I was travelling to a training course, and for preparation, we were asked to draw out our life timeline. This would highlight all our moments that changed us the most. The obvious one for me was when I was a late teenager and I began reading the Qur’an - this changed my life. But should I talk about this in front of a group of work colleagues?

If the thought of the answer to this question isn’t an emphatic ‘YES!’, then you probably suffered the same thing as me.

So I asked my friend whilst driving. He responded with a simple bit of advice that insha’ Allah will benefit me for a long time to come, and I wanted to share it. He said:

“Brother, don’t be ashamed of being a Muslim.”

My immediate reaction was denial: I didn’t want to accept this diagnosis. But the reality is that it was true. Why am I embrassed by my Islamic actions?

Cure

This disease had affected me in all kinds of ways. Avoiding praying in public, not uttering Islamic words and phrases out loud, hiding titles of books that I read, refraining from mentioning Islam publicly, etc, etc.

But my friend’s advice hit me quite hard. Why was I like this? Is it really something to be ashamed of? Who cares what other people think? Who cares what other people think!

For me the cure was easy. Just think about the greatness and beauty of this deen and realise that it’s truly something to be proud of.

And as for the favor of your Lord, do announce (it).

[93:11]

Bismillah

How many of us say ‘Bismillah’ out loud in front of non-Muslims when we eat at work or with them? If you don’t ask yourself why?

When the Prophet [s] left at-Ta’if after the persecution, he made a wonderful supplication. This is an excerpt of the story taken from Islambasics.com:

The wall near which the Prophet [s] was sitting belonged to a garden owned by two brothers. When they heard his prayer, they were very sorry for him and sent one of their slaves to him with a dish filled with grapes. Before he began to eat, the Prophet [s] said ‘Bismillah‘ - ‘In the Name of Allah.’ The servant, whose name was ‘Addas, was very surprised at these words, which he had never heard before. ‘By Allah’, said ‘Addas, ‘this is not the way the people of this country speak.’

The conversation that ensued led ‘Addas to declare his acceptance of Islam. Subhanallah!

I hope this serves as a beneficial reminder to us all.