Traded hot pants for hijab, i converted to Islam AMA

[user14943608381]

I’m going to be occupied with a cluster feeding newborn so thought an Ama would be fun. So, I used to drink, go clubbing, love mini skirts and dating but I gave it all up and became Muslim. For a little while I even wore the face veil.

Ask me anything!

I’m pretty clued up in theology and the sharia for feel free to ask me anything on that too! (Disclaimer though some opinions are my own and not the ‘majority consensus’)

It's IS NOT mainstream acceptance to kill so called apostates

Why 'so called' apostates, that is what they are referred to in the Koran and Hadiths.

And you are in wilful denial if you think such views are not widely accepted in much of the Muslim world.

www.pewforum.org/2013/04/30/the-worlds-muslims-religion-politics-society-beliefs-about-sharia/

"Muslims in the countries surveyed are significantly less supportive of the death penalty for converts.19 Nevertheless, in six of the 20 countries where there are adequate samples for analysis, at least half of those who favor making Islamic law the official law also support executing apostates.

Taking the life of those who abandon Islam is most widely supported in Egypt (86%) and Jordan (82%). Roughly two-thirds who want sharia to be the law of the land also back this penalty in the Palestinian territories (66%). In the other countries surveyed in the Middle East-North Africa region, fewer than half take this view.

In the South Asian countries of Afghanistan and Pakistan, strong majorities of those who favor making Islamic law the official law of the land also approve of executing apostates (79% and 76%, respectively). However, in Bangladesh far fewer (44%) share this view.

A majority of Malaysian Muslims (62%) who want to see sharia as their country’s official law also support taking the lives of those who convert to other faiths. But fewer take this position in neighboring Thailand (27%) and Indonesia (18%).

In Central Asia as well as Southern and Eastern Europe, only in Tajikistan (22%) do more than a fifth of Muslims who want sharia as the official law of the land also condone the execution of apostates. Support for killing converts to other faiths falls below one-in-ten in Albania (8%) and Kazakhstan (4%)."

@BobbieT1999

Another question from me, op.

Can you tell us about sharia law please and what your opinions are of it?

Sharia means law in general.

What aspects of it? It’s hugely complex and vast.

I think you probably are referring to hudud or hadd punishment? Firstly it’s important to know that prior to the foundation of Saudi Arabia in the 1930s, from the best part of 1400 years you could count the amount of hadd punishments delivered in Islamic history on one hand, an exception was always looked for. You have to view it as the absolute maximum punishment that can be delivered for a certain crime under perfect sharia conditions ie no exploitation, no abusive marriages, no drugs, no poverty basically a utopian society with none of the key drivers of for criminality.

It’s also worthwhile remember this was a society with 0 infrastructure in terms of prisons or police. You ever see the walking dead? You know there is an episode where carol one of the main characters is looking after Rick’s baby and 2 young girls. One of the girls is a psychopath and mentally unwell and kills her sister and tries to kill ricks baby. Carol realises that they can’t care for her or protect others from her due to the lack of infrastructure and the fact it’s a post apocalyptic zombie world, so for the greater good, carol kills her. I kind of see it like that without the zombies, a society without infrastructure has limited options in terms of dealing with violent criminals.

Sorry @Namechangetimes100 I didn't explain myself well in my earlier post. I would never ostracise anybody as I don't quite fit in myself, I'm not part of any community really. I'm not very cultural so don't fit in the community I was born in, although I perform Salah etc I'm not overly religious and not western either. I have had a few lonely Eids myself and have invited Muslims who were new to the area to celebrate at my house when they were at a loss what to do having experienced that loneliness myself. I'm sad to hear how your in laws treat you very un Islamic of them.

I have found your responses well balanced and articulated. So informative and backed up by research it's actually helped me. I have battled with aspects of my faith lately and I love the way you seem to be at peace with yours.

I would really like to know what happens with the break of fast in Ramadan if you live extremely north or south, at the time of year that corresponds with no daylight or no night?
Not as deep as some of the other questions but I’m itching to know.

@IHateCoronavirus

I would really like to know what happens with the break of fast in Ramadan if you live extremely north or south, at the time of year that corresponds with no daylight or no night? Not as deep as some of the other questions but I’m itching to know.

So there’s a school of thought that says if the fast is over a certain time, I think 17 hrs you can follow Saudi time, it’s more applicable in Scandinavian countries where it’s like 22 daylight hours. But you break your fast at maghrib (evening prayer time) the times are adjusted by local region. So the time the fast breaks in london is different to Edinburgh.

Thank you.

Thank you, this is really interesting:

You have to view it as the absolute maximum punishment that can be delivered for a certain crime under perfect sharia conditions ie no exploitation, no abusive marriages, no drugs, no poverty basically a utopian society with none of the key drivers of for criminality.

I'm aware that centuries ago traditionally Muslim countries were more advanced than western Christian countries but this suggests they lived with a level of social conscience that I think was pretty well unheard of in countries like the UK until relatively recently. Is this your understanding?

@BobbieT1999

Thank you, this is really interesting:

You have to view it as the absolute maximum punishment that can be delivered for a certain crime under perfect sharia conditions ie no exploitation, no abusive marriages, no drugs, no poverty basically a utopian society with none of the key drivers of for criminality.

I'm aware that centuries ago traditionally Muslim countries were more advanced than western Christian countries but this suggests they lived with a level of social conscience that I think was pretty well unheard of in countries like the UK until relatively recently. Is this your understanding?

Yes that’s my understanding and religious pluralism too where pagans, Jews and Christian’s were free to practice their religion and celebrate their festivals etc. In fact the Jews had a far better existence and life under the Muslims rule than under Christians to the extent that the Jews of Palestine called the second caliph umar their saviour as he abolished all the restrictions Christians placed on Jews at the time

I don’t however think they were perfect that’s why not many hadd punishments were actually implemented.

You say you don't wear a scarf, so I'm assuming that you wouldn't encourage your daughter to wear one?
Where I live, little girls at primary school wear hijabs, I've even seen tots in buggies with them on. Would you feel that there was pressure?.

Well thank you again for being so generous with your time for this AMA, I think many of us appreciate the opportunity to learn more about Islam in a concise and easy way.

It's all very well planning to read books about it (as Ive long intended to) but finding the time isn't always easy and sometimes you need a way in!

@Maireas

You say you don't wear a scarf, so I'm assuming that you wouldn't encourage your daughter to wear one? Where I live, little girls at primary school wear hijabs, I've even seen tots in buggies with them on. Would you feel that there was pressure?.

No I wouldn’t put pressure on her to wear it, I’d be such a hypocrite. I dislike baby’s in burqas it’s completely unnecessary and it’s done just so she won’t question it. Let kids be kids. Saying that I probably would encourage her to dress modestly and if at the beach wear modest swim wear but I wouldn’t force it. Maybe I’ll wear it in the future but I know I don’t appreciate being mithered about it.

@BobbieT1999

Well thank you again for being so generous with your time for this AMA, I think many of us appreciate the opportunity to learn more about Islam in a concise and easy way.

It's all very well planning to read books about it (as Ive long intended to) but finding the time isn't always easy and sometimes you need a way in!

Happy to! Glad it’s been Informative, Do look up the things I’ve said though and don’t just take my word for it :)

Thank you for the reply.
It always sets Muslim girls apart, doesn't it? In my experience in the classroom you can't tell what religion students are by looking at them, apart from Muslim girls.

@Namechangetimes100 I will do!

@Maireas

Thank you for the reply. It always sets Muslim girls apart, doesn't it? In my experience in the classroom you can't tell what religion students are by looking at them, apart from Muslim girls.

It does yeah but that in and as of itself I have no problem with, I want my kids to be proud to be Muslim. The issue I have with young children wearing the headscarf is the why? What’s the reason, is it that they need to dress modestly? If so that’s all sorts of f’d up. Is it so they never question is and continue to wear it? Also doesn’t sit well with me

Good points. True if you want to be proud of your religion, but my point is that it's an obvious difference for girls. The boys look the same as other boys.
Would your children go to Islamic classes?

@Maireas

Good points. True if you want to be proud of your religion, but my point is that it's an obvious difference for girls. The boys look the same as other boys. Would your children go to Islamic classes?

I don’t necessarily see that as a bad thing, i mean Sikh boys often wear a bandana before a turban so I don’t really see an issue with that.

Yeah I’ll send my kids to the Muslim equivalent of Sunday school :)

@DillonPanthersTexas

It's IS NOT mainstream acceptance to kill so called apostates

Why 'so called' apostates, that is what they are referred to in the Koran and Hadiths.

And you are in wilful denial if you think such views are not widely accepted in much of the Muslim world.

www.pewforum.org/2013/04/30/the-worlds-muslims-religion-politics-society-beliefs-about-sharia/

"Muslims in the countries surveyed are significantly less supportive of the death penalty for converts.19 Nevertheless, in six of the 20 countries where there are adequate samples for analysis, at least half of those who favor making Islamic law the official law also support executing apostates.

Taking the life of those who abandon Islam is most widely supported in Egypt (86%) and Jordan (82%). Roughly two-thirds who want sharia to be the law of the land also back this penalty in the Palestinian territories (66%). In the other countries surveyed in the Middle East-North Africa region, fewer than half take this view.

In the South Asian countries of Afghanistan and Pakistan, strong majorities of those who favor making Islamic law the official law of the land also approve of executing apostates (79% and 76%, respectively). However, in Bangladesh far fewer (44%) share this view.

A majority of Malaysian Muslims (62%) who want to see sharia as their country’s official law also support taking the lives of those who convert to other faiths. But fewer take this position in neighboring Thailand (27%) and Indonesia (18%).

In Central Asia as well as Southern and Eastern Europe, only in Tajikistan (22%) do more than a fifth of Muslims who want sharia as the official law of the land also condone the execution of apostates. Support for killing converts to other faiths falls below one-in-ten in Albania (8%) and Kazakhstan (4%)."

So FOURTEEN out of the twenty countries surveyed showed less than half support the death penalty for apostates but you chose to select the SIX. Nevertheless the survey shows varied opinion. It isn't MAINSTREAM opinion.

In any case the OP has already explained above that 'apostate' has a different meaning. In Islamic parlance it means someone committing treason and putting the community in danger.

• Though we’ll refer to ridda as apostasy for the sake of convenience, as in so many cases, the heart of the matter lies in the simple act of translation. In the time of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and the early Muslim community, the Arabic noun ridda and the verb for engaging in it were understood not as meaning a personal choice of changing one’s religion but as the public act of political secession from the Muslim community.

Interestingly, this dimension of apostasy as betraying and opposing one’s community, missing in the normal usage of the English word ‘apostasy,’ is actually recovered in sociological studies of apostasy. Many studies looking at those who leave religious groups as well as communities defined by secular ideologies show that what distinguishes apostates from those who simply leave is that apostates become active opponents of their previous identity, more renegades than mere dissenters.[1] Along the same lines, the problem with ridda in Islam was not that a person was exercising their freedom of conscience and choosing to no longer follow the religion. The problem was when such a decision became a public act with political implications. *

To further the post above which is spot on, there is in the Muslim community fear of speaking out and a feeling that you must ‘tow the company line’ or so to speak. I’d bet that of those asked very few would actually want to see someone killed because they left Islam they are agreeing bevy they feel like it’s the correct thing to do, because that’s what wahabism states and that ideology has no room for dissenting voices.

It’s very similar to the responses you get on homosexuality, people voicing that you can’t be gay and Muslim, whereas in practice people often just turn a blind eye and pretend other wise. People say what they think they should say.

Do you have many Muslim friends that share your liberal ‘essence of Islam’ stance who readily criticise the less desirable aspects of the culture that has developed around the religion? Because it seems that having not grown up with it you’ve stepped into it without feeling the fear and shame that many people growing up in religion feel, from ill informed dogma following superstitious elders.
As an ex religious person I used to focus on the bits about love and say doing evil things in the name of religion were not really following the religion. Until the leaders said judgemental things and were all men and I thought, wait a minute, if this is truth, how come only men were chosen? I asked a religious friend about why women are held back from leading and he said god gave men and women different strengths. It was a good reminder of why I’ll never subscribe to anything other than my own truths!

@Karwomannghia

Do you have many Muslim friends that share your liberal ‘essence of Islam’ stance who readily criticise the less desirable aspects of the culture that has developed around the religion? Because it seems that having not grown up with it you’ve stepped into it without feeling the fear and shame that many people growing up in religion feel, from ill informed dogma following superstitious elders. As an ex religious person I used to focus on the bits about love and say doing evil things in the name of religion were not really following the religion. Until the leaders said judgemental things and were all men and I thought, wait a minute, if this is truth, how come only men were chosen? I asked a religious friend about why women are held back from leading and he said god gave men and women different strengths. It was a good reminder of why I’ll never subscribe to anything other than my own truths!

A have a few actually, this is going to sound quite snooty and I don’t mean it to but I find it comes down to education level. I have a Saudi friend, born and raised In Saudi who shares similar beliefs to myself, her family are likeminded but they are very educated people. Similar story with a Pakistani friend and her siblings and parents.

You’ll actually find a lot of converts are incredibly strict, more so than born Muslims… personally I think it’s because it’s the most conservative groups that actively go out seeking to convert people and also because converts tend to feel as if they have sometbing to prove

Thanks

Thank you for doing this AMA - I’ve found it really informative.

Where/what would you recommend as a starting point for someone who wanted to learn more about Islam, or was thinking about converting (reverting)?

This is fascinating OP, thank you for sharing

@Maireas

Thank you for the reply. It always sets Muslim girls apart, doesn't it? In my experience in the classroom you can't tell what religion students are by looking at them, apart from Muslim girls.

This reminds me of a teacher I worked with, we were talking with some students from Kosovo. She was asking hem something about a traditional drink, I said, "You shouldn't ask that, these ae good Muslim girls"

Teacher was shocked because they didn't wear Hijab, which wouldn't be surprising but the teacher is Muslim, who doesn't wear hijab.