We all, quite rightly, take the mickey out of Scientology. Ridicule, after all, has a long and illustrious history as an effective way of highlighting the idiocies (and worse) of individuals and institutions who have abused their positions to inflict mental and physical cruelties on those who are vulnerable. Whether it be Pope, Voltaire, Moliere... or Private Eye - to laugh at a tyrant is to belittle him; to scoff at pomposity is to burst its bubble; to snigger at cults and their members is to help others to guard against their schemes.
That is why the hierarchy of Scientology was so outraged to find the "secrets" of its higher level initiates plastered over the internet. We could now all laugh at the utterly preposterous ideas and beliefs (such as Xenu, a galactic ruler who, 75 million years ago, brought billions of people to Earth, stacked them around volcanoes and blew them up with hydrogen bombs so that the Thetan consciences could then attach themselves to human souls). What poor deluded whackos could believe such stuff, we all asked. And because we scoffed and laughed, the mystery was destroyed and the "Church" of Scientology has begun to lose members.
But Islam is far removed from such patently ridiculous cults, I hear you say. Well, yes...and no.
Yesterday I asked readers to consider reward and punishment in Islam. A few responded by focusing on one particular aspect of the Paradise Allah has supposedly prepared for us - the famous Houris or virgins. I mentioned in passing that these lovely ladies would in fact, according to Islamic belief, be 80 foot tall and have transparent legs so that you can see the marrow in their bones. I should also have mentioned, for the sake of completeness, that they would be 10 foot wide and be hairless apart from their eyebrows and their head - for this is what the Islamic texts (hadith) that all Sunni (the majority, mainstream) Muslims must believe, say.
Let me just reiterate that.
If you are a Muslim you must believe that when you go to Heaven you will be rewarded by endlessly bonking 80 foot hairless virgins with hollow legs.
Is this any less whacko than Xenu, the galactic ruler?
Post Script:
Should any Muslim dispute the fact that they MUST believe the sahih (reliable) hadith (such as the Muslim in the comment section below) I reproduce an answer from the Turn To Islam forum:
Yes you HAVE to believe in Hadith. It is ludicrous to believe otherwise. How would you pray, do Hajj, break fast in Ramadan and so many other things if you did not believe in Hadith? How would you say the Shahadah, in which you proclaim Muhammad :saw: the Messenger of Allah, yet then deny his teachings? :astag:
The Qur'aan it its unadultered and perfected form tells us to follow the Messenger of Allah :saw:
Say: "Obey Allah and obey the Messenger, but if you turn away, he (Messenger Muhammad saaws) is only responsible for the duty placed on him (i.e. to convey Allah's Message) and you for that placed on you. If you obey him, you shall be on the right guidance. The Messenger's duty is only to convey (the message) in a clear way (i.e. to preach in a plain way)."
“So take what the Messenger assigns to you and deny yourselves that which he withholds from you.” (Qur’ân 59:7)
Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“By the star when it goes down (or vanishes).
Your companion (Muhammad) has neither gone astray nor has erred.
Nor does he speak of (his own) desire.
It is only a Revelation revealed.
He has been taught (this Qur’aan) by one mighty in power [Jibreel (Gabriel)].
One free from any defect in body and mind then he (Jibreel — Gabriel in his real shape as created by Allaah) rose and became stable”
[al-Najm 53:1-6]
Allaah has commanded the people to obey His Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him). He has enjoined this in many verses of the Qur’aan, of which we will quote some. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“Say (O Muhammad): “Obey Allaah and the Messenger (Muhammad).” But if they turn away, then Allaah does not like the disbelievers”
[Aal ‘Imraan 3:32]
“He who obeys the Messenger (Muhammad), has indeed obeyed Allaah, but he who turns away, then we have not sent you (O Muhammad) as a watcher over them”
[al-Nisa’ 4:80]
“O you who believe! Obey Allaah and obey the Messenger (Muhammad), and those of you (Muslims) who are in authority. (And) if you differ in anything amongst yourselves, refer it to Allaah and His Messenger, if you believe in Allaah and in the Last Day. That is better and more suitable for final determination”
[al-Nisa’ 4:59]
“And perform As Salaah (Iqaamat as-Salaah), and give Zakaah and obey the Messenger (Muhammad) that you may receive mercy (from Allaah)”
[al-Noor 24:56]
Allaah warns against rejecting the word of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) (interpretation of the meaning):
“… And let those who oppose the Messenger’s commandment (i.e., his Sunnah) (among the sects) beware, lest some fitnah (disbelief, trials, afflictions, etc.) befall them or a painful torment be inflicted on them.” [al-Noor 24:63]
Therefore, in order to follow the Quran you HAVE to follow and believe in the Hadith!
Here are some links which may further clarify this issue:
Summary and Refutation of Hadith Rejectors claims
(http://www.turntoislam.com/forum/showpost.php?p=44182&postcount=2)
What Are the Quran And Sunnah? Why Do Muslims Have To Follow This? (http://www.turntoislam.com/forum/showthread.php?t=455)
Important: The Science of Hadith, What Are Hadith? (http://www.turntoislam.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1392)
Rubbish - I don't need to believe this to be a Muslim.
ReplyDeleteYou are spreading lies!
Rubbish - I don't need to believe this to be a Muslim.
ReplyDeleteYou are spreading lies!
Dear Anon,
DeletePlease read the Post Script I have added to my post. I hope you'll find that clear enough.
Islam stinks, and all who believe one word of its sexist, racist, homophobic, poisonous mind-sewage.
ReplyDeleteI think we need to be careful not to conflate the ideology with the people who follow it.
DeleteI know many Muslims who are generous and good people; just as I am aware that there are those whose views of women and gays have been poisoned by Islam.
Islam is the problem - not Muslims.
As ridiculous as 80-90 ft virgins with resurrective hymens are, shouldn't one be more ridiculed by the thought that the best possible world (heaven) imagined by an omniscient, omnipotent being is very similar to the sexual fantasies of a teenage boy?
ReplyDeleteIsn't this a good indication that it was all made up by a guy who brainwashed men who already believe in magic rocks and genies to join his new cult by indulging them in their fantasies?
Couldn't agree more, Captain. I especially enjoy the idea that God should decree that the giant virgins should have shaven havens.
DeleteAs you so rightly say - teenage porn fantasies.
As Allahs Messenger said:
ReplyDelete“Hold fast to my Sunnah and the Sunnah of the rightly guided Caliphs. Stick to them.” (Sound Hadith, Ahmad)
We should hold on to the Qur’an and should not dispense with the Hadith. Allah the Almighty says: “And we have sent down unto you (also) the Message: that you may explain clearly to men what is sent for them.” (Qur’ân 16:44) Allâh ’s Messenger said: “Verily, I have been given the Qur’ân and a likeness of it with it (i.e. the Sunnah).” (Sound Hâdîth, Abu Dawud and others)
Peace
I think you've just proved my point, Anon.
DeleteJust asking; But do the Muslim women get 80 foot hairless men with see through permanent erections?
ReplyDelete'fraid not, Anon.
ReplyDeleteIt seems that Allah is less concerned about providing a sexual nirvana for his female followers (i suspect because it was less important to get women to willingly throw themselves into battle without caring for their own safety)
The men, however, were also promised, according to certain hadith, permanent erections to cope with the giant horny ladies.
(And let's not forget that the Chairman of the Conservative Party, Baroness Warsi, has to believe this nonsense.)
According to Muhammad most women are destined for Hell anyway.
ReplyDeleteBukhari 62:124 Muhammad said "I stood at the gate of the Fire and saw that the majority of those who entered it were women."
For a woman to get into paradise she must please her husband. Her eternal existence in the afterlife is all dependent on the whims and fancies of her husband.
Al Tirmidhi & Ibn Majah - The Prophet said, "If a woman dies while her husband was pleased with her, she will enter paradise."
So according to the Prophet, a woman will go to hell for all eternity, no matter how good a person she was, just because her husband was not pleased with her. So Spinoza, coming back to your last post, 'Repent', such dogma are so capricious and misogynistic that you'd really have to be blinded by faith, with all your faculties of reasoning and logic subdued in order to be convinced of its divine origin.
Women, should they make it into Paradise, are destined to spend eternity with just the one man, their earthly husband. The houris however do not want their man antagonized by his earthly wife:
Ibn-i-Majah 3:2014 Allah’s Messenger said, “A woman does not annoy her husband but his spouse from amongst the houris will say: Do not annoy him, may Allah ruin you. He is with you as a passing guest. Very soon, he will part with you and come to us.”
So even in Paradise, women will be subjected by threats, keeping them in line with obedience and servitude to their husband.
I have never yet come across any pronouncements on the plight of women who do make it into hell but their husbands don't. We can only assume they will live an eternal sexless life in the hereafter; which might be a great relief for many women after their ordeals at the hands of men during their earthly life.
Sorry that last paragraph should be HEAVEN not HELL and should read:
ReplyDeleteI have never yet come across any pronouncements on the plight of women who do make it into HEAVEN but their husbands don't. We can only assume they will live an eternal sexless life in the hereafter; which might be a great relief for many women after their ordeals at the hands of men during their earthly life.
Spinoza, Every time I post using the name 'Azim' the post initially appears but after a few minutes it is deleted. Any reason why?
ReplyDeleteSpinoza, Every time I post using the name 'Azim' the post initially appears but after a few minutes it is deleted. Any reason why?
ReplyDeleteAzim
I have no idea, Azim.
ReplyDeleteI have a copy of your comments which appear in my inbox so I will post them on your behalf
Thanks for that
Delete- Azim
According to Muhammad most women are destined for Hell anyway.
ReplyDeleteBukhari 62:124 Muhammad said "I stood at the gate of the Fire and saw that the majority of those who entered it were women."
For a woman to get into paradise she must please her husband. Her eternal existence in the afterlife is all dependent on the whims and fancies of her husband.
Al Tirmidhi & Ibn Majah - The Prophet said, "If a woman dies while her husband was pleased with her, she will enter paradise."
So according to the Prophet, a woman will go to hell for all eternity, no matter how good a person she was, just because her husband was not pleased with her. So Spinoza, coming back to your last post, 'Repent', such dogma are so capricious and misogynistic that you'd really have to be blinded by faith, with all your faculties of reasoning and logic subdued in order to be convinced of its divine origin.
Women, should they make it into Paradise, are destined to spend eternity with just the one man, their earthly husband. The houris however do not want their man antagonized by his earthly wife:
Ibn-i-Majah 3:2014 Allah’s Messenger said, “A woman does not annoy her husband but his spouse from amongst the houris will say: Do not annoy him, may Allah ruin you. He is with you as a passing guest. Very soon, he will part with you and come to us.”
So even in Paradise, women will be subjected by threats, keeping them in line with obedience and servitude to their husband.
I have never yet come across any pronouncements on the plight of women who do make it into Heaven but their husbands don't. We can only assume they will live an eternal sexless life in the hereafter; which might be a great relief for many women after their ordeals at the hands of men during their earthly life.
Azim
Couldn't agree more, Azim.
ReplyDeleteI can't see what the "sisters" get out of Islam at all.
Helen
Perhaps Azim's comments are getting automatically false flagged by the spam filter. I've enjoyed many of your comments on various posts btw, Azim.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure how much fun 80 foot houris would be unless I am a similar size! But what about the fruit, trees etc. Is everything much bigger in which case it is pretty meaningless.
When men enter heaven they will be shape-shifted to 60 cubits tall and they will all resemble Adam. So yes they will be the right dimensions to co-habit with the houris.
DeleteBukhari 4:544 Allah's Apostle said, 'The first group of people who will enter Paradise? Their wives will be Houris. All of them will look alike and will resemble their father Adam (in stature), sixty cubits tall.'
Notice in this hadith Muhammad says that the first group of people to enter paradise will get wives from the houris. We can therefore assume that the first group of people entering are all men. As usual, no consideration for women.
Azim
Lesley Hazleton: award-winning British-American writer of politics, religion, and history
ReplyDelete“…And where the Bible is addressed exclusively to men using the 2nd or 3rd person masculine, the Qur’an includes women, talking for instance of believing men, AND believing women, honourable men AND honourable women…”
[(The references in Qur’an are 33:35, there are other similar verses such as Qur’an 3:195, Qur’an 4:124 and one Whole Chapter given to women as Honour which is Surah Al Nisa 4) [Chapter Women chapter 4 regarding Equal Rights ] [Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Y2Or0LlO6g]
Annie Besant Annie Besant
(1847-1933) British theosophist and nationalist leader in India. President of the Indian National Congress in 1917.
"I often think that woman is more free in Islam than in Christianity. Woman is more protected by Islam than by the faith which preaches Monogamy. In Al-Quran the law about woman is more just and liberal. It is only in the last twenty years that Christian England, has recognized the right of woman to property, while Islam has allowed this right from all times." [The Life and Teachings of Muhammad, Madras, 1932, pp. 25, 26]
Would you like to dispute any of the facts contained in the post, Muslim?
Delete