Cyprus-Forum.com

[padem]

Hi people.This is my first post althought i've been following the forum for some time now...
Anyway sadik06 i have a couple of questions about islam ( since you are offering ..).I've heard that in the Quran, it is mentioned that non-muslims are to be divided in two categories:1)the "people of the Bible" (christians and jews) who have to pay more taxes (dhimis),dress differently to differ from the muslims,have less legal rights etc. and 2)All the rest(Hindus or budists for example)who have the choice either to convert to islam or be killed.
Is there any truth to all these?Or is it just stuff fanatics came up with later?

[sadik06]

Hi people.This is my first post althought i've been following the forum for some time now...
Anyway sadik06 i have a couple of questions about islam ( since you are offering ..).I've heard that in the Quran, it is mentioned that non-muslims are to be divided in two categories:1)the "people of the Bible" (christians and jews) who have to pay more taxes (dhimis),dress differently to differ from the muslims,have less legal rights etc. and 2)All the rest(Hindus or budists for example)who have the choice either to convert to islam or be killed.
Is there any truth to all these?Or is it just stuff fanatics came up with later?

:D thank you my friend for raising these questions,
1- A Muslim is supposed to respect the human rights not only of Muslims, but even of dhimmis (non-Muslim subjects of the Islamic state). According to some ahadith, severe warning is reported for violating the property or lives of dhimmis.

"Whoever unjustly kills a person of the covenent of dhimmah, Allah has prohibited Heaven for him." [Abu Dawud, Nasa'i; Bukhari, Ibn Majah, Ahmad, Tirmidhi(hs), Darimi]
--"And dispute you not with the People of the Book, except with means better, unless it be with those of them who inflict wrong; But say, we believe in the Revelation which has come down to us and in that which came down to you: Our God and your God is one; and it is to Him we bow in Islam: (Quran 29:46).
-- "Allah does not prohibit you from being kind and just to those who have not fought you on account of religion, nor expelled you from your homes. Allah loves those who are just. Allah only prohibits you from being intimate friends with those who have fought you on account of religion, and expelled you from your homes, and assisted others in your expulsion. Whoever befriends them is a wrongdoer." [Surah al-Hujurat (60), 8-9]


I n addition the prophet was insulting his followers if they commit any wrong thing with non muslims and he advised them to leave mecca, after being persecuted, to Ethiopia where there was a Christian king Negus or Al-Najashi, was a person renowned for justice and in whose land human rights were cherished. and there are many other evidences...

[sadik06]

--The prophet mohammed said: “ Whoever persecutes a non Muslim or demands work from him beyond his capacity or takes something from him with evil intentions, I shall be a complainant against him on the day of Resurrection.”
--When Omar, the second Caliph, had learned that some Muslims had taken a piece of land belonging to a Jew, and had built a mosque on it, he ordered the demolition of the mosque and the land was given back the Jew.
--In the Qur’an special attention has been given to the people of the Book that is Christians and Jews, because their religions are based on the heavenly book, Torah and Bible.
Qur’an says: “ Do not argue with the people of the Book, unless it is in the politest manner.”(29:46)
--Qur’an says about Jesus: “ O’ Mary! God gives you good news of a word from Him, whose name shall be Messiah, Jesus son of Mary, honoured in this world and the Here after, and one of those brought near to God.” (3:45)

--And about Moses, the Qur’an says: “ Also mention in the Book Moses: For he was specially chosen. And he was a messenger and a prophet. And We called him from the right side of Mount (Sinai), and made him draw near to Us.” (19:51-52)

comment pleaaaaaaaaaaaaaase Mr. Padem

[sadik06]

prophet Mohammed wasn't only merciful with his companions but also with Jewish and Christians. For example : he has a Jewish neighbor who used to harm him daily by putting the dirt he sweeps in front of prophet Mohammed's house . Prophet Mohammed used to take the dirt and throw it away . until one day the prophet Mohammed didn't find the trash so he asked about his Jewish neighbor who was sick . He went to pay him a visit. The Jewish was surprised from this visit. He realized then that prophet Mohammed is right and he showed witness for Islam.

[miltiades]

Cyprus is and should remain a secular society and as far away from theocratic policies as possible.
My views on religion are known on this forum. All people must be free to exercise their devine and democratic right to beleive in what ever they want to believe . I just hope Sadic that the cruelty that goes on in some parts of the world modivated by religious beliefs is seen as what it realy is .To blow your self up in a crowded restaurant in Bagdad , as it happened yesterday I think , is nothing short of a sick and barbaric act driven by hatred and the belief that the gates of heaven will be open for them. You must agree that these are not isolated acts but happen regularly by people motivated by religion .

[padem]

Thank you Sadik for your answer.You've been very.... informative

Miltiadi, i agree with you but i don't think there's any chance of Cyprus becoming a theocracy.I think both GCs and TCs, pretty much know where to draw the line between religion and politics.I mean, despite all our differences, religion was never a part of it.And that seems absolutely natural to us, but if you look at the situation in the rest of the world, that's no small achievement...

[miltiades]

Padem , I entirely agree that religion was never a thorn on either Greek or Turkish Cypriots sides. Long may it continue so , and let u s hope both communities make an effort to eradicate the major divisive causes and embrace Cyprus as predominately their Country first and foremost. I have no problem if in a united Cyprus , a political party that consists of all Cypriots elects as its leader a Turkish or Greek , or for that matter any Cypriot regardless of ethnical roots , provided he/she is firstly a Cypriot and has the interests of all Cupriots at heart.
Regards

[peace maker]

Cyprus is and should remain a secular society and as far away from theocratic policies as possible.
My views on religion are known on this forum. All people must be free to exercise their devine and democratic right to beleive in what ever they want to believe . I just hope Sadic that the cruelty that goes on in some parts of the world modivated by religious beliefs is seen as what it realy is .To blow your self up in a crowded restaurant in Bagdad , as it happened yesterday I think , is nothing short of a sick and barbaric act driven by hatred and the belief that the gates of heaven will be open for them. You must agree that these are not isolated acts but happen regularly by people motivated by religion .

--what is happening is by ignorant and illminded muslims they dont know about the real Islam. do you believe that Islam is calling to violence. But to some extent they do that in the name of Islam. however Islam is innocent of that, and take in mind my friend that Islam is not as practised by such people. and you cant say that there is someone leaving without a religion and why didnt you read what sadik has written about the mercy of islam?

[andri_cy]

--what is happening is by ignorant and illminded muslims they dont know about the real Islam. do you believe that Islam is calling to violence. But to some extent they do that in the name of Islam. however Islam is innocent of that, and take in mind my friend that Islam is not as practised by such people. and you cant say that there is someone leaving without a religion and why didnt you read what sadik has written about the mercy of islam?

I guess this is what I wanted to say early on and you just expressed it better. I do not think Islam is what this fanatics make the rest of the world think it is. Islam is actually in core a very peaceful religion. I am Christian and when we took religions of the world in High school our teacher pointed out a lot of similarities in the two religions.

[jamal]

HI,
few people knows the value of Jesus in islam...
islam honors all the prophets who were sent to mankind. Muslims respect all prophets in general, but Jesus in particular, because he was one of the prophets who foretold the coming of Muhammad. Muslims, too, await the second coming of Jesus. They consider him one of the greatest of Allah's prophets to mankind. A Muslim does not refer to him simply as "Jesus," but normally adds the phrase "peace be upon him" as a sign of respect.
No other religion in the world respects and dignifies Jesus as Islam does. The Qur'an confirms his virgin birth (a chapter of the Qur'an is entitled "Mary"), and Mary is considered to have been one of the purest women in all creation. The Qur'an describes Jesus' birth as follows:

"Behold!' the Angel said, God has chosen you, and purified you, and chosen you above the women of all nations. Mary, God gives you good news of a word from Him, whose name shall be the Messiah, Jesus son of Mary, honored in this world and in the Hereafter, and one of those brought near to God. He shall speak to the people from his cradle and in maturity, and he shall be of the righteous. She said: "My Lord! How shall I have a son when no man has touched me?'
He said: "Even so; God creates what He will. When He decrees a thing,
He says to it, 'Be!' and it is." [3:42-47]

Muslims believe that Jesus was born immaculately, and through the same power which had brought Eve to life and Adam into being without a father or a mother.

"Truly, the likeness of Jesus with God is as the likeness of Adam. He created him of dust, and then said to him, 'Be!' and he was." [3:59]

During his prophetic mission, Jesus performed many miracles. The Qur'an tells us that he said:

"I have come to you with a sign from your Lord: I make for you out of clay, as it were, the figure of a bird, and breathe into it and it becomes a bird by God's leave. And I heal the blind, and the lepers, and I raise the dead by God's leave." [3:49]

Muhammad and Jesus, as well as the other prophets, were sent to confirm the belief in one God. This is referred to in the Qur'an where Jesus is reported as saying that he came:

"To attest the law which was before me, and to make lawful to you part of what was forbidden you; I have come to you with a sign from your Lord, so fear God and obey me." [3:50]

Prophet Muhammad emphasized the importance of Jesus by saying:
"Whoever believes there is no god but Allah, alone without partner, that Muhammad is His messenger, that Jesus is a servant and messenger of God, His word breathed into Mary and a spirit emanating from Him, and that Paradise and Hell are true, shall be received by God into Heaven. [Bukhari]
i hope that this at least gives a clair image that muslims are closer to christians in their faith...