This is a great insight. Especially if we look at the state of America now. Do we really want to fit in? Whether it’s the processed food, social media, public school and more. People are getting married less and many are choosing to not have children. Many people have anxiety and depression. Americans were sold a lie that consumerism was the answer. I wish more Muslims would talk about this. We have tried so hard to fit in and are now having these same problems.

Has anyone pondered on this ayah? Surah An-Nur 61.....InshaAllah look at it from a different angle today. From the simple explanation of why the Amish do not use cars. And then look at how our Ummah use the restaurant and fast food industry so readily. This concept/industry wasn't introduced full force until the industrial revolution. And by the time I was in school, in the 70's it wasn't "cool" to have a lunchbox that your mom made for you. I was the only kid in my class to bring their lunch to school. And kids just assumed we were poor because of that. I was made fun of so much, pier pressure, that I begged my parents to buy the weekly lunch ticket. My father was not happy. "What? Your mother's food isn't good enough for you?" OUCH! We didn't stop at a restaurant while driving on vacation either. We packed a cooler. It was big, there were six of us. :) No soda either, water and plain tea, no sugar.And everyone had ONE paper cup to last the trip. Alhamdullilah And this is why I loved this ayah the first time I read it over 20 years ago. Allah explained it over 1400 years ago and I totally agreed with it from my experiences growing up. Alhamdullilah I guess that is why the "English" have coined the phrase, "Just like your mother use to make." In all the processed food they sell. My mom's food never tasted like today's "home cooking". My mom didn't use preservatives or dyes. Heck we rarely had leftovers, so no preservatives were needed. LOL Nothing can compare to the love that mom, auntie, sister, puts into every dish she makes.And it goes for dads and brothers too. My father would cook on the weekends to give my mother a break he said. But we knew he loved to cook too. Nothing wrong in that. So what if the food may be a little dark around the edges sometimes. So what if a roti, pita, biscuit isn't perfectly round. Just proves it was made it by hand, that's all. What an honor, what a blessing, what a Mercy just from this one ayah. Give me the "imperfect" anytime. The only "perfect" is Allah. Alhamdullilah How could anyone pass up a mom's homemade hamburger for Mc D's is beyond me. :) MashaAllah Tabarak Allah Imam for this insightful clip. Brought back a lot of good memories which I am truly thankful for. Alhamdullilah And the reminder benefits the Believer. :D

The car story made my jaw drop 😱

Both the Amish and Mennonites follow the Anabaptist tradition. But Mennonites are very different, there are conservative Mennonites too but all of them embrace technology and vaccination to some extent. I know several Mennonite women who work , single Mennonite women work for the need to provide for themselves even though they get a lot of support and help from their families. Health insurance is a huge reason to work. I was 13 years old living in a Muslim country when I developed a strong sense of purpose in my education. Women in my family were also luminaries, my aunt was the first Muslim doctor in my province, my elder sisters were highly accomplished women in their fields. My father was the biggest supporter of my dreams. When asked by my uncle why was he spending so much time and money on my education, my father told his brother, because she loves to learn. I cannot wrap my head around offering women only one choice. May be I had very little push back in following my prayers, Ramadan or hajj from my law firm. I kept reduced hours in Ramadan, took off many days in the last ten days, etc. Of course I deeply respect Tom Faccine . I learn a lot from him. I don’t have a daughter but if I did and she wanted to be a surgeon, or teacher, or dentist or a housewife I would support her goals. Economics is not the only reason why women work. May be women like me are influenced to see self worth through education. I will confess my two years atGeorgetown University were among the best of my 68 years. I felt as though my amazing professors were drawing me out to be my best self. In fact I am sure I am a better Muslim for that experience!

Your brief talk made some very important points. It reminded me that many years ago I read the following parable in an Islamic magazine. There once was a goat that admired the way the horse walked. So for many days he practiced trying to walk like the horse. Eventually he realized that he couldn't so he stopped trying. However, he then realized that he no longer walked like a goat. So the way he then walked was neither like a horse or a goat but it was funnier than both. May Allah bless and guide us.

The Amish don't drive cars but will accept rides in cars and they sometimes pay you in things like honey, crafts, fresh produce etc. But they will always pay you. And they do shop at Walmart too. All the Walmarts around here have parking spaces reserved specifically for horse and buggy.

Apart from the traditional living style of the Amish people, I wonder what else keeps them safe under the nation and secular state (the US). Have there even been attempts by the US authorities to subjugate the Amish, making them live in accordance with, say, modernist standards? In fact, given the striking contrast between the canons and religious requirements of both the Amish and Muslims with legal, secular rules of modern nation states, we should have long been declared Enemy no. 1...

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"Whether or not it draws on new scientific research technology is a branch of moral philosophy, not of science.” - Paul Goodman

Wow! I hit it right. 95%. I remember researching about the Amish when some years back, reality show presentators stole some youths from the Pellegrins people. They lured in the city and introduced them to sins. Then, they got one of the beautiful girls into modelling. Last time I saw her, she was hitting the runway almost naked on some modelling shows. She looked soooo different. Sad!

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The Haredi Jewish communities may also serve as models.