It’s that time again, time to go back to school and hit the books. The long lazy summer days are over and now we have another academic year on our hands. So how can we make this new year a wonderful and memorable one? What can we do so that in the future when we look back we can say that this year was a good one? The answer to that lies in our friends.
Friends play a big role in our lives. Part of our nature is the desire to be around people and to interact with others. We want to share our thoughts and feelings, we want to experience new things and create memories, and friends can help us do that.
Friends are there to listen to you and to share your moments of joy and sadness. But most importantly friends are there to support you. This network of support is very crucial especially to the Muslim student living in a largely non-Muslim community.
Throughout high school, there were only two or three Muslims in the entire school and I was the only one who wore a scarf. It was difficult at times having to deal with non-Muslim students and not having many Muslims around you for support.
As I started my first year at the university, I began to meet new Muslims and slowly realized what a difference having Muslim friends could have on you.
For the first time in many years, I felt that I "belonged." All of a sudden, I was surrounded by a group of people who offered me support and gave me strength to face my difficulties in working with the non-Muslim student population.
The best part of having those Muslim friends is the memories that we created. We shared many laughs and struggled together to strengthen our Muslim identity on campus and help educate people about Islam.
We shared our experiences and depended on one another for guidance and support. At the end of each day, we would look back and smile realizing that we had made it through another day as a group.
Thanks to God, I have been very fortunate in meeting my Muslim friends. By having gone through high school with hardly any Muslims, I realize now the importance of having Muslim friends and being part of a community.
I would advise you to get to know as many Muslims as you can this year and to form a strong circle of friends where you can support one another.
If you are attending a college or are going to soon, then ask and see if there is a Muslim Students' Association (MSA) on campus and try to get involved with their activities and get to know new people.
How good school will be this year will depend on you and your efforts in meeting new Muslims. If Allah has blessed you with Muslim friends then try to reach out to other Muslims, include them in the group, and help them create a good and memorable school year.
Comments
This was a great article! I could relate a lot because I was the only girl in my whole entire middle school who wore hijab. True, there were a few other Muslims but they were mostly the kind who didn't even want to admit they were Muslim. Alhamdulillah, the High school I'm going to has 2 other girls whom I'm friends with who do Hijab so I feel a little bit more in place. Inshallah Allah will give us courage to overcome our conscience, Ameen. Wassalam-Zahra
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I am a non muslim,a hindu .but that doesn,t matter i really love your site. in a world that believes that muslims are terrorists - this site teaches people about the beauty of islam. unlike a few hindu sites which are filled with just radical & communal views thi site is cool . I respest all religions and have many muslim friends. they are great folks andi love the food that they bring to schoolthanx indian
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Asalmu Alaykum.Mashallah this was a great article. This article refers to me. There are only 3 other Muslims in my school. My brother, and 2 sisters. I really want more Muslims in my community but there is a few. I can sense that there will be more Muslims inshallah. Salaam
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i am an 8th grade student and the only one who wearz a hijab in my grade level...i hardly kno any muslim kids around my neighborhood or skool...it is a lil embarrassing when everyone asks me questions...i do feel seperate from everyone else at times n that makes me feel bad until i realize that im crazy for thinking that...im not like everyone else bcuz im muslim and wear the hijab but bcuz of who i am inside...wearing my hijab has really lead me to self-discovery and mayb even self-actualization... it has done nothing but make me a stronger person and muslim...i kno that my hijab does not define me...it just adds to my character....ur article was great...it gives me hope that i will fit in someday without having to change who i am...
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wow! that totally reminded me of myself. Last year i was the only one who wore a scarf, it was difficult at times, answering all the questions people had. I am in middle school now and there are a few other people who wear it to and it makes life more relaxing and easier. Most of the other girls who wear dont even wear it right all their hair shows. That is just a disgrace to our muslim race. anyways i loved that you posted that. c yaaaa!!! Salaamz
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Assalamu Alaikum,I would like to say that I enjoyed your article very much. It's great to see Muslims being united despite their differences whether it be ethnic or anything else. Going to an Islamic School, I feel as if I belong, really truly belong. It's a great environment because I can interact with my classmates and with my teachers. But however, even in an all-Islamic Schools, there are still many, many Muslims who are unwilling to interact with their Muslim friends and tend to like hanging out with the kuffar. To them, it is pathetic or 'being too Islamic' to implement the principles and morals that Islam provides us with in our lives. They do not want to appear to Islamic for fear of being neglected by the kuffar. How do I know this? Well it is because I have been around these type of people for my third year running. But besides that, I would like to say Masha'Allah for actually realizing our main weakness and actually having the guts to say it out loud. I give you my salaam and best wishes for your life here and in the akhira. Salaam, Sidra
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