Develop a righteous character and trust that you will stand out in the crowd, different, unique and loved, with the grace of Allah and his blessings. Just set your intention to getting the reward from Allah and not from fellow humans.
To all fellow Muslims who think they have to be followers to fit into their societies, whether originally Muslim or Western communities, I tell them, Stand Out in the Mob, and demonstrate your true qualities as Muslims.
Do not to boast nor brag, but exhibit your original values you expounded from the noble teachings of Islam so that those who claim to be all-knowing, all wise, and thus uphold the flag of leadership in setting the contemporary standards of civility, know that Islam is the name of the game of life.
Islam, and the high moral values it preaches, is the hope, the only way for fulfillment, and the route to salvation in this life and the other.
Men.. you don’t have to flirt to demonstrate your ultimate manhood. And there’s no need to shake in your pants if someone stunned you asking whether you have a girlfriend.
You don’t’ have to sneak your way out of a gathering to go pray secretly, you can proudly state that you’re away for prayer.
And you don’t have to blush when refusing to drink alcohol or staying where alcohol is being served (depending on where you’re living).
You don’t have to be ultimately outgoing without restrictions with the opposite gender.
You don’t have to hide your instinctive bashfulness to fake modern identity.
Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:
“Hayaa (modesty and bashfulness) is part of Faith”—An agreed upon Hadith).
Demonstrate your individuality and feel proud, only then will you earn the respect of others and who knows they might start following your footsteps, only if you got them believe in your alternative attitude.
But mind you, first you ought to understand the moral ground from which your religion and your foremost identity to be able to grasp it wisely and apply it to the fullest.
In the end you cannot stand out unless you stand out better,
Yes, adopting a forthright Islamic personality with all that entails of high moral values and ethics will make you stand out. You’ve got to stand out among the mob, civilized, sure of yourself and vivacious- set new standards for contemporary living and re-establish the standards followed and originally set on shallow bases of materialism, laziness and other moral predicamentd of our modern age.
To stand out is to be truthful, honest, and refrain from lies, at a time when lying has become the norm.
To stand out is to listen to others’ sufferings more than you speak of yours.
Speak of gratitude and you’ll radiate thankfulness, at a time when whining has become a domineering attitude.
Uphold the ties of kinship and shroud your family till its finest branches with your warm feelings at a time when homes have become strikingly cold, lacking love, compassion, and tenderness. Show exquisite love and care even if your relatives don’t do the same, eventually they will, as a direct consequence to your kindness to them.
Abdullah ibn Amr ibn Al As (may Allah be pleased with him) said:
“I heard the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) openly saying:
“The family of Abu So-and-so are not my friends, for my friends are Allah and the righteous believers. But they have ties of kinship with me, which I will recognize and uphold’”
— (Narrated by Imams Bukhari and Muslim may Allah be pleased with them both).
Stand out and give of that which you love most, whether financial, spiritual, mental, or psychological support, when the mob are mostly stingy- be sure they will appreciate you.
Stand out unique by refraining from backbiting, when only a few consider it abhorrent.
Be different by giving the benefit of the doubt and expressing more tolerance towards others, at a time when tension has become overbearing.
Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
“Beware of suspicion, for suspicion amounts to the worst form of lying.” – An agreed upon Hadith.
Smile and have a pleasant presence, people are already tired of frowning faces.
Our noble Prophet, Muhammad (PBUH), taught us that “smiling in the face of your brother is a charity.”
Also good word is a charitable act, use tender words as much as you can. People are psychologically burnt out, so why don’t you be a soothing hand that calms their aches.
Perfect your work and pay attention to details, you shall, besides getting fulfilled, earn people’s trust and respect.
Revive the notion of Ihsan (Excellence) which we hugely lack nowadays.
Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:
“Allah loves that when anyone of you does a job he should perfect it.”
Do not compete, but stand out in the crowd.
Do not seek attention, yet dare to stand out distinct.
Keep a noble character, that reveres the old, is merciful to the young and most watchful of God’s limits in all acts and deeds.
“He Who created Death and Life, that He may try which of you is best in deed: and He is the Exalted in Might, Oft-Forgiving” —(Quran 67:2)
As a general rule, seek righteousness
As prescribed in the noble Hadith “Righteousness is good character”
— [Hadith reported by An-Nawwas bin Sam’aan- recorded by Imam Muslim, may Allah be pleased with them both]
Abu Ad-Dardaa (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said:
“The heaviest thing which will be put on the believer’s scales (on the Day of Resurrection) will be good morals”
– Hadith related by Abu Dawood and At-Tirmidhi who graded it as a Sahih Hadith.
So develop a righteous character and trust that you will stand out in the crowd, different, unique and loved, with the grace of Allah and his blessings. Just set your intention to getting the reward from Allah and not from fellow humans. — Stay tuned for PART II
Wassalaam,
Maha Youssuf
maha@muslimtribune.org
Posted on: October 4, 2011