The Veiled Threat

Voice Up Sisters!-Stand Up 4 Islam

Bismillah-hir Rahman-nir Raheem (in the Names of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful)

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If there’s one thing that Islam and Muslims gets attacked for, it’s women!

It’s made out, in the ‘western world’, in the non-Muslim media and by ordinary people on the streets, that Muslim women are oppressed by Islam and by Muslim men. This is simply not true!

This is no different than Muslims being slammed for forced marriages. For a long time, people thought that having a forced marriage was normal in Islam and it was something that Islam supported. They thought that Muslim women were being oppressed, by the men, and being forced into marriages, against their wills. It took years of Muslims speaking out before it actually started to sink into the minds of the public at large, that Islam was against forced marriages and that this was a custom, a tradition, that was prevalent in cultures throughout the world – but not in Islam.

The Muslim World continues to be attacked where women are concerned. The latest attention has focused on the clothing of a Muslimah – not a new topic but one that’s been gaining momentum in Europe and the UK. The western world is complaining and campaigning hard against the Burqa, also known as the niqaab or chadur, and it has been banned in France, Belgium and is being heavily debated in the UK, Spain and other countries. The main thrust is that it is oppressive, poses a security threat and divides communities. I have already written a post on this:

http://standup4islam.wordpress.com/2010/08/14/we-dont-need-to-be-saved-from-the-burka/

Sisters! Stand Up!

The thing is sisters, if a Muslim man argues about the merits and benefits and blessings of hijaab, niqaab/burqa or jilbaab, he’ll just be seen as one of the oppressors. This situation requires for sisters to act, for sisters to stand up and defend their rights, the rights given to them in Islam by Allah, subhana wa ta’ala.

So stand up sisters. Be proud of being a Muslimah, of looking like a Muslimah, of being identified as a Muslimah. Stand up and tell the disbelievers that they are wrong. Ask them why they don’t ask the hundreds of thousands of Muslim women, who do wear Islamic dress, if they are oppressed. I don’t recall Muslim women asking the west for help!

• Tell them that you are not oppressed.
• Tell that that you don’t need their ‘protection’, that you don’t need to be ‘saved’ from Muslim men and Islam.
• Tell them the many reasons why you wear your hijaab, your niqaab, your jilbaab.
• Tell them that those who think the hijaab, niqaab or jilbaab are oppressive, are those who don’t wear it and those who want to show themselves off to a society that lusts after women.

And don’t stop there. Challenge them about their morals, about how they portray women in this society and what a lowly position they give to women. Don’t be a feminist – there is a better and higher position than that – that of Islam and the high status that it gives to Muslim women.

Some non-Muslims understand the benefits of being covered up, as can be seen from the link below:

http://www.savethemales.ca/180902.html

This is a non-Muslim speaking – surely Muslim women can say more!

Don’t be apologetic – you have nothing to apologise for.

And sisters, don’t look down on other sisters who are not yet practising this – insha’Allah they will learn and grow in deen and take strength from women like yourselves – help them to understand. And sisters, don’t speak out against those who are trying to wear Islamic dress in a society that frowns upon them. Support your sisters, wherever you are – don’t undermine them.

It won’t stop at the Niqaab!

Sisters, you need to realise that the attacks won’t stop. Now it’s the burqa and niqaab. What will it be tomorrow? If you don’t stand up now, the disbelievers will continue to walk all over us, spreading ‘their version’ of our deen.

Sisters, you are the cornerstone of the family! Do you want your children, nephews and nieces, to grow up without seeing their mothers, sisters, daughters, aunts protected by the Commands of Allah? Do you want them to see you in the same ilk as the disbelieving women? Think about what separates the believing women from the disbelieving women.

Stand Up 4 Islam!

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Some Notes: Proofs for the veil

Surah 24 (An-Nur), verse 31:

“And tell the believing women to lower their gaze (from looking at forbidden things) and protect their private parts (from illegal sexual acts) and not to show off their adornment except only that which is apparent (like both eyes for necessity to see the way, or outer palms of of hands or one eye or dress like veil, gloves, head-cover, apron), and to draw their veils all over Juhubihinna (ie. their bodies, faces, necks and bosoms) and not to reveal their adornment except to their husbands, or their fathers,or their husband’s fathers, or their sons, or their husband’s sons, or their brothers, or their brother’s sons, or their sister’s sons, or their (Muslim) women (ie. their sisters in Islam), or the (female) slaves whom their right hands possess, or old male servants who lack vigour, or small children who have no sense of feminine sex. And let them not stamp their feet so as to reveal what they hide of their adornment. All all of you beg Allah to forgive you, O believers, that you may be successful.”

Sahih Bukhari, Vol 6, Hadith No. 282:

Narrated Safiyah bint Shaibah: ‘Aishah used to say: ‘When the Verse: “And to draw their veils all over Juhubihinna (ie. their bodies, faces, necks and bosoms)” (V24:31) was revealed, (the ladies) cut their waist sheets at the edges and covered their heads and faces with those cut pieces of cloth.’

Four Schools of Thought:

There is a difference of opinion amongst the Maaliki, Hanafi, Hanbali and Shaafi’ee, over whether a Muslim woman should cover her face and hands. I will not go any further into the fiqh of this issue, as it is not needed here and there are more learned people that you can get an answer for this on. And it’s especially not needed for the non-Muslims. The point is though that we should not undermine the sisters who choose to wear burqa/niqaab but recognise that they are doing a good thing.

source : Standup4Islam

HRC 3rd Roundup Hijab Roundup Campaign

HRC 2nd Roundup Hijab Roundup Campaign

HRC 1st Roundup

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

Salam ya'll,

If you were to be from my facebook community, that probably (or not)noticed my HRC Project. HRC - Hijab Roundup Campaign project is an awareness video inspired by my fellow sisters in Hijab. This project is to roundup as many hijabi acquaintance and together spread the message of beauty in modesty. To participate and support this campaign, all that is needed is a picture of yourself, a friend or a family member who is a hijabi. There are many hijabi pictures online, that inspires me, but something closer to home always hits the heart. Something more real. I took the opportunity by gathering my friends in my facebook community and Alhamdulillah, much support has been received. JazzakAllahkhairan!

Besides getting to know my fellow sisters, this campaign main objective is to act as reminder for us to be steadfact in carrying out God's commandment, as a message to inform and also to inspire those other sisters out there. InsyaAllah, may this project brings barakah to everyone who took part, who support and to those who take the time to watch the video.

So, without further blabling...i present you, with much allowance by the Lord:

love+peace,

H

The Hijab Roundup Campaign

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

Salam everyone,

this is the Hijab Roundup Campaign (HRC) project! wear your veil on and get on board, sisters! Hijabi Roundup Campaign is a video project for creating reminders, awareness and understanding for the beauty of modesty.

Love+Peace,

H

iHijab

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

"And say to the believing women that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty; that they should not display their beauty and ornaments except what (must ordinarily) appear thereof; that they should draw their veils over their bosoms and not display their beauty except to their husbands, their fathers, their husband's fathers, their sons, their husbands' sons, their brothers or their brothers' sons, or their sisters' sons, or their women, or the slaves whom their right hands possess, or male servants free of physical needs, or small children who have no sense of the shame of sex; and that they should not strike their feet in order to draw attention to their hidden ornaments. And O ye Believers! turn ye all together towards Allah, that ye may attain Bliss". (24:31)

Salam everyone,

I has been approximately 2 years since i started adoning the hijab. The picture i posted on was on my first week of wearing my hijab taken candidly by my dear friend. Alhamdulillah, it has been a wonderful experience having the hijab on. I was fortunate enough to be born into a muslim family and growing up, i was thought a lot of islamic value. Wearing the hijab wasn't as strict as in other family rule like some people i know. The hijab is very much common here in Malaysia, and its not as challenging to wear them as to compared to muslim women in europe and in the US, but i somehow believe people now are much open than those before the 9-Eleven tragedy. Although, not wearing a hijab as a muslim is also something that are not frown upon openly here either. It is safe to say, people have the opportunity to evaluate the beauty of hijab (literally/spiritually) on their own journey of life, in contrast condemning someone who does not follow this Way. There is a different sending out message out of understanding than out of fear, in my humble opinion that is.

Anyway, the earliest memory i had with the Hijab was when i was in primary school attending religious class after public school hour. Also during Quran Reciting study. but on those times, it was out of 'MUST' regulation of studying. At these age, i don't remember any teacher/ustaz explaining out of the Ayat of the Holy Quran. All i knew that if you are a muslim, You MUST or you'll burn in hell. (after you hit puberty that is, that's when the 'point' starts to count on your ownself, in the meantime...your parents take your 'points' for you)-point of good and sins that is. The second time i decided to wear the Hijab, was when i was 15/16 (i couldn't remember) because i decided to cut my hair REALLY short, out of "embarrassement" in some public place, my mother adviced me to cover up. For that brief situation, it felt like, i was covered up...only for the wrong reason not modesty. i was wearing covered, YES, but very shapely figured clothes, still. All i know, Aurah (modesty part) of a women was every part of your body except the face, hand and feet (to some sect/understanding/teaching). I honestly have not heard about modesty concept.

Fast forward, 2 years ago my family received rather unpleasant news of our father's death. (may Allah bless his soul and place him within the people that is loved by God) somehow his death, have created somewhat awareness to my own life. At that point, i was in need of knowing my own religion. So i bought myself a translation of the Quran, since growing up, never once that it occur to me, i don't understand what is in the Holy Quran. Reading through the Quran, with much allowance by Allah, everything makes much sense. I read books and watch da'wah video with issues that i don't understand, which includes the Hijab issue.

Before wearing the hijab, i have 'religious' friends, curious strangers, advicing elders who repeatedly asked me why am i not wearing any hijab. I didnt understand what was the big fuss was at the time. I believed that i was good person that it does not matter how i look like. i even used to believe in the saying, 'if you have it, flaunt it'. Deep down i really want to wear it for my own sake. I once told a friend, that by God's will i would want to wear my Hijab when i had quit smoking, quit swearing like a fish, and really behave myself. I remembered watching girls in disgust THEN, with their hijab on, swearing like no one's business with cigarette on one hand, and walking around with boyfriends in their arms. and i definitely wouldn't want anyone looking me like i was looking at them. (may God forgive me). its not like its the worst thing in the world (its not my place to judge them), but we are wearing our beliefs on our 'head' representing the best way of life, it is best to act the best way we could in public, i reckon. So, as to wearing Hijab, i was the best procrastinator of why i should wear them. I was making up excuses, like 'i'm afraid i'll take them off, and on again, and off again' since i've had experience wearing them briefly during my short hair do. or, 'i'll wait when i'm older/i'm married/i have kids'. or the fact was, i really was afraid of being "un-cool"among the social circle of mine.

As i read, Surah An-Nur, as the passage above, i finally realised the beauty of Hijab. As i appreciate my God given self, i learn the way to appreciate it is to conserve it. I learn that instead of having a man treating me like a sex-object, ecstatic pleasure, image driven 'girls' oogled me freely, i can actually go through crowds practically invisible. I didnt need to worry about getting groped, whistled at like a dog, or stared at. I created attention by the way i bring myself, a person that i am. Instead of being described by the look, i was more described by my personality. I felt safer and more secure. Of course there is judgement. To tell you frankly, i lost a lot of 'friends' after wearing my Hijab. Some fled because of fear that i might turn them like me, honestly i think that is just hilarious. To those who knew me well enough, know that i am still am the same person. For the love of God, you really should know to WHOM you're doing this for. so, for my love of God, i stop caring if i have many friends who care about how cool i am. It didn't stop me from going through my everyday life, infact, it kind of making it easier. Instead of slaving my self to my hair for hours, it takes mere minutes for me to get ready to leave the house. I still go on with my everyday life with my hijab on, insyaAllah. Me and my husband loves camping and the outdoor, at first i thought it would a hassle for me, but Alhamdulillah with carefully selected clothes for the outdoor, its proven that hijab would not limit yourself to anything. the Quran is a guide for what is best for us, hijab is not a hassle.

'On no soul doth Allah place aburden greater than it can bear' (2: 286)

So, although i would love people to understand and love putting on their hijab, i would love it more if we would wear something more modest than we did the day before. Instead of playing a part, its better if we are part of the lesson. A newbie hijabi friend of mine was comparing herself with the non hijabi's, she said 'i feel like a moth, and they're like butterflies'...hijabi's are also butterflies, but instead of the mostly seen ones, these butterflies are rare and they only shows their wings to those they wishes. Most beautiful things on and within this earth are hidden, like diamonds and pearls and conserved forest, away from dirty hands...

May Allah preserve this heart for something true and always on his right path, insyaAllah. for all of us, my prayer is for all of my sisters.

pic: me and husband

(the one with the long hair at the back)

on our last camping trip

love+peace,

H