It is 'Haraam' to pray 'Salaah' in a Church

By MASIDING NOOR YAHYA

'Islam' and 'Muslim' are two different words with different meanings. Islam means 'Complete Submission to the Will of Allah' peacefully. It is a Faith, a Religion, and a Way of Life. On the other hand, Muslim means 'One who completely obeys God's Will' according to Islam. A 'Muslim' is a person or individual who believes in and practices 'Islam' as his Faith or Religion and Way of Life.

Not all Arabs are Muslims. There are many Christian Arabs. Likewise, not all Bangsamoro are Muslims. There are Christians, or what not, among them. They are Bangsamoro but they are not Muslims. Yet, any person of any tribe, citizenship or nationality can be a Muslim if he adopts Islam as his Faith, Religion and Way of Life - in thought, word, and deed.

It is a sheer ignorance and blind belief to call any Moro a Muslim if he does not practice the teachings of Islam which mean "Peaceful Submission to the Will of God." For to be a Muslim must have the trait of a peace-loving person.

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While the face of the earth is considered a 'masjid' for Muslim to perform 'Salaah', personally, I believe that performing 'Salah' in a church or other house of worship aside from the 'masjid' is 'Haraam' or forbidden to a faithful. 

In Islam, there is always a boundary between 'Halaal' and 'Haraam' that cannot be mixed. That is why in the Haramain, you cannot bring in 'Haraam' people or things. A non-Muslim cannot go to the Haramain because they are not Muslims. How much more to pray there?

All these kind of tolerance began when the Zionist started their campaign for a One World Order. They introduced Peace through Interfaith Dialogue and ecumenical prayers in a gathering of peoples of various Faiths in order to achieve Peace. They are teaching us the kind of peace they want.

Once Islam accepts this new concept, which many have done already, it will tantamount to the acceptance that other religions are also in the Right Path and that anyone can choose from the line of religions without deviating from the Right Path. This idea is completely rejected by Islam.

As I have a limited space provided here, I don't have the privilege to quote Quranic verses or scholars' fatwa to support my point. For a matter of query or other clarification, you may write to dingyahya@gmail.com.

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IT IS surprising to me that opposition senatorial candidate Samira Gutoc, a Maranao, would endorse a close Maranao media friend like the publisher of Ranao Star to a non-Maranao local FM radio block-timer if she asked for a piece of news about her campaign. How can one who is not a Maranao by blood and in word and deed, and who barely understand the tradition of the tribe, can better provide good information that we need for a Maranao politician like Samira?

I still believe, "It takes a Maranao to understand a Maranao!" and "Blood is thicker than water!"

(RSP)