Hello again Rick, here is a website where you can get 2 versions of the Qur'an by the 2 most popular of Qur'anic translators - Marmaduke Pickthale and Abdullah Yusuf Ali. The cost is very minimal is this is a dawah(Invite to Islam) organisation. They do ship overseas.
Alright. I think it was banned for us due to cultural issues. Plus, at least in America - they had a mosque at every major base.
i never saw a Džamja on base... :-( and the ones in the sandbox on base dont run. not even for islamic services. its only 1 day per week (at night) in the same building they have all the services in.
i would just call ahead and tell them you want to learn. I dont think they would be apposed to it. just dont wear shorts and a tank top. dress conservitively.
Hi rick,
First off all, welcome to the forum. It's nice to see people who are investigating/asking questions. I pray that Allah subhana wa ta'ala guides you to the right religion.
That being said, I must say I find some of your questions, how should I say this, "out of place". well, perhaps not your questions themselves, but the context in which you place them. I can't shake the feeling that you're sort of "shopping" for a religion. Looking whether or not Islam fits your personal preference. If you ask me, choosing religions shouldn't be about what you like or dislike, but rather about what you think is true or false.
No hard feelings I hope, just adding my two cents ^_^
Hi rick,
First off all, welcome to the forum. It's nice to see people who are investigating/asking questions. I pray that Allah subhana wa ta'ala guides you to the right religion.
That being said, I must say I find some of your questions, how should I say this, "out of place". well, perhaps not your questions themselves, but the context in which you place them. I can't shake the feeling that you're sort of "shopping" for a religion. Looking whether or not Islam fits your personal preference. If you ask me, choosing religions shouldn't be about what you like or dislike, but rather about what you think is true or false.
No hard feelings I hope, just adding my two cents ^_^
Wow. You make such a great point.
In fact, I already started listing what I actually believe on paper, and I hope that in a few days I will be able to share with you the list - and then to compare it to islam.
19 year old white male interested in Islam. However, I completely reject Christ as the son of god.
furthermore, i lean more towards paganism. I am just here to learn. And yes, i LOVE black metal - and no, I promise I am not a troll.
Many blessings,
Rick
Welcome. What is your reason for liking black metal? I was into funeral doom metal, doom/death metal, melodic doom metal etc. I am not sure how one can lead a life as a believer, especially a Muslim, while truly believing in what the metal bands have to say in these lyrics. Black metal is even worse, throw in blasphemous and iconoclastic ideologies. I came across an Oriental black metal band from Saudi Arabia called Al-Nimrood (the mushrik from Quran), most of its members seem atheists at least from their lyrics against Allah (swt). Black funeral metal (one such band is Funeral Mourning for example) takes it to the next heights of nihilism, depression, and pessimism.
How do you function properly while in the US army while listening to black metal? Am I wrong to assume that you listen to metal only for fun (getting kicks from growls and those riffs) and do not let it effect your emotions? Cuz at least I did that and as a result I am sitting in my parents' basement for the last 2 years, cut off from the outside world, and depending on them like a leech with no future prospects whatsoever except death which is inevitable.
So I think to accept Allah as your Perfect Lord you will have to get out of black metal or any music ... a tough job to do as I am still living with the sin.
Last edited by CosmicPathos; 12-30-2009 at 05:05 AM.
Help me to escape from this existence
I yearn for an answer... can you help me?
I'm drowning in a sea of abused visions and shattered dreams
In somnolent illusion... I'm paralyzed
Welcome. What is your reason for liking black metal? I was into funeral doom metal, doom/death metal, melodic doom metal etc. I am not sure how one can lead a life as a believer, especially a Muslim, while truly believing in what the metal bands have to say in these lyrics. Black metal is even worse, throw in blasphemous and iconoclastic ideologies. I came across an Oriental black metal band from Saudi Arabia called Al-Nimrood (the mushrik from Quran), most of its members seem atheists at least from their lyrics against Allah (swt). Black funeral metal (one such band is Funeral Mourning for example) takes it to the next heights of nihilism, depression, and pessimism.
How do you function properly while in the US army while listening to black metal? Am I wrong to assume that you listen to metal only for fun (getting kicks from growls and those riffs) and do not let it effect your emotions? Cuz at least I did that and as a result I am sitting in my parents' basement for the last 2 years, cut off from the outside world, and depending on them like a leech with no future prospects whatsoever except death which is inevitable.
So I think to accept Allah as your Perfect Lord you will have to get out of black metal or any music ... a tough job to do as I am still living with the sin.
Welcome brother.
First off, thank you for welcoming me on the forum.
Second, I would like to address this by paragraph, so bear with me!
My reason for liking black metal? It promotes independence and free thinking! I would of never of considered Islam if it was not for black metal! To think for myself, aside from what western media portrays muslims as could not of been done without some kind of free thought. And I do not think they are atheist or even believe the lyrics they are saying - many pretend satanism (very well, actually) But just to keep the music underground. Again, it values independence and free thinking. Something I think every muslim enjoys - the greatest gift of man is to Reason. With Reason, he can see Allah exists. He can also see due to limited circumstance that Allah may not exist, but this is just a reasoning error, if thought upon too hard, he will see the fault in it.
As for functioning in the army, how is that an issue? I know plenty of soldiers who enjoy metal, including the black variety. The lyrics again, aim more at overcoming ones obstacles, and being free. For example, take Gaahl of Gorgoroth, or Varg Vikernes of Burzum - they may sound "satanic" but at least one of them is Pagan. It is the same with many bands. They use the name of Satanism in the general sense of one who opposes christanity, and not logic and reason. In fact, to say that any human is a son of god is ridiculous - even you can agree to that. Again, Satan is just an image of Arche-type of freedom from notions, reasoning for oneself, and thinking of everything one has learned anew. Something that christanity does not allow - but Islam, as far as I can tell, does.
Again, blaming Funeral Doom for your depression is not quite correct - I daresay, for people who actually like the music and play it, hearing it is a relief - they know that they can let that emotion out and move on. That is how it is for me - I am lightened when I hear the music because I know someone else feels the same way.
I mean NO disrespect in the above, and is simply my viewpoint. I would like to add that I am not muslim, but I am trying to use my God-given sense of reason to reach a point of logic.
First off, thank you for welcoming me on the forum.
Second, I would like to address this by paragraph, so bear with me!
My reason for liking black metal? It promotes independence and free thinking! I would of never of considered Islam if it was not for black metal! To think for myself, aside from what western media portrays muslims as could not of been done without some kind of free thought. And I do not think they are atheist or even believe the lyrics they are saying - many pretend satanism (very well, actually) But just to keep the music underground. Again, it values independence and free thinking. Something I think every muslim enjoys - the greatest gift of man is to Reason. With Reason, he can see Allah exists. He can also see due to limited circumstance that Allah may not exist, but this is just a reasoning error, if thought upon too hard, he will see the fault in it.
As for functioning in the army, how is that an issue? I know plenty of soldiers who enjoy metal, including the black variety. The lyrics again, aim more at overcoming ones obstacles, and being free. For example, take Gaahl of Gorgoroth, or Varg Vikernes of Burzum - they may sound "satanic" but at least one of them is Pagan. It is the same with many bands. They use the name of Satanism in the general sense of one who opposes christanity, and not logic and reason. In fact, to say that any human is a son of god is ridiculous - even you can agree to that. Again, Satan is just an image of Arche-type of freedom from notions, reasoning for oneself, and thinking of everything one has learned anew. Something that christanity does not allow - but Islam, as far as I can tell, does.
Again, blaming Funeral Doom for your depression is not quite correct - I daresay, for people who actually like the music and play it, hearing it is a relief - they know that they can let that emotion out and move on. That is how it is for me - I am lightened when I hear the music because I know someone else feels the same way.
I mean NO disrespect in the above, and is simply my viewpoint. I would like to add that I am not muslim, but I am trying to use my God-given sense of reason to reach a point of logic.
Interesting. Of course, reasoning is innate to mankind. And Islam promotes reasoning. As you progress in your studies of Islam, you will, however, realize that Islam is also submission to Allah (swt). In other words, if something which Allah (swt) has said does not seem reasonable to us, we do not reject it as submitters to Allah. Important: one has to use their intellect/reason/logic/mind 100% to establish that there is a God and that God is Allah and He chose Islam to send His message. Submission part comes once reason has guided the mankind to realization.
Sure, funeral doom metal felt like my savior. It talked to the hurt emotions which the world kicks around and does not care about. It stimulated my thinking and artistic skills too. I found that I wrote amazing poetry when I was in "trance stages" while listening to doom metal. Shape of Despair, Katatonia, Rapture, Insomnium, Agalloch, all of them seemed to understand me better than humans. But, metal's harmful effects are also visible to me now as I sit here looking back at my past. Maybe not everyone will face these effects, I certainly did. And that is what my post was about.
Satanism in metal might have some links to promoting free reasoning. It surely is a response to the Christian ideologies. Just like how Enlightenment in Europe followed Inquisition and Protestant Reformation. It seems to be more of a rebellious response. Maybe a sarcastic way to rebelling against Christian ideologies? It's very clear in the videos of Dimmu Borgir, songs by Burzum and Behemoth.
May Allah help and guide your search towards reality.
Last edited by CosmicPathos; 12-30-2009 at 11:33 AM.
Help me to escape from this existence
I yearn for an answer... can you help me?
I'm drowning in a sea of abused visions and shattered dreams
In somnolent illusion... I'm paralyzed
Interesting. Of course, reasoning is innate to mankind. And Islam promotes reasoning. As you progress in your studies of Islam, you will, however, realize that Islam is also submission to Allah (swt). In other words, if something which Allah (swt) has said does not seem reasonable to us, we do not reject it as submitters to Allah. Important: one has to use their intellect/reason/logic/mind 100% to establish that there is a God and that God is Allah and He chose Islam to send His message. Submission part comes once reason has guided the mankind to realization.
Sure, funeral doom metal felt like my savior. It talked to the hurt emotions which the world kicks around and does not care about. It stimulated my thinking and artistic skills too. I found that I wrote amazing poetry when I was in "trance stages" of doom metal. But, its harmful effects are also visible to me. Maybe not everyone will face these effects, I certainly did. And that is what my post was about.
May Allah help and guide your search towards reality.
Thanks again.
I am in no way saying you are weak - but that everyone takes things differently. I'm sure you can understand
I will continue my studies, my Qur'an should be here in first week of Jan.
A bit late, but welcome to the forum. I pray you get guided to the straight path - don't let minor things affect your belief, e.g. music. Look inside the religion, at the basics, first, and then go deeper. I would advice to start off with the Qur'aan.
Also, to listen to this and read the subtitles also;
A bit late, but welcome to the forum. I pray you get guided to the straight path - don't let minor things affect your belief, e.g. music. Look inside the religion, at the basics, first, and then go deeper. I would advice to start off with the Qur'aan.
Also, to listen to this and read the subtitles also;
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