Peace and Greetings
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Hello,
I've been an outside observer for a little while now. You all seem to be passionate about Islam, which I feel is critical. But passion alone can be blinding. The reason I'm here is because you're not afraid to question the norm. It is the delicate balance of reason and passion that I seek to surround myself with.
My story
I was raised in a loving, not-so-religious Sunni household. For me, Islam was my label, but my character was, I guess, new-age. I've spent alot of time studying nutrition and have always identified with universal spiritual concepts, as opposed to what I thought was Islam.One of the factors that kept me from studying the Qur'an was my fear that God was perhaps upset with me. I didn't fast that often. I didn't pray. I felt like if I didn't do these things I would burn in Hell despite how well I treat my family, friends, and strangers.
I always resigned to the idea that one day, when I was older, I would fast everyday during Ramadan and pray 5 times a day, etc.
Anyway, a very good friend of mine told me about a project he was taking part in. He said there exists a movement that is essentially refining Islam. He directed me to a website and I fell in love.
What I found is that most of the things I feared were not nearly as important as the things I held dear in my life. I found out that I was already on the right path. I realized that I was tainted with years of dogma that was the result of Islam being "Arabicized" and corrupted by centuries of hearsay.
But the most important thing I understood was that Islam is a religion, not for Muslims, but for humanity. In that sense, it is not a religion. It is a guidance for growing and nurturing the soul so that it will be "primed" when we are all called to task. Allah does not need an entire race of people to worship Him night and day. In fact, he does not "need" at all.
His guidance is for our own benefit. As my good friend described, and I agreed, we are like sculptors in this life. Every decision we make is a chisel at the marble. The good decisions and actions create the beauty. And when we stray, we are creating ugliness. And in the end, we have either created a beautiful sculpture or an awful one. We are responsible for what will come in the Hereafter.
I apologize for the long post. I will end it now in saying that I do appreciate the fact that places like this exist. To me, this is what congregational salat is all about.
I look forward to learning from each and every one of you.
Peace,
Tay -
With me.. i really never gave a monnkey about God.. so i wasnt afraid.. but now i am.. its funny ...
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What I found is that most of the things I feared were not nearly as important as the things I held dear in my life. I found out that I was already on the right path. I realized that I was tainted with years of dogma that was the result of Islam being "Arabicized" and corrupted by centuries of hearsay.
Islam is not 'arabicized'. Look how islam started. Look how islam spread during the period of the companions of the prophet peace be upon him. Why would you like to follow a sect which does not even consist of 200 people with numerious sects within who declare eachother idol worshippers if one prays to mecca.
There are a lot of misunderstandings in your post. Go to some islamic sites so you might be enlightened. A lot of people becoming traditional muslim. Why follow a sect which never existed? Why wouldnt this sect be corrupted if you use your argumentation. Remember that the quran came from the mouth of the prophet muhammad peace be upon him. Read my previous post and of some other brohers here who got unfortunately banned here like PrinceZ?D.
If you want some reliable sites, i would be happy give them to you..for example a site of a convert http//www.themodernreligion.com/index2.html
And some other sites like http//thetruereligion.org/modules/news/
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Peace Ansar,
Islam is not 'arabicized'.
Sure it is. How else do you explain the taking on of Arabic names for converts? The wearing of traditional Arabic desert gear as part of the uniform? The growing of beards? The greeting each other in Arabic? etc. etc.
Look how islam started. Look how islam spread during the period of the companions of the prophet peace be upon him.
What am I looking for?
Why would you like to follow a sect which does not even consist of 200 people with numerious sects within who declare eachother idol worshippers if one prays to mecca.
Not sure what you mean there, bro. I've never heard of such a thing, nor do I subscribe to any idealogy, or person(s), outside of what I myself have verified.
What sect do you follow?
There are a lot of misunderstandings in your post.
Please be specific. I'm open to constructive criticism, though, I may have grown a bit since my original posting 10 months ago.
Go to some islamic sites so you might be enlightened.
Thanks. I've been doing that, and continue to do so. But Islamic sites don't have a monopoly on enlightenment. Plus, all that anti-Jew stuff makes me sick after a while.
Why follow a sect which never existed?
I'm not sure if this is possible. Is it a trick question?
Remember that the quran came from the mouth of the prophet muhammad peace be upon him.
OK?
Read my previous post and of some other brohers here who got unfortunately banned here like PrinceZ?D.
I have been. Not sure what you're getting at though. Prince Zed was cool. We had some good chats, and we even reached some moments of agreement. I genuinely like the guy, but disagreed with many of his views, as he did mine. Nothing wrong with that, right?
If you want some reliable sites, i would be happy give them to you..for example a site of a convert http//www.themodernreligion.com/index2.html
And some other sites like http//thetruereligion.org/modules/news/
Thanks for the links. Just to be clear, I'm not a newbie. I've been a Muslim, by label atleast, for 30 years now. Leaving my Sunni roots was no overnight, whimsical decision. It took years of questioning silently to finally be able to question aloud. It wasn't easy, but I'm grateful for the experience.
Nevertheless, no disrespect to you or any Sunnis. I have family and friends that remain Sunni Muslims. To each his own, I say. And I appreciate your thoughts.
May peace be upon you,
Tay -
Peace
What I found is that most of the things I feared were not nearly as important as the things I held dear in my life. I found out that I was already on the right path. I realized that I was tainted with years of dogma that was the result of Islam being "Arabicized" and corrupted by centuries of hearsay.
hello Taj! nice thinking, exciting and inspiring story...i am glad that you are contributing to dearabicization... heres a tip more for even a greater contribution to dearabicization...stop reffering to the God prescribed or only accepted way of life as Islam...never has The God mentioned Islam in His book/messages...nor He has ever mentioned Quran.... neither He mentioned Allah...
best wishes, Zlatan
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..never has The God mentioned Islam in His book/messages...nor He has ever mentioned Quran.... neither He mentioned Allah...
Peace Zlatan
I'm a bit confused by your post - perhaps you could give more detail as to what you mean because on the face of it there is a contradiction in what you say and, for example,319
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The Religion before Allah is Islam Nor did the People of the Book dissent therefrom except through envy of each other, after knowledge had come to them. But if any deny the Signs of Allah, Allah is swift in calling to account.
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Inna alddeena AAinda Allahi alislamu wama ikhtalafa allatheena ootoo alkitaba illa min baAAdi ma jaahumu alAAilmu baghyan baynahum waman yakfur biayati Allahi fainna Allaha sareeAAu alhisabi
salaams
asdfjk -
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Peace asdfjk
..never has The God mentioned Islam in His book/messages...nor He has ever mentioned Quran.... neither He mentioned Allah...
Peace Zlatan
I'm a bit confused by your post - perhaps you could give more detail as to what you mean because on the face of it there is a contradiction in what you say and, for example,319
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The Religion before Allah is Islam Nor did the People of the Book dissent therefrom except through envy of each other, after knowledge had come to them. But if any deny the Signs of Allah, Allah is swift in calling to account.
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Inna alddeena AAinda Allahi alislamu wama ikhtalafa allatheena ootoo alkitaba illa min baAAdi ma jaahumu alAAilmu baghyan baynahum waman yakfur biayati Allahi fainna Allaha sareeAAu alhisabi
salaams
asdfjkI am talking about the arabization of the God`s light...sometimes it is glaring while sometimes its about silent and subtle corruption whose accumulating efect is catastrofic in the long run... in a measure that one is prevented to grasp the gods mesages ...
the passage doesnt say the religion before Allah is Islam ...it says truly in the sight of the god, the submission is only acceptable way of life/mode of behavior/law/religion
although maybe not perfectly correct its more close to what is meant...yes this might look as nitpicking but as a man of experience in this matter i can tell you that if you accumulate a few of such seemingly innocent mistranslation it might lead to quite different outlook/message from one that is intended.....and it greatly aggraviate understanding of what is said and grasping other concepts in other passages
bear in mind also that al islam might not reffer always to the same thing...or to submiting in general...it might reffer to a specific act of submission....everything is depending of context..it may reffer to something previously said, described, mentioned...word al or the, as well as words islam, deen and ainda have a number of different meanings which imho after appropriate study might significantly change even the meaning i have suggested here...
whatever, why should we translate 3 words of a saying and left untranslated 2 words of the same sentence?
This is a subtle but a significant sign of arabization...
best wishes, Zlatan
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Peace Zlatan
thanks for clafiying - I agree with you that translation remains a weapon through which vested interests try to steer a person's understanding of God's message....
guess thats why 1736 has become the defacto site motto here!
salaam alaykum wa rahmatullahi wink
asdfjk -
Peace Zlatan,
Thanks for the advice.
While I understand the motive behind the advice, I still see no threat in using these words, as the alternative would be to use other words and have to explain myself every single time I'm speaking to someone about the concepts in question.
I don't identify with the words as I do with the concepts. I think that is what's most important.
Peace,
Tay -
an additional note....also note the capitalisation of your translation ...making it a proper noun-Islam... this is very suspect and i doubt the God is talking about proper name in this, as well as, in other verses where the word is mentioned....it is rather a comon noun or concept...the god is actualy describing what one should DO, its about ACTION, and not about name or how one should call oneself...
best wishes
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heres another indicator of how far this arabisation thing has gone....
below is my post sent to soc.religion.islam....a forum where alternative views are allowed... however there being no arabic words the moderator rejected it cause it wasnt clear to him if it is relevant to the forum...
I mentioned the god, his book, there being no punishement for adultery prescribed, this being sign the practice is not the god prescribed...however this wasnt relevant to forum about Islam!?....there was no mention of arabic words, there was no any mention of Allah, Quran, Sunnah, Islam, halal and haram......so clearly arabic is essential part of Islam, but not of the true religion...Title of the post Man-made practices/teachings attributed to The God. No2. Stoning for adultery
I wish peace, salvation and the well- being to the participants of this forum
There`s nothing much to add to the title of the topic...the god has never ordered that aynone should be killed for adultery...His book testifies to this...
This is simply an invention falsely attributed to the God and it couldnt be found in His book, His only valid representative....
And those who searh for the judge outside of His book are seeking the judgement of ignorance....
One who believe this practice is from the God should repent and hurry up to study His book properly cause he wasnt making the proper study till now...
Killing of innocent, and that is what stoning for adultery is about, is of the greatest sins...
Those who propagate this practice are propagating the tiranny...no wonder the God
s wrath and punishements are upon such a people throughout the world...may they repent and come forward to the god and His Word in order to avoid the hereafters punishement which is neverending...best wishes , Zlatan
heres his explanation(after rereading my post) of how he didnt recognise that it was relevant to the forum
http//groups-beta.google.com/group/soc.religion.islam/browse_frm/thread/1ec38ef8cf914501/1cdc33b413916ade?_done=%2Fgroup%2Fsoc.religion.islam%3F&_doneTitle=Back+to+topics&_doneTitle=Back&&d#1cdc33b413916ade