Question for Muslims

[AreaCode707]

Asking what probably is a pretty dumb question, but no disrespect intended.

Does Islaam require monogamy from men? If so, do the rules change when you reach heaven? The whole very-hyped 70 virgins thing makes me wonder. Either the religion doesn't preach monogamy on earth or the restriction is wiped out in the afterlife.

If you aren't Muslim and want to post something in response, please identify that you aren't speaking from the perspective of a believer.

And yeah, I know this is probably a really stupid question.

 

[compuwiz1]

Originally posted by: HotChic
Asking what probably is a pretty dumb question, but no disrespect intended.

Does Islaam require monogamy from men? If so, do the rules change when you reach heaven? The whole very-hyped 70 virgins thing makes me wonder. Either the religion doesn't preach monogamy on earth or the restriction is wiped out in the afterlife.

If you aren't Muslim and want to post something in response, please identify that you aren't speaking from the perspective of a believer.

And yeah, I know this is probably a really stupid question.

I'm not Muslim, but some of my Muslim acqaintances have put the number of virgins at 72, not 70. Also, there is no AIDS in heaven, so need for a condom. You are free to sodomize your sow, with impunity.

 

[bamacre]

I find it very odd that Muslim beliefs of the afterlife deal with pleasures of the flesh, i.e., food, sex. the Christian belief holds that there is no flesh in the afterlife.

Oh, and no, I am not a Muslim. 😀

 

[compuwiz1]

No Porking, while on earth...but go ahead and pork your virgins, while in heaven. What a concept.

 

[Lemon law]

I am not Muslim but even I get offended by a question like this. Asking a question like that assumes that all Muslims think exactly alike---and therefore the sin of one is the sin of all.

 

[JEDIYoda]

Originally posted by: Lemon law
I am not Muslim but even I get offended by a question like this. Asking a question like that assumes that all Muslims think exactly alike---and therefore the sin of one is the sin of all.

I am not offended at all by this question. It is a well thought out question.
Even though I am jewish,,,,,,it is a good question!!

 

[Aimster]

Originally posted by: compuwiz1
No Porking, while on earth...but go ahead and pork your virgins, while in heaven. What a concept.

you now damn well there is no virgins in heaven when it comes to Islam.

It would have been nice if you told the OP that

 

[Red Dawn]

Originally posted by: Aimster

Originally posted by: compuwiz1
No Porking, while on earth...but go ahead and pork your virgins, while in heaven. What a concept.

you now damn well there is no virgins in heaven when it comes to Islam.

It would have been nice if you told the OP that

Heavens like Texas, the only Virgins there are either ugly or under the age of 10

 

[Madwand1]

I'm not a Muslim.

My understanding is that Islam allows polygamy based on precedent, and that was based on the fact that in Mohammad's time and place, polygamy and sensuality in general were so widespread that if he had promoted monkhood or such as in previous times with Jesus, would have had little credibility and impact among the people at the time.

My understand is also that the rewards of heaven and punishments of hell are figuratively described. The pleasures and agony of the mind during that time may well be subjectively real, and that language needed for conveying that strong, but should not to be taken literally by adults. (Hmm, what comes to mind now is Mahler's depiction of heaven from the eyes of a child in his fourth symphony. How sweet.)

To the OP: Where are you going to / coming from with this question? Perhaps understanding the basis would help frame the answers better.

 

[yllus]

Islam demands a very strict interpretation of the Koran as the guide to the faith, and also binds adherents to use it and it alone as how to act and what to believe. That said, let's take a look at the Koran (78:30-34):

[78.30] So taste! for We will not add to you aught but chastisement.
[78.31] Surely for those who guard (against evil) is achievement,
[78.32] Gardens and vineyards,
[78.33] And those showing freshness of youth, equals in age,
[78.34] And a pure cup.

The translation is a bit off, but we can confirm that you're gonna get a few young ones to keep your company in the afterlife. I always considered the promise of eternal contentment in the afterlife much more of a bribe to adhere to religion than the virgins, but that seems to get overlooked a lot.

The Koran preaches that men should be monogamous, but doesn't restrict them to a single wife if one can provide for more than one woman and the time and situation allows it. Basically that portion was thrown in to A) satisfy those with multiple wives at the time and B) to keep in mind the fact that at the time, women lived or died happily based on whether a suitor was found for them. If a wealthy male could provide for multiple wives, well, that usually worked out for everyone.

In modern times (today), being anything but monagamous is very much frowned upon by the Muslim community that I've seen (North America and Pakistan). Nevertheless, I believe at least one family friend has two wives.

 

[AreaCode707]

Originally posted by: Lemon law
I am not Muslim but even I get offended by a question like this. Asking a question like that assumes that all Muslims think exactly alike---and therefore the sin of one is the sin of all.

I'm not really asking about how people think, more about the doctrine of the religion itself. The question isn't meant to be and shouldn't be offensive.

 

[AreaCode707]

yllus and Madwand1, thank you for the answers.

yllus, it sounds like you come from that cultural background. Are you speaking as somebody who is a current believer?

 

[Braznor]

In India, the muslims have managed to make it legal for them to marry four wives and many of them do following the great tradition of Prophet Mohammed who himself had 10 wives. :x

 

[Aimster]

Originally posted by: Braznor
In India, the muslims have managed to make it legal for them to marry four wives and many of them do.

Following in the great tradition of Prophet Mohammed who himself had 10 wives. 😱

oh come on Baznor you know better than that.

in Islam the women have to agree to it.
Who in the world would agree to such a thing?

I can only think of one case. The woman is poor and .. well that's it. Poor and fill in the blanks.

Might as well spend that money on escort services and not have to worry about the part of Islam that said "treat all of them equally"

 

[Braznor]

Originally posted by: Aimster

Originally posted by: Braznor
In India, the muslims have managed to make it legal for them to marry four wives and many of them do.

Following in the great tradition of Prophet Mohammed who himself had 10 wives. 😱

oh come on Baznor you know better than that.

in Islam the women have to agree to it.
Who in the world would agree to such a thing?

I can only think of one case. The woman is poor and .. well that's it. Poor and fill in the blanks.

Might as well spend that money on escort services and not have to worry about the part of Islam that said "treat all of them equally"

I know what I know and you can be rest assured that they do not get treated fairly. Come on, Aimster, India has poor people amongst non muslims too, so why such a lack of enlightened practice amongst them?

 

[The Green Bean]

Islam is a diverse religion when it comes to faith; ask this question to 50 different people and you will get 50 different answers. Infact, the very basis of God is different within sects. Same is with the concept of heaven etc. Infact, some sects' beleifs are closer to Christianity and Judaism than they are to other sects. Maybe you should read up on books on different muslim philosophies and I'm sure you will be surprised with the depth. Islam of the past where people actually questioned, discussed, debated their beleifs in the open is now over. Religion now is more a political tool than a faith.

 

[The Green Bean]

Originally posted by: Braznor

I know what I know and you can be rest assured that they do not get treated fairly.

Thats becuase there is no Islamic court to take care of that.

 

[dmcowen674]

Originally posted by: The Green Bean
Islam is a diverse religion when it comes to faith; ask this question to 50 different people and you will get 50 different answers. Infact, the very basis of God is different within sects. Same is with the concept of heaven etc. Infact, some sects' beleifs are closer to Christianity and Judaism than they are to other sects. Maybe you should read up on books on different muslim philosophies and I'm sure you will be surprised with the depth. Islam of the past where people actually questioned, discussed, debated their beleifs in the open is now over.

Religion now is more a political tool than a faith.

Bolded for truth :thumbsup:

 

[bamacre]

Originally posted by: dmcowen674

Originally posted by: The Green Bean
Islam is a diverse religion when it comes to faith; ask this question to 50 different people and you will get 50 different answers. Infact, the very basis of God is different within sects. Same is with the concept of heaven etc. Infact, some sects' beleifs are closer to Christianity and Judaism than they are to other sects. Maybe you should read up on books on different muslim philosophies and I'm sure you will be surprised with the depth. Islam of the past where people actually questioned, discussed, debated their beleifs in the open is now over.

Religion now is more a political tool than a faith.

Bolded for truth :thumbsup:

Only to those that adhere to it as such.

I just wonder who is more foolish. Those who allow themselves to be used as a tool, or those who believe religion is nothing more than that.

 

[compuwiz1]

Originally posted by: dmcowen674

Originally posted by: The Green Bean
Islam is a diverse religion when it comes to faith; ask this question to 50 different people and you will get 50 different answers. Infact, the very basis of God is different within sects. Same is with the concept of heaven etc. Infact, some sects' beleifs are closer to Christianity and Judaism than they are to other sects. Maybe you should read up on books on different muslim philosophies and I'm sure you will be surprised with the depth. Islam of the past where people actually questioned, discussed, debated their beleifs in the open is now over.

Religion now is more a political tool than a faith.

Bolded for truth :thumbsup:

Thanks for your appearance, Dave. Now go away....nothing more to see here. 😉

 

[Mean MrMustard]

Originally posted by: dmcowen674

Originally posted by: The Green Bean
Islam is a diverse religion when it comes to faith; ask this question to 50 different people and you will get 50 different answers. Infact, the very basis of God is different within sects. Same is with the concept of heaven etc. Infact, some sects' beleifs are closer to Christianity and Judaism than they are to other sects. Maybe you should read up on books on different muslim philosophies and I'm sure you will be surprised with the depth. Islam of the past where people actually questioned, discussed, debated their beleifs in the open is now over.

Religion now is more a political tool than a faith.

Bolded for truth :thumbsup:

Name ONE time in history it hasn't. Seriously.

 

[imported_hscorpio]

Originally posted by: Aimster

Originally posted by: Braznor
In India, the muslims have managed to make it legal for them to marry four wives and many of them do.

Following in the great tradition of Prophet Mohammed who himself had 10 wives. 😱

oh come on Baznor you know better than that.

in Islam the women have to agree to it.
Who in the world would agree to such a thing?

I can only think of one case. The woman is poor and .. well that's it. Poor and fill in the blanks.

Might as well spend that money on escort services and not have to worry about the part of Islam that said "treat all of them equally"

Maybe the same type of women who "agree" to dress like this.

 

[LumbergTech]

Originally posted by: bamacre

Originally posted by: dmcowen674

Originally posted by: The Green Bean
Islam is a diverse religion when it comes to faith; ask this question to 50 different people and you will get 50 different answers. Infact, the very basis of God is different within sects. Same is with the concept of heaven etc. Infact, some sects' beleifs are closer to Christianity and Judaism than they are to other sects. Maybe you should read up on books on different muslim philosophies and I'm sure you will be surprised with the depth. Islam of the past where people actually questioned, discussed, debated their beleifs in the open is now over.

Religion now is more a political tool than a faith.

Bolded for truth :thumbsup:

Only to those that adhere to it as such.

I just wonder who is more foolish. Those who allow themselves to be used as a tool, or those who believe religion is nothing more than that.

it is a tool, a means to an end, it can be used in many ways...but it isnt necessary unless one wants to adhere to a religion..personally i dont see any reason to subscribe to a specific doctrine..i do what I think is right at the time ..sometimes it turns out to be wrong, but at least i find the flaws in my own reasoning instead of the flaws of a doctrine

 

[jpeyton]

The Muslims where I work usually laugh whenever the entire "72 virgins in heaven" thing is brought up. Monogamy is taught and expected of most modern Muslims. Having multiple wives seems to be a relic of the past, much like those fringe groups in Utah.

As with any religion, different interpretations abound.

Keep in mind that these guys are electrical/mechanical engineers, not some poor disillusioned youth in Palestine with a bomb strapped to his chest.

 

[The Green Bean]

Originally posted by: bamacre

Originally posted by: dmcowen674

Originally posted by: The Green Bean
Islam is a diverse religion when it comes to faith; ask this question to 50 different people and you will get 50 different answers. Infact, the very basis of God is different within sects. Same is with the concept of heaven etc. Infact, some sects' beleifs are closer to Christianity and Judaism than they are to other sects. Maybe you should read up on books on different muslim philosophies and I'm sure you will be surprised with the depth. Islam of the past where people actually questioned, discussed, debated their beleifs in the open is now over.

Religion now is more a political tool than a faith.

Bolded for truth :thumbsup:

Only to those that adhere to it as such.

I just wonder who is more foolish. Those who allow themselves to be used as a tool, or those who believe religion is nothing more than that.

Could not agree more. Its a pity that instead of contructive discussions and debates which try to prove basic doctrines of different faiths, most people just kill as an alternative to prove their faith's superiority.