#4 Need for silence

#3 Food for thought?

'Do we eat to live, or live to eat'

Going across Facebook, I found this heartbreaking image. Why is it, that in this day and era, there are thousands of people in the world that are suffering from starvation. The human species has evolved in so many ways possible: Technology, Women rights, Oppression etc. However, I wouldn't say we have progressed in terms of distribution of wealth.

According to the World Food Programme, 66 million school aged children, go to school hungry and 23 million are from Africa alone. Having grown up in Africa, I have witnessed with my own eyes, the stark reality of this situation, and the undeniable corruption that exists within such countries that prevents the poor from receiving their share. 

The problem however, is just not about the poverty, it is also about the fact that, the amount of food that goes to waste. People go to restaurants, order more than they can handle, and simply walk out an hour later with half of the food abandoned on their plates. We sadly, do not realize that thousands of people do not even have a drop of water or a grain of rice to eat. Food is taken for granted instead of a blessing. 

You can go to any developed country, enter any mall and have a seat at the food court, and simply observe. What you'll notice is 40% of the people leave the food that they ordered, either because they did not seem to like it, or simply because they had enough to eat and couldn't be bothered with the rest.

Its a sad situation, that we cannot help our own kind, and I applaud those who stand up for humanity.

As Allah (s.w.t) says in the Holy Qur'an:

"Those who spend their wealth [in Allah 's way] by night and by day, secretly and publicly - they will have their reward with their Lord. And no fear will there be concerning them, nor will they grieve." (2:274)

How lucky we are, Allah (s.w.t) has blessed us, that we have food in our bellies. Indeed, we are answerable on the day of reckoning!

Purpose of Life?!

Does anyone else ask themselves, this really mystifying question. 'Whats the purpose of this life?'

I used to ask myself this question constantly, on a daily basis. It was something I would ponder upon but not find an answer. You can go about life with a perfect job, a magnificent house, an amazing social life, but still not find the one answer that we always seek to find. The emptiness that we feel inside and try so hard to remove with the materialistic things of this world.

'Why are we here?'

'What am I doing in this world?' 

On one of those not-so-perfect days, you think to yourself, what difference would it make to the world if you were not here. Reality is, life will still go on and the earth will still continue on its 360 degree journey. But ironically, the answer is staring right at us. Being a Muslim, we go about daily life with the subconscious and the conscious knowledge that God is omnipresent. We pray 5 times a day, and the stark realization comes that we are here in this world to worship God. Period. Everything else that comes along our journey is just temporary. Our relationship with God is everlasting. Our purpose is God.

As it is written in the Holy Quran: 

"I have not created the Jinn and the Men, except they should serve me" (51:56)

Indeed we are here on this earth to serve God, and what a great honor that is!

#1 Lets keep going!

  "Be silent, only the hand of God can remove the burdens of your heart"