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What matters most?


According to some people being religious is most important and in this venture they do not realize that religion has no meaning without kindness and humanity.
At the other hand, many people claim that only being a good human being is enough and religion has nothing to do with anything.

In both the above mentioned cases we can see the disbalance between spirituality and practicality, when in truth, religion is nothing but a beautiful balance of both.
When anyone focuses only on religion and forgets what he/she needs to do for his/her fellow beings and doesn't care about their suffering or pain, then it is nothing but extremism and unrealistic approach to religion.

The other approach focuses only on being a good human and serving the humanity, thus one completely disregards the need to recognize the importance of the One Who has Created us. We are not brainless naive creatures that we ponder on every iota of the worldly things and very conveniently forget the Creator Himself! This is also kind of extremism in being materialistic and practical.

Let us see what actually is religion. Obviously there are many definitions of religion in the world dictionaries. According to one of them : "The belief in and worship of a superhuman controlling power, especially a personal God or gods" is what religion means.

This clarifies that religion is related to the belief that there is some power that is behind the creation.
Now, as we all know there are numerous religions in the world, It is the duty of the followers of each religion to know about the belief system that he/she holds. As human beings, and undoubtedly as the pioneers of science and technology, we must behave as enlightened, active, informed individuals who are seekers of Knowledge and Truth. We should be in a constant hunt for reality and the need to uncover the mysteries of nature. Reflecting upon what goes around us all the time and pondering on the happenings of day and night, birth and death, calamities and changes in life is expected of us as sensitive human beings. This kind of nature is common for a person who has feelings and the one who uses his intellect.
A person who is trying to get acquainted with the basics of his/her belief sytem and always welcomes the need to learn more and seek beneficial knowledge, is quite religious, The followers of any particular religion are required to do at least a few things that are basic to their faith. If they practice that, they are representatives of that faith. Only taking up some particular attire does not make you religious. It is actually what you follow from the teachings of that faith which makes you the follower of that particular religion.
Suppose, the most important part of a religion is belief in One God, then kindness to parents, the poor and giving in charity, then interestingly for the followers of that religion humanity and spirituality will go hand in hand. Isn't it?
This is what Islam teaches. Worship One God who is your sole Creator, be kind and give in charity.

"And your Lord has decreed that you not worship except Him, and to parents, good treatment."

"And establish prayer and give zakah (charity) and bow with those who bow [in worship and obedience]."

They ask you, [O Muhammad], what they should spend. Say, "Whatever you spend of good is [to be] for parents and relatives and orphans and the needy and the traveler. And whatever you do of good - indeed, Allah is Knowing of it."

....And this is what is called a beautiful balance of spirituality and humanity.

Let us all, whichever religion we belong to, first strive to know what our belief system comprises of and try to seek more knowledge about it.
Let us all endeavour to find Truth and seek to embrace it.
Let us all respect our religion and follow it's teachings,
Let us not just blindly be what we are and remain so all our lives without pondering on anything.
Let us not go to extremes in seeking spirituality or in being humans.
We must seek a beautiful balance in both by acquiring knowledge and practicing the teachings or our Faith. 

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