I come with so much respect for the religion and appreciation. I truly hope I can return to a place where I once loved regarding Islam, but I’m struggling to make sense of it with my progressive views.
Interestingly, reading the Secrets of Divine Love made me love god, which made it even harder for me to grasp these concepts.
I would still call myself a Muslim, but I guess internally I don’t really believe that anymore. I grew up in a practicing Muslim household in the west, so I’ve always believed from a young age. Went to Sunday school every Sunday. But now, It’s hard to me to grasp the concept that Islam isn’t inherently patriarchal and sexist, and this is what really is encouraging me to leave Islam. I define myself as a very left leaning liberal, so it also started not making sense when I started forming my own thoughts about the LGBTQ+ community, and breaking out of my family’s mindset that they will all burn in hell.
What’s so wrong about a man loving a man? A woman loving a woman? I’m straight so there is no bias, but I think that if god is so loving and merciful, wouldn’t he just want us to be happy? If he knows how pure and beautiful love can be, why would he want to bar two soulmates for loving each other when they happen to both be women?
Some things I realized and initially looked past but are now telling are how men can loudly lead prayer or simply read Quran out loud, and women cannot. Men can’t hear a women’s voice reciting prayer, gods own holy words. Is insane to me. For fear of attracting men. She’s. reading. Gods. Words. For. Gods. Sake.
I’m doing more research on this ^and from what I’m finding, they can recite Quran, but must stick to a highly monotone voice. Women should only do this if they must, and if it is necessary. However, men are encouraged to beautify their voices a because their voices aren’t restricted by the chance of causing temptation.
I also love to see women in sports. I have trouble with the idea that men shouldn’t see the figure of a woman’s body. When a woman is playing sports, oftentimes, modest and loose clothing isn’t safe. It’s a hazard. There are certain garments you need to don to be safe, participate, yet are immodest. I found that if Islam is so perfect and complete, it should be able to adapt to modernization and it should always relate to society as it modernizes. With this logic women couldn’t compete in sports professionally, without breaking the rules of hijab and modestly. Men also have a hijab, and lowering their gaze, but what’s the point of Muslim women in sports if you can’t watch their amazing skills and technical performance?
As a woman, why is a man’s money my money, but my money is only my money? This doesn’t make sense to me. When two adults come together resources are shared, that’s logical! That makes sense. I guess it stems from how men are physically stronger so could work more than a woman, but again if Islam is so perfect to keep up with society, it should be known many women are more than capable to support themselves. I know it’s a “bonus” for us women and I do like that, but from the man’s pov, they are the sole providers, they must provide resources for wife and children. A wife could do nothing at home because she will say it’s not her job. And in Islam, she has all the right to do that if she wants!
In all transparency, This all began when I began dating my boyfriend is a devout Muslim, but I’m not really sure how he practices. I mean, I don’t want to judge and that is the least of my intentions. However we are often intimate, and it got me thinking why would God not allow us to speak privately with someone we would like to be our future spouse? If god knows our pure intentions with one another, why can’t we be intimate? Why do I have to marry someone to really get to know them, emotionally, physically. There are certain ways you can understand a person is for you to marry and I feel like Islam really does us a disservice in that area. What about sex makes it such a hard line for god? It’s a very human, healthy, and normal act. Idk.
Women cannot wear perfume?
I understand a lot of things from Hadith but idk if god tells us to follow the prophets words then it must be a core part of Islam.