Where did Islam go wrong?

History of God by Karen Armstrong, right? I haven't read that in YEARS. I wasn't aware they were using it in classes now, but I definitely approve.

I think the same thing went wrong with Islam that goes on with most faiths with strict doctrines - the people *in* the faith corrupted the underlying message to serve their own ends. What we are seeing in the Middle East today with the oppression of women and other such intolerant behavior is actually fairly recent and can be traced back to one extremist Imam in the 1950's. I read an interview (in Time magazine, I think it was) with an old Muslim man who remembers the time before men and women were segregated and he says he misses the women! So even that segregation is recent and part of the extremist/fundamentalist movement in some areas.

I think most faiths talk a good talk at their core. However, when someone is taught that there is only one "true" faith and only one possible way to believe, it causes a lot of problems. Not only does it foster intolerance for those of other, minority faiths, it actually harms the spiritual development of those within the faith as they are too afraid to explore. They are confined by the word of man, only free to express themselves and their spirituality within certain boundaries. That, in my opinion, is a very sad thing.

Oh, something you may find interesting. Muslims have been painting and drawing Mohammed for centuries. The prohibition against drawing the prophet is also fairly new. Here is a link to the Mohammed image archive, most of those images Islamic in origin, some with his face hidden, others full depictions. -----> http://zombietime.com/mohammed_image_archive/

I do wish the Muslims were stuck in the Middle Ages instead of the 1950's. If they were they'd still be leaders in math and science. I think seeing how going back to a "simpler time" has harmed that faith and their standing in the world at large should be warning enough to any Christians who want to do the same with their own faith. Unfortunately, most will never see the danger in that, so it's something the rest of us have to watch for and protect ourselves against. I know I don't want my Christian friends trampled by the extremist elements in their own faith and I don't think anyone but those extremists want that sort of thing to happen.

I don't understand it either, and I'm a Muslim. This ethnic cleansing and sexism goes against everything that the Qur'an teaches us, and I think that the people committing these murders and crimes totally disregard the history of when the verses were sent down to Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). For example, if you read the entire context of the verses that tell you to defeat the disbelievers, it is very clear that they are talking about defending yourselves against an attack. And even then, when the attackers back down, we are told to show complete and utter mercy (example: Qur'an 2:190-193).

It is a very unfortunate matter in the Middle East, and I wish the criminals there would actually read the entire Qur'an before defacing Islam. And I've said this in another answer and I'll say it again: Islam is a religion of peace -- not in the sense that it is pacifist, but in the sense that Muslims can and should co-exist peacefully with others who respect them.

Salam. :)

Well, I'll start by saying that Islam did not go wrong... people did. Unfortunately any U.S. publication is going to smear the crap out of the Middle East. Yes, while there are extremists that do extreme things, there are plenty of people that are living by the actual ideals of the Koran in the Middle East. A few, well a lot of bad apples kind of spoiled it for everybody else. I am not Muslim, I'm actually Pagan so I know how intolerance can screw up the world's view on how things really are. Just consider, while there's a lot of bad going on in the Middle East, there's gotta be some good going on too or mothers wouldn't raise their children there. :)

Due to political correctness you have been given a one sided distorted view on islam. the peaceful teachings that you read about are in the kuran mostly plagiarised from the bible and also when mohammed who claimed to be a prophet was trying peaceful methods to spreadthe religion. But later when peaceful methods failed he did resort to violence and the kuran is full of references to kaffirs who are unbelievers and they going to hell and instructions to kill the kaffirs if you cannot convert them. The earlier verses most of them get abrogated by the new verses. Thats what mohd said when the followers pointed out the contradiction. so the news youhear about stoning and mistreating minorities is true and it is only following the religion of islam.

Islam is superimposed over societies that have long histories of violence. The Muslim nations of today remain pretty much the same as they were prior to Islam. The more peaceful ones, such as Egypt, are those that were once part of the Roman Empire and were at one time Christianized.

Salaam (Peace).

ISLAAM can "never" go wrong!!!

Almighty GOD's words in the Qur'aan do speak of tolerance, equality for women, caring for the sick and poor, that the pursuit of knowledge gets us closer to ALLAAH (amongst many other things as you stated). It's PEOPLE who are lacking in the proper teachings of ISLAAM... and many who are "sick individuals" and manipulate the Qur'aan and Muhammad's teachings for their own personal agendas (the same can be said of all the non-Muslims who have shed blood and wronged people in the name of their faith, or lack of). You must remember that Almighty GOD did not make human beings PERFECT!!! We all have good and bad tendencies. That is our test!! Undoubtedly, many Muslim countries have gone through great suffering over the decades... and many have been brought up with "hate" in them... overwhelmed with emotional and physical pain daily. So this is mainly why we have so much rage and bloodshed done by the hands of Muslims. It doesn't make it right... but many of these people have little, if any education at all... especially in what ISLAAM teaches. Same as people of other faiths who do horrific things in the name of their religion, but are completely ignorant of it's true teachings.

Regarding "ethnic cleansing... and women being punished for leaning to read"... these things go completely AGAINST the teachings of ISLAAM. You stated so yourself... you read in the Qur'aan that "the pursuit of knowledge gets you closer to GOD". Attaining knowledge is OBLIGATORY for both women and men!

Stoning... this is a punishment for "adultry" (and with strict guidelines.. and is carried out on both men and women)... the same as in the Bible. But again, some Muslim countries do not follow these guidelines and kill the accused without a fair trial. Which goes against Islaamic Shari'a.

Regarding homosexuality and ISLAAM... it is seen as one of the greatest of crimes, the worst of sins and the most abhorrent of deeds, and ALLAAH (Almighty GOD) punished those who did it in a way that HE did not punish other nations. It is indicative of violation of the fitrah (the normal nature or instinct of a person, animal or thing), total misguidance, weak intellect and lack of religious commitment, and it is a sign of doom and deprivation of the mercy of Almighty GOD.

Almighty GOD says (interpretation of the meaning):

"... So As‑Saihah (torment — awful cry) overtook them at the time of sunrise. And WE turned (the towns of Sodom in Palestine) upside down and rained down on them stones of baked clay. Surely, in this are signs for those who see (or understand or learn the lessons from the Signs of ALLAAH)..." {The Noble Qur'aan, 15:73-75}

As you can see.... ALLAAH has made it crystal clear regarding homosexuality, and so has the Prophet Muhammad in his teachings. And because the evil consequences of it are among the worst of evil consequences, so its punishment is one of the most severe of punishments in this world and in the Hereafter. So this is why you hear of executions being done in Muslim countries. Only if the individual sincerely makes the intention to change this way of life can his life be spared.

Almighty GOD says (interpretation of the meaning):

“And come not near to unlawful sex. Verily, it is a Faahishah (i.e. anything that transgresses its limits: a great sin), and an evil way (that leads one to hell unless ALLAAH Forgives him)” {The Noble Qur'aan, al-Isra’ 17:32}

And Almighty ALLAAH knows best.

I pray I answered your question, GOD willing.

Salaam (Peace).

why dont you read about Muhammad life? DO you think he deserves respect? A man who married a kid and his own daughter in law which was against ancient arab tradition,had one night stand with his cousin,had intercourse with the wives of his follower while they're on jihad and died with erect penis.

THIS IS ISLAM, THE SO CALLED "RELIGION OF PEACE":

Kill the unbelievers wherever you find them.” Koran 2:191

“Make war on the infidels living in your neighborhood.” Koran 9:123

���When opportunity arises, kill the infidels wherever you catch them.” Koran 9:5

“Any religion other than Islam is not acceptable.” Koran 3:85

“The Jews and the Christians are perverts; fight them.”... Koran 9:30

“Maim and crucify the infidels if they criticize Islam” Koran 5:33

“Punish the unbelievers with garments of fire, hooked iron rods, boiling water; melt their skin and bellies.” Koran 22:19

“The unbelievers are stupid; urge the Muslims to fight them.” Koran 8:65

“Muslims must not take the infidels as friends.” Koran 3:28

“Terrorize and behead those who believe in scriptures other than the Qur’an.” Koran 8:12

“Muslims must muster all weapons to terrorize the infidels.” Koran 8:60

Muslims burn churches with pastor and kids still inside it but if a person threaten to burn quran all muslims will freak out and ignite war. All muslim say islam is peace but they can kill people just because of blasphemy?

The problem is that arrogant and ego-maniacal people interpret the koran. A woman can divorce a man quite easily, but if a woman tries it the guy gets 4 men to say the woman committed adultery and she is stoned to death. Its all a lie just like the suicide bombers meeting allah and getting 72 virgins, but people who want to control everyone convinced enough people to believe it. Just like the "christian" view on sex. The catholic church forced their ideas on society at the point of a sword and said that it is gods word. Its again all a lie, but enough people believed it.

Those acts you mentioned that happens in the middle east are not true. Stop spreading lies you hear from fox news and co.

you probably would have to read the whole quaran because i understand mohammed took biblical scriptures then added his own twists to justify his own plans and motives... Islam was never right. Other religions for that matter are not either. you see, religions teach how MAN can please and find acceptance with God, however Christianity (accepting Jesus The Christ) teaches that man is lost, without and in need of a Savior. Christianity is what GOD has done to make man acceptable to Himself... it is not the will of God that any should perish... Catholicism for example teaches keeping the ten commandments... no one can do this... but then they teach you can confess your pile of sins to some man called a priest and he will grant absolution and then you have to do penance... say a bunch of prayers he gives you to say... this is all lies... it is not even in the bible they use... i know, i was a catholic... Jesus became a man... He was the only person born into this earth with the nature of God in Him... but He did not operate as God... He operated as a human being and was capable of sinning as did the first Adam. Jesus communed with God the Father through the Holy Spirit and He perfectly obeyed the instructions given to Him... He was made sin, that man could be made righteous: given a bran new spirit without the sin nature all mankind inherited from the first Adam... Christianity is not following a set of rules to stay on the good side of God but it is the acceptance by God of man who have no right in himself to be in Gods presence. Religions... all of them... are mans attempts to make themselves acceptable to God... aint gonna happen ever. Christianity is not a religion but a relationship with God through the work of Jesus the Christ= the anointed one.