After listening to all sides of the story, I have finally made a compromise. Although many people, including me, may not agree with a few parts of this post, this solution is the best way for most people to be happy and this site to move on.
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The Sites Official Purpose:(Thanks to Bint' Zayd For This)
This sites purpose is to CALL PEOPLE TO ISLAM, not necessarily BRING PEOPLE INTO ISLAM.
Here is what Bin't Zayd Said about this:
QUOTE
In terms of MO, what we as Muslims need to do is revise our roles. Our duty is NOT to BRING people to Islam, but it is to CALL people to Islam. That's where most of us get confused. Many members' concern is that what if a Muslim leaves his religion or what if a non-muslim never embraces Islam...well they need to actually understand that our roles are to CALL PEOPLE TO ISLAM, not really BRING PEOPLE TO ISLAM, because it is GOD who can accept our prayers and reward us for our hard work, and then guide those whom he wills. Muslims should play the positive role models and convey the message of Islam- we can't control others' brains, hearts or what is in their faith or belief cuz that is out of our capacity. The Prophet (saw) told us to "convey the message" and then its God who guides their hearts, because us humans are helpless creatures ourselves. SubhaanAllah.
--------------------------Freedom of Opinion and Thought and Non Muslims
The Quran talks about dialogue beautifully:
QUOTE
And they [The Christians] say: "None shall enter Paradise unless he be a Jew or a Christian." Those are their (vain) desires. Say: "Produce your proof if ye are truthful." (Quran 2:111)
QUOTE
"Invite (all) to the way of thy Lord with wisdom and beautiful preaching; and argue with them in ways that are best and most gracious: For thy Lord knoweth best, who have strayed from His Path, and who receive guidance. (The Noble Quran, 16:125)"
The Quran encourages dialogue and telling people to prove their statements and beliefs. If this site is to be a Muslim site, the Qu'ran will be critical on making the rules. Therefore, open speech and preaching other faiths will be allowed as long as they are in the appropriate forums.
For those who are still skeptical, What are you afraid of? if you believe that Islam is the truth, then you have nothing to fear as you know the truth. If you are afraid of them, then you are questioning the the truth.
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Those who disbelieve say: Heed not this Qur'an, and drown the hearing of it; haply ye may conquer. (Quran 41:26)
If the Quran is telling us about many of the critisicms that non Muslims have, that means that obviously that Muslims listen to critisicm, and that Non Muslims are allowed to question Islam. Again, if you know Islam is the truth, you shouldnt be afraid.
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[60:8]GOD does not enjoin you from befriending those who do not fight you because of religion, and do not evict you from your homes. You may befriend them and be equitable towards them. GOD loves the equitable.
[60:9] GOD enjoins you only from befriending those who fight you because of religion, evict you from your homes, and band together with others to banish you. You shall not befriend them. Those who befriend them are the transgressors.
As long as they aren't attacking (in this case hacking the website), we are allowed to befriend Non-Muslims.
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Quran 2:256- Let there be no compulsion in religion.
We cannot force others to follow Islam.
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Say: (It is) the truth from the Lord of you (all). Then whosoever will, let him believe, and whosoever will, let him disbelieve. Lo! We have prepared for disbelievers Fire. Its tent encloseth them. If they ask for showers, they will be showered with water like to molten lead which burneth the faces. Calamitous the drink and ill the resting-place!
For those who are worried about other people and the effect on them if they read other peoples preaching, this line clearly states that it is their will on what they will believe or disbelieve. it is only our duty to show them the truth. if they reject it, then their deal is with Allah.
However, in order to help Muslims who dont like controversy, there will be disclaimers on the forums that might hurt a Muslim's faith.
--------------------------About the Non-Muslim Admins/ModsPersonally I think it is best for non Muslims to moderate the Sunni/Shia forum as they arent biased. But this isnt my site, so i cant impose my rule here.
Most Muslims just aren't ready to have Non-Muslims moderate them. Muslims come to forums and other things to escape the fact that many are oppressed mentally in the West. So being subordinate to Non-Muslims on a Muslim site is crazy talk for them.
But then many Non Muslims feel oppressed and 'left out' when they come to Muslim sites. So having a mod or two that they can relate to makes them feel better.
When it comes to Non-Muslim topics, like the other religions forum and the Current Events, there shouldnt be any problem with Mods moderating whether or not there is cursing and flame wars going on.
Some are confused about the Dhimmi status, but Dhimmi applies to nations, not websites.
In the Muslim worlds, Christians and Jewish areas do rule themselves as long as they arent violating the law. The same applies here.
So overall: NonMuslim mods/admins should refrain from moderating Muslim Sections and Islamic related topics in Non Muslim Sections. I think thats a good compromise.
--------------------------Double Standards
Again, everyone will follow the same rules. For those of you asking about the Dhimmi status, again that applies to nations and is talking about tax. it has nothing to do with a website.
--------------------------About the Sunni Brothers sending the PM's:QUOTE
Be good to parents and to kindred and to orphans and the needy, and speak kindly to mankind-- Quran 2:83
QUOTE
Sahih Al-Bukhari Vol. 8 No. 73 Narrated by Thabit bin Ad Dahhak (raa): Allah's Messenger (saws) said, "Whoever swears by a religion other than Islam (i.e. if somebody swears by saying that he is a non-Muslim e.g., a Jew or a Christian, etc.) in case he is telling a lie, he is really so if his oath is false, and a person is not bound to fulfill a vow about a thing which he does not possess. And if somebody commits suicide with anything in this world, he will be tortured with that very thing on the Day of Resurrection. And if somebody curses a believer, then his sin will be as if he murdered him. And whoever accuses a believer of Kufr (disbelief), then it is as if he killed him."
Never curse a fellow Muslim brother or sister. Instead of having open dialogue about this issue, whoever sent the PM's cursed the members of this site to hell (basically caling us Kufr's). Maybe that person needs to read his own Hadith about cursing. They act in hypocrisy. If those brothers want open discussion on this matter, then let them discuss it. If they curse, then their deal is with Allah, not us.
This post has been edited by Simba: May 12 2007, 02:02 PM
(Upd May 07) Site Purpose
May 12 2007, 02:01 PM
