h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I found this an interesting piece and the guide will benefit from having something that explains Islam properly. I have learnt some new things from your article and I am glad for that.

However, as an article for the Guide there are still a number of grammatical errors that need to be amended. One example is where you discuss the burial place of Mohummad..it should read 'practice of all prophets before him.'

Also, the piece is slightly biased and may I suggest that you approach your writing with a little bit of objectivity. For example, the questions in bold should be neutral

e.g. How do you get the teenagers to pray 5 times a day, when we find it difficult to get teenagers to go to mass once a week?

Some of the questions appear to be biased against social issues in Western Society such as increased abortions, drug taking, sex, family break down and high crime (all of which exist but do not actually reflect the whole of Western society as there are strong believers in God and strong family values present but obviously do not reach the media's attention as it is not news) and I think that if your article is to benefit readers with no knowledge of Islam then maybe you could adapt the questions somewhat

e.g. Is it not difficult for children in the Islamic faith to pray 5 times a day?

That in itself should be sufficient. Look at the following questions you have put in your article and you may see the point I am trying to make. You may be accused of preaching through teaching. Where do you get these questions from?

Do Muslims believe all Christians will go to Hell? (I've never heard this one before)
Is it not arrogant to believe you can ask for forgiveness directly from God without an intermediate body? (question about Christianity)
Why can you not conceive of Jesus as God? (surely this is a difference of religious perspective which must be respected)

I find your last section regarding 'Islam and science' and 'Additional FAQs' very interesting.

I also think that your article could do with some guidelines concerning how to pronounce words such as Hajj and Niqaab.

Also, what is Salat, Shahadah and zakat? Can you please explain for readers who are not at all acquainted with Islam?

On a personal note I wonder if you could explain why it is that women appear to be the cause of temptation? For example, you say that in the mosque the woman has to pray seperately from the men (and in some cases behind) as certain clothing may reveal a part of the body that may stop men from praying properly. What happened to the will power of the male? Does he not have one? I find this rather confusing and amusing. It appears that you are saying that out of both genders, male and female, it is the male that has been chosen as the dominant sex. Where does this idea come from? Is it in the Qur'an? Is it a law created by God?
Also, why do women appear to cover up more in public, again to avoid the advances of men? Don't men have the will power to turn their eyes away or not feel seducted by their own repressed feelings? Or have women become the vehicle of blame for the actions of men who cannot cope with the emotions of their own shame and guilt.
Why can't it be law for Muslim men to fully cover up in public to avoid the advances of women?
I'd be very interested to hear what you have to say about these questions, please remember that the questions in the above paragraph belong to my own opinion.
With God's love

Salaam,

First of all I would jut like to say all the questions are in bold and not just a few.

None of the questions I don’t think are biased against western society, they are all questions I have had asked to me by people coming to my place of work and asking me questions about Islam. Maybe if at the start I point out that all the questions are answered from an Islamic viewpoint would, help

Also while re reading the article I can see where confusion over this can arise and so I will try to make it easier to understand that it is the Islamic view point and not a attack against society.

As for your points on the preachy questions as you put it, they are not really preachy I think, because it is a straight answer to a straight question. It is important to make note that while Muslims believe in Jesus we do not see him as being God or as being the Son of God.
And to clarify further the three questions you quote I have been asked many times, and mostly by Christians so I don’t not see what the issue really is over their inclusion.
It is a question and answers about Islam and so people should assume that the answers given are the Islamic viewpoint.

If I wanted it to be preachy I could have added another twenty odd questions that I have been asked to answer.
What I think I have tried to do is not make the article preachy, but not to ignore the important questions that have been raised on that subject.

As for guidelines on pronouncing Islamic terms I will see what I can do, but I do not want to make the article to long.
Maybe I should write a entry on pronouncing Islamic words.

Move on to your personal questions.

In Islam women are not seen as the cause of temptation. The reason why women pray separately and or behind men is for the benefit of every one regardless of Sex.
First of all lets clear up the behind or separate issue.
From an Islamic perspective woman are to pray behind men. This is not because men are superior in any way it comes down to many reasons.
Firstly if men and women prayed in front of men or mixed in rows, then this could lead to temptation. In hot countries and back in the time of the prophet women used to wear loose garments which while covered the whole body, could become undone or loose revealing parts of the body to be exposed, while mans typical dress is not so loose as to let this happen.
You may say oh what about mans self restraint but though a lot of men who will just ignore this and not look, there is still some men who will luck because they do not have a strong will power.
Also how is the woman going to feel if her garment comes loose and she knows parts of her are exposed and men could be looking at it.
To save this from happening women are asked to pray separate from men, i.e. behind men.
Now this is not sexist because the male garment does not really come loose or expose flesh like the women’s garments can.
Not only this but it does tend to be agreed that women have more self-restraint than men (Well Muslim girls and a lot of non-Muslim girls anyway no offence).

An to be honest the majority of men will look at a beautiful women regardless of what they are doing, and in Islam every thing is about intention, and so if you look at a women or a women looks at a man with lust in there eyes it is considered to be a sin and that it should be avoided.

In Islam it is believed that it is best to stop any thing from happening if it can be helped and so to stop the possibility of men getting distracted over any accidents of a woman in front in prayer, the women are asked to pray behind men, as in Islam prevention is very important.

But of course the actual ruling does not just have to do with women’s beauty and what ever, it is also for practicability.
In Islam the man has a duty to go the mosque and pray if he can (meaning he should always try to go to mosque to prayer) and also has a duty to earn all the money for the family. The women is allowed to have a job, but that money she gets from a job, is her’s to do what she wants with and the husband has no rights to it.
The Women also does not have to go mosque if she does not wish to.
Most women choose to stay at home and do the house work (And I can not stress enough that she can have a job or stay at Uni. or what ever when married).
So normally it is the mother who looks after the baby while the husband is at work (some times it’s there parents who look after he baby if they both work) and so if the woman goes to mosque to pray and takes the baby with her and half way through the prayer it starts to cry, she will have to get up and deal with the baby.
So for convenience women are also asked to stay at the back so as not to disturb all the other people praying if she has to leave for some reason.

Male’s have not been chosen as the dominant sex as the actual ruling of women behind men in prayer is designed to benefit all worshippers and is not aimed at saying one is better than the other, it is imposed so that the issue of a mans will power never becomes a issue.

I tell you what I actually wrote a article on Islam and women, why don’t you read it as most of this is covered in there and makes more sense.

Adib

Ok I have made a few changes.

Adib

Thanks for your informative response. I actually think that the content in your reply should also be included in your article. I wouldn't worry about an article being too long, have a look at the article presently in Peer Review about the Chinese in Tibet, it's lengthy.

I will have a look at your other article about Islam and women.

However, I still stand by my suggestion that the questions you include (in bold) should be amended so that they actually ask the question but remain neutral. You may find that other readers will come back to you with their questions in mind (and stir good debate).

I've just re-read your article and it's coming together nicely. As the author of the article, would you consider explaining in the article where the questions come from. I think that would help the reader realise that they come from people who are naturally curious about the Islamic faith. I initially assumed that they were your own questions, which is why I wondered if these questions may have been directed at Western society.

There are still a few grammatical errors that are present but I do think it's a good informative article, which makes very interesting reading.

Well my grammer is rubbish to be honest.

I may have lived in england all my life but I am rubbish at spelling and grammer.

Adib

Sorry Adib, I'm not criticising you it's just the final touch that's needed for the article entry into the Guide.

Well normayy I thought the editors delt with spelling mistakes.

Can you tell me what grammer mistakes there are, as I really am useless with english.

Too much time not paying attention at school, hee hee.

Adid

Sure Adib, I'll happily give you my help. I'll send you a list of errors I'm aware of over the weekend. Take care and I'll chat with you again soon.

Jazakallah khair (May God praise your kindness)

Thanks alot

Adib

Hi Adib,

I've provided you with a list of sugegsted grammatical amendments. I've listed them according to the question they are relating to. The suggestions are placed in brackets.

Why can the Qu'ran only be recited in Arabic?

'can only be roughly translated in(to) other' (ie 'into' not 'in to')
'are called interpretation(s) of the meaning'
'rather than (the actual) translation of the'

What is the role of Imam's in Islam?

'and it is time to pray(omit the 'er')it is considered'
'who knows the Qu'ran (off) by heart'
'This is (to ensure) that all brothers'
'in (the) worship of Allah'
'Another duty of (the) Imam(omit the s)'
'particular issue (a)ffecting (omit 'the') Muslim people'

Is it not arrogant to believe you can ask for forgiveness...?

'Muslims fe(e)l that it shows'
'so much (so) that each person'
'Moreover, Muslims also fee(l)'

Is Islam a missionary religion?

'Therefore (no gap between 'there' and 'fore') it is the duty'

Is the Qur'an like the Bible?

'Moreover' (no gap between 'more' and 'over')
'human beings need'
'for all aspects of there on Earth' (this is an incomplete sentence)
'in addition to how they (themselves) relate to their creator'

How do you see traditional law...?

'man-made'
'on the guidance (given) from God. God knows'
'themselves'
'remain unchang(ed)'
'All Muslims, irrespective of nationality, are required to follow'

How do you get Muslim teenagers to pray...?

'for (their) own spiritual'

Do you have to pray?

'Yes. (Omit 'The') Ritual prayer is a point'

Why do women pray behind men?

'is that (m)en pray in front'

Why do men going on Hajj...?

'clean they make (their) intentions'
'regardless of (their) differences'
'brotherhood'
'same applies (to) women'

Do men have to be circumcised to go on Hajj?

'highly recommended first(,) because'
'and secondly(,) because'

What happens if you eat something by accident while (you're) fasting?

Ok, I've listed a few for you to be getting on with and I'll send you some more soon.

Take care

Thanks alot

Take care.

Adib