Being Muslim

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I thank you. Music is a HUGE issue for me because it is such a big part of who I am and how I worship. I was about 18 months old when I first started singing! I play 8 musical instruments and I play them all for the glory of God. I don't listen to secular music. As a matter of fact I don't listen to radio or music much at all except when I am worshiping.

I was born a musician and that is a big part of who I am. I believe this is God's gift to me to be used to praise him and communicate with him. I don't know what I'd do if I could not sing and play music to my Creator!
 
caroline said:
I thank you. Music is a HUGE issue for me because it is such a big part of who I am and how I worship. I was about 18 months old when I first started singing! I play 8 musical instruments and I play them all for the glory of God. I don't listen to secular music. As a matter of fact I don't listen to radio or music much at all except when I am worshiping.

I was born a musician and that is a big part of who I am. I believe this is God's gift to me to be used to praise him and communicate with him. I don't know what I'd do if I could not sing and play music to my Creator!
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I will advise you to be certain who your creator is, which is his book, gain enough certainty, then find out what he wants you to do.
 
I am certain who my Creator is. My Creator is God, Allah, the One God, the only God, the Creator of Heaven and Earth. There is none like him, none equal, not even close. And I know that he created me with music in my heart. I never took a single piano lesson but when I arrived at university I tested out of two years of music theory with advance standing. That is a gift of Allah. That is something you're born with. Of this, I am certain.

:)

And very very thankful!
 
:sl:

Have you ever tried listening to Nasheeds [sort of like Islamic songs, but with meanings and hopefully no music]? or even the Quraan?

If you would like any links let me know :)

:w:
 
I listen to some of that on youtube. I also like to listen to things like the song "Allah Knows" and beautiful songs like that. I like hearing the call to prayer. They fill me with such awe. I love the vocal music since I am primarily a singer, but I don't think there is anything wrong with a violin or a piano any more than there is with a car. It all depends on where you let it take you. You can drive it to the mosque or to the bar -- in one case it's a good thing and takes you nearer to Allah and in the other case it is an instrument of sin and degradation.

I guess almost anything is like that, even our faith.
 
:sl:

I listen to some of that on youtube. I also like to listen to things like the song "Allah Knows" and beautiful songs like that. I like hearing the call to prayer. They fill me with such awe. I love the vocal music since I am primarily a singer, but I don't think there is anything wrong with a violin or a piano any more than there is with a car. It all depends on where you let it take you. You can drive it to the mosque or to the bar -- in one case it's a good thing and takes you nearer to Allah and in the other case it is an instrument of sin and degradation.

I guess almost anything is like that, even our faith.
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I think music is like alcohol, in that alcohol can be a good thing, but because the bad things about it outweigh the good it is haraam. Hope you understand what i mean :)

Please forgive me if i have said anything wrong
 
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<Abdullah> said:
:sl:



I think music is like alcohol, in that alcohol can be a good thing, but because the bad things about it outweigh the good it is haraam. Hope you understand what i mean :)
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Yes I understand what you mean and I respect you and your belief. I do respectfully disagree, however. We use alcohol to cleanse wounds and heal our bodies just like I use music to cleanse the wounds of living in this world and give thanks to Allah. I would not drink the alcohol any more than I would use music to sully myself. It has a purpose and if that purpose is perverted it becomes destructive like so many of the other beautiful things Allah has given us.

It is the perversion of the gift that gives it the power to harm.

Like a friend said, I can use a hammer to build a house or knock you in the head with it. It doesn't make the hammer good or bad -- it's just a tool...

These things are only slaves to our intentions.
 
caroline said:
The difference in our stance could also be due to the fact that the bad has never outweighed the good in music for me because I have almost always used music exclusively for worship. I don't watch TV, I don't listen to radio, etc.. I play and sing worship music. That's probably a different experience than most people have with music.

:)
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From my point of view, music appeals to emotion, emotions cloud judgement, and leaves manking astray.

Also if Allah and His Messenger tell me not to do something, i wont do it without question. but we are allowed to question, Allah appeals to our reason many times in the Quran. hope i didnt get it wrong, please do verify before accepting.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0k9gdEAhYTo - Yusus Estes music in Islam.

But please dont let this put u off from Islam, atleast do accept the truth. On the day of judgement, i have heard from Anwar Awlakis talk - hearafter (please again to verify), that some people will have sinned sooo much, but just becuase of the testonomy of faith, the shahadah, just that alone will outweigh all the bad deeds, and he/she will enter paradise. So do your research, read the Quran, lectures, gain the certainty that this is the truth, then at least make the shahadah. Hope that helps
 
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Many Muslims compose long poems and songs in praise of Islam and especially Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu alaihi wa salaam). Nothing wrong with this, but if you truly love the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa salaam) you would follow what he taught. That is true love in my opinion, love which no lyrics or poems can truly express.
 
I want to clarify what I mean by "music." I am not talking about listening to songs on the radio and such. What I am talking about is when I stop at my piano and play worship music to Allah. I sing songs like "I worship you almighty God -- there is none like you..." Sometimes I just play the instrument because my feelings are beyond words. Many times I sit at my piano with my eyes closed and tears running down my face because of all that God has done for me. The music comes from a heart so full of worship and thanks to Allah that there is no other way to express my gratitude and love to Him.

That's what I am referring to when I say "music." I couldn't care less about what's on the radio. As a matter of fact, I can't stand it and NEVER have a radio on in my home or car. The only time I even have to hear that... well, that "stuff", is when I'm in a store and can't avoid it. But I don't like it then either and wish they'd turn it off.
 
caroline said:
The difference in our stance could also be due to the fact that the bad has never outweighed the good in music for me because I have almost always used music exclusively for worship. I don't watch TV, I don't listen to radio, etc.. I play and sing worship music. That's probably a different experience than most people have with music.

:)
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:sl:

Well caroline it's not your fault, you've been bought up like this, you been playing music since you were very little so you are used to it. Obviously it will be very hard to give up. It would be the same for any other person. You'll understand this more better when you will get even closer to god, one day you will see that you were making such a big mistake.
 
First let me say that I am not trying to be argumentative and I appreciate all the counsel I receive here... I have the utmost respect for you all. But I have to be honest about my questions in order to make informed decisions.

So, back to the topic:

What about King David and the Psalms?
 
Salaam alaykum Caroline,

Music is a fun topic of discussion and debate among Muslims - some scholars have ruled that is forbidden, based on evidences from our scriptural texts, and others have come to the conclusion it is not forbidden. The majority consider it forbidden, and I personally follow that opinion.

However, I would not really give too much time or thought to the issue - I'd prefer to focus on the issue of God Himself, and whether Muhammad (peace be upon Him) was a Prophet of Allah. If this is what you believe in, then simply officially take the shahadah (if you haven't already) and welcome to Islam, to submitting yourself completely to the commandment of Allah.

And, I'd say pray for husband as well, and call invite him too. It sounds like you're both on the same page, you just need that little nudge - maybe he wants to become Muslim and is wondering how you'd react, you never know ;)

So, have you taken your shahadah? And if not, could you? Like, right now?
 
Peace Caroline,

Subhanallah your post is so heart-warming, inshaa Allaah Allaah Ta'ala will guide you further into becoming a full-fledged Muslim. Besides, you're already half way there aye? I understand the discontent that you feel with your Christian faith, and as Muslims it is praised to seek knowledge. So keep seeking knowledge in Islaam and inshaa Allaah you'll say your shahada and feel peace inside your heart.

When I started praying again, reciting du'aas and being an overall better Muslim I started feeling peace inside of me. There were less worries because I know that Allaah wills everything to happen.
 
Thank you all for your help and guidance.

My husband and I watched the documentary, "Inside Islam" last night. He was very moved and afterwards he said, "There are so many really good things about that religion but my faith is firm in the salvation of Jesus on the cross."

For me, I know my husband is a God loving, God fearing man and he will come to the right conclusion. I will leave that up to God to finish. And then I will follow my husband.

As for the music, I guess I stumbled on a question that is sort of a hot topic. So I will leave it alone and trust God to show me what is right.

I do have a few hesitations about the practice and beliefs of Islam and have not officially stated the... oh, what did you call that? First of all, I am waiting on God to show me through my husband if this is the right path for us. Second, I am still uncomfortable with the was Jesus is portrayed as not so important in Islam. It seems that Mohammed is glorified and Jesus is sort of ignored.

I'm being honest because I need to know, so I hope I am not offending anyone. Please forgive me if I do.

And I am not yet certain about Mohammed. What I have learned about him so far has made me love him and the things he taught, but I am still very devoted to Jesus and consider him the Messiah of God and I fear that Islam would force me to put Mohammed above Jesus. That is not feeling right for me.

But I continue to read and learn about Mohammed and the more I learn the more I love him. Do I believe he was a true prophet of the one God, Allah? YES. I do believe that he was a true prophet because he declared that Jesus Christ was the Messiah and that is the criteria I've always known to be able to distinguish a true prophet from a false prophet. Those are the two basic beliefs and I can say YES that I do believe those two things.

Some of the other details are still problematic for me and I don't want to do the wrong thing. I especially don't want to lead my husband down a wrong path. He is a very good man and quite impressionable when it comes to me. Whatever I bring to him he will honor and so I have to be very very careful about what I bring to him in order not to abuse the power I have over his heart.

He watched the documentary and now knows more about Islam. He said he did believe that of the two religions (Islam and Christianity) that the Muslims were far more devoted to God.

One more question.

What about people who convert OUT of Islam? Is it true that they can be prosecuted by law?

I will be very honest and frank. I don't want to enter into anything lightly. Especially if its something I can never get out of. And I certainly don't want to do anything that could possibly lead my husband into Hell. I would die first.

Respectfully,

c
 
It's prayer time. I downloaded that software that gives the call to prayer at the times in my town. I don't know what any of it means but I love hearing it. And I just say my own prayer and think about the fact that over a billion people are praying at the same time all around the world.
 
Hi Caroline,

May I advice you that you do not focus at this moment what Islaam forbids and what it does not rather focus on the very fundamentals of Islaam which is Tawheed, Oneness of God. Who is Allaah? What is Islaam? What is the purpose of life? Who is Muhammad?

Once you gain understanding of that then it will be easy for you to do the rest of acts/worship and abstain from all the Islaam forbids and do all that Islaam commands.

Focus on the fundamentals Islaam and do not look towards what the people say pick up the book of Allah Al-Qur’an and the Tafsir (explanation of the Qur’an) and hold fast on to that and take that as your main source and reference point. Today every can talk about Islaam and but only few follow the true Islaam and the true islaam is that of the Qur’an, the sunnah according to the understanding of the sahabah (companions of the prophet).

If you want to learn a bit more about Islaam feel free to PM maybe we can talk via MSN :)
 
Oh, one other things my husband said while watching that documentary on Islam. When they were talking about the rise of militant groups and strife within Islam he simply said, "Persecution has done that." and shook his head in sympathy. He understands that people who are persecuted will often be overtaken by anger and frustration.
 
Thank you so much.

I was up till almost 4am this morning. I kept going to bed but I couldn't sleep. I read the words of Jesus in the Bible and how he called God "your father" whenever he was talking to the believers. I thought, well if Jesus thought of himself as the only son of God, why does he call all believers sons of God. It's being used figuratively...

on and on I thought and thought and could not sleep. Finally at about 3:45 I went and took some medication to help me sleep.

I feel a worry in my husband and a little distance between us and I don't like that. I also feel very confused sometimes because I wonder if I am going down a wrong path, getting lost somehow. And yet I feel so drawn to Islam. I am more than curious about it. I spend most of my waking hours thinking or reading about Islam.. wondering about it. It's like a hunger.

Part of me wants to just turn the clock back and go back to my old comfortable beliefs. But I know that won't work.

Thank you for your advice. I did pray that prayer and am going to pray more often, asking God for guidance in this. And after a couple more posts I'll be a full member and then I'll be able to private message with some of the sisters. That will probably help too.

Salaam
 

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