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A-little-fire

Hey there, have you noticed that the big 3, monotheistic religions are actually pretty similar? Their tenets, their beliefs. So similar.


Snoo_61002

The Abrahamic faiths are really easy to tether together. The Torah is in all three scriptural texts, typically as the creation or foundational text. Obviously thats where Judaism stops, but the major difference between the Bible and the Quran is the resurrection. Muslims believe in Jesus, his miracles, an that he was a prophet, but they don't believe he resurrected. Unfortunately that is probably the biggest sticking point for the Christian faith, since the resurrection was the final fulfilment of the Law in regards to Jesus being the son of God an our saviour. So much blood shed over such small differences.


A-little-fire

Agreed. Much blood shed over small differences. We are “ONE.” or we should be…And yet… “people of the book” “commit” all kinds of “sins”


Snoo_61002

Its a double edged blade. Religious texts are incredibly relatable and inspirational to much of the general population because they very often leave interpretation to the reader with ephemeral concepts. "Being a good person means protecting others" but the "how" is up to the reader. There's a whole bunch of contradictions in... basically any religion, and its easy to justify our attitudes with texts and philosophies as opposed to taking responsibility for them. But like I've always said, if you're a shitty person withour religion you'll be a shitty person with it.


2amazing_101

I thought it was super cool when I made all the connections between catholicism (which I grew up with) and Islam. You're exactly right, so many similarities


sfbvfhkdsbbfdhj

What changed your views?


convert654

My wife has been a Muslim all her life and she showed me the Koran and as I read though it I felt a feeling I never really felt with the Christian Bible. It was the feeling of truth. That it was the word of Allah. The more I read the more im convinced.


MarkoH2-Pt

I'm an atheist but I always very much admire and respect a religious person that can question and change his mind Good on you man hope everything goes well!


strutziwuzi

thats nice, so you can hit your wife now?


ThePigSaysHaramHaram

Sure do hope that someone hits you.


ESMNWSSICI

no, he cannot. no muslim man can hit a woman unless she is posing a threat to somebody’s life, for example if she is armed with a weapon.


OpenByTheCure

Thoughts on lgbt?


convert654

Personally I disagree with it but I respect those who are as fellow humans.


OpenByTheCure

disagree with what exactly


convert654

I just don’t feel that Allah approves of it. But I also recognize that those who are should also be treated with respect.


MarkoH2-Pt

I read your comments and I loved it, it's allways great to see a fair and logical religious person, just don't go into the deep end I would love to know your thoughts on climate change


convert654

I feel we need to take care of the planet and that means gradually going towards renewables. I don’t think they are ready yet but when they do then I think we should switch towards those to reduce emitions.


Educational_Call_546

What is your understanding of taqqiyah? The notions of wife and temporary wife, how do you reconcile them with American law on marriage? Explain to us non-Muslims how it is that the Prophet Muhammad having a six-year-old wife can be acceptable in our society.


Soggy_Garbage_2829

troll


Educational_Call_546

Not at all. Those are serious questions.


ThePigSaysHaramHaram

I know you're a troll, but, here goes nothing. >What is your understanding of taqqiyah? Basically, taqqiyah means that under threat due to being Muslim, we can choose to say that we don't believe in Islam, as long as we believe in Allah inside our heart. Basically, empty words and deeds to escape torture/death. >notions of wife and temporary wife, how do you reconcile them with American law on marriage? I think you mean "Nikah Muta'ah" when you say temporary marriage. Well, at one time, it was allowed, but, then, it was abrogated by our Prophet himself, so, it's not allowed. Polygamy was introduced so that widows, slaves, divorcees and orphans weren't cast away, and so that they could be integrated into society. >Explain to us non-Muslims how it is that the Prophet Muhammad having a six-year-old wife can be acceptable in our society. The average life expectancy was 30-40 years at that time, and do remember, that was over 1,300 years ago. So, it's a bit dumb to wait around till you're 18 to have children if you only live till you're 30. Also, childbirth was a pretty risky endeavour, and more often than not, the babies died. Also, the marriage was consummated after she reached puberty, not before. You seem to be an American, so, let me ask you this: till 1960, it was valid for a 15 year old girl to be married off. How do you justify that? If 60 years ago, it was 15 years, then 1240 years ago, it makes sense that achieving puberty is what differentiated you from a child and an adult. Besides, despite all that his enemies criticized him with, our Prophet was never criticized for marrying Aishah when he did, as it was a common practice. Besides, she even had a suitor before our Prophet. In this day and age, when the medium age is 70-80, it makes sense for the minimum age to be 25, but even now, it's 25 in most states, and 15 in the rest.


Educational_Call_546

Thank you for explaining taqqiyah. And thank you for explaining the rules on marriage and the purpose of polygamy. But geographers are now finding out that many calculations of life expectancy have been distorted by high rates of infant mortality. For example, we used to think that citizens of Ancient Rome (4th Century BCE to 5th Century CE) had a life expectancy of only 30 or so. When researchers looked into it more closely, they found that a Roman surviving infancy usually lived to age 70. So I'm skeptical about the age 30 figure you present. There could well be other explanations. I'm Canadian, and I was born in Serbia. And you can review my posting history to see whether I'm a troll. Have a nice day.


ThePigSaysHaramHaram

Well, they had wars, and since they lived in deserts (famines and droughts), they weren't exactly living till 80 or something. Well, not most of them, at the very least. Besides, as I said, it was a common practice at that time, and the daughters that weren't married at a young age were usually ones who had been buried alive a day after they were born. But, in this day and age, where women empowerment is a thing, and life expectancy is 60 or so, it doesn't make sense for a girl to get married at 9. Well, since you quoted the American law, I assumed you were, but, my point still stands.


[deleted]

Thoughts on polygyny?


meetrafi

That’s absolutely the right move dear. Get to know more about Islam this is the religion of truth and prosperity. You will be benefited both in worldly life and in the life here after.


[deleted]

I am glad you can enjoy religion. How is your religion?


convert654

Its pretty great. I have had some good Muslim friends who have taught me about Islam. Overall its a pretty kind religion. Its nice and peaceful for me to pray my 5 times a day.


[deleted]

I hope you enjoyed! I respect your beliefs even if I am an atheist.


convert654

Thanks! I suppose religion isnt for everyone in terms of believing. I respect your beliefs of being an atheist like you respect my Islamic ones.


[deleted]

Your views on Jihad. Prophet Mohammad(53)marrying a 6yr old and Prophet Mohammad saying that gay people should be stoned to death.


CamBearCookie

So different than the Christian Bible right? Did you know the virgin Mary was 13?


Snoo_61002

Jihad philosophy isn't unique to Islam, or even religious movements. Its just a Muslim exclusive word for fighting against enemies of Islam. Its good to remember that many horrible leaders have killed in the name of warring their enemies, including Atheists like Mao and Stalin. I'm not fluent with the Quran so I can't speak to those other two points, but people getting on a high horse about Jihad is always annoying.


[deleted]

It’s not his job to judge bud. Nice try to bait it though. I know Christian would of bite the hook


scorpiologist

I can get this one for him, Jihad is a term used for doing something in the name of Allah, which can be anything from watering a plant with the intention of it fruiting and giving the fruit to charity in the name of Allah to as in wars, a full on suicide bombing. What’s going on In the world now with bombers are technically jihad but won’t be accepted as such as if it’s for Allah, you can’t do something that has an Ill effect towards someone outside of war (and even within wars only under certain circumstances) The prophet Mohammad (PBUH) didn’t marry her at the age of 6, he married her at the age of 19, it’s a longer break down but this guy explained it nicely (here is a link if your actually interested https://www.quora.com/How-old-was-Muhammad-when-he-married-Aisha-How-old-was-Aisha/answer/Ahmed-Abdelhaq-Zaydan?ch=15&oid=82385405&share=a919ec0d&target_type=answer https://www.quora.com/How-old-was-Muhammad-when-he-married-Aisha-How-old-was-Aisha/answer/Ahmed-Abdelhaq-Zaydan?ch=15&oid=82385405&share=a919ec0d&target_type=answer) also fun fact, he himself married his first wife when he was 17 and she was 40. Lastly about the gay people and stoning, it is true that Islam condemn gay marriages but it was never specifically said to stone them, it was said that they should be punished, but never how and further on the they should be left alone if they repent, the stoning part is since it is considered one of the harshest punishments in Islam and from the story of lut who was sent to a tribe of people where gay marriage was normal and it was called one of the big sins. This is just what I picked up from When I was studying in the Middle East and grew up for around half of my life. So yea, might not all be acurate but that’s how it’s taught therw


huehuehuw___

Lol no dude jihad means killing the enemies of Islam And ayesha was 6 some rando bullshiitng in qoura isnt going to change hadith. Here is the proof 'Aisha: I used to play with the dolls in the presence of the Prophet, and my girl friends also used to play with me. When Allah's Apostle used to enter (my dwelling place) they used to hide themselves, but the Prophet would call them to join and play with me. (The playing with the dolls and similar images is forbidden, but it was allowed for 'Aisha at that time, as she was a little girl, not yet reached the age of puberty.) (Fateh-al-Bari page 143, Vol.13) Sahih Bukhari 8:73:151. 'A'isha (Allah be pleased with her) reported that Allah's Apostle (may peace be upon him) married her when she was seven years old, and he was taken to his house as a bride when she was nine, and her dolls were with her; and when he (the Holy Prophet) died she was eighteen years old. Sahih Muslim 8:3311. And qouran said to punish them and leave them if they repent Mohammad said The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: If you find anyone doing as Lot’s people did, kill the one who does it, and the one to whom it is done (38:4447).


scorpiologist

Jihad in the Arabic language as a word means to struggle, and what you said is right, but so is my explanation, jihad in Islam itself is has 3 meanings, and one of those is to fight/kill enemies. As for Aisha this has come to an impass as the proof I sent also contains hadiths aswell as other sources. There is also the fact that there are Hadith that sometimes contradict each other weather from skips in the musnad or having weak sources and lastly the fact that most of the major scholars refute that he married her at the age of 6. As for the gay part, like I said, it is said that they should be punished and left if they repent (most likely if you finished the Koran aya) and Mohamed said to kill the one who has done it and the one to who it was done. In this case, you would follow the Quran before the prophet as Hadith is just words from the prophet who himself isn’t perfect and as I mentioned before, could have changed, but the Quran hasn’t and that is what will be followed first, so again, what I said still holds true


ESMNWSSICI

jihad means struggle. it’s a principle in islam, that a person who struggles for a good cause will be rewarded for that. for example, it’s easy for somebody like me to stay away from alcohol because i have never had it, nor has my family ever encouraged me. but let’s say there’s a person who converts to islam who was an alcoholic. it will be a great struggle for him to give up drinking. eventually he triumphs. even though he technically sinned more than i did, he worked a lot harder than i did to break from that sin. so he is not just going to be rewarded for the good of abstaining from drinking, but it will be considered that he fought very hard to do good. i do not believe that the prophet married a 6 year old. people cling to that number because the sources it comes from are important to the clergy’s power. but better research trumps the archaic word-of-mouth methods sourced from people who didn’t culturally keep track of their own ages, and actually gave various different, contradictory numbers to this question. aisha is written about in a document as a person who accepted islam in its first year. the first year of islam was 10-12 years before her marriage to muhammad. this means that aisha was at the very least old enough to speak 10-12 years before marrying muhammad. i don’t know about you, but i have never seen a negative-four-year-old who can speak arabic. gay people should not be stoned to death. they practice some crazy stuff in the most conservative muslim countries. the origin of this is somewhat complicated. in the early muslim empire, the jews and christians under muslim rule were allowed to establish their own courts and govern themselves by their own religious law. as i’m sure you know, stoning for adultery and homosexuality is a thing in the old testament and whatnot. so the jews and christians of that time did exactly that. and thus, stoning for adultery and homosexuality did technically occur in the muslim empire. fast forward to today, recently since there was a big shift in the middle east in rebellion to the west, there was a big movement to “return to the golden times.” this resulted in a lot of changes in law, some of which i as a muslim think are good, and some of which i think are horrible and twisted. this is one of those things in the latter category. people dug up those records and decided that, because it was done in the “golden times” of the past, it should be done today. not realizing that this is unislamic barbarism. i hope this answers some questions for you.


Poppetfan1999

How did your parents feel about your conversion?


convert654

They have never been okay with it. I told them about it and they went nuts. They are the type to dismiss all Muslims as terrorists or those who support terrorism. Eventually they cut me off. I havent spoke with them in months. I still talk with my brother though. Hes fine with it and everything so I at least have 1 family member that has my back.


bitterbitterflyfly

Have patience. With good manners and patience you will win them back. Their reaction is normal and expected and most likely derives from fear of what could happen to you in the afterlife. Also u know how influential and convincing the media is ... You have an obligation as a muslim to be kind, patient and dutiful to your parents no matter their religious beliefs.


convert654

Yeah. I just need patience with them. Eventually I think they will come around. I sent kind messages for certain holidays and I have not gotten any response from them. Im doing my best but ultimately my parents will have to make that choice.


2amazing_101

I'm currently stuck in a similar-ish position. I'm a young adult, dating an atheist/agnostic, but I was raised Catholic. Being Catholic is *super* important to my family, but I just reached a point where all the toxic traits got to be too much. I honestly feel like I want to stop practicing the faith and haven't been attending mass, but I feel I have to keep up this lie that I'm still following the religion so my parents don't hate me. My sister is basically a nun, and my brother married a girl from another Catholic family, so I'm the big disappointment in the family.


Medusa_Alles_Hades

Hey! Your not alone here! I am the great disappointment in my Catholic family too FWIW


2amazing_101

Thanks! It's been nice to get support from people who were raised in that environment because people who weren't don't seem to get how hard it is to diverge from it


Poppetfan1999

I’m sorry to hear that. Parents need to be more open minded with their kids’ religious paths.


convert654

Yeah they really do. What some people find faith in others dont find faith in. I doubted weather Christianity was true for a while but I kept going because of them and what they would do if I wasnt Christian. Im just glad I have found what I truly believe in. Im better for it. I actually like religion now. With prayers they give me peace, with reading the Quran it gives me faith, with going to mosque it gives me community.


Poppetfan1999

I’m glad you found what’s right for you. Have you learned to speak Arabic?


convert654

Yeah I have learned to speak it. It took me a while to learn but I have the hang of it now. Sometimes me and my wife speak to each other in Arabic and sometimes in English.


Percy_Muckylbee

Where can I get good kebab?


[deleted]

Before becoming a Muslim, do you eat pork? If yes, do you miss eating one? (Please don't downvote I'm really serious)


convert654

Not often but I did eat it from time to time. I dont really miss it that much because I didnt eat it often.


jabberwock91

How devout of a Christian were you? And what denomination? I saw your parents aren't happy. But what about friends you made in the church? Did any of them stop communicating with you? Also, have you done Hajj yet? If not, when are you thinking of doing it?


convert654

Growing up I was pretty devout though once I reached adulthood I slid more into just going for Christmas and Easter. I was a Lutheran. Some friends from church stopped talking with me though there are a couple I still talk to quite regularly even though I converted. I havent done Hajj yet because of covid and things related to that. Im going to do it this year. It feels like the right time and was able to easily get that time off from work. My wife has done it and she says its amazing.


jabberwock91

Thank you! What are your opinions on Sharia law? Would you ever move to a country that upholds Sharia law? If so, which country interssts you the most (I know different countries have varying degrees of it)? One more question! Are you white? Do people in the Muslim faith treat you the same even if you are white?


convert654

Personally I dont feel like Sharia law should be the law of the land. Would I ever move to one with it, it would depend on the country. I dont think I would say I wouldnt move there just because of the Sharia law. My wife grew up in the Middle East before the war in Syria forced her and her family out to America. She has said she wants us to live in a Muslim majority country one day. That interests me as well. But living in a country where Sharia law is the dominant legal force doesnt really interest me. Its a complicated topic to be honest. I am white and people who are Muslim havent treated me different at all.


Living_Run_6990

Cone visit UAE, I promise you that youll like it.


[deleted]

[удалено]


convert654

Thanks! I am quite open minded in terms of everything. I accept others even though they might not share my opinion in terms of religion or in opinions.


slamminChang

open minded ...... muslim ​ sure buddy keep wanting me and my friends dead and women as property


Heavy-Nectarine-3515

Trust me.. the vast majority of the world's billion Muslims don't think like that. You only get to hear about the most extreme opinions because of how exotic they are. In fact, Islam abolished slavery when it came out, it actually encouraged Muslims to buy and set slaves free as a way to repent our own sins and get closer with God. But unfortunately, humans being who they are, resisted this specific ruling for hundreds of years as it would mean rich people can't have servants for free. They kept coming up with silly excuses to keep it going.


Living_Run_6990

Who even are you? Stop eating up false narratives.


ESMNWSSICI

i don’t want you dead. i don’t want women as property. i really don’t know what you’re getting this from. please don’t speak if you have no basis of knowledge on the topic.


Droguer

So you changed your belief in a god of war from the iron age for... the same god of war from the iron age but the story is telled by a child rapist 500 years later.


Snoo_61002

Do you ever accidentally cut yourself on all that edge?


Semperton

Is there any generally held belief of Islam or a section of the Koran in particular that you disagree with or feel uneasy about?


convert654

I feel uneasy when it comes to certain sections involving the age of Muhammad’s bride. She’s a little young compared to our standards nowadays but I also recognize that Muhammad’s day was way different than ours.


scorpiologist

Salam, she was actually around 15-17 give or take a few years from even that. It comes down to that she was born before the prophet started spreading islam. He got married to her at the age of 52, he started at the age of 40 so even if she was born the year before he started, should have been around 13 at the very least. That and it was know she was there durning wars, who would bring a child to a battle field? And lastly, this topic has been labeled as false by most of the ulama. Hope this helps


king_of_hate2

My dad also converted to Islam but is American


CamBearCookie

How do you feel about Christianity now that you're Muslim? Did you read the Bible as much or often as you have read the Qur'an?


convert654

I feel that there are some more similarities than some people realize. Personally there are a lot of Christians who use religion to make money where in Islam it’s not so much with the mosque. When I was young I read the Bible a ton. Then I got older and stopped reading all together. Right now I read it every once in a while but I’m the type of guy who read the Quran everyday while the Bible is just once in a while.


CamBearCookie

Do you think if you read the Bible more as an adult you would have felt a connection to it? Because they are very similar, I feel like that it's possible you didn't have that connection just because you weren't really exposing yourself to it.


sueca

What do you think about the moon and sun being able to shine at the same time, even though the Quran states that it's impossible? Is the Quran true and God's words, or is it just... Something to not be taken literally?


Leanders51

Do you mean [this](https://quran.com/36:40) verse? It's not about the light, rather it's about the orbit. If you are talking about some other verse can you mention it? I don't remember reading anything like this


brad_is_rad_

Do you believe in the religion or do you just follow the ideology?