Butch Femme Planet - View Single Post - Islam & the Muslim faith- banishing myths

MsMerrick · 08-23-2010, 08:57 AM

I took some classes in Islamic Philosophy, and some classes in Arabic

I had a couple teachers, but the primary one was a Coptic Christian, so bear in mind, that was his background.
Here's what I learned about the two main branches, within Islam...
An important part of the development of Islam, was that Mohammad, brought together, a country that was made up of nomadic tribes, that pretty much just scratched out food etc, and fought with one another. Islam or the Prophet, united them, into more common cause. Created more basic cohesive law ( like the you don't get to just rape a woman ..side note, I suspect the notion of rape didn't even exist, as woman didn't have rights of refusal ,...anyway , you have to provide care, as in economic care.. ) . I was taught, Mohammad may have married many woman, remember what Marriage was for here.. but his actual love and partner was a woman much older than himself.
He also had several men, that worked with him, to unite the country, and spread the faith. He directed them, that after his death, he wanted a specific person, to take his place, one of his Generals. The split within Islam, came after his death, with the people who insisted the person most fit, should be in charge ..and on the other hand, those that insisted it must be a Blood Relative ( I believe I recall he had no direct descendants, but I could be wrong ) . My Professor made a point of how different that was..the idea of the best person for the job, vs the blood relative ( very common everywhere and most disastrous also ! ) characterized the two different groups. The practical side, is the Sunni Muslims, and the more traditionally ( and I would argue more likely to religious zealotry ) are the Shi'ite.
The Imam, of the COmmunity Center erroneously dubbed the "Mosque at Ground Zero" is actually a Sufi, yet another very small, very spiritual, very progressive branch of Islam. He has a long history, of both friendship and standing up for Jewish Groups , and placing his own life on the lone, with the radical groups. That he is being vilified by people, and in particular some politicians, is just disgusting ...

08-23-2010, 08:57 AM	#18
MsMerrick Member How Do You Identify?: Queer Feminist Femme.... Preferred Pronoun?: She Relationship Status: Single and Singular.... Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: New York City.... Posts: 277 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 855 Thanked 646 Times in 166 Posts Rep Power: 4638166	I took some classes in Islamic Philosophy, and some classes in Arabic I had a couple teachers, but the primary one was a Coptic Christian, so bear in mind, that was his background. Here's what I learned about the two main branches, within Islam... An important part of the development of Islam, was that Mohammad, brought together, a country that was made up of nomadic tribes, that pretty much just scratched out food etc, and fought with one another. Islam or the Prophet, united them, into more common cause. Created more basic cohesive law ( like the you don't get to just rape a woman ..side note, I suspect the notion of rape didn't even exist, as woman didn't have rights of refusal ,...anyway , you have to provide care, as in economic care.. ) . I was taught, Mohammad may have married many woman, remember what Marriage was for here.. but his actual love and partner was a woman much older than himself. He also had several men, that worked with him, to unite the country, and spread the faith. He directed them, that after his death, he wanted a specific person, to take his place, one of his Generals. The split within Islam, came after his death, with the people who insisted the person most fit, should be in charge ..and on the other hand, those that insisted it must be a Blood Relative ( I believe I recall he had no direct descendants, but I could be wrong ) . My Professor made a point of how different that was..the idea of the best person for the job, vs the blood relative ( very common everywhere and most disastrous also ! ) characterized the two different groups. The practical side, is the Sunni Muslims, and the more traditionally ( and I would argue more likely to religious zealotry ) are the Shi'ite. The Imam, of the COmmunity Center erroneously dubbed the "Mosque at Ground Zero" is actually a Sufi, yet another very small, very spiritual, very progressive branch of Islam. He has a long history, of both friendship and standing up for Jewish Groups , and placing his own life on the lone, with the radical groups. That he is being vilified by people, and in particular some politicians, is just disgusting ...