A Feeling Called "Love"

                Love, people may refer it to many things; friends, family, lovers, etc. In my point of view, it refers to the obedience to God to do things that He orders and not to do things that He forbids, strong feeling of deep affection for somebody or something, person or thing that you like very much, or the act of caring someone you consider important in every part of your life. If you really love somebody or something, you would not mind giving your attention, your properties, your time, or anything else to the one you love.

In the passage, Esther killed Lawrence so that he cannot marry another girl except her, who loved him very much since childhood, but did not have his grandfather agreement. I do not agree with her action. In my opinion, which Esther called “love”, is not love. That is a contradiction; it drove her to kill the one she loved, while when you really love someone, you would not want him/her to be hurt even if it is just a scratch. It is arrogant to say that when you love someone you only allow him/her to care for you ignoring the world and everything else, because you are willing to give it yourself, need not be forced. What Esther felt, I would call it “blinding love”.

Every human born to this world “has” the right to live. It is one of the fundamental rights of human, but you do not have the rights to take other people’s life, unless in some cases when someone broke serious law so that he got Death punishment. Everything in life is about choices, so when we “have” the rights to live, it means that we also have the right to choose, to decide our way, doesn’t it? It also means that, because we decide it ourselves, we have our own responsibility and cannot have other people take the consequences. It is also valid in backwards, we cannot push others to decide something about their life (moreover the marriage decision) only to our advantages, profits, or merely pleasures.

It is true that human has the right to live, but actually the life itself was given by The Creator, God. This is because; to put it simply, can you create your own cells, tissues, organs, systemic organs, even with the help of others in the beginning? Can you make your own self alive after you were dead? If not, then it is given, He can take it back whenever the time comes and make rules about it.

In my religion, there are some strict rules about death punishment. It can only be executed by certain people (waliyul amri) and is given to people who commit heavy violation, i.e. killing others viciously without the right excuses (qishas, blood paid by blood), displaying a sexual immorality (zinah) in front of public while they know the legal marriage procedure, etc. . How about Euthanasia, the painless killing of people who suffer a painful incurable disease, usually done by the one who loves them (i.e. his/her family)? It is forbidden. First, it will eliminate the blessings that may be given to him. Second, in my religion, it is considered as the act of desperation, which is highly forbidden for Mu’min. Third, when someone is sick, his sins is taken, reduced, removed gradually, so that if Euthanasia is done, it will stop the process of “clearing” him/her. Fourth, it will put humans on the same level as animals, as we understand, cats will “eat” some of their newborn babies who will not grow up normally. Thus, love cannot give a license to kill.

His love has inspired me much until today, and I hope it will continue that way. How could I know that He loves me, His creature? First, I was born as Muslim, as a complete and pure child. Second, I am still given the time to correct my mistakes, to do good deeds, and avoid His prohibitions. Third, I am often placed in good surroundings, where I meet friends with better faith in God than me, and teachers who never tired of giving courages and advices for the sake of their students. My family has also inspired me, they support me, give me directions, fulfill my study needs, always there when I am discouraged or feeling down, understand me more than any other people. Thus, I love them so much; I thank God for bringing me into this world, into my family.

In conclusion, people may have different opinion about love, but love itself will not allow the one we love to be hurt. We have the right to live, which should not be taken by other people, except by The Creator of this world, God. We also cannot push other people to make decision based on our needs, profits, business, or even just pleasures; we are responsible for the choices we take.

-Muhammad Yusril Yuriis