"What shall we do now, dad?" Mary asked before she went to bed on the first day in the new house.
"May God be with us, dear" Joe replied
Mary's family was forced to leave the house they have hired. Although, Mary's dad bought a piece of land and started to build a new house from two years ago, there were a lot of things that were missing. The most important missing was six windows in the first floor of the house, which was situated in one of the new cities (under construction) in the desert. That means that they were not only living on the floor but also in a house opened to the public street. It was such horrible days that they were praying everyday for God to protect them from thieves. Paul was the carpenter who was responsible to finish the windows six months ago. He was a very talented carpenter, but so bad manager. When Joe agreed with him to do doors and windows, he gave him all the money demanded (cash). Paul took the money and bought all the required wood to finish the whole job, before the wood price increase. At first, he was so active and accurate. But, he did a horrible mistake when he used Joe's wood in another job. The price of wood increased as predictable and the difference in price was the responsibility of Paul. For months, Mary's family were living in a house without windows because of a fault they have no guilt concerning it. Everyday, Joe phoned Paul to come and finish his job, he found him either switching off his phone or reply him, give him an appointment and swear he'll come. But, as usual he leaves Joe waiting for him all the day and at last he don't come or even apologize.
Paul was a new boss for some Christian carpenters. They used to misbehave with Mary and her family as they were Muslims. Except one guy, his name was George, a Coptic Orthodox Christian. He was so cute and respectable, a student in faculty of commerce, Cairo university. And he was working at the same time to earn money for his mother and sisters after his father's death. The Muslim family admired him so much and considered him as one of the family members although they were different in beliefs.
George was the most welcomed guest in Joe's house. When he visited to fix something in the windows, all family members stayed at home and apologize for any other appointments. Mary's mom was surprised when she saw her daughter fixing the tea by herself and send his brother to buy both chicken and meat fillets to prepare dinner for them all. Mary believes that George deserved more than that, but she does so as a symbolic means of appreciation for his beautiful morals, honesty and hard work. She believes that if all humans have morals whatever their Religion is, the earth will be the Paradise.
His boss Paul was completely different, although both of them were Christians and belong to the same demonstration. Paul doesn't respect his promises and appointments and after he used Joe's wood for other clients and was so late to finish his job, he began to lie and lie and lie to escape responsibility of breaching the contract. Joe gave him several chances, but what chance shall he give him while his family and property are threatened because of Paul's dishonesty. Time was passing, day by day and month by month and Mary's family is suffering. To when they will live in such unsafe house?!!!
At last, Paul had mercy on Mary's family and went to complete his job. That day, Paul left his tools as they were heavy and he would come in the morning. Before he left, Joe told him that that was his last chance and if he didn't come the next day, he wouldn't just step inside. The surprise was that Paul didn't come. Joe got nervous and locked his tools, which he had left the day before. Negotiations took place for long time and most of it was blaming for what Paul had done. Paul's ex-boss who taught him carpentry, his colleagues, his friends, even his father came to negotiate in order to let the tools back but Joe refused. No one could blame Joe as Paul was guilty and they were all witnesses. Even Mary and her mother asked him to give Paul's tools back to him, but he refused and insisted to make him suffer as he made them suffer and then he'll give the tools back to him. Although, Joe can take Paul's tools and sell them as Paul was in of debt to him. Paul took all the demanded money, he abused the wood and didn't fulfill his obligation; but Islam forbids such acts of restoring rights.
At that time, George phoned Joe and said politely "please, Mr. Joe, I'm working with those tools as well. Would you please return them back?". On the next day, Paul had his tools back and till now Joe didn't take either the rest of the wood or the money back.
On that date, Mary knew that Morals speak louder than Religion and found an answer for her question "Why do Islam encourage calling for God by actions not by words?". She knew that Morals can call for Religion more than Religion can call for Morals.
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Comments: 35
10 4 u
Larry, I believe that not all who have Religion have Morals and not all who have Morals have Religion.
Thanks Mary. It would be rough to live under those circumstances. (This is a comment link for A Stone's Throw Away. It was written for you're entertainment. Don't click this link until you're in the mood to be entertained.)
I'd like to hear more about Mary and George.
Baloney.
But, most religious people can't see that--they are too blinded by the arrogant idea that their religion is the only one that matters--and if you don't believe the same then you can't be right.
Religion is used as a tool of man for the purpose of social competition, domination and control, so of course religions will do noble and gracious things but not one has made an effort to change their negative aspects. No religion has raised a finger to change their negative aspects. They too are kept in check by a larger and somewhat secular society with a basis in natural rights and liberal ideology. Without it religion is oppressive and tyrannical.
I disagree with you, Evan. Divine Religions are from God and God is infallible. If their followers use religions to reach their personal interests, this is not the guilt of the religions but the human's. I challenge the world by my religion that you know nothing about it.
That is the truest statement I have seen in many years. I wish more people could understand that we have all been given choices that lead to God and life with him, and choices that lead to pain, sin, and death. Any one religion that says it has all the answers about God sounds very arrogant to me. If God created man, which I firmly believe, and He knows are needs, even before we express them, how could we, mere humans, hope to know all about God?
Great 'story" Thanks
People believe what you do, not what you say. :-)
thanks for sharing
That when you don't do a job you promised to do, that is wrong.
But, I also believe that the owner of the house should not have kept the tools.
That in itself, is very wrong.
Stealing from a liar is just as bad as the lie itself. It makes you no better than that person. It makes you angry and judgemental.
Everything happens for a reason. We just don't know what it is.
And, with religion..
Not all Christians are judgmental. I love everyone as I love myself. I respect another person's right to believe what they want to believe.
If you don't believe in Islam's teachings, then, that's okay. If you don't want religion at all, that's fine.
No one can make you believe in something if you don't.
But, to demean another person's beliefs, is not very human behavior. You can have beliefs without being religious, that is very true.
I for one, am very interested to learn about all cultures and not just one.
Yes, Thomas, they are. People can be moral and not subscribe to any religion at all. Morality is a human invention - varies from culture to culture and even from individual to individual. I don't identify with any religion or deity, but I certainly know right from wrong.
Great article, Mary.
And Donald, when you define religion what you speak of is really spirituality. There are common values to every religion. If you look at the history of religion, you will find that it was created solely for power.
Keep in mind that non-religious people can still be spiritual. I think that anyone who has spirituality has morals.