My Testimony
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Salam/Peace
My name is Muhammad. I am 24 years old and a Progressive Muslim nowadays. Here is how I came to God Alone. For about 2 years, I was a Traditional Sunni Muslim revert. Used to pray 5 times a day and attend potluck dinners at a masjid in a neighboring city.
My wife wasn't very happy with me being a Traditional Sunni Muslim, because I started abusing her verbally and psychologically after our wedding. She did tell me one time quite plainly, that I either change my attitude and find a more liberal form of Islam, which promotes gender equality and promote peaceful non-violent solutions, or she would leave me for good, and it would be a permanent end to our marriage. I chose to change my violently abusive attitude to a more positive way of living and became a Progressive Muslim.
My wife has seen a positive change in how I treat her and in my attitude. You see, my wife is a Mormon, but she really deeply cares about me, knows that I am capable of doing good, and she knows how much my Muslim faith means to me. With a situation I was facing like the one which could have occurred with different more extreme results, I notice that people want to be around me more often and they ask me,
"Muhammad, what happened? How did you change your abusive ways?" I just very simply answer, "When you have every religious belief turned upside-down on you and nothing seems to be going right no matter what you do religiously, who do you have, other than God Alone for a friend in your corner of support? True, my wife could be there for me, but this is only temporary. In the end, you have to face God Alone, and that is how I know now The Truth."
This is where I am right now with my walk of faith in God Alone as a Progressive Muslim. I now only pray once or twice a day, have a more liberal interpretation of the Holy Quran (I like reading my Yusuf Ali with footnotes and commentary Translation most of all), because I am able to understand this Quran translation more clearly, I am no longer abusing my wife or mother like I used to, and I am more family-oriented. Please welcome any comments and suggestions. Salam/Peace, brothers and sisters in God Alone.
In God Alone We Trust,
Muhammad
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My wife wasn't very happy with me being a Traditional Sunni Muslim, because I started abusing her verbally and psychologically after our wedding. She did tell me one time quite plainly, that I either change my attitude and find a more liberal form of Islam, which promotes gender equality and promote peaceful non-violent solutions, or she would leave me for good, and it would be a permanent end to our marriage. I chose to change my violently abusive attitude to a more positive way of living and became a Progressive Muslim.
If you do not mind may I know what kind of abuses you did to your wife? And why did you do that?
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Salam Brother muhammad24,
Salam/Peace
My wife wasn't very happy with me being a Traditional Sunni Muslim, because I started abusing her verbally and psychologically after our wedding. She did tell me one time quite plainly, that I either change my attitude and find a more liberal form of Islam.
Please don't take my question the wrong way but I'm curious what part of being a traditional Sunni Muslim permits you to verbally and psychologically abuse your wife???? I don't want to sound presumptuous but how can the abuse of your wife by your own doing be the result of and attributed to traditional Sunni beliefs??? Aren't you divorcing yourself here out of your own culpability and responsibility???? It's great by your own admission that you're no longer abusing your wife and mother, I'm happy for you. But I don't think you can blame anyone on your actions, as easy as it is to find a scapegoat for ones mistakes.
There are traditional Sunni Muslims who don't verbally and psychologically abuse their wives, I've known plenty and I don't think being a Traditional Sunni Muslims justifies, excuses or explains mistreatment of a spouse. So brother I hope you can tell your story further on the linkages to being a Traditional Sunni Muslim and spousal abuse, I just can't see it.
Peace and Welcome to the forum!
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Salam Muchammad24~
Wow....You make me cry. My husband is also a sunni muslim, he was a very kind, open-minded man, or so I thought before our marriage, But after we were married he started to emmotionally, verbally, mentally and finally physcially abuse me, all in sake of islam. He has used, hadith, the prophet muhammad(PBUH) and his arab jordanian culture all to condone and excuse his behavior. He has persecuted me so much for my belief in Islam. (I Have edited and removed many detailed forms of abuse I endured, for the sake of being less detailed and less personal, sorry) You are a good person. You admit you were abusive, this is the best step to changing your ways. Knowing you are accountable and responsible. May god forgive all your sins and bless you brother, and make your life full of healing and understanding, and bind you and your wife, with good will and love. Bless you.
Honor
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Salam Muhammad,
My wife wasn't very happy with me being a Traditional Sunni Muslim, because I started abusing her verbally and psychologically after our wedding.
I'm with Rumi on this one. I haven't heard before anyone accusing their religion for being a abusive to their wife. I suppose it's a great excuse to take the burden of yourself?! confused
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Salam Muhammad,
I'm with Rumi on this one. I haven't heard before anyone accusing their religion for being a abusive to their wife. )
I suppose it's a great excuse to take the burden of yourself?! confused
Wanted to add the rolly eyes in my post above. I realized without it, it just doesn't get the point across ;D
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Assalaamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu
Dear brother Muhammad, it seems to me you have changed your religion simply to please your wife, but it was not out of any firm convictions or beliefs, am I correct in that assessment? I used to be an Ahmadi, that religion which does not believe in the khatmun nabuwwat (finality of Prophethood), but very recently I converted to Islam, by the grace of Allah Taala. I don't believe people should change their religion for any worldly benefit, but they should establish beliefs based on what Allah Taala has revealed, no matter what the cost may be. Jazak Allah khair.
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Peace "yusha",
...I used to be an Ahmadi, that religion which does not believe in the khatmun nabuwwat (finality of Prophethood), but very recently I converted to Islam, by the grace of Allah Taala...
JK- Although im not an Ahmedi and consider them yet another sect, i can say for sure tht do beleive in Muhammad as being "khatamun nabiyeen" since that term/phrase has been used int the Quran. It is their INTERPRETATION of that phrase which is different from other hadith following Muslims. They understand it as the "seal of the Prophets" not that he sealed/closed the line of prophets but him being the highest Prophet whom all other Prophets would fall under meaning theyd judge under his spirit/given guidance for which they also refer to hadith, though theyve discarded much more of the absurd ones as compared to sunnis/shias and are closer to Quran Alone. GOD Bless!
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Yes they are a lot closer to "Quran alone". However, its like their sitting on a fence, they accept some ahadith but they conveniently discard those which contradict their beliefs. It would also interest you to know about the historical mubahila which took place between Mirza Ghulam Ahmad Qadiani (The pretender), and the brave Hazrat Maulana Sanaullah Amritsari (Rahmatullah alaih). The result of the mubahila was that Mirza died in the lifetime of his opponent, according to his own deathbed admission, of cholorhea. I recommend you visit the very informative website www.alhafeez.org/rashid which has a lot of information about Qadianism (Ahmadiyyah). Jazak Allah khair.
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Peace "yusha",
The prob is i aint interested in sunni propaganda. Im sick n tired of these Mullahs and their sectarian preachings and if ur still following them i can only suggest u better reconsider ur position. These ppl r biased and have no scientific rationaility whatsoever except where it suits their purpose. Hypocracy at its best! GOD Bless! -
Peace "yusha",
The prob is i aint interested in sunni propaganda. Im sick n tired of these Mullahs and their sectarian preachings and if ur still following them i can only suggest u better reconsider ur position. These ppl r biased and have no scientific rationaility whatsoever except where it suits their purpose. Hypocracy at its best! GOD Bless!Brother johnny_k, Ahmadis are not a sect of Islam, they are non-Muslims, and there is no question about that. The Holy Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu alaihi wa salaam) is the LAST and FINAL Prophet, you don't have to be a "Sunni" or a "mullah" to believe in that. And may I also remind you that divine revelation supercedes science and rationality. But I agree with you that some Muslims, like Sipah-e-Sahaba, which indulge in brainless sectarianism should be censured.
By the way, this is not "Sunni propoganda", these are hard facts which every Muslim should consider, so I highly recommend you to visit the above cited website and learn the truth about Ahmadiyyat, which is a cult, not a sect of Islam. Jazak Allah khair.
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Peace "yusha",
Brother johnny_k, Ahmadis are not a sect of Islam, they are non-Muslims, and there is no question about that. The Holy Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu alaihi wa salaam) is the LAST and FINAL Prophet, you don't have to be a "Sunni" or a "mullah" to believe in that.
JK- I dont understand why your calling me brother for i deny hadith besides the Quran totally and i propagate this point of view. According to sunnis/shias shariah a death penalty would be in for me. See
http//youtube.com/watch?v=6NgRsVyozlo
Now lets get to the point. First of all it depends on how you interpret the term "khaatam". I agree however tht khaatam most probably means last in tht context and therefore Muhammad was the last prophet BUT NOT the last messenger(rasool) and plz dont bring up this every messenger must be a prophet issue since ive discussed this over and over again. A simple article to get this could be
http//www.submission.org/messenger/prophet.htmlAnd may I also remind you that divine revelation supercedes science and rationality. But I agree with you that some Muslims, like Sipah-e-Sahaba, which indulge in brainless sectarianism should be censured.
JK- The statement in bold is an oxymoron and ill explain why. Science and rationality is the very reason why we beleive in the Quran so how can one supercede the other? Doesnt make sense. How do you know tht the Quran is true? BY OBSERVING CONSISTENTLY THAT WHAT IT HAS STATED IS IN ACCORDANCE WITH NATURE, AINT IT? In other words you need to do science and employ the scientific method in order to get to know tht the Quran is true in the 1st place. Some ppl just dont think.
By the way, this is not "Sunni propoganda", these are hard facts which every Muslim should consider, so I highly recommend you to visit the above cited website and learn the truth about Ahmadiyyat, which is a cult, not a sect of Islam. Jazak Allah khair.
JK- As i said according to you even we are kaafirs so whts the pt here? GOD Bless!
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I dont understand why your calling me brother for i deny hadith besides the Quran totally and i propagate this point of view. According to sunnis/shias shariah a death penalty would be in for me.
I do not have enough information on your beliefs to be able to consider them as putting you outside of the fold of Islam or not. I know for certain that your rejection of ahadith and sunnat is a deviation and an innovation from the True Islam, but whether "Quran only" is a wrong sect of Islam or a new religion altogether, I do not know, nor am I qualified in making such a decision at this time. I know for certain, however, that Qadianism is a far more serious and far more dangerous heresy, because they are openly twisting a fundamental teaching of the Holy Quran, that is that Hazrat Muhammad (sallallahu alaihi wa salaam) is the last Prophet, as mentioned in Surah al-Ahzab verse 40. Besides my extensive study of this movement, I myself am a born and raised fourth-generation Ahmadi for nearly 17 years of my life, and I have only converted to Islam very recently.
Now lets get to the point. First of all it depends on how you interpret the term "khaatam". I agree however tht khaatam most probably means last in tht context and therefore Muhammad was the last prophet BUT NOT the last messenger(rasool) and plz dont bring up this every messenger must be a prophet issue since ive discussed this over and over again.
I know the website (www.submission.org) well, and I have read that article which you have referenced once before. Khatam most definitely means last, or seal, like the seal which is used to close an envelope. I believe absolutely that Muhammad (sallallahu alaihi wa salaam) is the last Prophet as well as Messenger. The Holy Quran does not sufficiently say the difference between a Prophet or Messenger, it could be that all Messengers (rasool) are Prophets (nabi) (but not all Prophets are Messenger), or as some people (not me) say that Prophet is just another title for a Messenger, both being a description of the different aspect of the same spiritual office. I believe in the former proposition, that all Messengers are Prophets, but not all Prophets are Messengers. This is what I have gained from the Tafseer of Ahmad Ibn Kathir. Though some people may not agree with his tafseer, there is no question that from ahadith it is proven that Muhammad (sallallahu alaihi wa salaam) is the last Prophet and Messenger, period.
I know that the submitter group of Rashad Khalifa believe that the status of a Messenger is lower than a Prophet. However, I never quite understood the Quranic basis for this belief, perhaps you could explain it to me. Jazak Allah khair.
Science and rationality is the very reason why we beleive in the Quran so how can one supercede the other? Doesnt make sense. How do you know tht the Quran is true? BY OBSERVING CONSISTENTLY THAT WHAT IT HAS STATED IS IN ACCORDANCE WITH NATURE, AINT IT? In other words you need to do science and employ the scientific method in order to get to know tht the Quran is true in the 1st place. Some ppl just dont think.
Our belief in the Holy Quran is indeed based on evidence, the truthfulness of the claim of our Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa salaam), the fulfilment of prophecies, the great miracles which he performed which defy science and rationality. These things make us believe that the Creator has sent revelation to His chosen servants, and therefore we believe in that revelation. But the fact that science has been defied by the miracles and the prophecies, the only explanation being that they are from Allah, who ordained the so called laws of nature, physics, and therefore can just as easily render them inoperational, leads me to believe that science and rationality are not absolute, but rather divine revelation is absolute.
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Peace "yusha",
Hadith are nothing but plagiarizations from the OT Bible. You use the Bible to interpret the Quran. What a joke? I must say the Jewish Rabbis and Christian Priests have really fooled you and now theyr after you to destroy you. Man wht irony. As for prophet messenger differecen the Quran cearly indicates it if you actually wanna use your mind instead of relying on hearsay. GOD Bless! -
Peace "yusha",
Our belief in the Holy Quran is indeed based on evidence, the truthfulness of the claim of our Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa salaam), the fulfilment of prophecies, the great miracles which he performed which defy science and rationality.
JK- Oh so prophecies are ur evidence. Well tough luck christians claim the same and they can quote you a hell lot of prophecies from the Bible which came true. The point is all these prophecies are vague, meaning they are not precise and bound to happen one day or another. Charlatans of all sorts(like one famous pschic Sylvia Brown, might do a youtuvbe search for her) do this all the time. Such nonsense has been debunked over and over. Regarding the miracles of the Quran which go against science its all a bunch of nonsense interpretation which comes as a result of using the Bible directly or indirectly in intepreting the Quran. Please see
http//19.org/index.php?id=91,548,0,0,1,0These things make us believe that the Creator has sent revelation to His chosen servants, and therefore we believe in that revelation. But the fact that science has been defied by the miracles and the prophecies, the only explanation being that they are from Allah, who ordained the so called laws of nature, physics, and therefore can just as easily render them inoperational, leads me to believe that science and rationality are not absolute, but rather divine revelation is absolute.
JK- GOD does not change his laws(sunnat) in order to convince ppl. Tht actually wld make Him, GOD forbid, weak. GOD knows the things from the beginning and He calculated everything accordingly so things happened within the laws of nature at the right time. These are the real signs. GOD Bless!
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Peace "yusha",
Hadith are nothing but plagiarizations from the OT Bible. You use the Bible to interpret the Quran. What a joke? I must say the Jewish Rabbis and Christian Priests have really fooled you and now theyr after you to destroy you. Man wht irony. As for prophet messenger differecen the Quran cearly indicates it if you actually wanna use your mind instead of relying on hearsay. GOD Bless!If you are saying that the ahadith are a plagiarization of the Bible, then effectively you are saying that the Holy Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa salaam) is a plagiarizer of the Bible (Auzubillah), because the ahadith are his words. Our Christian opponents actually say that the Holy Quran is a plagiarization of the Bible. So by saying that ahadith is a plagiarization, you are tredding a slippery slope, which will result in the Holy Quran which you believe in to come under the same scrutiny.
But I believe that the Holy Quran and the Sunnat are both revelations from Allah, they are not at all hearsay. The ahadith are the words of the Holy Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa salaam) and on the basis of the Holy Quran we are obliged to follow his words He who obeys the Messenger, obeys Allah. But if any turn away, We have not sent thee to watch over their (evil deeds). (480)
Regarding the miracles of the Quran which go against science its all a bunch of nonsense interpretation which comes as a result of using the Bible directly or indirectly in intepreting the Quran.
My friend if you had this attitude and you were living just a few centuries ago, you would call me foolish for saying that there is a prophecy in the Holy Quran that human beings will be able to venture into outer space O ye assembly of Jinns and men! If it be ye can pass beyond the zones of the heavens and the earth, pass ye! not without authority shall ye be able to pass! (5533)
A few centuries ago, "science" and "rationality" meant that human beings traveling in outer space would be considered pure fantasy, and un-scientific. But the thing is our understanding of science is not static, even now in this advanced age of learning we cannot say that we have exhausted our knowledge of the creation of Allah. So if you reject a literal interpretation of the miracles of the Holy Quran which you think are from the influence of the Bible based on the current understanding of science, that is an inherent flaw and mistake on your part. I hope you can see that man's understanding and knowledge can never be compared to the knowledge of Allah, which is absolute, and therefore the revelations of Allah should never be subject to our understanding, rather our understanding should be subject to the revelation of Allah.
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Peace "yusha",
If you are saying that the ahadith are a plagiarization of the Bible, then effectively you are saying that the Holy Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa salaam) is a plagiarizer of the Bible (Auzubillah), because the ahadith are his words. Our Christian opponents actually say that the Holy Quran is a plagiarization of the Bible. So by saying that ahadith is a plagiarization, you are tredding a slippery slope, which will result in the Holy Quran which you believe in to come under the same scrutiny.
JK- No i wont tolerate one putting words in my mouth. I did not say Prophet Muhammad plagiarized anything from anyone. I DONT BELEIVE HADITH BESIDES THE QURAN CAME FROM MUHAMMAD. They were put in his mouth by hypocrites which most probably inluded Jewish Rabbis and Christian clerics who wanted to destroy Islam at tht time and youve directly fallen into their trap and now their elite is laughing their heads off.
But I believe that the Holy Quran and the Sunnat are both revelations from Allah, they are not at all hearsay. The ahadith are the words of the Holy Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa salaam) and on the basis of the Holy Quran we are obliged to follow his words He who obeys the Messenger, obeys Allah. But if any turn away, We have not sent thee to watch over their (evil deeds). (480)
JK- No they aint. The hadith besides Quran do not belong to Muhammad at all as ive mentioned before. Youve been tricked and you fail to even see it whilst there is clear evidence if you just compare OT Bible with hadith and then see wht the Quran says. Youll see whilst the former two have many similarities the Quran stands out radically different. Coicnidece. I dont think so. GOD Bless!