Arvin Sloane said:
I do have some more questions, however, if you would indulge me: What times are the daily prayers? And how long are they? And are you (in case of emergency, caught in traffic, etc.) allowed to miss them? If so what must you do? Similar to the way Jewish can't eat pork, are their foods that are forbidden? What are your views on other religions -- do you feel they are wasting their time, or do you somehow believe that you are, in essence, praying to the same person? Do you feel offended by shows like ‘24’ that continue to show the enemies as people being of Islamic backgrounds? Is their a general vein of anti-Islamic sentiment in today’s media? Do you feel you, if you wished, renounce your religion? Do you feel you could accept your children’s decisions to renounce their religion? Could/Would you marry someone who wasn’t Islamic in faith? How do you accept what can not be proved?
suuure! i'd be happy to clear up any questions so here goes:
What times are daily prayers?
There are five prayers:
the dawn prayer this is usually an hour or two before dawn
the mid morning prayer usually around 11 am
the afternoon prayer round 2-4 ish
the evening prayer around 7sih
and the night prayer from about ummm i'd say 8 or 9ish
How long are they?
the morning prayer is 2 rakat...fairly short (about 4 minutes)
mid morning 4 rakat (this takes about 5-10 minutes)
afternoon-4 rakat
evening 3 rakat(umm id say about 5 minutes)
night - 4 rakat
there is also a prayer after night which is recommended called witr this is 3 rakat.
Are you in cases of emergency allowed to miss them?If so what must you do?
Yup, Allah's name means Most Merciful Most Forgiving and He recognises we are flawed and that we forget, or are held up, or sick etc etc etc so yeah if you miss a prayer you can make it up at any time of the day, provided it is during the same day. If you cant do it that same day and you are genuinely sorry or had a logical reason I have no reason to believe that Allah won't forigve you.
Are there foods which are forbidden?
Sure are, only a few though. We can't eat pork as mentioned somewhere in this thread, we can't drink alcohol or any substance which alters your mental state (unless it's for medicinal purposes). If you were in a desert or wherever and the only thing you come across is a pig and a bottle of vodka and you are dying of malnutrition you have every right to eat and drink that..but otherwise you should try to avoid these foods...its like a test of self restraint as well as having health benefits for you.
How do you feel about other religions?
Essentially our religion does not preach the forced imposition of our beliefs on to anyone, if they ask or are interested, enlighten them, if not, respect them and their beleifs and interact with them in a dignified, egalitarian manner. So basically we are taught to respect others and their beliefs, despite what we may make of what their faith is. The wasting their time thing...well we have been taught that the only way to go to heaven is to be a Muslim so in our heads maybe other religions are a waste of time...but oh gosh thats sounds mean...but who are we to judge? Like I said we have an 'each to their own policy' and respect all beleifs...we jsut stick to our own. And as much as some may deny it we do all (i.e christians, jews, muslims) pray to the same God.
Do you feel offended by shows like ‘24’ that continue to show the enemies as people being of Islamic backgrounds? Is their a general vein of anti-Islamic sentiment in today’s media?
This question, its pretty on target. I was watching NCIS and there was an Islamic militant who was wreaking havoc, much like 24 and many Hollywood movies. What can I say? If people want to form generalised ideals about a religion based solely on the stupid actions of some f*cked extremists then who's to stop them? We need more positive Islamic media and some Islamic leaders who don't take every word of the religion as an incentive to become advocates for Jihad(which should only be undertaken if you are directly attacked and have to fight in defence of your own lives or beliefs), and make the whole world think that all we do is kill and shout "Allah is Great". But yeah, I do feel offended, I wish people weren't so quick to judge, not all of us are murderous.
Do you feel you, if you wished, renounce your religion?
Hey, it's your life, do what you want. But even if I wanted to I wouldn't..because I wouldn't want to...(so confused myself there) everytime I've felt like I'm being held back by my religion I go read up about it, read the Qu'ran or Hadith or dig for answers from any Islamic source and I find it. If you want to you can, but personally I would never want to.
Do you feel you could accept your children’s decisions to renounce their religion?
I feel the only Islamic children who would do that would be those who did not have their religion completely explained to them, who did not have a firm grasp of the intricacies, or for that matter the basics of the religion. The other reason could be the absence of a positive role model or lack of religious influence in their lives. But a knowing, believing understanding kid would not change.
Could/Would you marry someone who wasn’t Islamic in faith?
This is actually not allowed unless the person becomes a believing Muslim for the sake of faith and not love, because only then will they be a true muslim and contribute to the faith.
wait i gtg for a second so i'll answer this one and the rest in a second.
ok back...to the question above
the reason you're not supposed to marry non muslims is because often your own faith is compromised, and in the case of children a muslim-muslim marriage produces muslim children who can further the faith, whilst an inter-faith marriage doesnt usually produce completely muslim kids who will further faith as they will us the example of their parents against them "y cant i do this? u married dad/mum and that was un islamic" etc etc
and the last one
How do you accept what can not be proved?
what exactly are you referring to? the existance of God? im not to sure what you are referring to so if you could clear that up that'd be gr8
