Prayers for hostages

No idea what these particular gentlemen are praying for, but I can tell you that the Japan-based Muslims of my acquaintance really love this country, and are deeply grateful for the opportunity that they have been given to live and work here. It wouldn't surprise me one bit if they really were praying for the safety of the Japanese hostages.

I'm guessing the photographer was allowed to take the photo in the mosque given as a means to show people that Muslim's share the same feelings as most if not all in Japan that the hostages be returned safely. And he/she likely asked, and submitted the photo with that kind of explanation.

Good on people who are praying for these guys to come out alive. I hope they do to. Sadly, though, I saw two or three black trucks with the usual golden lotus and white writing praising on the emperor, with loudspeakers on top, driving around looking for appropriate places to scream and spout their hatred -- I heard at least one of them stop towards the department store in town and start screeching, so they probably saw someone who 'looked Muslim'. Besides them one thing that's positive in Japan compared to many other nations is that there is not the same kind of automatic knee-jerk reaction towards all Muslims in general. Islam still remains a complete mystery to the majority, but you won't see the same kind of backlash should things go sour.

some peopels in the comments keeps saying whatthose ppls praying for .... so now muslims even if they pray for someone to be realeased they are guilty ... and instead you smart guys keep saying what those ppls praying for why don't you pray if you have a god or hope if you not have a god for that peoples to be realaeased and back to their families ... that s better than acting like a stupid poorminded ho think he is smarter. .

Tessa, I do hope your muslim chums don't discover how distrusting and condescending that post appears.

The Iman at the Mosque(guess the one in Shinjuku), spoke on the news. Denouncing ISIS as not following true Islam and wishes they were gone.

As for the prayer different people find comfort in different ways. Myself don't worship any deity or hold some people(monks, etc) in higher regard as everybody has equal worth and potential.

Praying is all good & well, but where's their public outrage? Where's the initiative from religious leaders? Seems to be nothing but innaction.

Its Me:

" The Iman at the Mosque(guess the one in Shinjuku), spoke on the news. Denouncing ISIS as not following true Islam and wishes they were gone. "

That is the dilemma right there. I don´t doubt that the imam is not an ISIS sympathizer. But saying that ISIS is not following islam is simply not true. In fact, ISIS is following literal islam to the letter. This denial is typical for the majority in the muslim world, and it leads to the absurd logic that the solution for radical is actually MORE islam. In this way, the islamic moderates actually help the radicals by obfuscating t he problem.

In addition to asking this imam, the journalists should also ask some islamic reformers, e.g. those who wrote the St. Petersburg declaration. They will give a different perspective.

Many Imam and Islamic scholars globally have said that All Quaida, Boko Harsm, ISIS, Taliban don't follow true Islam.

But what do they know being Muslim vs non-muslims posters online.. ;)

Its me:

" Many Imam and Islamic scholars globally have said that All Quaida, Boko Harsm, ISIS, Taliban don't follow true Islam. "

And many others point out that All Quaida, Boko Harsm, ISIS, Taliban do follow true Islam to the letter. In addition, you might also have noticed what Al Quaeda, Boko Haram, ISIS, and Taliban have in common: They are all founded by islamic scholars.

But what do they know being Muslim vs non-muslims posters online.. ;)

That is an ideological dispute, and considering that 23% if the world(Muslim population) us not trying to take over the world.

I go with the non-radical supporters.

this photo is an insult to Japan. They have already killed a Japanese national a few years ago, but seems everyone forgot about that. These Muslims who come in the name of peace are full of it, and in name only as their way of life is not the Japanese way of life. Their way of life is by death and death alone and then one finds peace but by their hands alone.

Moderator: Please leave your bigotry off the discussion board.

Its me:

" I go with the non-radical supporters. "

The problem with the non-radicals in the muslim world is that they too are under pressure from the radicals, and don´t dare to suggest reforms. Can you think of any islamic reformer who has not gotten his share of death threats? So, that non-radical majority does not really help.

I have many good Muslim friends and 2 Muslim family members(also Jewish, Christian, atheist, buddhist, etc). They are just people like you and me, they have the same family, work, etc worries as us and want to live in peace with a steady job and income.

Hence why you have many refugees and immigrants moving other countries.

Its Me:

Well, obviously the fundamentalists like ISIS have other ideas than your family members. And there is a snowball`s chance in hell that the latter would be able convince the former that they are wrong...

I don' see radical Islam having a long-term future, in the end they will self destruct after infighting.

Case of too many groups, Al-Quaida and ISIS is already in opposition. Book Haram is too far away to care right now.

Anyway off to my local Curry Restaurant which is run by Indian Muslims.

It should be ISIS Terrorists not militants I wander why Muslims think they are militants They are Terrorists / killers

Radicals never wipe out. There is a slow process in Muslims life. Sometimes they get less religious and sometime more. Those who are getting more religious are those recruits and supplies that radicals get. I think until we can define a clear line between being radical and being non radical and can distinguish these two, there is a chance of converting to radical for every Muslim. After all, being radical means going back to the roots of religion. Once you go deep into religion, Te Dah!! a new radical is born.

Religion isn't going to kill the hostage. Religion isn't going to save them.

Religion isn't the problem, never is and never was....people are the problem.

Religion is and of itself is nothing more than a set of guidelines, it's idiots interpretations of those guidelines that problems come about.

Religion isn't the problem, never is and never was....people are the problem.

i disagree partly because all people are good, except if they are being literally misguided. you can imagine how many groups are interpreting and operating on those guidelines, boko haram, etc..

all people have brains, i think it is impossible to say i am so clever and all those forming such groups, not one of them have no brain at all.

if i am a muslim, perhaps i could start something like forming a group for reforming verses that these groups are operating on, as it is very likely as well that more groups will be formed in future beside ISIS, who knows.

all people have brains, i think it is impossible to say i am so clever and all those forming such groups, not one of them have no brain at all.

Put this into perspective, and consider this, just because a person has a brain, does not mean that they are capable of making informed choices.

If you are raised in a society that only teaches you, brainwashes, to accept one way of thinking then it is rather easy to understand why and where the hatred originates.

disagree partly because all people are good, except if they are being literally misguided. you can imagine how many groups are interpreting and operating on those guidelines, boko haram, etc..

Misguided? Certainly most people are "good", yet even those who one considers to be good can and are misguided by the people around them, and because they are not given or allowed the chance to be ..................

Oh fprgove me....my brain is mush right now,but I hope to assume that you know what I am saying

Zaphod is on the money. IS is following Islamic law. They are essentially operating exactly how Mohammad, and the Caliphate were. Raids, attacks, rapes, slaving, were all done under and by the founder of Islam.

Yubaru,

i understand your stance, as most here might think the same. however, we cannot do something, we can only give what we think in the most respectful and friendly manner possible. i am not forcing my ideas either or think that i am right, i can only apologise if what i wrote is offensive or does not sound right.

The problem with Muslim moderates is that what they consider moderate is not what you or I would call moderate. Large proportions of Muslims claim to be moderate while also saying that legal punishments for apostasy, including death, are legitimate. Sorry, but you can't have your Sharia cake and eat moderation, too.

The second problem is that faith, by nature, is irrational, and this holds for pretty much all religions. It's not enough to have a brain. You need to use it, and it needs to be equipped with a bs detector. Religion may have been useful back when we didn't know any better, but not anymore.

It's great that the Muslims are praying. They're sincere, but I'm sure they're also concerned about a backlash. I know I would be if I were in their shoes.

Besides them one thing that's positive in Japan compared to many other nations is that there is not the same kind of automatic knee-jerk reaction towards all Muslims in general

What "other nations" would you be referring to?

zaphod: "This denial is typical for the majority in the muslim world, and it leads to the absurd logic that the solution for radical is actually MORE islam."

Hogwash! The imam was saying the same thing as a Christian priest might say about radical Christians who killed someone supposedly in the name of god -- they are not true Christians/following God's message. It's you who is imposing what you think the imam means on 'the majority of the Muslim world'.

Mick_Hardwick: No doubt one or two instantly popped into your mind, given the slightly defensive tone (not coincidental given my 'knee-jerk response' remark). Start with those ones and ask yourself if that's how it'd go... but be honest about the answer.

Religion isn't going to save them.

Some of those praying there might. It's the Tokyo Cami, which also houses a cultural centre run by the Turkish embassy.

Religion isn't going to kill the hostage. Religion isn't going to save them.

Right. 'Cause ideas and beliefs don't matter.

Tessa, I do hope your muslim chums don't discover how distrusting and condescending that post appears.

Hey, I got it straight from the horse's mouth! That's what they tell me: how much they appreciate life here. Certainly makes a pleasant change from the usual moaning minnies (myself included, admittedly).

One of the most poignant photos of the suffer ISIS has inflicted on Islam and all Muslims. ISIS has succeeded in making a mockery of Allah and the true believers in peace. Gods bless these people and grant us all the wisdom to know how to stop the seething hatred ISIS represents for all humanity. The shame, the shame.

My guess, once the news that these 2 Japanese hostages have killed, we will see attacks against Muslims, mosques etc..here in Japan too. It will not be the first time that a Japanese backlash against Muslims happens here in Japan.

I prayed for Japan too, that the jihadist may let the 2 men free without any cent payed and face thier humbleness against the japanese people who are peaceful loving and non interfering on thier religious war....In the name of GOD, please free them. Show faithfulness to Allah...Allah akhbar!

Nice to hear that Muslims in Japan are praying for the safe return of the two Japanese hostages. I wonder if they passed around an offering plate to collect donations for the $200,000.00 needed to save those hostage's lives. The only way that groups like ISIS and other radical Muslim entities will be stopped is not by the USA or any other country's armed forces because you can not win a war against a force (guerilla warfare) that has no headquarters, no formal military and no formal administration to negotiate with and settle conflicts. The only way those radical Muslims will be defeated is if the "good peace loving" Muslims turn against the radicals and take care of them by themselves because they know who the individuals are, where they live and work.

11 hours after deadline, they announced that "deadline begun" and released new vido and they haven't killed hostages. Nice people on picture.

smithjapan:

" Hogwash! The imam was saying the same thing as a Christian priest might say about radical Christians who killed someone supposedly in the name of god -- they are not true Christians/following God's message. "

Except ISIS is following Gods message to letter. ISIS has the Shahada on their flag, gives people the choice to convert to (Sunni) islam or die, imposes islamic Shariah law to the letter, is led by a Phd in islamic law, enjoys generous funding from Saudi Wahabi sources, and recruits followers via radical mosques all over the world, including Europe. In fact, if your read the Haddiths you will see ISIS follows Mohammeds excample to the letter. Who are we to tell them they are not following scripture?

If you want to put the imam`s words into perspective, read up on the islamic concept of "Taqiyya" (or "Kutman" for Sunnis).