I'm a muslim, ask me

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  • Beeswax

    I'm not a professor of religion or a preacher but throughout the years people here on QBN our outside of here either directly attacked or respectfully criticised my belief and In return I questioned my belief to learn if it's really that bad.
    As a quick bio, I grew up in the most liberal big city of Turkey, in izmir. I studied and lived in SF. I pray 5 times a day, I fast, I read Quran(only translations tho I can't speak Arabic) married with an LA girl who also became a muslim with her own will. Not head covered, we're both drinkers, we've been to Burningman several times. My family is secular although my grandfather was an imam(muslim priest) and I spent a lot of time at his mosque when i was a kid.
    So ask me and I will try to answer with all my honesty for those who are curious.

  • hotroddy0

    Do you believe in evolution?

    • I do. Quran has verses that can be interpreted this way. Adam & Eve story or that we're made from mud is either metaphorical or pointing at the chemical compundBeeswax
    • of human being.Beeswax
    • made from mud = the gradual development of cells over billions years is a stretch. You can't have both.hotroddy
    • once you concede that point than you realize everything is bullshit and people are killing themselves over false gods.hotroddy
    • That's an interpretation hotroddy. over billions years for Who? "created from mud" doesn't state a time span. Also Quran is not a scientific paper.Beeswax
    • teaching evolution in madrasas rather than reciting the Quran all day is a good start.hotroddy
    • 7th century Muslim scholars wrote about evolution of animals. (search Al-Jahiz & Ibn Khaldun) But then muslims was a scientific society.Beeswax
    • http://www.thecommen…Beeswax
    • the Quran tries to explain where we came from. So if they got that bit wrong how do you know the rest is true?hotroddy
    • Let's say that Quran is true, than all other religions are wrong. The chances of your particular religion being correct is like 1 in 5,000.hotroddy
    • I made have deviated from points but I appreciate your debate Beeswax.hotroddy
    • Muslims believe that over 100.000 messengers sent around the world over the history. When you look at it They all are same at the core.Beeswax
    • I never say mine is right but the other is wrong. But, they all get corrupted over time like islam.Beeswax
    • if hotroddy isn't trolling, then he's an asshole. if he is trolling, he's still an asshole. it's called a metaphor, hr, all religions use themsarahfailin
    • why am I an asshole? Not only do scientists have any clue why were here and where we are going- iron age peasants who didn't know earth circled the sun def nothotroddy
  • Beeswax2

    What is all this terror stuff? Why do they kill people?

    God repeats, "do not aggress", multiple times. Only if attacked, is one permitted to fight back. If the other party refrains from aggression and offers one peace, we are told to stop fighting.

    [2:190] You may fight in the cause of GOD against those who attack you, but do not aggress. GOD does not love the aggressors.
    [2:191] You may kill those who wage war against you, and you may evict them whence they evicted you. Oppression is worse than murder. Do not fight them at the Sacred Masjid, unless they attack you therein. If they attack you, you may kill them. This is the just retribution for those disbelievers.
    [2:192] If they refrain, then GOD is Forgiver, Most Merciful.
    [2:193] You may also fight them to eliminate oppression, and to worship GOD freely. If they refrain, you shall not aggress; aggression is permitted only against the aggressors.

    So the motivation of ISIS or El-Qaida here is simple.
    They came to our country, they killed us, they invaded us. This means we're attacked so we have the right to fight back.

    From where you are looking from, this motivation might seem right or wrong.
    For me it is wrong. Because I don't blame civilians for what happened. But they(terrorists) don't find any other way to reflect their belief.
    I may start a campaign in the west for west's atrocities but most of these people are ignorant. And their leaders are puppets.
    Go figure.

    • "fight in the cause of GOD" is very vague.CyBrainX
  • docpoz1

    When, exactly does Sharia law come into play in the Quran? I tried reading that book once but I couldn't get anywhere, a lot of parenthesis were breaking the flow for me.

    Also, will the beef with the stolen blessing ever be forgiven or left in the past?

    • Sharia law is human's interpretation of anything in Quran. That law is different in Iran, Turkey, Egypt, Saudi A or Morocco.Beeswax
    • There's barely a consensus. Maybe only on "God is one and Muhammad is prophet". The rest is different from culture to culture.Beeswax
    • thanks for your time.docpoz
    • What is the penalty for apostasy in Sharia law?scransom5
  • lowimpakt2

    Why do you need religion?

    • Puts my life in a perspective, gives it a bigger meaning and protects me from the fear of death or loss. Also I think philosophically it has some value in itBeeswax
    • just become something gives you comfort doesn't mean it's truehotroddy
    • true. but it still gives me comfort and helps me deal with daily issues and stress.Beeswax
    • Why not be agnostic then?freedom
    • I need a more disciplined approach than that.Beeswax
    • Or else what?monospaced
  • sureshot6

    I have to many questions and I dont feel like having a discussion.
    its saturday night I am high and I feel like watching people visiting an ostrich farm on youtube..

    • Ostriches are cool when you're high. Can't believe they are birds.Beeswax
    • I wonder how many omelettes you can make with an ostrich egg.sureshot
    • One big one.docpoz
    • I've never tried it, but after watching that episode of rob&big where they eat a raw one, I imagine it's a gamey tasting omlette.shellie
    • That was a funny episode! anyway its on my bucklist though.sureshot
    • lol https://www.youtube.…

      sorry for hijacking the thread. as that doesnt sound to good in this context.
      sureshot
    • I laughed.epic_rim
  • iCanHazQBN0

    "I spent a lot of time at his mosque when i was a kid."

    Won't you agree that the original reason you're Muslim is because of ideas planted into your head since you were a kid?

    The values and ideas we learn as a kids (from people that influence us, mainly family) largely shapes who we become as adults.

    The fact alone that people are the religion they are is largely dictated by geography just proves how subjective and biased religious people are. There are always exceptions (like your girlfriend) but the VAST majority of people did not choose their religion objectively. It's extremely flawed.

    • I mean if your grandfather had been a Christian pastor instead of an Imam, don't you think it's likely you'd be practicing Christianity instead of Islam??iCanHazQBN
    • Mostly true but same for everyone.My wife grew up in a christian society but became a muslim and I'm the one who effected.Beeswax
    • I could be an atheist if my parents were. I have friends from religious families who are atheists. We all choose. I wasn't practising for years but then I choseBeeswax
    • to take it more serious.Beeswax
    • We don't all choose. Years of indoctrination don't let most people choose. Many can't choose because it's illegal to be anything else.iCanHazQBN
    • If your point of view was true, we'd see a scrambled variety of religions across the entire globe. But we don't. They're contained within geographical regions.iCanHazQBN
    • People are not atheists because of their parents. People are born atheists. It takes the learning of (the brainwashing) religion to make them religious.iCanHazQBN
    • Well then we can't criticise terrorist because years of indoctrination made them like this.
      I don't buy that. Everybody has a minimal common sense.
      Beeswax
    • They all choose. I just read a story of a guy who fled from ISIS and he was a member. The others maybe make money fighting for ISIS, some feel more powerfulBeeswax
    • Everybody is born blank ok, can you say you are not brainwashed by your society or people around you. You're saying culture means brainwashing.Beeswax
    • You gave an extreme example by geographical regions. Jews are not mostly in Israel.Beeswax
    • Of course we can criticize terrorists. I never said those who have been indoctrinated couldn't be criticized. In fact, the opposite is true.iCanHazQBN
    • You can't brainwash someone into being "blank" (as you call it). Atheism is the default. We are born atheist.iCanHazQBN
  • freedom0

    Are people in ISIS and terror groups ever normal people? Do they watch movies, shop or have fun? Or do they spend their time hating America and plotting?

    • Why would you assume the common Muslim knows what ISIS does in their free time?? Do you assume they all know each other? lol.iCanHazQBN
    • I know very little about ISIS and I only assume that someone else might know more than I.freedom
    • This is as stupid as going up to a Christian in America and asking if they know what Timothy McVeigh does in his free time.iCanHazQBN
    • The fact that you so easily can draw connections between an innocent Muslim to a violent and radical one is frightening. I hope you weren't being serious.iCanHazQBN
    • Because that's the reason crazy xenophobes walk into convenience stores and kill the unlucky innocent [insert minority] owner.iCanHazQBN
    • I think they are haters, ignorant and easily manipulated. Also obeying is easier than trying to find your own way.Beeswax
  • freedom0

    How do you feel about drawings of the prophet?

    • or drawings in general? Literal illustrations of ANYTHING is forbidden.hotroddy
    • thats why they lose their shit when it's mouhamedhotroddy
    • I really want to make a movie where an actor plays him and everybody sees. But that wouldnt be good for either me or the actor. It's really silly isnt it.Beeswax
    • that didn't go well last time someone tried making a moviehotroddy
  • freedom1

    Why do you pray 5 times a day? Does every Muslim you know do that? Would you feel bad if you did 3 prayers or skipped a day?

    • When I'm busy I pray 3 times. Sometimes I don't wake up at dawn for morning prayer. I feel bad when I skip. It's a routine that keeps it alive.Beeswax
    • But it definitely made me a more disciplined man since I'm a slackerBeeswax
    • Most muslims around me don't pray 5 times. Not even 1 times. Most popular one is friday prayer. There are people who never prays but fasts in ramadan.Beeswax
    • Those ISIS guys prays 5 times prolly but cuts head. It doesn't make you a better person.Beeswax
  • freedom0

    Are there many brands for women's clothing? Can you get designer head coverings?

    • Huge market in Turkey. They make tons of cash selling those designer head scarves and such. It's a good online business if you want a piece of the cake :)Beeswax
  • freedom-3

    Do you feel like the Muslim world could use more humor?

    • Muslims have an equal sense of humor to their non-muslim counterparts. But all you see on the news is war, sadness, and anger, so it skews the perception.iCanHazQBN
    • I don't think there's something called Muslim humor but there are a lot of comedians at least in Turkey. But they don't touch religious topics that much.Beeswax
    • Lookup 'Allah made me funny' American comedy scene by Muslims, who touch upon religion.MakeBelieve
  • Hayoth-1

    Would you vote for a politician who believes in sharia?

    Should the middle east or the world be ruled under a caliphate?

    • Definitely not. I wouldn't vote for that person. Who's sharia we are talking about? Even in Turkey there are so many different sects or divisions among Islam.Beeswax
    • Sometimes I think maybe it would be better for muslim world if they had one head to condemn terrorism and zealousy, but too utopic.Beeswax
    • Also official caliphate ended when Turks founded their republic. Since then lot of people declared themselves as one. Was it ever good for muslim world?Beeswax
    • The 'who's' sharia card youre playing is not very honest.Hayoth
    • Sharia is interpreted very differently in different countries and cultures.yuekit
    • Why not honest? if there was a consensus than that would be fair. But if one says "you can drink" and the other says "you can not" that would cause more troublBeeswax
  • freedom0

    All religions have their crazies, but why do you think there appears to be more extremists (suicide bombers, etc) in the Muslim religion than any other?

    • Lack of education. Lack of education.
      Lack of education. Lack of education.
      Lack of education. Lack of education.
      Lack of education. Lack of education.
      Beeswax
    • 500 years ago european christians were the craziest and muslim world were the civilized ones.Beeswax
    • But today?freedom
    • The west invades a country that has nothing to do with 9/11. Hundreds of thousands of Muslims die as a result...iCanHazQBN
    • oil is stolen, a country is occupied and ravaged. And you expect them not to be SUPREMELY pissed off?? What did the West expect??????iCanHazQBN
    • Tell me this, if the Islamic world occupied a major Christian country (such as the USA), would Americans not fight back???? Would you not be enraged?iCanHazQBN
    • It's this whole mentality of "we can do no wrong"... and "everyone ELSE is evil". When in fact our own Western governments are the most evil of all.iCanHazQBN
    • before there was an occupation there was 911.hotroddy
    • lol. 'oil is stolen and ravaged'. the west gave arabs economic prosperity. 70 years ago they were desert bedouin living in tentshotroddy
    • Firstly, watch where you put your quote-marks. You quoted me wrong. Secondly, are you seriously justifying the theft of oil?iCanHazQBN
    • Sorry. I did quote wrong. My point is that they've been waging Jihad since the 7th century. Only dif is now they have the financial resources to fight.hotroddy
    • "this man online has an opinion that explains my current situation that also conveniently divorces me from any responsibility of my current predicament"trooperbill
  • freedom1

    Why would guys want women covered up like this?

    • Because they are really sexy. You wouldn't want to look.
      Seriously it's all from a man's perspective.
      Beeswax
    • But Quran doesn't say "cover women" It's all attributed to some sayings that muslims call "hadith". Sayings of prophet.Beeswax
    • Problem is 99% of those are manufactured after his death. But muslims really praise those. I think that's the biggest problem of Islam.Beeswax
    • You wouldn't want to look?freedom
    • I'm joking but I think that's what they really think. Sexually deprived societies make themselves more sexually deprived by covering women.Beeswax
    • Sex in Islam is a complex issue.Beeswax
    • You can't have sex before marriage. But a women can divorce and marry several times, that's not a problem.Beeswax
    • I think this should be regulated different at every culture. As an exmple Afghanistan is really not a safe place for women to be without any cover.Beeswax
    • But is it same in the US or Finland? Why do muslim women cover themselves there?Beeswax
    • I wonder how much of either the new or old testament was written 'after the event'?detritus
    • isnt it because mohammed wanted his wives to be/dress modest in appearance so as not to draw attention when out and about. like movie stars wearing a disguise?trooperbill
  • freedom0

    Is Maher a racist?

  • IRNlun60

    Have you been critized for your secular life? Do you feel the need to be more guarded of your beliefs with the more conservative in your faith?

    Thanks for being open about this.

    • By muslims? No. But I got criticised by my friends for believing in a religion a lot.Beeswax
    • Lolpango
  • lowimpakt0

    why islam and not judaism or christianity etc.?

    • Just like iCanHazQBN said. it's the culture that I lived in. Plus Islam accepts the existence of Bible and Torah, and Moses and Jesus and all biblical figuresBeeswax
    • It's just Jesus is not God but he's a messenger like Moses or Muhammed or Abraham.Beeswax
    • So if you're a muslim you get the whole package.Beeswax
    • But I also read about Buddhism. Or search about Shintoism. And I get surprised by so many things that are common.Beeswax
  • pango3

    Really thank you for your time.
    Imo more people like you "the everyday Muslim" instead of the crazy one should speak up more.

    • No problem. I think the biggest monster is within muslim society. So many reformists or muslims with modern views out there but we're in the age of cruel peopleBeeswax
    • or bullys.Beeswax
    • Yes! Thanks for your answers. Good tone. You're a helpful ambassador for your faith.scransom5
  • freedom3

    Yes thank you for your time.

  • hotroddy1

    I think there is no coincidence between the rise of islamic terrorism and the rise of internet in last 15 years.

    Muslims think that if they modernize they will lose their culture. For instance - in the 50's-70's many western appliances like refrigerators and tv's were seen as intrusive to muslim culture and had a lot of resistance when introduced.

    But at LEAST a TV is very easy to have control over and carefully select programming that agrees with islam.

    The internets on the other hand is very problematic for islam:

    If you base western culture on what you see on the internet than YES - the WEST consists of deviant sex crazed addicts/perverts who fuck all day long every which way. And not just porn but even the shit you see on youtube is too hardcore for them.

    Wouldn't you be outraged if you lived in a culture that covered their women HEAD TO TOE knowing the social and sexual behavior happening in neighboring cultures?

    I would want to blow myself up too.

    • I use Muslim and Arabs interchangebly here. I know not all Muslims are arabs. I really mean Arabs.hotroddy
    • https://warsclerotic…ArchitectofFate
    • It appears incredibly insensitive to wider Europe if your 1st concern is to worry about Islam being blamed.drake-von-drake
    • Dear @HillaryClinton: Speak honestly about "jihadism,""Islamic terrorism," "Islamism," "political Islam." Or it'll be #PresidentTrumpdrake-von-drake