Staying Balanced as a Muslim

[muslima1234]

Salam,
I have been a Muslim for almost a year. I still have not told my family and I am afraid to tell them. I am a full time graduate student living away from my family in the states. I am slowly learning but my main concern is that I want to stay balanced. I have met many reverts who have in my opinion become extreme rejecting everything from their past and forgetting who they were. They went from being non muslim to becoming full on salafi. I know some who even picked up an arabic accent! I am afraid of ending up like that. I don't want to change my name and I don't want to forget who I am. I have found of group of Muslims from the Turkish gülen movement who are amazing. The movement attracts me because it is really tolerant and peaceful and also is modern. I want to stay with them but I want to be a good muslim and not forget who I am. Any ideas?

[dr76]

Salam,
I have been a Muslim for almost a year. I still have not told my family and I am afraid to tell them. I am a full time graduate student living away from my family in the states. I am slowly learning but my main concern is that I want to stay balanced. I have met many reverts who have in my opinion become extreme rejecting everything from their past and forgetting who they were. They went from being non muslim to becoming full on salafi. I know some who even picked up an arabic accent! I am afraid of ending up like that. I don't want to change my name and I don't want to forget who I am. I have found of group of Muslims from the Turkish gülen movement who are amazing. The movement attracts me because it is really tolerant and peaceful and also is modern. I want to stay with them but I want to be a good muslim and not forget who I am. Any ideas?

We have sister Kayra here from Turkey who is also a revert and many other knowledgable sisters who could help.. May Allah keep u steadfast in deen..


wa assalam..

[Abu Sabah]

As Salaam Alaykum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuhu,

Congratulation on becoming Muslim. I'm sure you already know that changing your name is not a requirement and neither is picking up an Arabic accent. However, I do feel that after accepting Islam, you can't be entirely as you were before. The qualities of a Muslim are distinct from those of non-Muslims. I am saying this from the perspective of a revert, I've been Muslim nearly 12 years now. Alhamdulillah.

By the way, I'm not aware of this gulen movement that you mentioned but remember the criteria for judging a good group is not necessarily a peaceful, tolerant and modern group. No doubt there are many groups that could be described as such but are far away from the deen of Allah.

[Perseveranze]

What is a "modern" Muslim may I ask?

[sabr*]

Salam,
I have been a Muslim for almost a year. I still have not told my family and I am afraid to tell them.
I am a full time graduate student living away from my family in the states.
I am slowly learning but my main concern is that I want to stay balanced.
I have met many reverts who have in my opinion become extreme rejecting
everything from their past and forgetting who they were. They went from being non
muslim to becoming full on salafi. I know some who even picked up an arabic accent!
I am afraid of ending up like that. I don't want to change my name and I don't want to forget who I am.
I have found of group of Muslims from the Turkish gülen movement who are amazing.
The movement attracts me because it is really tolerant and peaceful and also is modern.
I want to stay with them but I want to be a good muslim and not forget who I am. Any ideas?

As-Salāmu `Alaykum (السلام عليكم):

Allah has instructed Muslims that they have a balanced way of life.

If a person was raised with a strong resolve it doesn't weaken
when they encounter a new endeavor or course in life.

The practice of Islam provides a person with the tools to
become a stronger person if implementing Islam correctly.

Anyone can be subject to being misguided, manipulated and
brainwashed. Muslims are human and not exempt.

Studying the authentic sources will assist a person in not
being manipulated. Studying will guide in differentiating
personal opinions from the directives of Allah and
the Sunnah of Nabi Muhammad

Al-Baqara (The Cow)

وَكَذَلِكَ جَعَلْنَاكُمْ أُمَّةً وَسَطًا لِّتَكُونُواْ شُهَدَاء عَلَى النَّاسِ وَيَكُونَ الرَّسُولُ عَلَيْكُمْ شَهِيدًا وَمَا جَعَلْنَا الْقِبْلَةَ الَّتِي كُنتَ عَلَيْهَا إِلاَّ لِنَعْلَمَ مَن يَتَّبِعُ الرَّسُولَ مِمَّن يَنقَلِبُ
عَلَى عَقِبَيْهِ وَإِن كَانَتْ لَكَبِيرَةً إِلاَّ عَلَى الَّذِينَ هَدَى اللّهُ وَمَا كَانَ اللّهُ لِيُضِيعَ إِيمَانَكُمْ إِنَّ اللّهَ بِالنَّاسِ لَرَؤُوفٌ رَّحِيمٌ 2:143
Wakathalika jaAAalnakum ommatan wasatan litakoonoo shuhadaa AAala alnnasi
wayakoona alrrasoolu AAalaykum shaheedan wama jaAAalna alqiblata allatee
kunta AAalayha illa linaAAlama man yattabiAAu alrrasoola mimman yanqalibu
AAala AAaqibayhi wain kanat lakabeeratan illa AAala allatheena hada
Allahu wama kana Allahu liyudeeAAa eemanakum inna Allaha bialnnasi laraoofun raheemun

2:143 (Y. Ali) Thus, have We made of you an Ummat justly balanced, that ye might be witnesses over the nations,
and the Messenger a witness over yourselves; and We appointed the Qibla to which thou wast used, only to test
those who followed the Messenger from those who would turn on their heels (From the Faith).
Indeed it was (A change) momentous, except to those guided by Allah. And never would Allah Make your faith of no effect.
For Allah is to all people Most surely full of kindness, Most Merciful.
________________________________________

[Maripat]

Just relax and go about your business sister. May Allah (SWT) make it easy for you.

[Amaan]

Good reply posted by Abu sabah, it should be noted that prophet used to appreciate good people outside Islam and the good activities they do which are not opposed by Islam were also appreciated, and said that better among you are those who were good before Islam, Islam has made them even better. So we can have this as criterion, be balanced, between good things inside Islam and outside Islam, not be balanced between pre-Islamic life and post-Islamic life, or to be clear not between Muslim and Kafir... Learn Islam with its spirit and if possible declare it.

[Abul Lais]

As Salaam Alaykum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuhu,

Congratulation on becoming Muslim. I'm sure you already know that changing your name is not a requirement and neither is picking up an Arabic accent. However, I do feel that after accepting Islam, you can't be entirely as you were before. The qualities of a Muslim are distinct from those of non-Muslims. I am saying this from the perspective of a revert, I've been Muslim nearly 12 years now. Alhamdulillah.

By the way, I'm not aware of this gulen movement that you mentioned but remember the criteria for judging a good group is not necessarily a peaceful, tolerant and modern group. No doubt there are many groups that could be described as such but are far away from the deen of Allah.

Oh no, the Gulen movement is led by Fethullah Gülen.

Here are his views from Wikipedia (summarised)

1. Gaza Flotilla

Gülen criticized the Turkish-led Gaza flotilla for trying to deliver aid without Israel's consent. He spoke of watching the news coverage of the deadly confrontation between Israeli commandos and Turkish aid group members as its flotilla approached Israel's sea blockade of Gaza. "What I saw was not pretty," he said. "It was ugly.". He continued his criticism. The "organizers' failure to seek accord with Israel before attempting to deliver aid "is a sign of defying authority, and will not lead to fruitful matters."

Terrorism

Gülen condemns any kind of terrorism.[35] He warns against the phenomenon of arbitrary violence and aggression against civilians, that is terrorism, which has no place in Islam and which militates against its very foundational tenets of reverence for human life and for all of God's creation. Fethullah Gulen was the first Muslim Leader to openly condemn the 9/11 terrorist attacks. He wrote a condemnation article in the Washington Post on September 12th, 2001, just the day after the attack, and stated that `A muslim can not be a terrorist, nor can a terrorist be a true muslim`[2],"[36] Gülen lamented the deplorable hijacking of Islam by terrorists who claimed to be Muslims and acting out of religious conviction. He counseled that "One should seek Islam through its own sources and in its own representatives throughout history; not through the actions of a tiny minority that misrepresent it.

Secularism

Gülen’s Islamic teaching and practice was developed in the forge of Turkey’s 20th century project to create a secular state, as initiated by the Turkish nationalist revolution of Atatürk. That project became an ideologically “secularist” one, locked in symbiotic conflict with an “Islamist” reaction. Arising from that context, Gülen has criticized a politics rooted in a philosophically reductionist materialism. But he has also argued that Islam and democracy are compatible and he encourages greater democracy within Turkey. He also argues that a secular approach that is not anti-religious and allows for freedom of religion and belief is compatible with Islam.

[Abul Lais]

Salam,
I have been a Muslim for almost a year. I still have not told my family and I am afraid to tell them. I am a full time graduate student living away from my family in the states. I am slowly learning but my main concern is that I want to stay balanced. I have met many reverts who have in my opinion become extreme rejecting everything from their past and forgetting who they were. They went from being non muslim to becoming full on salafi. I know some who even picked up an arabic accent! I am afraid of ending up like that. I don't want to change my name and I don't want to forget who I am. I have found of group of Muslims from the Turkish gülen movement who are amazing. The movement attracts me because it is really tolerant and peaceful and also is modern. I want to stay with them but I want to be a good muslim and not forget who I am. Any ideas?

Sister,

are there any tableegh (sisters') jamaat in your college or area?

[the permissive]

stay with them !
don't afraid of them
just like me, i am proud to say it !
they're more than over 130 countries in the world !
and where they go, flowers opening there..






ps: pls pls pls don't say anything about any jamaat ,that you don't know !
because if they're not like ,you said,
then you must have to say all the members of that jamaat
"pls halal your rights to me"
can it be possible?