Well, see those of you who know me, are well aware of the fact that I am an active Muslim. Fasting, Eid, that kind of thing. My mom's side of the family are all Muslim as well. My mom, and immediate family aren't.

Now here is my issue. I spent my summer with my aunt, uncle, and two cousins, who opened their arms to me in a bad time of my life. My home has been stressing me out, and I needed to get away from it. Now that I am nearing the beginning of the school year, I have to go back home. When there, I am constantly around things that I find to be sinful, and I just don't like to be around those things in general. Such as pork, drinking and smoking. Not to mention, my mom's boyfriend always flying off the handle on a tangent.

I would love to stay at my aunt's, as they have told me repediately that I am no less than a son to them, and a brother to the cousins. The only thing keeping me from doing so, is my overflowing love for my mother. If I didn't care so much about what she thinks, I would leave in a second.

I do love my mom, and do want to see her happy, but I do also want to be the best Muslim I can be, and being surrounded by this environment any Muslim wouldn't dare tread, is truly getting to me. I mean, they even celebrate Christmas. I barely told my mom that I wanted to embrace her shunned religion, so this will be the first year that I go celebrate Eid, and not celebrate christmas with my immediate family.

I'm seventeen, as of now. Eighteen in June. What should I do? Should I improve my quality of living, by making the steps appropriate to stay with my aunt, or should I swallow my pride, and sacrifice my well being for the sake of my lovely mother? I'm torn, and simply cannot make up my mind.

Also, excuse me if I seem to go on in circles. My mind I'd wandered, I'm typing this from an iPod, and my pinky is asleep.

You're going to have to leave the nest some day. Find your own place and a job.

Also, if you ever make the pilgrimage, take pictures and post em.

That's just it. I want to do what I believe is right, but I also have morals. In the Qur'an, there is a saying. Respect the mother, three times before the father. I don't want to hurt my mom, but I also don't want to be miserable... I'm going to use the advice I get from you all, and from my friends to see what is morally, or logically the best thing to do, from an unbiased viewer's perspective.

@thai
That's very true. Though, in our family we make it a habit of getting our college degrees before stepping into the world. I think that's the most stable way to get your foot in the door. My family doesn't agree with me leaving that early, and I'd have to agree with them. I'd rather have a solid foundation while going through college, for sure. I'm getting a job soon as well. My family owns a store ( yeah, I said it ) and they offered me a job.

Hah, I'll see what I can do. Not being trampled is a higher priority, though.

Indefinitely you should follow what you want, its really hard to live life trying to please everyone around you. If your not willing to take a step forward you might as well give up the race, its always hard to move on especially from the ones you care for but sometimes its necessary. Worrying about your Mother is great and she will always deserve that, but at your age you need to start moving on and working your way into society and finding your place. If you want to represent your religion then so be it, you have to do all you can to achieve that goal in the highest standards you can possibly achieve. It's not like your never going to see your Mother ever again anyways, you will still be able to visit whenever you'd like and that will never change. As cruel as it sounds I just moved leaving my Father behind, who has been a huge role in my life up until recently and it was probably the best thing I could have done. Letting go is the first step and how you go about it is up to you just always remember to stop and take a break from life once and awhile, it can get really stressful after a short time.

Part time jobs are fine too. I mean I haven't finished uni but I'm still looking to teach English part time. Be more independent.

Well I wish you the best and I hope you make the best decision.

dude

Well here is what I can tell you,
I'm half muslim, and my lebanese father is deceased, which means I have no one to talk to about it, so you have it better then me.

But, here is what I think you should do,
do what you think is best for yourself, your mother would understand, after all,
mothers protect their children in every way they can. This wouldn't be any different. Go and stay with your Aunt, your mother would understand.

You should ask your mother why she has abandoned a religion you feel so strongly about. No doubt a mother doesn't want a child to see her as a shameful person, but rather someone they can look up to. Oh and even if your mother asks you if you like her boyfriend, no matter what answer you give her, it doesn't influence her decision all that much.

I'm assuming this aunt of yours is your mothers sister? Because if so, it might also help to get your aunt to talk to your mother.

In the end though, the decision is really left with you, and you should ask yourself what you want most. Do you want a life that deviates from your own morals and religious beliefs or do you want a life that is in a sense, everything that you want at the moment.

Ok, just forget what I said Geno, because my comment was the dumb version of this ^

Well Ramsey I am a Muslim as well and there was something that helped me decide or very tough decisions...
(I don't think you know Arabic so I'll try my best at translating....and if you know Arabic..I'm sorry I assumed you didn't)
So it is called a decision prayer.
Basicly you pray salat(as you would normally for the morning,fajer,prayer) two rak'as(bend twice)and then you ask Allah(through cupping of the hands..I'm trying my best)and tell Allah your problem in a few days you will see a vision(which I cannot garante)or dream telling you what is right,or when the time comes you will know in your heart what is right.
Again I cannot garante it working only constant prayer to Allah will,and you should cheer up it's ramadan the most holy month ti Muslims.
I'm only typing this as in a way to help a muslim brother,as the prophet(PBUH)Mohammed once said:the teller of what's right is equivalent to who did what's right(again I'm bad at Arabic english trans)
So I wish you a happy Ramadan and may Allah be with you.
(CCS is also completely correct one must obey their parents especially ones mother but never in what is forbidden)

being someone who hasn't had any meaningful parental influence in years, you should probably just take what i say with a grain of salt

just talk to your mom about what's bothering you, and explain that it's not that you don't like her
if she is really as loving and caring as you say, she would understand
i think?

Sometimes, it's all right to break free from some confinements if it means the security of your well-being.
If you find your current state of living is unfit, be open about it. Your mother will understand.

Your situation intrigues me for I myself am having family issues.I'm not the problem though,it's my rebel/gothic sister,she influences me alot, and my mom.They never get along.I didn't post on here to tell you my story,I'm just here to tell you that you're not alone.People go through things like this every second of the day,and the best thing you can do right now is to keep up what you're doing and don't let whats been killing you inside get the best of you.

Sorry if this message was to long/un-helpful.

Ripper~

Put spaces after your god damn commas!