Just Testing

When I became a Muslim I realized there was a great gap between the world-view I had grown up with and the one I had just adopted. Many of the values are the same--love, respect, honor. But the methods are different and, consequently, so are the attitudes.

Prayer is one example. I grew up learning prayer was good. When I became a Muslim I began a formal system of prayer, with regular times and dictated movements. A very different approach.

Views of life and death are even more different. In the American--not necessarily the Christian--viewpoint, life is to be enjoyed to its fullest. Death is to be avoided. For Muslims, life is a test and death is another phase of our existence.

Machiavelli, who unfortunately typifies the current American attitude, stated the end justifies the means.

For Muslims, it's not the end which counts--it's the means. Allah determines our end result. What's important is how we get there. Honestly or dishonestly. Through hard work or laziness. With kindness or cruelty.

If you don't believe, you depend on yourself. But if you believe in a Creator, you realize you can depend on Him. Do your best and leave the rest.

Life is important. But it's just a test.