I went back to school today. What a disaster. We finally got into the fiqh over the period and I lost it. First, the packet was incorrect. It stated that it was haram to touch a Qur'an and the name of Allah written in any language. That is false. You can totally read and touch an English Qur'an you just can't touch the name of God regardless of the language. I pointed this out to the teacher (we had a sub) who after reading it more carefully realized it was incorrect. Skip two bullet points down and it says its RECOMMENDED not to touch an Arabic Qur'an or recite. NOT HARAM, just RECOMMENDED. So right then they have their information all messed up.
I lost it when we got to it being haram to enter, sit, walk through, or pass a Mosque on your period. This does not include prayer rooms or centers. So, devils advocate that I am, asked her if a man had a continuously bleeding wound would these rules apply to him. She said no because period blood is dirty and different from all forms of other blood. Now in my readings I learned that it WOULD apply to men as well. I asked her why period blood is different because many of my readings said a woman is allowed to enter a mosque. The teacher began getting flustered and saying I am reading the wrong things and need to stick to Shariah. AKA she had no clue why its "more dirty" than other blood.
I had to try so hard not to cry from the frustration. I was perfectly fine when I had come to the conclusion that you were allowed to enter a mosque and the same rules would apply to a man. Now I'm being told they do not. Islam preaches constantly about how scientifically advanced it is. Well then muslims how have you not seen what a period actually is and how it is NOT dirtier than any other blood? There is no excuse for this with the science we have we now know what it actually is! These rules were made back when no one knew why a woman bled so it was foreign and considered bad. Now we know and these rules need to be revamped. And if a man can enter a mosque bleeding then a woman sure can!
I think I'm done with school, at least until the fiqh class is over. Its caused me so much stress and pain. But I'm also starting to think I might be done with Islam. I can't follow rules that don't make sense. Dogs being more najis doesn't make sense, rules of the period don't make sense, all music being haram does not make sense, hadiths often do not make sense.....I can't follow things that do not make sense. And these rules, these laws, have overshadowed all the things I love about the religion. You can't be muslim and ignore Shariah. So I'm pretty sure I am not going to be able to be muslim, even if I believe in the core aspects of the religion.
Posts
That class does sound bad. Did they even look over their notes? You totally can read an English translation of the Qur'an when on your period. You can also recite the Qur'an that you already know, and listen to recitation. And, of course, you can make as much du'a as you want. A woman's period is not supposed to be a burden or a hindrance to her taqwa; no matter what state we are in, we are never to stop remembering and glorifying ALLAH.
ReplyDeleteYou can't even walk past a masjid on your period? That is ridiculous. Women can of course pass by masjids on their periods, and they can enter the buildings, they just shouldn't enter the actual prayer space (all other non-prayer parts are fair game, I'm pretty sure, such as classrooms, shops, social halls, etc.). And I'm pretty sure that blood, as a rule, is najis and requires either wudu or ghusl before praying (unless it's a small cut and the bleeding stops right away). If the bleeding is indefinitely continuous, then I think that a person is allowed to pray provided that they wrap up the wound and don't get blood on their clothes or the floor. If the bleeding is for a certain period of time (like period blood), than one needs to wait until it stops before purifying oneself. If a woman had a wound in her vagina and was bleeding, and it obviously wasn't her period, and it was a chronic condition, she would just have to make wudu before every prayer and then pray even though she was bleeding.
In the the Maliki school of Sunni Islam, dogs are not considered najis, not even their saliva. So if a dog licks you, you are still clean. This is definitely considered a valid opinion. Likewise, the rules of music also vary quite a bit. Some believe that any music is totally forbidden, some believe that everything but the daff is forbidden, some think that all percussion and voice is halal, some think that everything but stringed instruments is halal, and some think that music is halal per se, but certain lyrics aren't (obviously), and it can become haram for certain individuals if it is taking up way too much of their time or becoming an obsession, ignoring their duties to ALLAH in favor of music. When I was on my retreat, a very wise teacher, Ustadh Khalil, came to speak. He is a convert (he converted about 14 years ago) and has studied Arabic and shariah for many years and is quite respected. Before he converted, he was a musician; music was literally his entire life (and he said that a lot of the things he sung contained questionable lyrics and "bad" themes). After becoming Muslim, he decided that all music was haram and cut it completely from his life. However, he said that the more he studied Arabic and Islamic studies, he has changed his viewpoint. He now believes that for some people, music can be haram if it is all consuming, but for others it may be okay in moderation. I was completely shocked to hear this, but very relieved because it made a lot of sense. I don't listen to music very much (I was never really into it anyway), but I think that in moderation (and with decent themes and lyrics) it can be okay. Sometimes, in the case of nasheeds or songs with religious themes, it can even help people remember and glorify ALLAH.
I'm so sorry that you're not really feeling Islam right now. But, if I may suggest, don't give up on it just yet. It sounds like you really believe in the core principles but are just having trouble with some of the "extras"; Ustadh Khalil said that it is belief in these main principles that is most important, and everything else can be dealt with later. Maybe you would be interested in studying more about Sunnism; some of the fiqh rulings are quite different from the Shi'a schools, and perhaps these madhabs might suit you better. If you want to talk, or want some resources, let me know and I'll hook you up.
Hugs, and I'll be making du'a for you. <3
-Anne
Thanks Anne. Shias have similar differences of opinions with dogs too. Thing is, Shariah should be the same for both schools, there isn't SUPPOSE to be a difference in Shariah. But obviously their are differences in interpretation. Same with music. Although Sunnis are more lax about music. Its funny though because all of my Shia friends listen to music and believe all of it is not haram, its the teachers who come from Islamic countries (aka Pakistan) that disagree. My teachers from Iran follow the "some is haram" theory. So it often has to do with where you are from.
ReplyDeleteI honestly don't think this sub understood the packet. But I think it is rediculous that I should miss Eid or a lecture simply because it is in a mosque and I am on my period. That is rediculous in my opinion. And if a man theoretically could have a continuous bleeding wound then these rules should apply to him as well. What is a woman suppose to do when she has a baby and bleeds for 40 days, just not enter a masjid for that long? For some thats fine but for me that is not ok.
I think I am just coming to terms with the fact that this may not work out and My Love and I may not be getting married after all, that it might be time to move back home, and that it may be time to start the search all over. Guess I need to get more familiar with Unitarian Universalism because that is the only thing left at this point.
Just FYI (this is from www.islamonline.net, by Sheikh Ahmed Kutty):
ReplyDelete"Traditionally, most of the Islamic scholars and jurists are of the opinion that women in a state of hayd (menstruation) are not permitted to enter or stay in the mosque.
However, on a closer look at the issue from within the sources and evidence presented, it can be clearly seen that such an absolute ban is not based on any incontrovertible texts or proofs. Reports that are cited to justify such ban are considered either weak or dubious, or at best questionable as well as contradicted by other reports and ascertainable facts.
When faced with such ambiguities and doubts, we always have recourse to the original rule of permission, which can only be revoked in case of a categorical prohibition.
By barring women from attending such classes or lectures in mosques, we will be depriving them of the only opportunity they may have for gaining essential religious knowledge, which is the life-blood of a vibrant Islamic community.
The opinion that women in case of necessity—not necessarily a dire necessity (darurah)—can enter and stay in the mosque is the view held by such authentic scholars and thinkers as Ibn Taymiyyah and others.
On the other hand, the view that women in a state of menstruation are permitted to enter and stay in the mosque is held by scholars such as al-Muzani, Dawud az-Zahiri, Ibn Hazm and others.
There is a report from `A'ishah that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) allowed a woman who had converted to Islam—who apparently had no place go—to stay inside the mosque, where she set up a little tent for that purpose. It is common knowledge that women do menstruate, and if it had been prohibited for women to enter or stay in the mosque in a state of menstruation, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) certainly would not have allowed her to stay inside the mosque.
Those who hold the view that the women in state of menstruation are not permitted to enter and stay in the mosque compare menstruation with janabah (post-sexual impurity) as a major defilement. However, it is an established fact that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) lodged the poor emigrants in the mosque. They were known as the people of as-Suffah. Men may occasionally experience nocturnal emissions. Yet, we are not told anywhere that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) ever told them to get out of the mosque in such a state.
It is well known principle of Islamic jurisprudence that failure to explain something when it is needed shall be deemed as an indication of permission. How could the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) fail to communicate to the people of as-Suffah and to the woman he had lodged inside the mosque that they should leave the mosque when they are in a state of janabah or hayd?
Having said this, we must still urge the mosque authorities to arrange such classes or circles in areas of the mosque other than the prayer hall, such as basement or adjacent class rooms, etc., or provide special facilities for women to hear and see the speaker there. By doing so we remain within the consensus of scholars, as no one would ever object to that. When such conditions are observed, it is perfectly acceptable for women in a state of menstruation to attend `Eid and Jumu`ah sermons according to scholarly consensus.
In conclusion, let me state: We must never compromise the greater maslahah (welfare) of seeking essential Islamic education, which must take precedence over our pre-occupation with fiqh minutiae that are not based on any explicit textual proofs."
This opinion makes a lot more practical sense to me than some of the more "traditional" viewpoints, which, according to this sheikh, are not necessarily grounded in the sunnah.
ReplyDeleteAnne: See a lot of what I have read agrees with him. And I totally agree with the last paragraph. Its so embedded that its not going to change so instead why dont we work around it. Hold Eid in a prayer room or something not in the mosque or at least the lecture for Eid in another venue so the women can still participate. Its just this opinion of being bard from the mosque seems so ignorant. And Im pretty sure the Qur'an would have specifically mentioned no entering a mosque on your period. But no distinction was made by the prophet or the Qur'an.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I've read a lot of fatwas from this sheikh, and Masha'Allah he seems like a very reasonable man. He bases his rulings on the Qur'an, sunnah, and traditional Sunni fiqh, but he also takes into account the world and conditions we are living in today, and that the wording of some parts of the Qur'an and hadiths can allow for several interpretations.
ReplyDeleteHey LK,
ReplyDeleteIt seems to me (as an outsider) that you know what the rules are, but you are getting really tired of people who are ignorant of the rules telling you what is "right" It seems like this is what is really bothering you, not Islam the religion.
The fact that people are ignorant of their religion often drives people away... like how all the ignorant Christians drove me to find something better.
It it alllllways hard to separate the people who "practice" a religion from the religion itself. But I think it is necessary.
Islam is so much more beautiful than some people make it out to be. It makes so much more sense than some people try to make it. It is the middle way (<see I threw some Buddha in there ;-))! It is the path that isn't too hard or too easy. Some people try to make it too hard, some try to make it too easy, but Islam will always be what it is to you.
When the Prophet Muhammad, salAllahu alleyhi wa salam, said that we should strive to be in the middle, don't you think he knew that the "middle" would be a little different for different people? Allah gives as much faith to each person as he will and levels of piety are different for everyone. It is up to you to decide what is your middle way. Don't let anyone else bully you into taking up theirs.
I think also it is really important to do your own research (like you have been doing) instead of listening to whatever anyone says in the community. You are doing great with this, but don't let your community get you down!
I'd also like to ditto Anne on pretty much everything she said up there. :-P
NeverEver: Good advice. I guess I've gotten horribly confused as to what I have to actually follow. OR what the "right" answers are.
ReplyDeleteOne thing that I really like about Christianity is that there is zero concept of ritual purity. It ceases to exist in the New Testament, because the legal aspect of purity is resolved once for all by the sacrifice to end all sacrifices. So that the purity question is now resolved exclusively in the heart of the person in question. This is one of many reasons that I - despite having read the Qur'an a number of times, learned about Islam for over a decade, even picked up some typically Islamic-type practices - am still a Christian. If anything, I find I understand my own faith better as a result of talking to people who have different views.
ReplyDeleteLK, I'm emailing you an article produced by Muslims for Progressive Values that questions the meaning of "shariah" for Muslims today. I hope you find it useful. Have you read anything about progressive Islam? It sounds to me like it would appeal to some of your core values, but allow you to move away from some of the rigidity you associate with Islam.
ReplyDeleteI think I'll email you my comment on this.
ReplyDeleteI LOVE Neverever's comment...and I TOTALLY agree! From experience, Islam means that you really do have to ignore what a lot of Muslims say and do.
ReplyDeleteYou sound like you've already read and researched a lot, so why not trust your own judgement, especially when your teacher sounds like she doesn't know much.
The fact that you loved the Qur'an may mean that you should give Islam another try...but in your own way, using your own judgement.
Like Zuhura said, progressive and reformist Muslims will probably appeal to you...Tariq Ramadan, Khaled abou el-Fadl, Amina Wadud, Mohammed Arkoun, Asma Barlas, Fatima Mernissi, and especially Fazlur Rahman. They see Islam COMPLETELY differently, and who are the orthodox Muslims to say that these scholars are wrong and that the traditionalists have a monopoly on knowledge?
I had episodes like this, of being overwhelmed with all the rules that it seemed like I had to accept because all Muslims seem to believe in them.
ReplyDeleteThen I would get more confident about thinking for myself and not accepting everything in the mainstream opinion.
Then I started praying and I had to start thinking about all these period rules again and whether they made sense and it gave me a headache. But if I had found I could believe in the Quran then I'm sure I would eventually have found my way with that.
I definitely think it's possible to follow Islam your own way, based on the Quran and your own reason. There are quite a few bloggers who do that. It might be the right way for you. The downside is the negativity you get from the community for not following the mainstream, as is plain to see from the comments these bloggers get.
A way around that might be to be Muslim but join a UU community?! Sounds crazy but it might work!
In any case, drop the fiqh class, I say. :P
Thanks for the advice everyone
ReplyDeleteYeah I think the fiqh class is offically dropped. I dont think Im going back to school till its over.
Wow these are some really weird fiqh rulings! I don't know from which source is your teacher getting all of these..but in the shia fiqh, it is NOT AT ALL haraam to touch the qur'an and read it and all on ur period.. It's not even makrooh! And u can totally read the translation as well..and even most of duas, recitations of qur'an etc..you're even allowed to pass, enter and sit in mosques.. infact, even while at home, on ur period, it is recommended that you make wudhu, sit on ur prayer rug and make dua or do tasbeeh when it's time for salaah.. So the source of ur teacher's fiqh rules looks pretty dicey..
ReplyDeleteAnd there has always been a debate over music..well if it helps, acc to Ayt. sistani and khamenei only that music which is used in amusement parties etc. isn't allowed..
But you've just gotta trust your instinct and your best knowledge over these matters. whatever i wanted to say i guess has already been said :)
Well..it looks like you've invested so much in Islam.. studying it, etc.. don't give it up just yet. These could be the trying times.. Don't let some non-confirmed and dicey issues get you down! If it's the core of islam tht u agree with, then you're already there :)
"Have we not soothed your heart?
Have we not relieved you of the burden that weighed upon your back?
Have we not exalted your renown?
With hardship comes ease.
With hardship comes ease.
When your work is done, turn to devotion,
And make your Lord your sole quest."
-Surah 94
Trust in Allah.. He will safely land you to the other side of it soon enough.. just Trust in Him..
Aww splendid, loved that you just quoted that surah. Those are some of my favorite ayat, subhanAllah
ReplyDeleteAnd thanks cairo, glad my comment struck a chord!
LK, if God doesn't mention the period rules in the Quran and you believe He doesn't care one way or another, I'd say screw the scholars and obey God alone! What are the people going to do? Check to see if you are menstruating before you enter the mosque? If your heart is pure before God don't give two cents what people believe is the right interpretation. Find out what God requires and follow Him.
ReplyDeleteJust say "no" to stupid rules!
One thing a lot of people who are new to islam (be they new converts or people interested in converting) is that they overdose on rules rules rules.
ReplyDeleteIf it's all too much, then it is good to step back. Maybe pick one fiqh issue a month, and investigate it on your own. See what all the scholars have to say, see the various opinions, and see what they are actually based on.
Then, once you feel comfortable with it, move on to another.
And, while doing that, make sure that you have plenty of time dedicated to the Beloved. Make lots of dua, remember Him often, and ask Him for guidance.
I want to come back to this but let me just say: wth?? They said you can't even walk *past* a mosque???? Ridiculous. Don't know what marja they're following, but I follow one of the strictest who clearly says that menstruating women are able to be in the mosque even during mourning ceremonies in Ashura!
ReplyDelete>.<
Splendid: I favor Sistani and I know he is somewhat liberal on the music issue. He has issues with content and "party" music as you said. I believe he also says a woman CAN enter a mosque. I have to recheck.
ReplyDeleteI do think this fiqh information is from a much stricter marja than Im use to. But its SO GOOD to see that you all agree with me lol.
Susanne: 100% agree. Muhammad and the Qur'an say nothing of the issue so why do I have to worry about it!
Rahma: Good advice, I should do that. I think I'm offcially not returning to school until the fiqh class is over.
Ellen: I can't remember who your marja was lol but if a strict one says its cool then I don't see the problem either.
cairo, lusaka, amsterdam: thank you for including the list of authors. I hadn't heard of Fazlur Rahman. I just looked him up and he has a lot of books -- is there one in particular you would recommend?
ReplyDeleteJafari jurisprudence is actually the most strict although it doesn't rely on qiyas. I think that may be the real issue.
ReplyDeleteThe progressive writers (my personal fav are Abou Fadl and Barlas) are Sunni. And like WWR said, you get a lot of grief from the community for following your own Islam. I wrote a post appreciating Abou Fadl (http://achelois.wordpress.com/2008/02/06/my-new-hero-khaled-abou-el-fadl/) and got a lot of flak on Muslim Matters!
Ive kinda come to learn people are going to complain no matter what. So far the advice Ive gotten from my muslim friends is: have your own ideas, just dont voice them. That way you wont have issues in the community.
ReplyDeleteIts kinda sad but true. With any community.
Achelois: you may be right but then the other schools rely on a slew of problematic hadiths which cause just as much of an issue. Cant win either way :(
I really have to say that I agree with NeverEver's comment. I would not be Muslim if I believed that Islam was nothing else than what other Muslims told me it was. If you need to find a full community of Muslims (like a sect of Islam) you agree with 100% before you convert to Islam, you will never be able to consider yourself Muslim.
ReplyDeleteI had to think long and hard about what Islam was to me and in the end, I converted before I figured every single detail out because I fit into what Islam was to me. I don't know how much you've thought about what Islam is to you... What beliefs make one a Muslim? Is it believing that only one very strict interpretation of the Qur'an is correct? Or can Islam have various interpretations that are correct? Etc. Etc. So many questions you'd need to ask, but it seems like this would be an important thing for you to do.
I also wanted to note that lately I've been thinking about UU and plan on attending a service this month. And that for me, Islam is so much like what UU is. It sounds like it'd be great for you to explore it. Zuhura (who also commented on this post) considers herself both UU and Muslim, which I find so interesting :)
Candice: I think in the end thats exactly what I would be: something between UU and muslim which is totally possible and probably a good thing. I think that happens because UU usually ignores Islam even though it technically should be encompassing it as well. From what I've read, UUs seem to be mostly Unitarian Christians so things tend to be Christian based.
ReplyDeleteIslam opened the door for me into understanding so much about other faiths. Fiqh just made me forget all the beauty I found and the doors it opened.
I have a UU church nearby. Im considering stopping by it to see when services are and what its like. Im not going to school for a couple of Sundays so perhaps I can stop by there instead.
I learned here a few weeks ago that there are Unitarian Christians, but I have been a UU for 4 years and have never met a UU who identifies as Christian. Most are agnostic or atheist, a few are (culturally) Jewish, and some are pagans. (And I'm not just talking about my own church but among UUs throughout the state of CA that I have met at various events as well as those who write in the UUA magazine.) My church recently surveyed its members and of the 200 people who responded (about half of the membership) there are 7 of us who identify as Muslim, though I have no idea who the other 6 are!
ReplyDeleteThere is a joke: "Why are UUs such bad singers? Because they're always reading ahead to make sure the song does not mention God."
UU evolved from a Christian tradition so I think that may be what you mean when you say it's Christian-based. There is kind of an assumption that people are familiar with the Bible, and a lot of the buildings are called churches and many look like churches, but that's the extent to which I would associate it with Christianity. Most UUs in the US would approach Jesus as an ethical guy from whom we can learn but not as divine nor even a prophet.
Zuhura: Interesting. It seems here in my area that its the replacement for Unitarian Christianity. But i think it makes a lot more sense as an overlying philosophy. Like a suppliment to an organized religion, like it seems that you are doing. I knew a lot of Christian Buddhists in college. Christian was their organized religion but Buddhism was their philosophy. Seems like the same kind of thing could be applied to UU.
ReplyDeleteI do think its fascinating though.
Couldn't have said it better than Splendid Sky! Here are a few fatwas from Khamenei that support that:
ReplyDeleteQ: Is a menstruating woman permitted to touch the turbah of Imam Husayn (a.)? Her children used to say their prayer with her and while in menses they ask her why she does not pray. As a result, she stands facing qiblah bowing and prostrating as if she is really praying. Is that permissible?
A) She is allowed to touch turbah. Also, when prayer time arrives, it is recommended for a menstruating woman to change her pad/cotton, make wuḍū’, sit down for a prayer period facing qiblah, and remember Allah, the Exalted.
Q 221: Is it permissible for a menstruating woman or for a woman in ‘puerperium’ to enter the shrines of the Imams’ descendants (a.)?
A: It is permissible.
** Since women are able to enter the shrines of the descendants of the Imams (which include the Imams themselves) then I do think you are allowed to enter any mosque because the mosques of the Imams are among the best in the world.
I also want to add (I'm writing this because I know you feel rules are good but let me know if any of this is pressuring you!) that in regards to touching the world of God - you are right. And even men need to be in a pure state to do so.
Here is another fatwa stating that all blood (not just period blood!) is najis, including if it is from a male:
Q 266: During a mourning ceremony for Imam Ḥusayn (a.) a person strikes his head forcefully against the wall and blood gushes out splashing on the heads and faces of other participants in the ceremony. Is this blood pure?
A: Human blood is najis in all circumstances.
After all this... I do NOT understand how they can teach you these things! A) It's wrong and B) For God's sake, whatever happened to getting evidence for what they're teaching? Eugh. Anyway, again I'd recommend researching Irfan as it seems to be something you'd warm to at the moment.
Thinking of you! :)
Ellen: You always find so much info :) My Love had learned something different too, Sistani says basically what Khomeni says on the subject. Its just some feel its this big horrible voodoo thing OooooOOOoooo you know? lol And yeah if you partake in that sort of thing during Ashura you are required to leave the mosque ASAP because you a bleeding. Not only that but there is a chance you might get blood on the floor! Thats when you cant enter: if there is danger of getting blood on the floor. There is no danger of that with your period.
ReplyDeleteTechincally, if a man had a conintuously bleeding wound he would have to wait to pray till it stopped. He can enter the mosque providing there is no risk of him getting blood on the floor. But he has to make his prayers up because it is not a once a month, biological thing. THAT is a mercy from God and the prophet. Can you imagine if you have to make up 5 days worth of prayer every month! AH the stress! LOL
@Zuhura: love that joke! :D
ReplyDeleteFor a very brief period I considered Unitarian Christianity because the faith’s opinions reflect a lot of mine. Perhaps I am a bit of that, a bit Muslim and a bit UU :D
ReplyDeleteA blog I really like about Unitarian Christians is http://cristianounitario.blogspot.com/2008/12/more-about-unitarian-christianity.html
Anyway, in my UU church back home there are only two Muslims and both are married to each other :) The church does offer halal refreshments for everyone because of them which I think is very sweet. Most people who become part of the UU church (at least in the UK) are religious people but are liberal/progressive because traditional interpretation of many religions wouldn’t really allow the kind of tolerance for other faiths that UU requires. This Muslim couple is quite liberal, for example they both don’t believe that Quran is completely unaltered.
Since you are very tolerant and peace-loving and now we also know that you don’t like traditional interpretations of Islam, UU may actually be a wonderful choice for you. No one will judge you how you want to pray, fast, interpret the religion, dress etc. If you don’t believe that a few verses in the Quran are from God, traditional Muslims will not let you express your opinion, but UUs would not mind at all. You have said often that you can’t be a traditional Muslim and Muslims who become part of the UU community are never traditional anyway :)
There are definitely Unitarian Christians who really are Christians and believe in God as a single person (no trinity) and they do not at all consider themselves related to the UU. But yes, the Unitarian part of UU comes from them originally, but they still exist anyway. At least that's what I understood!
ReplyDeleteI also kind of see UU as a supplement in some ways. I know it's not for a lot of UU's (it's their full and only religion), but if I were to join/consider myself a UU, then that's what it would do for me. A way to continue evolving spiritually with other open-minded individuals -- something that is hard to find with other Muslims.
Achelois: UU is interesting I must say but I don't disagree so much with traditional Islam that I need a place to which I can abandon all of it. A lot of it is good. I just think people took things too far. I think the Shariah takes things to far. I think "Muhammad so would not have done that" about a lot of things. It makes me sad, many get so tangled up in rules they don't realize that they really aren't following a lot of Muhammad's examples.
ReplyDeleteBut I do think there is a great deal of value in other religions. The sad part is that is how Islam is suppose to work. It was suppose to be the string that tied all 3 books together making one big religion.....but people need to be right so that didn't work out.
Candice: Yeah I think they exist somewhere. That Unitarian Church by me might actually be a Christian Church. Not sure. I think UU, on its own, wouldn't have enough structure for me. Christianity didnt have enough so I adopted Buddhism. And thats A LOT of structure LOL
*hugs* Sorry you're having a rough time. That was a big issue for me -- periods and "invalid" prayers (which was the most ludicrous thing I've ever heard). God listens to prayers, under all circumstances. We just don't always get the answers we'd like. : )
ReplyDeleteI would not like to make up 5 days worth of prayers simply because of my period lol. Noooooo way! That'd be too far for me. Since you are checking out Sistani, here's his take on it (which I'm sure you've already seen!) that I am happy for lol:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.sistani.org/local.php?modules=nav&nid=5&cid=534
I found this regarding mosques and bleeding. Again I don't think the issue is even getting blood on the floor... that to me seems to simple if you get me? Like that the mosque is sacred, a place of God. So if one is bleeding (I don't mean period) out of a wound and goes there intentionally, it's not exactly an act out of respect depending on their intentions. That's why (to me!) the marjas say it's permissible for women to go into a mosque when she's on her period - because her intention is not about making the most impure, it's about learning and forbidding a woman from learning her religion is haram according to Khamenei. Anyway this fatwa is from Fadlullah and he demonstrates just why I think you may like him in this answer :)
Q: You said that it is permissible for non Muslim people who are Magians to build a mosque, whereas, they must avoid making it impure. I wonder how could they avoid making it impure, especially, that they are the constructers who build the mosque? 4/24/2006 11:26:41 AM
A: The mosque is a place that is devoted to be a mosque. Therefore, after being devoted, it is considered a mosque even during building it. To avoid making it impure means that it must not be exposed to the Najasa Khabitha such as blood and urine …etc. The Magian worker is not an impure person, because we consider that every person is pure as a human being.
Eugh, shows I'm awake too early. "her intention is not about making the most impure" should be "making the *mosque* impure" lol >.<
ReplyDeleteThe link didn't work :( And it was all in Arabic lol
ReplyDeleteI have come to notice that the marjas are really reasonable people...and I think a lot of people aren't listening to their marjas and are simply following what they were taught by their parents which the Qur'an specifically warns us about.
But marjas saying this is fine makes me feel A LOT better. Especially when mulitple marjas agree.
It would probably help if I picked one before studying Fiqh...but I can't choose! Maybe I will just pick a couple to reference for now and then later make a choice.
Thanks Ellen!!!
Oops LOL. Okay go here: http://www.sistani.org/ and then click English, go to Q&A and you'll find it there somewhere :):)
ReplyDeleteI just made a post about my approach to taqlid... you know, if you can't choose one now it doesn't hurt at all to just mix and match for a while until you come to a conclusion that you feel best. And when multiple marjas agree, you know you're onto the right thing ;)
I cant really find Sistani's clear ruling on the subject but I may be rethinking things since he thinks "as a procaution" non-muslims shouldnt enter masjids. Um.......yeah how are potential converts going to learn or go to lectures if they dont go to a mosque?
ReplyDeleteAhhhh. No the one I mentioned from Sistani is about not needing to make up the prayers ;) Here's the link for the answer above from Fadlallah: http://english.bayynat.org.lb/QA/index.aspx# go to "Prayer" and then "Rules Concerning Mosques" :)
ReplyDeleteYeah there is a view among some people that non-Muslims shouldn't enter the mosque. I can't find an answer about it but I will ask Khamenei and see what is said about that. But I think it all has to do with intention. Like you said, if they are potential converts then they shouldn't be barred from the mosque, that's ridiculous.
Yeah Sistani has a lot of worry about people "misleading" others. He even says you shouldn't marry a Sunni it there is a small possibility he/she may "mislead" you and they are muslims!
ReplyDeleteAnd yes Im starting to warm up a bit to Fadlallah lol
Lollll. I think marjas are good for knowing the worst case scenario hahah! Most people say though that if you are going to marry outside the school of thought (because there's such a divide) then you need to decide before marriage on what school of thought your children will learn. I think that's the issue. But that doesn't mean that I don't support inter-marriage! I mean just look at our situations LOL!
ReplyDeleteEllen: LOL I found it interesting is all. But its like a Catholic marrying a protestant....its kinda difficult depending on which protestant religion the person is. So its kinda the same thing. The Catholic church will definitely tell you to ONLY marry Catholics :)....actually I think technically you are only allowed to marry Catholics and have to get special permission in order to marry a protestant.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EmqN75NI0xg
ReplyDeleteAnonymous, Mm hmm, gotcha. The guy is a good speaker and very sensible. And American, no less.
ReplyDelete