| By dawud72,
on 05-02-2005 14:16
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Views : 1386  |
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Published in : , Articles |
It was a random remark during a conversation that got me thinking. One friend, describing another, said,"Its so rare for someone to be so complete; in the sense that shes religious plus she’s fun!" The remark left me baffled. What did she mean by complete? Does it mean that one can only be strictly religious or purely worldly, polar opposites of the spectrum? Do most people expect that if youre religious, you cant kick back and be cool?
And if you want to enjoy life, you cant be Islamic? That sometimes includes even those folks who are religious or secular because they dont believe that they can be anything else without selling out! But isn’t there a happy medium? Islam is about Balance. Everything in moderation, even moderation.
Islam brings meaning to your actions and creates a purpose. Life becomes more organized. Religion for Muslims becomes a necessary tool. Take the analogy of a classroom for instance. A child goes to school, which has provided its students the best of everything: They have colorful toys, blocks, gizmos, a jungle gym, books and fun CDs and shapes and paints.
He gets so excited by all this stuff he runs around touches everything. He tries hard to experience it all. Where to go, what to do, hes in constant motion. Sensory overload. He runs around in a delirious tizzy until the teacher interrupts to tell him HOW to use everything to maximize its benefit and enjoy it more. But hes too busy to listen. He might have fun, but its fleeting. He is not gaining anything but temporary enjoyment.
Now look at us in this world, isnt it the same? Decorated with all the beauty and glitter of objects and places for us to touch and feel and sense. But we too had a teacher and hes left us a guidebook for help. The book gives us guidelines.
What to benefit from and what to avoid. We even have foreboding historical references in this book. Why do we not pause to examine it? Why do we get carreid away with all the distractions? Islam is a beautiful religion. It encompasses all aspects of our lives. The Quran highlights our purpose with ayahs full of infinite wisdom. It gives us blueprints for a building that we are encouraged to erect for ourselves. Islam is not an ascetic religion, requiring us to leave daily life for worship.
Muslims marry and they partake in politics. Islam isnt about controlling our materialistic lives with strict dogma, its about prevantative restrictions. Its holy and its holistic. The Holy Prophet (SAW) never excluded himself from worldly things. He was a businessman, a husband, a father, a friend, a leader, a general, and above all, he was human. Islam is a natural path. It is not meant to be difficult. It just requires that you recognize Allah as your creator and submit only to Him. Whether were at work, or at play, we are to remember our purpose.
We serve that purpose by fulfilling the obligations and responsibilities that we have been given. We can be in a state of worship when we study or travel, simply by attributing all praise and might to Allah. Those same routine acts of working for bread to feed the family, feeding the needy, or being kind to parents can transform into acts of worship if done for the sole purpose of pleasing the All Mighty. We have to remember that to Him we will be held accountable for all the blessings we have. We are the best of the creation, and the things available to us are for our benefit, so long as we stay within the bounds set by Allah. Islam isnt meant to weigh us down, its meant to make life easier.
Its an umbrella under the harsh storm of life. You know what to do when you are suffering from trials. You know what to do when youre blessed with fortune. You know how to deal with difficult issues. You know how to build a strong and progressive society. How? You know because Allah told you so through the Quran and through His messenger. You know because Allah is "Why do we get carried away with all the distractions? Islam is a beautiful religion. It encompasses all aspects of our lives. The Qur’an highlights our purpose with ayahs full of infinite wisdom. It gives us blueprints for a building that we are encouraged to erect for ourselves.
Islam is not an ascetic religion, requiring us to leave daily life for worship. Muslims marry and they partake in politics. Islam isnt about controlling our materialistic lives with strict dogma, its about prevantative restrictions. Its holy and its holistic. The Holy Prophet (SAW) never excluded himself from worldly things. He was a businessman, a husband, a father, a friend, a leader, a general, and above all, he was human. Islam is a natural path. It is not meant to be difficult. It just requires that you recognize Allah as your creator and submit only to Him. Whether we're at work, or at play, we are to remember our purpose.
We serve that purpose by fulfilling the obligations and responsibilities that we have been given. We can be in a state of worship when we study or travel, simply by attributing all praise and might to Allah. Those same routine acts of working for bread to feed the family, feeding the needy, or being kind to parents can transform into acts of worship if done for the sole purpose of pleasing the All Mighty. We have to remember that to Him we will be held accountable for all the blessings we have.We are the best of the creation. The things available to us are for our benefit, so long as we stay within Allah’s bounds. Islam isnt meant to weigh us down. It makes life easier – like an umbrella under the harsh storm of life.
You know what to do when you are suffering from trials; when youre blessed with fortune; how to deal with difficult issues. You know how to build a strong and progressive society. How? You know because Allah told you so through the Qur’an and His messenger. You know because Allah is all-knowing. And there is no better source than He. If you are ever at a crossroads (and sometimes you may be there daily) you know which path to take. Its that path that the Quran talks about, the one that encourages righteousness and forbids evil. Its the path that leads to heaven. People. Society. Money. Clothes. Technology. Its all here as a means to an end, but not the end in themselves. Why dont we use them to reach our goal, rather than assume they are the goal.
Fashions come and go. Technology changes. Money never satisfies. People are mortal. Society changes standards. The end, the end can never be avoided, and the purpose, well that is our guiding light. It should never change. Like using a car to get to a destination; you dont stay in the car because you love it so much, neither do you shun it because youre so focused on your destination: such are these things. We shouldnt lose ourselves. Why then can one not strike a balance between the world and deen? Why is it so foreign to us to think of a muslim person laughing and still being pious? Islam helps us be better and as she says a more complete person in this world while also preparing us for the next life. They are not mutually exclusive. Keeping Allah happy doesnt mean you shun other activities, you just have to do them with the right intentions. Pray for the best of both worlds, cuz we have to live through the dunya go get to the akhirah.
Last update : 05-02-2005 14:16
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