Is Islam still the answer to the Muslim youth seeking inner peace?
A bright and inspiring young lady called me yesterday and we had an interesting conversation that went on for almost one hour, although she was calling from a different continent:)
Amal, is 18 then and feels an emptiness inside..an emptiness that is no more filled by what she calls "the rituals"- i-e, praying, fasting- she has to perform as a form of belonging to a religion..Amal actually feels related to Islam as to any other "Moroccan tradition".. She does not feel spiritually connected and she is questioning everything.
Amal is also very smart and realizes that switching to a different religion is not -yet- the answer; for what she is lacking is much deeper than "a belief", she needs "a faith". She needs to feel a connection that can eventually lead her to inner peace.
At the same time, she believes she needs to give "her religion" a second chance by trying to learn more than what is widely spread about Islam nowadays. "A return to basics", she says, "that's what I need".
I told her that she has all the right to question her belief, and with what she sees around her, I understand that it's very easy to discredit anything Islamic. I also told her that I really believe she is brave to try going through the not-so-easy-journey of rediscovering onself, reshaping the way she was taught to believe.
She asked for my help and I said "Honey, I am not what we can call a religious person, my relation to Islam started with a passionate love for the divine and it took me years to even remember to do the rituals the right way. Then, years later, came my "encounter" with the amazing journey of the prophet and I immediately fell in love with his amazing way of being.. and I felt the truth in each and every word the French poet Alphonse De Lamartine said about him ""Philosopher, orator, apostle, legislator, warrior, conqueror of ideas, restorer of rational dogmas, of a cult without images; the founder of twenty terrestrial empires and of one spiritual empire, that is Muhammad. As regards all standards by which human greatness may be measured, we may well ask, is there any man greater than he"Translated from Histoire De La Turquie, Paris, 1854, vol. II, pp. 276-277
"I want to feel the same" Amal said..I need to trust that what I hear about the prophet is real, that Islam is the religion for me.."
Again, sweety, I do not think I can help you choose a religion, I can however try to find some ignored or overlooked Islamic texts and teachings that you may relate to..But remember that what you're seeking is a spiritual life that appeals awareness, and "faith, consciousness and awareness, all exist beyond the thinking mind" -RamDass-
Discussing religious practices and trying to prove this right or wrong is not my field :) I go by this saying :"Love's place is out beyond the many separate sects; since you love choosing and excluding, sleep on."Rumi
I promised Amal to keep her updated and to listen to her anytime she needed someone to tell her, frankly, "be careful this is all ego related, or keep going you're tracing your way "..
My personal experience taught me that Islam can indeed lead to a spiritual life, however, I do find it hard to explain it ,in words, to Amal..
I will try to do it -gradually- through this blog.
Amal, is 18 then and feels an emptiness inside..an emptiness that is no more filled by what she calls "the rituals"- i-e, praying, fasting- she has to perform as a form of belonging to a religion..Amal actually feels related to Islam as to any other "Moroccan tradition".. She does not feel spiritually connected and she is questioning everything.
Amal is also very smart and realizes that switching to a different religion is not -yet- the answer; for what she is lacking is much deeper than "a belief", she needs "a faith". She needs to feel a connection that can eventually lead her to inner peace.
At the same time, she believes she needs to give "her religion" a second chance by trying to learn more than what is widely spread about Islam nowadays. "A return to basics", she says, "that's what I need".
I told her that she has all the right to question her belief, and with what she sees around her, I understand that it's very easy to discredit anything Islamic. I also told her that I really believe she is brave to try going through the not-so-easy-journey of rediscovering onself, reshaping the way she was taught to believe.
She asked for my help and I said "Honey, I am not what we can call a religious person, my relation to Islam started with a passionate love for the divine and it took me years to even remember to do the rituals the right way. Then, years later, came my "encounter" with the amazing journey of the prophet and I immediately fell in love with his amazing way of being.. and I felt the truth in each and every word the French poet Alphonse De Lamartine said about him ""Philosopher, orator, apostle, legislator, warrior, conqueror of ideas, restorer of rational dogmas, of a cult without images; the founder of twenty terrestrial empires and of one spiritual empire, that is Muhammad. As regards all standards by which human greatness may be measured, we may well ask, is there any man greater than he"Translated from Histoire De La Turquie, Paris, 1854, vol. II, pp. 276-277
"I want to feel the same" Amal said..I need to trust that what I hear about the prophet is real, that Islam is the religion for me.."
Again, sweety, I do not think I can help you choose a religion, I can however try to find some ignored or overlooked Islamic texts and teachings that you may relate to..But remember that what you're seeking is a spiritual life that appeals awareness, and "faith, consciousness and awareness, all exist beyond the thinking mind" -RamDass-
I promised Amal to keep her updated and to listen to her anytime she needed someone to tell her, frankly, "be careful this is all ego related, or keep going you're tracing your way "..
My personal experience taught me that Islam can indeed lead to a spiritual life, however, I do find it hard to explain it ,in words, to Amal..
I will try to do it -gradually- through this blog.
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