Jihad…it’s not a dirty word!

Allow me to steal a line from one of my favorite musicals, Rent: How do you measure the life of a woman or a man? In daylights, in sunsets, in midnights, in cups of coffee? In inches, in miles, in laughter, in strife?

How do you measure life?

A little over a year ago, a friend gave his explanation of the purpose of life (as a Muslim): To earn your way to jennah (heaven).  Of course, we spoke at length, but nothing stood out more than this statement.  What I have taken away from that conversation is that life is simply an obstacle course; a test of faith that ultimately determines our station in the akhira (hereafter). 

Now that’s an incredible thought. Life is just a test of faith.  So the stronger your faith, the easier life becomes? I suppose we each have to answer that for ourselves.  But, allow me to interject my personal belief: YES!

When you operate from a place of faith, then the world and its complexities become so simplified!  Even the tough stuff becomes minor league.  Eventually, every frustration becomes an opportunity to express patience; every adversity an opportunity to deepen your faith and express forgiveness.  We actually become blessed with 524,600 minutes every year to be thankful.  But is that realistic!?  Hmmmm…therein lies the TEST!

The truth is, we all struggle at some point to find our balance, to see and seek the good in ourselves and the world around us.  If we place Allah in the center of this struggle, what we really have is a personal jihad (striving).  And isn’t this the goal?

Our beautiful Koran, and the example of our beloved Prophet (PBUH), expound on all the ways to overcome life’s difficulties.  Reliance on Allah, turning to Allah, and praising Allah are surely the answer.  And yet, our test is in believing, and then practicing. 

It amazes me how wrapped up we can become in the day to day of living.  We are all guilty of allowing the guy who cut us off on the highway to agitate us for hours instead of thanking God that we didn’t have an accident.  We give so much importance to the people around us and the commodities we obtain, that we actually allow ourselves to live for them.  But our parents don’t earn our deeds, and no asten marten will drive to heaven.  And inasmuch, we are all in need of engaging in our own personal jihad. 

When Allah is at the center of life, our struggles become opportunities, our accomplishments are blessings, and every day is truly a gift.  It is amazing what happens to the world around us when we strive to live it as the test it really is. 

So, I dare you to strive a little, take up your own personal jihad, and see how life transforms.  Who knows, you may just find your way to heaven!

Jihad has many purposes in Islam.  This is one aspect. I am not a religious scholar, and I have no desire to argue the tenets of jihad in its various forms.  Thank you J

To love or hate the life of a man: The death of Osama bin Laden

The world is inundated with the news of the loss of one man’s life these days.  Osama bin Laden is top of the headlines and on the mouths and minds of people from sea to shining sea.  Heck, I don’t even have a television and I never watch or read the news, and even I know all about it!

From conversations to Facebook posts I feel like I have a play by play.  I even read a blog by one of my favorite Imam’s (Khalid Latif) explaining why a burial at sea is not against sharia (Islamic law).  It may be the first time that I do not totally agree with the man…but that’s off topic.

So really, what can I add and why am I writing about it? I am no scholar of Islam.   In fact, I am like a newborn in this faith, having only reverted 4 years ago.  And what drew me so swiftly to this beautiful religion was the totality of the Koran.  The justice and peace I was preached in every Surah moves me even still today.  And, in every comment, in every rendition of what’s happened to Osama bin Laden, I’ve rarely heard reference to these fundaments of our faith. 

As Muslims, it is not our right or place to judge another.  Our greatest example was in Rasulallah, the Prophet Mohammad (PBUH).  This beautiful man endured profane acts of terrorism from every which direction, including from within his own family.  He was beaten, his life was threatened countless numbers of times, for heaven’s sake, he and his family were almost starved to death.  Yet, time after time after time after time, our beloved Prophet (PBUH) prayed over his enemies, sought every opportunity to offer peace where war was waged, and (most importantly) forgave.  He forgave his trespassers.  He forgave his enemies.  He forgave and sought to forgive.

Rasulallah (PBUH) experienced the divine mercy of Allah (SWT) and with every ounce of his being he sought to bring that mercy to each and every one of us.  This is our faith.  This is our Islam!

We may rejoice at a hindrance to the operations of a terrorist network.  I am ecstatic to see Muslims and non-Muslims unite over the demise of a false representation of Islam.  But we should never excite ourselves over the death of another human being.  Like it or not, every human on this earth has the same opportunity to seek Allah (SWT) until his last breath.  And it is not ours to judge or decide his soul's journey.  Our FAITH is that we come from our Creator and to our Creator we return (inna illahi wa inna lillahi rajioun).  How we live in this world (dunya) is our choice, but how we live in our hearts, in our minds and in our prayer is known and judged only by Allah (SWT). 

Let us not get caught up in the hatred.  If we accept our faith and live it with true Iman, we will seek to protect ourselves from the darkness of worldly judgment. 

For Osama bin Laden, I say: inna illahi wa inna lillahi rajioun.