A recent post of mine raised some pretty intelligent, thought provoking questions and we all know me and questions. I can’t help but research and mull over them till my mind comes up with some sort of explanation or response. In that light, I introduce today’s question and subsequently topic for this post; Do I believe that any man who is not Muslim, is not as morally sound as a Muslim man?
First, lets look at the meaning of morality so that we have a reference point to work of. Morality, a noun, according to dictionary.com means:
1. conformity to the rules of right conduct; moral or virtuous conduct.
2. moral quality or character.
3. virtue in sexual matters; chastity.
4. a doctrine or system of morals.
And yes, you are correct, I am not of the belief that a man who is not Muslim is less morally sound than a Muslim man.
With the the words of a very close friend (“there are many times we judge based on the bias handed to us by our predecessors instead of making our own investigations and deciding for ourselves”) I decided it was time for me to do a little bit of research and decide for myself.
After careful consideration I have decided, from my own experience, that religion can not be the deciding factor in who has the stronger morals.
Yes, religion is usually the first institute to guide our thinking, behavior and action but religion is merely a template to guide us. To inspire and draw us towards good. However, human nature is such that in the end morality is our own personal choices, values and thought process.
Yes, religion guides right from wrong; Christianity has the ten commandments and Islam has stories of the prophet and his teachings but in the end the quality of ones character depends solely on ones self for as humans we are autonomous in our thoughts and decisions.
Now, you’re probably sitting there wondering what the hell is this girl babbling on about this time. Well, for a few minutes, close your eyes and envision the story I am narrating.
I once met a woman struck me as a rather strong and courageous woman. I’m not sure what it was about her. Maybe the way she stood; tall and sure. Shoulders back, hair pulled away from her face, tired lines crinkling the corners of her eyes but a large smile firmly in place. She looked the epitome of feminist power. But when she sat down and reached for my hand, her sleeve slipped up and a tiny blue bruise peaked out from under.
I know she saw me notice because as soon as I made eye contact with her, she gave me a softer smile and leaned over and whispered “Don’t worry dear, all men aren’t like my ex husband.” She waited a few minutes then tentatively whispered again, “He was unfortunately Muslim. While he introduced me to the peacefulness of this religion when he courted me, he never really understood what it was to be a Muslim man. I myself was a christian girl who had lost touch with God a few years earlier. I fell in love with the mysterious man who’s religion readily accepted me. We were married ten years you know.”
She fell silent and I held my breathe knowing that what she had to say next would be a black mark on the honor and character of Muslims. She carefully thought her words out and then said “Now when I look back on those ten years, I realize his morals were what a Muslims morals should be. I should have known that the second he didn’t ask me to convert to Islam actually.”
Several months later, I saw the same woman at a friends house and as usual we got talking. Half way through the conversation, her phone rang. The minute she answered it, her face brightened and a grin graced her lips. While she was distracted by the person on the phone, I observed that the stress lines had faded and she was calmer, less tense and well just frikking happy.
And while this probably opens up a few other issues, when she finally put the phone down she leaned in and whispered “I almost forgot to mention I’m engaged to someone… And before you ask no he isn’t Muslim but he treats me like a queen and he thinks a lot like me.”
And then it hit me, I don’t think Muslim men are more morally sound than non-muslim men. I think that if he held his religion close to his heart then the template it sets for him will become the way of life he chooses to adopt and as a result his morals will be in accordance to the teachings of Islam.
Since I grew up in a home where Islamic thinking plays a big part in our lives my morals and values have been molded in a similar manner. I am by no means perfect and I do not expect anyone else to be. But I presume that life would be a lot easier if my morals matched the morals of the man I choose to spend the rest of my life with.
Dedicated to S.M of ineversawitcoming for inspiring this post
Brokebella 
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