…The mindset of the average muslim is that “we can pray away our challenges”.
They forget the saying “tie your camel and then ask Allah to protect it”. Lots of muslims are in “denial mode”.
Apart from this, only a few muslims will actually financially commit to self development.
Most times we muslims want everything free.
The narrative is just beginning to change about muslims realizing that they need to keep learning to keep growing.
We shouldn’t keep using Islam as an excuse to enslave/trap ourselves.
Islam even encourages us to seek beneficial knowledge.
Re-education is the starting point for muslims.
From telling the alfas that ask their women to stay home and not indulge in so-called worldly activities (and these women have no knowledge to equip the generation they are raising on critical thinking and problem solving skills in facing the dynamic challenges facing the younger generation) to the the alfas who on wedding days preach “don’t talk to a third party about your challenges” (that seems to be the counseling anthem at weddings) instead of preaching to seek a trustworthy person whom will be unbiased and be able to redirect your steps; or these alfas mandating premarital counseling before conducting nikkahs (anytime I have to issue a certificate of completion of premarital counseling to a couple for presentation to their pastor, It bothers me that when would muslims get to this point where we mandate that people to educate themselves on what they are about to face).
In the past, I used to be offended when I meet people of other faiths and they say things like “wow, so muslims do this type of job” but now, I just shrug it off and say to myself, “who caused it that others don’t know muslims should be the epitome of knowledge and development?”
Zainab, a psychologist, volunteers for the Muslim Public Affairs Centre, MPAC Nigeria
