The Quest of a Curious Muslim — Page 62
WHY IS THE RELIGION OF ISLAM SO RESTRICTIVE AND 62 to come to work sharp on time and leave only when the required time has been spent. To the casual observer, it may seem like an unnecessary restriction as there might be time spent on the office desk that is going to waste and no work is being done. But the employer may argue that it is those same rules that help drive the company forward and enable it to excel in its field. Islam—as a religion—is seeking that excellence in spiritual matters. The daily prayer regimen for instance is not meant to be performed like a ritual with nothing much achieved. Instead, it is meant to eventually cause a person’s heart to melt at the threshold of God and become absolutely dissolved in the love of God. Worldly pursuits on the other hand make humans slaves to sexual desires, and greedy for wealth and power, without any comfort and peace in their lives. There is no doubt that consuming alcohol, taking drugs, and going to dance parties, is very exciting and exhilarating. But, we ask: At what cost? According to the Canadian Institute for Health Information, in the years 2015-2016, there were about 77,000 hospitalizations caused by alcohol,