Problems becoming muslim

Skillganon said:
I never heard about the monk story, can you please include it, or provide a reference. I am interested. Thank's.
Click to expand...
Short of copying huge parts out of the book am reading, I will have to look for links on the web.

I believe the monk's name was Bahera, who prophesied that Muhammed was a prophet. he is also said to have told Muhammed about Christianity - but accordig to Christian views o this his teaching was somewhat dubious!

If I find a link, I will share it here ...

peace. :thankyou:
 
glo said:
I have had time to read a little further.
Muhammad's childhood certainly was not an easy one. Being fostered to several familt members after his mother's death. First his grandfather, then his uncle (did I remember that right?)
... still reading! :)

peace.
Click to expand...
Well, I have read some more.

I certainly understand now that Muhammed was not 'a man, who went into a cave and came out with a new religion' - as I may have previously indicated! :hiding: :rollseyes

He is said to have received divine revelations for a period of years.

It was interesting to read that whilst Islam was developing over this period of years, Muhammed also had increasing contact with Jews and Christians, which in turn increased his understanding of these older religions and their scriptures.
For example, the idea that the Arab tribes were descendents of Ishmael, therefore linking Muslims directly to Abraham, does not seem to have come through direct divine revelation, but was an idea long held by the local Jews.

I am now reading about attacks on caravans, and bloody battles in the desert, which is a tough read! :uhwhat

Sorry, if I am sounding rushed, but I have to go.

perhaps more later ... :thankyou:

peace.
 
Bismillah

My opinion is that many are afraid of being seen as a Muslim, by the others. For fear of physical, mental, or emotional harm.

That the Islamic way of life is too demanding.

For the Christians, getting over the brainwashing that Isa Ibn Maryam (as) was not killed nor crucified and that he was merely a messenger of Allaah (ta ala).

Perhaps, they do not know any Muslims or a local Masjid.

Lastly, they are indecisive about the truth and they believe that Islam is a exotic faith that are only for an exclusive people.
 
glo said:
Well, I have read some more.

I certainly understand now that Muhammed was not 'a man, who went into a cave and came out with a new religion' - as I may have previously indicated! :hiding: :rollseyes

He is said to have received divine revelations for a period of years.

It was interesting to read that whilst Islam was developing over this period of years, Muhammed also had increasing contact with Jews and Christians, which in turn increased his understanding of these older religions and their scriptures.
For example, the idea that the Arab tribes were descendents of Ishmael, therefore linking Muslims directly to Abraham, does not seem to have come through direct divine revelation, but was an idea long held by the local Jews.

I am now reading about attacks on caravans, and bloody battles in the desert, which is a tough read! :uhwhat

Sorry, if I am sounding rushed, but I have to go.

perhaps more later ... :thankyou:

peace.
Click to expand...

Bismillah

Greetings,

Of course, the unbelievers would claim he wrote the Qur'an and that he was possessed and all these other conjectures wailed against Muhammad (pbuh).

I am also reading about the the early church and its creeds which are radically different from today's christianity.
 
Isa Abdullah said:
Bismillah
Click to expand...
I gotta ask ... what does that word mean?
Greetings,

Of course, the unbelievers would claim he wrote the Qur'an and that he was possessed and all these other conjectures wailed against Muhammad (pbuh).
Click to expand...
Please understand that I am not being critical.
I am trying to learn about Islam, and try to share my thought-processes with this forum, as I read.
I was very careful when I chose the book I am reading. It describes the life of Muhammed in a very neutral and respectful way. It is not written by a Muslim, but it was received in a positive way by the Muslim News. It certainly isn't written in an agressive anti-Islam manner!
I figured if I wanted to gain an objective picture of Muhammed, I should avoid overly religious writings to start with.

I am also reading about the the early church and its creeds which are radically different from today's christianity.
Click to expand...
I read a book on the history of Christianity recently. Quite a read, that was! :rollseyes
So we are learning together ... :thankyou:

Blessings.
 
Glo, bismillah means "In the name of God" :)
 
Last edited:
For me the bigest barrier was trust.
when believeing you have to have trust. And I don't give that easely.
And obviously religion has to make complete sense. No loose ends.
those were the major barriers. All other barriers seem futile. You either believe or you don't. If someone does believe, but take a certain rule as a barrier not to believe, then they are lying to themselfs.
 
glo said:
I gotta ask ... what does that word mean?

Please understand that I am not being critical.
I am trying to learn about Islam, and try to share my thought-processes with this forum, as I read.
I was very careful when I chose the book I am reading. It describes the life of Muhammed in a very neutral and respectful way. It is not written by a Muslim, but it was received in a positive way by the Muslim News. It certainly isn't written in an agressive anti-Islam manner!
I figured if I wanted to gain an objective picture of Muhammed, I should avoid overly religious writings to start with.


I read a book on the history of Christianity recently. Quite a read, that was! :rollseyes
So we are learning together ... :thankyou:

Blessings.
Click to expand...

bismillahir rahmanir rahim

Greetings, Glo

It is very commendable that you are interesting in learning about Islam and from a neutral standpoint. I am learning about the Judaic and Christian faith as well. Interesting, however, if I came across beligerent that was not my intent.
 
I haven't posted on this site for a long time. I've been doing a lot of reading and contemplating Islam.

The biggest factor keeping me from embracing Islam is the comparisons I've made between Jesus and the prophet Mohammed. Maybe I'm wrong in my interpretations of the prophet (maybe it's just that a lot of Islamic authors are wrong in their interpretation :? ). The fact still remains that I am not drawn toward Islam due to some of the actions of the prophet Mohammed. I understand how this can be a disrespectful statement for those of you that love and revere your prophet. I do not mean to be disrespectful, just honest.
 
i was wondering where are you searchingsoul...everytime i log in.

glad you're back.
 
Welcome back searching soul. I thought we had 'lost' you. :thankyou:
 
searchingsoul said:
I haven't posted on this site for a long time. I've been doing a lot of reading and contemplating Islam.

The biggest factor keeping me from embracing Islam is the comparisons I've made between Jesus and the prophet Mohammed. Maybe I'm wrong in my interpretations of the prophet (maybe it's just that a lot of Islamic authors are wrong in their interpretation :? ). The fact still remains that I am not drawn toward Islam due to some of the actions of the prophet Mohammed. I understand how this can be a disrespectful statement for those of you that love and revere your prophet. I do not mean to be disrespectful, just honest.
Click to expand...
I have been thinking about your post ever since I read it.

I have done a fair bit of reading about Muhammed and Islam, both in this forum and in other books. I have deliberately stayed away from anti-Islamic books, because I wanted to be able to cast a fair judgement.

I have to admit (and, just as searchingsoul says, I am just being honest, not trying to be disrespectful!) that I have not seen or read anything that would make me believe that the Qur'an is from God.
If anything, the whole idea of having revelations over 23 years, which shape your religion and community, seems rather ... well slick (can't think of a better word)

For example I seem to remember reading that Muhammed wanted to marry a certain women, who he wasn't allowed to marry ... and, hey, presto ... he receives a revelation to say it is okay for him to do so.
Perhaps I'm too cynical ... but that just seems too convenient for me. :rollseyes (Don't ask me to reference this. The book is back at the library. It was a reputable book, so I don't think this story is made up :? )

A lot of the Jewish/Christian ideas in the Qur'an (for example, that the Arab tribes are decendants of Ishmael) were based on teachings within the local Jewish and Christian communities at Muhammed's time - with whom Muhammed had regular contact. Where, I wonder, is the divine revelation?

I am neither trying to criticise your beliefs, nor am I seeking for answers for those questions.
In line with the thread title 'Problems becoming a muslim' I amd just trying to explain my personal view.

I come across non-Christians who say things like 'I just don't get the trinity' or 'Christianity just doesn't sound true to me'. They don't get it ... and in turn I don't get why they don't get it! :rollseyes :giggling:
Because to me, Christianity is the most logical thing in the world!! :giggling:
But I had to realise and accept that not all people share this view with me!

Similarly I have to admit, that I just don't get Islam. Nothing I have learned about it has given me the sense that it has any divine spark or any life in it. :X
Perhaps the problem with becoming a muslim is, that either Islam speaks to you, or it doesn't ...

I would go as far as saying, that if I didn't believe in Jesus' divinity, I would have to become a Jew, not a Muslim. :rollseyes

I hope you all know me well enough by now to allow me to be this honest!

Peace to you all - whatever you believe in life! :statisfie
 
glo said:
For me as a Christian it has nothing to do with wearing a hijab or following all those Islamic rules. I gather that many Muslims think following Islam is hard, and therefore people shy away from it.

For me it is simply that I don't believe Muhammed's teachings to be true.
I don't mean to offend anybody when I say that (please forgive me, if this is offensive to you!)
I have read many threads, explanations and information on this board, since I joined some weeks ago. And nothing I have read has convinced me in any way that Muhammed's teachings are the word of God ... whereas reading the Bible has convinced me that Jesus is the son of God, and salvation lies in believeing in him and following his way.

If I believed that Muhammed's teachings were the true word of God, I would probably find it quite easy to adopt and follow his laws.
So I don't think it has anything to do with having to dress and behave in certain ways. Rather it is to do with the Qu'ran not speaking to my heart and soul in the same way the Bible does.

I hope this doesn't upset any Muslim readers here ... I am just saying honestly what I feel. :thankyou:

Peace. :)
Click to expand...
hey glo-what you said is interesting but can i ask one thing?
have you read an actual copy of the whole quran itself? from beg to end?

peace
 
Marya1 said:
hey glo-what you said is interesting but can i ask one thing?
have you read an actual copy of the whole quran itself? from beg to end?

peace
Click to expand...
Nope, not yet. :)

I guess your next response would be that if I read the Qur'an, I would catch the divine spark and have a personal revelation?
I'm guessing this, because that's exactly what I would say to people about the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Thing is, it doesn't (always) seem to work that way.
I know people who have read the Bible and Qur'an back to front several times without ever catching religion! :rollseyes So there must be more to it than that.

Nice talking. :thankyou:
Peace.
 
I'm a proud muslim, and I think religion is easy if you don't complicate things and actually deote yourself
 
Hijrah said:
I'm a proud muslim, and I think religion is easy if you don't complicate things and actually deote yourself
Click to expand...
A religion makes sense to those who follow it ... but not to those who look in from the outside. :?

Peace.:)
 
:salamext:


On my opinion, alot of people from other religions may see a basic translation of the Qur'an - but they don't realise its beauty and its depth within the arabic language.

If anyones interested, they could listen to some recitations of the Qur'an in arabic and you'll realise a sign of its beauty insha'Allaah.


http://quran.jalisi.com

That recitors my favourite recitor - sa'ad al ghamdi :)


Peace.
 
Last edited:

Similar Threads

Back
Top