im deciding to convert my religion to islam bcoz my bf is a muslim and i believe we have to have a similar religion.Im a catholic now and i just thought that if i convert to islam i should know what are the changes i should do and if tehrs some similarity of the two so it wont be too hard for me to adjust.
2007-05-30 23:35:56 · 26 answers · asked by ginnywes18 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
First of all, in order for you two to get married, you don't have to convert at all unless you wish so. Only men are required to convert to Islam when marrying a Muslim girl. But since you're asking .... the main difference between the two is the role of Jesus (pbuh). In Islam we beleive he was a Prophet of God and not His son, neither physical one, nor a spiritual one. I assume that all your life you've beleived Jesus (pbuh) is God. If that's the case, then it will be hard for you to reject that idea, but there's no harm in studying a bit. I suggest you study Islam first and then decide for yourself.
Here's one link for beginners that might help you learn some more about Islam. Good luck!
http://www.islamonline.net/english/index.shtml
Oh, yes, I forgot to say that if you're converting only for your boyfriend's sake, it won't count as a conversion at all. Think twice, please! It would be easy for me as a Muslim to tell you ''Yes, please - convert'' but I'm afraid you're doing it for the wrong reasons.
2007-05-30 23:42:32 · answer #1 · answered by Regina 5 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Don't convert to Islam. Use some reason and don't buy into either one. If you do decide to convert to Islam however, then yes it is similar to Christianity, and in fact is outgrowing Christianity as of right now. Islam has all the basic things you need for religion: the heroes, the mythologies, the rules, the book, the symbols. You won't notice much of a difference. Although Islam is a little more direct to the point than Christianity, and a little less open to interpretation. If something doesn't make sense you still have to believe it in Islam, where as in Christianity you can just interpret it as a metaphor or whatever you feel like.
2007-05-30 23:43:21 · answer #2 · answered by Jadochop 6 · 1⤊ 3⤋
Wow - I say this without bias - take a lot more time to study about Islam, and don't convert just for your boyfriend. One reason being that apostasy (leaving the religion) is a big deal in Islam, so better to be 100% sure.
They are similar in a lot of ways - both believe in One God (although no trinity like in Catholicism), and Islam respects Jesus and the prophets before him (but Jesus is not considered the son of God). Both teach respect and good deeds. Islam does not have confession, and prayer is quite different (as I'm sure you've realized).
Another big difference is that in Islam, orthopraxy is more important, whereas in Catholicism, orthodoxy. What that means is that Islam requires a lot of practice as opposed to simply having faith. You're supposed to pray five times each day (in Arabic, following particular positions), give zakat - or charity (10% of your income), eventually go on a pilgrimage to Mecca - or hajj, and fast during the month of Ramadan (sawm). The fifth pillar is simply belief in God and the prophet Mohammed.
You will find other expectations difficult to adjust to as well. Although not all do - far from it - women are supposed to cover in Islam - that includes the headscarf or hijab. There are expectations in marriage and family, as well as raising children.
Read the Qur'an first, at least. Most mosques in the US and UK carry copies in English, if you have one nearby, just go and ask. They may also provide counseling to help you discover Islam. http://islamtomorrow.com/everything/freequran.asp
You can get a free Qur'an at that site too.
2007-05-30 23:57:17 · answer #3 · answered by nomadic 5 · 2⤊ 2⤋
As-Salaamu Alakium,
I HIGHLY suggest you go to http://www.muslimconverts.com
If you revert for your boyfriend you are doing it for the wrong reason. You must do it for yourself and for GOD.
I was a Christian and it is the same message as from GOD except GOD protected the Quran and is the only Holy Book left still in its original form and preserved.
Also, you will want to get the book "Complete Idiots Guide to the Koran" it will teach you mroe than you relaize it woudl about Islam and compares all 3 religions.
May GOD guide you and help you to accept his final revelation.
Women have more rights than they or anyone else realizes. Do not look at other coutnries for examples, read the Quran and you will find the truth. just ask GOD to help you find it and he can turn on that light in your brain to understand.
I have NEVER been more liberated and you DO NOT have to cover your whole face.
Do not judge a religion based on its people, read the chapter in the Quran GOD gave us Chapter 4 "The Women"
http://www.muslimconverts.com/sisters
2007-05-31 11:10:08 · answer #4 · answered by ModestyWins 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you're converting just because you want to share the same faith with your boyfriend, or he's coercing you, you're converting for the wrong reason. Generally, women are not treated well in Islam. You would forfeit all your rights as an individual to serve your boyfriend. Christianity differs because if you are committed in marriage, you have become one in the eyes of God. The man is not superior to you. Yes, you are supposed to submit to his authority, but only in times when you may disagree. And you don't have to obey anything that is not Biblical, or that violates your conscience. Islam gives you no such freedom.
2007-05-31 00:23:17 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
if u r impressed by the religion Islam and u think it is the one that would take u to the right path go ahead and convert....
but if u r converting ur religion just for the sake of ur boyfriend ,, then plz don't convert into muslim... it will give u nothing,,it will show that u r selfish and religion doesn't mean u anything , and u can change it any time just for the sake of any one... u have to research ur self which one is the true one!
islam and christanity have alot of thing in common...that Allah (God) is one...but the common difference is that christian belives that jesus was Allah's son ... which is not at all true... it doesn't make any sense in any way...
while on the other side islam says that Allah is one and he sent many messengers on earth to guide the people to the right path... like hazrat mossa, hazrat essa(jesus) and his last prophet Hazrat Mohammad(S.A.W).... that's the thing which is the milestone of Islam...
go ahead if ur heart says that this is the only religion that could guide me to the right path ....
ur heart can only give this answer not us... we just guide u or we can just advice.... ur deeds are with u and my deeds are with me...being a muslim, i will never say to change ur religion just for the sake of ur boyfriend... change if u r agreed by it by deep of ur heart...
just as every school / college has some rules and regulations ... simply this religion also have some restriction just for our own sake... these restrictions are just for our own safety...
we the muslims offer prayers 5 times a day just to thanks Allah (God) for all the things he had given us just from the beginning ,,, since our birth ... to the present day...there r many things for which we must be very thankful to Allah... we should thx Allah that we r not handicapped...He gave us everything ...everything which we desired...so why we shouldn't be thankful to Allah... it is a way to thanks Allah...by inner heart...
well it is upto u wht u chose....the right path or the wrong one...best of luck!!!
2007-05-30 23:49:03 · answer #6 · answered by *-* East Beauty *-* 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Short answer: no one has a monopoly on who or what God is. Muslims honor Jesus as a prophet, but not as a "messiah" ("warrior king"). There are some good aspects to both religions, that is, to try and be a good person, but NEITHER owns the truth.
I strongly advise to convert religions simply because your boyfriend is a Muslim. What if you break up and your next boyfriend is Jewish? You need to make your own mind. As for me, the answer is "none of the above" - I think "God" is the natural universe, and not a supernatural being.
2007-05-30 23:42:42 · answer #7 · answered by Paul Hxyz 7 · 2⤊ 2⤋
ha ha here we go again. will this religion debate ever get old? i cant imagine why any girl would like to be muslim. sop far as i know it is very chauvinistic and oppressive towards women. do you really want to walk around covered from head to toe in a sheet with only a space the size of a letter box to see through? there again catholicism/christianity is just as bad. thanks to that the fight against AIDS in africa is severly crippled. against gay rights too. i ahve no idea why that is...maybe because the church fears any kind of intellectual progress that achieves change.
are you a practicing catholic? if so then im pretty sure your god isnt going to like you jumping ship.is your boyfriend a practicing muslim? ive been with my girlfriend five yrs now. she is a practicing catholic whereas im a self proclaimed atheist/bright. it has nevetr caused any trouble between us. i have no beef with ppls religious beliefs just the ppl themsdelves ie fundies, islamic extremists that want to shove their garbage down my throat.
unfortunatly for them there is a major obstacle in my life that prevents me from believing in "god".
i have thoughts.
2007-05-31 01:17:16 · answer #8 · answered by Mattius Deis 1 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I think you should find out what islam consists of before you make a switch merely because your boyfriend is a muslim
Just saying!
Well from what i know there are some simalarities between the bible and the Quran
2007-05-30 23:42:18 · answer #9 · answered by LOTR Fan 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
There are many things common in many things and I don;t think you need to ask other about this but you can yourself read about these things. Right or wrong of these is up to your thinking. But trust me your life can be better if you make it better. Your religion no matter what is a code of conduct it is up to you how easy or difficult you make it for your self.
It is your belief that counts not peoples opinion.
2007-05-30 23:45:28 · answer #10 · answered by Adnan S 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋