|| 'Religion': A Strawman || Religion is a strawman that sec | Theology bites

|| "Religion": A Strawman ||

Religion is a strawman that secularism invented. The 'religious' (as thing(s) opposed to the secular) is a concept that wouldn't have been recognized by more ancient societies: there is no single word in ancient languages that accurately translates as “religion.”

In ancient times, people were simply referred to by their nations and the gods they worshipped, such as the Pheonecians worshippers of Hu-bal, or the Assyrians worshippers of Ashur, etc. The Arabs were worshippers of Lat, Uzza and Manat. The Arabs were sent a divine message that reminded them of an ancient monotheism from which they had lost their way, that of Abraham. The Lord God; El, Elohim, Eloi, Elah (also transliterated as Allāh), was whom they were commanded to serve, and shun all false deities. The construct of religion imputes on us a way of thinking about the world which demarcates our interaction with the God of Abraham on one side, and interaction with material world on other. This is a false dichotomy. Leave "religion", live life and do God.
Don't be religious, be godly.

If we were to focus on the Most High, we would engage in the most productive and inspiring conversations that'd explore who God is, what He wants, how, and what the mutual relationship means, rather than angst-inducing debate on dogma or pedantry on the details of ritualisms.

My intent is to highlight the way subservience to God ought to be perpetually informing, not something that turns on and off. God calls us to be Muslims to Him (constantly).
ونحن له مسلمون


Ustādh Mohammed Nizami


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Tags: #Secularism