Muslims' Worst Enemies

Ever since I converted to Islam, it has been abundantly clear to me who the strongest enemies are to Muslims: other Muslims. Because I have opinions and viewpoints on Islam that differ from the mainstream hadith-followers, Sunnis, Shias, etc, I, for some reason, come off as offensive to other Muslims. 


I wonder why that is? I wonder why Muslims feel the need to regulate my religion and my beliefs, as if I asked them to, or as if that is their duty. Au contraire, it is a Muslim's duty NOT to interfere with my beliefs and religion:


Quran 109:6 "To you be your Way, and to me mine." 


Quran 2:256 "Let there be no compulsion in religion: Truth stands out clear from Error: whoever rejects evil and believes in Allah hath grasped the most trustworthy hand-hold, that never breaks. And Allah heareth and knoweth all things."


I must say that it does slightly annoy me, because who are other Muslims to judge my connection and belief in Allah, and my own personal truth? Many Muslims believe that there is only one path to Allah, but if they were to read the Qur'an clearly, they would understand that the only things one must do (as stated over and over in the Qur'an) is to 

• Believe in Allah & only worship Allah.
• Believe in the day of judgement.
• Establish regular prayer.
• Establish regular charity. 

Maybe Muslims get defensive because they know that my points are valid and their beliefs are ones they have embraced because of Islam the culture, not Islam the religion. (I'll write another blog entry about Islam culture vs. Islam religion.) I really have no other reason I can think of that Muslims get so. . . indignant. 

It's sad that I have to refer even Muslims to my post about regulators. If my beliefs offend you, I am sorry you cannot see my point of view, but I will not be changing my outlook for your comfort. You can believe that I am a Muslims or not - either way, it doesn't concern you and you should focus your efforts on other things. If I need advice on religion, I will definitely keep in mind that you are available for me to ask your perspective. 

Pork

I'm almost afraid to write this. I'm sure that some Muslims will claim that I'm not Muslim, just by writing this blog entry, but I don't care. I am not on this planet to please Muslims; I'm on this planet to please Allah. In my opinion, it is beyond important for religious people to question things that do not make sense to them. If they don't, they are mindless and unintelligent.

It is a well-known custom among many Muslims to avoid pork their diet:

16:115 He has only forbidden you dead meat, and blood, and the flesh of swine, and any (food) over which the name of other than Allah has been invoked. . . 

Here's a small history of the Qur'an: It was revealed to the prophet Mohammed over more than 20 years. Qur'an was not written down on paper until years after Mohammed's death. The surahs were memorized by companions of Mohammed, then written down later when the companions were noticing other people taking these surahs and putting their own little twist on them, to put the words of the Qur'an in line with their own beliefs. 

Because the Qur'an was revealed at the time it was, it addresses many things that were current issues of the time. It states that each prophet before was addressing the times and people of that period. Of course, each message had many obvious parts that carry over to the current times. 

Now, why do you think pork is forbidden in the Qur'an? Could it be one of those things that is addressing the specific times when the Qur'an was revealed? One reason people tend to say that pork is forbidden is because it is dirty. The pig in the slaughterhouse is fed and treated the SAME way the cows and chickens and turkeys and lambs are treated: POORLY. They are fed the SAME type of food and given the same type of living arrangement. 

There is no legitimate reason that one should avoid pork if they do not avoid beef and every other animal. In Mohammed's times, there was not a safe way to prepare pork, AND pork was not a type of animal that was easy to raise in a desert climate. It was incredibly inconvenient, therefore pork was not something the people of that area ate. 

Yes, the Qur'an says to avoid pork, but then again, the Qur'an was revealed to a specific peoples in a specific location at a specific time. And again, as we know, different prophets brought specific messages and miracles (from Allah) to specific times and people.

We MUST remember this. If you are a Muslim who avoids pork, but feels comfortable eating beef and chicken, then maybe you should reevaluate this. Ask why! Never just take something that doesn't make sense and accept it blindly. 

Why Muslims SHOULD Celebrate Christmas

If you are Muslim, you should know to respect all prophets and messengers of Allah. ALL of them. Equally, might I add. That includes Moses, Noah, Jesus, Abraham, Lot, Jacob, David, etc etc etc. According to the Qur'an, Islam was taught by all of these prophets. Islam being, of course, the belief in the one god & belief in the Day of Judgement, and of course, submission to Allah.

2:136 We believe in Allah, and the revelation given to us, and to Abraham, Isma’il, Isaac,

Jacob, and the Tribes, and that given to Moses and Jesus, and that given to (all)

prophets from their Lord: We make no difference between one and another of them . . 

Why then, may I ask, is Christmas not celebrated among the Muslim community? Mawlid is a public holiday in many Muslim countries (Mawlid being Mohammed's birthday). When you celebrate someone's birthday, are you worshiping that person? NO. You are celebrating the day that person was brought into this world because you love & value him/her. This really isn't a difficult concept.

3:45 O Mary! Allah giveth thee glad tidings of a Word from Him: his name will be Christ

Jesus, the son of Mary, held in honour in this world and the Hereafter and of (the

company of) those nearest to Allah.

As the Qur'an states, Jesus was an important prophet; this isn't argued. Why not celebrate his birth? Was he not an extremely important figure at his time, and even now? Did he do amazing things and deliver Allah's message with love and acceptance? Why would you celebrate a relative or friend's birthday, while excluding a revolutionary religious figure (if you are a religious person)? The only reason to neglect this holiday is because you don't recognize the validity or impact of Jesus on humanity. In that case, one cannot legitimately say that he/she follows Islam & the holy Qur'an.

There are countless (and I mean countless) songs in the Muslim world praising Mohammed past appropriate, but how many songs are of any other prophet? I shall direct you again to the about ayah stating, "We make no different between one and another of them." What should this mean to Muslims? This should mean WE should make no difference between one and another of them, period. They were all divinely inspired and given the holy spirit of Allah.

You can guarantee that I'll be celebrating Christmas with my Christian brothers & sister. No doubt about that. Jesus was an amazing prophet with love and compassion and a wonderful message from Allah. I will PROUDLY celebrate Christmas and sing songs about how great he was. Allah made no mistake in choosing Jesus or any other prophet and messenger. I will respect the message that Allah relayed through Jesus and the prophet Jesus himself.