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Salam... I took a break from this forum and all things religious / spiritual for quite some time, but I feel ready to dip my toes back in the water 

So what have I missed? 

Is the Quran a patriarchal text? Why are women spoken of often in terms of their sexuality in the Quran? (eg. Mariam is described as good for being "chaste"; dress code for women (and slave women?); the issue of "whom your right hand possesses", genderless Allah always being referred to as He etc etc)

Please share your thoughts, it's something I am really struggling with, unpicking the patriarchal interpretations from what the actual text is saying.

Thank you

Salam
Was just running a search and got asked the current prime minister of the UK and the answer required isn't the current one ... maybe have questions that don't expire?

Does anyone believe in an conspiracy theories? Which ones? Are they all nonsense or do you believe there is some truth behind them?

Hey isn't there a mobile site of the forum for smart phones/ tablets etc that's easier and more user friendly?

Maybe I am a conspiracy theorist, but what do you make of hadith that talk about the "dajjal" and end times? I am watching the youtube series "the illuminati and the dajjal" and I have been aware of illuminati symbolism in mainstream media for a long time, but seeing it tied into hadith literature spooked me a little...

وَوَصَّيْنَا الْإِنسَانَ بِوَالِدَيْهِ حَمَلَتْهُ أُمُّهُ وَهْنًا عَلَى وَهْنٍ وَفِصَالُهُ فِي عَامَيْنِ أَنِ اشْكُرْ لِي وَلِوَالِدَيْكَ إِلَيَّ الْمَصِيرُ (31:14

Now translations usually use hardship/strain to describe وَهْنًا عَلَى وَهْنٍ

But according to the root meaning WAW-HA-NUN: to be weak/feeble/faint/infirm, remiss, languid.



فَأَجَاءهَا الْمَخَاضُ إِلَى جِذْعِ النَّخْلَةِ قَالَتْ يَا لَيْتَنِي مِتُّ قَبْلَ هَذَا وَكُنتُ نَسْيًا مَّنسِيًّا (19:23)
Miim-Kh-Dad = To churn/beat/agitate (milk), extract or fetch out the butter from milk, shake or agitate vehemently, turn over or revolve a thing.
Again, it is often translated as the pain of childbirth..


Are there any other verses pertaining to childbirth in the Quran?

i know its based on hadithist literature but still looks interesting!

http://www.al-muhaddithat.org/

Salam all...

I was wondering whether anyone can recommend any nice board books about God?

I have one called Thank You God which is lovely, but was hoping for a few more....

Any ideas?

Thanks!

www.rethinkingislamicreform.co.uk

peace all.... i dont know how many of you life in the UK but this looks interesting, and would be a good opportunity to get some voices heard... i got an email about it but wont be able to make it (live up north and its during the week, so will be too far to travel after work)

When: 26 May 2010.
Open: 5:00 pm | Last Entry: 6:00 pm
Where: Sheldonian Theatre and Divinity School
Speakers: Hamza Yusuf, Tariq Ramadan
TICKETS AVAILABLE: Starting 12:00 GMT, Sunday 2nd May
Ticket Price: ?25 each


Just thought id share for those who are interested

so who's everyone voting for? if at all?

Peace all... For those of you who live in the UK you have probably heard all the media circus about John Venables being put back into custody...

It got me to thinking about what the Quran has to say about minors who commit serious crimes? He was only 10 years old at the time and was put into a young offenders prison until he turned 18...

I think children are children in the Quran and you are not accountable as a child (please correct me if i am wrong in my understanding)... however... with something this serious, would it still apply? Should the parents of JV be the ones to have been punished?

Peace all,

I was wondering what your opinion is on playing the national lottery.... I know the verses in the Quran about gambling etc... but listen to this perspective:

So banks in gulf countries offer prize draws to customers. So i will choose that bank to open my account with because i need a bank and i might have a chance of winning their jackpot. Is this "gambling"? Not really because you are using a service right? What about if this particular bank make you pay a fee (which many banks do), but you go for it anyways, because you might have to pay a fee with any other bank, and this one is running a scheme allowing you to possibly win money too. Is this "gambling"?

Now onto the national lottery... in the uk they give to many charities, and fund many community projects (i dont know if the lotto in other countries works the same)... So... if i want to give to charity... why not put in ?2 to the lottery, which allows me to give to charity, and at the same time, possibly win some money. Is this considered gambling as per "maysar"?

I'd love to hear peoples opinions on this...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/8548360.stm


im intrigued by his story...

Peace all,

I just came accross this short clip... unfortunately it is in Arabic (no subtitles) but I thought I'd share it for those of you who will understand ....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3vW47xQ_PWA