Arrogance, self-importance, superiority, pride, and conceit are all traits that we as human beings should avoid if we are to prosper in life.

The respect of others, humility, modesty, caring, sensitivity and thoughtfulness are characteristics we should strive for in ourselves, and implant on others, to have a successful existence.

In the scriptures of our holy books the above examples are the basics of our time in this world. So you would expect that those among us who are fortunate to have the best in Islamic education should have the aforementioned characteristics in bucket loads. Wrong.

In modern day, Lancashire life, it seems the more educated people have become in their religion, the more we have taken on the mantle of a huge superiority complex. You needn't be concerned if you are thinking I am going on a mindless, brainless tirade against all our Muslim brothers and sisters in Britain. But I will be saying that our teachings are wholly against the attitudes that we are starting to develop, and implement in our daily lives.

For example, have you noticed what happens when you are happily driving along and a fellow driver is attempting to negotiate a junction. Using your good nature, and recognising that the driver is indeed getting frustrated at the lack of opportunity allowed by other drivers, you halt your car and let him through.

Now in most cases the driver will respond to your good deed with an uplifting of the hand, a nod, or the use of the indicator. But in this case nothing! It should come to no surprise to the readers that the said driver has a beard, and is wearing a mosque hat and was looking positively miserable.

Once again, before all those letters are penned for the removal of this column by public demand, I would like to communicate to our readers that the basics of religious teachings conclude that basic levels of gratitude, good nature, and love of fellow human beings should be at the heart of our beliefs. And there are great examples of that but also of the complete opposite.

Indeed, Islam should come through the heart through loving actions not by the parading of your kudos.

Islam is not a status symbol, and it certainly isn't a tool to look down on the rest of your community.

A few more examples of the perpetrators in full action. Holding open doors to those covered from head to toe, in hijab. When was the last time you received any thanks for that? I welcome Muslim women wearing hijab. I also welcome fellow Muslims being extra vigilant and resourceful to these women. It is sometimes quite a task to conform to Islamic ideals and go through this literally life changing act.

But, once again, you are doing it for your religion and God, not to allow yourselves to believe that you are actually better than the girl without a trace cloth over her head. We are all going to be judged by the Almighty.

Taking these issues into the mosque place, why is it that a great number of these establishments are still unwelcoming when it comes to the young. Our great Prophet, peace be upon Him, personally encouraged the influx of the young to the mosques. He was even happy and content to see them misbehaving while he was in prayer.

His main objective was the fact that the young were in the mosques and did not see them as places for the elderly. The great Prophet also wanted to ensure that mosques were not cold, miserable places but were full of life through children.

Contrast that to the 21st century where our mosques are full of mainly elderly folk, which is good to see. But many of the said elderly see the involvement of youth, and their ideas, as an affront to their own standards.

Some of our mosques are run by committees for their mutual benefit, particularly for the youth who are so hungry to learn about the beautiful religion. These individuals are being turned away from Islam by the action of some of the bearded fraternity who seem to think that they are the chosen ones.

On a recent visit to South Africa I was astonished to see the provisions laid on by the mosques for the young children. There were specific facilities for ghusl for the children, special speeches in English, user-friendly hours for the young, and a host of literature that most mosques in Britain can only dream of.

There are examples of this here but not enough.

The result of this endeavour is that children are more encouraged to enter the mosques, rather than be turned away by its totalitarian committee members.

As a direct result of these views, feelings and attitudes of the elderly who see the young as a threat, not to our religion, but to their own status some younger members of our community are being turned away by the idea of entering mosques. That is a disgraceful indictment to the accused.

Many leading scholars of Islam are intellectual, welcoming and deeply humble. Their own knowledge of their religion recognises the need for them to be approachable and respected. But they also recognise that respect has to be earned.

A prominent local Imam told Asian Image: "People often come up to me and ask whether we are allowed to laugh in our religion. I find that sort of question incredible. Humour is a major part of life, and indeed the Prophet was often found deep in laughter with his followers when a humorous occasion occurred.

"But on a serious note, the problems we have found is that many preachers or leading scholars of Islam, have been taught in a negative manner. They have been taught how to defeat other arguments, be it at a religious level or at an evolutional level. Because this can occur at the highest level it has a drip feed effect to those people who are praying five times day, and completing all the duties of a Muslim."

He continued, "That is fantastic, and their rewards will surely come one day, either in this life or in the hereafter. But sometimes I really get the impression that people of a western persuasion, albeit Muslims, can often comprehend Islamic issues better and can grasp our religion more comfortably because they do not have any hang ups. I can tell you now that because you have a beard and pray five times a day, does not necessarily make you a better person than the rest."

Not only are these people wrong in the conventional, decent human being sense they are harming their own character and soul by their actions.

Surely, even those of us that can quite categorically admit to not doing all we can for our faith, can realise that we will be rewarded for our deeds in this life through genuine actions. A laugh, a smile, recognition of good work, and a bit love can improve all our sense of well-being.

We are all God's children, so for His sake please don't push in at the queue at the local grocery shop for He is watching us all.