SUBMISSION TO GOD ALONE

A Beginner's Thoughts

I was a “Traditional Muslim.” Not just an average Traditional Muslim but a staunch Traditional Muslim. My appearance, my deeds, my religious practices, my lifestyle were all in accordance with Sunna, Hadith and the supposed lifestyle of Muhammad. I did believe that there is no god but God; I believed in the angels; I believed that Quran is one of God’s scriptures and that Muhammad was one among the various prophets and messengers God sent to this world with the message “La Elaaha Ella Allah,” and I believed in the Day of Judgment. But all this was mere lip service. I never actually observed the five daily Salat (Contact) prayers. I only went to the Friday prayer [once a week] and “Eid prayer [twice a year].”

It all began in 1992. There was a beggar who used to pass by my house every morning saying loudly “Rab ne paida kiya bandagi ke liye” (Translation: “The Lord has created us to worship Him.”) God made me realise that there was a purpose of my existence and it is mentioned in Quran in 51:56 “I did not create the jinns and the humans except to worship Me alone.”

This set the ball rolling and I decided to follow Islam more religiously. I started saying the five Salat prayers reverently in congregation. I started attending Ijtema’s (religious meetings). But as per the traditional Muslims, my source of guidance was Hadith and Sunnah because according to their

claim it was very difficult to understand the Quran, and was only meant to be recited. I removed the TV from my house and changed my dress code. I began to analyse every act and deed of mine, and if it was not in accordance with Hadith or Sunnah, I would refrain from doing it.

Despite my doing all this for years, there was no joy in my life. I was always confused and thought that there was something wrong with this type of traditional form of worship — something was missing. Wherever and whenever I attended religious get-togethers, I found them praising prophets and messengers, especially Muhammad and the Saints.

Cont’d on page 2