Why is halal legal?

[fr0d0]

If you make a rule that someone must thank and praise you, then that act is forced and not through choice, is what I'm saying. The act of love is inspirational, not regimented. If you wanted someone to love you : them saying that they loved you 50 times a day without putting any feeling into it would be worthless against one gesture of love really meant.

[Epimethean]

But, while it makes sense to love other human beings and to demonstrate that love, loving an hypothetical, unobserved, mythical being makes very little sense.

[Rayaan]

If you make a rule that someone must thank and praise you, then that act is forced and not through choice, is what I'm saying.

What is different about Christianity, then?

You're implying as if Muslims do not love Allah or their religion, and merely uttering words without feelings, which is not necessarily true because words and faith can be compatible.

[Epimethean]

You mean like promissory notes?

[The Grand Nudger]

Rayaan, there isn't a difference between Islam and Christianity in that regard. This is exactly what we have so often attempted to make clear to both of you.

[fr0d0]

If you make a rule that someone must thank and praise you, then that act is forced and not through choice, is what I'm saying.

What is different about Christianity, then?

You're implying as if Muslims do not love Allah or their religion, and merely uttering words without feelings, which is not necessarily true because words and faith can be compatible.

I'm not saying there's a difference, I'm just pointing out the correct attitude.

It follows that if you follow the text strictly without wanting the meaning, then your observance is empty.

If you're saying that to follow Allah you must replicate exactly the words of the Quran and ignore true observance then you aren't honouring Allah.

@ Rhythm: Did you notice that you sacrifice to Allah where God is sacrificed to you?

[Rayaan]

I'm not saying there's a difference, I'm just pointing out the correct attitude.

Okay but the correct attitude is dependant on one's intention for the sacrifice and you cannot judge that based on the actions only.

It follows that if you follow the text strictly without wanting the meaning, then your observance is empty.

You can do both at the same time, i.e. follow the text strictly and also stick to the meaning behind the action. The same thing with Christians.

If you're saying that to follow Allah you must replicate exactly the words of the Quran and ignore true observance then you aren't honouring Allah.

Then you tell me what is the 'true' observance and why that is not reconcilable with following the exact instructions of the Quran (if you think that the Muslims are doing something wrong).

@ Rhythm: Did you notice that you sacrifice to Allah where God is sacrificed to you?

What do you mean? ...

Now, remember the time when God told Abraham to sacrifice his own son as mentioned in the Bible?

According to the biblical story, Abraham sets out to obey God's command without questioning but does not state in front of Isaac that he is the intended sacrifice (22:5 and 22:8). After Isaac is bound to an altar, the angel of God stops Abraham at the last minute, saying that "now I know you fear God." At this point Abraham sees a ram caught in some nearby bushes and sacrifices the ram in Isaac's stead.

^ See fr0d0, it's the same type of sacrifice when the Muslims sacrifice a cow, sheep, or a goat.

[Rayaan]

This is also found in the Quran, which is that Abraham saw in a dream that he was offering his son as a sacrifice, and he believed that it was from Allah.

So one day he told his son about the dream. Surprisingly, his son had no objection and was willing to be sacrificed as Allah had willed it. When Abraham set out to fulfill the dream, Allah told him to stop, and He brought a ram to him in the same place as a substitute for his son. Then, the ram was sacrificed instead of his son. From then on, Allah has made this ritual as a rewarding deed for all the Muslims in the future (as underlined in the verse below):

Then when (the son) reached the age of serious work with him, he said: "Oh my son! I see in vision that I offer you in sacrifice: Now see what is my view!" (The son) said: "Oh my father! Do as you are commanded: You will find me, if Allah so wills one practicing patience and constancy!" So when they had both submitted their will to Allah, and he had laid him prostrate on his forehead for sacrifice, We called out to him, "Oh Abraham! You have already fulfilled the vision!" Thus indeed do We reward those who do right. For this was obviously a trial and We ransomed him with a momentous sacrifice. And We left (this blessing) for him among generations (to come) in later times. - Surah 37, Verses 102-108.

Likewise, a Muslim feels a great sense of appreciation when he is in front of a live cattle, with a knife in his hand, while getting ready to offer the animal as a sacrifice to Allah.

The act even brings a feeling of transcending the notion of self.

[Epimethean]

I say we skip GO and $200 and sacrifice a god to see what happens. Can an imaginary creature suffer pain? Does it bleed?

[Rayaan]

Can an imaginary creature suffer pain? Does it bleed?

No, but you don't know if we are just talking about an imaginary creature or not. But, it is my belief that God exists and that He is beyond imagination and all sensory perceptions. He is above everything.