What do you like about Islam?

Thank-you, Chrysalis.
:-)

We have since moved into a full rented townhouse together.
It's nice as we are no longer just neighbors, but house mates and a family.

Salam Aialikum.
(I don't think I spelled that correctly)

What do I like about Islam?

I like the way everybody is greeted as a Brother or Sister.

More than anything, I love my Muslim family that I live with.
A year ago God blessed me by moving a single mother and her two beautiful daughters into the basement apartment where I rent the top floor. The doors are now wide open and we eat and prepare every meal together. I have been to the Masjid and have my own hijabs for those days. Sometimes they do their prayers and I sit and read my Bible until they are done so we can make Dua (?spelling) together.

It is nice to see a forum where there can be respectful interfaith discussions.

Peace to you all.
Terri

irenemac wrote: I don't know if "like" is the right word but I deeply respect and admire the focus and discipline and commitment of some within the Islamic faith. That it is more a way of life than a simple religion also appeals to me, since most religions are far more hypocritical in the way their faith is practiced. And with that I've posted my first post! Greetings everyone :)

Thankyou Irene for those thoughts :)

Yes Islam is what we call a "deen"  in arabic. i.e. 'a way of life'. Not just a religion. In the Qur'an and Prophetic sayings (hadith) the word 'deen' is used quite a lot rather than 'religion'.

Infact that is why it is hard to separate Islam from a (or most) Muslim's life (for those who would like us to live a secular lifestyle). For example, we are practicing Islam in little little things... such as, drinking water whilst sitting, or taking a break b/w sips and not chugging it down. Or washing our hands before a meal is also 'Sunnah' i.e. emulating Prophet Muhammad. All such acts become reward-worthy in Islam. Like collecting bonus points. So when some Muslims in the West, such as Oklahoma are fighting the anti-shariah bill - what they are saying is that it effects our daily lives and we find it difficult to divorce ourselves from many islamic aspects. There are many important aspects of a person's life that are impacted by their religion one of them is things like death & Wills. An anti-shariah bill would make it difficult for Muslims to have things like their wills implemented, having islamic burials etc. Its not about 'stonings' or other things like that. Simply about letting us choose to have our religious rites acknowledged.

A belated welcome to the forums! Looking forward to your posts! See you around! :)

The literal meaning of Jihad happens to be effort or struggle...Anywhere you have to exert extra effort becomes jihad and biggest effort or jihad is to control the selfish, gluttonous, corrupt leanings of any ones personality!

Someone posted this response in another thread, and I found it quite appropriate to the founding premises of most legitimate religious endeavors ("religious," that is, within the meaning and context of the original definition of the word religiare which means "to bind back; to bind together").

I find little to argue with such statements when in comparison to other statements, such as the following uttered by Siddhattha Gotama:

"Mind is the forerunner of all actions. All deeds are led by mind, created by mind. If one speaks or acts with a corrupt mind, suffering follows, as the wheel follows the hoof of an ox pulling a cart.

"If one speaks or acts with a serene mind, happiness follows, as surely as one's shadow.

" 'He abused me, mistreated me, defeated me, robbed me.' Harboring such thoughts keeps hatred alive. Releasing such thoughts banishes hatred for all time."

Or:

"Just as an arrowsmith shapes an arrow to perfection with fire, so does the wise man shape his mind, which is fickle, unsteady, vulnerable, and erratic."