 when it comes to integration the religion of Islam encourages it as long as any other identity whether it's american arab any other form does not clash with the principles and the values of these three things servitude submission and as long as these are kept as the governing identity islam says you can integrate indeed what islam encourages is what it mandates exemplary citizenship the quran states that by wearing this identity with pride and honor you are able to come forward wherever living in the world and present a good picture of the religion and yourself you can be indeed a beacon of light an example for people to look at when it comes to the principles that human beings all share peace coexistence love tolerance islam says when you adopt this particular identity you are able to indeed move forward in your journey present yourself in the best possible way yet at the same time it discourages this at the idea of assimilation meaning what there is a difference between integration and assimilation we should not sacrifice our own values in order to reach the satisfaction of others what do you mean i come to the mosque i come to the jamia to the center i am a muslim i am praying i'd say salam to others a sister wears hijab i go to school i go to my office the i muslim identity unfortunately sometimes is left is left at home is left at the jamia so for instance sisters may take their hijab lightly brothers when it comes to come in speaking to others they're afraid of expressing their islamic ness their islamic background their muslim identity and we see this present in many shapes or forms yet today we are told there are some inspirational stories out there which highlight to us how we should be proud of our identity and Allah would bless us and would give us strength and success if we stand there and wear the badge of the religion of islam with pride and honor how you've heard of the story of the lady by the name of naima in belgium 2005 she wears hijab and she works in a factory packaging food what happened was that the manager of the factory in belgium in europe receives a letter the letter says that we will attack this particular factory and later on the letter اگر برج لیسم ہے اگر you do not stop employing ladies wearing hijab then your death is soon he was threatened with death this lady hears about it she's struggling with the notion what does she do does she come and say to her manager you know what i'm gonna take my hijab off for you it's okay you know i have to fit in no she doesn't She stands by her principles. اللہ سبحانہ وتعالیٰ says من کانا مع اللہ کان اللہ معا If you support the cause of Allah, Allah will be with you. It might be an examination. It might be a difficult position that you may go through. But rest assured you will attain success at the end. Look at this story as an example. Her boss says to her don't worry. She says what do you mean? Her boss says to her keep wearing the hijab. Notice that sometimes non-muslims adhere to these principles. She keeps wearing the hijab. He collects 20,000 signatures from the city itself and from the company to demonstrate what support for this lady when it comes to wearing the hijab and to stand against the extremists who are threatening this particular institution. Later on the king because this particular new episode gets publicity. The king of Belgium is traveling in the area. Here's about this visits the same factory and stands next to this نعیمہ and the boss and addresses the people of Belgium and says we are against discrimination. People are free to wear this particular dress code and to express their religion. Can you imagine that اللہ تبارک وتعالیٰ indeed احدی برائی پاسیک والا لیٰ آرین باہت اٹھا سکتا ہے. پہنچ مطالوعا ہی دبارتی ہوتا ہے اور یہ بورت ہے کہ کبھی آپ و میں لگتا ہے۔ ایک ع حافت ہی وقت کے عاربت پیٹکیلہ کند ، بہت ہی جب لگتا ہے کہ ہم کونا کو سلالا ваш جب جب صلاح پر فرمی پر بھی تے جب ایشان بھی رہ رہتا ہے۔ ایک مدن دی۔ اسے موجودہ شک خوالی ہیں۔ہاں گئی کہ ان میں صلاح پر پرمی کرو گیا۔ انہوں نے کہتا ہے کہ آپ یہاں نہیں should not do so here i don't like religious expressions in the office you must do it outside he said i can't do it outside the weather doesn't help i don't there's no mosque or place of worship close by he said take it or leave it you are not allowed to perform any religious form or worship here in the office what did this man do he said thank you very much i resign he said what you will resign he said yes my religion is important to me if you do not allow me to practice it then i cannot work here anymore he himself tells me what did he say he said i placed my resignation on friday he said the manager said fine you can go he says wallahi by monday i received an offer from a company and the salary was much much bigger and the job was much better these are demonstrations and examples that we are presented with when it comes to feeling a sense of pride and at the same time confidence in our belief in our muslim identity in coming forward with this notion because sometimes we assess ourselves with regards to where we come from with regards to our families there is no problem when it comes to cultural tendencies sometimes culture has a lot of value has a lot of meaning islam is not against culture many of us should adhere to the culture provided it doesn't clash with the islamic principles