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The beauty of being a stranger today
Forgotten signs of honour in Islam
Assalamu alaykum,
It’s strange how, in a world overflowing with trends, image, and validation-seeking, the simple, timeless things we were honoured with as Muslims feel like a burden to so many.
A scholar once narrated how the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ ordered the believers to trim their moustaches and let their beards grow -
not because it was trendy, but because it was dignified.
It was the mark of honour for a man.
A sign of obedience.
A symbol that separated the believers from those who rejected their Creator.
But today?
It feels like many of us - even those who fast, pray, and love Islam - hesitate when it comes to the outward sunnahs.
We care more about not looking “too religious” or standing out in public.
And it’s not just the men.
Our sisters too, are under this same storm of pressure.
How many of our women today feel shy or even apologetic for wearing loose, modest clothing?
How many hesitate to wear the hijab properly - one that covers as Allah commanded, not as society permits?
The Prophet ﷺ honoured women.
Gave them dignity.
Commanded them to be respected, protected, and valued for their character and taqwa - not for how much of their beauty they reveal.
Allah says in the Qur’an:
“O Prophet, tell your wives, your daughters, and the women of the believers to bring down over themselves [part] of their outer garments. That is more suitable that they will be known and not be abused. And ever is Allah Forgiving and Merciful.”
And yet…
We’ve reached a point where the very sunnahs and commandments that once gave us honour now feel like something we have to apologise for.
But here’s the truth:
Every sunnah you revive today makes you a stranger in a world running away from it’s Creator. And the Prophet ﷺ gave glad tidings to the strangers.
“Islam began as something strange, and it will return to being strange as it began, so glad tidings to the strangers.”
Whether it’s a brother growing his beard despite the comments at work…
Or a sister adjusting her hijab to cover what it should, ignoring the stares…
Or a young Muslim choosing modesty, truth, and dignity in a world that celebrates the opposite…
These are the people carrying the light of Islam today.
To my dear sisters:
Wear your hijab with honour.
Wear the niqab if you feel ready - it’s a shield, not a burden.
Your modesty is your dignity in a world that’s forgotten it.
To my brothers:
Keep your beard and wear the sunnah with pride.
Don’t be shy of modest, dignified clothing.
You represent Islam in your appearance and manners.
It’s not easy.
You’ll be called extreme, boring, outdated.
You’ll be told you’re limiting yourself. (yes, someone’s said this to me)
But what they don’t realise is - obedience to Allah is freedom.
Dignity isn’t found in pleasing creation, it’s in pleasing the Creator.
Your honour as a Muslim isn’t in following trends.
It’s in following Muhammad ﷺ.
And I promise - there’s a kind of beauty and light on the face of a person who loves the sunnah.
Not because it’s convenient, but because it’s beloved to their Lord.
This is a reminder for me first, and then for you.
Let’s stop chasing validation from people who don’t care about our akhirah.
Let’s revive what the Prophet ﷺ loved.
Let’s be the strangers.
May Allah make us firm. May He beautify our hearts and appearances with what pleases Him. And may He allow us to meet the Prophet ﷺ at the fountain on the Day of Judgment with faces radient from obedience, not regret.
Ameen.
Don’t be a stranger - hit reply and tell me what you’re holding onto, or what you needed to hear today. I read every message.
Until the next letter,
— Hidvyaa