Finally Registered
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Greetings All,
I am a former Christian Pastor/ Seminarian/Chaplain who lost his faith in the veracity of the Christian Scriptures. This occurred while I was serving as a Chaplain for an institution serving the needs of those suffering from developmental disabilities and "mental" illness. After a period of wandering in the wilderness of agnosticism, I cried out to God and asked that if he was real, to please make himself known to me. While reading the next day on the internet and following many links, I found myself at a site that had the Quran. At the time, I didn't even know how I arrived at such a site. But I began reading it and I could not stop. Within a two week period, I had read the Quran twice (in English). While in the process of reading the Quran one morning, at 300 AM I said my shahada. It just came out of my mouth (in English of course). I then immediately started crying.
I found this website a month or so ago and started reading various threads. I have felt more affinity with the members here than I do with those at my local masjid. Being a student, I wanted someone to teach me Arabic so that I could read the Quran in its original language. Unfortunately, I cannot find anyone at the masjid who has the desire or the time to teach me. It looks like the internet will have to be my teacher.
I have increasingly felt that there is a close similarity between Catholic Tradition/Church Fathers and the Sunnah/Companions. This realization has was at first disturbing. (Catholicism was my last stop in Christianity having entered it after going back to grad school to work on an M.A. in Ancient Church History. Due to going through the process of a divorce, I was unable to complete my thesis.
I still attend Jumuah on Fridays but have become increasingly frustrated with the Hadith, what I perceive as mindless rote ritualism, and the feeling that every one wants to correct me on how straight my knees are in salat, how I do wadu, et. al. Its been two steps forward, one step back for many months now. I feel like an isolated muslim.
I look forward to interacting with the members here. I thank you for being here and I thank Allah for this site. I thank you for allowing me to join this community. May Allah richly bless each of you and guide us all into a deeper understanding of his message, ourselves, and Himself. -
As a former Catholic monk let me be the first to welcome you to this community. My advice be critical of all the opinions here and follow your own straight way.
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Dear laststop,
Peace,
Nice to have you, yes it's a lonely live to me too since being brought up as a sunni and live around the sunni and subject to oppression by the court of religious if confess my belief . So I just stay low hope for the best from God. Lost my job recently and now almost out of money. Now still ask for God what to do next, hopefully God will provide provision in this world and afterlife. -
Peace laststop.
While I agree with Yahya Yusuf to check other opinions and not follow blindly, I disagree with him about following our "opinion"!!!
I would say follow your natural instinct, trust no one except GOD Alone!!!! Yes our own opinion can be our worst enemy if GOD is left out?
...The self is an advocate of vice, except for those who have attained mercy from my Lord...
May the Lord guide you and bless you.
Peace. -
Welcome to the forum.
Salaam
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Peace laststop.
While I agree with Yahya Yusuf to check other opinions and not follow blindly, I disagree with him about following our "opinion"!!!
I would say follow your natural instinct, trust no one except GOD Alone!!!! Yes our own opinion can be our worst enemy if GOD is left out?
...The self is an advocate of vice, except for those who have attained mercy from my Lord...
May the Lord guide you and bless you.
Peace.And that is the reason hadist was invented. To make my opions autorizeable.
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Welcome laststop,
I personaly did not think bible was twisted as is, maybe just few part of it. But I dont know about what you think though, youre agnostic before. I personaly sometime losing faith about God too. But deep within my heart, I need God. That is for sure. Sometime I was so frustated to God because He seems to be no exist on this world. But, it seems I was wrong. I saw how people paid for their mistake, each person for each of their mistake, and it make my believe to God firmed. But I understand what God wanted is, He just want us to live peacely and compasionate each other that is all. When He punish His creation, it only in order to educate them, even it took a long time. -
Being a student, I wanted someone to teach me Arabic so that I could read the Quran in its original language. Unfortunately, I cannot find anyone at the masjid who has the desire or the time to teach me. It looks like the internet will have to be my teacher.
Peace,
Welcome to the forum welcome
You can go through http//www.lqtoronto.com and check out video section. I think it will be helpful to you, inshaAllah.
BTW, I myself do not believe in many of these so called Arabic grammar. Because alQuraan is based on patterns and styles in order for a layman to understand it. Once you understand its patterns and styles, you will feel very easy in understanding it, inshaAllah.
May Allah increase our knowledge and guide us on His path pr
mmKhan -
I just signed up specifically in order to contact you, and did so via PM. Feel free to email me in reply, though I'm also happy to have joined this website. If anyone is interested in my ideas regarding things (though they may sound bad to some), I'd love to share them. The millions of questions in order to send or post anything so far is pretty disturbing though. I guess I'll share my email here as well for anyone who might be curious to talk to me, it is [email protected] (I don't know if I'll be able to continue posting here due to being annoyed by these numerous questions it asks each time).