Islam students at LUC

In the introduction of the text on the Qur’an we are currently reading it mentions that someone who memorizes all the parts of the Qur’an is considered a Hafiz. It goes on to say that this has been an occurance since the days of the Prophet Muhammad. I am confused by this because I don’t [...]

In Islam, one can NOT force a non-Muslim to convert and become a Muslim. We can only invite non-Muslims to Islam and inform them about the religion. It is very important to accept religion from your heart or else you won’t practice it routinely. It is like being forced into a marriage. If you do [...]

I still think there is a gap here in the different ways we are understanding the events.  Where are you reading that he amassed some huge army?  Where does it say that Muhammad went in and forced people to convert?  Where are you getting this from?  It seems like every paragraph you list you are [...]

No, I am reading the same book as everyone else. I also have been to each lecture and class thus far. I am asking whether or not it was necessary for Muhammad to spread his message by force, meaning amassing an army and marching into territories that were not Muslim with the intent of having [...]

I am also confused about naming in Islam.  Is re-naming yourself when you convert to Islam the same as taking a new name when you become a priest or nun?  Also, who would someone name their child something in refrence in either a dog or being a slave.  This does not make a whole lot [...]

  If your reading the wrong book than so am I. Muhammad’s raiding tactic was brillant and he did instruct his followers not to use life-ending violence.  Come on everyone, we leaned that in class.  Also, when Muhammad marched to Mecca and had the power to wipe out all of the Quarysh he proved that [...]

One thing that is so important when examining other cultures or religions is the idea of relativism. It is hard to read some of the postings because they are so eurocentric it does not even make sense. First of all, we are talking about a marriage that happened over a thousand years ago. People got [...]

I think I’m coming to the conclusion that I’m reading a different book than everyone else.  Where in any of our readings did it say that Muhammad spread the message by force?  You’re all reading Martin Lings, right?  You sat in the same lectures I sat in right?  I thought the raiding tactic was brilliant. [...]

I mean this respectfully, but are we reading the same books?  Where did you guys get the impression that women are considered naive in the Islamic tradition?  The amazing thing of the story we had in class about Muhammad’s biography was that woman had such super high status.  First, in Arabia, before Muhammad came, they [...]

Islam is not bound to any race or demographic – you will find people, young and old, from all parts of the Earth from in Indonesia, Malaysia, India, Pakistan, Afghanistan to England, Morocco, Egypt, Canada, America, etc. following Islam.  That’s the beauty of the religion, it is a way of life which is why it applies [...]