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No thanks, I'm a Muslim!

By: Qwaider

On:Tuesday, November 20, 2007 7:01:08 AM
In:Thoughts
Viewed: (7173) times

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Rated 4.6/5 stars (144 votes cast)

I know different people have different ways of responding to people offering them to eat something that has pork in it or offering them a beer. But I don't understand how many prefer to parade their faith in front of everyone. I'm not saying don't be proud of your religion. But tooting it like there is no tomorrow for just about every single thing out there is really, not the modesty that most religions try to teach us

If there is anything you can take from any religion, its the fact that it enhances our values and teaches us things like being humble and modest.

If I go around snubbing people around by adding "I'm a Muslim" prefix or suffix to every sentence. People are going to start thinking that I'm really such an uptight person. Worse, they will think my religion is that strict and I would be doing my religion a major disservice.

It's enough that most people don't understand the religion to judge it's followers, let alone surrendering to the way the media tries to show it as pure evil, female repressing, suicide-bomb-factory religion. When it's -supposed to be- far from all of that.

I can't stop my self from wondering. Why do I have to cite my religious belief when I want to reject someone's proposition to have a beer!? Why can't this come out from my person, something like "I don't drink". Is that too hard to say?

Religion is there to help us figure out the good things, making these limits part of our character without resorting to citing the exact verse and the exact hadith that mandates such a -mostly good- conduct.

I don't eat pork. I have the right to reserve my reasons. I don't want to tell the waitress my life story! Or how I practice my religion. Or as some people snob others look at them and saying "I'm a Muslim" I don't eat pork!.

The fact that a person doesn't eat pork or doesn't drink alcohol doesn't make them a better person. It's really nothing to parade around town! It's GOOD for the person. And depending on their religious affiliations might be the right thing to do. But come on, the days when someone drinking means he's the village thug are really over.

Next time something conflicts with your belief. Respect your existence as a human, and respect your religion and make sure that you say no because YOU WANT TO not because you religion appears to "forces" you.

Say NO thanks. Period!

Disclaimer: As is the case these days with just about any post I make. What I say above doesn't mean that I am trying to make Alcohol or pork Halal. I know they're not and this is NOT about that at all

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Married women are not allowed to argue! »

Memories....

#1
sara
Said
On: 11/20/2007 7:40:06 AM

WALLAHI CAN'T AGREE MORE!

I so totally agree.. Unbelievable, I've always thought about this issue! It kills me.. I feel likie it's either they're showing off, or showing off!

One of your best (most heartfelt) pieces I believe is this: http://blog.sweetestmemories.com/default.asp?Display=1017

I extremely LOVE those words.. JUST DO THE RIGHT THING.. With the right intentions..

May Allah assist you brother Sam & make your words a reason for all that is right to happen.. And us all.. Amen :)

With respect,

#2
Maioush
Said
On: 11/20/2007 8:18:05 AM

Ya allah Q.. you reminded me of Ramadan of last year, I was fasting without letting anybody around me notice that I’m not eating during the day, I would leave at lunch time to drive around or take a nap in the car, until one day, one of my coworkers offered me dessert and I said “no thanks I’m full” that’s when my manager (she was Muslim and converted to Christianity after she left Iran “or so she says”) jumped and said: oooooooh it’s THEIR Ramadan, their starve themselves for a month for no reason, just cuz their Mohammad told them so, she is a MUSLIM!!
That’s when I smiled and said CALMLY, well.. I guess my religion has nothing to do with anything in this place, I’d rather not to discuss it if you don’t mind.
LOL! I left work few months after that, I couldn’t stand her any more :)

#3
chikapappi
Said
On: 11/20/2007 8:20:54 AM

well yes, 9lan Islam is all about respect so you are right with what you do..

#4
sam
Said
On: 11/20/2007 9:12:51 AM

i couldnt agree more....one time my dad was asked at the border if we are carrying and alchol, and he got into this whole we are muslim we do not drink so we would not be carrying alchol...it was so embarrassing..a simple no would have done...

#5
sam
Said
On: 11/20/2007 9:14:53 AM

but do u know what is more annoying?? it is when non muslims take every oppurtunity to open up this subject...this pork sandwich tastes so good..u should try it....o im loving this beer....come on try it...uggh! ok i've only ran into two people like that...makes me want to take his beer and throw it on his ugly bald head!

#6
طفيلي( ahmad)
Said
On: 11/20/2007 10:00:02 AM

You would not find that in Jewish. Once, I and my colleagues were having dinner in Spanish restaurant for Spanish tapas[ [where you buy different dishes and eat together from them, it is like Arabic dinner]. My boss embarrassed me saying 'we need to be careful to not order food with pork for me'. What it was annoying me that one of my colleagues is Jewish she said’ I am a vegetarian and do not like meat'. She was a liar because she eat meat (she cooked for us lamb shoulder ) but she does want to say I don’t eat pork for religion reason.I felt how i wam really stupid and could use that excuse .

#7
Moey
Said
On: 11/20/2007 12:20:33 PM

well, she didn't lie she just felt uncomfortable, jews are sometimes funny. after all, I don't think I hate them. I might hate Zionists but jews are cool!

#8
Oriental Arabesque
Said
On: 11/20/2007 1:05:15 PM

can't agree more..

#9
Noura
Said
On: 11/20/2007 5:15:19 PM

You are right on this one especially that sometimes the same people who site being muslim as the excuse for not eating or drinking don't tolerate others doing the same..
A simple No thank you is enough ..

#10
afaf
Said
On: 11/20/2007 6:10:31 PM

i donot drink/i donot like pork!!
why add more.... beside some of my non muslim friends do that too...why am i such different from them!!!

#11
psg
Said
On: 11/20/2007 9:09:38 PM

"The fact that a person doesn't eat pork or doesn't drink alcohol doesn't make them a better person."
perfect !! how i wish that everyone would believe that too..

#12
Mariam Ayyash
Said
On: 11/21/2007 12:52:30 AM

wallahi to a certain extent maybe, but not for long, when i first came here it was ramadan and i already didnt have lunch during the days (ya3ni my habit was to have lunch after 6) that was easy, and i didnt have to tell anyone i dont eat this or that... but i sooooo much wanted them to know i jumped at the first occurance i had to tell them i dont drink because im moslem, yes if i werent i would not drink either because i hate alcohol just as i hate smoking, but... if u dont tell them up front ur gonna get into trouble later, i hve the right to be treated according to my principles and they need to nkow why... no i dont drink doesnt cut it, because i dont socialize with alcholo either, and that is for 50% religious reasons, and finally i dont carry bears strictly for religious reasons... they have the right to know too... as for pork, i wish it was all about pork, nothing they eat i can eat because they all have this thing called "emulsifiers 471" and i have been told its of god knows what animal... fa basically u either dip into it or find urself with no common grounds for the sake of ur principles, i think my principles (my religion) is worth it, ya, i would brag about it too :)

#13
Qwaider
Said
On: 11/21/2007 1:08:43 AM

Bragging about it is exactly what Satan did in front of god. He bragged about how much better than humans he is.
El Kibir is the first sin!

Being a Muslim is not a privilege, it's an honor. it doesn't make you any better than anyone else. Your Taqwa is the balance that god measures us by. And that has nothing to do with religion!

Mariam
Don't feel upset. This is exactly the type of mentality that I hope we can change. There is nothing wrong with discovering that to be a better Muslim sometimes it means not bragging about it.

#14
طفيلي( ahmad)
Said
On: 11/21/2007 5:17:01 AM

I have just read interesting news regarding this topic. The channel 4 in UK is going to launch a news series of Big Brother. This time is not about celebrity Big Brother because there were kind of racism between contestants in the last year. They have decided to make Muslim-Big Brother asking a 20 person to be Muslim for 5 weeks. The twist here is the contestants have got odd characters from Islamic point of view such as homosexual , alcoholic.They will be monitored 24/7 to see how their life will change.

I will stop reading newspaper until end of this show,I am sure Islam will be good materials for headlines in the next weeks.

why don't these people leave islam alone?

you can read the artincl on this link

http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/Satellite?c=ArticleA_C&cid=1195032477056&pagename=Zone-Arabic-News/NWALayout

#15
Mariam Ayyash
Said
On: 11/21/2007 2:32:40 PM

oh dont pick on me for my last word, u know what i mean! the jews are so proud about being jewish, the hindu, the budist, why cant moslems be? yea i want to feel i can brag about it, im not saying im better than everyone else, im saying everyone else can choose to brag about it too cos it is something to be bragged about ... how is that for the twist of the nigh? :) ana mosh fahme 3ala 7alee!
i donno, i sometimes feel they dont need to know that im moslem, because its their rules and they have the right to live it normally without giving space to my needs, othertimes i feel like i cant say it because im afraid of being judged and scared of racism (it already happened to me) and some other times i feel outraged i want everyone to know im moslem, and everything i do or say is because im moslem, ya3ni i dont drink because im moslem, but i also dont lie or cheat or stab ppl in the back strictly because im moslem, u might argue that i do this stuff because it makes me a better person, my reply is how do u know it does? dont we do the things we do just because we trust our god its for the best of our interest? i know a lot of ppl who drink and wonderful guys.. omar ben el khattab was a drunk, he did not know what good it can bring upon him if he quit alchol, but he quit it anyway for the love of Allah... so ur argument is invalid like 70% of the times... i really dont know how fasting or not eating pork makes me a better person, but im sure it does, because i trust, because i sumbit, because im moslem
ba3dein dont u think we carry the small liability of being representatives of our religion? i think others have the right to know where all this is coming from? some might appreciate some even have great respect for those standing by their principles... ur depriving those of knowing - they are people who mostly dont know, its enough that they think "we starve ourselves for a month for no reason!"

#16
Budoor
Said
On: 11/22/2007 8:15:50 AM

Salam,
I beg to differ
to me everyone has their own way of looking at things
if someone offers me something for example :
when a guy (who is a non muslim) offers his hand for a handshake i would tell him in a polite manner that I apologise but as muslims we are not permitted to shake hands, snd i am confident that an educated person would accept my explanation and apologise for being ignorant about that fact cos most ppl do not know about other's belifs and such.
It tells the person that I refuse to shake hand NOT because I am snobby, but because I am a person who strongly believes in his faith and have a strong identity as a Muslim.
I also think that theres no harm in telling the world u r muslim ...and its an honour to be muslim. There need not be any shying away from it, like some people feel second class just because they are muslims and try so hard to be as far as they could from the Islamic teachings.
However I also think that everyone should respect other's opinion..cause different people may look at things at a different angle and its not fair to judge other...as it is not fair either for others to judge ourselves.

#17
Fire-Faten
Said
On: 11/24/2007 3:25:01 AM

You remind me of these girls that enjoy RUBBING their prayers IN MY FACE as if it makes them better than everyone else all of a sudden!

Very well said indeed. Thanks for speaking my mind!

#18
tinkerbella
Said
On: 11/24/2007 4:32:42 AM

hmm.. i actually agree with you here Q. When offered, I do simply say "sorry I don't drink/eat pork". if asked to elaborate, I will explain that I don't use mind-altering substances as it can lead to mistakes/pork is extremely unhealthy etc etc and that is why as Muslims, we are forbidden from it.
I do think it is our duty as Muslims to enlighten others about Islam, like others have said, we should be proud of our religion and (as there is SOOOOO much misconceptions about Islam, both by "Muslims" and non-muslims alike), we should talk about it when we can.
Having said that, I agree with the "rubbing it in ppl's face" and acting all superior because I don't drink/eat pork... Islam is ALL about humility and not being "proud" or seeing yourself as better than anyone!
A simple answer is always best...if asked to elaborate, then you can say why YOU personally choose not to partake but you should NOT have a holier-than-thou attitude when doing so!

#19
za3tar
Said
On: 11/25/2007 2:35:54 AM

I don't know ... it seems that there is something between saying "No thanks, I'm a Muslim" and just saying "No Thanks". Unfortunately alot of muslims are reluctant to publicly show their beliefs in fear of getting different treatment or weird looks or whatever.

The general non-muslim public (specially in countries like the USA) have many misconceptions (and sometimes fears) about muslims. If we continue to mask our acts as personal choices that independent from our religious beliefs, then that would not aid in clearing any misconceptions in the general public.

On the other hand, if we flaunt a religious excuse for forbidding everything, then we will be projecting an image of very uptight and arrogant people.

It is late, and i am stumbling in my speech. But i guess what i am trying to say is that we need not hide our religious identity (i know this is not what you are saying), nor flaunt it arrogantly. Rather stay somewhere in between.

... and i am off to sleep!