What contributions do I have as a Muslim?

Living in a complex environment is quite difficult for an individual whether he is a Muslim, Christian, Jew, Buddhist or any existing religions. This simply because an individual has to adapt to the trends, cultures, policies, and any other changes in a society he lives.

A Muslim living in a dominated Christian’s country like the Philippines, has face tremendous challenges every day from food consumption to the many issues i.e. corruption, religious imbalance, ethnic discrimination, kidnapping and many more. All these problems affecting every Muslim in this country be it directly and indirectly.

My belief says, Islam has nothing to do with the current failures of Muslims. As have been understood by many Muslim scholars Islam did not teach his followers to become troublemakers or to experience fiasco. Rather it is clear from Qur’anic injunction that “I created Jinn and Humankind only to Worship me” (Qur’an 51:56). One meaning of worship according to Encarta Dictionaries is great devotion. The Qur’anic injunction did not specify which type of worship that a Muslim must do to comply it.  But let us just simplify this way, all that is good is a form of worship.

The devotion of a Muslim to his religion can be considered as a type of contribution that he could extend to the society at large. A Muslim, who do not take vainly his responsibility towards Islam, do not easily involve in things that is unwholesome. Since he believes the wholesome deed is the basic thing approved by his religion. While the bad deeds sprung from his lowest desire or animal being is prohibited.

The first thing that a Muslim must seek is that how to live by the teaching of his religion in a complex society. How to be an agent of change in his little way?  And how the little effort of every Muslim becomes panacea to the problem they are currently facing?

Seeking knowledge of Islam is the number one key. Since there is an immense interpretation of Islam nowadays just takes at least one or two that would represent the entirety of the Islamic message. One good example is “Best in Character”. This trait is easy to say but tough to live with. 

To practice good trait does not necessarily we should be like Saints and Prophets. All we need to do is to act on the little thing we know. Do good and forbid evil. Do not do the thing which is good for you but bad to others; treat other people as you treat yourself and family. Do not dream big if you cannot handle this simple advice in yourself, lest you adopt a holier-than-thou attitude. And condemn others for not following your belief and way.

The Muslims should unite in goodness, and that’s what Islam sought. Organize one single voice that would represent the Muslim majority. Resolve on the table the issues which have been left unsolved. Respect one another do not indulge much in ideological debate. Centralize the knowledge taught in Madrasah. Never use the mosque as a ground for hatred and prejudices. Do not spend much time to correct others. Work on the middle path. Design a program where all Muslim sects can come together to discuss the commonalities that they have for the betterment of all.

Do not let the crooked individual and group besmirch the reputation of all Muslims. What is good has been clearly laid down in the Qur’an, let the goodness win in you. As Allah has promised "Truth has (now) arrived, and Falsehood perished: for Falsehood is (by its nature) bound to perish." (Yusuf Ali’, Qur’an 17:81)