Thy Will Be Done

THE EDITOR: It is interesting that in this cosmopolitan society of Trinidad and Tobago, that it sometimes occurs that one group might behave in a manner one might come to expect from another.

As a Muslim attending many Christian funerals of late, I have been struck by the attitude of mourners as well as the priests in coming to terms and surrendering themselves to what is regarded as the manifest will of God when a loved one, even a child, is lost. During the Mass, the Lord’s prayer is recited in an English version, and the philosophy of acknowledging that His Will is done, and a coming to terms with it, is cultivated and established in the liturgical recitations as well as the sermons: “Thy Will be done, on Earth as it is in Heaven.” One is reminded of Chapter 2, verse 156 of the Muslim scripture where human beings are promised trials, including the loss of loved ones, but abject surrender to the will of God is also prescribed. At the time or moment of loss one is exhorted to declare that “We are God’s property (to do with as He pleases), and that we are ever returning or resorting to Him.”

It is therefore unfortunate that this philosophy appears to be slightly warped in those who call themselves Muslims. One hears from the pulpit, as well as reads in newspaper notices of Muslim death announcements, the gross mistranslation of this verse as “From Allah we come and to Him we will return”, or other variations of this theme. This folly belies the very nature of the word “Muslim” which means “One who surrenders himself or herself to the will of Almighty God.” While the mistranslation mentions the name of God, it is untrue and therefore not becoming.

Further, at Muslim funerals, bereaved ones are harangued about the inevitability of death (taking coals to Newcastle?) which, although not without use, does not address the matter of declaring submission and actually submitting to the Divine Will, the essence of the philosophy of Islam. It is interesting that even atheists are aware and reconciled to the idea of death’s inevitability. The mourners are in less need of this reminder of the nature of things, but instead, need to be reminded and encouraged to quickly submit to God’s will. To my Christian friends, therefore, I say keep up the surrender. To my Muslim friends: Please remember the reason for which we were sent here: To grasp the opportunity to submit to Allah’s will. Let us keep reminding one another. Peace (through surrender) be unto you, all.

MICHAEL
RAHMAN
Woodbrook