Why some Muslims find Islam to be boring?

In the name of Allah, the Most-Merciful, the All-Compassionate

"Those who believe (in the Oneness of Allâh - Islâmic Monotheism), and whose hearts find rest in the remembrance of Allâh, Verily, in the remembrance of Allâh do hearts find rest." (Surah Ar-Ra'd 28)

I speak from experience, as I did find Islam to be boring throughout my life. Going to Masjid didn't have any attraction. Reading Quran certainly was the most boring task I was ever asked to do. Taking Allah's name was very heavy, and I felt really uncomfortable about that.

Now, when it came to Amitabh Bachchan's Music (Indian Movie Star), I could listen for hours, literally. I had my favourite cassettes. Watching TV has been my weakness, but it was an adiction in the past. Of course, sports were the most entertaining part of my day.

With my experience in mind, I am very sensitive about other's similar habbits. I am sure everyone who read this (if they ever read anything I forward that is) can relate to this. If I discuss with people on Music or Movies, they are glowing with excitement, and it becomes hard to interrupt them, but if the discussion turn to Allah's name, they become numb.

Last night, I get to know above ayat of Quran, which reveals the reason Muslims are finding following their religion so boring. Lets face it. They are not avoiding Salat, because it is difiicult, they are avoiding salat because it is not fun, or it interrupts their fun. Everything seems to be about entertaining one self.

So, Why do we find Islam boring?

Answer is in the ayat above. Allah says in this verse that no one can find satisfaction and content of heart in anything except in remembrance of Allah. So, if one is not remembring Allah by praying Salat, reading Quran, or just saying ("Allah", "SubhanAllah"...), they will always be bored and depressed.

Narrated Mujahid: 'Abdullah bin 'Umar said, "Allah's Apostle took hold of my shoulder and said, 'Be in this world as if you were a stranger or a traveler."

Wait a second. What about all the fun people are having with Music and such? Well, lets examine that. All musicians, movie stars, and entertainers provide fun to everyone, so they should be the fountain of content, right? Wrong. Most of them have committed suicide, or they are thinking about it. They are using drugs, or alcoholic. All of them are depressed. So, why is that, if they are the leaders of modern entertainment age.

What happens is that when we become a society of fun, fun , and fun, our hearts become hardened, and our soul's stomach gets filled with that food. However, Allah gaurantees that eating that food will only increase in hunger, and until we remember Allah on a regular basis, we can never be content. We CAN NOT have both love of this world, and Allah's name in our heart, as it doesn't mix.

Bayhaqi transmittted the hadith of Abdullah ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with him )that the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) said, "There is a polish for everything and that the polish for the heart (to remove rust from it) is remembrance of Allah. And, no deed is more effective than dhikr of Allah in rescuing from Allah's punishment." The Sahabah May Allah be pleased with them asked, "O Messenger of Allah, not even jihad in Allah's path?" He said ,"yes , even if one wields his sword till it is broken."

For example, we will not see a pious person getting depressed, and get on anti-depressants. There is no need for it. Their hearts are fill with Allah's name, and thats the best food for soul. On the contrast, they will not find attraction in the Music and such, as it starts mixing with Allah's name in their heart, and starts the reaction, which is very uncomfortable. So, they chose to avoid those entertainment as much as they can.

‘The heart becomes rusted like iron in water.’ When asked how to banish this corrosion, the Prophet (pbuh) replied, ‘Remember death frequently & recite the Qur’an.’ An-Nasai

If someone claims that they can keep both love of world (love of entertainment), and love of Allah in their heart, either they are a super being, or they are not being truthful to themselves. Allah's name will not rest where filth is resting, which makes sense. If one prefer to fill their heart with filth, it is unfortunate.

One who lives in a village beside a creek (stream of filth), will get used to its bad smell, and if you visit him, and spray some perfume on them, they will get uncomfortable. It is same for praying salat every friday, and praying Quran once a year, it will be very uncomfortable. If someone listen Music in their car, in the house... and you read quran to them, they will not find any attraction in it.

If we want to be content, we need to clean our heart from the love of this world, specifically love for Music, and other entertainment, We can't expect content, when all we feed our soul is Haram food (Music).

Of course, we all have to pay our due while we are in this world, and no one suggests to do otherwise. We just don't have to fall in love with this world. We should only fall in Love with Allah, as we will be staying with him for a very very long time.

"O Allah! It is evident that the desire for pleasure is inherent in us. Its total elimination is not the aim. But, we supplicate that wealth aids us in the attainment of Your Love." (Umar bin Khattab)

So, how do we cleanse our heart?

1. Remember Allah! best remembrance is Salat (Namaz). Then, reading Quran. Then, just saying his name.
2. Remember Death always! always! It will break the magic of this world, and we will be sober to think. Think about the time when we pass away. We will be washed. We will be wrapped in a white cloth. Our loved one will be crying. We will be lowered to your grave, and dirt will be spread on us, and we will be alone.

Hopefully, at least one person will break the grip of this world on their heart after reading this, and I may be able to answer to Allah that I tried to share what I knew :-).

Just a struggling Muslim
Adnan