Cocoa Break

Captured as Image as Arabic font not supported here.

That is my name written in Arabic font. Not that difficult to write actually. I just typed my name in ABCs at http://www.yamli.com/ and it automatically converted my name into arabic text.

And if you are wondering, my name is suppose to mean something like, “Praiseworthy of prostrating to faith (in worship)” son of “Praiseworthy for the Lord increases”.

Kinda too much isn’t it? But I like my name. Though it is a mouthful.

Well, that’s why I just introduce myself as Deen Yusoff (Faith as the lord increases). Whatever that is suppose to mean, as I feel that most names don’t make sense when you try to get the real meaning from of the names.

Full of myself,

Deen Yusoff

I had one of the worst debates with my mother recently with regards to Menstruation and Islam. One thing I realized from that argument, it is dangerous to talk about contrary beliefs to a person. Well unfortunately for me, I like to question when I don’t see obvious answers or when I see contradictory behavior. Like when women are not allowed to pray, fast or in other words not allowed to perform their religious duties and not allowed to even touch the Holy Qur’an but still must say grace before they eat or recite “Do’a” before they do anything with at least a simple “Bismillah” (In the name of God).

Anyway, let me begin with what I know about Islam and Menstruation.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/samlavi/ / CC BY 2.0

The traditional Islamic interpretation of the Qur’an forbids intercourse, but not physical intimacy, during a woman’s menstrual period. During menstrual period, women are not required to perform prayers and fasting. Some scholars believe that women are not authorized to enter mosque during this period. And, after the period, Ghusl (a spiritual bath) is required to be able to perform prayers, fasting, and to enter the mosque – the same type of bath required of both men and women after sexual intercourse.
Quoted from Wikipedia.

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Reading my good friend’s post about his disbelief in religions of the world will definitely make a person with an intellectual mind think deeper. I agree with that existence of God is something that you can’t proof. But I guess it is comforting and it gives a person hope for miracles to happen when a person is indeed in need of one.

Before I go further, I declare myself as a believing Muslim but definitely not a conventional one. I have faith in the words of the Holy Quran and will only take the other texts available, be it Hadith/Sunnahs or the Bible and Vedas as just references that may have contradictions as they were compiled late by men.

Ultimately, I would not do things against my conscience and not try to be a good Muslim. However, I am working my way to be a good Human. I also believe that it is perfectly fine to question and it is definitely ok to seek for the truth but I guess I have to try a soft approach or I will be hated by the masses.

As many conventional Muslims have already verbally abused me to have warped ideas about Islam and going the wrong path. There are many non-Muslims and educated Muslims that are able to grasp what I say and able to appreciate the Quran upon hearing what I have understood from the holy texts.

I do not blame anybody from any religion for their unfavourable reactions towards my interpretation as it is not easy to change one’s mind if they already have faith in what they were taught before. The question of who am I and what are my credentials will also be risen by many if I am to go against the common beliefs. My request is always very simple, don’t just listen to what I say. Read it yourself. Then ponder on what I have said and then come back to me and argue with me if you think I misinterpreted the Quran. Give yourself a chance.

So is there a heaven and will all good men go to heaven?

5:69 (Asad) for, verily, those who have attained to faith [in this divine writ], as well as those who follow the Jewish faith, and the sabians, Asad(5,86)^[86] and the Christians – all who believe in God and the Last Day and do righteous deeds – no fear need they have, and neither shall they grieve

I believe in the Quran, and this verse makes me happy. All good people goes to heaven. However, there is a clause, you must believe in the existence of a higher power. So will an atheist who has a kind soul and does good deeds without expecting without the belief of a heaven get to God’s paradise?

I believe that atheist wouldn’t care even and they definitely wouldnt fear too. But based on the verse quoted, they will grieve. Question is for how long? Will your punishment be eternal in hell? Will you be forced to use a chalkboard and repeat a million times  that, “I believe in God” till your fingers fall off? We don’t know.

But I believe that God will proof his existence before punishing his creations and then accept him back to home ground. He gave us free will, and he will definitely be proud of us for not believing blindly. If we were to believe a conman blindly and get robbed of all our wealth, it is our own fault. So he wouldn’t practice double standards when it comes to himself, would he?

I believe he is a Good God, and no I am not believing blindly. I have my reasons to believe his existence but its personal and may sound crazy if told. So he wouldn’t put you to hell until you deny his existence when he comes proving himself to you. Sounds fair, doesn’t it? Well at least it sounds fair to me.

This topic is never ending so I am ending this abruptly with my current prayers.

I pray God will stop Men from using him as a political tool…

La ilaha illallah,

Deen

I can’t help but to blog about the issue on “Halal-ness” of an eatery after what I’ve read.
I am sorry for those who think that I am being a busybody but since the so called private debate was public, I believe I am entitled to my own personal view. As you guys mentioned at the end of the debate,

“To each his own”.

The argument is about how Halal is an eatery and if is wrong, or should I say forbidden, for a Muslim to eat and drink at a place he or she feels “Was-Was” or doubtful about the “Halal-ness” of the eatery.

There were 2 Singaporean Muslim friends that went on a trip to Bangkok, Thailand and ran into a couple of “Was-Was” circumstances when it comes to having their daily meals. Both obviously have different ideas on what is Halal for consumption on their trip.

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Just read one of my best buddy’s post, Arif’s Ticking Clocks, titled Complexities of my religion and couldn’t help it but think myself.

 I couldn’t agree more with him that most orthodox Muslims will say that as long as you are not a Muslim, you will go to hell. Topping on to that, even if you are a Muslim and you don’t practice Islam the way those guys in the Mosques do so, you will still go to hell!

So just what gets you an express ticket to heaven in Islam?

The answer that my parents drilled in my mind since I was young is….Nothing.

There is a funny twist to what I learn in the Madrasah who claims that if people don’t do their formal prayers, their prayers won’t be heard.

I remember this story that my parents used to tell me during the days where I would believe anything an adult would say and I would like to share it with the world. The story took place in the time of our beloved Prophet Mohammed and it goes something like this…

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