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. 

BEAUTY STANDARDS OF THE WORLD vs THE BEAUTY STANDARDS OF ISLAM

Beautiful women making the front page of magazines and newspapers splashed with airbrushed models and celebrities. Not to mention, TV and social media platforms buzzing with news of how flawlessly beautiful this celebrity is and how amazingly tanned that celebrity is... Well, this is an everyday happening and people have become obsessed with the beauty standards of this world.

The media have been successful in achieving many things and one of its greatest traps is that it has caused women to succumb to the beauty standards of today. Every young girl who flips through a magazine will find themselves yearning to look as perfect as those airbrushed and photoshopped women and teenage girls in particularly, are willing to go to any length to match up with these beauty standards. This is why we see so many young girls lying in hospital beds as a result of anorexia as they tortured their body into being slim, girls disfiguring their faces to make it look more model-like and in some extreme cases, some women even going to the extent of setting their own beauty standard that is a level ahead. I don't even have to say how disastrous this is and if young girls haven't tried out those, they fall into depression because they can't match the standards the world expects of them.

This is the false facade of all the beauty standards of the media: They take a celebrity or a model, apply tons of makeup on her, erase her 'imperfections' with foundation, give a more alluring lip tone with lipstick, make her eyes look more appealing with layers of eye shadow, make her eyes look rounded and huge with a thick line of eye-liner and fake eyelashes and make her face look slimmer and her cheeks more hollowed with blush and all those other make-up stuff. Then the hair. It's coloured, styled and perfect. Well, you get the picture: they completely erase the imperfections of a woman and paint another 'perfect' reflection of herself through make-up. Then, they do a professional photo-shoot where any further imperfections are erased. And it doesn't end there. Finally, they photoshop that picture, cut off part of the body to make the waist smaller, the hip curvier and the body more toned. Even the hair is volumed up and the cheeks are more hollowed in, the eyes are made to look bigger and the photo undergoes so many enhancing steps where you finally end up with something you totally aren't. After all this, there isn't much left of who you really are.

Why would anyone want to look like someone they know they aren't? Why would they want to erase their identity and their features just so that they reach up to the beauty standards of the world? And where does all this lead to- nothing but self-loathing once you look at yourself with all your make-up removed and you hardly recognize who it is that's staring back at you on the mirror. Women might as well wear a mask when they go out because more or less, this is what make-up does. This is where the beauty standards of this world leads to. A totally different person that you are not and all this just so that people will say you're an attractive women. I mean, where is the self satisfaction? When will these women ever learn to be satisfied with the way they look? And this... is this what the famed 'liberation of women' is about? Being unsatisfied with who you are that you change how you look like? Seriously!

This is where I'm going to talk about the beauty standards of Islam:

"We have certainly created man in the best of stature" - Al Quran 95:4

This is what Islam says. Allah created us in the best form and we are beautiful just the way we are, Alhamdulillah. We don't need make-up or photoshopped pictures of ourselves to know that we're beautiful. Islam teaches us that we are beautiful just the way we are.

In fact, while the beauty standards of the world is that you change yourself to make you look more presentable, Islam forbids us from doing anything that would change the way we look.

“Allaah has cursed the woman who does tattoos and the one who has them done, the woman who plucks eyebrows (al-naamisah) and the one who has it done (al-mutanammisah), and the one who files her teeth for the purpose of beauty, altering the creation of Allaah.”

(Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 5931; Muslim, 2125)

Allaah tells us that the Shaytaan said:

“ ‘and indeed I will order them to change the nature created by Allaah’” [al-Nisa’ 4:119]

Don't fall into the trap of Shaytan sisters. Today, it is so upsetting to see that makeup has almost become an obligatory part of the Hijab for some sisters. Be proud of how Allah has created you. Allah knows that your skin tone, the shape of your eyebrows, your figure, your hair, your eyes and your entire body is the best for you. Why do you want to change it? Learn to be comfortable in your own skin. In your own self. This is the beauty standard Islam teaches us.


"Allahumma anta hasanta khalqi fahassin khuluqi"
O Allah, you have made my body beautiful, so beautify my character too.

INTERVIEW: THE LIFE & FREEDOM OF A NIQABI

Assalamu Alaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuhu!

It's been really amazing to have had the opportunity to interview so many Muslimahs, and Subhanallah, it's all so enlightening. Personally, I've learned so much through all the interviews (and still learning in fact- there's another interview to follow soon, In sha Allah).

So, here's an amazing interview. Do read it and may Allah help all those who are reading to benefit, In sha Allah!

Tell us a little bit about yourself

My name is Kareema Badawi. I am 18, African American/Egyptian, born and raised in Washington, DC. I attend a community college and work in a library in the children's section. I am studying early childhood education with plans to either own my own daycare or teach children somewhere in the world.

Wearing the Hijab to high school/college in a non-Muslim country is always a challenge. How difficult was it for you?

I started wearing Hijab a few weeks after I graduated high school. I did not come from a diverse or open minded school system. Everyone was African American and Christian. My brother and I were always the only Muslims in our schools, and I was the lightest skinned person in school which caused frequent bullying. After prom I realized I needed to gain confidence in my religion and start practicing it correctly because there was more to life than the life I was living. The summer before I began college I started wearing hijab. I was shocked and grateful to Allah that my college had more Muslims than I had ever seen in my living areas and school systems. I assume because my college is in Maryland (in a very diverse part). There were a handful of Muslims out of the whole school but it made me feel comfortable not to be the only Muslim girl like I had been my whole life. It was not difficult because my brother and mother were proud of me and I knew I was doing something to please Allah. I also see how my mom dresses and it was an example for me.

What advice would you give for Muslimahs who give up the Hijab because they feel uncomfortable being the only or one of the few Hijabis in their school?

Advice to hijabis who feel uncomfortable would be that you will honestly get more respect than lose any. Males will not treat you the same and females who act mean towards you because of it were not your true friends. If someone does not respect your Islam then they are not worth your precious time. Also, you never know who you can inspire by wearing hijab :)

How do you deal when people react negatively towards your wearing the Hijab and Niqab?

When people act negatively towards me wearing niqab I show them kindness and try to educate in small ways ;) I understand that non-muslims and muslims have negative views on Niqab and hijab. They may not understand what it is, think it is outdated, think it is extreme, etc.. I feel that I know why I wear it. Sunnah never gets outdated and I am not extreme for trying to please Allah. As long as I'm confident in what I'm doing, that is all that matters to me. I also view it as a dawah and knowledge opportunity. To show people that people who wear niqab are not oppressed, hostile, mean or whatever else they think negatively about Niqabis. That's what really keeps me going.

What inspired you to wear the Niqab?

I don't come from a predominately Muslim family. My mom converted in her 20s. She, my brother and I are the only muslims on her side. My dad's family is Muslim but I do not know them because he left home while we were young and eventually remarried. My mom was a single mother majority of our lives and was busy working a lot to provide for us. So I was not raised with all the Islamic knowledge and surroundings some people may have been exposed to since a young age, SubhanAllah. Because of this, when I began to practice Islam correctly after graduating I tried to research every bit of Islamic knowledge I could. I was thirsty (and still am) for Islamic knowledge and surroundings. 
My friend asked me one day "what do you think of niqab?" This made me think. I did not know anything really about niqab. I researched it and could not stop learning about it for a week straight. What really made me interested was the niqab ban in Britan. I wanted to know why these young females were so serious about wearing niqab. They were young, some in college, unmarried. It's not the criteria most people think of when picturing Niqab. After that, I began to research textual evidence and scholarly opinions on niqab. I was so fascinated by it. I stayed up at night researching it. One morning I woke up and said today is the day. I rushed to the store I get my oils and shea butter from, bought a niqab and went to my class that morning.

How did your family and friends react you you after you started wearing Niqab?

My mother and brother were scared for my safety. My brother was not aware of the textual evidences of it and began to think I was doing something not pertaining to Islam. After I showed him the evidences he became proud of me for doing something many females would not dare to do. My father does not live with us, so when he stopped by one day to see us, he was extremely upset. From that day he continuously harassed me about my decision, made fun of me, inferred that I was becoming a terrorist, etc. I stood firm to my decision and he calmed down a bit. He does not like going places in public with me anymore, he walks a distance. This made me sad. Then I realized, I should not have to flaunt my beauty in order to walk along side my father in public, SubhanAllah. My Christian Aunt is fascinated by it, especially my niqabs with embroidery. She always says how beautiful she thinks it is. My friends are all so supportive of it. Alhumdullillah for righteous friends.

What changes have you seen in yourself after wearing the Niqab?

I see that in myself I watch what I say and do in public a thousand times more than I did before. I do not attract unwanted male attention. I have a very friendly personality that used to cause males to think I was flirting with them. I notice that males do not think I'm flirting with them anymore like they used to and that makes me happy. I notice a humbleness because I am doing something that I sincerely pray Allah is pleased with.

A lot of people believe that wearing the Niqab is tough, particularly in a country where Muslims are at a minority. What is your experience?

I feel that everything in Islam is tough only if you put it in your head to believe it is. I get respect from males, so that's good. They do not look at me as beautiful or someone they want to flirt with. I get a lot of mistreatment from women, majority African American Christian women. But I'm used to it. If I was not muslim I would still get mistreated by them because I am very light skinned. People will always find something to treat you negatively for. It's up to you to surround yourself with people like that or to surround yourself with positive people. I choose to surround myself with positive people.

Many Muslimahs love to wear the Niqab, but the reaction of their friends and family put them off. Any words of advice for them?

My advice to sisters who get negative reactions from family and friends because of their decision to wear niqab is "every storm will pass". Stay firm, have a strong back bone and untouchable confidence in yourself and Islam. I strongly urge that all sisters stay involved in a mosque. Once a week activities have helped me tremendously. My friend began having once a week halaqas. It started small but it has grown into a success this past month, Alhumdullillah. I can honestly say the halaqas have helped all of the sister tremendously. As sisters, we need to be surrounded by the love of genuine sisterhood. Attain as much correct knowledge as possible about Islam so that you know your deen and can justify your actions. Give yourself time to think of every action as "will this benefit me on the day of judgment? Will my creator be pleased with this action?". If the answer is yes, don't let anyone put you down for it. Also, don't be afraid to be a friendly and sociable niqabi ;)

Anything you would like to say to future Niqabis?

Dear future Niqabi, don't be scared. Allah does not give his servants something they can not handle. If your intentions are correct and sincerely for the sake of Allah's pleasure, you will be fine Insha Allah Habibti :)

If there is one verse from the Quran you would like a non Muslim to read, what would it be?

Surah Noor, ayah 35. 

Allah is the Light of the heavens and the earth. The example of His light is like a niche within which is a lamp, the lamp is within glass, the glass as if it were a pearly [white] star lit from [the oil of] a blessed olive tree, neither of the east nor of the west, whose oil would almost glow even if untouched by fire. Light upon light. Allah guides to His light whom He wills. And Allah presents examples for the people, and Allah is Knowing of all things.

This ayah makes me emotional. The subject of guidance makes me so emotional because Allah could have left me astray. In this ayah when it says "light upon light. Allah guides to his light who he wills" it means so much to me. Allah is there, we can repent and change our ways any time. His light is so beautiful, pure and like no other. When a person is following Islam correctly for the sake of Allah you can see the light in that person. Guidance is just so dear to my heart because I don't know what I would be if Allah had not guided me back to His light. When I hear this verse in Arabic I can never abstain from crying. (Yes I'm very emotional lol).

Your message to the world as a Niqabi

Hey world! I do not bite. I am nice, friendly and actually love people! I love learning about people, different cultures, different religions, different ways of life. I am not married (in sha Allah one day I will be). No one in my family suggested or forced me to wear niqab. I do not sit home all day cleaning and cooking. I do not feel oppressed- instead I feel protected from sexual desires. I feel that my personality shines instead of my beautiful face and shapely body. My opinions are heard, not my beauty. I hope that the world can respect all niqabis and understand that every way of life is different. One way of life should not be shunned because of negative views in media or culture. I would hope that the world takes niqabis personal feelings towards niqab into consideration before listening to a different source of information.

*       *       *

May Allah reward you for your time and effort with the interview, Ukhty! May Allah make your words inspire Muslimahs all over the world. Aameen!



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.

MUSLIM WOMEN ARE OPPRESSED? READ THIS AND THINK FOR YOURSELF!

Islam has honoured women, given them the purest of rights, granted them the best of privileges, adorned them with modesty and blessed them in so many ways! So, why is that so many non Muslims looks down on Muslim women with the infamous label: oppressed?

I am a Muslim woman and let me tell you what true liberation is.

Liberated are not the women who shamelessly strip themselves and pose for magazines and cars to make sales. Liberated are not those women who feel insecure with themselves so much so to the extent that they spend billions of dollars on cosmetic makeovers just so look more presentable to the world. Liberated are not those women who dress provocatively so they a man would flash them a 'You're so hot' comment. Liberated are not those women who dress immodestly and who needs a man to tell her that she is beautiful to make herself feel precious. Liberated are not those women who throw themselves into casual flings so they feel 'wanted'. Liberated are not those women who need makeup to boost their self-esteem, party the night away so that they can fit in with the society or wear revealing clothes to make themselves feel beautiful. Liberated are certainly NOT those women who are always searching for ways to becomes more beautiful, more presentable and more attractive by slaving behind man, material goods and fashion.

Liberated are those women who choose to cover themselves modestly to obey God and not bow down to the whims and pleasures of man. Liberated are the women who respect themselves and their bodies and who don't allow their respect to be stripped by fashion designers. Liberated are the women who desire Paradise and who are aware of the fact that there is indeed life after death. Liberated are the women who understand the meaning of life, the value of their life and the beauty of it. Liberated are the women who are proud of their modesty and of their faith and who are proud to represent their religion in their life every single moment of their life. Liberated are the women who understand the value of their womanhood and keep their beauty hidden only for those who matter in their life. Liberated are the women who realize that their children are a blessing from their Lord and who are thankful for it. Liberated are the women who rely on Allah alone all throughout their lives and don't rely on man or worldly attention to get them through this life. Liberated are the women who don't rush behind the glitter and glamour of the world, but set their goals in the Hereafter. Liberated are the women who love their sisters and treat them with love and care- not as competition. Liberated are the women dress modestly, like the honourable and respectful women before them- the wives and daughters of our beloved Prophet Muhammad Sallalahu Alaihi Wasallam.

Liberated are the women of Islam. 

So, think twice before you call a Muslim woman oppressed. God has blessed us with freedom, we know what liberation is and we enjoy it with the best of freedom. Alhamdulillah!

THE LIFE OF A REVERT- AN EYE OPENING INTERVIEW

Alhamdulillah, I got another opportunity to interview a Muslimah and to say I learnt a lot from it is really an understatement! The interview was wonderfully insightful and it really gave me a much better understanding of the life of reverts to Islam and of polygamous marriages. 

Please do read this interview right up to the end, because trust me, it'll really enlighten you on so many things! While your at it, do give a follow to her lovely blog. You can check it out here: http://leavesofknowledge.blogspot.com/

HOW OLD WERE YOU WHEN YOU ACCEPTED ISLAM?
Journey to Jannah: I was 19.  I became Muslim four months out of high school.

TELL US ABOUT HOW YOU FOUND ISLAM
Journey to Jannah: As a child I was abused by the men in my mother's life, emotionally neglected by my mother, and bullied all throughout school.  I became an Atheist at 7 years old (before that having gone to Sunday School from 1-6 years old when we lived in Maine).  I thought that God was punishing me for some reason or that God just didn't like me and only put me on earth to be a slave for any man who happened to get into a relationship with me.  I ended up becoming suicidal and depressed from 13-18 years old.  I even tried running away twice as a child-once at 14 and once at 18 years old.  I had briefly learned about Islam in sixth grade during our medieval unit in Social Studies when we learned about the five major religions (Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism).  I was 14 when the attacks on the Twin Towers and the Pentagon occurred and that was my second experience with hearing about Islam though of course I didn't know anything about Islam having never seen or met any before in my life.  Like any other American citizen I believed what the media said about Islam-Muslims were terrorists who would kill you if you didn't submit to their religion and will.  I'll be honest and say the bombing of the Twin Towers and Pentagon didn't faze me or affect me at all.  I came home from school and watched a bit of it on the news-I remember it being on like every channel as I had been in Math class during the time of the Twin Towers being hit and our teachers hadn't let us watch the news or explain what was going on.  I found out later that one of the planes had actually flown over OH (the state I live in) before turning to go to some destination and again that didn't faze me.  Well at eighteen I was in a Yahoo chat room (back when Yahoo still had a section on their website for actual chat rooms) and met this 19 year old guy named Imran.   He was from Pakistan and a Muslim.  He began teaching me about Islam and even a bit about his home life and culture as he wanted to marry me but I wasn't ready for marriage at 18 and my mother wouldn't have been pleased that I had married a foreigner so I told him no and we remained friends until I got married and he informed that we would no longer be able to be friends under Islam.  It hurt me having to delete all my male friends (I had some friends in Pakistan, Egypt, Morocco, one in Turkey, one in GA, one in Nevada).  The ones in Pakistan, Egypt, Morocco and Turkey were all Muslims but it was Imran who began teaching me of Islam and I pray Allah (SWT) gives him lots of ajal for that.  Imran wanted me to become Muslim so I did for him because it made him happy.  But I didn't believe in the message of Islam or of Muhammad (SAW) or Allah (SWT).  Later I found out from Ahmed (one of two Ahmeds in Egypt) that I had never been Muslim since I didn't believe in Allah (SWT) or Muhammad (SAW).  I became Christian September 2005 though I didn't accept Christ until June 2006.  At first I was happy being Christian and tried to pray every day.  I actually cried because I felt that finally I had found a religion for me.  But after a while I began to feel that God wasn't listening to me at all and I got a free Bible from some Mormon website.  Now I had already ready the Bible (Genesis, Revelation, some of Exodus) as a child as I had a children's Bible growing up and my mother's old bible.  I didn't understand how Jesus (alayhi salaam) could be God, the son of God, and the Holy Spirit but whenever I asked questions I was pretty much brushed off.  I also went to church for the summer at 15 (at the order of my mother) and didn't enjoy it aside from learning how to make a lizard key chain.  Well I read the ten commandments and for some reason kept reading the first commandment over and over again so it clicked in me somewhere that I was doing something wrong by worshiping Jesus (alayhi salaam) but I wasn't sure what I was doing wrong.  I ended up leaving Christianity because I felt like God wasn't listening to me and began to doubt that faith.  Then I became Agnostic in September 2006 and began looking at other religions.  I originally looked at Hinduism and Sikhism.  I found out from my research that to be a Hindu one must be born into the religion and Sikhism didn't make any sense to me due to the whole belief of reincarnation of the soul until it obtains 100% goodness.  I wasn't even looking at Islam as a religion.  But I slowly began researching it.  I ordered a free Qur'an and some Islamic books and looked at them in my room.  I had been looking up information also at school about Islam when I was supposed to be writing news articles and doing research as my last class was Freelance Journalism which was basically writing the school newspaper.  Then for some reason I became Muslim.  I believe it was Allah (SWT) who led me to Islam and that if it hadn't been for my abuse and bullying as a child I would never have become Muslim.

MOST REVERTS FACE PROBLEMS WITH THEIR FAMILIES ABOUT THEIR FAITH. HOW TOUGH WAS IT FOR YOU?
Journey to Jannah: Being Muslim in a family that hates Islam is very tough.  I still face issues to this day six years later with being the only Muslim in my family.  I knew when I became Muslim that I would have to wear hijab. However I had no access to Muslims, mosques, halal food markets, halal food, or clothing stores.  I had found a clothing store online that sold hijabs and other Muslim clothing but since I had quit my job at 18 years old I didn't have the money to buy anything and had quit receiving allowance at 10 years old. So when I prayed I would throw on my jacket and a hat which I would stuff my hair under and pray.  Now I have no sense of direction whatsoever so I had no clue which way was east (in fact I have to depend on my husband to tell me which way to pray if we are outside).  I had to hide my new religion from my mother and step father.  I had also hidden when I was Christian as well as my family isn't religious and my step father doesn't believe in religion at all.  I had a book called Islam in Focus.  It described different prayers (the funeral prayer and how it differed if it was a child under puberty, a rain prayer, a drought prayer, the eid prayer, a ton of others I don't remember, and of course how to pray.  It also had information on fasting and some other topics).  Well Islam in Focus author didn't exactly explain that Sunnah was optional.  It just had 2 Fard and 2 Sunnah for Fajr; 4 Sunnah, 4 Fard, 2 Sunnah for Dhur; 4 Sunnah, 4 Fard for Asr; 3 Sunnah, 3 Fard for Maghreb; and 4 Sunnah, 4 Fard for Isha.  So I totaled everything up and prayed like this: 4 Fajr, 10 Dhur, 8 Asr, 6 Maghreb, and 8 Isha.  At first I tried to look at the DVD "Pray As You Have Seen Me Pray" and that was difficult trying to pray and look at the DVD to make sure I was doing it correctly.  I also used Islam in Focus for learning how to do Wudu so I would take the book into the bathroom, lay it on the sink and try to do Wudu while looking at the book for instructions and making sure the book didn't get wet.  If mom or my step father came into my room I'd rip off my hat and stop praying as I knew I'd be in trouble.  Then I would go back to praying but since I had lost track of my prayers I did it all over again from the beginning.  So I was often well past one prayer time and into another prayer time by the time I finished the previous prayer.  If we were outside eating at a restaurant when I got home I immediately prayed whatever prayers I had missed due to being outside and then pray whatever prayer it was time for.  Because praying while watching a DVD was hard I quit that and instead tried praying with Islam in Focus in my hands!  I did my best to pray in Arabic which took me forever as I was trying my best to sound it out so that also was part of the reason my prayers were so long and took me well past their allotted time.  Sometimes I prayed in English but it didn't make much of a difference. I had become Muslim during Ramadan.  I knew only that Ramadan consisted of no food and drink during daylight so I tried to fast.  That wasn't easy as I would get sick and feel like I wanted to throw up.  I ended up often giving up due to being so sick that I ended up drinking soda in mid-day to keep from being sick until dinner.  After I got married it was only the last few days of Ramadan so it was easier for me to fast for some reason.  But even today I still get sick during the first two weeks of Ramadan and I get sick when I don't eat so fasting is very hard for me.  I don't think having to fast during Ramadan is something I will ever get used to doing.  Since my husband and I are forcibly separated due to Saudi laws it is hard with me being with my family.  I face issues for wearing hijab, having to wear pants and long sleeve shirts outside in the spring and summer months, not being allowed to eat pork so they have to make different food for me on Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas, my husband and his family being bashed by my family.  It isn't easy at all.  They still don't know I'm not allowed to not celebrate any of these old holidays with them even though for my family it is one of the few times we see each other. 

HOW DID YOU COPE WITH ALL THE PROBLEMS YOU HAD AFTER ACCEPTING ISLAM? 
Journey to Jannah: Well it's hard.  I get very defensive and upset when my family bashes my husband's family.  I confess I love my in-laws more than my own parents.   My brother mocks me when I pray if I am at my mother's.  When I was studying at The Ohio State University Newark, OH branch I would often cut the rest of Geography 120 during the summer quarter to pray.  That was hard finding a quiet place to pray.  Often I'd pray on the grass or in the Warner Center up on the second floor.  After History 151 spring quarter I would go do Wudu except I hate people staring at me so I would stop wudu if someone came into the bathroom and then continue doing wudu (there is a very small Muslim student population at my old school so no room to pray and nothing set up for Wudu). I would sometimes throw my abaya on as I wanted to get used to walking around in it.  Of course with a backpack on my shoulders my abaya would come up a bit above my ankles which freaked me out as I was worried I was doing something wrong.  I continued wearing sweat shirts and pants so I was often hot under my abaya but I reminded myself that it's better than burning in Hell forever.  If my step dad came to pick me up from school (I don't drive) I'd have to take off my hijab or else my step father wouldn't let me in his truck.  So I'd have my hijab off for like an hour or two waiting for someone to get me from school.  I'd also skip Art EDU in summer quarter to pray Asr prayer.  I figured that prayer was more important than some stupid classes.  I tried to arrange my class schedule so I could have time to pray but it's not easy with how prayer times change every few minutes every day.  So to summarize I guess I just try not to get upset about the problems I face but it isn't easy.  I often take my anger and frustration out on my husband but he's understanding and just tells me not to listen to them because they just want me to become non-Muslim again and go to Hell. 

WHAT'S THE GREATEST CHANGE YOU SEE IN YOURSELF AFTER YOU ACCEPTED ISLAM? 
Journey to Jannah: I feel more at peace and no longer depressed or suicidal since becoming Muslim. 

ANY PARTICULAR HADITH OR QURANIC VERSE THAT REALLY INSPIRES YOU IN ANY SITUATION?
Journey to Jannah: Well I really enjoy listening to Sura Maryam and Sura Yusuf.  As for Hadith I don't really have a favorite.  I don't really have a favorite Qur'an verse either.  

BEING A REVERT, HOW WOULD YOU DEFINE "FREEDOM OF WOMEN"?
Journey to Jannah: Well I think "freedom of women" is the ability to be taken seriously for your mind and not your looks.  Let's face it: women are always at competition with each other.  I think the majority of women dress bad to upset other women.  And men don't seem to care about women's mind and just about certain assets.  I think a lot of women don't realize they are being objectified and they have been brainwashed to think this is real 'freedom' so they call Muslim women and girls oppressed.  I think it's hypocrisy to say Muslim women and girls are oppressed but Nuns who wear their clothing are serving God.  Women are worth more than certain assets and I think that partly feminism is what distorted that viewpoint and true assets of women. 

A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE WEST BELIEVE THAT WOMEN IN ISLAM ARE OPPRESSED. DIDN'T THAT BOTHER YOU WHEN YOU WERE THINKING OF REVERTING TO ISLAM? 
Journey to Jannah: I think it is hypocrisy how women who dress in niqab or hijab are 'oppressed' but Nuns are 'serving God'.  Same with if a Muslim has a beard he's a 'terrorist' but a Jew who has a beard is 'religious'.  Pure ignorance on the part of the people.  No that didn't bother me when I was thinking of becoming Muslim. Saving my soul was more important at the the time than going to Hell forever.  It does bother me though to this day.  I get stared at for wearing my hijab in public.  Even have been forced to take it off twice (read my Discrimination post).  I ask those who think all women are brainwashed into becoming Muslims-Have you even met a Muslim woman and talked to her about why she became Muslim?  Or do you choose instead to not use your brains and believe what the media tells you?  Let me say this to all who are out there: Yes there are some Muslim women who are forced to become Muslim.  But if you become Muslim for your spouse than you are not a real Muslim.  You have to believe in your heart and soul in Allah (SWT) as the only God and Muhammad (SAW) as the last and final messenger of Allah (SWT).  Take the time to get know a Muslim woman and not believe what the media-who has their own agenda against Islam-says about Islam.  The only way to know a people is to get to know those people for yourself and you can only do that by going out and meeting them and talking to them.

WHAT DO YOU THINK IS THE BEST WAY TO COPE WITH HATE TOWARDS ISLAM- AND TO THE WOMEN OF ISLAM AND THEIR HIJAB AND NIQAB IN PARTICULAR?
Journey to Jannah: I think that Muslims need to remember we will be the blessed ones on the Day of Judgment (depending on your deeds Insha Allah) and that this life is a hell for the believers and paradise for the non-believers (non-Muslims).  If we react with anger and violence towards a bunch of ignorant fools who slander Allah (SWT) or Prophet Muhammad (SAW) then we are only proving what the vast masses believe-that we are a religion of violence and I'm sorry if any Muslims get upset with me at this.  Martin Luther King Jr. made his followers put up peaceful protests when they were being hosed down and being sicked upon by dogs during the fight of the Civil Rights in America during the 60s.  When our beloved Prophet (SAW) and his early Ummah was being kicked out of their homes and killed for refusing to go back to the pagan Arabs way of life they resisted peacefully and fled to Madina and Abyssinia.  He did not strike back violently against the people who cursed him and called him a hypocrite and threw garbage at him.  As for the hatred towards women and their hijab and niqab-Sisters remember that our mothers (RA) were the best of women.  Mariam (RA) was the best woman of her period and Allah (SWT) chose her to bear Prophet Isa (alayhi salaam).  As Muslim women and Muslim girls we should strive to follow the example of our mothers (RA), just as the men and boys need to follow the example of the Prophet (SAW) and the Sahaba (RA).  Sisters remember that hijab is an obligation upon you when you reach puberty and that we are told throughout the Qur'an by Allah (SWT) to follow the Apostle.  Following the Apostle means following the Sahih Hadeeth.  It irks me to no end knowing that there are Muslims who say "oh we don't need to follow the Sunnah" or "oh we don't need to wear hijab" or "oh we need to 'reform' Islam" astaghirfullah!  Islam does not NEED to be reinforced. But the Ummah could sure do with being retaught the teachings of our religion in my opinion.  We need to go back to the Qur'an and Sunnah and use those as our guide to teach the future Ummah and once again  (In sha Allah) rise up to be like we used to be for 700 years before our fall.  Sisters remember that you are the blessed ones Insha Allah on the Day of Judgment.  We are queens and princesses and it doesn't matter what people say about us.  Hold your heads up high, make sure your children are raised properly to be good little Ummah, and keep them from the haraam and bad influences of the world.  Give them an education so they can help shape our future.

IF YOU COULD GIVE ONE VERSE OF THE QURAN TO A NON-MUSLIM, WHICH QURANIC VERSE DO YOU THINK WOULD REALLY LEAVE AN IMPACT ON THEM?
Journey to Jannah: [14.23] And those who believe and do good are made to enter gardens, beneath which rivers flow, to abide in them by their Lord's permission; their greeting therein is, peace.

A LOT OF PEOPLE, EVEN MUSLIMS, ARE AGAINST THE VERY IDEA OF A POLYGAMOUS MARRIAGE. TELL US YOUR VIEWS IN THIS MATTER? 
Journey to Jannah: I am sorry but this is one thing that really gets to me.  As an American Muslim woman who is one of three wives it annoys me that I as a Muslim woman and a revert can accept polygamy but born Muslim women have issues with it and threaten to divorce their husbands.  Polygamy is legal in Islam.  You CANNOT make something haraam that Allah (SWT) has allowed.  You just can't!  That is why we are mortals and Allah is Allah (SWT).  Allah (SWT) knows what is best for us.  As one of three wives yes there is jealousy between the three of us-women are naturally jealous.  But we accept polygamy as being a right of our husband and know better than to make something haraam that is halal.  Are there 'men' out there who use polygamy for free sex and not for the lawful reasons allowed? Yes but if your husband is a good man who fears Allah (SWT) and can take care of more than one woman then don't be a baby and forbid him from doing so. Let me tell you sisters something.  My husband had a wife before me.  I knew nothing of polygamy being a new Muslim other than that the FLDS practices it.  I didn't even think to research polygamy before becoming Muslim.  Yes I was jealous and it took me 10 months to get used to being another wife because I was thinking with my American upbringing that polygamy is 'disgusting' and 'bad' astaghirfullah!  I did a lot of thinking of the state of the world and finally saw the wisdom of why Allah (SWT) allowed it and never banned it.  I went into this marriage without any second thoughts or hesitation knowing I would be my husband's second wife.  *They later divorced but that's beside the point*.  My husband and I used to watch Al Jazeera during the Saudi/Yemeni war.  It broke my heart to see all the poor Yemeni women and children crowded into tents and dying from malnutrition.  I told my husband he should go to Yemen and marry a poor Yemeni woman to save her from a life of hardship.  Did it bother me that Allah (SWT) allowed polygamy for men?  Yes it did.  So much that I wrote a letter to my husband and  a diary entry.  I cried as I wrote the letter to him.  But I realized I had no right to forbid what Allah (SWT) has allowed.  I then put the diary and letter that was in the diary on the TV and slept on the couch.  My husband woke up the next morning, read the letter and diary entry and woke me up.  He said that he hated seeing me sad and if I didn't want him to marry he wouldn't do so because he would never do anything to hurt me.  I suffer from Poly Cystic Ovarian Disorder.  I wanted my husband to be able to have children (we have been TTC #1 for our entire marriage) and I knew that one of the reasons a man can marry again is if his wife is barren and can't give him babies.  I loved my husband so much that I told him to marry another woman.  He likes that about me.  He says I have a big heart and am a compassionate soul and person.  I cannot believe how hard it was to find a woman who would agree to be in a polygamous marriage.   It took us a few months for my husband to find my husband's third wife (he and his first wife divorced last year).  I tried to be nice to my husband's first wife-even making my husband buy her a present from me (that later went to my husband's fourth wife) and bought my husband's third wife a present (it's a gold necklace with a blue gem on it with matching earrings).  My husband's third wife and I get along swimmingly as we have some things in common.  After some issues both of us (myself and my husband's third wife) made him look for another wife (he would never have done so without our permission) and again began a long journey of finding a woman who accept polygamy.  But Alhamdullilah Allah (SWT) brought my husband and his fourth wife together.  Now it is the four of us, (husband, me, his third wife and fourth wife).  I love my sister-wives very much and would do anything for them.  Now would my husband get married again?  No because I know I could not take it if he married another person.  Do I resent my sister-wives? No.  I ask those women who refuse to let their husband get married again.  If you were in a country where your government was oppressive, you had no education because in your culture or country women didn't 'need' an education because they were seen as nothing but breeding stock, would you not want to become the wife of a man who could take care of you or would you rather suffer on the streets and be forced to prostitute yourself in order to survive?  If polygamy was good enough for the Prophets (alayhi salaam) why is not good for the Ummah today?  What makes those times and these times any different?  Polygamy does not become 'invalid' because we (or most of us) are in the 21st century.  We are not better than Allah (SWT).  We are not better than the Prophets (alayhi salaam).  Polygamy can work and does work if all involved are in it together.  It isn’t a death sentence sisters if your husband chooses to get another wife.   Would you rather him go out and commit az-zina and bring home diseases to the marriage bed?  At the same time Muslim brothers polygamy is not an excuse to screw everything that moves!  You are just giving into your urges and in my opinion suck as Muslim men if you don't do polygamy for the right reasons.  Remember that the Prophet (SAW) was married to Lady Khadijah (RA) for all those years and then only after her death did he take all his other wives.  Today and in the past there were and are women who are suffering in the world due to being unable to find a husband who will marry them.  These poor women are often disabled, widowed, divorced, barren and tossed out onto the streets.  These poor women are forced to become wards of the state or prostitute themselves to survive or watch their children slowly die of hunger.  One reason a man can get another wife is to help the widows and orphans whose husbands/fathers are killed in war.  Sisters would you not want the same thing for other women that you yourselves want?  Brothers how would you feel if it was your mother or your grandmother or your sister or your aunt who was cast into the world because no decent Muslim man would marry her?  And your poor sister or mother or grandmother or aunt has to prostitute herself to survive and feed herself.  This brings me to another point.  I am so sick of hearing about so called cultures that see divorced and widowed women as 'lepers' and refuse to marry them-preferring teenage virgins!  Lady Khadijah (RA) was a WIDOW and the Prophet's (SAW) senior!  Many of the Prophet's (SAW) wives (RA) were widows and divorcees!  I think only Lady Aisha (RA) was the only virgin the prophet (SAW) married.  Brothers if you marry a teenager that doesn't mean she'll magically pop out babies.  It doesn't mean she'll be a good wife or a good mother.  At the same time brothers if you practice polygamy please don't treat the wives you already have like crap because they are having trouble conceiving or are barren.  That's just hurting the wives you already have.  Remember that the punishment for not treating your wives fairly on the day of judgment is that you will approach Allah (SWT) with half your body paralyzed!  *Rant over*

ANY SPECIAL MESSAGE YOU WOULD LIKE TO TELL MUSLIMS IN GENERAL?
Journey to Jannah: I fully believe part of the reason we have lost Al Andalus and Palestine is because we listened to the non-Muslims who told us we were weak and fell into doing bad things. I fully believe it is our own fault and it continues to be our fault because instead of uniting under one banner like we did in the days of our glory we have scattered into tons of different stupid sects and continue to fight with ourselves like little children. As Muslims we need to be an example to the rest of our Ummah and to the world. We will never get Al Andalus back or Palestine if we continue to be divided into separate nations and sects. Remember that Sura 6 Verse 159 says to not make yourselves into sects like the Christians and the Jews. Yet we choose to ignore this verse and instead are divided. What purpose does that serve except to divide the Ummah and make us vulnerable to attack. There were no sects until after the time of the Prophet (SAW's) death. What does that say to our children and the future Ummah if we are too busy killing each other to help our suffering brothers and sisters?  As Muslims we need to be an example to our children and the world.  We must come together again under one banner, under the Qur'an and Sunnah and no longer be divided by nation or sect.  I fully believe we would better off if we succeed at overthrowing these monarchies and dictators and elect a new caliphate.  Make the entire Muslim world one country without borders where Muslims can travel without visas or passports.  Only when we are once again united will we stand a chance at getting Al Andalus and Palestine back!  Ummah, sisters and brothers, please remember that if we behave like animals when something doesn't go our way we are driving people from embracing Islam instead of bringing people to Islam (In sha Allah).  Use the Qur'an and Sunnah as your teachers and the Prophet (SAW) and Sahaba as your guide to show the world we are not an evil religion and not people to be feared.  I ask that every Muslim think about why are we so attracted to this world instead of striving towards the hereafter and why we choose to follow our own desires and become about 'me me me' instead of helping our brethren who are dying every day in Syria, Iraq, Egypt, Palestine, etc.  Remember that our children will look to us for guidance and follow our example.  Do we really want our children to grow up in an Ummah where each Muslim only cares about their selves and doesn't care about the plight of the Ummah?  If we do not change ourselves today then how can we expect our children to change the Ummah and how can be a bunch of cowards and refuse to go to the aid of our people who desperately need our help but can't get it because we're more afraid of America, Israel and their allies instead of Allah (SWT)?  Sometimes I think that it would have been better to live in the time when the Muslims ruled half the world and there were no poor people than to live today because I'm sometimes ashamed to be Muslim and ashamed of the Ummah for being so concerned about this world instead of our dying brothers and sisters who cry for help and who seem to care only about this world instead of fearing Allah (SWT) and striving towards Jannah. 

HAS ANYONE BEEN INSPIRED BY THE CHANGE IN YOU AFTER ACCEPTING ISLAM?
Journey to Jannah: No sadly. I think most people think I'm an extremist because I believe it is fard to wear the niqab and do my best to follow the Sahih Hadeeth as well as the Qur'an.

WHAT DO YOU REALLY WISH AND PRAY FOR?
Journey to Jannah: I wish for the Ummah to get their act together and unite into one country again, one great empire and help take back Palestine and Al Andalus.  I wish and pray that Palestine becomes free from Zionists/American control and that the Ummah can come together and bring about great changes for the world.  I wish and pray for a second great Islamic Golden Age when there are no poor people anywhere and everyone flocks to Al Andalus for knowledge.  But sadly I will never be around to see that.  I wish I could build a time machine so I could go back and walk those streets of our kingdom Granada and walk the roads of our great empire when Muslims were smart and cared about others and feared Allah (SWT). 

ANY SPECIAL DU'AA YOU WOULD REQUEST THE READERS TO MAKE FOR YOU?
Journey to Jannah: Not for me.  I do wish the Ummah would pray for Palestine, for Syria and the rest of our Arab brothers and sisters who are in civil wars to topple their corrupt non-Islamic governments.  I wish for the Ummah to think about what I said in this interview and imagine themselves going through the situations our brethren are going through.  I wish for the Ummah to pray for great leaders to rise up and there be another great Ummah, another great Islamic Empire that is another shining light on the world.  For if we fail to unite then we will be destroyed and our teachings forgotten.   I do not want the Ummah to be destroyed or Islam to be snuffed out from the world.  

*          *          *

I did ask if Journey to Jannah wanted the reader to make any Du'aa for her, but she wanted nothing for her- only for the Ummah. Subhanallah! But anyway, do remember her in your Du'aas. She really has put in a lot of effort into answering the questions, and she did it super fast too, MashaAllah! I'm sure all of you would have learnt a lot from the interview, so please make Du'aa for her and her family. May Allah bless her with the best in this world and in the Aakhira too, In sha Allah!

Jazakallah khair for the interview sis! Thoroughly, thoroughly enjoyed every single bit of it! May Allah reward you for it!

Note: If any other Muslim bloggers (sisters only) want to be interviewed, please contact us through niqablovers@gmail.com

NIQAB OPPRESSES WOMEN: AN IGNORANT ASSUMPTION

So, people assume our Niqab to be oppression. Why? Because it covers our faces and oppression- according to them- is probably restricted to not showing the face and being modest.

For everyone who think the Niqab oppresses us, I'd like to ask you'll a few questions. If you think it's covering the face that make us oppressed, what would you call motorists who wear their helmets?

This motorist has his face covered as well and if covering of the face is considered oppression, would you call him oppressed too?

That's one example. Here's another one:
A surgeon, and as most of you would have noticed, surgeons wear a surgical mask- which isn't much different from the Niqab actually. If a surgeon can perform the most delicate of tasks while wearing the mask, why should a Muslim woman's sight or hearing or even breathing be obstructed with the Niqab? If you say covering the face is oppression, would you call a surgeon with a surgical mask oppressed too?

If an entire nation can go around wearing masks to prevent them from catching viral flus and the like, why can't Muslim women do so to save themselves in a different way? Why?

I know that by now, so many questions may be popping up in some of your minds anyway. Let me answer them as well in advance In Sha Allah. You might argue that:

1) The motorist wears the helmet to protect himself from accidents, injuries, etc
Protection is the reason why motorists wear their helmets, right? Well, it's no different for Niqabis too. While they might wear their helmets to protect them from physical harm, we wear our Niqab to protect ourselves and our bodies. We wear the Niqab because the more you cover, the more protected you are and the more respect you demand for yourself. Our protection is a different kind of protection- not of the body but of our dignity, rights and respect. And this is a far greater and admirable form of protection!

2) They don't wear the helmet or the surgical masks all the time
Well, neither do we wear the Niqab all the time. I know that some people think we cover our faces right throughout the day, but they ought to know that we only wear our Niqab when we go out of our houses or when we're in the presence of strange men. If you take it from a surgeon's point of view, they probably cover their faces with the mask more than I do. Does that mean they're oppressed as well?

3) They wear the helmet and the mask because they have to
So do we! We don't wear the Niqab forcibly- get that clear. We wear the Niqab because we have to and because most importantly- because we want to. Just like the motorists and surgeons are asked to wear the helmet and mask, I believe that Muslim women need to wear it as well. And if we want to wear it, no one can question it.


For all those who live under the cloud of assumption that the Niqab oppresses us, please educate yourself on what oppression really is and think twice before calling a Niqabi oppressed.

Note: I'm in no way comparing the Niqab to the helmet or the surgical mask, but I just took it up as examples. And more often, when we portray things as examples, it tends to make things clearer :)

A SALUTE TO A GENTLEMAN- AN ADMIRABLE NIQAB INCIDENT

We all know that there are so many people out there who openly detest our Niqab but it’s a comfort to know that there are still a few people who actually respect it.  Here are a few tweets I've got on our Twitter page from non-Muslims and it’s so great to know that non-Muslims encourage our Niqab too. May Allah guide them to Islam and bless them with goodness!

I just remembered a wonderful Niqab experience. It actually didn't happen to me- it happened to my sister but I was there to witness it. We were on our way to my Aunt’s house and there were a few security checkups on the way and our vehicle was stopped.

An army officer asked for the identity cards of all the passengers on the vehicle. While he was checking, he asked for my sister’s ID and after he noticed that she was a Niqabi, he put his hand over the place where my sister’s photograph was. Subhanallah!

What an amazing form of respect he displayed! I’m absolutely certain that that officer wasn't a Muslim and to know that he respected the Niqab and more importantly- the Niqabi… It’s really something worth saluting!

To all those non-Muslims out there who respect our Niqab, we respect you! I pray that Allah guides them to the light of Islam and I make a sincere prayer here that for that amazing show of respect from that army officer, may Allah guide him to Islam and bless his life with goodness!