He Asked If I Go To Church

He asked if I go to church, and I responded, “I do not go to church. Muslims attend mosques. We have our day on Friday, the Jews on Saturdays, and the Christians on Sunday”. His question was innocent and honest. Nevertheless, he inferred from his question that religiosity is obtained by one’s activity in church or a place of worship. As a Muslim, Islam doesn't restrict one religiosity to their activity at masajid, or mosques. Also, Islam doesn't prevent a person from being human and acting on human-instincts, such as wanting to socialize, mingle, being intimate with one’s spouse, playing with one’s children, earning a livelihood and etc.
We find Islam as being wholesome in its outlook on how human-beings find satisfaction in their lives. Islam is in the middle of two extremes. There is one reality of being aloof from the world and not engaging in it and then the other extreme of doing as one pleases, similar to the hedonistic ideology. A Muslim isn't devoid of fulfilling one’s interests and ambitions in life. It is certainly permissible for a Muslim to be rich, have a family, own property, engage in commerce, and be religious. Some may think that religiosity is only for those who are devoted to acts of worship, but this is incorrect. Instead, the Muslim is encouraged to engage in the world around them. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) would tell his companions there is a time for this and a time for that and if they was perfect the angels would shake hands with them. It’s not a matter of giving up the world in which we live in so that we may live a religious life, but being able to balance out the two. There’s a time for work, a time for friends, a time for family, and a time for one’s own enrichment. So, the question of if a Muslim attends the mosque is a great one, but it doesn't necessarily determines a person’s religiosity. Even the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) told his companions that he is a person that worships Allah, sleep, and marry women, and he is the best of them.
So, what does this mean for us? It means that being Muslim isn't simply about worship, but about nurturing all the aspects of the human-experience. Living as a Muslim is one that is satisfying because it caters to the different facets of life that human-beings go through on a daily basis. Allah has placed in us needs and wants and he has provided a perfected way of life that instructs and guides us on being fulfilled. Many people may be surprised to learn that religiosity isn't confined to a place of worship, but it includes our day-to-day interactions with our neighbors, spouses, children, strangers, family-members, and etc. It is about giving people their rights and performing our obligations towards others including Allah. Honesty, Islam is more than just about being a person engaging in worship, but it is about being a person that understands that one has to exist in the world they live in. It’s a beautiful way of life that has been intricately detailed to us by Allah and the prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him). Islam sustains humanity through its realistic approach to life and living as a satisfied individual.