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Madinat al-Muslimeen Islamic Message Board
| Time to celebrate the things we share |
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| Anonymous |
| 12/23/02 at 15:26:18 |
| http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,3933-519975,00.html December 21, 2002 Time to celebrate the things we share, whatever our faith credo by sher khan IN SCHOOLS across the country children will be re-enacting a time that saw the birth of an historical figure. A personality who would be remembered by millions for centuries to come. His name would be used to cause joy, controversy and even conflict. He Himself claimed to be a messenger of the most powerful force in the Universe. Jesus was a bringer of good tidings and a warner of the day when all will be held to account for their deeds. As a Muslim, I find that the nativity story has echoes of my own childhood from my own schooldays. But beyond the school assemblies, what relevance does Jesus have today in our office parties and our homes? Some Christians may find it strange that a Muslim should pose such a question. Stranger still perhaps would be to learn that the hearts of Muslims are grieved to see the teachings of God?s messenger ridiculed or lose relevance in the lives of so many. But the story of Jesus is a lesson and guidance in the Koran. We as Muslims are taught the power of God through the miraculous birth. Mary is an example of righteousness for her patience under adversity and her closeness to her creator. In this story there is much that can unite hearts. For the differences that divide us are so much smaller. When the Christian Emperor of Abyssinia gave sanctuary to the Muslims who were being persecuted, he drew a thin line on the ground and said: ?The difference between you and us is no thicker than this line.? There is so much more to gain by focusing on the goals we share: the human desire for peace and stability, a decent place to live, food to eat, respect and dignity. In today?s world all faiths are faced with the same challenge: what role do they have in achieving the above goals? How do we reconcile the teachings in our sacred scriptures with the state of the world in which we live, where materialism is pervasive throughout our societies and the gap between the haves and the have-nots so wide? There are air-conditioned houses for pet dogs of the rich at one end of the scale and death by starvation at the other. How can our faiths stop the breakdown of families and communities and the triumph of self-interest above all else? Do our religious festivals promote the spiritual dimensions of our existence, or do they fall prey to the commercialisation of our rituals? In this month Muslims marked the end of Ramadan (month of fasting) with their day of celebration called Eid. The pressures of celebrating have led many to the same pitfalls as those who celebrate Christmas. Commercial advertising and cultural pressure lead to excessive buying. People with money waste large sums on useless items of pleasure. Even poor people are persuaded to get into debt and use credit cards to buy expensive gifts leading to monetary thrills and post-seasonal depression. The Prophet Muhammad once related how ?if God were to give the son of Adam one mountain of gold, he would want two mountains of gold?. To achieve a true state of happiness we must seek refuge from the tyranny of want. We must question the way we live, and re-examine the values that dictate our actions. If our faiths are to have relevance in the modern world then the values we promote in our religious rituals must re-engage and reconnect with the sacred and the spiritual. Sher Khan is an investment analyst and co-ordinated this year?s Islam Awareness Week. |
Madinat al-Muslimeen Islamic Message Board |