I am grateful you are here. Can you please just give me a moment of your time? And I am not asking you to agree with me, but I am asking you to trust that what I am about to tell you is true for me.
I’m happy for you. I’m even happy for the Gazans who are Muslim because they are content to leave the pain and desolation. I think one of the reasons people are so supportive of the Palestinians is their fortitude and courage with God by their side. Not in terms of war but in life and love.
I was brought up as a Roman Catholic which is definitely a hard cross to bear but have not followed for sixty years now. I was not brought up to hate or even mistrust any other nationality or religion so I have been surprised at the capacity to hate I have seen in my life.
I get a lot in response to my posts about Palestine. Yesterday was a tough one. They wound me in their anger and misinformed ideas.
Like another commenter my experience of Muslims is very positive and there are some high profile people who I very much admire, such as Sadiq Khan and Yussef.
Isn’t it really a propaganda thing? Part of the “ don’t trust them, they’re coming for the wives, sharia law, “ etc
We ( Substack community) know better don’t we?
Personally I worry more about the so called Christians in the US and their extreme, retrograde beliefs.
But as you didn’t quite say “ I don’t see them “ like I don’t see Jews, I don’t see Methodists. I just see people.
Thank you very much for sharing. I respect you and the Muslim religion. Thank you for educating people and for sharing how happy you are with being a Muslim and that you don't feel threatened by others. That's a real inner groundedness that you shared that you are anchored in. I don't feel threatened by anyone who is so comfortable with themselves as you are and are at peace with themselves and not needing validation from anyone. I find that people are sometimes more threatened by people, even religion aside, who are so grounded and firm in themselves and their identify because you are unflappable and not easily manipulated or controlled.
I personally was raised Christian but at this point I do not ascribe specifically to one religion right now, I embrace many different ways of looking at things in my own spirituality and am constantly on a path to learning, growing and changing into being the best version of myself that I can be. I feel fortunate that I have had the opportunity to live among and work with Muslims when I worked abroad and I feel that face-to-face, intercultural and inter-religious contact is so critical to breaking down fear, stereotypes and ignorance. As someone said similarly already in the comments, my experience with Muslims personally has been peaceful, welcoming and generous, and I am thankful to continue learning more about your religion even if I have no plans to convert myself. Thank you again for all that you share and do.
with you heart and soul Sean. I am spiritual not religious, that is me. I Honor Respect and Love You Sean. Truly. It seems Essential to me that each of us follow what resonates for us at The Highest level in order for us all to come together. That life and getting along is not about us all practicing and following the same path.
Well written and I believe the sentiment of every Muslim believer who believes we are all in transit in this world - dunya.
Alhamdulilah - Allah praises to Allah.
May Allah bless you, your family, the ummah, and guide all those seeking guidance. I hope we can invite you to our Masjid in the SF Bay Area when you are ready to travel again. Please let me know how I can contact you directly to extend an invitation and all the logistics. Your voice is an inspiration, and may you continue to inspire millions.
Thank you Shaun for expressing what a majority of us Muslims are not able to express in such an articulate manner. Every single word is true. Alhumdulillah for Islam and being a Muslim! Love you brother for the sake of Allah(swt)
Total isolation is unhealthy. So is ignorance. And fear. Together they make a prisoner of a person. I listened to a nearly toothless young-ish man sitting in a dusty old ratbag of a tourist shop in the Ozarks once, when I was home visiting family. He explained to me that the United Nations was a Communist conspiracy to take over America. If I had had the time I would have liked to listen to him further, to begin to understand him. But I think it is not too judgmental to say the three conditions I mentioned above were at work. Since then, I have heard similar stuff from people all over the country.
People who talk hatefully about any religion rarely know much. I watch them casting about in their own heads to justify their fears, rather than go to another person and ask, "What is your faith about?" Christianity as I was taught it was not for me, but I embraced the teachings once I was old enough to separate the politics and indoctrination from the core of it. My most thoughtful teacher, you may be surprised to read, was the collected works of Idries Shah.
What I understand of pre-Alexandrian Christianity is not what I see operating in the U.S. Some are lost in violence, which contradicts everything the religion is. I am sad for this, and appreciate you revealing your heart. Thank you Shaun.
Just wanted to share my heart tonight.
I'm not religious although I come from a Christian family.
However in my 60-odd years on this planet I have always found Muslims to be peace loving, gentle and generous.
Most of us born muslims are relearning the true Islam from Gazans and from you Western reverts.. Jazakum Allah Khayran both.
My favourite thing you've ever written. Islam is a gift to humanity for those who choose to accept it
Exactly we are travellers this is not our home and this is why we are so detached from this dunya
🤲🏾
Agnostic 🤷♂️
Thank you Shaun. I appreciate this post and you speaking from your heart on this.
Being a convert to Islam myself, I pray and wish the same for everyone; to hear and understand the beauty and peace Islam give to your life and heart.
May God reward you and bless you.
I’m happy for you. I’m even happy for the Gazans who are Muslim because they are content to leave the pain and desolation. I think one of the reasons people are so supportive of the Palestinians is their fortitude and courage with God by their side. Not in terms of war but in life and love.
I was brought up as a Roman Catholic which is definitely a hard cross to bear but have not followed for sixty years now. I was not brought up to hate or even mistrust any other nationality or religion so I have been surprised at the capacity to hate I have seen in my life.
I get a lot in response to my posts about Palestine. Yesterday was a tough one. They wound me in their anger and misinformed ideas.
Like another commenter my experience of Muslims is very positive and there are some high profile people who I very much admire, such as Sadiq Khan and Yussef.
Isn’t it really a propaganda thing? Part of the “ don’t trust them, they’re coming for the wives, sharia law, “ etc
We ( Substack community) know better don’t we?
Personally I worry more about the so called Christians in the US and their extreme, retrograde beliefs.
But as you didn’t quite say “ I don’t see them “ like I don’t see Jews, I don’t see Methodists. I just see people.
Thank you very much for sharing. I respect you and the Muslim religion. Thank you for educating people and for sharing how happy you are with being a Muslim and that you don't feel threatened by others. That's a real inner groundedness that you shared that you are anchored in. I don't feel threatened by anyone who is so comfortable with themselves as you are and are at peace with themselves and not needing validation from anyone. I find that people are sometimes more threatened by people, even religion aside, who are so grounded and firm in themselves and their identify because you are unflappable and not easily manipulated or controlled.
I personally was raised Christian but at this point I do not ascribe specifically to one religion right now, I embrace many different ways of looking at things in my own spirituality and am constantly on a path to learning, growing and changing into being the best version of myself that I can be. I feel fortunate that I have had the opportunity to live among and work with Muslims when I worked abroad and I feel that face-to-face, intercultural and inter-religious contact is so critical to breaking down fear, stereotypes and ignorance. As someone said similarly already in the comments, my experience with Muslims personally has been peaceful, welcoming and generous, and I am thankful to continue learning more about your religion even if I have no plans to convert myself. Thank you again for all that you share and do.
Let us agree to disagree, but if we remember all the while to do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly, we cannot go far wrong.
with you heart and soul Sean. I am spiritual not religious, that is me. I Honor Respect and Love You Sean. Truly. It seems Essential to me that each of us follow what resonates for us at The Highest level in order for us all to come together. That life and getting along is not about us all practicing and following the same path.
Asalamu alaiku Shaun
Well written and I believe the sentiment of every Muslim believer who believes we are all in transit in this world - dunya.
Alhamdulilah - Allah praises to Allah.
May Allah bless you, your family, the ummah, and guide all those seeking guidance. I hope we can invite you to our Masjid in the SF Bay Area when you are ready to travel again. Please let me know how I can contact you directly to extend an invitation and all the logistics. Your voice is an inspiration, and may you continue to inspire millions.
FYI, a nice video of a European why he converted:
#why_I_become #muslim #music #shortvideo #shorts @iamamuslim @shfa2 @shfa-1
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3VJIHmhJuhM&list=PL4E4BF066B8E102F2&index=23
5️⃣ Five reasons I accepted Islam ☪️
1️⃣ Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم
• was not just a man, he was a movement
• Ameen - trustworthy, no scandals
2️⃣ Qur’an
• Linguistic perfection
• Memorized by millions
3️⃣ Allah
• One God, no partners
• No intermediary
4️⃣ Built-in logic (Use your brain)
• Islam invites you to question, reflect, & seek knowledge
5️⃣ Science 🧬
• Universe
• Water & Creation
• Embryology Development
• Gender
• All before modern discoveries
جزاكم الله خيراً
Thank you Shaun for expressing what a majority of us Muslims are not able to express in such an articulate manner. Every single word is true. Alhumdulillah for Islam and being a Muslim! Love you brother for the sake of Allah(swt)
Total isolation is unhealthy. So is ignorance. And fear. Together they make a prisoner of a person. I listened to a nearly toothless young-ish man sitting in a dusty old ratbag of a tourist shop in the Ozarks once, when I was home visiting family. He explained to me that the United Nations was a Communist conspiracy to take over America. If I had had the time I would have liked to listen to him further, to begin to understand him. But I think it is not too judgmental to say the three conditions I mentioned above were at work. Since then, I have heard similar stuff from people all over the country.
People who talk hatefully about any religion rarely know much. I watch them casting about in their own heads to justify their fears, rather than go to another person and ask, "What is your faith about?" Christianity as I was taught it was not for me, but I embraced the teachings once I was old enough to separate the politics and indoctrination from the core of it. My most thoughtful teacher, you may be surprised to read, was the collected works of Idries Shah.
What I understand of pre-Alexandrian Christianity is not what I see operating in the U.S. Some are lost in violence, which contradicts everything the religion is. I am sad for this, and appreciate you revealing your heart. Thank you Shaun.
Alhamdulillah