Wanting to convert to Christianity (URGENT!)

[The-Deist]

Assalamu alaikum.

So i have been looking into Christianity and got interested.

The thing is I am starting ti feel like Islam is more of a burden then pleasure or peace.

What should I do?

 

[Search]

:bism:



Hi, bro. (Btw, seriously not judging you, bro. Just want to understand and help.)

Hey, it is hard to counsel you when you haven't told you why you think it is a burden than pleasure or peace. So, why don't we start from then?

Then, we can kind of work our way to when you started first having these thoughts?

:wa:

 

[The-Deist]

:bism:



Hi, bro. (Btw, seriously not judging you, bro. Just want to understand and help.)

Hey, it is hard to counsel you when you haven't told you why you think it is a burden than pleasure or peace. So, why don't we start from then?

Then, we can kind of work our way to when you started first having these thoughts?

:wa:

I feel lie the praying and everything.

I feel like its just an obligation.

I don't feel probably any different while doing it than just hangin out with friends.

I don't have a spiritual connection to god.

And thats what I found in Christianity.

I know its a little corrupt.

And that is really my only problem.

But the thing is I don't like Islam either.

 

[Search]

I feel lie the praying and everything.

I feel like its just an obligation.

I don't feel probably any different while doing it than just hangin out with friends.

I don't have a spiritual connection to god.

And thats what I found in Christianity.

I know its a little corrupt.

And that is really my only problem.

But the thing is I don't like Islam either.

:bism:



I can understand that, bro. About the praying part feeling hard.

However, there's a good news: Something very similar was felt by a Companion r.a. and he came to the Prophet sallalahu alayhi wasallam and told him that the obligations of Islam were too much for him and to give him instead something easy which he can practice. And Prophet sallalahu alayhi wasallam advised the man to make zikr.

So, similarly, bro, if you are finding Islam too much, why don't you just do small zikr here and there? After all, trying can only benefit and absolutely no loss.

As to lack of spiritual connection to God, Prophet sallalahu alayhi wasallam also indicated to us from time to time we may feel too much spiritually low and the thing to do then is to ask Allah for a renewal of iman. Have you tried making that dua? Again, can only benefit.

I mean, you're here, asking for advice, right? So, that means you have doubts about what you think you might want to do.

Also, tell me about the spiritual connection you felt in Christianity.

Maybe I can help because, as my sheikh used to say, Islam is an ocean, and in order to get its pearls and gems, we have to dive.

:wa:

 

[The-Deist]

:bism:



I can understand that, bro. About the praying part feeling hard.

However, there's a good news: Something very similar was felt by a Companion r.a. and he came to the Prophet sallalahu alayhi wasallam and told him that the obligations of Islam were too much for him and to give him instead something easy which he can practice. And Prophet sallalahu alayhi wasallam advised the man to make zikr.

So, similarly, bro, if you are finding Islam too much, why don't you just do small zikr here and there? After all, trying can only benefit and absolutely no loss.

As to lack of spiritual connection to God, Prophet sallalahu alayhi wasallam also indicated to us from time to time we may feel too much spiritually low and the thing to do then is to ask Allah for a renewal of iman. Have you tried making that dua? Again, can only benefit.

I mean, you're here, asking for advice, right? So, that means you have doubts about what you think you might want to do.

Also, tell me about the spiritual connection you felt in Christianity.

Maybe I can help because, as my sheikh used to say, Islam is an ocean, and in order to get its pearls and gems, we have to dive.

:wa:

I can't really describe the connection.

But it was something beautiful.

Peaceful and safe.

 

[Abz2000]

Sounds quite funny actually, not as in funny-funny but ridiculous funny.
When people make the truth out to be a matter of choosing between sardines and mackerel where vendors are shouting bargains, or even tossing a coin.
Imagine seeing a person at a shop saying: i'd like a blue hat please, then the clerk pulls out a bunch of hats of different colours and starts presenting the blue ones, then he sees a bright red one and says i'll have that blue one because i like it and i have to get a blue one, then the bewildered clerk wraps it in a blue bag since the shop has different coloured bags for different coloured items.
Then he goes home and shows everyone and they tell him it's red.
But he tells them, stop being so obnoxious, they're my eyes and it's my mind and i have a right to choose what colour i see, and because they're all liberals, they all agree. Lol imagine a cop in such a land in pursuit describing a suspect......

God has given us an intellect for a reason, not so we say: this is the truth because i want it to be the truth, but so that we gather knowledge, think, then find the truth and accept it.

Or do they say, "He is possessed"? Nay, he has brought them the Truth, but most of them hate the Truth.
If the Truth had been in accord with their desires,
truly the heavens and the earth, and all beings therein would have been in confusion and corruption!
Nay, We have sent them their admonition, but they turn away from their admonition.
Or is it that thou askest them for some recompense?
But the recompense of thy Lord is best: He is the Best of those who give sustenance.

 

[ardianto]

By the way, he sounds like an awesome lil bro! Just letting everyone know!

I know. So I hope no one judge him.

In Shaa Allah, I'll be back with a post.

 

[Search]

:bism:

I know. So I hope no one judge him.

In Shaa Allah, I'll be back with a post.

In-sha-Allah.

 

[greenhill]

Strivingfordeen... I get the name now...

Have you watched Jeffrey Lang 'the Purpose of Life' on YouTube? Watch it.

Islam is a burden if we want to follow the 'ways of the material world.'

In simple terms, islam encourages us to maintain the highest moral codes of conduct, to be moderate about things.

Its teaching is for humanity, not for individual, it is set up for the building of communities, not individual.

Just curious, when you say you looked at Christianity, you are referring to the bible or the Christian way of life? What aspects of Christianity are you referring

eace:

 

[The-Deist]

I havent really looked much in the bible. But my grandparents (moms side) are Christian

 

[ardianto]

Assalamualaikum

I was born in a family that some of my maternal relatives are Protestant Christians. My relationship with my Christian relatives is always good. And just few months after I entered elementary school my family moved to a small city. Quality of schools in that small city were not good enough. But there was a good elementary school. A school that owned and operated by Catholic group from Franciscan order. So my parents registered me in that school. All of my teachers were females. Mostly were nuns.

I was a boy with 'difficult' personality in that time. Spoiled, and aggressive. I was easy to hit my friends just because little problem. I often fought. Of course I often punished by my teachers. Stood in front of class. However, my teachers also often invited me talk from heart to heart. Even sometime they came to my home at evening and gave me extra lesson. Later I turned into the better boy. I was not aggressive again and started to be loved by my friends.

My Catholic teachers gave big contribution in my personal development because they taught me love, they taught me care to the others, they taught me many things. Many things except one, Catholicism itself. Yes, whenever I remember them I always remember what mother Theresa has said that she just spread love, not religion.

That's why I always respect the nuns, whatever other people tell about them. Just like I always respect people from other religions too. I could see love in what those nuns have done. I could feel peace in what they have done. But, does it make me want to convert to Catholic?. No. I don't need to convert to Catholic because I can see love in Islam, I can feel peace in Islam too.

There is love in Islam. There is peace in Islam. But unfortunately this love and peace often hidden because incorrect method of teaching. We often taught to obey Allah, because if we don't, then Allah will punish us. But rarely we taught to obey Allah as act of grateful for the love that Allah has given to us. It make Allah look scary, not the love giver.

We often taught to give charity to the poor as obligation. But rarely we taught about charity as form of love to the poor and as form of grateful for what Allah has given to us. That's why we always feel hard to give charity. And when finally we give charity we urge Allah to give us sustenance dozens times bigger than charity that we have given.

But the worst is, there are many sheikh that use Islam as vehicle to carry their own agenda. Cultural agenda, political agenda, personal agenda. They never hesitate to use Islam to justify their agendas. It makes Islam often look confusing. Is Islam a religion or culture?. Is Islam a religion or political ideology?.

I will not judge you as weak in Iman just because you feel you have no connection with Allah, just because you don't see love and peace in Islam. Sometime I found case like this too. And I do not judge them.

To be honest, I am grateful because I learned Islam from teachers who taught me Islam through method of understanding that make me understand why I should do something, not method of indoctrination that makes me feel I should do something without understand why.

There are pearls in the ocean, but you would not realize it if you didn't know about pearl. There is love in Islam, there is peace in Islam. But you would not realize it if you didn't have love and peace in your hearts. So, try to grow love and peace in your heart, and throw out all hatred.

Notice yourself and try to realize how many blessing that Allah has given to you. Health, a home, opportunity to get education, etc. Can you see it as sign of love from Allah?. Then rebuild your connection with Allah again which based on love. Do salah because you love Allah, do zikr because you love Allah, not only because fear on hereafter punishment or only to get reward.

And do kindness to the others as form of grateful for what Allah has given to you. Feel a happiness when you can share a kindness to the other, and say Alhamdulillah.

This is what I always do. This is what make me can always feel the great love and peace in Islam.

 

[sister herb]

There are pearls in the ocean, but you would not realize it if you didn't know about pearl. There is love in Islam, there is peace in Islam. But you would not realize it if you didn't have love and peace in your hearts. So, try to grow love and peace in your heart, and throw out all hatred.

Salam alaykum

Thanks for your wonderful post. This idea of pearls put me to think that to reverts sometimes it might be easier to understand the beauty and love in Islam because many of us have had to make hard work first to understand Islam, then to struggle to find information and knowledge (sometime in very hostile environment for reverts) and also we have had to make that deep diving to the bottom of the ocean to find the pearl. Without it we might never became Muslims.

 

[AhmedGassama]

Be kind with him please, you need to understand his feelings before judging him...

 

[Insaanah]

As a reminder for us all, I'll restate the Islamic concept of God here:

There is only One God. He alone should be worshipped. He is our Creator, Sustainer, and Lord.

He does not beget, nor is He begotten. He has no sons, daughters, spouses, siblings, parents, cousins, or relatives of any sort.

He is eternal and does not die. He does not depend on anyone/anything yet we all depend on Him. He is free of all want and need.

There is nothing like Him. He is all Hearing, all Seeing, all Knowing, all Powerful, Incomparable, the Creator of the Universe.

He did not/does not, become flesh, dwell in human or animal bodies, nor are there any incarnations of Him. He is not mixed up in His creation in any way.

He is not composed of persons, nor a trinity. There are no secondary, lesser, greater, equal, or multiple gods, nor any intermediaries. And no denying of God's existence either.

There are no sharers, associates, persons or parts whatsoever in His exclusive Divinity. Simply, He is One, in every sense.

As you can see, the concept is clear, simple, logical, makes sense, and befits the Majesty of God.

Islam is about worshipping the creator, not the creation. It is about knowing Jesus (peace be on him) as God taught, not as Paul et al taught. Islam literally means to submit and to surrender. It also means to enter into peace. The idea is that you’re in peace with someone when you’re not fighting or opposing them. Islam is to enter into submission before God and so to enter into peace with Him, the most Wise and all-Powerful, the One whose Will the whole universe obeys. This is what the purpose of true religion has always been and what every man of God has called towards. And this is the call of every person’s nature too, and the reason you consider good as good and bad as bad. Islam is therefore to enter into peace with your own nature too. The beginning of this submission, Islam, in its outward form is to submit to the truth that you know inside yourself, that there is only one God, and bear witness to it. Everything apart from the Creator is, like yourself, a created being and always in need of its Maker, and therefore unworthy of your worship.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

All the prophets God sent to guide humankind taught that people the same message that God sent them to convey: that people should submit wholeheartedly to Allah and worship Him and Him alone, without any associates in, or parts to, His Exclusive Divinity, and to obey the prophet. They taught that people should be under no misperception that they can commit themselves to Allah as their Lord, and then combine this with accepting others as their Lord, or associating others in His Divinity, in whatever way. They taught that we should strive hard to translate our belief in the One True God into practice, by obeying Allah and the messengers He sent, who were also role models and examples for us, showing us practically how to put the guidance they were sent with into practice in our daily lives, explaining the scriptures, warning against wrong-doing, giving good tidings, and giving additional legislation from Allah.

So Islam is not a new faith, but is the same ultimate universal truth that God revealed to all the prophets, including Noah, Abraham, Moses and Jesus (peace be on them), and the same thing they all taught. Thus Islam is not named after a specific person (like Christianity, Buddhism), nor after a certain race or place (like Judaism, Hinduism), but is named by God Himself, the meaning loosely translating as 'submission to God', which is what every Prophet and their righteous followers did, from amongst all times, places and peoples. That in itself is one fraction of the evidence that it was the way of all the Prophets from the beginning.

With time, the message got forgotten or corrupted. So people started worshipping other gods along with Him, made idols, said that God begot a son, said that certain people were incarnations of God, some rejected belief in God altogether, while others elevated the status of some prophets to divine, or at the other end, rejected or blasphemed some of the prophets. Whenever God's message got distorted by people, or forgotten, a new messenger was sent, not with any new or changed message, but reinforcing the actual message that God sent all the messengers with, the actual core beliefs that people were taught from the beginning of humanity, confirming the true parts of previous teachings and scriptures, and correcting wrong beliefs and misconceptions that had crept in. God required that whenever He sent a new messenger, that messenger should be followed along with any new scripture given to him. This chain of messengers culminates in prophet Muhammad (peace on him), who is the last and final prophet and messenger. Since his prophethood, God's message is available unchanged and unadulterated, for the entire world, until the end of time. He wasn't sent as prophet and messenger for a specific group of people and specific time (e.g. as Moses and Jesus were to the Children of Israel), but he was sent for all the world, for all time, until the Day of Judgement. Thus he is the last, not first, prophet of Islam; a messenger to all mankind, for now, and for all time to come. He is the messenger who must now be followed.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Some people believe that there is a sense of overwhelming love, peace and joy and spiritual connection in Christianity, that is not found in Islam.

The sense of overwhelming love comes from this verse of the bible that is the missionaries' favourite:

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16)

They say that it is an act of the ultimate love, that God gave His son, for our sins. However, one has to look not very deep to see what the verse actually implies. It shows a God who did not forgive Adam (peace be on him) for eating from the tree, punishes other people for a sin they didn't commit, cuts off his relationship with them, makes them fall out of His grace, and makes them born into a state of sin, and then has to beget a son (who actually is him) killed in a torturous death to repair all of that. This is injustice ascribed to God. Also it limits God power. You see, in Islam, we believe that God forgives. God forgave Adam (peace be upon him), and guided him, and has sent guidance for us all, and can forgive us all, freely, when we repent sincerely and ask sincerely, resolving not to repeat past mistakes, and does not expect perfection from us, but simply for us to worship Him alone without any associates, persons or parts to His Exclusive Divinity, and to not ascribe divinity to anybody or anything else, and to do our very best and try our very hardest with all our heart, body and soul, to love and obey Him and the messengers He sent. His Mercy opening the doors to salvation and paradise.

Forgiveness does not require any type of sacrifice by God, or any purchase price. It is actually denigrating to God's Power that He should not be able to forgive or remove sins without begetting a son and then sacrificing the son. It ascribes imperfection to God. This is not forgiveness, but atonement. One thing pays the price for another. Perfection is being able to forgive, freely, abundantly, at will. That is perfection. Islam recognises God's power to forgive with just His Will. Some of the other religions seem to claim that forgiveness requires a purchase price and if we can't pay it, somebody else has to pay it on our behalf. In Islam, forgiveness comes without a purchase price or sacrifice. We do not/cannot: buy, sacrifice for, earn or steal it. It comes freely when we sincerely ask for forgiveness and truly repent, accepting God's will.

In Christianity, you go to God through Jesus (peace be on him). In Islam, we have a direct connection to God, at least five times a day plus more. What is more closer ad beautiful than that.

The joy they feel comes from believing that Jesus (peace be on him) died for their sins, and anything they do in this world is for joyful thanks. However, none of us can say, "We are saved". This is what the Day of Judgement is for. We strive with faith and deeds and obedience to God, do our best, and trust in His Promise, and His Justice, and hoping for His Mercy.

For Christians, this may be hard. They believe that by accepting Jesus (peace be upon him) as their saviour they have an assurance of salvation, and view the Islamic position on salvation as being one of uncertainty. As a rough (not exact) analogy, the Christian position, is like one sitting an exam, but somebody has said they'll take all your bad marks for you, and if you let them do that, you'll pass. In the world, this would be viewed as cheating and as unjust. Injustice cannot be ascribed to God. The Islamic position is that of one sitting an exam, doing their best, and then awaiting their results, based on what they've done, and of course hoping for the mercy of God.

We strive, and hope for God's Mercy and trust in Him, for none is more trustworthy than He, but for Christians, it is as though they must have a guarantee from God. We need no such guarantee, and do not feel in any way compromised by not having one, which is a key point where, as demonstrated, they try to catch Muslims. None of us would have a guarantee of passing an exam until we got our results, and this is no different. What greater thing is there than Gods Mercy? We try our best and hope for His Mercy and trust in His Promise, no guarantees needed, as He is not a human who will let us down, or be unjust, on the contrary we will not be wronged by even the spot on a date stone.

Please, let us know if this answers any of your queries.

May Allah keep you and us steadfast on the straight path and strengthen our faith in Him, ameen.

 

[KhalidDaPoet]

I'm going to be completely honest with you. And this may sound very logical but often people who practice any religion overlook it. THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A PERFECT HUMAN BEING. Because of this I can't judge you. I wouldn't anyways. But what I can say is that even in Christianity you will find 'Christians' who don't practice their religion fully. You will find Christians who don't even understand the bible. Previously you said u haven't really read it that much. So quickly I will sum it up for you. The bible has been changed on a yearly basis. Verses are taken out and some created by bishops and placed in. Also, the bible calls Noah or (Nuh) a drunk. Now as a Muslim, we know all the Prophets (peace be upon them all) were the best of mankind. So why would u switch to a religion that degrades the very people who you should look up to as role models. Lut for example in the bible is told to have let the people rape his daughters and the angels. Now Islam believes very highly of him. So why switch? If it is because the book, Quran verse bible than your making a mistake. The Quran has scientific miracles as in the two seas not mixing.

Lastly, about the connection to Allah (s.w.t). The previous posts were right. It is something that goes up and down demanding on the opinion. Other opinions say that stays the same but ur worship goes up and down. Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) at one time had a group come to him and say we will become Muslim but we only can pray twice right now. What did he do? prophet Muhammad (pbuh) accepted their shahada's. So if it feels overwhelming that is normal. being a revert myself, I understand that.

The connection with Allah (s.w.t) takes time and patience. it doesn't come right away. Sometimes you will fall while other times you will feel like nothing can stop you. The dunya, the life we live in makes us feel like that. I have been their myself. So overall, if it is textual evidence. U know in ur heart that the Qur'an is from Allah while the bible isn't the word of God (or at least now it isn't). If it is ur heart and connection to God, it takes time. Try making small dhikr like one person said. Say Alhamdilah 100 times one day. and the next Allah Akbar the following day. Start small.

In sha' Allah I hope this helped.

 

[OmAbdullah]

As a reminder for us all, I'll restate the Islamic concept of God here:

There is only One God. He alone should be worshipped. He is our Creator, Sustainer, and Lord.

He does not beget, nor is He begotten. He has no sons, daughters, spouses, siblings, parents, cousins, or relatives of any sort.

He is eternal and does not die. He does not depend on anyone/anything yet we all depend on Him. He is free of all want and need.

There is nothing like Him. He is all Hearing, all Seeing, all Knowing, all Powerful, Incomparable, the Creator of the Universe.

He did not/does not, become flesh, dwell in human or animal bodies, nor are there any incarnations of Him. He is not mixed up in His creation in any way.

He is not composed of persons, nor a trinity. There are no secondary, lesser, greater, equal, or multiple gods, nor any intermediaries. And no denying of God's existence either.

There are no sharers, associates, persons or parts whatsoever in His exclusive Divinity. Simply, He is One, in every sense.

As you can see, the concept is clear, simple, logical, makes sense, and befits the Majesty of God.

Islam is about worshipping the creator, not the creation. It is about knowing Jesus (peace be on him) as God taught, not as Paul et al taught. Islam literally means to submit and to surrender. It also means to enter into peace. The idea is that you’re in peace with someone when you’re not fighting or opposing them. Islam is to enter into submission before God and so to enter into peace with Him, the most Wise and all-Powerful, the One whose Will the whole universe obeys. This is what the purpose of true religion has always been and what every man of God has called towards. And this is the call of every person’s nature too, and the reason you consider good as good and bad as bad. Islam is therefore to enter into peace with your own nature too. The beginning of this submission, Islam, in its outward form is to submit to the truth that you know inside yourself, that there is only one God, and bear witness to it. Everything apart from the Creator is, like yourself, a created being and always in need of its Maker, and therefore unworthy of your worship.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

All the prophets God sent to guide humankind taught that people the same message that God sent them to convey: that people should submit wholeheartedly to Allah and worship Him and Him alone, without any associates in, or parts to, His Exclusive Divinity, and to obey the prophet. They taught that people should be under no misperception that they can commit themselves to Allah as their Lord, and then combine this with accepting others as their Lord, or associating others in His Divinity, in whatever way. They taught that we should strive hard to translate our belief in the One True God into practice, by obeying Allah and the messengers He sent, who were also role models and examples for us, showing us practically how to put the guidance they were sent with into practice in our daily lives, explaining the scriptures, warning against wrong-doing, giving good tidings, and giving additional legislation from Allah.

So Islam is not a new faith, but is the same ultimate universal truth that God revealed to all the prophets, including Noah, Abraham, Moses and Jesus (peace be on them), and the same thing they all taught. Thus Islam is not named after a specific person (like Christianity, Buddhism), nor after a certain race or place (like Judaism, Hinduism), but is named by God Himself, the meaning loosely translating as 'submission to God', which is what every Prophet and their righteous followers did, from amongst all times, places and peoples. That in itself is one fraction of the evidence that it was the way of all the Prophets from the beginning.

With time, the message got forgotten or corrupted. So people started worshipping other gods along with Him, made idols, said that God begot a son, said that certain people were incarnations of God, some rejected belief in God altogether, while others elevated the status of some prophets to divine, or at the other end, rejected or blasphemed some of the prophets. Whenever God's message got distorted by people, or forgotten, a new messenger was sent, not with any new or changed message, but reinforcing the actual message that God sent all the messengers with, the actual core beliefs that people were taught from the beginning of humanity, confirming the true parts of previous teachings and scriptures, and correcting wrong beliefs and misconceptions that had crept in. God required that whenever He sent a new messenger, that messenger should be followed along with any new scripture given to him. This chain of messengers culminates in prophet Muhammad (peace on him), who is the last and final prophet and messenger. Since his prophethood, God's message is available unchanged and unadulterated, for the entire world, until the end of time. He wasn't sent as prophet and messenger for a specific group of people and specific time (e.g. as Moses and Jesus were to the Children of Israel), but he was sent for all the world, for all time, until the Day of Judgement. Thus he is the last, not first, prophet of Islam; a messenger to all mankind, for now, and for all time to come. He is the messenger who must now be followed.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Some people believe that there is a sense of overwhelming love, peace and joy and spiritual connection in Christianity, that is not found in Islam.

The sense of overwhelming love comes from this verse of the bible that is the missionaries' favourite:

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16)

They say that it is an act of the ultimate love, that God gave His son, for our sins. However, one has to look not very deep to see what the verse actually implies. It shows a God who did not forgive Adam (peace be on him) for eating from the tree, punishes other people for a sin they didn't commit, cuts off his relationship with them, makes them fall out of His grace, and makes them born into a state of sin, and then has to beget a son (who actually is him) killed in a torturous death to repair all of that. This is injustice ascribed to God. Also it limits God power. You see, in Islam, we believe that God forgives. God forgave Adam (peace be upon him), and guided him, and has sent guidance for us all, and can forgive us all, freely, when we repent sincerely and ask sincerely, resolving not to repeat past mistakes, and does not expect perfection from us, but simply for us to worship Him alone without any associates, persons or parts to His Exclusive Divinity, and to not ascribe divinity to anybody or anything else, and to do our very best and try our very hardest with all our heart, body and soul, to love and obey Him and the messengers He sent. His Mercy opening the doors to salvation and paradise.

Forgiveness does not require any type of sacrifice by God, or any purchase price. It is actually denigrating to God's Power that He should not be able to forgive or remove sins without begetting a son and then sacrificing the son. It ascribes imperfection to God. This is not forgiveness, but atonement. One thing pays the price for another. Perfection is being able to forgive, freely, abundantly, at will. That is perfection. Islam recognises God's power to forgive with just His Will. Some of the other religions seem to claim that forgiveness requires a purchase price and if we can't pay it, somebody else has to pay it on our behalf. In Islam, forgiveness comes without a purchase price or sacrifice. We do not/cannot: buy, sacrifice for, earn or steal it. It comes freely when we sincerely ask for forgiveness and truly repent, accepting God's will.

In Christianity, you go to God through Jesus (peace be on him). In Islam, we have a direct connection to God, at least five times a day plus more. What is more closer ad beautiful than that.

The joy they feel comes from believing that Jesus (peace be on him) died for their sins, and anything they do in this world is for joyful thanks. However, none of us can say, "We are saved". This is what the Day of Judgement is for. We strive with faith and deeds and obedience to God, do our best, and trust in His Promise, and His Justice, and hoping for His Mercy.

For Christians, this may be hard. They believe that by accepting Jesus (peace be upon him) as their saviour they have an assurance of salvation, and view the Islamic position on salvation as being one of uncertainty. As a rough (not exact) analogy, the Christian position, is like one sitting an exam, but somebody has said they'll take all your bad marks for you, and if you let them do that, you'll pass. In the world, this would be viewed as cheating and as unjust. Injustice cannot be ascribed to God. The Islamic position is that of one sitting an exam, doing their best, and then awaiting their results, based on what they've done, and of course hoping for the mercy of God.

We strive, and hope for God's Mercy and trust in Him, for none is more trustworthy than He, but for Christians, it is as though they must have a guarantee from God. We need no such guarantee, and do not feel in any way compromised by not having one, which is a key point where, as demonstrated, they try to catch Muslims. None of us would have a guarantee of passing an exam until we got our results, and this is no different. What greater thing is there than Gods Mercy? We try our best and hope for His Mercy and trust in His Promise, no guarantees needed, as He is not a human who will let us down, or be unjust, on the contrary we will not be wronged by even the spot on a date stone.

Please, let us know if this answers any of your queries.

May Allah keep you and us steadfast on the straight path and strengthen our faith in Him, ameen.

Masha-Allah, very good explanation. It is perfect.

I just want to inform seriously and sincerely, that we all are obligated to accept Islam and follow it because Allah said clearly in the Holy Qur'aan that to Allah the only acceptable Deen (Religion) is Islam. It is only here in this world that we have freedom of choice. But along with that free choice we are clearly informed that Allah doesn't like kufar (unbelief in Islam) for HIS servants. Along with that Allah has informed us about the horrible chastisement in Hell which shall be everlasting for the unbelievers. So we must be sincere and merciful to our own self. Every one must realize that Allah is very Great and very Powerful to punish severely according to HIS Promises in all of the Divine Books. Quraan is the Final Heavenly Book and is unchanged for our guidance. The greatest pleasure that you can get is in the understanding and following of the Holy Qur'aan.

 

[Woodrow]

As Salaamu Alaikum

One step at a time, take all things with careful thought. It is not unusual for a Muslim to be tried with much temptation to leave Islam. The second step is to take responsibility for your beliefs. Do not become a blind follower of anything. Always verify all things through as many sources as you can find. Too many people base their choice of religion upon emotional feelings, not belief. Search and make Du'a, Ask Allaah(swt) to guide you in your search. Learn why many non-Muslims leave their religion and revert to Islam.

Now, with that said, it is my Du'a that you will be sincere in your intentions, you will verify all things with care and you will look closely as to why you want to leave Islam.

 

[The-Deist]

As Salaamu Alaikum

One step at a time, take all things with careful thought. It is not unusual for a Muslim to be tried with much temptation to leave Islam. The second step is to take responsibility for your beliefs. Do not become a blind follower of anything. Always verify all things through as many sources as you can find. Too many people base their choice of religion upon emotional feelings, not belief. Search and make Du'a, Ask Allaah(swt) to guide you in your search. Learn why many non-Muslims leave their religion and revert to Islam.

Now, with that said, it is my Du'a that you will be sincere in your intentions, you will verify all things with care and you will look closely as to why you want to leave Islam.

Yes following your emotions too much and ignoring rational decisioning probably is bad. But shouldnt religion make you feel good emotionally too?

 

[Woodrow]

Yes following your emotions too much and ignoring rational decisioning probably is bad. But shouldnt religion make you feel good emotionally too?

Not always, if you are doing bad or with the wrong intent, it should make you feel bad and become a driving force to push you to do better. A sincere following of truth cansometimes lead to pain, but it will give you the strength to handle the pain with sabr.

 

[Insaanah]

Yes following your emotions too much and ignoring rational decisioning probably is bad. But shouldnt religion make you feel good emotionally too?

That emotion, should be based on the fact that you are following the truth.

As an example, lets say, na'oothu billah, that a Muslim leaves Islam and becomes a Christian. He feels this overwhelming love from God, at God giving His son for his sins, he feels joy at being saved, he feels liberated from having to pray five times a day, and feels spiritually at peace and connected to God. He feels he didn't get this in Islam, and that he was just following rituals. Now he feels he is on the right way.

Now, let us examine this further.

Do we consider eating three times a day as a burden? Or going to the bathroom a few times a day as a burden? How would we feel if we didn't eat, didn't go to the loo? Would we feel liberated? No. We'd feel awful. We'd die eventually. So our prayer shouldn't be burden, but something we have to do, for ourselves, and we should try and enjoy it too, by knowing that God personally is listening to us. We should try and learn the meaning, so we can really feel what we are saying to him. Also we are praying the same way the Biblical Prophets prayed, as God taught them. They did wudu, bowed, prostrated, removed their shoes etc.

What is an emotion? It is a strong feeling deriving from one's circumstances, mood, or relationships with others, or instinctive or intuitive feeling as distinguished from reasoning or knowledge. Now, when it comes to our hereafter, our eternal abode, do we want it to be based on knowledge, or emotion? Emotion is a fleeting thing, that can change. The truth never changes. Emotions include happiness, sadness, anger, love etc. When it comes to what religion we follow, what we choose to believe about God, and what we aim for in the hereafter, using the emotions as a judging points of truth or to confirm the truth, is not a good idea. ie if you feel emotionally good, then it must be the truth. Or if we don't feel a great emotional reaction, then that means you need to look elsewhere. No. Some drugs make people feel emotionally veeeery good. Does that mean we should all take them? No. In fact we would avoid them like the plague, as we know they can harm us, if not in the short term then certainly in the long term. In society nowadays, which we are surrounded by all around, and on the media, everybody seems to be a slave to their own desires and emotions. How we feel, seems to be THE most important thing. Eg if two men love each other, love is greater than anything, their personal desires are greater than anything, therefore they should be able to marry (naoothu billah) etc.

But those who wrong follow their [own] desires without knowledge. Then who can guide one whom Allah has sent astray? And for them there are no helpers. (Qur'an 30:29)

People who come to believe that Islam is the truth, that God is One in every way, feel liberated from servitude to any other being, any of the creation, their servitude to God alone, without partner or associate or sharer in His Exclusive Divinity, Glorified and Exalted be He, being their proudest title. In Islam, we have a balance of love, hope, and fear. We need a balance of all three to be on the straight path, to keep us in check, and to prevent us from despair. If there is an excess of any one, then you cannot keep going straight. You skew off. We feel love and closeness to the true teachings of Jesus (peace be on him). We know that he will return to earth, as a Muslim, pray like us, do hajj/umrah etc. We feel at peace with God, and a direct connection to God, without going through anyone. It's a great feeling knowing you're following in the footsteps of the Prophets, and not following man-made teachings, and that the teachings are logical and make sense. There are no mental acrobatics involved - the concept of God is simple, clear, and easy for all to understand, as truth should be. If the message you're following is not God's word, then everything goes downhill from there, because you do not know if you're following the truth.

It is a great feeling knowing that you're following the original, true, and unadulterated message of God, unchanged and untampered with by man. 100% God's word. No versions. No editions. No human authors. Free from any human interferance. The message of God to all mankind, in it's final, unadulterated and pristine form.

Also, the fact that if you took Muslims from every part of the globe, who'd memorised the Qur'an by heart, they would all recite word for word exactly the same thing; from China to Morocco, Russia to Zanzibar, Australia to the US, they'd all recite exactly the same. That when Muslims all over the world pray, we all face the same direction.

It is a great feeling knowing that you're following a book that tells you what has always been expected from humans since the beginning of time; what God told His prophets to teach people since the creation of the first human. That message never changed. The essence of Islam is what always was, and has always been, the true and natural religion; the way of all the Prophets, the original message, the only message.

There are so many reasons to feel good about Islam.

Please do read again my previous post in this thread.

And please do post here to let us know if this has addressed any of your concerns, and if not, please do post to ask for more clarification.