I am a young person and have been brought up in a pretty strict Muslim family. Whilst, I respect and understand the need to pray regularly and keep oneself busy in worshipping the almighty. I think, their is nothing wrong with some relaxation as we are all humans.
I don't mean to offend anyone, but I find it odd that In Islam, acts such as listening to Music, watching movies with superhero figures, singing and dancing, joking with the opposite gender, etc, are all haram.
I am sure people convert to Islam on a daily basis. But whenever, I have discussed Islam with my non-Muslim friends they get turned off by the fact that the religion is against such small things.
There you go.
I was not raised in such an environment but my parents did get more religious as they grew older but I was already out of the house and on my feet at that point so it didn't bothered me that much personally.
I was a panch-waqt namazi as a child. Was the youngest in my family when I finished reading the whole Quran and started fasting in Ramazan in the grueling summer of Karachi. My path was set.
But then came my exposure to movies and music and other "fun stuff". Tried balancing both things together but to no avail. Namaz became a chore and fasting in Ramazan became an excuse to stuff myself during Sehri and Iftari and sleep all day. Religion lots its meaning other than during exam time when my namaz and dua's took on an immediate intimacy and passion.
Then came college and a bad breakup. My world turned upside and I lost all interest in everything. Started questioning the existence of God, my purpose in life, what have I achieved after all those years of namaz and fasting other than trying to make my parents happy and portray an image of a "good boy" so they can be proud of me. I studied Quran with meanings for the first time in detail. I failed to see its appeal. I spoke with friends who were more religiously inclined and asked them pointed questions about the existence of God, of heaven and hell but never got any satisfactory replies. I became a closet atheist. I did most of everything forbidden in Islam. Nothing changed. Life went on. Nothing really completed me.
After all these years now I have come to realize the importance of religion in peoples life. Why without it life can be unbearable. Its hard to live when fully realized that ones life is so transient and insignificant in the whole scheme of things. That one has very little control over their lives and things often happen in a random and unexplainable way. People die in car accidents, perfectly healthy people suddenly get cancer. There is no explanation to it. The clock keeps ticking, the world keep spinning. Not waiting for anything or anybody.
The only thing that remains of any consequence in this bleak and morbid existence is nature and art. Its music, literature, poetry, film, paintings, etc. That is what transcends a person into a someone bigger than his measly existence. This is what makes us humans. Nothing should stand in the way of you appreciating such treasures.
Life is short. Enjoy while you can.
i found this reply really funny especially the shaving beard part.
