To return to raOnar's OP, I certainly feel that there is
much in Islamic teachings that is beneficial!
I like the emphasis on
fasting and
daily prayer.
I agree with the idea of
living simply, of
seeking God rather than material gain; the principles of
modesty and
humility; of
forgiveness,
human kindness and
charity.
But then, none of those things are unique to Islam.
You will find that most religions and worldviews probably teach and/or agree with most, if not all of those teachings too.
So those principles – beneficial as they may be – cannot be
all that makes a Muslim a Muslim! Those principles make Christians, Hindus, Buddhists, secular humanists (well, perhaps without the praying bit), and all kinds of other people too …
OK, so what commandments do you have from Jesus[pbuh] on how to fast?
are they followed by all Christians?
what commandments do you have from Jesus[pbuh] on how to pray?
do all Christians pray as commanded by Jesus[pbuh]?
what commandments do you have from Jesus[pbuh] on how many times a day to pray?
do all Christians pray this way?
what commandments do you have from Jesus[pbuh] regarding modesty?
do all Christians follow this?
what commandments do you have from Jesus[pbuh] regarding charity?
is this uniform for all Christians?
To be a Muslim somebody has to be able to declare Shahada. And that is precisely why I am not a Muslim.
Now, I
can shout it from the rooftops that
God is the only God, and that
he alone is worthy of worship. Christianity teaches that too.
actually, Christianity does NOT teach that! they have a "Trinity", which even they can't explain. not only that but we read in their Bible from the 1st chapter of John:
1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2He was in the beginning with God.
3All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.
that testifies to AT LEAST TWO Gods! "God" and "the Word." NOT ONLY THAT, BUT, it takes "creation" away from "God" and puts it in the jurisdiction of "the Word!" so we can assume that the "Christian God" was incapable of creating "all things" WITHOUT "the Word!?"
so either:
a) the writer of these verses does NOT understand the concept of "The One True God!"
b) Christians don't believe what their Bible says, or
c) the "God" described in these verses is in need of a little Psychiatric help for his schizophrenia!
But I
cannot declare that I believe Muhammed to be God’s messenger.
and you can't! NOT without Allah's guidance
With all the reading, learning and studying of Islam I have done in the last 2-and-a-half years, with all the discussions I have participated in here in LI, with all the prayer for God’s guidance, all the fasting, and even reading the Qu’ran itself, I have not found any conviction that the Qu’ran
is the dictated word of God, that Muhammed
is God’s final prophet, and that Islam
is the true path.
It seems that no matter how much I explore, test and probe Islam, it remains empty to me …
Guidance comes only from Allah[swt]
And
that’s why I am not a Muslim.
I hope people don’t mind my honest reply. It comes after much thought, prayer and pondering.
I do not mean to offend anybody.
Salaam
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