I'm still confused :(

MissDee

Peace MissDee.

Please have a look at

http//www.total-loyalty-to-god-alone.co.uk/website-pages/what-is-the-true-religion/

And

http//submission.org/#/d/App19.html

God bless you.

Peace.

Peace Good logic,

Very informative sites, much appreciated.
Thank you for your response. God bless you )

MissDee

Salaam MissDee,

Don't be concerned with what the scholars say. It doesn't matter if they spent their entire lives studying. There are scholars of Catholicism and Hinduism too. It doesn't make them right. It's not how much you know. It's your ability to reason that matters. I went through that phase of using logic to show Sunnis that we shouldn't include Hadith as a source of our religion. They won't listen. Why? They are too attached to the beliefs they grew up with. The more you study Hadith, the more you will see how messed up they are. They're full of contradictions unlike Quran. Some Hadith are comedic. Others are just disrespectful. But forget all that and just think about logically. If Allah says the Quran is complete and that we shouldn't follow any other book. And if the Prophet Muhammad never had anyone write down or memorize his sayings or teachings (other than Quran) while he was alive... Why did men like Bukhari have to chime in 300 years later to complete the religion? Who authorized them to complete the religion? It doesn't make any sense. But the Sunnis will never accept this truth. Anyways, welcome to Islam and God bless!

Salam Aamer,

You bring up excellent points, if I see the Qu'ran it's definitely clear. Though, there are some Hadiths that compliment the Qu'ran and give inspirational stories, I will always uphold the Qu'ran. As for my Sunni friends, it's true what you're saying, the more I try to bring up Qu'ranic versus that state the book is clear, they continue to deny it, so maybe they're implying the Qu'ran is incomplete -. Even though I doubt God would forget to include important things.

Thank you very much for your response. God Bless )

MissDee

Miss Dee, I was never an atheist, but I have encountered the same issues you have. I was surprised to be told my prayer was invalid if I did not state Muhammad as the last prophet and did not wish blessings upon him. I was also told the same by Christians when I would not say In Christ our Lord. If removing a name from a statement makes it invalid then that name/person is equal to the other... making partners. This is how I feel about it. Just take it slow and read your Quran. I pray by following the guidelines laid out by the Quran. I feel closer to my creator this way and not a robot.

Welcome

Christine

Peace Christine,

My parents raised me Catholic, but many things within this religion confused me, so I went Atheist, just denying the existence of God altogether since I couldn't make sense of any of it. I was astray for many years, but (Alhamdulillah) God has led me to the right path. Even though I have some confusion, I believe with my heart and mind that Islam is the truth. I'm glad to hear you have found a close connection with God, and hope you continue finding peace (Insha'Allah).

Thank you for your time.

MissDee

42 Jesus said to them, ?If God were your Father, you would love me, for I have come here from God. I have not come on my own; God sent me. 43 Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. 44 You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father?s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. 45 Yet because I tell the truth, you do not believe me! 46 Can any of you prove me guilty of sin? If I am telling the truth, why don?t you believe me? 47 Whoever belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God.?

John 842 etc

We have cited in this Quran every kind of example, but the human being is the most argumentative creature.

The Qur'an

Salam GODsubmitter,

These versus are excellent and definitely bring more insight
to the message of God, and why some would argue with the
clear versus in the Qu'ran.

Thank you for your response. )

MissDee

Salam MissDee,

I take the liberty to pick three issues, i.e.

a. I want a good and strong bond with God
b. I just feel confused, not about the Qu'ran, but the way one must pray to God,
c. (I just feel confused, ... ) and embrace Islam.

a. Bond

A bond is all about relationship, and for a relationship to work, there must be communication.

How do we communicate with God? The easiest way is by speech. So talk to God. But you don't have to be very vocal about it. I guess you have read something like, speak clearly, not too loud and never an intelligible whisper. So speak respectfully with God about whatever you want to talk about. Ibraheem asked about his God. Maryam asked God about possibilities. Ibraheem too. In fact Zakariya cried to God. So, talk.

Will God definitely talk (voice) to you? Perhaps yes. Perhaps not. We cannot say God will definitely speak to us. No. But there is nothing to stop you from talking with God. So, talk.

When do we start establishing the bond/relationship? Immediately on waking up from sleep (musbiheen). You lose consciousness when sleeping, so make God the first in the conscious mind, i.e. in the awake state. Remember God immediately on waking up. Yes, even when the eyes are not yet opened up. The Fatihah is excellent. But you may choose to say your own words.

God will surely communicate with you. Not necessarily via speech, meaning God may or may not speak with you. But the simplest way that God communicates with us is via signs (ayat).

What signs? No. No. You will not see 'Allah' in Arabic written in the skies. No. God is not an Arab. Even 'Allah' is not His name. 'Allah' is merely the status, i.e. God. Sorry for deviating a little. offtopic

The best of signs, but most ignored and most underrated is the feel or gut feeling. And the keyword here is calmness or peacefullness. That is the state we must be all the times. That is our original state. Perhaps now you may recall that we always wish others, "Salam/peace" or "Alssalamu AAalaykum/Peace be upon you." Or that babies cry upon realizing that they have been born into this world! ;D

And exactly, are you calm while reading this?

If you are not calm at all, then what you are reading is exactly a lie. So don't read any further.

But if you are calm, then please proceed. The feel is the life compass bestowed upon us by God. Is it a coincidence that God is 'alssalam'?

Lets say you are studying the Q (Qur-an) at night. Be sure to be calm. Speak to God about your intent and purposes in studying the Q. Personally I would ask God to make me understand the meaning just like how he wants me to understand it. Then only you open the Q. A knowledge of Arabic is necessary. So too are the language tools. But never force yourself to understand or accept to understand what you are currently studying. God knows the best time to make you understand wholly. There are phases, and don't be surprised that you may gather a certain understanding today only to find a new meaning that is diametrically opposed a week or a year later. So be open minded. Be without ideas or conclusions. In short, be without prejudice. Empty the cup Zen style, for no one will teach when the mind is laden with ideas. God will not teach us when we are full of prejudice. In fact God will drive us to pursue our prejudices only to discover at the last breath of how foolish we have been. You may want to read 'alfeel' (the followers of erroneous views) in Chapter 105. And be thankful to God for whatever you have gathered from your studies.

So while studying the Q, you should always check your feel. If your calmness is disturbed then something must have gone wrong. You must have a recheck of your work.

Whoever you meet always check your feel. Whatever that catches your eyes, check your feel. Wherever you are, always check your feel. It should always be calm or peaceful. Being calm is the cardinal rule, the habit to nurture.

Other than being calm is a storm. Being sad or happy is a storm. Same also with envy, jealousy, etc. And whenever there is a storm in your heart, please immediately revert to our natural being of being calm. Have you heard some people consider that 'muslim' means 'peacemaker'?

And say you meet a new but very beautiful person but you don't feel good about. That is a negative sign, so don't bother even if the person is physically attractive. I think, many of us are very familiar with this.

And your state of calmness/peacefulness is very contagious. It affects your surroundings - people, animals, etc.. If you find that your electronic gadgets or machines keep breaking down, the most possible cause is your state of calmness/peacefullness is often disturbed.

Some people say that every thought is an energy. Good thoughts are positive energies, and bad thoughts are negative energies. But bad thoughts will never emerge from a really calm/peaceful heart. So check your feel.

If something is good for you or it is the truth for you then you are perfectly at ease and very calm. Perhaps you are even absorbed by it. If something is bad for you or it is a lie to you then you will feel an objection in your chest - there is convulsion or agitation in your chest. For further reading please see Chapter 7 verse 1-3.

The objective is to attain a pure heart (zakat). In 243 we read, "Waaqeemoo alssalata waatoo alzzakata ... ." To me this means, "And you (pl.) correct the relationship/bond/contact and attain the purity in heart ... ." And we are into, "Aslamtu lirabbi alAAalameen." (2131)

But don't be surprised if instead of God, the spirit of God (roohu allah) speaks to you. Well, sometimes it happens, sometimes not. But if it ever happens, don't be surprised. And if ever the spirit of God within you speaks with you, then you are among the blessed.

But how do we know if the spirit of God (roohu allah) speaks? The spirit of God is within you. Study for example 1529, 329 and 3872.

Lets say we accept that the spirit of God is within us all. So obviously if ever 'It' speaks, 'It' speaks from within.

But why 'It'? Because for you MissDee, 'It' will sound just like you. For a woman 'It' sounds just like the woman, and for a man 'It' sounds just like the man. 'It' will sound just like how you talk to people. Exactly and literally in your voice. If you are usually sarcastic, 'It' will employ sarcasm on you. Humor too if you are always humorous. So remember, never from without (outside you) but always from within. Now, remember that Muhammad the nabiy who received the Q was deemed possssed by the people? Read for example Chapter 96 please.

But what happens if the speaker is as if from outside? Like being heard via the ears? Then it is 'alshshaytan' in the form of 'aljinn'/the concealed. In some schools or 'tarika' they sometimes appear as famous 'wali'/Saints. A true 'waliy' of God will never appear as such - externally.

And what happens if the speaker is also from within, but never sounded like you? Then it is 'alshshaytan' in the form of 'aljinn'/the concealed that whispers doubts in your chest. Read Chapter 114 please.

So say you have started to establish the relationship/bond with God on waking up from sleep. During the day, you will usually carry out your duties. If you are a bread winner you go to work. If you are a student you go to class. If you are a housewife you do house chores. Should you become oblivious of God? No.

Make God the first in everything you do. God has been the first in your conscious memory. You should retain that consciousness of God while doing your daily tasks. In fact, you can ask God about your works or studies. For a housewife she might ask God on what to cook for dinner, or what to do to a problem child. If you are given a task by your boss, the first thing to remember is God and ask God to guide you to implement the task beforehand for the best possible outcome.

Some people leave God at the mosques or on prayer mats, but I trust a true servant of God is immersed in the greatness of all things God. God is the wise, so one should seek God's counsel. God is the teacher, so one should learn with God as the teacher. God is very wealthy, so one should seek the bounty of this world with God as the dispenser. Etc. Etc.

After all daily tasks are done, you should spend some time recollecting the basics of your relationship/bond with God. If it is the time to study the Q, put it in a proper perspectives. The Q is about us individually, so relate appropriately. The Q is talking about things near and close. Most often it is about our personal states and development in our relationship with God.

IF (big if, remember?) you are really brave, ask God to show you what you have done wrong during the day. The idea is to mend our ways. Can one correct oneself if one never know that one has done wrong? Any takers?

But all these is because you said you wanted "a good and strong bond with God."

Still there are more things you should do, but the above is sufficient if you want to start establishing that bond. In fact I am sure over time you will discover that God will be your best friend ever. You will laugh and cry with God. Simple approach, but I can assure you that this is a life changing habit. I wish you all the best.

b. Pray

Pray to me is 'aldduAAa/-.' It is like asking for help, forgiveness, assistance, etc.

But if you meant it as 'salat', then I am very sorry. To me 'salat' has been described above, i.e. relationship in the most general of terms. It may imply connection, bond, and communion too.

c. Islam

To me Islam (peaceful submission) is 'deen' or obligation. It is about a state of being.

The Q is talking about relationship we should enjoy, especially with God. It is never about religion. Religion confines/shackles, while Islam emancipates/liberates. Just look at the freedom of choice we are given in the Q. But of course you are accountable for every choice you make.

You could choose to be attached, and you could choose to be detached. To be attached to God is to be detached from all things other than God. To be detached from God is to be attached to all things other than God. But God is never a thing. God is a status, and for God is the best of status (al-asma alhusna).

So 'asma' is not 'name'? Ask God, will you. But you should never speak of your God's name. Never. Never when you knew it.

As always this is my personal comprehension. It should never be simply accepted to be the truth. Ask God for guidance, please. And may God guide us all correctly.

Cheers!
Mohammed Noh

Peace Mohammed Noh,

Thank you so much for going into great detail in order to explain my main concerns. I appreciate it a lot. I hope with time and dedication, my connection with God increases, and my understanding of Islam expands. I had asked God before to guide me to his path, and when I did a good search on different religions, Islam was definitely the one for me. I will ask God for further guidance and support. You have wonderful insight and comprehension, may God bless you always, and not leave any of us astray.

Thank you for your time. D

MissDee

Salam Sis

You wrote These Sunni's tell me that the same people who collected the Qu'ran also collected the Hadiths, so both books can be trusted.

The answer to that is that the Qur'an comes with a promise of preservation from Allah. Traditions and reports based on hearsay collected years and years after the blessed Messenger do not come with any.

Shia and Sunni collections of reports (with their internal bias) collected by hearsay, are just what they are reports. Majority are reported as "meanings" rather than what allegedly came out from the tongue of the blessed Messenger.

Please stick to the Quran first. When you have studies it properly you will be able to see the difference between Allah's Word and material found in many secondary sources.

Peace on to you Brother,

Yes they did mention this, they also told me to stay away from other sects like Shia because I would be led astray. I don't know if Qu'ran only Muslims are considered a sect of their own, but I believe this is real Islam. They uphold the word of God, and have minor disputes. Compared to the intolerance one of my Sunni friends has for Shia (. I've read over and over again in the Qu'ran that we should not argue amongst ourselves or divide into sects. Just this alone leads me to believe the Hadiths were created to divide the Muslims. It worries me a little, but I hope God has mercy on us, if we ever find ourselves astray.

Thank you for your time.

Tigress

Salam to MissDee and Salam to the readers of this lovely forum and outlet that I am so grateful I stumbled across!
Or perhaps Allah (swt) directed me here. I've been snooping around for a couple of days on this forum and was going to post my own thread about how I was feeling but I think MissDees title sums it up perfectly! I have read this thread and many points were explained --thank you to those people--.

I would like to piggyback on this thread,,well I live in the Midwest of the United States and have been studying Islam on and off for nearly 5 years after meeting my best friend online, who is Syrian, about 6 years ago. (anyone reading this can you please include Syria in your prayers from all the awful things that are happening there...and everything is getting so bad so prayers are needed, thank you)

I grew up Christian but never really was into the whole church thing and being engulfed by the Holy Spirit and screaming and shouting and taking communion and all of that. However I've always wanted to understand God (swt) more and understand what I needed to do to win His approval. I just graduated college and during my early 20s, I am now 24, I visited many demoninational churches including Catholic, Prostestant, Apostolic, Baptist.

Even when I was young (8,9,10) and was being "saved" I NEVER understood how Jesus' death (pbuh) could reconcile every sin I ever committed or was ever going to commit or how Jesus (pbuh) could be God and man at the same time. So from an early age, this discrepancy was always in my psyche.

When I met my bestie, I had the usual, stereotypical view about Islam and muslims and so we had many deep debates and convos about all of it. After a year of these debates and convos I felt maybe there was something to Islam, so I maintained my own research since then and always used him as a reference. He is Sunni btw but I think more open-minded than most. Otherwise I do not think we would have become so close over the years.

So fast forward to 2012 and I finally decided that I am ready to convert to Islam.
I had visited a mosque for the first time in Summer 2012 and I immediately loved the atmosphere more than any church I had ever been too. The mosque in my hometown was mostly Pakistani population and people from various Arab countries and very few black muslims (which I am). So of course everyone had their cliques but everyone was friendly nonetheless. I moved to another city and the mosque I am going to now is where I took my shahada a few weeks ago.

I was soooo excited to take my shahada but very apprehensive as well. I met with a Sister at this mosque who was from a Christian convert and I sent her this email of which I will share parts of below. I think it sums up my anxieties pretty well

A lot of details in Islam I don't know the logic behind it and when I?m actually doing it I can?t seem to do it with conviction , as if I mean it, and It feels like I am just doing something to go through the motions because if I don?t I will go to hell. That is how I feel a lot of the times and I don?t mean to, but I don?t know how to fix it. So if I convert I know that feeling will persist until?I don?t know when. But I still want to convert!

I spent some time going through the khutbahs by the Imam online?and I came across one he did not too long ago that talked about Islam and doubts. And he mentioned how there is a difference between asking a question about Islam and questioning Islam. Over the past 8 months I?ve been asking a lot of questions but there are still some things I feel I am not in accord with, and as I am the kind of person who likes to know why Im doing something, I don?t want to step on toes by continuing to ask questions because I?m not getting it. But at the same time how can I practice something with conviction if I am not in accord with it? I guess that is the whole point of submitting to God.
There is a link to an Islam Q&A website and Ive noticed that, in general, the questions seem to be so nit picky, as if to live as a muslim you need to check first to make sure every little thing you do is halal or haram.

For example there was a recent question can I buy goods from non-muslim stores during the holiday season in order to benefit from discounts? I mean that is pretty extreme in my opinion. For me to convert to this religion am I going to have to watch everything I do, and run to the Imam to see if it is okay or not?

Just so you know more about me, I am a big tomboy. I have never really been into partying and going out a lot, although I have tried it just to do it. I don?t drink and I don?t like wearing tight or revealing clothes which is just in my nature?I like to be comfortable! And the most pork food I eat is hotdogs, so as far as those aspects of Islam, I don?t feel I have to make any big changes as maybe someone else would.

But at the same time I still want to enjoy life. Is it possible to follow God and still enjoy what you have? I hope it doesn?t seem like a silly question but that is something I am worried about. For example, although it is not in the Quran, Ive read that scholars say women can?t wear nail polish because it interferes with wudu. And either you have to take it off before every prayer or only wear it on the period. Ive also read (from scholars) that women can?t shape their eyebrows or dye the hair because it is changing how you are naturally. Now I love to do my nails myself---I don?t like artificial nails?so I like to keep mine nice and I like to play in polish. That?s what I do in my free time you know? And I don?t wear makeup, but I like to pluck my eyebrows . To me these are petty things that don?t even seem like they should need discussion, but yet I?ve read lengthy debates about whether you can go to hell for doing them or not. And these are just a couple of examples out of many things Ive come across over my time studying Islam. And I know in the Quran God says that he does not wish to make things difficult for us but in my view it seems like I will come across some unpractical things. I am not expecting everything to be easy, but at the same time I think religion should be applicable and practical to your life no matter what the situation.

Another issue I am having is how I perceive God seems to be different from how Islam depicts God.
You had mentioned that when I convert to Islam, God will forgive everything I?ve done and it will be like I am starting fresh. So does that mean that he doesn?t forgive me now when I ask forgiveness and repent, etc?? And from what I understand, Jitnah is earned correct? So its like a scale and all the bad things you have done are on one side and all the good things you have ever done are on the other, and whichever side has more things that?s how you are judged? But unlike Christianity, all sins are not the same, are not weighted the same? And in Islam you get rewards (which I don?t understand this concept)? But if you don?t ?for instance?do wudu God won?t accept your prayer?or if you break fast God doesn?t accept your prayers? These things I am struggling to understand. But there are some things that if you do you are guaranteed Jitnah?such as dying in Jihad or bringing someone to Islam?

And Ive read that in Islam all prophets are the same and all were just men (as we talked about), but then why does Muhammad, subhana watalah, get more attention? I mean he is mentioned specially in salat and is always mentioned. If he is no more special than any other of the prophets, why is he always referenced by name? Why is that not considered idolatry of him if he is put on a pedestal?

So that is how I was feeling immediately going into my shahada and immediately after I felt like I had made a mistake and wasn't going to be up to keep this up--I was pretty much in tears for some days.

For example the sister that I sent this email do was trying to direct me on how to do things. I remember her asking me (in a very nice way) if I did not know how to tie my hijab? I simply had a scarf on my head tied to the back, along with a large cowl neck sweater to cover my neck as well as a big shawl. I said yes I did but I prefer to wear it this way. She said, oh well you cannot have any of your awrah showing, we do not want to entice the brothers, and to pray you must be completely covered. See here, your ears cannot show (and she pointed to a quarter inch of the bottom of my earlobe showing wear my scarf had shifted).

Keep in mind the brothers are in the next room and have totally separate entrance, so really you can go to the masjid and leave and never encounter one. And as I described my dress that day I also had on loose pants and a long overcoat to my knees. So in my opinion I was pretty covered. My immediate thoughts at her statements were if a brother was looking that hard to spot something then shame on him! And what do the brothers do as soon as they step out of the masjid and into the world where an uncovered neck or a loose strand of hair is the least of their worries??

I know she was trying to help but I immediately felt uncomfortable (and this instance happened right after my shahada?you could probably understand the ?what did I get myself into sentiment?. I would also like to say that I have a very strong tie to west African culture as my dad is from there, and as you may know, African woman wear headdresses and headwraps all the time as a part of cultural attire?and I LOVE them. So I have no issues with covering my hair, because I did it before I was muslim. However I just do not see the direct link between ?what is apparent thereof? to consist of face and hands. ?Modesty? and ?bosom? is clear to me but ?apparent thereof? is not specific in the least. Can a scarf be an accessory to my modest attire? Yes sure! But without it am losing my salvation and opportunity for Jinnah? I do not think so.

Another example is that this sister was explaining to me gushl and wudu and prayer. She told me of stepping in to the bathroom on a such a foot and stepping out on another, always stating your intention, bathing your right side first then your left, doing everything 3 times, doing everything in the correct order, and man I tell you my head was spinning at the end of it from just knowing the do?s and don?ts (and keep in mind Ive read about gushl and wudu many many time so I knew it! So I thought) I mean in my head if I am doing all of this extra stuff, I feel like I lose the meaning of what I am doing and why I am doing it in the first place which is suppose to be for God (swt)! That?s how I feel about a lot of the ?details? in Islam. There are so many details , it is impossible to find the Islam. But these just aren?t regular details, oh no, these are details that if missed are a sin and you will be cursed and damned and helled and everything else.

Basically as I said the big picture of Islam I get. And as I have read the Quran, I understand how it is the perfect religion..ideally anyway. I mean usually when I read things,,, and one Muslim (usually a scholar or well versed in the Quran/Hadith) tries to explain something to another Muslim?it goes like, well this is what God (swt) has to say and this is was Muhamad did (pbuh) so what you are doing is not correct. If you do not want to accept this then fine, but God (swt) will judge you so be wary!! I?ve noticed that the person doing the explaining always seems, somehow, personally offended, if the person they are giving advice to disagrees or naysays what they have declared! Gee,,if God is going to be judging me why are you getting so upset??

Oh and I love the argument when people ask questions, say about hijab, and the response is ?well you should just say you are not ready to wear it instead of trying to find an excuse in the Quran to make it permissible and satisfy your desires. You should not lead others astray with your opinion.?
Why does a student of Islam, who asks a question, is usually met with them wanting to find a way out of something that has obviously been stated as final by God (swt)?I mean perhaps that student honestly does not understand and the usual explainations given does not make sense to them. I mean in the classroom when a student does not understand, the professor will try to explain it a different way, and work with the student, not criticize you and guilt you then send you on your way.

I have felt this way and honestly I really do not want to go to my Imam and ask anything, because I know what the outcome will be, so what is the point? For a moment I really felt like maybe I am just doing things wrong and this must be the right way if pretty much all Muslims do it as such. But inside I really feel self-conscious and weird and I do not know why. I feel as if I was able to leave Christianity because I asked questions and I went against the norm, so how in the world can I go to a new religion and not ask questions and just go with what is spoon-fed to me? I feel as if I am going into another trap.
That is only nutshell of my anxieties, thanks for reading all!
As one person who made a reply in this thread said, there should be a calm feeling at all times with God (swt) and I do not feel that as much as I should be confused

noshirk

Salaam Tigress

You said that you are confused and i hope that you will take your time to find the truth.
I think that the main danger for one who is searching for God, is to quit a human group for another, to change priests for others and to change rituals for others.
Searching in what human group God is hidden can leads to never find him.

May God help you.
Peace

MissDee

Salam Tigress,

Thank you for adding more information and questions to this thread, hopefully you can find a better understanding, as well as I (Insha'Allah). I grew up with the whole Catholic experience, with communion, confessions, and all of that too, so I kind of get where your coming from. My facebook friend that introduced me to Islam, while I was searching religion, is from Palestine. May God bring blessings to both Palestine and Syria.

I feel we have much in common, as I'm also 24 years old. I'm still a bit confused about the way one must pray, and if wudu is really necessary step by step as you mentioned. All I know is that were suppose to face the Qibla. I've seen videos of people showing you how to pray, but they all seem to have their own style, even among the Qu'ran-only Muslims, though the differences aren't that big. Ever since I've gotten into Islam I cut a few bad habits like drinking, smoking, more moderate dress, and I never really ate pork either. I've had a few discussions with my Muslim friends about Hijab (headscarf), and it always ends with them saying, hopefully one day you wear it. Then they send me videos on debates about Hijab, where mostly the pro-Hijab Muslims win. One of them told me, "it's better for you and God says it in the Qu'ran". I do cover my chest and neck with scarves, just not my hair. I view the veil as something cultural, maybe I'm wrong, and if I am may God forgive me. Also may God guide us both and keep us on the right path.

Thank you for your input.

Joe_Betik

Salam all,

Perhaps I must add that though I have different personal comprehensions regarding salat, siyam, ramadhan, hajj, umrah, etc., I had never asked anyone to follow me. I have never asked people to change their daily routines, or stop people from performing the salat, siyam, ramadhan, hajj, umrah, etc., that they have gathered in understanding. I would never ask people to stop doing what they thought to be the right things to do.

But I would undoubtedly urge people to correct their relationship/bond/contact with God.

So, continue doing what you have gathered to be the right thing to do but at the same time start to correct the relationship/bond/contact with God.

When you enjoy a correct relationship with God then you could always ask God about the truth of what you have been doing, like questions regarding the shahadah, 5 daily prayers, siyam, ramadhan, hajj, umrah, etc.

And please have patience and full faith in God. My questions regarding Muhammad in the shahadah in 1997 was only answered in 2004, and in a mosque before 'Friday prayers'. And a week later I stopped the '5 daily prayers'/'contact prayers'. But after that, some answers are given quite promptly.

Effectively all these are about personal experiences in becoming. We become nothing when we do nothing. Knowing or understanding does not make one. Doing does.

Perhaps I am allowed to say here that I am fortunate enough to have a few friends who are enjoying a constant connection/connectedness (read 7023) with God. They (two aged 23 years and one in his early 40s) have been relating to me of their personal experiences about everything that concerned them. They related to me regarding how God has guided them in their comprehension on God, understanding of life, studies, businesses, relationships with other people, relationship with the environment, etc. These guys used to listen to my narratives on how to establish a healthy relationship/bond with God. And they did it. For them, they are enjoying the fruits of their labor, and for me, their personal experiences confirmed the truth of what I had related to them. They are still growing into real Muslims (peacemakers), and they are very pleased with God and with their lives now. And I have none other than God to thank for their success.

So finally, do what you have to do, but never forget to correct the relationship with God. And I can assure you that in due time you will enjoy 'better days' (al-anhar) in life.

May God guide us all correctly.

Cheers!
Mohammed Noh

Bigmo

I just finished reading the Qu'ran and I sincerely believe it is the word of God. I was an Atheist before this, but something moved me to search for religion, and I found Islam (Alhamdulillah), through a facebook friend of all places . I find it rational and in tune with my personal ideas on life. Like how the rich should give to the poor, respect and love for the mother, care of the orphan, equality among races, and many more great things.

Even though I believe this is the word of God, and that Prophet Muhammad (Peace and Blessings be Upon Him) was a noble man, I still find myself confused about how to embrace this religion. The person who introduced me to Islam is Sunni, and another who aids me is also Sunni, so when I mention my desire to mainly focus on Qu'ran alone, they told me, "This isn't right, how will you pray?". They say, at least read the Hadiths and Sunnah before you dismiss them, so I'm currently doing that.

When I dare to question it like for example 40 Hadith Nawawi, Hadith 8 "I have been ordered to fight against the people until they testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah", I get replies like, "Oh so you just began to search Islam and you think you understand it better than the scholars?". All I'm saying is that this Hadith clearly contradicts the Qu'ran, as it states in Surah 2, Verse 256 "There shall be no compulsion in the religion. The right course has become clear from the wrong."

I hold on to the Qu'ran faithfully. These Sunni's tell me that the same people who collected the Qu'ran also collected the Hadiths, so both books can be trusted. I have no response to this, as I don't know much about the history of the Hadiths or Sunnah, but I will look into that. I find it a bit offensive they would hold the word of God equal to the word of man. I'm also wondering why they mention Prophet Muhammad (Peace and Blessings be Upon Him) and Prophet Abraham (Peace and Blessings be Upon Him) in their prayers. Isn't this some type of idol worship? Or associating partners with God? As they are including them in every prayer?

I'm so confused, but as soon as I find my way, I can finally start praying. They say if I don't include the prophets it's bad, but then I hear I'm not supposed to include them. I've been reading into this for days, and ran into this site. I hope to find some answers, if anyone is willing to help me (Insha'Allah). '(

http//ahadithstudies.wordpress.com/2010/08/29/20/

Good place to start learning about hadith debate.

Zulf