From a bathing suit to hijaab
From a bathing suit to hijaab
Somayyah was educated in a convent and as a teenager worked as a model and in cocktail lounges. Growing up in Ireland and Britain, she tried drugs and liquor and supported alcoholic and sometimes abusive parents.
Years later the 25-year old Irish woman moved to the Gulf Arab Emirate of Dubai where, through books loaned by friends, she learned about Islam.
“I would go to the beach in my bathing suit and listen to Quran on my walkman,” she said.
“One day I was going to the beach in a taxi driven by a Pakistani who had Quran on the radio. I got there and put one foot on the ground to get out.
“Then I looked at the taxi driver and said: ‘No, take me back home.’ I couldn’t go to the beach and take my clothes off.”
Now Somayyah, a school teacher who adopted the name of Islam’s first female martyr, will not leave her flat without covering herself from head to toe in Hijaab. Since she reverted her family has refused to see her.
In interviews, some said they reverted because they were disillusioned by changes in their own religious traditions.
Others said they were influenced by husbands or relatives or that they liked the sense of community.
“I had seen so many changes in the church that unsettled me,” said Kathy Grigg, an American in her mid-thirties whose family supported her reversion to Islam.
“Latin was dropped from the mass, women were not only no longer required to cover their heads in church but were permitted to wear pantsuits. Abstinence from eating meat on Fridays was dropped.”
“There was no more reverence. But to me, seeing a Muslim pray, to bow down on the ground…”
Dr. Bilal Philips, 49, a Canadian who had worked for the Saudi air force religious affairs department in Riyadh and who was well-known as a TV religious presenter, said he belonged to the communist movement in Canada and the United States.
“I became fed up. Basically I was searching for something meaningful,” he said of his reversion 24 years ago.
Some US military personnel were exposed to Islam when they served in the Gulf war.
Philips manned an Islamic information center in a tent at an air force base in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia. In the six months after the Gulf war 3,000 Westerners reverts at the center, 98 percent of them women, or US servicemen he said.
They gave up alcohol but wearing Muslim attire and praying five times a day clashed with military duties.
“You got out of uniform as quickly as you could and put Hijaab back on,” said one revert, Asma Markusson, a former US army reservist who grew up in Illinois wanting to be a nun.
As for prayers “I had to catch my prayers when I could.”
An organization called Muslim members of the military has now been set up in Washington to tackle such issues as prayer timings and wearing the Hijaab.
Markusson said that when she arrived in Saudi Arabia in 1990 she had “strange ideas” about Muslims.
“There was this chop-chop business,” she said, referring to amputations as Islamic punishment for crimes.
“And then what about all this harem stuff?” She now lives in Bahrain, one of two wives of a Saudi man.
Markusson gave up figure skating after she reverted. Others stopped wearing cosmetics and bathing suits.
Jumana Sharpe, British woman who is the second wife of a UAE national, lost her business.
“Putting on Hijaab has been difficult for me. I had my own beauty salon and it did cause a stir with my mostly Western clients,” she said.
Westerners who reverted say the hardest part is not the change in lifestyle but alienation from family and friends or discrimination when they return home wearing hijaab.
Some women say they have had objects thrown at them. Jan Lifke said her passport was held at a US airport because officials couldn’t believe she was an American!!
“My mother told me I was going to hell when I told her I reverted,” Markusson said.
Apology, no proof reading..:))
Salam
"Love is not a mere sentiment. It is the ultimate truth that lies at the heart of creation."
Rabindranath Tagore
Your message is very meaningful.
Salam
"Love is not a mere sentiment. It is the ultimate truth that lies at the heart of creation."
Rabindranath Tagore
To those who said they want to learn.
I am very glad to see that.
But I want to simply give ONE warning.
Different people have different methods of understanding and teaching.
So make sure that you choose someone who is wise and understanding to teach you.
I would hate for someone to be taught my someone who is very extreme.
Having said that, being covered from head to toe is not something that is majboor (forced).
My logic is, religion is here to guide you. It's not here to control you.
So take the good that you can learn from your religion and put it to good use.
I'm not a strict Muslim myself, however I always respect people of all faiths and all levels (except for fanatics and cults of course :P)
@Happy Happy, you are excellent and I support you 100%
__________________________
I Love Qatar - http://www.iloveqatar.net
On QL site there are different groups, among these is a relatively new group by the name "Muslim Expatriate Association". (MEA)
Tune in to there news and interact with them, probably some can you guide you. Last message was on Ecology on Islam. I find it very enchanting. (we, members of MEA, also arrange outings for sports, dinners and more..which reminds me I should nag them for bowling this Friday..))
Generally speaking, I must caution you, it is very hard to find reliable sources to acquire knowledge about Islam. Many interpretations, articles and opinions, I personally come across, are subjective and to add fuel to fire, not accurate!
I am a Muslim by birth, yet I do reject a good portion of the so- called Islamic books made for public. I argue, refuse to accept and take things for granted and a troublemaker in general..:)).
Seriously, I just use my brain as ordained by Allah. I read the verse over and over again, search for explanations, and ask my humble self, why? Where? When? Who?
I would advise you to read books written by converts (they are true believers because they struggled to find the truth).
"Muslim Expatriate Association” has a few recommended books on their site.
Ok, that’s my take on it.
Salam
"Love is not a mere sentiment. It is the ultimate truth that lies at the heart of creation."
Rabindranath Tagore
not at you, of course..was just sitting here thinking that if everyone thought like me we'd be in a world of hurt!!! I can get WAY off track sometimes...lol My sons tell me they have no idea where a certain conversation started because I go off on so many tangents...sorry..just did it again..
Thank you for understanding..one of the problems with the printed words in forums is that things can get so easily misunderstood when you can't hear the tonal inflections of the words or the facial expressions. Sometimes you can't even get your point across like you meant to...that happens a LOT..unfortunately. I bet that if we could get the people to talk to each other instead of the leaders, the world would be a peaceful place to live. Kind of unrealistic way of thinking but sure would be nice...
Scartlett i agree with you, we sould discuss things in an open manner and it does go both ways. Theres good and bad in every religion but ur right i guess you cant change peoples opinions or views abut you, pity not everyone thinks like you, the world will be a better a place..
Even back home in the States...we end up with the radical FEW running things because they are more vocal and "in your face" kind of people. The media takes it a runs, making it seem like everyone thinks that way. Funny thing is...most don't.
I think that's why its so ironic that countries and religions misunderstand each other because what they have heard from publications and tv, misleads them. I have friends back home that think ALL muslims are bad...and I just about turn blue in the face telling them otherwise, but to no avail. I finally just give up because its like hitting your head against a wall..eventually you quit when you realize you've caused yourself a headache...
Its not a certain religion issue..it goes in all directions and there are those in every country that you cannot change because they don't WANT to listen. So sad...because there are good people in every country and every religion. You just have to be open to receive them.
I am very impressed with your message. Just adding one issue about bad people hiding under the umbrella of “Religion”, good people show their faith in action. Bad people cause and trigger a lot of fuss.
Newspapers write about the bad guys in the FRONT PAGE. Media blows them out proportion, in a very catchy way. While a person who built a hospital as charity is written in small font somewhere on the FOURTH PAGE!
At a certain point one comes to think and ask “aren’t there good people out there? ”My answer is always one and the same” Pearls (good people) lay on the see floor, you have to dive to find them, yet dirt (bad people ) always floats on the surface. That sometimes blinds us from seeing that the good is still well established.
The propaganda is always around the bad barely around the good. Because good is the normal, bad is the abnormal.
"Love is not a mere sentiment. It is the ultimate truth that lies at the heart of creation."
Rabindranath Tagore
the clothing, hajib, thob (and yes, I have NO idea how to spell certain words yet, so sorry!) are very distinguished looking. Its actually very nice to see people wearing them. I mentioned that to my husband one day in City Center...
If it were part of my religion to wear a certain way of clothing, I'd do it also. The point about the breasts being part of history was just a point in case...just like other people on here..The world has a very rich history and everyone should look at it with open eyes.
The point you made about people being there being a lot of hostility towards the muslim faith..that goes both ways...in fact, certain posts are removed due to not being able to discuss certain aspects of Christianity here in the Middle East..but then again..this is their country and they have that right to do so.
I have no problem with Muslims, I have no problems with the clothing, but I do have an issue when someone tells me that I am less than they are because I believe differently..and I'm sure you have seen those on here that do that (not talking about anyone here in this thread...yet...lol)and yes, it goes in both directions on that one...I just have a really big problem understanding those that do that. I wasn't raised that way and I'm sure most people aren't.
Anyway...to each his/her own and we should all respect each other and their religions. Certainly would be a much better world if we could all do that.
doesn't matter as long as what is done, that needs to be done.
There are just some that choose to nitpick on religious issues(the I'm right and you are wrong issue) and I for one, think it is wrong to do so. Its like the saying..We are all God's children and how could a father love one child more than another one of his children?
I wasn't condeming you for not knowing about the different types of Christians..its a VERY complex history...just pointing out that none of us knows all the ins and outs of each others' religions and in so doing, have no right to point a finger and say "you are wrong for what you believe because....(whatever). Sorry if I said it in the wrong context and upset you.
I have a LOT of Muslim friends and like you, love them...for who they are.
I think the best way for someone to share his/her religion is to lead by example...and that is what MOST muslims and christians do. Its only the radical few that give religions a bad name. Unfortunately those are the most vocal, and so are the most visible.
Scartlett, I dont really care whether breasts were bared histoically or recently, but to be honest there seems to be so much hostility towards muslim faith and dresscode,in another thread a member kept referring to it as a tent.I mean seriously how insulting for all the women who wear this in Qatar. Sure you dont have to believe or like any part of Islam or dresscode, but(and i dont mean you scartlett),you can openly discuss this and refute it, i think its healthy,we all dont agree on the same issues but i think its downright offensive when members make fun of other peoples dresscode or call the many thousands of muslims on Ql or in Qatar because they follow a religion, brainless etc.
I mean respect this forum were many muslims use and respect the country that is hosting you, you dont have to like it,u can surely voice it but do it in a diplomatic manner.
I never cared to ask whether they are Catholic or of any other sect. I just love them they way they are. They love me too..:))
We are born to speak countless numbers of languages. Only one language prevails ( not English,...lol), no, the heart language is the universal Code. “Heart of something) means essence, and the essence of this universe revolves about “you and I are the same”
When one is visiting a country for the first time, they speak different language, follow different traditions than yours. You are an alien there but had to be there. You're walking down the street there, you see a kid/person, very close to where you are standing, tripping or stumbling on the stairs, what you do???
You reach out in, with a speed of light, to support or prevent them from falling. This is called reflex...this reflex is the best example or inherent spontaneous human to human love). The ESSENSE in all of us.
That is all that matter to me as a human. Why then stress on anything else, like how I helped this tripping person or how fast I was to reach out to them!! we will get into technicalities and fights leading to hatred. The important thing that you helped (which is a good deed)! Why challenge it by commenting “well, I would have done it better that you?” A good deed is a good deed!
Don't see any complexity!
"Be the Living Expression of God's Kindness"
Mother Teresa
only certain sects do...Catholics, for one. Most believe in talking directly to God and asking forgiveness, or thankfullness......(I do apologize to the Catholics for a generalization as I am not well versed in their particular religion)
Its like anything else, and the booth comment is an excellent example, happy happy..none of us know enough about the others' religions to point fingers and criticize...so why can't we all just accept each other and be at peace? We are all equal AND blessed.
If you and I are peaceful, non-harmful and respectful, why in the world should anyone care how each of us achieved that? What matters is the outcome not how you got there.
Stressing on our differences is not the right path. Why don’t we look at where the path is leading in the end? There are tons of junctures, main roads and shortcuts, but we can manage to get there and meet at Costa Doha…)) coming by plane, train, camel, what ever road you’ve chose, we will eventually meet.
Many may not like this paragraph. But I have seen tribes/groups/people worshiping fire, rats, cows and less. Is anyone entitled to look down at them? No Holy Book or philosophy teaches stepping on others.
As strange and unacceptable it is to me, as a Muslim, to worship fire (as an example), I tried to understand their logic. I was told they worship fire because it is a symbol of purity and cleanness. It burns up all impurities. A philosophy I very much loved.
Christians confess in the booth. Do I like that as a Muslim, no. But learning that this is a way one uses to clean themselves and seek repentance, makes me joyful of the ritual. Then let it be!
All creatures on earth get hungry and thirsty? All of us need shelter. We all want peace. All seek recognition. We all have the same basic needs. Why is it so difficult to accept someone who found their solace and strength is some belief, as long as they are not trespassing/ killing/ resenting/harming…others?
The bottom line is to find the peace within yourself and HARM NO ONE. Treat all on equal footing. At least God/Allah does. That is exactly why I love Him, not because I was born Muslim, but because He makes me feel human, while my fellow humans are stepping on one another in this jungle.
Focus on the outcome (peace and tranquility) not how it was attained! Unless of course one killed all his people to guarantee dead silence and ultimate (bloody) peace!! .No harm is the concept, don’t go astray..:)
"Be the Living Expression of God's Kindness"
Mother Teresa
personal, so don't anyone go jumping on my case...
What I've found is that when someone isn't raised in a firm belief(ANY kind) they feel a sense of being lost at sometime in their life. They are a prime fodder for any religion or group that offers them a sense of belonging, whether it be Christianty, cults, Islam, whatever.
We can all find faults with every single religion..some even within our own denomination, that we don't like. I don't think any religion is "right" or "wrong", mine included. People will believe as they want and no one has the right to tell others that they are lower than them just because they believe differently.
As far as showing of the breasts and other body parts..that's been going on for eons!!..its not a recent thing. The Estruscans had women in dresses that bared the breasts in public and it was accepted as normal. Its up to the individuals to decide what is right for them and not have others force their opinions upon them. Now that being said..if I am in a country, such as Doha..and are out in, say the mall, I would dress so as not to offend the persons of that region. I will however, wear what I choose when in a different environment, such as a hotel where there are more international people and its accepted.
are you serious lady? Who are you to judge my intelligence, my judgment or my debating ability. Just because to your understanding people should be categorised according to their position towards the question of the existence of God. (Which itself is so widely disputed anyway). I don't think there is ground to further discussion with people who consider themselves the privileged children of God and consider the ones who follow other religions (not from the book ,sic) and non believers as second (lower) category people.
I am sure that if the God you believe in really exists, will punish you for categorising and thus discriminating his creations!
May the roof above us never fall in, and may the friends below never fall out!
Check your dictonary.
An atheist believes there is no god and an agnostic believes that nothing can be known about the existence of God or of anything except material things. How can you want to put them in the same category as religion. They are against it! And I am not discriminating. Dont write things just for the sake of writing. Use your intelligence and then speak or debate. Isn't this what these treads are all about?
Aisha-Taweela
I agree with you. Just one thing. In order for your position to be complete to my eyes, you should include the other religions as well as atheists and agnostics. Otherwise you are discriminating.
May the roof above us never fall in, and may the friends below never fall out!
I am happy to see these last comment, cos we finally get somewhere. Do you remember another thread, "Justice" I explained there that there are "3 religions of the book" Jews, Christians & muslims. If we are from either religion and practice the way we are supposed to practice, the world would be a better place. Cos all 3 religions are basically ONE. We all believe in God. And as long as we do that, really believe and do our best to fulfill the word, i.e. Torah, Bible (new testament), Quran. And, yes the leaflets are a no no. These are made by misguided people. The same as the suicide bombers are misguided. But thank God, they do not have the same effect.
If we all work on our religion & believes, maybe all of us can do their share of making this world a better place to live. Isn't that what we are all looking for? I definately am.
Aisha-Taweela
PM said "the most ineffective way to practice dawah (call others to Islam) is by example and not criticizing or putting down others for their choices".
Jauntie said "Muslims like yourself (and Aisha and loads of others here and in UK who I know) make me feel very comfortable with Islam working alongside other religions towards a better life both here and hereafter for us all."
I could have never said it better than that. A Muslim and a Christian are showing the way here. This is the way people should behave when it comes to other peoples' beliefs. Cheap leaflet propaganda (because I consider it to be so) like the original post here, makes me skeptical whether Islam is tolerable enough and not dominating. Trying to proselytise with such means on a forum like this one, (with the vast majority of members being people who learned to use the content of their head quite well) won't work!
May the roof above us never fall in, and may the friends below never fall out!
Where I live in England has a very large Muslim community we all rub along very well (thank you very much) and where I worked locally (on a very busy reception desk) I had the opportunity to chat and meet with lots of not only Muslims, but Sikhs and Hindu and Italians!!! hee hee (I worked for Italians). But you know what I mean - a mixture came through my reception area daily.
Now, what I DIDN'T come across was the type of 'rant' that I see on this forum, so I've not been exposed to it so directly before. Of course, if I wasn't living in the ME right now then I wouldn't be on this forum anyway.
The point I'm trying to make is that I agree with your last post and in particular "the most ineffective way to practice dawah (call others to Islam) is by example and not criticizing or putting down others for their choices".
I pick this out specifically because I have found myself becoming increasingly drawn (pushed) back to my Catholic roots in a way which I can only describe as a sort of defense mechanism!! Now it has been many years before I gave my Christianity much thought, so this feeling is rather weird! but will probably go dormant again soon. :D
So, like my Aesop's Fable about the wind and the sun, I am being pushed AWAY from Islam, rather than drawn. Repulsed, in actual fact.
I find that really sad, because Muslims like yourself (and Aisha and loads of others here and in UK who I know) make me feel very comfortable with Islam working alongside other religions towards a better life both here and hereafter for us all.
Gypsy...Gypsy religion doesnt expect anyone to listen to them, people listen and follow their religion by choice..you are either a muslim or your not...and if your not thats your choice as it is theirs. Just because you think its domineering muslims dont, otherwise they wouldnt follow the dresscode. Dont assume people are being controlled or "dont have a brain" because they follow their religious requirements.
And who says people dont question things and follow blindly, most converts read up about other religions and philosiphies before they decide on one, whatever that may be.
So what is your suggestion (since these manmade beleifs made up 1600 years ago)What should we follow, newly man made beliefs where the dress code today is to show your boobs and stomach and anything else. Dress however you like no one really care but respect other people choices without trying to make them feel they r brainless or being controlled because i can assure you for the muslims who are really practcising islam, they do it happily.
If you weren't looking for a crutch Aisha then fine, but I think that it is obvious from the stories Truth posted that these women were. As for discipline, I believe it does work for children, but we aren't children anymore, we're old enough to question whether these laws and rules made up by someone 1600 years ago are right or wrong or simply obsolete. What's the point of a brain if you don;t use it to think and question and just follow everything blindly? \
Nadt, sure I might be domineering, but the last time I checked I wasn't a religion and didn;t expect people to listen to me.
"I fight with love and I laugh with rage, you have to live light enough to see the humor and long enough to see some change." Ani Difranco
I just saw you are from The Nederlands!
It was King William of Orange (King Billy) who gave his name to the Orange Order of the Protestants 'The Orangemen' I think he was from Holland wasn't he?
I really MUST go and read up my history books ;o)
Well I'm glad we are agreed - I exhausted myself typing all that because I rarely get all wound up enough to vent my thoughts lol!
By the way ... just for the record ... The Irish Problem WAS a Catholic -v- Protestant situation. The English did, indeed, invade Ireland but there were already Protestants and Catholics there. The English were called into Ireland by the Protestants who lived there.
What happened was that Catholics had their land (if they owned any) taken from them and as such weren't allowed to vote in any elections and couldn't alter the 'regime'. So that it DID become political.
Don't quote me chapter and verse on this lol. I would have to go back and check my facts, but I think that is basically the history.
My mother's side of the family are Irish - I was brought up with Rebel songs and tales of the English 'Black & Tans' (Victorian days) murdering the Catholics and sharing the land out to the Protestants etc.
I totally agree with you in what you write above. And every other Muslim will agree with you too.
You mention the Irish problem. Was that really Catholic against Protestant? No. It was Ireland against GB. Had nothing to do with religion. It had to do with nationality. But it was easier to say, that it was the Catholics against the protestants cos the Irish were Catholic and the English were protestant! It all has to do with politics! And it has to do with fanatics. Fanatism is wrong. No matter what color or religion you are. Unfortunately many, specially young kids, are being taught by fanatics who are usually strong people and then, because they are young and gullible, follow them. This has been happening throughout history. Hitler was one fanatic, and see how the people followed him. But he was an evil person. Like most fanatics.
To harm women, children and cilvians is WRONG. Islam does not teach this. It condones it. But unfortunately it happens. The same as it happened in Ireland, the same as it happens all over the world. That is why we should become more united and fight this evil together rather than waist our time quabbling about minor issues. Keep our energy so that we can battle the evil together. That is what Islam teaches us! That is what common sense teaches us! So lets use common sense. Please.
Aisha-Taweela
In the old days all religions also used to have rituals to keep them on their toes. But unfortunately they have been abandoned. Why? To keep up with "modern" times. Tell me, do you really think that this "modern" time without rules and regulations. Do you think this is a good example for our children? Do you really think a person is happier doing everything they want, whenever they want it?
There have always been bullies and kids which go off the rails no matter what. We are more aware of it in modern times because of the mass media.
What is happening now, in the diverse factions of the Muslim world cannot be compared to individuals committing crimes because they have no control. The atrocities of mass murder we are seeing ARE controlled!
None of this do I consider to be anything remotely connected with a kind and loving God/Allah - it's a power struggle.
Be whatever religion you wish to be, but DO NOT tell me that Islam is the answer to our universal happiness, because I just can't go with that at present.
So children grow up without borders, without discipline and become bullies at school, drop-out, deliquents, thiefs end up on drugs, in prison, etc. This is what happens when there is no discipline, no borders. Every body seems to be free in what they do, when they want & how they want. And it reflects on society. Every day you read in newspapers that kids the age of 10/11/12 kill their schoolmates, kill others.
There is nothing at all wrong with bringing up children to have respect for themselves and others nor the rituals which go along with many religions, it's just that some of those dedicated and faithful followers aren't like that. They are suicide bombers!
Where were the parents of those children who grew up to behave THAT way? Where was THEIR discipline and borders for right and wrong.
In UK we had sectarian killings with the Irish Problems (which thank God seems to be settled now) and other countries have their terrorists, but this suicide stuff is madness!
Over 500 killed in Iraq only a couple of days ago and for why? Because a Kurdish girl married a Muslim, the poor kid was stoned by her own people for this!!!! But the retaliation was HORRENDOUS!! and had absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with the US - it was pure, calculated evil. In the name of Allah??? I think not.
when a child grows up it has to learn discipline. It has to learn not to bite, not to throw things, not to steal, not to swear, the list is long. This is called discipline. Unfortunately nowadays a lot of children are being not taught a lot. Parents are busy with their lives, working and besides that it is easier to let go. So children grow up without borders, without discipline and become bullies at school, drop-out, deliquents, thiefs end up on drugs, in prison, etc. This is what happens when there is no discipline, no borders. Every body seems to be free in what they do, when they want & how they want. And it reflects on society. Every day you read in newspapers that kids the age of 10/11/12 kill their schoolmates, kill others. And for what ? A phone, something that was said to them they did not like? The reason, or non reason, seems, to me, mind gobbling. Do you want your children to grow up like that? I don't. So as a parent you give them rules, borders, discipline. Yoy teach them from when they are samll. So that they know the wrong from the right. That they know what they "should" do in, and with, their life. Is that, in your mind, wrong. Do you disgree with that approach?
If you are a normal being, you say, ofcourse not.
Well, that is what the living style, rules and regulations in islam are all about. Teach you discipline. Teach you to be modest. It teaches you a lot of things.Do you think it is easy to get out of your bed in the middle of the night to pray. Don't you think I would rather turn around and stay in my nice comfy bed? But, I do it. Why? Cos I respect God. I respect "him" for every thing he has given me. The good and the bad. The good makes me happy. The bad teaches me a lesson and keeps me on my toes.
That is why we are or became muslims.
In the old days all religions also used to have rituals to keep them on their toes. But unfortunately they have been abandoned. Why? To keep up with "modern" times. Tell me, do you really think that this "modern" time without rules and regulations. Do you think this is a good example for our children? Do you really think a person is happier doing everything they want, whenever they want it? No. You just have to look at a program of Dr. Phil and you will realize the answer. So, if it is good to have rules and regulations in life, then why is it bad when we have them in Islam?
Aisha-Taweela
Finally I consider any religion that comes with a dress code to be domineering.
Im surprised for someone against dominance. that is all you seem to be displaying in this and every other post. How insulting for these poor people who were discussing a topic..other people disagreed with the post but at least they were polite about it.
Imagine if someone entered a topic about womens rights and spoke to u in that manner, im sure you wouldnt appreciate it. Respect begets respect..
“Which lines made you feel that these women suffer low self-esteem ?”(note the present tense)suffer ..not suffered.
“Also what kind of parents would alienate their children for dressing modestly or converting, obviously these were very dissapproving parents and a very unhealthy family.”
In many of the revert accounts I’ve come across family alienation/non-acceptance has been common and is a hard part of being a revert.
“Finally I consider any religion that comes with a dress code to be domineering”
Not only is there advice on appropriate dress but guidelines to social,political,spiritual,business conduct! Etiquettes for eating , sleeping, talking …..it is a life code!
It is a religion .It will have rules! Things that are permissible and things that aren’t. It wouldn’t make for a complete faith were it just to cover some aspects of life and ignore the rest. Definitely with-in these boundaries there is a lot of room for every person to express their individuality too.
Massalama.
Every single word, space, punctuation and even what you have not said!
Very objective and truthful. Thank you for making me read these sincere words before I sign off.
Wishing you a happy union with your daughter
Blessed you are.
Salam dear.
"Love is not a mere sentiment. It is the ultimate truth that lies at the heart of creation."
Rabindranath Tagore
I am some what surprised by the agressiveness of your answers. People who convert don't find another clutch to hold on. And to the question of my mental state to choose religion over my own child (i think you were referring to me)you are so wrong. I did not alienate my daughter. My family did! A teenager is gullible and is too young to realize what she is doing. Think back at when you were 15! Did you want to listen to your parents? Did you know that the things you were doing were good or even benificial to you. I surely didnt. And I understand my daughter totally. Specially when she had the pressure of my family. She had gone for a holiday to Europe and they kept her. Ofcourse she had more "fun" in Europe. Ofcourse she was spoiled by my brothers & sisters. They wanted to prove a point. And they did. But now my daughter is older and she will be back in Doha in September to live with me. So......what does that mean? She is older and has realized that the grass is not so green on that side.
But going back to becoming a Muslim... As I said I was a catholic, spent many years in convent schools. I believed in God, but did not agree with a lot of the things they thought us. Specially when I questioned things, te answers that I got where not an explanation. So I created my own religion. My own believe, and I practiced that.
However when I read for the first time the Quran I was amazed, cos the religon I had been practising, my own religion, was exactly as it was written down. I started to read at 11am and was still reading at 11pm. Non stop. I was ,mesmerized! And from that point onwards I became a muslim.
As to your point of that some of the converts are so stiff & ridgid. I agree. That is why I used to avoid them. They all tried to be more "royal than the King" if you get my meaning. It took me a while to find my way. Cos it is one thing to become a muslim but there is also a whole change of livestyle to go with it. You know, from bikini to hijab.
Alexa to answer your point. There is a difference between Culture & customs and religion. As a muslim you do not have to sit at home and avoid living, taking decisions. No in Islam women can do what they want up to a cetrain extend. Look at the wife of the prophet. She was a business woman and a good one. Culture here expects women to stay inside cos a lot of the men are quite jealous and it is the husbands that do not want them to do anything. So that is not religion that makes them sit and accept. But to discuss that point will take many more threads....
Anyway, to assure you, I was not looking for a crutch. No, I was looking for a better way to live & believe. Islam should not be hard on you. It makes & should make life easier to live. That is what islam is all about!Anyway, I hope you will stop being so agressive in your answers, no matter what the subject
Sleep well
Aisha-Taweela
I agree Alexa. It's not really the converstion that I have a problem with, if finding God helps you so be it, but people who convert (to both Islam and Christianity) tend to follow it so rigidly, it's almost as if they don't want to think for themselves anymore.
"I fight with love and I laugh with rage, you have to live light enough to see the humor and long enough to see some change." Ani Difranco
ok got any problem now fine come in the ring let me bust ur nose :D
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I thought you were directly commenting on the stories of Aisha-Taweela and darling.
I am partially with you. I see that some parts of the original story of the Forum, are not convincing. As if they are patched or pieced together.
Salam
"Love is not a mere sentiment. It is the ultimate truth that lies at the heart of creation."
Rabindranath Tagore
Happy Happy the story Truth posted is entirely propaganda, there is not other word for it.
As for the stories shared here, I'm sorry but I question the mental state of someone who chooses a religion over their own child.
"I fight with love and I laugh with rage, you have to live light enough to see the humor and long enough to see some change." Ani Difranco
Alexa: Very well said. Do what you believe in.
Gypsy: If you’re considering all the stories related to converting to Islam (or maybe to any other religion) are "simply propaganda", including those of the two members who are explicitly sharing their true stories with us, then I am profoundly speechless!
I don’t think there are words, in any dictionary, that I can put together to respond to your.....!!!
Salam
"Love is not a mere sentiment. It is the ultimate truth that lies at the heart of creation."
Rabindranath Tagore
"Somayyah was educated in a convent and as a teenager worked as a model and in cocktail lounges. Growing up in Ireland and Britain, she tried drugs and liquor and supported alcoholic and sometimes abusive parents."
What part of that description make her sound like she has high self esteem desertmoon? Also what kind of parents would alienate their children for dressing modestly or converting, obviously these were very dissapproving parents and a very unhealthy family. These women are just searching for meaning in their lives and turned to the easy answers religion offers.
DO you live in the West desertmoon? I'm assuming no if you think it is dangerous to walk around as a Muslim. Also the portrayls of Islam in the media in the West are no different then portrayls of the West here in the ME. Ignorance and propaganda on both sides.
Finally I consider any religion that comes with a dress code to be domineering.
"I fight with love and I laugh with rage, you have to live light enough to see the humor and long enough to see some change." Ani Difranco
Which lines made you feel that these women suffer low self-esteem ?
On the contrary IMHO ,women barely clothed on a beach or scantily- clad outside their homes would be the more likely candidates for lacking self-esteem.Since they count on their physical bodies to impress others.
The alienation you talked about is *after* they accepted Islam not prior to it !Their families wouldn't accept them for their new belief in many cases or disapproved of their now more modest/different sense of dressing.So alienation cannot be the reason for choosing to be Muslim .
It is almost dangerous to be Muslim these days especially when travelling to the west .If you look like a Mozlim Aye-raab most likely you are to be viewed with much suspicion and distrust.Why would anyone in their right mind revert to islam "just like a cult "considering the most unfair portrayal by the media?
Perhaps because these people found rational in this faith .
"all I see are women giving up things they loved in the name of a domineering religion. "Please clarify what you meant by this ..particularly the "domineering" religion bit?
Massalama.
I love this "Islam is the fastest growing religion" thing. The only reason that is is because Atheism or Agnosticism aren't considered religions. Far more people are becoming irreligious then are becoming religious. Stories like this are simply propaganda.
"I fight with love and I laugh with rage, you have to live light enough to see the humor and long enough to see some change." Ani Difranco
There are many people who convert to Islam. Anf yes as you well know. Islam is the fastes growing religion in the world. This was one of the predictions God made thru our prophet. Judgement day gets closer when non muslims are becoming muslim and muslims are leaving the faith. And unfortunately newspapers do not write about the truth -
they write stories that sell - And would the newspapers sell if they say that Islam is noumber 1 religion? The same as you, you seem to get more enjoyment out of bashing other peoples threads rather than making some honest comment & sense!
Aisha-Taweela
Gypsy's comment above. I fully agree plus the fact that in my six years in the middle east I came across thousands of non Muslims and not even one ever considered converting to Islam. On the contrary, whether Christians, Hindus, Atheists, Agnostics, Buddists etc, they felt very comfortable with their beliefs.
The author of this must had struggled a lot to find all the scattered cases and put them in a single article. I do not doubt the genuineness of the above cases with the exception of one.
Allow me to seriously doubt the following "Some US military personnel were exposed to Islam when they served in the Gulf war.
Philips manned an Islamic information center in a tent at an air force base in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia. In the six months after the Gulf war 3,000 Westerners reverts at the center, 98 percent of them women, or US servicemen he said."
If this was true, the Islamic dominated media would have it as their headline until today. How come no one has heart of it. Can you provide additional sources please?
May the roof above us never fall in, and may the friends below never fall out!
thanks to all who give information.. i appreciate it.. and i will keep contact to those soon... i am reading some books about islam but i need somebody who will really explain to me deeper the meaning of the content of the book.
I am aware also that my parents are alarming on the reason im reading those books.(they think I might convert) Some of my friends even reacted on it when they saw the books in my room. But it doesnt bother me nor stop me to read.
I hope I will find the good way....
Oh Aisha- Taweela, it is painful to be estranged by your own family because you chose your separate way.
Would you kindly write us, in more details, about your story? Don't be very specific and do not get to personals on QL.
Just describe your journey and where are you now.
I love converts who are truth seekers (as some convert for personal reasons). I found them to be, so far, the exemplary practitioners of the core and essence of the Quran's teachings.
Would you mind publishing your story on the QL Forum to allow for discussion and replies??
Pleassseeeee?
Salam
"Love is not a mere sentiment. It is the ultimate truth that lies at the heart of creation."
Rabindranath Tagore
I am so happy to hear that you are interested in Islam. I was brought up as a Catholic and became a Muslim here in Qatar about 8 years ago. The story of the girl above from Bikini to Hijab is very much my story too. When I became a muslim there were not many help centres in Qatar to help. So I learned the "hard" way. But it is the best choice I ever made in my life. Not that it has been easy. No not at all. My family thinks I am crazy, I should become "normal" again, i.e. drinking, going out, dating etc etc. They even alienated my daughter against me and I have not seen her for 3.5 years. But I am happy and feel sereine, something I never felt before. Anyway, there is the QCPI and the Qatar Guest Centre. Both places can help you. There is also the Myriam Centre where they give lectures and this is women only. Then there are many web sites as well as on our own QL is the Muslim Expat group. If you want to talk with me, I am always open to talk to anybody who is interested in Islam. And I can put you in contact with some other women that can help you.
This is also valid for any other woman who is interested in learning more about Islam.
Aisha-Taweela
Salam ,
As per the saying of Mufti Ebrahim Desai :
Islam is about correct beliefs and practice. If you already
believe in the Oneness of Allah, the greatness of all Prophets and that Prophet Muhammad is the final prophet, you are already a Muslim.
However, the month of Ramadhaan is close by and that should give you an ideal opportunity to start practicing on Islam. You should contact the local Muslim organization in your area and request to officially pronounce your Islam. If you have any difficulty, feel free to contact me and I will assist you.
and Allah Ta'ala Knows Best
Mufti Ebrahim Desai
PLEASE VISIT www.askimam.org for more information and details .
[Ask the Imam is an online question and anwser service open to all. Its goal is to provide easy access to common Islamic questions and anwsers to anyone using the world wide web. Mufti Ebrahim Desai , former head of the Darul Ifta deparment at Jamiatul Ulama (KZN, South Africa ) and currently at the Madrassah In'aamiyyah ( Camperdown , South Africa ) provides anwsers to your questions submitted through "Ask the Imam" website. Br. Jaffar acts as technical liaison to Mufti Ebrahim Desai.]
Assalamualikum,
Thanks to all of them. Any body want to know about islam pls mail me [email protected]. Dr.Bilal Philips in Qatar running Qatar Guest Center (Specially for Non-Muslims) which is located near Madina Khalifa.
Jazakallahu Khair
Ummm do none of you guys see that these women were for the most part suffering from low self esteem and alienation and turned to Islam like one would turn to a cult? There's nothing beautiful or enlightening about this article, all I see are women giving up things they loved in the name of a domineering religion.
"I fight with love and I laugh with rage, you have to live light enough to see the humor and long enough to see some change." Ani Difranco
Mary, in my understanding Muslims believe that *every* child is born pure and submitting to one God,wihout any Shareek i.e partners .
That is to say every child is BORN Muslim and it is only later that the child's parents/soceity RAISE him to be a Christian,Jew or any other Faith.
Thus many Muslims say when some non-muslim becomes Muslim that so and so has reverted to Islam .That is to say they are back to the religion they were born on .
Massalama.
If interested I shall find the contact of the same person Truth has talked about in his topic...Dr.Bilal Philip.....There is a center for Islamic Studies( I dont know if the name is correct) adjacent to the mosque near the corniche(with the shape like a candle). Will try to find the the info asap....
I dont think there is a process as such. I guess its you who has to decide after all your questions are addressed or lets say when the message of God has been delivered to you.
May God show u the right path and makes its easier for you to follow it.
Salam,
thank you for such beautiful post truth, its a long time since anyone had talk about islam and hijaab.
we are most ucky to be born as muslim and under the ummati of our beloved prophet mohammed (pbum).
iam a muslim woman who always wears hijaab...now iam so used to it, i cannot leave my home without this..it really make you feel very much secure and comfortable.
this is my sincere advice to all muslim ladies out there to wear hijaab ..atleast first try for few days --iam sure you will feel more secure and protected.
I want to learn Islam. TO who i would talk to? I have some idea about ISlam but I want to know and learn the important and basic teaching of Prophet Mohammad whos is the messenger of Allah...
What process to be done if i want to convert into religion Islam?
These women were brought up/believed in other faiths prior to their choosing Islam?
Well when u look around you will find a lot of people just like sheep........roaming about without any purpose in life. I have been to places where I could not find any person who was a muslim by birth (all were converts) and the difficulties they faced are unimaginable in our part of the world where muslims r in majority.
Thank God for creating me as a human and as a muslim....Alhamdollilah
It does not matter what happens to you but what matters is how you react when it happens.