Hello Freshmen: Welcome to.......... HELL

Who am I? Who Created Me? Is there a Creator (God)?
What’s the Purpose of My Existence? Is Death my Destiny? Am I, despite my achievements, merely to become dust in the grave or is there a life after Death?

Have you ever asked yourself these Questions? If not, then you need to.
College is the time for introspection. Most of us join the college for academic excellence; some join the college to search for identity (who am I, my purpose of living) and for some college is the time for ‘fun.’ Many invitations for the parties are distributed as the university freshmen arrive on campus. All sorts of ‘students’ night’, or ‘freshmen nights,’ where alcohol and drugs will be flowing and the teen arrivals will be flirting, exhibiting themselves to their new colleagues, have been pre-planned by student unions. And the first week is just the beginning. Some find these parties degrading but for those who join the college for fun it is a dream come true.

Arrival at university has nothing to do with study. It has much more to do with newfound independence. Most freshmen are advised by their seniors that lectures can be skipped as long as a good set of notes is obtained. A couple of weeks of cramming at the end of the year can usually get you through. New students will not find anyone to take them to lectures, show them how to make notes and nor any senior student will knock on the door and offer help for a course in the first few weeks. But in those weeks, there will be plenty of knocks at the door to let you know where, when and how you can have fun. Because that's what university is all about!

On arrival at university, almost every single aspect of life becomes a question. What should I eat? Who are my friends? How do I spend my money? How do I relate with the opposite sex? The questions are endless and require some basis to answer. These questions however, are answered very quickly. The atmosphere and environment contain pre-prepared answers. No effort is required to find an answer and so generally none is put in. So what answers does the university atmosphere provide freshmen with?

Life is Fun.

Students are brought up with the idea that “life is like ice cream, enjoy it before it melts.” After they all go through puberty and begin obsessing for same and or opposite sex, for them, college life is passport for freedom and fun. After finding a roommate, they accommodated each other in densely populated ‘dorms’ and ‘apartments’. As they settled down in their new ‘cribs’ they are bombarded with an itinerary of parties and social events and physically dragged to them. Smokey dance floors with dim lights, loud hip-hop music and a sickly sweet smell of aftershave, perfume, hair gel, sweat and cigarette smoke draw the crowds and people dance and everyone gets ‘high’ and drunk.

The beginning of the End.

At the party, two people meet by chance. They like each other based on their sexual appeal. A quick sequence of events leads them to sleep with each other. Then they may or may not have a long relationship based on the success of the previous steps. Since this procedure is seen to have logistical problems in day-to-day life, alcohol and parties are used to catalyze the reaction in order to reach the final result as fast as possible. The result is obvious. Many of the freshmen expect the result of this experiment, being willing volunteers in it. For many freshmen, this is the first time they have lived away from their parents and have the opportunity to disperse their oats and everyone wants to do it – so it’s not difficult.

The “Fun Life” has created immense insecurity in many young women, who define their success according to their ability to attract many men as possible. Thus, they decorate themselves with dresses of transparent materials, make up and appropriate hairstyles to make themselves available to approaches. Boys embellish themselves in similar terms and go ‘fishing’ – using themselves as the bait and the girls as the prize.

There are three types of relationship that are sought by both the boys and the girls. The first is simply physical. It may last couple hours, or one night or several nights or be ongoing over several years with no personal commitment. The next is a pseudo -relationship where each person commits to the other in sincerity, but the defining feature of his or her relationship is physical which lasts for a few months and is ended by some sort of infidelity. The final sort is a real relationship where both people truly commit to each other, believe that they love the other and build a strong personal bond to each other aside from the physical. Strong emotions, “creeping”, mistrust leading to possessiveness and jealousy, culminating either in marriage or a painful break up, often characterize these relationships. Most male students veer to the side of the first two types while many female students look for the third, but this is by no means the rule. The only rule is that the vast majority of students are looking for one of these three.

Along came a Stranger…. The Problem of Trust.

It is banded around in reality and on chat shows that relationships are about trust. If two people can’t trust each other, how can they go on together? It’s fashionable to talk about it but few students can truly trust the person they are with. Almost everyone has cheated on a boyfriend or girlfriend at some point in his or her life. Men know that other men are trying to seduce their girlfriends and the women know that their men like looking at other women who in turn are trying to seduce them. So where does the trust come from? The simple fact of the matter is that men and women get together in such an environment because of some benefit that they can get from the other. It may be image, sex, money or good conversation but it’s always some benefit that is fulfilled by the other. So what happens to that relationship when an outsider comes along who can give something extra or the same thing but better? It’s natural for any individual to go for the bigger benefit. Sentimental reasons may hold that person back at first but it vaporizes after a while. Further to this, if a man or woman can get away with it without the other half finding out, then absolutely they will go for it. How can true “trust” exist in such relationships? It is romantic fiction. It is true that trust is vital in relationships, but it cannot exist between people who are product of the “Fun Life.” For them, Life is Fun, and there is no room for seriousness.

The Devastating Result: The Life is Messed Up

Every year, arrival at university is going to lead to misery, pain, the spread of disease and immense promiscuity. Many female students will be raped, probably whilst heavily under the effects of alcohol by a male student she met at a party. The culprit will probably have been drunk and excited by the nature of the freshmen parties. The rapes will probably never be reported, the victim feeling guilty and responsible for what happened and seriously affected by it. Many will also suffer from emotional torment. They may sleep with someone after a drunken party, thinking that it would lead to a serious relationship and finding the next day that person is off with someone else. Students arriving at university already in long-term relationships with people from their hometown will begin to cheat, causing emotional distress for both in the relationship. The probability of unwanted pregnancies is higher, requiring either the “morning after pill” or surgical abortion. The spread of genital warts, gonorrhea, syphilis and HIV will accelerate, colonizing a new young generation.

If the physical and direct personal aspects are not enough to worry about, reputations will be under attack. Rumors will fly; gossip and backbiting will be rife amongst the students. Everyone wants to know what everyone else is doing, whom he or she slept with, whom he or she cheated on and how he or she did it. Stories will stir up distrust and even hatred between individuals, sparking off arguments and fights leading to murders and suicide.

What Does ISLAM has to Offer

The Education System in the Capitalist society, the pursuit of pleasure through the enjoyment of material pursuits, gives meaning and purpose to life. For many, education plays a crucial role and emphasis placed on being successful in exams. The whole purpose behind the capitalist exam culture is to promote a society which is highly individualistic and where these individuals strive to benefit themselves and seek the material value by attaining good career prospects. This provides an avenue for a consumer society which the capitalists can then exploit. As a result, students are taught to answer questions on a variety of subjects, yet the Fundamental Questions (Title of this Article) are left unanswered and trivialized as being unimportant and not worthy of discussion. This leads to the detachment of religion from life, a secular viewpoint whereby individuals are free to do as they please. Therefore, everyone who subscribes to this view will tend towards individualism and the seeking of pleasure and personal benefit as a primary objective.

Man’s Personality comprised of two elements: The Thoughts and The Behavior. It is the thoughts about man, life, the universe, the mankind, and about their relationship, as a whole, with what preceded this life and what comes after it, that triggers man’s behavior. So, man's concept about a person he likes shapes his behavior towards him. This is in contrast with his behavior towards a person he dislikes and holds concepts of hatred. Also he will exhibit different behavior towards a person he does not know. Hence, in order for man to revive, it is necessary to radically and comprehensively change and replace by sound and correct thoughts. This personality will have a greater ability to influence its surroundings, be more productive in the society and will not degenerate. The only way to change man’s concepts is by establishing the correct thoughts about life, man, universe, and what is before and after life and relationship of this life with what is before and after it. The Islamic creed is the only creed that is based on the intellect, satisfies the human instincts and biological needs, and provides tranquility.

The word ‘Islam, in Arabic, means Submission and peace. Islam is a message, a way of life, which was revealed to Prophet Muhammad by Allah, the only creator of this universe and a Muslim is the one who believes in this message. Islam is a unique and comprehensive ideology that guides the life of the human being, which consists of a creed, and a system of rules and regulations. The Islamic creed provides the answer to the fundamental questions by stating that man, and the universe are all created by Allah, who is eternal, and self-subsistent. After this life there will be day of reckoning, in which man will return to his Creator, to be followed by an everlasting existence in paradise or hell. For Muslims the purpose of life is to seek the pleasure of Allah. Allah says in Quran, “'I have created jinn and mankind that they may worship Me.' [ 51: 56] This summarized in one line exactly what we are here for. However what constitutes “worship me” cannot easily be summed up in one line. Allah describes what this entails in the context of describing his own position of Majesty.

ó“Blessed be He in Whose hands is Dominion; and He over all things has Power;- He Who created Death and Life, that He may try which of you is best in deed: and He is the Exalted in Might, Oft-Forgiving.” (67 :1-2) So our very life and death have been created to try us, to see which of us perform the best actions. The outcome of us performing well in this test is incredibly significant.
õøEvery soul shall have a taste of death and only on the Day of Judgment shall you be paid your full recompense. Only he who is saved far from the Fire and admitted to the Garden will have attained the object (of Life): for the life of this world is but goods and chattels of deception.” (3:185)
From the above-mentioned verses it can be seen that our goal in this life is to attain paradise in the next life, by acting correctly in this here and now. However this outlines our job descriptions as individual humans.

When a Muslim realizes his relationship with Allah, that Allah alone is to be worshiped and seeking Allah’s pleasure is his principal goal, he would then proceed towards performing all the actions based on these criterion taking Prophet Muhammad as his Role Model and hoping for rewards in the hereafter. Thus, a Muslim abides by the commands and prohibitions of Allah in his actions, sayings and qualities when acting or talking. When a Muslim prays, he prays sincerely to Allah, as HE said: “"The believers have succeeded. Those who humble themselves in their prayers" [23:1-2], when he talks he does not lie, as Prophet Muhammad said :”A Muslim Cannot be a Liar.” if he traded he would not cheat, as Prophet Muhammad said: "He is not one of us who cheats us.” A Muslim treats Non-Muslims kindly as he is commanded in quran “It is part of the Mercy of Allah that you dealt gently with them (non Muslims). Were you severe or harsh-hearted, they (non Muslims) would have broken away from about you" [3:159)

The Muslim would show bravery and courage when he holds the tyrant ruler accountable, as the Prophet Muhammad said: “the best form of worship is to stand up against unjust ruler.” The Muslim would show generosity and sacrifice to others has prophet Muhammad said: "The example of the believers in their love, mercy and sympathy among each other is like the body if a part of it suffers pain, all other parts share with it the fever and sleeplessness."
The Muslim would show the qualities of the just and fair judge between people, Allah (SWT) says: "And when you judge between people, do judge with justice" [TMQ 4:58] The Muslim would show fidelity and would honor his contracts, as Allah says: "Fulfill all your obligations" [5:1]

There are also some despicable moral qualities which Allah has prohibited, such as telling lies, envy, injustice, cheating, insulting, tale carrying, backbiting, hypocrisy, disobeying the parents, laziness, cowardice, meanness etc.. Allah says: "And from the mischief of the envious one as he practices envy" [113:5] Prophet Muhammad said: "O Allah I seek your refuge from weakness, laziness, cowardice and meanness". He also said: "The Muslim would never be a slanderer, an abuser, nor would he be a loudmouth shouting in the markets". Allah says in Qur’an: “Those who slander chaste believing women carelessly are cursed in this life and in the Hereafter: for them is a grievous Penalty” [24: 23].

Regarding the relationships A Muslim forms in the society: Any relationship between two people is based on the thoughts that they carry. In Islam, the objective of life is to seek pleasure of Allah. This is achieved by believing in the core beliefs of Islam, sticking to what has been obliged and avoiding what has been forbidden. As long as the Muslim does this, he or she is tranquil and content.
The relationship between man and woman in Islam is marriage. It’s natural for men and women to want to get together, but Islam filters this through marriage. While, a man and the women are married, the Creator demands that they provide the other with certain rights. These include that they should be faithful, truthful, kind and supportive. Because these things are done for the sake of the Creator, and pleasing Allah is the objective of life, one can easily trust that if the other is conscious of his or her accountability before Allah, he or she will fulfill such rites.

Islamically, when a relationship begins the man and woman should respect each other and treat each other well. In Islam, men and women do not socialize freely as this is the first step in the path of fornication. Muslims don’t drink alcohol, they don’t gossip or backbite, they don’t sleep around, go to nightclubs or pubs. Hence, the situations in which unwanted pregnancies are obtained, STDs are spread and young girls are raped and abused are avoided. Thus, men have loyal, supportive, kind wives who are trustworthy irreplaceable companions. Likewise women have strong, kind, devoted husbands who dedicate themselves to their wives’ comfort and happiness. And on top of that, they love each other.

This is the way the Allah organizes relationships between men and women, in perfect harmony. It is not the author of this article who has decided that a relationship of this form is perfect, rather it is the One, the All-Knowing, all-Seeing, Lord, Master and Sustainer of the universe who decided that this is the way that men and women should relate. May Allah’s guidance protect us all from the misery of secular ideologies.

Hence, the beauty of Islam has bought tranquility to all believers, as Islam agrees with man’s nature, it gives an intellectual conviction with proofs and it does not penalize man on failure in areas he cannot control. It gives him tranquility and happiness through the realization that regardless of what happens in life, as long as he is obedient to the Allah then he is succeeding in his life’s objective.
Prophet Muhammad said: “The two feet of the son of Adam will not move from near his Lord on the Day of Judgment until he is asked about five matters: about his life, how he spent it; about his youth, how he took care of it; about his wealth, how he earned it and how he spent it; and about that which he acted upon from the knowledge that he acquired”

"Say: 'My life, my death and acts of worship are all for the Allah.'" [6: 162].

Ma-salama
Prince of Destiny