Greetings from the emrald isle

format_quote Originally Posted by beleiver

Ok, after some reflection and contemplation i decided to look at a map and a compass, that answers that one stupid question

And the other is being confirmed as the days pass, even when some thing good happens (like selling a car that has been for sale for ages) it can actually end up being quite bad, which is good as there is a potential lesson learned from some things that might at first seen to turn out bad if one takes time to reflect and be honest with ones self..Just need to keep the faith, and that faith will grow..

Any way suddenly find my self with more work i can shake a stick at, and that has to be good, even for a lazy yolk like my self..

Will try salah next, inshallah..And see if i can swap my bad habits for good ones...

It wasn't a stupid question at all, lol. I was actually trying to find a reliable website for finding the qibla as I don't use any myself....I just use my trusty compass as well.

Even when something bad might happen to us, it is for the best. Allah swt is the greatest of Planners, and sometimes from our limited perspective we can think something happening to us is 'bad' when it's actually good. Again, a wonderful hadith to illustrate that point:

“Amazing is the affair of the believer, verily all of his affair is good and this is not for no one except the believer. If something of good/happiness befalls him he is grateful and that is good for him. If something of harm befalls him he is patient and that is good for him” (Saheeh Muslim #2999

And, believe me, when you begin reading salah you will only find your faith increasing further.

Well, I'm not going to beat about the bush here and come straight to the point . If you believe there is no god but Allah, and that Muhammad is His Messenger, and that within Islam is a complete set of guidelines you would like to live your life by, why not say your Shahadah (the testimony of faith?)

From your words you just seem so close to truly 'believing' in Islam. There's no compulsion in religion of course, and if you have any doubts we'd be more than happy to address them here, but it is something worth thinking about, in'sha'Allah.

format_quote Originally Posted by beleiver

Thanks for your kind offer and asking what has been at the back of my mind for a while..I like the way you phrase it, as in guidelines rather than rules, and the fact you bring up that there is no compulsion in religion..It makes it more appealing put that way.

I suppose i have said in my improvised prayers that i believe in the one God Allah, and that Mohamed is his messenger..But not with the intention of becoming a Muslim, and for me intention is what counts..It is some thing at the back of my mind i can not deny..But i do still have doubts.

InshaAllah I will articulate those doubts so you can address them if you will..

Apologies for being so late, I hadn't realise you had replied.

Even as someone who is born a Muslim, doubts can sometimes creep into our mind. But it is important to understand that as people we have a rather limited perception, we can probably just see a couple of pixels here and there, but it is Allah swt who can see the whole picture and so when sets specific guidelines and commands, it is taking these into account.

Islam is an extremely rational religion, but a major part of any religion is faith. While most parts of Islam are quite easy to understand, it is when we have difficulty rationally explaining something that faith comes into play. When our limited logic as a human fails to understand God's law, we use our faith to inherently *know* that it is the best for us. That's what makes religion different from science - it isn't dependant on 'observable evidence' or our confined cultural perceptions.

format_quote Originally Posted by beleiver

If i testify to being a Muslim it makes me part of a large community or brotherhood? I suppose my main doubt is whether i would be accepted in that community due my interpretation of the Quran and understanding of certain issues might mot be inline with the mainstream view and might be at odds with scholars interpretations.

The other discussion i joined on this forum is a prime example..My interpretation and understanding still stands on the subject, but may be the issue i should be really discussing is what does Haram actually mean and how should it be enforced?
Are people permitted to use force and aggression to prohibit something another does to his own body that causes no harm to another?
Can people punish others if they are not a victim? or is it encouraged to punish people for victim less crimes?
If the only victim is the accused and he only harmed him self and potentially God, then surely God the most powerful force in the universe will do the punishing?

There are so many points to address here. But one thing I must say, there is one central understanding of the Qur'an and Sunnah - and as a Muslim community, as brothers and sisters to one another, it is our duty to gently remind each other to remain on the firm path.

With the different schools of thought, there is some difference of opinion on minor issues. But there is also a general agreement on most major issues and as Muslims we follow that general agreement. As lay Muslims, we shouldn't really be having our own opinions when it comes to practical matters of law. In a country like the UK, we want qualified judges to preside over the courts and qualified teachers to teach our children - not just anyone. And the same applies to Islamic law, those who have spent years studying are the ones qualified to 'teach' us regarding specific laws and rulings. If every one of us applied our own 'interpretation' of the Qur'an, there would be chaos.


And about enforcing haraam. People have greatly misunderstood Shariah laws as a kind of mob force which lynches sinners left right and centre. Nothing could be more wrong. It is a thorough and rigorous evidence-based system of justice. Yes, Muslims have abused it, but that's their own weakness. When someone does something to their own body, this is between them and Allah if they keep this sin to themselves. However, if this person goes out, telling everyone about their sin and seeking to justify it, that is when intervention is required. For example, someone may drink alcohol, if they don't go round advertising what they've done, they can't be punished by the authorities simply because nobody would know, but if they go around encouraging this harm to others, that's when someone might need to step in.

And I'll say this - when I say intervention it is by the authorities. As Muslims we aren't allowed to punish just anyone we see sinning, this is up to the official justice system, like in any other country.


I felt from that 'other' thread you were trying to read a little too much into the meaning the of Qur'anic verses - just read those verses without and 'lens' or 'filter', in'sha'Allah you'll see what they mean.

format_quote Originally Posted by beleiver

I have read the Quran about twice now and have my doubts whether the Muslim community in general is listening to and is guided by Gods word or second hand stories that Gods messenger allegedly said..

As Jesus and Mohamed both said , dont worship or obey us we are just messengers of God, obey God and no one else..Now that is what ressonates with me, so surely whats written in Quran is all that really matters?
If so, and I felt i would be welcomed into the Muslim community and not be judged by what i might consume, rather by my actions and deeds then i would say Shahadah right now..

These 'second hand stories' are something entirely different to the 'hadiths' which as Muslims we abide by. In the Qur'an, we are told by the word of Allah to follow the 'sunnah' of the Prophet Muhammad So when the word of God tells us to follow the example of the Prophet, which is know only via hadiths, then surely that is a form of obeying Him. And we don't exactly 'follow' hadiths, we use them to further our understanding of the Qur'an.

There are Muslims who may twist the truth, terrorists and despicable organisations like IS are an example, but they take many things way out of context and they have associated a very negative label with 'traditional' Islamic scholarship.

You will certainly be welcomed by the Muslim community, and even before you take your shahadah, you would be more than welcomed to discuss any issues or doubts you may have with any Muslims in your neighbourhood or local mosque. I think you'll feel a lot more certain once you have erased any doubts you have.

format_quote Originally Posted by beleiver

I would like to thank you again for your time and patience and giving me the opportunity to raise these points, here is probably a better place than the other thread for now.. may Gods blessings be upon ye..

And upon you.

Thank you again Noraina for your very rational reply..

I feel the need to clarify my position on Drugs in general so you and anyone reading may better understand where i am coming from.
I lived a kind of alternative lifestyle and have been well exposed to the drug scene..Lost many friends and family to alcohol, heroin, pharmaceuticals and combination of them all , but never saw any serious damage if any from even abuse of Cannabis..Though the family member will be a statistic against cannabis which couldn't be farther from the truth, he was another victim on the war on drugs , i have no doubt.

Now i dont want to promote cannabis or any drugs but just share my truth..
I first made contact with what i can only assume was God after a long period of no drugs around 16 years ago, i had previously spent years stoned all day every day and little time without..Since that time my life changed a great deal, i never gave it up but treated it with a different kind of respect..I have since experimented with meditation, mindfulness and prayer with and without drugs, cannabis being the only one i experimented with in a spiritual sense..
After a few years it became evident that continual smoking blocked that direct contact with God but didn't sever it all together..When people habitually smoke they loose the high and just smoke to feel normal or happy, which imho is a sin.
As the years went by i smoked less and less and found my connection to God grow, i have gone months without a smoke, then smoked purely to mediate and pray as an experiment to see if that 'high' you can only get when you haven't smoked for ages might in fact help that connection to God..Some of my most profound unexplainable synchronicity , affirmations have happened this way..It has been some of these experiences that brought me here and led me read the Quran.
Now of course do the same with alcohol or other damaging substance that covers the mind, like heroin and its not happening

After all my experience and observations, what you say above is instinctively how best i believe to deal with the issues of drugs or victim less crimes in general..Gently remind other to stay on the right path..As i have been doing and probably loosing friends, telling them they are wasting their time and money getting stoned day in day out, that they are better of finding their natural high, to try meditation, prayer and find God and respect the sacred herb, smoke it to get high , not to feel normal, if they find God and they wont need it..
Same with a smack/crack head in the town openly telling the youth how cool taking heroin is, time for some one to step in and have a word imho..

Will finish by saying i agree with the scholars, purity or mind is best of all to be closer to God, there is no doubt..

But spare a thought for the lost souls out there that have no direction, no god fearing community to guide them, the ones constantly bombarded with Satans propaganda, deception and lies and the struggle of living in the material debt based soulless world that doesn't care, the people brought up with tainted corrupt religions who turned away from God ..Those that take substances that open the mind rather than close it are the ones that might actually find the Truth one day..
Many, many people i know whether born again Christians, JWs, or Muslim converts are Ex Stoners or tripp heads, may be they will find the truth on their own, who knows , as God draws to him who he will..He knows best.

So these are the kind of lenses and filters i read the Quran with, I was not stoned for a long while when i read it, but marveled at the words used, and warnings given..

There are a load more issues and pointers that certain mind opening natural plants in Gods creation he might of intended for us to use in some circumstances one day, but alas i do not have time and really wanted to simply share my experiences and explain why this subject matters to me..

BTW , Its been two weeks now, I have done the night prayer every night, only missed one..I have managed at least one prayer in the day, up to three and feel like i am reaping the rewards..
Have been smoking less tobacco too and have thought about quitting that for the first time in years..

Still not learned the Arabic or the Salah, but feel its something to work towards, inshalla..

Spent some time reading about the science of the Hadiths, very interesting and raises questions best left for another day..

Till then , May Gods blessings be upon you..

Thank you for your input Reminder.

I try not to be too focused on Cannabis, I very seldom smoke it..What i am trying to do is put my doubts on embracing Islam into context.
My doubts being how is victim less haram treated in Islam?
Is the wests war on Drugs(humanity) popular among Muslims or should the problems drugs cause be treated differently, with more compassion, education and understanding?
The other being how far do we listen to scholars? Should we not listen to our hearts and minds and reflect and contemplate our experiences with gods guidance? Or is the word of the Scholars supreme? But wouldn't that be accepting partners with Allah, when we are told to listen to and obey only God?

We could go round and round in circles debating whether Cannabis is Toxic, even though aspirin and pharmaceuticals kill people every day, yet there are no known deaths in all recorded history due to cannabis intoxication..There are thousands of uses for the hemp plant other than medicinal and spiritual uses that have been known for thousands of years..There could indeed be a conspiracy among petro chemical and pharmaceutical multinational corporations to prohibit a cheap easy alternative that we could all profit from..But i dont have time to waste debating these issues for now.


This is not really the issue i want to discuss but rather who do we listen to regarding whats a sin and what isnt..
I think i read the question on IslamQA, to me it didn't address the assertion it is not Toxic, or the fact its safe effective medicine for many many people..
I dont know who is behind IslamQA , even if they are the most qualified scholars, i dont know them, surely i should listen to God through praying and reflection and contemplation and seek divine guidance, not people i dont know who claim to speak for him or act as his partner?

To clarify, i am not trying to promote drugs, nor saying to complete reject what scholars say, I actually agree that once the connection to God is made purity of the mind in its most natural state is best...And i most certainly agree habitual use of Cannabis is a sin.
I am just trying to find out what the general consensus is to my questions and doubts..

May Gods blessings be up you..

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