Peace to all!

Yes, read more than one translation--of course! That's the best way to do it, and right...don't lean too heavily on the footnotes. Yes, ask God for guidance when reading the Qur'aan. All these things I may have known in my heart, but needed them articulated for me.

Thank you!

Lost Muslimah

Emotional attachment? Yes, that may be true. Can I be devoted without it? Absolutely! I have been praying without the abaya for a while now.

As for Salaafi's being totally wrong--NO WAY do I think that. The Muslimah I spent my time with, and also the group of Muslimahs we also spent our time with, were extremely devout. The men as well as the women, although I never hung out with the men! My Salaafi friend taught me many good things about Islaam--things that will never leave my heart. I always remember her and the other friends, and still pray for them.

Modesty IS a virtue that I wish more American women were concerned about. I don't know about hijaab or niqaab, as here where I am at, that only serves to make Muslimahs stick out more, instead of blend in. I did enjoy it though!

Thank you for your thoughts.

Love,
Lost Muslimah

Peace!

I did look at the "submission.org" site and LOVED it. It helped me to clarify a few things that I had been wondering about. I'm still not done reading the site, so I've book marked it and will return again and again. Thank you, Jonny, for posting it!

I also gave a little more background on my adventures in salaafism in response to "lil intro" on this forum.

Lost Muslimah

Hello and asalaamu alaikum!

I'm a Muslimah living in the USA. I just joined this forum and thought I would reply to your "lil intro."

I didn't grow up in a Muslim household, but came to Islaam in 2002. I was instructed on prayers, pillars, Qur'aan, Sunnah, and Ahadith by a "Salaafi" which I later found out is a term equaling "Wahabi", which if course THEY don't call themselves, but that's what they are. When I was under tutelege I adopted many customs and mannerisms that were completely foreign to me, and was told that all Muslims are the same. I wore abaya, hijaab, niqaab, gloves, etc., stopped listening to music, read the ahadith and adopted it's suggestions. My family and husband all went crazy, especially my husband when we would go out and I would be fully veiled. After 6 months of this behavior, I decided to "leave Islaam." When I told my Muslimah sister that, she immediately cut off all communication with me, and our Muslimah sisters did the same. She never talked to me again, which made me very sad, as I had come to know and love her, admiring her devotion. Reflecting back on the whole thing, I believe she was very misguided by the ahadith, but was doing what she thought Allaah wanted of her.

That was my formal break with Islaam, but let me testify, Islaam NEVER left my heart. I wandered around spiritually lost for about a year and a half, then finally came to some sort of peace inside. However, I longed for salaat and submission.

Only recently have I been surfing the net and came across a progressive Muslims website, and learned that there are Muslims who follow the Qur'aan alone, and leave off the customs and traditions of the ahadith. One thing led to another and I found this site. I am very glad to be here.

I've written more than I intended, so I'll stop for now. Peace to you, sister!

Lost Muslimah

Peace to all!

Every "traditional" website I've come across says not to use Maulana Muhammad Ali's translation of al-Qur'aan, but personally, I find it very helpful, even if he is Qadiani. I like the footnotes, I guess. However, I also have a copy or two of the "Noble Qur'an" by Al-Hilaalii and Khan, from the King Fahd Complex for the Printing of the Holy Qur'an. Now that translation may also be slanted, for it contains ahadith that supports the relgious laws upheld in the KSA. I've also checked out Yusuf Ali's translation, but didn't like it much, and also Pickthall's, but it had NO notes whatsoever and the language was a bit archaic.

I've also owned Khalifa's translation, but didn't care for it because a lot of what he centered on was the mathemetical miracle, which at the time I didn't make much ado about, although I have since revised my interest on the subject. Besides that, I gave that translation away, so I can no longer refer to it.

Then of course, when you go to bookstores, there are always paperback translations that may or may not have the Arabic side-by-side. Now, the only Arabic word I can read is "Allaah", so that doesn't do me much good, but it seems to me that the translations with the Arabic are better.

Oh, I've also seen a Ahl al-Bayt translation with the Arabic and lots of footnotes, but I'm assuming the footnotes are also slanted to reflect the Shi'ite sectarian teachings and view.

So, since I don't read Arabic, is the best translation the one I'm going to read? I LOVE Maulana's translation, as he includes lots of stuff about the Jewish and Christians. Is it "reader beware!" ? Any suggestions for a Lost Muslimah?

Love,
Lost Muslimah

Peace to all you, Brothers and Sisters!

I have a question...and no, I haven't used the search function to research it, but will, God-willing.

This is my question. I have read that Qur'aanically there is no dress code calling for hijaab/niqaab/gloves, etc, but only that we are to put on the garment of righteousness, cover our breasts, and lengthen our garments.
What is your opinion if one WANTS to wear an abaya or dress & hijaab for prayer? Out of devotion only, not because the tradition or custom says we are to.

I loved wearing hijaab, niqaab when I hung out with the Salaafi's, but my husband absolutely HATED it. He is middle class American white boy through and through, and he saw immediately that it was a Middle Eastern custom and nothing more. Not to mention all the looks and stares I got in my little city--very few Muslims here, you know.

But anyway, I think putting on a prayer garment is lovely, if one is doing it out of devotion and not blind tradition. Anything wrong with that? I'm sure that I will get mixed and varied answers, as this group seems to me that everyone thinks for themselves, and lets others come to their own conclusions. I guess I'm asking if that would be a stupid thing to do? Kind of like the prayer issue--3 or 5 times a day? Some say 3, some say 5, some say ritual prostrating, some say freely meditating. I have my own thoughts on salaat, and am still reading the Qur'aan in prayer and love and faith to God's Word.

So about the abaya issue, I say, what say you?

Love,
Lost Muslimah

Asalaamu alaikum!

I will try to make this a very quick and short introduction.

I found Islaam in 2002. I was instructed by a very rigid Wahabi. 6 months later I left Islaam. I had a lot of problems with the hadith and traditions and methods of Islaam. I was told that ALL muslims were this way. I didn't know about progressive muslims!

After I left Islaam I wandered around lost. Islaam never left my heart, and I am being pulled back again. I will NOT go back to practicing Islaam the Wahabi way, but would like to know more about progressive muslims. I read some posts on salaat, and then decided to register and get in touch with others.

Sunni/Wahabism Islaam was not for me, but I still consider myself a Muslimah in my heart. I never stopped loving God. I have recently took up salaat again, the old way I used to pray. When I reverted in 2002, I was instructed to wear dresses only, hijaab, abayas, gloves and full niqaabs. Honestly I loved veiling, but my husband absolutely hated it. That is only one of the problems I had with the teachings I received.

I have begun to read the Quraan again, and to pray. I would LOVE to get in touch with some progressive muslims!

Lost Muslimah