Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Walmart Muslim

Last Friday I needed to go to Walmart for a few things. When I was checking out the young man at the cash register asked me "If I said Asalamu alaikum to you, would you know what that meant?" I responded wa alaikum asalam, and asked him if he knew what it meant and he said of course he did he was Muslim too... from Bosnia.

While I was waiting in that check out line, he was talking to the cashier on the register next to him about going out that night, and what they were going to do. I also noticed the GIANT gold chain that the kid was wearing. So, it was a bit of a surprise when he said he was Muslim. I also wondered why he asked me if I knew what asalamu Aliakum meant... I mean, I'm wearing an abaya and full niqab, I would hope I knew what it meant.

As I was gathering my bags, he handed me my receipt and said 'here you go sweetheart'. Oh well... you can't win them all.

12 comments:

Stacy K. said...

Wow, he had an interesting mix of influences in his life for sure. It is weird that he would ask you if you knew what Asalaamu Alaykum meant.

Hala Mu'min said...

Reminds me of the time I was in the elevator at the courthouse. There was a Puerto Rican guy with a beard, tattoos all up and down his arms with a cigarette in his hand. (Mind you in the city I live everyone has a beard and could be mistaken for a Muslim but may not necessarily be one) A bearded black guy comes in the elevator, and the Puerto Rican says "As Salaamu Alaikum", the other responds "walaikum Salaam WaRahmatullah", they (who both are in criminal court mind you) then proceed to have a conversation full of curse words about Muslimahs that don't cover. The cigarette holding one says "yeah I call them 'harami mamis'....."

I kept my mouth shut, but as they say "hypocrites always wanna play innocent".

بنت بيتر said...

WOW! SubhanAllah that is a strange encounter!

Shukran UmmIsmail Webb, May Allaah azz wal Jaal Reward you. Ameen said...

Wow Subhana Allaah Well This is a Kicker. I was at the Gas station with my mom and A Guy Kept staring in the Car well I had removed my niqab lol Hot flash and Pregnancy lol any how i saw the a Silver Crescent moon an star on his neck but i said nothing. so he said is that hood you have on i said no it an hijab he said your Muslim i said yes. He said As salaamou alikum i return and it and moved on. Well what Funny My mother is not Muslim and he asked her Ur Muslim she said no, he said well i was Wondering your not in Uniform and your showing to many legs. lol Mmmmm what u doing looking man.

blahblah said...

that was a strange encounter for sure! there are many muslims who do stuff that is not islamic (dressing wrong, lying, cheating, drinking, zina etc etc) so that part is not suprising. but they way he asked you about 'asalam alaikum' was weird, and his not-so-islamic departure words too....very odd

jazain said...

how does one ask a woman wearing niqaab if she would know what assalamu alikom means??? go figure.

TheHumbleWayfarer said...

a mixture of 'funny' and weird encounter i guess =)

Stephanie said...

The other day I went throught the drive through at Fazoli's and the Egyptian manager (who happens to know my husband and has met me several times) asked me if I was a Muslim even though I have on hijab and abaya and I said yes. He then proceeded to sell me a caesar salad with a big ol piece of capocolla ham on the top. I didn't find it until I got home. Man, I was hot!

Sacrifice4Allah said...

That's sad to read. Its not cool to imitate corrupt practices Western or otherwise.

A-SHIM said...

dakwah in an important thing to do. tell people the thrue about islam in the nice way.insya Alloh Islam will spreads all around the world with tauhiid

ishqia said...

its interesting to read ur blog, may allah bless u, assalamualaikum

Sarah said...

salam aleikom, that would be ackward :P don't forget in Bosnia how persecuted the Muslims were, and how much they tried to wipe Islam. Many children have grown up in Yugoslavia not even knowing that the Qur'an is a book! :(