#askm

that dedication to wake up for races is something im very familiar with 😭

Anyway, my question is this. He mentioned offhandedly that none of the Muslims that he knows actually do their prayers. That I am the only Muslim he knows who actually will excuse themselves and do the prayers or if he’s hanging out at my house I will pause the movie to do the prayer or something like that. So my question is: is it unrealistic to expect the average Muslim in America or the west to be doing all five of their prayers? Like I know they will “inshallah” do their prayer later, but in the Middle East when I lived there as a non-Muslim, all of the brothers, when they were hanging out, would go and pray together. In America, even when I’m socializing with other Muslims and a prayer happens, and we’re right across the street from a mosque, we don’t go and pray together. It makes me sad, but my friend Tommy pointed out that I may have unrealistic expectations of the commitment of the average self identified Muslim. I’ve just been getting disappointed that when I am out socializing with other Muslims, they will literally all be together and a prayer will come and go and no one wants to get up and actually do the prayer. It makes me sad that even when I’m around other Muslims I may be the only one who wants to do the prayer. I mean obviously I’m not going to do it right in a place where it might not be safe to or do it in the middle of a busy restaurant or something but like usually there’s a park nearby or a mosque nearby or something like that where you can pray but Muslims don’t seem to bother. I mean, I know that my relationship with Allah is my own, but should I let go of the expectation that the average Muslim is actually doing their prayers and just focus on doing the prayers on time because that’s required of me and if they don’t want to then that’s their choice? What’s the etiquette?

Assalamualaikum,

As I am not from the States and considering how vast your country is, I’m not very aware of the culture of the Muslims who reside there. However, I shall try my best to help you in anyway ‎إن شاء الله.

As a revert myself who lived in a non-Muslim household, I was also questioned by my own family members whether my practices are, for the lack of a better word, “required”. For example, I was questioned for my hijab and why I chose to wear it despite many Muslims who do not. I simply reply that it was my own choice and journey. I am no better than them nor beneath them. We are on our own path, to strive for Allah and not for this world.

I can imagine how difficult it is for you to want to pray your daily prayers when the community you reside do not always share that same desire. It is both saddening and discouraging indeed. However, being that our prayers, our Salah are one of the 5 pillars, it is not an unrealistic expectation of our commitments. No. it is the bare minimum of simply being Muslim. And we must remember that.

If those around you do not want to pray with you, do not let it sway you. Keep praying. Perhaps, if Allah wills, that even just one of them, may have a turn of heart and pray with you one day.

I remember this quote that was popularised in the community here that I always remember if I happen to stray due to the influences of this dunya:

Haram is Haram, even if the whole world is doing it. Halal is halal, even if you're the only person doing it.

May Allah keep you and us steadfast in our salah always and may you always find a safe place for you to pray.

Have you read any good daddy/baby stucky fics lately? I feel like this have been my #1 trope for like 4 whole months tbh it just works so well

you’re so lovely for sending this 🥺🥺

-Kaylen