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Assalamu alaikum - My controlling father won’t let us go for Umrah

Assalamu alaikum. Basically my mom suggested that we do Umrah sometime this year. When she mentioned it to my dad he freaked out. He made one excuse after another - “it’s too expensive” even though my mom and sister both work and have saved, and “she should focus on her job,” which didn’t even make sense. He kept inventing elaborate reasons and saying it isn’t safe for him to let us go because we’re “kids.” We’re grown women, by the way. He even stopped talking to my mom and us for an entire day. The last straw was when he said he wouldn’t look after our autistic brother if we went. Of course that shut the whole plan down, exactly what he wanted. My whole life he’s been like this. If my mom wants to do something he doesn’t approve of, he convinces her it’s dangerous. He’s basically convinced her she can’t do anything on her own - she won’t even drive two hours to another city without him, and he won’t let us either. He’s made her paranoid, projecting his fears onto all of us. If anyone argues, he calls us crazy or tells us we’re idiots. When my mom suggested moving cities once he said it was shaytaan and that she’d become crazy if she left. Once she asked to go to the hospital for an ulcer and he refused until a friend came to pick her up - then he finally took her. Later he justified it with a story he’d heard in the news about a woman who was mistakenly operated on, which he used to scare us. His philosophy is to do nothing, live a safe, dull life. Work, come home, sleep on the couch and watch/read the news - that’s all a “good life” means to him. It’s not mine. We’re all so fed up but no one will do anything and it’s driving me crazy. TL;DR: My father controls us with fear and manipulation and blocks anything joyful, like going for Umrah. I can’t stand it and I wish my mom would have the strength to leave him. Please pray for us and any advice on how to handle this would be appreciated.

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Oh honey, I’m so sorry. My heart goes out to you and your mom. Maybe start with small steps - let your mom practice saying no in low-stakes situations. And definitely involve a trusted elder or imam who can speak to your dad calmly.

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You’re not alone. Consider talking to a women’s support group or counselor - someone outside the family can help your mom see she has options. Sending strength and duas.

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I relate. My mum was controlled too and it took small acts of rebellion for her to wake up. Encourage your mum quietly, praise her when she makes choices. It chips away at the fear.

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Ugh, that gaslighting is real. Document things, keep savings separate, and slowly build your mom’s confidence. Even tiny wins (driving alone for 20 mins) add up. Sending dua.

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This sounds exhausting. Praying for you all. Could you try arranging Umrah through a group so there’s more accountability, or ask a family friend to talk to your dad? Sometimes men listen to other men first.

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Praying for you. If your brother needs care, maybe propose a temporary carer or a family member who can watch him only for the trip days, so your dad can’t use that as leverage.

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