As’salaamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh,
This is a topic that has bothered me for a very, very long time. It wasn’t until a couple years ago that I sat back and actually realized how young I was when I first started questioning this topic concerning primarily Pakistanis.
I’m an American by birth, a Pakistani by blood, and alhamdulillah a Muslim by Allah’s Will, subhanahu wa ta’aala. I went through several phases of faith in my life including atheism, agnosticism, contemplated taking up Hinduism, and after some years, certain events occurred which led me back to Islam, true Islam. The only difference was that I decided it this time, not my parents. I discovered an entirely new world of Islam that I would have never otherwise known had I continued to place my faith in my family’s average-Pakistani mentality of culture versus religion.
Lets face it, the average Pakistani family is highly cultured and lightly religious. Wearing a beard and forcing your wife/wives to wear hijab does not mean you’re following the right path. Culture is confused with religion and vice versa. It’s a dangerous mix because although the nation of Pakistan claims to be an Islamic country, in reality, is it? Our Hindu/Indian traditions are confused for Islam and in many instances, conflicts with it.
Palm readings, fortune telling, witch doctors in league with jinn claiming they can heal any sickness, people praying to the shrines of the dead for their blessings, blind faith in pirs to the point where they practically worship them, and that’s just the start of it. But these are all acts of shirk and bid’ah.
So what is shirk? In a nutshell, shirk is an unforgivable act which involves one offering worship to any being/s or any thing/s other than God (including polytheism) – on the topic of forgiveness, I’d like to briefly point out that I have no right to place judgment on anyone and that the decision of who has committed a bad deed is entirely the decision of Allah subhanahu wa ta’aala Himself.
And what’s bid’ah? Simple: an innovation in Islam. When you add unnecessary practices, even if they don’t hurt anyone, and claim it is mandatory in Islam when the Noble Qur’an or the sunnah of the Prophet, sallalahu alaihi wa’sallam, have not stated as such, then it is considered bid’ah and thus haraam. Did you know that by having your palm read or you even inquiring about a fortune telling means that God will not listen to your prayers for 40 days? Correct me if I’m wrong but isn’t the penalty less severe for deliberately consuming alcohol? That’s what, 30 days? What about our weddings where bid’ah appears to be ever-so common, or when we declare holidays to celebrate our pious ancestors or pirs? Or when Syeds (mind you, I am Syed as well) use the blessed name for the wrong purposes and use it as an authoritative role over others or even have the nerve to say “my son/daughter will only marry another Syed because we’re better than everyone”? That’s NOT Islam! I have gotten into so many debates with my parents over the last couple years discussing this with them. Alhamdulillah, my mother’s been listening little by little but my father has never budged. One last one that most people will never realize: changing your last name (whether you’re a man or a woman) is actually considered haraam, and to do so and claim you must is then considered bid’ah. Do you know why the Arabs use “ibn” or “bint”? Because it implies “son of” or “daughter of” without ever having to actually change their names. Many Pakistani women take up the first names of their husbands as their last names, or even change their last names to match their husbands’, but this is a practice of ancient Paganism as in the times of Babylon. It is forbidden for any Muslim to change their last name as one’s biological father can never be replaced.
Granted, I can continue rambling and go on and on but my frustration stems from the fact that we ironically claim to be of “The Land of the Pure”. Many people in Pakistan don’t even have the proper education to realize what true Islam is, so then what’s the excuse for us Pakistani-Americans? I’m not perfect nor am I a momin. I have a lot of sins I need to repent for and others I am still working on. I’m also not placing judgment on every Pakistani or Pakistani-American, but we’re all smart enough here to be able to realize these are all extremely common events that occur in the daily lives of Pakistanis around the world.
I apologize for the lack of references here as I’m at work and I’ve already spent much time writing (venting 
) this, but I will provide them upon request. I also apologize ahead of time for offending anyone. This is obviously up for discussion.
Wassalaam
& Peace sandsinjer,
(in hadiths) are sufficient for me to keep stronger my belief. Moreover, I listen what others says and what I found good I take it (good in sense that if I apply it than It won’t harm or cause to harm due to my reaction) and what I felt bad I leave it.