R.E.S.P.E.C.T

Respect

I have been taught RESPECT since I could remember, my dad was my role model, he taught me to respect the elders, GOD's creatures & creations & I learned more about respect as I grow older. My husband is a christian while Im a moslem before we decided to get married we talked alot, I told him about my religion and he told me about his & to me understanding and knowing other's beliefs are very important so I know what do's and dont's & what to say otherwise I may hurt other people's feelings unintentionally.

Anyway, On Fasting Month, as a moslem we have to wake up early in the morning to eat before the sun rises and couldnt eat or drink again until the sun down & so waking up at 3am is abit of a trouble for me, my husband (bless him) though went & buy me an alarm clock which I was so grateful but when it was time  that I have to get up the alarm clock didn't do much good for me as I sleep like a log so my husband has to resort to his other methods by shaking my shoulder & body until Im awake.

I am so touched by what he did, he also makes sure that I have enough instant food for me to have without having to cook it first at 3am when we went shopping he makes sure I drink alot of water coz he doesn't want me to get dehydrated. I have done this for years and although I keep telling him that I'll be fine, he is still worrying, that makes me love him & Respect him more. I told him that everytime I am fasting, I get more sensitive, I know how it feels like for those poor people out there who probably couldn't eat or drink for days. I wish I was rich so I could help them by feeding the poor everyday, but even if I did I can't feed all of them everyday, it's like trying to be in their shoes sorta thing.

And your Lord has decreed that you worship none but Him, and that you be dutiful to your parents. If one of them or both of them attain old age in your life, say not to them a word of disrespect, nor shout at them but address them in terms of honor. [Qur’an 17:23]

There are people (some I know) out there who just like to compare religions, saying that his/her religion is better that the others and they like to find faults in other religions, I guess it's human nature to be competitive and selfish. I don't like to say that mine is better and I am ashamed to hear that from my fellow moslems.I believe that all religions (that I know) teach only kindness, none of them taught you how to kill or rape regardless which GOD they/we worship and I do Respect them and their beliefs.

I have to say that I probably  more spiritual than religious, I love to meditate with Qur'an as my guidance and I tend to read a verse in the Qur'an and try to seek the meaning behind the words coz I've been taught not to judge a book by its cover or try to interpret words as it is, it's like riddles and poetry.  I also believe it all starts with oneself, trying to beat the demon within oneself and be a peaceful person, and so we all could live in harmony regardless your race, religion, culture etc.I still need to defeat my anger, my envy, my fear of losing people that I love, my confusion  about my future and my life, etc. I want to be at peace, to be a true human being.

I've been called many names, stupid or coward for backing off from a fight or not trying to defend myself or my religion, the truth is I don't really care what people say about me or my religion just like Prophet Mohammad was being spit on his face and thrown by rocks and being mocked by those that he was trying to teach to do kindness, because if I took the bait then I'm not different from the devil. There are many kinds of temptations that try to ignite a fire in your heart and create war & hatred. The truth is I'm just too busy trying to get close to GOD than taking part in whatever the devil is doing to human's heart to lure them to hell.

My childhood sweetheart & neighbor is hindus, we got along very well, I learned alot from him and his family about their culture and religion, I also have buddhist friends when I was in college in Singapore and I had so much fun with them, especially on Chinese New Year when they invited me to share their joyful festivities. Also I have friends who are Christian and one of them is my best friend and we're like sisters. To me our differences fascinate me and learning other cultures interest me coz Im just a simple girl and I am not smart enough to debate or trying to outsmart others, I'm still a pupil even when I reach 80 years old, I still regard myself as a student who always willing to learn new things and take the good into practice and leave the bad, I take the world and its inhabitant as my mentors and I'm their observant pupil.