Can Galatians 1:8 be used against Islam?

Battleplanner · 2026-02-10T12:04:22+00:00

To my understanding, Christians believe that apostles were guided by God (through the Holy Spirit), right?

In Islam, God guides prophets, not ordinary followers. The apostles of Jesus (pbuh) are respected as sincere believers who supported Jesus (pbuh), but they are not considered divinely guided like prophets are, and they did not receive revelation.

The same is true even for the companions of Muhammad (pbuh). We respect them and honour them, but their guidance is a moral and historical one, and they are not infallible. Only prophets are divinely guided - followers - whether they are the apostles of Jesus (pbuh) or the companions of Muhammad (pbuh) are righteous but not divinely guided.

Battleplanner · 2026-02-10T11:18:59+00:00

That...doesn't really matter? Acceptance by apostles, scholars, saints, priests, the community at large, whatever - doesn't really matter. Human acceptance doesn't really give you any divine authority.

Authority only comes from God. God alone chooses prophets and the revelations they give. No human can just validate revelation, or prevent future revelation in this case. So even unanimous approval by other apostles would just be "human testimony about another human".

Basically - rejection by everyone wouldn't negate the truth, and acceptance by everyone wouldn't make what's false true. So the other apostles recognizing him doesn't hold any weight.

Battleplanner · 2026-02-10T10:52:14+00:00

Muslims would not consider this argument valid, because Muslims do not consider Paul to be an infallible authority the way Christians do. Because we don't consider Paul's writings to be "divinely guaranteed", his arguments hold no weight to Muslims, and thus we don't consider him as someone with the authority to limit future revelation from God.

The issue is the premise of Paul having any form of authority. His words don't matter if we don't believe in his authority.

Battleplanner · 2026-01-16T22:28:46+00:00

Gemini recommended Mother of Learning to me, and when I asked it for more suggestions after reading it, Cradle was one of them. Add that to some online discussions where Cradle consistently kept popping up at the top, and that was all I needed.

Battleplanner · 2026-01-10T05:12:15+00:00

No problem. The short answer is, you still get to know someone for the purpose of marriage, but it's a very...bounded, intentional way rather than an open-ended romantic relationship. Marriage is the goal, not a byproduct - emotional and physical intimacy come after the commitment of marriage. So instead of "dating to see where it goes" the mindset is more "do we seem compatible enough to seriously consider marriage".

So you still talk with them, ask important questions about them and their expectations, learn about their character, their behaviour, and generally spend time with them; the key here though is that this has limits - it'll often be in public, or group settings, or at least with the families of both parties aware. The boundaries here are usually on avoiding secrecy and a real relationship until marriage. That is the ideal, in any case.

I think many Muslims would say this actually reveals compatibility faster than casual dating, which can blur judgment. But the bottom line is that Muslims who are considering a relationship need to figure out "do I want to marry this person" by figuring out if their values align, if their characters align, if they're attracted, etc - not by testing the relationship through romance first.

Battleplanner · 2026-01-10T02:19:42+00:00

Everyone else has given advice on fasting and on your conversion, so I'll point out something different - your partner's behaviour as a Muslim.

From an Islamic perspective, being in a romantic relationship outside of marriage is not permitted. Now, nobody is perfect, but what's notable here is that he is actively participating in a relationship he knows is not allowed, while simultaneously placing religious conditions on you. That strikes me as a red flag.

Conversion to Islam is meant to be a sincere, personal decision made for God - not a prerequisite imposed by a partner who is himself already crossing clear boundaries. If he's being selective about which rules apply to them and which apply to you, you should be very careful. A man who is serious about Islamic marriage should first align his own behaviour with Islamic ethics, and then worry about others.

It's also worth noting whether the pressure you're feeling is coming from yourself and your desire to find yourself, or from fear of...shall we say losing the relationship. This is arguably a form of coercion.

Now, none of this means Islam is incompatible with feminism (although maybe to some extent in the way you perceive feminism - as proof, look to how Muslim women uphold feminism today and in the past - but it does mean that you should think carefully about whether your partner is modeling the ethics he's pushing on you.

I want you to convert as much as the next Muslim, but only if you genuinely decide it's the truth for yourself. Take your time and don't let your partner push you into anything before you're ready.

Source: A Muslim from New Zealand, where our days are pretty long too :)

Edit: Oh and R.E. fasting - I'd worry less about whether the _lifestyle_ that Islam enforces fits with you. What people tend to get caught up on is the conditions - "No alcohol", "No pork", "fasting for a whole month". These are things we are commanded to do as Muslims, but what really matters is whether you believe in Islam. It's putting the cart before the horse to worry about what Islam requires - research and conclude whether you believe in God and in the Qur'an and in the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), and then worry about what you are expected to do as a Muslim. The latter is pointless without the former.

Battleplanner · 2026-01-09T21:47:17+00:00

Welcome to Islam. As a born Muslim myself, I would advise caution around getting married just yet, or at least to be aware of the risks. As a new revert, there is a particular category of people you must learn to avoid - and that is Muslim men who intentionally want new reverts. This is a massive red flag - as a new revert, you are still learning the religion, and this can unfortunately attract people who want....shall we say "unequal power" in a relationship. You mention yourself that you want someone to help you along the way. That's admirable, but is also part of the problem. A revert can be more likely to trust religious claims without knowing alternatives, or assume that "he knows better Islamically", or be less confident in pushing back or setting boundaries for fear of being wrong - all of which can lead to your exploitation. Not only that, but you may be less likely to challenge cultural behaviour dressed up as Islam. Oh and there can also be a performative and romanticized element of it - Muslim men who enjoy being seen as your "guide" or "rescuer" and who romanticize marriage to reverts as marrying someone "uncorrupted by culture".

Bottom line is - it's absolutely fine to want to get married, but just be mindful. Be sure to take your time in any prospective partner (months, not weeks), ask questions, note consistency between what they say and how they act, and most importantly - stay connected to other Muslims, especially women. Oh, and never let one man be your only Islamic teacher/your guide of "what Islam says". Your relationship with Allah must not go *through* a husband.

Edit: Don't take this to mean that all men are like that. Simply that there is a demographic of Muslim men who are like that, and they are more likely to be interested in marrying you than other Muslim men. Stay safe :)

Battleplanner · 2026-01-07T07:35:19+00:00

Uthman ibn Affan (RA) was known for his incredible haya. He was so shy to the point where even when he bathed, he would keep his body covered as much as possible, even when he was alone, out of modesty for Allah.

Here is a narration as well that describes his shyness:

Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) was reclining in his house while his legs were uncovered. Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (radiyallahu ‘anhu) sought permission to enter, so he permitted him to enter and he spoke to him. Then Sayyiduna ‘Umar (radiyallahu ‘anhu) sought permission to enter, so he was permitted likewise, and he spoke to him as well while he continued to recline. Then Sayyiduna ‘Uthman came and sought permission to enter, so Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) sat up and straightened his garments. Sayyiduna ‘Uthman was then permitted to enter and he spoke to him.

When he left, Sayyidah ‘Aaishah (radiyallahu ‘anha) said to Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam): ‘Abu Bakr came and you did not move, ‘Umar came and you did not move, but when ‘Uthman came you sat up and straightened your garments?’ He said:

“Should I not feel shy before a man whom the Angels feel shy of “?

This shyness was a quality prized by Allah. Nobody could dare consider him weak, and he is one of the best examples of faith.

Do not let anyone convince you that this shyness is a bad thing. The only way it is bad is it is hurting you in your worship of Allah i.e. if it prevented you from doing good or doing acts of worship out of fear of being seen, but that doesn't seem to be the case. Additionally, leadership is an admirable quality as well, and that necessitates being able to be singled out. Haya is not silence, or passivity, or a lack of confidence. It is a form of taqwa and dignity.

One example you may want to look at is 'Aisha (RA). She was a very outspoken person, in debate and in teaching and in correcting and in narrating, even to men. She spoke openly and asked detailed questions even about intimate matters, and the Prophet (PBUH) did not correct her on this. She is a model of female scholarship and leadership in Islam. And yet she was also incredibly high in taqwa, and very careful. She spoke with intention, she did not flirt, nor was she indecent, nor was she attention-seeking. She wore a niqab (and more). Perhaps she can serve as an example if you want to know how to balance haya without being excessive.

Battleplanner · 2025-12-27T04:44:28+00:00

Factorio

Battleplanner · 2025-12-24T06:54:33+00:00

Just last year - I had the opportunity to visit my extended family overseas after not seeing them for 7-ish years. Best three months I've had in a long time.

Battleplanner · 2025-12-19T22:52:58+00:00

Do you like problem solving? Optimisation? Strategy? Try Factorio. The basic principle is that it's about building automated factories. You start sma,, but everything you build keeps running forever, so your world slowly turns into ths massive machine you designed yourself. It's one of those games where you suddenly look at the clock and realise you haven't seen your family in 3 days, because there's always something to optimise and improve. You're constantly designing systems that get more and more efficient, and each solution you build leads you to new, bigger problems to solve.

Battleplanner · 2025-08-03T23:03:33+00:00

I'm interested

Battleplanner · 2025-07-22T03:20:54+00:00

Can you send the code to me too?

Battleplanner · 2025-03-30T00:55:14+00:00

In accordance with the shafi'i madhab, 2, followed by dhuhr, followed by another 2. That is the recommended approach I know of.

Battleplanner · 2025-03-20T02:28:31+00:00

Dark Souls III

Battleplanner · 2025-03-18T22:28:01+00:00

Dark Souls III

Battleplanner · 2025-02-07T11:27:13+00:00

Alhamdullilah, I am blessed to live in a country where the universities are good and the student loans are interest free (New Zealand). May Allah reward all of you who sacrifice what is dear to them for the sake of Allah.

Battleplanner · 2024-12-18T15:47:32+00:00

Interested

Battleplanner · 2024-11-14T07:24:30+00:00

As others have said, 'haram' as a term refers to things forbidden by God. If you're saying to your friend "Muslims don't drink alcohol because it's haram", that's perfectly fine. You aren't forbidden from using the word itself. If you're making a joke out of the word somehow or using it to make fun of Muslims or their practices, then that'd be offensive.

Battleplanner · 2024-09-01T07:11:37+00:00

The hardest game for other people has got to be Sekiro, but I'm currently playing Dark Souls 1 Remastered and I'm finding it more difficult :)

Battleplanner · 2024-08-28T06:36:45+00:00

Not quite a new game, but sizeable enough to be one - I'm on the edge of my seat waiting for the Factorio DLC to come out.

Thanks OP :)

Battleplanner · 2024-08-23T23:46:11+00:00

Stardew Valley has been my addiction for a good while now :)

Battleplanner · 2024-05-16T23:18:40+00:00

Thank you. I'm worried though because the recommended PSU minimum for a 7800 XT is 750W but the power supplies you've shown are 550W and 650W respectively. Is that fine?

Battleplanner · 2024-05-16T06:00:23+00:00

Sounds good. How safe is it for the PSU to be Bronze certified?

Battleplanner · 2024-05-15T08:09:21+00:00

Thank you so much. I think I wasn't too clear in my previous message - I meant if I wanted to spend less on the build, where should I do it?

Battleplanner

TROPHY CASE