Just Sharing Thoughts

1« Previous thread | Next thread »
- cosmicdancer
- Pub Regular
- offline
Just Sharing Thoughts
OP - June 13, 2016, 09:51 AM

Most people here know me as the guy who made videos criticising Islam and who helped found this forum with Berbs and Oz and so perhaps regard me as fundamentally an ExMuslim.

But the truth is I'm not. I am a Muslim.

I am a Muslim whose journey involved 5 years loss of faith & identifying as an ExMuslim (from 2007 to 2012 - ie from the age of 48 to 53)

I was not unique nor different from other Muslims. I really was a pretty orthodox Muslim who had been active all my life within the UK Muslim community. I devoted my life to Islam. I studied it, taught it at an Islamic School, wrote books for Muslim children and was actively involved with a Dawa society.

I remember Maryam Namazie once saying to me when we were at a social event - drinks in our hands - that she couldn't imagine me as a practising Muslim. I told her actually I was pretty much the same person I am now. If you met me then you would find little difference apart from my drink would be orange juice. I was a peaceful, tolerant Muslim who did his best to impose his own humanity onto his faith.

I wasn't a freak. I wasn't unique. Most of the Muslims around me were like that. Maybe I was fortunate to be in a Muslim community in the UK that was like that. Coming from Anglo-Egyptian parents meant I was spared the closed and insular mentality of communities found amongst some Asians in parts of the UK or North Africans in France & Belgium or Turks and Kurds in Germany etc…

Perhaps that meant I was amongst less culturally tied Muslims and the fact I was a teacher it may have meant I mixed more with educated Muslims too.

I don't know, I'm just trying to guess why I have been fortunate to have a good experience amongst Muslims. My Egyptian father and convert mother taught me as a child that Islam is just about being a good person. They didn't bother with anything else - apart from reading Al-Fatiha before bed.

But from what I saw throughout my life - I was not unique nor different. Most Muslims I knew were like me. They believed Islam was about being a good person, about love, charity, prayer, honesty, being upright, good character etc…

Yes there were issues that troubled me and I know they troubled my friends and colleagues too. But we skipped around them, we resorted to apologetics or just avoided them, telling ourselves “there must be an explanation” it's just that we don't know it yet.

For the most part it wasn't a problem.

But when I went through a personal crisis which coincided with the events like 911 - I was forced to take stock. My journey then took me through a loss of faith and although I have now regained it - it nevertheless left me with different views and a changed perspective.

But I'm not a different person. I'm the same person I've always been. Seeking nothing more than peace, love, harmony, and trying to be the good person my mum and dad wanted me to be.

And I know I'm not alone and I'm not unique. Most Muslims that I have been fortunate two know in my life - family, friends & colleagues - are like that.

But I also know it's a very, very, difficult and painful journey that I probably would not have gone on if life hadn't dealt me some hard slaps in the face.

But it's a journey others are on and so if those of us who have made that journey can't empathise and lend a kind friendly hand then who can?

What prompted this stream of consciousness are the horrible events yesterday at a Gay nightclub in the US.

When I read about it I posted my shock and condolences on my Facebook timeline. This was before it was known he was a Muslim inspired by ISIS. At the time it seemed he was a far-right bigot.

That didn't and doesn't make a difference to me.

l felt a deep sense of sadness, empathy, pain and heartache.

I would have felt the same when I was a more orthodox Muslim too.

But there was one difference and I'll be totally open and honest about it.

I no longer felt afraid to openly and unequivocally stand with the gay community. To say loud and clear that anyone who thinks God disapproves of who you choose to love is part of the problem.

What my journey has done is not so much change me but free me from fear of saying what my head and heart thinks and feels, rather than having to pass it by holy texts or scholars.
- Absurdist
- Ex-Muslim
- offline
Strange rant
Reply #1 - June 13, 2016, 10:10 AM

Hassan, I think we all experience all kinds of Muslims, but for some people the everyday Muslims don't register as "Muslim" in their heads. It's confirmation bias. They have a narrow definition of what it means to be Muslim and so naturally dismiss anyone who doesn't fit that definition.
- cosmicdancer
- Pub Regular
- offline
Strange rant
Reply #2 - June 13, 2016, 10:15 AM

True
- yeezevee
- Pub Regular
- offline
Strange rant
Reply #3 - June 13, 2016, 10:18 AM

Quote from: Hassan on June 13, 2016, 09:51 AM
............. My Egyptian father and convert mother taught me as a child that Islam is just about being a good person. They didn't bother with anything else - apart from reading Al-Fatiha before bed.....................
Quote
But I'm not a different person. I'm the same person I've always been. Seeking nothing more than peace, love, harmony, and trying to be the good person my mum and dad wanted me to be.

......... holy texts or scholars........

Well., Zebras are different type of Muslims., they are NOT the type of holy texts or scholarly Muslims ..golly dolly Muslims. If you grew up in Egypt or Sand land or Land of Pure your outlook about Islam would have been entirely different ., you could have gone either way., the way of Apostasy., or the way of baboonised Islam.,

Off course your family and parents /grand parents play a very important role shaping your life.. but the society around you is a big force changing the shapes your faith and your life.,

whatever I tell you., some basic rules of Islam on family and society HAS TO BE CHANGED. one of them is "Spouse need not convert to Islam to marry a Muslim.".., Faith has to be voluntarily accepted by the partner not by force .

And your rule is the best rule Hassan., Islamic texts are NOT word of allah god whatever..

Do not let silence become your legacy.. Question everything
I renounced my faith to become a kafir,
the beloved betrayed me and turned in to a Muslim
- asbie
- Actually just a dude
- Poster of the Month
- Past, present, future...
- offline
Just Sharing Thoughts
Reply #4 - June 13, 2016, 02:29 PM

Great post Hassan. I see so much in it, that echoes my own thoughts and transformations.

Difference I guess is that I haven't felt a need to associate myself again with the Muslim label. I can imagine things could be different if I had invested as much into it as you have.

Quote from: yeezevee on February 11, 2016, 02:05 PM
how fuck works without shit??

Let's Play Chess!

harakaat, friend, RIP
- cosmicdancer
- Pub Regular
- offline
Just Sharing Thoughts
Reply #5 - June 13, 2016, 03:42 PM

Thanks, asbie.
- Elifaz
- Ex-Muslim
- offline
Just Sharing Thoughts
Reply #6 - July 04, 2016, 07:50 PM

Thanks Hassan. Your posts were always trailblazing for me when I first joined here 5 years ago, gave me a sense of hope when I felt that complete sense of "free fall" that I think few Ex Muslims are spared.

I read about your life with great interest and you always seemed to be the right in the "midst of it" whether as Muslim or Ex.

I think the labels don't matter so much when we are at peace and promoting compassion to all. I don't see the label "Ex Muslim" as particularly useful unless I am thinking that I need to provide hope to others maybe that there is a choice. If you consider yourself Muslim then I hope all Muslims one day share your values particularly when it comes to gays and other "others"
- cosmicdancer
- Pub Regular
- offline
Just Sharing Thoughts
Reply #7 - July 04, 2016, 08:43 PM

Thanks Elifaz
- cellphone2016
- Ex-Muslim
- offline
Just Sharing Thoughts
Reply #8 - July 04, 2016, 11:01 PM

Hassan You are Muslim or Ex-Muslim right now?
If you are Muslim again.
it is very shocking.
Because the videos you have made are very logical.

After all that information you already have in your mind, how can you go back into Islam.

Anyways, I have the problem.
I swing between ex-muslim and muslim.

I think its common.
- cosmicdancer
- Pub Regular
- offline
Just Sharing Thoughts
Reply #9 - July 05, 2016, 12:53 PM

I am Muslim. You can find a fuller explanation here:

https://www.youtube.com/shared?ci=ctqY4NnnB7E
- yeezevee
- Pub Regular
- offline
Just Sharing Thoughts
Reply #10 - July 05, 2016, 02:09 PM

Quote from: Hassan on July 05, 2016, 12:53 PM
I am Muslim. You can find a fuller explanation here:

https://www.youtube.com/shared?ci=ctqY4NnnB7E

shaitan entered in to your mind., no hope for people like you entering jannah., the least join that [God = Truth] vs. [Satan = Lies] Matheism for your salvation Hassan Radwan...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K5Tl_DSZrUQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tBUg-l5viFQ

Do not let silence become your legacy.. Question everything
I renounced my faith to become a kafir,
the beloved betrayed me and turned in to a Muslim
1« Previous thread | Next thread »