I am new to Islam. My friends want me to accompany them on amusement park rides, but I do not think this is proper. It strikes me as being immodest of a chaste Islamic woman to make a spectacle of her in front of men this way, particular if they are Kuffar. Am I being overly scrupulous?

Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds; and may His blessings and peace be upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon all his Family and Companions.

Praise be to Allah Who blessed you with the bounty of Islam.  It is indeed the best blessing of Allah to any person.

You have to hold tight to the teachings of this religion and endeavour to be steadfast on it until you meet Allah.

You have to know that the best place for a woman is her home.  As when she goes out she is tempted by men and men are arrracted to her.

Allah Says (interpretation of meaning): {And stay in your houses,…}[33:33].

So in principle, you should stay at home but if you have to go out then you have to wear the proper Muslim women's dress and be modest and shy.  You should also lower your gaze when in front of men.  When a woman goes out for her needs, she should not do any act in a manner that causes men to look at her.

The scholar Ibn Abiddin said: 'It is permissible for a woman to go out but on the condition that she does not beautify herself and not change her outward appearance or look in a manner that attract men to her.'

Therefore, if getting on these amusement rides is in the presence of men and if that causes them to look at her, then this is not permissible.

 Note also that you should not put perfume when going out and not travel without a Mahram.

Allah knows best.