Living Muslim in the modern world

Iwas standing at a fall festival encircled by passersby and blaring music when a thought came to me, a concern I’d heard my friends voice before, “It’s not possible to be a good Muslim while living in the West. We are surrounded by fitnah.”

You see, I love going out to festivals with my family. We stop at each stall to look at the unique handmade creations and chat with the vendors. On the other hand, I’m also a dedicated and practicing Muslimah, and staying within the bounds of Shariah is immensely important to me. Thus, I wondered if my participation in such events was out of the bounds of Shariah.

I began to look for answers.

Allah says in ayah three of Surah Maida, “This day I have perfected for you your re - ligion and completed My favor upon you and have approved for you Islam as religion” (5:3).

In this ayah, Allah informs us that the religion of Islam that He has blessed us with is complete and perfect in every way; no changes will come to it until the end of time. Allah created Islam to be moderate so that it would continue to be relevant to every era, culture, and society from the time of the Prophet a until the Day of Judgement.

Muslims are taught to be moderate in all aspects of their lives through various ahadith. One specific hadith that stood out to me was narrated by the Sahabi Jabir bin Sumra g who states that he used to pray salah with the Prophet a often. He explains that the Prophet a prayers were moderate, and his khutbah was also moderate (Muslim). Through this hadith, the Prophet a taught us that even in salah, a fundamental and integral part of Islam, it’s important to stay in moderation. It goes without saying that we must strive to be balanced and avoid extremes in other areas of our lives that are less important than salat.

What does this middle-of-the-road look like for us?

We can be a part of most aspects of our culture and society, with modifications as needed. Allah has told us what is haram, things that are not permitted in Islam. He has also blessed us with critical thinking abilities, so we can seek out guidance, analyze the evidence, and come to a conclusion. But to reach a decision, it is vital to keep a few points in mind.

Firstly, strive to constantly be conscientious of Allah

. Make Allah present in your life by thinking of Him often, what He allows, prefers, dislikes, and disapproves of. Keep these thoughts at the forefront of your mind when making an important decision.

Next, seek guidance from Allah through du ‘ a

Humans are fallible, and even the best of us can make an incorrect decision despite planning ahead of time. Thus, it’s important to seek divine assistance from Allah.

Educate yourself about Islam and stay away from haram.

Without the proper knowledge, it’s difficult to make the right choice. Therefore, learn about what Allah has permitted and prohibited. Enjoy what Allah has allowed and make a conscientious decision to stay far away from the prohibitions.

Find creative ways to enjoy occasions while staying firmly inside the folds of Islam.

Due to the recent rise in awareness, it’s easier to be Muslim in the West now. For example, there are many vegan or vegetarian options at all restaurants; also, many non-Muslims are willing to accommodate your religious needs if you voice your concern to them. So go to social events, enjoy a fancy restaurant, and hang out with friends but actively seek ways to stay within the Islamic structure. A firm commitment to following Islam will open doors that never existed before.

Keeping these points in mind, I realized that my participation in the fall festival was within the bounds of Shariah, despite being surrounded by unIslamic elements. I dress modestly and am careful about what I consume; I also strive to avoid the concert side of festivals and prefer to attend once the live shows are over.

Finally, my intention in attending these events is to spend time with my family and impress upon non-Muslims what a Muslimah is through my manners. Thus, to my friends, I would say that yes, it can sometimes feel difficult to live in the West and be a good Muslim, but it’s not impossible. Due to Islam’s moderate nature, I am allowed to enjoy these festivals so... funnel cake, here I come! c

Hazrat’s sitting area in majlis and dhikr gatherings.