Living Islam -- It's About Doing Our Best and Striking a Balance

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate

Assalaamu alaykum

We all know the mess that is out there in this modern world. But just because the mess is out there, it doesn't mean that we can make right wrong and wrong right. We have to see things as they are and try our best to promote a modest Islamic lifestyle for ourselves, our children, our families, our communities, the Ummah and people at large. If we see someone strays we have to do our best, gently, to bring them back. If it doesn't work maybe first we try to be a little firm.

We should have our hands extended to help people living Islam but in the end people have to make their own decisions. All we are required to do as a mother, a spouse, a teacher, and people who try to help people, is to convey the Message and in a way pleasing to Allah. Then whoever follows that's between them and Allah. This is the only thing that could give you solace because it is frustrating out there.

We live in a time where so many people are turning away from the religion. Even practicing people, as we called them, there is a lot of things that is very frustrating. If you don't have the inner dimension that frustration could get so severe that you could become grumpy and angry all of the time and you could end up doing something that is not good or completely out of line or maybe haram. Here you are calling people to what is good but then you are doing something that is bad because you don't have the balance. The balance is that understanding that you are required to convey the Message (the Quran) and seeing yourself as falling short and leaving Allah's creation to Allah.

فَإِنْ أَعْرَضُوا۟ فَمَآ أَرْسَلْنَـٰكَ عَلَيْهِمْ حَفِيظًا ۖ إِنْ عَلَيْكَ إِلَّا ٱلْبَلَـٰغُ ۗ وَإِنَّآ إِذَآ أَذَقْنَا ٱلْإِنسَـٰنَ مِنَّا رَحْمَةً فَرِحَ بِهَا ۖ وَإِن تُصِبْهُمْ سَيِّئَةٌۢ بِمَا قَدَّمَتْ أَيْدِيهِمْ فَإِنَّ ٱلْإِنسَـٰنَ كَفُورٌ ﴿٤٨

But if they turn away - then We have not sent you, [O Muhammad], over them as a guardian; upon you is only [the duty of] notification. And indeed, when We let man taste mercy from us, he rejoices in it; but if evil afflicts him for what his hands have put forth, then indeed, man is ungrateful. (48) [Quran, Ash-Shura 42:48]

وَإِن مَّا نُرِيَنَّكَ بَعْضَ ٱلَّذِى نَعِدُهُمْ أَوْ نَتَوَفَّيَنَّكَ فَإِنَّمَا عَلَيْكَ ٱلْبَلَـٰغُ وَعَلَيْنَا ٱلْحِسَابُ ﴿٤٠

And whether We show you part of what We promise them or take you in death, upon you is only the [duty of] notification, and upon Us is the account. (40) [Quran Ar-Ra'd 13:40]

وَبِٱلْحَقِّ أَنزَلْنَـٰهُ وَبِٱلْحَقِّ نَزَلَ ۗ وَمَآ أَرْسَلْنَـٰكَ إِلَّا مُبَشِّرًا وَنَذِيرًا ﴿١٠٥﴾ وَقُرْءَانًا فَرَقْنَـٰهُ لِتَقْرَأَهُۥ عَلَى ٱلنَّاسِ عَلَىٰ مُكْثٍ وَنَزَّلْنَـٰهُ تَنزِيلًا ﴿١٠٦

And with the truth We have sent the Qur'an down, and with the truth it has descended. And We have not sent you, [O Muhammad], except as a bringer of good tidings and a warner. (105) [Quran, Al-Isra' 17:105]

مَّا عَلَى ٱلرَّسُولِ إِلَّا ٱلْبَلَـٰغُ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ مَا تُبْدُونَ وَمَا تَكْتُمُونَ ﴿٩٩

Not upon the Messenger is [responsibility] except [for] notification. And Allah knows whatever you reveal and whatever you conceal. (99)  [Quran Al-Ma'ida 5:99] 

May Allah make us of those who are grateful to Him and keys to lock evil and unlock good. Ameen.

Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad wa 'ala aalihi wa sahbihi wasallam.

And Allah knows best and is Most Wise, and He alone grants success, and to Him is the final return of all.

Wassalaam