Here I am! My Journey To God's One and Only Path:)
-
Peace to you All,
It seemed like it was just yesterday when my husband came to me with this messages of discarding hadith.
I was sceptical at first. At the time I had a position at a local masjid where I taught basic understandings of God and Islam to children. What's so funny was that I told my husband before I started teaching the class that I wanted to focus on God Alone. In my mind, I thought that I would confuss the children by talking about Sunnah and Hadith.
In reality I was also confused about so many aspects of it. After the first semester we took a break around about April of 2003 to August of 2003. In April my husband approached me. At first I laughed, then told him he was off on another transition.At that time we were apart of the "M.A.S" which is now called the "A.S.M". I was teaching at one of their masjids. I had no clue that from April to that August that something most profound would take place in my life. As I attempted to brush my husband off for the sake of not confronting the situation to give me what I thought was "peace of mind". But I had to confront it. It was something deep down inside of me. I thought the reason why I didn't agree with certain hadiths and ideas was because I was not ready to submit.
I sat back and watch many of people (muslims) almost go literally insane trying to practice that ridgid way of life. My husband finally convinced me to take a gander at I believe it was submission.org. Let me tell you I read on the hijab and was blown completely and utterly away.
Angry! I was angry that I had allowed myself to be dooped. I often questioned, why does God put such hardships on the women? I thought of all the times I almost was ATTACKED by people on the streets and bus on my was to work or just in daily life. I would voice my concerns only to be met with by other muslims that "This is your jihad" and "This is why the best place for a muslimah is in her home!"After that revelation I could not stop reading and exploring. It got to the point of obsession. So by the time August came around I knew that my husband was right and I had a choice to make. I had already stopped wearing hijab and jilbab since July 10,2003. I thought day and night about the situation. The whole situation. I was still attending the masjid for jumah Friday. I would wear hijab in the masjid, but I felt like a hypocrite and that I feared their reaction more than God's. I said to hell with this! One of my last Jumah's there I had removed it right after it was over to show that this is what I am doing for now on and I am not hiding or afraid of their reaction. They all were shocked. When August came around it was time to turn in our lesson plans and time to get our fund raisers, supplies and so on together.
With each meeting I did not wear the hijab, at the time I was wearing it only in the masjid for respect but when I was outside of the masid I did not wear it. jedi The school was located a few doors down outside of the masjid. Everytime I showed up for the meetings and my husband was not always able to attend I was met with some form of disdain from the women that I called my sisters. >(
It was made very clear to me that the lines were being drawn between them and me. offtopic I took insults and critisizm and eventually after confronting the reason why I no longer wear hijab they gave me and my husband an ultimatium I decided to resign and so did my husband. It was the best thing for me and it hurt at first. No matter what proof my husband and I brought them they could not address this topic using the Quran. They insisted on their sunnah and hadith to prove what they believe. I was asked a few months after that to return as a teacher. They said I was a valuable member of their staff and my teaching style was well missed. Obviously not! They only way I could return was to put that scarf back on. That is non negotiable for me. I am modest and free. I love to feel the wind blow through my hair or the sun kiss my hair on a nice spring day. I thought what I was bringing would free the women who had so many of the same concerns as mine, instead I way met with aggression and what I believe to be jealousy. If they removed the hijab, how can they find a "muslim husband" have position in the masjid or stay married to a man that's just not with that way of thinking? I thank God for sending me Damon. It is through him that God has taught me so much. This message came to me about 8 years ago. I rejected it because I was not ready for it, nor was it presented in a way that was convincing. The person who brought it to me years ago is now Salafi. So she wasn't truly convienced of it that is why she abandoned it. When it came that second time around, I had different resources and I knew that the person who I was dealing with was a deep thinker and wasn't one to be "willy-nilly" about the situation. I value his opinion and the outcome was to my benefit.
To this day although I do not post on free-minds i read and consider and research. I do spead the message of God Alone, Quran Alone, at every chance I get. I tell people who call themselves muslims and those who have a preconcieved notion about Islam. I am happy and wish the rest for mankind. Thank you for your time. group
Peace,
shirley sun
-
Salam Sirley, thats a beautiful story to hear. You are a strong woman to do what you did and you showed amazing integrity and courage. I hope you feel closer to God and stronger in your faith now that you have decided to follow God alone. I also truly believe this is the true straight path to God, Quran alone and the guidance we take from it. I hope you will keep in touch with all of us other True Islam seekers as we try to work together as a community of God. We have so much potential to do so much good for mankind, the opportunities are so endless that I get excited and anxious just to spread the word of God alone/Quran alone.
I hope we can soon all come to some type of agreement and form a formal organization to spread the word of God with the Quran, and to do good deeds, teach, do charity, feed the poor, get involved with our community, etc.
Salam ,
Kurt
-
Salam sis,
wonderful life story.Praise be to God who guided you to the truth.
3104
Let there be a community of you who invite to what is good, advocate righteousness, and forbid evil. These are the winners.Peace...
-
Salam Shirley,
Great story. I also thought the same thing about the headscarf. I couldn't understand that God put so much hardship on women. Especially around summertime when it is hot outside. I'm glad you chose for God and ignored the criticism some of your "sisters" had. I think all Quran Aloners get/got that criticism. Just depend on God to help you build some inner strength. But I think He's already helping you, 'cause you seem to be a strong woman!
peace
Heart
-
peace be upon you shirley,
I sat back and watch many of people (muslims) almost go literally insane trying to practice that ridgid way of life. My husband finally convinced me to take a gander at I believe it was submission.org. Let me tell you I read on the hijab and was blown completely and utterly away.
Angry! I was angry that I had allowed myself to be dooped. I often questioned, why does God put such hardships on the women? I thought of all the times I almost was ATTACKED by people on the streets and bus on my was to work or just in daily life. I would voice my concerns only to be met with by other muslims that "This is your jihad" and "This is why the best place for a muslimah is in her home!"before i came to quran alone, i NEVER questioned the hadith. one day, at a local mosque, i was having a very nice conversation with my friend imam, and we were talking about how allah initiated and distributed the universe. i asked him, if the universe is so large, and the earth, the center of life is not even 1/1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 compared to what is OUTSIDE the earth, so why didn't god create a smaller universe? mankind would still be wandering through what we could only percieve, right? his reply was "it is shirk to question the ways and decisions made by allah, NEVER question them! that answer didn't satisfy me but i accepted it... for a while. he told me that the only way to follow the quran is to foolow the ways of the messanger! and ot add on to that it is obviously mohammed after adding on to some hadiths like "mohammed is the best of them all". surprisingly, i didn't know that this statement contradicts this statement in the quran "we shall not distinguish between the messangers of god".
to tell you the truth, if you combine all of the (authentic) hadiths you still can't feel liberated by them, you will still hold on to one viwepoint only, which limits rational thought. so technically, if hadiths are true, god is not only putting women at stress, but also, the whole mankind in general! basically, hadith limits your rational thought to question, i stiil suffer from this problem, trying to connfront them in order to express my opinion on why quran alone is the right, liberated, moderated, peaceful and easy path.
if you are a very strict hadith follower, then it is extremely difficult to socialize, i still suffer from this problem despite giving up hadith! because the hadith calls everybody kafir and fasique, basically if you are outside of islam. and basically, even 80% of the muslims do not qualify for the criterions of hadiths if you ask me. but the quran accepts all humanity and freedom of thought. the hadith limits your creativity, while the quran expands it, i have experimented the quran on to myself and applied some of its laws to reality and it's true!
i gave up salat because i feel there is an alternative way to reach allah and contact him through nature... despite the fact that salat is prescribed in the quran. most of the quranic research has been conducted in the past 40 years so that is why quran alone is not quite very strong yet.
sister, with quran alone, there will be ups and downs, pitfalls and trapholes, twisted logic and etc... just stay strong and go for the truth, the ultimate acheivement for all ALL MANKIND! not just a system!
sorry if it is too much! D
peace, rifat
-
jedi
off with the hijab.With each meeting I did not wear the hijab, at the time I was wearing it only in the masjid for respect but when I was outside of the masid I did not wear it. jedi The school was located a few doors down outside of the masjid. Everytime I showed up for the meetings and my husband was not always able to attend I was met with some form of disdain from the women that I called my sisters.
-
Peace to you All,
Salam Shirley,
Great story. I also thought the same thing about the headscarf. I couldn't understand that God put so much hardship on women. Especially around summertime when it is hot outside. I'm glad you chose for God and ignored the criticism some of your "sisters" had. I think all Quran Aloners get/got that criticism. Just depend on God to help you build some inner strength. But I think He's already helping you, 'cause you seem to be a strong woman!
peace
Heart
First I would like to say belief in God is my strength. I may struggle everyday with my imperfection, but don't we all.
Thank you for your comment.
mrhumble
if you are a very strict hadith follower, then it is extremely difficult to socialize, i still suffer from this problem despite giving up hadith! because the hadith calls everybody kafir and fasique, basically if you are outside of islam. and basically, even 80% of the muslims do not qualify for the criterions of hadiths if you ask me. but the quran accepts all humanity and freedom of thought. the hadith limits your creativity, while the quran expands it, i have experimented the quran on to myself and applied some of its laws to reality and it's true!i gave up salat because i feel there is an alternative way to reach allah and contact him through nature... despite the fact that salat is prescribed in the quran. most of the quranic research has been conducted in the past 40 years so that is why quran alone is not quite very strong yet.
sister, with quran alone, there will be ups and downs, pitfalls and trapholes, twisted logic and etc... just stay strong and go for the truth, the ultimate acheivement for all ALL MANKIND! not just a system!
sorry if it is too much!
That wasn't to much.
Everyday since I have made my choice, I have been confronted with constant test and it is no from non-muslims it's the other way around. When I read the Quran I feel supported by what God says. I am convinced because he tells us that this book is complete and fully detailed it's like that one spaghetti commercial says," IT"S IN THERE!" ;D
I have taken on this journey and accept that it is not meant for me to grasp and know everything over night it is a gradual progression like life. And yet, I should also keep in mind that God reaveals what he wants to whom he want depending on their rank angelseriousness in wanting to know the truth and honestly searching) of understanding.
Not everybody is going to get it at the same time. I am happy and content. I trust in what God, the Almighty says. And no matter how many times some one ask certain question that they go to their hadith to answer, I can think of so many verses that tells me to be patient and to call on God and he has revealed this Quran over time so do not hasten the meanings or seek other books as judge or law, when it is concerning what God has revealed. I don't want a quick fix. I want to sincerely grow. I want God to teach me through his revelation. I have learned quite a bit, but it is not for me to debate because we are not all on the same page.
I don't look at the questions that are asked of me by hadith followers as a problem. I see it as a opportunity to grow and further explore the Quran for God, The All Knowings answers. sun
I see that hadith believers would love for you to admit that you do not know something or understand. I see that if you are being taught by the Most high, then you are to be secure and not jump to conclusions or take what someone is saying just to say that yo know what everyone else knows. Take your time. I have started from the beginning and I am secure with that. bravosun bravo
Peace,
shirley sun