A Dear Memory

Assalaam Alakium sisters!

Just a little random butterfly love =)

InshAllah your Sunday has been a blessed one! It's been pretty chill over here. The Writer is watching basketball while I'm listening to the Purpose of Life presented by Khalid Yasin. I'm going to be sending it to my mother inshAllah. Which brings me to the purpose of this blog. I'll always have a fond memory of Khalid Yasin.

In the winter of 2007 I began really learning about Islam. I had just started reading the Qur'an and understanding Islam. I had a tremendous amount of respect for Islam and was deeply considering converting. I was invited by some of my Muslim friends to attend an Islamic lecture. I was nervous thinking I wouldn't "fit in" or that I needed to "look" a certain way. I assumed I would be looked down upon if I didn't cover my hair. 

Despite all of my reservations, I went, as I was. As we walked into the room where the lecture was going to take place, I was flooded with smiles and hugs from sisters. They were all so welcoming to me and kindly asked me about myself. It was really a overwhelming feeling for me, you see, I never felt that way before. I felt like I belonged even though I had tight jeans and my hair showing. Despite all of that, they welcomed me.  

As the lecture began, I seen this African American brother walk up to the front. I immediately felt the respect the audience gave him. At the time, I had no idea who he was even though I'm sure I had watched a few of his videos on YouTube. Throughout the lecture/talk he never made me seem inferior. And I say this because I was sitting up front, not wearing the hijab and was clearly a non Muslim. He was presenting his idea for a television network and talked a little about the purpose of life.

At the end, he asked if anyone wanted to accept Islam. My friends who brought me asked me if I wanted to take my shahada at this time but I wasn't quite ready. I knew that Islam was the truth but I was overwhelmed by the amount of people in the room. I was scared that I'd mess up the Arabic and look like a fool. I let my insecurities get the best of me that night, nonetheless I was still respected and welcomed. 

Even though I didn't take my shahada that night, I still remember how I felt. I always look to that night when I run across Muslims who aren't very welcoming. The group of sisters at the event were amazing. May Allah bless them all. Ameen. Whenever I watch or listen to a lecture by Khalid Yasin I remember that night. 

I recommend that you all listen or watch the Purpose of Life. Give it to your family members, Muslim or not. This is beneficial to all of us. We can never remember Allah too much. 

Have any of you listened to this lecture? If so, would you give this to a non Muslim?

Have a great night!

Wasalaam,

~Hijabi Butterfly~

Changes

Assalaam Alakium! 

Good morning! Happy Wednesday! We're officially halfway through the week! This morning I'm at Barnes and Noble...again. Having one car is a challenge for sure but I know it's a test and I just need to be patient. For this mornings post I wanted to discuss changes. Dun...dun...dun I don't think anyone likes changes. 

Change can definitely be a good thing but the fear of the unknown can sometimes prevent us from taking the first few steps into the direction of change. Coming into Islam is a huge life change and can be quite the adjustment. As I've mentioned before everyone is different and we all come from different backgrounds, cultures and experiences. These life experiences make us who we are today. Imagine living 20-30 years of your life being someone than converting to Islam and having to change all of that around okay, maybe not everything. But nonetheless, it's a tough thing to do. 

For example, before I converted to Islam music was. my life. I lived music, all day I listened to music, wanted to become a successful performer (vocalist) and hit it big in the music world. When I converted to Islam I began learning that music was undesirable and should be avoided due to the content of it. The first time I heard music was looked down upon in Islam was through a YouTube video. A part of me was crushed, I felt like I couldn't be my true self, like I had to become someone completely different. At first I resisted this change and would make excuses for listening to it. I then dug deeper into the subject and found more information and took a drastic change, I completely stopped listening to music. Cold turkey. I deleted almost all of the music on my computer and stopped listening to music in the car. A few months later, I broke down and started gradually listening to music again. It was so hard to change my thoughts on music. It's been a roller-coaster ride since but I know I need to take things slowly from now on. Completely ridding my life of music at once was not the best idea. I should have started out by getting rid of the most offensive music first and going from there. I'm still in the process and I trip up sometimes. Baby steps. 

When making a huge change in your life, especially in an area of your life you are very passionate about, start off small. There is no need to rush into a huge change. As long as you're intentions are right Allah will understand. No matter if we know it or not, we are changing everybody, inshAllah for the better, we just need to be open to the change and believe that Allah will get us through it. 

Here are a few tips on change:

1. Slow down. As I stated above, start with baby steps. Don't rush into a big change this will only make you uncomfortable and may be detrimental in the long run. 

2. Be willing to change. In order to change, you must come to terms with it. Don't just change something unwillingly. 

3. Reflect. Think about how this change will make you a better person. Try to picture your life in the future with this change. 

4. Support. Seek out support in friends and family. Find people who will respect your need to change and understand why you want this change in your life. 

5. Be positive. Use empowering words such as "I CAN do this, I WILL do this, This IS doable, I WILL be a better person after this" 

"If we don’t change, we don’t grow. If we don’t grow, we aren’t really living."Gail Sheehy

Please share in the comments any tips you have for making a change. 

Feel fee to share a experience you've had with change and what worked for you. 

Also, in the comments, leave your suggestions and recommendations. 

Have a great morning, 

Wasalaam,

~Hijabi Butterfly~

Here We Go Again....

Assalaam Alakium (Peace be upon you),

Long time no type!! I can't believe it's been this long since I've written a blog (over two years). I hope you all are in good health and have been doing well. The last two years have brought a TON of change and I've welcomed it all. I've moved from Minneapolis, Minnesota to Houston, Texas and have finally settled into my new apartment! More stories to come about the move, adjusting to life away from home and finally being happy!

I can't promise much with this blog, but I'm hoping to become more active and less informative....it was way TOO stuffy in here! I want to add excitement to this blog. I'll be talking more about my life as a 22 year old, white/Native American, convert to Islam and wife. If anyone has any suggestions or questions please let me know. I'm a very honest person...sometimes too honest.

Take care all and I hope to see you soon,


~Hijabi Butterfly~

Top Ten Reasons why Jesus CAN NOT be God.

Top Ten Reasons Why Jesus (pbuh) Cannot be God. Summary!!

with

The Deen Show
&
Joshua Evans- Former Christian Youth Minister

Facts In Islam about Jesus (pbuh)

-Muslims love Jesus

-Muslims believe in Jesus

-Jesus was a messenger of God.

Note: You cannot be a Muslim if you do not accept that Jesus was a messenger of God.

In Descending Order

10. God Cannot be Born - God was not born or created. Jesus was born and created. God has no beginning or ending. God created life so he is not subjected to life. Making God subject to life is making him lesser than. Jesus and God cannot be the same.

9. There are no explicit verses in any spiritual text including the Bible that states Jesus is or was God.

In Isaiah 46:9 God states, "For I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me"

Jesus says, here oh Israel the Lord our God is but one and there is no one else

If Jesus was indeed the son of God, God would be explicit about it. God does not beat around the bush. If Jesus being the son of God was the way to salvation, then God would be very explicit about it. Jesus would have clearly said I am God and I'm here to save you from your sins. Did he say that??

God is explicit (clear) about himself and his characteristics. God does not beat around the bush about himself, simply because he does not want it to be too complicated that someone would not understand!!

Note: You can make any spiritual text (including the Holy Quran) say what you want it to if you pick and choose verses out of them.

8. No one has ever seen God in any time

Facts:

-No one has ever seen God

-People saw Jesus

-No one can see God in this life.

"I and the father are one" –is speaking in terms of purpose. God and Jesus were one in purpose. They had the same mission. Jesus was simply a representative of God.

God is too great to be put into a box labeled with worldly characteristics and descriptions. Putting God in a box and giving him humanly characteristics is making him less then he is. God is simple too great to be seen by us.

7. This concept was not taught by Jesus (the concept being he was the son of God or even God himself)

Jesus went to the temple and worshiped God the same way the other messengers of God did. If Jesus was the son of God or God himself he would have built his own place of worship and told people to go and worship him. Did Jesus ever do this??

Jesus fell down on his knees and prayed to God. Why would Jesus fall down and pray to himself??

The trinity is no where in the Bible! The 1st and 2nd Century Christians worshiped God and thought of Jesus as their prophet. They considered themselves to be practicing Jews. In the 3rd century was when the trinity was developed. (So Jesus didn't preach the trinity!!) In 325 AD there was the Council of Nicea where all of the Bishops and Scholars of the time formed the doctrine of the trinity and said this is something we have to believe in. Paul said this is a doctrine we must follow. Paul never say Jesus, walked with Jesus, eat, slept, prayed with Jesus. Paul came up with the concept of the trinity and the word Christian when he had a vision on his way walking to go persecute the Christians!! Paul was the first to come up with the word Christian, trinity, and Jesus being the begotten son of God.

1st John 5:7 "For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one."

Almost all Biblical scholars have taken out this verse because it was not found in the first manuscripts of the Bible. This verse was not in the Bible until after 1200. (man made verse)

6. Jesus eat, slept, and prayed.

We know God does not eat, sleep, or pray. God is self sufficient he does not need anything to survive. God made the creation he does not need what he has made.

We know that Jesus eat, slept, and prayed. If Jesus wouldn't have eat he would have died he was dependent on these things just like all of us. He prayed for help from God, he was in need of prayer.

5. Jesus claimed that Gods knowledge is Greater then his.

If the trinity is true how can one know something with out the others knowing?

Jesus said that he is less then God. God has knowledge of everything, If the trinity was true how can one be greater then the other if they are all the same? The trinity can no be explained to everyone. The concept should be able to be explained to everyone weather they are illiterate or not. Everyone should be able to understand the concept of God.

Trinity: ??

1+1+1= 1 ? No it equals 3

3 carriages with 1 person split into 3!!

God says even in the Bible that he is no the author of confusion. What is the trinity? (confusion)

4. Jesus explicitly states that he is not God!

John 17:3 Jesus says he has been sent from God to teach people about God and for them to know God.

Jesus clearly states that he will ascend to God, you God and my God. Jesus would not have ascended into himself!

3. "Son of God" is not an exclusive title to Jesus

Adam is called the son of God. Even everyday people are called the sons of God. Jesus did not have a father but either did Adam or Eve.

Adam and Eve did not have a father or a mother. So if anyone had the "exclusive" title of "son of God" it would have been Adam.

Jesus was not sent to the whole entire world. Jesus was sent to the Children of Israel. Every nation has a prophet sent to help them.

Note: Muslims must believe that Mary was the most pious women to ever be on Earth Surah 19 Maryam in the Quran describes the miraculous birth of Jesus (pbuh) .

2. God Cannot Change

In Malachi God says I do not change.

Gods nature does not change. God is not subjected to hunger, time, thirst ext. So God does not become hungry, thirsty, ext.

God cannot go to hell or heaven. God does not die his attributes do not change.

He is the truthful: He cannot lie

He is merciful: He can no be unmerciful

He is the most just: He cannot be unjust.

God is simply perfect. Anything that will make God less then God he cannot do. That is why the trinity does not work, God is consistent. God cannot be one and then change to three. God cannot change from one thing to another. God does not change!

Note:

God does not die

God does not have Children

God does not have human needs

1. God is the essence (object) of worship.

If Jesus were God he would have told people to worship him.

In Matthew 15 and 18 He told people in vain you will worship me. You will teach in doctrines made by men.

God will ask Jesus (pbuh) on the day of judgment if he told people to worship him and Jesus will say of course not you know that I did not.

Jesus did not like when people called him master. He would say the master is God not me.

Adam, Moses, Abraham, Jesus, Muhammad… all of Gods prophets worshiped one God.

~Hijabi Butterfly