I'm a Muslim. Ask me anything!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why (according to All-American Muslim) are IVF and other reproductive technology discouraged?

Are you expected to have a lot of kids? How many is customary?

Np here. This varies with culture as well. I come from an arab Muslim country where ivf is quite common. It was introduced in early 80s and after initial resistance has been mainstream. The first baby was born in 1987 (in country ivf) and sometime in mid 2000 there was a news story on it with the picture of 'ivf' born children. There was a lot of pride in the national ivf achievements Also there is less conflict between science and religion, since there is thinking that if the technology is invented it must be with gods will.... The first time I heard of an issue with Darwin was when I came to the US a few years ago. It was always presented as a solid fact in textbooks. But this is experience from one Muslim country, so in other cultures things may vary.

The Koran says the earth is flat, with pillars at each end. God made Adam and Eve by forming mud.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why (according to All-American Muslim) are IVF and other reproductive technology discouraged?

Are you expected to have a lot of kids? How many is customary?

Np here. This varies with culture as well. I come from an arab Muslim country where ivf is quite common. It was introduced in early 80s and after initial resistance has been mainstream. The first baby was born in 1987 (in country ivf) and sometime in mid 2000 there was a news story on it with the picture of 'ivf' born children. There was a lot of pride in the national ivf achievements Also there is less conflict between science and religion, since there is thinking that if the technology is invented it must be with gods will.... The first time I heard of an issue with Darwin was when I came to the US a few years ago. It was always presented as a solid fact in textbooks. But this is experience from one Muslim country, so in other cultures things may vary.

The Koran says the earth is flat, with pillars at each end. God made Adam and Eve by forming mud.

Should add that the Koran is God's literal word, so this really isn't arguable.

[Anonymous]

Is the divorce procedure of saying "I divorce you" 3 times available to the wife, too? Or does she follow a separate procedure?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How do you feel about your testimony being worth 1/2 that of a man's? I don't believe this is cultural.

That's in the Quran, but it's only in regards to financial matters. My own personal thought is that back then men usually took care of the finances.
I'm not the OP btw.

[Anonymous]

Do the Muslim posters have Jewish friends? We are Jewish and don't have Muslim "friends". DS's best friend's nanny is Muslim so we do see her often but we've never discussed political or religious issues. DS has a few Muslim
families at his school and again- everyone is respectful but we've never reached out to them on a social level before.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do the Muslim posters have Jewish friends? We are Jewish and don't have Muslim "friends". DS's best friend's nanny is Muslim so we do see her often but we've never discussed political or religious issues. DS has a few Muslim
families at his school and again- everyone is respectful but we've never reached out to them on a social level before.

I was going to write something on the Jewish friends thread, where a poster is looking for Diwan to earth Jewish friends.

We're Muslim and live and work in Rockville. I'd say 50% of my coworkers are Jewish and I've become close friends with two Jewish women at work. My best friend's son (Jewish) babysits my Muslim kids quite often. Religion comes up fairly regularly (how similar the two religions are). It's awesome he can take my kids to a kosher pizza place and I don't have to worry about pepperoni.

In general, however, my friends and I are all liberal, so we agree on most political issues. That's never been an issue, either. I'm not sure I'd form any deep friendship with a very conservative person of any faith (or lack thereof).

[Anonymous]

Sorry for typos. iPhone auto correct sucks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do the Muslim posters have Jewish friends? We are Jewish and don't have Muslim "friends". DS's best friend's nanny is Muslim so we do see her often but we've never discussed political or religious issues. DS has a few Muslim
families at his school and again- everyone is respectful but we've never reached out to them on a social level before.

Not OP but Another Muslim poster: two of my best friends are Jewish. I dated a Jewish guy and thought I was going to marry him (to be young and in love).
In my experience most Jewish and Muslim people find commonalities (but I am talking strictly younger generations i.e. 40 and younger and in the U.S.) because there are many similarities in the religion... I know that politics doesn't come up that often in my conversations with my friends but when it does we just agree to disagree where it comes to it. I think the reason why this works is because neither one of us are on extremist sides of the israel/palestine issue-- was that a bigger deal in our lives and viewpoints then yes maybe it might be harder to be friends but it depends on the level of discourse and not the issue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Not OP but Another Muslim poster: yes and no- technically if you can attend all prayers in a mosque for men that's a good thing. Friday prayers at a mosque are obligatory for men (unless there's a valid reason for missing them) for women they are not obligatory at a mosque. They are no different than prayers said on any other day aside from the imam giving a sermon. So in a sermon they are similar to the Sunday Services but otherwise they are not in that this is not the only obligation for prayers that Muslim has to meet.

One more question and honestly, I can't believe I"m asking this. Is the sermon in NOVA (the Mosque between Bailey's and 7 corners) said in English?

Not OP but Another Muslim poster: I have only been there once for Eid prayers and yes it was in English. If I had to guess whether it is always in English or not- I would say that in all likelihood it is always in English, since Muslims from many different backgrounds and cultures attend the mosque and English is the common language but I am not 100% certain. I know that the mosque that I attend does the sermon in English.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is the divorce procedure of saying "I divorce you" 3 times available to the wife, too? Or does she follow a separate procedure?

Not OP but Another Muslim poster: I am not 100% certain on this but I believe that the wife only says it once and then applies to the court for a divorce. She does not need her husband's permission, nor does she have to prove anything in order to be granted the divorce. The rules surrounding this process in many countries today and the ways that women are discouraged to divorce or prevented from it these rules have been created by man and not by Islam.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How do you feel about your testimony being worth 1/2 that of a man's? I don't believe this is cultural.

Not OP but Another Muslim poster: As I mentioned before women are thought to be more compassionate and kind and therefore their heart can be easily appealed to. Men are though to be more logical and rational and therefore it is easier for them to condemn a person than for a woman. That is why the word of two women is considered.

I personally see the logic behind it- do I think it applies in modern times? No! Would my husband or family ever consider that- no?

[Anonymous]

np here. I disagree slightly, you find remnants of these laws in some countries, that base the legal system on Islam, not sharia per se. So, yes, there are issues with inheritance and the woman receiving less. Often, families side step this by transferring ownership during life. There is no "will" either, so it's not possible to change the proportion through a will. These and other issues are what women and women organizations are trying to address where I come from.


Not OP but Another Muslim poster: I don't disagree with you at all. You are correct that there are laws like these still practiced in countries... my only point was that all of these laws are meant to be practiced when a country/community follows Sharia law and protects its citizens- without that it is not valid to dole out punishments saying it is the Sharia law. Does it still happen- absolutely

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
One of the requirements on a Muslim living in a non-muslim or any country is to abide by the laws of the country. So Muslims in America have to, by Islamic rules and law, follow the rules of America unless there is a law that directly contradicts with an Islamic ruling (which I can't think of) in which case the Sheikh's or the Mufti's would rule on how to handle that situation.

I thought there was no separation of church and state, as it were. Yet it's the obligation of a muslim to live according to sharia, which seems like a contradiction. I can think of several ways in which Islamic rules contradict US laws, for example in the punishments, testimony and divorce. How do you reconcile this?

Not OP but Another Muslim poster: Technically an Islamic country should be governed by Sharia law but while we hear the negatives about Sharia law- for those who truly understand the meaning of Sharia, the laws are meant to build a safe society. Until and unless the governing body/ person etc follows all the good that Sharia provides- then for them to enforce the bad is not right according to Islam. There is no country in this world that completely practices Sharia. Whoever claims that they do has some variations created by man.

If I live in the United States- I have to observe the laws of the U.S. If the law requires that I testify- then I must testify. If the law punishes me for a crime, then I must take that punishment. It doesn't matter whether it is in compliance with Sharia or not. I have chosen to live in this country which is a non-Muslim country which is why it is incumbent upon me by my religion that I follow the rules of this country. I personally can't think of anything that contradicts between Sharia and U.S. laws like you said- punishments/ testimony and divorce. Sharia may have different ways of handling it but I am not sure I see a contradiction.

FOr instance according to Sharia- you may have heard that when a person commits a theft you should cut off his hand. Yes that is true- however if I commit a theft here and the punishment is that I go to jail- then I go to jail. That's it. I can't apply Sharia law to myself because I don't live in a society where Sharia is the governing law.

I don't know if this answers your question- Maybe if you stated what one of these contradictions might be- then I would be able to answer it more clearly.

[Anonymous]

Have you seen All-American Muslim? What did you think of it? I started watching it after all the right-wing hoopla claiming that the show's producers were avoiding showing militant Muslims. The issues the show dealt with made sense to me based on what I know from Muslim friends and acquaintances. I was sorry the show wasn't renewed.

Folks who want to know more about one segment of the Muslim community in the US may want to check it out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Have you seen All-American Muslim? What did you think of it? I started watching it after all the right-wing hoopla claiming that the show's producers were avoiding showing militant Muslims. The issues the show dealt with made sense to me based on what I know from Muslim friends and acquaintances. I was sorry the show wasn't renewed.

Folks who want to know more about one segment of the Muslim community in the US may want to check it out.

Not a Muslim, but I am very familiar with the faith and have many Muslim friends and acquaintances. I think All-American Muslim did a good job of portraying people in a range of levels of practice that reflects the actual Muslim community. From those who believe but practice in a very limited fashion or ignore some things (they drink, they party, dress revealingly, whatever) to fully practicing, devout Muslims who pray 5 times a day and cover. I think it's a shame it wasn't renewed.