Practical religion

[sevgi]

Hi to all,

My bestfriend and I went out to have some dinner by the beach last night. As we started thinking about somethings, we got into the topic of how impractical our religion has become for us.

My friend started to voice her concern about losing everything besides her five daily prayers which she no longer feels at heart.

At this point I said to her: "Funny how even one of the most physically demanding and involving religion loses practicality within our lives...what happened to it being a lifestyle?"

I mean, we as muslims are expected to break our daily lives five times during its course, wash our limbs and bow our heads (in some of the weirdest spots and locations). I guess we are always conscious of the fact that we are muslims but in essence, Islam sometimes becomes a seperate world. We have our religious worlds and then our normal worlds. They aren't really in tune with one another.

My question is for the people of the Christian faith. As my friend spoke, I wondered if Christians found it hard to feel in tune with their religion. Not faith or emotion, but on a practical level...is it hard? Is it significant?

I don't know if that makes sense. Thank you for your replies in advance.

Peace.

Sevgi.

[sevgi]

Bump.

[rpwelton]

Hi to all,

My bestfriend and I went out to have some dinner by the beach last night. As we started thinking about somethings, we got into the topic of how impractical our religion has become for us.

My friend started to voice her concern about losing everything besides her five daily prayers which she no longer feels at heart.

At this point I said to her: "Funny how even one of the most physically demanding and involving religion loses practicality within our lives...what happened to it being a lifestyle?"

I mean, we as muslims are expected to break our daily lives five times during its course, wash our limbs and bow our heads (in some of the weirdest spots and locations). I guess we are always conscious of the fact that we are muslims but in essence, Islam sometimes becomes a seperate world. We have our religious worlds and then our normal worlds. They aren't really in tune with one another.

My question is for the people of the Christian faith. As my friend spoke, I wondered if Christians found it hard to feel in tune with their religion. Not faith or emotion, but on a practical level...is it hard? Is it significant?

I don't know if that makes sense. Thank you for your replies in advance.

Peace.

Sevgi.

This is because you are treating this dunya and our deen as separate entities, when in fact they are intertwined. Yes we have to break for prayer 5 times a day, but if you see it as a chore, then it's just going to be a robotic ritual that seems out of place. But if you see it as a way to clear your mind and reconnect with your Creator, then it becomes a wonderful opportunity to reflect on what is really important in this life.

At times I have felt like you have; especially since I did not grow up Muslim, there were some major changes to my life. But every time where I have felt like Islam is "out of place", it's because I was putting it there. I was just relegating it to some ritual that I do. Whereas when you look at it from the perspective that we are here to serve God and our ultimate destination is not this world, but the next, then you start to realize how important the practice of our deen is.

My suggestion is to take some time out and really just think about life. If you're chasing a job, an education, relationships, etc, then you have to realize that they all need to be a benefit to the next life. There's nothing wrong with wanting a good job, a good education and a good spouse. But it's how you approach it that makes all the difference.

Here's a simple test: when you're looking for a place to live, or looking for a new job, do you think about how easy it will be for you to go to the masjid to pray (obviously as a female the requirement is not there for you, but you get the idea), how easy it will be to pray at work, or if there is a halal market easily accessible?

Until you think in terms of molding your life around your religion, instead of molding your religion around your life, Islam will always feel "out of place".

[Banu_Hashim]

Hmm... very good points raised bro ^^. Something for all of us (includin my self) to ponder and think about...

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[Pomak]

My question is for the people of the Christian faith. As my friend spoke, I wondered if Christians found it hard to feel in tune with their religion. Not faith or emotion, but on a practical level...is it hard? Is it significant?

*ahem*

(personally, i find it easier now then when i was Christian, because your reminded 5 times a day of god)

[sevgi]

This is because you are treating this dunya and our deen as separate entities, when in fact they are intertwined. Yes we have to break for prayer 5 times a day, but if you see it as a chore, then it's just going to be a robotic ritual that seems out of place. But if you see it as a way to clear your mind and reconnect with your Creator, then it becomes a wonderful opportunity to reflect on what is really important in this life.

At times I have felt like you have; especially since I did not grow up Muslim, there were some major changes to my life. But every time where I have felt like Islam is "out of place", it's because I was putting it there. I was just relegating it to some ritual that I do. Whereas when you look at it from the perspective that we are here to serve God and our ultimate destination is not this world, but the next, then you start to realize how important the practice of our deen is.

My suggestion is to take some time out and really just think about life. If you're chasing a job, an education, relationships, etc, then you have to realize that they all need to be a benefit to the next life. There's nothing wrong with wanting a good job, a good education and a good spouse. But it's how you approach it that makes all the difference.

Here's a simple test: when you're looking for a place to live, or looking for a new job, do you think about how easy it will be for you to go to the masjid to pray (obviously as a female the requirement is not there for you, but you get the idea), how easy it will be to pray at work, or if there is a halal market easily accessible?

Until you think in terms of molding your life around your religion, instead of molding your religion around your life, Islam will always feel "out of place".

Thank you brother...but I know what I need to do in order to remedy my situation.

My question is directed at Christians, if you have read my post properly.

Jazakallag khayr.

:w:

[sevgi]

*ahem*

(personally, i find it easier now then when i was Christian, because your reminded 5 times a day of god)

So that's the only diff? Muslims pray? Then what is the diff between muslims who do not pray and a Christian in terms of practicalising their deen? Nothing?

[Woodrow]

In my young days as a Catholic. I found it very difficult to relate daily life with my religion. The little things were difficult. Such as, in those days Catholics could not eat meat on Friday. Naturally the school always served hamburgers on Friday.

We were expected to be alter boys, so there went afternoon playtime as we had Latin Lessons.

Lots of little things such as remembering to genuflect and/or making the sign of the cross when going past a catholic church. Making the sign of the cross and praying before eating, hearing church bells, passing a cemetary etc. Having to kiss the bishop's ring if you met him out on the street.

Then avoiding the things the other kids seemed to enjoy such as most comic books, and movies.

many other little things, that seemed so difficult to do in front of non-Catholic Christians. The temptaions were always there to not do them. How, often my thoughts were why couldn't I have been born a Protestant and not have to do all of this stuff.

[alcurad]

the less one correctly understands Islam, the more they see the rituals only..

this isn't about the movements and ablution, it's about the core beliefs and what they lead to.
the basic concept of connection between the spiritual and secular in Islam has been corrupted and has become not much more than fancy words since the self appointed scholars and rulers/dictators took the reins by force, for the christians their current concept of separation between church and state is a myth that is not applicable at all since they have generally remedied the abuse of the church and their rulers.
the western governments have taken all the things the church was doing except theology.

religion is meant to achieve 'life' in all it's aspects, as well as retaining what is achieved, that is why people say Islam is more than a religion, not noticing how the western system has taken the role of religion-christianity-, in the end it remains ones imperative to continuously understand Islam and strive for it's prescribed goals, man has been made as a 'khailfa'/regent of earth by God, not striving to achieve this leaves us with mostly empty ritual..

[Pomak]

So that's the only diff? Muslims pray? Then what is the diff between muslims who do not pray and a Christian in terms of practicalising their deen? Nothing?

Those prayers should then lead to things that show any difference. That my take on it.