Village Journals
Resonate your identity with Naseeb journals. Express your opinions, share your thoughts, post your writings and connect with like minded people through the power of expression.
Resonate your identity with Naseeb journals. Express your opinions, share your thoughts, post your writings and connect with like minded people through the power of expression.
25 Bold Questions
25 BOLD QUESTIONS
The Divine Emphasis on Inquisition, Assessment & Analysis: Muslims believe that every human face on this earth will have to answer certain specific questions immediately after death. The process of reward or punishment starts right from this stage in the life hereafter. Interestingly, one can also find that people of the Heaven will ask the people of Hell about the cause of their great misery, demonstrated beatifully in the Holy Quran. More interestingly, the episode of creation, as described in the Holy Quran, begins with angels being asked about certain names which they could not answer. Adam (a) did answer that Divine question and, subsequently, the angels prostrated before him (a) upon the Divine order.
Islam, the last religion of God, has immensely emcouraged inquisition - the key to knowledge and understanding. Lately, we have self-censored ourselves from this bounty and provision of God. We have indeed distanced ourselves from regular personal and social assessment by not questioning our beliefs, actions, thought, culture and life style. We may be walking but our eyes are closed. Do we know where exactly we are moving to? Or, do we fear seeing where we actually are? Either way, it's not late.
I have often asked these questions myself. And often, I haven't answered them. It certainly requires more than the spirit of a pen or the strength of the rhetoric. At the same time nothing ends as we answer them. These questions are just a beginning ? an intensive journey into oneself, through a transparent landscape of honesty and colourless judgment of facts. Let's have them. Answering them is only as important as life is to us.
If they appeal to you in any way, get them printed on a single sheet of paper and place it under your pillow. When night falls, unleash your mind but do not be greedy. Take one every night and you have got a month's stock. Also, don't be a miser. Let your friends or siblings use their grey cells too. Catch: Knowing a question is half answering it. It is better to answer these questions now and get ready for the future.
1. Why EXACTLY have I come into this world? What could be the most accurate and direct purpose of my very existence?
2. Where does my own world fit into this purpose? Am I aligned or misaligned with my purpose of life?
3. Is God the biggest picture (frame of refernce) in my life? Are there any things more important than God? What EXACTLY is my frame of reference? Do I always seek pleasure of God even for smallest actions? How many times do I ignore God's pleasure? Moreover, how do I know God is pleased or displeased with my thought and actions?
4. Have my desires become God? Whom do I obey most of the time ? True God or my own desires?
5. Am I alive (living) in the eyes of God? Is my soul already dead starving out of guidance from God? Do I know my soul is dead? What are the most visible signs of my soul being alive and receiving guidance and mercy from God?
6. How far have I displaced myself from God? Or how near do I feel to God? Am I a Muslim because I am born to Muslim parents?
7. Our role model is Prophet Mohammad (s). How closely do I follow him? Do I resemble him (s) in thoughts, words and actions?
8. How must I look like? Longest beard with a cap or a turban or just a kilt? Should my dress always be white? Must I be an odd-man-out in the public? Is there an Islamic uniform? Will it appeal non-muslims and allow them to come near me? Or, on the other hand, must I resemble a pop-star, film star or a fashion icon? Is there a moderate dress for a normal muslim? Did Holy Prophet (s) introduce any fashion in Arabia?
9. When somebody casts a glance at me, what are they reminded of ? film star, sports star, fashion icon, Christians, Jews, non-muslims, anything but God?
10. Whom do I talk like? Like Quran, like Holy Prophet (s) or like a man who has never read Quran and Hadith or like a hardcore materialist?
11. Have we locked God inside a masjid and visit Him occasionally? Are Salat (prayer) & Saum (fasting) my final aim or a means to strengthen my Taqwa (piety)?
12. How do I know my Actions (Amaal) are acceptable near God? Am I getting away from sins? How small do I consider my sins?
13. Is my prayer only for myself? Is worship of God making me socially active and sensitive? Am I seriously caring about the have-nots - socially and economically backward ones from the society? Do I seek respect and identity in the company of the rich and the affluent? Do I love to be extravagant?
14. What do I care most about my family and friends - better career, better life or better hereafter? All of them? Which one of them has priority?
15. Are friends for enjoyment and sharing worldly pleasures? Are my friends an important factor in attaining nearness to God? Do I remind my friends frequently about God and His obedience? Do I become sad when they disobey God?
16. What is my own priority ? world over hereafter or vice versa? How does this exactly translates in my practical life? What can I sacrifice for the sake of God?
17. Do I care to seek forgiveness from God about others and myself? Does it make difference to me if I don't? How come I be a sinner at all?
18. Who are our leaders today? Film stars, pop stars, anybody? Are we cheating God? Do I like being called a Muslim but dislike following Quran and Holy Prophet (s)?
19. Do I have a religious responsibility? What could be that? Is there anything like that at all? How often do I discuss or bring to others? notice issues challenging the Muslim world?
20. Can we become role models for Muslims and non-Muslims too? Are all non-Mulims infidels (Kafir)? Must I hate them or leave them to themselves? Or become one of them?
21. Are we superior to other communities in terms of Ethics, Education, General Awareness, Social Work, Scientific Achievements, Business, Politics and Governance?
22. Do we interact with other communities or faiths? Do we invite them in our religious programmes? Have we developed that capacity of knowledge and research? Do I have respect and care for those who differ from me in religious beliefs, philosophical ideas and historical events? How do I handle different points of view? Do I believe what is proven true or always prove what I believe is true?
23. Am I the best person at my work place, school, college, team or neighbourhood in terms of ethics, cooperation, tolerance, knowledge, desire for excellence? Does it make any difference to my religion if I am not the best?
24. I have the best religion and the best book and the best guides from God. But how poor is my performance in life?
25. What will be the future of this world according to my belief system? Do you have any role in such a future? Will I have to wait for a future event to participate in? What about my present role? Is it meaningful?
Do I have more questions? Yes...
The Divine Emphasis on Inquisition, Assessment & Analysis: Muslims believe that every human face on this earth will have to answer certain specific questions immediately after death. The process of reward or punishment starts right from this stage in the life hereafter. Interestingly, one can also find that people of the Heaven will ask the people of Hell about the cause of their great misery, demonstrated beatifully in the Holy Quran. More interestingly, the episode of creation, as described in the Holy Quran, begins with angels being asked about certain names which they could not answer. Adam (a) did answer that Divine question and, subsequently, the angels prostrated before him (a) upon the Divine order.
Islam, the last religion of God, has immensely emcouraged inquisition - the key to knowledge and understanding. Lately, we have self-censored ourselves from this bounty and provision of God. We have indeed distanced ourselves from regular personal and social assessment by not questioning our beliefs, actions, thought, culture and life style. We may be walking but our eyes are closed. Do we know where exactly we are moving to? Or, do we fear seeing where we actually are? Either way, it's not late.
I have often asked these questions myself. And often, I haven't answered them. It certainly requires more than the spirit of a pen or the strength of the rhetoric. At the same time nothing ends as we answer them. These questions are just a beginning ? an intensive journey into oneself, through a transparent landscape of honesty and colourless judgment of facts. Let's have them. Answering them is only as important as life is to us.
If they appeal to you in any way, get them printed on a single sheet of paper and place it under your pillow. When night falls, unleash your mind but do not be greedy. Take one every night and you have got a month's stock. Also, don't be a miser. Let your friends or siblings use their grey cells too. Catch: Knowing a question is half answering it. It is better to answer these questions now and get ready for the future.
1. Why EXACTLY have I come into this world? What could be the most accurate and direct purpose of my very existence?
2. Where does my own world fit into this purpose? Am I aligned or misaligned with my purpose of life?
3. Is God the biggest picture (frame of refernce) in my life? Are there any things more important than God? What EXACTLY is my frame of reference? Do I always seek pleasure of God even for smallest actions? How many times do I ignore God's pleasure? Moreover, how do I know God is pleased or displeased with my thought and actions?
4. Have my desires become God? Whom do I obey most of the time ? True God or my own desires?
5. Am I alive (living) in the eyes of God? Is my soul already dead starving out of guidance from God? Do I know my soul is dead? What are the most visible signs of my soul being alive and receiving guidance and mercy from God?
6. How far have I displaced myself from God? Or how near do I feel to God? Am I a Muslim because I am born to Muslim parents?
7. Our role model is Prophet Mohammad (s). How closely do I follow him? Do I resemble him (s) in thoughts, words and actions?
8. How must I look like? Longest beard with a cap or a turban or just a kilt? Should my dress always be white? Must I be an odd-man-out in the public? Is there an Islamic uniform? Will it appeal non-muslims and allow them to come near me? Or, on the other hand, must I resemble a pop-star, film star or a fashion icon? Is there a moderate dress for a normal muslim? Did Holy Prophet (s) introduce any fashion in Arabia?
9. When somebody casts a glance at me, what are they reminded of ? film star, sports star, fashion icon, Christians, Jews, non-muslims, anything but God?
10. Whom do I talk like? Like Quran, like Holy Prophet (s) or like a man who has never read Quran and Hadith or like a hardcore materialist?
11. Have we locked God inside a masjid and visit Him occasionally? Are Salat (prayer) & Saum (fasting) my final aim or a means to strengthen my Taqwa (piety)?
12. How do I know my Actions (Amaal) are acceptable near God? Am I getting away from sins? How small do I consider my sins?
13. Is my prayer only for myself? Is worship of God making me socially active and sensitive? Am I seriously caring about the have-nots - socially and economically backward ones from the society? Do I seek respect and identity in the company of the rich and the affluent? Do I love to be extravagant?
14. What do I care most about my family and friends - better career, better life or better hereafter? All of them? Which one of them has priority?
15. Are friends for enjoyment and sharing worldly pleasures? Are my friends an important factor in attaining nearness to God? Do I remind my friends frequently about God and His obedience? Do I become sad when they disobey God?
16. What is my own priority ? world over hereafter or vice versa? How does this exactly translates in my practical life? What can I sacrifice for the sake of God?
17. Do I care to seek forgiveness from God about others and myself? Does it make difference to me if I don't? How come I be a sinner at all?
18. Who are our leaders today? Film stars, pop stars, anybody? Are we cheating God? Do I like being called a Muslim but dislike following Quran and Holy Prophet (s)?
19. Do I have a religious responsibility? What could be that? Is there anything like that at all? How often do I discuss or bring to others? notice issues challenging the Muslim world?
20. Can we become role models for Muslims and non-Muslims too? Are all non-Mulims infidels (Kafir)? Must I hate them or leave them to themselves? Or become one of them?
21. Are we superior to other communities in terms of Ethics, Education, General Awareness, Social Work, Scientific Achievements, Business, Politics and Governance?
22. Do we interact with other communities or faiths? Do we invite them in our religious programmes? Have we developed that capacity of knowledge and research? Do I have respect and care for those who differ from me in religious beliefs, philosophical ideas and historical events? How do I handle different points of view? Do I believe what is proven true or always prove what I believe is true?
23. Am I the best person at my work place, school, college, team or neighbourhood in terms of ethics, cooperation, tolerance, knowledge, desire for excellence? Does it make any difference to my religion if I am not the best?
24. I have the best religion and the best book and the best guides from God. But how poor is my performance in life?
25. What will be the future of this world according to my belief system? Do you have any role in such a future? Will I have to wait for a future event to participate in? What about my present role? Is it meaningful?
Do I have more questions? Yes...