Do not be intimidated
Bismillah ir-Rahman ir-Raheem.
Insha'Allah this small note finds you and your family in good health and happy times.
So I was in downtown Seattle today, across the street from Westlake center, taking advantage of the Christmas sales (hey, just 'cause I don't celebrate the holiday doesn't mean I can't enjoy the bargains, alhamdulillah!). They have a little mini-carnival set up there, with a merry-go-round and some fried food stands. I strolled over and stood watching the people on the merry-go-round, since it's one of my favorite rides and the people on it are almost invariably smiling - it's a nice sight to see.
As I'm standing there this security guard comes up to me and asks me what I'm doing there. Given that I'm holding a giant Daiso bag in my hand it's pretty obvious that I've just done some shopping, but I answer him politely anyway 'Just taking advantage of the Christmas sales'. He looks at me skeptically and walks off to talk to another security guard, I go back to watching the merry-go-round (and, I'll admit it, enjoying the smell of the funnel cakes cooking, haha!).
A few minutes later the two security guards come over and ask me what's under my jacket. 'A sweater and a turtleneck'. They step away for more talking, one of them says something into his radio. By this point it's clear they're going to make a thing of my apparently dangerous looking jacket, so I'm watching them now instead of the merry-go-round. The two come back and ask me to take my jacket off. Given that 1) it's 40 degrees and raining and 2) they have absolutely no legal standing to make me do a damn thing, I say 'No'. They then tell me to take my jacket off. I more forcefully reply 'No. What you are doing is illegal. I want to talk to your supervisor.' They inform me that he is already on his way. Interesting. By this time some of the people on the merry-go-round and at the food stands have noticed what's going on and are watching. Especially the little kids, who keep whispering questions to their parents.
Five minutes pass, with me staring at the security guards and them staring right back, then the supervisor shows up. He goes up to the two, they talk, then all three come up to me, with the supervisor in the middle and the two flanking him behind. The supervisor says, in a rather gruff and very loud voice, 'Ma'am, you're not cooperating with us. Either take your jacket off or we will call the police'. Clearly this man is trying to embarrass and intimidate me, the fool. In an even louder voice (and I do admit to taking pride in my theater training, so I can actually project instead of having to shout) I reply 'Do it. If I had a cell phone I would have called them already. What you are doing is illegal. Call them. Now.' I only realize after I'm done talking that I've stepped forward and am nose-to-nose with the supervisor. I can practically feel everyone else watching us.
The security guards just stood there a good two minutes, staring at me, the supervisor trying to maintain a gruff face, though I can see his dismay. He wasn't expecting me to stand up to him. He was expecting the stereotype - a demure, passive, easily bullied little girl. I'm thinking 'Dude, it takes faith to wear the hijab in this country, I'm not going to be cowed the likes of you'. I didn't back down, eventually they said 'Fine, but we're watching you'. I pointed to the people on the merry-go-round, specifically the kids with their wide eyes and confused looks, and said 'Good, because they are watching you'. The security guards just walked off, though true to their word they did watch me for the entire 10 minutes I was there, despite getting several dirty looks from some of the adults in the area who'd overheard what happened.
To my brothers and sisters reading this, do not be discouraged by this story. This is a story of hope, of perseverance, of success. Do not let bullies and oppressors intimidate you, do not let ignorance and bigotry stop you. There is strength in our Ummah, in our Iman, in the Deen, which we can rely on. Every time something like this happens it is not an attack, it is an opportunity from Allah to grow stronger, to gain more understanding, to make dawah.
"Be sure We shall test you with something of fear and hunger, some loss in goods or lives or the fruits (of your toil); but give glad tidings to those who patiently persevere." 2:155
"You will surely be tested in your possessions and in yourselves. And you will surely hear from those who were given the Scripture before you and from those who associate others with Allah much abuse. But if you are patient and fear Allah - indeed, that is of the matters [worthy] of determination." 3:186
"And with Him are the keys of the Invisible. None but He Knoweth them. And He Knoweth what is in the land and the sea. Not a leaf falleth but He Knoweth it, not a grain amid the darkness of the earth, naught of wet or dry but (it is noted) in a clear record." 6.59
"Do men think that they will be left alone on saying “We believe” and that they will not be tested?" 29:2
"Anyone for whom Allah intends good, He makes him suffer from some affliction." Bukhari
"When Allah intends good for His slave, He punishes him in this world, but when He intends an evil for His slave, He does not hasten to take him to task but calls him to account on the Day of Resurrection." Tirmidhi
Anything good here is from Allah, anything bad is my own mistake. Allahu alim - God knows best.
Insha'Allah this small note finds you and your family in good health and happy times.
Click to viewSo I was in downtown Seattle today, across the street from Westlake center, taking advantage of the Christmas sales (hey, just 'cause I don't celebrate the holiday doesn't mean I can't enjoy the bargains, alhamdulillah!). They have a little mini-carnival set up there, with a merry-go-round and some fried food stands. I strolled over and stood watching the people on the merry-go-round, since it's one of my favorite rides and the people on it are almost invariably smiling - it's a nice sight to see.
As I'm standing there this security guard comes up to me and asks me what I'm doing there. Given that I'm holding a giant Daiso bag in my hand it's pretty obvious that I've just done some shopping, but I answer him politely anyway 'Just taking advantage of the Christmas sales'. He looks at me skeptically and walks off to talk to another security guard, I go back to watching the merry-go-round (and, I'll admit it, enjoying the smell of the funnel cakes cooking, haha!).
A few minutes later the two security guards come over and ask me what's under my jacket. 'A sweater and a turtleneck'. They step away for more talking, one of them says something into his radio. By this point it's clear they're going to make a thing of my apparently dangerous looking jacket, so I'm watching them now instead of the merry-go-round. The two come back and ask me to take my jacket off. Given that 1) it's 40 degrees and raining and 2) they have absolutely no legal standing to make me do a damn thing, I say 'No'. They then tell me to take my jacket off. I more forcefully reply 'No. What you are doing is illegal. I want to talk to your supervisor.' They inform me that he is already on his way. Interesting. By this time some of the people on the merry-go-round and at the food stands have noticed what's going on and are watching. Especially the little kids, who keep whispering questions to their parents.
Five minutes pass, with me staring at the security guards and them staring right back, then the supervisor shows up. He goes up to the two, they talk, then all three come up to me, with the supervisor in the middle and the two flanking him behind. The supervisor says, in a rather gruff and very loud voice, 'Ma'am, you're not cooperating with us. Either take your jacket off or we will call the police'. Clearly this man is trying to embarrass and intimidate me, the fool. In an even louder voice (and I do admit to taking pride in my theater training, so I can actually project instead of having to shout) I reply 'Do it. If I had a cell phone I would have called them already. What you are doing is illegal. Call them. Now.' I only realize after I'm done talking that I've stepped forward and am nose-to-nose with the supervisor. I can practically feel everyone else watching us.
The security guards just stood there a good two minutes, staring at me, the supervisor trying to maintain a gruff face, though I can see his dismay. He wasn't expecting me to stand up to him. He was expecting the stereotype - a demure, passive, easily bullied little girl. I'm thinking 'Dude, it takes faith to wear the hijab in this country, I'm not going to be cowed the likes of you'. I didn't back down, eventually they said 'Fine, but we're watching you'. I pointed to the people on the merry-go-round, specifically the kids with their wide eyes and confused looks, and said 'Good, because they are watching you'. The security guards just walked off, though true to their word they did watch me for the entire 10 minutes I was there, despite getting several dirty looks from some of the adults in the area who'd overheard what happened.
To my brothers and sisters reading this, do not be discouraged by this story. This is a story of hope, of perseverance, of success. Do not let bullies and oppressors intimidate you, do not let ignorance and bigotry stop you. There is strength in our Ummah, in our Iman, in the Deen, which we can rely on. Every time something like this happens it is not an attack, it is an opportunity from Allah to grow stronger, to gain more understanding, to make dawah.
"Be sure We shall test you with something of fear and hunger, some loss in goods or lives or the fruits (of your toil); but give glad tidings to those who patiently persevere." 2:155
"You will surely be tested in your possessions and in yourselves. And you will surely hear from those who were given the Scripture before you and from those who associate others with Allah much abuse. But if you are patient and fear Allah - indeed, that is of the matters [worthy] of determination." 3:186
"And with Him are the keys of the Invisible. None but He Knoweth them. And He Knoweth what is in the land and the sea. Not a leaf falleth but He Knoweth it, not a grain amid the darkness of the earth, naught of wet or dry but (it is noted) in a clear record." 6.59
"Do men think that they will be left alone on saying “We believe” and that they will not be tested?" 29:2
"Anyone for whom Allah intends good, He makes him suffer from some affliction." Bukhari
"When Allah intends good for His slave, He punishes him in this world, but when He intends an evil for His slave, He does not hasten to take him to task but calls him to account on the Day of Resurrection." Tirmidhi
Anything good here is from Allah, anything bad is my own mistake. Allahu alim - God knows best.