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Post by IloveAllah on May 4, 2011 5:37:38 GMT 5
Today I Met a Stranger Shahin
I gazed in the mirror one last time, to make sure nothing was wrong and everything looked fine. “Perfect,” I thought and walked to the door, when I felt the gentlest of hands lie upon my shoulder. I turned around to a smiling face, a woman with hijab, with simplicity and grace. “Are you going to walk out like that sister?” I looked at her, not understanding. “Is something wrong?” I asked her. “Yes, by giving us beauty, our Lord to us has been kind, let’s cover it up because Muslim women are like jewels, precious and rare to find. You are pretty but you want to be beautiful. Take what you have put away, and save yourself from being sorrowful.” I reached into my bag and got the precious piece of cloth that I had put away with the intention of wearing it later… ‘someday.’ As I wrapped it around my head and secured it with a pin, I realized the woman had stopped me from doing a sin. The love a Muslim sister has for another is something I never knew –caring for each other and telling them what to do. I smiled at the sister as she left through the door and the smile on her face will always remind of how that day, to me she had been so kind. I turned around once more to the mirror one last time, and for the first time in my life, nothing was wrong and everything looked fine.
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Post by Umme Rayyan on May 18, 2011 13:52:41 GMT 5
There is a reason behind every command, including hijab, whether we understand it or not.
It’s a warm sunny day at the park. You see a woman clad from head to foot, only her eyes and hands visible, carrying watermelon to her young child. You can’t imagine how she does it, how intense it must be boiling beneath that fabric. Wouldn’t she like to dress freely and comfortably like the man next to her, in a short sleeve T-shirt and shorts? Why is it that men are not required to cover themselves as extensively as women have to in Islam? If Muslim men and women were truly equal, then why does this apparent disparity exist? It really isn’t an absurd statement. To anyone on the periphery, this is exactly how it appears. Women have to wear hijab; men don’t. Women have to cover from head to foot; men are obligated to cover from the navel to the knee. And the argument follows to claim that women in Islam are oppressed, while men are free to dress, as they like. To anyone that may consider this apparent bias, I ask one question: Do you think God really would favor a man over a woman? Would Allah, the Just and the Protecting Friend, ask women to do something that is burdensome and free of any reward? To think in such a way is blasphemy, but it is also a testament of how well you understand your faith and Allah’s orders. A man and a woman can never be the same entity despite being equal in status. We look different, think in different ways, and respond differently to the same situation. Allah has made men and women strikingly different. One of the major differences is how we physically look and what we are attracted to. Numerous studies have shown that men are attracted to visuals, while women are more attracted to audio. Naturally, the pupil will expand when it sees something pleasurable and contract when it sees something that is not pleasurable. Often, the pupils of men will dilate, while the pupils of women do not dilate in reaction to the same pleasurable image. This inherent difference articulates that men are pulled more towards visuals than women are and it follows that men find it more difficult to remove themselves from such an attraction. So why is that men are not required to cover what is haraam for a woman to look at? For instance, a man is not required to cover his chest and yet, a woman must lower her gaze, since it is a sin to look at the exposed chest of a man. The situation itself testifies that a woman is stronger than a man when it comes to controlling herself. Allah, the Bestower of Form and the Fashioner, is actually honoring the woman by giving her the ability to control herself so well. In this way, one of the reasons why Allah has obligated women to cover would be because man may not be able to exert the same level of control as a woman. Without hijab, a woman radiates – biologically, receptors go out to attract the opposite gender. With hijab, however, the attraction is reduced dramatically and it is easier for men to go about without looking lustfully. For instance, I’m sure at one time or another, we have looked upon an attractive man, whether purposefully or accidentally. It must have been hard for us to look away. But try to envision the task of lowering the gaze as twice or even ten times harder – that is, my dear ladies, what a man has to go through. Another question- why do women have to pray behind men? It can’t be that women are less dignified or unfavorable in Allah’s eyes. It is because of the nature of man – he will lose himself and become preoccupied with other than that of his prayer. Women, however, are not as susceptible to this temptation and can pray behind men. Generally speaking, fornication often occurs when a woman inclines the man toward something he already has a susceptibility to. If the woman is strong however, the man may have the desire but does not have the opportunity to sin. So you see, hijab doesn’t push down on the status of women. The hijab serves as a protective barrier for not only the woman but also for a man, who is inherently attracted to the visual. Just imagine, the next time you step out without a hijab – you may be unaware of so much going on around you. Would you be happy to know the sins you have accumulated, the silent struggles of a brother who found it so difficult to lower his gaze from you? You may be unaware, but Allah the All Aware, is not. There’s a good reason behind everything, just as there is a good reason behind hijab.
Source-http://www.igotitcovered.org/2011/05/16/why-men-dont-wear-hijab/
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Post by Ummati on May 19, 2011 23:56:40 GMT 5
The Privilege of Hijab
A woman’s hijab clearly sets her apart from other women. Women, by adorning this garment, have the unique ability to advertise their religion. They are, literally, a walking advertisement for Islam.
Since returning to the UK after converting to Islam, and putting on the hijab in the UAE, I have become really conscious of standing out from the crowd, particularly when I’m at home in rural northern England. Each time I go out, I am always aware that many of the people I come across will not know anything about Islam, as they don’t live in a very diverse area. I feel like I have a huge duty towards Islam to use each trip out as an opportunity to do some good for Islam’s reputation. As a hijabi, every detail of my behaviour will inevitably be attributed to my religion. This conclusion seems to be drawn all the time when it comes to Islam: responsibility of any individual Muslim’s behaviour is always attributed to the religion itself. Unfortunately, however, this more often than not concerns the negative behaviour of just a few individuals. So I try to do my part to correct some of the negativity that surrounds Islam. It’s the fact that I have the chance to do this that makes me so grateful to be wearing a hijab. We too must make ourselves conscious of this privilege all the time: we represent Islam.
I have unfortunately come across occasions where sisters have clearly forgotten this fact. Times when, for example, a woman in hijab has been less-than polite when being served at a store, or causing a scene when trying to complain about some service. In restaurants or cafes, I have seen groups of hijabis using foul language, and not considering others around them. Of course, we are all human, and we all have those days where we have little patience and making an impression is the last thing on our minds. But our head coverings should be a reminder of this unique duty that we have. Allah gave us this privilege, and with it came the right to be respected and honoured. The least we can do is use it in a positive way to do some good for our religion.
It’s a responsibility and duty on every Muslim to give a good impression about Islam and to represent it for its qualities of justice, fairness and mercy. But it is for us ladies that this duty is even more important, as our beautiful hijab means that we are instantly associated with our religion. Ladies, we must do it justice!
An excerpted article, by Hana Young.
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Post by ILoveAllah on May 26, 2011 18:50:38 GMT 5
Something's Missing
As a young Muslimah in the West, I grew up learning about hijab. I learnt its importance, its benefits, and and the reasons why our Lord the Most High wants women of all ages to adhere to this one simple rule. I also learnt a very important distinction: between that of an inner hijab and an outer hijab. To live in such a westernized society where you see people of all kinds doing all sorts of things can really start getting to a struggling Muslimah trying to practice her religion. But every day that I went to school, every day that I came home, I knew the hijab was the choice I had to make to fulfill my duty to Allah.
But in reality, it takes only a moment to start taking up the hijab, and only a moment to take it off, as the outer hijab is merely a piece of cloth for your head and body. The inner hijab on the other hand is so much more; it’s your sincerity, humility, grace, actions, character, who you are as a person and so forth. I then took up the hijab knowing it was right thing to do, but it only took a moment for shaytaan to start whispering in my ears. After about six months of wearing hijab and for no reason whatsoever, I took it off. I still prayed five times a day however, avoided talking to non-mahram men, and kept learning knowledge about my Deen. But every day of my life after taking it off, I knew what I was doing for my Deen wasn’t enough. I knew there was still a very important aspect missing. I still believed I had the inner hijab, but that simple piece of cloth that I needed to wear on my head and to cover my body was still amiss.
Every morning I woke up and told my self, let me first work on my inner hijab and improve my faith and then I’ll take up my outer hijab. But in reality who was I kidding?
Allah the Most Exalted says for women to cover their heads, cover their bodies, and guard themselves. Yet every day I walked to school, I felt shaytaan smiling at me and saying, “She loves me so much! She’s disobeying Allah for my sake.”
One day, however, someone came into my life by the Will of Allah; this person was to change my life forever. All this person did was ask one simple, yet powerful question: Why do you not take up the hijab? And only Allah knows how much humility fell upon my face and my heart at that moment.
After sincere encouragement and motivation from this person, I decided to take up the hijab again. But not just the headscarf this time; I decided to adopt the whole concept of hijab, from the inner hijab to the outer hijab. This person made me realize that life is indeed too short and reminded me of what Allah prefers and has chosen for me as a Muslimah. After observing the hijab now, I feel immensely grateful to Allah for making me a Muslimah and allowing me to be a flagbearer for this faith. Every time I walk down the street I greet at least a few Muslims that I don’t even know, smiling at the people who are proud of the step I have taken. Every day I sit amongst disbelief, fighting in the way of Allah. I feel with just a simple appearance, a kind heart, and a soft smile, people can realize what a true Muslimah is really about.
Today, I could not be happier that Allah has made me a Muslim and every morning I feel proud of my self and my faith. I thank Allah alone, and I thank Him for guiding me through someone in my life who made me realize what was right. Indeed it is through the Will of Allah that He guides whomever He pleases and through whatever means He Wills.
Another sister shares:
I was empowered by the shadows of my surroundings. No, It wasn’t pleasant. It threw darkness upon me from every angle. As I lay there on my bed staring at the wall all I could picture were my tears, my weak heart, my lost identity. As days went by though, I lived through hope, hope for a better tomorrow, hope from Allah, the Almighty. I prayed once in a blue moon when I got down to it. Always questioning the existence of God, blaming Him for everything. My life was cursed – by myself.
Getting up at seven in the morning, I would start the day by looking for my iPod. With music blaring in my ears I would dress myself for university. With those perfect “dolled-up” clothes and that airbrushed look, from concealer to eyeliner, eyeliner to blush, blush to lip gloss and tons of perfume. I would leave home eager for a guy friend to compliment me, which would be the highlight of my day. I was outwardly satisfying myself with those illusions and lies, yet this “satisfaction” never gave me the peace and serenity I longed for.
However, it was during one Islamic program that I attended, where I met this girl from my university whom I had never seen before. She was a senior, a beautiful niqabi. With that warmth in her eyes, love in her heart, purity in her soul she was an example of someone who lived her life not by her own wishes but, by the commands of Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala. She is truly beautiful . It was she who inspired me and made me turn back to my own birth religion which had become a stranger to me.
I do not know how or why Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala chose me and changed every aspect of my life through the introduction with this sister, alhamdulilah. With the hijab on my head and in my heart, and my body protected by this one simple abaya, I now stand proud as a strong Muslim woman. I now smile at my reflection because I have realized, true peace is only found in a relationship with Him, the Almighty. Truly, He is the only One deserving of our uncompromising love and the only One who deserves to be sought after.
Living in a family where religion is last priority, for me, everyday is a battle –a battle for Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala. Losing those guy friends, make up, and music was far from easy and this path was littered with many obstacles. But, my sisters, life is much more precious than that; life is worth living only for Him. Only He can fix the broken pieces of our life, not you or I. I have never been so much at peace in my own skin as I am now, alhamdulilah.
“Verily only and only in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find true peace…”
Source: www.igotitcovered.org
P.S. These stories both illustrate the importance of reminding other people, perhaps Allah SWT chooses to guide them through you- and won't that be the most fabulous thing?
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Post by Ummati on May 26, 2011 19:10:40 GMT 5
I am a Pearl
Usually when people look back at the old days, they feel joy because the past was such a beautiful time for them. Their days would be full of fun and laughter, and carelessness wouldn’t be much of an issue. ‘Those were the days’ for them, as they always say.
As for me, however, whenever I look back, I feel regret: I ignored my religion. I was a typical girl born into a Muslim family, who would always be reaching out for the Dunya – this world rather than the hereafter. And I never performed salah, the five compulsory, daily prayers. From a young age I was taught the way to pray but due to my negligence, I forgot many verses that we were required to read. I also lied to everyone that I actually prayed on a daily basis. The lies weren’t very hard to cover either; it was a routine for me and I was completely used to posing as if I prayed. I did this for a long time, years actually. But I still felt remorse for the way I acted. I knew how sinful it was to neglect salah and on top of that to lie about it! But I was still young and I didn’t quite know what I was getting myself into.When I realized it was time to change, I needed help, but I was too ashamed to tell anyone what I had been doing all along.
There was only one thing that kept me going: every night when the lights were turned off and my siblings were fast asleep, I would pray to Allah while lying awake in bed. I would ask Him to show me the straight path, and to help me out of my problems. I’d pray, most importantly, that He show me a way to learn how to perform salah again. My negligence of salah was my biggest concern at the time. I would ask Him this every night for a good year or two.
And then one day subhanAllah, I found a prayer book lying around my house, and I said to myself, this is it! I made the intention that I had to change then and there. So when no one was around, I sat in a corner and started memorizing the verses. I recalled them for the most part, but re-learned the few things I had forgotten overtime.
The first time I prayed was the first day of Ramadan. And that day I even prayed Taraweeh – the extra prayers performed with the night prayer. I felt like a convert to Islam that day, as if Islam were active in my heart for the very first time. I felt pure, and I felt proud; extremely proud of myself for overcoming my biggest obstacle.That was the point where it all changed. I started noticing many of my personal flaws, and was glad of that. It is said in many narrations after all, that a true indicator of a person’s salah being accepted is that he or she recognizes their own wrong behavior and rectifies it. On the other hand, if he or she prays regularly but continues to sin, it may mean that Allah is still not satisfied with their worship.
It was at the point that I also realized how important hijab was in my life. I understood the beauty of a woman covering herself, knowing that she is not just supposed to display herself to the opposite sex. Rather, she is a pearl, and a pearl is something not everyone should be allowed to see. I understood that and I stopped caring whether men thought of me. In a way, I earned self-respect; I wanted to start emulating what all the Muslim women did at the time of the Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him. I was willing to be a part of that bold minority in today’s world that wrapped a head scarf around their hair not caring what others would think of them. I wanted to be a hijabi!
I had a few scarves at home with no one to wear them. One day when I was alone, I tried one on. It was then and there that I knew I just HAD to do this. I felt pure, beautiful, and completely secure by this one meaningful piece of cloth. Most of all, I felt like a Muslimah. There was just one thing that stopped me from starting abruptly: the announcement. I was nervous about how people would react to my change.
It probably took me a month, but in the end things just worked out perfectly. I prayed to Allah that He make it easy for me, and subhanAllah, trust me when I say this, I could feel the help of Allah throughout the entire phase of my transition. When the time came for me to tell everyone, the words came out of my mouth like water. It was effortless.
The hijab was a whole new start for me. I realized how much people started respecting me for who I was and what I was doing. This act of mine changed a lot of things in my life: it was a 24/7 reminder of the fact that I was a Muslim girl, and most importantly, it drove me closer to my faith. After I realized how easy this was, I started doing a lot of other things for the sake of my deen.
It was the salah, and then the hijab that changed me. I went from being the girl who had hated everything related to religion, to the girl who realized the beauty of the faith that she had ignored all her life. I’ve now become the girl who tries to implement Islam as much as I can.
All I can really say right now is that I love my hijab. And I really don’t think I will ever want to quit it. Initially it did bring some trials in terms of the dunya, but to get past the obstacles was completely worth it. Now I just smile every time I think about how people had asked me what had gotten into me, and why I’d become such an extremist. At the end of the day, I’ve realized all of that doesn’t matter a single bit.
If there are any sisters out there who think they “doubt the concept of hijab” or that they’re “just not ready”, trust me, this is one thing that you will never regret. For some of you it might be hard in the beginning, but remember that this is one thing that pleases our Lord. What’s more bounteous than pleasing Allah? And secondly, if these thoughts against hijab ever come in your mind, remember these aren’t the thoughts of a true slave of Allah. Instead they are the thoughts of Shaytan and his followers. May Allah save us from being amongst them, and show us the right path to Jannat-ul-firdous. Ameen.
[/size] Allah SWT surely answers prayers. Turn to Him, and He will help you. Take that first step, make yourself 'want' hidayah, actively seek it out- and never let Shaytan make u think u'r not good enough. Never let him make you think that since you've sinned so much- you are beyond hope. Allah SWT tells us: “Say: O my Servants who have transgressed against their souls! Despair not of the Mercy of Allah: for Allah forgives all sins: for He is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.” [Sûrah al-Zumar: 53] Fellow ummatis- we can do this. Allah SWT has 'chosen' us to be Muslims, to be part of Prophet Muhammad's (pbuh) Ummah. He knows we are capable. And He is there for us. Let us 'be there' for our deen, insha Allah.[/color]
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Post by Guest on May 30, 2011 22:51:25 GMT 5
Abu Hurayrah said: The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: There are two types of the people of Hell whom I have not seen: a people with whips like the tails of cattle, with which they beat the people, and women who are clothed but naked, walking with an enticing gait and with their heads looking like the humps of camels, leaning to one side. They will not enter Paradise and will not even smell its fragrance, although its fragrance can be detected from such and such a distance. (Narrated by Muslim, 2128).
May Allah SWT save us from being of these women. ameen!
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Post by Ummati on May 31, 2011 17:30:33 GMT 5
But No One Can See What’s Underneath!Bint Abdisalaam reminds us that wearing hijab doesn’t mean we have to forgo our natural tendency to be beautiful.
From My Sisters’ Lips by Na’ima B. Robert is one of my favourite books. It’s a book that I can very much relate to and one that I often read despite the amount of times I’ve read it. One term that Na’ima coined in this book was “NMT New Muslim Tramp Syndrome.” When some sisters start covering, they can tend to dress down and be lazier in their fashion choices than before they were wearing the hijab. Subhan’Allah, when I started covering up, I would find myself exactly in this situation and at times, I still do. Before the hijab, my outwardly appearance was everything to me. My dad would constantly nag me to stop spending hours in the bathroom perfecting my hair and make-up, and then spend another few hours in my bedroom dealing with the dilemma of what to wear. When I did start wearing the hijab, I felt this buzz and excitement which eventually died down a few months later. It didn’t die down in the sense that I didn’t want to wear it, it was just that the person who was so immersed in herself turned into someone that would be able to get away without combing her hair for two days and I could wear a SpongeBob sock on one foot and a striped sock on the other and no one would notice! I was taking full advantage of this new found liberation from the laborious task of plucking, painting, and brushing that was so common before. When I wasn’t wearing the hijab, my aim was to look attractive to the opposite sex but with the hijab, the purpose was to not attract. Wearing a tracksuit with a little bleach stain on it or really old, worn out t-shirt was fine by me as no man would see what was underneath my abaya. My mum would just look at me and say ‘I feel sorry for the man who marries you if this is what you look like now!’ My opinion was, I’ll save the worrying about looking good for when I’m married but for now, let me just bask in this! My mother, this dangerously glamourous woman clad in her abaya and niqab never dressed the way I did. She took pride in what she wore and would never be seen dead in anything ghastly. She always had something nice on underneath her abaya, ‘just in case’. Looking at this woman with four children to feed, a job and a house to clean yet had the time to look good really put things into perspective for me. Prophet Muhammad (sal Allahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “Allah is beautiful and He loves beauty.” [Sahih Muslim]Allah has given us the provisions and wealth to look beautiful. We can pop by the store and buy a show-stopping dress, go to the hairdressers and get our tresses cut and blow-dried. Doing these things under the halal boundaries such as only dressing up in front of your mahrams, using those provisions that Allah has blessed us with is a great thing. One sister who was speaking at a sisters pampering session at my university said, that it’s part of our fitrah (human nature) as women to want to look good; as we cover up, at times we’re going to feel the need to break the mundane cycle of wearing that hijab, abaya, niqab or whatever you wear, and bring out your make-up kit, favourite perfume, and a killer dress every now and then. There’s nothing wrong with doing so as the occasional dressing up does wonders for our confidence and besides, if you’re married you get to look nice for your husband too insha’Allah. The problem with my thinking was that as I was so used to dressing up for other people, once I was required to cover up everything, I didn’t see the purpose in trying to look nice anymore. Many women think like this and it’s a sad mentality to have as it just reveals our need for approval from men, and from women too. What’s wrong with dressing up for just you? What’s wrong with wearing that gorgeous top as long as you yourself know that you look good underneath that abaya? The day that we stop trying to impress people will be the day that we start trying to impress ourselves. I suggest that start doing so by caring for yourself without any thought of what someone will think. Get that manicure, put on a little make-up, straighten or curl your hair today, and paint your toes just for you. No one may see what’s underneath, but neglecting ourselves is only at our expense.
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Post by Ummati on Jun 14, 2011 17:09:26 GMT 5
The "Real" Cover Girls Express In Rhyme What Hijab means to us is truly Sublime The Old and the NewAyesha NasirOld jeans, new hijab What to wear and what to not. Old skirts, new hijab Won’t my classmates be shocked? Old jewelry, new hijab My beauty was never meant to be sought.
Old music, new hijab, the iPod is locked away, those songs blocked. Old friends, new hijab Heart as strong as ever, we don’t falter. Old books, new hijab My bookshelf craves for more, books that are totally pure.
New me, new hijab What has changed? Does it show a lot? ~*~ You set me free…Zehra AghaThey stare her down. She’s covered from head to toe, Except her eyes, dark brown, Her hands, soft yet strong,
Feet, firm and quick. Still they scoff and sneer, Vainly attempting to prick, A tear here and there,
A sob or two, maybe a sigh? Somehow scheming to make it Hard for her to get by. Don’t they know what lies?
Behind that lowered gaze, Inside that covered chest, On that tongue which hums praise? There is the hope of Him;
He, Who Designed her beauty, Cradled her sensitivity, Instilled responsibility and duty, Then Molded her with courage.
She happily bears it all, Embracing her modesty, Skipping the pitfall, Love, tingling in her heart.
Please try to make me cry, She pleas; joke and laugh, Taunt, ridicule and pry, For when you cut me off
Your world, you send me, Closer to my Lord, You set me free, To be His slave, not yours.~*~ AirbrushedBy AmatullahThere she stands in front of the mirror, her worst enemy because it shows her true reflection, she tells herself she’s beautiful, but she only sees imperfection,
Airbrushed, and, hair brushed, intoxicated with perfection,
they call it high fashion, but I call it oppression.
She picks the brick house shade to put on her lips, a little bit of glam, and those jeans that hug her hips,
with those red stilettos, she wants to work it out, like Beyonce when she steps out,
she applies the lightening cream, that dark skin, she needs to conceal,
Airbrushed, and, hair brushed, intoxicated with perfection,
they call it high fashion, but I call it oppression.
Maybe she’s born with it, that’s what she wants you to think, as she struts past the men, she’s fooled them again.
She passes by her enemy, who is now her supporter, takes a quick look, and it doesn’t disappoint her,
a slave to the pretty, a slave to her beauty, never pleased with anything, so reaching perfection is her duty,
her deen is about the looks and vogue is her qur’an, her tawaf is at sephora, and her ramadan in milan,
Airbrushed, and, hair brushed, intoxicated with perfection,
They call it high fashion, but I call it oppression.
We pass by each other on the street, she looks to me, and, me to her, but she doesn’t fool me, behind the fake facade.
She thinks she is free, but her shackles are apparent to me, we’re both slaves, but the difference, you see,
is that my worship is real, and hers is imitation, my servitude is my freedom, my Deen is my motivation, but her servitude is artificial, a knock off salvation,
if you’re not a slave of Allah, you’ll be a slave of some other, so I submit to the Creator, I don’t answer to another,
Airbrushed, and, hair brushed, intoxicated with perfection,
They call it high fashion, but I call it oppression.Oppressed? Oppression, they told her, Oppression, they painted her, Oppression, they labeled her – That’s why she doesn’t do booze Or get into the boyfriend biz – It’s what her scarf symbolizes; They called her oppressed.
They didn’t really know, Giving the chance for her to show That she shines with color, Yet they called her oppressed.
A train of cloth waving, Covering her untouched beauty, No cage but the cage she’s put sin within, Rights and respect she right-handedly received, Don’t they see her status, yet they called her oppressed?
Her one man watches with loving eyes, His attention at the grace, a beauty free from lies, Indeed, calling “sweetheart, babe, and honey bun,” too, Then an occasional “I love you, beau” – What pure and harmonious love; surely not oppression.
Soft, silk, cotton, Dark, pale, hue, Respect, status, treasure, Freedom –
All that her piece of cloth gave her. Such peace and humility, such love and comfort.~*~ It Wasn’t YouBy NouhadIt wasn’t you I was afraid of, it was the reaction that would come about. I knew you would protect me, in you I had no doubt. It wasn’t you that made me indecisive, it was the thought of all the stares. I knew you would be on top of things – the glances, I’d have to bear. It wasn’t you that delayed my verdict, it was the whispers of a foe.
I knew taking that first step with you, would make things smoothly flow. It wasn’t that I deemed you wrong for me, it was the opposite indeed; I knew you were more than just a cloth, you were a mandate my Lord decreed. It wasn’t that you simply covered me, like the pearl is enveloped by its shell. I knew you came with a noble ambience and character; a certain status as well.
It wasn’t long after that I embraced you with open arms, utter joy, and glee That I finally realized, it wasn’t you, it was just me.“O Prophet, tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to draw their cloaks close round them (when they go abroad). That will be better, so that they may be recognised and not annoyed. Allah is ever Forgiving, Merciful.” [Quran 33:59]
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Post by Ummati on Jun 23, 2011 20:18:46 GMT 5
A wonderful, wonderful article by a sister masha Allah..
What Have I Done for Allah?
My decision to wear hijab was a quick one. A sudden one. One that could only have been decided for me.
The most I had ever thought about hijab was that I’d wear it when I was old. Maybe. After going for Hajj. After I was done having “fun” with my life… because, you know, we all know how long we have to live, right?
Two weeks prior to my decision, I was at a Christmas party from work; mixing, drinking alcohol, dancing, and of course wearing very revealing clothing.
You’d think I would have learned my lesson, a year before that, as I lay in the hospital, dying of liver failure. Something I’d done to myself after overdosing on a bottle of Tylenol 3′s and other painkillers. A way out from all the pain, when I didn’t have the skills to cope with it any longer.
Except it didn’t kill the pain. It only intensified, as I lay their motionless, not able to move my body or speak. Two nurses, switching shifts, exchanged knowing glances, and one said to the other, “How is she?”
“She won’t make it through the night,” was the reply.
SubhanAllah, it was like a switch went off inside me. I couldn’t speak, but in my head I was shouting, “Yes I will!” In that moment, I went from wanting to end it all, to wanting to prove that I would make it.
When I got through it, I knew I had to make a change, but I was so far removed from religion, that my only thought was to serve others, to be a better person in this world. And so, I started working at a center for teens, so that I could help other teens going through depression. And I started a charity drive for victims of war. And in between, I had my “fun.” Wanting to live my life to the fullest, now that I’d been so close to death.
Of course, something was still missing. I was happier. I was feeling more fulfilled, but still many nights I’d cry myself to sleep, wondering what it was all for.
One day, I was feeling so lost and confused and I didn’t know what else to do, or who to talk to, so I snuck downstairs and grabbed a copy of the Qur’an we had, and went back up to my room. And I said, “God, please give me a message.”
I closed my eyes, opened up the Qur’an to a random page, and pointed my finger on some verses. And what came up was the following:
“Did He not find thee an orphan and protect thee? And found you wandering and direct thee? And found you destitute and enriched thee?” [Surah al Duhaa 93: 6-8]
I bawled and bawled my eyes out. I felt Allah had written those messages for me, personally.
It wasn’t until a year later, at a funeral of a relative of ours, that it fully hit me. As I stood in the room where she lay, cold and pale, women around me wailing, I stared at the body and thought that this is what it will come down to. This is where it ends, and look at all that Allah has done for me. He (subhanahu wa ta’ala) brought me back to life, when the world was about to pronounce me dead.
And the question echoed in my head, loud and clear: “What have I done for Allah?’
And now those verses made sense.
I stared off in a daze, and quietly resolved to keep my headscarf on. It felt like a protection, like a barrier between myself and the world. I had obstacles, though.
My family was not happy with my decision. At the funeral, I told them I would be keeping the hijab on, and they laughed at me. When I came home, and even went to bed wearing it, they realized I was serious. My decision was not only about hijab, but also prayer. I didn’t know how to pray, and so, for a while, I’d do whatever I thought was close enough, and would mumble prayers and ask Allah to help me figure it all out. And slowly, bit by bit, I did.
That very first day wearing hijab, I had my wallet stolen by two drug dealers, when I headed in to work. Talk about a test! But once again, Allah helped me through; within hours, they came back and returned it, untouched and they apologized, subhanAllah…
My family was my biggest struggle though. I would hide in my room in order to pray, and there were lots of arguments and fights about hijab, and later jilbab. But, I stayed firm. I knew that whatever test Allah gave me, was not bigger than the blessings He had given me, and continued to give me.
And eventually they came around. A year later, my sisters started wearing hijab, and then two years after that my mom did. And now almost ten years later, my parents are both praying, and sometimes even ask me questions about Islam.
Just shows you the power of du’a, and patience. Who knew that two weeks prior, I was committing all kinds of sins, oblivious to the consequences, that I would do a complete flip? It is a reminder to everyone, including myself, to never judge others based on their outside appearance.
That step toward hijab, may come at a moment’s notice. While you are unaware.
Mine did.
“He knows what is in the heavens and on earth; and He knows what you conceal and what you reveal: and Allah knows well the secrets of all hearts.”[Surat at-Taghabun, 64:4]
“Whether you hide your word or publish it. He certainly has full knowledge of the secrets of all hearts. He is the One that understands the finest mysteries and is well-acquainted with them.” [Surat al-Mulk, 67:13-14]
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Post by Maria on Jul 5, 2011 12:45:45 GMT 5
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Post by iloveIslam on Jul 15, 2011 22:49:32 GMT 5
We are all in this togetherA journey of a thousand miles…must begin with a single step.As the end of my third year of observing hijab approaches, many thoughts and memories rush into my mind, crowded with reminders of words spoken, people met, actions carried out, tears trickled and smiles gleamed. I can conclude my thoughtful wanderings as a journey, an expedition, a climb, an adventure. Hijab is neither a conclusive nor a definitive decision which ends as soon as it starts. I have learnt that hijab is an ongoing journey through which you find morals and meanings and lessons which couldn’t have been embedded in your mind with any textbook or teacher at school or university. The teacher is experience – and whether it made you laugh or cry, smile or scowl – it was a gift from Allah because if you made the most of it, it further polished your shining heart, insha’Allah. Allah, the Lord of the heavens and the King of all Kings – He is the Most Gracious and Merciful and He knows we make mistakes and He knows we are not perfect. He simply wants us, His slaves, to have hope in His mercy. And always believe in His boundless forgiveness. Throughout your own journeys, you will get tired, you will be bruised, you may get wounded and tears may fall. But with the warmth of faith inside us, we will stand up, we will continue to conquer, we will heal and ultimately – we will smile. To every person who is embarking on their own journey, excited for what they may learn, may be scared of the ghouls of the unknown – I ask you to look ahead and stare at the horizon. Have hope and make the most of every part of your journey, every stumble, every fall, every success and every achievement; remember He who has gifted it to you. It’s all a gift. Alhamdulillah, how can we not smile? (:From here: www.igotitcovered.org/2011/07/15/a-journey-of-a-thousand-miles/
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Post by iloveAllah on Aug 19, 2011 13:46:23 GMT 5
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Post by Mujaahid on Sept 6, 2011 20:32:00 GMT 5
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Post by Mujaahid on Sept 6, 2011 20:38:42 GMT 5
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Post by Mujaahid on Sept 7, 2011 17:10:25 GMT 5
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