Thank you for the warm welcome, El-Amin Caliphate! 
You seem like a nice chap (chappette(?), if you are female).
You seem like a nice chap (chappette(?), if you are female).El-Amin Caliphate wrote:Lozcwngz wrote:AlHamdulillah.
But as for the Temple of all Religions, I'm about that. I applaud the builder's intentions. We should always strive to make peace with each other and not fight. But I feel this Temple would cause Muslims to stray from as-siraat al-mustaqeem. How is the Temple used?
I haven't been able to find much clarifying the Temple's usage, if anything, but from what I know, after the original artist who envisioned it died, his charges who were once downtrodden but whom he took under his wing are carrying on his work, which he first was inspired to after he claimed Jesus Christ came to him in a vision and told him to repurpose his old family home. I'm going to speculate, though, as it seems to still be in the process of building (and in fact I read somewhere it was partially damaged by a fire, sadly): so, based on the fact there are various sub-temples on the plot of land (of all the sub-temples, seven of them are completed, while there are some I recall reading up on for lost religions, such as the Sabians), there would probably be separate worshipping (e.g. a Muslim would not worship at the Buddha, and a Jew would not worship where there would be a Christ figure), though the designs seem to have been intermingled with other cultural aspects (e.g. minarets, domes, cupolas, steeples, rather than explicitly putting a Buddha into the sub-temple for Muslims), much like in China, historical Muslims based their mosque designs on Chinese architecture hundreds of years ago. Though, bear in mind, as I stated, this is all speculation, and it looks like there'll be a lot of years (possibly our lifetimes) before it's completed. I did a bit of reading on Wikipedia on innovations, and I think that this one, in the spirit of the People of the Book, probably falls under the "good" bid'ah (I think, but correct me if I'm wrong). Though Tatarstan's religiosity has increased lately (as well as in other Turkic locales such as Central Asia), but Islam from what I can see, the real deal (not Saudi Arabia or anything like that) preaches harmony, loving and caring for oneself, helping and exhibiting compassion towards the less fortunate (e.g. the poor), while being defensive (when the faith and believers are under threat) rather than being offensive (i.e. first-striking without provocation). The original architect of the Temple (going back from the tangent) is Muslim, but grew up in the Soviet Union (which forcibly suppressed religion, only reluctantly allowing celebrations such as Christmas again to raise morale), so I hope he knew what he was doing before he died (the article says he was surviving on very little sleep and food, and meditated a lot), and I doubt it would have been the "bad" bid'ah, because there haven't been any fatāwā against his work, despite having been working on the Temple for many years.
El-Amin Caliphate wrote:Its great that you've read up on our history. It's one of the best imo.
Also, it's ok that you have misunderstandings, just be respectful, and be honest, and we'll be glad to help.
I learned about the Golden Age of Islam in history classes, in particular when talking about the differences between living standards in the Muslim and European worlds at the time. It was a remarkable difference, and though medicine in both worlds were still based on the four humors, the Muslim doctors used gentler and more compassionate methods of treatment, while having clearly studied their stuff thoroughly at universities. Not to mention that Jews and Eastern Christians alike fought alongside the Muslims, against the Crusaders, because although Jews were second-class citizens (having to pay a special tax) in the Muslim world, they weren't openly persecuted, nor did they have pogroms against them like they did in the European world.
I agree with you! I have no idea how Saudi Arabia twisted the teachings of Islam so much so as to be so far-removed from the early days. I will give them this, however: they do have the high living standards in their place in the world down, but it's at the expense of their human rights. They also are abusive towards their foreign workers who come from countries such as the Philippines and India, and despite the numerous complaints from both countries, the abuse still happens because, I don't know, is this some sort of perceived racial superiority? Certainly seems like it, because they treat the Western foreign workers well enough, and also the foreign workers from neighbouring Arab countries, especially those from the Gulf states (citation: "Culture Shock: Saudi Arabia"). It makes me glad they're loosening the draconian restrictions in the country, such as letting in Hollywood films (e.g. Black Panther), setting up ways to get tourist visas, and also this June, women can drive!
I have no idea how Saudi Arabia twisted the teachings of Islam so much so as to be so far-removed from the early days. I will give them this, however: they do have the high living standards in their place in the world down, but it's at the expense of their human rights. They also are abusive towards their foreign workers who come from countries such as the Philippines and India, and despite the numerous complaints from both countries, the abuse still happens because, I don't know, is this some sort of perceived racial superiority? Certainly seems like it, because they treat the Western foreign workers well enough, and also the foreign workers from neighbouring Arab countries, especially those from the Gulf states (citation: "Culture Shock: Saudi Arabia"). It makes me glad they're loosening the draconian restrictions in the country, such as letting in Hollywood films (e.g. Black Panther), setting up ways to get tourist visas, and also this June, women can drive!El-Amin Caliphate wrote:Lozcwngz wrote:Yes, blasphemy is wrong, but afaik, we can't punish anyone, especially someone who doesn't even practice the Deen. The Holy Qur'an states: http://legacy.quran.com/2/256 So Muslims can't really be harming anyone. Yes, speaking ill of our religion is offensive, and plain stupid if someone doesn't know anything about it.
Speaking ill of anything, especially if there is a lack of information, even more so if it's misinformation, is offensive and stupid. I mean, the stereotypes are just that, stereotypes, and one of the few positive reports on Islam and Muslims I saw was, years ago, when the news anchor was invited to a Muslim family's evening feast during Ramadan. They were very nice to the female anchor, and there was a lot of delicious food. Hopefully there are more stories like that, to try and dispel all that fear-mongering of the media.
That's perfectly fair! It is only natural to defend our opinions, views, and those we hold dear. And I respect a good defense as any.
El-Amin Caliphate wrote:Lozcwngz wrote:Yes, honor killings have no place in Al-Islam and are in fact sinful. They are a cultural thing, not an Islamic thing. As for FGC, it is allowed, but the Prophet Muhammad (SAWS) told us not to go to extremes when cutting. On to0 of that, FGC is optional for the woman. She MUST have a say in the matter.
Honor-killings, I read up, are often based on suspicions, rather than any hard evidence. It makes me sad that just because they were born in cultures that eventually became Muslim-majority countries, that they are associated with Islam. It makes me even more sad when other Muslim-majority countries and sub-divisions (Chechnya comes to mind, ever since radical Islamic groups infiltrated them and turned them away, from Sufism to Salafism) get pressured by radical Islamists and their imported cherry-picking to start conducting them. I feel that Muslims have to deal with the pressure from that clique of radical Islamists who try and force their wills, while diaspora in their host countries in the West have to additionally deal with the locals rejecting them, and I can sort of see how the radical Islamism can be tempting to Muslims who are wanting to retain their identity, especially with their propaganda targeting the youths on social media.
Again, thank you for welcoming me! I love learning about religion, the history and culture is so rich. It makes me sad that in this modern world, faith in a higher being is fading fast, as is the culture associated with their respective faiths. 
edit: missed a formatting tag.
I love learning about religion, the history and culture is so rich. It makes me sad that in this modern world, faith in a higher being is fading fast, as is the culture associated with their respective faiths. edit: missed a formatting tag.
