:bism: (In the Name of God, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful)
(Peace be upon you)
Hey, there will be always things that you won't understand in life, and sometimes religion might be one of those things because you haven't either specific knowledge or maybe deeper understanding or nuanced understanding of the subject matter.
In this case, for example, when you mentioned
halal slaughter, I disagree: And the reason is specific. I once saw a documentary/video on YouTube (don't know if it's still available as it was some years ago) about
halal slaughter that a person with a farm did in what I think or remember was Australia and can't be sure. And he showed how, for example, he would gentle the animal and talk to the animal and tell him that he would be sacrificed in the name of God and I literally saw how the animal in the face of such petting and stroking and talking seemed to "understand" and then just assume the position of being in submission to what was going to happen. I was gobsmacked and amazed. The thing is that you and I believe in the unseen as part of Islam, right? Part of the unseen is understanding that God has chosen what is best and will always choose what is best. Sometimes, as in this case, I was part to what felt like witnessing an amazing thing, but I won't always get to witness it firsthand like that. In cases like that when you won't always get to witness, you have to know that Allah has decreed what is best even if you can't understand it right now and maybe your humility to God will win you God's regard so that God opens for you understanding of what you don't understand. Even now when I wouldn't say I have an amazing
iman (faith) as I truthfully don't, I simply sometimes just seem to have things like an understanding opened to me, and I think that is because when I came to this religion, I was an atheist, and I honestly submitted from the heart. I may not be the best Muslim and in fact would simply only say that I *try* to try, but I still see Allah opening things to me of understanding and that is because when I don't have understanding, I accept that I don't have understanding and simply then (whenever I can) make
duas (supplications) for an understanding to be given to me. Maybe you can do the same, brother.
This
deen is like an ocean. You see the surface of the ocean, and seeing the surface only, you can't have any idea of how deep the ocean is. But once you start swimming in it further, you can feel and see it. Don't go by the surface of things, because Islam teaches us to accept that surface-things are deceiving. The Quran (2:216) says , "But perhaps you hate a thing and it is good for you; and perhaps you love a thing and it is bad for you.
And Allah Knows, while you know not."
So, to sum the matter up better: My
sheikh (may Allah bless him) used to say that Allah has given a heavenly direction for every little thing, and every aspect of mercy is given and kept in Islam even when we perceive it not with our human eyes.
So, if you say in your heart, "I know not and Allah you know better," you are showing respect for the Almighty and keeping
adab (etiquette), and that respect may open to you knowledge that then satisfies your heart
Insha-Allah (God-willing).
:wa: (And peace be upon you)
There are a couple of things I have read about that on one hand makes no sense at all to me but on the other hand I figure, it's not my job to try to make sense out of it..
like for example, halal slaughter. After reading about how an animal is killed according to halal means, I realized "wow...that causes the animal to suffer a lot." But it's not my job to care if it causes the animal to suffer since that it what God says to do.
Is that ok? It's not like I am saying "this is not right" or refusing to believe in something. It is a matter of "This makes no sense......but ok"