I’m a fairly secular Muslim: Ask me anything

[Byemelania]

I probably won’t know the answer but I’ll try

I had a mate at uni who used to be expected to know,answer and justify everything about Islam and being a Muslim
In a way that Christians, weren’t expected to

What kinds of discrimination have you experienced ?
Do you believe in an afterlife ?

Did you marry another muslim / if not married would you want to marry another muslim or would any faith be ok ?

@SentientAndCognisant it’s tiring and counterproductive. If this is the way Muslims of any kind are treated, same as other minorities, there is no hope for integration. In my experience I feel othered a lot of the time, and now I can’t tell if it’s me or I’m imagining it.

Do you do ramadan ?
I used to work with a lot of muslims and even the ones who didn't really practise their religion still did it.

@SittingAround1 being spat at, called racist names, told I looked like “isis” by a boss because I wore all black one day.

I did not marry a Muslim, but I dated a couple.

I believe in an afterlife because it’s comforting I think, I’m not 100 percent about it really. Is anyone, really??

@SittingAround1 not anymore but I’ve done it loads before. I think it’s great tho. I’m just a bit rubbish.

How does anyone know you are a Muslim and therefore discriminate against you?

@Baaaahhhhh they don’t know I’m Muslim but they know I’m not white. As for the isis comment from my boss, he knew my country background which kind of gives it away

What's your ethnic background? All the Turkish Muslims I know are secular in that they all eat pork, drink alcohol and don't cover their hair

@Jalapinot not Turkish. I don’t cover hair, don’t eat pork

Men are the protectors and maintainers of women, because Allah has made one of them to excel the other, and because they spend (to support them) from their means. Therefore the righteous women are Qanitat and guard in the husband's absence what Allah orders them to guard. As to those women on whose part you see ill-conduct, admonish them, and abandon them in their beds, and beat them, but if they return to obedience, do not seek a means against them. Surely, Allah is Ever Most High, Most Great

en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/An-Nisa#Verse_4:34

What is your family background in relation to Islam? Recent converts or from a traditionally Muslim country such as Lebanon/Saudi etc? I’m curious because among my friends some nationalities are less observant than others.

Also, what is your opinion on the Charlie Hebdo cartoons? Are they offensive to you personally? Can you see why they might be offensive to others?

I'm so sorry you have been treated so horribly and that you don't feel accepted. What can we as non-muslims in the UK do to help? (aside from the obvious points about not being racist or making offensive assumptions about people). Is there anything I can personally do? Is there anything you would like me to teach my children? Thanks ♥️

@zanahoria yeah I don’t advocate for domestic violence. Islam is the last of the monotheistic religions and the Quran is like the two before it. I haven’t researched it but maybe the other two say similar? I’m honestly not a scholar so can’t really speak on this.

What makes you a muslim then because muslim women are not allowed to marry non muslims. Your family can't be that muslim either. It all sounds veeeery relaxed.

@WattleOn yes born Muslims from a Muslim majority country.
The cartoons don’t offend me. It I can see why they offend others. I don’t care for them but Hebdo can be funny at times. The problem is they kind of take the piss on the victims of colonialism, which sucks doesn’t it? I prefer when they target the people at the top.

@Wonderrwall you sound like a very nice person. Get them to read about structural racism from a young age.

I'm no scholar either but the old testament of the Bible has some pretty disturbing violence and abuse of women in it which is presented as normal behaviour.

@SiSeniora you’re assuming a lot there buddy. All families have their issues. They’re relaxed in some ways and not others.

being spat at, called racist names, told I looked like “isis” by a boss because I wore all black one day.
That's awful, I'm so sorry.

You say you have a baby and a non Muslim partner/DH - what will you be teaching your child with regards to religion ?
Will they be brought up as a Muslim ?

@SiSeniora I did not seek their approval before I married. They were dead against it

@SittingAround1 our kids will decide for themselves, I’m not a militant atheist. But I won’t force anything on them. I’ll teach them to respect people and stay away from conflict.

You said you were born muslim.

You are born free, not a muslim or a catholic. You are then indoctrinated,brainwashed and influenced when you are too young and malliable to resist or question. You don't follow the pillars of islam. You don't live according to islam. How are you a muslim? It's not likr being a jew by virtue of just being, its not an ethnicity.

@SiSeniora you’re coming across as a really charming person! I said my family were born Muslim in response to a question.

Trevor Phillips wrote a long piece about how he has not managed to find any explanation of what structural racism is. I was surprised as it's talked about so much. What do you think it is?