Last night was darker than usual. Devouring my heart, it pierced all of my energy into pieces as I stood in the window of my kitchen, after washing all the dishes and drying the washbasin. I have no clue for how many minutes did I stand there wondering if something is wrong with me or is it really a depressing night. When I turned back to enter the dining room, something pulled me back and I glanced at the window once again. My heart was beating faster than normal so I turned on the light that lit up my balcony but that light highlighted the darkness in the street even more. The main reason for turning on the light was to make sure the passers-by might be able to see the path in darkness. Like people, all the lamp posts were in deep slumber thus making it very dark for the people to walk carefully in the street at night. There is also a possibility of the porcupine or pigs movement in our streets which could be quite a dangerous experience.

The night brought upon me sheer gloominess and hit me hard like anesthesia of depression. I prayed silently for all the poor people in this world. All the families and lonesome kids, naked infants, and jobless adults. Every night, when we follow our skincare routine or are even brushing our teeth with a minty toothpaste, many young girls are being raped in the darkness, many kids are being killed by their own parents just because they can’t feed them. So many men cry while looking at their adorable infants starving for a drop of milk. 

Many beautiful girls stand by the road-side to get a rich-bait so that they can eat bread in the morning.

This world is a beautiful place to live in, but a gruesome nightmare at the same time. Most of us are able to protect ourselves from the harsh side of this cruel world by surrounding ourselves with four walls, a roof, and a neverending warmth and love of our parents. Our fathers, however feeble or old, are that lock on the door that nobody can ever break open. Our mothers are that blanket of warmth that can never let us catch a cold. Our siblings are that painting on the wall that always brightens up our day even if the sky is grey. We have no clue how lucky we are and how many blessings God showers upon us. It is not that we God loves us more and less to them, but because he chose us for a mission. A mission to make this world a better place. Be the light in somebody’s darkest night because God could have made you from one of them.

Hello beautiful souls! I am almost drowned in the flood of final exams as they are at the head. Nonetheless, I waited too long to publish this blog just to acquaint you guys with the Holy month of Ramadan, which Muslims celebrate with great pleasure and passion every year.

A month when the doors of heaven are opened, and of the hell closed. A month where all the devils are chained up and only goodness prevails and exists in its refined form.

So this is a very important month for the Muslims where there is legitly magic in the air kind of vibes, and they start feeling close to God and prostrate more at nights and in days. They have a spiritual attachment with this month and feel very much closer to God and their reality.  First of all, I will tell you some characteristics of Ramadan, after which I will tell you guys about the rule book of Ramadan that could be followed in order to extract the maximum blessings out of this Holy month (In the next blog).

Significance of Ramadan Kareem for the Muslims:

What is Ramadan?

The word “Ramadan” comes from the root of the Arabic word for “parched thirst” and “sun-baked ground.” Ramadan is by definition a time of sacrifice, where Muslims fast during the daylight hours all month, abstaining from all food and drink and other such practices. It’s a time to purify the soul, refocus attention on what’s important, and practice self-discipline. Unlike many other holidays, where people indulge, Ramadan is a time to show restraint.

Why do Muslims fast?

During the month of Ramadan, as a Muslim person deals with hunger and thirst while fasting, he or she is reminded of the daily suffering of those who are less fortunate and can further appreciate his or her blessings. Muslims use this time to reflect on their lives and how they can cultivate healthy habits throughout the rest of the year, and do away with any bad habits.

Ramadan is also a time for increased charitable giving and participating in family and community gatherings to strengthen bonds. Aid organizations, charities, and mosques often offer free meals to the public during non-fasting hours.

For Muslims, Ramadan fasting is not solely physical but involves emotional and spiritual aspects as well. Even if you aren’t observing Ramadan yourself, the month of Ramadan might be a good time to think about those less fortunate and have gratitude for the blessings you have in your life. 

What do Muslims do in Ramadan?

1 — SIGHTING THE NEW MOON OF THE LUNAR MONTH

Muslims sight the new moon with much eager and compassion when it comes to the Holy month of Ramadan Kareem. They climb up their roofs and search for the moon with a particular supplication, that they believe will lead to a prosperous month ahead.

2 — MUSLIMS WAKE UP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT TO EAT

The morning meal before sunrise is called Suhoor. I’ve learned over the years that there are three types of people when it comes to having Suhoor:

1. those that eat breakfast items (usually some cereal)
2. those that have a full-on dinner, and
3. those that just sleep right through the opportunity to eat.

Many families that don’t have time to eat breakfast together throughout the year gather around the table as early as 4:30 to 5:00 a.m. to share a meal and get ready for their fast for the day.

3 — EVERY YEAR, THE MONTH OF RAMADAN FALLS ON DIFFERENT DATES

The lunar calendar is used to determine the exact start and end dates of Ramadan each year. Every year, Ramadan starts a few days earlier than the year before. This also affects the length of the fast and will mean a lot shorter fasts when Ramadan falls in the winter months.

4 — BYE-BYE TO THE LAZINESS, WORSHIP MORE TO EARN MAXIMUM POINTS:

Muslims recite the Holy Quran as much as they can and along with their regular prayers, they offer extra prayers to get the maximum blessings of God by pleasing him. The best part is that their sleep is also counted in worship. 

5 — NOT ALL MUSLIMS HAVE TO FAST DURING RAMADAN

Children and those that are ill, elderly or pregnant are exempt from fasting. Instead, they either make up the fasts at a later time or donate a meal per day they miss to those less fortunate. Children sometimes partake in mock half-day fasts and join in on the delicious meals. Ramadan is a time for spiritual reflection and isn’t meant to inflict hardship on those unable to fast. Muslims will often tell you that they look forward to this time of year; in fact, children can’t wait until they can join in on the fasting fun!

6 — THE DOORS OF HEAVEN ARE OPENED, AND THE DOORS OF HELL ARE CLOSED

Prophet Muhammad, the Messenger of Allah, peace, and blessings be upon him, once said: “When the month of Ramadan begins, the gates of the heaven are opened; the gates of Hell-fire are closed, and the devils are chained.” (Sahih Bukhari 1800) 

Ramadan, the month of fasting is no different than any other month as far as crimes are concerned. Sins and crime continue to take place in this month all around the world. Does this hadith mean the deviations in this month would not count? Does it mean that every sin in this month would be forgiven or does it mean that people cannot commit sin in this month?

I believe this hadith explains some key concepts of Ramadan in an allegorical manner. If we consider the language as symbolic, the hadith offers a logical and viable rationale for developing a strong conviction and appreciation of the Prophetic wisdom.

We can infer from the opening of the gates of heavens to mean that God makes our journey to the heavenly state of utmost peace and happiness effortless and accessible under His divine grace in the month of Ramadan. During this month believers have a month-long opportunity to change their lifestyle and environment to attain a higher state of self-consciousness. Such a journey would help them enjoy every moment of the month and qualify for uninterrupted mercy and blessings of the Divine in this life and the hereafter.

Closing the gates of heavens means that the Creator is eager and ready to forgive every sin committed by anyone if sincere repentance is sought. The month invites us to self-evaluation and identifying weaknesses in character followed by actions to better ourselves. In other words, forgiveness is the divine offering for this month. However, one must realize that repentance and forgiveness have to be done in a manner that is genuine. It means a person is conscious of wrong actions and is willing to change the lifestyle and never to repeat it. God says in the Quran:

 “Except those who repent, make amends, and declare the truth. I will certainly accept their repentance: I am the Ever Relenting, the Most Merciful. 2:160

Chaining the devils means that God makes it easier in this month for people to control their behavior in the wake of all temptations, physical, social and spiritual. In a moment of high self-consciousness, an individual would ensure that he or she does not commit any act that would either defy the divine or reject his mercy. In other words, each believing person has to have a personal battle with one’s own ego, the biggest satanic whisper that sits in the sub-consciousness of each one of us.

Thus this month provides opportunities to earn the boundless bounties, limitless forgiveness and reigning one’s own ego. The more intense a person becomes in seeking these goals, the more beneficial the month becomes to him or her. 

7 — FASTS ARE OPENED WITH DATES

At the exact moment of sunset, dates are the traditional choice to open the fast, followed by a spread of foods that often varies by culture. This meal is called Iftar. While some plain Medjool dates are perfectly fine on most days, those hosting Iftar parties may want to get creative with the presentation of their dates, which features a luscious mixture of mascarpone cheese and whipping cream. 

8 — GRAND IFTAARS

Muslims break their fast by a magnificent Iftaar (the event of breaking the fast) which includes a wide range of food items, and sherbets (drinks) to quench their thirst and fulfill their all-day long hunger. Iftaar is considered to be the worldly present for them from God, while the bigger one will be given on the day of judgment.

 

9 — STREETS, HOMES, AND MOSQUES ARE DECORATED WITH LANTERNS AND BUNTINGS

Muslims decorate their streets and mosques with sparkling rainbow buntings and glittering lanterns that cast magic in the night. They do it as a gesture of welcome and affection for this Holy Month and to celebrate the happiness that God is distributing among them.

10 — HOME DECORATIONS IN RAMADAN

People decorate their homes with various sparkling decorations, lamps, lights, lanterns, candles, and buntings just like Christians decorate their fore places, walls, and homes with Christmas trees and stockings.

11 — THE MONTH OF RAMADAN CONCLUDES WITH A CELEBRATION CALLED EID

After 30 days of fasting, Muslims from around the world celebrate Eid. The day starts off with morning prayers and the celebration continues with friends, family and lots of food. Traditional foods vary by culture on Eid, but usually always include a delectable dessert.

 

Islam is a peaceful religion that teaches us love, tolerance, patience, and unity but sadly due to some filthy humans who are disguising themselves as one, its reputation is being stained. I know and wish that more and more people might come to get aware of this fact and respect every religion just like theirs. No religion teaches hatred, oppression, jobbery, superiority, and radicalism. Religions are all about love, and so we are!

Peace and love,

xoxo.

Do true relationships really exist? Asked one of the girls in my class. I was amazed and surprised at the same time by this most confusing question that I ever encountered in my whole life. At the same night, I was lying on my couch while staring at the sparkling constellation. The same question came to my mind so I dialed my sweetheart’s number right away. I bombarded him with the same question suddenly. Sweetie, do the true relationships really exist? He was so confused that I got no difficulty in imagining his awkward face. Ummm… He replied, I guess Yes! We are in a true relationship baby girl. What are you talking about? Do you have any doubts about it? Definitely not, I replied though I didn’t get my answer. Everything in this universe is unpredictable and so we are ourselves. We can’t say what might come to us and when. Sometimes what we think to be perfect for us is the start of our downfall. In this article, I will try to explain what true love actually is, what are the confusions we encounter in our everyday life and how can we avoid them.

Love at the first sight:

 

I always had this strong belief in love at first sight and many times it happened to me as well. Love, at first sight, does exist and it might feel like magic, but it is none less than a mere illusion. Yes, we can say attraction or charm, addiction or lust at the first sight but love is a much sacred and a complex entity to develop in such a short span of time. I always believed that yes, this is my love at the first sight and the same happened with many of my friends. Remember, love can never be terminated. Love always suffers, take turns, burns and requires sacrifice. 

Just like a diamond is cut, polished, broken and hammered to attain its originality, true love is also formed slowly and eventually but for the rest of your life.

There was a class fellow of mine who fell in love with me (as he claimed) and proposed me right away. I wasn’t so sure if I even had a spark for him and our friendship continued with continuous bombardment of the one-sided feelings from his side. Slowly and gradually I also started feeling like I have this strange connection with him. (as assumed by me) Eventually, after a few months, we were in a relationship. (what we thought it to be) After a few more months, I realized that he had a lot of trust issues and many insecurities regarding me. Obviously, this wasn’t gonna work so we parted our ways just after a year or so.

Immaturity:

The aforementioned topic of love at the first sight is mainly responsible for immaturity in our relationships. We confuse charm and inclination, need and pleasure with love and get ready to give our everything to this supposed partner of ours. While, after a short span of time, when this assumed relationship ends, we have nothing to gain but a lot much to lose. Trust me guys, love isn’t an easy thing to do. Love is all about compromises, sacrifices, and difficulties. Take it easy and take it slow so that the fruit might come out as you want it to be. Then even if the relationship terminates, get over it because it was never supposed to be yours. He/She wasn’t the right person for you. Usually, girls and guys move on to this new trend of “how dare you ditched me” by spreading hate, taking revenge and keeping grudges so that they might destroy the other person’s life. This utter immaturity leads many people to become hopeless about relationships also, leaving them with trust issues regarding relationships and friends. 

He, who is yours, will never leave. And the one who leaves, was never yours!

False Expectations:

 

Expectations develop naturally when you care for somebody. False expectations are the major source of disappointments and insecurities when it comes to relationships. If my husband is a clerk at some government institute and I expect him to bring me expensive presents every night, this is totally stupid. You are not deceiving anyone but yourself. You must swim with the flow of the river if you want to sail your ferry of love smoothly. Don’t try to swim against the currents as it will only invite pessimism and destruction. 

Rosina got married to a kebab seller who didn’t earn a good deal. Rosina was a wise lady, she never looked down upon her husband or cursed fate. In fact, she accepted the realities of life and worked hard throughout the days and nights. She decorated her small cottage, polished it into a perfect vintage fashion and asked her husband to offer free tea to his customers with kebab orders to attract a bigger crowd. Rosina and her husband opened a tiny retro kebab cafe in their small cottage. Slowly and gradually, their cafe got a partnership with the famous interior decorators in the town. Rosina’s cafe became a cozy nook for people and finally got sold for a million dollars.

Now think of viceversa. What would have happened if Rosina had those false expectations from her husband? See, I know, we all look at those happy couples daily on Instagram hanging out at expensive restaurants, spending vacations abroad, traveling to exotic destinations, doing luxury wine and dines and what not. But this isn’t it. They might have different troubles in their life. Just stop cursing your fate and developing them sky scrapping false expectations. Our husbands and boyfriends are already going beyond their strength and limits to put that stupid smile on our face. Did you ever feel the pain they get when you demand something that they fail to bring for you? Just think of it! 🙁

Comparisons:

“The reason why we struggle with insecurity is because we compare our behind the scenes with everyone else’s highlight reel.”

-Steven Furtick

While I was on a vacation with my sweetheart, we saw a handsome man surfing on the high tides. He is flawless, look at his moves hon! Don’t you think he looks hot while performing his surfing stunts? I always wanted to see you surfing like him. How do you think is my man going to react now? 😀

Now think vice-versa, Honey look at that man over there! I believe you can surf better than him. I want to watch my man surfing over there instead of that ordinary sea surfer. I bet you that my man is going to jump out of his seat to grab that silly surfing board.

This is how it works. And I guess it is highly unethical to make comparisons. It is as if you are expecting the water to become milk. We all are different and we are supposed to be different because if everybody will fly to the moon, who will stay on the earth? If you are unhappy with your partner, try to mould him into your desired shape rather than trying to make him a whole new thing. Remember, it will only break the other person. Comparisons always bring opposition and stubborn attitudes with them. I will definitely help my mom with the dishes if she asks me to but I swear I ain’t gonna touch a single dish if she sticks to this comparison game by saying: Look at Meryem, she helps me the whole day while you sit idle just doing nothing. 😀 (I know my sister will definitely curse me while reading this) Haha 😀

Stick more, complain less:

Complaining are only for the weak. In true relationships, there is no complain, there is no blame game, but only courage, hope, sharing, and trust. If I talk about myself, I am that clumsy partner who always messes up the things, creates complications unintentionally, causes problems for my other half and am completely unable to control myself when it comes to public dealing. So whenever anything goes wrong, it is not only my fault but my partner is also accountable for this as he didn’t keep a check on my activities in the first place and when something is totally messed up, I am a victim of his anger 😀 It is actually cute because he is very possessive about me but his method is not right at all. I am a traveling type of person who never wants to miss any conference, seminars, workshops, volunteering, internships while he thinks counterwise that I must stay away from the public because of my clumsy attitude 🙁 Trust me, boy, I want you to travel places with me rather than criticizing later on. Please? 😀 Well, Stick to each other, help each other, cooperate, communicate and talk your heart out, share your opinions and thoughts while learning and growing with each other. This decreases the causes of complaining to the lowest level while strengthening up your bonding 🙂

Make the silence comfortable:

I am sorry honey but I need a break! 

Never say this! Like never ever say this to your partner. This is the instant heartbreaking formula. I would embrace a breakup than being bombarded cruelly with this line. See, we all need a time, a break from almost everything. Even from our own selves. Being rational and more reluctant towards the natural phenomenon of human life is more important because we are humans first then anything else. Our physical and sexual needs, sleeping and eating, relaxing and being comfortable are the first priority. You can never live happily causing discomfort to the other person. It is as if a couple goes out to the honeymoon and ends up stuck in a jungle full of snakes and scorpions at night. Do you expect them doing sex talks or cuddling each other in this ambiance of lovely snakes and magical scorpions? 😀 Naaah! They would spend the whole night calling for help, shuddering and looking out of the car’s window. That’s how we humans are. Our exterior is the direct reflection of our interior all we need is a charity eye who could understand us and know when and how to give space 🙂

No matter how much you both love each other, we all need time and space to think about ourselves, about the future, regret the past, mourn over the loss and to fill the voids. These voids cannot be necessarily about your love life but could also be regarding your personality, self-esteem, family problems, relationships, and independence. For example, sometimes I need space to think about my future, my education, job, how to support my parents, how could I manage my own expenses, my family planning, my marriage, my personality, my societal status, my insecurities, my independence and much much more for which I need time. I need time to cry sometimes and to pray to God, to talk to him and mourn over my sins, to ask for forgiveness about my misbehaviors with his mankind. I also need time to feel the happiness, cherish and digest it. I think that we also need time to digest happiness and sorrows before feeling them completely. For this all, I need time. I need space. And if I don’t get it often, I can never be comfortable with my relationship and my life.

 

I wish you all a magical relationship full of fairytale adventures and lovely unicorns. Just take care of your partners and never let them down. Say sorry on and off and try to avoid repeating the same mistakes. I would also love to say a hidden sorry to my darling through this post because he usually complains that I give more time to my website and lesser to him 😀 <3

Adios xx

Is our life really a fairytale? What are the secret codes?

We are all obsessed with these fairy tales. This is a modern fairy tale where there are no happy endings is the common phrase which we have been listening since we grew up. 

Fairies and evil spirits, noble kings and queens, beautiful princesses and brave princes, mysterious castles and abandoned huts somewhere in a thick a wood… This is all about fairy tales.

Fairy tales are always associated with childhood which always reminds us that love rules the world and the Goodwill always defeat the Evil. 

I was raised to believe in magic, fairy tales, and true love. These stories were the influences that were intended to mold my mind; the things that were created to stir my imagination. Granted, most of the dragons in my life were people with bad intentions, but each story helped to build a stronger version of myself; even if it was just while I was reading.

But the only apples I grew up with lacked any trace of coma-inducing poisons. The only people who helped me cook or clean were my family. The only beasts in my life resided in my own head. There was no magic, just illusions. There were no fairies, no evil villains. The only “tales” in my life were on animals; tails. True love became a thing people only talked about and was quickly replaced by desperation, lust, and infatuation; coupled with dating apps and friend requests. It was no longer something that would happen naturally or over time. I grew up with magic, but once I matured, the only magic I knew was left behind in the books of my youth. As the time passed by life became monotonous until I met the love of my life. That day I came to know that a real life could be a fairytale if we want it to be. The real prince is not only tempting in his looks but the one who can protect you, whose mere presence is more powerful than a fort. All of a sudden, I started to feel magic in all the once boring places where my beasts previously nested. My dim corners and vacant spaces were suddenly vivified and occupied with thoughts of him. The warmth of his touch, a feeling of his kiss, the colors I once saw as faded and dull suddenly turned into glistening and exotic hues. The people I once viewed as mundane are suddenly more stimulating. My dreary and monotonous outlook on life has become more optimistic and spirited. My world has become more beautiful. The books always cautioned about tragedy and complications. That, I think, is the only part that I’ve found incorrect. With him, the man I never thought I would ever find, there is no tragedy that awaits me; no life-altering complications are in the distance either. I truly do feel that all of the tragedies and villains that have been a part of my life are now conquered: that maybe this is what “happily ever after” looks like.

I could finally prove to myself that love is something that sometimes “just happens.” He came at a time I wasn’t looking for anything, and I’ve happily stumbled upon something that could be everything. I convinced myself of the thing I thought would never find. Love doesn’t always come in our happiest times; it sometimes comes after years of struggle and despair. Love isn’t just a few pretty words in some old books. Love can be an amazing feeling that, if you work for it, could change you forever. I think that’s what they meant by “happily ever after.” 

 

 

Hello there, hope you all are having lovely days and magical nights. This post is just for you so that next time you encounter any difficulty, just make sure to keep these difficulty codes in mind which might make your life equivalent to the miserable life of Cinderella or the magical luck of the Beast that earned him a beautiful princess, despite being ugly. Never lose hope and always remember that you are the real prince or princess of your life’s story. Fairytales themselves tell us that life is the name of uncertainty and if there is no pain, there will be no gain. They tell us how we have to wait and be patient with life in order to extract all the positivity out of this world. Life never plays easy on anyone. We all have to go through them tricky trials and failures at times. Fruit can never be reaped without love, patience, kindness, hope, positivity, sharing and generosity. If we take an example here, Cinderella had to face all the miseries and sufferings like domestic violence, poor status, body shaming, and lower self-esteem from her stepmother as well as stepsisters but she survived all these thorns and rose beautifully. We all have a savior of our life as the fairy Godmother rescued Cinderella. This magical imagination will not only make your life worth it but also will help you in being brave and courageous. Relate your life with the fairytales and if you don’t feel like your life is the imitation of any, make your own fairytale. Have your own dream princess, your own difficulties, and villans. If I talk about my life, I think I am Queen Elsa from Frozen as my life is full of tricky promises and hard trials. I am extremely strong but at times harmful to my loved ones. Isolation is my ultimate refuge. I am Queen Elsa. Who are you?

Adios xx

 

 

I am not a Jew:

I am not a Jew, yet I am fascinated by the Jewish synagogues. I love all the Jews because I don’t see any difference between me and them. Am I an angel or are they the filthy demons? I think we are all humans and we all deserve same kind treatment and equal rights. Jewish community have same beautiful women as I have in my vicinity. They have equally humble and kind men as I see around me. They have beautiful children that are born in the same way as we give birth to kids. Whats the difference then? What is all this hate for? Is the reason that Israel is attacking Palestine mainly due to the dominance of a terrorist group known as Hamas? Even if Israel is also attacking the innocent Palestinians, and is wrong in that, still then, shall we start killing the innocent civilians in Israel?

1. Cedar, Jerusalem stone, and bronze Torah ark for Lincoln Square Synagogue, New York City (2013), by the artist David Ascalon:

3. Torah Ark:

4. Abuhav synagogue, Israel:

5. Ark decorated for Shavuot, Encino, California, United States:

 7. Novi Sad, Serbia:

 

9. Dome of the Rock

Look at the notes stuck in this wall. Maybe some of these notes have this secret wish of revival of peace and love among mankind? Did you ever think that way?

 

I am not a Christian:

I am not a Christian but I have a strong respect for them and I feel them as a sacred creation as I feel about myself. They all have two eyes, one nose, pretty lips, two legs, a pair of hands and a sound body like us. Can I hate them just because they believe in Jesus? And just because they have a different dress code than the one that I wear? Can I hate them just because they go to church for their prayers and not to any other holy place? And Is just a colour difference enough for spreading hate and intolerance that we have for each other when it comes to white vs black racist attitude?

THE CATHOLIC SAINT ANNE’S CHURCH AND THE POOL OF BETHESDA

THE CHURCH OF ALEXANDER NEVSKY

THE CONVENT OF THE SISTERS OF ZION- THE ECCE HOMO CONVENT

SAINT JACOBS CATHEDRAL (THE CATHEDRAL OF SAINT JAMES)

THE ARMENIAN PATRIARCHATE (THE ARMENIAN QUARTER) AND SAINT JACOBS CATHEDRAL

THE GREEK CATHOLIC PATRIARCHATE

THE CENACLE – ROOM OF THE LAST SUPPER

TERRA SANCTA MUSEUM – VIA DOLOROSA MULTIMEDIA EXPERIENCE

Cathedral of Córdoba

 

I am not a Muslim:

I am not a Muslim still I have no bad intention of hurting or shaming a Muslim just because there are many false analogies that are being made about them by people from all around the world without any research and actual fact and figures. And just because their women prefer to cover them up as per their religious beliefs, Shall I start hating them? Shall I start hating Muslims just because terrorists have also adopted their get up and claim to be Muslims whereas Muslims themselves are at the top of the hit list of terrorists? Shall I start hating Muslims because they believe in Allah and the divine book that is being humiliated by terrorists? We can never hurt anyone just because they think differently than what we perceive to be right. If something is right for us, it might be wrong for someone else. Change in point of views and beliefs is not a justification of hate and humiliation. 

AL HARAM MOSQUE, MECCA

AL NABAWI MOSQUE, MEDINA, SAUDI ARABIA

AL AQSA MOSQUE, JERUSALEM

THE BLUE MOSQUE, ISTANBUL

Cologne Central Mosque, Germany

HASSAN II MOSQUE, CASABLANCA

QOLSARIF MOSQUE, RUSSIA

THE GREAT MOSQUE OF XI’AN, CHINA

CRYSTAL MOSQUE, MALAYSIA

Nasir ol Molk mosque in Shiraz, Iran.

Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin Mosque, Brunei:

 

I am not a Hindu or a Buddhist:

I am not a Hindu or a Buddhist and I love how beautiful and loving they are. They are just like any other human being existing on this earth. Mere clash in thoughts, religion and beliefs, politics and countries can never stop us from loving each other. I have many followers from India and I never faced any hatred from their side. Why is that? Because we are all same and that love is for love as hate is for hate. We can live peacefully yet we choose to live a life of conflict and criticism. Can I hate a Hindu or a Buddhist just because they go to temples and just because their homeland is rated the number 1 country that is the most dangerous place for women? Can I hate a Hindu just because some filthy people from their country are raping and beheading women? Shall I start hating all the innocent and lovely Hindu people just because of some rotten eggs that we all have in our own countries, in our own states, in our own homes and even inside ourselves? Think about that!

Dwarka, Gujarat:

Badrinath Temple, Badrinath – Uttarakhand:

 

Haridwar – Uttarakhand:

 

Vaishno Devi Temple, Jammu and Kashmir:

 

 

 

Lotus Temple:

Borobudur, Indonesia:

 

Wat Rong Khun – Chiang Rai:

 

Holy sites-The Places of Sanctity:

I am just amazed by what I just saw. How beautiful these holy buildings are! They all left me totally spellbound. While searching for religious sites of each religion, my eyes welled up many times by looking at the people and their love for the holy places. Why? Is there anything bad about any of the above buildings? Did you spot any demon in any one of them? NO! And you never can as these places are made to get sanctity and righteousness. For your information, no religion teaches you about humiliation and brutality, hate and feudalism. Every religion teaches us about love and serving the humanity. We all go to our religious places to get sanctification and to be a better person. If being a better person is a bad thing from your perspective, then I can’t comment about it.

Why do we avoid religious conversations?

Let me tell you why. Because we are all narcissists about our religion and beliefs. We think that only we are right and rest of the religions are of no good. How can you say that when you don’t have any knowledge of what their religion is all about? See, we all have our own beliefs and ideologies. Even Atheists have their own beliefs. Nobody is asking you to accept and validate other religions. But at least we have no right to judge, criticise, humiliate and exploit other religions. There is no justification for making fun of other religions or superimposing your religion upon others. You don’t have to go and learn about other religious books and do research on them to avoid religious awkwardness. In fact, just as we explore other people, we explore other places, there is no biggie in hearing another person for a few minutes talking about his or her beliefs without being judgmental or critical. Include their religious beliefs in the category of “freedom of expression” as well and just listen with love, care and respect. This will work wonders for you. 

 

Every religion is beautiful as it teaches us about love and humanity. There is no such religion who teach its followers about brutality and warfare. It is just some evil people, who reflect false impression of their religion.

 

How to shatter this Religion barrier:

Hey! Are you a Christian? Well, I am an Atheist. It would be a pleasure to learn about your religion as every religion is beautiful. This world is beautiful. Lets spread love and sprinkle the positivity. Love is all we need to save the day and love is the secret potion to end this filthy spell of racism, religion-barriers and hatred among us. Learn about other people. Even if you don’t want to learn about other religions and beliefs, don’t hate people on this base. It doesn’t matter if I am a Muslim, a Christian, Jew, Buddhist, Hindu, Zoroastrian or an Atheist, we are all going to die one day and be a part of this soil again. We are going to fade away eventually. So why this hype for? Why all this hate for? Think about it and you will feel these tiny gaps that are taking us miles and miles apart from each other. Just feel okay to talk about other people’s aspects and give respect to them just as you want from them. Embrace each other and let this religious biases stay away from your daily life dealings and you will see how beautiful this world will become.

We are all like beautiful roses in a big garden. Now it’s our decision, if even one of us ignites the fire of hatred, the whole garden is going to burn and we all are going to die in despair. 

 

I met a Korean girl in metro one day and we immediately became friends. One day, she came to my university and we had a lunch together. I asked her where she is from and what is her religion. She told me that I am a Christian. I asked her eagerly if she could tell me something about her religion and beliefs and that I always wanted to know about the beautiful religion of Christianity. She was so happy and we talked for about 3 hours or so and the results were amazing. Not only did she tell me about her religion, she also asked my opinion on it and asked me to tell her about mine. She listened to me attentively and with the same respect that I gave to her opinions. There was no conflict between us. There were no harsh exchanges, no taunts or judgements. 

Now imagine a vice-versa situation. When she told me that I am a Christian, I might have given her a cunning smile and could have said some harsh words like let’s not talk about your religion. I don’t believe in it. Let me tell you about my religion that is the one and only true religion in this world. She would have never given me any respect at all if I would have treated her with this unethical approach. 

 

Reasons for Religion-Barrier:

One of the main reason why the seeds of hate bloom in our heart is our upbringing. Our ancestors portray other religions in a different way that we start assuming that we are the only superior tribe whereas other people are just wasting their time. Our ancestors are usually very sentimental about their religion and even talking or discussing other religions give them insecurities. Whereas all the learned scholars either they are Muslims, Hindus, Christians, Jews or Buddhists, they are learning and doing PhDs in other religious books. They are exploring other religions as well as their own religion. There is nothing bad about it people!

The second major reason is the political and social barrier. Our politics and rulers are quite responsible for what we think about the other religions and nations. Our country will definitely hide their flaws and throw all the blame on others thus restoring their angelic image in front of their people. We should be well aware of the lies that our government and media tell us on the daily basis. Media is playing a major role in creating nation barriers. It is an era of technology, always check the authenticity of a news or criticism before falling into the debate. 

Me and one of my friend started arguing about the conflict of Afia Siddiqui. I had all those home discussions and local news in mind. We argued a lot and finally, that argument ended up into my friend blocking me from his Whatsapp account 😀 I opened up google, read all the published articles and news, I consulted the whole history and cases from Wikipedia and at the end, I felt like a jackass. Because, despite being an educated citizen, I was living a life of ignorance, a life where we don’t do any research before and abruptly fall into an argument that is merely based upon emotions, irrational and illogical comments. Trust me, from that day onwards, I made this habit of mine to do a proper research on latest conflicts and worldwide controversial issues so that even if I fall into an argument, it could be a positive discussion rather than blind criticism.

 

What does each religion say about love and humanity?

 

Corinthians 13:4-5: “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.”

-Bible.

The Bible has a lot to say about the bonds of love and devotion. Bible verses about love speak of the perfect love that everyone should have toward their friends, family and mankind, not to mention the Lord. However, Bible verses about love also offer a revealing look at the strength and hope that romantic love can provide. 

“We have appointed a law and a practice for every one of you. Had God willed, He would have made you a single community, but He wanted to test you regarding what has come to you. So compete with each other in doing good. Every one of you will return to God and He will inform you regarding the things about which you differed.” (Surat al-Ma’ida, 48)

-Al-Quran.

In acknowledgement of this fact, Muslims have an inner love and compassion for people of all faiths, races and nations, for they consider them as the manifestations of God in this world and treat them with an heartfelt respect and love. This is the very basis of communities administered by Islamic morality. 

“A soul enters this world for seventy or eighty years just to do a favor for another” 

—the Baal Shem Tov.

Perhaps nothing has been as detrimental to the Jewish people as the modern idea that Judaism is just a religion. We are much more than a religion; we are a single soul radiating into many bodies, bonding them as one. A healthy body is one where every part works in harmony, So is this society.

Veda says ‘Dhanena Tyage nyke…’ which means that sacrifice of money proves the real love.

Veda explains that Service is the proof of the real love. Service means a sacrifice of work and sacrifice of fruit of work. The mother serves her child by the sacrifice of work like giving the bath, dressing etc., for years together continuously. The father serves the child by the sacrifice of fruit of his entire hard work. It is a clear practical point that the proof of the real love is the only service. If you serve your family, you love your family. If you serve the entire world, you love the creation. If you serve the God, you love the God and this is only devotion.

“One is not called noble who harms living beings. By not harming living beings one is called noble.”

-The Buddha

In Buddhism, humans are just one type of sentient being, that is a being with a mindstream. In Buddhism, humans have a very special status: only a human can attain enlightenment as a fully enlightened Buddha. Enlightenment as an arhat can be attained from the realms of the Śuddhāvāsa deities.

Meditate continually on the Name of the Lord within your heart. Thus you shall save all your companions and associates. (1)
My Guru is always with me, near at hand. Meditating, meditating in remembrance on Him, I cherish Him forever. ((1)(Pause))
Your actions seem so sweet to me. Nanak begs for the treasure of the Naam, the Name of the Lord. ((2)(42)(93))

-aasaa ghar 7 mehalaa 5 ॥.

Sikhs believe that God can’t be understood properly by human beings, but he can be experienced through love, worship, and contemplation. Sikhs look for God both inside themselves and in the world around them. They do this to help themselves achieve liberation and union with God.

 

Who am I?

I am not a Muslim, I am not a Jew, I am not a Christian, I am not a Hindu, I am not a Sikh, I am not a Zoroastrian, I ain’t an Atheist. Who am I? What is my religion? 

My religion is Humanity and there’s no sacred religion than that. This humanity deserves equal rights regardless of our beliefs and religion.

At the end I want to ask you this very important question:

If all religions teach peace, then why can’t all religions achieve it? 

Is it the difference between our point of views and perceptions? 

Dear Sugar cakes, Let’s embrace each other and never let this religion barrier come in between us. Let’s show love and respect for each other as we should be doing. I love you all regardless of your religion and faith. All I know is that you people are amazing and that nothing can make us spread the sunshine of love and positivity in this world! #Together we stand!

 

Note: All the religious references are taken from Google websites. In case of any wrong information or mistake, you can always guide me. Thank you so much for all the love and support <3