Peace Be With You السلام عليك

السلام عليك

How does it Feel to identified as a group? Everyone knows a little bit about this. Everyone is identified in a way with a racial group. Caucasians are identified as whites, African Americans are identified as Blacks, Latin Americans are identified as Hispanics, but are they ever identified for a religion? Sometimes it’s hard to tell if a person belongs to a religious group, and if he does which one. This is also a common trend among many Muslims, but then there are those Muslims that are easy to spot from 2 blocks away. You know what I’m talking about. The man with the big beard, possibly some clothing that distinctly gives it away. For the women, its much easier. A simple headscarf gives it away, she’s a Muslim. I think only nuns are the closest to know how Muslim women feel. I say that from experience as a Muslim man, I do not feel I get starred at much as my sisters in Islam. Even nuns don’t get starred at as much as Muslim women, as when people see nuns their first thoughts are pious women. On the other hand when people see Muslim women they are viewed as oppressed women, extremest, fundamentalist, or as Fox News likes to call them “terrorist”. In reality the only reason Muslim women cover, is to please their lord. For those who don’t know why they wear those head covers, its not because their husbands and fathers make them, its because their creator told them to wear them.

Growing up a Muslim in America, I never felt discriminated. Not counting the “random” security checks at airport, which I do not mind anymore. Who am I to complain about that? It only takes about 10-15 minutes out of my life. As a young adult and not having a beard, I never had a problem being identified as a Muslim. Occasionally people would ask me “Are you a Muslim?” I think the worse/oddest thing ever said to me was one day in philosophy class. We were to discuss religions, and if were to follow a religion which would it be. The girl next to me who I worked with many times, and knew I was Muslim, and we were friendly all semester. She turned to me and said “Sorry, I’m Jewish”, I was very shocked but I really wanted to laugh. I had never had someone apologize to me for being Jewish or any other religion for that matter. It was such an odd feeling I had no idea what to say. So I think I said “I don’t hate Jews.” I was so flabbergasted I wasn’t sure what to say, for a second I though about just say “oh okay.”

Ever since I began growing my beard, which has been over two years now. I though I would be treated differently. In actually I do not think I get treated differently at all. It’s as if my beard is invisible. The only people that have ever made comments about my beard were fellow Muslims. However, whenever a Muslim sister has on her Hijab, she is identified as a Muslim immediately and the stares begin. Having a mother who covers I know this first hand. When I walk around by my self, I never feel any stares, but if I ever walk around with my mother, I can feel the stares multiple times. Not all of the looks we get are friendly looking. Usually Muslim men don’t understand the stares the Muslim women get except when they wear traditional Islamic clothing, and still they don’t always wear it all the time. The Hijab’s identify women as Muslims, and it makes them vulnerable to stares. It is the duty of the man to acknowledge what is happening and be there for our sisters.

The reason for this post is to remind Muslim men how difficult it is to be a Muslim woman. Also this is for non Muslims, so that they know how it feels to be identified as a Muslim. This is a reminder for Muslim men to take care of their sisters, and be aware what is happening in our own community. For all those who struggle in daily life for their race or religion, I give you a verse of the Qur’an which speaks to all believers who struggle.

“With Hardship Comes Relief”