---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A lot of people had a misconception that…"
description: "\"A lot of people had a misconception that I would be the perfect poster child for Islam. So I got a lot of Instagram comments like, 'Oh, you don't have ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/52c/halima-aden-8338_children_a-lot-of-people-had-a-misconception-that_22549.jpg"
---

#  A lot of people had a misconception that I would be the…

![“A lot of people had a misconception that I would be the perfect poster child for Islam. So I got a lot of Instagram comments like, 'Oh, you don't have your neck covered, you're not a Muslim!' My thing is, stop judging women, especially if you're a man, because you don't know the responsibility…” quote by Halima Aden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/52c/halima-aden-8338_children_a-lot-of-people-had-a-misconception-that_22549.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/52c/halima-aden-8338_children_a-lot-of-people-had-a-misconception-that_22549.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/52c/halima-aden-8338_children_a-lot-of-people-had-a-misconception-that_22549.jpg)

> “A lot of people had a misconception that I would be the perfect poster child for Islam. So I got a lot of Instagram comments like, 'Oh, you don't have your neck covered, you're not a Muslim!' My thing is, stop judging women, especially if you're a man, because you don't know the responsibility that comes with wearing a hijab.”

[Halima Aden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/halima-aden/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The speaker challenges superficial judgments about religious identity, emphasizing that external appearance does not determine faith and urging empathy toward women’s personal choices.

**In simple terms:** Judgment based on appearance is shallow.

Key Takeaway

Respect personal agency in religious expression.

Themes

identity gender religion judgment empathy

Mood

defiant thoughtful

Type

personal testimony social commentary

When to use this quote

- online comment sections
- interfaith dialogues
- women’s rights discussions
- media representation

Key Concepts

stereotyping cultural expectations

Practical Applications

- educational workshops on religious diversity
- campaigns promoting respectful discourse

Questions to Reflect On

- How does appearance influence our assumptions about belief?
- What responsibilities do we have when commenting on others’ faith practices?

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[Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Covered Muslim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/covered-muslim-401777/) [Hijab](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hijab/) [Islam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/islam/) [Israel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/israel/) [Man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man/) [Muslim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/muslim/) [Muslim Thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/muslim-thing-401778/) [Responsibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/responsibility/) [Stop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stop/) [Wearing Hijab](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wearing-hijab-401776/) [Women](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/women/)

## Related quotes

> [Wearing hijab made you know that I was Muslim.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-sarsour/wearing-hijab-made-you-know-that-i-was-muslim/)

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> [When I was younger, I got bullied for wearing my hijab.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/halima-aden/when-i-was-younger-i-got-bullied-for-wearing-my-hijab/)

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> [I think often the West does not understand the history and the privilege of wearing a hijab. They always think of oppression.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/halima-aden/i-think-often-the-west-does-not-understand-the-history-and-the/)

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> [I did notice growing up that there are so many things, obstacles and things, that people think you can't do because you're Muslim or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/halima-aden/i-did-notice-growing-up-that-there-are-so-many-things-obstacles-and/)

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> [“Her executioners used her innocence and sent her into the midst of the rest, a living grenade wearing a hijab.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valentine-okolo/her-executioners-used-her-innocence-and-sent-her-into-the-midst-of/)

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> [I wear a hijab to cover my head and I'm proud of who I am. To the girls who think wearing a hijab will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aleah/i-wear-a-hijab-to-cover-my-head-and-i-m-proud-of-who-i-am-to-the/)

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> [Having long hair is the most annoying and wonderful thing ever. But I'm wearing hijab is the most wonderful thing !](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/having-long-hair-is-the-most-annoying-and-wonderful-thing-ever-but-i/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [When the other side of the world asks for freedom for not wearing hijab, the other side of the world asks for freedom for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norma-marthalia/when-the-other-side-of-the-world-asks-for-freedom-for-not-wearing/)

[Norma Marthalia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norma-marthalia/)

> [Many sisters complain that people don't want to marry them unless they stop wearing hijab. No man is worth your hijab, and a real…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omar-suleiman/many-sisters-complain-that-people-don-t-want-to-marry-them-unless/)

[Omar Suleiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omar-suleiman/)

> [“A woman of European heritage sporting a preacher's collar had the opposite effect of a Muslim woman wearing a hijab. She used her privilege…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-jerome-dickey/a-woman-of-european-heritage-sporting-a-preacher-s-collar-had-the/)

[Eric Jerome Dickey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-jerome-dickey/)

> [When I watch a TV show I wouldn't notice if someone was Muslim or wearing a hijab. It's nice to be on a show…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nadiya-hussain/when-i-watch-a-tv-show-i-wouldn-t-notice-if-someone-was-muslim-or/)

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> [Not wearing hijab has seriously, seriously hurt my career. Mass media wants to see a woman in a veil. But I think it helps…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maysoon-zayid/not-wearing-hijab-has-seriously-seriously-hurt-my-career-mass-media/)

[Maysoon Zayid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maysoon-zayid/)

> [Wearing a hijab never made me feel any more conservative - it made me feel safe. Then, after 9/11, I became the butt of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sza/wearing-a-hijab-never-made-me-feel-any-more-conservative-it-made-me/)

[SZA](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sza/)

> [There are irrational fears. If you see a woman wearing a hijab and fear is your first thought, something's really wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hamza-yusuf/there-are-irrational-fears-if-you-see-a-woman-wearing-a-hijab-and/)

[Hamza Yusuf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hamza-yusuf/)

> [“That is not a Muslim child, but a child of Muslim parents. That child is too young to know whether it is a Muslim…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/that-is-not-a-muslim-child-but-a-child-of-muslim-parents-that-child/)

[Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/)

## More by Halima Aden

> [A lot of people will look at you and will fail to see your beauty because you're covered up and they're not used to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/halima-aden/a-lot-of-people-will-look-at-you-and-will-fail-to-see-your-beauty/)

[Halima Aden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/halima-aden/)

> [I love speaking at schools. That's always my favorite because I wish I'd had someone who was like me come speak at my school.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/halima-aden/i-love-speaking-at-schools-that-s-always-my-favorite-because-i-wish-i/)

[Halima Aden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/halima-aden/)

> [I love Somali foods like canjeero, a pancakelike bread; same for pizza, burgers, and sushi.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/halima-aden/i-love-somali-foods-like-canjeero-a-pancakelike-bread-same-for-pizza/)

[Halima Aden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/halima-aden/)

> [Moving to the U.S. was an adjustment. I noticed that the kids played in groups. Back in Kakuma, everyone played together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/halima-aden/moving-to-the-u-s-was-an-adjustment-i-noticed-that-the-kids-played-in/)

[Halima Aden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/halima-aden/)

> [Always stay true to who you are - barriers can and will be broken!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/halima-aden/always-stay-true-to-who-you-are-barriers-can-and-will-be-broken/)

[Halima Aden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/halima-aden/)

> [I feel bad for my little cousins who don't see themselves being represented, or the little girls in my community who won't have a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/halima-aden/i-feel-bad-for-my-little-cousins-who-don-t-see-themselves-being/)

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> [When people put labels on us, it doesn't always enclose everything that we are. So even though I'm proud to be Somali, I'm proud…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/halima-aden/when-people-put-labels-on-us-it-doesn-t-always-enclose-everything/)

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> [If you think people are against you and that you're a target, things will start appearing that way. I just go about my day,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/halima-aden/if-you-think-people-are-against-you-and-that-you-re-a-target-things/)

[Halima Aden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/halima-aden/)

> [If there's one message I want people to take away is never compromise being your authentic self. Even if that means making others uncomfortable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/halima-aden/if-there-s-one-message-i-want-people-to-take-away-is-never-compromise/)

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> [Product-wise, I use a morning and night cleanser. I'm really not a brand person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/halima-aden/product-wise-i-use-a-morning-and-night-cleanser-i-m-really-not-a/)

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> [Back in high school, I didn't ever see a Muslim homecoming king or queen - there was never even anyone nominated. It just seemed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/halima-aden/back-in-high-school-i-didn-t-ever-see-a-muslim-homecoming-king-or/)

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> [I like shopping at retail places like JC Penney or Macy's, and maybe buying a top or a shirt, and then buying a skirt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/halima-aden/i-like-shopping-at-retail-places-like-jc-penney-or-macy-s-and-maybe/)

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> [My favorite part of modeling is backstage. Every day you work with different people, and as much as people learn about my story, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/halima-aden/my-favorite-part-of-modeling-is-backstage-every-day-you-work-with/)

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> [Society puts so much pressure on girls to look a certain way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/halima-aden/society-puts-so-much-pressure-on-girls-to-look-a-certain-way/)

[Halima Aden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/halima-aden/)

[Explore all 82 Halima Aden quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/halima-aden/)

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