Hello all. My name is John (or Jack), and I am a 20 year old male from Austin, Texas.
I have just found Islam after many years of struggling with non-belief and skepticism toward the religion of my parents (and of most of my neighbors), Christianity. Up until now I would have considered myself an agnostic, though I have recently practiced and benefited from anapanasati meditation.
I have spent the last few days home from work recovering from surgery, reading about the life of Mohammed (pbuh) and reading the Koran. No piece of religious text has ever spoken to me the way the Koran has, and believe me, I have tried many. When I read "The Cow," I felt it in my heart to be the one truth. I have only studied Islam for a few days now, but I feel a strong urge in me to convert. With this urge comes many questions though. I will list them and invite you to answer as many or as few as you feel you can. I apologize in advance for the complexity of some of them. I am just very curious.
1. Do I have to pray in Arabic? Will praying in English still please Allah?
2. Will I disappoint Allah if I miss a prayer because of work? I work very long shifts with prescribed times for break. Is it better to perform a quick prayer without full wudu, than to miss a prayer entirely? Can I make up my missed prayers consecutively when I get home, or to an appropriate place?
3. I have tattoos. Is simply the act of receiving tattoos haraam, or is it also the state of having tattoos? Do I need to get them removed, or would that be seen as more unnecessary body modification?
4. Should I wait to convert until I feel able to perform my daily duties (memorizing prayers, cutting sinful habits from my lifestyle), or is it better to convert immediately and learn as I go?
5. Can I still practice anapanasati? I feel like I should be able to, since it does not require a belief in a different god (or any god at all), but I want to make sure.
Thank you so much for reading, I'm sure I will think of more questions as soon as I hit the "post" button. These are the questions that have wandered my brain the most in the last few days. I look forward to my new life as a Muslim and as a member of this board! Peace be upon you!
I have just found Islam after many years of struggling with non-belief and skepticism toward the religion of my parents (and of most of my neighbors), Christianity. Up until now I would have considered myself an agnostic, though I have recently practiced and benefited from anapanasati meditation.
I have spent the last few days home from work recovering from surgery, reading about the life of Mohammed (pbuh) and reading the Koran. No piece of religious text has ever spoken to me the way the Koran has, and believe me, I have tried many. When I read "The Cow," I felt it in my heart to be the one truth. I have only studied Islam for a few days now, but I feel a strong urge in me to convert. With this urge comes many questions though. I will list them and invite you to answer as many or as few as you feel you can. I apologize in advance for the complexity of some of them. I am just very curious.
1. Do I have to pray in Arabic? Will praying in English still please Allah?
2. Will I disappoint Allah if I miss a prayer because of work? I work very long shifts with prescribed times for break. Is it better to perform a quick prayer without full wudu, than to miss a prayer entirely? Can I make up my missed prayers consecutively when I get home, or to an appropriate place?
3. I have tattoos. Is simply the act of receiving tattoos haraam, or is it also the state of having tattoos? Do I need to get them removed, or would that be seen as more unnecessary body modification?
4. Should I wait to convert until I feel able to perform my daily duties (memorizing prayers, cutting sinful habits from my lifestyle), or is it better to convert immediately and learn as I go?
5. Can I still practice anapanasati? I feel like I should be able to, since it does not require a belief in a different god (or any god at all), but I want to make sure.
Thank you so much for reading, I'm sure I will think of more questions as soon as I hit the "post" button. These are the questions that have wandered my brain the most in the last few days. I look forward to my new life as a Muslim and as a member of this board! Peace be upon you!