Living a double life
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Salam all,
I am new to the forum. I'll keep my intro short. I was raised Catholic, but casually (church only on Xmas and Easter) and felt the Bible didn't offer what I wanted. When I learned about Islam, its one God and rejection of pagans, I thought it was wonderful. I was elated. I married a Muslim man, prayed the 5x daily, read the Quran, tried to learn Arabic, wore hijab, etc.
But the more I learned about Hadith, the more I would think "What is this?" When my husband would try to explain Hadith, it just made it worse; not only is Hadith inaccurate, but he didn't even know why he followed it.
Suffice to say, I've grown "tired" of Islamic propaganda and everyone's "holier-than-thou" attitude. However here's where the "double-life" comes in
I'm a pharmacist in a busy location and have been there for several years now. I wear hijab every day, even though I don't believe it is really necesary anymore. Why do I do this? Because I want the general public to have a positive image of a Muslim woman. I've always worn the hijab to work. If I decided to not wear it anymore, my patients would think I've stopped being a Muslim. It is too tedious to explain conventional Islam and "Quran-only" to each and every passerby. So, I continue to wear it.
Now Ramadan is coming and the charade continues. I'll be doing the whole fasting/praying thing. I don't truly truly believe it is all necessary, but what kind of Muslim woman doesn't do these things?
So that's where things stand right now.
Peace all,
Lynn -
Salam all,
I am new to the forum. I'll keep my intro short. I was raised Catholic, but casually (church only on Xmas and Easter) and felt the Bible didn't offer what I wanted. When I learned about Islam, its one God and rejection of pagans, I thought it was wonderful. I was elated. I married a Muslim man, prayed the 5x daily, read the Quran, tried to learn Arabic, wore hijab, etc.
But the more I learned about Hadith, the more I would think "What is this?" When my husband would try to explain Hadith, it just made it worse; not only is Hadith inaccurate, but he didn't even know why he followed it.
Suffice to say, I've grown "tired" of Islamic propaganda and everyone's "holier-than-thou" attitude. However here's where the "double-life" comes in
I'm a pharmacist in a busy location and have been there for several years now. I wear hijab every day, even though I don't believe it is really necesary anymore. Why do I do this? Because I want the general public to have a positive image of a Muslim woman. I've always worn the hijab to work. If I decided to not wear it anymore, my patients would think I've stopped being a Muslim. It is too tedious to explain conventional Islam and "Quran-only" to each and every passerby. So, I continue to wear it.
Now Ramadan is coming and the charade continues. I'll be doing the whole fasting/praying thing. I don't truly truly believe it is all necessary, but what kind of Muslim woman doesn't do these things?
So that's where things stand right now.
Peace all,
LynnSalam,
I think that at some point of life we all fall into a trap where we do what the others do around us and think that it is "normal". From a "Muslim" point of view this becomes apparent when we break out of the Hadithist propaganda and try to understand the Quran ourselves.
The problem is that there is also lots of propaganda on from the Quranist perspective - ranging from those who try and justify the Hadith way of being a Muslim to those who believe that being a Muslim is to just wake up in the morning and go to sleep in the evening.
My solution which I am sure is one shared by some others is that we will not answer to the Mullahs or Hadithists or to any man whether he be a Muslim, Christian or Atheist - we will answer to God alone.
Once I made that realization - and I mean, ACTUALLY accepted it, I began to practice my Islam according to how I will answer to God.
One incredibly useful resource that I use is this site that contains word definitions and transliterations in Arabic (I am not an Arabic speaker) http//www.islamawakened.com/index.php/qur-an
Here you can click on each individual word and find its meaning.
Then you can discuss this with people to see what they make of it - of course you follow your own but a bit of gauging is not bad.
I have only actually realized that I am a Quran-only Muslim a few weeks ago, so for example I am doing the traditional Ramadan as I have not yet understood when Ramadan should be. I get derided by all sides for my take, only because people are desperate for you to follow them and their views. But the thing is to be steady, and hold in there.
PS Try some YouTube channels as well - especially one by this guy who calls himself Quran Centric - he has done a great one on Salat - even if I don't fully agree him.
Good luck.
Salam
Ed -
Salam all,
I am new to the forum. I'll keep my intro short. I was raised Catholic, but casually (church only on Xmas and Easter) and felt the Bible didn't offer what I wanted. When I learned about Islam, its one God and rejection of pagans, I thought it was wonderful. I was elated. I married a Muslim man, prayed the 5x daily, read the Quran, tried to learn Arabic, wore hijab, etc.
But the more I learned about Hadith, the more I would think "What is this?" When my husband would try to explain Hadith, it just made it worse; not only is Hadith inaccurate, but he didn't even know why he followed it.
Suffice to say, I've grown "tired" of Islamic propaganda and everyone's "holier-than-thou" attitude. However here's where the "double-life" comes in
I'm a pharmacist in a busy location and have been there for several years now. I wear hijab every day, even though I don't believe it is really necesary anymore. Why do I do this? Because I want the general public to have a positive image of a Muslim woman. I've always worn the hijab to work. If I decided to not wear it anymore, my patients would think I've stopped being a Muslim. It is too tedious to explain conventional Islam and "Quran-only" to each and every passerby. So, I continue to wear it.
Now Ramadan is coming and the charade continues. I'll be doing the whole fasting/praying thing. I don't truly truly believe it is all necessary, but what kind of Muslim woman doesn't do these things?
So that's where things stand right now.
Peace all,
LynnThank you for your post. I am in similar way only i dont wear hijab. However i recently married into muslim family. It is alot easier to practice the way you believe when you are alone. Now my husband is trying to teach me the right way to do things and i just nod and say okay as to not be troublesome. God knows my thoughts and so I cannot lie to Him but sometimes it is easier to blend in than to stand out.
Do you wear hijab when you are praying alone at home? I never understood the purpose of that as if God cannot see all of me at all times. I thought covering was to make men feel better about themselves...note sarcasm.