How to handle feeling lonely among friends?
Assalamu Alaikum, everyone. I’m not sure how to put this into words, but here goes. Lately, I’ve been dealing with a heavy sense of loneliness when it comes to friendships, and I was wondering how others might cope with something like this. So, I had to let go of two friends this year. One of them kept making fun of our deen and mocking me for reverting, so alhamdulillah, I made the decision to step away back in May. The other told me she needed space because she’s swamped with exams and “hates summer,” but I haven’t heard a word from her since July. She’s got a husband, and I can’t help thinking she’s probably not ignoring him the same way. Then there’s my closest friend-she’s been acting strange ever since I started practicing more seriously. I can just tell she feels awkward around me. One time I showed up wearing a navy abaya and she said I scared her… like, it’s a simple blue dress, what’s so frightening about that? Another day we passed two Muslim sisters on the street, and I joked, “Hey look, my people!” She just gave me this fake little laugh. I get the sense she thinks I’m silently judging her and the way she lives, but I’m honestly not. She buys into all the anti-Islam stuff she sees online and treats me like I’ve lost my ability to think for myself. I’ve tried to clarify things for her, showing her the proper context behind those so-called “controversial views” in Islam, but there’s only so much I can do if her heart isn’t open. Her questions don’t feel like they come from genuine curiosity-just ignorance. It’s draining, and I end up feeling even more isolated. If anyone has been through this, how did you get through it? JazakAllah khair.