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December 24, 2003 Page 2 * Bad Muslims does not make Islam bad Dear Ms. Johnson, [One way or other] With all due respect, you have not been very diligent in your research or your thinking. In your paragraph 1. of your piece, you define hadith as "history/examples set by the Prophet Mohammad". That is incorrect. Hadith are the sayings and doings attributed to the Prophet. The Hadith was collected several centuries after the Prophet's death, and many collections are not considered completely authentic by serious scholars. In any event,
they are not considered divine in origin, and do not have the weight
of the Qur'an. Muslims are free to use their reasoning (the process
of ijtihad) to determine whether it is appropriate under the circumstances
to follow a Hadith or not. The Qur'an does not indicate which type the verse is; such is to allow flexibility for humans to interpret the verses according to their contemporaneous knowledge and circumstances. Moreover, I have never heard any of the three examples you have provided, and it seems that the one who provided them to you is quite ignorant. For instance, the Qur'an does not abolish slavery explicitly; the Qur'an provided explicitly that it is a good act (savab) to free a slave. Humans must use reason to extrapolate conclusions there from. Furthermore, the fact that some Muslims practice slavery does not bear reflection on Islam. Does the fact that a Christian commits murder signify that Christianity sanctions murder? Islam is of a complexity that you merely gloss over, and you will not begin to comprehend it if you approach it with bias that you do. * Pakistan then and now Dear Ms. Johnson, Thank you for your notes. [One way or other] A simple practical example is that Pakistan used to be part of India before it was invented by Western powers. Please compare conditions in the two countries now. I think Islam had a role in Pakistan not having a great social, economical, cultural... situation today. Among many others issues, a man rapes a girl. The elders of the community rule that several other men should rape the young sister of the man who originally raped the victim. Several young men go ahead and rape the young sister. And in front of her tied down father. How could one believe this happening in this time and era? Mohamad Navab * Nothing to do with truth Dear Ms. Debra Johnson, [One
way or other] I am surprised to learn for the first time about your claims and the rules you have mentioned in your article. I would be very interested to know where you learned about them! There are lots of rules and regulations that have been added to all religions over the years by the clergy and mullahs, which have nothing to do with truth and the depth of any of the main religions, including Islam. I have read the Quran extensively and have not ever encountered any of rules which you have criticized in your article. The Quran teaches us in depth so much in belief, devotions, love, giving, caring and being a wonderful human being which is in touch with inner self and God, constantly. I believe if you would concentrate in the true teaching of Quran and Islam and less be concern about all the stupid attachment to this most wonderful religion, you will be a true believer, also. May God guide us all and keep us all safe in his protection, * Love your taste in music Dear Ms. Nemati, I cannot thank you enough for bringing back so many memories of my childhood and youth in Iran and Khuzestan. I have been listening to the song you have put on Iraninan.com, especially, the songs from Om Kolthum and the singers from Abadan and Khuzestan. I love your taste in music. Thanks so much for helping stay connected to our roots and past. I lived in Ahvaz during my military service before the revolution. But my love of Arab music goes back to years that I grow up in Shiraz. As a child I used to listen to my small radio at night and fall sleep while listening to Om Klothum and Abdol Halim Hafez. My cousins are Abadani and summer time they used to come to Shiraz for a visit and I used to listen to Bandari and warm music Khuzestani. Thanks so much. * Mano bordi be oon zamoonaa Nemidoonam chi begam [Jalil
Shahnaz]. Faghat ino bedoon ke kaare ghashsngi
kardi. Mano bordi be oon zamoonaa... * Car cigarette lighter Zohreh khanom, thanks for the movie review. [House of Shohreh] Your comment about the cigarette lighter in the car is not at all true for all makes and models. This is especially true for newer cars. For example, I often leave my mobile phone attached to the cigarette lighter jack and charging, while the car is parked and locked! Ben Bagheri :) * Indirectly supporting Jacko ba arze mazerat, be che onvaan va chegooneh mitavaanid aks-haaee az Michael Jakson neshaan bedahid va az uo gheyr-e mostaghim defaa konid? magar akhbaar raa donbaal nemikonid? in masale az shaaye-eh gozashteh ast va hatman in masale haghighat daarad, chon baarhaa tekraar shodeh ast. baa puzesh, va ba omide movafaghiat baaraye safeh internet shomaa. * Persian not Farsi According all historic sources, the official language of Iran was called as "Persian" in Western languages. Apparentely it comes from "Persia" and Persian Empire. Farsi comes from Parsi (Iranian form of word Persian). Whenever speaking in foreign languages, using "Persian" really
keeps track of Iranian historic and cultural realization by Western
countries. There is no reasonable (at least new) reason to change the
real historic word "Persian" to "Farsi" in foreign languages. * Please: Kiarostami, Makhmalbaf I just returned from a screening of the third and last part of the Lord of the Rings: Return of the King. I love Epics and this one is certainly one even if I prefer Epics based on real historical events such as Ben Hur set in ancient Rome or Lawrence of Arabia. However the Rings was truly breathtaking as a spectacle and made me wonder what our talented Iranian graphists and filmakers are waiting to adapt the Persian Myths to the silver screen or should I say the color screens. The Shahnameh and its various stories or the stories of a Thousand and One Nights can truly attract even a foreign audience. Please Mr. Kiarostami and Mr. Makhmalbaf don't stop making your movies but do leave some place for other talents to express themselves. If it weren't for the current censorship and incompetance of our Minister of culture we would certainly have a more appealing cinema. My humble opinion. * Torokhodaa torokhodaa in koseshere "Vaaay" ro (too ghesmate experimental) audiosh ro ham bezaarid ke bebinim chejoori baayad khoondesh. dametoon garm Taskin More letters (December 24, 2003) |
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