Wisdom from a T-shirt

A few years back, I can recall my friend wearing a shirt that has a quote on it which I think is so profound. The quote says:

"Be yourself, only better." 

O snap!

At one glance, there's probably not much that you can take from it but with a little bit of pondering it could blow your mind away.

Some people have this idea that Islam calls for uniformity. Everybody has to be the same and they have to look the same too. That is just not true.

Look at the four Caliphs. Were all of them the same? Heck no.

The Prophet (peace be upon him) taught a Sunna that is so versatile that Abu Bakr can be Abu Bakr and still be on the Sunna. 'Umar al-Khattab can be 'Umar al-Khattab and still be on the Sunna. 'Uthman ibn 'Affan can be 'Uthman ibn 'Affan and still be on the Sunna. 'Ali ibn Abi Talib can be 'Ali ibn Abi Talib and still be on the Sunna.

So be relevant to the people like how the Prophet was. Do not make Islam hard for them by forcing or expecting them to be like you and follow "your Islam". Islam is Allah's property. 

Islam doesn't change who you are, it purifies you. It removes the bad and the ugly and elevates the good and the beautiful in you.

Why? Because you're worth it.

Wait, that's a different quote. Oh well...