Ha'ya (Modesty)

# My Islam

In France after picking groceries in the supermarket, a Niqabi (face covered up) sister stood in the line to pay. After a few minutes, her turn came up at the checkout counter.

The checkout girl was a non-Hijaabi Arab Muslim girl, began to scan the items of the Niqabi sister one by one, and after a while looked at her with arrogance and said: ”We have many problems in this country & your Niqab is one of them!

We, ...immigrants, are here for trade and not to show our Deen or history! If you want to practice your Deen and wear Niqaab then go back to your Arab country and do whatever you want!!"

The Niqaabi sister stopped putting her grocery in the bag and lifted up her Niqaab…

The checkout girl was in total shock. The Niqabi girl who was blonde with blue eyes told her: "I am a French girl, not an Arab immigrant. This is my country and THIS IS MY ISLAM.

You born Muslims sold your Deen and we bought it from you!"

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# You, yes you, staring at me
by Anonymous

You, yes you staring at me,

Either portraying me as a terrorist or pitying me

For you think that I’m oppressed.

Is that how you observe others, by judging them for how they are dressed?

You, yes you staring at me,

Wondering why, as an American living in my own country,

the land of the free,

Where I can be independent but instead I am letting some piece of covering cloth oppress me.

Is that what you think the piece of cloth does, it oppresses me and my identity?

You, yes you starting at me,

With dirty looks for leaving my home covered like that, for how could it be,

It’s an insult on the woman of this country, for they worked so hard to achieve their equality.

Is that what you think that piece of cloth does, denies me of my parity?

You, yes you starting at me,

Lost at the thought and the possibility,

Of how I’m willing to be held captive of a religion that degrades women like me.

Is that what you think my religion does, holds me captive of my liberty.

You, yes you staring at me,

Pondering and dignifying yourself, and maybe just smiling to yourself a bit,

Thankful that you are not me,

For you would never want to be me

And oppress yourself of your body.

For you are smarter than that because you use that body

To attract others with your beauty,

For without it you feel a sense of insecurity.

Me, yes this is me,

The person you’re staring at so obviously, the one in the piece of cloth, hiding her identity.

I wish to clarify a few things for you,

so you so you would no longer disagree

And believe that I am held captive of my own body.

The piece of cloth is called the “Hijaab” you see

And the term Hijaab is used for both Muslim men and woman like me

Its meaning goes way beyond to embody a metaphysical dimension of sexuality

For me I wear it to preserve my privacy,

Something that is just for me,

So I won’t be judged by my beauty

But rather my intelligence and prosperity,

Yes that’s right, I am not denied of prosperity

But rather possess it much greatly when I’m dressed modestly

This is the way I choose to be, independent, and free on the contrary

#Muhammad Ali's advice to his daughters

The following incident took place when Muhammad Ali's daughters arrived at his home wearing clothes that were not modest. Here is the story as told by one of his daughters:

When we finally arrived, the chauffeur escorted my younger sister, Laila, and me up to my father's suite. As usual, he was hiding behind the door waiting to scare us. We exchanged many hugs and kisses as we could possibly give in one day.

My father took a good look at us. Then he sat me down on his lap and said something that I will never forget. He looked me straight in the eyes and said, "Hana, everything that God made valuable in the world is covered and hard to get to. Where do you find diamonds? Deep down in the ground, covered and protected. Where do you find pearls? Deep down at the bottom of the ocean, covered up and protected in a beautiful shell. Where do you find gold? Way down in the mine, covered over with layers and layers of rock. You've got to work hard to get to them."

He looked at me with serious eyes. "Your body is sacred. You're far more precious than diamonds and pearls, and you should be covered too."
Source: Taken from the book: More Than A Hero: Muhammad Ali's Life Lessons Through His Daughter's Eyes

# Monira's Story about Hijaab

“Monira, a young Muslim girl from one of the gulf countries. She wanted to share her story with Hijab, she said:

How I adored Tabarroj (displaying beauty to non Mahram), I was following the latest trend fashion of ‘Ibaya (it is like a burkha or body cover, but i was wearing the ones which attracted attention with their colors and shapes). I considered that the Islamic ‘Ibaya (the loose one which covers the body properly) are just made for the old fashion complicated poor girls!

One day, I went out with a group of my friends to the mall. I went out as usual applying a full make up on my face, perfumed and wearing an attractive Ibaya. When a sister saw me in the mall, she came to me and advised me in front of my friends to wear the proper Hijab so that Allah don’t punish me in Akhirah.

Her advice shook my body. But I wanted to make fun of her in front of my friends to make them laugh, so I told her something which I don’t know if I should now regret saying it or should I be glad because I said it. In fact what I said to her led me to Hidya (righteous path) and it was the reason behind turning to my Lord.

Do you know what I said to her ?! I told her ironically after I reach the back of my hand in front of her face:”if you kiss my hand I would wear the Islamic Hijab!!”

So, what do you think she did? Do you think she got angry? Or she walked away or she showed objection? No wallahi she didn’t ! She simply took my hand and kissed it! yes! She kissed my hand saying :”I would kiss your head too if you are truly going to wear Hijab in return! What you asked me to do is too small and simple comparing to your preciousness!”

Then she make Duaa for me and went away! After she left, I cried and cried and cried... I underestimated myself, I hated the ‘Ibaya I was wearing. When I went back home, I wanted to be by myself! I decided to wear the Islamic loose ‘Ibaya and I prayed to Allah to keep me on the right path!

How I wished to meet that woman again to thank her but what I can do to her is just to always making Duaa to her! Now they call me “sheikh” because of my commitment to Deen but I don’t care about what they say! Now when I go out, I notice that men are respecting me, no one of them dare to stare at me or flirt with me in the street! Even the salesmen in the market speak to me now formally with respect manner, in the past they always tried to joke with me and be intimate. So I realized that Haq (the true path) has absolutely a high status!”

Taken from the book “the secrets of girls” for the writer “Ruqya Mohammad Sulaiman”

# Non Hijaabes Views

"I'm so tired."

"Tired of what?"

"Of all these people judging me."

"Who judged you?"

"Like that woman, every time I sit with her, she tells me to wear hijab."

"Oh, hijab and music! The mother of all topics!"

"Yeah! I listen to music without hijab…haha!"

"Maybe she was just giving you advice."

"I don't need her advice. I know my religion. Can't she mind her own

business?"

"Maybe you misunderstood. She was just being nice."

"Keeping out of my business, that would be nice..."

"But it's her duty to encourage you do to good."

"Trust me. That was no encouragement. And what do you mean 'good' ?"

"Well, wearing hijab, that would be a good thing to do."

"Says who?"

"It's in the Qur'an, isn't it?"

"Yes. She did quote me something."

"She said Surah Nur, and other places of the Qur'an."

"Yes, but it's not a big sin anyway. Helping people and praying is more

important."

"True. But big things start with small things."

"That's a good point, but what you wear is not important. What's important

is to have a good healthy heart."

"What you wear is not important?"

"That's what I said."

"Then why do you spend an hour every morning fixing up?"

"What do you mean?"

"You spend money on cosmetics, not to mention all the time you spend on

fixing your hair and low-carb dieting."

"So?"

"So, your appearance IS important."

"No. I said wearing hijab is not an important thing in religion."

"If it's not an important thing in religion, why is it mentioned in the Holy

Qur'an?"

"You know I can't follow all that's in Qur'an."

"You mean God tells you something to do, you disobey and then it's OK?"

"Yes. God is forgiving."

"God is forgiving to those who repent and do not repeat their mistakes."

"Says who?"

"Says the same book that tells you to cover."

"But I don't like hijab, it limits my freedom."

"But the lotions, lipsticks, mascara and other cosmetics set you free?!

What's your definition of freedom anyway?"

"Freedom is in doing whatever you like to do."

"No. Freedom is in doing the right thing, not in doing whatever we wish to do."

"Look! I've seen so many people who don't wear hijab and are nice people, and so many who wear hijab and are bad people."

"So what? There are people who are nice to you but are alcoholic. Should we all be alcoholics? You made a stupid point."

"I don't want to be an extremist or a fanatic. I'm OK the way I am without hijab."

"Then you are a secular fanatic. An extremist in disobeying God."

"You don't get it, if I wear hijab, who would marry me?!"

"So all these people with hijab never get married?!"

"Okay! What if I get married and my husband doesn't like it? And wants me to remove it?"

"What if your husband wants you to go out with him on a bank robbery?!"

"That's irrelevant, bank robbery is a crime."

"Disobeying your Creator is not a crime?"

"But then who would hire me?"

"A company that respects people for who they are."

"Not after 9-11"

"Yes. After 9-11. Don't you know about Hanan who just got into med school?

And the other one, what was her name, the girl who always wore a white hijab…ummm…"

"Yasmeen?"

"Yes. Yasmeen. She just finished her MBA and is now interning for GE."

"Why do you reduce religion to a piece of cloth anyway?"

"Why do you reduce womanhood to high heals and lipstick colors?"

"You didn't answer my question."

"In fact, I did. Hijab is not just a piece of cloth. It is obeying God in a difficult environment. It is courage, faith in action, and true womanhood.

But your short sleeves, tight pants…"

"That's called 'fashion', you live in a cave or

something? First of all, hijab was founded by men who wanted to control

women."

"Really? I did not know men could control women by hijab."

"Yes. That's what it is."

"What about the women who fight their husbands to wear hijab? And women in France who are forced to remove their hijab by men? What do you say about that?"

"Well, that's different."

"What difference? The woman who asked you to wear hijab…she was a woman, right?"

"Right, but…"

"But fashions that are designed and promoted by male-dominated corporations, set you free? Men have no control on exposing women and using them as a commodity?! Give me a break!"

"Wait, let me finish, I was saying…"

"Saying what? You think that men control women by hijab?"

"Yes."

"Specifically how?"

"By telling women how and what to wear, dummy!"

"Doesn't TV, magazines and movies tell you what to wear, and how to be 'attractive'?"

"Of course, it's fashion."

"Isn't that control? Pressuring you to wear what they want you to wear?"

[Silence]

"Not just controlling you, but also controlling the market."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, you are told to look skinny and anorexic like that woman on the cover of the magazine, by men who design those magazines and sell those products."

"I don't get it. What does hijab have to do with products."

"It has everything to do with that. Don't you see? Hijab is a threat to consumerism, women who spend billions of dollars to look skinny and live by standards of fashion designed by men…and then here is Islam, saying trash all that nonsense and focus on your soul, not on your looks, and do not worry what men think of your looks."

"Like I don't have to buy hijab? Isn't hijab a product?"

"Yes, it is. It is a product that sets you free from male-dominated consumerism."

"Stop lecturing me! I WILL NOT WEAR HIJAB!

It is awkward, outdated, and totally not suitable for this society ... Moreover, I am only 20 and too young to wear hijab!"

"Fine. Say that to your Lord, when you face Him on Judgment Day."

"Fine."

"Fine."

[Silence]

"Shut up and I don't want to hear more about hijab niqab schmijab Punjab!"

[Silence]

She stared at the mirror, tired of arguing with herself all this time.

Successful enough, she managed to shut the voices in her head, with her own opinions triumphant in victory on the matter, and a final modern decision accepted by the society - but rejected by the Faith:

"Yes!" - to curls on the hair - "No!" - to hijab!

"And he (/she) is indeed a failure who corrupts it [the soul]!"

[Holy Quran 91:10]

Subhana'Allah!!!

"Nay! You prefer the life of this world; While the hereafter is better and more lasting."

[Holy Quran: 87:16-17]

"You are the best community (Ummah) raised up for (the benefit of) humanity; enjoining what is right and forbidding what is wrong and believing in Allah."

[Holy Quran: 3:110]