INTERVIEW: "YOU WILL NEVER BE AS FREE AS AN ISLAMIC WOMAN"

Assalamu Alaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuhu,

When I initially thought of starting on interviewing Muslim women for the blog, I honestly never thought it would be this beneficial. Even recently, I received an email from a sister telling me that reading the interviews from the blog had really helped her, so Jazakallah khair to all those lovely sisters for their amazing interviews. May your words continue to inspire many more Muslims and non-Muslims!

That said, here's another lovely interview we had with sister Dhilnawaaz (I'm sorry for the delay in posting the interview sister. Jazakallah khair for your patience!)

Do also check out her blog Diary Of A Secret Muslimah 


Tell us about how you found Islam

Well I live in a muslim community with 3 mosques within 5km radius of my house so I came into contact with muslims daily. I think what caught my attention was hijab, abayas and niqabs; there was just something about it I found so modest and beautiful especially women in niqab. Eventually I took an interest in Islam and started researching everything about it. I then realized that this is where I belong and I finally felt at peace with myself.

How old were you when you reverted to Islam?

I started taking Islam seriously and reverted at the age of 16, but did my research from around 14/15. I unfortunately have not yet taken my shahadah, but In sha Allah will soon.

What is the greatest challenge you've had to face after reverting?

I think it would be Ramzaan, reading namaz, wearing hijab and abaya and especially learning more about Islam without someone to teach me.

How would you say you have changed after accepting Islam?

I'd like to think that I've changed quite a lot. As before I reverted I was a model, someone who would pose in the most revealing outfits, I used to drink alcohol, go clubbing, occasionally do drugs and I also used to curse God quite a lot when I had problems or something bad happened to me. Now as a muslim, I can't stand any of that, I absolutely love wearing hijab and abaya, I admire muslim women and I put all my trust in my Creator and believe that when Allah (SWT) takes something from you, He is most definitely preparing you for something ten times better.

If there was one thing that you could tell someone who is thinking of reverting to Islam, what would it be?

I'd tell them that Islam isn't just a religion, it's a way of life. You have to be very sure before taking such a big step, do research so you know what you're getting yourself into and be prepared for something amazing. Your whole life will change.

A lot of people believe that Muslim women are oppressed and that they have no rights in Islam. What were your thoughts on this before becoming a Muslim?

Ironically, I had the exact same mindset. I looked down on muslimahs and saw them as inferior and property of their husbands. But you'll never really understand the status of a women in Islam until you make an effort to find out more.

“When she is a daughter, she opens a door of Jannah for her father. When she is a wife, she completes half of the deen of her husband.When she is a mother, Jannah lies under her feet - if everyone knew the true status of a Muslim women in Islam, even the men would want to bewomen" - (Shaykh Akram Nadawi)

How do you feel you've changed as a person after accepting Islam?

I think mentally and psychologically I've matured as I've learned that everything does happen for a reason, even if you cant see it at that moment.

Anything special you would like to address the Muslim youth of today?

Don't ever take Islam for granted. You will never understand how sad it makes me that I wasn't raised in a muslim home, that I couldn't start practicing this wonderful religion from an early age. Be proud of your religion.

What do you think about the Hijab and Niqab and how would you clear any misconceptions about it?

It probably sounds weird but I find niqabis radiantly beautiful. There's just something about them that I admire. As for hijab, I respect women who wear it full time as it takes a lot of dedication especially in the heat. It's sad that non muslims see us as oppressed when we wear our niqab and hijab. There's nothing oppressing about being modest.


You are new to Islam so you can relate to a lot of difficulties other reverts face. How do you deal with all the struggles?

Sabr. For now that's the only way I can deal with the struggles. I constantly make Dua for Allah (SWT) to grant me Sabr, because being a revert is very scary. Especially on your own.


The Quran is beautiful, but we always have that one verse which is especially special to our heart. What is yours?

I have not read the entire Quran yet but so far I actually have two.

“…But it is possible that you dislike a thing which is good for you, and that you love a thing which is bad for you. But Allah knows, and you know not.” [2:126]

“But they plan, and Allah plans. And Allah is the best of planners.” [8:30]

Any misconceptions about Islam that you would like to make clear to any non-Muslims reading this?

Please people, Islam is perfect don't always slander our religion because of what muslims do. Get the idea out of your head that people's bad actions and ways represent Islam. Do yourself a favor and research it. You won't be sorry.


Any specific Duaas you would like readers to make for you?

That Allah (SWT) guide me on Siraatul Mustaqeem and that I never go astray, because I know that I'll never go wrong if I have faith in my Creator.


Finally, a few words to round up on how it is to be a woman of Islam.

You wear your bikinis, mini skirts, tight fitting tops and pants because society wants you to. We wear our hijab & niqab because we want to please our creator. So who is really oppressed? You will never be as 'free' as an Islamic woman.

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 TO EAT ICE CREAM WITH THE NIQAB

One thing all Niqabis can relate to is the problems we encounter when dining out. To be frank, I find it fairly easy to eat with my Niqab on. The problem, however, arises when I attempt to eat an ice cream. I can stuff an entire sandwich with my Niqab on, but for some reason, I'm incredibly clumsy when it comes to ice cream. Only natural I suppose... Anyway, being a huge ice cream fan, I've tried so hard to enjoy my ice cream without splattering it all over my Niqab, and yesterday, for the first time in my nearly 9 years of wearing the Niqab, I managed to eat my ice cream sundae without a drop of it on my Niqab! Yaay, Alhamdulillah :D

I went out for a bit of shopping yesterday with my mother and aunt and after shopping around for well over an hour (with the temperature outside being over a 32 degrees too), decided to stop by at a stall for a sundae. I chose a chocolate sundae and sat down to eat it. Generally, no sooner have I started on the ice cream, I'd splatter it either down my Abaya or on the Niqab. And when it's on the Niqab, I hopelessly dab the ice cream splotches with the tissue, which in turn, brings on a huge white smear across the front of the Niqab. It's actually rather embarrassing to walk around with my Niqab stained all down the front.

So yesterday, I tried out on a new technique. I usually lift the Niqab from the front ever so slightly to get the spoon of ice cream into my mouth, but what I've found is that lifting the Niqab from the front doesn't work out all that gracefully. What you need to do is lift it from a side and hold the spoon of ice cream slightly downwards so even if any of it spills down, it wouldn't be on the Niqab. I was happily digging into my ice cream when I stole a glance at my mother and aunt, both of whom had spilled a generous portion of their ice cream sundae on their Niqabs and were now dabbing at it furiously with their tissues. Successful at completing an entire ice cream sundae without so much as a drop on my Niqab, I ate another half portion too! It was delicious by the way. Alhamdulillah!

On returning home, I proudly told my sisters my 'How to eat an ice cream without smearing it all over the Niqab' tutorial and my younger sister gave me a ''That's so obvious" look. Oh well, I suppose it is but it has taken me over eight years to figure it out and if there are any Niqabis reading this who are as slow as I am, hope you benefit from this tutorial ;) In sha Allah!

P.S : Any more tips from Niqabis would be greatly appreciated. I could do with some tricks!

INTERVIEW: FROM ONE SISTER TO ANOTHER

Assalamu Alaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuhu! Alhamdulillah, here we have another lovely interview with so much of inspiration, particularly for the youth of today. May Allah makes everyone reading this benefit from it, In Sha Allah! How would you describe yourself in a few words?

I'm Umm Abdillah, 16 years old. My Parents are from Morocco. I have a mother and sister who wear the Niqab. I'm busy with seeking knowledge about the Deen and memorizing the Quran.

Being a Muslimah is something that is terribly misinterpreted in the world today. How would you explain your life as a Muslim woman? 

Firstly, I'm not oppressed. I'm Alhamdulilah very happy with my life as a Muslimah, seeking knowledge about Deen and wearing the Niqab for Allah. It's a big gift from Allah that He chose you to be a Muslim in a world full of Kufr and corruption. Living for status and wealth isn't life. We are created to worship Allah, and if you do that then you feel free- not when you do the opposite

How old were you when you started wearing the Niqab? 

About 1 month after my 15th birthday, Alhamdulilah.

Any particular reason that inspired you to wear the Niqab? 

Yes. I had contact with sisters who also were young and wore Niqab outside school. So I talked with them and they inspired me. So I decided to buy a Niqab and try to wea it, and Alhamdulilah that Friday I put it on and went to Salaat Jumu'a. A sister who wore Niqab before me also inspired me a lot. Because she was a revert and that's what made me feel ashamed of myself. Barakallahufeeha!

If someone approaches you asking why you wear the Niqab, how would you respond to them? 

I'm convinced about the proofs that Niqab is obligatory. And even if it is Sunnah, you need that hasanaat on the Day of Judgment.

A lot of young Muslimahs nowadays delay wearing the Hijab because they believe that they can wear it once they get older. Any advise for them?

I want to say to them; ''Sisters fear Allah you can be dead earlier than you think. Wollahi if the sisters who died without wearing Hijab in their life could have one chance to live again for 10 minutes then Wollah they would cover themselves up from head to toe.
Sister don't let the day you'll die be the first day you'll be covered.

How different is it wearing the Niqab compared to wearing only the Hijab? 

It's a big difference. With Niqab you feel that you're really covered. When you wear Niqab, you feel sooooo free, because you know Alhamdulilah now I have the correct hijab. And men can't stare at me. And with only hijab you know this is not what Allah wills. And you're scared to die in such a situation. A lot of people don't realize that only a headscarf and a long dress isn't Hijab. And with only Hijab you can still feel man gazing at you.

Allah says: ''This will be more conducive to their being recognized and not annoyed''

So when you wear the full hijab then men will not harm you.

What ways do you think the Muslim youth has been lead astray and how would you say is the best way to get the youth back to Islam? 

Because of the phones, internet and television, the Ummah is lead astray. Because of the forbidden gaze, wasting time, talking to non-mahrams, music, men and woman chatting - wollahi they ruin each other- and looking with jealousy to sisters who uploads a beautiful picture of herself, and they lead brothers also away from the path of Allah. They don't realize that for every man who sees their picture, they bear the sins for that too. Internet is really the Fitnah of this time. It's just so sad. Instead of praying night prayer, they talk on Whatsapp with each other. Instead of reading Quran they talk the whole day with each other. Even in Ramadan. Then they say: "Well I learn a lot of the conversation with the sister.'' Not so much as when you read only 10 minutes Riyaa as- Saliheen. You learn a lot of wrong things from internet. So I really think that this is one of the reasons of the corruption of this time.
Ghair In shaa Allah, We have to do dawah, but Allah turns them back.


Tell us more about your blog 

Eehhm, on my blog you can find Fatawa, pdf Books, Ahadith, and stories. It's also in Dutch because a lot of the people around me don't understand English very well. 
You can find the blog here bintufulaan.wordpress.com

Parting words 

I want to say to sister who wants to and is thinking about wearing Niqab:

Wearing Niqab isn't so hard as you think. When I wore, I thought is this it? THAT what Shaytaan always say to Muslim Woman - ''Niqab is like a mountain that you should drag?'' Na'am, it is hard but when Allah tests you, we will be tested, because "Do the people think that they will be left to say, "We believe" and they will not be tried?" [Quran 29: 2]

But know that when you succeed in the test, Allah will reward you for your sabr. In shaa Allah

Know that it is the Shariah of Allah, if all woman would not be able to cover their face it would not be a rule in Islam.

Jazakallah khair for the interview Ukhty. I pray that everyone reading it benefits from it as much as I did. Alhamdulillah!

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.