wa salaam aleykum
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Salaam and Hello I am happy to join this forum. I would like to tell you my story. I was raised for the most part in a dysfunctional and abusive family environment, attended a Presbyterian Church as a child (which my mother only occassionally attended and my father never attended). As a result of the physical and sexual abuse at home, I did not believe in God (how could "God" allow such suffering to occur to innocent children when God had the power to stop it). I was very cynical about religion - the bible was telling me to love my parents - it was a farce - love my parents as they cause me the most hideous pain - sure!!). At 14 years old I began running away from home ending up on the streets and periodically being returned home by the police. Now and then I used God's name as a bargaining chip ( eg I will stop this behaviour if you help me to avoid being caught, but I was a very angry young woman and ireally I wanted nothing to do with God.
At 17 years old (as is typical for many young woman in this situation) I became pregnant and by 19 years old, I had 2 children, and was living with a violent, abusive partner. Despite the beatings and fear, I returned to school and eventually went on to university gaining a degree in Education. I was in my mid 20's before I told a single person about the abuse I suffered as a child. I began to seek help for myself, and received some counselling but it took 15 years to escape the abusive relationship I was in. Finally, when I turned 40 years old, I left my country to work overseas and travel the world. I had a great career and lived and worked in many countries, but a part of my life continued with addictive and self destructive behaviours, until finally in my early 50's I had enough. I just wanted a deep peace to replace the spiritual pain I was in. I fell to my knees and began imploring God to help me. At the time, I was living in Japan, and not long after this I was invited to attend a local Christian church. However, I almost never heard God's name mentioned. Praying was to Jesus, and a deep instinct within me wanted to worship God Alone, so I stopped going. I briefly looked into Buddism, Shinto, Hinduism and New Age Goddess worship. Then I met a young Bahai man and for several years I studied the Bahai faith. I told myself if Bahais prayed to God Alone then this would be the religion for me but I found their worship was for Bahallulah. I was becoming desperate but kept praying and asking God to guide me to a religion that worshipped God Alone. Not long after, in 2003, I discovered Submission.org website. I was very excited and thanked God for answering my prayers. After several honeymoon years, I began to recognise the idolisation of Rashid Khalifa that was happening amongst many Submitters. Splits had and were occurring in the group and I didn't agree with many of the interpretations of Quranic verses. I became despondent, letting go of the rope of God for several years and slipping back into my old behaviours, until again I reached crisis point. I knew I could not go on living without God in my life, so I returned to Submission but with many unresolved issues ringing in my head. I moved back to the Middle East and continued to do research on Islam. A year ago I came across Freeminds.org Praise God, finally I have found a place where ideas about Islam and the interpretation of Quranic verses can be discussed and debated without the fear of being ostracized from a group or being judged as unworthy of salvation. Praise God for the bravery of Edip Yuksel, Rashid Khalifa and all those who refuse to accept any less than the complete freedom of our human minds in connecting to our Creator. The fight for freedom has been my journey. Freedom from abuse, freedom from addiction, freedom from indoctrination, freedom to think! -
Salam sister,
I was touched by your story... and I admire your strength, you managed to find God at the end and that is the most important thing for humans.
I love this forum for the same reasons, here you can find people from all bakgrounds and all kind of ideas about Quran but what unites the majority here is believing in God and wanting to worship him alone without any partners.
Wellcome!
Salam. -
Salaam Lena,
welcome
You really found the correct path by Allah's help. But I am very sorry to know your story/past.
May Allah protect you, bless you with everything you need and fill your life with happiness and guide us to His true path and may He help you on each step you take pr
mmKhan
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Salaam sister,
Welcome to the forum sister. Allah doesn't forget and inshaAllah if you hold strong to His rope you will have an endless reward pr
933 Thy Lord hath not forsaken thee nor doth He hate thee,
934 And verily the latter portion will be better for thee than the former,
935 And verily thy Lord will give unto thee so that thou wilt be content.Salaam and may Allah make it easy for you now pr
Bender -
Sis,
Welcome to our forum. I am glad you have found peace in your life, there is nothing worse than recovering from abuse as a child, it is a long and painful journey. It shakes even your trust in everyone, including God.
I hope to see you around.
Take care )
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Shalom Aleikhem,
Welcome to the forum my friend
I hope you have a nice time here and share with us your views. I pray that God guides you to His straight path.
May peace be on you
-------------------- Student of Allah
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Peace to you as well!
What a journry!
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7 "Hells", 2 Heavens, and a "Purgatory"
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Why language is irrelevant!
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RK Follow the Message or the Messenger?
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Uniting Muslims who follow the Quran alone (submitters ن
https//www.facebook.com/groups/310518545650653/ICRQS - Restoration of Quran AS Sunnah
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https//www.facebook.com/groups/279024998781095/SUBMISSION
https//www.facebook.com/groups/submitters2GodAlone/Toluislam
https//www.facebook.com/groups/toluislam/The Quranists' Space
https//www.facebook.com/groups/quranistsspace/Community Buildings Projects for Muslims who want to follow the Quran Alone
https//www.facebook.com/groups/201443636624681/Soumis a Dieu Seul
https//www.facebook.com/groups/243997725633969/378307658869641Sites http//free-minds.org/links
www.Quransmessage.com
www.Ourbeacon.com
www.progressive-muslim.org/
www.ProgressiveMuslims.Org
www.ahl-alquran.com/
www.19.org -
Tears came out of my eyes by reading your past.i felt very deplore about you . may god give you long life .
welcome
941 Did We not comfort your chest,
942 And take from you your load,
943 Which had put strain on your back?
944 And We have raised your remembrance,
945 So with hardship comes ease.
946 With hardship comes ease.
947 So when you are done, then stand.
948 And to your Lord you shall seek.