Couldn't have said it better myself

[Chronictank]

If your still willing to explain some things then i have a couple of more questions. First of all, can you explain the whole jihad thing? Some say its a spiritual thing and some say its flying planes in to buildings. The truth is?

This one is a really odd one to be honest, because Jihad isnt a thing its a concept, thus it can be applied to alot of things depending on your personal opinion.
It describes the concept of partcipating in a "struggle in the way of God", or to fight oppression or percecution (this isn't limited to muslims)

Jihad is esentially broken down into 3 main area's;
a) with a visible enemy
b) with Satan
c) with one's self.

I will fill more in later as it's not something i want to be searching sources for while i am at work as it is somewhat of a sensative subject nowdays (i work in London)

Does the Quran say anything about racial equality?

I am not entirely sure what you mean by this one, in the qu'ran everyone is equal regardless of race, creed etc..
That's why when you pray you have to do it along side anyone else, there is no class structure. The only person who is raised above everyone else (for sake of acoustics, not so much an issue nowdays) is the Imam (priest) himself who reads the prayer, and even he is down to the same level as everyone else when the actual prayer takes place.
However old people are generally given more respect and thus go to the front of the hall/room/whatever, i am not entriely sure if that is written or it is just a cultural thing as i have always been brought up to do so, and give elders respect etc... so i guess it more than likely comes under that than any rule or saying.
For example if you go on, Hajj - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, along the way you are expected to share food etc with others regardless who they are.
Malcom X (Malcolm X - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia) famously changed his policy of racial segregation after going on his pilgrimage to mecca after seeing Muslims of different races interacting as equals

And does it tell you to kill gays etc? (wont make an issue of it, just curious ;>)

Homosexuality is a wierd one in the qu'ran, on one hand it says its wrong but doesn't really explicitly forbid it. However it does say stuff like it will pave the way for the downfall of societies morale values.

All it basically says is that it is condemned as an unnatural act and it will result in bad things;
Ignoring the adultury and sexual relations outside marrige parts as they are very generic;

Before i add quotes i have to admit i had a really hard time deciphering the modern old english when related to this, not the actual reading and understanding but working out the meaning of the message

Spoiler

77. And when our messengers came to Lot, he was grieved for them; but his arm was straitened for them, and he said, 'This is a troublesome day!'
78. And his people came to him, rushing at him, for before that they used to work evil. He 'Said, 'O my people! here are my daughters, they are purer for you; then, fear God, and do not disgrace me through my guests;- is there not among you one right-thinking man?'
79. They said, 'Thou knowest that we have no claim on thy daughters; verily, thou knowest what we want!'
80. He said, 'Had I but power over you; or could I but resort to some strong column....!'
81. (The angels) said, 'O Lot! verily, we are the messengers of thy Lord, they shall certainly not reach thee; then travel with thy people in the darkness of the night, and let none of you look round except thy wife: verily, there shall befall her what befalls them. Verily, their appointment is for the morning! and is not the morning nigh?'
82. And when our bidding came, we made their high parts their low parts. And we rained down upon them stones and baked clay one after another,
83. marked, from thy Lord, and these are not so far from the unjust!
84. And unto Midian (we sent) their brother Sho'haib. He said, 'O my people! serve God; ye have no god but Him, and give not short measure and weight. Verily, 'I see you well off; but, verily, I fear for you the torments of an encompassing day.

This one was kind of confusing to me beause it was put in the section where adultry is discussed.
I think maybe it is a bad translation as it doesnt really specify who "rained down stones", was it the angels? was it the village people?
But it does conclude that they "fear you for the tormernt of the encompasing day", this one is a pretty obscure piece because it could in all honesty be refering to the people who threw the stones being regretful and fearful of the vengance of god. Or it could be the village of homosexuals fearing more punishment. I will leave it to you to work out which as i am not really willing to commit either way but thought i would post it anyway as it is used as one of the main passages to justify "punishing" homosexuality.

The other major passage concerning homosexuality is also very obscure

Spoiler

28. And (remmber) Lot when he said to his people, 'Verily, ye approach an abomination which no one in all the world ever anticipated you in!
29. What! do ye approach men? (or Do you commit sexual acts with men?) and stop folks on the highway? And approach in your assembly sin?' but the answer of his people was only to say, 'Bring us God's torment, if thou art of those who speak the truth!'
30. Said he, 'My Lord! help me against a people who do evil!'
31. And when our messengers came to Abraham with the glad tidings, they said, 'We are about to destroy the people of this city. Verily, the people thereof are wrong-doers.'
32. Said he, 'Verily, in it is Lot; they said, 'We know best who is therein; we shall of a surety save him and his people, except his wife, who is of those who linger.'
33. And when our messengers came to Lot, he was vexed for them, and his arm was straitened for them; and they said, 'Fear not, neither grieve; we are about to save thee and thy people, except thy wife, who is of those who linger.
34. Verily, we are about to send down upon the people of this city a horror from heaven, for that they have sinned;
35. and we have left therefrom a manifest sign unto a people who have sense

This is the only other passage i can find which i could decipher as it saying to actually harm homosexuals, but it again is nothing clear cut.
Were they labelled "wrong-doers" because they were blasphomous and didnt believe in "God's torment", ('Bring us God's torment, if thou art of those who speak the truth!'),
were they bandits (thieves) because the passage
"What! do ye approach men? and stop folks on the highway?"

The qu'ran definitely says it is wrong (as in un-natural), it comes up many times in various chapters discussing things like marrige, relationships etc..
But doesnt explicitly condem it,
however neither does it have passages which are in favour of homosexuality.

Regarding your question about whether it says you should punish or kill homosexuals, well its not really clear-cut. Some people read the above as a indication that yes they should be punished (see where stoning comes from ), others say it isn't the case. I am not willing to make a judgment in that respect,
but me personally, i go by the attitude that yes it is un-natural, but i have nothing against it.

 

[Ezteq]

rofl can we have a new FH title please?

"Practicing Eggist"

i wonder if the irish all felt like this on a macrocosmic scale when there were all the troubles in the 70s/80s between the catholics and the protestants i mean it appears to me to be pretty similar, people being angry and prejudiced against the religion/mass but forgetting that the mass is made of individuals. Happily most of what i encounter is either curiosity or anger at specific groups rather than the whole religion, i have come across very few people who tar all muslims with the same brush.

anyone out there who lives in ireland can you recall what it was like to be there over that period and if there was the same feeling there as there is now since 9/11?


*whispers to chronic*

i fear you have become what blackjack is to dreams, elkie is to fitness and seel is to alcohol and towels...a source!

 

[Chronictank]

This one is a really odd one to be honest, because Jihad isnt a thing its a concept, thus it can be applied to alot of things depending on your personal opinion.
It describes the concept of partcipating in a "struggle in the way of God", or to fight oppression or percecution (this isn't limited to muslims)

Jihad is esentially broken down into 3 main area's;
a) with a visible enemy
b) with Satan
c) with one's self.

I will fill more in later as it's not something i want to be searching sources for while i am at work as it is somewhat of a sensative subject nowdays (i work in London)

OK!, Now before i say anything this is entirely my own opinion based on what i found out from various sources. The very nature of the term 'Jihad' makes it very personal because each person will have their own slightly varied perspective.
Compare it to asking someone what "love" means, its not a specific thing and the explanation will vary depending on who you ask.

So onward, and first some history;
The common conception of Islam is based on a image painted by rulers who saw Islam as a big threat because of the rate at which it was spreading throughout their populous.
The word Jihad was linked tothe concept of a "holy war", following Muhammad's (pbuh) death in 632, when Muslim forces conquered large ammounts of land in relatively short time. Within a few years their land extended from the borders of China to Spain's atlantic coast which put Christian nations into a panik. As such a smeer campaign was launched to try an discredit the religion which spawned many terms you may have heard when looking up the history behind Islam.
A good idea of the type of stuff that was being distributed is this;

For almost a thousand years ... Europe was under constant threat. In the early centuries it was a double threat—not only of invasion and conquest, but also of conversion and assimilation. All but the easternmost provinces of the Islamic realm had been taken from Christian rulers, and the vast majority of the first Muslims west of Iran and Arabia were converts from Christianity. North Africa, Egypt, Syria, even Persian-ruled Iraq, had been Christian countries, in which Christianity was older and more deeply rooted than in most of Europe. Their loss was sorely felt and heightened the fear that a similar fate was in store for Europe.

Famous historian who extensively researched the Ottoman empire

So thats where the usual association of Jihad and "Holy war" came from, as it was used in a very similar sense to the term Crusade in the west.

So what does it mean according to the qu'ran?
Unfortunately you cannot do a direct translation into English, it is one of those words that it doesnt matter how you write it you lose some of the meaning when going from old arabic to english. However i did find quite a good one;
"a sincere and noticeable effort (for good); an all true and unselfish striving for spiritual good."
In the qu'ran particular focus is put on this concept of "changing your mentality (or sacrificing yourself) for a spiritual good".

Spoiler

"The Hereafter is far better for you than this first (life.)"(93:4)

"Say, "O my people, do your best, and so will I. You will surely find out who the ultimate victors are." Certainly, the wicked will never succeed."(6:135).

The idea of striving against satan (the word used is Jinn, which refers to evil or bad spirit), occurs quite often in the context of not falling for evil "tricks" or deceptions.

Regarding the visible enemy, it is pretty broad but it isn't limited to muslims

Spoiler

"O you who believe, you shall be absolutely equitable, and observe GOD, when you serve as witnesses, even against yourselves, or your parents, or your relatives. Whether the accused is rich or poor, GOD takes care of both. Therefore, do not be biased by your personal wishes. If you deviate or disregard (this commandment), then GOD is fully Cognizant of everything you do." (4:135).

The idea of holy war being under the banner of Jihad is because of this quote;

Spoiler

"You shall prepare for them all the power you can muster, and all the equipment you can mobilize, that you may frighten the enemies of GOD, your enemies, as well as others who are not known to you; GOD knows them. Whatever you spend in the cause of GOD will be repaid to you generously, without the least injustice.If they resort to peace, so shall you, and put your trust in GOD. He is the Hearer, the Omniscient." (8:60-61)

However killing for the sake of killing is very much so forbidden, as such suicide bombings on civilians are 100% wrong regardless of the circumstances.

I didnt know about this one but it also explicitly states to respect other religions even if you are at "war"

Spoiler

"Permission (to fight) is granted to those who are being persecuted, since injustice has befallen them, and GOD is certainly able to support them. They were evicted from their homes unjustly, for no reason other than saying, "Our Lord is GOD." If it were not for GOD's supporting of some people against others, monasteries, churches, synagogues, and masjids - where the name of GOD is commemorated frequently - would have been destroyed. Absolutely, GOD supports those who support Him. GOD is Powerful, Almighty."(22:39-40).

Furthermore it supports the acceptance of other cultures and people

Spoiler

" GOD advocates justice, charity, and regarding the relatives. And He forbids evil, vice, and transgression. He enlightens you, that you may take heed.(16:90)

"O people, we created you from the same male and female, and rendered you distinct peoples and tribes, that you may recognize one another. The best among you in the sight of GOD is the most righteous. GOD is Omniscient, Cognizant."(49:13)

So essentially Jihad against a visible enemy is not limited to acts of aggression, it can (and should) be against all oppression regardless of who the victim is.

Sorry for keeping this somewhat brief, there is loads more but i am too tierd to type anymore.
may be slow in replying to any questions which require in-depth research as i have a dissertation to do in between work ><

However i did find this site when i was looking up Jihad;
Quran, Koran, Qur'an, Quranic topics, Index, Browser, several translations, discussions, debates, Authorized English Translation of the Quran-God in Islam (Submission in English),Islam (Submission). Your best source for Islam on the Intenet. Happines
It is pretty good in terms of referencing and is broken down into main topics, but reading through it i do think they have an agenda behind it so take things written with a pinch of salt

 

[Chronictank]

seel is to alcohol and towels...a source!

no wonder seels are so fluffy!, they steal all the fresh towels from hotel rooms!

And just for ez, some pics of my qu'ran
It has the english translation on the other side as arabic reads from right to left
Front pages


Normal page

 

[Ezteq]

thats one awesome looking book *full librarian mode* lol even the writing looks like design artwork!