Hello again everyone and I thank you all for the even and warm welcome you have given me especially in regards to my seemingly endless questions. I don't have questions so much as wanting to voice doubts I have about some things so please bear with me. I do not have much in the way of doubts about the Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) and what he brought to humanity. I do have some doubts about some issues though that are living me hung up about what to do.
I have seen Muslims argue and fight over whether Music is haraam or not. Honestly I don't get why it is and I admittedly have not finished the Qur'an yet but this leaves me confused. As through music many times I have felt a connection with the Divine and spiritually fed. So a complete ban on music seems rather absurd to me especially coming from a musical background. This is probably one of the bigger stumbling blocks.
Treatment of Homosexuality leaves me confused as well. I have also once again seen mixed responses from unsure of what to do to outright hatred and bigotry. I have many friends that are homosexual and they are great people who have helped expand my horizons and open my eyes to various different viewpoints I have not considered before.
Finally the biggest hurdle I have run into is Muslims themselves. I have done a lot of studying especially about certain questions online and can I say that the demographic I run into outside of this forum is rather...frightening? I will admit the internet tends to draw out the fringe and give them an easy platform to look big on. Yet I can't tell you how many I have run into applauding barbarism in Afghanistan by the Taliban against Women, praising Osama bin Laden, praising Wahhabism, and taking very extreme views against other sects of Islam and people of the Book. This conflicts with what I have studied so far in both the Qur'an and the life of the Prophet but it really does disgust me. How anyone can praise the maiming of women and children is beyond me let alone the killing of innocent people. It leaves me confused and wondering if Islam is truly from God surely he could not mean for this kind of barbarism.
Hi Dingbat,
I am glad that you are sincere in you effort to finding the truth and hence the questions. It is perfectly alright. Let me try to answer your questions to the best of my ability.
I think the view that all sorts of music is completely haraam is a minority view. Allah knows best. However, as it stands today, main problem is the culture of music and the lyrics. The more you listen to them the more it takes you away from the remembrance of God - not to mention the waste of time. Because it really does have an effect on your mind. Please see this talk by a brother who used to be music lover.
[youtube]nKzAmkB44ik[/youtube]
Addicted Music lovers must watch!!! The Deen Show - YouTube
Personally, I would prefer to listen to only Islamic songs by such as Yusuf Islam (a british ex-music artist convert to Islam), Sami Yusuf etc.
Homosexuality is a sin just like adultery is. And no where in the Qur'an it says that all homosexuals should be put to death. At an individual level, we shouldn't judge people just like we shouldn't for any other sins. As according to one of the sayings of Prophet Muhammad(pbuh), a prostitute will enter Paradise for showing kindness to a thirsty dog by fetching water for it with her own shoes. So you never know what can cause God to show Mercy, Forgiveness and grant paradise to who. And that sinner might be in a better state than us eventually.
However, it is not right for the people who believe something to be wrong or a sin to at least not encourage/aid such acts so not to add to further moral decay in the society. Ultimately, anything our Creator forbids(alcohol, gambling, adultery, pornography, homosexuality etc.) it is for our own benefit and the objective is to prevent harm, corruption and immorality in the society. It really doesn't take a genius to figure that out - we just need to read some studies done on the effect of all those actions in the society and/or studies on those who are involved in such acts and you'll know that.
Now, there are extreme view points in every group that exist on the face of the earth. Sometimes literalism, sometimes ignorance(note : sometimes people in the west fail to realize that innocent uneducated people are misled by some with agenda to do the wrong things) and sometimes hatred due to past experiences cause such belief. The ones who mislead people probably forget the following verses in the Holy Qur’an:
"Let there be no compulsion in religion: Truth stands out clear from Error: whoever rejects evil and believes in Allah hath grasped the most trustworthy hand-hold, that never breaks. And Allah heareth and knoweth all things.(Al-Qur'an 2:256)"
AND...
“O ye who believe! stand out firmly for Allah, as witnesses to fair dealing, and let not the hatred of others to you make you swerve to wrong and depart from justice. Be just: that is next to piety: and fear Allah. For Allah is well-acquainted with all that ye do.” (Al-Qur’an 5:8).
And yet sometimes what feels extreme to some (due to the lack of understanding of the big picture), seems perfectly acceptable to others. Some of these issues can be objective and yet some subjective. You really have to investigate each individual scenario and study different opinions and then take it from there.
Also, you have to take what you get from the western media with a grain of salt. Politics in so called "Muslim countries" may or may not have any Islamic basis. Often dictators and politicians will use the name of Islam for their own purposes. One should remember to go to the source of Islam and separate what the true religion of Islam says from what is portrayed in the media.” [1]
However, it is noteworthy that most westerners “don’t know the experience of being dominated by another political or economic power. They find it hard to appreciate the hurt much of the West’s involvement in the Middle East has caused Muslims or understand the frustration that fuels much of the violence the extremists commit. Western Christians often don’t understand poverty and oppression either - because their lives have been relatively free from injustice and want.”[2]. Hence, it makes it easier for the biased western media to create those stereotypes and prejudices about Islam and Muslims.
Finally, as you probably already know that Islam is a complete way of life - a guidance for the human being so they don't go astray to the wrong and away from the remembrance of God. That's why there are many issues to deal with . However,
the most important one is to acknowledge the oneness of our Creator, God. Just by believing and pronouncing the statement of faith (that There is no god but GOD and Prophet Muhammad(pbuh) is the messenger of God) , one will become a Muslim and will be avoiding the only '
Unforgivable' sin (according to Islam) of denying God/associating partners with God, even though you won't be utilizing the true benefit of Islam/guidance from God unless you start practicing the other aspects of the faith. No one expects someone to adopt a new way of life right away from day one. If one can do that, great - if not, that's fine too. However, one should eventually be willing to adopt them to avoid sinning after all that is the purpose of acknowledging God so we can gain His pleasure and compassion in this world and hereafter. Right ?
Hopefully, this answers some of your questions. Sorry about the long response.
Peace.
[1]
Top Ten Misconceptions about Islam
[2]
Isa Masih May 1997: Christian misconceptions about Islam
