In the name of Allāh, ar-Raḥmān (the most merciful), ar-Raḥīm (the bestower of mercy.
As Muslims, we should be proud of our Islamic heritage, confident in our Muslim ethics, and certain in our faith in Allāh as our Lord, Islām as our religion and Muḥammad ﷺ as our Prophet.
A steadfast identity in a society of variables.
The more confusion around us, the more doubts and corruption in society, the more resolute our Muslim identity should be.
Times change, but a Muslim’s identity does not; ideas and opinions may evolve, but a Muslim’s identity does not; Cultures and fashions come and go, but a Muslim remains constant; People and communities change, but a Muslim remains firm; standards of morality may decrease, however, a Muslim does not. When everything else around us changes, we must remain firm upon our religion, our ‘aqīdah, our principles and morals. This is because our way of life and our compass of morality is based upon the Book of Allāh and the sunnah of his Messenger.
The latest fashion should not entice a Muslim; what the majority are doing, the corruption around him, nor does a Muslim chase every caller, or hesitate upon the path of truth due to how few are those who traverse it.
Fudayl ibn ‘Iyād [d: 187h] said: “Follow the path of truth, and do not be deterred by how few traverse it; beware of the path of falsehood, and do not be deluded by how many are doomed [due to traversing it].” [1]
I will do as the people do.
The Prophet ﷺ forbade us from being followers of people; those whose ethics are based on what is favoured by the people of the time. It is narrated that he said,
Do not be a spineless follower, saying ‘if people are good, I will be good, and if people are evil, I will be evil’. Rather, if people are good, be good, and if people are unjust, you remain just. [2]
The ”follower” referred to in the above ḥadīth is a spineless person, a coward who is daunted from taking a stance of justice, due to what people may say; the one whose imān in Allāh is weak, he lacks resolve, weak in his determination; always unsure and hesitant, If he is amongst sinners, he sins; if he is amongst liberals, he becomes a liberal; a Muslim amongst Muslims, and a munāfiq (hypocrite), amongst munāfiqīn – we ask Allāh to save and pardon us.
Allāh, the glorified, said regarding the munāfiqīn,
{وَإِذَا لَقُوا ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ قَالُوٓا۟ ءَامَنَّا ۖ وَإِذَا خَلَوْا۟ إِلَىٰ شَيَاطِينِهِمْ قَالُوا۟ إِنَّا مَعَكُمْ إِنَّمَا نَحْنُ مُسْتَهْزِءُونَ} البقرة: ١٤
{When they meet the believers, they say, “We believe.” But when alone with their evil associates they say, “We are definitely with you; we were only mocking} [02:14]
Abu Bakr as-Ṣiddīq: Gentle yet firm
If you want an example of how people and trends should not sway a Muslim, consider the best Companion, Abu Bakr as-Ṣiddīq, radiaAllāhu ‘anhu.
He was known for his gentleness, tender heart and soft nature. However, when the Prophet ﷺ died, some of the tribes who had accepted Islām during the Prophet’s ﷺ life began to rebel, and others refused to pay zakāh. They argued that zakāh was only legislated to be given to the Prophet ﷺ, not anybody after him.
So, Abu Bakr took a stance that any person who refuses to pay zakah will be penalised and fought. Many amongst the Companions, in fact, the majority amongst them, were against this opinion, especially due to how unstable the community was after the death of the Prophet ﷺ, so they advised Abu Bakr against this.
Even Umar said to him, “How can you fight a people who say Lā ilāha illa Allāh, even if they refuse to pay a zakāh?”
However, Abu Bakr radiaAllāhu ‘anhu, remained firm. He replied to ‘Umar, “I will fight anybody who differentiates between a ṣalāh and zakāh. It is an obligation [Allāh has legislated] upon people’s wealth. By Allāh, if they withhold from me a rope which they used to pay to the Messenger of Allāh as zakāh, I will fight them for it.”
So look again, when there was many opinions, many voices – even some of the most senior Companions such as ‘Umar, however Abu Bakr stuck to his principles, he knew he was upon the truth; he knew what he had to do to aid the religion of Allāh. ‘Umar remarked at the resolute persistence of Abu Bakr, saying: “By Allāh, when I saw how Allāh had made the chest of Abu Bakr firm and content upon his decision, I knew that it was the truth.” [3]
The importance of Islamic principles in today’s society.
Due to social media, we live in a time in which ignorance is prevalent, and doubts of misguidance easily affect many people. Journalists and ‘social media influencers’ are trusted, yet pious scholars are ignored.
We live in a time that the Messenger of Allāh prophesied,
Years of deception, when a liar will be regarded as honest, and an honest person will be regarded as a liar; a deceiver will be trusted, whereas a truthful person will be disregarded as dishonest… and the ‘Ruwaibidah’ will speak.
When the Companions asked about them, he replied:
People of little worth, and yet they speak about matters affecting the public at large. [4]
In such times, we must take inspiration from the example of Abu Bakr, radiaAllāhu ‘anhu, and remain firm upon the truth.
Do not be a spineless follower.
It is narrated from Abdullah Ibn Masūd, that he said:
Do not be a follower.
When his students asked him about this, he replied:
A person who says: If the people are rightly guided, I am guided; and if they go astray, I go astray.’ Rather, let each one of you prepare themselves, so that if the people disbelieve, he does not disbelieve.
Living in societies we live in, wherein sins and disbelief are prevalent, a Muslim should cultivate within themselves the courage to be different, to remain steadfast on the path of īmān and taqwā, even if the number of followers is few. And it is upon Muslim parents to instil this strength of imān in their children, that when those around them indulge in sin and kufr, our children have the strength to choose imān.
Yes, we interact with society with wisdom, gentleness, and respect, not disregarding the laws of the land, however, this does not permit us to partake in acts of disbelief and join festivals of shirk. This is because our faith stems from tawhid, with a clear compass of morality which does not change. Our religion does not bend to personal desires, societal trends, or the whims of the majority.
Written by,
Abul Abbaas Naveed
Nelson, Lancashire
9th Rabi’ al-Awwal 1447h,
Corresponding to 1st September 2025.
Footnotes
[1] Mentioned by Ibn al-Qayyim, in Madārij as-Sālikīn Vol 1 Page 47.
[2] Narrated by Ḥudhayfah; Collected by at-Tirmidhī. Al-Albāni graded the ḥadīth as ḍa’īf (weak), however he graded it ṣaḥīḥ as a statement from ‘Abdullah ibn Masūd which has been mentioned towards the end of the article.
[4] Narrated by Anas Ibn Mālik; Collected by Ibn Mājah.
