My Family's Double Standards Push Me Away from Faith, Yet I Still Believe
Assalamu alaikum, I need to get this off my chest. I grew up in a home where abuse was normal, and the rules were twisted. Hijab was forced on me, women were told to serve men, and a man's sin was treated like nothing compared to a woman's. My own body felt like a battleground because my father and brothers constantly sexualized me-if my clothes weren't 'modest' by their harsh standards, I'd be shamed and humiliated in public. But deep down, I love Islam. I memorized a lot of Quran as a child and never wanted to rebel because I know it's the truth. My family has been my hardest trial, though, and in our culture, men get away with everything. Recently, my mom found out my dad was cheating for years. She was devastated, but my brothers shut it down, sided with my dad, and no one ever mentioned it again. It's like it never happened. Now I'm talking to a kind, understanding man for marriage, and my sister knows. But if my family found out-even though our intentions are pure-they'd punish me severely, maybe even kill me. I'm not exaggerating. Meanwhile, my dad sins, breaks the family, and nothing changes. Abuse from him is ignored. But life is suffocating for me and my sister. She's drifted from Islam, thinking it oppresses women. I see why she feels that way, but I know it's our culture, not the faith. Still, I'm stuck. I'm an adult, but I can't step outside, see friends, or decide anything. I wait two years or more to marry, if they even allow it. How do I survive this? It's eating at my iman, and that hurts most, because I truly believe Islam is right. I'm just tired of the pain and hypocrisy. Any advice, duas, or shared experiences would mean the world.