We are religiously-committed young women and we feel like strangers among our people. We even feel like this among those who used to be religiously committed but now their commitment is superficial.. What should we do to be steadfast and truly be counted among the strangers?

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger. 

Abu Hurayrah narrated that the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, told us that Islam started as something strange and that it would return to that same state; it would once more become strange. He gave glad tidings to the strangers and said that Allaah The Almighty will grant them a great reward and Paradise. [Muslim]

These glad tidings are for the strangers during the time of their alienation. They resemble the first Companions who were steadfast in their religion in the beginning when its followers were forced to be estranged from their society. Shaykh Al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah mentioned that the followers of Islam being alienated does not mean that its followers are in a bad condition. Rather, they are the happiest people. The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, told us in a Hadeeth that they will be admitted into Paradise. Ibn Taymiyyah said that those who are alienated because of their religion resemble the Companions at the beginning of Islam. In the Hereafter, the strangers will be in the highest ranks below the prophets, may Allaah exalt their mention. Allaah The Almighty mentioned their status in the worldly life; He Says (what means): {O Prophet, sufficient for you is Allaah and for whoever follows you of the believers.} [Quran 8:64]. This verse means that Allaah The Almighty will protect and support the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, and the believers who follow him.

Allaah The Almighty also Says (what means):

•        {Indeed, my protector is Allaah, who has sent down the Book; and He is an ally to the righteous.} [Quran7:196]

•        {Is not Allaah sufficient for His Servant [Prophet Muhammad]?} [Quran 39:36]

•        {And whoever fears Allaah - He will make for him a way out;* and will provide for him from where he does not expect.} [Quran 65:2, 3]

Accordingly, any Muslim who follows the way of the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, should know that Allaah The Almighty is sufficient for him and will protect him wherever he is at any time.

The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, clarified the characteristics of the strangers. They are those who reform when people spread mischief. [Ahmad; Al-Albaani: Saheeh]  ‘Abd Allaah ibn ‘Amr ibn Al-‘Aas narrated that the Prophet said that the strangers are righteous people among a large number of evil people and that there are far more who will disobey them, than those who will obey them.

The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, gave us the glad tidings that truth will continue to prevail at the hands of a victorious group even during the times when Islam is alienated. The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, told us that there would be a group within his Ummah that would adhere to the truth and act according to it until the Day of Resurrection. [Muslim]

You indicated that some people’s commitment to religion becomes superficial over time and that it is one of the ways the religion is alienated. In this context, according to the advice of one of the righteous predecessors, you should follow the right path and never leave it because of the scarcity of its followers. You should beware of the way of falsehood even if its followers are abundant, for all of them will be doomed to Hell.

Ibn Al-Qayyim mentioned that they are called strangers because of their small number among the majority of people and that most people do not have their characteristics. Therefore, Muslims are strangers among people; believers are strangers among Muslims; scholars are strangers among believers; the followers of the Sunnah who distinguish it from vain desires and religious innovations are the real strangers; and those who call to Sunnah and tolerate the harm of their opponents are the most estranged. However, they are the people of Allaah The Almighty, therefore, they do not feel alienated. Their estrangement is felt among the large number of people about whom Allaah The Almighty Says (what means): {And if you obey most of those upon the earth, they will mislead you from the way of Allaah} [Quran 6:116]. Consequently, this large number of people are the real strangers, as they are strangers to Allaah The Almighty, His Messenger and His religion even if they are famous and prominent in the world.

We advise you dear sister to look for the strangers who have the aforementioned characteristics, Look for them among your Mahrams (non-marriageable male relatives) or your Muslim sisters. If you find them, you should stay with them and cooperate with them in doing righteousness and guiding others. You should supplicate Allaah The Almighty frequently to make truth clear to you and help you follow it; and to make falsehood clear to you and help you avoid it.

Allaah Knows best.