ive been reading a few threads on here… and there are a lot of people who believe that wearing the hijab, growing a beard, not listening to music etc etc.. make their faith stronger…
there are a few of us who have seen the ‘light’ and have started to do things in certain ways… and this may have been prompted by reading Islamic literature.. talking to other muslims.. goign to the masjid more frequently… theres been a turning point for many of us in our lives
i’d like to confess… i didnt know much bout Islam till about 13-14… i just accepted i was a muslim.. prayed… was scared of the molvi.. but that did nothing for me..
then i met an Anglican… and she talked about religion to me.. (she wanted to convert me..we were both 13 hehehe).. instead i started to pray more often.. and learnt about the peaceful side of Islam… (molvi’s arent too bad i thought).. but even then i didnt pray all my namazein.. read kazaa when i got home…
after a few years.. i stopped praying my missed namazein.. until last year.. when a friend of mine (who doesnt pray) said… ‘sadia.. u should read kaza if u miss ur namaz’.. which prompted me to do so… just a few words… and now im a namazi…
the point is… its not the molvis who change us… u dont have to go to the masjid to become a better muslim (which im not).. we dont have to go to Islamic literature to learn bout faith… people around us teach us.. i learnt bout Islam through learning bout chritianity.. instead of finding the wrong in other religions.. try finding the goodness and similarities… go make friends from other faiths.. and learn to accept them..
awwww. Sadzzz i wished you live in Canada (not Aussie:~P), i would be proud to have you as one of my friends.
i had attended a Muslim school until i was about 13, we had separate Islamiyat and Arabic classes. From my Islamiyat classes, one thing i remember is being taught how to read the Quran. It was completely ‘ruTTafication’ (memorization & recital) of the Surahs; none of the teachers ever explained what any of the Surahs actually meant. The meanings were written in Urdu but none of us were ever encouraged to discover the actual meanings - Islam wasn’t made as something beautiful, to be understood, to be explored. It became something memorized and passed down from elders to the next generation, something lacking meaning or ‘life’.
Strange part is - it wasn’t until i moved to Canada that i became more motivated to discover what “Islam” actually meant to me. i am not where i want to be with my faith, every day i hope and pray that i am coming closer Insha’Allah. It’s the most important aspect for me now - and i am prouder than i have ever been to be a Muslim.
Your last paragraph in particular is so interesting. i am so glad you feel that way :k: True security within one’s beliefs, is perhaps best represented by not feeling scared by others’ ideologies and beliefs.
aww thank u Nadia :) i was just babbling as thats one of my main talents... :)
yeah i was in a similar situation to u.. where Islam was only thrown at u.. and said.. read and remember otherwise ur going to hell.. and out of fear i did things.. but meeting my friend.. i realised we shouldnt do things out of fear.. instaed believe out of love... (i think thats when my personality changed too)... and u know.. not one muslim friend taught me that.. it was someone from a totally different faith :)
i think the more u talk to someone else.. the more u have the desire to question ur own beliefs and read up on them..
and yeha like u.. i dont think ive ever been happier... im not a 'good' muslim... but im happy with how much ive achieved.. Alhamdulillah...
and good on ya too :) doesnt the world feel like a happier place to be living in today? aaaah hehe
alot of things made me wanna become a better muslim. but one big one was when someone made me realize how many sacrifices all the prophets made for us, and why? just so Islam could get to us. just so we could be saved from the fire of hell. Mohammad(sws) sacrifised his whole life for Allah, and also so that we could get the message. he fought so many wars, even had garbage thrown on him. and what do we do to it today? very sad. leave the Quran on some shelf to what? oh to sit there and look pretty!
sadzzz.....definiteyl, wearing hijaab, not listening to music, growing beard doesn't make u a good muslim.....but if u r a good muslim or become one, u will automatically follow these things...its all the matter of faith and practising it.....just by believing that Allah is One, but not following the path of Islam (mentioned in Quran and Hadith) will not help u in anyway...
In Suraa Al-Asar,
Verily! Man is in loss, Except those who believe and do righteous good deeds, and recommend one another to the truth (i.e. order one another to perform all kinds of good deeds (Al-Ma'ruf)which Allah has ordained, and abstain from all kinds of sins and evil deeds (Al-Munkar)which Allah has forbidden), and recommend one another to patience.
[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by sadzzz: *
ive been reading a few threads on here... and there are a lot of people who believe that wearing the hijab, growing a beard, not listening to music etc etc.. make their faith stronger...
Reading about Islam is what made me come closer to Islam, and Allah I believe. Qur'an itself means "to read", and when I was in college I started reading several books, some that friends suggested, and some that I picked up myself. My mother only taught me so much, the basics of the religion, like namaz, etc. My father was more "spiritual" so whenever he said something on religion he would point out to look internally, and try to understand the essence of the Qur'an, and be good to people, etc. I think its pretty nice, the balance Allah blessed me with in parents.
Anyway, the people around me have said things that prompted me to wanna learn more about different aspects of Islam, so I do thank them for that, but the knowledge I have gained through reading of Qur'an and sunnah and fiqh, etc, has to me, given me the greatest understanding, Alhumdulillah.
[QUOTE] Originally posted by knightofhearts: *
sadzzz.....definiteyl, wearing hijaab, not listening to music, growing beard doesn't make u a good muslim.....but if u r a good muslim or become one, u will automatically follow these things...*its all the matter of faith and practising it.....just by believing that Allah is One, but not following the path of Islam (mentioned in Quran and Hadith) will not help u in anyway...
[/QUOTE]
so if i dont start wearing a hijab in the near future.. does that make me a bad muslim? how is wearing the hijab the ultimate goal of being a good muslimah?
ive been reading.. and everywhere i look people are being praised for wearing the hijab or growing a beard... is that the only thing Islam teaches u? is ur Iman only strong once u start wearing the hijab? i dont understand...
When the prophet told Abu Bakr, or Ali about Islam, they did not ask him for any reference from the previous scriptures for proof. They also did not indulge in logical or philosophical arguments with the prophet. They believed solely on intuition, and that is the only way you can believe in a religion.
The role of the Molvi has always been to play upon people's guilt and earn money and social status for himself out of it.
^ true.... I didnt have much exposure to molvis.. just one in Taxila i can remember... and my cousins molvi.. he didnt like me
i think Islam is not learnt by just reading.. as a matter of fact nothing is learnt bu just reading it.. you've got to discuss it and not only with someone who agrees with u or someone who shares the same faith..
.. most of my learning i guess has been thru my parents arguing hehe.. as in about islam... and then from my 19 yr old friend and lil 14 yr old.. its amazing how much u learn from the young ones.. even if they dont have as much knowledge.. or a total understanding.. their perspective about life and Islam is very interesing and acknowledgeable... :)
sadzzz, read my previous post...u will find the answer in that...i don't like to repeat the same thing over and over again....and btw, it is ur own faith on Islam.....nobody has the right to criticize u.....let Allah be the judge of it on Day of Judgement....
[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by sadzzz: *
so if i dont start wearing a hijab in the near future.. does that make me a bad muslim? how is wearing the hijab the ultimate goal of being a good muslimah?
ive been reading.. and everywhere i look people are being praised for wearing the hijab or growing a beard... is that the only thing Islam teaches u? is ur Iman only strong once u start wearing the hijab? i dont understand...
[/QUOTE]
*Originally posted by sadzzz: *
so if i dont start wearing a hijab in the near future.. does that make me a bad muslim? how is wearing the hijab the ultimate goal of being a good muslimah?
Be-Be jee you should find out what Islam says about Hijab? Is it required for a Muslim (includes male as well as females)? Find out and then do accordingly.
Allaha decides who is good and who is bad, so find out what would qualify as good for Allaha ?
ive been reading.. and everywhere i look people are being praised for wearing the hijab or growing a beard... is that the only thing Islam teaches u? is ur Iman only strong once u start wearing the hijab? i dont understand...
**
So once you find out or at least you agree that it is part of what is required of a Muslim, then if someone does start to do so then what is the harm in appreciating and encouraging? Just like you would appreciate any good deed by any one. **
Sadzzz 
i wished you live in Canada (not Aussie:~P), i would be proud to have you as one of my friends.