Paul Walker, the actor famous for Fast & Furious, died in a car crash yesterday, with his friend who was driving the car. I only knew about this because it was all over twitter. If you said his name to me, I wouldn't know who he is (haven't watched F&F) but he did look familiar when I saw his pics.

So a celeb dies and you get people on social media sending their prayers, upset and crying. Then you get the people who're all like "Look at how much they care about a celeb's death, but they don't care about those dying in wars and the poverty-ridden". Tbh I think I have been one of those people in the past. But I came to realise the disrespect that is giving to a life and to the family and friends of the life that has gone. 

Yes, we should care more about those in Iraq and syria and Rohingya and every where else, but we don't need to compare deaths. 

Yes, some Muslims do get their priorities wrong by putting so much effort, interest, love into celebs lives, but others people simply hear about an actor/celeb they've seen around for ages die and it may be a little shocking, especially depending on the circumstances. I mean I barely knew PW, but that crash looks horrific, it'd be sad for anyone who died in such way. 

And unfortunately some deaths are highlighted more than others. People die all the time...it's kinda hard to know about them all and to "care" about them. The media will obviously tell us what mainstream society want to hear, which can be unfair but what can we do about it?

Basically, I think it's insenstive and unfair to use people's death to make such points. 

EDIT: Just wanted to add this, on the issue of non-Muslims and their destination in the hereafter:

Quote:

 

Paul Walker's passing today has shocked and troubled many people including his Muslim fans, and it brought up a lot of questions about Islamic belief regarding salvation. These questions are more pressing when one learns that Walker was inthe area to attend a charity event for his organization to raise funds for the Typhoon Haiyan victims. It's extremely troubling to see Muslims act so dismissively about the eternal fate of non-Muslims, acting as if their gods declaring where individuals are going. 

One of the dangers of belief is that it can lead one to gain an unjustified sense of certainty about the other. This is further worsened when the conception of God is unbecoming, especially if it's a God who describes Himself first as Merciful before being Just. That's not to mentioned not realizing that people have had different exposures, grew up in different circumstances, and will be judged according to their knowledge.

Thomas Paine said, "Belief in a cruel God makes a cruel man."

Here's an article I wrote a few months ago on the subject of salvation that might address some questions that have arisen among Muslims today:

http://mohamedghilan.com/2013/03/08/wheres-the-mercy/

(I'm not sure if I've shared that article before or not, but nothing wrong with sharing again I guess.)