Dear sis, Your Lord Has Preserved Your Dignity Through Islam

Have you ever asked yourself this important question, “Why Islam?”

If yes, what conclusions did you reach? Did you arrive at a positive, fulfilling, and satisfying conclusion?

Islam, a beautiful religion and a guide for living. Islam encompasses more than just waking up every morning, observing your obligatory five daily prayers (as-salawat al-mafrudah), performing your zakat rites, visiting Makkah for pilgrimage, and fasting during the month of Ramadan. While these are foundational to your faith, Islam is not limited to simply saying, “I believe and testify that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah, and I believe that Prophet Muhammad ﷺ is His messenger.” It is so much more than that.

Islam teaches you how you eat, walk, talk, sleep, and relate to yourself and others. It shapes how you live your life, connecting all your actions to the worship of your Lord, who has provided you with this beautiful religion.

Your primary purpose in this life is to worship your Lord. Allah says in Adh-Dhariyat 51:56

وَمَا خَلَقۡتُ ٱلۡجِنَّ وَٱلۡإِنسَ إِلَّا لِيَعۡبُدُون

“And I did not create the Jinn and mankind except to worship Me.”

The term “worship” here is not limited to the literal meaning; it encompasses dedicating your life to pleasing your Lord through acts of worship and all your daily activities. It is easier for us to achieve this since Allah did not leave us without guidance. He sent down teachings on living on this earth, covering everything you can think of and more through His last prophet, Prophet Muhammad ﷺ

You will find these teachings in His Glorious Book, the Qur’an, and in the Sunnah (sayings, actions and tacit approvals) of the Prophet.

Let’s explore some important daily affairs and the Islamic teachings surrounding them:

Islam teaches us to say “Bismillah” before starting anything. It guides us not to live our life on autopilot, providing us with a scheduled time for our daily salah, which encourages us to plan our other activities accordingly.

Islam instructs us on what is right and wrong to say to others and even to yourself. It emphasizes hayā (modesty) in all aspects–speech, dress, and relations with others. Furthermore, Islam guides you in selecting your friends and companions.

What way of life is more beautiful than that prescribed by Allah through the Islam He has given you?

Dear sister, Allah says in Al-Ma’idah 5:3

“… ٱلۡيَوۡمَ أَكۡمَلۡتُ لَكُمۡ دِينَكُمۡ وَأَتۡمَمۡتُ عَلَيۡكُمۡ نِعۡمَتِي وَرَضِيتُ لَكُمُ ٱلۡإِسۡلَٰمَ دِينࣰاۚ…”

“…This day I have perfected for you your religion and completed My favor upon you and have approved for you Islam as a religion…”

This is not just any religion but a perfected one in all aspects. It addresses every matter concerning this world and the next, providing guidance for all.

Now, the question is, what are you doing with your Islam? How do you react to it, and what actions are you taking? Remember, the greatest treasure you could ever possess is the Islam you hold. How well are you treating it?

What Does Your Lord Want from You as His Beloved Servant?

Dear sister, now that you are convinced that Islam is not just another religion but a complete way of life, a guide on how to live rightly.

explore what your Lord desires from you through the Islam He has given you. What is your purpose in life? How can you best appreciate your Lord for the blessings of Islam?

There is a clear response to this in Surah Al-Dhariyat:

وَمَا خَلَقۡتُ ٱلۡجِنَّ وَٱلۡإِنسَ إِلَّا لِيَعۡبُدُون

“And I did not create the jinn and mankind except to worship Me.”

As mentioned earlier, “worship” is not confined to its literal meaning. Everything we do is connected to it. So, we can infer that what your Lord wants from you is to “worship Him” in all senses.

How Do You Attain That?

As a Muslimah, you should understand that you are not exempt from the mandatory acts of worship, Salah, Zakat, Sawm, and performing Hajj, if you have the means. You must fulfill these obligations after sincerely believing in Allah, His messengers, His books, His angels, the Day of Judgment, and in Qadar (destiny). These acts of worship form the foundation for all other aspects of your faith.

Following the Orders and Commandments of Your Lord

Your life as a Muslimah should be centered around “سمعنا وأطعنا” (we hear and we obey) when it comes to obeying all of your Lord’s commandments. After all, who is the owner of your life?

Just as you serve your parents, boss, or teachers dutifully and without complaint, why not extend that same level of servitude and respect to The One who created you from nothing? Consider how merciful your Lord is compared to the aforementioned individuals. He doesn’t merely give orders; for everything Allah commands you to do, or abstain from, there is always goodness (khayr) embedded within. This goodness does not diminish the reward you earn by obeying your Lord.

This leads us to the next point.

Having Taqwa (Piety)

Taqwa means to remain vigilant and conscious of your Lord at all times. Keeping this awareness in your mind will help prevent you from falling into sin and guide you toward attaining Jannah.

What is the Societal Influence on Your Life as a Muslimah?

My dear sister, you may find that various factors influence your relationship with Islam in the society you live in, some positive and many negative. Unfortunately, the negative factors often outweigh the positive.

Everywhere you go and every turn you take presents challenges and trials, it’s the sad reality of this world. If you can view these challenges as tests, you may find strength in them.

Just as it’s impossible to achieve top positions in school or at work without passing some tests or exams, the same applies to your journey in Islam. To attain Jannah and earn the pleasure of your Lord, you must confront the trials posed by this world. It’s essential to withstand societal pressures in all their forms.

Society may portray the life of a pious Muslimah as strange or mysterious. It can belittle you, distract you with its deceptive pleasures, and beckon you into darkness. It’s ready to isolate you if you let it.

Should you succumb to such pressures? Should you forsake your ākhirah for the sake of this transient world? Absolutely not, dear sister. You were created for greater purposes.

How Are You Tackling Societal Influence?

How do you handle friends and family whose lifestyles diverge from the true teachings of Islam? How do you combat your Nafs when it feels weak and tempted by external pressures? How can you remain steadfast in your Deen, my dear sister?

I won’t mislead you into thinking it’s easy to navigate these challenges, nor will I claim you won’t feel exhausted. It’s essential to focus on the affairs of your Deen, constantly seeking strength against the tests you encounter.

The first step in handling these challenges is to cling tightly to your Lord and remain true to Him. Learn about Him.

Surah Fatir: Verse 28

“ It is those of His servants who have knowledge who stand in true awe of God. God is almighty, most forgiving.” (35:28)

Trust me, when you genuinely understand the Lord you are worshipping, your devotion will become easier, and resisting societal pressures will be more manageable.

Additionally, surround yourself with those who are genuinely on the right path ‘Ibadur-Rahman (the servants of The Most Merciful) who take their Deen seriously. Choose companions who are mindful of their salah, modest in their dress, speech, relationships, and other matters. Seek those who encourage you towards truth and shield you from darkness with their kind words.

Avoid those acquaintances whose hearts are entrenched in this world while neglecting their akhirah. They are more focused on following fleeting trends than on values that truly matter.

Surround yourself with people who are genuinely committed to their path, the true ‘Ibadur-Rahman (slaves of The Most Merciful). These individuals do not play with the affairs of their Deen; they are conscious of their Salah and modest in their dress, speech, relationships, and all other matters. They call you toward the truth and protect you from darkness with their soft, kind, and encouraging words.

They are not like those in your life (I hesitate to call them friends because they truly are not) whose hearts are filled with worldly concerns while they disregard their akhirah. Their focus is on following the latest trends, attending social events every weekend, dressing to attract the opposite gender, acquiring the latest gadgets, and drawing attention to themselves.

These pursuits are merely lustful distractions. Stay away from those who are consumed by such things and who do not dedicate their lives to their Lord. You are too precious to fall into this trap.

“O you who believe! Fear Allah and be with those who are true (in words and deeds)” Surah Tawbah :119

Surah Kahf: verse 28.

“Content yourself with those who pray to their Lord morning and evening, seeking His approval, and do not let your eyes turn away from them out of desire for the attractions of this worldly life: do not yield to those whose hearts We have made heedless of Our Quran, those who follow their own low desires, those whose ways are unbridled.”

Do not tarnish your dignity with negligence. You will be held accountable for every one of your actions, deeds, and lifestyle choices in

Would you prefer to enjoy fleeting pleasures at the cost of missing out on eternal joy? Or would you rather live by the teachings of Islam, be steadfast in your Deen, and remain true to your Lord, thereby attaining eternal bliss.

Reflect on your choice. Also, do not underestimate the power of du’a. You must continuously seek guidance from your Lord, Al-Hadi. You would not have embraced Islam if it were not for the grace and guidance of Allah.

What a treasure it is to be guided to Islam! You must preserve and protect this treasure through your du’a. Always ask Allah to strengthen your faith, to improve your speech and actions, to forgive you, and not to leave you to your own devices. Because you cannot navigate this journey alone or with the help of others without the One Who Holds the Deen.

May Allah continue to make it easier for both you and me. Ameen.

As a parting thought, take these gladtidings from your Lord:

Al-Ahzab 33:35

إِنَّ ٱلۡمُسۡلِمِينَ وَٱلۡمُسۡلِمَٰتِ وَٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ وَٱلۡمُؤۡمِنَٰتِ وَٱلۡقَٰنِتِينَ وَٱلۡقَٰنِتَٰتِ وَٱلصَّٰدِقِينَ وَٱلصَّٰدِقَٰتِ وَٱلصَّٰبِرِينَ وَٱلصَّٰبِرَٰتِ وَٱلۡخَٰشِعِينَ وَٱلۡخَٰشِعَٰتِ وَٱلۡمُتَصَدِّقِينَ وَٱلۡمُتَصَدِّقَٰتِ وَٱلصَّٰٓئِمِينَ وَٱلصَّٰٓئِمَٰتِ وَٱلۡحَٰفِظِينَ فُرُوجَهُمۡ وَٱلۡحَٰفِظَٰتِ وَٱلذَّٰكِرِينَ ٱللَّهَ كَثِيرࣰا وَٱلذَّٰكِرَٰتِ أَعَدَّ ٱللَّهُ لَهُم مَّغۡفِرَةࣰ وَأَجۡرًا عَظِيمࣰا

Indeed, the Muslim men and Muslim women, the believing men and believing women, the obedient men and obedient women, the truthful men and truthful women, the patient men and patient women, the humble men and humble women, the charitable men and charitable women, the fasting men and fasting women, the men who guard their private parts and the women who do so, and the men who remember Allah often and the women who do so – for them Allah has prepared forgiveness and a great reward.

سبحانك اللهم وبحمدك أشهد أن لا إله إلا أنت أستغفرك وأتوب إليك