The Source of Distress

Most of the personal stress that average Muslims face in their everyday life does not come from work, school, family relations or self-esteem issues but rather from a more nuanced, often overlooked source. Simply put, Western Muslims struggle with balancing the demands of religious and secular life. Of course, this struggle also extends to people of other faiths but this column's focus lies specifically with Muslims.

Individual examples are plentiful. "Is this outfit too revealing or immodest?" "How can I politely ask the waiter if the food has anything haraam in it?" "Should I shake the hand of the co-worker of the opposite sex?" "Where can I make salat without attracting too much attention or getting distracted?" Often, these moments become so frequent that we learn to ignore them and forget to see them for what they really are — tests of faith.

The central problem we all face is: how can one stay true to one's inner faith and beliefs while adapting to the external demands of culture and society? Should one even try to compromise one's beliefs in order to accomodate what Muslims consider the shallow, vain and materialist nature of modern life? This line of questioning holds the answer within itself.

We as Western Muslims deal with the very real problem of living in the midst of a dominant culture that doesn't share our views. Not only is it not easy but it can also be fairly aggravating having to constantly explain to others why you have to pray, why you wear a hijab, why you don't eat pork...the list goes on.

Yet at the same time, the vast majority of us finds it awkward and rather extreme to try avoiding society altogether. Modern humans weren't meant to stay at home all the time except for Friday trips to the mosque. We have jobs, we like movies and music, we go shopping and attend school. We eat at restaurants and hang out with our friends. Heck, some of us even feel a need to contribute to society (gasp!). With the benefit of full bellies, free primary education, internet access (if you don't have internet access, I'd like to know how you're managing to read this blog) and freedom from oppression, us Western Muslims happen to prefer the advantages of living here as opposed to "over there."

Striking the right balance between avoiding sin and not completely alienating ourselves from the rest of society is a touchy matter. It is not as easy as some shakyhs think (nor as difficult as some friends think) to refuse an invitation to an after work get-together at a bar with co-workers. Nor is it easy to find one's self in the MSA room longing for some peace after a hard day of studying receiving criticism about one's choice of outfit for that day. No-one is exactly alike in the personal lines we draw for ourselves. Some of us choose to eat non-halal food. Others won't even bother to explain themselves to others questioning them about their beard or why they put their feet in the bathroom sink.

When it all comes down to it, what we are essentially trying to do is please two masters. One is Allah swt. We know we should definitely obey Him. The other is "society," a concept that in Western intellectual thought is still relatively new. Merely proving the existence of something as abstract and undefinable as society would be a difficult task. Do the people who live on the other side of town whom you will never meet or interact with have any effect on your life? Maybe in the slightest most indirect of ways, but realistically, no.

As all of us have had strummed into our heads from an early age the truth that there is one God. Not two, not one-and-a-half, not zero. One. It's the fundamental truth of not just Islam, but , well, everything. Diverting our absolute focus away from God in this temporary life would be like trying to drive a car while painting your nails. You're asking for trouble. Muslims in general have got to resist the temptation to compromise our inner taqwa, our most valuable gift, for society's benefit because any attempt to divide our minds, hearts or souls would be at our own loss.

Anyone with a brain can tell you that we are living in difficult times. This generation is challenged with poverty, debt, conflicted identity and ever-changing political and social realities. Often, these hardships bring us to the breaking point. Relationships with others can seem out of reach. Alienation and depression cloud over our view and the light on the horizon becomes dim. Nevertheless, we as Muslims must keep faith. Though the phrase may seem naive and narrowminded, understand this: God knows what you know not.

To sum up, you will not be cursed to the depths of Hell for moderation or reasonable compromise in your daily activities. That reality does not represent carte blanche to run amok and commit tons of sins. There are very real and specific lines that should not be crossed if your religion means anything to you. Above all is your belief in tauhid. Strengthen this belief, maintain your salat and stay away from the major sins and you will surely begin to see the struggle between East and West in its proper context. Enduring this facet of this temporary dunya is a small price to pay for the eternal pleasure of Allah swt.

=//Turnquest