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Letter: Three categories of Muslims

I see there are still a lot of misunderstandings about Islam

The Jakarta Post
Thu, April 22, 2010

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Letter: Three categories of Muslims

I

see there are still a lot of misunderstandings about Islam. Throughthe Post, I read many opinion and letters regarding Islam most of whichsee Islam as a negative religion.

Many judged Islam by their own logic (rationality) that derived from his own life experience.

I do not mind with their opinion but let me share my views to respond the people who say about Islam only based on their common sense without considering the original source of Islamic teaching: the Holy Koran.

When we discuss Islamic teachings, we have to refer to the Koran, the original source of the religion.

Therefore, non Muslims, who are interested to write about Islam, need to read the Koran and to understand it.

The Koran was originally written in Arabic and therefore, the original script of the Koran needs to be read side by side with a translation into any language.

That being said, I believe that to master the Koran, we have to master Arabic.

There are some comments on homosexuality and questions as to why it is forbidden? In this case, I can say that Islam has a very clear guidance for Muslims: adultery, homosexuality and the likes are forbidden in Islam.

Muslims who believe in the revelation is ordered by the teaching of Islam to prevent their community from bad deeds and sins as mentioned above.

There are three criteria of Muslim piousness. If they have power they have to do something to stop bad deeds.

If they do not have such power, they can just advise the people, who commit bad deeds. And if they can’t do that, they just can silently reject any bad deed.

This last group is the weakest.

So the action against the recent homosexual congress in East Java is part of the efforts to prevent any bad deeds in the society.

I quote verses from the Koran that Muslim should obey it: (Surah Ali Imron, verse 56) “As to those who reject faith, I will punish them with terrible agony in this world and in the hereafter, nor will they have anyone to help”.

(Surah Ali Imron, verse 57): “As to those who believe and work righteousness, God will pay them [in full] reward; but God love not for those who do wrong”.


Aries Musnandar
Malang, East Java

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