Re: Perception of identity changed when I visited Pakistan.
I’m not abandoning or disowning anyone, me not wanting to visit Pakistan has nothing to do with my relatives, relatives were nice to me, I have other reasons.
I’m also not saying I’m a better Muslim than them, it’s just some aspects of their lifestyle I strongly disagree with, but really it’s none of my business. I’ve visited them once at the age of 25, I don’t think it’s my place to tell them what or what not to do, to each his own.
Re: Perception of identity changed when I visited Pakistan.
And “other reasons” are your personal reasons. Fine.
If I misunderstood you then sorry. But I thought you wrote you were closer to deen than them. And when you visited them you felt strong enough that you will not be going back.
I think you expected something but experienced something different.
In the end no one should claim to be closer to deen by comparing other person(s). Being humble is a virtue also.
Re: Perception of identity changed when I visited Pakistan.
Hmmm interesting question. Lately, I don’t fit in anywhere really… I know how to live & survive in both worlds…western & eastern and I just gave up on the battle of putting a label on my identity. I’m just me, in no particular order… desi, conservative, western, liberal, good, bad…what have you…all rolled into one.