This post was prompted by a comment left by Sarah on my last post:
Why do you keep attacking a religion that you decided wasn't for you, leave it and move on. It's really annoying the way people like you always try to justify to others your reasons for making your decision. Who cares, just leave my beliefs alone, no need to try to save me or other true muslims from our religion. Sarah
It's not the only comment of this sort that I received since this blog started. Hence, I thought I will briefly post what I think about comments like that.
First of all, I think there is an important distinction that needs to be made between attacking and criticising. I don't think I am attacking a religion, let alone people. Criticising, yes. Criticism is about expressing one's disapproval of someone or something, talking about their faults or expressing judgments about the good and bad qualities of something. If you get your panties in a bunch because of someone on the internet writing something that clashes with your 'Islam is perfect' idea, then it just MIGHT indicate that your idea(s) about Islam are not as watertight as you would like them to be and it's time to revise them. Just a thought.
Even if I am criticising Islam, if you love Islam and feel completely confident of your beliefs, then what do you care what I think about it?
Secondly, I am of the opinion that religious doctrine is just like any other set of beliefs or ideas out there that are free to be examined and commented on. I have had MY ideas criticised many times in the past. In fact, thanks to such exchanges with others, I changed some of my ideas simply because they showed me the error of my thinking and after doing some research myself I came to the conclusion that I was wrong. I am still alive and I am not even one bit traumatized from such experience. If I can do it, you can do it too.
Also, please learn to differentiate between criticism of an idea vs a person/group of people.
Thirdly, I think that most of the time people who leave such comments as above have no problem whatsoever with converts broadcasting their conversion via their blogs, facebook, youtube, you name it! Some of them even become 'celebrities' simply because they embraced Islam. It's okay for them to tell the whole wide world why they converted, why their previous religion was just pure nonsense but it's annoying when someone who decides Islam is not for him/her, or leaves the deen altogether gives their reasons for doing so. Double standard much?
Lastly, NO ONE is forcing anyone to read this blog. Everyone who comes here does so out of their own free will. If anyone has a comment, disagrees with anything I write is more than welcome to tell me why he/she thinks I am wrong, provide a counter-argument or bring to my attention things which I might have missed while I was coming to a conclusion on a particular subject. Absolutely! But it's a cop out to simply tell me to mind my own business.
So please, allow me the rights that you yourself enjoy. Thank you :-)
And something to light things up a bit:
13 comments:
Hi hun,
People continue to amaze me sometimes. I think it's obvious from the title of your blog that it's about your struggles with Islam. If people don't want to read those struggles, why do they come here?
I think maybe a small part of you still wishes it could learn to love Islam, because it would mean something else too? Maybe you are learning that Islam really isn't for you and it feels difficult in some way to accept this as a hard fact? I think this blog is also about coming to terms with who you really are and what you really stand for, so I think it's a bit disrespectful of people to say "just move on will you".
In any case, I'm here supporting you through it, wherever it may lead you!
Big hug!
hello there Stranger ;)
Wow, girl! you nailed it! what are you a psychic? I guess it's difficult to accept that some things are not what we would like them to be no matter how hard we try.
so yeah, I think you are spot on :)
thanks hun, I appreciate it! I've been thinking of you for the last couple of days and was gonna drop a msg but was just laaaazy :D
big hug! xoxo
AAM...
Loved the link! I agree that the world has become to politically correct and that we worry too much about offending others. People are adults...they can choose to be offended or not. It is complete insanity to think that with 7 billion people on the planet, full of every possible and varied culture, faith and belief that we can go through life without offending someone. People are offended if they CHOOSE to be. The guy is right about "sticks and stones". It is personal responsibility and a choice if one chooses to be offended. I am Christian.. catholic to be precise. Do you know how many hateful things are said by others against Catholicism? Do you know how many Muslims on blogs have said I was an idolitor? If I got upset about everyone who denigrated my faith I would be fighting millions if not billions of people. What the hell do I care what they think? I try to explain why they are wrong in their assessment of idolatry and if they don't get it I MOVE ON. They have every right to criticize my faith if they choose and many do! So what?? Jesus is way stronger than me and if he feels action needs to be taken then he certainly can if he chooses. My religion is a faith like anyone else's faith and if someone wants to criticize it...go ahead...doesn't bother me one bit.
But the thing about Islam and many muslims is that they are all about censorship and feelings. They don't want to hear anything negative about their faith or have their feelings hurt. That is IMO, a HUGE part of the problem. If there is trouble or some kind of bad stuff happening in my faith (like priests and molestation) I would be the first one to stand up and say we need to get rid of those very UNgodlike priests and purge the faith of them because they not only bring shame on the faith they are damaging and hurting people. How can one do that if they don't look at the structure of the faith and ask what is going on that allowed it to happen? Religions are run by humans and as such are always open to abuse and too much maniacal power. To say we can't criticize islam is nuts. That is like saying we can't criticize any faith. And IMO that is a VERY dangerous position to take because humans being what they are, will always seek to exploit any opportunity to increase power and crush others. Religions HAVE to be inspected and monitored to maintain transparency and keep it free of corruption.
For a Muslim to say we can't criticize islam is the same as me saying that a muslim can't call me an idolitor. They can believe that if they choose (and they are taught that so of course they believe it). I don't agree and I know that they don't understand it the way I do...but I can't demand that they don't say that. Before you know it you can't criticize anything...something will always offend someone. It is up to YOU as the adult to decide how to take the words.
Get out of the FRUSTRATED feelings. Not everyone is like that. Remain cool. Your blog will be read whatever your read =)
@Oby
I somehow missed this comment :S
absolutely! if we were to be careful as not to offend anyone, then no one would utter a word!
To be fair, I wouldn't say that only Muslims don't want their religious beliefs criticised. What I find funny though is that a believer doesn't want their beliefs to be criticised but has no problem whatsoever dismantling other people's scripture etc.
I just think that criticism, even if it may seem harsh sometimes, is invaluable for our advancement. if an idea is good and wholesome, I'm sure it can stand on its own and defend itself by the mere quality of what it proposes :)
I hope the ones who made this type of comment actually read this blog post and take some time to think about it if they need to because you are absolutely right.
I read the new blog post about 2012
Let you kafirs and munafiks know :
@SAFIYA, Candice and almost(TRICKY TITLE)Amuslimah,
The word Hypocrisy is defined in Webster's dictionaries as: an act or a practice of feigning to be what one is not, or to feel what one does not feel; especially, the false assumption of goodness. Therefore, a hypocrite is a false pretender and dissembler to virtue or piety.
In the Islamic terminology, the word Hypocrisy is a substitute for 'Nifaq'. This word Nifaq has been mentioned in the Qur'an thirty-one (31) times in different forms such as: Nifaq; Munafiqoon; Munafiqat; Munafiqeen, and Nifaqan.
Most of almostAmuslims or fake muslims are mostly attracted to Muslim men, and their main intention to read about Islam is to marry their boyfriends.
Dear Muslims WHOEVER VISIT THIS BLOG : There are some faults prevalent in society that a person may acquire, nurture and establish within himself/herself which affect his/her personal behavior. The fault of hypocrisy is one of them. Allah hates those people who acquire this fault, and He therefore warns them that their punishment is indeed hell. Metaphorically sleepless nights, stress, depression etc..Because they have no trust in Allah’s test and reward hereafter
Muslims should be aware of these trapping spider webs of this character while visiting such blogs.
There are thousands of real faithful revert /converted Muslims in western world…. This naseeha is for those really faithful CONVERTED MUSLIMS AND MUSLIMAH’S…not for some ( I repeat SOME) who has converted or almostAmuslimahs to Islam to marry a born Muslim,
Some pretending to be (fake) Muslims who support this slanderous blog are not real muslims.
Prophet asked Muslims to avoid discussing this type of munafiqs who support owner of this enemy of Islam blog.
Muslim
Thank you Candice, appreciate it :)
@Muslim,
thanks for the laugh man, I needed it :)
well, I don't believe in what you describe so I'm good, however...
whichever way I turn, I hear that there is no compulsion in religion. I take you are among those who claim so. Thus, you should allow all Muslims out there to practice their religion as they see fit. Also, as far as I know, it's UNISLAMIC to call someone not a Muslim if they feel they are Muslim.
peace!
As you said yourself, and has also been said above, if people don't want to read what you have to say, they can go somewhere else... this is a blog, no one is forcing anyone to read it.
Also, I COMPLETELY get needing to talk about it. I bug my family and friends a bit these days, because I've gone rather sceptical about religion altogether, but it has been necessary for me to sort of purge myself of the issues I've been thinking about and dealing with for years.
And it makes me SO mad when they say "don't say anything bad about my faith" then go on a rampage on Facebook about how all homosexuals didn't have a good relationship with their dad and will burn in hell... arghhhh..
hi Becky and thanks for taking the time to comment :)
I so feel your pain girl and the need to talk about it! my friends are sick and tired of hearing about Islam, God and religion altogether. I think that we all need some kind of validation whether we come to a religion or leave it. it's also nice to know that there are people out there who think like us, it makes it less alone experience. so if you even need to talk or purge yourself (such a succinct way to put it!) of thoughts, you can contact me directly at almostamuslimah@gmail.com
I also think that people who have never had much interest in religion, they just follow it or have never believed in anything, might not be interested in talking about it in a great detail, which I personally need :)
so yeah, you are welcome to email me if you wish :) take care, you are not alone! hug!
Almost a Muslimah,
I have read many posts of your blog and have thought a lot about your research so far and the questions you have about God and Islam. Though I disagree with you but I never got the feelings that your blog is a war against my religion. I feel that instead of permanently closing your doors for Islam and making a silent judgment you wish to share your queries and experiences to Muslims so that you're confident that your choice is justified.
But I feel that harsh comments are really possible one of the reasons is the title of your blog. (I admit that on my first visit here I also thought that this blog belongs to someone who is just going to share her conversion story:))
Muslim visitors really feel sad when they read these words: "... how I DIDN'T convert to Islam..."
You should understand that there are so many reverts to Islam that under an attractive title such description really seems shocking to those who don't read your story completely.
Therefore, I don't doubt the sincerity of such commentators.
Dear Brother/ Sister Anonymous,
I agree with some of the points you raised like the title is tricky but I have no doubt that your declaration that all the readers (who feel sincerity in authors research)and the author as munafiqeen and kufar is fully wrong. (btw, I don't doubt sincerity as well. Thanks)
Please read all the posts and you will feel that author hasn't replaced her heart with a stone or something harder than that. She really seems to be a sincere researcher. We should not be worried because of her misunderstandings.
The reasons is that if she has questions I am really confident that Islam has answers!!!
For those who don't have time to pay attention to all the posts they should at least pay attention to Ellipses(...) used at the beginning and at end of the blog title:
... how I DIDN'T convert to Islam...
According to wikipedia:
Ellipsis is a series of marks that usually indicate an intentional omission of a word, sentence or whole section from the original text being quoted. An ellipsis can also be used to indicate an unfinished thought or, at the end of a sentence, a trailing off into silence (aposiopesis). It can also be used at the end of a sentence to emphasize a statement. When placed at the beginning or end of a sentence, the ellipsis can also inspire a feeling of melancholy or longing. The ellipsis calls for a slight pause in speech or any other form of text, but it is incorrect to use ellipses solely to indicate a pause in speech.
So I am personally hopeful that one day we will see a description which will be something like this:
The blog shares my story how... I DIDN'T convert to Islam... just because my beloved invited me to it but INSTEAD I DID a thorough research and then became a (wonderful) Muslimah.
At least I pray and wish so.
Best Wishes!
Almost Brother,
Ibn Hanif
i totally agree with this! (: -Ava007
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