The Islamic Bulletin Volume XX No. 25 Page 5 or for the next group that comes by to visit. When we were leaving the fishermen were in tears and asked us to stay longer, but our remaining days were few and we had already extended our stay on the island of Cartagena. We said, “Ojalá we will come back.” “InshAllah we will return.” Ojalá is a term used in the Spanish language which was originated by the Muslims of Spain about 800 years ago. The Spanish phrase, ojalá (que) , and the Portuguese phrase, oxalá (que) , both meaning “I hope (that),” “would (that),” “would to God (that),” etc., are both derived from the Arabic insha’ Allâh. When asked why they use the word “Ojalá,” they will say that they use it as an expression for something in the future. “Ojalá, I get the job, house, car, etc.” When the Spaniards shout olé at the bullfighter or the flamenco dancer, they echo the Muslim invocation of God, Allah! In fact, thousands of Spanish words have their origins in the language of the Muslims whose stay in Spain lasted eight centuries. Examples which can be easily appreciated without much knowledge of Spanish are sugar, azúcar , originally assukar ; and cotton, in Spanish algodón, from al-qutun. Olive in Spanish is aceituna, and olive oil aceite, from the Arabic for olive, alzeitun. When Spaniards bid one another farewell and say “Hasta mañana” they are, quite unconsciously as with most of these words, using the Arabic hattá which still means what it did in the Middle Ages when it entered Spanish – “until”. Many of the brothers were surprised to discover that the people of Colombia were using so many words as part of their language. From Cartagena, we were expected to visit the Muslims in Maicao. There are about 10,000 Arabs, both Muslims and Christians in this city. However, due to limited time we would not be able to visit them. We had to think of getting back to Bogota, which was about 1046 km from where we were. We had limited daytime travel and police blocks, so we made mashura (consultation) and decided to head back south and stopped in Barranquilla. We went through security checkpoints; the government has set up these programs aimed at eradicating drugs. Although 90% of the cocaine entering the U.S. is processed in Colombia, Colombia has made real progress to weaken drug trafficking organization. Throughout our trip the Colombian Muslims were beautiful people to meet—friendly and hospitable. The Islamic quality of honoring the guests has surely not been lost in this beautiful country. We were welcomed, embraced and made to feel at home. From our wonderful experience in Colombia, we now have a love and attachment to Colombia and can’t wait to come back! This is an advice to all about the purpose of life. I request you to think of what I’m about to say to you as advice; not a lecture. The information that I wish to share with you may seem a bit extensive. When you consider the capacity of the human brain and the amount of information that it can store and decipher, then a few pages of information, I’m sure, will not overwork you. It is my responsibility to address the topics of our discussion, “What is the purpose of our life?” and also ask a question, “What do you know about Islam?” I mean what do you really know about Islam? Not what you’ve heard about Islam, not what you’ve seen in the actions of some Muslims, but what do you know about Islam? I would like to begin by saying that all of you have an equal responsibility. And that responsibility is to listen with an open heart and an open mind. In a world filled with prejudice and cultural conditioning, it is very hard to find people that are able to take a moment to think. To think about life objectively. And try to arrive at the truth about this world and the real purpose of our lives. Unfortunately, when you ask most people the question, “what is the purpose of our life?” such a fundamental and important question, they will not tell you what they have concluded through observation or analytical reasoning. Rather, in most cases, they will simply tell you what someone else said. Or they will tell you what is commonly presumed by others. What my father said what the purpose of life is, what the minister of my church said the purpose of life is, what my teacher in school said, what my friends said. If I ask anyone what’s the purpose eating, why do we eat? Most people will say, in one way or another, it’s for nutrition; because nutrition sustains life. If I ask people why they work, they will say because it is a necessity in order to support themselves and to provide the needs of their family. If I ask people why they sleep, why they wash, why they dress, etc. they will answer this is a common necessity for all human beings. We can follow this line of questioning with a hundred questions and receive the same or similar answers from people, in any language, in any place in the world. Simple. Now I ask you the question, “What is the goal and purpose of our life?” and we get so many different answers. That’s because people are confused. They don’t really know. They’re stumbling in the dark. And rather than say, “I don’t know”, they just offer any answer that they’ve been programmed to answer. Well, think about it now. Is our purpose in this world simply to eat, sleep, dress, work, acquire some material things and enjoy ourselves? Is this our purpose? Why are we born? What is the object of our existence and what is the wisdom behind the creation of man and this tremendous universe? Think about that question. THE PURPOSE OF LIFE
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