What Will People Think?

"What will people think?"

Since we were young, we've heard these words in different forms:

“Don’t do that in public, what will people think?”

“You can’t dress like that, what will people say?”

“Don’t laugh too loudly, what will the neighbors think?”

“Choose a safer career, what will the relatives think?"

From childhood, our lives have been shaped by an invisible force: Society’s judgment. Parents, teachers, and elders repeated these phrases so often that they became ingrained in us. The fear of public opinion became second nature. We were taught to seek approval from people, to mold ourselves into what is acceptable, to shrink our desires and aspirations because of an ever-present audience watching and forming opinions.

But here’s the problem: this way of thinking doesn’t stop when we grow up. It follows us into adulthood. It stops a woman from wearing the hijab, fearing whispers behind her back. It stops a man from growing a beard, afraid of looking too different. It stops people from abandoning haram entertainment, fearing they’ll be labeled as "too extreme." It stops us from standing up for our beliefs, from making bold moves in life, and from living for something greater than human approval.

It’s time to change the narrative. Instead of asking, What will they think? we should be asking: Whose approval actually matters?

If the One who created you has commanded something, why hesitate? If He has allowed something, why fear rejection? The world’s opinions are temporary, but His judgment is eternal.

So put on that hijab without hesitation. Let your beard grow without apology. Walk away from mindless distractions and time-wasting entertainment without worrying about fitting in. Do what is right, not what is popular. Because in the end, the people you worried about, what power do they hold? They are just as temporary as you.