ForumTitleContentMemberSexCountryDate/Time
Middle East and North AfricaMuslims
QUOTE (Henia @ Aug 27 2008, 01:04 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I hope you don't take offense! But I think you havn't been Muslim long enough to have enough info to pick a madhab ... and no one says you even have to! I have been Muslim for 10plus yrs without picking one!


I wouldn't say no one. There definately are people who say it is required to follow a madhab. Yet another difference of opinion.

QUOTE
It's better to follow example of our Prophet (saw) then these scholars. But that is me!



It's a common misconception that the imams and scholars of the madhabs aren't doing their best to follow the Qur'an and the sunnah. Rather, the madhab system was created to codify a method of approaching the Qur'an and the Sunnah. It wasn't just that the imams took what they had at the time, created a set of rulings and bam, that was it. Instead, their students, and their students, down through the present day, work within the framework of the madhab to create rulings from the Qur'an, the Sunnah, analogy and the consensus of the scholars.

Those who follow a madhab are simply placing their trust in the scholars of the madhab to best interpret the Qur'an and the Sunnah when the followers do not have the time nor the training to do it for themselves.

Even those who today say they follow only the quran and the sunnah are in reality chosing to place their trust in a different set of scholars who have examined the Qur'an and the Sunnah within a different framework.
UmmSqueaksterFemaleEgypt2008-08-27 13:11:00
Middle East and North AfricaMuslims
QUOTE (bridget @ Aug 27 2008, 12:47 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I watched a documentary on Iran a while back...maybe in Jan? Anyhoo it was showing some Sufi muslims and omg I thought they were so cool. They all sat in a circle...the men that is...I think the women were outside the building for whatever reason, and they smoked hashish. Then they took their turbans off and revealed their long hair that totally hit the floor it was so long (and greasy but that's not the point) and they started dancing and swaying their heads so the hair went all over the place. I told my husband THAT's the kind I wanna be but he pointed out that the long hair is shirk or whatever because the prophet Mohammed, pbuh, said for men not to imitate women and vice versa.



The Prophet (saws) had long hair whistling.gif

I'm suprised that was his only objection. My husband would be all up in arms about the bida of it all.


One thing I should note is that a practioner of tasawwuf shouldn't do something that contravenes the sacred law. Doing drugs are definately a no no. Dancing *can* be considered ok, but that's a whole 'nother ball of wax. If you differentiate between bida hasana (good innovation) and bad bida, then you can make movement in dhikr a-ok with sacred law. If you're of the view that the only bida is a bad bida, then dancing ain't gunna cut it. As fate would have it, I married a "there's only bad bida" guy, while I am contemplating walking the path of tasawwuf with good bida. It's, um, interesting wacko.gif

From the bida hasana camp:

The Whirling Dervishes and Orthodox Islam
The Hadra and Sacred Law
UmmSqueaksterFemaleEgypt2008-08-27 13:05:00
Middle East and North AfricaMuslims
QUOTE (Rajaa_Reda @ Aug 27 2008, 11:14 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
well reading the Qu'ran i cannot figure this one out???? but thanks Ash habibati I chose Islam as my way for it made sense to my mind and heart... the rest is just confusing??? is there a Qu'ran only path?


There are quran only groups, but they have never really gained any major followings.

It seems quite clear to me when we look at how the Qur'an was revealed that we are to follow both the Qur'an and the example of our beloved Prophet (saws). If we were only to follow the Qur'an, then why send it to a messenger over an extended period of time, a messenger who taught the Qur'an? Wouldn't it have been better to just reveal the book, bam! everyone interpret it for him/herself, if that was the intention? Even from the pages of the Qur'an, we see that we are suppose to follow the Prophet (saws):

Surely there is for you in God’s Messenger an excellent example for him who aspires to God and the Hereafter, and mentions God oft. (33:21)
O you who believe! Obey God and His Messenger, and do not turn away from him. (8:20)
O you who believe! Obey God and obey the Messenger and those in authority from amongst you. (4:59)
Say (O Muhammad!): ‘If you love God, follow me so that God loves you.’ (3:31)


When one makes shahada, they declare that there is nothing worthy of worship except God, and that Muhammad is His messenger. What is the role of that messenger? Was he simply an errand boy, dropping off the Qur'an for us to learn? Or was he a teacher, a living example of how we should impliment the Qur'an in our lives?
UmmSqueaksterFemaleEgypt2008-08-27 12:58:00
Middle East and North AfricaMuslims
QUOTE (Ash * Habibati @ Aug 27 2008, 10:47 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I stand corrected! That was a copy/paste from a website to give her an over view or explain various sects/schools of thought. She'll have to do her own research and find out what identifies with her beliefs.... Or follow Islam as her husband follows it which is what I think I understood from the previous post! Thanks for the information good.gif


It's no problem. Sufism gets a bad rap among a lot of muslims who believe it's all bida (innovation) and shirk (associated partners with Allah), and the perception among many non muslims is that they're hippy universalists who really don't have anything to do with islam. Granted, there is the hippy universalist subset, and those who's practices do contain shirk, but for the most part, tasawwuf is a traditional islamic science that one practices along with the others.
UmmSqueaksterFemaleEgypt2008-08-27 10:55:00
Middle East and North AfricaMuslims
Most converts tend to fall into practicing sunni islam purely by default. It is what is presented as "this is islam" to those who ask. If there isn't a lot of talk about the imams, and marja and speaking about the companions and wives of the Prophet (saws) in a negative light, it's pretty safe to assume you're not practicing shia islam.

QUOTE (Nawal @ Aug 27 2008, 10:46 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Interesting...I have read it before but it was just sent to me again in email.

************************************************************


Woman's Reflection on Leading Prayer

By: Yasmin Mogahed
Friday, March 25, 2005



I went to school with her. Sorry, just had to interject that. It's just so weird to see how far and wide this article has gotten wacko.gif
UmmSqueaksterFemaleEgypt2008-08-27 10:49:00
Middle East and North AfricaMuslims
Ash * Habibati, I'd like to clarify a few of those sect classifications:

Sufis - not a sect. Tasawwuf (translated into english as sufism) is an islamic science. Following the death of the Prophet (saws), different disciplines were codified into sciences, so that future generations could have a framework from which to work and interpret the Qur'an and the traditions of the Prophet. These sciences include, among others, fiqh (jurisprudence, the halal and the haram and everything in between), hadith (classification as to soundness, the trustworthiness of the narrators, etc), kalam (theology) and tasawwuf, the inner science of the heart.

When one decides to study the religion, they can chose from any number of disciplines and sciences. Some become scholars of hadith, others scholars of kalam, and still others study tasawwuf. Being a sufi does not negate one being a sunni or a shia. One is a sunni or a shia who studies/practices tasawwuf.

There are some "goofy soofis" out there who believe that they've reached such a high plain that they are allowed to ignore the sharia. These people may say that they don't need to make salat anymore, among other spurious claims. This is a load of baloney. The Prophet Muhammad (saws) is the role model a sufi should want to imitate, the person who was the closest to Allah (swt), and he always prayed, always strove to follow what Allah (swt) had commanded.

The best explananation of what sufism is is found in a hadith qudsi (a hadith that is the words of Allah, not the Prophet) recorded in bukhari:

QUOTE (Allah (swt) says)
“Whomever is hostile to a friend of Mine I declare war against. My slave approaches Me with nothing more beloved to Me than what I have made obligatory upon him, and My slave keeps drawing nearer to Me with voluntary works until I love him. And when I love him, I am his hearing with which he hears, his sight with which he sees, his hand with which he seizes, and his foot with which he walks. If he asks Me, I will surely give to him, and if he seeks refuge in Me, I will surely protect him. I do not hesitate from anything I shall do more than My hesitation to take the soul of the believer who dislikes death; for I dislike displeasing him” (Bukhari, 8.131: 6502. S).


A sufi strives to follow the sacred law, to increase his/her acts of worship and good deeds, in an attempt to submit in their utmost to Allah (swt). When they are striving to please Allah (swt), Allah (swt) draws them close to Him.

Sh. Nuh Keller wrote about the place of tasawwuf in islam. It is probably a little bit technical, but it clearly rebuts the idea that sufism is seperate and apart from what is mainstream islam.



Bahai's - not a sect, rather a seperate religion. While they came out of the shia tradition, they do not call themselves a sect of Islam, but rather a continuation of the revelation that all Prophets have revealed. BahauAllah is the next "manifestation of God" following the Prophet Muhammad (saws).
UmmSqueaksterFemaleEgypt2008-08-27 10:44:00
Middle East and North AfricaMuslims
Another good book for the disillusioned is Believing as Ourselves. Newbies needent read it right off the bat, but if anyone ever feels fed up with the community, this is the book to read. You are not alone.
UmmSqueaksterFemaleEgypt2008-08-27 08:04:00
Middle East and North AfricaMuslims
When I converted, a sister from texas sent me a set of prayer cards I found exceptionally helpful. It has a line of arabic, then a line of english. I'd read the arabic aloud, then the english silently. After a month or 2 of this, I could put the cards down, recite my prayers in arabic AND know what I was saying.

I've recreated the cards for others to use. You can download them here, or you can pm me your address and I'll print em out and send em to ya snailmail.
UmmSqueaksterFemaleEgypt2008-08-26 13:46:00
Middle East and North AfricaMuslims
QUOTE (Ash * Habibati @ Aug 26 2008, 09:06 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I know that it wasn't meant to be funny ( it really is true ) but these made me giggle laughing.gif, especially the first one. I have seen that so many times!!!


I know I smile whenever I read it whistling.gif

QUOTE
Again a million thank you's for all of the wonderful information that you post and share!!!!!! good.gif


You're very welcome. If someone else's journey can be made a bit easier through what I post, then it's all worth it star_smile.gif
UmmSqueaksterFemaleEgypt2008-08-26 13:43:00
Middle East and North AfricaMuslims
When I want to learn a new surah, I find a decent, slow recitation and stick it on my ipod. Then I'll listen to it over and over and over again, sometimes reading along, until it's stuck in my head and I have it memorized. Every so often, I'll stop and check with the husband re: tajweed and pronunciation, to make sure that I'm not memorizing it incorrectly.


For the newbies, tajweed is how we recite the Qur'an, based on a set of rules. The Prophet (saws) recited the Qur'an in several different styles, and each of these styles have been preserved and codified. So, when you learn to recite the Qur'an with tajweed, you're reciting it as the Prophet (saws) recited it.
UmmSqueaksterFemaleEgypt2008-08-26 08:42:00
Middle East and North AfricaMuslims
QUOTE (Virtual wife @ Aug 25 2008, 07:45 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
It was never my intent to undermine your credibility, Rahma. I'm apologize that you took it that way. My life and environment is what it is, but it is not something I wish to use as a weapon. Your passion and enthusiam for the faith and your eagerness to share it is a blessing.


Thank you, I appreciate the kind sentiment.

QUOTE
You are also so right about Tarek Fatah. We have done battle many times and are no longer speaking, at this point.


I don't think he's speaking to anyone, lol.


QUOTE
However, you completely missed my points, and I may be a bit sensitive about the issue of adab because there is a tendency among students to believe that scholars are so well-mannered. I've had more than my share of their bad behavior, which may be why I'm come across so assertively in posts much of the time.


Scholars are human beings, and can fall into the same cesspits of nasty disagreement that all of us are suseptible to. However, there are some who rise above, and I'll look to those for my example of how to behave. Sh. Faraz Rabbani and Sh. Yasir Qadhi are friends. Sh. Faraz is about as traditionalist as they come, hanafi and a student of tasawwuf. Sh. Yasir is a saudi educated salafi. They spoke together at ISNA awhile back, and everyone was expecting a Friday Night smackdown kinda thing. But, they suprised everybody by holding a cordial discussion.


QUOTE
I appreciate my teachers, too, but I know when to disagree with them. An issue I have is the convert's ability to discern who is a good teacher who will not lead you astray and who will help you enrich your life in the faith, and what are proper sources. Where should you place your emphasis and what constitues the Middle Way? I have seen too many times students afraid to question or raise issues that could lead to conflict. Few certainly have the ability of substantive knowledge to challenge a teacher. I grew up in the faith, read fluent Arabic, have a Ph.D in Islam. For decades, I sat at the feet of venerated sheikhs, worked with ulema and jurists, and I'm still told I have a nerve to question anything from fiqh, no matter how ludicris. I can't imagine how a novice stands up to that.


So what do you suggest for a convert? What programs/teachers/books would you recommend? Because that's what this is really all about, advising the converts on this thread where they can best learn the deen. We don't all have access to scores of teachers, and endless amounts of time and resources.

Even when I converted back at the beginning of this decade, there wasn't anything aside from what the salafis had to offer. If you wanted to have anything with a solid foundation, you picked up books by Bilal Phillips, or what someone gave you for free at the masjid from Dar us Salam.

That is why I am so thrilled that Sunnipath, and even it's more salafi-esque counterparts like Al Maghrib are available now. They're teachers with credentials, offering courses specifically for the newbie and the western muslim. Now a convert isn't just handed a stack of books and sent to a half @ss lecture or 2 at the mosque with an imam who was imported from the home country and doesn't speak english very well. No, now they have teachers are known, who are knowledgable, and who can speak understand their audience. These institutions seek to be comprehensive, teaching Islam, Iman and Ihsan, where as before there was a heavy emphasis on haram haram haram and not much else.

If you have an alternative to these institutions, I'd be interested to hear them.


QUOTE
And, numbers show that they don't; the residivism rate for converts is rather high. That, I have deep concerns about. The ability to have a personal relationship with Allah is being slowly overridden with an over abundance of opinions, making Islam appear to be more monolitic in some ways, and more ambiguous in other ways.


There are two stereotypical camps converts fall into

Convertitis Type I
Convertitis Type II

The goal of those who call to Islam and do convert education should be to help the newbies navigate these two extremes and find the middle path. From my own, personal experience, I believe the best way to do this is through a more traditional approach to the religion, as opposed to what the first and second salafi dawah has done in the US in the last 3 decades.
UmmSqueaksterFemaleEgypt2008-08-26 08:38:00
Middle East and North AfricaMuslims
Care to get in any more back handed jabs while you're at it VW? Anything else to attempt to undermine my credibility? Forgive me for not running in your lofty circles. Some of us make due with the best our areas have to offer, and suppliment it when the local scene is lacking (and/or heavily salafi oriented). Forgive me for appreciating the teachers I have.


I was not attempting to dismiss you and/or reformers with the adab remark. You commented that reformers were often marginalized and dismissed, which to me indicates poor adab. I was merely adding to this opinion that the reformers often did/do the same to the mainstream. Many people, be they of the majority or of the dissenters, lack adab when it comes to differences of opinion.
UmmSqueaksterFemaleEgypt2008-08-25 14:24:00
Middle East and North AfricaMuslims
Aww, I missed ya'll too
UmmSqueaksterFemaleEgypt2008-08-25 09:43:00
Middle East and North AfricaMuslims
http://www.mounthira.com/

Excellent resource for learning short surahs. It recites a line in arabic, and highlights it on the arabic, transliteration and translation. Repeat each line as mcuh as you want, and then move on.

My one complaint was that they used the Hilili and Khan translation, but it looks like they've changed that kicking.gif
UmmSqueaksterFemaleEgypt2008-08-25 07:55:00
Middle East and North AfricaMuslims
Even the greatest reformers sat at the feet of more traditionally minded scholars and obtained a base from which they could engage the material.

Muhammad Abduh studied at al Azhar
Jamal al Deen al Afghani studied with shia scholars in Iran
Amina Wadud studied at Cairo University
Tariq Ramadan studied at al Azhar
ibn Hazm studied with maliki scholars in Spain (speaking of differences of opinion, here's a guy who had lots. I live this everyday. An anti tasawwuf pseudo zahari married to a tasawwuf minded shafi'i makes for lots of *fun* dinner conversations)



Certainly there will be animonsity when diviating from the majority, but that doesn't mean those who differ are saints in terms of adab (manners). ibn Hazm's writings are dripping with contempt for anyone who doesn't follow his opinions, and anyone who's been involved in the progressive movement in the last few years has butted heads with Tarek Fatah *shudders*.


In the end though, what doesn't change is how islam has been taught since the time of the Prophet (saws). It wasn't taught through books, it was taught from student to teacher, in a chain that stretches back to the Prophet (saws). If one wants to sit with a more reform minded scholar, be my guest. A salafi, sure, why not? Just make sure that the person has knowledge of the texts, and lives islam.
UmmSqueaksterFemaleEgypt2008-08-25 07:52:00
Middle East and North AfricaMuslims
QUOTE (Henia @ Aug 23 2008, 12:44 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Esalaams! Nice to see you Rahma!

From me, I would suggest all the new Muslims get really educated in their FIQH! A good book I would suggest is: Reliance of the Traveler :
http://www.amazon.co...k/dp/0915957728
http://www.nku.edu/~...m/Reliance.html


wa alaikum assalam,

I am interested to know why you would recommend this particular book.

1. It's shafi'i fiqh. In the haram thread, you were pretty harsh to Bridget for posting a link from sunnipath, saying that it was only hanafi and shafi'i fiqh. And speaking of harsh, if you thought what she and I posted there was harsh, it has nothing on this book. This book isn't shy about declaring the haram haram, including music.

2. The rulings in the book are much less explanatory than what one will find on sunnipath. Sometimes its just the ruling, and not much on the reasoning behind the ruling. Yes, there are reasons for the rulings, but they're in another (yet to be translated) volume.

3. The translator (who by the way teaches at sunnipath on occasion) strongly recommends that his students learn a school of law, and that they do that by getting a book of fiqh AND reading through it with a teacher. So while it's good to have the book, it's even better to study it with a teacher.


All that being said, I do own Reliance of the Traveller. But then again, I'm a shafi'i, so it would make sense that I have the most comprehensive shafi'i fiqh book in english.

Even if one is not shafi'i, the last few chapters and appendixes at the end of the book are a very good read in general.



In the end, when learning Islam, I look at it this way. How did the Prophet (saws) learn Islam? From a book? No, he had the Angel Jibreel (as). His companions were taught by him. The tabiyeen (second generation) were taught by the companions, and so on down the line through to today. Sacred knowledge was rarely passed down simply by means of a printed text. Even when there was a printed text, the teacher would take it, read it to the students, and explain it to them.
UmmSqueaksterFemaleEgypt2008-08-24 09:20:00
Middle East and North AfricaMuslims
Found a sunni source

http://attalib.blogs...t-of-allah.html

QUOTE
Allah ta'ala does refer to 'Isa (a.s.) as His spirit, or a spirit from Him (roohun minhu). Allah ta'ala says this in surah al-Nisaa', verse 171. Imam Qurtubi relates eight different responses in regards to what is meant by the word "ruh" or "spirit". Imam ibn al-Jawzi also mentioned seven responses. A few of these responses overlapped, including the first response of both scholars:

They relate that Ubayy ibn Ka'ab says that Allah created all the soul of the children of Adam when he took the oath from them (in the realm of the souls). Then he placed all of these souls into the backbone (sulb) of Adam except for the soul (ruh) of Isa (a.s.). Then when it was time for Allah ta'ala to create 'Isa (a.s.) he sent that soul to Maryam (a.s.). Thus, in that sense, he was a spirit from Allah (Allah's spirit).

Another opinion that both scholars mentioned is that Isa (a.s.) is referred to as "Ruh" because of the breath that Jibreel (a.s.) released to Maryam. And in Arabic, a breath (nafkhah) can be referred to as a "ruh". Imam Qurtubi adds that a breath (nafkhah) can be called "ruh" because a breath is wind (reeh) which comes from the soul (ruh). Thus a "breath" is a "ruh", and Isa (a.s.) was conceived through the breath of Jibreel (a.s.) onto Maryam (a.s.).

Another opinion mentioned by Ibn al-Jawzi is that since Isa (a.s.) used to bring the dead back to life by the permission of Allah he was referred to as "Ruh", because it is through the "ruh" that things come to life. This is also why the Qur'an is called "Ruh". Ibn al-Jawzi mentions this on the authority of Qadi Abu Ya'la.

These were a few of the opinions mentioned. We should also note that in the same verse Isa (a.s.) is also referred to as "Allah's Word" (kalimatuhu). This is because Isa was created from the word "kun" which means "Be". Ultimately, all of us were created through Allah's command. But since Isa was created without the medium of a father he was granted a special status as Allah's word. The same can be understood with the word Ruh. We are all souls from Allah but since Isa was created under miraculous circumstances he was referred to specifically as Allah's spirit, although we are all spirits from Allah.

That leads to the last opinion that I will mention which Imam Qurtubi mentioned in his tafsir that Isa (a.s.) was given this title out of honor and preference (tafdeel) for his status even though we are all spirits from Allah.

UmmSqueaksterFemaleEgypt2008-08-22 18:21:00
Middle East and North AfricaMuslims
Lord - Sayyidina - is a title frequently given to Prophets in sunni islam.

If I had to guess about the spirit aspect, I think it would be something from the shia. I haven't come across this in sunni literature (which doesn't mean it isn't necessarily out there, just that I've never read anything about it), but "Ruhollah" spirit of God, is a name in the shia tradition.
UmmSqueaksterFemaleEgypt2008-08-22 18:11:00
Middle East and North AfricaMuslims
QUOTE (Rajaa_Reda @ Aug 22 2008, 04:33 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I know Hemza Yusuf also offers courses from his Islamic school out of California via the web.... might be a good time for me to continue my always continuing education.


Sh. Hamza luv.gif Imam Zaid luv.gif Ustadh Yahya luv.gif Excellent courses. Excellent teachers. yes.gif Nothing beats learning from them in person (we had the pleasure of Imam Zaid visiting at the end of May and he may be back in January inshaAllah inshaAllah inshaAllah), but their distance learning is quite good.

QUOTE
Hello Rahma Iam Rajaa thanks for the links..totally get into these things


assalamu alaikum, nice to meet you.
UmmSqueaksterFemaleEgypt2008-08-22 16:35:00
Middle East and North AfricaMuslims
QUOTE (ME~n~HIM @ Aug 22 2008, 04:25 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (rahma @ Aug 22 2008, 03:50 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Although I'm sure it's been mentioned before, Sunnipath offers courses at a reduced price for converts. If you've converted in the last 3 years, you're elligible for a 75% discount on certain courses.

Understanding Islam - a 75% discount also available for non muslims

Mercy, Forgiveness and Salvation - special 3 week course during ramadan. I'm going to see if I have time to take it, and if I do and anyone else does, we can be study buddies smile.gif

I was looking at these 2 classes - however, it never seems to show the discount they say they'll give. My discount is showing a whopping $2 off - yep... you read that right TWO DOLLARS. Oh well, maybe I'll only take one, if that. sad.gif


Hmm, that must be a mistake for the first one. Give them a shout via email and see if they can rectify that.

The second one doesn't have a new muslim discount I don't think. I'm currently taking Ramadan and You with Ust. Zaynab Ansari who's teaching the Mercy course. She's awesome, mashaAllah.
UmmSqueaksterFemaleEgypt2008-08-22 16:29:00
Middle East and North AfricaMuslims
QUOTE (just_Jackie @ Aug 22 2008, 04:20 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
You got a shirt ? tongue.gif


Oh man, I don't have a picture of my FUNdamentalist tshirt in photobucket. But yes, I do have a shirt tongue.gif
UmmSqueaksterFemaleEgypt2008-08-22 16:24:00
Middle East and North AfricaMuslims
QUOTE (just_Jackie @ Aug 22 2008, 04:00 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
awwwwwww I love a good convert cry! smile.gif

Hi rahma! Good to see you here. Please don't stay away. Your knowledge and support are needed here.

Jackie



Hehe, I feel like a old battle hardened ax. Been there, done that, have the tshirt.
UmmSqueaksterFemaleEgypt2008-08-22 16:03:00
Middle East and North AfricaMuslims
QUOTE (ME~n~HIM @ Aug 22 2008, 03:55 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Rahma!!!!!!!!!!!!! {{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{HUGS}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}} You have been on my mind girlfriend! I think of you so often and just have really slacked about being in touch. Remember what a special Ramadan it was for me after that first Sunnipath class? You will always be part of that memory for me. luv.gif



Girl, I remember that day! I'm getting teary eyed just thinking about it. Dang, now everyone is going to look at me

crying.gif
UmmSqueaksterFemaleEgypt2008-08-22 15:56:00
Middle East and North AfricaMuslims
Although I'm sure it's been mentioned before, Sunnipath offers courses at a reduced price for converts. If you've converted in the last 3 years, you're elligible for a 75% discount on certain courses.

Courses at a reduced price include:

Introduction to Islamic Belief
Essentials of Islam Hanafi
Essentials of Islam Shafi’i
Essentials of Islam Maliki
Understanding Islam - a 75% discount also available for non muslims

Not all these courses are avaible this fall, but may be available in the Spring.


Other courses that may be of interest:

The Muslim Scholarly Tradition
Supplications of the Daily Prayer - a few VJers took this last ramadan and found it very beneficial. My favorite SP class thus far.
Mercy, Forgiveness and Salvation - special 3 week course during ramadan. I'm going to see if I have time to take it, and if I do and anyone else does, we can be study buddies smile.gif
UmmSqueaksterFemaleEgypt2008-08-22 15:50:00
Middle East and North AfricaMuslims
Congratulations to all the new converts. If anyone ever wants to chat with someone who's been there, done that, my email is always open.

I'm also compiling my best of the best resources for converts. Check it out and let me know what you think - http://rahma.hadithuna.com/converts/
UmmSqueaksterFemaleEgypt2008-08-22 14:07:00
Middle East and North AfricaMuslims
QUOTE (Leyla @ Apr 7 2009, 01:56 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
What I meant by this:

QUOTE
Islam is not just for Arabs. It's for everyone and anyone.


is.... I am a blonde haired blue eyed light skinned Muslim. Not a lot of people associate my look with Islam. As a blonde haired blue eyed light skinned Muslim I have shown many people that Islam is a religion for everyone and no one will be excluded (especially in America). It's like I'm an "undercover Muslim" and I'm proud to be able to help people come to Islam (Alhamdulillah).


Can't a blong haired blue eyed light skinned muslim who wears hijab do that as well? Most everyone who meets me knows I'm an american, from Wisconsin (thanks to my large wardrobe of UW Madison apperal), who likes to run, who loves her kitty to death, who also happens to be muslim and wear hijab. I guess I don't see what your statement has to do with the previous part of your posts about hijab.

QUOTE
I also feel that God still loves me even without a scarf on my head. I think that what matters the most is what is inside your heart. God knows. I think that in the end, God would be more concerned about my prayer, and my deeds toward other human beings. I also feel like if God would damn me to hell for not wearing a scarf, he is not the God I've read about and loved so deeply.


Ibn Qayyim al Jawziyyah (ra) wrote that the heart is like a bird flying towards Allah (swt), who's head is love and who's two wings are hope and fear. When we're dealing with Allah (swt), it should be with love, hope and fear. Too much of one and not enough of the other and the bird won't be able to fly properly.

Islam is also a balance. It is our outward actions and our inward state. Concentrating on one aspect and neglecting the other leads us to stray from the middle of the path. I think most often today, muslims tend to stray towards the outward actions and neglect the inward, but it is possible neglect the outward for the sake if the inner. We don't know which of our actions and deeds Allah (swt) will accept from us on the day of judgment, so we should be careful not to neglect anything, lest that be what He will look at.

I think one of the things we often forget is that Allah (swt) doesn't need a reason to damn us to hellfire. It is only through His mercy that we enter into it. There is a hadith I think about often about a man who only worshiped Allah (swt) for 500 years. The man asked that he be entered into paradise according to his good deeds. 500 years of worship must be worth something right? When the man's worship was compared to the blessings Allah (swt) had given him, they did not match up to something as small as the gift of eye sight, and were not enough to get him into paradise. If continuous worship of Allah (swt) is not enough to get us into paradise, how paltry are my few good deeds that I have to offer?


QUOTE
My heart lies in the hands of God. No one else has a say in my fate.


True, even the Prophet (saws) didn't know where he would end up, and we could see he had a healthy dose of fear when dealing with Allah (swt).

Edited by UmmSqueakster, 10 April 2009 - 10:35 AM.

UmmSqueaksterFemaleEgypt2009-04-10 10:35:00
Middle East and North AfricaMuslims
QUOTE (chemaatah @ Apr 7 2009, 11:20 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
where did she say anything about wearing a khimar=trying to become an arab?


Since she was posting about hijab, I figured that was what she meant. Eh, sometimes I make the wrong connection.

QUOTE
as well, i don't think anyone's disputing the religious obligations of a muslim like prayer, or hajj, or obeying and following the prophet. i don't think she was saying that those things are not incumbent upon every believer. but a human being is not a pre-programmed robot either. they still possess the free will to choose whether or not they will do what God has ordered them to do. and then they would certainly have to deal with the consequences of that choice, which could get really, really ugly.

that's the freedom and choice i thought she was referring to anyways, not saying pick and choose here and there which tenets and obligations of islam you want to believe and follow.


Freedom and choice to me implies that the choices you're making are equally valid. In Islam, you don't really have a choice as to whether or not we do something. We should, but if we don't, it's not really a choice within the religion, it's a choice that goes against the religion.

It all makes perfect sense in my head, but I guess I'm not coming out clear in typing, lol.
UmmSqueaksterFemaleEgypt2009-04-10 10:16:00
Middle East and North AfricaMuslims
I'm sure everyone can find the evidence for hijab/khimar if they so chose, so I won't go into that here.

I do need to address this however:

QUOTE
As a "Non-hijabi" I show them that Islam is not about clothing or being forced to do something. It is above all worshiping and believing in the ONE GOD. It is also about freedom and choice and Islam is not just for Arabs. It's for everyone and anyone.


Islam is literally submission to God. We submit our nafs to Him. And that does mean we are obligated to do certain things. Once we freely choose to submit to Allah (swt) and make shahada, things become incumant upon us. We don't have freedom or choice when it comes to whether or not to make salat. We don't have freedom or choice when it comes to paying zakat. We don't have freedom or choice when it comes to making hajj. We don't have freedom or choice when it comes to following and loving the messenger of Allah (swt). We don't have freedom or choice as to whether or not we follow specific injunctions given in the Qur'an. And if something is clear in the hadith, we don't have a choice as to whether or not we follow that (at least if we're within the confines of alh al sunnah wa jamaah).


And yes, islam is for everyone, but just because someone choses to wear khimar does not mean they're trying to become an arab.

Dr. Umar Faruq Abdullah wrote an interesting paper on Islam and the Cultural Imperative, which discusses the role and incorporation of different cultures as islam expanded.

Edited by UmmSqueakster, 07 April 2009 - 07:52 AM.

UmmSqueaksterFemaleEgypt2009-04-07 07:51:00
Middle East and North AfricaMuslims
Assalamu Alaikum,

*hugs for bridget* I think every convert, even those who take it slow, reach a point where they're just feeling like "what the heck, I can't do this anymore." Have I recommended the book Believing as Ourselves to you before? It's by a convert who is struggling with aspects of practice and the community, while still believing fully in the religion. It's like, hey, I'm not the only one who feels this way smile.gif

Try to shake things up a bit. Get a chic haircut so you feel pretty at home. Then go out and buy a ton of fabulous scarves so you look stunning when you go out wink.gif Try something different in your devotional life too. Take a new class, listen to some quran every day, something different from what you're doing now. I'd highly recommend the class Imam Suhaib is teaching. I think it will really be about reconnecting with Allah (swt) and building a stronger relationship with Him as the weeks go by. There's also an assignment at the end of each class that force us to actually engage with the lesson, rather then just listen passively.




For those who missed the class, there's a recording of the lesson here, of the q&a here and his notes here. There are 2 copies of the text that are available for purchase - Imam Zaid's translation and commentary, and another that can be purchased from One Legacy Media, although that website is down at present.
UmmSqueaksterFemaleEgypt2009-04-06 07:56:00
Middle East and North AfricaMuslims
Looks like a lot of people didn't get the email. You can complete registration on the blog now:

http://www.suhaibweb...e-an-email-yet/
UmmSqueaksterFemaleEgypt2009-04-04 08:31:00
Middle East and North AfricaMuslims
QUOTE (Barza Woman @ Apr 3 2009, 07:06 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (Zubair Khan @ Apr 3 2009, 06:50 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (Barza Woman @ Apr 3 2009, 06:12 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Thanks, sis. I'm curious in general as to what converts are learning because I see so much mythology about Islam from converts. I've decided I need to make like a convert as much as possible and see what they're being exposed to.

While converts will benefit greatly from this class, this class isn't designed specially for converts. As the blurb on suhaibwebb.com suggests, this class will be on self purification (becoming a better person) by learning how to apply universal principles of Islam into your life.


It will be interesting to see what constitutes universal principles of Islam for this class.


Well he's a maliki who's studying at al azhar who quotes from both ibn Taymiyyah and al Ghazali, Qaradawi and Tariq Ramadan, so I'd say pretty middle of the road.

Edited by UmmSqueakster, 04 April 2009 - 07:20 AM.

UmmSqueaksterFemaleEgypt2009-04-04 07:19:00
Middle East and North AfricaMuslims
While Imam Suhaib is himself a convert, his target audience are north american muslims in general, especially younger teens and twenty somethings.
UmmSqueaksterFemaleEgypt2009-04-03 18:08:00
Middle East and North AfricaMuslims
kicking.gif I got my webinar invite in my email kicking.gif
UmmSqueaksterFemaleEgypt2009-04-03 16:09:00
Middle East and North AfricaMuslims
Awesome ya'll. Let's meet up on yahoo afterwards to chat. I'm rahhmaa star_smile.gif
UmmSqueaksterFemaleEgypt2009-04-03 12:57:00
Middle East and North AfricaMuslims
If you haven't done so already, don't forget to sign up for the FREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE online course Imam Suhaib Webb is teaching starting this Saturday. I've read the book he's teaching from and mashaAllah it's life changing. Seriously seriously awesome.



UmmSqueaksterFemaleEgypt2009-04-02 10:38:00
Middle East and North AfricaMuslims
islam structured? Wherever did you get that idea whistling.gif innocent.gif



So, um yeah, converts, get thee to Imam Suhaib's blog and post questions for the book!
UmmSqueaksterFemaleEgypt2009-03-24 16:30:00
Middle East and North AfricaMuslims
I wish we had something like RCIA classes available across the board. Some masjids have new muslim classes, but it's really hit or miss. And, if you live in an area without a lot of muslims, you're usually up a creek without a paddle.

If this project actually comes to fruition, it will be great. Packaged with Submission, Faith & Beauty, a Muhammad Asad translation of the Qur'an and a good biography of the Prophet (saws), it would be the perfect newbie muslim gift.
UmmSqueaksterFemaleEgypt2009-03-24 15:52:00
Middle East and North AfricaMuslims
Assalamu Alaikum,

Something that might be exciting/helpful for the converts here:

QUOTE
Asalamu alaykum,

Converting is no easy issue. After the takibirs, hugs, gifts and love, one still has to go home to a large non-Muslim family base. 100 lb. dogs, homies smoking blunts, holidays, clubs, x lovers, old friends, expectations of other Muslims, marriage, financial issues and a host of issues tower over the new convert.

My idea is simple, wont take much of your time and, inshallah, if we’re sincere, can help serve our communities. What I need is your questions. My plan is to collect your questions, sit with 3-4, still unknown convert scholars fresh form overseas, research, answer and write a book providing answers that, inshallah, will support, build and encourage the new convert.



Answers will be cross checked by other towering scholars in the Muslim world, published and, inshallah, serve you. This is the first in a series of books which we plan to write that will offer functionality to our communities.

Future titles include: single parent mothers/fathers, sexuality, mothers, fathers, family,teens, high school, college, young professionals, retires [baby boomer Muslims], the arts, drugs and civic duty. Imagine a collection of fatwa written by local qualified muftis covering these topics!

Now the dice are in your hand. So start asking!

If one feels his/her questions are too personal, or too long to post on line, please email me here suhaibdwebb@gmail.com. All names will be changed for publication in order to insure privacy.

Suhaib




UmmSqueaksterFemaleEgypt2009-03-24 07:46:00
Middle East and North AfricaMuslims
Sorry, don't have time to follow the recent postings, just saw this and had to post it before I forgot:

Ah, the answer to no nail polish!

http://www.hennaking.com/nailstain.htm

Haven't ever tried it, but it's something to look into.
UmmSqueaksterFemaleEgypt2009-03-10 15:20:00
Middle East and North AfricaMuslims
QUOTE (Ahmed N Tina @ Mar 9 2009, 08:05 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
good.gif Counldn't have said it better myself. The trinity and man deciding the divination of Jesus (council of Nicea) are the two big problems for me in Christianity (and that there are 2400 types that don't agree). I've had the trinity described to me as a family (Mamma, Pappa, Brother) with one purpose and that of an egg (yolk, white and shell), three parts in one item. No matter how you slice it, there are 3, not 1. The OT states one God, but the NT states 3 parts, so if you take the bible as truth, you must take both OT and NT, not just one or the other.


In college, back in the day before I converted, I did some interfaith dialogue with muslims on campus. One of the muslims asked a question about the trinity, and I proceeded to explain it as an egg. A theology student quickly stepped in and shut me down - an egg isn't an apt analogy, because the Father is the whole, Jesus (as) is the whole and the Holy Spirit is the whole, not a part of the whole.

It isn't monotheism to muslims, because Allah's (swt) personage is ahad, absolute singularity to the nth degree. But it is a type of monotheism, but in that is the mystery of 3 persons in one essense.
UmmSqueaksterFemaleEgypt2009-03-09 12:43:00