Whenever I reveal to anyone that I’m a Muslim, I only sometimes get a reaction of “Oh, okay, cool.” Usually, the reaction I get is one of surprise, “I never would’ve guessed!” being the typical response I receive. Not that I mind; it’s kind of amusing whenever I bring out those reactions in people. When I get these responses, they normally come with questions. So I thought I would list those questions and my responses to them for anyone who’s curious!
“Why don’t you wear the hijab?”
This is the question that I am most always asked. A hijab, as many already know, is a head covering that Muslim women normally wear. The reason I’m asked this question often is because it is common knowledge that wearing the hijab is technically a requirement for Muslim women. Here’s how I normally respond to this: “I’m not ready.” It’s simple! It’s true that Muslim women are supposed to wear the hijab, but only when they are ready for it. Only they know when they feel ready for it, so it’s never a good idea to pressure them into doing it! Whether or not a Muslim woman wears a hijab is between her and God and nobody else.
“Do you have to be in an arranged marriage?”
No, I do not! It might be common to hear among Muslims that they have their marriage arranged for them by their families, but that actually does not have to do with the religion itself. It all has to do with culture. I think a lot of us often confuse religion with culture (I certainly have before). But it’s important to remember that they are two different things! The Qur’an does not state that Muslims are required to have an arranged marriage; still, there are cultures around the world who do follow that custom, and a lot of them may happen to be of Islamic faith. My culture does not require this, so I’m free to choose who I want to marry!
“Why would you starve yourself?”
This question kind of irritates me, seeing as when I’m asked this, it seems like I’m being judged. Allow me to clarify what this question is, or rather, should be, asking. This question asks why I fast. In Islam, there is a holy month called Ramadan, which is a time when Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset. And yes, we do this for the whole month. But if you want to ask why a Muslim fasts, please don’t word it as “starving yourself” because that’s not what we’re doing, and it kind of feels like an insult. Simply ask, “Why do you fast?” Much simpler and not at all offensive. Muslims fast for several very beneficial reasons, which I have gone into detail in my article called Ramadan: The Importance of Fasting. Believe it or not, there are health benefits! This is not an unhealthy practice, nor should it be considered crazy.
“You can’t even drink water?”
This question, once again, is referring to when Muslims fast during Ramadan. If I had a nickel for every time I was asked this question, I would be a millionaire touring Europe. No, when we fast, we can’t even drink water. That’s what fasting means, after all! No eating or drinking until the sun sets. I can understand the surprise that people who aren’t Muslim will have, though. Hunger is one thing, but thirst can be unbearable. The key is to try to not move around too much; that way, you won’t get too thirsty! I don’t often get very thirsty during Ramadan; I try to be careful of it (no excessive walking, no running, etc) so I can power through each day.
“Why can’t you eat pork?”
Commonly asked, but still a good question! Not being allowed to eat pork for Muslims isn’t some random restriction. There is actually a reason for it. According to the Qur’an, pork is considered impure and harmful to humans. It makes sense, since pigs spend a lot of time rolling around in mud and slop. Due to this, there may be toxins and bacteria in it, which is why Muslims are prohibited from consuming it. There is an exception though! In the unlikely (but not impossible) situation when we are starving and there is nothing to eat but pork, then it is okay to eat it. Otherwise, we’re not allowed to consume it at all. Another interesting fact to add to this that some people might not know: Muslims can’t consume meat from animals that are considered predatory either (crocodiles, sharks, etc)!
“Do you believe Jesus Christ is the son of God?”
Nope! I know that this is the belief among Christians, which I 100% respect, but Muslims do not believe this. We do believe that Jesus was born from the virgin Mary, but we don’t believe that he is the son of God. We do believe that he was a prophet of God, but we don’t believe he is divine.
“Are you Shia or Sunni?”
I’m mostly asked this by other Muslims. First, I should explain what Shia and Sunni mean. This is basically a divide among Muslims over a dispute about who should succeed the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) as the leader of the Islamic faith after his death. The Shia Muslims believe that the successor should have been Ali Ibn Abi Talib, the Prophet’s cousin, while Sunni Muslims believe that the successor should have been Abu Bakr, the Prophet’s father-in-law. Basically, the Shia focus on the Prophet’s family lineage through Imams (Muslim leaders), while the Sunni focus on following the Prophet’s example. Honestly, for the most part, Sunni and Shia Muslims share the same beliefs, so it really doesn’t matter which one you are. But to answer the question, I am a Sunni Muslim. However, to me, it makes no difference, because in the end, I’m a Muslim either way.
Curiosity is not a bad thing! If you have a question regarding Islam or being a Muslim, then ask! Even if it seems like a simple, obvious question, ask it. I personally am happy to share my faith and answer any questions that anyone might have!