Struggling to become a better Muslim?

Today's reminder is a sort of reflection that we all need from time to time.

Your values are the beliefs and principles that you believe are the most important. 

You apply these values to how you live, work and choose your lifestyle. 

They determine your priorities, and guide your decisions and the way you act towards others.

When the things that you do, and the way that you behave, match your values, life is good. 

You feel satisfied and content. 

But when we have conflicting values and priorities, that's when we feel lost, sad, insecure and unhappy. 

As Muslims, our first priority is our faith. 

Not culture, not family, not our desires and certainly not money. 

Sometimes we forget this and we need a reminder. 

Often people will mimic the values of their family or culture or society they live in instead of faith. 

This is common misconception that many people blindly follow. 

Often you will notice people will prioritise their culture over religion, for example at wedding events when they play music and make it extravagant, when the prophet clearly told us the best nikkah is the one with least expenses and that we should keep our blessings private, because envy is a real thing.

Or how we prefer mixing with our own race or families instead of mixing with people of different languages, backgrounds or ethnicities.

Or how we prioritise university / work over our 5 daily salah, or how we prioritise money or travel or nice things over having good character and being kind to one another. 

It's sad how even amongst the muslims there is mistrust because our priotises don't align with our faith. You will notice that our mosques are empty during the salah times but our shopping malls are full. 

Our children know how to recite Quran but they don't understand what God is telling them. Allah clearly told us to Read.

This is why making a conscious effort to identify your Islamic values is so important. 

Does my job align with my religion? 

Does working at a bank that promotes riba, align with my values? 

Does working at a makeup shop or an immodesty fashion brand, align with my values? Am I supporting something my religion encourages?

Does playing music at my wedding and showing off women's adornments align with my faith? 

Does wearing the hijab and doing lip filler or lash extensions align with Islam? 

Am I working towards becoming a better muslim man / woman? Am I trying to build a mosque? Leave behind righteous children? Or am I just doing whatever I feel is good?

Trying to build a Muslim business that can benefit muslims? Or am I feeding my desires late at night so they don't wakeup for fajr?

Do I want my children to look up to me or look up to non-muslim celebrities and role models on social media that promote the opposite values to Islam? 

Some questions for you to ponder about inshallah 

When we prioritise faith over everything else, we will feel like a new person and sometimes it can be difficult for others to accept. 

However in the long run, it will always be worth it. To become a new and better version of yourself, you need to get your priorities straight, they will guide you and help you reach your goals inshallah. 

Remember, your biggest obstacle is yourself. Rumi once said "Yesterday I was clever, so I wanted to change the world. Today I am wise, so I am changing myself."