786

Absolutely. Wikipedia should be congratulated for standing it's ground. Perhaps, seeing as terrorists are mentioned in the previous posts, they should also be accepted in slinging along their wiki-views on wikipedia, as with criminal masterminds, dirty old men, politicians and advertisers. what a free world we live in.

As Muslims, we are requested to avoid any sort of imagery which can lead to idolatry, so that we continue to worship the same single God as everyone else who follows a faith.

It's a humble request that these images are left alone and not broadcast on the interwide-web thing. I hope that the other billion Muslims on earth will continue to use wikipedia as a source of...

786

Absolutely. Wikipedia should be congratulated for standing it's ground. Perhaps, seeing as terrorists are mentioned in the previous posts, they should also be accepted in slinging along their wiki-views on wikipedia, as with criminal masterminds, dirty old men, politicians and advertisers. what a free world we live in.

As Muslims, we are requested to avoid any sort of imagery which can lead to idolatry, so that we continue to worship the same single God as everyone else who follows a faith.

It's a humble request that these images are left alone and not broadcast on the interwide-web thing. I hope that the other billion Muslims on earth will continue to use wikipedia as a source of learning, and not be deterred from this super site.

I speak for my self perhaps, though I hope I speak for the majority of Muslims, when I say, we do not wish to impose a law, however, we would wish to have our sensitivities respected.

We are not Gods and so we seek God's guidance in making decisions. With so many of this faith, in all the offshoots and sects, it is likely that there will be 'fanatics' amongst us, just as some of our nation is arrogant, but we never see the humble folk, for they are busy working for love, worshipping and trying for better things. We are not infallible people. We try and follow a code to get it right, but nothing is perfect here.

ah, also -

The Qu'ran is a great book, in it can be found the instruction that all people are created equal. That we have evolved. That the universe expands. That we are sub-atomic and more. That we are loved. That Adam, peace upon him, was the first person to recieve enlightment. Also, in it, can be learned, how the time will come when many Muslims are such by name only, that they will lose their leadership and their unity because of arrogance. That they are tied to the myth of land and civilisation more than to finding their love for God, and laying their trust in God. Men get it wrong often.

Shalom

It's a humble request that these images are left alone and not broadcast on the interwide-web thing.

I disagree. It's an arrogant request that others abide by your rules and beliefs.

we do not wish to impose a law, however, we would wish to have our sensitivities respected.

By having people not affiliated with your faith being required to follow your laws? To my way of thinking, that is taking things to an extreme. Perhaps that is not what you meant? And what, may I ask, are you so "sensitive" about. If you're asking for common respect as a human being I have no problem whatsoever with that. If you're asking for respect for "ideas" that you hold, religious or...

It's a humble request that these images are left alone and not broadcast on the interwide-web thing.

I disagree. It's an arrogant request that others abide by your rules and beliefs.

we do not wish to impose a law, however, we would wish to have our sensitivities respected.

By having people not affiliated with your faith being required to follow your laws? To my way of thinking, that is taking things to an extreme. Perhaps that is not what you meant? And what, may I ask, are you so "sensitive" about. If you're asking for common respect as a human being I have no problem whatsoever with that. If you're asking for respect for "ideas" that you hold, religious or otherwise, then those ideas must be capable of engendering respect. Just because an idea is religious in nature does not automatically grant it special immunity to criticism or questioning.

And just to add spice to the conversation, it's been reported in the news recently that the Archbishop of Canterbury has undergone criticism and calls for ouster over his mention of incorporating shari‘a law in English law. Evidently he's done this to smooth over recent perceptions of discrimination against Moslems.

It might not be evident from the actions of our politicians in the US but we're supposedly a secular government. The British situation is, of course, different and I claim a vast ignorance on the details of how religion intersects with government in the UK. That being said, I'll admit that my preference is to have all governments secular, with no religious affiliations. It seem...

And just to add spice to the conversation, it's been reported in the news recently that the Archbishop of Canterbury has undergone criticism and calls for ouster over his mention of incorporating shari‘a law in English law. Evidently he's done this to smooth over recent perceptions of discrimination against Moslems.

It might not be evident from the actions of our politicians in the US but we're supposedly a secular government. The British situation is, of course, different and I claim a vast ignorance on the details of how religion intersects with government in the UK. That being said, I'll admit that my preference is to have all governments secular, with no religious affiliations. It seems that this would eliminate many of the problems in the world today.

Arifsali, I agree with you, and we do follow the law of our land. At the same time, i am able to follow the law of Sharia as much as I am compelled to do so; there is no conflict.

You also discussed about vanity and idolatry. It was the prophet Muhammed (s.a.w) who requested that his image was not made, as this would lead to love of his image as a barrier to love of God. He know's human nature. An example is how the Prophets Buddha, Krishna and Jesus have become idolised and turned into gods through religious iconography. A muslim viewpoint, and in conflict with that of Buddhists, Hindus and Christians, for we take these men as prophets of God. I mean no offence to you.

Perhaps, the d...

Arifsali, I agree with you, and we do follow the law of our land. At the same time, i am able to follow the law of Sharia as much as I am compelled to do so; there is no conflict.

You also discussed about vanity and idolatry. It was the prophet Muhammed (s.a.w) who requested that his image was not made, as this would lead to love of his image as a barrier to love of God. He know's human nature. An example is how the Prophets Buddha, Krishna and Jesus have become idolised and turned into gods through religious iconography. A muslim viewpoint, and in conflict with that of Buddhists, Hindus and Christians, for we take these men as prophets of God. I mean no offence to you.

Perhaps, the discussion is about how some Muslims in the UK may wish to have issues such as banking clarified (it is forbidden to gain usury or interest on our accounts, but this is another story...) or, for example, to protect vulnerable women who have come into a bad marriage and wish to be represented for their rights in a muslim court dealing with the relgious, not civil marriage. (It is our duty, as we respect the law of this land, to have a civil marriage before the Nikkah or religious marriage, this is to ensure rights are protected from cultural or dogmatic fanatic ill-informe religious abuses). Currently in the UK, Jews are able to administrate their creed through the Beth Din. This does not mean that they are operating british law. Nor would I expect a Sharia court to have any imposition on british law, for our rights are respected to a great degree.

The Archbishop's comments have been misunderstood and, once again, a majority of muslims have had a negative fate at the hands of a hysterical and opportunisitic media, who wants only to increase circulation and make money, not stir hatred. Sharia courts do already operate in the UK, as with the Beth Din. simple as. if you choose to take your issue there, then you do. Simple. They hold no other power than to offer advice.