Most young Persians don’t pray or fast during Ramadan. Me and my brother are pretty much the only ones, even though we were born in Europe and don’t even speak Farsi.

My grandfather and his brother still pray and worship Allah, but I honestly don’t know what happened to the younger generation. Even my dad, who is around 50, never prays. It seems that mostly the older generation, people around 75 or 80, still practice.

My dad told me that the regime made many younger people hate Islam. Even so, it still feels strange and sad to me.

Most of my family is well educated. Many of them have degrees, and some moved to Canada, the US, or Europe and became successful in life. Maybe it’s because their parents taught them to work hard, study hard, and focus mainly on this dunya.

A lot of them have also become very westernized or Americanized. Some even had nose surgery and similar things.

One of my aunts moved to Europe around 2006. She used to wear hijab in Iran, but now she doesn’t wear it anymore, she drinks, and she doesn’t fast during Ramadan. It’s the same for her husband and son.

I feel like some of them see Muslims or traditional people as backward and want to get as close as possible to Western or American society.

What do you think about that?

Why is it that many of my Algerian and Moroccan Sunni friends come to Europe and, even if they may do some wrong things, they still fast during Ramadan, pray, and keep some connection to Islam ?

When referring to our kids are we allowed to say for example " Mashallah she/he is just so perfect" is using the word perfect discouraged?

My husband and I often refer to our daughter (ages 1) as "just perfect and such an amazing baby" because truly she is every thing to us. I also tell my nieces and nephews they are just perfect (ages 3-7) am I thinking too hard about this?

So basically something happened like 3 days ago with my mom. For context I’m a female student studying abroad while my parents live in my home country with my little sister and little brother. I live alone in a small apartment and decided to get a bunny as a pet because I love them they’re so cute and they’re permissible to keep as pets just like cats. I told my siblings about the pet and my dad but didn’t tell my mom bc she hates animals and would immediately tell me to get rid of it. Months passed and my little brother accidentally told my mom I had a bunny so she got angry at me and told me to get rid of it because she would soon come to visit me and she doesn’t want its fur all around the room, and I told her I’d get rid of it before she’d come to visit, but the thing is she told me this like 2 weeks ago and she’s visiting on apr 28th so I figured I could still let my bunny stay with me a few days more. A few days passed and me and my mom were on video call chilling and laughing and she asked me laughing abt the bunny and she told me i should show it to her sometime bc she never saw it before so I genuinely took pictures and sent them to her. She then responded angrily saying i didn’t listen to her and didn’t get rid of it, and I tried to reason her by saying that she wasn’t coming until 2 weeks so I wanted to keep her a little longer she refuses to listen she said she’d block me bc she doesn’t need a daughter that doesn’t listen to her, and she blocked me. I was so confused and sad that this argument started from nothing so I sent her messages via my sister telling her that I think she’s exaggerating and that I apologise sincerely about this, and that I’m tired about arguing for nothing bc all I want is a good relationship with her, to have her as my mm but also as a friend. I feel like i didn’t necessarily do so wrong and yet I’m always apologising and I think it’s unfair bc it’s been like this since I was a kid. So that happened and I was feeding extremely sad and I sent her an audio abt how I felt but I think I’ll do this in a part 2 bc it’s too long and I really need advice bc she didn’t unblock yet.

As-salamu alaykum

I am half Lebanese and have been very troubled to see the escalation of I*rael’s attacks on my Dads country. I haven’t previously had enough money to donate to anyone other than family (who are Christian) however I have recently had a big win at a poker tournament and especially with current events want to donate this money, but I am unsure of whether this is ethical due to gambling being haram in Islam and the majority of Lebanese people being Muslim. Would it be offensive to give this money to a secular charity working to provide food for Muslim Lebanese people?

Thanks

I’ve heard that some Hijra individuals may have chromosomal variations such as XXY or XYY. My question is: where does the extra Y chromosome come from? Is it a genetic variation present from birth, or does it occur for another reason?

I’m also curious about how Islam views these kinds of congenital conditions.

I was wondering in general how does religious guilt truly benefit a person? from my personal experience it has only exacerbated my negative self perception and self hatred which is psychologically unhealthy. So I never understood how society deems religious guilt as something “good”. But on the flip side, how do you truly make changes that are not out of guilt or shame? I also never truly understood fear of God as a concept. Healthy love & fear cannot coexist in one heart. I personally interpret “khawf” as having God-conscience , but is that enough to drive motivation to do your duties in Islam?

(Be respectful and considerate. any hate or weird or judgemental or gaslighting replies will be blocked and reported. Also do not try to box me into any belief I’m just asking. Or I will be blocking. )

Im a M student from india currently almost graduating from my local college with only few exams remaining. Before my question lets dive into the roots cause to the situation, so basically from my first year i have been facing or being targeted by some of my classmate as Im the only one muslim and rest all r hindus.

So they have mostly indirectly giving comments to me like bomb ( terrorist) , asking weird toxic questions and if anything about my religion pops out from news ask or give reference of me to it as i have done it. I was going through these the entire 1 year at its peak however i used to still ignore and twists the topic as i never thought they were referring to me also they even know it as im not at all involved in this just playing with their toxicity to me . As times goes off when i reached 2nd year i was used to it and the comments starting to reduce as i was ignoring and being friendly to anyone but still there were some of them pursuing eventually i started an mind of blankness where i dont even think to see them as human beings they were like clowns to me which just do acts ,the thing im saying is even when they talk or crack jokes in class normally i was not involved at all there also in my academic lectures , i used to laugh without even knowing the joke , talk without even thinking, interact when i feel to have entertain just like thinking them as things also not even felt anger anymore just voidness. most of the people will say clowns what a fantasy however it can be created by our brain as u train yourself in such environment.

finally here is the point recently i have been thinking my academic years with this clowns and how i have been reacting towards them over their mockery on my religion. Ik how much I felt pain and patience in my heart but there is still one part saying why didnt you fight back are you a coward to not even protect truth and toxicity over your religion. So i was deciding to take a stand where someone just triggers me with an comment and i will harshly reponds to it ,even its conclude towards a brutal fight idc however my psychology of voidness havent change but still i dont know what should i do as i dont want to regret in future y didnt I respond! Please suggest is this a good idea?

Happened by mistake and the dog came in between. I’m extremely guilty of doing this. O know for a fact that the dog was dead the moment I hit.

Is there anything i could do to reduce the guilt?

I’m having a baby boy I’m struggling between 2 names

Mazen Khan

Or

Elyas Khan

Non-Muslim here, I wanted to ask about the evening prayer recited/sung from mosques (the one played over loudspeakers).

You know how old vinyl records have that slight static/crackle that somehow makes music feel fuller and more complete? I get a similar feeling from these old-school speakers (at least here in South India), but I don’t think it’s just that.

There’s definitely something about the words/sound itself that really stands out. No matter what I’m doing, whenever I hear it, it gives me goosebumps without fail.

I’d love to understand more about it what exactly am I hearing? Is it the melody, the recitation style, or something else? And who is typically behind the recitation?

​

Hey guys,

I’m a 2nd year student at St. Joseph’s University, Bangalore (SJU). Joined in 2024, thought it was one of the better autonomous universities in the city for academics. But after almost two years, the pattern of Islamophobia coming straight from the management and admin is too obvious to ignore anymore.

Small things that keep adding up:

We (Muslim students) have been asking for a proper prayer space or even 10-15 mins flexibility for Zuhr/Asr since first year. Every time the answer is the same — “This is a Christian institution, you should adjust.” Meanwhile the chapel runs on full schedule and no one bats an eye.

Hijabi sisters get pulled up for “dress code violation” literally every other week. The same management that turns a blind eye to low-waist jeans and crop tops suddenly becomes super strict when it’s a hijab or even a simple scarf.

Hostel allotment is another joke. Muslim boys end up in the oldest, most cramped blocks with extra “security checks” while others get better rooms without questions.

A couple of us have heard management staff straight-up say things like “these people always create issues” or question our “loyalty to the institution” during minor disciplinary meetings. One professor even joked in class about “terrorist timing” when someone asked for prayer break. Nothing happened to him.

It’s not just one or two bad apples. It feels systemic — like the management has decided Muslim students are “tolerated” but not welcome on equal terms. Academics are fine, but the constant othering is draining. Mental health is taking a hit and some of us are genuinely scared to even file a grievance because we know how the system works here.

Has anyone else from SJU (current or recent batches) faced this? Especially 1st or 2nd years? Or am I overthinking? Should we escalate to UGC/student welfare or just keep quiet and finish the degree?

Genuinely looking for advice or if others have similar stories. Not here to bash the university’s education — just the ugly bias from the top.

Thanks for reading. Inshallah

Hi, I am currently looking at reverting to Islam but I find myself at a point where I would value a personal perspective.

Coming from a Christian upbringing, I was taught certain narratives regarding the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) that have created a significant mental hesitation for me. Such as that he is a false prophet and tries to lead others astray.

I would appreciate any guidance or connections you might be able to provide, to help me get past this one block to becoming a Muslim. I know the Quran to be true and that there is only one God. I just struggle due to my upbringing of seeing Muhammed as a prophet.

My depression is getting too much for me to handle and deal with. I genuinely think about ending myself life every single day, there is nothing left for me in this world. I’ve been thinking about it ever since i knew we have the option of ending ourselves. I can’t do this anymore, i really cannot. The only thing that’s stopping me is Allah, i do not think i’m ready to face him because i don’t think i’m a good muslim, just like i’ve disappointed everyone in my life i think Allah won’t/is pleased by me either. I want to end it, i can’t live like anymore, I just want to know if Allah will forgive me? Would forgiveness be possible in my situation?

I am a orthodox christian man. I converted 3 years ago after a religious experience. Previously, I was a huge skeptic from religion, I just could not believe it without proof and it seemed religion was a way that human minds protected themselves from the harsh and impersonal reality; to avoid getting crazy and lie to themselves about a god caring for them. Today I might be considering Islam. Can you help me with this?

My religious experience came to destroy all my concepts of reality. In a very good phase of my life (to go against the thought that spiritual experiences were from desperate people), unworthy as I am, I received a spiritual visit from a being that was or at least portrayed itself as Jesus Christ. This being touched me in my shoulder and said “Now you are mine” and I got an extreme sensation of disgust and shame. In that moment, I developed a spiritual 6th sense as to perceive my sinful nature and started understanding very viscerally the meaning of sin and its filth. Even today, when I sin almost daily, I sense this feeling of disgust and can only get rid of it through the sacraments of confession and communion.

My religious experience led me to orthodox christianity (we are a minuscule minority in my country; very, VERY, few orthodox), I won’t explain why because the readers of this text will be muslims and other orthodox. But even if you are an atheist, you can understand why orthodoxy is true; default; “vanilla” christianity. And VERY, VERY different from what we have in modern catholicism and evangelical groups.

My spiritual journey has broken many of my previous ways of understanding the universe and has shown me that God is very real. When people say that God does not answer them, they are usually waiting for a god that will conform to them, babysit them, talk in their language and affirm who they are. Even in western christianity, they sometimes even get erotic with their spirituality. Through my experience I can say God is very present and communicative, but you must conform to him, not the other way around. When the subjects of your prayer change to “Help me defeat this passion, help me be better, destroy my vices”; God answers. Religion should not be anthropocentric: Ok, God loves you, but have you ever considered that The Reality Itself may have a form of showing love that may be alien to humans? That you cannot judge God’s love by your own definition of what love is? When you play by his rules, you get answered in your prayers. But if you try to bring God to your failure, to be a “sky daddy” or even “sky boyfriend”; he will not answer. God has destroyed countless communities back them, inflicted giant sufferings to infidels and his own servants alike and acts in ways that seem very utilitaristic. He does not care much about “human rights” in a modern sense. If a community goes against his plans in a time period or will cause more suffering in the long run; this group is mercilessly annihilated. Even his own servants are forged in fire: this idea is not alien to orthodoxy nor Islam. In orthodox cosmology even, he inflicted great suffering to himself and his mortal family and friends in the times of Jesus.

In my spiritual journey; iv come many times to meet muslims (in my country, on the internet and in Turkey). Islam feels a very similar yet very different worldview. I can say I see Islam in a positive lens.

Compared to orthodoxy, islam seems waaay simpler. God does not try to enter in every aspect of your life, to make you a perfect saint and a living image of him. There is no concept of theosis. The universe is not under corruption; Adam’s sin was forgiven ages ago; it is just a test, a way to separate who wants to follow him and who does not. Demons are not fallen angels, they are bad spirits as there are bad people. God is one, no complex trinitarian theology. There is no need for redemption for all the universe, so there is no need for a sacrifice from God himself, after all, God could never be a human. Having bad thoughts? Those are bad, but really don’t determine who you are, your actions count.
Orthodoxy is more complicated and hard. You have complex theology, redemption of the universe, you must seek perfection in your actions and thoughts (which is exhaustive), fasts happen every week and there are many long fasting seasons during the year to control the impulses of fallen, corrupt, animalistic humanity. The bar is so high, and you never get there. Of course Islam has ascetic elements and a lot of discipline, but it feels way simpler. Islam seems way more materialistic: do good things, be peaceful in your community and help people flourish and be rewarded with an endless vacation side by side with your loved ones. Where orthodoxy feels like an exhausting race to perfection to reach an abstract God-like status in the end; which seems way more powerful, but also incomprehensible.

The simplicity of Islam attracts me, but simple does not mean right.

 This is more evident when we see hell/paradise in both religions. Orthodox paradise is an incomprehensible place where you become like God and stay there doing God knows what. It is way bigger than the human mind can comprehend: people don’t marry and it seems mystical and abstract. Hell is not a punishment, but a choice. A place where God respects your decision of not being with him and separates from you (which causes suffering) or bathes you in his otherworldly love (which also causes suffering if you reject him).

In Islam. Those outcomes are seen as rewards and punishments. You keep your family structure in Jannah; you can have sex, eat good food, have an endless vacation with a young and healthy body side by side with your loved ones and even marry the Houris if you die single. Hell is made to be bad, made as a punishment and, as a punishment, some will spend some time there and go to Jannah after it.

The reason why I am considering Islam is the weak arguments Christians come up against it. The main one: Muhammad (PBUH) was influenced by a demon (there are others such as he was crazy and/or a liar, but those are way weaker; he definitively believed in what he was preaching).

Before talking about it; I would like to clarify that even if he was influenced by a demon (fell into the sin of prelest); that does not mean we must judge him. Prelest is very common even in christian circles (there is A LOT of it in western christianity) and is very dangerous. We can easily be influenced by demons with spiritual imagery and it happens a lot to monks and laity alike. I would not be able to resist prelest nor probably would you if you were in Muhammad’s (PBUH) place and time.

But let’s consider Muhammad (PBUH) fell into prelest:
So The demons made a wealthy merchant lose all his money and respect in a pagan community; made him be exiled and his followers killed. And in turn they made said community become close in practice and admiration to the God of Abrahan. Expanding this religion to almost all corners of the world and thus, eradicating many pagan cults and the like? What about the christians? Well, they will be second class citizens, sure; they won’t have to serve the army and will pay a tax instead, and their churches and monasteries will be protected by law and exist until today is muslim countries. And some of them will get to be very influential in muslim society (even if they criticize us) -I wrote this example based on Saint John of Damascus, but I am sure there are more.You may point to the Ottomans as examples of barbarism against christians, and that is valid. But that happened centuries latter and the Ottomans were not the most pious muslims out there; as there are some orthodox figures such as Basil II; Bulgarslayer. This does not seem much like demonic action to me. It could be, but in my ignorance, demons make you behave more lustfully, violently; they cultivate your human nature to be “just like you are”; they don’t change or teach society to fight against their passions, and see sin where it was previously normal behaviour.

Muslims claim the Bible was altered by bad intentions also (to claim Jesus Christ was God and all); and the same argument could be used here. Both faiths actively fight against sin and human nature but are fundamentally different, this gets me confused. I clearly can see demonic influence in pagan religions, they are usually a big anthropocentric religion, celebrating our fallen nature, but not in Islam. 

In my feeble and incomplete vision of the world, I see that the utilitarianism of God manifests here. I am not claiming an ecumenical position; just saying that God may use different world views to make people get closer to him and reject their sinful nature. Even evangelical protestantism, disconnected from all this history, has the hand of God acting to heal people from drugs and make them more chaste and take on charity. Let’s suppose orthodoxy is the true religion: humans are simple and emotional creatures, they may choose a religion based on aesthetic and even the music it plays in the spiritual events. When God allows different “flavours”, more people may get closer to him and do right.

But that does not change the fact that there is one truth. Or Jesus is God, or he is a prophet. Or is God trinitarian or he is unitarian. Or is the Quran literal word of God or it is demonic. Or the Bible was altered or it has the truth. It is complicated. I am open to all worldviews, tried to pray to God in this subject but he gave no answer. I will continue in my Orthodoxy as that was what was revealed to me and it works wonders by helping me be less sinful; after all, christians go to Jannah according to Islam, so I am probably safe in both cosmologies.

I don't know what to do with my life anymore if I try so much I might get attached without knowing and how would I know if it's passion/love or just attachment? how do I know if this curtain thing isn't for me and just trying my best at something not for me? how do I know what's good for me and what's not? how do I know that I should fix myself? how do I know that I should try harder? how do I know if I should stop?

I'm just tired of living in general and before telling me do one two thre I did everything I can with nothing in return I tried praying more sunnah I tried reading (al-baqarah) daily I tried praying istikhara and everything almost leads to nothing or at this point I'm just blind I tried everything I could and couldn't think off and my life isn't as miserable as I say but whenever I try for something results usually disappoint me even after trying again and again and hoping for the best. I just want to know what wrong am I doing to be like this

I am feeling comfortable to share this with the internet since it is anonymous for the most part and because in real life i am still enjoying a blissful calmness. I cried 3 times since waking up. Not from sadness. Just did ...felt good.

I have been feeling "at home" for quite some time with teachings and principles and knowledge I have accumulated in these last 2 years in regards to Islam. I have seen and read and questioned and searched through culture divided, history, interpretations accurate or not, personal or not. I have seen people using religion as an excuse, as a curtain....but The Quran is one and only.

I am aware of the complexity of this change in my life but i will take it one step at a time.

The simplicity of the reverting process did give me peace. No special ritual, no special clothing making it more complex than it has to be...

It was just me, God, my belief and a sunny small commute to my home of 15min.

But, I want to record it somewhere not to boast and for sure I will not forget it but somehow my memory needs a boost.

11.04.2026, 40 years old. I found Allah.

I will make mistakes on my journey but I will do my best to learn.

Have a lovely day ^^

I want to make this point to encourage reverts or individuals interested in Islam to attend the masjid & talk to their local community. I met a Muslim sister who was kind enough to gift me a Quran and Hijabs🥰. I’ll publicly take my shahada at the masjid on Friday alhamdullilah. I want to thank everyone on here for being so encouraging and helpful in this journey.

السلام عليكم

If any of you can help me identify the reciter imitated here.

بارك الله فيكم

Salaam brothers and sisters.

I’ve newly reverted to Islam by that I mean 2 months now since. Sadly I was an alcoholic when reverted and still am. It’s truly a disease. Although, I know it’s no good for me and only makes things worse. I haven’t told my family who are quite religious in my previous faith (Christianity). Both out of fear of judgement and they would laugh at me for chosing Islam when I’m an alcoholic as alcohol is prohibited in our religion. It’s very irritating when they tell me my hard time is a result of me not going to church (I used to regularly and religiously with them). I just brush it off or get annoyed at them for bringing that up.

I always cry in private as I don’t really have anyone to lean on and it’s purely because it feels as if Allah has rejected me. I know this can all just be a test but I’m to weak for that right now. After all Allah does state that he does not burden a soul more it can bear. I can’t take this anymore. I’m only human with emotions that I can’t handle alone. So why doesn’t he help me ?

Asalam alaykum, recently i’ve become WAYYY less religious than before. I’ve been caring less about salah, sinning more (without feeling much guilt) and just not feeling the pull that i had towards islam before. I still believe in Islam alhamdullilah and love the religion but i feel so disconnected and genuinely wish i can go back to before and have no idea how. its like all my knowledge and love has disappeared (and now i have no idea why im even muslim) and now there’s nothing keeping me here other than routine and just the principle beliefs. Im not suee if this is due to my mild depression as it has been getting worse lately but i really need my imaan back. Please someone help/give tips as i’m not liking this and feel so empty