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What does religion mean to me?

Religion is a way of life. It is like a guide on how to live your life. It not only provides rules of life, but also gives an explanation on how and why some aspects of life are more important than the others.

Being a Muslim, the way I spend my day revolves around my religion. I do not know much about other religions, so I will only talk about my own way of thinking. I'm sure Islam, has a lot of similarities with other religions as well. It gives you a reason to be good to others, it provides a rule book of the dos and don'ts of life. For example, I know if I do well in this life, it will help me in the life hereafter.

Islam, or religion in general tells us to stay true to humanity, it tells us to be caring about not only humans but animals as well. I personally believe almost every religion has this aspect in it.

Religion, shapes the world today. It is a part of every thing, from complex governmental politics to very simple aspects of life such as telling the truth.

Personally, I feel if there was no religion involved in my life, I would not be who I am today. It gives me a reason, to be clean, to be good with others, makes me sympathetic and emphatic as well. I believe, this is the reason I am so concerned about the wellbeing of others as well. I feel as if no matter what the religion, if you are true to it, if you are spiritually connected to your religion, they all teach the same basic things such as being caring towards other living things. Religion is peace.

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How is religion involved in my upbringing, personal views, ethics, and overall world view?

Religion is what you think of it, it varies from person to person. For me, it is something that gives me guidance in life, teaches me the dos and don'ts. I do not come from a very religious family, there is a lot of religion involved in my house, however, it is not as much if you compare it to the average conservative Muslim household. From the day I was born, I have been a Muslim, I have learnt a lot about the religion, and have my own opinions about certain aspects of it, and I think that is the beauty of it, being able to bring my own opinion in something so immensely important.

My personal views are all dependent on Islam, everything I do, I do it with a conscious, regarding if it is frowned upon or appreciated. However, for me, I have done a lot of things that may not be done by a conservative Muslim, as I personally feel, your religion is a personal connection with God and at the end He will decide if something I did was that extreme as some make it in this modern world.

Being educated in Pakistan, a Muslim majority country, the study of Islam was a part of our curriculum till grade 10 for me. However, if i continued my studies in my country, I would have been forced to take it in my freshmen year of University as well. However, I feel like the teachings of Islam are very self explanatory, what is wrong, what is right and if you are confused, you learn and use whatever you learnt in your day to day life. I believe it is open for interpretation.

Religion is something personal, it is what makes you who you are. Religion is learning, it is education, it is who you are, it is what you believe.

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Reflect on an aspect of your life that you regard as supremely important. This could be a belief, personal cause, a calling to pursue something.

One aspect of my life that I regard as supremely important is the pursuit of personal growth and understanding. This journey of self-improvement and seeking knowledge shapes who I am and influences how I interact with the world.

Personal growth, for me, is not just about achieving milestones or gaining new skills; it's about understanding myself and my place in the world. It’s about learning from experiences, embracing challenges, and constantly evolving. This belief drives me to be curious, to question, and to seek deeper meanings in everyday life.

Understanding, on the other hand, is about empathy and connection. It’s about seeing the world from different perspectives and appreciating the diversity of human experience. This aspect of my life is deeply intertwined with my interactions with others, pushing me to be more compassionate and open-minded.

I use both, personal growth and understanding to become a better person. I want to be the best person I personally can be. Overcoming the negative sides of mine. It encourages me to be better, to strive for excellence, and to contribute positively to the lives of others.

It’s what gives my life meaning and direction, shaping my worldview and guiding my actions. Through this journey, I hope to become a better person, one who is not only knowledgeable but also kind, empathetic, and connected to the world around me.

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Religion Picture for Belief personal cause

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What is your understanding of truth?

Truth in my opinion can be defined as what I believe to be right, it is what makes the most sense to me. Truth could be different for different people. Truth, can be best defined as a fact, however, it always can not be backed by this definition, hence for me the word truth means what is right.

Truth could be a feeling, it could be the right thing, it could be different for people in the same scenario. An example of this is religion, everyone believes that what they believe is what is true. However, no one can quite prove it 100%, they can give reasons for why they believe it is true but can not make it a fact. The difference between truth and fact is that one is what you feel is right and the other means something that is backed by logic. There can be, or sometimes there is not any logic behind something. It is simply a feeling.

People from different regions, different cultures, different faiths, they all have different truths that they believe in, and no one can say if the truth someone believes is true or not, however, we can debate and argument on why some believe in a certain truth while others do not believe in it. It solely depends on how someone has grown up, truth can evolve over time.

Truth always prevails, it is what gives you the drive, the determination, the will power in a human. It is built in the core part of a person's mind, sometimes, or even mostly in their heart. It is what pushes you to success, towards a being a better person, it brings out who you are in the real world. A feeling can become an emotion, and truth is the feeling that people are most emotional about. They believe.

Truth is always true for you, but not always true for everyone. It is what connects the people of this world to one another, while also being the reason to cause separation and differentiation.

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What is your understanding of the relationship between religion and science?

Religion and science exist in todays world, simultaneously. I personally believe without one another, science may prevail, but religion could not. Religion needs science to back it up, from time to time. These should be a valid part of everyone's day-to-day lifestyle. Science can explain a lot of things, however, some things that science can not explain, religion can. One of the examples of this is the drive to believe in something, this feeling can not be explained by science, but it can be explained by religion.

Being a Muslim, science plays a very important role in the day-to-day lifestyle of mine. A lot of things that our religion explains, is not being backed by Science. This gives us, Muslims, more reason to believe in our faith to be absolute.

Sometimes, religion can not only be explained but also backed by Islam. An examples of this is in the Quran, the Quran tells us about some sort of an explosion that created the universe we know of today. This is now called the Big Bang Theory. Another thing Islam teaches us is to learn and intertwine modern science into our lifestyles. It explains the importance of evolving science, and elaborates how much knowledge should be a priority.

For me, Science and religion are very close together. They back each other up, without one they other will fall into chaos. Religion explains some things, science explains the other with data. Sometimes, science backs what one religion is saying.

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Discuss the traditions, customs, or practices from your culture that you hold dear and explain why they are important to you.

One of the traditions from my culture that I hold dear is the celebration of Eid. Eid, whether it's Eid al-Fitr or Eid al-Adha, brings a sense of joy, unity, and reflection that is deeply meaningful to me. It's not just about the food, or the new clothes; it's about the deeper connection to family, community, and faith.

Eid al-Fitr marks the end of Ramadan, a month of fasting, prayer, and self-reflection. The act of fasting itself is a profound experience, teaching patience, empathy for the less fortunate, and spiritual discipline. When Eid arrives, it is a time to rejoice and celebrate the accomplishments of the past month. The communal prayers, the charitable acts, and the gatherings with family and friends are moments that I love.

Eid al-Adha, on the other hand, commemorates the willingness of Ibrahim (Abraham) to sacrifice his son as an act of obedience to God. It is a powerful reminder of faith, sacrifice, and devotion. The practice of sharing meat with family, friends, and those in need during this festival emphasizes the importance of community support and compassion.

These traditions are important to me because they ground me in my faith and culture. They provide a sense of identity and continuity, connecting me to my roots and the larger Muslim community worldwide. They are times of joy, reflection, and renewal, reminding me of the core values that shape my life.

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Reflect on your own beliefs regarding the relationship between religion and war. How do your religious or spiritual views inform your perspective on this issue?

The relationship between religion and war is complex and multifaceted. My belief, rooted in my understanding of Islam, is that religion should ideally be a force for peace and reconciliation rather than conflict. Islam, like many other religions, teaches the importance of peace, compassion, and justice. The concept of jihad, often misunderstood, primarily refers to the spiritual struggle against one's own shortcomings and the pursuit of righteousness. The word Jihad is wrongfully used, it is used to support terrorist activities, however, that is extremely wrong and against the basic principals of Islam.

War, when it occurs in the name of religion, often involves a misinterpretation or manipulation of religious teachings. My spiritual views emphasize the sanctity of life and the importance of resolving conflicts through dialogue and understanding. The Quran advocates for peace and urges believers to avoid conflict whenever possible, stressing the importance of forgiveness and mercy.

Historically, there have been instances where religion has been used to justify war, but these instances often reflect political motivations rather than true religious issues. My perspective is that true religious practice should lead to empathy, compassion, and efforts to build bridges between different communities, no matter the religion.

Ultimately, I believe that war is a failure of humanity to resolve differences through peaceful means. It underscores the need for greater understanding, tolerance, and the pursuit of justice in ways that uphold the dignity and rights of all individuals. Religion, when practiced with sincerity and true understanding, should guide us towards a more harmonious and peaceful world.

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What does beauty mean to you? What words, images, sounds would you use to describe this ambiguous and elusive concept?

Beauty is a concept that goes beyond the surface, touching deeper emotions and perceptions. It's not just about appearance but about the profound impact things have on our senses and emotions.

When I think of beauty, I see a sunrise painting the sky with shades of pink and gold, a moment that captures the peacefulness and wonder of nature. It's the delicate petals of a flower opening to the sun, the rhythmic sound of waves crashing against the shore, and the gentle patter of rain on a windowpane. Beauty is the looking at the snowcapped mountains, looking at the melting snow carving streams of water into the earth, hearing the water flow, the birds chirping, the fish swimming. Beauty is what that makes you feel some kind of way inside of you, you can not explain it just by mere words. It has an impact on you.

Beauty is also found in human connections and actions. It's the laughter that fills a room, the melody of a favorite song, and the kindness shown in everyday gestures. Beauty can be described as serene, enchanting, and timeless.

Beauty, in my opinion, is not what or how one looks like. It is actually how welcoming, how loving, how sincere, how hardworking, how a person is instead of physical features.

Ultimately, beauty is subjective and personal, shaped by our experiences and perspectives. It's the harmony we find in the world around us, in both its simplicity and complexity, reminding us of the deeper meanings and connections that enrich our lives.

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How would you describe the power of symbols? Identify a symbol that is important to you. From your perspective, how important are they to our lives?

A symbol for me could be a bunch of signs mashed together to create one, or it could be a single word. Symbols represent everything, each and every thing in this world has a designated symbol for it. The sun has a symbol, the moon has a symbol, even companies and organizations are represented by symbols. The United Nation represents itself using a dove, showing peace and prosperity. Symbols are deeply connected to emotions.

For me, a symbol represents something dear. A symbol that is dear and important to me is the word "Allah", not just for me but almost for all Muslims. We usually wear the word on necklaces around our necks, this gives a sense of security. A sense of connection some might say. It makes us feel as if we are safe from all the evil in this world. It is basically the same thing as a Christian wears a cross. The cross represents their faith, for us the word Allah written in Arabic represents faith, security, and spiritual connection.

Symbols are quite an important part of our day to day lives, it is a major part of civic religion as well. Symbols tie us together, they unite us. It is as if a bonding agent. Symbols connect us in spiritual ways, they help us accept others as well.

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If you could play one song or piece of music for the rest of your life, what would it be and why?

Back in 2015 I had a friend, we were extremely close at the time, best friends actually. Her father used to listen to the song called Chasing Cars by Snow Patrol. She told me about the song, before that I had never ever heard it. Suddenly, everything started relating to the song. I was a kid back then, merely 14 years old.

9 years later, my first go to song is Chasing Cars, the melody, the voice, the emotions I feel are unlike any other that I feel because of a song. The song is about the lead singer, he got influenced because once upon a time his father told him "you're like a dog chasing a car" in regards to a woman. He wrote the song then. The song is about love and connection, but i interpret it differently. I say the song is about loneliness in todays world. The song starts with "We'll do it all. Everything. On our own. We don't need. Anything. Or anyone." I think this is extremely important to ponder upon, it is true that we are all alone, on our own, if we don't care about ourselves no one will. We have to do everything on our own, we have to help ourselves get better for our own sake. We have to be selfish in todays world where everyone is in a race to finish first.

The next line that has a heavy meaning and connection to me is "I don't know where, Confused about how as well, Just know that these things will never change for us at all. If I lay here, If I just lay here, Would you lie with me and just forget the world." Here the song writer, Gary Lightbody, says I don't know anything, I just know these things will never change, even though he does not mean it the way i interpret the song, however, I think of this line as no matter what happens, no matter the time or the place, people remain the same. It is extremely hard to change one's personality. He just wants to find the right person, someone who understands him, connects with him. Don't we all to be honest. That is why when I listen to the song I get really emotional about the whole song and I can lie in bed, listen to it on repeat for hours, maybe even fall asleep and wake up in the morning with the song still playing. So the one song, I would listen to forever and I have been for the past 9 years is Chasing Cars, by Snow Patrol.

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What cultural or religious elements are you able to identify in sports or athletic events?

Sports and athletic events often carry cultural and religious elements that reflect the values and traditions of the societies in which they are played. One prominent example is the act of prayer or religious gestures seen among athletes. Whether it's a football player making the sign of the cross before a game or a Muslim athlete kneeling in sujood (prostration) after scoring a goal, these acts reflect the personal faith and gratitude of the players.

Another element is the observance of religious practices within the sports schedule. For instance, many Muslim athletes observe fasting during Ramadan, even while competing at the highest levels. This dedication showcases their commitment to their faith while balancing the demands of their sport.

Cricket games like Pakistan and Indian have a religious following. All cricket followers get glued to their TV's to watch what will happen, who will win, who will lose. The trash talk before and after games is like a ritual. Every single person does it, it does no matter how close of a friend you are. If you are supporting the opposing side, it will happen. Football, or Soccer, games like the game between Argentine and Portugal have the same attributes of those of Pakistan and India in cricket. People follow sports, just like they follow their faiths and beliefs.

Sports events themselves can become occasions for cultural and religious expressions. National anthems, flag ceremonies, and moments of silence for reflection or prayer during major events are ways in which the intersection of sports, culture, and religion is prominently displayed.

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Reflect on the importance of laughter and humor in your relationship with others and life in general. How does sharing a laugh impact with friends, family, colleagues, and the world around you?

Laughter and humor are incredibly important in my life and in how I connect with others. They act like bridges, bringing people together, easing tensions, and creating lasting memories. Sharing a laugh brings joy that turns ordinary moments into something extraordinary.

With my friends, laughter is what binds us together. It helps us navigate life's challenges with a lighter heart. Whether it's a joke only we understand, a funny story, or just goofing around, these moments create a sense of closeness and trust. They remind us that amidst life's difficulties, there's always room for happiness and fun. To this day, whenever we sit together we laugh like hooligans. It makes us feel a sense of unity.

In my family, humor plays a crucial role in strengthening our bonds. Family gatherings are filled with laughter, bringing warmth and togetherness. It helps us resolve conflicts, reduce stress, and create an atmosphere where everyone feels loved and at ease. Laughing together, especially during tough times, shows our resilience and support for one another.

On a larger scale, laughter and humor connect us with people around the world. They go beyond cultural and language differences, uniting people from diverse backgrounds. A shared laugh can create empathy and understanding, emphasizing our shared humanity.

In conclusion, laughter and humor uplift and unite us. They enrich our relationships, improve our lives, and remind us of the beauty and happiness in the world. Through laughter, we find strength, resilience, and deeper connections with those around us.