I came across this life today, and it really disheartened me. The whole life was about takfiring the sisters on the screen. It was filled with brothers calling the women on the screen kahbahs and some even said they Wernt even worth turning into concubines. The host of the live even went as far as to say that he prays one of the girls never gets guided back to Islam and for allahs curse to be upon her. Everyone in the comments were agreeing with them and saying filthy things about the sisters there.

I couldn’t help but feel defeated and helpless. I had already felt bad the women on the screen for the poor mistreatment the Muslim community has given them (mainly Khadijah) so to hear them being degraded and dragged to filth really broke my heart. It really reinforced the idea that Salafi Muslim really do dominate our community.

What do u guys think about this?

Salaam to everyone,

These Salafis are indeed hypocrites, they are lenient to Jews more than Shias, be kind to a Jewish leader but not kind to a martyr of Islam.

Indeed Salafiyyah was made by Britz.

There is no single sect that salafis have never takfired.

There is a phrase that is so often used in discussions regarding certain issues: imitating Allah. Ive been thinking a lot about this phrase and how its used.

Usually its used in the context of art and fictional stories and why they are haram. Its said that painting, sculpting or drawing animate objects is haram because you are imitating Allah. The same is said for writing fictional stories and making up characters and worlds. To me this argument is so absurd and far fetched. Aside from how stupid this reasoning is, its also frustrating because it prohibits creativity and expression. Very facist but thats not surprising.

What to do you guys think about this topic? I would love to hear your perspectives and if you've done any research regarding this issue.

Assalamu alaikum.

I recently commented this under a post asking the same question, but I thought it'd be good as well to make a post about this for anyone curious.

The funny thing is that historically, Dar Al-Ifta, and by extension, Al-Azhar, was considered the preeminent school of learning in the Sunni world. Probably akin Oxford if we're going to make an analogy. That should tell you something about how much scholarly weight it has and also how progressive the Muslim ummah used to be compared to the rest of the world.

I'm assuming everyone knows about the rise of Wahabbism and how it imposed its extremism and literalism with no context of Hadiths; and how it killed those who committed shirk. These people aligned themselves with the House of Saud rebelled against the Ottomans and killed many innocent Sufis and Shias. However, the Ottomans were able to put a stop to them for a while, but they rose up again in the 20th century and betrayed their Muslim brothers by allying with the British. For a while, this country and all the other Gulf States were extremely poor and had almost zero economy because of a lack of resources. However, as we all know, they hit black gold (oil) recently and were able to become extremely wealthy.

Why I'm giving that little history lesson is because these conservatives were able to funnel their money into publishing and supporting scholars that aligned with their rigid, oppressive interpretation of Islam. And as I mentioned, the extremist, Wahabbi clerics were supported by the House of Saud. They became extremely wealthy, and are still supported to this day. Because of this, they were able to export their version of Islam throughout the Internet, in English; at a time when the majority of the Muslim ulema was still relying on books and oral transmissions through Arabic. This is why you see many rigid Islamic answers on websites that go way back to the 90s.

Institutes like Al-Azhar have just started publishing in English and on the Internet as they didn't have, and still don't have, the amount of financial backing the Wahabbis do. And if the most preeminent school of Islamic learning throughout history has lost financially to the extreme, what chance do smaller institutes have to get their voice out from the pile? This is also why if you talk to many scholars and not laymen, they will say that issues like listening to music HISTORICALLY and even to this day have not had ijma (consensus) even though all the English fatwas make it sound like there is.

Dar Al-Ifta takes into account philosophy and rationalization, things rejected by literalists, even though this is plain hypocrisy because only through philosophical and ethical developments was slavery ended in the Muslim world. In my opinion, the only way we can fight the regression of Muslim society is to keep trying to get our voices out and support humane institutions like Dar Al-Ifta.

Allah knows best.

I was looking at historical photos of Mecca and Medina and noticed that women rarely appeared in the streets. Like many conservative Muslim societies, it seems women generally did not go out without a specific purpose.

https://saudiarabesque.com/outdoor-traditional-dress-of-a-woman-from-hijaz-saudi-arabia/

In the few, rare photos where women do appear, they are FULLY veiled. Looking into traditional urban Hejazi dress, I found descriptions of a black outer cloak, similar to today's abaya, paired with a long white face veil resembling a historical burqa or modern niqab.

What I find strange is that some modern Saudi Hejazis deny this tradition altogether, claiming women in the Hejaz were not veiled, and lying further to claim that they were unveiled.
Yet the historical record overwhelmingly shows veiled women in the cities of Mecca, Medina, and Jeddah, while the few examples of unveiled women mostly come from remote mountain villages, which were not representative of the urban population.
Hejazi historians have also documented and preserved these garments and burqas.

It's interesting how the holy cities influenced dress and customs across much of the Muslim world. Whatever one's views today, denying that veiling was a common practice in the urban Hejaz seems inconsistent with the historical evidence.

Assalamu alaikum! This subrreddit r/progressivenikkah is specifically designed for progressive Muslims to discuss marriage and relationships, as well as to find a potential partner (Inshallah). This subreddit is fundamentally friendly, with MLM, WLW, etc etc. all being affirmed and welcomed there.

DISCLAIMER: IF YOU HAVE RELIGIOUS OCD I DONT RECOMMEND READING THIS POST AS IT MAY BE TRIGGERING!

Hi everyone. I really need some advice because I've been struggling with something that's affecting my daily life.

For as long as I can remember, I've loved watching anime, TV shows, listening to music, and drawing. These were never more than hobbies for me a way to relax, be creative, and escape stress. I always separated fiction from reality. My faith, values, and understanding of right and wrong were never influenced by the stories I watched or the music I listened to.

I enjoy fantasy and romance anime, fictional worlds, and creating characters through drawing. Even when a story contained things that contradict Islam like fictional deities, magic, or relationships outside marriage, I never confused fiction with reality. I knew it wasn't real, and I never accepted those ideas as beliefs or values. If something was genuinely inappropriate, I usually skipped it.

I also have to admit that I mostly watch shows on pirated websites. Deep down I always felt it might be wrong, but I never gave it much thought.

Everything changed when I started reading detailed fatwas online.

I came across opinions stating that music is forbidden, drawing living beings is forbidden, anime and fictional stories can spiritually desensitize a person, emotionally attaching to fictional characters is problematic, and using pirated websites is sinful. I also learned about other rulings, like the prohibition of lying even while joking.

Since then, it feels like every time I learn a new fatwa, my world becomes smaller.

Instead of feeling closer to Allah, I feel trapped. I constantly question every hobby I enjoy.

Is drawing people really considered imitation of Allah's creation?

Are animations included in that?

Is listening to music really spiritually harmful, even though I've listened to it my whole life without it affecting my faith?

Is enjoying fictional stories sinful if I fully understand they're fictional?

Is building fictional worlds or characters somehow trying to compete with Allah's creation?

Am I inviting Allah's anger by continuing hobbies that, until recently, I believed were nothing more than harmless entertainment?

I know many respected scholars hold these views, and I don't dismiss them. That's exactly why this has become so difficult. I no longer know what to think.

I've stopped drawing.

I've almost stopped listening to music.

I barely watch anything anymore.

Life feels gray. The excitement I used to feel when opening my phone or working on creative projects is gone. I mostly feel okay only when I'm busy with chores, spending time with family, or sleeping because my mind finally gets a break.

I've tried reading different scholarly opinions, including more nuanced ones, but instead of finding peace, I find myself chasing certainty that I don't think I'll ever reach.

I'm not writing this because I'm looking for someone to tell me that everything is halal.

I'm genuinely trying to understand how an ordinary Muslim is supposed to deal with sincere scholarly disagreement without falling into constant fear, guilt, and paralysis.

If you've gone through something similar, or if you have balanced advice grounded in Islamic knowledge and wisdom, I would sincerely appreciate hearing it.

PLEASE, ONE REQUEST:

If your intention is simply to tell me that all of these hobbies are unquestionably haram and leave it at that, I kindly ask that you refrain from commenting. I already understand those opinions, and reading them repeatedly has contributed significantly to the distress I'm experiencing.

I'm not looking for arguments. I'm looking for guidance on how to live my faith without constantly feeling terrified or spiritually crushed.

May Allah guide us all to what pleases Him and grant us certainty, wisdom, and peace. Ameen.

Assalamualaikum

As stated in the title, I believe that today there shall be no hudud punishments. Mostly because they are not as effective as the other things we have today. Yet I'm struggling to explain it in the case of punishment for sex.

I'm not denying that sex outside marriage is sin. I am also not denying that historically it made perfect sense to set boundaries around it, since there was no DNA test, no protection, nothing.

Today...I don't think there is reasonable to have it.

Yet it feels as if no scholar agrees with me, and I don't know how to defend my position. Struggling.

Would appreciate any help, resources, anything.

Another thing, PLEASE, do not turn this comment section into a place of debate...I know it's probably unavoidable, but I'm genuinely struggling a lot, and it feels as if I'm hanging on the last thread. I don't and can't stand to see any more negativity or harshness.

Don't even know why I'm posting this or what exactly I'm expecting.

​

Asking for a relative

First don't say anything about zina because they are 12 (hence why I am posting this myself) so are they allowed to befriend eachother and talk amongst eachother without any romantic feelings on either side? Like just a friendship. Because I am confused since most sources online talk about older people and the temptation of zina but surely it's fine if they're young?

Jazak allahu Khair,

I’m (30F) 36 weeks pregnant. My mother traveled 16 hours by car to come support me in my last month of pregnancy and to stay even after delivery to support me for 40 days postpartum. This was a given and i never said no or tried to protest it. My husband was fine with the idea.

My mother is lovely, helpful and makes the best food. But we live in a very small house and she sleeps in the living room.

Mama is very religious. Like very very religious. Stays up all night praying-religious. Unfollows and stops talking to her children when they don’t live according to Islam-religious. I’ve lied to her about most aspects of my life including praying and dressing modestly. I pray when I want/can, and I dress however i’m comfortable especially during my pregnancy being in summer. But out of respect for her I don’t when she’s around. But her being in my house/home I’m considering changing my stance.

Anyway, she’ll be around for a long time. My husband doesn’t mind but he also finds her lectures to be very draining. He is not religious. I can sit and listen to her, I don’t mind, I just don’t really discuss.

I love my mama, don’t get me wrong. I’d die for the woman. She’s done everything for us/me. She’s also funny and likes to have fun. It’s just that we’re so so different. She is now asking if I want her with me at the hospital.
considering I’m physically unable to say no to her due to years and years of lying to her, I’m not sure how to say no. And to be honest, I’m not sure if I even know if I want her there or not.

I wanna hear from someone in a similar situation or has been in one: to have my super religious mother attend the birth of my daughter, or not..?

Thank you 🙏

Assalamu alaikum everyone.

I would like to ask you all to make duʿā for my friend’s friend who is going through an extremely difficult situation right now.

She told my friend that she was thinking about ending her life, and we are worried because she has not been responding.

I cannot share her name or personal details out of respect for her privacy, but please ask Allah to protect her, keep her safe, ease the pain in her heart, send her help, and grant her healing, hope, and strength.

Please keep her in your duʿās. May Allah have mercy on every soul struggling in silence and bring them relief.

Jazakum Allahu khayran.

If you have a surah or ayah that you think is not discussed or appreciated as much as it should be, please feel free to share it or elaborate on why you like it! Thank you very much in advance! I'm sure the responses will be very interesting to read

Hi I’m 18F living in the UK going to do university in a years time. Theres just so much about my dad that makes me feel so uncomfortable. Like the way he justifies his actions vs all of ours makes him out to be a hypocrite and plain rude.

1) since march I was starting to learn how to drive manual because I wanted to do paramedics at university. Hes against me doing paramedics but hasn’t really touched on it. Recently I’ve been saying how I can’t get parallel parking right and he just started saying “SEE DO AUTOMATIC U DONT LISTEN TO ME WHEN I SAID SO” and goes on about how women shouldn’t learn how to drive manual because we’re just “incapable” to.

2) he goes off on me about wearing sweatpants to college n how I should always wear an abaya (sometimes I can’t do that due to having sports). He also makes me not talk to men (understandable) but one time I was waiting in a takeaway shop for my order and he makes me get in the car and starts going off on me about how I shouldn’t be there in the first place. But this man has no problem talking to our neighbours (who are women playing with their kids outside) and talks to them frequently. I also notice him looking at women on the streets and if there is a woman approaching us to ask for something, he answers for me. It makes me disgusted and I feel so bad for my mom who wears a niqabi for literally this reason.

3) I’ve been trying to find jobs to support university because this man is incapable of promising financial support and every job ive applied for he has critics and has critics about it. Applying for waitressing or restaurant jobs: women shouldn’t work there. Applying for office jobs: women shouldn’t work there. Applying for anything he believes women shouldn’t be accepted in the first place. Like how am I supposed to take at face value you would disown your daughter over her working at the local cafe??

4) he puts on a front to the imam of our mosque and his friends that he is the greatest man and dad alive when really his wife wants to leave, his son doesn’t talk to him. And when I decide to put effort in he makes the convo so bad I have to hold myself from breaking something. He thinks teasing and belittling me and twisting my words gives him the upper hand and makes him hilarious when really it makes me think “how stupid is this man?”. He doesn’t wash his plates and leaves his mug on the table letting it dry out and his idea of helping with the dishes is soaking it instead of attempting to clean it. Me and my brother have leftovers sometimes that we want to eat later, but my dad eats it without a care in the world. I spent two days baking this amazing cherry pie and my dad ate so many slices while telling me to make more. I would but the thing is he doesn’t offer to get ingredients or help me. He just assumes I would do it anyways.

5) his political speeches tied with Islam is horrific. Hed say wrong things and would say that politics in the west are so inefficient than in Asia. Some points I agree but when I point out things Pakistani or Bangladesh or the central Asian countries did to people especially women, he acts like ive made it all up as comedy. I can’t sit down and have a meal with him without him forcing nonsense down my throat. I promise you if I asked the imam of our mosque about the things my dad says, the imam would call him out as a hypocrite and much worse.

There are so many other things he’s done to us esp my mom (his mom performed black magic causing her 8 miscarriages every time they spent the night at her house and he’s do ne nothing when they (his mom and sisters) ridiculed her at the beginning of their marriage). Inshallah he just straightens up and realises he’s acting stupid

My husband and I spent almost our entire dinner last night talking about one hadith, and I swear it's been bothering me so much, to the extent that I've had a severe headache ever since.

We were talking about the incident where some of the Prophet (PBUH)'s wives became upset because people kept bringing gifts on Aisha's day, and ASTAGFIRULLAH... I don't know what it is about this incident, but it's really shaken me. I'm not trying to be disrespectful at all. If anything, it's the complete opposite. I care so much that I can't just brush it aside and pretend it doesn't bother me.

My husband actually said something that I thought was really beautiful. He basically said maybe Allah preserved incidents like these because He wanted us to see the Prophet (PBUH) as a real human being living through incredibly difficult situations, not some unreachable superhero that none of us could ever relate to. He was leading an Ummah, receiving revelation, settling disputes, fighting wars, caring for his family, and on top of all that, navigating a polygamous marriage where jealousy and competition between wives would naturally exist. My husband said maybe that's the whole point. Maybe Allah wanted us to see what striving for excellence looks like in the middle of a messy, complicated human life, not in some perfect fantasy where every situation has an easy answer.

Honestly...

I love that perspective.

I really do.

But I still can't seem to digest it completely.

I keep replaying the whole incident in my head and thinking... were there really no other ways this could have been handled?

Couldn't he have sat down with each wife individually and really acknowledged what she was feeling?

Couldn't he have asked people to stop bringing gifts specifically on Aisha's day if it was creating tension?

And why did his preference for Aisha become so publicly known that other people started changing their behavior because of it in the first place?

Then I think about Fatimah and what he said to her. The way I currently read those narrations, it almost feels like emotional blackmail, ASTAGFIRULLAH. Again, I'm not saying that's what it was. I'm saying that's how it lands on me emotionally right now, and I hate that it does. Instead of first acknowledging why the other wives were hurting, it feels like Fatimah was put in the middle and asked to carry a message that made me think, "How could she possibly say no to her father after hearing that?" Maybe I'm completely misunderstanding it, but that's the feeling I can't seem to shake.

And then I think about Umm Salama. This part is just as difficult for me. The way I currently understand the narrations, it almost feels like the "revelation card" was played to end the discussion, ASTAGFIRULLAH ASTAGFIRULLAH. I know that's an incredibly uncomfortable way to describe it, and I genuinely don't mean any disrespect by saying it. I'm simply trying to explain why I'm struggling so much with this incident. When I read it, part of me keeps wishing the emotions and hurt behind the complaint had been acknowledged first before the conversation effectively came to an end. Maybe that's because I'm reading it through a modern lens. Maybe I'm missing crucial context. I honestly don't know.

I genuinely feel uncomfortable even writing all of this because part of me immediately thinks, "Who am I to question the Prophet (PBUH)?", especially since I'm such a sinful woman with so many obvious and hidden flaws. But another part of me also feels that Allah gave us hearts and minds for a reason, and sincere questions aren't the same as disrespect. Pretending I'm not struggling isn't going to magically make the struggle disappear.

Maybe I'm missing important historical context. Maybe I'm reading everything through a modern lens. Maybe there are narrations or scholarly explanations that completely change how this incident should be understood. I honestly don't know.

I just know that this has affected me much more deeply than I expected.

Has anyone else here ever struggled with this particular incident? If you did, what helped you make peace with it? How did your perspective change over time? Please share something, anything, with me, I'm desperate to read or hear something that would put my heart and mind at peace, INSHALLAH!

What are y'all thoughts on Qur'an Alone?

​i want to love allah so much, yet it feels like everyday there's new news of horrible things happening, either because or affirmed by a person's interpretation of allah.

to go to prayer for the sake of it. what a beautiful thing! yet it's hard to when the imam doing his khutbah says lg+ community is some sort of virus creeping against islam; or whatever else they say while yelling into the mic, forcing me to close my ears.

and i know im being selfish. and i am aware this is a test. i will try my level best to keep coming back to allah.

yet i do not know allah; this is all guesswork. what to do when another person also trying their best to come back to allah, believes in several hundred problematic and backwards beliefs? and yet they are called more virtuous, more pious.​ and i know im not supposed to let people determine my beliefs: but it's hard to, when religion is ultimately community. I love you guys and i love this subreddit: but i will meet none of you.

and to think all so many things would be different if not for merchants coming in and spreading their religion, and if not for being colonized for some spices.

i don't need answers, most of the problems with religion can usually be solved with: "read the holy book and understand its context; don't follow people or even scholars blindly." i just wanna publicly talk about the things i struggle with, since I know most people around me will either tell me to suck it up and struggle, or will just go wax poetic about allah and islam and whatever.

ultimately it's religion i have a problem with, not just islam. since the problems in islam are also problems in other religions too. i just wish humans were better, including me.

When I first became irreligious towards the very end of 2024, it was almost purely due to disillusionment with God. I was going through extreme academic difficulties and after being super religious my entire childhood and early adult life attending the masjid regularly I had a very strong feeling that God had let me down as I was overwhelmed by people in college much much smarter than me and seemed to have everything figured out while my whole life fell apart. I just stopped believing God existed, partly as a form of rebellion and partly cause I simply had just given up. At the time I told myself it was just a temporary feeling and that eventually I would come back to God like I always had but I guess deep down inside I already knew that this time it was different.

That being said, I never came back from it. Though nowadays it is much more cemented, I experienced a significant shift in my worldview and everything felt like it had flipped on its head compared to two years ago. Though I am still trying to figure stuff out and its extremely difficult trying to figure out my identity , and still have deep respect for my religion especially when it’s not brain dead and dogmatic and bevels a tool of resistance to oppression in this world, I am still most certain that I will never believe in God again, at least not the Islamic/Abrahamic God or even any other deity for that matter. A lot of it comes with realizing that everything you did in your childhood now no longer means anything; because for someone who was once a devout Muslim, giving up Islam feels like giving up everything you feel like you’ve accomplished in the past along with any sense of direction in your future.
And combined with the fact that even before leaving I had extreme problems with anger control and with patience and belief that everything will get better and always felt like a pessimist, which ironically might have motivated me to give up on God altogether

I am still struggling tremendously as my academics continue to plummet; once a devout Muslim and aspiring doctor I know don't even know if I will be able to finish my major without failing out, and also the realization that this is the only life I'll ever get, that there is no afterlife, makes me constantly impatient to move out of my parents' house, get the fk out of my lame ass city, leave my past behind, and be who I want to be. But also at the same time I'm scared that that won't solve anything and I would ultimately end up at the same spot again mentally.

I know that somehow I will need to end up having to confront the extreme short temper and lack of patience I’ve always had as it’s always been a burden on my family at times and I would hate for it to potentially carry onto my wife and kids someday.

I have a genuine question about the Quranic verse on marrying up to four wives i understand that the verse was revealed in a historical context where there were many orphans and vulnerable women after conflicts and that justice between wives is emphasized my question is: if one of the reasons behind the ruling was to provide protection and support for vulnerable women how do muslims understand the continued relevance of polygamy today when women can be supported through other means without marriage? and then why are only four marriages allowed? What if a fifth woman who's vulnerable comes along then what abt that woman? I've looked up vids about this on youtube and not one sheikh had a video regarding this so it makes me wonder why do these sheikhs never talk about stuff that matters

​

First of all, i dont want anyone to stop praying because of me, it could just be a coincidence and this isnt something u should do, if u can hold on to ur prayers please hold on.Praying is the hardest thing in the world for me right now.

Why do i feel so much happier when im away from islam, when i dont pray or read the quran i feel like a burden has been lifted off me.

A year ago i used to love islam and praying and reading the quran, everybody saw me as a good muslim, i used to love Allah and repent etc but now it feels like Allah is pushing me away from islam, my life had become unbearable and i began hating myself and islam

Every time i pray i feel so heavy and i find it so hard to do wudhu and pray so i abandoned it as it became too overwhelming and i feel like each time i tried to become a better muslim, Allah doesnt like it and he pushes me away by making my life harder and making me sad.

I know this isnt logical but i cant think of any other explanation to why Allah does this to me, ive also noticed sometimes life gets easier when i dont pray.

I’m stuck with a sin that has been causing me much distress yet I can’t seem to be able to leave it. It’s really stupid and when you read what sin it is, I’m sure you’d think why am I so attached to it, to the point of putting my akhira at risk for it but I’ve been doing it for 6-7 years and it’s an escape as well as comfort for me (which is not an excuse of course). It’s reading explicit bl comics/novels.

For the past two years, Whenever I try to repent i just feel so sad and depressed and when not repenting i feel anxious all the time. Allah has granted me so many blessings and yet I am unable to leave such a stupid sin. Also it’s making me feel like I am doomed, because isn’t that basically loving a sin more than god? I have entertained the idea of not repenting many times making excuses such as I will increase in worship and it’s probably a minor sin (which maybe it’s a major one idk). And I am terrified of one day rejecting the truth just to be able to continue that sin (by that I mean convincing myself it’s not haram while deep down i know it is etc..).

I am in constant anxiety and fear of punishment because of that sin and terrified I am maybe committing hypocrisy/kufr by not repenting yet I don’t have the heart to repent. It’s really stupid, but I’m at a loss of what to do.

Recently I've been feeling like none of this makes sense to me. I don't think I'm an atheist but the concept of organised religion feels increasingly made up to me as time goes on. It's mostly the abundance of rules that are pushed onto us. It feels more man made and used to almost organise society into fitting what felt acceptable at the time. Has anyone else felt like this before and managed to overcome it?

Hello everyone this is my first time posting here and I wanna say im afraid that when I die I will not see my father in barzakh because im not a good Muslim I mean I missed prayer sometimes and I always play games that have nudity and masturbate and im afraid that when I died I be alone in the graves and won't see my late father and mother again

Salaam Alaikom everyone! I really hope I can post this here because I deeply benefited from the incredible nuance compassion and grounding by this ustadh to clarify hadith. If it helps you, please make duaa for him and share! ❤️🤲

CLICK HERE