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Post by Mujaahid on Sept 7, 2011 17:13:46 GMT 5
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Post by Muslimah on Sept 8, 2011 18:58:22 GMT 5
Serine Yamout | Tips to Overcome the “Modern Hijab Syndrome” An informative article highlighting a few trends of hijab today that take away from its true purpose.. Sifting through photos of good times with your friends, you notice each one has a signature style of wrapping her hijab, color theme, and fashion. Think about the way you dress. Is it to please others? Or is it to please Allah? Islam, the name of our beautiful religion, simply means “submission” to Allah alone. He is aware of our intentions, which must be aimed to be done for Him, simply due to the fact that He is our Creator and He has ordered it. As is said in the Qur’an, “And He is Allah, [the only deity] in the heavens and earth. He knows your secret and what you make public, and He knows that which you earn.” [6:3]This demonstrates how Allah knows what thoughts run through our minds and sees what presentation we put out for others, only emphasizing the importance of purifying our intentions, so that they match the purpose of how we represent ourselves on the outside. Some might find the points made below straightforward and blunt; but I feel that we have overpowered our fitrah (inner nature) and stopped listening to our own consciousness. What I mean is that when we listen to spiritual lectures and polite speeches, we enjoy them, feel an iman-rush afterwards, then move on with no action. Personally, I can relate and admit that honest, clear speech lingers longer than flowery advice. I remind my dear Muslim sisters and myself that when we are abiding by some fashion trends, we should not forget that we must abide by Allah’s rulings, for we are here as a test; and if I may point out, certain fashion trends are our obstacles. This is because beauty is a desire we want to attain and, at times, fashion gives us such beauty in inappropriate ways. However, Islam has blessed us with our own dress code, based on Allah’s commandments in the Qur’an and Prophet Muhammad’s (salla Allahu alayhi wasallam) explanation in his Sunnah. So, how is the hijab supposed to be worn? Allah clearly illustrates how a woman should wear it properly in the Qur’an, “And say to the believing women to lower their gazes, and to guard their private parts, and not to expose their beauty except what is apparent of it, and to extend their headcovers to cover their chests, and not to display their beauty 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 brothers’ sons, or their sisters’ sons, or their womenfolk, or what their right hands rule (slaves), or from the men who have no physical desire, or the small children who are not aware of the private aspects of women, and not to stomp their feet (on the ground) so as to make known what they hide of their adornments (jewelry). And turn to Allah in repentance together, Oh Believers, so that you may succeed.” [24:31]Therefore, the front of our hijabs should come down low over our chests, not wrapped tight around our necks as is the current style. Imam Abu al-Fida ibn Kathir clarifies how and why: “‘Extend their headcovers to cover their bosoms’ means that they should wear the headcover in such a way that they cover their chests so that they will be different from the women of the Jahiliyyah (time before Islam) who did not do that, but would pass in front of men with their chests uncovered and with their necks, forelocks, and earrings uncovered.”This explanation also denounces three other current styles that have been prominent these days: 1. Naked Neck. Exposing the neck by pinning the scarf to the back was the exact way women before Islam wore their scarves. Some would even wear heavy and glittering jewelry around their necks to emphasize the look. Islam came to wash away the unnecessary customs and prohibit the harmful actions of our forefathers, so why reintroduce what Islam has already ruled against? Islam has ordered that our necks are considered part of what the hijab must cover, so please bring the ends of your scarf to the front of your neck if you do prefer to pin your scarf in the back. Or you could simply pin your scarf to the front under your chin and let the ends fall loosely over your neck. 2. Slippery Bangs. A sister’s hair bangs might fall out from under the scarf to the front over the foreheads and sometimes eyes. It’s grown pretty common to have the bangs styled, cut, and highlighted just so that they have a pleasant appearance when they fall out of the scarf. We see the photos of models for clothing lines everywhere. If the model doesn’t have her hair tied back, then her bangs are falling over her eyes, giving her a seductive look. With that said, it’s easy to keep bangs from slipping by wearing headbands or hairclips, which can be found at the super market. Undercap-pieces specifically designed to be worn under a scarf can be used to keep the bangs from falling out as well. 3. Dangling Sparkles. Sometimes, a sister will allow the ears and earrings to peek out from the sides. Earrings are flashy in general, and in this specific case, the earrings are usually huge and sparkly. There is no other reason for displaying earrings outside the scarf besides wanting to add a more attractive look to what is worn. Tuck them in, please. I am now going to highlight a few more styles of today that our sisters should be aware of. 4. Piled High. This can be achieved by wearing a cushion above the head or ponytail and wrapping the scarf over it. Other styles include adding a large flower to the top or intricately twisting the scarf into a bun and pinning it to the side. Unfortunately, this creates a sign above the head saying “Check Me Out!” For your own good, don’t do it because the Prophet salla Allahu alayhi wasallam has also given us warnings for those who dress in this fashion in the following two ahadith: Abu Hurairah relates that the Prophet salla Allahu alayhi wasallam said, “There are two categories among the inhabitants of Hell whom I have not encountered. The first are people who carry whips like the tails of cows and beat the people with them. The second are women, clothed yet naked, drawn to licentiousness and enticing others to it, their heads like the swaying humps of camels. They will neither enter Paradise nor even smell its fragrance, though its fragrance can be found to a great distance.” [Sahih Muslim]The Prophet salla Allahu alayhi wasallam also stated, “There will be in the last of my Ummah, scantily dressed women, the hair on the top of their heads like a camel’s hump. Curse them, for verily they are cursed.” [At-Tabarani and Sahih Muslim]So, from these ahadith, my sisters in Islam and I should be careful to stay away from this look in whatever way it can be created. 5. Falling Scarf. The scarf simply slips off to the shoulders whenever it gets too tired at the top and exposes luscious locks of hair. Wear a scarf with not-so-silky material that would have more friction and prevent it to come loose or slip. Pinning the scarf at the top or side is usually helpful too. 6. Body-Suit Tightness. This occurs when skinny jeans, tights, or body-shirts are worn. It also takes place whenever other clothes, such as dresses, are skin-tight, as if they’ve been painted on. This image completely contradicts the whole standard of modesty, which is the purpose of hijab. What the woman is doing is putting her figure on display. Even if a long blouse is worn on top of the body-shirt and skinny jeans to cover her chest and thighs, her arms and shins are still emphasized. Looser clothing should be worn instead. 7. Made-up face. Eyeshadow, colored lipstick, blush, and bronzer are all products of the make-up industry. However, we’re all already beautiful products of Allah’s creation, so why use tools of society to demean ourselves in the process of submitting to what society claims should be beautiful? And why try to enhance your beauty when you’re going to be amongst the same people you’re wearing hijab in front of in order to conceal your beauty in the first place? Besides, if people don’t appreciate the way Allah created you, then they don’t deserve your efforts to abide by their judgments. The reason this advice is being repeated is for the simple fact that as those who cover, we are not only representing ourselves, but the entire population of Muslim women who wear hijab. Firstly, we owe it to ourselves, and to our relationship with Allah, to seek ihsaan (perfection) in applying His rulings. If we’ve taken the first step in covering, then alhamdulillah; but let’s not stop there. Only by fulfilling the requirements of hijab can hijab then fulfill the purpose it was commanded for. Wearing hijab properly will protect us, make us conscious of our actions, and establish our respectability in society. And only through following Allah’s command as it was sent down can we hope to draw even closer in our love and obedience to Him. On top of that, if we don’t wear hijab properly as stated in the Qur’an and displayed in the Sunnah, then we would be giving those who are not educated in Islam and hijab the wrong image of how it should be worn. We must always be conscious of our appearances and actions, since we carry the image of our Ummah. This is a call to remind you and I that we are responsible for how others perceive us if we’re at fault for dressing inappropriately. Let’s be positive images of the message of Islam, appropriate representatives of this beautiful call to modesty, and sincere believers of Allah, who readily submit and obey His commandments. Basically, the easiest way I think of it when getting dressed is: Keep it simple, Serine. My hope is for us to reexamine how we wear the hijab so as to purify our intentions and thus our appearance will inshaAllah reflect our rectified intentions. Whatever I have said that is correct comes from Allah, and if I have made any mistakes, then I take full accountability and ask Allah to forgive me. www.igotitcovered.org
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Post by Ummati on Sept 12, 2011 15:59:42 GMT 5
Your Hijab makes you pretty, Niqaab makes you beautiful, but your Imaan makes you beyond comparison.
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Post by proud MUSLIM on Sept 12, 2011 20:04:14 GMT 5
This message is an eye opener for us all who think we r doing hijab to please ALLAH but actually we are pleasing our nafs and we are not getting any rewards for it but instead we are depriving our selves of blessings and good effects of hijab and nikab on our iman. Once we are into these worldly stuff u get more and more attracted to them and the main reason goes way behind so we must reconsider our motives and styles because shaiytan is always trying to derange us we must be beware of it at all times and should pray to ALLAH to make us steadfast in the mission and make our intentions pure for HIM alone. MAY ALLAH BLESS US WITH THE BEST OF BOTH THE WORLD.AMEEN
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Post by Ummati on Sept 12, 2011 21:41:45 GMT 5
They say, "Oh, poor girl, you're so beautiful you know It's a shame that you cover up your beauty so." She just smiles and graciously responds reassuringly, "This beauty that I have is just one simple part of me. This body that I have, no stranger has the right to see. These long clothes, this shawl I wear, ensure my modesty. Faith is more essential than fashion, wouldn't you agree?
This hijab, This mark of piety, Is an act of faith, a symbol, For all the world to see. A simple cloth, to protect her dignity. So lift the veil from your heart to see the heart of purity.
They tell her, "Girl, don't you know this is the West and you are free? You don't need to be opressed, ashamed of your femininity." She just shakes her head and she speaks so assuredly,
"See the bill-boards and the magazines that line the check-out isles, with their phony painted faces and their air-brushed smiles? Well their sheer clothes and low cut gowns are really not for me. You call it freedom, I call it anarchy."
This hijab, This mark of piety, Is an act of faith, a symbol, For all the world to see. A simple cloth, to protect her dignity. So lift the veil from your heart to see the heart of purity. Lift the veil from your heart and seek the heart of purity.
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Post by Ummati on Sept 23, 2011 21:25:36 GMT 5
Hope "Overwhelmed by the sheer magnanimity of the change in the state of my heart and way of thinking, driven by the urge to pen down my experience – the experience of walking on the path of Allah – in order to be able to invite others to it through this gesture of sharing, I started to write...."
This is the story of a girl, just another Pakistani girl, brought up in a loving family and provided a good education. Never did she question the basic five tenets of Islam- but actually committing to it? Surrendering?
For her, and many of us the questions just won't stop. There are so many “why’s”. Why should I cover my head? Why should I fast? Why was I born? Why are there so many restrictions in Islam? How do I know for sure that the Quran is the word of Allah? What is written in the Quran anyway…….?
Read her story. A story of a lifetime: Hers, and of so many of us..
sadaffarooqi.com/2010/11/14/hope/
Read and discover how she comes to the final realization:
“Someone up there likes me…… Someone up there is my best friend; He loves me more than anyone ever can”.
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Post by Ummati on Oct 5, 2011 10:37:49 GMT 5
The Story of I Dont Care" | Sister Saalika I sat in the room, alone, observing my new dress that I wore, and carefully examining my accessories. I was dressed in the most stylish of clothes with perfect matching accessories, and along with my new haircut, I thought I looked the most beautiful of all.
But would others approve? As I asked myself this question, I started to perceive many flaws in my appearance.
Suddenly my best friend entered the room, looking very graceful and elegant; I smiled at her and remarked, “You look beautiful –as usual.”
“Thanks,” she replied.
“But the makeup is too heavy,” I continued in a frank tone. “I mean people are going to be like: why is she so dressed up? She looks like a bride.”
“I don’t care what people think,” she retorted back.
I looked at my friend in wonderment; how can you stop caring about what people think? This had always been an unresolved mystery in my mind. I could never understand the reality of the “I-don’t-care” phenomenon, and a very big reason for this was that my heart was a captive to the love of this world. I had spent a large part of my life pleasing people, but I would never admit this to myself.
“Let’s go” my friend shouted, and my train of thoughts stopped with the “let’s have fun” signal.
We both went to a family dinner, and as usual, these dinners are more of a family type fashion show: where everyone from the toddlers to the grandmothers is dressed in the most stylish way. The aunties are like the fashion analysts who are just too busy eyeing every girl for their sons, and merely judging the girls on their dressing sense. While the young ladies are like social butterflies, mingling with everyone, be they from amongst the men or the women.
In such a gathering, I was talking to my friends, enjoying the compliments I received, constantly refreshing my makeup, and eating as less as I could so as not to ruin my dress.
As I was eating I said to my friend, “why are those aunties staring at us?”
My friend turned to look, and then replied to me, “Why do you care? Stop caring so much about what people think.”
Again a series of questions sparked off in my mind. I silently continued with my dinner, but suddenly my attention was drawn towards someone sitting afar, covered from head to toe in black. She was wearing a niqab and eating her dinner in a way that seemed to be very difficult to me.
I stared at that lady, who appeared very obviously to be isolated by everyone as no one dared go near her. Everyone just walked and talked around her as if she didn’t exist.
But I was too much in awe of her character, her attire, and how she was just sitting there in a black burqah –giving up all her desires that every girl has to dress up.; how she preferred her Lord over the world, how easily she seemed satisfied with her decision, how true she seemed in front of her Lord. As I observed her, I took a deep sigh, and prayed: Oh Allah! Allow me to reach such a state where I also stop caring about the world and give up everything for You.
My friend turned to me and said, “Hey look at that ninja! I wonder how she can dress like that.”
I replied, “She doesn’t care what people think about her.”
***
A year later, I returned back from my best vacation ever which was spent in Egypt. I used to believe that that trip gave me a new sense of liberty, but I little realized that it actually made my soul restless.
When I returned back home, I felt empty. My friends tried counselling me but I would always reply with a silent nod to their kind words. My family could not understand my deep silence and I myself could not recognize what my heart searched for, even though everything seemed to be in the right place.
I started living my life by the “I-don’t-care” rule: wearing more immodest clothes, listening to music, doing what the entire “I-don’t-care” crowd does. But inside my heart, I knew what I was doing wasn’t right.
I could feel the guilt of breaking my promise to my Lord –though I knew that no matter how much anyone claimed to understand me, only my Creator could understand me. In the middle of sleepless nights, I would cry and try to make sense of my life. I had everything but I wanted something else. I knew this world was temporary so why was I allowing myself to be fooled by it?
I would think to myself that my grave would be dark just like this room; in fact it would be so much draker and smaller. I could still call out to my parents for help if needed in this room, but in my grave who would I be able to call out to?
Then I would confess to my Lord, indeed I have wasted my life, and a tear would roll down my cheek. And then I would assure myself, I still have time, I can change, but Shaytan would make all this thinking useless by making me feel hopeless again.
But one night, as I was crying, I told myself I can change; and just as Shaytan started messing with my mind, I firmly told myself: I am a slave of Allah. My job is to take a step and it is Allah’s will if He wants me to get to the end of this road, He will help me through it. I promised myself that this time I will change, and even if I failed, I had firm faith in Allah’s mercy, and that no matter what the end result would be, at least on the Day of Judgement I would be able to tell Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala that at least I tried, at least I took a step.
A month later, I joined an Islamic course, and with the mercy of Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala, and in the company of my pious and beautiful teacher, I changed. I became a completely new person. But this process of change didn’t come easy. You have to really struggle a lot to overcome your own desires. It is easy to achieve triumph over things in this world but it is extremely difficult to defeat your own self.
One of the biggest battles I had to fight was starting the hijab. Everyday I would ask myself, when will I start wearing hijab? I would then answer, tomorrow.
After which the arguments would begin in my head: what will people say? What if I stop wearing it suddenly? What if it doesn’t suit me? and a series of “what-if’s” would change my mind every time.
But I continued to make immense du’a to Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala and finally, by His Mercy, I started hijab and the niqab.
The first time I went to a dinner party with my hijab and niqab I was extremely nervous. As I entered I kept looking at my feet, trying to avoid the negative vibes that came from the fashion-conscious aunties. I felt that I didn’t have the courage to face them. My mind kept telling me, don’t look up, don’t look at them, just ignore them. I secretly made du’a to Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala to create ease for me in this step, and my heart then told me: it’s time to face them.
Something in my mind instantly replied, no, what must they all be thinking about you?
I humbly looked up, smiling to myself, and answered that daunting question with a simple reply: I don’t care what people think.
And that was the day when I actually understood the reality of these words. That was the day when these words came from my heart and I understood that when you do something for your Lord, then it is His Mercy that surrounds your heart and thus you give in to true submission to Him; and that is when He makes the trials of this world very easy.
When the hearts are fully submerged in the ocean of submission to Him — that is when the high tides of this world cause no harm to the one who is already overcome –overcome by the storm of Hubbu lillah (love for Allah). [/b][/font] Source: www.igotitcovered.org
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Post by Mujaahid on Oct 11, 2011 13:04:53 GMT 5
People look. People stare, They look at me with an ignoranced glare. Look at her - she's out of place, She's only showing her hands and face! They never intend to know the reason, Only imagine it to be a form of treason. People question. People wonder, About the influences I am under. Why I cover-up from head-to-toe, So that my physical body doesn’t show! My personality and character are more, Than can be shown with clothes from any store People think. People assume, That we are in a state of gloom. "Those Muslim women must be oppressed, Just look at how they are dressed!" If only they knew how I feel inside, All their inner beauty they do hide
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Post by Ummati on Oct 13, 2011 22:07:05 GMT 5
But I Love the AttentionWith the hijab comes sacrifices, but we must be willing to weigh the temporal pleasures with the eternal bliss.Posted by Dreamer, on www.igotitcovered.orgIn her recent novel Boy vs. Girl, Na’ima B. Roberts illustrates an important, yet overlooked phenomenon for girls and women who wear hijab: “But lately, she had lost some of that confidence, that immunity to guys’ indifference to her. It had started to bother her that their eyes glazed over when they saw her, sliding away from her face, brightening when they saw Robina’s cheeky smile and highlighted hair.
Her pride was hurt, her vanity bristled…
Once upon a time, she had been the darling of every clique that mattered. Now, in her hijab, she was considered a pariah…”This excerpt details the struggle of Farhana, one of the main characters in the book, as she dons the hijab. She is a teenager in high school and the confidence with which she began to wear hijab slowly diminishes as she discovers some of the consequences. Now, many females more or less know the reasoning behind wearing hijab—namely, to be modest and obey God’s orders. In essence, this also means deterring attention away from oneself by appearing and acting in a humble manner. For many of us, attention is something we prize so it is only natural to feel that way. We feel loved and secure when somebody gives us attention, whether it is as simple as a glance from a classmate or as complex as a relationship with a family member. Thus it is only natural that we feel hurt when some of that attention is lost. Personally, I didn’t mind when people glanced past me because of my hijab. I’ve been shy for the majority of my life and I tended to be the student who hid behind another’s head so the teacher wouldn’t call me. But it isn’t so simple for other, more extroverted individuals. It may cause pain when those who had more or less adored you, such as your friendly male cousin or the guy sitting at your math table, doesn’t give you the same amount of attention anymore. It hurts when you cannot be part of that popular clique anymore and moreover when your crush hardly gives a glance in your direction. Even shy girls may crave this kind of attention once in a while—to have the temporal comfort of a good-looking guy flash a smile at you. But, in the end, what good is that small bit of pleasure we gain? Can anything more happen beyond that smile, that glance, or that attention we crave? Or perhaps the better question is, shouldn’t we want something beyond that and why? Most of us are fortunate to have the loving care and attention from our parents and family. Others may not be so fortunate but an undying trust in Allah can help them move forward. And all that attention and affection can insha’Allah be attained one day by a loving spouse. Why bother your soul, your faith, your relationship with Allah for a mere desire to have attention that can only last only for a short time? So, my dear sisters, don’t sulk with the feeling that you’re not getting as much attention now that you have a hijab on. Surround yourself with those who will give you affection—your family, your friends, the elderly, and even children in your community. And for those sisters who have not begun wearing the hijab yet, do not let the ideas that you won’t be as beautiful any more, or that nobody will like you or marry you prevent you from embarking on this journey. Allah indeed is the provider of all good things. We have a duty to our Lord and no words are more powerful than His to consider: “…And who is more astray than the one who follows his own desires separate from the guidance of Allah…” [Al-Qasas, 28:50]When you find yourself brooding and lonely, ask yourself which you prefer to be—a slave to your fleeting desires or a slave to your Lord?
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Post by Ummati on Oct 13, 2011 22:08:03 GMT 5
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Post by Mujaahid on Oct 14, 2011 1:00:04 GMT 5
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Post by Mujaahid on Oct 14, 2011 1:03:00 GMT 5
Why Do I Wear Hijab?
(A Muslim woman explains why she has chosen to wear the Hijab, not out of repression, but liberation)
I probably do not fit into the preconceived notion of a “rebel”. I have no visible tattoos and minimal piercing. I do not possess a leather jacket. In fact, when most people look at me, their first thought usually is something along the lines of “oppressed female.” The brave individuals who have mustered the courage to ask me about the way I dress usually have questions like: “Do your parents make you wear that?” or “Don’t you find that really unfair?”
A while back, a couple of girls in Montreal were kicked out of school for dressing like I do. It seems strange that a little piece of cloth would make for such controversy. Perhaps the fear is that I am harboring an Uzi underneath it! Of course, the issue at hand is more than a mere piece of cloth. I am a Muslim woman who, like millions of other Muslim women across the globe, chooses to wear the hijab. And the concept of the hijab, contrary to popular opinion, is actually one of the most fundamental aspects of female empowerment.
When I cover myself, I make it virtually impossible for people to judge me according to the way I look. I cannot be categorized because of my attractiveness or lack thereof.
Compare this to life in today’s society: We are constantly sizing one another up on the basis of our clothing, jewelry, hair and makeup. What kind of depth can there be in a world like this? Yes, I have a body, a physical manifestation upon this Earth. But it is the vessel of an intelligent mind and a strong spirit. It is not for the beholder to leer at or to use in advertisements to sell everything from beer to cars
Because of the superficiality of the world in which we live, external appearances are so stressed that the value of the individual counts for almost nothing. It is a myth that women in today’s society are liberated! What kind of freedom can there be when a woman can not walk down the street without every aspect of her physical self being “checked out”?
When I wear the hijab I feel safe from all of this. I can rest assured that no one is looking at me and making assumptions about my character from the length of my skirt. There is a barrier between me and those who would exploit me. I am first and foremost a human being, equal to any man, and not vulnerable because of my sexuality.
One of the saddest truths of our time is the question of the beauty myth and female self-image. Reading popular teenage magazines, you can instantly find out what kind of body image is “in” or “out.” and if you have the “wrong” body type, well, then, you’re just going to have to change it, aren’t you? After all, there is no way that you can be overweight and still be beautiful.
Look at any advertisement. Is a woman being used to sell the product? How old is she? How attractive is she? What is she wearing? More often than not, that woman will be no older than her early 20s, taller, slimmer and more attractive than average, dressed in skimpy clothing. Why do we allow ourselves to be manipulated like this?
Whether the 90s woman wishes to believe it or not, she is being forced into a mold. She is being coerced into selling herself, into compromising herself. This is why we have 13-year-old girls sticking their fingers down their throats and overweight adolescents hanging themselves.
When people ask me if I feel oppressed, I can honestly say no. I made this decision out of my own free will. I like the fact that I am taking control of the way other people perceive me. I enjoy the fact that I don’t give anyone anything to look at and that I have released myself from the bondage of the swinging pendulum of the fashion industry and other institutions that exploit females.
My body is my own business. Nobody can tell me how I should look or whether or not I am beautiful. I know that there is more to me than that. I am also able to say “no” comfortably then people ask me if I feel as though my sexuality is being repressed. I have taken control of my sexuality. I am thankful I will never have to suffer the fate of trying to lose/gain weight or trying to find the exact lipstick shade that will go with my skin color. I have made choices about what my priorities are and these are not among them.
So next time you see me, don’t look at me sympathetically. I am not under duress or a male-worshipping female captive from those barbarous Arabic deserts! I’ve been liberated...
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Post by Muslimah on Oct 17, 2011 23:10:53 GMT 5
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Post by Mujaahid on Nov 4, 2011 22:34:04 GMT 5
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Post by Ummati on Nov 5, 2011 13:32:37 GMT 5
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