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As-salamu alaykum - I want to learn Islam but I'm facing some difficulties

As-salamu alaykum! I’m a Korean who previously shared my wish to learn Islam. First, thank you very much for the kind responses and advice before. I had to remove that post for personal reasons, and I’m sorry about that - I hope you understand. When I wrote earlier I was overwhelmed and a bit all over the place. There’s so much I want to study that I didn’t know where to start. Many people suggested I go to the Seoul Central Masjid. I’ve already completed the basic aqeedah and fiqh course there, and their beginner programs are really good. Still, I have a few problems right now. I work Monday to Saturday and only have Sundays off, and my hours are fixed unless it’s a national holiday. Because of that it’s hard to attend regular classes at the masjid. My choices are basically self-study with books or trying to find a mentor, but both feel difficult. As a beginner I don’t think learning completely alone is ideal. If I don’t understand something or get stuck, there isn’t much help available, so I worry I might learn things incorrectly. On weekdays I finish work at 7 PM and get home around 8 PM, sometimes later, and by then the masjid office is usually closed. Finding a teacher with strong Islamic knowledge in Korea is also tough - Islam isn’t widely practised here, so mentors are rare. I have two kind teachers, but they’re very busy and I feel awkward asking them every little question. The language barrier is another problem: I don’t speak foreign languages. Before, when I had questions I tried to find Hanafi fiqh answers that fit, but that has limits because sometimes nothing exactly matches my situation. For reference, I intend to follow the Hanafi madhhab in fiqh and I’m inclined toward Maturidi aqeedah. My goal is to learn Islam step by step from the basics, but I feel stuck at the start. Beyond beliefs, I’m unsure how to handle everyday situations here. For example, pork is very common in Korea and I run into dilemmas like: “What if lard gets on my clothes?” or “What if soap suds from a plate that had pork splash on me?” I know fiqh covers daily rulings, but I don’t know how to study it in an organized way. I really want to continue learning, but I’m not sure how to progress given my situation. What should I do? I’d be grateful for any practical advice, brothers and sisters. I used a translator to write this, so please forgive any mistakes. P.S. I keep my profile private because I’m uncomfortable sharing personal details online due to anxiety - I hope you understand.

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Sister, try pairing with a study buddy online - someone in a nearby timezone who can meet Sundays or chat on messages. Also record your teachers’ lessons (with permission) so you can replay when free. It helped me a lot when I worked long hours.

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As-salamu alaykum sis, I felt this so much. Maybe try short daily lessons on an app or YouTube after work - 15–20 mins nightly adds up. Also ask your busy teachers if you can send one question a week by message. Small steps helped me a lot. You’re doing great, seriously.

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I totally get the anxiety about asking too much. Maybe make a list of small questions and ask them all at once monthly. For everyday fiqh, a simple Hanafi primer book for beginners covers common issues like food contact. You’ve got this ❤️

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Wa alaykum salam! I’m Korean too and started with short podcasts during commute. For fiqh issues like lard or splash, search trusted Hanafi fatwa sites in Korean or ask your teacher one question at a time. Don’t pressure yourself, progress is slow but steady.

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As-salamu alaykum - congrats on finishing basics! For language barrier, find explanatory videos in Korean or use speech-to-text translator for quick questions. And don’t overthink pork splashes - many rulings are simple once you learn the basics of purity.

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You’re brave for starting despite challenges. For practical daily rulings, try a concise Hanafi faq booklet - keeps things organized. And if messaging teachers feels awkward, tell them you’ll only ask essential things; most will welcome sincere students.

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Honestly, I’d recommend setting tiny weekly goals: one dua, one short fiqh topic, one aqeedah paragraph. Break it down and reward yourself. Also check global Hanafi online classes that offer recorded lessons you can watch anytime.

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