Among all the blessings that Allah, the Almighty, has granted to humanity, the greatest is religion. Understanding the significance of these blessings means gaining knowledge about Allah, nurturing a deep love for Him in your heart, firmly believing in Him, and following His commandments and prohibitions with utmost dedication. The more people contemplate life and the world, the clearer the reality of this life and the hereafter becomes to them, helping them appreciate the immense importance of these blessings. 

These matters become clear to some people in due time, while for others, it takes time for them to become apparent. Some find understanding of their faith through family, environmental influences, specific individuals, or personal endeavors and dedication, finding contentment and fulfillment in their faith journey. Undoubtedly, this is a tremendous blessing, a great kindness and gift from Allah. 

Without a doubt, Islam is the one and only religion prescribed by Allah. Since the time of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) until the Day of Judgment, meant to be followed by people from all walks of life, regardless of their age, nationality, social status, occupation, language, ethnicity, lineage, or personality. This is unequivocally stated in the Quran:

إِنَّ الدِّينَ عِنْدَ اللهِ الْإِسْلَامُ
“Truly, the (recognized) religion in the sight of Allah is Islām.”
[Surah Ali 'Imran 3:19]

Elsewhere Allah said:
وَمَنْ يَبْتَغِ غَيْرَ الْإِسْلَامِ دِينًا فَلَنْ يُقْبَلَ مِنْهُ وَهُوَ فِي الْآخِرَةِ مِنَ الْخَاسِرِينَ
“Whoever seeks a faith other than Islam, it will never be accepted from him, and he, in the Hereafter, will be among the losers.”
[Surah Ali 'Imran 3:85]

One thing is logical and natural – the religion that is ordained for all ages and all classes of people until the Day of Judgment should be flawless and perfect. It should be comprehensive and all-encompassing! Undoubtedly, Islam is just as flawless and perfect. It is equally comprehensive and all-encompassing. Because He who is the Creator of this world, the vast heavens, and the earth, the Lord and Master of all mankind, this religion is from Him. It is only possible for Him to reveal a religion suitable for all. As a result, the happiness and peace that people experience in life by following this religion cannot be achieved in any other way.
In the religion of Islam, there is a comprehensive guide for all aspects of human life. It provides clear instructions and fair solutions to all problems. A notable example of this is the case of the esteemed companion Hazrat Salman Farsi (RA).

One day, a group of polytheists ridiculed Salman Farsi, saying,
لقد عَلَّمَكم نبيُّكم كلَّ شيءٍ حتَّى الخِراءَةَ؟!
Your Prophet taught you everything, even the etiquette of using the restroom!

In response, the companion stated,

أَجَلْ، لقد نهانا -صلَّى الله عليه وسلم- أن نَستَقبِلَ القِبلَةَ بغائِطٍ أو بَولٍ، وأن لا نَستَنجِيَ باليمين، وأن لا يَستَنجِيَ أحَدُنا بأقَلَّ من ثلاثةِ أحجارِ، أو نَستَنجِيَ برَجيعٍ أو عَظمٍ
"Indeed, the Prophet - peace be upon him - prohibited us from facing the Qibla while urinating or defecating. He also discouraged using the right hand for Istinja (the act of using water for cleansing) and further prohibited the use of less than three cleaning materials, as well as using dung and bones as cleaning materials."
[Sunan Abu Dawud, Hadith-7; Sunan Ibn Majah, Hadith-316]

In the incident mentioned, Hazrat Salman al-Farsi (RA) was being ridiculed for the very thing he presented as a symbol of excellence. He clearly explained that if there is any matter related to people's lives, even the smallest and most trivial, it is a matter of great fortune to find its solution directly in religion and Shariah. It is a matter of pride and excellence for any religion and Shariah.

This incident holds many important lessons for believers of all ages.

A believer-Muslim should approach every matter of religion without taking it lightly. They should always be oriented towards the Quran and Sunnah in every aspect of their faith. Even in the smallest religious matters, they should not show any mockery, contempt, or disregard. Instead, they should embrace the teachings of religion in all areas of life and find success and excellence in following those teachings.

In every aspect of human life, whether it is the smallest and most trivial or the largest, and in matters concerning individuals, families, societies, nations, and the global level, Islam provides clear, best, and practical teachings, solutions, and explanations. Since this religion is ordained by the Creator of humanity and is intended for all people until the Day of Resurrection, true well-being, both in this world and the hereafter, lies within it. This should be deeply rooted in belief and clearly reflected in their actions, accompanied by a sense of happiness and pride.

Unfortunately, it's disheartening to observe that often, individuals and families who uphold their religious beliefs in so-called civilized societies find themselves marginalized. They may attempt to conceal their faith and practices or observe them with hesitation. As if it is preferable to keep these aspects hidden from public view, almost as if it signifies their own lack of respect and inferiority. Consequently, when situations or environments demand an expression of their religious faith, they tend to justify their limitations with unnecessary explanations, ultimately projecting a sense of incompetence and weakness. This, for a believer, is far from appealing.

For instance, at a household or social gathering, it's common to see many people sipping tea or coffee with their left hand. In such a scenario, even someone with strong religious convictions who prefers to eat with their right hand may hesitate. Consuming food with the right hand is often seen as contrary to nobility.

Additionally, there are instances where women neglect the important obligatory practice of Islamic Sharia, known as 'Parda,' by either leaving their faces uncovered or wearing attire that doesn't align with Islamic principles. In these cases, veiled women and their guardians hesitate to uphold the veil, sometimes providing various explanations for wearing a burqa or concealing their faces for religious purposes, thereby revealing their incapability.

In a similar manner, they have visited the homes of relatives who do not pray regularly. Even when it's time for prayer, they hesitate to bring up the topic of prayer. They ponder what others might think if they want to pray or whether it's appropriate to pray there. These concerns are often causing them to delay their prayers.

To uphold one's faith, it is essential to abandon such hesitations and inferiority regarding religious practices. A sincere believer should nurture a strong passion for practicing his faith and experience genuine feeling of happiness. In reality, practicing one's religion is not only a necessity for a believer but also a source of immense joy, fulfillment, and pride.

Believers should rightfully embrace this joy, good fortune, and pride. They should confidently carry out their religious duties, free from any hesitation, and take the opportunity to educate and enlighten even their Westernized relatives and loved ones when possible. At the very least, they should express the sense of blessing that resides within them.

The sense of shyness, self-inferiority, or considering the practice of religion as a sign of weakness and limitation should never be part of a believer's identity. A believer's faith is the source of his strength, the towering minaret of his good fortune.

Recalling the words of the Companion Hazrat Umar Farooq (RA), spoken to Hazrat Abu Ubaidah Ibnul Jarrah (RA), is indeed worthwhile:

At that time, Hazrat Umar (RA) was the Caliph of the Muslim world. He was on his way to a treaty negotiation with Christians in the region of Sham. Along the way, they encountered a swampy area or a shallow canal. On the other side of the water, a group of Muslim and Christian individuals had gathered to address him. Without any hesitation, Hazrat Umar dismounted from his camel. He removed his leather socks and placed them on his shoulders. Taking hold of the camel's reins, he proceeded to wade through the water.

Upon witnessing this scene, Hazrat Abu Ubaidah Ibnul Jarrah RA remarked, "O Amir al-Mu'minin (Leader of the Believers)! The entire city is watching you. You are personally holding the reins of the camel, and your footwear (socks) are hanging over your shoulders!... I do not find this situation favorable."

In response, Hazrat Umar RA, said to him, "Stop, Abu Ubaidah! If someone else had said this alone today..."

Then he continued with those historic words:

إِنَّا كُنَّا أَذَلَّ قَوْمٍ فَأَعَزَّنَا اللهُ بِالْإسْلَامِ فَمَهْمَا نَطْلُبُ الْعِزَّةَ بِغَيْرِ مَا أَعَزَّنَا اللهُ بِهِ أَذَلَّنَا اللهُ.
“(Listen!) We were indeed the most humiliated people, and Allah honored us with Islam. So, whenever we seek honor through anything other than what Allah has honored us with, Allah will humiliate us.”
[Mustadrak al-Hakim, Hadith-207]
What a strong resolution! What a firm declaration! Strolling with the camel's reins in hand and carrying dry leather socks on the shoulder when required - it embodies simplicity, sociability, a profound exhibition of modesty, and self-effacement. There is no contradiction with religious principles in this conduct. There is no injustice, no arrogance, and certainly no lack of respect. Snobbery is nonexistent in such behavior.
If each member of the Muhammadan Ummah can grasp this straightforward lesson of consciousness, it has the power to reshape numerous aspects of life. It can bring order to many disjointed and confusing thoughts, redirecting focus inward and potentially revealing a fragment of one's true identity.

Translation: Fayez Ahmed