Blasphemy and the Qur'an: Why Compromise and Islam Don't Fit

During the enforced rest that followed the events now known as "9/11," while no planes flew across the Atlantic and all the big corporations that were my clients cancelled their international projects, I - like many across the world - decided to try to understand what had happened.
So I put my skills as a professional listener, reader and analyst to use. As a tsunami of shock and outrage washed us towards armed conflict in Afghanistan and then in Iraq, I listened very carefully to every interview I could with Taliban officials; I talked to Muslims in the UK and in Paris, where I was living; read widely; wrote letters urging everyone I could think of to exercise forbearance.
And for the first time, I read the Qur'an.
All of us who live in the West will soon be dealing with a changed Middle East - so it's timely to review what I learned a decade ago.
After 9/11 and before the Afghan conflict erupted in blood, the Afghani Foreign Minister gave an interview, I believe for the BBC. The interviewer asked the Minister if a compromise might be found, a way to avoid the conflict - perhaps, for the Afghanis to allow the Americans to pursue their objectives within his country.
This highly educated, articulate gentleman made one startling comment during the interview. "There is no tradition of compromise within Islam," he said, choosing his words carefully.
How should we understand this?
The interviewer did not ask - so we don't really know; and only Mohammad speaks for all Islamic people. Yet this comment could be key to understanding something very important - an issue that has not advanced in a decade.
Many ordinary people in the West fear the rise of Islam. We have learned to associate it with fanaticism and extremism, which we often think are the opposite of "compromise." But compromise is not reason. Compromise is a negotiating tactic, and not necessarily a very satisfying one. Compromise is rarely a meeting of equals; it often requires one or both parties to swallow something unpalatable.
What the Minister meant is of great importance to us, again, now, as we wait to see the outcome of the changes sweeping the region and beyond. The Islamic world is making a Renaissance. It's conceivable that the era of weak national governments across the Middle East may be coming to an end - structures that have never suited the peoples who live under them - and what will replace them has not yet formed. If the West is to deal satisfactorily with what emerges from these upheavals, understanding what Islam does have room for, if compromise is not an option, needs to be a priority.
Unlike the Bible, the Qur'an is a handbook for daily living as well as a history and a source of divine instruction. It's very clear about right and wrong; and the manner in which what's right is structured and absorbed by Believers means that each individual is obligated to stand up for what is right. Given this obligation, it is clearly NOT a useful thing to ask a Muslim to accept or do that which he believes to be wrong in order to further a negotiation.
Islam has seen great diversity since its founding; has stood for affluence, religious tolerance, scientific and cultural advance; has known many great leaders and extremely sophisticated systems of management and governance. These have required ingenuity, creativity, and huge will towards prosperity and peace. So, while there may be no place for compromise in Islam, there are traditions supporting change.
Just as we should have done after 9/11, we need to ask: as equals, what might we create together, beyond compromise, that might bring peace and prosperity to us all? And then - even over the apparently insoluble issues that relate to Israel - we need to use all our will and creativity together, as equals in the negotiating process... to change our world.
 
© 2011 Alexandra Brunel, all rights reserved.
Alex Brunel is an American writer/researcher based in Stratford upon Avon, England. With over ten years' experience as a Gestalt therapist and counsellor in a multi-cultural practice, she's also an expert in perception and the psychology of the Web.
More information about her international research work can be viewed at:

"Islamophobia" and The Blame Game

In any conflict, warfare happens on multiple fronts and includes military, economic, diplomatic and information actions. Too much attention is given to the military effort. Real action takes place in the Information campaign and we have to learn to recognize when we are being challenged in this area. Another shot just went across our bow when the meeting of Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) issued their report about "Islamophobia" and the growing threat against Muslims.
The OIC is comprised of 57 countries and one of their goals is improve the plight of the Muslim peoples and empower them.
One of the first things that we must realize in the West, is that we are at war with individuals, groups and countries that want to see our way of life disappear. Unfortunately, we have failed to realize the threat due to our internal political fighting, the lure of the dollar, our ignorance on the nature of the threat and the culpability of our media. Meanwhile, the terrorists gathers strength in our divide, exploits our open societies, mires our legal systems with cries of discrimination and bigotry, and offers religious "talking heads" who talk about moderation in western media outlets while publishing books and articles in their native language calling for our destruction and annihilation.
In 1997 the Runnymede Trust Commission on British Muslims and Islamophobia defined islamophobia as "unfounded hostility towards Islam, and therefore fear or dislike of all or most Muslims." These words have now been exaggerated to the point where the terms used to describe jihadi activity are themselves politically incorrect.
Here are some highlights from the OIC report showing their "unbiased" perception about the world:
  • Prejudice and intolerance vis-à-vis Islam is an old phobia, and has been a stubborn and distinctive trait of Western society and the European psyche since the seventh century. How many people in the West really knew of Islam before the events of 9/11?
  • The historian Groeber wrote in his book "The Nature of Culture": Islam spread in the whole world in a very short period of time like sunshine spreads in moments. Islam did not obey the same standards and criteria as other spiritual and social phenomena. For it did not have a childhood and an adulthood; rather, it emerged all at once as a perfectly integrated phenomenon. The fact that it spread without a physical "table" was one of its miracles. The fact that is was spread by the sword at times must have been a ray of sunshine to the people who were subjugated and sold into slavery.
  • -Islam and Christendom were not merely competitors or rivals. They borrowed and learned from each other in all domains: scholarship, philosophy, medicine, architecture, technology, and most importantly in scientific inquiry etc. but it is an established fact that, in the Middle Ages, the civilizational traffic was mainly one way, from Muslims to Christians. Although we must remember that no one is to question Allah's will or way, the growth of science in lands that are overwhelming Islam has always been stunted.
  • -Despising Islam as a religion has become personified and directed against Muslims individually and collectively. Islamophobia has emerged as a racist movement of intolerance and discrimination and should be dealt with as such. The report uses key words such as "racist" and "discrimination" to play on the sensitivities of the West. No one wants to have those labels associated with them. Once again, the Information Campaign has launched another successful operation against the Western apologists.
  • -The situation took a turn for the worse in the aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attack on the US. Discrimination and intolerance against Muslims and defamation of Islam, particularly in Europe and North America reached alarming proportions. The distortion of Islam and attempts to defame it as a faith supportive of extremism has been on the rise and Muslims were treated with suspicion and in many cases profiled as potential terrorists. As a result, they became victims of various forms of discrimination and stereotyping and violation of their human rights. This intolerance of Muslims commonly came to be known as Islamophobia. Again the reactionary word "discrimination" is used. Al-Qa'ida as an organization has "distorted Islam" and are to blame for using the religion to show that it supports extremism. Yet, Usama bin Laden's own pronouncements are full of references to the Koran and the life of Mohammed. These are not the messages from the West but messages from the cancer within the Religion of Peace.
  • Following atrocities such as 9/11, the London and Madrid bombings and the murder in the Netherlands of Theo van Gogh, monitors like the European Monitoring Centre on Racism and Xenophobia (EUMC) had noted a rise in Islamophobia. The question at this point, is there a good reason for Western people to fear Islam or Muslims? The perception problem is one that the West has complained about for years; when will Islam take back there religion from the extremists?
  • The ten reasons that the report lists as part of the "root cause" of "Islamophobia" exonerate the extremists and/or terrorists. What they do claim is that "abuse of freedom of expression" and having "no legal recourse to sue those who slander Islam" are among the culprits. Again this is the same mindset that portrays Jews as animals, bans the bible from entering their country and tells Catholics they cannot ring a bell to call their members to church. In Qatar, the first Catholic Church has just finished construction. The "tolerance" of the Muslims in Qatar is on full display. The local newspaper declares "the cross should not be raised in the sky of Qatar, nor should bells toll in Doha". A letter to the editor by Rashed al-Subaie opines that Christians have the right to practice their faith, but should not have permission to build places of worship. A former justice minister agrees and stresses that Qatar is a Muslim country, not a secular one, and maintains that a referendum is the only way to ensure that the church is socially acceptable. The worst of the offenders is Iran which sponsored a conference on the Holocaust being a hoax. Maybe this 2006 Pew Research poll will demonstrate the Muslim attitude toward their own religion:

Muslim Opinion on the Struggle Between Modernizers and Islamic Fundamentalists, the Mulims that feel there is no struggle - Jordan 69%; Egypt 60%; Turkey 23%; Indonesia 40%; and Pakistan* 14%. *In Pakistan a high percentage did not respond.
  • Amber Haque states, "Islamophobia creates polarization in the wider society and provokes discrimination and injustice towards Muslims in all walks of life. Women and children are specially exposed to hostile treatment, making them feel unsafe. Hostility does nothing to foster self-esteem. The young generation born and raised in the West may face an identity crisis and opt to bond more closely with their parents' backgrounds and distrust the West. Such distrust may lead some young Muslims to drop out of mainstream society and this fosters the conditions that make them readily influenced by extremist groups, which offers vulnerable youth a strong sense of identity and purpose. At the national level, such social disintegration can weaken the social fabric of a country when a party of its (educated) minority withdraws from society and fails to contribute effectively to the growth of society at large." The repeated terms of discrimination and now the visual imagery of women and children feeling unsafe go along the lines of the victimization excuse. Of course the West is to now be blamed when the youth join the extremist groups because they had no choice. The parents, community and religious leaders of the disaffected youth have no influence over their own charges.
  • The report also points to the discrimination cases that were collected by the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR). CAIR has been named by the US government as an unidicted terrorist co- conspirator and has recently voiced its commitment for HAMAS.
  • We also find that the report provides information from various polls and research which seems to show a negative attitude gaining in the West concerning Muslims and Islam. Of course, what the report fails to show are the results of polls of positive attitudes in the Muslim world toward the West. In Kuwait, which U.S. troops liberated from Iraq in 1991, 36% say the attacks (9/11) were justifiable, the highest percentage of any country polled.
  • A Pew Research Poll conducted in 2006 reveals the following: When Muslim were asked who was to blame for poor relations between the West and the Islamic countries, the respondents invariably pointed their fingers at the West. In Turkey, 79% blame the West. Other percentages include Indonesia 64%, Jordan 61%, Pakistan 60% and Egypt 56%. Another result that shows the two sides of "tolerance" by the Muslim countries include the startling result of Jordanians (28%) and Egyptians (22%) who volunteered that "Jews" are mostly to blame for bad relations, although Jews were not mentioned in the question. Results of another question continue to paint the "West is to blame for our woes" picture when we find that nearly half of those in Turkey (48%) and Indonesia (47%) say that Muslim nations are not more prosperous because of Western policies.
  • The Observatory expressed its concern over the move by David Horowitz of the US based Freedom Center to organize a "Islam-Fascism Week" in two hundred university and college campuses throughout the United States of America on October 22-26, 2007. The concern of the OIC and the member states over this move was strongly voiced during the 62nd UNGA and various think tanks and academic institutions in the USA. The initiative of Mr. Harrowitz (the report misspelled his name the second time) did not receive the expected response as the majority of the universities did not provide him the expected forum. The fact is that universities did not back down from the event because of the content, but rather the undue influence that Middle Eastern money has bought. Prince Alwaleed bin Talal of Saudi Arabia (SA) donated a combined $40 million to Georgetown and Harvard. Of course, we have already documented the type of influence that the Prince wields in our article - Does Globalization Spell Our Doom. Other universities that received Saudi money include Duke, Howard, Cal-Berkeley, Syracuse and Johns Hopkins. The royal family of Saudi donates an estimated $5 billion each year for schools, mosques and Islamic centers. Above all the Islamic countries must stop the flow of money to those who are doing the most damage to their own religion. According to the U. N., Al-Qa'ida received between $300 million and $500 million from SA during a ten year period that started in 1992.
  • The OIC General Secretariat has been working closely with the Permanent Missions of the OIC Member States in Geneva for adoption of a resolution in the HRC on combating defamation of religions and against attempts to identify Islam with terrorism, violence and human rights violations and to address concerns of the international community over the intensification of the campaign of defamation of religions, and the ethnic and religious profiling of Muslim minorities. The resolution however failed to obtain a consensus with the European and Western members of the HRC either voting against or abstaining. Maybe the leaders of the West have seen a posting on YouTube which can be found by searching for woman stoning that shows the practice of killing a half-buried woman with stones. This inhumane practice still exists throughout the Muslim world today.
  • Article 2 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UNDR) states that: 'Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, color, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth, or other status.' The OIC uses this article to make the point that Muslims are discriminated against but recent actions, including the killing of a Chaldean Bishop in Iraq, the opposition to the Catholic Church in Qatar and the violence against the Coptics in Egypt show a different picture. Muslim discrimination is putting a portrait of their prophet on the internet (a picture of Persian origins), but there is no problem killing people of other religions.
  • The OIC wants to monitor all workshops and lectures and report any "violations" that they find to the UN. What would really help is the OIC releasing a condemnation of every statement made by Al-Qa'ida, Usama bin Laden and Zawahiri while having their religious scholars refute the works of Azzam, Maqdisi, Qaradawi and Qutb as extremists and lacking any grounding in Islamic practice or teachings. This would undermine the religious authorities that the terrorist now derive legitimacy from and work to allay Western fears. The UN's culpability includes the election of Libya to Chair the Human Rights Commission.
  • To avoid using Islamophobic rhetoric used in the war against terror labeling them as Islamic fascists, Islamic extremist, etc, which has taken the western audience into getting a wrong impression on the message of Islam. What is the correct term to use against these deranged practitioners of their faith? Again, we find the report does a good job of finger pointing without offering any concrete ways to correct the root problems sparking the fear.

Muslims feel that linking terrorism to Muslims will make Muslims more radical. What? Radical Muslims attacked America on 9/11 and took 3000 innocent lives. Al Qa'ida has claimed this attack, even though a majority of Muslims (although U.S. officials say all 19 of the Sept. 11 hijackers were Arab men, only 18% of those polled in six Islamic countries say they believe Arabs carried out the attacks; 61% say Arabs were not responsible; and 21% say they don't know) say that no Muslims were involved in 9/11. A fact is still a fact even if you ignore it. Islamophobia is not something that is being perpetrated in the West, it is a result of Islam and its religious leaders allowing the hijacking of their religion.
These are the results of an interesting poll which show that Muslims belief in news reports that Arabs carried out Sept. 11 attacks are Not True - Lebanon 58%; Turkey 43%; Kuwait 89%; Indonesia 74%; Iran 59%; and Pakistan 86%. Results of a 2002 Gallup Poll.
The work that the OIC and others do now, will not stop the fear that is being spread in the West. That fear is not one that is not founded in the fact of the many terrorist who now claim to be working to benefit Muslims and to be working on the establishment of the Caliphate, the Islamic religious rule of lands. The fear is generated by terrorists who operate freely in their countries and who are funded by their money. Those countries were only too happy to feed this message of the West as being the enemy as long as the radicals concentrated on the far enemy. Unfortunately, for the countries that supported these groups, they examined those governments and leaders and found them to be takfir (Muslims who are ex-communicated).
The OIC mimics the terrorist mind-set when they look to lay blame on others when the Muslims have have allowed the fear to be created by members of the Islamic religion. The fear comes from the people that the Muslims allowed to flourish. Where do these Muslim/Islamic deviant terrorists come from? The answer is not the West by countries like SA (bin Laden), Egypt (Zawahiri) and Jordan (Zarqawi) to name a few of their terrorists and their land of origin. The countries of the Middle East now face terrorist problems in their own countries as Al-Qa'ida find their overseas operations hindered and turn their focus back to the near enemy (local governments/rulers). The countries that belong to the OIC need to examine the root causes of this fear and find that the radicals are the real threat and not the West. This type of finger pointing will not solve the problem and clouds the issue.
If Islam treats the cause of the fear as an internal originating problem, this will finally prove to the West that the Islamic leaders are serious about getting rid of the threat. Have Iran hand over the senior Al- Qa'ida leadership that they have under house arrest to the world court. Have Saudi Arabia, Egypt and others review their school curriculum removing the inflammatory passages which vilify the West, Christians and the Jewish faith. Have the OIC pass a ban against the "hate speech" that fills their airwaves and newspapers aimed at everything connected to the western civilization. Lift the filters and censorship that happens in Muslim countries in order to facilitate a dialog among all the people and not just the politicians.
These are the steps that need to be taken to make real progress against the perception the world when it comes to Muslims. Do not lay these problems at the feet of the West, when the problem comes from within. Being a victim and blaming others for a situation is the easiest route when confronting a problem because it excuses one from responsibility. Taking a hard, long look at reality of the situation by finding the root causes.Fixing those mistakes are the path to changing not only one's self, but the world. We must take this threat seriously, while our civilizations still stand.
Norman Lihou is the Director of Intelligence at the Non Governmental Intelligence Agency (NGIA) ([http://www.thengia.org]) and provides analysis about information he finds at the website Thinking Points ([http://thinkingpoints.thengia.org]). NGIA is committed to provide a pure analysis of current and ongoing situations in the world, while applying historical lessons learned for a comprehensive view of how that may impact our lives. This analysis is conducted without any political, administration, organization and/or agency bias, agenda, goals or gains. NGIA goes beyond the headlines and the sound bites to better educate and inform the public, business and government sectors on what they can do to recognize the threat and protect themselves.

Islam is Not Against Learning, Observation and Science


The glory of Muslim civilization among the other communities was only because of the Islam's focus on learning and education. This thing becomes clearer when you study the Quran and life of the Prophet Mohammad, where you can find numerous references to education, need for learning and use of logic.
For more than a thousand years Islamic empire was honored as the most developed and advanced civilization across the world. This is again because of the fact that Islam never halted anyone from learning and even Islam shows great importance to it. This desire of knowledge inculcated in Muslims tolerance, discipline and respect for authority. The Islamic beliefs and teachings persuade many Muslims to achieve their destination in the fields of science, astronomy and medicine.
It was their passion and enthusiasm for learning which resulted in the conversion of all Greek material available on Medicine, Astronomy and Science to the Arabic language. Baghdad was the hub for all this written material. Damascus, Cairo shared the same status. It was Muslims who first invented the present day cheque system. Soon, Arabic became the international language for trade and transfer of thoughts. The center of activity and knowledge shifted to east and Baghdad became the light house for the dark and ignorant Europe. The Muslim community emerged as the inventors of many scientific notions, with novelty and efficiency being their core values.
Particularly in the field of medicine Muslims accomplished many milestone and invented cure for several diseases and increase the common life expectancy. Hence, Muslims became the one and only great torchbearers of research in the fields of medicine and science. Some of the early master pieces in these fields came from the pens' of Muslim scientists who always loved their work. It was their great motivation that ultimately led to the foundation of first university Al-Azhar(800AD) in the world. Today the western medical system is not only originated from Arab wisdom but also is based on same theories. The Muslims Arabs were the forefathers of current day medicine and scientific fields.
Learning is a natural process. This is innate and one of the basic instinct. The pleasure achieved from this is very important for human mind to nurture. If there had been no learning the life itself would be in danger. Even the growth of human race have been in danger if knowledge of sex through observation, reading and hearing is hidden from everyone.
In this world there are number of people who have laid their lives to death, drunk or eaten up to death. Nobody ever died of learning or gaining knowledge. Infect those who refrain themselves from learning enjoy no fun in life, they remain ignorant all long the life. There are plenty of subjects and topics to learn and one can always continue to educate himself, there is just no limit to wisdom. Pleasure of life exists in knowing more about opportunities it has for you and this is possible only if you learn more and more. It's a treasure which no one can steal, treasure which increases, more as you use it.
John O Edward is working with Home Quran educational services. To learn more about Islam, Muslim culture and Quran teachings please visit Home Quran [http://www.homequran.com] or you can join our discussion forum at Home Quran Forum [http://forum.homequran.com/forum.aspx]

Misconception of Islam


1.Islam is a religion of hate
It's quite easy to see why this misconception exists, with all the hate crime(s) around the globe being pinned on some dude wearing a turban and rocking an Osama beard, it's no wonder why we are led to believe that Islam is a religion of hate and anger. However, quite the contrary is the case. Regardless of how the media is pressured to portray the average Muslim, as a collective society they have always been the one's attempting to maintain the peace, while getting bombed left, right, and centre and up the ass, by the every other political/religious group on Earth.
So, if we we're to take a step back into early Islamic history, it becomes quite evident that ever since the beginning of the religion, anyone who has embraced Islam has gotten the shyt-kicked so far up their own ass that you would understand their frustration. Around 1400 years ago, when Islam was emerging in central Arabia, with Muhammad(pbuh) as the most recent recipient of God's word since Jesus Christ, Islam was immediately under attack as soon as Muhammad attempted to deliver the word of God unto his people.
See Muhammad was in quite the sticky situation, on one side there's God telling him read read in the name of God, and here's Muhammad an illiterate person freaking out cuz he knows he can't do it. Well the will of God must have been a powerful one because he learned how to read and write almost instantaneously. As for the people whom he had to deliver this message to, they were off their rockers! Praying to fire, devils and demons, to statues and idols, living like a savage was the way of life back then. But God knew what sort of task he had assigned to this man, for in his revelations to Muhammed he states that his people in the Arab peninsula were savage beasts, that lived like animals, that they we're the most corrupt and twisted society of 'men' on Earth.
So he set to work, and began the process of delivering God's message unto these savage men. Quite the task for an average man, without any education on the matter. Muhammad's job was a lot harder than any other prophet of God's, including Jesus. For he had to make them believe, their faiths had to go from nothing to something, whereas those preceding him, simply had to convince their people that God had spoken to them, and that was that.
Over the course of the next 1400 years, Islam was tested time and time again. With internal disputes and splitting of sects, none of these came without bloodshed. However, the Quran specifically states that Islam is meant to be a religion of peace.That suicide, killing, thoughts of killing are all sins in God's eye. It was their barbaric customs of being savages that caused Islam to become corrupt with war and rage. It was never religion, that fueled this anger it was personal issues, as well as political issues that resulted in this ongoing bloodshed.
After being bombarded by attacks, throughout millenia, Islam prevailed, and remains today as the world's fastest growing religion. Despite attempts by other religions, political and national strategies to stop it's growth, it continues to flourish in all countries of the world. In the United States even, it is the fastest growing religion by far.
Islam was meant to be a continuation, of the religion of God. The same religion of the Jews, of the Christians, and of Hindu's as well. Only in the Quran does it state that today I have perfected your religion, and that its name shall be Islam. In order to be a Muslim, you must accept the word of God, including the Torah, The Psalms, The Bible, and the Quran. You must accept that over the millenia, God sent 124,000 prophets to lead mankind to salvation.
WHY ISLAM ISN'T A RELIGION OF HATE...
Islam isn't a religion of anger or hate, because in the Quran it states that, Islam is a religion of peace and of tolerance. During the Fatimid Empire, all practising religious beliefs were accepted and respected. At that time, you were allowed by Muslim law to practice whatever faith that you willed. (Note*: However verses in the Quran might be graphic in certain parts pertaining to those who inflict hurt upon you or your loved ones or upon those who have no faith in God... also Sunni and Shia are divided in their beliefs, certain Sunni sects still practice Sharia law, which wasn't religious rather socio-political(so the next time you see some dude with a bomb strapped to himself jumping off the building above you, screaming alalalalalalaaaahh, keep in mind that's not his religion instructing him to do that, rather personal motives))

GOD In The Plural Sense, IE Religious Tolerance


Now don't get excited, the title does not infer that there are a multitude of Gods in heaven. I believe in only one God most likely just as you do, and my religion tells me that my religion is the way to join with God for eternal life most likely just as yours does.
By comparing countries, religions and languages, it appears that a major cause of much of the conflict in our world can be due to placing one concept of God against another. Even within Christianity one Christian religion may look upon another Christian religion as inferior. I feel the need to give others respect as they should do to you as well. The time has come where we must do the same with our personal religious views as well. Therefore, our interpretation of God should be taken in the plural sense giving each of us the dignity and respect to practice our religion in our way without infringing on the rights of others who want to do the same, but in another way.
We come back to the basics of looking at people simply as human beings. As such, we develop commonality where religion and the concept of God are only meaningful to ourselves. This still allows us to preach our interpretation of God, but does not give us the right to infringe on the rights of others if they do not believe or want to believe as you.
Some of you are going to say that such a statement is wishful thinking. At present, maybe so. Those areas of the world where there is conflict and repression many times is due to the lack of freedom to practice religion as the people desire. Governments around the world have learned, are learning, and a few still need to learn that freedom of religion is gong to release the unrest that may have brewed for centuries in their country and held them back from being more prosperous. Repression breeds unrest.
Let's take a step back and look at the overall picture of what is going on in our world at present. Every country has over the centuries developed an ethnic race or races that is/are particular to that country. When you add the different religions within each country, you get a greater cross-section of people. Some countries even have more than one language and/or dialects. Our world is one great melting pot of a lot of different people.
If you attempt to dissect the various forms of government from country to country, you will not find one perfect system, not even the USA that for many years set a standard for other countries to emulate. The USA is perceived to be a country of freedoms that are the envy of others, but we now see many areas of abuse and lack that necessitate major changes. We all are in an evolving process that will not end during our lifetime. There are some who look on God in the singular sense in that their religious attitude toward God is the only way to salvation, and this is OK. Most of the time it does not affect others who feel the same, but have a different perspective towards God. Countries need to take a plural approach to God and follow this trend toward religious tolerance. Ease up. Give each other some space and respect on their journey to eternal life with God.
Nobody has the right to make religious demands other than to expose religious doctrine. This is an internal relationship that no one in the outside world has the right to control. Each of us needs to come to grip with our relationship to God as an individual not as a body of people in a particular religion. We don't need a world of one particular religion. The world can remain an interesting melting pot or phenomenon because of differences of race, religion, and language. This need not be the reason for conflict, killing, and rape. On the contrary, these differences are what make our world exciting for those who want to observe and experience these different ways of living.
A fundamental precept in Christianity is love. Individuals of all religions should adopt this word as a way of life. Respect and love your neighbor, and we as a world can find peace and salvation. In the section of the Bible...John Chapter 14, Verse 6. Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." Jesus Christ may become your gateway to eternal life with God, but don't you also feel that this gateway can also be open for spiritually good people of all faiths. We believe, have faith, and speculate as humans.
All of us should read the religious texts of many religions. Many religious Clerics have studied the Bible as well as their own religious text so why don't others do the same. Learn about Jesus Christ as well as the prophets of other religions. If you believe in your God, then you realize that God created ALL people. As such, we must respect what God has done and show religious tolerance to all human beings. It makes life easier when you focus on yourself, and let others do the same.
Become a good example for others. Remember that any form of force other than for self-protection does not resolve differences. Allow the concept of God in the plural sense which gives the necessary tolerance for others to do the same. There is room for all of us in heaven. How many are going to be there at judgment day? Why not you and me. Let's bond together now while there is time!
Ed Lupton is the author of the book, "Discover Living - A Writer's Journey" which is available at http://www.discoverliving.com.
This website is the action plan of the book. By following the four principles I wrote about, each of our lives can change to a life full of enrichment. Review this article on my blog at http://blog.discoverliving.com/204/god-the-plural-form.

Does The Qur'an Preach Violence?


Ingrid Mattson, the president of the Islamic Society of North America, once asked this question about Islamic terrorism: "How could those who follow uhammad reject his explicit teachings on this topic?"
What does she mean by that? Isn't the Qur'an all about violence, all about converting the infidels by the sword, all about stoning women and killing in the name of Allah?
That's certainly an opinion one hears a lot of these days. But let's look at what the Qur'an actually says.
To begin with, what about Islam's lack of religious tolerance? What about forced conversions? In fact, all Islamic jurists, without exception, have held throughout history that any attempt at coercing a non-believer to accept the faith of Islam is a grievous sin. This quote from Chapter 2 could not be any clearer: There is no compulsion in matters of Religion.
The Quran clearly allows Muslims to fight against people who have attacked them or oppressed them - and by the way, the battles that are described in the Qur'an are not being fought against Christians, or Jews: they're defensive wars against other Arabs who resented Mohammad because they didn't want to give up their various Idols, and they didn't like the way his preaching was annoying the pilgrims who came to Mecca and made them rich. So Muslims were allowed to fight back when attacked, but in Chapter 60 it says, God does not forbid you to be kind and equitable to those who have neither fought against your faith nor driven you out of your homes. In fact, God loves the equitable.
And as far as Jews and Christians and other peoples are concerned, in Chapter 49 God says, We have... made you into nations and tribes, so that you may come to know each other and to honor each other, not so that you should despise each other.
But wait, you say, what about Chapter 2, Verse 190. Doesn't it say Kill them wherever you encounter them?
Yes, it does.
But contrary to the wild imaginings of frightened westerners, and the lunatic fringe of Islamic terrorists, this verse is not condoning slaughter.
Consider this analogy. Suppose a police captain in a hostage situation tells his officers, "If these gunmen start shooting hostages, and the only way to stop them is to kill them all, then that's what we'll have to do. But don't start shooting unless you are commanded to do so. Let the negotiators try to settle this peacefully."
But what do the newspapers report? Enraged Police Captain says 'Kill Them All!'
Yes, a verse in the Qur'an says Kill them wherever you encounter them. But this was said in the context of one particular battle. And the immediately preceding verse says, And fight in God's cause against those who wage war against you, but do not commit aggression - for verily, God does not love aggressors. And the immediately following verse says, If they desist, God is much forgiving: If they desist, then all hostilities shall cease.
In fact, every Qur'anic reference to fighting in a war is qualified by some moral condition of restraint: Muslims are commanded not to commit injustice, they are not to use violence disproportionate to that which threatens them, and they are not to use violence at all when credible avenues to peace are available.
I don't think it could be any clearer that terrorists and fear-mongers have twisted this for their own agendas. Ms. Mattson is right: Muhammad and the Qur'an explicitly reject terrorist violence.
Andrew Cort is the author of "THE AMERICAN PSYCHE IN SEARCH OF ITS SOUL: Freedom, Equality, and the Restoration of Meaning" ( http://www.MeaningInAmerica.com ). He is a strong advocate for the return of Civility, Cooperation, and Maturity to our politics and national life, and so, although he considers himself a Liberal, the Foreword to his book was written by the well-known Conservative author and commentator, George Gilder. Find out more and pick up your Paperback or Kindle today at the above link.

Muslim Australia: A Study In Diversity


You can learn a lot about a country based on how it deals with difference and diversity. There are three general ways in which societies deal with group differences: enforced conformity, tolerance with open arms, or a tense or grudging acceptance. As evidenced by the Russian purges of Germans or the Nazi purges of 'non-Aryans' within territories they control, examples of forced conformity are unfortunately all too common. Dominant cultures, it appears, didn't have any problems telling minority groups and subgroups that 'didn't fit' to either choose the dominant group's ways or hit the highway. As evidenced by the expulsion of Jews from Spain in the 1492, 'hitting the highway' is also fraught with peril, suffering, and pain. And Europe does not own a monopoly on this approach to cultural diversity. Chinese linguistic mapping and ethnographic studies show that the Southern and Eastern sections of China were home to a diverse group of people with many different languages and cultures. The modern Chinese culture we identify as distinctly 'Chinese' is actually just one sub-group, the Han, which came from the West and drove out most older language groups. In fact, according to research, Malaysian, Indonesian, and Polynesian language groupings can be traced to the older language groups that used to populate the Southeastern section of modern China.
Another common way societies deal with cultural and language diversity is through tense tolerance. This form of dealing with difference rarely lasts for long. Take the case of Yugoslavia. Thanks to the heavy-handed tactics and cult of personality Marshall Tito cultivated, the ancient animosities between Serbs, Croats, Slovenes, Bosnian Serbs, and Kosovars were muted. Everyone subscribed to the overarching state doctrine of 'Pan Slavs'-one Yugoslavia for all Slavs. When the Iron Curtain fell and communism went out with a bang, the tense tolerances of the Tito days gave way to outright ethnic warfare. After many ethnic rapes, massacres, and battlefield deaths, Yugoslavia lay smashed into many fragmented sub-states marked by its distinct religion or language grouping. The same could be said, to a lesser degree, of the Soviet empire, the Austro-Hungarian empire, and the Turkish empire. People are only nice to strangers, it seems, when imperial guns are pointed at them.
Thankfully, humanity has produced a third approach to multicultural differences: tolerance. Starting with the Protestant Swiss which made it the 'state religion' to tolerate other religions, the idea of erecting a political system that tolerates cultural and religious differences has spread far from their Protestant origins. The UK, Canada, the US, France, and other countries have embarked boldly in an experiment where the idea of a united country is based on law and mutual respect rather than race, 'blood,' religion, language, or some other perceived cultural unifying point. Australia is definitely in this camp. It has managed to create a multicultural society that spans many religions, cultures, and languages. In addition to welcoming Islam with open arms, its tolerance goes deeper than religion. Subsects of Islam which have periodically clashed with each other like Shia, Sunni, Druze, and other Muslim subsects, live together in peace. Historical divisions between Muslim groups that fragment along countries of origin are non-existent in Muslim Australia. While first-generation migrants might carry some of the old biases from the Old Country, most of the second generation share Australia's tolerant and pluralistic mindset. Indeed, Muslim Australia offers the world a beacon of hope amid an increasingly mobile and multicultural world.
Dick Casper, a practicing physician, has been a freelance journalist for more than 3 years. He has published articles in Civil War Journal, Saigon Times News, and Civil War Weekly and is a member of the Freelance Journalist Society. He lives in Rumford, Maine, with his wife, two lovely kids and two dogs. This is his article about Muslim Australia. Be sure to check out his other Muslim Australia articles.

MALAYSIA: An Asian Retirement Paradise


Asia's best-kept secret for expatriates, Malaysia has a vibrant mix of foreign and indigenous tribal cultures, creating a veritable melting pot of peoples, traditions and religions.
A sizable enclave of foreigners (Brits, Americans, Australians, and Canadians) live full time or maintain holiday homes in Malaysia, and you'll find that just about everybody speaks English, since its compulsory in local schools.
Not only are three world-class playgrounds (Thailand, Bali, and the Philippines) all within a few hour's travel from Malaysia, but with miles of white sand coastline, tropical islands, and beachfront property galore, it has all the makings of a fairy-tale setting.
Despite being the capital of a developing nation, Kuala Lumpur is a modern cosmopolitan with clean streets and sidewalks and every modern convenience to found in New York or London. Home to the tallest building in the world, there are also FedEx and UPS offices, international banks, English cinemas and bookstores, western-style supermarkets, French and German bakeries, Chinese, Indian, and Italian restaurants, gourmet coffee, Cuban cigars, Internet cafés and some of the best shopping in the world!
One of the few things that lend a "Third-world" feel to the capital are the open-air night market, where local merchants peddle everything from fresh fruit and vegetables, to meat and fish, to exotic animals and traditional handicrafts.
All the major newspapers are available at newsstands, including the Wall Street Journal, USA Today, the Financial Times, the International Herald Tribune and The New York Times. Cable and satellite TV provides access to a wide variety of English-language programming, including CNN, the Discovery Channel, Filmnet and many more.
Despite the local Muslim population not drinking alcohol, Kuala Lumpur has some of the liveliest nightlife in the region and there are more than a fair share of clubs and bars, where tourists, expatriates and locals alike mingle and party. Though the official religion of Malaysia is Islam, great tolerance is shown for other religions, with many beliefs being represented and their adherents practicing openly, including Christians, Hindus, Buddhists, Taoists and Jews (the nearest synagogue is in neighboring Singapore).
Compared with other major Asian cities (Tokyo, Singapore, and Hong Kong, for example), Kuala Lumpur is downright cheap. Even in the over-priced tourist spots you can get a good meal for two for around $20. Outside of these places, a 3-course meal for two with all the trimmings, including drinks, will set you back no more than $10...a doctor's visit $8 to $15 and live-in domestic help $200 a month.
Rental properties are readily available and not overly expensive by American or European standards. The cost of 2-bedroom rental apartments begins at around $225 per month, with 3-bedroom houses starting at $35,000. Naturally, comparable housing in expatriate communities or the luxurious suburban homes that date from British colonial period can set you back considerably more.
Other properties recently on offer include:
A 2-bedroom, 1-bathroom, 725-square-foot apartment with a dining room, a kitchen, ceiling fans, a walk-in closet, and parking, costs $45,215.
A small two-story bungalow with 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, a kitchen, a living room, and a dining room going for $35,700.
A penthouse apartment, close to downtown, with a sea-view and a 350-sqare-foot terrace. It comes fully furnished and has 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, a kitchen, and a dining room. The asking price? $75,000.
A spacious 3-bedroom, 2-bathroom, 2500-square-foot condominium with a large living room, an elegant dining room, a fully equipped kitchen, and a pantry, for $125,250.
Though there are expensive restaurants and accommodations, there's simply no reason for you to check into a five-star hotel when you can stay in a clean, friendly hotel in the city center for $40 a night where every meal costs less than $5 per person.
CRIME-FREE AND FOREIGNER FRIENDLY
Of course, cheap living shouldn't be the only deciding factor when choosing a new home. As well as being very affordable, Malaysia is safe.The government's real no tolerance policy means street crime is virtually nonexistent.
The Malaysian government, through its "Silver-Haired Program," offers expatriate resident retirees extremely attractive benefits. Outside of nationals of Israel and Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro), the program is open to citizens of most countries. To qualify, you need only be over 50, show you can bring a guaranteed income of about $1300 per month into Malaysia (or open a savings account in Malaysia with $40,000), and have a local sponsor (which can easily be arranged).
Penang, a small island off the northwest coast, has been called the "Pearl of the Orient" and its beaches are a favorite tourist destination. The coastline is also dotted with many small, quiet seaside villages. The tropical rainforests and jungles offer many opportunities for exploring lush mountains, trekking through the jungle, or even taking a riverboat safari. The bountiful sea surrounding Malaysia provides for some of the best scuba diving and fishing anywhere in the world (Malaysia's seas are home to the Black Marlin, tuna, mackerel, sailfish, barracuda and a host of other species).
PRACTICAL BENEFITS
Medical care is good, with excellent hospitals and clinics in all the major towns. Doctors speak English, and the majority gained their qualifications in Western Europe or North America.
Although foreign residents must arrange private health insurance, visiting tourists who have an accident are entitled to free emergency treatment in public hospitals. A consultation with a private doctor in most cases will cost just $8 to $15.
When it comes to banking, management methods and the range of services offered closely follow the British model. Plus, most major world banks have full-service branches in Malaysia.
Many expatriates living here off investment income keep their cash growing tax free in Labuan, an offshore tax haven administered by Malaysia, and then bring into the mainland what's needed for living expenses. Labuan is also perfect for anyone looking for a private, offshore bank account, a tax-free corporation, a trust, or other offshore structures.
Led by Malaysian Airlines, the national carrier, the island is served by many major airlines, linking it the world through its international airports. A good network of modern roads covers the distances between towns, and Malaysian telecommunications are among the best in the world.
If you've ever thought about living overseas, you owe it to yourself to investigate Malaysia.
Copyright 2005 by Shannon Roxborough
Shannon Roxborough is an international lifestyle expert with close to 20 years experience. He has helped hundreds of clients with overseas living, retirement and travel matters. Visit his website at: www.TheGlobalLife.net

Islam, Jesus' Death and the Bible


Islam, Jesus' death and the Bible... This almost sounds like a mathematical equation. For me, an avid practitioner of inter-faith dialogue with Arab Muslims, this equation is quite scientific. Each variable in the equation has its place and significance. By Islam, I generally speak of what is written about Jesus in the Quran; though I am careful to understand that there can be a big difference between what is written in the book and what the religion of Islam may teach. By Jesus death I refer to the crucifixion and death of Christ. Of note, the Muslim view of Jesus explicitly denies Christ's death and crucifixion. By the Bible I speak of the rest of the story.
That is, what is written about Jesus' death in the Bible. Putting all these pieces together is one way of leading men to the truth of God's Gospel.
This equation, Islam, Jesus' death and the Bible is a road map. In speaking with Muslims my aim is not to argue or be proven right. My aim is to lead men to the Living Christ and His truth. Discussing the topic of Jesus' death and resurrection are central to the Gospel message, but before diving into this touchy subject with Muslims I launch off of the common ground found in what is written about (Jesus) Isa in the Quran, namely, what is written about his death.
Time simply does not allow a full treatment of this important subject in this brief article. However, two of the main verses that I point to are discussed herein. Remember,
Islam + Jesus' death + the Bible = John 8:32
Let's quickly examine two major Quranic verse dealing with Jesus' death. Keep in mind, there are other verses in the Quran that touch on the subject.
Behold! Allah said: "O Jesus! I will take thee and raise thee to Myself and clear thee (of the falsehoods) of those who blaspheme; I will make those who follow thee superior to those who reject faith, to the Day of Resurrection: Then shall ye all return unto me, and I will judge between you of the matters wherein ye dispute. Sura 3:55
You'll notice that the English translation of this verse makes no mention of Jesus' death. This is both convenient and unfortunate. In fact, the Arabic word, mutawafeek, that clearly says "I will cause you to die", has been translated "raise thee to myself" in the English translation. Any Arabic speaker would instantly know this. Allah, speaking in this verse, said that He'd cause Jesus to die. The significance of this is clear. Was Allah lying? God forbid. Was He mistaken? This is an easy springboard to lead one from the Quran to the truth of what the Bible says about Christ's death. The next verse agrees with this exactly and reads as follows:
Never said I to them aught except what Thou didst command me to say, to wit, 'worship Allah, my Lord and your Lord'; and I was a witness over them whilst I dwelt amongst them; when Thou didst take me up Thou wast the Watcher over them, and Thou art a witness to all things. Sura 5:117
The same Arabic verb is used in this verse, only this time, it's Jesus saying that Allah caused him to die. This time the Arabic word is tuwafaytany. Again, I simply ask Arab Muslims what this Arabic word means literally.
So, we have Islam, Jesus death... the next step is to introduce the Bible. The Bible contains the rest of the story of Christ's death and resurrection. Many Muslims have been introduced to the Bible and Christ, Himself, using this simple equation; Islam, Jesus' death and the Bible. I pray you'd continue to study this important subject and be encouraged to use this tool as well.
Wadia Abdullah Ibn Az-Zahir is an ardent follower of Christ who travels extensively throughout the Middle East sharing the Gospel with Arab Muslims. There's much more about using the Quran and starting with the equation, Islam Jesus death and the Bible, that can help us all produce more fruit. Wadia's simple approach uses these types of Quranic bridges to Christ and is field tested and Christ honoring.http://www.islamandjesus.com.

Islamic Shops - How They Help Others Learn About Isl3


Religion is a topic of discussion that can be very controversial at times, as many people have different perceptions of the same doctrines. It is particularly hard for people belonging to different religions to understand and comprehend the various things that any particular religion teaches. For each person their faith and beliefs are the only way of life and it is not easy for them to show acceptance about other religions. An Islamic shop is a useful tool that can be very useful for non Muslims to learn about many things about Islam.
A normal Islamic shop carries numerous items that are significant for Muslims including Islamic clothing items, Praying equipment and Islamic books and CD's that contain oceans of information about Islam for Muslims as well as Non Muslims. There are books about the life of Prophet Muhammad, how to lead a good Muslim life, role of a person in a society, humanitarian and societal issues. Someone keen about learning more about Islam can easily do so from these books. Typically an Islamic shop which is located in an area where the majority is non Muslim can prove to be very advantageous in promoting the religion and gaining acceptance and tolerance from people of other faiths.
As Islam promotes ethical values like fair trade and good customer service by being polite and friendly towards the entire mankind, these features when exhibited in an Islamic shop can be very beneficial for the entire Muslim community living in a non Muslim area. People learn to trust and appreciate the good values that are a key part of Islam thus realizing that the followers of the Messenger of Allah are good, kind and humble people.
The negative media exposure due to terrorism globally has destroyed the peaceful image of Islam. An Islamic shop situated in an ethnic area where it can get traffic from different religions of the world can go a long way in restoring the positive impression that people had previously. In addition, the customers walking into an Islamic shop can view the different items that are trademarked with Muslims and understand their significance in a Muslim's day to day life. Prime examples are the Islamic clothing items like abayas, hijabs and jubbas. These garments are worn by Muslims as they follow the dress codes laid out in the Quran.
These loose fitting and modest clothing items are worn in order to preserve the honour and respect of the Muslims and have been worn by Muslims from the time of the Prophet Muhammad. Today the perception that only terrorists wear such clothes can be disregarded once people learn the religious importance of these items. In fact, today an Islamic shop can act as a binding force for expat Muslims as well as a sea of information about Islam for the non Muslims. These shops make the lives of people around them much easier and convenient.
Sohail Khan works for Islamic Impressions, which started as a traditional Islamic shop specialising in retail and wholesale products for the Islamic market, now with branches in London, Birmingham, Denmark and Trinidad.

The History of the Abaya


The traditional abaya is a plain black robe worn by Muslim women to cover their regular clothing, It could be described as a long-sleeve robe-like dress and it is the traditional form of dress for many countries of the Arabian peninsula including Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates. In Iran the abaya is referred to as a chador and in South Asia a burqa.
The abaya covers the whole body except the face, feet, and hands. It can be worn with the niqab, a face veil covering all but the eyes.
The origins of the abaya are vague. Some think that it existed as long as 4 000 years ago in the ancient civilizations of Mesopotamia and when Islam arose in the seventh century C.E., the religion absorbed local veiling practices into its culture, probably due to the dressing traditions of the women of Arab Jahiliya.
In those days women wore dresses that revealed their necks, chests, even breasts as well as other parts of their bodies. They also drew their veils backwards while leaving the front parts wide open (understandable in the crushing desert heat). Consequently, when Islam arrived, they were ordered to draw their veils forward to cover their chest and to protect women from acts of disrespect.
Some think that the idea of 'the covering' was more about class than it was about religion. In pre-Islam urban centers of the Arabian Peninsula veiling was seen as a sign of privilege and a luxury afforded to women who didn't have to work. They were distinguished from slave girls and prostitutes, who were not allowed to veil or cover, and nomadic and rural women too busy working to be bothered with something so impractical as a face veil and extra layer of clothing.
Source: Laura of Arabia, women24.com
Today, the strictest interpretations of Islamic Shari'a law dictate that Muslim women should wear full body coverings in front of any man they could theoretically marry. This means that it is not obligatory in the company of father, brothers, grandfathers, uncles or young children and does not need to be worn in front of other Muslim women.
Abayas come in a multiplicity of types and design, and different styles and colours are favoured by women from particular regions according to specific religious and cultural interpretations. 
  • A Head abaya rests on top of the head and extends below the ankles, ensuring that a women's body stays completely hidden.
  • Black abayas are more commonly worn in Middle Eastern countries, especially Saudi-Arabia, Kuwait and Qatar.
  • White abayas are populary worn in Far Eastern Muslim countries.
  • Coloured and embroidered abayas are becoming increasingly popular in Jordan, western countries and now also in Middle Eastern countries too.
Although black is the preferred colour in some countries Muslim women can generally wear whatever color they like as long as it does not generate unnecessary attention. For this reason earth-tones are popular choices.
Muslim women often wear designer labels underneath their outer garments and increasingly they want to wear fashionable outerwear too. Devout need not mean drab. Fashion designers are waking up to this and specialised stores, websites and fashion shows are springing up, top European fashion labels including John Galliano and Blumarine have recently showcased models wearing couture abayas.
The abaya has come a long way in 4,000 years!
The abaya has come a long way in 4,000 years!
James Brack has written a number of articles about Islamic clothing and the history, culture and fashion relating to hijabs and abayas.

The Most Important Reasons to Visit Istanbul


Many people believe that Istanbul is the capital city of Turkey but it is not. The capital city of Turkey is Ankara and Ankara is the boring one.
Istanbul is the city that has many attractions for local or foreign tourists.
It is the most populated city in Turkey. Officially there are fifteen million habitants in Istanbul whilst the real number is much higher. Living in such a crowded city is not an easy thing but the reason behind this crowd is the beauty and the advantages of living in this city.
If you have never been in Istanbul before and looking for a reason to see it, actually there is more than one reason. Here are some important reasons for visiting Istanbul;
  • It is the only city that is located in two different continents

  • Istanbul is divided in two parts by the Marmara Sea. Almost the half of the city is located in the Asian Continent and the other half is in the European Continent. Two continents are connected each other by two big bridges. One of them is Bosphorus Bridge and the other is Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge. Another way to travel from one side to the other is taking the ferries which are really enjoyable to travel with.

  • You can enjoy the most beautiful views while looking at BosphorusWhen you choose a hotel accommodation, pick one with a Bosphorus view from the room's balcony if possible. If not, go to some restaurant with this beautiful view and have your dinner while watching the perfect scenery.

  • The hospitality of Turkish peopleThis can be considered as a general reason to visit Turkey, not only Istanbul. Turkish people are very friendly in general. Most of them speak English more or less. You can make very good friendships here. It is easy to meet people in Istanbul and even if you travel to Istanbul alone, you will never feel lonely.

  • Tasting Turkish FoodTurkish kitchen has many different tastes and while travelling around Turkey you can enjoy each taste in its place but fortunately in Istanbul you can find all in one. There are thousands of restaurant with every possible kind of food and at a various price range.

  • The Crazy Nightlife in IstanbulIf you are young or if you are feeling young, Istanbul has a very animated night life The city has more than one center and every center has many different kinds of night time activities. The most popular area for an affordable night is Taxim area but there are many more things to do and places to go!

  • Getting to know the culture of Islam Muslim culture is completely different than Christian culture and it is a strict one. In general terms it is interesting to know it but if you try to learn it where people is radical about religioni it might be difficult and sometimes even dangerous. But in a country like Turkey with a moderate religion idea, it is enjoyable. The wide history of the city and the historical monuments!The history of Istanbul is very old and interesting. As a result of this wide history, it has many historical remains that are priceless. Most interesting places to see are;The Topkapi PalaceUnderground CisternSanta Sophia Museum The antic Hippoddrome The Blue Mosque The Grand Bazaar and The Spice Bazaar
It is highly recommended to take a city tour in Istanbul if you do not want to wait in long queues.
Also there are many private istanbul tour options with very reasonable prices if you want your personalized trip to Istanbul.
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