Modern Scarf
Palestinian. Being a stylist, I'm not the "material girl" everyone presumes me to be. I've given up parts of my life for the sake of God's approval & I don't believe in pushing my beliefs on anyone bc of what I choose to sacrifice. I view misfortunes as more of blessings than luxuries. A born expressionist. Art enthusiast. I find beauty in everything & simple things make me happiest. I long for those things that money cannot buy; the in-disposables. I'm complicated & at times hard to handle, but 100% authentic.
"Probe into banned activist in UK"
An investigation has been launched into how leading Palestinian activist Sheikh Raed Salah managed to get into the UK despite being banned, Home Secretary Theresa May said.
Sheikh Raed Salah, the leader of the Islamic Movement in Israel, was detained late last night in London by police, the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) said.
Mrs May said officials from the UK Border Agency were now taking steps to remove Salah from the country.
Mrs May said: “We do not normally comment on individual cases but in this case I think it is important to do so.
“I can confirm he was excluded and that he managed to enter the UK. He has now been detained and the UK Border Agency is now making arrangements to remove him.
“A full investigation is now taking place into how he was able to enter.”
Sarah Colborne, Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) director, insisted that Sheikh Salah was the leader of a legitimate political organisation and that he rejected all forms of racism, including anti-semitism.
A statement from his solicitor Farooq Bajwa added that Sheikh Salah had “no knowledge” of an alleged travel ban and had made “no attempt” to conceal his identity when he entered Britain.
“Sheikh Raed Salah is the leader of the Islamic Movement in Israel, the largest movement for Palestinians in Israel,” Ms Colborne said.
“This is a legitimate organisation which Israel has never moved to ban.
“Raed Saleh regularly speaks at venues across Israel where he has considerable support amongst the Palestinian citizens of Israel, who make up a fifth of the population.
“Sheikh Raed has been elected as mayor of his home town, Um al-Fahm, three times. He has never been convicted of anti-semitism in Israel.
“Before coming to Britain, he faced horrific allegations of anti-semitism, which he completely refuted.
“He has clarified his position of being opposed to all forms of racism, including anti-semitism, Islamophobia and racism against his own people, the Palestinians.”
Mr Bajwa added later that his client, an Israeli citizen, had entered Britain on Saturday using a passport issued in his name.
“He is an Israeli citizen and I do not believe that visas are required for Israeli citizens. He walked through immigration and was not stopped and was not questioned at all,” he said.
He said up until Sheikh Salah’s arrest, there had been no notification that the police were looking for him or that he was wanted. He said Salah had asked him to check with the Home Office yesterday when reports started to emerge about his status.
Mr Bajwa said “nobody” had seemed to know the answer - and he was finally asked to write to the Home Office, which he did last night.
“Had he been asked to attend a police station, he would have done so very happily,” he said.
“He made no attempt to conceal his identity, he has been attending public meetings and advertising those public meetings.
“This has not been a cloak-and-dagger visit. It was publicised well before his arrival that he would be coming.”
He added: “The facts that we know are very clear - he has universally and consistently condemned all forms of racism including anti-semitism.”
He said Sheikh Salah was addressing a meeting in Leicester last night and was held overnight in Paddington Green police station in west London.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/probe-into-banned-activist-in-uk-2304261.html
"Women in Islam: Respected or Oppressed?"
Majority of the critiques on the position of women in Islam as well as the opinions of the general public on this matter suffer from a significant flaw. These debates take place in a wrong frame of reference i.e., the comparisons are made based on the 20th century expectations and standards. However, an objective discussion must take into account the historical contexts because if you compare the status of women based on today’s standards, even many of the improvements in those times would seem horrendous injustices.
In order to understand how Islam improved women’s lives, we would need to see how women were treated in the Arab society before Islam as well as the status of women in the two major religions before Islam, i.e. Judaism and Christianity. This comparison is not being made to put any faith down; it is just to help understand the historical context.
Women before Islam
In the Arab society before Islam, women were treated as property rather than as human beings. Save a few exceptions, most women were subjugated in almost all aspects of life such as inheritance, education, property and marriage. Female infanticide was a common practice and men felt great shame if they had a female child. When a man died and had sons from other marriages, the oldest of them could take the wife of his father as his own. This snapshot of the situation clearly shows the status of women in the pre-Islam Arabia.
Status of Women in the Judaic and Christian Traditions
Lets us see what Judaic and Christian texts say about women.
“No wickedness comes anywhere near the wickedness of a woman…..Sin began with a woman and thanks to her we all must die” (Ecclesiasticus 25:19, 24)
“A woman should learn in quietness and full submission. I don’t permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man; she must be silent. For Adam was formed first, then Eve. And Adam was not the one deceived; it was the woman who was deceived and became a sinner,” said St. Paul (Timothy 2:11-14).
Other people like St. Tertullian had a similar opinion, “Do you not know that you are each an Eve? The sentence of God on this sex of yours lives in this age: the guilt must of necessity live too. You are the Devil’s gateway: You are the unsealer of the forbidden tree: You are the first deserter of the divine law: You are she who persuaded him whom the devil was not valiant enough to attack. You destroyed so easily God’s image, man. On account of your desert even the Son of God had to die.”
“What is this you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.” To the woman he (God) said, “I will greatly increase your pains in childbearing; with pain you will give birth to children. Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you.” To Adam he (God) said, “Because you listen to your wife and ate from the tree about which I commanded you,( Genesis 3:6-17)
“let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law, and if they will learn anything, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for woman to speak in the church.” (Corinthians 14:34-35)
Two Major Areas of Criticism
Veil/Hijab
One of the things about Islam that draws the most criticism is the modesty of Muslim women. Western media and literature have made women believe that their liberation depends upon shedding clothing and foregoing modesty. The male dominated world of media and consent manufacturing has ingrained this belief in women that more skin they expose better are their chances of success. Let’s stop for a minute and think it through. When a woman exposes herself who does it really benefit? Is it not the men who very conveniently fulfill their voyeuristic desires through the exposed women? We try to keep everything of value behind closed doors and under wraps so that no one sees it and gets any ideas. Our cash, jewelry, important documents and everything else that has some value is protected from prying eyes. Yet when it comes to women, men don’t mind letting them display it all for everybody. They have made women a commodity that sells and built multibillion dollar industries like pornography industry that is primarily for the pleasure of men.
In contrast, Islam considers women very valuable and worthy of high respect. Women are asked to cover themselves so that they are not bothered by men.
“O Prophet, tell your wives and daughters and the believing women that they should cast their outer garments over their bodies (when abroad) so that they should be known and not molested” (33:59).
The image of Muslim women wrapped in burka and with their face covered by a veil has been a topic of contempt and ridicule for a long time. However, the concept of veil is an ancient tradition and not something Islam invented. Ancient Jewish traditions put a lot of emphasis on veil. Dr. Menachem M. Brayer states in his book, ‘The Jewish woman in Rabbinic literature’ that Jewish women went in public with their heads and most of the face covered. He further elaborates that uncovered hair was considered nudity in the Jewish tradition.
“Young women, you wear your veils out on the streets, so you should wear them in the church, you wear them when you are among strangers, then wear them among your brothers…,” wrote St. Tertullian in ‘On the Veiling of Virgins’.
It is important to note that modesty is not required only from Muslim women, Muslim men are also instructed to follow suit, “Say to the believing men that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty……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 ordinarily appear thereof; that they should draw their veils over their bosoms….” (24:30, 31)
Polygyny
Polygyny, according to Webster’s dictionary, is the practice of having two or more wives at the same time. The term commonly used in this context is Polygamy which means the same but applies to both men and women. Therefore, when discussing Islam, the correct term is Polygyny which is considered to be one of the most hotly debated charges against Islam. However, it would be interesting to note that it is an ancient tradition which has been practiced for centuries before Islam. It wasn’t until a few centuries ago that Polygyny became a ‘sin’. Monogamy was never a condition in any of the major religions. Before Islam there was practically no limitation on the number of wives a man could have. Islam limited the number of wives to four and also placed conditions of fairness, justice and equal treatment that must be fulfilled. “If you fear that you shall not be able to deal justly with the orphans, marry women of your choice, two or three or four; but if you fear that you shall not be able to deal justly with them, then only one” (4:3)
The husband is required to be fair and just to his wives and treat them equally well. “He who has two wives and is not just between them, he will come on the Day of Resurrection with one of his sides fallen.” (2133 Abu Dawood & 1141Tirmidhi)
In many parts of the world, women have outnumbered men throughout history due to various reasons like wars and other feuds etc. Polygyny addresses the problem of these women as it provides them a legal and secure future with a man. There are other reasons such as if the wife is incapable of having children and the husband desires to have children, marrying another woman can help the man continue his lineage.
Infidelity has plagued the western society, according to Atwood & Schwartz, 2002 – Journal of Couple & Relationship Therapy, 50-60% of married men engage in extramarital sex during their marriage. This is not a shocking revelation, is it? It’s because infidelity has been accepted as a fact of life in the western society. Wouldn’t the mistresses be better off if men were urged to marry them rather than using them?
One of the staunchest opponents of Islam in our times, Billy Graham, said, “Christianity cannot compromise on the question of polygamy. If present-day Christianity cannot do so, it is to its own detriment. Islam has permitted polygamy as a solution to social ills and has allowed a certain degree of latitude to human nature but only within the strictly defined framework of the law. Christian countries make a great show of monogamy, but actually they practice polygamy. No one is unaware of the part mistresses play in Western society. In this respect Islam is a fundamentally honest religion, and permits a Muslim to marry a second wife if he must, but strictly forbids all clandestine amatory associations in order to safeguard the moral probity of the community.”
In regards to the Burqa Ban in France
“Two French women calling themselves “niqabitch” reproduced the classic visual mixed metaphor of walking around central Paris in niqabs, black hotpants, bare legs and high heels, posting a film of it online in order to highlight the “absurdity” of the ban.”
(Source: The Guardian November 2010)
Confessions of A Stylist - Take III
So, in less than a week, it will be the 1 month anniversary of wearing my Hijab. Not that it’s this great achievement; just the opposite, it’s an obligation but it’s the changes that I’ve made in the past month that I take pride in. I cannot stress how difficult it was for me to pursue this decision, considering I’ve taken great risks in regards to my career. But it was no longer difficult when I came to the realization through a friend, that all success comes from The Almighty and if I was meant to be successful in this industry, I would be successful even if I were to wear a bag over my entire body.
I’ve moved past the trivial “you’re too pretty to be doing this to yourself comments” - among several comments that were intended to sway my choice and if I wasn’t a true believer, even my faith. Vanity doesn’t grant anyone eternal Paradise, and what exactly am I doing to myself? People need to worry about their own lives. That’s the real issue. Which brings me to my next point …
My decision has also encouraged constant talk of marriage and how most men these days are looking for a girl that is covered up. Because I am God fearing, I will not out any females, but wearing the Hijab doesn’t make a girl more worthy of becoming someone’s wife or more desirable than one that doesn’t. I didn’t decide to wear it, thinking I’m going to find me a man … this is all so backwards. There’s plenty of girls who are not worthy of the scarf and even more, who are, and shouldn’t be prime pickings because of how they present themselves. This is no different than choosing a trophy wife. It all comes down to character and intention - from both sexes - in the end. I’m just underwhelmed with all this nonsense.
A rant before Fajr. [iA salah makboula for all]
No one is perfect - we all know this; but the key is to make decisions that will better your ways; to set you on a straighter path. Am I right or wrong? I am not one to push my beliefs on anyone, but it is our duty to guide those we care about from going astray.
What has been getting to me lately is this new wave of Islam amongst the younger people. From what I gather from too many, is that they believe in doing what feels right to them at the moment; to satisfy their lusts and desires, and: “Oh, God will forgive me, because I have strong Iman and I have good intentions.”
The road to hell has been paved with good intentions. Not to mention, what could be a better intention than pleasing God, thus rewarding one’s self with the blessings of His love and mercy?
I’m not buying into this whole “God will forgive me, until I get all of this out of my system bit” - which is really what it’s all about, and not the “Iman” or “good intentions” plea. Why should you expect forgiveness for your wrongdoings if you are going against His word? Why are you entitled to His forgiveness if you are knowingly and repeatingly forsaking Him? Yes, Allah (swt) is most forgiving, granted you repent for your mistakes. ‘Mistakes’ are not to be repeated over and over, with the midset of: Oh, I’ll worry about it later, besides God will forgive me. When is later? Tomorrow is not promised to anyone and our time here is no more than a test. These beliefs do not coincide with what Allah (swt) intended. You either embrace the religion completely or you don’t; which is fine - everyone can make their own choices. In the end, only He can pass judgement, but do not justify your actions and claim to have an Iman as strong as that of a believer who is following the righteous path.
Allah yihdeena jam3an.
“I am that HIJAB -
That CLOTH; that FABRIC; that SYMBOL; that FEAR; in people’s eyes.
Why does she wear it?
I am that CLOTH - Bound; grippingly around her head; secure but comfortable; strong but delicate; covering her hair, her ears, her neck.
I am that FABRIC - Pinned; gracefully around her head; protective but alleviating; simple but beautiful; displaying the beauty within, the pride within, the soul within.
I am that CONCEPT - Placed; gloriously around her head; fierce but merciful; unyielding but blessed; compelling the wearer to go on, the onlooker to pause, the bystander to ponder.
I am that LIBERATION - Wrapped; graciously around her head; desired but attained; unseen but felt; refusing the persecution, the unwanted glares, the harsh words.
I am that FREEDOM; that CONCEPT; that LIBERATION; that SYMBOL; that SERENITY; in her eyes.
That is why she wears it.”
- Aatifa Shereef
The True Beauty of A Woman
You straighten your hair,
have surgeries,
drench yourself in makeup,
starve yourself,
withstand laser treatment,
Fight off skin cancer for a beach tan,
spend thousands on designer clothes,
Pain your feet with high heels,
You constantly fight to be the degraded model on a billboard, so a guy can notice you.
All a muslim woman has to do to get noticed by a man is love Allah.
Now tell me, who’s ACTUALLY oppressed?
Confessions of A Stylist - Take II
Today, marked 13 days of wearing Hijab for me, Alhamdulillah. It hasn’t been as difficult as I thought it would be to adjust, but it hasn’t been as easy as I thought it would be in regards to people accepting the “new me” - who is very much, still the old me; only I feel more like myself than I ever have. As always, I am reminded that it can always be worse, and Alhamdulillah for everything good and bad. My uncle suggested this verse for me from Surah Ibrahim:
”How should we not put our trust in Allah when He hath shown us our ways? We surely will endure the hurt ye do us. In Allah let the trusting put their trust.” [Al-Quran 14:12]
May Allah ease the way for (all of) us and may he strengthen our hearts and minds.
Support anti-discrimination against Muslims and reblog.
You don’t have to be Muslim, to be humane.
Fashion struck back again, with Jun Takahashi’s F/W 2009 Couture show in Paris. What sort of message do you think these designers were trying to convey in regards to the ban?
Well done, gentlemen …
