Asalaamu Alaykum Brother,

While many of the converts in America are women, there is also a growing trend of men coming to Islam. Men and women face different struggles in coming to Islam, for sure, but one of the hardest for Muslim men is dealing the daily attacks on their ego from bigots and ignorant zealots of American nationalism. It takes a lot for a man to be bigger and stronger than his nafs, or ego, and I applaud you for trying.

Prophet Muhammad (PBUB) said that a truly strong man controls his anger. What we need to focus on in these times is the bigger picture. Rather than being reactive and going with whatever knee-jerk reaction we have stored in our inner mind, we must actively choose to be responsive.

Ask yourself what is more important: stooping to the level of the bigot or standing proud as a Muslim man in front of your loved ones, and ultimately in front of Allah. Ask yourself what the cost of responding in anger to that taunting would be: what is the most valuable thing you would have to give up as a price for reacting in ager? And what would be better and more appropriate to send a message that Islam is not what they think: that you are not the one dimensional trope they assume you are?

I hope this advice is helpful to you, and there are excellent videos and articles all over AboutIslam.net on the topic of dealing with islamophobia, bullies who are bigoted, and the extreme racism many immigrant and black/brown Muslims face from all sides.

Please keep in touch. Salam.