If you look Asian you’re Pakistani
If you’re Pakistani then you’re a Muslim…
This is the British mentality and I also find myself applying these same generalisations so what can we expect from anyone who isn’t Asian?
Islam is a perfect religion but the Muslims are far from perfect and no one will ever be perfect but we should strive for excellence. Say you had a fine, highly respected and high standard business. You would only hire the best workers to represent your company. You would expect them to carry your name well whether at work or not as a lack of expertise in their appearance and character would ruin the reputation of your business. And if any one of them did disgrace your name you would probably fire them. It’s sad but that’s how the world works, we generalise and we associate people to their group, their career, their family, their culture and their religion. In reality this is not the case and we all know that, because we all hate being generalised and some even try to hide certain things for this reason.
So because we all know this and because Islam is perfect then shouldn’t we be doing our utmost to represent and show it’s perfection all the time?
It’s bad enough that people deny that they are Muslims but its even worse when people openly admit to be a Muslim but give Islam such a bad name by not acting like a Muslim at all. We have Muslims in the clubs dancing and drinking, dressed like the non-muslims, using bad language, lying and cheating others and showing and overall lack of character. How can you say you love Allah and the prophet (s), joined every group showing it on Facebook and then go out acting nothing like a Muslim? A Muslim is not just a name and just because you have been born into the religion it does not give you any higher status or right to paradise than anyone else. We are definitely blessed if we are born into Islam and have a head start but that doesn’t mean we don’t have to do anything. It doesn’t mean we can just say the shahadah once in our life, fast in Ramadan, read jummah on a Friday and say inshallah we will enter paradise! It’s amazing how you hear that reverts are jealous of those born Muslims and we don’t even realise the treasure we have been given.
Islam is a way of life and being a Muslim comes with responsibilities and a character to uphold. We all need to work on this and should be continuously striving to better ourselves. If we are calling ourselves a Muslim then we need to show it in our character AND in our appearance. They go together because appearance is what lets others know we are Muslim and with a beautiful character to match and association is formed. A minor sign of the day of judgement is that females will be wearing clothes but will appear to be naked; this is because of the tightness of the clothes. So how can we allow ourselves or our sisters and wives to be part of this sign? I hear of brothers who want their wife to cover the hair but wear western clothing! its insane Muslims wives are not trophy wives. The beauty is for the husband alone so why do brothers want everyone to look at their wives? What do they want to prove? Hijab is not just the head covering it is a body covering so this doesn’t mean just because we are covering our hair that we can wear leggings and a skintight top! The hijab is our identity, just by looking at a woman in hijab everyone can see that she is a Muslim, and by seeing a man with a beard (a proper one not one with lines in it) you can see he is a Muslim. But no, our brothers want the stylish zig zag beard and the low jeans! What is all that about? The sagging jeans fashion came from the prisons. The inmates would unintentionally have their pants sagging because they weren’t allowed to have belts for security reasons. Another theory is that the gay inmates would have their pants sagging to let others know! Either way why would you want to emulate these people? The Prophet (s) should be the male role model and whom our brothers aspires to be like… Not Tupac or even worse Tony Montana! As much as a great film that was, he died a loser, his own family rejected him and he was left all alone. And for what? wealth! The money controlled him and he ended up pushing everyone away who cared for him… and then he was killed! Not even an honourable death. Where was the good of it all then?
Another problem that people lightly shake off is bad language. Usually in high school you pick up this horrible language and it becomes an everyday part of your vocabulary. I hate walking outside and seeing a young group of Muslim boys or girls using the ‘f’ word so loud and freely. It sounds disgusting and it gives a bad name to Muslims. Our speech should be beautiful because it mirrors our character. Our tongue will testify for or against us; every word we utter is being recorded so keep it clean!
We should have the best character. The people would accept Islam because of the prophet’s (s) character. But today we and allowing people to run away from Islam because of how we portray it. Because we lie, are rude and bad mannered, gossip and backbite or because we are in the clubs half-naked or selling weed in the park. What if you were to die in that place? How could you face Allah, not mentioning the shame and disgrace you would bring on your parents. And while we are on the topic of parents, just because they allow you to dress and do as you please that does not make it right and they are then sinful for allowing you. They are not an excuse so don’t use them, we are all accountable for ourselves so take control. In the same way, just because your parents may be praying and obeying Allah, that does not give you a free entry into Jannah. The prophet (s) told his own children that he could not save them on the day of judgment and its only their deeds that will help them so how can we expect our religious parents to help us? If you don’t know find out and if you do know don’t try to make yourself feel better by slandering others who do worse than you do. In Deen, you look to those who are better than you are, not worse.
We need to better ourselves as Muslims. People should be running to Islam, as they did in the time of our messenger (s) because of their character. We especially need it now because of the negativity Islam is getting in the media. Don’t just get angry and cuss them, do something, prove and show them the beauty of the religion through your appearance and character. A smile is charity so stop walking around with a frown and giving people dirt looks. Smile at others, it will make you and those around you feel better. Don’t hide your identity show the world that you are a Muslim and let them see it without asking. Be the window to the perfection.
If you’re Pakistani then you’re a Muslim…
This is the British mentality and I also find myself applying these same generalisations so what can we expect from anyone who isn’t Asian?
Islam is a perfect religion but the Muslims are far from perfect and no one will ever be perfect but we should strive for excellence. Say you had a fine, highly respected and high standard business. You would only hire the best workers to represent your company. You would expect them to carry your name well whether at work or not as a lack of expertise in their appearance and character would ruin the reputation of your business. And if any one of them did disgrace your name you would probably fire them. It’s sad but that’s how the world works, we generalise and we associate people to their group, their career, their family, their culture and their religion. In reality this is not the case and we all know that, because we all hate being generalised and some even try to hide certain things for this reason.
So because we all know this and because Islam is perfect then shouldn’t we be doing our utmost to represent and show it’s perfection all the time?
It’s bad enough that people deny that they are Muslims but its even worse when people openly admit to be a Muslim but give Islam such a bad name by not acting like a Muslim at all. We have Muslims in the clubs dancing and drinking, dressed like the non-muslims, using bad language, lying and cheating others and showing and overall lack of character. How can you say you love Allah and the prophet (s), joined every group showing it on Facebook and then go out acting nothing like a Muslim? A Muslim is not just a name and just because you have been born into the religion it does not give you any higher status or right to paradise than anyone else. We are definitely blessed if we are born into Islam and have a head start but that doesn’t mean we don’t have to do anything. It doesn’t mean we can just say the shahadah once in our life, fast in Ramadan, read jummah on a Friday and say inshallah we will enter paradise! It’s amazing how you hear that reverts are jealous of those born Muslims and we don’t even realise the treasure we have been given.
Islam is a way of life and being a Muslim comes with responsibilities and a character to uphold. We all need to work on this and should be continuously striving to better ourselves. If we are calling ourselves a Muslim then we need to show it in our character AND in our appearance. They go together because appearance is what lets others know we are Muslim and with a beautiful character to match and association is formed. A minor sign of the day of judgement is that females will be wearing clothes but will appear to be naked; this is because of the tightness of the clothes. So how can we allow ourselves or our sisters and wives to be part of this sign? I hear of brothers who want their wife to cover the hair but wear western clothing! its insane Muslims wives are not trophy wives. The beauty is for the husband alone so why do brothers want everyone to look at their wives? What do they want to prove? Hijab is not just the head covering it is a body covering so this doesn’t mean just because we are covering our hair that we can wear leggings and a skintight top! The hijab is our identity, just by looking at a woman in hijab everyone can see that she is a Muslim, and by seeing a man with a beard (a proper one not one with lines in it) you can see he is a Muslim. But no, our brothers want the stylish zig zag beard and the low jeans! What is all that about? The sagging jeans fashion came from the prisons. The inmates would unintentionally have their pants sagging because they weren’t allowed to have belts for security reasons. Another theory is that the gay inmates would have their pants sagging to let others know! Either way why would you want to emulate these people? The Prophet (s) should be the male role model and whom our brothers aspires to be like… Not Tupac or even worse Tony Montana! As much as a great film that was, he died a loser, his own family rejected him and he was left all alone. And for what? wealth! The money controlled him and he ended up pushing everyone away who cared for him… and then he was killed! Not even an honourable death. Where was the good of it all then?
Another problem that people lightly shake off is bad language. Usually in high school you pick up this horrible language and it becomes an everyday part of your vocabulary. I hate walking outside and seeing a young group of Muslim boys or girls using the ‘f’ word so loud and freely. It sounds disgusting and it gives a bad name to Muslims. Our speech should be beautiful because it mirrors our character. Our tongue will testify for or against us; every word we utter is being recorded so keep it clean!
We should have the best character. The people would accept Islam because of the prophet’s (s) character. But today we and allowing people to run away from Islam because of how we portray it. Because we lie, are rude and bad mannered, gossip and backbite or because we are in the clubs half-naked or selling weed in the park. What if you were to die in that place? How could you face Allah, not mentioning the shame and disgrace you would bring on your parents. And while we are on the topic of parents, just because they allow you to dress and do as you please that does not make it right and they are then sinful for allowing you. They are not an excuse so don’t use them, we are all accountable for ourselves so take control. In the same way, just because your parents may be praying and obeying Allah, that does not give you a free entry into Jannah. The prophet (s) told his own children that he could not save them on the day of judgment and its only their deeds that will help them so how can we expect our religious parents to help us? If you don’t know find out and if you do know don’t try to make yourself feel better by slandering others who do worse than you do. In Deen, you look to those who are better than you are, not worse.
We need to better ourselves as Muslims. People should be running to Islam, as they did in the time of our messenger (s) because of their character. We especially need it now because of the negativity Islam is getting in the media. Don’t just get angry and cuss them, do something, prove and show them the beauty of the religion through your appearance and character. A smile is charity so stop walking around with a frown and giving people dirt looks. Smile at others, it will make you and those around you feel better. Don’t hide your identity show the world that you are a Muslim and let them see it without asking. Be the window to the perfection.
"Shall I tell you about who among you I love the most and the one who will be seated closest to me on the Day of Rising?" The people were silent, so he repeated that two or three times. Then the people said, "Yes, Messenger of Allah." He said, "The one among you with the best character." (Al-Bukhari)Your Sister in Islam x
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