I know my question is kinda tricky but I can’t help thinking about it. Do we change our religion to suit our needs.. Lets admit it, some people, as soon as they land in US, Canada, or any other foreign country totally forget about being muslims and concentrate on blending in! Some stay muslim but they have so many modifications that it just doesn’t seem so.Are we ashamed of our religion or what? Awhile back I met a guy and he said with total conviction that 8 out of 10 pakistanis care more about blending in than about their religion. I disagreed with him but when I thought about it and looked around me, I can just say that it was pretty disappointing. Any thoughts on the subject??
Assalaam Alikum!
Well Rida, I know one thing for sure. I haven't changed. Yes, I do agree many people do take the liberty of changing Islam as they like to suit their needs when they come to North America, but there still are the ones who are determined not to. I don't say I am a good Muslim, but I try to follow Islam as closely as I can. And By the Will and Mercy of The Almighty, I have a faith strong enough to keep me from going astray from the right path. I have seen many people who still are sincere to Islam, and would not change no matter what.
And as you say, yes, I also have seen people who do seem ashamed of being a Muslim. For those people, all I have to say is that be proud of who you are. I am proud to be a Muslim, and have made every sincere effort to get recognition from the society, and educate them in the long run, what Islam and Muslims are all about. There's nothing to hide in Islam. What's to be ashamed of? Just do your homework properly, so that when someone asks you a question about Islam, you can provide the right answer! That's the real source of pride, knowing what your religion is all about, and expressing yourself properly when needed. :)
Khuda Hafiz
[This message has been edited by DeSiMuNdA.]
Hey Rida, what are you doing in Oshawa, i thought there are no desis there :)
Does the following question not hold true as well? "do pakistanis living in pakistan modify islam to suit their needs"
There is so much talk of Muslims in the west
modifying or not following Islam that we fail to see what we do in our own country that is
not Islam..but is presented as such.
Well I agree with you 100% DesiMunda. It really does depends on the person. As for your question Bhola, you are right, not many Pakistani's live in Oshawa but I am one of the few lucky ones. Its a beautiful place. You are right to ask that question Mr. Fraudia and I do believe that the modifications in Islam that Pakistan's make living in their own country are way more drastic that those living in a foreign place.
I wouldn't say that Muslims living in other countries modify their religion. Some Muslims neglect some aspects, and others totally give up following it.
Have you forgotten that Islam didn't originate in Pakistan and that it was modified quite a bit to suit the needs of people living there?
If a religion cannot modify certain aspects it dies. Depends what these aspects are. Is Saudi Islam, Indonesian Islam and Tunisian Islam the same? Why? Why not? Could you accept them all? Are you beginning to see the difference between the religion and the culture? Often they are not easy to separate.
We seem to have forgotten the Islam teaches tolerance and brotherly love... just about everywhere there are Muslime this is missing and it distresses me. None of us have to prove to the others that we are right after all in the end none of us will judge each other.
Dear friends....why can't we "modify" ourselves to suit Islam?
Shirin-G! Islam does believe in tolerance but tolerance n modification are two entirely different things.
As Fraudiyaa n you put that Cultures, unfortunately, have had effected n marred our religion but results of this can be seen.
We shud educate ourselves n study the Islamic doctrine and you'll see that it can be practised, in its original form, in any society.
Cheers,
Kaleem
People blend religions with existing cultures and geography.
Trouble is, what do I tell a young boy who has gone with all good intentions to the mosque, only to be told off because his jeans were too tight? Adapt to the reality, one day the boy will realise it's uncomfortable but he'll keep coming back. Now he won't he's too upset. Last time I went to the mosque some busybody women who thought it was their Islamic duty took me to task because I didn't get enough water between my toes while doing wudu. They are so rigid that they push you into tight lines and it's hard to do sajda. They are obsessed with these details and think that this is religion. This is the kind of tolerance I was asking for. Forget the petty details, think about the heart of the question. Unfortunately though most of us remember this sort of riff-raff and forget the most important things. Any ideas?
Well Shirin, I have to agree with you there. Some people do go over-board. They instead of following the main things like Roza, Nammaz, Zakat Haj, they pay more attention to those teeny tiny details. Believe my I went through what you had to endure because once I went to a mosque and I was wearing a white scarf. One lady came up to me and said you know the dark of your hair is showing so your namaaz won't be done. I mean helloo, it was only a faint shade. There isn't much we can do about that except try our best to be as good as we can.
Rida and Shirin Salaams.
Its so true what you'll are talking about. I guess the best is to ignore people like that and be good muslims because its only between you and Allah(SWT). Allah knows you best and what is in your heart.
Later
Zman
I haven't read all your point of views but I think Islam can never be modified, ya you can explain it in different ways to your own satisfaction and this thing has created differenct sects in Islam like ... Shia, Sunny, Wahabi etc etc. Islam is quite flexible and people use the flexibility. Now if someone is using the flexibility to the extent of the limitation of Islam is fine, but, as soon as he crosses the limit of flexibility then he is not modifying the religion but he simple is not following it. So it is not modification it is a lame excuse, religion is there in its pure form with flexibility and he is not simply following it. Someone said here "Islam was not originated in Pakistan, right but it was/is never modified to suit the need of Pakistani people living in Pakistan they are simply using the flexibility of religion within its limitations according to their needs. Quran can't be modified can it be? And all our religion is in Quran or in Sunnah ... now 100% hadith is not authenticated so the main source is Quran. I dont think religon can be modified.
Great points Najim (by the way nice name too). Anyways I was saying, I have heard about most of the types of muslims, but nevr of Wahabis. Mind elaborating?? As for flexibility and modification. What I am talking about is lets take Hijab for instance. It says without a doubt in Quran that women should wear Hijab. Tell me something! How many females around Canada, U.S and any other countries have you seen who wear Hijab to the true meaning. See its modification. The most common excuse to be heard is that you don't have to do if you're not married. Thats modification. Flexibility would be like wearing a scarf with your hair showing but at least giving it a try.
Sunnys,
The people who follow the Sunnah of Nabi, Hazrat Muhammad, PBUH.
Wahabis,
The people who dont follow the Sunnah of Nabi, Hazrat Muhammad, PBUH, but their hadith. Most of the Arabs are Wahabis, they are not sunnies.
But there is not much difference in the way of elaboration of Quran in both Sunnys and Wahabis.
Please do not mix up Ahmadis (Qadaiyanis) with them, they are non-muslims.
Now wearing Hijab, as it is stated in Quran that women must not show her hair means she must cover her head. It is obligatory not a choice for women, but it is also stated that if women start getting grey hair they are allowed to uncover their head. Now if a young woman doesn't wear hijab ... it is not using the flexibility, it is simply un-obeying the command. If you see Plymout Brethrons (a religous sect of Protestant Christians) their girls wear scarf on their head, they dont uncover the head. Some of religious jew girls do that ... and some of muslims as well. I mean there is nothing wrong with wearing hijab in a Western world .... I know many girls, one of them works as Director in IBM, Greenock UK, wear hijab. But again ... Hijab must be worn with an intention for its actual purpose not like ... once I saw a girl in night club dancing with a chinese and wearing hijab. It become useless then. Its better not to wear Hijab if you are not able to keep "LAAJ" of hijab.
Najm! yaar pichlay aik maheenay say luggay hua ho kay main jaa raha hoon, uffrikaa, ubb chalay bhee jao yaar.....just kidding,. Btw what were u doing in night club?
Just to tell u dost in Pak. in some cases they have stretched the religion beyond its limits and its more of a Modification, yaar.
And a little correction in the defination of Wahabi:-
This term is used for teh people who follow the teaching of Abdul wahab, a scholar in the times of King Abdul Aziz. His teachings are bit orthodox means ask n pray to almighty and doesn't believe in this Nazr-o-nayaz thing. It was he who repudiated separate prayers of different sects in the holy Kaaba and since then we have only one Imam and single prayer in the holy Kaaba. They do believe in Sunnah or Hadith, basically the same thing.
Shirin n Rida bibi (s):- I remember going to mosque in my childhood and always being rebuked by some stranger on not folding back bottoms of my trousers or tucking my shalwar to keep it over my ankle and even I’ve been dragged back and pushed aside to fit in. And sometime I’ve been taught politely why it’s necessary to do these kind of things so it all depends on a person and their way of explaining things.
Just try to be in their shoes, most of these grumpy people brought up in a society where they’ve been taught like this and now they feel their responsibility to pass it to others, isn’t it? I can’t see any reason behind your exasperation.
If u don’t follow these meagre things its all right but these li’l things make it perfect. Like a puzzle, one missing brick spoils the beauty of the picture.
Cheers,
Kaleem
Admin. Note
The topic being addressed in this thread should originally have been placed in the Religion section of Gup Shup. . .
Oooooppppppppsssssss, really sorry Muzna, can't you please let it go this once, pleaseeeeeeeee ! I am making the most pathetic face and I am sure it would have convinced you if you saw me but oh well....
Yara I am sorting out some things before I go ... it might take a month or two ... and then you might not see me for a while.
I am again repeating ... if you try to use flexibility more than the limit ... its not modification of religion ... its that you are not following it. So religion has not been modified ... its u who is not following the religion.
I give u an example,
Alchohol is allowed in religion if you have to save a life ... but it is not allowed just to drink for the sake of drinking or drinking for fun.
Use of alchohol for the purpose of life saving is the flexibility of religion. Now some people say that they drink because doctor have asked or advised them to drink ... this is bullsh*t. It is explicit in Quran .... there are more dis-advantages of drinking than advantages. But again there are some advantages. So you can use it uptill the advantages of drinking but when it starts the disatavge to human body, mind etc etc you have to stop.
I think you understand it.
[This message has been edited by Najim (edited 08-20-98).]