To return to raOnar's OP, I certainly feel that there is
much in Islamic teachings that is beneficial!
I like the emphasis on
fasting and
daily prayer.
I agree with the idea of
living simply, of
seeking God rather than material gain; the principles of
modesty and
humility; of
forgiveness,
human kindness and
charity.
But then, none of those things are unique to Islam.
You will find that most religions and worldviews probably teach and/or agree with most, if not all of those teachings too.
So those principles – beneficial as they may be – cannot be
all that makes a Muslim a Muslim! Those principles make Christians, Hindus, Buddhists, secular humanists (well, perhaps without the praying bit), and all kinds of other people too …
OK, so what commandments do you have from Jesus[pbuh] on how to fast?
are they followed by all Christians?
what commandments do you have from Jesus[pbuh] on how to pray?
do all Christians pray as commanded by Jesus[pbuh]?
what commandments do you have from Jesus[pbuh] on how many times a day to pray?
do all Christians pray this way?
what commandments do you have from Jesus[pbuh] regarding modesty?
do all Christians follow this?
what commandments do you have from Jesus[pbuh] regarding charity?
is this uniform for all Christians?
To be a Muslim somebody has to be able to declare Shahada. And that is precisely why I am not a Muslim.
Now, I
can shout it from the rooftops that
God is the only God, and that
he alone is worthy of worship. Christianity teaches that too.
actually, Christianity does NOT teach that! they have a "Trinity", which even they can't explain. not only that but we read in their Bible from the 1st chapter of John:
1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2He was in the beginning with God.
3All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.
that testifies to AT LEAST TWO Gods! "God" and "the Word." NOT ONLY THAT, BUT, it takes "creation" away from "God" and puts it in the jurisdiction of "the Word!" so we can assume that the "Christian God" was incapable of creating "all things" WITHOUT "the Word!?"
so either:
a) the writer of these verses does NOT understand the concept of "The One True God!"
b) Christians don't believe what their Bible says, or
c) the "God" described in these verses is in need of a little Psychiatric help for his schizophrenia!
But I
cannot declare that I believe Muhammed to be God’s messenger.
and you can't! NOT without Allah's guidance
With all the reading, learning and studying of Islam I have done in the last 2-and-a-half years, with all the discussions I have participated in here in LI, with all the prayer for God’s guidance, all the fasting, and even reading the Qu’ran itself, I have not found any conviction that the Qu’ran
is the dictated word of God, that Muhammed
is God’s final prophet, and that Islam
is the true path.
It seems that no matter how much I explore, test and probe Islam, it remains empty to me …
Guidance comes only from Allah[swt]
And
that’s why I am not a Muslim.
I hope people don’t mind my honest reply. It comes after much thought, prayer and pondering.
I do not mean to offend anybody.
Salaam
thank you for your comments on Islam. I hope you don’t mind my honest reply. It comes after much thought, prayer and pondering.I do not mean to offend you.
let's look at:"reading the Qu’ran itself"
with all due respect, you CANNOT read the Qur'an in English! MAYBE you can read you own books in English, but Qur'anic Arabic CANNOT be translated properly into English! at the most, you can get an "version" of what "someone" thinks it is best explained or interpreted.
here's a link to an Arabic recitation with a translation done in English. when hearing the Arabic, you ARE hearing the Qur'an, but the English is what 2 men [based, it appears on Pickthall] have chosen to represent in English words:
http://www.kalamullah.com/noble-quran.html
now, to truly understand why English, or any other language, is not a proper vehicle for translation consider Al Fatiha:
1:Transliteration: Bismi Allahi arRahmani arRaheem
2:Transliteration: Alhamdu lillahi Rabbi alAAalameen
3:Transliteration: ArRahmani arRaheem
4:Transliteration: Maliki Yawmi adDeen
5:Transliteration: Iyyaka naAAbudu wa-Iyyaka nastaAAeen
6:Transliteration: Ihdina assirata almustaqeem
7:Transliteration: Sirata allatheena anAAamta AAalayhim ghayri almaghdoobi AAalayhim wala addalleen
that is how you pronounce it, here are a few translations:
1

ickthal: In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful.
2

ickthal: Praise be to Allah, Lord of the Worlds,
3

ickthal: The Beneficent, the Merciful.
4

ickthal: Master of the Day of Judgment,
5

ickthal: Thee (alone) we worship; Thee (alone) we ask for help.
6

ickthal: Show us the straight path,
7

ickthal: The path of those whom Thou hast favoured; Not the (path) of those who earn Thine anger nor of those who go astray.
1:Muhsin Khan: In the Name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful.
2:Muhsin Khan: All the praises and thanks be to Allah, the Lord of the 'Alamin (mankind, jinns and all that exists).
3:Muhsin Khan: The Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful.
4:Muhsin Khan: The Only Owner (and the Only Ruling Judge) of the Day of Recompense (i.e. the Day of Resurrection)
5:Muhsin Khan: You (Alone) we worship, and you (Alone) we ask for help (for each and everything).
6:Muhsin Khan: Guide us to the Straight Way
7:Muhsin Khan: The Way of those on whom You have bestowed Your Grace , not (the way) of those who earned Your Anger (such as the Jews), nor of those who went astray (such as the Christians).
1:Sahih International: In the name of Allah , the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful.
2:Sahih International: [All] praise is [due] to Allah , Lord of the worlds -
3:Sahih International: The Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful,
4:Sahih International: Sovereign of the Day of Recompense.
5:Sahih International: It is You we worship and You we ask for help.
6:Sahih International: Guide us to the straight path -
7:Sahih International: The path of those upon whom You have bestowed favor, not of those who have evoked [Your] anger or of those who are astray.
as you can see, the can't even entirely agree on how to interpret the very first BismiAllahi arRahmani arRaheem!
here is a MORE CORRECT explanation of Surat Al Fatiha:
http://www.kalamullah.com/al-fatihah.html
as you can see, it's a 28 part lecture! BUT, you have a much better "understanding" of the Surah, with Allah's help of course!
as for: "I have not found any conviction that...that Muhammed
is God’s final prophet" have you read any Seerah[Life of the Prophet]?
here's a link to a 41 part lecture on the Rasulullah[pbuh]:
http://www.pleasantviewschool.com/media/default.asp?q=f&f=/Seerah_an_Nabawi (saw)
http://www.pleasantviewschool.com/media/default.asp?q=f&f=/Seerah of the Prophet (pbuh)
it gives a better understanding
and finally : "I have not found any conviction that...Islam
is the true path." here's a link to a 11 part [shown in 21 parts] lecture on the Foundation of Islamic Studies by Dr Bilal Philips[it's the links at the very bottom of the page]:
http://www.bilalphilips.com/bilal_pages.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=288
if you listen and watch ALL of that, you will at the least, have a more complete view of Islam, In Sha'a Allah!
but Guidance will still only come from Allah[swt]!!
