The aim of this study was to understand the universe of a group of Muslim women, focusing their experiences in a western society, their perception of cultural differences and the repercussion of these factors mental health. for such, we applied the qualitative method using the semidirected interview in eight Muslim women who live in Brazil. the sample was constructed using the snow-ball technique, closed according to the criterion of saturation of data. the emergent categories starting from the statements were analyzed and explained in the light of psychosocial theories. the interviewers showed great interest in bringing up visibility to the religious questions which permeate the life of the Muslim people, emphasizing the lack of knowledge of the Western world concerning these issues. They say they are discriminated in several aspects, especially in relation to their clothes; they questioned the Western idea of the subdued woman, introducing as counterpoint the submission to the rigid patterns of beauty and health which permeate the female western universe. General aspects of Islam were also dealt with, including sexuality, marriage, raising children and the relations with the people of a country with habits and traditions different from their own. the impact of September 11th on the lives of these women was evident, promoting fear and social exclusion. as these issues are closely related to mental health, the study of the religious and ethnic minorities aiming the comprehension of mental disease through a culturally sensitive medicine is urgent.