Are there ex-Muslim scholars who have studied Islam? What is their perspective about the religion?
I am ex-Muslim and I’m a researcher into Islam and the psychology of religions.I’ve written a book about it called Atheism For Muslims: A guide to questioning Islam, religion and God for a better future.Personally speaking, I think it’s clear to make a distinction between critiquing Islam and critiquing Muslims: the former criticizes an ideology and the latter criticizes human beings. Ideologies (like Islam) can bring people apart, but communities (like Muslims) can bring people together.My book is about the former (critiquing Islam), it is not about promoting any anti-Muslim sentiment. So while I disagree with Islam, it doesn’t mean I carry any animosity towards Muslims. For example, I believe smoking is bad, but that doesn’t mean I believe all smokers are bad people.I believe we all have a lot to learn from each other and I feel fortunate to have had a seat on both sides of the table. It has equipped me with a unique perspective to write Atheism For Muslims from.
Need help with an islamic perspective on love?
Sounds like a crush, you're at that age. It'll fade and this probably won't be your first. But let's be realistic if you have no desire of marrying the guy then there's no reason why he should know the way you feel. It'll only complicate matters and lead you both into temptation and Allahu Alem where after but if you are then I would suggest either telling your parents to contact his parents or having a local Imam be the "inbetweener" for both families. There is no dating in Islam, Allah set up his Law to prevent us from falling into sin. If you're not ready to have this guy as your Ameer in life, or ready wash his clothes for the rest of your life, have his kids, wake up at 3am to nurse them and change their stinking poo diapers, and clean up after him, or clean the house and the toilet, and cook for him and abide by his does and don't (i.e, i want you to wear hijab, i don't like you wearing jeans outside, you're not allowed to see your male cousins, you can't work, can't go to school, cant' this or can't that etc.) then you're not ready for marriage. Marriage is a total commitment. There is a saying in Arabic, "Verily love renders one deaf and blind." Sometimes we can marinate ourselves in pure illusion and invision living a perfect life with Mr.Right or Prince Charming but we end up forgetting that after Cinderella got married to her Knight in Shining Armor she ended up washing his underwear, driving to the dry cleaners, cooking for him, and raising his kids soon after he kissed her. :nO
I need Islamic (or Muslim) perspective on this Marilyn Manson lyrics
Actually I can see how "I'm not a slave to god that don't exist" can actually be a very spiritually enlightening statement. I, as a Muslim, am not slave to a god that doesn't exist. Rather, I am a slave to a God who does exist. The God of the heavens and the earth. The Gracious, the Merciful, Master of the Day of Judgement. The One God whom I implore for help and the One God whom I worship. So really, Manson could be saying something very valuable. Do not be slaves to the fake gods of society, materialism, and things of that nature because they don't exist; they're just illusions. Rather, be a slave to the One perfect God who does exist. love for all, hatred for none
Assuming that you can only choose between Christianity, Islam, Judaism and Hinduism, which religion would you choose and why?
I'm a Hindu and if given another chance, I'd most probably still want to choose Hinduism as my religion, not because I'm biased towards it but because I feel it's pretty relaxed and gives me the freedom to question and seek answers which might or might not agree to one God.I am neither an atheist nor an overtly religious person, so I love reading about different religions, their practice, things they preach and asking questions about how things work. I love going to temple, church, gurudwara because they I feel peaceful there.Things that I have noticed, I might or might not be right:1. Hinduism doesn't say that you will go to hell if you don't follow Hindu gods. Infact, I've lakhs of Gods to choose from or even if I don't want to pray daily, he/she is not going to strike me down with lightening :P2. Your sins or good actions are noted and decide your future lives and whether you get to attain moksha; it doesn't happen simply because you accepted a God. You don't go to hell just because you didn't accept a particular God, or because you are of a particular race. Even if you are the perfect human being, you will need to pay for your sins before reaching true happiness.3. Focus is on your intention of doing something (refer to Gita) and whether it is positive or negative. Actions are a consequence of your intentions: sometimes positive intentions can lead to negative actions and vice versa and it's ok. Make sure intention is not wrong ( hurting someone etc.)4. I don't need to prove I'm an honest Hindu by converting others or killing 'infidels'. Neither do I get any brownie points for that.5. 'Karma' exists but it's not limited to just one life , so you do get multiple chances to improve yourself and be a better human.6. Our mythologies, stories and rituals are open to interpretation in different ways, open to being questioned. Rituals have been designed in certain ways and with thought to increase positive vibes within us.7. We have the most number of and most colourful festivals with different stories across geographies :)I feel at the base level, all the religions are almost similar, and I have no intention to blame any particular religion.Again as I said, these are just my observations:)
I'm so afraid of hell in Islam and Christianity. What should I do about it?
First, I would have to ask where you have obtained your information about hell. If someone has an educated view of hell, from a Christian perspective, there is nothing to fear. Jesus, the second person of the Trinity, became man so as to provide salvation for all men. Hell is not a place that God sends bad people to. Hell is for those who want nothing to do with God and choose to go there, and choose to stay there, based on their own free will.Jesus, in his life, death and resurrection, lived a perfect life, died in the place of sinful man and conquered death by rising from the dead. Death and hell are nothing to fear, they no longer have any power.I would strongly suggest that you find an Eastern Orthodox priest and spend some time drinking coffee and asking questions. Face to face dialog is always the best way to learn.
Should I read the alchemist by Paulo coelho?
I read this book 12 years ago when I was in high school, and I still have fond memories of it. It made a lasting impression on me, because of the stories overall lesson. This book and Candide by Voltaire are great books to begin understanding life beyond the superfluous. It is a book about finding yourself, and and it resonates with anybody searching for their inner voice. Out of all his books I would recommend it. Also if you like old folklore, this reads very much the same. Enjoy!
Does Islam allow women to do blow jobs to their husbands? Will they do it otherwise?
Inregards to this topic, there is no Hadeeth which prohibits these actions. As there is no Daleel to support the claim of these actions being Haram or Makruh, then we return Back to the Asal(original foundation ruling) Which is everything is Halal for us to do in worldly affairs until proven Haram (The opposite stance applies for acts of worship). Therefore the origin is that it is Halal.Now we must look for daleel to show it is Haram. Authentic Clear Cut hadeeth? - There is none.Even for there to be doubt in a subject there must be a reason for the doubt to be there, there is no Doubt in this matter. We cannot apply our disliking of something to change a ruling upon an action. I.e just because one may not like a thing, it is not from us to make it Haram or Makruh.The reason for the scholars to say it is Makruh, is because of the release of semen.(reasoning by Shayke Yusuf al Qardawi) The difference in regards to semen being pure or not plays apart in this. However if one takes it to be pure,(which seems to have the stronger daleel), that the act can no longer be Makruh. (and As long as the semen does not enter the mouth, if the opinion is taken that it is impure(even though this is not the stronger opinion on the substance) the action can not be makruh.And Allah(SWT) knows best
How can you explain the difference between “Vantage Point” and “Perspective”?
Okay… my definition. This may or may not be correct, but it is what I think it is.Vantage point would be a position that one takes to get the best possible overall view of the situation. This would often mean moving from your current viewpoint and moving to a place higher and more neutral. This can be applied in a literal or figurative sense. In the literal sense, a vantage point would be something like the best angle you would choose to click a picture. In the figurative sense, it would mean something like taking a neutral stance in a situation by listening to all sides of a story and then arriving at a conclusion. Your best friend just broke up with her boyfriend. You hear her side of the story, you hear his side of the story, and then you make a judgement as to what went wrong where.Perspective would be the view one has from the position one is currently in. This usually does not involve moving from your position. This can also be applied in the literal and figurative sense. In the literal sense, this would mean clicking a photograph standing right at that point where you are. It need not necessarily be the best possible angle, but it is how your eyes saw it and you just capture it. In the figurative sense, it may mean something like you arriving at a conclusion based on how you see a situation in your current position. Your best friend just broke up with her boyfriend. You know just her side of the story and decide that he was a lame dude who didn’t deserve her anyway. That’s the stance you take out of love for your best friend. It’s your perspective. Your viewpoint.
What problem does the religions Judaism, Christianity, and Islam solve?
Islam has been accused of bringing problems more than it solves. Look at the answers and you can see plenty of it. But this accusation is not new. It has been around since the very first day it is conveyed.Problems or solutions? It is a matter of perspective.Consider: A person has a knife and he cuts through the chest of someone lying unconscious on a bed. Without context, we will see this as a barbaric act. A plain crime.But if we understand that this is an operation theater for heart related problems, then we will begin to appreciate it. Especially if that’s our father.If you don’t see the purpose, yes of course it is a lot of problems. A huge bill, lots of blood, medications and drugs, many people working and sweating, the agony of waiting outside the OT, etc.What problem does religion solves?As for the case of religion, it mainly solves the metaphysical problems. The things that are impossible to be known accept by revelation from God. Most importantly, our final destination.Where do we go after we leave this world? Some people will brush it off saying that we are going to turn into dust and that’s it. But really? Have we not seen how dead earth is turned alive? Have we not seen how cloning maybe possible? How do we know for certainty that we are going to be eternally dead? We can be sure though, that something/someone brought us alive the first time. What’s the possibility that there’s a second time? At least maybe. You can only guess the answer to this questions. But never certain.Unless we’re dead. But that’s too late. They’ll say to God, “why don’t you tell me earlier?”Or, unless there’s revelation. With that, we will have no excuse.