Dealing with a Mother Who Tries to Control Every Decision
As-salamu alaykum. I grew up in a Muslim family in Uzbekistan. In school, I kept to myself and didn't have many friends because I felt different. My father passed away when I was 10, so I didn't have that guidance. Later, I went through a really tough time, feeling lost and even suicidal, because when I had questions about my faith, my family would just say, 'You'll understand when you're older,' which wasn't helpful and made me doubt everything. Alhamdulillah, after my uncle came out of prison, he took the time to answer my questions about Islam properly, and that brought me back to my deen. Part of why I struggled was how my mother presented Islam-she'd say things like, 'I own you,' or, 'I can tell you to lick my feet and you must obey.' While some of it might have had a grain of truth, it felt cruel and one-sided, like children are just slaves in Islam with no right to think for themselves. My uncle, alhamdulillah, cleared up those misunderstandings. My relationship with my mother has always been rough. She'd give orders, and sometimes I'd listen, but often not. She'd compare me to other kids, and even though I know psychology isn't everything, it left me with insecurities and fears. Even now, years after finishing school, things haven't improved, and I haven't changed much either. I'm thinking of trying something new: moving into my own apartment to see if that helps. One reason is that I get angry easily and end up shouting at her, which I know is wrong in Islam, but in the heat of the moment, I can't control it. I figure less time together might mean better quality time. What really bothers me is how she tries to control every single decision I make, and if she disagrees, she says, 'You'll regret it.' As an adult, I don't want to blame anyone for my flaws; I just want to handle this better from now on. My question is: I live with my older brother (who supports us), my younger sister, and my mother. Is it Islamically okay for me to move out? If yes, what are the conditions? If not, what can I do instead?