Some people may be wondering what i mean by the title, "if the label show's your intent, wear it". I will be discussing some points below.

There are some people who say that "i may not show it but my heart is in the right place", now when someone does actually say this, it is very hard to believe because logically if your intentions are in the right place them your limbs should shows it, your actions should prove it.

I would like to share a short story with u. There was a pious old man, he was very truthful,had done his hajj gives money in charity and helps others. One day he was walking down the market to do a bit of shopping, he went to the shop keeper and ask for an item, the old man said to the shop keeper "boy, why did you not sallam me?" the boy replied " i did not know that you were a muslim, i though you were a Hindu". The worst thing you can be called is a Mushrik, shirk is the most hinnies sin. Shirk is a sin that will never be forgiven by Allah as mentioned in Surah Nisa ch4 v48" Now had the man be wearing a topi (hat) and kept a beard, he would have be recognised as a muslim, it would have also shown his intention, not saying its fardh, its actullay sunnat-e-mukedah to keep a beard (will explain later on).

Many people think that in Islam keeping a beard is fardh, but they are wrong, its actullay sunnat-e-mukedah, its close to fardh, but its not fardh. No wear in the Qur'an is it mentioned that you should keep a beard, not one single verse, the word beard is only mentioned once were its says in Surah Taha ch20 v94 "o son of my mother take me not by my beard nor by my head", thats the only verse were the word beard is mentioned. Now im not saying that don't keep a beard, all i'm trying to say is weather its fardh,sunnah,nafil,mustahab or mu'baah iirespective, a muslim will keep a beard why? because it pleases Allah. People ask the question that if its not fardh, then why should i do so and so, but rather they should be asked "if something is dear to Allah then why shouldn't you do that action, weather is fardh or not"? Its pleasing to Allah, same goes with the people that say its not fardh for men to wear the trousers above the ankle,its pleasing to Allah, that should be a suffienent answer to any question.

Now there are some individuals that say "but if i keep a beard,wear a hat, wear the thoub, i would give Islam a bad name". Alhamduiallah, a least this brother is concered about the deen. The brother maybe saying this because he has some bad habits, of lying, cheating,stealing ect. What i would like to say that there are two types of people in this world, one being a pesamist and the other being a optimist. Now what i would say that is keep the beard, wear the hat etc and then when you intend to do somehting bad, something that is not Islmaic, remind yourself that you have a beard and that you don't want to give Islam a bad name, then ISHALLAH, you will give up all the bad habits and keep the beard for the right reasons.

Regarding the length of the beard, Ibn Umar once asked the Prophet (s.a.w) "how should we keep our beards"? The prophet should him by holding his beard with one fist and chopped off what ever was below it and said "do the opposite of what the pagans did, grow the beard and trim the moustaches" But what i would say is first minium keep a beard and if you want higher level of taqwa go in to detail and follow the lifestyle of the sahaabas.

Now regarding hijab for women. Hijab protects us women, gives us respect, stops us from being molested. Some people may ask the question that there are non-muslims even muslim females out there that wear hijab and steal, get involved with things that they shouldn't and is giving the hijab a bad name.Unfortunalty its true, BUT we can not say to those sisters not to wear the hijab because that would be wrong, but we can tell them that they are wearing it for the wrong intention, and hope that one day Allah gives them hidayat. It very important to have the correct intention, and that should be only to please ALLAH. Their are some sister that wear niqab, its not fardh but some individual may not no this but it is actually WAAJIB to wear the niqab, as some of the wifes of the Prophet (s.a.w) did wear it and some did not,but one should not rebuke the person that is wearing the niqab, and the person that is wearing the niqab should not rebuke the person who is not wearing the niqab.

I would like to finish of by saying that you should be proud to be following the religion of truth, a religion of haq, should be proud to be a muslim and the only reason why a muslim would not want to wear the label is because he thinks Islam is not the right religion or maybe because they do not know the answers.

Jzk

Ma'sallam