Religion is a topic of discussion that can be very controversial at times, as many people have different perceptions of the same doctrines. It is particularly hard for people belonging to different religions to understand and comprehend the various things that any particular religion teaches. For each person their faith and beliefs are the only way of life and it is not easy for them to show acceptance about other religions. An Islamic shop is a useful tool that can be very useful for non Muslims to learn about many things about Islam.
A normal Islamic shop carries numerous items that are significant for Muslims including Islamic clothing items, Praying equipment and Islamic books and CD's that contain oceans of information about Islam for Muslims as well as Non Muslims. There are books about the life of Prophet Muhammad, how to lead a good Muslim life, role of a person in a society, humanitarian and societal issues. Someone keen about learning more about Islam can easily do so from these books. Typically an Islamic shop which is located in an area where the majority is non Muslim can prove to be very advantageous in promoting the religion and gaining acceptance and tolerance from people of other faiths.
As Islam promotes ethical values like fair trade and good customer service by being polite and friendly towards the entire mankind, these features when exhibited in an Islamic shop can be very beneficial for the entire Muslim community living in a non Muslim area. People learn to trust and appreciate the good values that are a key part of Islam thus realizing that the followers of the Messenger of Allah are good, kind and humble people.
The negative media exposure due to terrorism globally has destroyed the peaceful image of Islam. An Islamic shop situated in an ethnic area where it can get traffic from different religions of the world can go a long way in restoring the positive impression that people had previously. In addition, the customers walking into an Islamic shop can view the different items that are trademarked with Muslims and understand their significance in a Muslim's day to day life. Prime examples are the Islamic clothing items like abayas, hijabs and jubbas. These garments are worn by Muslims as they follow the dress codes laid out in the Quran.
These loose fitting and modest clothing items are worn in order to preserve the honour and respect of the Muslims and have been worn by Muslims from the time of the Prophet Muhammad. Today the perception that only terrorists wear such clothes can be disregarded once people learn the religious importance of these items. In fact, today an Islamic shop can act as a binding force for expat Muslims as well as a sea of information about Islam for the non Muslims. These shops make the lives of people around them much easier and convenient.
Sohail Khan works for Islamic Impressions, which started as a traditional Islamic shop specialising in retail and wholesale products for the Islamic market, now with branches in London, Birmingham, Denmark and Trinidad.
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