Going against the world

"To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else, is the greatest accomplishment"

- Ralph Waldo Emerson

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Actually though, to be yourself in UK is relatively easy. People couldn't care less about you here - what you are, what you do, what you wear, etc. In fact, you have to make some effort to get people to notice you here.

It is quite liberating, albeit a bit weird at first. When you come from a society that expect you to conform to the general masses in terms of how you behave, what you wear, what you should/shouldn't have and how you think, it was a bit disorienting to find yourself on your own. You are who YOU decide to be.

One of the most important lesson that I learn here is in identifying myself as a Muslim. For some reason, our society in general have some anxiety issues about being a Muslim outside of Malaysia. The media propaganda of Muslims being terrorists and being hated by non-Muslims around the world had instilled this excessive fear in most people. I remember back in 2005 when I had to go to New York, one friend had advised me to wear a small scarf instead so not to look too Muslim. Another friend had also told me how he had advised his wife to not wear her tudung during their trip overseas. Besides this, I've known Malaysians who don't pray when travelling because there isn't any place to pray. On this note, I've learned a lot from my friend and classmate from Saudi. She is a Muslim and she is not afraid to be one in public. During winter, when zuhur and asar's time is very short, she normally used the 10 minutes break that lecturers normally gave us to pray in the class. She just go to one corner in the class and just pray, without caring that the whole class maybe watching her. But as mentioned, people here just don't care about what you do. It is actually all in your mind that they may be criticising you. In fact, they even showed respect by not making too much noise if they are near the place where she is praying. I myself have yet to be this strong and tend to find some secluded place to pray.

Another issue that is a challenge when living and being friends with non-Muslims are the food. We have to be strong enough to inform and educate them on what food we can eat and what we can't. And the good thing about the people here is that they respect your faith and belief. And at times go out of their way to actually accomodate you. Someone had recently organized a bbq, inviting around 20 people from my class. And because there are four of us that are Muslims, she decided to use the Halal chicken only. I was quite touched by her effort on that. But it showed me at least that if I'm strong and keep to my faith, Allah will provide the way.

I am concerned though about going back into the KL society again. Will I be able to maintain my independence and not be sucked into the never-ending rat race and kow-towing to the society 's demand on me again? Heavy thought. Hope I don't drown :p


ps: KFC had opened 8 restaurants in London to be of Halal status. McDonald's had one already and Subway has countless of them all over the country. Isn't it just wonderful to see how a non-Muslim country is slowly embracing the Islamic way of life? :)