By Abdul-Ganiyy Raji
Sometimes, you work in a place where you are a lone Muslim. You may not be the only Muslim in your workplace, but other Muslims are just Muslims by name, not by practice. They have zero connection with Islam. It can be tough for a true Muslim to be in this kind of environment.
You may also find yourself working in an environment where people pass negative comments against Islam and Muslims. Some of your colleagues who may or may not know that you are a Muslim may be saying hurtful things about your religion in your presence. You cannot fight such people. Fighting people for not liking Islam is never a solution. There is a good way to handle such people without getting violent.
As a student, you may find that you are the only Muslim in your school, and you feel like a fish out of water. It is a fact that revealing your identity as a Muslim can be challenging in some work environments, schools, industries or communities.
Some people have been fed with a dangerously negative image of Islam and Muslims so much that they only think of terrorism, war, negativities, and bloodletting when they hear Islam or Muslims. They dread being around a Muslim. You can’t blame them. This is how the media and some of their leaders have presented Islam and Muslims to them. You should know that some Muslims have also not represented Islam well.
It may look wise and expedient to hide your Islamic identity when you are in a workplace, a school or an environment that is not friendly to Islam. However, I will tell you why you should not hide your identity and what to do in such an environment to change the negative narratives around Islam and Muslims in any environment where you find yourself. It is Muslims themselves who will make people see the beauty of our Deen. We cannot hide our identity because some people hate us.
First, you need to understand that you are in an environment that is hostile to Islam. Therefore, you have to be ready to be a game changer for Islam. You have to be ready to represent your religion excellently well. You have to be a person who is worthy of emulation. If you misbehave at work and they get to know that you are a Muslim, they will not be surprised. They will say that they have never believed that anything good could come out of Islam or Muslims. You are the image of Islam that your colleagues, schoolmates and friends see.
If you do your job well and have a great personality, people will develop an interest in you. They will love you and your religion. The reverse is also true.
The best way to be a Muslim in a hostile environment is to do your job well and be a good person. Hiding your Islamic identity is never a solution. No matter how long you conceal your identity, people will still come to know that you are a Muslim. You cannot hide your Islam forever. All you need to do is follow the teachings of Islam on diligence, integrity, discipline, time management, interpersonal relationships, justice, equity, fairness, good work ethics, and respect for other people’s rights. This is a great way to represent Islam in your school, workplace, estate, community, or street, not by playing hide-and-seek.
So, instead of hiding your Islam, be a good Muslim. Being a good Muslim means being trustworthy, respectful, polite, humble, humane, selfless, a good team player, diligent, self-disciplined, efficient, neat, smart, open-minded, improvement-oriented, and above all, God-conscious.
Another effective way to endear Islam to your colleagues and schoolmates is by being knowledgeable about your religion. By the time, your colleagues or schoolmates or even neighbours get to know that you are a Muslim, they will want to ask you questions about Islam and Muslims. Your knowledge of Islam will be useful as an instrument to clear their misconceptions about Islam. So, sharpen your understanding of your Deen.
Some of your hostile colleagues or schoolmates will be tamed by your good character. For some of them, it is your sincerity with your Lord and adherence to your religious rules that will captivate them. Others will be enthralled by your sound understanding of your religion and your ability to handle their technical questions about Islam and Muslims. Some will like you for your dedication and integrity at work.
Be a good ambassador of Islam. No matter where you are, never hide your Islamic identity. Just prove your doubters wrong with your sterling personal qualities.
Abdul-Ganiyy Raji
NASFAT National Da’wah Officer/National Mission Board Secretary
