About us and why we're registering onto a Muslim forum

[stephenc]

Welcome to the forum, I think woodrow all ready mentioned it, but a list of halal food outlets is pretty important.

Thanks Squiggle, I've been trying to locate them but am running into problems. I've emailed the local mosque in Belfast a few days ago and previously a few weeks ago but still havn't got a reply. I'll maybe give them a ring, I just thought an email was less invasive

 

[stephenc]

Some very useful pointers there MustafaMc, thanks for this

 

[stephenc]

Seems like an amazing city selsebil, pity we only had 1 day in it. The visit to the Blue Mosque made it special for us though and the time we spent with Suleyman. Maybe we'll return some time...

 

[stephenc]

Thanks Zafran, peace

 

[stephenc]

Out of curiosity, does the area have a large Muslim population?

Thanks Muhammed, there's quite a small Muslim population in Belfast and N.Ireland and in fact there is only 1 mosque called Belfast Islamic Centre which is located around half a mile from us. Its just that we've been getting more Muslim guests recently and I'm not sure why, though I think its probably because we are self catering which means there is a fully equipped kitchen for them to prepare their food in

 

[stephenc]

Thanks to all who posted here in reply to my introduction and apologies if I've missed anyone out

Before the moderator expels me for posting on the wrong forum continuosly I'll open a new thread shortly in the 'Importance & Etiquettes of Seeking Knowledge' forum. Once again, thanks to all who replied

 

[MustafaMc]

Stephen, have you read the Quran or studied Islam?

 

[stephenc]

I havn't read the Quran MustafaMc, nor have I studied Islam other than to read a book called 'Islam - Spirit and Form' by Osman Nuri Topbas which Suleyman gave me as a kind gift at the Blue Mosque. It was while my wife and I were walking beside the mosque that we were invited with others to attend his presentation. It was very enlightening in that up to then we had greeted Muslim guests in our accommodation but (apologies) didn't know the difference between Islam and any other religion

I read the book from cover to cover and was surprised how many similarities it has to the Christian faith which I was brought up in. There were some parts I was unhappy with but I know its wrong to criticise the religion so I won't go there, but its safe to say I have a much better idea than what I had a few weeks ago

The religion (Islam) is very charitable, honourable, true, generous and caring though I'm sure most religions are like that and they all have a few 'bad apples' which badly reflect

I hope I'm not offending anyone by saying that one of the issues I've problems with in any religion is that 'God' created man only to worship him; some might say this was a selfish purpose for one so almighty - but I'm not going to go further with this as it could be considered offensive (apologies if it is) and its the wrong forum to take this forward

 

[MustafaMc]

Stephen, perhaps you may want to start a thread under comparative religion for your questions. Your presence here is an opportunity to learn more about Islam. If you have legitimate concerns and questions about what Islam teaches then you are welcome to bring those forward if (and I believe you can) you can present them in a respectful manner.

Regarding the reason why we were created to worship God, I think it answers a basic human question for his existence. My take on the verse you mentioned is that we were created in a manner that we have the choice to worship God, or not. We were not created as robots like the angels to always do the will of God, but rather every day we Muslims choose between submitting to His will, or not. I have made the decision to follow Prophet Muhammad (saaws) in what I believe about God and the unseen and in how I live my life, including how I worship God. I am not one to even approach understanding God's motives for creating humans to worship Him; however, I choose this Path and I hope in the promised reward for those who do.

 

[stephenc]

Thanks MustafaMc, firstly apologies in my earlier reference to the word 'selfish' - I think demanding might have been a more appropriate word and no disrespect was intended

If I can find the time, I'm going to read into some of the posts entered into the various forums in order to further understand the religion. I totally agree with you that we as mere mortals cannot have the understanding to deal with such complex issues but we are given the power of thought and reasoning and our mind inevitably explores these issues

I wonder what sort of percentage of followers from any religion they have been brought up in leave it and join another religion and if there are any lessons to be learn there?

Life is such a mystery ...

 

[MustafaMc]

Stephen, honest questions are fair game, but at the same time there will always be questions that we can't intellectually answer such as "Which came first, the chicken or the egg?", "Can God create a stone so heavy that He can't pick it up?", and "What is the nature of the soul?"

An example of this kind of questioning is this thread, "Is Allah Fair?":
http://www.islamicboard.com/clarifications-about-islam/134303631-allah-fair.html#post1404014

I am sure that the percentage of people who convert to a religion different from what they were raised is very low. My wife and I are the only Muslims in our families of mostly Baptist denomination of Christianity. This actually touches upon a hard question that I have, "What merit could I possibly have had such that God chose to guide me to Islam from among the masses of misled Americans?"