Fasting During Ramadan

Today, my mom and I were discussing fasting during Ramadan. We were talking about how Muslims nowadays think of any excuse to pardon themselves from fasting. In my family alone, my mother, one of my cousins and I are the only ones who fast the entire month of Ramadan. Every time I meet my aunt, she tells me not to fast because it is “difficult” since I go to school. I just tell her OK and continue. I feel as if people are beginning to make their own rules regarding Islam. Not everyone relies on its true teachings anymore. Then again, I admire others who do extra. For instance, pregnant women are exempt from fasting, yet some still fast. I am just amazed as to the endurance of some and to the lack of it in others. At least to my friends and me, fasting is amazing. It gives me a sense of peace and accomplishment…and it is not that difficult. After all, people who live in poverty go through a lot worse every day. Ramadan helps me appreciate what I take for granted and look to those who do not have the necessities of life.

Muslim Prophets

I remembered today to write something on the blog after forgetting to do so the last two times. Tuesday’s class we mentioned a lot about Muslim prophets. Every prophet mentioned in class was from Europe or Central Asia. I’m wondering if there were any prophets in East Asia or in the Americas. I guess not because Islam was around these parts until Muslims immigrated to these places. You would think that God would want everyone on Earth to know his messages. Like many of you, I too am wondering why God made Muhammad the last prophet. My guess is that God had given us the a good amount of wisdom he could through the prophets and no longer had anything else to add.

Response to “women in islam”

As an “outsider” to Islam, I have heard so many people talk about the opression of women in Islam, and for a long time I was not sure whether or not I should believe them because I really did not know. SInce I am not a Muslim, I suppose my view on this could be considered unbiased. From reading the Qur’an and from spending ALOT of time with a Muslim family, I can confidently say that Muslim women really do have much freedom and are not dominated by men. I would say that the veil  actually gives them more of a sense of power and confidence to continue through life, uphold their faith, and build meaningful relationships. I think that Muslim women who wear the veil are very admirable and strong women; I would certainly have more respect for a veiled Muslim woman than a typical young American woman who walks around in provacative clothes and is surprised and disgusted when she hears inappropriate comments from men she does not even know.

Prophets

In class on Tuesday, we talked about all of the different prophets, more so Muhammad than others.  All of the prophets were sent to their own people.  Professor said this was because the people can relate to their own, meaning that they would believe one of their own more than they would believe a preson from a different background.  They are also sin free and are not capable of disobeying God, which is amazing to me.  I’m pretty sure no one in the world can say that they have never committed a single sin.  What is most interesting to me is that prophets come from various social/economic backgrounds.  It is interesting because when you think of the word prophet, you think of someone special that has the ability to spread the word of God.  Therefore, you would think that these people are rich.  This is not the case most of the time, such as in the story of Muhammad.

The Final Prophet

I have been wondering why the Prophet Muhammad would be the last that Allah would send.  My knowledge of the lineage of Prophets is very limited but I would guess that we are experiencing one of the longest periods without a new one.  What could be Allah’s reasoning behind this?  I know it is a nonsensical question to ask because we are humans and could not comprehend Allah’s reasoning.  Still, we are forced to ask these questions because we are human.  Muhammad came when Mecca was in peril, being overtaken by idol worshipers and tribal rituals.  Such time of despair and hopelessness is typically conducive for the emergence of great leaders.  What if a new Prophet were to emerge?  What would that tell us about the nature of Prophets?  I know that Muhammad said he would be the last, but our discussion in class seemed to point to the fact that Prophets are legitimized through popular belief.  Why would Allah have to make known that Muhammad is the last Prophet?