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.

[August]

This reminds me of a story i once heard:



It took years of hints, suggestions and finally outright threats, but old Joe was finally convinced to convert to Catholicsm by his neighbors.

At the baptism ceremony on Sunday the priest said "Joe, you were born a Protestant and you were raised a Protestant, but with this annointing you are now a Catholic."

The following friday his neighbors noticed the smell of cooking meat wafting from Joes back yard. Their curiosity aroused, they finally peeked over the fence where they saw Joe barbequing several large venison steaks.

As the neighbors debated the scandalous heresy of a recently converted Catholic eating meat on a friday, Joe was heard to say: "You were born a deer, you were raised a deer, but with this annointing you are now a fillet of sole."

[tycho102]

Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay back when......

Giving up protein was a significant issue. Man, it was like meercats on friday. You were hunting meat 24/7 because that sh*t was tough to find.

Meat was something significant to forfeit.

As for those "journalists", I don't blame them for accepting da'wa at the edge of a sword. Gun. At the edge of a gun. I'd have done the same thing. That's how islam has been spread for one thousand, four hundred, thirty years (1430). By the edge of a sword.

Gun. By the edge of a gun. Rifle. Kalashnikov. Whatever. Didn't that guy just put out his own brand of vodka, for the Sake of Christ?

There are two sides to this issue:

1. Those guys say they were coerced. This puts a strain on any other journalist AP/AFP/Reuters bastard that gets caught. How do the jihadists know they are being sincere in their acceptance of da'wa?

2. They will be assassinated as apostates for turning against their Religion. Praise Allah. Allah is Greatest.

[TteFAboB]

Originally Posted by August

Joe was heard to say: "You were born a deer, you were raised a deer, but with this annointing you are now a fillet of sole."

This is what a Jewish friend does to his prohibited meat, blesses before eating.

[Yahoshua]

Blessing dead food on a plate? :rotfl:

Sry, I just don't see the sense in that.

[August]

Originally Posted by Yahoshua

Blessing dead food on a plate? :rotfl:

Sry, I just don't see the sense in that.

Obviously you've never had a touch of food poisoning...

[The Avon Lady]

Originally Posted by Yahoshua

Blessing dead food on a plate? :rotfl:

Sry, I just don't see the sense in that.

Judaism's view of blessings.

[Yahoshua]

I'm familiar with the traditional view of blessings, but the point in case being who/what is being blessed.

Blessing dead food on a plate vs Blessing the almighty for providing us this food and allowing us to live long enough to eat it.

That's more of what struck me as funny at the time.

Are you religiously observant Avon?

[The Avon Lady]

Originally Posted by Yahoshua

Are you religiously observant Avon?

[Yahoshua]

I'm more or less learning the ropes as I go......