Giving Islam A Good Name

As young representatives of Islam, we as youth are required to be on our best standard of behaviour. This doesn't mean just in our Masajid and Madrasahs, but also at school, in town and on the streets - in other words wherever we go. Many non-Muslims may believe Islam to be a very respectable and sensible religion. If so, then we have to live up to this standard. Others think of it as extreme and oppressive, and assume us Muslims to be bad people. If so, then we have to prove them wrong.

Whether we realise it or not, we have the chance to show Islam's true meaning better than anybody. For example, if we are polite, helpful, patient and positive, and we make a huge effort to complete our class work and homework that our teachers give us, then people will really notice it. If an old man or lady needs help carrying something or crossing the road and one of us, clad in Islamic clothing, goes up and helps them, with the intention that they are carrying out a command of Allah and a Sunnah of our Prophet (SAW) - (which is to be kind and helpful), then peoples' attitudes towards Islam will change for the better. They will think, 'This is strange! It seems the most cooperative and well-mannered people are the Muslims! What is it about them and their religion that even their children have such extraordinarily good behaviour? How could a religion that promotes and encourages such character possibly be extreme and oppressive?'

In this way, Insha'allah, people will have a better understanding of Muslims, and therefore more respect for them. Who knows, if they embrace Islam, then it will be because of us children obeying Allah. Imagine how much reward Allah, the most Merciful, will give us!

Yet if we ignore what we have been taught and the encouragement we are given and we do the complete opposite, then we will cause harm not just to our own status, but to Islam as well. If despite wearing Islamic clothing, caps and turbans we act cheeky, rude, unhelpful and lazy, and are not bothered to do any work, then we will look even worse than those misbehaved children who are not Muslims.

If a smartly dressed businessman in a shopping centre starts dancing around, jumping up and down and screaming like a lunatic, he will look even sillier than a clown doing the same thing. This is because he is a grown up, and is expected to be sensible. Because he does not live up to his image, his actions look more pathetic, and his family and friends (who will be deeply embarrassed), will deny they have anything to do with him!

Remember, people have a habit of stereotyping; they see a certain habit in someone, and whenever they see or hear about a person who is similar or in some way linked to the first person, they assume that he or she is like that too. If peoples' experience of Muslim behaviour is a pleasant one, then so will their attitudes be towards Muslims. If not so pleasant, then it will be a huge upset to Islam's reputation.

It comes in a Hadeeth that whoever practises the Sunnah during the time when the Ummah will be in a critical situation, he will receive the reward of a hundred Shaheeds (those who give their life up for Allah's cause). This is an immensely huge reward indeed, so if we act upon this Hadeeth properly then not only will we be giving Islam a good image, but we will also gain Allah's happiness and his reward. May Allah give us the ability and zeal to uphold His Deen. Ameen.