Remember the story of the boy, his father, and the camel. First the father was riding the camel with the boy walking at the side, people passed by and said, “What a shame! Father is making the poor little boy walk while he relaxes on the camel”. So the father got off and let his son ride on the camel. Once again people passed and said, “What a shame! The boy has no respect for his father, he is riding while the father walks!” So the boy got off the camel and began walking with his dad. Once again people passed by laughing and saying, “What silly people! They have a camel and they are both walking!” So the boy and his father finally decided to both climb on the camel. Once again, the people passed by saying, “Poor camel! A man and a young boy both at once!! Tsk Tsk.”

So basically, no matter what they did, someone was displeased. We will never be able to please everyone. So the thing for us to be learnt from this, is that the ONLY being we should TRULY worry ourselves about pleasing, is Allah swt. Once that is our goal…what others think does not even hold significance.

Think about the Prophet sws, One of the enemies of Islam put animal intestines on him just for praying in front of the Ka’aba Imagine our dear Prophet was dealt with in that manner, who are we? Of course the behavior of those people mentioned in your stories is sad, but remember, they are not Muslim, they have not had tawfeeq to know anout huqooq al ibad, they don’t know the rights of other humans, they don’t have the taqwa.

When people look at me funny, I actually feel really happy, because I know that what I’m doing is for Allah and to please Him, and if people are treating me badly for it, all the more sawaab for being patient !

In the beginning it’s hard, but once you get used to it, you don’t even notice or care…life is short, and just a test, we can make dua for those who treat us badly, for Allah swt to guide them. Imagine how life is in this big world if one is misguided, it really makes you feel sympathy (not an arrogant kind! because at the end, its the Mercy of Allah that WE are guided!) when that thought comes to mind.

i can’t speak to it because i haven’t experienced too much alienation due to keeping hijab, although i live in a conservative area, and i am about as whitebread american as they come…but what you posted just hit me hard. i’m sorry you are dealing with this. the quote from the prophet salallahu alayhi wa salaam about strangers just rings so true to me too when thinking/hearing about things like this. i hope that you are able to overcome this and not let things like that make you feel alienated, because for every one person like the people who stare or try to embarrass/scare you, there are plenty more who love you and want you to be there and feel welcome, i am sure.

I love you, Ayesha Siddique. You know, I’ve noticed that out of everyone, kids stare the most. The thing with them, though, is once you look at them and smile, they turn away with an awkward expression.
Works every time

“Islam began as something strange and will revert to being strange as it began, so give glad tidings to the strangers.” (Muslim)

We all know the Hadith, but it’s when you’re being made the stranger that it’s important to remember and try and find comfort in it.

So glad tidings to you.