When you have faith Friday the 13th holds no terrors

I asked her why was it was her favourite day and she responded that it meant the weekend was coming and she did not have to follow routine. I thought that was a pretty good answer for an eight-year-old.

We all know the saying “TGIF”. Fridays are my favourite day of the week because it lends hope that I will get some rest and relaxation on the upcoming weekend (which often proves to be a myth).

I love Fridays as well because it is the Muslim day of congregational worship, where Muslims attend Jumah prayers together. The Imam delivers a spiritual kutbar which is aimed at giving guidance from the Qur’an and Hadith. Friday is like my fuel up day when I fill my spiritual tank for the entire week.

Hey, wait a minute, today is Friday the 13th  . . . and so what?  you may ask, but did you realize  many people in Bermuda and around the world harbour all kinds of superstitions about this date?  

Statistics report many people will not leave their homes, partake in business transactions or enter into anything significant on the date of Friday the 13th  — all because they believe that something bad or sinister is associated with the date.

I am grateful that I don’t see Friday the 13th in that way; it would be too crippling for me; my motto is: “This is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it”.

I’m a free spirit and cannot be confined by such superstitious things. Some believe that being a free spirit means that one cannot have a religion.

Many think that religion is a confining way of life and thus they rebuke it in every way.

Last week, a comment was made in response to my writings on the Golden Rule – the commenter stated, and I quote: “If everyone followed the Golden Rule, there would be no need for any religions at all”.

My response is that religion in the simplest of terms means a way of life; hence if the Golden Rule is applied in one’s life, it can be said it is one’s religion – meaning that is the way of life for one to do unto others as you would have done unto you.

The dictionary defines religion as one’s personal belief or values — a set of strongly held beliefs, values, and attitudes that somebody lives by. So you see, religion is personal.

There is a prayer or duaa in Islam that sums up my undertaking of Islam as my religion: “I am pleased with Allah as my Lord, Islam as my religion and Muhammad (pbuh) as my Prophet”. 

Islam for me answers all my questions and concerns leaving no stone unturned; my queries and doubts have been addressed, and believe me I could be a doubting Thomas or a hard-headed, ‘gonna do what I want to do’ type of person, but Islam allows me to be me whilst allowing me to appeal to my higher self; realizing that there is a Creator that deserves to be worshipped — Supanallah!  Oh yes, I have religion and I am grateful that Allah gave me the light of understanding to accept Him as my Lord.

I often wonder how one could rely on just them, they who have no power, no might — where do they draw their strength — perhaps from the bars, the alcohol, and all things illicit in using their free will to get by.  I wonder if they are truly satisfied — as the Qur’an says in surah 10:44: “Indeed, Allah does not wrong the people at all, but it is the people who are wronging themselves.”

May Allah guide us to what is right not only for ourselves, but for all mankind. 

Have a peaceful Friday.