Has anyone else dealt with people who act very 'religious' but hurt others?
Wa alaikum as-salam sisters. I’ve been thinking again about a man who sexually assaulted me years ago after bringing it up in therapy for the first time. I was 18 then and he was the same age. We were in a situationship-I didn’t really realize what it was because I believed we were together and was naive, even imagining marriage though we never spoke about it. He was the first person I had romantic feelings for and he hurt me in so many ways. I feel used and like he took something from me. I repented for my own past mistakes years ago, but I still carry some guilt about what happened to me, even though part of me knows he was more experienced, knew better, and took advantage of my insecurity and youth. My main question is about the fact that he presents as very religious or connected to Islam. At first I admired that he knew about our faith, but now it angers me because it feels wrong to act pious while harming others. I confronted him about the assault a couple years afterward. He partly denied it, showed a little remorse, but also said hurtful things and spoke about Islam and God to me. It makes me so upset that someone who hurt me would preach to me about religion. Is it valid to feel this way? How do I move past the resentment and these thoughts? I feel like there are unfortunately others who are Muslim and talk about Islam yet do terrible things. My father is similar. He knows a lot about Islam but has been abusive to my mother, my brother, and me. When he talks about religion, I get angry and don’t want to listen. I’d rather hear guidance from people who are genuinely kind and whom I respect. It feels so hypocritical. I’m not sure if these feelings are wrong or what I should do about them-what do you sisters think?