Like A Musk Deer, We're Oblivious of the Power and Presence of Love Within

By Sumit Paul, New Age Islam 8 April 2025 "We Live in A World Where We Have to Hide to Make Love, While Violence Is Practised in Broad Daylight." John Lennon's aforementioned quote flashed through my mind when I read in a Bangla daily that the relatives of an unmarried couple barged into a hotel room and brutally attacked them. Both are admitted to a hospital in a precarious condition. Moralists may say that they were attacked because they were making love despite not getting married. Who has made these partisan morals? Making love is immortal to these goons but violence is a moral act! This highlights the unfortunate reality of our society. Lennon's words shed light on the paradoxical nature of our world, where expressions of love and affection are often silenced or concealed, while acts of violence and aggression persist openly. This quote provokes contemplation on the skewed moral values of our society, questioning why love, a fundamental emotion that should be celebrated, is subjected to repression and secrecy. Meanwhile, violence, a destructive force, continues to be casually accepted and witnessed without outrage. Lennon's statement serves as a reminder of the need to shift our priorities, promoting love and acceptance over violence and hatred in order to create a more harmonious and compassionate world. Why has love become so loathsome in these times and violence so valued? It matters not who you love, where you love, why you love, when you love, or how you love. It matters only that you love. Love transcends any external factors such as the identity of the person you love, the place where that love blossoms, the reasons behind it, the timing of its existence, and even the way it is expressed. Ultimately, what truly matters is the presence of love itself. This message encourages us to embrace love in all its forms and to cherish the connections we make, reminding us that the power of love is limitless and can bring joy, fulfilment, and unity to our lives. Love, in all forms, has gone out of our hearts and violence has entered. Like a musk deer, we're oblivious of the power and presence of love within. We've got this gift of love, but love is like a precious plant. You can't just accept it and leave it in the cupboard or just think it's going to get on by itself. You've got to keep watering it. You've got to really look after it and nurture it. Love is not something we can take for granted or expect to flourish on its own. Instead, we must actively tend to it, just as we would water and look after a plant to ensure its growth. Love, like a plant, requires attention, effort, and continuous nourishment to thrive and flourish. These words serve as a reminder that cultivating and maintaining love requires active dedication and responsibility from both parties involved. Love and violence can never gel, though love and hatred can at times. It's time to embrace and spread just love regardless of the nature and type of love. عشقکافیاست (Ishq Kaafi Ast), 'love is enough', to quote Persian mystic Jami. ----- A regular columnist for New Age Islam, Sumit Paul is a researcher in comparative religions, with special reference to Islam. He has contributed articles to the world's premier publications in several languages including Persian. URL: https://www.newageislam.com/spiritual-meditations/musk-deer-power-presence-love/d/135087 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism