Miss Amy
Amy
Well said Flow... very well said.
Hello everyone
- Thread starter Muslimwoman
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LeoSalinas22
merely a shadow...
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Leo...I respect your perspective, but I would call what you are posting here prostelytizing (sp?).
flow....
first, i don't know what prostelytizing means but i do know it is negative. i meant no offense towards anyone, i am just wanting to know more about islam thru muslimwoman since to me she has a greater perspective of islam because she actually knows a thing or two about Christ's teachings. and please explain to me what that word means so i can avoid doing it in the future. thanks. hope to hear from you soon.
Muslimwoman
Coexistence insha'Allah
Leo...I respect your perspective, but I would call what you are posting here prostelytizing (sp?).
Muslimwoman...I sympathize with you. And don't forget what happened to the treasures of Iraq's culture when their museums and archaeological sites were trashed in 2003 while the "coalition" stood idly by and let it happen. I wept then when I realized a genocide was being perpetrated upon an entire culture beginning with the elimination of as much of its history as possible.
flow....
There is so much in hitory and current events to weep about Flow, if I started really thinking about them I would never stop weeping - not least the awful things man does to his fellow man.
Salaam
Muslimwoman
Coexistence insha'Allah
Hi Leo
No offense meant but my main problem with Christianity was the idea of the trinity and original sin. I hated being told to worship anything other than G-d. Even now I have many Islamic 'pictures' (Arabic writing from the Quran) in my house but they all refer to Allah not to the Prophet Mohammad and every time my husband brings one home I get rid of it. This is in no way intended as an insult to the Prophet it is just that there is no room in my heart for anything other than G-d - it just feels wrong and disrespectful to G-d to worship anything but Him. I also LOVE Jesus (pbuh) so much, what an amazing man if we all followed his example the world would be eutopia. However, the idea of original sin made me sick to my stomach. My heart just told me that a baby is born innocent and it is the 'human experience' that causes them to sin.
Sorry am not sure if you are more interested in understanding my reasons for rejecting Christianity or for embracing Islam?
The decision to reject Christianity came after study into the origins of the Bible, a Book I believe was given to mankind by G-d and then changed beyond recognition by man. This was not based on rumour or hearsay but on studies done by real scholars with good credentials. I was astounded to learn that there were over 30 Gospels written, yet only 4 made it to the Bible. This made me ask a question, which parts of the Bible were given by G-d? Nothing in my gut told me the answer, I truly felt reading the Bible that so much had been lost my heart was unable to see G-d in my minds eye anymore. This was before I really knew much about Islam.
As for why Islam. To be honest it started with the music of Sami Yusuf, his songs tell of the beauty of the Quran, the life of the Prophet Mohammad (pbuh) and the struggle of Muslims against misunderstanding. I started to listen to more Islamic music and found it to be really beautiful, my heart could feel G-d again. Does that sound silly or arrogant? So I began to read the Quran. In English it is rather repetative but I worked my way through and was amazed that my minds eye could clearly see G-d again. I was really worried about the Islamic extremist issue, so I hopped on a plane and went to Al Azhar (I never do anything by halves, so if I wanted to know about Islam I was going to the worlds oldest university). I was shown all the Quranic evidence against Islamic extremists actions and went away laden with reading material. With everything I read it became clearer to me that this was the path G-d wanted me to take, He had closed the path of Christianity because He wanted me to take this path.
It is 5am here so am off to grab a couple of hours but I shall pop back tomorrow and post some of my favourite verses.
Salaam
Muslimwoman
Coexistence insha'Allah
Hi Snoopy
Sorry you have lost me there, your comment has gone right over the top of my fluffy blonde head. Can I have a hint what you are talking about?
Salaam
Muslimwoman
Coexistence insha'Allah
just a very late "hello" to your Hello Everyone
s.
Oh thanks Snoopy, late but very welcome.
Salaam
elme
lightheart
asalaamu alaykum Muslimwoman!
I am the South African girl that Wil has refered to when speaking of his friend that converted to Islam as well.
Your story is an interesting one ....
My searching and finding Islam is a long and unlikely story, but I'll put it in a nutshell: At the age of 12 I was a convinced and striving Christian. Disillusioned when told I can't do missionary work because everyone assumes you're not serious about God when you're in your teens, I thought about my chances of living a free and passionate religious life. Ive joined gospel groups, worship groups ..... And as i grew to know the limitations, i thought about "Why?"
Its not the teachings, no. People manipulate words to suite situations. Or their ideas about how things should be.
And i kept searching. Ive read about buddhism, wicca, new age spirituality. And this all opened up a whole lot!
I never did read up on islam ..... my family i knew would loudly protest. So i stayed in a safe zone for then.
It was when i started dating my friend (now husband) that my ears, eyes and heart were opened to the beautiful truth about Islam!
And the rest, they say is history. Two years before our marriage i had embraced islam and love the deen sooooo very much.
So, warm welcomes and salaams to you Muslimwoman!
Hi wil!
I am the South African girl that Wil has refered to when speaking of his friend that converted to Islam as well.
Your story is an interesting one ....
My searching and finding Islam is a long and unlikely story, but I'll put it in a nutshell: At the age of 12 I was a convinced and striving Christian. Disillusioned when told I can't do missionary work because everyone assumes you're not serious about God when you're in your teens, I thought about my chances of living a free and passionate religious life. Ive joined gospel groups, worship groups ..... And as i grew to know the limitations, i thought about "Why?"
Its not the teachings, no. People manipulate words to suite situations. Or their ideas about how things should be.
And i kept searching. Ive read about buddhism, wicca, new age spirituality. And this all opened up a whole lot!
I never did read up on islam ..... my family i knew would loudly protest. So i stayed in a safe zone for then.
It was when i started dating my friend (now husband) that my ears, eyes and heart were opened to the beautiful truth about Islam!
And the rest, they say is history. Two years before our marriage i had embraced islam and love the deen sooooo very much.
So, warm welcomes and salaams to you Muslimwoman!
Hi wil!
Muslimwoman
Coexistence insha'Allah
wa aleykum salaam sister elme
Thank you so much for your welcome and sharing your story. Alhamdilillah you found the right path and mabrook for your marriage, I hope for you both a long and happy life insh'allah.
I was interested to read your comment about manipulations. May I ask whether you find any of this in Islam. I ask because there are things in the Quran that I read and when I go to the scholars interpretations it feels as though sometimes they have read a completely different thing to me? Some people tell me this is my western upbringing which colours my view but quite frankly some of the issues seem morally wrong to put it bluntly and against everything I believe Allah is as our Creator.
Salaam
Peace my sister, wonderful to see you stop in!So, warm welcomes and salaams to you Muslimwoman!
Hi wil!
I love watching and learning from the dialogue...
Do you remember the the conversation at Zaadz which seems like years ago...a Jewish woman who went to study nursing and ending up befriending a Lebanese Muslim family next door and watched the notions that were instilled as a child dissapear...and when the discourse started between she and a gal from Tehran..and how much we learned of both of their upbringings and notions... Discussion, the net, the open minds of some individuals...may just open the minds of many...
Muslimwoman
Coexistence insha'Allah
elme
lightheart
People are people are people ......
Yet i have been very fortunate to have gained a great islamic-sufi education thus far. (I actually have to join a madrassa again later this year to continue .....)
But yes, many of the "old school" imams or sheiks or mawlanas take meanings quite literally. The scriptures are poetic and metaphorical .... What i can say though, NOT ONCE was i discouraged from seeking the truth in an intellectual and individual manner. In fact it is reitterated that the seeking of knowledge is paramount. And what you arrive at is always open for discussion and ultimately all is referenced to the Holy Q'uran (Of course).
There is so much space for my soul to grow now that i have found a home for it!
walaikum salaam
Muslimwoman
Coexistence insha'Allah
Thank you so much for your response, it is so nice to speak to a sister that speaks English and I still struggle with my Arabic when not speaking about food.
I have to admit I have not looked at the sufi side of Islam but perhaps it is time that I did. I feel so smothered at the moment, I long to learn and use the mind Allah gave me and this is simply not permitted in the old schools. I certainly feel I have found the right path but now I just have to find the right direction to travel that path.
I wish I could say I have not been discouraged to learn, I have been told at Al-Azhar to be a quiet, obedient wife and go home and cook.
Alhamdolillah I have an openminded and supportive husband, who does everything he can to help me learn and find answers to my questions. However, the old school opinions have not and will not stop me from learning and using my mind, as Allah intended.What a beautiful sentiment and one I understand so well.
Salaam
We've used some Sufi ceremony for interfaith services..
and we've danced and I've taken to whirling...I started by whirling the labyrinth during chanting or drum circles...now I whirl to whirl...and it is one exhilerating form of meditation.
and we've danced and I've taken to whirling...I started by whirling the labyrinth during chanting or drum circles...now I whirl to whirl...and it is one exhilerating form of meditation.
Muslimwoman
Coexistence insha'Allah
Yes in the true tradition, no female dervishes...
How about today...how many sects are open to women leading, teaching, becoming Imams?
Muslimwoman
Coexistence insha'Allah
Hee, hee - well you'd see our legs when our skirts went up.
There was a sort of test case in 2005, a female led a mixed congregation in prayer after a female made the call to prayer (can't remember if it was in Washington or New York). There were all sorts of fatwas running around after that but one that surprised me was the Gand Mufti of Egypt who said it was permissible for a woman to lead mixed prayer if the congregation agreed (although Al-Azhar denied he said it the following day). He stated on tv that there is no consensus on female Imams.
I believe there have been a number since, particularly in China for some strange reason but they tend to teach only women. There was also a woman in UK training to be an Imam at about the same time but I lost the story somewhere along the line so don't know if she managed it.
I am all for womens rights in Islam but not sure I feel comfortable going this far but then I was never comfortable with the idea of women vicars - sorry I am just old fashioned. I certainly believe women should be allowed into all mosques to pray and without the silly partition. Quite frankly if a man is distracted by ladies bums then he needs to get a grip of himself and concentrate on his prayers.