Sam Harris.org Reader Forum

Potty Training From The Quran

2012-02-04T19:34:52+00:00

INSTRUCTIONS FROM THE QURAN

If this doesn’t show you how ridiculous institutional religion is, then nothing will.

Islam: It’s mostly about going to the bathroom
You probably think that being a Muslim involves praying five times a day, eating halal food, fasting during Ramadan, and traveling to Mecca once in your lifetime. And, for many Muslims, it does. But there’s a heck of lot more to it than that.
Take going to the bathroom, for instance.
Now it’s true that Allah doesn’t provide much bathroom guidance in the Quran, although there is this bit of helpful advice:
When ye rise up for prayer ... if ye ... cometh from the closet, or ye have had contact with women, and ye find not water, then go to clean, high ground and rub your faces and your hands with some of it. Quran 5:6
Which tells us that that kind of thing is important to Allah. He cares about your bathroom routine.
And so does Muhammad (PB&J be upon him). He was absolutely obsessed with it. Here is what he had to say:

Your Apostle (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) teaches you about everything, even about excrement. (1)
So let’s take a look at some of the things that Muhammad taught about excrement.
1. Before entering the bathroom, cover your head, put shoes on your feet, and say this little prayer: “O Allah I seek your protection from the male and female devils.”
When going to the toilet the messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) would wear footwear. He would cover his blessed head and before stepping into the room, he would read: ‘O Allah I seek your protection from the male and female devils.’ (1)
2. Enter the bathroom with your left foot.
The Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) would enter the toilet with his left foot. (1)
3. Don’t read the Quran while on the toilet.
Any verse of the Qur’an, should be removed before entering the toilet. (1)
4. Don’t let anyone see you pee. (No one ever saw Muhammad do it—except for all those eyewitnesses who provided the glorious details about his peeing technique.)
Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him) states that, ‘When the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) would go to relieve himself he would go so far that no-one could see him.’ We should make sure that there is complete privacy whilst relieving one’s self; this is modesty that every Muslim should have. (1)
A person should be concealed from the sight of others when answering the call of nature. ... How can anybody uncover in front of other people the ‘awrah (private parts) which Allaah has placed between his legs to conceal it and commanded him to cover it? (2)
One should move and hide himself from others, as the prophet SAAWS only relieved himself when he was out of site. (2)
5. Don’t try to hold it before prayer. If you do, your prayer won’t count. (Allah knows who has to pee or fart and who doesn’t, and he gets pissed off when he sees people praying when they should be peeing.)
When the time for prayer comes and one of you needs to relieve himself, he should do that first ... it is Makrooh-e-Tehrimi to hold urine/wind or the need to go to the toilet. One should relieve themselves first as the Salaah will have to be repeated. (1)
6. Keep all of your clothes on until the very last second. Then take off only the clothes that are absolutely necessary while getting as close to the ground as possible. (God hates to see you naked.)
‘When the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) would go to relieve himself, he would not remove the clothing from his body until he was close to the ground. (1)
A person should not uncover his ‘awrah (private parts) until after he has squatted close to the ground, because this is more concealing, as Anas (may Allaah be pleased with him) reported: “When the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) wanted to answer the call of nature, he would not lift his garment until he had squatted close to the ground.” (2)
7. Point your face in some other direction besides Mecca while pooping or peeing—but for God’s sake don’t point your butt or penis in that direction either. (If your toilet at home is facing Mecca, you’re up shit creek, so to speak. If you’re a good Muslim, you’ll remodel the bathroom so the toilet faces New York, Rome, or Salt Lake City instead.)
Facing or keeping the back towards the Qibla whilst going to the toilet is forbidden. We should take care of this at all times. If the toilet is facing the Qibla in your home then try and sacrifice some money and have it changed as you will be sinning every time you use the toilet. (1)
“Your Prophet has taught you everything, even how to defecate!” Salmaan said: “Yes, he forbade us to face the qiblah when urinating or defecating…” (2)
The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “When any one of you sits down to answer the call of nature, he should not face the qiblah or turn his back towards it.” (2)
8. When you’re doing your business, don’t touch your penis with your right hand. Use your left hand to hold it while peeing and to wipe your butt after you’re done pooping. (Don’t let your right hand know what your left hand is doing.)
The Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) said that, ‘None of you should hold the private parts with the right hand while urinating, or wipe with the right hand in the privy. (1)
[T]he Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “When any one of you wipes himself, he should not use his right hand.” (2)
9. Don’t use the right hand for cleaning either. It’s pretty much useless while in the bathroom. (I try to keep mine over my head or behind my back.)
Do not use the right hand for cleansing (Istinja) as it goes against the Sunnah unless you have a problem with your right hand. We use the right hand for eating, drinking, shaking hands, reading the Qur’an etc. we should use the other hand for cleaning, holding shoes, cleaning the nose etc. (1)
The Prophet’s wife Hafsah (may Allaah be pleased with her) reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) used to use his right hand for eating, drinking, making wudoo’(?), getting dressed, and giving and taking things, and he used to use his left hand for other things. (2)
10. Wash and wipe an odd number of times.
Wash in odd numbers i.e. 1, 3, 5 or 7 times. (1)
[T]he Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) used to wash his posterior three times. Ibn ‘Umar said: “We did this too and found it to be healing and cleansing.” (2)
11. Do all your clean-up with just three fingers: the middle fingers of your left hand. (May take some practice.)
Use the left hand middle three fingers for cleanings. (1)
12. For an easier pee, try pushing on your left leg.
Put slight pressure on the left leg it makes it relieving easier. (1)
13. Pee sitting down. Whoever pees standing up will go straight to hell when they die. (Muhammad’s nine year old wife, Aisha, swore he was a sit-down pee-er.)
Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) says that, ‘Whosoever says that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) would stand up and urinate do not believe them, he would urinate but sitting down ... One of the reasons of the punishment in the grave is because of urinating standing up, Islam has given us a method to follow not only will you relieve yourself but you will be rewarded too. (1)
14. Don’t get any urine on yourself. If you do you, Allah will torture you in hell for it. As the Prophet of Pee said so well, “Most of the punishment of the grave will be because of urine.”
Once the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) while passing through a graveyard heard the voices of two persons who were being punished in their graves. The Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) said, ‘These two persons are being punished not for something major (it is not difficult to be save from it).’ The Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) then added, ‘Yes! (They are being tortured for a major sin) Indeed, one of them never saved himself from being soiled with his urine… (1)
He should be careful to remove all impurity after answering the call of nature, because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) warned against being careless in cleaning oneself after urinating: “Most of the punishment of the grave will be because of urine.” (2)
15. Females should wipe with the heel of the left palm, being careful not to separate the legs too much.
The sister should cleanse themselves with the lower palm of the left hand and do not separate the legs to wide. (1)
16. Males should hold the penis from the top with the left hand index finger and thumb, gently milking it until all the drops come out.
When cleaning yourself, males should hold their penis from the top with the left hand index finger and the thumb. Gently work your way down (as if milking an animal) so if drops are left they will come out. (1)
17. Whatever you do, be sure to get that last drop out. Force the little bugger if you have to.
After performing urination, if you feel that another drop of urine will come, then it is wajib for you to perform ‘Istibrao’ meaning after urination to perform some act that would force the urine left inside, to come out . (1)
18. First wash the front of the penis and then the back.
First wash the front then the back. (1)
19. In all of this, try hard not to even look at your penis. Looking at your own penis can cause severe memory loss.
Without necessity do not look at your private parts as there is a chance of the memory becoming weak. (1)
20. When you finally force that last drop out and you’ve washed your penis, front and back, wash your hands three times.
After you have relieved yourself, wash your hands up to the wrists thrice. (1)
21. Don’t talk in the bathroom. If someone else talks, cough three times. (God doesn’t like it when people talk while not fully clothed.)
One should not talk in the toilet without absolute necessity but if a person outside is calling and does not know then cough thrice to make them aware. ... When two people talk when the body is uncovered Allah (The Exalted) is displeased. (1)
[A] man passed by the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) whilst he was urinating, and greeted him. The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said to him: “If you see me in this state, do not greet me, because if you do, I will not respond.” (Reported by Ibn Maajah, 346; see also Saheeh al-Jaami’, 575). The majority of scholars say that it is makrooh (disliked) to speak in the restroom unnecessarily. (2)
22.Wipe your butt with your left hand, using at least three pebbles. But don’t use bones or dung, for, as Muhammad said, “They are the food of the jinn.”
Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him) reported that he used to carry a vessel for the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) to do wudoo’ and clean himself after answering the call of nature. Whilst he was following him, he (the Prophet) asked, “Who is that?” He said: “I am Abu Hurayrah.” He said: “Get me some stones I can use to clean myself, but do not bring me any bones or dung.” So I brought him some stones, carrying them in the hem of my garment, and placed them by his side, then I went away. When he had finished, I came back and asked him, “What is wrong with bones and dung?” He said: “They are the food of the jinn.” (2)
No one shall make “Estinjaa” without using three stones. ... The prophet SAAWS asked his servant (Abdullah Ibn Masood) to bring him three stones for “Estinja”, Ibn Masood RAA only found two stones so he brought him a piece of animal’s droppings (dung) that was dry. When the prophet saw it, he threw it away and said that it is Najasah (impure). ... “Salman was once asked: Your prophet teaches you everything

comment on wood burning fireplaces and iirrationality by Sam

2012-02-04T13:02:47+00:00

Anyone read today’s blog post? This is completely correct IMO. Burning wood in fireplaces is a terrible decision, and not just for the carbon foot print issue- which is actually arguable for sustainably grown forests, but for the health issue you inflict on your neighbors (and they on you).

We went through this when we were deciding how to heat our superinsulated home. Like everyone else we loved the idea of a fireplace. Too bad about the underlying reality of burning wood. There went that dream up in smoke.

Pros and Cons of Ron Paul—

2012-02-04T07:18:04+00:00

Ron Paul is a real aggravation to me because I like his radical policies to eliminate federal everything, but then he has to have this other major flaw; he is a creationist. Not just a someone who insincerely says he is a Christian based on the demographics of his constituency, Ron Paul is a real bible-thumper. In the end, after sizing him up…. http://theoccupymeme.blogspot.com/2012/01/pros-and-cons-of-ron-paul-different.html

Simple question, what is it about being more educated and informed that seems to sadden people?

2012-02-03T06:05:26+00:00

I hope I don’t come off as somewhat naive.

I noticed during my times of maturing when i was around 17 I started to become indifferent to more and more things. I’ve seen this with a lot of people too, my mother who I can say wasn’t the brightest of people went through the same over a year’s time in which I simply talked to her about the history of religion, reality of politics, the illusion of freewill( ) and much more.

““Happiness in intelligent people is the rarest thing I know.” -Ernest Hemingway

TRYNE social decision system

2012-02-02T21:04:05+00:00

You are important to the world.
You are unique puzzle peace.
Your thoughts merge millions of others,
forming ideal solution. This is TRYNE.

TRYNE is open social instrument, that is:
- to develop and make effective decisions
- designed for thousands of people to work at one question synergetically
- available to everyone
- protected against manipulations and interventions
- non-profit, doesn’t belong to any groups

Such a tool does not currently exist. TRYNE project is a social initiative to create and promote it. Humanity has internet, servers, personal devices and the will of changes. We have a vision and a prototype that is undergoing the first tests. The future starts today. Read more at http://tryne.org

Please, help to make this message public.

Condoms and Catholicism: Obama’s health care mandate.

2012-02-02T20:03:34+00:00

Obama mandates religious organizations to cover the cost of contraception as part of health care reform. Catholics are outraged about this, however they they largely ignore that their policies on the matter have done far more harm than good. The latest publication “Condoms and Catholicism: thou shalt not cover thy neighbor’s goods.”

http://ology.com/politics/obamas-contraception-mandate-why-health-policies-catholic-church-have-dangerous-consequence

By Brian Murphy

Thoughts on biodiversity, social fabric and finding planetary sustainability

2012-01-31T07:46:23+00:00

One reason why biodiversity is so important is that it represents life’s future potential. That is, a higher biodiversity represents more chances for life to find a way forward in the vastness of the “design space” provided here on Earth. A tendency towards biodiversity is not just a tendency towards life’s ‘coagulation’ and the strengthening of ‘Gaia’; it is also a tendency that maximises the chances of life’s survival into the future at all levels. Bio-diverse synergies or interoperations seem to be blind Nature’s way of looking into the future in order to maximise its own selfish chances of success. However life doesn’t always get its own way – there are several epochs of mass extinctions in Earth’s past.

Could a healthy ecosystem offer us any tips with respect to the social fabric of human civilisation? Does nature’s blind Method of increasing complexity and synergistic cooperation have anything to say about humanity’s socio-political systems or methods? Maybe it suggests that those systems that maximise synergies, inclusiveness and individual input are better, i.e. more conducive to our long-term survival, than those systems that waste human potential, exclude sections of the community and discourage individual endeavour.

Maybe much like the national motto of the French Republic, it suggests that we need an individual ‘liberty’, we need a participative ‘equality’ and we need, perhaps above all, a shared ‘fraternity’ – if we are to secure the future of our species. It is our freely chosen fraternity that is perhaps the most direct measure of the health of our social fabric or glue – rather than unlimited self-interest (individual liberty) or an unlimited social equality. That is, an intelligent self-interest and social equality would limit themselves to the bounds of a freely chosen fraternity. Fraternity seems to be the thing that brings balance to individual freedom and equality. But it is also the least defined by the rule of law. Unlimited freedom can be violent and unlimited equality can sap innovation. But unlimited fraternity incorporates a self-esteem and mutual respect in its fulfilment.

The only bad thing about a limited fraternity is that it suggests the inclusion of an in-group and the exclusion of an out-group. But an unlimited fraternity suggests no recognition of an out-group. This is what human civilisation on this finite planet needs. We need to find more and more ways to eliminate the out-group by including it in the in-group. This is what Gaia seems to do. This is what Nature’s biodiversity seems to achieve over time. Such a synergistic fraternity would not impinge on the self-imposed limits of liberty or equality.

It is the idea of fraternity or mateship that we need to find again, but this time outside of religion and warfare and violent national revolution. A wise fraternity promotes the idea that the body is fitly framed together by that which each part, according to its ability, supplies. As the body finds success, so does each part and so does life! Fraternity is encouraged by shared experiences, mutual respect, mutual admiration and the idea that “I’ve got your back” and you’ve got mine. We need a global secular fraternity and new rituals that celebrate it, full of shared and recalled experiences of exchanged values. We all need to become active traders of positive values and value-adding experiences if we are to secure a sustainable long-term future. I think this is what a healthy biodiversity strongly suggests. But maybe I’ve fallen for some kind of naturalistic fallacy; life’s a competitive struggle after all. Yes - I acknowledge the limitations of the analogy, but any thoughts?

Implications of ‘The Moral Landscape’ on Philosophy of Art

2012-01-30T05:25:40+00:00

I’ve written an essay about the implications that ‘The Moral Landscape’ has on the aesthetics and the philosophy of art.
In particular I try to define art as a quality that ‘benefits conscious creatures’. This means that audience becomes highly important for art, and that this points to the free market being a good indicator of ‘good’ art. I’d love your comments!
It might be a bit long to post so I’ll chuck the link here

http://gilesfield.com/philosophy

Free Will

2012-01-28T05:34:30+00:00

I have been reading Sam’s work on free will and was wondering, when he says we have no free will does he mean that we are guided by natural forces, pushed by desires and ideas that come from those impersonal forces and finally make decisions based off of such forces making choice illusory because it is always circumstance that pushes one into action or does he simply mean that we at no point, at all whatsoever, make a choice? To simplify, are our hands forced to make the decisions we do by chance or are our hands just “not our hands” moving without any perceived will at all?

I ask this because while I am certain that while he means to say that we have zero free will, and that we never have made or will make a single decision ever he does not seem to comment on the horrible implications this has, let alone the utter loop of thinking such a realization puts someone in. This would mean that no one is moral, no one successful, no one anything except what they by complete chance happen to be. No choices ever being choices, every single choice being a movie we’re watching through our eyes, thinking we have control over. He simply does not seem touch on the fact that almost every aspect of human life (since human life involves constant choices) completely breaks down into sophistry.

Thanks for your “guidance” and “replies” even if it’s just your unconscious making them!

About.com about Islam

2012-01-27T18:47:29+00:00

Hello everyone,

Quick background: This is my first post here (I’m glad I found this forum!). I don’t believe in any religion/god and have grown up in a very secular family in a Christian/secular country. I have not read the Bible, nor any other holy books.

Now, after recently reading End of Faith and viewed lots of Sam Harris on Youtube, I’ve started to try to learn more about Islam. Having come across the Islam pages on About.com, they seem to (somewhat) refute what Harris writes in his books.

The Qur’an commands Muslims to stick up for themselves in a defensive battle—i.e. if an enemy army attacks, then Muslims are to fight against that army until they stop their aggression. All of the verses that speak about fighting/war in the Qur’an are in this context. There are some specific verses that are very often “snipped” out of context, either by critics of Islam discussing “jihadism,” or by misguided Muslims themselves who wish to justify their aggressive tactics.

http://islam.about.com/od/terrorism/f/terrorism_verse.htm

Islam never tolerates unprovoked aggression from its own side; Muslims are commanded in the Qur’an not to begin hostilities, embark on any act of aggression, violate the rights of others, or harm the innocent.

http://islam.about.com/od/jihad/f/jihad.htm

Is the Quran/Islam more tolerant and peaceful than Harris thinks? Can it be a matter of interpretation, or are the About.com pages misleading?

Any thoughts on this are much appreciated!