Do We Have a “Muslim Switch”?

CONTINUING FROM OUR discussion about identity, I asked my daughter: Don’t we sometimes act as though we have different identities depending on whether we’re around Muslims or non-Muslims? 

For example, with Muslims, we say Bismillah, inshaAllah, alhamdulillah, and so on. But we rarely use these expressions in front of non-Muslims. 

But why is that? 

The usual response is that they wouldn’t understand the Arabic terms.  

And yes, it makes sense not to use words that someone cannot understand. But when we say these phrases to ourselves or among Muslims, they aren’t just sounds; they express meaningful beliefs. 

• We say Bismillah when starting something because we truly intend to begin in Allah’s name and want His blessings upon that action. 
• We say inshaAllah because we acknowledge that, although we plan, nothing happens without Allah’s will. 
• We say alhamdulillah to express genuine gratitude and recognition that all good comes from Allah alone. 

So, if we sincerely believe these ideas, why don’t we express them in front of non-Muslims as well? Otherwise, are we not unintentionally creating a “split” between our internal beliefs and outward expression? 

Why can’t we simply say, “In the name of God,” “God willing,” or “All praise is due to God”? If we truly believe in these concepts, they don’t lose meaning when expressed in another language. Rather, these convey the same convictions, just in a language everyone understands. 

Someone might ask: But what if non-Muslims don’t like it? 

Often, the hesitation comes from worrying about others’ reactions: In a secular society, will the mention of God sound weird? Will they be offended? 

But the primary concern isn’t others’ approval; it’s sincerity before Allah. Our intention is never to offend; it is simply to express our beliefs openly and naturally. And doing so may even spark curiosity about Islam and become a path for dawah. And realistically, except for some hardened atheists, most people believe in God or a higher power, so they are unlikely to be offended. 

Allah says: 

وَمَنْأَحْسَنُقَوْلًۭامِّمَّندَعَآإِلَىٱللَّهِوَعَمِلَصَـٰلِحًۭاوَقَالَإِنَّنِىمِنَٱلْمُسْلِمِينَ

“And who is better in speech than the one who calls to Allah, does righteous deeds, and says, ‘Indeed, I am of the Muslims.’” (Fussilat 33) 

This ayah reminds us that openly expressing our faith, with sincerity and good conduct, is among the best forms of speech. 

So, whether in Arabic among us or in English with non-Muslims, these expressions of remembrance should feel natural. 

Iman doesn’t need a “switch.” Our identity in Islam is not a performance reserved for certain audiences; it’s an ongoing relationship with Allah that can, and should, be expressed consistently and sincerely in every context. 

Some small actions we can do 

Reflect on the intention: it’s about sincerity and dhikr (remembrance)  

Start using simple translations in everyday conversation with non-Muslims: “God willing,” “All praise is due to God,” etc. 

Pair the words with natural explanations if curiosity arises, turning everyday moments into soft dawah.