Aslamtu lirabbi alAAalameena
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As Salam Alaykum...
I wanted to share a letter I wrote in response to a loved one of mine that wished to know how I chose to come to the beautiful life of Islam!
I also want to point out that I have made a few revisions to the original letter before sharing with you (for the sake of protecting my loved one's identity, as well as for the sake of attempting to be fair to others and above all... to be careful NOT to displease or disappoint ALLAH).
Therefore, I pray that ALLAH will have mercy on me for anything that I may have expressed that is against HIS WILL or Acceptance - Ameen.
Letter
Okay... Islam... it's been a process. I have been researching, reading, studying and searching the whole "idea" of religion... and if you read my article posted in my "blogs" area, entitled "What IS Religion, REALLY???"; you can certainly appreciate (not necessarily agree with) where I am coming from.
So, from there? and understanding what it is to be in TOTAL submission to GOD ALONE... associating no other partners with him (which I have ALWAYS had a problem with... even as a Christian, I could never whole-heartedly accept the idea of Jesus (pbuh) AS GOD Himself... and always even questioned the idea of him being God's son, knowing that it takes a man and a woman to produce a child). Sure, I do know that God does as He Wills... including the Creation of Jesus (pbuh) in Mary's womb without Mary having been touched by a man; however, "Creation" is the key word here. My belief and understanding is that God has Created ALL, even Jesus (pbuh)... and for the purpose of carrying the same message as those Created and Selected before him for the same purpose. And unlike MANY Muslims... who honestly would also not accept me as a fellow-Muslim, because I don't agree with many of their practices either; which I also consider "traditions" and "rituals"... or behaviors passed down through generations, which have absolutely NOTHING to do with TRUE ISLAM (Peace and submission to GOD ALONE)... I am only interested in pleasing GOD... and NOT MAN... I am interested in PRAISING GOD... and NOT MAN... and I don't believe that anyone can go to GOD on my behalf, but that only "I" can be held accountable for my deeds here, until Judgment Day... when I will have to stand before HIM and answer for MY OWN actions or INactions for that matter!
The thing is... all of my life... all I can remember is OTHERS telling me about Christianity... about Jesus (pbuh)... and about God and also the Bible... but, I also recall always having more questions... ones that I felt weren't being appropriately answered for me. For each question that I thought had been answered, there was always yet another! And no matter what... through all of the questions... I could still NEVER fathom the idea of associating anyone on the same level as GOD... NO ONE... not Jesus (pbuh)... as the Christians... and NOT Mohammad (pbuh)... as many Muslims. For the latter... that is why I have not been able thus far to go through with the Shahada. I don't know if you know anything about that, but it is "bearing witness that there is NO GOD, except ALLAH... and that Mohammad (pbuh) is His Messenger" Well, I feel that that is also associating another WITH GOD... and in the Qur'an, it clearly states that ALLAH needs NO ONE to "bear witness" that HE is GOD, this HE already KNOWS (Qur?an 31... and He also knows that Mohammad (pbuh) IS HIS messenger, because HE is Mohammad?s Sender! HE doesn't need any witnesses to that statement or recitation (Qur?an 479; 4166; 2844, and 631) and no one has been able to help me to understand the relevance or to find ALLAH?S command in performing such an act. Until then and ONLY then, will I be willing? but for now? Aslamtu lirabbi alAAalameena ? I submit/surrender ( I have become a Muslim) myself to the Lord of the worlds/universe ? Abraham (Qur?an 2131).
Now, I understand that you may have some questions as to why or how I even ended up in the Qur'an... but I'll tell you this... curiosity and questions will lead you anywhere for TRUTH of your OWN... and not explanations and ideas of OTHERS! One of the things I am currently learning in Islam is to VERIFY any and all things before accepting them as TRUTH (Qur?an 1736). Islam is teaching me the very things that I have always carried in my heart anyway... even as a child. I have never just accepted what anyone has told me... I always have to question it... analyze it... and find a way to cause it to make sense, and not ONLY make sense, but also ring TRUE! Regardless to what you may hear about Muslims... or about Islam... I am here to defend "Islam"... but I won't defend "Muslims". Those who are following the Laws of ALLAH (the Qur?an) are in no need of defense in the first place! So, I guess I can say the same for Islam? it needs no defense. ALLAH is ALL-KNOWING. Some are definitely representing Islam the way that ALLAH intends, but many... or I even venture out to say that probably MOST, ARE NOT? and again, ALLAH is ALL-KNOWING!
I ask that you just take some time to research Islam and the Qur'an and get a little familiar with it BEFORE allowing what you may have HEARD about it to hinder you from gaining your OWN understanding and opinion of it. Also... please don't allow those "Muslims" that you may have already come in contact with to cause you to be un-interested in its (Islam?s) beauty. Many DO NOT represent TRUE ISLAM... in all essence; they are merely practicing "tradition". Islam has no need for "practice"... you practice things to cause them to BECOME perfect... Islam already IS PERFECT. ALLAH has chosen Islam for all of us, but? of course... MAN always knows better... and that is why we have "religion" today!
Religion = division = confusion = chaos = anything, except peace and submission to the ONE TRUE GOD ? ALLAH (Islam). Remember... HE (ALLAH) is NOT the Author of confusion (religion)!
Love you,
Meek
P.S. Religion is a puzzle to man? one that ONLY GOD (ALLAH) Himself has mastered. Only HE has all of the pieces and only HE knows where to place those pieces. Religion is broken and scattered WITHIN every piece of the puzzle? while Islam IS the puzzle in its completed form.
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As'salaamu Alaikum...
In the letter above, that I chose to share... I made a reference to a "blog" that I wrote entitled "What IS Religion, REALLY???"... well, that blog is on my myspace.com profile. Sorry, if I've confused anyone here.
You can get to the blog by going to www.myspace.com/utterly_uneek and again, check the "blogs" area for "What IS Religion, REALLY???" if you're interested.
Peace...
Meek -
Peace,
Respectfuilly.welcome to the forum, brother and may The Exalted God The Most Merciful guide you on the Straight Path and protect you from all evil and reward you with Paradise.
You are truly one who submits to The Exalted Allah SWT and it can be noticed from the letter, that you are well educated and extrmely intelligent person. I say this with all-honesty and sincerity.
I hope you'll stay in touch for a long time and that we'll all learn more and more about Islam and become better Muslims, better Believers, better Submitters, better people and better people.
Glory be to our God.
Peace. -
As'salaamu Alaikum, Brother Alen...
Thank you for the "welcome" to the forum. I really appreciate your kindness... and thanks for the generous words of encouragement, as well. One thing though... I am a Sister (smile). Meek is short for my full name Tamieka, although it describes my character very well (smile)!
No need for apologies... you had no way of knowing, because there is nothing to refer to in my profile... and it's quite alright. I'm just glad to be here amongst others with the same beliefs as myself. It is a relief!
I do plan to be here for a long time. I find this forum to be one of comfort under the circumstances... and I'd like to thank you all for being such loving, understanding, accepting, and encouraging brothers and sisters.
Peace...
Meek
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As'salaamu Alaikum, Bro Prince...
Thanks for the welcome and nice meeting you.
As you may be able to tell, I am a beginner... although the knowledge that I have been shown thusfar, has proven to me that I have always been a Muslim, even when I wasn't sure of it!
Now, that I do know... I must say... it is the best feeling ever! Islam is so beautiful and peaceful to me... and I just want to be certain that nothing gets in the way of me and ALLAH! That is why I am so careful to seek Qur'an ONLY to answer my questions and my concerns. I can not and WILL not accept anything, unless I can 1st VERIFY it for myself... and at this point, all I can trust and believe in is ALLAH and His Qur'an!
So... with that... I'm on a mission... one for a change in myself and for me to initiate change throughout society!
Peace and blessings...
Meek
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Salaam, All...
It's me again, Meek... only I'm a Sister, not a Brother (smile)! I guess I need to tone it down a little, huh? Am I not being lady-like on this forum? LOL Sorry, if I'm not (just kidding guys).
I just want to thank you all for the responses and the encouragement... and properly introduce myself... the name is Meek... short for Tamieka (My loved ones gave me that nickname, but I think it fits properly... so, I love it!).
Anyway, I'm glad to be here... and I'm especially thankful to ALLAH for having found such a forum.
Peace and blessings to you all...
Meek, The Lady angel
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Dear Meek,
what do you mean by God alone? please explain according to your understanding.
Regards.