Brownie
Yes it IS making statements because the writer is really up on his stuff. If anything is wrong then I want to know from others on here.
I think you misread my reply to Gabriella as being related to the actual article, sorry.
Gabriella is a Hindu to Muslim 'con'vert & will do anything to prevent any criticism of Islam & keeps saying such useless stuff as, not relevant or misquoted etc with no proof & then accuses me of misrepresentation.
Read what she wrote below my first comment & see.
Nick
Actually Nick, what I do on here is say that Islam can't be defined for all practising Muslims by one individual, so I dispute any statement that tries to state what Islam is for everybody else. But I have criticised the beliefs, values and behaviours of lots of Muslims many times in various threads on here.
I told you one mistake in the writer's article, which shows quite clearly the writer is not "up on his stuff" but you are welcome to believe he is if it helps you justify to yourself your opinion about Islam or Prophet Mohamed.
I pointed out that the writer was not up on his stuff when the writer referred to Quran 60:4 as telling Muslims to follow the example of Prophet Abraham. In the story Abraham emigrated rather than start a war when he was physically attacked and thrown in a fire. Nor did he come back to start a war once he had established a new community elsewhere. So it is not an example of Muslims being taught to hate all non-Muslims just because Abraham is an example of disassociating himself from people who attacked him when he advised those people to abandon their idol worship. This contradicts the writer's message that 'true' Muslims are required to go to war against non-Muslims, especially since 4 verses later Quran 60:8 tells Muslims they are not forbidden to treat people justly and kindly if they are not fighting Muslims because of their religion or driving Muslims out of their homes.
I am not going to bother to go through each point he raises in the article and state that the writer's opinions are lazy generalisations and that his definition of Islam is just one individual opinion amongst many. You present so many of these articles about Prophet Mohamed being a warlord because he led men in battle during the 7th century.
As a leader of a community and a statesman, having to go to war to defend your community from other cities or bordering empires was not unusual for many centuries before the UN came along. And given the conflict that has happened since the UN was formed, why would you think war was unusual in 7th century. I joined the British Territorial Army when I was at university so I don't have a problem with the concept of war.
Forming treaties and alliances was also not unusual in history, which Prophet Mohamed is also reported to have done. So I don't agree with the writer that 'true' Muslims are required to be at war with non-Muslims. I can't be bothered to keep repeating myself every time you post one of these articles.
If the writer was up on his stuff he would realise that individuals interpret religious or moral texts and stories in a subjective way and apply it to their own unique circumstances to find their own individual solutions to problems, and therefore the writer cannot define Islam for other people or generalise about Islam, given the diversity of opinion amongst the people who practise it, the majority of whom are peaceful and law-abiding.
Of course the writer is free to dismiss Muslims who do not interpret Islam the way he interprets Islam, as not being true Muslims, but the fact is that's just his opinion. I am not entirely sure why you think anybody else would be influenced by the writer's opinion on a 'true Muslim' - some people might agree with him and some people won't.
Actually I am an atheist to Muslim convert. I stopped following Hinduism when I was about 13 and was an atheist for about 9 years.
