Eboo Patel

Eboo Patel

THE FAITH DIVIDE

Eboo Patel is founder and executive director of the Interfaith Youth Core, a Chicago-based international nonprofit that promotes interfaith cooperation. His blog, The Faith Divide, explores what drives faiths apart and what brings them together. He is the author of Acts of Faith: The Story of an American Muslim, the Struggle for the Soul of a Generation. An American Muslim of Indian heritage, Eboo has a doctorate in the sociology of religion from Oxford University, where he studied on a Rhodes scholarship. He is on the Religious Advisory Committee of the Council on Foreign Relations, the National Committee of the Aga Khan Foundation and the Advisory Board of Duke University's Islamic Studies Center. Eboo is an Ashoka Fellow, part of a select network of social entrepreneurs with ideas that could change the world. Close.

Eboo Patel

THE FAITH DIVIDE

Eboo Patel is founder and executive director of the Interfaith Youth Core, a Chicago-based international nonprofit that promotes interfaith cooperation. His blog, The Faith Divide, explores what drives faiths apart and what brings them together. more »

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The Jim Wallis Generation

Eboo Patel | He challenges people of good faith to find spiritually-based pragmatic approaches that solve problems of climate change, poverty and violence.

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All Comments (79)

Observer:


Stop the Hatred:
You tell Kafir; “American Muslims are highly educated and articulate. There are PhDs , M.D.‘s, Engineers, historians, social scientists and scientists among us. WE are fiercely American nationalists. Your mistake is that you think that we are ignorant and that your diatribe will go unchallenged.”

Both Kafir and Arif trounced you, but I can’t help from adding a note of my own.
Since so many of you are “highly educated’ and supposedly smart why don’t you act the part? Why don‘t you for example speak out loudly and unequivocally against the terrorism conducted in the name of your religion? Why not condemn publicly those Imams who use your mosques as Madrassas to teach hate and violence against those who believe differently? Especially since you and them are"highly educated" and “fiercely American nationalists” to boot. The only way that deafening silence could be interpreted is approval, especially since the evidence is mounting that when it comes to terrorism in the name of Allah, there is no distinction between the “highly educated” and the rest of Allah’s slaves . We have not yet forgotten that it was some of your “highly educated” “fiercely American nationalists” i.e. physicians, who were recently implicated in terrorist conspiracies.

Arif:

Mischka writes:
"You are scum and you know it too. You havent done ANYTHING on these boards aside from cause trouble. You NEVER ask, you ACCUSE. You NEVER question, you INSULT and you ALWAYS INITIATE IT. "

Islam does damage the brain, this is your Islamic upbringing that is making you think this way?

Mischka writes:
"People shut you out because you are malicious and evil."
Mischka you have no idea, I have talked in Churches and Synagogs on the dark side of Islam (there is no bright side btw). People listen question, my talks go for hours and often I have to simply leave. Such is my fame, Subhanallah! if it wasn't for Islam I would not be so famous.

Then she assumes this...
"We already know about your troubled childhood and the abuse you suffered - now you want to tell us that your alcoholism and womanizing is Islam's fault too? "
I had a wonderful childhood one that I would never trade for anything. I do drink but with great caution. I ride a motorcycle to work so I have to drink responsibally. As a rule I never drink at home, so there you have it too much drinking, exactly like eating too much is bad for helth. Nevertheless a religion cannot restrict me from eating or drinking whatever I please. Releion is food for the soul, Islam on the other hand is purely dogmatic that enforces stupid meaningless rituals.

More assumption...
"What else do you want to blame on Islam that went wrong in your life? Your finances? The woman you married? The kids you had? The car you drive? The face you got? Baldness? Bad breath? Your beer gut? I bet your list grows every night...because you are LAZY."
Woman I have a great life, I have everything that life has to offer thanks to the US of A I have a wonderful life. My kids are over achievers, the girls Mahshallah are top of their classes bringing home the best of grades, my adopted girls are fantastic! They bring me endless joy and happiness something Islam denies its followers; the beautiful human nature of adoption.

Some more anger...
"An irresponsible and lazy brat that wants to shift the blame of his own failures onto Islam.* "
If lasyness had anything to do with my success and happiness in life then so be it. Hatred leads you nowhere it consumes a person some basic knowledge Mischka.

Mischka writes:
"You are an insult to religion AND Pakistanis. "
I don't mind being an insult to religion in fact I am proud of that. Pakistan I left behind just like your parents did. It never represented me, the religion, the philosophy, the idiology all deeply rooted in the Koran and sunnah had no place in my heart. I don't pretend to be a Pakistani American I have totally assimilated.
I have no loyalty to Pakistan anymore; my loyalties are to this country (USA) and I am proud of it.

Mischka writes:
"As for my scarf - are you kidding me? It feels great to wear it. I wear it because I want to you numbskull. People respect me and I like it.I bet you hate that."
Ya! Keep telling yourself that; the other day I was travelling in the subway and I over heard a young kid talking to someone on the phone; "Sh!t! I am surrounded by Al-Qaida here...". There were about 4~5 women wearing the hijaab standing across from us; it was funny.

Mischka writes:
"Find a cliff and jump off of it. "
It would bring great joy wouldn't it? I only write the truth about Islam and its founder. I wish you no harm no matter how you hate me. I understand all too well why millions upon millions of Muslims take to the street when they feel their prophet or Islam has been insulted. Only a Muslim can stone his daughter killing her for adultery, or a father strangle his daughter for not wearing proper clothes while the brother watches. The anger you show for me is not different from the Muslims who went ape when Mohammed-cartoons were published. Why is death the only solution for Islam? You need to address your anger issues woman.

A. Kafir:

Mischka writes: "A woman is ALWAYS looked after".

That is a lie. That is being blind to the misery of women across the world. Since you hail from Pakistan.

***********************************
The South Asian subcontinent is the least gender sensitive region in the world. It is the only region in the world where men outnumber women. The sex ratio is 105.7 men to every 100 women. In Pakistan, women are not only subjected to financial discrimination, but they are also victims of inhuman customs and laws such as Karo Kari, Hadood ordinance, Qasas and marriage to the Quran and half witnesses according to the state law (whereby in court a female witness is only worth half a male witness).

In the rural areas, women are like slaves subject to drudgery. They are there just to obey their fathers, brothers and husbands. They do not have the right to decide about themselves because women are considered as foolish creatures according to the dominant social and cultural norms. Likewise marriage is also a sort of trade between different families both in the rural and urban areas. They are highly vulnerable to violation of their rights to life.

A woman's right to liberty is restricted in the name of modesty, protection and prevention of immoral activity. In rural areas 90% of women work in the fields. They work for the whole day with their male family members, but they still have to face their wrath. Male family members keep a strict eye on the female family members in the name of "honour". But one must understand the meaning of honour because in our society honour does not have the meaning of its true sense. Here it really means possession of women as a form of property. Not only are the restrictions of women's liberty maintained in the name of this honour (ghairat) but they also can be put to death if they lose their "honour".
......

At the same time the gender insensitivity is so severe that from the cradle to the grave women are forced to lead a discriminated life. There are more infant deaths among girls than among boys. Every year 135,000 women die during childbirth in Pakistan. Only 11% of women have access to medical facilities during childbirth.

The tragedy with the women's movements is that women from the upper classes, who mostly dominate them, have never had to suffer the same ordeals as the women of the oppressed classes. The adverse conditions in important sectors such as public hygiene, health and education, have a greater bearing on women of the working classes. Hence the struggle for the rights of women and their liberation have different meanings for women of different classes.
...........
***********************************

Mischka, you are so determined to ignore facts on the ground. Women are Always looked after? You do live a sheltered life.
And of course now it is "culture" and not Islam.
Use your brain for a change and think.

mischka:

Ibrahim -

Have you ever bothered to find out anything aside from the blind posts that you throw on here hoping something will stick??

Inheritance is for woman is half ONLY because usually we have a provider. Her brother is a provider for his own family and therefore much more in need then a woman. However, these are NOT mandates. They are recommendations. If she doesnt have a provider - it is her brother's responsibility to make sure she is taken care of. A woman is ALWAYS looked after.

Now get to work!

I dont have the kind of time you unemployed and useless have.

Ibrahim Mahfouz:

Mischka:
You say;
“They(women) have God-given rights to do as they please - their problem is the culture they are in and the typical overbearing Middle Eastern men who think women are their property. This is not Islam's fault.

(Quran 2;223)
"Your wives are
As a tilth unto you;
So approach your tilth
When or how ye will"

Is this not Islam?

A women's testimony, when accepted, counts as half that of a man (Quran 2:82).

Is this not Islam?

Her inheritance is half that of her brother's (Quran 4:11).
Is this not Islam?

The command for women to share their husbands with three other women and infinite number of concubines (Quran 4:3).
Is this not Islam?
etc.etc.
Yes! Middle Eastern men are overbearing but maybe because they have the Sunna on their side.


mischka:

Arif -

You are scum and you know it too. You havent done ANYTHING on these boards aside from cause trouble. You NEVER ask, you ACCUSE. You NEVER question, you INSULT and you ALWAYS INITIATE IT.

Is THIS your way of reaching out to people? How idiotic! This is the MOST irresponsible way of reaching out to people. People shut you out because you are malicious and evil. Thats it.

We already know about your troubled childhood and the abuse you suffered - now you want to tell us that your alcoholism and womanizing is Islam's fault too? What else do you want to blame on Islam that went wrong in your life? Your finances? The woman you married? The kids you had? The car you drive? The face you got? Baldness? Bad breath? Your beer gut? I bet your list grows every night...because you are LAZY.

As for my scarf - are you kidding me? It feels great to wear it. I wear it because I want to you numbskull. People respect me and I like it.I bet you hate that.

You call me childish only because that is EXACTLY what you are. *An irresponsible and lazy brat that wants to shift the blame of his own failures onto Islam.*

You are an insult to religion AND Pakistanis.

Find a cliff and jump off of it.

A. Kafir:

Facts on the ground:
***************************

Fatwa of great imam of Islam:

It is highly recommended that a girl be married off as soon as she reaches the age of puberty. One of the blessings of man is to have his daughter experience her first period not in her father’s house, but in that of her husband.
**************************************

http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=76577

**********************************
http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=75509

AMMAN, 26 November 2007 (IRIN) - A quarter of all women killed in Jordan for having an illicit relationship die merely because they were suspected of involvement in such a relationship, while only 15 per cent are killed after adultery is proven, a study by UN Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) has revealed.

The study was unveiled on 25 November to mark the UN global campaign entitled Sixteen Days of Activism to End Violence Against Women, organised by UNIFEM.

Whether victims turn out to have been virgins or not seems to make little difference to the sentences handed down to the perpetrators; the killers often get 6-12 months, in keeping with legal precedents.

The study, designed to shed light on “honour killings”, an important social phenomenon in Jordan, included the testimonies of murderers as well as the victims of violence.
**************************************
24% of palestinian women face domestic abuse!!

RAMALLAH, 3 October 2007 (IRIN) - Palestinian female victims of domestic violence have little chance of escaping their situation or bringing the perpetrators to justice as they face a legal system stacked in favour of the accused and a prevailing attitude that places blame on the victim, women's rights experts said.

Moreover, many women who have been raped are then killed by family members in "honour killings" for having brought shame to their family.

"Very seldom are the killers arrested or charged," and when they are, the maximum sentence that can be imposed is six months, said Masshoor Basisy, general director of planning at the Palestinian Authority (PA) Ministry for Women's Affairs.
*****************************

The list is very long for anyone who wants to know the facts on the ground. For those interested in pushing the agenda of a dead ideology every fact is a lie.

A. Kafir:

Mischka,

it is one thing to be ignorant but to know something and to go into denial and then to justify it is an entirely different matter. Now you are beginning to justify the cruelty to women in Islam. Shame on you. You sell your soul cheaply to a dead ideology of a long dead butcher of arabia.

Arif:

Mischka spews:
"I consider you to be the scum of the earth...the filthiest substance a man can be made of. You are disgusting because you hate Muslims. Not because you are not a Muslim...I have plenty of non-Muslim friends...dont hate them at all. But you just bring that out in people - you are pathetic."

Mischka, it matters not what you consider me to be, what most matters is; who was Mohammed and who is this Allah he invented? You may believe whatever you want to about me but it will not change a thing; your prophet will still be scum. To me and to a rapidly growing number of people this man (rasool allah) was a criminal.

People who don't believe that Islam kills its apostates will read your venom and decide for themselves. Apostates who go public with these accusations about Islam see Islam’s full vengeance, even their families would not be safe. Your words say it all.

What makes a person reject the truth about a tyrant child molester is mind boggling. Perhaps a new psychological disease may be invented soon. Countless discussions with well informed Muslims end this way; in anger and name calling.

He looted, he raided, he pillaged and he raped, he coveted wives, he sold women and children, he owned slaves, he fondled a child and later had sex with her, he took his sons wife for his own, the list goes on and on. After all the evidence presented how can seemingly sensible people still believe in this man? Those non-Muslim friends of yours simply don't know you otherwise they would have nothing to do with you.

Mischka spews:
"I am always right about you - worthless is all you are."
Sure you are this coming from a person who says the shahdha despite the evidence put before you of the criminal prophet you follow-you amuse me if nothing else. It must feel horrible to walk in public with those restricting garments, avoiding cynical gazes all for a pedophile prophet from the bastard strain of Abraham.

Mischka spews:
"And from here on forward - you will no longer get any more responses from me. Im arguing with a womanizing lush named Arif - sounds disgusting."

Silly woman, as if I care? I post for the world to see the filthy "deen" you pathetic people follow. My posts were never for you, if I addressed you it was because of your childish rants. Again, you defend your religion like a high school kid.

"If you had even an iota of intelligence, tact, manners, education, morals, class, values, SOMETHING... "

Woman, proof of even an iota of intelligence is people who don't knowingly follow cults.

mischka:

Ibrahim -

"Is it not ironic that a man fights for women’s rights and women denigrate him for that?"

Is this the newest version of a Middle Eastern pick up line? Hunh?

You are not fighting for anyone's rights this way. Do you think Muslim women want you to help them when you hate the Allah they belive so much in? You denounce their way of life and claim to want to help them. Sounds logical to me. Why wouldnt Muslim women want to hear you? Did you see what just happened between you and I? Your approach is wrong.

Islam does not limit women - the sooner you start to understand that - the better equipped you will be to help women - IF that is what you really want.

They have God-given rights to do as they please - their problem is the culture they are in and the typical overbearing Middle Eastern men who think women are their property. This is not Islam's fault. God gives you religion, guidance, rules, commandments, laws, etc. HOWEVER, HE ALSO gives you a brain, intelligence, courage, compassion, strength of mind and character, a heart, love, sympathy, etc.

Its upto women to USE IT! UNTIL they understand that they are NOT oppressed - mistreatment will continue to happen.

Instead of trying to hurt Muslims by defaming their religion and making ALL of them look like barbarians - let's see you try to help.

As for Kafir - you know NOTHING about Islam and it shows in your misrepresentations AND limited knowledge of Middle Eastern culture.

A. Kafir:

Anonymous writes: "All of Western Culture Pretended towards liberation women and we have the result infront of us as a tool of attraction for marketing."

The standard Islamic way of arguing. The question is how Islam treats women, and the answer is see how bad the western culture is, see how bad christianity and juadism are for women!! Anonymous, let us assume that western culture, christianity, and judaism are horrible for women. How does that affect one teensy weensy iota that islam is horrible for women?

You think sexual exploitation of female toddlers is good for women? Thighing is good for little girls? Covering women up and telling that the men around are totally incapable of control and therefore they have to lose their freedom of movement is good for women? Telling them that their testimony is only worth half of that of a man is good for women? Inheriting half of what their brothers get is good for women? Polygany is good for women? Talaaq, Talaaq, Talaaq and then losing all rights to their children is good for women?

And the list keeps going on and on.
Instead of trying to answer why Islam is good for women, the standard islamic logic is see that the western culture, christianity, judaism is really bad for women. Is this madrassah logic 101?

Anonymous:

All of Western Culture Pretended towards liberation women and we have the result infront of us as a tool of attraction for marketing. Ibrahim if you are a kafir you should also change your name. You cannot appear in the same blog with different names & disguise as a saivor of women.

What does your Christanity or Judaism say about women?

Ibrahim Mahfouz.:

Mischka:
I shall not stoop to your level and trade profanities with you. I am not concerned by what you or your like say about me. Also I am not against you or Muslim people per se. Most of my relatives and acquaintances are Muslims. I am for human dignity, equality and freedom. God made me crazy like that and I just can’t keep myself from speaking out for what I believe is right and against what in my opinion is wrong. The way Islam treats women is shameful and I fight for their emancipation with my pen. Women should side with me and not against me. Is it not ironic that a man fights for women’s rights and women denigrate him for that?
What started our latest round of correspondences is you saying. “This is totally false as there is NO death penalty for adultery in Islam. The penalty of adultery is equal for both men and women, and involves symbolic? Lashing”.
Is that what you gather from the following quote?
Hadith in Sahih Islam Volume 3, Book 49, Number 860:
Narrated by Abu Huraira and Zayd bin Khalid Al-Juhani:
"A Bedouin came and said, "O Allah's Apostle! Judge between us according to Allah's Laws." His opponent got up and said, "He is right. Judge between us according to Allah's Laws." The Bedouin said, "My son was a laborer working for this man, and he committed illegal sexual intercourse with his wife. The people told me that my son should be stoned to death; so, in lieu of that, I paid a ransom of one hundred sheep and a slave girl to save my son. Then I asked the learned scholars who said, "Your son has to be lashed one-hundred lashes and has to be exiled for one year." The Prophet said, "No doubt I will judge between you according to Allah's Laws. The slave-girl and the sheep are to go back to you, and your son will get a hundred lashes and one year exile." He then addressed somebody, "O Unais! go to the wife of this (man) and stone her to death" So, Unais went and stoned her to death."
You can read and watch stoning for adulterers and apostates in the following links.
www.apostatesofislam.com/media/stoning.htm
www.faithfreedom.org/Gallery/6.htm - 1

mischka:

Yeah Ibrahim - you sound like a VERY busy person - especially when you manage to appear here every ten minutes...lol

Anyway, about my name...you numbskull...its a screen name. And if you knew anything about anything you might be able to guess where its from. However, you are as usual - WRONG! What can I expect from a moron?

The reason why I dislike your existence is because you are a hateful man towards my religion and people. I have TONS of non-Muslim friends...Kafirs. However, they are not hateful people and dont attack me or my religion. Nor do I attack theirs. It works well.

Also, did you read my post about the overbearing middle eastern man? Did you at least understand it? It seems as if you didnt...read it again...its in English so you should be okay.

You dont know this kind of life. You are pitiful...

A. Kafir:

James writes: "I hope you will conceive one day based on your understanding of equality with women.

Stupid people like you create undue rift in communities"

I have already conceived and it was the birth of my daughter and seeing her grow that led me to finally and fully reject Allah. I cannot wish my worst 'enemy' what Islam stores for the muslim girls. Kafirs have to insist on freedom of speech and then equality for girls and women.

Muslims are my community. Why would I want to abandon them to the barbarity and savagery of the 7th century? You see, Mr. James, perhaps all you are interested in is "inter-faith" dialog and peace between the communities. I am out to save and help my community. You may be can afford the luxury of being selective of which humans you really care about and letting the Muslims rot in the 7th century. I cannot. They are my people.

Why don't you tell me if I have written anything that is wrong or false?

Equal writes:
"the astonishing fact is that the number of
times the word man appears in
the Holy Qur'an
is 24 and number of times the word
woman appears is also 24,"

Nonsense. Anyone can check this for themeselves these days. Man or men appears just about 700 times and woman and women appears about 100 times. Man appears about 226 times and woman appears about 29 times. These numbers hold whether one searchs in "Arabic" or in English translations. The number 24 is so way off that it is simply silly.

Anonymous writes: "There are People on this blog who get paid for writing hatred against Islam."

Who gets paid for writing hatred against Islam? Why don't you take some names? I have never ever been paid a cent or made a cent off writing anything against Islam. And, Thank you for saying "against Islam" and not the standard whine of "against muslims". I do expose islam for the crap it is all the time, but I never ever write or say anything against the muslims.

Ibrahim Mahfouz:

Mischka:

Yeah! With a name like that I suppose your ancestors came on the Mayflower. What you are really saying is that you are here in this country by accident. Well that can be easily rectified. As for me I am here by choice. I worked hard and long and traveled ten thousand miles to be here and escape the darkness of failed societies with their archaic institutions.
As for Middle East men being overbearing that is because many try to emulate the serene, peace- loving ideal model of a human being, namely your prophet.
Maybe some are surprised at the personal attack you direct to my person, but I am not. For I know that to you I am a Kafir (infidel) and according to your cult that is the least you can do to the likes of me to appease Allah and His Messenger.
I further want you to know that I have other things to do beside posting here but I make time to refute false allegations by you and your like who try to use this forum to misinform the readers.

equal:

Dr.Tarig Al Swaidan discovered some verses in the

Holy Qur'an

That mention one thing is equal to another,

i.e. men are equal to women.

Although this makes sense grammatically,

the astonishing fact is that the number of

times the word man appears in

the Holy Qur'an

is 24 and number of times the word

woman appears is also 24,

therefore not only is this phrase correct in

the grammatical sense but also true mathematically,

i.e. 24 = 24.

Upon further analysis of various verses,

he discovered that this is consistent throughout the whole

Holy Qur'an

James:

A. Kafir

I hope you will conceive one day based on your understanding of equality with women.

Stupid people like you create undue rift in communities

James:

A. Kafir

I hope you will conceive one day based on your understanding of equality with women.

Stupid people like you create undue rift in communities

Anonymous:

Mischka:

There are People on this blog who get paid for writing hatred against Islam. They negate every good principle associated with Islam and are not looking for reason (or) truth, because their pay checks get trimmed.

It is same as singing a song in front of a deaf & blind person with dead heart.

mischka:

"You can afford to philosophize, rationalize and double talk to defend the indefensible barbaric treatment of women by the Sharia, because it does not impact you. You ran away from your failed society and voted against it with your feet. If you are made to live under the Sharia in Saudi Arabia or Iran you would not be enamored by the Sharia as you seem to be. In fact the mention of moving there made you ballistic."

Ibrahim - do you have a job? Is your wife paying your bills for you while you sit home and blog all day? Typical Middle eastern pigs - make the woman do all the dirty work while you stay home to entertain yourself.

Im going to say a few things and then be done with this because talking to you leads to NOTHING. You have a coconut for a brain and its rotten now.

First of all - I didnt run anywhere. Ive been in America my entire life. I am not a naturalized citizen - I am a born citizen. If anyone ran - it was you. I can tell by your English that you have an accent. :-) Dont even try to deny it.

Second, where have I said that I was enamored by Sharia? Show me a post in which I have said that I want Sharia. Again, more lies by a typical, overbearing, middle eastern, egotistical man who thinks his word is the law and better then a woman's.

Lastly, if you consider that ballistic then your woman must walk on eggshells around you. Its not Islam that tortures women, its overbearing men like you who try to push women around because you consider them beneath you and inferior.

I wash my hands completely of this idiot.

A. Kafir:

Mischka,

I have just shown you the big time luminaries of Islam saying that it is okay by Allah to sexually exploit female toddlers, and your response to that is shutting your ears and eyes as tightly as you can? Your Allah wants humans to be tortured to death, and your response ... close your eyes and ears? Your Allah wants humans to cut off the limbs of other humans and your response is justifying that savagery? Your prophet burns eyes and tortures other humans to death and your response?

Mischka, is this the Allah you plan on teaching and telling your kids? Your Allah seals the hearts, eyes, and ears of the Kafirs. No one is sealing your heart, eyes or ears. Why are you doing that to yourself?

Ibrahim Mahfouz.:


Mischka;

There is a verse in the Koran that says if the Koran has any inconsistencies it could NOT be from Allah (Quran 4:82). I agree. Well it has inconsistencies and outright contradictions therefore it could not be from Allah and so we should not use it to prove anything. We therefore judge Islam by how it is practiced. How it is practiced is based on the interpretation of the leaders of the different schools of Islamic thought who know more about Islam than Mischka. Picking a verse from here and from there to prove a point is fruitless because, as Arif told you, we can pick another verse, as you very well found out, that will contradict yours. Saying Allah said this or Allah said that should be eliminated from rational discourse because then we will be working along the principle (GI = GO) i.e. Garbage in leads to garbage out.
You can afford to philosophize, rationalize and double talk to defend the indefensible barbaric treatment of women by the Sharia, because it does not impact you. You ran away from your failed society and voted against it with your feet. If you are made to live under the Sharia in Saudi Arabia or Iran you would not be enamored by the Sharia as you seem to be. In fact the mention of moving there made you ballistic.

mischka:

Ibrahim -

"I think the punishment for you and the other women who try to defend the indefensible should be deported to Saudi Arabia if you are Sunni or to Iran if you are Shia."

See - this is what I mean when I say stupid posts begin stupid and end stupid.

Why would I go to Saudi Arabia? Or to Iran? Im not Saudi or Irani...and who are you to decide such things? A numbskull named Ibrahim Mahfouz?????????

Lets send all the Jews away too and all the Christians! What an a**!!!!

Change your name and then come on these blogs to talk about deportation.

A. Kafir:

Mischka,

Are you going to try to answer what I posted for you?

Do you want additional references for the issue of how women are treated in Islam? Please tell me that I am wrong and why? Have you ever read what the Shia Imams consider Halal for young girl toddlers? If you have not, you really should. It will tell you more about where Islam stands.

Ibrahim Mahfouz:

Mischka:
Here is another link to an adultery stoning of a woman.Enjoy!
www.jihadwatch.org/dhimmiwatch/archives/018356.php

mischka:

Arif -

I consider you to be the scum of the earth...the filthiest substance a man can be made of. You are disgusting because you hate Muslims. Not because you are not a Muslim...I have plenty of non-Muslim friends...dont hate them at all. But you just bring that out in people - you are pathetic.

Everything you say comes from that neglected place in your sad and sick little heart. You have no family and you have no friends - its pretty obvious. What did your parents say to you when you told them you think their religion is disgusting? I highly doubt you have much going on in your life aside from some dingy little rat hole you call a home.

You actually consider hating Muslims and Islam to be a good thing: its not!

As for the end of Islam and blah blah blah (words of a blithering idiot) - I doubt the prophecies of a TV scholar like yourself hold any weight but have you looked at the numbers recently? I bet not...lol

I am always right about you - worthless is all you are.

And from here on forward - you will no longer get any more responses from me. Im arguing with a womanizing lush named Arif - sounds disgusting.

If you had even an iota of intelligence, tact, manners, education, morals, class, values, SOMETHING - ANYTHING - this argument MIGHT have been worth having. However, seeing as you dont - its not.

Ibrahim Mahfouz:

Mischka:

You say: Ibrahim
“This is totally false as there is NO death penalty for adultery in Islam. The penalty of
adultery is equal for both men and women, and involves symbolic? Lashing“.

Let us discuss the second sentence first i.e. Equal penalty for men and women.

(Quran 4:15))
“If any of your women
Are guilty of lewdness
Take evidence of four
Witnesses from amongst you
Against them; and if they testify,
Confine them to houses until
Death do claim them”
….
(4:16)
“If two men among you
Are guilty of lewdness (homosexuals)
Punish them both
If they do not amend their ways
Otherwise, leave them alone; for God
Is often merciful”

First no mention of the punishment for the male partner of the woman with lewd behavior. The threat of punishment in 4:16 is for homosexuals if they persist in their activities and the fact that Allah is “often merciful” apparently does not include women, because was not mentioned in the women‘s context. As for lashing, since when was the lashing “symbolic“. Tell that to the 14 years old boy who died from 85 lashes. Consult the following link;
www.jihadwatch.org/dhimmiwatch/archives/003943.php - 32k
As for no " no death penalty for adultery in Islam" read read the following Hadith in Sahih Islam Volume 3, Book 49, Number 860:
Narrated Abu Huraira and Zayd bin Khalid Al-Juhani:
"A Bedouin came and said, "O Allah's Apostle! Judge between us according to Allah's Laws." His opponent got up and said, "He is right. Judge between us according to Allah's Laws." The Bedouin said, "My son was a laborer working for this man, and he committed illegal sexual intercourse with his wife. The people told me that my son should be stoned to death; so, in lieu of that, I paid a ransom of one hundred sheep and a slave girl to save my son. Then I asked the learned scholars who said, "Your son has to be lashed one-hundred lashes and has to be exiled for one year." The Prophet said, "No doubt I will judge between you according to Allah's Laws. The slave-girl and the sheep are to go back to you, and your son will get a hundred lashes and one year exile." He then addressed somebody, "O Unais! go to the wife of this (man) and stone her to death" So, Unais went and stoned her to death."

You can read and watch about stoning in the following links.
www.apostatesofislam.com/media/stoning.htm
www.faithfreedom.org/Gallery/6.htm - 1

As for polygamy, suffice it to sy that your prophet who you consider as the model for human behavior had at the time of his death eleven wives and undetermined number of concubines.This Messenger of Allah even allowed his followers to "marry" for pleasure and which is now widely practiced by Gulf State citizens who marry Egyptian, Iranian and Yemeni women for a weekend.

I think the punishment for you and the other women who try to defend the indefensible should be deported to Saudi Arabia if you are Sunni or to Iran if you are Shia.


Arif:

Mischka writes; "Do I hate you? No "

Oh you do, You loath me, the on and off caps display your disdain very clearly. Hatred comes naturally for Muslims, its a gift from Islam and comes with the teachings.
Mischka you have nothing, your anger gets the better of you, your name calling displays your level of intelligence, how old are you?

Msichka, Islam is finished. There is nothing left in this religion/cult, everything is exposed, your rasool, his koran, his allah, that angel who no one else saw, the lies are out. No one takes islam seriously, this religion has begun to implode, ironic isn't it that the Muslims explode while the religion implodes.

You say; "You came from an extremist family that has left you bitter and disoriented - whose fault is that? Why should we care what you went through? WHY????"

What ever gave you that idea? I love my family in fact I was just in Pakistan visiting. I may have pointed out the absurdities of Islam in my family but they are lovely people and I love them dearly and they do me.

Some more childish tantrums; "As for your day - I doubt you have ever experienced a good day Arif in your measly existence. A small man like you can only go through life suffering, wimpering and whining to the world about how other people ruined his life...never taking responsibility for any of it himself...and you call ME a child???"

Wow woman you relly hate me don't you? Is that scarf a little too tight around your neck? Having a bad day?

Mischka says; "Honey - Im light years ahead of you..."

Sure your are.

Mischka While you digest Kafirs post showing Islam exploiting female todlers for sex, here is another thing you need to do some research on; afterall its yuor deen. Do you know that Abu Bkr's real name was Abdul Ka'aba when he converted to Islam he was named Abdullah (servant of Allah) by Mohammed. However he was called Abu Bkr (Father of a virgin) only because he allowed Mohammed to have his virgin daughter for the first time in his life. There are whole lot of questions that arise here that you might ask yourself. Take off your scarf and do som reserarch, for example why Abu Bkr's name change from Abdul Ka'aba (servant of goddess Kubaba) to Abdullah (servant of Allah) to Abu Bkr? Its obvious to Kafirs but muslims will typically dismiss such truths because they are so burried in lies.

I hope your Jummah goes well as Mine is perfect! Go do some gymnastics for Allah and ask for some guidance.

Arif

A. Kafir:

Mischka,

http://www.tafheem.net/main.html

Get to the site and then negotiate to the commentary for 65:4 and look at comment 13.

The Great Maulan Mawdudi in his famous commentary says:
"*13 They may not have menstruated as yet either because of young age, or delayed menstrual discharge as it happens in the case of some women, or because of no discharge at aII throughout life which, though rare, may also be the case. In any case, the waiting-period of such a woman is the same as of the woman, who has stopped menstruation, that is three months from the time divorce was pronounced.
Here, one should bear in mind the fact that according to the explanations given in the Qur'an the question of the waiting period arises in respect of the women with whom marriage may have been consummated, for there is no waiting-period in case divorce is pronounced before the consumation of marriage. (Al-Ahzab: 49). Therefore, making mention of the waiting-period for the girls who have not yet menstruated, clearly proves that it is not only permissible to give away the girl in marriage at this age but it is also pemssible for the husband to consummate marriage with her. Now, obviously no Muslim has the right to forbid a thing which the Qur'an has held as permissible."
*******************************

Now tell me which Muslim has the right to forbid a thing which the Quran has held permissible? Quran says clearly that a little girl before her first period can be married, and her husband can enjoy her sexually ( mercifully, he is asked not to physically injure her. Although even that is relaxed quite a bit by the Shia Imams like Khomenii) which leads to the practice of 'thighing' and other forms of sex with babies without "penetration".

Do you have daughters, Mischka? Look at a girl in kinder garten and think what your Allah thinks of those children. Look and think, Mischka.

A. Kafir:

Mischka,

You do not know your Islam. Here go check the following out.

I cannot give you all the links because this site discards posts with too many links but I will give just a few and cite your great muslim scholars.
**********************************
http://www.islamweb.net/ver2/Fatwa/ShowFatwa.php?lang=E&Id=88089&Option=FatwaId
The evidence from the Qur'an is:

1. The saying of Allah: "And those of your women as have passed the age of monthly courses, for them the 'Iddah (prescribed period), if you have doubts (about their periods), is three months, and for those who have no courses [(i.e. they are still immature) their 'Iddah (prescribed period) is three months likewise, except in case of death]". (At-Talaq 65:4)

So, Allah set rulings of marriage, divorce and waiting period for the women who have not yet had menses, i.e. the young girls.

The Iddah (waiting period) does not take place except after marriage.

2. Allah also says: "And if you fear that you shall not be able to deal justly with the orphan girls, then marry (other) women of your choice, two or three, or four." (An-Nisa 4:3)

Ummul Mu'minin Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her, said when she was asked about the interpretation of the above verse by her nephew Urwa Ibn Zubair, "O my nephew! This is about the orphan girl who lives with her guardian and shares his property. Her wealth and beauty may tempt him to marry her without giving her an adequate Mahr (bridal-money) which might have been given by another suitor. So, such guardians were forbidden to marry such orphan girls unless they treated them justly and gave them the most suitable Mahr; otherwise they were ordered to marry any other woman."

The saying of Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her,: "(… So, such guardians were forbidden to marry such orphan girls unless they treated them justly …)" is evidence that it is permissible in Islamic Shariah to marry a young girl who is not yet mature, since the person is no longer considered an orphan when he reaches the age of puberty. The orphanage state of being orphan exists only prior to maturity.

3. Allah further says: "They ask your legal instruction concerning the Women. Say: Allah instructs you about them: and about what is recited unto you in the Book, concerning the orphans girls whom yoy give not the portions prescribed, and yet whom you desire to marry." (Al-Nisa: 127)

Ummul muminin Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her, said: " An Orphan girl used to be under the care of a guardian with whom she shared property. Her guardian, being attracted by her wealth and beauty, would intend to marry her without giving her a just Mahr, i.e. the same Mahr as any other person might give her (in case he married her). So such guardians were forbidden to do that unless they did justice to their female wards and gave them the highest Mahr their peers might get".

The evidence from the Sunnah is: The Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) established the marriage contract with Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her, when she was 6 years old, and he consummated the marriage with her when she was 9 years of age.

It is reported in Sahih AlBukhari and Muslim that Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her, said: "The Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) established the marriage contract with me when I was 6 years of age and consummated the marriage with me when I was 9 years of age."

Ibn Qudama said in Al-Mughni: "There is no difference as regards a young girl who is still a virgin". Ibn Al-Mundhir said: "The reliable people of knowledge agree unanimously that it is permissible for a father to marry his young and virgin daughter to an eligible man. It is also permissible for him to marry her."

Al Baghawi said, like in Fath Al-Bari,: "There is a consensus of the scholars that it is permissible for the fathers to marry their young daughters even if they are still in the cradle, but it is not permissible for the husbands to consummate the marriage with them, unless they become physically fit for sexual intercourse by mature males."
****************************

Now before you go making a fool of yourself again and arguing with the above fatwa, read the tafsir by ibn Kathir, Mawdudi, Jalalayn, Tabari, and ibn Abbas and you will find that they all agree with the fatwa given above. So do not go about yelling that I am making things up as you did last time and I posted the links for you. You have the links to the tafsirs ( tafsir dot com and altafsir dot come and check out what is being said for the verses quoted above) You can also get Maududi online. Tabari is also available.

Think about it when you pray to your Allah next time and ask him why he could not spare half a verse to prohibit marriage of little child girls to old pedophiles? Do you understand how many millions of little muslim girls lives have been ruined and made miserable over the centuries? Think if you have any conscience left.

mischka:

Kafir - are you kidding me with this??? You think the junk you write is intimidating??? Its not! I take it for what its worth - garbage and nothing more.

And here we are repeating ourselves YET again!

First of all - there is nothing in the Quran that says marrying at the age of nine is okay or forbidden. Marriageable age is after the woman has her period AND when she has reached a point in life that she can handle her own affairs.

"[an-Nisa' 4:6] Make trial of orphans until they reach the age of marriage; if then ye find sound judgment in them, release their property to them;"

Meaning, test them until you feel the child is mature enough to handle making their own decisions.

That being said - it has also been confirmed in the Quran that all of his marriages were legal. There is not a single line in the Quran you will find that says Aisha was nine years old when she was married. If you use your logic here, the Prophet's (pbuh) first wife was 25 yrs his senior and he was faithfully married to this woman for 25 years until she DIED. He was 50 at the time. His second wife was closer to him in age then Khadijah. How does it makes sense that he just up and married a nine year old like that?

According to many narratives, she participated in the battles of Badr and Uhud. The minimum age to fight is 15 - how does that make sense here?

You are telling me that I dont know my religion - I DO. Its you who doesnt know MY religion. You have to dig deeper then that if you want to break my faith or majority of the Muslims out there!

A. Kafir:

Mischka writes:

"I didnt have any Kafir education - I have no idea what you are talking about and quite frankly - dont care. I have seen enough of you on these blogs to know that you are simply an anti-Muslim bigot and nothing more then that. Your quotes are distorted and taken out of context and you know it. Sorry - but its the truth."

You said you were educated in USA, did you not? Do you think that is Islamic education that you received? Think again. You draw comfort from calling me anti-muslim but you have never ever provided any example where I have been against muslims. I diss Islam for it is crap, but I have nothing against muslims except that they are conned into following a dead barbarian. Out of context? Why is that the standard excuse that muslims always fall back on? Is the Quran not clear enough? If you like you can show any tafsir, any exegesis you like. You quote Juan Cole and he is a fake since he is a Bahi and not even a muslim. He clearly distorts the quran. You quoted him about how muslims are say Salaam to a non-muslim and that means friendship. I showed you that you were wrong. You want to pick that discussion up, feel free to do that. You have as yet to show that Quran does not teach hate for the non-muslims. Just a few verses will do. I have shown you verse after verse showing that your Allah tells you not to take christians, jews, or pagans for friends. You like most muslims ignore that command of Allah, offer proof against yourself to allah, and do take non-muslim for friends. So where is the "out of context"?

Then you write:
"This test of yours seems to be true for almost every single religion, race and tribe out there. Yet, you point your finger at Islam because its convenient right now. This is a custom - not a religious mandate. People like you never make a difference because you feel power in numbers. You think whatever the majority of your brainwashed friends think. Thats it."

Oh no, not at all, Mischka. There is no other "religion" out with a prophet who set the example of marrying a six year old and bedding her at nine. That is why it is allowed in Islam, and that is not a "custom" but Muhammad's sunnah. That is why Muslim old men marry seven year old even in the present. Feel power in numbers? Where does that come from? When and where have I said anything about numbers? On the contrary, it is always the muslims that keep telling the kafirs that they are 1.2, not 1.5, no 1.8 billion strong etc. Facts and truth stated by a single child is sufficient to slay the falsehood of billions. What is true is true and does not go away whether we acknowledge it or not. The earth never did become flat although billions believed it for millenniums. I gave you the example of the old woman because you were talking about equality under Islam. Your prophet was a pedophile and married a six year old, and many of his companions were pedophiles and married children. That is why men are allowed to marry girl children, but women are not. It is not custom but Islamic Sharia.

Then you write:
"Quran does not state specifically whether one can marry a child or that it is prohibited. Islam does consider marriage a sacred bond and requires parties to be 'aware' of what they are doing and consent to it."

Here you are wrong on both accounts. It is not prohibited to marry a child. Quran specifically allows men to marry girl children. You like most muslims just do not know your Islam or your Quran or your prophet's Sunnah. What if I show you that Quran allows marriage of old men to little children, and show you that the tafsir writers have acknowledged that since the earliest times of Islam? Then marriage is not a sacred bond in Islam. It is civil contract. You were married. Show me a sacred line in the Nikahnama. You should have it and you should be able to read it. Sacred? Something that can be disposed with a Talaaq, Talaaq, Talaaq is not very sacred. Consent? Silly girl, the consent of a little child in Islam is her silence. You think that is consent?

Really do yourself a favor and learn Islam. You are merely parroting lies that you have been taught.
I challenge you to show me a single statement that I have made about Islam that is out of context. Show the context.

mischka:

Arif - when I think of you - I think of the word LAZY. Do I hate you? No - I find you annoying, pitiful and old. I dont hate you. You had good reasons for leaving Islam - you have no discipline and you dont understand the religion AT ALL.

You are predictable - you dont surprise me anymore. We talked about this - and here we are repeating ourselves YET again...

When you speak of four walls - I have NO idea what you refer to. Unless you can prove, dont bother posting your pathetic comments. Again, even more LAZINESS. He makes allegations without providing support. LAZY.

You came from an extremist family that has left you bitter and disoriented - whose fault is that? Why should we care what you went through? WHY????

WHOSE PROBLEM IS IT?

This is not about you - its about Islam. You're a self-centered LAZY bum and no one here cares to give you a pity party. Thats the problem here. Right along with your alcoholism and stripping women whenever you feel like it. Thats your counseling session for today.

You are trying so desperately to come off as if you dont care. If you didnt care - you wouldnt post. Yet here you are contradicting yourself. Predictable.

As for your day - I doubt you have ever experienced a good day Arif in your measly existence. A small man like you can only go through life suffering, wimpering and whining to the world about how other people ruined his life...never taking responsibility for any of it himself...and you call ME a child???

Honey - Im light years ahead of you...

:-)

Arif:

Mischka writes; "A.Kafir - aka Arif the Kafir -"
Muslims hate an ex-muslim, typically ex-muslims are killed. It makes sense Mischka that you hope one person left Islam and not two.

Kafir I might add writes and debates very well I wish I could do the same, however I feel privileged when you think that we are both the same person; a complement I might add. Sorry brother Kafir that some folks think of us as one.

Mischka writes; "Arif, I have repeated myself waaaaaaaaaaaay too many times on these blogs on woman's rights and so on."

Islamic women’s rights are an oxymoron. When a Muslima must camouflage herself in public then she has NO rights, restricted to 4-walls is hardly a right.
When Muslims quote the Koran or Hadeeth they shoot themselves in the foot. They may post a seemingly good verse but we can produce one even better (where have I heard that before?), one that favors the opposite argument.

Mischka writes; "If you know anything about me by now - its that I hate repeating myself. We have talked about this -your lack of knowledge is a result of your laziness."

You poor thing why would I know anything about you? I rarely read your stuff simply because you only rant. You argue like a child which can be funny though.

Mischka says;
"You will not draw me into a pointless discussion with you when you have already made up your mind AGAINST Muslims."

You may or may not choose to answer; it's hard defending Islam an ideology in conflict with itself. It's not Muslims we are against its Islam, similar to hating cancer and not the inflicted.

I hope your day is going as well as mine.

Arif

mischka:

Arif the Kafir -

I didnt have any Kafir education - I have no idea what you are talking about and quite frankly - dont care. I have seen enough of you on these blogs to know that you are simply an anti-Muslim bigot and nothing more then that. Your quotes are distorted and taken out of context and you know it. Sorry - but its the truth.

"So what equality are you talking about? Here is a simple test: Can a 70 year old man marry a 9 year old girl in Islam? Yes and they do and have been doing for over a thousand years. Can a seventy year old woman marry a 9 year old boy? Ever wonder about that?"

This test of yours seems to be true for almost every single religion, race and tribe out there. Yet, you point your finger at Islam because its convenient right now. This is a custom - not a religious mandate. People like you never make a difference because you feel power in numbers. You think whatever the majority of your brainwashed friends think. Thats it.

Quran deals with a variety of people and situations - marriage being one of them. Quran does not state specifically whether one can marry a child or that it is prohibited. Islam does consider marriage a sacred bond and requires parties to be 'aware' of what they are doing and consent to it.

mischka:

Ibrahim -

Punishment -

This is totally false as there is NO death penalty for adultery in Islam. The penalty of adultery is equal for both men and women, and involves symbolic lashing. Social pressure, i.e., public witnessing of the penalty, is the basic punishment see 24:1-2

Inheritance -

This is a common misconception even among the traditional Muslims themselves. Quran gives the parents total freedom to give their children as much as they see fit even if this means giving the females double what the males would get. Quran, however, commands that if a will is NOT left, then the estate is distributed in such a manner that the son gets double what the daughter gets. Generally, the son is responsible for a family, while the daughter is taken care of by a husband or her family. However, the Quran recommends in 2:180 that a will shall be left to conform with the specific circumstances of the deceased. For example, if the son is rich and the daughter is poor, one may leave a will giving the daughter everything, or twice as much as the son.

Travel -

This is a man made fabrication that has no support in the Quran. According to the Quran, women have no limitations on their moves, travels or activities. Men who hire themsleves guards on the women's moves do this out of their own wishes not beause of any religious law in the Quran.

Polygamy -

Oy goodness - must you be so predictable?

Polygamy is NOT encouraged in Islam - its discouraged and only to be practiced in an extreme situation. There is no sexual idea behind it either. A man can only take another woman for a wife if he:

-Has the first wife's permission
-Is marrying to aid another woman (widow, orphan, single mothers, etc)
-He MUST provide for each of them equally financially
-He cannot favor one over the other
-He divides his time between each of them equally
-He cannot marry a second time for lust
-He cannot treat one better then the others
-He ABSOLUTELY CANNOT marry again if his first wife does not consent to this.

Ploygamy is not a joke - the only reason it was even allowed was to aid and shelter hundreds of women left with children after wars.

Ibrahim - think before you speak. If you dont - you simply come across as tiresome and run the risk of getting dismissed.

A. Kafir:

Mischka,
You take a few verses of Quran to show Equality of men and women. I see you are still copying and pasting stuff and not giving credit to from where you get your quotes. Do you even know which translation of the Quran is that verse taken? I doubt it. Anyway, kindly learn to use the critical thinking skills that were hopefully taught to you in your Kafir education. Stop relying on Islamic propoganda so much.

See the verses that Ibrahim has pointed out to you and see how much equality you have for women. The verse you quote was handed down by Muhammad after he been rebuked by Salamah for Allah always talking about men and never about women. So if you do a search for 'man or men' in the Quran you will get about 700 verses and if you search for 'woman or women' you get barely a 100. So you start to get an idea of the equality that is in the Quran. But then start examining the verses that contain the mention of Woman or women in them and see that they are mostly the restrictions and conditions on them regarding how that affects the men.

Since you quote 3 Verses, I will show you three verses as well:

002.228
YUSUFALI: Divorced women shall wait concerning themselves for three monthly periods. Nor is it lawful for them to hide what Allah Hath created in their wombs, if they have faith in Allah and the Last Day. And their husbands have the better right to take them back in that period, if they wish for reconciliation. And women shall have rights similar to the rights against them, according to what is equitable; but men have a degree (of advantage) over them. And Allah is Exalted in Power, Wise.

Notice MEN HAVE A DEGREE (oF ADVANTAGE) OVER THEM. It is not equality but you are faked. What is a degree of advantage over them and do, make sure that you do, look up how that degree got translated into Sharia laws that treat you as woman as chattel.

004.034
SHAKIR: Men are the maintainers of women because Allah has made some of them to excel others and because they spend out of their property; the good women are therefore obedient, guarding the unseen as Allah has guarded; and (as to) those on whose part you fear desertion, admonish them, and leave them alone in the sleeping-places and beat them; then if they obey you, do not seek a way against them; surely Allah is High, Great.

Why do men not have to be obedient? Can you beat a man? A man is allowed by your Allah to beat you. Allah has made men excel women ... he says it himself. You call that equality?

Lastly I could not help but quote you one of the verses you showed for it is interesting that you are blind to what it says:

4:001
SHAKIR: O people! be careful of (your duty to) your Lord, Who created you from a single being and created its mate of the same (kind) and spread from these two, many men and women; and be careful of (your duty to) Allah, by Whom you demand one of another (your rights), and (to) the ties of relationship; surely Allah ever watches over you.

Your Allah obviously did not know simple biology because now it is well established that mankind did not come from a single pair. That would have been disasterous. Then I guess because Man excels the woman your Allah created the Man first. And you demand your rights, but the Quran makes it clear that you do not have as many rights. A man can beat you, for that is his right, but you cannot even try. And see all the rights that Ibrahim points out that a man has that you do and hence you cannot demand them. Allah does not allow it for you.


So what equality are you talking about? Here is a simple test: Can a 70 year old man marry a 9 year old girl in Islam? Yes and they do and have been doing for over a thousand years. Can a seventy year old woman marry a 9 year old boy? Ever wonder about that?

bennett:

Is Eboo's interfaith group getting through to young men like this? Because clearly someone has:

"A 21-year-old Clearwater man was arrested at Tampa International Airport this weekend after security personnel found a box cutter in a hollowed-out book, authorities said.

If convicted, Baines faces up to 10 years in prison and up to a $250,000 fine for a federal charge of attempting to board an airplane with a concealed dangerous weapon. He is currently serving a 30 day sentence after pleading guilty Monday to a state misdemeanor charge of carrying a concealed weapon.

About 7:30 a.m. Sunday, airport security ran Benjamin Baines Jr.'s backpack through an X-ray machine and saw the image of a box cutter, according to a report from the Transportation Security Administration.

When searching the backpack, a security officer found a book titled "Fear Itself." The book was hollowed out, and the box cutter was inside.

After Baines was read his rights, he said his cousin had cut away the pages to make the hollow section in the book. Later, reports state, he said he had hollowed it out himself to hide money and marijuana from his roommates.

Baines told officers he was moving to Las Vegas and forgot the cutter was in the book.
Officers found books in the backpack titled "Muhammad in the Bible," "The Prophet's Prayer" and "The Noble Qur'an." He also had a copy of the Quran and the Bible.

Several sheets of paper in the backpack included rap lyrics that referred to police, narcotics, weapons and killing. Baines told officers he is a rapper who writes his own lyrics and that rap music writers need to "play the part," the report states.

Officers performed a background check and found no record of crimes or active warrants.
He was charged with carrying a concealed weapon and booked into Orient Road Jail. At his first appearance in court Monday, Baines pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 30 days in jail, according to an employee with the Hillsborough County clerk of court. He remained in Orient Road Jail today.

The U.S. Attorney's Office also filed a federal charge of attempting to board an aircraft with a concealed dangerous weapon. The federal charge against Baines was filed Sunday but was not announced until today, said Steve Cole, spokesman for the U.S. Attorney's Office in Tampa.

Cole said Baines will be arrested by U.S. marshals upon his release from jail on the state charge.

http://suncoastpinellas.tbo.com/content/2008/feb/20/man-airport-had-box-cutter-hidden-book/

Ibrahim Mahfouz:

Mischka:
Regarding women's equality in Islam.
You call this equality when a woman's testimony, when accepted, counts as half that of a man's testimony (Quran 2:82) or her inheritance half that of her brother's (Quran 4:11). Or maybe the command that she cannot travel except in the company of a male relative. Or maybe imprisoned for life for lewd behavior (Q4:15), while the male counterpart is only required to ask Allah for forgivenress (Q 4:16). Or maybe when women are stoned for even the perception of adultery? Maybe it is when women are made to share their husbands with three other women and infinite number of concubines (Quran 4:3). Where is that equality you claim?