Islam

Ahl as-Sunnat scholars convey, word for word, the definition given by our Master the Prophet. Iman is to have belief in the six fundamental principles expressed in the Amantu. The following is the purport of the hadith-i sharif, whch was declared to be the Amantu:

(Iman is to have belief in Allah, in His angels, in His books, in His prophets, in the Last Day [that is, to believe in the Day of Qiyama, Paradise, Hell, Judgement, and Mizan], in qadar and that good and evil are from Allah, and in death and Resurrection. It is to bear witness that there is no god except Allah and that I am a human slave and Messenger of His.) [Bukhari, Muslim, Nasai]

The well-known hadith of Jibril (Archangel Gabriel 'alaihis-salam), too, explains the fundamentals of iman and Islam:

Our beloved superior Hadrat 'Umar narrates:

"One day we were sitting near the Messenger of Allah. Then a man came and asked:

'O the Messenger of Allah! What is Islam?'

'Islam is to say the Kalima-i shahadat, to perform five daily prayers, to fast every day of the month of Ramadan, to give the zakat of one's property, and to perform hajj [major pilgrimage] for an able person once in his life.'

'You told the truth. What is iman?'

[We were astonished that he was asking a question and was confirming that the answer was correct.]

'Iman is to have belief in Allah, in His angels, in His books, in His prophets, in the Last Day, and good and evil occur as the result of Allah's will. '

'You told the truth. What is ihsan?'

"It is that you worship Allah as if you were seeing Him because though you do not see Him, He always sees you.'

'When will Doomsday come?'

'The One who is asked does not know better than the one inquiring about it.'

"He inquired the signs of Doomsday, and the Prophet of Allah communicated them. After that person had gone on his way, the Messenger of Allah stated, 'He who asked all these questions was Jabrail alaihis-salam. He came in order to teach you your religion.'" (Muslim, Nasai, Abu Dawud, Tirmudhî)

Another hadith-i sharif says:

(Some people are keys to good and locks for evil while some others are keys to evil and locks for good. Glad tidings to those whom Allah has given the keys to good, but woe to those whom Allah has given the keys to evil.) [Ibni Maja, Abu Dawud, Tabarani, Ibn Hibban]

The above-mentioned hadith-i sharif points out the fact that good and evil are from Allah.

The following Qur'anic verse, too, states that good and evil are from Allah:

(If Allah hastened to give people evil, the way they hasten to obtain good, all of them would certainly have been ruined. However, We leave those who do not believe in meeting with Us[who do not believe in the next world and Resurrection] wandering in their transgression.) [Surat-u Yunus 11]

Allah, alone, is the Creator of evil and good. If one wants to do a good or a bad deed, if Allah wills, too, one does that deed with one's irada-i juz'iyya (partial free will). If Allah does not permit, a servant cannot do either a good or a bad deed. For this reason, our Master the Prophet declared, "Both good and evil are from Allah." It is not that Allah makes people do good or bad deeds by force. If it were so, a person who performs an evil act would say, "You have made so-and-so perform a good act. Why have You compelled me to do that wicked thing?" The Jabriyyagroup believes that Allah causes evil and good to be done by force. On the other hand, the Mu'tazila says that Allah interferes in neither good nor evil and that both are created by servants. Neither of these two beliefs is correct.

Misconception: Music and singing forbidden

Background: Some think that in Islam music and singing are completely forbidden or only some musical instruments are allowed.

The Quran does not clearly forbid music or singing. Many sounds of nature can be considered music, e.g. the sound of waves on the shore or birds chirping. The human voice box is simply another musical instrument of nature.

The Quran itself is written in a rhythmic/melodic style, and when it challenges others to bring a chapter like it [e.g. 10:38], this shows that it at least allows imitation of this style to take place.

It should be noted however that singing and music should conform to the guiding principles in The Quran regarding communications, e.g. does not promote bad deeds, should be truthful etc [3:104, 14:24-26, 25:72, 33:70, 49:11 etc]

According to The Quran it is important not to forbid things unless specifically forbidden by God:

Say: "Who has forbidden the nice things that God has brought forth for His servants and the good provisions?" Say: "They are meant for those who believe during this worldly life, and they will be exclusive for them on the Day of Resurrection." It is such that We explain the revelations for those who know. [7:32]

You shall not invent lies about God by attributing lies with your tongues, saying: "This is lawful and that is forbidden." Those who invent lies about God will not succeed. [16:116]

In the US, there is much media coverage of and research on public opinion of same-sex marriage in the United States. Most recent polls show majority support for legal recognition of same-sex marriage. Majority public support for same-sex marriage has solidified, and recent polls consistently indicate support above 50%. Support has increased steadily for more than a decade, with supporters first achieving a majority in 2010. An August 2010 CNN poll became the first national poll to show majority support for same-sex marriage, with nearly all subsequent polls showing majority support.

Support for same-sex marriage generally correlates with lack of religious fundamentalism, young age, higher education, and residence in the Northeast and West Coast. Women are also more likely to be in support than men.

After President Barack Obama's endorsement of same-sex marriage on May 9, 2012, among cultural groups, 59 percent of African-Americans in some surveys taken at the time expressed support. Likewise, 65 percent supported Obama's new position on the issue. Fewer whites, 46 percent, approved of Obama's announcement, and 50 percent supported same-sex marriage.

Concerning religion, a majority of Catholics (both white and Hispanic) support same-sex marriage, as do a majority of those who are Jewish or religiously unaffiliated. Broadly, Protestant support for same sex marriage is at 34%. Amongst Protestants, however, support varies. 19% of white evangelicals support gay marriage, while 52% of white mainline Protestants support same-sex marriage. 35% of black Protestants support same-sex marriage. Support for same sex-marriage is higher amongst women than it is men. Support for same-sex marriage appears to be identical amongst whites and Hispanics, while there is less support amongst blacks.

Sixteen countries now; by August 2013; have the freedom to marry for same-sex couples nationwide (Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Canada, South Africa, Norway, Sweden, Portugal, Iceland, Argentina, Denmark, France, Brazil, Uruguay, and New Zealand - plus Britain, which has passed a law that has not yet taken effect), while two others have regional or court-directed provisions enabling same-sex couples to share in the freedom to marry (Mexico and the United States). Many other countries provide some protections for such couples. As more and more countries and parts of the United States win the freedom to marry, we see that families are helped, and communities and countries made stronger, by protecting all loving committed couples.

Those Christians and Churches which support blessing of same-sex unions do so from several perspectives:

• It is an affirmative good that stands alongside straight marriage and committed monastic celibacy as a revelation of God's self in the world.

• The logical coherence of the core Christian doctrines such as the Trinity, the Incarnation, the Resurrection and the Ascension is improved through the integration of gay marriage into the Christian conception of marriage.

• Our understanding of marriage as a metaphor of Christ's relationship with the Church is strengthened by assimilating gay marriage into that metaphor.

• Some scholars maintain that scripture in the original languages contains no prohibition of homosexuality, but does record same-sex marriage. "But if we take a closer look, reading the scripture in the original Hebrew and Greek, we discover that God never condemned homosexuality, and that same-sex marriage existed in Bible times." "To tell a homosexual that the Bible is Good News, (but that) it says that their ability to love on a one to one basis (mate level) means they are sinful and perverted in God's eyes is a gross contradiction in terms. What's more, God is not saying this to gay people. God's Word is this: For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting live. (John 3:16, KJV). And that is the Good News for modern gays."

• The Biblical references to homosexuality were uttered in the context of promiscuous same-sex practices of Hellenistic cultures (Paul) and cultures surrounding the people of Israel (Deut). This kind of sex without love was often practiced in lieu of going to female prostitutes, also by heterosexual men. It is a discriminating misconception of our times to transfer that prohibition of such promiscuous practice without love to what we discuss here: durable, long term, choosy same-sex unions.

Refer to related links below.

I am a 9 year old Muslim. A few rules for lifestyle are:

• Muslims do not celebrate Christmas, but we have other holidays.
• We are not supposed to have dogs.
• No pork or pork products.
• Muslims cant go to church but they have a different thing it is called Ma-jet) it is like a church but it is a Muslim church.
• Muslim girls don't wear shorts. Only boys can wear shorts.
• Muslim kids cannot have boyfriends, girlfriends, or date.

According to Islam, the Earth was first inhabited by creatures that looked like human beings. It is said that they had hairy bodies and were somewhat intelligent. According to Koran they disappeared before Allah created the first human being .

It is strange, but sounds similar to scientific theories of "neanderthals" who were predecessors, but not exactly ancestors of "homo sapiens".