Thank you David ) Perfectly articulated

I realized that the title had nothing to do with my post thats because I deleted what I initially wrote when I got into thinking about the worldly issues I face. I don't know about anybody else but living Islam now almost feels wrong because I don't have a scholar to follow and thinking for myself is hard. Jurisprudence is another issue all together. I mean who do I ask about certain issues? I read articles by the people who created this forum but aren't I just transferring my trust from the scholars to the writers on this site? I have changed so much of my belief system. I wore hijjab for 9 years and decided not to wear it any longer because its not mandatory as I previously thought. But all that was indoctrinated in me still remains in the back of my head. I almost feel guilty most of the time and feel almost like I am not even a Muslim. Its not that I don't trust Allah or the words he sent as guidance its just that I don't trust myself to interpret those words unbiasedly. Furthermore Perhaps I will do the opposite of what I really want in fear of following my desires.

And as I write these words the voice of sanity calls once again... Allah is merciful and kind, Allah doesn't need my suffering or confusion & Allah will never give me a burden greater than I can bear.

Sigh.............. To be continued

Asalaamu Alaykom.

Not even a month after my brother's passing while the hurt is still deep my father passed away. May 29th 2007. He is survived by my wonderful mother, my two older brothers and myself. Since I can remember my mother has said May is a bad month I am not too sure if a month could bring bad luck per say but I have to admit since I remember bad things have happened to my family in May. Maybe its just perception I don't know. Has anybody else experienced a bad day of the week or a bad month or day.

Very simple. We superglue their male appendage to a fixed table in a wooden shack. We hand them a knife. We set fire to the shack.

Their choice.

I say, let flesh eating ants bite it off. A knife is too quick! Or burn it off with concentrated acid after scalding with hot water, smashing on it with a sledge hammer and burning it with a blow torch.

hmm, pretty sick ideas.. But that's how I feel about it, imagine if someone you know was sexually assaulted... It happens way too often, a hard line should be taken with scum!

You both scare me

Salaamu Alaykom

I heard many stories about the time of the prophet but what comes to mind is from the movie "the message" which revealed allot of what is now going through my head. Wow how it strikes me now that Mekkah was famous for the idols worshipped in the Kaaba and people on a yearly basis came to the Kaaba to worship those idols. The Quran was revealed at that place and time as many will tell you to stop this idol worship but it continues? The revenue that Saudi Arabia gets from the tourists and hajji's because of the Kaaba stemmed from making a central place of worship and that was the way they had a steady income coming in. almost everybody I have spoke do in one way or the other thinks the Saudi government is corrupt or greedy. I don't know if they knowingly deceive many people but it seems funny that if I were in Saudi Arabia I would be beheaded for writing such things as I am writing now.

Oh and another thing I heard was that Yazid destroyed the Kaaba before he killed Imam Hussein (thats what I heard as a shia). but it never occurred to me that the shia still face that very place in worship.

Some of these eye openers are quite hard to accept but I fear that I will be rejecting my common sense if I disagree. and Allah did give me common sense or will someone try to convince me that my common sense is really whispers from the accursed Satan?

oh and BTW. i seen a comment referring to this discussion as a Christian way or something.. Its rather funny that you would say that when nobody here preaches that Jesus is god or the son of god. as a matter of fact I haven't seen the Quran only Muslims EVER say anything about Jesus that exalted him above the rank of messenger or prophet. but then again Quran only Muslims don't worship Prophets.

Asalaamu Alaykom

Alhamdoolilah this is such a blessing I just have 2 tell you. Now I have read 85 surah's on this application more than I have read in 14 years of knowing about the Quran. I think I only read 20 at most before that. Anyhow I read it when I am waiting places and sometimes just sitting on the bed. The ritualistc idea is still strong that I am impure and therefore unable to hold the Quran while I am menustrating its hard to break old habits I suppose. Anyhow this is great because that doesn't matter. I hope MANY can get use of this VERY EASY TO READ translation of the Quran jazzak Allah khayran )

As-Salaamu Alaika Tay,

This is not a fallacy, the fact that one has to "learn" a language. That is a part of human existence. Even native arabic speakers have to learn arabic from their parents, family and/or school. When one studies a language, they learn the vast range of meanings that a simple word can have. This is the same in english. Nevertheless, Allah has revealed Al Quran in Arabic. It can not be improved upon by translating it to another language. Allah is translating wisdom to us. Al Quran is continously teaching and educating us. If we just leave the arabic and study translation, then we would have not foundation for wisdom. As-Salaat is a ritual designed to preserve knowledge, the knowledge of Al Quran. Make Ad-Dua in any language that one chooses. Allah hears the call of every caller.

As-Salaat is not just plain old "prayer", that we equate the term with in english. That is why I have translated it as "The Prayer", because it is a structured system given to us for our benefit in Al Quran by Allah; and He has detailed its instructions and restrictions therein.

As-Salaamu Alaikum, peace

Asalaamu Alaykom

I couldn't agree with you more. The problem is that people think Allah depends on us for our prayers when in fact the prayer benefits only ourselves and no one else. I think when some do not see immediate gratification to their deeds they assume those deeds to be almost worthless or pointless. The point of prayer to me is that its something we do unselfishly every day and when we unselfishly do that deed we in fact are bringing ourselves closer to Allah. That is why we humble ourselves before Allah in prostration. Its not just humility, its obedience.

Asalaamu Alaykom,

I pray in Arabic I do understand fully what I am saying and I also believe that in praying in Arabic I am feeling the words better. When reciting words such as Ihidina Siratl Mustaqeem I understand the powerful meaning behind those words that go far beyond "Guide us to straight path" Its more of a complete submission to me and that I will allow myself to be influenced by the signs of Allah swt. I only know one way to pray and I still pray that way. There is a story that a wise Jewish man told me on a long busride I want to share that story with you all so that you understand that changing something is not always the best thing to do.

From my memory I will transmit the story I heard....

In the desert there was a man who lived, Every single day he went to a rock climbed up on it and raised his hands towards the heavens and called upon God. Morning, Noon, Evening and Night he never failed or missed his call. Then one day a caravan came through the desert and there was a religious leader in that caravan that everybody followed. They seen this man on the rock and inquired as to what he is doing. The man replied I am having a conversation with God. The religious man upon hearing that replied No you cannot have a conversation with God this way.. Your doing it all wrong here let me teach you how.After teaching the desert man how to have a correct conversation with God the religious leader had to leave. With that he bid farewell. Then later on in the evening the man instinctively went to his rock then he suddenly remembered thats not the way to conversate with God so he turned back to the place the religious leader told him and started to complete the movements as he was tough.Half way through he forgot what to do next and became frustrated so he stopped. Then after that every morning, noon, evening and night the man just sat down feeling defeated that he cannot remember what the leader tough him.He never again after that day tried to conversate with God.

THE END

We sat on the bus for 7 hours talking and this story stuck out in my head. I did tweak it a bit but the moral is still the same.

Asalaamu Alaykom,

No I didn't go appearantly its not meant for me to go because alot has happened to me. Sometimes I wonder if God is punishing me for the negative thoughts I have had about hadith followers. I am realizing that I don't have to be against one thing to be for another and that Islam is not black and white rather its a way of life that is right.

I went on islamicfinder the other day and discovered there is a mosque here in town. It surprised me because this is a small hick town in the middle of Kentucky. Then when I went to the dr with my father his doctor who is Muslim informed me that the mosque is mainly for men but women can attend juma3 prayer which I think I will next Friday. He told me that the women are normally busy during the week so they dont go. I dont really care because when I get a job I probably won't go either after I get a job down here.

I unfairly judged these people and their way of life and for that I am sorry. Nothing in this life gives me the right to judge how another lives and that is what I try so hard to stand against. I live my life and hope God will forgive my mmistakes for now and if I can teach some people something perhaps its the mistakes I am learning from as make them.

If people chose to follow hadiths thats up to them. Certianly there are inspirations in some hadiths if you look closely enough. I sometimes wonder if the reason I don't follow hadith stems from my own arrogance. Isnt it safer to follow those who know more than I than to follow my own desires? The confusion has caused me to hault in my deen. I live and exsist now and perhaps that is why my tests have grown to another level thats almost unbearable.

I begin with the Fatiha (Opening chapter of the Quran)

In the name of Allah most gracious most merciful,
Praise be to Allah (God) the sustainer of all the worlds,
most gracious most merciful,
lord of the day of judgement,
you do we worship and you are who we ask for help
show us the straight path,
The path of the (rightous) ones who have went before us
not the path of those who have gone astray.

Monday March 7th Danny Wayne Crouse was layed to rest in the litton cemetary. The funeral was nice and Danny finally looked at peace. He was wearing a yellow shirt that he loved and he looked almost as if he was sleeping. Loosing my brother hasn't been easy and it will never be easy but I thank God he is at peace and he looks peaceful.

The songs that were played were I'll be missing you by Puff daddy, Arms of the Angel by Sarah Mclachlan, Tears in Heavan by Eric Clapton, Amazing Grace and Rest High on the Mountian. Many of his friends joined us at the funeral and I appreciate that. Although we don't know the cause of his death I hope it will be an awakening call for people to look carefully at their own lives and make right what is wrong.

I don't quite remember all the paulbearers but I know my nephew Matthew Crouse and Jeremy Crouse were paulbearers and so was my Neice's fiance'e Brandon. There were 9 total.

When the wake was concluded I requested to close my brother's casket so they allowed me to, Myself and my Neice Crystal closed the casket saying our final goodbyes to his earthly body.

Tears flowed from my face as an abundance of emotions just poured out of my soul. I lost my Big Brother and I can't even remember the last time we spoke so if you love somebody just let them know.

Please if you were a friend of my brother's leave a comment on his page and a memory of something you may have done together. Repost this also so more of his friends can leave comments. We will check his myspace accounts and add any friends who request (except spammers).

Also my mother,father,brothers and other family will be reading it often so it will be nice to see what some of you all have to say).

From Christy - Youngest & Only Sister of Danny Wayne Crouse

Posted as a myspace bulletin.

Salaam Alaykom.

Thank you so very much I am going to read this to my mother who will also very much appreciate it. I was always under the impression the dog thing was wrong but was always afraid I would take whats in my own favor instead of taking what Allah says. Alhamdoolilah now I am certain that Allah has made this issue clear which has also reconfirmed my faith in GOD-ALONE . Shukrlilah. Thank you all for the for your sympathy we are still in shock here but we are getting through it. I really thank Allah that he was taken in his sleep rather than any other painful way. My brother has been shot,stabbed and viciously beaten into a Coma but Allah swt wanted better for him than that kind of death. again thank you all.

Asalaamu Alaykom.

Sorry I didnt reply sooner but I have been staying at a friends house because its so painful to stay in my apartment and she doesn't have the internet set up over there. Thank you all for your wonderful comments the last one really hit home and brought out some deep thought. I will say that yes I did feel I was not worthy of his love but I don't really think it was his fault. I used to be a very angry person who constantly had outburts and fits of rage. I have learned to controll that rage and I do think his patience helped in that aspect. I dont blame him nor anybody else for my shortcomings but I try to eliminate the ones I know about so I can be a great person instead of just a good person. I have grown up quite a bit since my marriage and I dont know if its just a natural occurance or from my husbands support. I also feel what you said that he makes me feel inadequete but not just him its much deeper than that.. Probably shouldn't get into it here but its something I realize I never dealt with and have always pushed it to the side.

I guess the part of this that bothers me the most is I really love him. I depend on him for safety security and stability. Also I have worked very hard to get the material items in my home and I am going to loose it all. In my life I never had brand new furniture (as a child either) and I finally last year bought some from the money I worked for. I also decorated my house and just made it my haven. Its like I finally tasted some success just to have it pulled away. I try to remind myself of Ayyoub and how everything he had was taken but I just am kinda tired of having things taken from me.

What gives me relief in all of this is that I KNOW that Allah will not place a burden on mef greater than I can handle.

Again thanks for your comments I am really reading them and absorbing them

btw, the "Son" I was reffering to is my step-son, whom I sponsored to come here. I have a son of my own who is almost 14 years old and he loves my husband alot also. I am so afraid how this will effect him especialy since he already went through his father and I seperating.

I am not trying to villafy my almost ex-husband He is a good guy in so many ways but I think his decision to live in this country was at any cost regardless of who he hurt in the process.

There are books you should reccomend to him or her.

Courage to Heal is a very good book and you can find it on amazon It also has a workbook with it. The best thing you can do for this person is to support (him or her ) in finding the power to heal. But don't be dissapointed if they arent ready to heal yet it must come in their own time.

there is also a great movie she/he can watch called the Antuan Fisher story )

But remember anger doesnt help heal any wounds )

There are also many sources on the internet of people who can help )

Asalaamu Alaykom,

Should the murderer be killed for ending somebodies life? Should the theif get their hands cut off? Should the Adulteress/Adulterer be stoned to death?

All of these are horrible but in theory they are the same in that they affect other people. The murderer not only affects but causes the end of anothers life. The reason I am saying this is because I want you to think about what should happen to those people.

Islamically I am unsure what the penalty for sexual abuse is but speaking as one who has overcame it myself Its easier to forgive than to hold a grudge. I wouldn't feel better and it wouldn't change anything if my abuser were put to death I think revenge is a dish best NOT served

Asalaamu Alaykom I have a Samsung A900 Blade with Sprint and I downloaded the message just fine. I just went to www.free-minds.org/wap and downloaded from there. Thanks

Asalaamu Alaykom

Quran protects you with the Message passed through the pages. If you wear ayatul kursi or any other ayat for that matter than you are putting your trust in power from a physical object thus making you an idol worshipper.Don't even think for a moment your body will be more protected if you have a verse from the Quran on it. I seriously doubt that Allah's intention in sending us the Quran was for us to make the Quran an idol.

Your Age 29

Your Nationality American

Your Education second grade lol

Languages you speak other than English pig latin & limited arabic

Exposure to Arabic (e.g mother-tongue of parents / learning at school) Community & work

If Qur?an isn?t its translation ?

1. What do you expect from a translation of the Holy Qur?an?

An unbiast approach

2. What is it that you prefer most in any given translation?

If a certian arabic term cannot be translated by using ONE word use more than one eg. Nur = light/brightness

3. Do you know how to judge a translation of the Holy Qur?an to be good or not?
   truley I ask Allah to guide me to the best understanding

4. What would you like to see in translations of the Qur?an, as it does not already exist and is lacking in current translations?

good translations do exsis

5. What is the Qur?an translation you use? Why?

Literal, QXP

6. Do you prefer hard-copy (printed) versions of Qur?an, or computers? version?

Online because I have access to more translations

7. What would make you seek to buy or find a specific translation of the Qur?an? For example, you hear of a new translation, a friend told you about his favourite translation ?etc.

the exsistanc of it

8 ) What do you dislike most in any given translation of the Qur?an?

inclusion of hadiths

9. Have you ever decided not to use a particular translation of the Qur?an? If so, why?

Muhsin Khan because he adds hadiths to his translation and although they are in parenthasis they are still confusing to the average newcomer to Islam

10. Do you think that translations and translated explanations are enough to understand the meanings of Qur?an or does one have to learn Arabic?

Its important to learn arabic but I don't believe you have to learn arabic to understand Quran. It just makes it easier

15 minutes

Salaamu Alaykom

is it possible that this hadith is talking about dhuhr prayer?

Asalaamu Alaykom

I think alamak in arabic means teaching you.. right? My knowledge of arabic is limited but was wondering also if that was what your username indicated. Btw welcome and May your journey be guided by Allah.

I don't know if it does.. I don't study the bible. they pointed out from the bible that Mary was 12

Asalaamu Alaykom

Thanks for the replies. Man I realize sometimes that wahabi's only exsist as a test to us who are trying to understand truth.. Tonight for instance I was on paltalk and went into a room where they were talking about Aisha's age.. they insist that she was nine years old and that nine is a acceptable age.. their excuse when I said no it is not true was to say well according to the Bible Mary was 12 when bearing Jesus or something like that.. DUDE ISN"T THAT A DIFFERENT STORY! I wanted to know lol but anyway so they said she was 12 and I said yep figures you take from the bible because there is no difference between the bible and bukhari they are both the same.. CORRUPT.. so then of course they asked me how much knowledge I have compared to Bukhari.. I said Bukhari didn't have knowledge only rumors .. anyway they bounced me .. right before they did one mentioned how Qurani's confuse Muslims.. What they really meant to say is the QURAN confuses the idol worshippers as it is.. and Allah even tells us that so wonderful..Another sign...

And Allah knows those who are true from those who are false.

I really am a calm person mostly.. but these wahabi's really make me mad sometimes lol.. argh this is definatly not from Allah that I shall get angry.. only Shaitan carries this trait.. Anyway please make dua that I don't lose my cool on these wahabi's.. perhaps I should leave paltalk alone for a while Alhamdoolilah I fount this forum.. angel yay