I’m done for the day and it’s almost time to go home ““ but I just can’t help thinking about how I got to where I am today. Six months ago I was revising for my final exam. Within a week of that I was a Biochemical Engineer working for a biotech company. Everything had changed so fast and I found myself in a job that I absolutely love. The money, the hours, the work I do, the company privileges, the challenges, my office, my colleagues, my hot mug of coffee on my desk ““ I would never have dreamed of a job like this!The sad thing is that Allah gave me this job on a plate. Throughout my final year, my friends told me to apply for jobs but I never got around to it. This was the first job I applied for and I got it with almost no effort, alhamdulillah. I guess that’s why I have to remember this is a test from Allah and all just part of my worship to Him. May Allah never burden me with more than I can bear but I would give this all up in a second if He (swt) commanded me.When I think of everything Allah (swt) has done for me and the fact that He is my Creator, I ask myself: How can I disobey Him for some minor benefit in this life? So it makes me laugh when I’m told that my allegiance should be to this country before Islam ““ yeah right!The funny thing is that a practising Muslim would be the best employee and best citizen Britain has seen ““ no drink-driving, no stealing, no drugs, etc, etc. There is the small issue of the anti-terror legislation that is coming into effect. One minute I’m the best citizen ever, the next minute I’m a criminal wanted for believing in Shariah. Just believing in something can get you banged up for seven years ““ talk about tolerance! In the Khilafah (Caliphate) you can never be punished for your private beliefs. As long as you respect the law and don’t go around promoting things in public that is damaging to society, you can believe whatever you like. However, in Britain respecting the law is not good enough for Mr Blair, he wants to get into my head and tell me what to believe too.I respect the law in this country but only because Allah (swt) tells me to. My allegiance is only to Him and Him alone. Remember the beautiful words of the Prophet (saw):“There is no obedience to the created in the disobedience of Allah.” [Ahmed]No matter how ridiculous this anti-terror legislation gets, the Dawah will never stop inshAllah. Even though this hadith is so clear and concise, I found that it can be tough to convince everyone. I was outside the Masjid discussing with a brother about the above hadith when he angrily pointed out that I was a hypocrite because I had obeyed a British Law whilst I was praying Salah even though Allah forbids it!My mouth went dry. How could I have disobeyed Allah whilst praying Salah? He asked me if I had changed my prayer times by an hour after the clocks went back an hour (daylight saving). When I replied that I had, he yelled out that I had gone to such extremes that I had changed the timing of Salah, one of the fundamental pillars of Islam, just because British Time had gone back by an hour. He then went on to use this fact to justify why he compromised Islamic Laws for British Laws whenever the need arises. “You do the same thing”, he told me.I couldn’t believe this guy was being serious. I patiently explained that the Salah times were determined using the position of the sun. It had nothing to do with daylight saving! Even though I used every angle I could think of to articulate my point I still haven’t been able to convince this brother. He really believes every Muslim in Britain is changing their Salah times when the clocks go back!

This was really humbling for me because it made me appreciate even more that the final result of everything (including the Dawah) is from Allah. That’s the reason why I would give up everything I have in a second if Allah commands it ““ if Allah is the one that gives the final victory and if I truly believe that, then why would I ever do anything Haram to achieve my goals?