This article was sent to us from one of our respected readers: From the day I came to England, life was not what I expected it to be. I couldn’t speak or write English, and by the time I did, I faced diverse challenges and one of them was failing all my exams. And yet, I did not lose hope.

I could have gone and done a degree later on, after I learnt but I am the eldest out of four sisters, and two brothers. In a sense, I was like a father to them because my father was not around and my mother suffered great depression.

So, I concentrated in ensuring the future of our Ummah in teaching them the value of our deen, knowledge, the importance of knowing who you are and to not let anyone take you for a ride. I even shared with them stories regaeding politics and how they impact our lives and the future generation. Never did I think this would impact their lives to serve their fellow human being with pure love for Allah SWT.

I shared with them, one final thing before they grew to succeed in their areas of field or business. No matter which country you are in, it is created by Allah SWT and lack of activity, and the lack of serving the Ummah for the love of God, renders one to complain on how empty their life is and how the country they live in is going down. Such talk is for people who live an empty life and have not rendered to serve their fellow man or woman for the pleasure of our Lord. It is empty talk.

They have grown to make my father and mother proud. We sometimes want to change the world out there but we forget – the world is also within our homes, within our own loved ones, our own brothers and sisters. Our own family.

I thought I was happy, I also feel sadness to hear and read from fellow Muslims, complaining how England - is a place of unworthiness and curse, to complain and not understand that a Muslim is a warrior, no matter where he or she is. You do with what you have. It is this that makes a pioneer and a strong Muslim. Not cries on what we haven’t and how this country is that and our country is this.

Many still complain and even stoop so low as to cast suspicions on other Muslims in England who speak positive, who achieve, who do not cast their lives on morbid and trivial talk. Rather, they get up and do and make things happen. Do they really think God will give them more if they complain about what they have today?

This world is created by our Lord, Allah SWT. It’s time to stop making excuses, no matter if it is economy, recession, lack of leadership, lack of parental guidance, empty mosques, the weather, and become the economy, the leaders, the parents, and the achievers, entrepreneurs, the mosques filled with true Muslims who are active and aim at the true issues at hand.

It must start within our own homes. With ourselves, our parents, our brothers, sisters, and our children. That is the world worth helping, nurturing and you shall see the positive result. Maybe not now, but in the future.

I thank Allah SWT bringing forth brothers and sisters who continue to act and not just pray, who continue to make Islam easy, who continue to smile, who speak positive, who continue to hand flyers, leaflets to remind us all, that the work is not done.

Because of so many brothers and sisters striving to excel in different fields – they have turned an unlettered, a person who could not read and write – to have skills in diverse industries, that I could’ve only dreamed of doing. At aged forty, I see the world has changed for a better place.

I thank Allah SWT for always bringing a small band of people, who are kind, and compassionate, and remind us of who we are, what we need to do and continue reminding us to be accountable.

No one is perfect but we can worship together, as one, to someone who is perfect. Allah the Absolute, the Eternal, the All Mighty.

Jazakhum Allah Khairun.

Wassalaam