A Kaleidoscope of Contradictions

An Islamic school; tall and proud, stands in the middle of the red-light district,

An Islamic Council defends and protects the religion, governed and payrolled by a secular government,

A mosque stands in splendour while boys and girls mingle freely inside,

A dear friend sobs in sadness and then, in an instant, plays in joyful laughter,

An ustadz preaches the religion while his son cycles outside wearing shorts,

A spiritual sufi admonishes worldly desires and then drives off in his luxury car,

A woman extends a hand begging for money, revealing a row of bangles plated in gold,

A lady adjusts her hijab and then colours her lips to ensure they look red and moist,

A kaleidoscope of contradictions confront us every day. Why is everything not what it seems?

Upon self-reflection, contradictions are not exclusive to the world outside, it exists in the person inside.

Who are we, but creatures of contradictions seeking balance in a world of confusion. And the only way to clear our confusion is to seek the book of reference where there exists no contradictions.

"Had it (the Qur'an) been from other than Allah, they would surely have found therein much contradictions." [ Surah an-Nisa', Verse 82 ]


The Theater of Life

They say teaching is 25% preparation and 75% theater, and I reckon life is too. Everyone acting out different roles in different scenes, with some roles sometimes contradicting the other. Most of the time, we are mere extras in a gargantuan play called "Life".

Does everyone hide parts of themselves behind a mask?

Many of us do because we have grown up in such competitive circumstances that comparisons among peers are a norm and judgement is sometimes harsh. Remember the family gatherings when your mum and aunts compared your grades and your achievements with others of the same age?

What will people think? What will people say? These questions inevitably make you act a certain way, behave in a certain manner that others around you may find you acceptable.

Suppressing your true self eventually creates an inferiority complex. You are uncomfortable with yourself and can only express your true being when you are alone, or with those whom you trust will accept you for who you are. In every other social circumstance, you are a mere projection of an image that would be acceptable and well-liked by those around you.

Making such sustained and deliberate efforts to mask your true self for decades in life, through teenagehood, youth and adulthood, will cause you to lose your own being. "Who am I?" often becomes a question too difficult to answer anymore.

Is life just a game? Well then, I don't want to play anymore...

"What is the life of this world but play and amusement? But best is the Home in the Hereafter, for those who are righteous. Will you not then understand?" [ Surah al-An'am, Verse 32 ]

There are times when you and me... we walk without direction. Our mind in tangles that we don't know where we're from or where we're going.

Remember, there is a purpose to our existence, hence there must be purpose to everything we do.

"I did not create the jinn and mankind except to worship me." [ Surah Ad-Dhariyat, Verse 56 ]

"That which is on earth We have made but as a glittering show for the earth, in order that We may test them, as to which of them are best in conduct." [ Surah al-Kahf, Verse 7 ]

Stop. It is time we stop walking without a destination as if the journey will never end. It will end. But the end only heralds a new beginning.

The beginning of eternity...