Free at last?

BBC NEWS | Africa | Mauritanian MPs pass slavery law

600,00 slaves? Hard to believe. One thing is for sure: this does not represent the majority of Muslims. Islam tends against slavery according to most Islaimc scholars. This is why when Ihear of slavery in Muslim lands, I tend to discard it as just another anti-Islam, anti-Muslim lie.

Yeah.... best to discard it as being nothing, the Arabs brought all that slavery crap to the continent in the first place and they're still at it as the above shows.

Don't walk with your eyes closed.

Abdurratin,

Are you a convert to Islam or were you born into the faith?

...And you don't walk with your fingers in your ears.

African, please do not trip on my religion. hwoever, I am willing to discuss it an enlightment attempt for Africans.

I accepted Islam in middle age, after studying several different religions. I have learned that many lies have been told against Muslims and against Islam. I beleive that these lies only contribute to division and confusion within our own community. It is best that we all pursue Unity, not division.

AJC,
That was what I was about to say( far as the article).Although they banned slavery in Mauritania in '81, it fell on death ears because not drastic enough measures was taken to do.That is the difference between then and now. But I still wonder because it was promises to them and slavery still persisted. Hopefully, it will work with crossed fingers.

abdurratln,
Although I'm Christian by faith and by practice, you couldn't be more right. Like you, I took a class in religion, but moreso than anything, I went to a couple of mosques, W. Deen Muhammad and a racially mixed one for a class assignment and a general visit with my brothers friend who is Muslim, and was educated from both Imams and I will tell you what, I came out so happy and why? because I learned what the true Islam was about and it sooooo beautiful, the history and all, really beautiful. at one point, I wanted to be a Muslim or at least learn more about it as a 16-year-old, but my mother wouldn't let me. I remembered when one of religion former teachers was grading my papers, how I made a high marks on it and why I decided to choose Islam( we had to take a fieldtrip on a religion that was opposite of ours) for my assigment and I told him, because I felt that I wasn't getting the truth about it and I really had good feeling about it.

Media and even Muslims like Louis Farakkhan doesn't accurately give a great depiction of Islam.( and if you're in his league, I apologize for it. I just don't agree with his brand of politics). If you listen to media, they make it seem like a dangerous religion and with Farakkhan( as well as what we see in Southern Sudan), he make it seem as every Muslim is suppose to hate Christians. It's funny when I posed this question to the Imam, which like I said one was African-American and one was South Indian, they were like "what?!? you're joking" kind of look on there face. Then they told me of how they do not try to associate with that kind of rhetoric and that Islam teaches their followers to respect people who are not of their religion and proceeded to tell me the surah they got it from.The South Indian Imam veven wenta s far to tell me that he didn't agree with the government In Saudi Arabia putting politics in religion because to him, some of the officers give the wrong impression of it as they use it to control their people. Neither agreed with Farrakkhan's doctrine.

I was telling my mom it's ashamed that people cannot practice their religion without being hassled over it. Like i said it is a beautiful religion with a beautiful history( I just like reading the story about Muhammad. Initially, my mom also prevented me from being a Muslim because she thought it promoted sexism, which I learned it was actually a religions that was progressive as Muhammad granted so much rights to women. It's a religious practice.

In general, I just felt like I missed out because of it. Some people have warned me against it because of what it appears to be like or or possible harrassment, but do you know what? No matter what religion one is in, when you're doing Allah's/God's work, you will be faced with challenges. Even in Christianity, I'm taught the same thing. There is no easy way of doing his work and if you do,you will face it in you latter life. Far as persecution, the same applies, Muslims are being persecuted for their faith, just like the Jews, Jehovah's witness and so on you will be a persecuted for your faith. it's in the Bible and the Qu'ran. he's not trying to hurt you, but god wants the best of the best and like the military, the persecutions is about building your stregth and faith and help you be a testimony in another persons life. That is to be admired.

Cece, I want you to know that I read every word you just posted. It was about the best word of encouragement that I have had in a long time. Even many Muilims are not comfortable with my politics.

As for Sheik Farakhan and the Nation of Islam, I can deal with most of their politics, at least that politic that promates African Unity and Development. But, there is little in the Nation of Islam that resembles Islam as I know it. I have never been in the NOI. I have known a few people in it. But, I have never been all that close to them. My family is African mixed with Asian and American Indian. When I first tried to study Islam at the NOI, they told me that certain members of my immediate family were not welcome. If that is not destructive of the African family, I do not know what is.

But, I do not want to get into a fight with NOI. I am the founder of Front for the Unification and Development of Africa and Arabia. As such, it is my job to work with the NOI on political matters. Imam Malcolm X taught us to avoid publicly fighting among ourselves. This is the first principle of the political front as seen by us in FUDAA. I know it will take time and effort. But, we must get together with NOI for the good of our community. So, I avoid talking about how much NOI has harmed me in my personal life.

Also, let it be known that it is not good to have NOI always saying ignorant and hurtful things about the immigrants from Africa and Asia. This sort of thing only hurts Africans and helps Jews, I mean zionists.

By "unity", you mean Islam. That supposition is divisive by its very nature.