Ending the stigma around….(part one)

In a way, this post is more of a multi-part series of stigmas that people really just need to not.

Part one of “Ending the stigma around…” is going to be about something that I have experienced and have spoken out about multiple times, especially in the last couple of years — and that something is the idea that someone being “too religious” is 1. existent and 2. a bad thing. A lot of people usually have an experience that leads them to following their faith and for someone to come along and make fun of or dictate that as a “bad” thing (whatever that means) is genuinely heart breaking.

When people are fairly new to incorporating something into their everyday routine, it takes some time to gain self-confidence in what they are doing. It also takes time to adjust and during this time, I think people need encouragement and reassurance the most. Not for someone to ridicule them over the change that they are making for a good purpose. What’s even more wonderful is the fact that college is such a perfect time to make these changes and grow as people in every aspect, including spiritually. The best part about college is that you meet so many new people who have different perspectives and different lifestyles, but when you get to know them and start calling them friends, your and their best characteristics come out. Your friends should and usually do influence you in a way that makes you a better person. And Alhamdulillah — it’s such a blessing to have friends like that.

Before considering someone’s actions as “too religious”, think about everything they internally went through to get to where they are today; recognizing that they need to make a change, spending time with books and gaining knowledge, changing their lifestyle, regularly incorporating prayer into their routines. I believe learning to openly practice your faith is something that everyone has to do on their own and they are taught how to do this through examples. But still, it takes that kick of self-realization to do so. For some people, these examples lie within their home. For others this examples lie in their home away from home. And for some, it’s a mix of both! Regardless, it’s a process and one that comes with immense reward.

So it’s time to end the stigma around the phrase “too religious” as being something that has a negative connotation. “Religious” itself is such a broad term that one shouldn’t try to put a label on someone else’s religiosity. Because essentially, everyone is fighting their own internal battles to get to a certain place in their life and if they’re doing something good and beneficial, it means so much more to them when they have people who encourage and support them rather than ridicule them and even push them away from the good they are doing.