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teanotcoffee241 karma

Hey, Muslim girl here :) I showed your AMA to my parents (both of whom are pretty religious, i.e., pray 5 times a day, keep to all the islamic rules, etc.) and they said that no child should ever feel threatened by their parents. If you do, your parents haven't done their jobs properly.

They wanted me to tell you that you have the right to live the way you want to. They say that the Qu'ran says that there is no compulsion in religion, so no person has the right to bind you to any faith you don't want to be a part of. Ultimately, judgement of a person is not up to us, but to God. We have no right to interfere, but we have a responsibility to be good and kind to fellow human beings, no matter what their beliefs (or lack thereof), cultures or anything.

My parents want me to tell you that if they were in the UK (we live in Canada) you would be more than welcome to share our home, and live the way you like, if you feel uncomfortable with your family. They say that they will pray for your happiness. I hope you understand and respect their wish to pray. If they could do more to help, they would.

I myself am a non-practicing Muslim. My parents will encourage me to pray, etc. from time to time, but if I don't, they don't mind. I know for a fact that my parents would never do a THING to hurt me, and would stand against the world for me if the need arose. THAT is what a parent should be like, IMO.

I don't mean anything bad but when I hear stories like yours, I get so mad at people like your parents. They make the entire religion look bad, when there are people like my parents who are part of this faith as well.

If you ask me, you are an incredible person. You will go places, and be an incredibly happy person. And for the unhappiness that your parents have given to you in your life, they have no right to be a part of your future. A parent would never turn their back on their child, and just the fact that you feel so threatened is a testament to how much you NEED to get away from them.

Fill your life with good people, ones who will respect you for the person YOU are, and not what you believe in.

My parents wish they could do more to help you. I wish I could do more to help you.

I want to wish you all the best with your future.

Edit: I thought I might add that me and my parents are from Pakistan. I was born there and moved here when I was 7/8. I think the Pakistani culture is also heavily stereotyped. My parents aren't absolutely nuts, like most of the Pakistani families we encounter in the news.