The Religion of Nostalgia
Among people are those who think themselves into believing that they
are on the right path. These people lead their
lives thinking they are the types of people who have Allah's approval.
However, a quick glance reveals that their idea of religion consists of nothing more than conforming to a set of
traditions. These traditions include such things as dressing up and
taking a certain appearance, sitting down in some manner, or saying
certain Arabic jargon words to their peers. It usually includes a
special effort to keep away from the opposite gender as much as
possible. In general, the aim is to create an atmosphere that feels
religious and fulfils their nostalgic idea of religion, and not the
absolute aim to earn the pleasure of Allah. For this reason, they are
also incapable of being forward-thinking and keeping up with positive
modern changes.
People who fall into this form of religion lose the capability of looking at
all events with an open-mind and ability to decide on actions,
mannerisms, and ways of conduct that are most appropriate to the
environment they are in. Such people by their own acknowledgement,
can function properly only in that environment which they create. Their
time is almost always spent on reading or exchanging stories about
certain incidents and doings of this and that figure of the past, and
feeling great emotional excitement from reading and hearing these. They
think they found religious sincerity. Discussion about Allah's
blessings, mercy and signs hardly happen because they do not feel the
same way about Allah. Religious devotion is simply
an emotional devotion and excitement of these human characters and past
events and a desire to emulate their behaviour - to keep up the
nostalgia of that time. They are unable to grasp the importance of
having inner faith in Allah as stressed in the Qur'an, and thus never
engage in discussion that are truly beneficial to the human soul. For
example, thinking about Quranic Verses for ones self and talking about
them are frowned upon and discussions are quickly closed with vain
excuses.
Religion of nostalgia has the effect of blocking, "the transition from lower, automatic, and rigidly organised mental structures and functions to higher,
creative, self-controlled and automatic forms of mental life."
(Dr. Kazimiers Dabrowsky on personality growth)
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See also: Taking the Religion of Islam as a Dogma
Reading the Qur'an but Practicing Something Else
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