Why I haven't taken Shahada

[justwanttolearn]

I almost hijacked another thread with discussion of this, so decided to open a new one here instead to discuss it.

As mentioned in a few threads, while I see a lot of truth in Islam, I still don't yet feel that it would be right for me to take Shahada yet. My reasoning for that has two main parts, one is self readiness, the other is out of respect for those who have taken Shahada and have fully adhered to the responsibilities that it entails.

While I'm aware that none of us are perfect, I consider myself to be further from perfect than most people. There are numerous aspects of my day to day life that are haraam, and I believe it would be sinful to take Shahada before being completely ready to rid my life of haraam habits. Such habits include:

- Smoking cigarettes. I've smoked cigarettes since my early teenage years. I would love to quit, and wish it was as simple as making a promise to Allah (SWT), but sadly it isn't. It's tough, really tough.

- Smoking marijuana. As a teenager, I was diagnosed with a mild form of high functioning autism (sounds more serious than it is). The only things it really seems to effect are my concentration when trying to complete a long task, and my social interactions. I'm fine dealing with people in small groups, or online, but I don't do well in social situations, and I get very anxious about even the smallest of things. I was prescribed Ritalin when I was about 14, and very quickly made a decision that I wasn't going to spend the rest of my life taking it. I ended up using marijuana instead, and over the years it has served me well. However, none of that changes the fact that it is haraam. I'm a bit conflicted about the whole thing, because I don't want to spend the rest of my life taking pills when there is a natural alternative that I know to be effective for my situation.

- Music. I've played jazz piano since I was about 5 years old, and guitar since a few years after that. I've often used music as a calming force when I'm angry or anxious, and getting used to giving that up is not impossible, but it's not something I'll just be able to stop instantly.

- Finance. Now this is an interesting one, because I can't even begin to justify it. One of the things I most admire about Islamic culture is the financial system that results from the following of Sharia, yet a large percentage of my income comes from activities that constitute Riba. That is something I can change, but it will require a lot of planning.

- Dogs. This was discussed already in another thread so I won't go into detail again. Needless to say, I have two dogs that I love dearly, and I find even the mere suggestion that they may be "impure" to be offensive. If they are haraam, then so am I.

- Belief. I guess this is the most important part. As I said, I see a lot of truth in Islam, but I can't honestly put my hand on my heart and tell you that I believe every word of the Qur'aan in a literal sense. Much of it I do believe, but there are elements that conflict with things I have long considered to be scientific fact. I still need to work this stuff out in my head before I can completely submit to accepting the whole thing as absolute fact.

When I have found a way to be sure within myself that I can address all of these issues, eliminate the haraam practices from my life, and embrace Islam in full, I will gladly take my Shahada. Until then, I plan to just keep trying to learn all I can, and work on improving myself as a person.

[warea]

Light comes from God. Since you agree with ssome of fundamentals, the mose important being to not associate a partner with God and that Prophet Muhammed is his messenger, that you should take the shahadah. By it you open the doors to greater knowledge. When you practise a knowledge Allah teaches more. Its not the other way whereby you learn everything and then start to practise.

[amr123]

Hello brother.
InshaAllah I shall try to discuss with you each of the issues you have mentioned in detail. But before that, read the following and ponder about it:

La hawla wala quwwata illah billah. There is no power except with Allah.
Eventually All help and provision comes from Allah Ta'ala.

Remember this world is a temporary world, perhaps 60 years (if Allah wills). But the Hereafter is eternal, its forever.
For example if someone comes with a deal: If you can stay without food for 1 minute, I will give you money to sponsor your rest of your life. Only a nearsighted fool will not close such a beautiful deal. This is what Allah Ta'ala has given us. Allah mentions in the Quran:
"Indeed, Allah has purchased from the believers their lives and their properties [in exchange] for that they will have Paradise...."


So have the above in mind, also do not think that if you leave something bad that you will get its reward only in the hereafter. Most often we get its reward in this world itself. The trick is to be patient(never lose hope) and have sincerity (ie do good deed only the sake of Allah). Often we leave a bad thing which we thought was good for us and Allah the almighty replaces it with a better alternative.

[justwanttolearn]

Perhaps I have misunderstood the point of the Shahada. I thought it was basically like making a promise to Allah (SWT) that I accept his greatness and will live according to his rules. If I already know I'm going to go and have a cigarette later that evening, doesn't that mean my promise was a lie? And surely lying in a promise to Allah (SWT) is far more sinful than not taking the Shahada to begin with?

I can do the bit about accepting his greatness, but I just feel dishonest about making such a commitment when I know that in my current state, I'm incapable of honoring it.

Perhaps I'm misguided in that assertion?

[amr123]

I have highlighted this part:

And surely lying in a promise to Allah (SWT) is far more sinful than not taking the Shahada to begin with?

This assumption is wrong. The biggest sin is disbelief. A muslim sinning after shahada is wrong too, but not as bad as disbelief. Dying in disbelief is the worst sin.

[amr123]

I shall try to be more clear here:

The worst of sins is 'shirk' ie association partners with Allah. In simplified terms not accepting Islam. Islam is the only way to salvation.

Now for the second part. Sinning after accepting Islam. I shall explain in the next post.

[amr123]

Sinning after accepting Islam.

I m posting some senarios to explain it:

1.Even if a person who did all the forbidden sins(but not rejecting the fundamentals of Islam), but at the time of death he still believes in Islam. Allah's Mercy is so much that He 'may' forgive him. Even if Allah punishes him, it will be only temporary, eventually He will enter Paradise for being a Muslim.

2. A person did many sins(without rejecting Islam), then He 'repented' and asked for forgiveness. Then Allah will accept his repentance. BUT only Allah knows if the repentance is accepted or not, because since only he knows if it is sincere or not. Here also even if he is punished, He will enter paradise.

3. A person who never sinned in his life, but before he died he rejected Islam. Allah will NOT forgive him since he rejected Islam. He will not enter Paradise.

4. A person who is a Muslim, rejected Islam at a point of his life. Then he came back to Islam and repented sincerely and died as a Muslim. Then if his repentence is sincere then Allah will accept it.


So basically our first priority is NOT to end up in the 3rd category.
Then we have to try our best to keep our promise with Allah. As we are humans we might sin, but we should always repent hoping for Allah's Mercy and forgiveness. But one should not sin purposely thinking Allah will forgive there is no problem. That is a sin in itself.

[amr123]

Before we discuss more, do ask any doubts you have in what I have already posted. We ll go step by step.

[pluto]

@amr123, may Allah SWT reward you abundantly for this Summa aameen.

The biggest sin is disbelief. A muslim sinning after shahada is wrong too, but not as bad as disbelief. Dying in disbelief is the worst sin.

This is soooooooooo true^
May Allah SWT save us all, summa aameen.

[Tisatashar]

There is no power except from ALLAH. Looks like you've got some ready made trials to work on.

Did you know that Muhammad (peace & blessing be upon him) said in an authentic narration that whoever recites the following with conviction in the evening and dies during that night shall be granted the paradise. And whoever recites it with conviction in the morning and dies during that day he shall be granted paradise. (Reported sahih in Bukhari, An-Nasa'i & at-tirmidhi).

"Oh ALLAH, You are my Lord, there is no god but You. You created me and I am your slave. I keep your covenant and my pledge to You as much as I am able. I seek refuge in You from the evil of my sins. I recognise Your blessings upon me and I recognise my misdeeds. Forgive me. For there is none who can forgive sin, but You."