I mean fredi, do you judge the driver by the car, or the car by the driver?

bmz, the only translation available to me is the one given.  it is the one provided by the omanis at sohar fort.  bear in mind also that i have quoted sahih bukhari vol4book53no.393, which states that all the pagans were to be expelled from the arabian peninsula.  the conciliatory tone of the letters you have drawn my attention to is therefore scarcely appropriate for this scenario of compulsion

zul - car? driver?  are you saying the driver represents muslims, and the car represents islam?  or does the driver represent islam, and the car muslims?

Edited by fredifreeloader

bmz - the name of oman is not in the english translation either.  so whats your point?

Fredi:
You are really good at unzipping the rookie muslims with your guerrilla tactics. The link you provided is dead -has no story to read ------
OK
The best scenario for anyone to understand about the Friday prayer is like a company's staff meeting, which is normally mandatory . I know for a fact that missing several staff meetings isn't beneficial for career enhancement. All major events and announcements aimed toward progress in the company are discussed and brought forth during staff meetings, essentially providing a connection and balance between employees and their bosses. Friday prayers provide a similar but much deeper spiritual connection between the layman and their spiritual leaders. I'll simply have a bottom line, maintaining discipline.

It makes perfect sense for Malaysian Muslims, who have gained freedom from the stranglehold of colonialism and have had the guts to do it, to have a mandatory Friday meetings, in this case prayer. I salute Malaysians for their dedication to value added work in state of the art industries while observing Islamic standards and values. And they are relatively better positioned to play and act like a free Muslim country. Not like the rest of the former colonies, say Pakistan, which was  created for Muslims yet chose to forsake its religious values and  remains financially deprived, in social chaos, and in the grasp of military/goverment control since almost beginning--with GWB's new neo-colonial trap.  I think the shortlived Japanese occupation of the Malaysian area during WWII, during which they execised impressive military might over the Brits, did well to the Malaysian thought process, essentially freeing them from Anglo subserviance. I know most, rather all, of my Malaysian classmates went back to build their country instead of staying here in the US. They have done a great job in their own country.

Regarding Muhammad's letter to some Omani tribal leader---I think it was admirable that he sent a note to him, as he didn't need to do it at all. It was written on the behalf of the only accomplished of God's prophet's, declaring his message must reach the people of Oman. Fourteen centuries later it might be beyond the comprehension of a small scotish mind.
It was his prerogative to treat this Omani fella the best way he saw fit. I say he was too lenient against his enemies. The fact remains that removal of pagan control was absolutely necessary for the enslaved people to see right from wrong.

History (Discoverer; Boorstin-pp 127) tells me simply that Christians would rather prefer the company of Pagans ( against Muslims, unless of course a relationship with Muslims appears more financially profitable ( oil sheikdoms & Kingdoms) at times.