To you be your way, and to me, mine

If we know for certain that our mother is a chaste woman, and somebody accuses her of having a child with another man, would we, without any feelings at all, agree to celebrate the birthday of the other 'child' ? 

"Let's not be petty, it's just a celebration." 

Would we accept this and celebrate?  I'm sure we would feel strongly about it and stay away from it, since we totally don't acknowledge the claim.

Then how is it, when other people accuse/claim of God, something we Muslims don't accept ( e.g. having a son, having partners or wives or children and family, or looking like something lesser than even the lowly human), we can ignore it and blindly celebrate or acknowledge the religious festivals?  This is a much much bigger claim!

Religion seems to be a sensitive issue to discuss for some people.  However when it comes to celebrating other religious celebrations, many people become blind followers.

Religion is not something trivial.  It's about our life on earth and life after death.  It's about our faith about our purpose in life and exactly to Who and how we worship.   This is more important than even our family or work.  So rightfully people should be firm about it. 

We can be nice to each other as human beings, but we shouldn't be expected or forced to celebrate something that we don't believe in.    It's good to discuss beliefs and question each other respectfully to learn and know better.  But let us respect each other's beliefs and let there be no compulsion in religion - not in forcing people to believe what we believe, and not in forcing people to celebrate religious festivals.

There are SO MANY other occasions we can celebrate together, National Day, Bonus day etc.  
Leave the religious festivals and ways for it's own followers.


"Say, O ye that reject Faith,
I worship not, that which ye worship.
Nor will ye worship that which I worship.
And I will not worship that which ye have been wont to worship.
Nor will ye worship that which I worship.
"To you be your way, and to me, mine"

(Al Kafiruun 109:1-6)

Mixing with people

As I grow old, I have a problem being around people for too long a time. I prefer to stay away from the different strokes or from having to explain why I don't want to join or do some things that they might do.   I want to avoid having to face such tough situations.

As I grow old. I prefer to have a lot of alone time, although I do wish to be able to do some good deed or teach the Quran or do dakwah  to the people.

I've mentioned before also, why I'm reluctant to do videos or dramas - because I feel I am different, but I'm also quite adaptable and I'm afraid if I'll be weak in controlling myself or in standing my ground for the principles I believe in.

These various issues (or excuses?)...

Anyhow, this hadith sheds some motivation for me to go out and mix with people.   May Allah guide me, grant me patience and give me strength and let me see and abide to my priorities clearly.


It was narrated from Ibn ‘Umar that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:
“The believer who mixes with people and bears their annoyance with patience will have a greater reward than the believer who does not mix with people and does not put up with their annoyance.”

Grade    : Sahih
Reference     : Sunan Ibn Majah 4032
In-book reference     : Book 36, Hadith 107
English translation     : Vol. 5, Book 36, Hadith 4032
Source : Sunnah.com



I like this detailed discussion about mixing with people also.
http://islamqa.info/en/13835

You have to be really stubborn to be an atheist.

 Scientists discover that atheists might not exist, and that’s not a joke.

Subhanallaah.

Surah Al-Araf, 7:172:

وَإِذْ أَخَذَ رَبُّكَ مِن بَنِي آدَمَ مِن ظُهُورِهِمْ ذُرِّيَّتَهُمْ وَأَشْهَدَهُمْ عَلَىٰ أَنفُسِهِمْ أَلَسْتُ بِرَبِّكُمْ قَالُوا بَلَىٰ شَهِدْنَا أَن تَقُولُوا يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ إِنَّا كُنَّا عَنْ هَٰذَا غَافِلِينَ

When thy Lord drew forth from the Children of Adam - from their loins - their descendants, and made them testify concerning themselves, (saying): "Am I not your Lord (who cherishes and sustains you)?"- They said: "Yea! We do testify!" (This), lest ye should say on the Day of Judgment: "Of this we were never mindful":
(English translation Yusuf Ali via iQuran)

The belief in a Higher Being, in a God is ingrained in us, that it would take lot of effort, stubbornness and arrogance to convince themselves that there is none.