WHO IS REAL BEAUTIFUL?

Beauty is what is liked the most and is wanted the most. But what beauty actually is? Is it only the beauty that our eyes can see or it is the beauty that our mind can assess? There is a well known saying “beauty lies in the eyes of beholder”

This saying is commonly used to justify the purpose of creation of everything that otherwise can be rejected and thrown if justified by the looks. Therefore, it is said that what beauty is can be different for different people. One might love something praising its beauty while the other might reject it. The craze for beauty has increased so much that everybody wants to look good, by any means. For this people modify their body parts, they do so much things to themselves that their appearance changes totally making them look unnatural being.

What ALLAH swt says about beauty? What is beauty in the eyes of the creator of heavens and earth?
ALLAH swt says in Quran: 40: 64

“Allâh, it is He Who has made for you the earth as a dwelling place and the sky as a canopy, and has given you shape and made your shapes good (looking) and has provided you with good things. That is Allâh, your Lord, so Blessed is Allâh, the Lord of the 'Alamîn (mankind, jinn and all that exists)”

In the verse above, ALLAH swt says that HE has created us and shaped us that look good and perfect. So, when we are good looking and perfect in the eyes of ALLAH swt, how can we be un-grateful to HIM about our looks? Is there any way to amend the perfection? If not, then nobody can criticize nobody on looks.

In the quran, ALLAH swt say that HE fashioned us perfectly i.e. HE has given us perfect shapes, and HE created everything in us in exact proportion, neither an inch extra nor an inch less. And then HE says that HE MADE US LOOK according to HIS will, how can we question the will of ALLAH.

Medical science now says that beautiful parents can have less good looking children and some average looking people can have beautiful children, similarly or complexions and other genetic information can vary as per our race.

Al-Quran: 64: 3

“ has created the heavens and the earth with truth, and He shaped you and made good your shapes, And to Him is the final Return.”

This noble verse also speaks the same i.e. we are created as beautiful and perfect. We do not need any more amendments. Thus, by calling other ugly, imperfect or bad, it only means the one who says or thinks so, is questioning the creation and power of ALLAH. Among us, some are better looking than other, but no one is ugly, and we are not entitled to call others ugly or of bad looks.

HOW CAN I BE A GOOD MUSLIM?

once we are regularly practicing the five pillars of Islam, we are in contact with Allah. Prayer is our direct communication with Allah and this requires the correct intention, full concentration and humility. 

We can still improve our relationship with Allah by doing more voluntary good deeds. These voluntary good deeds may take the form of extra prayers, fasts, charity (sadaqa). This can also include reading and understanding the Quran, memorizing more of it – even competing with family or friends, and generally helping others, whenever we can.

We can even avoid raising our voices, avoid arguing – and of course swearing… We can do more for our parents, share more with our brothers and sisters – whether blood relatives or not…

In fact, it is also an obligation for Muslims to seek knowledge from the cradle to the grave. If we are sincerely doing this for Allah, He will support our efforts and in this way we will feel closer to Allah.

The Quran says in Surah 47, verse 17:

And [as for] those who follow the right direction, He increases them in guidance and gives them their guarding [against evil]}

Then, the knowledge we learn should be put to some use. That is, we should contribute to the society we find ourselves in. We can find ways to help, for example, some people give speeches in schools, visit the elderly, run errands for those who have limited mobility, help younger ones with homework, teach if they have skills that are in demand, etc.

For example, there is a growing movement in the UK for community centers, to be utilized by ethnic groups for learning functions. This includes teaching computer skills, aerobics, language classes – Arabic – and so on. I don’t know if this is a possibility in your country, or if you can even use classrooms in schools after the classes have finished?

In addition, there is this product that I used. It was a computer  based quiz program (PCIQ) available from the Islamic Computing Center – along with others – where you can learn a little about Islam. You can do this, at the same time as competing with a friend on your knowledge of Islam.

Also, every Muslim should be familiar with the life of Muhammad (peace be upon him).Also, we should read the stories of the sahabah (companions of the messenger), may Allah be pleased with them all.

The last suggestion is to find yourself a group of good religious friends. Have someone as the coordinator and do some group study of the Quran and sunnah (biography of the messenger). It is best to do this with a native Arabic speaker, or at least someone who knows Arabic. That way, you stay within the boundary of the Quranic Arabic, when you have your discussions.

These are known as ‘study circles’. Generally, you study a passage from the Quran, read and discuss ahadith (sayings of the messenger) and look to see how to apply these in your daily life. While this can be done on an individual basis, it is easier in a group. Perhaps even a family group, if there were not many Muslims around you, would be a good idea…

One more thing, perhaps, to bear in mind, is that the first revelations to Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) came to build up the inner person, to improve one’s faith, to strengthen one’s ‘imaan(faith and belief), to give hope of Paradise and how to avoid Hell. Therefore, the Makkan Surah’s are the ones to study first..