I Am Enjoying Being A Muslim

Allah the Exalted loves them who forgo worldly life, the Angels love them who reject the vices, and people love them who give up greediness in respect of others.

As long as we are pure of heart, we speak the truth. [b]What Allah wants from us is our intention and will.[/b]

I learned that the reality of manners is that it results from beautiful character. Thus, manners is the manifestation of the integrity and strength in one's inward personality into action.

[Quran 65:2-3]
[quote]Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day. And whoever fears Allah—He will make a way out for him. And will provide for him from where he never expected. Whoever relies on Allah—He will suffice him. Allah will accomplish His purpose. Allah has set a measure to all things.[/quote]

[Quran 47:31]
[quote]We will certainly test you, until We know those among you who strive, and those who are steadfast, and We will test your reactions.[/quote]

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Serenitree · F

You see, that part about fearing Allah, is where I lose the ability to accept the teachings.

As I reject the teachings of the Bible, for the same reason

Psalm 128:1-4
How blessed is everyone who fears the LORD, Who walks in His ways. When you shall eat of the fruit of your hands, You will be happy and it will be well with you.

I would rather be good to my fellow man and the world, for love of them, than out of fear of a vengeful being who will punish us if we are not fearful.

Fear is not empowering, it is debilitating. Love and trust are empowering. They make us confident. Anger is merely masking fear. The angry people who are attacking others [b] (home invasions, random attacks on strangers, walking around armed with powerful weapons) [/b]who have done nothing but try to live peacefully in the world, are the fearful people.

Without fear, there would be no need to attack or defend ourselves against being attacked.

Madeleine · 41-45, F

@Serenitree Thank you for sharing your thoughts and beliefs. I really appreciate it.

People are driven by two things: reward and punishment. Society that doesn't implement punishment on criminals is never civilized. However, fear in Islam is not only the fear of punishment, but also the fear of displeasing our Maker, which would effect our spiritual relationship with God. For a believer, fear comes out of love. We fear God, because we love Him and we hate to displease Him.

Serenitree · F

@Madeleine I'm glad you can feel good in your beliefs. I personally do not like feeling fear. I can't respect anyone whom I must fear. I didn't want to disappoint or anger my parents, not out of fear, but out of respect for their love for me. I know, it sounds like what you are saying about your love for Allah, but I had no fear at all about what I might suffer at their hands, no matter what my failings were.

And again, I say, criminals are angry people. Anger is fear of something. It is a rebellion against feeling powerless in some way.

I do not include the mentally ill in this. They are a different story. There are physical reasons for many mental illnesses.

Madeleine · 41-45, F

@Serenitree Thank you. Our world's views are different. I don't believe that our relationship with God should be similar to our relationship with people. I agree with you that we shouldn't have a loving relationship with someone whom we fear. But with God it's different. To understand the concept of fearing God, someone has to believe in the unseen and afterlife.