Been lurking here and i want to understand better
Salam, i have a question... i’ve heard of people who refer to themselves as salafi, and i won’t lie, i’m kind of interested in understanding it more. I used to avoid seeing anything related before cause it was talked about scary way with my inner circle 😭 i think it just has a bad rep sometimes, but honestly from what i’ve seen here, it’s not what i expected.
i’ll be honest, from the outside it can seem a bit intense, but when i actually read posts here, you guys are very straightforward and honest, which i respect. A lot of what’s said here actually aligns with me, so that’s why i’m asking
i’m just a regular woman in my early 20s, not a student of knowledge, and my family isn’t really focused on seeking knowledge like that, so i feel like i’m figuring this out on my own.
Lately i’ve been thinking more seriously about my deen, my future, and what i actually want long-term, and i feel this pull to get closer to islam, even though it’s a bit scary. i just don’t want to go into it blindly or end up misinformed.
i’m also someone who’s very creative and expressive, and i’ve been feeling confused about that side of myself. i have things like posters, figurines, and art-related items, and i didn’t even realize some of these might not be okay, so now i don’t know what to do with what i already have
same with movies. I enjoy analyzing films, i collect blu-rays, and now i’ll hear that movies are just straight up not allowed, so i’m confused on whether that depends on the content or if it’s all of it. it’s just hard because i already spent money on these things.
In terms of modesty, i do wear hijab and loose clothing, and i try my best to cover properly, but i’m still figuring out what the actual standard is. Right now i just balance it in daily life by dressing very oversized, sometimes even men’s clothing, just to stay comfortable and covered. Overall i just feel like a beginner who wants to improve in a way that’s steady and proper.
i’d really appreciate any guidance on how to start learning properly and understanding things clearly
Jazakum allahu khayran 🤍
edit: most of what i currently know from is a Quran translation, stories of the prophets (peace be upon them), and islamic hadith books. As for madhhabs, i honestly don’t know which one i follow. I think my family is probably shafi’i, I'm guessing based on location but i don’t really understand the differences or how to choose, so i’m basically starting from scratch.