That's what it's all about...

[Skybird]

...., after all: conversion.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...082700159.html

JERUSALEM, Aug. 27 -- Two Fox Television journalists held for 13 days in the Gaza Strip were released Sunday after they were shown on a videotape saying they converted to Islam.

Anyone knowing if they did it for reasons of real belief - or did it just instrumentally, to avoid getting murdered?

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/27/wo...rtner=homepage

[Dowly]

No, I believe there has to be another reasons for their release. Who would be stupid enough to believe that one day the two hostages have converted to islam?? Isn´t it obvious? If I would be a hostage and facing possible execution, hell, I would say I´m a alien if they believed in one!

[The Avon Lady]

Originally Posted by Dowly

If I would be a hostage and facing possible execution, hell, I would say I´m a alien if they believed in one!

This brought back memories of an ancient email from over a decade ago:

> The following are useful phrases to know when
> travelling in the mideast:
>
> Akbar khali haftir - Thank you for showing me your
> lovely gun.
>
> Gabul gardan davat - I am delighted to accept your
> offer to lie down on the floor with my arms above my
> head and my legs crossed.
>
> Tamomeh gofteh - I agree with everythig you have ever
> said or thought in your life.
>
> Mano sepameh hast achman al hum - It is exceptionally
> kind of you to allow me to travel in the trunk of your
> car.
>
> Fashal el degat gof tam de la la - If you will do me
> the kindness of not harming my genital appendages I
> will gladly reciprocate by betraying my country in
> public.
>
> Maneh va jabil bis me allah - I will tell you the names
> and addresses of many American spies traveling as
> reporters.
>
> Bali Balli Ballii - Whatever you say!
>
> Gher mez ghor han el hum - The red blind fold would be
> lovely, excellency.
>
> Tineck ba ob khrellen va ino emir massa noir - The
> water-soaked bread crumbs are delicious, thank you. I
> must have the recipe.

[Dowly]

@Avon: :rotfl::rotfl:

[U-104]

:rotfl::rotfl:

[Rockstar]

They were probably paid off by the local iman

In the Qur'an we read:

"Alms are for the poor and the needy, and those employed to administer the (funds); for those whose hearts have been (recently) reconciled (to Truth); for those in bondage and in debt; in the cause of God; and for the wayfarer: (thus is it) ordained by God, and God is full of knowledge and wisdom" [Surat at-Taubah 9:60; translation by Yusuf Ali]


The following is taken from the classical Muslim commentary on the Qur'an, Tafsir Ibn Kathir. The comment on Surah 9:60 states:

As for those whose hearts have been (recently) reconciled (to the Truth) they are in various divisions: some who were given (money) to convert to Islam, like when the Prophet Muhammad - Peace Be Upon Him - gave Safwan Bin Ummayah from the booty of the Battle of Hunayn, and he (Safwan Bin Ummayah) had fought in it as an infidel [Mushrik], ... Imam Ahmad said: Narrated Zakria bin Uddi, that Ibn Al-Mobarek said that Younis Al-Zahri from Saaid bin Al-Messyab from Safwan Bin Ummayah who said: "The Messenger - Peace Be Upon Him - gave me (money) on the Battle of Hunayn and he was one of the people I've hated most; he kept on giving me (money) until he became one of the people I've loved most."[*] And some of them are given (money) to better their Islam and strengthen their faith in their hearts, like when he (Muhammad) gave on the Battle of Hunayn a group of the lowest of the released prisoners and the most noble of them one hundred camels each, and he (Muhammad) said, "Giving a man and others (money) is lovable (by me) because I'm afraid that Allah would throw him (the infidel) on his face into the hell fire." And in the Sahihayn (meaning Bukhari and Muslim) narrated Ibn Sa'eed, that Ali sent to the Prophet - Peace Be Upon Him - with a gold piece in it's soil from Yemen, so he (Muhammad) divided it between four people: Al-Aqra' Bin Al-Habis, Ayyinah Bin Badr, Alqamah Bin Oulathah, and Zayd Al-Khayr, and he (Muhammad) said, "Atta'alafuhum = I'm reconciling their hearts to the truth", some of them are given (money) to collect the charity from those close to them, and some of them are given money to protect the Muslims from attacks at the corners of the countries.

[Ishmael]

Originally Posted by The Avon Lady

This brought back memories of an ancient email from over a decade ago:

You forgot the phrase they probably used:

Ila Allah Illalah(hope my spelling is correct)

There is no God but God

Be sure to keep fingers firmly crossed behind your back.

In late 1978, I was offered a job by Raytheon to train the Shah of Iran's navy in weapons system & ASW operations in Bandar Abbas. I turned the job down because I had already been to Bandar Abbas & knew what it was like. Had I taken the job, I fould have been the 53rd hostage telling everybody what a great guy I thought Khomeini was. Just give me that plane ticket and I'll go back & tell everybody. Either that or doing the backstroke across the Hormus Straits to Oman.

[Konovalov]

Originally Posted by Ishmael

You forgot the phrase they probably used:

Ila Allah Illalah(hope my spelling is correct)

There is no God but God

Be sure to keep fingers firmly crossed behind your back.

We say "Laa Ilaha Illallah" which translates into "There is no lord worthy of worship except Allah." This is only half of the Shahada (Kalima). In full the Shahada is as follows:

"Ashhadu Alla Ilaha Illa Allah Wa Ashhadu Anna Muhammad Rasulu Allah."

This translates into "I bear witness that there is no deity other than Allah (swt) and that Muhammad (saw) is his servant and Messenger."

On a side note you may be asking why I follow the name of Allah with (swt) and Muhammad with (saw). They are basically terms of respect and reverence for God (in the case of S.W.T.), and for all of the prophets (in the case of S.A.W.) which Muhammad (saw) was the last.

S.W.T. is short for "Subhanahu wa ta'ala" which basically means "praised and exalted is he."

S.A.W. is short for "Salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam" which translates into "May the blessings and the peace of Allah be upon him. Muslims use this when addressing all of the prophets including Moses, Jesus, Abraham, Mohammad, Adam, and Noah.

[The Avon Lady]

Originally Posted by Skybird

...., after all: conversion.

Back on topic and in great detail, here's Robert Spencer's new article Fox News and Forced Conversions.