" I am an American woman who was born in the midst of America's "Heartland". I grew up, just like any other girl, being fixated with the glamor of life in "the big city". Eventually, I moved to Florida and on to South of Miami, a hot spot for those seeking the "glamorous life". Naturally, I did what most average Western girls do. I focused on my appearance and appeal, basing my self-worth on how much attention I got from others. I worked out religiously and became a personal trainer, acquired an upscale waterfront residence, became a regular "exhibiting" beach-goer and was able to attain a "living-in-style" kind of life.
Years went by, only to realize that my scale of self-fulfillment and happiness slid down the more I progressed in my "feminine appeal". I was a slave to fashion. I was a hostage to my looks.
As the gap continued to progressively widen between my self-fulfillment and lifestyle, I sought refuge in escapes from alcohol and parties to meditation, activism, and alternative religions, only to have the little gap widen to what seemed like a valley. I eventually realized it all was merely a pain killer rather than an effective remedy.
By now it was Sept. 11, 2001. As i witnessed the ensuing barrage on Islam, Islamic values and culture, and the infamous declaration of the "new crusade", I started to notice something called Islam. Up until that point, all I had associated with Islam was women covered in "tents", wife beaters, harems, and a world of terrorism. As a feminist libertarian, and an activist, I was pursuing a better world for all.
One day I came across a book that is negatively stereotyped in the West, "The Noble Quran". I was first attracted by the style and approach of the Quran, and then intrigued by its outlook on existence, life, creation, and the relationship between Creator and creation. I found the Quran to be a very insightful address to heart and soul without the need for an interpreter or pastor.
Eventually I hit a moment of truth: my new-found self-fulfilling activism was nothing more than merely embracing a faith called Islam where I could live in peace as a "functional" Muslim.
I bought a beautiful long gown and head cover resembling the Muslim woman's dress ode and I walked down the same streets and neighborhoods where only days earlier I had walked in my shorts, bikini, or "elegant" Western business attire.
Although the people, the faces, and the shops were all the same, one thing was remarkably distinct... I was at the peace at being a 'woman' I experienced for the very first time. I felt as if the chains had been broken and I was finally free. I was delighted with the new looks on wonder on people's faces in place of the looks of a hunter watching his prey I had once sought. Suddenly a weight had been lifted off my shoulders. Finally, I was free.
Of all places, I found my Islam at the heart of what some call " the most scandalous place on earth", which makes it all the more dear and special.
While content with Hijab I became curious about Niqab, seeing an increasing number of Muslim women in it. I asked my Muslim husband, whom I married after I reverted to Islam, whether I should wear Niqab or just settle for the Hijab I was already wearing. My husband simply advised me that he believes in Hijab is mandatory in Islam while Niqab is not. At the time, my Hijab consisted of head scarf that covered all my hair except for my face, and a loose long black gown called "Abaya" that covered all my body from neck to toe.
A year-and-a-half passed, and I told my husband I wanted to war Niqab. My reason, this time, was that I felt it would be more pleasing to Allah, the Creator,increasing my feeling of peace at being more modest. He supported my decision and took me to buy an "Isdaal", a loose black gown that covers from head to toe, and Niqab, which covers all my head and face except for my eyes. Soon enough, news started breaking about politicians, Vatican clergymen, libertarians, and so-called human rights and freedom activists condemning Hijab at times, and Niqab at others as being oppressive to women, a obstacle to social integration, and more recently, as an Egyptian official called it "a sign of bckwardness".
I find it to be a blatant hypocrisy when Western governments and so-called human rights groups rush to defend woman's rights when some governments impose a certain dress code on women, yet such "freedom fiighters" look the other way when women are being deprived of their rights, work , and education just because they choose to exercise their right to wear Niqab or Hijab.
Today I am still a feminist, but a Muslim feminist, who calls on Muslim women to assume their responsibilities in providing all the support they can for their husbands to be good Muslims. To raise their children as upright Muslims so they may be beacons of light for ll humanity once again. To enjoin good and any good and to forbid evil and any evil. To speak righteousness and to speak up against all ills. To fight for our right to wear Niqab or Hijab and to please our Creator whichever way we hose. But just as importantly to carry our experience with Niqab or Hijab to fellow women who may never have had such a chance.
Most of the women I know wearing Niqab are Western reverts, some of whom are not even married. Others wear Niqab without full support of either family or surroundings. What we all have in common is that it is the personal choice of each and every one of us, which none of us is willing to surrender.
Willingly or unwillingly, women are bombarded with styles of "dressing-in-little-to-nothing" virtually in every means of communication everywhere in the world.
As an ex non-Muslim, I insist on w omen's right to equally know about Hijab, its virtues, and the peace and happiness it brings to a woman's life as it did to mine. Yesterday, the bikini was the symbol of my liberty, when in actuality it only liberated me from my spirituality and true value as a respectable human being.
Today, Niqab is the new symbol of woman's liberation.
To women who surrender to the ugly stereotype against the Islamic modesty of Hijab, I say : "You don't know what you are missing".
Wearing Hijab does not mean you will never face challenges. It is like all the other things we are expected to do; they all require an element of determination and a lot of faith. "
------
Some quotations
"Everything God made valuable in the world is covered and hard to get to.".
"The flower is the unveiled woman(who shows her charms) and the pearl is the veiled woman(who conceals her beauties)."
Think about ... ! our sisters, daughters and mothers
If a drop of water falls in lake there is no identity. But if it falls on a leaf of lotus it shines like a pearl. So choose the best place where you would shine.
Lets fear Allah(SWT) and protect our MODESTY !!!!!!
Let us :
Learn Islam with ambition,
Observe Islam with sincerity.
Pratice Islam with discipline(Sunnah of Prophet and Ahlul- Bayt)
Spread Islam with truth and kindness.
May Allah give all of lus Hidayat and taufeeq ( Ameen)
Never blame any DAY in your LIFE.
Good days gives you "HAPPINESS".
Bad Days give you "EXPERIENCE'.
Worst Days gives you 'A LESSON".
----
Years went by, only to realize that my scale of self-fulfillment and happiness slid down the more I progressed in my "feminine appeal". I was a slave to fashion. I was a hostage to my looks.
As the gap continued to progressively widen between my self-fulfillment and lifestyle, I sought refuge in escapes from alcohol and parties to meditation, activism, and alternative religions, only to have the little gap widen to what seemed like a valley. I eventually realized it all was merely a pain killer rather than an effective remedy.
By now it was Sept. 11, 2001. As i witnessed the ensuing barrage on Islam, Islamic values and culture, and the infamous declaration of the "new crusade", I started to notice something called Islam. Up until that point, all I had associated with Islam was women covered in "tents", wife beaters, harems, and a world of terrorism. As a feminist libertarian, and an activist, I was pursuing a better world for all.
One day I came across a book that is negatively stereotyped in the West, "The Noble Quran". I was first attracted by the style and approach of the Quran, and then intrigued by its outlook on existence, life, creation, and the relationship between Creator and creation. I found the Quran to be a very insightful address to heart and soul without the need for an interpreter or pastor.
Eventually I hit a moment of truth: my new-found self-fulfilling activism was nothing more than merely embracing a faith called Islam where I could live in peace as a "functional" Muslim.
I bought a beautiful long gown and head cover resembling the Muslim woman's dress ode and I walked down the same streets and neighborhoods where only days earlier I had walked in my shorts, bikini, or "elegant" Western business attire.
Although the people, the faces, and the shops were all the same, one thing was remarkably distinct... I was at the peace at being a 'woman' I experienced for the very first time. I felt as if the chains had been broken and I was finally free. I was delighted with the new looks on wonder on people's faces in place of the looks of a hunter watching his prey I had once sought. Suddenly a weight had been lifted off my shoulders. Finally, I was free.
Of all places, I found my Islam at the heart of what some call " the most scandalous place on earth", which makes it all the more dear and special.
While content with Hijab I became curious about Niqab, seeing an increasing number of Muslim women in it. I asked my Muslim husband, whom I married after I reverted to Islam, whether I should wear Niqab or just settle for the Hijab I was already wearing. My husband simply advised me that he believes in Hijab is mandatory in Islam while Niqab is not. At the time, my Hijab consisted of head scarf that covered all my hair except for my face, and a loose long black gown called "Abaya" that covered all my body from neck to toe.
A year-and-a-half passed, and I told my husband I wanted to war Niqab. My reason, this time, was that I felt it would be more pleasing to Allah, the Creator,increasing my feeling of peace at being more modest. He supported my decision and took me to buy an "Isdaal", a loose black gown that covers from head to toe, and Niqab, which covers all my head and face except for my eyes. Soon enough, news started breaking about politicians, Vatican clergymen, libertarians, and so-called human rights and freedom activists condemning Hijab at times, and Niqab at others as being oppressive to women, a obstacle to social integration, and more recently, as an Egyptian official called it "a sign of bckwardness".
I find it to be a blatant hypocrisy when Western governments and so-called human rights groups rush to defend woman's rights when some governments impose a certain dress code on women, yet such "freedom fiighters" look the other way when women are being deprived of their rights, work , and education just because they choose to exercise their right to wear Niqab or Hijab.
Today I am still a feminist, but a Muslim feminist, who calls on Muslim women to assume their responsibilities in providing all the support they can for their husbands to be good Muslims. To raise their children as upright Muslims so they may be beacons of light for ll humanity once again. To enjoin good and any good and to forbid evil and any evil. To speak righteousness and to speak up against all ills. To fight for our right to wear Niqab or Hijab and to please our Creator whichever way we hose. But just as importantly to carry our experience with Niqab or Hijab to fellow women who may never have had such a chance.
Most of the women I know wearing Niqab are Western reverts, some of whom are not even married. Others wear Niqab without full support of either family or surroundings. What we all have in common is that it is the personal choice of each and every one of us, which none of us is willing to surrender.
Willingly or unwillingly, women are bombarded with styles of "dressing-in-little-to-nothing" virtually in every means of communication everywhere in the world.
As an ex non-Muslim, I insist on w omen's right to equally know about Hijab, its virtues, and the peace and happiness it brings to a woman's life as it did to mine. Yesterday, the bikini was the symbol of my liberty, when in actuality it only liberated me from my spirituality and true value as a respectable human being.
Today, Niqab is the new symbol of woman's liberation.
To women who surrender to the ugly stereotype against the Islamic modesty of Hijab, I say : "You don't know what you are missing".
Wearing Hijab does not mean you will never face challenges. It is like all the other things we are expected to do; they all require an element of determination and a lot of faith. "
------
Some quotations
"Everything God made valuable in the world is covered and hard to get to.".
"The flower is the unveiled woman(who shows her charms) and the pearl is the veiled woman(who conceals her beauties)."
Think about ... ! our sisters, daughters and mothers
If a drop of water falls in lake there is no identity. But if it falls on a leaf of lotus it shines like a pearl. So choose the best place where you would shine.
Lets fear Allah(SWT) and protect our MODESTY !!!!!!
Let us :
Learn Islam with ambition,
Observe Islam with sincerity.
Pratice Islam with discipline(Sunnah of Prophet and Ahlul- Bayt)
Spread Islam with truth and kindness.
May Allah give all of lus Hidayat and taufeeq ( Ameen)
Never blame any DAY in your LIFE.
Good days gives you "HAPPINESS".
Bad Days give you "EXPERIENCE'.
Worst Days gives you 'A LESSON".
----
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