11-08-2003, 07:29 PM
Bismillah
As salam aliakum
I understand my fellow muslims inquiries about why I continue to dialogue with someone who is apparently never going to change their mind.
It would be easier to stop answering and ignore but there is no reward in that. Also Insha'Allah someone will see what has been written and may get their mind thinking and reflecting.
I remember two things that keep me going. One was the du'a by Rasul-Ullah for either Abu Jahl or Umar to convert to Islam. Both of these men were fierce enemies of Islam. Both of them set out on a mission to kill Muhammad at one time or another. Why would the prophet ask for such people to be converted? From our history it seems that some of the best muslims were those who had to struggle with the concept for a long time before accepting the Truth. I prefer people to become muslims after they have thought about it for some time rather than someone to just jump into it without a second thought. Islam is serious. It is the true reality. A person's entire perspective changes and if someone has not prepared themselves then they can easily stubble and fall. I knew of people who would come to the mosque with little background about Islam wanting to convert. Once a person realizes that Islam is not a hobby but a way of life, we did not see him much after that. They did not know what this deen entailed in terms of responcibility to themselves and other.
The second thing was the tireless efforts by the Prophets of God. Muhammad would be ridiculed and have animal refuse thrown upon him yet he would still go out and call to those people to come to the Oneness of Allah. If he can stand the insults and tribulations of the Quraish elite, then I can stand the dialogue on the Internet with people who have no political power or influence in their communities. I may be wrong but if someone comes to Islam from this board, a whole tribe or city is not going to convert. Allah Knows Best. The prophet Noah also tirelessly called to his people for longer than any of us could ever do with fewer results than Muhammad, salahi wa salam.
I just cannot stop because of my feelings. I am only allowed to stop when Allah Allows. How can I know this? Right now, HabibHibee says he is an agnostic which means unsure about the existence of god. Atheist though is certainty in the lack of god's existence. Where there is doubt there is still hope. I was once unsure of God's existence and had to reflect upon it myself and today I am a muslim. I had to go one step at a time though.
"I have a point to consult with u first before posting it, of course u know how much Islam is different in terms of the intimiate relation between husband/wife. and how in Islam a woman is much respected in terms of her needs and so forth. U see I can post this, honestly I feel shy to talk about it. But u think it is appropriate for me to do? because actually this point has been always amazing as to how much Islam is understanding and the quran and hadeeth are very precise about it. or may be u can post it
tell me what u think"
Okhti, Astaghfirullah. It is early and I am not feeling too well. I am having a difficult time discovering to what you are eluduing.
If it can be of benefit within the realms of Islam, then Alhamdulillah. I am caused to remember how the sisters at the time of the Messenger of Allah were rarely shy about asking Muhammad about things that he was shy in responding to, like cleaning oneself. I have heard of sisters who will continue to fast during Ramadan even though they have gotten their periods. They also will not make up the fasts because they are too shy to explain to people why they are fasting. I have a belief that there is a difference between being shy and being modest. There are things in Islam that I get shy talking about but I remember that if it is included in Islam then it is modest. Insha'Allah my reply is of some help. I fear it may not be.
On another note, I just listened to a scholar talk about the reasons for the difference in number of witnesses. He explained it as a Mercy from Allah. If a mistake is made the men are held in greater account in front of Allah then the women. He also asked the audience if anyone really liked giving witness. Who wants to serve jury duty? One, it's boring. Two, the pay is low. Three, the responcibility is too high for my taste. I prefer to avoid being a part of deciding where someone will or will not spend the next few years of their lives.
Jazakum Allah Khair for the input from my ummah
As salam alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatu
HabibHibee
There might be things in my post that you are itching to respond to but I'd rather you focus on what I have already asked. Mainly, If you are agnostic, what is keeping you from being 100% sure that God does not exist? If there is any doubt in your mind about God's existence or lack of? What issues are you wavering on?
thanks