Converts

[Convert22]

Are there any converts on the forum?

How long have you been Muslim and what city are you in?

[Ummi_Abdulmalik]

I am a convert, I've been a Muslim for 6yrs approx.
Live in Melbourne

There's many converts on here

[littleMother]

Convert here for 6 and a half years. In Melbourne. Alhamdulillah

[matais3]

convert 5-6 months. Melbourne

[Muslim..Priincess]

i was thinking about this earlier, we should have a thread just for coverts to share their story and how they are living with islam and all..would be really nice to read all the nice stories

[Ummi_Abdulmalik]

I think we do have one.

Found IT! http://www.aussiemuslims.com/forums/...onvert+Stories

[Abdraheim]

Man u r all just Likkle babies awww

[Ummi_Abdulmalik]

How long have you been a Muslim for BROVAH!

[Convert22]

If any other the Melbourne converts are interested, there's a new meetup group starting for Muslim converts:

http://www.meetup.com/Melbourne-Muslim-Converts-Group/

Check it out. JazakAllah Khair

[Ummi_Abdulmalik]

What if you don't have facebook so you can't sign up?
...wait found another way to sign up

[Abdraheim]

Probably longer then you all combined mashallah

[Musa]

There are many converts on here, I'd say that a large part of the regular members are converts.

I embraced Islam 9 years ago and am from Melbourne, though not in Melbourne at the moment. You will find that the majority of the members on here are also from Melbourne.

[Convert22]

You don't need to have a facebook account to sign up. All you need to do is just sign up via meetup.com which is pretty easy. Especially the newer converts might find this a nice way to connect with other muslims.

[##A'isha##]

8 years now, i had to count it out, it certainly doesnt feel like 8.

[falah]

12 years

[khadouj]

Probably longer then you all combined mashallah

Longer than him .........masha allah

[falah]

If any other the Melbourne converts are interested, there's a new meetup group starting for Muslim converts:

http://www.meetup.com/Melbourne-Muslim-Converts-Group/

Check it out. JazakAllah Khair

I noticed the phrase "progressive muslim" on the page linked. I was not sure what the term "progressive muslim meant so I looked it up on wikipedia which directed me to the "Liberal Movements within Islam" page which says:

The methodology of reform can be classified into two groups, one depending on re-interpreting the traditional texts which constitutes Islamic law (ijtihad); this varies widely from little deviation from the traditional interpretation, to the more liberal which considers only the meaning of Qur'an as a divine inspiration, while the wording is believed to be from the prophet Muhammad intended by him to suit his time and situation, therefore interpreting the problematic verses in modern times allegorically or even not considering them. The second is questioning the authentic status applied to texts by the Traditional Islamic Scholars, resulting in the most liberal case as of the Qur'an Alone Muslims in rejecting the Islamic narratives of the sayings and practises of Prophet Muhammad, namely the Hadith completely.

Central tenets

Several generally accepted tenets have emerged:

* The autonomy of the individual in interpreting the Qur'an and Hadith.[10] More liberal trends include rejecting Hadiths completely (like Qur'an Alone Muslims) or partially (including hadiths considered authentic (Sahih) by traditionalists) like Gamal Al-Banna.
* A more critical and diverse examination of religious texts, as well as traditional Islamic precedents.
* Complete gender equality in all aspects, including ritual prayer and observance.

Feminism

The place of women in Islam, traditional gender roles in Islam and Islamic feminism are likewise major issues.[17] For this reason, liberal Muslims are often critical of traditional Islamic law interpretations which allow polygyny for men but not polyandry for women, as well as the traditional Islamic law of inheritance under which daughters receive less than sons. Traditional Muslims believe this is balanced by the right of a wife to her husband's money, whereas the husband does not have a right to his wife's money.

...Liberal Muslims are more likely to reflect the idea of jihad in terms of the widely accepted "internal spiritual struggle" rather than an "armed struggle."...

Reliance on secular scholarship

Liberal Muslims tend to be skeptical about the validity of Islamization of knowledge[citation needed] (including Islamic economics, Islamic science, Islamic history and Islamic philosophy) as separate from mainstream fields of inquiry. This is usually due to the often secular outlook of Muslim liberals, which makes them more disposed to trust mainstream secular scholarship. They may also regard the propagation of these fields as merely a propaganda move by Muslim conservatives

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liberal...s_within_Islam

Anyway, the impression I get is that the phrase implies rejecting the opinions of the scholars. Is this correct or not?

[Convert22]

I think terms like "progressive," "liberal" and "feminist" get thrown around a lot with different meanings and baggage attached to them.

The way in which the organizer of this group intended it to be used was not to reject scholarship in Islam or to counter the gender roles in Islam.

From what I understand, the organizer probably meant the term "progressive" as opposed to the more "traditional" interpretations of Islam like the Wahabis or Salafis. I'd figure that this group is less about forming a prescriptive approach to faith based on one school of thought or another and more about being a support group for recent converts who probably don't know many other recent converts in the area.

[khaduj]

15 years from melbourne

[Jade_Allyse]

Hi,
I have reverted 1 year ago. I live in Brisbane and am looking for some other female reverts in this location to learn with. I am married to a lebanese Muslim but I dont get much help from his family in regards to Islam so wanted to find some fellow reverts and help each other. Im a 23 year old female on the south side of brisbane.