the muslim cafe

the muslim cafe

A place to hang out, give your salams and have a cuppa

  • 2 forum topics
  • 89 wall posts
  • Created Fri Dec 18, 2020 11:22 am

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89 posts — share updates and reply to club members.


  • Arcticus replied · May 18

    Wa alaikum as-salam!


    LayLay2013 replied · May 18

    got to go I am traveling Insahllah I will have a safe flight and will be able to return safely


  • majuli
    majuli · Dec 13, 2025
    hey guys! so i'm not a Muslim, but i did have a question. what does the concept of hijab do? like, why do women have to wear hijabs? what's the idea behind it?
    i'm sorry if this is rude or disrespectful. i respect Islam. i'm just curious.

    Arcticus replied · Dec 14, 2025

    Thanks @majuli for your question

    In Islam, modesty (ḥayā’) is a core virtue and part of faith. So hijab, for Muslim women, is mainly an act of obedience to God and a way of living that value of modesty.

    The Qur’an asks both men and women to live with modesty. For men, it begins with lowering the gaze, dressing modestly and guarding their behavior. For women, it includes the same things, along with modest dress and conduct.


    majuli replied · Dec 14, 2025

    thank you for answering! so the idea of hijab is to hide hair, showing modesty? interesting!!


    DMS1 replied · Dec 15, 2025

    It's not just to hide hair, it's a way of protecting yourself. I mean, think about it. The number times people use these signs of beauty of a woman the wrong way. It's not just to keep yourself modest. It's a shield guarding you from an evil of mankind.


    majuli replied · Dec 16, 2025

    true. thank you for answering!!


  • Arcticus replied · Aug 3, 2025

    Wa alaikum as-salam


  • LuminescentAnt replied · Mar 31, 2025

    Eid Mubarak!!!!


    Valkyria replied · Mar 31, 2025

    Eid Mubarak!


    FoxPoet999 replied · Apr 21, 2025

    I'm seeing this a little late, but Eid Mubarak:)))))


  • junipers
    junipers · Mar 10, 2025
    hey, i have another question. this is what my friends have told me, i'm not sure if this applies to everyone or if it's a matter of opinion or if it's something that they do.
    so the Quran was revealed to Muhammad in Arabic, right? my friends read the Quran in Arabic, and they don't actually touch a physical copy without making wudu first. What if you had an English copy of the Quran? Does this rule apply to non-Muslims? What if you read it on your phone? Also, I was doing research and I don't mean to sound rude or incorrect about this- I was just curious. I read that unless you read the Quran in Arabic, it isn't really considered the word of God.
    If I'm being rude or am misinformed, I'm sorry. I'm doing my best to learn more!

    LuminescentAnt replied · Mar 10, 2025

    You're not being rude at all! In fact, thank you for being curious! From what my Islamic teacher has told me, it's fine if you touch a Quran without wudu if it is an English translation. And I assume you can probably touch your phone without wudu if you have a Quran app. I'm honestly not sure if it applies to non-Muslims, but I'd assume not.

    I hope this helps, thanks for asking! :)


    Arcticus replied · Mar 10, 2025

    That's a thoughtful question, and I appreciate the sincerity behind it. The Quran holds a unique place in Islam, and understanding how it's approached can seem intricate at first — but at its heart lies a deep reverence for the text and its meaning.

    Muslims believe that the Quran was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) in Arabic, and that its linguistic form — with its rhythm, structure, and precise choice of words — is part of what makes it what it truly is. In fact, Muslims believe that the Quran isn't just a text — it's a living recitation, capturing the exact words, turns, and sounds that were revealed to the Prophet’s heart. Each syllable, each breath, carries echoes of that original moment of revelation. Reciting the Quran in Arabic is seen as a way of connecting directly to that sacred experience — not just reading words, but reliving something timeless. So that the words of God are forever preserved in the form they were received by the Messenger.

    Because of this, translations are often seen as interpretations of the Quran rather than the Quran itself. A translation can convey meaning, but it can't fully capture the spiritual depth and linguistic precision that Muslims believe resides in the original Arabic.

    As for physical contact with the Quran, there’s a long-standing practice in Islam that those who handle a physical Arabic copy should be in a state of ritual purity (wudu). This practice is rooted in reverence, not exclusion. The same level of formality isn’t traditionally required for translations, though respect is still encouraged. Reading the Quran digitally — whether in Arabic or translated — is generally seen as different from handling a physical copy, and most scholars don’t require wudu for that.

    Your curiosity isn’t rude at all — in fact, it reflects a genuine effort to understand, and that's something deeply valued in Islam. I hope that helps.


    junipers replied · Mar 11, 2025

    thank you both so much, I really appreciate your kindness! <3


  • junipers
    junipers · Feb 24, 2025
    hey everyone, i have a question for you.
    i have muslim friends and i've been talking about religion with them constantly and have been watching videos and doing all of this research and there's something i don't understand.
    there are SO many Christians who converted to Islam, and SO many Muslims who converted to Christianity, and their lives have been completely turned around. Both sides have found complete peace in religion and feel more connected with God. There are former Christians who say they heard the voice of Allah speaking to them and read the Qur'an and have had miraculous personal transformations. There are former Muslims who say they saw Jesus and their lives were miraculously changed. If so many people of opposite sides have had their lives transformed and changed for the better, how can one be right and the other be wrong?

    Arcticus replied · Feb 24, 2025

    Hey, thanks for reaching out!

    Everyone is on a journey. Faith is deeply personal, and people find meaning in different ways. What matters most is seeking truth sincerely and striving to live a life of righteousness, compassion, and devotion to God.

    Regarding your reference to, “one being right and other being wrong” — from an Islamic perspective, Islam does not reject everything in Christianity. In fact, Islam affirms many core teachings of the Abrahamic prophets, including Jesus (peace be upon him), including his prophethood, his miraculous birth, and his message of worshiping one God. The Qur'an describes Jesus as a noble messenger and acknowledges the original revelation he received. However, Islam believes that over time, some doctrines were added—such as the divinity of Jesus and the concept of the Trinity—which were not part of his original teachings.

    As for personal spiritual experiences, sincerity and devotion can lead to personal transformation, and different paths may resonate with different individuals. However, from an Islamic viewpoint, ultimate truth is about following the message as it was originally revealed by God.

    I hope that answers your question. I have answered it from a Muslim perspective. You can ask this question to a Christian audience as well to get a more well rounded perspective. Thanks!


  • Valkyria Officer
    Valkyria · Jan 4, 2025
    A couple of days ago, I was listening to an Islamic podcast, and the podcaster suggested Qur'an journaling as a way to strengthen my connection to it. After looking at videos and articles for examples, I decided to try it out.

    I started with surah Al-Fatihah. I didn't write down a ton, but I wanted to start with something simple, especially since there are so many analyses about the surah already. I also debated about going in order of chapters or not, but since one of my goals is to memorize the surahs, I decided to start with the shorter surahs and work my way up.

    This is the format of my journal:
    Image

    If any of you do Qur'an journaling, I would love to hear your thoughts about it and see what yours looks like!

  • junipers
    junipers · Jan 3, 2025
    hey all, i recently made a friend from malaysia who is a Muslim and i just have a few questions for you all! disclaimer- i know very little about Islam.
    are Muslim women required to wear hijab, or is it just a strong recommendation?
    can Muslim women take off their hijab around non-Muslim friends who are female?
    Theoretically, if someone was a horrible person their whole life and then later converted to Islam, do you believe that they could be saved? (not sure if that is the proper terminology)
    Is there anything that will completely bar you from going into heaven?
    And how are you granted entrance to heaven?
    this is the third time i've edited this because i thought of more questions...what makes food halal or not halal? are there any meats that are halal no matter what, or do the animals still have to be killed a certain way?
    I'm sorry if these are ignorant or don't make sense...

    Valkyria replied · Jan 3, 2025

    Spoiler
    Hey twiggy! It's really cool that you want to learn more about Islam! For the record, I am only going to answer a couple of questions, since I feel more confident about them:

    Muslim women are required to wear the hijab, but it also depends on each woman. I know I contradicted myself, but as a Muslim who only wears a hijab for prayer, I have personal reasons for not wearing one in public. I don't see myself as any less of a Muslim because of it. It also helps that the Muslim side of my family doesn't see it as anything bad. And yes, Muslim women can take off their hijab around their non-Muslim female friends.

    To answer your last question, halal food is anything that isn't pork products or alcohol products. So if a meal uses cooking wine (or any other alcohol) it's no longer considered halal. Same goes with any food that has pork in it. Even rice krispie treats is not allowed because it has gelatin in it.

    Those are the questions I am able to answer, so I hope they help!


    Arcticus replied · Jan 3, 2025

    Spoiler
    Hey @twiggy - those are some very good questions!

    The hijab is like a special expression of modesty for women. It's required for them to wear it in front of men who aren't family. Some women wear it all the time, while others might be figuring it out. Everyone is on a journey, and it's important to respect that.

    And yes, when Muslim women are hanging out with their non-Muslim girl friends, they can totally take off their hijab if they want to. It's like being in your comfy clothes at home super relaxed and cozy!

    Regarding your third question, here's a cool part: if someone has been a bit of a troublemaker but decides to turn their life around, make geniune amends and embrace Islam, they can totally be forgiven! Islam teaches that everyone can have a fresh start, like getting a new game save.

    Fourth question: In Islam, there are some big no-nos (like major sins) that could keep someone from heaven if they don't repent, the greatest sin being ascribing partners to God.

    Getting into heaven is like reaching the ultimate station where you are with God. You need to have faith in one God, his prophets, his books, his angels, the last day, divine decree, do good things (like helping others), and genuinely repent for any wrongs. It's all about having a good heart and trying your best!

    Now let's talk about food! Halal food is like the VIP section of snacks. For meat to be halal, it has to come from animals that are treated well and slaughtered in a special way while saying Allah's name. Some foods, like pork, intoxicants, carnivorous animals are always off-limits (like a no-entry sign). If you have more questions or want to explore more fun facts, just let me know!


    junipers replied · Jan 3, 2025

    Spoiler
    thank you both so much for your answers! that was very helpful, thank you.


    LuminescentAnt replied · Jan 3, 2025

    Spoiler
    Hi twiggy! Don't worry, these are great questions, I've probably asked these questions before too!

    I'm gonna answer the questions that I know - I don't know a lot about the heaven thing though.

    Like Valkyria said, they are required, but some people have different beliefs or preferences. Some only wear it when they are ready, some don't wear it at all but still are religious, some wear it at a very early age. It really depends on how religious someone feels and also cultural beliefs. And yes, Muslim women can take off their hijab in front of other women and girls, as well as any family member they can't marry (i.e. husband, brother, father, uncle I think) so most hijabi women take off their hijabs at home.

    So basically the difference between halal and non-halal meats are that halal meats are slaughtered in a way that ensures the animal receives as little pain as possible when they die, and also that the person slaughtering the animal reads something that basically means the animal is slaughtered in Allah's name, like Arc said. Pork and I think amphibians are always non-halal. And yes, there is actually food that is halal no matter what: fish, because you can't exactly slaughter fish, you just need to take it out of the water and it will die.

    I hope this answered your questions! :) Thanks for stopping by!


  • Valkyria Officer
    Valkyria · Jan 2, 2025
    I need some advice, y’all. I want to better myself religiously, especially with prayer. I feel really bad that I don’t pray consistently, and I know I have to do it, but with school and work coming up, I’m worried that my new schedule will throw me off. What do you guys do to help/make you do your prayers and other religious duties?

    LuminescentAnt replied · Jan 3, 2025

    Spoiler
    Hello! It is awesome that you want to better yourself religiously! :) I too have been trying to do the same thing. One thing that I did to start praying was just praying Isha' first, and I made a habit of that being the last thing I did before bed. Soon, I would always pray before bed because I would feel somewhat incomplete and couldn't fall asleep because I kept thinking about how I didn't pray. Then slowly, you can start praying the other prayers if you have time, and even pray Fajr if you wake up early enough. You can also read the English translations of the Quran because it can be really interesting and very enlightenment-y. And if you want, you can try memorizing a short surah from the Quran for prayer, and practice by praying.

    I would recommend that you add prayers to existing habits. For example, if you have a habit of brushing your teeth and washing your face before bed, make that into a habit of brushing your teeth, washing your face, and then praying. Or if you have a habit of eating a cucumber and then a cookie (just an example lol) when you come home, you can make that into eating a cucumber + cookie, and then praying.

    That was kind of long, but I hope this helps!


    Arcticus replied · Jan 3, 2025

    Spoiler

    Good question! @Valkyria

    I, like @LuminescentAnt, started small and remained consistent, then scaled up. Focus on consistency, even if it's one out of the five prayers. Stick to it. It'll give you the strength to scale up until you offer all five no matter what.

    Also, the other option is always to make up for missed prayers later at the end of the day, if your schedule is especially brutal.

    Allah sees, knows, and understands. I also feel it's important to pray to Him to grant us the ability to pray. So if you are unable to offer salah, pray about it everyday.


    Valkyria replied · Jan 3, 2025

    Spoiler
    Thank you both for your suggestions! They were very helpful!


  • Arcticus replied · Jun 27, 2024

    I'd be happy to share an easily readable English translation with you. Would that work?


    Areastrixleiell replied · Jun 27, 2024

    Sure, ty!


    Arcticus replied · Jun 29, 2024

    Sent you a link!


  • Arcticus replied · Jun 29, 2024

    Welcome!


  • Arcticus replied · Jul 28, 2023

    Hey Nour, welcome!


  • DreamyAlice replied · Jun 29, 2023

    Eid Mubarak Arc<3



What's the point of being a grown-up if you can't be a bit childish sometimes?
— 4th Doctor