by Shaheen Darr

Created on: May 23, 2008   Last Updated: January 13, 2009

A Muslim's relationship with Allah begins with his acceptance of Islam as his way of life. This is called the Shahadah and is one of the five pillars of Islam. Translated, it means there is only one God and Muhammad is his prophet. By accepting this statement a Muslim begins his journey into Islam.

I was born a Muslim, brought up by parents who allowed me to question and understand what Islam was all about. Growing up with friends from different religious backgrounds and learning how they approached their spirituality made me come to the conclusion that the entity we all worshipped was one and the same. The only difference was the names He was called and the way each group of people performed their religious duties towards Him according to what they had been taught.

I had read the Quran when I was very young and gradually as I grew older I took it upon myself to understand the message it was relaying to me as an individual. The Quran has to be understood in its historical context to get to grasps with why it says what it says at certain periods of time. This makes the reader understand in depth the reasons for some of the suras or passages in the Quran. I start my day with my prayers which remind me of my mortality and give me the opportunity to pray for my family and my dear ones who have departed. The rest of the day is spent doing routine things but the thought of Allah is always a part of my being.

I believe that there is a reason why things happen the way they do and sometimes it is not easy to comprehend why some people have to suffer so much. I have noticed the calm acceptance of most Muslims to leave their affairs in Allah's Hands. He does what He wants for a reason and who are we to question it? I too have grown up with this mentality and in a way it is the best way to avoid depression and bouts of negativity. The moment a problem looms a prayer and readings from the Quran help bring peace into your heart again.

I know that He has created me for a reason and he has a purpose for me in this world. But as is written in the Quran 'every soul shall taste death' and I accept this too without question. The aim is to try and live my life as best as I can because I know I will have to answer for my deeds one day. That is a fact that every Muslim has to face and we are reminded of it in the Quran constantly.

My belief is that Allah knows us better that we know ourselves and He therefore knows the reasons why we do what we do. All He expects us to do is to lead clean, healthy and pure lives without corruption and excesses and has therefore laid rules which help to lead us towards this route. The common sense approach of Islam is beautiful in its simplicity.

For me, my sense of purity lies in my heart and I therefore I do not feel the need to show an outer covering to the world that I am a Muslim. I do not think Allah will love me more because I covered my head, my deeds to myself and others and my intent will be what I will be answerable to. Thus being a modern day Muslim I have taken the fundamental principles of Islam and have adopted them to my everyday lifestyle. I think Islam is a straightforward religion and has been overly complicated by some Muslims in their strict interpretations of it. Islam encourages education and knowledge and that I feel is the way forward for me in my spiritual journey.

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