Same Goal, Different Path

In class yesterday, we spoke briefly about how one’s goal in the Islamic religion may be the same, but the path to reach that goal is what he or she makes of it. I really liked that idea because when I initially read the introduction to the Qur’an and learned more about the Islamic religion, I sort of perceived the idea of, as it is said in The Opening, “the road straight,”(Sells, 42) in the sense that everyone has the same goal and achieves this goal in the same way. However, this is not the case. What I find interesting about Islam is that the specific path is open to interpretation. Furthermore, Islamic religion suggests that everyone has the ability to do good or evil deeds—it is their own path in which they choose to take. While reading The Opening and The Most High, they seemed to me to be certain kinds of reminders. The Opening, which is the most recited Qur’anic Sura, and The Most High both speak about ultimately doing the right thing. The Opening speaks more about being guided along the right path and worshipping one God and The Most High speaks more about how good deeds will have a good outcome and bad deeds will have a bad outcome. However, these Suras are not forcing anyone to actually do the right thing or to follow the right path—they are merely reminding people that if they do good, they will receive good, and if they do bad, they will receive bad. I found this pretty interesting to think about. In all, what I got out of class yesterday (and with the support of these suras) is that everyone’s path is what they make of it. The goal may be the same, but no person is going to have the same exact path and make the same exact choices that lead to this goal.

Also, I looked up some information regarding the inside of the Ka’ba and found a good website that provides an actual layout and describes what is actually inside: http://www.tohir.co.za/2009/03/06/ever-wondered-how-the-kaaba-looked-inside/

Enjoy!