Middle East...Simply Said
Simply Said: WANTED: Educated, compassionate people...please...WORLD apply ASAP!
13 years ago today I was in my classroom with my World History Honors class when we witnessed live
what is meant by "Inhumanity to Man" by EVIL.
Today, I am retired but the memories are once again triggered of having dinner at the Top of the World
Restaurant with my husband and son David just the summer before it happened; memories of the big elevators we rode up where our ears actually "popped" somewhere around the 85 floor! The almost imperceptible movement of the Tower and
the breathtaking view from our table window straight down 109 stories with little tiny taxicabs...there were birds actually flying below us. I commented, "wow. A plane could actually pass lower than us.....:(
As humans we need to understand; we need answers. I will try to simplify a very complex and un-simple issue. The Muslim terrorists DO NOT represent most Muslims anymore than "Skinheads" and fringe groups do for Americans! These are NOT "soldiers". They are a distorted delusional gang of thugs. They have interpreted the beautiful Faith of Islam into something abhorrent and cruel. Now, are you ready, dear readers?!
ISLAM: Approximately 1400 years old...Founder was Mohammad around 600 AD; a wise, loving man.
At his death there was a power struggle & Islam split.
One side, the Sunni Muslims wanted Mohammad's Son-in-Law Ali and his descendants. The other side of the split, the Shi'a Muslims wanted "IMAMS"
(religious as well as politically trained successors; Twelve of them, to be exact; called "Twelvers" Imams
At the death of the final 12th leader he would ascend to a supernatural state to return for Judgement Day.
The Four Sects: (similar to Denominations)
(1) The Sunni Muslims......vast majority
(2) The Shi'a Muslims.......second largest
(3) The Sufism Muslims....mystical approach to Islam
(4) The Ahmadiyya Muslims...(1889) Pakistan & India...jihad(Holy war) only by PEN...NOT SWORD
**The difference between Muslim Sects and our Denominations(Catholic,Judaism,Protestant,etc)
members of one sect do not usually recognize the others as "fellow-Muslims"! Open conflict can occur.
We do, too :(
THE FIVE PILLARS:Islamic Foundation
(1) Confession of Faith(Sha hada)
a. There is no god but GOD.
b. Muhammad is the Prophet of GOD
(2) PRAYER(Salat)
5 times daily: dawn(al-fair)...Midday(al-zuhr)...Afternoon(al-'asr)....Sunset(al-maghrib) and Evening Prayer(al-'isha)
(3) ALMS TAX (Zakat)
As important as religion! We have CHARITY.
(4) FASTING (Ramadan)
9th month of Islamic year; Honors God and Humanity. We have Lent,
(5) PILGRIMAGE TO MECCA(Hajji)
Trip to the sacred city at least once.
**ALL FIVE OF THESE ARE TO BE HONORED BY ALL SECTS OF MUSLIM! SHIITE'S EVEN ADD GOOD DEEDS & PREVENTING EVIL!!?
Source: www.religionfacts.com (*Objective site for comparisons of ALL world Faiths.) Mrs.Birge
13 years ago today I was in my classroom with my World History Honors class when we witnessed live
what is meant by "Inhumanity to Man" by EVIL.
Today, I am retired but the memories are once again triggered of having dinner at the Top of the World
Restaurant with my husband and son David just the summer before it happened; memories of the big elevators we rode up where our ears actually "popped" somewhere around the 85 floor! The almost imperceptible movement of the Tower and
the breathtaking view from our table window straight down 109 stories with little tiny taxicabs...there were birds actually flying below us. I commented, "wow. A plane could actually pass lower than us.....:(
As humans we need to understand; we need answers. I will try to simplify a very complex and un-simple issue. The Muslim terrorists DO NOT represent most Muslims anymore than "Skinheads" and fringe groups do for Americans! These are NOT "soldiers". They are a distorted delusional gang of thugs. They have interpreted the beautiful Faith of Islam into something abhorrent and cruel. Now, are you ready, dear readers?!
ISLAM: Approximately 1400 years old...Founder was Mohammad around 600 AD; a wise, loving man.
At his death there was a power struggle & Islam split.
One side, the Sunni Muslims wanted Mohammad's Son-in-Law Ali and his descendants. The other side of the split, the Shi'a Muslims wanted "IMAMS"
(religious as well as politically trained successors; Twelve of them, to be exact; called "Twelvers" Imams
At the death of the final 12th leader he would ascend to a supernatural state to return for Judgement Day.
The Four Sects: (similar to Denominations)
(1) The Sunni Muslims......vast majority
(2) The Shi'a Muslims.......second largest
(3) The Sufism Muslims....mystical approach to Islam
(4) The Ahmadiyya Muslims...(1889) Pakistan & India...jihad(Holy war) only by PEN...NOT SWORD
**The difference between Muslim Sects and our Denominations(Catholic,Judaism,Protestant,etc)
members of one sect do not usually recognize the others as "fellow-Muslims"! Open conflict can occur.
We do, too :(
THE FIVE PILLARS:Islamic Foundation
(1) Confession of Faith(Sha hada)
a. There is no god but GOD.
b. Muhammad is the Prophet of GOD
(2) PRAYER(Salat)
5 times daily: dawn(al-fair)...Midday(al-zuhr)...Afternoon(al-'asr)....Sunset(al-maghrib) and Evening Prayer(al-'isha)
(3) ALMS TAX (Zakat)
As important as religion! We have CHARITY.
(4) FASTING (Ramadan)
9th month of Islamic year; Honors God and Humanity. We have Lent,
(5) PILGRIMAGE TO MECCA(Hajji)
Trip to the sacred city at least once.
**ALL FIVE OF THESE ARE TO BE HONORED BY ALL SECTS OF MUSLIM! SHIITE'S EVEN ADD GOOD DEEDS & PREVENTING EVIL!!?
Source: www.religionfacts.com (*Objective site for comparisons of ALL world Faiths.) Mrs.Birge
