(part 1 of 2) Polygamy has been practiced by mankind for thousands of years. Many of the ancient Israelites were polygamous, some having hundreds of wives. King Solomon is said to have had seven hundred wives and three hundred concubines. His father, David had ninety-nine, and Jacob, from whom the tribes of Israel descended, had … Read more
What is it about the word polygamy? Just uttering it raises eyebrows, elicits snide remarks, or prompts crude jokes. Since the 19thcentury, when the concepts of orientalism and colonialism came to dominate Western thought, combining the words polygamy and Islam has conjured up visions of swarthy Arab men surrounded by sexual playthings. More recently, the … Read more
(part 1 of 2) The Fundamentals of Islamic Belief One could be forgiven for assuming that any group with the word Islam in its title would be Muslim. But when it comes to the group calling itself the “Nation of Islam”, one must be very wary indeed. To be Muslim means to hold certain fundamental … Read more
(part 1 of 2): Obeying the laws of God Islam is a holistic way of life, taking into account physical, spiritual, and emotional well-being, each a separate but overlapping part of the structure of a human being. God created us with a purpose; to worship Him, (Quran 51:56) but He did not abandon us to … Read more
Cruelty to impure animals. Islam is a religion devoted to the concept of mercy. Muslims are encouraged to be merciful towards each other, towards all of humankind, towards animals, and even towards the environment. God is the Most Merciful and all mercy originates from Him. When Prophet Muhammad explained the quality of God’s mercy, he … Read more
(part 1 of 3): Is Allah God? Yes, Allah is God. He is Allah, the One and Only. He is the same God worshipped in the Jewish and Christian faiths and is recognisable as such. Across the globe and throughout history people of all faiths and beliefs have turned towards God, or a supreme deity, … Read more
Of all the Christian mysteries, none rank as highly as the concept of Christ’s crucifixion and atoning sacrifice. In fact, Christians base their salvation on this one tenet of faith. And if it really happened, shouldn’t we all? If it really happened, that is. Now, I don’t know about you, but the concept of Jesus … Read more
What do you REALLY know? Islam is one of the world’s largest religions yet it is also one of the most misunderstood. For various reasons – be they political, economic, biased media or fear of the “other” – mistruths and misconceptions have been spread about Islam. The key to understanding Islam and Muslims is to … Read more
Allah says: “…Whosoever kills an innocent human being, it shall be as if he has killed all mankind, and whosoever saves the life of one, it shall be as if he had saved the life of all mankind…” Qur’an 5:32 Islam… an extreme religion? “Islamic terrorists!” “Muslim fundamentalists!” “Extremists!” “Radical Islamists!” These are just … Read more
(part 1 of 2): A Review First, a knowledgeable Jew or Christian knows full-well that slavery is discussed in the Bible. The Jewish law has much to say about slaves and their treatment. This matter is not open to debate. It is a fact every rabbi and trained pastor is aware of. Second, just as … Read more