Misconceptions About Islam

let's get down to business. i know it's been a while since i blog. i just couldn't find anything rational to blog about. plus, the ideas are always in my sleep, and when i wake up, i can't seem to remember the AWESOME ideas i had while i was asleep. haizz..

Brother Shah Kirit

okay, so, i went for a talk 'Misconceptions About Islam, where the speaker was a revert for the past 16 years. his name is Bro Shah Kirit. honestly, i went to the talk because i wanted to know what are the wrong ideas people had about Islam, and he cleared every doubt i had. Bro Shah is a known speaker in Malaysia, too bad i haven't known him before. so, this is a picture of what he looks like. *i didn't bring along a camera because my battery was weak* 
in my opinion, the way he presented was really interesting, he didn't jump from one topic to another, he just went on and on, and the content of discussion didn't feel too 'heavy' to me. it was very light and acceptable. 
what were the misconceptions about Islam that were pointed on last tow days?
#1 compulsary to change father's name to Abdullah once you convert to Islam
As a revert, he kept his father's name which was Kakulal Givindji. so, his name is Shah Kirit bin Kalkulal Govindji. Bro Shah emphasized to everyone in the hall that nor is it written in the Holy Quran or the hadith that one must change his name to bin Abdullah once he is a Muslim. he explained further that even though one has converted to Islam, one's ties to his parents remains the same. one still needs to do good to his parents and siblings, though they are of different religions. it s written in the Holy Quran on several verses in different chapters that one must do good, obey and take care of their parents, regardless of the religion.
#2 Allah does not refer to a Muslim God
this fact shocked me. i mean, all along in our prayers, we use the word Allah, and even when asked, 'who's your God?' i'd say Allah. actually, Allah means the Almighty God in English translation. and there is only one Almighty, and he is God, the Creator.
#3 The Holy Quran is written by mankind, it's not from God
The Holy Quran is the verbations of God, and the translations are just to describe the meaning. God describes himself in the Quran. where did he describes himself in the Quran? in one short chapter, al-Ikhlas. there are only 4 verses in the chapter.
112:1 Say: He, Allah, is One.

God said that He is One. imagine what would happen if there is more than one God. there would be quarrels among the Gods, especially when it comes to who has the final call. even if the Gods compromise, 50-50 power, then, that would mean there is none of them who is the Most Powerful. whereby, the word Allah means, The Almighty God. see?

112:2 Allah is He on Whom all depend.

because he is The Almighty God, we depend on Him. He has the power to do this and that. we can all see the creations of God and think about this.

112:3 He begets not, nor is He begotten;

there is no beginning and ending to God. imagine if God had parents, that means that His parents are more powerful than Him, so, He can't be God. anything that is greater than God can't be God, right? and if He had siblings, that would lead to more quarrels. logic, right?

112:4 And none is like Him.

none is like Him, meaning He is special. if we were to compare we, humans with Him, He overpower us. you see, God has 99 names, which describes him. it's the Asmaul Husna. these are what differentiates Him from the rest. therefore, He is God, The Almighty.

bottomline is, only God can describe Himself, not us, mankind. that's what is written in the Quran. so, to unfold the truth about God, recite the Quran.

#4 everything in the Quran answers all your questions and doubts

seriously? does the Holy Quran tells you how to cook pizza? i've never come across the word pizza in the Quran before. hmmm...

you see, in the Holy Quran, in chapter Anbiya', verse 7, God said:

Before thee, also, the messengers We sent were but men, to whom We granted inspiration: If ye realise this not, ask of those who possess the Message.

if you don't know something, seek the answers in those who knows. so, if you don;t know how to cook pizza, ask a chef *who knows how to cook pizza* you see how great He is?

#5 does converting means i am a Malay?

becoming a Muslim is not becoming a Malay. in your birth certificate, if you're a Chinese, you'd die as a Chinese and same goes with the Indians. race in not part of Islam. Islam accepts you regardless of how you look, you dress, your wealth and your race. that is teh beauty of Islam. we stay united, as one community, whereby we agree on the syahadah and we obey the Almighty God. you can eat whatever and dress as whatever as long as it is not against the teachings of Islam. you can enjoy Char Keoy Teow and Vadai, as long as the ingredients in it are halal and dress up in Cheongsam and Samfoo, or Punjabi suit, as long as you cover your aurah.

#6 how long is Islam? 1400 years ago?

the teachings of Islam began with the creation of the first man, Adam, who became a Prophet not long after. also, the Prophet Muhammad, is not the founder of Islam. for your information, all the Prophets, which include Abraham, David and Moses are all Muslims, whereby they bring the teachings of Islam and spread among the people of their times.

#7 Hudud, why is it so harsh?

according to Brother Shah, before one practices hudud, one must ensure that everybody is doing their duty as Muslims. for example, the leader in a country must ensure that his people are paying the tax (zakat). and the leader really does his duty in protecting the zakat money. the leader must also ensure that the zakat money are given out to those who are in needy, such as the poor and the Fissabilillah. 

so, unless the criterias above and more are fulfilled, one cannot practice hudud. there must not be any doubt anywhere while hudud law is carried out and practiced. 

#8 dogs are a man's best friend, why dogs are haraam in Islam?

dogs are not haraam. it is not a sin to touch a dog or a pig in Islam. it's just that you need to clean your hands and body parts that were in contact with these animals with one bucket of sand and 6 buckets of water. it's just like cleaning yourself after touching your pet, be it a cat or tortoise. once you've cleaned yourself, you're good to go.

just like after playing with a cat, you'll wash up before you eat, this applies the same. but the cleaning part needs to be emphasized.

back then, in those days, Muslim man have dogs as their pet, to take care of the house and keeping an eye on the wolves when the sheeps go out on the field. it's not haraam.

that was pretty much what that has been discussed in the talk. the talk started at 9pm and ended around 11.30pm. i gained a lot of knowledge, and so do you now, indirectly.

thank you so much for stopping by. wassalam.

picture from that night. can't really see his face