Do you guys ever get those moments when, you become so angry and you know your anger isn't justified and it's for the most illogical reason, yet you can't help the negative torrent of emotions? 

No? It's just me? Cool.

Well that did happen to me last week at uni and calm down, I didn't go punching anyone or anything. Let me tell you what happened.

As part of one of my assessments this semester we were put into groups and told to conduct an observational experiment and then do a presentation on our findings. The observation can be absolutely anything you want, but it had to be done at the uni. 

So one girl offered that we observe how people act sitting alone compared to how they act when they're sitting with a group of friends. This was awesome, everyone loved the idea.

And then...another girl suggested, "why don't we go to the roundhouse (uni club/bar) and observe how a group of guys react when they're drunk.." or something like that. Now considering I was the only Muslim in the group, everyone else was fine with it...except for me. 

At that moment, I was so enraged by the religious insensitivity by the girl, that I actually wanted to slap her upside the head. Like wut? I was sooo annoyed.

I replied, "I don't drink or attend the roundhouse parties" and implied I wanted to stick to the first plan. 

She said, "Oh, you don't have to participate in drinking or anything but if that atmosphere is going to make you uncomfortable then we won't do it." 

UM...YES IT'LL MAKE ME UNCOMFORTABLE. 

Anyway, we did end up sticking with the first task. But I don't know why I was so angered. She should know that Muslims don't drink alcohol, I kept telling myself. I mean, Australia is one of the most multi-cultural countries for Gods sake. She should be aware!

But after my internal rage had calmed down, I realised that my mentality was wrong and my anger was unreasonable. You just can't expect everyone to know your religious and/or cultural background. She might have grown up in the country and had absolutely no contact with Muslims until she attended uni. Maybe, she just didn't realise the extent to how much (most) Muslims will try to avoid alcohol and being in an environment that endorses it. 

Either way, I was stupid. I didn't act rudely, admittedly a bit dryly, but I think I was more annoyed over the fact that I was put in an extremely awkward situation and scared that I would actually have to go through with it. It made me feel extremely alienated. 

If you're living in a westernised country, sooner or later, a similar situation like this is going to occur to you. You're going to have to deal with it. I've already spoken about our religion being questioned, but if people are just plainly not aware of it, then don't get angry (like I did) but just understand that they might not be particularly educated about it. 

Be kind to the unaware and always remain open-minded. It'll come a long way, believe me! 

A few ayat and hadith to contemplate:

"And the servants of the Most Merciful are those who walk upon the earth easily, and when the ignorant address them [harshly], they say [words of] peace" 25:63

"Who spend [in the cause of Allah ] during ease and hardship and who restrain anger and who pardon the people - and Allah loves the doers of good" 3:134

*

~ Abu Huraira reported Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: "The strong-man is not one who wrestles well but the strong man is one who controls himself when he is in a fit of rage." Sahih Muslim Book 032, 6313

~ It is reported on the authority of Abu Huraira that the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) observed: He who believes in Allah and the Last Day should either utter good words or better keep silence; and he who believes in Allah and the Last Day should treat his neighbour with kindness and he who believes in Allah and the Last Day should show hospitality to his guest. Sahih Muslim Book 001, Hadith 0075

~ Narated By Abu Huraira : A man said to the Prophet , “Advise me! “The Prophet said, “Do not become angry and furious.” The man asked (the same) again and again, and the Prophet said in each case, “Do not become angry and furious.” Sahih Bukhari , Book 073, Hadith 137