The everyday lifestyle of a practising Muslim is essentially no different to any other average person in that he or she goes to work or study during the day and comes home at night to be with his or her family.

She wakes up before sunrise to offer the dawn prayer starting the day with the remembrance of God, the cause of her existence. In between work, study or other daily activities, she takes a break two more times — at noon and in the afternoon — to praise, glorify and exalt God. Additional prayer offered in the evening and before going to sleep at night is central to a Muslim's life.

In daily interactions with others, she treats people with elegance and courtesy while displaying high standards of integrity. She tries to stay away from wrongful acts. If and when she does commit a wrongful act, she turns to God immediately in apology and repentance.

Being a Muslim in everyday life manifests itself in three progressively higher states of being.

1. In addition to basic daily activities, she is in a constant mode of learning. She does her best in following daily worship, stays away from wrongful acts and treats others well. She is thankful for the goodness she receives and patient and resilient in the face of hardships and trials.
2. A higher state of being is to constantly try to contribute to the lives and development of other people with no hidden selfish ends in addition to observing the activities above.
3. The highest level of being is to be an individual among peoples while in parallel being constantly connected to God through a conscious awareness of God. While she is dealing with money or customers, her heart pounds with the remembrance and praise of God. The Qur'an tells us that remembrance of God is the greatest form of worship. "and remembrance of God is the greatest (thing in life) without doubt" (Q, 29:45).

For a practising Muslim the everyday is sacred. Since Islam is lived on a daily basis, the practice of Islam sometimes unavoidably places a Muslim at odds with his work and social environment in a foreign or purely secular culture.

Praying at work. Those Muslims who want to observe the noon and afternoon prayers in particular have a challenge to find a suitable place and even the time to perform these duties unless they are close to a place of worship or the employer is tolerant to the needs of a Muslim.

1. Finding halal^[21] meat in a society where Muslims are a minority.
2. Avoiding social gatherings where alcohol^[22] is served.

In situations like this, some Muslims elect to compromise while others stay firm in their practice. Almost in all cases practical solutions are found because of the inherent flexibility in Islamic practice. For example, a person can combine two prayers in one when travelling. Missed prayers can be made up at a more suitable time. Meat of the lawful animals slaughtered by Jews or Christians can be consumed. If one is unsure of how an animal was slaughtered, Prophet Muhammad recommended his followers to say 'in the name of God' and eat it. Islam shows great flexibility and provides for substituted practices in carrying out its core obligations. The key message the Prophet Muhammad gave to his followers is summarised in the following narration, "Facilitate things to people (concerning religious matters), and do not make it hard for them and give them good tidings and do not make them run away (from Islam)." (Sahih Bukhari)."

[21] Halal means 'lawful'. Muslims can only consume meat that has been slaughtered in a particular way. Since God is the giver of life of all living creation, only God can take away life. We are only authorised to take the life of another animal for survival (or defence) in the name of God. Hence, the phrase bismillah (in the name of God) must be uttered just before slaughtering the animal.

[22] Since alcohol damages the body and removes the control of the person over his or her mind and the resulting behaviour, Muslims are asked not to consume alcohol. Because of the observed fact that the behaviour of the people sitting at a table, where alcohol is freely served and consumed for an extended time, will usually be inappropriate, Muslims who are sensitive do not attend functions where alcohol is served.