Re-opening the Muslim Tearoom?

[perfectlybroken]

Salaam/peace, I haven't seen a tea room thread for ages. Would anyone be interested in resurrecting it? Perhaps we could redecorate, and have a new range of yummy cakes!
The previous tearooms were places where all were welcome, and we could chat about parenting/marriage/Islam stuff. Visits from those we questions about Islam were also welcome.

[mudandmayhem01]

I often enjoyed lurking in the muslim tea room, so popping to say hi, I am not muslim but I work in a school with lots of muslim students and found it really useful to find more about some of the issues facing my students and ask the occasional stupid question. After the horrible shock of Trump anything that promotes understanding between different faiths (and those of no faith at all) has to welcomed.

[perfectlybroken]

Hi mud and welcome back to the tearoom, I'm really glad you found the previous threads useful. I agree completely, we are living in worrying times and need to keep lines of communication open.
My DS's teacher is fantastic in regards to consulting with us about religious/cultural issues, it makes it so much easier for us, I'm sure your Muslim students benefit from a teacher who is keen to learn about their faith.
For the record don't believe there are any stupid questions, if you don't know something you don't know.

[mudandmayhem01]

Ok, here goes I know there are many different branches of Islam and all people are different but I am interested in different attitudes to Christmas. A muslim student was chatting to me about her family buying Christmas gifts for her non muslim neighbours which was very kind, asked me what old white ladies liked, which made me smile, is Christmas a challenge or an issue for muslim families, its so overbearing must be hard to ignore, wish I could at times!

[perfectlybroken]

I think you're right it varies enormously from one family to the next. We don't join in celebrations, though don't have any negative feelings towards the time of year iyswim. We also buy gifts for non-Muslim family members, and they buy us gifts for Eid. I wouldn't say it's a challenge but I was quite surprised at just how much time they spend on it at school. It started at the beginning of November, so basically 2 months of Christmas! But generally people vary. I know people that would not buy gifts like we do, and others that would happily do Xmas day with turkey, which we wouldn't do!

[Ilovelearning]

I used to pop into the tea room now and again and always enjoyed a warm welcome. I'm not a Muslim and grew up in an area with very little multi-cultural experience. However, at the age of 53 I have started University in a Northern town and am experiencing it from every direction . Glad to see it's up and running again.

[perfectlybroken]

Hi ilove that's fab! Lovely to have you back.

[twirlytwo]

Salaam , I've been lurking for ages . I've never come a across this coffee shop before .I'm not sure how it works but if I could grab a slice of cake and a nice warm mug of tea, that would be perfect.

[perfectlybroken]

Cake and tea available any time of the night or day.

[LittleTulip]

Salaam from me ladies.

A new tearoom idea is great

[grandmainmypocket]

Assalamu alaikum
Thank you for resurrecting this tea room. I didn't experience it before.

[TheMightyMing]

Non Muslim here, but love reading your thread ladies, good to hear about other cultures and tradition.

[perfectlybroken]

Yippee, getting busy now! Thank you all for dropping in. Can I make us all sit in a circle and say a little about ourselves?
I'm depressingly middle aged with 2 DCs, work full time and am a convert to Islam of around 10 years. Finding Islam was like flicking a switch with me, I suddenly had what I needed and could proceed with life without any of my former angst! Bit hard to explain really. Very much enjoy both motherhood and work, but the two combined can be quite exhausting.

[Lipsy234]

What are youre thoughts on abortion?

[perfectlybroken]

Are you asking for the Islamic position lipsy, or our personal thoughts?

[onwego]

Can I come in for a cup of tea? I'm not Muslim but I have close Muslim friends (both Sufi) and I enjoy the peace and wisdom they bring. My daughter begins each day at nursery with a song welcoming everyone and includes assalamu alaikum as well as hello. I want my children to be brought up in a world with love and respect between people of all religions.

[perfectlybroken]

onwego you are very welcome. I aspire to Sufism too. Sounds like a lovely nursery.

[Lipsy234]

perfectly broken Both would be nice.

[StarrySpace]

Assalaamu Alaikum everyone!

Never seen a Muslim tea room here before! Hope I can join. I have 3 kids and work part time.

We celebrate Christmas by having a roast dinner. We hang our Christmas cards up aswell for fun. My children give their teachers Christmas presents and that's it really. Religiously, we love and respect Jesus as he's a prophet in Islam. I don't find Christmas an issue; it's my favourite time of year. I love the decorations and Christmas trees, I've grown up with this, so it's another part of my culture i suppose! Religion and culture are very different things imo.

[crystalgall]

Salaams. I've seen the tea room before though not contributed much. It's been a nice safe space when other Muslim conversations have been taking place on th boards.

I like the mood of Xmas. We don't do anything like decorations/presents/cards but I always end up doing a roast dinner and we go to see the Xmas lights in London

[perfectlybroken]

We had brussel sprout curry last xmas day!

Lipsy as far as I understand abortion is allowed if the pregnancy puts the mothers life in danger, but not for any other reason.

More details here:
seekershub.org/ans-blog/2011/10/06/when-is-having-an-abortion-permitted/

While my personal view is the same, I wouldn't stand outside an abortion clinic with a placard. I know through friends and colleagues who aren't Muslim that it is a terribly difficult decision to make, and I don't expect non-Muslims to live according to Islamic law, obviously.

[StarrySpace]

My dad used to make brussel sprout curry! I love brussel sprouts but just lightly fried in butter and onions.

I think abortion is something that only the woman in that position can talk about. I agree with you "perfectly"...I wouldn't judge anyone for any decisions they make and I'm not the type of person to preach. And I hope I'm never in that position either.
What are your views on abortion Lipsy?

[perfectlybroken]

Oh, I didn't realise it was a classic "starryspace*!

[perfectlybroken]

Ooops, I meant to enbolden your user name but it went wrong!

[thethoughtfox]

Friendly atheist here from a vvvvv Catholic family. Want to teach my child about different traditions and don't want her to think this time of year is all about Jesus. Are there any special Muslim celebrations at this time of year?

[StarrySpace]

Don't worry perfectly I think I messed your bold name up too!
I don't think it's a classic! I think my dad just liked Brussel sprouts that much!

Hello fox, so Muslims follow the lunar cycle so our celebrations tend to go back 10 days every year so there aren't any celebrations around this Time of year this year, or next couple of years! I remember when Ramadan and Christmas were around the same time about 15 years ago, and that was quite fun!