c:

[I was born in sudan. left at age 2…. I think all countries of the world are beautiful, + have a lot to offer. Everyone does, it doesn’t matter where you’re from or what religion or ethncity you have..

black Americans are some of my favrite ethnic groups in the world… sudanese… latin/o/a/x….. litrly everybody. It doesn’t matter where ur from, or ur ethno/cultural/religous/national/linguistic/racial/geographic backgound….I think it’s all interesting, but maybe not too important in the grand scheme of things. *Then again, I think strong ties between your own people (between people of latin american background, hispanic/latino/x background; jewish ppl; ppl of african descent; Muslims who practice islam as a humanistic type of religion. etc. I think strong ties between the members of all these groups (and others) can only bring good.

In terms of Muslims who are interested in Islam as a humanistic type of religion, or who are interested in islam as a good catalyst for helping humanity–perhaps we could call them ‘muslims who believe in a spiritual type of islam. an islam that is less focused on the rituals and strict understandings of the texts, and more interested in islam as a guiding ray for all of humanity, in terms of helping to solve many of the problems that actually do plague humanity.’ And I’m not necessarily simply referring to the more obvious guidance for humanity that islam has to offer. In terms of eschewing alcohol, cigarettes/nicotine, drugs, for example. Or in eschewing sexual/romantic relationships that are not serious ones in terms of taking care of each other as humanity, and taking each other under each others’ wing, in a committed manner.. .(*you literally don’t even have to go to the local county or courthouse in order to ‘get married,’ in islam. You literally do not have to sign anything at all; the Muslim’s word (in front of witnesses) is enough to testify that you will take care of the person you are about to marry, and be serious about being a good partner, and help him/her, in life. I generally think committed engagement (relationships) are a good thing; I don’t think they’re bad. I actually think coming at it from a non-committed perspective, a one-night stand perspective, often (not in all cases..) creates unwanted pregnancies, abortions, heartbreaks, perhaps sti’s. Perhaps more importantly than that is the lack of true bondings or ties, or strong relationships between ppl, that might become prominent, in society. I think ‘serious bonds’ (what I call serious bonds) are legitimately beneficial, actually. 😞 I used to think that non-commitment or ‘break it off tomorrow’ relationships weren’t as serious or *of concern* as some people might make them out to be. I honestly just thought ‘so what, who cares. It’s their own lives.’ These days I actually do see some potential problems with it, though. 

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but um, in terms of ‘Muslims who believe in islam as a good catalyst for helping all of humanity’; I’m not simply referring to the islamic recommendations to avoid certain behaviors such as intoxicants and all harmful substances; and gaining relationships through loving, committed means… and perhaps marrying people who are downtrodden and truly do need to be taken under someone’s wing, and given a lot of protection and support*, in life.. (*The prophet Muhammad pbuh had a practice of marrying widows, poor women, I believe, and other people who really could use some good support. This is a strong custom of his that has been forgotten or brushed aside, as many brothers want to marry the most alluring women, I guess. Perhaps ones with wealth, good standing in life (popularity or whatever), or good prospects for the future. 😞 Well, the sunnah/example of the prophet does not really lean that way, though. 😢 He aligned himself with good women who were perhaps downtrodden or neglected, or without overwhelmingly strong prospects for the future–overwhelming evidence that they’d have a rly good future, regardless.  😢 Kinda sucks how no one really does that anymore.

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*obviously islam has a place for homosexuality, too. I think islam in general is definitely moving in the direction of Judaism, in terms of permitting homosexual relationships. -I think conservative and Orthodox Judaism still are grappling with the overall issue, lol. But Reform Judaism is like, 110% on board. Likewise, many denominations of Christianity have for a very long time now, embraced homosexuality and haven’t had any problem with it. Pope Francis has said some extremely loving and inclusive things about same-sex relationships, lately. I think he might have even issued like a huge statement (or written document) about it, and why homosexual relationships are ok in Christianity, and etc. Oh yeah; it was a great, heart-warming development coming from the Vatican. 🥲🛐

myself; I used to have this very rigid conception of Islam back in the day, in which I legitmitly thought islam was saying that same-sex relationhsups are not ok, and that ‘traditional marriage’ was the only accepted format. But honestly; I’ve realized that islam is a very loving religion, and that it keeps saying that there’s no room for meanness and cruelty towards anyone⚡️. It’s a very merciful religion; that’s all it is. So are zorastrioanism, hinduism, Sikhism, etc. It’s all great; nothing inherently wrong with any of those faiths. -And so in terms of the homosexual question; the answer is; god is love. love is love. 💔 I feel bad for people. I feel that homosexual ppl haven’t been looked at as fully human beings…and I’m actualy thinking that a lot of that negativity wasn’t all coming from ‘strict religious people’, in terms of all of it. it seems to have (also) come from purely secular people who have had an axe to grind. They simply rly had a big issue with this thing, with homosexuality. Secular homophobes…who perhaps should have known way better, since they didn’t have the burden or influence of deep religious indoctrination in terms of thinking that traditional marriages was the only way to go. :3 😢🙏🏽

anyways, I like what they’re doing in India and Taiwan, and other places, in the recent past. They’ve lifted all restrictions against it….(I’m wondering if marriage is ok over there, tho? Like, maybe it was decriminalized, but marriage licenses still aren’t issued. I haven’t researched it online yet..I’m lazy af.)

((😿 I feel kinda bad about certain things in life. I feel like I had such a hard time connecting with people due to my own incompetencies and difficulties with communicating and reaching out.))

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So as aforementioned; in terms of Muslims who believe in islam as a guiding ray for humanity; I think it’s not only islam’s suggestion to maintain serious relationships with people in a committed manner (same- or opposite-sex, or whatever…doesn’t matter what kind of relationship you’re in..as long as you’re trying to be a good support and help to your spouse…that’s all that matters..); and it’s not only its command to avoid perhaps socially harmful things, like substance use and abuse…. it’s not just that — it’s other things, too. For example; I think islam’s whole thing of ‘there is a god, there is a purpose to life. Don’t think it’s all for nothing— don’t let the evil that’s present in the world turn you away from god or from your essential good nature’—that is all extremely helpful, I think. Even if the whole world were to go atheist by tomorrow, I still think a lot of islamic tenets are extremely valid and relevant to the upliftment of humanity, and to its revival, and progression forward. -I think islam’s extreme emphasis on brotherhood (and sisterhood..); community, being in each others’ lives, and not leaving anyone out or by him/herself, is extremely helpful. -“he’s not a true believer who hasn’t spoken to (maintained brotherly ties with) his muslim brother for three consecutive days,” etc. I mean sometimes I think it gets too extreme in its ideals and conceptions of how things should be, but I think it rly does have the right ideas, oftentimes– the right answers. *I think the answers are obvious and have always been since the dawn of time, but I feel Islam–and all religions, actually–lay it out in a very comprehensive format. I think all of these faiths are highly comprehensive faiths, in terms of expressing things that we should understand. Vocalizing in detail what we should clearly aspire to, and do.

-‘Verily, thy Lord is as a guardian on a watch-tower.’ ||| ‘For; your Lord is truly vigilant.’ ||| ‘Indeed, your Lord is in observation.’ -the quran, 89:14.

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‘Indeed, ˹it is˺ We ˹Who˺ created humankind and ˹fully˺ know what their souls whisper to them, and We are closer to them than ˹their˺ jugular vein.’ ||| ‘It was We Who created man, and We know what dark suggestions his soul makes to him: for We are nearer to him than (his) jugular vein.’ ||| ‘And We have already created man and know what his soul whispers to him, and We are closer¹ to him than [his] jugular vein.’ -quran, 50:16.

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‘Ya layta qawmi ya’lamoon.’ -The recorded saying of one of the prophets of god, once he saw the hereafter/god’s grace (jannah/heaven), with his own two eyes. “It was said to him ‘enter paradise’; the first thing he said was ‘oh, if only my people (the people I was sent to) knew (about this)! If only they could see this. But this spiritual world is cut off for them, until after death. But if only they could see it. Some of them do believe in Allah, but if only they (everyone) could see it, directly.’ -‘If only my people knew (could see) that the Most  Merciful has forgiven me, and made me honored, and ok, in this new life. (This true existence.’) -quran, 36:26-27.

#islam #spirituality #humanity #it’ll be ok

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I think we have to differentiate between muslims who are a bit preoccupied with practicing and understanding islam as a mostly ritualistic and personal-life faith, *and Muslims who believe in Islam as a living, universal faith—one in which we lift humanity up with. Not just lift ‘Muslims’ up with, through prayer and fasting and mosque gatherings—but one in which we lift humanity up, with. It’s actually clear what I’m saying. there’s nothing negative or out-of-the-ordinary about it. We need to let islam out, a little bit more than what we have been doing for some time. -I think it’s a therapeutic and personally guiding thing, yes—so yeah, we should definitely give out free Qurans and free Hadith books, and etc. And maybe free lectures/speeches, and all. But it’s also a light against certain systemic evils and injustices that are in the outside world, too. So I’m looking at it as a sociological force, perhaps. A needed stimulus against a lot of evil in the world order; along with a remedy to the more human-condition or intrinsic problems that plague the individual. It’s a remedy to the overall evils that are present in society—society being an external phenomena that is made up of structures, systems, paradigms, and status quos–as well as a guide for all the private, interpersonal, negative tendencies and beliefs. I think the religion has a lot to offer on all fronts, and accounts. Regarding specific things we should definitely know—specific teachings and points that we should not leave off or forget, or consider unimportant.