Converting to Islam...Can I be a muslim if....?

Question

I have been reading about Islam and agree with most of its teachings. However, there are some things that i refuse to follow if I convert to Islam. I don't want to follow the dress code...I shouldnt have to cover my entire body to be respected. Long sleeves and hijab aren't for me. I want to wear shorts and tank tops in the summer!!!! LOL. I think forcing just the women to be covered is degrading and unfair. Can I still be a muslim if I don't follow this? Also, I don't agree that it is haraam to drink alcohol. I think a glass of wine every now and then is ok...especially since recent studies have shown that the moderate intake of alcohol is beneficial for your health. Can I still be a a muslim? I think my faith in Allah and my morals of being a generous and loving person are what is important...not how I dress or what I drink/eat. Please help.

Answer 1

To be a Muslim requires 5 things:
1. You believe in the oneness of God
2. You believe in His Books (Torah, Gospels, Psalms, Scrolls, Quran...)
3. You believe in His Messengers (Adam, Abraham, Noah, Jacob, Jesus, Muhammad, etc)
4. You believe in His creations (angels, jinn, man, etc.)
5. You believe in the Day of Judgement.

If you believe this you believe as a Muslim does. If you call yourself a Muslim than you are a Muslim and no one has the right to say otherwise except God Himself. What you do and how well you practice your religion is left to you and God, as only He can judge you. There are plenty of Muslim women who do not wear the headscarf, who drink, who have intimate relationships with men who aren't their husbands, ect. That does not mean they are not Muslim, that just means that they will have to explain themselves to God when they face Him.

Wearing the hijab seems like such a burden to most Western women because we're raised in a society that says the less you wear, the more beautiful you are. To suddenly change into wearing full sleeves, long pants and skirts and a headscarf is often a drastic change for most women. Most women usually wait a while after they convert before deciding to wear it. Alot of what rests on this decision comes from the fear of what people will think of her, how people will treat her once they see her in this. I admit, it is different! Even for me it was difficult at times, but alhamdulillah it was easy overall. God made it easy for me when I wanted to do it for myself and for Him. So on this matter I would advise that you wait to wear hijab until you are ready. It will be so easy for you then and you'll probably wonder why you waited so long, lol.

On the part of alcohol, God tells us that if a barrel of it can make us drunk, we should not even take one sip of it. He also says in Quran that a person who is drunk is not a believer until he is sober again. If you believe in God and His wisdom, you know that His knowledge far outweighs ours, He knows what is best for us. It's not easy giving up something like alcohol, but it's better for your health. An occasional glass of wine is believed to be good for the liver, however there are many many non-alcoholic means of cleansing your liver that are so much more beneficial. When you have so many options you should take those that are best for you, rather than making excuses for a desire. Keep in mind that no one blames you for this desire, almost all of us have one or another that we have to move past. My dear friend who ironically grew up near the same city as me (we now live in a separate state altogether, and met at the same mosque, oh and she is American too) converted shortly after I did, and later told me about how difficult it was for her because she was an alcoholic. It was a terrible addiction for her and she overcame it. She said even to this day it is sometimes hard for her, especially when her family and friends still drink, but she still overcame this desire to better herself and please her God. Sis you can do that too.

Good luck and may God guide and bless us both.

Answer 2

Hey. Well, first off, I think that it's really good that you have actually read about Islam, rather than not bothering with it. Okay, here goes:

1) You don't have to cover your entire body. I wear short sleeves and don't wear hijab. I am thinking of doing hijab though, very seriously. But wearing shorts and tank tops=no. You don't have to wear hijab, that is optional, but covering your legs, stomach, & arms you should do. Short sleeves is okay though. Capris are okay, but try not to make them less than your knees, it shoudl be a few inches below your knees. And covering up is not just for women. I have read in the Quran that men have to too. Not their hair or anything, but they shouldn't show like their chest or legs around women. If you are Muslim, you should follow this.

2)It is haraam to drink alcohol. Yes, int he Quran it also says alcohol has some benefits. But the bad is so much more & worse than the good. And you should stay away from it at all times. People get carried away when they are drinking, and sometimes they drink more than they think. When someone's sad, alot of times they take to drinking. And many people have had become alcoholics or ahd some sort of problem with drinking without even trying to drink alot. So please don't do that. You have to do what Islam tells you to be a Muslim. You can't leave out a few things.

Please follow my advice. Allah does see what kind of person you are, but your faith is also you. If you don't follow your faith, then you don't follow anything. Peace. Bye. : )

Answer 3

Haya bi taqwa said it best. You will be considered as a Muslim if you have firm faith in all basic beliefs of Islam.

If you enter Islam but follow some of it's rules and deny some others, then you will be sinning and will be responsible for your deeds. However, if you, at the same time do good things like worshiping, praying etc then all these will be counted, Insha-Allah.
But I see the risk of being a hypocrite if that is the case. It is hypocritical to do good deeds and major sins at the same time.

The things that you want to do even being a Muslim, are:

1. Wearing dresses showing body parts.
2. Drinking alcohol.

Both of these acts are major sins. You can still be a Muslim even if you do these, but you will be committing sins and will be far away from Allah's mercy. Allah doesn't help a person who knowingly violates and transgresses the limits.

The reasons you stated are simply your viewpoints. You cannot be allowed just because 'you' think "it's ok to wear shorts or drink alcohol once in a while."

"I think my faith in Allah and my morals of being a generous and loving person are what is important...not how I dress or what I drink/eat." I disagree. If you really have faith in Allah then you have to show your faith by properly following what Allah ordered you to do and how our prophet Muhammad (pbuh) used to do. It is 'your' so called moral to show your body parts to hundreds of men and at the same time being caring and generous. It's not what Islam says.

Every group of people has their so called scientific opinions just to back their actions as alright. Homosexuals try to prove their activities right by saying its genetical and even animals do it. Alcoholics will try to justify by saying moderate intake of alcohol is good for health! This way the list could be pretty stretched.

Actually, it's upto you what you want. No one else will be responsible for what you do.

Answer 4

Hello, I stumbled across this website one day. It should be very helpful to you. I am glad that you found a religion that appeals to you.

"An Editiorial by:

Dr. Fatimah Majidi, Nader Abbas Maudodi and Chris Abdul-Rahman

There are widespread erroneous misconception about the status of women in Islam (Submission.) This misconception was augmented by some newsmedia that made little effort to correct their understanding before broadcasting their views on this matter. Adding to this misconception are the regrettable practices in most so called "Islamic" countries or societies where myths, traditions and innovations have won over the true Islamic (Quranic) teachings and where women are traditionally subdued and oppressed. In this presentation we will try to clarify the position of the true Islam (Submission) on the status of women. We will list the misconceptions then comment on every issue accordingly.

(1)Muslim women have to wear the veil: This is a very common misconception, as Quran does not command the veil (Hijab). Wearing the veil is a tradition and is only supported by the man-made books of Hadiths and Sunna. These books do not represent the words of God in the Quran and on many occasions contradict them. Please see: Women Dress code in Islam.

THE WORD "HIJAB" in the QURAN

"Hijab" is the term used by many Muslims women to describe their head cover that may or may not include covering their face except their eyes, and sometimes covering also one eye. The Arabic word "Hijab" can be translated into veil or yashmak. Other meanings for the word "Hijab" include, screen, cover(ing), mantle, curtain, drapes, partition, division, divider.

Can we find the word "Hijab" in the Quran??

The word "Hijab" appeared in the Quran 7 times, five of them as "Hijab" and two times as "Hijaban," these are 7:46, 33:53, 38:32, 41:5, 42:51, 17:45 & 19:17.

None of these "Hijab" words are used in the Quran in reference to what the traditional Muslims call today (Hijab) as a dress code for the Muslim woman.

God knows that generations after Muhammed's death the Muslims will use the word "Hijab" to invent a dress code that He never authorized. God used the word "Hijab" ahead of them just as He used the word "Hadith" ahead of them.

Hijab in the Quran has nothing to do with the Muslim Women dress code."

Answer 5

the dress code will become an issue but it depends on your partner if that is why you are converting my friend says that if he and i were to get married who is muslim by the way from egypt he wouldnt expect the full dress code but i would have to wear the thing on my head as far as the tank tops that might be exposing too much skin maybe a t shirt and some capri's these things are minor changes if your heart is really there you will be willing to let these things goes my heart was not he can have more than one wife i dont share my men and i couldnt give up my bacon so we are just friends now.

Answer 6

Good, that u wanted to convert to Islam. don't bother about the half truth you are being receiving. As per your concerns:
1. Islam is believing in one and only one Allah, the Creator of all 'Toheed'
2. Islam is believing in Justice, keeping everything and person at its righteous place - 'Adal'
3. Islam is believing in Prophets of Allah who were sent among people as messengers of Allah to convey His message, and Muhammad (peace be upon him) to be the Last one. 'Nabawwat'
4. Islam is believing in the Day of Judgment 'Qayamat'

All other concerns are secondary, more related to society where Islam is being followed, and many of those have no concern on with Islam.

Answer 7

the point of wearing a hijab and covering yourself is to have MODESTY...so that men wont like you or want to marry you for your body/looks, but for YOU...besides, remember that you can wear watever you want at home as long as there are no men that you can marry...its haram to drink alchohol because it damages your body, and God said that watever damages your body is haram(thats why we cant use drugs)...and to tell you the truth, i dont believe these recent studies cuz i just think that they cant find any good stuff anymore so their saying all this crap about alchohol is good and stuff...yes, your faith and morals is wats important, but remember: God says this stuff to test you, if you really listen to wat he says or not...

Answer 8

first of all you don't have to cover all your body, your face and hands can still be exposed .. But if this is the only thing driving you away from islam .. then I advise you to become a muslim to save since the prophet (sas) said the we have to take the religion gradualy and step by step.

Answer 9

I'M A MUSLIM MYSELF.WEARING SHORTS IS OK TO AN EXTENT BUT DRINKING ALCOHOL IS PROHIBITED IN ISLAM. IF THERE IS LIFE OR DEATH POINT THAN U CAN DRINK BUT IN DAILY LIFE U CANNOT.IF U READ 5 TIMES NAMAZ AND QURAN EVERYDAY AND HAV FAITH IN ALLAH THAN UR CALLED A MUSLIM.I WANT TO ADVICE U THAT IF U DON'T WEAR SHORTS IT WILL BE GOOD FOR U .

Answer 10

SUBHANNALLAH, MASHAALLAH
First of all am very happy to hear that u r going to accept islam.

1. wearing hijab: women's are strictly advised to wear hijab. because if u wear a shorts.. ofcourse everyone can see u... everyone eyes will be on u.... do u feel happy when an stranger(guy) see your exposure and enjoy it by seeing ur body?
we muslims cover our body because we want to expose our body only to our husband.
Do u feel good if a stranger guy enjoys ur parts of the body?
If your answer is NO... then accept hijab
if your answer is yes... then let me explain it once again more deeply
ok, u know what prostitutes do?
yes,they like to enjoy their body by every guys. so did u get ur answer? do u agree hijab now?
if ur answer is NO again ... let me give another example

Do u know that one of the main reason for divorses is..... that the husband suspects their wife behaviour (yes ofcourse if u cover ur body & expose ur body only to ur Husband, he would be happy& feels that he is the lucky person....)

exposing body only leads to eve teasing , making lust, desires for strangers( guys). if u cover urself everyone will respect u.

2.Drinking liquor: Allah says "do not drink or eat anything which cause damage to your health" " drinking liquor is haram. it surely causes cancer.

islam is the complete way of life.Allah has given and thought us everything precausiously in the Qur'an.
-Allah says pork is haram. and now the scientist have proven that pork has a several bacteria &germ which cannot be killed at 1000 degrees too..
-Allah asks to drink water in the sitting posture.Now the science has proven that drinking water in the standing posture will leads to stones in the bladder.
-Allah says in the Qur'an that He will preserve the body of the firaoun(pharoh) in this world to be a lesson for the Non-belivers.So Allah made haram for the firaoun dead body in the nile river for the fish.And now the pharoh which was found in the river Nile is kept in the museum in Egypt (its not MUMYFIED!!!!!!!)
-just check out this website for His miracle that He have shown in this world www.miraclesofislam.com and check this website http://www.harunyahya.com/ for the each evidence of islam that Allah has given in the Qur'an &which is being proven in this world by scientist
-First accept whole heartedly that there is No God But ALLAH & Muhammed (S.A.W) is His messenger.
-Accept & belive whole heartedly the hidden truths(day of judgment)
-Accept &belive whole heartedly The Quran and its miracle

But please try to accept the hijab and prohibition of liquor . Allah has taught the good(halal) and bad(haram) to lead a beautiful life & to enter the heaven. Islam is simple, beautiful and the complete way of life.