Mercy, we all need mercy
Today my sister said about someone who died; May God have mercy on him and have mercy on all the the Muslims who passed away.
I don't know where and when she learned to limit her prayers to Muslims.
Now this is a very common phrase that Muslims repeat when someone dies. So I am not asking as to how she arrived at it.. but the thing is, we were never taught in the house to talk like this. I grew up in a conservative house, where I learned to be a true practicing believer, and when I say true, I really mean it. I used to pray, fast, and voluntarily fast 5during normal weeks too. I am the one who initiated wearing Hijab back then, it was not even my family who asked me. I just REALLY believed.
BUT, we were never taught to talk or think like this, regardless of how much we practiced and believed ... We were taught that it is okay to wish Christians a merry Christmas.. We were taught that anyone can be good, not just Muslims. And anyone who has known me on EP before I had become agnostic, they will know that while I was such a defender of Islam, I was still tolerant.
I am not calling my sister a fanatic or that she is not tolerant, I do not think that of her. She is a kind and respectful person... that I know, but I also think that I do not know her well enough, which is just a fact. She married into a family that I would say is more religious than ours, and she was already the most religious amongst my family (I guess it was the right fit for her, ironically she wanted me to marry her husband's brother!!!) and she has probably learned to talk like that there. But I know she probably doesn't even think much of what she is saying, she just says it without any real hateful intentions.
But I THINK. I think of what I say.
.. and I find it incredibly mean when people say this sentence or similar ones. Especially that while my sister may not have hateful intentions, I know many others who use it have. I just think that everyone deserves mercy, why be so stingy in wishing people mercy? ESPECIALLY dead people... let it go, they are GONE. What are you getting out talking like this.. and where did you get the authority to decide who will and won't get mercy.
My sister probably expected an Amen from me, but I just went offline and left her message unanswered. Pfft.
I don't know where and when she learned to limit her prayers to Muslims.
Now this is a very common phrase that Muslims repeat when someone dies. So I am not asking as to how she arrived at it.. but the thing is, we were never taught in the house to talk like this. I grew up in a conservative house, where I learned to be a true practicing believer, and when I say true, I really mean it. I used to pray, fast, and voluntarily fast 5during normal weeks too. I am the one who initiated wearing Hijab back then, it was not even my family who asked me. I just REALLY believed.
BUT, we were never taught to talk or think like this, regardless of how much we practiced and believed ... We were taught that it is okay to wish Christians a merry Christmas.. We were taught that anyone can be good, not just Muslims. And anyone who has known me on EP before I had become agnostic, they will know that while I was such a defender of Islam, I was still tolerant.
I am not calling my sister a fanatic or that she is not tolerant, I do not think that of her. She is a kind and respectful person... that I know, but I also think that I do not know her well enough, which is just a fact. She married into a family that I would say is more religious than ours, and she was already the most religious amongst my family (I guess it was the right fit for her, ironically she wanted me to marry her husband's brother!!!) and she has probably learned to talk like that there. But I know she probably doesn't even think much of what she is saying, she just says it without any real hateful intentions.
But I THINK. I think of what I say.
.. and I find it incredibly mean when people say this sentence or similar ones. Especially that while my sister may not have hateful intentions, I know many others who use it have. I just think that everyone deserves mercy, why be so stingy in wishing people mercy? ESPECIALLY dead people... let it go, they are GONE. What are you getting out talking like this.. and where did you get the authority to decide who will and won't get mercy.
My sister probably expected an Amen from me, but I just went offline and left her message unanswered. Pfft.
31-35, F
