The culture of Western universities can only be described as hedonistic, nihilistic and narcissistic. That is to say, many inhibitions are let loose and individual whims and fancies run wild. The freshman year itself begins with orientation, which while supposedly a process of introduction and transition to the university for the first-year student, is an opportunity for most participants to drown themselves (sometimes literally) in alcohol and pursue sexual opportunities.
This sets the stage for the school year. On any given school day, a student can choose to go to class, sleep in and skip the whole day, drink, party, or study, all depending on how he or she feels at that moment. Individual desires become the first priority and everything else takes a back seat.
The uncontested reign of individualism is also reflected in the values promoted by student councils and governments. All lifestyles, especially those furthest from religion, are promoted. Illicit, unlimited sex is seen as something to be sought and a basis for building a macho reputation (as long you can avoid sexually transmitted diseases - for which purpose condoms and condom machines proliferate around campus). Homosexuality is something to be proud of and promoted as a viable alternative.
Student campaigns and marches are organized against those who dare to speak out and challenge this value structure; these challengers are regarded as reactionary, undemocratic and of course, religious extremists and fundamentalists. In the university community therefore, the self is god, and everyone loves this god and engages in daily worship, and obeys the laws that this god creates, and everyone adjusts as these laws change on a daily basis.
The conscious Muslim makes every attempt to, while pursuing his or her studies, increase their knowledge of Quran and Sunnah, so that they may better understand and apply the faith. The structure of this Muslim’s day is around salat, and this person juggles and adjusts their daily schedule and makes every effort to insure that the five daily salat are performed on time. Similarly, this individual understands the approach of Ramadan and prepares for it, again making the necessary adjustments in order to make sure that they are on top of their studies, that assignments are being handed in, that the best marks are being achieved, all while the requirements of the daily fasts are being met.
For the Muslim, Islam is never an excuse for slacking off, whether in academics or with respect to other responsibilities. As well, the observant Muslim may choose to participate in those clubs, activities and aspects of university life that do not contradict the Quran and Sunnah and do not place the Muslim in positions where he or she must compromise the faith. Thus, the conscientious Muslim enters the University atmosphere and struggles constantly to maintain a structured set of priorities. He or she follows Allah’s order: “So strive as in a race in good deeds.” [Al-Ma’idah 5: 48],Transliteration: Fastabiqu Al-Khayrati
On the other hand, there is also the borderline Muslim, who knows his or her identity but whose consciousness of Islam, due to upbringing or experience, is not terribly strong. This individual is on the ‘borderline’ because they are pulled one way by their understanding of Islam and in the opposite direction by the powerful pressures of the university culture. Is it at all surprising that many Muslims who are on the borderline succumb to the pressures of the atmosphere around them and become, at best, part-time Muslims?
At the end, the challenge is great. All Muslims in the university community have to struggle in order to maintain their Islam. Those who are practicing, committed and understand the objective of their existence have further duties. They must invite the border liners with hikmah (wisdom) and understanding but with firmness as well. And they must inform the university community at large about Islam in the different ways that are available. Yes, of course the challenge is great. But insha’ Allah, the reward is much greater.
Tips to Earning Rewards from Allah
1- Avoid Things that Allah has forbidden, including the great sins as well as continually performing the lesser sins, and perform what Allah orders us to perform: The prophet peace be upon him said: "Allah has recorded the good deeds and the evil deeds. Then he made them clear: He who has intended a good deed and does not do it, Allah writes it down with Him as a performed good deed; but if he intends it and does perform it; Allah records for him from ten good deeds to seven hundred times that or more than that. If he intends to do an evil deed and does not do it, then Allah writes it down as a good deed; but if he intends an evil deed and performs it, Allah records it as one evil deed" (Sahih Al-Jami)
2- Reciting the Quran and pondering over it`s meanings: The Prophet peace be upon him said, "Whoever recites one word from the Book of Allah will be rewarded for a good deed and ten more like it; and I don`t say that Alif Lam Mim is a word but Alif is a word and Lam is a word and Mim is a word" (Alif Lam Mim is 3 Arabic Characters.)
3- Guiding people to righteous deeds: The prophet peace be upon him said, "Whoever guides one to a good thing will get the same reward as the person who performs the deed"& (Sahih Al-Jami)
4- Enjoining good and eradicating evil: Allah revealed in the Quran, {Those of the children of Israel who went astray were cursed by the tongue of David, and of Jesus, son of Mary. That was because they rebelled and used to transgress. They restrained not one another from the wickedness they did. Verily, evil was that they used to do} (Al-Maida:78)
This is one of the obligatory duties that many people fail to perform today. Due to this reason, sins are being committed openly and without shame and no one is saying anything about them. The prophet peace be upon him said, "If the people see an evil deed and they do not change it, then Allah may inflict them all with a punishment". Allah says in the Quran: "And the believers, men and women, are protecting friends of one another, they enjoin the right and forbid the wrong .. "
5- Supplications to Allah: It`s the best act of worship as the Prophet peace be upon him said, "The most virtuous act of worship is supplication" (Sahih Al-Jami). It`s very important to be certain that Allah will answer your supplication, the Prophet peace be upon him said: "There is no Muslim on this earth who supplicates to Allah except that Allah will give him what he asked or He will remove some evil from him, as long as he does not supplicate for something evil or as long as he does not supplicate for cutting of the ties of kinship and as long as he does not become impatient and say, `I supplicated and supplicated and I was not responded to`"
6- Marrying religious women: The prophet peace be upon him said, "A woman is married for her religion, wealth or beauty; marry the religious women and you will prosper". He also said, "A thankful heart, a tongue that remembers Allah and a pious wife that helps you in your worldly and religious matters, is better than what the people are amassing" (Sahih Al-Jami)
7- Bringing up pious children and training them to have good Islamic character: The prophet peace be upon him said, "A man will be raised some degrees in Paradise and he will say, `For what reason am I receiving this ?` He will be told, `Because of your son asking forgiveness for you`"
8- Having good manners and character: The prophet peace be upon him said, "The most beloved of you to me and the closest of you to me in the Hereafter are those of you who have the best manners; the most hated of you to me and farthest from me in the Hereafter are those of you who have the worst manners, those who speak and do not even care about what they are saying" (Sahih Al-Jami), and he also said, "The person of good manners will get the same reward as the person who prays during the night and fasts during the day" (Sahih Al-Jami).
9- Performing many voluntary prayers: This is particularly beneficial during the last third of the night in which the gates of the heavens are opened and the supplications are responded to. The prophet peace be upon him said, "Allah waits until one half or two-thirds of the night has passed and He says, `My slaves, shall ask from no one except Me. Whoever asks from Me, I shall respond to him. Whoever asks Me for something, I will give it to him. Whoever asks for my forgiveness, I shall forgive him.
And this continues until the dawn" (Sahih Al-Jami). Similarly, performing the Sunnan prayers, is also a way of gaining Allah`s pleasure and reward. These Sunnan prayers are two rakats before the dawn obligatory prayer, four before the noon obligatory prayer and four after it, two after the sunset prayer and& two after the night prayer and the witr prayer.
10- Being obedient and respectful to one's parents: This is one of the greatest ways to attain Allah's pleasure and reward. Allah mentions worshipping Him together with obeying one's parents. Allah says in the Quran, "Your Lord has decreed that you worship none save Him, and that you show kindness to parents. If one of them or both of them attain to old age with you, say not `File` unto them nor repulse them, but speak unto them a gracious word. And lower unto them the wing of submission through mercy and say, `My Lord, have mercy on them both as they did care for me when I was little`" (Al-Isra)
11- Jihad in the way of Allah: A hadith of the Prophet peace be upon him says, "Being on guard in the way of Allah for one month is better than perpetual fasting for a year. Whoever dies while guarding in the way of Allah will be safe from the great frightening. And he will be provided his provisions, and smell the scent from paradise, and receive the reward of the one who guards until Allah resurrects him" (Sahih Al-Jami)
12- Remembering Allah at all times: The prophet peace be upon him stated that Allah said, "I am as My slave thinks I am. I am with him when he makes mention of Me. If he makes mention of Me to himself. I make mention of him to Myself and if me makes mention of Me in an assembly, I make mention of him in an assembly better than it." (Al-Bukhari).
13- Speaking the truth and not fearing punishment of anyone: The prophet peace be upon him, "The leader of the martyrs is Hamza ibn Abdul Muttalib and a person who faces an unjust ruler and advises him to do good and he is killed because of his speech" (Sahih Al-Jami)
14- Giving charity and spending in the way of Allah: Allah says in the Quran, "Those who spend their wealth by night and day, privately and publicity, verily their reward is with their Lord, and there shall no fear come upon them neither shall they grieve" (Al-Baqara 274). And Allah also says, "And spend of that which We have provided you before death comes to one of you and he says, `My Lord if only You would reprieve me for a little while, then I would give alms and be among the righteous.` But Allah reprieves no soul when its term comes, and Allah is aware of what you do" (Al-Munafiqoon).
15- Learning the beneficial knowledge: One should learn that knowledge that will benefit him in the Hereafter and act by it in order to be a good example for others. The authentic knowledge is the one that is based on Quran and Sunnah.
Tolerance in Islam!
Praise be to Allah and Peace of mind, contentment, happiness and freedom from worries and anxiety… these are what everyone wants, and these are the ways in which people can have a good life and find complete happiness and joy. There are religious means of achieving that, and natural and practical means, but no one can combine all of them except the believers; although other people may achieve some of them, they will miss out on others.
There follows a summary of the means of achieving this aim for which everyone is striving. In some cases, those who achieve many of them will live a joyful life and a good life; in other cases, those who fail to achieve all of them will live a life of misery and hardship. And there are others which are in between, according to what the means he is able to attain. These means include the following:
1 – Faith and righteous deeds: This is the greatest and most fundamental of means. Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“Whoever works righteousness — whether male or female — while he (or she) is a true believer (of Islamic Monotheism) verily, to him We will give a good life (in this world with respect, contentment and lawful provision), and We shall pay them certainly a reward in proportion to the best of what they used to do (i.e. Paradise in the Hereafter)” [al-Nahl 16:97]
Allah tells us and promises us that whoever combines faith with righteous deeds will have a good life and a good reward in this world and in the Hereafter.
The reason for that is clear: those who believe in Allah – with sincere faith that motivates them to do righteous deeds that change hearts and attitudes and guides them to the straight path in this world and the Hereafter – follow principles and guidelines by means of which they deal with everything that happens to them, be it the causes of happiness and excitement or the causes of anxiety, worry and grief.
They deal with the things that they like by accepting them and giving thanks for them, and using them in good ways. When they deal with them in this manner, that creates in them a sense of excitement and the hope that it will continue and that they will be rewarded for their gratitude, which is more important than the good things that happen to them. And they deal with bad things, worries and distress by resisting those that they can resist, alleviating those that they can alleviate, and bearing with goodly patience those that they cannot avoid. Thus as a result of the bad things they gain a lot of benefits, experience, strength, patience and hope of reward, which are more important and which diminish the hardships they have undergone and replace them with happiness and hope for the bounty and reward of Allah. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) expressed this in a saheeh Hadith in which he said:
“How wonderful is the situation of the believer, for all his affairs are good. If something good happens to him, he gives thanks for it and that is good for him; if something bad happens to him, he bears it with patience, and that is good for him. This does not apply to anyone but the believer.” (Narrated by Muslim, no. 2999).
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) told us that the believer is always gaining and the reward for his deeds is always multiplying, no matter what happens to him, good or bad.
2 – Being kind to people in word and deed, and all kinds of doing good. This is one of the means of removing worry, distress and anxiety. By this means Allah wards off worries and distress from righteous and immoral like, but the believer has the greater share of that, and is distinguished by the fact that his kindness to others stems from sincerity and the hope of reward, so Allah makes it easy for him to be kind to others because of the hope that this will bring good things and ward off bad things, by means of his sincerity and hope of reward. Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“There is no good in most of their secret talks save (in) him who orders Sadaqah (charity in Allah's Cause), or Ma‘roof (Islamic Monotheism and all the good and righteous deeds which Allah has ordained), or conciliation between mankind; and he who does this, seeking the good Pleasure of Allah, We shall give him a great reward” [al-Nisa’ 4:114]
Part of that great reward is relief from worry, distress, troubles, etc.
3 – Another of the means of warding off anxiety that stems from nervous tension and being preoccupied with disturbing thoughts is to occupy oneself with good deeds or seeking beneficial knowledge, for that will distract one from dwelling on the matters that are causing anxiety. In this way a person may forget about the things that are making him worried and distressed, and he may become happy and more energetic. This is another means that believers and others have in common, but the believer is distinguished by his faith, sincerity and hope of reward when he occupies himself with that knowledge which he is learning or teaching, or with the good deeds that he is doing.
The work with which he occupies himself should be something that he likes and enjoys, for that is more likely to produce the desired results. And Allah knows best.
4 – Another thing that may ward off worry and anxiety is focusing all one’s thoughts of the present day, and not worrying about the future or grieving about the past. Hence the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) sought refuge with Allah from worry and regret, from regret for things in the past which one cannot put right or change, and worry which may come because of fear for the future. So one should focus only on the present day, and focus one's efforts on getting things right today. For if a person is focused on that, this means that he will do things properly and forget about worry and regret. When the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said a dua or taught a dua’ to his ummah, as well as urging them to seek the help of Allah and hope for His bounty,
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