The Hitchhikers Guide to Islam
Assalamu Aleikum wa Rahmatulahi wa Barakathu.
Last night at our halaqa, my beloved sister reminded us that we are but wayfarers in this world. She has prepared a series of halaqas based on the book, Purification of the Soul (I know its published in England. I don't think it is Imam Hamza Yusuf's book, however). She used several analogies that were funny, culturally relevant, and quite modern.
Analogy #1: You are travelling and a friend graciously lends you the use of her apartment. Knowing that you will be there for only three days, will you got to the effort of buying Hurwitz Mintz (local expensive furniture store) furniture and redecorate the place just to suit your taste?
Analogy #2: You have planned a trip to the desert where you be camping out for a month (insert your imagination here-especially if you live in a swamp like myself). You have a limited budget and 1 hour to go into the Walmart (and/or Sam's) and get all your provisions for the trip. Will you spend all your time in the cosmetic and clothing sections?
Curiously enough, I am blessed with a fate where when I am supposed to learn something, it is reiniforced into my daily life until it is weaved into my very experience of life itself and becomes a part of who I am. Well, I just got back from watching the movie (if it were a British production I probably would have called it film) The Hithchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.
OK, I usually don't like going to movies (especially not science fiction movies) but I gave it a chance. When I go to the movies a certain guilt sets in. I think "I could be something better with my time" but I usually try to grow from the experience.
Fact about me #1: I am a very visual person. I don't have an overactive imagination (like my good friend does), so I have a hard time picturing things.
Fact about me#2: My husband enjoys going to the movies every now and then so it's one of the things I do with him.
Well, knowing that this world is a distraction, I was going to make the best of my perspective at the movies if I was gonna cave in and go with my husband.
Even Douglas Adams, clearly an atheist (for any fans I am not taking away his ability as a writer, just as a believer) understood the infinately minute time we have on Earth and how although beautiful, what a small portion of the creation Earth actually comprises. (I probably could go on but it won't help explain myself any better.)
Here's the rub: HE'S AN ATHEIST DUDE! We should be far more conscience of this fact. Although he (Adams) may never have figured out an answer to "Why are we here", Muslims have. Do we really express it in the way we live?
No, I didn't need to see the movie to understand this but I think it actually helped drive the point in for me.
I don't think I am going to give away everything I own and never covet anything material again, but it will help me to keep thinking about everything I do and why I do it, insha'Allah. I really pray for that ability.
Last night at our halaqa, my beloved sister reminded us that we are but wayfarers in this world. She has prepared a series of halaqas based on the book, Purification of the Soul (I know its published in England. I don't think it is Imam Hamza Yusuf's book, however). She used several analogies that were funny, culturally relevant, and quite modern.
Analogy #1: You are travelling and a friend graciously lends you the use of her apartment. Knowing that you will be there for only three days, will you got to the effort of buying Hurwitz Mintz (local expensive furniture store) furniture and redecorate the place just to suit your taste?
Analogy #2: You have planned a trip to the desert where you be camping out for a month (insert your imagination here-especially if you live in a swamp like myself). You have a limited budget and 1 hour to go into the Walmart (and/or Sam's) and get all your provisions for the trip. Will you spend all your time in the cosmetic and clothing sections?
Curiously enough, I am blessed with a fate where when I am supposed to learn something, it is reiniforced into my daily life until it is weaved into my very experience of life itself and becomes a part of who I am. Well, I just got back from watching the movie (if it were a British production I probably would have called it film) The Hithchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.
OK, I usually don't like going to movies (especially not science fiction movies) but I gave it a chance. When I go to the movies a certain guilt sets in. I think "I could be something better with my time" but I usually try to grow from the experience.
Fact about me #1: I am a very visual person. I don't have an overactive imagination (like my good friend does), so I have a hard time picturing things.
Fact about me#2: My husband enjoys going to the movies every now and then so it's one of the things I do with him.
Well, knowing that this world is a distraction, I was going to make the best of my perspective at the movies if I was gonna cave in and go with my husband.
Even Douglas Adams, clearly an atheist (for any fans I am not taking away his ability as a writer, just as a believer) understood the infinately minute time we have on Earth and how although beautiful, what a small portion of the creation Earth actually comprises. (I probably could go on but it won't help explain myself any better.)
Here's the rub: HE'S AN ATHEIST DUDE! We should be far more conscience of this fact. Although he (Adams) may never have figured out an answer to "Why are we here", Muslims have. Do we really express it in the way we live?
No, I didn't need to see the movie to understand this but I think it actually helped drive the point in for me.
I don't think I am going to give away everything I own and never covet anything material again, but it will help me to keep thinking about everything I do and why I do it, insha'Allah. I really pray for that ability.
posted by musulmana at 6:22 PM
2 Comments:
Welcome to the blogging world. I thought it was good you should keep it up.....
as salaam alaikum
After talking with several athiests I don't find it suprising that they would be more intune to the fact that life is short. They don't believe in an afterlife and this life is all that they have. The believe in death there is finality, nothing more. Yet for us we know that there is life after death. Perhaps this belief of life in the next world gives us a scewed view that we have eternity in some way.
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