By Khadijah Abdul-Azeez
Islam is a way of life. A journey that will make you question if you are strong enough for it. The journey for me has always been hard. Trying to fight the good and bad within myself. I struggled with my identity as a Muslim woman for a while. It’s not that I don’t want to be Muslim; rather, it’s just hard trying to stay true to myself and my faith when the world offers so many other faiths and philosophical paths. But then, I always think to myself, out of all religions, Islam chose me, Allah chose me.
Religion keeps me balanced. I still mess up constantly, but I always listen to Allah’s voice in my head telling me to pray and to not give up. So if you are like me, struggling with your Islamic identity, here are some tips for you:
Tip 1 – You may hear a tiny negative voice in your head that convinces you that Islam is too hard and you should quit. Do not listen to that voice. Because in life, everything is hard, your job, your relationships, and your self development. It’s all hard! We can work at it, anyway. Islam is our balance because it keeps us accountable for our actions. No matter what stage you are at in life, know that Islam will always be for you. Remember your struggle is for a higher purpose and that purpose is paradise: “All ˹believers˺ will be reclining on green cushions and splendid carpets. Reclining on green cushions and beautiful fine carpets”( Surah Ar Rahman – 55:77).
Tip 2– Surround yourself with good people. People who will remind you of Islam and good deeds. For me, that’s family! My family keeps me focused on the true meaning of life. They help keep me grounded in my faith. It’s easy to float around and miss the opportunity to worship Allah. Get together with someone or a group who keeps you grounded, who inspires you! Human beings naturally mimic behavior; we naturally seek connections with other human beings.
Tip-3 Go to places that remind you of Allah. Although the masjid would be ideal, that place can also be nature, another glorious creation of Allah’s. Take a long walk past beneath trees or soak in the sun on the beach. Take a look at your surroundings and reflect on Allah. Reflection is a big thing for me. I like to reflect on the world and really get in touch with myself and with Allah, have a beautiful bond and connection with Allah by admiring all that He created. “Surah Ar-Rahman” in the Qur’an reminds us that we take and Allah gives, that we are sometimes ungrateful, but Allah still gives, that we sometimes forget Allah and yet, Allah’s love for us increases beyond what we can imagine.
To conclude this message I pray we find the beauty in our struggles and we overcome these hardships on our Islamic journey. Until then, we are warriors embracing the challenge of becoming our better selves. After all, “Allah does not burden a soul beyond that it can bear” (Quran, Surah Al-Baqarah).
About the Author
Khadijah Abdul-Azeez is the published author of “Makeup For Your Soul.” She resides in the USA. You can find her on Instagram @m.f.y.sbeauty