How to deal with a non-Islamic environment
If the behaviour of others in school or the workplace makes you feel concerned as a Muslim, turn it into an opportunity to improve yourself first.
I love sharing conversations I have with Muslims working on goal setting because you always ask great questions that deserve to be published so everyone can benefit.
A reader asked me the following (minor edits for spelling, grammar or emphasis):
Colleges have opened, and I'm studying in a radical liberal environment, with liberal values and extreme forms of Tabarruj that can be seen and less and less importance to the Deen for the Muslim students, also the practicing ones have confined their religion to themselves as an individual concern and don't have a sense of Jama'a!
So, do you have any ways or methods of networking or any ideas of reminding us students and some thought provoking and compelling ways to keep us close to Allah?
My answer:
College is not the place to do anything except study hard so you can earn more to better allow you to help the Ummah. Don't worry too much about what's around you.
It's called circle of influence vs circle of concern. What you can influence is very small. But your concerns may reach the sky.
And if you only focus on your circle of concern you will get tired and frustrated. And you will hardly make a scratch.
But if you discipline yourself to focus only on your circle of influence… you will make better progress, have more success and less stress.
Trying to affect your circle of concern doesn't shrink it. Working on your circle of influence will increase it.
As your circle of influence grows you will even start to affect things outside it.
For example:
If you focus on getting good grades and a good job you can earn the time and money—and influence—you need to start a mentoring programme for Muslim college students.
You will gain a good reputation along the way which will attract Muslims to join you.
And networking is about being interested... not interesting.
Meaning… be interested in others. Don't look at how religious they are. Let them know you as a polite and friendly classmate (a good representative of Islam).
When Allah opens their heart who do you think they will ask about Islam? The guy who looked down on them or the one who was always polite and friendly towards them?
Especially if he is also known for being a good student.
This is how working on your circle of influence will eventually start to positively affect your circle of concern. The student who is concerned about his classmates but focuses on what was in his control actually becomes the one they can turn to as a representative of Islam.
It’s a lesson in personal responsibility and effective networking all in one: Strategic Sunnah.
P.S.
You can read more about personal responsibility and networking by becoming a paid member—if you haven’t already. And if you’re wondering why you should consider becoming a paid member… read this story about a 1979 Harvard study that exposed the secret to long-term success for the top 3 percent of graduates.