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I'm saddened by the wide-spread disinformation about Islam in much of the Western world, and since the colonization of the mind, even in Africa. Of course, Muslims themselves are much to blame for this.
Many of them did not support Muammar Qadhafi* nor hearken to the Qur'an but instead listened to evil misleaders who told them "you can't understand Qur'an, so listen to me instead". Ignorance is everywhere.
Here are two facts you may not know:
1. ANY TRAVELLER MUST be assisted with food, water, accommodation (if possible) NO MATTER WHAT their religion. Even if they do NOT believe in God. It is COMPULSORY and a reward to every Muslim to do so. That includes animals.
2. ANY MUSLIMS who is TRAVELING in Ramadan (or weak, sick, elderly) must NOT FAST even in Ramadan. Instead, if due to travel/health he/she can make up for the not fasted days later. OR, anyone can instead of fasting for each day missed, feed one poor person by giving them full meals (not money).
Also, Muslims are commanded "there is no compulsion in Deen" (Deen = Way of Life / Religion). Thus, you cannot be a Muslim by force. If you attack Muslims, they are liable to fight back, but if you leave them alone, they cannot attack and occupy you. No compulsion in faith.
Here, is a story, it's just a nice story, but no doubt true, and illustrates something very well, i.e. how man thinks, but how God (Allah) knows BEST.
A pious Muslim was fasting in Ramadan, and when his Partner (in Islam we don't have wives, they are not property, they are PARTNERS) Arabic word is "Zawja" (same for male, for female, it is partner), had made a nice meal for them to break fast at sunset, he said to his partner:
"I feel bad eating this good food on my own"
She replied: "If you feel bad about it, then go to the market and find a poor person and bring them back to share the meal".
So off he went to the market. There, he came across a poor old man. He said "would you like to come to my house now and eat a meal with me and my partner?"
The old man was overjoyed, as he was poor, and hungry.
As they walked to the pious man's house, along the way they chatted. The pious man discovered that the old man did not believe in God at all. He thus turned to him and was about to say "I'm sorry, I can't share my meal with you, as you are a non-believer"!
God rebuked the pious Muslim (maybe it was an ancient Prophet for all we know), and said:
Why would you deny this old man a meal? I have fed him every day for the last 88 years of his life, even though he does not believe in me.
The pious man immediately repented, and overjoyed, continued with the old man to his house and ensured he had a great meal and ate his full, and he had learned a great lesson.
*) Mu'ammar Qadhafi was an African Muslim revolutionary leader who fought for human and womens' rights, freedom, justice, unity, development and also chartered a Third Way beyond capitalism and communism, beyond dictatorship and representative democracy.
That is another story perhaps for another time. You could take a look at this video for a summary, in the midst of the bombing of the self-governing grass-roots participator-democracy Jamahiriya in 2011.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aJURNC0e6Ek
PS: "Muslim" is Arabic for "one who submits to the will of God"
