Today we visited a Mosque, something that had definitely been on my “to do ” list, especially because Islam has filtered so naturally into our lives with having so many Muslim friends. The girls have quite a lot of curiosity about why some of their friends dress differently and today answered a lot of their questions. They got to see an entirely different place of worship, with completely alien (to them) architecture, introduced to them by a open, friendly and passionate guide who listen to all the kids and tried to answer the (frankly bizarre) questions beautifully. They heard words from the Qur’an, saw beautiful Arabic writing and had it explained them by the painter, touched and felt the clean carpet, watched prayer, watched a person wash in preparation for prayer, listened to the call to prayer, explored a purpose built, lovingly created building during its most precious time of the year. i hope its something that will stay with them for a long time.
Me? In all honesty, it left me with more bewilderment and more questions than i can even begin to articulate. I was clearly listening to a man who has searched hard and found a religion that fulfills him. Almost everything i have heard about Islam in the last year makes me realise that it almost perfectly fulfills many of my wishes for religion, that the people i know who follow it are truly happy and enriched by it. Mostly, the people i have come into contact with are moderate, realistic, practical and at peace. Almost without exception, they are people who have chosen this way, not had it thrust upon them by rite of culture or family. And from the outside looking in, it ought to stricture and inhibit. But quite evidently it doesn’t. Every single Islamic convert i know, is a strong, independent woman who i would have liked in whatever walk of life i met them.
What i want is that version of Christianity. Is that heretical? I find it unutterably frustrating that i seem unable to find a similar approach to religion and life within any form of Christian church; i felt almost stunned by the practicality and honesty of Islam as it was presented today. That clearly women can’t get to the mosque 5 times a day if they have children, so better to pray at home; the refreshing honesty of giving money to the poor to enrich one’s own life and chances hereafter; it’s familiar to me to see passionate young men talk about their church, less familiar to see a young man who seems whole, made whole, by it rather than somehow appearing to have never been out in the sun.
There are things i do not believe i could ever partake of, although my comprehension of such things has changed immensely in the last year. I do not believe i could cover myself up, or ask it of my daughters, i do not believe i could learn to live with segregated prayer and life, though i see that it has it’s positives too, i do not believe i could be as devout as it requires and it seems it’s a religion of the all or nothing. No half measures, you are or you aren’t. Yet much appeals, the continuity and acknowledgement of other religions not least.
And i did write a lot more, but it turned into a current events rant and would probably have got me shot or something, so i deleted it.
Suffice to say, i’m planning on making sure our further delving into the Crusades and Middle Ages has a very thorough balance to it; i don’t want my children growing up unconsciously inbibing the 1000 year old smear campaign that has already been waged against Islam. There is much to do if religion is ever going to include tolerance in this world.
sounds like a lovely trip. I know nothing about Islam, would love to learn really. Must add it to the never ending list of things to learn about!
Searching with you Merry:-) What a lovely respectful post. I would have love to have read the rest of your thoughts, but understand why you didn’t feel comfortable sharing them on an open blog.
Totally understand your comments about “I find it unutterably frustrating that i seem unable to find a similar approach to religion and life within any form of Christian church;”
Somehow it’s all got too “routine” and “this is how we do it get on iwth it” somehow and that’s sad.
Beautiful insights Merry.
btw -want cot?
Thanks for raising this issue Merry and sharing your thoughts. It was only cos if it I discovered my son has been looking into Islam to. So it has been an interesting day.
🙂
I spent most of last night dreaming i’d converted to a religion that meant i had to give up speaking – in my dream i was begging to be allowed to give up food instead. 😉 I had no idea i was so addicted to communication!
Shriek – that has to be bad though, doesn’t it?
BTW, Kdjh, i’ve got one more cupboard to go through, then can i get back to you?
I think I’ll leave some comments about this post on my blog – sometime! Some things you say mirror my Mum’s words…
No bad, just a theme of conversations which has been playing on my mind
Interesting post Merry. I struggle to communicate with the kids about religion. I opted to take a (at the time) rather progressive Religious Studies O level at school that spent equal time on Christianity, Judaism and Islam. I worked so hard at it that I won the school prize, which was still called the ‘scripture cup!’ This was the cause of much hilarity in my atheist family.
But these days, though I want my kids to understand more about religion and its role in the world, I am increasingly angry and frustrated by that role. I don’t want to hide that from my children but I also want them to respect other people’s beliefs. It is tricky, especially as we often avoid the topic with friends who do hold religious beliefs. I think making it real in terms of people and places is certainly the way to go – good on you.
God has blessed you many times over. Keep up the search for the sake of your children. I am a Christian convert to Islam for 21 of my 58 years. God chose me and I am most grateful that He did. The covering up is required for prayer, but in this corrupt world sometimes modest dress will suffice on the street.
i pray to god to help u to the way of islam bec islam is the true relegion,but u ve to know that the road not paved w flowers,u ll be tested examined 4 ur will and sinserity&u ve to do things u arnt accoustomed before like hijab,but u ve to do because GOD command.try contact w muslim sister it ll make it ease