Today at a local meeting with some intelligent young mothers on the topic of raising children in USA, I stumbled upon a grate confusion...Islam as a religion. It is interesting how media has finally brainwashed us in accepting Islam as a religion. Nowhere in Quran does Allah calls Islam a religion, He has always announced it as Deen. The distinction is simple. Religion in a name of worships and rituals, whereas, a Deen is a way of life.
If you study Islam, you will find that Allah is teaching us manners or dictating codes of conduct to live peacefully and harmoniously in a society with people of all faiths, cultures and religions. Giving back to the community through Zakat, Sadaqat and Khairats--are all names of charity, is strongly emphasized. Simple smile is considered charity, visiting the sick, feeding the poor and hungry, fostering the orphans, rehabilitating the drunkards and taking in the disabled or challenged persons is a compulsory duty of the society and a great virtue. Islam teaches us selflessness, charity, and compassion along with consideration for the less fortunate amongst us.
Everyone is blessed with some kind of power over others, some with money, others with good health or fine children. Our Deen teaches us to utilize our skills to contribute and spread Islam through our actions. We all depend on one another to exists peacefully in this world.
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Totally agree. Actually you have opened my eyes to this slip of words. I know that when I said religion I meant a way of life, and I am sooo grateful that you have made me realize my mistake. Islam is a complete way of life, and everything is defined for us, from the moment we come into this world until the seconds before we leave it. From the moment we open our eyes in the morning, until we close them at night.
ReplyDeleteI think it is not just the media that has brainwashed the idea of Islam as a religion, I think it also has to do with the western concept of religion and the disassociaton with anything having to do with religion except for a quick church visit or a yearly holiday. Any thoughts?
And I also believe that for those of us who grew up in the West, or those who are raising children in the West, it is very important to stress the comprehensive nature of our deen.
I agree that it is the western concept of religion but I grew up in the East and Islam has always been potrait as a "Muzhab (religion)" rather than Deen. Where as, in Quran every time Allah talks about Islam, He announces it as Deen, for example, correct me if I am wrong, Allah says, "Today I have completed your Deen." So yes, either we have taken this concept of religion very casually or mistakenly started calling Islam as a religion.
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