Islam for Granted?

Sometimes, you would find a new revert to Islam envying the people born raised in Islam. I'm here to reciprocate this feeling on why most muslims of today should, and why I do, envy the new Muslims. There are two main reasons that I could thing of:

1) They made the choice

2) They most likely made sacrifices to be Muslim

1) The choice!

I was raised a Muslim and for me, I've taken it for granted. Even as I write now. (I'm working on it :( )  For most, Islam is just a part of our background but not the main subject of a picture in a painting of our lives. On the other hand, lets think about how our new sister's and brothers would treat Islam. "Alhamdullilah I'm a Muslim." is what you'd hear from a lot of them. 

I've always been a Muslim so I have no idea what it's like to go through making the choice. I often wonder about whether I would have done the same if I had the same courage , the same valor . First off would I be one of those who thought about religion? I think Alhamdullilah in the end.

At least you had the choice of doing some acts of worship like putting on the hijab, one would think. But unlike some of my Muslim friends who got to make the choice of putting on the hijab, I grew up with it so it's become apart of my skin Alhamdullilah. I may sound like I'm complaining but I'm trying to get across a point here about how strong of a conviction you have when something is your choice. I've been blessed (I just noticed it now.) 

For the rest of us who don't have this strong conviction, we're more prone to doubt. First off, if your boat starts sinking, don't blame anyone but yourself if you didn't know how to use it properly. Don't start getting mad at religion if you know you're knowledge is deficient.  I had to catch myself a couple of times when I got a bit outraged at the Quran 1) for being boring 2) for not speaking out to me. I have no one to blame but myself because first off, it was not meant for entertainment and secondly, I can't assume it won't speak out to me if I haven't even read the whole thing yet to date. I never once read it fully in English much less Arabic. 

My fellow Muslims, don't despair! Seek for knowledge. Don't be a stagnant muslim. Even if studying may seem boring, at least watch a 5-10 min long videos on youtube once a day.If you're not convinced about Islam then you need to learn now. Inshallah it will be a proud choice of yours. Also don't forget to supplicate to Allah.

On the authority of Abu Hurairah ra, who said that Rasulullah saw said: Allah swt said: "I am as My servant thinks I am. I am with him when he makes mention of Me. If he makes mention of Me to himself, I make mention of him to Myself. And if he makes mention of Me in an assembly, I make mention of him in an assembly better than it. And if he draws near to Me a hand's span, I draw near to him an arm's length. And if he draws near to Me an arm's length, I draw near to him a fathom's length. And if he comes to Me walking, I go to him at speed." 

There's more I can say about stagnant muslims but I'd go off topic. Just know that mosquitos, which cause malaria, grow in stagnant water. 

2) They made sacrifices.

Ontop of having a firm belief, you find that most reverts make sacrifices, for example, giving up the old you or a bad habit. Whereas this should happen regardless if you're a new muslim or an old one, I would say the term of intensity is higher for most of the former.

Sahih International

Do the people think that they will be left to say, "We believe" and they will not be tried?

Why would the intensity vary? Well you find that the people being tested have different levels of faith. That's why prophets had harder tests.

You find that the companions of the prophet (PBUH) also sacrificed a lot just to be muslims and so their hearts were more wrapped with love for the religion. It has more value for them.

Side note: Not Only do most (if not all) new Muslims have no doubt and have love in the religion, if you ask them why they're Muslims they'll have an answer. Now for those of us raised as Muslims, what is Islam other than our scarves and the mosque. 

There's so much we can learn from our new Sister's and brothers regarding Faith and hopefully they can learn from us regarding the knowledge if we have any at all, as we live under under the banner of Islam together and call ourselves Muslims.

Morals to be taken: You should be somewhat disturbed if you identify yourself as a Muslim and you don't make Islam essential in your life. Also if you can't answer why you're a Muslim and if you have doubts. Get some education that will benefit your belief. We can't lie to ourselves about the "love" we supposedly have towards Islam when we can't even answer why we're Muslim.

If you learnt something else, then share in the comments below. 

Forgive me if I've offended anyone as that was not my intention and if I've erred correct me!