Who hijacked my religion?...

Assalam Alaikum Ramahtulahi wa Tahala wa barakatu

You know, in order for this blog to truly work and achieve some sort of plausible outcome, I will have to get to a point where I no longer give a damn about what people think. Believe me, it is not easy. Surely I will pay a high price if I dare to be outspoken and truly speak my mind. If that were not the case, then a whole lot more of us would dare speak the truth.

Religion is not meant to be owned by individuals. Islam is not meant to be owned by individuals. It is not meant to be owned by govertments, freedom fighters or terrorists. It is not meant to be owned by persons who believe they are entitled to be God’s vicegerents on earth. It’s not meant to be possessed by people who at the heart of their souls have only their own interest and agendas in mind. When that happens, it happens at the expense of the faith’s followers.

In the country in which I live Masjids are owned by individuals. Individuals who are petty, vindictive and self righteous. They use the Masjids as a platform for the propagation of an Islam that is obsolete, highly archaic, and based on their traditions, culture and history. They are a new form of religious hijackers; the kind that highjack religion not for political gain, or doctrinal manipulation but for sheer economic purposes. They’ve hijacked Islam in order to fill their pockets at the expense and ignorance of those less fortunate and learned. The weak and feeble must pay the price for their greed. They profess a faith they do not understand and has little relevance to them. They must regard the ritual and repetitive as the core of their belief and ignore the emptiness it brings. All because individuals believe they are entitled to their whims no matter what the cost.
It is difficult to be a Muslim today. It is difficult not to doubt that indeed you have chosen a path of righteousness and peace. It is difficult to look in the mirror and still be believe that your creed is adding value. Especially when you look around and realize that it is being devoured and destroyed by groups of individuals.