Be Moderate - Do not tax yourself with Religion

We see a lot of people straining themselves over issues, debates on Islam and what is right and wrong... and get too involved in things, often resulting in negativity rather than positivity. Just as excesses in anything is wrong so it is in religion also. Islam is a very simple religion, with Quran with the Rules laid down and Hadiths to help us implement the Quran and show us how day to day life is to be lived.

Narrated Abu Huraira: The Prophet said, "Religion is very easy and whoever overburdens himself in his religion will not be able to continue in that way. So you should not be extremists, but try to be near to perfection and receive the good tidings that you will be rewarded; and gain strength by worshipping in the mornings, the nights." (Sahih Bukhari - No 38)

Narrated 'Aisha: Once the Prophet came while a woman was sitting with me. He said, "Who is she?" I replied, "She is so and so," and told him about her (excessive) praying. He said disapprovingly, "Do (good) deeds which is within your capacity (without being overtaxed) as Allah does not get tired (of giving rewards) but (surely) you will get tired and the best deed (act of Worship) in the sight of Allah is that which is done regularly." (Sahih Bukhari - No 41)

Narrated Anas bin Malik: The Prophet said, "Facilitate things to people (concerning religious matters), and do not make it hard for them and give them good tidings and do not make them run away (from Islam)." (Sahih Bukhari - No 69)

The Moderate Path

I came across these lines from Hadees (Hadith) which hold a lot of relevance today:

Hazrat Abu Huraira (Radiyallahu Anhu) reported Allah's Messenger (Sallalahu Alaihi Wa Sallam) as saying, 'The religion is ease, but if anyone overdoes it, it gets the better of him ; so keep to the right course, approximate to perfection, rejoice, and ask help in the morning, the evening, and some latter part of the night'.

The above Hadees clearly states that one should follow the Path shown by Allah, pray 5 times a day but at the same time enjoy social life and live in equilibrium with society. It tells us not to overdo the religious bit, cause anything in excess can lead to negativity. Maybe thats what's happening today. When we refuse to accept our social obligations and other duties and just walk, talk and think of religion, we might so get involved in it that we might start feeling that everything else except us is wrong. This slowly leads to negativity and later to hatred. This hatred then leads to destructive thoughts.

So follow religion, be tolerate towards others (this is also one of the teachings of Islam) and more importantly be humane. This is the correct way to follow the Right Path.