Salam from Australia
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I'm really glad I came across Free Minds a few months back. It's so good to see that people are able to discuss God's revelation and to search for answers. I don't understand Arabic so I have to rely on translations and I am seeing that this can open up even more possible meanings or lead away from the truth. Most people here are sincerely searching for the truth and I truly appreciate the explanations given by various contributors on different verses of the Quran.
My Dad is English (Anglican) and my Mum is Malay (Sunni). Dad converted to Islam and had to get a Muslim name to marry Mum, but years on, he sees Islam as full of village beliefs and that totally put him off Islam. My siblings and I grew up knowing that you say Bismillah before sleeping and eating, you don't eat pig, you don't touch dogs bcoz they're dirty and you fast. My father always said to us, out of earshot from Mum, that he wanted us to have our own choice in what we believe or don't.
Anyway, when I was around 20, I really started my search for God and the true religion. I was completely open to Christianity or Islam. I prayed to God for guidance, searched through religious books and spoke to people....and one night I had an inspirational dream which made so much sense.
So I mixed with a Sunni converts group and the things I was reading in the Quran wasn't always making sense with what I was being taught by the Sunnis. I remember they said that the Quran doesn't tell you everything you need to do, so you need to follow hadiths and sunnas. So I went out searching for some books. I still remember reading one that said something about drinking the Prophet's urine was healing..... I was so disgusted! Every time I prayed, I wondered if we are supposed to pray to God alone, why were we calling on Muhammad and wishing blessings on him and his family? I wondered ' What about all the other Prophets?' So I had a few doubts and kept them for about 20 years.
Only last year, these doubts started to clear. Alhamdulillah! I started praying again and all the doubts
came back. A few google searches later and Islam started to make complete sense. My eyes had become clouded when reading with a preconceived idea in my mind. Many of the Sunni comments in the bottom of verses change the meaning of God's words.
Another of God's miracles in my life was this. My husband considered himself an atheist and only knew about Islam from what he saw on the news. One day last year, I called our twins 'My cute little Muslim babies!' This made hubby so mad and he told me 'Dont you ever call our boys that again!.... Anyway when I started praying again, I was searching in the Quran for how many times a day God wants us to pray. I asked hubby for his opinion and I'd read relevant verses from different translations to him and we'd end up spending a couple of hours at a time going over it all. Well 2 months after, my husband started praying and we pray as a family now. I am so thankful to God.
I wish all you brothers and sisters a happy journey with God's guidance and grace, inshallah -
Salam from your northern (Indonesia).
welcome to this forum, I hope you can strengthening your faith in this forum.
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Peace,
A man of Faith at your service. It is always interesting to read about someone's story.
Glad you found your way away from the misleading hadith and the likes. The Quran is enough Guidance for a muslim. Trust God will lead you straight and no more is truly needed.
Seek His Nearness and Guidance as well as protection from the evil one.
Edit Forgot to say "Welcome!"
God bless you -
Peace Star Jasmine,
Welcome to the forum! Thanks for sharing your story. I never did one of these, my own story of how I came (back) to Islam is quite different but its scattered around the forum when I refer to Paganism and what not. Although, given some of the other things here, I doubt anyone's that interested. You have to be interested in modern Paganism and new spiritualities to understand some of it.
In terms of translations I have to say I still believe in looking at a whole series of translations such as that found here http//www.islamawakened.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=9&Itemid=10 and asking for God's guidance first. This place is good to browse, but I find myself looking back and disagreeing with some interpretations, which is fine because that is part of the whole individual learning process. Just as a side note.
hang on, your husband only knew Islam based on the news - was this before he met you? Surely, he could see your example and how you weren't like what's shown on the news? When he didn't like you calling your children Muslim, did he respect you practicing Islam? I am not surprised at his attitude though, there is an atheist I was speaking to on skype who's friend apparently wrote something truly horrible and he decided to share it with everyone on his facebook account. The hashtag feature is now on facebook and the hashtag was "Muslimsareshit" I don't know if it was even a joke but what kind of a joke is that? He called it "frape" - whatever that is. Who knows, I don't really want to know tbh.
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Peace supportpeacenotwar,
Face rape I guess it means. It is these new trend words I think. People who got nothing better to do. I think it implies that you use facebook to "own" someone.
God bless you
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Thank you for your welcomes Earthdom, Man of Faith and supportpeacenotwar. It's very nice to hear from you and to receive some advice and links.
Replying to your question sister. I didn't know my husband back when the US invaded Iraq and then Sept 11 and
July 7 in London. These major events made such an impression on millions around the world. Especially for those who dont know much about Islam, they were and still are questioning 'What kind of religion is this?' People committing terrible acts in the name of Allah. There are documentaries Ive watched on tv or read in the papers, or just things that happen in the community, that really had me disillusioned with Islam.
My husband hated religion because he believed this is what caused people to commit atrocities. He didnt believe in God because he felt that why would God allow all these terrible things to happen? He's not hostile to people, Im sorry I gave that impression. When we met, we both accepted that we had different beliefs or ideas. Of course we had some brief discussions about Islam and religions, but I was only Muslim by name then. I was the first "Muslim" he really got to know. Sometimes I'd pray or fast and he didnt mind this.
When I made the comment about our children last year, it really shocked him. He'd thought that my religion was just
my religion and suddenly he felt I was enforcing my beliefs on our children. Of course I understand that the children will
make up their own minds in time, but leading by example is very important and a tremendous responsibility.
So this moment was excellent for me because it got me soul searching and I eventually returned to God, praying and looking for answers to the many doubts niggling at me over the years about the Sunni practices and much more!
From this, it lead me to asking my hubby for his opinions on different verses in the Quran, which he was very interested in listening to and helping with. Praise God. Because my husband didnt have any prior knowledge of the Quranic verses, he could give me his opinion without any hadith fogging his thoughts.
He started to tell me that the Quran was very interesting and thought provoking. I just kept thanking God and when hubby said he wanted to pray too, tears came to my eyes and thanking God just isnt enough! I had been praying to God to please grant me a Muslim husband and family...... Alhamdulillah -
Peace be upon you too Bender )
Thank you for your welcome brother -
Peace sister,
Thanks for explaining... so he's not like that example I mentioned. Awww, that's a great story, I'm glad there's a happy ending. When its an atheist who comes to Islam - it's even more interesting sometimes because they have to accept the 'validity' of God as well as the faith itself. That's a good idea - to get the opinion of someone who doesn't know about hadith or is prepared to put hadiths to one side but is non-Muslim, that's if people would like another opinion on it. Sometimes people like to go straight to God and leave out other opinion, each to their own we all know the best way for us.
Much love and many blessings!
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Peace supportpeacenotwar,
Face rape I guess it means. It is these new trend words I think. People who got nothing better to do. I think it implies that you use facebook to "own" someone.
God bless you
Peace brother,
Very very close, I looked it up and it means facebook rape according to urban dictionary. When someone put something on a person's Facebook account while they are away but still logged in. The interesting thing was the people in the comments who are his facebook friends were not even slightly disgusted at the comment from what I read - and some were even sort of agreeing as it included swear words about anyone who worships Allah swt.
Actually - that is sort of an interesting experiment into atheist responses to general abuse of people who follow a faith, and different faiths and religions. They always say they are against the religion not the people - in this case, this was about the people. Given that this comes from people who regularly criticise Islam... it makes me wonder. What is this was Pamella Geller saying that? Everyone would know what the response would be but not when its the 'ordinary' atheist/ex-Muslim team up? Sorry to keep going on about this, and I don't want to change the subject of this thread, but what if a Muslim said that about Jews they disagree with, there would an implication of intense hate of Jews. its not a joke, its just idiocy. Anyway...
May Allah swt be glorified.
May Allah's blessing and protection be with you.
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Hello,
I understand your father and his reaction is very normal. At least I can give you a good advice Keep away from Islam and stick with Qur'an. In Quran, God doesn't offer us so-called religions such as Islam. Only way is surrendering to God. It very simple and easy.