DefSufi

I knew it had been a LONG time since I posted, but I didn't realise it had been nearly a year. The last time I logged in, Ramadan had jsut ended.... and today, Ramadan has just begun.

It's time to fast yet again, and this year, instead of approaching it with a sense of dread, I've been looking forward to it. I have an overweight body and an underweight soul, both of them are hungry and have no sense of control. (Yes, the rhyme was intentional!) And so, here I am, settling back into the rhytym of early brekkies, late dinners, and NOTHING inbetween except daily routine, extra prayer and extra study.

I can't say that I've achieved a lot during the past year. I've got a year older, learnt a little Arabic, become a bit better at my job. I've become closer to my Dad, sister and husband. I've quit trying to "buy the world", and so have been able to acquire things that benefit more than just myself. We've been to England to see my hubby's family, and for my needed "London fix". And that's it, really.

I've spent much less time online, mainly because I just got tired of reading all the negative crap comments on media sites that follow articles about or by Muslims. The On Faith section of the Washington Post, which has an article on Ramadan fasting this morning, is a good example. For all the screaming about intolerance that Muslims supposedly have, there is an awful lot of vitriol posted by the other side. And stilll, the explanations of genuine practicing Muslims are either disregarded or derided as outright lies by those who prefer to hold on to their prejudices rather than open their minds or hearts to any other possibility than what they're fed by the paranoid fear mongers of the media and religious world. And I also must say, that many of our Muslim brothers and sisters DO NOT HELP THE SITUATION with their bad behaviour. Suicide bombings, "honour killings", fatwas of hatred claiming that Sunnis are permitted (if not obligated) to kill Shi'as....this is NOT ISLAM, and it is NOT ACCEPTABLE! If we ourselves do not believe and practice the truth of our beautiful religion, then how can we expect non-Muslims to believe the truth of what we say when we speak about Islam as peace, submission, tolerance, sharing and support, love and salvation?

I've said it before, and I'll say it again.....If anyone teaches hate in the Name of God, no matter what name they call God, no matter what religion they claim to be a member of, then they are NOT teaching the truth.

Part of the reason there are "violent" parts of holy books (and there is violence, often senseless, in nearly every holy book out there...the Bible, the Quran are included) is to bring home the reason that mankind must curb violent behaviour. It is to point out how horrendous it is, and to show where limits must be. Self-defense is nearly always allowed, but that is the limit. Full stop. And the reason why it says in the Bible, "Vengence is mine, sayeth the Lord", is because people get it wrong nearly all the time, so it's best to leave "payback" to the One Who Knows Best. Which means, simply, that for human beings, the only option should be compassion. It's the only thing that causes no harm, and is applicable in all circumstances. Justice practiced without compassion becomes tyranny, torture, or worse. War without compassion becomes an attack on even the innocent, and causes one to forget that only war in self-defense is permissible. Compassion in the face of anger can shame the person in the wrong into change (how many times did Jesus (pbuh) do this?) and causes any blame to depart from the one practicing compassion. Life without compassion results in the need to attack, to defend, the letting loose of man's darker side, self-destruction and more.

Compassion is the only option. Correct your brother and sister before they go wrong, and correct your brother and sister after they do wrong. But do it with compassion, without evil intentions, and without hatred in your heart. The Christians teach "hate the sin, love the sinner." This is compassion in the face of wrong-doing.

Now if we would all just do it.

Myself included.

Peace be with you all. And for my Muslim brothers and sisters, Ramadan Mubarak, and may your fasting be easy.