WikiIslam:Frequently Asked Questions

From WikiIslam

(Redirected from FAQ)

About WikiIslam

What is a wiki?

A wiki is a website which anyone can edit using a web browser. This is different from conventional websites which can only be edited by their administrators who are using specialized web editing software. Content Management Systems that are not wikis are only managed by a small group of editors. A wiki puts any internet user in the seat of a website administrator.

Is WikiIslam a branch of Wikipedia or the Wikimedia foundation?

No, we are not in any way related to or endorsed by these organizations. Our only commonality is our use of the same freely available software, Mediawiki, which is also used by hundreds of other wiki websites.

Can anyone create a login id and contribute to this website?

Yes.

How is WikiIslam different from WikiPedia?

WikiIslam focuses on the criticism of Islam while Wikipedia contains general knowledge about all kinds of subjects. A big difference between WikiIslam and Wikipedia is that articles are not required to be NPOV ("Neutral Point of View"). This RFC on Wikipedia gives an example of what goes on at Wikipedia with respect to Islam-related articles. This was an editor with 60,000 edits and he edited for 5 years, misrepresenting sources in all kinds of ways. See more details at: Problems on Wikipedia for Islam-related articles

What is it about Islam here that I cannot find in Wikipedia?

Although Wikipedia has a lot of sourced content on many subjects, a lot of content can be found here on WikiIslam that you could never find on Wikipedia. Without having requirements of NPOV or notability in the way, there are infinitely many useful ways in which information can be arranged. Rebuttals to Zakir Naik, Islamic Prophecies, Scholars on Jihad and Quotations from the Quran and the Hadith, The Story of Umm Qirfa are just a few examples of articles which could not be created in Wikipedia due to their restrictive policies and presence of editors who are constantly censoring out criticism of Islam. See site news for some of our most recent articles.

Is WikiIslam Islamophobic or a hate site?

No, WikiIslam is not Islamophobic. In truth, the neologism itself is a logical fallacy (for more information, click here). Nor are we a hate site. If WikiIslam was a hate site, we wouldn't let Muslims edit the website but we have a whole separate category for articles by Muslims. We welcome Muslims to edit the site and show their own point of view. We do not believe all Muslims are terrorists. In fact many of us are ex-Muslims with Muslim family and friends.

What is the purpose of WikiIslam?

The primary goal of WikiIslam is to collect facts relating to the criticism of Islam from valid Islamic sources without the effects of censorship that is common in Wikipedia.

Can pro-Islamic opinions be found on WikiIslam?

We do have articles from a Muslim perspective but we do not allow insertion of pro-Islamic opinions into existing articles. Any pro-Islamic opinions that are found on WikiIslam will be rebutted. For reading and contributing exclusively pro-Islamic opinions please see the Muslim Wikipedia.

I’ve heard many good things about Islam. Why doesn’t this site talk about them?

We do have articles by Muslims.

Why are there no sources regarding the content?

Wherever possible, facts are supported by citing Islamic sources such as Qur'an verses, tafsirs, hadiths, and fatwas. Although when this is not possible, the accuracy of any information is confirmed by the fact that there are other editors on the site to confirm the truthfulness of the content.

Does WikiIslam use fabricated sources?

No, we do not. We use Islamic source materials which are readily available, either on the net or through retailers. They are the same sources you will see being used and accepted by thousands of Muslim websites. Wherever possible, we link directly to these Muslim websites which, for example, host Qur'an, Hadith, and Tafsir text.

I'm looking for information on Islam. Is this the site to get it?

Yes if you're looking for information critical on Islam, this is the site to get it. If you haven't found what you're looking for, please make a request in the forum.

What are the advantages of this site as compared to other sites critical of Islam?

The biggest advantage is that anyone with access to the internet can edit the website. You don’t need to be a webmaster. All you need is a login, which can be created in 30 seconds and you can edit the website from your browser just like writing an email.

What is the religious persuasion of the contributors to WikiIslam?

WikiIslam contributors come from all religious persuasions, including irreligious contributors of no faith.

Can someone do XYZ, create/edit an article or do some work on Wikipedia?

You can leave a request in the forum, but we're already busy here, so you may have to do it yourself.

Vandalism and Security

We are aware of the high risk of vandalism to this website due to its controversial nature and differing opinions and are prepared to effectively deal with any attempt to sabotage the content of this site. In any case this is a Wiki website which means the website can always recover from any amount of vandalism.

Is the content safe from hackers?

Yes, we make regular data backups in multiple locations. We did lose 5 days worth of edits in April 2007 after the server got hacked but fortunately there wasn't much editing going on around that time. This was the only time we have lost data.