# The Muslim woman who said 'oh…'

- Teacher: Ajahn Brahm
- Type: Story
- URL: https://beingmindfulstories.com/stories/brahm-muslim-woman-oh-book-signing
- Themes: stereotypes, expectations, humour, interfaith
- Life situations: meeting someone different, prejudice

## Synopsis (editorial summary)

A young woman in hijab asks him to sign her book; she watches him on YouTube. As soon as he signs, she puts her hand over her mouth and blurts 'oh…' — so excited she forgot herself. It ruins his stereotype of how a devout Muslim 'should' behave; Indonesians and Australians are the same.

## The story, as told by Ajahn Brahm (verbatim captions)

one young lady come up to have her book signed and totally ruined my expectations of what a Muslim should be because she came out she was younger and in her hijab very devout woman so can you sign my book and I said yeah I can she says she watches me on YouTube great she might be watching me tonight but if you do please excuse me for letting people know this because as soon as so she signed my book as soon as I signed she said no I signed her book I'm tired come on as soon as I signed her book she put her hand over her mouth and said oh he's signing my book it's the first time I've heard a Muslim say oh she was so excited she's forgot herself and so all my expectations of Muslims being different than Australians totally vanished

## Teaching point

Stereotypes collapse when you meet a real person.

## Reflection (in the spirit of Ajahn Brahm's talk)

A young woman in a hijab got her book signed and squealed with excitement, hand over her mouth. In that moment Ajahn Brahm's assumptions about how a devout Muslim 'should' behave fell away. We're all the same underneath. Drop your stereotypes, and real people turn out to be delightful.

## Source

- [Expectations | Ajahn Brahm | 15 April 2016](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MV0wiAuOqik) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 11:39 to 12:39: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MV0wiAuOqik&t=699s