Quote:
Originally Posted by Pete
Spiritual confusion on a bedrock of faith
http://blogs.chron.com/thestraightpa...raight+Path%29
.........Some claim that Islam cannot exist without its law - I hear that from conservative Muslims and from critics (and haters) of Islam. Is it possible that in my small world all that matters is belief in God and spiritual practice? Can this too be Islam?....."
Ruth Nasrullah;
I went to your blog and read your last entry and the comments that followed. Your last paragraph in the blog was the most telling to me.
The "critics (and haters) of Islam" do not make up the stuff they are posting. They are simply repeating what the "conservative Muslims" say.
If somebody says something bad about the Quran and a Muslim kills them it's not the fault of the Muslim? That is what your two Muslim posters were saying in the comments section. That and they were ticked that one of the posters asked for a straight answer.
There is no picking and choosing in the Quran. And Ansar and Jabs have pointed out to you. Behind all the "Peace and Love" in the Quran is the sword ready to be used on all who are non-believers and apostates.
Did you get the tone of Jabs and Ansar towards you? Kinda' like - just shut up and do what you're told, leave the deep thinking to us. |
Sir, I cannot help but wonder why some PS site members assert that extremist Islam is the only Islam and that Muslims with less intolerant views and practices are either duped or ignorant (if I understand this criticism correctly). It almost makes it seem as though you agree with this view of Islam - you appear to be unwilling to accept another version as valid and within the bounds of the faith. (Please forgive me saying "you" - I don't mean to generalize all members' viewpoints; hopefully it's clear to whom I'm referring.)
Regarding my latest post ("Spiritual confusion etc."), I was actually inspired in writing it by my experience on this forum. What I said in the post is true: over the last few years I have been influenced by a conservative view of Islam, and gradually have been exploring others. In the line you quoted, Pete, some of the commenters here - not just in this thread but in multiple places throughout the forums - are the "critics/haters of Islam" I refer to, those who seem to ascribe to the idea that only a severe,
law-based Islam is valid. It is ironic that reader "Jabs" went down exactly the road I described myself as turning away from and criticized me for publicly questioning even though I made it clear that I am entirely devoted to the fundamental beliefs of Islam (which, ironically again, are described in the hadith of Jibril which he quoted in one of his many posts). That Jabs was driven into a frenzy by a few lines from Rumi probably reflects which end he's on in the Salafi-Sufi relationship.
I find it sad but telling, Pete, that of all the comments made on my post the only voice you heard was Jabs'. Every single other commenter shared courteous and thoughtful responses.
Ansar is a prolific commenter on Houstonbelief. His tone may be sanctimonous but I know it does not reflect extremism.
As for the sword-wielding, apostate-killing version of Islam some of you consider the only true version of the faith - in response I can only say that I do not practice a "kumbaya," peace-love-and-happiness, watered-down Islam, but one that is mainstream - grounded in the spiritual fundamentals of the faith and adapted to the world I live in.
La ilaha il Allah - that is Islam.