It was well worth listening to  the programme, especially Brother Faysal Yaqoob. I liked the way he talked about the Prophet Mohammed and how he was a mediator and would sooner talk and come to a solution peacefully. This reflects in some of my reading of Mohammed’s life that I have been reading.

In his early life as a trader he gained a reputation for being an honest in his dealings and gained a reputation as a mediator before he became a Prophet. As a trader he would have come into contact with Jews and Christians etc.

Brother Faysal Yaqoob, was asked a question about how to deal with Jews etc. Some Muslims quote that Muslims should have nothing to do with the Kuffars. Also I believe it is again quoted that the testimony of Kuffars is not accepted in Sharia law. Yet Brother Faysal Yaqoob quotes that Mohammed did not hate the Kuffars “Hate the sin and not the sinner”. Also He “Mohammed”, resolved a case in the favour of a Christian against a Muslim.

The quote read out about St Katherine’s Monastery, should be made more widely known. Also the facts that Christians should be allowed to carry on their own form of worship either in their own Church, or indeed a Mosque? (I hope the Saudi’s are listening)

The two points I did like was a] A Muslim should ask himself what would Mohammed do in a certain situation. (This reflects a movement in the 70’s and 80’s) Some Christians wore a tee shirt with letters W. W. J. D. (What Would Jesus Do). The next point b] There must be more discussion about Islam in English and also their must be more British born Imam’s. This reflects the Christian view point that the Bible must be available in the language of the people, indeed it was much discussed about dropping Church services in Latin and using the English instead.

The example of a Muslim reaching out to non-Muslims by a simple Hello, or Good Morning by speaking to an old lady at a bus stop and how he persevered and eventually she said good morning to him.

His replies on how to treat your wife, children or parents etc one example wife beating is allowed in the Koran, but he states that Mohammed never did this himself, yes he did get annoyed and had differences but never resorted to violence.

I could carry on, I shall be looking forward to more broadcasts, but before I end I should like to hear a discussion of interpreting and ruling on the Koran. One example if two surahs differ then the surah written down last takes precedent over the first.

Thanks for the comments.

The Let's talk show was on local radio during the month of Ramadan.

I think I have 14 or 15 other recordings that I need to get online yet (I will also need to listen to them to know what they are about) but I don't know if there has been something about the Qur'an in there.

On the issue of beatings, the guest was a student and like many others I do not think he was able to get the sentiment ovre in the best way.

Islam doesn't allow beatings. The Qur'an is a book of guidance, but it is also a book of law.

Legal aspects of the Qur'an have to be looked at from a legal angle. Unfortunately as Shariah law is rarely practiced around the world now, even the "scholars" who discuss the legal aspects are not adequately trained in legalese.

The Prophet (saw)'s example is of perfection and how it should be. The Qur'an must also set a limit - something actionable in a legal arena. Here, the limit has been set as gentle tapping with a tooth brush, which if exceeded a judge can take action on as it has exceeded the limits that have been set.

(AFAIK, british law has something about its defined limit being to do with bruising... or I may be wrong.)

Back to the topic at hand, we consider Prophet Isa a prophet of God, and the question of "WWJD" (and its islamic equivalent) is a good one to live by. We must just make sure that we do not twist the answers to support something just because we want it to.

Just a further comment after listening to The Prophet and Modern day Challenges

Brother Faysal Yaqoob’s comments on the family, relationships between Husbands and Wives, Parents and Children, not to mention relationships with others. This jogged a memory and I thought I would pass to you some more of my thoughts.

Colossians Chap 3 verse 18 to verse 21

Personal relationships

v18] Wives, submit to your husbands, for that is what you should do as Christians. v19] Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them. v20] Children, it is your Christian duty to obey your parents always, for that is what pleases God. v21] Parents do not irritate your children, or they will become discouraged.

These words are almost the same words Brother faysal Yaqoob spoke in his talk. But in this case they come from a letter to the Colossians (in what is now Southern Turkey) from St Paul in Roman times.

It just shows how similar we are in some ways and that we should be working hard to understand each other’s views. Probably the more we understand each other, the less we have to fear from each other?

 We must just make sure that we do not twist the answers to support something just because we want it to.

The above sentence sums up what causes friction. We are all sometimes guilty of doing this, myself included.