How Muslim students can fight temptation in the University

Here are some of the things that a Muslim student can do to battle misdirections and temptations.

Sadia Saifuddin, a student of the University of California Board nominated as a regent scholar UC Berkeley

We live in a world full of temptations. It is a world that is full of tests and challenges. We find ourselves battling with our nafs (base desires) a lot while making decisions based on right and wrong. We constantly battle with choices of whether, in the societies that we live in, our beliefs will integrate well with the social norms. We find ourselves seeking answers to questions which at some point we never had to ask ourselves but, in modern society, such questions arise frequently.

Some of the questions that may arise are those such as:

“What can I do to interact with the others and be accepted?”

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"How do i relate with people without coming off as an extremist.

“Some of the guys have invited me to hang out with them this weekend. Will they think of me as being anti-social if I don’t go? Alternatively, I could always go but I don’t have to drink with them, right?”

It is also very important to find pride in our religion.  We might have noticed, without paying much attention to it, how much we admire people even those of other religions who do the things they believe in with such zeal and commitment.

They do not compromise in order to please mankind over God. This should be the case with Muslims too, Let us strive to truly follow Islam fully and to leave no room for regrets.

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That said, in the university environment, some of the things that a Muslim student can do to battle misdirections and temptations.

3. Remember Allah and the meaning of Islam. If you choose to be a Muslim, then you choose to submit to His will. Don’t worry about what the men around you will think, rather worry about what Allah will think. Human beings have a limited time in this world, and hence a limited time in your life, but Allah will always be there.

4. Respect yourself and respect your deen. Such kind of respect earns you respect from society too. People see commitment which shows them that when assigned a specific task, you are more likely to approach it with commendable commitment than people who deflect from what they know to be better for them.

5. Be accepting of your Muslim brothers and sisters and refrain from judging them. We all have things that we can learn from each other. You can be the one that inspires someone else to become a better person.

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6. Before doing anything ask yourself why you are doing it. If it feels wrong yet your heart seems to be strongly inclined towards doing it, say “ A’udhu Billahi min ash-shaytaan-ir-rajeem (I seek refuge in Allah from Satan, the rejected one)”. Say a silent dua and ask for guidance and strength. Find strength in knowing that Allah will be pleased with you if you refrain from doing wrong.

Finally,here isa verse to ponder:

“And as for those who believe and do good works, We shall remit from them their evil deeds and shall repay them the best that they did. ” Surah Al-Ankabut 29:7.

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