Can you suggest ways to be strong even when they make emotionally abusive comments such as why are you not with your family when my family is non-Muslim and drink a lot. A lot of it are comments designed to undermine, and the professor tried to force me to drive three hours to her and meet up with one of those classmates. I apologized and told her I couldn't drive that far, and they stopped harassing me now.
However, the second quarter is about to start. I am scared it will start up again and they will pick on me again due to being from another faith. They are all not paying for the degree out of pocket they have employee benefits and benefits from military and so forth and one has her parents paying for it. So, they don't understand the turmoil that goes with working and paying for the loan for me and even the way they talk about others is very mean. One of them said that people keep living on handouts when he actually has the handout and he said it himself. The others say I am very young and I am 33 but they are maybe past 40 I believe and keep putting me down with comments.
Answer
When someone treats you based on their prejudices about your faith, try to understand that it is not about you but about their lack of knowledge.
Hold your head high and understand that in this world there are all kinds of people, and we cannot and do not have to please all of them except Allah.
What can you do?
Maintain your kindness and stand for your values in a positive, educational way. Maybe you are one of the few Muslims they know; help them change their perspective by being a good example.
Click on the video to learn more!
More from Sr. Aisha:
- I’m Disabled, But No One Cares; How to Deal with Racism?
- How Can I Teach My Child About Allah?
- Family Is Against My Hijab: I’m Depressed
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