Making an Impact
By UsaydWell, this officially the 500th post by the Usayd Network! 
We have reached our half a thousand milestone!
I thought that a suitable topic for this would be talking about making an impact. We all know how important it is that we give a good impression of ourselves to others. For example, when we go perhaps for a job interview, or to talk to someone in a higher position then ourselves, we strive to leave them with a positive impression. We always seem to find that when we are with familiar company, our friends or our peers, we change our attitudes - and not normally in a good way. One of the things that Islam teaches us is to respect one another, and to find the best of company. In an authentic Hadith, the Prophet Muhammad 
said: “A person is likely to follow the faith of his friend, so look whom you befriend.”
In the times that we are in today, many people are making an impact on society in perhaps a more negative way, often regarding Islam. It’s a shame to see so many random people who of course, no real Muslims have ever even heard of, making false declarations about the religion of Islam. That’s why I’m so delighted that some of the YM Birmingham
» Islam in Sparkhill - BBC Birmingham [+Video]
Hassan Yaqoob attends a Muslim Youth group in Sparkhill every Friday. He made a film to share why Islam is so important to him.
He says: “Islam is not just a religion for me, it’s a way of life. At all time I try to remember my God. Throughout the day, Islam allows me to stop and take time to reflect and make peace with myself.
“When I pray with a gathering, we stand shoulder to shoulder whether we are rich or poor because in the view of God, not one person is higher than another. Our faith is only for Allah
, and not a show we put on for others to say how godly we are.”
Having recently spent some time with Hassan and the YM Birmingham lads, it makes me proud that they are representing Islam in a manner which is not tainted with any aspects of the views often seen today, but is showing how true Muslims should feel towards their faith.
The company which we keep has a huge impact on our lives. So many people are led astray by their ‘friends’, even or especially at a young age where many youth are quite gullible and often follow only their desires without really thinking of the consequences. It is really sad when you see someone with such a good heart become someone completely different just because of the company that person keeps.
Allah the Exalted says in the Qur’an: “And (remember) the Day when the wrong-doer will bite his hands and say: Woe to me! Would that I had taken a path with the Messenger. Woe to me! If only I had not taken so- and-so as a friend! He has led me astray from this Reminder (the Qur’an) after it had come to me. And Satan is ever a deserter to man in the hour of need.” [25:27-29]
March 14th, 2006 at 11:18 pm
I saw that link today - and was more interested to note that the BBC had actually commissioned them to do something like that.
The praying while playing football outdoors was good too. I didn’t notice any girls tho…I may have had my eyes closed.
Girls in a video about Islam can make a huge impact.
March 14th, 2006 at 11:22 pm
MashaAllah, good work bro,
i m looking forward for new ones inshaAllah…
March 15th, 2006 at 7:13 pm
I’m sure i recognise most of the guys from the video lol. But yeah it’s good to have reminders like these, unfortunately in this day and age it’s easy to be lead astray just by who you associate yourselves with. Mashallah, good reminder. Keep up the good work bro. Wasalaam.