Thursday, May 28, 2009

Today's Quiz

Observe this picture:



Is he

- praying for rain?

- praying that his Jewish employer continue to win contracts for building construction in Jewish communities so he can support his large family?

- praying that the local Hamasniks leave him and his family alone?

- praying that the local Fatahniks leave him and his family alone?

- praying that Israel's GSS continue to allow him to work in Jewish communities by awarding him a security pass?

- praying that he get the American Green card he applied for to join his brother?

5 comments:

Martijn Lauwens said...

...praying that one day he wouldn't have to undergo the humiliation of having to work in an occupier's colony.

g said...

From what i know, Islamic prayer is not asking God for things (unlike Christian) but a praise to God and reciting of Quran.
I find your "quiz" inappropriate.

YMedad said...

a) Martijn: you mean Hamas occupation?

b) Sorry but humor is an amorphous form of social comment.

As for Islamic prayer, I see that prayer is obligatory in order to enter Paradise and so it is, in a sense, asking God for something although the prayers themselves are indeed strictly praise:

“There are five prayers that Allah obligated the slaves to perform. Whoever performs them properly without belittling their obligation, Allah promised to admit him into Paradise. Whoever leaves them out does not have a promise from Allah to have Paradise without torture before. If He willed, He tortures him, and if He willed, He forgives him”. Narrated by Ahmad in his Musnad.

and this:

There are five (5) prayers which must be performed by the Muslims and are called “obligatory” prayers. It is a great sin to neglect performing any of these obligatory prayers. Among the merits of performing the obligatory prayers is that one’s small sins, which may be committed between prayers, are forgiven. The Prophet , may Allah raise his rank, said: “Whoever makes a complete wudu', his sins will depart his body, until they leave from under his nails”.

source

g said...

You claim they only pray because they have to? Do you pray because you have to?

In any religion you must do much more than just pray to get into heaven (whatever your interpretation of heaven is). Among people of the same religion reasons for praying may differ. I noticed for those who care more about spirituality over religion prayer is more of a need and a call from within whereas organized religions advocate there are mandatory rituals to perform in order to get to heaven. It's ridiculous all the things evangelicals have to do to sit next to Jesus :).

YMedad said...

Galia, don't be so serious all the time. I have enough with our political discussions, do we have to argue theological issues, too, and with evangelicals? ;->)

That's why I appreciate Judaism which has a very social side to its observance - from which Islam picked up some important things.