Aziz Poonawalla has opened nominations for the alt.muslim Brass Crescent awards (nominations here), for the best Muslim blogs and blogs about Islam. I've put in my nominations (and no, I'm not expecting nominations in return!). I've got a few comments of my own on this. First, a lot of people don't realise that the nomination thread is for nominations, not votes for people to get the awards.
Second, I don't quite see the point of nominating your own blog. Surely being a nominee should be an honour in itself, as a token that your blog has received some appreciation? This would be better done in secret - surely someone at alt.muslim could put together some PHP for this purpose?
Third, given the orientation of alt.muslim, one should not be surprised to see some flatly anti-Islamic opinions being expressed here. "Zack" nominated as the "best post" his own on slavery - I don't know why this is eligible for this year's awards anyway given that it dates from November 2003. It makes the absurd suggestion that those "awkward" passages about those whom our right hands possess be "abrogated" as
these are no longer valid and do not apply now because they condone great crimes and sins. These clauses are from an era when humanity hadnâÂÂt progressed much and people didnâÂÂt have many rights that we take for granted nowadays. I consider slavery to be a crime against humanity.
Well, Zack, aren't you satisfied with Islam as a religion? Aren't you satisfied with Allah as your Lord and with His Word? Or do you just not realise the implications of what you write? Don't you think before you type, or at least before you click the "publish" button?
I was also somewhat disappointed to see the author of one of the blogs linked here commenting that "I think youâÂÂre right to criticise the attitude of the QurâÂÂan towards slavery (as well other issues like, perhaps, womenâÂÂs rights)". It's seriously making me re-think my blog directory idea, because it seems there's a desperate shortage of commentary I'd actually want to dedicate a whole site to cataloguing. It's always offensive to see non-Muslims make dirty accusations against the Prophet (sall' Allahu 'alaihi wa sallam) and the other Salaf; to see people who consider themselves Muslims call the actions of the Salaf "crimes against humanity" is just beyond the pale. Fear Allah.
If you read the whole passage in my comments you will see where I was going (it was not to criminalise the Prophet (p) or the Companions (ra)). But I can well understand your point.
assalaamu `alaykum
Keep in mind, Aziz Poonawallah isnt Muslim, but an Ismaili.
Yusuf: Since you were addressing me and my post, it would have been nice if you had linked to it as well so your readers could judge for themselves.
And why did you put my name in quotes?
I don't know why this is eligible for this year's awards anyway given that it dates from November 2003.
I think it is eligible because these are the first awards and I didn't see any restriction as to the date of the post.
As to your questions, I do think long and hard and consider myself a Muslim. However, slavery is one of those issues where it is very hard to justify human behavior, whether they be the Salaf or the American founding fathers or others. The only thing I can say is that human society hadn't progressed far enough at the time.
I have a question for you: What is your stance about slavery and the allowance of sex with slaves? In the past? Nowadays?
DrMaxtor: I take strong exception to your comment. WHo are you to decide who is a Muslim or not?
Third, given the orientation of alt.muslim, one should not be surprised to see some flatly anti-Islamic opinions being expressed here.
There are over 700 stories and articles published on alt.muslim. Care to show me which ones are "anti-Islamic"?
> There are over 700 stories and articles published on alt.muslim. Care to show me which ones are "anti-Islamic"?
How about this one:
http://www.altmuslim.com/islam_comments.php?id=992_0_17_0_C
It refers to the so-called Ahmadiyya Muslim community, in fact, the followers of the accursed impostor Mirza Ghulam Ahmad. That's anti-Islamic if ever anything was.
Zack, its not a matter of who I am to call anyone a Muslim or not. All religions have a set of fundamentals which define their respective adherents.
Instead of falling back on the lazy rhetoric of "a Muslim is one who claims to be one," why not find out what defines a Muslim in light of the Holy Quran and Sunnah of Prophet Muhammed (pbuh).
That being said Ahmedis and Ismailis are not Muslims, why not read their scriptures to learn the facts yourself?
Can't you tell the difference between reporting on the Ahmadis and endorsing their beliefs? I don't endorse their beliefs and I challenge you to prove that a single word on alt.muslim does. I simply report on issues of human rights with respect to them.
700 articles, and you couldn't find anything else besides that? If you fear Allah and the Last Day, you should take back your takfir.