Help With faith

[IbrahimOsman]

Assalamu Alaykum brothers and sisters, My name is Ibrahim. I'm 16. I have been a muslim since birth and never really questioned my connection to Islam, until recently. I started to read more into my faith, I have read the quran for answers as well as the hadeeth. But I seem to feel like my heart drifts from Islam. One reason is because of the universal racism I have felt from most muslim teachers. I am black and have had countless racist things done to me by my community in Canada. I know we shouldn't relate what muslims do to the religion of Islam but it hurts when even your quran teachers say racist things to you in class. I have been considering telling my sisters about me being at the edge of my faith but I know if i did they would blame it on the west and remove everything I love to do like sports. They have talked about doing this prior for the smallest reasons. I need help. I know if I tell my mom that would break her heart, she has done so much for us and she would blame herself for me not being a good muslim. What could I do?

[Muhammad]

وعليكم السلام ورحمة الله وبركاته

I’m sorry to hear of the racism you have experienced. There is no place for racism in Islam. One of the beautiful things about Islam is how it brings all people together, regardless of colour, nationality or culture, for the worship of One God. You can see this in the Masajid where people of all walks of life are praying side by side. You see it even more so if you go for Umrah or Hajj, where Muslims from all over the world are gathered in one place, wearing the same white sheets, performing the same rituals for the worship of our Creator.

So, brother, don’t let your negative experiences cause you to drift from your faith. Your faith and your commitment to Islam is not for any person or teacher, rather it is for Allah سبحانه وتعالى Who is the most Kind and Loving. Let the Prophets and their righteous followers be your examples and role models. We will always come across people who may cause upset and disappointment, but that is their own failing and not a reason for you to lose out by becoming distant from Allah سبحانه وتعالى.