Are there any good progressive Masjids?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am looking for a progressive masjid, not so progressive that they have women leading salah.
But one where the aunties won't harass me for wearing nail polish in the prayer hall.

tia

You do know that the prohibition on nail polish is because the water creates a barrier to performing wudoo.

Wudoo is such a weird, irrational thing. Going to the bathroom and farting break your wudoo, but none of the traditional ablutions have anything to do with your butt. I guess one could say "to make sure your hands are clean," but one should be doing that anyway after going to the bathroom.

So the idea of nail polish creating a barrier to performing wudoo is ridiculous. But I think most religion (Islam and other religions) are more about the ritual, than the rational.

Uhm that is, because us Muslims do clean our butt whenever we go to the bathroom with WATER, so no need to clean the butt while doing wudu and your point is?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I read about a new, water-permeable nail polish that is taking the Muslim world by storm. But I do think God is concerned about other things than whether a woman is wearing nail polish.

Well, what you think is irrelevant unless God Himself told you that, which I doubt

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am looking for a progressive masjid, not so progressive that they have women leading salah.
But one where the aunties won't harass me for wearing nail polish in the prayer hall.

tia

You do know that the prohibition on nail polish is because the water creates a barrier to performing wudoo.

Wudoo is such a weird, irrational thing. Going to the bathroom and farting break your wudoo, but none of the traditional ablutions have anything to do with your butt. I guess one could say "to make sure your hands are clean," but one should be doing that anyway after going to the bathroom.

So the idea of nail polish creating a barrier to performing wudoo is ridiculous. But I think most religion (Islam and other religions) are more about the ritual, than the rational.

Uhm that is, because us Muslims do clean our butt whenever we go to the bathroom with WATER, so no need to clean the butt while doing wudu and your point is?

Yes, I understand. FYI I come from a Muslim family, so this isn't exactly a new subject to me. But it's still nonsensical why one has to go through the WHOLE routine after going to the bathroom. Or passing gas. Why do you have to wash your feet after you go to the bathroom? It makes no rational, logical sense.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am looking for a progressive masjid, not so progressive that they have women leading salah.
But one where the aunties won't harass me for wearing nail polish in the prayer hall.

tia

You do know that the prohibition on nail polish is because the water creates a barrier to performing wudoo.

Wudoo is such a weird, irrational thing. Going to the bathroom and farting break your wudoo, but none of the traditional ablutions have anything to do with your butt. I guess one could say "to make sure your hands are clean," but one should be doing that anyway after going to the bathroom.

So the idea of nail polish creating a barrier to performing wudoo is ridiculous. But I think most religion (Islam and other religions) are more about the ritual, than the rational.

Uhm that is, because us Muslims do clean our butt whenever we go to the bathroom with WATER, so no need to clean the butt while doing wudu and your point is?

Yes, I understand. FYI I come from a Muslim family, so this isn't exactly a new subject to me. But it's still nonsensical why one has to go through the WHOLE routine after going to the bathroom. Or passing gas. Why do you have to wash your feet after you go to the bathroom? It makes no rational, logical sense.

I don't think wudu is done just because you go to the bathroom the wudu is considered a ritual act of wor­ship which is done with the intention of seeking the pleasure of Allah.When one intends to stand in ‘audience’ of the Lord Most Supreme in Prayer, the etiquette demanded by Islam is that one wear one’s beautiful apparel, and one cleanse and purify oneself before doing so. That's not really hard to do for one's lord

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am looking for a progressive masjid, not so progressive that they have women leading salah.
But one where the aunties won't harass me for wearing nail polish in the prayer hall.

tia

You do know that the prohibition on nail polish is because the water creates a barrier to performing wudoo.

Wudoo is such a weird, irrational thing. Going to the bathroom and farting break your wudoo, but none of the traditional ablutions have anything to do with your butt. I guess one could say "to make sure your hands are clean," but one should be doing that anyway after going to the bathroom.

So the idea of nail polish creating a barrier to performing wudoo is ridiculous. But I think most religion (Islam and other religions) are more about the ritual, than the rational.

Uhm that is, because us Muslims do clean our butt whenever we go to the bathroom with WATER, so no need to clean the butt while doing wudu and your point is?

Yes, I understand. FYI I come from a Muslim family, so this isn't exactly a new subject to me. But it's still nonsensical why one has to go through the WHOLE routine after going to the bathroom. Or passing gas. Why do you have to wash your feet after you go to the bathroom? It makes no rational, logical sense.

I don't think wudu is done just because you go to the bathroom the wudu is considered a ritual act of wor­ship which is done with the intention of seeking the pleasure of Allah.When one intends to stand in ‘audience’ of the Lord Most Supreme in Prayer, the etiquette demanded by Islam is that one wear one’s beautiful apparel, and one cleanse and purify oneself before doing so. That's not really hard to do for one's lord

What you say doesn't really matter - it's still an irrational ritual. What breaks wudu does not correlate to the wudu steps. It's really pretty random and strange. It's one thing to want to be clean before your god, and another thing entirely to have an irrational order of steps. You can throw in the prohibitions on praying while menstruating, or menstruation breaking wudu, or prohibition on touching the Quran while menstruating - they make no logical sense. But as previously stated, religion is often more concerned with the ritual, than the rational.

(And to add, "beautiful" is completely subjective, and many believe the entire opposite - you should be plain and simple and unadorned.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am looking for a progressive masjid, not so progressive that they have women leading salah.
But one where the aunties won't harass me for wearing nail polish in the prayer hall.

tia

You do know that the prohibition on nail polish is because the water creates a barrier to performing wudoo.

Wudoo is such a weird, irrational thing. Going to the bathroom and farting break your wudoo, but none of the traditional ablutions have anything to do with your butt. I guess one could say "to make sure your hands are clean," but one should be doing that anyway after going to the bathroom.

So the idea of nail polish creating a barrier to performing wudoo is ridiculous. But I think most religion (Islam and other religions) are more about the ritual, than the rational.

Uhm that is, because us Muslims do clean our butt whenever we go to the bathroom with WATER, so no need to clean the butt while doing wudu and your point is?

Yes, I understand. FYI I come from a Muslim family, so this isn't exactly a new subject to me. But it's still nonsensical why one has to go through the WHOLE routine after going to the bathroom. Or passing gas. Why do you have to wash your feet after you go to the bathroom? It makes no rational, logical sense.

I don't think wudu is done just because you go to the bathroom the wudu is considered a ritual act of wor­ship which is done with the intention of seeking the pleasure of Allah.When one intends to stand in ‘audience’ of the Lord Most Supreme in Prayer, the etiquette demanded by Islam is that one wear one’s beautiful apparel, and one cleanse and purify oneself before doing so. That's not really hard to do for one's lord

What you say doesn't really matter - it's still an irrational ritual. What breaks wudu does not correlate to the wudu steps. It's really pretty random and strange. It's one thing to want to be clean before your god, and another thing entirely to have an irrational order of steps. You can throw in the prohibitions on praying while menstruating, or menstruation breaking wudu, or prohibition on touching the Quran while menstruating - they make no logical sense. But as previously stated, religion is often more concerned with the ritual, than the rational.

(And to add, "beautiful" is completely subjective, and many believe the entire opposite - you should be plain and simple and unadorned.

That's your opinion and you are entitled to it. It is irrational to you, good, since you don't have to abide by it Totally rational to me

[Anonymous]

Oh come on people. How on earth does it make sense to eat Jesus body? Anyone could call that ritual cannibalism. It sounds normal because we have been doing it our whole lives.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Oh come on people. How on earth does it make sense to eat Jesus body? Anyone could call that ritual cannibalism. It sounds normal because we have been doing it our whole lives.

Exactly. All religions have their ritual that becomes a pattern. But when you stop and think about it WHY, the rituals stand out as pretty bizarre.

[Anonymous]

Wudu is about spiritual purity not necessarily physical. Like eating pork is spiritually impure, not physically, at least no more so than any other meat. And Islam is supposed to be easy. You can perform ablution with dirt if there is no water. You can eat pork if there is nothing else and you are going to starve otherwise (wartime comes to mind.)

Nail polish isn't going to make or break your prayers. But the state of your heart will. That's what matters.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am looking for a progressive masjid, not so progressive that they have women leading salah.
But one where the aunties won't harass me for wearing nail polish in the prayer hall.

tia

You do know that the prohibition on nail polish is because the water creates a barrier to performing wudoo.

Wudoo is such a weird, irrational thing. Going to the bathroom and farting break your wudoo, but none of the traditional ablutions have anything to do with your butt. I guess one could say "to make sure your hands are clean," but one should be doing that anyway after going to the bathroom.

So the idea of nail polish creating a barrier to performing wudoo is ridiculous. But I think most religion (Islam and other religions) are more about the ritual, than the rational.

Uhm that is, because us Muslims do clean our butt whenever we go to the bathroom with WATER, so no need to clean the butt while doing wudu and your point is?

Question - when you are out and about, do you carry bottled water with you to use after going to the bathroom? I've studied Islam, and know you are supposed to use water, but I've always wondered this. Does it HAVE to be water? Could you use those toilet paper wet wipes instead?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am looking for a progressive masjid, not so progressive that they have women leading salah.
But one where the aunties won't harass me for wearing nail polish in the prayer hall.

tia

You do know that the prohibition on nail polish is because the water creates a barrier to performing wudoo.

Wudoo is such a weird, irrational thing. Going to the bathroom and farting break your wudoo, but none of the traditional ablutions have anything to do with your butt. I guess one could say "to make sure your hands are clean," but one should be doing that anyway after going to the bathroom.

So the idea of nail polish creating a barrier to performing wudoo is ridiculous. But I think most religion (Islam and other religions) are more about the ritual, than the rational.

Uhm that is, because us Muslims do clean our butt whenever we go to the bathroom with WATER, so no need to clean the butt while doing wudu and your point is?

Question - when you are out and about, do you carry bottled water with you to use after going to the bathroom? I've studied Islam, and know you are supposed to use water, but I've always wondered this. Does it HAVE to be water? Could you use those toilet paper wet wipes instead?

Not that poster, but we have a water pipe (bidet) installed in out toilet, like they have in Egypt (where my family is from).

http://www.amazon.com/Blue-Bidet-BB-1000-Temperature-Adjustable/dp/B001DNY59U/ref=sr_1_15?ie=UTF8&qid=1375197074&sr=8-15&keywords=Bidet

If that's not available, my husband takes a cup of water into the bathroom to clean. For us it's more cultural than religious, though. I believe cleaning with water is Sunnah (favorable) but not fard (obligatory).

Our kids all clean themselves the American way, though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I read about a new, water-permeable nail polish that is taking the Muslim world by storm. But I do think God is concerned about other things than whether a woman is wearing nail polish.

Well, what you think is irrelevant unless God Himself told you that, which I doubt

That was unecessary, dear poster. I'm not Muslim like you, so I don't need to accept the ritual pillars in the Qu'ran (Haj, ritual washing, fasting, others) as God's commandments to me.

I'm religious but I agree that religious people need to focus more on how we treat others (the poor, trying not to hate people who are different from us, and that's just a start) and less on checking off boxes about what we eat, how we wash, and other rituals. I can see how people believe these ritual aspects bring God into their daily lives, and that's important. But there's a risk of thinking that checking these ritual boxes makes you a "better" person, especially relative to other people you start to look down on because they are eating the wrong thing or something, and I think the nail polish issue is a case in point.

In any case, I have read the Qu'ran and there's nothing in there about nail polish, obviously, so I'm not clear why the permeable nail polish can't be worn all day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wudu is about spiritual purity not necessarily physical. Like eating pork is spiritually impure, not physically, at least no more so than any other meat. And Islam is supposed to be easy. You can perform ablution with dirt if there is no water. You can eat pork if there is nothing else and you are going to starve otherwise (wartime comes to mind.)

Nail polish isn't going to make or break your prayers. But the state of your heart will. That's what matters.

Not PP asking you, but I think the question is, WHY are these things spiritually impure.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Oh come on people. How on earth does it make sense to eat Jesus body? Anyone could call that ritual cannibalism. It sounds normal because we have been doing it our whole lives.

It's an act of remembrance, so it's not totally random. Every single time you take communion, the priest/minister says, "take/drink in remembrance that Christ died for your sins" or something very close to this. But let's not derail into Christian stuff.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wudu is about spiritual purity not necessarily physical. Like eating pork is spiritually impure, not physically, at least no more so than any other meat. And Islam is supposed to be easy. You can perform ablution with dirt if there is no water. You can eat pork if there is nothing else and you are going to starve otherwise (wartime comes to mind.)

Nail polish isn't going to make or break your prayers. But the state of your heart will. That's what matters.

Not PP asking you, but I think the question is, WHY are these things spiritually impure.

Only because religion says it is. I wouldn't look for logic, if you are. Religion, in my opinion, is for spiritual growth. The origins of some of these laws stemmed from practical aspects of daily living at the time they were founded, or as they evolved. Cleanliness was about the only way to help mitigate disease. Pigs are a difficult animal to keep in the middle east. they take a lot of water, both for nourishment and to regulate body temperature (rolling around in the mud). They were notorious for being diseased (trichinosis). And Ritual of any type is a key component of religion.