"Islam" means "self-surrender" to Allah...?
...and so it would seem as though "self-surrender" to Allah would define what "Islam" is. What I mean is, a certain quality of a person (the aforementioned quality of self-surrender) would seem to be what Islam "is". However, before an adult person can have this quality, it would seem that he or she would need to believe that such a quality was valuable. In other words, he or she would need to believe that it was right to surrender oneself to Allah, and wrong to do otherwise. Which brings me to my question: Muslims, is "Islam" the faith which motivates self-surrender, or is it the self-surrender itself?
If Muslims believe that cremation denies you heaven, wouldn't napalm and flamethrowers make ISIS surrender sooner?
No, Muslims believe that a person is not answerable to God for things that are beyond their ability. God says in the Quran:God does not task a soul beyond its capacity, for it is what it has merited [of good and its reward] and against it is what it has earned [of evil and its burden]… (Surah al-Baqarah ayah 286 ref: Tafseer al-Jalalayn)In the afterlife, no one shall bear the punishment for the sin or mistake of someone else, God says in the Quran:And no bearer of burdens shall bear the burden of another…(Surah al-Fatir ayah 18)Muslims do not believe, for example, that humans are born bearing the ‘original sin’ committed by Adam and that children who died in infancy could abide in Hell because their parents did not carry out a ritual.There is no way someone can force another to be punished in hellfire, rather people will be punished in hellfire in retribution for their own evil beliefs and actions. So if, for example, someone is force-fed the meat of swine or alcohol is poured down their throat, or they are forced to drink alcohol at the point of sword i.e threatened with death or the loss of a limb, the burden of the sin will be borne by the oppressor, not the one who is oppressed.If someone is unrighteously killed by an invader, it doesn’t matter what weapon the invader was wielding or whether the invader was a man or woman.The same principle applies to anything that happens to a person, after his or her death i.e it’s not a dead person’s responsibility to bury themselves (something beyond their capability), it’s the Muslim community’s responsibility to bury them (if they are able). The only way a person could be punished in the afterlife for being cremated is if the cremation happened with their approval i.e they left a will asking for their body to be cremated.
What does "surrender" mean to you? Is it a sacrifice in the sense that Jesus sacrificed himself?
Dear Sirius, Good question that so often brings to mind what it means to me, and is it what it means to others. For me there of two types of surrender. Surrender of self in the name of others, and surrender into a merger. In the first case the false ego is present because you must go to the cross where you are pleased as well as the other. The you is still there performing the service. Very honorable, but unless that service becomes a vehicle of compassion, it is only self reinforcement. You are a nay say - err, no to any total surrender. The aye say – err, says yes, only what benefits the other counts; to lose oneself in service for the good. To surrender to life, and love. You can not be there to say no. You jump into the stream of love together. A merger happens, a totality, a oneness is revealed. As it has been told, the Christ in the last words recorded said, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? (Still ego) Thy will be done! (Surrender)
Does Islam mean submission/surrender to the will of God?
Yes, 'Islam' means submission (to Allah). And, yes . . . if you believe the Quran is the word of Allah then nothing happens except by Him. And if that's true, then Israel exists by Allah's will and they kick Arab ass by Allah's will. And Islamist terrorists fly jets into towers and behead Christians by Allah's will.But wait! The Quran says that dhimmi (People of the Book) are not to be killed. And, certainly, Muslims are not supposed to kill Muslims. If everything is by Allah's will, how come Allah's will contradicts the word of Allah (the Quran)?Oh well . . . Allah works in mysterious ways. Allah knows best.
If we get together and throw money at muslim terrorists.?
well, they are getting paid lots of money already to do so i guess, they are really supported, am a Muslim but i am totally against terrorism thing, it doesn't really reflect what Islam really means;
Meeting my Muslim boyfriends parents for the first time.?
I will assume you are not a troll and answer appropriately. 1. He is not permitted a ''girlfriend'' secret or otherwise. It is a SIN in Islam. 2. He is not permitted to have intercourse with anyone who is not his legal wife. It is a SIN in Islam. 3. He is not permitted to be alone with a female of the opposite sex including female friends. So how you think going to his parents house alone with him as a ''friend'' is OK in Islam is beyond me. I can understand you not know but him ignoring these facts well it hardly seems like Islam and being a Muslim is his top priority. 4. Being a Muslim is not something you say, it is something that you do, something that you live. He dos not sound like he is practising Islam, he does not sound like he is living Islam, hence what makes him a Muslim? It takes more than saying the words ''I am a Muslim''. I am not saying he is not a Muslim that is between him and Allah (swt) but I see nothing about his behaviour and actions that is permissible or acceptable in Islam. 5. ''I just don't want to mess this up!'' sorry dear but I think it is a little late for that. If you are pregnant do you not think once the child is here people cannot calculate when you actually got pregnant? If they Sorry but either your ''boyfriend'' and his family are not religious or there is no way out of this ending up favourably with his family. It has nothing to do with you being of another culture or faith, it has to do with him and him not following his faith and you being part of that is not going to hold any favour ever. I could sugar coat it for you but I feel putting it to you in straight no nonsense terms sets you right about a few issues. Of course you and he are free to do what you like, when you like, with who you like, but within the bounds of Islam nothing about this is acceptable even have a friend who is a girl and bringing her home it is NOT done in Islam. No one is going to think you are a ''friend'' and no one is going to be fooled by dates when this child arrives.