The Narratives – Mohamed Miah

Mohamed Miah | The Narratives

The race for the front row

Sometimes I look around at my own community, and I feel we’ve lost sight of what faith truly means.

Especially among us South Asians, there’s this mindset that religion has become a competition, a constant need to prove ourselves in front of others rather than in front of Allah.

Take the example of salah. People will push, shove, and fight their way into the first three rows, as though Allah’s mercy is distributed by elbowing someone else out of the way.

Yes, the intention is valid, the Prophet ﷺ did tell us the front rows carry greater reward. But reward is not something you snatch out of another’s hand, it is something Allah gives from His endless bounty. Allah already knows what is in your heart. He sees sincerity without you having to fight for it.

Pride vs. humility

What good is there in being in the first row if the heart is full of arrogance, pride, and competition?

The whole point of salah is khushū‘ — humility before the Lord of the Worlds. The one who quietly prays at the back with a clean heart may be closer to Allah than the one who fought for the front with a different intention.

Muslims against Muslims

The same sickness shows itself in other ways too. Muslims insulting other Muslims, claiming they are “not Muslim enough.” Brothers and sisters openly humiliating one another, as though their own Islam is flawless. But who gave us the right to judge someone’s imaan? That judgement belongs to Allah alone.

The Prophet ﷺ warned us against this kind of arrogance. He said: “It is enough evil for a man to hold his Muslim brother in contempt.” (Sahih Muslim). He also said: “Do not hate each other, do not envy each other, do not turn away from each other, but be servants of Allah as brothers.” (Sahih al-Bukhari, Sahih Muslim).

The right way to correct

Our duty, when we see something wrong, is not to humiliate but to guide. And guidance is never through shouting or public shaming. The Prophet ﷺ said: “Whoever conceals the fault of a Muslim, Allah will conceal his faults in this world and the Hereafter.” (Sahih Muslim).

If we see a brother or sister slipping, the way of the Prophet ﷺ is to take them aside, speak with gentleness, or point them towards knowledge. It’s not to tear them down in front of others, not to embarrass them, not to parade their flaws as though that somehow makes us better.

Da’wah or shouting match?

Today, da’wah has become a shouting match. Look at places like Speakers’ Corner — Muslims screaming at Christians, Christians mocking Muslims, insults flying, egos clashing. Everyone wants to prove they are an alpha, a man, a winner.

But da’wah is not about domination. It’s about opening hearts. Allah says in the Qur’an: “Invite to the way of your Lord with wisdom and good instruction, and argue with them in a way that is best.” (16:125). What happened to gentleness? What happened to wisdom?

Faith is sincerity

Faith is not a performance. It’s not about front rows, shouting, or public victories. Faith is quiet reflection between you and Allah. He is the One who sees the tears you shed in sujood, the patience you show in hardship, the mercy you extend to another human being. None of that needs an audience.

We need to return to sincerity. Worship is not a race against each other, but a journey towards Allah.

Guidance is not a humiliation contest, but a private act of love and care. And judgement is not ours to fling at each other, it is Allah’s alone.

So if I see someone slipping, I’ll try to remind them gently. If I see someone attacked, even if their life choices go against Islam, I will defend their dignity, because they are still a soul created by Allah. And if I find myself tempted to compete in piety, I’ll remind myself, the only One I need to please is Allah.

Faith is not a competition. Faith is sincerity. And sincerity is what Allah loves most.

Closing Reflection

O Allah, make us people of sincerity, not people of show. Protect us from arrogance and from judging our brothers and sisters. Place humility in our hearts and gentleness on our tongues. Allow us to worship You with love, to guide others with wisdom, and to leave judgement to You alone. Ameen.

© Mohamed Miah | The Narratives

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