Why I Chose Islam
I am answering a question from dear Brother Harry W on another social site:
In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful, Master of this day of judgement. Its Allah that I submit to and seek refuge.
I do appreciate your question. I have been to many many churches. I remember as a small child, a toddler, going to my grandmothers Baptist church. I watched it on tv, went there on holidays. Most of my childhood, into my early twenties, I was Latter Day Saint. I have to honestly say I loved that church because of the promotion of the family unit and the fact that it was discouraged for married women to work, after the births of their children. One of the reasons I left is because I felt if I stayed, I would probably be married to a white man, who, after a few years would not deeply understand the history that defines me. I could have been wrong, but I didn't want to chance it. There were other theologies, the nit and grit, of the religious teachings that didn't make since to me. They were the same concerns I had with most of the other religious institutions I visited before I stayed with Islam. I went to Jewish Synagogues, and the were nice, but the teachings seemed to contradict what I was seeing in the news of events overseas. I tried Jews for Jesus, and the International Church for God. All good teachings, but too many theological questions. Some things didn't equal.
I also tried some holiness churches, but they really scared me with the talking in tongues and the passing out on the floor. I was taught that God was a loving God and the tossing about on the floor seemed harmful. I also learned that the talking of tongues wasn't actually a babbling of non-sense, but a speaking of a language from a person who never learned that language, for the people in the audience who knew it. For example, say I only knew English, and there are many Africans in the audience. God wants the message to go to them as well, so, He puts in me the dialect of the Africans in the audience. They understand the message.
Before I tell you why I chose Islam, I want to tell you if all the people in the world really believed in their religion, and practiced it, then we wouldn't be in the state we are in today. But, we are not savages (for the most part), and we have a mind to reason and free will, we are "jacked up." I followed the "rules" of each religion, as I found safety and comfort. I grew up learning that its better for a woman to submit to her husband. Its a teaching I still believe today. I have read the Bible many times, because as a Latter Day Saint, there is Seminary. Once you reach a certain age you are required to train. Take classes. Girls learn to sew, clean, cook, make crafts, take care of children, etc. Boys learn to be men. All young people had to go to Seminary. The Church takes really good care of their own (and I really mean that), and if it werent for the questions, I would have probably died LDS. No matter where you move to, where you live, or what happens to you, they are always there, whether you are active or not. They somehow find you, and insist on keeping in contact. For me, even though I do not consider myself LDS, I don't feel alone. Even when I am.
I chose Islam under the Teachings of The Honorable Elijah Muhammad because in it I have no theological questions. There is no unseen anything, and no science fiction voodooism. Islam is mathematics. Mathematics is something I can relate to. Its something I can see and make sense of. Islam can be proven, beyond a shadow of any doubt if you are willling to study something you may not have otherwise.
In most religions you are taught to turn the other cheek, well, if you are turning the other cheek, then you are being back handed, which is the biggest insult of all. I don't want anyone slapping me, as there is no honor in it. Since becoming Muslim, I have been taught that no one should be slapping me at all. There should be no eye for an eye if everyone appreciates you, no matter how different you are. The only religion there should be is the religion of Love. If had love for yourself, then there would not have been all the bad historical events that have happened (to us, the Black man and woman, in particular). There is a contradiction in telling people to live a good life, to suffer by the hands of others, then pray for your death so you can finally go to heaven, in order to be happy. Heaven is in the upper regions of our minds, and unless we are happy there, we are doomed as a species. Death is final. Your energy is a mathematical equation. Science teaches us that two negatives equal a positive. Our life energy, or soul, is returned to the atmosphere. There is no heaven in the sky. It doesn't make sense. If it did, then why has no one who has died, after a few years, come back to tell us? Because it makes no sense. Islam makes sense. I know there are some Muslims who do believe in a heaven after death, but I am not one of them. I wish for my heaven now. I pray for an honorable husband who would appreciate a submissive wife I would be. I pray for my happiness now, that I may make those around me happy, and that they find their heaven as well.
I chose Islam because I want to be better, spiritually. When I hear the teachings, it feels perfect and right. I want to be that which I am taught, what I read in the Holy Quran. I will die a Muslim. All Praises to Allah. Peace.
In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful, Master of this day of judgement. Its Allah that I submit to and seek refuge.
I do appreciate your question. I have been to many many churches. I remember as a small child, a toddler, going to my grandmothers Baptist church. I watched it on tv, went there on holidays. Most of my childhood, into my early twenties, I was Latter Day Saint. I have to honestly say I loved that church because of the promotion of the family unit and the fact that it was discouraged for married women to work, after the births of their children. One of the reasons I left is because I felt if I stayed, I would probably be married to a white man, who, after a few years would not deeply understand the history that defines me. I could have been wrong, but I didn't want to chance it. There were other theologies, the nit and grit, of the religious teachings that didn't make since to me. They were the same concerns I had with most of the other religious institutions I visited before I stayed with Islam. I went to Jewish Synagogues, and the were nice, but the teachings seemed to contradict what I was seeing in the news of events overseas. I tried Jews for Jesus, and the International Church for God. All good teachings, but too many theological questions. Some things didn't equal.
I also tried some holiness churches, but they really scared me with the talking in tongues and the passing out on the floor. I was taught that God was a loving God and the tossing about on the floor seemed harmful. I also learned that the talking of tongues wasn't actually a babbling of non-sense, but a speaking of a language from a person who never learned that language, for the people in the audience who knew it. For example, say I only knew English, and there are many Africans in the audience. God wants the message to go to them as well, so, He puts in me the dialect of the Africans in the audience. They understand the message.
Before I tell you why I chose Islam, I want to tell you if all the people in the world really believed in their religion, and practiced it, then we wouldn't be in the state we are in today. But, we are not savages (for the most part), and we have a mind to reason and free will, we are "jacked up." I followed the "rules" of each religion, as I found safety and comfort. I grew up learning that its better for a woman to submit to her husband. Its a teaching I still believe today. I have read the Bible many times, because as a Latter Day Saint, there is Seminary. Once you reach a certain age you are required to train. Take classes. Girls learn to sew, clean, cook, make crafts, take care of children, etc. Boys learn to be men. All young people had to go to Seminary. The Church takes really good care of their own (and I really mean that), and if it werent for the questions, I would have probably died LDS. No matter where you move to, where you live, or what happens to you, they are always there, whether you are active or not. They somehow find you, and insist on keeping in contact. For me, even though I do not consider myself LDS, I don't feel alone. Even when I am.
I chose Islam under the Teachings of The Honorable Elijah Muhammad because in it I have no theological questions. There is no unseen anything, and no science fiction voodooism. Islam is mathematics. Mathematics is something I can relate to. Its something I can see and make sense of. Islam can be proven, beyond a shadow of any doubt if you are willling to study something you may not have otherwise.
In most religions you are taught to turn the other cheek, well, if you are turning the other cheek, then you are being back handed, which is the biggest insult of all. I don't want anyone slapping me, as there is no honor in it. Since becoming Muslim, I have been taught that no one should be slapping me at all. There should be no eye for an eye if everyone appreciates you, no matter how different you are. The only religion there should be is the religion of Love. If had love for yourself, then there would not have been all the bad historical events that have happened (to us, the Black man and woman, in particular). There is a contradiction in telling people to live a good life, to suffer by the hands of others, then pray for your death so you can finally go to heaven, in order to be happy. Heaven is in the upper regions of our minds, and unless we are happy there, we are doomed as a species. Death is final. Your energy is a mathematical equation. Science teaches us that two negatives equal a positive. Our life energy, or soul, is returned to the atmosphere. There is no heaven in the sky. It doesn't make sense. If it did, then why has no one who has died, after a few years, come back to tell us? Because it makes no sense. Islam makes sense. I know there are some Muslims who do believe in a heaven after death, but I am not one of them. I wish for my heaven now. I pray for an honorable husband who would appreciate a submissive wife I would be. I pray for my happiness now, that I may make those around me happy, and that they find their heaven as well.
I chose Islam because I want to be better, spiritually. When I hear the teachings, it feels perfect and right. I want to be that which I am taught, what I read in the Holy Quran. I will die a Muslim. All Praises to Allah. Peace.
As-Salaam Alaikum Sister Leah, I read this post a total of 5 times before deciding to comment. You are very clear and upfront about why you chose Islam especially since Allah ordained both of us and I admire you for your courage. I was born and raised in the NOI and my parents converted to Islam in 1974. I had the opportunity to see Minister Farrakhan speak in person during his visits to New Orleans during the Essence Music Festival and I still believe what Minister Farrakhan and Elijah Muhammad taught is good and beneficial for all our Black people in America.
Now Sister, I will not beat the dead horse by saying what's already been said by you. However, you are probably already aware that you will receive harsh criticism from some members on this forum and they will begin to find fault with this post you created, not because of a percieved lack of truth of your words, but because they are not willing to examine all angles and facts, assuming certain men and women to be infallable. That will be their stumbling block until (or if) they change.
You are mentioning some things that will either generate a lot of people trying to defend what they see as an attach, or you will get a lot of "amens" and Ashes from the other side of the choir. Rest assured that whatever final choice you make, some will not like it. However, this is what is expected to happen as I often receive this type of criticism myself. Remember you my sister are headed in the right direction.
I can go on and on but that's my short take for now...STAY STRONG SISTER!!!
Love 2 Live & Live 2 Love,
Siebra