I have many questions.

[Muslimah]

Bismillah


Salam Mahasvapna


With all due respect to my brother Wael, but I think I did understand what you were aiming for in your very first post..


I think that u r a troubled soul searching for comfort, u r looking for comfort and content. Obviously, as anyone else, u must have looked for it through materialistic means. I m not trying to act smart or put words into your mouth. But this is how I felt. You are looking to know how best you can, after being done with the materialistic path, connect to Allah. Which is which? Which religion or let us call it way to Allah is correct???


Isnt this in a nutshell what you aimed for???


If what I understood is correct let me know, Insh a Allah I will try my best with Allah Close Help to put my words from the heart. Just a human being talking from the heart to the heart…

[Mahasvapna]

Bismillah


Salam Mahasvapna


With all due respect to my brother Wael, but I think I did understand what you were aiming for in your very first post..


I think that u r a troubled soul searching for comfort, u r looking for comfort and contempt. Obviously, as anyone else, u must have looked for it through materialistic means. I m not trying to act smart or put words into your mouth. But this is how I felt. You are looking to know how best you can, after being done with the materialistic path, connect to Allah. Which is which? Which religion or let us call it way to Allah is correct???


Isnt this in a nutshell what you aimed for???


If what I understood is correct let me know, Insh a Allah I will try my best with Allah Close Help to put my words from the heart. Just a human being talking from the heart to the heart…

Namaste Muslimah,


This is close as you could get - certainly the spirit of the assumption is proper. It is not so much as that I am looking for the 'correct religion' as I am looking for the seeds of truth that I believe to be buried within each religion. There is much that so many paths have in common! Their differences, then are debatable as to 'correctness'. However... I have begun to look at the world in a particular frame of reason - that there are ultimately no contradictions in the substance of Truth. If you look at the differences in the right light, you often begin to see that they are not really differences at all - simply different interpretations of the same fundamental truth.


I do not know that troubled is the right word, although it could be. I am not seeking comfort, because I have this already. I have been blessed with a will to seek out truth early in my life, and so I feel that I have time to consider and experience. I should make no assumptions, i feel, but rather allow Truth to cultivate in it's own time as I feed it with perspective and, hopefully, wisdom. I do not believe I seek contempt... this word to me means essentially disrespect, or a great disliking of something, I am not sure if it is what you meant to say, as the two goals - comfort and contempt - seem rather diametric.


I am done with the materialistic path - at 21, I was not on it for very long. There is no connection or relationship to any person, place, thing, or even opinions which in any way change the ultimate course of my incarnation - my life, as it were. In the end, I'm going to die, and neither my career, nor my posessions, nor my vast stores of knowledge will mean anything. I still have my practical considerations - one must live in the world amongst the many others seeking truth, or live away from the world and selfishly hoard experience and wisdom. I believe that the only lasting actions I can do are those which somehow impact mankind in a beneficial way. In this regard, this understanding of what my priorities should be in life, I feel a resonance with the message in Islam. I believe we can choose these things, but I wish to choose properly, that i may live a life I will be able to be at peace with.


However, there is much that I do not quite agree with as well. Not because It doesn't sound pleasant to me, or that I do not wish to devote all of myself to something, but rather I hear, I consider, and in the end it doesn't feel like a tradition I can fully embrace. My first religion was christianty. I feel that at a point I grew beyond it. My view of God became less anthropomorphise - I began to stop seeing God as 'him' or a person, and more of a universal intelligence, the cumulative of existence. It is difficult not to make my view of the divine seem clinical or scientific... The axis of this view, in any case, is the deep connection I have to my own 'source' as it were. I feel connected to God, and it has left me with a sense of transience - as though I am ultimately an illusion, here only briefly before disappating and returning to the Source. I'm comfotable with this. But, I now struggle with a schism between my Domestication - that is, my social conditioning by parents, community, etc. - and my intuitive connection to the natural order of the world. I know there is purpose, I know that there is Truth, because I can feel it. But, knowing what this means I should do in life, what things should be important to me, becomes difficult. I am forced to weigh things like Loyalty, Companionship, and Love - friends, family, lovers, all ultimately as transient as I am - with Devotion, the search for Truth (which must be experiential, not done at a computer screen, at a book, or with a pen in my fingertips), and ultimately my own ideal of Ascension.


I don't want to stray too far off topic, but the reasons that I want to know deeper the Wisdom, not just the dogmas and verses, of Islam, why I want to understand how it affects its followers, what it means to them, what assumptions about life it changes, is a wide, wide question, and is rooted in many personal revelations which I will not say are valid for all people. The world feels more complicated than that to me. Our individual purpose feels so specific and special that I have begun to question all together the necessity and validity of relgion itself.


This is the reason that I have such a difficult time posing direct questions. What I am seeking is not a textbook answer, but a personal perspective. I have said before that to me, text is useless - it is as transient as as the hand that scribed it. The function of Religion is not in it's text, but in it's effect on the world, on the people in it. Text can be interpreted however one chooses - this obviously holds true in every religion so far. It's cumulative impact on humanity, though, is obvious through observation, and needs no interpretation - only a complete perspective.


Across the world, relgions have caused almost as much misery as they have hope. I struggle with the opposed ideals of a world in which struggle is the source of growth and is inevitable, and a world in which God truly seeks peace on earth. I cannot know the mind of God, but many people have claimed to. They all present very different personalities and ideals - so you can see my confusion.


I have faith enough in God, and more devotion with every day. I don't think I need religion. What I need is understanding of the function of religion. We would say that we can define it's function, but this is normally a superficial conceptual ideal. The only way to know the function of a thing is to observe what it does - regardless of what people say it is for, the truth is in the actuality. By undersanding the function of religion, I hope that I will be able to develope a greater understanding of God's greater purpose for the world, and for mankind. I don't mean to uncover some sacred truth - this understanding is of use only to my own greater understanding of my own path in life, and how to more closely follow it.


There are many people offering salvation these days, and there have been since the dawn of man, I think. But my intinct tells me that we are the key to our own salvation, individually.


Pardon my tendancy to ramble, I often do not know when I have said either too much or too little. What I seek is philosophical discussion, from a personal point of view. About the nature of God, about the necessity of spirituality or religion - not always mutually exclusive - about the purpose of prophets, about the possibilities for man. We evolve, we grow, we change. Why? Everyone has a different answer, and every person who says they have seen the answer directly says it differently. Why? Perhaps because we all see the same truth, but give it different words, interpret it differently. God does not contradict. God is Truth unmitigated, unambiguous.


I seek truth.


Namaste


Mahasvapna

[Muslimah]

Bismillah


salam Mahasvapna


First off, the contempt word was a typo of course I didnt mean disrespect at all. I meant comfort and inner content.


Alhamdulelah, I did sort of understood your aim, that is why I made this initiation. I can see you are not after posting rigid questions. You are not after the system but rather the spirit of the system.


Let me see if the coming will help Insh a Allah,


Well where to start? As far as I can see, why are we here, to worship Allah, yes that is correct. Does Allah Need this? No. It is us who really need it, badly need it.


Allah Didn’t talk to any of the three Messengers prayer and peace be upon all of them, directly while on earth except with Moses. That is why we call him one who spoke with Allah. While Allah Spoke directly, when I say directly I mean not thru the Archangel Gabriel, to Prophet Mohamed salla Allah a`lyhee wa sallam when he ascended to the skies in what is called the night journey.


Now back to our core of interest. How would u connect to Allah?


Allah Sobhanhuh wa Ta`laa Communicated His word to human beings thru the numerous prophets and Messengers Allah Sent to mankind starting from Adam to Mohamed peace and prayer be upon all of them. Allah Sent one after the other calling for the same concept which is to worship Allah and only Allah the One Who Is Worthy to worship without taking any associates or partner.


Being here in this world, is nothing but a test. Through this test, we of course need to excel in order to attain the desired grades. The desired grades in any given test can never be attained unless one puts down the correct answers according to the determined curriculum. I mean you cannt put correct math answers when you are sitting for a history exam, can you? Likewise, Allah may He be Glorified Placed the curriculum to us presented in the Holy books He Revealed to the Prophets and Messengers.


However, because mankind faces two powers of evil, satan and the ego (oneself), such books were subject to distortion till Allah revealed the Quran.


Thus, as I said Allah Communicates to mankind in general, not individually, thru the books, not because Allah Is Incapable of or unable to. But because Allah Does not Force Himself on us. Allah Is Free of all wants, we need Allah, Allah Needs no one, we need to relay our problems to the One Who Listens all the time, without being annoyed or tired, One Who Is Capable of solving any problem in less than a fraction of a second, One Who Can Find us a way out in any given situation from sources and means beyond our expectations. Thus, being able to worship Allah actually is an honor to us. When a Muslim puts his/her forehead down to the ground during prayer, in this specific position, one is close to Allah in a way that u cannt imagine. However, if one really truly desires to establish a one to one communication with Allah, at this point, it is up to us to strive to establish it using the means and path Allah Taught us, not what we invent or desire. If u r keen to be special to Allah, then Allah must be Special to you first. You must feel deep in your heart how special Allah Is, how unimaginable Allah Is, how Powerful Allah Is, how Superior and All Seeing Allah Is.


In Islam, we pray 5 times a day, this is worship yes, and it is the second pillar of Islam. Prayer is so important in Islam that one who denies it as being an obligation, I mean if one stops praying because he /she sees it is not an obligation to do so and does not believe it was ordained, one is deemed out of Islam. Prayer in Islam is seen as our meeting with Allah. Can u see this? Allah Allowed us and determined for us to go meet Him five times a day. And this chance is permitted to everyone without distinction. However, usually during any meeting with a superior one, the superior does set the time on which the meeting is initiated, also usually the superior kicks off the meeting. Unlike in prayer, Allah Did determine the time span of each prayer. For example we pray Fajr (early morning), the on time hour is 4.15 am, but it remains valid till 5.45. Therefore, if someone couldn’t get up till 5. 30 and got up and took the washing and stood there and started praying, Allah Shall not dismiss him/her and tell him/her u came on late I m not going to receive u. NO Allah Shall be still there and accept the prayer.


Also unlike the usual meetings with superiors, we kick off the meeting. Meaning we stand there, we start the prayer by saying Allah u Akbar. By doing so, we actually became into the status of prayer or more precisely went into the meeting. Can u see the point? U can actually remain in this meeting as long as you want, no matter how long u stay Allah Shall not dismiss u or say o I m busy I have other things to attend to.


Never one who does not perform prayer on time comes to pray late even after the time ends and seeking to make it up, and for example finds a secretary saying or sorry your appointment is over and Allah has another meeting. Allah Shall still be there for this person to Listen to.


Can u see? thus, it all depends on us and still in our benefit. Pls note that I m talking from the top of my head I m just expressing what is in my heart regarding the closeness of Allah.


Now back to being special, of course u can be very special to Allah as I said if u feel Allah Is special to u. We have means to attain this specialty, those means are well established in Quran and Sunnah. Allah Taught us how to get close to Him, because if we are left without direction we will be susceptible to fall into traps of satan. Some people may teach u and show u how to perform miracles, whereas, it might all be satan’s work.


The road to Allah is very easy, it just needs us to start. Once u start, you will certainly attain the inner satisfaction you are looking for. At any given time, on any position you might be, without any special rituals, like candles, scented sticks or what so ever, just start talking to Allah, even outside of the formal frame of prayer. Because prayer in Islam involves certain movements and recitation of Quran and supplications. But you may just start talking to Allah, using any language without any barrier or intermediate. You will not hear an answer back. But Allah Has countless means to give you the answer you need.


Again execuse any incosistency as I was as I said talking from the heart of a human being to another.


Let me stop here, and see if I will continue later on Insh aAllah.

[Mahasvapna]

Ah, this is what I was looking for. The same feelings are in my heart as well. When one has convicted faith in God and in his Will, one seeks to be with him, it is not a chore but rather an exciting honor, a chance to escape the sense of transience that fills this life, by gazing upon the face of the Eternal.


my own devotional practice is very similar, which leads me towards the initial opinion that regardless of the tradition, the heart which seeks God will find him.


I am not attached to my beliefs, I think. That is, I wish not to be attached, whether I am or not. I pray that if I hold a belief that is dangerous to me, God will offer me the chance to see that is wrong. In the past, I have encountered many situations and people which have rid me of some Beliefs that I had thought were good. This is why I ask what is in the hearts of Muslims - to open myself to another oppurtunity for God to correct my thoughts.


Here, I believe that my incorrect thought has been that I am not yet worthy of my connection to God because I do not have enough perspective. i was not sure that perspective mattered, but I had to see.


There are no more questions in my heart on this matter. Thank you for your openness. May Allah show us all the path towards the right heart.


Namaste


Mahasvapna

[Muslimah]

Bismillah


Praise be to Allah Alhamdulelah that this is what u were looking for. Let me take the chance to continue, although I know u said u have no further questions here.


Sobhan Allah (Glory be to Allah), u brought up an excellent point which if it proves anything, it proves that this is how mankind is created. It is an instinct.


<b>"That one seeks to be with him, it is not a chore but rather an exciting honor, a chance to escape the sense of transience that fills this life, by gazing upon the face of the Eternal."
</b>. Indeed also it is not a chores but rather an entertainment.


This is exactly how one feels when doing the different types of worship.


Let me explain further, invoking upon Allah, making rememberence (which is to remember Allah by saying certain supplications taught in Quran and Sunnah: traditions of the Messener prayer and peace be upon him), making voluntary prayer or fasting all fall under the title of worship. Needless to mention that of course we dont say remembrance of Allah because we only remember Allah while we are saying those supplicaitons, of course not. How can we forget Allah at any other point. Allah, and let me say that this is a choice of the devotee of course, I mean in this level of closeness, it is a choice, Allah Is Presente in the devotee's heart all the time. Mind you Mahavspna, the minute a devotee decides that he/she wants to pursue this path, the minute this person steps one step towards Allah, in return Allah steps back in a quicker pace. And this is poved by a Hadeeth (Prophet's narrations).


Let me try to dig it out:


‏


Narrated under the authority of Anas Bin Malek that the Messenger prayer and peace be upon him said: Your Lord may Allah be Glorified Say: When the devotee draws close to me the length of an extended hand, I come close to him an arm's length, if the devotee draws close to me an arm's length, I draw close to him the length between the shoulder and the wrest, and if the devotee walks towards me walking I come towards him running" (reported by Ahmed).


Do you see the deep sense in this hadeeth? Glory be to Allah.


However, how to do this, remains the most important point and question. We must be careful while taking this advantage of drawing close to Allah, we do this using the legitimate means as I explained. One more important point here, that as u can clearly see, there are two or even more types of human beings approach. One of that who wishes to be as close as possible to the ONe Who Deserves this, one who desirs to attain a special position. And that of the commonor who does the rituals and strives to obey and avoid positions of sins which is of course still good, however, in some cases one may feel a burden in doing so which is not bad also. Last of what i can think of now, again I stress I m talking from heart to heart, nothing formal i m explaining how I feel, the path of one who is not even aware of the Exitence of Allah, one who easily denies Allah's Existence and ....etc.


I dont want to be blamed for bleeding eyes, but really talking about how to draw close to Allah can stimulate me to talk forever.


Mahavspna, let me ask u something, u said:


<b>my own devotional practice is very similar
</b>


What is your devotional practice, given the fact that u r not attached to any religion?


If u dont mind me asking of course. I mean how do u apply this??

[Mahasvapna]

What is your devotional practice, given the fact that u r not attached to any religion?


If u dont mind me asking of course. I mean how do u apply this??

Namaste,


Well, my answer to prayer is meditation, but it is essentially the same practice. In the morning when i wake up, I give thanks to God, and spend time in appreciation for the day he has given, and seek his guidance on the tasks of the day. I meditate in the early afternoon, no specific time although usually before 2 or 3, to observe the movement of the day so far and reflect on what I might have missed at the time. I do the same at night before bed, and meditate upon the meaning of the day. these times are, for me, times when I can detach my thoughts from mundane events and observe myself and my heart. More and more I spend greater lengths of time in meditation. It is not quite a habit yet, but it is natural now.


This practice reflects my belief that we must be able to Observe the world and our reaction to it if we are to see the subtle language of God and hear his messages. So, I devote much of my mind to simply mindfulness of thought, action, and wether it represents what I truly wish to put forth.


I seek guidance because I believe that what I want in life is to make a positive impact on my world and all those around me in it. I believe that the greatest good one can do is to simply align one's own will with the will of God. I used to have a great many emotional problems, and at times I seemed to have no reason in my mind at all. Mindfulness of the living God and his intention, through devotional thought and action, lifted me above this state of consciousness so that I could observe and understand rather than react rashly to whatever I thought threatened me or my ego.


At midday and before bed I normally chant a mantra, which is like a prayer. It is a hindu mantra called the Gayatri mantra, but as I have mentioned about words before, their importance lies in their intention. This practice is done as japa mala, or the practice of chanting while counting beads. Each 'set' consists of 108 repetitions. The mantra itself is a prayer which first adores the source of creation and the many wonders it gives us, then prays for illumination and understanding of the divine intelligence. Essentially "let me know the will of god and know how to follow it." I chant Om mane padme hum, which is a mantra most people are familiar with. It is a prayer to have compassion in one's heart. This one I chant on and off all day, especially if I have much on my mind. It is not always good to think on the petty exchanges of the day when you are in the thick of your own irritation at things.


Based on my understanding of the nature of God thus far - which is to say, based on the personal revelations that have occurred in my life to date - I act according to a simply code of morality and ethics. Harbor no negative intention, do not judge yourself or others, Never harm another - physically, psychologically, economically, etc. - except in direct defense of human life, Recognize unconditional equanimity among all beings, and be as responsible as you can for your fellow human being. These five basic principles, to me, cover every situation I have encountered in my life, since I began to seek God.


To me, devotional practice is not a certain practice at certain times, with strict guidelines. As you say, Allah is always with us, never are we gone from his presence. And so it is - true devotional practice is to be ever mindful of the will of God, and be ever mindful of one's thoughts and actions. So, my main devotional practice is just this - to be mindful.


I do believe that there is a goal in life, with regards to the afterlife, but am oft criticized for it. I have recently discovered that it was a gnostic concept at one point. my take on Jesus is that he was in fact the son of god, in as much as we are all the children of God, but his words were meant to lead us towards an unconditional faith in God and in Ourselves as beings worthy of his Grace. When he said, "I am the way" I do not think he meant we must go through him to get to god, but rather the way to God is through a life like his, faith, devotion, service. More importantly, I believe that whether he was crucified or not - because honestly, a lot of people have been ressurected, even in the bible, this is not special - he did Ascend, as have others in many culture's pasts. I believe that his message, maybe his part, was that Ascension is the ideal of the devotee. I don't know what this means, but there was a time when I thought i was 'saved'. When I considered my thoughts on Christ, though, I ultimately didn't believe that he was the Lamb, the sacrifice that cleansed me of sin because I do not think that is necessary - God may forgive who he will, and if we can forgive then God does forgive, no intercession necessary. But, the acceptance of the Ascension grew in me, and since I have begun to see it as the end result of a life long process of devotion and purification. The study of Alchemy and hermetic tradition as reinforced my devotion to this ideal.


I believe God asks of me as much as i am able to give, but not more. If i would do his will, i must be able to live in this world and do it. As long as the intention is in the right spirit, and the action does not harm myself or others, my life is mine to live and appreciate in any way I choose. In a way, I suppose this is a similar thought to another thread I was reading, something about verses in the qu'ran about bearing one's own load...


There is more to my thoughts on this, but largely only extensions and reasons for these basic ideals and practices. I do believe in the practice of highly ritualized prayer for attainment, which is comparable to hermetic ritual magical practice. My paradigm is somewhat different from the average hermeticist, but the spirit is the same. Through complex ritual, the mind is sharpened and focused towards a specific intention, and it is during this state of mind that the greatest revelations can occur, in my experience. I see the mind, the body, and the spirit as the three essential parts of our being which are our tools with which to achieve all things in both this life and the next. We must master each aspect, and temper them into worthy tools to use in service to God and to Mankind.


here I'll break, I hope there is much more to say.


Namaste


Mahasvapna

[Muslimah]

Bismillah


salam Mahasvapna

Based on my understanding of the nature of God thus far - which is to say, based on the personal revelations that have occurred in my life to date - I act according to a simply code of morality and ethics. Harbor no negative intention, do not judge yourself or others, Never harm another - physically, psychologically, economically, etc. - except in direct defense of human life, Recognize unconditional equanimity among all beings, and be as responsible as you can for your fellow human being. These five basic principles, to me, cover every situation I have encountered in my life, since I began to seek God.


Namaste


Mahasvapna

I agree on those principles, I have a suggestion till I have more time to get back on my thoughts and waiting for yours.


Before u start your meditation, sit and say the following supplication:


Aoudhbillah mina shaytane rajeem


Bismillah


just try this and repeat it three times.

[Mahasvapna]

Bismillah


salam Mahasvapna


I agree on those principles, I have a suggestion till I have more time to get back on my thoughts and waiting for yours.


Before u start your meditation, sit and say the following supplication:


Aoudhbillah mina shaytane rajeem


Bismillah


just try this and repeat it three times.

what does it mean? and how is it pronounced?


namaste


Mahasvapna

[Muslimah]

Adoudhbillah mina shaytane rajeem= i seek refuge to Allah from the cursed satan


Bismillah= in the name of Allah


How it is pronounced, I think u can try pronouncing it through this transliteration or better i may look for a site with an audio hole on.


http://quran.nu/en/


Then click on the little microphone.


The recitation of the Fatiah will start, u need to listen to the very first two sentences. Insh a Allah u will realize them while listening as u also look at this post.


May Allah Guid us all.


The reason I suggested this, is that truly Mahavspna, u seem to be looking for the truth. U need to be protected in order to avoid the interception of satan. Try it.

[Muslimah]

Bismillah


salam Mahasvanpna


Let me tell you this, Islam is the only accepted religion in the Eyes of Allah, thus u need to believe that Allah Is the One Who Does not Consist of parts neither incarnated in any form or shape, neither Did Allah Begotten any one nor was Allah Begotten and that Mohamed is His final Messenger.


Will you do this?


You need first to take the testimony of faith to be a Muslim and grant youself safety in this life and the Day After.


Will you do this?


You need to ensure to die as a Muslim or else you are in major trouble


Will you do this?


i have no idea what does "mantra called the Gayatri mantra" means, however, to communicate with Allah after being a Muslim, you only need to recite Quran and use supplications and invoke upon Allah the way Allah Taught us in Quran and sunnah.


Will you do this???


Waiting for your answer.......