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Question about someone who are or become a muslim

Spirit of Light

Be who ever you want
I have during the last days seen many comments about muslims or Islam ( some good comments some not so good) and i started to think.
Maybe i only notice it more clearly this days since i become a muslim my self, but my question is this.

1: Do you look down on someone who converted to Islam because of your view of Islam?
2: Is a muslim less worth then other people because of the faith in Allah and Muhammad?
3: Should a muslim of today stand responsable for what the Qur'an say even it was written a long time ago?
4: Should muslims stand corrected for what muslims 500-1000 years ago did in sin?

Do you see that many muslims are very peaceful people who never want to harm others?
 

JustGeorge

Not As Much Fun As I Look
Staff member
Premium Member
1. No. Each person's religious path is their own, and none of my business. I don't think of Islam with any more/less favoritism than any other faith. Just one of the many roads that lead to Rome(figuratively speaking).

2. No. All people hold equal value(though I may struggle with this idea against those who deliberately hurt others, but this is regardless of their faith practices/beliefs).

3. Not any more so than any other person of any other religion...and that would get exhausting to keep track of. I hold a person responsible for their actions only, not what other people(in past or present) that share their faith do/have done.

4. That's a long time to keep track of. I think my previous answer applies here.

I know everyone has different experiences, but I have personally never been mistreated by a Muslim.
 

Terry Sampson

Well-Known Member
Should a muslim of today stand responsable for what the Qur'an say even it was written a long time ago?
Well, of course he/she should; after all, Christians are responsible for every non-muslim abuse in the world since the destruction of the Second Temple in Jerusalem.
 

Spirit of Light

Be who ever you want
1. No
2. No
3. Yes, if a Muslim uses the Quran as a foundation for their religious beliefs.
4. Not if they acknowledge wrong action as wrong.
The Quran IS the foundation of theteaching of Islam so that is our teaching we use to better our self ( some use it as a shield for evil, but then Allah says they are not true muslims)
 

Aupmanyav

Be your own guru
1: Do you look down on someone who converted to Islam because of your view of Islam?: For me, unthinkable that someone would want to join an Abrahamic religion.
2: Is a muslim less worth then other people because of the faith in Allah and Muhammad?: It is the other way around in Islam. Testimony of a Muslim is equal to two from the 'people of the book' and four times an unbeliever. Similarly the testimony of Women in each category is half that of a man in the same category.
3: Should a muslim of today stand responsible for what the Qur'an say even it was written a long time ago?:
4: Should muslims stand corrected for what muslims 500-1000 years ago did in sin?
Same answer for #3 and 4: They would do well not to repeat what they did in history, but persecution of girls from other religions in Muslim majority countries has continued (Pakistan, Egypt).
Do you see that many muslims are very peaceful people who never want to harm others?: Kindly do not make me laugh.
 

Spirit of Light

Be who ever you want
1: Do you look down on someone who converted to Islam because of your view of Islam?: For me, unthinkable that someone would want to join an Abrahamic religion.
2: Is a muslim less worth then other people because of the faith in Allah and Muhammad?: It is the other way around in Islam. Testimony of a Muslim is equal to two from the 'people of the book' and four times an unbeliever. Similarly the testimony of Women in each category is half that of a man in the same category.
3: Should a muslim of today stand responsible for what the Qur'an say even it was written a long time ago?: They would do well if they would not repeat what they did in history
4: Should muslims stand corrected for what muslims 500-1000 years ago did in sin?
Same answer for #3 and 4: They would do well not to repeat what they did in history, but persecution of girls from other religions in Muslim majority countries has continued (Pakistan, Egypt).
Do you see that many muslims are very peaceful people who never want to harm others?: Kindly do not make me laugh.
So you see me as an unkind person after i converted?
 

icehorse

......unaffiliated...... anti-dogmatist
Premium Member
I have during the last days seen many comments about muslims or Islam ( some good comments some not so good) and i started to think.
Maybe i only notice it more clearly this days since i become a muslim my self, but my question is this.

1: Do you look down on someone who converted to Islam because of your view of Islam?
2: Is a muslim less worth then other people because of the faith in Allah and Muhammad?
3: Should a muslim of today stand responsable for what the Qur'an say even it was written a long time ago?
4: Should muslims stand corrected for what muslims 500-1000 years ago did in sin?

Do you see that many muslims are very peaceful people who never want to harm others?

This all depends on the claims that Muslims make (or a Muslim makes).

#3. If a Muslim claims that the Quran is the perfect, TIMELESS word of god, then yes, they should be responsible for the results of such a claim.

#4. If a Muslim claims that Islam history is peaceful, then yes, they should stand corrected.

Are you willing to state that the Quran is not timeless and not perfect?
 

Spirit of Light

Be who ever you want
This all depends on the claims that Muslims make (or a Muslim makes).

#3. If a Muslim claims that the Quran is the perfect, TIMELESS word of god, then yes, they should be responsible for the results of such a claim.

#4. If a Muslim claims that Islam history is peaceful, then yes, they should stand corrected.

Are you willing to state that the Quran is not timeless and not perfect?
No i am guilty in having faith in Islam and the Qur'an, the Quran do come from Allah the way i see it
 

Nimos

Well-Known Member
1: Do you look down on someone who converted to Islam because of your view of Islam?
No, couldn't care less.

2: Is a muslim less worth then other people because of the faith in Allah and Muhammad?
No

3: Should a muslim of today stand responsable for what the Qur'an say even it was written a long time ago?
No, but a person following or believing any religious scripture as if they were true, and which can and is interpreted in different way, which in certain cases lead to harmful behaviours. Ought to be able to rationalize and argue why such text is relevant in today societies and why certain passages in set scriptures are more optimal in regards to human wellbeing than not.

4: Should muslims stand corrected for what muslims 500-1000 years ago did in sin?
No, but they should acknowledge and reflect over, how the flawed interpretation made back then could happen and why it couldn't happen today as well.

To me its, not really a lot different than buying into an ideology, let's say I proclaimed to be a nazi and thought that all the ideas were spot on. Obviously I shouldn't be held responsible for what happened during WW2, but I should be able to argue and rationalize why such believe and view is optimal or the best solution. Not only in regards to other people, but also as a personal responsibility. It is simply to easy to just throw around believes and ideas, which might be potentially harmful, without even thinking about them. And to me that is not ok, especially if such beliefs affect other people's lives.

Do you see that many muslims are very peaceful people who never want to harm others?
No, i see certain and luckily the majority of them as peaceful enough, on par with everyone else. I don't really understand their religious culture and they seem more fundamentalistic than other religious people, at least to the outside world. But I would suspect them to be slightly more relaxed when they are on their own.
 

9-10ths_Penguin

1/10 Subway Stalinist
Premium Member
1: Do you look down on someone who converted to Islam because of your view of Islam?
Depends.

If they're switching between religions, generally no. If they're converting from no religion to Islam (or to pretty much any other doctrinal religion), generally yes.

2: Is a muslim less worth then other people because of the faith in Allah and Muhammad?
No.

3: Should a muslim of today stand responsable for what the Qur'an say even it was written a long time ago?
If they're going to proclaim it as true or God's word, then yes.

Even moreso if they try to convert others to Islam.

4: Should muslims stand corrected for what muslims 500-1000 years ago did in sin?
A bit vague there. Not sure what you're referring to.

  • If you're asking if Muslims today bear some sort of collective guilt for what other Muslims did in the past, then no.
  • If you're asking whether Muslims today who are benefiting from the "sinful" acts of past Muslims need to pay some sort of restitution, then yes.
    • For instance, there are Muslim holy sites that were stolen from non-Muslims a long time ago. These should be given back, even though it wasn't Muslims today who stole them.
  • If those Muslims in the past were acting in accordance with principles that you now hold as a Muslim, then yes: what they did is a reflection on the morality of your beliefs.
Do you see that many muslims are very peaceful people who never want to harm others?
Islam follows the same pattern as most major world religions in this regard: when it's in the minority and lacks power, it's kind and tolerant. When it's in the majority and can exert power over government, it becomes tyrannical.

This isn't unique to Islam; it's common to every religion that is the majority in some country. The problem seems to be with religion in general, not Islam in particular.

... but to give a short answer: Muslims living as just one religion in a secular society with many religions tend to be very peaceful, charitable, and thoughtful.
 

Spirit of Light

Be who ever you want
Depends.

If they're switching between religions, generally no. If they're converting from no religion to Islam (or to pretty much any other doctrinal religion), generally yes.


No.


If they're going to proclaim it as true or God's word, then yes.

Even moreso if they try to convert others to Islam.


A bit vague there. Not sure what you're referring to.

  • If you're asking if Muslims today bear some sort of collective guilt for what other Muslims did in the past, then no.
  • If you're asking whether Muslims today who are benefiting from the "sinful" acts of past Muslims need to pay some sort of restitution, then yes.
    • For instance, there are Muslim holy sites that were stolen from non-Muslims a long time ago. These should be given back, even though it wasn't Muslims today who stole them.
  • If those Muslims in the past were acting in accordance with principles that you now hold as a Muslim, then yes: what they did is a reflection on the morality of your beliefs.

Islam follows the same pattern as most major world religions in this regard: when it's in the minority and lacks power, it's kind and tolerant. When it's in the majority and can exert power over government, it becomes tyrannical.

This isn't unique to Islam; it's common to every religion that is the majority in some country. The problem seems to be with religion in general, not Islam in particular.

... but to give a short answer: Muslims living as just one religion in a secular society with many religions tend to be very peaceful, charitable, and thoughtful.
Thank you for your reply.
In question 4 where you was a bit unsure what i meant, i would say your first point was the closest to my way of thinking.
 

9-10ths_Penguin

1/10 Subway Stalinist
Premium Member
Thank you for your reply.
In question 4 where you was a bit unsure what i meant, i would say your first point was the closest to my way of thinking.
Okay.

IMO, you're responsible for the belief system you promote. If they're not acting in line with the beliefs you promote and uphold, then their actions don't have anything to do with you.

... but you're still responsible for the implications of what you promote even if you disagree with those implications. For instance, if you go around telling people that the Qur'an is the word of God, people who take the parts of the Qur'an praising the killing of non-believers and apostates really seriously are still acting in accordance with what you promote, even if you're personally opposed to violence.
 
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