99 of His names (or attributes) in the Holy Qur'an. It is through these names that one can come to know the Creator. A few of these names are: the All-Merciful, the All-Knower, the Protector, the Provider, the Near, the First, the Last, the Hidden, and the Source of Peace.
12) Muslims believe in and acknowledge all the prophets of old, from Adam to Jesus. Muslims believe that they brought the message of peace and submission (islam) to different peoples at different times. Muslims also believe that these prophets were "muslims" because they submitted their wills to God.
13) Muslims neither worship Muhammad nor pray through him. Muslims solely worship the unseen and Omniscient Creator, Allah.
14) Muslims accept the original unaltered Torah (the Gospel of Moses) and the original Bible (the Gospel of Jesus) since they were revealed by God. However, none of those original scriptures are in existence today, in their entirety. Therefore, Muslims follow the subsequent, final, and preserved revelation of God, the Holy Qur'an.
15) The Holy Qur'an was not authored by Muhammad. It was authored by God, revealed to Muhammad, and written into physical form by his companions.
16) The Holy Qur'an has no flaws or contradictions. The original Arabic scriptures have never been changed or tampered with.
17) Actual seventh century Qur'ans, complete and intact, are on display in museums in Turkey and many other places around the world.
18) If all Qur'ans in the world today were burned and destroyed, the original Arabic would still remain. This is because millions of Muslims, called Hafiz (or "preservers") have memorized the text letter for letter from beginning to end, every word and syllable. Also, chapters from the Qur'an are precisely recited from memory by every Muslim in each of the five daily prayers.
19) Muslims do not believe in the concept of "vicarious atonement" but rather believe in the law of personal responsibility. Islam teaches that each person is responsible for his or her own actions. On the Day of Judgment Muslims believe that every person will be resurrected and will have to answer to God for their every word, thought, and deed. Consequently, a practicing Muslim is always striving to be righteous.
20) Islam was not spread by the sword. It was spread by the word (Islamic teachings) and the example of its followers. Islam teaches that there is no compulsion in religion (the Holy Qur'an 2:256 and 10:99).
21) Terrorism, unjustified violence and the killing of innocent people are absolutely forbidden in Islam. Islam is a way of life that is meant to bring peace to a society, whether its people are Muslim or not. The extreme actions of those who claim to be Muslim may be, among other things, a result of their ignorance or uncontrolled anger. Tyrant rulers and those who commit acts of terrorism in the name of Islam are simply not following Islam. These people are individuals with their own views and political agendas. Fanatical Muslims are no more representative of the true Islamic teachings than Timothy McVeigh or David Koresh are of Christianity. Extremism and fanaticism is a problem that is common to all religious groups. Anyone who thinks that all Muslims are terrorists should remember that the famous boxer Muhammad Ali, perhaps the most celebrated person of our era, is a practicing Muslim.
22) The word "jihad" does not mean "holy war". Instead, it means the inner struggle that one endures in trying to submit their will to the will of God. Some Muslims may say they are going for "jihad" when fighting in a war to defend themselves or their fellow Muslims, but they only say this because they are conceding that it will be a tremendous struggle. But there are many other forms of jihad which are more relevant to the everyday life of a Muslim such as the struggles against laziness, arrogance, stinginess, or the struggle against a tyrant ruler or against the temptation of Satan, or against one's own ego, etc.
23) Women are not oppressed in Islam. Any Muslim man that oppresses a woman is not following Islam. Among the many teachings of Prophet Muhammad that protected the rights and dignity of women is his saying, "...the best among you are those who treat their wives well." (Tirmidhi)
24) Islam grants women numerous rights in the home and in society. Among them are the right to earn money, to financial support, to an education, to an inheritance, to being treated kindly, to vote, to a dowry, to keep their maiden name, to worship in a mosque, etc., etc.
25) Muslim women wear the head-covering (hijab) in fulfillment of God's decree to dress modestly. From a practical standpoint, it serves to identify one as attempting to follow God in daily life and, therefore, protects women from unwanted advances from men. This type of modest dress has been worn by righteous women throughout history. Prominent examples are traditional Catholic Nuns, Mother Teresa and the Virgin Mary, mother of Jesus.
26) Arranged marriages are allowed in Islam but are not required. Whereas "forced" marriages, usually stemming from cultural practice, are forbidden. Divorce is permissible, however, reconciliation is what is most encouraged. But if there are irreconcilable differences then Islam permits a fair and just divorce.
27) Islam and the "Nation of Islam" are two different religions. Islam is a religion for all races and enjoins the worship of the one unseen God who, orthodox Muslims believe, never took human form. The "Nation", on the other hand, is a movement geared towards non-whites and teaches that God appeared in the form of Fard Muhammad in 1930 and that Elijah Muhammad (a man who died in 1975) was a prophet of God. These beliefs clearly contradict the basic Islamic theology outlined in the Qur'an. The followers of "the Nation" adhere to some Islamic principles that are mixed with many other teachings that are alien to Islam. To better understand the difference between the two, read about Malcolm X, his pilgrimage to Mecca and his subsequent comments to the media. Islam teaches equality amongst all the races (Holy Qur'an 49:13).
28) All Muslims are not Arab. Islam is a universal religion and way of life which includes followers from all races of people. There are Muslims in and from virtually every country in the world. Arabs only constitute about 20% of Muslims worldwide. Indonesia has the largest concentration of Muslims with over 120 million.
29) In the five daily prayers, Muslims face the Kaaba in Mecca, Arabia. It is a cube-shaped stone structure that was originally built by Prophet Adam and later rebuilt by Prophet Abraham. Muslims believe that the Kaaba was the first house of worship on Earth dedicated to the worship of one god. Muslims do not worship the Kaaba. It serves as a central focal point for Muslims around the world, unifying them in worship and symbolizing their common belief, spiritual focus and direction. Interestingly, the inside of the Kaaba is empty.
30) The hajj is a simultaneous pilgrimage to the Kaaba made by millions of Muslims each year. It is performed to commemorate the struggles of Abraham, Ismail and Hagar in submitting their wills to God.
After the Sept 11 attacks there has been a lot of attention focused on Islam and Muslim people in general. We would like to offer some more thoughts on this subject.
As with Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism and many other religions, Islam has very severe restrictions with regards to women's rights in general and female sexual behaviour in particular.
But the Islamic countries have evolved in a very different way than in other religions of the modern world. For instance, like Islam, Christianity is a very Patriarchal religion but there has been a strong separation between Church and State in most Christian countries.
As well, while the men were off fighting and dying in the two World Wars, women in most Western countries were able to begin dismantling many of the social and legal restrictions that prevented them from realising their full potential as equal members of society.
That process is by no means complete but with increasing economic, political and social power women have, especially in the West, been enjoying greater freedom to explore their every aspect of equality including sexual freedom.
Sadly the same evolutionary path did not occur in the Muslim countries. The Mullahs (Muslim Priests) and other Islamic authotities are a strong power in the running of day to day affairs of most Muslim countries. This is especially true with regards to women and their sexuality.
There are 44 predominantly Muslim countries in the world and in most of them men and women are strictly separated in most public areas. In fact, any public display of affection between a man and woman, even if they are married, is forbidden in most Muslim countries.
Women are supposed to dress modestly and be to virgins before marriage. In fact, if a women is suspected of being sexually active before marriage then quite often she is killled by a male member of her family. These crimes of "honor" occur in most Muslim countries today and the males are rarely punished. In fact, they are looked upon as heroes for restoring their families "honor".
Even in marriage sexual equality inequality is pervasive. According to Islamic tradition men must always be dominant, even in bed. A female is not allowed to be on top when making love to a man. Any sexual position where the female is on top is considered haram or sinful.
Though a woman has a right to sexual pleasure as stated in the Quran, in actual practice a woman's pleasure is always secondary to that of a man's. To give just one example, cunnilingus is almost unheard of in the Muslim world. Consequently, the phrase "sexually satisfied Muslim woman" has become an oxymoron.
And now the religion of Islam has today been hijacked by radical Muslim fundamentalists who have an even more negative view of sexual freedom for women. There are many more restrictions on females that, when taken together, make Muslim women among the most sexually abused, repressed and frustrated in the world.
Paradoxically Muslim men are also very sexually frustrated. After all, what pleasure is there in making love to a woman who is caged in the home, uneducated, passive and docile. Unless of course, one is a sadist.
The result is that Muslim men have free reign in Islamic countries with little restraining influence from women. If we look at the world in general, we can see that countries where women have more power and freedom tend to be less violent and intolerant than countries where women are relegated to the roles of wife and mother and not much more. Countries such as Holland and the Scandinavian countries where women have great equality to men are also the countries that are least aggresive in their behariour as global citizens.
So our solution to the problem of Islamic fundamentalism and terrorism is simple: "GIVE MUSLIM WOMEN MORE POWER!!"
Of course as many Muslims reply that women in the Islamic world enjoy greater rights and freedoms than in the West. We at World Art Erotica would beg to differ. Here are some examples of those greater "rights and freedoms" for a female Muslim in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Jordan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Bahrain & Kashmir.
Women are 50% of the planet's population so it is just logical that they should share 50% of the power. The West should work very strongly towards women's emancipation in the Muslim countries of the world. When women have a much greater degree of power in the Muslim world there will be less of the jihad and warmongering mentality that is so prevalent in Muslim countries today.
Promoting Female Emancipation and Equality in the Middle East will be one of the most effective ways to achieve peace and to prevent a looming clash between East and West.
And it is much cheaper than fighting a Third World War with the Islamic world!
