Ne zamandan beri bayramda namaz kılmak için ibadetlerini yerine getiren insanları eleştiren hatta aşağılayan bir toplum olduk biz ?
Özümüze, kültürümüze sahip çıkalım yok olup gitmeyelim diye bas bas bağırmıyor muyuz?
Bizim özümüzde dini inançlarımıza da sahip çıkmak vardır. Toplumu ikiye bölmeye çalışmak, gönlünden geldiği için camiileri dolup taşıran insanları eleştirmek, ötekileştirmek ise yobazlığın ta kendisidir.
Rahmetlik babam da her cuma sağlığı ve işi müsaade ettiği sürece gider ve namazını kılardı. Ne yobazdı ne de başka insanların dini inançlarına müdahale eder eleştirirdi.
Bize öğrettiği insanların dini inançlarına saygı duymamız, insanları hayata bakışları, tercihleri , yaşam tarzları ile yargılamamaktı.
Bu kadar rahatsız isek gelin kamuda o dini tatiller kaldıralım, gelin buradan koşarak kliselere gidip vaaz dinleyenleri de yerden yere vuralım.
Geldiğimiz son nokta üzücüdür. Mübarek bayram günlerinde namaz kılan insanları yermek bizi birleştirmez, toplum olarak gerginlikten ötekileştirmekten başka hiçbir işe yaramaz .
Dear Didem.
Thank you for writing this forward thinking and eye opening article. I am Turkish who was born and bred in London. I could write this in Turkish, however I have chosen to write more freely in English.
My parents are both Turkish Cypriots and I am currently in Cyprus taking a break from 'life' itself.
I am a practising muslim and have been so since the age of 11. Of course, with everything in life, you take small steps in gaining knowledge, one day at a time.
There is a very strange and unaccepting opinion of Muslims amongst the Turkish Cypriot community. I know all too well because I had lived here for 7 years, and it was not too long ago that I returned back to the UK.
The interesting point is that, although so many people on the northern half of the island are all too quick the critisise and judge our religion, our Prophet (S.A.V), and our beliefs of which we are steadfast and live by, it is the very same people who have absolutely no idea about the religion itself.
I wonder, have they opened up the Quran and read it in its true Arabic form, and then have they understood it by learning and researching what the book is actually saying? I wonder, have they studied the life of the prophets and the sayings, (Hadiths) of the prophet Muhammed (S.A.V)? I have, and the more I research this great religion, I am drawn ever more closer to it.
The word 'Islam' itself in Arabic simply means, 'Peace'. We are tought not to judge people, to be kind and just. To control our anger and to do good to people and animals. There is high regard for ecological awareness and to preserve nature.
There are many aspects of scientific and astronomic issues of which science is still only realising now. Like the big bang, and that the universe is always expanding.
Health issues of which todays physicians are encouraging people to apply, such as fasting and intermitent fasting. The dangers of drugs and alcohol and the importance of how and what to eat and what to avoid. To stay away from fornication and gambling.
Islam teaches you to see the world in a wide view. We are instructed to better ourselves all of the time. I myself, am en electrical engineer. I too am always researching new methods and innnovative ideas of which to apply my skills within industry. I am fluent in both Turkish and English, I read Arabic and my understanding is, well, getting a little better day by day.
I have never had a problem with people that dont observe the religion, so why do they have a problem with me? Surely this is a form of ignorance of which we should all be educated in.
Even if people do not believe, I encourage them to research the truth before they start making false acusations and belittleing this wonderdul religion of which we have been blessed with.
It is part of our culture, our heritage and customs. Sure, many people pick and choose what they like from it, but Allah tells us that a little effort of sincerity goes a long way.
It is because we have lost our Islamic beliefs that we have lost our values as a community. This is only my opinion of which I stand by greatly. The demise of respect for our elders and our parents, the rising number of divorce rates and infidelity between married people, men and women alike. Drug addictions, and a general loss of culture.
All these problems of which our community is facing is all because we are losing our religion.
Allah does not ask for much, it is we whom demand a whole lot more. It is we who call out his name in times of tragedy, yet forget about him when things go our way.
There is no forcing in religion. Allah told all of the Prophets: "You just give them the message, but leave the faith to me."
May Allah guide us all.