Re: Kindly Take Off Your shoes Before Praying

Posted by zaphod on November 26, 1997 at 21:27:25:

In Reply to: Re: Kindly Take Off Your shoes Before Praying posted by Asiya on November 24, 1997 at 03:24:16:

: Dear brother Mohamed,

: Peace be upon you. With all due respect, I think you may need to clarify what your purpose in placing this post was, for I myself am somewhat set aback. Is it to show Christians the teachings of Jesus (peace be upon him) and those before him which have been preserved by us as Muslims through our following Islam?

: For the approach taken above, though perhaps not intended so, leaves the impression that you are implying Christians are unclean, doing something to offend God, or that their prayers are not heard if they wear shoes to church... Brother, we know this as being completely incorrect and the teaching of the prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) is that all actions are measured by their intentions... a prayer out of sincerity and/or a desire to communicate and be near to God is not diminished or belittled by our wearing of shoes..

: It is indeed a gesture of our devotion to God that we wish to appear before Him in cleanliness, without a grain of dirt upon us, but we are still heard nonetheless! :-)

: There are hadeeth describing how one may pray in a war situation even with one's blood stained all over one's body, and what to do when there ARE no lavatory facilities, and even where formal prayer with shoes is permitted.. individual du'as (which are generally what are performed by Christians) as you know do not require any obligations of taking off shoes or other forms of cleanliness to be performed.

: We (and many Christian denominations and individual followers) preserve certain customs for the hygienic benefit of others and for the spiritual purpose it also holds if one is conscious of it.. However it by no means says that those of other faiths who do not observe such customs are any less devoted dear brother.

:
: In hopes that we may continue to promote the love and active renewal towards the One God amongst all people,
: in mutual understanding,
: was-salaam,
: Asiya.

Asiya,

I would just like to say that your posting is one of the most refreshing I have seen in this debate for a long time. It is extremely well constructed and your arguments are very sound. Contrary to what Ghounen believes, we as humans can never be as clean as we might think we are. Washing several times, only reduces the amount of dirty/dead skin cells, since we are 'exfoliating' continuously. I would only add that the intention is what is important here, and Islam preserves the symbolic body cleaning. Christians believe that the cleanliness of heart and soul is more important than that of the body, since our body is only a temporary 'structure'. When we die we all know the body decays, but for those of us that believe in salvation our soul is saved.

Follow Ups:

• Re: Kindly Take Off Your shoes Before Praying Tracy 12/04/97 (3)
  • Re: Kindly Take Off Your shoes Before Praying zaphod 12/04/97 (2)
    • Re: Kindly Take Off Your shoes Before Praying Tracy 12/04/97 (1)
      • Re: Kindly Take Off Your shoes Before Praying zaphod 12/05/97 (0)

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Subject  : Re: Kindly Take Off Your shoes Before Praying

Comments:

: : Dear brother Mohamed,

: : Peace be upon you.  With all due respect, I think you may need to clarify what your purpose in placing this post was, for I myself am somewhat set aback.  Is it to show Christians the teachings of Jesus (peace be upon him) and those before him which have been preserved by us as Muslims through our following Islam?

: : For the approach taken above, though perhaps not intended so, leaves the impression that you are implying Christians are unclean, doing something to offend God, or that their prayers are not heard if they wear shoes to church...  Brother, we know this as being completely incorrect and the teaching of the prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) is that all actions are measured by their intentions... a prayer out of sincerity and/or a desire to communicate and be near to God is not diminished or belittled by our wearing of shoes..

: : It is indeed a gesture of our devotion to God that we wish to appear before Him in cleanliness, without a grain of dirt upon us, but we are still heard nonetheless! :-)

: : There are hadeeth describing how one may pray in a war situation even with one's blood stained all over one's body, and what to do when there ARE no lavatory facilities, and even where formal prayer with shoes is permitted..   individual du'as (which are generally what are performed by Christians) as you know do not require any obligations of taking off shoes or other forms of cleanliness to be performed.

: : We (and many Christian denominations and individual followers) preserve certain customs for the hygienic benefit of others and for the spiritual purpose it also holds if one is conscious of it..  However it by no means says that those of other faiths who do not observe such customs are any less devoted dear brother.

: : 
: : In hopes that we may continue to promote the love and active renewal towards the One God amongst all people,
: : in mutual understanding,
: : was-salaam,
: : Asiya.

: Asiya,

: I would just like to say that your posting is one of the most refreshing I have seen in this debate for a long time. It is extremely well constructed and your arguments are very sound. Contrary to what Ghounen believes, we as humans can never be as clean as we might think we are. Washing several times, only reduces the amount of dirty/dead skin cells, since we are 'exfoliating' continuously. I would only add that the intention is what is important here, and  Islam preserves the symbolic body cleaning. Christians believe that the cleanliness of heart and soul is more important than that of the body, since our body is only a temporary 'structure'. When we die we all know the body decays, but for those of us that believe in salvation our soul is saved.