To think I inadvertently disrespected someone's religion

[LondonElle]

Was out shopping today with a Friend and our children and noticed the gentleman in front of me car keys fall out of his pocket and him and his wife didn't notice, the queue was moving fast and I didn't want them being stepped on or lost so I tried to get his attention, I said excuse me gently at first and then louder but I couldn't attract him or his wife's attention, so I lightly tapped him on the shoulder and pointed to they keys he had dropped. He looked aghast and shouted at me... I was quite taken aback he then grabbed the keys but looked fuming with me.
My friend who I was with said that it may be because of his religion, (his wife was dressed in a burka and had her face covered) and the fact that as a female I shouldn't have touched him... I genuinely didn't know this was the case and didn't know how else to have caught his attention as they were about to walk off prior to me pointing out the keys... I feel a bit awful now like I disrespected someone's religion inadvertently. Am I really that much or an ignorant person?

Ok, this reminds me of an incident I witnessed not long ago on a crowded bus. A a man was sitting next to a woman, then the bus stopped sharply, and he fell over on her inadvertently. She screamed and made a huge fuss, and shouted " Don't touch me!". I felt sorry for him, apologising over and over, and the whole bus turning to look at him as if he were some perv.

Some people are just strange regardless of religion ( or in her case, maybe some past trauma).

Who knows why he shouted. Maybe he's a jerk.

I think you and your friend are being unreasonable to make this about his

Pressed post too soon. I wanted to say that you and your friend are unreasonable to make this about his religion when ne was probably just an arse.

You have got no idea why he reacted the way he did but obviously he was being unfair and rude towards someone being kind. By posting your question you are perpetuating the racist stereotype that people of this religion (and possibly similar ethnic background) are uncivilised and backward.

Agreed. It’s a shame OP didn’t respond to any of the Muslims on this thread who tried to reassure her that she tried to do a nice thing which is encouraged in Islam.

She does indeed!

No, he was just a prick

Let it go. You told someone they dropped their keys which is kind thing to do. Their behaviour re your kind help wasn't nice. At least you helped and that's all that matters. Keys returned to owner.