What's wrong with pointing out something that is obviously wrong, and that there's no room for debate?
I have real life experiences as well, but even just looking at gupshup, in cafe especially, if you mention religion, then your some fundamentalist mullah freak. “No one is perfect” and you’re a hypocrite if you even mention anything about religion; so by this logic, one must be a perfect person, if you’re not perfect then you have no right to correct others. It’s utter BS.
Maybe this is the wrong thinking, but if a nonMuslim told me that they were drinking or sleeping around, I wouldn’t think anything of it; however if it’s a Muslim doing the same thing, then I feel the need to point out that it’s wrong. I know none of us are perfect, far from it, but I can damn well try to be a gud Muslim.
I got called a childish ass by my friend last night who was doing something very very very wrong, even though I never said anything, she just read my mind. Granted I’m not perfect, nobody is but Bloody hell I’m annoyed now
Well, why did you get upset. You did your bit, and no you're not childish, so if she wants to smoke a joint and wear a micro-mini let her - to each his own.
Islamically though, you did what was fardh upon you. I think in a hadith it says that if you see a Muslim commit a haraam act, you must try to stop them physically, however if you are unable to do that, you must do it verbally.
Catty if she wanted to smoke a joint and wear a mini, well I'd tell her it was wrong but i would certainly NOT buy her weed or a miniskirt, and that's the issue here, actually encouraging something you KNOW is wrong. That to me is quite despicable, more so than the acutal act. Same as if i decided to date, I wouldn't use my freinds as an alibi or bring him around with them.
Anyway, the whole being called a childish ass thing just got to me; i know i can act immature sometimes but when something is wrong i have every right to say something without being called names---it's not just this incident, it's something I see on GS as well. Just go to the "horoscopes/astrology thread" and you'll know what I'm talking about.
I just wonder why do people get so twisted and uncomfortable.. if they think they're doing the right thing, if its all in innocent fun? And that's what you c here... someone says that something is haram, they jump down his or her throat and cal them a Mullah as if it's an insult.
You're doing nothing wrong, in fact you are doing exactly the right thing. As catwoman said, it is a fardh upon you to point out the wrong thing to your fellow Muslims. And I think it's totally wrong of the people you are mentioning starting about mullah and stuff, but maybe they are too ignorant to understand that you are doing a right thing.
Sara, it also depends on how the person comes across. It's one thing to tell someone that you think what they are doing is wrong, and you have every right to tell them if that is what you truly believe. It's another to start preaching and scolding others. There are ways to communicate effectively and be heard without causing others to get defensive; it's like an art which a lot of people have yet to master.
Sara, you are such a Maulvi, dont you know there are other things you can do to help your country or religion rather than telling other people that you know Islam better than you do. Gooosh ...who does it remind you off? :D
If a muslim is doing something wrong, it is your duty as a muslim to set them straight. Just because they are insecure conformists who wish to delude themselves into thinking its acceptible is not your problem or fault. You do what is right by faith and Allah. You did nothing wrong. She is just insecure and feels the need to be gori because of her own ABCD complex.
To paraphrase a good friend: If i do something unislamic doesn’t mean i should encourage you to do it.
As for sugarcoating stuff as an art form What is right is right. Doesn’t matter how much sugarcoating you do, the person is still going to be defensive because they are wrong and they hate being told they are acting unislamically.
Let's look at Hamza Yusuf. There is a reason why Hamza Yusuf is so popular while other "preachers" are not. He isn't remotely condescending or patronising when he speaks/lectures to people and discusses Islam. He doesn't look down his nose at people, but rather explains in a more diginified and respectful way. People look up to him and admire him for a reason.
^ Exactly. Not only he is not condescending, he is knowledgable about the subject too. People get pissed off because usually the preacher who comes off his high horse of religion has no clue why he is saying what he is saying. I disagree with the saying that muslims should preach regardless of their own morals.
The other day I was listening to Hamza Yusuf and he explained the difference between aqal and naql i.e reason vs tradition. We cannot just follow islam because we are born in a muslim family (tradition). We need to follow it through reason. We have to take into consideration modern science and world history before we accept or reject Quran. People who are caught up in the 'naqal' phase i.e do as muslims do...without knowing why muslims do what they do should not preach as well.
Condescending is an attitude, but is also an issue of making things personal or rather impersonal. I have neevr heard Hamza Yousef speak but one question does he make his entire lecture general and theortical or does he get down to the nitty gritty of things and make stuff personal for himself and his audience?
You know Fayz, I can't thank you enough for mentioning him to me in another thread a while back. I looked into his lectures and discussions and I was left extremely impressed. I'll be picking up his items at ISNA for you, as per your request. :p
He is amazing, isn't he? :-) I just ordered quite a few cds..I can't wait for Miracles of the Quran. Something you can't explain logically, I want to see how a real scholar explains it. Yea, don't miss on him at Isna...I'm sure he will be there.
Hamza Yusuf is very articulate and enjoyable to listen to. I love his deep sense of spirituality. Try and get a hold of 'Purification of the Heart' and his Seerah. He does tend towards Sufiism though, so be aware.
^ There goes another one...lost in the sea of sufisim.
fayz and Mehnaz, dont take things so personally...Other preachers do know what they are talking about.
Fayz sahib, I completely disagree with you on the subject of "muslims should not preach"...all muslims should preach and spread the word of Islam regardless of their morals.
Definitely the right thing..whatever it was. Anyways..I do this alot on this forum and in the presence of muslim friends..point out things islamically wrong..and i get bashed. but i know the reason why people bash me..its because they know what im saying is right..since it comes directly from Quran and Hadeeth..yet..they don't want to accept it..so they take out it out on me. So, don't take what your friend said to heart..just know that you did ur duty..and may Allah swt be pleased with you. Ameen.
Hamza Yusuf seems to be preaching what the Western politicians want him to preach about Islam. I recall he passed some comment a few years ago on T.V. due to which he got himself in trouble with other Muslims.
There are plenty of other scholars who know how to get the point across without intimidating and putting down others.
Sara, like others have already said, your job is to remind your friends politely and you may have to use different approaches with different people. Don't worry about the comments that you receive in return. Just try your best to not hurt or offend others or come across in a way that would make others feel that you somehow feel superior to them when you know such is not the case.
What is right is right. Doesn’t matter how much sugarcoating you do, the person is still going to be defensive because they are wrong and they hate being told they are acting unislamically.