Where do I begin?
-
Salam, Peace,
As we say first things first!
Learning the Reading is kind of continual process, but as a starting point you should search in the reading any kind of "you have to do this", as explained in the Reading the basic things any one should do to find "salvation" is
- do not commit bad things like theft, killing, gossiping, spying, do not eat pork, ribba etc...
- and do good deeds like, feeding the poors, protect the orphans etc...
Now start things to know about the "deen" (religion/faith/duties)
- Salat (the bound/link) to be carried minimum twice a day at dusk and at dawn and consist in meditating/reading/learning the Reading
- Sawm (could be either during the summer solstice for 10 days for some or winter solstice for other or during the month of Ramadan due to be in August this year for one month) depending on your studies on the subject and your conclusions, may God help you to find the way
- Hajj as per the Reading is a feast to be done in a place where only God is worshiped
- Zakat continual self improvement can be achieved by giving sadaqa to poors, learning God system, beeing civilised, well educated etc...
- dress code best dress is the one of piety
In general by reading the Reading you will find the answers of your doubt if God wills.
Best regards -
I spend a decent amount of time reading, but post very seldom, because I don't feel I know enough to contribute much. I do not read Arabic and tend to get overwhelmed by the quotes and translations.
I do know that I believe in Allah and the Qu'ran and am suspect of all the traditions and rituals that stem from Hadith and arab culture. I've known this since I converted 10 years ago, but up until the past year or so, I've been trying to make sense of being a Sunni WITH all those extra trappings. Only since I've found this movement online have I been able to say out loud that I don't buy any of that and I won't participate in it any more.
This Eid, I refused to go to the community prayer with my husband, stating that I wouldn't sit and listen to a khutba that relied on a tiny passage from the Qu'ran and 40 Hadith to make a point I disagree with...that I couldn't in good conscious pretend to agree with the people I prayed with, stuffed behind a curtain, all covered up and boiling inside. And I absolutely wasn't going to show my little girls that it is okay to squash down what you know is true in order to fit in to a community. I said I'd pray alone.
He agrees that we should follow only the Qu'ran, but he has been raised Sunni, and his habits seem hard to break. I had to keep saying, "Is that in the Qu'ran? Show me."
The trouble is that I don't know my way around the Qu'ran as well as I should. And then I read things on here that say things like since it is a translation, it isn't the real Qu'ran anyway, and I get very overwhelmed. I don't know where to start. I'm feeling a bit like a terrible Muslim, because I should know a lot more by now.
On top of that, he is really on me to start teaching the girls to pray and teach them "our religion." Any ideas on where I should start? For myself and for my little ones?
Danielle
welcome welcome I have the same problem with the quotes and translation as do many people on here that do not speak Arabic. Muslims are not the only ones to be confused by the "add-ons" (hadiths), Christians suffer the same problem. The trinity, the divinity of Jesus etc are not mentioned in the bible but seem to be a prerequisite to being Christian by many denominations. I have thrown those off and am a God-alone Christian that finds myself more "in-tune" with Quran-alone Muslims than most of the traditional Christians.
You say you converted about 10 years ago, what were you before?
-
A great site where a genuine effort is being made to understand the actual meanings of the script of the Qur'Aan, by decoding the words with the help of Lanes, is at www.servantofthelight.com.
You may want to look at their work in the section "translation in process" and see if it makes sense to you also. Their method is simple and has been discussed on this site as well a few times, and appears really closest to being correct, considering the profoundness of the message emerging there. Fine tuning and continued effort by joining their hand may really bring it up and shape for us the real message of our Creator. I know that with the current understanding of the religion, muslims are only going backwards, as is very obvious. Translation so far done is in a little bit difficult English for me, but once you pay attention, it really makes a whole lot more sense.
Peace
-
I spend a decent amount of time reading, but post very seldom, because I don't feel I know enough to contribute much. I do not read Arabic and tend to get overwhelmed by the quotes and translations.
I do know that I believe in Allah and the Qu'ran and am suspect of all the traditions and rituals that stem from Hadith and arab culture. I've known this since I converted 10 years ago, but up until the past year or so, I've been trying to make sense of being a Sunni WITH all those extra trappings. Only since I've found this movement online have I been able to say out loud that I don't buy any of that and I won't participate in it any more.
This Eid, I refused to go to the community prayer with my husband, stating that I wouldn't sit and listen to a khutba that relied on a tiny passage from the Qu'ran and 40 Hadith to make a point I disagree with...that I couldn't in good conscious pretend to agree with the people I prayed with, stuffed behind a curtain, all covered up and boiling inside. And I absolutely wasn't going to show my little girls that it is okay to squash down what you know is true in order to fit in to a community. I said I'd pray alone.
He agrees that we should follow only the Qu'ran, but he has been raised Sunni, and his habits seem hard to break. I had to keep saying, "Is that in the Qu'ran? Show me."
The trouble is that I don't know my way around the Qu'ran as well as I should. And then I read things on here that say things like since it is a translation, it isn't the real Qu'ran anyway, and I get very overwhelmed. I don't know where to start. I'm feeling a bit like a terrible Muslim, because I should know a lot more by now.
On top of that, he is really on me to start teaching the girls to pray and teach them "our religion." Any ideas on where I should start? For myself and for my little ones?
Danielle
welcome welcome
-
Peace
Firstly, welcome.
I think that it is a good idea to start off with a blank slate, free from cultural and hadith influence. Don't worry about making mistakes and reading wrong translations. Take your time. Our life is a journey for us to search the truth. Just as long as your heart is in the right place, God is most merciful. Remember, many here are more than happy to help if there is anything you need to know.
)
-
peace,
Welcome to the forum.
Where do you begin? You have already begun! You have already planted the most important of seeds.
Take your time, and when you feel overwhelmed, remember the wisdom "the creation of a thousand forests is in one acorn"
A site that may help with your growth www.StudyQuran.org
-
The trouble is that I don't know my way around the Qu'ran as well as I should. And then I read things on here that say things like since it is a translation, it isn't the real Qu'ran anyway, and I get very overwhelmed. I don't know where to start. I'm feeling a bit like a terrible Muslim, because I should know a lot more by now.
On top of that, he is really on me to start teaching the girls to pray and teach them "our religion." Any ideas on where I should start? For myself and for my little ones?
Danielle
Hi Danielle, welcome
Thanks for sharing your story. Glad to hear that your husband agrees to follow only the Quran.
Re knowledge/understanding of Quran... i too got overwhelmed at times. It's funny that the more i read without putting what i've understood into practice, the less understanding i gain each day... And the most gains i experienced was after i contributed something of value to other people. Not necessarily a piece of information--a small kindly-intended act would do.
Understanding is not something that can be gained after merely studying or researching, maybe even for a lifetime in this world. Understanding is by God's will. GOD is THANKFUL to those who are thankful. GOD PROVIDES abundantly to those who provide to and share with others.
So my suggestion to you, dear Danielle, which i also try to emphasize to myself, is ... SHARE whatever you can share with others. Be it food, water, wealth, good news, advise, presence, cheers, empathy, .. you know better than us of what you have inside yourself. And lead your little ones to begin a humble life full of generosity. At present this is one of the few things i know that i'm perfectly, absolutely certain with.
May Allah wills to lead us to the understanding we wish to have.
Peace
-
Peace Danielle,
Welcome to the forum. I recommend using the search function. Some of what you may read here can be a bit over-whelming, just take it one step at a time. Most of us started out just where you are nowdiscombobulated.
All good things are difficult to achieve; and bad things are very easy to get. -Confucius
I was taught that the way of progress was neither swift nor easy.-Marie CurieThanks for sharing your story,
Peace
-
Peace Danielle,
On top of that, he is really on me to start teaching the girls to pray and teach them "our religion." Any ideas on where I should start? For myself and for my little ones?
You've got good advice on the thread from the others. If may add a suggestion regarding your children, to choose a couple basic/simple verses every night before bed or another preferable time and just read them out then explain in simpler terms the concepts therein as you understand them. Things like eating good things, not cheating others, being truthful, managing money in a balanced way etc. It would be useful for them to know these things while growing up, it gives them direction and guidelines which are healthy.
This might be a good starting point and you could add to it later/move on to more complex verses as your understanding grows and at least they will be listening to and hopefully understanding the quran's basic concepts if nothing else regularly. You could also try to link it with how these concepts work out in practical life with examples etc. Be creative and don't worry, with regular reading on your own things start falling in place. Always go back to the basics when uncertainty creeps in. There is no harm in that and may be even beneficial as your foundation might improve on which you can build upon later more solidly.
-
welcome welcome
I converted about 10 years ago myself too.
My husband is sort of similar, and even said that he didn't believe in most of the hadiths ... that was until I started questioning them myself and then he became a staunch defender of Bukhari. confusedDo you have any good translations of the Qur'an at home? I have Muhammad Asad's ... although he does have a traditional outlook and the footnotes reflect that, as far as I can tell he didn't subscribe to the abrogation theory. I would try just reading a little bit every day.
How old are your girls??
