The Way of Life

I attended one of the lecture series by Mufti Menk last night and even though what he talked about is similar reminder by most "Great Men of Religion" his delivery was really captivating. Not only he has a vast knowledge of the religion, he is also extremely knowledgable about the current affairs of the world. One of the examples he used last night was the Samsung S4 launch! Goes to show how much he keeps abreast with worldly matters apart from matters of the religion.

Anyway, I scribbled some notes just as a reminder to myself.

In a nutshell, the talk is centered on two main headline:
1) human are created to worship Allah
2) prophet Muhammad (SAW) is the messenger to show us how and the Quran is our guide.

I like to think that every Muslims is very much aware of that. But to practice to be a good Muslim ie to worship Allah is a real challenge, can be a real struggle to some, with the devils or Syaitan in our every footstep. Ahead of us even, ready to deviate us from the right path, from doing good.

That's why every time when we recite the Al Fatihah in our prayers, we keep asking Allah to keep us on the right path and not make us deviate the way the jews and the christians. They had their own prophets or messengers and their own "guide" book and they also have been taught to worship Allah. It is all the work of the Syaitan, explained Mufti Menk. Many years later after the messengers were long gone, Syaitan has managed to turned them into disbelievers.

I like the way he akin our "Iman" as a precious stone. A diamond even. If we want our diamond to stay shiny, we have to keep polishing it. We have to gain more knowledge. The more we know the less likely we get tricked into replacing our diamond to a fake one right under our nose without even realising it.

In another word, we must know exactly what is written in the Quran and what is stated in the sunnah. Anything other than that should not be practiced or it will "bidaah" or worse "Syirik". God forbid. And thats exactly what Syaitan wants us to be.

There are other interesting examples he gave us last night but I think this is enough for now.

But one thing for sure, if we are on the right path, we will feel the "nikmah" and inner contentment.

May Allah keep us in our faith and grant us Jannah. Ameen.