MY THOUGHTS ON "HIJABI PLAYBOY"

With each passing day, the state of the Ummah is becoming very worrying. The concept of modesty is diminishing  so fast and just a few days back, I came across this video about a woman who was naked and her body paint was actually a t-shirt and a trouser so it looked like she was properly dressed. The first thing that came to my mind was this: 

 

As one of the minor signs before the Day of Judgment, Rasul Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) mentioned: “There will be women who will be dressed but they will be naked".

 

Most of you must have read about the Hijabi who posed for Playboy. Yes, in a way, the world needs to know that the Hijab doesn't subjugate women or that Hijabis are not oppressed. I mean, I really don't have to go into that topic because most of you must be sick with it already. My point is that we need to let the world know that Hijab is our right but if they aren't willing to accept it, what do we do?

 

a) Go to extremes and stop at nothing to let people know that the Hijab is our right

 

or

 

b) Simply stop is there and ignore the backlash because people who are intent on not understanding will never understand anyway.

 

While I would certainly choose the latter and ignore the haters, Noor Tagouri clearly pushed it waaay too much.

 

No- I'm not going to write an entire article criticizing her. You see, that's the fault with this Ummah. If there is a problem, we don't go down to the root of it but rather, we take it out on social media and the end result- everyone sees Muslims as a divided group of people. Nour made a point in her interview- "I know what it's like to have the narrative of our community be skewed and exploited in the media. I was like, 'Hey, I know what it’s like to be misrepresented in the media. I won't do that to you. I want to tell your story because it’s important and deserves justice'."

 

But the thing is, I don't agree with the platform she chose to explain her views. Playboy we all know, is a porn magazine and no Muslim women deserves to be associated with it. And no Muslim man either because porn is disgusting and vile and even if we sneak those magazines and read it when no one's watching, remember Allah watches over you. So fear Him.

 

The word "Hijab" and "Playboy" are worlds apart and seeing it associated together is honestly shameful. Playboy has been objectifying women as sexual objects and the Hijab is the total opposite of it where women who wear the Hijab are being covered and protected from being sexualized. You get the point here?

 

So Nour, if you're reading there is just one thing to be reflected on- On the Day of Judgement when Allah asks you why you agreed to pose for Playboy, what would the reply be? Think about it.

And brothers and sisters- please let's stop insulting her. Whether what she did was right or wrong, the only thing we can do is advise her and not insult her. 

 

Once again, I don't want people thinking that I agree with the whole Playboy Hijabi thing- I don't of course- but my point here is that as a Ummah, we are divided already. Don't get into social media debates and give reason for people to laugh at us even more. 

 

 

IN THE SHOES OF A HIJABI/NIQABI

So the Hijaab and the Niqaab- the topic that always seems to be on the spotlight when it comes to Muslim woman and is seen as a worldwide symbol of subjugation, oppression and backwardness. A piece of cloth that screams "I'm oppressing the one who is wearing me!". The cloth that that says "I'm uneducated, limited, forced into wearing it by my male-dominated religion". 

So yes, this is the Hijab and Niqab in the eyes of many non-Muslims. But are they the ones who are wearing it? Do they know for a minute how it feels to be wearing it? Do they understand how it feels when you want to wear it but people who you know nothing about and who know nothing about you suddenly feel like they have all the rights to demand you to wear what they want?

Let me show you what it's like to be a Hijabi/Niqabi. No, no, no, no... Don't freak out. I know you might be disgusted with the very idea of even putting on Hijab/Niqab *virtually* but just step into our shoes for a moment. You might just begin to understand us.

In the shoes of a Hijabi/Niqabi

You choose to wear the Hijab/Niqab because it is a personal choice and yet, people think you are forced into wearing it. 
Each time you step outside, you have to endure taunts and insults and you are constantly being jeered at for doing something you want to do. 
You wear the Hijab/Niqab and they claim that it subjugates you and you know that it's only a form of freedom for you. 
They say you are oppressed and yet, they oppress you by questioning your rights to wear what you want. 
And on top of that, they claim that you are accepting slavery when you know that by wearing the Hijab/Niqab, you have never felt more free. 

You feel free by wearing your tank top and shorts. We feel free by wearing the Hijab/Niqab. I mean just think about it- how would you feel if a person suddenly comes out of the blue and decides that he/she has all the rights in the world to tell you what is freedom and what is oppression. We all have a brain of our own and we are capable of thinking on our own, thank you very much. So yeah, what you think is oppression is my freedom and what you think is freedom is my oppression. This is how humans are. We are different, we have different ideas and we have different opinions. Be mature enough to embrace that.

But please, keep your opinions to yourself. What makes you think you have the right to force people to thinking in your way? Turn the tables around and a bit and give people their own freedom. Don't claim to be liberating them by forcing them to remove what they want to wear and then clap yourself on the back and say "Hey, I liberated that oh so poor oppressed soul by just forcing her to remove what she loves to wear which by the way is oppressive and I'm only doing her a favour by liberating her of that creepy piece of oppressive material". 

Does is make sense? Of course not. I'm as baffled as you.

Think from a Hijabi's/Niqabi's perspective for just a moment. She has a heart and she has a voice. Let that be heard as well. If wearing the Hijab/Niqab is her form of freedom, then please, have the simple decency of giving her the freedom she wants.

DEAR WOMEN, KNOW YOUR WORTH

“Allah does not look at your figures, nor at your attire but He looks at your hearts [and deeds].” [Muslim]

It's ironic how some people talk of Islam as though women have been given no rights at all and that being brought up to live with modesty, associate only with the men that matter in our lives (our mahrams), wearing the Hijab/Niqab and getting married and caring for children is like living a caged up life. What's more ironic is that the same people who portray this false image of Muslim women are the ones who are, more often than not, leading a purposeless life.

Allah has created us for a purpose- which is to worship Him- and we simply can't forget about our purpose of existence and live life to the fullest, because as they say 'You life only once'. I'm not saying that you shouldn't live life to the fullest. Of course we should because this life is a gift from Allah to us, but we must never forget our main purpose which is to worship Him. If we wake up each day with no purpose to drive us, it's natural that we'll be like the walking dead and getting through a day will turn out to be a chore. Living with no restrictions and believing that this is freedom is absolutely foolish. Why? Because everything has its limits and so does freedom. When you exceed that limit, you can never make sense of your life.

What I'm trying to talk about here is that people, women in particular, don't realize their worth. We happen to blindly believe in whatever that we see on the media and movies and we tend to believe that that is life. Well you know what? It's not. It's all one huge lie and if we fall into that trap, then Shaitan has won won us over, Na'oozhubillah.

There is a reason why I say that what you see on the media are lies. How many times have we heard of celebrities suffering from depression and anxiety, which has even lead to suicide. Think of it- these celebrities apparently have everything they need: beauty, money, status, fame and of course, their freedom. Then why do they fall into depression? Everything that they have cannot keep them happy because they are straying away from the purpose of their creation. We have been created to obey and worship Allah and this is what our hearts yearn for. It's the Fitrah in which every single person is created with. So when we deprive ourselves of this, we get depressed and in extreme cases, even suicidal.

Pictures of celebrities and models are all over the web and on newspapers and even on the media, they are spoken of as mere entertainment and sexual objects. What's more, there is an entire community behind them that is dedicated solely to carefully scrutinizing and condemning the bodies of celebrities and models when they fail to get back in shape one month after giving birth or if they wear something which clearly doesn't meet the fashion standards of the current time or if their makeup isn't right or their skin has started sagging... I mean, you get the picture. A woman has no right over how she can behave and dress. Everything should be within the framework of fashion and when society dictates the way a woman must dress or be, then seriously, that is what is true oppression.

This kind of scrutiny is allowed and even welcomed by the media but how is that when it comes to a Muslim woman who chooses to cover herself with modesty and guard her chastity, it immediately opens up a plethora of opinions where they claim that Islam oppresses women.

In Islam, we women know our worth. 

We refuse to bow down to the fashion of this world. Our submission is not to fashion nor is it to the media. It is only to Allah and this is the kind of freedom that brings immeasurable peace to our hearts.

We refuse to live by the kind of freedom portrayed by the media where the more skin you show, the more freedom people tend to think we are. No matter what anyone says, freedom can only truly be felt through modesty and people are going to respect you only if you respect yourself and your body. 

We refuse to have pre-marital or extra-marital affairs where a woman if used up shamelessly by a man she hardly knows and then tossed over like some object that is not valued. We Muslim women uphold our chastity and modesty where we are respected for who we are. 

We refuse to feel precious by caking ourselves with layers of makeup and then falling hopelessly depressed when we look at ourselves in the mirror without any makeup. The beauty standards of Islam teaches us to be happy in our own skin and we don't have to put up a fake makeup-ed face to feel confident and good.

Our freedom lies in obeying Allah, being modest and comfortable with who we are and we refuse to be subservient to fashion or men. We know our worth. 

NIQABIS- OPPRESSED OR IN SERENITY?

Why are those who choose to veil looked down upon but those naked, praised?

So who are these women covered from head to toe, are they oppressed and burdened as depicted in the morning paper or are they women who embody serenity? Are they enslaved under a patriarchal system or at peace- as free as they can be.

There are three main types of Islamic dress relating to women when in public:

• Headscarf (Known as Hijab): This is the most common type where the woman is fully covered with only the hands and face visible. 
• Niqab: This is normally a dull coloured gown that covers the whole body except the eyes. 
• Burqa: This is like the Niqab but the eyes are covered too or sometimes thick netting is used in the eye area- just enough to see. 

They are worn in the presence of men who are classed as Non-Mahrams- You can read more on them here.

Less than 0.2% of Muslim women wear the face veil. The most common reason is to devote their efforts towards attaining the nearness to God. There are Islamic traditions where some women completely veiled themselves from social life; It is not simply covering up, it is a practise that entails embodiment of complete servitude. This means as an individual you adhere to Gods manner 110%- a life full of complete honesty, integrity, fairness, kindness, forbearance, humility, compassion, selflessness and forgiveness. However this is not the intention of some, for them it’s emulating the wives of the Prophet ﷺ (out of love) or veiling their beauty from strange men.

Top ten replies of a survey asked to 100 Muslims and 100 non-Muslims

Undoubtedly the Niqab has an Islamic basis, Islamic texts make it clear that the ‘hijab’ is compulsory for Muslim women to observe. However scholars have differed as to whether the Niqab is compulsory or an optional act of virtue.

“O Prophet! Tell your wives and your daughters, as well as all believing women, that they should draw over themselves some of their outer garments [when in public]: this will be more conducive to their being recognised as decent women and not molested, And Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.” 

Quran 33:59

To understand this difference further please see my additional post: What is the Niqaab?


Now, we are at a period of time where the Niqab is portrayed as something barbaric, oppressive and suppressive of female empowerment. Media campaigns have been launched, brainwashing the average Joe, and now many countries have banned the wearing of this garment, while others have considered banning or limiting its use.

Looking closer at the issue, why is it that we alienate those who choose to veil themselves and applaud those who wear the bare minimum. If having freedom of choice is female empowerment, surely the Niqabis should be respected too. As much as you may argue that men enforce the Niqab, it’s also men who use women for sexual objectification. Its a simple fact. Societies at large applauded Kim Kardashian for her recent bare nude pictures – but really, is this what we’ve come down too?

J.D. Unwin, a behaviourist of Cambridge University, studied 80 primitive tribes and 16 civilized nations in regarding sex and culture. He concluded ‘that the cultural behaviour of any human society depends first on the inherent nature of the human organism, and secondly, on the state of energy into which, as a result of its sexual regulations, the society has arrived.’ From his findings, low level culture was found in tribes insisting on sex without marriage and high level civilisation was found in tribes insisting on pre-marital chastity. Therefore limitation of sexual opportunity is key in reduced rates of rape, harassment, oppression and abuse of women.

This does not necessarily mean every woman should veil but looking at society around us, its difficult to deny the truth. And it certainly does not mean the veil will prevent all cases of rape and molestation but the idea of modesty- not only protects you but society too. G. A Parwez proposes that, ‘in both primitive and modern societies, it can be evaluated that observing modesty plays a key role in the development of a purer richer culture’.

A question of choice 

Furthermore, regardless of the many connotations the niqaab holds, should it mean that a woman’s freedom of choice should be taken away? Modern societies are based on the emphasis of democracy and human rights, from which, every person has the right to freely practise their religion. As the Niqab has a religious facet, it goes against this core human right.

“Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion… either alone or in community with others and in public or private..” Article 9 ECHR

Therefore whilst claiming to protect Muslim women- a ban would make life intolerable for those who wear the Niqaab, by forcing them to choose between defying their beliefs and leave the house or not leaving the house at all.


It should be noted that even amongst Muslims there is disagreement on the veil but differences in opinion are respected. Its unanimous that the Niqaab does have a place in Islam, the Prophet’s ﷺ wives wore a Niqaab. As they are the Mothers of the Believers, they are also role models for Muslim women, so some Muslim women wish to emulate them in every respect. Let’s look at some common questions and issues raised:

Common Questions

It is oppressive – Muslim women who choose to wear the Niqaab do so out of their own free will, believing it is an act of worship and a form of liberation from the objectification of women in modern society. In fact, preventing Muslim women from practising their religion is what is truly oppressive. When it comes down to being oppressed, the problem is not the Niqaab but the man, it is him who is possessive.

It is backwards – The Niqaab is not part of a short-lived fashion trend. It is a religious garment and act of worship which is not subject to time and therefore, does not become outdated. In fact, the Niqaab is gaining much popularity in modern societies, especially amongst Western convert women.

It is intimidating – While the Niqaab may appear intimidating to some people, it is not worn with the intention of being threatening or frightening. People are often intimidated by what they have no knowledge of, and the Niqaab is a piece of clothing which should not warrant fearful reaction. Underneath the Niqaab is a person simply trying to practise their religion. It is interesting to note that other forms of dress and appearance are no longer considered intimidating, as they have become accepted by the wider community. Tattoos, extremely short dresses, revealing clothes, body piercing and outlandish hairstyles are all examples of this phenomena.

Form of male domination – Wearing the Niqaab does not in any way suggest that women are inferior to men. Claiming that the Niqaab is a symbol of male domination goes against the fact that many women voluntarily wear the Niqaab, some even wear it against their husbands wishes.

Barlas 2003 said Female inferiority was not an ideology in Muslim societies, but Muslims had family laws that were based on male authority. The purpose was to lead the family in to a rich and respectable family. Islam does not disallow women to work or take charge, but emphasis on men was placed to show there is a duty.

Anti-social – There is nothing in the Niqaab that prevents a woman from interacting with other members of society, or from participating in the community. In fact, neither the Hijab nor the Niqaab are required when among women only. Every woman who wears a Niqaab is a unique individual, and it is unfair and inaccurate to make a sweeping judgement about all such women based on one item of clothing they have in common. Community values necessitate that people should not be judged by what they wear, nor discriminated against or mistreated, based on their choice of clothing or appearance.

It stops women from contributing to society – Wearing a Niqaab does not stop a woman from contributing to society or from pursuing higher education. Many women who wear the Niqaab are very highly educated, or lead very successful careers. From the very advent of Islam, Aisha, the wife of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), was and still is renowned as one of the greatest Islamic scholars to have ever lived. The fact that she wore the Niqaab did not, in any way, hinder her from becoming such a prominent scholar or from teaching the men and women of her society.

It is a security risk – Niqaab are no more of a security risk than a motorcycle helmet, big fashion sunglasses, or a big beanie, and can be removed when identification is required for security reasons. Of course, the request for removal should be done by another woman and not in the presence of men (where possible).

So to conclude, when you come across a woman in a Niqaab, always remember that she is an individual, she has her own interests and personality. The moment you paint her with the same brush as Fox News, all you do is distant yourself from interacting with another human. In the modern world we are all striving to be ourselves and live amongst each other, its important to understand that religious belief is not mere opinion, it is very dear to some people. So if a woman chooses to wear a veil as part of her religion, then honour and respect that. But if you suspect that a woman is wearing a veil out of oppression, then be there, and support her. It helps no one in pointing the finger. Many women who practise the Niqaab are in serenity, no one should have that taken away from them. To finish this post I have shared some snippets of thought from a few Niqaabis. Enjoy!

Some Snippets

The niqab is a religious symbol and wearing it is considered by many Muslim women as an act of worship. Certainly the niqab is a spiritual journey that not many will take or understand, but those women who choose to wear it, believe that it brings them closer to God, their Creator.


Personally, Muslim women wear the niqab to build a stronger and closer connection with the Almighty. It provides you with a sense of safety and protection. Not only that, it lets others know about your religion, and that is where the pride comes from. Alhamdulillah we are blessed to be Muslims and I love embracing that through wearing the Niqab. Also, due to the huge amount of fitna nowadays, I feel safeguarded and modest in my Niqab.


See me for me, not my beauty.


Because its her choice. :) Muslim or not, a woman has the right to choose what she wishes to let others see, and if she wishes to guard her modesty entirely by not allowing others to see her face then that is perfectly acceptable.


Because personally, I felt that the Hijab wasn’t enough. Its like covering the ring but flaunting off the diamond.


Being an active student of knowledge for the past few years, my ‘image’ became less important and the person inside became more prominent, something I really needed to focus on. I simply understood the beauty of modesty. In actions, in words and in physical covering. My beauty should be for my husband only, I refuse to be looked upon like I’m some prey, and even hijab wasn’t enough to keep perverted eyes away. Sacrifices were definitely worth this feeling, and I have never felt more at peace in my life.



You look at me and call me oppressed,
Simply because of the way I’m dressed,You know me not for what is inside,You judge the clothing I wear with pride,

My body is not for your eyes to hold,
You must speak to my mind, not my feminine mould,I’m an individual. I’m no man’s slave,It’s Allah’s pleasure that I only crave,

I have a voice so I will be heard,
For in my heart I carry His word,“O ye women, wrap close your cloak,So you won’t be bothered by ignorant folk”.

Man doesn’t tell me to dress this way,
It’s law from God that I obey,

Oppressed is something I’m truly not, For liberation is what I’ve got, It was given to me many years ago,With the right to prosper, the right to grow,

I can climb mountains or cross the seas, Expand my mind in all degrees,For God Himself gave us liberty,When He sent Islam, to you and me!

A re-post from http://www.sociable7.com/2015/03/11/oppressed-or-in-serenity/

INTERVIEW: "I FOUND THE MEANING TO MY LIFE THROUGH ISLAM"

Alhamdulillah, we were lucky enough to get the opportunity to interview another Muslimah revert for our blog and the response, support and encouragement we have received through all the interviews are just amazing, SubhanaAllah!

I've had emails from new reverts to Islam asking for advice and for a young girl who was thinking of accepting Islam and all the answers from the interviews we've had has helped immensely because it would definitely have related a lot to reverts. Jazakallah khair to everyone who has contributed through interviews and guest posts because honestly, so many people have benefited from it, including myself. Alhamdulillah.

So, here is a wonderful interview we had with Sister Imaan (Faith).

Tell us a little about yourself and your life prior to accepting Islam

Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim.
My life before islam was empty to say the least.
I was raised in a Christian household and had always had a very strong belief in God and knew that He was always there. I called myself a Christian but to be honest I didn't know what that really meant and I would never reference Jesus(A.S) in my prayers or see him as any power or authority.
My mother would always have us go to church and I'd come back unmoved, and somehow I knew that that wasn't right. So I'd research other religions and even went to different churches and religious gatherings hoping to feel different, but I never did. My dad on the other hand never went to church and would say that he didn't need to gather with crowds of people in order to praise God. From that I'd ask myself what does it mean to be religious, and can I just do whatever I want and still make it to heaven? I had so many questions about life and my existence. "Who am I?" "What's my purpose" "if I died a billionaire or a hobo on the street, would it really matter?" "If not, what matters?" "Why do I exist?"
I was very lost and even depressed because nothing meant anything. I would kind of float from one dream (job, goals etc) to another hoping to find satisfaction. I never did. My life had no substance, meaning or purpose. I thought that having the nicest clothes, shoes, bags, accessories, cars, houses etc were something to strive for, that somehow having money and being an "independent woman" would give me meaning and purpose. But it was honestly exhausting.


Describe your journey to Islam

Eventually after years of contemplation and internal debate about Christianity, I decided to stop going to church because I felt myself losing faith in God and saw a lot of hypocrisy that made me want no part of the Christian faith.
But I felt really guilty because I had this consciousness of God. So I prayed and said "God, I know You are there, and I believe in You, but I just can't go to church anymore. If there is a way for me to pray to you, please guide me to it."
Years went by without me really being active in any religion, but I'd pray and knew God was with me. As time went by I met (by amazing coincidence) a bunch of foreign muslim students. I had never (knowingly) met muslims before and they were a bit strange to me, yet I would always find myself with them. I was so drawn to them and eventually loved them all so much because there was something truly unique and special about them. I didn't understand what it was until (after asking them countless questions lol) eventually I realized it was because of their religion.
During Ramadan 2013 I would cook for them a watch them break their fast and I knew that this was the answer I'd been looking for. I knew that Islam was the true religion Alhamdulilah.
I just felt this comfort and ease being around them that I knew I didn't have a choice but to be a Muslim.
I then decided to tell my family about my decision to be a Muslim and I gradually started to learn about it.

What were the greatest challenges you faced after accepting Islam and how did you deal with those?

There were many challenges. I moved back to my mum's house and SubhanAllah it became really difficult for me to learn and meet other Muslims.
I taught myself how to pray etc and literally was just reading, reading and reading lol.  I was mocked and sometimes insulted by strangers for my decision to be a Muslim which hurt, but I never took it to heart because strangers were exactly that, strangers.
But when my relationship with my mum became difficult I almost broke because no matter what I did or could do to please her, it was not enough unless I left Islam or didn't display my Faith. I realized that Islam was not only a huge change for me, but for my family and others as well, and I can only hope and pray that Allah (swt) makes it easy for us.

Alhamdulilah, as much as externally there were so many battles, my heart still felt comfort and ease because I knew I was on the right path. And the more I was being challenged, the more I sought refuge with Allah. The more I learned about the Deen, asked Allah for guidance and looked to please Him and Him alone In sha Allah. The ayat "Verily in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find peace" [Al-Ra'd (13):28] really affected and helped me get through a lot of the sadness I experienced at the time.
But also just the gratitude I had to Allah (swt) for having answered my prayer and to have given me a life that I could actually be passionate about and be happy in. I couldn't really be that sad because Islam is such an amazing gift Alhamdulilah. I love the ayah "And he found you lost and guided you" [Adh-Dhuha (93):7]. SubhanAllah!

How did taking the Shahadah for the first time feel?

SubhanAllah :) Because I'd been learning on my own for so long (because I wasn't able to find anyone around) I had mentally taken the Shahadah. But Alhamdulilah I met an Arabic teacher who said I had to take it publicly. I didn't think it would be a big deal, but SubhanAllah, when I took the Shahadah with the Imam and he started praying for me, I cried! It felt so official and real Alhamdulilah!

Who are your role models today and why?

My biggest role model is our beloved Prophet Muhammed (peace and blessing be upon him). It was through reading about him and the kind of person he was that I truly fell in love with Islam. His piety, compassion, love (and so many other qualities) made me want to be just like him. Reading about the challenges he and the Sahaba faced because of their belief in Allah(swt) gave me so much strength and made me realize that my difficulties were part of having Imaan. Alhamdulilah, the stories of the Sahaba and the Prophet are such a blessing for the Ummah because it's through them that we find comfort and ease in knowing that Allah chooses whom He wills and has them go through hardships and ultimately those hardships are for our own good because you really find closeness to and true love for Allah. Alhamdulilah.

Why did you choose to wear the Niqab?

In developing my faith and learning about the Deen, I fell in love with the Niqab. I'd met a few women who wore it, and SubhanAllah it just made sense to me. What I'd loved about Islam was its consistency. The prayer, the fasting, the etiquettes etc were all really consistent. The Niqab has this beautiful uniformity and consistency that was a little lost (from what I had seen) in the Hijab. My heart (I think with my heart) knew that the Niqab represented the essence of Islam and what it means to be a Muslim woman. Its embodiment of elegance, modesty and goodness was something I couldn't ignore.

Was it a difficult choice for you to start wearing the Hijab and then move on to the Niqab?

Not really. Wearing the Hijab was easy, and I honestly thought I'd be one of those "Hijab fashionistas" lol. But through learning about the Deen and living it, I realized the true essence of the veil, and what it means to be a modest woman. One day (just after Ramadan 2014) I'd been playing with scarves and wrapped it around my head like a Niqab, I liked the way it looked and said I'd go out like that just 1 day. Lol I fell in love with it and I've never not had the Niqab on since that day. It's so amazing!  It's hard to describe the spiritual freedom in wearing the Niqab Alhamdulilah.

Any special Niqab/Hijab incidents you would like to talk about?

There had been a few incidents with my mum that were unpleasant especially with the Niqab. But over all, its been a really good experience (Alhamdulilah), because I've found peace and comfort in it. And I've had complete strangers actually tell me that I look really peaceful Ma Shaa Allah :).

Talking to your family about accepting Islam is always the first greatest challenge. How was it for you and how would you advice new reverts to go about the situation?

It's only natural to want to share goodness with the people you love the most. And Islam is such an amazing gift that it's impossible not to want to share it and talk about it. But I've learnt that not everyone wants to hear it. And the best thing to do is establish your faith and relationship with Allah(swt) and let that change and transform you. Let people see Islam in your actions and not just your words. It takes lots and lots and lots of effort and patience but In Shaa Allah, Allah sees your efforts and what your heart contains, and He will guide whom He pleases at the end of the day.

It has only about a year ago since you reverted to Islam. How do you feel you have changed within this year?

I'm definitely a more peaceful person both internally and externally. Taqwa (God consciousness) is a beautiful thing because it has helped me actively try (and it's a struggle everyday) to have patience and to be conscious of my words and actions. I (In Shaa Allah) try to be kinder to people and more empathetic. I feel more connected to humanity because Islam has forced me out of my shell and be a lot less selfish. But mostly Islam has given me clarity. A lot of the fog and uncertainty that I'd felt for many years has been lifted Alhamdulilah.

What do you think about the rights Islam gives to women?

Well Islam is not man made. So how can it possibly oppress women when even animals have rights in Islam? It's always crazy to hear people criticize Islam and say things like that when in reality it's the women who are not Muslim that are oppressed, if not physically, then definitely psychologically and even emotionally. I know because I thought I was free before, going out clubbing, interacting freely with the opposite gender and doing all sorts of other things had me thinking that I was free, but really I was oppressed, sad and depressed. It's like this global competition between girls (and guys), and who ever gets the most attention from men (or women), the most Instagram likes and twitter followers somehow has found value or is valuable. Women are trained to think that the lighter your skin, the smoother your hair, the bigger you butt etc the more beautiful and valuable you are and only then will a Kanye put a ring on it. But in reality even the women who fit that mould are so sad and empty inside. It doesn't matter if she has a beautiful sensitive soul that just wants love and acceptance. It doesn't matter if she's an intellectual and is spiritual and that she really couldn't be bothered with the high heels and pencil skirts because those things just hurt anyway.
The same goes for guys, it's like the nicer the car he has, or the more money he has, only then will he be able to have not 1 or 2 but countless Kim's or Beyonce's on his arm. It doesn't matter if he's a good man, or if he's sincere, or if he has a caring, sensitive and philosophical side and would rather find peace and sincerity in someone instead of be used for what he has.
It's a sad a vicious cycle of vanity, arrogance, disrespect and mistrust that so many young people (even born Muslims) are having to face.
So yes, Islam gives and upholds women rights and gives those who submit to it the freedom to just be human. It gives us all what we are so desperately searching for... true happiness and contentment. Alhamdulilah.

Non Muslims have the misconception of the Hijab and Niqab oppressing women. What are your thoughts on this?

Well I have to ask; what is the true oppression?
Being valued and judged for your beauty, external appearance, and having no one really care that you are a smart and passionate about who you are and what you believe in because they'd rather look at you and not listen to and truly value your words? Or being valued, understood and listened to not based on the shoes or lipstick you have, but rather the thoughts and intellect you possess. Who truly is the free woman?
And contrary to popular belief, the Hijab/Niqab is not about making you "unbeautiful" but rather it's about giving you the kind of beauty that cannot be seen, but rather felt. That's definitely not oppression.  Alhamdulilah.

Finally, what is it like to be a Muslim?

Being a Muslim in one word is Freedom. Freedom to be who my Creator has created me to be. Freedom to not follow the norms of the society and search endlessly for meaning in the meaningless. I used to live and pray for the day I'd be an "independent woman", and honestly I can say that me finding Islam and living in submission to Allah (swt) has given me that independence. Living independent of this world and in dependence of the One who created it is true Freedom. Alhamdulilah :)

Note: If you would like to be interviewed for our blog, leave us an email on niqablovers@gmail.com and we'll get back to you, In Sha Allah. Sisters only.

INTERVIEW: SISTER SEEKING KNOWLEDGE FINDS SO MUCH MORE THAN PEACE

Interview with sister Ameena Nour. MashaAllah, this is a really entertaining and insightful interview we had with a Muslimah revert from US. Jazakallah khair for offering to be interviewed and may Allah make your words a means of inspiration for those reading.

How was your life before accepting Islam?

I was raised as an agnostic. We went to church about once a month but more for the free coffee and donuts and nice people not God. My mother (divorced family) always gave us a lecture about questioning all of religion because she didn't know if it was "true". But it was also taboo in American Christian culture to question the inner workings of Christianity. So I was stuck. I wanted to know WHY. I was living in sunny California (Hollywood culture in the extreme!), I graduated high school (2007) and didn't know what to do next. Of course being a "good girl" I started university. Before Islam, my life was ordinary but quickly deteriorating. In university, I found myself making more and more poor choices. Poor friendships, poor relationships, and poor social activities. I had guilt after doing these that I knew I was missing something big in my life, I thought perhaps maybe it was God, so I started looking into many different religions (Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism, even Ba'hi)...

Why did you choose to become Muslim?

I didn't choose to become muslim. Let me explain. I wanted to be at peace in my heart. While I was looking into different religions, I would watch lectures on YouTube from the various "Leaders" of that faith. I spent maybe a week on Christianity, maybe a week on Judaism and so on, but one day I was watching an anti-Islam protest on the news (Oct 2008) and a thought came to me like "Islam is not like THAT, it's beautiful." This thought scared me because I hadn't been researching Islam, I really didn't know much more about Islam than any other American that watches the news. I immediately went to YouTube and googled I think "women in Islam"... I watched a 20min lecture from Ahmed Didat (spelling?)... At the end of the video he was saying if anyone thought they wanted to take Shahadah to come up to the stage, about 4 women came up. I swear my heart practically ran out of my chest and tripped over itself in desperation to be there. It wanted to take Shahadah so bad I literally cried out in shock from the physical pain. I was amazed by this reaction but completely trusted my body so I repeated Shahadah with the video, and just started reading and reading about Islam. I really recommend www.Turntoislam.com and the forums are great. I like to think I didn't have a choice, because it was already my destiny from Allah. SubhannahAllah. And I am so glad I trusted myself and my intuition.

Wearing the Hijab is a huge step. Was it a difficult change for you?

Honestly it was not hard for me, because I had read a great article about who deserves to see your beauty. BUT my mom went nuts, to put it nicely. She had a very difficult time accepting this change in me. Cause it was literally an overnight change. I admit looking back I was very hard on her because I was just as mad at her for NOT blindly accepting this change. It was a hard time for me and my family but I would wear the hijab at school, and out running errands, but would take it off around my mom or before I entered the house so she would not see me.

How did you feel the first time you wore the Hijab?

Of course the very first time I tried to put on "the scarf", I had no idea what I was doing. I had a little scarf about 6 inches wide, and a few feet long. And I have a rather large noggin'. Anyway, I just started wrapping it around and I used like five safety pins and at least twenty straight pins to secure it but like my neck was still showing and I couldn't breath easily I had wrapped it so tight.... Needless to say I went and bought a proper longer scarf and went about practicing putting it on while watching YouTube tutorials. If you really want to do it, you should learn from others on how to do it easier.

Wearing it felt natural but many people stared so I was nervous about all the attention because I thought I was doing something bad because I thought Hijab was about not seeking attention. I have since learned the beautiful difference between seeking attention yourself (as American culture teaches women) and others giving you attention without you asking (simply cause you're doing something different). I will admit I also wanted to wear hijab to be... Well arrogant honestly like "look at my scarf, yep I'm Muslim, yep you're not, aren't you jealous??"
I learned that because I was new to the Hijab, I was more aware of the scarf and people looking, but also people in my area never saw a Muslimah before so they stared out of curiosity AND lastly the people that saw me the day before stared because they didn't know WHY I had changed.


Why did you choose to wear the Niqab?

Saudi Arabia was different than the US, to say the least. My mom had been to Saudi in the early 80s and was full of the stories of the area and how horrible it was, especially for the women. (my mom's not Muslim and she had all the stereotypes).

I went as a Muslim but not a very good one. I was so happy to hear the Athan, and see the stores close for prayer, and see the women and men dressing so modestly. I was happy for this. Then I went to Mecca.....

MashaAllah. Let me tell you. There are tons of people from all over the world there at any given time. But some of these people did not get the memo on modest dress. Most I think it was a lack of education about it but the men and women that work in Al-Haram were more than able to explain it without offending. I asked about why all the Saudi's wear the niqab. The answer ended up making me think a lot about what I was doing in my life and what I could do better for Allah.

I have gone through much to much of an inner dialogue to type out. But I could never shake the feeling that I was supposed to wear the niqab. So I did. And I'm so peaceful and so happy.

It's still hard to wear it in the USA with my mom but I did wear it in France ( well the airport at least) (niqab ban my tushy).

After converting, marrying, and covering, I have been blessed with so much peace and happiness. I have even lost a lot of weight (50+kg/100+lbs).

What do you think about the Niqab and how was your experience wearing it?

I remember being with a Muslim sister maybe a year or so after taking Shahadah, shopping at a Muslim grocery/clothing store, they had a small scarf and accessories section. I remember pulling out a single layer NIQAB. I joking held it up and was like look at me! My friend started laughing. I said "oh women who wear THAT are crazy!"

Let's fast forward a little, after I married my husband, he was living/working in Saudi Arabia so I moved overseas to Saudi. This was the first time I'd seen the niqab, seen women using it. It took about three months before I got up the courage to ask my husband what he thought of me wearing it. Alhumdillah he said "I would like that, I didn't think you wanted to wear it so I never asked." I bought a Saudi version with two layers, I even got gloves too so I could really get the point. I wore the niqab for almost a year whilst living in Saudi, till we moved to Algeria (my husband's home country).

You wear the Niqab part-time. Any particular reason for that?

I had moved to Algeria and then moved to the US again shortly there after to give birth to my first baby. Since I was living with my mother again (husband working in Algeria) I couldn't bring myself to wear the niqab in front of her. Though she had by then at least stopped complaining about my Hijab, Mashallah. I moved back to Algeria (April 2014) and didn't put the niqab back on while learning about Algeria culture more. I actually started wearing it again just last week because I missed it and felt Allah would be happy with me to wear it again. I do really love the niqab, MashaAllah.

Any advice you would like to give any non-practicing muslims reading this?

If you mean not practicing the niqab, I would advise you too look at what you can do extra, because when our deeds are weighed on the Day, I would urge you to do every little good thing you can to make sure your good deeds will out weigh the bad. For me, it an extra cloth on my face, for you, it may be different. I'm pretty lazy though so one little cloth extra is much easier for me.

If you mean not practicing, in the whole, I would like to remind you that no one knows when they are going to die. We've seen to many people die unexpectedly, "in their prime". You have the choice now, right now, so why not choose to do something Allah would be pleased with.

3 things every non-Muslim should know about Islam

1) Women are so important and honored its pretty ridiculous. In a good way.
2) God is the one the only and the reason for the seasons!( given its Dec)
3) Islam encourages us to seek knowledge and answer our questions about our religion and life. Other religions want you to have blind faith, to not question why. So I encourage you to ask! You will realize Islam is the truth.

There are lots of people out there who want to accept Islam but something or the other stops them. What would you say to give them that extra push to take the Shahadah?

As the Nike commercial says "Just do it!" Also you may die, so do one thing Allah would be pleased with. And keep learning. Read Qur'an. Read the sunnah. You may realize that you are already Muslim in your heart that saying it in front of others wouldn't change you too much. Be honest with yourself.

What was the greatest challenge you had after accepting Islam?

I needed to be patient with my family, my mother particularly. And I had to learn how to make prayer a priority. I went from "praying" once a week, once a month at church to being commanded to pray 5 times in one day. I was/still have to remind myself to take the 5mins to please Allah.

Was there anything in particular that you were skeptical about before accepting Islam?

Jesus as God, as so many. But also the issues of women in Islam and violence towards others in Islam. Alhumdillah we have the internet these days and all the information and points of view are available from Sheikh Google. Lol.

Any advice for the youth of today?

Learn to seek knowledge from "credible" sources. Mtv and Vogue magazine are not that credible. READ. READ. Read. Learn to listen to the educated not the masses. Ask yourself "Am I doing this thing because the Prophets would do it or because my friends would do it?" And be good to Allah and the Prophets (pbut).

How different is your life after accepting Islam and what changes do you see in yourself?

I have peace in my heart. I know I am following the truth and by striving to live a sunnah life, I am living a life that has benefit to me, my family, and my society. I am not arrogant lazy or self centered now, mashaAllah. I am more productive and organized, MashaAllah. I know what my job is, what my benefit is and what I can do to be helpful. It's a peaceful life. ALHUMDILLAH.

If there is one Quranic verse/Hadith/advice you could give to any non-Muslim reading this, what would it be?

I would say Surah Fatiha is very important. I would encourage you to read it line by line and truly contemplate what it says. I would also say if the non Muslim comes from a Christian background, I would encourage him or her to read Surah Ikhas and Surah Mariam (the Quranic story of Jesus's birth).

Note: If you would like to be interviewed for our blog, leave us an email on niqablovers@gmail.com and we'll get back to you, In Sha Allah. Sisters only.

"HOW DEATH OPENED MY EYES TO THE TRUTH" - NIQAB STORY

A calamity that brings you closer to Allah is indeed the greatest blessing of all. Allah sends you trials, only to purify you and open up your eyes to the truth. Seek Him and He will guide you to Light

GUEST POST

Assalamu'alaykum,

It was the Summer of 2013, and actually during the blessed month of Ramadhan, when I decided to make the beautiful change in my life - Alhamdulillah.

Until around May 2012, I was never practising. I was the usual teenager - doing whatever pleased me, and never really thought about our true purpose here. Life, for me then, was all about friends, and making the 'most' of life. Little did I know, them 'friends' and the things that I did during then, would turn out to be the biggest regret of my life. 

Although my father was always one to encourage us to read Salah, cover ourselves, and was big on instilling deen into our lives - it did not really affect us. And honestly admitting, we did not follow Islam, TRULY, from the heart, then.

I wore hijab, then, because my dad expected it. No other reason - May Allah (subhanahu wa ta'aala) forgive me. So when I found any slight opportunity to remove it, I ensured that I did. I never wore it, then, for the sake of Allah. 

This was all until, May 2012. Alhamdulillah, that month was the turning point for me.

Sadly, someone I grew up with, passed away from cancer. She was only 19 when she left this dunya and returned to Allah subhanahu wa ta'aala. Her being so young, and also just the shock of the illness she died from - cancer, further overwhelmed me. Until that day, never had I heard of anybody die from an illness like cancer, at such a young age.

(May Allah (subhanahu wa ta'aala) pardon her and grant her the best of Jannah.)

I found myself then thinking, what guarantee do I have that I am not next? If Allah took my soul now, how would I be able to answer Him? Never had I prayed Salah regularly, nor observed hijab properly, and so on. I realized I had so much to answer for. SubhanAllah.

On the very same day she passed away, I remember being seated on the prayer mat, crying my eyes out to the One who created this dunya, to the One who created me. I realized just exactly what I had been ignoring, all this time - the fact that there is no escape from death, regardless of age and place; and that it will most certainly come - no matter what.

I remember reflecting on my past. All the wrong that I had done came pouring into my mind. Astagfirullah. My guilt and fear only increased more. I desperately wanted to undo the past so bad, and kept kicking myself as to why I was the evil person I was.. May Allah subhanahu wa ta'aala forgive all my sins - major and minor.

So from that day, Alhamdulillah, I made a promise that I will never miss my Salah. Everything changed from then. I started to become more attached to the deen and, it actually, became my whole life. Which is how it should be anyway.

Slowly slowly, I started to make small but steady changes in my life, Alhamdulillah. My dress sense eventually changed. I kept thinking to myself, 'if I died right now, in this state, would Allah subhanahu wa ta'aala be pleased with me?' And from thereon, I made the decision to wear the abaya, Alhamdulillah.

As months went by, and my attachment and love for Allah increased, all that mattered to me was Islam. I remember literally looking, walking, talking, sleeping, eating, and always remembering the Most High, the Most Merciful. Coming close to deen was the best thing that ever happened to me.

Anyway, I remember being in a conversation, with a close friend. We were sat discussing the jilbab/abaya, and I think she asked me something like "Would you ever wear the Niqab?" 

I remember myself saying, "I've worn the jilbab, that is enough for me. I will never wear the Niqab." 

(Note, I said this in a sincere and respectful way, not in a mocking manner.)

And then, a few months down the line - the same friend and myself were, again, having another discussion about the Niqab. I mentioned to her, how it is, now, something that I will definitely wear one day. I never said when - but I just knew that it is something I definitely wanted to do in the future, (if Allah willed.)

Subhanallah, I find it beyond amazing how Allah can place noor into your hearts, and completely change your mind, to doing something you said you would never do. Allahu Akbar. He truly is the Turner of hearts. 

As weeks went by, I began thinking more of the Niqab. Also, at that point in my life, I was going through something quite personal and difficult. Through this test, I didn't want my iman to slip. I wanted to it to keep raising. I wanted to do something for the deen, and wanted it to become a means of bringing me closer to Allah subhanahu wa ta'aala.

I then started to ask my best friend about the Niqab, as, she has always worn it from a very young age - Ma sha Allah. I remember her saying people have different opinions about it but nowadays, due to the fitna in society, it has become fardh on us. After hearing that, although I still hadn't made my mind up completely on whether I was going to wear it or not, my heart definitely became more encouraged and opened to the idea - Alhamdulillah. 

Significantly, another incident also contributed towards my decision to wear the Niqab, Alhamdulillah. It was, once, when I went into town during Ramadhan 2013. The stares and dirty looks from men angered me. I always felt guilty and wanted to put an end to these stares. I remember going home, and contemplating on the unfortunate fact of how we are sadly, experiencing mass levels of fitna, today. 

That, then, made me think about how, if I put the Niqab on, it would In sha Allah stop the dirty looks, and serve as a protection from fitna, In sha Allah. 

I also thought about the reward that I would, In sha Allah, get from the Almighty, if I took this step.

I then, also, remember speaking to another friend, who also wears the Niqab Ma sha Allah. 

What she said to me, next, was the turning point SubhanAllah:

"The reason you're thinking of wearing the Niqab, is because Allah wants you to wear it. Good thoughts come from Allah." 

SubhanAllah, when I read that message, I can't even describe the emotions that overtook me. All I knew was that there was no turning back now. I was now a 100% sure on wearing it.

And there we have it. 

31st July 2013 was the day that my Niqab journey began. Alhamdulillah. 

I cannot even begin to put into words what the Niqab has done to my life. Since wearing it, I feel further fearless, empowered, and beautiful! 

Whilst the ignorant mock and laugh at us, I laugh at them. Why? Because they remain heedless of the beauty and power of the Hijab/Niqab. Only those who wear it truly for the sake of Allah will understand exactly just how it liberates and empowers us women! 

For those that see the Niqab as a sign of oppression, in reality, it is YOUR mind that is oppressed. You have cowardly allowed society and media brainwash you.

Whereas, us Muslimahs? We are strong enough to abandon what society, media and people think. We wear the Hijab/Niqab proudly, regardless of what people have to say; and will continue to do so In sha Allah. 

You claim that we're weak beings; but how does that even begin to make sense, when WE are the ones in control of what you see, of us? To me, that's total freedom.

Now remind me again - who are the weak and oppressed?

Note: If you would like to share your Hijab or Niqab stories or experiences, send us an email on niqablovers@gmail.com and share your story to inspire Muslimahs all over!