How can I respond to female colleagues who mock the niqab and religious commitment, claiming that a committed woman does not laugh, go out, or work in fields where there are men?

The committed woman is the one who should be joyful and laugh, because she is obedient to her Lord's command, and her status is higher than others. A committed woman should look at the actions of immodestly dressed women with an eye of compassion and mercy. If a Muslim is ridiculed by people of sin, he should say to them: "He said, 'If you ridicule us, then we will ridicule you just as you ridicule us'" [Hud: 38]. Islam does not prevent a woman from laughing, being joyful, or going out for necessities, provided she adheres to the hijab. However, ignorance of Islam is what has emboldened the wicked. The committed woman should seek out committed female friends who will help her obey Allah, be patient in the face of harm, read published booklets on the jurisprudence of the Muslim woman, and listen to the tape: "Concerns of a Committed Woman" by Sheikh Salman Al-Ouda.