True Repentance

[Anyabwile]

Anyabwile, your post made perfect sense.  Thanks for clearing that up.  Couldn't tell that you were sleepy at all. 
And to answer one of your questions, yes, non-Muslims can and do feel close to God - such as myself.  <i>Plus I don't drink or smoke or pray only right before bed.</i>





Take care of yourself!

When im at work, the type of job i do is on the phones, trying to help people with technical faults. And sometimes the calls can take up to half an hour, and when my prayer time comes and i'm on a call and i miss it, or take it late. I feel really swamped under, and the world around me starts to take over. It's hard to think of God when there's some idiot moaning in your ear as to why his telephone don't work. But prayer refeshes the soul so much, moreso than putting your feet up and lying back. Because you're taken from the external material world, and get closer to God for that time.


The first few days i was Muslim i used to wonder why the need to pray so much. I done it of course but it seemed too much. But a week into it, i started to enjoy the closeness and it became so clear the need. If i went through the day and only prayed in the morning and at night say. That huge Gap in the middle where work or people or family, stress, money worries, health worries, relationship worries etc etc would invade my being daily and over time i could see how the connection with God that is so essential for living would diminish slightly over time. Sure i would pray now and then in the day but i wouldnt be as close to God as i do when i take the time out to worship and speak with him throughout the day.


It's the same in a reverse sence, if things were going good and i only prayed once in the morning, and at night or even only on Sundays etc. And in between those times i'm enjoying say vast amounts of cash, or being with family 24/7, eatng good etc etc. Those things would have a tighter grip on me, and then the world around us would rise in importance to the afterlife. And that's a bad move, because then you forget God. Yeh regular prayer to me is essential, even if on the odd day Fajr wakes me in a mood...Wudu sorts that!


When you say you are as close to God as a non Muslim, it's not for me to judge you. I never meant to imply i'm right you're wrong....as i'm sure we both agree, God knows best. One question i would like to ask, this is going to be hard to word without coming across rude so please don't take it that way. For someone who is as passionate about their faith as you, what brings you to a Muslim board daily? I am curious of other faiths and occasionally have a look around Christian boards etc but not daily. I find that was when i was Muslim for the first few days. As i become more confident, closer to God and utterly and 100% solidly convinced of my faith, the need to visit boards of other religions diminishes. Like i said curiosity sure now and then just to see how those on the wrong path (in my opinion) are trying to justify their actions. But really now, i start to care less as to whether someone tells me The Prophet (Peace and blessings be upon him) was only a fraud etc etc or the Qur'an was written and invented by The Prophet (Peace and blessings be upon him). Because I know what i practice and belive is the truth. This is through my own research and conclusions. I'm sure you feel the same about your religion, so why the daily visits?


That doesnt mean <b>GO AWAY AND DONT COME BACK</b>...just a genuine question

[Muslimah]

Bismillah


Allow me brothers and sisters to pop in here.


to ronniv I d like to clarify more on the accuracy of performing prayer.


In Islam we pray to Allah 5 times a day, those times are set by Allah Allah actually defined them when to do it giving us a span of time between each prayer and the following one in order to be allowed to do it during this time span and still be on the correct time. The correct time here means the allowed time span to perform the given prayer that if one misses has to make it up with the following one but will not be accepted in the same sense.


As why we must hasten and leave everything in hand to pray on time? We are highly encouraged to do so per Quran. But look at it from a human angle.


prayer equals our meeting with Allah Allah allowed us to hold meeting with Him 5 times a day and evening. We pray 3 times a day and 2 in the evening. But setting those specific times, Allah Meant a lot. Due to His Wisdom, we as human beings like to argue. But just look at a person going to a doctor. When the doctor prescribes a medicine to be taken every 6 hours will this person argue why? no because he knows the doctor knows best. Like wise and to Allah the higher example of course I dont exmplify Allah. Allah Knows that we need to stand before Him 5 times a day for many reasons of them, it is a training for us to restrain ourselves. Like if u know that u r about to meet your Lord in 30 mintues u will think many times before committing any sin.


Now being the meeting, why would u respect much your meeting times with human beings while u r soooo light about it with the Creator. how can u show Him how much u love, care, fear, .need Him..... and so many other things except by respecting His meeting schedule.


ronniv in Islam prayer is very essential what I posted above is just a drop in a sea I can right books about it. Just not wanting to make u bored.

[Anyabwile]

Now being the meeting, why would u respect much your meeting times with human beings while u r soooo light about it with the Creator.

So true, i have never thought of it exactly like that. Today amongst numerous problems i was having at work. I was also late and rushing about so much checking my clock all the time, but for who? A boss. I should be like this more with prayer in a way, sometimes we get caught up in things in this life outside of God. How disrespectful to Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala) But yes a Good way of putting it Muslimah.

[Muslimah]

Bismillah


Alhamdulelah all credit is to Allah


More on this point. Before u have a meeting with an important figure whoever this may be, u take time to prepare, u dress up in the best way, u r there even ahead of the time lest u loose your scheduled appointment. We should do even more with Allah. Just because Allah Is Unknown not seen to us, we are sure we will find Him even if go late to our appointment. Moreover, in prayer we initiate the meeting by saying Allah u Akbar, we continue talking to Him, then we end it up by saying as salam alykom. If we continue talking Allah Shall never tell us to stop never ever. Imagine Allah always Has the time and heart to listen to us Is never tired or stressed with time. Sobhan Allah Alhamdulelah that we have Allah.

[umm Zachariah]

OFF TOPIC!


Assalamu aleikum sister Muslimah,


Just love you so much for the sake of Allah, SWT!


A big hug from your sister


END OFF TOPIC!

[Muslimah]

Bismillah


as salam alykom


Umm u made me well I m not good with verbal expression same here sister love u for the sake of Allah

[Muslimah]

Bismillah


as salam alykom


Back to the original topic. One of the major blessings Allah advantaged man kind with is the possibility to repent Alhamdulelah for this. Allah granted it since Adam. Allah taught him words to repent when he and Hawa-a (Eve) committed the sin of eating from the forbidden trea. They both repented because they wanted to. Unless they wanted to Allah would not have taught them how to. Unlike Iblees (satan) when he bluntly challenged Allah, refused to obey His command, instead of repenting he challendged Allah to take son of Adam astray and that is how our fight started with satan. May Allah grant us victory over him always may Allah curse him till the Day After and protect us against him ameen.


All what it takes from a Muslim is to make wodu (ablution) stand in humility before our Lord, pray and talk to Him asking for repentence and forgiveness. Sobhan Allah the All Hearing, the One Who grants repentence always accepts Alhamdulelah. No mediators between us and Allah, no intermediate parties. Just u and your Lord so no one else even knows what u did. Alhamdulelah for the One Who Conceals our faults.