One of the wonderful facets of Islam is how simple it is in its teachings. In its doctrines, you do not find any mythology or names and events that you would not be able to relate to even in modern times. And in its acts of worship, actions are simple and most importantly, easy.
For any Non-Muslim who observes Muslims, they will find that Muslims live a difficult life as there are too many restrictions on clothing, actions, and others.
ISLAM IS ALL ABOUT WELL BEING
Even for the average Muslim who is able most of the prescribed acts of worship, it is very easy enough to understand as Muslims have been given by Allah many teachings which are based on making religion easy to follow. One example is about what is allowed and forbidden for the Muslims to eat.
A Muslim is allowed to eat anything edible, healthy and delicious except for a few Haram or forbidden foods. In the Quran, Allah said,
“He has only forbidden to you dead animals, blood, the flesh of swine, and that which has been dedicated to other than Allah. But whoever is forced by necessity, neither desiring it nor wishing to sin, there is no sin upon him. Indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.” ~Quran 2: 173
As you can see, only these are forbidden and a Muslim could eat practically any kind of meat, fruits, vegetables, seafoods, bread and others which are not composed of or containing the mentioned forbidden foods. And what is wonderful about this is that Allah, in making this religion easy, even gave permission for anyone whose life maybe in danger due to hunger or for any reason, to eat even forbidden food.
In manners of clothing, a Muslim, man or woman may wear practically anything provided that it is decent and covers his or her body properly and completely. The Muslim woman, for example, can wear blazers, jackets or anything. She could wear any color of her choice.
One may say that, that is not easy enough because Muslims cannot eat pork or the Muslim woman could not wear bikini in public but let’s put it another way.
Ease does not only mean doing something that is easily done. Ease most of all means that this action will give you comfort, protection, and overall well-being. The Muslim woman being covered is actually easing for her to keep her modesty. While not eating prohibited foods makes staying healthy easy.
Ease is often subjective according to our core values and for Muslims, ease is that which safeguards our physical and spiritual well-being.
IT’S OK TO SIMPLY DO WHAT IS ENOUGH
In spite of being obliged to do many acts of worship daily, Allah has made sure that these acts are easy enough to perform and could be easily integrated into the Muslims’ modern lifestyle however busy he is. And for all the obligatory actions, it is often enough to do what is minimally required for a Muslim to do with regards to his prayers, fasting and other acts of worship. If a Muslim wants to do more, he may add to it some other voluntary actions which will also increase his rewards.
In prayer, a Muslim is required to pray standing. However, if he is sick, old or simply unable to, he may pray sitting. If he still could not pray sitting, he may pray lying on his back or his side on his bed.
A traveler may shorten his prayer and join the two of them together so that he will not find himself having to stop a bus or pray in a moving vehicle. Although he may pray in an airplane, a train or a ship, a Muslim may be forgiven if the vehicle changes course and he is no longer facing the direction of Makkah during prayer.
The sick and the travelers are also given options during fasting such as not fasting the days that they are sick or traveling. A terminally ill Muslim or having a sickness that makes his fasting difficult such as diabetes may opt not to fast at all. He or she may simply feed a single poor person for a single meal every fasting day that he was not able to fast in Ramadhan.
The payment of Zakah and Hajj going to Makkah are also not forced upon people who are not financially liable or capable respectively.
Allah said in the Quran,
“We did not put any hardship in religion.” ~Quran 22:78
Allah also said,
“Allah does not want to place you in difficulty, but He wants to purify you and to perfect His grace upon you that you may be grateful.” ~Quran 2:173
ISLAM IS MEANT TO BE IMPOSED EASILY UPON OTHERS
The things we mentioned are about how a Muslim conducts himself in acts of worship, but what about our conduct with others?
Once there was a Bedouin who urinated inside the mosque of the Prophet and the people wanted to beat him for it but Prophet Muhammad intervened. He simply ordered a bucket of water to be poured over it and said,
“You have been sent to make things easy, and you were not sent to make things difficult.” ~Narrated by Imam At Tirmidhi.
This narration from Prophet Muhammad clarifies this issue.
EXTREMISM IS UNISLAMIC
Prophet Muhammad said,
“Religion is easy, and no one overburdens himself in his religion but he will be unable to continue in that way. So do not be extremists, but try to be near perfection and receive the good tidings that you will be rewarded. Gain strength by worshipping in the mornings and afternoons and during the last hours of the night.” ~Narrated by Imam Al Bukhari
Due to this, it is important to note that the extremism that we see in terrorist acts done in the name of Islam are done by people who did not understand Islam properly.
I hope that this column made your day. If you need clarifications you may send your questions, comments, and suggestions to mujahidnavarra@gmail.com.
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