...Yes, it is rather sad the way Islam is portrayed these days. I sometimes sit and observe people (who are Muslims) and ask myself "what went wrong?" There must be a solution. The "situation" as it is makes me wonder where can we start? How do we right so much wrongs?
Firstly I suppose we have to look at ourselves (the more I read/learn, I realise there is so much more I don't know. A humbling feeling). After the knowledge comes the practice; then on to the ummah. This I find rather challenging in Malaysia.
Islam and Malay culture seems to be intertwined to the extent culture, at times, overrides Islam in actions/decisions. I wonder on your observations on this when you were in Malaysia?
When I reverted I received statements such as "Now you are a Malay, you have to speak Malay", "Now you are a Malay, you have to eat with your hands". I was dumbfounded! Then when I decided to wear the headscarf I received a comment from a non-Malay "I didn't know you were a Malay" - I sat the chap down and explained to him the difference between Islam and Malay. Dare I say that the majority of people of other races in Malaysia link Islam to the Malays. Thus when a Malay behaves "inapproriately", it's Islam that gets shot at.
I start with myself in trying to change the "situation". But it seems so far a road ahead. An insignificant me trying to push a heavy load up a mountain. Muslims have to be united. And honestly, if you have any inkling on how we could do this, I would be glad to hear about it!
People are so comfortable with their worldly materials that they have forgotten that this is a temporary place.
___________________
Assalamu'alaikum, sister
Thanks for your last mail.
As for solutions, there are some things that we could do. First of all re-associating the Islamic studies with scientific studies; after all sciences and natural laws are part of Allah's creation. I do not know how it is in M'sia but here in Islamic school the teacher are telling their students that all sciences are evil, brought from the west and that they should concentrate only on studying the Holy Quran.
Firstly I suppose we have to look at ourselves (the more I read/learn, I realise there is so much more I don't know. A humbling feeling). After the knowledge comes the practice; then on to the ummah. This I find rather challenging in Malaysia.
Islam and Malay culture seems to be intertwined to the extent culture, at times, overrides Islam in actions/decisions. I wonder on your observations on this when you were in Malaysia?
When I reverted I received statements such as "Now you are a Malay, you have to speak Malay", "Now you are a Malay, you have to eat with your hands". I was dumbfounded! Then when I decided to wear the headscarf I received a comment from a non-Malay "I didn't know you were a Malay" - I sat the chap down and explained to him the difference between Islam and Malay. Dare I say that the majority of people of other races in Malaysia link Islam to the Malays. Thus when a Malay behaves "inapproriately", it's Islam that gets shot at.
I start with myself in trying to change the "situation". But it seems so far a road ahead. An insignificant me trying to push a heavy load up a mountain. Muslims have to be united. And honestly, if you have any inkling on how we could do this, I would be glad to hear about it!
People are so comfortable with their worldly materials that they have forgotten that this is a temporary place.
___________________
Assalamu'alaikum, sister
Thanks for your last mail.
As for solutions, there are some things that we could do. First of all re-associating the Islamic studies with scientific studies; after all sciences and natural laws are part of Allah's creation. I do not know how it is in M'sia but here in Islamic school the teacher are telling their students that all sciences are evil, brought from the west and that they should concentrate only on studying the Holy Quran.
Very well on religious side but, just ask yourself that question: what are they learning? To repeat entire verses, not understanding the real meaning, just like parrots or tape recorders, as there is no teaching of the Arabic language. Believe me I have seen children of 12 years old that can recite any verse of the Holy Quran but can barely spell their names or add at 9 and 7.
Over here you can wonder, what type of next generation are we preparing to deal with life? Some idiots that will blow themselves up inside a plane because one Mullah told them to do so? What has happened to the science of logic that was once the pride of the Islamic world? So much for mathematic, astronomy, biology and so on and so on. Those were the fleuron of Islam not so long ago.
Do you know that the Crusaders were so much retrograde that they were considered as barbarians by the Muslims, with good reasons!
Just think about it and let me know your thoughts.
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