Today’s Dose of Deen and Dunya

By Maha Mustensir, Co-Director of Social Media

Growing up in the 21st century, Muslim teenagers in the West are torn between their societal norms and religious teachings. Like some other religions, Islam prescribes certain do’s and don’ts concerning dress, social standards, culture, and dietary restrictions. At times, these principles and teachings can be tough to adhere to, especially in a student community that is ignorant or misinformed of your belief system or one which does not understand your religious sentiments.

No matter how well one’s religious upbringing might be, there are times in a young Muslim’s life where he/she might find their faith waning. Living in a non-Islamic society, the pressure to conform and be like everyone else is often overwhelming. There can be difficult circumstances where one is easily compelled by Shaytaan, blindly walking on the path of ignorance.

Amongst the many other obstacles, daily interactions with the opposite gender at school/work can be quite trivial. A Muslim boy/girl is supposed to lower their gaze and stay away from fitnah, but they are part of a system where coeducation and communication, whether it be for group projects or school clubs, are favored. One of the tricks of Shaytaan is that he encourages you to do something that looks alright but would eventually lead to sin. We need to bear in mind that if guardians are OK with a girl meeting and being friends with boys, that doesn’t make it halal in Islam. We need to be worried about what Allah wants from us and whether He is OK with it.

When talking about high school, life is particularly difficult for Muslim girls as they often find themselves secluded. Coming from an Islamic family, many girls practice wearing the hijab, in simple words, a headscarf worn for modesty, from a very young age. However, in western society, many people associate it with female oppression. Similarly, if a boy starts growing a beard for the sole purpose of following the sunnah, he is seen with eyes full of hostility, often being judged for his religious background. Some students decide not to reveal their true identity just out of fear of being ridiculed or harassed. Although the harassment of Muslims has considerably lessened since the 9/11 incident in 2001, many Muslim students are still called names that label them as a terrorist, something that is hurtful, lowers one’s self-esteem, and the love for their faith.

We are a part of a society where we can not cut ourselves off from the people around us. So being friends with someone outside of our religion doesn’t necessarily mean making a new set of friends and distancing ourselves from everyone else. Rather, it is easier to do things when you have support and encouragement from people around you and that is only possible if they understand your religion. If you are one of the few who have started making changes to become closer to Allah S.W.T, it can be difficult to sustain those changes if you are on your own, so a conscious effort needs to be made to be around those who help you to do good and help you maintain and increase your good deeds.

Smaller, though, substantial groups of teens are involved in drug addiction and alcohol consumption. According to a study conducted by the Pew Research Center, approximately 51% of high schoolers in America are drug addicts, and 45% are involved in underage drinking. The Qur’an is reticent regarding drug use, although it discusses intoxicants (khamr) and, more specifically, alcohol. Any discussion on narcotics and addictions must start from the Qur’an since it is the foundation of Islamic law, ethics, and theology. Alcohol is prohibited in the Qur’an for recreational reasons; the Qur’an calls drinking the “Handiwork of Satan” (Al-Ma'idah 5:90).

Our beliefs in vulnerable states may become overpowered by feelings of the moment. Some of us start questioning the fairness and wisdom underlying such divine decisions while others get mired in a blame game. All in all, we may find ourselves lost, helpless, and stalled finding it difficult to gather ourselves and move forward. It should be known and taught that the next time we are in a tough situation we shall potentially test our will and faith. Balancing Deen and Dunya can only be possible if we do not let ourselves get to a point where we feel helpless. We should revive our faith by reciting the Quran, ponder over Allah’s words, recall our faith, and ask for Allah’s mercy and grace. May Allah SWT give us all the strength to practice Islam freely and to do whatever our heart wishes to do in order to get closer to Him, whether that is growing a beard or wearing a hijab. May Allah gives us all the strength to stay steadfast and to not give in to the many temptations of this world because they are used to deter us from our path.

May Allah make our journey as Muslim teenagers living in the West easy for us!

Sources:

Alam, Fareena. Muslim Teenagers & Highschool, www.themodernreligion.com/teens/teenhigh.htm.

Ali, Mansur. “Perspectives on Drug Addiction in Islamic History and Theology.” MDPI, Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute, 18 Sept. 2014, www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/5/3/912/htm.

1, et al. “In Islam, Is It Permissible for a Girl to Be Close Friends with a Boy?” Islam Stack Exchange, 1 Dec. 1961,

https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/5/3/912/htm