Simplejoe (former Muslim)
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Testimony of Leaving Islam
I am a former Muslim. I left Islam 5 years ago and became a theist. this is my story.
I am an arab who was born into the Sunni sect of Islam. Some say that the Sunnis are the most peaceful and tolerant Muslims. Sunni'ism is also the oldest sect (according to my knowledge). it follows all the teachings of the Quran, the prophets "hadeeth" (sayings), the orders of the caliphates, the inferences from the top teachings and the "ijma'a" which is the imams' "clerics'" voting on a particular matter if there is no precedent (like the voting of making smoking haram).
I have studied Islam all my life both privately and in school. I prayed five times a day, dreamed of going to hajj and wished to die a mujahid (martyr). my childhood was full of innocence, naivety and wonder of pretty much everything around me. my childhood also had fear of the dark, probably because of the association between darkness and evil; but this was only for a brief period of time because I remember ending up playing with the idea that jinn were in the shadows but I somehow knew that they could not harm a person with faith. Once the first intifada happened, I took the Palestinians side because they were fellow Muslims. I hated the Israelis for killing young Muslims yet I was jealous of those young martyrs. I remember asking my parents if we could go and fight alongside (I was less than ten). I did not understand why there were so few people fighting since there were so many Muslims. I could not understand the complacency that people felt. I know understand that they were waiting for one man to symbolise ultimate "evil" and another to symbolise "god's will"; basically the "liar-false prophet (dajjal-antichrist)" and the "prophet issa-jesus" (pbuh).
I grew up a bit more and studied Islam harder. I once got 100% in Islamic studies. I started wearing short dishdashas (robes) and short robes are mandatory according to the prophets teachings. stopped listening to music with certain instruments or a woman's voice, doing du'a (praying to god for specific things) and praying in the mosque as much as I could. Of course I didn't wear robes all the time, but it was a symbol whenever I felt the occasion needed it (for my own sake). I also joined an Islamic club in school. Basically Islam was my way of life. I grew more and reached puberty. and being surrounded by beautiful women (a blessing) I had a bit of trouble, I will not go into detail, but I was infatuated with a particular girl, I started listening to love songs and rap to get her attention. nothing happened. a few years passed and I grew a beard (also mandatory), I got a few complacent friends and learnt their attitude, I shaved and listened to rock, started skipping classes and being mischievous just to belong. I was having a happy adolescence. I was a Muslim, feeling a bit guilty that I had so much knowledge yet I was trying to be average in all aspects. Then one thing hit me one day that I will never forget.
We took a Surah in class called Surat ar-Rahman (sura # 55). Two aya's captured my attention ayat 19-20. The translation is "a disturbance between the two seas when they meet. Between them is a separating entity which makes them not mix." There is a lot of speculation about these two ayas. Some say that it is literal and that between all seas is a separating entity and the waters from each sea does not mix with the other. Another speculation is that the separating entity is between a river and a sea. That there is a separating entity between the them (the difference in colour suggests that to be true).
What in god's name is this great bungle in the Quran? If there is a separating entity between two seas, how do the fish migrate or boats travel? If the separating entity is between river and sea, how does the water end up in the sea and why doesn't the whole coast be fresh water? Millions of years of rivers to the sea would surely do that. In other words, neither the literal interpretation nor the half lie makes any sense. All I said was "god forgive me" (astakhfur allah). I felt that a demon (which Islam believes in ) must have whispered doubts in my ear. I was in shock.
A couple of years passed and I started smoking cannabis. I had long talks with my friends and I kept on preaching "proper" Islam to them. But that Surah and evolution and Islams mercilessness kept on nagging me. One day I remembered the fear of the dark and how I overcame it (putting off the light and sitting there) I followed my train of thought about the Surah. I saw no way around it. there was an imperfection. It was as bright as day. Now, if God is perfect and the Quran is the word of God, and there is an imperfection in the Quran; does that mean that god had an imperfect thought? or rather, did god make a mispronunciation? or even better, did god not know the simple scientific phenomena called solubility? My belief is that god is something that existed a long time ago because he must have created the big bang (that is my belief until we know scientifically what happened before the B.B.). I don't think he did anything after that. after 16 billion years, we came into existence. that is that. Sometimes we love, sometimes we lie, sometimes we kill (as a collective), and sometimes we provide justice. I could go on forever because humanity has done a lot. But sometimes we attribute things to god. That is human nature (unfortunately). It is up to the rest of humanity to stop these delusions that man or woman have created worldwide.
After I faced these issues, I renounced religion. I leave Muslims with this thought: if you believe god is perfect, you also believe that God's words are perfect. The Quran is not perfect, therefore the Quran is not the word of God. All Muslims know the problems with the other two (so called) religions of the book. If you have to have a religion (which you don't) then choose from the others which are peaceful and makes sense. It must also be compatible with the times. Also teach your children about Islam, the good and the bad. So they can avoid it. Basically let your children choose their own faith EXCEPT THIS ONE.
Thank you for taking the time.
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