religion gives you a sense of why you even exist
In Islam, we believe that this world is just a test, a test to see who deserves to go to Heaven. Allah (God), with His limitless Knowledge, could have just sent us to either heaven or hell. It's not like people are destined for heaven and others are doomed to go to hell, it's the people's own doings, it's only that Allah knows what will happen in advance, what the people will do. So in the hereafter people won't be like, "what did we do to deserve this fate, give us a chance and we will do it right."
this world belongs to Allah, whatever we do with it and our lives depends on us. that's why we live as Muslims, to try and earn our rights to heaven. How we do it, is a different story. Allah sent messengers to mankind in order to guide us how to earn those rights and Muhammad was the last and final messenger.
"There is no compulsion in religion, for the right way is clearly from the wrong way. Whoever therefore rejects the forces of evil and believes in Allah, he has taken hold of a support most unfailing, which shall never give way, for Allah is All Hearing and Knowing." 2:256
"But if they turn away from you, (O Prophet remember that) your only duty is a clear delivery of the Message (entrusted to you)." 16:82
"(Say to everyone of them,) 'Whatever good betides you is from God and whatever evil betides you is from your own self and that We have (O Prophet) sent you to mankind only as a messenger and all sufficing is God as witness. Whoso obeys the Messenger, he indeed obeys God. And for those who turn away, We have not sent you as a keeper." 4:79, 80
"And tell my servants that they should speak in a most kindly manner (unto those who do not share their beliefs). Verily, Satan is always ready to stir up discord between men; for verily; Satan is mans foe .... Hence, We have not sent you (Unto men O Prophet) with power to determine their Faith." 17:53, 54
"(O Prophet?) 'We have not sent you except to be a mercy to all mankind:" Declare, "Verily, what is revealed to me is this, your God is the only One God, so is it not up to you to bow down to Him?' But if they turn away then say, "I have delivered the Truth in a manner clear to one and all, and I know not whether the promised hour (of Judgment) is near or far." 21:107 to 109
"To every people have We appointed ceremonial rites (of prayer) which they observe; therefore, let them not wrangle over this matter with you, but bid them to turn to your Lord (since that is the main objective of religion). You indeed are rightly guided. But if they still dispute you in this matter, (then say,) `God best knows (the value of) what you do." 22:67
The media portrays us Muslims as perverted/pedo human beings who try to wage war and die as martyrs in order to receive 70 virgins in the end... so let whoever believes that believe what he wants. If you want to know more then read stuff made by our scholars. I won't go and read a manual on how to play football written by NFL officials and in it they say "soccer" is for gay people, now would I?
"He who believes in God and the Last Day should honour his guest, should not harm his neighbour, should speak good or keep quiet." (Bukhari, Muslim)
"Whoever hurts a Non-Muslim citizen of a Muslim state hurts me, and he who hurts me annoys God." (Bukhari)
"He who hurts a Non-Muslim citizen of a Muslim state, I am his adversary, and I shall be his adversary on the Day of a Judgement." (Bukhari)
"Beware on the Day of Judgement; I shall mysefl be complainant against him who wrongs a Non-Muslim citizen of a Muslim state or lays on him a responsibility greater than he can bear or deprives him of anything that belongs to him." (Al-Mawardi)
"Anyone who kills a Non-Muslim who had become our ally will not smell the fragrance of Paradise." (Bukhari)
I'm curious, what do ppl of other faiths believe. why do they exist? why do they follow jesus, buddha etc...
