Islam

If you don’t understand something in the religion then ask people who know more. And when they give you an answer and you’re not satisfied with their answer, you tell them I am not satisfied with your answer. I need a better understanding, You have the not only the right to ask, you have the responsibility to ask. You have the responsibility to ask When the ummah stops thinking. And when the ummah stops passing down the legacy of thinking, then the worst thing happens to the ummah, then the next generation is Muslim only because their parents were Muslim. That is the worst thing that can happen to the ummah Because then, the only reason that a child should hold on to Islam is, because his parents were expecting it, You know we’re living in a day and age where families are very separated And children live a very independent life from their parents. Now they go to college. They go to university. They get a job They have their own life, isn’t that the case? And when they have their own life you’ll notice the vast majority of whether you’re Buddhist or Hindu or Christian or Jewish or Muslim, It doesn’t matter, you’ll see most cases the parents are religious and the children are what? They’re not religious. And they say, “Well, when I used to live with my parents, they used to take me to church every week” “My father used to take me to Jumuah every week, but now I don’t live with my dad. I’m in college. I’m free.” “I don’t have to go now!” “I don’t have a reason anymore. The reason was my parent.” And when they go back for vacation to their parent’s house, then they go back to Jumuah again And then they go back to college and they’re free again, isn’t it?
You know why this happens? Because we did not teach our children how to think about Islaam for themselves Why are they Muslim? Why must they accept Allah? Why must they accept to Qur’an? Why must they ask intelligent questions?
Our religion is not a religion where you just accept with your eyes closed “We just follow it.” No! Ibrahim alaihissalam didn’t even just ask people. Look at the legacy of Ibrahim alaihissalam He even asked Allah, (Al Baqarah, 260) “Master show me how do you give life to the dead?” “How do you do that?” He even asked Allah… And Allah asked him, “Didn’t you already have iman?” “Didn’t you already believe?” “No, that’s because I want to satisfy my heart” Allah is teaching us through the legacy of Ibrahim alaihissalam that we should ask questions until we satisfy our heart Until the heart is at peace.

You must explore. you must think and we must inculcate thinking into our children Unfortunately today even religious education, Islamic education is not about thinking anymore “Memorize these surahs, learn how to make wudu, here’s the time to make salah.” Done! “Your tajweed is good.” Done! Kids memorize the Qur’an that means he’s already got a ticket to Jannah Inna Lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’un.
This child has memorized Quran He’s reciting Quran, but not for one day did he think about a single ayah of the Qur’an? How can that be? How can be in the religion? He’s reciting, “Afala ta’qilun?” He’s reciting, “Why don’t you think?” and he never thinks.
You see the irony in that? You know This kid is leading Taraweeh, we are celebrating this child has memorized the Qur’an He’s leading the prayer, and he’s reciting the example of those who when they hear the call of Allah It’s like either hearing just the calls of animals. It doesn’t make any sense to them And he’s reciting it and he doesn’t understand it. This is a tragedy!
This is a absolute tragedy in this Ummah And it has to be undone and this generation will have to undo it, because wallahi al azeem You know what is attracting people towards atheism? What’s attracting people away from religion? “I believe in science. I don’t believe in God” There’s all these people now. Why? Because they say, “Well science, you get to think.” “In philosophy you get to think.” “In atheism you get to think.” “Well religions don’t want you to think.” Maybe other religions don’t want you to think but Our religion is based and rooted in thinking.