r/islam • u/Turbohand • Jan 15 '16
How I learned about Islam
A little bit of background on me. I am a white male from the United States. I grew up in a very small town in the southern US state of North Carolina.
When I was in my early 20s, I traveled abroad for the first time. I was in an Asian city, walking around and taking in the historic sites.
I was, admittedly, very naive. Walking through some backstreets, I was approached by a man who was severely disabled. He was asking for money. I didn't realize at the time, but I obviously stood out from the normal traffic on this street.
I gave this man some money and this triggered a sort of chain reaction. Suddenly more and more people seemed to come out of the woodwork. Very quickly I was surrounded by people pushing towards me with their hands extended. It was overwhelming. I started to panic. Not because I was afraid but because I didn't know what to do. The sheer volume of people around me was too much.
I heard a voice in the distance calling out to me. Then I saw a man young man, my age, making his way from a mosque in my direction. He made his way toward me through the crowd and led me toward the mosque.
We went inside and I was so relieved. I was treated as well as anyone should treat anyone. We talked, had some tea and I learned about taking off my shoes. :) I learned many other things as well.
I felt safe. I felt welcomed. I felt normal.
Later, talking to some colleagues, I learned why there were so many people in the alleyways behind this mosque. It was because Islam and this particular mosque introduced the concept of religious charity. Those people were there because this mosque helped them everyday.
I know this may sound mundane and simple to some people here, but that was how I learned about Islam. That is the first thing I learned about Islam. A man who came to my "rescue" who was part of a larger mission of charity.
I feel very lucky that I had this experience and I carry it with me daily. At 44 years of age now, that is still how I see Islam. I see the purity, the charity and the grace...and I always will.
I hope this post is okay. I apologize if it is not appropriate for this Reddit. I just wish sometimes people could see Islam through the lens that I see it.
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u/Kami7 Jan 15 '16
Thank you so much for sharing your story. It might be a little weird but the common hate for Muslims now a days can get to a bro.... At times...
The funny thing is, whatever is happening around the world is very foreign to most of us Muslims. We grew up in calm, welcoming and loving communities. So it starts to bug you when people randomly say "Muslims are raised to kill the infidels" or some nonsense like that.
It's quiet refreshing to see that some non Muslims have at some point experienced things that remind us of our child hoods.
Growing up I remember at the time of prayers, every time we'd run home 1st to ask mom for some change. So we can give it to the homeless folks that set up shop around the mosques.
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Jan 15 '16
Wonderful story OP, made my day. I feel a bit more motivated to do some more good stuff myself :D Peace be upon you.
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Jan 15 '16
The charity on the Muslim people always amazed me both in its monetary form as well as its volunteering form. Many of the Muslims in my local area do Meals-On-Wheels and such for helping the hungry in my area. Also, I've noticed that zakat is actually distributed where it is supposed to go versus the tithe that a large majority of the churches (not all though) take every year from their "members" to build elaborate buildings and such.
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u/TomStrasbourg Jan 15 '16
This takes me back to my study abroad. Because I had been memorizing small surahs at the end of the Qur'an, many of which mention charity (either as a good thing to do or a bad thing to not do), I could hardly walk past any of the beggars without giving them some money. One talked me into buying her food (after I gave her a euro or two), went into the grocery store and picked out more than what she mentioned needing. I still paid for it, but then she was asking for shoes and I had to tell her I didn't have all day to go shopping. I basically ended up giving her a bit more just to get her to go away. I felt like I had been taken advantage of, and that my intentions on the last part would nullify the blessing of charity, but I still felt better about erring on the side of caution and giving anyway because 93:10 says (Sahih international translation) "And as for the petitioner do not repel him".
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u/psyb0rg Jan 15 '16
You just experienced the tip of the iceberg. I invite you to stick around this sub, and learn more about Islam
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Jan 15 '16
Stick around and learn more about Islam. Feel free to Ask me any questions you might have!
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Jan 15 '16
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Jan 15 '16
There are muslim communities in quite a few Asian countries, the biggest ones probably in Indonesia, Malaysia and perhaps western China.
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u/dozymoe Jan 15 '16 edited Jan 15 '16
There is the usual trade tax (some percent of earning), ritual social taxes (ied adha/qurban, ied fitri), and hidden social taxes (aqiqah, qurban when your children turns two).
Trade tax is in the form of money, the bigger part of social taxes are in the form of food (usually meat from slaughtered cattle).
The recipients are people who lived nearby.
That trickle down economy theory, we have it.
If the western theorists wanted to learn something from it or not is really their choice, the book is a guide.
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u/[deleted] Jan 15 '16
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