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Theme Changer

 Topic: What I Like About Islam & Muslims!

 (Read 20108 times)
  • 12 3 4 Next page « Previous thread | Next thread »
  • What I Like About Islam & Muslims!
     OP - February 13, 2010, 07:45 PM
    I've been meaning to make a video about all things I like about Islam and Muslims but one thing and another always means I never get round to it. (I will eventually - inshallah Wink )

    So I'd like to make a list of the things that we ex-Muslims like/liked about Islam and Muslims.

    I know alliadere started a thread about this a while back, but sadly it got taken off track - by a few who want to insist that there is nothing good about Islam. So may I respectfully ask those people to stay out of this thread. If they want to discuss that - they can start another topic.

    I am also obviously aware that many things we may say are based on personal experience, subjective, generalisations and not necessarily related to Islam the religion - I don't care - this is just a general - and positive - thread, to make the point that one doesn't have to hate Islam or Muslims to not believe in the religion. (It is an obvious point - but one that sadly needs reinforcing in light of the extreme irrational hatred, fear and bigotry that often polarises any discussion on the topic of Islam on the internet.)

    OK - so let me start with 5 things off the top of my head:

    1. I always liked the verse about personal responsibility (from memory); No bearer of burdens will carry others sins - each earns what they themselves did.

    2. I have generally had very good experiences with Muslims and love their hospitality, generosity, trustworthyness, and sincerity and in a climate where Muslims are often seen as terrorists I have always found Muslim communities to be very safe communities.

    3. Chicken Biryani, Cous Cous and Tagine!

    4. I always loved the verse that God is closer to us than our jugular vein.

    5. I love the hadith Qudsi where God says "I am as my servant thinks of me..."

    Please feel free to add whatever positive remark you like about Islam and/or Muslims.

    Thanks Smiley
  • Re: What I Love About Islam & Muslims!
     Reply #1 - February 13, 2010, 07:57 PM
    Having 4 wives would be kinda cool!

    (Of course not for the women though)
  • Re: What I Love About Islam & Muslims!
     Reply #2 - February 13, 2010, 08:01 PM
    I like the brotherhood and non-gay male bonding. It's something I appreciate from my childhood and early teens.
    Quote from: thinkfree on September 28, 2010, 07:58 PM
    Iblis has mad debaterin' skillz. Best not step up unless you're prepared to recieve da pain.

  • Re: What I Love About Islam & Muslims!
     Reply #3 - February 13, 2010, 08:02 PM
    ''Having 4 wives would be kinda cool!''

    Try telling that to my wife. lol.  Although, I love her to bits 001_wub
    ''we are morally and philisophically in the best position to win the league'' - Arsene Wenger
  • Re: What I Love About Islam & Muslims!
     Reply #4 - February 13, 2010, 08:03 PM
    Quote from: abuyunus2 on February 13, 2010, 08:02 PM
      Although, I love her to bits 001_wub


    So do I. cool2
    Quote from: thinkfree on September 28, 2010, 07:58 PM
    Iblis has mad debaterin' skillz. Best not step up unless you're prepared to recieve da pain.

  • Re: What I Love About Islam & Muslims!
     Reply #5 - February 13, 2010, 08:09 PM
    Iblis you're invited to my house for dinner tomorrow night  Baseball bat
    ''we are morally and philisophically in the best position to win the league'' - Arsene Wenger
  • Re: What I Love About Islam & Muslims!
     Reply #6 - February 13, 2010, 08:10 PM
    lol

    U know i kid bro, just tryin ta wind u up  Afro

    Quote from: thinkfree on September 28, 2010, 07:58 PM
    Iblis has mad debaterin' skillz. Best not step up unless you're prepared to recieve da pain.

  • Re: What I Love About Islam & Muslims!
     Reply #7 - February 13, 2010, 08:11 PM
    course I do bro, but still  Baseball bat 

     Afro
    ''we are morally and philisophically in the best position to win the league'' - Arsene Wenger
  • Re: What I Love About Islam & Muslims!
     Reply #8 - February 13, 2010, 08:26 PM
    I liked the religious celebrations like weddings and stuff.
    I liked it when all the extended family gathered specially on the first day of Eid Al Futr. 
    I liked cooking Qeema during Muharram. I liked eating it too.


    Quote from: Iblis on February 13, 2010, 08:01 PM
    I like the brotherhood and non-gay male bonding. It's something I appreciate from my childhood and early teens.

    I like that too. Although I think it's more of a cultural thing  than a Muslim thing. I remember when 7 or 8 of us used to sleep over at one of the guys' house and play Playstation and smoke Nargeelah all night. I didn't get what you meant by non-gay male bonding tbh. I would guess you mean such kind of bonding would be considered gay in the West right?
  • Re: What I Love About Islam & Muslims!
     Reply #9 - February 13, 2010, 08:29 PM
    Male bonding that does not involve sticking your wee wee into another dudes bum bum. Smiley
    Quote from: thinkfree on September 28, 2010, 07:58 PM
    Iblis has mad debaterin' skillz. Best not step up unless you're prepared to recieve da pain.

  • Re: What I Love About Islam & Muslims!
     Reply #10 - February 13, 2010, 08:35 PM
    Yes, I think IraqiAtheist got that, mate.

    In the Arab world (and I suspect in other Muslims countries - but I am more familiar with the Arab world) males mix in a way that might be considered Gay by some in the west.

    As someone brought up in England I found it strange when I first went to Egypt as a teenager and found my male cousins held my hand in the street as we walked together in Cairo. I also found the kiss on cheeks and just general touchy-feely way the Egyptians (and other Arabs) communicate with other males, odd - as in England we tend to be far more reserved.
  • Re: What I Love About Islam & Muslims!
     Reply #11 - February 13, 2010, 08:38 PM
    Nah, that stuff is actually kinda gay. By male bonding I mean like that bro love, fist bumping, chest pounding, kind of like we're in the same army kind of love. Its not particular to Islam, I'm sure the BNP has the same sort of bro love in their little hoe downs too.  Tongue
    Quote from: thinkfree on September 28, 2010, 07:58 PM
    Iblis has mad debaterin' skillz. Best not step up unless you're prepared to recieve da pain.

  • Re: What I Love About Islam & Muslims!
     Reply #12 - February 13, 2010, 08:42 PM
    Quote from: Hassan on February 13, 2010, 08:35 PM
    Yes, I think IraqiAtheist got that, mate.

    In the Arab world (and I suspect in other Muslims countries - but I am more familiar with the Arab world) males mix in a way that might be considered Gay by some in the west.

    As someone brought up in England I found it strange when I first went to Egypt as a teenager and found my male cousins held my hand in the street as we walked together in Cairo. I also found the kiss on cheeks and just general touchy-feely way the Egyptians (and other Arabs) communicate with other males, odd - as in England we tend to be far less touchy-feely.


    Tha touchy-feely part always felt and still feels odd to me even though i was born and raised in Arabia proper.
    A googolplex is *precisely* as far from infinity as is the number 1.--Carl Sagan
  • Re: What I Love About Islam & Muslims!
     Reply #13 - February 13, 2010, 08:47 PM
    I loved the brotherhood that was felt at every jumma and eid prayer and the sense of belonging to a community that had a shared bond, even with nominal muslims, there was like a silent pact between your hearts that you accepted "la-illaha-illallah-Muhammad-ar-rasul-allah". Now, all that has gone. For muslims, especially those from Pakistan, islam is such a huge part of the culture.
  • Re: What I Love About Islam & Muslims!
     Reply #14 - February 13, 2010, 08:50 PM
    Quote from: Omaar Khayaam on February 13, 2010, 08:47 PM
    I loved the brotherhood that was felt at every jumma and eid prayer and the sense of belonging to a community that had a shared bond, even with nominal muslims, there was like a silent pact between your hearts that you accepted "la-illaha-illallah-Muhammad-ar-rasul-allah". Now, all that has gone. For muslims, especially those from Pakistan, islam is such a huge part of the culture.


    Yeah this^ is the kind of bro love I'm talkin about. It's obviously not particular to Islam, but once you leave the spiritual fold of the "ummah" you lose that connection 4ever.
    Quote from: thinkfree on September 28, 2010, 07:58 PM
    Iblis has mad debaterin' skillz. Best not step up unless you're prepared to recieve da pain.

  • Re: What I Love About Islam & Muslims!
     Reply #15 - February 13, 2010, 08:50 PM
    Quote from: Omaar Khayaam on February 13, 2010, 08:47 PM
    I loved the brotherhood that was felt at every jumma and eid prayer and the sense of belonging to a community that had a shared bond, even with nominal muslims, there was like a silent pact between your hearts that you accepted "la-illaha-illallah-Muhammad-ar-rasul-allah". Now, all that has gone. For muslims, especially those from Pakistan, islam is such a huge part of the culture.

    Is that really something to miss? I mean, I've been to jumma prayers and eid prayers a few times, but I didn't like it and don't miss it, because the people you're hugging are .. generally.. illiterate and ignorant (at least in Pakistan). I mean, I just don't make friends with the kind of people you see in the jumma prayer.

    Isn't it better to make friends with educated and more liberal people?
  • Re: What I Love About Islam & Muslims!
     Reply #16 - February 13, 2010, 08:53 PM
    Quote from: liberated on February 13, 2010, 08:50 PM
    Is that really something to miss? I mean, I've been to jumma prayers and eid prayers a few times, but I didn't like it and don't miss it, because the people you're hugging are .. generally.. illiterate and ignorant (at least in Pakistan). I mean, I just don't make friends with the kind of people you see in the jumma prayer.

    Isn't it better to make friends with educated and more liberal people?


     Huh?

    Talk about missing the point.
    Quote from: thinkfree on September 28, 2010, 07:58 PM
    Iblis has mad debaterin' skillz. Best not step up unless you're prepared to recieve da pain.

  • Re: What I Love About Islam & Muslims!
     Reply #17 - February 13, 2010, 08:57 PM
    I have a question: The "community" feeling thingy is only felt outside the Muslim countries, no? I never felt it in my own country and here in the US, I'm usually the last one to enter the mosque for Friday prayer and the first one to exit the mosque... there's something very smug about Muslim "communities" abroad, I can't tolerate AT ALL.
    A googolplex is *precisely* as far from infinity as is the number 1.--Carl Sagan
  • Re: What I Love About Islam & Muslims!
     Reply #18 - February 13, 2010, 08:58 PM
    I liked fasting. The feeling of gratitude after the fast. Feeling of solidarity. And I always looked forward for the last day when I could give charity. It felt like I was making one very small contribution and making somebody, somewhere happy. For a short moment.

    Also with fasting to keep your temper and be kind even as you are hungry. Teaches discipline.

    I also love looking at videos of people in Hajj. At peace, people from all over the world. All colors, shapes and sizes. Stuff like that brings warmth.
  • Re: What I Love About Islam & Muslims!
     Reply #19 - February 13, 2010, 09:02 PM
    Quote from: debunker on February 13, 2010, 08:57 PM
    I have a question: The "community" feeling thingy is only felt outside the Muslim countries, no? I never felt it in my own country and here in the US, I'm usually the last one to enter the mosque for Friday prayer and the first one to exit the mosque... there's something very smug about Muslim "communities" abroad, I can't tolerate AT ALL.


    It might be inferiority complex. The smugness I mean.  But I'm no Dr. Phil.
  • Re: What I Love About Islam & Muslims!
     Reply #20 - February 13, 2010, 09:06 PM
    Quote from: Iblis on February 13, 2010, 08:29 PM
    Male bonding that does not involve sticking your wee wee into another dudes bum bum. Smiley

    They have that in the West too you know. They understand the concept of friendship   Tongue

    What I and Hassan are talking about is that the friendship in the Arab world is on a different level. It can reach the level of brotherhood and even exceed that and it's not necessarily a Muslim thing. One of my best friends was an Armenian Catholic.
    So like Hassan said, if I tell a Brit that where I come from it's ordinary for friends to kiss on the cheek, hold hands, talk on the phone an hour a day, or share personal information they'd find it very odd to say the least.
    My sister goes to a sixth form college here and she raised the same point. She said that best friends here are not nearly as close as best friends in Iraq.

    IMO, the reason is very obvious. It's because Arabs/Muslims don't have (or are not supposed to have) a sex life. You have to repress you sexuality cuz you know that shit is dangerous!! So instead you resort to bonding to friends of the same gender.
    Here in the UK the norm is that teens as young as 15-16 have BFs/GFs and from what I can gather if you're 18+ and a virgin you're the exception to the rule.
    So when you have a sexual life and sex is not something you only dream of but can actually get, you try to take time to pursue that. Consequently you don't have time for having many super-close friends and most importantly you won't even want to. Why would you chose to spend the night with other dudes watching porn and playing Xbox when you can get laid?

    And TBQH, I think in this regard, the English/Western way of life is superior. It's healthier, it makes you confident and independent, and you get a good sex life out of it. Wink
  • Re: What I Love About Islam & Muslims!
     Reply #21 - February 13, 2010, 09:08 PM
    Quote from: debunker on February 13, 2010, 08:57 PM
    I have a question: The "community" feeling thingy is only felt outside the Muslim countries, no? I never felt it in my own country and here in the US, I'm usually the last one to enter the mosque for Friday prayer and the first one to exit the mosque... there's something very smug about Muslim "communities" abroad, I can't tolerate AT ALL.


    I really can't speak about the US, but here in the UK and particularly in cities and towns where there is a large minority of muslims, that brotherhood is felt and it's usually among the twenty or thirty somethings who do practice. I have to admit that the warmth amongst the generation mentioned doesn't seem the same with the older immigrant generation. They seem to be slightly stand off ish. The only other place where I felt this warmth was over in Istanbul. This was from both the older and younger generation.
  • Re: What I Love About Islam & Muslims!
     Reply #22 - February 13, 2010, 09:10 PM
    Quote from: BlackDog on February 13, 2010, 09:02 PM
    It might be inferiority complex. The smugness I mean.  But I'm no Dr. Phil.


    That's exactly what I think! And the reason I avoid their Friday "preaching" is that it's either full of manifestations of inferiority complex OR demanding money and more money.

    PS. how can you say you liked fasting? Fasting is a torture.
    A googolplex is *precisely* as far from infinity as is the number 1.--Carl Sagan
  • Re: What I Love About Islam & Muslims!
     Reply #23 - February 13, 2010, 09:12 PM
    I love how not a single female has yet contributed anything here Roll Eyes


    Quod est inferius est sicut quod est superius,
    et quod est superius est sicut quod est inferius,
    ad perpetranda miracula rei unius.
  • Re: What I Love About Islam & Muslims!
     Reply #24 - February 13, 2010, 09:13 PM
    @ Hassan

    I know I'm not an ex-Muslim and I'm not supposed to post here, but the only thing I like about Muslim practices is Zakat/Charity and the great great emphasis it finds in the Quran.
    A googolplex is *precisely* as far from infinity as is the number 1.--Carl Sagan
  • Re: What I Love About Islam & Muslims!
     Reply #25 - February 13, 2010, 09:20 PM
    Quote from: debunker on February 13, 2010, 09:10 PM
    That's exactly what I think! And the reason I avoid their Friday "preaching" is that it's either full of manifestations of inferiority complex OR demanding money and more money.

    PS. how can you say you liked fasting? Fasting is a torture.


    Sure I didn't enjoy it, especially during long summer days. But it felt good in the end. There was this feeling of being humble and grateful for what I had. For the dinner my mom had prepared. Gathered around the table, entire family breaking fast. It made me think about people less fortunate. It would make me pray and hope that God alleviates poverty of people. It would bring me closer to God because we weren't starving. I didn't dare ask why we were so lucky but I don't want to push it and question God.

    I always looked forward to Ramadan, it was a month of spiritual longing and fulfillment. Cleansing of thoughts and actions. Trying to be the best person possible, I always thought I should try to be as good every month of the year but I knew that was a bit unrealistic. Not lying for example, sometimes we have to lie.

    When fajr broke, and you'd wake and pray 2 rooka prayer. In the quiet of the morning. Thanking God for blessings and praying to keep you and family safe and occasionally praying for wars and diseases to end. That maybe one day soon we will have peace.

    And then waiting for the sun to set, when the sky is colored red. And you know within one hour you will eat and be at peace. I miss that spiritual feeling.

    ...

    brb I have to get my Ice Tea Vodka drink going  dance
  • Re: What I Love About Islam & Muslims!
     Reply #26 - February 13, 2010, 09:21 PM
    Quote from: belladonnasix on February 13, 2010, 09:12 PM
    I love how not a single female has yet contributed anything here Roll Eyes


    I don't think that many females enjoy bondage... literally.  Cheesy

    Islam really is a man's religion.


    That's actually another part of Islam I appreciated, Islam is very manly religion. *puffs chest*
    Quote from: thinkfree on September 28, 2010, 07:58 PM
    Iblis has mad debaterin' skillz. Best not step up unless you're prepared to recieve da pain.

  • Re: What I Love About Islam & Muslims!
     Reply #27 - February 13, 2010, 09:24 PM
    Quote from: debunker on February 13, 2010, 09:13 PM
    @ Hassan

    I know I'm not an ex-Muslim and I'm not supposed to post here, but the only thing I like about Muslim practices is Zakat/Charity and the great great emphasis it finds in the Quran.


    Yes, I was going to mention charity.
  • Re: What I Love About Islam & Muslims!
     Reply #28 - February 13, 2010, 09:26 PM
    Quote from: belladonnasix on February 13, 2010, 09:12 PM
    I love how not a single female has yet contributed anything here Roll Eyes


    Hiya Bella - how you doing Smiley

    Good point! I often wonder why there are not more women ex-Muslims?
  • Re: What I Love About Islam & Muslims!
     Reply #29 - February 13, 2010, 09:26 PM
    Quote from: Hassan on February 13, 2010, 07:45 PM


    5. I love the hadith Qudsi where God says "I am as my servant thinks of me..."




    I have an mp3 of Yusuf Islam saying that hadith at the beginning of one of his nasheeds. When the actual song started, I would restart it to the beginning again  Tongue

    I am as My servant thinks I am. I am with him when he makes mention of Me.
    If he makes mention of Me to himself, I make mention of him to Myself; and
    if he makes mention of Me in an assembly, I make mention of him in an
    assembly better than it. And if he draws near to Me an arm?s length, I draw
    near to him a fathom?s length. And if he comes to Me walking, I go to him at
    speed.

    It still brings a soft chill to the back of my neck.
    The unlived life is not worth examining.
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