The dunya is always calling us towards something. Watch this show. Listen to this song. Buy these clothes. Wear this makeup. Talk like her. Walk like him. Sometimes it feels so compelling and disheartening. Which way do you turn? Who do you listen to? What is to do?

There is always just a little something inside you, which may give in to temptation. These temptations, these snakes, will never do any good for you. They may feel amazing at the time, but looking at the bigger picture, they will always lead you to that which is wrong. They may seem ‘small’ and insignificant, but they are the start of a journey, the start of something you don’t want to get into.

There is a hint of irritation I feel whenever I hear the question, “Are you Islamic?” But the part before that question, I don’t mind so much. “I’m asking you this because you’re wearing a headscarf…are you Islamic?”

One of the rules of Islam that I feel demonstrates this is the privilege of the woman’s hijab.

We may have been filling our bookshelves and computers with whatever Islamic knowledge that we come across. But the question is how much of it are we really implementing?