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’)

Jesus don't found anything? OP, GTFO! 😂😂

@youvegottenminuteslynn

Did your DH date much before marriage? If so, has everyone he dated been Muslim?

He did yeah, a fair amount mostly causal I think

He had one long term GF before he met me, but she was Persian I think and her family didn’t approve of him. His didn’t know about her either

@IHateCoronavirus

This thread is really interesting, I feel like I’m learning a lot. Thanks op.

Me too :) thank ops. Very refreshing.

A little unrelated but do you think you'll have more children?

@LastSummerHere

Jesus don't found anything? OP, GTFO! 😂😂

Are you ok? Because you don't sound it.

@LastSummerHere

Jesus don't found anything? OP, GTFO! 😂😂

He’s obviously the linchpin of Christianity but historically he never set out to create a new religion.

Reza Aslan has a good introduction to the historical Jesus- highly recommend it

Don’t think I’ll have more children @BiscuitLover3678 no, two seems ample. I want to get back to my career, make sure I can earn enough to treat my kids and go on hols. Not sure I can see myself with a 7 seater

Way in the future if your children wanted to marry outside of Islam, or indeed move in a different direction, how would you feel? Would they be supported?

This is really interesting

@IHateCoronavirus

Way in the future if your children wanted to marry outside of Islam, or indeed move in a different direction, how would you feel? Would they be supported?

If they wanted to move away from Islam? I can’t lie to you, I’d be disappointed. I would want to know why, ie. Was it something that was too strict then I’d feel responsible as I didn’t adequately explain to them how I rationalise these things as not being the true essence of Islam. I’d hope they’d change their minds and it was a phase but at the end of the day I can’t be a hypocrite, i changed my religion too.

Marrying outside the faith? Ah i can’t envision my babies getting married, i thought they’d stay small forever. Seriously though, I think it depends on the individual, and also my child at that moment in time. You know does my child still believe and want to practice, is this person an ardent practitioner of another faith? If yes to both then the relationship clearly doesn’t have a future. I’d hope that my children would marry open minded, feminist Muslims, I wouldn’t care what culture, or heritage but that would be utopia for me.

Dogs?

What is it with muslims and dogs? My dd had a girl in her class who wasn't allowed round our house because we had dogs. Her family told her she would no longer be Muslim if she was licked by one of them. I have also had muslim families rather walk in the road than pass us on the pavement.

But on the other hand, it is not uncommon to see young Muslim men with muscle dogs.

Is there a widely held view about dogs, or is it just like everybody else? Some people like dogs, others don't.

Let me expand on my 'why?' question above, after reading some of your responses to other questions. Why do you want to behave in a way dictated by rules made by men (in the sense of people) as opposed to communing with what you believe to be God in your own way? In other words, why organised religion as opposed to just worshipping what you consider to be God? Every organised religion I'm aware of has so many contradictions and obsolete laws that make no sense in the modern world - they are so slow to adapt, they lose their relevance and, consequently, sense. I can't get my head around anyone wanting to follow these fairly ludicrous rules. How do you justify it to yourself?

Your in-laws are terrible.

@NiceTwin

Dogs?

What is it with muslims and dogs? My dd had a girl in her class who wasn't allowed round our house because we had dogs. Her family told her she would no longer be Muslim if she was licked by one of them. I have also had muslim families rather walk in the road than pass us on the pavement.

But on the other hand, it is not uncommon to see young Muslim men with muscle dogs.

Is there a widely held view about dogs, or is it just like everybody else? Some people like dogs, others don't.

Love dogs! One of the animals in paradise is the dog who guarded the cave. Some Muslims are ridiculous. I think the licking thing there is a popular misconception that a dogs saliva breaks your prayer ablution, this is incorrect though.

There are credible hadith though that say you should have a dog for a reason ie security or livestock and the dog shouldn’t be living in the main living quarters of the house.

I think some cultures have engrained a fear of dogs due to thinking they are haram.

Don’t even get me started on the hatred towards pigs, when I used to teach i had little girls who wouldn’t say the word pig as they thought it meant you go to hell. Yes we can’t eat pigs but it doesn’t mean they’re evil. We can’t eat humans or frogs either

@Inextremis

Let me expand on my 'why?' question above, after reading some of your responses to other questions. Why do you want to behave in a way dictated by rules made by men (in the sense of people) as opposed to communing with what you believe to be God in your own way? In other words, why organised religion as opposed to just worshipping what you consider to be God? Every organised religion I'm aware of has so many contradictions and obsolete laws that make no sense in the modern world - they are so slow to adapt, they lose their relevance and, consequently, sense. I can't get my head around anyone wanting to follow these fairly ludicrous rules. How do you justify it to yourself?

So the mainstream Islamic view would be that the Islamic laws are divine laws as it’s believe they quran is direct revelation from god to Muhammad through the angel gabriel.

@CovidisaThiefofJoyandcandoone

Your in-laws are terrible.

Ain’t that the truthb

Have you done Hajj?
Do you give a percentage of your wealth to charity?

@Cosmos123

Have you done Hajj? Do you give a percentage of your wealth to charity?

Nope I’ve never made hajj or umrah. Spiritually I’m not there yet, it’s quite pricey too. Not something I could do with small children.

So every Ramadan I give 2.5% of the money I have in the bank to charity. I like to pick one with a 100% donation policy and a cause I believe in. Last 4 years due to pregnancy and breastfeeding I’ve paid the ramadan exemption tax called the fidyah too, it’s about £4 a day

So the mainstream Islamic view would be that the Islamic laws are divine laws as it’s believe they quran is direct revelation from god to Muhammad through the angel gabriel.

Do you actually believe that yourself, in a literal sense? I'm not saying you shouldn't (I don't, and couldn't), but am wondering if you see it as some kind of allegory or communal shorthand for - well, I'm not sure - something? Is the angel Gabriel a real being to you?

@Hodl

If you would have remained Christian would your husband have still married you?

Do you attend the mosque? What do you think of the general perception that Muslim men look upon women (especially non Muslim women) as second class citizens?

Missed this one too! Sorry!

I just asked him and he said yes. But I was Muslim before I met him so it’s a moot point.

I don’t anymore with a pandemic and little ones but I used to. I don’t think Muslim men as a whole do actually look down on women, specifically non Muslim women. Obviously some do and they are twats and probably low lives the kind of bloke you wouldn’t touch with a barge pole.

@Inextremis

So the mainstream Islamic view would be that the Islamic laws are divine laws as it’s believe they quran is direct revelation from god to Muhammad through the angel gabriel.

Do you actually believe that yourself, in a literal sense? I'm not saying you shouldn't (I don't, and couldn't), but am wondering if you see it as some kind of allegory or communal shorthand for - well, I'm not sure - something? Is the angel Gabriel a real being to you?

I think scriptural literalism robs the text of some of its richness. A lot of Islamic laws are based on extrapolation of what’s written in the Quran and hadith. Some of which I don’t agree with like hudud or the scholarly stance on marital rape or rape as treated as sexual indiscretion. I think that’s disgraceful and pure misogyny.

But a lot of the guidelines as I see it make perfect sense to me so it just feels natural.

But I do believe in angels.

@FrownedUpon

Why would you commit to a faith in which women are treated so poorly? Did you previously feel that you didn't really belong to society or did you have low self esteem? Are these the reasons you converted? Will you be raising any daughters you have to believe they are inferior to males? Why would you do this? Are you comfortable knowing that any daughters you have must marry a Muslim, but your sons can marry who they want?

Ah man this is so problematic, I’ll try to unpick it.

Women are treated poorly globally. I do not believe women are subservient or lesser in Islam just that men have perverted it to further their own goals.
I will be raising my daughter to believe that she is equal to my son
Yes I’d want both of my children to marry likeminded Muslims to us.

PopsicleHustler
It's sad you have given up the hijab. Its important. Please wear it again sis.
This is not helpful. Not just for me, but for any non Muslim reading this thread. It’s reducing my faith just to an item of clothing.

On the contrary you are reducing your faith by deciding against wearing it again. Islam means submission to Allah, everything you do is for Allah and pleasing Him alone that's why Islam is a selfless religion. It's not selfish. Many tests are sent upon us to test our faith even if you are faced with negativity. You don't give up and submit to what others think. You should only submit to Allah. Giving up and pleasing the people and because it makes you feel better to not wear it is not Islam.

@pineapplejuiceisyuck

PopsicleHustler It's sad you have given up the hijab. Its important. Please wear it again sis. This is not helpful. Not just for me, but for any non Muslim reading this thread. It’s reducing my faith just to an item of clothing.

On the contrary you are reducing your faith by deciding against wearing it again. Islam means submission to Allah, everything you do is for Allah and pleasing Him alone that's why Islam is a selfless religion. It's not selfish. Many tests are sent upon us to test our faith even if you are faced with negativity. You don't give up and submit to what others think. You should only submit to Allah. Giving up and pleasing the people and because it makes you feel better to not wear it is not Islam.

Imagine the amount of people who were maybe interested in Islam that you just put off with your comment.

For anyone reading you can absolutely be Muslim if you don’t wear the hijab.

My faith is a journey, you have no idea what I’ve experienced or how I feel and how it’s impacted me. The reason I stopped wasn’t to please others it was I felt I couldn’t carry on. My faith is a journey, Where I am today isn’t where I am tomorrow, I’m trying and I’m trying to constantly better myself. I cannot imagine you’d have written such a condescending comment to a bloke that had worn shorts above the knee.

You’ve also reaffirmed every negative opinion all the posters had about on how women are treated in Islam . Way to go you!

@pineapplejuiceisyuck give it a rest. Please just stop. Islam should never be reduced to a piece of cloth.

I think you've misunderstood my post. Of course you can absolutely be Muslim if you don't wear a hijab. This is not what I was trying to say.

My point is you shouldn't turn your back or make a U-turn on a decision that you chose to follow because it betters your life. For example, someone with a lung condition that affected their breathing taking medication to cure their condition wouldn't stop taking it just because it was making them put on weight. They'd carry on taking it because it would potentially save their life. These decisions affect the afterlife.

My post wasn't about whether you're female or male. Just about taking a decision that walks away from Islam as opposed towards it.