I have recently found a bout you. My father in-law prays 5 times at Auburn Turkish Mosque at Auburn NSW, Australia every day. The mosque is about 20 minutes walkd from his place. He does not like to boder his family to take him by car. Ocasionally I go by car near his house and wait for him to come out. While I was waiting for him I was reading part of Surat Nesa at my car than I turn the bbc radio when I found about your speech to Muslim and Christian Dialoque. They give you a small introduction than after prayers I came googled your name until I found you. I just wanted to send my Salams to you and your family. It was my obligation to contact you and to congradulate you on your faith and on your work. Kind Regards
Sharif Amin, 17 St. Hilliers St. Auburn NSW 2144

salut
j'ai le plaisir de vous contactez
est ce que je peut contacter Dr.hoffman.
merci.

salut
j'ai le plaisir de vous contactez
est ce que je peut contacter Dr.hoffman.
merci.

salut
j'ai le plaisir de vous contactez
est ce que je peut contacter Dr.hoffman.
merci.

So if the status of women is equal and the function is different based on childbearing, then when modern social organizations and technologies marginalize childbearing in a woman's life, then Islam is flexible enough to recognize that there is very little functional difference between men and woman at this point, right?

nivideta- theres a human kind of wisdom observation that really transcends all religions-

your statement-
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"cowardly you are in not being able to address the negatives in your religion as also smacks of a racist attitude..The holier than thou "Whites" have also had a poor record of ill treatment of women"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

holier than thou whites?

take your own advice and be more circumspect

we have a tendency to accuse others of what we ourselves are guilty of.

Yes, discrimination against women is certainly cultural to an extent, but that exists everywhere, not just poor developing countries!! However, specifically giving the example of India in this case, Hinduism is not separate from Indian culture for the most part. And yes, as a society, there have been discriminatory practices against women. However, we have also had stalwarts like Raja Ram Mohan Roy who spoke against it and outlawed some heinous practices like Sati! My point is, we have recognised that there are negatives in our cultural practices and try to correct them, and not give excuses for them!!! Forward thinking Muslims could do well and analyse the negatives in their religion and help the religion move forward with time, instead of spending time justifying the many possible interpretations of the Koran!!

A scripture is not meant to be followed literally!! I mean isn't that obvious? You are expected to interpret it in keeping with the universal principles of equality, honesty etc. with an open mind!! Once it becomes dogma, only then does it become a disease, which has happened with the Abrahamic religions unfortunately.

Analyze;

A non-muslim (Christian,Jew,Hindu,Buddist,Atheist) when coverted to Islam, he realizes the values and he want to spread Islam for the rest of his life. Because he found the truth. eg. Hofman, Cat Stevanson (Pop) Mohammad Ali Clay, Green, Morace Bucail (Scientist) Garry Miller and many more...

When a Muslim convert to other religion he started critizing Islam, because he sell himself to the accepted religion and work for them.

Islam says don't critize other religion, and these convert they stick to it.

Whereas Christians, Hindus, infact they fund for such convert in order to hit Islam.

When truth comes, falshood perished, by nature falshood bound perish.

Nivedeta:
You are angry because Mr Hofman mentioned India. But you missed the point. The point is people who entered Islam broght with them some cultural baggage with them. So, one need to separate cultural influence and Islamic teaching.
The reason westerners or people around the world accepting Islam not by looking at Muslims practices but rather taking a very close and educated look at Islamic teaching and how real Muslim live and conduct their lives.

Mr Hofman was very succint because there is no need to defend or appologize for anything. He is simply putting blame on human nature for not trying to reach perfection or betterment within Muslim and among others.

M.W. Hofmann cites the Qur'an. But seem like everytime we non Muslin make a point by citing the Q'ran, the Islamic Clerics say that we have taken it "out of contest". I've heard that frase several times.
The clerics also say : you are not an expert in Islam , only an expert is able to understand the
Qur'an. It's always a no win situation. It is a waste of time to try to reason with Islamic Clerics. A big waste of time.

This is all well and good. However, what about the millions of Muslim women who are slaves to their husbands or fathers? Does Islam have no responsibility to free those women? The fact that slavery comes from culture is no excuse. If Islam has no imperative to free these women, then it is a far cry from Christianity. Christianity would have freed those women eons ago. Here, in the USA, we do things such as fight immensely painful and expensive wars to free slaves, as in the Civil War of 1865. Where is there anything comparable in the Muslim world, now or anytime in the past? It seems to me that Islam parades it slaves proudly and shows no inclination to free them. Have you a response?

Nivedita...
please read my response. I specifically discuss how its our CULTURE that encourages all these stupid and ridiculous practices.

If women have the same "destination" as males do under Islamic doctrine, how many virgins will females enjoy in eternity? The Islamic men appear to have a much sweeter deal in the afterlife with the promise of being rewarded with virgins as I understand it. Do Islamic women get male virgins in heaven if they are faithful to the Quran and it's teachings?

You know, pointing fingers at China, India, South America etc just show how cowardly you are in not being able to address the negatives in your religion as also smacks of a racist attitude..The holier than thou "Whites" have also had a poor record of ill treatment of women. So, time for introspection perhaps both superficial and skin deep??

Let me make this quick and easy. Islam does NOT encourage Muslim men to beat their wives. Alot of the flaws of Islam, really is NOT Islam. It's mainly the CULTURE of the Middle East. This is a major difference. Our culture sees women as second class citizens. Our culture encourages people to force their kids into arranged marriages, etc etc etc. So alot of times people see all these things and think its Islam, it's not. And the biggest problem of all is that alot of Middle eastern people don't even know the difference between their culture and religion, so they think whatever they are doing is fine.

As far as violence and terrorism. Just think to yourself..what it would be like have your home demolished right in front of your eyes, you're forced to live in a freakin' tent, your kids are starving, etc etc etc. I would think that that would make you ANGRY as well and would want to make you retaliate...dont you think???????

You can not understand why people do things until you are put in that situation. People please, OPEN YOUR MINDS!!!

Is Concerned Now the Christian Now Liberated Arash??????

RedHerring,

Some references for you to peruse:

1. The front page of your newspaper or CNN Headline News.

i.e. Seven Muslim doctors in the UK attempt to destroy major UK airports with car bombs, and other news items: the 9/11 terrorists, the 24/7 Sunni suicide/roadside/market/mosque bombings , the 24/7 Shiite suicide/roadside/market/mosque bombings , the Bali crazies, the Kenya crazies, the Pakistani koranics, the Palestine suicide bombers/rocketeers, the Lebanese nutcases and the Filipino koranics.

2. http://www.faithfutures.org/Jesus/Crossan1.rtf

3. http://www.earlychristianwritings.com/theories.htm

The polygamy in Islam is only a reluctant permission and not an open license. The prohibitive condition for man is the requirement of maintaining a status of justice among the wives in all aspects of dealings including the time of sleeping together. It is hardly possible to fulfill this condition. That's one way how Islam discourages polygamy.

Why in the first instance ISLAM permits polygamy, is a question which has answer based on a number of logical reasons, but only a couple of them are mentioned below.

1. The permission of marrying four wives is not an opening of door to polygamy from monogamy. It is contrarily a ceiling limit, because in the society where Islam dawned, there was no upper limit to the number of wives. Consequent upon this revelation, many of our Prophet's companions had to divorce their surplus wives. Polygamy was not introduced, it was restricted and discouraged. Having said let me say there is absolutely no embarrassment in stating that Islam permits polygamy as a Divine permission. By the way Prophet Solomon had 700 wives, David had 99 and many others had many of them.

2. On the one hand polygamy helps the husband to find a heir to his property if the existing wife is incapable of bearing a child, and on the other hand it helps the nation to avoid sexual corruption by absorbing the number of women rendered surplus because of many reasons i.e. biological phenomenon generating more number of feminine than the masculine, the gross elimination of men in the society because of deaths in a war or an epidemic and as a result thereof a large number of women falling to the responsibility of the battle winners. As November 2006, USA alone has about 4 million women more than men and the number of unmarried women is about 50 million, not to talk of Europe.

3. The vital importance of ensuring the marriage of almost every woman in the society is not an easy thing for the Western man/woman to comprehend because of immensely loose or almost no sex-adherence to moral attributions in the type of personal freedom.

4. Let us be very clear that if the polygamy arrangement does not suit to the existing wife, she has every right to get divorce.

5. Unfortunately we have fallen in the habit of treating the tree branches instead of roots for improving its growth or cutting it down. All the concerns raised against Islamic culture and their learned answers by Muslims in a defensive mode keep on encouraging non Muslims to repeat the old or throw new questions, not for the sake of understanding Islam but for picking at it. The BIG answer is

A. Our customs are based on Divine revelation and no amount of man made explanation can encompass the full extent of latent justification contained in the Divine Commands. The Divine commandments had been subjected to slight changes from prophet to prophet according to the civilization evolution, Islam being the latest one.
B. The fundamental values and definition of good and bad in Islamic society differ from those of the prevailing ones in the western culture which has kept pretty loose ties with the religion.

Thanks for reading

HANIF CHAUDHRY

Concerned Christain said: "The truth needs repeating."

Save you're definition of truthiness.

More like anti-Muslim filth while adding nothing positive...

You're a perfect example of hypocracy and "true Christian."

Dear All
Let us forget religion altogether and start living a life dictated by education, modernity, secularism, respect for others including women. Let the ideals of liberation, freedom of speech etc espounded from Abraham Lincon to Mahatma Gandhi to Nelsson Mendela be our spiritual guidelines and let us all make the modern civilization free from "hallucinations" of individuals who were maybe schizophrenic or had some other severe mental illnesses, least said. The modern leaders of all fields;science, phiosophy, politics, biology etc are FAR more superior than those illiterate vicitms of hallucination (one of the many symptoms of schizohrenia). Let sane ppl rule us not the insanes like Budha, Muhammad, Jesus (and their poor followers) or the like. We had enough of them!!!

concerned, i guess from since youve expressed respect for buddhism, this is your way of complimenting me(no matter how backhanded)

but good manners, peacefulness and compassion are also congruous with islam, of which im an adherent.

so thank you and may you the god reward you as you deserve.

peace

HHoodlum,

The truth needs repeating. Repetition is also a proven learning tool and for those bred, born and brainwashed in Islam, there is a lot of educating to do.

So again:

Mohammed, an illiterate, hallucinating Arab who also had embellishing/hallucinating scribal biographers who not only added "angels" and flying chariots to the Koran but also a militaristic agenda to support the plundering and looting of the lands of non-believers.

This agenda continues as shown by the conduct of the seven Muslim doctors in the UK, the 9/11 terrorists, the 24/7 Sunni suicide/roadside/market/mosque bombers , the 24/7 Shiite suicide/roadside/market/mosque bombers , the Bali crazies, the Kenya crazies, the Pakistani koranics, the Palestine suicide bombers/rocketeers, the Lebanese nutcases and the Filipino koranics with most of this misery being funded by Iran or the "Wannabees" of Saudi Arabia.

Added repetition:

A synopsis of the foundations of the major contemporary religions:

1. Abraham founder/father of three major religions was probably a mythical character. If he was real, he was at best a combination of at least three men. 1.5 million Conservative Jews and their rabbis have relegated Abraham to the myth pile along with most if not all the OT.

2. Jesus, the illiterate Jewish peasant/carpenter possibly suffering from hallucinations, has been characterized anywhere from the Messiah from Nazareth to a mythical character from mythical Nazareth. Analyses of his life by many contemporary NT scholars (e.g. Professors Crossan, Borg and Fredriksen, On Faith panelists)via the NT and related documents have concluded that only about 30% of Jesus' sayings and ways noted in the NT were authentic. The rest being embellishments (e.g. miracles)/hallucinations made/had by the NT authors to impress various Christian/Jewish/Pagan sects.

3. Mohammed, an illiterate, hallucinating Arab, also had embellishing/hallucinating scribal biographers who not only added "angels" and flying chariots to the Koran but also a militaristic agenda to support the plundering and looting of the lands of non-believers.
This agenda continues as shown by the conduct of the seven Muslim doctors in the UK, the 9/11 terrorists, the 24/7 Sunni suicide/roadside/market/mosque bombers , the 24/7 Shiite suicide/roadside/market/mosque bombers , the Bali crazies, the Kenya crazies, the Pakistani koranics, the Palestine suicide bombers/rocketeers, the Lebanese nutcases and the Filipino koranics.

4. Luther, Calvin, Smith, Henry VIII, Wesley et al, founders of Christian-based religions, also suffered from the belief in/hallucinations of "pretty wingy thingie" visits and "prophecies" for profits analogous to the myths of Catholicism (resurrections, apparitions, ascensions and immaculate conceptions).

5. Hinduism (from an online Hindu site) - "Hinduism cannot be described as an organized religion. It is not founded by any individual. Hinduism is God centred and therefore one can call Hinduism as founded by God, because the answer to the question ‘Who is behind the eternal principles and who makes them work?’ will have to be ‘Cosmic power, Divine power, God’"
The caste/laborer system and cow worship are problems when saying a fair and rational God founded Hinduism."

6. Buddhism- "Buddhism began in India about 500 years before the birth of Christ. The people living at that time had become disillusioned with certain beliefs of Hinduism including the caste system, which had grown extremely complex. The number of outcasts (those who did not belong to any particular caste) was continuing to grow."

"However, in Buddhism, like so many other religions, fanciful stories arose concerning events in the life of the founder, Siddhartha Gautama (fifth century B.C.):"

Archaeological discoveries have proved, beyond a doubt, his historical character, but apart from the legends we know very little about the circumstances of his life.

http://www.wsu.edu/~dee/BUDDHISM/SIDD.HTM

Bottom line: There are many good ways of living but be aware of the hallucinations/embellishments and myths surrounding the founders of said rules of life.

Victoria,

Again you make a better Buddhist.

succinct and potent

Stop lying jackass....You fool only the editors at the Wash Post..The Koran provides specific instructions on how to beat your women..

You dirtbags kill anyone who leaves your religion and you murder and oppress all other religions...

"concerned the christian" - i've been coming across your comments on a couple of these articles now, and i think you just copy paste your hateful words, regardless of the content of what you're reading. spam does not qualify as legit commenting.

i applaud Dr. Murad M. Hoffman for his short, precise and blunt comments on the "noted questions."

nothing more need be said!
al mofi al kamudi

A "born again", brainwashed Muslim and his Islamic thinking about jihad, apostacy and Muslim women and very little about how these "professors", muftis, imams and clerics are "dealing" from a false deck i.e. the flawed foundations of Islam.

Mohammed, an illiterate, hallucinating Arab who also had embellishing/hallucinating scribal biographers who not only added "angels" and flying chariots to the Koran but also a militaristic agenda to support the plundering and looting of the lands of non-believers.

This agenda continues as shown by the conduct of the seven Muslim doctors in the UK, the 9/11 terrorists, the 24/7 Sunni suicide/roadside/market/mosque bombers , the 24/7 Shiite suicide/roadside/market/mosque bombers , the Bali crazies, the Kenya crazies, the Pakistani koranics, the Palestine suicide bombers/rocketeers, the Lebanese nutcases and the Filipino koranics with most of this misery being funded by Iran or the "Wannabees" of Saudi Arabia.

(4-104) Lo! We reveal unto thee the Scripture with the truth, that thou mayst judge between mankind by that which Allah showeth thee. And be not thou a pleader for the treacherous;
According to the Quran, the prophet Mohamed (PBUH) was instructed by God to follow the Quran laws that are written in perfect words; moreover, the Quran warns the believers from following any books that would contradict its laws, and even following the verses that was revealed for a specific situations, and not following the decisive ones that are the basics of God’s laws.
He it is Who has revealed the Book to you; some of its verses are decisive, they are the basis of the Book, and others are allegorical; then as for those in whose hearts there is perversity they follow the part of it which is allegorical, seeking to mislead and seeking to give it (their own) interpretation. but none knows its interpretation except Allah, and those who are firmly rooted in knowledge say: We believe in it, it is all from our Lord; and none do mind except those having understanding (3- 7).

In the previous Quranic verse, and many other verses, God warns people from following verses in the Quran that were revealed to give the prophet certain guidance in a specific situation. But once the situation ends, the special guidance should not be followed, but the original one—the decisive—becomes the law.

In some verses in the Quran, the prophet Mohamed (PBUH) was instructed to fight back the Jews and Christians who allied with the unbelievers to fight Moslems and end their religion (They drove the prophet and his companion out of Macca).

Excepting those of the idolaters with whom ye (Muslims) have a treaty, and who have since abated nothing of your right nor have supported anyone against you. (As for these), fulfil their treaty to them till their term. Lo! Allah loveth those who keep their duty (unto Him). (9:4) Then, when the sacred months have passed, slay the idolaters wherever ye find them, and take them (captive), and besiege them, and prepare for them each ambush. But if they repent and establish worship and pay the poor-due, then leave their way free. Lo! Allah is Forgiving, Merciful. (5) And if anyone of the idolaters seeketh thy protection (O Muhammad), then protect him so that he may hear the Word of Allah, and afterward convey him to his place of safety. That is because they are a folk who know not. (6) How can there be a treaty with Allah and with His messenger for the idolaters save those with whom ye made a treaty at the Inviolable Place of Worship? So long as they are true to you, be true to them. Lo! Allah loveth those who keep their duty.
9: 29Fight against such of those who have been given the Scripture as believe not in Allah nor the Last Day, and forbid not that which Allah hath forbidden by His messenger, and follow not the Religion of Truth, until they pay the tribute readily, being brought low.

Thus, God ordered him to claim back Macca (as he ordered prophet Moses to fight the people who lived in Jerusalem). This was a specific order for specific situation, but once was over the decisive verses becomes laws. The following are some of the decisive ones that speaks about Christian and Jews and other issues, which Moslems have to follow or they are not Moslems (true believers of God)
He hath revealed unto thee (Muhammad) the Scripture with truth, confirming that which was (revealed) before it, even as He revealed the Torah and the Gospel. (3) Aforetime, for a guidance to mankind; and hath revealed the Criterion of right and wrong. Lo! those who disbelieve the revelations of Allah, theirs will be a heavy doom. Allah is Mighty, Able to Requite (the wrong). (Quran-sora 3-verse 2)

Lo! We did reveal the Torah, wherein is guidance and a light, by which the prophets who surrendered (unto Allah) judged the Jews, and the rabbis and the priests (judged) by such of Allah's Scripture as they were bidden to observe, and thereunto were they witnesses. So fear not mankind, but fear Me. And barter not My revelations for a little gain. Whoso judgeth not by that which Allah hath revealed: such are disbelievers.(5-44)

And We caused Jesus, son of Mary, to follow in their footsteps, confirming that which was (revealed) before him in the Torah, and We bestowed on him the Gospel wherein is guidance and a light, confirming that which was (revealed) before it in the Torah - a guidance and an admonition unto those who ward off (evil). (5-46) Let the People of the Gospel judge by that which Allah hath revealed therein. Whoso judgeth not by that which Allah hath revealed: such are evil-livers. (5-47)
6-151. Say: "Come, I will rehearse what Allah hath (really) prohibited you from": Join not anything as equal with Him; be good to your parents; kill not your children on a plea of want;- We provide sustenance for you and for them;- come not nigh to shameful deeds. Whether open or secret; take not life, which Allah hath made sacred, except by way of justice and law: thus doth He command you, that ye may learn wisdom.
17-33. Nor take life - which Allah has made sacred - except for just cause. And if anyone is slain wrongfully, we have given his heir authority (to demand qisas or to forgive): but let him nor exceed bounds in the matter of taking life; for he is helped (by the Law).
29-46. And dispute ye not with the People of the Book, except with means better (than mere disputation), unless it be with those of them who inflict wrong (and injury): but say, "We believe in the revelation which has come down to us and in that which came down to you; Our Allah and your Allah is one; and it is to Him we bow (in Islam)."
2-178. O ye who believe! the law of equality is prescribed to you in cases of murder: the free for the free, the slave for the slave, the woman for the woman. But if any remission is made by the brother of the slain, then grant any reasonable demand, and compensate him with handsome gratitude, this is a concession and a Mercy from your Lord. After this whoever exceeds the limits shall be in grave penalty.
2-190. Fight in the cause of Allah those who fight you, but do not transgress limits; for Allah loveth not transgressors.
2-194. The prohibited month for the prohibited month,- and so for all things prohibited,- there is the law of equality. If then any one transgresses the prohibition against you, Transgress ye likewise against him. But fear Allah, and know that Allah is with those who restrain themselves.
5-2. O ye who believe! Violate not the sanctity of the symbols of Allah, nor of the sacred month, nor of the animals brought for sacrifice, nor the garlands that mark out such animals, nor the people resorting to the sacred house, seeking of the bounty and good pleasure of their Lord. But when ye are clear of the sacred precincts and of pilgrim garb, ye may hunt and let not the hatred of some people in (once) shutting you out of the Sacred Mosque lead you to transgression (and hostility on your part). Help ye one another in righteousness and piety, but help ye not one another in sin and rancour: fear Allah. for Allah is strict in punishment.
5-8. O ye who believe! stand out firmly for Allah, as witnesses to fair dealing, and let not the hatred of others to you make you swerve to wrong and depart from justice. Be just: that is next to piety: and fear Allah. For Allah is well-acquainted with all that ye do.
2-208. O ye who believe! Enter into peace whole-heartedly; and follow not the footsteps of the evil one; for he is to you an avowed enemy.
5-32. On that account: We ordained for the Children of Israel that if any one slew a person - unless it be for murder or for spreading mischief in the land - it would be as if he slew the whole people: and if any one saved a life, it would be as if he saved the life of the whole people. Then although there came to them Our apostles with clear signs, yet, even after that, many of them continued to commit excesses in the land.
60-8. Allah forbids you not, with regard to those who fight you not for (your) Faith nor drive you out of your homes, from dealing kindly and justly with them: for Allah loveth those who are just.
10-99And if your Lord had pleased, surely all those who are in the earth would have believed, all of them; will you then force men till they become believers?
A warning message to the prophet to not force people into worshiping God.
10-100 And it is not for a soul to believe except by Allah's permission; and He casts uncleanness on those who will not understand.
2-256 There is no compulsion in religion; truly the right way has become clearly distinct from error; therefore, whoever disbelieves in the Shaitan and believes in Allah he indeed has laid hold on the firmest handle, which shall not break off, and Allah is Hearing, Knowing.

dying in battle is what islam is saying these murdering islamics are doing. quit lying.