Yesterday, a woman I was talking to on the street looked into my eyes, hers were sparkling in the sunlight.
Sweet, blue pools nestled into her weathered and weary face.
Her eyebrows arched toward the center, questioning… “You look like a saint – you must be a saint.”
She looked me over and repeated it.
There are those who hate to see a Muslim, people who may be suspicious of my smile- people who mock the cloth on my head, or pity the fact I’m not showing the world how very fashionable I can be.
There are people who lump Islam along with fascism and Muslims with madmen.
I feel so often this negativity is the focus of our discussions.
But it’s not all bad.
Some perceptions are negative, but some are positive.
Very positive.
In fact, some people have such a favorable reaction to my dress and my manners- both of which are not really mine, they are just my feeble attempts at implementing Islam-
They don’t even know what to make of it other than comparing me to an angel.
I’m surprised at how often I get that.
“You look like an angel.”
Someone who helped me choose the right PVC pipes in a hardware store once, after our brief experience together asked if I was.
An angel in disguise, shopping for PVC
It was as if he was sure I must be…
I’m usually dumbfounded when this happens- at a loss for words.
What I would like to say is, “No, I’m just a Muslim.”
Like I said before, Muslims don’t fly. Not even close. We are very human, with all the variation and fallibility that goes along with it.
But this reaction, this comparison, I get it.
Because I’m trying, a little bit, to be like a human who was the best of mankind.
The person closest to being an angel a human could get.
His name was Muhammad.
Is that how you think of Muhammad?
What do you think when you see or meet a Muslim?
If you are a Muslim, please share your positive experiences in the comments section!
The Muslim Next Door 
wow Danielle… .you should be happy in shaa Allaah because you ARE doing the right thing if your akhlaaq is so good that people think you are an angel not many of us can do that, even if you are saying as you are trying but it is good enough ma shaa Allaah. I wish I could do that.
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Salam! Thank you for commenting. I don’t know. I don’t think it’s me per se. I think some people can just sense something.. You know, like it’s from the fitrah. Like they sense the iman. I really don’t think it’s me. If you just check yourself a little, are you a bit nervous or shy? Do you expect a negative reaction from people? Maybe if you just be confident and be yourself. Expect good. Try to do what you learn from the Quran and sunnah, then walk with confidence and smile with sincerity. insha Allah you will find the same reaction.
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Asalamu alaikum wa rehmatullah 🙂
Jazakallahu khairan for sharing this beautiful story sister. Please keep doing what you’re doing because your blog has had a noticeable impact on me! After reading a few of your posts I considered my own attitude and realised that you’re right: we can’t walk around scared and anxious all the time, even if we’ve had negative experiences with prejudiced strangers in the past. A lot of the stress comes from within our own selves while we are worrying about people’s reactions – we should expect kindness, go to every possible length to embody that kindness in our own behaviour, and in shaa Allah will get kindness in return! It’s a big world and hate is not as widespread as we sometimes allow ourselves to believe 🙂
Your posts remind me of this ayah from the Qur’an:
“The good deed and the evil deed cannot be equal. Repel (the evil) with one which is better (i.e. Allah ordered the faithful believers to be patient at the time of anger, and to excuse those who treat them badly), then verily! he, between whom and you there was enmity, (will become) as though he was a close friend.” (41:34)
May Allah reward you multiple times over for adding something beneficial to the life of this Muslim with your words ❤ And may Allah give you the opportunity to benefit many more, Ameen!
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And may peace be upon you, and the Mercy of Allah and His blessings! I am awestruck by your comment. You literally put me to tears. Thank you so much.
I’m doing this because I want to share, and I pray that it will make a difference, even a tiny difference… But sometimes I doubt it could.. You’ve really helped me feel it is worthwhile to try.
The Ayah you mentioned, it is one that really sticks with me. If we keep it mind, imagine the impact over time!
Ameen to your duaa. Barak Allahu feeki
❤
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May I simply just say what a comfort to find a person that genuinely understands what they are talking about on the web.
You actually realize how to bring an issue to light and make
it important. A lot more people really need to check this out and understand this
side of your story. I was surprised you are
not more popular because you surely have the gift.
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Hello, and thank you so much for reading and taking the time to comment. I appreciate the encouragement. As far as popularity, In my little world not many care. One reader like you makes it all worth while though. Take care and I do hope you’ll come back again. Peace.
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It’s going to be finish oof mine day, except before ending
I am reading this wonderful piece of writing to increase my knowledge.
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Your style is unique compared to other people I’ve read stuff from.
Many thanks for posting when you have the
opportunity, Guess I will just book mark this blog.
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