q8penpals
Junior Member
I thought I would share this with everyone, because it was very comforting to me when I converted and started to learn.
When I first became Muslim, a very kind, smart man (he is a member of the Kuwaiti royal family) told me several things that he said I should always remember as a Muslim (I don't know if these are hadiths or from the Qu'ran, I just know he told me).
1. The best of the Muslims are those that hurt no one with their hands and they hurt no one with their words. All other parts of being a Muslim are between you and God - but you cannot be close to God, even if you pray day and night, if between prayers you abuse people with your words or actions."
2. Kaffir" is an idea - one should NEVER label a person, because only God knows what is in people's hearts - no human does
3. Jesus was correct - "Judge not, lest ye be judged" - no human can judge any person on earth as to how good of a Muslim they are - that is God's role alone.
and 4. Start with the teachings of the Qu'ran - you are like a baby, do not expect to learn everything quickly - people who are born into Muslim families have up to 18 years to learn before they are fully responsible for themselves - do not over burden yourself so that you get frustrated and give up.
I asked him about the headscarf and he told me that the Qu'ran first dictates modesty and covering the body loosely - he said that girls born into Muslim families have about 12 years to learn about and be comfortable with wearing headscarf, so do not worry if I am not ready yet - GOd knows what I am feeling. He also told me that many new Muslims who try to follow everything right away tend to fall away because it can be overwhelming - take your time and everything will fall in place for me, Insha'Allah.
I think he had a lot of good to tell me, and he made a lot of sense. I know 2 ladies that converted (one in the US and one American here in Kuwait) that both jumped in with both feet, so to speak, and tried to do everything single thing perfectly right away, and they both got immensely frustrated (especially the one in the US with the inaccessibility of mosques to women in some areas of the US - of course, in Kuwait most mosques do not allow women either). One of the women gave up on Islam, the other still says she is a Muslim, but she returned to drinking alcohol, wears tight clothes, flirts with men, etc.
I think the most important thing to remember is that we must assume the best in others, be supportive and not domineering, and understand that everyone makes mistakes, and GOd can forgive anything He chooses to!
Lana
When I first became Muslim, a very kind, smart man (he is a member of the Kuwaiti royal family) told me several things that he said I should always remember as a Muslim (I don't know if these are hadiths or from the Qu'ran, I just know he told me).
1. The best of the Muslims are those that hurt no one with their hands and they hurt no one with their words. All other parts of being a Muslim are between you and God - but you cannot be close to God, even if you pray day and night, if between prayers you abuse people with your words or actions."
2. Kaffir" is an idea - one should NEVER label a person, because only God knows what is in people's hearts - no human does
3. Jesus was correct - "Judge not, lest ye be judged" - no human can judge any person on earth as to how good of a Muslim they are - that is God's role alone.
and 4. Start with the teachings of the Qu'ran - you are like a baby, do not expect to learn everything quickly - people who are born into Muslim families have up to 18 years to learn before they are fully responsible for themselves - do not over burden yourself so that you get frustrated and give up.
I asked him about the headscarf and he told me that the Qu'ran first dictates modesty and covering the body loosely - he said that girls born into Muslim families have about 12 years to learn about and be comfortable with wearing headscarf, so do not worry if I am not ready yet - GOd knows what I am feeling. He also told me that many new Muslims who try to follow everything right away tend to fall away because it can be overwhelming - take your time and everything will fall in place for me, Insha'Allah.
I think he had a lot of good to tell me, and he made a lot of sense. I know 2 ladies that converted (one in the US and one American here in Kuwait) that both jumped in with both feet, so to speak, and tried to do everything single thing perfectly right away, and they both got immensely frustrated (especially the one in the US with the inaccessibility of mosques to women in some areas of the US - of course, in Kuwait most mosques do not allow women either). One of the women gave up on Islam, the other still says she is a Muslim, but she returned to drinking alcohol, wears tight clothes, flirts with men, etc.
I think the most important thing to remember is that we must assume the best in others, be supportive and not domineering, and understand that everyone makes mistakes, and GOd can forgive anything He chooses to!
Lana
