2008 Essay Topic
عن زهير بن محمد ، عن موسى بن وردان ، عن أبي هريرة - رضي الله عنه - قال : قال رسول الله - صلى الله عليه وسلم": المرء على دين خليله ،فلينظر أحدكم من يخالل " . أخرجه أحمد في " المسند " 8/ 307 / 8398 " .
“One follows his friend’s religion, so be cautious about whom you befriend."
Friends are very important to all of us. The prophet, peace be upon him, advises us to choose friends wisely because we affect, learn and follow our friends. Write an essay on friendship from an Islamic lens and from your experience as an American Muslim. Your essay should address at least three of the following points:
· What are the Islamic criteria for choosing friends? What would be the most important qualities you should look for?
· What are the Islamic brotherhood/ sisterhood’s rights when dealing with our classmates and friends? What are the challenges, if any, in fulfilling these rights?
· What is the value of “being popular” from an Islamic point of view? What are the best ways to handle peer pressure?
· What are the Islamic guidelines for advising a friend for the sake of Allah? What are the challenges, if any, in following these guidelines?
· How would you handle a bully as a classmate / friend? How would you deal with a victim of bullying as a classmate / friend?