The meaning of our lives should be the most essential question, yet many people when confronted with the question leave a vauge answer or no answer at all. This extremely important subject is also met with many scattered forms of answers. The islamic prespective is first and foremost the same for all people (meaning that we believe that everybody has the same meaning), if one makes such a claim, one has to be able to give a just criteria in which man can be judged. This critera can be found in the words of our beloved prophet(peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) when he stood up infront of thousands of his companions in a speech that is called "the last sermon". He said; "All mankind is from Adam and Eve, an Arab has no superiority over a non-Arab nor a non-Arab has any superiority over an Arab; also a white has no superiority over a black nor a black has any superiority over a white - except by piety and good action " This is the criteria in which humans are judged by, unlike judging people by their looks, prestige, wealth etc This criteria is used for a purpose, the purpose of our lives, i.e to establish worship to the one and only god, Allah(may he be exalted). When I say that the meaning of life is to worship God I am not in anyway saying that praying 24/7 is what to do. Worship in islam is defined as everything that God is pleased with and accepts, no matter if its said with the tounge, in the heart or performed by the limbs. Thus, saying a kind word to ones wife is worship just like feeding a thirsty dog can be labled as worshipped (the prophet mentioned a man who was given paradise due to feeding a dog, his companions asked : “Messenger of God, are we rewarded for kindness towards animals?” He said: "There is a reward for kindness to every living animal or human"). The key to this is the intention, the prophet (peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) said in a famous narration; "The reward of deeds depends upon the intentions and every person will get the reward according to what he has intended" If you intend for something good and cant complete the work, you are still given a reward even though you never accomplished it. This in short is the islamic perspective of the meaning of live, and this view does not vary from muslim to muslim. Any comments, critique, hate letters : ) ??
All mankind is from Adam and Eve, an Arab has no superiority over a non-Arab nor a non-Arab has any superiority over an Arab; also a white has no superiority over a black nor a black has any superiority over a white -EXCEPT BY PIETY AND GOOD ACTION here we have the basis of discrimination and the apartied set up by islam, you define piety and good actions and say that those people who are not pious with good actions as you define them non-muslims are inferior .
Johnny, how could you get such a beautiful statement to sound discriminating????? What it says is clear, we "excell" each other not by our looks or wealth but by the good deeds we perform. Excuse me if you think Im naive, but that sounds pretty well to me, contrary to racism. "O mankind! We created you from a single (pair) of a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that ye may know each other (not that ye may despise (each other). Verily the most honoured of you in the sight of Allah is (he who is) the most righteous of you. And Allah has full knowledge and is well acquainted (with all things)". (Q 49.13)
how its sounds discriminating is that it says one isnt superior EXCEPT if the person is pious and has good action . we both know that I as a atheist wouldnt be considered pious and my disbelief and active opposition wouldent be considered good action. so therefore I am inferior Ive shown sahih haddith where atheists have been put to death , there is the one where they are burned and all that was said is dont burn them kill them with another method . you have people like grand ayottolah sistani saying that non muslims are ritually unclean and you need to have a bath if you sit on a seat that they may have sat on. I can find simular statements and actions in lots of branches of islam . if it said no one was superior then I would applaude the statement hope you have a nice christmas (I like christmas even though I dont believe in christ, to me its just a time when you give presents and children are told a myth about father christmas and raindeer and such) I may take a while to respond as likely to visit sister
happy to hear you like discrimination kiss the sky. a homosexual would be discriminated by that verse, so would the late dead theo van gogh, or ayaan hirshi ali as she as rejected islam . read the verse and notice the EXCEPTION and remember the person who is saying it and think what he means by pious and of good action . being a pious pagan wouldnt make that person equal to a pious muslim ,and good actions are defined by islam . I dont imagine either of you are broad minded enough to read some books on how badly muslims treated pagans, atheists, non people of the book, or jews and christians as dhimmis . but a lot of that comes from passages like the one that cab qoutes as tolerant, but in fact really reinforces secterian discrimination
happy to hear you're happy to hear that from me. that just doesn't make any sense at all. I don't see any homosexuals mentioned here. I don't think you know enough about Theo van Gogh to judge about him. The murder of Theo van Gogh was a horrible attack on the freedom of speech, but Theo van Gogh was no angel either. I am by no means claiming that he got what he deserved, but he was heavily contributing to polarisation. He called muslims 'goatfuckers' and more embarrissing things. You have no idea about the Dutch situation. well, I think Adam and I think along the same lines with what we call 'good action'. By thinking of something as a good action you're not discriminating, you're just having principles. You have principles too, right? No, of course not. A good German isn't the same as a good Russian either. look who's talking. that's not the fault of the RELIGION. Go read some Karen Armstrong (her book Islam), you broad-minded hero. we have a different view on discrimination I guess.
Meaning? What meaning? There is no meaning to life. What is the meaning of a flower? What is the meaning of a flea? I'm not interested in the meaning of life, I'm interested in an experience of life, in truly experiencing life. ~paraphrase of Joseph Campbell I always liked the way he put that. I basically agree with what you, cabdirazzaq, described as worship: a kind word or action. I don't agree with the idea of doing it for some later reward, or even with an unconscious idea of reward that floats around the back of your mind. Being truly here, now, in the moment experienceing life fully, that's what I think it's all about. Otherwise, the meaning is just an idea; some future reward or occurance, or just an abstract idea that has little relevance in real life. You say the kind word to your wife because you love her, feed the stray dog because you love it, live life because you love it. Not because of what comes later; the rewards are instantaneous, the experience is the reward. Not an Islamic perspective of course. Or maybe it is, but all I know is that it's my perspective.
I hate to go off-topic but since his name was brought up.... If Joseph Campbell was standing in front of me, it would take all the 'Piety' in the world to stop myself from punching him right in the face. Easily the most annoying passive-aggressive agenda driven antireligionist to every grace the airwaves. And that is really saying something! Joseph Campbell - Punch in the face.
This guy spent all his time finding 'friendly ways' to convince everyone (and himself) that all religions are essentially false. But he pretends to be praising all religions too by saying they are 'true and valuable' as 'Myths' can be. Dont worry, he taught a generation of unwitting listeners that the Koran is essentially ficticious and so is the Torah and the New Testament as well. Just 'Allegorical Myths' which he says are even MORE beautiful and wonderful when we accept them as such. Personally, I have almost zero patience for passive-aggressive jerks like Campbell who make 'backhanded compliments' or criticise (insult) while pretending they are giving a gift or praise instead. Believe it or not Cab - I have far more respect for you and the Atheist Libertine for just announcing your bullshit up front with no mistake about your beliefs or intentions. I would rather be in a stadium of people like you than spend 10 minutes with one passive-aggressive asshole like Joseph Campbell. He was over-rated and received no end of publicity and praise from the secular humanist media people. He was like a god to them. A beautiful, wonderful, educational and mythical god.
Theres an arab proverb that says; "Il rather take a scorpion on a rock than one under a rock" you have all the right to hate hypocrisy, so do I.
