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Asalaamu Alaikum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatu.

I will be quite honest.. one of the things that contributed in a large degree to my interest in Islam, those years ago before I reverted, was the teaching (as I thought it) for women to wear the hijab.  I was awed and humbled that a person would be so modest and go against the culture in their service to Allah (Subhanu Wa Ta'Ala).

Yet, I was re-reading over the front page of free-minds.org, where it speaks that it is not a requirement.  We need not subject or force the women of this Ummah to do so, obviously, but what is a definition of modesty then?  Surely, it is in her polite speech and gentle presence which speaks volumes about her character and her niyaah is to not encourage another man to impurity with her beauty otherwise displayed.

The more common sense approach, would be that our women should not be dressing in short skirts or plunging necklines.  Sure.  Yet, as I understood it too, we are to compete with each other in good deeds.  To strive every day for Jannah Al Firdaus. 

We have tales of how the Sahaba, may Allah be pleased with them, that they would pull each other back in racing to Jihad so that they would be first to do such pleasing deeds in the name of Allah, Subhanu Wa Ta'Ala.

Should not, our women then, likewise strive for good deeds?  Not settling for simply the base requirements of this deen?  As a brother, I strive to keep my eyes down as often as safety allows, wear long sleeve shirts and pants.  Things I can do to keep my own body as covered and modest as possible.

Looking for thoughts, Insha'Allah.

Asalaamu Alaikum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatu

Brothers and Sisters, I was curious about something in all seriousness.

There are some ahadith which says we can demand Jannah from Allah on judgment day because of the Prophet, upon him be peace.  Yet, since this is not a hadith friendly place.. haha.. I would refer to Al-Qur'an then for this reference.

When it says about their being no grief for them who are the christians, sabians and now muslims (as we call them today) does this mean if one is faithful to Allah in tawheed and does deeds of righteousness for his sake we could have a reasonable certainty of Jannah?

I recall as a christian the idea was "well, if only to escape hell I should be a christian so I can get heaven."  This can be a good first initiative I suppose as a young person or young in a faith in general.  One then learns about the love of Allah and doing deeds for his pleasure as its own reward.

Yet, as a man I must admit to be admitted to gardens with pure wives, wine which causes no drunkeness and delicious foods.. I was hooked lol.  Could we not say it is among the things one could converse about to others of the book who are interested in learning about Islam?

Christian:  "Well, I am going to praise God for all eternity.."

Muslim:  (to paraphrase Shabir Ally) "Eternity is a long time.. I would rather walk with Allah some of the time, and enjoy the other pleasures in its own proportion."

Looking for thoughts.

Ma Salaama

I think I saw how the virgin birth as understood from christians is not taken as fact by the Qur'an.. if that is so, it would be a great boon for me as it is one of my stumbling blocks.

Secondly, how is it meant as Messiah?  Does the Qur'an mean Isa was the messiah as the Jews mean it, the Moshiach?  Or more general, as in an annointed one?

Thanks in advance.

Asalaamu Alaikum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatuh

I was curious about a mention in Al-Qur'an about those who come to faith, leave and come again.  I would think a person might go through bouts of disbelief or belief only to have their iman take a big hit again.

I like to think Allah works on a person's heart through a means until they come to the truth of Islam.  So, my question is, using myself as an example..

I came to Islam a few years back.. got fed a lot of information from hadith about Aisha being only 9 and the disjointed picture of Muhammad as a ruthless killer and such so I left disgusted.

Then I came to see the beauty of non-hadith Islam yet unfortunately the superficial muslims I met in person knocked me down again as well as trying to marry one muslim woman yet her father disapproved the match because I am white and not arab.  Couple that with how some verses of the Al-Qur'an were not making sense (the infamous 4:34 in fact about beating the wife and all of Surah 9.)

Now, only in the last few months have I tried once more to make a go of it and not letting what sunnis or muslims I interact with personally to discourage me.  So, is it fruitless?  According to my understanding of the scripture and my own reckoning I have made more than three infractions in leaving, coming, leaving only to come again.

Should I expect hellfire?  Or are the aiyahs saying those who make fun of the scripture or do not take it seriously?

Some say, God gave us free will so that we can choose to love him or not out of our own "free choice" to do so.  That he can cultivate a relationship with us and we with him.

However, where this breaks down is the teaching of heaven or hell.  There is a saying that goes "which is more moral.  Serving another person because it is the right thing to do, or because God will reward you for it." 

A good person should do right by others and love God not because he will get heaven or punished with hell, but because he feels it is the right thing, yet he will be dust one day all the same. 

Its like capital punishment.  Some people go off and kill people without reasoning.  We can take them to prison and then execute them.  Other people will never kill another person and thus have no need to worry over this penalty.

Its when we die apparently, that God can really get to work.  It would be like, living a perfectly good life in morality and goodness to all creation yet death would be its own form of death row and you have been sentenced post-mortem to not just a few moments in the 'hot seat' but a continual/eternal punishment again and again.  Even the most foul of persons could say that an eternal punishment for a life that just did not include God was grossly disportionate with the crime.  Seems like a sadistic notion of a demented person's imagination.  Or that, if I may.. God is basically saying "Love me.. or its the fire for you."  No parent (much less our creator ) would dare talk to his child this way (I should know as a parent myself.)

When I was growing up, I was always told by my family "do not do X or Y, because it offends God and will send you to hell."  This sort of morality tale, only scars a generation, where they see God as more like a hyper abusive parent than one who loves them unconditionally.

Not to be rude or disrespectful, but let me further the point.  I have done counseling for teens of broken homes or abusive parents.  When you have more than one child, usually you will see one of two things happen.  One child will do everything the parent says to not get whipped and even agree that the other child is the worse one if it keeps them safe.  This is not love, this is survival.

The other child, in turn, gets beat by said parent and takes the most of the yelling.  This child usually becomes the very quiet introspective child who does not like confrontation and just goes into his own mental bubble to escape his reality.

I see this same behavior transferred in religion.  It can be used, in worst cases, for social control.. "Do not do X or God shall smite you."  In best cases, it can inspire men and women to heights of spiritual expression.  Yet it is still the same "Do X and you will go to Heaven.  Do Y and you will go to everlasting torment."  From the dozens of people I have spoken with in my former capacity as a minister, it was never "how can I connect best with God.." it was "Rashid.. Can God forgive this so I do not have to suffer hell?"

It was like God was the paternal figure and they were a small child trembling for the time the father came home to discover their mess and wail on them.  A loving God does not hold hell in front of you to keep you in line.  That has been my thought since leaving the church.  I had hoped Islam would be different, yet the Qur'an is littered with warnings about the fire.  *sigh*

Ah well.. end mini-rant for the time being.

Asalaamu Alaikum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatu

Jews are monotheists.  Christians (should be) Monotheists.  The Sabians as I understand it were their own people who were big into astrology (correct me if I am wrong.)

Could it be inferred, that the Qur'an is hinting at the notion that if anyone adheres to strict monotheism, does righteousness for God's sake and keeps up prayer he shall be found among the winners in this life?

The Jewish belief is, that the righteous of all nations have a place in the world to come and I see no reason why the Qur'an could not point to the same direction if we look at it critically.

I welcome thoughts, please, Inshallah.

3:55 God said, "O Jesus, I will terminate your life, and raise you to Me, and cleanse you of those who have rejected, and make those who have followed you above those who rejected, until the day of Resurrection; then to Me is your return so I will judge between all of you in what you were disputing."


I always think it is better to ask three times than go on one's own certainty and be misguided.. so here is my question.

If one followed Jesus, believing in his message and worshipping God alone (that is to say non-trinitarians as well as those who say he was just a mighty messenger of God) in today's time, could we not say they are among the righteous and should expect to see such in Jannah?

Asalaamu Alaikum Wa Rahamatullahi Wa Barakatuh

I am still new to Islam, having taken my Shahada only four years ago.  I was pondering over this earlier today, and had hoped Inshallah, my more learned brothers and sisters here would aide my understanding on this matter.

When I studied the Old Testament, first with the aide of a native hebrew speaker over Isaiah 7:14 about a virgin giving birth.  It was confirmed the context was involving a King at the time looking for a sign and that when it was translated from Hebrew -> Greek the term "young woman" of the hebrew was lost to "virgin" that we have today in the english translations of the bible.  This seems to take the authenticity of the term out the window from a hebraic understanding (I would never hesitate to say it is nothing for Allah to make a thousand men without human fathers without any effort.)

Jews do not believe Jesus was born of a virgin and the christians who did, did not come about until about two hundred years after the crucifixion.  So, that is the first part of my question;  Where do muslims get this idea from?  I believe it is mentioned in the Qur'an, yet even if it sounds rude, I must ask for more proof outside of it if I may.

Second question, has been about the crucifixion itself.  Why did someone else have to be crucified in his place?  Allah is surely all-powerful, why make anyone die? ( This is what got me as a christian - since the path of salvation was already in place in Judaism, it made Jesus' death as an atonement unnecessary.  It would have been easier for God to just forgive mankind than make someone else die in their place. )

These two things have troubled me for a few months after my Shahada when I started looking critically at Islam as any thinking person should about their religion.

Inshallah, I shall get thoughts on this that stimulate and educate.

Wa Salaama.

Asalaamu Alaikum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatuh.

It sounds like it could come out of the Qur'an or some hadith.. yet, it was from a friend.

"All the Good that comes to us, is from God.  All the bad that befalls us, is a chastizement from God for our former bad ways to spare us that same length of time in the fire."

Just wanted to share it.

Brothers and Sisters in Islam, I greet you.. Asalaamu Alaikum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatuh.

I was thinking this morning about how things are in America, as regards my own upbringing and then the logic train steamed on towards contemporary issues with the women in our deen.  Inshallah, I will get thoughtful responses.

To elaborate, when I was young, catholic nuns wore the full habit and you knew who they were as apart from other women on the street.  Likewise, if I ever looked at an image of Mary, she was covered likewise.  I know this was a certain time period, yet the nuns of that day still thought it proper.  This got me to thinking, I understand that many of my fellow american muslims will tell me that the best garment is modesty for a woman, yes, but even if the hijab is not a specific prescription as per Al-Qur'an itself, if worn for the right reasons it still sets her apart from the unbelievers.

I remember a catholic priest when I was young likewise, that had made a similar idea.  "When I wear the black clothes and white collar, people know what I stand for and that I am set apart as a priest for this life.  Reminds me to be humble before God and to always serve him and my fellow man as best I can."

I am not just going to speak to the women of course.  I happily wear my kufi, long white shirt and dress pants as my regular outfit as a means of showing my appreciation of being a muslim and I have had more random strangers speak to me than when I would wear plain clothes earlier in my life as a revert.  We can argue about the beard or what else may be worn by a brother, yet if the idea of wearing it is to be a living testament to our faith set apart from those who do not follow the deen and it inspires them to speak.. is this not a good thing? 

Now, back to the sisters.. I am not advising all muslimahs to wear niqab and I am no scholar by any means of Al-Qur'an, yet I know as a former christian there were passages speaking about not being even in the presence of evil and to always strive to be modest of mind and deed.  I know Al-Qur'an speaks of the same thing.  So, as a means of modesty and humility at the honor to be a muslim, should they not wear a head covering and dress most modestly?  This sets them apart from the rest, especially in america where I have seen...well, I will not burden the reader with the specifics, yet it was most unappropriate.

To finish, and I know I have a miniature book by now, lol, Jazak Allah Khair to the brothers and sisters who are still reading this.  I would wrap up with saying, I recall there being a passage about we are only different in our modesty and how deeply we long to serve Allah.  Please, Inshallah, correct me if I am wrong.

In all peace and humility I offer this, in hopes to hear thoughts on this matter.

Wa Alaikum Salaam Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatuh.

Salaam Alaikum,

I am sure this may be old hat to those here more educated in Islam than I, but I am looking for some daleel on how following the Messenger *is* following the Qur'an.

I have read Yuksel's post on Salat and a few others, but, if there are other links to Praying according to Qur'an only, I would appreciate it.

Ma Salaam

Peace be upon all my brothers and sisters in Islam.

In the name of Allah, the beneficient the merciful.

I would like to make voice recordings of the various essays written on this site for my project, Quranic Radio, as Allah wills.

In this, it is only polite that I ask those who have written them to give their permission or affirm the copyright or lack thereof limitations to their works for this non-profit venture.

Rather than just have a flurry of messages of affirmation or denial, I would only ask, for the sake of privacy, that those who *do not* want their essays recorded for broadcast that they contact me at:

serenechaos@bellsouth.net

And I will not use any of your works for this end.

May Allah return the good to all for their participation in this.  As Allah wills, I will be able to begin as soon as possible with this phase of production for the broadcast.

Asalaamu Alaikum brothers and sisters.. I prefer to go with Qur'an only thoughts when available, so would you mind giving me your thoughts on the Shahada?

Some say it is a form of Shirk to associate Muhammad with Allah, as this is not in the Qur'an.. some support it by Hadith, which we both do not take stock in.

If we did accept it and we are supposed to give equal respect to all prophets, that would make for a very long Shahada indeed.. lol.

Yes, I have read the article here on FM which deals with this yet I do not know precisely on this exact question.

I think, a Shahada which just had "There is no God but God" in arabic would be quite sufficient.. yet I do not wish to go on my own thoughts alone.

Asalaamu Alaikum brothers and sisters.

I was curious about this and thought I would speak up.. if it has been covered before, I would love a link to its posts.

The closest masjid here in south alabama is about an hour away, and even there it is mostly older men and women already married with no mention of children or such.

So, I am curious, with such a low muslim pop density and not to be a religious snob..I would prefer a muslim as opposed to a christian woman.. which would be quite easy as they have a high density here locally.

Do the brothers/sisters have thoughts on this matter?  If I must resort to online matrimony lol, any recommended sites or just thoughts in general?

Jazak Allah Khair in advance.

This is an open invitation to those brothers and sisters who want to really *do* something in the cause of Allah for Qur'an only propagation.

I have built a computer specifically to run a webradio broadcast that will have content from Qur'an only muslims.. their revert stories, thoughts/essays/articles in general, a weekly show (with possibility of more frequency) devoted to Qur'an only topics and I am open to more ideas from there as well.

What I need now, is that content.. I can do the weekly show, but what I really want is content from those here or anyone who knows of a Qur'an only brother or sister who wants to write up an article/essay or even, Insha'Allah, record a small piece pertaining to this notion and upload it in.

This is an opportunity to take this out to any and all who wish on the internet.  I also have plans of taking the weekly cast and burning it to CD and mailing it off to those who want.  I am doing all this free of charge out of my own free time and effort to get this message out to as broad an audience as I can.

I have built the machine, purchased the bandwidth and have done all I can, now it is up to those who wish to aide me in this and volunteer their time and efforts to build its content.

I can be contacted via serenechaos@bellsouth.net by those interested.

I also want to ask permission of those who have already written articles here that I may (with credit of course given to the authors) so that I can record the text for broadcast.. Now, better yet to me, would be for the authors to record their own articles to give it a more personable feel, but I am also prepared to record it so it gets out there.

I look forward to hearing from many people here on this, Insha'Allah.