I recently received a comment, not unlike some I’ve received before, that while I seem like a nice person, I am delusional because of my belief in religion. This commentator, like innumerable others, goes on to express their condescending pity for my war-mongering, hate-filled, judgmental beliefs and their wish that all religions be eradicated from the planet. Then and only then, can we as a human race have peace. GIVE ME A BREAK! Does anyone else see the irony here?
Like my favorite Sudanese saying goes, “When you point one finger, you have three pointing back at you.” In this case I fear many more fingers are pointing in a myriad of directions. What baffles me beyond the commentary is why in the world anyone with such distain for religion would be bothering to watch a video on my reversion story. I don’t purposefully look for atheist videos and make comments like, “Oh you sad savage atheist. How delusional can you be? Come convert to my obviously superior beliefs because I say so.” But I digress.
First point of contention dear angry person is this, one man’s delusion is another’s belief. No matter what you look to for authority: science, religion, cows, frogs, ex(alhumdillah)-President Bush, fashion, politics, Fox News (God forbid) or money; everyone has a god. It is my personal belief and a religious one as well that though you may not admit it, something(s) owns your loyalty, admiration and in essence worship.
And they worship other than Allah that which neither harms them nor benefits them, and they say, “These are our intercessors with Allah ” Say, “Do you inform Allah of something He does not know in the heavens or on the earth?” Exalted is He and high above what they associate with Him. Qur’an (10: 18)
They drive you to think and act in the way that you do. For example, if your god is fashion and Chanel comes out with a line of chainmail bags, you too will be carrying around something meant to protect from fatal wounds in battle. These days it may not be a bad idea, what with peaceful protestors being assaulted by the very people our taxpayers employ! But again I digress. My point is, though we all have a nature that is unique, it is our pieces of belief in a various number of things that guide our behaviors. For me, carrying around a chainmail purse just because it is the trend is delusional. For you, the idea that there is an intelligent design for the universe around us is delusional. It is okay. One does not negate, nor degrade the other. This is one of the most beautiful aspects of life. Diversity.
Next my dear dramatist, all violence everywhere would be eradicated if we could just get rid of pesky religion? Sounds a little silly when you say it out loud huh? First, let’s address the biggest problem with this statement. Murder is committed everyday in the name of many things: jealousy, love, hate, greed, due to psychotic brain chemistry etc.etc.etc. We could brainstorm all afternoon. I think the thing that sums all of these subcategories up however is emotion. Silly human beings and their passions. No matter what it is you are passionate about, be it the Bible or your wife or your money, if someone threatens them to a point where you feel harm will come to your god, homicide no longer seems like an irrational act, but rather the one solution that will save the object of your admiration. Most homicides are personal: a wife cheated on a husband; a drug dealer took more than his fair share; a chemically imbalanced gay-basher with opportunity takes it. In fact, the majority of killing is not due to any religion, that is the facade. Politicians use people’s passion for their religion, mix it with fear of eradication and mask their own greedy motives with words like “freedom” or “democracy.” Let’s not kid ourselves, it is our passions, not necessarily our beliefs themselves that cause or condone violence.
Thirdly, I am judgmental? First of all, you don’t know me so you have no idea about me specifically, but I understand your point is, religious people are judgmental. Judgmental people are idiots and let me be the first to admit I am an idiot sometimes. We all are. It is another aspect of human nature. We must judge between things in order to form our opinions about them. No one can go through life opinion-less, unless you’re a rock. I attempt to use judgment as a tool for my navigation of the world, not to make you feel bad about yours. I’ve always maintained that just because I feel something is wrong for me does not mean I get to say it is wrong for you. That’s another beautiful aspect of humanity, choice. In the Qur’an (49, 11-13) Allah tells us that:
O ye who believe! Let not a folk deride a folk who may be better than they (are), not let women (deride) women who may be better than they are; neither defame one another, nor insult one another by nicknames. Bad is the name of lewdness after faith. And whoso turneth not in repentance, such are evil-doers.
O ye who believe! Shun much suspicion; for lo! some suspicion is a crime. And spy not, neither backbite one another. Would one of you love to eat the flesh of his dead brother? Ye abhor that (so abhor the other)! And keep your duty (to Allah). Lo! Allah is Relenting, Merciful.
O mankind! Lo! We have created you male and female, and have made you nations and tribes that ye may know one another. Lo! the noblest of you, in the sight of Allah, is the best in conduct. Lo! Allah is Knower, Aware.
Allah makes it clear throughout the Qur’an that there is no compulsion in belief nor action, for without our intention behind them, they are devoid of true meaning. We were made to differ. The last thing I feel qualified to do is judge anyone else and I have to continually remind myself of this fact. I slip back into my nature at times and I am sorry for it. Our judgment is limited and subjective. Allah’s is the most merciful and fair. Thus, I try to leave all the judging to Allah. When I do use my judgment it is in no way intended to make anyone feel lesser for theirs.
Lastly, but certainly not least, oh dear friend, your non-belief is your belief. Yeah, read that one again. Sometimes I find atheists are more adamant than religious people when it comes to conversion. They want to sit and argue with you until you completely agree with them. My answer to all of their bellowing is this, are you calling me to what’s better? My way of life leads me to peace and excellent health both physically and mentally. Your way, which basically allows me to give into all the hedonistic tendencies that are now widely available, would lead me to destruction. For you it may seem like perfect harmony. That’s fine with me. As long as what you do doesn’t interfere with my life, go wild!
So let’s sum things up in this way. We all believe. Whether it is the belief that this universe came together in some cataclysmic coincidence or that we were all created from mud or that we come back to life as many different things in a continuous cycle. We all have our theory and that’s all they are folks, theories. We cannot beyond a doubt prove any of it until we die. With all of our knowledge, we still have no reliable accounts of death because well, the dead, are dead! I wasn’t there in the beginning, just like you weren’t, but I have faith in Islam for many reasons. We’ve all scrutinized, tried, evaluated and subsequently reevaluated our ways of life and should continue to do so until we die. We are striving towards the best versions of ourselves (inshallah) and that takes many things, the most important of which is time. You can think I’m delusional all you want. What you cannot do is change my mind by telling me so or making specious claims. Bring on your proofs and I’ll bring mine. Otherwise, you to your way and me to mine. PEACE!
Jazak Allah-Khairan & All the Best,
Christen
