Salad bowl superior to America's 'Melting Pot'
Shirien Elmasraya
Issue date: 2/8/08 Section: Opinion
I'm not oblivious to people's eyes following me as I walk across a room, campus or supermarket - Muslim men and women naturally stand out because of some of our customs and the way we dress.
I wrote a column a couple of weeks ago about some Islamic customs that some people may not be aware of. One custom is that it is forbidden for unrelated men and women have any physical contact with each other - including shaking hands.
To some, this seems backward. Although it is partially true that a hand-shake in the West means nothing to most people, it makes no difference in this case - the ruling on the matter doesn't change in Islam.
The truth of the matter is there will always be some people who have bad intentions - and Islam's rulings are there to prevent anything sinful and harmful to its followers.
People wonder why Muslims can't just assimilate into society like the Jews assimilated in America after World War II, many of them giving up a lot of their identities to conform to American culture - also called the "melting pot."
Some people may say Islam is a religion stuck in the seventh century. The rulings in the Quran that applied to Muslims in the 632 CE are the same rulings apply to Muslims in 2008 CE.
This is perhaps what separates Islam from any other religion in the world. As Muslims, we follow our holy book, The Quran. Muslims believe this was and still remains the true word of Allah or God. The Quran that was recited more than 1400 years ago is the same Quran recited today - without a letter being changed.
It all goes back to the concept of Prophet-hood. Islam, Christianity and Judaism all believe God sent prophets when corruption would spread in the earth and the number of true believers thins.
Islam also believes a new Prophet would be sent to their people once the true word of Allah sent down in scriptures would be altered by man, and no one would have the true message anymore.
As Muslims, we believe in all the books and scriptures sent before like the Gospels and the Torah, but we follow the Quran because it has been unchanged since the time it was revealed.
I wrote a column a couple of weeks ago about some Islamic customs that some people may not be aware of. One custom is that it is forbidden for unrelated men and women have any physical contact with each other - including shaking hands.
To some, this seems backward. Although it is partially true that a hand-shake in the West means nothing to most people, it makes no difference in this case - the ruling on the matter doesn't change in Islam.
The truth of the matter is there will always be some people who have bad intentions - and Islam's rulings are there to prevent anything sinful and harmful to its followers.
People wonder why Muslims can't just assimilate into society like the Jews assimilated in America after World War II, many of them giving up a lot of their identities to conform to American culture - also called the "melting pot."
Some people may say Islam is a religion stuck in the seventh century. The rulings in the Quran that applied to Muslims in the 632 CE are the same rulings apply to Muslims in 2008 CE.
This is perhaps what separates Islam from any other religion in the world. As Muslims, we follow our holy book, The Quran. Muslims believe this was and still remains the true word of Allah or God. The Quran that was recited more than 1400 years ago is the same Quran recited today - without a letter being changed.
It all goes back to the concept of Prophet-hood. Islam, Christianity and Judaism all believe God sent prophets when corruption would spread in the earth and the number of true believers thins.
Islam also believes a new Prophet would be sent to their people once the true word of Allah sent down in scriptures would be altered by man, and no one would have the true message anymore.
As Muslims, we believe in all the books and scriptures sent before like the Gospels and the Torah, but we follow the Quran because it has been unchanged since the time it was revealed.
Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 28
Zack Highstreet
Zack Highstreet
posted 2/08/08 @ 10:50 AM CST
Dear Ms. Elmasraya,
I have no problem with various immigrant groups coming to the United States and bringing their traditions along with them -- under two conditions:
1) The practices are not harmful or imposing on the various people's way of living who are already in the United States. (Continued…)
JSH
posted 2/08/08 @ 11:23 AM CST
It is sad to see that Ms. Elmasraya doesn't see that the melting pot concept of America would actually be better for American Muslims over that of being a separate culture existing within the larger culture of our land. (Continued…)
awake
posted 2/08/08 @ 12:34 PM CST
"As Muslims, we believe in all the books and scriptures sent before like the Gospels and the Torah, but we follow the Quran because it has been unchanged since the time it was revealed. (Continued…)
JSH
posted 2/08/08 @ 1:38 PM CST
On CNN.com right now is a story about how secular society in Iraq is being attacked by radicals who want to force a specific version of Shariah law. They are killing women who show their hair or do not bow down to the strict interpretation. (Continued…)
Finn G
posted 2/08/08 @ 6:00 PM CST
Gospels and Torah "altered" - you have been seriously misled. Those are from God. The Quran is man-made (Muhammed), a religion of enslavement. As Islam means "Surrender. (Continued…)
Jennifer Donnelly
posted 2/08/08 @ 11:36 PM CST
>>When the Gospels were altered and corruption spread, Allah sent the Torah. When that was altered by man, Allah sent the Quran to the prophet Muhammad. (Continued…)
L.Drummond
posted 2/09/08 @ 4:25 AM CST
"The Quran is for all times, not just for the time period during which it was revealed. And there is nothing backward about it."
Thank you for your answer to my question a week or so back, Ms Elmasraya. (Continued…)
Amy Wilson
posted 2/09/08 @ 7:12 AM CST
Hi Shirien! I don't know if columnists respond in the comment section or not, as this is my first time to comment on an article, but I still thought I'd ask. (Continued…)
Shawn Palmer
posted 2/09/08 @ 12:59 PM CST
Quite frankly, I'm becoming a bit irritated that my college tuition is supporting The Revielle's newfound stance of religious he-said she-said. So, you've been singled out or mistreated for your religious beliefs? Welcome to the world of being an adult, where we all get misjudged and misunderstood on a regular basis for some reason or other. (Continued…)
A. Sanderson
posted 2/09/08 @ 3:03 PM CST
Are you kidding me? I'm glad christianity doesn't practice their religion the same as when it was first written..! Theres nothing wrong with christianity now (although there are a few exceptions) but the way it was practiced was horrific. (Continued…)
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