Ask a Muslim anything

[Lesschubtolove]

Another thread on a Quran being kicked about has brought up some pretty ugly stereotypes on Muslims and a perception that we all want blasphemy laws and death threats are part of our religion and that a Quran only matters in Arabic. None are true but it dawned on me actually that there are a lot of mistruths and Misconceptions about what Muslims believe, think or do.

Well ask away… the questions you maybe wanted to know but thought you might get in trouble for or would be frowned upon

Would you prefer more Islamic schools in this country? There is a minority Muslim attendance at our local Christian faith primary school and as you suggest the pupils avoid overt Christian worship (however the place has a few crosses and new testament quotes dotted around) and I can see this being a challenge from the minority perspective?

I’m really sorry if this comes across offensive but would really love to know…. Growing up I went to an all girls school where most of the girls were Muslim. When they came through the gates they would take head scarves off, put make up on, had a phone that parents didn’t know about etc.
why do they feel they can’t do any of these things at home? And instead of having the culture ‘forced’ upon them why are they not taught that at the end of the day being a good honest person is more important than religion/ culture?

Or how about we take religion out of schools completely?

What do 'ordinary' Muslims think about the Batley teacher and his wife and children in hiding.

How would you feel if your children decided to follow another religion or became atheist?

I'm aware from working with refugees that converting from or leaving Islam is considered a very big deal and even results in criminal sentences or being killed in some countries

Would you accept if your children committed apostasy? Would your family / community?

Understand if you don't feel comfortable replying publicly, but can you explain how ghusl (full body washing) works in practice please? Is this like full body baptism or mikveh where you immerse completely, or do you just make sure your body is completely washed in stages without immersion?

So which ones would you vote for?

my children however sing and dance but I do understand the point of view that says music is disliked

Can you explain? It sounds so joyless and bleak. I think music and dance are the most elemental of art forms.

I knew that some Muslims didn’t approve, but I did not know it was mainstream.

So you would be okay with Christian children attending a Muslim school and they refusing to participate in the Muslim life of that school?

Sorry but you being ridiculous. If you send your child to an explicitly religious school you need to be content for your child to participate in the religious life of that school.

@WestOfWestminster but still - even without the religious aspect, the National Curriculum mandates the teaching of Music, and Dance (within the PE curriculum).
I'm not religious, but I respect the faith of, and support the ethos of, the school I choose to work in.
Muslim families send their children to Christian schools, but want their children to not participate in our curriculum, or our daily religious rituals and they won't conform to our uniform requirements (all of which are clearly described and explained in our admissions documents).

Yes of course! I’d have 0 issue with that. Why would I expect a non Muslim to pray or fast or adhere to any dietary requirements. I see no problem in that

Who is this? Never heard of him

Will non Muslims go to hell when they die?

So music, right.

there are different schools of thought based on a few hadith on one which is along the lines of buying or celebrating false tales and a humiliating punishment in the here after, some scholars have interpreted this to mean music. I don’t find this hadith compelling here

but there is one saying at the ends of time Muslims will make haram things halal and it lists a few things one of which is music. So this is where the belief music is haram is from.

there are hadith that contradict this, the prophet was sleeping and two young girls were singing and playing the drum and someone shushes them so they don’t wake the prophet, but the prophet scolds the person who tells the girls to be quiet and basically says it’s ok, carry on for these are the days of eid. There are a few other instances of similar hadith and this is where the difference of opinion comes. Some day the drum and singing is ok. Then there is a debate about women’s voices (steeped in sexism, because of course) then some say signing with no musical instruments is ok.

so it’s complicated, others say that as long as the music doesn’t overtake the Quran in your heart and tempt you into haram then it’s ok, basically it’s hotly debated!

but I will say if you are trying to be a hafiz or to memorise (which is sort of an unspoken ‘goal’ that Muslims should strive toward) music is the last thing you need.

so I’d say the belief that it’s haram is fairly common, but most Muslims don’t adhere to it even in Saudi they have music festivals now lol

@Lesschubtolove so my child could attend any Muslim school, refuse to attend school on any Christian holidays, refuse to join in with any Islamic prayer, refuse to cover their head, enjoy a ham sandwich at lunchtime, and all would be fine with the senior leaders?

The apostasy thing is unfortunate and it’s mainly a beating stick for people who don’t conform in extremist societies.

id be sad and consider it my personal failing that I didn’t support them in loving Allah and their religion and I’d be curious to know why. But even in a fundamentalist Muslim society it’s not for the layperson to enact these rules it’s for the ruler

@Lesschubtolove

Do you personally believe that music can be bad for you?

Isn't the call to prayer, music?

A lot of Islamic (and Jewish) lifestyle rules make practical sense in pre-tech, hot countries but I could never get my head round the music thing.

Can Muslims not sing to God? Prayers as songs?

What about music in video games or video games themselves? They weren’t around when the Quran was written so how does it work with new technologies? Does someone decide if they’re halal or haram? Are they exempt?

So that’s the point tajweed (the recitation of the Quran ) is melodic and honestly a strict discipline with rules etc and is an like an art form and thats what you should listen to.

Yes someone would make a ruling on those, and I’d imagine most video games would be considered haram

Are you Sunni or Shia.

There was a programme last night called Parole where one of the criminals was a Muslim woman who had transitioned to be a man. It was hinted at that he had nothing to do with his parents anymore because of this. Is it only very strict Muslims who would have a problem with their child being transgender or would it be a big no from your more liberal Muslim.

So ghusl happens at a few points, after sex, after a woman’s period and after death.

ive never performed ghusl on a dead person but it’s meant to be the final act of love and incredibly moving.

but for everything else it’s basically a full body wash, you start with the wudhu and then water over the hair and body starting at the right side. You can just do it in the shower, or bath if you prefer

^ duh you start by cleaning your private parts first then wash your hands, then wudhu then head then body right to left

I think you’d find it hard pressed to find most mainstream Muslims approving of someone transitioning.

i know Indian subcontinent they have the third gender but in truth I can’t see most supporting someone transitioning they would be very very liberal and arguably not too accepted by the mainstream