“Islam is boring”

Only Allah knows how many times i have heard this phrase being uttered by the youths of today. On a number of occasions when out on dawah and tableegh we asked several people (posing as if, conducting a survey) on what they thought of islam. i.e how they felt towards islam. Was it a strict religion? Was it demeaning and degrading?(without sounding arrogant, or intimidating). Now, after some discussion and deliberations the answers i and my colleges received was “if i did practice islam with all its injunctions and regualtions, then my life would be boring. I’ll have no ‘fun’ in my life”. All ill be doing is having to live my life according to the dictates and injunctions of some grimy old guys with big beards in the mosques. Who like to control and manipulate people. ill have no enjoyment in my life. it will simply become dull, boring and tasteless”.
Startling as it may sound, but this is the overwhelming reason people in the early/late 20s and late teens fail to live upto the many Ahkam (injunctions) of islam. They merely see the Quran as a book full of rules on how and what they should and should not do. Nothing more. Not that the book is YOUR life and your survival guide to living in this vicious world which is full greed, lust, selfishness etc.

You see, the problem arises when people begin to see islam as a pure organisation. In which they are only the shop floor workers doing their usual labour work of packing cakes in a box. When you have this view, where you have to (by no choice) do this and that as told by the boss or otherwise. What chances will there be for you to feel part of the organisation? Or what probability will there be that you will feel inclined to put your heart, mind, body and soul into the organisation? No one likes to be preached to or dictated into doing this or that. Many of the times this does happen is when our usual back home ulema (by that I mean ulema who are shipped over to UK or elsewhere) only stipulate and teach islam in a dogmatic manner. By that I mean, do not try and infuse love for the religion. This is the crucial point to keep in mind. When we really begin to appreciate islam and love this ‘organisation’ and see it as our own. In which we have a share of it, even if it be the smallest spec things will be different. For example, the shares in islam which we can and do already own are our iman, and the deeds. The more effort we put in practicing the religion then more dividends we will receive at the end of the year. Which in this case is when we die. Our iman is like the shares which we have put into the company of islam. The more effort we put in doing good deeds the more our shares (iman) will grow. Thirdly, whatever we do has an effect on the organisation. If we act in a good way then the company (islam) will have a good PR (public relations) if negative, then negative image of islam will be permeated through to the people.
It is common sense and a normal attitude when someone sees he/she is pushed to do something will not by no means put in his or her heart into a job that needs to be carried out. If he or she is instead shown the benefits and perks (added incentives) of doing an act. Then you will see a complete change in the individual. Many of the times our ulema
condemn the world to hell. Which creates an image in the minds of the youth that islam hates the world. That, we are not allowed to enjoy the pleasures of the world (within the boundaries) but only grow to loath the world and hate the world. This is an outrageous image which the ulema create. Let me clear this myth!

Islam is where you will find ‘fun’ and pleasure. It highly recommends people to be involved in sports. To love life and enjoy oneself. Live a healthy and good life. Not loath and hate the world!
All in the context of being halal of course. Islam is not a strict and rigid religion! It only says just keep certain rules in mind but otherwise enjoy your life to the full. Any game or sport will not be enjoyable if there are no rules to keep in mind. Otherwise the game will be useless and boring. Same is with islam, it only mentions a few rules to keep in mind nothing more. So enjoy life 🙂