By Kim Joseph –
A woman wearing hijab enters the 7 train. She glances around and smiles, searching for a friendly face. Heads turn and eyes stare back. A strange silence envelopes the subway car. The woman walks towards an empty seat and sits down, selects a new song on her IPod, sips from her coffee and closes her blue eyes. She pretends she doesn’t notice the stares, the tension and the energy in the air. She asks God to surround her with healing energy, love and light. She asks to be able to stand up and speak up for herself when necessary and to respond appropriately from the right place. She asks for patience, guidance and wisdom. She asks for it to all be made easy for her.
Read more in the Huffington Post
gamini / August 14, 2012
The narration of experience of this writer is self explanatory of intellectuality or more the lack of it. Obviously before she became a Muslim she must have been a Christian by faith. Did she not find God in Christianity? Is it that she found God, after she became a Muslim, wearing the hijab or without it? I wonder! How fickle the human mind is? To Build one’s self confidence man relies on Religion. At the same time one could do so without Religion or the imaginary God himself.
/
Zalmarz / August 14, 2012
Very nicely written……..it doesn’t matter which religion u chose or which religion chose you….respect man!!!
@ Gamini…..if u don’t beleive in God it’s ok…..try and stop expecting others to have ur views…..it’s becoz of pple like you the world is fighting in the name of religion……in other words give respect and earn it……
/
gamini / August 15, 2012
Zalmar are you serious, when you accuse me of, as the cause for the fighting that goes around the world in the name of Religion? How brilliant you are? if I am that capable to stir the whole world? Do not be Stupid and display your ignorance for the whole world, as the world has been subject to Religious Violence from the time Religions have been found a couple of thousand years ago, due to fanatics of your ilk. Who introduced ‘Holy Wars’ to this world? No one else but your Dim Witted Prophet Mohamed, the one who supposedly met this Unseen, Shapeless, Formless and Baseless God Allah. Thereafter this supposed ‘Unholy Quoran’ written by mankind, fanatics as yourself, where this God Allah is well described as a Sadist to those who do not believe in Islam, is testimony enough to understand your Muslim Benevolance. Please do not worry about myself earning respect as I do not yern, and I only respect where respect is due.
/
raymond / September 15, 2012
raymond.jones@ i agree with all you said
/
Jamal / August 15, 2012
Gamini’s reply to Zalmar exposes a psychopathic hatred towards Islaam, it’s Prophet and his teachings. I wonder how he got through the moderators eye calling the Holy Prophet of Islaam dim witted. Mr moderator you say quote “We welcome debate and dissent, but personal attacks (on authors, other users or any individual), persistent trolling and mindless abuse will not be tolerated.unquote still Gamini gets away by abusing the Prophet respected by a billion Muslims and other non Muslims of the calibre of Goethe, Napolean Bonaprte, Annie Besant, Mahatma Ghandi and the list goes on. Gamini in my opinion does not make the intellectual grade to comment on matters pertaining to religious issues and should be banned from this forum for rabble rousing!
/
gamini / August 15, 2012
Jamal, your perception that I have a psychopathetic hatred towards Islam seems to be a figment of your imagination. There is nothing personal but it is public, as the Religious issues pertaining to Islam has been forwarded in this forum by many a Muslim to sustain the belief, quoting the Quoran. Islam may be believed not only by a billion but even a trillion. I have no qualms about the numbers who believe or about their beliefs. I only pointed the flaws in the quotes from the Quoran. It is not only in the Quoran I have even pointed out the flaws in Buddhism and Christianity as well. Yes there was an era and still it continues with your ilk to some degree, who would if possible try to still the voices that questions, like you have done, saying that I am not in the intellectual grade to comment on matters pertaining to Religious issues and should be banned from this forum for rabble rousing. I only asked a simple question when the Quoran was quoted that Prophet Mohamed met God Allah who is shapeless and formless, how one could meet or see someone unseen? If you are unable to answer, it is not my problem. Besides when Galileo Galilei said the world was round and not flat, the fate that befell him was also due to ignorance of man. Like wise there are ignorant still living amongst society, even today.
/
Jamal / August 16, 2012
Gamini, fiirst I must state that when I spoke of a billion Muslims it was not to emphasize the superiority of Islaam but to indicate that this and comments of similar nature unnecessarily hurts their religious susceptibilities. As civilized people we can disagree but we do not have to express our differences in abusive language. This will provoke a bitter and a never ending and unnecessary feud. It will also generate hatred towards each other. Is this necessary? If I were to call you an open mouth idiot I am sure you will not only get ruffled but you will hurl back some super vitriolic stuff back at me. But if I were to think of you as an OMI then the thoughts will remain with me but not hurt you nor upset you. Again as regards the MIHRAJ of the Prophet, it is authentically reported that he was transported to a heavenly station and communicated with Allah. He did not have a vision of Allah. So it does not contradict his shapeless attribute! There have been western intellectuals who were unbelieving critics of Islam – none of whom wrote in the tone you expressed your feelings. The philosopher and mathematician Michael Hart wrote of the 100 greatest human beings and Prophet Mohamed headed his list! It cannot make him dim witted unless one has a psychopathic hatred towards his personality! May Allaah guide you
/
gamini / August 16, 2012
Jamal, the truthfullness of a ‘Religion’ or a ‘Belief’ is not established, by the number of adherents, but by the essence of fact. I am glad you are now in a position to discuss the issue without bigotry. Yet you have not clearly expressed how Prohpet Mohamed met God Allah. You state that ‘the Mihraj of the Prophet’, I trust you are refering to ‘Mirage’, the optical illution of the Prophet Mohamed. Precisely what I am on about. You state it is authentically reported. Now who is authenticating? Is it the Prophet Mohamed himself? that he was transported to a heavenly station where he communicated with this God Allah. How was he transported? Where is this Heavenly Station? It is strange with all the Space Exploration, yet mankind has not come across a heavenly abode. Your Prophet Mohamed is a mortal as any one of us. If his perception was wrong, of an optical illution, his deductions naturally has to be wrong. In his eyes possibly he would have believed so, because it is, he alone who experiences it and no matter how much anyone else tries to debunk. Be that as it may, why is it that God fights shy of his own creation of meeting man or appearing a little more often? I am sure there are many pious adherents who are worthy of recognition other than one individual?
Jamal, I was born to a very Conservative Buddhist Family. But from a very early age I had this desire to question and satisfy myself before taking for granted what others said or did. I never ran behind the masses, just because others did so. I stopped parrot reciting ‘Pansil’ realising the futility, as one had to adhere to the five precepts rather than recite everyday morning and evening and violate during the day. I believe it is enough, if one recites once in his life time and practise same right through. Further I am blessed with Intuition in abundence. Now ‘intuition’ is the ability to grasp the truth without reasoning. When I see the mockery perpetrated by the ardent Labeled Buddhists in the name of Buddhism it is not surprising the conflict society has to face today. Just because millions believe in Islam, how can one feel insulted or hurt merely because the veracity is questioned. Blind Faith will not deliver or take someone towards wisdom.
/
Bob / August 16, 2012
Gamini,
Perhaps this link can provide you with adequate info in terms of the question – how the communication between Prohpet Mo and Allah took place. …. As one who is of scietific mind, I cant comprehend though.
/
Bob / August 16, 2012
Sorry,
the link is
http://www.understanding-islam.com/q-and-a/overview-of-islam/how-did-god-communicate-with-the-prophets-4763
/
gamini / August 17, 2012
Bob, thanks for the link. Yet the issue remains the same. Mind over Matter. I do not blame you for being unable to comprehend. Afterall knowledge is perceived by man, even on Religion through the five senses. Long before the present sensory perceptive knowledge based education system was found, communication had existed between individuals, not all individuals but among some, not through the spoken languages but through the medium of mind. Hence it has been possible to communicate on Mathematics in relation to time and space and Music etc. As a result the first branches of study discovered by man had been Astronomy followed by Astrology. The rest of the subjects as Religion, Medicine, Arts comes much later. It is said that only about .5% brain power is used by average man and Newton had used something like .9%. I am subject to correction here, as to the exact percentages. In the early years, some were capable of memorising volumes of knowledge on Astronomy, Astrology, Medicine, Mathematics, Religion etc. although there was no printed matter available as all these subjects were doccumented much later, after the discovery of the written word and the material to write on. Just imagine how large volumes of study has been possible to be memorised, when today we find it difficult to memorise a single poem after reading for a number of times. My personal belief is that, this process was possible through the medium of mind, where two minds in the same realm, highly developed, it would have been possible to transfer all knowledge from one to another as transferring from one CD to another.
/
Lal / August 16, 2012
It seems like Hijab is something forced on Muslim women. In the 70s and 80s, very rarely you’d see Muslim women with Hijabs or in black robes. In my neighbourhood, there were many Muslim families but only elderly women covered their heads with saree ends. What happened to them?
/
whywhy / August 16, 2012
One can choose to be in a religion or out of a religion as he/she wishes.This was not the case thousands of years back,but today people are free to choose and live noncommitted to any religion.But one thing is certain,more than 99% of funerals are held with religious prayers,by
the relatives of the deceased.Not because of their strong belief in the
religion but the next world he enters,he doesn’t know what’s waiting for him!Why take risk?This is the case in one part of our planet.And another part,that’s muslims,remain hell bent that there’s another world after death to reward or punish a better or worst dwelling according to one’s action in this world.Muslims strongly believe in this.Is this right or wrong,true or false or deceptive is another issue.Democracy that we all want to respect,do want religions by its side,all religions.Why?We can go on arguing pros and cons endlessly. But in the end,one civilised human being will find it necessary to respect the other regardless of his religion,in order to build a better world.Back to the issue raised by CT through its heading,
changing from one religion to another is ones right.Trying to adopt to new lifestyle is also her right.If one can go half dressless on the street,why not fully covered if law permits?The west want mosques and people to go to mosques and that’s why there are mosques and muslims in the west(muslims imported).There are also hindu temples and hindus and sikhs in their native outfits.Are they not harassed for being themselves?Music maestro A R Rahman was more than twice invited to the white house to play music after he became muslim,by Obama.In general muslims and the west get along with each other quite well apart from some very unpleasent incidents.Was Gandhi not ridiculed and harassed when he travelled in London by train topless?Does anyone remember how popular actress Shilpa shetty was verbally abused and ridiculed by another participant in a popular tele progrm called”big brother” couple of years back,which forced the then prime minister Brown to ask the audience to vote the abuser out of competition?The world is not yet perfect but more accommodating.You do find rotten eggs and apples and be not afraid to throw them away.
/
gamini / August 16, 2012
Whywhy, I truely admire you for your independent views on Religion. You state that 99% of funerals are held with Religious Rites by the family of the deceased. In to which category do you fall, the 99% or the balance 1%? As for me I have laid strict instructions with the family that no Religious Rites be performed for my dead body as I do not require the visa issued by a Corrupt Sangha, as I will trek the journey alone. Why fear if your conscience is clear that you have done no wrong? One can cheat the whole world acting as a Parogan of Virtue in society, but one’s comscience is quite aware of the truth. Those who fear death are those living with a false facade, even cheating their own faith. No wonder a 99% needs a Religious send off.
/
gamini / August 17, 2012
I hear that Sri Jawarhal Nehru also did not want any Religious send off, as he was a Realist. But the Indian Religious fanatics would have none of it and all Religious denominations had been present and had performed Rites according to each of them. So the joke had been that Nehru had been given a multiple visa to select his preference there.
/
Jamal / August 18, 2012
Gamini, I observe that you have raised this discussion to a better level desisting from name calling and being less invective. I regret however that you display ignorance or lack of scholarship when you suggest that I have mixed ‘Mihraj’ for mirage! You had only to google the word Mihraj and you would have all what you needed to satiate your hunger for information! You wanted more information on authentic reporting. We have a problem here. You see we are on different wave lengths. You are an atheist, I am a theist! I simply do not have any time to explain the science of reporting in Islaam. Suffice it to say that Islaamic scholars have spent their lifetime in developing it. There are voluminous works on this Science on how to sift the information, grading them, indicating why it does not make the standard, even giving the level of weakness or authenticity, and discarding those that are fabricated.
I must add that in life sense perception is not the only standard for belief. To an utterly ignorant man it will be difficult to prove that the sun is very much bigger than the earth. To many of us we take this for granted. Some like your self require absolute proof! If you have the ability to understand the complex astronomic mathematics then you will be able to accept it. What if you don’t? I will assume that you will otherwise people will refer to you as nutty!
My religion to me is somewhat similar. The prophet Mohamed bore an exemplary character. In fact he carried the sobriquet “Al-Ameen” which meant the Trustworthy by all before he attained Prophethood! His subsequent life story is available for people to judge. There have been virulent critics who were hell bent on destroying his mission from the inception, as is happening now. It is testimony to the truth of his message that Islaam is the fastest growing religion, in spite of there being no organized clergy ( forget the pseudo ayatollahs and half baked moulavis). People like Dr. Keith Moore, the famous embryologist, being a Christian, accepted the verses in the Quran, on the early development of the fetus as something only emanating from God since this Science 1400 years ago was so primaeval or non existent.
/
gamini / August 18, 2012
Jamal, thanks for adding Mihraj to my knowledge, which of course is not contained in a basin as that of Prophet Mohamed as his Knowledge and Wisdom have been in a basin in his chest. I am not ashamed to say of my lack of knowledge on the term Mihraj or for that matter of so many other things in life that I will be learning till the day I die and even then what I will know will be only one pebble of sand in the mighty ocean. So you can imagine what we do not know although deem to think you are more educated.
Coming back to ‘Mihraj’, I thought only the Buddhists who believe in various Gods who listened to Buddha’s sermons and worlds of past with no traces and even thinking of the next and the last to come as Buddha to this world, as a cranky lot. To see, I just had a glance of the narration of Islam under Mihraj of which I read a couple of pages and left it for later digestion, sounds more comic and put the Fairy Tales in the shade.
According to Mihraj it is an instrument facilitating ascent, such as a flight of stairs. I thought that all material things were built by man himself and did not know that God is also a builder. It is no wonder Abu Jahl and crowd did not believe this Prophet Mohamed for twelve years and this Prophet was so dejected that none believed him and in the end Umm Hani, daughter of Abu Talib, sister of Iman Ali, a resourceful woman had to pacify such a great man as Prophet Mohamed. I stopped at the point where this Jibreel did open heart surgery, that with one stroke he opened Prophet Mohamed’s chest and brought out two large basins containing Prophet Mohamed’s knowledge and wisdom. Jamal forget everything else can you explain whether the basins were ennamel or ceremic? Besides in what, is your knowledge and wisdom stored? Are they full or empty? Further this Jibreel has taken a black blood clot from his heart, which had been the reason why Prophet Mohamed had been not successful in convincing others to Islam, till then. Why is it that when God Allah made Mohamed a Prophet did not realise this till Jibreel discovered it after twelve years?
Jamal I did not want to waste time, reading the balance, as I wanted to reply, lest this post is taken off the blog, could you state how this old man Prophet Mohamed took a young girl of nine years as one of his brides without shame, a cradle snatcher? One need not be an atheist to understand this popy cock. It is surprising how this Islam can be the Fastest growing Religion, unless the present day humans are going bonkers as evident from the state of chaos we have descended to in this country.
As for your stand that sense perception is not the only stand or source for belief, could you reveal how else can man perceive or gain knowledge? I believe reading the Quoran should be a ‘must’ for all. Anyway thanks for the link to keep myself occupied, when I feel bored to while my time away.
/
Jamal / August 18, 2012
Gamini the Hijab was the topic of discussion and not Islam bashing. I knew when I suggested to you to check the mihrab on the internet you will rush to conclude where a scholar would tread carefully. It seems that you have feasted on all the wrong stuff to satisfy your psychopathic hatred towards Islaam.
Schisms in Islam and all shades of opinion are usually published in the net per topic. Some of the stuff you get on the Internet are also fabricated versions. We have to check for veracity before concluding and this clearly seems above your capacity.
Sometimes the shia’s and the Sufi sects of Islaam tend to describe the events, garnishing them with the ridiculous. So check the authenticity and the comments of the scholars who usually debunk extravagant unauthorized descriptions.
As regards the age of the child bride and your vilification of the character of the prophet (on whom be peace) again this is not fully substantiated. The most authentic version is that she was betrothed at the age of nine or ten and the marriage consummated at fourteen or fifteen. So there again you rushed in to a conclusion where scholars painstakingly are careful to research and analyze.
As regards people going bonkers it is time you got yourself examined since the categories of people who are coming into Islam are not only ordinary people but many with Ph.Ds, the clergy of other religions, and famous celebrities. Go to youtube and you will be horrified if not surprised. Only you and people of your ilk remain to join Abu Jahl and his cohorts.
Finally it is time I put a stop to this episode, as I said we are on two different wave lengths. I believe I have already wasted too much time taking a horse to the water. I now understand that it is the horse who has to do the drinking.
/
gamini / August 18, 2012
Jamal, Jamal, Jamal my dear friend, it is not a case of bashing anyone or Islam. When I quote from what your clerics have written about Islam, mind you not by myself, you come out to safeguard Islam, saying that I have feasted on the wrong stuff. So you admit that there are wrong stuff in the ‘Unholy Quoran’? Could you point out to me, not many, but just one right thing said in the Quoran? Even reference the cradle snatching you try to soft peddle to state,’As regards the age of the child bride and your vilification of the character of the prophet (on whom be peace) again this is not fully substantiated. The most authentic version is that she was betrothed at the age of nine or ten and the marriage consummated at fourteen or fifteen. So there again you rushed in to a conclusion where scholars painstakingly are careful to research and analyze’. Come on Jamal, so the authentic version after careful evaluation done by scholars, is that the girl was betrothed at nine but was consumated at fourteen or fifteen. Does it make any difference that Prophet Mohamed old enough to be her Grand Father, consumated this child at such a young age, by what right or reason? Could not she have found a younger man?
You say that I should get myself examined because those of whom who become Muslims embracing Islam are people with PhDs. and the intelligent. For your information many of those converts are turning to Muslims, because of wanting to marry the second or third time as other Religious Orders do not permit so. These old codgers are merely following your Prophet Mohamed trying to satisfy their lust and nothing else.
Jamal in conclusion your assumption that I psychopathetically hate Islam and that is the reason why I point out the defficiencies in Islam is wrong. Although all Muslims are hell bent that Islam is the only Religion that is true, sadly which is Not, taking up Jihad on individuals as Salmon Rushidie, Talisma Nasrin and the recent Prof. who commented on the ‘Unholy Quoran’ is ridiculous to say the least. If not for the tyranical hold on the followers, where the young are traumatised by circumcission in the name of Allah thereby driving fear of an unseen God for a young mind, forcing every Muslim to attend Friday prayers and anyone who speaks up, is killed in the name of Jihad, covering your women head to toe, to prevent any leaving the fold, you believe the millions are voluntarily Religious? My Foot! I find Islam of all Religions as the most Repressive and I feel sorry for those who differ in their thinking, but are unable to break the bonds that bind them socially. Take care Whywhy.
/
whywhy / August 18, 2012
Gamini,you start with Jamal Jamal and end up with Whywhy!You are a
real trouble maker!Well,I can’t wait to join you but a bit busy right now and definitely will see you as quickly as possible.Tnx
/
gamini / August 19, 2012
Whywhy, I certainly do not want to spell trouble on you, from your brotherhood of Muslims. I know it is a matter between life and death as these Muslim Fanatics kill in the name of Islam, whereas there is no real danger from the founder of Islam, the cradle snatcher nor the imaginary God Allah.I was only keen to make the other readers understand this Fallacy of Islam is no different to, other man made/found Religions. If only repression is removed from Islam one can see the liberation of mankind of the bigotry that separates society and all this conflict between Nations and people will cease. There will be sanity for man to understand that all are humans with no differences. This is what is IMPORTANT for man to forge ahead in life minus the man made divisions, where a section thrives on the gullibility of the masses. I seriously advice all to Google ‘Mihraj’ and read for yourself the ‘Poppy Cock’ of Islam. I know people are frightened of death and Religions offered comfort to falsely liberate, but the real LIBERATION is within each of us as we are all HUMANS, the same.
/
whywhy / August 27, 2012
Gamini,sorry I took so long to return and still struggling to cope up
with my engagements.I really like the way Jamal defended his belief I mean,how he took it,very cool.These are two worlds,religion and atheism
You have asked me a very embarassing question on your earlier post of
16/8/12 and was generous enough to express your understanding about the real situation on your next post.I really appreciate that.But to be very honest with you,I haven’t decided yet how my last journey should take place and when and where that will happen.But one thing is certain, that we belong to a group of people who are devided into many
sub-groups under so many other labels.One may belong to a rebellious different label outstanding from the rest but why shouldn’t we let our loved ones feel at ease at least after we are gone?Nothing to do with religious belief but a matter of respect for cultural values.And there’s another issue of different ways of funeral arrangements between different communities.Sinhalese use both cemetry and private lands for burial whereas muslims only use the cemetry.Sinhalese use funeral directors for preparing the dead body while muslims use the religious experts and close family members plus some voluntary or paid help for certain tasks.I hope this much is enough for you to get a grip on where you stand with your last will in Srilanka as a muslim even with a completely different view of the religion.Thank you Gamini for your patience and admiration of my stand.I was just pulling your leg the other day,calling you a trouble maker,not serious.Take care Gamini.
/
gamini / August 28, 2012
Whywhy if only the majority think as we two do and act, will there be conflict? Killing of each other? One trying to supress the other? The Stronger the Weaker? Certainly Not. We will respect each other and feel not superior or inferior to each other, but as equals. What a WONDERFULL World this would be, where one need not fear of the other. Take care Whywhy.
/
raymond / September 15, 2012
i beleve only one god
/
raymond / September 15, 2012
i woud return answer
/
raymond / September 15, 2012
i believe only one god
/
raymond / September 15, 2012
please answer
/
raymond / September 15, 2012
no trouble
/