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

Why do you insist on criticizing the family courts ? That has not been my experience, nor that of other women who have had to protect their kids from abusive men.

Shariah provides no protection. I hope to see the day where Islamic marriages are automatically recognized by British law, just as Jewish marriages are.

How do you eat food whilst wearing a Burka especially in public?

What a dimwitted thing to say. Justifying Islamophobia because of the actions of a tiny minority of extremists is unbelievably rotten. There are millions of Muslims who coexist within the laws of where they live.

The mahr is a criteria of the nikah, so it must be paid for the marriage to valid. Is this low Mahé tied to how in a lot of South Asian communities, women aren’t very highly regarded I wonder? And how dowry’s paid to the groom are still pretty common place?

ive not heard the 101 thing, but I do know that in the Pakistani community when a woman gets married she ‘leaves’ her family, so perhaps it’s to do with culturally how women are valued to give such a low mahr?

What’s your biggest concern for your children growing up in the U.K. as British Muslims?

the west has this on its hands
The western allies certainly have a lot to answer for in Afghanistan, it's a terrible mess from centuries of interfering but we can't excuse the Taliban for being completely anti-women, can we? They base their decisions in fundamentalist beliefs (as do other religious extremists I know) and women are seen as less than men.

Because they are, there are countless examples just on MN alone of women being shafted.

i do think mosques should enforce the legal registration of the mariage

Yes, B’ham. A woman has take her sorry self and beg a council for a divorce. A man can divorce over email.

I am trying to support a friend who is Muslim navigate her arranged marriage. She ‘can’ say no but there is massive pressure on her to conform because she is a woman. As her white non Muslim friend, how can I best support her?

So much for equality being a core value then

Why use the Islamophobia argument to shut down theological debate ? I wish all religions peace and to live side by side , I see no problem with people practicing their religion as long as they leave others alone to live their lives. There is a difference between discussing theology and hatred.

I have no doubt the family courts are on their knees, but I have been treated with dignity and fairness. Battling through the family courts knowing there are rights you can fight for is far better than being thrown out of the home without any rights after a man says talak 3 times. It happens. Anyway, having dealt with mosques and ultra-religious hypocrites, my conclusion is that there is no justice for women. We have to suffer and wait until we die to find out whether we will blessed for suffering.

As a Muslim woman, I do not believe equality for women is a core value in the current era. It’s very sad that I had to come this conclusion after suffering at the hands of a very religious man.

Thank you for your answer. I know it's an age old problem and in answerable.

Lots of interesting answers though thank you for the thread

Why are so many fussy when it comes to alcohol in products. I thought the point of not drinking alcohol is because it alters yours senses and obviously being drunk. A friend would not eat soy sauce when we went for sushi as it contained alcohol. I was confused as it's not going to even alter your senses whatsoever. Many food items have alcohol, a banana has alcohol but people still eat it. Cleaning products and skincare items have alcohol yet that's also acceptable.

I also don't understand hijabis wearing makeup. Surely it's the face that what attracts people to you? Makeup enhances a face and thats what people see straight away. I don't think people look at hair in the same way. I also see some wear tighter clothing as well with the hijab (again not saying they all do)

Ive had Muslim friends all my life. At school they wouldn't participate when we went to church at Christmas. But most of us that went were not Christian. We just sat there and some children would sing and most would just listen. If you believe in the same god, it seems that most wouldn't even set foot in a church.

Encourage her to say no if that is her wish.

Please ensure she has her marriage registered under British law.

1. I know a fair amount about Christianity I’d say and a bit about Judaism. And other religions I learned what I know, not a tremendous amount from school

2)*Quran. So similarities the Christian and Jewish prophets, the day of judgement, heaven and hell, the angels, all the sort of big stories you know, Adam and Eve, Noah and the flood, Moses and the pharaoh. I don’t understand the second part? What would make me question it; hard proof to the contrary maybe?

3)jihad just means struggle, not waging war

4)that’s not a thing, I am fully Muslim.

5)mainstream Islam, doesn’t accept homosexuality. The desire is viewed as a test from Allah, the act is a sin. These issues aren’t for me to worry about though, I’m not a Muslim ruler

6. some Muslims don’t really subscribe to evolution. Yasir qadi has a decent view on this, it’s good science and should believe it but we believe that at a certain point god intervened. And there is a reference that Adam and Eve were the first of their kind and when they were created they were in the garden and then cast down. So by first of their kind, perhaps it refers to souls. That’s just my stance

7)I’m not sure I understand fully what you mean, but if it’s do you think atheists can be good people, yes I do

That’s basically a forced marriage then. I’d remind her that she can say no if she wants to, and maybe open your doors to her if she really does.

is it someone from the UK or back home? Is she safe?

What do you think about non-Muslim women wearing revealing clothing in public - the gym, beach, nights out etc - and in advertising? Would you make them dress more ‘modestly’ if you could?

But it’s a case of Islam giving women rights and Muslims taking them away

misogyny is rife as is abuse of power, particularly in the south Asian community.

my FIL is a Prince (bellend) also. It makes me so f’ing angry for all the women that are being let down by these mosques

@Lesschubtolove thank you so much for this thread. It's really interesting to read.
A question following on from the question regarding homosexuality... how would you support your child if they revealed they were gay?

What is the general opinion amongst Muslims, of white British girls/young women who have previously not been religious, converting to Islam to marry?

Also, are opinions changing in your community regarding homosexuality?

thank you

Make them? No! Not my monkey not my circus

But they had very different social functions and Muhammad led a new community at times of peace and war, Jesus for instance didn’t have such a role, his following in his life time was small.

The truth is, I’m not sure. I think I’d be disappointed not just from a theological point of view but just knowing how much harder their life would be