Doubts

The punishments may be harsh, but to actually qualify for them takes a substantial amount of evidence (for homosexuality, you have to be caught in the act....) PLUS court procedings.

It is not a case of: ''Look, there's a homo. Commence ass-whooping!''

Edit: Don't waste your time on ex-muslims and islam haters. They are exactly the people Allah warns us away from i.e. the ones who will never accept us until we are one of them. I've dealt with them in the past and looking back on it I see now how futile it was: they will always hate you for your belief (in discussions, they will adhom you constantly and push you into corners whenever they can) so don't waste your time with them.

format_quote Originally Posted by Wa7abiScientist

How old are you?

18.

I understand your concerns. What do you study? Do you have other responsibilities?

Well I study Law, Politics and Finance at college part time. I'm trying to look for a job, only thing that I'm worried about. I'm considering working for a government department, banks, insurance companies, hospitals...anywhere as long as it is a job. Studying is not difficult, however getting a job is extremely hard and tiring. I have sleeping problems too but my doctor sorting that out. Not going University, never been my thing.

I've seen many Muslims leave Islam after they start with "debating with atheists." They start with good intentions but within 6 months to 1 year, things become opposite. They become the most vehement enemies of Islam. I do not know how they die but I've read that one Muslim became atheist and then he died and his friend was asking a sheikh if he could attend the janaaza of this dude.

I tend to avoid debating, not my thing. I cannot imagine having excessive hatred towards Islam.

If internet creates these doubts, stop "wasting" too much time on the internet. I am not telling you to stop inquiring about your doubts. Lets say if you have doubt about evolution, study what evolution has to say and study what Islam says. Talk to sheikhs and scientists. Come to terms with what makes sense to you. Islam does not negate the fact that evolution occurs. I personally have come to the conclusion that there is not enough evidence for me to accept emergence of man from lower animals just based on evolution. I do however accept micro-evolution which happens within species all the time as I can observe it. Seeing is believing.

Actually after posting this topic, my doubts have cleared up. I think it was something else that was causing my doubts. Maybe I may get doubts again but I'm sure it is going to be easier to overcome them now. Internet is causing many problems. :/

Regarding the existence of something called God, it becomes a domain of philosophical arguments and metaphysics. Science does not deal with God. Just like how learning about for example farming does not deal with showing God exists. Farming is learning about realities. It, however, does not mean we can directly study the existence of God through it. I've listened to counter-arguments of God's existence. I now find them to be of insufficient intellectual worth. They are more like arguments made by one who does not believe in God. They are biased. They try to explain natural phenomenon by ways of nature. If the assumption is atheistic, the outcome will be atheistic. If the assumption is neutral, the outcome will be that of belief.

Once you find answers to the issues, stop going back to that issue again and again. Life is not meant to debate on youtube with atheists. Life is meant to worship God and increase in faith. Thats just my 2 cents. If you want to have proofs for existence of God, listen to debates of Hamzra Andreas Tzortzis with atheists on youtube.

Thanks! I tend to avoid very aggressive atheists. I don't like arguing. I'll watch the video to gain more knowledge. To be honest evolution never really had an impact on me on my religious beliefs nor did science. Atheists like Richard Dawkins bore me to death and ex-Muslims like Wafa Sultan reminds me of a nutter.

format_quote Originally Posted by Alpha Dude

If I told you there was a being who had control over everything who would help you and give you everything you want, wouldn't you want to get close to him so that you could win his favours? So you should try to form a relationship with Allah. Talk to Allah, sincerely. Let's assume you've won the intellectual battle, now the next step is to believe in Allah with your heart. Make constant dua as though Allah is hearing everything and have certitude in your dua being accepted. Once you have this deep connection with Allah, you will find your faith wavering less and less InshaAllah.

Be sincere. Allah is what you think Allah to be. If you believe Allah will guide and help you, that is what will happen.

That is going to be hard though I'll keep on trying. I'm so lazy and sleepy, 5 daily prayers is tiring. I need to get some energy from somewhere.

format_quote Originally Posted by aamirsaab

The punishments may be harsh, but to actually qualify for them takes a substantial amount of evidence (for homosexuality, you have to be caught in the act....) PLUS court procedings.

It is not a case of: ''Look, there's a homo. Commence ass-whooping!''

Yes you do need a lot of evidence. You cannot make accusations against another person for being homosexual or committing fornication without any evidence or I heard you get lashed which is fair I suppose.

Edit: Don't waste your time on ex-muslims and islam haters. They are exactly the people Allah warns us away from i.e. the ones who will never accept us until we are one of them. I've dealt with them in the past and looking back on it I see now how futile it was: they will always hate you for your belief (in discussions, they will adhom you constantly and push you into corners whenever they can) so don't waste your time with them.

Okay. Extreme Islam haters like Wafa Sultan are annoying and a little psychotic when they speak. Gives me shivers.

I think after talking about it, I feel relieved. I think I need to built on my spiritual side and stay away from the internet. Ah I feel better.

Thanks everyone! My heart and brain can finally rest in peace.

i think u already got great advice but sometimes you need to think logically to. i support the killing of gay people. why, well because a young girl whom i worked with was attacked while getting cash from an atm machine the guy who attacked her was a bisexual and he stabbed her with his needle cos he was also a junkie he stuck it in her arm. this guy was well known around the city of having Aids and she went straight to the hospital. weeks later she found out she was hiv positive because of the swine who attacked her. she was only 18years of age, the same age as you. people can get aids from any source. i am not saying its just gays but aids is on the rise because of gay people and what they do in the privacy of there own homes is our buisness because they are a danger to our society

I found this thread to be really helpful for me, I don't know if it'll have the same affect on you, but no harm in trying (: Shariah Law

format_quote Originally Posted by anonymous

18.



Well I study Law, Politics and Finance at college part time. I'm trying to look for a job, only thing that I'm worried about. I'm considering working for a government department, banks, insurance companies, hospitals...anywhere as long as it is a job. Studying is not difficult, however getting a job is extremely hard and tiring. I have sleeping problems too but my doctor sorting that out. Not going University, never been my thing.



I tend to avoid debating, not my thing. I cannot imagine having excessive hatred towards Islam.



Actually after posting this topic, my doubts have cleared up. I think it was something else that was causing my doubts. Maybe I may get doubts again but I'm sure it is going to be easier to overcome them now. Internet is causing many problems. :/



Thanks! I tend to avoid very aggressive atheists. I don't like arguing. I'll watch the video to gain more knowledge. To be honest evolution never really had an impact on me on my religious beliefs nor did science. Atheists like Richard Dawkins bore me to death and ex-Muslims like Wafa Sultan reminds me of a nutter.



That is going to be hard though I'll keep on trying. I'm so lazy and sleepy, 5 daily prayers is tiring. I need to get some energy from somewhere.



Yes you do need a lot of evidence. You cannot make accusations against another person for being homosexual or committing fornication without any evidence or I heard you get lashed which is fair I suppose.



Okay. Extreme Islam haters like Wafa Sultan are annoying and a little psychotic when they speak. Gives me shivers.

I think after talking about it, I feel relieved. I think I need to built on my spiritual side and stay away from the internet. Ah I feel better.

Thanks everyone! My heart and brain can finally rest in peace.

What does Islam have to offer the world?

Why is it that we believe that Islam is such a tremendous bounty from Allah? Because there is nothing like Islam on earth:

It is Islam that has taught human beings that the Lord their God is One and Only. That He has no partners, no wife, and no son, and that there can be no compromise on the unity of God.

It is Islam that has taught human beings that they are all equal and that no Arab is superior to non-Arab, nor a non-Arab is superior to an Arab and that the best of all of us is the one who is most righteous.

It is Islam that has taught human beings that they are all brothers and sisters created from a single pair of a male and a female. Therefore, Islam, unlike Hinduism, neither recognizes nor condones the idea of a caste system. Islam is a war on caste systems, on aristocracies, and hereditary social groups of all kinds.

It is Islam that has taught humanity the value of the intellect, the importance of reflection, and the role of the mind in attaining faith. Christians teach that one can never become a believer except when the Holy Spirit mysteriously occupies one's heart. Islam teaches that faith is the fruit of reason and it is through continuous reflection on the wonders of creation that faith can be obtained, maintained, and nurtured.

It is Islam that has has taught humanity that people of all races, all colors, all ethnicities are perfectly capable of attaining faith in the One and Only God. Hindus believe that Hinduism is just for those privileged to be born in the faith and therefore they do not invite the "less privileged" to embrace their faith. Jews believe that they are the chosen race and even when they accept others to embrace Judaism, those converts are always lower in rank than those born as Jews. Islam rejects all that and calls upon all people of all backgrounds to submit themselves to their Creator. Once they do, they automatically become members of the community of Islam with the same rights and duties as any other Muslim. Islam is not, and can never be, the monopoly of one race or a certain linguistic group.

It is Islam that has taught humanity that God is absolutely Just and Merciful and that He will never punish one person for the sins of others. Christianity teaches that Adam and Eve had bequeathed their sin to all their descendants and thus all humans are born in this "Original Sin" and therefore Jesus Christ had to be sacrificed on the cross to redeem humanity of its 'original sin.' Islam says, NO. Humans are not born in sin. No person will be held accountable for another's mistakes. Every soul will pay for its own deeds, only. Divine justice is absolute.

It is Islam that has taught humanity that righteous deeds are necessary for salvation. Faith is indispensable, but not sufficient. Humans will be admitted to Paradise by their faith and their righteous acts. They have to go together, hand in hand. Many Christian denominations teach that faith in Jesus is enough for salvations. If you accept Jesus sacrifice on the cross, then you are saved regardless of what you may do afterwards because Jesus has already paid for all your sins. Islam totally disagrees. No one can pay for your sins. Faith, doing righteousness, avoiding evil, and continuous repentance are the only ways for salvation. Islam does not accept, nor condone the corrupting influence on the individual as well as the society that can be caused by the idea of a "guaranteed" salvation.

It is Islam that has taught humanity how to balance the needs of this life and the next. Islam does not accept the idea that renunciation of this world is the best means to get salvation in the next. Catholicism and Buddhism teach that by living a reclusive life, one can attain higher spirituality. Buddhism even taught the recluse must make his living by begging. Islam rejects the whole notion of the alleged goodness of renouncing the world. Islam teaches that best means for advancement in the next life is by getting involved in the affairs of this world by commanding good and forbidding evil; by helping one another in righteousness and piety; by doing Jihad, by struggling against all forms of evil, injustice, tyranny, intolerance...Islam does not teach rejection of the world, it teaches involvement, struggle, and change.

It is Islam that has taught humanity that kindness to parents, to kin, to neighbors, and to fellow humans is an essential part of faith and righteousness. Christianity claims that Jesus has taught that one cannot come closer to God unless one hates one's father, mother, wife, children,... (Luke 14:26) Islam teaches the opposite. One cannot come closer to God unless one acts so kindly towards one's mother, father, family, neighbours, etc.

It is Islam that has taught humanity that God is very close to them and that He is with them wherever they are and that He hears their prayers and respond to them. Islam teaches that God is so close that He needs no intermediaries to mediate between Him and His servants. Islam does not accept the concept of priesthood and clergy acting as mediators between God and humans. Islam teaches that one does not have to confess one's sins to a priest in order to get forgiveness. One can simply confess one's sins to God without any human intervention, seek forgiveness, and God will grant it. Many Jews today still believe that prayers cannot reach God and get a response from Him unless the prayer is made at the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem. Some even fax their prayers or send it via the Internet to Jerusalem so that someone there would take it and put it on the Wailing Wall to reach God. Islam teaches that wherever one maybe, one can pray to God, confess to God, seek God's help and forgiveness, and God will certainly respond. No human intervention is needed, no special place or time is necessary. God is always very close.

It is Islam that has taught humans to accept and respect their human nature. Islam recognizes the strengths, the weaknesses, and the needs of humans. Islam never requires humans to behave as angels or to ignore their physical and emotional needs. Christianity does not allow divorce. Islam recognizes it as a human reality. Catholicism considers celibacy an ideal. Islam does not. The Anglican Church frowns upon second marriages. Prince Charles in order to become King of England has to behave as a practicing Anglican. Therefore, he can commit adultery openly with his famous mistress but he cannot marry her or else he will lose the throne for violating the rules of the Church of England. Islam never engages in such irrationality and moral contradictions.

There is nothing like Islam on earth. There is no faith, no religion, no ideology, no system of belief that can rival Islam in its clarity and simplicity ; in its submission to God, the One and Only; in its rationality and intellectual depth; in its egalitarianism and equality; in its spirituality; in its code of ethics; in its unparalleled balance between the needs of this life and the demands of the hereafter. Islam has elevated the human soul, body, and mind to heights that have never been reached by any other faith or tradition. Islam is the only religion that has truly enabled human beings to fulfill their humanity.

Islam is like a perfect piece of art at which the human eye can keep looking and scrutinizing for days, weeks, years on end and still can find no flaws, no defects, and no contradictions. All the human eye can do is to keep wondering at the amazing beauty and coherence of this faith of ours: Islam. Leopold Wiess, the Austrian Jew who embraced Islam in 1926 and became one of the greatest Muslim intellects of the twentieth century has expressed the same level of astonishment at the overwhelming beauty and coherence of Islam, "I was asked, time and again: 'Why did you embrace Islam ? What was it that attracted you particularly ?' -- and I must confess: I don't know of any satisfactory answer. It was not any particular teaching that attracted me, but the whole wonderful, inexplicably coherent structure of moral teaching and practical life programme. I could not say, even now, which aspect of it appeals to me more than any other. Islam appears to me like a perfect work of architecture. All its parts are harmoniously conceived to complement and support each other: nothing is superfluous and nothing lacking, with the result of an absolute balance and solid composure. Probably this feeling that everything in the teachings and postulates of Islam is 'in its proper place,' has created the strongest impression on me."

In a nutshell, Islam is the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.
It is important to note that Islam is not just a set of ideals, it is a
tremendous force capable of transforming and regenerating individuals as well societies and whole nations. The influence of Islam upon the first society that embraced it, the Arabian peninsula, was nothing short of a revolution. Islam has revolutionized Arabia in all aspects of life: politically, economically, socially, and above all morally:

It was Islam that transformed the fiercely independent-minded Arabs who knew no government, obeyed no authority, recognized no state into a nation with a government, a capital, and a respected authority.

It was Islam that taught the anarchic Arabs how to elect a head of state from among themselves and how to run their government upon principles of mutual consultation.

It was Islam that taught the Arabs who never agreed on any form of law to build a nation based on the rule of one sacred, just, and merciful law. Islam also taught them that they were all equals before the law and no one even the daughter of the Prophet was above the law.

It was Islam that transformed the intensely militant Arabs from a group of tribes massacring each other all the time -- to the extent that they had to agree on four months of peace every year to prevent their whole race from extinction due to the incessant wars -- into one nation with united tribal armies able to confront and defeat the armies of the surrounding superpowers: the Byzantines and the Sassanids.

It was Islam that abolished usury from Arabia and taught the Arabs how to make business transactions justly and fairly without exploitation or abuse.
It was Islam that abolished the gruesome habit of female infanticide from Arabia.

It was Islam that taught the Arabs that women were full human beings, not mere chattel, and that they were their sisters in humanity and in faith. It was Islam that guaranteed for Arabian women their rights to: inheritance, property, divorce, and independent legal personality.

It was Islam that eradicated Alcohol, with all its evils, from Arabia.
It was Islam that ended all forms of prostitution, gambling, and intoxicants from the Arabian society. And it was Islam that opened all doors for freeing slaves.

It was Islam that uprooted racism from the Arab mind completely to the extent that the deeply racist and arrogant Arabs would accept to be soldiers in armies whose leaders were black Africans.

And above all, it was Islam that transformed the idolatrous and superstitious Arabs into believers in the One and Only God. It was Islam that transformed them from idol worshippers into a people who stand together in one line in prayer and prostrate their heads to the Almighty.

Arabia before Islam was a society bound by tradition and precedent. Whatever was customary was right and proper. Whatever the forefathers had done deserved to be imitated. Islam rejected this blind faith in tradition. Islam challenged all the customs of the society. Islam questioned all the mores and manners of the Arabs. Islam introduced to them the standards of morality and the fundamentals of right and wrong. Islam taught them how to think critically of everything around them and how to reject the bad habits and keep the good ones. Islam showed them the proper way for peace and happiness in this life and felicity in the next. This was the essence of the revolution that Islam was.

The question that irresistibly comes to the mind is this: that was the past, what about now? Can Islam revolutionize the world today as it did to seventh century Arabia? Is Islam relevant today? Does Islam have anything to offer today's world? Yes, a great deal.

For us, Muslims living in the West, it would be reasonable to focus on what Islam has to offer to our Western society at the dawn of a new millennium. The West, as the seventh century Arabia and as any other society for that matter, has its own virtues as well as vices. Islam can improve and enhance all the virtues while eliminating -- or, at least, minimizing -- the vices.
In a society where alcohol is the number one cause of criminal death and injury; where alcohol costs billions of dollars each year in medical expenses and property damage; where alcohol consumption causes the death of hundreds of thousands of people annually; where alcohol is a major cause of rape and domestic violence -- Is there any faith more able than Islam to prevent all the ills of alcohol?

In a society still tormented by racial strife; where "black" churches are continuously fire-bombed by bigots of all kinds; where one rarely sees a black person in a "white" church or a white person in a "black" church -- Islam has so much to offer because Islam does not tolerate the very idea of a "black" mosque or a "white" mosque; Islam obliges believers to stand together in one line, shoulder to shoulder and foot to foot, and prostrate their foreheads to God so that they learn they are all humble servants of the Almighty.

In a society where violence against women has risen to alarming proportions, where it is not safe for women to walk alone in the dark, where even institutions of higher learning have to provide 'walk home service' to protect women on campus at night - Islam has much more to contribute than escort services or karate lessons. Islam does implant modesty and sense of propriety in the minds of the believers, Islam eradicates vulgarity, Islam eliminates any possibility that men view women as sex objects.

In a society as violent as the United States where some 25000 lives are taken every year by handguns alone; where 5% of the world population consume 50% of the world's illegal drugs despite the arrest of some 700,000 drug dealers every year; where a car is stolen every few seconds; where a woman is raped every few minutes - Islam has a lot more to offer than merely putting more cops in the streets. Islam teaches that prevention is better than cure and that crime can best be reduced by taking care of the family, the community, and the neighborhood. Islam attaches great esteem and honor to the role of the mother because when she takes proper care of her children, the whole society benefits. Islam reminds the fathers of their duties, encourages the neighbors to take care of each other's needs, strengthen community bonds, advocates commanding what is right and forbidding what is wrong instead of apathy and individualism. Islam always eliminates problems from their roots.

In a society afflicted with intense individualism, excessive materialism, fierce consumerism, and unabashed sensualism; Islam has the intellectual and the spiritual power required to rectify all the excesses of the society because Islam preaches moderation and balance in all worldly and other-worldly affairs.

The influence of Islam is not limited to the social and moral domains, it extends to the political, economic, legal, cultural, and educational realms as well. Two examples should suffice.

In the realm of politics: the egalitarian nature of Islam requires major reforms in the way democracy is practiced in the society today. As it stands, the existing democracy is elitist and lopsided in favor of the wealthy, the powerful, and the special interests.The average person almost has no meaningful say in how things are run by the elite. This state of affairs falls far short of the ideal of mutual consultation in all affairs advocated by Islam.
In the realm of economics: capitalism left unregulated has a tendency to make the rich richer and the poor poorer. In a period of ten years only (1978-1987) the poorest fifth of the American population got 8% poorer while the richest fifth got 13% richer. This is the nature of capitalism; wealth breeds more wealth, sometimes even without any effort or creativity. Islam obliges all rich people to pay part of their wealth annually to the poor so that the wealth gets redistributed in the society in order to protect the poor from perpetual poverty and give them a fair chance to compete in a world dominated by the tyranny of capital.

There is so much in Islam that can truly make the West, and indeed the whole world, a safer, better, and more decent place to live in. Islam is a formidable force with potential great enough to revolutionize the world and radically change the course of history as it once did some 1400 years ago.

That is why we love Islam!

format_quote Originally Posted by - Qatada -

Personally, i recommend you start listening to some new Islamic talks to increase you in emaan, since an idle mind which dwells on issues which are not applicable today becomes decieved by false arguments.

So i recommend you check out this site;

http://bayyinah.com/dream - download some amazing talks on the Qur'an, since it is the connection between us and Allah. He proves how the Qur'an really is the miracle from Him. It's a real emaan booster.

Check it out. Then tell us how your emaan feels after a few of these talks.

Allahu a'lam.

Thanks! I do need something to strengthen my relationship with Allah. I hope

@ Hamza81

Wow amazing post.

I am going to copy and print this topic as a reminder. Thanks everyone!

your going through the battle of accepting that "Allah knows best" and that you know nothing.

i hope you succeed.