BITS ‘N’ PIECES
Narrated Abu Huraira (R.A): Allah’s Apostle (S.A.W) said, “When the Imam says: ‘Ghair-il-Maghdubi ‘Alaihim Walad-Dallin (i.e. not the path of those who earn Your anger, nor the path of those who went astray (1.7), then you must say, ‘Ameen’, for if one's utterance of ‘Ameen' coincides with that of the angels, then his past sins will be forgiven.” Sahih Bukhari,Volume 6, Book 60, Number 2
The Amish avoid modern conveniences like electricity, automobiles, and television.
The Amish community is a traditional Christian group known for simple living, plain dress and resistance to modern technology. They migrated from Switzerland and Alsace to North America in the eighteenth century seeking religious freedom. Today most Amish communities are found in the United States and Canada, particularly in Pennsylvania, Ohio and Indiana. Their way of life is guided by Christian faith and Anabaptist principles such as adult baptism, nonviolence and separation from the state. They emphasise humility, community and obedience to God’s will.
Their practices are shaped by the Ordnung, a set of unwritten rules that vary between communities and regulate dress, use of technology and social conduct. The Amish live simply and avoid conveniences such as electricity from public grids, automobiles and television. They do not consider technology evil but believe it can weaken community bonds, encourage pride and distract from faith. Instead they use horse-drawn buggies for transport, kerosene lamps for light and manual tools for work. Each new technology is judged by whether it supports or threatens their values. Their clothing is modest and uniform.
Men wear dark trousers, suspenders and broad-brimmed hats, while women wear long dresses, aprons and bonnets. This discourages vanity and promotes equality. To Amish people, community life is central. Members work together in farming and trades, often holding barn raisings where neighbours build structures in a single day. Helping one another in times of illness or hardship is a core value of Amish way of life.
Education is limited to one-room schools where children study until the eighth grade, after which they learn practical skills for rural life. The Amish also follow the principle of Gelassenheit, meaning submission to God’s will. While they limit outside influences, they are not entirely separate from the world. They trade and work with non-Amish people, whom they call the English, while holding firmly to their traditions. In essence the Amish choose a modest life close to the land, centred on faith, family and community, as a way to preserve their beliefs in a changing world.