How Do I Deal with Pressure from My Fellow Film Students in Greece?

Answered by Ustadha Shazia Ahmad

Question

I am a film student in Greece, and everyone around me is a non-believer: atheist, or agnostic. Even the Christians support things like LGBTQ, peer pressuring me to also join them in watching movies like “Portrait of a Lady on Fire” and “The Blue Caftan,” which are very haram.

How do I put it down kindly without starting arguments? I don’t want them to dislike me for it, but at the same time, I won’t put down my faith.

Answer

Thank you for your question. May Allah reward you for holding strong to your beliefs, and may he make it easy for you to socialize without compromising your values.

Don’t Imitate

The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “He who imitates any people (in their actions) is considered to be one of them.” [Abu Dawud] It’s imperative that you continue on this straight path and avoid the haram as you are now, may Allah bless your efforts.

Communicate

It’s ok for you to say no. You can tell them that you don’t think you will enjoy those movies and they should go without you. If they push the point, you can tell them the truth. As a Muslim, I don’t think you can hide your views for long. If you really don’t want to tell them, there are many ways to avoid the movies. You can make excuses, you can tell them that you need to study or that you are not feeling well. Pray istikhara about telling them how you feel; if you do, there is no need to argue about it. Simply tell them your views politely, even if they rant and rave.

Remember that your kindness and patience will go a long way: The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “Allah is Gentle and loves gentleness, and He grants reward for it that He does not grant for harshness.” [Ibn Majah]

Related:

• Should We Command Non-Muslims To Abide the Rules of Islam?
• Is Entertaining Un-Islamic Views In Debates Permissible?

May Allah give you the best of this world and the next.
[Ustadha] Shazia Ahmad
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Ustadha Shazia Ahmad lived in Damascus, Syria, for two years, where she studied aqidah, fiqh, tajweed, tafsir, and Arabic. She then attended the University of Texas at Austin and completed her Master’s in Arabic. Afterward, she moved to Amman, Jordan, where she studied fiqh, Arabic, and other sciences. She later moved back to Mississauga, Canada, where she lives with her family.