Things Muslims Have (Sadly) Normalized
As a Muslims, our ultimate purpose should be submission to the will of Allah (SWT) and following the pristine example of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. However, we live in an era where the lines between Islam and dominant secular cultures have blurred. Slowly and subtly, behaviors that completely contradict our faith have been sugarcoated, normalized and accepted within our communities.
Things Muslims Have (Sadly) Normalized...
Here are 12 things that in my thoughts have sadly been normalized by modern Muslims and let's discuss and what Islam actually says about them.
- Skipping Salah for Work or Study
- Backbiting in the name of Venting
- Music being everywhere
- Free Mixing and Flirting
- Mocking those who Practice Deen
- Lavish wedding with No Barakah
- Riba (Interest) been Taken Lightly
- Joking excessively about Deen
- Zodiac Signs and 'Manifesting' Culture
- Following Influencers Blindly
- Posting Sins Publicly
- Neglecting the Quran
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We have entered a dangerous phase where we try to mold Islam to fit our lifestyles, rather than molding our lives to fit Islam. Allah explicitly warns us in the Qur'an against following human desires over divine revelation:
"Then We put you, [O Muhammad], on an ordained way concerning the matter [of religion]; so follow it and do not follow the inclinations of those who do not know." (Surah Al-Jathiyah, 45:18)
If we want Barakah (blessing) in our lives, success in the Akhirah (Hereafter) and the true honor of being the Ummah of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, we must stop justifying these normalized wrongs. We must strip away the modern excuses and return strictly to what came from Allah and His Messenger Muhammad ﷺ.
1. Skipping Salah for Work or Study
Many Muslims put their careers, university lectures, or exam prep above the second pillar of Islam. They treat Salah as something to do if time permits, forgetting that the one who provides their sustenance (Rizq) and intelligence is Allah.
Allah says in the Qur'an:
إِنَّ الصَّلَاةَ كَانَتْ عَلَى الْمُؤْمِنِينَ كِتَابًا مَّوْقُوتًا
"Indeed, prayer has been decreed upon the believers a decree of specified times." (Surah An-Nisa, 4:103)
The Prophet ﷺ also warned us about the gravity of leaving prayer:
بَيْنَ الرَّجُلِ وَبَيْنَ الشِّرْكِ وَالْكُفْرِ تَرْكُ الصَّلَاةِ
"Between a man and shirk (polytheism) and kufr (disbelief) is the abandoning of prayer." (Sahih Muslim, 82)
2. Backbiting in the Name of "Venting"
Gossip sessions are frequently disguised as "just venting" or "sharing a concern." We sit for hours tearing down the character of our brothers and sisters, assuming it’s harmless because "it's the truth."
The Prophet ﷺ clearly defined this for us:
قِيلَ أَفَرَأَيْتَ إِنْ كَانَ فِي أَخِي مَا أَقُولُ قَالَ " إِنْ كَانَ فِيهِ مَا تَقُولُ فَقَدِ اغْتَبْتَهُ وَإِنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ فِيهِ فَقَدْ بَهَتَّهُ "
It was said, "What if it is true about my brother?" The Prophet ﷺ said: "If what you say is true about him, you have backbitten him. And if it is not true, then you have slandered him." (Sahih Muslim, 2589)
3. Music Being Everywhere
Music has become the soundtrack of the modern Muslim’s life—in our cars, headphones, social media videos, and even our homes. Despite its absolute normalization, the classical instruments and musical lifestyles we engage with contradict prophetic teachings.
The Prophet ﷺ predicted this normalization:
لَيَكُونَنَّ مِنْ أُمَّتِي أَقْوَامٌ، يَسْتَحِلُّونَ الْحِرَ وَالْحَرِيرَ وَالْخَمْرَ وَالْمَعَازِفَ
"From among my followers there will be some people who will consider illegal sexual intercourse, the wearing of silk (for men), the drinking of alcoholic drinks, and the use of musical instruments, as lawful." (Sahih Bukhari, 5590)
4. Free Mixing and Flirting
The casual intermingling of genders, private messaging, and flirting have become standard practice in workplaces, universities, and online spaces. The concept of Haya (modesty) and guarding one’s gaze is pushed aside for modern social comfort.
The Prophet ﷺ shut the door to the primary catalyst of corruption:
لاَ يَخْلُوَنَّ رَجُلٌ بِامْرَأَةٍ إِلاَّ وَمَعَهَا ذُو مَحْرَمٍ
"No man should be alone with a woman unless she is accompanied by a Mahram (relative)." (Sahih Bukhari, 5233)
5. Mocking Those Who Practice Deen
When someone decides to grow their beard, wear the proper Hijab/Abaya, start praying on time, or avoid gatherings with free mixing, they are often ridiculed by their own family or peers as being "extreme," "backward," or "boring."
Allah addresses this exact mentality:
زُيِّنَ لِلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا الْحَيَاةُ الدُّنْيَا وَيَسْخَرُونَ مِنَ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا ۘ وَالَّذِينَ اتَّقَوْا فَوْقَهُمْ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ
"Beautified for those who disbelieve is the life of this world, and they ridicule those who believe. But those who fear Allah will be above them on the Day of Resurrection." (Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:212)
6. Lavish Weddings with No Barakah
We spend tens of thousands of dollars on single-night wedding events filled with waste, music, free mixing, and showing off, then wonder why the marriage struggles later on. We trade Allah’s blessing for societal validation.
The Prophet ﷺ advised us on where true blessing lies:
إِنَّ أَعْظَمَ النِّكَاحِ بَرَكَةً أَيْسَرُهُ مُؤْنَةً
"Indeed, the most blessed marriage is the one that is least expensive." (Musnad Ahmad, 24529)
7. Riba (Interest) Being Taken Lightly
Student loans with interest, car financing, mortgages, and credit card debt are accepted as "unavoidable necessities of modern life." We treat interest as a standard financial transaction, forgetting that it is a sin that sparks spiritual ruin.
Allah declares open war on those who refuse to leave interest:
فَإِن لَّمْ تَفْعَلُوا فَأْذَنُوا بِحَرْبٍ مِّنَ اللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ
"And if you do not, then be informed of a war [against you] from Allah and His Messenger." (Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:279)
8. Joking Excessively About Deen
Memes making fun of multiple marriages, making light of Hellfire or Paradise, or using Islamic terminology (like Halal, Haram, Astaghfirullah) in a sarcastic, humorous way are everywhere on social media.
Allah explicitly warns against making religion a laughing matter:
وَلَئِن سَأَلْتَهُمْ لَيَقُولُنَّ إِنَّمَا كُنَّا نَخُوضُ وَنَلْعَبُ ۚ قُلْ أَبِاللَّهِ وَآيَاتِهِ وَرَسُولِهِ كُنتُمْ تَسْتَهْزِئُونَ
"And if you ask them, they will surely say, 'We were only conversing and playing.' Say, 'Is it Allah and His verses and His Messenger that you were mocking?'" (Surah At-Tawbah, 9:65)
9. Zodiac Signs and "Manifesting" Culture
Checking horoscopes, aligning choices with zodiac traits, and adopting New Age "manifestation" techniques (believing you can attract things from the universe via the "law of attraction") directly compromise our belief in Qadr (Divine Decree) and Tawheed (Oneness of Allah).
The Prophet ﷺ said regarding stars and astrology:
مَنِ اقْتَبَسَ عِلْمًا مِنَ النُّجُومِ اقْتَبَسَ شُعْبَةً مِنَ السِّحْرِ زَادَ مَا زَادَ
"Whoever acquires knowledge of astrology acquires a branch of magic; he gets more as he learns more." (Sunan Abi Dawud, 3905)
10. Following Influencers Blindly
We give our attention, loyalty, and admiration to social media influencers who openly display lifestyles of vanity, materialism, and sin. We adopt their slang, their clothing style, and their values without filtering them through Islam.
The Prophet ﷺ gave a profound warning about who we choose to love and follow:
الْمَرْءُ مَعَ مَنْ أَحَبَّ
"A person will be with those whom he loves." (Sahih Bukhari, 6168)
11. Posting Sins Publicly
Social media has created a culture where Muslims record themselves clubbing, drinking, displaying improper clothing, or boasting about relationship drama. In doing so, they strip away the veil of privacy Allah granted them.
The Prophet ﷺ said regarding publicizing wrongdoing:
كُلُّ أُمَّتِي مُعَافًى إِلاَّ الْمُجَاهِرِينَ
"All the sins of my followers will be forgiven except those of the Mujahirin (those who commit a sin openly or disclose their sins to the people)." (Sahih Bukhari, 6069)
12. Neglecting the Qur'an
We have time to read books, articles, captions, and watch hours of videos, but our copies of the Qur'an sit on shelves gathering dust. We only open it during Ramadan or times of extreme tragedy, leaving its guidance neglected.
Allah reveals the heartbreaking complaint the Prophet ﷺ will make on the Day of Judgment:
وَقَالَ الرَّسُولُ يَا رَبِّ إِنَّ قَوْمِي اتَّخَذُوا هَٰذَا الْقُرْآنَ مَهْجُورًا
"And the Messenger has said, 'O my Lord, indeed my people have taken this Qur'an as [a thing] abandoned.'" (Surah Al-Furqan, 25:30)
Conclusion
It is time to look into the mirror and strip away the cultural filters we have placed over our religion. Just because thousands of people are doing something doesn't make it right. Right is what Allah and His Messenger ﷺ declared right, even if no one does it; wrong is what they declared wrong, even if the whole world normalizes it. Let us repent, adjust our steps, and fix our priorities before our time runs out.
All Hadiths and Qur'an Aayyah are mentioned with references...
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