Archive for Life as a Muslim
October 7, 2006 at 4:52 pm
· Filed under Life as a Muslim
While one is in the process of learning, is it better to immediately study what one has access to in the language one is familiar with, even if, despite an overall increase in learning, may not always come across the entire picture and gain only a limited (and sometimes, warped) understanding?
Or, is it better to spend one’s time focusing on studying first the language that will eventually allow access to more wholesome works, allowing for a truer understanding? Even if, as a result, the understanding may thus only come years later?
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July 31, 2006 at 8:43 am
· Filed under Life as a Muslim
It is said that all things have an opposite. In fact, things are often defined as against its opposite. Good and Evil. Darkness and Light. Hot and Cold.
Does the absence of one mean that there is inevitably some presence of the other? For example, take the attributes of humility and arrogance – often considered the opposites of one another. If you are not arrogant, does that mean you are humble? If you are not humble, does that mean you are arrogant?
If you are of the opinion that things are never always Black or White - do you think it ever possible to truly be able to embody characteristics or attributes that you are working towards in terms of improving yourself, and sustain that?
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July 11, 2006 at 7:29 am
· Filed under Life as a Muslim, Relationships
How much should an understanding of cultural nuances be incorporated into a profession? Is it important that this inclusion only be applied to certain fields (say, medicine) – and not to others (say, engineering)? How much should one separate what defines one in terms of a cultural affiliation and relates to people to how one works professionally?
In law cases, how important is it that the lawyer representing you have a similar background to you, an understanding of what defines you?
Articles of relevance:
More Muslims Going Into Law
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July 8, 2006 at 7:29 am
· Filed under Globalization, Life as a Muslim
Are people inherently corrupt, in that it is built into one’s culture? Or are people corrupt depending on alternative incentives offered?
Articles of relevance:
The Case of the Unpaid Parking Ticket
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July 1, 2006 at 8:48 am
· Filed under Life as a Muslim
Can there be morality without a belief in God?
Courtesy: FT.
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June 13, 2006 at 6:13 am
· Filed under Children, Life as a Muslim, Relationships, Social Issues
How should one support the elderly in our families? With adults leading longer lives than in the past, how should children support their parents in their old age?
Is there something wrong with the elderly being put in nursing homes? Especially if one cannot care for them at home? Or is it more important for them to be able to benefit from regularly interacting with their children, their grandchildren, no matter how much of a burden it may be on their children?
As Muslims, what are our responsibilities towards the elderly in our lives? How do we care for them in the best possible way without compromising on what makes them most happy and comfortable?
Articles of relevance:
U.S. Muslims Confront Taboo on Nursing Homes
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June 7, 2006 at 6:41 am
· Filed under Globalization, Life as a Muslim, Relationships, Social Issues
Are there certain rights that should be accorded to all human beings? Should we enforce upon others rights that we think they should have?
How does one draw the line between educating others about rights, about values, and imposing upon others what we think is the right approach to life, the right way to look at issues and ideas?
Articles of relevance:
U.S. Values Push Alienates Muslim Women
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May 31, 2006 at 7:24 am
· Filed under Life as a Muslim, Social Issues
When writing a fictional novel, how much should an author know about a different ethnicity, a different religion that s/he may be trying to portray? Can an author really capture the feelings of an other that s/he may not know about?
On a related note, as Muslims, when writing scripts – for books, for movies – how do we balance portraying what would be considered appropriate to share, according to Islam, and the reality of what exists in Muslim communities? How do we balance showing the positive and negative aspects of our communities, while ensuring that we indicate that our actions as a community are not a reflection of our faith?
Articles of relevance:
John Updike – An Interview – "Terrorist"
'First' Saudi feature film aims high
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May 26, 2006 at 9:26 am
· Filed under Life as a Muslim, Social Issues
They say "Clothes Maketh the Man." Do they really? Is our choice of clothes a true reflection of who we are?
Modesty is an integral part of the faith of a Muslim. Are the layers of clothing directly proportional to the level of modesty? Should we be judged as to how modest we are based on the layers and types of clothing we wear?
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May 24, 2006 at 8:28 am
· Filed under Life as a Muslim, Relationships
Are you a public person or a private person?* How much of yourself do you share with others? Noting that in different cultural contexts, the answer may be different – generally, what do you think is "too much information" to share with another person? What shoud be considered – of oneself – the public realm, and what should fall under the private realm?
How do the above questions fit into the issue of hayaa, of modesty, in the life of a Muslim? Should a Muslim ever be a public person?
*Note: the question is not regarding being an extrovert or an introvert.
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