Have some principles :
Religious principles , mandates and instructions constitute one of the most essential foundations on which our characters and personal attributes are based . These principles do not alter and are not subject to change due time or physical ( geographical ) influences . There is no doubt that the civil and cultural developments that have encompassed and impacted on every aspect of our daily life , have indeed influenced the thinking and behaviours of young youths and Muslim youths are no exception . For this reason , be open-minded , travel , discover , socialize with others , read and learn about other cultures but be very cautious not to be driven away from your basic religious principles or to abandon your religion and your Lord . Try to be flexible and have a reasonable balance between your religious and worldly commitments “ And seek heaven from what Allah has given you and do not forget you share of life ” ( Surat AlQasas , verse 33 ). When it comes to choosing your company , be very careful and eclectic and seek to befriend those who you think will help you develop materialistically , academically and most importantly religiously . This was stressed by the Prophet Mohammad ( PBUH ) who said : “ A person follows the faith of his friends , so check who your friends are ”. Australia is a multicultural , multi-faith country and the freedom of faith is granted by the Australian constitution , hence , you are free to practice your faith here . Just remember to stay away from extreme inappropriate discussions and comparisons between faiths and cultures and pay due respect to others regardless of their race , culture or faith . Let your manners and actions mirror to others who a true Muslim really is .
Be adaptive , tolerant and kind :
Every traveller holds preconceptions about the places they are visiting and the social environment and ways of life therein and those ravelling for the sake of education are no exception . However , it is very important to distinguish those ideas from facts as it is not necessary for the actual situation in the target country to always confirm the expectations and thoughts of the travellers or students . Indeed , the reality of the matter is often shocking and this is why students are likely to have a cultural shock at the beginning . In fact , it is very natural to identify differences between what you were used to in your homeland and what you see in the country of your education . A wise person would always try to adapt to the changing situations and refrain from extremism and closed-mindedness . Try to be tolerant of others and take this opportunity to learn some of the positive and beneficial aspects of the other cultures , those aspects that are in line with your religion , values and principles . Do not waste time on fruitless comparisons between cultures and faiths but utilize every second to fulfil your dreams and goals . Also , bear in mind that every society has its own unique culture and that it is not wise and oftennot feasible to form general judgments about the superiority or inferiority of a culture to the other cultures .
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