What is the Message of Islam? (Jesus, Creator, crucified, Kingdom)

[Mary23]

Originally Posted by love

Mary 23, You live in the U.S. Do you think it is easier to practice your religion as you chose in the U.S. or would you be matter off in Iran or Saudi Arabia?

Originally Posted by love

Mary 23, You live in the U.S. Do you think it is easier to practice your religion as you chose in the U.S. or would you be matter off in Iran or Saudi Arabia?

Yes, that was bit difficult there, I am not in U.S now... i accepted Islam and now hav came to Kahsmeer where my Aunt lives, shez Muslim....

love!
As regards to ur point for chosing the religion, i totally disagreed...

Religion is not to chose at the basis of ease...
its based on true values not for ease...

if any religion that is true then we don't care what the matter would be going on after chosing...

Struggle and Strength for faith never dizzle you on the true route....

[Peace]

Originally Posted by love

Peace, can a non-Muslim have equality and neighborly kindness in a Muslim world?

Yes and for sure. The teaching of Islam is to be kind to all people whether they are Muslims or non Muslims. We must treat the non-Muslims well as far as they don't fight us or expell us from our land. Allah says in His holy Book the Quran :
Allâh does not forbid you to deal justly and kindly with those who fought not against you on account of religion nor drove you out of your homes. Verily, Allâh loves those who deal with equity (60:8)

I'll share with you the following stories of the mercy of the Prophet and his well treatment towards non-believers.
The Prophet had this Jewish neighbor. Everyday the neighbor would throw his garbage at the Prophet's door! Then, one day, the garbage stopped appearing.
The Prophet wondered why and asked people about what had happened to his neighbor. He was told that the neighbor was sick, in bed. So, the Prophet went and visited his Jewish neighbor to make sure he is OK and to wish him well. So touched was the Jewish neighbor that he later converted to Islam.

The tribe of Quraish the were archenemies of Islam and, for a period of thirteen years while he was still in Mecca, they would rebuke the Prophet, taunt and mock him, beat him and abuse him, both physically and mentally. They placed the afterbirth of a camel on his back while he prayed, and they boycotted him and his tribe until the social sanctions became unbearable. They plotted and attempted to kill him on more than one occasion, and when the Prophet escaped to Medina, they rallied the majority of the Arab tribes and waged many wars against him. Yet, when he entered Mecca victorious with an army of 10,000, he did not take revenge on anyone. The Prophet said to the Quraish:
“O people of Quraish! What do you think I will do to you?
Hoping for a good response, they said: “You will do good. You are a noble brother, son of a noble brother.”
The Prophet then said:
“Then I say to you what Joseph said to his brothers: ‘There is no blame upon you.’ Go! For you all free!.”

Peace

[love]

Peace, I have heard of the neighbor and his garbage before. This would seem to me more than a gesture of kindness. Tolerance would also be a factor. I don't know how I would react to a neighbor throwing garbage at my door but I don't think I would be as tolerant.
This morning I went to the local convenience store and a man and women obviously husband and wife were running the place. Their grasp of English left much to be desired. I think they spoke Russian. The man rang up my sale and and gave me $5 to much change. I saw him make the mistake and returned the $5. I did this for love of them should they have to pay it back as much as I thought it would be pleasing to God. I believe we are one of the most important tools of God's will on earth.
Though I make noble gestures such as this it cannot atone for the sins of my youth.
Women have always liked me. I ran out of fingers counting the women I had bedded before I was 25. This only increased in my 30's. I bedded most of the women in the circles that I traveled. I am in my mid 50's now and have been abstinent for 8 years since February of this year. In Islam do I still have a chance for my good to out weigh my bad?

[Peace]

Originally Posted by love

In Islam do I still have a chance for my good to out weigh my bad?

Again yes because in Islam all your bad deeds will be forgiven if you repent sincerely to God. If repentence is done with sincerity and with a pure intention to not go back to the sin, then your repentance is accepted and all your bad deeds are forgiven and wiped out from your book of record.
May be you will ask and say "what about if I go back to that sin"? I would say our God is so Merciful and so forgiving that if you go back to the sin and then you feel a great remorse for sinning and you again repent then you will be forgiven and that's for sure. The following Hadith is a better example of the forgiveness of God.
A man came to the Prophet peace be upon him and said, “O Prophet of Allah, if I committed a bad deed, will it be written?” The Prophet said, “Yes”. So the man asked, “What if I quitted it and asked forgiveness?” The Prophet said, “It will be deleted”. The man kept repeating the same question and the Prophet kept repeating the same reply, till the man finally asked, “How many times will Allah delete a bad deed?”. The Prophet peace be upon him replied, “Allah would never get tired of forgiveness till you get tired of asking His forgiveness”.

This is Islam and this is our Merciful God who is so near to us and so loving and forgiving whom you just need to go back to Him and ask for His infinite forgiveness without the need of any kind of a mediator, for in Islam there are no mediators between us and our beloved God.

Peace