Hey guys!!! I have an assignment due on Islam and Buddhism in 2 DAYS! And I only just started...so I need some urgent help!!!!! If anyone here has ANY info on Islam history, devolopment, expieriences (ie racism...ect), variants and contributions Islam may have made to AUSTRALIA....that would be sooooooooo helpful!!!!!!! Thanks a bundle!!!!!!!!!! Gypz.
Firstly, take a deep breath and remember to have patience. Don't think in such negative terms. Try not thinking "I only have 2 days left" but "I have as much as 48hrs" instead. I parted this post into 3 parts to make it easier for you. 1. Brief view into early islamic history. 2. Brief view into later islamic history. 3. Racism and values in general as views from an islamic perspective. 4. Australia and Islam. 5. Some general tips concerning your work. The first part is the longest, the other two are quite short. Part 2. Most muslims will probably tell you that islam existed even before the birth of the prophet(peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) since the word islam is not named after a person (like christianity and buddhism) nor after a location (such as judaism and hindiusm) but it means "total sumbission to Allah". This is for isntance why the diciples of Jesus(may peace be upon him) are called muslims in the Quran(Maeda 5.111) The start of the islamic nation led by Muhammed(may peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) started around the year 609 CE when the prophet was 40 years of age. This is the time revelation started coming to him, once it came it continued for 23 years until his death (Contrary to the bible, the quran was not written down through different peoples own words but it came down as recitation and they memorized it and wrote it down. The Quran comes only in one arabic version). The message started in the cave known as Hira, he used to go up there to pray as he was a monoteistic man until a day when an angel visited him. The angel came to him while he was in the cave and said, "Read!'' The Messenger of Allah(peace and blessing of Allah) said; "I replied: I am not one who reads. Then he said, "So he (the angel) seized me and pressed me until I could no longer bear it. Then he released me and said: `Read!' So I replied: 'I am not one who reads.' So, he pressed me a second time until I could no longer bear it. Then he released me and said: 1. Read! In the Name of your Lord Who created. 2. He has created manfrom a clot. 3. Read! And your Lord is the Most Generous. 4. Who has taught by the pen. 5. He has taught man that which he knew not.[96.1-5] This is the first verses of the Holy Quran. After this event he started preaching; first among his close companions and then he was commanded to preach openly. The coming 13 years he tried to convince people about la ilaha illallah, the most essential and greatest of words meaning "there is no god (worthy of worship) except Allah". This created hostility towards him since they -being polytheist- weren't all to found of his views. And they have been commanded no more than this: To worship Allah, offering Him sincere devotion, being true (in faith); to establish regular prayer; and to practise regular charity; and that is the Religion Right and Straight.[Quran 98.5] When 13 years had passed he was commanded to immagrate from Mecca to Medina(as they were killed and oppressed when living in mecca) and this is when we start our time calculations (so don't be suprised if its year 1426 in Saudi) His followers were increasing every day and soon they reached a number of thousands so the people of Mekka decided to come and destroy them in the famous battle called Ahzab. The enemies were a number of 10 000 while the muslims were around 3000 which compelled them to dig a great trench to block the way of the enemies, they managed to hold them back. Soon after this event the muslims had reached a great number and they entered the holy city of Mekka after all these years, the prophet(peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) later died and islam started extending through out the world. Now heres were the lies about islam come in the picture. Orientalist W. Montgomery Watt writes about this: "Of all the world's greatest men none has been so much maligned as Muhammad. It is easy to see how this has come about. For centuries Islam was the great enemy of Christendom, for Christendom was in directcontact with no other organized states comparable in power to the Muslims" He also wrote: In his day and generation Muhammad was a social reformer, indeed a reformer even in the sphere of morals. He created a new system of social security and a new family structure, both of which were a vast improvement on what went before. In this way he adapted for settled communities all that was best in the morality of the nomad, and established a religious and a social framework for the life of a sixth of the human race today. That is not the work of a traitor or a lecher. This is why Michael Hart, writer of the famous book "THE 100: A RANKING OF THE MOST INFLUENTIAL PERSONS IN HISTORY" puts Muhammed(peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) at nr 1 in his book, he explains it by saying; "My choice of Muhammad to lead the list of the world's most influential persons may surprise some readers and may be questioned by others, but he was the only man in history who was supremely successful on both the religious and secular level." The muslims were not blood-thirsty murderers looking for wealth. The prophet(peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) died living a life of poverty even though he was offered hughe amounts of wealth, the same applied to many of his companions. The quran clearly says: Let there be no compulsion in religion: Truth stands out clear from Error..[Quran 2.256] The famous companion Khalid ibnu Walid wrote a treaty with the people of Damascus which said: "This is what Khalid ibn al-Walid would grant to the inhabitants of Damascus if he enters therein: he promises to give them security for their lives, property and churches. Their city wall shall not be demolished, neither shall any Muslim be quartered in their houses. Thereunto we give them the pact of Allah and the protection of His Prophet, the caliphs and the believers. So long as they pay the poll tax, nothing but good shall befall them." The poll tax was payed by some countries in order for them to be protected by the muslim nation which was the greatest at the time. Albeit, the prophet(peace and blessing of Allah) took a people from darkness with no morals, laws or money into light and wealth. It is extremly remarkble how one man could have accomplished all this by 23 years. Part 2. The muslims had reached Europe(in Spain) and ruled there for almost 700 years. During this time science started flourishing. The muslims investigated and wondered about the creation since Allah (may he be exalted) praised those who wonder about the creation and believe in Him. Meanwhile Europe was experiencing a gray depression because of diseases and fanatic christians burning scientists and calling them horrible sinners. The muslims thus started many things such as Al-kemi(kemi in swedish) or chemistry as you say it, the algebraic system and they also started many astronomical projects. The first globe was found in a university in Egypt, the first real universities were built by muslims, the first great hospitals having around 1000 beds and the first pharmecy as well. But they soon became most famous for their medical research, since it layed the foundations for modern medicin as we see it today. When the christians conquered Spain they started copying and translating the arabic scriptures while the muslim nation at the same time became weaker. Part 3. It is estimated that 20% or less of the muslim nation are composed of arabs, the rest come from countries around the globe-mostly from Indoneisa-. Lets not confuse islam with innovators such as the nation of islam and the fanatic shiites in Iran. The prophet(peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) lived in a society were blacks and women were seen as inferior beings but he did not agree with them but he refuted them. He said in a famous sermon called the last sermon: "O People, it is true that you have certain rights with regard to your women, but they also have rights over you. Remember that you have taken them as your wives only under Allah's trust and with His permission. If they abide by your right then to them belongs the right to be fed and clothed in kindness. Do treat your women well and be kind to them for they are your partners and committed helpers. And it is your right that they do not make friends with any one of whom you do not approve, as well as never to be unchaste. O People, listen to me in earnest, worship ALLAH, say your five daily prayers (Salah), fast during the month of Ramadan, and give your wealth in Zakat. Perform Hajj if you can afford to. All mankind is from Adam and Eve, an Arab has no superiority over a non-Arab nor a non-Arab has any superiority over an Arab; also a white has no superiority over black nor a black has any superiority over white except by piety and good action. Learn that every Muslim is a brother to every Muslim and that the Muslims constitute one brotherhood. Nothing shall be legitimate to a Muslim which belongs to a fellow Muslim unless it was given freely and willingly. Do not, therefore, do injustice to yourselves." Some refrences I used: http://www.beconvinced.com/WHATTHEYSAY.htm http://www.load-islam.com/ http://www.islamicity.com/mosque/ihame/Ref6.htm http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/quran/ Part 4: I found alot of websites concerning this, many -I felt- were difficult to grasp but these two were quite interesting. The first link is written by an australian convert and is very comprehensive while the latter is more fitting to you I think since it is written (short) by highlighting some interesting points. 1. http://www.islamfortoday.com/australia03.htm 2. http://www.dfat.gov.au/facts/islam_in_australia.html I'm sorry if I didn't have time to write it down for you in a simpel fashion but this only due to the fact that I know almost nothing about Australia ("except" crocodile hunters and the famous opera house). Part 5. I just wanted to give you a few tips when writing an essay or what ever of some sort as I'm used to having alot of projects all the time. ¤ I hearten you to plan it better next time, good planning is often noticed in the text. ¤ Layout is very important as it is usually the first thing your teacher will notice before reading it. Always spellcheck it throughly and use a readble font and fontsize. ¤ Do not try to enlargen a text by adding alot of uninteresting and unrelated fact as it only annoys the reader. ¤ The beginning of the text aswell as the ending should be spicy enough to make the person willing to continue or a feeling of astonishment in the end. ¤ Teachers usually love it if you start your work with a quote from the text or from another source. Thats all from me, I hope it goes well.
Thank you!!!!!! I printed off yur info and I'll more than likely use it seeing as though I CAN'T FIND ANYTHING!....Patience? Lol, yeah, I really need to work on that... Again, thank you!!! I really really really appreciate it!!!
