muslimah living in a non-muslim society

[seeker-of-light]

hello i am a recent convert to islam. i am 15 years old and go to high school, 5 days a week. but evey one of those days, i am harassed about something, people picking out things about islam and making fun of me about it. even some of my old friends dont want to hang out with me anymore and they alienate me even more because im "different" and "weird". they treat me like im part of a cult. people tug at my head scarf, and sometimes i just feel like i want to give up and its not worth it. then i remember that i am trying to please allah and follow his command. my family is close-minded about islam and try to pass it off as "a phase". this is even more insulting. i am surrounded by immorality and indecency everywhere i go, and people say i am an introvert. but no one understands why i dont want all of these idle and pointless things, and when i try to explain they dont listen. i feel so isolated and alone, and as a new convery trying to stregthen my iman i find it very difficult. please someone, help me

[alcurad]

it must be hard, may god help you through this difficult time.
try to get in touch with muslims, meet some sisters that are around your age in your area if you can.

[Hamayun]

Sister you should be proud to be who you are. You are the light that will hopefully show people the way.

Also don't forget you are never alone. You have millions of sisters all over the world who love you! You are part of our family in Islam.

I know its hard to ignore what is happening but there are other sisters in the same boat as you. Have you not got any sisters in your School who could support you?

[seeker-of-light]

no i am only muslim in my school unfortunatly so i have no one else to support me is like is one of me up against a thousand disbelievers. sigh...

[YusufNoor]

hello i am a recent convert to islam.

Alhumdulillah, Allah Subhannahu Wa Ta' Aala has bestowed his Mercy on you!

i am 15 years old and go to high school, 5 days a week.

Masha Allah!

but evey one of those days, i am harassed about something, people picking out things about islam and making fun of me about it. even some of my old friends dont want to hang out with me anymore and they alienate me even more because im "different" and "weird". they treat me like im part of a cult. people tug at my head scarf, and sometimes i just feel like i want to give up and its not worth it. then i remember that i am trying to please allah and follow his command.

i remember listening to a lecture by Mufti Ismail Menk, in which he spoke about the trials that our RasoolAllah went through. none of can stand those trials, BUT what Allah Ta' Aala is doing here is giving you a taste of what the Prophet went through. this means that Allah Ta' Aala has ACCEPTED your Islam!

my family is close-minded about islam and try to pass it off as "a phase". this is even more insulting.

actually, this could be a blessing! at least they aren't determined to stop this at once!


i am surrounded by immorality and indecency everywhere i go, and people say i am an introvert. but no one understands why i dont want all of these idle and pointless things, and when i try to explain they dont listen.

that is OK! at least you are attempting to explain!

i feel so isolated and alone, and as a new convery trying to stregthen my iman i find it very difficult. please someone, help me

AsSalamu Alaykum Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatu Sister,

let me give you some things to help you understand Islam better. they might help you explain things differently!

here's an awesome set of lectures by [French-son of Spanish Catholics] Revert, Shaykh Jamal Zarabozo on the Surah Al Fatiha. even if you don't know it in Arabic, you just might after listening to this:

http://www.kalamullah.com/al-fatihah.html

here's a website for [Canadian via West Indies] revert, Dr. Bilal Philips. there's a great series of videos at the bottom of the page called the "Foundations of Islamic Studies." it's a very informative set of lectures done during a conference in Toronto. the seires on Contemporary Issues and others are beneficial as well:

http://www.bilalphilips.com/bilal_pa...sk=view&id=288

my favorite lecturer is Mufti Ismail Menk. he's the first Mufti from Zimbabwe and when he lectures in South Africa, many are recorded, especially his after Taraweeh Kutbahs which go out live to over 100 countries! check out his Tafseer lectures, the Series on the Social conduct of a Muslim

http://www.muftimenk.co.za/Downloads.html

and the 2 General Lectures sections, especially:

Examinations of Sabr...Pass or Fail
http://www.nazirakoob.com/menk/Vol1.html#Part4

Muslim Women! Are they Oppressed?
http://www.nazirakoob.com/menk/Vol1.html#Part8

Hopes in Your Aspirations for Jannah
http://www.nazirakoob.com/menk/Vol1.html#Part7

and from the 2nd section:

Abdud Dunyaa (Slave of the World)
http://www.nazirakoob.com/menk/Vol2.html#Part8

Story Of Moosa (Alaihis Salaam)
http://www.nazirakoob.com/menk/Vol2.html#Part4

those are excellant lectures which should benefit you, In Sha'a Allah!

this is a set of lectures by Bashar Shala on Islamic History and Seerah:

http://www.pleasantviewschool.com/me...rophet%20(pbuh)

here's a website showing you how to pray:

http://english.islamway.com/flashpag...=782&hight=438

an online searchable Quran:

http://quod.lib.umich.edu/k/koran/

here you can compare translations:

http://quran.islamicnetwork.com/

and here's a site that will help you to pronounce the Qur'an and other duas:

http://transliteration.org/quran/home.htm

that should keep you busy!

May Allah[swt] continue to guide you and may He[swt] make it easy on you!



Yusuf

[- Qatada -]

asalaam alaikum sister.


these articles might be of some help to you insha Allah;

[this one explains how the greater the trial you have, the greater the reward Allah will give, and how after every hardship there are always 2 eases from Allah]:

http://www.islamicboard.com/advice-s...dying-out.html



This one is about strangers, and how muslims will feel strange even amongst their own people, and for them - Allah has a huge reward;

*!* Strangeness and the Strangers *!*

http://muslimconverts.com might also be useful to you.


Also, read the life of Prophet Muhammad and his companions, seeing what they went through and how you can benefit from what they did when they were in similar situations to you too.

two well known examples of this are Sa'ad ibn Abi Waqas and Mus'ab ibn Umair who were companions of Prophet Muhammad and whose mothers were angry at them for becoming Muslim:

http://www.islamicboard.com/companio...i-waqqaas.html (Sa’d bin Abi Waqqaas)
http://www.islamtomorrow.com/article...mair_envoy.htm



Remember, be proud that you've achieved so much through Islam. There's not alot of people who have your strength. Allah is on your side - thats why you got the strength, so carry on asking Him for it and He will support you more. Don't take offense when people say you're an 'introvert' because atleast you have a personality, and Allah liked your personality - thats why He chose you to be guided.


We will pray for you too. May Allah make everything easy and blessed for you in this world and the next. ameen.