Peer Pressure

Thanks to "Muslims are Funny Too"(Hey,I miss you!) for suggesting this topic.


Peer Pressure is something all teens and people, even adults go through.


Muslims and non-Muslims alike.


It is sometimes a difficult situation, especially in the case of standing up to people like your friends.


An example of peer pressure:


Five MUSLIM girls, chatting and etc. One brings up the topic of crushes. WHOOPS. Then another starts singing one of those modern love songs on her Ipod(which muslims, by the way, shouldn't be listening to. Another WHOOPS). Then another starts talking in detail about her crush.


What do you do?


Listen, laugh, have "fun"?


No.


You stand up for your religion. You stand up and tell them that you feel this is an inappropriate discussion for Muslimahs to be having(it is contradicting the value of modesty in Islam), and perhaps it would be better to just switch the topic. If they do not take you seriously and persist with the discussion, just walk away. I have done this before, and it has came out with me feeling very good about myself.


Sometimes you might feel that they might not like you as much, might feel you arent "cool" or a "goody-good"(by the way, I take goody good as a compliment).


Then that should lead you to think about how great your friends really are.



If you are a loyal friend and think you can change them, talk with them in a deep, meaningful conversation about what you think about what they are doing. I have done this before, more than once. And at least once it did work.


When it did work, I was speaking to an open-minded good friend of mine, a really special person. She soaked in what I said, and has been changing drastically. I really admire her for that.


Just remember that when trying to guide your friend, you need knowledge and persistance. Both qualities will help you corner them into the spot where they don't have any more excuses or if they do, really feeble ones. And sometimes you won't even need to do that; some are quite open-minded and eager to improve.


Think about everything I have said here. Think about standing up for what you believe Islamically. Think about the da'wa to your friend. Think about pleasing Allah(SWT).





May Allah(SWT) bless and reward us all for our efforts to contribute to the Islamic Ummah. Ameen.


(Muslims are Funny Too, let me know if this was what you expected as a result of your suggestion. Everyone with questions, concerns, or personal connections who have trouble dealing with peer pressure is invited to participate in Comments. Thanks again, "Muslims are Funny Too". Everyone, this is what I want to see more of!)

Salamualikum,