MASHAALLAH, YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL!

How many of us have the habit of comparing ourselves with models and actresses and then end up being depressed with the way we are? I’m sure most of us are. It’s not easy to ignore the slim, beautiful, airbrushed models in glamorous magazines looking stunning with flawless and beautiful skin, and it’s certainly difficult to ignore comparing ourselves with them. But that’s what we have to do. We have to ignore comparing ourselves with them because we’re nothing like them. We are Muslims, and as Muslims, we know that beauty isn’t something that’s just skin-deep; it’s far more than that. And as Muslims, we should also be wise enough to understand that superficial beauty isn’t our aim, and neither is that what Allah looks for. Remember that Allah doesn’t look at our beauty, skin, colour of shape. He only looks into our heart, Imaan and Taqwa. And that’s what we should strive for- to beautify ourselves for our Creator, Allah. Not for people or society.

How many of us spend hours and hours moaning about our skin and our shape? How many of us mourn about our arms being too fat while obviously remaining ignorant and ungrateful for to the fact that Alhamdulillah, we have arms. How many of us thank Allah for our arms, however fat they may be, because it has helped us in innumerable ways. Just because we hate it doesn’t mean we can do without it. 
Then again, our feet. How many of us mourn about our fat and short feet while not realizing that it’s the same feet with which we walk, stand up in prayer to Allah and fall down in Sujood to Him. Are we as grateful for whatever we have as much as we mourn about it? How many of us hate the way we look, the way our mouths are positioned, the way our noses are stubbed, the way our eyes are, the acne we have on our skin, etc, etc, etc. While we are mourning, and even hating ourselves for the way we look, have we ever given a moment of thought to appreciating what we have and saying Alhamdulillah for it?

Allah is beautiful and loves beauty. So should we, but we shouldn’t get obsessed with it. I know of many people who have gone under severe depression just thinking about the few pounds they’ve gained, a few pimples on the faces, etc. In extreme cases, it has even lead to suicide! That’s the fact. It’s all the pressure of the media and the world, where they project the image of the ‘rich and beautiful’ making it seem as though others have absolutely nothing in this world. And it’s sad that the teens of today are falling headlong into that trap. It’s more disappointing to see Muslims falling into this trap when we know that our beauty is only a test from Allah and that our beauty isn’t going to get us anywhere. Only our Imaan and Taqwa will. Beautify your heart and that will naturally reflect on your face. And that kind of beauty is the real beauty. Not the fake beauty plastered on magazines and ads with tons and tons of makeup and enhancements.

We are what we are, and we should be proud of that! And while we are at it, recite this Dua, one our Prophet Muhammad (sallalahu alaihi wasallam) recited regularly, particularly when looking into the mirror:

اللَّهُمَّ أَنْتَ حَسَّنْتَ خَلْقِي فَحَسِّنْ خُلُقِي

Allahumma anta hasanta khalqi fahassin khuluqi

"O Allah, just as you have made my external features beautiful, make my character beautiful as well"