When you first think of Islam or Muslims what first comes to your mind?

[Still-alive]

I been having a friendly chat/debate with my friend on here about Islam and religion in general and its got me wondering what peoples first thoughts are when they read or hear these two terms.

so what springs to your mind? i will not post pictures so as to not influence anyone

Updates

+1 y

there's just a looooot of bad thougths people have about this religion or muslims. proves how terrible a tool the media truly is.

[Alyssa11]

Well I was born into a Muslim family and I am Muslim so nothing crazy comes to mind. It brings some kind of peace to my heart because it’s the religion I follow and I remember my relationship with God.

[Still-alive]

Yes i recall you mentioning you being muslim. Are you non-practicing would you say?

[Alyssa11]

I believe in God and I have a relationship with Him so I am practicing. Do I follow some of the rules some random jurists from 100s of years ago came up with? No. That’s not God’s words.

[Still-alive]

Ok but i mean do you do prayer in the mornings? Practice ramadan? Go to mosques and such?

And im pretty sure you dint wear the hijab or niqab right?

[Alyssa11]

I’m not sure why you’re asking me personal questions? 😂

[Still-alive]

Lol its ok no meed to answer. Im just a curious beast! 😂

[Still-alive]

Like i considered myself a non practicing catholic for awhile before i went atheist later in life

[Alyssa11]

I’m not Muslim because I was born into a Muslim family if that’s what you’re asking... I had some doubts as a teenager too and then I went into things and did my own reading and studying :)

[Still-alive]

Cool. Major respect! So you’re studying brought you closer to god you say?

[Alyssa11]

Thank you! Yes. I started understanding the religion on my terms and forming my own understanding of it. I also learned that a lot of people still follow some of the rules and ideas of old men from hundreds of years ago because they’re “jurists”. I choose to focus on what God has written instead. Not what some bunch of men thought years and years ago.

[SpiderManFan2002]

I think: “ la ilaha illallah muhammadur rasulullah”😝

[Still-alive]

*googles it*

i got this: May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you.

ehh? :P :D

[FEARLESSHERO]

Yoooo you a spidey fannnn!! Me tooo!!

[SpiderManFan2002]

@Still-alive No, it means: “There is no god but God, and Muhammad is the messenger of God.”😂

[Still-alive]

welp that site was trash then!

[jennifer_bloom]

I think of delicious middle eastern pitas and strong middle eastern men and confident middle eastern woman

[Shihab91]

shawrma and falafel LMAO

[Alyssa11]

It’s funny because Christianity and Judaism also started in the Middle East... Not all middle easterners are Muslim and not all Muslims are middle easterners. There’s also so many other religions in the Middle East. In my country alone (Iraq), there’s crazy amounts of religions that people still practice today.

[BCA6010]

Mostly my time in Syria and Jordan since it's hard to NOT think about being in that world for almost a year straight.

The good: the food was surprisingly good. I had the chance to take some time off in Kuwait City and enjoy some fine dining and I'd rank that restaurant in my top 5 of all time. The more casual and even improvised grilled food, especially the lamb was very good too. There's a stereotype in the US that middle eastern food will make us sick, and I won't say that never happened, but they certainly do a good job making the most out of basics. Most of the people I interacted with were very friendly even if understandably cautious, and generally optimistic despite many of them being wartime refugees and basically mercenaries who had bounced from one pointless conflict to the next looking to make a little money. Say what you want about that situation, but most westerners could learn a thing or two about both actual suffering and perseverance from them.

The bad: I mentioned friendliness, and while most of it is genuine, there's plenty of deception to go around too. While western media likes to portray Arabs as religious zealots, a far more accurate stereotype from where I was would be that they were willing to do just about anything if the price was right, and religion came secondary. A lot of the insurgents, protestors, doctors, etc are really just mercenaries working for whichever local militia or organization is paying them the sweetest deal. To a lot of these guys, it's not unlike how we as Americans view part-time jobs. Additionally, even large sections of supposedly wealthy areas looked just as run down as places I've been to in east Africa, even though they should've been night and day differences on paper, and many of them weren't directly impacted by recent battles. It would also be negligent to not mention the intense tribalism. In the US, the multitude of different cultures are so thoroughly intertwined that people generally don't care until someone else's customs start to affect them directly. In the sandbox, even inadvertently referencing people like the Kurds, Turks, Israelis, or other lesser known groups could stir the wrong people into a frenzy, and in one instance we had to subdue a guy who had worked himself up so much. Since a lot of those groups are allied with us but not each other, our military and state department assets would often have to go to fairly extreme lengths to make sure they didn't cross paths. Russia has had to deal with this as well, but you probably won't ever hear about it, plus they take a more heavy-handed approach (basically "the beatings and shootings will continue until cooperation improves)".

[TheUniqueOne96]

All sorts, lol, but Islam and Muslims are two different things, lol.

As for Muslims, I was actually raised a Sunni Muslim, before I became a Quranist and then left it all together.

Now, due to me leaving religion, you may get the impression that I think it's evil and hateful, but not necessarily, like the main reason I left it, is because I don't like the religious idea of god, I think he's messed up, but I think the same applies to any religion that believes in one all-powerful, all-knowing god, as well as a heaven and hell, so it probably applies to other Abrahamic religions too.

My answer here explains it more in depth: What made you lose your faith?

In terms of Islam, I honestly think it depends on how you interpret it and I totally respect the fact that you aren't a bigoted enough just judge it like that or generalize Muslims, because sometimes people who hate Islam, also hate Muslims and I definitely don't agree with hating people, unless they're actually bad people, not all Muslims are on the same page as each other when it comes to Islam, even my own family.

For more details on my view on Islam, my answer here goes into a bit of depth: Is ISIS representative of Islam?

I live with my Muslim family and I openly left religion about 4 years ago now and guess what, they don't treat me any differently due to that, like yeah, they weren't happy about it, but they can't do anything about it and they've come to accept it, I just don't discuss it with them, but everything else is the same, it's just a bit awkward when I'm the only one who's not fasting or something, lol.

Due to the fact that you're obviously very open minded about Islam, you can feel free to discuss it with me too, if you wish, I mean you do come across as very respectful and open minded about it and I think I can offer a unique perspective on it that may be interesting to you, whether view replies on here or private messages and I can get back whenever.

[hi_it_is_me123]

I am conflicted and angry after the daud kim case who is a rapist that was defended by many muslims and youtube scholars just because he raped the girl before he converted to islam. The same people attacked a youtuber and sent her death threats just because she took the hijab off. They call themself peaceful but their actions say the opposite. But we still can't generalize all muslims. There are good muslims who dont have a clue about their own religion and then there are crazy ones that attacked former muslims for example. I also can't take muslim women in western countries serious with open minded family. I mean your fucking rights are protected by the non muslim government and your parents are pretty liberal which is not the case for majority of muslim women. I dont know a single hijabi muslim girl that is not forced or pressured to wear the hijab. So dont speak for the majority of muslim women. Statistics and studies prove my statements. There are also two kind of muslims. The first one know the sugarcoated version of islam and the second one the actual one who is called radical or too conservative but they can show you sahih hadits and surah/ayah to prove their statements. Now you will say there are many ways to interpret the quran. For me this is inconsistent with Surah Al-Hajj ayat 16 since your god says everything is clear to understand and so why do you need scholars to interpret it and make it complicated when your god says everything is clear to understand. Do you trust your scholars more than your god?
I dont know it makes me angry when they say islam is peaceful but many also can't accept when women take hijab of and no muslim country is fair to women but they also say that after islam aka after their prophet muhammed women get more rights but they dont know that women in ancient Egypt, legally shared the same rights and status as a man.

[Still-alive]

Mind if i tag someone who might be better equipped to answer you?

[hi_it_is_me123]

No, it is pointless for me. I have discussed and it did not help. I always get the same unsatisfying answers. I have talked to some scholars. I personally dont have a problem with muslims but i have problem with islam. Are you muslim?

[hi_it_is_me123]

I have liberal muslim friends who respect me. So i am lucky and i live in Europe

[hi_it_is_me123]

But thank you for asking. I appreciate it

[hi_it_is_me123]

I really dont have problem with muslims. I have defended muslim women when needed from racists.

[hi_it_is_me123]

If i was too rude, i am sorry.

[Still-alive]

I really really want to hear her opinion on this. But ok we dont have to

[Still-alive]

And no im not muslim

[Shihab91]

@Still-alive
that doesn't matter even if you tagged her, but I really doubt it will change anything. And I could tell when I read "So don't speak for the majority of Muslim women" from there I knew she won't listen no matter what, then I scrolled down to see that she said: "I have discussed and it did not help. I always get the same unsatisfying answers" . but i respect "I have defended Muslim women when needed from racists. ". so thank u for that.
One more thing: there is no such a thing liberal Muslim, there is Muslim or not Muslim (liberal Muslim not mentioned anywhere in our books).

[TessCasie]

He’s definitely Muslim that’s why he chose this topic of discussion somehow he feels he can change peoples perception.

[hi_it_is_me123]

@Shihab-1 lol i mean with liberal muslims not traditional and not conservatives. If a person call himself/herself muslim but have a modern liberal lifestyle then this person is muslim -this may commit sins but he/she is muslim.

[hi_it_is_me123]

I have seen gay muslims or muslims who have no problem with lbgt

[hi_it_is_me123]

@Still-alive
"So don't speak for the majority of Muslim women" - i said that because in the most of the cases they choose a muslim woman to represent all muslim women but her family is open minded thst support her decisions. Few families would accept their kids when they choose to not be muslims anymore I rarely see muslims on public plattform that critizise its own muslim community and they are very strict when it comes to women. They dont say much when it comes to men even if they whore around but if a hijabi girl show a little bit hair she get so much hate but it gets better.
You are still muslim when you critizise your own community.
I also did not understand why so many muslims boycott france over comic. A person get beheaded and your only problem is how islamaphobic the president and charlie hebdbo magazine is? you can boycott and protest but why after beheading? This just ruin the rep of muslims. I know that there are people who become more islamaphobic after it but protesting and boycotting make it worse. I only feel bad for regul normal muslims

[hi_it_is_me123]

"I have seen gay muslims or muslims who have no problem with lbgt" i mean you can say it is sin but you still can tolerate like they tolerate you

[Shihab91]

I was talking to still alive not you. I think you already said no point in talking to me.

[hi_it_is_me123]

tf. you were spamming under my post and talked about me and so i have every right to express myself better and say more things about my thoughts before another people who read my posts see your misconceptions. I did not say you could not discuss with me and if you also reply under my posts and talk about me, then wtf you expect.
The thing is there is nothing to discuss. I have listened and asked some scholars whether they agree what this hadith /surah/ayat or not. I dont make it complicated. I am writing this for other people to read, not specifically for you. Whatever, i am not going to talk to you then

[Shihab91]

I don't want to discuss with you since you don't want to listen and I'm telling them what you said is wrong 🙂

[hi_it_is_me123]

And i am telling them what you do is spreading misconceptions about me. Very ridiculous of you. I also dont understand why you are obsessed with changing anything. Have a good day then.

[yoyoyoyoyoyoyoyoyo]

The nation of Islam is a Union of people who study Muslim beliefs. The Torah, the Holy Bible and the Quran, are the oldest books of religion in the world! Not even Buddhism is as old as those 3.

I believe the most common misconception, is that people believe, even some Muslims, that the other 2 religions are infidelities. HOWEVER, even the Quran says to respect a man of the book.

See, a majority of beliefs are shared inbetween these books, even up to references of David, are in the Quran, Torah, and Holy Bible. And it is recorded as one of the most earliest events in history that is shared in religion, is the star of David.

I feel like people on every side fear what they don't understand, and this causes confusion, and hostility. I believe hostility enforced teaching of religion in other families or countries, leads to extremist beliefs.


Also, for those reading... The word Jihad, and what it means!

Jihad is an Arabic word which literally means striving or struggling, especially with a praiseworthy aim!

The difference between a Jihad and a terrorist, is how they work to achieve their goals! And this revolves around, as I've mentioned earlier, taught cultural extremism.


Questions comments concerns? Tell me your thoughts! Let's share anything I may have missed!!

[Lliam]

There are Muslims and there are Muslims. Some are progressive and some are very conservative and orthodox. I know some progressive Muslims, including women, who dress in western-style clothes. You would never know they were Muslim.

Most West Asians and Middle Easterners, even people from Malaysia and other places, are Muslim. Most of them are wonderful people. And they have some fantastic food.

In places like Syria, women can dress any way they want. In the 1970s, women in places like Afghanistan and all over the western Asia and the Middle East attended college wearing regular clothes with no head coverings.

I've met traditional Muslims who are the nicest most generous people you will ever meet. I don't mind hijabs at all if they are pretty.

Then there are the really strict ones. They are similar to ultra-orthodox Jews.

Finally, there are the crazy radicals that many people think of.

So I don't judge people because they are Muslim. They come from diverse cultures all around the world. In general, I think they are really good people.

[Miah02]

that God is the creator of all things, and that God is all-powerful and all-knowing. God has no offspring, no race, no gender, no body, and is unaffected by the characteristics of human life.

This is the 7 major beliefs of islam in its simplest form, it goes much deeper than this.
But a site like this is not a place to discuss religion due to lack of open minded and judgmental people on here.

1 Belief in the Oneness of God.

2 Belief in the Angels of God.

3 Belief in the Revelations of God

4 Belief in the Prophets of God.

5 Belief in the Day of Judgment.

6 Belief in Premeasurement.

7 Belief in Resurrection after Death

[Still-alive]

very nice. thank you for sharing

[Miah02]

You are welcome 🥰❣

[Still-alive]

@SpiderManFan2002 has she gotten it right?

[SpiderManFan2002]

@Still-alive Yep

[TurkishDİxon3419]

You are wrong, the condition of faith is 5, you counted incomplete, we believe in the Qur'an, the Bible and the Torah, and we also believe that destiny comes from Allah.

[SpiderManFan2002]

She’s not wrong, those are 7 major beliefs in Islam

[TurkishDİxon3419]

@SpiderManFan2002 you don't know better than me
I am muslim
The condition of faith is 5, the condition of Islam is 6, not 7.

[Miah02]

@SpiderManFan2002 it's all good, i said it goes a lot deeper meaning there's a lot more to it.

Some people just like to argue, for no reason.

At least you understood.

[SpiderManFan2002]

@TurkishDİxon3419 I am Muslim too, and she’s not talking about the 5 pillars of Islam. She’s talking about the seven major beliefs. And those are 7 major beliefs in Islam.

[TurkishDİxon3419]

Look, I'm a Muslim, the condition of faith 6
faith in Allah.
Faith in angels.
Faith in books.
Faith in the prophets.
belief in the afterlife.
belief in destiny.

[SpiderManFan2002]

She’s not denying the six articles of faith, she’s just saying that those are also 7 major beliefs in Islam and she basically said everything you just said minus the last one.

[TurkishDİxon3419]

@SpiderManFan2002 where is faith in books
?

[SpiderManFan2002]

Number 3, Belief in Revelations of God- another term for the holy books, is “revelation” because in Islam the holy books such as the Ingil and the Tawrat and the Quran were all revelations by Allah.

[TurkishDİxon3419]

@SpiderManFan2002 It would be more accurate to call it a book, not a revelation.

[SpiderManFan2002]

@TurkishDixon That’s debatable but none the less she isn’t wrong, in calling them revelations.

[TurkishDİxon3419]

@SpiderManFan2002 faith in books, faith in prophets, as I learned
faith in god
faith in angels
faith in destiny
belief in the hereafter

[SpiderManFan2002]

It’s just different wordings- she’s saying the same as you but in different words

[TurkishDİxon3419]

@SpiderManFan2002 ok let's not argue

[SpiderManFan2002]

Akhi, I was not arguing with you☺️I was just telling you because it looks like English is not your first language so it makes sense that you would struggle to understand different English words- there is nothing wrong with that☺️

[so_over_this]

@Miah02 is right

[Anonymous]

I think of the hate we receive for basically just existing. And the way media has painted a portrait that basically majority of Muslim's are terrorists. We have no religious freedom , we are killed in our own place of worship , questioned as to why we dress the way dress and insulted when we wish to live a simple life. But when a celebrity or someone influential chooses to live a simple life the world considers it a trend. Amish women cover themselves , yet they are not insulted or attacked for their dressing. And bombs and mass murders are not taking place in churches. Honestly it's just very heart breaking.

[Still-alive]

Indeed. I wanna help change this perception

[Opinion Owner]

I wish it was that easy , but I'm really glad that you are willing to try

[Still-alive]

Yes I understand hie difficult this is. But yeah i gotta try. can't give up

[Vietnemin]

Well to be fair Amish lifestyle is not popular either.

[Still-alive]

@Vietnemin ahh yes amish. the much aligned, hated in the media Amish

there's no comparison there dude.

[Vietnemin]

Western media is stupid I agree. They antagonize us Chinese and the people just swallow it. Stupid sheep.

[Still-alive]

@Vietnemin oh you're one of those i see

[DaisyAimi]

I just think about religion… and that some of the people around me that are muslim are really nice and i like their view on life. But some i know are really extreme and im not sure how to feel about that… really depends on the person and how the person is raised with islam.

[Still-alive]

You know in thinking about i can't think of a single muslim i meant who wasn't nice and courteous.

[DaisyAimi]

Ohh definitely! One of the people i look up to and is my teacher, she is muslim. She is so sweet and supporting and really wants the best for you. She really wants you to reach your goals and even helped me becoming a better person. Mostly aiming for the good positive vibes.
But i do recall this muslim man that used to be a part of my family and that had a very controlling and domineering side. Forcing his wife into certain rules. That’s what i mean that it really depends on how the person takes it and grew up. wrong with the religion, it’s mostly the person it’s own behavior.

[DaisyAimi]

Nothing wrong with the religion*

[Minx7282]

I think of a kind friend of mine that I met in early years of highschool his name was Mosan. He is such a sweet a gentle soul and his whole family from the sounds of it were lovely too. He used to tell me about how he loved his mum and how she makes the best food. There's been a lot of misconception around the Islam faith like you said we can thank the media for that. I also do keep in mind that there is radicalists out there but they don't represent the faith as a whole. A lot of the Muslim people that I've come across which isn't much unfortunately. Have been lovely and God "Allah" loving people who are trying to please him and worship him with their lives by living according to their faith traditions and actions. Sure I may not agree 100% with some of their beliefs but that's my understanding and experience of them. Hope this answer your question

[ItsTheNephilim]

Islam - literally meaning surrender to the will of God, started in Arab, gave Indian subcontinent Sufism (mystical form of Islam rarely talked about) and has been misinterpreted by media and mullahs themselves for long. Has the only religious book that has remain unchanged and will remain this way till eternity (translations may be manipulated). A religion I practice and always will.

Muslims - vary from place to place, some are good, some are bad. Most of the Islamic clerics are ridiculous and idiotic. Many haven't read the true message of the Qur'an, just cherry pick stuff.
Militant extremists (khawarijs) terrorizing other Sunni and Shia Muslims in the name of Islam.
Also, spineless Wahabis.

[ChrisMaster69]

With my background I am probably sitting this one out.

seen all lengths of the spectrum.

just remember everyone has the ability for great love and understanding but also room for the opposite.

Also people break ‘rules’ and people should not deny this.

[supercutebutt]

Dumbness. But that's the first thing that comes to mind when I think about Christianity and Christians. At least the Muslims aren't QAnons, though. So maybe they are *slightly* less dumb than Christians? I'm not sure.

[FEARLESSHERO]

Ouch I'm Christian. Definitely not an anon

[Still-alive]

ahh qanons. our modern day fascists/nazi's

[natured]

Honestly i know it's a peaceful religion, whoever thinks differently i beg them to read more, i'm not muslim nor christian I am just nothing and everything at once. But i respect each and every single religion and people that believe,
I do not respect people that spread HATE through them though

[MrCommodore]

My first thoughts on Islam as a religion is of respect, peace and dignity. I have a few colleagues/friends who are Muslims, and they are good people who are very family oriented and have strong faith and try to live good lives.

I find it very similar to Christianity in many ways, I mean I'm comparison to people who are practicing Christians.

[Eelephant]

Haram. I had a muslim friend and he would tell me about all the things he couldn't do because they were haram. Meeting someone Islamic really opened my eyes and made me see that they are so similar to other monotheistic religions when you think about it. As a post 9/11 kid, it made the idea of Islam less scary.

[zeitgeist057]

I think of some Islamic people I've met throughout my life. The shopkeepers in Egypt who would always invite me to tea and want to hear about my life, or share their problems with me. The men in Yemen who wanted me to tell all my American friends that they don't hate Americans. The street kids in Yemen who talked to me extensively about Mohamed and how all people were welcomed by Islam and the Prophet taught to love everyone.

[NamerOfStars]

One of a couple of Muslim guys I know, or maybe pictures I've seen of Mecca. There's nothing quite like being forbidden from a place to give you an interest in it.

Come to think of it, how did the lockdowns affect the Hajj? That couldn't've been fun.

[karaspara]

Honestly my neighbours are Muslim and a lovely family so the contrast between them and what I see on the news

[Still-alive]

ohh yes i have a muslim community near me as well. just a lovely group of people :)

[Guanfei]

Well, considering 2 days ago a muslim immigrant murdered 3 people in Germany and wounded 9 (which is just the last of a very long list), that in my country a majority of muslim consider that their religion (and the rules it imposes) are about any culture or law, that they are a major part of the criminal population, they're never really condemning any attack coming from a radical muslim (the now well known (yeah it's bad, BUT...), and that the culture coming with it is often very opposed to western culture (especially for religious minorities, women and gays)...
I'd say my country would be better without it. And those attacks you hear about only are the serious one. Many people are beaten, robbed, insulted by muslims but it's just considered as common criminality.