The Muslim Tearoom

[HardlyEverHoovers]

Salaams/peace to all! I'm already missing our old thread, so taking the bull by the horns and opening our very own Muslim Tearoom, all welcome (non-Muslims too of course), to chat, share, ask questions etc etc. Imagine a cosy cafe with floor cushions, tea and coffee of all kinds, and lovely cakes! Please join me!

Do you have Qahwa, I'm falling asleep here....am I looking forward to the week off!

With Regards slavery, it is expressly forbidden to take a free woman/man as a slave in both the Quran and the Hadith. That pretty much puts paid to slavery. It's only captives of war who cannot be ransomed that you can keep as slaves, then there are very specific guidelines with regards that too.

The Quran and hadith don't contradict one another, usually if you look deeper at the Quran with regards worship you will realise that the later surahs establish fixed times for worship, there are then further accommodations according to the circumstances, e.g. for the traveller, the sick person, the prisoner the condemned, the one in a state of ritual impurity, those who have no access to water etc.

I don't go on the 'debating' threads, they're an excuse to Islam bash and I'm not giving them air.

The Verse not to take your enemies as allies during a state of war is pretty sound. They want to kill you they are not your allies, unless there is a treaty in place and even then do not trust them with your lives and livelihoods as they want you dead.
I can think of one very good modern day example where that was disregarded to their continuing detriment.

Do not put yourselves in the hands of those who wish you ill have wished you ill in the past, even if there is a truce between you, remain wary.

Good evening ladies,

There was me thinking that thread was just another Christmas one! I was so sad reading it, it really astonishes me how nasty people can be about religion and Islam. So many questions were answered by you guys yet it wasn't enough for the posters on that thread, it was never going to be enough was it? It's 'cool' to bash religion these days it seems. Reminds me of Ricky Gervais on Twitter had to unfollow and block him in the end. On the plus side I learnt a heck of a lot reading your lots posts, particularly at a time in my life where I'm constantly questioning my iman and things that are going on in general.

Remember me in your duaas x

Salamalaykum sisters

How are you all doing? Defuse, Gosh, Crescent recovered from yesterday's thread. To be honest it just left me feeling so sad. Subhanallah how much hatred some people hold in their hearts for others. It reminded me of this verse from the Quran.

'Oh you who have believed, do not take as intimate friends those other than yourselves, for they will not spare you [any] ruin. They wish you would have hardship. Vehement hatred has already appeared from their mouths, and what their breasts conceal is greater. We have certainly made clear to you the signs, if you will use reason.' Holy Quran 3:118

Its made me almost wary of people in real life. Do they hold these types of thoughts about me or my religion when they meet me and they are just concealing their level of malice. Woah there was a lot of malice in that thread. You know I dont even mind being ridiculed, or called names or whatever but what was the most upsetting was the way they spoke about our beloved Prophet Muhammed PBUH. I was shaking with rage.

What a joke as well that most of them were so clueless they had to ask us even basic questions. I think several admitted to never having read the Quran, let alone reading about the life of the Prophet Muhammed PBUH. And yet they have such entrenched views based on what? Anyway lets wipe the filth off our bodies and out of our minds. Really made me think of this verse.

'Verily truth stands out clear from error.' Holy Quran 2:256

If ever you needed to see what lack of belief in God produces you just had to read that thread.

x-posted with you tulip. We all go through phases like that sis when we are struggling to keep our faith strong in times of difficulty. One thing I would recommend is read the Quran regularly even if its just a little. I used to keep the English translation by my bed and would read 10 verses every night before I went to sleep. Some days I used to struggle but because it was so close to my bed it made it harder for me to not do it because I know how little time it took. But over time your emaan becomes stronger as you read the words of Allah and you think over them. I remember sometimes reading portions and just bursting in to tears because of the beauty of what I had read or because the words related to me so much on a personal level. Especially verses about Allah's mercy and love for us. I remember reading somewhere that if you want to talk to Allah SWT pray but if you want Allah SWT to talk to you read the Quran.

"So be patient. Indeed, the promise of Allah is true. And let them not disquiet you those who have no certainty of faith." Holy Quran 30:60

Subhanallah isnt that so relevant to yesterday. I was just thinking sisters maybe we should try to post verses from the Quran and hadith as reminders for ourselves. If each of us share a beautiful verse or hadith that we have read that we have really benefited from in that way we can all help each other to develop our faith. What do you think.

I think that's a great idea peaceful however you will have to pardon me for not posting as much as I'm really not as clued up as you guys! I like the idea of praying the Quran before going to bed, my constant prayer or zikr right now is 'Rabbi la tadharni fardaw wa anta khairul warithin' - 'Oh my Lord! Leave me not without offspring, though Thou are the best of inheritors' (21:89)

Is it called zikr even though I'm asking for myself? Sorry if that's a daft question. I sometimes feel quite guilty about reciting that all the time, like I'm selfish, but Allah does want us to turn to Him when in need doesn't he?

I forgot to say a big mashallah to all the sisters that responded on that Santa thread I was not worthy of replying after your responses. Even though they did fall on deaf ears!

sis LittleTulip rememberance of Allah is dhikr, my constant dhikr is

La ilaha illa anta, Subhanaka, Inni kuntu minaz-zalimin

?? ???? ??? ???? ??????????? ?????? ?????? ???? ?????????????

The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “The supplication of my brother Dhun Nun (Yunus, peace be upon him), who called on Allah while in the whale’s belly: ‘There is no deity but You. Glory be to You! Verily, I have been among the wrongdoers’ (Quran 21:87) – no Muslim person says it, for any situation whatsoever, except that Allah Most High answers his call.” [Tirmidhi]

Also my most favourite verse i nthe Quran (there's a tonne more but this one I really love);

??????? ???????? ???????? ?????? ???????? ??????? ? ??????? ???????? ???????? ????? ??????? ? ????????????????? ??? ?????????????? ??? ??????????? ???????????

And when My servants question thee concerning Me, then surely I am nigh. I answer the prayer of the suppliant when he crieth unto Me. So let them hear My call and let them trust in Me, in order that they may be led aright. (Surah 2 Verse 186)

So I'd say your dua is a form of dhikr.

I didn't realise the santa thread had turned into Islam bashing.

I actually do think the views posted are the real views and feelings of most people, only in RL they wouldn't dare voice them to our face.

Salaam all!

Crscent sis, jazakallah khair to you and all other sisters who contributed to the thread - it really isnt about defending me etc. and please dont ever feel that you have to - they really didnt hurt me one little bit. I was very aware of the ridicule that I would receive for believing quran to be the word of Allah. What i was surprised by was that people werent even aware of that being a muslim belief!

They could call me mental all day everyday, it wouldnt shake my belief - what it did bring home to me though was a mere glimpse into the hardships endured by our prophet muhammed (saw) and the billions times worse way his enemies treated him.

I was about to post another thing or 2 about my beliefs that would have riled them too (such as being raised again on judgement day and belief in jinns and angels) - all because God says so! but by that time, the thread had turned towards insulting our prophet and it really upset me so i decided not to post anymore of my beliefs in case it makes them say more vicious disgusting stuff - not about me, but about him (pbuh) who we muslims hold more dear to us than our parents and children.

What i am struggling with, is thinking that did i become the reason why they felt they should do that ! For if that is the case, then it is better to not say anything.

'And insult not those whom they (disbelievers) worship besides Allah, lest they insult Allah wrongfully without knowledge. Thus We have made fair-seeming to each people its own doings; then to their Lord is their return and He shall then inform them of all that they used to do.' 6:108

What i found really strange was that they say they respect muslims, but not the religion - my stance is that, say whatever you like about me, but do not say a thing about my religion and my prophet. Yet they cannot fathom that!

Salaam ladies.

Yes, that thread. I would say it's the worst I've been on, although you could see they were egging each other on as to who could be the most Outraged about the Muzlamics. I cannot be doing with people whose idea of saving Muslim women is to abuse any Muslim who doesn't immediately bow down to them.

I do think there is an issue with this sort of behaviour at the moment on MN. I've seen several threads, in the PRS section, OP is Christian, obviously wanting some practical advice (one involved looking for a church) and they've been derailed by some atheist going on about the usual stuff and completely derailing the thread. Not all threads have to be a debate, so why turn it into one?

I loathe the dynamic on those threads too. It often turns into the Muslim women being spoken to like lesser beings (oh the irony) while answers are demanded, even though they aren't going to listen. Then it all gets very time consuming.

I am thinking that in the future, I might just write one post that says my feelings on the matter and then hide the thread. No one is entitled to my time or conversation, I don't owe anyone anything...but I know it gets hard when you want to dispel some of the very dangerous things that are being said - and claims that good Muslims/the Quran says that we should kill non Muslims are dangerous.

Also, I thought of Surah Ar Rum too. It's one of my favourites, especially the last ayah.

Peace and love to you all my dear sisters. I truly believe that it is life's greatest blessing to be Muslim. May Allah swt keep us all on the straight path, cool our eyes and shower us and our loved ones with blessings in this life and the next.

Salams all

Fuzzy you got there first with that ayah. I was thinking last night of posting that one but obviously I wasnt quick enough . Dont worry tulip about how often your post or about not knowing many. Hopefully this will encourage us all to read the Quran so we can pick out more gems.

'O mankind, indeed We have created you from male and female and made you peoples and tribes that you may know one another. Indeed, the most noble of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you. Indeed, Allah is Knowing, All-Aware.' Holy Quran, 49:13'

I love this verse first of all because it addresses all of mankind rather then just the muslims and I think its a message that everyone really needs to hear. Secondly I think the more you think about it the more you start to appreciate why God didnt create us all the same. Because we are not all the same we can appreciate the differences we have and enjoy each others cultures, traditions, foods and even languages. After going on hajj I began thinking about it in another way as well. If we all looked the same how would you be able to identify someone from the same part of the world as you. In that way you can also know one another as in be able to recognise someone from your homeland which if your lost in a place where you dont speak the language (like I was on hajj!) you can quickly find someone who speaks the same language as you who can help you.

Anyway just my thoughts but I love how this verse and also this part of the Prophet Muhammed PBUH's farewell sermon which he gave close to his death (peace and blessings be upon him).

"All mankind is from Adam and Eve, an Arab has no superiority over a non-Arab nor a non-Arab has any superiority over an Arab; also a white has no superiority over black nor a black has any superiority over white except by piety (taqwa) and good action."

Gives me chills. I think this really helped not to completely eradicate but certainly to make racism and in particular institutional racism less of a problem in the Muslim world then it is in other parts of the world. If I was to say one of the huge benefits of Islam to humanity it is that it taught muslims to look at people of other races as their brothers and sisters if not in faith then in humanity as the above two quotes from 1400 years ago make clear.

By the way which translation do people prefer to use when reading the Quran in English. I thought I preferred the Sahih International one but found this website recently:

quran.com/

where you can view multiple translations of the same verse and read them alongside eachother. The Sahih International is the easiest to understand (at least for me) but its not always the most poetic translation.

I find the Yusuf Ali translation to be the easiest to read, the Marmaduke Pickthall translation reads more poetically.

However I've not read all the translations around.

Crescent - I feel your pain with regards to the stollen. I did see some in Tescos (not Tesco brand) that was alcohol free - I bought two

I think Aldi may have alcohol free stollen.

Aldi mincepies have brandy in them, so be careful.

I had become so lazy with label reading and then I accidentally bought a chocolate cake with alcohol in it from Aldi, had to chuck it all away felt like such a waste, I hate throwing out food.

Christmas food is always such a minefield. My local supermarkets prolly think I am insane standing poring over the labels double checking the ingredients!

Wish food had labels stating 'does not contain alcohol' like they do in thorntons.

My pet hate tho is the label that say Not suitable for vegetarians, I know several people who have bought food thinking it was suitable for vegetarians because of the label!

Salam ladies hope you don't mind a newcomer.
I don't want to derail the thread but wondered if I could ask some advice.
I recently found out that I am pregnant (alhumdulillah, very happy )
Is there anything I should do in addition to usual dhikr, duas? I am trying trying trying to pray everything on time (which is sometimes hard with my work). Does anyone have any advice/ experiences to share? I really want to prepare things as best I can for this new little one.

Walikum salaam Usmama,

Mabrouk on your pregnancy.

I have heard that Surah Maryam and Surah Luqman are good to read in pregnancy.

I'm sure the sisters will be along soon with other tips, insha Allah.