     MUSILIMAH | Thursday, February 22, 2001 - 01:08 pm
wat do u c wen u look at me,
do u c someone limited, or someone free
all some ppl can do is just look and stare
simply because they cant c my hair
others think i am controlled and uneducated
they think that i am limited and un-liberated
they r so thankful that they r not me
because they would like to reamin "free"
well free isnt exactly the word i would've used
describing women who r cheated on and abused
they think that i do not have opinions or a voice
they think that being hooded isn't my choice
they think that the hood makes me look caged
that my husband or dad r totally outraged
all they can do is look at me in fear
and in my eye there is a tear
not because i have been stared at or made fun of
but because ppl r ignoring the one up above
on the day of judgement they will be the fools
because they were too ashamed to play by their own rules
maybe the guys wont think i am a cutie
but at least i am filled with more inner beauty
see i have declined from being a guy's toy
because i won't let myself be controlled by a boy
real men are able to appreciate my mind
and arn't busy looking at my behind
the smart ones are attracted by my tranquality
in the back of their minds they wish they were me
we have the strength to do wat we think is rite
even if it means putting up a life long fight
so wen ppl ask you how u feel about that hood
just sum up by saying "BABY ITS ALL GOOD" |
| Hijab is ugly | Thursday, February 22, 2001 - 01:11 pm
I think you are UUUUGGGGLLLYYY!!!!!!!!!! |
| Ali | Thursday, February 22, 2001 - 08:13 pm
HIJAAB IS BEAUTIFUL. |
| Lubna | Friday, February 23, 2001 - 10:36 am
I am so damn proud of my hijaab and i have unlimited reasons .
I an educated indivisual that believes in what she does. I Practise islam therefore i look like a muslim.I walk around town my head up proud of my hijaab and i see nothing wrong with being covered up, even gaalada say it " Its a sin to show too much skin".
I meet strangers and the first thing they do is not flirt or wink ( the way they use to do before ) ..but i see a nod and alsalaamu alaykum ... its makes my day.
Thanks muslimah for this lovely poem ..
I know what you mean.
Lubnaa |
| OneSomali | Friday, February 23, 2001 - 10:42 am
Hijab is a Prison... FREE YOURSELF... You can dress modest without having a bunch of bed sheeets
on your head.
All Hijab lovers have been brainwashed to like it, because they have to wear it because of their religion. |
| WonderS | Friday, February 23, 2001 - 10:53 am
Muslimah
Mansha,allah my sweet sis
Hijab is most beautiful think that a Women put in on!
The women whit Hijab are so Brave specially those in the West.....I will tel u why......they tell the rest of Kafir Socaety I reject u!.....who dare can tell that? they runing after Kafirz like an zlave......When I see a women whit Hijab......I smile and tell her Peace be upon u....I feel she is my real sis......I can see her smile the other side of the raod....u get me sis.that makes my day!....Hijab is the sing of Muslim women.............as u said u don,t get respect by only Muslim women.......but all Ppl...There is no Patrik or John.....who caming to u and ask u all those silly questions? infact they may give u their seats..........u see sis b4 I put the Hijab on.......I was brain washed by the ..Kaafirs.......I was belive how can I survive.....cuz no one going 2 give me a job and that trash......but belive me......ppl repect u who u r ...not what u wearing......so more Power to Muslim Woman whit Hijab> |
| Honesita | Friday, February 23, 2001 - 12:46 pm
OneSomali....Hijaab is Ugly....i'm sure when u r walkin' down the street pple look at u and think Acuudu Bilaah why would a person lookin' like THIS bother to even look out of the window.....u LAX.......pple like u make me wanna spit xaako on their M-UUUGLY faces..!!
Muslimah......my sweet sistah that was the most beautiful poem i've seen in such a long time......thanx for makin' my day.....
and Keep Yo Head Up.,.!!
salaamz |
| OneSomali | Friday, February 23, 2001 - 01:02 pm
all I can say is when your brother and little sister go out to the beach and swim, or ride a bike, don't act like you never want to do that... but the men have brainwashed you into bondages so all you can do is stay at home and make babies..., no fun stuff for you... but they can do it all with no guilt or discomfort |
| MUSILIMAH. | Friday, February 23, 2001 - 02:13 pm
Salaam,
thanx to the muslims who responded.
to onesomali:
you claim that the hijab is a prison and that we as muslim women need to free ourselves. As a muslim woman i feel liberated and "free" thanx to my hijaab. The main aim of the hijaab is to restrain individuals of the opposite sex from being unduly attracted to one another. However, the hijab has numerouse secondary advantages that bring benefits to women. It gives women their own identity and their own sphere, which exists perallel to that of men. Women are thus freed from the strain of western-style social pressure in which women are expected to look impeccable and sexually attractive at all times, and they are relieved of the "necessity" of spending large amounts of time and money visiting beauty parlors and applying chemicals, lotions, potions and scents to their bodies for the purpose of gratifying men. Above all it allows muslim women to have an identity, an ability to express their personality and intellect of their own, independently of men's whimes and desires.
one more thing, u claim that men have brainwashed us and all we do is stay home and make babies. wat a joke!!i doubt u have seen many hijaabed women then. i for one have been hijabed for many years, ive started uni doing medicine, i work part-time, im an active member of society, i help out my somali ppl, and i do all this while wearing my hijab, now if u call this been oppressed or been in a prison then you obviously have a serious problem defining oppressed.
and for the person who made the comment about them thinking im ugly, well i guess all that matters is that my creator, ALLAH, thinks im beatiful, and inshallah i will be rewarded for this one day. And by the way, even with my hijaab i have brothers wanting to marry me, so in ur face, looks like u the one with the ugly heart, i would neva dare to stoop as low as critisizing Allahs creation.
SALAAM |
| Ahmed Jama | Friday, February 23, 2001 - 03:06 pm
Salaama Aleikum
First of all let me thank you my sister Muslimah her gold lines, second calling Hijab ugly and bed sheet its insulting Allah’s order, may Allaah show what rite and guide you.
keep up sister let not put you down Devils words. |
| sheekh cabdi sheelaweyne | Friday, February 23, 2001 - 03:37 pm
i can't believe what the onesomali wrote here. don't you dare to use the somali name ,cuz you are disgrace to the somali people and to yourself. hijab is the most beautifull thing sister, and it's one of the identities of the muslim women. a word to the people that are against it is that do what you want to do , but if you are muslims don't blatantly disregard the words of allah. the west will applaud for you and the ACLU will post your pictures in their meeting rooms. may allah bless your poor souls amen |
| amal | Friday, February 23, 2001 - 05:30 pm
Asalamu alaykum
Muslimah Jazakallahu Kairn sister. I am Sooooooo Prrrooooudddddd offfff you. Walahi you made such a good points. I don't understand why a muslim brother would actually say those kinda insults. I too wear my hijab alhamdulilah and i noticed that we (women) are soo lucky for several things in life.
jazakallah kairn again sis
wasalamu alaykum |
| faarax | Friday, February 23, 2001 - 05:40 pm
To All of you hijaab wearing sisters
I take my hat off to you __--__
When I'm walking on the street and I pass by a somali sister wearing her xijaab,walaahi for some reasons am thrilled, filled with pride and honor.
Keep it on,for those who don't wear it THINK ABOUT IT,all of those lookers chasing you on the streets will think a million times before bothering you.
Allah bless you All |
| mahdi | Friday, February 23, 2001 - 05:42 pm
wow muslimah: I loved everyting you said, it is cool we have nice sisters like you out there with their heads up.This is the best thing i red from this junk net. Jizzakallahu kheyr. |
| MUSILIMAH. | Friday, February 23, 2001 - 08:18 pm
salaam,
wa iyaakum, my fellow muslims. |
| Ideal | Saturday, February 24, 2001 - 04:59 am
Muslimah and rest Hijaabies
you guys are the best keep up the Faith.
I did not know so many somali educate sisters stil wearing the Hijab and feeling proud. You guys are the sunshine on the West. I love u All |
| Anonymous | Saturday, February 24, 2001 - 05:01 am
Salaama aleykum
Maasha Allah u keep wearin that hijaab girl! But 1 thing.....U didn't make that poem up coz i've had that sent 2 me tru email aswell, nice 1 though 
2 hell wit all u brain washed ppl disregardin the hijaab......SHAME ON U!! |
| Covered and Proud!!! | Saturday, February 24, 2001 - 05:18 am
Assalamu alaykum,
Finally a topic I can atually relate to... let me tell U sisters and brothers, today its not bad enough that we get abuse from kaffurs 4 wearing hijab but we also have to put up with it from some ignorant somali brothers. Even some sisters give me odd looks as if I'm a discrace to the somali ppl....yeah right, have they looked in the mirror.
When I first went to my uni, they all talked slow as if I couldn't understand, why is it that they assume that I am ignorant or retarded.
For all those who say that a woman in hijab is uneducated..I wear hijab and I go to SOAS which is the number one Uni in the world for specialist subjects in AFRICA and ASIA. We have a few somali sisters at SOAS and I doubt even U "oneSomali" could handle us intellectually!!!!!! As for it being ugly..it sadness me that U get your conception of beauty from this twisted Western society and forget UR diin and culture!!!
4 sisters who don't wear hijab, I ask U to think of the life in the akhira and forsake the life of this world and its short lived pleasures. |
| LUUL | Saturday, February 24, 2001 - 05:46 am
Covered up and proud,
I am also at SOAS. What do you study. |
| Admire | Saturday, February 24, 2001 - 05:56 am
Guys
I am so proud of you......how lucky u all are Educate and intelligen whit Hijab. waw. Btw what is SOAS stand for? |
| c/salaan | Saturday, February 24, 2001 - 07:37 am
school of oriental and african studies U of london |
| Anonymous | Saturday, February 24, 2001 - 07:51 am
Have you guys heard about the little girl(16 years i think) who wanted a boob job as a birthday present from her parents. To me that is the ultimate example of how the anything goes western lifestyle and fashion have opressed women? Have you noticed how all the hardcore feminists always wear the most severe and modest of western clothing because they know how modern slinky fashions degrade and objectify women! Islam was way ahead of them though and we know that modesty is the best way for both men and women!
Incidentally have you noticed all the complaints about skinny Somali men or with a big belly and the preoccupation many females have with superficial things and fashions and appearances. NO doubt a lot of young Somalis will grow up in this country being neurotic about their bodies(if they stray from their Iman) just as the western men are now becoming appearance obsessed and vain about their looks and appearance and physique.
The only people who would consider Hijaab or general modesty are people who are superficial and their comments really should not be accorded any great importance. |
| uknwbro | Saturday, February 24, 2001 - 08:21 am
Hijab is what difines muslim women, i also have some challenge for those ppl saying hijab is prison u guys are brainwash by this evils and the devils so please refresh your minds and remember where u come from don't try yourself something that u can't be NORTH AMERICANIZED is the destroying your minds and soul. I love sista with hijab i respect and l love them.So if anybody have a problem with hijab tell they r uneducated.Just because u colleges and university doesn't mean u r educated the education u need is also islam. |
| Hijab | Saturday, February 24, 2001 - 10:43 am
One experience that was particularly educational was when I “dressed up” as a Muslim woman for a drive along Crenshaw Boulevard with three Muslim men as part of a newsmagazine project.
I wore a white, long-sleeved cotton shirt, jeans, tennis shoes, and a flowery silk scarf that covered my head, which I borrowed from a Muslim woman.
Not only did I look the part, I believed I felt the part. Of course, I wouldn’t really know what it feels like to be Hijabed-I coined this word for the lack of a better term-everyday, because I was not raised with Islamic teachings.
However, people perceived me as a Muslim woman and did not treat me as a sexual being by making cruel remarks.
I noticed that men’s eyes did not glide over my body as has happened when I wasn’t Hijabed. I was fully clothed, exposing only my face.
I remembered walking into an Islamic center and an African-American gentleman inside addressed me as “sister”, and asked where I came from. I told him I was originally from China. That didn't seem to matter.
There was a sense of closeness between us because he assumed I was Muslim. I didn’t know how to break the news to him because I wasn’t sure if I was or not.
I walked into the store that sold African jewelry and furniture and another gentleman asked me as I was walking out if I was Muslim. I looked at him and smiled, not knowing how to respond. I chose not to answer.
BEING HIJABED CHANGED OTHERS’ PERCEPTION OF ME
Outside the store, I asked one of the Muslim men I was with, “Am I Muslim?” He explained that everything that breathes and submits is.
I have concluded that I may be and just don’t know it. I haven’t labeled myself as such yet. I don’t know enough about Islam to assert that I am Muslim.
Though I don’t pray five times a day, go to a mosque, fast, nor cover my head with a scarf daily, this does not mean that I am not Muslim. These seem to be the natural manifestations of what is within.
How I am inside does not directly change whether I am Hijabed or not. It is others’ perception of me that was changed. Repeated experiences with others in turn creates a self-image.
I consciously chose to be Hijabed because I was searching for respect from men.
Initially, as both a Women’s Studies major and a thinking female, I bought into the Western view that the wearing of a scarf is oppressive.
After this experience and much reflection, I have arrived at the conclusion that such a view is superficial and misguided: It is not if the act is motivated by conviction and understanding.
I covered up that day out of choice, and it was the most liberating experience of my life.
I now see alternatives to being a woman.
I discovered that the way I dress dictated others’ reaction towards me. It saddens me that this is a reality.
It is a reality that I have accepted, and chose to conquer rather than be conquered by it.
It was my sexuality that I covered, not my femininity. The covering of the former allowed the liberation of the latter. |
| BlackBeauty | Saturday, February 24, 2001 - 01:25 pm
The HIJAAB
What can I say? The Hijaab is truely the most underestimated piece of cloth, but what it entails carries a load of gratification. The meaning behind that 1/2 a mtr cloth diffrentiates the moslems from the non-believers.
The wierd thing is when I started wearing it in 1999......Somalians started to ask me if Im getting married. The height of ignorance escallated to the point that the HIJAAB is perceived to be worn only by the women in Wedding bliss. WRONG WRONG WRONG.
U don't start wearing the hijaab coz U loose your self-esteem, or you wanna get married or you are having a bad hair YEAR........U wear it coz it is the order of ALLAH, U wear it coz U feel great inside..........saving your beauty for your future husband and U don't allow other men to see what U have in store for him.
U only gain respect if you respect yourself and refrain from the KUFAAR'S wearing the Mini- skirts. I say WEAR THEM AT HOME.
MUSLIMAH
If I could see you sis.........I would give U a great TEDDY BEAR hug.......The peom was Magnificent 
Peace
TROUBLEGIRL |
| MUSILIMAH | Saturday, February 24, 2001 - 02:08 pm
salaam all,
brothers and sistas thanx for ur comments.
i didn't make up this poem, and i neva said i did, i just saw it and thought that i should share it with my fellow muslims, in particular my fellow hijaabed sistas, to inspire them to feel proud and keep their heads up. |
| Nubian boy | Saturday, February 24, 2001 - 06:30 pm
TO MUSLIMAH AND ALL MUSLIM SISTERS
MUSLIMAH YOU BRING TEARS TO MY EYES.
I DEDICATED THIS POEM TO THIS PAGE
Sisters Don't Procrastinate
Wearing that make-up all over you face,
Embellishing your skin is not for human race,
Wearing pants tightly hugging you skin,
What decent man do you think you will win?
Wearing hot pants and mini skirts, too,
What will you say when a man rapes you,
Now your sinning time is very short,
And all the while angels will report,
In other words it's time to repent,
Because in sin enough time you have spent,
After a while Allah will close repentance Gate. |
| Edil | Sunday, February 25, 2001 - 12:17 am
They stand there with shorts so short, excessively short, short that so deceptively capture from them all they know of modesty...
...and I proudly pull my scarf over my hair
They stand there, face lost in a sea of make-up, that so ruthlessly captures from them all they know of freedom...
...and I proudly pull my scarf over my hair
They stand there, hair raining with gels, colors, chemicals that so menacingly capture from them all they know of purity...
...and I proudly pull my scarf over my hair
They stand there, so close, so very close to their "lover," devoted to them, the devotion that so mercilessly captures from them all they know af individuality...
...and I proudly pull my scarf over my hair
And they stand there talking, talking of getting shorts, new gels & colors, new boyfriends, materialistic things that so wrongfully capture from them all they know of God and Love...
...and I proudly pull my scarf over my hair.
For my scarf is my protector, my lover, my devotion, my pureness, my beauty, my remembrance of God,
And I proudly pull it over my hair knowing that when I wear it, I so rightfully trust away all the things that the devil brought about,
And when I put it on, I am
Free..... |
| Jamaal | Sunday, February 25, 2001 - 04:51 am
Hijab
Mansha,allah sis.......that was heart warming experience you have go through.....is is true.The women whit Hijab have all the labiraion any women could have.But sis do you Convert Islam? if You did,I am here to say to you.....wlc to Islam,you are the have been guided to the right path....May Allah guide us all....
All my other sisters, May Allah put you In (jannah) and it is True you Cover yourself. No man but the rule of Allah. so don,t let ignorent take over.. let them have what they think they have which is westren naked Zone.....let you have your full of Iman
your Br in Islam |
| Muslimsista | Sunday, February 25, 2001 - 02:47 pm
Assalamu Alkium warahamtaullah wabarakatu
Inshallah this message has reached all of u in a great state of emman and health.
I briefly scanned through some of the posts. U see i'm a firm believer of "leaving the Allah(swt) to do the judging" WHY? because we as Muslims have been put on this earth to worship Allah(swt) not to be judging amongst ppl.
I truly think that Hijab is 1 of the greatest things that happened to women. Why u ask... WELL WHEN U WALK DOWN THE STREET GUESS WHAT UR CARRYING? UR CARRYING A BADGE OF HONOR and we must carry it with dignity and pride... the honor of being a muslim and knowing that every1 who walks by knows that ur a muslim.. IT CANT GET BETTER THAN THAT, CaN It? I FEEL SORRY for the brothers unfourtually they cant be recognized as we can.
I've seen often muslim sisters saying that they are muslim, they pray, they do everything a Muslimah is to do except wear the hijab. Just a simple question i'm not trying to stir up things but dont u think being a good muslimah consists of wearing the hijab because in the Quran Allah(swt) tells us:
Surah Al-Nur (the Light) (24:31) in the Quran states: "They (the believing women) should draw their head coverings over their bosoms...".
Just a thought i truly dont have anything against any sisters not wearing the Hijab, its just that i would like to know that answer to that question. Cause i know sisters who tell me that they dont want to put on the hijab not yet because they want to find a good job. A question for the sisters who think that..... Dont u think if Allah(swt) wanted u to get the job with or with out the hijab Allah(swt) would give it to u. We seem to forget who has the power of all things, it may look like its the lady/man taking the interview but its really Allah(swt).
The hijab doesn't restrict u from doing things but ur the only one who can do that so if u dont believe in urself u cant blame it on people or things or ur religion BUT u must take the blame urself and try to make things better for the next time.
I truly think that the hijab is between u and Allah(swt) and their shouldn't be a middle person telling' u what to do.
We need to educate people about Women in Islam, because people here in the west seem to get their image of Muslim women in the media. And we all know that the media enjoys to spice things up. Its sad to hear sometimes to hear people in ur class/work place stating that Muslim women are oppressed. And when u tell them that that is absoluty incorrect they're interested in hearing what a Muslim women REALLY is.
Sisters state that they get harassed on the streets for being a muslim, but those are one of those tests that Allah(swt) has given u. And what u need to do is just try to educate them on what Islam really is. And that this test is a jihad that u must fight off and inshallah by the grace of Allah(swt) u will win over them.
If i have offended any1 please forgive me and anything good i have said is from Allah(swt), and anything bad is from me and/or shaytan.
Your sister in Faith Muslimsista
SAlamz All
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Say to the believing men
That they should lower
Their gaze and guard
Their modesty: that will make
For greater purity for them:
And Allah is well acquainted
With all that they do.
And say to the believing women
That they should lower
Their gaze and guard
Their modesty: that they
Should not display their
Beauty and ornaments except
What (ordinarily) appear
Thereof; that they should
Draw their veils over
Their bosoms and not display
Their beauty
Al -Quran, ch.24:30-31) |
| Hibo | Sunday, February 25, 2001 - 02:57 pm
I don't wear Hijab.......but I salute.......sisters who do.........Muslimah......loved ur poem sis......its really great....N I am working on wearing it.....inshaalah.......qeer...BUt be proud sis......n hold ur head up...U Rule!! |
| Nubian boy | Sunday, February 25, 2001 - 05:08 pm
SALAMU CALEYKUM SISTAS AND BROS.
DEDICATED TO THIS PAGE.
SHOWING YOUR BODY YOU THINK IT'S NICE,
IN THE HELL YOUR SKIN WILL BURN MORE THAN THRICE,
TALK ABOUT YOUR SISTER, IT'S CALLED A BACKBITE,
ASK FOR FORGIVENESS IT'S ALMOST TOO LATE,
IN ANOTHER WORDS IT'S TIME TO REPENT.
BECAUSE IN SIN ENOUGH TIME YOU HAVE SPENT,
VERY SOON ALLAH WILL CLOSE THE REPENTANCE GATE |
| YOUR SISTER | Sunday, February 25, 2001 - 10:01 pm
asalama aleykum TO every one
this for the two people who said hijab is ugly and prison. i will tell you the most important words in this life.
FEAR ALLAAH.
FEAR ALLAAH
FEAR ALLAAH
GO BACK TO YOUR DIIN, I don't mean to disrespect you,but I am just your sister in Islam who concern about you gays.And I am sure you know what said is wrong, ask Alaah forgivness. MAY ALAAH BLESS YOU AND GUIDE YOU THE RIGHT PATHWAYS TO ISLAM. AMIIN.
THANK YOU AND JISAKA LAAHU QAYR. |
| cano | Monday, February 26, 2001 - 02:29 am
to muslimah, u r one smart sis b proud I'm sure u r, cuz I'm proud that u feel that way about the hijab. And you're poem was the most heart moving poem I've read 4 a long time.
love u sis 4 being proud.
from you're other proud sis in the UK.
We (girl's with hijab) r the one's that somali men come to when they want marriage and children cuz we respect ourselves' and our families, all those somali players leave their girlfriends and come to US that in it self say's a lot doesn't it? |
| COVERED AND PROUD | Monday, February 26, 2001 - 09:31 am
LUUL, I study Arabic and social anthropology and I'm in my first Year. If you go to SOAS then I probably know U whats UR name, I'm Bilan. SALAMS XXXXXXX |
| mo | Monday, February 26, 2001 - 09:56 am
Bilan do you have a brother by any chance?
if yes what's his name? |
| Nubian boy | Monday, February 26, 2001 - 06:28 pm
TO THIS PAGE.
EVERY BAD THING YOU SAY, OR DO,
IF YOU DON'T REPENT IT'S HELD AGAINST YOU,
LAYING WITH THIS MAN, AND THAT MAN, TOO,
ALL THE TIME ALLAH IS FROWNING ON YOU,
ISLAM IS PURIFICATION OF HEART,
YOU WILL WALK WITH ALLAH,U AND DEVIL WILL DEPART,
ALL OF THESE CURSE WORDS U PPL ARE SAYING,
THINK ABOUT WHERE U WILL GO WHEN U DIE,
YOU THINK THE MUSLIM DRESS-WEAR IS SUPER HURT,
SCORCHING HELL FIRES YOU SURELY WILL WIN,
EATING PORK IS DEADLY SIN,
SMOKING JOINTS,CRACK,AND DRINKING WINE,
IN GOD'S PRESENCE, DO U THINK THIS IS FINE?
BUT BEING MUSLIM YOU ARE FREE OF DIRT,
GIVE UP YOUR PLEASURES AND OBEY YOUR ALLAH,
ASK FORGIVENESS IT'S ALMOST TOO LATE'
VER SOON ALLAH WILL CLOSE THE REPENTANCE GATE.
ALLAHUMA INNI BALLAQTU FA'ASHHAD MINNII. |
| Abey | Tuesday, February 27, 2001 - 12:58 am
with the wise wards of muslima
with the braveness of muslima
with the good ideas of muslima
with those ideas of muslima which turned my eyes red
i say keep on sister greatness and successes is in u r side
with the dirty wards of those who say hijab is prison a curse will be on their as when the day there will be no the ideas of western world and believe me those who a with out hijab a the once who a the hallot and toile ts to the public so i say muslimaha is muslim deserve the right of a clean girl keep up my honey sister in islam |
| rose | Tuesday, February 27, 2001 - 01:45 am
Well done guys, this was really good to read. Howevere, I think what gives people a bad image of hijab is often the media. I mean recently I was reading an article in Oprah's January edition, it was talking about universal beauty and there were women from all over the world, an asian woman in London, a muslim hijabed woman an african women etc. But what made me so enraged was that they were all in good backgrounds for the photograph, the bagladeshan woman was standing in a rice field, the wind blowing through her hair and smiling. All apart from the woman with the scarf. She was really beautiful like the rest, but, she was standing behind a gate made up of bars which looked like she was imprisioned. It's that kind of imagery that makes people believe muslim women are opressed.
All I have to say is wearing a scraf is a personal choice and those who do have courage to wear it, especially in a place where they know they will get hasseled. |
| Coverd And Proud | Tuesday, February 27, 2001 - 06:06 am
Mo if Ur already at SOAS and U think my brothers name is Musa, then Ur thinking of the wrong sister. if Ur not and U think U know my brother then his name is Khalid. SALAMS |
| WonderS | Tuesday, February 27, 2001 - 06:39 am
RoSe
I am whit you sis, They do try to give Islam a Very Bad Imige, cuz Madia controlled BY Kafir & Jews.They may rule our image 4 a while but can they stop ppl converting to Islam? no cuz fast majority ppl who Covert to Islam in the WEST are Women......seee Allah guides his DEEEN |
| Anonymous | Tuesday, February 27, 2001 - 12:36 pm
Let me ask you a question; Why hide your beauty?
Why not show the world how beautiful you are? What's wrong with that?? Most muslim men don't hide?? I'm serious, I really don't understand this.... Like Rose said; It's a personal choice,
but WHY?? Can any of you explain WHY? |
| PragmatiGal | Tuesday, February 27, 2001 - 02:56 pm
Muslimah,
<well free isnt exactly the word i would've used
describing women who r cheated on and abused>
Are you saying the hijaab protects you from being abused and cheated? Then I wonder why it doesn't work for the millions of Muslim women who daily endure cruelties unimaginable to you. And you know why it's unimaginable to you? Because you live, protected by various laws that you despise, in the West.
<It gives women their own identity>
I heard this argument before, and it still amazes me. Honey, "hijaab" takes away identity, it doesn't give you identity. By making you dress like all the other women, covering parts of you (your hair and/or your face) that people would recognize as individual, hijaab insures that you have no identity or personality.
<their own sphere which exists perallel to that of men.>
But the sphere of man is so much BIGGER than that of women. Women are confined to the homes, but men have dominion over everything, including those homes.
<Women are thus freed from the strain of western-style social pressure in which women are expected to look impeccable and sexually
attractive at all times,>
Bullshit. There's nothing Western about women wanting to look good and sexually attractive. Somali women, Arab women, and Japanese women wanted to look good long before they came to the west.
<and they are relieved of the "necessity" of spending large amounts of time and money visiting beauty parlors and applying chemicals, lotions, potions and scents to their bodies for the purpose of gratifying men.>
What do you call henna? Why did Arab women shave heir legs long before other women did? What's kohl used for? Why did Chinese women bind their feet? Why do Somali women wear musk (catar)? What's the point of female genital mutilation in Africa and Asia? Were these chemicals and techniques invented by Western women? Why do Muslim women try to look beautiful? And why did the Prophet condone it and sometimes even encourage it?
<Above all it allows muslim women to have an identity, an ability to express their personality and intellect of their own, independently of men's whimes and desires.>
If that's the case, then a Muslim woman whose identity demands that she not wear hijaab would be respected or even tolerated. Clearly, this is not the case in the majority of Muslim nations. Therefore, you can't say hijaab allows you to express your personality, if it covers you up. Women express their personality by dyeing their hair green, or piercing, or getting tattooes, or wearing certain types of clothing. Some Western feminists even refuse to wear make-up or spend money going to beauty parlours, so how is their identity compromised?
Obviously, you can have good reasons for wearing the hijaab, but don't justify a cultural and religous practice by naive attacks on other people's choices. |
| Anonymous | Tuesday, February 27, 2001 - 09:30 pm
oh!! what a good debating going on here??
esp i loved after pragmatic girl wrote her piece.
this is the REAL Depate! woow.
i will probably put my part 2morrow morning.
just wanna say one thing to:
Cano,
you said ""We (girl's with hijab) r the one's that somali men come to when they want marriage and children cuz we respect ourselves' and our families, all those somali players leave their girlfriends and come to US that in it self say's a lot doesn't it? ""
If am wearing Xijab or not,i would NOT,NEVER want/go or marry such kinda player,looser.
i dont think thats something you should say Proudly.i would never take Second/left over like that.i hope other sisters with xijab dont agree with you!
but then dont U think if you fulfilling One Ayah in Quran about "Xijab" ,you should fulfil other Ayah like one saying "Azaani laa yankixu illaa Zaaniya...."??
amazes me!, ppl talk/blab without knowing Quran. |
| rose | Wednesday, February 28, 2001 - 12:33 am
Pragmatic girl, good points.
However, there are flaws in your arguments.
"hijab ensures that yo have no identity or personlaity"
Are you persuming people with hijab do not have personalities? Can she not show her personality through the type of scarf she wears, or the colour, or the style, or the design? For example, some girls like to wear a jalabib, or simple black scarf, while others prefer Christian Doir or Calvin Klein. Just as you do with clothes and hair styles? While dress and physical appearance do contibute to your personality they do not define it. Unlike nun's outfits, the scarf is not a uniform.
"women are confined to the homes"
You are contradicting yourself, you acuse Muslimah of using cultural arguments to justify wearing a hijab, while you are doing exactly the same thing in your argument! Staying at home is
not religion but culture, in fact the prophet's (pbuh)first wife was a well educated and a wealthy business woman.
"women express their personality by dying their hair green, pearcing or tattoos".
Do you not express your personality by wearing hijab in the first place? The kind of person you are? Dying your hair a wild colour says 'I'm different' but at the same time does wearing a scarf not also say that? Especially in the western countries?
You make a lot of points sis but try to avoid statments that are sterotypical and ignorant ("women are confined to the homes" |
| rose | Wednesday, February 28, 2001 - 12:36 am
One more thing, I don not understand how scarf gains you respect?? Are not girls who wear scarf and those who don't equally respectable, since it is a personal decision? |
| Covered And Proud | Wednesday, February 28, 2001 - 06:17 am
Who says hijaab is a personal decision last time I checked it was FARD(obligatory)... who are we as the created to discuss the pros and cons of hijaab when our CREATOR Allah (SWT) has made it Fard?? Pragmatic girl you are using typical Western rationality in your argument..which is in itself flawed....but who are U to argue about what Allah(SWT) has commanded. Is the Creator not more Knowledgeable of what is best for His creation than the creation itself. please think before U type. SALAAMS XXXX |
| Faaisa | Wednesday, February 28, 2001 - 11:42 am
Assalau alicum warahmatulahi wabarkatuhu To th Muslim sister and brothers on this page. Hello to non- muslims.
I have hijab. My experience in wearing it is great. I try to be kind, modest and sinsere. These things that the worst of human nature fights against.
Unlike most of women in the West. ostentation, flattery, desire to please, attract, entice are out of my daily life.
As for profession, I am preparing myself to be a lawyer. I had finished my degree in Law.
Pragmatic girl,
Hijab is experession of modesty. It is nothing to do person's personality , though, as I explained it helps to improve your character.
Rose,
Hijab is not a choice. It is ablogotry, however, to wear it or not to wear it, is a personal decision. BUt that does not make that person correct Islamically.
I understand totally your point that every one should be respected regadless of thier look and dress and I would add that regadless their religion.
Onesomali,
I think, it is respect that helps the poeple to understand each other. If you do not like what a muslim woman wears then you should look for some one who satisfies your eyes.
As for making babies. well, your mum had you. Why should not I, If I can?
Salaams,
Your's sister faaisa |
| rose | Wednesday, February 28, 2001 - 11:52 am
i know hijab is obligatory, but it is a personal decision to wear it or not. |
| PragmaticGal | Wednesday, February 28, 2001 - 05:40 pm
Rose:
The decision to wear hijab is not a personal decision for Muslim women in Muslim countries, it's state legislature. In Afghanistan, Iran, Saudi Arabia, etc. women must wear jilbaab, whether they are Muslim or not. This is because, according to these Muslims, a function of government is to "forbid evil and enjoin good", as the Qur'an commands. Modesty is a good, immodesty is an evil. Therefore these governments feel its their duty to make sure each women is wearing what they deem "modest". There are a very narrow range of clothing considered modest in most countries that follow the Shariah. A jilbaab (long robe) is a minimum requirement for all of them, and some may demand covering the face as well.
So dear, rose, there's no choice in whether you wear the hijaab if you live in a Muslim nation.
<Staying at home is not religion but culture>
Last time I checked, the ayah [al-Ahzab 33:33.11] "And stay quietly in your houses, and make not a dazzling display" was in the Qur'an. If Allah tells you to stay at home, what in the world are you doing rambling about outside, in your dazzling Calvin Klein hijaab and Doir jilbaab?
The culture-religion separation is something Muslims rant about, but the truth is, cultural practices rarely stick around without some religious permission. Take female genital mutilation. Many Muslims are against it on the grounds that it's not "Islamic" (I suspect they are against it because it's suddenly unfashionable). But the old woman in the bush performing "circumcisions" on young girls is convinced that it's either mandatory or at least highly recomended by Islam. She has a Hadith or two that indicate it's sunnah, and she invokes Allah's name as she performs it. Clearly, FGM is cultural, but it also has strong religious backing and undertones ("the clean woman for the clean man" thing). To demand that religion and culture be separated is absurd, and impossible. Somalis are Muslims because they were born in a society that is largely Muslim. Islam is highly based on Arab culture. Religion and culture are too entwined to separate.
<...in fact the prophet's (pbuh)first wife was a well educated and a wealthy business woman.>
Last time I checked, Khadija was a wealthy business woman BEFORE she met Muhammed and subsequently became his wife. So there's no reason to suppose that the Prophet encouraged her to become a business woman, as you're implying. Perhaps she was already "too set in her ways" to change and become the docile Muslim woman she should have been.
<Are you persuming people with hijab do not have personalities?>
Of course not. But I am saying that wearing hijaab doesn't enhance her "uniqueness" in an Islamic setting. Among other Muslim women, she's just another female, wearing an identical outfit. My comment was in reject of that "hijaab gives you identity" drivel Muslimah was babbling. It doesn't. When you don't wear hijaab (especially the jilbaab that is essentially mandatory in places like Saudi Arabia), you have more options.
<Can she not show her personality through the type of scarf she wears, or the colour, or the style, or the design? For example, some girls like to wear a jalabib, or simple black scarf, while others prefer Christian Doir or Calvin Klein. >
Actually, the design is pretty conserved, according to the Muslim experts: it has to be big enough to cover your hair completely and also your chest (you can't exaclty wrap a bandanna around your head and call it a hijaab). It can't be an imitation of non-Muslim women's garb. That means no Calvin Klein or Christian Doir, rose. Only those things worn by other Muslim women. It can't be shimmery, shiny, bright, see-through, too small etc. because it shouldn't draw attention to you. So the simple black jilbaab is your best bet if you want to be safe.
<Just as you do with clothes and hair styles? While dress and physical appearance do contibute to your personality they do not define it.>
But hijaab can greatly limit your options, as can be seen by reading on the rules given by wadaads. And limited options means less expression of personality.
You know, I wouldn't have problems with the whole hijaab thing at all, if it weren't for two things. Firsly, all too often, women don't get a choice in whether they wear hijaab or not. This is unnecessary coercion. According to the ulamah, women have no choice and they must wear hijaab or stay at home. Secondly, Muslim women will do anything to boost their morale, including silly, uninformed attacks on non-Muslim women.
I have no problem with a woman wearing hijaab. I just object to a woman justifying her choice by attacking those who don't see things her way. |
| Hijabi | Wednesday, February 28, 2001 - 09:21 pm
I just wanted to clarify a few things. It seems to me that the great majority of people think that the only reason that a woman wears hijab is to prevent men from looking at her in a sexuall manner, that is not true!We (women) are not responsible (islamically or other wise) for men's actions, whether a woman is wearing a jilbaab or a bikiini muslim men are ordered by Allah to lower thier gaze!!!! Wearing the hijab has nothing to do with anyone else, it only has to do with my commitment to Allah ( subhanahu wa ta'ala). I see my hijab as a private matter between myself and Allah(swt).I chose to wear hijab because I felt my iman (faith) had to be translated into action and if Allah (SWT) asks me to cover, then I should. If I could not act out my faith then what was the point of saying I had any faith?.
Although that is not the case with many hijabies like pragmatic gal pointed out "The decision to wear hijab is not a personal decision for Muslim women in Muslim countries, it's state legislature"....we have to remember some fudamental things here, speaking as a muslim,1)ISLAM IS FROM ALLAH( SWT)= IT IS PERFECT, 2)humans are not perfect, 3)it is explained in the sunna that if you try to call someone to islam or advice someone ( in this case about the hijab) and they walk away from the conversation with hard feelings, it is a baad deed(dambi) being recorded for the person giving the advice, 4) no action is accepted in islam if the intentions are not there.
In sum, As a muslim you are required to seek knowledge, as a muslim you have every right to question what you hear and seek clarification, as a muslim you shouldn't take everything a "shiek" or "wadaad" says at face value and follow around like sheep... Allah(subhanahy wata'la) gave us brain so we can think for our selves and make our own jugdments, infact, if you go to a lecture or a 'malcaamad' it is your OBLIGATION as a muslim to go to the Quran and the Sunnah and check everything you heard out for your self!!
I am not gonna try to convince you that what is happening to women in Saudi or Afganistan is o.k.... It is blatently wrong and haraam!!!But to judge Islam or parts of Islam(hijab) by the islamically wrong actions of "muslim" nations is illogical. Besides, if wearing the hijab doesn't come from the heart with the right intentions then it doesn't really count.. you might as well not have it on.
Finally, I want to address this statemet by pragmatic gal:
" "hijaab" takes away identity, it doesn't give you identity. By making you dress like all the other women, covering parts of you (your hair and/or your face) that people would recognize as individual, hijaab insures that you have no identity or personality".
The hijab IDENTIFIES you as a muslim woman. It is a badge of honour. A woman who covers herself out of the love of Allah (SWT) is not just stating something about what she accepts and demands ( truth, honour, kindness, respect,etc) but she is also saying something about what she rejects( lies, backbiting,cheating, vulgar language, cat calls,etc).... and trust me I know that alot of hijabies don't go by thatbut I'm just trying to illustrate why those of us that wear it for the right reasons do so.... And about personality, honey YOU define your personality not what you wear, regardless of what u wear your personality will shine through your education, your opinions, your attitudes, your wit, your mannarisms, your warmth, your sense of humour...etc... C'mon now lets not be that shallow
anyway, sorry about the long message.
salamz. |
| Hijabi | Thursday, March 01, 2001 - 05:47 am
p.s. I don't think its right attack or critisize anyone else's life style,we could only give advice in a polite and courteous manner...
in this world we are only responsible for our own actions NOT our actions compared to those of non- muslims
...'cause guess what? when your leave this world there ain't no body in that grave but you!
salam. |
| PragmaticGal | Thursday, March 01, 2001 - 01:08 pm
Hijaabi:
I agree with your explanation for why Muslim should wear hijaab, and I am sure you chose it for what you consider to be the right reasons. But I think that you are aware of one problem: According to Muslims, a good deed is good only if it's performed out of free-will rather than coercion or show. That means a Muslim woman should make the CHOICE to wear a hijaab at some point in her life, and she shouldn't make this choice because she afraid of prosecution or she wants to appear modest and "good" to other Muslims. So, what's happening in Suadi Africa, Afghanistan etc. is wrong. Forcing a woman to wear hijaab takes away her opportunity to obey God out of free-will. Some Muslim women in these countries undoubted claim they wear hijaab because they truly want to please Allah (and some will be right) but many of them may simply be resigning themselves to the situation, and looking on enviously at Western women. Thus, by one standard analysis, countries like Saudi Arabia and Afghanistan are wrong and narrow-sighted. But at the same time, they are behaviour in an absolutely Islamic way. Because one duty of government is to uphold the teachings of Islam, and punish those who stray, correct? Some things, like modesty, prayer, zakat, and sexuality (laws against zina & homosexuality, for example) HAVE to be policed and monitored, and any deviations punished. So simply blaming Muslim nations for not up-holding the principle of free-choice is wrong and unfair, because they are also attempting to maintain an Islamic state.
What I am trying to say is, Saudi Arabia really is behaving Islamically when it orders women to cover up, at least Islam according to its founder, not the apologists of the 1990s.
What I suggest is that Muslims stop the silly separation of Muslims and Islam. We have all heard the cliche, "Islam is not Muslims" but it's wrong: Islam is Muslims. If a Muslim nation can't agree on the (Islamically) right action, then what becomes of the oft-repeated saying of the Prophet that "My followers will never agree (en-masse) on wrong-conduct" (can't remember the exact wording)? And what's the point of Islam, if the average individual and nation can't perform it adequately? Where's the self-styled Islamic practicality? And what happened to Self-Evident Truth? How can wrong actions be so easy to mistake for right actions, if there's a real absolute difference between Right and Wrong? |
| Anonymous | Thursday, March 01, 2001 - 01:55 pm
there is nothing its nmae is saudi Africa. unless it is country that you invented, do you mean saudi arabia |
| PragmaticGal | Thursday, March 01, 2001 - 05:15 pm
Trust an Anonymous nobody to point out an obvious, minor error.
By the way, I am sure you meant to write, "There's no nation known as Saudi Africa", not "there is nothing its nmae is saudi Africa", unless you meant invent a language of your own! |
| Anonymous | Thursday, March 01, 2001 - 06:34 pm
hijabi,
wellsaid sis.you r right in way.but what i dont understand why lots of ppl preach more about girls wearing hijab?? in Quran there r 6666 verses and there r only 1 or 2 talking about hijab.
dont you think one should built his Iman and Pillars of Islam first??dont think one would rather not wear hijab but tells no lies no gossiping or backbiting??coz as Allah said if you did Sin agains him,you can be forgiven but not backbiting against another muslim or anyone else.
dont think one should try to fulfill all verses of Quran??i am sure more 95% of ppl who cover with hijab do alot wrong stuff.thats kinda hypocricy.you r preaching one Ayah and not performing another one.
i think it is kinda fashion in Somali community now and most girls wear it coz,you know,so they wouldnt look odd and weird.
i dont agree hijab give you Identity.your identity is your personality,it is how behave,act and carry your yourself in your enviroment.
r you saying if a girl is not waering hijab first but then she starts to wear later,her identity will change.e.g:Aisha will be always be known Aisha and she will be same,only difference will be extra cloth and may be going to Quran school.
by the when you say U r identified as muslim woman in streets coz of hijab,dont u know there r religious groups that cover?like strict jews and some catholics.
and how would identify a muslim brother??
dont tell the beard??lots of men do keep beard starting with jews.
Farax,
it is not always when woman wearing hijab ppl stay away from(ment not mess with her).they r places in this world ppl with hijab present wrong idea(it is used by bad women).it is irony and sad.
pragmatic girl,
that was good answer to anon.it was stupid of him/her to point a finger toward that little error.in case she/her didnt notice you wrote saudi arabia another paragraph in your old posting. |
| Abaay | Friday, March 02, 2001 - 03:11 am
Salaamacaleykum!!
walaalayaal aan wax idiin sheego, sadax bilood ka hor aan hijaab xertay, intaas ka hor wiligeey kuma aan fekarin in aan hijaab saarto, anigoo dhalin jaro ah. Allxamdulilah, hijaabka wuxuu wanaagsan yahay markoo adiga kaa soo go´o, markaas aad u istaagi kartaa oo aad u doodi kartaa. Hijaabka waxuu aniga ahaan ii tararey wa xey tahay wax yaalo badan oo aniga naf ahaan teuda ii darnaa, oo aan ogeyn markaan hijaab la´aanta ahay ow iga indha saabay, taasne waa Allah mahadiis.. so hada markoo qof i arko markii ugu horeyasy ma u baahna in uu is weydiiyo waxa aan ahay, mana igu soo dag dagaayo...
So dadkiinan jaahiliinta ah oo dhahaayo gabdhaha hijaabka wata aqkli malaha, ama freedom ma haystaan, walaalayaal beem´n aa lidiin sheegay, idinkaana brainwash la idinku sameeyey
salaamacaleykum... |
| WaaYaabay | Friday, March 02, 2001 - 08:44 am
it's sweet and bitter.ala dad haday ogaa lahaayeen hadal walba oo afkooda kasoo baxo in lagula xisaabtami doono,in laba malaa'ik garabka ka saaranyihiin oo qoraayaan waxay ku hadlaan,gabadha walaasheen ah farax iyo raaxo ayaad qalbigayga u keentay,laakin markaan arkay dad meeshaan waxay soo qoreen ooyin ayaan la dhacay,ala dabka xanuunkiisa ma ogid miyaa,ala wajiga ilaahay ka cabsameysid miyaa,ala jahanama iyo jaxiima ma maqlin miyaa,ilaahow na hanuuni,aad iyo aad ayay u xuntahay inuu qof muslim ah waliba somali ah inuu waxaas ku hadlo,walaaloow ilaahay ka cabso oo ilaahay u tawba keen. |
| XANASH | Thursday, March 08, 2001 - 07:00 pm
TO THIS PAGE
WAKE UP SISTERS,BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE,
REMEMBER GOD WILL CLOSE THE REPENTENCE GATE,
SMOKING CIGARETTES,WHICH SPELL K-O-O-L,
Killers-Of-Our-Lungs,KEEP SMOKING N U WILL TELL.
CLEAN UP YOURSELF, AND DO IT RIGHT NOW,
IN SHAME LOOK AT YOUR PAST,AND WONDER HOW?
IF YOU HAVE CHILDREN,THEY LIIK UP TO YOU,
IF YOU LIVE IN SIN, THEY WILL DO IT TOO,
EVERY BAD THING YOU SAY OR DO
IF U DON'T REPENT,IT'S HELD AGAINST YOU,
SHOWING YOU BODY, YOU THINK IT'S NICE,
WEARING PANTS TIGHTLY HUGGING YOUR SKIN,
IN GOD'S PRESENCE,DO YOU THINK THIS IS FINE?
ASK FORGIVENESS,IT'S ALMOST TOO LATE. |
| um kolthoom | Friday, March 09, 2001 - 12:39 pm
i personaly feel happy and clean. |
