What is good about Islam that can "fit in" with western culture

[Lord Nelson]

We a lot that is negative about Islam and its supposed lack of compatability with western values and culture.

What do you guys think are the positives that folks can concentrate and build on if Islam is to find a happy place in the west?

What does Islam offer the west?

[Sulaiman84]

What aspects of culture are you referring to?

Do you mean now, in this day and age, or before when Islam contributed greatly to Europe in the fields of science, medicine, theology, education etc.

[Lord Nelson]

What aspects of culture are you referring to?

Do you mean now, in this day and age, or before when Islam contributed greatly to Europe in the fields of science, medicine, theology, education etc.

Now, in this day and age. For the future.

I am also interested in what you think Islam has contributed in the past though. Just because a Muslim does something good it does not mean that it is owing to Islam. In the same way as if a Christian is a doctor in muslim lands it does not necessarliy mean it is because of Christianity, rather it is because of the goodness of the individual's human nature.

[Sulaiman84]

Now, in this day and age. For the future.

I am also interested in what you think Islam has contributed in the past though. Just because a Muslim does something good it does not mean that it is owing to Islam. In the same way as if a Christian is a doctor in muslim lands it does not necessarliy mean it is because of Christianity, rather it is because of the goodness of the individual's human nature.

To answer the second part briefly, what a practicing Muslim does in life, whatever it is, goes back to the core of Islam simply because Islamic principles cover all aspects of human life. Even the most mundane actions like eating, sleeping, going to relieve oneself etc. all become a source of reward and become forms of worship provided they are done according to the way of the Prophet and with the proper intention.

I have to skippity bop outta here. Sorry

Until next time. Peace on those who follow guidance.

[Lord Nelson]

To answer the second part briefly, what a practicing Muslim does in life, whatever it is, goes back to the core of Islam simply because Islamic principles cover all aspects of human life. Even the most mundane actions like eating, sleeping, going to relieve oneself etc. all become a source of reward and become forms of worship provided they are done according to the way of the Prophet and with the proper intention.

I have to skippity bop outta here. Sorry

Until next time. Peace on those who follow guidance.

Thanks for your reply.

However, I respectfully disagree. If a muslim is a good person and does good deeds I believe it is because they are a good person, not because they are a muslim. Same true of everyone regardless of faith.

No worries.

Until next time. Peace on those regardless of whose guidance they follow, be it divine or simply human.

[sudoku]

Salamun 'Alaa Manitaba'al Huda

Here's an easy one that even non-Muslim appreciate after being regaled with the benefits. Cleanliness.

Having a water vessel (lota) in the public washrooms, or a small pipe.

[True Life]

Being a good human or possessor of excellent morals is actually a core part of Islam. Just google for the Arabic term 'Akhlaq'...

Other than that Islam lays down excellent rules and regulations in the fields of economy, politics and in general for the prosper of any society. That's the beauty of Islam. Maybe someone else can go into more details of each, although that may take some time.

[ibn Mikael]

Islam is a religion. And like other religions, it stresses the purification of the nafs. This alone is enough, even if you didn't count the charitable works that Muslims (and just about all religions for that matter) contribute to society at large.

As for assertion that the achievements of Muslims in the past had nothing to do with Islam, this is somewhat false. Various achievements such as the the creation of hospitals did in fact have roots in Islamic values such as cleanliness. Even the astronomical achievements of Muslims of the past have their roots in the Islamic necessity of determining the direction of Mecca, knowing the times in the day to do the prayer, and other such issues. One can even argue that the decision on the part of the Abassid Caliphs in Baghdad to gather all the known literary works in the world have their connection to Islam ("Seek knowledge even if you have to go to China" --I paraphrase).

Just as it is correct to say that the West's achievements in the art of the painting of forms owes a considerable amount of credit to the Christian religion, various achievements in the Islamic world owe credit to Islam. But of course this is secondary. The primary value Islam can offer is the betterment of society through it's people. A Muslim isn't a good Muslim if his neighbor despises him.

BTW maybe it's simply because you're not pessimistic, but, personally, I see no reason to be "good" if there is no God. The way I see it, if they're is no God, there essentially is no morality. Killing a human being would merely be transforming a conglomerate of energy back into a simpler form. People simply don't take such mentalities to their logical conclusion, quite simply because the logical conclusion would be repugnant. But in all honesty, if there is no God, what does it matter if I kill another human being? Because his family will be grieved? Well, they'll just be dirt in another 30 or 40 years. Because I wouldn't want to be killed? What if I didn't mind being killed? After all, if there is no God, my life is essentially pointless anyway. It's not like I would sit there afterwards saying, "oh! why did you have to kill me! I was really wanting to see Iron Man 2!"

[saqfu]

islam is the saviour of humanity. that is what islam can offer the west. it is the simple solution to all ur problems and misery. it will save u from a life of losses, clamities, devastations ect... and lead u onto a life of peace, prosperity and success. george bernard shaw declared prophet muhammad pbuh as the "saviour of humanity" and Former U.S. Attorney General Ramsey Clark (a man who has studied Islam closely and who has traveled extensively throughout the Muslim world) made the following observation in a 1995 address before an audience of Muslims and non-Muslims: “Islam is the best chance the poor of the planet have for any hope of decency in their lives; for any hope for dignity in their lives. It is the one revolutionary force that cares about humanity!”

so u c islam is the saviour of humanity, and those who fight against islam r therefore the enemies of humanity ( which includes edl). this is why the west has lost 11 crusades, lost their 12th crusade in afghanistan and iraq.

also i explained on the edl thread that islam and the west were incompatible, because islam and the west is simply heaven and hell. just put a women in a burkah side by side with anaked western women. can u c? heaven and hell. i am truly baffeld that u westerners a truly and untterly convinced that u r supreme beings, champions of freedom, liberators of women, civillised, modern ect... when infact u r way of life is nothing more than hell itself. how can freedom come from hell, or womens rights or modernisation? u westerners r truly misguided people beyond belief.

[muslim_white_british]

islam could contribute removing alcohol from the uk which would bring untold benefits to britain.

Even nick griffin of the bnp admitted islamic economic policies would have saved the uk.

Its offers young people like myself who converted to islam, a chance to live life the way it should be, married with children and family looking after me and my wife and all part of a community and living good clean liveS.

Islam could reduce burgalaries and theft and reestablish the proper family unit, islam can reduce the huge number of premiscuous women with unwanted pregnancies aNd stop society being ravaged with drug use. It would even benefit the environment etc. Islam would hugely benefit western society no doubt