Empathy and Purity

Today I went to translate for a woman, a friend from work, she was in the parking lot of a hospital and had apparently backed into the door of another car, and had no insurance, no English skills and the car wasn't registered to her. So I went there and the man was very nice. It turned out, according to her that it was his fault, but she wasn't one to argue with him. You see, she is in a most vulnerable position, she came here on a tourist visa that expired here 2 years ago, so while here somewhat more legally than many others, she has to deal with the constant fear of being found out by the authorities. Afterwards, while we were talking, she started crying and I could feel her pain and her fear, fear that the man would call the police. I think we've all been there, when there is a real danger that everything we have worked so hard for to be snatched away from us. She thanked me profusely, for this was just one of the many favours I had done her. I explained to her that it was not necessary to thank me so much, that it was my duty as a Muslim. Dawah done for the day :-)

Now the contradiction.
1. She is a non-mahram female
2. She is mildly attractive

It is just an example of the stuff I feel all the time. The way that I can be doing something good but at the same time bad. It's so impossible to avoid this. It feels like the only pure thing I can do is salaat, that everything else is tainted by some degree of sin.

Libellés : Islam

par Borges à 00:57

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Help me out

To those that know more than me, which is pretty much everyone, that are more experienced, I plead your guidance:

Sometimes I am perplexed by the thoughts in my head. Though I may not act or talk like it, the thoughts that come into my head are often framed by me interms of Islam. Everytime I swear or say something haraam or hug or kiss a gurl, I never forget that it is against the wishes of God. But I still do it. I pray that he gives me the strength to follow his way.

Also, when reading the news, from time to time the thought pops in my head "Well why am I concerned, this or that would not mean anything in terms of dawa or conversion or the implementation of Shariah, so why am I bothering?". For example I follow closely, via a blog called Slugger O'Toole, a comprehensive political blog from Northern Ireland. And sometimes, when they are talking about the resumption of local governement, or the progress of joint policing, I say to myself that obviously I want both to succeed. Yet then it comes to me that it is not actually that important, because I know where most of the people of that land will end up in the end. Or that when I see someone that got killed, I think "well maybe they deserved it because most people fornicate", now obviously, any crazy person with the urge to murder is not the right to do it, of course any offense against someone must be tried and have witnesses and such,and then a punsihment can be decided on. So obviosuly, murder is wrong, a victims possible crimes don't justify it. So that is wrong. But that is just one example., has anyone been visited with these thoughts. I have to keep reminding myself that our Prophets were the so compassionate, so caring and so well informed and that is the way that I should be, whether or not they are Muslims.

I a m also puzzled by what it is best to do. Our Prophet and his community were the best example, but how much of their material lives can be impelmented in our lives. If God didn't want people to advance in their production of goods and raise their standards of living, he wouldn't right? Just because Muhammed (SAW) lived in a time without running water, toilets, electricity and cars, that doesn't mean we shouldn't use them right? Besides, he (SAW) came for all people, so a lot of his material lifestyle woudn't be aplicable to the different enviorments of the world, which Allah has created. It's not at all debatable that the social and religious laws that He gave to us are inaleinable, no change will come to those obligations, as Muhammed was his last Prophet.

I think that a lot of these little mini crises would be cleared up for me just by fasting and keeping regular salaat and making dua. However, I would still be so very appreciative if someone could give me some advice. JazakAllah khair.

Libellés : Islam

par Borges à 22:59

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