Madinat al-Muslimeen Islamic Message Board
| question for recent (or not-so-recent) converts |
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| Anonymous |
| 12/08/00 at 01:11:09 |
| I was wondering if any of the recent (or not-so-recent) converts/reverts to Islam would be willing to tell me a bit about their experiences of conversion-- not about taking shehada itself, but about their subsequent experiences as new members of the ummah. I hope it's not too nosy a question! The reason I ask is: I am thinking seriously about taking shehada. For some time now, I've tried to live according to Islam as best I can (not always succeeding, but at least I'm trying!), but one thing that deters me from making a public confession of faith is that I feel as though I would be letting myself in for a lifetime of censure. Both among Muslims I know and on the net, it seems to me that people spend way too much time picking on one another about relatively minor aspects of their behavior or beliefs. It's as though every moment of everyone's life is open for judgement and criticism from all sides. I mean, even on this board, where I get the impression that most people like one another most of the time, it's amazing how quickly the discussions turn ugly-- especially when the talk turns to doctrinal differences, or anything at all to do with women. And other message boards are much, much worse. Of course the Muslims I know personally are not exactly like that (no one can be as mean in person as they are on the net!), but they seem to be very clique-ish among themselves, however nice they might be to someone's face. So I guess my question/comment/plea boils down to this: I want to be Muslim (I think?!), but I don't want every day of the rest of my life to be a struggle. Wait. Let me re-phrase that. Every day *is* a struggle-- to be conscious of one's duty to God and uphold the rights of one's fellow creatures-- but surely every day should not revolve around bickering with one's fellow believers. Please, say it ain't so! Thanks so much for any light you can shed on this. |
| Re: question for recent (or not-so-recent) converts |
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| haaris |
| 12/08/00 at 12:14:27 |
| Asalaamu aleikoum, It ain't so! Please, take the shahada! You sound like you already know that you should. Before I address directly your concerns about muslims themselves let me just say two things. First, who is the shaitan most concerned about misleading? The believers. What better way to do this than divert astray those on the right path. Don't listen to the shaitan, follow your heart. Second, (and this may not necessarily be true but it serves as an amusing punctuation mark to your tale) I have heard that very well-known muslim revert remarked once "I am glad that I came across Islam before I came across the muslims". Muslims are not bad people (on the contrary ...) but we are people and therefore prone to the failings of people. Unfortunately, differences show up even worse on the Internet as things often read more harshly than they were intended or than they would have sounded if spoken. One of the reasons why I visit this board on an almost daily basis is because I genuinely find the brothers and sisters here polite, sincere and helpful. Become a Muslim (you owe it to yourself) and visit your local mosque. Insha' Allah you will find brothers / sisters who are sincere and knowledgeable in their deen. Whereabouts are you based? Perhaps one of the citizens of this Medina will be able to put you in touch with some such people. A brother told me this on the day I took shahada: "You can read all the books or watch all the videos you like about swimming but you'll never learn to be a good swimmer unless you get in the pool and flail around." Don't be put off of swimming just because the swimmers seem to be swimming in each others paths. Salaam |
| Re: question for recent (or not-so-recent) converts |
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| Malika |
| 12/08/00 at 12:57:06 |
| Greetings, [quote]The reason I ask is: I am thinking seriously about taking shehada. For some time now, I've tried to live according to Islam as best I can (not always succeeding, but at least I'm trying!), but one thing that deters me from making a public confession of faith is that I feel as though I would be letting myself in for a lifetime of censure.[/quote] There is no one to censure in the sense you think. We as muslims are here to *remind* one another of what Allah (swt) wants us to do and how to live. It is not necessary to make a public confession per say unless you mean you would like to be a closet muslim. there is no such thing. Ok there are people who do that but it isn't right. First and formost you must realize that you are doing this for Allah (swt) and whatever you do judgement is reserved for Allah alone. [quote] Both among Muslims I know and on the net, it seems to me that people spend way too much time picking on one another about relatively minor aspects of their behavior or beliefs.[/quote] That is a bad habit we don't need. The Prophet (saw) didn't do it and we as muslims should strive to live our lives like he did. [quote] I mean, even on this board, where I get the impression that most people like one another most of the time, it's amazing how quickly the discussions turn ugly--[/quote] That is emotions and personal opinions of individuals it has nothing to do with Islam. Everyone is entitled to their opinion and that is evident in the posts. However when the discussion turns *ugly* there is always someone among us to *remind* us. That is a good thing. [quote] especially when the talk turns to doctrinal differences, or anything at all to do with women. [/quote] Women are something else!! [quote] of course the Muslims I know personally are not exactly like that (no one can be as mean in person as they are on the net!), but they seem to be very clique-ish among themselves, however nice they might be to someone's face.[/quote] You will encounter alot of that when you take your Shahada. the cliques I mean. It is a sad fact that new muslims are not embraced like they should be. However, I should mention this is common among the females more than the males. Once again that is the emotions that we display. You should be prepared to be alone unless you have muslims friends already. [quote] I want to be Muslim (I think?!),[/quote] Alhumdulliah! That is indeed the straigth path and a wise decision. I can only speak for myself, but it was the best decision I ever made in my life. I always felt something missing in my life and I found it in Islam. [quote] but surely every day should not revolve around bickering with one's fellow believers. Please, say it ain't so! [/quote] It ain't so! :) |
| Re: question for recent (or not-so-recent) converts |
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| se7en |
| 12/08/00 at 15:43:50 |
| Hey, Muslims can be blockheaded too. Seriously, we can be stubborn and hard headed when it comes to what we think, just like any other people. But please, please, please, do not allow the stupidity of Muslims get in the way of you embracing Islam. Islam is not about bickering and criticizing one another, though sometimes we as Muslims are at fault for making it seem like it is. Islam actually tells us to do the opposite of that - to take care of one another in every sense - intellectually, emotionally, physically, even financially. But we are human, and we do make mistakes. Especially me. Oh man, I *pray* that I have not contributed to that impression you have of Muslims. And actually the structure of Islam is set up to house all of these differences. Islam really has this beautiful solid but flexible structure that has allowed it to withstand over time. It encompasses so many of our different ways of living, ways of thinking, philosophies, traditions. That's something so beautiful about Islam, it's tolerance, though we as Muslims tend to forget that. Each one of our lives is this epic, full of tragedy and triumph, hope and loss - and all we have to do is write the pages. Every day of our lives is a struggle - and this struggle encompasses all aspect of the faith from getting up to pray in the morning, to fasting, to speaking truth, to being patient with one another. I heard a speaker say once, all we do is bicker, when we should be in dhikr. Dhikr is what a Muslim's life is all about, being conscious of our relationship with Allah and trying to remember that at all times. So no, everyday does not revolve around bickering. It revolves around dhikr-ing :) |
| Re: question for recent (or not-so-recent) converts |
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| Saleema |
| 12/09/00 at 22:45:58 |
| Assalam ualykum, I think every community does that, not just us. But you are right; being Muslims we should know better. I hope that I wasn't one of those that made you turn away from Islam, but I am pretty sure that I probably did since I can't keep my big mouth shut all the time. Don't judge Islam by Muslims but rather judge it by the Qur'an and Sunnah. We will not decide on anyone's end, but Allah will. If you have realized the Truth, why not embrace it? What more can a person want out of life? Once you become a part of the Muslim community, you will see in depth that despite our faults we have a good side to us too. There will be some that might not respond to you in a nice way but many will. I don’t know what else to say, everyone seems to have said what was on mind. May Allah guide you to the Straight Path. wassalam |
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