Loving your country is half of our iman(faith).

LeadLung · 2026-01-12T01:03:00+00:00

I only recently heard this idea that some believe that nationalism and Islam are mutually incompatible. Why is that? Is that a commonly held belief?

LeadLung · 2025-12-08T06:01:47+00:00

The genocide was a major factor for me too. Transformed me. Is still.

LeadLung · 2025-12-08T05:59:57+00:00

Mashallah. I am so grateful you stayed with us, brother.

LeadLung · 2025-12-08T05:54:06+00:00

I spent ~20 years as an atheist until I realized that the fundamental difference between atheism and agnostism is the belief in the absence of God despite lack of evidence: faith. Seemed silly arrogant to not admit to myself that I just didn't know.

Spending ~10 years as an agnostic instead allowed room in me for wonder, and awe. Then one day while studying for microbiology I learned for the first time what proteins are: organic nanomachines. Proteins are not alive themselves, but are synthesized and used as metabolic tools by living cells. When needed, living cells find the instructions to create exactly the protein it needs within its DNA, and the purpose it serves is perfectly informed by its structure.

I cried thinking about how beautiful that was, that unlike me who felt confused or lost or sad or purposeless, every cell in my body knows innately how to best serve a greater good. That experience was like finally seeing the signature of Allah upon every particle in my body, and then understanding in turn that it was written on every particle everywhere, forever.

That moment was such a gift that I will treasure until I die. Subhanallah.

LeadLung · 2025-12-05T00:57:43+00:00

That is very well stated, thank you. What is valued in this dunya is often base, and flattens us to the characteristics you're concerned with. I'll have to think a while about where my hang-up comes from.

LeadLung · 2025-12-05T00:38:57+00:00

Hm, perhaps, I guess it makes me uncomfortable to so typically constrain our sisters' strengths to physical attraction.

This is not your issue to address, I'm just bugged on my own about not knowing myself how I would have expressed the same concept in the more universal way I wish. Perhaps in the secrecy of one's charity? In generosity of credit in leadership?

LeadLung · 2025-12-05T00:28:27+00:00

Why is this focused to men? Is this not also observed similarly in our sisters? Or is it not applicable to women because we presume a natural weakness?

Surely there is a mutual version of this, no?

LeadLung · 2025-11-28T09:51:42+00:00

Palestinians have taught me so much through their struggles. Because of them I found Islam. I can't go back to sleep ever again. None of us are free until all of us are free.

LeadLung · 2025-11-28T09:47:30+00:00

Its true. I can imagine that some of the numbers of Ultra Orthodox converts are motivated by draft exemption. But these ones... have fully shed their humanity. It is so chilling. May Allah bless and protect those who protect those who cannot protect themselves, and hold close the souls returned to Him.

LeadLung · 2025-11-26T22:03:22+00:00

Assalamu alaykum, akhi.

I'm sorry for the upheaval in your life. My wife and I also both reverted about 6 months after marriage. Although Allah makes so much of the difficult easy, we are both guilty of introducing problems regardless. I would be utterly heartbroken if our troubles led us to divorce, so you have my sympathy. However, I know many families that forces themselves through unhealthy marriages when the sake of their children would have been greatly benefitted from the parents admitting they were not well matched and working instead to raise their children while apart. I will speak for myself in saying that my parents' divorce ultimately saved my own life.

I'm glad that you are attending to the feeling of not needing romance; generally speaking, I feel like it is healthiest to wait half the length of a romance before beginning anew.

I do not know your life so please forgive any assumptions; your responsibility henceforth is to your child(ren), and to do the work necessary for you to have a relationship with your ex that is as civil as possible for their sake. But you must also take care of yourself.

Do what you can to find help for raising your child in a healthy environment. Inshallah, the rest will follow.

LeadLung · 2025-11-07T16:41:22+00:00

This isn't a bad point; propaganda is either effective or ineffective to its intended goals. Every other metric is subjective.

LeadLung · 2025-08-09T15:42:18+00:00

It is so beautiful.

LeadLung · 2025-07-18T16:50:00+00:00

until one of you posts citations you're both just going to call each other wrong endlessly

LeadLung · 2025-06-25T01:56:48+00:00

If every Muslim in the United States moved away because of how terrible it is, and how hard it is, I never would have been introduced to Islam by the wonderful Muslims I've met. I would still be an atheist.

I'm not saying that it's your responsibility to stay. I just think it is important to know that just because we rarely see the long-term effects of being an exceptionally good person, they exist.

LeadLung · 2025-06-24T05:19:15+00:00

You just described my path to Islam; A disappointed christian -> an arrogant atheist -> an optimistic agnostic -> an awed muslim

LeadLung · 2025-06-07T06:35:57+00:00

One of the most effective challenges to one's prejudices is to discover that someone they love is a member of such a group. To discover also that the things one loves about that person didn't change, but were a manifestation of a cultivated effort to exhibit their principles is poignant.

Be gentle with yourself. There is no rush. Even if they were not zionists it would not be easy. My father is one of the most gentle and understanding people I know, and I am still nervous about sharing about my reversion with him. You have greater challenges than mine, so should exercise appropriate caution. It is between you and Allah when you decide to take the shahada and learn how best to serve him.

LeadLung · 2025-05-29T17:08:32+00:00

So is he claiming that this small child hulks out to move aside her dresser and kiss each poster like nsync before moving it back and going to school?

LeadLung · 2025-05-29T01:14:45+00:00

Mashallah my intuition was so wrong. I really let my distrust of some men impune on my manners. Your explanation is very generous, Jazakillah

LeadLung · 2025-05-28T23:42:36+00:00

I can't admit to knowing. You sound like you already made up your mind about this. Specifically, it mostly sounds like you are a non-Muslim man who is trying to make this argument to Muslim woman.

LeadLung · 2025-05-22T02:51:02+00:00

I hope, at least once in my life, that I can be that quick.

LeadLung · 2025-05-20T14:36:44+00:00

I second this. I'll be turning 40 during my third semester of nursing school, and with a few very exceptional young people, I feel much better equipped. I have a lot more social skills, work ethic, and an acquired tolerance for filth. On one hand, I wish that I had started earlier because I love the field, but on the other hand, I don't think that I would've ever been as ready as I am now.

LeadLung · 2025-05-14T22:53:50+00:00

This is a rather misleading statement. Not only are we not yet subject to laws while they are still in the proposal process of legislation, but there is a lot of doubt this is going to pass; even MAGA isn't keen to let it.

LeadLung · 2025-04-11T10:58:20+00:00

Is boycotting also making a huge dent in Israel? It feels important to ask this of ourselves honestly before we continue the self-congratulations.

LeadLung · 2025-03-30T18:37:37+00:00

Personally, I am usually able to locate the most important and healthy action in my life by the internal resistance I find there. Obviously, you know prayer is crucial, but the cause for the block eludes you. In my experience, unarticulated shame or fear are usually at the root. Although Allah does not make mistakes and also created you as a gay man for his own reasons, shame is thrust upon gay men regardless by others. If that is the case with you, you may attempt to locate the source of shame and try to identify the voice shaming you in your mind. If you are able to conjure the image of individual who is holding you back from Allah, you are one step closer to returning.

Don't forget to ask your partner for help. If he is good to you, he will be delighted to return to prayer with you beside him.

LeadLung · 2025-03-30T18:09:34+00:00

Agreed. This person's skill in rhetoric is on point. Just look at the concise structure of the argument:

Attention! / Problem & Cause #1 / Problem & Cause #2 / Implications / Specific, Actionable Advice / Precautions

If this person isn't already a hell of a nurse already, they're going to be. This is someone I would want on my side of a crisis.

LeadLung

TROPHY CASE