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Message: <blockquote data-quote="sirajstc" data-source="post: 13596193" data-attributes="member: 91140"> Polygamy is neither mandatory,  nor encouraged, but   merely permitted. Images of "sheikhs with harems"  are not consistent  with Islam, as a man is  only allowed at most four  wives only if he can  fulfill the stringent conditions of treating each  fairly  and  providing each with separate housing etc.  Permission to  practice  polygamy is not associated  with mere satisfaction of passion.   It is  rather associated with compassion toward widows and  orphans. It  was  the Quran that limited and put conditions on the practice of  polygamy  among the  Arabs, who had as many as ten or more wives and  considered  them "property". It is both honest and accurate  to say that it is Islam  that regulated this practice, limited  it, made  it more humane, and  instituted equal rights and status for all wives.  What the Qur'anic   decrees amount to, taken together is discouragement  of polygamy unless  necessity for it exists. It is also evident that the  general rule in  Islam is monogamy and not polygamy. It is a very  tiny  percentage of  Muslims that practice it over the world. However,  permission to  practice limited polygamy is only consistent with Islam's  realistic  view of the nature of man and woman and of  various social  needs,  problems and cultural variations. The question is, however far  more than the inherent  flexibility of Islam; it also is the frank  and  straightforward  approach of Islam in dealing with practical problems.   Rather than  requiring  hypocritical and superficial compliance, Islam  delves deeper  into the problems of individuals and  societies, and  provides for  legitimate and clean solutions which are far more  beneficial than would   be the case if they were ignored. There is no  doubt that the second  wife legally married and treated  kindly is better  off than a mistress  without any legal rights or expermanence. MISCONCEPTION #8: Muslims are a barbaric, backward people. Among the reasons for the rapid  and peaceful spread of  Islam was the simplicity of its  doctrine-Islam  calls for faith in only  one God worthy of worship.  It also repeatedly  instructs man to  use  his powers of intelligence and observation. Within  a few years, great  civilizations and universities were flourishing, for  according to the  Prophet (pbuh), 'seeking knowledge is an obligation  for every Muslim  man and woman'. The  synthesis of Eastern and  Western ideas and of new  thought with old, brought about great  advances  in medicine,  mathematics, physics, astronomy, geography, architecture,  art,  literature,  and history. Many crucial systems such as algebra, the   Arabic numerals, and also the concept of  the zero (vital to the   advancement of mathematics), were transmitted to medieval Europe from    Islam.  Sophisticated instruments which were to make possible the   European voyages of discovery  were developed, including the astrolabe,   the quadrant and good navigational maps. MISCONCEPTION #9: Muhammad was the founder of Islam and Muslims worship him. Muhammad(pbuh) was born in Mecca  in the year 570. Since  his father died before his  birth, and his  mother shortly afterwards,  he was raised by his uncle from the respected  tribe of  Quraysh.  As he  grew up, he became known for his  truthfulness, generosity and  sincerity, so that  he was sought after for  his ability to arbitrate in  disputes. The historians describe him as  calm and  meditative.  Muhammad (pbuh) was of a deeply religious nature,  and had long detested  the decadence of his society. It became his habit to meditate  from time to time in the  Cave of Hira near Mecca. At the age of 40,  while engaged in a  meditative retreat, Muhammad(pbuh) received his first   revelation from  God through the Angel Gabriel.  This revelation, which  continued for 23  years is known as the Quran. As soon as he began to  recite the words  he heard from Gabriel, and to preach the truth  which  God had revealed  to him, he and his small group of followers suffered  bitter  persecution, which grew so fierce that in the year 622 God gave  them  the command to emigrate. This event,  the Hijra  'migration', in which they left  Mecca for the city of Medina, marks the  beginning of the  Muslim  calendar. After several years, the Prophet and  his followers were able  to return to Mecca, where they forgave their  enemies and established  Islam definitively. Before the Prophet saw dies  at the age of 63, the  greater part of Arabia was Muslim, and within a  century of his death  Islam had spread to Spain in the West and as far  East as China. He died  with less than 5 possessions to his name. While Muhammad (pbuh) was chosen  to deliver the message,  he is not considered the  "founder" of Islam,  since Muslims consider  Islam to be the same divine guidance sent to all  peoples before.   Muslims believe all the prophets from Adam, Noah,  Moses, Jesus etc.  were all sent with divine guidance for their peoples.   Every prophet  was sent to his own people, but Muhammad(pbuh) was sent  to all of  mankind.  Muhammad is the last and final messenger sent to  deliver the  message of Islam. Muslims revere and honor him (pbuh) for  all he went  through and his dedication, but they do not worship him.  "O  Prophet, verily We have sent  you as a witness and a bearer of glad  tidings and a warner and as one  who invites unto God by His leave and as  an illuminating lamp." [Quran 33:45-6] MISCONCEPTION #10: Muslims don't believe in Jesus or any other prophets. Muslims respect and revere  Jesus, upon him be peace, and  await his Second Coming. They consider him  one of the greatest of  God's messengers to mankind. A Muslim never  refers to him simply as  'Jesus', but always adds the phrase 'upon him be  peace' (abbreviated as  (u) here). The Quran confirms his virgin birth  (a chapter of the Quran  is entitled 'Mary'), and Mary is considered the  purest woman in all  creation. The Quran describes the Annunciation as  follows: "Behold!"  the Angel said, "God  has chosen you, and purified you, and chosen you  above the women of all  nations.  O Mary, God gives you good news of a  word from Him whose  name shall be the Messiah, Jesus son of Mary,  honored in this world and  the Hereafter, and one of those brought near  to God.  He shall speak  to the people from his cradle and in maturity,  and shall be of the  righteous." She said: "O my Lord! How shall I have a  son when no man  has touched me?" He said:  "Even so; God creates what  He will.  When He  decrees a thing, He says to it, "Be!" and it is"  (Quran 3:42-47) Jesus (pbuh) was born miraculously through the same power, which had brought Adam (u) into being without a father: "Truly,  the likeness of Jesus  with God is as the likeness of Adam.  He created  him of dust, and then  said to him, 'Be!' and he was." [Quran 3:59] During his prophetic mission Jesus (u) performed many miracles. The Quran tells us that he said:" I have come  to you  with a sign from your Lord:  I make for you out of clay, as it  were,  the figure of a bird, and breath into it and it becomes a bird by  God's  leave.  And I heal the blind, and the lepers, and I raise the dead  by  God's leave." [Quran 3:49]Neither Muhammad (pbuh) not Jesus (pbuh) came to change the basic   doctrine of the brief in One God brought by earlier prophets, but to   confirm and renew it. In the Quran Jesus (pbuh) is reported as saying that he came: "To  attest the law which was  before me.  And to make lawful to you part of  what was forbidden you; I  have come to you with a sign from your Lord,  so fear God and obey Me. "[Quran 3:50] The Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said: "Whoever   believes there is no god but God, alone without partner, that Muhammad   (pbuh) is His messenger, that Jesus is the servant and messenger of  God,  His word breathed into Mary and a spirit emanating from Him, and  that  Paradise and Hell are true, shall be received by God into Heaven. "(Hadith related by Bukhari). Sources:  (Islam: A Brief  Introduction, Islamic Circle of North America, Jamaica,  New York)  (Understanding Islam and the Muslims, The Islamic Affairs  Department  The Embassy of Saudi Arabia, Washington DC, 1989.) (Badawi,  Jamal,  Polygamy in Islamic Law, The Muslim Students' Association of the  United  States & Canada,) (Islam and Farrakhanism Compared, The  Institute  of Islamic Information and Education, Chicago, Illinois)  (Jihad  Explained, The Institute of Islamic Information & Education,   Chicago, Illinois)</blockquote>

Verification: Hath warak paha keeyada? (hatha wadikireema paha)

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