Teachings of the Quran

Today I was talking with a co-worker. The discussion started because she wants to put Red Crescent (yep, just like Red Cross) collection banks in each classroom so the boys will learn to give what they can to the poor and others in need. She started to tell me about what the Quran says about giving to the poor and then the conversation went on from there. I learned quite a bit and I thought that I would share a few things:

1. The Quran states that after you have paid your bills you should give 2.5% of the leftover amount to the poor.

2. It contains detailed information on how a fetus grows from conception to birth.

3. It gives detailed instructions on how inheritance money should be split among a person's relatives/survivors/community in the case of their death (no will needed!)

4. It states that a man must give his wife an allowance even if she has plenty of her own money to spend.

5. It states that a man can take many wives only in dire circumstances (i.e. the other wife can no longer have children (or never could); the other wife does not desire other children and the husband does; the first wife agrees to another marriage).

6.The Quran also states that anal sex is a no-no because of the health risks.

7. It says that married women are allowed to go and visit her parents without her husband's permission.

8. It also says that married women should have their independence to run businesses or seek other endeavors without their husbands looking over their shoulder all the time.

9. Lastly, (of the things we talked about and that I remember) people should not eat any type of meat from pigs because they are dirty, foul animals.

Remember the Quran was written over 2000 years ago. I was amazed at the detail that it entails and the strict guidance that it gives. As in any religion there are those people that use the words to their own interpretation and give everyone else a bad name (uh like the Taliban). I respect those Muslims that follow the Quran with all their heart, but I still am fully convinced that the Bible is the book to help guide my life.