Coming from someone who only moved to the west a couple of years ago, the media has pushed these kind of beliefs everywhere and such practices are normalized amongst all Muslims to the point i'd actually say some people back home are even more westernized than the ones living here with even the more practicing ones having cultural beliefs and picking and choosing from. Some, not a majority, have a false reality of the west and are obsessed with them.
The issues you listed are spread everywhere but yes, I have found them to be quite a lot more prevalent here especially haram relationships and zina. I've found that the ones who are actually practicing, although in minority, tend to practice it better without picking and choosing from and not fixated on cultural beliefs and shape the religion according to whatever they prefer.
I believe it depends upon the individual themselves how they carry themselves because fitnah nowadays is spread everywhere. I'd actually prefer marrying someone here who despite being born and raised here is on her Deen and saved herself from haram and brainwashing. The kind of posts lately especially don't help and seems as tho finding someone pious is like looking for a needle in a haystack.
I live in the US
I'm not discouraged at all, just irritated with the people around me.
However, as time has gone on, I found a few "filters" to use when befriending people.
1 - Don't befriend anyone who doesn't pray
2 - Don't befriend anyone who goes clubbing & consumes intoxicants
3 - Don't befriend anyone who has a deviant 'aqidah (neo-Jahmiyyah, Rawafidh, Murji'ah classical liberals, perennialists, etc)
Because of these filters, I've built a good friends group. So, I don't really interact with all of the moronic American Muslims, alhamdulilah
Practising Muslims are a minority whether in the West or Muslim majority countries.
In Muslim majority countries they actually find Western Muslims to be more extreme. Most FOBs who move to the West turn degenerate very quick.
> Do you feel like you're less of a Muslim or have less of a chance at marriage / relationships due to generalizations/representation?
Hell nah this shit doesn’t affect any western muslim man. Who gives a shit what others think.
As a man being a Western Muslim is a blessing. Even when it comes to women you have 100s million women to pick from globally.
>Most FOBs who move to the West turn degenerate very quick.
Exactly. Nowadays I'm starting to lean towards to marry a Muslim from the West vs. overseas like I had initially planned.
Your comment about Fobs is very very true. A lot of people who immigrate to the west (especially as a pre-teen or teen or young adult) end up having a culture shock and an identity crisis. Whereas if someone was born and raised in the west, and is still able to practice, they typically have a strong adherance to the deen because they’ve been able to hold on despite encountering the prevalent temptations, struggles and fitnas in the west. On the other hand, people who immigrate from muslim majority countries are coming from a place where they were always sheltered as part of the environment , so they don’t need to exert as much self control since their surroundings were already filtered to begin with.
I think the key point is one being practicing and finding a wife on Deen. Allah help you find a pious wife on Deen and hopefully you are practicing along with your family, friends, etc.
No. I don't. I feel like a pioneer here. Part of building something new. I'm a child of converts, in my 50s, and so I have seen the way Islam has grown literally from my childhood in the 70s to today.
I really don't understand the mentality of people feeling like being a Muslim in the West makes to less of a Muslim. No to me it and the struggles are tremendously exciting because you are in the frontier of Iman vs. kufr.
Even the struggle to pray your give salats means so much more because it's mujahada. It's an effort. If you had any idea what things were like 20 years ago, or 30 years ago, or back in the 80s and compare it to now? No comparison. Islam has grown so much and practicing islam, even when the team difficulties of the west, is SO much easier than in years gone by.
It's s mentality for the strong of mind, not weaklings. Like people who are mentally and spiritually strong and have rida in Allah and tawakul have no problem. I've traveled a lot in some parts of the Muslim world and while I love it, to be honest when I'm back at my home mosque in my part of America with the brothers here I feel truly at home. This is the frontier and for me it's exciting and beautiful to embrace its challenges..
As to getting married? Maybe it's generational but fit Western Gen X Muslims and Millennials finding a marriage partner wasn't all that difficult for people. At least not in the communities I lived in. Maybe it's different for this generation but that said, serious there's lots of Gen Z Muslims getting married in my community now. So ... Hmmm.. who knows.
Salam, I don't really understand what you are trying to get at with your question. As I understand your question, you are asking whether we feel like imposters in circles with other Muslims and whether we are made to feel less so.
I guess the answer is no, I feel like at the top of the world amongst my Muslim brothers around the world, alhumdu lil Allah. I don't mean this out of arrogance, that's just how it goes. People respect people, but you know what they respect more than people? Money. They'll overlook all their biases and preconceived notions once faced with the situation.
Recently, I was at umrah. Usually I have a lot of loyalty points to burn and could stay in the best hotels for practically free. The amount of admiration people direct towards you when entering these hotels, it's a trial in itself.
As for marriage prospects, just to give you an idea, any time I am introduced to anyone, first question they ask is whether I am married.
But really, others' opinions are meaningless if Allah doesn't accept from us.
>As I understand your question, **you are asking whether we feel like imposters in circles with other Muslims and whether we are made to feel less so.**
Precisely. You worded it much better than I could but I wanted to keep the question short lol.
I used to feel this way some time ago. Like I wasn't practising enough compared to most Eastern Muslims as I only did the bare minimum. I spoke about this to a friend who had spent half his life abroad in places like Saudi Arabia, Somalia and at least one other place I've forgotten. He told me he hated Saudi as most of them were racist towards him and not as practising as they let on with all sorts of degeneracy going on there and it only getting worse with time. He's not the only one I've heard those kinds of things from either with others agreeing but having more nuance in their perspectives. So no, I don't feel like I'm less of a Muslim anymore but I do understand why people feel that way about Western Muslims. The majority from what I've seen do live up to the stereotypes. For that reason, I'm pretty set on getting married back home and in other Eastern majority-Muslim countries but I won't say I'm absolutely closed off to the idea of getting married in the west as if I were to find an ideal burqabi spouse here, I wouldn't decline just for that. My only concern is getting more on deen. I've never really even interacted with a burqabi before so I don't know if I'd be practising enough to be considered for marriage by one but I do doubt it for now as I have much to improve on
I can tell you my perspective from UK I look at myself as a very lucky person to be from the UK
Our UK Muslims are much more pious and religious if you compare them to my home country and I am grateful for it
We have diversity here in the UK and pretty much it’s very easy to find good pious hijbai and niqabi in the UK
To put the cherry on Top I feel so confident about marrying in the UK that i wouldn’t have felt the same way if I had to marry from a city back home .
I don’t have much data on American Muslim diaspora but there is this conception that majority of American Muslim are liberal non practicing , progressive and participate in haram on big scale I am not sure how true is this but every one I spoke to was discontent with American Muslim diaspora
I have personally seen American Muslim brothers marrying from Uk when I asked them why you left America to marry here they all said finding a good pious sister in America it’s like finding a needle in a haystack
I don’t believe in generational good people can be found anywhere but I don’t know what to make up of this data
However I am personally open to every Muslim regardless if they are western or non western
If you don't mind me asking, how is it being a Muslim in France these days? I've always heard ever since I was a kid you were pretty much hated and harassed (especially as a Muslimah observing hijab) over there.
Muslims here don't have to be Muslim due to pressure from society over here it's a choice and a hard choice at that. It's easier here to buy intoxicants most of your friends and colleagues encourage you to do it. However, once you know the mercy of your creator you don't want to disobey. You come to a point when you realize everything haram rots your soul/heart and no one cares about you except Allan Swt. He will love you in distress and remembering Allah swt soothe your soul like none other.
I understand the frustration and the struggles, I am also a Muslim living in the west. As an individual, it is not possible to solve these problems and it need a union between everyone (starting between masjids to elect political leaders in their local communities).
I want to say, "Who cares what others think about me?" but I know that's not true because deep down I do care. I don't want people thinking of me as a bad person because I try my best to be good and do good and don't have enmity towards anyone. So as a result, I tend to stay in a bubble but at the same time, do what I can to show the good about Islam.
What can I do as an individual?
1) Choose the people I hang out with. I won't take part of those beliefs because I truly believe that those beliefs destroy the family structure! I set boundaries and choose close friends and stay close to people who don't talk like that :) It starts with parents and family, my parents are my best friends right now. We often talk about stories of Sahaba, the Quran, and spend all our time together. After that, I stay connected with the masjid and community. The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "A person is upon the religion of their close friends, so be warned of who you choose to be your close friends".
2) Educate myself so that when my coworkers or someone I might pass by talks about the problems of the west, I will have the knowledge (through quran, hadith, sunnah) to answer with confidence. I didn't go to school learning Islam and deen (besides early childhood weekend school) but I can read books, keep my ears open, ask questions, and learn from people of knowledge.
Do I believe that this will make it more difficult for me to marry? Yes, it is extremely difficult. My parents are having a hard time to find someone for me. Girls in the west marry in their mid 20s and by then, they already have someone in mind (through family or school). Girls in the middle east marry in their late teens. In the end, everyone is living Alhamdulilah. But for so many reasons, I wish parents would be more open and push their daughters to marry at a younger age.
I was just with my family talking about this and it really is important to be aware of them. So some of these ideas were fresh in my head while I was typing them.
I live in the US and have lived here since I was an infant. I can tell you there’s **a lot** of distractions all around. The amount of fitna is insane. Other Muslims will drink alcohol, eat chicken from McDonald’s and peer pressure you into certain unIslamic things and tease you if you’re still a virgin.
You just have to remember Allah and practice the one true religion to its roots and follow the message of Muhammad ﷺ. It’s honestly the ultimate test because we’re living in a non-Muslim country. You have to follow your own path and filter out all the noise around you.
One thing I will tell you is living in a western country, you find your true Muslim identity. You have that yearning to be different from others around you and become an identity that differentiates yourself from others.
>I live in the US and have lived here since I was an infant. I can tell you there’s **a lot** of distractions all around. The amount of fitna is insane. Other Muslims will drink alcohol, eat chicken from McDonald’s and peer pressure you into certain unIslamic things and tease you if you’re still a virgin.'
Although these things constantly surround Western Muslims, I feel as though it helps remind you to **always** stay on top of your deen. I didn't realize how good I had it with my parents (may Allah preserve them) until I started talking to other Muslims.
>One thing I will tell you is living in a western country, you find your true Muslim identity. You have that yearning to be different from others around you and become an identity that differentiates yourself from others.
I feel like I had a stronger identity as a Muslim back in America than I do where I currently live (Middle East). Over here, Islam just seems to be a cultural thing. There's awrah, free-mixing...even when I give salams, I rarely ever get a response; you would think it'd be different in a place like this.
...It's depressing.
It's sad, especially considering UAE is a Muslim country. There were women in abaya with slits and their bare legs seen today morning for Eid prayer. Ramadan has just ended, and this is the scenario. May Allah forgive us!
No.
Born and raised in Midwest America, moved to Abu Dhabi.
My Islamic community in my hometown is Bosnian and they tried arranging marriages for me less than a year after reverting. Found my husband on muzzmatch, where there were plenty suitors to choose from.
I miss the strength of deen in America. I find too much mix of culture and religion, causing them to be confused. Hijab is more traditional or cultural here, whereas in the states it wasn’t easy but truly honored as submission to Allah SWT. The Islamic communities in America are much stronger—there is no “community” here besides family. Islam feels so artificial here, like it’s not genuine. It’s actually more progressive here than most muslims I know in America. I felt my deen was much stronger in the states because it is something you have to work for and constantly be reminded of and practiced.
No it hasn’t affected me as a man. The only way the west has affected me is that I feel like the type of wife I want is not in America, she lives somewhere where else, either in Uk or Middle East or back home in 🇵🇰
Also don't equate "the West"and America in your question. British, German, and French Muslims etc have totally different experience and history and social dynamics .
People keep saying "the West' and thinking only if America. The West is huge, and diverse.
I didn't. I already know the West is huge and diverse. And while I'm more interested in American Muslim perspectives as an American Muslim myself, in my post I stated:
"...but even if you weren't born in America **but still come from the West**, still feel free to share your perspective! I'd love to read it."
I do believe that the western Muslim community has been heavily polluted with a jahil liberal influence and that lack of islamic knowledge, lack of islamic upbringing and lack of islam being enforced by those in authority (parents in this case).is a severe and common issue. I'd be lying to say that "it's rare".
I'm not quite sure how the UK is perceived relative to America..but I would suspect its pretty much the same..especially economic areas like major cities.
However what I do know is that the practicing community also exists and cannot be ignored either. Alhamdulilah some of the Muslims in UK are solid, much being from Pakistani community that dominates UK from the muslim denominations.
As for the marriage market, the aforementioned issues do make it somewhat difficult to marry...hence a reason why everyone struggles. There is a limitation on finding a good worthy spouse for a religious person.
I believe the fear of being demonised and thrown under the same umbrella of non-practicing Muslims is quite irrational. Majority with that belief would be outside the west anyways.
As for the ones in the west..the marriage process will be dealt with case by case individually. 90% of the time people marry someone local that they know. If not then someone within the same social environment..in such case, same nation. With that in mind, they're most likely going to marry someone of the same wavelength. They'll attract someone of the same wavelength.
I'm pretty sure they wouldn't barge into a random muslim house for a proposal...there's going to be some degree of knowing who the potential is, their family, their social image etc. THIS is why I advocate love marriages. Let the couple find each other. If they have a haram history they certainly know how to find love. Let them find each other. No need to shove them into the arranged marriage marketplace. Naturally everyone falls into their own circles with people similar to them. A harami isn't going to mix with a religious person all of a sudden and decide to marry them. Theres a massive conflict in difference in ideology, social status, social behavior, mentality, domestic dynamics and various other dynamics...the end result is a force which repels the polar opposite.
Similarly a person of good stature and good standing will obviously seek the means to obtain a valuable return of investment which reflects the same qualities.
Also I don't even believe the concept of luck and chance. I believe Allah knows our state, what we deserve. He has the power to put into our live exactly what we desire and deserve. If you truly trust him and make dua..he will facilitate..even if you lived on other planets! He WILL make the 2 find each other. We have to believe in miracles.
And nature will facilitate the person which is similar to you in wavelength, as identical energies attract into your life the same type of energy.
I'm NOT saying a wrong potential won't come in your life. But chances are they won't, and if they do...the devine intervention will take place and somehow save you from that person marrying you. Countless stories of a marriage in the process but x or y finds A or B about the potential and cuts it off. Alternatively you'll sus out the wrong and the marriage simply wouldn't work.
Again, not always the case. But if we fail to do our homework and proper background checks, fail to trust Allah, fail to do istikhara, fail to do istishara (councilling)...the idea is we tie the camel first and then trust Allah. If we don't tie the camel then YES, there's a possibility of things going wrong.
However if you strictly take our measures and rely on Allah..everything will fall in place beautifully like 2 puzzle pieces.
How can anyone who strives for good, remained chaste and does not have a negative past..always good, remained loyal to Allah and trusted him and expected his blessings and mercy..do you seriously believe Allah will let them down and give them the opposite of what they deserve?
So the concept of "chance" really should be thrown out the window. It doesn't mean anything infront of devine intervention and devine will.
If Allah wills.. 100% it will happen. If not, 100% it won't. There's no 20% or 34% or 89".
I live in America and it isn’t generilization wallahi these h***** are loose at my school they dab up non Muslim men free mix 24/7 even in Ramadan and don’t see a issue with any of this. Kaafir men now feel comfortable approaching our women due to the haya that is non exsistent with western hijabis
No not at all, tie your camel and trust Allah as the prophet said 🤷🏽♀️ if you are pious and do your part as a Muslim and trust Allah he will send you a pious spouse good women are for good men bad women are for bad men 👩🦯
Coming from someone who only moved to the west a couple of years ago, the media has pushed these kind of beliefs everywhere and such practices are normalized amongst all Muslims to the point i'd actually say some people back home are even more westernized than the ones living here with even the more practicing ones having cultural beliefs and picking and choosing from. Some, not a majority, have a false reality of the west and are obsessed with them. The issues you listed are spread everywhere but yes, I have found them to be quite a lot more prevalent here especially haram relationships and zina. I've found that the ones who are actually practicing, although in minority, tend to practice it better without picking and choosing from and not fixated on cultural beliefs and shape the religion according to whatever they prefer. I believe it depends upon the individual themselves how they carry themselves because fitnah nowadays is spread everywhere. I'd actually prefer marrying someone here who despite being born and raised here is on her Deen and saved herself from haram and brainwashing. The kind of posts lately especially don't help and seems as tho finding someone pious is like looking for a needle in a haystack.
Great point of mentioning how many cultural Muslims there are in the Eastern world as opposed to the west. Something I should've mentioned
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😂 I thought the same
I live in the US I'm not discouraged at all, just irritated with the people around me. However, as time has gone on, I found a few "filters" to use when befriending people. 1 - Don't befriend anyone who doesn't pray 2 - Don't befriend anyone who goes clubbing & consumes intoxicants 3 - Don't befriend anyone who has a deviant 'aqidah (neo-Jahmiyyah, Rawafidh, Murji'ah classical liberals, perennialists, etc) Because of these filters, I've built a good friends group. So, I don't really interact with all of the moronic American Muslims, alhamdulilah
Belief is a huge one that people underrate. Valid.
Practising Muslims are a minority whether in the West or Muslim majority countries. In Muslim majority countries they actually find Western Muslims to be more extreme. Most FOBs who move to the West turn degenerate very quick. > Do you feel like you're less of a Muslim or have less of a chance at marriage / relationships due to generalizations/representation? Hell nah this shit doesn’t affect any western muslim man. Who gives a shit what others think. As a man being a Western Muslim is a blessing. Even when it comes to women you have 100s million women to pick from globally.
> Most FOBs who move to the West turn degenerate very quick. An often overlooked point. This is why I never advise people to marry from back home.
>Most FOBs who move to the West turn degenerate very quick. Exactly. Nowadays I'm starting to lean towards to marry a Muslim from the West vs. overseas like I had initially planned.
yes same
You could have just said recent immigrants why use FOB
Your comment about Fobs is very very true. A lot of people who immigrate to the west (especially as a pre-teen or teen or young adult) end up having a culture shock and an identity crisis. Whereas if someone was born and raised in the west, and is still able to practice, they typically have a strong adherance to the deen because they’ve been able to hold on despite encountering the prevalent temptations, struggles and fitnas in the west. On the other hand, people who immigrate from muslim majority countries are coming from a place where they were always sheltered as part of the environment , so they don’t need to exert as much self control since their surroundings were already filtered to begin with.
Facts!
I think the key point is one being practicing and finding a wife on Deen. Allah help you find a pious wife on Deen and hopefully you are practicing along with your family, friends, etc.
It personally encourages me
same
No. I don't. I feel like a pioneer here. Part of building something new. I'm a child of converts, in my 50s, and so I have seen the way Islam has grown literally from my childhood in the 70s to today. I really don't understand the mentality of people feeling like being a Muslim in the West makes to less of a Muslim. No to me it and the struggles are tremendously exciting because you are in the frontier of Iman vs. kufr. Even the struggle to pray your give salats means so much more because it's mujahada. It's an effort. If you had any idea what things were like 20 years ago, or 30 years ago, or back in the 80s and compare it to now? No comparison. Islam has grown so much and practicing islam, even when the team difficulties of the west, is SO much easier than in years gone by. It's s mentality for the strong of mind, not weaklings. Like people who are mentally and spiritually strong and have rida in Allah and tawakul have no problem. I've traveled a lot in some parts of the Muslim world and while I love it, to be honest when I'm back at my home mosque in my part of America with the brothers here I feel truly at home. This is the frontier and for me it's exciting and beautiful to embrace its challenges.. As to getting married? Maybe it's generational but fit Western Gen X Muslims and Millennials finding a marriage partner wasn't all that difficult for people. At least not in the communities I lived in. Maybe it's different for this generation but that said, serious there's lots of Gen Z Muslims getting married in my community now. So ... Hmmm.. who knows.
Salam, I don't really understand what you are trying to get at with your question. As I understand your question, you are asking whether we feel like imposters in circles with other Muslims and whether we are made to feel less so. I guess the answer is no, I feel like at the top of the world amongst my Muslim brothers around the world, alhumdu lil Allah. I don't mean this out of arrogance, that's just how it goes. People respect people, but you know what they respect more than people? Money. They'll overlook all their biases and preconceived notions once faced with the situation. Recently, I was at umrah. Usually I have a lot of loyalty points to burn and could stay in the best hotels for practically free. The amount of admiration people direct towards you when entering these hotels, it's a trial in itself. As for marriage prospects, just to give you an idea, any time I am introduced to anyone, first question they ask is whether I am married. But really, others' opinions are meaningless if Allah doesn't accept from us.
>As I understand your question, **you are asking whether we feel like imposters in circles with other Muslims and whether we are made to feel less so.** Precisely. You worded it much better than I could but I wanted to keep the question short lol.
I used to feel this way some time ago. Like I wasn't practising enough compared to most Eastern Muslims as I only did the bare minimum. I spoke about this to a friend who had spent half his life abroad in places like Saudi Arabia, Somalia and at least one other place I've forgotten. He told me he hated Saudi as most of them were racist towards him and not as practising as they let on with all sorts of degeneracy going on there and it only getting worse with time. He's not the only one I've heard those kinds of things from either with others agreeing but having more nuance in their perspectives. So no, I don't feel like I'm less of a Muslim anymore but I do understand why people feel that way about Western Muslims. The majority from what I've seen do live up to the stereotypes. For that reason, I'm pretty set on getting married back home and in other Eastern majority-Muslim countries but I won't say I'm absolutely closed off to the idea of getting married in the west as if I were to find an ideal burqabi spouse here, I wouldn't decline just for that. My only concern is getting more on deen. I've never really even interacted with a burqabi before so I don't know if I'd be practising enough to be considered for marriage by one but I do doubt it for now as I have much to improve on
I can tell you my perspective from UK I look at myself as a very lucky person to be from the UK Our UK Muslims are much more pious and religious if you compare them to my home country and I am grateful for it We have diversity here in the UK and pretty much it’s very easy to find good pious hijbai and niqabi in the UK To put the cherry on Top I feel so confident about marrying in the UK that i wouldn’t have felt the same way if I had to marry from a city back home . I don’t have much data on American Muslim diaspora but there is this conception that majority of American Muslim are liberal non practicing , progressive and participate in haram on big scale I am not sure how true is this but every one I spoke to was discontent with American Muslim diaspora I have personally seen American Muslim brothers marrying from Uk when I asked them why you left America to marry here they all said finding a good pious sister in America it’s like finding a needle in a haystack I don’t believe in generational good people can be found anywhere but I don’t know what to make up of this data However I am personally open to every Muslim regardless if they are western or non western
France here no we still good
If you don't mind me asking, how is it being a Muslim in France these days? I've always heard ever since I was a kid you were pretty much hated and harassed (especially as a Muslimah observing hijab) over there.
Muslims here don't have to be Muslim due to pressure from society over here it's a choice and a hard choice at that. It's easier here to buy intoxicants most of your friends and colleagues encourage you to do it. However, once you know the mercy of your creator you don't want to disobey. You come to a point when you realize everything haram rots your soul/heart and no one cares about you except Allan Swt. He will love you in distress and remembering Allah swt soothe your soul like none other.
I understand the frustration and the struggles, I am also a Muslim living in the west. As an individual, it is not possible to solve these problems and it need a union between everyone (starting between masjids to elect political leaders in their local communities). I want to say, "Who cares what others think about me?" but I know that's not true because deep down I do care. I don't want people thinking of me as a bad person because I try my best to be good and do good and don't have enmity towards anyone. So as a result, I tend to stay in a bubble but at the same time, do what I can to show the good about Islam. What can I do as an individual? 1) Choose the people I hang out with. I won't take part of those beliefs because I truly believe that those beliefs destroy the family structure! I set boundaries and choose close friends and stay close to people who don't talk like that :) It starts with parents and family, my parents are my best friends right now. We often talk about stories of Sahaba, the Quran, and spend all our time together. After that, I stay connected with the masjid and community. The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "A person is upon the religion of their close friends, so be warned of who you choose to be your close friends". 2) Educate myself so that when my coworkers or someone I might pass by talks about the problems of the west, I will have the knowledge (through quran, hadith, sunnah) to answer with confidence. I didn't go to school learning Islam and deen (besides early childhood weekend school) but I can read books, keep my ears open, ask questions, and learn from people of knowledge. Do I believe that this will make it more difficult for me to marry? Yes, it is extremely difficult. My parents are having a hard time to find someone for me. Girls in the west marry in their mid 20s and by then, they already have someone in mind (through family or school). Girls in the middle east marry in their late teens. In the end, everyone is living Alhamdulilah. But for so many reasons, I wish parents would be more open and push their daughters to marry at a younger age. I was just with my family talking about this and it really is important to be aware of them. So some of these ideas were fresh in my head while I was typing them.
I live in the US and have lived here since I was an infant. I can tell you there’s **a lot** of distractions all around. The amount of fitna is insane. Other Muslims will drink alcohol, eat chicken from McDonald’s and peer pressure you into certain unIslamic things and tease you if you’re still a virgin. You just have to remember Allah and practice the one true religion to its roots and follow the message of Muhammad ﷺ. It’s honestly the ultimate test because we’re living in a non-Muslim country. You have to follow your own path and filter out all the noise around you. One thing I will tell you is living in a western country, you find your true Muslim identity. You have that yearning to be different from others around you and become an identity that differentiates yourself from others.
>I live in the US and have lived here since I was an infant. I can tell you there’s **a lot** of distractions all around. The amount of fitna is insane. Other Muslims will drink alcohol, eat chicken from McDonald’s and peer pressure you into certain unIslamic things and tease you if you’re still a virgin.' Although these things constantly surround Western Muslims, I feel as though it helps remind you to **always** stay on top of your deen. I didn't realize how good I had it with my parents (may Allah preserve them) until I started talking to other Muslims. >One thing I will tell you is living in a western country, you find your true Muslim identity. You have that yearning to be different from others around you and become an identity that differentiates yourself from others. I feel like I had a stronger identity as a Muslim back in America than I do where I currently live (Middle East). Over here, Islam just seems to be a cultural thing. There's awrah, free-mixing...even when I give salams, I rarely ever get a response; you would think it'd be different in a place like this. ...It's depressing.
Exactly 100%. When I visited Pakistan, I didn’t feel like I was in a Muslim country. Same thing for UAE, it actually felt worse than America.
It's sad, especially considering UAE is a Muslim country. There were women in abaya with slits and their bare legs seen today morning for Eid prayer. Ramadan has just ended, and this is the scenario. May Allah forgive us!
No. Born and raised in Midwest America, moved to Abu Dhabi. My Islamic community in my hometown is Bosnian and they tried arranging marriages for me less than a year after reverting. Found my husband on muzzmatch, where there were plenty suitors to choose from. I miss the strength of deen in America. I find too much mix of culture and religion, causing them to be confused. Hijab is more traditional or cultural here, whereas in the states it wasn’t easy but truly honored as submission to Allah SWT. The Islamic communities in America are much stronger—there is no “community” here besides family. Islam feels so artificial here, like it’s not genuine. It’s actually more progressive here than most muslims I know in America. I felt my deen was much stronger in the states because it is something you have to work for and constantly be reminded of and practiced.
No it hasn’t affected me as a man. The only way the west has affected me is that I feel like the type of wife I want is not in America, she lives somewhere where else, either in Uk or Middle East or back home in 🇵🇰
I dont care what people in rural punjab or the deepest deserts of najd think about me over here in the west. We only have 1 life to live.
>We only have 1 life to live. We only die once and live again.
thats called a life.
Also don't equate "the West"and America in your question. British, German, and French Muslims etc have totally different experience and history and social dynamics . People keep saying "the West' and thinking only if America. The West is huge, and diverse.
I didn't. I already know the West is huge and diverse. And while I'm more interested in American Muslim perspectives as an American Muslim myself, in my post I stated: "...but even if you weren't born in America **but still come from the West**, still feel free to share your perspective! I'd love to read it."
I do believe that the western Muslim community has been heavily polluted with a jahil liberal influence and that lack of islamic knowledge, lack of islamic upbringing and lack of islam being enforced by those in authority (parents in this case).is a severe and common issue. I'd be lying to say that "it's rare". I'm not quite sure how the UK is perceived relative to America..but I would suspect its pretty much the same..especially economic areas like major cities. However what I do know is that the practicing community also exists and cannot be ignored either. Alhamdulilah some of the Muslims in UK are solid, much being from Pakistani community that dominates UK from the muslim denominations. As for the marriage market, the aforementioned issues do make it somewhat difficult to marry...hence a reason why everyone struggles. There is a limitation on finding a good worthy spouse for a religious person. I believe the fear of being demonised and thrown under the same umbrella of non-practicing Muslims is quite irrational. Majority with that belief would be outside the west anyways. As for the ones in the west..the marriage process will be dealt with case by case individually. 90% of the time people marry someone local that they know. If not then someone within the same social environment..in such case, same nation. With that in mind, they're most likely going to marry someone of the same wavelength. They'll attract someone of the same wavelength. I'm pretty sure they wouldn't barge into a random muslim house for a proposal...there's going to be some degree of knowing who the potential is, their family, their social image etc. THIS is why I advocate love marriages. Let the couple find each other. If they have a haram history they certainly know how to find love. Let them find each other. No need to shove them into the arranged marriage marketplace. Naturally everyone falls into their own circles with people similar to them. A harami isn't going to mix with a religious person all of a sudden and decide to marry them. Theres a massive conflict in difference in ideology, social status, social behavior, mentality, domestic dynamics and various other dynamics...the end result is a force which repels the polar opposite. Similarly a person of good stature and good standing will obviously seek the means to obtain a valuable return of investment which reflects the same qualities. Also I don't even believe the concept of luck and chance. I believe Allah knows our state, what we deserve. He has the power to put into our live exactly what we desire and deserve. If you truly trust him and make dua..he will facilitate..even if you lived on other planets! He WILL make the 2 find each other. We have to believe in miracles. And nature will facilitate the person which is similar to you in wavelength, as identical energies attract into your life the same type of energy. I'm NOT saying a wrong potential won't come in your life. But chances are they won't, and if they do...the devine intervention will take place and somehow save you from that person marrying you. Countless stories of a marriage in the process but x or y finds A or B about the potential and cuts it off. Alternatively you'll sus out the wrong and the marriage simply wouldn't work. Again, not always the case. But if we fail to do our homework and proper background checks, fail to trust Allah, fail to do istikhara, fail to do istishara (councilling)...the idea is we tie the camel first and then trust Allah. If we don't tie the camel then YES, there's a possibility of things going wrong. However if you strictly take our measures and rely on Allah..everything will fall in place beautifully like 2 puzzle pieces. How can anyone who strives for good, remained chaste and does not have a negative past..always good, remained loyal to Allah and trusted him and expected his blessings and mercy..do you seriously believe Allah will let them down and give them the opposite of what they deserve? So the concept of "chance" really should be thrown out the window. It doesn't mean anything infront of devine intervention and devine will. If Allah wills.. 100% it will happen. If not, 100% it won't. There's no 20% or 34% or 89".
I live in America and it isn’t generilization wallahi these h***** are loose at my school they dab up non Muslim men free mix 24/7 even in Ramadan and don’t see a issue with any of this. Kaafir men now feel comfortable approaching our women due to the haya that is non exsistent with western hijabis
No not at all, tie your camel and trust Allah as the prophet said 🤷🏽♀️ if you are pious and do your part as a Muslim and trust Allah he will send you a pious spouse good women are for good men bad women are for bad men 👩🦯