format_quote Originally Posted by
EgyptPrincess
How? I'm pretty lost to be honest :(
I'll help you sister, if I am able to, in sha Allah.
In Islam we have every solution to every human condition known. Every single one.
First of all, before I continue, I want it to be understood that all human beings, since Adam Alalihis Salam to the last man alive before the horn is blown - were all given the exact same emotions/feelings. Nothing has really changed.
We are not different to humans who were alive ten thousand years ago, ok?
We are still the same species, with the same ideas about life, justice, equity, etc etc etc.
What has changed though, is how we interpret these feelings, thoughts, and emotions in this - the modern age.
Today, we are sold inversions of truthful ideas in the media, TV, magazines, web etc... inversions such as "you only live once [YOLO]" so "you can do what you like".... these are dangerous ideas.
We do not only live once.
We were souls wiped off the back of Adam in Heaven and we took an oath to Allah that we say Laa Ilaha Ila Allah... then we were born in this world, then we will die and awake in the grave, then we will be raised again on the day of judgement to live out another term according to our judgement.
Where is YOLO now? YOLO is in hell becoming barbeque meat.
When people live between two extremes, they tend to find themselves either going full on 100% total Muslim hard core fanatic, or the total opposite - Brown nose yes man to the suit, and the hedonistic principles that come along with that.
A Muslim rejects both, the extreme and the liberal free for all mindset.
A Muslim who seeks the middle path, is the type of person who takes responsibility for their every thought, action and deed.
NOW - when I use the word "responsiblity" I do not use this lightly.
A middle path is best achieved through knowledge, not ignorance - if we as Muslims neglect learning our Islam and instead find the appeal of eastern mysticism such as meditation - and get caught up in the hype of it because so many non Muslims rant and rave about how cool meditation is, how beneficial it is in calming one down etc etc etc - and haven't even sought to keep five salah on time - does this sound like middle path? nope.
Knowledge kills ignorance.
In Islam, it is well known that those who turn away from the remembrance of Allah will find no peace. You wanted to meditate to find peace - you couldn't even achieve emptying your mind because it is not natural to do so. It is natural to think about things, consider them, work them out... NOT - ignore them, shun them away or ban the thoughts so you can have a "clear mind".... this idea of clear mind is total nonsense.
In the Qur'an, so many times Allah asks us "Do you not think? do you not contemplate? do you not see? do you not consider? do you not realise?" - NOT - empty your mind and forget and don't think, dont consider, dont realise etc - but the opposite. He wants you to take charge, and think and learn - to educate yourself so you can be the light reflecting Islam to those around you... not that empty nonsense which benefits no one which is called meditation.
The only time you will have a truly empty mind is if your brains fall out. Ok? The metaphysical nonsense others talk of in terms of meditation is ALL BS. Trust me - I used to sell that BS back in my twenties, it's all distraction from your impending responsibilities.
I honestly advise the following if you truly seek to find the middle path.
Study Qur'an
Study the Seerah of the Prophet pbuh
Study the serah of the first three khaliphs of Islam,
And READ SLOWLY, deliberately, stopping after each paragraph, and going over in your mind what you just understood.
Reading is calming experience, one that helps us to relax - but it's not mediation - it's education. It actually benefits instead of yielding a "Nothing" - you understand?
With Allah's mercy, one step at a time, you will come closer and closer to the middle path - as long as you try your best to practice that which Islam teaches you.
It's an adventure like no other - Islam is so excellent a choice of life.
Scimi