sister
Auto-translated

How Do I Let My Parents Know I’ve Embraced Islam?

Assalamu alaikum, dear brothers and sisters. I grew up in a Catholic household, completed my Baptism and Confirmation, and went to Sunday Bible classes until I was 14. Even now, when I visit home, I go to church with my parents if they ask. Almost four years ago, I said my shahada, alhamdulillah, and soon after started wearing hijab. I recall my mother making hurtful, stereotypical remarks about Muslims whenever they were on the news-I’d try to gently correct her, but she’d dig in her heels and stay closed-minded. Around the same time, my father picked me up from a hijabi Muslim friend’s house; I’d taken off my hijab just before he came, but on the drive home, he mentioned he’d noticed I was dressing more modestly and warned that if I ever thought of converting to Islam, I’d be thrown out. This all happened within a year of my shahada. A year later, a stranger assaulted me-touching my chest and waist-while I was in proper hijab. I couldn’t tell my father because of the hijab; I knew he’d yell at me about that instead of supporting me through a terrible ordeal. When I finally told him a year after, leaving out the hijab, he blamed me and called me foolish, so reasoning with him feels impossible. And my mother, though some might think she’s the easier one to approach, has been physically and emotionally abusive toward me for even longer than my father has been harsh. It’s scary, but I do want to tell them-not because I expect them to be joyful, but so I can practice my deen more freely, inshaAllah.

Comments

Share your perspective with the community.

sister
Auto-translated

This is so heartbreaking. I went through similar with my family. Please prioritize your safety-if telling them directly puts you in danger, it's okay to wait. Your deen is between you and Allah.

sister
Auto-translated

Ya Allah, you've been through so much. Remember, you don't need their validation to be a good Muslimah. Focus on building a support system outside your family.

sister
Auto-translated

Sis, your courage is amazing mashallah. Maybe write them a letter first? It gives them time to process without an immediate reaction. May Allah soften their hearts.

sister
Auto-translated

Heartbroken to read about your father blaming you for the assault. No woman should face that. Surround yourself with sisters who uplift you. Allah sees your struggles.

sister
Auto-translated

Honestly, if your dad said you'd be thrown out, don't tell them until you're financially independent and living elsewhere. Your safety comes first, sis. Make du'a for guidance.

sister
Auto-translated

I feel you deeply. My mother also said awful things about Muslims. When I told her, it was a disaster. But over time, with patience and du'a, things got slightly better. Stay strong.

sister
Auto-translated

Mashallah, you're so brave for embracing Islam despite the hostility. Maybe you can slowly show them the beauty of Islam through your character without explicitly saying it yet?

Add a new comment

Log in to leave a comment