Small tests
Early on in my first semester of social work, our professors were going over where we would be placed in order to implement the skills we had nurtured throughout our learning term. I for one, had been assigned to be in a male dominated area. Because of my great discomfort with the situation, I met with my professor to see if there were other placements available because the one I had currently been assigned would not be conducive to my learning. Nor would it allow me to practice the skills I had so eagerly honed in on.
I explained to him that for religious purposes, it was not the most practical situation for me to be placed in. He paused for a minute and then replied by saying well,” So and so, there comes a time where you have to decided what parts of your religion you will hold on to and what parts you may need to let go of”. My professor is male and normally when speaking to him I divert my eyes so as not to meet his gaze for too long. I paused and digested the words he had just said to me. As soon as his words registered, I repeated them in my head, and this is the conversation I had with myself.
Did he just ask me to decide what part of my religion I need to let go of
He did not just ask me what part of my religion I need to let go off
Wow I really think that this man in all his audacity, had the nerve to ask me what part of MY ISLAM I was willing to drop!
At this point I raised my head and looked him dead in his eyes and said “I am a Muslim, and that means adhering to all aspects of Islam, I am never, nor will I ever, God willing, let go of any part of my religion.”
Because the professor knows me to be a respectful and quiet student, he was able to tell how serious I was, and he did not pursue the matter any further. I am not an individual who is easily irritated or insulted but what had just transpired between me and my professor really saddened me. What flaw had he seen in my character that had given him the idea that I was willing to compromise my deen in order to please him, or adhere to something as menial as the rules of the program over my own beliefs.
At that point I made a resolve and promised myself that I would no longer sit silently in that class but rather speak out and allow my views to be heard. Mind you of all 300 students in my program, I am the only female, Muslim who is not Caucasian. Nevertheless I was determined to teach my class mates about Islam whether they wanted to hear it or not. And besides I can not expect to just declare my Islam and act as though that is enough, for Allah swt clearly tells us in the Quran:
Do the people think that they will be left to say, “We believe,” without being put to the test?
May Allah swt makes us amongst those who accept his decree and show patience in the face of adversity, and sincere thankfulness in times of peace.
Subhanallaah what a reminder! I think you handled that situation with determination.
These professors are programed ‘like’ a computer with no sympathy of acknowledging one’s beliefs, and respecting one’s concerns. May Allah reward you for standing up for what’s Haqq.
Allah says: “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, bettiveen whom and you there was enmity [will become] as though he was a close friend.” (Qur’an 41: 34)
Jazakallah kahir
Masha ‘allah… im so proud of you ruhi!
may ALLAH subhana reward you immensely. AMEEN! THUMMA AMEEN!