Muslims in non-muslim countries.....?

Question

Social norms in non-muslim countries are different than muslim ones obviously. My question is: for the muslimas are you offended if you're complimented on your appearance? for the muslims: have you complimented non-muslim women on their appearance?

Answer 1

Bismillahi Rahmani Rahim - In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful

Hello.  I am happy if somone compliments me on my appearance, because it indicates they are open-minded and don't see my modest dress as "oppressive".  I'd certainly rather be complimented than have someone say "Hey, take that off, you're in America now!", which has happened to some ladies I know.  So, in America I can wear a bikini or a goth outfit or sequined shorts or spandex, but NOT a headscarf? Hmmmm...

May Allah guide you to the best in this world and the next.  Ameen.

Fi Aman Allah,

Nancy Umm Abdel Hamid

Answer 2

No, not offended, cuz i know what I'm wearing should be complimented (lol kidding)..

Yea i've complimented non-Muslims a lot of times! Sometimes cuz they really just look good on it, or I'm just making it up really bad at my social skills.

edit: wow O_O really? i didn't know

Answer 3

muslim women are not offended if u compliment them. Men are told to keep their eyes down in order to respect them. Everyone likes hear good stuff about themselves.

Answer 4

Yeah. Something wrong with it? I am I being sinful for doing so?

Answer 5

  I'll compliment work (I supervise two female clerks),  but nothing about their appearance.  I lower my gaze (I work with 12 women, one, a muslimah) and keep it professional.

Answer 6

i am a muslim and i live in UK(not a muslim country) but i does not effect me bcz i don't wear head scarf and i have never being criticised of being a muslim

"in some muslim countries, if you tell a woman she's pretty - you get to see what size her foot is because she'll beat you with her shoe" i think this is absolutely not true i use to live in pakistan before and i knew many people who use to flirt and they did not use to get beaten up i like getting coments from others as long as they are good

Answer 7

People from one culture should respect other cultures when they go over and try to fit in. They should have respect as to not push or force different norms in other people's  different culture environment.

I wonder if in Muslim countries, Muslim men with foot fetishes, are happy to not lower their gaze so as to, " see what size her foot is because she'll beat you with her shoe"?

Answer 8

Im a Muslimah and i do not get offended, i like complements as long as they dont take it too far, could you be a little more specific though brother, im not very sure what you mean.

Answer 9

for the muslimas are you offended if you're complimented on your appearance?

Nope, it makes me happy when i get compliments.. xD LOL

EDIT: i knew i would get thumbs down for this.. but it does make me happy, and i aint going to lie.. =P SO Live with it

Answer 10

I do not mind compliments for my appearance hehe it makes me feel good. If you're asking about men complimenting it depends how they do it, like not by being rude and disrespectful to u. Like i've had a lot of guys tell me that they like my hijab and they think it's cool.

I always compliment my non muslim friends on their appearance. Everybody likes compliments.

Answer 11

I don't mind when girls compliment me, but i sort of do when guys compliment me an stare cuz i feel like they have some ulterior motive or something. but overall i like compliments.

Answer 12

I have never lived anywhere else but non muslim countries. I am a westerner and am a muslim the two are not mutually exclusive. Depends what comment they are making about my appearance. If they are saying "I really like that top your wearing" or "that colour suits you" I just say thank you. You dont say if the comment is coming from a woman or a man so i will assume both. As a married woman and wearing a Hijab most men i have come across dont comment like that. I did have a drunk man where i work come in and comment "You have the most beautiful eyes i have ever seen" I just replied "My husband thinks so"  and walked away as he was drunk I paid him no attention and let my colleague serve him. I did not smile at him or encourage him or engage in conversation with him even though he continued staring at me. My body language spoke volumes.

I dont want or need anyone to comment on my appearance but if its innocent from a male or female college etc like "that's a nice colour suits you" I think it would be silly to be offended. But if a comment is of a personal nature or a sexual manner I think any woman has the right to be offended Muslim or not.

My husband is not from a western country and would never compliment another woman on her appearance Muslim or not. He does not see other women and I mean that. He is a pious man and does not make eye contact or conversation with women other than collegues and even when talking with those he never makes comments about there apperance because he treats other women as he would want others to treat his wife, daughter, sister, mother, aunts etc.



As a woman who has traveled to many muslim countries I have never had a single muslim man comment on my appearance. They are very respectful and I really like that. That i can feel that my daughter will not be hit on left right and centre, that the men around her even strangers are looking out for her not looking at her.

I feel extremely protected in muslim countries and i have never felt that in my own.  

Answer 13

Am going to answer this according to my Muslim friends =D

for the muslimas are you offended if you're complimented on your appearance?

They don't seem to mind. I think they like it, i mean who would'nt like compliments.. xD

for the muslims: have you complimented non-muslim women on their appearance?

LOL, Well since they grew up in non-muslim country they do far worse than that. But they are not very Religious. If your talking about the Religious one's, then i wouldnt know.