Glad Tidings to Strangers

Rasul Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said: “Islam initiated as something strange, and it will revert to its (old position) of being strange. So, glad tidings to the stranger!” [Muslim]

Today, we have become so distant from Islam that the way in which the Prophet (sal Allahu alaihi wasallam) did some things appears strange to us. Even people who welcome Islam in their lives, find Muslims behaving strangely, which on further investigation turns about to be the recommended behaviour in Islam. So we should not shy from being perceived as strange.

Someone asked the Prophet (sal Allahu alahi wa sallam), “Who are the strangers?” He replied, “The ones who break away from their people (literally, 'tribes') for the sake of Islam.” The Prophet (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) gave glad tidings to those who will be cut off from their people because they choose to follow Islam. Everybody else’s lifestyle will have become so contrary to Allah's wishes, that the person who follows Islam will appear strange and will be rejected.