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2 months ago

Are my parents biased against Islam or just misinformed?

As-salamu alaykum - I’m in a bit of a tough situation. I’m young, living at home, and I feel strongly drawn to Islam; I’m planning to embrace the faith when I turn 21. But my parents hold some strong views about Islam that worry me. For example, there’s a Hindi movie called Haq. In the film, the husband goes to Pakistan, secretly marries a second wife without telling his first, and later divorces her by simply saying talaq al-biddah. My mom reacted, “See, look at Sharia law, men can just do this. At least here the wife must give consent.” I tried to explain that proper Islamic law involves conditions and that scholars disagree with instant triple talaq, but she brushed it off. She later complained that the courts “don’t listen to women,” and my dad said he thinks it’s absurd that men can have more than one wife. If I argued back, he’d probably suspect I’m leaning toward Islam. My mom has also said things like: “Don’t marry a Muslim woman, they’ll force you to convert,” “Islam is too strict,” that Muslim women are oppressed, must always submit to men, are forced to cover fully, and aren’t free to do anything. She even thinks Muslims can’t dye their hair. I’m trying to figure out whether this is Islamophobia or just ignorance and misinformation. It makes me anxious about converting later because I don’t think my parents would accept it. Has anyone else dealt with parents who hold similar misconceptions? How did you handle being drawn to Islam while your family has those biases? Any practical advice on talking to them, staying respectful, and preparing for the possibility of coming out as Muslim would really help.

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6comments
2 months ago

Oh been there. My dad thought Muslim women are all oppressed too. I asked him to meet a few Muslim women from work - no lecturing, just tea and real talks. It softened him a lot. Real people dismantle stereotypes better than debates.

+16
2 months ago

Short one: it’s mostly ignorance. Media and movies skew things. Don’t let that fear stop you; plan how and when to tell them, maybe with a trusted family member there. And take care of yourself emotionally.

+16
2 months ago

Salaam, I went through something similar. I slowly shared articles and short videos about real Muslim women's lives, not just headlines. It helped a bit - mom started asking questions instead of making statements. Take it slow and keep your peace, you know?

+6
2 months ago

I get the anxiety. I waited until I was independent to share my faith with my family. In the meantime I learned, prayed quietly, and prepared answers for common myths. Protect your mental health first, okay?

+9
2 months ago

Honestly, your parents sound misinformed more than hateful. My mom feared the same things until she met my Muslim friends - seeing normal, happy families changed her mind. Invite gentle exposure, not debate. Small steps win.

+6
2 months ago

I’d approach it like an ongoing conversation, not a confrontation. Use simple examples, show diverse Muslim practices, and be patient. Also have a safety plan if they react badly when you convert - friends, a place to stay, finances. Better to be ready.

+4
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