Practising Religion

This morning while still on bed, I was thinking about the term "practising religion". What does it mean? If you put a theory into practice, you should see the results. If not, call it a demonstration. Unfortunately, the meaning is different in religions. I was once told by a Christian friend that Sonia Gandhi is a practising Christian. Good. That means she goes to Church for Mass every week. APJ is said to be not a practising Muslim.

A practising Muslim will be one who prays five times a day, goes to Friday prayers etc. Well, he could be practising something else too - like beating his wife, fighting with his neighbors etc. A dual citizenship. Practising religion has become to be exercising a set of rights. Rights to property, rights to divorce, rights to hold demonstrations, rights to use loudspeakers where the are banned etc.

As a Muslim, the example to follow for me is that Prophet Muhammad (peace be on him). And what was his life? Of compassion, of love, of giving, of simplicity, of logic, of taking care of others rights and one's responsibility. The real practice of religion. All other that the masses imitate are the ways he employed and advocated to achieve this state of mind.

Woke up from bed and on my custom Google homepage is a news from Times of India. Another religious practice. People in Mahim, Bombay has found an easy way to get blessed. A shortcut practice of religion. Now, the health authorities will have a tough time. They cannot stop people from doing this - that could run against what is provided in the constitution - right to practice your religion. And the saddest is the pciture of an ignorant mother forcing her baby practise too...