Priest: OK,it's a good one,but I'm here with a lot of more questions about Islam itself,and I hope you have the answers..*looking arrogantly*
Muslim:It'll be my pleasure:)
Priest:Is Your God being fair to Men and Women?
Muslim: Of course!
Priest: If so, Why do women have to cover their head under a veil while men didn't have to?
Muslim: Before I answered it,Let me give you a verse in Your Bible;
But a woman dishonors her head* if she prays or prophesies without a covering on her head,for this is the same as shaving her head.Yes,if she refuses to wear a head covering,she should cut off all her hair! But since it is shameful for a woman to have her hair cut or her head shaved,she should wear a covering.*( Corinthians 11: 5-6)
And to answer yours,Let us try to bring ourselves along past the history,in the time of Jahiliyah,didn't women being degraded and dishonored?And as Islam came,it uplifted the status of women around the world by rescuing them with the covering of hijab,in order to save the women's dignity.
Priest: Why can men marry four women but for a woman only one man?Why do Islam encouraged polygamy?
Brother Fauzi
Islam never introduced polygamy,it just set up the limit to it..Notably,before the arrival of Islam,men can marry any number of women whom they like..As what stated in the Quran;
If you fear that you shall not be able to deal justly with the orphans, Marry women of your choice, Two OR three OR four;but if you fear that you shall not be able to deal justly (with them), then only one, or (a captive) that your right hands possess, that will be more suitable, to prevent you from doing injustice. ( An-Nisa: 3)
Didn't it tell you that ISLAM encouraged monogamy instead of polygamy?And all the laws are stated to protect the women.I'll give you an example:
According to research;
There are a number of 3 millions more women than men in England,and about 7.8 millions more women than men in The united States.Think,if there is no permissible for polygamy in this world,tell me,what will happen to other women that not yet married? Or can't be married?
Logically,do this mean that Islam restrict on women's freedom or protected them?
Priest: I love to discuss this with you more but unfortunately,I've work to attend urgently,nice to meet you...*and walk away*
Brother Lim: He didn't have any answer for the questions, or maybe he just got confused with all the explanation,huh?*murmured himself*
"They will got confused!" Bro Lim's favourite words
We all laughed.
We didn't have to be afraid of them because we have the truth! And as a Muslim, what have we done to spread this religion around the world? Didn't we always heard and read the 3 verses from Surah Al-Asr;
By (the Token of) Time (through the ages),Verily Man is in loss, Except such as have Faith, and do righteous deeds, and (join together) in the mutual teaching of Truth, and of Patience and Constancy.( Al-Asr: 1-3)
Doesn't the phrase give us a huge meaning of Dakwah? To spread the truth around us...
Come Brother and Sisters,like the machinery out there who strive hard to spread their own religion,where are our determination in spreading ours?*self preservation*
I just got my time to dash off on the keyboard after about two months I've been engaged by so-many works and responsibilities. ..So,what are we're going to talk about right now?
I'll like to start with a story,you don't mind,right?*It will be easier this way,I guess*
I'm not going to start with 'once upon a time',since it not a fairy tale:)...It's all started...
"Sis,do you think is important for us to learn about comparative religion?"Asked Brother Lim who is the trainer of the 'Interactive Dakwah Training' course.
"Of course!" The answers from the participant occupied the room at that time.
"Why?"
"It'll be easier for us to understand the non-muslim and slowly draw them and acknowledge them of the beauty in Islam"Answered one of the participant.
"That is absolutely true,but I've got a better answer!"Said Brother Amin,another trainer in this course.
"And to answered this,I would like to tell you a story,is it OK?" continued brother Amin.
We all seated well getting anxious to listen to the story.
'One day,there is a man who owned a luxurious car,name one?I'll take Ferrari for an example;Everyday,he rode his car in pride,sending his son to school,It's a hot weather outside his window but he felt cooled by the high quality air-cond in his car.But suddenly,unfortunately,his car break down and was sent to a car workshop.
He was depressed when he was told that his car is in a need for at least a week repair.
"It's my only car,how can I go to work or send my son to school in a week?"he cries.
But the kind mechanic told him that he can borrow his car for a week in a condition;
"Take care of my babe,he's my only one too!and he's obviously not a Ferrari,just a cheap one!"
So,within a week,he drove the 'second-hand' car everywhere he goes and..
"It's hot,the air-cond was not functioning,I wonder why didn't the mechanic repair his own car?"he complained.As the week pass,he didn't stop from complaining about the old car.
Until,he heard the mechanic said before passing his car key,
"You should be grateful and considered lucky,that you own a comfortable car for a ride,unlike most people,they can't afford it!"
And suddenly the phrase make him think while he sit in his Ferrari,
"oh,I forget that I've been bless indeed to be given this wealth,'Ive seldom been thankful to Allah..All this years,it was just all about pride,but now I understand,It's all about being grateful to the One who gives you everything.
"So,the moral of the story is my better answer,....why we need to learn about the comparative religion?so we can be more thankful and grateful to the one and only God,ALLAH,for giving us the most precious thing in the world, being a MUSLIM."
"The Religion before Allah is Islam (submission to His Will): Nor did the People of the Book dissent therefrom except through envy of each other, after knowledge had come to them. But if any deny the Signs of Allah, Allah is swift in calling to account. "( Al-Imran:19)
" Sis, if it is proven,one day,that the Quran is totally amiss,would you still believe in ISLAM?"
I was totally aghast with the question that has been delivered to all of us,participants,it's something I've never even thought could take up my mind in my entire life.
"Yes,I will still believe in Islam" one of the participants answered.
"Are you telling that you just follow your religion even though it's faulty?Where have your faith gone to?You all have mastered the six tenets of faith,right?Think again carefully.."asked Brother Lim,a revert muslim who was conducting that evening course.
She turn white in confusion..I assumed all of us are in confusion.To be truth, I rather like the way brother Lim conducting it because he really make us to think,and as I thought carefully,I speak out;
"I'll still believe that islam is the only true religion in this world because I believe that Quran is truthful!"I saw him smile but then he asked,"If I can prove you that the words in the Quran are conflicted,would you still believe in Islam?"
"Do you want the prove?"he demand.
And that time,I really was speechless,and obviously confused.Something burning inside me whether it is anger because of the provocation or frustrated because to be honest,I have no answer to that sort of question.
OK,It 's getting hot in here!"Brother Lim joked.This is actually the sort of question machinery in Christianity would shoot.Let me give you an example:
Priest: You believe that Muhammad was the last prophet,right?
Muslim: Yes!
Priest: And you also believe that Jesus is still alive and will return to earth one day,right?
Muslim: Yes!
Priest: Why did you believe that Muhammad is the last,if Jesus is still alive,won't it be that he will be the last prophet?
*The muslim smile in content*
Muslim: Brother,Let me give you an analogy in order to answer your question.Let see if you have an elder brother..and he works outside the country for about 5 years.After he got back,He discovered that you died.Does it mean that he is younger than you? Alternatively, does he still be your elder brother?
*The priest startled in shame*
Muslim: To identify who would be the ending is by getting to know who would be beginning first.As a matter of fact,Muhammad is younger than Jesus makes him the last prophet even though we believe that Jesus is still alive.Is your question answered?
Muslim:Brother,may I ask,you totally believe in Jesus,right?
Priest: Yes!
Muslim: Brother,do you want to know the similarities between Islam and Christian?
* The priest startled......in confusion*
Muslim: Let's play a word match..I give you a verse in Quran that have similar meaning with your bible,I just need you to correct me if I'm wrong,can you?
The priest: Aah..I'll try*sweating*
Muslim:
Say: He is Allah, the One and Only (Al- Ikhlaas:1) is similar to Listen,O Israel, The Lord Our God is the one and only Lord( Mark 12:29)
Allah, the Eternal, Absolute( Al-Ikhlaas:2) is similar too
The Eternal God is your refuge( Deuteronomy 33:27)
He begetteth not, nor is He begotten( Al-Ikhlaas:3) is similar to For God is spirit,so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth( John 4:24)
And there is none like unto Him.( Al-Ikhlaas:4) is similar to You have never heard His voice or seen Him face to face( John 5:37)
Muslim:Is that all written in the Bible?*as what you all will predict,the priest nodded shamefully* And you know,there is so many from Jesus's act in Bible that similar to Muslim,for example:
And just as they were telling about it,Jesus himself was suddenly standing there among them."Peace be with you" he said( Luke 24:36)
And Muslim says 'Peace be with you' as greetings to each other
What you ought to say is,"If the Lord wants us to,we will live and do this or that(James 4:15)
In other words, they do things in God's will( In Shaa Allah),and who usually said those word?
