ok..will try and hopefully not offend. In PA, you find these militant types who condemn kite-flying, music, education for girls, beardless men...condone beating of women who go out without hijaab, think that women belong in the house, think they are superior because of their religion, refuse to know or even at times acknowledge "kafirs" ie., would never go to an office party where alchol is served but optional to drink or even worse will refuse to befriend a "kafir" due to their perceived superiority. The exact type that you could call a "stereotype" of the Muslim that is feared in america...
Every religion has its militants and fanatics. Sadly, Islaam is in the spotlight these days yeah? When I meet a serene, kind and peaceful Muslim, I want to convert then and there, I want to have the peace that they have. One visit to PA puts a fast squash to that.
Logically, I do realize that any religion has its militants and that Islaam is a religion of peace and beauty. Yet I have still to complete my reading of Koran and other studies before I convert and I want to make sure that I completely understand it before I take it on. And when I see these militants, I've wondered at times...what am I missing here? I have yet to read anything that agrees with them...yet they seem to be pretty numerous...hence a bit of quandery.
Please, do not take this as an offense to Islaam. My beloved hubby is Muslim and boys are being raised as Muslim and I like that...its just my own personal search for serenity that is going on here.
I will speak for PA forum here only, PLEASE name those people because I would love to read their posts. I have been here since 2005 and have not come across 1 who says the above, maybe 1 or 2 showed up that I have no read but that's it. You say "they seem to be pretty numerous", yes they only seem because the media (which is where majority get their info from) only makes money on the negativity. They play with the emotions, profiting off them.
As for not attending party with alcohol, they are on the right side. Because in Islam there is a principle which basically says, stay away from the root of the problem and you will be safe. This principle has been applied to this "party" scene you talk about. By not attending the party, you are saving yourself from that desire of (1) drinking (2) mingling with opposite sex ..etc This may sound alien to most westerners but let history and facts be the judge.
May Allah show you the right path.
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to OP,
Don't let go of your friend. If you feel you are not up to this job, guide them to the correct group of like minded individuals who follow Quran and Sunnah. The rest is up to Allah.
