They Laughed at Us

Bismillah walhamdulillah

Today I was walking with a couple of my friends. One of them wears niqab and she was walking in front of me, down the stairs. On the other side of the stairs, there were nonmuslim men, who I noticed were looking at her and laughing. I love my friend dearly, but I did not feel anything much when this happened — only a little annoyance. Why? Perhaps it was because I knew that she did not care. I knew that she had experienced this type of thing before because she once said “and when they look at me weirdly, I hold my head up even higher”

Perhaps it was because I was not paying much attention, and I had more important things on my mind. Perhaps it was a mixture of the two.

In any case, the third sister with us, stopped at the foot of the stairs and turned around to look up at the men. The look of disgust and anger was very clear on her face. I was the one lagging behind both of them, so I saw all of this take place.

So when the third sister began to tell us a story about how this happened to other sisters in the past, how they were laughed at, I knew that she was trying to cheer us up and make us feel better. But in all honesty, I did not think that we needed it at all, wa lillahil hamd. My niqabi friend seemed to not have noticed what happened, and I, although I noticed all of it, did not care.

Has Allah swt not told us already that we will be laughed at?

Verily! (During the worldly life) those who committed crimes used to laugh at those who believed. And whenever they passed by them, used to wink one to another (in mockery); And when they returned to their own people, they would return jesting; And when they saw them, they said: “Verily! These have indeed gone astray!” Surah al Mutaffifeen, ayaat 29-32

He has already told us.

But look at the ayaat that follow…

But they (disbelievers, sinners) had not been sent as watchers over them (the believers). But this Day (the Day of Resurrection) those who believe will laugh at the disbelievers On (high) thrones, looking (at all things). Are not the disbelievers paid (fully) for what they used to do? Surah al Mutaffifeen, ayaat 33-36

When you have true imaan in the words of Allah swt, you cannot get too upset when they laugh. You should expect it, being laughed at is not the worst thing that can happen to you, take it from me. They may find you funny, but if you are honorable in the sight of Allah swt, then nothing else will matter to you. This is for all the sisters who are thinking of wearing hijab, abaya, niqab — I’m not telling you that you won’t be seen as strange, I’m telling you the opposite, you WILL be seen as strange.

But for those of you who have imaan…

 

You’re not gonna care.