Jay - you come across as a sad individual who has nothing better to do than frequent the MPAC website and make negative comments!

In fact, you must be their biggest fan!

No, Peace, I'm just trying to enlighten benighted muslims. When you have learned from other faiths and their works you will be better people.

What i find hard to understand is that muslims know about christianty, Hindius, Buddhism, sikhism, Jewishims and so on. About the culture there life style there history due to the fact that muslims have lives around these pople of diffirent religion for thousuands of years.

But no one seems to know nothing about Islam (until now, but it only the tip of the iceberg). I think that other people with religion and no religion should gave understanding of Islam before they judge it. Cause a docter cannot give a diagnosis if he does not known the disease.

I think that muslims have failed, and they should not keep islam to thereselve cause everyone as human should have a right to known about all religions, customer faith and no-faiths.

Just shows that non Muslims are often the most humane people around, I mean how many times have we Muslims ever spoken up against oppression against non Muslims? - err like never!

To all those who think they are better then the kuffar - prove it, by being better then them!

I for one thank Allah there are people like the above mentioned in the article around in this world.

Not all Christians believe that Islam is a peaceful religion. Some of us think Islam is an evil religion. And that the only way to respond to Islam is with the spread of Biblical Christianity.

Abdul,
In part you are right in part you are wrong.
There is much confusion about what Islam is, but that confusion is as great within Islam as outside of it. There are simply too many people claiming to speak on behalf of Islam, and from that discord non-Muslims hear the confusion and often very threatening words. It will not change until Muslims agree what Islam is in a modern and very challenging world.

Many Muslims are woefully ignorant about the reality of other religions. The opinions that are expressed here are evidence of that. Islam like Christianity perceives itself as the exclusive and final expression of God / Allah, and that marks them out from many other religions. Christianity has modified that perception in recent times, but an element remains.

The root of much Muslim ignorance is within an arrogance towards other religions. We fear that by according true respect to other beliefs that we inherently weaken our own. For surely true respect accords equal validity to another beliefs, and if that is the case then another religion which has the same basic values of humanity as Islam must therefore be an equal message to another group from Allah. If that is the case then a Muslim who adopts that religion cannot be an apostate and a denier of the truth of Allah, for Allah has many expressions to many peoples (this is hypothetical)

Inter-religious respect based on mutual respect is rare, more frequently it is merely a modus vivendi that prevents bloodshed and violence.

Shocking!

I read most of your comments with digust. What happened to supporting one another and sharing views without the pathetic sarcastic remarks.

JAY - Ever done anything about your views? Why is Islam the fastest growing religion? You can't change this fact - Islam obviously makes you unhappy, but you look ignorant trying to slate & oppose it with nonsense.

Being a diversity trainer, i have many discussions on faiths, religions, race...and one thing is for sure, ignorance breeds hate. Something JAY is proud to show!

Get off your backside and learn to live, work and educate with each other - that way understanding will grow. People should unite in knowledge and appreciate differences. We are not all one kind....get used to it!

Thank God for people like the good Christian, and the Dalai Lama. If it weren't for them there probably wouldn't be much of the Islamic religion left - with Moslems too chicken and impotent, I think MPAC need to recruit some non-Moslems just to keep the religion alive in this modern world.

Yes, but doesn't the attitude towards Abdul Rehman (the xtian convert) not say volumes? Even to arrest him was an insult to a) freedom to practice religion of choice and b) Christianity, one of whose members was treated degradingly.

Muslim/Christian relations can not work out until there is a mutually respectable (equal?) standard for both to treat each other with.

Christianity is like any real religion is about equality, not the 100 year old invention of the "bible bashers" as taught in the West, especially America. Your outright ignorance & repeated posting of the same lines shows you have no understanding of any faith. Your "religion" has shown how "peaceful" it is. Just look at the Middle East, real Christians & Semites are being murdered for being faith & not being White. Biblical Christianity has nothing to do with you.

It is true that there are many converts to Islam today. Unfortunately, all too many of them, are petty criminals, picked up in jail, who seem to have found something which appears to give their life purpose. Many of them are lower middle-class or working class; many of them are disillusioned Marxists and here is a religion (Islam) which flatters their failed selves and allows them to sublimate their failed Marxist dreams. Islam preaches a similar message of social justice and universal unity. Today it is valid where Marxism has been discredited. No wonder it is seen as the perfect substitute. It also attacks non-Muslim religion just as Marxism once attacked all religions. These former petty criminals now find themselves on the side of the angels. This is empowering and not,in their view, to be disdained. It has a negative view of women which allows the men amongst them to indulge in their machoism. What attracts women to Islam is truly puzzling. Certainly some sense of failure or inability to engage with the world and its reality.

Decades ago, another quasi-religious political movement turned to the prisons to actively recruit petty-criminals. It was Hitler's National-Socialist movement. We know what that movement went on to do. Islam is intolerant, racist, violent and aggressive. It dreams of a violent past in which Muslims ruled and were feared. It dreams of world conquest with a total disregard for non-Muslim cultures. Islam is highly dangerous and, I suggest, is playing with a fire it might not be able to control. It needs to go through a reformation, to give up the idea of world-conquest. If it does not, we will, indeed be faced with "a fiery clash of civilisations"

Just like many Russians who falsely claim to be Jewish are ending up in the West after using israeli passports, but the West has cut off this stream of paedophiles, white slave traders, etc that even the Guardian reported that the Western police have shut down many of their vile practices. Many lowlifes end up in israel, their failed existence through their new found “identity” – being an israeli!!
Zionism is utterly fanatically dangerous and, the world says, is starting a fire it lost control. It needs to go through its own policy of (elimination), but it will NEVER give up the idea of world-conquest (greater israel). If it does not, we will, indeed be faced with "a fiery clash of civilisations". That is zionism vs. civilisation. zionism is a failed ideology, it considers humans to be worthless, just like its invention the Nazis. zionism is intolerant, racist, violent and aggressive, its action only prove this, yet it tries & fails to place the blame onto others.

"the Dalai Lama, in an effort to address recent negative American attitudes towards Islam, also spoke highly of the religion which has basically, a message of love and compassion"

Not one word showing love and compassion from the Muslim posters to this article.

This is one big farce that shows that even the Dalai Lama can be wrong.

Should the practicing Jihadists behave like the the Dalai Lama imagines them we would not be discussing this today.

MEHDOD;

So Israel's idea of world conquest is "greater Israel"? That is from the Nile to the Euphrates? That's frightening - even if it were remotely true.

As for Nazism as an invention of Zionism - evidently intellectual depth and rigour is not your cup of tea.

Regrettably, and in comparison, Islam makes no attempt to hide its eventual destination. Now that is truly a danger to world peace, despite Islam's description of itself as a "relgion of peace".

Still waiting for a single demonstration of "love and compassion" from the Muslim posters on this website.

Any takers?

Could the Christian and the Dalai Lama be so wrong, clueless, naive, in not reading a truthful translation of the Q'uran?

Adena denies Islam is intent on bringing the whole world to Islam. Adena denies that Islam wants the submission of every human being to the tenets of islam. Adena denies that islam is what it is.

Just goes to show we have friends.

I know lots of reverts/converts to Islam and not one of them is a petty criminal! Three of them are women ( two English and one Australian) and one of them is a teacher and was the head of department at her school!

Also, while some male chauvinism finds its way into a lot of religions sadly, some people may want to know that Islam was actually the first religion to give women property rights hundreds of years before even women in Europe were given property rights. It also honours women's role as mothers several times over the father' s role! Furthermore, it gives a woman rights over her husband's earnings whereas a husband has no rights over his wife's earnings. Not only that but in a climate where female children were valued less than male children, the Muslim prophet taught people that raising daughters was just as worthy as raising sons. Furthermore, Islam does not encourage women to earn self-esteem by baring their bodies and seeing their self-worth as being centred on making objects of themselves. Both men and women are required to dress modestly in Islam and both men and women are encouraged to seek knowledge. Admittedly, chauvinism creeps into most religions, thanks to male contributions to religion over the centuries! However, there are many things in Islam that actually give rights to women.

Racism is not encouraged in Islam. We are told that God ( Allah is the Arabic word for God) made the different "races" or branches of the human race so that we could come to know one another and we are taught that making peace between people is one of the greatest things that a Muslim can do. It holds greater reward than even the daily prayer and charity ( which are very important and essential parts of the practice of Islam).

With regard to the comment from a rather intolerant reader about Muslims being mainly working or lower working class, one wonders what class has to do with it unless a person is a bigot or a snob? What does it matter what class someone is in our supposedly egalitarian and enlightened day and age unless one wants to return to a medieval feudal system? In that case, if we go back far enough, we would find that most people's ancestors here would have been serfs to their feudal landlords and descended from the peasantry which formed the greater part of the country's population in feudal times. However, this is beside the point. Surely, a person's worth is determined by his/ her character, not by his/her background in any egalitarian, enlightened and just society. Class should NOT come into it although if we are going to be pretentious and snobbish in our attitudes ( judging people on class, background, etc- which we really should not), there are actually a lot of middle class and professional Muslims around who are teachers, doctors, lawyers, scientists, academics, etc! I should know. I happen to be one of them and so are many of my close friends and family!

Finally, Christians, Muslims and Jewish people are all people of the book and as a Muslim, I mix with both Muslims and non-Muslims. In fact, as an Asian Muslim, some of my best friends have been Christians ( including white Christians) and thankfully, some of us (Muslim and Christians alike)do not continue to hold the rather backward "them and us" attitude exhibited by some but would rather move forwards into the 21ST CENTURY!!!

Fahmida: you should read texts more carefully before criticising them.

You know lots of converts, you say, but then come up with exactly three!

There is nothing in Islam that was not already present in Judaism, including women's rights and its anti-racist views - a thousand years or more before Islam emerged in the Arabian Peninsula. Nothing new under the Arabian sun, then.

As for the lumpen-proletariat's attraction to Islam, unfortunately this is a phenomenon you might try acknowledging. People such as Richard Reid and Massaoui are exactly that. Looking for a meaning in life, they converted to Islam, were then seduced by the messages of pure hatred preached by radical immams, including the anti-Jewish and anti-Christian sentiments to be found in the Koran and acted on these sentiments and attempted to sow mayhem and murder complete innocents.

This Islam is a clear and present danger and a constant and massive threat to world peace. Jews, Christians, Sikhs, Hindus, Bhuddists, secularists and atheists are waiting for this to change. No one is holding their breath. It depends on people like you to do something about it. Are you up to it?

Caught out a zionist 5th column, never on this article the Euphrates river was mentioned. zionist jews are anathema to equality & want the whole world to be israel. It is mentioned every day, this is israel "peace" - the extermination of the planet. Again it shows how peaceful this religion really is, just yesterday its “soldiers” raped a 12 year old girl (israeli religious fundamentalism) & murdered a women for not being White.

Islam is the fastest growing religion not because of Muslim Dawa, it is because Muslim families are much laaaaarger than of other faiths around the world. The second thing is when Muslims measure growth they only look at the number of people entering Islam NOT the number leaving Islam. In my assessment more people are leaving Islam than they are embracing. Those who leave Islam still have their dark skin and Arabic names with them when they leave and therefore its difficult to measure. So Muslims should learn how to do some proper analysis before showering statistics on the rest.

In the name of Allah, the Most Merciful, The Benificent,

Let me tell you with 100% certainty, you may beleive what you want, and you may wish to deny what you know is truth, but know that you will have to answer to your own deeds. Jesus may peace be upon him will not save you.

Now everyone who reads this, will have at some point been burnt or felt the heat of fire. Know that the fire on earth is 1/70 of the fire of hell. Hell fire is 70 times hotter. It's flame is black. It's fuel is men and stones. It's depth - a stone dropped, would take 70,000 years to reach the bottom.

Your soul is eternal, don't you realise that? Think with your mind, do you really feel that you will cease to exsist. Look at your own amazing creation, do you think it is without purpose? Your soul is a mystery science will never understand.

You do not give Allah his correct measure. Yet you ALL carry The Name of Allah The Most High on your body in at least 2 places, your right hand, and your heart.

Seek the truth for the punishment starts in the grave. And know one knows when their life will end.

Go to ask those who have everything that this life can offer. Did it satisfy them?

Seek the truth, it is very clear, look at nature, see His Signiture in His creation, varied and magnificent.
You came from a dirty place on your father and a dirty place on your mother, and then you grow to denie the magnificence of The Creator. Do you think it is easier to create you the first time, or to re-create you?

Your denial of the truth only shows your ignorance. And what of Seal of All Prophets Muhammad (SAW), may Allah's peace and blessings be upon Him. The most influencial Man in history, His name, the most Mentioned name of All time!

So Praise be to Allah, the Cherisher and Sustainer of All (Known and Unknown)

Any mistakes are from me, any Truth is from Allah High above All.

Africana

Just me: if you want to comment try and GET FACT!!!!!!!!What does it tell about Abdul Rehman (the xtian convert) not say volumes? If it says volumes how come your brain hasn't asked why was he reported only recently? He has been a convert for 18 YEARS! The reason is this wonderful Abdul Rehman Xtian convery starting beating up his daughters because they were reading the Qur'an!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Surely you people can think or is the brain is fed the information you are meant to keep repeating.

I can actually name three reverts. They are called Clare, Aliya and Shakira! None of them are petty criminals. They're people I know personally but famous reverts include Cat Stevens and Muhammad Ali.

Also, the reader who advises others to read texts more carefully really ought to follow his own advice! It's quite clear he knows nothing about the Qu'ran and needs to read it carefully before criticising the religion as being dangerous. Sadly, this could be said of any religion. Judaism, Christianity and Islam all share either all or part of the old testament which has the verse on "An eye for an eye," which most Muslims such as myself and I'm sure many Christians and Jewish people would not agree with because " An eye for an eye leaves the whole world blind," and accomplishes nothing! The New Testament in the Bible teaches forgiveness and turning the other cheek and there are many verses in the Qu'ran which advise something similar. Please see below.

In fact, there are many verses in the Qu'ran which teach us to FORGIVE and not to harm others. There are verses which teach compassion and care for the needy, the helpless and for the freeing of slaves. ( surah 2: paragraph 109, 33:48 ( Verse which CLEARLY says "Do not harm the disbelievers."), 5:2 says(Co-operate in righteousness and piety but do not co-operate in sin and aggression."), 17:35 ( places importance on honesty), 28:83, 31:18 ( the importance of humility and avoiding arrogance and pride), 2:134 ( pardon the people, i.e. forgive others), 2:224, 3:57 3:134, 3:159,4:149, 12:92, 15:85, 24:22, 42:37,43:89, 45:14. We're also told in one part of the Qu'ran to "repel evil by that which is better and thereupon, he that is your enemy will become a devoted friend." (41:34) How is that dangerous? (All quotes above given from the Saheeh International Translation of the Qu'ran, 1997.) As I said, the reader who criticises Islam as a dangerous religion really needs to follow his own advice and do a bit of reading himself!

Also, if Islam can teach people to leave a life of crime and stop being petty criminals, surely,that is a good thing!

Furthermore, what does it matter to anyone what class someone comes from unless that person is a self-important bigot who cares little for an equal and just society based on personal merit rather than birthright! If Islam promotes a meritocratic society, how can that be bad?

Furthermore, where exactly in Torah does it give women property and inheritance rights? I am genuinely interested to know.

CURIOUS READER: Many people misunderstand the "eye for an eye" law. What it enshrined was a humane law of evaluating and valuing damage done by one person to another. It replaced the Babylonian law which demanded the extirpation of the offender's eye for the eye lost by the victim. Judaism replaced this with a humane law of offering monetary compensation in lieu of: a great advance on the law of compensation promulgated by Hammurabi.

As for women's property and inheritance rights, the first report occurs in the Torah, Numbers XXVII, verses 1-11: Moses pleads before God on behalf of the daughters of Zelophehad. This is long before the Koran surfaces in Arabia, indeed, at least centuries before.

Having said that, Orthodox Judaism still adheres, in many respects, to discriminatory laws against women which should have no place in the XX1st century. They are simply unacceptable, on any grounds. FAHMIDA, kindly take note.

Jay- Really cannot understand why you are telling me to take note of your condemnation of laws that discriminate against women- Orthodox Jewish or otherwise! Kindly take note that I am would not support any laws that discriminate against women!

By the way, the point that I was trying to make which you have obviously missed is that there may be cultural discrimination against women but that the religion of Islam itself gave certain rights to women! Kindly re-read my comment and you will see that this is what I was trying to say! I was not and would not condone discrimination against anyone, including women which should be obvious seeing as I happen to be a woman myself!!!!