Peace.

Mohamedarif M Suleman - Nairobi, Kenya

 

 

We tend to take many things in life for granted and seldom realize the value of their presence until they are either lost to us or we are somehow affected adversely by its departure.  One such blessing that humankind has been endowed with is the realization and acceptance of a higher Divine Being controlling the entire Universe, a God if you may, to whom we shall all return.

 

We often hear and indeed it is true that Salaat is meant to keep us away from the forbidden actions and if it does not, then there is something definitely wanting in our prayer or manner of worship.  Holding on to this ideal, we many times wonder why religion was termed to be 'the opium of the masses' whereas it is actually supposed to set people's lives in order and make them more accountable.  Then when we look around and start counting at the wars and battles that are being labeled religious, we quickly understand that it is not the religion that is at war but its name is being used to market another motive, a different agenda.  Just like the attention of an unsuspecting buyer to an advertisement that preys on emotions and sentiments to draw him towards buying the product, without there necessarily being a correlation between the two, the name of religion is glued to various other forms of wars in order to seek and solicit the support of others in the faith, and this would naturally lead to a very intense struggle towards attainment of a given goal.

 

In a Study conducted by the University of Connecticut (2004) examining the relationship amongst religious fundamentalism, emotional expressive styles and health, found that religion correlated with emotional expressive styles.  Those with low-faith affiliations, had higher expressive styles and numerous health visits to their doctors, while those with a greater affinity towards religion, had the converse behavioural pattern.

 

Richard M Eckersley, writing for the Medical Journal of Australia in a piece titled: "Culture, spirituality, religion and health: looking at the big picture", hypothesizes that: Religion provides things that are good for health and wellbeing, including social support, existential meaning, a sense of purpose, a coherent belief system and a clear moral code."

 

There are various other citations which establish a clear connect between mental/physical health and religion, drawing that religion is a soother of man's health and is as well a factor dominant in creating inner as well as outer harmony.  If we extend this thought to our own scenario, we can reflect over the verse ""… Only in the remembrance of Allah can the heart find peace." (Qur'an, 13:28)" and try and understand the mechanics of this life in its light.

 

Many of our young people are recalcitrant (stubbornly resistant to Authority) and whether this is good or bad depends on which side of democratic values we fall under, but such idiosyncrasies need not be replicated in the understanding of Allah (SWT).  For whether we submit to this fact or not, science has already begun understanding and accepting the clear relation that religion has with sound health.  In whatever we do, we must find a meaning related to Allah (SWT) vis a vis our existence in the very manner that he wanted us to.  This is why when we teach our young the method and modes of wudhoo, we try as well to teach them the duas that go with each action symbolizing that at the end of this life, there is accounting of deeds and misdeeds and that the time to seek forgiveness and nearness to Allah (SWT) is now.

 

All around us there is war and hatred.  How many times do you sit in front of the television and mutter to yourself how obvious a certain group of people is trampling the rights of others owing to their strength?  Even in daily social living, the term competition has invaded our lives to such lengths and depths that many would go to any lengths to attain superiority over the others in exchange of social acclaim and accolade.  There are many things ongoing in today's world that should make the strongest of minds either wander off in stray directions or simply lose balance.  In these times, when a majority of people talk of peace but few do much about it, or then the actions towards purported peace are self conceived, one must realize that unless one has inner peace, nothing else can be peaceful.  This inner peace is in the dhikr of Allah (SWT).