Body Image is a topic that I have realized over the past years we, as Muslims, do not really indulge into. We are taught how our souls and mind is what should set us aside from others and what people should judge us on, not our looks. But body image issues is something the youth struggle with, boy or girl. We see these people in the media and often wish we could look like them. Even the people who you did not think struggle from it, do. As a community and society, we should work towards helping and promoting body confidence.
In this article, by Naiyerah Kolkailah, she goes into depth describing this issue and solutions. She explains how we are often told that we are not enough, that no matter what we will have imperfections. It is true, no one is perfect, but it hurts when people tell us that no matter what, we will never be enough. Whether we like to admit it or not, we face these troubles.
She then explains how God has truly blessed us. Islam does promote outward beauty, in cleanliness, nice clothes, good hygiene, etc. Just because we should focus on inner beauty does not mean we cannot focus on outer beauty as well. God made us differently and unique in our own ways. No one person will look like another, well except if you have a twin, but even then you will have differences.
Allah (swt) has blessed us with many gifts. He gives us experiences we got to live through each day, we get to live in a house, under a stable roof, we get to feel emotions of joy, etc. We overlook all the aspects of life we get to live and focus on the negativity. We should not let those comments allow us doubt our self-worth. “ So, rather than striving to perfect a body that will, one day, end up covered in dirt, how about we turn to what truly matters?”.
“Surely, we have created the human being in the finest stature” { Qu’ran 95:4}.
