Salim Muhammad Bilal
I was born in New Zealand and I am a European Muslim Man. Okay, you might want a comfy seat to rest in as this story is just on 13 pages long, I Pray that you will enjoy it (Insha Allah) as much as I did in creating it for our Brothers and Sisters in Islam to read. 9th September 2000.
Asalamu'alaikum Warahmatullah... Entering onto the "Straight Path" Here are some facts and information on Islam and being of this Faith. As written by: Br. Salim Muhammad Bilal With regards to taking in any form of intoxicates* and dancing, it is not aloud (period) in a Muslim to do such things. *Intoxicants meaning: Anything that would cause the users mind and body to be influenced and altered, thus making your judgment impaired and indecisive. (drunk, stoned, doped or incapacitated) I know this may seem hard to understand, but a person has to think about what happens to ones senses and mind when they have had some form of intoxicant, for example: Alcohol and/or Marijuana in their system.
I know what I was like before I accepted Islam, I was a mess, I had many bad and dirty thoughts of what sexual things I wanted from a woman, now I do not have such thoughts, I have only but utmost respects for woman, not only for their gender, but also for their personalities. Also with dancing, as much as I loved dancing in the past, this causes people to feel emotions of well, hormonal urges when dancing with someone close. (of the opposite gender) so in Islam it is not aloud, this also covers singing (out loud) by Muslim woman or men in this case. An example of which: Cat Stevens (now called Yusaf Islam) was a famous performer and singer, but as soon as he excepted Islam whole heartily he put a stop to his singing career, as it is not aloud in Islamic monotheism to sing, unless it is by the man only when calling Azaan.
With regards to the drinking and consuming of intoxicants of all kinds, this was stopped for Muslims some time ago as some Muslims used to be somewhat "under the weather being doped" and miss their daily five Prayers and/or they used to perform their Prayers under the influence of what intoxicant they were on at the time, thus taking their focus and love for Allah away somewhat. It is so important for us Muslim's to have clean and pure thoughts and feelings when it comes time to Pray to Allah. (Allah mean's "One God") We have to make sure that when doing Prayers (Speaking in Arabic) we make the Prayer as perfect as possible, as this shows your respect and love to Allah (SWT) that you want to please him in any way you can with your love for him.