My friend showed me a video of a Muslim woman who had an abortion. She felt alone and isolated by the Muslim community and in order to cope with her pain and loss, she resorted to tattooing for a closure. I don't know the circumstances that led to her getting an abortion, but even if it was something that Islam does not promote and agree with, did we as a Muslim community have to isolate a fellow sister? We repeat that Allah is ar-Rahman and ar-Raheem, the Most Gracious and the Most Merciful. We say that Allah is al-Ghafur and al-Afuww, the Most Forgiving. If the Lord that we believe in is as such, aren't we supposed to have such qualities too?
After watching the video I felt sad for what she had to go through, and I couldn't shake off the feeling that as Muslims, we need to do better. Sometimes people who are religious may be elite. Maybe its self-preservation: the fear of falling into sin or what is displeasing to God. But maybe it is also pride, the holier-than-thou attitude.
It instantly reminded me of Mean Girls and the attitude of "you can't sit with us". You cannot sit with us because you're not cool enough. Or religious enough. Or you commit too many sins. Or not Muslim enough for me.
As if we are all promised Jannah just by believing in Him. As if we can guarantee that we were a thousand percent sincere when we did our deeds. As if our good deeds are guaranteed to be accepted.
We must remember that the opportunity to learn Islam on a deeper level is a means towards God, not the end goal in itself.
It instantly reminded me of Mean Girls and the attitude of "you can't sit with us". You cannot sit with us because you're not cool enough. Or religious enough. Or you commit too many sins. Or not Muslim enough for me.
As if we are all promised Jannah just by believing in Him. As if we can guarantee that we were a thousand percent sincere when we did our deeds. As if our good deeds are guaranteed to be accepted.
We must remember that the opportunity to learn Islam on a deeper level is a means towards God, not the end goal in itself.
The woman now runs a tattoo parlour for women, particularly women, so they can have a space to discuss abortion and tattoos. And it breaks my heart that unIslamic methods are resorted to instead of the Islamic ones.. Why don't we have safe spaces where people can come to and talk about the things that they fear and struggle with without the fear of being judged? Even if that means that they're struggling with alcohol, drugs, sex or whatever not. Is religion just for the already good and already perfect? Aren't we all struggling with something in our religious journeys? Aren't we all scared of being judged by others?
Islam was sent as a mercy to mankind. Prophet Muhammad was sent as a mercy to mankind. But sometimes we Muslims? We don't act as if this religion centres around the concept of mercy. And we gotta do better. We really have to do better as individuals and collectively as an ummah.
The Lost Sunnah: Empathy
Kekecewaan Dengan Orang Agama oleh Brother Hasrizal
This is in Malay. Apologies. Translation of the title: Frustrated by Religious People
